A CAPTAIN’S KNOCK is one of the most over-used clichés in cricket. It wouldn’t have been out of place, however, to rubber-stamp it at the North Stars Cultural and Social Club ground yesterday.With a sweet sense of timing in almost every aspect, Courtney Browne sped to a impressive century to rescue Barbados on the second day of their third-round Carib Beer Series match against Jamaica.As the Barbados captain walked out onto the middle of the packed, scenic Crab Hill, St Lucy ground 40 minutes after lunch, his team’s 141 for five, which soon became 161 for six with the loss of in-form Floyd Reifer, represented the potential of a modest total.By the time he returned to the pavilion and a standing ovation just after 5 p.m., it had been transformed to a more satisfying 325 mainly on the strength of his unbeaten 103 off 157 balls."It was good innings, but I wasn’t really worried about a hundred," Browne told SUNSPORT."We had a target in excess of 300. After we got 300, I realised I was about 12 or 14 away from a hundred and I decided I would take it."In eight overs before the close, Jamaica reached 19 without loss when bad light halted play just before 6 p.m. on a day in which the first hour-and-a-half was lost because of wet conditions.In the past, Browne has responded to potential crises by counter-attacking and yesterday was no different."I knew I had to bat. One of the things about our team is that the lower order always scores quickly. We always turn over the strike," he said.With the help of the typically busy Ryan Hurley, whose 36 came from 54 balls, he rebuilt Barbados’ position with an entertaining seventh-wicket partnership of 69 at better than a run-a-minute and then a solid eight-wicket stand of 51 with Ian Bradshaw.The 32-year-old Browne was even more electrifying when last man Sulieman Benn joined him at a stage when he was still 23 away from his fifth first-class century and third at the regional level.With Benn incapacitated by a troublesome knee, Browne dramatically raised a notch. In less than 20 minutes he moved from 77 to his first hundred as Barbados captain."When you are in the 70s, you have to pick up momentum a little more to get closer," Browne said. "A No. 11 or Benn seeing 23 runs is different than him seeing nine. If he sees nine runs on the board for his captain to get a hundred, he’ll bat with a lot more confidence than if he sees 23 or 30 runs."After one of Browne’s trademark slog-sweeps over mid-wicket against off-spinner Nehemiah Perry, he followed with the more traditional sweep in the direction of square-leg.Essayed off successive balls, both went for boundaries and there was another four off the other off-spinner Gareth Breese through extra-cover that took him to 95.When Jamaica wrapped up the innings, Browne was left high and dry in an effort that lasted three-and-a-half hours and included eight boundaries.This was a critical hundred for the hosts, but the captain still rates his maiden regional first-class century, which was made against a Leeward Islands attack that included Curtly Ambrose, as his best at this level."Three hundred and twenty-five is a very good total on this pitch. It will take a lot of effort in the field, but the way our guys are playing, they are very committed and I am sure they’ll come out and do very well for their country," he said."The pitch now is doing a bit for the spinners. We’ll try to plug Benn and Hurley in as quickly as possible and see what they can do."Before Browne entered, Reifer was the backbone of Barbados’ innings, his polished 61 following a century against India "A" last weekend.He was, however, one of three batsmen whose soft dismissals allowed Jamaica to send Barbados from the relative comfort of 129 for three to 161 for six.Both Kurt Wilkinson, who extended his overnight 32 to 45, and Dwayne Smith edged attempted cuts off left-arm spinner Ryan Cunningham, while Reifer gave a return catch to Breese to be dismissed for 61 off 154 balls.For the first three hours, Jamaica relied almost exclusively on spin to the surprise of many who felt there might have been some assistance in the surface following overnight rain that delayed the start.Franklyn Rose wasn’t given the ball until after tea and Darren Powell sent down only two overs up until the day’s second interval.ScoreboardBARBADOS 1st Innings (overnight 89-3)P. Wallace c wk Hibbert b Rose 6S. Campbell c Breese b Powell 0K. Wilkinson c wk Hibbert b Cunningham 45R. Hinds c wk Hibbert b Bernard 23F. Reifer c and b Breese 61D. Smith c Samuels b Cunningham 6*+C. Browne not out 103R. Hurley lbw b Perry 36I.Bradshaw c wk Hibbert b Perry 20T. Best c Parchment b Perry 1S. Benn c Samuels b Perry 10Extras (b4, lb1, w1, nb8) 14TOTAL (all out) 325Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Campbell), 2-7 (Wallace), 3-49 (Reifer), 4-129 (Wilkinson), 5-141 (Smith), 6-162 (Reifer), 7-231 (Hurley), 8-282 (Bradshaw), 9-286 (Best), 10-325 (Benn).Bowling: Rose 9-0-59-1 (nb6), Powell 8-2-44-1 (nb1), Bernard 12-3-44-1 (w1), Perry 30.2-6-80-2 (nb1), Breese 26-3-65-3, Cunningham 17-3-28-2.JAMAICA 1st InningsL. Garrick not out 19B. Parchment not out 8Extras (lb1, w1, nb2) 4TOTAL (no wkt – 8 overs) 31To bat: M. Ventura, D. Bernard, G. Breese, *R. Samuels, +K. Hibbert, N. Perry, F. Rose, D. Powell, R. Cunningham.Bowling: Best 2-1-2-0, Bradshaw 4-0-22-0 (nb2, w1), Hurley 2-0-6-0.Position: Jamaica need another 295 runs for first innings lead with all their wickets in hand ahead of today’s third day.Umpires: Clive Duncan (Guyana), Vincent Bullen (Barbados). Stand-by: Mervyn Jones (Barbados). Match referee: Carl Brome.

Bert Sutcliffe’s achievement in scoring 385 runs for Otago against Canterbury in 1952/53 and setting a standard which is still the highest score by a New Zealander, will be honoured in a novel, or should that be a non-fiction, way by Otago Cricket.As a 125th jubilee project, Otago Cricket are publishing a limited edition book on the unique feat of their association fielding the players who scored the first six triple centuries by New Zealanders.The book, “The 300 Club” has been written by the senior editor of CricInfo New Zealand, Lynn McConnell, and will go on sale on April 16 at the annual Otago Cricket dinner in Dunedin.”We will be producing 385 numbered copies. I expect the finished product to look very good and for the book to be a sought after collectors item – published by the Otago Cricket Association,” the Association’s chief executive Graeme Elliott said.”The book features a topical account of each of the innings and a profile of the batsmen concerned, along with scoreboards of the matches.”The books will have leather covers that will be dark blue and have gold lettering for the title and at the bottom of the cover.”The book also opens with a detailed encounter of the first International match played in New Zealand in Dunedin in 1864 as part of the Carnival of Cricket that also included the first first-class match to be played in New Zealand,” Elliott said.Pre-April 16 orders can be made through Otago Cricket by e-mail to [email protected] or by phone (03) 455 4056, fax (03) 455 4250 or mail to PO Box 1419, Dunedin.

Another hectic week in the World Cup, and some more shocks. Most notable was Kenya’s great victory over Sri Lanka.It is hard to not believe that Sri Lanka’s defeat was caused as much by their own over-confidence as by Kenya’s great performance. Incredibly, it seems that for the first time an associate member might reach the Super Sixes, thanks to their extra four points donated by a paranoid New Zealand.CONTENTS:

• Zimbabwe v Australia: scorecard and report
• Dion Ebrahim: first-class record
• Letters

This will no doubt speed along Kenya’s progress to Test status, but Test cricket is a different ball game altogether. Test cricket, before they were ready for it, seems if anything to have hampered Bangladesh’s development in the short term, as they lost their way even against Canada. They have been battered so often that they do not even know how to beat associate members now, it would appear. It would be tragic if this were also to happen to Kenya.I would be only too delighted to see Kenya playing Test cricket – as long as they were properly prepared for it. It would do neither them nor Test cricket any good to be humiliated match after match like the Bangladeshis. And it all could have been avoided had the ICC helped them arrange several years of unofficial international matches against the A teams from Test-playing countries, as happened with Zimbabwe.Zimbabwe actually played better Test cricket ten years ago, when new on the scene, than they are doing today, in the view of others besides myself. Certainly the bowling was stronger then.On the eve of the match against Holland, is there a chance that Zimbabwe could be humiliated by an associate member? Probably not yet. At the moment Zimbabwe still seem to have something of an inferiority complex when facing senior Test-playing countries, but are hugely confident against the minor countries and the players want to cash in. They are not yet secure enough to become over-confident. But one day it will happen!

Somerset’s newest batting recruit James Bryant has arrived at the County Ground from South Africa to start his new career in English first class cricket, a career that he hopes will eventually lead to him playing international cricket.As he sat looking out across the ground the twenty seven year old who has made his name playing for Eastern Province said: "It’s good to have arrived at last and everybody has made me feel very welcome. The weather is really great and it’s warmer here than I thought that it would be."The South African born player, who is qualified to play county cricket as a non overseas player because of his English parents has been signed by the Cidermen to bolster the top order batting and is expected to bat at number three or four.He told me: "I have come to Somerset to help the club to win promotion, which I think is an achievable goal given the quality of the players that we have. In fact I will need to get some runs early on in the season to be sure of getting my place in the team!"Bryant has an impressive track record in both four day and one-day cricket. He went to university in Port Elizabeth and started playing for the Eastern Province `B’ side before progressing to the first team. As a result of being the leading run scorer for the province in 1999-2000, he was selected to go to the West Indies with the South African A side, an experience that he thoroughly enjoyed.However the tour did not lead to him being called up for the senior side, and despite being the leading run scorer in South African one day cricket the following season he has remained on the side lines, as a result of which he has come to England to try to realise a burning ambition.He told me: "In 2002 -3 I played for Eastern Province as their overseas player and coming over here to play first class cricket is the biggest decision in my cricketing career so far, but if I do well for Somerset then who knows it may lead to me playing for England because my biggest goal is to play international cricket. At present I have a two year contract, but if things go well this might be extended."How would he describe himself as a player I asked. "I’m an attacking batsman and enjoy playing both the four and one day game. I enjoy the quickness and the aggression of the one day game but I also enjoy building an innings in four day cricket. In both forms I play very positive cricket and like to keep the score moving along."In the short time that he had been at Taunton what did he think of what he had seen. "The ground looks lovely and there are lots of short straight boundaries and when the crowds get in there must be a great atmosphere. I knew more or less what to expect because I had a long chat with Jimmy Cook before I left and he gave me the run down. He loved his time over here and told me that it is a good batting strip at Taunton," he told me.Finally I asked if he had a message for the Somerset fans. He told me: "I’ll appreciate any support that the crowds give me and I can promise them that I’m going to go out there and give it my best for the club and hopefully help them to win promotion."

Duleep Mendis will be the coach for Sri Lanka’s forthcoming tour to the West Indies after the Lankan board (BCCSL) failed to find a suitable long-termreplacement for Dav Whatmore.Mendis, a former Sri Lankan captain, was appointed as an interim coach forthe recent New Zealand Test series and the Bank Alfalah Cup after Whatmorerequested early leave from his contract which expires at the end of May.The board had hoped to find a permanent replacement in time for the WestIndies tour but the leading candidates – Bob Woolmer, John Bracewell, SteveRixon and Graham Ford – all made themselves unavailable.”Duleep (Mendis) will continue for the West Indies tour,” confirmed AnuraTennekoon, the BCCSL chief executive. "When the new cricket board comes inwe will have to decide whether to advertise or to headhunt for a new coach.”Other contenders for the post include Greg Chappell, the former Australian captain and coach of South Australia, who has indicated that he would not beinterested in a full-time job, and John Dyson, the former Australian batsman.

Matthew Hoggard has been ruled out of the second npower Test after a scan revealed a torn meniscal cartilage in his right knee.”Matthew will need to see a surgeon to find out if an operation is required,” explained Dr Peter Gregory, the ECB’s chief medical officer. “Our initial assessment is that he is likely to be out of cricket for approximately six weeks.”Hoggard jarred his knee during Yorkshire’s C&G Trophy defeat against Worcestershire on Wednesday.There was better news regarding Anthony McGrath who injured his intercostal muscle on the final day of the Lord’s Test. A scan failed to reveal any signifcant damage and he will be re-assessed by England’s medical staff on Monday to see if he will be able to play at Riverside.

Two additions have been made today to the South Australia squad for 2003-04 that was announced earlier this month.Outstanding grade performances by Northern Districts fast bowler Chris Duval and batting allrounder Ben Cameron from Tea Tree Gully have seen them awarded rookie contracts for the next summer. They will join two other rookies, Callum Ferguson and Trent Kelly, and the 15 senior-contracted players in new State coach Wayne Phillips’ squad.Duval, 19, made his mark in the A-grade competition last summer by taking 31 wickets at 19.74. He was included in this year’s Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy intake and is in his second six-week session with the Academy at the moment.Cameron, 22, won the Hargrave Trophy last season for being judged the best A-grade player under 23. He averaged 51.80 with the bat, including a highest score of 109 not out, and with his medium-pace bowling he took 18 wickets at 17.06.South Australia Cricket Association general manager of cricket operations Harvey Jolly said the selection of Duval and Cameron showed there were still opportunities available for grade cricketers in South Australia.”Chris and Ben have been playing in the grade cricket competition for anumber of years and both have risen up through the various grade levels.Their selection into the Redbacks squad shows how the grade cricketsystem acts as a springboard into the State team for those players whohave the talent and perform,” he said.The Redbacks squad for 2003-04 is: Greg Blewett, Ryan Harris, Ben Cameron (rookie contract), Mark Higgs, Mark Cleary, Ben Johnson, Mark Cosgrove, Darren Lehmann (ACB contract), Chris Davies, Graham Manou, John Davison, Mick Miller, Shane Deitz, Paul Rofe, Chris Duval (rookie contract), Shaun Tait, David Fitzgerald, Callum Ferguson (rookie contract), Andy Flower, Trent Kelly (rookie contract), Jason Gillespie (ACB contract).

Robin Smith will miss this Sunday’s National League match against Nottinghamshire Outlaws after pulling a hamstring in last weeks victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks.”It is hoped that Robin will be fit for the Frizzell Championship match against Glamorgan at The Rose Bowl next week”, said a club spokesman, “if not he should be ready for the floodlit match at Trent bridge on 21st July”.Smith pulled his joint attempting a quick single, and continued batting with the help of a runner (Derek Kenway) until he was run out. Enjoying some of his finest form, Robin is also in the middle of a successful Testimonial campaign.

A disciplined batting and bowling performance saw Glamorgan return to winning ways at Cardiff with a7 wicket victory over a lacklustreWarwickshire side who were without both of their overseas players. Glamorgan`s victory wastheir first since July 13th and their first over Warwickshire in a League match inWales since 1997.The Glamorgan bowlers dismissed the visitors for 196 in 43.5 overs after the Warwickshire captain,Micahel Powell had won the toss and elected to bat first. Apart from Trevor Penney who made anunbeaten 64, none of his batsmencould master an accurate Glamorgan attack who included Andrew Davies for the first time for 8 weeksfollowing a hand injury.It was Davies who made the early breakthorugh, dismissing Neil Carter in his second over, whilstMichael Kasprowicz bowled Ian Bell for just 5. Alex Wharf,who had received a mauling from the Essex batsmen in midweek, came on as first change and delivereda controlled five over spell, conceeding just 14 runs and picking up the valuable wicket of the prolific Nick Knightthanks to a fine diving catch by Mark Wallace.The wicket-keeper also took another good catch later in the innings as the Glamorgan spinners – RobertCroft and Dean Cosker contained the visiting batsmen, with Cosker taking 2-3 in 10 balls, beforeAdrian Dale returned to finish off the innings, taking two wickets in his fourth over. Dale finished with figuresof 3/16, whilst Cosker had the fine figures of 3/44, and Croft only conceeded 38 runs in his accurate9 over spell.Needing to score at 4.3 an over, Glamorgan made a poor start, losing Jimmy Maher in the opening over,but Robert Croft and Michael Powell then shared a stand of 76 in 14 overs, before Powell chipped a ballto mid-wicket. But Croft was in a determined mood, and he duly went on to score 70 from as many balls, hitting11 boundaries and recorded his fourth half-century of the season, all of which have been at Cardiff.Croft was eventually bowled by Bell, but a watchful 47 from Matthew Maynard and a sublime 41 from David Hemp sawGlamorgan to their victory target without any further alarms and maintain Glamorgan`s quest of retaining theirDivision One title. The victory, achieved with 4.1 overs to spare puts them just two points behind leaders Gloucestershire and Surrey.

The status of South Africa’s tour to Pakistan was thrown into doubt with the news that the South African foreign ministry has advised the side against going to Karachi, Peshawar, and any areas near the Afghanistan border.”We will not be sending a team anywhere where there is a threat to security,” Bronwyn Wilkinson, the communications director for the South African board (UCB), told the BBC. “We have been told there is a minimal risk of a premeditated attack and because of this we need to ensure no stone is left unturned.”We will still need advice from foreign affairs on whether they want us to go at all or to avoid Karachi and Peshawar, or to go under special conditions,” Wilkinson explained. “We asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to alter the itinerary, but they were reluctant to do that because of the planning that had gone into the tour.”Last week the UCB formally asked the PCB to move the matches at Karachi, which is due to host the tour-opener, a Test, and an ODI, and Peshawar, which will stage the third Test. The PCB expressed reluctance because of the planning that had already gone into the matches, and it added that it believed its security measures – which are those normally reserved for state visits – were more than adequate.Security experts appointed by the UCB will leave for Pakistan on Sunday, and they will meet with the PCB and local police before returning to South Africa on Thursday (September 18) to deliver their report. The squad is scheduled to leave for Pakistan on the following Sunday.Rashid Latif, Pakistan’s captain who is currently sitting out a five-match suspension, urged the South Africans not to cancel any part of the trip. “There is absolutely nothing wrong in these two cities,” he said. “We have just played Bangladesh in Tests in Karachi and Peshawar and everything was fine. I don’t think the South Africans should expect any problems.”