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Hampshire departed the north-east heading for the south-west tonight with their tails between their legs having seen their National League Division Two championship and promotion hopes take a hammering at the hands of Durham Dynamos at the Riverside.It capped off a disasterous five days for the south coast county, having been thrashed in the Championship the day before – it was no wonder they wanted to take the long trek to Taunton tonight instead of on Bank Holiday Monday.On a wicket that gave plenty of assistance to the quicker bowlers, Hawks skipper John Crawley won the toss and chose to take first use only to see the first four wickets disappear with only 34 on the board.Eighteen-year-old Liam Plunkett dismissed James Hamblin and Simon Katich, after the Australian had hammered Neil Killeen out of the attack with four fours in his 12-ball 18. However, the introduction of England paceman Stephen Harmison further dented Hampshire as only John Francis held firm.Reduced to 93-8, Chaminda Vaas showed some resistance with the bat with an unbeaten 28 once Francis (25) and Udal (16) had fallen. Spinner Graeme Bridge wrapped up the tail with 4-20 but 131 was never likely to be enough.And so it proved despite Vaas dispatching Martin Love and Ashley Thorpe in the space of two balls as Nicky Peng and the returning Paul Collingwood clocked up 91 for the third wicket to lead the side, starting the day second bottom of the table to a rare victory.Peng finished unbeaten on 56 while Collingwood smashed 48 to lead Durham to victory with nearly 20 overs to spare.

Glamorgan maintained their unbeaten sequence in the National Leaguewith an emphatic 10 wicket victory over Gloucestershire in a contestthat was reduced initially to a 30 over game as a result of morningrain in South Wales.Robert Croft won an important toss and with rain clouds gathering, he hadno hesitation in inserting the opponents. Andrew Davies then reducedGloucestershire to 20-3 in a very impressive opening spellfrom the River End, as Davies took 3-4 in 9 balls.A short shower caused another interrruption and thegame was further reduced to a 26 overs contest, but when play resumed the Glamorgan bowlersremained on top with Alex Wharf taking 4-18 – his best ever figures in one daycricket and the best by a Glamorgan bowler against Gloucestershire in thecompetition.With Robert Croft making shrewd bowling changes, and his team fielding withgreat spirit, none of the Gloucestershire batsmen could come to terms withthe Glamorgan attack, and they closed their innings on a disappointing 133-9.After the Duckworth-Lewis calculations had been performed Glamorgan`s targetwas 133 in 26 overs, and Robert Croft and Ian Thomas then shared an unbrokenstand of 135 in 21.2 overs as Glamorgan cantered to only their third everwin the competition by 10 wickets, and their first since 1993.Ian Thomas was in imperious mood, hitting three huge sixes and six fours inhis unbeaten 71, whilst Croft`s 60 contained four fours and a six as they putall of the Gloucestershire bowlers to the sword and raced to their targetwith 28 balls to spare. This was Glamorgan`s first victory over Gloucestershire in the competition since 1996and their first in Wales since 1993.It was the Dragon`s third successive win in the League and equalled the club`s best everstart in the competition, achieved in1980 when Glamorgan defeated Lancashire, Essex and Nottinghamshire. The Dragons willbe looking to make it a record four out of four next Sunday when they travelto Headingley to play Yorkshire.

MIDLANDSMidlands general manager Ken Connelly must secretly be hoping that Zimbabwe will not make the final at Sharjah – as they are not expected to do. For if they do, he will have five players missing from the Logan Cup match against Matabeleland scheduled to start in Kwekwe on Friday 11 April, and will experience great difficulty in raising a second team to play their B Division match in Masvingo at all.Since the first three rounds of matches, played in October, Midlands have lost several players. Among them are two former CFX Academy graduates. John Vaughan-Davies resigned and emigrated to South Africa, while Innocent Chinyoka had his contract with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union terminated for disciplinary reasons.Coach Don Campbell is calling for squad practices starting on Monday 7 April, and they will wait to see what happens in Sharjah before announcing a team. If Zimbabwe, as expected with Pakistan and Sri Lanka as opponents, are knocked out, they expect their international players to be back just in time to play Logan Cup.MATABELELANDOn the administrative side, Matabeleland have appointed Norman Dube as assistant general manager to Neil Todd.Board member Terry Nicolle says that Matabeleland intend to rest their international players, even if they do return from Sharjah theoretically in time to play their match against Midlands in Kwekwe. They will also be without Mark Vermeulen, who is still suffering from the injury he suffered in the nets during the World Cup Super Sixes in South Africa and may need an operation on the bone above his eye, and Pommie Mbangwa, commentating in Sharjah. Mbangwa has played little league cricket for Queens Sports Club this season either, which may well prejudice his chances for a national recall for the England tour.They are looking at a likely batting line-up of Charles Coventry, Ryan King, Barney Rogers (captain), Andre Hoffman, Gavin Ewing, Greg Strydom, Wisdom Siziba (wicket-keeper), Piet Rinke, Jordane Nicolle, Keith Dabengwa and Norman Mukondiwa. All have first-class experience.According to Mr Nicolle, Rogers is batting exceptionally well at the moment, while Jordane Nicolle has recovered from his injury problems and is bowling with genuine pace and hostility. Ewing and Strydom will be looking to recover their form, which has been rather disappointing this season. Strydom will be attending the CFX Academy, as will Mukondiwa, who has had a reasonable club season despite frequent problems with no-balls.MANICALANDThe big interest for Manicaland cricket at present is their appearance in the National League final against Takashinga on Sunday 6 April, according to Alan Walsh. The Mutare Sports Club team finished top of the league and won their semi-final against Kwekwe, so they hope to wrap up the double this coming weekend.The news is not so encouraging for the final three rounds of the Logan Cup. They have lost both Alistair Campbell and Henry Olonga, and Neil Ferreira, the third captain this season, takes over the reins. Kudzai Taibu, brother of Tatenda, has been promoted to the first-team squad. Only Stuart Matsikenyeri of their team is currently playing in Sharjah.Stephen Mangongo has been appointed cricket coach for the province. He will shortly move down from Harare to take up residence in Mutare.The local Manicaland league was badly disrupted by the World Cup and the cyclone, which brought little but rain for two weeks. Fortunately the new covers at Mutare Sports Club did their job and the pitch was well protected.MASHONALANDMashonaland could not provide any news. They are waiting to see when the national side are returning from Sharjah before naming a team.

Teams in the northern part of the country will be hoping forbetter luck with the weather when the fourth round matchesin the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I cricket competition startSunday.The third round clash between Rawalpindi and Peshawar wasabandoned without a ball being bowled at the Pindi CricketStadium after pre-match rains left the square in pools ofwater.The other match in Rawalpindi, saw play starting late onthird afternoon at KRL Ground between Islamabad and Rest ofNWFP.Karachi Blues chalked up their first win of the season whenthey crushed Rest of Sindh by innings. Sargodha were theother side to win in the third round, inflicting inningsdefeat on Hyderabad.Both Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues, who head theirrespective pools, had to contend with draws againstBalochistan and Rest of Punjab respectively in the thirdround.Karachi Whites, led by ex-national skipper Moin Khan, facetheir first major challenge in the shape of Gujranwala hereat the National Stadium.Lahore Blues, the defending champions, take on Islamabad atKRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.Karachi Blues, meanwhile, meet Faisalabad at Iqbal Stadium.Both Faisalabad and Sheikhupura, who play Rest of Punjab atGaddafi Stadium, will be fresh after being not involved inmatches last week.Fourth round schedule (Jan 20-23):*Karachi Whites v Gujranwala at National Stadium, Karachi(Umpires: M. Akbar Khan and Nadeem Ghauri. Match referee:Raees Ahmed).*Faisalabad v Karachi Blues at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad(Umpires: M. Nazir Junior and Iftikhar Malik. Match referee:Ishtiaq Ahmed).*Hyderabad v Rest of Balochistan at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad(Umpires: Athar Zaidi and Sadiq Mohammad. Match referee:Munawwar Agha).*Bahawalpur v Rest of Sindh at Bahawalpur Stadium. (Umpires:Shakeel Khan and Riazuddin. Match referee: Fahimuddin Alvi).*Lahore Whites v Peshawar at LCCA Ground, Lahore (Umpires:Salim Badar and Feroz Butt. Match referee: Ali Zia).*Rawalpindi v Rest of NWFP at Pindi Cricket Stadium(Umpires: Siddique Khan and Asad Rauf. Match referee: JavedAkhtar).*Islamabad v Lahore Blues at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi(Umpires: Islam Khan and Afzaal Ahmed. Match referee:Khateeb Rizwan).*Sheikhupura v Rest of Punjab at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore(Umpires: Aleem Dar and Sajjad Asghar. Match referee:Ehteshamuddin).

The Australian Cricket Board is wary about the potentially thorny issueof what Shane Warne can do during his 12-month suspension.The ACB will carefully consider any bid from Warne to train with theVictorian state team until February 10 next year, when his ban ends.Warne announced on Wednesday he would not appeal the suspension fortesting positive to banned diuretics.He added he intended to give it his “best shot” to return to the Testside.The question now is whether Warne can put this disaster behind him,maintain his motivation and be ready for first-class cricket early nextyear.It also remains to be seen exactly what cricket resources he will beallowed to use.”His suspension means he can’t play in any cricket, nor can he hold anyoffice in any cricket,” said ACB public affairs manager Peter Young.”Technically, he can do anything outside that suspension.”When asked if Warne could train with the Bushrangers during his ban,Young replied: “Technically, he’s free to do that.”We’d have to consider that for any policy issue.”For example, if he was to train with Victoria and got injured, whowould be liable?”During his suspension he’s not contracted, so he’s not covered byinsurance.”Young said it was up to Warne and Channel Nine, where he already holds acontract, whether he became a commentator for the cricket broadcaster inthe next year.Young added Warne would still be subject to random drug tests during hisban.AFL club St Kilda, where Warne once played in the lower grades,indicated last week it could be interested in giving the leg spinner aconsultancy role there.The league said it would look at the matter if it received a formalrequest from the club, while Young said: “Our view is it’s a matter forthem (the AFL).”Also, the ABC reported Warne’s wine venture could be in doubt because ofhis ban.Warne had some wines named after him late last year, but it isunderstood that deal is now under review.Earlier, World Anti-Doping Agency boss Dick Pound has again attackedAustralian cricketers, describing as ridiculous claims that druginformation sessions are too difficult to absorb.Pound said the drug education program for elite athletes does not needto be changed despite claims by Warne and Test captain Steve Waugh thatthe information was too complicated.”It’s not rocket science to be perfectly candid, you know if you’re anelite athlete you’ve got to be careful with what you take and you knowthat diuretics are one of the things about which you’ve got to becareful,” Pound told the ABC.Pound also said Warne’s decision not to appeal was the right one, addingthe Australian Cricket Board’s anti-doping committee would certainlyhave increased his suspension to two years if he had appealed.

Rain before lunch and after tea again slowed West Indies’efforts to square the three-Test series against Sri Lanka onthe third day of the second cricket Test yesterday.West Indies were 39 for one, in reply to Sri Lanka’s firstinnings total of 288, after heavy overnight rain saturatedthe Asgiriya Stadium outfield and forced a delayed start bythree-and-a-half hours.West Indies needed a little under four overs to draw thecurtains on the Sri Lanka first innings after the hostresumed from their overnight position of 273 for eight.Pedro Collins broke through the overnight pair when hebowled Nuwan Zoysa for 23 in the third over of the day,ending a ninth-wicket stand of 32 with NiroshanBandaratillake. He ended with four wickets for 84 runs.Mervyn Dillon had Muttiah Muralitharan caught at mid-off forfour to bring the innings to a close and give the WestIndies fast bowler his third wicket.Zoysa then condemned Daren Ganga to a first-ball duck whenhe had the West Indies opening batsman caught at third slipwith his first ball on return to Test cricket.Chris Gayle, with four fours in an undefeated 25, andRamnaresh Sarwan, unbeaten on 12, carried West Indiesthrough to the rain-induced close with little or no alarms.Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 after their ten-wicket win inthe opening Test at Galle.

Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson was back in his office for the first time today after the Christmas break.I spoke to the Chief Executive shortly after he had met with Richard Johnson, who was back at the County Ground after returning from India just before Christmas.The Somerset paceman was drafted into the squad after his county colleague Andy Caddick had withdrawn, and gave a good account of himself in the warm up match that he played in. However he was not selected for any of the matches in the three Test series.Richard, who celebrated his twenty seventh birthday at the end of December, has also been overlooked for the forthcoming England tour to India and New Zealand which starts later this month.Mr Anderson told me, “The club feels very disappointed for Richard Johnson who has been left out of the New Zealand trip.”The Chief Executive continued, “Coach Kevin Shine has been in touch with Duncan Fletcher to discuss his England prospects, but as is always the case all Richard can do is to keep bowling and produce the goods.””For Richard Johnson you have to feel disappointed, but from a Somerset point of view we gain,” Mr Anderson said.He continued, “Whilst Johnson will be doing his best next season for Somerset, the club are disturbed by Marcus Trescothick’s announcement that he may only be available for one game in 2002 on the basis that the workload for international cricketer’s is so great.”Mr Anderson went on, ” Undoubtedly the workload is great, but the England players seem to be obsessed by the amount of time that they are spending away from their homes and their loved ones.”He continued, “Some would say they are very well paid to put up with the inconvenience, and nobody forces them to go away and play for England.” The Chief continued, “Marcus’s suggestion is that player’s partners should have lengthy holidays at the E.C.B expense. If individuals miss their loved ones so much they can pay for it themselves.”Mr Anderson concluded, ” Somerset hope that Marcus’s fears are not realised and that he is available for more than one game in 2002.”

India have declined an offer from the Sri Lankan board (BCCSL) to play a triangular one-day tournament there in November. An Associated Press report had earlier stated that the BCCSL had invited India to join Sri Lanka and England for a three-nation one-day tournament in November.Speaking to Wisden CricInfo, SK Nair, the BCCI secretary, cited India’s packed schedule as the reason for declining the offer. “With India leaving for the Australian tour in November, there is no possibility of [participating in] any such series. The Sri Lankan board were talking to us about it last year, but we have not received any concrete proposal later.” He however said that the Sri Lanka A team would be in India in November. “This A team tour is in all likelihood to be confirmed at our Working Committee meeting in the beginning of July.”England are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for three Tests and an equal number of one-day internationals this winter. The Sri Lankan board had earlier stated the need to alter the dates for England’s tour, as some venues needed to be changed, but it has been speculated that the real reason might have been to accommodate India in a triangular series.

Set a target of 177 to win the match, Andhra Pradesh hung on to drawtheir Ranji Trophy league match against Kerala at Cochin.Kerala, reeling overnight at 131/7, miraculously made it to 259, withKN Ananthapadmanabhan making a sterling unbeaten 74, coming in atnumber 10. Sreekumar Nair, the other overnight batsman, made 83 off390 minutes and 279 balls. For Andhra Pradesh, Mohamad Faiq picked uphis second five-wicket haul of the match.Andhra Pradesh never looked to go after the target, preferring insteadto pick up their five points by virtue of a first-innings lead. At theclose of play, Andhra Pradesh were 78/2, with skipper MSK Prasadunbeaten on nine off 102 minutes and 66 balls.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), today confirmed that it suffered losses totalling in excess of US $500,000 from two investments made on the US Stock Market. The investments were made with Wall Street bank – Merrill Lynch & Co. – and were made without the board’s proper authority. The investments were made on behalf of the WICB by Chief Financial Officer, Richard Jodhan and Executive Secretary, Andrew Sealy. The second investment was made while the CFO was acting as CEO.In a detailed release on the two investments – one for US $496,000 in January, 2000 and the other of US $3 000 000 in September, 2000 – the WICB confirmed that both Messrs (Richard) Jodhan and (Andrew) Sealy did not have the “independent resolutions for making the investment which would have specifically given power and authority to the CFO and Executive Secretary to execute the final investment documents.”The Board’s release continued by saying “consultation with the Executive Committee was necessary based on the CFO’s own recommendation for full consideration of the investment options and details.”According to the WICB release, the initial investment (US $496,000) was not challenged until almost a year after the fact. On the matter of the second investment (US $3 000 000), the board said it “found that there was no independent Board resolution giving Messrs Jodhan and Sealy authority to make that specific investment of US$3 000 000, nor was there an independent resolution authorising the borrowing.”The WICB also said that Merrill Lynch “had not required a Board resolution for the investment but accepted the authorisation of Messrs Jodhan and Sealy (who were two of the four signatories to the Merrill Lynch account) as having the requisite power and authority.”According to the WICB, “The Board has investigated the matter thoroughly and obtained legal advice.” The release continued by saying that the Board is now “completely satisfied that there was no impropriety and specifically no evidence of falsification of Board resolutions and that Messrs. Jodhan and Sealy, while ill-advised were acting in good faith.”In accepting responsibility, the Board has mandated that a Financial Procedures Manual be developed as a matter of urgency. The Board also confirmed that the matter was “brought to the attention of the Board under Mr. Rousseau’s chairmanship but the Board had not considered any disciplinary action. Moreover, both Messrs Jodhan and Sealy for unrelated reasons were leaving the organisation.”News of these investments came shortly after former president, Pat Rousseau left office last month. Rousseau upon resigning, fired a few salvos and challenged the WICB to produce the Minutes from the Board meeting which gave the CFO permission to invest the funds on the stock market.