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Pakistan level series with last-ball win
Inzamam attributes win to team effort
Shiv Sena threatens to dig up Kotla pitch
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Vincent, Fleming help New Zealand recover
Sarwan, Bravo stall SA victory march
UP shock Mumbai
Fatehgarh Sahib college lift basketball title
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Pakistan level series with last-ball win
Ahmedabad, April 12 Needing three runs from the last over, Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq kept his cool against some mesmerising bowling by Sachin Tendulkar to help his team to overhaul India's 315 for six with a four to the point fence to bring off a remarkable series levelling victory. The crucial match went down to the wire at the Motera stadium as Pakistan successfully chased a target of over 300 runs in one-dayers for the first time, making Tendulkar's blazing century go in vain. With the series tantalisingly poised at 2-2, the focus will now shift to Green Park stadium in Kanpur where the two teams square up again on April 15. Inzamam fittingly remained unbeaten with an invaluable 59-ball 60 and kept his cool till the end even as wickets tumbled at the other end, five of them falling in 15.4 overs. Pakistan, cruising towards the target comfortably when they were 253 for 3 in the 39th over, suddenly slumped to 265 for 5 in the 40th and then 297 for 7 in the 44th. But Inzamam, keeping his nerves in tact in the face of this sudden dip in fortune, took Pakistan home in a nail-biting finish. Tendulkar, in a scene reminiscent of his heroics in the 1993 Hero Cup semifinal against South Africa under lights at the Eden Gardens, was entrusted with bowling the last over with the tourists needing three runs for a win. He bowled two dot balls to Inzy, conceded two off the third to help Pakistan draw level, prevented the visiting team's skipper from scoring off the next two and then conceded a four to backward point with the entire field up and inside the circle. Pakistan, whose first three batsmen - Salman Butt (48), Shahid Afridi (40) and Abdul Razzaq (44) - all got into the forties to give the early momentum to the chase, were also benefited by allrounder Shoaib Malik's excellently paced innings of 65 in as many balls. Malik, who grabbed three wickets in the Indian innings earlier in the day, also put on a very crucial stand of 70 runs in only 10.1 overs with his captain to keep the run-rate at a healthy position in the middle overs. Earlier, Tendulkar blazed his way back into form to score his fourth ODI hundred against the arch-rivals in 55 matches. It was his 346th international appearance in the shortened form of the game. Batting in a style reminiscent of his old days, Tendulkar ripped apart the Pakistan attack to shreds in the company of first Virender Sehwag and then Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In all he struck 12 fours and 2 sixes and faced 127 balls, in his excellent knock of 123. He had reached his 100 in only 104 balls. Tendulkar, who went into the match with three successive failures in the series and with a paltry tally of 12 to his credit, struck his first ODI hundred in 16 innings, his last coming against the same opponents during the last five-match series at Rawalpindi. The master batsman, who will be 32 later this month, put on 65 runs for the first wicket with Virender Sehwag (29 off 32 balls with 4 fours) after home team skipper Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first in the match reduced to 48 overs each following a late start because of damp pitch conditions. Pakistan began the chase in a brilliant fashion, which helped them ultimately succeed in reaching their highest-ever target while batting second. Afridi slammed Ashish Nehra for two brilliant sixes and hit five fours in his 23-ball 40 and added 68 for the first wicket in only 52 balls with left-hander Salman Butt who made a measured 48 in 55 balls. Afridi miscued a straight hit off Lakshmipathy Balaji and was caught at mid off and then Butt was joined by Abdul Razzaq, who made 44 in 60 balls, and the two batsmen carried the score to 107 before the opener fell. The departure of Butt, who was trapped leg before by left arm Murali Kartik in his very first over when playing his first match in the series, brought together Razzaq and Shoaib Malik, who took three wickets in the Indian innings. Razzaq and Malik took the score to 183 before the former was sent back by Tendulkar off a full toss. Then Inzamam and the latter seemed to be taking Pakistan to a comfortable win by adding 70 runs in only 10.1 overs when Malik fell hooking Zaheer Khan to Balaji at long leg to start a mini slump. From 253 for 3 the score quickly became 265 for 5 with the Indians Suddenly picking up in the field with sharp throws and good catching. Balaji took two good catches in the deep and Nehra effected two run outs by throwing accurately from the deep. Pakistan looked in trouble at 295 for 7 in the 44th over when Mohd Sami joined his captain who was batting calmly at the other end. The latter, with good support from the tailender, took Pakistan to the target much to the disappointment of the huge home team supporters off the last ball. Scoreboard India: Sehwag run out 29 Tendulkar b Malik 123 Dhoni c Akmal b Malik 47 Ganguly run out 18 Dravid c Rana b Malik 19 Yuvraj not out 35 Kaif b Sami 5 Zaheer not out 0 Extras
(lb-9, w-15, nb-15) 39 Total (for 6 wkts, in 48 overs) 315 Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-194, 3-242, 4-247, 5-288, 6-296. Bowling:
Sami 9-0-54-1, Rana 8-0-64-0, Afridi 9-0-50-0, Razzaq 10-0-42-0, Kaneria 3-0-29-0, Malik 9-0-67-3. Pakistan: Butt lbw b Kartik 48 Afridi c Tendulkar b Balaji 40 Razzaq c Kartik b Tendulkar 44 Malik c Balaji b Kartik 65 Inzamam not out 60 Youhana c Balaji b Zaheer 11 Younis Khan run out 8 Akmal run out 10 Sami not out 8 Extras
(lb-3, w-16, nb-6) 25 Total (for 7 wkts in 48 overs) 319 Fall of wickets:
1-68, 2-107, 3-183, 4-253, 5-265, 6-281, 7-295. Bowling: Balaji 7-0-51-1, Nehra 9-0-75-0, Zaheer 10-0-62-1, Sehwag 1-0-4-0, Kartik 10-0-55-2, Yuvraj 5-0-33-0, Tendulkar 6-0-36-1.
— PTI |
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Inzamam attributes win to team effort
Ahmedabad, April 12 But did one of the brainiest cricketers err in his calculations during the tense final over? It was revealed after the match that Tendulkar was under the impression that the arch rivals needed two runs off the last ball when Pakistan actually needed one. "He thought they needed two more of the last ball. That is why he sent the wicketkeeper back. Then we told him that Pakistan were needing just a run," Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said. On his decision to give the ball to Tendulkar to bowl the final over when Pakistan were needing three runs to win, Ganguly said "the seamers were going for runs. Sachin can spin the ball very well. So we had a chance." He said India did well to put up 315 for six on the board after electing to bat, but the side failed to rein in the opposition batsmen which cost them dearly. Pakistan achieved the target off the last ball with captain Inzamam-ul Haq hitting a boundary off Tendulkar. Inzamam, who showed tremendous resolve and scored an unbeaten 60 to lead the side to the series-levelling win, attributed the win to team effort. "This is totally due to the effort of the boys. They played superbly, specially in the second half. Everyone chipped in and made contributions which in the end made the difference," said Inzamam, who also won the Man of the Match award for his gritty knock. "We had to maintain our cool while chasing such a big total. When you are chasing a big score like today's the pressure is always on you." Inzamam said his side was now looking forward to the fifth match of the series to be held in Kanpur on Friday.
— PTI |
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Shiv Sena threatens to dig up Kotla pitch
New Delhi, April 12 In a remainder of its action at the same pitch during the historic tour of the Pakistan cricket team in 1999, the Sena said it would not allow cricket matches between the two countries unless Pakistan stopped aiding anti-India terrorist activities. Sena Delhi unit president Jai Bhagwan Goel said it was not against the sport events, but do not want any sporting relations with Pakistan when that country is engaged in “dangerous politics” with India.
— UNI |
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Vincent, Fleming help New Zealand recover
Sydney, April 12 Vincent hit an unbeaten 79 and Fleming chipped in with 60 not out to help the Kiwis recover from a top-order slump and reach 253 for four in reply to Sri Lanka’s 211 when play was abandoned early because of fog at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Vincent and Fleming added 100 runs in 141 minutes in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership after Chaminda Vaas had ripped through the top order in the first half of the day. The Sri Lankan paceman dismissed the Marshall twins, James and Hamish, in the morning session then removed Craig Cumming and Nathan Astle in successive balls after lunch to leave New Zealand reeling at 153 for 4. Vaas made the initial breakthrough when he trapped James Marshall lbw for 28 with a perfect inswinger in the third over of the day. He then dismissed Hamish Marshall for six with an off-cutter that found the edge and deflected to a juggling Mahela Jayawardene at first slip. Scoreboard Sri Lanka (1st innings): 211 New Zealand (1st innings): Cumming lbw Vaas 47 Marshall lbw Vaas 28 Marshall
c Jayawardene b Vaas 6 Vincent batting 79 Astle c Dilshan b Vaas 0 Fleming batting 60 Extras:
(b-9, 1b-13,w-1, nb-10)33 Total: (4 wkts, 85 overs) 253 FoW:
1-61, 2-70, 3-153, 4-153 Bowling: Vaas 24-8-69-4, Malinga 15-1-56-0, Maharoof 19-9-48-0, Jayawardene 6-2-14-0, Chandana 16-4-36-0, Jayasuriya 5-2-8-0.
— AFP |
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Sarwan, Bravo stall SA victory march
Port-of-Spain, April 12 The home team, which conceded a first-innings lead of 51 early in the day, recovered from a perilous 92 for five to close on 170 for 5, ahead by 119 runs entering Tuesday’s fifth and final day. Sarwan lashed nine boundaries off 190 balls as he closed in on a seventh Test century. He was at the crease just short of five hours. In an unbroken stand of 78, he got levelheaded support from Bravo, who contributed a defiant 30 not out off 108 deliveries in just under two hours. South Africa was led by fast bowler Makhaya
Ntini, who followed his six wickets in the first innings with three for 34. Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje claimed the prize wicket of Brian Lara among 2 for 33. Scoreboard West Indies (1st Innings) 347 South Africa (1st Innings) 398 West Indies (2nd Innings) W Hinds lbw b Boje 22 Gayle c de Villiers b Ntini 1 Sarwan not out 93 Lara b Boje
4 Chanderpaul lbw b Ntini 1 Pagon b Ntini 2 Bravo not out 30 Extras:
(2b, 10lb, 1w, 4nb) 17 Total: (5 wkts in 78 overs) 170 Fall of wickets:
1-14, 2-79, 3-85, 4-86, 5-92. Bowling: Nel 16-4-31-0, Ntini 15-5-34-3, Zondeki 11-4-24-0, Boje 19-6-33-2, Kallis 11-3-29-0, Smith 6-1-7-0.
— AP |
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UP shock Mumbai
Mumbai, April 12 Uttar Pradesh will now lock horns with Tamil Nadu, who drubbed Bengal in the other semi-finals, on April 14. No 4 batsman Raina, added 65 runs with Rizwan Shamshad (24), which virtually put them on the road to recovery. His unbeaten 133-minute knock included just four boundaries. Earlier electing to bat, Mumbai crumbled after a good start and were restricted to 221 for nine in 50 overs. Opener Manish Bangera top scored with 46 (91m, 50b, 7x4).
— UNI |
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Fatehgarh Sahib college lift basketball title
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 12 BBSBEC won both competitions in the men and women category to lift the invitation cup while Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana, was declared runners-up in the boys’ category while girls of SLIET, Longowal, bagged the second position in their respective category. Results: boys: BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib bt SUS, Tangori 53-44, GNE, Ludhiana bt MIMT, Malout, 45-40, GNE, Ludhiana bt IET, Bhaddal, 39-36, MIMT, Malout bt SLIET, Longowal, 44-39, GNE, Ludhiana bt SUS Tangori 31-24, SUS, Tangori bt MIMT, Malout, 22-20, GNE, Ludhiana bt RIMT, Mandi Gobindgarh (walkover), SUS, Tangori bt RIMT, Mandi Gobindgarh, 29-19. BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib bt SLIET, Longowal 65-47, IET Bhaddal, bt RIMT, Mandi Gobindgarh, 43-18, MIMT, Malout bt RIET Railmajra, 36-28, SLIET, Longowal bt RIET, Railmajra 43-22, BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib bt MIMT, Malout, 52-42, BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib bt RIET, Railmajra, 49-18, SUS Tangori bt IET, Bhaddal, 46-42.; girls: In the final BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib bt SLIET, Longowal 25-02. |
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Fransa upset East Bengal
Kolkata, April 12 |
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Pak hockey veterans win
Bhopal, April 12
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