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| February 7, 2003 | Friday | Zul Hijjah 5,1423 |
Indians beaten by KwaZulu Natal
DURBAN (South Africa), Feb 6: Virender Sehwag was the lone success in India’s top order as his team slipped to a 32-run defeat by South African province KwaZulu Natal in a warm-up match on Thursday.
The opening batsman smashed 40 at a run a ball, including seven fours and a six, but the 1983 World Cup winners were bowled out for just 158 in 38.2 overs, replying to KwaZulu Natal’s 190 for nine in their 50 overs.
Sehwag was the only frontline batsman to reach double figures as India slumped to 88 for seven in the 19th over, although Ajit Agarkar, who blasted five fours to make 25 at number eight, led some lower-order resistance.
Medium-pacer Yadeem Singh shone with the ball for the home side, removing India captain Saurav Ganguly for nine, Sachin Tendulkar for six and the key wicket of Sehwag before finishing with figures of three for 88.
Although India rattled up 265 for seven against the same opponents two days earlier, they will have concerns over their batting form following the recent disappointing tour of New Zealand, where they lost the one-day series 5-2.
KwaZulu Natal had scored 190 for nine in their 50 overs, opener Doug Watson top-scoring with 53 and Ganguly taking two for 16 in four overs.
Australia, meanwhile, overcame an injury scare to star leg-spinner Shane Warne as they wrapped up a five-wicket win over Northerns at Centurion.
Warne suffered a bruised finger and had to undergo treatment off the pitch as Northerns piled up a formidable 277 with Jacques Rudolf smashing 150 off 140 balls.
But even that was not enough to stop the Aussies as Adam Gilchrist hit 71 off 64 balls and Jimmy Maher gave the selectors a nudge with an unbeaten 78.
At Cape Town, Andrew Hall and Gary Kirsten hit centuries as South Africa hammered 327-7 against Western Province, who lost by 92 runs.
Mahela Jayawardena hit timely form to lead Sri Lanka to a five-wicket romp over Free State at Bloemfontein.
Jayawardena, who struggled through the recent tour of Australia, hit 58 not out as the Sri Lankans overtook Free State’s 182-7 with 11.4 overs to spare at Goodyear Park.
Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns, the two men widely regarded as holding the key for any New Zealand assault on the World Cup, hit form at the right time as the Black Caps brushed aside Gauteng by 116 runs.
Skipper Fleming hit 122 from 128 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes, while Cairns, with 70 off 59 deliveries, took New Zealand to a formidable total of 306-5 off their 50 overs before restricting their opponents to 190-8 in reply.
Kenya continued their impressive preparations with a four-wicket victory over Eastern Province, though they struggled to reach a paltry target of 132.
Canada captain Joseph Harris was out first ball as his side lost by seven wickets to North West, and Holland went down by 85 runs to Boland.
There are no more official warm-up matches scheduled before the start of the tournament.—AFP/Reuters
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