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Somerset 249 and 115 for 3 dec (Durston 32*, de Bruyn 9*) drew with South Africa 515 for 3 dec (Amla 172, Kallis 160*) and 215 for 6 dec (McKenzie 63)
Scorecard

South Africa’s batsmen gained some valuable time in the middle and their bowlers enjoyed another useful work-out, as the tour match against Somerset drifted to stalemate on a soporific final day at Taunton. Neil McKenzie atoned for his first-innings duck with a composed 63, while the spinner, Paul Harris, pounded an entertaining 47-ball fifty, his second first-class half-century. The only South African who really missed out over the three days was Mark Boucher, who was bowled in the third over of the day for 7 by a beauty from Steffan Jones that plucked out his off stump.After resuming on 56 for 1 overnight, South Africa eventually declared on 215 for 6, 45 minutes after the lunch break. In the hour that was available before tea, Morne Morkel took his fourth wicket of the match when Neil Edwards pushed hard outside off and was comfortably taken by McKenzie at second slip, but his first five-over spell went for 41 runs, largely thanks to Arul Suppiah, who batted with great freedom until he was caught at short cover off Harris for 41. Suppiah added 46 for the second wicket with James Hildreth, who swatted Makhaya Ntini over midwicket, for six, but then chased a wide one from Andre Nel to be caught behind for 16.With nothing at stake in the game, both sides were content to go through the motions, and a decent smattering of a crowd was equally content to bask in the warmth of the hottest day of the year so far. McKenzie was particularly keen to make his chance for crease occupation count. He resumed on 37 not out overnight, and it took him 72 minutes to pick off his first boundary of the day, a straight drive off Suppiah that took him to 48. Shortly afterwards he brought up his half-century from 80 balls with seven fours, as he and AB de Villiers settled in for a 74-run stand for the third wicket.De Villiers, who made an attractive 47 not out in the first innings, was the most fluent of the pair, although he also enjoyed a moment or two of good fortune as Somerset’s fielding became understandably ragged. On 20, he miscued a pull and lobbed a tantalising chance over the head of the keeper, Craig Kieswetter, and 17 runs later he was dropped by Andrew Caddick at mid-on, who compounded the misery of his spinner, Michael Munday, by flinging the very next delivery clean over the keeper’s head for four overthrows.De Villiers took that as his cue to step up the tempo, and Munday was sent sprawling in the covers as he drove Suppiah handsomely to the pavilion boundary. One ball later, however, he tried a similar shot but picked out Mark Turner’s midriff at short cover to fall for 48 from 89 balls. With lunch approaching, McKenzie contrived to flat-bat a full-toss from Munday down the throat of Zander de Bruyn at deep backward square-leg, and straight after the break, Morkel clipped Suppiah off his toes, only to be run out by Turner’s direct hit from square leg.Suppiah, who was the pick of the Somerset attack, bowled Ashwell Prince off the inside-edge for 21 to hasten the declaration, which followed as soon as Harris had completed his fifty. His innings was the undoubted highlight of an underwhelming day’s play, as he attacked from the word go with seven fours and two sixes in his innings, one of which landed in the hospitality boxes at deep midwicket.Somerset went to tea on 76 for 2 with the draw all but secured. Suppiah’s dismissal raised the brief prospect of a wobbly final session, especially with a hint of rain and cloud cover in the air, but Wes Durston resisted gamely for the second time in the match, to finish unbeaten on 32, with Zander de Bruyn alongside him on 9. South Africa, however, were unperturbed by the lack of result after a useful three-day workout. “I think we got everything we wanted out of the game,” said South Africa’s coach, Mickey Arthur. “In fact I don’t think we could have scripted it better.”

There is a month before the West Indies’ next Test match, against Bangladesh in Dhaka, and it’s time in which Andy Roberts should be summoned to work with the two new fast bowlers: Jermaine Lawson and Darren Powell.The recommendation has come from Michael Holding, who shared the new ball with Roberts in the glory days of West Indies cricket two decades ago."These guys have time and a lot of Test matches in front of them," Holding, now a respected television analyst who is covering the current West Indies tour, said by telephone from Calcutta."They need expert advice right now," he said. "They should be sent to Andy Roberts, or Andy sent wherever they are, for him to work on specific things for a week or two."I’m sure if he was asked by the [West Indies Cricket] Board, he’d be happy to do it," he added.Roberts, who took 202 wickets in 47 Tests between 1974 and 1983, was West Indies team coach between 1995 and 1996 and has conducted fast bowling courses for the WICB.Lawson, 20, and Powell, 24, earned praise from all observers on what was their first full tour.Lawson played in the second and third Tests, Powell in the third but they were omitted from the team for the current One-Day series and have returned to Jamaica prior to the two Tests in Bangladesh, at Dhaka, December 8-12, and Chittagong, December 16-20.Holding said he had advised Powell to "work a little harder" on finding the "medium length, between full and short" needed especially on flat pitches."He needs to be finding that length on a regular basis, getting batsmen to be indecisive about their strokeplay," he explained. "That will help get them out."He felt Lawson did not seem "all that comfortable" running up a slight gradient from the pavilion end in the third Test. But, he said, that could be sorted out with time.Holding was especially sold on Lawson and noted that Roberts had been talking about him for some time and pressing for his inclusion in the team."Powell is a young man who’s not afraid to run in and bowl fast on flat pitches and he showed the control necessary in the [Calcutta] Test," he said.Holding was puzzled that captain Carl Hooper preferred the slower Cameron Cuffy with the new ball to either Lawson or Powell."We need pace," he said. "It’s something we’ve been talking about in the West Indies for years. Now we’ve got two young men with a bit of pace, we’ve got to let them loose."

“Graft, block, scratch, poke and prod” was New Zealand batsman Mark Richardson’s summation of his batting style after a continued batting throughout his side’s innings as it struggled to get in front of India in the first National Bank Test in Wellington today.Richardson was 83 not out at stumps and easily the most compelling of the home side’s batsmen against an Indian attack which plugged away relentlessly in less than perfect conditions.India did cause a mild panic amongst the New Zealanders as three middle-order wickets fell for five runs but a Richardson partnership with Robbie Hart at least allowed the home side the chance to have another attempt to widen their lead tomorrow.It will be important because India are unlikely to fail twice in succession with the strength of their batting line-up.Strength was what Richardson offered New Zealand. He went into the Test, his 21st, with an average of 47 and it was easy to see why. He said it had been a long time since he spent a significant period of time in the middle which was when New Zealand were in the West Indies in June.That was behind his frustration after offering the solitary chance of his innings when on 63. An edge flew low to second slip where V V S Laxman failed to hold it. The next ball Richardson unleashed a superb off drive which looked as if it might pull up short of the boundary.At that point, Richardson played a shot in frustration at the bowler’s end, only to see the bat go sailing through the air.He explained: “I’d lost a little fluency and the guys had bowled pretty well and I was struggling mentally and I sort of cocked up and then hit the next ball how I wanted to hit the one I nicked. Inside I was boiling and went to flash the bat and forgot I’d been batting a while and the gloves were sweaty.”It was the best shot I played all day.”Richardson said he was impressed with the Indian bowling and enjoyed facing a quality spinner in Harbhajan Singh while the Indian medium pacers, who clearly don’t get the sort of conditions they struck in Wellington at home, stuck to their task well. They had bowled immaculate line and length.New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart said the side would have liked more runs and to have more wickets in hand at the end of the day and there was disappointment a couple of partnerships hadn’t quite kicked on.”The more runs we can get the better,” he said.The new ball would still do something on the pitch, because the old ball was still doing things just before stumps this evening.There would be a winner at the end of the match and New Zealand would be doing their best to ensure it was them.Richardson said he wouldn’t be surprised if the wicket flattened out more, although he felt New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori could yet be a factor in the match.

The C&G Trophy semi-final between Yorkshire and Surrey is heading for a bowl-out. Torrential overnight rain has further saturated an already sodden Headingley, and even a 10 overs-a-side match between the two sides looks unlikely.With heavy rain sweeping the north of the country, chances of play at Headingley are diminishing. Severe flood warnings have been issued, while services from Leeds railway station were disrupted by the deluge, as a month’s worth of rain has now fallen in 12 hours in some parts of Yorkshire.Negotiations to move the game to a neutral venue are continuing. Yorkshireyesterday objected a move to Taunton, because they have to be back at Headingley on Saturday. The only viable option is a dry club ground in WestYorkshire, which will not be easy to find.Cricket’s equivalent of the penalty shoot-out follows the same principles. Five bowlers from each side bowl two deliveries at a set of stumps. If the total number of hits remains level, the bowl-out goes to sudden death.With reserve days now allocated, bowl-outs are rendered almost obsolete, even in England.Yorkshire skipper Darren Lehmann is not looking forward to the prospect. “We’d like to settle it on the field if that’s possible. You don’t want players getting hurt on the outfield or anything like that, but at the same time I’m sure both sides would prefer to play a game of cricket to having a bowl-out.”Meanwhile, Adam Hollioake and the Surrey team have been working on tactics. “None of the bowlers seem to fancy it, but the wicketkeeper and batsmen are all putting their hands up. There are tactics to this and it seems to be the short people who don’t get much bounce who are the best for it and we have plenty of short people in our team.””We’re absolutely wetting ourselves at the thought of it,” Hollioake conceded.

ADELAIDE, Oct 19 AAP – A suicide run by South Australian opener David Fitzgerald and three quick wickets to Mathew Inness sparked a stunning collapse by the Redbacks in their ING Cup match against Victoria at Adelaide Oval today.SA was dismissed for 192 in 44 overs, after looking likely to amass a huge total earlier in the innings.SA, sent in to bat, looked on track for a total near 300 when openers Fitzgerald and Greg Blewett comfortably put on a free-scoring partnership of 107 inside the first 20 overs.But the openers then strangely attempted several foolish singles and both were fortunate to survive near misses before Fitzgerald was run out for 54.That started an amazing turnaround, with SA losing 10-85 in 24 overs.Inness had Ben Johnson caught behind for 16 in his fifth over, bowled Blewett for 67 in his sixth, and had Mark Higgs caught for one in his seventh over, to take the score to 4-155 in the 31st over.Michael Miller was run out for five in the 37th over.Then Ian Hewett further compounded SA’s problems in the 38th over, his 10th, trapping Nathan Adcock and Graham Manou lbw in successive balls, both for golden ducks, to make the score 7-172.In the following over, Hewett took a miraculous low left-handed catch at point to dismiss Ryan Harris for a duck, off a slashing Harris drive from Andrew McDonald’s bowling, before Shane Harwood bowled tailenders John Davison (eight) and Paul Rofe (none) to complete the rout.

The Sussex captain Chris Adams has undergone knee surgery after damaging the joint in training last month.Adams, 32, was injured during a net session, suffering a small cartilage tear. He expects to be out of action for another two weeks.The former England batsman said: “It’s been a very frustrating couple of weeks for me, especially as I was in good form prior to the accident.”But I will be back playing very shortly even more determined to make my mark.”

Imran Khan Sunday said next year’s World Cup was an open tournamentdespite the fact that Australia remained firm favourites.”History tells that except in 1979, never a favourite team has won.That means the tournament is wide open and any team can win it,” Imrantold Dawn as Pakistan prepared to remember its decade of World Cupglory.Exactly 10 years ago on March 25, 1992 in Melbourne, Imran’s ‘corneredtigers’ returned from the grave to win five matches on a trot to sendthe country into jubilation. The country hailed Imran and his team andshowered them with praise, rewards and honour.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on March 30 is celebrating thatunforgettable success and is expected to launch its countdown for theWorld Cup in South Africa.Imran, who battled a troublesome right shoulder in the tournament 10years ago, also believed that there was a big difference betweenAustralia and rest of the team.”The standard is not the same as it was in 1992. Australia is farahead of rest of the present teams,” the 49-year-old legend said.Imran, whose team included half the members who were playing inAustralia for the first time, believed the key to success would bemotivation and conviction.”We lost three of the first five matches but I was not ready to acceptdefeat. I always had the confidence and therefore it was easy for meto motivate myself and the boys. “I feel that motivation and selfbelief will be the key to success next year,” he said. He, however,said the present Pakistan team lacks fighting spirit and blamed recentresults and continuous changes in the team for the current turmoil.The team is not winning enough. It is not consistant and therefore itlacks fighting spirit. There has been continuous changes in the teamand the captaincy. “I feel that it is time to put a stop toexperimentation. The selectors need to finalize the 15 and keep themtogether till the tournament,” he said.He said he had prepared for the 1992 World Cup in advance and thoughthere were a couple of injuries, he remained focused on what he had todo.”Captains have been changed too frequently. But I think Waqar is nowsettling down.”Imran said he still remembered World Cup success as his one of hisfinest hours. “I still remember how delighted the country was. It mademe even more prouder. I had never seen the country so united andexcited.”World Cup success was also important to me because it was my lasttournament in Pakistan colours and I was desperate to end it on a highnote. In addition to this, the victory was also crucial to ShaukatKhanum Memorial Cancer Hospital,” Imran said.Imran had announced his retirement after the 1987 World Cup. But cameout of retirement after mounting pressure from the then President, thelate General Zia-ul-Haq.Imran, who now heads a political party, said he would be more thandelighted to help Pakistan reclaim the title. He said in the recentpast, Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar invited him to pass on tips tofast bowlers and other cricketers.”I am ready to contribute in any way I can which can help Pakistan winthe tournament. But of course, I can’t work full-time.”The legend Sunday advised Pakistan cricketers to start believing inthemselves which he believed was the key to his success in the 1992,exactly a decade ago.”I never accept defeat. (In 1992) I was confident that we will windespite that fact that we lost three of the first five games. I hadthe conviction so it was easy for me to motivate myself and my team,”Imran said.Javed Miandad, who was the vice-captain, believed an unseen force wassupporting the team.”It was not like the infamous Maradona’s Hand of God. But there wascertainly a force that was helping us,” Miandad said. He said he stillremembers World Cup victory as his greatest achievement. “The hopeshad ended in tears in 1987. But in 1992, we avenged that loss andthere was is still no great feeling than remembering that I was partof the World Cup victory.”Miandad, who was initially dropped from the squad, said he was not fitto play in the competition. “But I was forced to jet out and join theteam. I sometimes wonder how I played the tournament,” he said.Miandad supported PCB’s decision to celebrate the success. “Historicvictories like these should be celebrated as it also boosts theconfidence of the present team.”

North Zone inflicted a crushing 237 run defeat inside three days overEast Zone in their Duleep Trophy clash at Guwahati’s North-EastFrontier Railway Stadium on Saturday. Chasing 394 for victory, Eastcrumbled for the second time in the match, submitting meekly for 156in just three hours. The victory, worth eight points, kept North Zoneat the head of the pack with 18 points from three games.After Aashish Nehra, first innings wrecker-in-chief, dismissed NikhilHaldipur in the third over, Shiv Sunder Das and Rashmi Parida compiledthe highest stand of the innings. Their 49 run association was brokenwhen Reetinder Sodhi sent back Das for 27, which turned out to be thetop score. Parida and Sanjay Raul fell soon after to leave East at71/4. The left arm spin of Rahul Sanghvi then took out Rohan Gavaskarand Sukhbinder Singh in the space of five balls.Wicket keeper Deep Dasgupta, who struck a bright 25 in 32 ballsinclusive of four boundaries, was ejected by Nehra to leave East at106/7. Utpal Chatterjee and Mihir Diwakar added 44 for the ninthwicket in a last flicker of resistance before both fell in successiveballs.Sanghvi polished off the match, packing off Mohanty for a fifth ballduck. East’s second innings had lasted all of 40.2 overs. Sanghvifinished with 4/17, the off spinner Sharandeep not being used at all.Nehra scalped three for a costly 76 runs in 15 overs, collecting matchfigures of 10/90. East stay at a lowly five points from two games.

Promoted Essex bowled themselves within sight of an innings victory in their opening CricInfo Championship game of the season against Leicestershire at Grace Road.Left-arm paceman Mark Ilott and Ricky Anderson both took four wickets as Leicestershire were bowled out for 104 in their first innings and followed-on 214 behind.The homeside’s problems continued second time around and by the close they had struggled to 62-2 off 32 overs – still trailing by 152 runs.It was a superb effort from Ilott and Anderson on a pitch that always gave them some assistance. The ball swung and seamed for much of the day but Leicestershire contributed to their own downfall with some poor shots.Iain Sutcliffe top scored with 21 but the home side lost their last eight wickets for 44 runs with Ilott taking 4-27 and Anderson 4-21.Then Ilott had Vince Wells taken by Stuart Law at slip in the fourth over of the second innings and Darren Maddy was trapped lbw by Ronnie Irani.At the start of the day Essex also suffered a batting slump, losing their last five wickets for 42 runs in 19.1 overs to be dismissed for 318. James Ormond claimed 5-71 and Devon Malcolm, on his debut, 3-54.

Winchester’s Paul Marks faces a late check on a back injury before the Hampshire Cricket Board’s 50-over warm-up match against Hampshire 2nd XI at the Rose Bowl Nursery ground on Sunday, 11am.Marks injured his back playing soccer last weekend and did not play in Sunday’s HCB indoor finals.County 2nd XI coach Tony Middleton is expected to field several of his prospective Academy XI in the match.Hampshire Board XI: Paul Gover (Havant – captain), Paul Marks, Dave Greatham (Winchester KS), Daniel Peacock (Lymington), David Banks, Damian Shirazi, Kirk Stewart (BAT Sports), Neil Randall, Chris Wright (Liphook & Ripsley), Roger Miller, Matt Hooper (Andover).