Back on a good surface Knight struck the ball crisply albeit against a second

Back on a good surface, Knight struck the ball crisply, albeit against a second string attack, as England chased the six runs per over necessary for victory.Reaching his second half-century of the series, Knight looked favourite to convert it into another three-figure score when he was run out by another smart bit of fielding by McGarrell, after he responded late to Ramprakash’s call from the non-striker’s end.Chastened by the experience, Ramprakash stayed in, mixing attack with accumulation, to score 51 as the rising run rate ate into England’s resources. Not long afterwards, Tuckett added a second, when Graeme Hick was caught at square leg, after badly mistiming his pull.Following Ben Hollioake to the crease after the youngster had been run out by a direct hit from newcomer Neil McGarrell, Hick never looked at ease, and his dismissal for one wrapped up a disappointing series for him.As it had done in the first two matches, the broad bat of Nick Knight held England together. After that, no bowler bar Fraser, who had bowled out, was able to rest comfortably.Even Croft, normally so restrictive, had to bow to Lara’s class. Moments later, when Croft had been removed from the attack, Lara and Lambert gave the England bowlers the long handle.With that brutal assault, the floodgates opened as 182 runs were added in 20 overs and another England bowling plan ended up in the wastebin 10 rows back in the Dos Santos Stand – the same place Lambert deposited Adam Hollioake the ball after Mark Ramprakash had dropped the rampant batsman at deep mid-wicket.When England batted, Alec Stewart was caught at short mid-wicket to give Carl Tuckett, one of two debutants, his first wicket in international cricket. Bowling tightly, Angus Fraser even managed three maidens, a criterion these days that would have made him an early contender for the man of the match, had the adjudicator been a bowler.Settling in to a tight line just outside off stump, he and Ben Hollioake kept Lara quiet, a state that altered when the West Indies captain had reached nine, and suddenly called for his sunglasses. With England’s fielding at its worse for some time – at least three catches were dropped – the captain did not help matters when he conceded four runs after an unnecessary shy at the stumps went well wide of its intended target.It was probably the first time since taking over the one-day captaincy in December, that Hollioake had been under heavy barrage in the field and mistakes were made, not least the decision to have his deep fielders 10 yards in from the boundary’s edge.

I’ve known Mark for years and he’s a much better player than his ranking suggests.”Gray, the world No 150 appearing in the last 32 for the first time in his six-year pro career, threatened to pull off another unexpected result when the duo shared the first six frames. But Dale won a scrappy seventh frame and then scored runs of 30 and 38 to win the eighth.”The bottom half of the draw is opening up now, and I’ll be expected to beat Neal to get to the quarter-finals. He showed he’s still a fine player with his 5-4 win over Tony Drago.The world No 16 Stephen Lee accounted for Dale’s countryman Paul Davies in another third-round game, and now has the dubious privilege of trying to halt Ronnie O’Sullivan’s run towards his fifth title of the season.. At the other end, Lambert, with his usual hulking presence, climbed in with his claymore, and hewed big chunks from England’s dwindling spirit.Breaking point was never far away and coming on after Robert Croft had bowled eight overs for 33, Hollioake senior was hit from the attack, as he conceded 33 runs from just two overs. He could probably have done with some advice too after Clayton Lambert, with 119, and Brian Lara with 93, had run England ragged in the field.

Coming together when the score was 67 for 2, the pair added 185 in 30 overs as a virtually second-choice West Indies side posted the first 300 plus score of the one-day series, and went on to win by 57 runs.
Even those who had arrived fresh here two weeks ago, began to look weary as the ball was manoeuvred, stroked and thrashed to all parts of the ground after a slow start saw the home side 95 for 2 at the half-way stage after winning the toss.Lara in particular, played some logic defying shots, feathering cuts impossibly fine. ENGLAND’S reticence to give Mike Atherton a game – he does average 77 against the West Indies after all – is puzzling. Ironically, it is just the kind of intransigence Atherton himself was famous for as captain, though the move does tend to suggest that he is probably not in mind for next month’s Texaco internationals against South Africa, let alone the World Cup in 13 months’ time. Fuyarchuk is now among the favourites to take over at Sheffield.Bracknell are set to make an appointment within a week, having drawn up a shortlist of three.

Two candidates are believed to be from Germany’s elite league and one an internal application.. He said: “I am saddened that it has come to this decision, but I strongly feel that I must look after my personal and working needs and must move on.”He becomes the second coach in a matter of days to part company with a Superleague club, following Alex Dampier’s departure from Sheffield Steelers on Friday. Fuyarchuk was handed an ultimatum by Bracknell of agreeing to a new one- year contract by yesterday morning, or the offer would be withdrawn and his services no longer required.
Fuyarchuk, who took the club to the first final in their history last season when he guided them to the Express Cup against the Grand Slam winners Ayr Scottish Eagles, has chosen to turn down the move.Fuyarchuk, who had spent three seasons with Bracknell, told the club of his decision via fax from his home in Canada. The general manager of the First and Second Division Association, Bob Scott, said that eight had already expressed interest.”If we hadn’t believed we could find those clubs, we would not have pursued this line of action,” the chairman of the Rugby League, Sir Rodney Walker, said.Three of the eight sides starting their campaign tomorrow will be promoted to the enlarged First Division, with a minimum of three newcomers making up the numbers.. Schofield, Huddersfield’s coach, had intended to play only in emergencies this season, but he has a long injury list and will start the game – Halifax’ first at their new home at The Shay – on the bench.St Helens will be without their new signing, Paul Davidson, for the Good Friday derby against Wigan.