NatWest series (India, Sri Lanka and England)

Game Eight, The Oval
India 165-9 (29.1 of 32 overs) lost to England 229-8 by 64 runs.

Ronnie Irani, who had produced solid if unspectacular performances for his country to date in the series, took five wickets and hit a rapid 50 in an excellent display by England.

It was the second time in the series that England had been forced to shoehorn a match into a 32-overs-a-side contest.

On the first occasion, at Headingley, Sanath Jayausriya's brilliant century was eclipsed by superb hitting from all England's players as they snatched a win at the death.

But in this match, England were on top from the moment Irani came on to dismiss Virender Sehwag in his first over.

Scorecard | Match report | Slide show

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England's man-of-the-match Ronnie Irani is hoping to repeat his heroics at The Oval in Saturday's NatWest Series final against India at Lord's.

On Tuesday, the Essex all-rounder hit 53 in England's total of 229 for eight and then took five for 26, also claiming a catch to end the Indian innings on 165 for a 64-run victory.

"It really went well for England today(Tuesday) and hopefully it will on Saturday as well," Irani said. "You want to achieve and you know at the highest level you have responsibility wherever you are asked to bat.

"I knew these last two games, today(Tuesday) and Saturday, were very important to me, I wanted a big performance.

"I wasn't going to confess that publicly but deep down inside it was what I wanted. "This was going to happen, it was what I wanted to happen - a big game and a big performance.

"As a high achiever that is what you have to aim for. You don't want to be picked for England just to do a job.

"You want to be achieving at the highest level and winning games for your country and for everyone in that dressing room that is what it's about."

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England captain Nasser Hussain said again that he would not make a decision about his international future until after the winter Ashes tour of Australia and the subsequent World Cup in South Africa.

Hussain gave a hint that he might step down after the World Cup earlier in the year.

And while he waited for the rain to cease at The Oval and allow England's triangular one-day series match against India to get underway, Hussain insisted that England's recent improved form had not changed his mind.

"I looked at the itinerary a year ago and I said I didn't want to opt out of any of it, I wanted to do everything up to the World Cup and I would look at it again then," he explained.

"I'm really enjoying the job, I enjoyed the tours to India and New Zealand and we have played some really good cricket over the last few years.

World cup 2003

The African National Congress Youth League threatened to disrupt the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, following the United Cricket Board's decision to scrap the quota system.

This "wayward behaviour" by the UCB was a "clear act of defiance and crude indication of its lack of commitment" to the transformation of South African cricket, the league said in a statement.

"It is a sad and shameful reflection that merely eight years into our democratic transformation we still have only two African players who are not even regulars in the national team, and the UCB decides to unceremoniously close the chapter in the transformation of cricket.

"The ANC Youth League finds the UCB decision to concentrate resources only 'in areas where the game is traditionally strong' as a plain and deliberate way of excluding the previously disadvantaged from the game," the statement said.

Miscellaneous

A Christian lifestyle newspaper for men, has launched a campaign to have the cricket life ban imposed on former South African captain Hansie Cronje posthumously lifted.

The publication, with a large photograph of Cronje on the front page of its July issue, said the lifting of the ban must be seen as a sign of forgiveness.

"Not because Hansie was innocent but rather because he has acknowledged his wrongs and asked for forgiveness," said the paper.

Cronje died in a plane crash near George on June 1.

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South African Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour has requested a meeting with the country's United Cricket Board following the scrapping of the racial quota system for senior cricket.

The minister is set to meet UCB chief executive Gerald Majola and president Percy Sonn in Pretoria on Wednesday, but has yet to make public comment on the decision.

South Africa's national team and senior provincial sides will be picked entirely on merit from now on, although quotas will still be applied at provincial B team level and in junior representative games.

"We have seen enough real change to be confident that these sides can be selected on merit and that we have enough real quality players of colour that their presence in these senior teams no longer needs to be dictated by a quota system," Sonn explained.

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Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove has admitted Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne is unlikely to return to the Rose Bowl next season.

Bransgrove wanted to sign Warne, 32, for the next two years and met the Australian Test star for talks at the weekend.

Warne took 70 wickets during his one season with Hampshire in 2000 and was keen to return to county cricket next summer.

But Bransgrove has revealed a move is unlikely to take place because Warne would be required by Australia for next season and would be unavailable for the whole campaign.

Bransgrove said: "Shane would love to come back but he is still very much part of Australia's international side and we don't want overseas players disappearing during the summer.

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