The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SA thrash Kiwis by 8 wickets

Melbourne, February 6
South Africa continued their one-day domination over New Zealand here today with a crushing eight-wicket win in the opening final of the tri-nations series.

In a clash watched by only 20,691 fans following Australia’s shock elimination from the series, South Africa romped to victory with 191 for two with 29 balls to spare in reply to New Zealand’s paltry 190.

It was South Africa’s 17th win over New Zealand in 18 one-day clashes between the countries and could be enough to decide the best-of-three series.

The second and third finals scheduled for the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday and Sunday remain in doubt because of unseasonal rain in New South wales.

Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini was South Africa’s match-winner with his second five-wicket haul in a one-day international. He was on a hat-trick at one stage.

Ntini, bowling with great pace and hostility, snapped up 5 for 31 from 10 overs after snaring Dion Nash and Adam Parore with successive balls in the 44th over. South Africa’s top order took few risks in reaching their victory from 45.1 overs.

Boeta Dippenaar, who survived a caught behind appeal on six, top scored with an unbeaten 79. He shared a 139-run partnership for the third wicket with Jacques Kallis, who was 59 not out.

The Kiwis believed paceman Chris Cairns had Dippenaar caught behind at the start of the 17th over, but umpire Daryl Harper put a hand to his ear, indicating he heard no snick. Cairns exchanged words with Dippenaar when he reached 50, apparently indicating he felt the South African number four should have walked. Officials said Cairns was later ordered to appear before match referee Hanumant Singh of India on what was believed to be a dissent charge.

South African openers Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten gave their side a solid start, taking the score to 51 after 13 overs before Craig McMillan, in his follow-through, deflected the ball on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end and had Kirsten run out. AFP

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand:

Vincent c Rhodes b Ntini 7

Astle c Kallis b Ntini 9

Fleming c Kallis b Klusener 50

McMillan run out 73

Cairns c Kirsten b Klusener 0

Harris c Boucher b Pollock 9

Nash c Donald b Ntini 9

Parore c Boucher b Ntini 2

Adams c Klusener b Ntini 13

Vettori not out 6

Bond run out 1

Extras (lb-5, w-6) 11

Total (all out, 47.5 overs) 190

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-18, 3-127, 4-128, 5-155, 6-158, 7-168, 8-168, 9-187.

Bowling: Pollock 9-0-30-1, Ntini 10-0-31-5, Donald 8-0-44-0, Kallis 6.5-0-25-0, Klusener 7-0-27-2, Boje 7-0-28-0.

South Africa:

Gibbs c Parore b Cairns 24

Kirsten run out 25

Kallis not out 59

Dippenaar not out 79

Extras (lb-1, w-1, nb-2) 4

Total (2 wkts, 45.1 overs) 191

Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-52.

Bowling: Bond 8-2-21-0, Nash 1-0-6-0, Adams 8-0-32-0, Vettori 5-0-32-0, Cairns 8-1-27-1, McMillan 3-0-14-0, Harris 9.1-0-44-0, Astle 3-0-14-0.

Gavaskar comments
Gough lost the battles but won the war

Previewing the one-day series one had mentioned that much would depend on who took the imitative in the Tendulkar vs Gough contest. For five matches on dull unresponsive pitches Gough took a hommering from the Indian openers but in the crucial final one-dayer on a pitch that afforded movement and bounce, Gough got the little champion out to a beauty that bounced and moved enough to take the outside edge of on attempted puch. So, though he may have lost the earlier battles the Yorkshireman won the war for his team bowling that tight final over in Delhi and getting the prized scalp of Tendulkar in Mumbai.

That the Indian team still depends on the little champion’s contribution to win matches was evident from the fact that when he failed the others were not able to carry the team to a victory. Unfortunately, in the crucial matches like the fifth and sixth one-dayers which would have clinched the series for India or the finals of a tournament the little champion hasn’t made a major score since 1998 or so. What didn’t help matters was that India insisted on picking players who had failed, Badani being the prime-example. He failed in the Tests and one-dayers in Zimbabwe, was still picked to go to Sri Lanka and failed there in Tests and one-dayers and still made a comeback in this series. It was hardly a surprise when he failed yet again for he has developed major technical problems. The argument that he had a big innings against Australia doesn’t hold, for wasn’t Laxman dropped and he had a much much bigger impact against Australia then?

The problem is that after one good innings an element of carelessness creeps into the psyche of the young Indian batsmen as could be seen by the manner of dismissals of Sehwag, Laxman, Mongia, Kaif and Badani. It is this trend that needs to be arrested where one innings makes a player feel that his place is absolutely secure. Consistency should be the buzzword but unfortunately complacency takes over.

There was no such problem with the young England players. Match after match they went in and tried their best. Sure they didn’t come off all the time but their effort level was obvious and if they fell cheaply it was because the Indian bowlers produced something special. They didn’t chuck their wickets away and in the field they were simply outstanding. There was a fierce determination to put their hand up if the seniors had failed and it was this spint that eventually got them to level the series which India should have logically won 4-2, if not 5-1.

The much-maligned Indian bowlers in contrast did a terrific job, with Javagal Srinath in particular being superb. He may not have taken a bagful of wickets but he was the one bowler who always seemed in control. Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble had their moments but with Agarkar operating in fits and starts, the absence of a regular fifth bowler was keenly felt. Sanjay Bangar, who can also bat, got a wicket with his second delivery in one-day internationals but didn’t play another game. Obviously, some favourites get plenty of chances but hardworking cricketers like Bangar do reasonably well in the one opportunity they get, yet still get dropped. Therein lies the tragedy of Indian cricket.

	Ganguly to remain skipper? Mumbai, February 6 Saurav Ganguly will continue as captain of the Indian cricket team for the home series against Zimbabwe starting on February 15. Though the skipper would be named officially on February 14 here, a highly-placed cricket board source said Ganguly had already been retained captain for the two-Test and five one-day matches series against Zimbabwe. “The team under Ganguly beat the England 1-0 in the Test series and squared the six-match one-day series 3-3. He regained his batting form at the end of the series and he will be the right choice to lead against Zimbabwe,” the source said. PTI
	Vineet, Munish boost Punjab hopes Gopal Sharma Tribune News Service SAS Nagar, February 6 It was pacer Vineet Sharma, who had made early inroads in the Orissa innings when they were chasing Punjab’s paltry total of 207 and had pulled his side back into the match yesterday. Today also it was Vineet who came to Punjab’s rescue. When Orissa at one stage were 197 for seven just 10 runs adrift of taking the first innings lead Vineet halted the rivals’ progress by an inspired spell of seam bowling sending them crashing to 200 all out to give his side huge advantage in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium here today. The doughty pacer could not get it right in the morning session when he was largely ineffective as were other fellow medium fast bowlers who failed to trouble Prabhanjan Mullick and Sanjay Raul, the two overnight not out batsmen. But pressed into the service after the lunch break he came back with vengeance. His first victim was former India seamer Debashis Mohanty. Though he has no pretensions of being a decent batsman Mohanty had defied the Punjab bowling attack for two hours enabling his team to come so near to Punjab score. Immediately after that Vineet struck again to send back well-entrenched Mullick and Ajay Barik off successive deliveries with the addition of just three runs to the total. Vineet, the joint highest wicket-taker along with Delhi’s Amit Bhandari and Himachal’s Shakti Singh with 26 victims apiece in the league phase of the championship, ended up with his career-best figures of 6 for 59 bettering his earlier haul of 6 for 61 runs against Services last year in his only ninth Ranji Trophy match. Mullick batted with a lot of confidence and character throughout the day. Without getting bogged down at any stage of the innings he kept formidable rival bowling attack at bay for the larger part of the day. When he was undone by the Vineet delivery he was on the verge of completing a well-deserved century. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, earlier in the morning, tormented Orissa batsman with an accurate spell which saw him claim four wickets in his first seven overs of the day. Getting into his groove immediately Harbhajan cramped most of the batsmen for room and getting enough turn from the track sent back four batsmen in his initial spell which read 7-2-20-4. Amritsar opener Munish Sharma consolidated the gains for his side batting resolutely in the second innings. Giving a better account of himself than in the first innings he batted with authority and played a couple of scorching strokes and was not out on 73 when the play was stopped two overs short because of the fading light. The match is being telecast live on Internet. Punjab (1st innings): 207 Orissa(1st innings): Mohapatra c Puri b Vineet 8, Das b Vineet 10, Parida c Dharmani b Vineet 16, Raul c Kakkar b Harbhajan 23, Mullick c Ricky b Vineet 99, Jayachandra c Yuvraj b Harbhajan 8, Gopal lbw Harbhajan 4, Satpathy b Harbhajan 1, Mohanty c Dharmani b Vineet 4, Bipin not out 0, Barik b Vineet 0. Extras (nb 16, lb 1, b 10): 27. Total (all out in 64.4 overs): 200. FoW: 1-17, 2-40, 3-49, 4-118, 5-133, 6-139, 7-148, 8-197, 9-200. Bowling: Vineet 24.4-5-59-6, Ishan 6-0-38-0, Harish 11-0-47-0, Harbhajan 18-5-39-4, Navdeep 5-1-6-0. Punjab (2nd innings): Munish not out 73, Ricky c Mullick b Bipin 9, Yuvraj not out 34. Extras (b1, lb2, nb8): 11. Total (for one wicket): 127. Bowling: Mohanty 10-2-31-0, Barik 8-2-32-0, Bipin 8-2-22-1, Satpathy 4-0-23-0, Jayachandra 4-0-16-0, Raul 1-1-0-0.
	Railways on backfoot as TN strike New Delhi, February 6 The determined Tamil Nadu bowlers made amends for the mediocre performance by their batsmen as they fought their way back on the second day of the five-day Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match here today. Medium pacer L Balaji, find of the season for Tamil Nadu, grabbed two wickets in as many balls to cause a Railways middle order collapse as they huffed and puffed to 179 for the loss of five wickets at stumps thanks to a patient unbeaten 78 by Sanjay Bangar. Tamil Nadu (1st innings): S.Sriram b Harvinder 0, S.Ramesh lbw Harvinder 4, Madangopal lbw Kulamani Parida 60, Hemang Badani st S.Wankhede b Murli Karthik 40, S.Sharath c Yere Goud b Murli Karthik 43, Robin Singh c and b Murli Karthik 7, T.R. Arasu ct sub b J.P. Yadav 46, Ashish Kapoor lbw Harvinder 8, M.R. Srinivas ct S. Wankhede b Harvinder 13, R. Ramkumar ct Pagnis b Parida 25, L Balajee not out 1. Extras: (nb-12, w-1, b-8, lb-8) 29. Total (113.2 overs) 276. FoW: 1/0, 2/11, 3/90, 4/142, 5/166, 6/168, 7/194, 8/243, 9/247. Bowling: Harvinder Singh 25-8-66-4, J.P.Yadav 21-4-56-1, Sanjay Bangar 15-4-38-0, M. Karthik 34-9-76-3, K.Parida: 17.2-6-24-2, J.P. Singh 1-1-0-0. Railways (1st innings): Sanjay Bangar batting 78, A. Pagnis c and b M.R. Srinivas 0, Tejinder Pal bowled Aashish Kapoor 29, Yere Goud ct Arasu b Balajee 21, Rajan Ali lbw Balajee 0, Abhay Sharma ct Robin Singh b Ram Kumar 3, J.P. Yadav batting 28, Extras: (b-6, lb-2, nb-12) 20. Total: (in 64 overs) 179 for 5. FoW: 1/4, 2/74, 3/115, 4/115, 5/123 Bowling: L. Balajee 15-4-38-2, M.R. Srinivas 11-3-26-1, Aashish Kapoor 15-4-45-1, Robin Singh, 6-1-21-0, Ram Kumar 12-3-37-1, S. Sriram 5-3-4-0. KOLKATA: Opener Hem Jashipura and Kirat Damani struck unbeaten half centuries as Gujarat were comfortably placed at 161 for two in their first innings at close on the second day of their quarterfinal against Bengal at the Eden Gardens here today. Replying to Bengal’s first innings score of 353 all out, Gujarat lost opener Nilesh Modi (18) early but an unfinished 91-run third wicket parnership between Jashipura (63 no) and Damani (50 no) kept them on course for the vital first innings lead. Bengal (Ist innings): Amitava Chakraborty c P. Vora b L. Patel 7, Deep Dasgupta c K. Dhamani b L. Patel 12, Devang Gandhi c T. Varsani b L. Patel 4, Rohan Gavaskar lbw b Mehta 24, Sourav Ganguly c T. Varsani b B. Mehta 36, Subhomoy Das c K. Dhamani b L. Patel 77, Sanjib Sanyal st. P. Vora b B.Mehta 123, Utpal Chatterjee b S. Bhatt 2, Laxmi Ratan Shukla not out 52, S. Lahiri st. P. Vora b K. Patel 10, S. Lahiri b B. Meheta 1. Extras: (B 0, LB 04, NB 01, WB 0) 5. Total: (all out 115.2 overs,) 353. F o W: 1-8, 2-18, 3-31, 4-64, 5-91, 6-267, 7-274, 8-325, 9-340. Bowling: L. Patel 35 07 77 4, S. Bhatt 23 04 90 1, B. Mehta 31.2 03 95 4, K. Patel 17 04 54 1, T. Varsani 07 02 20 0, K. Damani 04 01 13 0. Gujarat (Ist inning): Nilesh Modi c Dasgupta b Shabbir Ali 18, Hem Joshipura not out 63, Mukund Parmar c Das b L. R. Shukla 19, Kirat Damani not out 50. Extras: (1b 2, nb-9) 11. Total: (for two wickets) 161. F o W: 1-32, 2-70. Bowling: Shabbir Ali 14 1 54 1, L.R. Shukla 11 6 23 1, S. Sanyal 9 3 15 0, S. Ganguly 4 1 9 0, U. Chatterjee 16 4 31 0, R. Gavaskar 2 1 8 0, S. Lahiri 6 0 19 0. BARODA: Powered by a 225-run third wicket partnership between Jacob Martin and Connor Williams, hosts Baroda scored 327 runs for the loss of three wickets on the second day of the quarterfinal against Hyderabad at GSFC Ground here. Both Martin and Williams scored a century each and helped their side take the crucial 37-run first innings lead over the visitors. Martin (116) and Valmik Buch (10) were unbeaten at stumps. Williams contributed a well-made 157 before being out. For Hyderabad, N.P. Singh, Vishnu Vardhan and D. Vinay Kumar claimed one wicket each. PTI
	Irina Brar completes Grand Slam Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 6 Eighteen-year-old Irina Brar entered her name in yet another record book when she became the first lady golfer to complete a Grand Slam in the women’s golf circuit. This rare honour came her way when she won the Billoo Sethi Cup and the All-India Amateur Women’s Championship in Mumbai finishing with a clean sweep of all the eight titles this year. And this dual victory came Irina’s way at a time when she was preparing for the Plus-Two board exams. In fact she received telephone calls about the practicals from her teachers in Chandigarh. The board exams are barely three weeks away. Irina set the pace by winning the two-day strokeplay competition for the Billoo Sethi Cup returning scores of 78 and 72. Despite trailing by four strokes after the first round, to Vandana Aggarwal, Irina came back to return a par card. Vandana had scores of 74 and 79. After the strokeplay competition it was a four-day knockout competition for the all-India title. Irina, with the exams round the corner and the excitement of a Grand Slam on the cards, had sleepless nights. She eliminated Champika Syal in the 11th hole. In the second round Myali Talwar of Delhi lost to her on the 14th hole. The third round competition went on to the 18th hole. And Irina had to put her best foot forward to tame Anjali Chopra on the last hole. The 36-hole final saw her pitted against Vandana Aggarwal. The competition went on til the 35th hole, when Irina emerged the champion. This win completed her sweep of titles . Her mother, Madhu Brar, who was with her during the Mumbai championships, said Irina was having nightmarish dreams. But she managed to overcome the stress and finally did come out in flying colours. “Now that she is back it will be a small party from her aunt Bubbles, who had promised one if Irina won eight out of eight title”, said the doting mother. Irina also got a phone call from the owner of Kasauli Resorts, two night and three days of stay for the family. “That is the least I can do for the country’s golf queen”, said the caller. Irina cannot forget those who have stood by her. Leading them is no doubt Indian Oil, who appointed her sports apprentice. And it is leart the sports apprentice may be made the sports officer. The Nike contract also proved lucky for her. Ever since she donned the cap she has been on a winning spree. “And who can forget Jessie uncle, the coach who brought about match-winning changes in her swing”, concluded Irina. Now it will be examination time for Irina. But she will continue with the golf practice as soon after the board exams she will be participating in the Queen Sirikit Cup in Malaysia in April. The Sirikit Cup over Irina will be going with her parents to Memphis in the USA for a wedding in the family. She may also get in touch with some coaches. And with Jeev Milkha Singh there, he should be of help in locating some good coaches. But at the moment, it is going to be all studies
	Tattered US flag for Winter Games Salt Lake City, February 6 The “tattered and torn” US flag that flew over New York’s World Trade Center will be raised at the opening ceremony at the 2002 Winter Games, the US Olympic Committee said yesterday. But it will not be carried into the Olympic stadium behind the US athletes and officials as team delegates had hoped. “This is the one that’s been to Afghanistan... This is the one that is tattered and torn and has been a symbol of a lot of things since that time,” USOC spokesman Mike Moran said in a telephone interview. “It’s the Ground Zero flag.” He said the US team had been considering how to honour the memory of victims of the September 11 attacks and had originally suggested having six Olympic athletes carry the flag into Rice-Eccles Stadium after the US delegation had entered during Friday’s official opening. Reuters
	‘Boxer Gurcharan a deserter’ Our Sports Reporter New Delhi, February 6 The law awaits ace boxer Gurcharan Singh whenever he chooses to return to India as the Army has declared him as a ‘deserter’. “As far as the Army is considered, Gurcharan Singh is a deserter, and he will have to face the consequences of his action”, said Lt.Col Muralidharan Raja, joint secretary, Services Sports Control Board and technical director of the 48th Senior National Boxing Championship currently being held at the YMCA rings in Delhi. Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) working President R. S. Dalal said Gurcharan Singh had neither informed the Army nor the IABF about his whereabouts. “We understand that he is somewhere in the USA, and has turned a professional. But we have not heard anything from him till date”, Mr Dalal informed. He said the federation could have sorted out Gurcharan’s problems had he contacted it. Both Lt. Col Muralidharan Raja and Mr Dalal said Gurcharan Singh, the Asian Games bronze medallist, would have to face departmental action whenever he surfaces in India. “We have to abide by certain rules and regulations”, they opined. And Gurcharan Singh cannot escape from that.

Durga Prasad, Lalit Singh win

New Delhi, February 6
Reigning bantam weight national champion Durga Prasad continued his winning spree wiping out his rival on the second day of the 48th National Boxing Championship which saw 91 bouts today.

Prasad from the Railway Sports Control Board (RSCB) unleashed his favourite left right combinations to eliminate Raj Rattanchand of Jammu and Kashmir. In round two the Jammu and Kashmir boxer was wobbling and the glazed eyes prompted the referee to stop the bout in round two.

Delhi’s Lalit Singh, fighting in the feather fight, stopped Orissa’s Prafula Mohanty in round three. Singh, an international pugilist won in style using his jabs which went on target.

Fly weight, S Suresh of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) too finished off his opponent, Gujarat’s Sunil Badathuri in round two with the refree stepping in to save him from further punishment.

Another flyweight Tausif Khan of the Steel Plant Sports Board won on ponts against Rakesh Purty of Jharkand.

Light fly weight Khemanand of the CISF, another reputed boxer out jabbed Haryana’s Ravi Kumar to win the bout. In the same category Ashwini Sharma of Chandigarh showed little respect to demolish Puspendra Parmar of Rajasthan in round two.

International Parveen Sharma, fighting in the light welter weight category from Haryana, showed his class when the referee stopped the bout in his favour saving Dhanakumar Maitei of Manipur from his power punches.

Assam Rifles, Sanjit Singh and national champion also continued his gold run outclassing Ajay Sagar Yadav of Uttar Pradesh in round one.

Former national champion Manoj Panwar also fighting in the light welter overran his rival from Pradip Kumar of Maharashtra. UNI

Ban on wrestler Palwinder lifted
Our Sports Reporter

Patiala, February 6
The one-year ban imposed by the Punjab Amateur Wrestling Association (PAWA) on Palwinder Cheema, junior world champion in the 130 plus weight category, has been lifted after the matman apologised to the association.

The PAWA had imposed the ban citing disciplinary reasons on the grappler when Palwinder Cheema left the National Wrestling Championships held at Nidani (Jind) in December without informing either the organisers or the association.

Palwinder has been asked to immediately join the senior national camp being held at the NIS in preparation for the Takhti Cup championships slated to be held at Tehran from February 22 to 24.

ITI hold JCT; Punjab Police lose
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 6
JCT, Phagwara were held to a goal-less draw by Indian Telephone Industries (ITI), Bangalore in pool A while Salgaocar, Goa beat Punjab Police 1-0 in pool B in the quarter-final league matches of the 114th edition of the Durand Cup Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium here today.

Salgaocar put sustained pressure on Punjab Police before the latter’s defence cracked in the 79th minute of the match to slot in the match-winner through striker Alex Ambrose. Play-maker Eugene Gray, who had twice missed the mark from close when Punjab Police defender Rajesh Kumar effected timely clearnces virtually from the goal-line, floated a nice pass into the box from the left flank, which was quickly left-footed into the goal by Alex Ambrose (1-0).

The Punjab cops had their share of chances when they totally dominated the game for 10 minutes from the 65th minute to the 75th minute, but despite breaking through the tight Salgaocar defence, their strikers, particularly Parveen Kumar and Harnem Singh, failed to hit the bull’s eye. The Punjab Police defence held out manfully till the very end, but for just one aberration, and their custodian, Satish Kumar, brought off a couple of remarkable saves.

But in the end, they could not prevent a superior Salgaocar from scoring the match-winner.

JCT too failed to cash in on the innumerable scoring opportunities they created to split points with ITI, which may prove costly for them when the final counting of points takes place.

JCT had set a furious pace, and had the tight ITI defence in knots throughout the first half. ITI could manage only sporadic raids at the JCT goal, but since both the teams massed up their defence with too many players, goal scoring looked next to impossible. For JCT, the irrepressible Hardip Saini took many a dangerous shot from well-outside the box, threatening the ITI defence time and again. But ITI custodian Balaji, like his JCT counterpart Baljit Singh, kept an alert vigil at the goal to thwart the JCT shots.

Hardip Gill was the first to seriously threaten the ITI goal when his cross from the right dangerously rolled across the rival goal, missing the target just by inches. Then Hardip Saini’s long shot, a right footer, from almost 40 yards out, caught the rival defenders off-guard, but custodian Balaji sprang on his feet to tip over the ball, in the nick of time. A few minutes later, Balaji had to repeat the act when Saini’s volley once again threatened the ITI goal.

Hardip Sangha, who tried to take shots from inside the box, had close shaves at the ITI goal before his best effort was tipped over by Balaji, after Shaminder Singh’s header had rebounded off a defender. When the forwards failed to deliver, JCT promoted medio Stephen into the striker’s slot, but a crowded ITI defence kept him a marked man, and did not allow him much elbow room to manoeuvre.

ITI spearheaded their attacks through their foreign recruits George Akaro and Mike Okoro, but they too could not effectively tackle the tough JCT defence, and their pot shots and headers met with little success.