Middlesex batsmen Simon Cook and James Dalrymple fashioned an unlikely Middlesex victory with a vicious late assault on the Hampshire bowling at the Rose Bowl.Cook and Dalrymple smashed 65 in only six overs as Hampshire threw away a winning position of their own and leaves them outsiders for promotion with only one match to play.Cook was merciless as Hampshire fell away under the barrage. Even their England bowler Alan Mullally came in for some heavy punishment with 19 runs coming off his penultimate over as 35 came from the last 13 balls of the match.A Middlesex victory looked remote when Paul Weekes was fifth out at 151 leaving Middlesex needing 70 to win in six overs. But then Cook and Dalrymple got going to ensure a Middlesex victory by four wickets and with five balls to spare.Earlier Giles White and John Francis each scored half-centuries as Hampshire built a solid total of 220 for 9. Weekes took three leg wickets to finish with three for 37 while White’s 59 was his top score in the competition this season. Francis confirmed his potential with an unbeaten 57, which was made off 83 balls.There was nothing about the start to the Middlesex innings, which suggested alarm for Hampshire later with Andrew Strauss and John Maunders dispatched with 30 on the board.Owais Shah and Irishman Ed Joyce put together a stand of 98 for the third wicket but in 22 overs and once Shah had gone for a brisk 69 off 100 balls, he was swiftly followed by Joyce who gave Shaun Udal a comfortable return catch.This merely opened the way for big-hitting Cook and the inexperienced Dalrymple to seize the initiative from Hampshire and although Dalrymple was out in Chris Tremlett’s last over the damage was done.David Nash was at the other end as Cook struck Mullally’s first delivery at the last over for four to complete Hampshire’s humiliation.

Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will miss the Asian Test Championshipopener between Pakistan and Bangladesh starting at Multan from Aug 29.The chairman of selectors, Wasim Bari, who watched the first day’sproceedings in the three-day match involving the visitors, toldnewsmen that Saqlain would return on Sept 13.Bari said Saqlain had some pressing domestic commitments in England.He, however, clarified that his engagement had nothing to do withEnglish county Surrey.The chief selector said the team for the Multan Test would be handedover to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Sunday. He said it would thenbe upto the establishment when to release the squad to the media.Nevertheless, Bari hinted that the team for the match had already beendecided. “There are question marks against a couple of players. But wehave been discussing the team amongst ourselves while Waqar Younis hasalready been consulted.”The chief selector said the playing lineup would be selected by thecaptain as his committee’s job would end with the picking of 15players. Until last year, the selection committee used to decide theplaying lineup. But the change has probably come after Waqar Younisthreatened to quit if his views were not given due consideration whilefinalizing the playing lineup.

Rain won the day at Newlands on Friday when no play was possible on the opening day of the season’s opening Supersport Series match between Nashua WP and Easterns.Heavy over night rain initially resulted in the start being delayed. However, rain fell throughout the day forcing the umpires to call off play shortly before 16H00 CAT on Friday afternoon. Play will start 09H30 on Saturday.In an effort to boost attendance WP Cricket is offering free entry to rugby fans attending the Bankfin rugby match between WP and Free State at Newlands on Saturday evening. Braai facilities will be available throughout the day.

Book you own private room with a view for your lunchtime or evening Christmas function.

The Zimbabwe squad will arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport on flight UL 423 at 11:45 p.m. on the 29th of November.Journalists are advised to confirm flight arrival by calling Flight Information on 073-2377 or 073-2677 prior to leaving for BIA. All media persons are kindly requested to make their own arrangements with respect to travel to Katunayake and security clearance for entry into BIA.The Taj Samudra invites media personnel to cover the arrival of the Zimbabwe team at the hotel, at 1:30 a.m. on the 30th of November. Please note that this is a photo opportunity only and not a press conference.

The record books show that he’s only played five games at the very pinnacle of the sport.Thankfully, though, they also now verify that he is among the finest first-class cricketers that Australia has ever produced.Darren Lehmann’s game was not conditioned by a stint at a cricket academy. He’s generally content to stay out of the media limelight, and is happier to call a spade a spade than to deal in rehearsed clichés and euphemisms. He enjoys cricket for cricket’s sake and doesn’t care too much for the lucrative financial returns now on offer from the game. And he’s not especially big on sledging, either.Unusual traits for a top player of his era perhaps, but it hardly matters. Lehmann is still among the contemporary giants of Australian cricket.And his achievement today in becoming the most prolific scorer of runs in the history of interstate first-class cricket in the country is testament to his place in the pantheon.With his innings of 26 against Victoria at his old stamping ground of the MCG, the South Australian left hander has swelled his personal haul of runs in Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup cricket to a phenomenal 10,653. It moves him past Jamie Siddons, well beyond Dean Jones, and even further ahead of David Hookes.In advance, in fact, of every single player who has participated in the course of 100 years of domestic first-class competition in Australia.It’s a performance made all the more piquant by the fact that his runs have been scored at a time when the competition is widely acknowledged to have been the most testing of all domestic battlegrounds in the world.Though Lehmann will remain typically modest in its wake – to him, a sense of team far outweighs the individual – it represents a pretty powerful statement of his abilities. And of batting that’s been based on a mixture of the pitiless, the ruthless, the murderous and the downright audacious.It hasn’t always been easy, of course. He’s battled over-zealous administrators, wizened analysts who advised against an early three-year move to Victoria, and an horrific eye injury that briefly threatened to derail his career altogether. Not to mention a hostile gaggle of critics from the eastern states obsessed with depicting him as a flabby, flat-track bully and a liability in the field.He’s also had to cope with intense disappointment as a series of players with less imposing records have been preferred to him in the national team.Yet Lehmann’s batting, and moreover his productivity, has rarely ceased to amaze.Refreshingly, there’s been little to disturb an appetite for big scores ever since the then jocose kid from the northern suburbs of Adelaide made his opening appearance for Salisbury in first grade cricket in his mid-teens. And perhaps even less to interfere with it from the time of his debut on the first-class stage as a 17-year-old back in 1987-88.Modest scores of 10, 0 and 24 marked his opening three first-class innings. But, when he struck 51, 79 and 60 in three of his next four, it was clear that something special was afoot.They were sophisticated innings each of them, simultaneously expressions of talent that has not only remained uncomplicated but has often ascended close to the unbelievable.He similarly wasted little time in reaching the first of a manifold set of three-figured scores that were to follow, registering his maiden century in just his tenth match and showing the experience to be so perfunctory that he turned it into a double century for good measure – 228, to be precise, against New South Wales in 1989-90.By that stage, the 19-year-old was well on the way to becoming the youngest cricketer in Australian history to score 1000 runs in a first-class season. It wasn’t the first record he was to prise from some of Australian cricket’s biggest names.He had rejected an overture to attend the Australian Cricket Academy on his way to the feat – a move suspected to have long been held against him by officialdom. But Lehmann sagely felt that he was already armed with all he needed to know in order to become a high-performing batsman. Presumably, he realised even then that he had within him the ability not only to bat like a butcher but also a sculptor and virtually everything in between. If that was the case, then he was correct on all counts.He missed selection as a potential bolter in Australia’s 1989 Ashes team – setting a trend that was to mystify friends, fans and even foes alike for more than a decade – but attacks around the country were already coming to realise that Lehmann’s was no ordinary talent. Duly, further honours were quick to follow.He has passed the 1000 run barrier in an Australian first-class season five times; was the Pura Cup Cricketer of the Year in 1999-2000; a key figure in Victoria’s Shield-winning side of 1990-91 (still the state’s last triumph in the competition) as well as South Australia’s victorious team of 1995-96. He has also been a runaway winner of the Australian Cricket Board’s State Cricketer of the Year title in each of the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons – the only two summers for which it has been on offer.There are only two players in history who have made more first-class runs for South Australia alone, and his name features in as many as three of the state’s partnership records in domestic first-class matches.Across a string of other milestones, it’s also sobering to note that no Australian in history has amassed as many first-class runs before appearing in their first Test.Simply, it has been a career bursting with achievement. And, from his first captain (Hookes) to the youngest member of a South Australian side now under his own charge (Paul Rofe), it’s almost impossible to find a teammate – or even an opponent – who has a bad word to say about him. Or his impact upon the game as a whole.To those and other ends, Darren Lehmann has been desperately unlucky that his skills have remained so hidden from the international arena. That 17,430 first-class runs – and an average of 55.86 – have translated to just those five fleeting Test appearances means he has been dealt a wickedly cruel hand.Connoisseurs of domestic cricket have, accordingly, been the lucky ones. They know that few cricketers who have graced Australian fields over the last century have so dominated this level of the game.And that, in all senses, it has been a true privilege to watch him.

When the office at Somerset County Cricket Club reopens after the Christmas break a familiar face will be missing.Dick Watts,who has been cashier at the club for over twenty years is retiring, “So that I can give more time to playing billiards,” he told me as he sat at his desk in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion on his last working before the break.Dick is well known on the local sporting scene, but not because of cricket, but because he is a billiards champion, and has played the sport that is dearest to his heart for his county and for his country.Dick, who will become an octogenarian in October joined Somerset County Cricket Club after retiring from his job in Taunton with local finance company Chartered Life.His wife Bet, who he met whilst he was in the R.A.F. also worked for the same company and the couple have been married for over fifty four years.”Bet travels with me everywhere I go to play billiards, she’s my number one fan,” he told me.Dick plays his billiards in Taunton at the Railway Club where he has been a member for more than fifty years.”Since I’ve been with the Somerset my billiards have dropped off. Now that I will have more time I hope that I can concentrate on my game and win some more trophies,” Dick told me.”When I first became cashier at the club Ian Botham and Viv Richards were in their prime, so I was very pleased to see the team win a trophy in 2001, and hope that they will win some more next season,” he said.But Dick isn’t leaving the club alltogether. “I’ll still be coming down to sell scorecards at home matches next season, and I hope that I can get to watch a bit more of the cricket than I could last year,” he concluded.

New Zealand’s path to the finals of the tri-series in Australia was made a little more difficult when South Africa won the second match of the Adelaide yesterday.It is still possible that New Zealand can miss the finals. South Africa breathed life back into their campaign with the win while it is tempting realities for New Zealand to record five successive victories in ODIs against Australia.But that is what the side must do tomorrow in Melbourne when playing Australia if they are to secure their place in the finals.Newspaper comment on both sides of the Tasman picked through the bones of New Zealand’s defeat.The New Zealand Herald: “Having lost Saturday night’s batting star Nathan Astle to the first ball he received, New Zealand were always paddling upstream during the chase and in the end left their lower order too much work to do in too short a period of time.”Only captain Stephen Fleming, who grafted to 43, could make a meaningful contribution with the bat as South Africa took full advantage of a wearing pitch and moved into second place on the points table with 13. New Zealand have 17 and Australia 9.”Earlier in the day, New Zealand appeared to have the South African innings in a straitjacket at the midway point, but in circumstances similar to Saturday night’s effort, the batsmen managed to wriggle free and unleash several match-deciding overs of carnage.”From a modest 82 for two at the 25-over mark, the solid platform from Herschelle Gibbs (89) paid a rich dividend down the stretch as South Africa piled on 111 in the final 10 overs.”Most of the damage was inflicted by the scything blade of wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who smashed 57 off a mere 32 balls, but there was plenty of destruction coming from the other end as well, with Jonty Rhodes cracked a quickfire 55.”Together the pair added 86 in a breathtaking 7.3 overs, their running between the wickets – including 15 singles and 11 twos – almost as much of a feature as their big hitting.”Sydney Morning Herald: “South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher put a blowtorch to the belly of the New Zealand bowling yesterday and brought a simmering innings to a violent boil in the one-day international at the Adelaide Oval.”With his side requiring at least two wins from three games to make the finals, Boucher (57no off 32 balls) conspired with Jonty Rhodes (55 off 54) to lead a flurry that delivered 111 runs from the last 10 overs for a total of 5-253.”New Zealand were dismissed for 160, giving South Africa a bonus point and putting them ahead of Australia. Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming provided the only resistance, scoring 43.”New Zealand had restricted South Africa to 142 after 40 overs but the Proteas had seven wickets in hand.”That platform had been established through the cautious deeds of opener Herschelle Gibbs, who resisted his tendency towards self-inflicted injury until the 43rd over, by which time he had compiled 89.”Boucher and Rhodes then put on 86 in a 45-ball blitzkrieg that put deep cracks in New Zealand’s composure.”Rhodes raised his 50 when dropped to one knee and swept Chris Cairns into the crowd, as the Kiwi all-rounder conceded 39 from his last two overs.”The Australian: “Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje took 4-31 after man-of-the-match Mark Boucher’s batting fireworks helped South Africa defeat New Zealand by 93 runs in their tri-series day-night clash at the Adelaide Oval.”The victory lifted South Africa to 13 points and second spot on the tri-series table behind New Zealand (17) and enabled them to leapfrog Australia (nine).”Each side has two more matches before the best-of-three finals series starts on February 6 in Melbourne.”Boucher scored the second fastest international limited overs half-century on Australian soil to set up the huge win.”South Africa overcame a sluggish start to make 5-253 in their 50 overs and then dismissed the Kiwis for 160 in the 46th over, earning a bonus point.”After a late barrage by Boucher (57 not out off 32 balls) and Jonty Rhodes (55 from 54 balls) set up the demanding South African total, the Kiwis never looked like getting close in their run-chase on a difficult pitch.”NZ opener Nathan Astle, who made 95 against Australia yesterday, was out for a golden duck, caught behind off Proteas skipper Shaun Pollock on the fourth ball of the innings.”

The England spinner Ashley Giles is celebrating the birth of his second child, after being telephoned by his wife with the news in New Zealand.Giles’ Norwegian wife Stine rang him this morning to say that eight-and-a-half-pound Matilde was successfully delivered in hospital near their Droitwich home.”It’s very sad I couldn’t be there, but it’s a special moment for both ofus,” said Giles. “I was on edge all night, waking up every three quarters ofan hour wondering why I hadn’t got the call.”I’m sure there has been a lot of emotional strain on her, but she kept ithidden from me very well and that has helped because it’s been tough for mehere.”She told me to concentrate on my cricket and even last night when she wasgoing into labour, she apologised for interrupting a team meal. That shows thedepths she’s gone to to make things easy for me.”Stine is back at home now and she held Matilde to the phone so I’ve heard her cry for the first time. I have another one to play for and it does give you a lift.”It’s an emotional moment and I will probably always remember being in Napier. Stine has taken lots of pictures of her. I can’t wait to see them if she can get them out to me.”

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP – Stuart MacGill is back in the Test side and ready to shoulder the burden in the absence of Shane Warne – all the way to the World Cup and West Indies.The New South Wales (NSW) leg spinner was the only change to the Australian side named today for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, taking the place of Warne, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder.It’s been 11 months since MacGill last pulled on the baggy green cap against South Africa in Sydney.And it’s an opportunity he hopes will open the door for a permanent return to the national team, starting with the World Cup in South Africa in February.MacGill was left out of a preliminary 30-man World Cup squad named by the national selectors earlier this month but Warne’s dislocated shoulder has brought him back into calculations.”On the World Cup, I think in my mind, there’s absolutely no doubt that I am one of the best one day players in Australia,” MacGill said today.”To be left out of the 30 to me didn’t mean that I wasn’t. It just meant that the make-up of the team at that particular time didn’t include me.”It doesn’t mean that I am not one of the best one day players. I will always believe that.”For the selectors to have left me out of the 30 is understandable based on the selection criteria.”Now things are slightly different and if the opportunity arises I am sure I will do a great job.”With a four Test series against the West Indies to follow the World Cup, MacGill could be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu.Four years ago he took a bagful of wickets against England to secure a trip to the Caribbean, where his form eventually squeezed Warne out of the Test side.On that occasion Warne was coming back from shoulder surgery – a scenario which could be repeated next year.MacGill isn’t looking to make Warne expendable this time, but admits he’d love to play alongside the spin wizard in the Australian side once more.”I had hoped that this would be the time we would tour the West Indies and tear them apart together,” MacGill said.”I got to the stage last time where it was very difficult to leave me out of the team.”That can happen again this time. That’s certainly what I aim to do every time I play, even with New South Wales.”I feel if I am a vital part of the team it’s just going to make the selectors job easier, not harder.”If history is any guide, MacGill could do just that.The wine-loving leggie has an impeccable record against the tourists, having taken 27 wickets in four Tests at an average of 17.70.He was dubbed the “logical replacement” by chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns today despite lean pickings – by his own high standards – this summer for the Blues.The 31-year-old has taken 20 wickets in NSW’s six matches at an average of 38.45. He bowled only 26 overs, taking 3-56, as the Blues slumped to a nine wicket loss to Victoria on an SCG greentop in his latest Pura Cup outing.”He is a high-class performer with a big-match temperament, something that is shown by his figures in Test matches, and he has an outstanding record against England,” Hohns said in a statement.”We are delighted to be able to call on someone of his ability as we look to continue our good form in this series.”