Cricket: Saqlain breaks home hearts

Northamptonshire 152 Surrey 156-3 Surrey win by 7 wickets

DESPITE A fine one-day record, Northamptonshire were no match for Surrey in the Natwest Trophy quarter-final tie here at Wantage Road. In a non-contest that saw the home side bowled out for 152 in the 36th over, after Saqlain Mushtaq had taken 4-28, Surrey's victory was never in doubt.

The match, during a week where the pedigree of English cricket has once more come under scrutiny, was a microcosm of the ills that plague the county game. Not that it was all dire, only that the few good aspects flattered to deceive.

Winning the toss, Northamptonshire chose to bat first and set off at a cracking pace. Another used pitch meant the occasional ball misbehaved. Yet despite the loss of Matthew Hayden, caught by Adam Hollioake off a miscued drive, the Swann brothers Graeme and Alec scored freely without undue risk as Martin Bicknell and Joey Benjamin haemorrhaged runs.

In a previous era (the late 1960s) and in another place (Adelaide), it might have been the Chappell's. As this was England in 1999, the mirage vanished as soon as a decent bowler came on - Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq.

This is the problem with English domestic cricket. Having thrived against their own, they acquiesce to the class act from overseas. Saqlain is a fantastic bowler and, on a surface helping spin, he offered a stern examination. Yet even he must have been perplexed by the home side's capitulation.

Coming on for the 14th, when the score was 89-1, the off-spinner accounted for both Swanns and Russell Warren in his first three overs and Tony Penberthy in his fifth, to reduce his opponent's 109-5.

Only Graeme Swann (20) failed to be bamboozled and, having subjected Benjamin to as much humiliation on a cricket pitch as is possible with the bat, got himself out trying to do the same to Saqlain. After he went for 42, only two batsmen crept into double figures as Ian Salisbury claimed 3-29 on the back of Saqlain's damage.

Swann junior, who also bowls a decent off-break, later accounted for Stewart and Ian Ward, the former caught at silly point by big brother. It is possible that, with Old Trafford threatening to sustain two spinners, the selectors will bandy his name about this Saturday. If they do, it should be for a winter tour not the next test.

He is an exciting prospect but with 31 first class wickets at 36.13 - ironically with a best of 3-22 at Old Trafford - he is a batsmen who bowls spin. Michael Vaughan is probably ahead of him in the queue.

Vaughan is an opener and it will not please David Graveney to hear Mark Butcher scratched about before falling lbw to Paul Taylor. Fortunately, his other England colleagues Stewart and Thorpe looked more fluent than they did at Lord's, though Stewart's hesitance against spin again cost him his wicket. Any plans to bat him in the England middle-order for the next Test, look ill-advised.