Asian Test Championships

Sri Lanka beat a hapless Bangladesh by an innings and 137 runs in the second match of the ATC at Colombo yesterday. Bangladesh were handed out their second consecutive Test loss inside three days.
The highlight and toast of the day however belonged to the young unfazed debutant from Dhaka Mohammad Ashraful whose 114, not only made him the youngest Test centurion but also helped add some respectability to his team's total.
Useful contributions from Javed Omar (40), Aminul Islam (56), Naimur Rahman (48) helped Bangladesh reach 328 in their second innings. Off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan who once again claimed ten wickets in the match, took his 350th wicket in his 66th match, thus making him the quickest to reach this landmark in Test cricket history.

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The parents of young Mohammad Ashraful were hysterical with joy as they watched their son become the youngest centurion in Test history. Parents Abdul Matin and Shahida Begum spoke to their son on the telephone later in the evening even as well wishers and friends were streaming in and out of their home at Dhaka.

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Yet another landmark was created in cricket history at Colombo when two Sri Lankan batsmen had themselves "retired out" in order to allow the others in the team a chance to bat. Marvan Atapattu (201) and Mahela Jayawardene (150) were thus marked in the score books as "retired out" for the first time in the 125 years of Test cricket. Normally, retiring, while batting, is only allowed if the batsman suffers an injury on the field.

South Africa in Zimbabwe

South Africa powered themselves to a commanding position on the second day of the first Test against the hosts at Harare. The visitors eventually declared at a mammoth 600-3. Top batting performances from Herschelle Gibbs (147), Gary Kirsten (220), Jacques Kallis (157 not out) were largely responsible for the huge total.
Zimbabwe at stumps on the second day were struggling at 143-4, still needing over 400 runs to reach anywhere near the South African total. During the course of his 220 Gary Kirsten became the first South African to reach 5000 runs in Test cricket. Debutant pace bowler Andre Nel claimed a wicket (Alistair Campbell) off his fourth ball in Test cricket.

Miscellaneous

England will not have a security manager during their forthcoming tour of India in November/December this year. This is despite the suggestion made by the chief of the ICC's Anti Corruption Unit, Sir Paul Condon, that all Test playing countries should appoint a person to advise on the security of players and officials at all venues.

The individual would be responsible for detecting improper approaches to players on tour, and liaising with the ACU if necessary. Meanwhile, India may appoint a security manager during their tour of South Africa in October. The decision to this effect will be taken in the forthcoming AGM of the BCCI.

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Former leg-spinner Subhash Gupte and skipper-batsman Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi were named as the recipients of the 2000 and 2001 CK Nayadu awards by the BCCI. A selection panel comprising Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president AC Muthiah, former Board chief Raj Singh Dungarpur, Delhi cricket head Arun Jaitley, PM Rungta of Rajasthan and BCCI honorary secretary Jaywant Lele decided on the names.

The recipients will be honoured at a ceremony in January next year. The other names considered were Chandu Sarwate, Chandu Borde, BS Chandrasekhar, statistician Anandji Dossa among others. The CK Nayudu award, named after the first big name of Indian cricket, recognizes lifetime achievements and contribution to the game in the country, and consists of a memento, a citation and Rs 2 lakh in cash. The other winners are: Lala Amarnath (1994), Mushtaq Ali (1995), Vijay Hazare (1996), KN Prabhu (1997), Polly Umrigar (1998) and Hemu Adhikari (1999).

SCORES AT A GLANCE

Asian Test Championships (2nd match)
Sri Lanka v Bangladesh at Colombo (SSC) 3rd day
Toss:Sri Lanka
Bangladesh:90 (Mohd Ashraful 26; Muralitharan 5-13, Vaas 3-47)
328 (Javed Omar 40, Amin ul Islam 56, Mohammad Asharaful 114, Naimur Rahman 48; M Muralitharan 5-98)
Sri Lanka:555-5 decl (M Atapattu 201 rtd, S Jayasuriya 89, K Sangakara 54, M Jayawardene 150 rtd; Naimur Rahman 2-117)
Result: Sri Lanka won by an innings and 137 runs (SL 24 points, Bang 0 pts)
Men of the match: Mohd Asharaful (Bang) and M Muralitharan (SL).

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Zimbabwe v South Africa (1st Test)
Played at Harare (2nd day)
Toss: South Africa
South Africa: 555-5 (H Gibbs 147, G Kirsten 202 not out, J Kallis 157 not out).
Zimbabwe: 143-4 (DD Ebrahim 71, A Flower 54 not out)

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