M A I N   N E W S

Sharmas spell doom for Oz
Ashis Ray

Melbourne, February 10
Four wickets for 38 runs from the presently irrepressible Ishant Sharma, well supported by the other Indian bowlers, ensured a five wicket Indian victory over Australia in the two sides’ second meeting in the ODI series, but not before the tourists had made rather heavy weather of a modest target of 160. The outcome, though, could psychologically embolden India in future matches with the world champions.

In the less rigorous realm of limited overs cricket, Mahendra Dhoni has clearly come into his own as a batsman and also revealed incisive plans to unsettle the dangerous Australian batting. He responsibly stuck it out with Rohit Sharma (39 not out) after India looked slightly exposed at 102 for five.

The win propelled India to the top of the table in the triangular round robin, with Sri Lanka trailing in third place. The result was particularly gratifying, for it was achieved at the forbidding MCG, where Australia had earlier prevailed in the Test and Twenty20. India still have to play the Aussies twice and Sri Lanka three times before the finalists are determined.

The ball swung; and the Australian fast bowlers induced outside edges from the Indians’ bat. But an elementary run rate of 3.2 an over for the Indians, entwined Australia’s part-time fifth bowler, made it almost impossible for them to check the visitors.

In an over from Brett Lee, operating at his fastest, Sachin Tendulkar - who top-scored for the Indians with 44 - cut him to the boundary, followed this with a stand-and-deliver off-drive to the fence, before uncoiling a majestic straight drive to the ropes - spread-eagling the seagulls.

The MCG’s drop-in pitches disrespect this venerable venue - a measure compelled by the turf being pounded by footballers’ boots when cricket is not in season. This time, the wicket sprouted uneven bounce, which meant the batters were never quite in.

Opener Virender Sehwag, of course, either flashed at deliveries outside the off-stump - fortuitously securing a couple of fours to thirdman in the bargain - or presented a premeditated forward defence.

He missed the line when left-arm Nathan Bracken made one swing in to trap him lbw. “Hawk-eye” suggested the ball might have sailed over the stumps, but to the naked eye it looked palpably out.

Irfan Pathan was sent in as pinch-hitter grab a bonus point. It amounted to counting chickens before they had hatched. The moving ball demanded a specialist number three rather than a makeshift one. Pathan kept the scoreboard ticking, but soon became another lbw victim - this time to the other rapidly improving other left-armer Mithell Johnson.

The conditions suited a quicker quartet, who pegged away with discipline, not to mention the fire of Lee. The latter, in fact, dug one in to Gautam Gambhir, who only fended to gully.

But the prized wicket was obviously Tendulkar’s. Having been bottled up by a mixture of defensive bowling and field placings, he drove too early at a slightly slower ball from Johnson to be athletically caught at mid-off by Lee.

With Yuvraj Singh, thereafter, also deceived by a change of pace from Clarke, the scales were momentarily in the balance. Clarke was predictably economical with a return of one for 26.

India’s bowlers neutralised Australia’s good fortune with the coin. Sharma invited the domineering Mathew Hayden to chase at deliveries outside the off-stump, with a ring of slips arranged to cash in. A couple of difficult chances went abegging, but the burly left-hander soon snicked to the ‘keeper.

Ponting was undone by bounce and Andrew Symonds by a ball slanting in just enough to kiss the outside edge. From 92 for six, therefore, Mike Hussey, unbeaten on 65, was left beleaguered with the lower order. The tail, though, was duly mopped up, with Australia succumbing for 159 in 43.1 overs.

Prakash ensures 3-2 win
M. S. Unnikrishnan
Tribune News Service

Prakash Amritraj celebrates along with team's non-playing captain Leander Paes after winning the singles match against Farrukh Dustov of Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup Tennis tournament in New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI photo

New Delhi, February 10
Prakash Amritraj pulled off a dramatic victory in the second reverse singles rubber against Farrukh Dustov 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to save India the blushes after Rohan Bopanna lost to Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (1-7), 6-8 on an eventful third of the Asia Ocenia Group I Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan at the R. K. Khanna Stadium grass court here today.

India clinched the tie 3-2, and are slated to meet Japan next in a home clash. When Bopanna lost after being two sets and a break up in a battle of wits and stamina, lasting three hours and five minutes on a sunny day, to tie the score 2-2, the task of bailing out the hosts fell on Prakash. And Prakash did a fine job, albeit after quite bit of struggle, to spread cheer all around.

Perhaps, it was appropriate that Prakash delivered the knock out punch after being in the eye of a storm for his exclusion from the opening singles. He could have cracked when he lost the second set, but the son of the legendary former Davis Cup captain Vijay Amritraj, who watched the action from the sidelines, roared back in the next two sets to win the match and the tie.

Vijay gave his son a tight bear-hug as the Indian team were doing a celebratory lap. Shots of colourful confetti fired in the air created a rainbow of colours and champagne bottles were uncorked. The half-full stadium erupted into joy, as if India had lifted the Davis Cup itself, though the occasion demanded such a display of jubilation for such was the nerve-wracking atmosphere.

Though Dustov has many chinks in his grass-court craft compared to No. 1 Denis Istomin, who made ample amends for his poor display in the doubles yesterday, he was in no hurry to offer the last rubber on a platter to Prakash. Dustov’s mood for a doughty fight was evident in the second game of the first set when he held serve saving five break points with a fine ace, after it went to deuce seven times.

But Dustov’s defences were breached in the eighth game when Prakash wrested his serve with a net volley. In the second game of the second set, Prakash, down 0-40, kept his composure to hold serve on deuce and broke Dustov in the fifth game. The Indian served well, but failed to get to the net often as Dustov engaged him in baseline rallies, and was broken in the sixth game despite serving two aces, and again in the eight game.

But the temporary setback did not deter Prakash. Dustov was broken in the second game of the third set and fifth game of the fourth set to wrap up the tie in India’s favour. Serving for the set and the match, Prakash, leading 40-0, heaved a huge sigh when Dustov smashed his double-fisted backhand into the net.

Bopanna could have avoided the jangling nerves if had not cracked up when poised for a straight-set victory. After winning the first two sets he lost the next three, with his form taking a nose dive.

Though Istomin was broken in the ninth games of the first two sets, and dropped serve in the opening game of the third set, he broke back in the eighth and tenth games to swing the pendulum. Bopanna fired aces and double faults in equal measure, but his wavering returns and some brilliant passing shots by Istomin did him in. In the fourth game, Istomin and Bopanna traded breaks in the first two games, and then held serves to take the fight to the tie-breaker where the Indian top gun just could not get booming serves right.

With two sets all, Bopanna was short of confidence in the crucial fifth set and was broken in the 13th game. Istomin held serve in the 14th game as Bopanna banged his backhand into the net.

Indian Masters
Chowrasia emerges surprise winner

Shivshankar Chowrasia poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the Indian Masters European Tour golf tournament in New Delhi on Sunday. Chowrasia pocketed $416,660 for his exploits and became only the third Indian — after Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh — with an European Tour title against his name. — Tribune photo by Manas Ranjan Bhui

New Delhi, February 10
S. S. P. Chowrasia finally banished the gremlins and stunned a star-studded field to walk away with the Indian Masters title as the Delhi Golf Club witnessed a new star here today.

Son of a greenkeeper at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, S. S. P. - monikered 'Chipputtsia' for his magical short game - signed off with a blemish-free final round of 67 and his aggregate of 279 was enough to make him only the third Indian - after Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh - with an European Tour title against his name.

Thus, an Indian went on to win what was the first European tour event in the country.

"This is definitely the biggest title of my career. I did not have any inkling before the tournament that the title would be mine," said the beaming golfer.

"As I played the last three-four holes, I knew I had the title in my grasp and all I needed was to stay calm, which I did.

"Now that I have won it, I would play both in Asia and Europe before attaining my ultimate goal to play in the USPGA Tour," he said.

Chowrasia pocketed $416,660 for his exploits and finally laid his fingers on a prestigious title after finishing second in the Indian Open in 1999 and 2006.

Damien McGrane (281) of Ireland finished second after his final round of 70, two shots ahead of Jose Manuel Lara, who shot 72 today.

Digvijay Singh (70) and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (74) shared fourth spot at 284.

The only other Indian managing a top 10 finish was old warhorse Gaurav Ghei (285), who brought home a card of 71 and finished sixth, a place he shared with, among others, Ernie Els and Thomas Bjorn, who signed off with identical rounds of 71.

Atwal (288), a two-time winner on the European Tour and Chowrasia's playing partner, could not maintain his momentum and turned in his worst card of the week, a four-over 76, to see his title hopes go up in smoke.

The Orlando-based Indian bled six bogeys, against two birdies, to finish tied 15th.

The day, however, belonged to Chowrasia and notwithstanding the presence of filmstar Abhishek Bachchan, the diminutive Kolkata pro was the undisputed star of the day.

If well begun is half done, Chowrasia could not complain with the way he started.

He began with a birdie and by the time he finished his scintillating front nine, the Kolkata pro had grabbed the lead at four-under and to his credit, he did not let go of the advantage.

His back nine was a bogey-free affair with a birdie on the 11th and Chowrasia cantered to victory after a string of seven pars.

The win would also heal the wounds of the 2006 tragedy when Chowrasia, then leading the field, was disqualified from the 2006 Taiwan Masters for failing to sign his card.

Among other prominent Indians in the fray, first round leader Jyoti Randhawa (290) carded one-over 73 to finish tied 22nd, four shots ahead of compatriot and fellow European Tour regular Shiv Kapur (tied 38th), who signed off with an even-par round. — PTI