 |
|
Monday,
July 8, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
|
Sri Lanka win by 23 runs CHETAN SHARMA WRITES Ganguly
happy with bowlers’ performance ‘Wicket-keeping
helping my batting’ |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shoaib keen on duel with Sachin
Streaker interrupts
final Bhupathi-Elena duo in semis Venus,
Serena ‘can dominate’ for years
Pak
shifts 3-nation meet to Kenya Sorenstam
surges ahead
Bora,
Raja annex titles Football
camp for Asiad begins Scholarship
for judokas
|
|
Sri Lanka win by 23 runs Manchester, July 7 Sri Lanka’s first victory in the tournament came a day too late as they have already been knocked out of the series following their defeat to India yesterday. Coming into the match with four straight defeats, Sri Lanka suffered another batting collapse, being bowled out for 229 in 49.4 overs after they had elected to bat. A fine 89-run third wicket partnership between top-scorer and man of the match Kumara Sangakkara (70) and Mahela Jayawardene (34) was wasted by the other batsmen, as Sri Lanka were bowled out inside their quota of overs for the second successive time in this series. However, the total proved to be more than enough in the end as England were restricted to 206 in 47.4 overs, thanks to some good bowling by Sri Lankan spinners. The tide was turned by the slower bowlers after England had got off to a good start. Following England part-timer Michael Vaughan’s career-best effort of four for 22, Sri Lankan spinners, led by captain Sanath Jayasuriya himself, proved themselves a shade better than their counterparts and carved out their team’s first victory on this tour of England. Sri Lanka had earlier lost the three-match Test series 0-2. Earlier, with only academic interest remaining in the match Sri Lankan batsmen failed to raise their performance and got out to careless shots after captain Sanath Jayasuriya had elected to bat. Like in yesterday’s match against India, there were only two substantial scores and one big partnership in the Sri Lankan innings which ended two balls inside their quota of overs, the second successive time they had been bowled out. After Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu had returned to pavilion with 73 runs on the board Kumara Sangakkara, who came in the place of Romesh Kaluwitharana, and Mahela Jayawardene put on 89 runs for the third wicket to build a sound platform to launch an attack in the slog overs. SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka: Atapattu run out 34 Jayasuriya c Hussain b Tudor 23 Sangakkara lbw b Vaughan 70 Jayawardene run out 42 Arnold c and b Snape 6 C. Silva c Collingwood
b Vaughan 9 Samaraweera st Stewart b Vaughan 3 Chandana c sub (Giles)
b Flintoff 15 Vaas b Vaughan 0 Zoysa c Knight b Gough 9 Wickramasinghe not out 3 Extras
(lb-9, w-5, nb-1) 15 Total (all out, 49.4 overs) 229 FoW:
1-59, 2-73, 3-162, 4-185, 5-191, 6-200, 7-205, 8-205, 9-224. Bowling:
Gough 10-0-51-1, Tudor 8-1-44-1, Flintoff 5.4-0-29-1, Irani 10-0-40-0, Snape 10-2-34-1, Vaughan 6-1-22-4. England: Trescothick b Zoysa 27 Knight b Zoysa 29 Hussain run out 28 Vaughan c and b Chandana 14 Stewart c Chandana
b Samaraweera 8 Irani c Zoysa b Jayasuriya 28 Flintoff b Jayasuriya 7 Collingwood run out 29 Snape not out 15 Tudor c Atapattu b Jayasuriya 6 Gough run out 0 Extras
(b-1, lb-10, w-4) 15 Total (all out, 47.4 overs) 206 FoW:
1-37, 2-76, 3-100, 4-108, 5-118, 6-135, 7-160, 8-186, 9-200. Bowling: Vaas 6-0-29-0, Zoysa 7-0-42-2, Wickramasinghe, 1-0-10-0, Arnold 5-0-24-0, Chandana 9.4-1-25-1, Samaraweera, 10-1-27-1, Jayasuriya 9-0-38-3.
PTI |
|
CHETAN SHARMA WRITES SRI Lanka were one of the front-runners in pioneering the movement of modern one-day cricket but the way they have been going downhill, most of their supporters must have been shocked. This will be the most mediocre cricket they have played since Arjuna Ranatunga held aloft the 1996 World Cup. After promising a revival with the ball in India’s batting, the Lankans were found short on ammunition in the long run. Without the world’s best off-spinner Muthiah
Muralitharan, they did not have enough bowlers to bowl India out less than their target of 188 runs. I have been a great fan of the Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya but after such a disastrous English
sunner, I can tell you they will be baying for his blood now. Once again, the Indian bowlers showed they were the best in the series. I was highly impressed with Ashish Nehra and feel happy because I have seen him since he was a kid. He has had to undergo a lot of injury problems but the amount of training he has done in the past two years, has helped him realise his goal. He is a good hope for the future but should be properly used by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The rotation policy should help the medium pacers like Nehra, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar and Tinu Youhanan. Without Javagal Srinath, these four have to do the job for India. India’s fielding has also improved by leaps and bounds. This is an ominous sign for Indian cricket and now we can say that we are not far behind the top teams. I have been writing so much about Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh and today I salute the duo for the marvellous batting in this match. The difference between India and the other two teams is this duo only. They won the first match for India and played superbly in the third. In between Yuvraj did well in the second match also and today was his fourth match-winning knock in four games. I would not talk much about their class because you must have seen how film actor Nana Patekar had confidence in them despite India losing early wickets. Nana was still so relaxed and said: “Just see, these two will win the match.” I know the team members must have had the same feeling. But there has to be a word of caution for others. Virender Sehwag and Dinesh Mongia better pull up their socks because a batsman like
V. V. S. Laxman is sitting out and you cannot keep him out for long. He would surely get a game or two and if any batsman is dropped, he would himself be responsible for that. |
|
Ganguly happy with bowlers’ performance Birmingham, July 7 “We would love to have a best of three finals as it happens in Australia as it gives a fair chance to both the teams,” Ganguly said yesterday after India sealed a berth into the final of the Natwest triangular one-day series with a four-wicket win against Sri Lanka. “It is going to be anybody’s game (in a one-off final), as it happens in one-day cricket, because you don’t have time to get back,” he said. Ganguly had no problems with the scheduling of the tournament, however, which has seen India play back to back matches and would be reaching London for the final only on the eve of the match after completing their day-night game against Sri Lanka at Bristol on Thursday. “There is no point in complaining. It is not the first time it has happened. We played before like this in South Africa also,” he said. Ganguly agreed that it was probably the first time that the team was doing consistently well abroad but refused to speculate on whether it was the best one-day side he had been involved with. “This is probably the first time we have won abroad so consistently. But I don’t want to compare with different sides,” he said. India have chased thrice in this tournament and won on all ocassions, thus silencing criticism that they are poor chasers in one-day cricket. “It was probably the reason we were looking to bat deep. It was one of the reasons for Tendulkar coming at number four and Dravid at five,” Ganguly said. “It has worked well so far but it is too early to pass a judgement. You have to judge over a period of time, not in two-three games. Ganguly was extremely satisfied with the performance of his bowlers but insisted that England still had not seen the best of left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan yet. “He has bowled well in patches but I think we haven’t seen his best. I hope he turns the tournament around at Lord’s next week,” he said. And even though the team was brimming with talent, Ganguly said the door to the national squad was not closed to outstanding youngsters. “If someone is very special, he would get a chance. But boys (in the team) are settling down well.” The Indian skipper did not agree to the suggestion that the absence of off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan had affected Sri Lanka’s campaign in the series in which the islanders have lost all four of their matches so far. “The last time they played in 1999, they had Murali but they didn’t do too well. I think in these conditions, a lot depends on your fast bowlers, though on this wicket probably he (Muralitharan) would have been handy,” Ganguly said.
PTI |
|
‘Wicket-keeping helping my batting’ Birmingham, July 7 Dravid, who hit a match-winning 64 against Sri Lanka yesterday to help India move into the final of the triangular one-day series, said he was enjoying his dual role as a wicketkeeper-batsman. “It (wicket-keeping) probably helps (in batting) because you are in the best position to see what is happening,” David said after India won their third match in the tournament. “I was worried initially how it would go. Its been a challenge but so far it has gone well and I have enjoyed it. “I have worked hard at it and its always nice to hold a few catches,” said Dravid who been outstanding behind the wickets too. He has so far taken six catches and effected a smart stumping. “It has been satisfying, more so because we have been winning. To play a big part in it is always nice,” said the stylish Karnataka batsman who has scores of 73 not out, 8, 82 and 64 from the four matches. Dravid was all praise for Yuvraj Singh with whom he put on 91 runs in yesterday’s game which pulled India out of deep trouble and anchored the side to safety. “Yuvraj has really come of age in this tournament. He has batted beautifully and his fielding has been outstanding as well. He had a hand in two run-outs today, so in that sense he adds value to the team,” Dravid said. Dravid and Yuvraj took India to victory in their opening game against England too when they were associated in an unbeaten 131-run partnership at Lord’s. “It is always nice to see young boys come through — men like him and Mohammad Kaif,” Dravid said. Dravid agreed that the pitch at Edgbaston was helpful to the fast bowlers but he did not think it was difficult to bat on. “It wasn’t a 250-260 kind of wicket. Probably a 220 kind of strip,” said Dravid about the pitch which troubled most of the Indian and Sri Lankan batsmen yesterday. “It seamed around all day actually. There was a bit in it for the bowlers. But the bowlers of both sides bowled very well,” he said. Dravid said the team was finally getting its act together but it was too early to speculate about India’s chances at the next year’s World Cup. “Its a long way to the World Cup. Six months is a long time in international cricket. Everyone has got the World Cup in mind and everyone has been trying out different combinations but I think we are moving in the right direction,” he said. We are getting a good blend of youth and experience. We have worked hard in getting our combinations right,” Dravid said. “If we continue to improve we have a realistic chance. But we have to improve from here because in the World Cup we would face a few very good sides. Dravid said the first priority before the team was to try and win the current series. “It is important we try and win this series rather than concentrate on the World Cup which is still some six months away,” he said.
PTI |
|
Shoaib keen on duel with Sachin
New Delhi, July 7 Shoaib is looking forward to another duel with the batting maestro but has no idea when he will get the chance since cricketing ties between India and
Pakistan have been suspended. “India’s got great batsmen like
Sachin. They have a lot of great guys playing for them, I’d like to bowl to them. I haven’t bowled to them for the last couple of years, so its no good for me,” the gangling paceman said. The world’s fastest bowler has played the Indians only once in the highly charged Asian Test Championship in Kolkata three years ago. Pakistan won that game by 46 runs and Akhtar claimed four wickets in each innings, including the prized scalp of Tendulkar for a duck. “Playing against India is definitely more exciting, more passionate. I hope we get to play each other again,” Akhtar said in a television programme beamed on Star Sports
recently. Akhtar, dubbed as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, said Pakistani cricketers missed playing against India and cricket had suffered in general because of the political strife between the two countries. “We should play more often...Take politics out of sport, politics has nothing to do with sport. I think if we cannot play against each other in home countries, we should go out and play somewhere else,” he
said. Shoaib wondered why the two countries could not live peacefully and expressed the hope that the political scenario would improve quickly. “Its pretty bad at the moment, but I am hoping for the best and things are going to get better. At the end of the day, we’re the same people, we’re the same
colour... everything’s the same, why are our ideas different, why cannot we live in peace,” he
said. Shoaib said breaking the 100-mile per hour was not one of his main targets. He believed he could bowl even faster if he sets his mind to it. But that is not what is important for him or the team. “Being the fastest bowler in the world does not make me a better bowler. What makes me a better bowler is getting wickets,” he explained. “I always enjoy my game. I always fly around, I always have fun... When I run in, I can feel the basic rhythm, I feel the music in my bowling, and when I get the wickets, it makes me feel really good,” he said.
PTI |
|
Hewitt is Wimbledon champ London, July 7 The 21-year-old Australian, the overwhelming favourite after storming through the championship, confirmed his position as the best player in the world by adding the Wimbledon crown to the US Open title he claimed last year with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 victory after one hour 57 minutes over the 20-year-old Argentinian. He also became the fifth youngest winner in the Open era and the first Australian to triumph since Pat Cash in 1987. It was the most one-sided final since John McEnroe beat Jimmy Connors 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in 1984. Nalbandian, seeded 28, and the fourth youngest finalist, had enjoyed a dream run becoming the first Argentinian to get to the final, achieving that record in his debut appearance at the championships and in his first grasscourt event as a senior. Playing on centre court for the first time, and appearing in only his fourth Grand Slam, Nalbandian never settled into a pattern or rhythm as nerves and tension went a long way towards handing the title to Hewitt in a bruising baseline duel. The tone of the final was set immediately when Nalbandian served up a double fault on his way to losing the first game. He was to lose his serve three times with another double fault sealing his fate as Hewitt took the opener 6-1 after just 33 minutes of a one-sided contest. The Australian surrendered just four points on his own serve in the first set racing to 4-0 with an ace before Nalbandian showed some fighting spirit by saving two break points to register his first game of the final. Hewitt saved two break points in the opening game of the second before the players were forced to scamper off to the locker room after 41 minutes on court because of rain with the world number one 1-0 ahead. Back on court after 15 minutes, Hewitt held but then, to the delight of the crowd, Nalbandian rallied to register his first break to go 1-2 when he retrieved two smashes and finished off the point with a sweet volley and a pinpoint lob. Nalbandian began to settle into the match mixing up his shots to keep Hewitt, struggling to find his own normal fluency, on his toes and made it to 3-3 before the showers returned for a second time after 68 minutes of action. When play resumed, over half an hour later, the sun came out and so did the famous Hewitt forehand which worked to devastating effect as he broke to lead 5-3 before he clinched the second set 6-3 with another ace after 76 minutes. At that stage of the final, Nalbandian had hit a total of 28 unforced errors and just eight winners. Both men saved break points in the first two games of the third set before Hewitt fired a fierce backhand down the line to edge ahead 2-1. To his credit, Nalbandian wasn’t going to surrender without a fight and broke back to 2-2 but then his game fell apart as he lost serve to go 2-3 down after a close line call went against him. In disgust and frustration, Nalbandian threw down his racquet, argued with umpire Mike Morrisey but all to no avail as Hewitt served a love-game to edge ahead 4-2. He hit two more double faults as he lost serve again to hand his opponent a 5-2 lead and Hewitt took the title when his opponent hit long. Three hours before the final, Nalbandian had been granted permission to practice on centre court in order to get a first taste of the famous arena having played his quarter-final on court two and his semi-final with Xavier Malisse on court one. As it turned out, it was a fruitless exercise.
AFP
|
|
Streaker interrupts
final
London, July 7 The man, in his late 30’s or early 40’s, sporting an all-over tan, ran on to court just as players were making their way back after a 14-minute rain delay. It took three security officials three minutes to catch the prankster who cavorted and danced as the spectators applauded. The incident produced a smile from both players with top seed Hewitt hammering
Nalbandian, the 28th seed, 6-1 1-0 when the rains came down. A streaker interrupted Anna Kournikova’s doubles match two years ago, while in the 1996 men’s singles final was interrupted when a woman dressed in an apron ran past Malivai Washington and Richard Krajicek on centre court.
AFP
|
|
Bhupathi-Elena
duo in semis
London, July 7 The third-seeded pair of Bhupati and Likhovtseva trounced seventh seeds Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden) and star Russian Anna Kournikova in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-2. However, Paes and Raymond, whose match against Kevin Ullyett (Zimbabwe) and Daniela Hantuchovain (Slovakia) was stretched by a day yesterday due to bad light after both had won a set each, lost the decider to be knocked out. The fifth-seeded India-US pair lost 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 4-6.
Reuters
|
|
Venus, Serena ‘can dominate’ for years
London, July 7 “I think if they both stay committed they can do this for another 10 years, easy. “Right now they are dominating and they have been doing it all year,” added Navratilova who said that in the absence of the injured Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis, it was the responsibility of the other top women players to toughen up and mount a serious challenge to the sisters. “Lindsay Davenport matches up with power but not the speed, and Martina Hingis needs to get a better serve, she is losing too many points on her second serve. “If Lindsay gets a little more mobile she can compete, but you have to have variety. You have to mix it up, try to make them wonder what you are doing out there,” Navratilova told the BBC after witnessing Serena’s 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 victory over Venus which followed her win at the French Open last month. The win gave Serena her third Grand Slam title while Venus, who was the defending champion here, already has four under her belt. For good measure, the younger sister succeeded Venus as world number one. “The others simply have to get better. The women will have to get in the gym, get on the track and be faster and stronger,” added Navratilova. “You need someone who has the variety, someone who can get into the net as well as play at the baseline.” It will be of no comfort to the other women on the tour that Serena said she has no intention of sitting back on her achievements and that she intends to add to them in the future. “I can’t become too satisfied because if I relax too much people will really be fighting to beat me. “So at the start of the year, I said: ‘I don’t care what happens this year, I want to win Wimbledon.’ “Winning the French Open was a bonus and I really wanted to win it but I just wanted to win Wimbledon and become a member of such a prestigious club,” said Serena.
AFP  |
|
Pak shifts
3-nation meet to Kenya Islamabad, July 7 The tri-nations one-day series, scheduled to be held in Pakistan in August and September, would now be organised in Kenya in the wake of security concerns expressed by the participating teams, said Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Tauqir Zia. “The one-day triangular series has been shifted to the mutually agreed neutral venue of Kenya,’’ Zia told newspersons here yesterday. The PCB chief said the respective cricket boards of Pakistan and Australia mutually agreed to hold the triangular tournament at a neutral venue and indicated that the “home Test series’’ against Australia might also be shifted to the neutral venue of Bangladesh. He stated, “The home Test series is likely to be staged in Bangladesh.’’ Zia pointed out, “Trans World International was interested in having the one-day series played in Kenya.’’ “Hence the decision to play the triangular tournament in Kenya as Australian Cricket Board wanted to have it staged at any neutral venue,’’ he added. Pakistan and Australia are scheduled to play the three-match Test series in October. Bangladesh is keen to host Pakistan and Australia for the Test series and is also eager to help in the resumption of Pakistan-India cricket ties, especially after assuming the office of Asian Cricket Council, taking over from Pakistan on rotation basis.
UNI |
||
|
Sorenstam surges
ahead
Hutchinson, Kansas, July 7 The 31-year-old Swede, bidding to win the title for the third time, was the only player in the field below par as she returned a two-under total of 208 yesterday. Americans Juli Inkster (71) and Jill McGill (69) shared second place on 210. Australia’s Shani Waugh (71) was a further stroke adrift on 211, with American Michele Redman (73) on 213 and Britain’s Janice Moodie (71) on 214 at the Prairie Dunes Country Club. On another day of gusting winds and over one of the toughest courses the players encounter, Sorenstam compiled three birdies as she stepped up her attempt to clinch her eighth worldwide victory this year. Inkster would have been alone in second place but for a dropped shot at the last. The 42-year-old American, who won the title in 1999 and is a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, yesterday said Sorenstam would be tough to catch tomorrow. “I tried my hardest out there but it didn’t go very well,” said Inkster. “I just hope that conditions are a little easier tomorrow. “But, whatever, it is still going to be very hard. Annika is not going to give anything away and I know I’ll have to play a lot better to even have a chance of beating her.” Sorenstam, smiling and relaxed and reflecting the attitude of someone in total control of her game, was delighted with her performance. But she also struck a note of caution. “I did a lot of things right out there,” she said. “But this is a very tough golf course and lots of things can happen tomorrow. “But I’m looking forward to Sunday. I’m where I want to be at this stage.” If Sorenstam does lift the title, it will continue a dazzling run this season. Apart from her seven wins, she has only once been outside the top seven in 13 starts. She also won on her previous two outings, at the Evian Masters in France three weeks ago and at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Atlantic City last Sunday. For McGill, 30, the aim is to win her first tournament in six years on the LPGA Tour.
Reuters |
|
Bora, Raja
annex titles Chennai, July 7 In a match that went full distance, Bora rallied back from the first game deficit to beat Nishad Dravid of Maharashtra 8-15, 15-4, 15-10. In the girls section, 16-year-old Krishna Deka Raja justified her top billing by conceding just three points in her 11-2, 11-1 win against second seed Aditi Mutatkar of Maharashtra in a lop-sided final. It was a day of mixed luck for Aditi as she had earlier bagged the sub-junior under-16 title with a 11-2, 11-6 win over Abantika Deka of Assam, while T. Dinesh of Andhra Pradesh scored a 15-8, 15-10 win over his statemate P. Kashyap for the title. In other events, Monmita Srikanth completed a fine day for Assam winning the mini girls under-10 title with a 3-11, 11-8, 11-8 verdict over her statemate Rituparma Kalita, while G. Eswar Rao of Andhra Pradesh walked away with the boy’s title with a 15-3, 15-3 win over his statemate Muramala Sriram.
UNI |
|
Football
camp for Asiad begins Jamshedpur, July 7 The conditioning camp was conducted under the supervision of newly-appointed English coach for Indian senior team Stephen Constaintine, who would be assisted by two Indian coaches. AIFF Secretary Alberto Colaco had also arrived here along with the squad. Among the 33 probables, 22 players would be selected for the Asian Games, the Indian coach said, adding that 19 players had already arrived while the rest would join in a day or two. Presence of star players such as Baichung Bhutia and Jo Paul Ancheri would motivate the other players, he said. Constaintine said after the completion of the selection process, the squad would visit Vietnam to play a few warm-up matches. “There is also a proposal to play warm-up matches in England before the Asian Games. But the tour is yet to be confirmed,” he added. The Asian Games is scheduled to be held at Pusan in South Korea during September next.
UNI |
|
Scholarship
for judokas Chandigarh, July 7 This year’s scholarship will go to Navjot Channa who brought India their first gold medal in the Asian Junior Judo Championships held in Syria last month. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
