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A match winning unbeaten 74 by Naveed Khan, steered KBCA to victory in the Daplat R. Sonavaria Ramazan Cricket Trophy, beating Customs by two wickets off the very last ball Wednesday.Put into bat after losing the toss, Customs reached 140 for the loss of nine wickets in their 20 allotted overs through a fine 56 by Asif Iqbal. Talha Khan also got amongst the runs in scoring 29.For KBCA, the wickets were shared by Raheel Abbas three for 21, Akbar Rehman three for 25 and Ameer Azam two for 14.Needing four runs to win in the last over with the scoreboard reading 137 for six, KBCA lost two wickets without any addition to the total. Four runs were now needed off the last two deliveries and new batsman Ghazanfar, driving the ball towards extra cover scampered home for three runs to tie the scores. Facing the last ball of the day with the fielders closing in, Naveed pulled the ball to the mid-wicket boundary to see his team home and dry by two wickets.Salman Fazal, opening the bowling attack for Customs, was the most successful bowler, finishing off with four for 32.Thursday fixture: Pak Gymkhana v Asghar Ali Shah CC 1-30 p.m.MHCC in last eight Karachi Gymkhana Whites had the mortification of suffering another thumping defeat, going down by 10 wickets to Mohammad Hussain CC in the 17th Karachi Gymkhana Callmate Cricket Festival played Wednesday.Winning the toss and batting first, Karachi Gymkhana Whites were skittled out for only 118 in 23.4 overs, with Humayun Naz striking four boundaries in his 31. Arslan Ahmed two for nine, Aqeel Sharif two for 15 and Ather Laiq two for 21, were shared the wickets.With Mohammad Sharif slamming 56 runs in 38 deliveries with five boundaries and two sixes and Nadeem Tariq weighing in with 61 not out in 31 deliveries with four fours and five sixes adding 121 runs for an unbroken first wicket, Mohammad Hussain CC coasted to victory in only 11.3 overs.Thursday fixture: A.O. CC v Dewan Mushtaq Sugar Mills 1.00 p.m.Khursheed steers Rangers A stylish undefeated 68 by Mohammad Khursheed, steered Rangers Gymkhana to a seven-wicket victory over Saddar Town CC in the Seventh Danish Trophy Ramazan tournament played Wednesday.Having first use of the wicket Saddar Town scored 161 for four wickets in their 20 allotted overs with Mohammad Ali (65) and Haq Nawaz (55) scoring the bulk of runs.Rangers lost their first three wickets for 39 but Haris Jawed and Khursheed put on 123 runs to reach the target in 18.2 overs.Khursheed scored 68 not out in 42 deliveries studded with five boundaries and two sixes, while Haris was unbeaten with 42 runs when victory came. Siraj Khan bagged two wickets for 33 runs.Thursday fixture: Sadiq Sports b Wakenhut CC 1-30 p.m.Asian CC triumph Asian CC beat Sadiq Sports by six wickets in the Ford & Lord Trophyplayed Wednesday.Batting first Sadiq Sports reached 160 for eight wickets in their 20 allotted overs through Kamran Malik (66), Afzal Ayub (28) and Musheer Alam (20). Ashfaq Ahmed bagged two for 23.Asian CC achieved the target of 161 in 19.3 overs, losing four wickets. Salman Ganchi (55) and Qaiser Majeed (44), made victory possible for their team.Thursday fixture: Asian CC v Saddar Town 1-30 p.m.Kamil in form Rafiq Sherazi CC moved into the quarterfinal of the All Karachi Karimuddin Memorial Colour Kit Ramazan Festival cricket tournament, beating Pak Star CC by 76 runs Tuesday.Batting first Rafiq Sherazi CC were bowled out for 209 in 20 overs with Kamil Khan top scoring with 78 runs. Zafar Ali chipped in with 33 and Jawed Ali 31. Imtiaz Iqbal picked up six wickets for 29.Pak Star were dismissed for 133 in 19.1 overs. Tariq Khan scored 34 and Imtiaz Iqbal 23.In another match, Karachi Eaglets beat Rising Star by 50 runs.Karachi Eaglets reached 203 for nine wickets in 20 overs. Khurram Abbas scored 50 and M. Waheed 35. Nadeem Ghani bagged three for 30.Rising Star were bowled out for 153 in 17.3 overs. Saqib Badar top scored for his side with 60 runs.Raja spurs Tooba Sports Tooba Sports reached the quarterfinals of the Sixth Nehal Siddiqui tournament beating Model CC by five wickets Tuesday.Model CC scored 172 for eight wickets in 20 overs with Amir Kaleem (56), Atif Maqbool (30) and Ariz Kamal (37), among the runs.Tooba Sports scored 176 for five in 17.5 overs with Raja Mushtaq leading the way with 80 runs with 10 four and a six. Shahid Baig 37 and Murtaza 20 not out also made useful contributions. Azmat Noor four for 21, was the main wicket taker.Thursday fixture: Karachi Eaglets v Punjab CC

Somerset Under 12’s entertained Devon at Millfield School on Sunday.The visitors won the toss and batting first scored 148 for 8, with Callum Haggett enjoying the impressive figures of 8 overs, 5 wickets for 11 runs.In reply Somerset reached their target for the loss of 7 wickets with Jos Butler scoring 77 runs, to record a 3 wicket victory.

WEST INDIES players will get an additional sum of at least US$125 000 from from next month’s International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions’ Trophy in Sri Lanka.The windfall represents 25 per cent of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) dividends of just over US$600 000, along with prize money.The deal was agreed after several days of what were reportedly tough negotiations between the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), led by recently-elected president Dinanath Ramnarine, and the WICB over a contentious ICC contract on sponsorship for all ICC events until 2007, including the Champions Trophy and next year’s World Cup in South Africa.The WICB announced in a media statement yesterday that the 14 players had signed their contracts "subject to the ICC formally agreeing to consult with players before concluding commercial agreements for ICC events other than those that have already been sold".On the decision to apportion a quarter of its Champions Trophy cut to the players, the WICB noted: "Appreciative of the heavy commercial restrictions placed on the players, president Reverend Wes Hall succesfully sought the approval of the WICB to offer the players 25 per cent of the dividends that will be obtanied by the WICB in respect to the 2002 Champions Trophy only."It is understood that the WIPA’s claims for as much as US$2 million of the WICB’s guarantee of US$6.5 million from next year’s World Cup along with substantial and immediate increases in fees were rejected.WICB chief executive Gregory Shillingford said ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed indicated the ICC was expected to ratify the agreement "on the consultative process with the players" at a meeting today in Dubai.It meant the originally chosen 14 for the September 12-30 tournmament would go to Sri Lanka, subject to injuries."Over the past few days, the WICB and WIPA have been in wide-ranging discussions over issues concerning the players, rights over use of their images and how this could be balanced against the interest of the ICC’s commercial partners who sponsor these world events," Shillingford added in the WICB statement."The WIPA and the players were determined that players’ rights should not be sold by the ICC without consultation and financial benefit to the players and that his association will continue to address this issue at all levels of world cricket," the WICB release quoted Ramnarine as saying.Hall noted that the WICB agreed there must be a consultative process between the ICC and the players.

Australian way doesn’t impress Pidge
When Bharat Chipli edged one behind off Glenn McGrath, he stood there and waited for the umpire to make his decision, in the time-honoured Australian way. Steve Davis, Australianhimself, said no, and a snarling McGrath was left to snipe constantly at Chipli until a miscuedpull ended his stay. Even then, McGrath appeared to be saying “not out, not out” to taunt the young batsman.Goswami wins Under-19 spoils
It was a contest within a contest, two of India’s victorious Under-19 team facing off against each other. Sreevats Goswami won it handily enough, taking Pradeep Sangwan for a six and three fours in the over. It was just about the only thing Bangalore savoured on a night when they were once again outclassed.Last-over blues
Bowling himself for one hugely expensive over probably cost Virender Sehwag and Delhi victory in their last game against Kings XI Punjab. This time, he bowled out McGrath and Farveez Maharoof and left the final over to Rajat Bhatia. With Misbah-ul-Haq on strike and in a rampant mood, it wasn’t an inspired gamble. The 24 runs Bhatia conceded at least gave Bangalore something to defend.All we need is just a little patience
Dale Steyn was working up considerable pace in his second over, with Gautam Gambhir not scoring off the first four balls. But just as Bangalore started to dream of a maiden, Gambhir showed off his orange-cap powers with a dazzling straight drive and an elegant push through cover.Are you Jonty in disguise?
Chipli may have done no more than rile McGrath with bat in hand, but at least he could claim the catch of the match, a stunning dive to his left at point to send back Sehwag. The only problem was that Delhi already had 91 on the board by then, with Sehwag careering to 47 from just 19 balls.On the ball
Cameron White has been a major flop with bat in hand, but he does bring some Australian virtues to Bangalore’s fielding. When Gambhir cut one to deep backward point and set off, White’s throw to Goswami was just about perfect. Gambhir didn’t even wait for the umpire,jogging all the way back to the pavilion.

The Basin Reserve’s future as a Test venue looks assured.New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive Martin Snedden is satisfied that the parties involved in discussions over the future of the Basin Reserve are keen to see that the famous ground is restored to its status as an international ground before next summer.After the ground was seen in a shabby and tatty light during the second National Bank Test between New Zealand and England in March there was widespread condemnation of the state the ground had got into.But Snedden said today that he has had meetings with the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust’s chief executive Dave Gray and there was a general acceptance of the need for the ground to be upgraded.”I’m confident we will receive the necessary assurances that the work will be done,” Snedden said.It is understood that more efforts will be made to improve the pitch block as well after possible trials are undertaken on the practice block on the ground.

Somerset has become the first county cricket club to become an `Access Organisation’ for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.Earlier this year Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson and Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding were presented with the accreditation certificate by Prince Edward during a ceremony at Yeovil.Over the last few days the club has sent out letters to all youngsters between the ages of 14 and 25 who appear on their database to invite them to take part.Mr Moulding told me: "We have just launched the scheme and already we have a great deal of interest from the young people. People have always thought that the scheme was about absailing and mountaineering, but 75% of the activities can be achieved through cricket."He continued: "We are very pleased with the response so far. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is very worthwhile and is a good thing as well for youngsters to have on their CV’s."Any young person who is interested in finding out more about the scheme should contact Andrew Moulding on 01823 352266.Meanwhile another area where Somerset County Cricket Club also leads the field is about to get started. When former teacher Simon Lowe set up the Playing for Success Centre at the County Ground earlier this year it was the first venture of its kind in the region.Now everything is in place and a pilot programme of after school activities involving pupils from four Taunton schools,- St Andrew’s Primary, Archbishop Cranmer Primary, Ladymead and Bishop Foxes is about to get started.Earlier this week Simon Lowe told me: "Playing for Success is a new venture and I’m looking forward to it immensely and with great anticipation. This is a real change of direction for me getting children to learn through the medium of cricket. We will be building on the good work that already goes on in local schools, and it will be very interesting to see how it all goes."The pilot scheme gets started on June 10th and 11th between 3.30 and 7 pm and goes on at the same time for the following three weeks.

Sussex beat Essex by one run in a dramatic finish at Chelmsford after the home side had made encouraging early progress towards their target of 244 for victory.Stephen Peters, who was promoted to open, continued his splendid recent run of form, hitting 66 with eight boundaries. He put on 58 with Darren Robinson for the first wicket before adding 89 with Stuart Law in a partnership that appeared to tilt the balance in favour of the batting side.When Law was run out for 40 Essex were 147-2 but then a mini-collapse saw four quick wickets fall for the addition of 15 runs before Paul Grayson steadied the ship. With careful shot selection he added valuable runs in tandem with Ashley Cowan, the pair putting on 48 in six overs to edge their side ever nearer the target.Requiring 15 runs from the last two overs with four wickets remaining, Cowan, having scored 22, edged a catch behind off James Kirtley. New batsman Ricky Anderson fell in the same over and with nine runs wanted from the last over of the day, Kirtley played a captain’s role, limiting Essex to seven runs while capturing two wickets.Mark Ilott arrived to face the final two deliveries but a bye was all that could be gleaned, leaving Sussex victors by one run and the unfortunate Grayson stranded on 48 not out.Sussex, who elected to bat, reached 243-6 with Richard Montgomerie forming the cornerstone of the innings.The 29-year-old hit a personal competition-best of 91 off 116 deliveries. His innings included ten fours and he was only dismissed in the 39th over having seen 194 runs posted on the scoreboard.Umer Rashid then batted briskly late in the innings for 28 off 22 deliveries to set Essex a challenging target but the home side were left to reflect a costly concession of 25 runs in wides during their opponent’s innings.

FULL NAME: Ngonidzashe Blessing Mahwire
BORN: At Bikita, 31 July 1982
MAJOR TEAMS: CFX Academy (2000/01). Present club side: Universals.
KNOWN AS: Blessing Mahwire. Nickname: Madman (`They say I do things that nonormal person would do!’)
BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Medium Pace
OCCUPATION: CFX Academy studentFIRST-CLASS DEBUT: 16-18 February 2001, CFX Academy v Mashonaland, at HarareSports Club
TEST DEBUT: Still awaited
ODI DEBUT: Still awaitedBIOGRAPHY (updated April 2002)The emergence of Blessing Mahwire as a promising cricketer is notable, not simply because he is a black player who could become a genuine all-rounder but also because he comes from Masvingo, a province where cricketing roots are still quite shallow. Like other black players, his parents had no real knowledge of the game, but he does have the advantage of an older brother who played.Blessing feels that his love of the game stems from school rather than his brother, though. He attended Ellen McGhie primary school in Masvingo, where Lazarus Zizhou, the coach, introduced him to cricket at the age of ten. He developed first as a batsman in his school team and progressed to the provincial primary schools team, which was also coached by Mr Zizhou. His best score at junior school was 80 not out against Chikato School, and for Masvingo in the national primary schools cricket week scored 48 against Mashonaland.He moved on to Victoria High School where he was quickly recognized as a player of great potential. He was promoted to the school first team in his first year at the school and therefore spent six years in that side, captaining the team for most of that time. It must be admitted, though, that the standard of cricket at the school and of the opponents they played was not high, and Blessing’s record therefore inevitably flatters him to some extent.In 1996, when in Form Two, he also decided to begin bowling seriously, no doubt due in part at least to the weakness of his school team in that department. He has always been a seam bowler and by the following year had done well enough to be selected for the national Under-16 team as an all-rounder. He was also to play for the national Under-19 team in his final year. The teams went to the South African weeks in Durban and Bloemfontein respectively.His highest score for his school was 154 against Mount Pleasant in Harare in 1998. He believes he scored 13 or 14 centuries for his school altogether. His best bowling figures were seven wickets for seven runs in four overs against Mutare Boys High. In most matches, though, he played weak opposition, but nevertheless showed the skill and determination to amass large scores.He pays tribute to coach Bruce Makovah who helped him especially with his batting, and to Joshua Paul, who helped him with the mental side of the game. He developed such a love of the game that without undue prompting from others he applied and was accepted for the CFX Academy in 2001.Blessing started playing cricket for Masvingo Sports Club in 1996, although success came slowly at club level where he rarely bowled. He has also played for Old Victorians, for whom he scored two centuries just before joining the Academy, and has now joined Universals in Harare. Number three is his favoured batting position, which he kept throughout his school career.Coming to the big city, he has not yet been able to dominate the cricket scene as he did in Masvingo and has played for the Academy in the lower middle order more as a bits-and-pieces player. He took time to adjust to the stronger opposition. As a batsman he prefers the drive, off either foot, while with the ball he moves the ball predominantly into the bat, in the air and off the pitch. He can field in the slips but has often been used by the Academy at short leg."It was of benefit to me all round," he says of his Academy year in 2001. "I became a better fielder, better batsman, better bowler. I’m happy with my batting especially. Now I approach it more professionally, and in a match I have plans about what I am going to do and I set myself standards." In the national league his highest score to date is 98 for Universals against Macdonald Club of Bulawayo, in the 2001/02 season.When his Academy year had finished, he wished to return to Masvingo to play and coach there, but the infrastructure was not yet in place, so instead he successfully applied to stay in Mashonaland, for a year at least. The local club was still in the third league and Logan Cup status was not granted until 2002/03, and he wanted to maintain his standard of play at the highest level possible. He aims to return to Masvingo then, `putting Masvingo cricket on the map’, as he says. He does at present still coach in Masvingo.Although he considers himself to be more of a batsman who bowls, he has been batted low in the order in the Mashonaland team and the Zimbabwe Board XI, and played more as a front-line bowler. But he is happy at present to be playing as an all-rounder and aims to challenge for a place in the national side shortly.Blessing is a pleasant young man but, no doubt because he is from a smaller centre, he is less guarded about his hopes and dreams than the city-dwellers. He dreams of breaking Brian Lara’s Test batting record and says, "I think I am going to bring a surprise for Zimbabwe cricket." How far he goes will depend on his ability to adjust to the higher level and his own determination and commitment.Cricket heroes: Guy Whittall – `he’s a match-winner and plays to win.’Toughest opponents: Eddo Brandes and Andy Flower.Personal ambitions: "I want to play for the national team and one thing I am trying hard to achieve is to break the world Test batting record."Proudest achievement so far: "In 1999 I performed well and was given an award at the high schools festival at Prince Edward for the most promising upcoming batsman."Best friends in cricket: "None in particular; they are all my friends."Other qualifications: 8 points for A-levels. "If I was not playing cricket I would be in architecture or quantity surveying."Other sports: Basketball, rugby, soccer, tennis and rounders for the school. Now `just a bit of swimming’.Outside interests: Listening to music and staying away from the noise!

Cricket Board’s consultant and former Australian opener Geoff Marsh today said the quality of the three Test wickets that produced a fantastic series between India and Australia, should be extended to all the wickets in the country if India were to excel in world cricket.”All the three wickets on which the Test matches were played during the recent Australian series were excellent. But every wicket in the country needs to be of a very high standard. It is also important that the trainees, selected for various zonal cricket academies for a two-month training stint, are provided with good wickets if good results are to be achieved,” Marsh told PTI.He however, ruled out use of artificial wickets as is being done in New Zealand and said, “cricket should be played on turf wickets. Wickets here are affected by the dry weather but that can be set right”.Marsh, on a whistle-stop visit to New Delhi, examined the pitch and interacted with the 20 trainees of the North Zone Cricket Academy undergoing practice at the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds.”The best 120 kids are undergoing training at academies all over the country – the results can only be good, to say the least. This is going to do a lot for Indian cricket,” Marsh said.Marsh, who has been assigned the task of compiling a report on the general cricket scenario in the country including domestic competitions, wickets and umpiring, said he would submit the report to Board President A C Muthiah by mid-June.Declining to divulge the details of his assessment made so far, Marsh said, “The report underlines the areas which need improvement. I have mentioned that there is lot of talent in the country which needs to be channelised properly. We should make sure that there is a proper structure which can encourage scouting and honing of talent”.Marsh said the boys were extremely fortunate to undergo training under former cricketers of great repute. “India is lucky to have former cricketers who have immense experience and knowledge of the game. The boys are really lucky to have this opportunity to interact with the best cricketers at the age of 16 or 17”.He said the boys must appreciate this and make full use of it. “They are already enjoying their training stint. They are very enthusiastic and I did not see them complain about anything,” Marsh, who has made four trips to the country since signing the contract in November last year, said.Marsh was prolific in his praise of the recent Australia- India series saying, “It was fantastic for cricket not only in India but also the world. It saw a very high standard of cricket and I think every player, fan and spectatator must be proud of what India accomplished during the series”.

Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyana left-arm spinner, is the only new face in the 15-man West Indies squad for the two Tests in Bangladesh next month. He has led and performed for the A team throughout 2012, on top of an impressive first-class record.Permaul, 23, recently troubled the Bangladesh batsmen during the West Indies High Performance Centre’s tour, taking 12 wickets in the two four-day games. He has played 45 first-class matches since his debut as a 17-year-old and taken 152 wickets at 24.59. He will play the role of secondary spinner to Sunil Narine, who made a huge impact against New Zealand – his first home Test series.The selectors dropped Adrian Barath and Fidel Edwards from the squad that was picked for the second Test against New Zealand in August.*Those recalled include Darren Bravo, who missed the New Zealand series due to injury, and Kirk Edwards, who gets a recall after he lost his place in the third and final Test against England. The squad includes ten players who toured Bangladesh last year, when West Indies had won the Test and ODI series, but lost the tour-opening Twenty20 international.West Indies have won two out of eight Test matches this year, which includes the series win over New Zealand at home. It will be Bangladesh’s first Test series this year. The two Tests, five ODIs and one Twenty20 International on the tour are scheduled between November 3 and December 12.Squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Denesh Ramdin (vice-capt), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Assad Fudadin, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels* 14 October, 10.20am GMT This article had incorrectly stated that there were only two out-and-out fast bowlers in the squad