After piling up a huge total, Orissa dismissed Bengal cheaply and took the first innings lead in their Vijay Merchant East Zone League clash at Cuttack. As the match was drawn, Orissa collected 5 points, Bengal 3, and the first innings lead proved crucial.Earlier, Orissa won the toss and elected to bat first at the Barabati Stadium. Skipper SP Priyadarshan took a liking to the Bengal bowling and slammed 167 fine runs. Although he took 325 balls in his essay, the fact that he struck 19 boundaries must have entertained any spectators present at the ground. Not far behind the skipper was R Mohanty, who managed to help himself to 156. A shade quicker than Priyadarshan, Mohanty took 291 balls and struck 17 boundaries in his innings. The two put on 231 runs for the third wicket and took the game away from Bengal. After batting out 165 overs, Orissa decided that enough was enough. At 454/6 they declared their innings closed.Bengal were in trouble immediately when they attempted to chase the Orissa total. Losing quick wickets, Orissa were reduced to 51/4 at the end of the second day. SK Jahangir returned the figures of 4-2-6-2 and there was little hope for Bengal. On the third and final day, the Orissa bowlers completed the rout, skittling out the Bengal side for 174 in 95.5 overs. The Bengal side were asked to follow on, and were 46 for no loss when the match ended in a draw.

A superb innings from Nicky Peng denied Derbyshire their first CricInfo Championship win since August despite a late flurry of wickets.Chasing a steep target of 326 in 85 overs, Peng kept Durham in with a shout until he was run out by a direct hit 10 short of what would have been a richly deserved century.It was another classy display from the 18-year-old and without his composed 189-minute occupation, Derbyshire would surely have won the game.Tim Munton’s decision to bat on in the morning gave Karl Krikken the chance to take his score to 75 as Derbyshire added 53 runs in nine overs.Durham started badly when Michael Gough was lbw in the eighth over to a Munton inswinger but Derbyshire had to wait until after lunch for their next success.Jon Lewis was caught behind cutting at Richard Illingworth and in the next over, Martin Love edged Graeme Welch into Krikken’s gloves.But Peng and Martin Speight shared the highest stand of the match, adding 97 in 29 overs before an excellent diving stop and throw at extra cover by Rob Bailey ran out Speight for 36.Danny Law kept Durham in the hunt and with Peng, another 64 were added before Law pulled Bailey’s off spin to midwicket and Andy Pratt made only five before he was caught behind forcing Welch.Durham needed 64 from the last 10 overs but their chances were ended when Peng was sent back and run out by a throw from substitute fielder Chris Bassano at deep midwicket.Ian Hunter and Nick Phillips then shut up shop and played out the last eight overs to take Durham to a draw at 280-7.

Sri Lanka selectors have appointed all-rounder Tilan Samaraweera to lead the Sri Lanka A team against Pakistan A in the three-Test unofficial series commencing this month.Samaraweera, who has represented his country in seven one-day internationals, was a strong candidate for the job, having proved his credentials as captain by leading Sri Lanka A to victory over Zimbabwe A in last year’s home series.In the recently concluded Premier tournament, Samaraweera (24), a right-hand batsman, scored 368 runs (avg. 61.33) and took 33 wickets (avg. 19.12) with his off-breaks for Singhalese SC.Pakistan A are due to arrive on June 10 and play the first of three unofficial Tests commencing on June 13. They will also play a series of three unofficial One-Day Internationals for which the captain has yet to be named.

Jimmy Maher scored his second consecutive CricInfo Championshipcentury as Glamorgan’s top order put Northamptonshire’s bowling to thesword at Cardiff today.The Welsh county finished the first day on 370-3 in their first inningsthanks to 150 for Maher – his highest score for Glamorgan – and usefulcontributions from the rest of the top order.After winning an important toss Maher laid a solid foundation with SteveJames of 114 in 32 overs before the captain mis-timed a pull to mid-onfrom the last ball of the morning session.It was the pair’s second opening partnership of more than three figuresafter recording an unbroken stand of 203 against Kent at Maidstone whenMaher scored 123.After lunch the Australian opener and Matthew Maynard added 151 in 30overs for the second wicket during which Maher went to his century off152 balls with 14 fours.Just before tea Maynard, who was looking well set for his first 100 ofthe summer, drove straight at point to leave Glamorgan 265-2. Maher wenton to complete his 150 from 218 balls with a six and 21 fours.But five balls after tea Maher offered a catch to mid-off off Tony Penberthyto end an entertaining innings that came off 223 balls and included onesix and 18 fours.From 290-3 Mike Powell and Adrian Dale did a useful job in building onan excellent start, adding 80 in taking their side to a fourth battingpoint by the close.

* Ganguly, Tendulkar face Lashkar threatIndian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly and star batsman SachinTendulkar are among those who have been threatened by the militantoutfit Lashkar-e-Toiba. The militant outfit has threatened to kidnapthe duo and hold them hostages, DCP (Crime) Pradeep Sawant said inMumbai on Friday.The threats to the players came to light when some members of themilitant outfit were apprehended by Thane police some months ago, hesaid. Interrogations revealed that the militant group had prepared alist of persons who would be kidnapped to secure certain politicalbenefits.Former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay had yesterday approached MumbaiPolice seeking protection after receiving threats from the sameoutfit.* Board to follow ICC guidelines on drugs, says LeleIndian Cricket Board secretary Jaywant Lele said on Friday that theBCCI would follow the ICC’s guidelines on controlling drug abuse inthe game. Lele, in Jaipur to attend a meeting of the Tours andFixtures Committee, however maintained that drug abuse was notprevalent in Indian cricket and the recent allegations against somecricketers were ‘baseless’.Asked whether the BCCI would introduce drug tests on the lines ofthose announced by the South African Cricket Board, Lele said, “Theseare the new challenges which cricket is facing and we shall find waysto counter them. We already have the code of conduct in which takingsuch substances is prohibited. And if ICC announces the guidelines andlist of banned drugs, we will follow suit,” Lele said.Lele parried questions on whether the BCCI was contemplating legalaction against ‘Outlook’ magazine which quoted former coach AnshumanGaekwad as saying that some Indian players take drugs. “The matterwill be discussed at the Working Committee meeting,” Lele said.Gaekwad has since denied having made the allegations attributed to himin the magazine.* New cricket stadium to come up in JaipurA cricket stadium at par with international standards will come up inJaipur, the Rajasthen local Self-Government Minister Shanti Dhariwalsaid on Thursday. The Jaipur Development Authority had agreed inprinciple to provide land to the Rajasthan Cricket Association forconstruction of the stadium after the BCCI made a request for this, hetold reporters.The proposed stadium would host only international cricket matches, hesaid, adding that the RCA would spend Rs six crore for itsconstruction.

Ashley Giles is still struggling with his Achilles tendon problem and may require surgery.Speaking to The Daily Mail Giles admitted: “It’s permanently inflamed and sore to touch. I’ve had this injury for a long time and I can’t say I’m 100% fit. I’m playing on with it, but there’s not a moment when I can forget it.”I’ve lost a lot of strength in my leg and it affects me a lot,” he continued. “It’s the kick-through leg in my bowling action and I just don’t seem to be pulling through all the time as I should be.”England are thought likely to play a spinner at Trent Bridge, with a fit Giles almost certain to play after his excellent tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But the news that he is less than 100% fit may force a rethink from the selectors.Interestingly, in a CricInfo poll, Phil Tufnell has emerged as the fans’ favourite for a recall to the national team. The left-arm spinner and CricInfo diarist is in top form for Middlesex, with nearly 50 first-class wickets to date this season.It is worth remembering that Tufnell was man of the match when England last beat Australia at home, taking 11 wickets at The Oval.He’s keen to return to the Test team, commentating in his latest diary: “I keep on bowling and batsmen keep on getting out… I hope the selectors notice.”Robert Croft is another option for the selectors. He was in the squad for the First Test at Edgbaston and recently enjoyed a 10-wicket match against Northants, adding 93 runs in the first innings too.England need to win the Third npower Test to prevent Australia retaining the Ashes.

It’s not even the silly season but sport’s pre-occupation with the production of lists, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, has produced a couple of pearlers over the last month.The Sir Donald Bradman Memorial XI announced as part of the latest book on the recently-deceased legend of cricket has taken pride of place. It was only one man’s opinion, but what a man. It is no wonder he didn’t want it named until after his death.Suffice to say that it was an interesting selection.More intriguing has been the release of the Wisden 100 lists for batting and bowling.Wisden, the name, carries an inordinate amount of weight on these matters. It is an institution in the game.But it has left itself wide open to criticism for the manner of its choices in this exercise. Every country in the world will take exception to some of the selections.New Zealand is but one example of this. Each country will no doubt have several efforts not listed that meant more to people in those countries than can be represented by bald statistics. That is why cricket holds its local appeal.By making its choice as long as 100 in both sections, it is also leaving itself open to more criticism.Before getting down to specifics it is worth noting that the 12 factors Wisden has used in making its assessment are: Batting base points, pitch index, bowling quality, percentage of score, point of entry, after point of entry, wickets falling during innings, support, shepherding the tail, highest score, match status, result contribution.Then for bowling the eight factors considered vital are: Bowling base points, pitch index, batting quality, dismissed batsman quality, bowling accuracy, most wickets, match status, result contribution.All worthy aspects of any list.However, many of the factors are capable of differences in assessment, after all what is one umpire’s leg before wicket decision is not always that of another. What is one man’s assessment of the quality of a side is not automatically that of another.And therein lies the risk in compiling such lists.Everyone sees things differently. Memorable shots or deliveries are remembered by people in different ways.There is also the prospect when dealing with nations whose teams have fluttered around the middle to lower order of cricketing ranks that assessment is based on figures alone without regard for the facts and emotions of battle.One of the great appeals of cricket is that victory is not always the vehicle of achievement. Numerous are the examples of an honourable draw being achieved by outstanding effort.The emphasis on results being achieved rather than draws, points are awarded in favour of result matches on the ratio of 10:3, is flawed.From a New Zealand perspective it is interesting that the only batsman from this country to be included in the top 100 innings is Bryan Young for his 267 against Sri Lanka at Carisbrook. It was a memorable innings, but the best by a New Zealander?Not on your life.New Zealand’s bowlers are better represented by Richard Hadlee (5th), Simon Doull (64th), John Bracewell (89th) and Chris Cairns (91st).An immediate point of contention concerns the difference between Hadlee’s 9-52 against Australia at Brisbane in 1985, a match won by an innings and 41 runs and the batting in the match.If Hadlee’s nine wickets are worthy of fifth place on the order, why is Martin Crowe’s 188 in New Zealand’s innings not a feature of the batting list?The fact that Crowe’s 299 or Andrew Jones’ 186 during their world record stand of 467 against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in 1991 is not included is a reflection of the emphasis on winning results rather than match-saving innings in drawn circumstances.Similarly, why no place for one of the great defensive innings of all-time played by Mark Greatbatch at Perth in 1989 when he scored 146 not out to deny Australia victory? His working with the lower order on that occasion was a textbook demonstration of the craft. It came after a lengthy performance in the first innings of the game.What also of Bevan Congdon’s 176 in New Zealand’s fourth innings total of 440 in its quest for 479 to beat England at Trent Bridge in 1973?Again, what of Glenn Turner’s century in each innings on the occasion of New Zealand’s first Test victory over Australia at Lancaster Park in 1974?It is this overlooking of lesser-ranked nations’ achievements by outside-based assessors that upsets the rationale of these sorts of lists.For sheer drama and guts, the effort of Bert Sutcliffe at Ellis Park, Johannesburg on Boxing Day in 1954 might, again, have helped ensure a draw, but what an innings, what a draw.What of wicket-keeper Ian Smith’s brilliant dismemberment of a rampant Indian attack at Eden Park in 1990 when his 173 off 136 balls faced helped New Zealand recover from 131/7 to reach 391? Sure the Test was drawn, but what an innings!Then there is Nathan Astle’s 102 not out during his memorable 106-run unbeaten last wicket stand with Danny Morrison at Eden Park in 1997 to deny England victory.Emotion still has a role to play in assessment, both for the player concerned and for the spectator or interested fan. There is no room for this quality in the guidelines listed.Similar complaints could be made of the bowling assessments.What of a 21-year-old left-arm spinner in Daniel Vettori taking 12-149, including his 100th Test wicket, against the undoubted world champions in a losing match?And what of Bruce Taylor’s 7-74 against the strong West Indian batting line-up at Bridgetown in 1972 in another drawn match?Hadlee’s six wicket bag in New Zealand’s first victory over, admittedly, a weakened England team in 1978 would still mean far more to many local people than, with all due respect, some of the other New Zealand performances listed.What is one man’s drama is definitely not that for another.The manner of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack choice of the players of the century, when involving an electoral panel drawn from around the world, seems a far more appropriate format.If, as seems likely, it is the Wisden intention to develop a rating formula before every Test match played, it should seriously reconsider aspects of its analysis.

Pakistan cricket selectors left out eternally unfit “six-million Rupeeman” Shoaib Akhtar from the 16-man squad for the three-match one-dayinternationals series against New Zealand starting here nextWednesday.But in a comedy of errors, the selectors named Shoaib captain of thePakistan Cricket Board (PCB) XI which will test the muscles of NewZealand in a one-day warm-up match at the National Stadium on Sunday.What is mind boggling in the scenario is that the man who was notconsidered fit to play limited overs games, has been not only includedin the practice one-dayer but has been assigned to lead the team.If the selectors had any fitness doubts against Shoaib, they shouldhave removed them by naming him in New Zealand’s threedayer atRawalpindi between Sept 27 and 29 where he would have bowled longspells and stayed in the field for more than half the match.In addition to this, the selectors will have another excellentopportunity to scrutinize Shoaib’s fitness if he appears for KRLagainst Sui Gas in the Patron’s Trophy first-class tournament openerat the KRL ground between Sept 21 and 24.But with the selectors now accountable to the PCB after beingappointed on handsome salaries, bloopers like these will continue tohappen. Unfortunately, there will be no cross checks because theofficials at Lahore secretariat, who approve the squads, considerthemselves more knowledgeable than the people who are in the thick ofthe sport.It is for the second time in six weeks that Shoaib has failed to makeit to the team despite being invited to attend a training camp. The26-year-old, who has spent more time on the massage table rather thanin the field since bursting into international scene in 1997-98 and onwhom the PCB has spent over Rs six million on medical bills, hadearlier missed selection for the Test against Bangladesh in the AsianTest Championship at Multan last month.The injury-prone bowler has played just 15 Tests since making hisdebut against the West Indies at Rawalpindi. He has appeared in 40 oddone-day internationals.The selectors also left out Imran Nazir and Faisal Iqbal but namedleft-handed opener Taufiq Umer, paceman Shabbir Ahmad and uncappedNaved Latif and Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan. Saqlain Mushtaq and ShahidAfridi are also back in the side after completing their assignmentsfor Surrey and Leicestershire in the English County Championships.The chairman of selectors Wasim Bari has made it a habit of refusingto defend his teams. And this time too it was no exception when hesaid: “All I can say is that the team has been unanimously picked bythe selectors as well as the captain and coach. The skipper and coachwill now be all in all while finalizing their playing lineups.”Taufiq Umer’s preference over Imran Nazir is somewhat surprising asthe former has played just one Test in which he scored a century whilethe latter was recently considered for one-dayers only.Imran, probably the best fielder in the Pakistan team, was speciallyflown along with Shahid Afridi for the trination one-day series inEngland where he was not played in a single match.While Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan is tipped to be an allrounder for future,Naved Latif is living on the royalty of his 394 in a Quaid-i-AzamTrophy match for Sargodha against Gujranwala last season.The seriousness of the match can be judged from the fact that Navedlater opened the bowling in Gujranwala’s second innings and wasclobbered for five sixes in six balls while conceding 32 runs. Sincethen, Naved hasn’t performed anything of note.Inzamam-ul-Haq was included in the side though he will miss theopening two one-day internationals as he is under suspension.Squad: Saeed Anwar, Taufiq Umer, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq,Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Naved Latif, Rashid Latif (wicketkeeper),Azhar Mahmood, Abdur Razzaq, Rana Naveed-ul- Hasan, Waqar Younis(captain), Wasim Akram, Shabbir Ahmad, Saqlain Mushtaq and ShoaibMalik.

International off-spinner Paul Wiseman will play his cricket in Canterbury this summer.Wiseman, 31, will play his club cricket for High School Old Boys and be available for the State Canterbury Wizards.Wiseman has been living in Christchurch since April last year and his partner also lives here. If he continued to play for Otago he would have faced spending another five or six months away from home.”I’m studying up here and there are more business opportunities here if that is what I decide to do,” he said.Wiseman, whose 90 first-class matches have seen him take 258 wickets at a cost of 31.59, has also previously played for Auckland. In his 14-Test career he has 34 wickets, including two five-wicket bags, at a cost of 43.82.He told CricInfo the decision to play in Canterbury was one of the hardest in his life.”The Otago team has been more like a family. We are a great bunch of friends, we all lived close together in Dunedin and have been close mates,” he said.Wiseman told the Otago side on Monday night before Otago started its four-day programme at the High Performance Centre at Lincoln University.”Their support was fantastic. I have really enjoyed my time with Otago.”But there is a great opportunity here in Canterbury under Sharpey [coach Michael Sharpe]. There is competition for places even without the New Zealand players here,” he said.Reaction to his decision to play in Canterbury had been “pretty positive” in Christchurch he said and he was looking forward to playing again when turning out in the first round of club cricket on Saturday. Former Canterbury player Geoff Allott is the Old Boys coach while Shane Bond and Warren Wisneski will be playing for the side.”It’s great to be on grass wickets so early in the season. It is a new, good and refreshing challenge,” he said.Wiseman admits that he didn’t do his international aspirations too much good after the ankle injury he suffered in South Africa last year.”I came back when I was not quite ready and it affected my performance. It was not the right thing to do,” he said.Wiseman has spent the winter trying to toughen things up around his ankle and feels it is getting stronger and stronger.He enjoyed the chance to travel to India for the annual Buchi Babu tournament with the New Zealand A side and said it had been a great experience.”We played as a team and the attitude was great. Everyone stood up when they had to and there was no doubt we were the best team there, and we should have been because of the number of internationals we had compared to the other teams,” he said.Wiseman will strengthen the spin bowling options open to the Canterbury selectors who have leg-spinners Aaron Redmond and Marcel McKenzie and left-arm spinner Carl Anderson available locally.

South Wilts left-arm pace bowler James Tomlinson and promising batsman Chris Benham, from Cove, have been signed by Hampshire on a summer contract basis in 2002.The pair, who have graduated through the county’s colts network, will link up with their Hampshire team-mates after completing the first year of their respective university studies.Tomlinson, 20, played an integral role in Hampshire’s Second XI Championship triumph this summer, taking 14 wickets.Farnborough-based Benham, 19, a past Hampshire Academy graduate, has been a prominent run scorer in the various Young Cricketer sides in recent seasons.Besides playing regular 2nd XI cricket, Benham and Tomlinson are expected to be among the young players Middleton will include in the county’s Development XI in the SouthernElectric Premier League next season.”These lads are very talented players and have to potential to progress if they continue to work hard at their game,” said Hampshire 2nd XI coach Tony Middleton.”They are both ‘home grown’ and underlines again how the development work at both county and club level is flourishing.”