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SAFARI:
1st Test
 Seamers proved their worth
Cook stalls Aussies push for win
Silva puts Lanka in command |
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We are not doctors: Akhtar
Inzamam to lead Pak in World Cup
Asia
Cup
Mandeep props up Punjab
Santhi fails gender test
Sania sets sight on Australian Open
Negi shows his class
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SAFARI: 1st Test Johannesburg, December 17 S. Sreesanth was again at the forefront of the Indian gale force that has flattened the South African batting in this match. Bowling with pincer-like accuracy, he picked a trio of wickets, including the vital one of Jacques Kallis. And it might have been better still had umpire Daryl Harper upheld a convincing appeal for a catch behind against the adhesive Ashwell Prince, who continued to resist on 54. With an awkward over to negotiate before lunch, South Africa were instantly in trouble. Zaheer Khan, crowning his courageous batting performance, got one to leave Herschelle Gibbs and Sachin Tendulkar at first slip hugged on to an easy chance. It was zero for one. Sreesanth, then, struck when the uncertain Graeme Smith chased a widish delivery into the hands of Virender Sehwag at backward point. Persevering with a classically straight release of the seam, he, thereafter, produced a skimming outswinger to the bearded, head shaven Hashim Amla to have him caught behind. The South Africans had slumped to a miserable 34 for three. The left-handed Prince, patient and obdurate, joined the prince of South African batters, Kallis. While the odd ball still reared, the wicket had become slower than the two previous days. This enabled the batsmen to adjust. The pair painstakingly realised exactly 50 before Sreesanth produced another beauty to price out the right-hander. He drew the master technician forward and wide with a late away swinger to force him to edge to third slip. Theoretically, it was a matter of time before another wicket fell. But Prince, frequently beaten by Khan and once mis-hooking him perilously close to midwicket, hung in. Abraham de Villiers, though, was beaten by Khan’s underarm throw from mid-on to surrender the fifth wicket at 120. If there was any question mark about the adequacy of the overnight lead of 311, this issue was erased by a 70-run eighth wicket partnership between VVS Laxman and Khan, after India had slumped to 148 for seven. Laxman brought the smattering of spectators to their feet with a wristy off-drive off Kallis right out of the Hyderabad gharana. But he was the first to depart, when Ntini returning for a second spell, found an outside edge to first slip with one that straightened after being angled in from the edge of the crease. And still generating some extra pace, this leader of the South African attack dug one in to Khan in the same over to force a snick to the wicket keeper. Before the party ended, Sreesanth joined the frolic with a thundering, straight drive for six at the expense of the abrasive Andre Nel. But with 340 by South Africa against Australia at Durban in 2002 the highest fourth innings score at any South African ground in 117 years of Test cricket in this country, history was incontrovertibly against the Proteas. Scoreboard India (1st innings) 249 South Africa (1st innings) 84 India (2nd innings) Jaffer c Smith b Nel 4 Sehwag c Gibbs b Nel 33 Dravid c Boucher b Pollock 1 Tendulkar b Pollock 14 Laxman c Smith b Ntini 73 Ganguly c Boucher b Ntini 25 Dhoni c Boucher b Pollock 18 Kumble c Prince b Nel 1 Zaheer c Boucher b Ntini 37 Sreesanth not out 6 V.R.V Singh run out 11 Extras (b-2, lb-10, w-1) 13 Total (all out, 64.4 overs) 236 Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-37, 3-41, 4-61, 5-119, 6-147, 7-148, 8-218, 9-219. Bowling: Ntini 15.4-2-77-3, Nel 19-4-58-3, Pollock 16-4-33-3, Kallis 11-2-30-0, Smith 3-0-26-0. South Africa (2nd Innings) Gibbs c Tendulkar b Zaheer 0 Smith c Sehwag b Sreesanth 10 Amla c Dhoni b Sreesanth 17 Kallis c Ganguly b Sreesanth 27 Prince batting 54 De Villiers run out 17 Boucher batting 23 Extras (lb3, nb12) 15 Total (for 5 wkts, 58 overs) 163 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-22, 3-34, 4-84, 5-120. Bowling: Zaheer 17-4-44-1, Sreesanth 17-6-47-3, VRV Singh 12-3-27-0, Ganguly 1-0-11-0, Kumble 11-2-31-0.
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Seamers proved their worth
India
have taken giant strides towards winning their first Test match in South Africa and by lunch time or later should wrap up a game that they have dominated from the first day. It was at Johannesburg that India were denied in 1996-97 when rain fell only in the one mile radius of the Wanderers ground and Darryl Cullinan’s fighting century stopped them but there’s no Cullinan here and though there were rains overnight with two days left, India should be able to get the win they so desperately want.
That is the operative word, desperate, for they have shown that desperation in their approach and shown a determination not often seen overseas and it’s an effort that hopefully will turn the fortunes of the Indian team. The South Africans will no doubt think twice about the pitches they will prepare for the next two Test matches. The Indians and particularly the seamers have shown that they cannot be taken lightly. India went into the third day with a comfortable lead of 311 but as in any game the more you have the better the options for the captain to set catching and attacking fields and the more the opportunities for the bowlers to try something different, if the regular stuff isn’t working. The pitch had not deteriorated much and the bounce was more even, if anything so, there was always the possibility that a good couple of partnerships and two batsmen getting big hundreds can turn impending defeat into victory. South Africa unfortunately doesn’t have those batsmen in form apart from Kallis and he too was consumed by a terrific delivery from Sreesanth. The young man is showing a good head on his shoulders by planning the demise of his victims and the manner of Kallis dismissal is a case in point. He bowled Kallis plenty of good length deliveries with the ball leaving the bat and then bowled a widish ball, which the experienced Kallis fell for by going for the expansive drive without covering for the swing. Sreesanth had earlier got the out of form skipper Graeme smith out to a similar delivery with Virender Sehwag taking a stunning catch at cover point. The South African batsmen simply did not learn from the Indian batsmen just like their bowlers too did not pick up the length to bowl to from Sreesanth and company. The application and patience showed by the Indian batsmen like Ganguly in the first innings and Laxman in the second was lost on the South Africans as they went playing their shots even before they were set and used to the bounce and movement of the ball. South Africa are paying for taking the Indians lightly though they can’t be blamed entirely because of the results of the one-day series but as this great game teaches us the only certainty about it, is it’s uncertainty. That’s why India should not take the last few wickets lightly and try and finish the game as early as they can because the margin of victory will be a significant psychological boost as they square up for the last two Test matches. — PMG
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Cook stalls Aussies push for win
Perth, December 17 With the odds heavily stacked against them chasing down a world record fourth-innings target of 557 required for victory, England’s best hopes of keeping their Ashes defence alive are to bat through tomorrow and salvage a draw. England’s batting had let them down at vital stages in the first and second Test defeats but the tourists showed far more resistance today on a WACA pitch that had flattened out after 21 wickets tumbled on the first two days. Cook, who had failed to score a half-century in his five previous innings of the series, underlined England’s determination with a fighting hundred just eight days before his 22nd birthday. The Essex opener survived a series of close shaves, including a dropped catch by Matthew Hayden on 83, to reach the milestone off 257 balls in the last hour of the day before fatigue finally undid him. Australia’s evergreen seamer Glenn McGrath got his wicket with a probing seamer that moved away from the left-hander and caught the edge of the bat on the way through to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. McGrath collected a second wicket two balls later when he clean bowled nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard for a duck to leave Kevin Pietersen (37 not out) and England skipper Andrew Flintoff (two not out) to endure a torrid final 10 minutes before stumps were drawn and Australia closing in for the kill. Cook had earlier shared a 170-run partnership with Ian Bell that laid the platform for England’s stubborn fightback and frustrated the Australians as they attempt to regain the Ashes they lost year. Bell, who came to the crease late yesterday when Andrew Strauss departed for a fourth-ball duck, batted almost four hours for 87, registering his third half-century of the series but again falling short of his hundred. The 24-year-old hoisted Shane Warne over the ropes for two sixes and raised his 50 when he charged down the pitch and smashed the leg-spinner him to the cover boundary. But Warne, who bowled 31 overs in the day, including 24 in a row before tea, eventually got his man when Bell drove a catch straight to Justin Langer at short extra cover, lifting his career tally to 696 Test scalps. Paul Collingwood occupied the crease for 47 minutes for just five runs but failed to repeat his heroics from the second Test in Adelaide where he became the first Englishman in 70 years to make a double-hundred in Australia. Scoreboard Australia (1st innings) 244 England (1st innings) 215 Australia (2nd innings) 527-5 dec England (2nd innings) Strauss lbw Lee 0 Cook c Gilchrist b McGrath 116 Bell c Langer b Warne 87 Collingwood c Gilchrist b Clark 5 Pietersen not out 37 Hoggard b McGrath 0 Flintoff not out 2 Extras (b-4, lb-3, w-6, nb-5) 18 Total (5 wkts, 96 overs) 265 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-170, 3-185, 4-261, 5-261. Bowling: Lee 19-3-49-1, McGrath 20-5-50-2, Clark 17-5-31-1, Warne 31-4-100-1, Symonds 9-1-28-0. — Reuters
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Silva puts Lanka in command
Wellington, December 17 The home side now require a world-record fourth innings for victory after Sri Lanka were dismissed for 365 in their second innings. Batting to save the game and protect a 1-0 series lead, New Zealand made a positive start to reach 56 without loss before openers Jamie How and Craig Cumming fell in quick succession. Mathew Sinclair was not out on 10 with Stephen Fleming on four when bad light brought an early end to the day with New Zealand at 75 for two, leaving them needing another 429 runs with two days remaining. Silva put the embarrassment of a double duck in the first Test behind him to produce his maiden Test century following his 61 in the first innings here. He was at the crease for five-and-a-half hours and hit 20 boundaries as Sri Lanka built a dominant total until Daniel Vettori cleaned up the last three wickets in the space of four balls. Vettori was New Zealand’s chief destroyer, at one stage sitting on a hat-trick when he dismissed Farveez Maharoof and Lasith Malinga in successive balls and finishing with seven for 130, his 13th five-for in Test cricket. The 27-year-old Silva put his name in the record books by becoming the first player in Test history to score a century in his first game after a pair of ducks. After a tentative start in his debut Test in Christchurch, Silva showed no sign of nerves here at the Basin Reserve as he anchored Sri Lanka’s charge to level the series. When play began after rain wiped out the first 40 minutes of the third morning, Silva and Prasanna Jayawardene added 37 runs before the new ball came into play and Chris Martin took the only wicket of the morning. Jayawardene pulled a short-pitched Martin ball to the boundary, and was suckered into the same shot two deliveries later, spooning the ball straight to the substitute fielder at square-leg to be out for 37. Chaminda Vaas joined Silva to further frustrate the New Zealand bowlers as they added 88 for the seventh wicket before Vaas edged Vettori to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum to be out for 47. How and Fleming were untroubled as they set about the run chase for New Zealand until the 15th over, when How was completely baffled by a Malinga delivery which trapped him leg before wicket for 33. Cumming followed eight balls later for 20 when he failed to read the famous “doosra” of Muttiah Muralitharan and succeeded only in nicking the ball to Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps. Scoreboard Sri Lanka (1st innings) 268 New Zealand (1st innings) 130 Sri Lanka (2nd innings) Tharanga lbw Martin 20 Jayasuriya c Fleming Sangakkara c Franklin M. Jayawardene c Sinclair b Vettori 31 Kapugedera b Vettori 27 Silva not out 152 P. Jayawardene c sub Vaas c McCullum Maharoof lbw Vettori 1 Malinga lbw Vettori 0 Muralitharan st McCullum Extras (lb-7, nb-4) 11 Total (all out, 109.3 overs) 365 Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-62, 3-62, 4-100, 5-168, 6-262, 7-350, 8-356, 9-365. Bowling: Bond 19-3-67-1, Martin 23-1-98-2, Vettori 42.3-6-130-7, Franklin 25-8-63-0. New Zealand (2nd innings) Cumming c Sangakkara How lbw Malinga 33 Sinclair not out 10 Fleming not out 4 Extras (b-5, nb-3) 8 Total (2 wkts, 22 overs) 75 Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-60. Bowling: Vaas 6-0-28-0, Malinga 6-1-20-1, Maharoof 5-1-17-0, Muralitharan 4-2-4-1, Jayasuriya 1-0-1-0
— AFP
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We are not doctors: Akhtar
Karachi, December 17 “There must be proper education on doping for youngsters. We are cricketers, not doctors,” said Akhtar who this month had a two-year ban lifted after a doping offence. “Every cricketer at some time has injury problems. I have had fitness problems and have used different legal remedies and supplements to recover. “Unfortunately one of the supplements was contaminated with a banned steroid,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a Patrons Trophy game, his first competitive match since his ban was revoked. “We didn’t know anything about supplements being sold over the shelve being contaminated with steroids and we paid for it.” Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were banned for two years and one year respectively after testing positive for nandrolone and were called back from the Champions Trophy in India in October-November. Both appealed successfully against the bans, arguing that they had taken the substance inadvertently. “It was an honest mistake. We didn’t take steroids knowingly. But we had to suffer a lot,” Akhtar said. The senior most bowler for Pakistan said there was a need for the International Cricket Council, its member boards and even the World Anti-Doping Agency to take steps to prohibit use of even legal supplements which might contain banned steroids. Akhtar insisted that there was nothing sinister in his ban being overturned. He said he had spent a difficult time while under ban but didn’t give up hope due to the support of his family and friends. Shoaib said he was looking forward to the tour of South Africa in January and the World Cup. — PTI
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Inzamam to lead Pak in World Cup
Karachi, December 17 There had been question marks over the fitness and form of Inzamam, who has been captain since November 2003, before he led Pakistan to a convincing 2-0 test and 3-1 one-day series win over the West Indies at home this month. “We have decided to retain Inzamam as we want to maintain continuity and stability in the team,” PCB chairman Dr Nasim
Ashraf told a news conference. — Reuters
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Asia Cup
Jaipur, December 17 The Lankan eves, who had beaten Pakistan in first round league match too, dominated again, restricting their rivals to a modest 166 for seven and then chased down the target with more than 10 overs to spare. Electing to bat, Pakistan lost two early wickets, those of Taskeen Qaseer (22) and Sajda Shah (1), but Bismah Maroof (22), Sana Mir (35) and Sana Jawahid (31) helped them recover and post a respectable total. Loksurya was most successful bowler for Sri Lanka with 3-40 while C Polgampala took 2-33. In reply, Sri Lanka made a solid start with D.D. Silva (50) and Polgampala (26) adding 90 runs for the opening wicket. They were rattled a bit when they lost three quick wickets but Loksurya (36 no) stemmed the rot and steered her team to victory. Sajda Shah claimed two for 46 for Pakistan. Having beaten Pakistan in the first round league match, the victory ensured Sri Lanka a place in the final against India. — PTI
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Mandeep props up Punjab
Patiala, December 17 Resuming at their overnight score of 105 for 2, Punjab, led by Mandeep, virtually plundered the hapless visitors’ bowling to end the day at 399 for 8. With just a day left, the hosts have placed themselves in a comfortable position and look all set to wrap up the match tomorrow. Brief scores: Delhi (1st innings): 119 all out; Punjab (1st innings): 399 for 8 (Mandeep 165, Pankaj 45 n.o.; Vikas 2 for 95, Pawan 1 for 68).
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Santhi fails gender test “Santhi was subjected to a gender test after the 800m final and she has failed,” Dr Manmohan Singh, chairman of the Indian Olympic Association’s Medical Commission, told PTI. The doctor said, “We have received the report of the test on Santhi.” Highly placed sources in the Indian contingent for the Doha Games said the adverse report has been sent to the Asiad jury which will formally decide to strip Santhi of the medal. Santhi’s failing the gender test came close on the heels of Doha-bound discus thrower Seema Antil reportedly testing positive in a dope test at a preparatory camp in Muscat a few days before the Asian Games. An Indian official, who was part of the contingent in Doha, said Santhi was sent back home two-three days before the closing ceremony of the Games and questions were raised at the Games village why she returned prematurely. A highly placed source in the Athletics Federation of India said Santhi had undergone a similar test before her departure to Doha but was cleared. “The Sports Authority of India conducted various tests on all Doha-bound athletes, including Santhi. The tests were all clear,” the AFI official said. The official also said Santhi had cleared gender tests during the Asian Athletics Championships in Incheon, South Korea, where she won the 800m silver and the senior nationals last year. Chennai: Uncertainty hovered over the presentation of the 15 lakh cash award to Santhi Soundararajan by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi tomorrow for her silver medal winning effort in the Doha Asian Games which has come under a cloud following a gender test.
— PTI
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Bangkok, December 17 In the process, the reigning Asian Number one, who aggregated six-under 282 in four rounds, added another $18,000 to his kitty to take his earnings from Asia to $591,884 — a new record on the tour. Besides Jeev, rookie S S P Chowrasia also carded a level-par card to take a creditable tied 10th position with five-under 281. The winner here in 2004, Jyoti Randhawa (72) finished 15th with two-under. Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee survived a nervy double bogey finish to end a frustrating 22-month winless run. However, all eyes were fixed on Jeev, who was bidding for his third Volvo-sponsored title of the year. But the Indian ace, who was tied sixth yesterday with five strokes off the pace, had an ominous start and opened his account for the day by dropping a bogey on the fourth hole. He appeared getting back on track with two birdies on next five holes to make the turn at one-under. The backward journey proved even worse and he dropped two bogeys as against a lone birdie to break even. Nevertheless, Jeev was satisfied with his show in the tournament. Meanwhile, things didn’t prove as good for defending champion Shiv Kapur and he faltered with a five-over 77 today to end a poor tied 36th. Amandeep Johl (76), Gaurav Ghei (76), Rahil Gangjee (84) finished 42nd, 49th and tied 57th respectively. — UNI
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Sania sets sight on Australian Open
The 20-year-old, who has many firsts to her credit, says she is preparing in right earnest for the season’s first Grand Slam and would feature in a couple of lead-up tournaments, including the Hopman Cup in Australia beginning later this month. Though the year as such did not turn out to be too encouraging for the Hyderabadi, it ended on an eventful note as she qualified for the Hopman Cup by winning the Asian event in her home town and picked a mixed doubles gold and two silver medals at the Doha Asian Games. Sania’s disappointment at missing out on the gold was not lost as she looked back at her Asian Games campaign. “It could have been good had I won gold, but I have won the silver and am happy with the performance,” she said. “My fitness levels have increased of late and it made a lot of difference,” she said, giving credit to her new South African coach Mathew Heath. The tennis ace is keen to ensure there is no let-up in the fitness level, undergoing strenuous work-outs under the supervision of Heath to improve it further. Reflecting on the year gone by which had its share of injuries, controversies and brilliance, Sania said, “it was not a very successful year, but these things happen in life. You will have ups and downs. The rankings go up and down. What I am interested in is playing tennis and I will be doing exactly that.” There were moments of anxiety too when a group here protested against one of her promotional ads but the player, ranked 66th in the world, is keen to brush aside all that. Sania, the only WTA title-holder in the country, said she was looking forward to a good season starting with the Australian Open. It was at the Australian Open in 2005 that she burst on to the big stage, reaching the third round as a wildcard before going down to Serena Williams — although not without a fight and evoking praise from the champion American. Sania said doubles was not her priority at the moment and she had no definite plans on who she would pair up with. “Playing with Leander Paes was an exciting experience but I am too young to think about doubles. I will concentrate on singles and play with anyone in doubles,” said Sania, who had teamed up with the Indian ace for the Asian Games. Sania did not want to comment on the spat between Mahesh Bhupathi and Paes but said she was friends with both and the matter should be left to them to sort it out. — PTI
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Negi shows his class
New Delhi, December 17 In the Sicilian defence opening, Kateryna, playing white, had a clear advantage over Negi till the halfway mark. But the Ukrainian beauty squandered her benefit when she exchanged her queen in the 19th move, leading the game into a drawish position with coloured bishop-rook and pawn ending. The game ended in 37 moves. The 13-year-old Negi said he was satisfied with the half point with black pieces. The event, the first of its kind, will have a total prize purse of Rs 5 lakh with the winner standing to earn Rs 3 lakh. The matchplay event will be spread over 18 games in three formats. There will be six games each in classical, rapid and blitz versions under FIDE time control. — PTI
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Perth, December 17
Wellington, December 17
New Delhi, December 17
Hyderabad, December 17
