Standard Bank Triangular series in South Africa

Adversity brought out the best from the underdogs of the tournament Kenya when they handed favorites for the game India a 70 run drubbing at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
Electing to bat first on a docile pitch the Kenyans began in style with a 121 run opening partnership, their second highest in one day internationals so far.
Against an insipid bowling attack (apart from Kumble & Harbhajan) The Kenyans continued to pile up the runs, until they made 246-6 in 50 overs.
The Indian reply ended even before it began when they lost Tendulkar and Ganguly by the12th over. The only resistance of some sort came from Jacob Martin (36) and Harbhajan Singh (37).
The Kenyan team were led by Steve Tikolo is the absence of their skipper Maurice Odumbe who is serving a two match ban for speaking out against Umpires Orchard.

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Former Kenyan captain and now manager Mehmood Kureshy was admitted in hospital following chest pain and is to undergo a bypass surgery within the next couple days.
Kureshy complained of discomfort when he was with the team as they practiced on the ground at Port Elizabeth two days ago.
He was given emergency treatment by the Indian team manager Dr MK Bhargava (a medic by profession) before he was rushed to hospital.

New Zealand in Australia

New Zealand's hope of getting as much match practice before they go into the first Test against hosts Australia on November 8 received a blow when rain washed out the entire second day's play of their tour opener against the Queensland Academy of Sports.
Skipper Stephen Fleming however struck form with an unbeaten 133. The Kiwis are as it is short of match practice since their tour of Pakistan was called off and haven't played competitive cricket since July-August when they were in Sri Lanka.

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Australian skipper Steve Waugh said he was keen to ensure his place in the Australian side for the first Test against New Zealand beginning on November 8 at Brisbane.
The elder Waugh had nets for the first time since his return from England where he suffered a calf strain and later was treated for deep vein thrombosis.
Waugh said though he had welcomed the break from cricket said he was keen to get back to competitive cricket now.

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The Australian chairman of selectors has given an ultimatum to fast bowler Brett Lee that he better take wickets or else be left out of the Test side. Lee took just 9 wickets in the five Tests against England with 2-37 in Edgbaston being his best.
Queensland newcomer Ashley Noffke, Michael Kasprowicz and Andrew Bichel and Victoria's Damien Fleming are those in line to take Lee's place, if he fails to justify selection.

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Australia's Mark Waugh suffered a minor injury scare leading up to the fist Test against New Zealand when he split the webbing of his hand while fielding at slips in a New South Wales game against Tasmania. Waugh was rushed to hospital where he had two stitches on his right hand.

The Cronje case

In a Pretoria Court Judge Frank Kirk-Cohen while upholding Cronje's ban ruled that the South African Cricket Board could not prevent Cronje from from coaching, sponsoring or promoting cricket at schools not affiliated to it.
The ban applied to the press box and broadcasting facilities at cricket grounds. Cronje was also ordered to pay half the UCBSA's legal costs for the case.
Cronje's lawyer Malcolm Wallis told said that his client just wanted to earn a living through coaching, commentating or writing. Cronje was not present in court when the ruling was made.

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Former teammate Allan Donald said he believed that Hansie Cronje could have returned to play provincial cricket had his appeal against a life ban been overturned.
Donald a childhood friend of the banned Cronje said he hoped his disappointment at his ban being overturned would be lessened by the fact that he could work in the media.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) welcomed the upholding of Hansie Cronje's ban for life with delight on accusing him of being a cheat who tried to use courts to overrule justice. ICC chief Malcolm Gray said he was pleased that justice had prevailed.

Miscellaneous

England went ahead and announced their team for India and New Zealand despite the uncertainty that hangs over the Indian leg of the tour.
The full squad is:
N. Hussain (Essex, Capt), A. Caddick (Somerset), P. Collingwood (Durham), A. Flintoff (Lancashire), J. Foster (Essex,WK), A. Giles (Warwickshire), D. Gough (Yorkshire), M. Hoggard (Yorkshire), B. Hollioake (Surrey), N. Knight (Warwickshire), O. Shah (Middlesex), J. Snape (Gloucestershire), G. Thorpe (Surrey), M. Trescothick (Somerset), M. Vaughan (Yorkshire), C. White (Yorkshire).

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The parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka may force changes to some of the games during the forthcoming West Indies tour of Sri Lanka. One Test match and the one-day internationals involving West Indies and Zimbabwe may have to be put off until after a new government is sworn in after the December 5 polls.
Talks were being held with police and other local authorities to work out a definite schedule after elections were called for last week. The West Indies begin their tour of Sri Lanka from November 4 and play three Test matches and stay on for a one day international series with Zimbabwe who then stay on till in January for three Test matches.

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The three men who assaulted Marlon Black outside a nightclub in Australia early last year were sentenced to three years in jail.
The three men chased Black for over a kilometer and then punched and kicked him after he fell to the ground.
The Judge ruling that it was a savage and vicious attack made without reason, recommended a non-parole period of 12 months for all three. In the meanwhile, Black has been out of cricket action and is just recovering from the multiple injuries he suffered.

Irani Trophy

It took another gem of an innings from VVS Laxman to help guide his side Rest Of India to a 6 wicket win over Baroda on the last day of the Irani Trophy at Nagpur yesteday.
Beginning the 5th day precariously poised at 60-3 Laxman and Dinesh Mongia played safe yet attractive cricket to ensure they came within striking range of the target.
Laxman was eventually out for 148 but not before the two had added 217 for the 4th wicket. Dinesh Mongia followed up his first innings score of 125 with an unbeaten 90.

SCORES AT A GLANCE

Standard Bank Triangular Series
India vs Kenya (6th match)
Played at Port Elizabeth
Toss: Kenya
Kenya: 246-6 in 50 overs (K Otieno 64, R Shah 50, T Odoyo 51; Harbhajan Singh 2-38)
India: 176 in 46.4 overs (JJ Martin 36, H Singh37; J Angara 3-30, T Odoyo 3-41)
Result: Kenya won by 70 runs
Man of the match: Joeseph Angara (Ken)

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POINTS TABLE

Teams	P	W	L	T	Points	Bonus	Total
South Africa	4	3	1	-	12	1	13
India	4	2	2	-	8	1	9
Kenya	4	-1	3	-	4	1	5

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Irani Trophy (4th day)
Baroda vs Rest Of India at Nagpur
Toss: Rest Of India
Baroda:
318 (CC Williams 133, N Mongia 31, Himanshu Jadhav 43, Rakesh Patel 44; Sarandeep Singh 5-78).
285 (C Williams 83, N Mongia 52, Himanshu Jadhav 42, IK Pathan 32; Sarandeep Singh 3-75)
Rest of India:
331 (V Mane 48, Dinesh Mongia 125, Ajay Ratra 61; V Buch 5-94, IK Pathan 3-95) 60-3 (VVS Laxman 26 not out, D Mongia 6 not out)
Rest of India need 212 runs to win on the final day with 7 wickets in hand

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