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India aims for series win
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SAFF Championship
Pattinson the hero as Aussies thrash Kiwis
Malleswari resigns from IWF
McIlroy clinches title
Sangrur girls shine
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Ahmedabad, December 4 Although it has not been without some hiccups, the hosts look all set to hand out another defeat to the visiting side and take a winning 3-0 lead at the ground where they dethroned 2007 champions Australia on March 24 on their way to grabbing cricket's most coveted crown – the World Cup. India, by all counts, are holding all the trump cards and should clinch the series unless they self-destruct or the Windies punch above their weight. A win tomorrow would give a consecutive series triumph to India after they mauled England 5-0. The Virender Sehwag-led hosts have shown exemplary tenaciousness in the face of deep trouble to win the first two games of the series at Cuttack (by a narrow one wicket) and Vishakapatnam (by five wickets). They struggled to overcome a very modest target of 212 set by the Darren Sammy-led Windies in the first ODI and then failed to deliver the knock-out blow when they had the visitors on the hop at 170 for 9 in the second match. On the first occasion, Virender Sehwag and company had to be rescued by the last wicket pair of Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav who stitched a vital stand of 12 runs to pilot them across the finish line. In the second game too India allowed Ravi Rampaul to smash a world record score for a no. 10 batsman, 86 not out in 66 balls with six sixes and as many fours, to help his team amass a challenging 269 after they were 170 for 9. Yadav wants to be India's McGrath
Inspired by Australian fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath, the newest addition to the Indian pace attack, Umesh Yadav, wants to be a line and length specialist. "I like Glenn McGrath personally. In my life I would try that I get as close as possible to his bowling," Yadav told reporters here today ahead of India's third ODI against the West Indies at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera tomorrow. "McGrath is my hero and I am inspired by him and trying to bowl like him," said the Vidarbha bowler, who has struck a good combination with another up and coming bowler Varun Aaron. Yadav and Aaron were India's unlikely rescuers with the bat in the first ODI at Cuttack and guided the team home with a 12-run stand for the last wicket amidst mounting tension while chasing a modest 211. Talking about that exciting one-wicket victory, Yadav said there was nothing much going through his head when he and Aaron were at the crease for the last wicket. "We are tailenders and after the ninth wicket we thought what to do next. I was cool and wanted to play correct shots," he said. We showed spirit, says Gibson
After losing the first two One-dayers, the confidence of the West Indies team is not expected to be high but head coach Ottis Gibson takes solace from the fact that his team has put up a brave fight against the world champions India. The West Indies are now in a do-or-die situation as they go into the third match tomorrow. "It's difficult to say I am satisfied when you are losing. But we have shown a lot of spirit and created opportunities to win. In the first game, making only 211 was disappointing. But the way the guys went out to defend 211 and got to the point where they could have won and the way they ended up losing was obviously difficult (to digest)," Gibson said.
— PTI |
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Ahmedabad, December 4 Tendulkar, who failed to reach the milestone despite coming close at least twice during the Test series, might be selected for the last two matches of the ongoing ODI series when national selectors meet tomorrow. India leads the five-match rubber 2-0 with the third ODI scheduled here tomorrow. Tendulkar had been rested from the squad for the first three matches but sources say the 38-year-old wants to play the remaining two matches of the series scheduled on December 8 and 11 in Indore and Chennai respectively. The Kris Srikkanth-led selection panel will meet tomorrow to pick the squad for the remainder of the series besides injured pacer Praveen Kumar's replacement for the upcoming four Tests against Australia. Tendulkar's last international century came on March 12 during a World Cup group league match against South Africa at Nagpur. It has been more than eight months that the entire nation has been waiting with bated breath for the elusive century. The last missed opportunity came in the third Test against Caribbeans when Tendulkar was dismissed six runs short of the milestone. — PTI
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Spain clinch Davis Cup
Seville, December 4 The world number two, who demolished Juan Monaco in Friday's opening singles rubber on the clay at Seville's Olympic Stadium, gave Spain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five tie as the favourites secured their third triumph in four years. "We gave everything, it was a very emotional victory at the end of a tough year," Nadal said in an interview with Spanish television. "Winning in this way, we are very grateful to all the people of Spain," he added. "It was the best atmosphere I have experienced in my career." The lanky Del Potro, who lost a five-set battle with David Ferrer in Friday's singles, thrilled the raucous away supporters with a fearsome display of power hitting to take the first set but lost his way after Nadal levelled at one-all. The 10-times grand slam champion, undefeated in 16 Davis Cup singles matches on clay, found his range and began spraying crunching winners on both sides of the court with his customary ease. Del Potro clung on in a nail-biting fourth set and forced a tiebreak when he broke for the eighth time
in the match with the Spaniard serving for
the title. Nadal had a near-perfect tiebreak, taking it 7-0, and sealed victory with a trademark forehand winner down the line before embracing his opponent at the net as his Spanish team mates danced on the court nearby. Earlier, Argentina kept their Davis Cup final hopes alive when David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank defeated Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. — Agencies |
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SAFF Championship
New Delhi, December 4 Nepal scored the peach of a goal following a free-kick on the left side of the goal, almost 30 yards or more out and captain Sagar Thapa's banana-kick curled into shock Bangladesh custodian Md. Sahidul Alam, who otherwise had a great game, bringing off many a difficult save with aplomb. The goal was an apt reward for Nepal's domination, as they once again excelled with their ball possession, passing and speed, as they had exhibited against the Malvides on the opening day. Though Nepal, coached by former England international Graham Roberts, dominated in the first half, and most of the second session too, their shots were either blocked by Sahidul or sprayed out. They certainly felt the need for a sharp-shooter who could send the ball from any angle. Eventually, they found their man of the hour in captain Thapa, who made no mistake with their last chance to seal the match. But the script would have been altered had Bangladesh not missed two open chances midway through the second half and both by substitutes. Mithun Chowdhary drove the ball across, even after Nepal custodian Kiran Kumar Limbu rushed out and missed his bid to block a cross from the left, to leave the goal untenanted. A few minutes later, Atiqur Ramahan Meshu's blinder of a drive was just tipped over the goal by Limbu. Nepal too had muffed a golden chance when Sujal Shrestha's angled header, off a corner kick, was tipped over at the nick of time by Sahidul. Nepal coach Roberts put the match in perspective when he remarked: "If you miss seven-eight chances in the first half, you always leave yourself open to counter-attacks later. We managed to win and now we need to focus at the other games and work hard on some aspects of our game.” Bangladesh coach Nikola Ilievski gave credit where it was due when he observed that Nepal played very good football and had more possession of the ball. He did not expect his team to triumph after wasting "two very good chances". In the other match of the night, Pakistan took a valuable point off Maldives when they held last edition’s runners-up to a goalless draw. Pakistan, who were not expected to create many ripples, considering their lower ranking, however, stonewalled the efforts of Maldives to penetrate their last line of defence, and earned their second point from as many matches. Maldives also earned their second point, but the draw may cost them dearly as Nepal had shocked Bangladesh in an earlier match. Pakistand had drawn 0-0 against Bangladesh in the opening match while Maldives split points with Nepal after a 1-1 draw. Maldives held the upper hand no doubt, but they could not translate their territorial supremacy into goals, as either their shots lacked direction, or Pakistan goalie Jafar Khan rose to the occasion to make many difficult saves. Pakistan too got some chances to score, but they were as wayward as their rivals. The 'man of the match', certainly, was referee Nivon Robesh of Sri Lanka, who had to pull out the yellow card many times to flash at erring players, as often, the ground looked like a battle field, with two or more players sprawled on the ground.
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Pattinson the hero as Aussies thrash Kiwis
Brisbane, December 4 David Warner hit three fours off four balls to get the winning runs for the loss of Phil Hughes' wicket to take a 1-0 series lead to Hobart next Friday. Pattinson narrowly missed a hat-trick in his debut Test as he ripped through the New Zealand top order to put Australia on the path to victory. The 21-year-old fast bowler took 5-7 in seven overs as he skittled the Kiwis. Spinner Nathan Lyon chipped in with three for 19 to finish with seven wickets for the match as the Australians were set just 19 runs to win. Pattinson, bowling a full length at searing pace, removed Martin Guptill (12), Kane Williamson (0) and skipper Ross Taylor (0) in the space of four balls in his opening over of the day. Guptill could not keep down a lifter and popped an easy catch to Usman Khawaja at bat-pad to start the rot. Williamson was out two balls later, edging to Ricky Ponting at second slip and Taylor was out next ball snicking to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to leave Pattinson on a hat-trick in his debut Test match. — AFP
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Malleswari resigns from IWF
New Delhi, December 4 According to reports, Malleswari was upset with the way the IWF was working and felt that the federation was being run by people who do not know anything about the sport. However, when contacted IWF secretary Sahdev Yadav, he said they have not yet received the resignation letter from Malleswari. "I don't know. We have come to know about it only through media," Yadav told PTI. Malleswari, country's first woman to win an Olympic medal, also complained of politics in IWF and felt that the performance of the lifters has gone down considerably under the current regime. Asked about Malleswari's claims, Yadav said, "If performance has gone done it is because of strict disciplinary actions taken by the federation in the wake of growing doping cases. Performance will improve within a year." Yadav in turn said the federation had offered the job of coach to Malleswari but she rejected it and even skipped at least five meetings of the selection committee, of which she is a member. Malleswari, a few months back, had accused coach Ramesh Malhotra of sexually harassing lifters under his charge. However, a committee set up to look into the claims, did not frame any charge against Malhotra. The lifters in question had given in writing to the federation that they were not harassed by Malhotra. — PTI
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McIlroy clinches title
Hong Kong, December 4 The only other Indian to make the cut, Anirban Lahiri finished tied 55th with rounds of 69, 73, 71 and 73 to finish at six-over 286. Australian Kunal Bhasin, who plays on the Indian Tour, had his best finish of the season in tied 21st place at two-under 278 with a final round 68. World number two Rory McIlroy finally won the trophy, closing with a spectacular five-under-par 65 that included a dramatic closing birdie from the bunker for a two-stroke victory. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman started the final round three shots back at the Hong Kong Golf Club but tied for the lead at the turn with two birdies before edging ahead of a packed leaderboard with further birdies on 12, 15 and 18. Frenchman Gregory Havret, playing alongside McIlroy, settled for second place also with a 65 while Sweden's Peter Hanson took the third place after a 70. — PTI
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Sangrur girls shine
Chandigarh, December 4 Tarn Taran, represented by Rajandeep Kaur, Rajbir Kaur, Kirandeep Kaur and Sarabjit Kaur, won silver with 57:15.39s, whereas, Bathinda, represented by Khushwinder Kaur, Suman Rani, Prabhjot Kaur and Veerpal Kaur, won bronze with a timing of 57:85.92s. In long jump, Pardeep Kaur of Bathinda bagged gold by jumping 4.33mt, Ramandeep Kaur of Patiala won silver with 4.22mt and Sukhpreet Kaur of Ferozepur bagged bronze with 4.21mt. Gurleen Kaur of Tarn Taran bagged a second gold in shot put by throwing a distance of 9.86mt. Earlier, in discuss throw Gurleen clinched gold by throwing 33.78mt, Manpreet Kaur of Patiala won silver with 8.76mt and Harpreet Kaur of Sangrur got bronze with 8.04mt. In 400m, Veerpal Kaur of Bathinda clinched gold by completing the race in 1:05.75s. Paramjit Kaur representing Sangrur won gold in 3000m race clocking 11:29.48m. Balwinder Kaur of Sangrur grabbed gold in high jump with 1.35mt. In hockey pre-quarterfinals, Tarn Taran crushed Bathinda 4-0, Mukatsar Sahib outplayed Ludhiana 4-0, Amritsar defeated Gurdaspur 1-0 and Fatehgarh Sahib drubed Hoshiarpur by 3-0 goals.
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With a 2-0 lead in hand, India are firmly on course to record a second successive one-day series triumph at home as they take on West Indies in the third ODI of the five-match rubber at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium.
Brisbane, December 4
NEW DELHI:
Former Brazil captain dies