Sunday, June 6, 1999
today's calendar
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S P O R T | Sunday, June 6, 1999 |
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Azhar
hurt by ‘unfair criticism’
Zimbabwe
keen to book semis berth Johnson
keen to rectify Dhaka lapse Astle
owes Kiwis a big score Zimbabwe
vs NZ form guide Srinath
faster but less deadly Sachin-McGrath
duel damp squib Walsh
has no plans to retire |
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Graf
clinches 6th French Open title PARIS, June 5 — Steffi Graf staged one of the great fightbacks of her long and glorious career to beat teenager Martina Hingis in three Drama-charged sets today and won the French Open women’s singles title for a sixth time. Agassi
in title clash with Medvedev Srinath
outplays Fazaluddin
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Klusener helps South Africa to dramatic win TRENT BRIDGE, June 5 (PTI) — Hot favourites South Africa pulled off a stupendous three-wicket victory over a spirited Pakistan with all-rounder Lance Klusener smashing an unbeaten 46 off 41 balls in a spectacular late assault to pull his team through with six balls to spare. Klusener, yet to be dismissed in the World Cup, made up for his team’s jittery top order as South Africa reached 221 for seven in 49 overs in the nerve-wracking World Cup Super Six tie after Pakistan were restricted to 220 for seven despite wicketkeeper Moin Khan’s swashbuckling 63. South Africa were left reeling at 58 for 5, but Jacques Kallis (54) and Shaun Pollock (30) carried out a brilliant rescue act putting on 77 runs for the sixth wicket. Kallis fell in the 45th over, but Klusener smashed young fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for two fours and a six in the 46th over and then clouted rival skipper Wasim Akram for another to leave South Africa needing eight off two overs. Mark Boucher swung off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq for a massive six over wide long-on first ball of the penultimate over to virtually seal the tie before South Africa completing the win off the last ball of that over. The victory lifted South Africa towards a semifinal spot with four points in their bag with two matches to go while Pakistan also have four points, carried forward from the group stage. South Africa, more eager to win the tie billed as a dress rehearsal for the final between the two favourites after their reverse against Zimbabwe, clinched their 13th successive win over Pakistan. Klusener, who has so far aggregated 210, once again revealed his class amid gathering gloom with a brilliant counterattack that laid the hitherto unplayable Pakistan attack, including Wasim Akram and Akthar, low. South Africa looked in danger of crumbling when they had lost five wickets by the 20th over and then slipped to 135 for six as Akthar (2/51) first and seamer Azhar Mehmood (3/24) came up with brilliant efforts. Akhtar bowled with fire to effect twin strikes, removing opener Herschelle Gibbs for a duck in his first over and then seeing off South African skipper Hansie Cronje for just four. Cronje promoted himself in a batting reshuffle, pushing pinch-hitter Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis down the order. The ploy seemed to fail as wickets fell in quick succession, but eventually clicked as Kallis first and Boucher at the finish kept their cool to finish off the job with Klusener. Out-of-form opener Gary Kirsten (19) also failed to stay, trapped leg before by Akram and Daryll Culinan (18), Jonty Rhodes (0) fell to Mehmood, who also broke the stand by having Pollock caught at slips by Inzamam-ul Haq for 30 off 45 balls. But Kallis, who made a patient 54 off 99 balls, and Pollock (30 off 45 balls) kept South Africa in the fight. Saqlain dismissed Kallis to turn the tide towards his team, but Klusener with breathtaking shot-making pulled the match decisively towards South Africa by the end. Pakistan showed tigerish resolve in defending the modest total and South Africa also appeared to live up to their tag as poor chasers who choke under pressure. But Kallis produced the vital turnaround, by rotating the strike in a knock containing just three fours, with Pollock playing an ideal foil. Frustration crept into the Pakistan fielders who misfielded several times and resorted to overthrows, Akram himself the culprit on a few occasions. Pollock fell to make it 135 for 6, but Klusener quickly settled in a 35-run stand with Kallis before launching his final and decisive assault. Pakistan, earlier struggled for most part of their innings before Moin Khan once again produced a typically gutsy knock into the slog overs, wading into top pacemen Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald for big sixes. Moin Khan cracked six fours and two sixes as 81 runs came in the last 10 overs. The other major highlight of Pakistan’s innings was the world’s best fielder Jonty Rhodes renewing his acquaintance with Inzamam-ul Haq, a la 1992 World Cup, to run him out with a direct hit. Haq, the man who had held firm in previous matches, fell cheaply and there was none barring Moin Khan to help Pakistan cross the 200-run mark. South Africa next play
New Zealand at Edgbaston on June 10 while Pakistan and
India meet at Old Trafford on June 8. |
Sending Sachin as an opener a 'fatal error' LONDON, June 5 (PTI) — Australia’s lethal new ball bowler Glenn McGrath was today showered with applauds by the British media after he won the battle against India’s master batsman Sachin Tendulkar in the Super Six opening match yesterday. "McGrath won it with almost the first thrust of his sword,"wrote Christopher Martin-Jenkins in Telegraph about the much-hyped duel between Tendulkar and McGrath. "It took him in fact, only four balls to establish that ... He would be the master. He was utterly Australian in his confidence, authority and intensity," Martin-Jenkins said about the Kangaroos defeat of India by 77 runs. Though Tendulkar failed with the bat, after many critics forecast that India would be putting too much pressure on the maestro by sending him in to open, it was Indian skipper Mohd Azharuddin’s batting, not captaincy, that was put to the sword. "But if Azza has experienced most things during the 321 one-day games he has played for India, he can rarely have played a worse shot than when he tamely parried a rising ball from McGrath to gully to leave his team paralysed on 17-4," England’s former all-rounder Derek Pringle commented in The Independent. Going by their previous matches in the World Cup, it would have been something of a rude shock for Indian's captain to come to the wicket with the scoreboard reading 12-3 and five close catchers, Pringle wrote. Pringle was quick to appreciate the kind of aggression that McGrath showed yesterday and brought out one inherent fact that might have played a big role in Australia’s win, or more so in McGrath’s success. "McGrath is not afraid to risk no-balls in an effort to shake the batsmen up. In one-day cricket, anything above shoulder height is considered illegal, but McGrath knows that gifting the opposition the occasional run is nothing compared with the mental trauma that ensues after a ball has changed off a collar bone or two." "McGrath hissed one past Rahul Dravid’s temple before having him caught behind in a photostat of the Tendulkar dismissal," Pringle wrote. Pat Gibson of The Times said McGrath has demonstrated twice in the past week the great art of fast bowling with his summary dismissals of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar -indisputably the two best batsmen in the world, He criticised Indian skipper’s decision to send Tendulkar to open the innings saying: "It was the same at The Oval yesterday, when India gambled on playing their trump card from the start. It was a fatal error. The sight of Tendulkar opening the innings was just the inspiration that McGrath needed". Poking fun at
"whoever coined the term ‘carnival’ for
this World Cup," Gibson said the person "knew
very little about cricket. "The time for revelry is
when the Cup has been won. Until then it is a serious
business and there is no more serious cricketer in the
world than McGrath." |
McGrath’s spell proves bowlers dominance LONDON, June 5 (AP) — With a delivery hurtling at about 138 km per hour, Glenn McGrath broke the shoulder of Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin’s bat in his fourth over yesterday. He may as well have broken the back of India’s innings. Azharuddin grimaced as he attempted to fend the ball, which lobbed to Steve Waugh at point for an easy catch, and India were 17 for four, their hopes of progressing in the tournament all but drowned by McGrath’s fiery bowling. The 29-year-old farm lad from New South Wales was the toast of the Australian side after scalping not only Azharuddin, but also India’s cricketing demigod Sachin Tendulkar in the first over for a duck and run machine Rahul Dravid in his second. With Azharuddin’s wicket, McGrath’s figures read an astounding 3.2-0-8-3. The highest accolade for McGrath came from his opponents. "He bowled extremely well. No two questions. Absolutely Brilliant," said Anshuman Gaekwad, India’s coach. Gaekwad said the deliveries that dismissed Dravid and Tendulkar, considered by many the best batsman in the world, were virtually unplayable. McGrath’s success is a reflection of the unusual dominance of the ball over the bat at this World Cup, the pinnacle of one-day cricket made popular by its high run scoring games. Eleven bowlers have finished the preliminary round with 10 or more wickets and 10 bowlers had four or more wickets in a match. "It is good to see the ball dominating the bat but you still have to get the ball in the right spot," said the lanky right arm fast bowler, who was clocked a maximum speed of 141 kmph. For the match against India, McGrath threw the gauntlet yesterday, saying he will be gunning for Tendulkar’s wicket. "My game plan was to get (the ball) up there, get him coming forward and get the edge that way," McGrath said. "and that’s the way it turned out," he added, referring to Tendulkar’s hypnotic nudge at the ball that was caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. The strike bowler for Australia’s Test team, McGrath’s success is even more stunning considering that he was bowling first change for Australia at the beginning of the tournament because of a wavering line. But batsman finally took notice when he took five wickets for 14 against the West Indies, crafting a six wicket victory that helped Australia qualify for the Super Six. After that there was little doubt that he had regained his traditional Test position as the opening bowler. "I prefer to bowl from the first ball, but my rhythm is back and if I was bowling first change I would be bowling as well as I am now," he said. McGrath remained modest in his success. "I came out pretty well. There was quite a bit in the wicket for the new ball," he said. McGrath acknowledged that he had trouble getting used to English conditions and the white ball. "I was lacking a little bit of rhythm, a bit of form ... but I came back slowly." "I think my patience and confidence were pretty good in the last game against the West Indies and that’s how you get wickets in one-day matches." He said he din’t
realise that his delivery had broken Azharuddin’s
bat until informed later. "I was just trying to get
a good line and length," he said. |
Azhar hurt by ‘unfair criticism’ LONDON, June 5 (UNI) — Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin is deeply hurt by the ‘unfair criticism’ of his captaincy and says ‘the captain is only as good as his team’. In his post match remarks after the team’s 77 run defeat at the hands of Australia, which virtually shut the doors to the semifinals he said: "11 players play every game and the captain is just one of them." Azharuddin’, whose batting had hit rock bottom, felt it was wrong to blame him alone for India’s defeat. "We simply did not play up to our potential," he said. Azharuddin’s leadership has been under fire for long, critics training their guns on him after India failed to make it to the final of the inaugural Asian Test championship and three successive one day defeats against Pakistan. It became all the more vocal when his deputy Ajay Jadeja led India to victory in his absence due to injury. India began its campaign in the World Cup on a disastrous note losing to South Africa and Zimbabwe and Azharuddin once again drew flak. However the tide was reversed when he led the country to three successive victories that enabled it to make it to the super league. "It wasn’t just bad bowling which cost us dearly," Azharuddin said after Glen McGrath broke not not only his bat with a torrid delivery but also the Indian innings. Azharuddin attempted to fend a ball from McGrath but finished just ballooning it to his counterpart Steve Waugh. Coach Anshuman Gaekwad said: "He (McGrath bowled extremely well, absolutely brilliant." The deliveries that dismissed Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were virtually unplayable. The McGrath-Sachin
challenge proved to be a non-tarter and the world’s
greatest batsman was out for a nought. He was gunning for
Sachin’s wicket and Sachin fell into his trap.
McGrath said his gameplan was to get the ball up and get
Sachin come forward and get the edge. Sachin obliged. The
nudge was held by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. |
Time for Azharuddin to go If one person, has to be blamed for India's abject surrender to the Australians in their first Super Six encounter at The Oval on Friday, it is Mohammad Azharuddin and only Mohammad Azharuddin. For long it has been happening, each time India loses a match, Azhar mumbles a few words on TV but nothing is seemingly done to rectify the mistakes and Indian cricket keeps going deeper into a whirlpool while Azhar carries on at the helm of affairs. On the other hand, the men who salvaged some pride on Friday were Ajay Jadeja, who lived up to his reputation of being a man who does well under pressure, and the enigmatic Robin Singh, who continues to defy age. Remember Robin is close to 36 but can still run faster than anyone and throw himself around in the field. With the loss, India have all but made their exit from the last World Cup of this millennium. Even if India win their next two matches, against Pakistan and New Zealand, it seems highly improbable that India will make the semifinals of the tournament. To start with, the Indian captain did a good turn to the team by winning the toss but for reasons difficult to fathom he opted to field first on a pitch, that in spite of some light drizzle and clouds on the horizon, seemed to be full of runs. And having opted to field, he neither marshalled his resources well nor did he lead from the front to encourage his bowlers or setting tight fields. Why he held back Venkatesh Prasad till the first change defies logic. And to add to the misery of the squad he failed with the bat once again to have a grand average of 18.00 in the championship. The manner in which he ballooned a catch to gully would have left a club cricketer embarrassed. The Indian captain , having played over 300 one-day internationals, does not rely on his experience. In the semifinal of the 1996 World Cup at Calcutta the Indian captain went against the combined opinion of the team and opted to field — with disastrous results. But then did he learn from his experience ? Definitely no ! Did he take his team into confidence ? When he opted to field , living legend Sunil Gavaskar commented on television that it was wrong decision. For this the Board of Control for Cricket in India also needs to answer to the millions of fans. The team management , consisting of cricket consultant Bobby Simpson, cricket coach Anshuman Gaekwad manager Brijesh Patel (who too has played a fair amount of international cricket), the captain and the vice-captain Ajay Jadeja, must have discussed the various options available to the team in case India won the toss. Those who suggested that the Indians field after winning the toss seems to have very little idea of the current state of Indian cricket. Any team must have a correct assessment of its strength and weaknesses. Let us admit it. The strength of the Indian squad lies in its batting with players like Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar as also the bits and pieces men like Ajay Jadeja and Robin Singh, who have excelled . People like Mongia have started taking their places for granted and its is high time India looked for a gloveman , who can contribute fairly with the bat in the end. Wicketkeepers of other teams have contributed well. The list is long. Just look at Adam Gilchrist, Mark Boucher, Moin Khan, Ridley Jacobs, Alec Stewart and Adam Parore. These players could make into their respective teams on the basis of their batting alone. Mongia, however, continues to defy logic with his atrocious shots. Remember the Zimbabwe game and the Test match India lost to Pakistan in Chennai. Meanwhile, the Indian bowling has been suspect and the squad in this tournament have had difficulty against South Africa and Zimbabwe. The only time that the Indian bowling came good was against England and at that time the Indian captain seemed to be a different person altogether. So where does Indian cricket go from here ? The best thing for Azharuddin to do now is to feign a ``diplomatic injury'' and hand over the reigns of the team to Ajay Jadeja. Azharuddin must have realised by now, or the board should, that he has outlived his utility to Indian cricket. He has lost his touch with the bat. His fielding is no more the livewire which it was and his leadership has always showed too many chinks. If there is one man who really flourishes under pressure it is the Indian vice-captain. Even on Friday his century against Australia had class written all over. And who can forget the way he lead the team from the front at Sharjah just two months ago? Who knows under Ajay Jadeja Indian cricket might yet redeem itself a little by doing well in the remaining two matches of the World Cup. Honestly, it is time
heads rolled and lost pride is salvaged. |
Zimbabwe keen to book semis berth LEEDS, June 5 (PTI) — Zimbabwe are keen for a win to realise the dream of their maiden World Cup semifinal entry, when they take on New Zealand in the Super Six match here tomorrow. A victory for the African side, who have carried forward maximum four points from their league engagements, would assure them a semifinal berth. The Kiwis, with two points in their kitty following their stunning win against trans-Tasman rivals Australia, are desperate for a win that would keep them in the hunt for a place in the last four stage. With both teams reckoning that the match provides them perhaps the best chance to garner two valuable points, New Zealand and Zimbabwe are expected to go all out and would depend on all-round team efforts rather than on individual brilliance. Riding high after their spectacular triumph over strong contenders South Africa and fellow qualifiers India, Zimbabwe look up to Neil Johnson to repeat his match-winning performance against their African neighbours. Opening the innings, Johnson cracked a sparkling 76 before claiming three for 27 runs to engineer Zimbabwe’s first ever win against the South Africans. Kiwis pin their hopes on left-arm medium pacer Geoff Allott, who topped the wicket-taking chart in the first phase with a haul of 15 wickets. The 27-year-old Allott captured four for 37 to help his team beat Australia and get through to the Super Six. New Zealand would also depend on their all-rounder brigade of Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Dion Nash and Gavin Larsen and pray for skipper Stephen Fleming, struggling with the bat, to strike form in this crucial encounter. Reuters adds: The key to the match may lie in the New Zealand top-order where Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle were expected to blast quick runs. McMillan has looked in form, without getting to score heavily, but Astle has hardly hit the ball off the square. Now that the serious business has begun the New Zealanders need to perform in all three phases of the game and coach Steve Rixon is confident they will. For the moment, though, the momentum is with Zimbabwe, who have proven everybody’s favourite underdogs. Rixon was full of praise for the Zimbabweans, although this is clearly a game the Kiwis believe they should win. "We rate them as an outstanding unit," Rixon said. "They have got a very experienced core of players now and they know what it’s about. They won’t be overawed by the situation in the World Cup." Teams (probable): New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Matthew Horne, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Roger Twose, Adam Parore, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Dion Nash, Gavin Larsen, Geoff Allott. Zimbabwe: Alistair
Campbell (capt), Neil Johnson, Grant Flower, Murray
Goodwin, Andy Flower, Guy Whittall, Stuart Carlisle,
Heath Streak, Andy Whittall, Adam Huckle, Henry Olonga. |
Johnson keen to rectify Dhaka lapse HEADINGLEY, June 5 (AFP) — Zimbabwe’s Neil Johnson is a World Cup one-off - a player who opens both batting and bowling. The only man who gets close is Jacques Kallis, who opens the bowling for South Africa and bats at three or four. The fact that Johnson is not doing it for his first-choice side is a disappointment which he has buried with his past. If the 29-year-old all-rounder - who lines up for Zimbabwe against New Zealand in their Super Six clash here tomorrow — had any lingering regrets, he dismissed them in perfect fashion against South Africa at Chelmsford on May 29. Playing against many of his old team-mates and friends, he took three wickets with his right-arm swing bowling and scored 76 runs to win the game for Zimbabwe. "It was the greatest day of my cricketing career. I hope they think they lost someone who could have played for them," he said of the South Africans. "But they could never admit it." Johnson was born in Harare but has played most of his cricket in Natal in South Africa. He also toured Zimbabwe with South Africa a in 1994-95. "I grew up with Pollock and Klusener and I’ve known Jonty Rhodes the longest," he said. The call to play alongside them for the Proteas, however, never came. Last year, Johnson was awarded Zimbabwean citizenship and made an immediate impact for his adoptive country. First he took four wickets on his Test debut, including the highly-valued scalp of India’s Sachin Tendulkar. Then in his second Test, he made a 107-ball hundred in Pakistan that formed the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s first ever Test series win. He has also been a building block for the team’s success here. He has not looked back since scoring 59 and taking four for 42 in his first game against Kenya. After the first round, he had 10 wickets at 16.90 apiece, his economy rate 4.3 runs an over. That put him 11th in the bowling averages. His 156 runs at an average of 31.20 make him the tournament’s 27th most successful batsman. He will be aware, however, that his one international setback in his short international career came against tomorrow’s opponents. Bowling the final over of the match, at the mini World Cup in Dhaka last October, Johnson conceded 15 runs as Chris Harris snatched victory with a boundary off the final ball. "Harris hit me over extra cover for four to win it," he recalls. With history beckoning
Zimbabwe as they attempt to reach the World Cup
semi-finals for the first time, he will be determined not
to allow that one lapse to re-occur. |
Astle owes Kiwis a big score HEADINGLEY, June 5 (AFP) — New Zealand v Zimbabwe player head-to-heads: Nathan Astle v Neil Johnson Astle and Johnson are having very different World Cups. Astle owes his country a big score after making the worst start to the World Cup by any top-order batsman. In five innings, the side’s best one-day strokeplayer has scored 4, 5, 2, 0 and 11. His commitment to attack, always giving bowlers a chance outside the off stump, has been his downfall in English conditions favouring swing and seam bowlers. Johnson, by contrast, has been in outstanding form. The South African-born all-rounder, who opens the batting and bowling, is riding high in both averages tables. An accomplished left-hand bat who has played for Natal and Leicestershire, Johnson has scored 156 runs — including two half centuries — at an average of 31.20. He has taken 10 wickets in 39 overs at an average of 16.90. Chris Harris v Andy Flower Two of the World Cup’s most inventive players will both have key roles to play. Harris, a specialist one-day all-rounder, has had a good World Cup to date, especially with the ball. His awkward right-arm slow-medium have netted him eight wickets at an average of 17.12. Coming in down the order, Harris has excelled on the two occasions he has been called on to bat, scoring 30 against the West Indies and 42 against Pakistan. Flower, a wicket-keeping all-rounder, is averaging 45.50 with the bat after scoring 182 runs in five innings with a top score of 68 not out. Regarded as the best technical batsman in the side with a Test average of over 43, Flower quit as captain two years ago to concentrate on his wicket-keeping and batting and also dropped down to number five. Geoff Allott v Grant Flower The irresistible will meet the immoveable when pace bowler Allott runs in to bowl to the Zimbabwean opening batsman. Allott, a left-arm medium-fast bowler with plenty of pace and bounce, was once considered too wild for one-dayers. But the 27-year-old from Canterbury has performed superbly to become the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 15 victims costing 12.33 runs apiece after five matches. Flower, the barnacle of
Zimbabwe’s batting since it gained Test status in
1991, has had a reasonably successful World Cup to date,
but is still looking for a half century after five
innings. A steady right-hander, he warmed up for the
World Cup with four fifties in six innings during a
triangular tournament against Bangladesh and Kenya. His
highest score here is 45. |
Zimbabwe vs NZ form guide HEADINGLEY, June 5 (AFP) — New Zealand v Zimbabwe form guide: New Zealand: coach — Steve Rixon, captain — Stephen Fleming Zimbabwe: coach — Dave Houghton, captain — Alistair Campbell 1999 World Cup
results: Zimbabwe — Lost to England by seven wickets, beat India by three runs, lost to Sri Lanka by four wickets, beat Kenya by five wickets, beat South Africa by 48 runs. Recent
head-to-heads: The Kiwis also won the one-day series 4-1. Last October they beat Zimbabwe in the mini World Cup in Bangladesh through a last over boundary by Chris Harris. Previous World
Cups: Venue: Headingley,
one of the oldest Test venues. A little cramped but
generates a good atmosphere. County side Yorkshire tried
to leave the venue two years ago for a new ground but
have decided to stay and renovate current site. Don
Bradman scored 309 runs in a day here in 1948. Capacity:
14,750 |
Srinath faster but less deadly LONDON, June 5 (AFP) — Indian paceman Javagal Srinath was timed faster than Australia’s Glenn McGrath when the speed gun was unveiled for the first time at the cricket World Cup, reports said today. Srinath’s fastest delivery was clocked by the speed gun at 93 miles per hour against McGrath’s 88 - which removed Sachin Tendulkar for zero - at The Oval yesterday. But the lanky New South Welshman had the last laugh, leading Australia to a 77-run victory with a hostile opening spell that claimed Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and skipper Mohammad Azharuddin. Srinath also worked up higher pace through his spells, averaging 86 miles an hour against McGrath’s 84. The speed gun, created by a South African firm, measures the speed of the ball from the moment it leaves the hand till it hits the wicket. Among the other bowlers timed at the first super six match, the fastest deliveries by Australians, Damien Fleming and Paul Reiffel were identical at 86 miles an hour. Indian seamer Venkatesh Prasad was clocked at 83 miles an hour and Debashish Mohanty at 81 miles. Leg-spinners Shane Warne and Anil Kumble gave an indication of their contrasting styles, when the Australian averaged 51 miles an hour against the Indian’s 60. Kumble’s fastest delivery at 73 miles an hour was just three miles slower than seamer Steve Waugh. The speed gun will throw
up the fastest bowler at the World Cup with Pakistani
Shoaib Akhtar, the "97 miles-an-hour" man,
tipped to break the 100-mile barrier. |
Sachin-McGrath duel damp squib OVAL, June 5 (PTI) — The much-hyped duel turned out to be a damp squib as the Sachin Tendulkar-Glenn McGrath face-off lasted for just four balls in the India-Australia World Cup Super Six tie here yesterday. The prospects of an absorbing encounter between the batting maestro and the lanky speedster after a three-year hiatus were dashed as McGrath sent back Tendulkar in the fifth ball of the Indian innings triggering an Indian batting collapse. Tendulkar, back again in the opener’s slot, went back for a rare duck edging a razor-sharp McGrath outswinger to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist as India embarked on a daunting task of chasing Australia’s 282 for six off 50 overs. The Tendulkar versus McGrath spectacle was awaited eagerly by the cricket aficionados as the two had not met on the playing field in a one-day international since the Titan Cup triangular series in October-November 1996. The master blaster played a stellar role in scripting two memorable wins against Australia en route to title triumph. Tendulkar completely
dominated a McGrath-less Australian side to lead India to
Test triumph at home followed by a memorable one-day
tri-series victory at Sharjah in 1998. |
Walsh has no plans to retire LONDON, June 5 (Reuters) — Veteran West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh has no plans to retire until he becomes the world’s leading Test wicket taker. Walsh, West Indies’ most successful bowler with 11 wickets in their unsuccessful bid to reach the second stage of the World Cup, has 423 Test scalps, 11 short of the world record held by Kapil Dev. Walsh, 36, told Sky Television that the expected rest he would get by not playing English county cricket for Gloucestershire this summer would give him a chance to recharge his batteries. "Now I’ve got a rest so I may be fresh for (the Test series in) England next year," Walsh said. He said he was motivated to continue playing following rewarding series against South Africa and Australia when he captured 22 and 26 wickets, respectively. "I had very good series in South Africa and the Caribbean and I’ve now got the option of getting the highest number of Test wickets," Walsh said. "I would have been
satisfied with 400 but I have the chance of getting past
two great bowlers, Sir Richard Hadlee and Kapil
Dev." |
Graf clinches 6th French Open title PARIS, June 5 (AFP) — Steffi Graf staged one of the great fightbacks of her long and glorious career to beat teenager Martina Hingis in three Drama-charged sets today and won the French Open women’s singles title for a sixth time. Graf, who turns 30 in a few days, beat top-seeded Hingis 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in 2hr 25min after being within three points of defeat at the end of the second set. It was the German veteran’s 22nd Grand Slam title, leaving her just two short of the all-time record held by Australian Margaret Court. Graf was playing in her first Grand Slam final since 1996 - and she turned back the clock to her glory days after two years in which she has been plagued by injuries. Playing at Roland Garros for the 16th time, Graf was the crowd favourite as a testy hingis was given a warning and later a point penalty for disputing a line call. Graf became the first player in the open era to beat the top three players in the world at the same event and only Chris Evert, with seven, has won more French titles. Hingis, just 18, had been bidding for the sixth Grand Slam title of her career and the only slam title to have eluded her — and she served for the match at 5-4 in the second set before Graf launched her remarkable recovery. Graf was playing in a record-equalling ninth singles final at Roland Garros but fell behind in a match delayed by rain and then played in difficult blustery winds on the slow red clay. It was the first title of the year for the German and ended a run of 20 wins in 21 matches for Hingis. Graf picked up $ 604,000 for her win and will move back up to third in the new WTA Tour rankings list — her highest ranking since she lost the number one spot in March, 1997. Hingis earned $ 302,000. Graf has now won seven of her nine career meetings with Hingis. The young Swiss player got off to a flying start, breaking Graf in the first game and then holding for 2-0. The German, who had a far tougher route to the final, got back to 2-2 but the young Swiss player then pulled away by winning three straight games, including two breaks of serve. Hingis kept the ball deep, using power inconsistent with her slim frame. Although Graf did get back to 4-5, Hingis served out for the set — sealing it on her fourth set point. Hingis moved into a 2-0 lead in the second set, but then become involved in a long dispute over a shot she believed was good — and was called out. Hingis, dubbed "the smiling assassin" for her toughness, was given a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after she went to the other side of the net to point out where she thought the ball had landed - and then demanded the tournament referee be called. Graf held that game for 1-2 but Hingis held for 3-1 as Graf began to make some uncharacteristic backhand errors and Hingis took every opportunity to take the ball early and dictate the points. The German, whose mother and father were both in the crowd, called on every ounce of her experience as she fought back to lead 4-3. Hingis was jeered when she smashed a ball courtwards when Graf had break point for 5-3 but the Swiss player held for 4-4 after one particularly memorable rally which ended with Graf missing the simplest of smashes. Hingis broke Graf for 5-4 and then served for the match -but was broken to 30 after a tired and unwise drop shot. Graf, suddenly cool and collected, held to love and then broke Hingis to 15 for the set as the teenager began to unravel. Graf took a 1-0 lead in the decider before both women took a break — hingis only returning to the court from the locker room in the nick of time — and to more boos from the crowd. Graf promptly broke to 2-0 and held for 3-0 - her sixth straight game - after 10 points in succession. Hingis appeared close to tears but she regained her composure and broke back to 2-3, only to again drop her own serve after a brilliant sliced backhand from Graf. Graf moved into a 5-2 lead and Hingis again earned the ire of the crowd with an underarm serve to save match point that caught Graf unawares. Graf earned a second
championship point with a drop shot and sealed the win
when Hingis sent a backhand long. |
Graf not to play French Open again PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) — Steffi Graf retired from French Open tennis after collecting her sixth Roland Garros singles crown today. Graf took the title-her 22nd Grand Slam singles triumph-by beating world number one Martina Hingis 4-6 7-5 6-2 and then said: "I will not be playing the French Open again." "This is such an incredible feeling I want to keep it this way. It can’t be any better than this." "I’m going to
take it Slam by Slam, tournament by tournament from now
on," she added. |
Agassi in title clash with Medvedev PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) — Andre Agassi qualified for his first Grand Slam final in four years when he beat Slovak Dominik Hrbaty in four sets in a French Open semifinal today. The 29-year-old American will meet Ukrainian Andrei Medvedev in tomorrow’s final. Should Agassi win, he would become the first man since Australian Rod Laver in 1969 to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments. Agassi won Wimbledon in 1992, the US Open in 1994 and the Australian open in 1995. Agassi, who was twice a losing finalist in Paris in 1990 and 1991, won 6-4, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, in a match which had been halted by rain last evening as Agassi led two sets to one. When play resumed today, the American did not take any chances, quickly breaking his opponent, ranked 30th in the world, to take the match in a total of two hours and 25 minutes. Agassi could tomorrow become the first player in history to win the four major tournaments in tennis on four different surfaces. In Laver’s time, all Grand Slam tournaments except the French Open were played on grass. Agassi said afterwards: "He (Hrbaty) has been playing so well and he forced me to play some of my best tennis this tournament." "So it was really nice to take care of business today." "If I can keep playing my tennis and keep playing smartly then it should be OK." "Starting a match again is hard, but you have to remember that you only have to handle it better than one person," Agassi said, admitting he was pleased to go off because he felt the heavy, wet conditions yesterday had favoured 31st-ranked Hrbaty. Agassi advanced to the eighth Grand Slam final of his career and is now just one win away from joining Donald Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson and Rod Laver, the only men to have won the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in their careers. Agassi, now 29, was superb in the key points against a younger, less experienced but equally physical opponent. He came from 2-4, 0-40 down in the first set — at one stage reeling off 16 straight points — and also rallied from 3-5 down in the second set tie-breaker as well as getting off to a great start today when his concentration was superb against a dogged opponent. Medvedev, whose 99th ranking was so low he came close to having to qualify for the event, continued his amazing adventure when he recovered from a mid-match slump to beat Fernando Meligeni in four sets in the semifinal yesterday and become only the 10th unseeded finalist here. Only three unseeded
players have ever won the tournament: Marcel Bernard in
1946, Mats Wilander in 1982 and Gustavo Kuerten two years
ago. |
Srinath outplays Fazaluddin NEW DELHI, June 5 (PTI) — Prahlad Srinath, playing his best tennis despite struggling with first serves, outplayed third seeded compatriot Syed Fazaluddin to win the third leg of ITF Men’s Satellite Tennis circuit tournament here today. Second-seeded Srinath capped his great form this season with an easy 6-4, 6-3 win over fellow Davis Cupper Fazaluddin for his second circuit title after the Bangalore triumph. Srinath smashed breathtaking backhand returns to subdue Fazaluddin, who yesterday got the best of top seed Artem Derepasko of Russia. Fazaluddin took lead early on when he broke Srinath in the third game of the first set but the second seed brought the issue to level with his top class returns in sixth game. Both held on to their serves for 4-4 and after Srinath won his service in the ninth, he upped his quality of returns to surprise Fazaluddin. The two players were involved in a number of seasaw rallies which could have gone on either players’ way, but Srinath showed better reflexes at the net to emerge winner. Fazaluddin lost his concentration and netted an easy volley before Srinath sent a backhand down-the-line passing shot for a set point (40-15). Fazaluddin stretched the game to deuce but then double faulted to give Srinath the first set 6-4. Srinath was at his best in the second set and raced to a 5-0 lead, breaking Fazaluddin in second and fourth games. Fazaluddin, who finished runners-up to Derepasko in the Mumbai leg, then held on to his serve chipping backhand returns to tire Srinath with long rallies. With the match slipping out of his hands, Fazaluddin tried his best and won the game on Srinath’s serve when the latter double-faulted for his only double fault in the match. Srinath earned one matchpoint on Fazaluddin’s serve in the eighth game but the Calcutta player escaped as Srinath made several unforced errors. India number three Srinath, opened up 40-0 lead on serve in the next game and then engaged Fazaluddin in the longest rally of the match before the loser returned wide. Srinath won the match in one hour and 30 minutes. Srinath, however, failed to complete a grand double as he and his partner Vasudeva Reddy lost in the doubles final to American duo of Le Minh and Jay Upwadia. Unseeded Srinath/Reddy, who shocked seasoned top-seeds Kirtane cousins — Nitin and Sandeep, in the first round, were a shade below their best today, losing 3-6, 4-6. The left-handed tandem of Minh/Upwadia looked fresh and played with better understanding and showed good reflexes at the net. Srinath, who won the singles title earlier in the day, was tired under energy sapping conditions at the DLTA courts here. Minh/Upwadia broke Reddy in the fourth game of the first set before winning 6-4. Srinath lost his serve in the opening game of second set with a double fault as Minh/Upwadia rushed to 3-0 lead. With the American duo taking firm control of the game, Srinath’s frustration rose and he showed his anger by hitting balls all around the court but escaped warning from the chair umpire. Reddy held on to his serve in sixth game and then the Indian duo broke Minh to briefly lead 4-3 before Srinath was again broken in the ninth game. Upwadia was clinical in
clinching the issue when he smashed a foreiland
crosscourt winner for a 6-3, 6-4 verdict in just over an
hour. |
H
Bhupinder Sr
slams century In reply to Jalandhar’s score of 192, Mohali piled up a huge total of 310 runs, thanks to a fine knock of 100 runs by Bhupinder Singh (Sr). Kailash Chander and Krishan Mohan were the other Mohali batsmen who contributed 42 and 45 runs respectively for their team. Vineet remained the most successful bowler for the Jalandhar when he took four wickets by giving 48 runs. In the second innings, Vikram Rathore, the captain of the Jalandhar team, scored 75 runs, as Jalandhar made 120 for the loss of one wicket at the end of the second and final day. Vikram had, in the first innings, scored a scintillating knock of 115 runs. Swimming meet
results Postponed |
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