Zimbabwe rout Pak by 7 wickets

PESHAWAR, Nov 30 (Reuters) — Zimbabwe won their first Test abroad today when they carved out a seven-wicket win over Pakistan with almost two days to spare.

As soon as Andy Flower struck the winning boundary, the Zimbabwean players embraced and ran on to the ground to congratulate Flower and his partner Murray Goodwin.

In recognition of the visitors’ historic feat, the entire Pakistan team went to the Zimbabwean dressing room to offer their congratulations.

Beaten 10 times in 15 Tests outside Zimbabwe, the visitors reached the victory target of 162 on the fourth morning with Goodwin leading the way with an unbeaten 73.

Goodwin belted 13 fours in his innings and raced to his 50 off just 82 balls. It was his sixth half-century in eight Tests. He received great support from opener Grant Flower, and together they added a quick 81 runs for the second wicket. Flower’s punchy 31 included five boundaries.

Zimbabwe, resuming at 70 for one, took just 101 minutes today to reach victory but not before being tested by speedster Wasim Akram, who added two more wickets to finish with three for 47. For the match, he took eight for 99.

Akram had Grant Flower caught behind off an outswinger and then ended skipper Alistair Campbell’s innings with a nasty bouncer that found the hands of Ijaz Ahmad at gully.

Akram, who toiled without much support from the other end, now has 354 wickets and needs one more to join Australia’s Dennis Lillee as the seventh most successful bowler of all time.

It was Zimbabwe’s third success in 32 Tests played since the nation entered the realm of international Test cricket in 1992. In 1994-95, they beat Pakistan by an innings and 64 runs in Harare and last month beat India by 61 runs at the same venue.

But this Test was a milestone for Zimbabwe, and not only because it ended their drought abroad.

On the first day, Heath Streak became the first bowler to take 100 wickets for his country.

On Saturday, Grant Flower became the second Zimbabwean to reach 2,000 runs with his elder brother, Andy, the first to have achieved the distinction against India last month.

Zimbabwe’s dismissal of Pakistan for an embarrassing 103 yesterday was the host’s fifth-lowest score in Test cricket.

It was Pakistan’s first defeat at Arbab Niaz stadium in four Tests. They had won two Tests over Sri Lanka and the West Indies, by an innings in each match, and drew with Australia.

The strip has a tendency to create records.

Last month, Australian captain Mark Taylor scored a monster 334 not out, equalling the legendary Sir Donald Bradman’s highest test score by an Australian.

Pakistan’s latest defeat was a blow to the future of Aamir Sohail as captain and batsman after a run of poor scores and the team’s recent defeat in the three-Test series against Australia.

Pakistan (1st innings) : 296

Zimbabwe (1st innings) : 238

Pakistan (2nd innings) : 103

Zimbabwe (2nd innings) :

G. Rennie c Ijaz b Wasim Akram 6

G. Flower c Moin b

Wasim Akram 31

M. Goodwin not out 73

A. Campbell c Ijaz b

Wasim Akram 12

A. Flower not out 17

Extras (B-4, LB-8, W-2, NB-9) 23

Total (for three wickets) 162

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-94, 3-130.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 17-6-47-3, Waqar Younis 11-1-51-0, Aqib Javed 13.2-4-36-0, Azhar Mahmood 3-1-3-0, Mushtaq Ahmad 4-2-13-0.

Convincing 7-wkt win for Australia

PERTH, Nov 30 (Reuters) — Australia tightened their grip on the Ashes by completing a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over England today to win the second cricket Test.

Set 64 to win after dismissing England for 191 in the second innings, Australia cruised to victory before tea on the third day at the WACA to take a 1-0 lead in the five- match series after the first Test was washed out.

Australia reached their target in 23 overs, losing three wickets and now need to win just one of the remaining three Tests to retain the Ashes, which they have held since 1989.

England’s hopes of making a contest of the match vanished without trace as their lower order caved in before lunch.

Starting the day on 126 for five with two recognised batsmen at the crease, England lost their last five wickets for 65 runs to be all out for 191 after trailing by 128 in the first innings.

Paceman Jason Gillespie cleaned up the English tail to finish with figures of five for 88 in his comeback Test.

He made the initial breakthrough when he picked up Graeme Hick for 68 with the total on 158 then ripped through the tail to take four wickets in just six deliveries.

Gillespie, playing his first Test since breaking down on the 1997 Ashes tour, triggered the collapse when he trapped Dominic Cork leg before wicket for 16 with the score on 189.

He dismissed Alex Tudor for a duck two balls later when the Test debutant edged a catch to Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy then snared Darren Gough first ball when he hit him on the pads.

Gillespie missed out on a hat-trick on the first ball of his 15th over after Mark Ramprakash, who finished with 47 not out, took a single, but made it four from six when he deceived Alan Mullally with a slow full toss that hit the middle stump.

England’s last three batsmen all made ducks as the final four wickets went for just two runs but it was Hick’s dismissal that proved the most decisive.

England started the third day still needing another two runs to make Australia bat a second time and hoping for a big score from Hick to give them a remote chance of victory on a wicket that has proven notoriously difficult to score off.

Hick, who was only included in the side at the last minute after Graham Thorpe succumbed to a back injury, began confidently when he belted four boundaries in the first 40 minutes as he took his overnight score from 42 to 68.

But he departed on the third ball of Gillespie’s first over when he fended a chest high ball to Ricky Ponting at third slip after sharing a 91-run partnership with Ramprakash.

Ramprakash, who needed six stitches to close a gash on his chin after he was struck by a bouncer from Glenn McGrath in the first innings, batted on in defiance but eventually ran out of partners.

Chasing 64, Australia were never in trouble despite the loss of three wickets.
Mark Taylor, Michael Slater and Justin Langer all lost their wickets in pursuit of victory before Mark and Steve Waugh steered Australia home.

The third match of the five-match series starts in Adelaide on December 11.

England (1st innings) 112
Australia (1st innings) 240
England (2nd innings) (126 for five overnight)
M. Atherton c Taylor b Fleming 35
M. Butcher c Ponting b Fleming 1
N. Hussain lbw Fleming 1
A. Stewart c Taylor b Fleming 0
M. Ramprakash not out 47
J. Crawley c Langer b Miller 15
G. Hick c Langer b Gillespie 68
D. Cork lbw Gillespie 16
A. Tudor c Healy b Gillespie 0
D. Gough lbw Gillespie 0
A. Mullally b Gillespie 0
Extras (NB-8) 8
Total (70.2 overs) 191
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-11, 3-15, 4-40, 5-67, 6-158, 7-189, 8-189, 9-189, 10-191.
Bowling: McGrath 26-10-47-0, Fleming 19-7-45-4, Gillespie 15.2-2-88-5, Miller 10-4-11-1.
Australia (2nd innings):
M. Taylor c Hick b Mullally 3
M. Slater c and b Gough 17
J. Langer c Atherton b Tudor 7
M. Waugh not out 17
S. Waugh not out 15
Extras (LB-3, NB-2) 5
Total (for 3 wickets, 23 overs) 64
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-24, 3-36.
Bowling: Gough 9-5-18-1, Mullally 9-0-24-1, Tudor 5-0-19-1.

Kallis helps South Africa beat Windies

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 30 (Reuters) — South Africa beat West Indies in a Test match for the first time today when they triumphed by four wickets at the Wanderers.

Led by an unbeaten 57 from Jacques Kallis, South Africa reached their target of 164 just before tea on the fifth and final day of the first Test.

The two sides have played each other only once before at Test level, in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1992 when West Indies won by 52 runs.

South Africa suffered early setbacks when they started their second innings on the last morning, losing openers Gary Kirste and Adam Bacher in four balls with the total 14.

However, first Daryll Cullinan (35) and then captain Hansie Cronje (31) helped Kallis secure victory in the opening game of the five-Test series.

SCOREBOARD

West Indies (Ist innings): 261

South Africa (Ist innings): 268

West Indies (2nd innings): 170

South Africa (2nd innings):

Kirsten c Jacobs b Ambrose 7

Bacher c Wallace b Walsh 6

Kallis not out 57

Cullinan c Williams b McLean 35

Cronje c McLean b Walsh 31

Rhodes c Jacobs b Walsh 9

Pollock c Chanderpaul b Ambrose 9

Boucher not out 1

Extras: (LB-2, NB-7) 9

Total: (for six wickets) 164

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-14, 3-58, 4-124, 5-146, 6-163.

Bowling: Ambrose 15.4--3-42-2, Walsh 21-9-45-3, Lewis 17-4-45-0, Hooper 4-0-13-0, McLean 5-0-17-1.

Corretja tames Moya in 5-set thriller

HANOVER, Nov 30 (Reuters) — Alex Corretja fought back from two sets downs to tame Moya in five sets in their all-Spanish ATP Tour World Championship final yesterday.

Corretja, who was crushed in straight sets by Moya in the French Open final last June, took revenge by pulling off a 3-6 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-5 win after a tense four-hour marathon.

"I know how you feel. Carlos," Corretja told Moya after shaking his hand.

The 24-year-old Corretja, who became the first Spanish player to win the season's finale since Manuel Orantes' triumph in 1976, earned huge money.
His victory also allowed him to move three places up to third in the year's final rankings.

Corretja, who had upset world number one Pete Sampras in the semifinals, made a clumsy start, dropping serve straight away by hitting a backhand wide.

He survived three sets points but on the fourth, Moya wrapped it up with a forehand volley.

Moya stayed on top in the second set, breaking his opponent to move 2-0 ahead before winning the set on one of Corretja's many unforced errors.

Corretja earned his first break points of the match in the fourth game of the third set, squandering two before converting the third to take a 3-1 lead.

Moya broke back in the following game but Corretja, cheered by an enthusiastic 13,000 crowd packing the Hanover hall, kept fighting until his opponent handed him the set by netting a seemingly straightforward forehand.

Moya virtually collapsed in the fourth set but, refusing to bow out, he picked up his game in the decider, opening of a 3-1 lead.

However, Corretja broke back and served for the match, leading 5-4.

He earned a first match point but Moya saved it with a raging backhand volley and went on to win the game.

Two games later, Corretja again served for the match and saw an exhausted Moya surrender by hitting a forehand too long.

India will end gold drought: Kaushik

CHENNAI, Nov 30 (PTI) — Chief coach of the Bangkok Asian Games-bound men’s hockey team M K Kaushik today expressed confidence that India would end its 32-year-long gold drought in the games.

"We should come back with the gold medal which we did not have for the last 32-years," he said addressing reporters here along with his deputy M R Negi, captain Dhanraj Pillay and K Jyothikumaran and M S Mallik, secretary and vice president respectively of the Indian Hockey Federation.

"The boys are totally fit and raring to go". Pillay and Negi also joined Kaushik in saying "we are quite confident of bringing back laurels."

On the preparation, Kaushik said: "We have tried to minimise the mistakes we had been committing. The boys responded well and worked hard during the camp. I am confident we will not repeat those mistakes in the Asian Games."

The team, which arrived last night from Bangalore after the camp, will leave for Bangkok tomorrow.

Kaushik said he had requested the IHF to get India’s first match on December 9 against Singapore shifted from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

On tough group matches against Korea and a possible semifinal clash against Pakistan, Kaushik said: "Boys have been given lessons and practice separately on strategies in forward line and defence and I think our team has better chances of winning these games."

Asked whether he would persist with Mohd Riaz as a forward Kaushik said Riaz, who normally plays as halfback, would be used sometimes in defence too, depending on match situations.

According to Negi, both the goal keepers, Ashish Balal and A B Subbaiah, have had intensive training and separate drills. "with their vast experience, they should do their job well".

Pillay said: "I do not want to talk much to the press and our performance in the Asian games will speak. Whatever our coaches have told you is enough."

However, he added: "Boys have been working hard for the last 45 days and are positive in their approach for the goal, which is the gold medal.

"There is no problem in the present team and both seniors and juniors are enjoying a good rapport," the mercurial forward said.

Explaining the mistakes committed by India in the Commonwealth Games with saw them finish out of medals, Kaushik said: "No one used to be at hand for rebound collections during penalty corner conversions and field goals. Now we have eight variations to tackle these."

On team strategy, he said it was important to top the pool.

Mallick said the federation has taken all steps to ensure that the team did not face any problems. The players were also acclimatised with conditions in Bangkok after most of them were part of the team that played the four-nation pre-Asian tournament in the first week of November.

India play Singapore (December 9), Bangladesh (December 11), China (December 13) and Korea (December 14) in group ‘B’.

SPS, Kilaraipur lads to clash in final
From Anil Datt

LUDHIANA, Nov 30 — Excelling in pace and power, Government Senior Secondary School, Kilaraipur, outplayed Sports School, Jalandhar, 3-1 in the semifinal on the penultimate day of the sixth Harbans Singh Pannu Memorial Hockey Tournament for school boys being organised by the Aryan Hockey Club at the Guru Nanak Stadium here today. In the second semifinal, Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh, prevailed over spirited Surjit Academy, Jalandhar, 2-1 to set up the title clash with Kilaraipur lads. The final will be held tomorrow at 1 pm.

The first semifinal between Kilaraipur and Sports School began on a brisk pace with the Kilaraipur lads picking up their rhythm from the word "go". They had a dream start as they forged ahead in the third minute when Gurmit Singh sounded the board with a sizzling shot.

Kilaraipur players continued their assault on their opponents' territory and managed to pierce through the defence line of Jalandhar outfit in the 16th minute to increase the lead 2-0 through Lakhbir Singh. Just before the lemon break, Sports School boys weaved a good move and Sarbjit Singh dodged past Kilaraipur's defenders to find the target to read it 2-1.

In the second half, both the teams displayed fine hockey. Kilaraipur lads launched offensive from the left flank and entered the striking circle many times but their forwards fumbled near the goal mouth. On the other hand Jalandhar boys too launched counter-attacks but failed to capitalise upon the chances they got. Just 10 minutes before the long whistle, Kilaraipur outfit pumped in one more goal through Lakhwinder to wrap up the issue 3-1.

India ‘A’ begin chase on confident note

BANGALORE, Nov 30 (PTI) — India "A" fought back strongly scoring 108 without loss at close on the penultimate day of the four-day first Test against West Indies "A" here today, after being set a victory target of 395.

Openers S. Ramesh (51) and Devang Gandhi (53) led the fight back as the hosts began the chase on a confident note, after struggling to dismiss the Carribean tailenders earlier.

India need to score 287 runs tomorrow for a victory.

Earlier, resuming at overnight 160 for seven, the visitors frustrated the Indian attack, taking their score to 212 by lunch without losing any wicket with skipper Ian Bishop (39) and N. McGarrel playing cautiously.

The post-lunch session saw the last three West Indian wickets falling, but not before McGarrel reached 51, which came in 199 balls with five fours. He and Bishop put on 84 runs for the eighth wicket in 323 balls, as the last four wickets yielded the visitors 149 vital runs.

Robin Singh (jr) picked up three wickets for 43 runs, while R. Sanghvi, N. Chopra and D. Ganesh took two each.

In their second innings, the Indian openers played briskly with the first 50 coming up in only 10.4 overs.

Bad light forced play to be abandoned 9.4 overs in advance.

Scoreboard
West Indies "A" (1st innings): 228
India "A" (1st innings): 103
West Indies (2nd innings):
Griffith lbw Ganesh 14
Campbel c Prasad b R.Singh (Jr) 14
Hinds c & b Ganesh 10
Gayle c Kanitkar b Chopra 29
Smith c Ramesh b R. Singh (Jr) 1
Sarwan b R. Sanghvi 35
Browne c Gavaskar b Kanitkar 32
Bishop c Kanitkar b Sanghvi 39
Mc Garrel c Gandhi b Chopra 51
Tuckett b R. Singh (Jr) 15
Collins not out 12
Extras (LB-4, W-2, NB-11) 17
Total (all out in 112.2 overs) 269
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-28, 3-40, 4-41, 5-108, 6-120, 7-151, 8-235, 9-247.
Bowling: N. Chopra 34-6-67-2, H. Kanitkar 15-7-22-1, R. Sanghvi 29-8-72-2, D. Ganesh 17-0-56-2, R. Singh (Jr) 15.2-6-43-3, R. Gavaskar 2-0-5-0.
India "A" (2nd innings):
Gandhi batting 53
Ramesh batting 51
Extras (LB-1, NB-3) 4
Total (without loss, off 27.2 overs) 108
Bowling: I. Bishop 4.2-1-6-0, C. Gayle 6-0-16-0, C. Tuckett 5-0-23-0, M. McGarrel 5-0-21-0, P. Collins 7-0-41-0.

South hold the edge over North Zone

MUMBAI, Nov 30 (PTI) — South Zone hold the edge when they take on North Zone in the five-day Duleep Trophy quarter-final match at the Wankhede Stadium from tomorrow.

The Venkatapathi Raju-led South Zone looks a balanced side with the Hyderabad duo of Narendra Pal Singh and Vishnu Vardhan sharing the new ball.

Indian one-day specialist Robin Singh, the vice captain of the team, will be the first-change bowler. The spin department would be spearheaded by the skipper himself along with Kerala leg spinner Ananthapadmanabhan.

The batting too looks good with Karnataka’s Sujit Somasunder opening the innings followed by his statemate Vijay Bharadwaj with Tamil Nadu’s Hemang Badani, S. Sriram and S. Sharath to follow while all-rounder Robin Singh and young Karnataka stumper Somasekar Shiruguppi would lend depth to the batting line-up.

Tamil Nadu’s D. Vasu, Arvind Shetty of Hyderabad, H. Ram Kishen of Andhra and Nanda Kishor of Hyderabad would find themselves in the reserves.

North would be led by former Indian opener Vikram Rathore of Punjab with Punjab’s India discard Pankaj Dharmani as his deputy.

North Zone has in its ranks Delhi players Ashu Dani, Virender Sehwag, Vijay Dahiya, Amit Bhandari, Mithun Manhas and Ashish Nehra, besides Punjab’s Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Haryana’s Pradeep Jain and Pankaj Thakur.

North Zone has also two other players from Punjab — national discard Harvinder Singh and Dinesh Mongia — and Haryana opener Jitender Singh.

The most experienced player in the team is Rajeev Nayyar of Himachal Pradesh. The playing XI would be announced in the morning.

Teams:

South Zone (from): Venkatapathi Raju (capt). Robin Singh, Hemang Badani, Sujit Somasunder, S. Sriram, Vijay Bharadwaj, S. Sharath, Nanda Kishor, S. Shiruguppi (w-k), Ananthapadmanabhan, H. Ramkishen, Narendra Pal Singh, S. Vishnu Vardhan, Arvind Shetty and D. Vasu.

North Zone (from): Vikram Rathore (capt), Pankaj Dharmani, Harvinder Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Ashu Dani, Veerender Schwag, Vijay Dahiya (w-k), Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Amit Bhandari, Pradeep Jain, Mithun Manhas, Pankaj Thakur, Jitender Singh, Ashish Nehra and Rajeev Nayyar.

Umpires: Subroto Banerjee and A. Bhattacharya (both Bengal).

Match refree: Bhairav Ganguly (Bengal).

Kapil Dev offers 'good luck' match

NEW DELHI, Nov 30 (UNI) — Kapil Dev who led India to its historic cricket World Cup win in 1983, today said that his victorious squad was willing to play a "good luck" match with the present national team in it 's run up to the next year's World Cup to be held in England.

"When we went into the 1983 final, our chin was up and chest was out, and the prayers of over 600 million people were with us," Kapil said while recalling those glorious moment.

Eleven of the 13 players of the 1983 winning squad were present at a function organised by "Hero-Honda" to wish the Indian team best of luck for the 1999 World Cup.

Sunil Gavaskar was confident that present Indian team was capable to win the World Cup saying "when we won the cup we had the prayers of 600 million people and now the present team will have the good wishes and prayers of about one billion people".

In a lighter vain, Gavaskar said "Though I did not do well in the 1983 World Cup, I did pick up Indian players for special awards.

"My men of the match were Kapil Dev and Mohinder Amarnath, best jumper award went to K. Srikkant, as he used to jump over players every time a wicket fell, best walker award was for Roger Binny for his laid back walk, best diver was Syed Kirmani and best waver was Madan Lal", said Gavaskar adding "these were my personal awards for the team which brought glory to the nation".

The players who were present on the occasion — Kapil Dev, Mohinder Amarnath, Sunil Gavaskar, Yashpal Sharma, Roger Binny, Sunil Walson, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Dilip Yengsarkar, Syed Kirmani and Madan Lal — wished the Indian team best of luck for next world cup.

Ravi Shastri, Kirti Azad and K. Srikkant were not present on the occasion.

Bengal overall champions

ISHAPORE, Nov 30 (PTI) — Hosts Bengal dethroned Uttar Pradesh to emerge overall champions as two meet records tumbled on the concluding day of the sixth National (Under-22) Athletic Championship at the Metal Sports Complex here today.

The strong Bengal contingent, which took the overall title for the first time in recent inter-state national meet in Calcutta, added another feather to their cap by taking the overall championship here with 152 points. Maharashtra had to be content with the runners-up position with 128 points.

However, Bihar’s Binu K.M. and Haryana’s Saroj Kumari stole the limelight on the concluding day by setting new meet records in men’s 800 m and women’s discus throw events.

Binu maintained his lead right through to clinch gold in the 800 m with a meet record timing of 1:53.15 sec, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:54.42 sec established by Haryana’s Rajesh Kumar in Lucknow last year.

Displaying very good form, Saroj Kumari hurled the disc to a distance of 49.92 m to set a new meet record in women’s discus throw, erasing statemate Sugan Yadav’s record of 49.62 m established in 1997.

Punjab emerged the men’s team champion with 80 points while Haryana were the runners-up with 51.5 points. In the women’s section, Bengal claimed the honour with 116 points while Maharashtra finished second with 82 points

Maharashtra’s Sanjeev Nair was adjudged the best male athlete while the honour in the women’s section went to Bengal’s Soma Biswas.

BMFC shock JCT

MUMBAI, Nov 30 (PTI) — Local league champions Bengal Mumbai Football Club (BMFC) shocked last year’s winners JCT, Phagwara, 1-0 in their last group-D league match in the 1998 Bristol Rovers Cup Football Tournament here today.

With this win the local outfit has made it to the semi-finals.

The all-important goal came in the sixth minute of the match when BMFC’s Nigerian winger Emeka Achelifu scored off winger Shaikh Sanjib cross after JCT custodian Baljit Singh failed to collect the ball cleanly.

Just a minute before the interval BMFC defender G P Singh effected a goalline save by heading out JCT medio Harvinder Singh’s try off winger Jasbir Singh’s flag-kick.

In the 60th minute, Jasbir Singh’s cross was well collected by bumf custodian Gumpe Rime. Twelve minutes later bumf defender Alok Das’ try off a free kick was well saved by Baljit Singh.

In the 75th minute JCT striker Sukhjit Singh hit over a Hardip Singh cross. Five minutes later JCT medio Dipankar Roy’s free kick was not collected neatly by Gumpe Rime. However, g p Singh managed to clear the ball before any of the three JCT forwards could get to it.

In the dying minutes, bumf substitute Jasprit Singh was off the mark on a cross by substitute Uday Konar. Soon after Uday Konar himself was off target.

Jayalakshmi upsets third seed

NEW DELHI, Nov 30 (PTI) — India number two SAI Jayalakshmi played one of her best tennis upsetting number three seed Karin Kschwendt of Austria in three tiring sets today, which witnessed top seed Rita Kuti-Kis (Hungary) crashing out of the $75,000 WTA women’s challenger at DLTA courts here.

Wild card entrant Jayalakshmi, who is bound for Bangkok Asian Games, had nothing to lose here and she outwitted Kachwendt — ranked over 500 places above her — 7-6 (7/5) 4-6 6-2 to move into the second round of the 32-player draw.

Jayalakshmi, who won two ITF Futures Satellite events and ended runners-up at master’s event in the capital, will meet Loma Woodroffe of Britain in the round of 16. Woodroffe recorded a 6-4 6-4 win over Japan’s Kazua Takuma.

India number one Nirupma Vaidyanathan was in fine form and clinical in dispatching Hungary’s Katalin Miskolczi 6-1 6-2. Nirupma will meet the winner of first round match between Shinobu Asagoe (Japan) and Carolina Jagienak (France).

Top seed Hungarian Kuti-Kis, ranked 120 on WTA computer, stared her match against Lenka Cenkova in great style running off with the first set 6-2, but Cenkova surprised Kuti-Kis with her groundstrokes and ability to slog-on. Cenkova won the remaining two sets with identical 6-4 margin to record 2-6 6-4 6-4 win and the biggest upset of the day.

In a match between two qualifiers, India’s Manisha Malhotra prevailed 6-1 3-6 6-3 over Germany’s Eva Belbl. Manisha’s opponent in the second round will be either national champion Uzma Khan or Dutchwoman Amanda Hopmans.

Three of the four Indians, who featured today, sailed through to the next round.

Archana Venkatraman, who qualified for the main draw yesterday with an upset win over Kerstin Marent in a marathon 3hr 3min match, was a totally different person today.

Number two seed Jolene Watanabe, ranked 130 in the world, disposed her of 6-1 6-1 to move into the second round.

In other matches on the opening day, Japan’s Rika Hiraki, who last year won French Open mixed doubles title partnering India’s Mahesh Bhupathi, beat Sarah Taylor of the USA 6-1 7-6 (7/4). Hiraki plays Cenkova in the second round.

Abigail Tordoff of Britain recorded a 6-4 6-2 win over Shiho Hisamatsu (Japan) while Hira Rosen (Israel) beat compatriot Nataly Caahna 6-3 6-3.

The best match of the day was played by Jayalakshmi, who after clinching the first set in a tie-break, raised the level of her game by notches.

"I had nothing to lose here and it was a great experience playing against a player ranked in top 200s," Jayalakshmi said of her victory.

Kalaswala Cup golf tourney
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30 — Old students of public schools from all over the country will participate in the third Kalaswala Golf Cup to be played at the Chandigarh Golf Club course on December 6.

The tournament will be played on the stableford basis with teams of four players representing each school.

Entries have been received from the holders, Colvin Taluqdars College, Lucknow, Lawrence School, Sanawar, Doon School, Dehra Dun, Mayo College, Ajmer, St John's School, Chandigarh, Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, and Yadavindra Public School Patiala.

Top golfers of the country, including Arjuna awardee Harmeet Kahlon and former India captain Simran Singh, will be seen in action.

The cup for the tournament has been donated by Maj-Gen Bajwa.

Haryana concede 48-run lead

ROHTAK, Nov 30 (FOSR) — After conceding a first innings lead of 48 runs, Haryana scored 35 for 1 in their second innings at close on the second day of Nort Zone Inter State Vijay Merchant Tournament match at Vishwakarma Stadium here today.

Earlier, resuming their innings at overnight score of 235, Haryana lost its remaining one wicket without any addition to the total Mandeep Sodhi's wicket was claimed by Harish Puri, who emerged as highest wicket taker of the innings claiming 3 for 29.

In reply, Punjab made a disastrous start losing Amit Chopra and Amit Behl in 7th and 9th over, respectively. At one stage Punjab had lost 5 wickets for 70. Rajan Singh and Chandan Madan displayed resistance and contributed 44 and 89, respectively.

They were ably supported by lower order batsmen Ranjit Singh (23) and Rajiv Jolly (33) to help Punjab in gaining first innings lead.

Punjab innings ended at 283 in 72.3 overs. In spite of early blows Punjab batsmen continued to keep the strike rotating. They took only 283 minutes to score 283 runs.

Haryana (Ist innings): 235.

Punjab (Ist innings)

Amit Chopra 10, Binwant Singh 32, Amit Behl 0, Hari Kishan 4, Vikramjit Sodhi 10, Rajan Singh 44, Chandan Madan 89, Ranjit Singh 23, Rajiv Jolly 33, Bikramjeet Singh 19, Harish Puri 2. Extras (b-10, lb 6, w-nil, nb-1) 17. Total (in 72.3 overs) 283.

Fall of wickets: 1/20, 2/30, 3/47, 4/56, 5/70, 6/161, 7/221, 8/230, 9/270, 10/283.

Bowling: Rahul Rathee 8-1-23-2, Joginder Sharma 12-2-38-1, Ashwani Kumar 18-4-64-2, Deepak Joon 11-0-57-1, Gaurav Vashishta 18-3-61-3, Mandeep Sodhi 5.3-0-24-1.

Haryana (2nd innings):

Lalit Gupta lbw Harish Puri 0, Nishant Goyat batting 15, Gaurav Vashishta batting 9, Extras (b-8, lb-1, w-1, nb-1) 11.

Total (for 1 wkt) in 14 overs) 35.Fow - 1/1.

Bowling: Hari Kishan 7-2-16-0, Harish Puri 5-2-8-1, Rajiv Jolly 2-0-2-0.

Brijesh to lead UT football team

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30 (TNS) — Brijesh Sreiwal will lead Chandigarh in the under-21 National Football Championship (Zonal) for the M.Dutta Roy Trophy to be held at Varanasi from December 6 to 15, according to Mr A S Bains, president, Chandigarh Football Association.

The other members are Vijay Pal, Jasmeet, Rakesh Kumar, Sohan Negi, Jasvir, Harvinder Pal, Jasbir Singh, Sanjeev Kumar, Sachin, Amit, Shiv Shambhu, Gurminder Singh, Mohan Singh, Jatinder Singh, Devee Bali, Gurpreet Singh Bedi, Munish, Mandeep Singh and Jatin Malhotra.

Harjinder Singh and Surinder Singh will accompany the team as coach and manager respectively.

Chandigarh will play their first match on December 7 against Himachal Pradesh. The team will leave for Varanasi on December 2.

Saleem, Ram Lakhan justify seedings

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30 — Top seed Mohammad Saleem and second seed Ram Lakhan both of Punjab State Electricity Board justified their seedings when they reached the final of the men's singles of the 26th All India enter Electricity Board Badminton Tournament here at the Sector 42 Badminton Hall on the penultimate day today.

Mohammad Saleem outplayed Surinder of HVPN in two straight games at 15-2, 15-11. Ram Lakhan of PSEB faced some crucial moments against Varinder of the HVPN before winning at 7-15, 11-15.

In the semifinals, Ram Lakhan (PSEB) got the better of Sanjay Pande (MPSEB) at 15-13, 15-1, while Varinder (HVPN) outclassed Vijay Nair (BSES) at 15-7, 15-2. Surinder and Varinder of HVPN and Sridhar and PR Rao reached the men doubles semifinal by defeating their opponents Navdeep and M. Saleem of PSEB at 6-15, 15-9, 15-13 and Imtiaz and Anjum of UPSEB at 15-9, 8-15, 15-10, respectively, in the quarterfinal. The other doubles pair to enter semifinal are Ram Lakhan and Chanderdeep of PSEB and Raghav Bhosle & Vijay Nair of BSES.