March 30, 2001
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New Zealand replied strongly to Pakistan's first innings score of 104 with both the openers getting centuries. Matthew Bell made 105, while left-hander Mark Richardson was unbeaten on 106. Play was not possible for the full duration of the third day as bad light and rain allowed for only 43 overs to be bowled through out the day. Flash: A remarkable stroke making spree by Craig McMillan who made 98 of 97 balls with 13 fours and 3 sixes helped New Zealand declare with just four wickets down at 407- a lead of 303 runs McMillan smashed 26 runs in one over of Younis Khan and continued his attack on the hapless Pakistani bowlers in the next over by Saqlain Mushtaq. The last seven balls he faced before he was eventually out on 98 got him 32 runs. When reports last came in Pakistan was dismissed for 118, as New Zealand won by an innings and 185 runs and the series was drawn one-all.  Rahul Dravid has been declared fit for the third one-dayer against Australia to be played at Indore on Saturday. Doubts were cast over Dravid's ability to play in the third fixture after he was hit on his shin while fielding in the second match at Pune. Team manager Chetan Chauhan however confirmed he had recovered. Two employees of the Hotel Le Meridian, Pune where the Indian and Australian teams were staying, were arrested following a complaint by Reggie Dixon, the security in charge of the Australian team. The two were accused of stealing money from the room of the physical trainer Jock Campbell.
South Africa was bailed out of trouble by a gutsy unbeaten hundred by Daryl Culllinan after they decided to bat first in the third Test against the West Indies at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown. South Africa was 244-5 at close with Cullinan unbeaten on 108. West Indies left out Dave Mohammad who had impressed in the tour match against the visitors and opted for fast bowler Cameroon Cuffy, who replaced Nixon McLean. The Champions Cup, a unique tournament being played for the first time in Perth, Australia began yesterday. In the first match of the tournament Natal beat Central Districts by seven wickets.The tournament has four participating teams who are the winners of the domestic championships in their respective countries. This year the tournament has four participating teams
Mumbai play their first match against the Western Australia led by Justin Langer today and will also meet Natal on April 1 and Central Districts on April 3. The final of the tournament will be played at the WACA ground on April 4. The Mumbai team is lead by wicket-keeper batsman Sameer Dighe.
The England Cricket Board (ECB) named a squad of 12 players who will be contracted to play for England for the coming season that includes the crucial Ashes series in England. Among those who did not get last year's contracts renewed are Andrew Flintoff, Mark Ramprakash, C Schofield and Graeme Hick. Dominic Cork who has been plagued by injury last year will be confirmed only after he proves his fitness. The complete list of players is as follows: Nasser Hussain (Essex, Capt), Michael Atherton (Lancashire), Alec Stewart (Surrey, wkt), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Graham Thorpe (Surrey), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire), Craig White (Yorkshire), Andrew Caddick (Somerset), Darren Gough (Yorkshire), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire) and Dominic Cork (Derbyshire). A four man interim committee has been put in temporary charge of the affairs of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (BCCSL) after the sports minister of Sri Lanka decided to dissolve the Board following irregularities in the issuing of notices for the general body meeting, which was scheduled for Saturday.. The four put in charge include chairman Vijaya Malalasekara (a tobacco company director) and former players Sidath Wettimuny, Asantha de Mel and Michael Tisserra. This decision was confirmed by the acting chief executive of the Sri Lankan Board and former batsman Anura Tennekoon. The BCCI sought more time from the Delhi High Court to file its replies to the petition of banned cricketer Ajay Jadeja challenging the ban and ordering him to return the Arjuna Award. Advocate Kapil Sibil appearing for the BCCI, said the Board's president AC Muthiah and Special Commissioner K Madhavan have filed their replies in their own personal capacities, but said the Board needed some more time to file its affidavit. Meanwhile banned cricketer, Jadeja is all set to be married in a private function in New Delhi today. Hrishikesh Deshpande, a promising medium pace bowler and member of the Maharashtra under-19 team this season died in a Pune nursing home following an accident two weeks ago. The 19 year old Deshpande had helped Maharashtra finish second in the West Zone league of the Cooch-Behar U-19 Tournament. He is survived by his parents and a sister. One of Pakistan's leading columnists and commentator Omar Kureshi said that India's triumph over Australia was good for cricket in the subcontinent. He said that no less credit should be given to India for winning on home turfs because when teams from the subcontinent go to Australia, and South Africa they too are playing in alien and difficult conditions. The Sharjah organisers have no backup plans and are still waiting for official word from India regarding their participation in the tri-nation tourney beginning on April 8. The CBFS, the cricket organisers at Sharjah has a contract with the BCCI and it was impossible to make backup plans without India officially declining to play. The Indian government is yet to take a final decision in the matter, although the sports ministry has confirmed the non-participation. The semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy tournament have been postponed till after the one-day series against Australia so that the players in the international side can assist their respective states. The dates will to be decided soon. SOUTH AFRICA IN WEST INDIES 3rd Test at Bridgetown (day 1) South Africa: 244-5 (HH Gibbs 54, D Cullinan 108 not out, ND Mckenzie 72; M Dillon 2-75) PERTH CHAMPIONS CUP 1st match: At Perth, Australia KwaZulu-Natal vs Central Districts Central Districts: 222-9 in 50 overs (CM Spearman 75, JDP Oram 30, JMH How 50) KwaZulu-Natal: 225-3 in 43 overs (DJ Watson 76, WR Wingfield 61, DM Benkenstein 36 not out) Result: KwaZulu-Natal won by 7 wickets Man of the match: WR Wingfield (KwaZulu-Natal) PAKISTAN IN NEW ZEALAND 3rd Test at Hamilton (day 4) Pakistan: 104 (Younis Khan 36, Humayun Farhat 28, Daryl Tuffy 4-39, Chris Martin 4-52) 118 (Humayun Farhat 26, Daryl Tuffy 3-38, J Franklin 4-26) New Zealand: 407-4 d (Mark Richardson 106, Matthew Bell 105, CD McMillan 98, SP Fleming 51; Fazal-e-Akbar 3-85). Result: New Zealand won by an innings and 185 runs (series 1-1) Man of the match: D Tuffey (NZ)  Yesterday's News
Compiled by: Mohandas Menon
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