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| Monday, June 25, 2001, Chandigarh, India    |
Waugh better than Sachin:
Gavaskar |
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Gupta planning an “explosive book” Aussie win marred by Bevan beer can attack
Two-match ban
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Jones runs year’s fastest 200 m
Jeev finishes
4th Grand double by Mukti Saha
Move to promote tennis club
concept Punjab retain
b’ball title
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Emphatic 9-wkt win for
India
Harare, June 24 Captain Saurav Ganguly put Zimbabwe in to bat and the Indian seamers took full advantage of the near — perfect conditions to bowl out the hosts for a paltry 133 in 41.5 overs. And though Ganguly’s love affair with the fielders behind the stumps continued — he edged to wicketkeeper Tetinda Taibu in the first over itself after scoring two - India scored 137 without losing any further wicket. Sachin Tendulkar, who remained unbeaten on 70, and Hemang Badani, not out on 52, played in a relaxed manner and took the Indian total past the hosts score, their lowest against India in one-day internationals, in 26.2 overs. This was the second defeat for Zimbabwe in a row after they lost by 27 runs to West Indies yesterday in the opening match of the series. Zimbabwe’s slide started in the very first over when opener Alistair Campbell was caught behind by Samir Dighe off Ashish Nehra, who was included in the one-day squad as an after-thought on account of his brilliant performance in the Test series. That started a slide that saw Zimbabwe slump to 39 for five in the 13th over and even the score they were finally able to reach looked quite unattainable. It was mainly due to the efforts of opener Dion Ebrahim and Heath Streak, back as captain after sorting out his problem with the national selectors, who added 38 runs for the sixth wicket, and the 17-year-old Taibu, who played a confident unbeaten knock of 19 coming in as number 10, that helped them reach within a run of their previous low against the Indians. For India, the good work of Nehra, who dismissed Campbell with the very second ball of the innings, was continued by every bowler with Ajit Agarkar, who got plenty of movement today, emerging with the best figures of three for 26 from 9.5 overs. Nehra claimed two wickets and so did Zaheer Khan and Ganguly. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was the only Indian bowler to go wicketless. Once again Zimbabwe acutely missed the services of Andy Flower, as in the absence of a solid batsman to play the sheet anchor role, the hosts struggled to build on a partnership. Ganguly had no hesitation in opting to field after winning the toss and his bowlers justified their captain’s decision sending back half the Zimbabwe batting line-up before the first 15 overs were complete. Stuart Carlisle (6), Grant Flower (4), Guy Whittall (7), and Dirk Viljoen (1) made a beeline to the pavilion without making any substantial contribution. Ebrahim, topscorer with 32, remained a mute spectator to the regular fall of wickets as he tried in vain to build a partnership. At 39-5, Zimbabwe were in dire straits and desperately in need for a big stand. That never came, though Streak did put up a semblance of fight with Ebrahim. They lived dangerously, their edges and nicks taking the balls to the most unexpected positions which left the fielders clueless. They even survived a few difficult chances but the important thing from Zimbabwe’s point of view was that the scoreboard was moving. Agarkar, who bowled beautifully today, gave India the vital breakthrough when he had Ebrahim caught by VVS Laxman in the slips in the 24th over with the total on 77. Streak followed him soon, run out by a brilliant pick up and throw by substitute fielder Reetinder Singh Sodhi, after making 16. It looked all over for Zimbabwe but Andy Blignaut and Travis Friend made important contributions of 13 and 11 runs respectively. However, it was Taibu whose little gem of an innings won the hearts of the local crowd. The schoolboy, playing only his second one-day match, hit Ganguly for two fours in an over. The first one was an exquisite cover drive and the second was hit through the gully region off a short and wide ball. He negotiated the yorkers from Zaheer and top-spinners from Harbhajan with an ease that belied his age and experience. The Indians had a start similar to their opponents’ with Ganguly edging the fifth ball of the innings by Streak for a regulation catch to Taibu. Zimbabwe: Campbell c Dighe b Nehra 0 Ebrahim c Laxman b Agarkar 32 Carlisle c Laxman b Khan 6 Flower b Khan 4 Whittall c Dravid b Agarkar 7 Viljoen c Ganguly b Nehra 1 Streak run out 16 Blignaut c Harbhajan b Ganguly 13 Friend c Sehwag b Ganguly 11 Taibu not out 19 Strang b Agarkar 4 Extras: (b-4, lb-4, w-7, nb-5) 20 Total: (all out, 41.5 overs) 133 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-15, 3-20, 4-35, 5-39, 6-77, 7-82, 8-102, 9-104. Bowling: Nehra 10-2-33-2; Zaheer Khan 7-1-18-2; Agarkar 9.5-1-26-3; Harbhajan Singh 9-1-28-0; Ganguly 6-1-20-2. India: Ganguly c Taibu b Streak 2 Tendulkar not out 70 Badani not out 52 Extras: (lb-2, w-9, nb-2) 13 Total: (for one wicket, 26.2 overs) 137 Fall of wicket: 1-2. Bowling: Streak 6-0-28-1, Strang 6.2-0-30-0, Friend 8-2-41-0, Blignaut 6-0-36-0.
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Waugh better than Sachin: Gavaskar Sydney, June 24 Tendulkar, on 69, carved a widish delivery to point to trigger an India collapse on the fourth day. The tourists slipped from the comfortable platform of 197 for three to 234 all out, leaving Zimbabwe with a modest victory target of 157. “It’s time to listen to the Australians, who rate their captain as the best Test batsman in the world for his ability to either win or save matches for his team outside his home environs,” Gavaskar wrote. “It was the batting that let the team (India) down. When batsmen who are set, (who) have done all the hard work, throw their wickets away to loose shots, then the team is never going to put enough runs on the board.” “Why blame VVS Laxman when the best batsman in the universe (Tendulkar) gets a half-century and then gets out, when a big score from him is the crying need of the team.’’
Reuters |
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Gupta planning an “explosive book” London, June 24 Quoting Sir Paul Condon, chief of ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, the newspaper said: “It promises to make his fortune and cause further damage to the reputations of many prominent players.” Sir Paul said he believed the commercial motive was one reason why Gupta may agree to meet his deadline of July 1. “There are various reasons why he may agree to come forward. One of those is that he may wish to write a book. He has turned down many requests for interviews, one of them from the Panorama team that recently went to India to make a programme,” Sir Condon told the newspaper. “He’s spoken very frankly to my team and confirmed verbally all his allegations. He would like to string things along for as long as possible. He wants to leave his options open, exploit his position and see what commercial arrangements he can make. But the more his motive is commercial, the more people will want to test his version.”
PTI |
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Aussie win marred by Bevan beer can attack London, June 24 Bevan was one of a group of players standing on the middle tier of the Pavilion balcony awaiting the presentation ceremony when he was hit on the right cheek by a full can of VB bitter, an Australian drink, thrown from among the massed ranks of spectators that traditionally gather in front of the Pavilion to watch the trophies handed out. Unlike Australia where no bottles or cans of alcoholic drink can be brought into a cricket ground, spectators here are allowed to ‘bring their own’ into the ground with them. “I felt something hit the side of my cheek. I wasn’t aware at first what it was. But later I found out it was a full can of beer,” said Bevan (31). “I guess I was lucky. It could have hit me on the eye, nose or temple. “The cheekbone’s not cracked. But whoever it was must have known that an implement like that can do serious damage. “An incident like that does make you reflect on your family and your future in the game. It’s not a great message at all. This is more like an assault and I will expect it will be dealt with in that way,” the one-day specialist added. “The game’s got to be fun for both players and spectators and we’ve got to make sure that we each stay on the right side of the line,” he said. Bevan will spend a few days in Brighton, on the south coast before heading home to Australia. A concerned Waugh said: “It’s very disappointing to end like that. The crowd were generally well behaved. But then a guy threw a can of VB, a cowardly act. We thought we were safe 50 metres from the ground.” Waugh had no hesitation in having the rest of the presentation ceremony conducted indoors. “If they (the crowd) don’t show us respect we won’t show them respect.” He refused to be drawn on whether or not English cricket authorities should follow the Australian example and ban spectators from bringing in their own alcholic drink. But he did say that unless there were improvements there would be a dire outcome. “Someone will get killed. There’s no doubt about it.” But Waugh, trying to be upbeat, added: “Maybe we’ve reached the lowest point with spectators and some good will come out of this.” Pakistan coach Richard Pybus said: “It’s sad that the game’s been spoilt by one idiot.” Meanwhile Roger Knight, secretary and chief executive of ground owners Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) said: “The incident was an absolute disgrace on the part of the person who threw the can. Now the match will be remembered for that one incident at the end not Australia’s brilliant cricket.” Following previous incidents of poor crowd behaviour during this tournament, mainly involving Pakistan fans, that had seen pitch invasions and fire crackers let off, MCC stuck to their usual policy of banning flags and whistles but clearly were unprepared for the can attack. “This could always happen
anywhere in life. Anyone could throw a can.” “People can bring alcohol into the ground,” said Knight who added that he could not remember what the individual spectator limit was. He said there would be a review of procedures and added that presentation ceremonies may be held behind closed doors in future. But the empty cans and bottles littering the Lord’s outfield would have been ‘review’ enough for some onlookers.
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Two-match ban
on Inzamam London, June 24 The Pakistan star was given out lbw for 23 to Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne by English umpire Peter Willey. But his long stay at the crease followed by his slow trudge off the field was too much for match referee Brian Hastings. The New Zealand official has been criticised here for his failure to take action in previous games but in his last match of the English season he hit Inzamam with a real, rather than suspended punishment. A statement issued on his behalf said: “The match referee has fined Inzamam-ul-Haq fifty per cent of his match fee and banned him for two one-day internationals for dissent. “This follows similar incidents involving Inzamam in April 1998 and May 2000. He was also warned about the same offence after the first Test here against England.”
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Jones runs year’s fastest 200 m Eugene, Oregon, June 24 The yesterday’s performance was easily Jones’s best since claiming gold at the Sydney Olympics over 100 and 200 metres and in the 4x400 metres relay. “My turnover (leg lift) is back. That is the best part of it,” said Jones after winning by seven metres. “I am going to have a good night’s sleep and come back and run even faster (in the final on Sunday). She skipped the 100 metres here, but plans to run in both sprints at the world championships in Edmonton from August 3 to 12. Jones will utilise a wild-card bye as the defending world 100 metres champion to gain her place in that event. Although her earlier performances this year did not measure up to her usual standards, Jones said there was never any doubt that she would run fast here. “We didn’t go out at it as hard as we had in years past,’’ Jones said of her early season. “There was really never any doubts.’’ “Now I can’t help but think of my race in Rome on Friday. It will be my coming out party for the 100 metres,” she said of her first appearance in Europe this summer. Women’s pole vault world record holder Stacy Dragila will also be in Rome this week. Dragila won with a vault of 4.62 metres on Saturday, then missed three attempts at 4.75 metres. “I felt low on my legs. I just didn’t feel like I could come over the top and take a really good jump,” said Dragila, who pushed her world record to 4.81 metres in her last appearance on June 9. Reuters |
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Sampras hints at retirement London, June 24 The 29-year-old top seed at the All-England Club dropped the potential bombshell during an interview with fellow Grand Slam champion and ex-world number 1 Jim Courier during a pre-event interview for an American television network. Text of the conversation was picked up by a British Sunday newspaper. “I know this is not going to last for ever,’’ said Sampras, who opens the Wimbledon proceedings in the first round against Spaniard Galo Blanco. “It’s about when I feel the time is right to stop, for me, not for anyone else,’’ said the winner of a record 13 Grand Slam singles crowns. “In a perfect scenario, I’d love to play my last match here this year, win and call it a career.’’ But that dream plan could be easily upset by a handful of top rivals like last year’s finalist Patrick Rafter, evergreen Andre Agassi, two years older than Sampras and still a threat at majors, and outsiders like Tim Henman, Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Sweden’s back-to-back grass title winner Thomas Johansson, among others. Sampras, who won a seventh Wimbledon crown last summer while playing in discomfort with shin tendinitis and carried along with distasteful pain-killing injections, told Courier: “Who knows about the future? I’m keeping everyone guessing, I don’t even know.’’ The American is clearly not the threat that he once was when he reigned for six straight years as number 1. The last time he lifted a trophy was here a year ago after outlasting Rafter. “Tennis is a huge part of my life, it’s something I’m very passionate about,’’ said Sampras, who married last autumn after taking a hammering in the final of the US Open at the hands of rising Russian Marat Safin and staying out of the game for the next three months. “It’s different now from five years ago, when I was consumed about the idea of being number 1. “I’m resigned to the fact that that will never happen again, so I’m seeking the best schedule to give myself a chance in the slams.’’ So far, 2001 has been a disappointment for Sampras. He again lost early in the French Open, returned to California and got back to some form on the grass of London at Queen’s Club last week, where he lost a semi-final to Hewitt. “I put a lot of time and energy into the French Open, even more so this year, and Paris was again a disappointment,’’ the American told his former colleague. “Here I am back in London, back on the grass, which I love playing on. Still, it’s hard not to think about this year and how it’s been disappointing. But I know I have the ability to turn it around quickly. I’ve got the game. I’ve got the belief.’’
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Jeev finishes 4th New Delhi, June 24 Jeev, who was tied for the fourth place along with three others at the start of the final day, shot a three-under 69 to aggregate 11-under 277 for the tournament. This was the Indians best finish of the season on the Japanese tour. Earlier, he had tied for the fourth place in the eason-opening Token Corporation Cup. The 29-year-old made four birdies (on the fifth, seventh, 15th and 17th ( all par- holes) and a solitary bogey on the par-4 12th. “This gives me a lot of confidence ahead of the British Open,” said Jeev. “I played pretty well throughout the week and my putting was solid. I guess I could have made a charge on the leader but the three bogies on the back nine yesterday proved costly. I have a feeling that it is only a matter of time before I register my first victory outside the Asian PGA Tour,” he added. Local favourite Hidemichi Tanaka won the tournament with a four-day score of 16-under 272. He played another solid round of three-under 69 on the final day and was never challenged. Scores: 272 — Hidemichi Tanaka (66, 69, 68, 69); 275 — Eduardo Herera (73, 67, 68, 67); 276 — Kenichi Kuboya (68, 66, 73, 69), 277 — Jeev Milkha Singh (70, 66, 72, 69); 278 — Tetsuji Hiratsuka (69, 69, 71, 69), Kazumasa Sakaitani (70, 66, 71, 71), Tomohiro Kondou (71, 70, 67, 70), Christian Pena (69, 71, 68, 70).
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Grand double by Mukti Saha Bangalore, June 24 The 19-year-old group D employee with the Eastern Railway, clocked 13.98 seconds to grab the gold in 100 metres hurdles on the second day of the country’s premier athletics event at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here. About half-an-hour later, Mukti took the top honours in the 200 metres as well, with a timing of 23.93 seconds, pushing Maharashtra’s Kavitha Pandya, who won the 100 metres event yesterday, to the second spot (23.99). Southern Railway’s Pandeshwari took the bronze, while the semi-finalist at the Sydney Olympics K.M. Beenamol (Southern Railway), who is not in the best of form, came fourth (24.27). “I am very happy since I had not won a double in the senior league”, an elated Mukti said. “I am preparing hard for the coming Asian Games”. On an encouraging day for West Bengal, Manisha Dey won the women’s triple jump and L. Aruna Devi the women’s 10,000 metres with a timing of 13.23 seconds, and 35 minutes, 56.9 seconds, respectively. The men’s 200 metres gold was bagged by Karnataka’s Clifford Joshua who clocked 20.95 seconds, pushing back the challenge of Southern Railway mates Lijo David (21.56) and C. Thirugnanadurai (21.69).
PTI |
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Move to promote tennis club
concept New Delhi, June 24 Hectic construction activity is currently on at the DLTA to turn it into a magnificent ‘tennis club’, in salubrious surroundings. A 30-feet into 15 feet swimming pool is in the final stages of completion, and two squash courts, 18 tennis courts (13 synthetics, three clay and two grass), pool tables, fitness centres, an amphi-theatre, a modern club house and other additions will add lustre to the R K Khanna tennis complex, which is at present known only for its tennis activity. With the Afro-Asian Games only a few months away, the DLTA stadium, perhaps, will be the first facility to get a massive facelift well ahead of the games. “We are promoting the concept of tennis clubs in the country with the intent of ploughing in some of the profits of the ITC for the development of tennis”, said AITA secretary-general Anil Khanna, who is also the president of the DLTA, here today. He said Futures and Satellite tournaments in Europe were conducted by tennis clubs without any financial help from the respective tennis federations. He said the tennis clubs were the backbone of the game in European countries like Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Sweden et al and the results were there for all to see. Though the DLTA had taken the initiate to promote the tennis club concept, Indore has opening the first tennis club in the country. The Karnataka State Tennis Association is also coming up with a swanky tennis club at the KSA in Bangalore. Mr Khanna said the idea is to have a tennis club in each city in the country. He said one of the reasons for setting up the ITC in Delhi was to make use of the vast expanse of land available at the R K Khanna tennis complex, which will be the venue for the Afro-Asian Games Tennis Championships. Mr Anil Khanna said 70 to 75 players from Asia and Africa were expected to compete in the games. Mr Khanna observed that the recent good showing of Harsh Mankad and Mustafa Ghouse was a good sign, and it bore well for the future of Indian tennis. But he felt that a player like Sunil Kumar, who became a national champion at the tender age of 16 years in Delhi three years ago, should compete in the satellite tournaments held in the country, instead of competing abroad all alone. |
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Punjab retain
b’ball title Chandigarh, June 24 The winners were served well by three of their star performers —Harminder Singh, Jasjeet Singh and Pawandeep Singh. They accounted for 74 of 85 points scored by their team today. Pawandeep Singh was the top scorer with 27 while Jasjit Singh (25) and Harminder Singh (22) followed him closely. Punjab had defeated Chandigarh in the semifinals and Orissa in the quarter-finals. Mr R.S. Gill, president, Punjab Basketball Association, has announced a cash award of Rs 50,000 for the winning team. |
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Sydney, June 24
Gavaskar criticised Tendulkar for throwing away his wicket during the second Test won by Zimbabwe in Harare last week, when the hosts squared the two-match series with a four-wicket victory.
