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Western Australia bounced back late in the day after starting offstrongly then being under the pump during the middle session of their pre-season match with Victoria.Victoria were dismissed for 309 and with only one over to face before stumps Western Australia were seven without loss.Matthew Elliott and Jason Arnberger opened the Victorian innings after Victoria had won the toss. The plan was to bat all day if possible, but by thefirst drinks break (16 overs) they had compiled just 13 runs with theloss of one wicket.Arnberger fell in the fourth over, when Sean Cary had him caught atsecond slip by Chris Rogers for one (15 balls) and the score was 1/1.Both Cary and Western Warriors newcomer Paul Wilson (formerly withSouth Australia) bowled economicly in this period.Elliott (34 runs from 100 balls with six fours) struck Harvey to theboundary several times when the bowler over-pitched, but fell toMichael Clark driving to Shaun Marsh at mid-wicket, second wicket downwith the score on 41 in the 31st over.Brad Hogg bowled a solitary over immediately before lunch, duringwhich one run short was signaled by umpire Andy Craig from the lastball of that over. Otherwise Victoria would have gone to lunch on 50/2, but fell short by that run.Graeme Rummans seven (73) struggled through the first session and thenwas caught behind by Ryan Campbell to become Clark’s second wicket, thirdball after the lunch break with the score 49/3.Brad Hodge and Michael Klinger powered through the early part of the second session resisting the efforts of Clark, Cary and Wilson and passing 100 in the46th over and achieving a 50-run partnership.Then with the second session drinks break looming Klinger edged towicket-keeper Campbell during Wilson’s second spell of the day and wasout for 26 (38 balls) with the score 100/4.Cary chipped in for his second wicket in next over, striking thestumps at the very top when Hodge 28 (54) played around the balldriving toward the off side. The fifth wicket fell with 106 on theboard.At tea Victoria had bolted to 168/5 with White on 31 (48) and Jewell on 28 (31) and an unbroken 78-run partnership.The run out of Nick Jewell 37 (43) occurred when Cameron White calledthe striker through after Jewell had pushed a ball from Nicholson intoShawn Marsh at mid-wicket and the throw to the non-striker’s end foundhim short. Jewell half-turned toward his partner as he departed theground seemingly indicating a lack of communication as the main reasonfor his demise.At the third session drinks break White 64 (103) and Darren Berry 25 (49) hadmoved the score along to six wickets for 235 from 80 overs. The newball was taken then.Berry 34 (62) took the majority of the strike during a period of nineovers, including the drinks break. The new ball was also taken during this period but he frequently hitting fours either side of the wicket. Then, inthe third over after the final session’s drinks break, he played aball on which had seamed into the right-hander from Wilson to becomethe burly bowler’s second victim for the day.White 70 (127) also had a problem with the new ball, playing andmissing a few times, before he feathered an edge to Kade Harvey atfirst slip and became Wilson’s third victim.Harwood 15 (23) didn’t really settle. He played what, in the end couldhave been a slips practice catch to the second slip Chris Rogers off thebowling of Cary and became the veteran fast-medium pacer’s thirdscalp.Hewett 34 saw off Cary and his replacement Kade Harvey with regularcrossings of the boundary. Matthew Nicholson too took some stick butultimately prevailed with his only wicket for the day. Mathew Inness finishedthe innings unbeaten.

Somerset fast bowler Steffan Jones who missed part of the 2002 season through injury has just resumed his training in preparation for next season.Earlier this week the twenty eight year old paceman, who got married earlier in the autumn told me: "I’ve had a good break and now I have just started training ready for the new season. I am a bit later this year and have timed my programme to get me to my peak at the right time for the start of the 2003 season."He continued: "For the next few weeks I shall be working on my fitness levels, but after Christmas I’ll start to focus on my skills. I shall be working on my bowling with Kevin Shine and we are hoping to improve my momentum at the crease, and I will also be looking to develop my batting."After setting himself the target of taking more wickets and making his mark on the England one day scene, the 2002 season turned out to be rather disappointing for the Welshman.He injured himself during the first match of the season at Millfield School from which he never fully recovered, although he did play for Wales against England at Cardiff.Steffan Jones is already looking forward to next season, but is under no illusion that 2003 is going to be tough for him.During a break from his weight training he told me: "I need to work hard this winter. With Nixon Mc Lean having already joined us, and more new signings likely there is going to be a lot of competition to get into the side and I want to make sure that I am in the start line up for next season."

An extraordinary final day saw West Indies A tie with Somerset at Taunton. Set 454 to win, Graham Rose was snapped up by Chris Gayle from the penultimate ball of an amazing match.Audacious cricket all day gave Somerset their victory chance. Peter Trego’s maiden first-class century was a wonderful affair. He was supported by Piran Holloway’s 88 and debutant Wesley Durston’s terrific 55. Rose then slashed 32 from 28 balls, only to fall at the last hurdle.Needing eight from the last over, Rose appeared to have sealed the match. Hehad added 22 with the gutsy Matthew Bulbeck before Sulieman Benn grabbed thefinal catch.Trego had hit 140 to set up an incredible chase. Promoted in the order, hebatted with freedom from the start, hitting 19 fours and two sixes in a brilliant knock. Adding 123 for the third wicket with Holloway, the youngster played the junior role before expanding even further later in his innings.Still, Trego went and victory for the tourists’ should have been assured.Durston had other ideas, reaching 50 from 40 balls in blistering style. He added 67 for the ninth wicket from Rose before he was clean bowled by Reon King. It was an innings which belied his 21 years and points to a bright future.The fact that Somerset had been allowed within arm’s length of such a hugetotal says much for their batting, but suggests that the West Indian fielding and bowling was not top class. King was the pick of the bowlers with three for 90, with Gayle and Darren Powell collecting two scalps each.After Matthew Wood and Neil Edwards had fallen early to excellent catches inthe gully and behind the stumps respectively, the West Indians looked likeprogressing to a regulation win. Holloway was dropped twice however, but didnot let his luck faze him.After a cracking knock with 13 fours and a six, Holloway played onto Powell.Keith Parsons edged to first slip just before tea and with Arul Suppiah andKeith Dutch going in quick succession, the game looked lost.After Carl Gazzard and Trego had made their way back to the pavilion, spectators could have been forgiven for heading to the exit. Unflustered batting from Durston and Rose, showed the confidence of both youth and experience and bought about a memorable finish.

Gloucestershire are delighted that James Pearson has been picked to play for theEngland Under-19 squad in this winter’s tour of Australia and wishes himevery success.Stephen Pope having been very successful in the England Under-19 squad isnow regretably no longer eligible.

It is more than two weeks since the bomb blast in Karachi that resulted in the cancellation of the second Test and New Zealand’s early return home, but things still remain in a state of flux. Pakistan as a cricketing destination is still very much under threat of exclusion. Australia has not decided about the August tri-nation, nor has New Zealand. But there is every likelihood that the series, a quid-pro-quo for Pakistan visiting Australia in June for the second Super Challenge trophy and sacrificing the one-day series that was part of the Test rubber later in the year, would be a victim of security fears.That being the emerging scenario, Sharjah has jumped into the fray with an offer of providing the neutral venue once again. Pakistan’s frustration is an opportunity for the CBFS!The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tried to duck the issue, at least for the moment. One can hardly find fault with this strategy, as forcing the hand of the Aussies, or the Black Caps, might have had negative consequences. Behind the scenes, efforts are being made to persuade the boards involved to come over. And to score a point or two over the doubters, the PCB approved the proposed itinerary of their visit to Zimbabwe earlier this week. Zimbabwe was the destination the Aussies declined to tour recently.As that trip is a long way off, in the first week of November, the alacrity in approving the itinerary is probably meant to imply that Pakistan would not opt out of a series on the pretext of security, whatever the situation. And the assurances of the host Board in this regard are good enough for them. Whether this display of conviction has any impact on Australia and others remains to be seen.Ideally, New Zealand and Australia should forget the blast, and show their commitment to cricket. Especially after Martin Snedden, Cheief Exececutive of New Zealand Cricket, acknowledged that the PCB and Pakistan government had done everything in their power to ensure the security of their players, and also that their team was not the target.There is precedence of far more high profile events taking place than a tri-nation series or a Test rubber in countries where there was serious threat of terrorist activity. England hosted three World Cups when the IRA was active; the ’92 Olympic games were hosted by Barcelona despite terrorist threats from Basque separatists; not a single event in the ’96 Games was interrupted after an explosion in the centre of Atlanta. There have been suicide bombings in other cricket playing countries and in one, an Indian ex-Prime Minister died while canvassing. Whatever the scale of tragedy, or the threat of one, life goes on. Has Manhattan been closed down after the September 11 tragedy?As things are, with the Australian Cricket Board keeping diplomatic silence, the PCB can only hope that it would give thumbs up to the only two activities that are to be held in this country in the next season. And if they keep Pakistan waiting for a long time, even if they come, the PCB would not be able to make the most of it, as it would be left with next to no time to market the limited-overs tournament.But what does the PCB do if Australia and New Zealand decline to tour? The threat of the Asian Cricket Council to boycott those who do not visit its members, which may have helped the Black Caps reschedule the series, even ignoring players fatigue, stands diluted. In the circumstances, a neutral venue remains the only option. And the PCB, while trying to convince the doubters, must not deprive its team of cricket and the revenue it could earn.This would not be very popular with those who follow cricket with a passion in Pakistan, but it is the only realistic alternative. However much we want to see Pakistan prevail over the Aussies with our own spectators exhorting Waqar Younis and his charges, if that is not possible there is no harm making the best of a bad situation.

“Every game is a must-win for South Africa. Obviously if we lose here and go2-0 down we put added pressure on ourselves, but we’re not thinking aboutthat right now.”South African captain Shaun Pollock may have been stating the obvious,but despite a relaxed net session on Tuesday morning, there is a steelydetermination to level the series when South Africa meet the West Indies inthe second of seven one-day internationals at the Antigua Recreation Ground.The South African selectors have one injury headache before Wednesday’sgame after Neil McKenzie’s hamstring trouble forced him off the field duringthe last-ball defeat at Sabina Park. He is expected to require a few moredays to recover fully, and even though he batted in the nets his place inAntigua at least looks likely to go to the patient Boeta Dippenaar.Dippenaar has spent much of the tour as a spectator, playing only in thewarm-up games and doubling as a stand-in wicket-keeper for Mark Boucher. Hehas done little wrong since a good season at home, where he scored hismaiden Test hundred, but was the unlucky man when Herschelle Gibbs returnedfrom his ban at the beginning of the year.”I haven’t heard anything yet,” Dippenaar said when asked about hispossible inclusion for the Antigua game, “but I’m preparing myself. I justwant to be ready when the chance comes. I’m looking forward to it.”It’s been very frustrating not playing as much as I would like. Whenthere are games to be played you’ve got something which drives you andmotivates you. At times it’s a bit difficult to keep going when it doesn’tlook as though you’re going to get a game.”But you never know, tomorrow might be a chance.”I’m feeling good, and have been hitting the ball well in the nets. Butit’s like with bowlers sometimes – you need to spend a bit of time out inthe middle to get some real confidence going. One game can change it all.”Dippenaar’s wicket-keeping role is not something for which he consideredhimself an obvious candidate.”It’s been different – and very hard work! I’ve discovered muscles inmy body that I never knew I had. Previously I’d only done about half a gamewhen I was 15, so it’s been a new experience for me.”South Africa (probable): Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis,Jonty Rhodes, Boeta Dippenaar, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock,Justin Ontong, Roger Telemachus, Allan Donald.

New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns’ future in the National Bank Test Series is in doubt.Cairns has suffered a patella tendon strain in his right knee. A scan has shown he has inflammation of the fat pad and the team management will be reviewing his position in the next 24-36 hours.He was dismissed for a duck in New Zealand’s collapse to be all out for 147, 81 runs behind England on the first innings at Jade Stadium in Christchurch today.Chris Drum and Ian Butler opened the bowling in England’s second innings. New Zealand team management said Cairns was expected to bowl in the innings.They also said the injury was unrelated to previous injuries.

A degree of uncertainty surrounds a newspaper report that former South African captain Kepler Wessels has been appointed coach of Eastern Province.According to Monday’s Eastern Province Herald, news of Wessels’ appointment was leaked to the newspaper before an official announcement could be made by the EP Cricket Board. But in view of a court order granted to the United Cricket Board last Friday placing the EPCB under judicial management, it is not clear whether the EP board has the authority to make such an appointment.UCB chief executive Gerald Majola said on Monday that he was "surprised" by the announcement.In terms of the court order, a judicial manager has still to be appointed to look after the affairs of the crisis-torn province which has experience the resignation of several board members, including the president Ronnie Pillay, and the suspension of another in recent months.As things stand, the former board is no longer empowered to make new appointments and if the decision was taken before the UCB’s court application was granted, Majola is likely to request a copy of the minutes of the board at which Wessels was chosen for the job.Any objection to Wessels coaching EP is almost certain to be administrative. EP lost their previous coach, Adrian Birrell, towards the end of last season after Birrell was understood to have become exhausted by the in-fighting that has plagued that province and opted to take up a position in Ireland, and on the face of it, Wessels’ experience appears to give him excellent credentials as a replacement.He played both Test and one-day cricket for Australia and South Africa and although he has not held a formal coaching position before, he was at one stage thought to be a contender for the South African coaching post, a job that eventually went to Eric Simons.However, the UCB is likely to look closely at the process that led to Wessels’ appointment, if only to clearly establish its authority over Eastern Province until such stage that the union is felt to be capable of running its own affairs.The Herald also named an EP squad which, it reported, was leaked to it at the same time as Wessels’ appointment. The squad contains two new faces in Wade Wingfield from KwaZulu-Natal and Border’s Dumisa Makalima. Veteran Dave Callaghan has apparently not been offered a new contract and is set to join Boland.The full squad is: Umar Abrahams, Carl Bradfield, James Bryant, Johan Botha, Lazole Dipa, Bruce Federicks, Mornantau Hayward, Zwelibanzi Homani, Justin Kemp, Brent Kopps, Garnet Kruger, Dumisa Makalima, Lyall Meyer, Mfuneko Ngam, Robin Petersen, Michael Price, Mpumelelo Silwana and Wade Wingfield.

ScorecardLions recovered from their Champions League T20 final defeat in blazing fashion when they beat Titans by 269 runs in the first match of the domestic one-day competition in Centurion.For Titans, it was more heartache. After they lost to Sydney Sixers off the last ball of their CLT20 semi-final, they slumped to the lowest total in a domestic limited-overs competition in South African history. They were bowled out for 60 in response to Lions’ massive 329 for 6 and that, after they put Lions in to bat on a belter.Stephen Cook, who did not take part in the CLT20 but has been in training throughout, led the way with a 122-ball 125. He shared in a 161-run opening partnership with Gulam Bodi, who was the second top run-scorer of the CLT20. The pair out on their runs in 28 overs before Bodi top-edged a sweep shot to square leg off Paul Harris.Quinton de Kock, Grant Mokoena and Neil McKenzie were all dismissed cheaply and Lions had been reined in to 255 for 5 in the 44th over. Jean Symes, who also had a good CLT20 campaign, provided the late burst. His 43 off 27 balls included five fours and two sixes to take Lions over the 300-run mark.Surprisingly, Harris, Ethy Mbhalati and Roelof van der Merwe conceded under six runs an over but Rowan Richards and CJ de Villiers took punishment. Richards was a victim of Cook’s onslaught and conceded 78 while de Villiers bowled his 10 overs for 70.The pitch would have not made Lions’ bowlers think they would get away with an easy outing and they would have been surprised to see that they did. Titans were 34 for 9 in the 16th over and all out inside 19 overs. Titans’ scorecard included four ducks and only two batsmen got into double figures.Hardus Viljoen, who used to open the bowling with Marchant de Lange at Easterns, bowled a blistering spell upfront. With fiery pace in the upper 140kphs, he took 6 for 19 and showed off seam movement. Chris Morris and Ethan O’Reilly didn’t have much to share between them but picked up one and three wickets respectively. David Wiese managed 24 of 26 balls but it will be little consolation for Titans who have now lost three of their last four matches against Lions.

South Africa kept their heads and ultimately ran out comfortable five wicketvictors over the Vice Chancellor’s XI at the beautiful Salem Oval inMontserrat on Thursday, the tourists winning with 12 balls to spare. It wasnot a polished performance, but as a public relations exercise it was atriumph as half the island’s population made the most of a national holidayto enjoy some international cricket.Boeta Dippenaar (52) and Lance Klusener (41) were the backbone of astuttering South African run-chase, but once again captain Shaun Pollockunderlined his magnificent form with the bat. Pollock smashed the winningruns with a four over midwicket to finish 37 not out. He was kept goodcompany towards the end by fast bowler Roger Telemachus, who struck abelligerent unbeaten 20.Earlier, South Africa dismissed the University of the West IndiesVice-Chancellor’s XI for 218 from 47.5 overs. It was a good effort from theSouth African bowlers, who gave the batsmen little opportunity to free theirarms in search of the boundary ropes. Only left-arm spinner Paul Adams was hit for six, once by test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and then again byretired West Indian fast bowler Curtly Ambrose, who is the match honouree. Adams got his own back.Chanderpaul top scored for the Vice-Chancellor’ XI, striking 70 classyruns off 72 balls with a six and eight fours, but the rest of the battingorder failed to fire after a useful start from captain Daren Ganga (45) andLeon Garrick (29).Allan Donald, back in the side after missing the fourth test with astrained right hamstring, picked up 2-36 from wight overs, while all-rounderJustin Kemp finished with 3-35, also from eight overs.