Cricket: Pitch-invasion 'shambles'

BIRMINGHAM - Pakistan routed England by 108 runs at Edgbaston yesterday in the opening match of a triangular one-day cricket tournament, but the contest was almost abandoned after a pitch invasion just before the end.

England, chasing Pakistan's 273 for six, were 159 for nine in the 44th over when hundreds of fans, most wearing Pakistan colours, ran on to the ground, forcing the players off and stealing the stumps as they swarmed all over the playing surface.

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis and team manager Yawar Saeed made appeals to the team's fans, warning them the match would be abandoned unless they moved back.

The pleas followed a meeting between match referee Brian Hastings, of New Zealand, the umpires and the two team captains.

England skipper Alec Stewart said No 3 batsman Nick Knight had been hit by a spectator.

"He told me he was struck," Stewart said. "It was a complete shambles - you don't want to see that in England or anywhere else in the world. It needs sorting out.

"It ruined what was a good performance by Pakistan. I wasn't letting the team out there again until safety had been guaranteed."

Waqar played down the trouble, saying: "This is nothing new for me. When you play in Pakistan and India this is quite common. It's a shame but it happens. We do really need some more security."

Play resumed after 31 minutes, with Knight and last man Alan Mullally eventually returning to the crease. A further interruption then followed after one ball from Shahid Afridi when fans moved in front of the sightscreen.

Right-arm wrist spinner Afridi wrapped up the game in the 48th over when Mullally was caught behind, with England all out for 165. Knight was not out 59 and Afridi ended with three wickets for 15.

Waqar led by example, capturing two for 31 from six overs.

Pakistan's victory was set up by opener Saeed Anwar's 77, his 40th half-century in one-day internationals, and Inzamam-ul-Haq's 79, his 60th, after the touring team had won the toss and opted to bat.

The pair put on 150 for the third wicket, scoring at almost a run a ball as Pakistan closed on 273 for six.

Inzamam's innings took him past 8000 one-day runs, as he and Anwar tore England's back-up bowlers to shreds. All-rounder Ben Hollioake's six overs went for 53 runs.

England were in the hunt at 47 for one in the 10th over before their collapse began. The departure of left-handed opener Marcus Trescothick for 28 off 30 balls began a procession which saw five top-order wickets fall for 62 as Pakistan took a string of fine catches.

Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq took a wicket with his fifth ball, a caught-and-bowled to remove Hollioake, to make it 108 for six, and Afridi bowled Dominic Cork with his first, giving England no way back. In the second game, Pakistan take on Australia in Cardiff tomorrow.

* India got the better of the first day of the opening test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo after dismissing the hosts for 173 yesterday. In reply, India were 83 for three.

After Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak won the toss, only Andy Flower, with 51, was able to take advantage of the bright, clear conditions, enjoying himself once more at India's expense.

Before the start of the test, Flower had scored 862 runs in six tests against them.

Zimbabwe lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to build any meaningful partnerships.

* The wind was so cold that coffee and cauliflower soup were on offer at drinks, but most heart-warming for Australia's cricketers was escaping with an exciting tie against Northamptonshire yesterday.

The tourists made 234 for three thanks to an unbeaten 101 from in-form Damien Martyn and a polished 88 from Mark Waugh as they combined in a brisk 157-run partnership.

In brilliant sunshine after a day of rain interruptions, Australia took the last three Northants wickets, including two run-outs, without conceding a run to avoid a second straight loss on tour.

Ian Harvey's final over was faultless. The scores were tied with five balls left. A mixture of differently paced and pitched deliveries from Harvey prevented the Northants' tailenders from getting bat on ball when only one run was required with three wickets left.

- AGENCIES