More ex-pat cricket news from South Korea
Olivier de Braekeleer - 21 April 1999

Week one of the Spring Competition saw two of the favourites meet, with India getting the better of Australia. Batting first, Australia reached 137 for the loss of two wickets in 19 overs, with skipper Griffiths carrying his bat to a score of 75 n.o., and with a final flourish from newcomer Cheung with 17 n.o. Good, accurate bowling from India kept the Aussies in check through most of their time at the crease. India reached their target in fifteen overs, losing seven wickets in the process. Batting honours went to Shammi with 36 and Raju (29 n.o.), with three wickets each for Jaya and Derbyshire.

In game two, All Stars started well with their regular opening pair of Ross (52) and Wotton (23) top-scorers in a total of 148-9 in the allocated 20 overs, main wicket-takers for Rest of the World being Humayun (3), Gaskin and Honey (2 each). In reply, RoW got home with one over spare, with a total of 7 for 149, and skipper James top scoring with 35. A whirlwind 34 not out by Humayun turned the tide at a crucial moment. The bowling by All Stars was mostly tight, with Dunn taking four wickets and Thomson two.

In week two, Pakistan started their quest very strongly by defeating All Stars and England surprised themselves, and Australia. All Stars won the toss, elected to bat and reached 184 runs for the loss of seven wickets, a sizeable total in 20 overs; Whitelaw Jnr scored a well rewarded half-century, and there were good knocks from Wotton and Dunn with 27 runs each. Nasir was the best of the Pakistani bowlers with 15-2 from the maximum allowed five overs. Pakistan went for the runs from the start, as is their normal practice, with opener Idris getting 66. They were somewhat slowed down by accurate spells from the spinners, before Man of the Match, Nasir, with 52 and Mutjaba with a quick 28 n.o. allowed them to pass the target in the 19th over.

The second game saw England score 160, with some lusty blows by Spragg in his 72 runs, and Moore contributed 26. Good bowling figures were returned by Jaya, 3 for 16, and the old war horse himself, Casey, took 2 for 39.

Australia started well enough, with both openers scoring freely; but once Cheung (54) and Williams (33) got out, the Aussies collapsed from 3 for 107 to 146 all out with more than 5 overs left. Top honours for bowling to Spragg with 4 for 11 in only 2 overs.

Last Sunday, All Stars, in a "must win" match, took on India and Rest of the World played the new-look England team.

And Korea C.C. last weekend also participated in the Shanghai Sixes with a strong team led by Thomson, managed by Casey and sponsored by Gillette; other tourists include Bourke, Griffiths, Van Blommestein, Wallace and your special correspondent.