Close South Africa 362 for 4 (Kallis 32*) v England
Scorecard

An astonishing display of non-stop shotmaking from Herschelle Gibbs blazed South Africa into command against England, on the first day of the fifth npower Test match at The Oval. Gibbs walloped 183 – 146 of which flowed in boundaries – as South Africa closed on 362 for 4. He added 227 with the equally admirable Gary Kirsten, in a performance that brought back painful memories of the first days at Edgbaston and Lord’s. Back then, of course, it was Graeme Smith who took centre stage. Today it was the gallivanting Gibbs.Gibbs was all about power and placement as he treated the crowd to his dazzling array of strokes all round the wicket. He fired a non-stop procession of classy boundaries: 35 fours and a six in all, and ten in the morning session alone. He took a particular liking to Ashley Giles, dancing down the wicket and driving him over the top at any opportunity. The shots just kept coming and he brought up his tenth Test century in the afternoon with another boundary – his 20th – when he lofted Michael Vaughan over mid-on for four. An astonishing 86 runs of his 100 came from boundaries, and he wasn’t finished there, not by a long way.Immediately after reaching his hundred, Gibbs cracked James Anderson for three fours in an over, but might have been out twice. The third of his boundaries flew straight past Mark Butcher’s hands at point, and that was after Martin Bicknell had made an unconvincing attempt to catch a skyer running back at midwicket. The crowd were pleased with the entertainment, but Kirsten wasn’t. He stomped down the pitch and gave Gibbs a long lecture, telling the young upstart to calm down and not throw it away. Meanwhile, amid all the mayhem, Gibbs had passed 400 runs in the series.Next came the 150. England tried everything to stop him: short balls, full balls, but Gibbs treated it all like a load of balls as he carried on hammering anything loose to the fence. He eventually fell after five hours and twenty minutes at the crease when he heaved across the line to Giles and was bowled for a breathtaking 183 (345 for 3).Kirsten was less explosive, but still just as effective. As England have found out down the years, once Kirsten’s in, he’s pretty tough to get out. He soon realised that this pitch held no demons to compare with those lurking in the Headingley track, and played with increasing freedom. He reached his fifty off 84 balls with a host of characteristic drives and slashes past point. Crucially, he also saw out a spell of short aggressive bowling from Stephen Harmison, and proved an effective foil to Gibbs as the pair batted throughout the middle session. Kirsten was eventually adjudged lbw while sweeping against Giles, even though TV replays show the ball hit him just outside the line (290 for 2).Jacques Kallis, on the back of a double-hundred against Derbyshire, got under way with two perfectly-timed onand off-drives, as well as a huge six into the pavilion off Giles. He and Neil McKenzie almost saw out the last hour of play, but McKenzie edged Anderson to Alec Stewart in the final over to give England some joy in an otherwise depressing day.It was another day of toil for a batch of bowlers, who appeared to be suffering from a Headingley hangover. Apart from a mindless run-out, a dubious lbw, and a tired slog from a centurion, England and the packed Oval crowd had little to shout about until McKenzie’s late dismissal. Anderson was once again erratic and Andrew Flintoff was expensive, going for 73 from 14 overs. They had a few good appeals turned down, but they didn’t bowl well enough. One ball was too short, the next too full. It was a familiar story.Vaughan was forced to turn to Giles as early as the 12th over of the day, but Gibbs promptly pulled him for four to bring up the fifty. Smith’s run-out temporarily lifted England’s spirits back up again. Gibbs dropped Giles into the off side, and set off for a quick single. It was a risky run and Smith was slow to get out of the blocks. Vaughan, at cover, was much quicker off the mark and hurled the ball to Stewart who did the rest with Smith well short of the crease (63 for 1). It was the only sour point on what was a champagne day for Gibbs, and for South Africa. But Vaughan, on the other hand, will be left cursing England’s perpetual FPS: flat pitch syndrome.Wisden Verdict: Gibbs’s power lights up the day

The ICC has announced that an enhanced version of the Duckworth/Lewis system for rain-affected one-day internationals will be introduced from October 3, when South Africa begin their five-match series against Pakistan. Called the Professional Edition, the system has specifically been introduced to ensure fair computation of the target when the team batting first makes an exceptionally high score.”We have always been aware that when the total set by the team batting first is much greater than average, the revised targets and par scores can sometimes seem unrealistic,” said Frank Duckworth, one of the inventors of the method.The D/L rule almost spoilt Australia’s party in the final of the 2003 World Cup: requiring 360 to win, India were struggling at 145 for 3 after 23 overs when rain threatened, but the D/L charts indicated that India needed only 12 more from the next two overs to be ahead of the target.”We have had the answer to this problem available for use for several years,” explained Tony Lewis, the co-inventor. “Using the Professional Edition of the D/L method, India would have been 20 runs behind par – a much fairer reflection of the state of the game. With this system a team aiming at a very high total has to score at much closer to the required rate for most of the chase. This means the tables have to be adjusted to suit the target.”The catch is that this adjustment cannot be done manually, and hence the new edition is entirely computerised. The ICC had earlier insisted on a method which could be computed manually, which is why the computerised version could not be introduced earlier.David Richardson, the ICC’s General Manager – Cricket, indicated his satisfaction with the improved version: “The ICC believes that this change ensures that the system is now more accurate in setting targets in high-scoring matches. Teams and media will still receive sheets outlining the par score at the interval and after any subsequent rain delays and, where the facilities permit, scoreboards will also show the par score.”

Australian batsman Simon Katich was presented with the coveted Hampshire Players’ Player of the Year award for 2003 at the awards ceremony on Monday evening at the Rose Bowl.The award, voted for by his fellow squad members and presented by Southampton and England footballer James Beattie, was the culmination of a superb inaugral season for the left-hander.’Kat’, as he is known in the dressing room, was delighted to recieve the trophy. “I am really honoured to win this award, especially as it comes from a vote from my colleagues,” he said.Katich has been Hampshire’s most consistent batsmen, scoring over 1,000 first-class runs and over 700 in the limited-overs form, scoring five centuries in the process.All-rounder James Hamblin recieved the ‘Olive Ford Memorial Trophy’ for the most improved uncapped player of the year. Hamblin received the award from Olive Ford’s sonBrian, the former Chairman of Hampshire County Cricket Club.

The Pub Charity Youth Cricket Draw – November 15Please Note: Colts & U14A are 2-day matchesU18 (1-day)No matchesColts (2-day)8 & 15 NovSection 12nd day of 2Section 22nd day of 2U16A (1-day)No matchesU16B (1-day)No matchesU15A (1-day)No matchesU15B (1-day)No matchesU14A (2-day)8 & 15 Nov2nd day of 2U14B (1-day)No matchesU14C (1-day)No matches

Danish Kaneria, Pakistan’s 22-year-old legspinner, has signed for Essex, ending several weeks of negotiations. The deal was sealed when Essex received the sanction of the Pakistan Cricket Board."The PCB have now given us permission to sign him," said David East, Essex’s chief executive. "As with all overseas players, they have first call on the player should any international cricket be arranged during the English season.”And Graham Gooch, Essex’s coach, said that signing a top-class spinner was crucial. “We felt we needed a wrist spinner because here at Chelmsford it is difficult to bowl teams out twice," he explained. “We did have opportunites in the early part of last season but we couldn’t drive them home, so we thought Danish would be a welcome addition to the squad.”

Chittagong 61 for 2 trail Dhaka 143 (Alamgir 5-44) by 82 runs
ScorecardDespite losing two early wickets, Chittagong had the better of the day and restricted Dhaka to only 143 on the second day of their Mirzapore Tea National Cricket League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Chittagong ended the day on 61 for 2, with Mohammad Rafique snapping up both the wickets.Dhaka began the day on a precarious note (75 for 4 overnight) and things just got worse as they put in an insipid batting display. Only Halim Shah offered some resistance with a gritty 208-ball 39.Gazi Alamgir, the young medium-pacer, wrapped up the Dhaka innings by picking upthe last two wickets with successive deliveries to finish with fine figures of 5 for 44. Yasin Arafat, the offspinner, conceded 35 runs in 19 overs for his three scalps – including Khalid Mahmud, the captain.Chittagong lost the wickets of Anisul Hakim and Masumud Dowla before the close of play. Anisul was caught in the slips and Masumud offered a catch to Rashedul Haq at gully. Masumud made 29 off 48 balls that contained five fours.Sylhet 102 and 15 for 2 trail Rajshahi 200 for 9 dec (Hasanuzzaman 77, Samad 5-41) by 102 by 83 runs
ScorecardAt Rangpur Cricket Garden, a 100-run sixth wicket partnership betweenHasanuzzaman and Shamimul Haq guided Rajshahi to a 98-run first-inningslead. Sylhet were in trouble when they batted again and lost two wickets before stumps were drawn.Sylhet’s bowling effort was lead by Nabil Samad, who bagged five wickets, but even that could not stop Rajshahi surging ahead. Hasanuzzaman cracked 11 fours on his way to 77 off 112 balls, while Shamimul Haq was unbeaten on 33.Khulna v Barisal
ScorecardThe second day’s play at the Jessore Stadium was also called off due to rain without a ball being bowled.

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will wait at least until mid-March before deciding whether its controversial tour of Zimbabwe should go ahead this October.Earlier this month it had been suggested that England’s final decision would be made in February. But at a meeting on Thursday, the ECB reviewed the “many concerns” that have been raised about the tour, including those expressed by the British government. At the request of the ICC, any decision will now be taken after consultation with its executive board in March.The ECB clarified its latest decision in a statement: “[We] decided to respond positively to this request [from the ICC] in the hope that it offers an opportunity to explore with all interested parties, all of the prevailing circumstances surrounding the planned tour, in order to establish whether they constitute and exceptional case.”The ICC is clear on its stance where cancelled tours are concerned. Ehsan Mani, the president, reiterated earlier this week that all Test-playing countries have a binding commitment to each other, and that political considerations should not be a factor “when reviewing playing obligations”.Nevertheless, Mani seemed resigned to an England postponement earlier this week, when he was reported by the Times newspaper to have said: “I think the reality is that England will not tour”.In response, Peter Chingoka, the ZCU chairman, e-mailed the 18 first-class counties on Tuesday, explaining why he believed the controversial tour should go ahead, and warning them of the possible financial consequences if the tour is cancelled. However, it is thought that the majority of the counties are behind the ECB on the matter.”The position is very straightforward,” explained Mark Newton, Worcestershire’s chief executive. “The counties have allowed the management board to make that decision for us because we believe they are the best qualified to do that.”You can always put pressure on people if you want to, but that doesn’t mean they will necessarily respond to it and I fail to see how sending an e-mail like this is going to help Zimbabwe cricket at all.”

Everyone with a fair knowledge of cricketing `greats’ knows that Bob Appleyard is the only player to capture 200 first class wickets in his first full season and that in the winter of 1954-55 he helped England bring back the Ashes for the first time in 22 years.Appleyard’s triumphs are common knowledge, yet the many tragedies either side of his epic feats were known to but a few until Stephen Chalke gently coaxed them out of him for this splendid biography, written in conjunction with Derek Hodgson.Born in 1924, Appleyard soon lost the innocence of childhood as one hard blow followed another – just as it continued to do in his adult life. When he was seven his mother left home; when he was 13 he lost his younger sister Margaret to diphtheria and when he was 15 his father, stepmother and two little sisters were found gassed in the bathroom of their home.The young Appleyard was taken in by his stepmother’s parents who were devout Christians. He did not turn away from religion but embraced it and has worshipped regularly ever since.The war years held back his development but when he decided to join the Bradford League and went for nets at Bowling Old Lane he immediately caught the eye of club president Ernest Holdsworth, a former captain of Yorkshire 2nds.His Yorkshire debut came in 1950 when he played in three matches and took 11 wickets but there was little indication of what was to happen the following season. A deep thinking cricketer, Appleyard could already bowl pace or off-spin but the addition of leg-cutters and off-cutters made him as lethal as he was unique.In the middle of that season he fell ill for a short while and was treated for pleurisy but the following Spring, after only one match, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis.With injuries bringing a sad and premature end to his cricket, Appleyard became a successful business rep and he was working for the British Printing Corporation in 1981 when it was taken over by Robert Maxwell. Appleyard quickly saw Maxwell for the crook that he was and when Maxwell dismissed him on the strength of trumped up allegations, Appleyard battled for a fair settlement and won, shrewdly taking his money out of the BPC pension fund at the same time!The death from leukaemia of his young son, Ian, and later the death of a grandson, John, from the same disease, have kept grief a regular visitor to Appleyard’s door but always he has battled on, fighting to bring Yorkshire back to Bradford Park Avenue for a while and being largely responsible for setting up the Yorkshire Academy on the ground as well.A shadow hangs over the future of Park Avenue again, but guess who’s determined that cricket will continue on the historic ground? The final chapter in the gripping Appleyard story may still be to write.

Jamiaca 215 for 6 (Bernard 69*) v Windward Islands
ScorecardDavid Bernard’s dogged unbeaten 69 dug Jamaica out of trouble on the first day of their Carib Beer Series semi-final against the Windward Islands at the Alpart Sports Club. Bernard came in with Jamaica struggling on 90 for 4 – they had been 88 for 1 – and his fourth fifty of the season helped them to 215 for 6 at the close.Jamaica were put into bat and lost a creasebound Chris Gayle to the second ball of the day, caught behind by Lindon James off Fernix Thomas. Maurice Kepple (39) and Donovan Pagon (45) added 88 for the second wicket in 42 overs before the mid-afternoon collapse in which three wickets fell in eight minutes.Kepple fell to a top-edged sweep off Shane Shillingford, in the next over Pagon chased a wide delivery from Deighton Butler and James took a tumbling catch low to his right. Tamar Lambert’s dismissal in the following over was unforgivable, lofting Shillingford to Butler at backward square-leg where he had been positioned moments earlier for just that shot.Although Bernard and Keith Hibbert steadied the ship until tea, Hibbert fell soon after the restart, bottom-edging Butler to give James his third catch of the innings (130 for 5). Carlton Baugh almost immediately had two reprieves, firstly bowled by a Rawl Lewis no-ball, and then dropped at second slip by Darren Sammy.Bernard, unflustered, kept his end ticking over and was never troubled in his three-hour stay at the wicket. He reached his fifty with a drive off the back foot, the best shot of an innings punctuated with some elegant stokes and immaculate footwork.Baugh, meanwhile, departed thanks to a poor call from him and a direct hit from Butler (170 for 6) but Bernard and Nehemiah Perry, a surprise inclusion in the side, kept the Windwards at bay until the close.

Brian Lara and Simon Jones have both been found guilty of breaching LevelOne of the ICC’s Code of Conduct, and have been fined half their match fees.Speaking after the disciplinary hearing, Mike Procter, the match referee,explained that Lara was fined for showing dissent to the umpires on Sundayevening, when the England batsmen were offered the light for the second time,minutes after declining to go off.”Brian was very genuine at the hearing,” said Procter. “He apologised andpleaded not guilty of a level-one [breach of the code], but admitted to having shown dissent.”Jones, on the other hand, pleaded guilty and was punished for bringing thegame into disrepute after his spat with Ramnaresh Sarwan. “I listened toboth sides of the story, and what came out loud and clear was that Jones wasvery apologetic,” said Procter. “The umpires were very complimentary abouthis behaviour – Jones apologised to them straight away, and at the end ofplay.”Procter concluded, “I originally thought it was a more serious charge than level one, but in the end I decided to fine him %50 of his match fee.”