Cape Town, November 11
Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla both hit centuries to take South Africa to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Australia on Friday to end one of cricket's most topsy-turvy Test matches.

Amla raced to a 126-ball century before being caught for 112 with his team 14 short of their target of 236.

South African captain Smith became the first player in history to score four centuries in winning fourth innings run chases, reaching the mark with a single to level the scores and then hitting the winning run to finish on 101 not out.

Smith and Amla put on 195 for the second wicket in only 184 minutes off 248 balls. The ease of their strokeplay on a sunny morning made a mockery of the previous day's batting collapses by both teams.

South Africa completed their win before lunch on the third day to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Both the speed and decisiveness of the win seemed improbable less than 24 hours earlier when South Africa were bowled out for 96 in their first innings, giving Australia a lead of 188 runs. But Australia were shot out for 47 to swing the odds back in the home team's favour.

Smith and Amla started the day on 88 for one and there was an early alarm when Amla, after adding only one to his overnight score of 29, was dropped at first slip by Shane Watson off Ryan Harris. Amla had been dropped off the last ball of the second day's play by Mike Hussey at gully, also off Harris.

Harris beat Amla again when he struck the batsman on the pads in his next over. He appealed for a leg before wicket decision which was turned down by umpire Billy Doctrove. He asked for a television review but unlike the second day, when four decisions were overturned in favour of bowlers, replays showed the ball was going down the leg side.

After playing themselves in, Smith and Amla increased the tempo and posted a century partnership off 164 balls. With Amla in particular in aggressive mode, the run rate increased rapidly before Amla played one extravagant stroke too many and was caught at gully by Australian captain Michael Clarke off Mitchell Johnson.

Harris was the most impressive of the Australian bowlers but could not take a wicket, while Shane Watson was unable to repeat his heroics of Thursday when he took five for 17 to send South Africa tumbling.

Johnson, who shone against South Africa in home and away series three seasons ago, was unimpressive and conceded 61 runs in 11 overs despite taking Amla's wicket. — AFP

Mohali, November 11
Punjab managed to eke out a four-run first-innings lead over Orrisa on the second day of the Ranji Trophy second round match at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here today as they scraped to 255 for nine declared in their first innings.

Punjab found it difficult to face Orissa’s pace as half team was bundled out for a 128-runs. Orissa’s Basant Mohanty, who remained unbeaten on 60 in the first innings, displayed his bowling skills and grabbed three wickets including those of in-form batsman Mandeep Singh. Langnajit Samal also took three wickets.

Uday Kaul contributed 62-runs studded with eight boundaries and Gitansh Khera added important 47 runs with six boundaries to rescue Punjab from a precarious position.

Earlier, continuing from their overnight score of 246, Orissa folded up for 251 with Mohanty remaining unbeaten. Pacer Sandeep Sharma completed his five-wicket haul.

Punjab team received an early shock, when Mohanty dismissed Sarul Kanwar with his first delivery. Later Mangaraj took the wickets of Ravi Inder Singh (4) with the team’s total on six while Mandeep (12) failed to judge Mohanty’s delivery and gave away his wicket on the score of 26-runs.

However, Kaul and Sidana stabilsed the team but post-lunch both lost their wickets. Samal claimed Kaul while Mayank was run-out. Punjab skipper Harbhajan Singh added 14-runs while Karan Goel scored 36 as they were reduced to 144 for six. But Gitansh Khera and Sandeep Sharma (23) contributed an important partnership of 35-runs for the 8th wicket to take a four-run lead over the rivals.

“Now, the third day’s play will be crucial for us,” said Orissa coach Debasish Mohanty. “The batsmen need to prove their mettle on field.”

Asked about the absence of team’s official captain Haladhar Das, the coach said, “I cannot tell you the exact situation but he is out of the squad as per the code of conduct.”

According to the sources, the player was found under the influence of alcohol a day before the match.

Chennai, November 11
Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund was in his his elements cracking an unbeaten 110 to help his team finish the day with 169 for 1 in reply to Haryana's first innings total of 348 on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B league match here today.

New Delhi, November 11
Some of the leading lights of Indian sports have thrown their weight behind the proposed National Sports Development Bill 2001, as they felt that it was aimed at streamlining the functioning of the sports federations in the country and sought to bring about “efficiency and transparency” in their functioning.

Former cricket captain Kapil Dev, former All-England Badminton champion Prakash Padukone, Olympic silver medallist double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, cue sports champion Pankaj Advani, international athlete Ashwini Nachappa and shooter Morad Ali Khan, were among those who supported the Sports Bill at a media interaction yesterday, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers, Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

They said the Sports Bill, being pursued by Sports Minister Ajay Maken, addressed core issues by seeking to increase the participation of sportspersons in the administration of their respective federations by reserving 25 per cent seats in the governing body; envisaging accountability, transparency and efficiency in the functioning of the sports federations by bringing them under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act; promoting basic universal principle of Good Governance as accepted by the International Olympic Committee by putting in place age and tenure limits; strengthening measures against sexual exploitation of athletes and putting into place provisions of age fraud detection, which would ensure a level-playing field for all.

The sports stars of yore, welcoming the application of the RTI Act in the functioning of these federations, said it would ensure transparency and make the federations open to the sports lovers of the country, as the office-bearers would come under the “public authorities” domain.

These icons also welcomed the provision of 25 per cent reservation for sportspersons in the bodies as it would inject a healthy mix of qualified professionals, current and past icons/athletes, enthusiastic industrialists and politicians etc., having keen interest in sports.

“It is, therefore, only in the fitness of things to provide for minimum representation of the athletes with voting rights through an ‘Athlete Advisory Council’, to which there should be no objection for any quarter,” they added.

The council has been made mandatory for every National Sports Federation and athletes would elect 25 per cent sportspersons from among themselves, having voting rights, to the executive body of every NSF, to ensure players’ representation. The sportspersons felt that the Bill would bring sports administration out of bureaucratic and Government controls.

Sydney, November 11
Tiger Woods, his game starting to come together, stormed to the lead midway through the second round of the USD 1.54 million Australian Open after an early birdie blitz at The Lakes on Friday.

Relishing early benign conditions, the 14-time major winner ripped through five birdies in his outward nine holes on the way to carding a five-under 67 to lead by one shot at nine under.

Woods finished with seven birdies and two bogeys to look more like his old self and not the one who hasn't won a tournament in two years. "I played well today, I could have been lower on what would have been my first nine holes and basically I felt I didn't miss a shot and even though I shot five under today I felt it could have been eight or nine," Woods said.

"It feels good (on top of the leaderboard) but it feels good being there by actually playing properly and not like I am slicing it all over the place. I'm hitting the ball well and I've hit so many lips (of holes) these past few days that I felt it could have been pretty low."

Australian Peter O'Malley finished birdie-birdie for a six-under 66 to be a shot off the lead with top-ranked Australian Jason Day another stroke away on seven-under 137.

Woods, the former world number one, who has not won since the 2009 Australian Masters in Melbourne to send his world ranking tumbling to 58, backed up Thursday's unblemished opening round of four-under 68 in a sign of a long overdue return to form.

"I'm basically playing the way I have been playing at home, it's finally come to the golf course in a tournament setting, I've been hitting like this at home, but it just hasn't come out at a tournament," Woods said. — AFP

Sharmila Nicollet with the winner’s cheque at the CGC on Friday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh, November 11
Sharmila Nicollet did not have her best round today but a determined four-over 75 was enough to give her the title in the seventh leg of the Hero Women's Professional Tour at the Chandigarh Golf Club. The tall and elegant Bangalore golfer hit booming long and straight drives from the tee but her putting wasn’t all that hot today and that prevented her from shooting the red numbers.

Sharmila, who won the Order of Merit last season, had to struggle with some of her shots but with her rival Smriti Mehra was off-colour and that helped Sharmila coast to a comfortable six-shot win.

Sharmila totalled three-over 216, while Nalini Singh Siwach finished at nine-over 222 and Mehra was third at 10-over 223. This was Sharmila’s second straight win on the tour this season as she had claimed the title last month in the sixth leg in Gurgaon as well. She was second in the first two legs of the tour and third in the fifth leg.

Today’s victory gave Sharmila a winner’s cheque of Rs 62,500 while Nalini received Rs 45,000. Sharmila stayed in front throughout the week, though on the first day she shared the lead with Mehra.

Sharmila began with a four-shot lead over Mehra but the latter never challenged her after a three-over front nine. Sharmila had just one birdie through the day on the second day and dropped five other shots. Despite her putting letting her down, she did well to stay calm and keep the lead.

While Sharmila ensured she stayed in the front, Nalini, who had won once earlier in the season, brought home the only under-par round of the day with a one-under 70 and edged past Mehra to grab second place.

Nalini, who was seven shots behind Mehra, birdied the 15th as Mehra bogeyed to grab a two-shot swing and draw level.

Amritsar, November 11
India drubbed Turkmenistan today in the maiden contest in the women’s category under the second edition of the Kabaddi World Cup tournament played at the holy city’s first floodlit ground, the Guru Nanak Stadium.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal inaugurated the renovated and floodlit stadium.

The Indian players led from the word go with the score being 22-8 in their favour at half-time. Priyanka Devi and Rajwinder Kaur were the top-scorers as they earned seven and six points respectively. Stoppers Jatinder Kaur and Anu Rani garnered four points each by thwarting the raids of the opponents.

From underdogs Turkmenistan, Nargul was the top scorer with four points. Their stoppers seemed helpless before the Indian raiders as Merjen and Vevegenia managed to thwart a raid each.

A resurgent Argentina defeated Sri Lanka 53-49 after a keen contest. The viewers enjoyed every bit of the match as both teams piled up points.

The winners had a slight edge at the first half as the score was 23-22 in their favour. Yuri Mier once again proved to be the most prolific player for the winning team as he amassed 23 points.

In another late night match, Pakistan outplayed Norway 67-15. Pakistan’s Sadeeq Butt and Aamir Ismail ruled over their opponents and Norway did not have any answer to their ferocious attacks.

Johor Bahru, November 11
India paid the price of unnecessarily fraying their temper as they suffered a humiliating 1-5 drubbing at hands of Malaysia after playing with 10 players for most part of match to end their hopes of a berth in the final of Sultan of Johar Cup hockey tournament here today.

India needed to win their last league match today to reach the final but with one player less from the ninth minute onwards and coupled with some poor display meant that the home side outplayed them in all departments of the game.

Malaysia, who needed a draw from today's match to qualify for the final, will take on Australia in the summit clash tomorrow while India play South Korea for the bronze medal.

For the home side, captain Md Noor Faeez struck a brace (15th and 59th minutes) followed by a goal apiece from Jamaluddin Md (45th), Md. Yousof (57th) and Nazli Shazril Irwan (61st). Harpreet Singh struck India's lone goal in the 12th minute from a penalty corner. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Indian grapplers win 6 medals
New Delhi: Indian grapplers won as many as six medals, including four golds, at the recently-concluded Hargobind Singh International Wrestling tournament in Vancouver, Canada. Apart from bagging four golds, India also won a silver and bronze in the tournament that was held in Surrey from November 4 to 5. Vinod Kumar (55kg), Yogeshwar Dutt (60kg), Narsingh Yadav (84kg) won gold medals in the freestyle category while Babita Kumari (48kg) won the lone yellow metal for India in the female wrestling competition. Pradeep Kumar and Rahul Mann won the silever and bronze medals, respectively. — PTI

Pak restrict Lanka to 131
Dubai: Returning all-rounder Shahid Afridi took three wickets to help Pakistan restrict Sri Lanka to 131 in the first day-night international at Dubai stadium here today. Afridi, who finished with 3-27, led the Pakistan spin attack which shared seven wickets between them as they never allowed batsmen to flourish on a slow paced wicket after Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and decided to bat. Dinesh Chandimal top-scored with 28 while opener Tharanga Paranavitna (25) and Mahela Jayawardene (24). — AFP

Sherwood, Pinegrove win
Chandigarh: The 14th Sub-Junior Inter-Public School hockey tournament for boys commenced at Pinegrove School, Dharampur today. Eight teams, including Daly College, Indore, Mayo College, Ajmer, Punjab Public School, Nabha, Sherwood College, Nainital, St. Soldier’s School, Panchkula, The Scindia School, Gwalior, Yadavindra Public School, Mohali and Pinegrove School are participating. Pinegrove were off to a flying start against Daly College in the opening match, winning convincingly by 4 -0. Defending champions Sherwood blew away YPS, Mohali. They pumped in as many as half-a-dozen goals in a 6-1 scoreline. The other league match between Punjab Public School and Scindia School, ended goalless. In other matches Mayo College and Daly outplayed St. Soldier’s by similar margins of 4-0. In the last league match of the day, Pinegrove got the better of Mayo, winning by 3-0. — TNS

Gulabi Bagh win
NEW DELHI: Gulabi Bagh Club edged past Goans Club 2-1 in a Group A match of the Delhi Soccer Association B Division League played at the Jasola ground here today. Rohit and Hitesh scored for the winners while L Dunai netted for Goans. Saturday’s fixture: Royal vs Glorious (2 p m); B.B. Stars vs Delhi Students (3.15 p.m.). — TNS

Cash incentive for DP Azad
New Delhi: Sports Minister Ajay Maken has sanctioned Rs 3,44,703 from the National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons to cricket coach Desh Prem Azad for his treatment. Azad, the first coach to win the Dronacharya Award, has been unwell for some time. Maken took cognizance of Azad’s poor financial position and “indigent condition” to sanction the ex-gratia amount towards his treatment. Azad played cricket for Punjab and led the Ranji Trophy team in 1964, before turning to coaching. He was a qualified NIS coach and retired as the chief cricket coach of the Sports Authority of India from Chandigarh. He trained many national and international players and his pupils include Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Malhotra and Yograj Singh. The Ministry sanctions a one-time lump-sum amount to outstanding former sportspersons, who have fallen on lean days, from the National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons and Azad is the latest beneficiary of this scheme. — TNS

Verma claims top spot
Patiala: While the Punjabi University, Patiala, Compound women archers bagged the top three spots on the completion of FITA rounds, Abhishek Verma from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was ranked first in the men ‘s section on the second day of the All-India Inter-University Archery Championship that is underway at the Punjabi University here. In the women’s compound event, P. Lily Chanu from Punjabi University is ranked overall first with 1366 points whereas Ramandeep Kaur and Parveena Rani were second and third with 1359 and 1358 points, respectively. In the men’s compound event, Verma was ranked first with 1384 points whereas Ch Jignas of KLEF University, Guntur, was second with 1366 points and Kamalpreet Singh from Punjabi University third with 1363 points. In the Recurve men’s event, Avinash Kumar from VBS Purvanchal University was ranked first with 1296 points while Sheesh Pal Chopra from Punjabi University and Pawan from Guru Nanak were second and third respectively, with the same score of 1267. In the Recurve women’s event, Punia Prabha from Guru Nanak was ranked first with 1283 points followed by Priyanka from Punjabi University (1273). Seema Verma from Guru Nanak was third with 1259 points. Now these players will compete in Individual Olympic round. — TNS

Mansa, Sangrur win
PATIALA: Mansa and Sangrur started on a winning note during the state-level Hockey Tournament for senior men which is being organised by Patiala Union Hockey Association at NIS, Patiala. President of the Association KK Sehgal informed that teams from 11 districts are taking part in this tournament and NIS has provided technical officials for conducting these matches. Young businessman Tejinder Singh Sekhon was the chief guest on the occasion. On the first day of the tournament, Mansa outclassed Faridkot with a score of 4-2 whereas Sangrur defeated Moga by 5-2. — TNS