Kiwis restrict Zimbabwe LEEDS, June 6 — New Zealand were 70 for three in 15 overs in response to Zimbabwe’s total of 175 all out, when bad light halted play in a World Cup Super Six match here today. India-Pakistan tie of great significance MANCHESTER, June 6 — It’s not war but if you were to read the newspapers here they make it sound as if the match on Tuesday could be a sneak preview of some unwanted war in the subcontinent.

LEEDS : New Zealand's Geoff Allott raises his arms to celebrate the runout of Zimbabwe's Grant Flower (right) during his teams match against Zimbabwe in the Cricket World Cup in Leeds Headingley stadium on Sunday — AP/PTI

Tightest security for Indo-Pak tie
MANCHESTER, June 6 (AFP) — World cup organisers are confident that Tuesday’s cricket World Cup clash between arch rivals India and Pakistan here at Old Trafford will pass off without trouble.

McGrath sends out ominous warning
LONDON, June 6 — Australian paceman Glenn McGrath has sounded an ominous warning to rival World Cup teams that he is reaching peak form.

Klusener a mix of timidity & brutality
TRENT BRIDGE, June 6 — On the cricket pitch, Lance Klusener is a mix of in-your-face aggression and brutal power. Off it, he wouldn’t say boo to a goose.

Inzamam maintains 100 pc record
TRENT BRIDGE, June 6 — It was perhaps inevitable that Inzamam-ul Haq, the worst mover between the wickets in the world, should be run out by Jonty Rhodes, the best fielder of all, during Pakistan’s World Cup clash with South Africa.

Akhtar over cost us match: Akram
TRENT BRIDGE, June 6 — Pakistan’s explosive strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar may be winning the pace battle but he’s losing the World Cup war, according to rival captains Hansie Cronje and Wasim Akram.

Shoaib Akhtar tops speed chart
TRENT BRIDGE, June 6 — Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar produced a 95-miles-per-hour delivery during his first spell in the cricket World Cup against South Africa here today, the quickest ball of the tournament.

Bangladesh bowlers least wayward
LONDON, June 6 — In their last match against Australia on Friday, India had the dubious distinction of crossing the 50 mark in wides bowled by their bowlers in this World Cup.

Kiwis restrict Zimbabwe

LEEDS, June 6 (PTI) — New Zealand were 70 for three in 15 overs in response to Zimbabwe’s total of 175 all out, when bad light halted play in a World Cup Super Six match here today.

The match, marred by two rain interruptions earlier in the day during Zimbabwe’s innings, will resume tomorrow with the Kiwis needing 106 runs for a win from 35 overs.

Needing a win for maiden entry to the semifinal stage, Zimbabwe struggled against an accurate Kiwi attack as Allott, the highest wicket-taker in the first round with a haul of 15, scalped three more and Chris Cairns picked up another three running through the lower order.

Allott (3/24) and Cairns (3/24) were superbly supported by highly economical Gavin Larsen (1/27), Nathan Astle (1/25) and Chris Harris (1/12) to take the wind out of Zimbabwe’s sail.

Electing to bat, the African side was dealt a rude jolt in the initial overs when Allott struck twin blows in successive overs to reduce them to 45 for three after losing Matthew Horne, run out to Grant Flower, with the scoreboard reading 10.

The setback did not seem to rattle opener Neil Johnson, the keyman behind Zimbabwe’s stunning win against favourites South Africa, as he punished Dion Nash with five scorching fours on his way to 25 before he dragged an Allott delivery to the stumps.

Allott struck again in the next over as he had Andy Flower (0) caught by a diving Craig McMillan at gully before rain stopped play with Zimbabwe, who had carried forward four points from the first round, were struggling at 47 for three in 10.4 overs.

After an almost 150-minute interruption, Zimbabwe progressed to 134 for three in 36 overs as Murray Goodwin (57 — 90b, 5x4) and skipper Alistair Campbell (40 — 101b) played sensibly to avoid further damage before rain forced another halt to the proceedings.

Though the duo was tied down by the Kiwi medium pacers, they never let any scoring opportunity go abegging as Goodwin struck five fours to complete his half-century.

But Goodwin seemed to have lost momentum when play resumed after about 90 minutes as he edged Harris to wicketkeeper Parore terminating his 91-run fourth wicket stand with Campbell.

The New Zealand bowlers came back with a vengeance to tie down left-handed Campbell and the newcomer Guy Whittall. In desperation to accelerate the run rate hovering around 3.5 per over, the Zimbabwe skipper perished as he holed in to Dion Nash at mid-on off Larsen.

Whittal (21 — 34b) nudged around looking for a run or two to provide respectability to the team total but the rest of the batsmen batted pathetically against a spot-on Kiwi attack.

After Astle removed Stuart Carlisle, caught at deep long-on going for a big hit, Cairns returned for his second spell to disturb the stumps of Heath Streak to pick up his 100th wicket in 107th one-day international.

Cairns scalped two more wickets to rattle the tail before Allott folded up the Zimbabwean innings sending back Guy Whittal to take his tally to 18, and equalling the record for the most wickets in a World Cup held by India’s Roger Binny in 1983.

Zimbabwe:
Johnson b Allott 25
Flower run out 1
Goodwin c Parore b Harris 57
Flower c McMillan b Allott 0
Campbell c Nash b Larsen 40
Whittall c Astle b Allott 21
Carlisle c McMillan b Astle 2
Streak b Cairns 4
Whittall c Astle b Cairns 3
Huckle c Twose b Cairns 0
Olonga not out 1
Extras: (b4, lb11, w3, nb3) 21
Total (49.3) 175
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-35, 3-45, 4-136, 5-148, 6-154, 7-163, 8-174, 9-174.
Bowling: Allott 10-1-24-3, Nash 10-2-48-0, Larsen 10-0-27-1, Cairns 6.3-2-24-3, Harris 4-0-12-1, Astle 9-0-25-1.

New Zealand:
Horne lbw b G Whittall 35
Astle c Streak b Olonga 20
McMillan lbw b Streak 1
Fleming not out 9
Twose not out 0
Extras (lb-1, nb-4) 5
Total (for three wkts, 15 overs) 70
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-59, 3-65.
Bowling: Johnson 3-0-21-0, Streak 5-0-25-1, G Whittall 3-0-9-1, Olonga 4-1-14-1.

India-Pakistan tie of great significance

MANCHESTER, June 6 (UNI) — It’s not war but if you were to read the newspapers here they make it sound as if the match on Tuesday could be a sneak preview of some unwanted war in the subcontinent.

Yes, it promises to be a great game which will be of greater significance for a reasonably large slice of the world’s population.

And yet it’s only a game, another of many the two have played against each other in various parts of the world, from Sydney in the south to Manchester in the north cricket has played such a large role in mending political fences in the Indo-Pakistan political sphere there is no reason to doubt this curious meeting at Old Trafford will not further help reduce tensions.

Kashmir is a long way from Manchester, the textile town, is the hub of the Pakistani migration with a lot of emigrants living in the north around here and in Yorkshire. But Kashmir may loom large in the hearts of many for it has been a bone of contention for 50 years now though what that has to do with a cricket match is something no one has really explained.

It was Imran Khan who in his own flamboyant but politically naive style who once declared that if Kashmir were the only issue between India and Pakistan why not settle it on the cricket field with a match for territory. What a match that would have been but such posturing only goes to show why there can never be lasting peace between the two nations, only tension made worse by their nuclear capabilities.

There will be words exchanged. There will be skirmishes in the crowd as that great British institution-the brewery-sends its products down the throats of the cricket spectator. There will be flags waved and drums beaten and unique subcontinental bad words will be flying around. But this is a comment on the world we live in today than on some long simmering dispute between India and Pakistan.

This is sport’s ultimate derby, greater than the Celtics V. Rangers football match in Scotland where too religious sectarian feelings can run high between Protestants and Cathloics.

This is an encounter that brings into play politics, religion and the foundations of national identity across a huge swathe of humanity. "And since last year, the sporting confrontation has been overshadowed by a nuclear one," says The Nation newspaper in Pakistan.

India and Pakistan are nations divided by a common culture much as it is said, humorously of course, that England and the USA are nations divided by a common language. But then what makes this particular match so significant is it comes in terms of time too close for comfort after the air sorties and the shelling in Kargil and the downing of IAF planes.

There is always a frisson to India-Pakistan encounters in cricket which the West must find difficult to define. The first time that the two met in a World Cup was only in 1992 in Sydney where the sole embarrassment to the hosts was that a few orange turbaned Khalistanis walked around the ground shouting slogans and displaying banners. The police politely told them to take it easy or face eviction.

The police will have a tougher time at Old Trafford. But then such scenes of intense rivalry are commonplace at the football venues of the world. And soccer hooliganism is a far worse social phenomenon than a few rowdy or drunken India and Pakistani fans heaping abuse on each other at a cricket match.

The encounter in Bangalore in 1996 was of a different timbre. The support was nearly 100 per cent for India. The host. There were no security risks, save in the grave scenarios , more to watch the cricket than catch any culprit intending to be an incendiary catalyst.

The one to feel some fear may have been the TV commentator Imran Khan who when exiting from the stadium in his car was surrounded by hordes of cricket, fans, delirious with India’s success, who smashed the windscreen Imran emerged unscathed from another instance of crass mob mentality.

In a country that respects the rights of individuals, it is simply a matter of maintaining some order and harmony. And in this regard cricket is an easy game, its genteel nature having provided a tradition of sportship which the people’s sport of football can never hope to match.

"One should never forget that we are great friends", said Wasim Akram when talking on the match ahead. "We have done quite well against them", says Azhar when drawn to talk on the supposed inferiority complex that Indians suffer when they play Pakistan. The tension is apparent in him more than in Akram who might have his own physical worries.

Having survived many a disastrous performance against Pakistan, Azharuddin might turn out to be the greatest survivor in the history of Indian cricket who has led the side for an unprecedented nine years with only a minor break inbetween.

But if his side were to lose this one, it could well be curtains for laidback nice young man whose captaincy record is history and whose personal batting form is in tatters.

Ticket touts are already descending on Manchester. They expect to take the heaviest premiums around Old Trafford on match day. They expect to get 250 (about Rs 17,500) for tickets with a face value of 35 (about Rs 2450). Touting tickets at cricket matches is not an offence whereas it is in football.

The police simply move the touts out of the way to facilitate the movement of people with "hey, what’s going on here then?" Their trade has so much to do with imposing themselves on people who could possibly be looking for tickets that they do get in the way as they did at The Oval when leaving the tube station was getting to be a problem.

The day will be dramatic. But still it’s not war and don’t forget cricket is the great mender of fences and hence its special place in the hearts of those for whom it might even seem to be a religion. But still it’s not war.

Tightest security for Indo-Pak tie

MANCHESTER, June 6 (AFP) — World cup organisers are confident that Tuesday’s cricket World Cup clash between arch rivals India and Pakistan here at Old Trafford will pass off without trouble.

But British police are taking no chances as they prepare to implement the tightest security measures of the tournament so far.

The high profile match comes as both countries are gripped by border tension over Pakistan-backed infiltrators in Kashmir.

"There will be additional measures. They are not over the top but appropriate for the event," World Cup spokeswoman Josie Stevens said today.

"We are aware of the difficulties between Pakistan and India, but this is a cricket match.

"For obvious reasons we cannot go into too much detail about the security arrangements. But we have talked to all the relevant authorities at great length, including greater Manchester Police and ACPO (the Association of Chief Police Officers).

"So far the India and Pakistan supporters have been very good natured and exuberant."

The organisers, however, admit that ticketing arrangements have left them powerless to separate rival fans -a policy which British police regard as essential at football matches.

Stevens added: "All Super Six tickets were sold in advance and nobody knew who would be playing who in the second round. So the segregation of fans has never been possible."

Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin said his team would not be distracted by worries about security. "I am leaving it to the British authorities," he told AFP. "They know what to do best. We have played Pakistan before all over the world. We are not worried."

Pakistan captain Wasim Akram appealed to fans not to wreck the match.

Akram said: "I would ask all fans to co-operate. I don’t believe there will be any trouble. It’s only a game, after all," he said.

British Asian fans are among the most passionate followers of cricket. The north-western city of Manchester has significant populations of Indians and Pakistanis.

India's batting tail begins 'with Azhar'

LONDON, Jun 6 (PTI) — Where does the tail of India’s batting begin?

Some uncharitable critics answer the question by saying, "with Azharuddin". That only reflects the public dismay with the current batting form of the Indian captain.

But the truth is that when all-rounders like South Africa’s Lance Klusener and Shaun Pollock, Pakistan’s Wasim Akram, Azhar Mehmood and Abdul Razzaq, Australia’s Steve Waugh and Tom Moody, New Zealand’s Chris Cairns and Chris Harris and Zimbabwe’s Neil Johnson are playing key roles in these teams, the Indian tail rarely wags.

Although Nayan Mongia has a Test century to his credit and an average of around 20.00 in one-dayers, the tail really begins with the Indian wicketkeeper. An occasional good knock by him is far outnumbered by the letdowns.

Pakistan’s Moin Khan hit a sizzling 63 in 56 balls against South Africa yesterday in yet another instance of his fighting abilities which have repeatedly come to the fore in crunch situations, this World Cup in particular.

Contrast this with the miserable two runs Mongia made when he came in after a great stand of 141 between Ajay Jadeja and Robin Singh to give India faint, very faint, chances of pulling off a miracle against the Australians on Friday.

Mongia scratched around for a short while even as an infuriated Jadeja wanted him to go for shots and run faster between the wickets.

And then, the man playing his 137th one-day tie simply threw away his wicket with a run out when the situation demanded that he help add as many runs as possible so that India can improve their net run rate, the only way then can, if at all they do, of reaching the semifinal.

Mongia either does not perform at all, or on the few occasions he gets going, plays reckless shots to gift his wicket away instead of finishing the job with victory near.

At Chennai, in the first Test against Pakistan, Mongia brought India close to victory in a big partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, but went for a needless heave immediately after the star batsman was dismissed to gift-wrap the Test to Pakistan.

Another example came at Leicester against Zimbabwe. Mongia seemed to be playing sensibly when he gave an almighty heave to be comprehensively bowled to trigger a collapse and India lost by three runs.

Mongia, who was once suspended for a match with Manoj Prabhakar for slow batting in a 1994 one-day tie at Kanpur, seldom performs with the bat but Indian selectors seem to be oblivious of his shortcoming as well as that of the longest tail in any international team.

Indian tail-enders suffer the jitters at the barest hint of pressure, unlike those from other teams who revel when their main batsmen have failed.

And they are not inspired by feats from those like South African Lance Klusener, who hit 46 not out off 41 balls in his continued brilliance as a lower order batsman in their dramatic win over Pakistan.

The Indian team management here seems to be oblivious of this major shortcoming which is telling in India’s sputtering campaign which looks to end prematurely barring a miracle.

This despite India playing the highest number of one-day ties — they played over 140 last year.

The team is rightly branded as perennial poor chasers and proves it every time out chasing, immaterial of the size of the target.

Late order collapses are a regular feature with even Javagal Srinath, considered to be an all-rounder of some merit, rarely showing the grit to stick around and see his team through.

The grand wagging of the Indian tail-enders was in full display against Zimbabwe. After Mongia fell, the remaining batsmen simply folded up in one over to paceman Henry Olonga.

Srinath hit two sixes to bring victory near, but with India needing only four runs from eight balls, he went for an almighty heave to be comprehensively bowled when singles would have done the job.

His pace partner Venkatesh Prasad struggles to last even two balls, but even worse insists on falling leg before wicket with embarrassing regularity, his dismissals against Zimbabwe and Australia being the latest examples.

Shastri wants Azhar to go as captain

LONDON, June 6 (PTI) — Former India skipper Ravi Shastri has advocated that Mohammed Azharuddin be replaced as captain by Ajay Jadeja, saying "Azhar has had his time".

Shastri said India’s premature exit from the World Cup would bring fresh pressure on Azharuddin’s captaincy and that Jadeja "is sharp, a good communicator and has the support of the players," writing in "The Times" today.

"I think Azhar has had his time. He is fit and can still contribute with the bat, but there is a need for fresh ideas. Ajay Jadeja should be encouraged. He led the team well in Sharjah, when Azhar was unavailable," he said.

Sachin Tendulkar "is not too keen to take the job back at the moment, but his time will come again," Shastri said.

The only hitch was Jadeja was not certain for the Test side, but he should be persevered with even though there will be claims that he is not worth his place, he wrote.

"He should play as captain and bat in the middle order and with the added responsibility plus exposure against Australia and South Africa this winter, he will deliver," he added.

India are capable of beating Pakistan on Tuesday — "It will be a tough contest, but winning is not beyond India" — he said, but criticised shifting Tendulkar’s batting order.

"By moving Tendulkar up and down the order, they were no longer picking their best 11 players and jolting the confidence of the top order. The lowest Tendulkar should have batted was No 3, below a dummy opener such as Nayan Mongia."

McGrath sends out ominous warning

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) — Australian paceman Glenn McGrath has sounded an ominous warning to rival World Cup teams that he is reaching peak form.

After indifferent figures in early matches which reflected Australia's stuttering start to the tournament, the 29-year-old from rural New South Wales destroyed West Indies last week to reach the Super Six stage and then ripped the heart out of India's formidable top order on Saturday.

"My rhythm has been coming back slowly with each game", he said after capturing the prized scalps of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and captain Mohammad Azharuddin in the 77-run win over India.

"It was just a question of getting my confidence back, it came back with the West Indies game".

The fiery McGrath, renowned for his incisive repartee at the wicket, did not need sledging to make his point against West Indies, taking five for 14 including the wicket of Brian Lara, nor against India, finishing with three for 34.

In Australia's four previous matches, victories against outsiders Scotland and Bangladesh and defeats by Pakistan and New Zealand, McGarth had picked up only five wickets.

Capturing the wickets of the two greatest batsmen in the world, Lara and Tendulkar, in successive games was an enormous boost to the man his team mates dub "pigeon".

McGrath had dismissed Lara seven times in Tests and once in one-day matches but has not had the same opportunity against Tendulkar. He missed the tour of India early last year when Australia's bowlers were mauled by Mumbai's favourite son.

"I probably enjoy getting Sachin out more than Brian these days", McGarth said. "He's a class player there's no doubt about it, and a big key to their batting line-up, so it was very enjoyable".

Tendulkar lasted just three balls before nicking a catch behind and it was not just pace which undermined him and tournament top scorer Dravid.

McGarth's top delivery speed at the Oval, measured at 88 mph, was slower than that of India's Javagal Srinath with 93 and not much ahead of team mates Paul Reiffel and Damien Fleming with 86.

His accuracy and self belief were formidable weapons. "I backed myself that if I bowled a good line and length I could do something", he said.

McGarth is now fully committed to his one-day role after treating the limited overs game with some disdain in the past. "My attitude to one-day cricket has improved in the past year. I was too much focused on Test cricket before".

McGarth said he had since learned to appreciate the patience and build-up required in the one-day game and the need for containment. "In Test cricket you can be more aggressive", he said.

Klusener a mix of timidity & brutality

TRENT BRIDGE, June 6 (AFP) — On the cricket pitch, Lance Klusener is a mix of in-your-face aggression and brutal power. Off it, he wouldn’t say boo to a goose.

He probably wouldn’t even look a goose in the eye.

Yesterday, after scoring an undefeated 46 off 41 balls to set up South Africa’s back-to-the-wall win, the Natal all-rounder was asked whether he realised he had just broken a world record.

When was he last dismissed in a one-day international?, Someone asked.

Klusener blushed beetroot.

"I havn’t a clue when I was last out," he said. "World record, no, I didn’t know. What world record?"

Klusener was informed his latest innings meant he had scored 396 one-day runs without being dismissed, overtaking Javed Miandad’s 395. His last dismissal dates back to February, nine matches ago.

"Cheers, thanks man," stammered the red-faced South African, looking as happy as a man having teeth extracted without anaesthetic. "Thanks, yea."

Someone should tell Klusener: If he does not like the spotlight off the pitch, he should change his behaviour on it. And radically.

Before yesterday, he had hit World Cup scores of 12 not out against India, 52 not out off 43 balls against Sri Lanka, 48 not out against England and 52 not out against Zimbabwe.

Klusener has also chipped in with 14 wickets, including three against Sri Lanka and five against Kenya.

His six performances so far in the tournament have won him four man-of-the-match awards.

Against Pakistan, however, it seemed his team was asking too much.

He came in with the score on 176 for seven, chasing 221 to win. Soon, 44 were needed off five overs.

Klusener, who wields a three pound, two ounce bat, the heaviest in the tournament, and his partner Mark Boucher, did it in four.

Pakistan’s hostile paceman Shoaib Akhtar, bowling at over 90 miles per hour, was the biggest sufferer as he was hit for 17 off an over.

South African skipper Hansie Cronje admitted victory had been "a tough task" until "Zulu", as he is nicknamed, began wading in.

Cronje added with a smile: "We’re making it harder and harder to see how far we can push him."

"The more trouble we get ourselves in, the more Lance seems to pull us out. He is so difficult to bowl at and we always had a chance as long as he was at the crease."

Klusener added: "I just tried to deal with the situation the best way I could. It was a run a ball from a long way out, but I knew if we got close we could make six off the last over."

Inzamam maintains 100 pc record

TRENT BRIDGE, June 6 (AFP) — It was perhaps inevitable that Inzamam-ul Haq, the worst mover between the wickets in the world, should be run out by Jonty Rhodes, the best fielder of all, during Pakistan’s World Cup clash with South Africa.

The athletic Rhodes, who has turned fielding into an art form, had made his name in the 1992 World Cup with a spectacular swallow-dive to run out Inzamam at Brisbane.

At Trent Bridge yesterday, the Pakistani number five was called for a sharp single by Yousuf Youhana but never made it as a Rhodes direct throw dislodged the bails.

Inzamam, however, had a hand in his own downfall. He would have survived if only he had grounded his bat instead of leaving it hanging in the air.

Inzamam, whose bad running appears to be compounded by his hefty frame and his inability to communicate with partners, has been run out 30 times in 154 one-day innings.

In three World Cup matches against South Africa, he has a 100 per cent record — run out each time.

In the World Cup overall, he has been run out eight times in 19 starts since his debut in 1992.

His captain Wasim Akram has refused to criticise him after a string of comical mix-ups with his batting partners during this World Cup, arguing that the weight of Inzamam’s runs outweighed his blunders.

Akram, however, paid special attention to running between the wickets during their pre-match training. But it made no difference as Inzamam was one of the three Pakistanis to be run out. Inzamam made only four despite being egged on by his fans here, who continued to chant his name and their now-favourite refrain of: "Run, Inzie, run".

Pakistan team manager Zafar Altaf said his players had practiced running between the wickets last week, but admitted it had not helped.

"It is an instant reaction on the pitch, while in practice sessions you have a more conscious decision," Altaf said. "I suppose at that moment they missed out on a few things they had learned."

Lumbering for a single to the striker's end, Inzamam made the schoolboy error of not grounding his bad as he passed the popping crease and was sent packing by a direct hit from Jonty Rhodes.

As well as running himself out twice in this tournament, Inzamam also was involved in the run outs of two fellow Pakistanis in his team's defeat of Australia.

He has now been involved in the run outs of four teammates this World Cup alone. In six matches, Pakistan has lost twelve wickets to run outs.

The Australia match earned Inzamam a verbal assault from former Pakistani captain Imran Khan.

Akhtar over cost us match: Akram

TRENT BRIDGE, June 6 (AFP) — Pakistan’s explosive strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar may be winning the pace battle but he’s losing the World Cup war, according to rival captains Hansie Cronje and Wasim Akram.

Cronje, speaking after South Africa’s last-gasp win over Pakistan yesterday, said that some people were calling Akhtar the world’s best bowler.

But he argued: "Shoaib Akhtar had only played 21 one-day internationals before today — he’s fast but he’s relatively inexperienced.

"When he grows older, he will learn it’s not all about being fast."

South Africa’s win over Pakistan in the second round of the tournament looked impossible yesterday until Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher hit 44 runs off 24 balls.

Akhtar, who had taken two for 13 in his opening four-over spell, was smashed for 17 off a single over at the death. His last five overs cost 38 runs.

Akram said that he had told his bowlers that "if they want to win, they must be consistent and play according to a plan.

"Shoaib did not bowl according to the plan. He bowled a little short and the one over in which he gave away 17 runs cost us the match."

Cronje added that Akhtar should learn from Akram, who he said was a master at containing batsmen in the final overs.

"Wasim never gives you anything to hit. With Shoaib, you feel you can hit him. He won the pace battle but Allan’s more accurate," Cronje said.

Akhtar, a 23-year-old from Rawalpindi, has been the sensation of the World Cup, using his pace to initiate early breakthroughs.

Yesterday, he was timed at 95 miles per hour and organisers are hoping he could break the 100mph mark by the end of the tournament.

But the statistics back up Cronje’s argument about the limits of his effectiveness.

Donald currently has 12 wickets in the tournament, at an average of 17.33. His economy rate is four an over.

Akhtar has 10 wickets, at 22.30 apiece, and he is conceding four-and-a-half runs ever six balls.

His captain will also be concerned about his explosive temperament.

Akhtar was warned by the match umpire after clashing with Steve Waugh in their first-round match. Akhtar, however, had kept his cool to bowl Waugh near the end of the game to help Pakistan to a 10-run win.

Yesterday, however, he again got involved in ugly scenes as he swore at Jacques Kallis after the batsmen had asked for the dirty white ball to be changed because they were struggling to see it in the gathering gloom.

That loss of control may have worked against him against Klusener.

Shoaib Akhtar tops speed chart

TRENT BRIDGE, June 6 (AFP) — Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar produced a 95-miles-per-hour delivery during his first spell in the cricket World Cup against South Africa here today, the quickest ball of the tournament.

Organisers hope the 23-year-old, dubbed the "Rawalpindi Express", will become the first man to break the 100mph barrier during the event.

The current record, bowled by Australian Jeff Thompson, stands at 99.70.

Akhtar's first-ball loosener, timed by a speed gun, was recorded at 90mph — as fast as Allan Donald's quickest delivery in the first innings.

His third ball — which led to herschelle Gibbs being caught at gully — and fifth balls were recorded at 93mph, equalling a delivery produced by India's Javagal Srinath against Australia on Friday.

The speed gun, perhaps still in shock, failed to give a time for the sixth delivery.

Akhtar's second over contained balls of 94 and 95mph, and he matched that top speed in his next over after Hansie Cronje was caught at third man off a top edge off a 92mph effort. That made it 19 for two as South Africa chased 221 for victory.

Akhtar's fastest ball ever timed was 96mph, in Sharjah earlier this year.

He finished his first spell by cracking Gary Kirsten on the left thumb, necessitating a break for treatment. Next ball, the left-hander was dropped at first slip as the 6ft 21ns Inzaman-ul Haq could only get his fingertips to a top edge that raced away for four, Inzamam spend the next minute blowing on his stinging hands.

Akhtar, cheered after every ball by the crowd as they waited to see his latest time posted, recorded figures of two for 13 in his first four overs. He was due to bowl another six overs later in the day.

The speed gun measures the speed of the ball from the moment it leaves the bowler's hand until it hits the pitch.

Bangladesh bowlers least wayward

LONDON, June 6 (PTI) — In their last match against Australia on Friday, India had the dubious distinction of crossing the 50 mark in wides bowled by their bowlers in this World Cup.

But if it looks bad, remember they are only seventh in the list of "wide culprits" from 12 teams in the competition.

As against 52 wides, India’s no-ball count stands at 39 after Friday’s match. It is the third worst among all.

Zimbabwe have given most number of wides — 82 — in the competition thus far, while Pakistan top the no-ball list by sending down 53 including 13 against South Africa yesterday.

A total of 12634 runs have been scored from 32 matches in the competition thus far. Runs scored from the bat were 11067 while extras have contributed 1567 runs.

A total of 809 wides have been bowled while no-balls amount to 316, including the runs scored off them.

The top five culprits in "no-ball" mess-up in the current edition are Pakistan (53), Scotland (40), India (39), Australia (35) and Zimbabwe (28) while a similar list in wides reads: Pakistan (88), Zimbabwe (82), Australia (80), West Indies (73) and Scotland (67).

The teams with minimum no-balls and wides bowled in this competition are Bangladesh (7) and New Zealand (32).

In the list of bowlers who have conceded most no-balls and wides, Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram was second on both counts after yesterday’s match, having overstepped 22 times and was wide of the mark on 35 occasions.

John Blain of Scotland had bowled 23 no-balls which Akram is sure to overtake sooner than later.

In wides too, Zimbabwe’s Heath Streak (33) and Akram (35) have an unwanted competition going.

So far, Australia have scored the most number of runs in the first 15 overs — 115 for three against Bangladesh in the league. New Zealand made 98 for four against Scotland at Edinburgh by the 15th over. India were 94 for one against Sri Lanka in 15 overs at Taunton.

The lowest score made by any team in the first 15 overs till now is by Scotland, who made 20 for two against the West Indies. It was the Caribbeans again who restricted New Zealand to 28 for three in 15 overs in the league stage.

The average scoring rate of teams in the first 15 overs also reflect the planning with which they have approached this World Cup.

India’s average of 70.20 runs in their first 15 overs is the best among super six teams while Pakistan has just 48.

Clearly, Pakistan seem to believe in utilising the final overs and seeing off the initial ones with least damage in terms of wickets.

Pakistan, incidentally, has the worst scoring rate from the first 15 overs of all teams who have qualified for the Super Six stage.

But they have the best run rate among all Super Six teams for the final 10 overs, or the slog overs. On an average, they are managing 90-plus totals in their final 10 overs.

India too have not done badly on this count, having scored at an average of 85 runs in their final 10 overs.

Star bat Sachin Tendulkar, who departed for a duck to Glenn McGrath on Friday in India’s 77-run defeat to Australia, became only the eighth specialist batsman in this World Cup to have made nothing from an innings.

Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq (vs West Indies), England’s Alec Stewart (vs South Africa), West Indies’ Stuart Williams (vs Scotland), Zimbabwe’s Alistair Campbell (vs South Africa), South Africa’s Gary Kirsten (vs Zimbabwe), England’s Graeme Hick (vs India) and West Indies’ Jimmy Adams (vs Australia) are other top batsmen to have earned the dubious distinction.

"Hit racism for a six"

LONDON, June 6 (AFP) — A campaign group for racial equality in British cricket has begun distributing leaflets calling for peaceful behaviour at Tuesday’s politically sensitive World Cup match between India and Pakistan.

The London-based "hit racism for six" says politics has no place in the clash between the long standing rivals at Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday.

"A world cup match between India and Pakistan is an occasion to be celebrated and enjoyed," a release from the organisation said today.

"Politicians who try to use cricket to whip up hatred and division in the sub-continent or in Britain should be rejected by all those who value the game.

"The presence of Asian fans has helped turn this World Cup into a true carnival of cricket. The tiny minority in England who object to that presence will seize any unpleasant incident to turn the clock back."

The campaign hopes the security at the match will not be stifling. "We see no reason for heavy-handed security measures," it says. "The authorities should not perceive every expression of enthusiasm as a menace to law and order.

"We urge spectators, administrators, police and the players themselves to do everything in their power to ensure a celebration of international cricket and India-Pakistan friendship."

Historic title for Paes-Bhupathi duo

PARIS, June 6 (PTI) — Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi today scripted a red letter day for Indian tennis when the crack pair claimed their maiden Grand Slam title together by winning the French Open men’s doubles at the Roland Garros.

The top-seeded Indians outclassed unseeded left-handed pair of Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia and Jeff Tarango of the USA 6-2, 7-5 at the Parisian red clay courts to accomplish a grand dream for themselves and their country.

Their progress to their first Grand Slam title was halted late last evening due to heavy rain and fading light, with Paes and Bhupathi leading 6-2, 5-5.

The Indian pair clinched the second matchpoint on Paes’ service when Ivanisevic sent a return high and long, threw up their arms in triumph and embraced each other to cheers from their close friends and relatives.

As play began, the Indians quickly gained upper hand when they straightaway broke Tarango’s serve to go up 6-5. At the first matchpoint, Paes fired what looked an ace, but he showed sportsmanship when Ivanisevic pointed out the ball was just wide, though it had been called good.

Paes earned a second matchpoint when Tarango netted a return which they converted to clinch victory.

It was second time lucky for Paes and Bhupathi who had lost their first Grand Slam final, the Australian Open this January, after an epic five-set battle against Aussie Pat Rafter and Swede Jonas Bjorkman described as one of the classic doubles encounters of the Open era.

Roland Garros has proved a happy hunting ground for Bhupathi who became the first Indian to win a Grand Slam title in 1997 when he partnered Japan’s Rika Hiraki for the mixed doubles title.

Paes and Bhupathi, who will emerge world number one for the first time in tomorrow’s ATP list, claimed their richest prize money of their brilliant doubles career, winning $ 276,660 (approx 1.16 crore) while Ivanisevic and Tarango pocketed (approximately Rs 58 lakh) as runners-up.

The Indians, who lost to Mark Knowles (Bahamas) and Daniel Nestor (Canada) in the semifinal last year, showed their maturity in crucial moments.

The Indian pair, whose victory march was halted by pouring rain, quickly wrapped up the match to approbation.

Playing in front of mainly well-wishers that included Leander’s father Dr Vece Paes and tennis legend John McEnroe, never let go of their grip once they broke Tarango.

Tarango led 30-0 on his serve, but Paes returned a down the line passing shot and earned breakpoint with a down the line passing shot after deuce was forced.

Bhupathi hit a powerful forehand winner to clinch the break and leave Paes to serve for the match.

Paes dished out a double fault to trial 15-30. He made it 30-all when Ivanisevic netted a return and earned the first championship point as Tarango netted a return.

Paes sent an angled serve which was called good, but sportingly agreed to replay the point when Ivanisevic pointed that the ball had landed just wide.

His second serve was deep and Ivanisevic’s return went high over and went long to end the contest.

Agassi is French Open champ

PARIS, June 6 (Reuters) — Andre Agassi became the first player in 30 years to have won the four Grand Slam tournaments when he fought from two sets down to beat Ukraine’s Andrei Medvedev in a dramatic French Open final today.

The American 13th seed, a losing finalist in Paris in 1990 and 1991, won 1-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 and became the first player since Ivan Lendl 15 years ago to fight back from two sets down in a Grand Slam final, also at Roland Garros.

"I never dreamed to be back here. I’m really proud right now," he said tearfully at the end.

Agassi, who surged back from near oblivion last year after slumping to 122nd in the world rankings, is only the fifth man to have won the four major tournaments in tennis.

He won Wimbledon in 1992, the U.S. Open in 1994 and the Australian Open in 1995.

His hard-fought victory against Medvedev, in two hours and 52 minutes, also makes him the first player to win the four Grand Slam tournaments on four different surfaces.

Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson and Rod Laver, his four predecessors, achieved the feat when Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open were played on grass.

But it was not an easy victory for Agassi, as he was ridiculed for two sets, going behind 6-1 6-2 in just 50 minutes. For the American, the match really started in the third set when he broke Medvedev at last, and he took control of the match in the third and fourth sets, winning them 6-4 6-3.

In the fifth, he broke the Ukrainian in the fifth game and held up until the end to break his Parisian jinx at last, bursting into tears after winning on his fourth match point.

Martina Hingis’ French Open misery was complete today when she and partner Anna Kournikova lost the final of the women’s doubles to Americans Serena and Venus Williams.

The ninth-seeded Williams sisters made up for their early exits from the singles with a 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 8-6 triumph in their rain-interrupted encounter with Switzerland’s Hingis and Russia’s Kournikova, the second seeds.

Hingis, number one in the singles rankings, lost singles final yesterday to German veteran Steffi Graf after coming within three points of winning the only Grand Slam she has never won. Today’s defeat brought an end to a brilliant doubles run of five straight grand slam wins for Hingis.

Patiala beat Amritsar

PATIALA, June 6 (FOSR) — Reetinder Sodhi's superb performance with both the bat and ball, who claimed two wickets and then compiled at neat 73, enabled Patiala to beat Amritsar by 4 wickets in the one-day Punjab Inter District Katoch Shield Cricket Tournament played at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium here today.

Amritsar: 240 for 9 in 50 overs (Tejinder Singh 35, Devinder Matoo 32, Sanjay Kumar 26, Ranjeev Sharma 2 for 42, A. Kakria 2 for 46, Reetinder Sodhi 2 for 45, Lakhbir Singh 2 for 55). Patiala: 244 for 6 in 49 overs (Reetinder Sodhi 73, Pankaj Dharmani 58, Munish Bali 35, Ranjeev Sharma 21 n.o., Tejinder Singh 2 for 41, Sandeep Sanwal 2 for 31).