Ireland lost the toss for the first time in the CricInfo Women’s World Cup today but it turned out to be sixth time lucky as they made the most of some Netherlands’ gifts to score their first win of the tournament.The first gift was the invitation to bat when the still, hot and depressingly humid conditions turned fielding into a trial of endurance. The second gift actually numbered 28, the wide balls that Ireland turned into 41 runs, the precise difference between the two teams at the end.And the third gift was the second over of the match. The Netherlands had achieved their dream start, capturing the first Irish wicket with Sandra Kottman’s fifth ball of the innings courtesy of a superb slip catch by their captain, Pauline te Beest. But it turned into a nightmare.Cheraldine Oudolf put balls three, four and five of the second over outside Anne Linehan’s legs and three times in succession the Irish left-hander despatched them backward of square to the rope. And for good measure she drove the sixth to the cover boundary. Nineteen off the over, 21 for one after two overs and the Irish knew it was their day.They never looked back. Linehan went on to 54 off 68 balls, the captain, Miriam Grealey, ensured the pace did not drop with 32 off 37 balls and at the other end the rock of Caitriona Beggs carried her bat from her entrance at 56 for two in the 12th over for a personal best 66. It was a meritorious enough innings given the energy sapping conditions. It was even more notable given that she top-edged a ball into her eye at the end of the 30th over, requiring a lengthy treatment break that would have seen rugby referees ushering her from the playing arena.But she continued on in what turned out to be a player-of-the-matching performance, undoubtedly contributed to by her outstanding ground fielding during the Netherlands innings.And at the end of the innings, when the fighting Dutch denied the Ireland batsmen the free hits they had feasted on earlier, there was the quick-running expert Nikki Squire. While scoring an undefeated 10, she assisted Beggs in an undefeated seventh wicket partnership of 36 runs in five overs as the score reached 232 for six at the end of 50.For the Netherlands bowlers, there was little joy. Kottman (10-38-2) and Teuntje de Boer (10-40-1), who returned at the death, did manage to hold Ireland in check when they threatened to take complete control. But those wides said it all about the Netherlands’ effort in the field.If the Netherlands did not already believe the gods had conspired against them, a strong wind swept the field after lunch, blowing away the humid conditions and anything else that was not tied down. It made batting very difficult.It did not do much for the bowlers, either. But no one told Barbara McDonald. Operating on pain-killers for a leg injury incurred through some injudicious fielding in her last match, she uprooted the stumps of one of the big Netherlands’ threats, Maartje Koster, in her second over and then conspired with Saibh Young to keep the Netherlands to 18 for two off the first 10 overs. It was virtually all over by then.McDonald came back at the death and ended with the fine figures given the conditions of 10 overs, three maidens, one for 22 (six of those courtesy of tired Irish fielding at the end). Young, two for 32 off eight, Karen Young, one for 15 off five and Isobel Joyce, one for 28 off nine, played their part in keeping the Netherlands in check.But the Netherlands never gave up. Building around a fine performance by the wicket-keeper batsman, Rowan Milburn, they kept fighting to the end, finishing on 191 for eight, a fine score from a chasing team at this tournament. Milburn ended with 71, adding 62 with Tessa van der Gun (43) for the sixth wicket.While they were together, anything was possible. But those wides always dangled the target tantalisingly out of reach.For a coach who had just picked up his first win of the tournament, John Wills was subdued. He was reasonably pleased with the batting. “We set targets and met them, even exceeded them.” But, even making allowances for the very trying conditions, he would have looked for a better performance in the field. “Some of the outfielding was sloppy.””It was a workman’s performance.” And at last a smile: “We’ll gratefully accept the win.”

Karl Krikken and Nathan Dumelow rescued Derbyshire after Durham spinner Nicky Phillips had sparked another all too familiar batting failure.When Phillips snared his third victim, Derbyshire were 187-6 but Krikken and Dumelow added 52 to take the score to 239-6 when bad light halted play at 5.10.Derbyshire have yet to make 300 in an innings this season but they made a promising start after Tim Munton won the toss and decided to bat.Steve Stubbings and Luke Sutton added 47 in 11 overs before the latter was caught behind off Ian Hunter for 15.Stubbings went in the next over when he edged Steve Harmison to second slip where Phillips took a smart catch but he missed an easier one seven overs later that allowed Mathew Dowman to escape on 12.Dowman played several elegant strokes through the offside but he squandered his wicket when he walked down the pitch to Phillips and was bowled for 45.By then, Michael Di Venuto had again departed cheaply, caught behind cutting at Phillips for 19 and when Harmison got one to lift on Rob Bailey, Derbyshire had lost their top order for 157.Graeme Welch became Phillips’s third victim when he edged a drive to slip but Krikken played well and was given sound support by Dumelow who again showed he is a player of potential.Krikken was struck painfully in the ribs by Harmison before the light closed in and will resume the second day five short of a half-century.

After tonight, any remaining doubts about Australian supremacy in world cricket must’ve been set right after what happened at Old Trafford. The world champions simply rose to a class of their own against England.

For me, the most exciting sight in cricket is two great fast bowlers running in with a new ball and four or five slip fielders waiting to swallow it up. It really must have shattered England openers’ confidence, already shaken by the Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target, when McGrath and Gillespie started roaring in with that field setting.Steve Waugh is surely a worthy leader of worthy men. He didn’t cringe from using up his pace duo to break England’s back having them bowl flat out for the first 17 overs.His decision, earlier in the day, to bat first under overcast conditions had me scratching my head, wondering what’s he up to? Then losing 3 wickets for just 27 runs seemed to further ridicule his decision. However, in the end all my apprehensions were laid to rest after this amazing and thoroughly professional display by his team.Now back to McGrath and Gillespie, I’d say they are now the best new-ball attack in the world. I say this not because the wet and windy conditions at Old Trafford came as icing on the cake. The way they ripped through the English top-order was a sight for sore eyes.

After England’s performance in the NatWest Series, I think it’s high time the ECB arranges for the maximum possible limited over games, if they are in earnest to put up a good show in the next world cup. This is the only way their young players can accustom themselves to the rigours of one-day cricket.After the burst by the pacers, Warne and Symonds had absolutely no problem in brushing off any remaining resistance and making England slide to their lowest total in ODIs.I used to think that age plays a major part in enervating a player’s physical and mental ability. But Steve Waugh has proved me totally wrong. At 36, he is as strong, both physically and mentally as one can be.

When Australia was 27 for 3, any player could have panicked, especially when Caddick and Gough were bowling magnificently. But perhaps the word ‘panic’ is not there in Steve’s dictionary. He played calmly; building useful partnerships with Bevan and Martyn, to once more lead his side out of trouble. I can’t even remember how many times he has led from the front.I think Bevan should’ve stayed a bit longer, having got on the right platform to build up his innings. But then England, especially Mullally, did bowl well against him, not allowing him the width he so cherishes and frustrated him enough to give his wicket away.Anyhow, today’s match will be long remembered for the Aussies sheer professionalism. They worked hard in batting, bowling and fielding to completely destroy a poor English outfit.

With England out of the reckoning, Pakistan has a place in the final to meet these awesome Australians. It won’t be easy for Pakistan to beat the world champions but under the newfound confidence and led by Waqar, they are certainly capable of giving them a run for their money. I do remember WC99 debacle, but this time it won’t be a one sided final.But we still have two matches against Australia left before the final and I, for one, am eagerly awaiting these. A good showing would a great morale booster for the Pakistan side.

Ed:Mudassar Nazar is a veteran of 76 tests and 122 ODIs. He is currently the chief coach of Pakistan’s National and Regional Cricket Academies. In view of the overwhelming interest of users in CricInfo’s articles, we have invited him to write for us.

Final day of 3Colwall:
Wiltshire 124 and 458-6 dec
Herefordshire 103 & 392-9 (H Patel 69, I Dawood 66, RD Bedbrook 6-150)
Match Drawn.
Wiltshire 8 pts, Herefordshire 8 ptsChallow and Childrey:
Cheshire 313 & 172-2 dec
Oxfordshire 151 and 134 (C Knightley 54)
Cheshire (23 pts) beat Oxfordshire (4 pts) by 200 runsDay 2 of 3:Bridgnorth:
Shropshire 192 and 135-4 (AB Byram 61)
Cornwall 213 (T Sharp 90)

Shane Warne has explained how his position in the Australian side has changed in recent years, and appears to be revelling in his role out of the spotlight.”My role in the side has changed a fair bit with the three quicks in the side in the last couple of years," Warne reasoned.”We always used to bat first no matter what so I could bowl on the fourth or fifth day. Now we bowl first all the time. It’s been a change in tactics for us and that’s been something I’ve had to adjust to.”I bowl on days one, two and three and people start to say I’m not bowling big turners any more. I say ‘wait until days four and five’ but we’re winning in three days, so I don’t get that opportunity very often.”My role now is to make some handy runs at number eight, take a few catches and pick up the odd wicket here and there.”Warne endured a tough tour of India. Much was expected of him on the turning pitches but he found Laxman and co. to be wonderful players of spin and his wickets came at more than 50 apiece. India also ended Australia’s remarkable unbeaten run, but Warne does not believe that they played badly, rather that India raised their game.”People have said various things about us, but I tend to disagree about India. I think it went pretty well for all of us," he said. “It would’ve been nice to win, but I thought it was a fascinating Test series. It was one of most exciting I’ve been involved in.”Someone like Laxman, averaging 25 in Test cricket, comes out and gets 280; it’s one of the best innings I’ve ever witnessed.”When you lose you always think you could’ve done better, but you’ve got to take your hat off and say ‘Jeez mate you played well and were too good for us’.”Looking forward to the Ashes, Warne appears to revel in the resurgence of the England team, but he insists that Australia have never taken anything for granted against the old enemy.”The Ashes were never devalued in my eyes. It’s always something special. It’s irrelevant if England are playing badly or we’re playing badly. England-Australia battles always bring out the best in everybody.”The history and tradition means so much. A lot of us have been playing against each other for a long time. I know how the English batters play and they know how I’m going to bowl.”It’ll be interesting to see which way they try and go; whether they come out and have a go, which will help me, or whether they try and make it hard for me to get a wicket.”

Sri Lanka’s under performing middle order burst back to life at thePremadasa International Stadium today, as the home side completed afive-wicket victory against New Zealand in the fourth match of theCoca Cola Cup.New Zealand had dominated an overcast day until Marvan Atapattu andRussel Arnold rescued the Sri Lankan innings with a 110-runpartnership for the fifth wicket. After Atapattu was run out, SureshPerera joined man of the match Arnold and the pair took their side tovictory in an unbeaten 103-run stand from just 98 balls.When New Zealand scored 236, having won the toss and batted, historysuggested that Sri Lanka would lose the game; firstly, because theKiwi total was the highest of the tournament thus far and, secondly,because no side had previously won batting second.Sri Lanka’s chances looked even slimmer when the New Zealand openingbowlers impressed for the second game in a row with a metronomic newball burst, which reduced Sri Lanka to 27 for four in just the ninthover of the innings.Captain Sanath Jayasuriya was trapped leg before wicket as he wanderedinto an inswinger from Kyle Mills; Romesh Kaluwitharana was turnedinside out by an outswinger in the same; Avishka Gunawardeneslashed straight to the Velcro like hands of Chris Harris; and MahelaJayawardene was run out without scoring.Atappatu and Arnold, both short of runs so far in the tournament, setabout repairing the early damage with a string of positive strokes,especially Atapattu, who looked far from the stodgy anchor that he issupposed to be.In fact, the pitch, which was also used on Sunday, never displayed thehorrors that we saw in the second game between India and New Zealandand the Sri Lankan batsmen were able to hit 22 boundaries in theirinnings.Atapattu’s flowing innings came to an abrupt end when he chanced hisarm once too often and, returning for a second run, was run outdespite a desperate dive. He had scored 66 and Sri Lanka were 137 forfive with 16.1 overs remaining.The body language of the Kiwi’s perked up and they rightly sensed thatthe breakthrough could pave the way to victory. Such wistful hopesthough were dashed, as Perera followed Sunday’s man of the match awardwith the finest innings of his career and probably the first of manyhalf centuries in international cricket.Arnold played cleverly and maturely for his unbeaten 91 from 116balls, but Perera unveiled some scorching strokes, just when the runrate was creeping above seven an over.Suffering from a bruised hip, which necessitated the confusion of arunner (amusingly Jayawardene, who had been run out second ball), andwith 40 runs needed from the final five overs he went into overdrive,carving the bowlers over cover and straight down the ground.Craig McMillan, acting captain in place of Stephen Fleming, who spentmost the day clutching his stomach in the team hotel, was particularlyharshly dealt with and conceded 35 runs from his 3.3 overs. UltimatelySri Lanka cantered to victory with nine balls to spare.Earlier in the day the Clear Black Caps had attacked the seamers inthe first 15 overs and made full use of the fielding restrictions.Bouncing along at nearly six runs per over, the first wicket fell withthe score on 70.Nathan Astle followed his 117 last week with another robust 54 today,though he will be kicking himself for being bowled by Arnold’s firstdelivery. In fact, Arnold proved to be one of the most economical ofthe Sri Lankan bowlers, conceding 22 runs from his six overs andtaking two wickets.McMillan (38) impressed against the spinners, shuffling outside theline against Muralitharan, though the off spinner had the final saywhen he bowled him, Lou Vincent (30) batted solidly, and Adam Parorefinished the innings in style with 37 from just 25 balls.

We went into the Galle Test with a psychological edge and full ofconfidence. We had just won the one-day series, knew that India werenot at full strength and also had the home advantage. We were stillwary though and aware that we needed to do the basics well.

That confidence wasn’t misplaced, however, as we outplayed them in alldepartments of the game. The bowlers made scoring very difficult andbowled plenty of wicket taking balls too, whilst Sanath (Jayasuriya)led from the front and Kumar (Sangakkara) played brilliantly with thebat.In the days leading up to the match there was some concern that theremay have been too much grass left on the wicket. We were prepared,though, having been practicing for the last two months on surfacesthat seamed all over the place. In the event there was not too muchsideways movement and batting, though not easy when the bowlers putthe ball in the right areas, was far from impossible.India started with a plan of survival and that negativity kept us inthe game, when we took only one wicket in the first two sessions. Wehad bowled adequately – though were guilty at times of dropping atouch short – but India never capitalised on their good start. In theevening we started to turn the screw, as “Dili” came to the party.I remember facing Dilhara (Fernando) when he came on to the scene acouple of years ago. He could be sharp, but also very wayward. When hetoured South Africa and New Zealand, we never knew whether he wasgoing to grab a wicket or bowl a ten-ball over.The management, however, knew a good thing when they saw one andpersevered. A softly spoken and unassuming man, he is a quick learnerand worked hard with fast bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake andbiomechanical expert Terry Oliver. His improvement in just six monthsis quite astonishing. Nowadays he is far more accurate, consistentlyhits the seam, reverse swings the ball and has a very deceptive slowerball. He still has a lot to learn of course, but he is willing to dothat, which is tremendously encouraging.In fact, Dilhara is one of a small young group of Sri Lankan fastbowlers, who have the ability to bowl really quick. Prabath Nishanka,a tall right armer from Matara, has just returned from a knee injuryand he has been a real handful at the nets. Ishara Amarasinghe, ateammate from Nondescripts Cricket Club, is another speed merchant tolook out for.Having bowled India out we needed to make sure we batted well. Soundsobvious, but we did not want to have to score many in the fourthinnings. There was already plenty of rough by the end of the firstinnings and the ball would have turned square by day four and five.The pace and bounce would have also become more unpredictable.India didn’t do themselves any favours on the second day. They bowledpoorly and Sanath (Jayasuriya) was able to get after them. Kumar’s(Sangakkara) innings was also impressive, even if it was not asexplosive as Sanath’s. He had come into the match without much formand although he is a naturally confident player, his confidence haddropped. Normally a free flowing stroke maker he was workmanlike anddetermined on this occasion.With the middle order collapsing (I played a half hearted stroke. Withhindsight I should have been more positive and square cut the ballproperly), he retained his discipline and ensured that we were able toput the Indians under a lot of pressure in the second innings;pressure that eventually told, as India collapsed for the second timein the game.We now then go into the second Test in Kandy full of confidence. Indiawill be down after such a convincing defeat and we need to re-createthe pressure that we put them under in Galle. We know that we havelost two close encounters in Kandy in the last 12 months, but alsorecognise where we went wrong. In those two matches we were not strongenough at the crunch moments. This time we need to hang in there thewhole match and make sure we ram home the advantage that we created inGalle.

Derbyshire’s Graeme Welch and Durham’s James Brinkley both improved their career-best figures for the second time this season as 24 wickets fell in the day at Chester-le-Street.Both came on first change and Welch took six for 30 as Durham collapsed from 34 without loss to 125 all out, then Brinkley grabbed six for 14 as the visitors subsided from 48 for one to 95 all out.Kevin Dean then bowled Martin Love first ball as Durham slipped to 11 for three in their second innings, but an unbeaten 43 from Martin Speight took them to 73 for four at the close, leading by 103.Speight hit eight sparkling fours in making the highest score of the day off 49 balls.His partner when bad light ended play with 7.4 overs left was Gary Scott, who became Durham’s youngest first-class cricketer aged 17 years 19 days and was one of five batsmen to be caught at second slip in the first innings by Derbyshire’s acting captain Michael Di Venuto.Although the pitch had sweated under the covers during the first day’s washout, the movement which so unsettled the batsmen was not so much off the wicket as through the air.Love shouldered arms to Dean in the first innings and was bowled for the first time in 22 Championship innings.After winning the toss for the first time in ten Championship matches, Jon Lewis must have wished he had chosen to field as he tried to hold the Durham innings together.He had made 41 when he drove at the second ball after lunch and edged Welch to Di Venuto.Durham were 108 for five at the break, but Lewis’s exit started a procession which saw 18 wickets go down in 38 overs.

Inzamam-ul-Haq has been suspended from Pakistan’s team for the first two One-Day Internationals against New Zealand.The suspension and a fine were imposed by ICC Match Referee Brian Hastings in June. Inzamam was said to have shown dissent after being dismissed against Australia at Lord’s in the NatWest Series.”We have been notified by the ICC about the match referee’s decision and he will only be available from the third match in Rawalpindi,” said Pakistan Cricket Board director Munawwar Rana.The news will come as a blow to the Pakistan team. Inzamam is in fine form at present, having hit a century against Bangladesh in the recent Test, and he is the second highest scorer of ODI runs in Pakistan’s history.

Pakistan’s plans to host New Zealand on a seven-match One-Day International tour if the international situation allows a tour are news to NZC chief executive Martin Snedden.A report published in The Hindu, in India, says the Pakistan and New Zealand boards are discussing an extended one-day tour to compensate for financial losses caused after New Zealand withdrew from its Test and ODI tour in the wake of last week’s tragedy in New York.The Indian report claims that Pakistan Cricket Board marketing manager Zahid Bashir said the talks were “at an advanced stage.”Snedden today said he knew nothing about the plan.The short tour would help Pakistan avoid financial losses of about $3.5million.Zahid added: “…the circumstances surrounding the cancellation were beyond anybody’s control. But at the same time, after the loss of the India series, the idea of losing a further $3.5 million and television rights did not look good for the board’s account books.”A deadline of Friday next week has been set as the point of no return for New Zealand being available to tour Pakistan in some form.In the meantime Snedden has been in communication with the Australian Cricket Board in a bid to get matchplay for the CLEAR Black Caps over and above the games already scheduled.But he is still waiting to hear back from the ACB.