Star West Indian batsman, Brian Lara, has been given the all-clear to playin the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka according to a BBC Online reportMonday, but doubts still linger over his fitness.Doubts over Lara’s participation in the tour had surfaced during the teamstraining camp in Jamaica this week when the 32-year-old left-hander revealedhe was still suffering from a long-standing hamstring injury.Lara went for a MRI scan on Wednesday and a fitness report was then handedover to the team management later in the week.They had been speculation during the weekend that the report showed thatthere had been “no improvement” in the injury and the Trinadad Guardian evenquoted “reliable sources” who said the team management was divided overwhether Lara should tour if not fully fit.However, team manager, Ricky Skerritt, said Sunday: “Having looked at theresults, the doctors are satisfied. The last three days Brian has beentraining rather actively without any side effects.”But, according to Trinadad Guardian sources: “When the report came back fromthe doctor, it showed that there was no improvement on Lara’s hamstringinjury.”The newspaper then reports that an emergency meeting was then held onThursday night, that included all team officials – manager, coach, captain,physiotherapist, the doctor in Jamaica and a West Indies Cricket Boardrepresentative – Lara’s participation was apparently put to the vote and onhealth reasons, it was voted 4 -2 to leave him home.This tough stance mellowed over the weekend when chairman of the selectors,Michael Findlay, said: “In the end though it will come down to how Brianfeels about his own fitness and whether or not he can handle such a tour aslies ahead.”Lara has played before with the injury, which he first strained when WestIndies toured England. He then played against Australia and South Africawith the injury before finally withdrawing from the recent tour to Zimbabweand Kenya.The West Indies are scheduled to play three Tests against Sri Lanka followedby a triangular series involving Zimbabwe in the eight week tour

West Indian preparations may well have been bedeviled by poor weather andinjuries, but that did not hinder the performance of star batsmen BrianLara, who announced his return to Test cricket with a brilliant hundred onthe opening day of this three-Test series against Sri Lanka at Galle onTuesday.Number three batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan and star player Brian Lara frustratedSri Lanka in enervating heat as they added 145 for the third wicket to leaveWest Indies well placed on 316 for three at the close.Sarwan played diligently and well to score 88, particularly in an afternoonsession that saw 125 runs scored. Lara’s innings, though, overshadowed thatof the promising Guyanan, who missed out on a first Test century.Coming to the crease after the fall of opener Daren Ganga, with the inningspoised on 95 for two, Lara sped to a 71 ball fifty full of sublime strokesand tilted the game firmly towards the West Indies.The 32-year-old Trinidadian then marched on, despite the loss of Sarwan andwith a certain sense of inevitability, to his 16th Test century, which hecompleted off just 150 balls, before finishing the day unbeaten on 117.For Lara it ended a long wait. International runs had not dried up, but hisbig scores had. It was 11 months since he scored a ton – the last being 182he scored against Australia in Adelaide last December – and it was his firstin 16 innings.Lara, included in the squad despite still suffering from a long-standinghamstring injury, showed no signs of not being fully fit and, temporarily atleast, silenced critics who believe he is a spent force, with too much egoand too little heart.It was great innings in very taxing conditions. Modestly, he said afterwardsthat he had “enjoyed the sea breeze” but conditions were tough, withtemperatures in excess of 30 C and 90 per cent humidity levels. He alsohad to contend with master off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.Unlike in Colombo, when he had scratch out 43 and looked a shadow of hisformer self, he batted fluently, clearly determined to be positive againstthe Sri Lankan spinners.He hit 12 boundaries in all, some of which were simply dazzling, including atrademark one-legged flick through mid-wicket of Vaas, a dancing lofteddrive off Jayasuriya and several vintage cover drives.He was reprieved twice by the Sri Lankans, who had a day to forget in thefield. Wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara dropped a difficult chance off SanathJayasuriya when the left-hander had scored 31 and then also failed to gethis glove to an edge (it was an even harder catch) when on 93.Speaking afterwards, he said: “I have been working on a few things in thelast six weeks and I am looking to try and play a bit straighter. It’ isnice to go out there, work on something, and eventually get the results.The only bowler to consistently test Lara was Muralitharan, who toiled awayfor 40 overs, picking only one wicket, but still bowled with plenty ofvariation, guile and control.”Muralitharan is a very good bowler and I enjoyed the competition,” he said.”I think you have to keep him thinking. He is going to keep you underpressure if you just look to stay there, so I think you need to keepscoring.”It’s a very good position but it is very important that the second inningsis not a very important innings. We need to get 500-600 runs and put SriLanka under pressure. We cannot allow them to get back into the game.”Ominously, the man who holds the record for the highest Test and first classscore, also added: “I’m very happy now, but I am going to come back tomorrowand look for something really big.”Sri Lanka had picked three frontline spinners in the team, hoping that theCaribbean batsmen would come unstuck on a biscuit dry pitch tailor made fortheir slow bowlers. Such hopes soon evaporated after they lost an importanttoss and realised just how good a batting pitch it was.Chaminda Vaas bowled well with the new ball, producing a jaffa to dismiss asurprisingly diffident Chris Gayle, and then accounting for Ganga afterlunch. But thereafter only Muralitharan threatened.Earlier in the day the Sri Lankans had picked right-arm seamer CharithaFernando for his first Test match and recalled left-arm spinner NiroshanBandaratillake and middle order batsman Russel Arnold.West Indies played a second frontline spinner, slow left-arm bowler NeilMcGarrell, apparently after deciding the pitch would favour the spinners,but most probably because of Reon Kings suspected hernia.

Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan inspired a dramatic West Indiancollapse on the second day of the opening Test in Galle and then warned thetourists that they are yet to see him at his best.Muralitharan, who has been working hard in the nets on a new mysterydelivery designed to counteract pad-thrusting batsmen, claimed 5-21 in theday to finish with 6-125, as West Indies lost their last six wickets for 25."Initially, it was tough, as Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Carl Hooperplayed really well on a really good batting track," he said afterwards,clearly delighted with the turnaround, which had pulled the home team backinto the game."But we always thought that if we could get Lara we could get the otherwickets quickly, as they had some inexperienced batsmen to come.The 29-year-old off-spinner, who has now taken 356 Test wickets in only 67matches, has been receiving ice-treatment on a sore shoulder."I did have a little shoulder injury, which I picked up whilst doingweights," he said. "I had stopped bowling in the nets and struggled inSharjah."Gradually, I started to bowl again. During the first day my rhythm was notquite there, but today it was coming out really nicely. Hopefully, it willget better and better as the series progresses."Muralitharan, ever the optimist, believes Sri Lanka can still win despitethe West Indies piling up 448 in their first innings."Unfortunately, Lara got a big one, but this is a batting wicket and stillwe can get a result if we can make a big score. By the fourth and fifth daythe ball is going to spin a long way."He is particularly looking forward to having another crack at Lara."It is a pleasure to bowl at Brian (Lara)," he said "He is such a wonderfulplayer. Unlike other players he doesn’t have any restrictions and can playshots all-round the wicket, so it is always a challenge to bowl at him.First round to Lara after the Trinidadian superstar smashed a brilliant 178,but Muralitharan warned him: "As a bowler I have an advantage. I can makeseveral mistakes, but if a batsman makes one then he is finished and I win."

With two of Friday’s scheduled three Standard Bank Cup matches abandoned without a ball bowled, it was left to Northerns Titans and the Eastern Province Jumbos to provide the drama as Friedel de Wet edged a four off the last ball of the match to secure a tie at SuperSport Park.No play was possible in the games between Western Province and KwaZulu-Natal at Newlands and Boland and Easterns in Paarl, but the Titans and the Jumbos more than made up for this with a thrilling finish.The Jumbos had built their 238 for eight around Dave Callaghan’s 65 with Carl Bradfield (44) and Mark Benfield (45) chipping in with handy contributions and looked to have the match pretty much wrapped up when they had the Titans reeling at 184 for eight at the end of the 39th overs.But Mulligan George and De Wett took 18 off the 42nd over, 14 off the 43rd and nine off the 44th to leave them needing six off the last over to win. George was bowled by Johan Botha for 23 off the third ball of the over following two dot balls, De Wett and Greg Smith took a bye off the fifth and De Wett edged the final ball to the third man boundary to level the scores. He finished not out on 31 off just 15 deliveries to earn the man of the match award.

On a day which defied the weather pundits, spectators at Molyneux Park in Alexandra were lucky to be uninterrupted and see the Northern Districts deservedly beat Otago by 74 runs.Winning the toss and putting ND into bat seemed to be quite a valuable first achievement for the Volts as they managed to restrict them to 229/8.No Northern batsman dominated or even reached 50 although the Marshall twins, James and Hamish, played valuable hands to score 49 and 46 respectively. Jaden Hatwell (25), Robbie Hart (24) and Grant Bradburn (22), together with an appalling 26 wides from the Otago attack, took the score to a competitive mark.James McMillan took two for 35, Kerry Walmsley one for 47, Craig Pryor one for 46 and Nathan McCullum one for 37. They all never stopped trying but probably, with the exception of McMillan and McCullum, would have been disappointed that they could not have been slightly cheaper.Setting out to chase the target of 229, Otago seemed to have a good chance despite being without two batsmen who were capable of pushing the ball around and creating a substantial score.Craig Cumming did well to top score with 43. The next highest total belonged to Lee Germon with 34, but at the stage of his innings the game had slipped somewhat. Robbie Lawson, 23, could well have been a saviour if he had stayed in but it was not to be and only Pryor with 21 offered any other resistance.The ND bowling was superior as the figures suggest (they only bowled five wides as opposed to the Volts’ 26) and looked much more menacing.Graeme Aldridge with three for 25, Joseph Yovich two for 34, Grant Bradburn two for 28 and Simon Doull two for 32 all bowled well and were never really mastered.All in all ND were too good for Otago on a day when the weather gods smiled on Alexandra and most of the rest of the country sheltered under umbrellas.

Zimbabwe cricket was reduced to anarchy for 15 minutes last Sunday at Mutare Sports Club by cricketers from the Harare team Takashinga. In a day of infamy a batsman refused to leave the crease on being given out – swore viciously at an umpire, accused him of cheating – then kicked and bat-swiped a set of stumps to the ground.This national first league decider was always going to be a fiery encounter, but few would have predicted farce on such scale. As the visitors bristled onto the ground to inspect the pitch shortly after arrival that morning, they were allegedly heard by ground staff to say, "Don’t greet anyone; umpire Barbour is going to cheat us today."25 overs into the match the powder keg blew when umpire Alan Walsh adjudged Gift Makoni LBW after stepping across his stumps. As the Manicaland players retreated to one side of the pitch to sit and wait for order, the inconsolable Makoni stamped, raged and circled the pitch for seven minutes. From the verandah Takashinga manager Mr Elvis swore and shouted at the umpires, "We didn’t drive all this way to be cheated." Test umpire Kevan Barbour’s attempted reasoning enraged Makoni further, ending with him scooping up the remaining stumps and removing them from the field.Protracted discussions and the prospect of forfeiture finally saw Takashinga resume their innings. It could be argued that in a normal society the game had long since been conceded. Any refusal to play constitutes a concession. The umpires have sent a report to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union disciplinary committee and cricket followers await their findings with interest.What cannot be denied is that Takashinga greatly embarrassed all spectators – including uniformed school kids from Dangamvura and Mutare Boys High – who arrived in numbers to watch the biggest match of the season. Spectators had driven from as far as Odzi and Nyazura – enduring an hour-long delay at the Christmas-pass roadblock for a chance to watch Test stars Flower, Campbell and Whittall turn out for Mutare. In the end the spectators were disappointed as Mutare crushed the opposition by nine wickets without needing the big names. Justin Lewis (10-2-46-5) destroyed the top order and again proved how useful he would have been at the Under-19 World Cup.Doubly embarrassing for the ZCU is that most of the Takashinga side have come through the system under its patronage. Makoni is a member of the Mashonaland Cricket Association whilst three other players are Academy-trained coaches. Most of the rest have received scholarships to cricket schools like Churchill -including captain Rangarirai Manyande.There have been warning signs for years that Churchill’s cricketers are out of control. They intimidate umpires, refuse to walk and generally run circles around their hapless teacher-coaches. Unlike their counterparts who play mostly for fun, Churchill’s kids play for future contracts. The fault lies with the ZCU for leaving them on their own to miraculously learn 150 years of cricket civilization. The future of ZCU-choreographed cricket was on display at Mutare Sports Club and despair was everywhere.A step in the right direction might be to employ a high profile role model – perhaps a West Indian – to play and cultivate acceptable standards at Takashinga. Andy Flower reports that in three years of intermittent captaincy he never experienced bad behaviour at the club. These days all sides dread playing them – a string of unpunished reports mark their files – whilst official paralysis increasingly emboldens them.

The National One-day Cricket Tournament will be played from March 8 to April 7 with 28 teams, including 10departments, 14 associations and four provincial sides vying for top honours.The teams have been divided into four pools of seven teams each in the first phase which runs from March 8 to 20. The top two teams will from each pool will qualify for the final round, to be played from March 27 to 31.The semi-finals and the final will be played under floodlights. The first semi-final will be played at National Stadium, Karachi April 4 and the second at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore a day later.The final is scheduled for Gaddafi Stadium April 7. In all, 99 matches will be played in the month-long tournament.Pool A: PIA, Pakistan Customs, Karachi Whites, Lahore Whites, Bahawalpur, Hyderabad and Rest of Sindh.Pool B: National Bank, Pak PWD, Sui Gas, Karachi Blues, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Rest of Balochistan.Pool C: Habib Bank, Wapda, Lahore Blues, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sheikhupura and Rest of Punjab.Pool D: Allied Bank, ADBP, KRL, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Rest of NWFP.Schedule:Preliminary round:March 8:Pool A: Customs v Rest of Sindh at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi; PIA v Bahawalpur at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi; Karachi Whites v Lahore Whites at National Stadium, Karachi.Pool B: Gujranwala v Karachi Blues at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala; Sialkot v Pak PWD at Saga Ground, Sialkot; National Bank v Sui Gas at Lahore Country Club, Muridke.Pool C: Lahore Blues v Faisalabad at LCCA Ground, Lahore; Sheikhupura v Sialkot at Sheikhupura Stadium; Habib Bank v Wapda at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.Pool D: Rawalpindi v Allied Bank at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi; Peshawar v ADBP at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; KRL v Islamabad at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.March 10:Pool A: Hyderabad v Pakistan Customs at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad; PIA v Lahore Whites at National Stadium, Karachi; Karachi Whites v Rest of Sindh at KCCA Stadium, Karachi.Pool B: Sialkot v Karachi Blues at Saga Ground, Sialkot; Gujranwala v Rest of Balochistan at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala; Sui Gas v Pak PWD at Lahore Country Club, Muridke.Pool C: Sargodha v Lahore Blues at Sports Stadium, Sargodha; Faisalabad v Sheikhupura at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Habib Bank v Rest of Punjab at Sheikhupura Stadium.Pool D: Peshawar v Rest of NWFP at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; Rawalpindi v Islamabad at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi; KRL v ADBP at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.March 12:Pool A: Pakistan Customs v Lahore Whites at National Stadium, Karachi; Karachi Whites v Hyderabad at KCCA Stadium, Karachi; Bahawalpur v Rest of Sindh at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi.Pool B: Karachi Blues v Rest of Balochistan at Lahore Country Club, Muridke; Gujranwala v Pak PWD at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala; Sialkot v National Bank at Saga Ground, Sialkot.Pool C: Lahore Blues v Sheikhupura at LCCA Ground, Lahore; Faisalabad v Sargodha at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Wapda v Restof Punjab at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.Pool D: Rest of NWFP at Allied Bank at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; KRL v Peshawar at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi; ADBP v Islamabad at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.March 14:Pool A: Karachi Whites v PIA at National Stadium, Karachi; Hyderabad v Lahore Whites at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad; Pakistan Customs v Bahawalpur at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi.Pool B: Sui Gas v Karachi Blues at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; Sialkot v Rest of Balochistan at Saga Ground, Sialkot; Gujranwala v National Bank at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala.Pool C: Faisalabad v Habib Bank at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Sargodha v Wapda at SportsStadium, Sargodha; Sheikhupura v Restof Punjab at Sheikhupura Stadium.Pool D: Peshawar v Allied Bank at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; KRL v Rest of NWFP at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi; Rawalpindi v ADBP at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.March 16:Pool A: Hyderabad v PIA at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad; Lahore Whites v Rest of Sindh at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi; Karachi Whites v Bahawalpur at National Stadium, Karachi.Pool B: Karachi Blues v Pak PWD at Lahore Country Club, Muridke; Sialkot v Sui Gas at Saga Ground, Sialkot; National Bank v Rest of Balochistan at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.Pool C: Faisalabad v Wapda at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Sargodha b Habib Bank at Sports Stadium, Sargodha; Lahore Blues v Rest of Punjab at LCCA Ground, Lahore.Pool D: Islamabad v Allied Bank at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; ADBP v Rest of NWFP at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi; KRL v Rawalpindi at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.March 18:Pool A: PIA v Pakistan Customs at National Stadium, Karachi; Hyderabad v Rest of Sindh at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad; Lahore Whites v Bahawalpur at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi.Pool B: National Bank v Karachi Blues at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; Gujranwala v Sui Gas at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala; Pak PWD v Rest of Balochistan at Lahore Country Club, Muridke.Pool C: Sheikhupura v Habib Bank at Sheikhupura Stadium; Sargodha v Rest of Punjab at Sports Stadium, Sargodha; Lahore Blues v Rest of Punjab at LCCA Ground, Lahore.Pool D: Peshawar v Islamabad at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; Rawalpindi v Rest of NWFP at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi; Allied Bank v ADBP at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.March 20:Pool A: Karachi Whites v Pakistan Customs at National Stadium, Karachi; Hyderabad v Bahawalpur at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad; PIA vRest of Sindh at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi.Pool B: National Bank v Pak PWD at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; Gujranwala v Sialkot at JinnahStadium, Gujranwala; Sui Gas v Rest of Balochistan at Lahore Country Club, Muridke.Pool C: Sheikhupura v Wapda at Sheikhupura Stadium; Faisalabad v Rest of Punjab at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Lahore Blues v Habib Bank at LCCA Ground, Lahore.Pool D: Peshawar v Rawalpindi at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; Islamabad v Rest of NWFP at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi; KRL v ABL at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.Final round:March 27: A1 v B2 at National Stadium, Karachi; C1 v D2 at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi; A2 v B1 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; C2 v D1 at Sheikhupura Stadium.March 29: A1 v C1; National Stadium, Karachi; B2 v D2 at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi; B1 v D1 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; A2 v C2 at Sheikhupura Stadium.March 31: C1 v B2 at National Stadium, Karachi; A1 v D2 at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi; A2 v D1 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; C2 v B1 at Sheikhupura Stadium.April 4:First semifinal (D/N) at National Stadium, Karachi.April 5:Second semifinal (D/N) at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.April 7:Final (D/N) at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Man-of-the-Match Paul Collingwood is hoping to have clinched his place in England’s World Cup squad after his maiden one-day international century carried England to their second successive win over Sri Lanka.The Durham all-rounder rescued England from the perilous position of 122 for six to ensure a total of 258, which proved more than enough for victory.”It’s been a good day,” Collingwood said afterwards. “I came in at a difficult situation and managed to get ones and twos and (Craig) White played a great innings as well.”We just knew we had to bat the overs out and we were trying to get out to 46to 47 overs and then a slog, but we were pleased because we managed to getthree, four, five an over throughout that period,” he told Sky Sports.Asked whether he believed his World Cup place for February and March is secure, Collingwood replied: “Let’s hope so. Obviously I got dropped for the first two games and that was disappointing, but I went in the nets and thankfully it’s gone well since then.”Meanwhile Nasser Hussain described Collingwood’s performance as “exceptional”, and believes England can take heart from another win ahead of the fourth Test, which starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day.”We were a little bit clumsy early on,” said the England captain. “We should have got used to the bounce quicker than we did especially since we’d already played a Test here. But we played our way of trouble, and I think that we should give them credit for that.””It was an exceptional performance (by Collingwood). He has looked very good since he got into the team and was very good today in very difficult circumstances. Luckily our last recognised batsman Craig White was able to stay with him.”Hussain, who had some sharp words for his side after two dropped catches during the Sri Lankan innings, also drew encouragement from further impressive bowling displays from youngsters James Anderson and Steve Harmison.”They’ve got things that you need at this level. For example Anderson’s slower ball gives us something that we haven’t had before, as well as Harmison’s pace and bounce.”But I wouldn’t get too excited. After taking such a drubbing in the tour every game against Sri Lanka has become like a semi-final, and I just think I needed to let them know that we need to play well all the time and take our chances. It’s nicer to go into the Christmas period with two wins under our belts.”Sri Lanka’s captain skipper Sanath Jayasuriya pointed to dropped catches as the key reason for his team’s defeat.”I think we bowled well but the fielding was not up to the standard. We dropped so many catches and you can’t afford to do that. We dropped their important batters and paid the price.”I think 260 was still gettable but we lost a wicket early on again. When wewere here before in 1998 we won a few matches but we need to be more positive.”

The inter-provincial one-day cricket tournament began with Manicaland hosting Mashonaland in Mutare, while Matabeleland and Midlands met on neutral territory at Harare Sports Club. Midlands were surprisingly insipid as they went down by nine wickets to Matabeleland, following up good bowling with an outstanding opening partnership between Charles Coventry and Mark Vermeulen.At the start of the match in Harare, it looked very much as if ZCU threw a party and nobody came. There was a long queue in the ground as the match started, which made it look as if crowds were eager to get in. But the stands were almost deserted, and the crowds were not there for bread or petrol, either: they were buying World Cup tickets. The players were in coloured clothing (Matabeleland dark and light blue, Midlands dark blue and red) and music blared between the overs, but there were few to appreciate it – or otherwise.Matabeleland won the toss and surprised by putting Midlands in to bat, as there was little or nothing in the shaven pitch, or in the weather, which was hot and sunny – none too common for January, which is usually in the middle of the rainy season. But Pommie Mbangwa’s decision was to pay off.Heath Streak, who has just returned to competitive cricket after his road accident in Sri Lanka, opened the bowling at just above medium-pace, concentrating at first on accuracy and gradually building up speed. His first contribution was as a fielder at long leg, easily pouching a lofted hook by Vusi Sibanda (4) off the bowling of Mluleki Nkala. A superb throw by Barney Rogers from the gully region removed Travis Friend (7), run out at the bowler’s end by a direct hit, and Midlands were 31 for two.Craig Wishart opened the batting for Midlands, a sign that this might be his role again in the World Cup. He nearly ran himself out on 17, as the accuracy of Streak and captain Pommie Mbangwa tied the batsmen down. But he was not able to take control, and with 29 to his credit he pulled Mbangwa to Charles Coventry near the midwicket boundary.Doug Marillier and Sean Ervine concentrated on working the ball around the field for ones and twos, but the overall scoring rate barely touched four an over. The stranglehold remained as Ervine (20) holed out to long-off, with off-spinner Gavin Ewing claiming the wicket. In the 26th over Midlands were 100 for four.When Streak came on again, Marillier drove him daringly through extra cover for two fours, and a fascinating duel developed. At the other end Gavin Rennie trapped Dirk Viljoen lbw for 10, and then another cover drive off Streak brought Marillier his fifty off 81 balls. But Streak came off, Nkala replaced him and Marillier immediately skyed a pull to midwicket to depart for 56.The later batsmen scarcely looked like reaching a total of even 200, but thanks to some late hitting by English professional James Cornford (19) and Alester Maregwede (38). The final total was 222, with a tight run-out ending the innings with the last ball of the 50 overs. Nkala took three wickets for 46, but more impressive was Mbangwa’s two for 27 off his nine overs.Coventry and Vermeulen were soon batting as if the target was all too easy; in fact, over-confidence looked a danger as they both played several uppish attacking strokes not too far from the fielders. Midlands’ international opening attack of Friend and Ervine held no terrors for them. Certainly they made run-scoring seem much easier than Midlands had done, and after ten overs the score was 93 without loss, with Coventry, despite picking up cramp that necessitated the use of a runner, actually outscoring Vermeulen.Coventry, now hitting superbly, reached his fifty, mostly off bowlers with international records, off 38 balls and celebrated with a six into his own team’s dressing room. Vermeulen quickly followed with his own fifty, off 53 balls, and the Midlands bowlers’ spells tended to be short and sharp. Coventry looked set for a century when, on 86, his runner was run out attempting a second run and Matabeleland were 184 for one. In this new competition, it is a partnership record that could stand for a long time.Gavin Rennie came in and played quietly, but there was not time for Vermeulen to reach his century. He finished with 86 not out when Rennie hit Ervine for the winning boundary, and it had proved surprisingly easy for Matabeleland.

The chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Tim Lamb, has begun the process of rebuilding England’s relationship with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, after deciding not to appeal against the World Cup technical committee’s decision to award their World Cup match to Zimbabwe.”I accept this has been a very protracted and difficult issue and it has taken the gloss off not only England’s participation in this tournament but there’s no doubt it has detracted from the integrity of the event,” Lamb conceded.”It’s easy to be wise after the event, but I believe that throughout this whole process right from December 28 which was when the issue really started, as far as myself and the ECB are concerned, when the government said what it did about their view of us going to Zimbabwe, I don’t think there is anything we could have done differently.”It’s time to put this behind us, we’ve given it our best shot, we’ve done everything possible to try to persuade the ICC of the merits of our case and Ithink, in the wider interests of cricket and the need to start building bridgeswith our counterparts in other boards, it’s best if we put this issue behindus.”Referring to England’s relationship with the ZCU, Lamb stressed: “On a personal level everything has remained extremely cordial and friendly.”I personally phoned the chairman and chief executive of the ZCU on the day we announced our decision not to play, to express my sympathy to them and the regret in which we had come to our decision.”We knew it was going to be a massive event for them and I know how disappointed the ZCU would have been but I just hope that they would understandwhy we took the decision we did and we can move forward as friends in thefuture.”I haven’t received any specific assurance but I very much hopeful there won’t be any repercussions as far as the South African tour to the UK is concerned and certainly as far as the Zimbabwe Cricket Union sending their team to Englnad this summer as well.”I hope as part of the process of putting this behind us that both the toursthat Zimbabwe and South Africa are undertaking to the UK this summer and thetours that England are undertaking to Zimbabwe and South Africa in the winter of2004/5 will take place without any hitches.”Lamb believes that the death threat posed in the letter to the players from the so-called “Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe” was a serious one.”I can assure you it totally contradicted much of what we had heard before, it added to our disquiet and our concern about the whole nature of the advice that we had got up to that point and we’re still getting from various security, intelligence and police sources.”The ECB took the decision with the support of the players that in the circumstances and in the light of not having totally satisfactory assurances ofwhether the letter posed a serious threat that we had no alternative but toapproach the ICC and get them to try and locate the fixture.”The players and the ECB had a major concern about the wholly inconsistent contradictory and inadequate assessments of the threat posed by the letter sentby the Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe on the part of the police and of thesecurity and intelligence professionals in charge of security arrangements.”The new evidence put before the technical committee, including that of thepolice and security personnel, established that the England players were, in thecircumstances, entitled to take the overt threats against them and theirfamilies seriously.”