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Another meek surrender by India
Paes guides India to 3-2 win
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Holland beat India in hockey Test Tatas to honour hockey Olympians Delhi beat Mumbai in Ranji Trophy Leicester club's pact with East Bengal HIT Sonepat triumph
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Another meek surrender by India
Sydney, February 8 After posting a record 359 for five, Australia skittled out India for 151 in 33.2 overs in the second of a series of three finals to extend the domination over their subcontinent rivals. Matthew Hayden set the platform with his fourth one-day hundred of 126 from 122 balls before Andrew Symonds launched a blistering assault towards the end with a 39-ball 66. Damien Martyn too rediscovered his form to make a typically stylish 67 from a mere 76 balls. India, in a do-or-die match after having lost the first of the best-of-three finals at Melbourne on Friday, had their chase virtually sealed when they lost half their side inside 15 overs. It was Australia’s third successive title triumph over Sourav Ganguly’s men following their wins in the World Cup final and another triangular tournament in India last year. The Australian target was not only the highest ever in one-day internationals Down Under but also identical to the one they posed against India in the World Cup final in South Africa. India, who were aspiring for the world number one status and had hitherto enjoyed a golden summer, saw their tour end on a sour note and had be content with the eternal bridesmaid tag. From the moment Ponting called the coin correctly and decided to bat first, it was all downhill for India. Adam Gilchrist set the tone for the hosts with his quickfire 29 that came from 32 balls before being caught by Ganguly off Nehra. Hayden then took control and intimidated the young Indian bowlers with his cavalier batting.
No sooner than Gilchrist was gone, Ponting (4) followed suit to leave Australia at 73 for two in the 12th over. But Hayden and Damien Martyn added 157 runs in under 27 overs for the third wicket that took the match away from India’s grasp. Hayden, the world record holder for Test highest score, exercised a psychological domination over India’s young seamers with his imposing figure in the middle. He drove and pulled with his trademark arrogance that was not seen in the one-day series before. The burly left-hander reached his hundred in 95 balls that included three strong sixes and nine fours. However, he slowed down a bit thereafter and seemed to suffer from what the commentators called “guilt complex”. Hayden was given the benefit of doubt for a close caught behind appeal from Irfan Pathan but was never the same batsman after that incident in the 39th over. He made wild heaves and missed a few before being bowled around his legs by Sachin Tendulkar. Martyn rediscovered his form, at the wrong time for the Indians. His innings had class written all over it and the fans were treated to some elegant strokes, especially on the off, until he fell trying to hook Pathan (2-75) and holed out to Hemang Badani at square leg. Tendulkar (1-60) bowled a tidy spell of slow leg cutters and India looked like reining in the Australians to a managable total but Symonds’ attack changed the script. The right-handed batsman plundered seven fours and three sixes as Australia amassed 111 runs in the last 8.4 overs. Symonds’ partnership with Michael Clarke for the fifth wicket was 99 from 7.5 overs. India started on a fantastic note with Virender Sehwag flicking Jason Gillespie over the fineleg for a six off the first ball. The next time Sehwag played a similar shot, Brett Lee plucked the ball out of the air at short fineleg. Gillespie and Lee combined once more to see the back of Sachin Tendulkar (24) who until that moment had looked determined in breaking the jinx of big match nerves. V.V.S. Laxman, the batsman who had bewitched the Australians with his artistry throughout the summer, was dismissed in bizarre fashion, ruled caught and bowled by TV umpire. Trying to fend a Lee yorker, Laxman dug his bat in time and the ball popped straight back to the bowler who immediately appealed. Umpire Rudi Koertzen was puzzled but nevertheless referred it to the third umpire who had no doubt about his verdict. Rahul Dravid tried to steal a single but Martyn beat him with a direct hit before Ganguly played a rank cut shot for a simple catch to point off Ian Harvey. Scoreboard Australia Gilchrist c Ganguly b Nehra 29 Hayden b Tendulkar 126 Ponting c Dravid b Pathan 4 Martyn c Badani b Pathan 67 Symonds b Nehra 66 Clarke not out 33 Katich not out 11 Extras (lb-6, w-15, nb-2) 23 Total
(5 wkts in 50 overs) 359 FoW: 1-62, 2-73, 3-230, 4-248, 5-347 Bowling: Irfan Pathan 10-0-75-2, Laxmipathy Balaji 9-0-65-0, Ashish Nehra 10-0-63-2, Murali Kartik 7-0-51-0, Virender Sehwag 5-0-30-0, Sourav Ganguly 1-0-9-0, Sachin Tendulkar 8-0-60-1. India Sehwag c Lee b Gillespie 12 Tendulkar c Lee b Gillespie 27 Laxman c and b Lee 5 Ganguly c Symonds b Harvey 3 Dravid run out 0 Yuvraj c Gilchrist b Harvey 4 Badani run out 18 Pathan b Lee 30 Kartik c Gilchrist b Williams 23 Balaji b Williams 2 Nehra not out 14 Extras
(lb-7, w-4, nb-2) 13 Total (all out in 33.2 overs) 151 FoW: 1-22, 2-49, 3-49, 4-52, 5-56, 6-59, 7-99, 8-123, 9-136. Bowling:
Gillespie 9-1-52-2, Lee 10-1-39-2, Williams 6.2-1-12-2, Harvey 5-2-30-2, Symonds 3-1-11-0.
— PTI |
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We did not deserve to win, says Saurav Ganguly
Sydney, February 8 “We did not play well in the two finals — so we didn’t deserve to win. They just lifted their game when it mattered,” the Indian cricket captain said as India lost the tri-series finals 2-0 after a 208-run mauling in the second match here. “When we came over we told ourselves we wanted to check us out in Australia. It was also challenge for us to keep the momentum going
for two and a half months,”
he said. The Indian momentum seemed to flag off towards the end and Ganguly hinted
“The length of the tour, especially after you have played four Tests... I think the one-day tour could be reduced at the league stage. “Look at the way the Australians plan their cricket. They would be touring the subcontinent for two and half months. They are going to India just for four Tests — it is a matter of a month and 10 days, so the boys are not fatigued or tired. “England also for instance, when they came over here last year they broke up the Tests and one-dayers.” Ganguly, however, gave full credit to Australia who
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Invercargill, February 8 Paes, who won his opening singles against New Zealand No. 1 Mark Nielsen on Friday and took the doubles Saturday with Mahesh Bhupathi, decided the match in India’s favour when he beat Rea 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 at the Southland Stadium here. Paes is on a comeback after undergoing surgery in Florida last August for a nonmalignant brain lesion. India entered the final day with a 2-1 lead but found themselves under pressure when Nielsen won the first reverse singles 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 over newcomer Vishal Punna. Paes decided to nominate Punna after Indian No. 1 Harsh Mankad struggled on the fast court surface in the opening singles. Under greater pressure when he quickly conceded the first set to Rae, Paes ground out a vital service break in the second, then swept through the last two sets as Rae faltered. India will play the winner of the Japan-Indonesia match at Jakarta in the second round of the Asia-Oceania zone. Paes later admitted verbally sledging New Zealand’s Simon Rea in the deciding Davis Cup tennis rubber here today, but only because home team captain Bruce Derlin started it. Paes (31) came from a set down to beat Rae in four sets to give India a 3-2 win in their Asia-Oceania Group one tie. New Zealand looked to be heading for an upset victory after Mark Nielsen locked the tie up at 2-2 all with a straight sets win over Vishal Punna in the first of the reverse singles, and Davis Cup debutant Rea raced to a 3-0 lead over Paes in the first set of the deciding match. Paes said that’s when the taunting started and it was Derlin who shot from the lip first. “The Kiwi captain, who knows I’m four feet away from him when I came back out (on court), said 'You must be feeling the pressure now',” Paes said. “I thought, 'all right, boy. You have started the game, so let’s go.' “It worked to my advantage.... Once that happens, I’m coming at you.”
— AP, AFP |
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Jasjeet scripts India’s Asia Cup win
New Delhi, February 8 On a balmy afternoon, the petite Jasjeet Kaur, a plus-two student of the SGMD Girls Senior Secondary School, scored one of the most stunning goals to script a memorable victory, when the match looked like heading towards extra time. The goal has ensured Jasjeet, the babe of the Indian team, a place in the hockey hall of fame. The move, that fetched the goal in the 38th minute of the second half, was a quick-silver one as Jasjeet Kaur dribbled her way up from the middle, taking in her stride the Japanese defenders, before sliding into the right of the ‘dee’. She then let go a full-blooded shot which rocketed into the goal like an arrow, brooking no resistance. Over 5,000 hockey fans were at hand to witness this historic moment. Jasjeet Kaur, no wonder, was crowned the ‘most promising player’ of the tournament. She was mobbed and hailed, but modesty did not desert her in her hour of triumph. It was a logical progression for India, who, after skipping the inaugural Asia Cup at Seoul in 1985, had finished fourth, third and second in the subsequent three editions. They inscribed their name on the cup with conviction, though, no cup is awarded to the winners. The women’s Asia Cup seems to be a glorious concept in idea which transcends the need to have a metal cup. The winners are awarded only medals. The Cup victory has earned a direct berth for India in the 2006 World Cup in Spain. India played their last World Cup at Uthrak in Holland in 1998, bringing up the rear. This win was also a great consolation for India for failing to qualify for the qualifying contest of the Olympic Games 2004 in Athens. Chief coach Maharaj Kishan Kaushik also added another plume to his cap, after coaching the men’s team to the Asian Games gold at Bangkok in 1998. The triumph was sweet on another count too as it was a redemption for failing to beat Korea in the title contest here in 1999. Kaushik had told the girls to ‘go for the goal’ and not get bogged down by Japan’s reputation. Going into the final, Japan had built up an aura around themselves, having scored 46 goals in four matches, 15 of them off penalty corners. But they were not allowed much freedom today, and custodian Helen Mary and the defence played spoilsport to Japan’s party. The visitors failed to make use of 10 penalty corners, which spoke of Helen’s keeping skills. Helen Mary, fittingly, was given the ‘best goalkeeper’ award. “Overall, it was great team work,” Kaushik said. “We attacked from the right flank in the second half as the Japanese were attacking from the right to,” Kaushik explained. Though India gave away too many penalty corners, they drew consolation with their superb defence. And India achieved this great feat without one their indispensable ‘all-rounders’, Jyoti Sunita Kullu, who was ruled out with a thigh muscle strain. India went flat out, with woman-to-woman marking, to scatter the Japanese attack and never allowed them to regroup. Aggression was the catchword as the hosts kept pace with the speed of Japan. The result was an engrossing contest, with the ball speeding from end to end. The Indian girls at times held on to the ball for longer than necessary which resulted in some of their dazzling dribbles fizzling out at the top of the circle. Subhadra Pradhan, who filled in the slot of Jyoti Sunita Kullu, did a fine job in the attack as did Mamta Kharab, Sanggai Chanu and captain Suraj Lata Devi. India did a brilliant job in bottling up Japan’s danger girl Sachimi Iwao whose stature as a scorer had soared after converting a dozen goals in the run upto the final. India made many close calls at the Japanese goal, but were lucky to survive many of Japan’s calls too, before earning first of their two penalty corners —one in each half — in the 16th minute. Suman Bala swept the ball in, but did not sound the board, as is mandatory if a direct hit is attempted. The ‘goal’, expectedly, was disallowed. The game progressed in an even pace and Japan closed in on the Indian citadel when they earned four penalty corners in a sequence in the 22nd minute. But Helen Mary and the defence bridged the gap to thwart the visitors’ attempts. After a goal-less first half, India stepped on the pedal earning their second penalty corner in the fifth minute on resumption, when Jasjeet Kaur was fouled. But the chance was wasted. The Indian goal survived a close shave in the 25th minute when Helen Mary was deceived by a shot from Kaon Chiba but the defence stood its ground and cleared the ball from the danger zone. Following this move came Jasjeet Kaur’s goal when she snatched the ball from Chie Kimura in the middle, dribbled into the circle, and executed a blazing shot (1-0). India then made the mistake of falling back, though there were still seven minutes left for the contest to end. Japan seized this opportunity to create cracks in the defence and circled the Indian goal to force two penalty corners in the closing minutes. India did not panic as they put up a stout defence to baulk the Japanese shots. “Kaushik has done a good job. This win is good for Indian hockey”, remarked former Olympian and Indian captain M.P. Ganesh. Ganesh said the final was a classic contest with the Indian girls showing their maturity, physical fitness, talent and the will to win. “They peaked at the right time, and won when it mattered most,” observed Ganesh. China defeated Korea 3-0 in the tie-breaker to clinch the third position.  |
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President Kalam
hails win New Delhi, February 8 In a message to the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation president Vidya Stokes, Dr Kalam said the superb victory was the result of hard work, determination and team spirit displayed by all the players. He also wished the team well for the 2006 World Cup.
— UNI |
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Holland beat India in hockey Test
Hyderabad, February 8 The Dutch, who drew the first Test and took the second at 2-1, won the series 2-0 and lifted the Naval Tata Trophy ahead of the pre-Olympic qualifying rounds to be played at Madrid, Spain next month. Teun de Nooijer scored once in each half (4th and 44th), while Prabhjot Singh reduced the margin (63rd) in a game that saw the hosts lacking direction against their fancied opponents, who remained more focussed throughout. Down by two goals, India raised hopes of a fightback when Prabhjot Singh foxed Dutch custodian Veering Klaas. But that was all the Indians could do as the visitors tightened up the defence and played with resolute authority in the later part of the game. Nooijer drew first blood, when he showed the holiday crowd a fine display of artistry with a spectacular field goal, studded with deceptive dribbles and dodging and a fine stick work blended with pace and skill, in the fourth minute of play. The early setback infused more vigour in raids and aggression in the Indian camp but the Olympic champions held their cool and played with caution to end the first half with a 1-0 lead. The hosts suffered a further setback in the second half when Nooijer struck in the 44th minute to swell the margin. It was in the final moments that India got something to cheer about. Kanwalpreet Singh’s flick off Bimal Lakra’s push from a penalty corner hit the goalkeeper, who failed to clear the ball, and Prabhjot made the most of the opportunity by tapping the ball in. Both the teams got four penalty corners each. India could convert one while Holland failed to convert any, thanks to some superb savings by the Indian custodian Devesh Chauhan.
— PTI |
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Tatas to honour hockey Olympians
Hyderabad, February 8 Tata Sons Director R Gopalakrishnan said here today that the group had announced a purse of Rs 1 lakh to the following: Balbir Singh (1956 Melbourne), Leslie Claudius (‘60 Rome), Charanjit Singh (‘64 Tokyo), Gurbux Singh (‘68 Mexico), Ajitpal Singh (‘76 Montreal), Harmik Singh (‘72 Munich), V Bhaskaran (‘80 Moscow), Zafar Iqbal (‘84 Los Angeles), M M Somaiya (‘88 Seoul and ‘92 Barcelona), Pargat Singh (‘96 Atlanta), Ramandeep Singh (2000 Sydney).
— UNI |
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Delhi beat Mumbai in Ranji Trophy
Kolkata, February 8 After skittling out Mumbai for 172 in 49.5 overs, Delhi were in the dumps at 55/5 by the 22nd over, when the two joined hands to turn the game around as their team got to the target of 173/8 in the penultimate over at the Eastern Railway Sports Complex. Sarandeep Singh (13 not out) finished off the match with a six in the last ball of the penultimate over to bring home the first four points for Delhi. Chopra (139b, 9x4) remained unruffled at the other end as he saw half of the Delhi side return to the pavilion, before authoring the only half-century of the match of 99 balls in 135 minutes. Mumbai V Mane c V Kumar b K Rawat 7, R Morris b K Rawat 10, V Kambli b Kunal Lal 6, V Indulkar lbw b K Rawat 0, N Shetty lbw b N S Negi 6, M Bangera run out 49, M Joglekar c Chopra b S Singh 1, A Nair lbw b R Bhatia 49, O Khanvilkar c Negi b S Singh 6, R Thakur not out 14, N Kulkarni b R Bhatia 4. Extras
(b-4, lb-8, nb-1, w-7) 20 Total
(all out, 49.5 overs)172 Fall of wickets: 1/18, 2/26, 3/26, 4/28, 5/50, 6/51, 7/137, 8/140, 9/162. Bowling: Kunal Lal 10-0-37-1, K Rawat 10-2-15-3, N S Negi 10-1-31-1, S Singh 10-1-33-2, R Sanghvi 5-0-28-0, R Bhatia 4.5-2-16-2. Delhi A Chopra c N Shetty b R Thakur 83, V Dahiya c R Morris b R Thakur 0, V Kumar lbw b R Thakur 13, A Bali run out 0, A Jadeja c V Mane b R Morris 8, K Rawat lbw b R Morris 1, R Bhatia c Indulkar b N Kulkarni 33, K Lal c Mane b Morris 11, N S Negi not out 7, S Singh not out 13. Extras
(b-1, lb-1, w-2) 4. Total
(for 8 wkts in 49 overs) 173. Fall of wkts: 1/4, 2/28, 3/28, 4/52, 5/55, 6/141, 7/141, 8/155 Bowling: A Nair 10-0-40-0, R Thakur 10-2-27-3, N Kulkarni 9-12-25-1, R Morris 9-1-31-3, N Shetty 9-0-35-0, O Khanwilkar 2-0-13-0.
— PTI |
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Leicester club's pact with East Bengal Leicester, February 8 The city has the largest Indian population in England and Wales. In a bid to forge closer links with the Asian community, the team, popularly called the Foxes, has officially twinned with the Indian champions Kingfisher East Bengal FC and signed a partnership agreement with the All-India Football Federation. It is the first English club to make such a deal with a club or association in India. “We are very excited about reaching these agreements with East Bengal and the All-India Football Federation,” said the club’s chief operating officer, Paul Mace. “These agreements will open the doors to a wide range of footballing and commercial benefits for all parties and promote the name of Leicester City throughout the Asian subcontinent. “Given the ethnic diversity of Leicester, it is important that our club is at the forefront of the development of football in India.” Kingfisher will be invited to play a friendly fixture at the Walkers Stadium later this season, while the Leicester coaching staff will make the reverse trip to India to run coaching programmes with the club and association.
— IANS |
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HIT Sonepat
triumph Rohtak, February 8 Put in to bat, Government Polytechnic team collapsed against medium pace bowling of Sunil Lakra. In his productive spell of 4.4 overs, Lakra bagged 7 wickets giving away only 10 runs. None, except number 10 batsman Harvinder Bedi, could reach double figures. The innings folded at 48 in 13.4 overs. H.I.T. Sonepat succeeded in chasing the victory target in only 8.3 overs for the loss of one wicket. Sunil Lakra was adjudged 'man of the match.' |
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