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Sydney Grade Cricket’s 111th season commences this Saturday 27 September, with a round of one-day limited-overs matches commencing at 9.30am. They will feature a host of New South Wales and Australian stars.At Bankstown Oval, Bankstown’s NSW and Australian captain Steve Waugh will go head-to-head with Western Suburbs’ young heir-apparent, Michael Clarke. Mark Waugh will captain both Bankstown, and his older twin, for the first time.At Manly Oval, Michael Bevan will spearhead Manly’s batting against a powerful Randwick Petersham side. The visitors’ batting strength includes the Blues’ Pura Cup Player of the Year Simon Katich, and 2001/2002 Grade Player of the Year Richard Chee Quee. They will test the Seasiders’ formidable bowling attack that includes State bowlers Shawn Bradstreet, Mark Cameron and Jamie Heath.At Drummoyne Oval, Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and Speedblitz Blues batsman Matthew Phelps will make their debut for defending premier Sydney University. They will encounter staunch opposition from UTS-Balmain’s World Cup squad member Nathan Bracken, Blues opening batsman Greg Mail, and former Australia A all-rounder and Fijian star Neil Maxwell. Unfortunately, Greg Matthews is recovering from a shoulder operation and will not partner MacGill in his club debut.Other matches- Penrith v Eastern Suburbs at Howell: Hawkesbury v North Sydney at Owen Earle; St George v Sutherland at Hurstville; Fairfield-Liverpool v Northern District at Rosedale; Campbelltown-Camden v Blacktown at Raby; Mosman v Gordon at Rawson; and University of NSW v Parramatta at Village Green.

Teenage leg-spinner Cameron White and veteran captain Paul Reiffel fell short of personal milestones but did enough to set Victoria up for its first victory of the Pura Cup cricket season here today.The heroics of White (91) and Reiffel (75) against South Australia helped the Bushrangers reach 405 and snare first innings points – their first of the domestic season.At stumps on day two, South Australia was 2-74 in its second innings, still trailing by 102 runs overall.South Australia was still hopeful of saving the match with dangerman Greg Blewett not out 23 and skipper Darren Lehmann still to bat.At one stage the Bushrangers were 6-198 but Reiffel and White destroyed the visitors’ attack with some power hitting as the Vics’ last four wickets put on 207 runs.White, controversially preferred to former Test off-spinner Colin Miller for the past two matches, looked set to become the youngest player ever to score a century for Victoria in the competition formerly known as the Sheffield Shield but holed out on 91.At 18 years and 118 days the boy from Bairnsdale in eastern Victoria was in line to break the previous record of Les Joslin, who was 18 years and 341 days oldwhen he scored a century in 1966-67.White, who took two wickets in his first over yesterday, not only justified his selection ahead of 37-year-old Miller but also the decision to bat him at No.7 ahead of out-of-form wicketkeeper Darren Berry.Showing great maturity and tremendous power as he drove and pulled relentlessly, White hit 13 boundaries in his 91 which came off only 130 balls.Having already scored two centuries in grade cricket, White has emerged as a potential star with both ball and bat and next month will captain the Australian under 19 team to the World Cup in New Zealand.Reiffel was content to play the supporting role to White in their 86 run eighth wicket stand but dominated a 75 run ninth wicket partnership with fast bowler Mick Lewis, who contributed his highest first-class score of 27 not out.But just as the 35-year-old Reiffel looked set to finally score his maiden first-class century he was run out by a direct hit from Jeff Vaughan at mid-off.It was Reiffel’s 18th first-class half century in 166 matches and his sixth for Victoria in the Pura Cup.Despite having also scored almost 1000 Test runs for Australia, Reiffel’s highest first-class score remained at 86 – scored 11 years ago for Victoria against Tasmania at the Junction Oval.

Kingston – Alison Hinds’ voice kept emanating from the speakers in theelectrifying Mound Stand with the phrase: ‘Are you there.’If you weren’t, you missed one of the most brutal and belligerentdisplays by two young Jamaican batsmen amidst unrestrainedcelebrations from 14 000 of their countrymen.Sabina Park once more took on a Carnival-like atmosphere, especiallyfor one exhilarating hour when Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle destroyedZimbabwe’s bowling with the type of fury of the hurricane thatdevastated Jamaica 12 years ago.The 23-year-old Hinds, taking advantage of a promotion in the order,was the initial aggressor and was unbeaten on 116 off 125 balls whenthe West Indies relieved Zimbabwe from their misery with the total 280for three.Gayle, age 20, provided even more fireworks in a whirlwind unbeaten 58off 45 balls that prompted the similar type of whistle-blowing,flag-waving and Mexican waving that had engulfed the ground the daybefore.By then, the match was virtually finished as a contest and the placenever generated the same excitement and intensity in a Zimbabweinnings that never seriously mounted a challenge.The tourists, pegged back by Curtly Ambrose’s mean ten overs that cost19 runs and Reon King’s three successive maidens at the start andthree wickets later, finished their 50 overs on 239 for eight, 41behind the West Indies’ highest total in eight One-Day Internationalsagainst their African opponents.The second successive defeat for Zimbabwe has left them in a must-winsituation for their next match in the tri-nation series againstPakistan at the Antigua Recreation Ground on Wednesday.The pattern for the West Indies’ innings was almost identical to theprevious day, but Hinds and Gayle corrected what went wrong onSaturday during the final ten overs.In the first match, the West Indies reached 181 for two after 40overs, but lost seven wickets for 56 in the last ten. Yesterday, therewere no such problems in the happy hour when Hinds and Gayle clobberedexactly 100 runs from the final 60 balls.Captain Jimmy Adams’ run out for 41 off 54 balls from another directthrow by Stuart Carlisle would have brought back memories of the firstmatch when the West Indies were plagued by four run-outs.But, those would have been out of everyone’s minds when Hinds andGayle plundered the bowling and put so much pressure on Zimbabwe thattheir fielding was not of the impeccable standard they had set on thistour.On another day, Hinds might have been caught by Grant Flower runningback from mid-wicket when he was 82 or by Gary Brent coming off thedeep backward square boundary when he was 96.The latter was a miss that allowed Hinds to reach his hundred and heimmediately punched the air with more force and aggression that is noteven common among heavy-weight boxing champions.He had justifiable reason to do so.Sent in at his accustomed No. 3 position in place of Gayle, heresponded with an innings that became more of a joy to watch as itprogressed.His runs were made in all directions, but he was especially moreenter-taining when he was driving through the covers, down the groundor on the pull.By the time Gayle joined him in the 36th over, Hinds had just passedhis 50 and the two left-handers scored at about the same ratethroughout their partnership of 125 off 91 balls.It included two big sixes, the first lifted by Hinds off GrantFlower’s left-arm spin and the second hit high and hard by Gayle overlong-off off Henry Olonga.Gayle needed a couple balls to adjust to the pitch and the bowling,but once he did so, no one could contain him and his 58 came off only45 balls and included five fours.Zimbabwe might have been encouraged when they removed openers SherwinCampbell and Philo Wallace within seven runs after the Barbadians hadposted a half-century stand in quick time.The optimism was prompted by Brent’s introduction. He came on to bowlhis medium-pace after 11 overs and bowled Campbell with a ball thathad neither the line nor length to necessitate a steer to third-man.Wallace still appeared to be struggling for form and after a few meatyblows, he was bowled by Brent playing across the line in a manner thatwas similar to his dismissal of the previous day.Zimbabwe lost their openers after the early pressure against Ambroseand King before Carlisle and Murray Goodwin again featured in theirsecond successive significant partnership.Carlisle and Goodwin put on 47 for the third wicket, but by the timeGoodwin was bowled by Franklyn Rose, the asking rate had climbed tomore than seven runs an over.Captain Andy Flower arrived to effortlessly compile 52 off 54 balls,but it was too little much too late.King was the one who broke the middle order with the scalps ofCarlisle, who hit a catch down the throat of mid-off and Dirk Viljoen,a victim to an edged catch at first slip in the same over.Even though Rose and Mervyn Dillon were expensive, the West Indies hadno cause for concern, thanks to Hinds and Gayle.Facts of the match:Details on the second One-Day International yesterday:West Indies’ 280 for three off 50 overs was their highest total ineight One-Day Internationals against Zimbabwe

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Finishing top 10 in the rather feisty environment of the Premier League is usually a job easier said than done. Crystal Palace know that better than most. They just missed out on it last year, but it’s possible looking ahead to 2019/20, and here are five key dates that might determine whether they make it.

10 August, Everton (H)

Palace will start the new season with a bang, literally. Everton should be top of their list of teams they have to take down in their journey to the top 10. This becomes even more evident when we factor in that they barely scraped a point off the Toffees last season. Starting the new campaign strong is vital.

28 September, Norwich City (H)

Establishing themselves against the newcomers could also prove to be important. But this game is an absolute must-win considering it comes right after Spurs (A), as well as Wolves (H), and is preceded by West Ham (A) and Manchester City (H). A huge sequence for Palace where getting any points will be vital.

2 November, Leicester City (H)

Another huge home game where they can’t afford to drop any points if they are to make the top 10. Beating the Foxes is a top priority, considering this game is sandwiched between Arsenal (A) and Chelsea (A). The match against the Blues is also followed by a heavyweight contest with Liverpool at Selhurst Park.

7 December, Watford (A)

Watford finished one place above Crystal Palace last season, so beating them should definitely be on the agenda when the new campaign rolls around. This is amplified even more when we consider that the Hornets beat Palace home and away when the two sides met last term.

18 January, Manchester City (A)

Crystal Palace can’t really hope to take down too many of the top teams throughout the whole season, but let’s not forget that game at the Etihad in 2018/19. If Palace can somehow replicate that result, or maybe even improve on it in some other big encounters, it could prove to be essential if they are to break the top 10 ceiling, as Wolves beat Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea last term.

Neil McKenzie, the Lions middle-order batsman, will captain a 12-member South Africa A squad to face West Indies in a four-day tour match starting on December 19.The A side will be looking to complete a double against visiting national teams after their 85-run win against the New Zealanders in November.However, their captain in that match, Boeta Dippenaar has not been selected for the game against West Indies after he stated his unavailability because of examinations. McKenzie had a good outing against the New Zealanders, scoring 182 and 34.Lonwabo Tsotsobe, the Warriors left-arm seamer who has impressed in the ongoing SuperSport series, has been rested at the request of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA’s) High Performance Centre. His place has been taken by right-arm fast bowler Monde Zondeki, who will be hoping to make an impact with his re-modelled bowling action.The national selection committee, headed by Joubert Strydom, also named two separate South Africa Composite XIs, comprising promising amateur and franchise players, to face Zimbabwe in the second and third matches of their Super Sport Challenge series.Zimbabwe have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after their 10-wicket win in Potchefstroom in November.Zimbabwe are playing as a seventh franchise in the South African domestic structure for the current calendar year, as part of an initiative taken by the CSA to improve their cricket, but will not be taking part in the SuperSport series as it is already underway.South Africa A
Neil McKenzie (capt), Morne van Wyk (wk), Justin Ontong, JP Duminy, Gulam Bodi, Vernon Philander, Monde Zondeki, Johan Botha, Freidel de Wet, Charl Langeveldt, Robin Peterson (12th man)South Africa Composite XI (for second four-day match in Paarl)
Rusdi Jappie (Titans), Blake Snijman (Lions), Benji Hector (capt) (Cobras), Shaun Liebisch (Northerns), Wayne Madsen (Dolphins), Shane Burger (Lions), Wendell Bossenger (Diamond Eagles), Con De Lange (Cobras), Saidi Molongo (Dolphins) , Alan Kruger (Diamond Eagles), Brendon Reddy (Titans), Pepler Sandri (Cobras)South Africa Composite XI (for third four-day match in Kimberley)
Justin Kreusch (Warriors), Mohammed Akoojee (Diamond Eagles), Adrian McClaren (Diamond Eagles), Riaan Jeggels (Warriors), Pieter Koortzen (Diamond Eagles), Jean Symes (Lions), Wendell Bossenger (capt) (Diamond Eagles), Thandi Tshabalala (Diamond Eagles), Juandre Coetzee (Diamond Eagles), Sinethembu Mjekula (Warriors), Basheer Walters (Warriors), Frikkie Holtzhausen (Diamond Eagles)

ScorecardThings didn’t get any better for Railways as Himachal Pradesh, led by their captain Sandeep Sharma, piled on the runs and the frustration against a team fighting to gain a promotion to the Super League. Sharma batted for the better part of two days for his 161 before Sanjay Bangar finally ended his marathon knock, which came off 521 balls. Mukesh Sharma chipped in with an unbeaten 44 as Himachal extended their lead to 117 with three wickets in hand. With only two days to go, it would take a minor miracle for Railways to fight back in this one.
ScorecardPritam Das, in his first-class debut did Assam proud as his five-wicket haul helped his side gain an invaluable two run lead in the semi-final against Orissa at Cuttack. Orissa were in danger of folding up for under 200 but the last-wicket pair of Sourabha Sehgal and Sukanta Khatua resisted. Das finally brought an end to the innings after trapping Khatua for 14. Assam in their second innings were jolted first by Debasis Mohanty who picked up three early wickets and later by Sehgal, who took two late wickets in his six overs, during which he conceded just one run. With Assam ahead by just 102, both teams head to the final day evenly matched.

Battling to get sufficient accommodation for the estimated 25,000 people expected in Guyana for the 2007 World Cup, Guyana is building new hotels, upgrading existing ones and establishing bed-and-breakfast homes.Karran Singh, the chairman of Guyana’s organising committee, admitted that he was worried about the small number of approved hotel rooms for teams, officials, media, sponsors and spectators. He said: “My main concern is our ability to accommodate – not loosely accommodate – but accommodating comfortably, that’s my big worry.”But with four new hotels being built and several others being upgraded in time for the eight matches to be played in Guyana, Singh expressed confidence that Guyana would be able to make available a total of 5,000 rooms plus accommodation provided by families and friends.Donald Sinclair, director of tourism studies at the University of Guyana, who is integrally involved in planning for Guyana’s hosting of the World Cup, said authorities would shortly outline the required standards for bread-and-breakfast accommodations at privately-owned houses. “Obviously, our stock of rooms will have to be complemented by the bed-and-breakfast arrangements and this has a lot of implications for some things that need to be happening now or perhaps things that should have started earlier.”Unlike other Caribbean countries that are tourism-dependent, Guyana would also have to recruit and train hospitality workers as well as upgrade entertainment venues such as bars and restaurants to acceptable international standards, said prominent Guyanese hotelier, Shawn McGrath.A brand new stadium, with a capacity for 15,000 people, is being built with assistance from the Indian government in time for the World Cup.

Inzamam-ul-Haq has indicated that both he and Yousuf Youhana will bat up the order in the remaining one-day matches in the VB Series. Inzamam has been batting at No. 5, while Youhana has been slotted a position below that so far in the tournament.”We had dropped a place down in the batting order after analysing theproblems we were facing in Australia,” Inzamam explained. “But after reviewing the scenario now, I have no hesitation in admitting that we should have batted up the order. In the coming matches, therefore, we will bat on our originalpositions. It’s all about learning from your mistakes and moving on.” Pakistan play their next match against Australia on Sunday.Inzamam insisted that the two had dropped down so that they could holdthe innings together in case of a top-order collapse. “Our thinking wasthat if we come in the middle of the innings, we would be able to holdthe innings together in case of a collapse which we expected against afocused Australian bowling in tough Australian conditions.”But I am glad that youngsters like Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik and nowKamran Akmal proved us wrong and showed the world that they have thecapacity, talent, potential and mettle to handle the pressure and perform.”Inzamam further argued that the changes in batting positions were forced on the team as they had lost the option of playing Malik as a bowler because of his suspect bowling action. “To have a sixth bowling option, we had to play MohammadHafeez, who is also an opener. And when we decided to send Akmalas a pinch-hitter, naturally everyone had to sacrifice one position. Kamran was send up so that he could pick up some runs besides allowing us to strengthen our batting which has always remained suspect, at least in Australian conditions.”The stats show why it’s in the team’s interest for Youhana to bat up the order: in the 42 matches when he has batted at No. 3, he averages 56.77. At No. 4 he scores 38 runs per innings, while he has batted at No. 5 in 69 matches, averaging 35.81. With Inzamam, the contrast isn’t so stark – he averages 40.66 at No. 4 and 41.20 at No. 5.Looking ahead to Pakistan’s next big series, against India in February, Inzamam said that the confidence-levels of the young players would be high after their performances in Australia. “The key to success in India will be self-belief and self-confidence which the youngsters have acquired by excelling here. If you recall, Indian batsmen won the series in Pakistan because they had performed well in Australia. International cricket is all about taking the pressure and I am sure that today’s investment will benefit Pakistan cricket in years to come.”

Pakistan might have won the first Test at Karachi, but all the gains went to Bangladesh. To push Pakistan into the fifth day was an excellent effort on their part, especially after their hapless showing of the last few months. Pakistan’s performance, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired.Bangladesh batted with a new-found grit and determination, especially in the second innings. Shoaib Akhtar was not allowed to rip through the batting order, and Rajin Saleh and Habibul Bashar handled his extreme pace with remarkable ease. Saleh, the talk of the town on his debut, is a player to watch out for – he has a good technique and can stay at the crease for long periods of time without getting flustered.Dav Whatmore, who took over as coach just before Bangladesh’s series against Australia, has already made an impact on his side. Whatmore was instrumental in converting one Asian minnow into a top team – he coached Sri Lanka to the 1996 World Cup. Bangladesh might be a different ballgame, as he recently explained in an exclusive interview to Wisden CricInfo, but he has begun well.One of Whatmore’s biggest worries will be the bowling. Mashrafe Mortaza troubled the Pakistani batsman and Mohammad Rafique was economical, but the rest lacked penetration. Bangladesh do not yet have the ability to take 20 wickets in a Test, and Khaled Mahmud hardly leads by example. He doubled his tally of Test wickets in this game, but his bowling average still stands at 244. The cricket academies back home need to breed genuine pace bowlers – and a quality legspinner would do quite nicely as well.Pakistan do not have much cause for cheer. Their fielding was atrocious – a major reason for Pakistan’s lack of success in the longer version of the game is their inability to hang on to chances in the slips. The bowlers, as a result, concentrate on getting batsmen out bowled or lbw and are taken for runs when they drift onto the pads. This Test was no exception, as Taufeeq Umar dropped a sitter in the first innings and Yasir Hameed bungled a simple chance offered by Habibul Bashar in the second. Bashar was then on zero – he went on to make 108.The batting, with the exception of Yasir Hameed’s centuries, was ordinary. The shot selection by Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar was awful. Pakistan must sort out its opening combination quickly, as neither Hafeez nor Taufeeq seem to possess the technique to succeed against better teams. The Bangladesh attack was modest, yet Pakistan managed just 346 in the first innings on a docile pitch.The only positive to come out for Pakistan was the impressive performance of 25-year old Hameed. He had shown a glimpse of his talent in the one-day internationals that preceded this Test, but had failed to convert any of his starts. He showed great composure and concentration and worked his way to two centuries on debut, only the second player to achieve that feat. However, it would be too early to say that Pakistan’s worries over the crucial No. 3 slot are over. Pakistan has a penchant for discarding players after the odd appearance in a Test match, and Hameed will have to prove himself against better teams.The pitch at Karachi was pathetic. Pakistan’s strength lies in its pace attack, and the pitches prepared for a home series should be lively, with an even covering of grass. The Karachi pitch offered no assistance to Pakistan’s fast bowlers, and neutralised the home advantage they had. It may not matter against Bangladesh – it will against better teams.Final day Bulletin

Brian Lara’s chances of regaining fitness in time for West Indies tour ofPakistan looked slim on Tuesday morning after a hairline fracture wasdiscovered in his elbow.The star left-hander had dislocated his elbow in a collision with MarvanAtapattu whilst batting on Saturday in Kandy.Initial x-rays – taken in Kandy, contrary to false reports that said he wasairlifted to Colombo – allayed fears of a fracture and Lara was expected tobe sidelined for 4-6 weeks.But on Monday the left-arm started swelling and Lara was taken off for asecond batch of x-rays in Colombo, which revealed the hairline fracture inhis elbow joint.”It was always our intention to seek a second opinion upon our return toColombo and it has now been diagnosed that there is definitely a hairlinefracture at the elbow joint,” team manager Ricky Skerritt confirmed.Skerritt expects the fracture to prolong his recovery period and jeopardisehis chances of touring Pakistan, if the West Indies Cricket Board give thego-ahead to the tour scheduled to start at the end of January.”After resetting the cast around the repaired joint, it is now suggestedthat Lara would be out of cricket for much longer than was at first thought,for an extra two weeks and for no less than six weeks in all, perhapslonger, depending on healing.””Brian will be having yet another MRI examination on Tuesday afternoon toconfirm all this, plus to see what progress in the healing process has beeneffected.”What this means is that Brian Lara is effectively ruled out of the nextscheduled West Indies tour of Pakistan, if and when, that takes place.”Lara was to stay with the team during the remaining days of the tour but hehas now been booked on an early direct flight to London before West Indiestake on Sri Lanka in the final of the LG Abans tri-series on Wednesdayafternoon.