• Mark Waugh is back in form

Rain played havoc with Kiwi hopes
LEEDS, June 8 — Zimbabwe’s cricketers weren’t complaining after spending a day in their Headingley dressing room watching the World Cup’s first washout.

Sachin 2nd highest World Cup scorer
NEW DELHI, June 8 — Indian run machine Sachin Tendulkar today crossed two major milestones in his electrifying cricket career when he became the second highest scorer in the World Cup and crossed 8000 runs in one day internationals in the super league tie against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

World Cup spotlight on Klusener
LONDON, June 8 — For a cricketer who acknowledges he is publicity-shy, Lance Klusener is ironically spending a lot of his time in the World Cup spotlight.

Steve Waugh to undergo fitness test
LONDON, June 8 — Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh will undergo a fitness test on his groin injury today before deciding whether to play in the key World Cup match against Zimbabwe tomorrow at the Lord’s.

Ball tampering issue dogs Pak
OLD TRAFFORD, June 8 — The ball tampering shadow is looming large over favourites Pakistan and a few of their players might find themselves in trouble by the semifinal stage.

India at bottom of bookies chart
LONDON, June 8 — India, after its defeat to Australia in the Super Six opener, were lying at rock bottom in London bookies chart as 66-1 favourites.

Allott equals World Cup wickets record
LEEDS, June 8 — Geoff Allott is enjoying his first trip to England. The left-arm Kiwi pacemen's three Zimbabwe wickets for 24 runs on Sunday took his World Cup tally to 18-equalling the record for the most scalps in a single tournament held by India's Roger Binny, Craig McDermott of Australia and Wasim Akram of Pakistan.

Medvedev happy with Paris display
PARIS, June 8 — Andrei Medvedev came to Paris a fortnight ago with love in his heart but with a three-figure tennis ranking.

Rs 7.5 lakh each for Paes, Bhupathi
MADURAI, June 8 — Crack Indian tennis duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, who brought honours to the country by winning the French Open doubles title, would get Rs 7.5 lakh each in line with the centre’s policy to give rich cash awards to sportspersons excelling at international level.

Anand to play ‘advanced chess’
CHENNAI, June 8 — Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand is to play a computer assisted match against FIDE world champion Anatoly Karpov in Leon, Spain, from June 11 to 13.

India trounce Pak, keep hopes alive

OLD TRAFFORD, June 9 (PTI) — India pulled off a sensational 47-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan by tigerishly defending a modest total in a high-voltage World Cup Super Six tie yesterday to keep their slender semifinal hopes alive.

Paceman Venkatesh Prasad captured five wickets for 27 and with Javagal Srinath (3/37) struck stunning blows to wreck Pakistan to bowl them out for 180 in 45.3 overs after India raised 227 for six wickets on choosing to bat first at the super-charged Old Trafford stadium here.

Prasad struck a vital blow by removing the dangerous Moin Khan (33 off 37 balls) to nip a Pakistan fightback after he and Srinath had left them reeling at 78 for five in the 25th over. The lanky seamer foxed Khan to pull directly to Tendulkar at squareleg to end a 46-run sixth wicket stand with the burly Inzamam-ul Haq to mark a winning turnaround.

The victory sent the large number of Indian fans in the jam-packed stadium into raptures and gave the team their first two points in the Super Six and kept faint hopes alive for a semifinal berth. India meet New Zealand in the last tie at Trent Bridge on June 12.

Skipper Mohammed Azharuddin found his touch at the right time cracking 59 and took two splendid catches as his beleaguered team posted their third straight win over Pakistan in World Cup encounters and also left them unsure of a semifinal berth after their second straight defeat in the Super Six.

Azhar’s 60-run stand with Robin Singh (16) helped India set an asking rate of 4.56 after Tendulkar (45) and Dravid (61) produced assured knocks early on.

Prasad broke the final resistance of Pakistan by removing Inzamam-ul Haq (41) and sent back skipper Wasim Akram in his next over to signal victory before the players scampered to safety as the fans poured into the ground.

In between, leggie Anil Kumble trapped Saqlain Mushtaq lbw to make it 176 for nine and finished with a fine two for 42.

Defending a smallish total in the tie they had to win to nurse any hopes, the Indian bowlers responded brilliantly.

Srinath provided the first breakthrough dismissing Shahid Afridi (6) cheaply and though left-hander Saeed Anwar (36) and Ijaz Ahmed (11) began aggressively, Azhar switched Srinath and Mohanty to opposite ends to telling effect as they suddenly found excellent rhythm despite heavy crosswinds.

Mohanty, who bowled superbly for none for 31 in his full quota bowled at one stretch, agonisingly saw S. Ramesh spill an easy catch at mid-on off Ijaz Ahmed, but Srinath sent him back in the next over, Azhar taking a low catch at second slip.

Prasad trapped veteran Salim Malik (6) leg before and then claimed the big wicket of the entrenched Saeed Anwar with a beauty of an away ball, Azhar diving to his right at first slip to pouch the edge.

Leg spinner Anil Kumble had Azhar Mehmood (10) caught behind by Mongia to make it 78 for five, but Moin Khan played a typically gutsy knock to bring the pressure back on India.

Inzamam-ul Haq, coming lower at number five after being off the field with a finger injury, struggled to score, but Moin Khan kept up the chase with typical improvisation.

Even as the match looked like sliping out, Prasad was brought back in the 35th over and he removed Moin Khan with his very second ball.

In a final act of defiance, Inzamam and Akram put on 29 runs to narrow down the fight, but in an aggressive move Azhar brought on his main bowlers early which paid rich dividends.

Prasad broke the stand by trapping Inzamam plumb in front of the wicket to make it 175 for eight in the 44th over and Kumble virtually ended the fight by removing Saqlain Mushtaq for a nought in the very next over.

Akram, with only Shoaib Akhtar to support him in an unlikely quest for victory, went for a big heave off Prasad in the 46th over for Kumble to take a comfortable catch.

Earlier, India overcame the major setback of Saurav Ganguly’s absence due to knee injury by getting off to a solid start.

Tendulkar (45 — 65 b — 4 x4) played a splendid knock and built a racy 58-run stand with Rahul Dravid, who top-scored with 61 (89 b, 4x4).

But the star batsman fell to seamer Azhar Mehmood (2/35) going for a premeditated shot and the innings suddenly lost momentum after looking good for a total close to 280 runs.

Azharrudin, out of form and under tremendous pressure, however, found his touch at the crucial moment and put on 60 runs with Robin Singh with some late aggression to pull India past the 200-run mark.

Tendulkar crossed 8000 run aggregate in one-dayers in his 217th tie and also became the third player to complete 1000 runs in World Cup competition.

Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram bowled tightly to take two for 27.

Electric atmosphere all pervasive
By R Mohan

MANCHESTER, June 8 — The atmosphere was electric. The passion for cricket multiplied by the love of the homeland became a grand cocktail and a lively one to be cherished.

There was colour and life in such a unique audience. There was a passion for life, an emotion for the occasion and a feeling for the game that came out in a resplendent way. Could this really be happening in England, a conservative land of Anglo-Saxons?

The roads around Old Trafford were full of flags and of people waving them or draped in them. If Norman Tebbit, the Tory MP who created a stir in English politics, were to visit Manchester he would have known how hopelessly wrong he was in calling for a loyalty test for Asian migrants to Britain, who would fail such a test with glee. Their hearts lie in their homelands.

For some god is money. At least so far those who did a roaring trade in flags on the morning of the match. They had the Indian tricolour in one hand and the Pakistani green crescent and star in the other. Nationality was unimportant. All they needed was sales and it did not matter to them which flag was more popular.

The colour of green was all pervasive, the stewards in their luminescent green jackets adding to its predominance. There was no question that the Indian fans were outnumbered. The north of England is where most of the Pakistani emigrants live and they descended on Old Trafford in droves on Monday night and on the morning of the match.

But when it came to the battle for who could be more noisy, there would have been a tie. The air horn worked out of a gas canister can be too loud and may suffer in comparison to the more melodious conches. But they do help make an absolute racket and the Asian armies had them aplenty.

Stewards had been advised to be careful about banners. No provocative ones were to be allowed lest they inflame the high passions already surrounding the big match of the World Cup. And the TV cameramen may have been told to concentrate more on the cricket than on the crowds, who feel encouraged to put on frenzied demonstrations for the benefit of the camera.

Old Trafford may have been an island of lively Asian passions but it was by no means a battle ground as the British media may have imagined. The security searches were thorough but the rival fans were in a friendly mood as they wended their way to their seats. They greeted each other like old friends. It may take a few hours for the British brew to get to them.

The pace of Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram was greeted vociferously. The Pakistani fans were on the ascendant and when Sachin Tendulkar pulled Shoaib and Sadagopan Ramesh steered him and square drove Wasim Akram for fours, the indian tricolour, used more often till then to keep out the cold, came quickly off the backs of fans and was waved around in huge numbers. Green was predominant when Razzaq bowled Ramesh.

The scenes were reminiscent of Sharjah in its early days when Indians and Pakistanis came in near equal numbers to the stadium and enjoyed some rousing contests. Only after Javed Miandad changed the course of cricket history with that last ball six did things change so much. The Indians started staying away from the Sharjah stadium because the tide had swung so much in favour of Pakistan.

The one major difference between other neutral venues and this was first to be seen in the weather. It was a cold and blustery day in the early June tradition of the north of England. But Azharuddin had no choice but to opt to bat in conditions that were perfect for seam and swing bowling. History would have told him that India’s two wins in the World Cup came when India batted first and put a total on the board.

This is cricket’s greatest dilemma. Do you bat or bowl first? On a morning such as this, no captain would have hesitated to put the opposition in. But India’s position is such they had to fall back on the one strength at their command — batting. To back your batsmen and your own strength is perhaps, the better way to play the game, at least so far as India is concerned.

Having said that, it must be added hastily that Azharuddin did the right thing in putting Australia in at The Oval where the pitch is most lively with bounce and lateral movement in the morning. Had Glenn McGrath got in among the Indian batsmen in such conditions, he may have been more of a cat among the pigeons. The risk is less at Old Trafford where the pitch has far less bounce to offer.

The battle lines were already being drawn on the pitch. This was always going to be a tense, high scoring contest and what better tribute can the fans have paid to the game they love and the cricketers they worship than to heed the call for peace and harmony in the stadium?

Zimbabwe take on mighty Australia

THE LORD'S, June 8 (PTI) — Giant killers Zimbabwe, spurred after virtually assuring themselves of a World Cup semifinal place, face a rejuvenated Australia in a Super Six tie, which the latter will be under more pressure to win and keep themselves on course for a last four berth.

Australia, who bounced back after early reverses in the group stage and scored a huge 77-run win over India on Friday, may miss their skipper Steve Waugh who is nursing a groin strain, but will bank on lethal strike bowler Glenn McGrath and company to earn two crucial points before their high profile last tie against favourites South Africa.

The lanky McGrath, who ripped apart the Indian top order, will set his sights on the Zimbabwe batsmen at the Lord’s where he destroyed England two years ago.

Zimbabwe are sitting pretty with five points after their tie against New Zealand was washed out at Leeds yesterday which has more or less sealed their semifinal berth. Australia entered the Super Six without any points and will look to win both their outings to prevent any late hiccups.

The African side are flying high. Alistair Campbell’s men scored brilliant upsets over India and South Africa to bring four points forward and the last four spot would be the biggest moment for the team that got test status only in 1992.

Australia looked to be playing to potential against India, but Zimbabwe will be brimming with self-confidence after their grand performance so far.

Australia will be wary of Zimbabwe, who surprised them in 1983 on their world cup debut.

The Australians, who have won 10 of their last 11 encounters as well as their last five World Cup ties, start favourites tomorrow provided weather holds good.

After the cumbersome Duckworth — Lewis rain rule was kept out of the way due to fairly good weather, the English summer is gradually turning wet which could play havoc with teams that have left everything to the Super Six stage.

Australia will be looking to produce another assured show. Opener Mark Waugh led their batting resurgence against India and the Africans could find the going very tough.

Their fast bowlers too look sharp. McGrath has shrugged off his early problems on being asked to open the attack and his brilliant strikes against the West Indies and India in successive matches should send an ominous signal to Zimbabwe.

McGrath has led the Australian transformation and Steve Waugh, expected to pass a fitness test, will rely on him and Damien Fleming to keep the momentum up at the Lord’s tomorrow.

"I have been improving every game. The rhythm and confidence are coming back," McGrath said.

Zimbabwe’s picking a point against New Zealand has turned the Super Six topsy-turvy with the better-rated teams suddenly under pressure.

With the spotlight on others, Zimbabwe have come on well with all-rounder Neil Johnson with Murray Goodwin and Flower brothers Grant and Andy batting well. Johnson and Heath Streak have led the attack which under helpful conditions is proving more than a handful for their superior rivals.

Zimbabwe have come on well with all-rounder Neil Johnson, Murray Goodwin and Flower brothers Grant and Andy batting well. Johnson and Heath Streak have led the attack, which under helpful conditions is proving more than a handful for their superior rivals.

AFP ADDS: Australia is facing minor injury problems to leg spinner Shane Warne and Steve Waugh. Warne struggled with a neck and shoulder strain against India and was thrashed for 49 off 6.2 overs and Waugh with the groin problem expects to play as a batsman but not to feature with the ball.

Waugh has been forced to bowl more than expected during the World Cup, taking three wickets for 55 in 18 overs with his medium pace, in an attempt to shore up his side’s misfiring attack during the early games.

"I’m pretty confident I’ll play," he said. "I haven’t said yes or no at this stage. But ...It’s coming on well.

"I’ve had the same thing a couple of times before. It’s a spasm, which comes on for no apparent reason."

Australia have all-rounder Tom Moody as a perfect stand-in if Waugh plays but does not bowl.

Moody, who has years of experience of English conditions with county side Worcestershire, was ignored for the first three games but made an immediate contribution with a blazing fifty and three wickets for 25 against Bangladesh.

He also provided runs and wickets against the West Indies and India.

Teams (probable):

Australia — Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Tom Moody, Shane Warne, Paul Reiffel, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath.

Zimbabwe — Alistair Campbell (captain), Neil Johnson, Grant Flower, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower, Guy Whittal, Stuart Carlesle, Heath Streak, Andrew Whittall, Adam Huckle, Henry Olonga.

Mark Waugh is back in form

LONDON, June 8 (AFP) — Australia v Zimbabwe player head-to-heads:

Mark Waugh v Heath Streak
Most players scoring 229 runs in six matches, including two half-centuries, would be considered a success. But Mark Waugh has set high standards, particularly in the last World Cup, when he hit three centuries in his first five innings. He looked back at his best, however, during a knock of 83 against India last week. The trademark on-drive, the elegant cover drive and cut showed "Junior" was back in business.

He is likely to find his way blocked by Heath Streak, who has combined good pace with a steady line. The broad-shouldered Streak has nine wickets, the second-highest for Zimbabwe after Neil Johnson’s 10. He has matured from a wild tearaway to a polished pace bowler.

Murray Goodwin v Shane Warne.
Goodwin tests his skills against the country where he learnt his trade. The right-hand batsman was Ricky Ponting’s class-mate at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide and played for Western Australia switching to Zimbabwe, where he saw a chance of international cricket.

Goodwin may find Warne waiting for him if Glenn McGrath fails to cut through the Zimbabwean top order in his opening spell. Warne will be wanting to bounce back after being hammered around The Oval by India’s batsmen. Zimbabwe should be a different proposition, giving the leg spinner a chance to run into form before tougher matches ahead. He has already taken nine wickets but has yet to produce a dazzling performance in the tournament.

Glenn McGrath v all comers...
Australia’s leading strike bowler is finding his best form at last. McGrath took five for 14 against the West Indies and rattled India’s top order with the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar fourth ball and Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Azharuddin soon after. "Pigeon" McGrath, so called because of his thin legs and splayed feet, was at his devastating best at The Oval against India and will prove a handful if Lord’s offers similar assistance. It seems likely Grant Flower, Neil Johnson and several batsmen immediately behind them will get the chance to pit their skills against the New South Welshman.

Rain played havoc with Kiwi hopes

LEEDS, June 8 (AP) — Zimbabwe’s cricketers weren’t complaining after spending a day in their Headingley dressing room watching the World Cup’s first washout.

After New Zealand had the best of a rain-affected Sunday, a continual drizzle over Leeds on the match’s reserve day, yesterday, allowed Zimbabwe to escape with one point nudging it closer to a semifinal place when the game was finally abandoned.

"Obviously New Zealand were in the better position overnight but two quick wickets in the morning would have redressed the balance," Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell said.

"There was a willingness on both sides to get on the field but obviously the weather stymied us ... If you ask me about the one point, yes, I accept," he added, smiling.

The point sent Zimbabwe clear atop the Super Six standings with five points. Pakistan and South Africa have four points while New Zealand’s point gives it a total of three. Australia has two and India is last with none and is staring ominously at elimination.

New Zealand arrived at Headingley on Monday hopeful of forcing a vital win. On Sunday, Stephen Fleming’s men bowled out Zimbabwe for 175 and then raced to 70 for three in 15 overs before bad light halted play.

But instead of forcing home its advantage, New Zealand sat in frustration watching the rain.

"The game just didn’t go our way. It was out of our hands," Fleming said. "From the position we were in, we had the better of the game, that makes it even more frustrating."

New Zealand’s next match is a tough encounter with World Cup favourite South Africa at Edgbaston on Thursday while Zimbabwe prepares for Australia on Wednesday at Lord’s.

A washout in London would virtually guarantee Zimbabwe a semifinal berth, but Campbell said that was the last thing in his players minds as they look forward to playing for the first time at the headquarters of cricket.

"The guys want to get out there. It’s the experience that counts," Campbell said.

"Obviously no-one wants a game rained out at Lord’s. We want to get out there especially in our first appearance and play."

Sachin 2nd highest World Cup scorer

NEW DELHI, June 8 (UNI) — Indian run machine Sachin Tendulkar today crossed two major milestones in his electrifying cricket career when he became the second highest scorer in the World Cup and crossed 8000 runs in one day internationals in the super league tie against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

Sachin, who holds the world record for highest number of one-day centuries, added yet another feather in his cap when he became the first Indian and third in the world to score over 1000 runs in World Cup when he collected a brace from the third ball of Wasim Akram in the first over of the match.

The master blaster achieved another landmark of becoming the second Indian after skipper Mohammed Azharuddin to score 8,000 runs in one-day cricket in his 217th match. Azharuddin crossed the 9,000 mark in one dayers in the current World Cup to become the highest run getter.

Sachin playing his 21st match, joined the elite group of legendary cricketers Javed Miandad of Pakistan (1083 runs in 33 matches) and West Indian Vivian Richards (1013 runs in 23 matches), the two other batsmen to have scored more than 1000 runs in the World Cup event. He overtook Richard’s tally when he hit Azhar Mahmood for a four.

Sachin in the process became the fastest player to score 1,000 runs in World Cup achieving it in his 20th innings.

Sachin in his previous 14 innings in the last two World Cups had scored 806 runs — 283 in seven innings in 1992 and 523 in seven innings in 1996 — and had emerged as the highest run getter in the last edition.

The master blaster, who started the World Cup needing 194 runs to achieve this milestone, scored 28 against South Africa in India’s opener and lifted the team’s sagging morale with a forget-me-not innings of 140 against Kenya, which brought India back to winning ways after the two earlier losses.

Though Sachin, batting down the order, managed to score only two against Sri Lanka as Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid ran amok during their world record 318 run partnership, the master-blaster chipped in with 22 runs in the last league match against England, which saw India gain a berth in the Super Six phase.

But much to the disappointment of one and all, Sachin fell to a rare duck against Australia in the super league match.

He has so far scored 22 centuries, including 21 while opening the innings, with 143 against Australia at Sharjah being the highest. He has also 43 half centuries to his credit.

Sachin also became the faster ever to score 8,000 runs scoring in his 217th match.

Skippers lack mathematical skill?

MANCHESTER, June 8 (UNI) — Cricket captains are not known to be mathematical geniuses though C B Fry might have had some claim to that too in his allround athletic and academic brilliance.

Azharuddin was called by one newspaper here which took the jab at him for his comment — "We should win every match from here." That was real profound of him of course.

Captains are certainly not mathematical geniuses. Take the case of Alistair Campbell, captain of the Zimbabwe team. His side has already taken a place in cricket history by qualifying for the semifinals out of the pack of the super six. But he himself was surprisingly subdued because he believes they have to win at least one more game to qualify.

There is simply no formula, mathematical or algebraic, by which four teams of six can finish on six points or more points each and so edge out Zimbabwe. But the skipper does not seem to be aware of this. He seeks one more win — either over Pakistan or Australia which might see Zimbabwe walk majestically into the semis rather than on the strength of the one point they earned from the wet weather of Headingley.

The one point each Zimbabwe and New Zealand took from a no result was the worst kind of news for the Indians. Since they cannot now tie with Zimbabwe for a place in the knockout, they can only hope to tie with South Africa, Australia and Pakistan if those teams are also to stay on four points at the end of the super six.

If India ties head to head with either South Africa or Australia on four points, they are out since they lost matches to those two teams. The only scenarios by which India can hope to squeeze in are in a two way tie with a team they would have beaten in the Super Six or in three-way tie for one or two of the last places in the semifinals.

The minimum performance for that is a win against Pakistan and then another against New Zealand and hope the net run rate rather than wins in earlier meetings will be the criterion by which the ties are split.

The realistic picture is that Zimbabwe have already qualified which means only three places since they have matches on hand against New Zealand and Zimbabwe respectively. There could be a bit of tussle for the fourth spot but Australia are fancied to beat Zimbabwe at Lord’s tomorrow and place themselves in time for that last spot.

No matter whether India win or lose, it does seem like curtains for them. The sack "Azhar" chorus will begin soon enough. Azhar’s least claim is to a genius for maths but he certainly has a record for most wins among Indian captains in Test and one-day internationals. But then all that is history now.

One innings from him in the crucial phase of the match against Zimbabwe may have changed everything. For a man who intensely believes in his own destiny he needed to have been able to shape his team’s fortunes in this World Cup. In that he failed.

World Cup spotlight on Klusener

LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) — For a cricketer who acknowledges he is publicity-shy, Lance Klusener is ironically spending a lot of his time in the World Cup spotlight.

The South African left-handed batsman and right-arm fast medium bowler is the tournament’s leading all-rounder, and the value of his deeds is reflected in four ‘man-of-the-match’ awards in six games.

Klusener’s decisive 46 not out off 41 deliveries in his team’s three-wicket victory over Pakistan at Trent Bridge on Saturday earned the latest award, thrusting him again under the media microscope and into the public eye.

His thunderous hitting has heightened his appeal to crowds around the country as well as helping South Africa win matches when they are up against it, as he did in characteristically forthright style at Trent Bridge.

When Klusener appeared at Saturday’s news conference after his heroics against Pakistan, his captain Hansie Cronje caused laughter by saying with mock seriousness: "we’re making it harder and harder for Lance, we’re seeing how far we can push him."

Klusener meets a crisis fearlessly, and reputations count for nothing, but he is also a thinking cricketer as he showed when batting with Jacques Kallis during the run chase against the Pakistanis.

"I said to Jacques we must try to do it with an over to spare," Klusener said, "because we will then still have six balls if we don’t get it quite right."

South Africa reached their target of 221 with exactly one over left.

Klusener has now scored 210 runs from six innings in the tournament without being dismissed, giving him a world record sequence for one-day internationals of 396 runs without losing his wicket. Pakistan’s Javed Miandad held the previous mark of 395. A telling statistic is Klusener’s strike rate, third best in this World Cup, of 111.7 runs per 100 balls.

The South African is fifth in the list of tournament leading run-scorers, led by Indian Rahul Dravid on 371, and second among the bowlers with 14 wickets, four behind New Zealander Geoff Allott.

Nicknamed "Zulu" because he can speak the African language he learned in his formative years in Natal, Klusener appears to relish the big occasion.

He captured eight for 64 against India in Calcutta in the second innings of his Test debut at the end of 1996 and blasted a century off 100 deliveries in his fourth Test, also against India, at Cape Town in early 1997.

Klusener’s exploits in limited overs cricket have included hitting the last ball of the match for six to beat New Zealand in Napier last March.

That result levelled the series, which South Africa went on to win 3-2.

Cronje draws a parallel with his team’s subsequent change of fortunes on that occasion and their situation now, bouncing back to beat Pakistan after suffering a stunning defeat by Zimbabwe in their last group match.

"We turned the corner when Lance hit a six off the last ball in New Zealand," Cronje said, "and this is also the same sort of feeling I get. We can really excel after it."

World Cup opponents, you have been warned.

Steve Waugh to undergo fitness test

LONDON, June 8 (AFP) — Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh will undergo a fitness test on his groin injury today before deciding whether to play in the key World Cup match against Zimbabwe tomorrow at the Lord’s.

The 34-year-old all-rounder, who aggravated an old injury against India at The Oval last week, said: "I haven’t said yes or no at this stage".

"I’m pretty confident I’ll play." The injury flared up again while he was bowling.

Waugh told the Australian Associated Press he might even consider bowling again if he turned out against Zimbabwe.

But team physiotherapist Errol Alcott advised against, before admitting that the skipper would probably ignore his warning.

He said: "I’d probably advise him not to bowl in this match, but if he feels fine, and he thinks he’s a chance then he’ll probably bowl himself."

Waugh began his career as an all-rounder but is now regarded more as a batsman. His medium-paced bowling has declined in recent years due to shoulder trouble.

Australia’s attack looked weak during the first round of the tournament, forcing Waugh back into the front line.

But Glenn McGrath’s returning form — he has taken eight wickets in the last two games, including five for 14 against the West Indies — and the inclusion of Tom Moody as a reliable fifth seamer should mean the skipper can step out of the attack again.

Ball tampering issue dogs Pak

OLD TRAFFORD, June 8 (PTI) — The ball tampering shadow is looming large over favourites Pakistan and a few of their players might find themselves in trouble by the semifinal stage.

Pakistan, who look certain to make it to the last four, have quite a few things dogging them at the moment but ball-tampering allegations are tops.

Match referee John Reid of New Zealand reportedly had an unpleasant exchange of words with Pakistan manager Zafar Altaf at the end of that country’s match against South Africa at Trent Bridge.

The ball used in South Africa’s innings reportedly did not pass muster with the referee who had a word with Altaf on the matter.

The Pakistan manager was upset and asked how come his team was being singled out for such allegations, reports said.

He is also said to have asked Reid to do whatever he must do.

It was not immediately known whether Reid had asked for a thorough look at the used ball.

The feeling in the Pakistani camp is whenever they do well they are accused of unfair practice and this is yet another instance of putting pressure on their team. They also feel the current controversy will build up around the semifinal stage.

Meanwhile, teams playing Pakistan have started using a new strategy of asking for the ball to be replaced between the 40th and 45th over of an innings.

The Pakistanis are known experts of reverse swing and a new or ‘undoctored’ ball is unlikely to swing as much as one which has been ‘worked on’.

Both Australia and South Africa employed the same tactics in their matches against Pakistan and succeeded in limiting the effectiveness of the Pakistan bowlers.

Another reason the Pakistani camp feels the ball is being changed at the 45-over mark is because the authorities want to retain the used ones for inspections, to be conducted later. It is said they don’t want to lose the ball in the crowd invasion and the evidence ‘destroyed’.

Shoaib Akhtar — the man aiming to break the 100-mile per hour (160 kph) barrier — in particular, is reportedly under keen observation as there is a feeling he ‘might have been tampering with the ball so far’.

India at bottom of bookies chart

LONDON, June 8 (PTI) — India, after its defeat to Australia in the Super Six opener, were lying at rock bottom in London bookies chart as 66-1 favourites.

India, who has only an outside chance of making it to the semifinal stage, saw its chances dampen more after Zimbabwe and New Zealand shared a point each when the match between the two teams was abandoned and no result was possible following rain interruptions.

South Africa remain favourites to win the World Cup while New Zealand’s odds lengthened to 10-1 from 8-1.

The Proteas were quoted at 6-4 with second favourites Pakistan’s odds shortened slightly to 7-4 from 2-1 by bookmakers William Hill.

Australia, who started its campaign on shaky note but look confident coming into the Super Six stage, were 7-2 favourites followed by New Zealand, Zimbabwe (16-1) and India.

Latest odds: 6-4 South Africa, 7-4 Pakistan, 7-2 Australia, 10-1, New Zealand 16-1 Zimbabwe, 66-1 India.

Allott equals World Cup wickets record

LEEDS, June 8 (AP) — Geoff Allott is enjoying his first trip to England. The left-arm Kiwi pacemen's three Zimbabwe wickets for 24 runs on Sunday took his World Cup tally to 18-equalling the record for the most scalps in a single tournament held by India's Roger Binny, Craig McDermott of Australia and Wasim Akram of Pakistan.

With at least two matches still to play, Allott looks a certainty to become the highest wicket taker in a World Cup.

"This is the first time here (in England) and I am loving it", a delighted Allott said after Sunday's Super Six match was suspended following rains.

Allott credits his success to a combination of English conditions and the white balls being used at the World Cup. With every match his confidence was growing, he said.

"I am going out there expecting to get a couple of wickets early and I have been lucky to get them and also support from the other guys," he said.

Allott's success is all the more remarkable given that his bowling action was completely changed to save a career threatened by a serious back injury.

"As a result of the Australian tour a couple of years ago I suffered a double stress fracture in my back and a bulged disk. I had to remodel my action and as a result I now get more swing."

The bad news for World Cup batsmen is that 27-year-old Allott does not think he's hit his peak yet.

"I have only played 19 one dayers — I still feel I have got a lot to learn," he said.

Kirtane, Srinath enter last 8

NEW DELHI, June 8 (PTI) — Top seeded players Prahlad Srinath, Artem Derepasko and Syed Fazaluddin scored fluent wins while Nitin Kirtane shocked seventh seed Minh Le of the USA to make it to the quarterfinals of MTNL ITF Men’s Satellite Masters Tennis Tournament here today.

Kirtane spoiled the American’s party with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win in the second round, which witnessed three seeded players being dumped out of the event.

National hardcourt champion Nitin Kirtane now faces top seed Srinath in the round of eight tomorrow.

India number three Srinath, despite fatigue in sultry conditions, shut out Nitin’s cousin Sandeep 6-3, 6-0 and set himself up for an impressive gain of ATP points from the circuit.

Sandeep Kirtane, who provided some resistance in the first set, gave up meekly in the second after developing strain in his playing hand.

Vasudeva Reddy, former national hardcourt champion, rallied to beat fifth seed Vinod Sridhar 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and now meets Harsh Mankad, the fourth seed in a quarterfinal tie.

Other seeded player to go out, but in unfortunate circumstances, was seventh seed Shivshanker Kambargimath.

Playing against Vijayendra Laad, Kambargimath won the first set 7-6 (7/3) but scorching heat took its toll as he developed muscle cramps finding it hard to cover the court. Laad led the second set 5-2 when Kambargimath called for medical help before conceding the match.

Promising youngster Laad, who put out Mustafa Ghouse yesterday in the first round, committed some unforced errors in the first set tie-breaker before losing it 3-7. But in the second, Laad made a spirited comeback only to see Kambargimath gifting away the match.

Laad has a potentially tough quarterfinal tie against Russia’s Derepasko, the second seed. Derepasko wasted no time in dispatching Vijay Kannan 6-4, 6-4. The Russian, who won the Mumbai leg, is closing in on Srinath on circuit points.

The fight for circuit winner is hotting up with ATP awarding 50 ranking points to the player aggregating the maximum points.

In other second round action, Syed Fazaluddin defeated Ashley Ford of Australia 6-4, 7-5 and meets Anton Kokurin, sixth seed from Uzbekistan, in the quarterfinals.

Fazaluddin needed just one break in the first set before winning it 6-4 and after trading a break each in the second, the Indian frustrated the Australians gameplan in the 11th game by chipping and slicing backhand winners. He held his serve in the 12th with a crosscourt volley and Ford trying to reach it went sprawling on the court.

Kokurin prevailed over Russian Dimitri Mazur 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) while fourth seeded Harsh Mankad fought hard to dispose off Vishal Uppal 6-4, 7-6 (7/0).

An agile Mankad, who showed promise during the three circuit events, made a confident start to his second round match, winning the first set 6-4. Uppal made a strong comeback in the second and after it went into tie-break, his resistance fizzled out as Mankad walked away with 7-0 verdict in the tie-break.

Results: (second round): Prahlad Srinath b Sandeep Kirtane 6-3, 6-0; Artem Derepasko (Russia) b Vijay Kannan 6-4, 6-4; Syed Fazaluddin b Ashley Ford (Australia) 6-4, 7-5; Harsh Mankad b Vishal Uppal 6-4, 7-6 (7/0); Vasudeva Reddy b Vinod Sridhar 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Anton Kokurin (Uzbekistan) b Dimitri Mazur (Russia) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5); Nitin Kirtane b Le Minh (USA) 6-3, 6-; Vijayendra Laad b Shivshanker Kambargimath 6-7 (3/7), 5-2 (conceded).

Medvedev happy with Paris display

PARIS, June 8 (Reuters) — Andrei Medvedev came to Paris a fortnight ago with love in his heart but with a three-figure tennis ranking.

On Sunday he left having leapt around 75 places to the mid-20s, with a French Open runners-up medal and having served notice that he is back — with a vengeance.

The Ukrainian was ranked as high as four in the world five years ago, but lost interest in the sport and his ranking went into free-fall.

But his rekindled relationship with Germany’s Anke Huber, player on the women’s circuit, has chased away his personal demons and allowed him to get on with tennis.

As world No 100 — the lowest-ranked French Open finalist — he can count Pete Sampras, eighth seed Gustavo Kuerten and Brazilian claycourt specialist Fernando Meligeni among his scalps at Roland Garros this past fortnight.

Only a gargantuan effort by Andre Agassi prevented him from walking off with the title.

And after his 1-6, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 4-6 defeat he took heart from his progress.

"I feel great, really... If you think I’m not smiling too much it’s because I’ve lost the final."

"I had a legitimate chance and lost — but inside I’m smiling. I’m happy... Happy with the two weeks I’ve had."

"I’m human. I’m disappointed that I didn’t win but on the other hand the happiness that I have inside from being there, from having an experience of coming so close, of being back playing the game that I love, being in the hunt, in the competition, that by far outweighs the disappointment," said Medvedev.

He is now looking forward to the next Grand Slam event, Wimbledon.

"Okay, maybe for the last seven Grand Slams I haven’t been excited but that’s because I wasn’t really playing tennis."

"But I was excited coming here — the adrenalin was really pumping and now I’m excited about coming to Wimbledon."

"I believe with my style I can do well there — perhaps win it."

And the secret to his success? "It looks like I just have to stick with Anke and make sure she doesn’t leave me... Then I will be fine."

Rs 7.5 lakh each for Paes, Bhupathi

MADURAI, June 8 (PTI) — Crack Indian tennis duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, who brought honours to the country by winning the French Open doubles title, would get Rs 7.5 lakh each in line with the centre’s policy to give rich cash awards to sportspersons excelling at international level.

Giving the information, the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Ms Uma Bharti, said the cash award, being given to those who won medals at international meets, would be extended to the tennis stars treating them as medal winners.

She said the Indian cricket team members would also be given the cash incentive if they won the ongoing World Cup.

Paes and Bhupathi on Sunday claimed their first Grand Slam title defeating Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia and Jeff Tarango of the USA.

On Sunday 153 sportspersons were given the cash awards for winning medals in Asian and Commonwealth Games.

She expressed confidence that India would win a few medals in the Sydney Olympics and said the sports department was concentrating on hockey, tennis, shooting, boxing, swimming and weightlifting.

The government was planning to open 20 sports schools throughout the country in coordination with state governments to produce excellent sportsmen.

Anand to play ‘advanced chess’

CHENNAI, June 8 (PTI) — Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand is to play a computer assisted match against FIDE world champion Anatoly Karpov in Leon, Spain, from June 11 to 13.

The concept of computer-assisted chess referred to as 'advanced chess' is to minimise tactical errors, thus improving the quality of the games.

Both grandmasters will be provided with a computer that works on an AMD K6-2 400 mhz processor. They will use an analysis programme, according to a Press release from TNG Sponsorship, representatives of Anand in India.

The match would consist of six games. Two games would be played each day and the player would have one hour to finish the game, the release said.

The match would be transmitted live on the Internet.

This was the first time Anand was playing advanced chess.