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The Glamorgan Dragons opened their Norwich Union League season with a welldeserved 20 run victory against the Durham Dynamos at Sophia Gardens.Such a result though had seemed unlikely in the first hour of the game as Glamorgan slumped to 49-5. But an attractive 58 run partnership between Mike Powell and Mark Wallace restored the Welsh county`s fortunes, and by the end of their 45 over allocation, they had reached a more respectable total of161-8.In reply, the Durham batsmen never got into their stride as Mike Kasprowicz had a dream debut in the Dragons colours, with the Australian taking three wickets in a fiery spell with the new ball.With Andrew Davies in miserly form at the other end, Durham stuttered to 27-3 in the opening 12 overs – a start from which they never recovered.Spinners Robert Croft and Dean Cosker further contained the Durham batsmen,and a measure of their control over the visitors was that the two spinners onlyconceded three boundaries during their 18 over spell.Andy Pratt, the Durham wicket-keeper, made a belated bid to up the tempo, buthe fell to Andrew Davies who returned to pick up two wickets in a disciplinedcomeback spell which helped to settle the game in the Dragons favour.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today confirmed that a 26-year-oldmale who came on to the playing area at Old Trafford during the final npowerTest Match against Sri Lanka appeared before Trafford magistrates on 18 Juneand pleaded guilty to the offence of ‘Aggravated Trespass’ (Section 68 ofthe Criminal Justice and Public Order Act). He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay costs.Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of the ECB, said: “I am delighted that our hard work during the winter is paying off. It demonstrates the close co-operation and determination of the ECB, match venues, police and government in keeping spectators off the playing area.”In advance of the NatWest Series it sends the clear message that we will not tolerate supporters coming on to the pitch and that, if they do so, they will find themselves subject to criminal prosecution.”

Pakistan already beleaguered team suffered another blow when all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was ruled out for six weeks after his wrist X-ray revealed transverse fracture of left styloid.Razzaq was struck by a Brett Lee thunderbolt in Pakistan’s second innings when he ducked into a short-pitched delivery.On Friday wicket-keeper Rashid Latif was incapacitated by a hamstring injury which forced the team management to ask Taufiq Umer to don the gloves.Rashid came in to bat Saturday with a runner but lasted few balls and was out for a duck.It is also reported that even skipper Waqar Younis is not fully fit and was doubtful for the third and final Test.Whether he will be fully fit for the Test starting from Oct 19 is anybody’s guess considering the past experience of Pakistani players who are unfit one day and then declared by themselves or the team doctors unfit during the Test match.Although there has been no official confirmation of sending replacements but it is reported that the tour management had asked for Yousuf Youhana and might possibly also request for all-rounder Shahid Afridi to replace opener Imran Nazir and middle order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq as they were fully exposed in the two Tests despite ideal batting conditions.

A couple of months ago in New Zealand, Pakistan Cricket touched rock bottom. Captained by Moin, Pakistan was defeated in the ODI’s 3-2. More, plagued by injuries, the stand-in captain Inzamam was desperately short of resources and Pakistan went down in the Hamilton Test. The margin of ODI series loss does not look nearly as decisive as in fact, it was.Then first signs after some years of undisputed unpredictability, Pakistan might be less unpredictable, came at Sharjah. In fact, after having seen the toughs and roughs, after having been subjected to player power, marred by many in-house intrigues, the PCB at last began rebuilding a team that might satisfy Pakistan’s exacting demands. With four straight wins at Sharjah, the expectant fans in the country dreamt about a climb to pre-eminence. Not to be! Unfortunately, hopes were dashed as a rather young side sweltering under pressure presented the title to Sri Lanka, seemingly without a fight.

For the England tour, the selectors were adamant on finding a young, enthusiastic and talented team, or so they claimed. They first chose Waqar Younis as the captain. Whether selected, or chosen by the cricketing hierarchy was a question that erupted immediately after Moin was neglected for the Sharjah tournament. In retrospect, there was no one else to be chosen from and presumably Waqar became a compulsive choice as Inzamam decided to stay away for reasons best known to him.Obviously, having been a top performer he was offered the captaincy on his return from New Zealand but as expected he refrained. One can guess this probably was to allow himself another couple of years at the cricketing helm without being targeted from left right and center. However, as it is, Waqar has taken the team to England following the humiliating defeats and escapes suffered in New Zealand and to some extent at Sharjah. Waqar’s is a difficult assignment. His has the task of blending what remains of the old Pakistan XI with a large bunch of youngsters. In Saeed Anwar, Yousaf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed he has the nucleus of experienced players. However, some like Saeed, Wasim and Mushtaq are far from what they have been in the yesteryears.In trying to understand how Pakistan won four matches in succession at Sharjah, it is well to know something of the approach developed under Waqar and very likely to be retained and strengthened in England. This is one view – maybe utterly optimistic. Waqar’s philosophy, first and above all, is not to look on cricket matches as a cutthroat business where anything goes. His guiding principle has been to give pleasure, to find it, and bring this about by playing fine cricket, always with the intention of taking every match to a definite result. He accepts personal success with the team, only if achieved through winning the match. A batsman dithers around thinking only of his own aggregate and not of the team’s position will receive short shrift.

Yousuf and Inzamam, without fail, always set the example that the only batting that matters is that which either prepares the way for others or gets along with the business at hand. Waqar has been insisting persistently that on England tours, winning on big occasions cannot be done unless periods of intensive training were taken and even some enjoyment in-between.Recently it’s interesting that Pakistan teams have toured with no set rules or regulations. A man who preferred to stay up late might do so, if it so suited him. If he preferred to take breakfast in bed, then that was his affair. It was equally his affair to be in good shape when he arrived on the ground and able to stay the hardest course. The Pakistanis did last the course and pulled out that little bit extra when the going was hardest. Equally, they shared whatever benefits accrued to individual members of the team. It was true that the rewards from player prizes or individual performances all went into the pool.On one tour a young player got into the habit of keeping a young thing out a little late at night. Came a morning when the captain rang up the cricketer and asked him to come and see him in his hotel room. Fearing the worst, the cricketer kept his appointment. Captain, far from handing out a reprimand, wanted only to express his thanks to him for being able to attend the practice sessions wholeheartedly, despite his late night frivolities. He was requested to host a dinner that the whole team attended.Now things are not the same. With Yawar Saeed as the Manager and Waqar, obviously showing a rapid change after becoming the captain, most of the players, even the seniors have been asked to follow the code of conduct religiously. This has certainly pained few of those who have seen the earlier times. The man with the responsibility obviously needs to view things his own way and requires to stick to what suits him. Waqar is a wonderful bloke, who believes in his abilities and to some extent spreads his contagious habit of helping others.Yawar obviously has his own style too and is presumably a rare breed. He has no detractors, no enemies and everyone known to him always praises his goodnessisn’t that amazing? Either he is a supernatural human or believes in outright diplomacy, that’s what makes him a popular manager. Whether he is a diplomat or whatever, fact is, he has a tendency of keeping everyone happy and amazingly he has never been caught on the wrong foot. Is he a right choice for a difficult tour? With his style, one can only say yes, may be and may be not?The choice of the Lord’s team was horrifying. Knowing the limitations of his pacers, Waqar still went in without a spinner. First, playing a Test with four bowlers is normally considered wise and reducing one batsman meant that he had taken a big risk. Considering the fragility of Pakistan’s batting, which it is, and with Rashid Latif coming back after three year lapse, practically, Waqar has gone in with five specialist batsmen. And if it comes to analysis, we must know that Saleem Elahi and Saeed Anwar are suspect outside the off stump.

Furthermore, Yousuf Youhana has lost his recent form and his habit of squaring on and playing late might see him guessing outside the line. As it happened, Younis Khan got in and Faisal Iqbal with far better technique for England was kept out. Without doubt, Younis is a performer and Faisal a starter but the truth is, that either Mohammad Wasim or Faisal would have been a better choice considering the deficiencies in Younis’ method under seaming and swinging conditions. Younis crouches a bit, gets on either feet, and often plays away from his body – this can cost Pakistan much more than what is being anticipated.Disheartening it was to note the body language of the Pakistan fielders. Having put England into bat, instead of charging and showing sustained aggression, the bowlers seemed sluggish and no support or cheers from behind the wicket was offered to them from rest of the team. After having seen his decision backfiring, Waqar had little or no clue about what to do next. Something was missing – there was no feeling of cohesion and the ground fielding obviously left much to be desired.One can envision an amusing scene: in a somber mood, continuously inhaling and exhaling cigarette smoke, Yawar must be cogitating in his own definite method: `all is well that ends well; all is well that is not going to end well and all is well that doesn’t end well’.

During the first encounter of the recently concluded five-match one-day series between India and Zimbabwe at Faridabad, Douglas Marillier scored the fastest fifty for Zimbabwe in ODI’s off just 21 balls with the help of nine fours and one six.Marillier’s fifty was the fifth fastest in LOI’s. He joins two other batsmen (New Zealand’s Lance Cairns and India’s Ajit Agarkar) who have also achieved it in 21 balls. The record of fastest half century in one day internationals is held by Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya who reached his fifty off 17 balls during his 76-run knock against Pakistan at Singapore on April 7,1996.Marillier’s fifty was also the quickest against India, bettering the 23 ball fifty by Pakistani Salim Malik during his unbeaten 72 at Calcutta on 18-2-1987.Marillier also became the first batsman in ODI history to register a fifty while batting at number ten. The previous highest score was the 46 by Pakistani Abdul Razzaq against South Africa at Durban on 3-4-1998. The previous highest score by a Zimbabwean in this position was the unbeaten 19 by Eddo Brandes against Sri Lanka at Worcester on 22-5-1999. Interestingly, the previous highest score by a number 10 against India was also by a Zimbabwe batsman – 29 by Andy Whittall at Bulawayo on 26-9-1998.

For interest here are the details:

Fastest fifties in LOI’sBalls Batsman (score) Fixture Venue Date17 ST Jayasuriya (76) SL v Pak Singapore 07-04-199618 SP O’Donnell (74) Aus v SL Sharjah 02-05-199018 Shahid Afridi (102) Pak v SL Nairobi (Gym) 04-10-199619 MV Boucher (51*) SA v Ken Cape Town 22-10-200121 BL Cairns (52) NZ v Aus Melbourne 13-02-198321 AB Agarkar (67*) Ind v Zim Rajkot 14-12-200021 D Marillier (56*) Zim v Ind Faridabad 07-03-200222 Kapil Dev (72) Ind v WI Berbice 29-03-198322 V Sehwag (55) Ind v Ken Paarl 24-10-200123 Salim Malik (72*) Pak v Ind Calcutta 18-02-198724 Shahid Afridi (73) Pak v NZ Sharjah 12-04-200125 Richards (82) WI v Eng Port-of-Spain 04-03-198625 RB Richardson (52*) WI v Eng Kingstown 02-03-199425 ST Jayasuriya (68) SL v Ind Colombo (SSC) 23-08-1997All data updated to 29.03.2002

Pakistan women whipped Netherlands by four wickets in the second match, played at National Stadium, Karachi, to take two-nil lead in the seven match series. In yet another poor display of ball-control, the Dutch bowlers threw 67 wides out of a total of 73 extras, while defending a meager 161.This is the Dutch visitors¡¯ second defeat within three days, after their one-wicket humiliation in the first match of the series. In that particular match, they gave away 66 extras, including 45 wides to manufacture their own demise.Apart from the number of extras conceded, the Dutch players were strangled by the Pakistan skipper Shiaza Khan. The right-handed leg break bowler removed the four top order batswomen to force the visitors against the wall from the start of their innings. She grabbed one more wicket after that to complete a magnificent five-wicket haul for just 35 runs.Put into bat Pakistan skipper Shaiza Khan, the Dutch women were boosted by a well-made 58 by B Viguurs. Coming at the crease after the fall of five wickets, the right-handed Viguurs grafted her innings with caution after Shaiza had the done initial damage, reducing the visitors to 68 for five by the 19th over.She added 27 for the 6th wicket with Oudolf 13 (28 balls, 1 four) to take the score close to one hundred run mark. The fall of two quick wickets at this stage reduced Netherlands to 106 for seven by the 34th over.It was at this point that Viguurs shook off her defensive approach and almost single-handedly took the score to 160 in the allotted 50 overs. She remained unbeaten with 58 against her name. She hit 6 boundaries in an innings spanning 124 balls.The Dutch skipper Pauline te Beest also played a useful knock of 32 to provide a stable foundation for Viguurs to get some runs in the later overs. She faced 52 balls and smashed 4 fours before becoming one of Shaiza Khan¡¯s five victims.Apart from Shaiza, Khursheed Jabeen also bowled well taking two for 34 in nine overs. Kiran Baluch and Mehwish Khan grabbed one wicket each for 25 (10 overs) and 10 (5 overs), respectively.Pakistnan women, in their reply, started shakily, losing two wickets for just 20 on the board. It was only for a 40-run third wicket partnership between Kiran Baluch (29) and Rabia Khan (8), which brought stability to the score.Getting rid of these two for 85 by the 22nd over, Netherlands gave themselves a fair chance to come back into the match. But some very wayward bowling at this stage allowed Pakistan to steal a close victory.Sajjida Shah, the player of the match in the previous encounter, played yet another patient knock to ultimately steer her side through. Yet it was her slow tactic, facing 104 balls to score 11, which really took the match in the 49th over of the innings.Shaiza Khan was declared player of the match for his excellent match winning display of spin bowling.The next match of the series will be played Thursday, April 11.

Confirmation of the Benson & Hedges Cup Semi-Final draw and umpires appointments. Matches to be played on Monday 25 June (reserve day, Tuesday 26 June).

The Oval, Surrey v Nottinghamshire. Umpires: Lloyds, Whitehead, 3rd Umpire – JestyHeadingley Yorkshire v Gloucestershire. Umpires: Jones, Julian, 3rd Umpire – Burgess

Suspended CSA chief executive Gerald Majola withdrew from his disciplinary hearing on Wednesday and announced through his lawyer that he would approach the country’s Labour Court.Majola is questioning the legitimacy of the Nicholson Committee, an enquiry launched by the sports minister Fikile Mbalula, which led to his suspension and disciplinary action being taken against him. The hearing will continue in Majola’s absence and is expected to be completed next week while Majola will launch his challenge in the Labour Court by Monday.”He would be participating in a process that constitutes a fundamental breach of his constitutional right to fair labour practices,” Majola lawyer said in a statement.The latest action lengthens what has been a three-year long process started by the bonuses paid to Majola and 39 other CSA staff members after the hosting of the 2009 IPL in South Africa. That money – an amount of R4.7 million (then US$ 671,428) – was found to have not been properly declared to the board by three separate commissions of inquiry.The first was an internal investigation which cleared Majola of any wrongdoing but reprimanding him for making an error of judgement in not following correct corporate governance. A second enquiry done by auditing firm KPMG found the wrongs more serious and suggested that Majola could have broken the law. They recommended CSA seek legal advice, which they did. CSA’s board chose to reprimand Majola “severely” in response.It was then that Mbalula stepped in. He ordered that another investigation must be conducted and vowed to follow the recommendations of his committee to the letter. Judge Chris Nicholson chaired the hearings from December last year to February 2012 and in March, issued his findings. The two most notable ones were that Majola be suspended pending a disciplinary hearing and that CSA restructure its board.The latter is almost complete. CSA will hold an AGM later this month in which they will appoint a new board consisting of five independent directors to go with five provincial presidents. They may also have to appoint a new chief executive if Majola loses his job after the disciplinary process is complete. Jacques Faul, the acting chief executive, and Haroon Lorgat, the former ICC boss, are believed to be in the running.Majola’s hearing was due to be complete by the end of May but it was delayed when he contested the appointed chairperson. The challenge was successful because John Myburgh, who was to hear the proceedings, made an advisory award against Majola and he was believed not to be impartial in the matter because of that.Karel Tip was then appointed and the hearing started on Wednesday. However, before the first witness could be called Majola announced that he was withdrawing. The matter is expected to be resolved next week although the Labour Court challenge will take much longer.

South Zone made batting look easy against West Zone in the Duleep trophyclash at the Lalabhai Contractor stadium in Surat as they piled up 595 forthe loss of six wickets before declaring on Saturday. The highlight of theday was a 409 run third wicket stand between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, arecord for any wicket in the competition. Having conceded a first inningslead of 219, West progressed to 64/1 at stumps in their second innings onthe third day.The prolific Hyderabadi VVS Laxman continued his good form with the bat,making a sparkling 217 off 282 balls. His mammoth knock had 25 boundariesand two sixes. Laxman, who began the day unbeaten on 80, notched up histenth century in as many matches of domestic first-class cricket. SkipperRahul Dravid missed out on his double ton when he was castled on 188 byKanitkar. His 292 ball innings had 22 boundaries and a solitary six.Resuming on the overnight score of 296 for two, the South batsmen tookoptimum advantage of the perfect batting track as they punished the bowlersall through the day’s proceedings. S Ramesh was unlucky to have missed outon his century earlier but both the overnight batsmen Rahul Dravid and VVSLaxman went on to register their respective centuries in the day.By the lunch interval, both were still at the crease having overlapped theWest total and taken a lead by 55 runs. Dravid was batting on 130 andLaxman was on 138. Dravid reached the three figure knock off 170 balls andLaxman blazed 149 balls for his century. South went to lunch at 431 for twooff 102 overs.Dravid was the first to go with the score on 564. Four runs later, Laxmanfollowed suit as he edged medium pacer Lalit Patel to Nayan Mongia behindthe stumps. Having gone into tea at 587 for four, South declared shortlyafterwards with southpaws Hemang Badani and Sunil Joshi at the crease.In their reply, West openers Connor Williams and Nayan Mongia added 64 forthe first wicket before the former fell to Aashish Kapoor for 43 in the21st over. Stumps were called immediately afterwards with Mongia on 21.

ScorecardMark Davies was miserly and menacing, with 5 for 27 off 18 overs•Getty Images

Can history repeat itself? Derbyshire are left hoping that it will after Mark Davies collected his first five-wicket bag of the season to given Kent a clear but certainly not decisive advantage at the halfway stage of this crucial contest between two promotion contenders.A month ago, in the reverse fixture, Derbyshire managed to come from a long way behind to secure a thrilling two-wicket victory that kept them top of the second division table and prevented Kent from moving to the head of affairs.Now, with just one more round of fixtures remaining, the stakes are higher still. And it may take an equally spectacular fightback to deny Kent, who were wonderfully served today by the impressive Davies.Released from his contract by Durham, shortly before the season began, the 31-year-old opening bowler has been a model of consistency all campaign. Spell after spell has ended with him conceding fewer than two runs an over and that relentless pressure must have helped Charlie Shreck, his new-ball partner, to prosper. But while Shreck has more than 50 Championship wickets in the bank, Davies had to settle for slimmer picking – until today.Having totalled 261 – a competitive but not commanding first-innings total on a pitch providing a good contest between bat and ball – Kent knew they had to bowl with great discipline when Derbyshire resumed on 32 for 1. And there are few better bowlers than Davies for that sort of job.Despite having his career plagued by injuries, he has captured the thick end of 300 first-class wickets at a cost of little more than 22 runs apiece and with an economy rate of around 2.5 an over. No wonder England seriously considered him three years ago – and little surprise that he put the squeeze on Derbyshire here.Shreck did not give much away. He was almost generous, though, compared to Davies who began the second day with six consecutive maidens – one of them the wicketed variety. Wes Durston, trying to knock the bowler off his length, went for a lofted drive over mid-on but succeeded only in skying a catch to mid-off where the back-pedalling Alex Blake did well to hang on.In all, the first hour produced 18 runs from 16 overs and, well though Wayne Madsen, the Derbyshire captain, was playing, Kent had applied a suffocating hold from which they did not escape until it was almost too late.Vitally, the leaders lost five wickets for 23 runs either side of lunch. And, deservedly, three of them went to Davies, in the space of 11 deliveries. The most significant victim was Madsen, who chopped on for 64 while looking to fashion a cut.Davies finished with 5 for 27 from 18 overs, figures which will no doubt have at least some Durham supporters wondering whether a good ‘un has been allowed to get away too soon.But while Davies had done more than his bit, Derbyshire were not ready to roll over. They have shown their fighting qualities all season, not just against Kent a month ago, and here they managed to turn 112 for 7 into 200 all out, earning a precious batting point in the process.Kent helped a bit, mind. Rob Key dropped a relatively straightforward catch at first slip when Tom Poynton had scored 6 – and the wicketkeeper, who posted his maiden first-class century, against Northants a fortnight ago, went on to contribute 45.The generosity did not end there, either. Tim Groenewald converted 2 into 22 after Adam Riley had grassed a lower, more difficult opportunity in the slip cordon with both chances being missed off the bowling of medium-pacer Darren Stevens.Kent had a first-innings lead of 61, but even that began to look a little shaky as three wickets in the last five or so overs of the day allowed Derbyshire to leave the field with a spring in their step.The ball is turning for Wes Durston, who bowled Key behind his legs and ‘gated’ the nightwatchman Davies, and for David Wainwright, who had Alex Blake caught behind off the final delivery. And the match itself could yet turn several more ways before it is done and dusted.