July 9, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 27,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

MANCHESTER, (England), July 8: Nasser Hussain warned his “clumsy” England side against complacency after they slumped to a 23-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the triangular series one-day international on Sunday.

Chasing a victory target of 230, England collapsed from 100 for two to 206 all out in 47.4 overs at Old Trafford.

Although England have already qualified for the final against India at Lord’s on Saturday, captain Hussain insisted the result was a blow.

“Every player in our dressing room should be gutted by that,” he told reporters.

“It was a match we should have, and could have, won.

“I believe everyone was up for it, but there is no question that every game we play is important, no matter what the circumstances.

“That’s the way I look at it...you can’t treat matches differently and now we have to pick ourselves up for the next one.”

England meet India at The Oval on Tuesday.

Hussain was less than impressed by the manner of England’s defeat, as Sri Lanka, who made 229 all out off 49.4 overs, recorded their first victory of the competition.

“We were clumsy...their score was a good one, but we gave away soft dismissals when we batted,” said Hussain.

“We had a word beforehand and said we needed to make the most of the first 15 overs...we did that and we were strolling it at 100 for two.

“We had them where we wanted but whether it was us giving it to them or them working hard for it, things changed.”

Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore welcomed the win but criticised the schedule imposed on his team in the series.

Their defeat to India at Edgbaston on Saturday — their fourth in succession — ended their chances of making the final.

LEAGUE RESULTS

Results of English National League one-day (45 overs-per-side) cricket matches on Sunday:

DIVISION ONE

At Swansea: Leicestershire beat Glamorgan by five wickets. Glamorgan Dragons 220-8 in 45 overs (A.Dale 78 not out; P.DeFreitas 4-24). Leicestershire Foxes 221-5 in 44.2 overs (I.Sutcliffe 67).

At Maidstone: Kent beat Durham by 165 runs. Kent Spitfires 244-9 in 44 overs (R.Key 58, J.Hockley 58). Durham Dynamos 79 all out in 28.2 overs (D.Masters 5-20).

At Taunton: Worcestershire beat Somerset by eight wickets. Somerset Sabres 269-8 in 45 overs (I.Blackwell 55, M.Burns 54, R.Turner 53 not out). Worcestershire Royals 270-2 in 40.2 overs (G.Hick 141 not out, B.Smith 64, V.Solanki 58).

DIVISION TWO

At Derby: Gloucestershire beat Derbyshire by seven runs. Gloucestershire Gladiators 161 all out in 40.3 overs (G.Welch 5-18). Derbyshire Scorpions 154-9 in 45 overs.

At Southampton: Hampshire beat Sussex by 93 runs. Hampshire Hawks 203 all out in 45 overs (N.Johnson 92; B.Taylor 4-22). Sussex Sharks 110 all out in 34.2 overs (S.Udal 4-31).

At Southgate: Surrey beat Middlesex by eight wickets (match reduced to 42 overs-per-side due to rain). Middlesex Crusaders 194-8 in 42 overs (O.Shah 74). Surrey Lions 197-2 in 40.2 overs (M.Ramprakash 87 not out, R.Clarke 62 not out).

At Northampton: Northamptonshire beat Lancashire by 62 runs. Northamptonshire Steelbacks 261-8 in 45 overs (J.Cook 102, D.Sales 64). Lancashire Lightning 199 all out in 41.2 overs (A.Swann 61).—Reuters