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Ireland captain Heather Whelan will sit out the three-ODI series with West Indies this month as she is expecting a child. Isobel Joyce will lead the side for the first time for the series which begins on June 24 and also includes a Twenty20, with Nicki Coffey her vice captain. The former skipper Clare Shillington has also been named in the 12-player squad.West Indies had managed to hastily arrange a tour of Ireland, England and Netherlands this summer in order to keep their World Cup ambitions on track. Although they had qualified for next year’s tournament in Australia – the ultimate prize in women’s cricket – they were in danger of missing out through having not played enough games.The European nations have stepped in to help and the matches will be useful experience for Ireland, who have missed out on both the World Cup and the World Twenty20 in England. Only the teams who qualified for the World Cup got to play in Twenty20 competition, and Ireland failed in the qualifiers in South Africa earlier this year.Squad Emma Beamish, Jean Carroll (wk), Nicki Coffey, Marianne Herbert, Cecelia Joyce, Amy Kenealy, Joanne McKinley, Ciara Metcalfe, Cathy Murphy, Eimear Richardson, Melissa Scott-Hayward, Clare Shillington.

Yorkshire stand in the way of Somerset’s bid to retain the Cheltenham andGloucester Trophy, as both sides seek solace in Saturday’s showpiece Lord’s final after suffering disappointing seasons.Yorkshire may have a fanatical following, but the outlook at Headingley isgloomy. With the club struggling financially it is believed that the Tykes will be forced to cut their staff in the close season. Stuck to the bottom of the Frizzell County Championship – which they won so convincingly last year – Yorkshire also look destined for mid-table mediocrity in the Norwich Union League. A win at Lord’s would do much to lift the gloom.Such is the enthusiasm for the game in the West Country that Somerset’s ticket allocation was sold out by August 1. Though they have an excellent squad on paper, Somerset have not lived up to their potential. Already relegated to Division Two of the Norwich Union League, they are in danger of suffering the same fate in the Championship.In spite of such form, it is expected that the teams will provide a memorable final. A full house is expected, with England’s centrally-contracted players available. Yorkshire are full of star names, while Somerset’s big-hitters, led by the in form Ian Blackwell, are capable of destroying any attack. Veterans Peter Bowler and Michael Burns add experience to the mix, with young seamer Matthew Bulbeck always dangerous.Injury could prevent Marcus Trescothick from making the final, while Craig White is desperate to play, and could feature as just a batsman. Trescothick’s broken thumb is taking longer to heal than expected.White has been in top form for the white rose county, turning in a superball-round performance in the semi-final victory over Surrey. He claimed 4-35before blasting a dismissive century in an easy win. Academy graduate Matthew Wood has performed well in the competition, and is likely to keep his opening spot despite the return of Michael Vaughan.Trescothick’s flashing blade made a rare appearance at Taunton for Somerset’s fourth-round clash with Hampshire. He hit a powerful century to lead his side to victory before breaking `that thumb’ after emerging second best from a battle with Graeme Hick’s cover drive.”Marcus has had plenty of nets,” said Somerset coach Kevin Shine. “We brought him up to Blackpool to net him and prepare him and we will make a final decision tomorrow morning – at the moment it’s reasonably bright for him, but you never can tell.”Trescothick is equally keen to play, stressing: “This game is the highlight of the domestic season. We’ve done well to get there and I am desperate to beinvolved. It’s a big game to make a comeback in, but I have no qualms about that.”Physically I’ve been in the nets and hitting the ball well so I feel I can do myself justice in the final. The only time I have a problem is if I hit the ball in the wrong place or mis-time it but the jarring is not that bad.”Luckily for Somerset, Keith Parsons had the game of his life at Worcester, the all-rounder top scoring with 121 as the visitors chased down 272. Parsons’ aggressive batting and solid seamers helped the Cidermen to victory against Leicestershire in last year’s final, and he is more than capable of a repeat dose.The match of the tournament though, was Somerset’s incredible semi-final with Kent. In front of a raucous crowd, Blackwell hammered 86 as Somerset reached 344. Only a late-order collapse halted Kent’s charge, the home side eventually winning by six runs.Yorkshire fans had their adrenaline shot in the quarter-final. Having beenunceremoniously dumped out of the Benson and Hedges Cup by Essex, Gary Fellows and Anthony McGrath helped to redress the balance at Chelmsford. McGrath made 72 and Fellows 68 to tie the match and progress by losing fewer wickets.Though Somerset can rely on Jamie Cox’s presence, Darren Lehmann misses out for Yorkshire. Lehmann’s replacement is ideal, the phlegmatic Matthew Elliott sure to stand firm. Many will judge him by how he fares in tomorrow’s final, on his return to the ground where he made his maiden Test hundred five years ago.It is a high-pressure assignment, but Elliott is relishing the prospect. As well as his Test hundred he still remembers a Benson and Hedges Cup finaldefeat for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire two years ago – and he wants to setthe record straight.”I see that I have good memories from Lord’s but also some I want to make upfor,” he said. “It is not nice to get so close as we did at Glamorgan and then not win – so there is a lot for me to prove this time.”It is a great chance for me and for Yorkshire to make something of the last weeks of the season. There is a lot to be done, both against Somerset and in the county championship. But this Yorkshire team has a lot of talent in it.”Matthew Hoggard leads a much-lauded seam attack, with Chris Silverwood bowling particularly quickly. Silverwood, on the fringes of the England set-up, has also turned himself into a furious pinch-hitter.With Hoggard and Andy Caddick hoping to suppress two explosive batting orders, a classic is a distinct possibility. Somerset may have a more popular following in cricket circles, but perhaps, in this miserable year, even the most ardent Lancastrian might wish Yorkshire a little luck.

LOGAN CUP RECORDS (FIRST-CLASS): MASHONALAND v MIDLANDS

RESULTS OF MATCHES PLAYED1999/2000: At Harare Sports Club; 31 March, 1 April 2000.MASHONALAND 165 and 173/8 dec.MIDLANDS 31 (A J Mackay 6/16) and 56 (A J Mackay 5/19).Mashonaland won by 251 runs.2000/01: At Kwekwe Sports Club; 30, 31 March, 1 April 2001.MASHONALAND 357/7 dec.MIDLANDS 92 (B C Strang 5/13) and 222 (T J Friend 115; E A Brandes 5/19).Mashonaland won by an innings and 43 runs.2001/02: At Harare Sports Club; 22, 23, 24 March 2002.MASHONALAND 329 (C N Evans 163) and 263/8 dec (R W Price 5/68).MIDLANDS 211 and 133.Mashonaland won by 248 runs.Total: Played: 3Won by Mashonaland 3Won by Midlands 0Drawn: 0HIGHEST TOTALSBy Mashonaland: 357/7 dec Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01By Midlands: 222 Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01LOWEST TOTALSBy Mashonaland: 165 Harare Sports Club 1999/2000By Midlands: 31 ) Harare Sports Club 1999/200056 )92 Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01HIGHEST FOURTH-INNINGS TOTALSFor Mashonaland:To win: no instancesTo lose: no instancesTo draw: no instancesFor Midlands:To win: no instancesTo lose: 133 Harare Sports Club 2001/02To draw: no instancesHIGHEST MATCH AGGREGATES936 runs/37 wkts Mashonaland (329 and 263/8 dec) beat Midlands(211 and 133) by 248 runs, at Harare Sports Club 2001/02(Midlands batted one man short in the second innings)LOWEST COMPLETED MATCH AGGREGATES425 runs/38 wkts Mashonaland (165 and 173/8 dec) beat Midlands(31 and 56) by 251 runs, at Harare Sports Club 1999/2000LARGEST MARGINS OF VICTORYFor Mashonaland:innings and 43 runs Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01251 runs Harare Sports Club 1999/2000248 runs Harare Sports Club 2001/02For Midlands:no instancesBATTING RECORDSCENTURIES163 C N Evans (Mash) Harare Sports Club 2001/02115 T J Friend (Mid) Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01200 RUNS IN MATCHES BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMSCareer M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50C N Evans (Mash) 1999/00-2001/02 3 5 1 325 163 81.25 1 1Best by Midlands: 147 (av. 73.50), by T J Friend4 OR MORE SIXES IN AN INNINGS7 C N Evans (163) for Mashonaland, at Harare Sports Club 2001/024 G W Flower (83) for Mashonaland, at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/0115 OR MORE BOUNDARIES IN AN INNINGS26 (19×4, 7×6) C N Evans (163), for Mashonaland, at Harare SC 2001/0218 (17×4, 1×6) T J Friend (115), for Midlands, at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01BATSMEN SCORING 50% OR MORE OF A COMPLETED INNINGS TOTALFor Mashonaland:No instancesFor Midlands:51.87% J M Cornford (69* of 133), at Harare Sports Club 2001/0251.80% T J Friend (115 of 222), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01HIGHEST SCORE IN BOTH INNINGS OF A MATCHFor Mashonaland:No instancesFor Midlands:T J Friend (32/92 and 115/222), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01HIGHEST PARTNERSHIPS (including all century partnerships)For Mashonaland:1st: 88 G J Rennie (37) and H Masakadza (85), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/012nd: 93 H Masakadza (85) and G W Flower (83), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/013rd: 30 K J Davies (45) and D J Peacock (22), at Harare Sports Club 1999/20004th: 92 B G Rogers (56) and C N Evans (163), at Harare Sports Club 2001/025th: 31 C N Evans (36) and D J R Campbell (19), at Harare Sports Club 1999/20006th: 68 C N Evans (163) and N B Mahwire (22), at Harare Sports Club 2001/027th: 106 B G Rogers (80) and D J R Campbell (61), at Harare Sports Club 2001/028th: 59* C N Evans (73*) and E A Brandes (24*), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/019th: 3 E Z Matambanadzo (0) and G du Plessis (3*), at Harare Sports Club 1999/200010th: 77 C N Evans (163) and B T Watambwa (14*), at Harare Sports Club 2001/02For Midlands:1st: 5 T Duffin (3) and L K Mutyambizi (3), at Harare Sports Club 2001/022nd: 16 M J Vaughan-Davies (7) and C A Grant (7), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/013rd: 22 L S Malloch-Brown (20) and K M Connelly (10), at Harare SC 1999/20004th: 36 S M Ervine (12) and D P Viljoen (78), at Harare Sports Club 2001/025th: 66 D P Viljoen (78) and J M Cornford (28), at Harare Sports Club 2001/026th: 108 T J Friend (115) and C Delport (44), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/017th: 68 T J Friend (115) and B M Vaughan-Davies (21), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/018th: 43 D P Viljoen (78) and C Macmillan (35), at Harare Sports Club 2001/029th: 43 J M Cornford (69*) and E C Rainsford (11), at Harare Sports Club 2001/0210th: 21 D T Hondo (29*) and C J Sanders (8), at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01BOWLING RECORDSFIVE WICKETS IN AN INNINGSFor Mashonaland:6/16 A J Mackay (6.5-2-16-6) ) Harare Sports Club 1999/20005/19 A J Mackay (10-6-19-5) )5/13 B C Strang (9-1-13-5) Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/015/19 E A Brandes (14.4-9-19-5) Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01For Midlands:5/68 R W Price (27.4-6-68-5) Harare Sports Club 2001/02TEN WICKETS IN A MATCHFor Mashonaland:11/35 (6/16 & 5/19) A J Mackay Harare Sports Club 1999/2000For Midlands:No instances. Best: 6/147 (1/79 & 5/68), by R W Price, at Harare Sports Club, 2001/02MOST OVERS IN AN INNINGSFor Mashonaland:23 (23-7-56-3) B C Strang, at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01For Midlands:39 (39-10-110-2) R W Price, at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01MOST OVERS IN A MATCHFor Mashonaland:32 (32-8-69-8) B C Strang, at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01For Midlands:46.4 (46.4-9-147-6) R W Price, at Harare Sports Club 2001/02MOST RUNS CONCEDED IN AN INNINGSFor Mashonaland:57 (12-1-57-4) B T Watambwa, at Harare Sports Club 2001/02For Midlands:110 (39-10-110-2) R W Price, at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01MOST RUNS CONCEDED IN A MATCHFor Mashonaland:101 (29.2-3-101-6) B T Watambwa, at Harare Sports Club 2001/02For Midlands:147 (46.4-9-147-6) R W Price, at Harare Sports Club 2001/02MOST MAIDEN OVERS IN AN INNINGSFor Mashonaland:9 (14.4-9-19-5) E A Brandes, at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01For Midlands:10 (39-10-110-2) R W Price, at Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/0110 WICKETS IN MATCHES BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMSCareer M O Mdns R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMA J Mackay (Mash) 1999/00-2001/02 3 50.5 17 154 14 11.00 6/16 2 1R W Price (Mid) 1999/00-2001/02 3 98.4 23 277 13 21.30 5/68 1 -B T Watambwa (Mash) 1999/00-2001/02 2 38.2 6 122 10 12.20 4/15 – -ALL-ROUND RECORDS50 RUNS AND 5 WICKETS IN A MATCHNo instances.100 RUNS AND 10 WICKETS IN MATCHES BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMSNo instances.WICKET-KEEPING RECORDS4 OR MORE DISMISSALS IN AN INNINGSFor Mashonaland:4 (all ct) D J R Campbell, at Harare Sports Club 1999/2000For Midlands:No instances. Best 3 (all ct), by E R Marillier5 OR MORE DISMISSALS IN A MATCHFor Mashonaland:No instances. Best 4 (all ct), by D J R CampbellFor Midlands:No instances. Best 4 (all ct), by E R MarillierMOST DISMISSALS IN MATCHES BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMSFor Mashonaland: 8 (all ct), by D J R Campbell, in 3 matches, 1999/2000-2001/02For Midlands: 4 (ct), by E R Marillier, in 1 match, 1999/2000FIELDING RECORDS3 OR MORE CATCHES IN AN INNINGSFor Mashonaland:3 A Flower Kwekwe Sports Club 2000/01For Midlands:No instances of more than 24 OR MORE CATCHES IN A MATCHFor Mashonaland:No instances. Best 3, by A FlowerFor Midlands:No instances. Best 3, by J M CornfordMOST CATCHES IN MATCHES BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMSFor Mashonaland: 4, by C N Evans, in 3 matches, 1999/2000-2001/02For Midlands: 3, by J M Cornford, in 1 match, 2001/02MISCELLANEOUSMOST MATCHES BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMSFor Mashonaland: 3, by D J R Campbell, C N Evans and A J MackayFor Midlands: 3, by R W PriceMOST CAPTAINCIESFor Mashonaland: 2, by A J MackayFor Midlands: no instances of more than 1

The first thing Stuart MacGill did after telling his wife he was going to retire was speak to his state and national team-mate Beau Casson. MacGill, who is disappointed he has to depart so soon, wanted Casson, the left-arm wrist-spinner, to have a bit more time so he could organise flying his family to the Caribbean.Casson is the only other specialist slow bowler in the squad, although Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke offer part-time options, and is in line to become the key benefactor in MacGill’s mid-series decision. “The most important thing for me was that Beau had an opportunity to get his family over,” MacGill said after play on the third day. The final Test begins in Barbados on June 12.While most of Australia worries about the state of the next rung of spin bowlers following the retirements of Shane Warne, Brad Hogg and MacGill over the past 18 months, MacGill is not concerned and rates Casson, who moved from Western Australia two seasons ago, at the top of the list. “The reason that New South Wales chased Beau so hard was because we think he can bowl and we think he can win games,” MacGill said. “He proved that this year.”Hopefully now that he’s coming into a great team, there are a lot of great players in that side who can help you along. The Caribbean is a good place to bowl spin and I’m sure he is going to do well.”Casson’s first reaction on hearing the news was to ask if MacGill wanted to change his mind. MacGill was a bit upset, so Casson gave him a hug. After 44 Tests, he doesn’t want to leave, but knows it is time.”I do have lots of goals in Test cricket and I do want to play, but if things aren’t working out my way I don’t want to be there,” he said. “I am thinking about every single component of my game at the moment way too much because I have to, just to stay in it. That means I’m not going to be performing at my peak.”He said he “couldn’t live with myself” if he let the team down and decided over the past week he had to step away. “I guess [I knew] since mid-way through the first Test and then unfortunately – the reason why I’ve done this mid-game – every single ball [on day two].” His control had gone and short deliveries were mixed with full ones on Saturday, but he recovered to remove Ramnaresh Sarwan with a fine legspinner on day three.”I like to make people proud,” he said. “I’m proud of myself, and I don’t want to take the shine off it. I’ve got a lot of good memories. I’d hate to chuck in another bad one.”MacGill’s time in Australian teams has rarely been quiet and he missed the team bus to the ground on Saturday. He arrived after play had started – Australia were batting after resuming at 259 for 3 – and walked in with Viv Richards, who told the Sydney Morning Herald the bowler looked “sheepish”. There was no suggestion he was hungover.”To be honest, it’s incredibly embarrassing for me, but it’s very, very simple,” MacGill said. “The alarm didn’t go off, I missed the bus, and I was late for work. It is significant, but that’s as simple as it was, and I do feel embarrassed, because I just don’t really need complications to be honest.”Caribbean tours are hard work. I love a night out, but very few of us cope well with tours over here, so it was actually a pretty early night for me. I can’t guarantee you I slept particularly well – I’ve got a lot on my mind – but I can’t even use that as a reason. I was sleeping, missed the bus and was late for work. It would be cooler if I had a better story.”The tight schedule of three games in less than three weeks has also affected MacGill’s 37-year-old body, with his knee and wrist the major problems. “The rigours of this particular tour have proven a little bit too much for me,” he said. “Playing against West Indies in the Caribbean is hard work. You’ve got some very good players who respond well to playing in this region, it’s hot, the pitches are unforgiving, the grounds are quite often small, and you’ve really got to earn your dollars.”Disappointingly for MacGill, he expects his final Test day on Tuesday to be one of his worst memories of a career that currently contains 208 wickets. “A lowlight will be walking off the ground at the end of this game,” he said. “Probably the hardest thing is I thought I had already played my last Test in Hobart, so it means that two of my last three Tests I’ve felt pretty low. I really do because I don’t want to stop playing, this is what I’m good at.”His highlights include taking nine wickets in his second Test, against Pakistan in 1998, and the 2003 trip to the West Indies. “Playing here on the last tour in Barbados, Steve Waugh said we were the only team in the world that could bowl them out twice and we did,” he said. “That was great, nine wickets. Nine seems to be my lucky number. If I get nine in this Test it would be a nice way to finish.”Cricket Australia will decide over the next month what to do with his contract for 2008-09. Playing for New South Wales for a couple of seasons remains in MacGill’s plans and he also has the second series of his wine programme Uncorked to film. “Maybe I’ll finally get a real job.”

Worcestershire Royals have gone clear at the top of the first division in the Norwich Union League with a five-wicket victory over Kent Spitfires at Canterbury.With Warwickshire Bears losing to Leicestershire Foxes it means the Royals have a four-point lead in the top division, while Gloucestershire Gladiators move to the top of the second division with victory over Middlesex Crusaders.A fine spell of bowling from both the Royals Australia-born seamers decimated the Spitfires top-order in the key match in the top division at Canterbury.Spitfires slipped to 52-5 before a brave counter-attack from Matt Walker (94) and Paul Nixon (60) saw them to a final total of 224-7. But on a good pitch, and facing Vikram Solanki, Graeme Hick and Ben Smith in fluent form, it proved an inadequate total, with the Royals coasting to victory with two overs to spare. Kent drop two places to fifth in the table.Warwickshire Bears were equal on points with the Royals before this round of games, but slipped up with a four-wicket loss against Leicestershire Foxes.Nick Knight hit a battling 86 for the Bears after struggling for form with England, but his team-mates were unable to offer much support and they were all out for 189.Phil DeFreitas followed up his 1-24 in his nine overs and run-out of the influential Ian Bell with a beautiful throw from mid-wicket, with a brisk 49 as the Foxes appeared to be galloping to victory. But the arrival of Mo Sheikh to the attack brought a mini collapse, with three wickets falling for one run.Michael Bevan isn’t a bad player to have coming in at five however, and in a left-handed partnership of 102 with Neil Burns, he saw the Foxes to victory with an unbeaten 66 and helped push them away from the relegation area.An injury ravaged Somerset Sabres attack (Caddick, Johnson, Rose, Francis, Tucker and Trego are all out, as well as skipper Jamie Cox) was put to the sword by Yorkshire Phoenix at Scarborough. Sabres were forced to re-sign ex-Yorkshire and England seamer Paul Jarvis, who celebrated his 37th birthday a couple of weeks ago and retired at the end of the 2000 season, but it did them little good.Phoenix’s batsmen posted a challenging 283-9, with Craig White’s 64 and Anthony McGrath’s 59 providing the main contributions.Poor Steffan Jones! Last week Worcestershire Royals hit him for 80 from nine overs, and it was little better today, as he conceded another 72.The Sabres never threatened in reply. Blackwell (30 in 19 balls) and Burns (49 in 40) flourished briefly, but an incisive spell from Craig White (5-19) ripped out their middle order, and they fell 135 runs short of their target. It will take a great effort if they are to avoid relegation now. Phoenix remain in secure mid-table.Elsewhere in the top division, Glamorgan Dragons travelled to Trent Bridge to play Nottinghamshire Outlaws. The match was dominated by a stand of 117 for the third wicket between David Hemp (55*) and Matthew Maynard (80* in 69 balls) as the Dragons made light of a victory target of 221, crossing the line in just the 37th over.Earlier, none of the Outlaws batsmen had managed to progress beyond 39, with Mike Kasprowicz taking 3-39. They remain deep in relegation trouble, while the Dragons, with games in hand, sustain their title dream.In the second division Mark Alleyne led the way for Gloucestershire Gladiators against Middlesex Crusaders at Southgate as his side hit a formidable 272-7. The former England all-rounder hit 93 in 83 balls, after Craig Spearman had struck a quick-fire 78, with Alex Gidman weighing in with a quick 48.An opening spell from James Averis brought three wickets when the Crusaders began their reply, with none of the batsmen able to flourish. They eventually fell short by 78 runs, with Paul Weekes unbeaten 53 receiving scant support.The Gladiators go top of the second division table, while the Crusaders are left trying to avoid the wooden spoon.Elsewhere, in what was, perhaps, the match of the day, Lancashire Lightning just sneaked home by one wicket against Derbyshire Scorpions at Blackpool.Kyle Hogg, who has just celebrated his 19th birthday and Peter Martin restricted the visitors to just 169 in their innings, thanks mainly to Steve Selwood, who hit 52 to help revive the Scorpions innings from 102-7.But when Lightning slipped to 82-6 in reply the Scorpions looked to be in pole position. David Byas stood firm with 78, however, adding 55 for the seventh wicket with Gary Yates to revive Lightning’s hopes. But when he fell with the score on 137 and Yates followed shortly afterwards, the game swung back in the Scorpions favour.Hogg helped add a further 23 in partnership with John Wood, but when he fell with three still needed, it was a breathless Stanley Park that witnessed Martin’s match-winning boundary from his first ball.Essex Eagles enjoyed a good start to their encounter with Hampshire Hawks at Southend, with Dakin and Robinson posting 48 for the first wicket. But the hosts then fell away, with Robinson and Flower falling to run outs, and Irani – just back from England duty – falling for a duck.A half-century from Aftab Habib carried them to a respectable 200, before Neil Johnson, opening for the Hawks struck a fine 83 to take his side to the verge of victory. But a late wobble saw them subside from 177-2 to 195-8, with James Middlebrook’s off-spin (4-33) proving crucial, and limiting the Hawks to just three off a last over in which they required nine.The Eagles move ahead of the Hawks in the promotion race, but with both teams enjoying a game or two in hand on their promotion rivals, they still have plenty to play for.Sussex Sharks clashed with Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Hove, with the home team desperate to lift themselves off the foot of the second division. The visitors won the toss and put the Sharks in, and though several of their batsmen made starts, none could progress beyond Chris Adams’ 41 in their final total of 185-6.The Steelbacks were progressing smoothly, but the wheels came off with the loss of four wickets with the score on 54. They struggled to come to terms with the setback and finally subsided to 147 all out, and a 38-run loss. This provided the Sharks with just the second win of their campaign, while the Steelbacks have done their promotion prospects no good at all.

Dale Benkenstein dominated this top of the table clash. KwaZulu-Natal, sent in to bat, stumbled to 48 for 4 halfway through the opening session, but lost just one more wicket in the day as Benkenstein shared successive century partnerships with first Jon Kent then the veteran Lance Klusener.Charl Willoughby justified Ackerman’s decision to field first as he struck with his sixth ball, having Ahmed Amla caught in the slips. He caught the big fish soon afterwards, bowling Jonty Rhodes and when Dawson had the promising Hashim Amla caught behind, the visitors were teetering on 29 for 3. Worse came when Telemachus had Doug Watson out hooking, but that was the limit of the home team’s success.From there, Kent and Benkenstein calmly set about rebuilding the innings with a partnership of 157 in 3 and a half hours, wresting the initiative from the home side as the teeth were gradually drawn from the attack. Apart from the odd play and miss, the batsmen continued comfortably and it came as a surprise when Kent drove a Willoughby delivery to extra cover.Klusener then played a restrained innings, but still hit the ball firmly and included nine boundaries in his 50, reached shortly before close of play. KZN passed the 300 mark in the 99th over, and finished with 4.12 batting bonus points to WP’s two for bowling, and remained firmly at the top of the Super Six log.

Wellington captain Matthew Bell continues to help his English league side New Farnley in its bid to win the Central Yorkshire League this year.At the weekend he scored 120 not out as his side reached 224/4 against Gildersome. Bell was dropped early on in his innings, and then once the side was past the 100-mark he survived a run out. He was out of his ground but the Gildersome wicket-keeper had removed the bails in his quest to get the ball.And while Bell was still short of his ground, the wicket-keeper failed to pull a stump from the ground to claim the run out in the approved fashion.Bell cashed in big-time and almost scored more than the opposition. They were dismissed for 124 with Bell demonstrating his bowling skills by taking three wickets.In the Liverpool league, Peter Fulton had a more memorable day for his Lytham side in the premier division than his team-mates. Bootle scored 200/7 declared of whom Fulton took three for 40. In Lytham’s run chase Fulton scored 64, but the team was all out for 124.In the first division of the same league, James Marshall scored 46 of Formby’s 94/5 as they overhauled St Helens’ 93. Marshall had taken three for 24 with the ball earlier.Neal Parlane, playing for Fleetwood Hesketh scored 96 not out in the total of 144/4 which was sufficient to beat Southport and Birkdale’s total of 142.In the Netherlands premier division, Darren Reekers had an outstanding day. He scored 34 runs off 41 balls, including two sixes, in Quick Haag’s 150/5 in a rain-reduced game. Then he destroyed the VOC response by taking four wickets for six runs in his seven overs as VOC were all out for 63. Among his victims were three current or former Netherlands internationals.Darrin Murray scored 37 in his VRA side’s 152/4 against HBS while team-mate Peter Borren took three for 31 from 10 overs. VRA, earlier dismissing HBS for 161, won on run rate in the rain-affected match.

CANTERBURY, England – Steve Waugh wants to rediscover the beauty ofcricket.The Australian Test captain admits the magic of the game which capturedhim as a boy is sometimes lost amid the money and pressure of modern dayprofessionalism, especially when things aren’t going your way.And things didn’t go all his way last year.Although Australia had resounding series wins over South Africafollowing a lucky escape against New Zealand, Waugh had a rare barrenpatch of form, was dropped from the one day team and was also underpressure off the field.He arrived in Canterbury yesterday for a 21-day stint with Englishcounty side Kent in a bid to find form before Australia’s series againstPakistan and England and rekindle his passion for the game.”I just want to get out there and enjoy my cricket. Last year wasn’t asenjoyable as I would have liked compared to the previous 16 years,” hesaid.”This year my goal is to enjoy my cricket, see the beauty of the gameand see the little things that when you played the game when you weresix or seven years old in the backyard were why you loved the game.”Sometimes that can be lost in the professionalism of the game and themoney and the pressure.”Waugh said his disillusionment last summer was the result of severalfactors.He scored a poor 314 runs from nine Tests at an average of 24.15 after adeep vein thrombosis developed on his return from the Ashes series inEngland opened his domestic summer under a cloud which did not lift.And as his form suffered, the Australian press started to question hisposition.”There are always issues which not everyone’s aware of, it was adifficult time in some ways,” he said.”I felt the media changed a little bit last year in the way they dealtwith the Australian side.”I just came off the DVT. I had the baggage of the fact Justin Langerwas dropped and Michael Slater was dropped and I was a selector whichwasn’t easy. It’s always tough to drop your teammates.”And things just didn’t quite work out on the field.”It’s no excuse, but I just didn’t quite enjoy cricket as much as Icould have.”Waugh starts his campaign of rediscovery in Kent’s one day match againstLeicestershire in Canterbury on Wednesday.

Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura maintained their winning streak in the fourth round of the One-day tournament (Associations), winning comprehensively their respective matches in Pool A and Pool B to cruise into the semi-final stage of the competition.Inspired by a powerful display of batting by Nauman Aman and Naved Ashraf, Rawalpindi thrashed Lahore Whites by an impressive margin of 167 runs in a Pool A match played at National Stadium, Karachi.Put into bat by the opposition, Rawalpindi posted a commanding 288 for 5 on the board, with Nauman and Naved getting quick-fire fifties. Opening the innings for the winners, Nauman added 68 with Hashim Iqbal on his way to magnificent 78 off 86 ball, which contained 9 fours and two sixes.Naved Ashraf, batting two down, was even more belligerent in his stroke play, as he hit 5 fours and half a dozen sixes in his 81-ball innings. He was, however, a bit unfortunate to miss a well-deserved century by just one run, despite remaining not out at the end of the innings.Lahore Whites were expected to put up a valiant fight when their batsmen came out to bat, having won their three previous matches on the trot.However, they just caved in under pressure to bundle out for paltry 121 in 32.1 overs, with a top score of 24 by Sohail Idrees.Naeem Akhtar and Najaf Shah bowled superbly for Rawalpindi, getting 3 and 4 wickets each, respectively, for 14 and 35 runs. They were well supported by Naved Ashraf and Iftikhar Mahmood who got one wicket each for 8 and 6.Sheikhupura’s victory over Sargodha, in Pool B, was not as convincing as Rawalpindi’s over Lahore Whites, yet it proved adequate to ensure them a place in the semi-finals.Chasing a modest 202 for victory, Sheikhupura lost wickets at regular intervals. However, it was due to a gritty knock of 102 off only 63 balls by Imran Nazir that helped them earn the eventual honours.After hammering a magnificent 148 in only the previous match, Imran Nazir, discarded for the tour of England, gave an adequate display of his batting prowess. He hit 15 fours and 3 sixes to lead his side almost single-handedly to victory.After the departure of Imran at 161 in the 24th over, Mohammad Haroon (32 off 40 balls, 7 fours) and Zubair Watto (15 off 29 balls, 1 four) added 44 for the unconquered 7th wicket to steer their through.

The Deccan Chargers franchise is one formal step away from losing its IPL status with its owners failing to produce, within the Friday evening deadline, the Rs 100-crore ($19 million) bank guarantee the Bombay High Court had set as the condition for the team’s survival in the league. The failure to produce the bank guarantee meant that the court’s status quo on the franchise’s termination was automatically lifted, which leaves the BCCI free to invite bidders for a new franchise.There are, however, two lifelines for the Chargers; one is if the court-appointed arbitrator, CK Thakkar, rules that the BCCI’s grounds of termination were improper. It is believed that Chargers’ counsel have already approached Thakkar. The other alternative is to challenge the High Court order in the Supreme Court.For the moment, though, Friday’s events bring the curtains down on Chargers’ rollercoaster existence in the IPL, which they won in 2009 after finishing last the previous season. Their subsequent performances were patchy – they finished fourth, seventh and eighth in the last three seasons. The last few months have been overshadowed by the owners’ financial problems, which had led to the attempted sale of the franchise and finally its dissolution.It is understood that DCHL sought a three-day extension of the Friday 5 pm deadline to furnish the guarantee but the court turned it down. DCHL’s lawyers are also believed to have told the court that it was trying to “negotiate” selling the franchise to a private bidder.It is not yet clear what will happen to the playing and support staff. Chargers were led last season by Kumar Sangakkara and coached by the former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann. The other notable overseas players include Dale Steyn, Cameron White and JP Duminy.The development will, however, come as a shot in the arm for the BCCI, which is keen on a new franchise. At its marketing sub-committee meeting on September 13, a day after the Chargers’ expulsion, the board had decided on a short-list of nine cities – not including Hyderabad – for the new franchise. But those plans had to be put on hold once DCHL went to court.The BCCI had terminated Chargers’ IPL contract on September 14 after what it called a “sudden change of stance by the franchise” regarding its commitments and the board’s belief that any further extension of time to the franchise owners would “seriously prejudice the interests of the players.”The matter then went to court where on October 1, while delivering his final judgement in the case, Justice S J Kathawala had asked DCHL to comply with various undertakings in order for the franchise to return to the IPL fold. The conditions included clearing the player dues and other liabilities for the fifth season of the IPL, and also the bank guarantee, only from a nationalised bank.On Tuesday, DCHL sought a three-day extension to provide the guarantee, and was given till 5 pm on Friday.