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Zimbabwe 72 for 2 v West Indies 263 for 6 (Morton 109, Sarwan 54, Chanderpaul 51*) – Match abandoned
Scorecard
How they were out

Runako Morton on the attack on his way to his second ODI hundred © T&T Express

It was rain which set up the opportunity for Zimbabwe to snatch an improbable victory in the sixth ODI at Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Oval, but it also ultimately washed out that hope. It also rendered an excellent hundred from Runako Morton earlier in the day redundant.When West Indies set Zimbabwe a target of 264, even with a very scratchy bowling attack, few doubted they would win. But two overs into the Zimbabwe innings the heavens opened, and when play resumed Duckworth/Lewis presented them with a much more appealing ask of 184 off 28 overs with all their wickets intact.Vusi Sibanda started briskly, but it was clear that attacking was alien to Terry Duffin, and after a few swiches – a couple of which were successful – he perished when he deflected a reverse sweep straight into the wicketkeeper’s hands. He was soon followed by Piet Rinke, who must be desperate for this series to end. When you are out of form little goes right, and he was left high and dry by a call from Sibanda and a good one-handed pick-up from Brian Lara.Brendan Taylor signalled his intent by lofting Chris Gayle for a straight six, and with the bowlers gifting wides – 13 in 12 overs – the unthinkable was becoming a possibility. Then, with Zimbabwe requiring 119 from almost 18 overs, the rain returned, only heavier, and that was that. Given their inability to chase anything over 200, this probably represented Zimbabwe’s best chance of a win on this tour.The first innings had been dominated by Morton’s a start-stop hundred and some late hitting from the lower-middle order which enabled West Indies to post a respectable 263 for 6. The final score was good enough, but it was for long periods fairly unimpressive batting.For a time Morton and Ramnaresh Sarwan appeared to be building another daunting total as Zimbabwe’s pop-gun seamers haemorrhaged runs. The only surprise in the first 30 overs was that Gayle, who had been in such deadly form on Wednesday, missed out, playing round a straight ball from Tawanda Mupariwa early on. That aside, it was once again not so much a challenge for the West Indies batsmen as a glorified net.Mupariwa apart, Zimbabwe’s seamers were poor and lacked any threat, and their fielding, so good in the first three games, completely fell apart. Morton batted with authority, clipping the ball confidently off his legs and driving powerfully down the ground. Sarwan, content to play second fiddle, nevertheless found it easy to keep the scoreboard ticking over.But the introduction of spin in the form of the increasingly impressive Prosper Utseya along with Ryan Higgins not only stemmed the flow, but also put the skids under the innings. Higgins removed Sarwan and a subdued Lara in quick succession, and with Morton becalmed as his hundred neared, West Indies almost ground to a halt. Between them, Higgins and Utseya only conceded one boundary in their 20 overs; there were 25 in the other 30.The return of the seamers restored order and brought a enthusiastic crowd to light, but not before another hiccough or two. Morton brought up his hundred with a straight drive and briefly threatened to cut lose before he holed out to long on, and then Marlon Samuels was run out without facing a ball and Dwayne Smith was airily bowled by Mupariwa. At 206 for 6 there were few smiles.But Rinke and Keegan Meth are almost certainly the two least-able death bowlers in the world game – and possibly outside it – and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carlton Baugh showed no mercy, pulling and driving at will. The shots of the innings came when Chanderpaul twice smacked one-handed sixes over midwicket.Even though Mupariwa was brought back to try to restore sanity, the horse had bolted and his otherwise excellent figures were ruined as his final two over went for 24 and Zimbabwe’s last seven for 70.The series finishes tomorrow, assuming that the rains relent. But when you schedule matches at a time when rain is far from abnormal, what can you expect. The Indians, who are here in a fortnight for two more ODIs, better bring wet-weather clothes and some good books.

How they were out

West IndiesChris Gayle b Mupariwa 2 (15 for 1)
Played round straight one attempting drive Ramnaresh Sarwan c Taylor b Higgins 54 (149 for 2)
Thin outside edge to attempted cutBrian Lara c Taylor b Higgins 2 (164 for 3)
Thin outside edge trying to run ball to third man Runako Morton c Mupariwa b Ireland 109 (193 for 4)
Driven to long on, good running catchMarlon Samuels run out (Chigumbura/Taylor) 0 (193 for 5)
Good pick-up, keeper did well to gather throw, well short Dwayne Smith b Mupariwa 3 (206 for 6)
Came down pitch and played all round straight one

ZimbabweTerry Duffin c Baugh b Samuels 14 (33 for 1)
Reverse swept into keeper’s handsPiet Rinke run out (Lara/Baugh) 4 (42 for 2)
Crazy call from Sibanda, a yard short

Ravi Shah: out of action © Getty Images

Ravi Shah, Kenya’s quality opening batsman, will be out action for six months due to a knee injury, according to Tom Tikolo, the chairman of selectors.”We have just received a letter from his doctor saying his knee injury will take six months to heal,” Tikolo told reporters, although Shah himself was less pessimistic. “I am still on the bench and have been asked to rest by a specialist for a couple of months,” he said. “With physiotherapy, I should be back to full strength in a couple of months.”Either way, Shah will miss Kenya’s crucial Intercontinental Cup decider in Namibia starting on June 3, although the semi-finals are not until October by which time he should be back in action.

Umpire Venkat: bowing out after the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka © Getty Images

Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, known universally as Venkat, is to retire from the elite panel of international umpires during the forthcoming Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia. Venkat’s final match in charge will be the second Test at Kandy, which starts on March 16.Venkat, whose involvement in international cricket spans nearly 40 years, made his umpiring debut in India’s 1992-93 home series against England, and will have stood in 75 Tests and 52 ODIs by the time he finally bows out. Prior to that, he played 57 Tests and 15 ODIs as a member of India’s famous quartet of spinners, alongside the likes of Bishan Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar.He played his first Test aged 19, against New Zealand in 1964-65, and after an on-off career, finally bowed out at the age of 38 against Pakistan in 1983-84. He was India’s captain for five matches, including four on the 1979 tour of England.Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC, said that Venkat would be recognised as one of the outstanding umpires to have stood in international cricket. “Venkat came to umpiring after a terrific career as a player, administrator and media commentator,” said Speed. “He has stood the test of time in an exceptionally demanding profession.”He has seen international cricket and international cricket umpiring undergo extraordinary change,” Speed added, “and has stood up to the scrutiny that now comes with being involved in the game at the elite level. His integrity and passion for cricket are of the highest order and he has helped ensure that the spirit of the game remains intact for those that will follow.”Under the two-tiered panel system used to appoint international umpires, Venkat may yet be able to move back to the secondary panel of umpires, from which the respective boards choose who stands in home ODIs. But he has yet to confirm whether he wishes to make himself available.In Venkat’s career, he has also taken on the roles of Indian team manager, secretary of the Tamil Nadu cricket association, national selector, newspaper and magazine columnist and expert TV commentator, as well as acting as an international match referee in both Test and ODI matches.

Somerset all rounder Ian Blackwell just missed out on a place in the final Ashes Test, but at the end of the second day’s play at Sydney he reflected on the memorable year that he had just enjoyedHe told me: "A lot has happened for me in 2002 and it only feels likeyesterday since I was working in the office at the County Ground last winter answering the telephones and helping to sort out the membership forms."At the start of the year `Blackie’ set himself the tough target of playing for England and to help him to achieve this he embarked upon a pretty strict dietary and training regime.He continued: "Half of my goals have come true, a one day birth and I am delighted at my progress and achievements to date. To get selected for the World Cup in February in South Africa has really topped off a very successful year for me personally."Before he sets off for Africa with the rest of the squad of fifteen, England have the remaining matches of the triangular one day series to complete, with the next game being against Australia in Hobart on January 11th.`Blackie’ who has turned in some impressive performances with both bat and ball told me: "I’m hoping to achieve similar things in the second half of the VB series and help England get to the finals which is almost on now. Fingers crossed during the World Cup and I think we should do quite well in South Africa."He concluded: "I was very close to playing at Sydney but it didn’t materialise unfortunately but still it now gives me something extra to strive for, along with getting promotion for Somerset in 2003."

Glamorgan beat Essex by eight wickets with a magnificent batting display as they successfully chased a daunting target of 254 under the Duckworth/Lewis system with 13 deliveries to spare.Keith Newell played the lead role, hitting a belligerent 97 from just 53 deliveries that included five sixes and 10 boundaries as he destroyed the home attack with a series of pulls and drives that tilted the balance firmly in favour of his side after Essex had reached a formidable 243-6 in 34 overs despite three rain interruptions.Newell ensured the perfect start for his side as the first 50 took less than seven overs and then he maintained the momentum with his continued onslaught of the hapless bowlers on a batting paradise. Although Jimmy Maher was dismissed with the score on 59, Newell continued his savage assault showing a particular liking for Mark Ilott from whom he thrashed 27 from one over.Matthew Maynard accompanied Newell in a forceful second wicket stand that produced 100 runs in 10 overs before Newell was caught driving to mid-off. By that time, his side had utilised only 17 overs and upon his departure, Maynard took control in a perfectly executed display of timing that saw him reach his half-century from 45 deliveries before continuing to oversee the victory with an unbeaten 87.Earlier, Ronnie Irani had delighted the crowd with a superlative, scintillating unbeaten 108 having faced only 61 balls with 17 boundaries that included four sixes, an innings that appeared to have put his side on the winning path but then came Newell’s display to upstage the Essex captain.

Newcastle have beaten Atromitos 1-0 on Thursday night to progress in the Europa League.

Alan Pardew rested some of his big names for the clash against the Greek minnows, but Haris Vuckic scored the decisive strike to send the Tyneside outfit through to the next round.

The Sports Direct Arena team did suffer an injury blow however, as Ryan Taylor hobbled off after 11 minutes, with Pardew now considering a move in the transfer window to replace the crocked man.

“We took a bit of a risk with our selection. But we did enough,” The Guardian quote Pardew as saying.

“Ryan Taylor’s injury will make me think about whether we need another defender and I am hoping that is not that case and we have a good enough squad.

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“The squad has depth and we will need it,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

A Pakistan-Australia series in the lead-up to next year’s Ashes is looming as a possibility as the two countries juggle their calendars in an attempt to reschedule the cancelled three-Test tour. Creagh O’Connor, Cricket Australia’s chairman, has invited his PCB counterpart Nasim Ashraf to Australia to discuss possible dates.April or May of 2009 might give Australia a chance of visiting Pakistan, but it would be straight after a tour of South Africa and right before their Ashes visit to England. However, Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB’s chief operating officer, said it was potentially the most suitable time.”We believe that would the best time for Australia to honour its commitment to tour,” he told the . “We have been saying again and again we don’t want to play in a neutral venue and our position has not changed. We hope that with a new democratic set-up in the country things will improve, the bombings cannot go on forever.”Australia were to visit Pakistan this month but fears over safety and security of the players led to a decision to postpone the tour. The last year was a turbulent one for Pakistan, with militant violence affecting several areas of the country. In November, a state of emergency was imposed and in December former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated while campaigning for elections.This year has already seen several suicide attacks in Lahore and the NWFP. Though South Africa stayed in the country to complete their tour last October and Zimbabwe visited in January, Australia’s tour was put in doubt after players voiced their concerns. Australia haven’t toured Pakistan since 1998.”Dr Ashraf and I have taken the opportunity to catch up during the current ICC board meeting in Dubai and we have had a preliminary look at dates which might be suitable to reschedule the matches,” O’Connor said. “I have assured the PCB that Australia is committed to finding new dates, and we are committed to the ICC principle that cricket will only develop as a genuine global sport if all nations play each other away and at home on a regular basis.”It is clear from our initial discussion here in Dubai that we need to sit down and go through the technical issues on finding new dates with a fine tooth comb. To that end, I have suggested we meet in Melbourne as soon as possible and we will organise dates once the current ICC meetings are finalised.”

One of West Indies’ brightest prospects is hoping to extend his summer in England © Getty Images

Jerome Taylor, the West Indies fast bowler, is in negotiations with Glamorgan for a stint following their Test and one-day tour of England which concludes in July.A spokesman from Glamorgan couldn’t confirm to Cricinfo that the deal had been finalised, but a source at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said talks with the county were ‘at an advanced stage’.Taylor is negotiating a sponsorship deal with Digicel which is, according to Caribbeancricket.com, reportedly worth $40,000. Should Taylor join Glamorgan, he would join a list of West Indian legends to have played for the county, including Viv Richards, Roy Fredericks and Winston Davis.And although only 22, Taylor is one of West Indies’ brightest fast bowling hopes. He has 31 wickets from his ten Tests and has been an economical and incisive one-day bowler.West Indies will play four Tests, three one-dayers and two Twenty20s against England this summer – with their last match, the third one-dayer at Trent Bridge, on July 7.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThe bowlers dominated day one of the SuperSport Series final at Durban as 16 wickets fell. Ethy Mbhalati took the honours with 5 for 26, helping to dismiss the Dolphins for 176, but the Titans then slipped to 70 for 3 during the final session as Nantie Hayward picked up a brace.The Titans had put the Dolphins into bat and despite removing Imraan Khan in the seventh over there was little sign of the action to come. Doug Watson compiled a solid half-century as they moved passed 100 for the loss of just two wickets. But Mbhalati then struck his first blow, bowling Watson, and the collapse set in.Mbhalati tore through the middle order and within 19 overs of losing their third wicket, the Dolphins were all out. Only Hashim Amla offered any further resistance, striking 58 off 115 balls with eleven boundaries.However, the Titans didn’t have it all their own way in reply as Hayward nipped out both openers in a fiery opening burst. With the international duo of Martin van Jaarsveld and Zander de Bruyn also back in the hutch the Dolphins are well and truly alive in this final.

Sussex’s victory over Nottinghamshire was not what the committee ordered © Getty Images

Sussex’s joy at reaching the third round of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy has been severely tempered by the realization that they will now miss out on a lucrative three-day clash against the touring Australians – a fixture that was expected to have netted them a cool £50,000.Sussex’s four-wicket victory in a low-scoring encounter against Nottinghamshire on Wednesday was greeted with a certain ambivalence by those in the know in Hove. Their reward, if it can be termed as such, is a tricky away fixture against Lancashire at Old Trafford, which will be played on either July 15 or 16.The honour of hosting the Australians, on the other hand, now passes to Leicestershire, and given that the fixture falls in the week before the first Test, it is expected that something approaching their full-strength XI will take the field for that game. As Robin Marlar, the new Sussex president, told The Guardian, “To make up the money we have lost today we will have to go on and win the trophy.”Sussex have, of course, already hosted one touring side so far this summer, although the challenge that the Bangladeshis posed last week was rather less of a drawcard. Sussex defeated them by an innings and 226 runs inside three days, and given that entry to the ground was free, they could only rely on sales of lunchtime lasagne to boost their coffers.There would have been no love lost between Sussex and the Australians either. During Sussex’s recent match against Hampshire, Chris Adams and Matt Prior were involved in an unseemly war of words with Shane Warne, and all three would have relished the renewal of hostilities. As it is, the Australians will now warm up in Grace Road, against a less alluring attack that includes the likes of Charl Willoughby, Ottis Gibson, Phil DeFreitas and Claude Henderson.