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Somerset collapsed dramatically against Yorkshire on the first day of the Cricinfo Championship match at Headingley when they lost their last six wickets for 32 runs to slump to 257 all out.They looked to be firmly in charge at 225 for four with Mark Lathwell and Rob Turner having added a careful 111 in 46 overs but both then fell within the space of four balls from the England pair of Craig White and Darren Gough.Lathwell, who had taken no risks in compiling 65 off 153 balls with nine boundaries, suddenly lost his concentration and played a feeble drive at a harmless ball from White to edge to wicket-keeper Richard Blakey.Gough had Turner scooped up at second slip by David Byas with his first ball of the next over and with Chris Silverwood pinning Keith Dutch lbw panic began to set in.Graham Rose was run out by Silverwood’s accurate throw from fine leg to Blakey, the batsman failing to complete a second run, and Andy Caddick was run out by a pitch length when he and Jason Kerr found themselves in company at the same crease.Silverwood, Yorkshire’s best bowler with three for 57, ended Somerset’s misery by dismissing last man Steffan Jones.Put in to bat, Somerset had suffered an early blow when Marcus Trescothick, the maker of four centuries already this season, gave a gentle return catch to Ryan Sidebottom.Piran Holloway became Silverwood’s first victim at 63, touching a catch to Blakey, and Somerset suffered a double blow soon after lunch when Michael Burns was brilliantly caught by the diving Byas off Sidebottom and Gough paid back Jamie Cox for hitting him for three fours by rattling his leg-stump from an inside edge.After Somerset had been routed, Yorkshire found themselves with three overs in which to bat and they closed on two without loss.

A familiar top order batting failure left champions Pakistan with their backs against the wall on the opening day of the Asian Test Championship final against Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium Wednesday.Undisciplined batting combined with poor stroke selection led to Pakistan being dismissed for a modest 234.Sri Lanka strengthened their grip when they showed the hosts the art of batting in a big match by reaching 94 for one despite losing Marvan Atapattu on the first ball of their innings. Sanath Jayasuriya was batting on 47 and with him was Kumar Sangakkara on 39.In ideal conditions Pakistan batsmen repeated the same old mistakes that have plagued them – lack of application, determination and commitment. Most of the batsmen made brisk starts and timed the ball nicely to show that they were not struggling to put bat to the ball. But they failed to prolong their innings when they perished to reckless shots.The strokes that led to the demise of Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq, shortly before lunch, summed up Pakistan’s mental strength. Younis, having hit Muttiah Muralitharan for two fours and a six off successive deliveries, attempted a paddle sweep to ddrag the ball onto his stumps. Inzamam, three balls later, tried to cut Bhuddika Fernando to be caught by Jayasuriya at first slip.The home team batsmen further exposed their inability to learn from mistakes when an in-form Yousuf Youhana repeated a similar shot like Inzamam to be snapped up by Sangakkara at the wicket off Fernando.Abdul Razzaq, dropped second ball, trusted his pads more than his bat when he offered no stroke off a straight delivery from Chaminda Vaas to be adjudged leg before.It would not be an exaggeration to say the batsmen committed hara-kiri. At times they looked they were playing limited overs cricket evident from the fact that when half of the side was back in the dressing room, the scoreboard showed 127 runs off just 27.2 overs. Probably, Muralitharan’s presence played in the minds of the Pakistanis. But Fernando was an unlikely hero for Sri Lanka when he picked up three top order wickets to finish the day with three for 84. With Fernando exposing the tail, Muralitharan got into the lower order to take four for 55. Vaas bagged two for 62 but was far from his best when he overstepped 10 times as Sri Lanka were generous enough to concede 31 extras – 27 through no-balls.Pakistan, put into bat, made a typical poor start when both the openers were back in the dressing room inside six overs in contrasting styles. Taufiq Umer was caught at forward short leg while playing a tentative forward defensive stroke. Two balls later Shahid Afridi was tragically run-out in a mix-up with Younis.Inzamam and Younis repaired the damage by adding 86 for the third wicket in 86 minutes before a double blow left Pakistan tottering at 108 for four at lunch. Younis slammed eight boundaries and a six in his 66-ball innings. Pakistan never recovered and slumped to 147 for six shortly after lunch before Rashid Latif played a gutsy innings of 36, striking five fours in his 119-minute vigil at the crease.Earlier in the day, Pakistan dropped Saqlain Mushtaq and included Shoaib Malik. While the team management showed wisdom by not playing Shoaib in the top order, they made a fool of themselves when the off-spinner was sent ahead of Rashid Latif. It may be recalled that Rashid scored 150 and 47 not out in the first Test against the West Indies last month.

Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar said players will not be released for the second round action in the National one-day tournament that begins March 26.Mudassar said the players would only be allowed to play for their departments in the semifinals and final scheduled for April 2 and 4.”It is an important camp since our objective is to find at least a couple of good openers. They will be pitted against the best bowlers in the country,” he said from Lahore.But when argued that training camp cannot replace competitive matches, he said: “The players would be playing matches. I think the competition in those games would be good because everyone would try to perform well and impress the selectors.”The decision to not allow players to appear in the second round action will certainly create an uproar by the departments. At least, PIA has already written to the PCB for the release of its players.”Ten of our players have been invited to attend the camp. If those players are not released, where will we go? I think it is grave injustice,” a PIA spokesman said.Similarly, Habib Bank and Allied Bank, who are in the same pool as PIA, will also be depleted. Habib Bank have five players in the camp while Allied Bank have three.Mudassar said he was upset and sad with the media and public uproar over defeat in the Asian Test Championship final. He argued that his team had won so many games before the final. “But one defeat seems to have thrown everything out of the window. I have never come through such criticizm during my playing days,” he said.He repeated that his team lost to a better side and added that he briefly discussed with the captain on the reasons of defeat. “But at no stage we regret the decision of leaving out players on whom there is criticizm.”

Sanath Jayasuriya will have a new opening partner during the forthcomingtriangular series in Sharjah next month, as Sri Lanka seek to make changesto the balance of their limited overs side in time for the 2003 World Cup inSouth Africa.Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka’s first choice wicket-keeper batsman in Test cricket but hitherto an inconsistent performer in the one-day game, has beenidentified as the ideal candidate to face the new ball on seamer-friendlyconditions expected in England this summer, as well as in South Africa.The stylish left-hander averages just 22 after 40 ODIs, but has generallybatted in positions unsuited to his natural game, at number six and seven,where he is required to push the run rate from the start of his innings.But Sangakkara prefers to occupy the crease for longer periods of time, slowly raising the tempo of the innings, and the selectors, clearly impressed with ease with which he has settled into the role of an international number three, believe the time has come for a promotion up the order.The reshuffle was prompted by the realisation, gleaned in South Africa lastyear, that the role of a pinch-hitter is likely to be limited in the 2003 World Cup on the lively South Africa pitches where survival against the new ball will be the priority.With Jayasuriya having also now jettisoned his most flamboyant urges in aquest for consistency, Sangakkara’s new role thus draws a veil over a high-octane early overs strategy largely responsible for Sri Lanka winning the 1996 World Cup.As a result Avishka Gunawardene, a brawny left-hander rarely able to curb his attacking instincts, who averaged a respectable but insufficient 29.95 after 37 games, has been dropped from the 15-man squad.Romesh Kaluwithrana, Jayasuriya’s most famous opening partner, whose audacious exploitation of fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs at the 1996 World Cup forced the addition of “pinch-hitting” to the cricketing lexicon, remains in the squad and could still find a role within the middle order.But this appears unlikely. Kaluwitharana’s batting average remains disappointing – 22.48 after 170 games – with occasional good scores being marred by inconsistency and Sangakkara’s glovework has improved sufficientlyover the past year for him to keep wicket on a permanent basis.Instead, the selectors have identified Tillakaratne Dilshan for the vacantnumber six position. A player long admired for his natural ability, he has thus far failed to translate potential into performance at the highest level. However, unlike in the past, when he usually batted at number seven, he can now look forward to a proper opportunity to cement a place in the side.There would have been some deliberation over the pivotal all-rounder position at number seven. Unfortunately, Suresh Perera, previously considered the best long-term choice with his explosive hitting, lithe fielding and slippery medium pace, is struggling to regain form and confidence after his bowling action was reported by West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor last August.Although the World Cup need is for a batsman who can bowl medium pace, UpulChandana demands a place in the side because of his all-round exploits against Kenya last month, especially his ferocious batting, and he will bat at number seven if Sri Lanka opt for only two quicks.However, if three fast bowlers are required, as will probably be the caseagainst Pakistan, then Chandana may have to give way, meaning that Vaas orDharmasena bat at seven.The bowling department posed fewer problems for the selectors. Fast bowlersChaminda Vaas, Buddhika Fernando and Nuwan Zoysa pick themselves, as do spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Dharmasena.Dilhara Fernando returns to the team after recovering from a stress fracture in his back and Pulasthi Gunaratne wins his first international tour after impressive performances in the A team.New Zealand and Pakistan are the other two sides competing in the triangular, which is scheduled to commence on 8 April.The squad for the tour of England will also be announced shortly, after thesemi-final stage of the domestic competition next weekend.Sharjah squad:Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, KumarSangakkara, Russel Arnold, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Romesh Kaluwithrana, UpulChandana, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Buddika Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa,Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Pulasthi Gunaratne.

Morning SessionThe day began with a well-observed two minutes silence for the two all-rounderswho died in seperate accidents as the new season approached, Ben Hollioake andUmer Rashid.Surrey won the toss and elected to bat on a cloudy morning. Surrey’s openerscrept to 8/0 from the first five overs (including a four leg byes off Ward’s pads) due to a mixture of fine balls and ones that neither batsman could reach before Kirtley bowling from the Vauxhall end presented Ward with a series of poor, but reachable leg side deliveries in the sixth over which he clipped neatly away – the next over, from Lewry was taken for two fours and Surrey looked set to break free.Kirtley had other ideas though. He’d found his line and dismissed Ward lbw with a ball that cut bank in the eighth to leave Surrey on 26 for one, another brief assault on Lewry ensued before another Kirtley over and another ball that cut back – this time Butcher left the ball and it removed his off stump, 33 for 2.This brought Ramprakash and Stewart together and they steadied the ship during a period of light drizzle and dark cloud. Surrey made good progress, though while Stewart glittered Hutchison gave Ramprakash a hard time, forcing two edges in the nineteenth, but both ran to the boundary between second slip and gully. Stewart’s response was a delicate late cut to the boundary in the next over followed by a clubbed pull, again for four.Ramprakash then reached the boundary in more conventional style with a lofted on drive that almost cleared the rope before squeezing another boundary between slips and gully. The runs flowed for the rest of the morning as Ramps survived and Stewart thrived – seemingly finding the rope at will to take the home side to 134 for 2 at lunch, with the sky now ominously clear from a Sussex perspective.Afternoon SessionSurrey continued to make steady progress, but Ramprakash was still not fully at ease as the cloud returned. When the score had advanced to 176 Hutchinson returned from the Vauxhall end, and having failed to take Ramprakash’s wicket in the morning session with numerous fine balls, he got the wicket he deserved with a poor delivery outside leg stump – Ramprakash flicked and edged to the keeper.The fall of this third wicket brought this year’s Surrey beneficiary Ali Brown to the crease, and he raced away with a fusillade of cleanly struck boundaries, easily outscoring the sublime Stewart in a lightning-fast 50 partnership, making the most of a reprieve when he was dropped early on by wicketkeeper Prior from the bowling of Hutchison. Stewart was not so lucky though. With the score on 229 and his total on 99, the first false shot of his innings – a push away from his body to Hutchison – saw Prior make no mistake and Surrey’s fourth wicket fell.However for Sussex things now went from bad to worse, as this brought NadeemShahid to the crease. He proceeded to accumulate his runs even faster thanBrown. Both of these players had poor seasons in 2001, but neither looks in danger of a repeat performance, Brown brought up his fifty with a colossal off-driven six over the Vauxhall end boundary from the bowling of Hutchison.At tea the total stood on an imposing 306 for four, with four century makersstill to come out and bat.Evening SessionAfter tea the pair continued in fine style, although with less abandon thanthey had earlier, pushing swiftly on towards their centuries against a roster of seven bowlers who, though they bent their backs and never let their heads fall, rarely threatened either. Brown was first to his hundred. From the last ball of an over from South African born off spinner Mark Davis from the Pavilion end and with his score on 94, he set himself well and launched a perfectly respectable delivery almost flat into the wall at the base of the Bedser stand to bring up his century to his delight and that of the home fans.The even more aggressive Shahid followed not long afterwards, finally catching up with Brown in the 120s despite giving him a 40-run head start. At the close they had pressed on to 461, their partnership a formidable combination of excellence and brutality, including delicate cuts and sweeps with stroked drives and even a bizarre pull for four through mid-off!Sussex toiled long and hard in the field, with only the dropping of Brown and a few more minor mistakes despite the battering they received, but once the clouds departed Surrey were able to make hay as the sun shone. Sussex bowled more accurately later in the day than they had when conditions favoured them as the home side made the most of Mark Butcher’s decision to bat first.

The Norwich Union League tables are beginning to take shape after another round of exciting games has reached a conclusion. With wins for high-flying Warwickshire Bears and Worcestershire Royals the Division One trophy may well be heading for the Midlands. But Kent Spitfires kept up the pressure with victory over Notts Outlaws, while Glamorgan Dragons are quietly confident that they can take the trophy West.Somerset Sabres cantered to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Leicestershire Foxes at Bath thanks to an intelligent all-round performance from Keith Parsons.Parsons followed up his three wickets with a robust half-century as his side clinched their first Norwich Union League victory of the season. He was well supported by stand-in captain Mike Burns after Leicestershire Foxes had been dismissed for just 147, despite a fluent 62 from Trevor Ward.Elsewhere Warwickshire Bears struggled with the bat against Yorkshire Phoenix, but still completed the victory that keeps them top of the table in a rain-affected contest. Only Dougie Brown could pass 20 for the visitors, as the hosts England-quartet of bowlers, Silverwood, White, Dawson and Sidebottom struck with two wickets apiece.But with Shaun Pollock in your side most totals are defendable. The South Africa captain won the NUL Player of the Month award for May, and made a bid for the June award with the wickets of Phoenix’s top three to place the pressure firmly back on the shoulders of the chasing team.Phoenix stumbled to 111-8, and it took a stand of 50 for the ninth wicket between Simon Katich – who was left stranded on 39 not out – and Tim Bresnan to take them close to the target, before they eventually fell 14 runs short.Worcestershire Royals kept up their pressure at the top of the table with a 166-run victory over Durham Dynamos. Royals were indebted to a fine 83 from Ben Smith as they ran up a formidable total of 265, but their unlikely hero was part-time bowler David Leatherdale. Leatherdale produced career-best figures of 5-9 as the Dynamos fell away to 99-8 in a rain-affected game.Rob Key must be close to an England call-up. The Kent Spitfires opener was in the runs again, with 114 from just 98 balls as he helped his team to a daunting total of 317 against Nottinghamshire Outlaws. Captain Matthew Fleming fell just short of a half century, but ensured a quick start for the visitors before Key took control in an innings studded with seven fours and four sixes.The Outlaws began their reply well, with Johnson in belligerent mood, but the run-rate proved too testing and their reply fell away despite a late assault from Paul Franks, and the Spitfires secured victory by 132 runs.In Division Two Gloucestershire Gladiators sustained their promotion hopes with a five-wicket win over Middlesex Crusaders at Bristol. Only Andy Strauss prospered for the Crusaders, hitting 65, as his side succumbed to Mark Alleyne’s medium pace (3-30) and Martyn Ball’s off-spin (3-13).Gladiators lost Barnett first ball in reply, but a 41-ball 60 (with 12 boundaries) from Ian Harvey made light of the target, with Alleyne seeing his side home with an unbeaten 32. The loss sees the Crusaders remain rock bottom of the second division.Kevin Dean produced another incisive performance for Derbyshire Scorpions against Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Derby. The left-arm swing bowler took 3-29, including the key scalp of Hussey, to reduce the visitors to 44-5. He was well supported by his skipper, Dominic Cork (2-20), but the other bowlers failed to keep the pressure on and allowed the Steelbacks – led by Penberthy with a patient 55 – back into the game and to a respectable total of 180.It almost proved enough for the Steelbacks as the Scorpions slipped to 88-7. But the Scorpions’ tail contains quite a sting, and the ex-Somerset pair of Jason Kerr and Luke Sutton added an unbroken 94 for the eighth wicket to produce a thrilling finish and an eventual three-wicket win for the hosts.Elsewhere there was a happy return for Adam Hollioake. The Surrey Lions’ captain took three wickets on his first appearance of the summer following the tragedy of his brother’s death, and witnessed his side secure a narrow victory over Hampshire Hawks.The Lions benefited from probing spells from Giddins (2-34) and, in particular, Martin Bicknell, who took 2-15 in nine overs as the hosts struggled to 178-8. Ian Ward provided the anchor for the Lions’ reply with 51, but when he was fifth man out with 58 still needed, it took sensible batting from Bicknell and a cameo from Ian Salisbury to see their side home in the final over.Half centuries from Darren Robinson, Andy Flower and – inevitably it seems – Ronnie Irani, saw Essex Eagles to victory over Lancashire Lightning at Ilford.Mark Chilton batted well for the visitors, with a fine 84, but he received scant support from his team-mates as they set a moderate target of 204. But that target seemed pretty remote when Peter Martin struck twice in his opening overs, before the Eagles batsmen knuckled down and got home with six overs to spare.

Alton have established a formidable lead at the top of Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 after a thrilling two-wicket win over Purbrook at the Jubilee Ground.They were set a testing 191-6 after Willen Prozesky (73) and Craig Williams (42) top scored for the visitors.Alton batted consistently down the order but, after reaching 135-4, suffered a middle-order wobble, slipping to 148-7 before Matt Ireson (21) and Howard Gadsby titled the match their way.Mark Stanley (3-47) and Graham McCoy, with a tidy 1-21 off 11 overs, took the credits for Purbrook.Their third defeat has put Flamingo into second place – the Corhampton club’s visit to St Cross Symondians being a weather victim.Ross Cambray celebrated his return from university with a key 4-22 spell for Hursley Park, who moved into fourth spot after beating Paultons by 49 runs.Cambray ripped through Paultons’ top order after Hursley Park had been restricted to 164-9 on a rain affected Quarters surface.

Warwickshire Bears’ hopes of putting further pressure on the Division One leaders in the Norwich Union League were extinguished under the Canterbury floodlights, as Kent Spitfires won a rain-affected game by 13 runs to lift themselves away from the relegation zone.Set a revised target of 144 off 22 overs after a heavy storm extended the break between innings, the Bears were over-eager to leather the ball around the park, rather than rely on a regular flow of singles to keep the scoreboard ticking, and they lost key wickets steadily.Neil Carter, promoted to open, hit boundaries in each of the two opening overs before missing a straight ball from Martin Saggers. Dougie Brown, also moved up the order in search of quick runs, was run out, sent back by Nick Knight, who had lost sight of the ball following an attempted pull.Paul Nixon, who had a fine evening behind the stumps, then made the first of four key dismissals as Ian Bell tried to drive Matthew Fleming. Knight, who had already survived two referrals, departed in similar fashion. Although the arrival of Jim Troughton prompted a brief escalation in the run rate, Troughton was caught behind off Andrew Symonds after briefly threatening to take control of the match. When Trevor Penney went the same way, trying to run Fleming down to third man, the Bears were 89 for seven.Neil Smith and Keith Piper then showed the virtues of accumulation, to bring Warwickshire a little hope too late. Smith was yorked by James Golding with 21 still needed, and after Nick Warren was caught at long-on there was too much for Piper to do. He was last out, lbw to a Symonds yorker for 17.The Spitfires’ innings included a flurry of wickets at the start and finish. They lost skipper Matthew Fleming in the first over, caught by Carter as he top-edged a pull, but that did nothing to curb Kent’s aggression while the fielding restrictions were in place. Rob Key found the rope twice before he was lbw, also to Warren, who took his third wicket when James Hockley was caught behind for 21 (16 balls), trying to add to a tally of five boundaries.Matthew Walker entered to exercise due caution, and with Symonds put together much the most substantial partnership of the innings. The latter was characteristically hard to pin down – Brown and Alan Richardson were deposited over the ropes at mid-wicket and long-on respectively. There was a touch of the curate’s egg about the Bears’ fielding – excellent at times (Penney and Troughton stood out), pedestrian at others.Symonds went for 46, losing his off stump playing back to Richardson, but Walker accelerated after a stodgy start. After being missed on 46 – a stinging return catch to Smith – he caused hilarity next ball by accidentally throwing his bat several yards away without making contact. Four more followed to complete a 96-ball 50, and a massive six in the same over off Smith.On Walker’s departure, lbw to Brown for 75, the Kent innings faded. Without Mark Ealham, who was left out for disciplinary reasons, they went from 193 for four to 217 for nine. Geraint Jones got a bottom edge to Piper, Nixon and Masters both perished having a swing, and Golding, lifting his foot late, was beautifully stumped by Piper. Like Nixon, Piper shone behind the stumps, but at the end of the evening it was the home keeper who was smiling.

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP – Almost ten years on and Mark Waugh still appears unable to get away from the biggest mistake of his career.In 1998 it was revealed Waugh had been fined $10,000 by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) for accepting money from a bookmaker in return for pitch and weather conditions in 1994.Many felt the punishment was too lenient, especially given the life ban handed later out to South African captain Hansie Cronje for match-fixing.Waugh endured years of more severe allegations until his name was finally cleared in August 2001 by the ICC’s anti-corruption body.Still his sense of guilt remains.It’s there in the foreword to his biography, launched in Sydney today, when Waugh writes: “I have had my ups and downs, and made my mistakes.”It’s also there in a quote from US President Theodore Roosevelt, included at the front of the biography;”It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles … The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.”Waugh even admitted so to reporters at the launch today: “The sport could have done without the scandal obviously but it’s happened now and the important thing is that it doesn’t happen again.”Waugh’s name, along with team-mate Shane Warne, was mentioned in allegations and investigations around the world – an event he described as “a nightmare really that snowballed from something I didn’t believe to be that bad”.In response, Waugh’s perception of those around him changed, especially the media.”Since 1998 I haven’t really enjoyed my cricket career,” explained Waugh, who said he got headaches, felt ill and lost weight throughout the ordeal.”I’ve felt the media has always been nagging away, keeping a close eye on me and my form. I don’t think I hate anything more in my career than dealing with the media.”Alan Jones was on hand to launch Waugh’s biography with the laudatory words of Sir Donald Bradman that the 37-year-old was “the most elegant and graceful cricketer of the modern era”.But no matter how many stories of match-saving innings, freakish catches and witty retorts permeate the book, Waugh’s sense of victimisation remains.”I didn’t hear the ACB come out once and say that Mark has been a great player for Australia,” writes Waugh, who said he was still hopeful of playing in next year’s world cup.”He’s played 100 Tests, we’re fully behind him. They never once said that.”While many will remember for his relaxed stroke making and clean hitting, others will remember him more for his casual and carefree approach to batting that leaves him with a Test average of just over 42.”I’ve copped a fair bit of criticism from people who say I don’t give my best, people who say I look lazy and don’t value my wicket enough,” Waugh concludes in the book.”I’ve had some tough times because of the corruption issue. All I can say is that I have played my guts out for my club, my state, my country.”I’m proud of what I have achieved.”

Graham Lloyd has announced his retirement from first-class cricket after 16 seasons with Lancashire. The 33-years old batsman is likely to make his final home appearance in Lancashire Lightning’s Norwich Union League fixture against Northants Steelbacks at Old Trafford on Sunday.Lloyd, who made his debut in 1988, appeared in over 200 first-class matches for the club, scoring more than 11,000 runs and claiming 24 centuries, three of which were converted into double centuries. A brilliant fielder, as well as an exciting batsman, he was a member of the Lancashire side which dominated one-day cricket between 1995 and 1999.Lloyd said, Manager Mike Watkinson said,