AUSTRALIA - Manager: Mustafa Khan
AUSTRALIA WIN BUT NOT AS WELL AS EXPECTED
Auckland was the venue where the Australians were set to take out their frustration on New Zealand. Shane Warne opted to bat after winning the toss. They put up a massive 397 on the board. Ponting making 95 and Mark Waugh 87. The total was huge but it would have been bigger if Daniel Vettori did not single-handedly put the innings to an end with figures of 8-118.
The 1st Kiwi innings was not great as they put on 266 to reply. Horne made 76* and Vettori making a brave 47. Quick bowlers McGrath & Gillespie returned with figures of 2-51 and 3-48 respectively.
The second Aussie innings was not as good as the 1st but Ponting again performing, scoring 92 this time and former captain Mark Taylor saved his backside from being dropped by making 70.
The last NZ innings was brilliant as everyone contributed this time with a lot of responsibility but Parore and Astle were the heroes scoring 42* and 61 respectively. Captain Warne got back but not with a bang came up with figures of 3-64 off 34 overs. McGrath also bowled well obtaining 3-62 off 29 overs.
The Aussies fly back home to play Sri Lanka in their next match with Ponting and Healy out with injury. The Aussies are at No.4 in the table after round 8.
ENGLAND - Manager: Dan Thomas
England continued to maintain their 100% record when they thrashed 4th placed India by an innings and 223 runs. So dominant were England that they took all 10 bonus points and actually managed to outscore the Warwick Todd XI who dropped a bonus batting and bowling point.
Winning the toss, England had no hesitation in sending India in on an overcast morning. These conditions were beautifully exploited by Cork and Gough as they reduced India to 33-7 after just 70 minutes of play. By 2:00 India were all out for a paltry 80.
With the conditions still overcast and cloudy England were expecting a tough time facing the Indian attack. This could have been the case if it were not for some very poor Indian fielding. 5 catches were put down including 2 sitters dropped by Prasad and Srinath as Stewart and Atherton guided England to 184-0 by the close of the first day, Atherton 99 not out overnight. India got off to a better start the second day with Stewart out for 85 in the very first over but Atherton completed his century and Thorpe a fine 53 as England pushed home their advantage. Atherton was finally out for 170 and Hick (49), Smith (37) and Rhodes (26) helped England to 461 all out a massive 1st innings lead of 381.
With their 2nd innings starting late on the 2nd day there was never going to be any chance of India surviving and Laxman out in the 1st over did not help. Only Mongia (52) and Dravid (34) offered any resistance as India were dismissed for 158. Gough with 4 wickets and Croft with 3 were the pick of a very strong England attack.
This week an injury ravaged England are away to South Africa who are at the wrong end of the table. Ramprakash who is fully fit again is picked which is good as his replacement Smith picked up an injury. Knight is also injured and more seriously Rhodes is injured for 2 weeks. This means that Stewart is going to have to open, keep wicket and captain - something the England manager was keen to avoid. As a result of this injury Adam Hollioake is brought into the side.
INDIA - Manager: Mat Kenneally
Indian manager Mathew Kenneally returned from a two week break to both good and bad news. The good news was that after round 7 India cracked the top four thanks to a great effort by Ajay Jadeja and Javagal Srinath. However, India were thrashed by England whom Azharuddin called "the best team we have played so far by a long way". Tendulkar's form is a bit down but Mat hopes considering New Zealand's placing out of the ten teams India Sachin could be devestating. This week Sidhu will be out which will meen a new bowler will be selected. Harvinder Singh will probably get the nod and if he performs Azharuddin may be shown the door.
NEW ZEALAND - Manager: Ben Buchanan
PAKISTAN - Manager: Nathan Porter
SOUTH AFRICA - Manager: Steve Hill
SRI LANKA - Manager: Keith McLeod
"LIFE SUCKS"
The words of Sri Lankan manager Keith McLeod tell the tale of a Sri Lankan team in despair, after their narrow(ish) 121 run loss to the powerhouse Warwick Todd XI. The Sri Lankans were competitive throughout the match, and a little more backbone in the top order could have seen an unlikely Sri Lankan victory.
"We're just gutted," said captain Ranatunga "This is the last straw really. I simply can't see the guys getting back up for the Aussie game." Despite a recent comprehensive win against New Zealand, the Sri Lankans have not benefited from man of the match bonus points since round 3.
McLeod would not comment about the result after the Warwick Todd match, only saying "I may as well just shoot myself now!" Not winning words, and certainly the Sri Lankans appear unlikely to win this weekend. And so the poor results appear likely to continue, particularly with star batsman Asanka Gurusinha out of the frame for the upcoming Australia match.
WEST INDIES - Manager: Joshua Johnson
A round 8 loss for the West Indies to the in-form Pakistan leaves the side floundering near the bottom of the table with only two wins for the series. Manager Joshua Johnson had this to say about the Pakistan match, "After the round 7 win against the South Africans I was hoping the taste of victory would spur the team on". After a promising start with an opening partnership of 119 between Williams (119) and Samuels (51) the side managed to make to stumps on the first day at a promising 4/280. All of this hard work was meaningless though as the Pakistan bowling was spot-on in the first session of day 2. The bowling attack managed to attain figures of 6/74 before lunch leaving the West Indies with a first innings score of 354. The only real resistance during the second day came from the bat of Junior Murray who managed to score 63 valuable runs.
The Pakistan side came out to bat and they meant business. They managed to score 254 runs in two sessions at the loss of only 2 wickets. Aamir Sohail (138), Saeed Anwar (93) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (154) all played good aggressive cricket to ensure a huge first innings total of 549, a lead of 195 runs. The West Indies bowling attack, with the highest rated bowler in the league, Curtly Ambrose, was rendered useless against the batting. Ambrose returned the best figures of 3/96 off 38.3 overs.
The West Indies had to see out the final 6 overs of day 3, which they managed without loss (although two catches were put down). The improved form of the West Indies top order with the bat was beginning to manifest itself as the 195 run deficit was wiped off for the loss of 3 wickets. Unfortunately, fine bowling by Wasim Akram with the new ball allowed the Pakistan side to destroy the West Indian lower order taking 6/41. Wasim Akram returned fine figures of 5/66 to end the West Indian second innings and almost ensure a Pakistan victory. Highlights for the West Indian batting were the 90 from Adams and another century for the captain, Brian Lara, who scored 108. The quick loss of wickets ensured the Pakistan side only needed to make a simple 113 runs in a day for victory. They accomplished this without a problem at the loss of only one wicket.
The West Indies play Zimbabwe in the next round. Zimbabwe who have just broken a losing streak by thrashing South Africa, will probably be pumped up for the next round. Hopefully Lara and Williams will continue their good run with the bat and Ambrose will receive some support in the attack and the West Indies can record their third victory of the competition.
ZIMBABWE - Manager: Dave Hickey
After three successive losses, Zimbabwe cricket was in turmoil. Fortunately for all concerned, the Zimbabwe team was able to turn things around with a comprehensive victory over the struggling South Africans.
Alistair Campbell won the toss and elected to make first use of a very good-looking Harare pitch. Allan Donald found some early life in the pitch to take two early wickets before Goodwin and Houghton took control with a brisk 151 run partnership. Campbell himself then took centre stage and with good support from Andy Flower, Zimbabwe reached 6/382 by stumps.
On Day 2, Campbell and Streak continued the onslaught and by mid-afternoon Zimbabwe had amassed a score of 515. Campbell (190), Goodwin (89), Houghton (77) and Streak (60) all starred with the bat while Allan Donald (4/100) was the pick of the bowlers.
South Africa got away to a steady start but despite several batsmen making a start, no-one was able to go on to produce the big innings required, with Kirsten (49) and Rhodes (45no) being the top scorers. The Zimbabwe bowling was aggressive and tight, with Adam Huckle (4/30) doing the most damage as South Africa reached 214.
Invited to bat again, the South Africans 2nd innings was pretty much a carbon-copy of the first. Their innings ended at 221 with Cullinan (50), Kirsten (41) and Symcox (33no) leading the way. Once again spin was South Africa's downfall, but this time Strang took the honours with 6/70.
Next week Zimbabwe travel to Barbados to take on the West Indies, who have also struggled a bit in recent times. A win for Zimbabwe would see them well-placed at the halfway mark. For the first time in the series, Zimbabwe have no injury worries and it would appear that the top order batting is finally coming together. While it is too early to declare that Zimbabwe are back, there are some positive signs beginning to emerge.
WARWICK TODD'S XI - Manager: Warwick Todd
Warwick Todd's XI travelled to Colombo in Round 8 to take on the unpredictable Sri Lankan team. It was a very quiet trip over and back, with Merv Hughes remaining in Australia and the other players keeping a low profile to avoid being challenged to a dare by Merv's replacement Mike Whitney.
Warwick Todd won the toss and elected to make first use of the dressing shed. Out in the middle, the top seven batsmen all reached double figures, with only "Fat Cat" Ritchie going past 50. The final tally of 311 was adequate, but much less than they would normally have expected to score. Four lbw decisions certainly inflamed the visitors and Warwick Todd is certain to be relieved of a large chunk of his match payment after disputing his decision for several moments on the field and then for the remainder of the day in the pavilion.
The Sri Lankans started well but again no one managed to put together a big score. Wickets fell regularly for Sri Lanka to finish at 246, trailing by 65 runs. McDermott took four wickets but the highlight was the wicketkeeping of Tim Zoehrer who snared six spectacular catches in a faultless display.
The Todd XI then batted a second time and again it was a steady rather than a spectacular innings. Warwick Todd made a solid 103 but he lacked any real support as the innings ended at 265.
Sri Lanka were set 331 to win, which was always going to be difficult batting last. Wickets fell at 3, 5 and 21 and the Sri Lankan challenge was effectively over before it started. Only a defiant 95no from Gurusinha delayed the inevitable as the Todd XI cruised to a 121 run victory. Zoehrer held another four catches to make ten for the match.
Next week the Todd XI will host third-placed Pakistan. A win to the Todd XI will effectively end the Pakistan challenge and will leave only England and the Todd XI to battle for the Championship.