SOUTHAMPTON, 18 September 2004 — England and Sri Lanka must return today to finish their Champions Trophy Group D clash after persistent rain restricted play to only 32 overs at the Rose Bowl yesterday with England on 118-3.
After Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu had won the toss and chosen to field, the home side were beginning to overcome a difficult start under overcast skies when rain drove the players from the field, to the disappointment of the 16,000 crowd.
If the rain holds off — and the forecast is not good — play will resume today with the hope that the remaining 68 overs can be completed with the winners set for a semifinal against Australia.
When England batted, Vikram Solanki hit four fours in a bright 18 before he got an inside edge to a delivery from first change bowler Farveez Maharoof to give wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara a diving catch.
Michael Vaughan, the England captain, never looked at ease in the gloom and after contributing five to a total of 44, played around a delivery from Nuwan Zoysa and his middle stump was lifted from the ground.
Sri Lanka’s other success came at 70 when Andrew Strauss, risking a second run to third man, was beaten by Maharoof’s perfect throw to his wicketkeeper.
England’s modest total should have been far worse but some poor fielding and worse catching reprieved both Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff.
Trescothick was dropped off a steepling catch at mid off by Zoysa while still in single figures and the dangerous Flintoff was put down badly in the slips after getting a thick edge to a delivery from Chaminda Vaas. Mahela Jayawardene was the culprit.
Trescothick more than made up for his good fortune by punishing anything short on his way to an unbeaten 64, which included seven boundaries and came off 95 balls.
Flintoff was unbeaten with 21 when the rain arrived from the west with the match evenly poised. Maharoof’s accuracy was rewarded with figures of one for 19 off his ten-over allocation before play was called off in late afternoon when it was clear the match could not be finished in one day.
TV Replays Necessary for India-Australia Series — ICC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has told the Indian board that it needs to provide TV pictures for third umpire decisions to go ahead with next month’s home test series against Australia.
The ICC said in a statement yesterday that it had turned down a request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the matches should be allowed even if no TV coverage was available for the third umpire.
Telecast of the much-awaited series, starting on Oct. 6, has been thrown into serious doubt because of ongoing litigation over the recent award of TV rights for cricket in India.
Kenyan Coach to Retain Same Squad for Qualifier
Kenyan cricket coach Andy Moles has vowed to retain his squad for the ICC Intercontinenal Cup qualifier against Namibia here next month despite their dismal show in the Champions Trophy.
The team arrived home without their captain Steve Tikolo who was left behind in London and were given a five-day break before resuming training for the continental qualifier. Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) officials said Tikolo, who is expected to arrive on Sunday, had been asked to stay on as skipper and lead the side against the Namibians at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club on Oct. 1-3. A win will ensure Kenya’s semifinal berth against Scotland in the United Arab Emirates in November.
Taibu Rates Zimbabwe Chances on Pakistan Tour
Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu gives his inexperienced team an even chance of winning the triangular One-Day tournament against Sri Lanka and hosts Pakistan in two weeks’ time. “I am a positive guy and I give my young team a 50-50 chance of winning,” he told a news conference in Lahore yesterday after Zimbabwe arrived for a month-long tour. The 15-strong Zimbabwe squad, who have just lost to England and Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy in England, will play a seven-match one-day series starting from Sept. 30.
“This is a young side made up of under-18 and under-19 players and they know at this level they have to learn quickly,” Taibu said. “We took a lot of heart and positives from our performance against Sri Lanka in England and we are confident of improving and moving forward here.”
