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A security delegation of the ICC has begun its inspection of grounds in Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy, to be held in September this year. The four-man delegation, consisting of two ICC officials and two from their security consultants, arrived in Karachi yesterday morning and then visited three stadiums today.Speaking to reporters at the National Bank of Pakistan stadium – which will host some practice matches – Campbell Jamieson, the ICC’s general manager-commercial, said that this was a routine visit, in line with protocol for all ICC events.”We will go to Lahore and Rawalpindi after this to review the security arrangements. This is part of normal ICC protocol. It happens at all our events,” Jamieson said. No questions were taken from journalists, Jamieson only adding that the delegation had enjoyed their time in the country so far.The team was accompanied by PCB officials Zakir Khan and Nadeem Akram and was due to meet the home secretary after the stadium visit. They then head off to Lahore in the evening to carry out further inspections tomorrow before going to Rawalpindi. Along the way, the team is expected to be briefed by various government and local security officials about arrangements for the tournament.The delegation’s findings will then be presented to the ICC for discussion at their next annual meeting on June 29th, at which a final decision will be made on whether or not to go ahead with the event in Pakistan.Though generally such inspections are routine procedures, this trip will be closely monitored because of recent upheaval in Pakistan. Last year was a particularly turbulent one, with a series of suicide bombings through the country, culminating with the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto in December. This year began in similar vein, but since general elections in February and the arrival of a new government, the violence has lessened considerably. It still wasn’t enough, however, to prevent Australia from postponing their trip for a full series in March-April.Before the Champions Trophy, however, Pakistan will also host the Asia Cup in June-July and it is thought that if that event goes off without a hitch, the chances of the Champions Trophy going ahead will also become brighter. The ICC has announced Sri Lanka as an alternate venue in case it is not deemed safe to host the tournament in Pakistan.

Australian players’ contributions to the English Twenty20 competition continued to be mixed for a second week which ended in mystery over whether the counties will still have the ultimate $5million prize to shoot for. It emerged on Sunday that Pakistan was being considered as an alternative country to replace England, whose counties continued to field ICL players despite warnings that counties with such links wouldn’t be allowed in the Champions’ League.All the players can do is carry on trying hard regardless – they are professionals and have the domestic title to aim for – and of course some Australian players are already through with their state sides.Michael Di Venuto isn’t one of them, but he will be pleased with how Durham fought their way to the top of the North Division this week. They chased down Lancashire’s 180 at Old Trafford, Di Venuto reaching double figures at last with 21 while Stuart Law – whose only route to the Champions League would be with Lancashire – made a 36-ball 54. Di Venuto’s solid 40 helped beat Leicestershire at Chester-le-Street, while his 12 was a small contribution to Durham’s tie with Yorkshire at Headingley, the teams ending on 159 apiece.Law’s Lancashire went on to lose twice to Yorkshire; Law making 23 at Headingley, then in the return match, he bagged 1 as they came up just short at Old Trafford. But Law was in the winning team against Adam Voges and Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Law made 33 while Adam Voges made a half-century.Voges’ 52 was agonisingly not enough as Nottinghamshire lost to Derbyshire on the last ball at Trent Bridge. He made 4 in a victory chase of 150 against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. Darren Pattinson grabbed 1 for 22 from three overs in that game then his 3 for 18 kept Derbyshire to 114 which was easily chased down at Derby, Voges’ 45 setting up the chase.In the Midland/West/Wales Division, last week Justin Langer’s efforts went largely unrewarded; this time even though his personal scores were modest, he still led Somerset to a few wins. He made 8 as Somerset beat Glamorgan at Taunton, then 20 as they beat Worcestershire at Taunton – Steve Magoffin’s four overs punished wicketless for 45. Somerset’s renaissance continued in their next match – even though Langer made a duck – as they reached a whopping 212 to beat Worcestershire by 67 runs at Taunton. Magoffin’s sole wicket, meanwhile, couldn’t help Worcestershire defend a lowly 120 against Warwickshire at Worcester.Marcus North’s 30 for Gloucestershire was not enough either as Northamptonshire charged down their 170 with ten balls to spare at Milton Keynes. It was a similar story with his 26 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Down in the South, Dirk Nannes unleashed his magic once again – his 3 for 19 at Lord’s curbing Sussex’s to make it five wins in five – and five losses in five for Sussex. Middlesex finally notched their first loss – as Kent beat them in an eight-over thrash at Beckenham, Nannes bagging one wicket for 24 from two overs. Middlesex lost again next match when Sean Ervine’s 6 may not have propelled Hampshire far but their 133 was enough at Richmond.Ervine had earlier made 5 as Hampshire were beaten off the last ball against defending champions Kent at Canterbury but his46 helped defeat Surrey at The Oval. But his duck was one of four as Sussex won at The Rose Bowl.

ADELAIDE, Oct 26 AAP – New South Wales leg-spinner Stuart MacGill picked up a crucial wicket before tea today to leave South Australia struggling at 3-81 in its first innings.MacGill had Greg Blewett caught for 31 late in the second session after he and SA skipper Darren Lehmann put on a 61-run partnership on day two of the Pura Cup match at Adelaide Oval.The Blues declared their first innings at 6-474 at lunch after former Test opener Michael Slater top-scored with 177.The Redbacks were immediately under pressure in reply, with openers Ben Johnson (four) and David Fitzgerald (seven) both falling cheaply.Stuart Clark picked up both their wickets, having Johnson caught behind after an attempted pull shot caught his glove and ballooned to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.He then trapped Fitzgerald lbw, after Fitzgerald had looked extremely uncomfortable in his short stay at the crease.Lehmann and Blewett were then thrust into the familiar role of trying to rescue their team from early trouble.They took 15 overs to make 61 and were looking comfortable until Haddin took a sharp catch from Blewett (31), who got a thin bottom edge to a cut shot close to his body off a delivery which kept low.Lehmann, looking to post a big score to boost his chances of Ashes Test selection, was unbeaten on 34 from 44 balls and looking in increasingly good form after a scratchy start to his innings.Mark Higgs was with him at the crease but yet to score.Clark had the figures of 2-26, from 10 overs, at tea, and MacGill had 1-23 from three overs.

Medbury School of Christchurch, have today beaten John McGlashan of Dunedin in the South Island final of the 35-over Milo Cup cricket competition.Playing their second game in as many days, Medbury ended the game strongly to take the final seven John McGlashan wickets for 24 runs, winning the game by 14 runs.Batting first on a low, slow pitch Medbury started well and after 10 overs had reached 40/1. Sam Deans (14) and Christopher McGoldrick (22) put on a solid partnership for the second wicket and then Matthew Groom (18) combined with McGoldrick to push the score on towards 60.John McGlashan came back well with the ball, mainly thanks to an inspired spell of three wickets for one run by Ben Qau Qau. He was well supported by James Ross who took two for seven. Medbury were eventually bowled out for 105 in the 31st over.In reply, John McGlashan started well and after 16 overs were 55/3. Angus Taylor batted solidly for 22 and was well supported by Jesse Simpson who made 19. Wickets then fell regularly and John McGlashan were eventually bowled out for 91 in the 32nd over. Patrick Ryan was the pick of bowlers, who polished off the tale and ended with three for 10. Nick Rennie also bowled well at the death, picking up two for 16.Medbury coach Duncan Trafford was ecstatic with the win and commented: “Although we won the game by 14 runs it could have gone either way. Our tactic of getting runs on the board and defending a score has been successful in the past and has worked again today. The boys have worked extremely hard and will continue to do so between now and the final.”Medbury will now go on to play in the National Final to be held in Palmerston North on Thursday, December 12.

It is a sign of the times that of the twenty names put forward as aprovisional list for the ECB National Academy to go to Australia at the endof the current season, two of them are from the British Asian community. Itwas not so very long ago that Asians did not feature on county staffs. Nowthere are only two or three that do not have representatives from withinthat community.Looking further afield, it is not only in England that Asians are playing aprominent role in cricket development. In the emerging nations of theEuropean Cricket Council, the game is being nurtured throughout theassociate and affiliate members of ICC by Asians. They are at the heart ofdevelopment programmes right across Europe and now the process has gone fullcircle in that Kent have recruited Amjad Khan, a fast-medium bowler andright hand batsman who is not of Anglo-Asian descent at all. He is Danishand first came to the county’s attention when playing for Denmark againstthe Kent Cricket Board in the NatWest Trophy of 1999.He has not yet been selected for the Academy – though many more performanceslike those he has been putting in of late and he could be there one day -but there is delight in Worcestershire and Northamptonshire that Kabir Aliand Monty Panesar respectively have been included on the shortlist.

Kabir Ali is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who hails from Birmingham. Hisearly cricket was in club cricket in Warwickshire where his father ShabirAli played club cricket, and he was then picked up by Worcestershire. Herepresented England Under 19s in both “Test” and one-day cricket and, stillonly 21 years of age, he has been making quite a name for himself by virtueof the best possible reason, namely taking wickets.It was a process that started last season when he only played in fourfirst-class matches but in that time took 14 wickets at 18.07 each,including five for 22 against Gloucestershire. That was the cheapest maidenfive-wicket return for Worcestershire, and he seems to specialise in makingan immediate impact. He took four for 29 on his Benson and Hedges Cup debutagainst Glamorgan in 2000 and took the gold award, in the same season thathe recorded his maiden first-class fifty against Nottinghamshire.He actually made his debut in 1999 with a single first-class match, playedten further games in 2000 when he appeared no more than a youngster whomight or might not make it. Then he made definite progress in 2001 beforehis form and performances this season have marked him out as a definiteprospect.He has extended his best bowling figures to seven for 43 and has contributedwith the bat as well, with his highest innings now standing at 51 not out.These are encouraging signs, for it is easy for a player to make an earlyimpression and then fade. Kabir Ali, rather than fading, has made steadyprogress and has impressed as good a judge as Rod Marsh, the Head Coach ofthe National Academy.If he does gain selection to party that eventually goes to Adelaide for thewinter, his other career will have to be put on hold. In his spare time, andto boost his income, Kabir Ali works as a male model. Now there have beenquite a few posers in the game, but Kabir Ali’s posing is done strictly forthe camera. When he gets his cricket kit on, he has consistently producedthe goods to show that he has a genuine future in the game.

Northamptonshire’s left-arm spinner Mudhsuden Singh Panesar (or “Monty” ashe is known throughout the game) does not have any pretensions as a fashionmodel, but he has the potential to develop as a model for other left-armorthodox spinners to follow.He learned his cricket in Bedfordshire, having been born in Luton and goingto Bedford Modern School. From there he went on to Loughborough Universityand with the close links between Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, he madehis first-class county debut last season having played a couple of years ofminor county cricket. Again, he made an immediate impact with match figuresof eight for 131 on his debut against Leicestershire with four for 11 in thesecond innings from 20 overs.In the first innings of that match he had to bowl at Shahid Afridi as hereached a century off 74 balls and went on to 164. Panesar did not suffertoo badly, for although his four wickets cost 120 runs, they were scored off35 overs.This was all part of the learning process that saw him feature in theEngland Under 19 side for two seasons. His has not been a rapid rise to thetop, for by the start of this season he had bowled just over 100 overs inhis two first-class matches. He has played in one more so far this season,taking his workload to 117.3 overs in three first-class matches, with 13wickets at 31.53 each.Those might not appear to spectacular figures, but there is a classical,timeless quality about his bowling action that suggests he might not go theway of so many of his type and suffer an attack of the ‘yips’. Certainly hehas done enough to impress the selectors and if he does make it to Adelaidefor the winter, watch out for the name of Monty Panesar establishing himselfas one of the best spin bowling prospects in English cricket.

On the field, they might be an unpredictable bunch, but speaking to the media in a formal meet, the Indian cricketers almost always say the same things. A portion of the blame for this goes, undoubtedly, to the press personnel, who often insist on asking the most banal questions. The Taj Samudra today, however, wore an even more tired look than usual as the Indians, weary after a long tour of England as well as numerous flights, met the press.Sourav Ganguly, always a mixed bag with a microphone in hand, began on a positive note. “We’re a much improved side. Over the last one and a half years, we’ve played really good cricket. We’re still so close and yet so far from winning a Test series overseas, but our one-day performances have been very good. We’ve won 80 percent of our one-day tournaments in the last year or so,” said the Indian skipper.Not wanting to make excuses for his team before the tournament had even started, Ganguly went on to add, “I think we’re okay physically. I’ve recovered, I know we have a game tomorrow, and I’m up for it. Most of the boys will also be ready in time for the game. That’s what international cricket is about. I know it’s hard, but we have to concentrate on our game. We like being in Sri Lanka and that helps.” With the smooth easiness of a PR man for a tour company, the skipper stressed, “We like the place, we like playing here, we like the people, we like the hotel – it’s like being at home for us.”Following up his statement that the team was tired but would recover well in time for the first match against Zimbabwe, Ganguly explained why he believed that there was not too much cricket being played. “We’ve played a lot of cricket, but I think that’s okay. Our careers are only 10-12 years long, and our families understand that we have to play a lot. We’re backed by our families, and that is very important,” he said.For weeks before the start of the tournament, the players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) were deadlocked on the issue of contracts and sponsorship. Many commentators have called the final compromise a major victory for the players over the Board. But Ganguly disagreed.”I think the Board has heard the players’ voice,” said Ganguly. “There’s a lot of talk and reports in the papers that the players have won and the Board has lost in this issue. I don’t think that’s right. They are our parent body, the body we all report to. When we have suggestions to offer or some problems, we go to them. I’m very happy with the way the Board responded and sorted our problems out. There’s no question of anyone winning.”Understandably the Indian captain wants to leave all that behind and focus on the cricket ahead. He appeared comfortable with being in perhaps the toughest pool of the tournament. “If you’re looking to win this tournament, you have to beat the best of sides. We take it as it comes and get on with the game,” said Ganguly.

Surrey captain Adam Hollioake, who has not appeared for the county this season following the death of his brother Ben in a car crash in Australia in March, has become a father.His wife, Sherryn, has given birth to a girl weighing 7 lb 10 oz in Perth, where the family stayed following the accident. The latest addition to the Hollioake family has been named Bennaya, in memory of Ben and his girlfriend Janaya who was seriously injured in the crash.Mother and baby are reported to be doing well and it is expected that they and Adam will return to England in the near future.

It almost had to happen, really.It is three months since Tasmania last played Queensland in a Pura Cup match in Brisbane. It is three months since the Tigers came across one of the most capricious and controversial ‘Gabba pitches in memory. It is three months since they recorded – in the one game, no less – their two lowest totals in domestic first-class competition. It is three months since they were beaten in the fastest time ever taken to complete a match of its kind in Australia, and it is three months since they found themselves at one of the lower ebbs in the state’s cricketing history.Queensland’s ten wicket victory back then went a long way toward sealing its spot in the Final, and it appeared to have gone just as far in ending Tasmania’s summer.But, in the three months since, nothing has proved more fateful than that experience.That it is Queensland and Tasmania that have ultimately emerged as this Australian first-class season’s two best-performing teams, and that the concluding contest of the summer should be staged between them in Brisbane, combines wicked irony with delicious anticipation.It is crunch time in the Australian domestic summer and, whatever course the 2001-02 Pura Cup Final follows, it is impossible for it not to create a delightful new slice of history.Thirteen years have passed since a state last won this competition three times in a row, and the feat has never been achieved by Queensland. With triumphs over Victoria in each of the last two years still fresh in the memory, opportunities to join the ranks of some of the most exalted Australian domestic teams do not come much better than this.For Tasmania, the possibilities are no less exciting. Though the Tigers represent the smallest state in the country, and confront a routine lack of respect from mainlanders every year, they have refused to acquiesce with expectation this season. Moreover, in collecting 26 of a maximum 30 points from their last five outings – the four they surrendered were largely attributable to appalling weather in Melbourne – they have established themselves as the form team of the competition.And, should they reverse that outcome from their Brisbane duel earlier in the summer, it would be among the most amazing results in Tasmanian sporting history. As parties go, the victory celebrations would have few forerunners within their state.The visitors’ task seems simple enough in itself. They merely need to continue riding the wave that has carried them to a stage of the competition that their state has only known twice in its past.Given how well their bowlers are combining, and how effortlessly they seem to be collecting 20 wickets in their matches these days, it does not seem too daunting a requirement. Veteran David Saker and journeyman Shane Jurgensen have been outstanding, aligning movement both ways with metronomic line. Gerard Denton offers another dimension with his extreme pace, filling the void that was left when Shane Watson was called away to international duty in February. And, though injury threatens his participation this week, the fact that Damien Wright’s immaculate line and length is now being paired with sizeable lower order contributions with the bat and accomplished catching in the gully means that his role in Tasmania’s revival has also been central.Strong performances from the top and middle order – traditionally seen as the key to Tasmania’s game – have also been flowing readily after being uncharacteristically absent prior to Christmas.Opening batsman and captain Jamie Cox looks to be back to his best with scores of 174 and 72 in his two most recent matches; former Western Australian Michael Dighton has settled in seamlessly both to his new surroundings and his role at number three; Daniel Marsh provides a cool head and an efficient run scoring presence; and Michael Di Venuto is as eager for anyone for meaningful runs at the end of a troubled season and on the back of two previous experiences in first-class deciders.The spirit and determination embedded in the batting of Scott Mason at the top of the order – not to mention his role as a cheerleader in the field – have also been intangible assets.As have the nerve and skill of wicketkeeper-batsman Sean Clingeleffer at number seven.Yet the Tigers’ assignment over the next five days is likely to be as challenging as any they have encountered.Though five key players are missing (Matthew Hayden, Andy Bichel, Jimmy Maher and Nathan Hauritz to international commitments, and Adam Dale to long-term injury), there remains no state team as professional as Queensland.From Stuart Law’s on-field leadership right through to the off-field administration, few stones are left unturned in Brisbane in the search for optimum results.It is not by way of chance or accident that the Bulls will be appearing in their seventh first-class final in the last decade, nor that they are shooting for a remarkable fifth title in only eight years.This time around, the top six in their batting order has a slightly unstable look to it, with three players of considerable experience aligned with another trio with precious little. Yet, in Martin Love, they have the consummate big occasion player. Rival captain Cox rates him alongside South Australia’s Darren Lehmann as one of the two most dangerous batsmen in the country and it’s difficult to disagree.Injury and form have scuttled the seasons of Law and of Andrew Symonds to an extent but both have sound records against Tasmania. Instructively, Law also has an outstanding record in finals matches, albeit that Victorians might mutter something about the fact that his luck at this time of year may be due to run out.Bichel and Dale may be unavailable but there’s still a lot to like in the Queenslanders’ pace attack as well.It has been three seasons since Michael Kasprowicz was permitted the opportunity to play in such a match, and a further two since he last received first-hand experience of the joy of a title victory. A fine fast bowler even when little is at stake, he looms as one of the key players in this contest.Ashley Noffke needs little introduction at this time of the season either, having gained man of the match honours in a devastating performance in the corresponding game 12 months ago. Joe Dawes is always lionhearted, rarely strays from a line and length, and was the competition’s leading wicket-taker last summer. And, though a surprise inclusion when called up to the side late in the season, young left armer Scott Brant has proved as adept at conquering batsmen as anyone.For all the talk in recent days about the Bulls being understrength in this match, it also shouldn’t be forgotten that Tasmania has been deprived the services of Watson, Ricky Ponting and, potentially, Wright.Conditioned by the knowledge that the sides’ two previous meetings have not even entered a third day, and that both captains have talked up the attacking qualities of their respective line-ups in the hours leading into the match, an engrossing battle can be confidently expected.The closing game of the 100th full season of this competition is approaching and there have been few climaxes more keenly awaited.

Victoria ended a crucial day of the Pura Cup season with a flourish here at the Sydney Cricket Ground today, when seventeen year old debutant Cameron Whiteclaimed the wicket of Michael Bevan in only his fifth over in first-class cricket. It helped the Bushrangers limit fellow Final aspirant New South Wales to a scoreof 3/111 as it set out after the imposing tally of 409.With his slow, deliberate approach to the bowling crease and his ability to conceive ripping leg breaks, White (1/8) has a little of Shane Warne about him in hismannerisms as a spinner. Suffice to say that, even if Warne were here playing for his home state instead of representing his country in India, it is doubtful if any legspinner in the world have produced a more crucial breakthrough at a more crucial time.After the Blues had launched their own wicket-taking assault in the early part of the afternoon, finally ridding themselves of the Bushrangers just before tea, the locals’first innings got off to a shaky start. They lost Greg Mail (2) and Graeme Rummans (28) in the early stages. But, with a determined Michael Clarke (13*), thein-form Bevan (62) had the Blues motoring toward an ominous position as they reached a score of 2/111 three overs before stumps. It was then that White lured the lefthander into an ill-advised sweep which succeeded only in ballooning the ball behind him to Matthew Elliott at slip. And it was then that Victoria probably struck themost decisive blow of this match to date.For all that, though, the Victorians also owed a big debt by the end of the day to Brad Hodge (125) and Michael Klinger (67). Before Nathan Bracken (5/68) finallybrought the Blues’ attack some relief by producing a quick clatter of wickets after lunch, that pair lit up the pre-lunch session with a tremendous fourth wicketpartnership that realised 151 runs. Both played brilliantly, giving few chances until Klinger was finally removed by a delivery from Shane Lee (1/53) that duckedback off the seam and struck him in line with leg stump.Bracken had been bowling very well all morning without reward so it should probably have come as little surprise that, in the 126th over of the innings, he finallymanaged to lure Hodge into spooning back a caught and bowled chance off a leading edge. Hodge misread a slower delivery that pitched on a full length, lifting itstraight up in the air and back to the bowler for a simple catch. Bracken had possibly been buoyed by news of his selection into the one-day international squad thatwill leave for India shortly; whatever the cause, he embarked on a wicket-taking flurry, achieving the second best figures of his first-class career.Bracken’s spree continued just nine overs later when, in the 135th over, he claimed two wickets, taking Darren Berry (17) with the second ball of his twenty-seventhover, and captain Paul Reiffel (0) for a duck just two balls later. Berry tried a gentle push to an off side ball, but only attained the outside edge of the bat and sent itinto debutant Nathan Pilon’s waiting gloves. Reiffel was deceived by a ball which seamed away, also feathering a catch to Pilon. This took Bracken’s figures to 3/66and Victoria to 7/391.Around a composed innings from another debutant, Jonathan Moss (32), the final three wickets also fell quickly.But the Blues – who desperately need first innings points at the very least from this game to stay in the race for the 2000-01 Pura Cup – have always been on theback foot in this game and the late Victorian collapse didn’t really alter that fact. On a pitch that showed a few more signs of life late on a generally sunny day, it wasonly Bevan’s batting that would have inspired genuine confidence from a sparse local crowd.

The past week has already seen a three-day Test match with Pakistan swamping New Zealand at Lahore. India managed to put on a better show in their second innings, taking the match into the fourth day. If you have tickets for the fifth day though, one would recommend planning alternate entertainment. With two days to play, India trail by 123 with six second innings wickets in hand.The day began with a typical West Indian lower order performance. Carl Hooper (115) blazed a flamboyant trail, scoring two centuries in a series for the first time in his career. The workmanlike Shivnarine Chanderpaul (101 not out) too chipped in but then the tail collapsed spectacularly. The last six wickets fell for 18 runs, ending the West Indian innings on 394, a lead of 292.Resuming in their seventies, both Chanderpaul and Hooper marched on to centuries. Talented and yet never quite doing justice until recently, Hooper was a different man on the day. Confidence personified, the West Indian skipper thrashed the bowling to all parts, scoring boundaries at will before one hoick took the edge. Tendulkar got under a steepler and Hooper’s 115 (235 balls, 18 boundaries) came to an end.Ridley Jacobs, into the team to bolster the batting, fell for a duck, edging Nehra through to the ‘keeper.Next man, Merv Dillon made 6 before a short pitched ball from Nehra proved to be too hot to handle. Fending the ball away, Dillon found Das under the helmet on the leg side.Pedro Collins and Adam Sanford both perished for ducks to Harbhajan Singh and a comedy of errors saw last man Cameron Cuffy run out.Chanderpaul was left high and dry on 101 (231 balls, 13 boundaries) as West Indies ended with a healthy lead of 292.A sincere lad of humble beginnings is Wasim Jaffer. And one is always glad to see someone like that doing well. Looking completely the part as an opener, Jaffer partnered a nervous Das well.A West Indian lead of 312 was always going to be daunting. India needed a good start and Jaffer seemed to realise that. The Mumbai opener put his head down and played the bowling on its merit. There weren’t too many loose balls on offer, but Jaffer made every single one that came his way count.Standing tall and driving well off the back foot, Jaffer concentrated on the cover-point region. Although not attempting to thrash the ball, Jaffer had the touch and the timing to beat the fence with ease. Pedro Collins came in for severe treatment, his bowling ideal for Jaffer to thump away. Short of a length and outside the off, going away with the arm, the angle and pace was ideal for Jaffer to score off. The fact that the offside field was packed did nothing to deter Jaffer.In the 23rd over of the innings, however, there was a flutter. A fierce chop from Jaffer went straight towards Ramnaresh Sarwan at cover. The West Indian dived forward and collected the ball. Unsure, umpire Asoka de Silva referred the matter to the third umpire. After seeing replays from several angles, Billy Doctrove was unable to say for sure that Sarwan had caught it cleanly. The batsman was, rightly, given the benefit of doubt.Soon after, however, Jaffer fell against the grain of play. Das tapped a Cuffy delivery slowly towards point and set off for a quick single. Chanderpaul swooped in, scored a direct hit underarm and Jaffer (51, 75 balls, 10 fours) was short of his crease.As is so often the case, the final session of the day proved to be the hardest to bat out. After tea, India went from 80/1 to 169/4. Barring major miracles, this match is now well and truly in West Indies’ lap. In the final session, 41 overs were bowled, 89 runs scored and three crucial wickets lost.It was Shiv Sunder Das who fell first. Although not terribly convincing at the wicket, Das battled it out to see off 138 balls for his 35 before a hard flick to the onside found Sarwan. Fielding close, Sarwan grabbed the chance, a sharp one.The fall of Das’ wicket brought Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar together. The partnership did not last as long as India would have liked. In the 48th over of the innings Dravid (14) nicked Sanford through to Jacobs behind the stumps.And then came the big wicket of the day. Merv Dillon bowling wicket to wicket got Tendulkar to play down the wrong line to a delivery slanting in, the appeal was spontaneous and umpire Asoka de Silva upheld it. Tendulkar was gone for just 8. Replays suggested the ball might have sailed over the stumps. Tendulkar will certainly consider himself a touch unlucky.Laxman knows these positions where India is in deep trouble. It is after all in such a state that he made a name for himself with his epic 281 against Australia. The same Laxman, however, is too much of a stroke player to be rock solid. Driving and pushing away from his body, Laxman tends to give the bowlers a chance.The Hyderabadi stylist was caught behind once off the bowling of Pedro Collins. Fortunately for Laxman a no-ball was called and he batted through to stumps with 30 against his name. Ganguly, finding the going tough under constantly fading light, was on 15 when bad light was offered and the players left the field.Spare a thought at the end of the day for Cameron Cuffy, the unsung hero of the West Indies team. Contrary to everything Caribbean fast bowlers have been in recent times, Cuffy bowled with unnerving accuracy, sending down 18 overs for just 3 runs. The 15 maiden overs he bowled were the kind that we’re used to seeing Glenn McGrath bowl, and certainly heaped the pressure on the Indians.