First Grade: Bankstown on Track for TitleThe Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs kept their premiership aspirations alive with a convincing display in the drawn playoff last weekend. Bankstown will now progress to the semi final and take on Balmain at Bankstown Oval next Saturday and Sunday at 10.30 a.m.This is the seventh season in succession that the first grade side has made the semis and they certainly are a great credit to the district. Hopefully they will have the Belvidere Cup to show to Bulldog supremo Steve Waugh and his majestic brother Mark when they return from their successful tour of New Zealand.The ‘Dogs quest for victory was thwarted by a savage storm last Sunday which washed out play at 5.29 with Bankstown just one wicket short of victory as Northern Districts hung on grimly at 9-287. A glorious 100 from prolific rungetter Vaughan Williams spearheaded the ‘Dogs to a massive total of 330 after Kevin Roberts had won the toss on Saturday and elected to bat in sweltering conditions.Bankstown received an early setback with the dismissal of opener Anthony Smith but an enterprising 179 run partnership between Corey Richards and Williams got the’Dogs barking. Williams cut and drove in his usually aggressive manner and his nimble footwork enabled him to dispatch the spinners into the outfield with great authority. Despite the slow outfield he still amassed 16 boundaries and brought the crowd to its feet with a spectacular six. He occupied the crease for 226 vital minutes, facing 174 balls and it came as a surprise when he darted down the track to push the ball into a gap and was comprehensively stumped. With 891 runs under his belt the pugnacious opener is well and truly on track to chalk up 1000 runs for the season and looks destined to go on to representative honours. Along with fourth grade skipper David Drew, Vaughan was the proud recipient of the Players’ Player Award for his great efforts on and off the field this season.Following the departure of Williams, Corey Richards took over the role of aggressor with some classical cover drives and punishing shots through midwicket. The elegant righthander looked on track for yet another century but miscued a loose delivery and holed out for 86 after compiling 10 delightful boundaries.Lefthand strokemaker Matt Betsey took advantage of the cauldron like conditions to plunder 77 runs from 99 balls in a typically hard hitting knock. He also looked set for triple figures but misjudged a square cut and was well caught at point after 125 minutes entertaining batting. Betsey has performed brilliantly with his adopted club notching 688 runs and taking 33 wickets. The success he has enjoyed enabled him to share the Bankstown Sports Club Player of the Year Award with third grade skipper Geoff Spotswood who also had a magnificent season.Despite the oppressive conditions the Northern Districts bowlers toiled away honestly to capture the last seven Bulldog wickets for a mere 82 runs and give their side some hope of victory. These hopes appeared most forlorn as Nathan Bracken’s hostile bowling saw the visitors slump to 6-101 but a lower order revival kept them in the game.Bracken bowled magnificently in the trying conditions and thoroughly deserved his excellent figures of 4-47 from 21 overs. The tall lefthand paceman has had a most unfortunate, injury plagued, season but his welcome return to top form gives the Bulldogs a great boost in their premiership quest.Wayne Holdsworth was his usual energetic self taking 2-69 from 16.4 overs whilst the ever reliable Matt Betsey chimed in with 2-62 from 15 overs. Kevin Roberts produced a spectacular leap to take a brilliant catch in the gully whilst Nathan Bracken’s timely dismissal of N.S.W. ‘keeper Brad Haddin, who had raced to 36 in just 31 minutes, proved a crucial turning point in the game.It was disappointing that the rain washed out play at such a most interesting stage but there is no doubt the Bulldogs had the upper hand.All Bankstown supporters are urged to come along this weekend and support the locals in their quest for another premiership. Enjoy the magnificent new facilities at the revamped Bankstown Oval as the cricketing Bulldogs take on the Tigers and remember admission is free!!!Fourth GradeThe fourths bowed out of premiership contention after they were dismissed for 288 when chasing Manly’s 354. Paceman Lincoln Tucker bowled superbly in the heatwave conditions to take 4-100 from 32 wholehearted overs maintaining good pace throughout. Michael Bright flighted his legspinners with plenty of guile to take 3-84 from his 33.1 overs whilst David Drew held onto two good catches behind the stumps and Peter Dugmore snared a hot one at first slip to keep the ‘Dogs in the hunt. Jarrad Way compiled a solid 37 with the bat whilst lefthand strokemaker Peter Dugmore added a stylish 31. However the middle order collapsed dramatically and Bankstown slumped to 8-160. Some bold hitting from Andrew Sidie, Lincoln Tucker and Michael Bright kept the ‘Dogs hopes alive. Tucker pounded a quickfire 50 from 51 balls with 5 boundaries and 3 massive sixes whilst Sidie plundered 7 boundaries and a six in his defiant 58. Lefthander Michael Bright was no less effective with a valuable 40 and once again confirmed he is an allrounder with great promise. The last two Bulldog wickets added 128 in a wonderful rearguard action but unfortunately it proved to be to no avail.(Reproduced with the kind permission of Michael Stephenson.)

Durham flattered to deceive in their championship match against FirstDivision front-runners Yorkshire at Leeds. A total 253-8 at the end of the day was a disappointment – to say the least – after Simon Katich (55) and Jon Lewis (66 with eight boundaries) had shared a 107 runs second-wicket partnership in 39 overs.Ryan Sidebottom (4-51) brought about the decline from a 192-3 position at tea. He had already bowled Michael Gough to end the 60 runs first-wicket stand. Yet the manner in which Lewis and Katich handled the bowling gave no indication that Durham had been put in to bat. Both fell to catches within three overs.After tea Sidebottom took the wickets of Paul Collingwood and Muazam Ali with two consecutive deliveries. Martin Speight, too, was out after being ill at ease for just over three-quarters of an hour. Durham’s hopes of tomorrow depend on Nick Speak (37 n.o.) who has been at the wicket for 150 minutes. So far Yorkshire have not suffered too much from Gavin Hamilton leaving the field with an injury after having bowled less than five overs.

Inspite of a seven wicket haul by Bengal’s S Pearuddin, a fighting centuryby S Banik helped Tripura salvage a draw on the third andfinal day of their East Zone Under-14 match againstBihar at the East Calcutta District Sports Council Ground inCalcutta on Thursday.Needing 249 for a win, Tripura made a disastrous start when they lostopener SD Burma (0) caught by by Himadri Pal off Pearuddin in the secondover. His partner D Dutta (5) departed soon after when he fell leg beforeto Pearuddin. Then S Banik (114) and Subhrajit Roy (12) took the score on to48 when the latter fell leg before to Sarnendu Pal. With the score boardreading 48 for 3, D Choudury (14) joined Banik to forge a 44 run fourthwicket stand in 12.2 overs. Then two quick wickets fell.But the partnership that saved the match for Tripura was the 63 run seventhwicket stand between Banik and BD Burma (8) which came in 26.2 overs. Banikfell after a 258 minute stay at the crease, faced 200 balls and hit19 boundaries.Thereafter BD Burma held the fort for Tripura. Burma was the ninth wicketto fall. But by that time he had stayed at the centre for 112 minutes andfaced 100 balls to score 8 runs. Tripura then trudged along to 194 for ninewhen the day’s play ended.Earlier on the second day, the Tripura first innings folded up at 159,giving Bengal a lead of 122 runs. In reply Bengal scored 126 runs in theirsecond innings, when the skipper Himadri Pal declared the innings. OpenersA Bhowmick (21) and Arindam Ghosh (21) added 29 runs in 7.3 overs. Then SMukherjee (28), S Gond (12) and S Pearuddin (12) chipped in with usefulcontributions with the bat.

Membership of Hampshire County Cricket Club gives you FREE admission to all home PPP healthcare County Championship, Norwich Union National Cricket League, Benson & Hedges (zonal) and Vodofone Challenge Series matches. This is 46 days cricket at less than £2.50 per day – compare that with the cost of admission to other sporting events, you certainly won’t beat it for value.LOOK AT THESE OTHER VALUE FOR MONEY BENEFITS

• Use of the Pavilion facilities at all home matches.
• To receive a FREE copy of the Club’s Newsletter twice a year.
• 1 Day Knockout Cup and Benson & Hedges Cup – For matches in which Hampshire is involved. Members receive preferential applications for tickets for Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and the Final. Whether Hampshire is involved or not a small allocation of Final tickets are similarly available.
• Reciprocal Agreement with Sussex and Kent, – Hampshire Members will be entitled to watch Championship cricket at Sussex and Kent with one exception of games involving Hampshire (when usual ground entry fees and membership privileges will apply).
• Having paid entrance at the gate, an adult member normally has membership privileges of the of the opposing County Club when Hampshire is playing away from home.
• Members of Hampshire County Cricket Club receive a discount on green fees at The County Golf Club at The Hampshire Rose Bowl.
• To attend and vote at the AGM Scheduled date: Monday 26th March 2001; 4.40pm at Novotel, West Quay Road, Southampton.

England were well on their way to giving more than a befitting reply to Pakistan’s impressive total of 403, when play was abandoned for the day for rain. On 204 for 2 with Graham Thorpe (98) and Michael Vaughan (84) going great guns, punishing the Pakistan bowlers and piling up runs at a pace that could only be termed, fast and fluid.The 2nd day scene was almost identical to the 1st day. Like Pakistan’s start, England also lost two quick wickets then stemmed the rot and built-up a sizeable total to neutralize Pakistan’s superiority. England, however, had the upper hand for losing fewer wickets. Pakistan’s bowling was not very effective due mainly to the flat wicket. A victory in the match being crucial for Pakistan the bowlers shall have to put up a more concerted effort to achieve an early breakthrough on Day-3.Earlier, Pakistan started briskly scoring 33 runs in 30 minutes before they were out for a challenging total of 403. Rashid Latif, who was perhaps aiming at scoring a century to celebrate his return to test cricket after a lapse of 4 years, was unlucky to be run out after scoring a precious 71. After yesterday’s Inzamam century it was his contribution that provided respectability to Pakistan’s total. Saqlain Mushtaq remained not out with a breezy 21 that included a towering six.England got off to a shocking start, losing the opening pair of Marcus Trescothick and Mike Atherton with only 15 runs on the board, the attacking pair of Wasim and Waqar got one scalp each. Thorpe and Vaughan, put their heads down and brought some smiles on the depressed faces of the crowd by hitting a flurry of thrilling shots.The pair took the total to 50 in 13 overs, going from strength to strength with every run they had lunch at 79 for 2. The 100 of the innings came in the 27th over and a little later they signalled a 100 run partnership. Thorpe completed his 29th half-century in tests and was followed by Vaughan when the score was 126 for 2.It was excellent defensive batting by the two players. They took no risks but played powerful strokes on loose deliveries. The Pakistan bowlers maintained a good line but lacked penetration. Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq was introduced an over before lunch but was only able to contain the batsmen, posing no serious threat. The pitch was not providing much assistance to the bowlers.The 5 main bowlers in the Pakistan’s arsenal tried their best but failed to dislodge Thorpe and Vaughan and their partnership crossed the 150 mark in 270 balls.At tea when England was 173 for 2, rain suspended play for about one hour. On resumption, the two batsmen got back into the tempo of scoring runs at a slow and steady pace. Since both of them were heading for centuries they took no risks and presented Pakistan a good example of ‘straight bat play’.There was another interruption for rain when England was at 204 for 2. Thorpe (98) and Vaughan (84) firmly holding the crease. The shower being heavy this time, the game was abandoned for the day.

Gloucestershire have appointed 49-year-old Army man Tom Richardson as their new chief executive.Richardson, from Shrivenham in Wiltshire, has spent all his working life with the Royal Corps of Signals and will take up his Gloucestershire duties on August 1.The post has been vacant at Gloucestershire since early March when Colin Sexstone, who transformed the club during his five years at the helm, left to take over the same position at Bristol City Football Club.Richardson was a keen cricketer in his younger days and spent three seasons in the late 1970s playing in the same Hong Kong side as Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson.”Peter skippered me and I used to open the bowling for him or come on first change,” he recalled. “I’d like to say I was a bowling all-rounder, but anyone good found me out when I was batting.”Richardson had already bought a ticket for Sunday’s NatWest Series match between England and Australia in Bristol, an occasion that reflects the steps Gloucestershire have made to attract big games.Richardson said: “I’m looking forward to building on the tremendous progress Gloucestershire have made on and off the field in recent years. There are a lot of challenges there for me.”

Hampshire go into the third day at the Rose Bowl precariously placed only 114 ahead of Durham and with only three second innings wickets remaining.Sixteen wickets fell on the second day on a pitch of variable bounce which troubled batsmen of both sides. In reply to Hampshire’s 246, Durham were coasting along at 141-1 but from the moment Jon Lewis (62) was caught on the third man bounday off Chris Tremlett, the batting faltered.Tremlett, making his home Championship debut, and Shaun Udal each took three wickets and the only batsman to stand in the way was the consistent Australian Martin Love who made a patient 78 off 141 balls before misjudging a delivery from Udal which kept low.Durham would have ended their first innings in arrears but for an aggressive last-wicket stand of 45 between Simon Brown, who hit two sixes off Udal in his 29, and Nicky Hatch.As it was, Hampshire began their second innings 20 behind and although they made light of that by taking their score to 64 for one at tea, they soon suffered a slump every bit as complete as Durham’s had been in the morning.Hatch accounted for Will Kendall and Robin Smith in quick succession and Hampshire’s cause was not helped by a stumping and run out, both needless in the circumstances.Love made a superb slip catch to dismiss opener Giles White (44) but Neil Johnson held firm at the close when Hampshire were 134-7.

BIRMINGHAM, England – Australian captain Steve Waugh made history todaywhen he was presented with the International Cricket Council Test worldchampionship trophy at Edgbaston.Waugh and his players received the trophy – a mace design produced insilver and gold, bearing the national logos of all Test countries andvalued at STG30,000 ($A81,900) – on the eve of the first Ashes Testagainst England.Australia is the first country to win the newly-introduced award and theceremony was a stark reminder to England, training nearby, of the taskthat awaits them when play begins tomorrow.Waugh’s team is No.1 on the rankings ahead of South Africa, with Englanda distant third.”The ICC Test championship trophy is a great idea,” said Waugh.”Since the game began people have debated which the best Test side is atany one time.”The introduction of this league table, coupled with the ICC’s ten-yeartours program, means we will now have a definitive answer to thatquestion.”It’s a huge honour for Australia to be the first holder as the playersplace enormous value on their success in this form of the game.”Australia has won ten of its last 13 series, lost two and drawn one,while South Africa has won ten of its last 15, with three losses and twodraws.Those two sides play each other home and away over the next nine months,giving South Africa the chance to become No.1.

A brilliant Neil Fairbrother century helped launch a quickfireLancashire recovery after Glamorgan had reduced them to 9 for 3 on the second day of their CricInfo County Championship Division One clash at Colwyn Bay.By the close Lancashire had reached 259-7 off just 52 overs, still needing 71 to avoid the follow-on with Fairbrother unbeaten on 110 after rain had forced the players off the field 20 minutes early.At the start of their reply to Glamorgan’s 479 all out Lancashire found themselves in desperate trouble within five overs.Mark Chilton mis-pulled Simon Jones to mid-on, John Crawley edged a good ball from Steve Watkin to first slip and Dean Cosker had Ryan Driver caught at silly point as the follow-on target of 330 looked way beyond them.But after lunch Andrew Flintoff and Fairbrother plundered 79 runs in only 15 overs. The partnership flourished either side of a rain break that saw 19 overs lost.Flintoff looked well set to score his first championship half-century before mis-cuing a drive to extra cover where Keith Newell took a smart catch at the second attempt.After Flintoff’s departure Fairbrother completed his 50 off just 44 balls with nine fours as Lancashire reached 129-4 at tea – still 350 adrift of Glamorgan’s 479 all out.With fine support from Joe Scuderi and then Chris Schofield, 37-year-old Fairbrother went on to record his 45th first-class century from just 102 balls.Glamorgan had resumed this morning on 388-7 with skipper Adrian Dale completing his century during a 95-run partnership with Dean Cosker.

Somerset members turned out in large numbers at the County Ground today to queue for tickets for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Final at Lord’s.Chief Executive Peter Anderson told me this morning: “Interest in the club is very high and I am delighted for the players. We are now in two cup finals, against Leicestershire on September 1st, and the second team play Surrey at Taunton on Monday September 10th.”Anderson continued: “At 7.30 this morning there were 150 members queued up outside waiting for the office to open, plus the phones haven’t stopped ringing all morning.”Somerset have been allocated 4,500 tickets for the final, which are on sale to members initially. If there are any remaining unsold by the end of this week they are likely to be available to the general public as from next week.Tickets are also available to members and the general public direct from Lord’s on telephone number 0207 4321066, or through their website – linked below.Entry to the Second X1 final on September 10th, which Somerset have reached for the first time in 10 years, and which has never been staged at The County Ground is free to members and £3 to non members.