An unbeaten century from left-hander S Sriram has secured Tamil Nadu a healthy first-innings lead over Punjab at the end of third day of the Elite Group encounter between the two sides at Mohali.Sriram made 160 not out (237 balls, 19 fours) to ensure that his side gained a 101-run lead over Punjab with three first-innings wickets in hand going into the final day. Skipper S Suresh (32), S Ramesh (39), S Sharath (35) and MR Shrinivas (30*) were the others to get among the runs for the visitors. For Punjab, Vineet Sharma claimed four wickets.At Delhi, a Gautam Gambhir ton saw the hosts post a strong reply after Hyderabad declared their first innings at 297/9. Delhi were 260/3 when stumps were drawn at the end of the third day’s play.In the morning, Hyderabad, who resumed at 180/5, were well served by overnight not out batsman D Vinay Kumar, who went on to make 96. With Arjun Yadav (35) and I Khaleel (30) chipping in with useful hands, the visitors managed to post a respectable first-innings total. Amit Bhandari, who claimed four wickets, was the most successful bowler for the hosts.When Delhi replied, opener Gambhir played masterfully to make an unbeaten 140 (196 balls, 22 fours). The 19-year-old Salil Oberoi, who made 64, was the other home team batsman to make an impression on the day.Assam, meanwhile, are pushing for an outright win against Uttar Pradesh in another Elite Group encounter being played at Guwahati. The hosts, replying to Uttar Pradesh’s first-innings total of 211, made a massive 469/9 before declaring. Kiran Powar (175, 350 balls, 24 fours) and Manoj Joglekar (80, 150 balls, five fours) were the men who were mainly responsible for guiding their team into such a strong position. Fighting to avoid an outright defeat, Uttar Pradesh were 28/0 in their second essay when play ended on the penultimate day.In another match at Kolkata, Andhra needed 80 runs with all second-innings wickets in hand to complete a win over hosts Bengal.In the morning, the visitors, who resumed their first innings at 275/8, were bowled out for 319, having secured a lead of 130. When Bengal batted for the second time, Devang Gandhi (102, 143 balls, 13 fours) and Deep Dasgupta (66, 154 balls, seven fours) laid a solid platform. But off-spinner Hemal Watekar (4-73) and D Kalyan Krishna (3-41) precitipated a collapse that saw the hosts lose eight wickets for the addition of just 52 runs. Needing just 108 to complete a second sucessive win, Andhra were 20/0 when stumps were drawn on the penultimate day.At Jaipur, Mumbai earned a 12-run first-innings lead over Rajasthan. By the end of the penultimate day’s play, they had managed to extend it to 107 by reaching 95/1 in their second essay. Mumbai medium-pacer, Robin Morris was the man responsible for gaining his side the all-important first-innings lead. He claimed 6-39 in 19 overs to almost single-handedly wreck the hosts’ hopes of gaining a point out of the match. Opener Vinayak Mane (43) was the only wicket to fall when Mumbai batted a second time.In the only other Elite Group match, Railways reached 139/1 in 35 overs in their first innings against Himachal Pradesh. Amit Pagnis (59*) and Tejinder Pal Singh (60*) were the two not out batsmen. Rain had earlier prevented pplay on the first two days and most of the third day.

A total of 182 000 people attended the 15 events which were held in the first week of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, a figure which the tournament’s executive director Dr Ali Bacher has described as “very pleasing”.On reviewing the attendance figures for the tournament’s first 14 matches and the Opening Ceremony, Bacher said: “We are particularly pleased with the attendance and support for the tournament so far. The figures are especially good when one takes into account the fact that this is term time for schools and universities, as well as a busy time of year for all businesses.”He noted that particularly good crowd attendances had been reported for the Bangladesh-Canada match at Kingsmead in Durban (10 482) and the Canada v Kenya match at Newlands in Cape Town (12 590).”The South African public and overseas visitors have been supporting the tournament exceptionally well. We have a maximum attendance of about 800 000 for all 47 events of the tournament which are held inside in South Africa (46 matches and the Opening Ceremony) and we believe we will reach our target of about 700 000 for those particular events,” Bacher said.A total of 24 169 people attended the Opening Ceremony at Newlands, with a crowd of 24 180 watching the South Africa v West Indies match there the next day. The biggest crowd of the tournament so far has been the 31 305 who filled the Wanderers in Johannesburg to watch South Africa play New Zealand last Sunday. (This was also one of the biggest crowds ever at a cricket match in South Africa.) The Australia-India match at SuperSport Park in Centurion was watched by 17 694 people and the Australia v Pakistan match at the Wanderers by 27 057.Bacher has praised the South African public for their conduct at the matches that have taken place, as well as thanking the tournament Volunteers and the South African Police Services for the outstanding roles they have played in ensuring the smooth running of the tournament.”So far we have seen very good behaviour from the crowds around the country,” said Bacher today. “There have been no pitch invasions, and very little drunken behaviour.” He said that the principle of closing the bars for an hour-and-a-half after the break between innings had been well received and had helped to alleviate alcohol-related crowd problems.”I have personally tried to speak to as many spectators as I can, and their feedback to me has been tremendous. Most people have complimented the volunteers and the security officials and have stated that the event so far has been world class,” Bacher said.Bacher did, however, ask spectators to arrive at grounds early to avoid long queues at security checks and turnstiles. “For the two hours before the match, the public can watch the teams warm up and train on the playing field. It is worthwhile getting there early – especially to the bigger grounds and bigger matches. Not only will spectators find they get through the gates quicker, but they can watch the players long before the game starts.”Organisers have requested that spectators try to arrive at the ground for day matches by 8am and by noon for day/night matches.Bacher also sounded a warning to anyone who bought tickets illegally outside the grounds. “As soon as tickets are reported lost or stolen, they are cancelled on the system. Many fans who have bought tickets from illegal ‘touts’ outside the gates have wasted a lot of money on tickets which don’t get them into the ground. I appeal to the public not to buy tickets from any unauthorized source.”

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia has appointed former test cricketer Naushad Ali to review the poor performance of the team in the ICC World Cup 2003.The committee in which former Test cricketers Aaqib Javed and Sultan Rana are included as members will submit its report within 15 days.The well informed sources told Dawn that after the report of the committee a new look team would be formed to take part in the Sharjah Cup to be held at Sharjah from April 1. Former skipper Moin Khan has been tipped as captain of the new look team, the sources said. But the surprising factor behind appointing the committee is that PCB chairman by himself formed the selection committee and also appointed Waqar Younis as captain for the World Cup despite severe criticism.The chairman has been working at this post after World Cup- 1999, without any barriers and so far he took all his decisions without the opposition of constitution and any council as both are not existing in the board.Instead of this committee, the government should set up an independent commission under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge. In the last World Cup held in England, the Pakistan team lost the final to Australia. But the press and public raised hue and cry which forced the government to set up a commission headed by Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari to probe the defeat in the final and also stunning defeat at the hands of minnows Bangladesh.According to a PCB spokesman the committee will start its working from March 8 and will complete it within 15 days.”The committee which has been assigned the task to work independently has been authorised to interview any player or official they want and will have access to any material required by them including the match tapes”, the spokesman said.The spokesman while quoting the PCB chairman said that the poor performance of the team during the World Cup matches, its failure to qualify for the Super Sixes and defeats at the hands of Australia, England and India had been source of serious widespread concern both to the public at large as well as the PCB management. This despite intensive preparations by the PCB and making available all possible resources to the team for the prestigious event.The committee will thoroughly review the performance going into each and every aspect including the selection both before and during the Cup matches, the role of captaincy, individual performances and suggest suitable measures to remedy the situation.The following are the terms of reference of the World Cup review committee: To review the selection criteria of the team for each match of the World Cup 2003. To review the selection of the team for each match of the World Cup.To review the strategies and game plans formulated for each match. To review the roles of players and officials particularly the Coach and Captain of the team in the overall dismal performance.To give opinion on the causes for the below standard performance. To give recommendations on penalties to those found responsible for the poor performance.To recommend steps for improvement to avoid such performance in future.

Wes Hall has described the West Indies Players’ Association’s (WIPA) assertion that regional players would be withdrawing their services from this weekend’s Carib Beer International Challenge as an embarrassment to sponsors.The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president’s comments came in the aftermath of conflicting stories from WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine and representatives of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago ahead of their semifinal clash at Kensington Oval today."Neither association has informed the WICB that their team will not be playing in the semifinal and final, but Mr Ramnarine has," Hall told WEEKENDSPORT late last night."This is the second time in two months our sponsors have been embarrassed and the third consecutive tournament that WIPA has attempted to hold the board to ransom with last-minute ambush negotiations."The dispute between the WICB and WIPA stems from a few issues, including an increase in fees in regional first-class competitions and compensation for international players who sustain injuries on tours."There are three ways to make money in cricket – sponsorship, gate receipts and domestic television rights," Hall said."They [WIPA] are doing a great job in discouraging sponsors."On the area of gate receipts, Hall pointed to the fact that the opening day of the top-of-the-table Cup match between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago attracted a small turnout on February 28 – the day before the Sandy Lane Gold Cup.He also disclosed that the WICB does not get a cent from domestic television rights, whereas in countries like England, the cricket body gets £50 million from stations like Sky and Channel 4 for domestic television rights."Even with prudent management, it is an ongoing challenge to survive," Hall said."The time has come when the board must insist on fair negotiation procedures and the players must decide who play for their territories and the West Indies."While the Barbados Cricket Association and Trinidad and Tobago team management said as far as they knew the match would go ahead as planned, Ramnarine was strong in his view the players would be taking industrial action."We have been very honest and up front with the WICB. If things are not being resolved and they do not want to move from their position … we have reached to this point where we have decided the best thing to do is not to play," Ramnarine said."We are very disappointed it has reached this far. We came to this meeting and we have been to all the meetings for this matter to be resolved in a fair way. It is a bit unfortunate for West Indies cricket that this has taken place."

Hampshire Hawks got their ECB National League season off to a winning start, defeating Sussex Sharks in a low scoring encounter at The Rose Bowl on Sunday.Damp conditions meant that the wicket would always be difficult to bat on, so John Crawley on winning the toss chose to make first use of the conditions, and was soon to rue his decision when they lost three quick wickets to the Sussex seamers for just 23 runs.John Crawley edged Robin Martin-Jankins to the wicket-keeper, out of form Derek Kenway and new boy Simon Katich both fell lbw to the pacy James Kirtley.Robin Smith however held his end for a sturdy 44, a more circumspect innings in the circumstance than his usual style, and he found a good foil in Nic Pothas, after James Hamblin edged Kevin Innes to slip. Smith and Pothas put on 39 valuable runs, before Smith who had previously driven Innes for six, drove too early and was caught at mid-wicket. Will Kendall also edged the perservering Innes to Montgomerie.With six wickets down for 97, Pothas was joined by Dimitri Mascarenhas as they edged towards a more respectable total. Mascarenhas was bowled going for an expansive drive, and Wasim Akram playing his first one-day match for his new county was dismissed without scoring.Pothas continuing the form that sees him as the leading run scorer this season in first-class cricket nationally, remained not out, but Hampshire’s score of 144-9 did not seem enough despite the vageries of the wicket.At 50 for 1, that seemed to be the case. Montgomerie was trapped lbw to Chris Tremlett, but when Innes fell the same way, Sussex continued to lose wickets. Tremlett bowled superbly for his three wickets, Wasim Akram was his accurate best, and James Hamblin despite one ball costing 10 runs (no ball four, followed by a free ball six), also contributed well.Shaun Udal then forced a frustrated Goodwin to lift the ball to give Hamblin a comfortable catch, then in the space of three balls removed Michael Yardy and Mushtaq. Wasim took the wicket of Kirtley, then Billy Taylor was run out following a direct hit from Mascarenhas. Sussex all out for 101 recorded their lowest Sunday/NUL league score against Hampshire since 1974.

Warnie’s Back!A very special luncheon as been organised for Tuesday 1st July 2003 at The Rose Bowl.Australia and Hampshire legend, SHANE WARNE, is to return to his UK home together with the man Southampton football supporters call Le God, MATTHEW LE TISSIER and the World’s finest One Day bowler WASIM AKRAM for a unique Sportsman’s Lunch.This one-off event in The Rose Bowl’s Long Room is limited in number to just 150 guests. Tickets can be obtained by calling the ticket hotline number 02380 470966 and are priced at £65 (plus VAT) or £600 (plus VAT) for a table of 10The event is planned to start at 12.30pm for lunch at 1.00pm. A 4-course luncheon with house wine is included in the ticket price. The entertainment will take the form of an open question and answer session with our principal guests taking questions from about 2.00pm.Anyone with a serious interest in sport will not want to miss this one-off event.

South Wilts’ reign as Southern Electric Contracting Cup holders is over after a nine-run second round defeat by Old Tauntonians & Romsey.Raj Naik was the inspiration behind OTR’s success, hitting 41 of their 122-3 and later taking 3-36 as South Wilts were restricted to 113-9.Max Smith (29) and later Ian Tulk, with a quick-fire 33 not out, left South Wilts chasing six runs an over from the start.Jason Laney (25) and Paul Draper (21) began well for South Wilts, but the required run rate gradually increased, causing the cup holders to sacrifice wickets for quick runs.Three stumpings by Keith Trodd complimented tight bowling by Jeremy Ord (4-26) and Naik as South Wilts reached 113-9 (Webb 23)."We needed one big over and didn’t get it," sighed losing South Wilts skipper Rob Wade.Terry Rawlins (4-10) and Chris Thomason (4-17) did the damage as BAT Sports skittled Trojans for 73 (Nigel le as 24) to set up an easy nine-wicket win. David Banks hit 37 not out to carry BAT into the quarter-final draw.Paul Marks hit a gallant 72 but was unable to save Winchester KS from a 23-run defeat at Rowledge, who posted 156-2 through David Lloyd (62) and Dave Bootton (56 not out).Weakened Hursley Park (97-9) were no match for Lymington, with Glyn Treagus’s unbeaten 72 carrying the New Forest club to a nine-wicket win at 99-1.Division 3 promotion contenders Alton raised a few eyebrows by beating Andover, who were Rose Bowl finalists two seasons ago. New Zealander Ben Jansen, who claimed four victims, helped peg Andover to 104 – a total he and JulianB allinger gleefully polished off.Havant emerged comfortable seven-wicket winners over Waterlooville (85-6), with Matt Cox taking 3-23 and Bev Moynan hitting 30 not out.Portsmouth comfortably accounted for Hambledon.

Fidel Edwards returned home to Barbados after his impressive Test debut, and insisted that the transition from domestic to international cricket was not as daunting as he had feared."It [playing for the West Indies] wasn’t really as difficult as I thought it would be," Edwards told the Barbados-based Nation newspaper. "It is just about going out there, keeping on your head and bowling." The 18-year-old Edwards was thrown in at the deep end – his Test debut was only his second first-class match – but he took 5 for 36 in the Sri Lankan first innings and impressed with his maturity and aggression.Edwards said that he had benefited from a spell at the West Indies Academy, as well as a brief pre-match net bowling at Brian Lara. "I just bowled about four balls at him, but he was talking to me before that."If I get picked for the upcoming tour, I will give my best. I hope to get over 50 wickets in the domestic season and just take it from there," Edwards added.

Kuwait qualified for the semi-finals of the Youth Asia Cup after humbling Oman by six wickets at the Quaid-e-Azam Park in Karachi on Wednesday. In the other match of the day at National Stadium, Malaysia smashed Thailand by eight wickets.In the feature match of the day, Kuwait’s bowlers bowled out of their skins to dismiss Oman for a modest 85 in 35.3 overs. The fast bowlers Abdullah Iftikhar and Waqas Jamil picked up three wickets apiece conceding 13 and 19 runs respectively. Left-arm spinner Ali Shahzad maintained Kuwait’s grip on the match by also accounting for three Omani batsmen at the cost of 21 runs.

Kuwait faced few problems in overhauling the target in 19.5 overs with opener Saim Shibli hitting 31.After the league rounds, in Pool B Kuwait finished second behind an unbeaten Malaysia while Nepal topped Pool A with Qatar finishing runners-up. In Friday’s semi-finals, Kuwait face Nepal while Qatar take on Malaysia.At the National Stadium, Thailand managed only 108 in 48.5 overs and this was easily achieved by Malaysia in 16.2 overs losing just two wickets. The victory ensured that like Nepal, Malaysia also reached the knock-out stage with an unblemish record.Scores in brief:
Oman 85 in 35.3 overs (Abdullah Iftikhar 3-13, Waqas Jamil 3-19, Ali Shahzad 3-21) lost to Kuwait 86-3 in 19.5 overs (Saim Shibli 31) by six wickets.Thailand 108 in 48.5 overs (Radzman Zabri 2-6) lost to Malaysia 109-2 in 16.2 overs (Suhan Kumar 35, Sathiswaran 33 not out) by eight wickets

Dominic Cork looks set to be relieved of the captaincy at Derbyshire, after a miserable season in which they have been rooted to the bottom of the second division of the County Championship.Derbyshire’s chairman, Trevor Bowring, has been canvassing opinion among the county’s 14-man committee, and Cork is likely to find few supporters, especially as a comprehensive shake-up of the playing staff is in the pipeline. Cork, who is believed to earn £80,000 a year, is unlikely to want to remain at Derbyshire, if and when he is reduced to the ranks.While Cork seems to be on the way out, the former Zimbabwe captain David Houghton is almost certainly on his way in. He has been offered the role of director of cricket, having cemented his reputation as a good leader during a spell as coach with Worcestershire in the mid-1990s. He is currently involved with Sky TV, and is keen to remain in England, rather than return to Zimbabwe.