India in South Africa

Laxman will soon be earning a reputation of being the follow on saver and for the second time this year he steered the Indian side past the follow on mark with a defiant 77 not out. In partnership with Kumble (21) who stubbornly stood his ground, India managed to reach 182-8 before play was halted in the middle of the 55th over for bad light. India’s shocking batting display was preceded by yet another superb bowling spell from Javagal Srinath who took 6-76 in a 30 over spell that helped bowl out South Africa for 362 in their first innings. Knowing the glorious uncertainties that surround Indian cricket, it is difficult to predict when and how the match will proceed from here, but yet another Indian defeat seems very much on the cards.

England in India

England play the first match of the tour today in Mumbai, a two day affair against a Mumbai Presidents XI. The Wankhede track looks green and is expected to aid the seamers early on. The England team is confident and hopeful on putting on a good show. Being a two-day affair the game will not be treated as first-class and hence will essentially be just a warm up game.

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The Indian born England skipper Nasser Hussain denied that he ever made a statement that people of Asian origin living in England should support the England team. He clarified that he was talking about the third and fourth generation expatriates and not the people who have been living in for just 15-20 years. He said that he was happy to be part of India but when he moved to England he became an Englishman and now leads the team as an Englishman though the Indian roots will always be there.

West Indies in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka handed the touring West Indies a 10-wicket defeat when they, or rather Muthiah Muralitharan dismissed the visitors for a paltry 144 in the second innings. Muralitharan's 5 wicket haul in the second innings to go with his 6 wicket haul in the first, gave him match figures of 11-170. Only Ganga (33), Sarwan (30) and Lara (40) managed to offer any resistance. Set a target of 3 to win, the home side coasted to a massive 10-wicket win.

Zimbabwe in Bangladesh

Bangladesh were hurtling fast towards yet another Test defeat after being forced to follow 291 runs behind. Bangladesh managed 251 in their first innings. Thanks largely to the efforts of Habibul Bashar (108) and young Mohammad Ashraful (33). For the visitors Grant Flower claimed 4-43. At stumps on the 3rd day, the home team were 15-0 following on.

New Zealand in Australia

Rain washed out about half of the second day’s play of the New Zealand tour match against South Australia at Adelaide. After the home side had declared at 297-9 the Kiwis were 110-3 before rain halted play. Stand in skipper for the Kiwis, Craig McMillan was unbeaten on 49 after his team had slumped to 40-3. South Australia: 297-9 decl (G. Blewett 106, D. Fitzgerald 50; D. Vettori 3-60, D. Tuffey 3-71)
New Zealand 110-3 (C. McMillan 49 not out, L. Vincent 26 not out; P. McIntyre 2-42).

Miscellaneous

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has been called to appear before a match fixing inquiry on the 1999 World Cup. Akram was the skipper of the side that lost to Bangladesh and India in the 1999 tournament. Justice Karamat Bhandari's one-man commission held its seventh hearing where two Pakistani journalists appeared. They told the court they had heard rumours of match-fixing but couldn't substantiate the allegations.

SCORES AT A GLANCE

South Africa vs India (2nd Test, day 2)
Played at Port Elizabeth
Toss: India

South Africa: 362
(H Gibbs 196, H Dippenaar 29, M Boucher 68 not out; J Srinath 6-76)
India: 182-8
(S Ganguly 42VVS Laxman 77, S Pollock 4-38)

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West Indies vs Sri Lanka (1st Test, day 5)
Played at Galle
Toss: West Indies

West Indies: 448
(D Ganga 47, RR Sarwan 88, BC Lara 178, CL Hooper 69; Vaas 4-95, Muralitharan 6-126)
144 (D Ganga 33, R Sarwan 30, BC Lara 40; M Muralitharan 5-44)
Sri Lanka: 590-9 decl
(M Atapattu 61, K Sangakkara 140, M Jayawardene 99, R Arnold 33, H Tillekeratne, 105 not out, T Samaraweera 77; D Ramnaraine 3-158) 6-0

Result: Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets
Man of the match: M Muralitharan (SL)

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Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh (2nd Test, day 3)
Played at Chittagong
Toss: Bangladesh

Zimbabwe:
279-4 (DD Ebrahim 41, T Gripper 112, G Flower 33, A Flower 114 not out, C Wishart 114, D Marillier 52; Murtaza 2-101)
Bangladesh: 251
(Al Shariar 29, H Bashar 108, Ashraful 33; G Flower 4-43)
15-0 (Following on)

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