Friday, February 14, 2003, Chandigarh, India






National Capital Region--Delhi

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
S P O R T S

New Zealand post 20-run win
New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming
Port Elizabeth, February 13
West Indies today suffered a 20-run defeat in the World Cup here at the hands of a resurgent New Zealand to leave teams in group-B interestingly poised.



New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming (R) bats against the West Indies during their match in Port Elizabeth on Thursday. — Reuters photo

Kiwis again favourites in betting market
T
he greatness of the game lies in its uncertainty. On one day you can look like a man standing in south pole without a sweater and the next day, you impress a royal look studded with glowing diamonds of victory. 

Bangladesh keen to save face
Pietermaritzburg, February 13
Bangladesh’s cricket credibility, already hanging by a thread after their World Cup thrashing by minnows Canada, faces another test when they take on in-form Sri Lanka here tomorrow.

FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Vinod Kambli influenced team selection
PAARL:
Slowly it emerges Vinod Kambli had played Pied Piper to Saurav Ganguly’s plans for the opening game against Holland at Boland Park on Wednesday. The former Indian left-hander was in good demand before the game as everyone sought his advice on the pitch and conditions.

Popular cartoon characters Tom and Jerry with students Popular cartoon characters Tom and Jerry with students of St. Thomas school, Kolkata, where the characters played a cricket match for fun on Thursday. — PTI 


World Cup 2003: Schedule


Brian Lara removes his helmet as he walks off the pitch
Brian Lara removes his helmet as he walks off the pitch after being run out for five during West Indies' match against New Zealand at the Cricket World Cup in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on Thursday. — Reuters

EARLIER STORIES
 
Zimbabwe cricketers have a team talk in the empty Harare Sports Club stadium
Zimbabwe cricketers have a team talk in the empty Harare Sports Club stadium on Thursday. Zimbabwe's  World Cup match against England was scheduled to be played at this venue on Thursday but was cancelled when England refused to play in the country. 

Australian team members Darren Lehmann and Andrew Symonds play touch football
Australian team members Darren Lehmann (R) and Andrew Symonds play touch football during a training session at the Supersport Park in Centurion on Wednesday. The team trained for just over an hour on the ground where they will play India in their second World Cup match on Saturday. — Reuters photos

Saurav Ganguly must consider batting at number three
I
t is choice and not chance that determines your destiny. Right from co-ordinating its batting order to picking two spinners on a sluggish wicket and opting to take first strike, India made the all right moves to get its house in order in its opening World Cup match against the Netherlands at Paarl on Wednesday.

Holland performed above their ability
I
t was hard work for India in getting past Holland in their first match of the World Cup, but this should stand the team in good stead as the tournament progresses.  Saurav Ganguly and his boys were made to work for every run and wicket, which is not such a bad thing at the start of a World Cup.

India likely to play two spinners
Johannesburg, February 13
Rattled by a not-too-impressive victory against minnows Holland, India will go firing all cylinders in their second match against the mighty Australians on Saturday. Speaking to reporters at the Centurion, the venue of the match, skipper Sourav Ganguly said one of the strategies the team management was contemplating would be play with two spinners.

Klusener was the pick of the bowlers
T
he Proteas were in no mood to waste any extra time and energy in Potchefstroom and beat Kenya badly. After the loss to the West Indies in the opening match, they will have felt the need to satisfy themselves of the form and talent and had to win convincingly to keep that inner belief going.

The matter is closed: PCB
Johannesburg, February 13
Pakistan’s cricket chiefs distanced themselves from wicketkeeper Rashid Latif today following media reports that he was considering legal action against Australia after being accused of making a racial slur.

Today’s match

Pool B: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
1.30 p.m. (IST)

Quotable quotes
Johannesburg, February 13
Who’s saying what at the 2003 World Cup: “It is no consolation that my name has been cleared.

Family rallies behind Warne
Melbourne, February 13
Shane Warne’s family closed ranks today and pleaded to be left alone as the embattled cricketer prepared to mount a defence against his positive test at a drugs hearing. Warne’s brother Jason, who manages the legspinner, said no-one in the family would comment further on the controversy.


Australian cricket player Shane Warne (R) shares a light moment with his mother Brijitte in Melbourne in this undated file photograph. Warne, who failed a drugs test said on Wednesday that he took a diuretic in January that was given to him by his mother. — Reuters photo

Australian cricket player Shane Warne shares a light moment with his mother Brijitte in Melbourne


Video
With the whole world under the grip of the World Cup, an association in Chennai comes up with a music album and displays some cricket paintings. 
(28k, 56k)



England slump to shocking defeat
Paris, February 13
Australia inflicted a humiliating defeat on England and European champions France were outclassed by the Czech Republic in yesterday’s friendly international action. World champions Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw by China in Guangzhou while World Cup finalists Germany were beaten 3-1 by Spain in Majorca as Raul struck twice to become his country’s highest scorer in history.



England captain David Beckham recovers from a fall during their international friendly match against Australia at Upton Park in London on Wednesday. — Reuters photo
England captain David Beckham recovers from a fall

East Bengal beat Churchill Bros
Margao, February 13
Title aspirants East Bengal consolidated their position at the top of the table with a hard fought 3-1 win over Churchill Brothers in the National Football League match at Nehru stadium here today.

Bonanza awaits archers
New Delhi, February 13
Indian archers stand to gain a never-before cash bonanza as the Archery Association of India has decided to organise 10 national ranking-archery circuit tournaments, which will have a total cash prize of Rs 20 lakh at stake, in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Athens, 2004.

ITF women’s meet: Indian challenge ends
Chennai, February 13
The Indian challenge in the ITF Women’s Tennis Tournament at the Madras Gymkhana Club here ended today with the exit of wild card Samrita Sekar, even as yet another seeded player bit the dust.

NR girls win
Ludhiana, February 13
Defending champions, Northern Railway, Delhi, scored an emphatic 7-0 victory over Sports Hostel, Lucknow on the second day of the VIIth All-India Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal Women’s Hockey Tournament here today.

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New Zealand post 20-run win

The ball passes close to the stumps as New Zealand's Chris Harris bats during their match against West Indies
The ball passes close to the stumps as New Zealand's Chris Harris bats during their match against West Indies in Port Elizabeth on Thursday. 

West Indies Mervyn Dillon  is embraced by team-mate Wavell Hinds
West Indies Mervyn Dillon (L) is embraced by team-mate Wavell Hinds after Dillon caught out New Zealand’s Cairns on a ball by Hinds. 

New Zealand's Jacob Oram and Shane Bond celebrate
New Zealand's Jacob Oram and Shane Bond celebrate after Oram bowled  Ricardo Powell for 14. — Reuters photos

Port Elizabeth, February 13
West Indies today suffered a 20-run defeat in the World Cup here at the hands of a resurgent New Zealand to leave teams in group-B interestingly poised.

Having shocked fancied hosts South Africa on the opening day of the tournament, the Carribeans caved in to a persistent New Zealand pace attack chasing a target of 242 despite a late rally by Ramnaresh Sarwan (75) and Ridley Jacobs (50). They were bowled out for 221 in 49.4 overs, with star batsman Brian Lara being run out for 2.

South Africa, West Indies and New Zealand all now have suffered one defeat out of the two matches and have earned four points each. Sri Lanka, the other top team in the group, remain undefeated but have played only one match.

West Indies suffered a dramatic collapse which saw them lose five top wickets within a space of 12 runs. From 34 without loss in the 10th over, they slipped to 46 for five.

With all their star batsmen, including Lara, Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul back in the pavilion by the 15th over, it was left to Sarwan to make a fight out of a seemingly impossible task.

Sarwan came up with a heroic knock and put on 98 runs for the seventh wicket with Jacobs but that was not enough for the West Indies cause.

After their victory against South Africa, West Indies went into today’s match as favourites. West Indies looked in control for most of the innings before wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum and Andre Adams ensured a competitive score for the Kiwis with their late charge.

McCullum remained unbeaten on 36 while Adams made 35 not out off only 24 balls. The highest scorer of the innings though was Nathan Astle who made 46 and put on 64 runs for the fourth wicket with Chris Cairns (37).

Scoreboard

New Zealand:

Fleming c and b Dillon 25

Vettori b Drakes 13

Astle c Jacobs b Hinds 46

Styris c Powell b Drakes 5

Cairns c Dillon b Hinds 37

Vincent c Hooper b Hinds 9

Harris b Gayle 19

McCullum not out 35

Adams not out 36

Extras (lb-10, w-4, nb-2) 16

Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 241

Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-58, 3-66, 4-130, 5-141, 6-147, 7-188.

Bowling: Dillon 10-1-30-1, McLean 6-0-38-0, Drakes 10-1-49-2, Hinds 10-0-35-3, Hooper 9-0-42-0, Gayle 5-0-37-1.

West Indies:

Gayle c Fleming b Adams 22

Hinds c Styris b Adams 14

Lara run out (Cairns) 2

Chanderpaul lbw b Oram 2

Hooper c Bond b Adams 3

Sarwan b Vettori 75

Powell b Oram 14

Jacobs c Oram b Styris 50

Drakes not out 16

McLean run out 5

Dillon b Adams 8

Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-5, nb-1) 10

Total: (all out, 49.4 overs) 221

Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-36, 3-42, 4-46, 5-46, 6-80,7-178, 8-191, 9-200.

Bowling: Bond 10-2-43-0, Adams 9.4-1-44-4, Oram 10-2-26-2, Cairns 1-0-21-0, Vettori 10-0-38-1, Astle 4-0-14-0, Styris 5-0-31-1. PTI

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Kiwis again favourites in betting market
Chetan Sharma

The greatness of the game lies in its uncertainty. On one day you can look like a man standing in south pole without a sweater and the next day, you impress a royal look studded with glowing diamonds of victory. 

Just as we talked about the Kiwi tour still haunting us, the same remains true for the Black Caps as well. Remember, the scores of the frontline batsman were not too flattering for the home team while their bowling did not need to exert themselves much on those “unprepared” wickets. 

Coming to this tournament, New Zealand were placed as potential threats to Aussies crown but just a match old they were dismissed as harmless blokes. However, after beating a resurgent Windies, they are once again favourites in the betting market. What is pertinent to note here is that this win came as a combined team effort. 

Although McCullum proved why a wicketkeeper should be a decent bat as well, Fleming, Harris and Lou Vincent need to get back into groove as quickly as possible. Cairns looked a bit out of sorts but just when he got confident, a needless aggression saw him join his colleagues in the pavilion while Styris needs to release a constant flow of runs to reap a rich harvest for the team. One of the biggest gains for them was Vettori’s return, but I must admit that the entry was bizarre, striding in the middle with a bat in his hand. He not only added a new dimension to Kiwi attack but also took the crucial wicket of Sarwan when things seem to go the wrong way. Meanwhile, Astle had everything going for him except for umpires favour and he looked dangerous. Another important aspect going in their favour was their batting depth, with Oram equally well versed as Adams was with the bat. Their bowling is flexible and has the capacity to back up Bond and Vettori.

On a wicket which was not as quick to hustle the batsmen, something which they encountered in India, West Indies were tipped to sweep the match, more so when Gayle and Hinds made a nice opening statement. All hell broke loose and a blink of eye later, West Indies were 45-5. Never take a run when the ball is in the fielders’ hand and Lara had to pay dearly for not towing with cricketing manuals. Ramnaresh Sarwan and Jacobs did get a partnership going but it was just too late to get them to the winning flag and they have only to blame themselves for the four conceded points.

Not only that, after giving a reprieve to New Zealand they have made life difficult for themselves to reach the next grade. I had already gone overboard saying Windies cannot go in with just three frontline bowlers and yesterday was another reminder to Hooper in that matter. Had Hooper given himself another bowler, then he could have nailed them but only ended up soothing the Kiwi score line. However, all is not lost and the two time champions need to forget this Thursday as one bad dream and prepare strategically for the key match against the Lankans. Dronacharya Sports Promoters. 
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Bangladesh keen to save face

Pietermaritzburg, February 13
Bangladesh’s cricket credibility, already hanging by a thread after their World Cup thrashing by minnows Canada, faces another test when they take on in-form Sri Lanka here tomorrow.

Bangladesh, Test cricket’s 10th and youngest nation, went down to a 60-run Group B defeat against unheralded Canada in a match even their severest critics expected the Asian nation to win.

Instead, they slumped to their 27th straight one-day international defeat against a team of part-timers playing in only their second World Cup in 24 years.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 120 with 22 overs to spare under the Kingsmead lights.

And their supporters dare not contemplate how long their batsmen will last against a Sri Lankan side set to include off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, rated the greatest bowler in history by cricket bible Wisden.

Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud admitted his side were up against it as they prepared to take on a Sri Lankan team fresh from the 47-run win over New Zealand.

“We needed to get off to a positive start in this tournament, but we didn’t,” he said. “All we can now do is regroup and try to do a lot better.”

But team manager Abu Sharif Faruque was defiant: “We are going to lose matches but that is part of the process. We have tremendous talent to draw on.”

However, that talent needs to mature quickly if the team are not to get a second hiding from the 1996 champions. And Mashud insisted: “Cricket is a funny game and anything can happen.”

Nowhere was that more true than at the last World Cup in England four years ago when Bangladesh beat eventual finalists Pakistan by 62 runs.

Unfortunately for Bangladesh some of the shine was removed by the fact that the game was instantly mired in match-fixing allegations with which it appears destined to be forever associated.

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya goes into the match seemingly in prime form after making 120 against New Zealand in Bloemfontein.

“It was not a typical Sanath innings, he was more patient,” said Sri Lankan coach Dave Whatmore of the left-handed opener’s performance. “When he scores, we win more often than not and I am exceptionally pleased with his performance.”

Anything approaching a repeat is likely to prove too much for Bangladesh’s modest attack.

No Test nation has yet been stripped of its Test status because of poor performance - South Africa was suspended because of apartheid - but already there is talk of returning Bangladesh to the ranks of the minnows. AFP

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FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Vinod Kambli influenced team selection
Ashish Shukla

PAARL: Slowly it emerges Vinod Kambli had played Pied Piper to Saurav Ganguly’s plans for the opening game against Holland at Boland Park on Wednesday. The former Indian left-hander was in good demand before the game as everyone sought his advice on the pitch and conditions. He influenced the selection to the extent both the spinners were included in the final eleven. But he probably wasn’t much help on the pitch as Indians promptly elected to bat on winning the toss. Indians struggled to 204 on a damp pitch where the ball hardly came on to the bat.

Kambli at present is an overseas contract with the Boland Cricket Association. But not many know about him, not even Michelle Lewis, media scorer for the match. Michelle was hard put to remember his name before recalling the “odd-looking podgy young Indian who gets out for 10s or 20s though I do remember a 43 by him.” Kambli, undeterred, intends to follow Indians in all their campaigns in this World Cup.

In the match, Indians were a clear embarrassment. Holland’s Tim de Leede clearly mocked India’s chances in this World Cup. “They should forget Australia,” said Leede. “Your boys look extremely short of confidence.”

Meanwhile, Mr Amrit Mathur, the savvy media manager, is unsure if he is going to remain with the team beyond February 19. That’s when his contract with the Indian cricket board expires. Mathur is a loser on another count as his column in a national daily has been put on hold by a board directive. According to the Board’s guidelines, Mr Mathur being part of the Indian entourage can’t express his views in any newspaper or magazine.

Anil Kumble, meanwhile, is upset at accusations that he decides his own selection within the playing eleven. “It’s the team management and not me who decides which of the two spinners play,” he thunders to a newsperson. Kumble often has had to vie with Harbhajan Singh to gain the solitary spinner’s berth in the team. It makes them wary of each other. Not the best of situation!

It is true Kumble has such a strong silent presence in the team that nobody crosses his path. Even captain Saurav Ganguly handles him with cotton wools. Stories abound of how Kumble snatches balls from the captain’s hand and brings himself on to bowl as and when he likes it. “Why does he do it only when the tailenders are batting and not when the top batters are on view?” asks a team member drily.

Insiders accuse Ganguly of getting his even with Kumble for the follies of Guyana Test of 1997 when the latter played the eleven at the cost of the Bengal left hander. It was a last-minute decision and rankled Ganguly for a long time but it’s unfair to accuse the Indian captain of holding any grudge against Kumble. If Kumble is dropped from time to time, it is only because Ganguly searches at times to find the right balance.

Ganguly is also a little tense on Zaheer Khan. The Baroda paceman has become a spearhead of the team in last one year but struggled for rhythm against Holland. The common view is he is a bit rusty having played little cricket since the New Zealand tour.

But then it’s been less than a month since the last game was played in New Zealand. Zaheer was not seen in the first two practice games or in the nets so far on the tour. Rumour suggests it’s his old knee which is flaring up again. Too bad for India! 

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Saurav Ganguly must consider batting at number three
Navjot Singh Sidhu

It is choice and not chance that determines your destiny. Right from co-ordinating its batting order to picking two spinners on a sluggish wicket and opting to take first strike, India made the all right moves to get its house in order in its opening World Cup match against the Netherlands at Paarl on Wednesday. Sachin Tendulkar’s promotion to the top of the tree was laudable as it allowed him the chance to unleash his dominating skills.

Yet, the team made heavy weather of the victory, its formidable batting line-up struggling to get to the 200-run mark. Of course, it is difficult to dance on a crooked floor. After a neat innings, Tendulkar was done in by a snorter that stopped on him and Rahul Dravid by another that virtually scooted along the track, the bounce was disconcerting and unpredictable.

It was a grafting pitch which demanded a workmanlike approach from the batsmen. They needed to be industrious, not impetuous. The need of the hour was for them to beaver away. On a track on which the ball was gripping the surface and dying on them, hitting on the up spelt Doomsday for some batsmen.

Shot-selection and game management were critical. A cheap but top-rate computer is the one between the ears and some of the Indians were guilty of not using it effectively on Wednesday, particularly on a track on which you would have expected them to have few problems.

It was with a mature approach that left-handers Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Mongia saved India the blushes and ensured that the psychological landmark of 200 runs would be passed. It was a shame though that India did not last the full 50 overs even against the lowly Dutch side, whose attack embraced the virtues of impeccable line and length.

The lamb and the lion can lie together but the lamb will never sleep well. Inevitably, the Dutch innings was rocked by the initial thrusts by Javagal Srinath while Anil Kumble creamed the middle-order.

It was disappointing that India did not go for the jugular towards the end of the Holland innings. By allowing the ninth-wicket pair to bat for 17 overs, India showed no urgency. In a competition like this, where net run rate could come into play, India must have the foresight that every run made and denied will count.

Van Bunge and Smits added 49 runs when you would have expected India to roll the Dutch over. There did not seem to be much point in getting through the fifth bowler’s quota of 10 overs. Instead, India would have been well served by getting Srinath to complete the job that he had to in any case. Age has been perfect fire extinguisher for flaming youth in Srinath’s case who is now an astute bowler, with a richer repertoire than ever before. Kumble showed himself as wily as a fox with a bagful of tricks, deceiving the Dutch who played for the non-existent turn.

From the spectators’ point of view, the ninth-wicket stand was like going to the zoo and watching the turtles race by. It may seem like I am digressing a bit but it is pertinent to point out that the Dutch — as indeed a few other sides — did not belong here. Instead of exposing such teams at the World Cup, the International Cricket Council must encourage them to play first-class cricket. The criteria for their promotion to the international platform must be their ability to beat at least provincial or state sides.

To revert to the Indian team, the wickets in South Africa offer different challenges and the side must be ready to adapt to various situations. You can’t go in with a mind-set. Flexibility is the name of the game. For instance, India must be prepared to include a third seamer on some tracks ahead of a second spinner.

Besides, Ganguly’s continued poor form is a bit worrisome and he must now consider dropping down to No. 3. The thought of Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag opening the innings in tandem is mouth-watering indeed, even if it means that India’s advantage of having a left-right combination at the start of the innings is negated.

Next up for India is a formidable side. Australia is a foe which has the tenacity and mental fortitude to claw out of difficult situations. Their never-say-die spirit was evident in the manner in which they beat Pakistan despite the paucity of resources. India must remember that great oaks are not felled in a single stroke and will need to play consistent cricket to get past the Australians. Against an opposition like that, if the batsmen let the side down, there can be just no comebacks. India must dig deep, draw on their resources and meet the challenge with a manly heart.

These teams must play and beat state and county sides around the world before they are given the chance of playing in the World Cup. With teams like the Netherlands, Canada - even if it beat Test-playing nation in Bangladesh — and Namibia, it seems a travesty of justice to pit them with the big guns. TCM

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Holland performed above their ability
Ravi Shastri

It was hard work for India in getting past Holland in their first match of the World Cup, but this should stand the team in good stead as the tournament progresses. Saurav Ganguly and his boys were made to work for every run and wicket, which is not such a bad thing at the start of a World Cup.

I know a lot of people believe that India’s batting was dismal and the victory laboured. But this was a slow track, which made strokeplay difficult, and the Dutch played well above their ability. They bowled a very good line and length, and the fielding, in spite of the few dropped chances, was outstanding. All the pressure was on India as the favourites, and the Dutch players were the ones clearly enjoying themselves.

From India’s point of view, it was heartening to see Sachin Tendulkar back at the top of the order. This is where he belongs, and he was easily the best batsman on view through the day. It was clear he was trying to find his rhythm after the run of poor scores in New Zealand and I believe in the forthcoming matches Sachin should be batting more authoritatively.

But Virender Sehwag was hard done by in opening with Sachin. He has been amongst the runs, has the confidence and would have set the pace against the Dutch new ball bowlers. By the time he came in to bat, the bowlers were already beginning to take control. He was also out to a brilliant catch.

It would have been better to open with Sachin and Sehwag, with Ganguly opting to go down the order. In the interests of the team, the skipper should seriously reconsider his batting position since he has been struggling for runs. He is too good a batsman to fail consistently, but he looks far too vulnerable at the top of the order right now. The World Cup is a competition of limited matches and the margin of error is also limited. I think he would be of far greater value here in the middle-order.

It is also important that the other batsmen acclimatise quickly and find their rhythm. The big matches come up now, and India will need runs from all the major players. The strength of this side is obviously in the batting. The bowlers have done a splendid job in the recent past, but they need at least an adequate number of runs to defend.

The composition of the sides seems fine, with the number 7 place where Mongia batted in the first match, inter-changeable with an all-rounder depending on the track and the weather. From what we have seen in the World Cup so far, there has been enough help for fast and slow bowlers, so India would do well to keep their options open.

The worry for me now is the choice of wicketkeeper. Since the wickets are giving so much help to bowlers, the risk of Dravid making mistakes or getting injured increases. I would say it is easier to make Parthiv Patel a better batsman than to make Dravid a better wicketkeeper. Obviously this is a difficult call to make for the team management. But they should be alert to the risk. (Gameplan)

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India likely to play two spinners

Johannesburg, February 13
Rattled by a not-too-impressive victory against minnows Holland, India will go firing all cylinders in their second match against the mighty Australians on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters at the Centurion, the venue of the match, skipper Sourav Ganguly said one of the strategies the team management was contemplating would be play with two spinners.

“We have to play to our strengths and with high-quality spinners like Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, we hope to do well,” he said. The Indian captain said the two spinners, who enjoy a tremendous success rate against the Aussies, would give the Indians a “psychological advantage”.

“Also, slow bowlers will certainly have a big role to play against the Aussies and we believe the slower pitches will suit us,” he said. PTI

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Klusener was the pick of the bowlers
Pat Symcox

The Proteas were in no mood to waste any extra time and energy in Potchefstroom and beat Kenya badly. After the loss to the West Indies in the opening match, they will have felt the need to satisfy themselves of the form and talent and had to win convincingly to keep that inner belief going.

Gibbs and Kirsten needed just 21 overs to score the total of 140 posted by Kenya after they had won the toss and elected to bat first. Kirsten was once again to top form and scored 52 off 66 deliveries. Gibbs, as every South African supporter knows, was ruthless with any loose delivery and finished with 87 off the same amount of deliveries that Kirsten faced.

The bowling department against the West Indies was a concern and this will again be tested on Sunday against New Zealand. However, against Kenya the bowlers did not feel threatened.

Lance Klusener picked up 4 for 16 and was the pick of the bowlers. The leaving out of Allan Donald was a surprise and gave Langeveldt an opportunity to show his capabilities. Normally he gets some good swing but in Potchefstroom there wasn’t enough of it. Kallis also didn’t swing the ball and perhaps the heat had something to do with it. Pollock and Ntini hit the right areas with the new ball enough times to make life difficult out in the center.

The Proteas fielding was again a pleasure to watch. Right from the start Gibbs was at his best in the inner ring and a direct hit resulted in a run out. Between him and Jonty there Kenyans were hesitant to run throughout the innings.

This win means they have put their first points on the board and will have allowed them to just play with less pressure on themselves and to enjoy the World Cup. Very often it just needs a little spark and enjoyment to get a winning momentum going.

If there were any downsides to the match it has to be the fact that certain batsmen didn’t get a knock in the competition. Jonty Rhodes and Shaun Pollock spent no time in the middle against the Windies and by the time the weekend comes along, won’t have batted for more than ten days. Net practices are never a substitute for actual knocks in the middle.

The team moves to Johannesburg and need to prepare well for a possible New Zealand backlash. The Wanderers clash is vital for both sides and if New Zealand don’t travel into Africa to play, it could mean that a loss to the Proteas sees them out of the super sixes. A tense time awaits both teams. (TCM)

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Self-belief back for Klusener

Potchefstroom, February 13
All rounder Lance Klusener pronounced that his self-belief was back after being named man-of-the-match in South Africa’s 10-wicket demolition of Kenya yesterday. Klusener took four for 18 as Kenya were dismissed for 140 in the World Cup Group B game before Herschelle Gibbs, with an unbeaten 87, and Gary Kirsten, 52 not out, guided South Africa to victory.

The result put South Africa’s campaign back on track after their narrow loss to West Indies in the tournament’s opening game, which Klusener nearly won after smashing five sixes and a four in a 47-ball 57. Reuters

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The matter is closed: PCB

Pakistan's Rashid Latif leaves a news conference after a disciplinary hearing
Pakistan's Rashid Latif (front), leaves a news conference after a disciplinary hearing in Johannesburg on Wednesday.  — AP/PTI photo

Johannesburg, February 13
Pakistan’s cricket chiefs distanced themselves from wicketkeeper Rashid Latif today following media reports that he was considering legal action against Australia after being accused of making a racial slur.

Latif was cleared of making a racist remark to Adam Gilchrist during Australia’s 82-run win over Pakistan in their World Cup Group A match on Tuesday. Match referee Clive Lloyd said there had not been “sufficient evidence to prove the allegation”.

Team manager Shaharyar Khan told Reuters today: “For the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan cricket management, the matter is closed.”

“We are satisfied with the match referee’s decision. If Rashid Latif was to pursue legal action, he will do it in a personal capacity.”

Latif had said immediately after the hearing that he had “no hard feelings towards anyone, including Adam Gilchrist and the Australia team. I just want to concentrate on the World Cup". Reuters

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Quotable quotes

Johannesburg, February 13
Who’s saying what at the 2003 World Cup:
“It is no consolation that my name has been cleared. I can’t understand what made the Australians do this. Can you imagine living the rest of my life branded a racist? I am not that kind of a person and will never be” — Rashid Latif denying he racially abused Australian Adam Gilchrist.

***

“I wouldn’t have raised the issue if I hadn’t found it offensive. I was shocked by the comment I believe I heard yesterday. Latif and I had always had a good relationship both on and off the field. I hope there is no animosity between the two teams when they meet again” — Gilchrist in reply.

***

“I know Andy Flower very well, and he has been a credit to the game by making the brave decision he did. He and Henry Olonga have proved to be great men by what they have done” —England skipper Nasser Hussain on the Zimbabwean duo’s black armband protest.

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Family rallies behind Warne

Melbourne, February 13
Shane Warne’s family closed ranks today and pleaded to be left alone as the embattled cricketer prepared to mount a defence against his positive test at a drugs hearing.

Warne’s brother Jason, who manages the legspinner, said no-one in the family would comment further on the controversy. Warne returned home from the World Cup late yesterday after he tested positive for a banned diuretic used to aid weight-loss after a test by the Australian Sports Drugs Agency (ADSA) before the Australian team flew to South Africa earlier this month.

He faces being driven out of cricket if he cannot prove mitigating circumstances following the positive drug test. AFP

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England slump to shocking defeat

Paris, February 13
Australia inflicted a humiliating defeat on England and European champions France were outclassed by the Czech Republic in yesterday’s friendly international action.
World champions Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw by China in Guangzhou while World Cup finalists Germany were beaten 3-1 by Spain in Majorca as Raul struck twice to become his country’s highest scorer in history.

Australia won their first full international on English soil 3-1 with goals from Tony Popovic, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton as England paid the price for fielding an experimental line-up at Upton Park.

Seventeen-year-old Wayne Rooney became the youngest player to appear in an England shirt but with coach Sven-Goran Eriksson fielding a different team in each half, England were always chasing the match.

Eriksson said: “If this had been a World Cup or a European qualifier I don’t think we’d have made those kind of mistakes.” “The result was bad but I don’t think the performance was that bad.”

His Australian counterpart, Frank Farina, paid tribute to Kewell’s match-winning performance. “Every time Harry touched the ball he looked dangerous,” Farina said.

“I think the boys were playing for bragging rights, especially the UK-based ones,” Eriksson said.

France fielded a near full-strength team but failed their sternest examination since their disastrous World Cup campaign, losing 2-0 at the Stade de France.

Goals from Zdenek Gryera and Liverpool striker Milan Baros handed Jacques Santini his first defeat since taking over last year.

“The majority of the players were just not up to what we can normally expect from them,” said Santini.

Lazio striker Bernardo Corradi scored on his debut to give Italy a 1-0 win over Euro 2004 hosts Portugal in an entertaining match in Genoa.

One of three new caps, Corradi pounced from close range in the 62nd minute after Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo had failed to hold Fabrizio Miccoli’s stinging shot.

The match was Luis Felipe Scolari’s first in charge of Portugal after guiding Brazil to victory in last year’s World Cup.

In Brazil’s first match under new coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, superstar striker Ronaldo limped off injured and his team-mates laboured to a 0-0 draw against China.

Holland beat Argentina with an 87th minute thunderbolt from Arsenal midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst in Amsterdam.

The match appeared to be heading for a goal-less draw when Van Bronckhorst hit a powerful 20-yard shot which gave Argentinian goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero no chance.

Raul claimed the all-time Spanish goalscorer’s record when he fired a low shot past Oliver Kahn after 31 minutes.

Fredi Bobic pulled Germany level but Raul moved his tally to 31 goals in 59 games by converting a penalty after he had been fouled in the box. A goal from Guti completed the job for Spain.

Brian Kerr had a victorious debut in charge of Ireland as his side beat Berti Vogts’ Scotland 2-0 at Hampden Park with early goals from Kevin Kilbane and Clinton Morrison.

Wales twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina which extend their unbeaten run to a new national record of nine matches.

John Hartson notched the 74th minute equaliser after Elvir Baljic and Sergej Barbarez had put the visitors ahead at the Millennium Stadium.

World Cup semi-finalists Turkey were held to a goalless draw by Ukraine in Izmir but it was a good night for north African football as Morocco beat an under-strength Senegal 1-0 in Paris and Roger Lemerre’s Tunisia shocked Sweden 1-0 in Tunis. AFP

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East Bengal beat Churchill Bros

Margao, February 13
Title aspirants East Bengal consolidated their position at the top of the table with a hard fought 3-1 win over Churchill Brothers in the National Football League match at Nehru stadium here today. After Churchill’s Ratan Singh neutralised Douglas Silva dos Santos first half strike, man-of-the-match Alvito D’Cunha gave East Bengal an early lead in the second half and Mike Okoro made the issue safe for the winners in the dying minutes when he netted the ball.

With this win, East Bengal collected 33 points from 13 matches to take nine points lead over their nearest rivals Salgaocar, while Churchill remained on sixth position with 20 points from as many matches.

Churchill set the ball rolling playing aggressive game and holding more of the exchanges. They also created more scoring chances but their strikers let them down. On the other hand, East Bengal played a waiting game and created three chances and scored in all of them.

Churchill’s Yakubu, who played a stellar role in the upfront, troubled the rival defence despite being tightly marked and set passes to Benjamin Ansah.

However, Ansah failed to cash in on the chances that came his way. Midway into the first half, he had an open chance when he was set by Roque Barreto but his header went astray. After this close shave, East Bengal took the lead in the 27th minute when Douglas Silva dos Santos’ pinpoint header beat Ansah all ends to find the net off a free kick taken by Alvito from the left.

Churchill made a counter move seven minutes later. Hardworking Yakubu set a pass to Ratan Singh which the rival defence failed to set off side and Ratan, finding himself open, cut keeper Sandip Nandy and placed the ball into the net with an angular drive to have both the teams levelled 1-1 at half time.

After the change of ends, East Bengal once again took the lead with a fine move from the left.

Medio Shasty Duley, accepting a pass from Douglas, relayed the ball to Alvito who after positioning himself, flicked the ball past keeper Ansah to find the far post.

Stung by the set, Churchill continued to put pressure but failed to secure the equaliser as East Bengal packed their defence.

Churchill, in the anxiety to find the equaliser, pushed more men in front and with keeper Ansah also moving well up near the centre line, they conceded another goal.

A long clearance by an East Bengal player from his own half saw the ball going to Mike Okoro who, seeing Ansah off the mark, took a long shot to find the net. PTI

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Bonanza awaits archers
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 13
Indian archers stand to gain a never-before cash bonanza as the Archery Association of India has decided to organise 10 national ranking-archery circuit tournaments, which will have a total cash prize of Rs 20 lakh at stake, in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Athens, 2004.

Archery Association of India (AAI) president Vijay Kumar Malhotra announced here today that the first ranking tournament was held in Pune recently, in which Dola Banerjee became the first Indian to shoot 1334 points in single FITA, which is the highest score ever attained by an Indian archer in a national or international competition.

Mr Malhotra, who is also the president of the All-India Council of Sports (AICS), said 16 top men and eight women archers would participate in the ranking tournaments. He said other archers would also be invited to compete, but at their own expenses, and in case of their being ranked within the top 16/8 in the competition, their expenses for the next ranking tournament would be borne by the organisers.

Mr Malhotra said the winners of the ranking tournaments would stand to benefit from prize money ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 5000. Mr Malhotra said the AAI had directed all its affiliated units to conduct ranking competitions every alternate month and provide special facilities to top ranking archers.

AAI senior vice-president Paresh Nath Mukherjee said the 14th Asian Archery Championship would be held in Delhi in April, 2005. Mr Banerjee said a six-week certificate course would be conducted by the AAI in association with the Sports Authority of India for physical education teachers, college and university officials in April either at Patiala or the Eastern Centre of the SAI in Kolkata.

AAI secretary Anil Kamineni said the government had renewed the contract of foreign coach Chae-Woong Lim of Korea, who had been originally engaged to train the Indian archers for the Asian Games held at Busan (Korea) last year. Kamineni said Lim’s contract had been extended till the 44th World Archery Championship, scheduled to be held in New York, USA from July 10. The world meet is the qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Athens.

Mr Malhotra said the AAI, which had imported archery equipment worth Rs 19 lakh during 2001-02, will import equipment worth Rs 60-65 lakh during the current year. He, however, added that in order to promote archery, Indian firms would be encouraged to manufacture equipment.

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ITF women’s meet: Indian challenge ends

Chennai, February 13
The Indian challenge in the ITF Women’s Tennis Tournament at the Madras Gymkhana Club here ended today with the exit of wild card Samrita Sekar, even as yet another seeded player bit the dust.

The 18-year-old Samrita went down tamely to qualifier Elene Vesnina of Russia 2-6, 3-6.

Much was expected from the local lass after her impressive run in the earlier matches, but she was outclassed by the Russian’s groundstrokes.

The lone upset of the day was caused by the unseeded German Varana Mar Beller, who beat seventh seed Akgul Amanamuradova of Uzbekistan 6-2, 6-3, to earn a slot in the semifinal.

In the other quarter-final matches, second seed Suchanan Viratprasert of Thailand, the only seeded player surviving, quelled a strong challenge from Eva Hoch of Austria 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and qualifier Ivanna Israilova of Uzbekistan disposed of Diana Julianto of Indonesia 6-1, 6-2 in double quick time. In the last four stage tomorrow, Mar Beller will meet Vesnina, while Viratprasert will clash with Israilova.

MUMBAI: Seeded players, including top seeds of under-18 and under-14 boys singles section Saurabh Kohli and Agnel Gladwin of Maharashtra sailed into the semifinals of the South African Airways all-India AITA Super series junior tennis tournament here today.

Playing an attacking game in the quarters, Kohli sidelined fifth seed S Prateek of Andhra Pradesh 6-2 6-3, while Gladwin crushed fifth seed Ashwin Vijayraghavan also of Andhra Pradesh 6-1 6-1 in just 30 minutes.

Other three semi-finalists in the under-18 section were second seed Aditya Madkekar and unseeded V Tejasvi Rao (both from Maharashtra) and third seed Kiran Kumar of Karnataka.

Second seed Kinshuk Sharma of Chandigarh, third seed Mesheer Vaswani of Karnataka and seventh seed Navneeta Kanan of Tamil Nadu booked their semi-final berths in the under-14 section.

In the girls under-18 singles, unseeded Sonali Sanap of Maharashtra upstaged seventh seed compatriot Parija Maloo, while top seed Krushmi Chedda and fifth seed Neena Sharma also from the same state sailed into the semis registering straight wins. PTI

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NR girls win
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 13
Defending champions, Northern Railway, Delhi, scored an emphatic 7-0 victory over Sports Hostel, Lucknow on the second day of the VIIth All-India Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal Women’s Hockey Tournament here today.

The current champions went into an early lead (2nd minute) through Simarjit Kaur and 10 minutes later, Fardina Ekka added one goal to enhance the lead.

In the second session, Pritam Kaur struck to make it 3-0 while Neha followed immediately to make it 4-0. Maninder Kaur scored a field goal to further cement the lead (5-0). Fardina Ekka pumped in two more goals (57th and 58th minute) to complete the rout. In the second match, Central Railway, Mumbai, managed to scrape past North Eastern Railway, Gorakhpur by a solitary goal. The match winner was scored in extra time by Anastacia Das through a penalty corner conversion.

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 SPORTS BRIEFS


INJURED RHODES RULED OUT
POTCHEFSTROOM:
South Africa’s Jonty Rhodes has been ruled out for three weeks with a broken hand and will find out later on Thursday whether he will be replaced in the hosts’ World Cup squad. Rhodes, widely regarded as the best fielder in the world, suffered the injury during South Africa’s 10-wicket win over Kenya in Group B on Wednesday. The 33-year-old later saw a specialist in Johannesburg and underwent surgery after x-rays confirmed the break. Reuters




South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes prepares to board the team bus at their base in Potchefstroom after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand. — Reuters photo
South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes prepares to board the team bus

CAREER ‘TARNISHED’
MELBOURNE
: Former Australia batsman Dean Jones says Shane Warne has “tarnished a great career’’ by failing a drugs test. “Warnie what have you done, mate?’’ Jones wrote in a column in The Herald Sun newspaper on Thursday. “Shane has always had a lot of pride in his appearance, his clothes, his cars and his home,’’ Jones said of his former team mate. “But now he has gone too far by taking a diuretic tablet to improve weight loss and in doing so has tarnished a great career. He has simply gone over the top a bit trying to look good and lose more weight.’’ Reuters

HUSSAIN ‘DRAINED’
CAPE TOWN:
A tired-looking England captain Nasser Hussain on Wednesday said he hoped his sides World Cup game against Zimbabwe could be played outside the strife-torn African country because of the ‘close links’ between the team. Hussain told a news conference: “The ICC (International Cricket Council) have still got a chance of relocating the fixture and I hope they do because we enjoy playing Zimbabwe. “We have close links with them and that is one bad thing to come out of this.” Reuters





England Captain Nasser Hussain rests after a net session in Cape Town, South Africa on Thursday. — Reuters photo

England Captain Nasser Hussain rests after a net session

SYMONDS’ DEMOTION?
JOHANNESBURG:
Andrew Symonds’s reward for his match-winning World Cup innings against Pakistan may be a demotion in Australia’s batting order. The all rounder emerged at number six to score a spectacular 143 not out at the Wanderers catapulting the world champions to an easy 82-run win in the Group A contest. Reuters

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