ENGLAND - Manager: Dan Thomas

England returned to winning ways with a convincing win over lowly New Zealand. And for once the batting was reasonably good with both innings over 300. Hussain was the pick of the batsmen with 86 and 151 and Atherton also chipped in with a century.

New Zealand struggled in both innings, failing to reach 200 in both innings. Wickets were spread out amongst all the bowlers.

This week Engand are still at full strength and play Sri Lanka. With the match following this being against Warwick Todd's XI, it is prayed that none of the players get injured in the Sri Lanka match.

INDIA - Manager: Mat Kenneally

India has hit rock bottom with a third consecutive loss. A side which aspired to a top four finish is now threatened with a wooden spoon result. Tendulkar, Kumble and Srinath continue to inspire their teammates but the load seems to be too great. Mathew Kenneally declined an interview this week but it is rumoured he is not preoccupied with occurrences outside cricket. India will go back to the side they started with this week which is going to mean some players will be disappointed.

NEW ZEALAND - Manager: Ben Buchanan

The New Zealand team were brought back down to earth today with a 322 run defeat at the hands of England. England comprehensively beat New Zealand in all areas of the game and continued their impressive form.

England made 322 in their first dig with Hussain making a well made 82. For New Zealand Doull and Vettori both ended up with 3 wickets each. New Zealand's innings never really got started with the batsman looking one dimensional and only managing to put on 179. Fleming was best with 39.

England then put the Kiwis out of the game by amassing 360 for 6 leaving New Zealand the task of scoring over 500 to win. This never looked likely when England took early wickets and dismissed the Kiwis for 181. A comprehensive victory! Hussain played brilliantly scoring 151 in his second dig to easily claim the man of the match award.

There is no rest for New Zealand as they travel to Pakistan this week. A better result is needed if they are to climb the table.

PAKISTAN - Manager: Nathan Porter

Pakistan has successfully defended the Warwick Todd Trophy at it's first attempt which puts them in a very strong position for a good run home.

Pakistan easily accounted for India, without strike bowler Waqar Younis as well and will be looking to further strengthen their position on the table with a win against New Zealand this round. Pakistan is now aiming for a top two finish to the season, after a slow start they are coming home strong. This will be difficult though as they are relying on either England or the Warwick Todd XI being defeated by another team. Still, hope is always there.

SOUTH AFRICA - Manager: Steve Hill

SRI LANKA - Manager: Keith McLeod

The Sri Lankan Cricket Digest - 26 August 1998

For the second time in the Warwick Todd World Championships, the Sri Lankan cricket team have been unable to overcome the Zimbabweans. After some promising results, the Sri Lankans put up a good fight, but were never really in it after posting a modest first innings total. After losing the toss, the Sri Lankan batsmen never looked comfortable on a seaming pitch.

"To be quite honest we weren't entirely disappointed to be put in by Zimbabwe", said manager Keith McLeod. "We thought that once the pitch settled down and the ball lost some of its shine, batting wouldn't be too difficult." And after reaching a hundred with the loss of a single wicket, the Zimbabweans must have been wondering if they'd made the right decision. This was soon vindicated however as wickets started to tumble. With the loss of wickets at regular intervals, the Sri Lankan team went from a strong 111 for 1, to almost total collapse at 115 for 5 as pacemen Streak and Mbangwa cut a swathe through the home team. The addition of spin to the mix soon saw the Sri Lankan team dismissed for a paltry 156 runs.

The Zimbabweans made much better use of the conditions as they amassed a sizeable first innings advantage. When finally dismissed for 510, it seemed Mission Impossible for Sri Lanka. The second innings was certainly a better effort from the home team, however of some concern must have been the lack of a batsman continuing on and building a big innings. The top 7 batsmen all made starts, with the biggest contributions from Tillakaratne (88 no), de Silva (59) and Jayasuriya (55).

Still, the Sri Lankans only set Zimbabwe 55 runs to win. Of course this was never enough for the bowlers to defend, although the Africans must have been slightly worried when, after 15 overs, they were reduced to 35 for 4. Alas, this was all Sri Lanka would be given, as former and current captains David Houghton and Alistair Campbell polished off the remaining few runs, giving their side a well earned six wicket victory.

This week Sri Lanka are on the road, this time to the home of cricket, and an appointment with Dan Thomas' formidable England team. Sri Lanka will seek to continue their string of strong away showings in what is almost a must-win match.

WEST INDIES - Manager: Joshua Johnson

It seems a though as soon as one facet of the West Indian team starts to work, the other facet fails. This is what happened this week as the West Indians took on the top of the league Warwick Todd XI. The problems with the batting seem to have lessened with Jimmy Adams and the openers Campbell and Williams finding some form. Now it seems that the side can't buy a wicket. The WTXI won the toss and elected to bat on a mediocre Sydney wicket. The home side played aggressively and at lunch the match was pretty even at 3/104. After lunch Warwick Todd set out to crush the attack and made his 50 in only 45 deliveries. Border was lucky to escape a dropped catch and a simple run out from only 2 metres, but both survived and by tea the score was a little more lop-sided towards the WTXI at 3/207. After tea Todd and Border continued to dismantle the attack until soon after Border's century Todd was caught for an impressive 172. Next ball May was caught LBW and at stumps the home side was decidedly on top at 5/386. The next day the tail wagged and the Warwick Todd XI were finally dismissed for 546 with one over and one session remaining in day 2.

The West Indies came into bat and lost their two openers by the end of the day and were at a steady 2/142 at stumps. The nightwatchman Walsh was dismissed early on day 3 and surprisingly Lara came in and continued his recent poor form to be dismissed for a duck. The side then had a typical collapse with the exception of Junior Murray who managed 34 not out to be all out for 249.

Following on and requiring 297 runs to avoid the innings defeat the team performed much better with the bat. The openers Williams and Campbell and the captain Lara were once again dismissed cheaply, but important partnerships between Adams and Chanderpaul and then Adams and Murray ensured that the team would not be defeated by an innings. The West Indies were eventually dismissed for 383 leaving the Warwick Todd's XI 83 runs and just over one day for victory.

They accomplished this with the loss of 3 wickets to win by 7 wickets. Surprisingly, Jimmy Adams was awarded man of the match over Warwick Todd. This week the West Indies take on Australia and will have to find the ability to take wickets if they hope to score a much needed victory. Rose will be replaced by Benjamin this week due to injury.

ZIMBABWE - Manager: Dave Hickey

Zimbabwe travelled to Colombo in Round 14 to take on Sri Lanka in a match which could ultimately decide fourth place in the series.

Alistair Campbell won the toss, and as has become his recent habit, he sent the opposition in. Sri Lanka accepted this challenge and at 1/111 he must have been having second thoughts about the wisdom of his decision. But a devestating spell from Heath Streak in which he snared three wickets in just seven balls saw Sri Lanka collapse to 5/115. The batting never recovered from this onslaught and the home side were all out just before stumps for 156. The Zimbabwe bowlers shared the wickets but Andy Flower dominated the fielding, snapping up six catches.

Rennie and Grant Flower survived the day and started Day 2 looking to build a sizeable score. Rennie looked relieved when he finally reached double figures but he lost concentration momentarily to give Sri Lanka the early breakthrough that they needed. But the rest of the day belonged to Zimbabwe as they scored freely to be 6/387 at stumps. After another productive session the next morning, Zimbabwe's innings ended just after lunch on Day 3 for 515. All of the batsmen chipped in with valuable runs and partnerships with Houghton (127), Goodwin (81), Wishart (64) and Grant Flower (62) worthy of special mention. Zimbabwe scored at a rate of 3.8 runs per over compared to a rate of just 1.8 runs per over by Sri Lanka on Day 1.

Faced with a deficit of 359 runs, Sri Lanka got away to another good start to be 0/98 before losing both openers to be 2/105. Gurusinha and de Silva then compiled a 100 run partnership and the rest of the Sri Lankan batting joined in to help build a formidible innings of 413.

With only 55 needed for victory, Zimbabwe stumbled early due to some inspired bowling from Vaas. Zimbabwe lost four wickets to give Sri Lanka just the faintest chance, before Houghton and Campbell steered Zimbabwe safely home.

Next week Zimbabwe will host competition leaders Warwick Todd's XI. Zimbabwe manager Dave Hickey believes that Zimbabwe's recent form has been better than the recent form of Warwick Todd's XI. Whilst most observers would regard a Zimbabwe victory as a major upset, Hickey and his Zimbabwe players will hear none of this. With the "series deciding" Round 15 match between Warwick Todd's XI and England looming, Zimbabwe believe that they can sneak under Warwick Todd's guard to perhaps have a say in the outcome of the series themselves.

WARWICK TODD'S XI - Manager: Warwick Todd

With Boonie recalled to the team, the real Warwick Todd's XI finally stood up in Round 13 as they once again trounced arch-rivals the West Indies. After years of being on the receiving end from the Windies quicks, the Todd batsmen now relish the opportunity to give something back.

Warwick Todd won the toss and as usual decided to make first use of the Member's Bar. Five sessions later, the Todd XI were all out for 546 with Todd (172), Border (114), Ritchie (81no) and Marsh (58) leading the way.

The West Indies started their innings well but after being 1/136 they stumbled a little to be 5/169 before eventually reaching 249. Jimmy Adams held the batting together as McDermott and Hughes shared the wickets.

Todd had no hesitation in asking the West Indies to bat again and the batsmen took advantage of a tired bowling attack to compile 383. Jimmy Adams again starred with 161 with some support from Chanderpaul and Murray.

The Todd XI required only 87 to win which they achieved for the loss of three wickets, as batsmen threw away wickets in the rush to get to the bar. Typically, Geoff Marsh with 66no was the exception.

Next week the Todd XI travel to Zimbabwe, which will be the first trip to Zimbabwe for most of these players. With the important match against England looming in Round 15, complacency will probably be the biggest problem that they will face on this trip.