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FIRST ODI
‘Could have won if I, Raina had stayed in’
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Pak hockey players issued visas for HIL
Saina loses in Korea Open quarters
Amla ton powers SA to 325/4
AITA picks colts for Davis Cup team
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FIRST ODI Bell, Tredwell lead visitors to first win over India in India after 2006
Rajkot, January 11 Chasing a stiff target of 326, India lacked the batting firepower and were restricted to a 316 for nine in a high-scoring contest to concede a 1-0 lead to visitors in the five-match series. Opting to bat first, England rode on a record 158-run opening stand between captain Alastair Cook (75) and in-form Ian Bell (85) to post an imposing 325 for four on a batting paradise at the newly built Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The Indians conceded as many as 38 runs in the final two overs with Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar giving away 20 and 18 runs respectively. The late flourish by England proved costly for the hosts. India began the run chase in right earnest with Ajinkya Rahane (47) and an out-of form Gautam Gambhir (52) adding 96 runs for the opening stand but both were guilty of frittering away a good start. Yuvraj Singh (61), Suresh Raina (50) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (32) were other notable scorers but again none of them could translate the start into a match-winning effort. Off-spinner James Tredwell was the pick of the English bowlers as he scalped four for 44 while Jade Dernbach chipped in with two wickets. It was a creditable turnaround for the visitors who came into match with back-to-back defeats in the warm-up games against India A and Delhi respectively. But Raina's departure in the 42nd over followed by the successive dismissals of skipper Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in the 45th over virtually sealed India's fate. The rest of the batsmen were not up to the task of scoring the remaining runs though Ravichandran Ashwin (13) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (20 not out) brought the hosts closer to the target with a partnership of 24 for the 8th wicket but the target proved just beyond reach. The victory is England's 14th in 41 ties between the two teams in this country. Earlier, opting to bat first, England were powered by a record century partnership between captain Cook and Bell, who both scored impressive half centuries after the visitors chose to bat first. Cook and Bell compiled 158 runs for the first wicket breaking a 30-year record for England against the hosts in the process to lay a fine platform on a placid track. Cook made 75 in 84 balls with 11 fours and a six while his right handed partner was slightly more aggressive in making 85 off 95 balls with nine fours and one six. The duo were out in quick succession just past the halfway stage of the innings but the good work of the openers was continued by latter order batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan. Pietersen (44 in 45 balls) and Eoin Morgan (41 in 38 balls) put on a breezy third wicket stand of 76 runs in 9.5 overs before both fell in 12 balls to Ashok Dinda. However, Samit Patel smashed 44 not out in 16 balls, with six fours and a six, and added 70 runs in the last six overs with Craig Kieswetter who remained unbeaten on 24 off 20 balls with a four and two sixes. — PTI Scoreboard India
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‘Could have won if I, Raina had stayed in’
Rajkot, January 11 Chasing England's 325 for four, India lacked the batting firepower and were restricted to a 316 for nine in a high-scoring contest to concede a 1-0 lead to visitors in the five-match series. Till Dhoni (32) and Raina (50) were at the crease, India were well and truly on course but lost wickets in regular intervals to make life difficult for themselves. "It was difficult but we should have got there. It was close to 280 or 290 rather than looking at it as 320-odd. Maybe I should have batted a few more overs," he said at the post-match presentation. "I won't sound arrogant but it seemed easy when I and Raina were in, with five fielders in the circle. But once we fell, it was difficult," he said. Dhoni lauded his spiners for bringing India back into the match in the middle overs after, electing to bat, England went off to a scintillating start. "There was a situation in the middle when it looked they would have scored 340, but spinners got us back. It is a new batch of bowlers, not much experienced in international cricket," he said. England skipper Alastair Cook attributed the win to team effort. "It was a good toss to win on a very good wicket, and we made the most of it. I am proud of the side. Samit (Patel) and Craig (Kieswetter) at the end made a difference," he said. Patel and Kieswetter added quickfire 70 runs off 41 balls for the fifth wicket to take England past the 320-run mark. "It is hard to defend with five men in the circle, India kept getting close, but we got the wickets when it mattered," he said. The English captain also praised man-of-the-match James Tredwell for his match-winning figures of four for 44. “Tredwell bowled brilliantly. It is pretty much the same attack we had here in 2001, and good to see how we have learned from the experience," Cook said. Off-spinner Tredwell said while restricting, England got wickets when it mattered for the side. “You try and hit your skills over and over again. If the batsman hits a good shot, so be it. We got wickets at the right time, even at the lower end, it is what helped us get over the line," he said. — PTI
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Pak hockey players issued visas for HIL
Islamabad, January 11 The High Commission had Thursday said that it had received the visa applications of the nine Pakistani players and would issue them visas "as quickly as possible". The nine players are expected to leave for India on Saturday, Pakistani official sources said. The nine players are Mohammed Rizwan Jr., Mohammed Rizwaan Sr. (Delhi Wave Riders ), Sayeed Kashif Shah (Punjab Warriors ), Shafqat Rasool, Mohammed Irfan (Ranchi Rhinos), Mahmood Tousiq, Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed and Imran Butt (Mumbai Magicians). The Pakistani players were bought by four of the five franchises during the HIL players' auction in New Delhi on December 16 last year. Earlier, a question mark had cropped up over the participation of the Pakistan players in the league when none of the nine players contracted with four HIL franchisees arrived in the country with just a few days remaining for the start of the tournament. — PTI
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Saina loses in Korea Open quarters
Seoul, January 11 The third—seeded Indian went down 14—21 21—15 12—21 in a contest that lasted 59 minutes. It was quite an upset for Saina, who had beaten Han in their previous two encounters. The world number 26 Chinese seemed up for the challenge from the word go and matched Saina’s trademark smashes besides cornering her with some deft net—play to take the opening game with ease. Saina came back strongly in the second to draw level but Han showed a lot of tenacity to outplay the Indian in the deciding third game. The Chinese matched Saina stroke—for—stroke before edging ahead to end her losing streak against the world number three. Earlier, P Kashyap and P.V.Sindhu had exited. — PTI
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Australia defeat Lanka by107 runs
Melbourne, January 11 Hughes became the first Australian to score a century on his ODI debut as the hosts posted a big score after winning the toss against Sri Lanka in Melbourne. The diminutive left-hander cracked 112 off 129 balls to help set the Sri Lankans a competitive run chase under lights at 6.12 runs an over. But the Sri Lankans, despite being well in the match at 111 for two, self-destructed with three run outs and Clint McKay (4-33) helped bowl the tourists out for 198 with 10 overs to spare. — PTI Scoreboard Sri Lanka Australia win by 107 runs
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Port Elizabeth, January 11 Amla was unbeaten on 106 and Faf du Plessis on 69 — the third 50 of the innings after Graeme Smith (54) and AB de Villiers (51). Earlier at tea, South Africa were 191 for three. Amla reached the break unbeaten on 70 while Smith notched his 36th Test half-century shortly after lunch before being dismissed eight balls later for 54 with seven fours. Paceman Doug Bracewell, with figures of two for 70, was the pick of New Zealand's attack. — PTI Scoreboard
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AITA picks colts for Davis Cup team
New Delhi, January 11 The AITA selection committee, headed by Anil Dhupar and comprising Rohit Rajpal, Balram Singh, Sai Jayalakshmi, Zeeshan Ali, and non-playing captain S.P. Mishra — who participated in the meeting over telephone — selected the team. The four-member team will consist of Paes, V.M. Ranjeet, Vijayant Malik and Purav Raja. Ashwin Vijayaraghavan and Arjun Khada will be the reserves. Mishra has been retained as the non-playing captain while Zeeshan has replaced Nandan Bal as coach. The revolting players, led by highest-ranked Indian in singles, Somdev Devvarman, had demanded, among other things, the replacement of Mishra, Nandan Bal, team doctor Vece Paes and physiotherapist Sanjay Singh. They also wanted a bigger share in the prize money and upgraded travel facilities. After the selection, Dhupar told the media that the selectors considered the performances and rankings of the players available for before making the unanimous selection. Ranjit is ranked 517, Malik 542 while Raja is ranked 155 in doubles. Dhupar said the players’ revolt was “unfair and unjustified” as they were getting a better deal and had little to complain about. In fact, he felt that the Indian players got the best deal in Davis Cup in all of Asia. The player rebellion will be a big jolt for promising talent like Yuki Bhambri, Vishnu Vardhan, Divij Sharan and Sanam Singh. Dhupar said the players had been informed on January 6, after consultations with the AITA Executive Committee, that the selection of the venue and surface would be done after consulting them, and that their remuneration would be increased 50-60 per cent, up to 70 per cent if India won. The AITA was also ready to give them business class tickets for World Group ties, business class for those ranked in the top 100 for the Asia/Oceania ties and economy class (with an upper limit of Rs 1.7 lakh each) for the others. The AITA had also agreed to change the coach, doctor and the physiotherapist, suggesting that the Sports Authority of India will be asked to name the last two. The players were offered further concession after discussions with some of them until late last night, at the instance of life president Yashwant Sinha. The additional concessions made by the AITA included the inclusion of six players in the team, and business class travel for the four playing members even for Asia-Oceania ties. They could also pick the physio of their choice, but the AITA was not willing to concede ground on the choice of the captain and the coach. The AITA maintained that it was the only association in Asia giving business class tickets to the Davis Cup players and more prize money. For the upcoming tie against Korea, the players will get Rs 24 lakh, besides the top four receiving Rs 14 lakh towards travel expenses. The AITA felt that the players’ action was not fair as rebel leader Devvarman had received Rs 34.69 lakh for travel, personal expenses and prize money for the three Davis Cup ties against Russia, Brazil and Japan. Bopanna was paid Rs 30.62 lakh for four ties while Bhupathi was paid Rs 20.21 lakh for three ties. “These are the highest payments being made in Asia, and the AITA has been absolutely fair and transparent, and has been very liberal in its decision for this tie as well,” said Dhupar. Rebels refuse to budge
The rebel group, demanding better playing conditions from the AITA, today said they will continue to remain unavailable for Davis Cup selection until the tennis federation engages with them in "good faith". The group has also got bigger as Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, N Sriram Balaji and Vijay Sunder Prashanth have also joined, taking the number of revolting players to 11. "We are disappointed to note that instead of engaging in discussion with us, the AITA has selected an inexperienced team in this crucial fixture," the joint statement read. |
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