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  Apr 25, 2002 Cricket | Feedback




India's tour of West Indies

Indian legend Bishen Bedi says current Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly must avoid clinging onto a 1-0 series lead against the West Indies with three Tests to go.

Bedi was captain of the last Indian side to win a Test in the Caribbean - way back in 1976. But the four-Test series was ultimately lost 2-1 in the deciding match in Jamaica.

Now Bedi reckons Ganguly must guard against becoming overly-defensive, and making the same mistake he did as captain 26 years ago.

India defeated the West Indies by 37 runs on Tuesday in Trinidad. But fomer left-arm spinner Bedi warned: "Ganguly must not go into a defensive shell. That would enable the West Indies to bounce back."

New Zealand's tour of Pakistan

Second one-day international, Rawalpindi:
Pakistan 278-7 (47.1 overs) beat New Zealand 277-5 (50 overs) by three wickets.

A run-a-ball 86 from Abdur Razzaq saw Pakistan overhaul a daunting target of 278 to take a second victory over New Zealand, by three wickets in Rawalpindi.

After the all-rounder was dismissed, bowled by Scott Styris, and quickly followed by Wasim Akram, it was left to the tail to take Pakistan home.

Saqlain Mushtaq hit the winning runs in the 48th over, aided by a brisk 25 from wicket-keeper Rashid Latif.

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Pakistan captain Waqar Younis praised his side's teamwork after their three wicket victory over New Zealand in the second one-day international gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Abdur Razzaq hit 86 and Younis Khan made 70 as the hosts overhauled New Zealand's 277 for five with more than two overs to spare on Wednesday.

"We just had to bat for the whole of 50 overs because the wicket was good for batting," Waqar said.

"We are playing as a team and everyone is putting in his best." The final match of the series takes place in Lahore and Waqar said changes could be made after a lethargic display of bowling.

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Nathan Astle has been ruled out of the remainder of the Pakistan tour with a knee injury and will be replaced by Mathew Sinclair.

Astle, regarded as the best batsman in the Kiwi side, had been increasingly troubled by his left knee since the one-day tournament in Sharjah.

After a scan by specialists in Pakistan on Wednesday, he was diagnosed with a tear to the patella tendon.

New Zealand Cricket Operations Manager John Reid said Astle would return home as soon as possible for examination and treatment. "Nathan will take no further part in the series," said Reid.

Miscellaneous

Sir Garfield Sobers is one of a number of sporting personalities that will attempt a hole-in-one this summer to raise £1m for Sport Relief.

The cricket legend, who once hit a maximum 36 runs from an over, will try and take the absolute minimum number of shots at the Hanbury Manor Golf Open on 13 July.

Other stars involved include Olympian hero Sir Steve Redgrave and former Spurs and Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings.

They will all get three attempts each at the par three 141 yard 4th hole at the Jack Nicklaus designed championship course which hosted the English Open from 1997-1999.

The stars' attempts will be sponsored at £100 a hit (or more) by companies and individuals.

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Alex Tudor boosted his chances of a Test recall by adding four wickets to an already burgeoning season's tally as he hustled out Yorkshire for 140.

Tudor, fresh from an encouraging winter with England's Academy side under Rodney Marsh's stewardship, was running in with increased confidence at Headingley.

Figures of four for 31 will have done Tudor's hopes of a Test recall no harm at all.

Surrey benefited handsomely too and were totally in control of proceedings by the time Mark Butcher (53no) and Ian Ward (51no) had put 115 without loss on the board in their team's first innings.

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