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The chances of England fulfilling their World Cup fixture in Harare on February 13th seem to be receding as the clock ticks on, but after another day of confusion verging on fiasco, nobody can be absolutely sure what will happen. What is certain is that the already fragile structure of the game will end the day in worse repair than it started.It all began with Zimbabwean stalwarts Andy Flower and Henry Olonga issuing a statement prior to Zimbabwe’s match against Namibia stating that they would be wearing black armbands for the duration of the World Cup “in mourning for the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe.”It has been suggested that they might have been speaking on behalf of the entire team but that, symbolically, one white and one black member alone put their signatures to the statement. Whether they were acting alone or on behalf oftheir colleagues, it was a very brave – or foolhardy – gesture that deserves the greatest admiration.While that was happening, ICC president Malcolm Gray was betraying increasing irritation with the England and Wales Cricket Board over their hesitancy about making a final decision over their fixture in Harare.”They really need to get to grips with the situation and give us an answer by 4pm (local time).”Yesterday they came to us and said as yet they couldn’t make a decision and could we help them with some more information to verify something. It is patent nonsense that we have concealed information from the players,”Gray told BBC Radio in an interview. “We have bent over backwards to provide them with information – every time they have requested information we have given it to them.”He was referring to requests made by the players’ representative, Richard Bevan, who claims that four requests for unimpaired sight of the Kroll Report have been rejected.Gray continued: “I don’t want to get into an argument with Richard Bevan. We have carried out every process in an excellent manner, including dealing with Australia, who had their own concerns.”They (England) must give us an answer by 4pm local time, 2pm GMT. By 4pm tell us one way or another but don’t keep coming back requesting this and that. We have got a match to be played in 48 hours’ time after today and it has to be sorted one way or another.”Later, that deadline was extended because, according to ICC, they had been late in providing some of the information requested by the ECB. Although the previous deadline had been lifted, no time limit was imposed on the extension.Meanwhile, the ICC had asked South Africa’s second ranking police officer, Deputy National Commissioner Andre Pruis to investigate just how seriously they should regard the death threats to the England players and their families issued by an organisation calling itself The Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe. It goes without saying that the ECB and the players took the threats very seriously.However, the deputy commissioner reported with alacrity so that the ICC could inform ECB, “We have been assured by the Deputy National Commissioner of the South African Police Service that the letter from the Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe does not pose a credible threat to the safety of the England party in Zimbabwe. Accordingly, we have passed that advice to the ECB and asked them to confirm their intentions to the ICC today.”The communication from the ICC went on to cause further confusion by stating, “IDI (ICC Development International) note that you are giving us formal notice that you are unable to fulfill the scheduled fixture in Harare on Thursday the 13th February.”Not surprisingly, this phrase was misinterpreted as meaning that the ECB had officially withdrawn from the fixture and the news flashed around the world accordingly. It was, however, somewhat premature as the ECB then issued a statement of their own.Issued at 4 pm GMT, it read, “The ECB wishes to clarify that we have not said that we are refusing to go to Zimbabwe. We asked the ICC to move the match to a safe location outside of Zimbabwe on the grounds of safety and security. We would also like to draw attention to the fact that in the letter the ICC has released to the media this afternoon, the ICC clearly states it is still awaiting a final decision from the ECB on this matter.”That brought the response from the ICC, “The ICC has confirmed receipt of a letter this afternoon from the England & Wales Cricket Board, in response to the ICC’s request for a final decision on whether the ECB intends to meet its commitments to play in Harare on February 13.”This letter neither confirms nor denies that intention, and at this point the ICC remains unclear if the England team will play in Harare on Thursday of this week. The ECB has requested a meeting with ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed, this evening, to discuss the matter further.”Those discussions went on and the ECB called a press conference late in the day at which Nasser Hussain, the captain, was in an emotional state as he described the mood of the players on Sunday. He effectively said that the decision has been taken away from them and is now in the ECB’s hands, much to their relief.Chief executive Tim Lamb then read a statement which revealed that the threatening group, the Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe, has been heard of before – in direct contradiction of what Commissioner Pruis has stated earlier -and that consequently the ECB had written to the ICC saying that they did not believe it was reasonable to expect the team to go to Zimbabwe in these circumstances. A reply is awaited tomorrow morning when it is to be hoped that this chapter of a sorry saga will reach some sort of conclusion.Add to all of this the idea coming from New Zealand that the last has not been heard of their decision not to play in Nairobi and the ICC is not enjoying one of the more glorious moments in its history. It is faced with a growing list of potential legal actions, the prospect of enormous financial losses and a possible split in world cricket that could signal the end of the organisation as a credible governing body.It is not a comfortable position for them, nor is it to the benefit of cricket as a whole. It is easy to apportion blame for this sorry state, but rather more difficult to come up with a sensible solution.

Nathan Hauritz’s World Cup call-up had a flow-on effect today withWynnum-Manly allrounder Chris Simpson called into the XXXX QueenslandBulls squad to play NSW in the Pura Cup in Sydney this week.Simpson, a right-hand batsman and right-arm off-spinner, was includedtoday in the Bulls team in place of swing bowler Adam Dale for theSydney Cricket Ground showdown with the third-placed Blues.Former captain Stuart Law will again be sidelined due to a wrist injury,with the right-hander hoping to be considered for next week’s Pura CupFinal.Hauritz’s selection as the replacement for Shane Warne in the World Cupteam last week and a finger injury to former Bulls spinner Scott O’Learyhas presented Simpson with the chance to make his first class debut.Simpson joins left-arm spinner Matthew Anderson in the team, with theQueensland selectors giving themselves the option of playing twospinners for the match.A Bulls rookie-contracted player this season, the 21-year-old Simpson isa late-developing spinner, only concentrating on developing his slowbowling last year. He was a member of the 2002 Commonwealth Bank CricketAcademy intake.He has played ACB Cup for the past two seasons and has enjoyed solidform for Wynnum-Manly this season in the Brisbane XXXX First Gradecompetition, taking 35 wickets and scoring 514 runs.NSW must beat Queensland to earn a spot in the Pura Cup Final at theGabba next week, with the Bulls securing their fifth home Final in a rowon Saturday with their outright win over Victoria.XXXX Queensland Bulls v NSW Blues, Pura Cup, SCG, Thursday – Sunday:Martin Love (c), Brendan Nash, Clinton Perren, Daniel Payne, LeeCarseldine, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Ashley Noffke, MichaelKasprowicz, Joe Dawes, Matthew Anderson, Chris Simpson. (12th man to benamed).

DURBAN, South Africa, March 18 AFP – Kenya may have won just two matches against India, their opponents in Thursday’s World Cup semi-final here, but the entire fifteen-man squad knows what the experience is like.Ten of the 11 players who took part in Kenya’s first-ever win over India at the Roop Singh stadium in Gwalior on May 28, 1998 are still representing their country at the World Cup.The remaining five were on hand when Kenya won a second time against India at St George’s Park at Port Elizabeth on October 17, 2001.That India have won nine of the 11 matches between the two will matter little when the semi-final is played under the Kingsmead lights on Thursday.In fact, Kenya’s both wins came under floodlights when they batted first, put up a substantial score and bowled out India for less than 200.Sachin Tendulkar, India’s man of the moment, knows what it feels to lose against a non-Test playing nation. He, vice-captain Rahul Dravid and senior pro Anil Kumble were the only ones to feature in both defeats.Veteran left-arm spinner Aasif Karim was the Kenyan captain who won the toss in Gwalior five years back and saw his side score 265-5 with Ravindu Shah making 70, Maurice Odumbe 83 and Hitesh Modi 51.India managed only 196 in reply as Odumbe completed a fine all-round display with 3-14 in 25 balls and current captain Steve Tikolo chipped in with 3-29.Dravid was the main scorer for India with 33 while Tendulkar made 18 before he was dismissed by Martin Suji.Three years later, Tikolo was the captain who elected to bat at Port Elizabeth and Kenya hammered 6-246 following an opening stand of 121 between Shah and Kennedy Otieno.Thomas Odoyo followed the openers with the third half-century of the innings, a blazing 51 off 52 balls with six boundaries and a six.India were shot out under the lights for a meagre 176 after Tendulkar was bowled for three by seamer Joseph Angara, who finished with 3-30 and Odoyo ran through the tail with 3-41.No wonder, Kenya’s current coach and former India player, Sandeep Patil, believes Sourav Ganguly’s India will be foolish to take victory for granted on Thursday.If the Super Sixes clash between the two sides earlier this month is any indication, a close match is in the offing.India, chasing Kenya’s modest 6-225, were reduced to 3-24 under the Newlands lights at Cape Town before Ganguly hit a match-winning 107 and Yuvraj Singh made 58 to steer their team home.It was at Kingsmead on Saturday night that 39-year-old Karim gave the mighty Australians a scare with figures at one stage reading an incredible 8-6-2-3.Entire Kenya will be hoping for an encore on Thursday.

The dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association over the increased fees to players in senior domestic competitions remained unresolved after the two sides met here on Thursday.Last month, the WICB in good faith increased the fees paid to players in senior domestic competitions by 20 per cent for non-international players and 10 per cent for internationals, since the WIPA has only negotiated for the Test and limited-overs squads from its inception.The WICB, however, contends it has asked the WIPA to support their claim of representing all of the players participating in senior domestic competitions with documentation proving their membership of the WIPA and consent to be bound by the organization’s negotiations."The WICB will unreservedly recognise the WIPA as the bargaining unit for the first-class players once this requirement is met," remarked Roger Brathwaite, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the WICB, who led the cricket body’s negotiating team.He added that though the WIPA produced a number of membership forms, many of them were not signed and others were illegible.In addition, the WIPA produced signed letters from the Guyana and Jamaica teams indicating that they were seeking the WIPA’s guidance before signing the letters from their board agreeing to play in the semifinals and final of the Carib Beer 2003 Cricket Series, and wear the sponsors’ branded gear.Brathwaite remarked: "When we indicated to the WIPA executive that we would have to verify from our industrial relations advisor, whether unsigned memberships forms were an indication of the intent of players to become members of the organization, the WIPA President, Dinanath Ramnarine, seemed unwilling to accept our position and declared, `The semifinals will not be played and suggested possible action during the Cable & Wireless 2003 Cricket Series’."Brathwaite noted, however, that Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago appeared willing to play their semifinal of the Carib Beer 2003 Cricket Series in Bridgetown, starting on Friday, but he was not clear on the situation in Guyana, where the home team were to face Jamaica at the Albion Sports Complex in Berbice."The Barbadians gave an undertaking to Stephen Alleyne, President of the Barbados Cricket Association and a WICB director, during a meeting on Thursday. Prior to their arrival in Bridgetown, the Trinidad & Tobago players signed a form agreeing to play and wear the sponsors’ branded kit," Brathwaite said.Roger Brathwaite, the Acting Chief Executive Officer; Barry Thomas, the Chief Financial Officer; and Michael Hall, the Chief Cricket Operations Officer, were the WICB representatives at the meeting, while Dinanath Ramnarine, President; Roland Holder, Honorary Secretary; and Wavell Hinds, Treasurer, represented the WIPA.

Frizzell County Championship Division OneEssex v Surrey
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For the second day running, Martin Bicknell was Surrey’s hero as they asserted their control over Essex at Chelmsford. Bicknell, resuming the day on 117 not out, scored a further 24 for a career-best 141, as Surrey reached 376 all out. Then he showed his expertise in what he’s better known for, taking 4 for 67 in Essex’s reply – including Aftab Habib for a second-ball duck – as Essex were bowled out for 252. And from a precarious 99 for 5, they did well to make it that far, thanks mainly to Andy Flower (51) who set about rebuilding the early ruins, and Jon Dakin’s enterprising 59 at No. 8. Surrey then finished the day on 2 for 0, 126 runs ahead.

Leicestershire v Middlesex
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Four wickets from Simon Cook gave Middlesex the honours on another low-scoring, rain-affected day at Grace Road. Bradley Hodge (22) and Darren Stevens (29) rebuilt the Leicestershire innings, but after Cook dismissed Stevens they then lost four wickets for 49 runs to end on 136 for 8 before rain stopped play, 65 behind Middlesex’s first innings.Sussex v Nottinghamshire
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Kevin Innes hit a century for Sussex – and then promptly dropped out of the game, to be replaced by James Kirtley, who had been left out of England’s XII in the first npower Test at Lord’s. Innes put on 157 for the seventh wicket with Matthew Prior, another centurion, who smashed 133 with 15 fours and 6 sixes. Three Notts bowlers went for over 100, one of whom was Australia’s legspinner Stuart MacGill (3 for 172). In their reply, Notts lost opener Jason Gallian for 36 as they closed on 85 for 1 – still a daunting 534 runs in arrears.Warwickshire v Kent
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Only 51 full overs yesterday, and just 23 today at a soggy Edgbaston. And it wasn’t only the bad weather which frustrated Kent’s progress, but also a ninth-wicket, 80-run partnership for Warwickshire between Neil Smith (38*) and Melvyn Betts (46). Martin Saggers had earlier got Kent off to the perfect start when he had Mo Sheikh caught without any addition to the overnight score, but Smith and Betts helped Warwickshire recover to 280 for 9.Frizzell County Championship Division TwoDurham v Derbyshire
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Durham enjoyed a rare good day at the office this season with an impressive bowling performance against Derbyshire, who finished on 244 all out and 89 runs behind. And if it wasn’t for Michael Di Venuto, they would have been in even more trouble. Di Venuto scored well over half their runs with a commanding 150, while the next top score was a mere 20. For Durham, Dewalt Pretorius (4 for 96) and Nicky Phillips (3 for 60) led the way with Phillips removing both Shahid Afridi and Dominic Cork for ducks. Earlier, Kevin Dean wrapped up the Durham first innings, taking the last four wickets for 21 runs.Hampshire v Somerset
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Somerset are on course for their third win of the season after dominating affairs against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl. Jamie Cox (127*) and Keith Dutch (61) stretched their first innings to 308 all out and then Nixon McLean and Gareth Andrew took centre stage, as Hampshire slumped to 123 for 7. But it could have been a lot worse after McLean struck three times in quick succession – including John Crawley for a golden duck – to leave Hampshire reeling on 6 for 3. But Will Kendall (49) and Nic Pothas (34) steadied the ship with a 76-run partnership before Andrew had them both caught to leave Hampshire in a spot of bother 185 runs behind.Worcestershire v Gloucestershire
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Bad light brought play to a premature end at New Road, with Worcestershire’s match against Gloucestershire hanging in the balance. Resuming the day on 72 for 4, Worcestershire stumbled to 175 all out with Mike Smith taking 5 for 70. In their reply, Gloucestershire reached 66 for 3 with Nantie Hayward taking two wickets: Craig Spearman for 19 and Tim Hancock for a golden duck.Yorkshire v Glamorgan
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No play today due to rainOther MatchDurham UCCE v Lancashire
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Alec Swann and Carl Hooper enjoyed teaching the Durham students a lesson or two on how to bat with a century each, as Lancashire racked up the runs at the University Ground. Replying to Durham’s 327 for 9 declared, Swann blitzed 137 off 130 balls while Hooper struck 101. And it was nearly a hat-trick of hundreds, but Mark Currie missed out by three runs on his century as Lancashire closed on 432 for 3, a lead of 105.

In an exclusive interview with London’s Guardian newspaper, Shoaib Akhtar talked in detail about the controversy surrounding his bowling action, and the medical problems resulting from the much-publicised hyperextension to his joints which is at the heart of doubts over his action.In April 2002, Shoaib’s action was scrutinised by the human-performance department at the University of Western Australia in Perth. Angered by a ban slapped on him by the International Cricket Council for throwing, Shoaib went to Australia to try to clear his name, a decision that was vindicated when the experts confirmed that his arm was straight at the point of delivery.”In a way they [the Perth doctors] were so pissed off with me,” he told Jim White. “They freaked out. ‘How can you be the fastest bowler in the world? You are just pathetically abnormal.’ They measured each single thing about me. They discovered that, where a normal person’s joints move about 20%, maximum, my elbow can move 42%. Same with all my joints. It’s not nice to have all this, it is why I have had so many injuries. I have hyper-tension in my wrists, my knees, everywhere.”As if his resemblance to a bendy toy wasn’t enough of a handicap, Shoaib went on to explain that he also suffers from flat feet. “Flat, completely,” he explained.. “Every time I’m in England I go to Birmingham to get special boots made. I always see a couple of doctors when I buy them and get everything measured properly. Have to. See, I’m not normal. I couldn’t walk when I was five. My mum will tell you.”Given his physical defects it was amazing that he played cricket at all. He was a late starter, not even taking part in a game until he was 15. “My brother was captain of the local club,” he said. “I went to watch him play and they were a guy short. I said: ‘I’ll play.’ My brother laughed: ‘You?’ But the others persuaded him. I think everyone was quite impressed when I came on to bowl.”And he added that had he been born Australian, then his career record would have been even more impressive. “With [Glenn] McGrath and [Jason] Gillespie softening them up, then I come on, I’d have got more wickets than anyone ever. Because when I play for Pakistan, with Wasim [Akram] and Waqar [Younis] they are in decline. They were great but they’re not matchwinning bowlers any more. So I have to make it all happen on my own. There is so much expectation on my shoulders.”

The former Australian opening batsman, John Dyson, has been confirmed as Sri Lanka’s new coach. He replaces his fellow countryman, Dav Whatmore, who has now taken charge of Bangladesh, and has agreed a contract which will run until 2005.”I am very excited to be coach of the Sri Lankan team, which has great potential,” said Dyson, who will take over in September. He has not previously coached at international level, but the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lankan (BCCSL) is confident of his abilities.Dyson has big plans for Sri Lanka, believing that they had the “depth and skill” to “knock the Australians off their perch” as the top-ranked Test side.Dyson reached a “memorandum of understanding” with Sri Lanka while the team was in the Caribbean recently. He had been approached about the role when Whatmore was relieved of his position after the World Cup. Bob Woolmer, Graham Ford, John Bracewell and Steve Rixon were in the frame but turned the job down, so Duleep Mendis was put in charge on a temporary basis.Dyson played 30 Tests for Australia between 1977 and 1984, scoring 1359 runs at 26.64, including two centuries. The first, at Headingley in 1981, had set Australia on their way to a crushing victory until Ian Botham and Bob Willis famously turned the tables. The second, at Sydney in January 1982, lasted for more than six hours and saved Australia from defeat against West Indies.

Further integration, below the national level, seems likely in Australia after Cricket Victoria announced today that it was starting a two-year trial integration with the Victorian Women’s Cricket Association.Earlier this week, Cricket Australia announced the integration of the national women’s body of Australian cricket into its structure.Cricket Victoria chief executive officer Ken Jacobs said the announcement was both historic and exciting. “It heralds a new and exciting era for cricket within Victoria. The decision recognises the growth of women’s cricket across the state and ensures that we are all working together for the betterment of the game.”The move comes after a sub-committee was set-up in May last year to invesitage would benefit Victorian Cricket.Under the integration, Cricket Victoria now becomes the sole state sporting organisation for cricket in Victoria and will assume responsibility for women’s cricket in the areas of elite programs, game development, marketing and business operations. The VWCA will continue to administer the traditional club cricket competition for women and girls.With over 20,000 Victorian women and girls now playing some form of organised cricket, the move to integrate was both timely and necessary Jacobs said. “The market for women’s cricket is now significant and continually growing. We believe the integration will generate more efficient operating procedures and avoid much duplication.”The integration is designed to promote and administer the game of cricket in a manner reflecting the ongoing changes in today’s society.”

David Harrison celebrated his 22nd birthday with a spell of 4-6 in 22 ballsas Worcestershire were dismissed for 237 in 63 overs on a rain affected opening dayof the Championship match at New Road. However, it was not all joy for the young seamer, as he wasone of two Glamorgan batsmen to be dismissed, as his team ended an eventful day on 0-2.After an hour`s play had been lost due to morning drizzle, Robert Croft won the tossand elected to bowl first. Stephen Peters and Anurag Singh added 44 in 14 overs beforelunch, but the game changed complexion immediately after the interval as Glamorgan`s changebowlers – Darren Thomas and David Harrison – were introduced into the attack.Thomas made the breakthrough with his second ball as Singh edged an away swinger towicket-keeper Mark Wallace. Then Harrison took two wickets in his opening over, as Graeme Hickdrove a slower ball loosely to cover where Alex Wharf took a good catch diving forward, and then Ben Smithwas caught by Mike Powell at first slip, as Worcestershire slumped to 46-3.Peters and Vikram Solanki then added 18 runs before Harrison dismissed both batsmen in thespace of seven deliveries, as Solanki was caught by Matthew Maynard at third slip, andPeters was caught behind by Wallace. A rearguard action was mounted by David Leatherdale and Gareth Batty,who added 101 either side of tea for the sixth wicket. With Leatherdale dropping anchor, Batty playedsome crisp drives through the off side, before reaching his half-century with two sixes in three balls from Robert Croft.Batty brought up the century stand with another lofted drive over long-off, but in the next overhe mistimed a drive against Wharf and was caught by Ian Thomas at cover point. Powell then took a finecatch at slip as Stephen Rhodes got a thick edge, trying to run his first ball from Croft down to third man.Leatherdale duly reached his first half-century of the season, but he then fell in identical fashion to Batty,as he drove a slower ball from Wharf into Ian Thomas` hands in the covers.After a further stoppage because of bad light, Kabir Ali launched a counter-attack, hoisting Alex Wharffor two sixes over long-on, before hitting the same bowler over the sightscreens at the Diglis End, and plantingDavid Harrison into the sponsors boxes at the New Road end to bring up the 50 partnership. His merry standfor the ninth wicket with Matt Mason was worth 54 in 10 overs when Mason chipped Wharf to Croft atmid-off, and Wharf swiftly finished off the innings by clean bowling Nantie Hayward to finish with 4/63.Glamorgan had an awkward seven overs to negotiate in gloomy light, and they lost two wickets in the opening over, asJimmy Maher was caught behind by Rhodes as he tried to leg-glance Hayward`s second delivery, and then two balls later,David Harrison was bowled by Hayward. However, the umpires adjudged that the light had deteriorated beforeKabir Ali could start the second over, and Glamorgan finished the day, that had seen 38 oversbeing lost, still 237 runs behind with 8 wickets still standing.

Close Bangladesh 288 and 163 for 3 (Bashar 82*, Saleh 27*) lead Pakistan 346 (Yasir 170, Latif 54*) by 105 runs
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Bangladesh have often been accused of throwing it away all too easily, but they showed enormous determination and resolve on the third day of the first Test at Karachi. First, the bowlers grabbed Pakistan’s last five wickets for just 45 runs, and then Bangladesh’s batsmen – led by Habibul Bashar again – ensured that they built on the good work. By the close Bangladesh had wiped out the 58-run first-innings deficit and scored 163 for 3, a lead of 105. If Pakistan expected a romp in the park, it certainly didn’t turn out that way.Dav Whatmore’s influence was obvious on a team which, so far in their international career, have shown little relish for a fight. Pakistan clearly held the upper hand when play began, but Bangladesh bowled with tremendous discipline, choking the runs and chipping away at the wickets. Then, their batsmen displayed the solidity and patience which is expected in Test cricket. Bashar (82 not out) scored his second half-century of the Test – the fourth time he has achieved this feat – while Hannan Sarkar and Rajin Saleh gave him splendid support.As in their first innings, Bangladesh stuttered at the start, when Javed Omar was leg-before to Shoaib Akhtar for 13 (19 for 1). It very nearly became 19 for 2, when Bashar slashed at his first ball and was dropped by Yasir Hameed – the second day’s hero – at third slip. Bashar started off playing plenty of risky strokes, but then settled down to bat with more responsibility. The lack of pace and bounce in the pitch helped the batsmen too.Sarkar looked good for plenty more but played a rash sweep off Mohammad Hafeez to be trapped in front for 30 an over before tea (73 for 2). Sanwar Hossain went cheaply immediately after the break, but Saleh – playing in his first Test – showed excellent grit, temperament and technique. Especially engrossing was a confrontation with Shoaib late in the day, when Saleh was peppered with plenty of short stuff, but stood up on tiptoe to defend, or weaved out of the way. Shoaib was frustrated enough to hurl the ball at Saleh when he pushed it back to the bowler, but it did little to fluster the batsman. Saleh finished the day unbeaten on 27, but it was worth many more.Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers choked the runs with a sustained spell of line-and-length bowling, and then reaped the rewards as Pakistan lost quick wickets. Despite being denied a couple of plumb lbw shouts, the Bangladesh attack never eased the pressure. Mashrafe Mortaza got things rolling when he finally did win an lbw appeal, trapping Misbah-ul-Haq in front for 13 (303 for 6).Mohammad Rafique then nailed Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed as the first 15 overs of the day produced just 12 runs. Though two fours in Alok Kapali’s first over broke the tedium briefly, that also forced Khaled Mahmud to bring himself on, with telling effect. Mahmud’s only Test wicket had come in his second Test, and after toiling 106 overs in his next six matches, he finally had something to show for his efforts. A gentle half-volley outside leg did the trick, as Danish Kaneria played too early and scooped a return catch (338 for 9). Mahmud nonchalantly tossed the ball to the umpire, but the occasion wasn’t lost on his team-mates, who converged from all parts of the ground to celebrate a rare success, and the halving of his Test average to 240.Rashid Latif survived the flurry of wickets at the other end to remain unbeaten on 54, and by close of play, was left ruminating about the prospect of chasing a sizeable fourth-innings target.