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The Benson & Hedges Cup semi-finals and the Norwich Union League matches played this week were both affected by the weather, with one B&H semi-final having to use the reserve day and a full Norwich Union round being washed out.Allan Donald after arriving back from South Africa where he, Shaun Pollock and Bob Woolmer attended the Cronje funeral, was on the losing side for Worcestershire as Essex ran away with the game. Set to make 263 for the win, Donald ending on 0/54, the match was suspended on day one with Worcestershire on 26/4. They never recovered from this eventually being bowled out for 124 as the game resumed the following day. Donald managed 10 with the bat.Pollock and Neil Carter played a major part in a nail biter in Warwickshire one wicket win over Lancashire. Pollock and Carter being trusted with the new ball returned figures of 4/27 and 3/43 respectively as Lancashire put on 211/9 in their 50 overs. Pollock scored 22 but it was Carter who struck his first and last ball of the match for four to register the win.The final will be played between Essex and Warwickshire at Lords on 22 June 2002.The Norwich Union round that was completed saw Donald on the winning side as he made his debut this English season taking 2/27 as Worcestershire beat Yorkshire.Pollock 3/10 and Carter 5/31 forming a good opening partnership saw Worcestershire beat Durham with both players contributing with the bat as well. Cater scoring 24 and Pollock ending on 29 not out.Sussex beat a high riding Essex with Mark Davis scoring three and taking 3/40.Nottinghamshire went down to Kent with the South Africans of Boje 2/34, Kevin Pieterson 2/29 and Greg Smith 1/26 taking the only Kent wickets to fall. A 25 for Boje, a 24 for Pieterson and a duck from Smith was not enough to ensure a win.Hampshire needing 2 runs in the last over secured a win against Middlesex with Neil Johnson 26 and 2/35 and Pothas 39 not out helping their team to the win. Sven Koenig in good form for Middlesex this season only managed 24 with the bat.

Hampshire Hawks’ dismal season ended on a high note with an exciting 6 wicket victory over the Northamptonshire Steelbacks to bring the curtain down on The Rose Bowl Season. John Francis hit his first NUL century to guide his team home.Robin Smith captaining Hampshire for the last time, after the decision to hand over the reigns to Shane Warne in 2003, lost the toss, and on a sunny afternoon in front of a sizable crowd, the Steelbacks chose to bat first.Mark Powell and David Sales gave the innings a bright start with a century partnership, after Rob White had been dismissed sky-ing James Tomlinson to Alan Mullally at long leg.Powell played across a ball from Lawrence Prittipaul to be trapped lbw after hitting four boundaries in his 64, and Sales attempted an extravagant drive to be well caught by Will Kendall over his head. His 93 included a hugh six over long on and 13 fours.Jeff Cook and Tony Penberthy upped the tempo to post a stiff target of 286 for victory at 6.3 per over.Robin Smith went early when he drove a widish ball from Carl Greenidge to the wicket-keeper, the Neil Johnson who is still not sure whether he will be with Hampshire next season and John Crawley preparing for the Ashes tour put together 98 well worked runs. On Crawley’s dismissal Johnson was joined by John Francis for another useful stand.When Johnson finally fell to the Steelbacks skipper, the home side were still looking at 8 runs per over. This seemed to hold no fears as Will Kendall joined Francis in an entertaining stand that saw the two youngsters running between the wickets like gazelles, making easy singles into twos and putting the fielders under pressure. Kendall finally lost his wicket for a run-a-ball 31, but his inning was worth far more in terms of partnership of 99.

John Francis completed a maiden century to the delight of the crowd who had enjoyed an innings despite the turn of the weather which meant spectators scurrying for coats as the September evening turned cold. He struck 103* in just 83 balls with eight fours and two sixes.Hampshire retained the 7th spot in Division II, thus guaranteeing a home tie in the 2003 Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Trophy 3rd Round against Sussex.

Tasmanian cricket today consummated its smash and grab raid on boom allrounder Shane Watson by signing the 19-year-old Queenslander to a three-year contract.Watson’s signing completes a sequence of events unique in Australian cricket – though almost certain to be repeated under aliberalised structure which aims to spread talent more evenly around the country.The key to the capture of Watson – widely regarded as Australia’s brightest teenage talent and who aims to be an internationalallrounder in the mould of South African Jacques Kallis – was a rule change before the start of last season which the TasmaniaCricket Association was the first to exploit.While previously Australian Cricket Academy players had to return to their home state for a year, the change left them freeagents.Watson first came to Tasmanian attention when state coach Greg Shipperd saw him at a bowling clinic in Adelaide last spring.Shipperd’s interest deepened when Tasmania played the Academy in a pre-season game in Adelaide and was confirmed whenWatson came to Hobart to play against the Tasmanian seconds.TCA chief executive David Johnston then put a proposition to Watson: Come to Hobart and you’ll go straight into theTasmanian team – though how long you stay will depend on performance.It was sealed with a handshake, with no commitment from either side beyond the end of the season.Watson came and, by coincidence, made his debut against his home state which, has been less than gracious about the matter,although it has made no serious effort to lure its wayward son home.”It was really a ring of fire,” Watson said.”But it was the best thing I’ve ever done, playing good cricket against my home state, the best state in Australia.”Tasmania got walloped but Watson, batting at No.7, was undefeated in both innings.From there he went from strength to strength.By the last game, against South Australia, the TCA knew it wanted him long-term.It flew his parents to Hobart and Watson, now batting at No.4, hit his maiden first class century.He finished his abbreviated first class season with 309 runs from eight innings at 51.50 and, though used sparingly, took 11wickets at 26.27.With his considerable help, Tasmania enjoyed a late season renaissance, jumping from last to third on the Pura Cup table.Watson said coming to Tasmania, where he could bat at four or five and be a first or second change bowler, was the bestmove for his career.”And Tasmania has been so good to me,” he said.Johnston said he knew of no other state recruiting an Academy player from another state.But he had no doubt it would happen more.Johnston said it was part of a developing structure, which also involved transfer lists and greater freedom for players and statesto negotiate contracts.While it had none of the compulsions of the football draft, its effect was likely to be similar in spreading talent more evenlyaround the country.”There probably will be more player movement,” Johnston said.”For Australian cricket, it’s important to have the best 66 players playing first class cricket.”That’s an aim of the ACB, having the best players playing as much as possible.”Of course, greater freedom cuts both ways.The TCA, while rejoicing over Watson, is battling to keep its talented but inconsistent batsman Michael Di Venuto, who isbeing wooed by South Australia.Johnston said Di Venuto, who is playing for Derbyshire, has promised a decision tomorrow.

Dilhara Fernando, Sri Lanka’s quickest pace bowler, has been withdrawn from Sri Lanka’s squad for Sharjah after suffering from fresh back pains in his lower back.Fernando had just recovered from a stress fracture in his back after six months out of the game when he complained of soreness in his second game back for the Sinhalese Sports Club.The national selectors are hopeful that he will recover sufficiently over the next four weeks to tour England, where his extra pace will prove a valuable weapon on the seamer friendly surfaces expected.Eric Upashantha, who has played 12 ODIs, comes into the squad as his replacement.Sri Lanka depart for Sharjah on Thursday for the biannual traingular that also includes Pakistan and New Zealand.

Cape Town, Jan 19 – Western Province had to work hard for a narrowfive-run win over their less glamourous neighbours, Boland, and in theprocess keep alive their faint hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals ofthe Standard Bank Cup.It couldn’t have come much closer for Province, who bowled and fieldedextremely well to defend a total which had always looked vulnerable. Thesides were playing on the same strip on which South African rattled upnearly 300 just over a week ago, and the home side’s failure evern to pass200 looked to have signalled the end of their Cup hopes.Defending champions Boland will rue a missed opportunity in the lion’sden of Newlands, but their biggest disappointment will be the fact that thedefence of their title ended with so much of the season still remaining.With the exception of Justin Ontong with 66, their batsmen struggled asProvince’s spin atack of Paul Adams and Claude Henderson took a grip on thematch.Even so, a belligerent career-best 27 from Neil Carter took Boland towithin a couple of lusty blows of victory, but when he was brilliantlycaught by vice-captain Alan Dawson at the second attempt, the equation hadbecome too great an ask.Earlier Province had made a miserable start as they looked to capitaliseon winning the toss – always a helping hand in a day/night game at Newlands.Indeed if it were not for a fifth wicket partnership of 43 between AshwellPrince and Lloyd Ferreira, the target could have been so much less for thevisitors. Prince, who averages close to 70 in domestic limited overs cricketthis year, earned the man-of-the-match award for his crucial 61.

The stage, the cast and the mission remain the same, but theproduction takes on a complete transformation.Through the window go white clothing, red balls, white sightscreensand several orthodox tactics the purists relish.In come coloured uniforms, white balls, black sightscreens and methodsof run-scoring that might not be found in cricket manuals.The five-match Test series between West Indies and South Africa isover and the attention switches to the series of seven One-DayInternationals starting here today.The emotion that gripped Sabina Park on Monday in the midst ofCourtney Walsh’s final Test appearance and the West Indies’ first Testwin since June is certain to disappear, but it doesn’t mean there willbe a shortage of excitement.CompetitiveAnd if the preceding Test series can be used as a guide, one canexpect a similarly competitive showdown in the shorter matches.The two sides have had just a few days to rest and recuperatefollowing 25 days of absorbing cricket spread over two months, andneither had any extended preparation in the abbreviated form of thegame in the build-up to this series.West Indies did not have any match practice at all, while South Africaengaged Jamaica in a 50-overs-a-side match three days ago. Neitherside, however, is complaining.We’ve been on the road for a little while. We had five Test matches,all going down to the wire and the guys deserved a little break beforecoming into seven One-Dayers, West Indies captain Carl Hooperresponded when asked if there was a need for a more extensive warm-up.It was a view echoed by his opposite number, Shaun Pollock.We played so much cricket on this tour and the one warm-up match wasperfect, he said.But he did admit it is a bit of a challenge to adjust to the demandsof the limited-overs game in such a short period.It is part and parcel of international cricket these days, Pollocksaid. We do it all the time back home.South Africa boast of an incredible recent limited-overs record thatis highlighted by ten wins in their last 11 matches, while the WestIndies’ is not so encouraging.In fact, since the 1999 World Cup, South Africa’s record is 31 winsagainst 16 defeats in 49 matches. On the other hand, West Indies lost27 matches in that period and won 16 times in 45 encounters.ExperienceHooper, however, is drawing on the experience of three years ago ontheir tour of South Africa even though the West Indies lost the series6-1.There were a number of One-Day games that were very, very close, hesaid. We were more competitive in the One-Day games than in the Testmatches.His positive outlook also stems from the fact that the West Indiesalmost matched South Africa in the recent Test series which thevisitors won 2-1.We were competitive in the Test matches and hopefully we can take thelast Test win into the One-Day series. It should be competitive and Iexpect the series to be a close one.Hooper was certain that he knew what was required to be just aseffective over the next few weeks.The only concern we have is being able to put all three aspects of ourgame together to have a good, disciplined performance.That’s what has been lacking in the past and hopefully we’ll try toget it right, Hooper said.Both sides have welcome additions who are ideally suited to this typeof cricket.Big-hitting JamaicanThe West Indies have brought in Ricardo Powell, the big-hittingJamaican who strikes the ball as hard as anyone in the game today.Also included is Antiguan seamer Kerry Jeremy, for his second One-DayInternational following his debut in Kenya last September.South Africa have an even more celebrated player. Jonty Rhodes, nowretired from Test cricket, is still arguably the finest cover fielderin the world and his worth is boosted by his busy middle-order battingand slick running between the wickets.Pollock reckoned it was vital that his side open with a victory.The first match of a series is always important. It’s nice to try andget up in it and try and set the tone for the rest of the series, hesaid.All-round depth is the key for South Africa.We’ve got a very balanced side. We bat all the way down and we’ve gota lot of guys who can contribute with the ball, Pollock said.That’s been our strength: the fact that we have guys contributing inall different areas.

ScorecardGerrie Snyman’s double-century put Namibia in a strong position at the end of the third day•ICC/Helge Schutz

A dominant double hundred by Namibia’s middle-order batsman Gerrie Snyman helped them gain a big lead over Kenya on the third day in Windhoek. Two strong partnerships formed the platform for Namibia’s huge first-innings total of 630 for 7 – the first between captain Sarel Burger and Craig Williams was worth 192, and the second between Snyman and Nicolaas Scholtz accounted for 172 runs. Kenya, largely through openers Irfan Karim and Alex Obanda, reduced the 326-run deficit to 217 by reaching 109 for 2 at stumps.Resuming at 343 for 4, Namibia lost wicketkeeper Raymond van Schoor for 21, but then were boosted by Snyman’s innings, as he built his unbeaten 201 not out with Scholtz, and later with Christi Viljoen and Louis Klazinga. Snyman took only 192 balls for his knock, hitting seven sixes, and added 45 runs in five overs with Klazinga for the eighth wicket before Namibia declared. Seamer Nelson Odhiambo finished with three wickets, after bowling 25 overs.Kenya started their second innings slowly, as their openers tried to build a base for a strong reply. Obanda departed with Kenya on 48, after which Karim did the bulk of scoring, ending with a half-century. The No. 3 batsman Duncan Allan was bowled 11 overs before stumps, leaving Kenya with a lot to do to erase their deficit.

Kumar Sangakkara will not be officially reprimanded by Sri Lanka Cricket after his public spat with the board. According to a statement from SLC, the parties had met and resolved their differences amicably.Sangakkara and SLC had sparred via the media and over email in the past week, after SLC asked Sangakkara to play for the Kandurata Maroons team in the Champions League T20, instead of his IPL franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad.Sangakkara’s eventual decision to represent Kandurata at the tournament will cost him US$140,000, and the manner in which the issue was played out publicly created bad blood between him and the Sri Lankan board.”Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that on an initiative of its president Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, Kumar Sangakkara met with the executive committee of SLC and had an open discussion today. All the differences and misunderstandings were resolved very cordially,” the statement said.After choosing to play for Kandurata, Sangakkara had alleged that the board deliberately misrepresented his situation, and put his loyalty to the country in doubt among the public. The board, represented through Dharmadasa, denied these claims.Sangakkara will begin training with the Kandurata side in the coming weeks. Their first match in the Champions League qualifiers is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on September 17.

Vijay Zol, the 18-year-old Maharashtra batsman, has been named in the India A squad for the long-format matches against the touring New Zealand A team. Zol, who has not played a first-class match thus far, has been prolific at the Under-19 level, scoring consecutive centuries against Sri Lanka in the recent youth-Test series.The team for the two unofficial Tests – one three-day and one four-day match – will be led by Mumbai allrounder Abhishek Nayar and includes a number of young players; Punjab batsman Jiwanjot Singh, Delhi’s Unmukt Chand, Gujarat’s Manprit Juneja and Madhya Pradesh spinner Jalaj Saxena among others.The squad for the three unofficial ODIs also includes consistent performers from the domestic scene. The side, led by Chand, the former Under-19 captain, also includes Robin Uthappa, who last played an ODI for India in 2008.All the matches of the series are scheduled to be played in Visakhapatnam and the tour kicks off with the three-day match starting August 31.India A Test squad: Abhishek Nayar (capt), Jiwanjot Singh, Unmukt Chand, Vijay Zol, Manprit Juneja, VA Jagadeesh, CM Gautam (wk), Dhawal Kulkarni, Imtiaz Ahmed, Aniket Choudhary, Shrikant Wagh, Jalaj Saxena, Rakesh Dhruv, Sarabjeet Ladda.India A ODI squad: Unmukt Chand (capt), Robin Uthappa, Aditya Tare (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Mandeep Singh, Ashok Menaria, Sanju Samson, Sachin Baby, Dhawal Kulkarni, Basant Mohanty, Sandeep Sharma, Shrikant Wagh, Rahul Sharma, Jalaj Saxena

Only one innings into his Ashes opening partnership with Chris Rogers, Shane Watson has likened it to the union with Simon Katich that represented the most productive phase of his career. Punishing in power and unimpeachably correct in technique, Watson felt so assured in his strokeplay with Rogers at the other end that he coshed a century before lunch against Worcestershire, ultimately finishing with 109.Watson also said that Rogers had proved a valuable ally in the middle, offering advice on English climes and also gee-ups whenever he felt the allrounder might have been flagging in concentration. Having never batted with Rogers before, it was not difficult to imagine Watson wondering why it had taken so long. Whatever the reasons, both can now make up for lost time in the Investec Ashes.”It’s great to be able to bat with Chris, it was my first experience of batting with him and we had a good start.” Watson said. “He’s certainly a very experienced and knowledgable cricketer and to be able to bat with him he certainly kept me going and just through how he’s able to sum up conditions and continue to provide his knowledge while we’re out batting.”I thought he gave me a few really good pointers out there, especially early on, with him understanding the English conditions even better than I do. My combination with Simon Katich in the past was maybe along similar sorts of lines so it was really nice to be able to get a good partnership going the first time we got a chance to bat together.”Batting alongside Katich in 15 Tests from mid-2009 to late 2010, Watson compiled his two Test centuries and a host of other sizeable scores, before injury and the start of Michael Clarke’s captaincy conspired to bring an end to Katich’s international career. Watson opened with Phillip Hughes before shifting down the order, but coveted the position now returned to him by the new coach, Darren Lehmann.”It brings out the best in my personality … it really does get me up and going,” Watson said. “Every time I go out to open the batting I know I’m going out to face a brand new ball and it’s always going to be doing something whether it’s swing or seam. The bowlers are also at their freshest as well. It certainly gets my blood going and gets my mind switched on immediately as well.”That switching on appeared to happen the moment he walked out to bat first at Taunton last week, a swift 90 followed up by an even more brazen display at New Road. While the preceding six months had been largely barren for Watson as a first-class player, he said the period had helped him develop a few elements of his batting and may now be reaping the benefits.”I felt like over the past six months, even though in Test cricket especially I haven’t been able to score the runs that I’ve wanted, the things I’ve been working on with my batting have been coming together,” he said. “I just hadn’t been able to put them into practice.”I definitely feel like in my game I’ve been able to iron out a few of the issues I’ve had over the previous year or so. You never know, it’s not going to guarantee me success, that’s for sure, but I feel batting-wise I’m in a really good place.”