JOHANNESBURG, Feb 10 AAP – Pakistan believes Australia is ripe for the picking in tomorrow’s potentially explosive World Cup cricket match at the Wanderers because of a batting lineup missing Michael Bevan and Darren Lehmann.Pakistan coach Richard Pybus claimed his Jekyll-and-Hyde side was bubbling with confidence and keen to make a statement as Australia prepared to tackle Pakistan’s potent pace attack with only five specialist batsmen.”Our boys are looking forward to this match because they are sure they have a great opportunity,” said Pybus tonight.”There is a lot of history between the two countries and there are a couple of scores to settle.”If we take early wickets it will place enormous pressure on them because of the situation with Lehmann and Michael Bevan. The key for Australia is the top order and we will be going hard at them with our fast bowlers.”Our focus is going to be on that top order and it is going to be a fascinating battle.”Both teams like to play it tough. Australia know about us. They know that when we are hot we are very hot, when we hit our straps we can take out anybody.”Australia’s top six became a top five when Bevan (groin) failed a fitness test, joining Lehmann (suspended) on the sidelines. Australia only selected one reserve batsman, Jimmy Maher, so the Cup favourites were left a specialist batsman short for the clash against Pakistan’s fast-bowling royalty: Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.Pybus said Maher and Australia’s latest allrounder, Brad Hogg, were unproven at World Cup and would be tested.”It (World Cup) is a totally different stage,” he said.”I’ve seen a little bit of Jimmy – there is a lot of responsibility on him now. He’s a linchpin there in that middle order and we will be putting a little bit of pressure on him.”Brad Hogg, he’s been doing well, he’s a competitive sort of player, but it’s always interesting to see how players accommodate themselves in big tournaments like this.”Shoaib, Waqar and wicketkeepr Rashid Latif have done their best in the lead-up to ruffle Australian feathers.Shoaib vowed to dismiss Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting, and claimed Brett Lee was no match-winner.Waqar claimed Australia was panicking about having to play Pakistan and then Rashid said the defending champions had dropped the trophy by leaving Test skipper Steve Waugh at home.But Australian skipper Ponting wasn’t buying into a pre-match war of words.”He can say whatever he likes,” Ponting said of Waqar.”I’m not too worried about whatever they say.”We haven’t spoken about it and we won’t speak about it.”As soon as we start worrying about what they’re talking about we’re taking our eye off what we have to do.”We’ve been in South Africa just going about our business. We’ve had our fair share of success against them in the past and I hope that doesn’t change.”We’ve got three of the best fast bowlers in the world, the best leg spinner in the world and a bloke who has done particularly well in the last few games bowling left arm wrist spin.”Our bowling line-up is good and we’re pretty sure our batting line-up can do the job.”Ponting admitted Shoaib, timed at a world record 161kph in a one-dayer against New Zealand last year, would be a handful.”They seem to get the ball to swing quicker than most other sides,” Ponting said.”You just have to have a smaller back lift and eliminate your big shots and try and get through those dangerous spells.”As we’ve seen in one-day cricket and Test cricket he (Shoaib) can still take three or four or five wickets in a hurry and destroy your innings so you’ve just got to get through those tough periods.”We know he’s a very dangerous bowler … but most of our guys have had success against him and have got game plans worked out to combat his speed.”Wasim, 37, who has 490 one-day international wickets, is playing his fifth and last World Cup and commands respect.”I have always enjoyed taking on challenges,” he said.”Australia has always been a very competitive team and I always enjoy playing and performing against them. I just can’t wait for Tuesday’s game and although it would not be a grudge match, we would certainly like to start the tournament on a winning note.”We need to start with a bang … we are ambitious and motivated enough to win the tournament.”Ponting said the first hour would be crucial.”If you let them get away early they’re a very good side, very good front runners.”Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist (vc), Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Jimmy Maher, Brad Hogg, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel.Pakistan (from): Waqar Younis (c), Shahid Afridi, Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdur Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Taufeeq Umar, Wasim Akram, Yousuf Youhana.

South Africa, Kenya, the West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka will all be praying the rain gods spare their remaining matches in Pool B because if any of them suffer uncompleted games their chances of making the Super Six will be gone, unless the rains affect more than one match.As it stands at the moment, the West Indies needed to beat Sri Lankaafter their rain affected match against Bangladesh. The West Indies last match is against Kenya and they should be too strong for them, despite all that has happened in this tournament – and what happened when these two sides met in 1996. If they beat Kenya it would leave the West Indies on 14 points.Should Sri Lanka win against South Africa they would end on 20 points and finish at the top of the group. That would mean South Africa would be left on 12 points. If Sri Lanka lose to South Africa they would finish on 16 points.The best New Zealand could do is finish on 16 points – whether that isenough depends on Sri Lanka’s fortunes, and whether Kenya can beatBangladesh.South Africa, quite simply need to beat Sri Lanka to keep their chancesalive. But South Africa would have to hope that Bangladesh had beaten Kenya, because if South Africa, Kenya and New Zealand ended on 16 points, and Sri Lanka, having beaten the West Indies to also be on 16, South Africa would go through, and it would be left to Kenya, New Zealand and Sri Lanka to contest the final two positions.The competition rules state: “When more than two teams have equal points and equal wins, the team which was the winner of most number of matches played between those teams will be placed in the higher position.If still equal, the team with the higher net run rate in the group matches will be placed in the higher position.If still equal, the team with the higher number of wickets taken per balls bowled in the group matches in which results were achieved will be placed in the higher position.”So, in effect, a mini-league would come into operation with results between the relevant teams the deciding factor. Then, should teams still be equal, it would come down to run rate, followed by wicket-taking rate. If teams cannot be separated in any other way, the ICC has made an allowance for lots to be drawn.And then there is the damage that rain could do.Pool A is a little more straightforward, but not by much.Australia are guaranteed a place in the Super Six by virtue of having 20 points already. However, India could also finish on 20 points if they beat Pakistan in their final group match.India have 16 points at the moment, while England could also reach 16 points if they beat Australia. The interesting thing from England’s point of view, however, is that England could beat Australia and still go out of the tournament, or lose and make progress to the Super Six. Their fate is in the hands of others.England, India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe all retain an interest in those two places alongside Australia, for all can get to the 16-point mark.Remember, if just two teams finish level on points, the number of wins is the first deciding factor, then the result between the two teams concerned. It is only when more than two teams finish level on points and they have all beaten one another that run rate comes into play.Even run rate is not a simple calculation. It is not a case of merely dividing the runs scored by the overs taken to accumulate them. It is the average number of runs per over scored, less the average number of runs per over conceded that produces a net run rate.And then there is the added complication that if a side is bowled out inside its full allocation of overs, the run rate for the batting side’s innings is calculated as if all the overs had been bowled. On the other hand, the bowling side takes only the actual number of overs bowled when calculating the run rate conceded.To get back to the possible permutations, if Zimbabwe beat Pakistan, they move to 16 points. If Pakistan beat Zimbabwe and India, they move to 16 points. If England find themselves level on points with either India or Zimbabwe for the last qualifying place, England go out on the basis that they lost to both in the group matches. If level on points with Pakistan, having both had the same number of wins, England go through having won the match between the two sides.The form line for the remaining matches suggests that Australia will beat England and India will beat Pakistan. However, this is a match that involves far more than just the allocation of points and it would be difficult to make a conclusive comparison on form alone, but it would make the Zimbabwe v Pakistan fixture extremely interesting.If this form has prevailed right through to the very last of the group matches, Zimbabwe would go into the game with 12 points and Pakistan with eight. England would have 12,India 20 and Australia 24. A Pakistan win would move them onto 12 alongside England and Zimbabwe with all sides having the same number of wins and having beaten each other. The run rate comes into effect.And, as we said about Pool B, it would only take a little bit of rain to throw the whole equation into confusion. Or perhaps that should read “even more confusion.”

Eden Park’s Outer Oval is going to be the latest ground in New Zealand to implement portable pitch technology for its cricket.The need has arisen from the struggle to accommodate cricket and rugby on the ground.The same reason for its introduction on Eden Park’s main ground and at Jade Stadium in Christchurch.Normally rugby is played on the Outer Oval ground in an east-west direction, which leaves about a third of the cricket block exposed on the rugby ground.That provides problems for both codes. If the wicket block gets too dry during the winter it becomes too hard for rugby, and if it gets too wet it can become very soft.Cricket, on the other hand, finds that if damage is done to the wicket block, it is that much further into the summer before the ground can be used for first-class cricket.In order to accommodate both teams, the rugby ground has been re-aligned to run north-south and on the part of the cricket block where the rugby pitch runs, a portable pitch will be installed. That will account for four turf pitches on the side of the rugby ground and five free turf pitches outside the rugby ground.Auckland Cricket’s chief executive Lindsay Crocker said two issues were sorted with that approach – the rugby accommodation issue and the chance for more experimentation of the portable pitch technology.At the moment it is only used for international matches at Eden Park on the main enclosure.”Having the portable facility means that we will be able to get going earlier in the season. There are a number of advantages that are going to be of benefit to us,” he said.Crocker didn’t think it would be an especially expensive idea for the Eden Park Trust Board which administers both grounds because all the raw materials were available at the ground.While there was talk of a longer term development for the Outer Oval nothing had been decided on that, but the work being done now would not impact on anything that might be planned for the future.Crocker said he was aware of the comments that were made as the last rounds of the State Championship were played in good weather around most of the country that more cricket should be played in late-March.But he said it was necessary to remember that much of the first-class programme is aimed at providing support for the international team and getting them ready for Test matches or One-Day Internationals.That was why the State Championship started in November, because there were always Christmas-New Year Test matches now.Auckland had made a policy of attempting to play its first round Championship matches on the East Coast at Gisborne or Napier, or even in Dunedin, where the weather tended to be better in the early part of the summer.But even that plan was foiled this summer when the Auckland-Northern Districts match at Gisborne was rained out.The idea of all teams playing away at a venue like the High Performance Centre at Lincoln University was not a new one but it came down to the logistics of pitch use at the three grounds there, he said.

Team statistics

Highest totals
• 359-2 Australia v India (Johannesburg)
• 340-2 Zimbabwe v Namibia (Harare)
• 319-5 Australia v Sri Lanka (Centurion)
• 314-4 Holland v Namibia (Bloemfontein)
• 311-2 India v Namibia (Pietermaritzburg)Highest totals batting 2nd
• 276-4 India v Pakistan (Centurion) (won)
• 275-9 South Africa v West Indies (Cape Town) (lost)
• 253-4 New Zealand v Zimbabwe (Bloemfontein) (won)
• 250 Namibia v Holland (Bloemfontein) (lost)
• 248-3 Australia v Zimbabwe (Bulawayo) (won)Lowest totals
• 36 Canada v Sri Lanka (Paarl)
• 45 Namibia v Australia (Potchefstroom)
• 84 Namibia v Pakistan (Kimberley)
• 104 Kenya v West Indies (Kimberley)
• 108 Bangladesh v South Africa (Bloemfontein)Most sixes
• 42 Australia 3.81 per match
• 33 India 3.00 per match
• 28 West Indies 4.66 per match
• 26 South Africa 4.33 per match
• 26 New Zealand 3.25 per match
• 19 Canada 3.16 per match
• 15 Holland 2.50 per match
• 15 Zimbabwe 1.87 per match
• 12 England 2.40 per match
• 12 Kenya 1.33 per match
• 10 Pakistan 1.66 per match
• 10 Sri Lanka 1.00 per match
• 9 Bangladesh 1.50 per match
• 8 Namibia 1.33 per matchMost run outs (batting)
• 6 Sri Lanka 0.60 per match
• 6 India 0.54 per match
• 5 Pakistan 0.83 per match
• 5 Kenya 0.55 per match
• 4 Canada 0.66 per match
• 4 West Indies 0.66 per match
• 4 Zimbabwe 0.50 per match
• 4 Australia 0.36 per match
• 2 New Zealand 0.25 per match
• 1 England 0.20 per match
• 1 Bangladesh 0.16 per match
• 1 Holland 0.16 per match
• 1 Namibia 0.16 per match
• 1 South Africa 0.16 per matchMost run outs (fielding)
• 5 South Africa 0.83 per match
• 5 Australia 0.45 per match
• 4 Holland 0.66 per match
• 4 West Indies 0.66 per match
• 4 New Zealand 0.50 per match
• 4 Sri Lanka 0.40 per match
• 4 India 0.36 per match
• 3 England 0.60 per match
• 3 Bangladesh 0.50 per match
• 3 Namibia 0.50 per match
• 2 Zimbabwe 0.25 per match
• 2 Kenya 0.22 per match
• 1 Canada 0.16 per match
• 1 Pakistan 0.16 per matchMost catches taken
• 42 Australia 3.81 per match
• 38 India 3.45 per match
• 28 Kenya 3.11 per match
• 27 Sri Lanka 2.70 per match
• 24 New Zealand 3.00 per match
• 22 West Indies 3.66 per match
• 21 England 4.20 per match
• 21 Holland 3.50 per match
• 20 Zimbabwe 2.50 per match
• 19 South Africa 3.16 per match
• 15 Bangladesh 2.50 per match
• 15 Namibia 2.50 per match
• 15 Pakistan 2.50 per match
• 11 Canada 1.83 per matchMost extras conceded
• 231 India 21.00 per match
• 177 Australia 16.09 per match
• 161 Sri Lanka 16.10 per match
• 129 Pakistan 21.50 per match
• 122 New Zealand 15.25 per match
• 109 Zimbabwe 13.62 per match
• 104 Namibia 17.33 per match
• 95 South Africa 15.83 per match
• 85 Kenya 9.44 per match
• 81 England 16.20 per match
• 78 Bangladesh 13.00 per match
• 72 West Indies 12.00 per match
• 62 Canada 10.33 per match
• 62 Holland 10.33 per matchMost wides conceded
• 110 India 10.00 per match
• 71 Australia 6.45 per match
• 68 Sri Lanka 6.80 per match
• 67 New Zealand 8.37 per match
• 61 Zimbabwe 7.62 per match
• 59 Pakistan 9.83 per match
• 55 Namibia 9.16 per match
• 51 Kenya 5.66 per match
• 49 Bangladesh 8.16 per match
• 44 Canada 7.33 per match
• 42 South Africa 7.00 per match
• 34 England 6.80 per match
• 34 Holland 5.66 per match
• 31 West Indies 5.16 per matchMost no balls conceded
• 30 Australia 2.72 per match
• 29 Pakistan 4.83 per match
• 28 India 2.54 per match
• 25 Sri Lanka 2.50 per match
• 23 South Africa 3.83 per match
• 20 New Zealand 2.50 per match
• 14 Namibia 2.33 per match
• 14 West Indies 2.33 per match
• 14 Kenya 1.55 per match
• 11 England 2.20 per match
• 11 Bangladesh 1.83 per match
• 11 Zimbabwe 1.37 per match
• 2 Canada 0.33 per match
• 2 Holland 0.33 per match

Batting

Highest scores
• 172* CB Wishart Zimbabwe v Namibia (Harare)
• 152 SR Tendulkar India v Namibia (Pietermaritzburg)
• 143* A Symonds Australia v Pakistan (Johannesburg)
• 143 HH Gibbs South Africa v New Zealand (Johannesburg)
• 141 SB Styris New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Bloemfontein)
• 140* RT Ponting Australia v India (Johannesburg)
• 134* SP Fleming New Zealand v South Africa (Johannesburg)
• 134* K-JJ van Noortwijk Holland v Namibia (Bloemfontein)
• 124 MS Atapattu Sri Lanka v South Africa (Durban)
• 121 JF Kloppenburg Holland v Namibia (Bloemfontein)Fastest innings (min 25 runs)
• 268.75 Shoaib Akhtar Pakistan v England (CT) 43 (16 balls)
• 222.22 RL Powell West Indies v South Africa (CT) 40* (18 balls)
• 221.42 SM Ervine Zimbabwe v New Zealand (Bloem) 31* (14 balls)
• 213.33 RR Sarwan West Indies v South Africa (CT) 32* (15 balls)
• 206.45 WW Hinds West Indies v Canada (Centurion) 64 (31 balls)Fastest fifties (balls faced)
• 23 BC Lara West Indies v Canada (Centurion)
• 24 WW Hinds West Indies v Canada (Centurion)
• 25 AM Blignaut Zimbabwe v Australia (Bulawayo)
• 25 JM Davison Canada v New Zealand (Benoni)
• 30 RL Powell West Indies v Bangladesh (Benoni)
• 30 G Kirsten South Africa v Bangladesh (Bloemfontein)
• 30 JM Davison Canada v West Indies (Centurion)Fastest centuries (balls faced)
• 67 JM Davison Canada v West Indies (Centurion)
• 92 A Symonds Australia v Pakistan (Johannesburg)
• 96 RT Ponting Australia v Sri Lanka (Centurion)
• 100 CB Wishart Zimbabwe v Namibia (Harare)
• 103 RT Ponting Australia v India (Johannesburg)Most sixes in an inns
• 8 RT Ponting Australia v India (Johannesburg)
• 6 SB Styris New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Bloemfontein)
• 6 JM Davison Canada v West Indies (Centurion)
• 5 L Klusener South Africa v West Indies (Cape Town)
• 5 BC Lara West Indies v Canada (Centurion)
• 5 SC Ganguly India v Kenya (Durban)Most fours in an inns
• 21 SP Fleming New Zealand v South Africa (Johannesburg)
• 19 HH Gibbs South Africa v New Zealand (Johannesburg)
• 18 CB Wishart Zimbabwe v Namibia (Harare)
• 18 A Symonds Australia v Pakistan (Johannesburg)
• 18 SR Tendulkar India v Namibia (Pietermaritzburg)
• 18 MS Atapattu Sri Lanka v South Africa (Durban)Most runs
• 673 (avg 61.18) SR Tendulkar India
• 465 (avg 58.12) SC Ganguly India
• 415 (avg 51.87) RT Ponting Australia
• 408 (avg 40.80) AC Gilchrist Australia
• 384 (avg 96.00) HH Gibbs South Africa
• 382 (avg 54.57) MS Atapattu Sri Lanka
• 332 (avg 47.42) A Flower Zimbabwe
• 328 (avg 32.80) ML Hayden Australia
• 326 (avg 163.00) A Symonds Australia
• 323 (avg 64.60) DR Martyn AustraliaFastest strike-rates (min 100 runs)
• 156.94 RL Powell West Indies 113 runs (avg 28.25)
• 138.20 AM Blignaut Zimbabwe 123 runs (avg 20.50)
• 118.94 JM Davison Canada 226 runs (avg 37.66)
• 114.01 Rashid Latif Pakistan 122 runs (avg 30.50)
• 105.15 AC Gilchrist Australia 408 runs (avg 40.80)
• 103.43 MO Odumbe Kenya 211 runs (avg 42.20)
• 101.90 SB Styris New Zealand 268 runs (avg 53.60)
• 100.78 HH Gibbs South Africa 384 runs (avg 96.00)
• 100.50 AJ Burger Namibia 199 runs (avg 33.16)
• 98.22 HH Streak Zimbabwe 166 runs (avg 41.50)Slowest strike-rates (min 100 runs)
• 37.96 HS Modi Kenya 101 runs (avg 16.83)
• 49.18 KO Otieno Kenya 182 runs (avg 20.22)
• 55.10 DLS van Bunge Holland 135 runs (avg 27.00)
• 56.06 MG Bevan Australia 148 runs (avg 49.33)
• 57.22 SO Tikolo Kenya 206 runs (avg 22.88)
• 57.41 D Mongia India 120 runs (avg 20.00)
• 57.59 M Kaif India 182 runs (avg 20.22)
• 58.10 IS Billcliff Canada 147 runs (avg 24.50)
• 58.36 HP Tillakaratne Sri Lanka 178 runs (avg 35.60)
• 58.50 T Taibu Zimbabwe 117 runs (avg 29.25)Most sixes
• 15 SC Ganguly India
• 13 RT Ponting Australia
• 12 JM Davison Canada
• 10 HH Gibbs South Africa
• 9 SB Styris New ZealandMost fours
• 74 SR Tendulkar India
• 56 AC Gilchrist Australia
• 52 HH Gibbs South Africa
• 51 SP Fleming New Zealand
• 50 MS Atapattu Sri LankaHighest % of runs in boundaries (min 100 runs)
• 75.92 WW Hinds West Indies 108 runs (avg 18.00)
• 69.79 HH Gibbs South Africa 384 runs (avg 96.00)
• 69.02 JM Davison Canada 226 runs (avg 37.66)
• 68.96 ME Trescothick England 116 runs (avg 23.20)
• 67.28 SP Fleming New Zealand 321 runs (avg 45.85)Most balls faced
• 754 SR Tendulkar India 673 runs (avg 61.18)
• 565 SC Ganguly India 465 runs (avg 58.12)
• 496 R Dravid India 318 runs (avg 63.60)
• 472 RT Ponting Australia 415 runs (avg 51.87)
• 459 A Flower Zimbabwe 332 runs (avg 47.42)

Bowling

Best bowling in an innings
• 7-15 GD McGrath Australia v Namibia (Potchefstroom)
• 7-20 AJ Bichel Australia v England (Port Elizabeth)
• 6-23 A Nehra India v England (Durban)
• 6-23 SE Bond New Zealand v Australia (Port Elizabeth)
• 6-25 WPUJC Vaas Sri Lanka v Bangladesh (Pietermaritzburg)
• 5-24 CO Obuya Kenya v Sri Lanka (Nairobi)
• 5-27 A Codrington Canada v Bangladesh (Durban)
• 5-28 Wasim Akram Pakistan v Namibia (Kimberley)
• 5-33 VC Drakes West Indies v Kenya (Kimberley)
• 5-42 B Lee Australia v New Zealand (Port Elizabeth)Hat-tricks
• WPUJC Vaas Sri Lanka v Bangladesh (Pietermaritzburg)
• B Lee Australia v Kenya (Durban)Most economical bowling in an inns (min 5 overs) RPO
• 0.84 8.2-6-7-3 AY Karim Kenya v Australia (Durban)
• 1.30 10-2-13-3 JN Gillespie Australia v India (Centurion)
• 1.33 6-2-8-2 SM Pollock South Africa v Bangladesh (Bloem)
• 1.50 10-2-15-2 A Flintoff England v India (Durban)
• 1.50 10-3-15-3 JM Davison Canada v Kenya (Cape Town)
• 1.50 9.2-2-14-3 Z Khan India v Kenya (Durban)Most expensive bowling in an inns (min 5 overs) RPO
• 10.80 5-0-54-1 AR Adams New Zealand v Zimbabwe (Bloemfontein)
• 9.85 7-0-69-2 TBM de Leede Holland v Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)
• 9.57 7-0-67-0 Z Khan India v Australia (Johannesburg)
• 9.20 10-0-92-0 RJ van Vuuren Namibia v Australia (Potchefstroom)
• 8.91 5.5-0-52-1 AA Donald South Africa v New Zealand (Johannesburg)Most wickets
• 23 (avg 14.39) WPUJC Vaas Sri Lanka
• 22 (avg 17.90) B Lee Australia
• 21 (avg 14.76) GD McGrath Australia
• 18 (avg 20.77) Z Khan India
• 17 (avg 17.94) SE Bond New Zealand
• 17 (avg 18.76) M Muralitharan Sri Lanka
• 16 (avg 12.31) AJ Bichel Australia
• 16 (avg 13.00) VC Drakes West Indies
• 16 (avg 23.06) J Srinath India
• 15 (avg 19.26) A Nehra IndiaMost economical bowlers (min 30 overs) RPO
• 2.87 A Flintoff England 140 off 48.4 overs
• 3.26 JN Gillespie Australia 98 off 30 overs
• 3.37 M Ntini South Africa 176 off 52.1 overs
• 3.45 AJ Bichel Australia 197 off 57 overs
• 3.52 RP Lefebvre Holland 141 off 40 overs
• 3.56 GD McGrath Australia 310 off 87 overs
• 3.58 SM Pollock South Africa 172 off 48 overs
• 3.63 M Muralitharan Sri Lanka 319 off 87.4 overs
• 3.68 CZ Harris New Zealand 129 off 35 overs
• 3.76 WPUJC Vaas Sri Lanka 331 off 88 oversMost expensive bowlers (min 30 overs) RPO
• 6.41 BL Kotze Namibia 276 off 43 overs
• 6.05 PW Gunaratne Sri Lanka 230 off 38 overs
• 6.01 AR Adams New Zealand 347 off 57.4 overs
• 5.96 RJ van Vuuren Namibia 298 off 50 overs
• 5.86 Waqar Younis Pakistan 177 off 30.1 overs
• 5.85 G Snyman Namibia 281 off 48 overs
• 5.72 Shoaib Akhtar Pakistan 252 off 44 overs
• 5.58 CRD Fernando Sri Lanka 268 off 48 overs
• 5.52 TBM de Leede Holland 253 off 45.5 overs
• 5.48 D Joseph Canada 170 off 31 oversLeading strike-rates (min 8 wickets) BPW
• 19.43 VC Drakes West Indies 16 wickets off 51.5 overs
• 21.37 AJ Bichel Australia 16 wickets off 57 overs
• 22.68 B Lee Australia 22 wickets off 83.1 overs
• 22.95 WPUJC Vaas Sri Lanka 23 wickets off 88 overs
• 23.75 Wasim Akram Pakistan 12 wickets off 47.3 overs
• 24.00 Shoaib Akhtar Pakistan 11 wickets off 44 overs
• 24.85 GD McGrath Australia 21 wickets off 87 overs
• 25.00 TBM de Leede Holland 11 wickets off 45.5 overs
• 25.20 JM Davison Canada 10 wickets off 42 overs
• 27.52 SE Bond New Zealand 17 wickets off 78 overs

Fielding

WicketkeepersMost dismissals in an innings
• 6 (6 ct, 0 st) AC Gilchrist Australia v Namibia (Potchefstroom)
• 4 (3 ct, 1 st) KC Sangakkara Sri Lanka v New Zealand (Bloemfontein)
• 4 (2 ct, 2 st) KO Otieno Kenya v Bangladesh (Johannesburg)
• 4 (3 ct, 1 st) KO Otieno Kenya v Zimbabwe (Bloemfontein)
• 4 (3 ct, 1 st) KC Sangakkara Sri Lanka v Australia (Port Elizabeth)Most dismissals
• 21 AC Gilchrist Australia (21 ct, 0 st)
• 17 KC Sangakkara Sri Lanka (15 ct, 2 st)
• 16 R Dravid India (15 ct, 1 st)
• 12 KO Otieno Kenya (8 ct, 4 st)
• 11 MV Boucher South Africa (11 ct, 0 st)Most stumpings
• 4 KO Otieno KenyaFieldersMost catches in an innings
• 4 M Kaif India v Sri Lanka (Johannesburg)
• 3 V Sehwag India v Holland (Paarl)
• 3 LJ Burger Namibia v England (Port Elizabeth)
• 3 HH Dippenaar South Africa v Bangladesh (Bloemfontein)
• 3 D Mongia India v Namibia (Pietermaritzburg)
• 3 V Sehwag India v England (Durban)
• 3 AF Giles England v Australia (Port Elizabeth)Most catches
• 11 RT Ponting Australia
• 8 B Lee Australia
• 8 D Mongia India
• 8 V Sehwag India
• 6 LJ Burger Namibia
• 6 Z Khan India
• 5 PA de Silva Sri Lanka
• 5 CL Hooper West Indies
• 5 ST Jayasuriya Sri Lanka
• 5 M Kaif India
• 5 DR Martyn Australia
• 5 SB Styris New Zealand
• 5 B Zuiderent Holland

At the beginning of the season, I predicted in Wisden Asia Cricket that Tamil Nadu would be strong contenders for the Ranji Trophy, and they proved me right. But in the end, Mumbai were worthy champions by virtue of their ability to bounce back from difficult situations. Tamil Nadu paid for their diffidence.Tamil Nadu’s batting line-up comprised Sadagoppan Ramesh, S Sriram, S Sharath and Hemang Badani – all of them hungry to make big scores and prove a point or two – so the tactics of their captain, S Suresh, were disappointing. On the second day, he asked Ramesh to go on the defensive and bat as long as possible, which went contrary to his natural inclinations. Mumbai had been bowled out for a modest score, and had Ramesh scored a quickfire 70 or 80 instead of a six-hour 85, Tamil Nadu could have taken control of the match.On the other hand, Paras Mhambrey, the Mumbai captain, made good use of his modest resources. I was sceptical about his leadership skills at the beginning of the season, because he is a quiet and reserved kind of character. But Chandrakant Pandit’s experience as a coach and player masked Mhambrey’s inexperience as captain quite adequately. The good thing about Mhambrey is that he is a hard worker and he wouldn’t ask the team to do anything which he won’t do himself. So he’s got the respect of the team.The most significant aspect of Mumbai’s Ranji campaign this year is that it has been sustained almost entirely by their bowlers and lower-order batting, and not their main batsmen, quite a departure from the past when Mumbai were a batting powerhouse. The matchwinners this season were Ramesh Powar, a powerful lower-order batsman and useful offspinner, Avishkar Salvi, the most promising young new-ball bowler in the country, and Sairaj Bahutule, a legspinner. Powar was involved in a number of rearguard rescues from No. 9, Salvi picked up five-wicket hauls whenever Mumbai needed wickets, and Bahutule delivered in the semi-final and the final, as well as chipping in with several useful cameos with the bat.But Mumbai’s fragile top-order continues to be a concern. Wasim Jaffer came up with two good knocks in the final, but rarely did their batting dominate. To me this is baffling, as Mumbai has a very competitive league tournament in the Times Shield – the traditional breeding-ground for Mumbai’s Ranji team. And I can’t put a finger on any one reason as to why our batsmen have been unable to perform at first-class level. There are players who have clicked well in the Times Shield but flopped at Ranji level, such as Amol Mazumdar, who has not performed anywhere near expectations.Another factor could be the usage of the LG Test ball, which is being used in first-class cricket and offers lot of support to the medium-pacers. Previously, when the ball was 15-20 overs old, the seamers were out of the attack, but the LG ball has a longer life and offers lots of movement well into the match, which makes it tougher for the batsmen.Also there is a direct correlation between the number of hundreds scored in the Times Shield and the Ranji Trophy.­ Other than Wasim Jaffer, no other Ranji batsman has scored centuries consistently in the Times Shield. The skill levels aren’t especially low, but batsmen need to be street-smart. Look at Steve Waugh – he’s no extraordinary batsman but he consistently scores centuries. Batsmen will need to be more determined to earn their Mumbai cap. At the moment, there is no pool of talent from which the selectors can pick.Jatin Paranjpe, the former Mumbai Ranji Trophy batsman, was speaking to Nagraj Gollapudi.

The Zimbabweans will start the NatWest Series in much better heart after an adequate, rather than dominating, five-wicket victory over Essex at Chelmsford. Ray Price excelled with the ball while Grant Flower overshadowed his brother – and opponent – Andy to make sure of victory with the bat.The most pleasing aspect for Zimbabwe was their bowling performance, which, with a little help from the overcast and humid conditions, was their best of the tour. For once extras were rare as line and length was consistent. Nasser Hussain, playing and missing, continued to struggle for runs and took 38 balls to reach double figures, as Darren Robinson did most of the early scoring for Essex.Hussain then fell to a senseless run-out in the sixteenth over (56 for 1), and Price followed that with three quick wickets. First he found a bit of turn and bounce to have Robinson (37) caught by the wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu (68 for 2), and two balls later he trapped Aftab Habib lbw for a duck with his arm ball. Shortly afterwards Ronnie Irani gave Price his third wicket when he drove a low catch to midwicket to leave Essex struggling at 71 for 4 in the 24th over.That led the way for the strange sight of Andy Flower – captain for the day – walking to the wicket wearing the glaring Essex Eagles uniform rather than the Zimbabwe red. However, he brought some much-needed stability to the innings as he had done so often for the Zimbabweans.Travis Friend continued to bowl with more fire and control than at any previous time on tour, troubling Ravi Bopara and eventually having him fending a vicious lifter off his face to be caught by Taibu for 18 (118 for 5). And that performance may well have booked Friend’s place in the opening NatWest Series match after a disastrous bowling record for most of this tour.James Middlebrook settled in impressively while Flower played a typically accumulative innings, working the ball around the field so skilfully and unobtrusively that the unaware would miss it. But after passing his fifty, he was run out for 52 after fine work in the field by Richie Sims as he attempted a third run (154 for 6).There was little fight in the tail, and two suicidal run-outs were more reminiscent of the village green than first-class cricket. Much credit belongs to Middlebrook who made a valuable unbeaten 42, but Essex never recovered from Price’s three top-order wickets.Chasing only 190, Zimbabwe soon lost Dion Ebrahim, caught at first slip off Tony Palladino (13 for 1), but Douglas Marillier cashed in against some erratic Essex bowling and the fifty came up in the eighth over. Then Friend, doing his frequent job as a pinch-hitter, soon got into his stride, and Zimbabwe were on their way.Friend made 44, including 10 fours, before being bowled playing down the wrong line to Middlebrook (91 for 3). Richie Sims and Grant Flower then settled in to play quietly and without difficulty, until Sims (18) fished at a ball from Palladino to be caught by Andy Flower behind the stumps (123 for 4). And when Stuart Matsikenyeri was also caught behind off Grant for 11 (138 for 5), Essex sniffed they were in with a chance of a surprise victory.However, Grant Flower was determined to be there at the end and he took no chances while occasionally unleashing a handsome drive through the covers as his 50 came off 65 balls. It was a welcome return to form for Flower, and a welcome win for Zimbabwe ahead of their match against England on June 26.

James Hamblin cracked a superb century to help Hampshire II’s to their eighth straight one-day victory in the ECB Second Eleven Trophy, taking them through to the semi-final stage with a 100% record.Hamblin, recently dropped from the Sunday League first team, firmly pushed his case for an instant recall, as he backed up Monday’s 81 against Somerset, with a fine 114.He drove and cut strongly, and shared in a 94 run opening stand with Jimmy Adams (32), and then a 145 run partnership with Will Kendall, as Hampshire posted 297/4 on the excellent Bristol wicket.Kendall, also searching for form, looked to have found some and he batted faultlessly for his 93, before getting out in the final stages trying to launch the ball out of the ground.He was savage on the short ball, and his speed between the wickets really put pressure on the home team, who were a little lacklustre in the field.Gloucestershire took the fight to their opposition though, and were in with a shout of a brilliant victory, as Tim Hancock hit 112, but they ended just twelve runs short, on 286/8.Hancock and James Pearson (62) shared a 120 run stand for the second wicket, but some good bowling kept the required rate climbing, and Lawrence Prittipaul picked up Pearson’s wicket at a vital stage.Chris Tremlett showed his class again, grabbing 2/35, and bowling very well at the death to pile the pressure on, with good support from James Bruce (1/53) and the pacey James Tomlinson, whose 2/45 included the prize wicket of former England all-rounder Mark Alleyne.Hampshire have been runners up in this competition three times in the last four years, and will no doubt be looking to go one step further this year.

The ECB Southern Electric Premier League is to play a 50-over `international’ match against its visiting Australian cricketers at New Milton’s Fernhill complex on Sunday August 10, starting at 12 noon.The one-day international is the brainchild of New Milton’s Aussie coach Grant Hebbard and is to raise funds for the locally-based Oakhaven Hospice.Hebbard plans to recruit the bulk of his side from Australians currently playing in the SPL and may include Hampshire team manager Paul Terry, who is coach at the WACA Grade club Melville."I’ve got four lads from my own club, South Perth, plus Bashley’s Brad Thompson and Adam Voges (Bournemouth), who plays for Western Australia, so we’ll have a handy side.He also plans to bring in star WA opener Chris Rogers, who has been busy breaking batting records in the Birmingham League this summer.The Premier League team will take the form of a President’s XI raised by John Wolfe.It is expected that the bulk of the SPL team will come from Bashley, BAT Sports and Havant.One player itching to play is BAT’s prolific Kiwi batsman Neal Parlane, who celebrates his 25th birthday that weekend.

Close South Africa 412 for 2 (Smith 214*, Dippenaar 11*) lead England 173 by 239 runsScorecard BulletinGary Kirsten
On Graeme Smith:People need to take a look at this guy. He’s doing something special. I was around at Western Province with Graeme when he started his career and we all knew he was destined for greatness. He has put himself in the fire and has responded unbelievably well. There’s no doubt he can go the distance and really make a difference.

When he bats, Graeme is a lot like Jacques Kallis. They both have that hunger so that once they get their eye in they really cash in. That’s the mind-set that Smith brings to the game – he gets in the zone and he just wants to bat and bat and bat.On the wicket: To be fair to them (England) we have had the best of the wicket. The pitch settled down. There was some moisture early on, when they batted. But now there are some signs of uneven bounceGraeme Smith
On the Anderson incident: “I can’t remember what was said but it was a bit heated at the time. I didn’t think it was right what Anderson did. He said he was throwing at the stumps. But at the time I didn’t think he was near and I had a few words. A few of the England lads got on my back. It was heat-of-the-moment stuff.I was protecting Gary. I think it was wrong and I stuck up for him. I think each time something is said you really want to dig in and make him pay. At times it can work as an advantage to a batter. It made me more hungry. And I’m not finished yet.”Duncan Fletcher
On struggling in the field: “The players aren’t very happy after struggling over two days of cricket. But it’s our job to make sure they’re focused on playing some good cricket over the next three days. It’s been tough for everyone out there. Some of the bowlers are inexperienced, and the batsmen too.”On tackling Smith: We’ve been talking about where we want to bowl at Graeme Smith from before the first day of the first Test. But I thought we bowled better from about halfway through the second session today. But there are some youngsters who don’t really appreciate bowling six balls in a row in the same area on a pitch like this. They have been brought up on wickets where they just bowl and something will happen to the ball. We’ve got to make sure that their mindset changes.”

Anura Tennekoon, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief executive, has announcedthat he will be standing down after England’s tour of Sri Lanka. Tennekooncited personal reasons for his decision to step down.Tennekoon, a former Sri Lanka captain and opening batsman, announced hisdecision on Friday. “Due to personal reasons I am relinquishing my duties aschief executive of Sri Lanka Cricket,” he said in a media statement. “Iwould like to take this opportunity to wish Sri Lanka Cricket the very bestin the future.”Tennekoon was appointed in Dec 2000 after the controversial sacking ofDhammika Ranatunga, the brother of World Cup winning captain Arjuna.Although widely respected for his honesty and integrity, he had facedgrowing criticism for not being forthright enough in various commercial andcontractual negotiations.”Anura is a man of great honesty and integrity and we needed someone likethat at that controversial juncture,” said Mohan de Silva, the SLCsecretary. “He always had the game at heart and he made a big contributionto the development of the game in Sri Lanka.”According to de Silva, the search for Tennekoon’s successor will beginimmediately. The SLC will headhunt a top business leader with a cricketingbackground.