Somerset lost their Second XI Trophy match against Hampshire today at the County Ground in Taunton by 7 wickets.Batting first Somerset scored 173 all out in 47.5 overs, with Tom Webley top scoring with an unbeaten 45, and Wes Durston making 32.In reply Hampshire reached their target comfortably for the loss of three wickets, with Jason Laney making 41.
Somerset Under 16’s recently travelled to Billericay CC to play against Essex in the seven counties two day competition.After winning the toss, Somerset scored 222 in their first innings with David Bingham top scoring with 44, and in reply Essex scored 303.Against Kent at Bath CC Somerset batted first and scored 349, with Sam Spurway making 157 and Robin Lett 67, including a partnership of 142 between the two.In reply Kent reached their target for the loss of six wickets, with David Bingham taking 3 for 73.
West Indies wicket-keeper/batsman Ridley Jacobs will captain the West Indies on their upcoming tour of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, fast bowler Cameron Cuffy has been dropped from the team for the tour.Jacobs, who is the current West Indies vice-captain, will lead the side in place of Carl Hooper, who will miss the trip to Bangladesh to undergo corrective surgery on his knees in Australia. The West Indies are in the middle of a seven-game limited-overs series against hosts India and currently lead the series 3-2.Jacobs is no stranger to leading sides, having captained the Leeward Islands in the West Indies first-class championship. Meanwhile, the West Indies selectors have recalled Trinidad & Tobago captain Daren Ganga as a replacement for Carl Hooper.With the squad picked to play in the three limited-overs internationals and two Tests, young speedster Daren Powell has been picked ahead of Cuffy, who has made limited appearances in India.This will also mean that Ricardo Powell, Vasbert Drakes and Corey Collymore, all of whom had been picked for the limited-overs section of the Indian tour, may have a chance to make Test appearances.The West Indies play Bangladesh in limited-overs matches at Chittagong on November 29 and at Dhaka in day/night contests on December 2 and 3. The two Tests will be contested at Dhaka from December 8 to 12, and at Chittagong from December 16 to 20.Squad: Ridley Jacobs (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Jermaine Lawson, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Daren Powell, Ricardo Powell, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan
Somerset Second XI ended the second day’s play of their three day match against Worcestershire at North Perrott in a strong position.Yesterday on the attractive tree lined ground Worcestershire were bowled out for 219, with Pete Trego ending with 6 for 53. The visitors total would have been considerable less had it not been for a last wicket stand of 97.Before close of play on Wednesday Somerset had taken their score to 104 for 2, with Piran Holloway not out on 51.Today the Somerset batsmen enjoyed the conditions at North Perrott and took the score onto 422 for 9 before declaring. Holloway ended with 91 and Graham Rose made 61.By the close of play Worcestershire were 11 for 1, with Trego being the successful Somerset bowler.
A career-best haul from Bulls quick bowler Joe Dawes has helped Queensland secure first innings points on a remarkable day one of its Pura Cup match againstWestern Australia. Dawes claimed a sensational 6/19 as the Warriors were humbled for a miserable total of 78.But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Queenslanders either. Around fine innings from the ever-reliable Martin Love (62*) and an intelligently aggressive Andy Bichel(38), they lost seven wickets of their own when it quickly came their turn to bat. They finished a rain-shortened first day at 7/178 and clutching a one hundred runlead.With an eye to a ‘Gabba strip that looked in good order and gave no indication of the batting calamities which were to follow, Warriors captain Tom Moody electedthat his team would bat first after he had called correctly at the toss. It was a decision that he must now wish that he had never made.After a cautious start, the Warriors lost their first wicket when Mike Hussey (7) attempted a pull shot off Bichel (2/38), only to succeed in skying the ball straightback up the pitch and offering a simple caught and bowled.In the next over, Marcus North (9) was dropped by Jimmy Maher at third slip in the only blot on the Bulls’ copybook for the morning. However, it barely cost thehome team anything – an lbw appeal from Adam Dale (2/19) meeting the requirements of Umpire Peter Parker shortly afterward.The form of Murray Goodwin (0) at one-day level has been wonderful in recent times. But that stands in contrast to his Pura Cup form. And the gap between thetwo was not closed at all today, the former Zimbabwean international the victim of a magnificent catch from wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe, who was forced to hurlhimself in front of first slip to intercept a thick outside edge.For Western Australia, things had become grisly enough at 3/21 but matters continued to tumble from bad to worse. This was particularly true once Dawes enteredthe attack. The redoubtable right arm fast bowler enjoyed immediate success when he dismissed Brad Hogg (0) and Moody (5) in successive overs to leave theWarriors in dreadful trouble at 5/33.Brendon Julian (22) and Simon Katich (14) halted the flow of wickets for a time but the trend was largely irresistible.Dawes used to his advantage a helpful bowling track which contained both bounce and pace, catching the Warriors completely off guard after they had elected tobat after winning the toss. He claimed the wickets of Katich, Moody, Hogg, Julian, Matthew Nicholson (16) and Jo Angel (0) in a stint that was never short onaction.For the Western Australians, it was simply an horrific start to a match which they really need to win in order to galvanise their Pura Cup hopes. Against the backdropof the sustained pressure that was applied by the pace trio, some poor batting also predominated. All but two of the ten players to fall lost their wickets to catches,many of them succumbing to over-aggressive strokes.In their turn at the crease – and with only a mere seventy-nine runs needed for the acquisition of first innings points – Queensland openers Maher (16) and JerryCassell (6) looked for early runs, finding the boundary on two occasions before Maher was dismissed by former Test quick Nicholson. The diminutive left handerwas caught at backward square leg as he attempted to powerfully pull away a short delivery.Cassell was then joined by Love, a centurion in Friday night’s Mercantile Mutual Cup encounter and the scorer of more than seven hundred first-class runs for theseason. The elegant right hander wasted no time in displaying the form that could gain him selection for the upcoming Ashes tour, stroking his first delivery past midon for a boundary.But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Cassell was defeated by Moody’s very first ball and then an early tea was taken when Bulls captain Stuart Law (2) mistimed an ondrive at Julian and was caught at mid on.It was when Andrew Symonds joined Love at the crease (with only forty runs needed by the Bulls to achieve first innings points) that the Bulls’ batting moved intotop gear. The one-day international star relished the situation, compiling a very well made 26 before falling to a dubious lbw decision at the hands of Moody. Bichelthen joined Love and, before falling late in the day, swelled the Bulls’ lead to close to the century mark. By this stage, noticeable frustration was setting in for thevisitors.Moody’s spell of bowling could not be underplayed, however. It was first class medium pace bowling at a difficult time for the Warriors and his return of 4/38 told itsown tale about his effectiveness. He might even have secured a fifth wicket if he had been able to hold a hot caught and bowled chance offered early in Bichel’sinnings.Like so many others during the day, though, it was an opportunity squandered by the Warriors.
Alec Stewart has been appointed England captain for the second and final npower Test Match against Pakistan at Old Trafford which starts on Thursday week. Stewart took over the captaincy midway through the First Test at Lord’s, when Nasser Hussain sustained a thumb injury which has ruled him out of cricket for the next three to four weeks.Stewart said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to captain England on a temporary basis at Old Trafford. It’s a great honour to lead your country, and I much look forward to the game”.Stewart is unworried by the prospect of adding the responsibilities of captaincy to his existing dual role of England batsman and wicketkeeper. “I had no problem with that when I was England skipper for the first time. I did all three jobs during the 1998 Test series against South Africa, which England won. And when you’re put in charge of a good side that’s been winning, it obviously makes captaincy that much easier.”No decision has yet been made on who will captain England in the NatWest Triangular one-day series between England, Pakistan and Australia in June.
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has announced that Clive Rice is leavingthe Club with immediate effect.Michael Newell and Jason Gallian will take charge of first team affairs forthe remainder of the 2002 season.The Club wishes to thank Clive for his service to the Club both as a playerand as Cricket Manager and wishes him and his family every success andhappiness in the future.
ScorecardRob Keogh’s maiden first-class century, which he upgraded to 221, was near wiped from the record books•PA Photos
The final day of this match predictably ended in a dull draw, watched by all too few spectators. That there was any play at all was not just as a consequence of an improvement in the weather. The ECB, had it decided to stick rigidly to the Laws of the game, could have ordered the umpires to bring proceedings to a close and to re-start this contest on the same pitch.The reason being because one of the two official scorers, Tony Weld of Hampshire, was taken ill and returned home. There was no replacement for him.Tony Kingston, representing Northamptonshire, had to score for both clubs for the entire day, using one computer. This is contrary to Law 4 (The Scorers) which stipulates the appointment of two scorers. Indeed, the “notchers” or “chalkers”, as they were known, have long been considered integral to the staging of a cricket match.A scorer for OPTA, supplying data, continued to operate in the same scorebox here but did not take over Weld’s work as well. Hence, in theory, the umpires, Martin Saggers and Steve O’Shaughnessy, could have insisted that the match be restarted and another four days allocated.What occurred instead was that Alan Fordham, the ECB’s Operations Manager, “used his discretion” to ensure this fixture was completed. “The alternative,” according to a spokesman, “was to end the game.” Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s Cricket Secretary, spoke to the umpires and contemplated scoring himself, but had other work to consume him. Asked if he had contemplated contacting Vic Isaacs, the club’s long-serving former scorer who lives near the ground, he said he would not be taking up that option.Isaacs would have been the obvious replacement in that his 31 years service with the club remains a post-war record and he continues to score in local club matches. Yet he fell out with the club and Tremlett, his “line manager” as he called him over the public address at the end of his final match in 2006. It was anticipated that Isaacs would be granted a Benefit year by the club the following season, but instead Rod Bransgrove, the chairman, imposed a ban on his attendance. Isaacs’ son, Richard, who scores for Sky, said his father would have been happy to be called up if asked.There have been other instances of clubs being without their scorers, if not for an entire day’s play. Mike Selvey, the former England bowler, recalls a match at Tunbridge Wells in which both the Middlesex and Kent scorers, Harry Sharp and Claude Lewis, did not pick up their fountain pens in the first half hour of the second session because they were having such a good lunch. When Lewis wanted to go to the lavatory at other times, Derek Underwood, whom once he coached, would fill in his scorebook. Computerisation brought all this to an end. Kevin Baker, the Hampshire analyst, will stand in for Weld for the club’s Yorkshire Bank 40 semi-final against Glamorgan.The match itself started half an hour late owing to rain and was concluded with a declaration by Northamptonshire at 4.20 pm. Hampshire, no doubt, would have preferred an earlier finish given their looming semi-final. Maybe the ECB could have done them a favour in bringing about an early conclusion, after all.
Neil McGarrell, 41, has been named USA’s captain in a 15-man squad for the 2013 World Twenty20 Qualifier next month in the UAE. McGarrell, who played four Tests and 17 ODIs for West Indies between 1998 and 2001, made his debut for USA in 2012 against Canada, and takes over from Steve Massiah, who had been captain for seven years. Massiah was retained in the squad along with Orlando Baker, who captained USA to an 8-0 record in a stand-in capacity at the 2013 ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 tournament in March.Adam Sanford, 38, and Imran Awan are also making their way into the squad as fast bowlers. Sanford, who played 11 Tests for the West Indies from 2002 to 2004, played for USA in a series of trial matches against Bermuda this past weekend, and is set to make his official debut for USA in their opening match against Canada in Abu Dhabi on November 15. Awan, once considered one of the fastest bowlers in the Associate world, hasn’t played for USA since 2010 after struggling with his accuracy.USA’s lack of experienced pace bowlers was apparent earlier this year during the ICC World Cricket League Division Three competition, where they finished third. Seamer Usman Shuja, who was dropped ahead of WCL Division Three, was not brought back into the squad for the tour to the UAE, though he had been included in a list of 28 probables in September. Timroy Allen has decided to return for USA after announcing his retirement following the end of WCL Division Three in May to focus on work and family commitments. Allen has subsequently been named vice-captain for the tour.Three players from USA’s tour of Bermuda for WCL Division Three earlier this year are not in the squad for the qualifier. USA’s batting will likely struggle in the absence of Sushil Nadkarni and Rashard Marshall. Nadkarni had to withdraw due to work commitments, and it is believed Marshall was unavailable for the same reasons. Medium pacer Naseer Jamali is the third player not retained. Only five players who played for USA at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in 2012 – Baker, Muhammad Ghous, Elmore Hutchinson, Japen Patel and Steven Taylor – will be traveling back to the UAE in November.Besides Sanford, the only other player in the squad yet to play in an official match for USA is Srinivasa Santhanam. An allrounder originally from Tamil Nadu, Santhanam now plays for Microsoft Cricket Club in Seattle. The Pacific Northwest, and Microsoft CC in particular, has been a growing source of talent for the USA in recent years, with former USA spinners Samarth Shah and Saurabh Verma also hailing from the club, while Naseer Jamali plays in the Seattle area.USA has been placed in Group A along with Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Namibia, Uganda and the UAE. USA finished 12th at the qualifier in 2012, but posted a noteworthy upset of Scotland at the event. The top six teams in this year’s qualifier will advance to the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.USA Squad: Neil McGarrell (captain), Timroy Allen (vice-captain), Danial Ahmed, Imran Awan, Orlando Baker, Barrington Bartley, Akeem Dodson (wk), Karan Ganesh, Muhammad Ghous, Elmore Hutchinson, Steve Massiah, Japen Patel, Adam Sanford, Srinivasa Santhanam, Steven Taylor (wk).
Led by a century from their captain Sami Aslam and a fifty from Kamran Ghulam, Pakistan Under-19s held their nerve to secure a two-wicket win over India Under-19s. The win puts them on top of Group A, sealing a spot in the semi-finals. Faced with a target of 251, Aslam kept the chase under control with a well-paced 108 off 119 balls. Once he fell, Ghulam took over, guiding the lower order even as India pulled back with wickets. Two wickets in the 49th and 50th over put some pressure on Pakistan, who were seeking six runs off the last over, but Zafar Gohar hit two fours to seal the victory.Earlier, Ricky Bhui’s 64 helped India post 250 for 7 after regular strikes from the Pakistan bowlers prevented India’s top-order from making good on their starts. Bhui’s knock off 66 balls with three fours and two sixes.Riding on a hundred from Kusal Mendis and an unbeaten 62 from Priyamal Perera, Sri Lanka Under-19s stumbled to a two-wicket win over Bangladesh Under-19s in Abu Dhabi. The win helped them qualify for the semi-finals where they will play India. Set a target of 204, the 108-run fourth-wicket stand between Mendis and Perera put Sri Lanka in a comfortable position at 180 for 3. However, Sri Lanka lost their next five wickets for 13 runs, sliding to 193 for 8, before Perera and AK Tyronne got the required runs. Earlier, a fifty from Nazmul Hossain Shanto, and useful contributions from Mosaddek Hossain and Yasir Ali helped Bangladesh put up 203 for 6.Afghanistan Under-19s needed a total of just 26.4 overs to thump Malaysia Under-19s by 10 wickets in Abu Dhabi. Malaysia, who were bundled out for 50 and 32 in their previous two games, collapsed once again for 40 as medium-pacer Sayed Shirzad spearheaded an incisive bowling performance from Afghanistan. Malaysia’s captain Muhammad Ramli was the team’s top-scorer with 12, while their other 10 batsmen collectively contributed just 22 runs between them. Shirzad finished with 4 for 10, and Abdullah Adil picked up three scalps. to bowl Malaysia in 23.2 overs.Afghanistan’s openers Shahidullah and Ihsanullah completed the paltry chase in just 20 balls, hitting five fours and a six between them. Afghanistan will now play Pakistan in the semi-finals.A four-for from left-arm spinner Sushan Bhari and a knock of 48 from Aarif Sheikh helped Nepal Under-19s seal a four-wicket win over United Arab Emirates Under-19s in Sharjah. Nepal were struggling at 49 for 3 before Sheikh anchored the chase with useful partnerships. After Sheikh was out, Siddhant Lohani and Rahul Pratap Singh ensured Nepal ended up on the winning side, finishing the game in 33 overs. Earlier, Bhari and left-arm pacer Lalit Bhandari kept chipping away with wickets to restrict UAE to 159. Dan D’Souza was the top-scorer for UAE with 32, in an innings where a few other batsmen got starts but couldn’t play on. Bhari finished with 4 for 34, while Bhandari took 3 for 43.