Sachin, Prasad rested for 4-day tie
SYDNEY, Dec 1 — Skipper Sachin Tendulkar and wicket-keeper M.S.K. Prasad have been rested for the Indian cricket team’s second four-day match of the Australian tour tomorrow against New South Wales which too will be without four stalwarts, the Waugh brothers — Steve and Mark — and Michael Slater and paceman Glenn McGrath.

Manchester United world champs
TOKYO, Nov 30 — Manchester United went one better than the mighty Liverpool side of the early 1980s today as they became the first English side to be crowned “world club champions” with a 1-0 win over Brazil’s Palmeiras.

Indian eves rout Malaysia
NEW DELHI, Dec 1 — Former captain Pritam Rani Siwach put on display her best form scoring thrice and set up many a chance as India overwhelmed Malaysia 8-0 to open their account on a high note after South Korea had defeated Japan in the fourth Asia Cup Women’s Hockey Tournament opener here today.

North Zone pile up 229 for 4
AGARTALA, Dec 1 — Riding on two half centuries by Virender Sehwag (66) and Pankaj Dharmani (59), North Zone scored a moderate 229 for four against South Zone on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy five day match at the MBB Stadium here today.

Mohun Bagan to play at Ludhiana
CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The stage is set for exciting football as Ludhiana plays host to the home ties of JCT Phagwara and Border Security Force,Jalandhar,in the National Football League from December 10 to January 30,2000.

Lele seeks Rs 5 cr compensation
MUMBAI, Dec 1 — Cricket board secretary Jaywant Lele has served a legal notice on website “Rediff on the Net” claiming Rs 5 crore as compensation for putting out an allegedly “false and fictitious” report against him on the internet recently.

Windies ‘A’ slump to 227 for 8
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Dec 1 — The touring India ‘A’ cricket team seized four wickets in quick succession after tea to claw their way back into contention on the opening day of the second and final ‘Test’ match against the West India ‘A’ here.

Humiliating 108-run defeat for Indians
ABU DHABI, Dec 1 — India ‘A’ (1) crashed to an embarrassing 108-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the inaugural day-and-night match of the limited overs Abu Dhabi Cricket Cup ’99 here last night.

Astro-Turf fit for play
LUDHIANA, Dec 1 — A meeting of the joint acceptance committee (JAC) to ascertain the work done at the Astro Turf hockey ground of Punjab Agricultural University was held on Sunday.

Winter games in Himachal
NEW DELHI, Dec 1 — Himachal Pradesh will host the first Winter South Asian Federation (SAF) Games during January and February 2000 in Shimla and Manali in which participants of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will take part.

• Liberals hockey from Dec 5
• Punjab TT squad
• Shooting meet

East Bengal down JCT, enter final

NEW DELHI, Dec 1 (PTI) — Calcutta giants East Bengal rode on a second half brace by striker Raman Vijayan to storm into the final of the Durand Cup Football Tournament, beating JCT, Phagwara 3-1 in the first semifinal here today.

Vijayan struck in the 57th and 60th minutes after Dipankar Roy had put the red and yellow brigade ahead a minute into the second session following a drab, goalless first half at the Ambedkar Stadium here.

All the three goals came off defensive errors, and the Calcutta outfit capitalised on them to go 3-0 up within 15 minutes of the second session before JCT forward Hardeep Gill took the complacent East Bengal by surprise and slammed in a powerful shot from around 30-yards to reduce the margin five minutes before the long whistle.

Last year’s runners-up East Bengal will take on the winner of tomorrow’s second semifinal between arch rivals Mohun Bagan and Rovers Cup winners Salgaocar Club, Goa in Saturday’s final.

East Bengal, who lost to Mahindra and Mahindra in the final last year, would hope to do one better this time and claim the trophy they last won in 1995 for the 14th time.

Despite playing without six first choice players who were on national duty at Abu Dhabi for the Asian Cup qualifiers, East Bengal were the better side in the second half.

Though JCT, also without three players, dominated the first session, the chances missed by their forwards proved too costly.

East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick was very pleased with the performance of the team which was playing without seasoned goalkeeper Prashanta Dora, Phalguni Dutta, Ranjan Dey, Rennedy Singh and Bijen Singh.

“They all played well and I am very happy with their performance. Though they let in a goal, I can not blame the defence for that. It was a silly mistake on part of the goalkeeper,” he said.

About the final, the East Bengal coach said he was hopeful to get back all his players in good shape tomorrow but added he was in a dilemma about the line-up for the final.

“If the absence of five players was giving me sleepless nights before the start of the tournament, today’s performance by the boys will give me two more sleepless nights.”

“I don’t know whom to choose. I can’t let down my boys who have done so well. They scored nine goals in three matches and that is fantastic,” Bhowmick told reporters after the match.

But it was JCT who dominated the first session. The Phagwara outfit enjoyed more possession than their rivals but wayward shooting by forwards did not help much.

JCT got off to a good start and took control of the match within the first five minutes. They forced two corners in the fourth minute but both went abegging as the East Bengal defence did well.

However, it was East Bengal who got the first chance but Ghanian Kennedy Amponsah’s powerful leftfooter landed on the roof of the goal.

Paes storms into last eight

LUCKNOW, Dec 1(PTI) — Defending champion Leander Paes overcame a stiff challenge from Briton Barry Cowan 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 with his aggressive net play, but all other Indians in the fray crashed out in the second round of ATP Challenger Tennis Tournament here today.

The top Indian went on the offensive right from the word go as he repeatedly attacked Cowan’s service though the Briton managed to win them stretching the set into the tie-breaker.

Paes clinched a hard-fought tie-breaker 8-6 but then Cowan gave up meekly in the second set.

The Indian smashed blistering forehand passing winners as Cowan was caught on the wrong foot on a number of occasions and Paes stormed into the quarter-finals.

Top seed Paradon Srichaphan of Thailand also ousted a Briton, Luke Milligan, in three sets 3-6 6-3 6-2 in a tough encounter and now meets Croatian Ivan Vajdo in the last eight stage.

Srichaphan played an attacking game to rally from one set down and emerge as eventual winner.

The pre-quarterfinal action saw exit of two other Indian players — Nitin Kirtane and Prahlad Srinath.

Former national champion Kirtane failed to put up any resistance and lost 3-6 2-6 to Japan’s Takahiro Terachi. Srinath was up against a stronger Oleg Ogorodov (Uzbekistan) and despite putting up a better show in the second set to level scores, he gave up in the third to lose 4-6 6-3 1-6.

In other action, last year’s runner-up Toumas Ketola of Finland stormed past Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic 6-3 6-4.

Pak may pull out of tri-series

ISLAMABAD, Dec 1(PTI) — The controversy surrounding Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s bowling action threatens to strain the country’s cricketing ties with Australia with Pakistan hinting it may not send its team back there for the one-day tri-series involving India.

In a strong reaction to Australian media reports on Shoaib’s ‘suspect bowling action’, a senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, who did not want to be named, also accused the Australian players of constantly resorting to sledging as a tactic during the series and said PCB had officially complained to the Australian board, the English daily Dawn said today.

“I am not saying that we will pull out of the triangular, but yes, it is definitely one of the options available,” the PCB official said.

“Ricky Ponting used highly abusive language against our players, particularly Ijaz Ahmed during the Perth Test,” the official was quoted as saying as he went on to add, “when the team returns here manager Yawar Saeed will be questioned and a further protest will be lodged with the ACB”.

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be duly informed about the Australian players’ conduct,” he further said.

The PCB official also accused Bruce Reid, match referee in the Australia-Pakistan series which the visitors lost 0-3, of partisan attitude and warned that if the ACB didn’t ensure decent behaviour from its players, “Pakistan will have to reconsider its options”.

The PCB official said “Pakistan plays the sport in high spirit but unfortunately it is not the case with Australia. Sledging is negative tactics and we are not the first to accuse Australian of sledging”.

PCB ad hoc committee chairman Zafar Altaf also dismissed the allegations of chucking against Shoaib Akhtar as “part of Australian tactics before the start of one-day series”.

He accused the Australian media of resorting to this saying, “they (media) did it successfully before the start of the Test series and they have now started again when the triangular series is just round the corner,” Altaf told Dawn.

He, however, said he had not received any report on Shoaib’s bowling action either from ACB or from ICC.

Pakistan’s manager on the tour Yawar Saeed also said no one from ACB brought this to his notice during the tour and that even match referee Bruce Reid did not mention anything like that to him when he met him for the last time at the end of the three-Test series.

The Australian media had earlier claimed that suspicion had risen over Shoaib’s bowling action and that a video tape containing his action would be sent to ICC for a review of possible chucking by him.

Incidentally chucking allegations against Shoaib were made even before the start of the series during a first class match but ACB chief Malcolm Speed had cleared him of the charges.

Former Pakistan skipper Imran Khan also defended Shoaib saying “I have seen him bowl on a number of occasions and the angle with which I looked at shows he has a clean bowling action”.

Sachin, Prasad rested for 4-day tie

SYDNEY, Dec 1 (PTI) — Skipper Sachin Tendulkar and wicket-keeper M.S.K. Prasad have been rested for the Indian cricket team’s second four-day match of the Australian tour tomorrow against New South Wales which too will be without four stalwarts, the Waugh brothers — Steve and Mark — and Michael Slater and paceman Glenn McGrath.

Vice-captain Saurav Ganguly, who sat out the tour opener against Queensland last week, will lead the tourists and Rahul Dravid will don the gloves behind the wickets, coach Kapil Dev announced today.

While pace spearhead Javagal Srinath returns to the team after resting during the Brisbane match, the surprise omission at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which is always known to help spinners, is offie Harbhajan Singh.

Kapil Dev said “We think the fast bowlers need to work out their rhythm, their line and length”.

He said dropping of M.S.K. Prasad was not a verdict against the Andhra wicket-keeper, the chosen stumper for the series. “We just thought to give him a break since he would have three-four games in a row from now on and would not get a respite”.

Kapil Dev also denied the team management was considering Dravid as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the Test series.

Despite Kapil Dev’s assertion, making Dravid keep wickets is an important development and may not be as innocent as it appears at first glance.

Dravid has kept for India in international matches this year. He donned gloves in the World Cup match against Sri Lanka at Taunton when wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia was injured. He also stood in a few AIWA Cup matches in Sri Lanka in August when despite everything being good with M.S.K. Prasad, the latter was dropped to bring about a better balance in the side.

The coach said it was decided to keep Tendulkar out for this game as he has had a good look at things at Gabba and should get a break before the first Test at Adelaide stating on December 10.

“Tendulkar can’t play in all the matches. Somebody else should also play and, in any case, he had a good game at Gabba and good nets here,” Kapil Dev explained.

NSW will be without the services of the two Waugh brothers, Slater and McGrath. But the 23-year-old fast bowling sensation, Brett Lee is in the team.

Lee is said to be terrifyingly quick and had played for Australia ‘A’ in the five-match series against India ‘A’ in Los Angeles in September.

The other men of note in this otherwise young line-up are spinners Sturart MacGill and Gavin Robertson. Both were members of Mark Taylor’s team when it toured India last year.

MacGill was not played in Tests but off-spinner Robertson was and had left an impression both as a batsman and bowler.

NSW, which has had a horrific run in the Pura Milk Cup so far, is playing a lot of youngsters in the team. They have been afforded chances because the seniors are away.

Michael Clarke, the outstanding young batsman, will play his first game tomorrow. Top order batsmen Greg Hayne and Greg Mail are in their first season with NSW.

Their wicketkeeper Brad Haddin moved to Sydney only last season and is a new addition to the side led by Michael Bevan, who is firmly entrenched in Australia’s one-day squad.

Teams:

Indians (from): Saurav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, S. Ramesh, Devang Gandhi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Vijay Bharadwaj, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Debashis Mohanty and Ajit Agarkar.

New South Wales: Michael Bevan (captain), Corey Richards, Greg Hayne, Greg Mail, Shane Lee, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Gavin Robertson, Stuart MacGill, Brett Lee, Don Nash.

Umpires: Darrel Hair, Simon Tuffel.

Manchester United world champs

TOKYO, Nov 30 (AFP) — Manchester United went one better than the mighty Liverpool side of the early 1980s today as they became the first English side to be crowned “world club champions” with a 1-0 win over Brazil’s Palmeiras.

History was in the making at the Tokyo National Stadium as United, without overly exerting themselves against the Sao Paulo-based outfit, added the Inter-Continental Cup to their trophy cabinet.

Skipper Roy Keane’s 35th-minute goal was enough to separate the champions of Europe and South America and Old Trafford’s favourite anthem, Queen’s “we are the champions (of the world)”, rang round the arena.

Having failed in this fixture’s previous two-leg guise in 1968 against Estudiantes of Argentina, United left nothing to chance. Coach Sir Alex Ferguson started with Ole Gunnar Solksjaer ploughing a lonely furrow up front and packed his midfield against a side liberally sprinkled with Brazilian internationals.

Indian eves rout Malaysia

NEW DELHI, Dec 1 (PTI) — Former captain Pritam Rani Siwach put on display her best form scoring thrice and set up many a chance as India overwhelmed Malaysia 8-0 to open their account on a high note after South Korea had defeated Japan in the fourth Asia Cup Women’s Hockey Tournament opener here today.

Pritam Rani was at her athletic best as she drew first blood in the sixth minute when a rebound from Malaysian goalkeeper Lai Ling gave her the chance to sound the boards.

Jyoti Kullu had staged the attack from the right flank and her shot was stopped by Ling but the ball remained in play for Pritam Rani to put India ahead.

Pritam Rani extracted advantage from the sloppy Malaysian defence as she again struck in the 33rd and 34th minutes while Suraj Lata Devi and Jyoti scored a brace each to give the Asian Games silver medallists a confident start in the continental championships at the National Stadium.

After a relatively good year, India are hoping to cap the season by wining the tournament and an automatic place in the 2002 World Cup.

Defending champions South Korea, fielding a below-par team, outclassed a clueless Japan 4-1 earlier in the day.

Striker Jin-Hyuk Bang took advantage of a weak Japanese defence and hammered home twice in the second half as the stronger Koreans dominated for the most part of the match.

Centre forward Suraj Lata was the most active of Indian players and got her worth for the efforts in the 9th minute.

Following a goal-mouth melee, Ling stopped the ball which went in the air and an unmarked Suraj Lata just tapped it in.

Pritam Rani missed a chance in the 14th minute when she delayed hitting the ball with an open goal post in her front. Ling rushed forward and fell over the ball and cleared it.

Striker Manjinder Kaur, who was doing a good job in piercing the Malaysian defence without any luck so far, got the chance in the 23rd minute on India’s sixth penalty corner.

Suraj Lata took a hit in but the stopper messed it up as Pritam Rani found three Malaysian women blocking her shot. She pushed the ball to her right and Manjinder, whose back was facing the goal, reverse flicked the ball to net India’s third goal.

Jyoti Kullu then made a solo run from the centre line, dodged three defenders and drove the ball through the gate as goalkeeper failed in her attempt to stall the impressive move (4-0).

Then came two quick goals by Pritam Rani as India went into the breather 6-0 up.

It was an excellent display of hockey by the Indian women, though their opponents had nothing much to offer. An easy game to start with should give them confidence later in the tournament.

At a simple opening ceremony, there was a march past by the participating teams before Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley declared the 4th women’s Asia Cup open.

Sikh boxer alleges discrimination

TORONTO, Dec 1 (IANS) — A Sikh boxer has been barred from participating in Canada’s national championship unless he shaves his beard.

The Canadian Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) had told Pradeep Nagra that he would not be allowed to compete as long as he sports facial hair, which it claims can be “as sharp as a razor blade” and cause injury.

Nagra, a 29-year-old-Sikh, has pledged to fight the ban. He has said his beard is an essential expression of his faith and he would keep it at all costs.

“I really don’t see any logical explanation for the rule”, Nagra was quoted as saying in published reports.

The controversy surrounding Nagra started around 18 months ago when he filed a complaint before the Human Rights Commission after Boxing Ontario barred him from competitions. A compromise was struck during the commission’s mediation process. As long as Nagra wore a hairnet over his beard, he would be permitted to box in Ontario province.

North Zone pile up 229 for 4

AGARTALA, Dec 1 (UNI) — Riding on two half centuries by Virender Sehwag (66) and Pankaj Dharmani (59), North Zone scored a moderate 229 for four against South Zone on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy five day match at the MBB Stadium here today.

North Zone won the toss and decided to bat, but both of their openers returned to the pavilion when the team’s score was 43.

Skipper Vikram Rathore scored 12 and Ashu Dani 21, studded with four boundaries. After their dismissal, Reetinder Singh Sodhi (22) was trapped lbw with the team score reading 90.

Pankaj Dharmani, Rajiv Nayar and Virender Sehwag displayed their skills and helped North Zone to score a moderate 229 for four in 94 overs at the end of the day.

Pankaj Dharmani scored a splendid 59, studded with nine boundaries off 163 balls while Rajiv Nayar scored 40 off 180 balls which included three fours.

North Zone’s right hand batsman Virender Sehwag scored the highest- 66, studded with nine boundaries and one six. He faced 86 balls in his 109 minute stay at the crease.

South Zone players missed valuable six catches. South Zone captain Robin Singh, Venkatapathy Raju, S. Mahesh and Ashish Kapoor claimed one wicket each.

North Zone: Ashu Dani lbw b S. Mahesh 21, Vikram Rathore c and b V. Raju 12, Reetinder Singh Sodhi lbw b Robin Singh 22, Pankaj Dharmani c Ali Khan b Kapoor 59, Virender Sehwag not out 66, Rajiv Nayar not out 40.

Extras (B-5, LB-2, NB-2 ) 9.

Total 229 for four in 94 overs.

Fall of wickets: 37/1, 43/2, 90/3, 149/4.

Bowling: S. Mahesh 11-2-45-1, Venkatapathy Raju 23-6-50-1, Robin Singh 9-2-15-1, Manzoor Ali Khan 10-3-28-0, Sunil Joshi 21-4-44-0, Ashish Kapoor 20-7-31-1.

Mohun Bagan to play at Ludhiana
By Amardeep Bhattal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The stage is set for exciting football as Ludhiana plays host to the home ties of JCT Phagwara and Border Security Force,Jalandhar,in the National Football League from December 10 to January 30,2000.

Although the league is scheduled to kick off in New Delhi on December 9 with defending champions Salgaocar, Goa, figuring in the opener against winners of the inaugural edition, JCT Phagwara at Ambedkar Stadium, the action will shift to Ludhiana’s Guru Nanak Stadium, the next day when debutants Border Security Force take on Calcutta’s glamour outfit, Mohun Bagan, in their opening home tie.

The other top teams who will be seen in action at Ludhiana are Calcutta giants East Bengal,Dempo Sports Club, Goa, Tollygunge Agragami, Calcutta, and runners-up of the inaugural edition, Churchill Brothers, Goa.

As in the previous years, the National Football League will be played on home and away basis.

Although the All-India Football Federation is yet to release the draw for the league, reliable sources revealed that all the above named glamour outfits have agreed in principle to play their away matches against BSF and JCT at Ludhiana.

While Dempo Sports Club, Tollygunge Agragami, and Churchill Brothers,have played at Ludhiana in the national league against JCT previously, Calcutta giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will be playing at Ludhiana for the first time.

The following is the tentative schedule of the matches:December 10 — BSF versus Mohun Bagan; December 13 — JCT versus Mohun Bagan; December 16 — BSF versus Dempo; December 19 — JCT versus Dempo; December 20 — BSF versus East Bengal; December 23 — JCT versus East Bengal; December 24 — BSF versus Tollygunge Agragami; January 21 — JCT versus BSF; January 30 — JCT versus Churchill Brothers. All the matches are scheduled to start at 2.30 p.m.

Lele seeks Rs 5 cr compensation

MUMBAI, Dec 1 (PTI) — Cricket board secretary Jaywant Lele has served a legal notice on website “Rediff on the Net” claiming Rs 5 crore as compensation for putting out an allegedly “false and fictitious” report against him on the internet recently.

In a press note from Baroda, Mr Lele said the legal notice served on the Indian website contended that the reportage was done “with specific, motivated intention to malign” the board secretary. But the note did not mention the amount sought in damages.

In the notice served on Nikhil Lakshman, the editor of the website, and Faisal Shariff, the reporter who had filed the story, it has been contended that it (the report) was an attempt to “defame the goodwill and reputation” of the board secretary and that it had lowered the prestige of Indian cricket.

Windies ‘A’ slump to 227 for 8

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Dec 1 (AP) — The touring India ‘A’ cricket team seized four wickets in quick succession after tea to claw their way back into contention on the opening day of the second and final ‘Test’ match against the West India ‘A’ here.

At the close yesterday, the Caribbean side had progressed to 227 for the loss of eight wickets, with middle order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan falling 11 runs short of his second first-class hundred. He was dismissed for 89 with just seven balls remaining in the day’s play off a bat-pad catch. Wicketkeeper Wayne Phillip was not out on nought.

Sarwan and fellow middle order batsman Ryan Hinds steadied the West Indian innings at the Bourda Cricket Ground with a partnership of 137 runs in 205 minutes after they went to lunch shakily placed at 60 for the loss of their top four batsmen.

Sarwan’s 89 contained 12 fours, a five and one six and came off 255 balls in 285 minutes.

The two defied the Indian attack after lunch and then played some attacking shots after the tea interval before Hinds was deceived and bowled by left arm leg-spinner S. Sriram for a well-played 68. His innings came in 205 minutes off 105 balls and was studded with 10 fours.

Former senior West Indies fast bowler Nixon Mclean and captain Rawl Lewis were dismissed in quick succession after Hinds’ departure and Sarwan appeared set to survive the last few testing overs when he was given out to a bat-pad catch with just seven balls remaining in the day’s play.

Earlier, some accurate bowling by the Indians made the close of play score look unlikely and had dispatched the first four batsmen after the Caribbean team had won the toss and elected to bat.

West Indian opener Brentnol Parchment appeared uncomfortable against the Indian opening bowlers and was bowled by Sodhi after taking over half an hour to score his only run.

Sodhi also trapped fellow opener Chris Gayle for an aggressive 22, with three fours and a six.

Left arm leg-spinner Murali Karthik also seized two quick wickets to trigger a middle order collapse by the Caribbean side. Karthik had Lincoln Roberts brilliantly caught by Sodhi on the square leg boundary. Sodhi dived forward and to his left to snap up the catch just inches from the ground after Roberts tried to sweep the leg-spinner to the boundary.

Sodhi, a tall slim fast bowler, has so far picked up three wickets for 42 runs off 16 overs while Karthik has also grabbed three wickets for 60 off 31 overs.

The West Indies, after their rain-affected first ‘Test’ in Trinidad and Tobago was drawn, omitted promising batsman Narsingh Deonarine and Rodney Sooklal from their final eleven while the tourists left out Sitanshu Kotak, Laxmi R. Shukla, Devendra Bundela and Amit Bhandari.

SCOREBOARD

West Indies: (Ist innings)

C. Gayle Ibw Sodhi 21

B. Parchment b Sodhi 1

S. Joseph c Martin b Karthik 12

L. Roberts c Sodhi b Karthik 10

R. Sarwan c Kumar b Karthik 89

R. Hinds b Sriram 68

R. Lewis c Karthik b Sriram 0

N. McLean c Martin b Sodhi 8

W. Phillip not out 0

Extras (b-2 Ib-4 w-1 nb-11) 18

Total (for eight wickets) 227

Fall of wickets 1-19, 2-23, 3-46, 4-53, 5-190, 6-190, 7-213, 8-227.

Bowling: Ganesh 11-3-34-0, Sodhi 16-5-42-3, Karthik 31-12-60-3, Sanghvi 18-6-64-0, Sriram 13-5-21-2, Kaif 1-1-0-0.

Humiliating 108-run defeat for Indians

ABU DHABI, Dec 1 (PTI) — India ‘A’ (1) crashed to an embarrassing 108-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the inaugural day-and-night match of the limited overs Abu Dhabi Cricket Cup ’99 here last night.

Set to score a modest 203 for a win, the Indians were never in the victory hunt, losing wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 94 in 38.1 overs at the Al Jazira Stadium.

Earlier, electing to bat, Sri Lanka ‘A’ were all out for 202 in 49.2 of their allotted 50 overs.

Only two Indian batsmen managed to reach double figures after the Lankan bowlers struck early blows to reduce their rivals to 18 for three.

A 45-run stand for the fourth wicket between former India left-hander Vinod Kambli (32) and ex-international Rohan Gavaskar (15) raised hopes of an Indian fightback, but the two departed in quick succession to hasten the slide to defeat.

Top-scorer Kambli, who seemed to be gaining in confidence as the innings progressed, striking five well-timed boundaries, was clean bowled by ex-international Ruwan Kalpage, while Gavaskar was caught by Saman Jayantha off Butejo.

Kalpage was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler, claiming three wickets for 20 runs, while Dinuk claimed two wickets for six runs in four overs as the islanders successfully defended their modest total.

Sanjay Bangar scalped three wickets and offspinner Sarandeep Singh claimed two as the Indians dismissed the Sri Lankans with four balls to spare.

The islanders struggled against the Indian bowling led by young speedster Zaheer Khan, who claimed one wicket for just 27 runs in his 10 overs.

But their middle order lent solidity to the Sri Lankan innings with skipper K. Hathurasinghe scoring a patient 48 with the help of four boundaries and S. Jayantha making a quick 39, which included three huge sixes, before being run out.

U. Prashantha took the Lankans past the 200-run mark with a rapidfire 28 made with four boundaries and a six.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka ‘A’

C. Mendis b Nair 25, P. Ediraweera c Haldipur b Zaheer 4, S. Jayantha run out 39, C. Hathurusinghe c Bangar b S. Singh 48, R. Kalpage c Haldipur b S. Singh 17, C. Jayasinghe lbw b S. Singh 0, I. Galagoda b Bangar 1, E. Upashantha c Ali b Bangar 28, H. Boteju not out 12, M. Villavarayan b Pandey 5, D. Hettiarachchi run out 02.

Extras: 21.

Total: (all out in 49.2 overs) 202.

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-59, 3-90,4-143, 5-143, 5-144, 7-174, 8-185, 9-195.

Bowling: Zaheer Khan 10-3-27-1, S. Bangar 10-1-51-3, S. Nair 10-0-51-1, G. Pandey 9.2-0-29-1, S. Singh 10-0-37-2.

India ‘A’ (1)

S. Das c Boteju b Upashantha 5, N. Haldipur lbw b Upashantha 3, A. Ali c Jayasinghe b Vellavarayan 4 V. Kambli b Kalpage 32 R. Gavaskar c Jayantha b Boteju 16, G. Pandey c and b Boteju 0, N. Mongia c Vellavarayan b Hettiarachchi 9, S. Bangar b Kalpage 9, Z. Khan lbw b Hettiarachchi 2, S. Singh c Hathuru b Kalpage 7, S. Nair not out 0.

Extras: 7.

Total: (all out in 39.3 overs) 94.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-14, 3-18, 4-63, 5-64, 6-69, 7-85, 8-94, 9-94.

Bowling: E. Upashantha 6-1-7-2, M. Vellavarayan 8-0-18-1, H. Boteju 9-0-26-2, C. Hathurusinghe 3-0-17-0, R. Kalpage 9.3-1-20-3, D. Hettiarachchi 4-1-6-2.

Astro-Turf fit for play
From Our Sports Reporter

LUDHIANA, Dec 1 — A meeting of the joint acceptance committee (JAC) to ascertain the work done at the Astro Turf hockey ground of Punjab Agricultural University was held on Sunday. The members of the JAC went around the artificial hockey surface brought from Holland and inspected the ground level.

In a press note issued by the District Sports Officer, Ludhiana, Mr S.L. Lotey, it was informed that the JAC members were fully satisfied with the level maintained so as to allow the water to drain out through the surface as well as the main drainage channels. They were also appreciative of the metallic covers installed on the drains and of markings on the ground which had no chance of fading out. The committee members recommended the turf surface’s acceptance in total. They also recommended that the ground might be opened to activity and declared it fit for competitions. The committee members who attended the meeting were Col Ravinder Singh, Director Sports, Punjab, Dr L.D. Kandpal, Scientist ‘F’, Defence Materials and Stores Research-and-Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur, Mr Ravi Patil representative of Desso DLW, Holland, Mr Roop Adhlakha, Deputy Director, SAI, Mr A.S. Sandhu, hockey coach, SAI, and Mr Sukhbir Grewal, international hockey player.

Winter games in Himachal
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 1 — Himachal Pradesh will host the first Winter South Asian Federation (SAF) Games during January and February 2000 in Shimla and Manali in which participants of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will take part.

This was stated by the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, after a meeting with Union Sports and Culture Minister, Mr Anant Kumar, here today.

He said the second National Winter Games would also be organised during the same period in which 15 mountaineering and allied sports associations of the country would participate.

Professor Dhumal disclosed that 800 players are likely to participate in the competitions in both the events. He said ice skating competitions would be organised from January 4 to 8 at ice skating rink, Shimla, while skiing competitions would be organised from February 4 to 10 at Solang Slopes Manali, which is famous for alpine and cross country skiing in the world.

He said the state government proposed to organise Asian winter sports tournaments in the state in the coming years to boost tourism and related industries besides adventurous sports in the region.

The state government has sent 13 proposals for setting up sports hostels, colleges, sports stadiums etc to the central government for financial assistance to boost the sports activities in the state. He said the state govt would appoint 40 coaches on contract basis in the state in the near future to tap the sports potential of younger generation. The Chief Minister requested Mr Anant Kumar to release a grant of at least Rs 5 crore for organising winter sports competitions.

Punjab TT squad
From Our Sports Reporter

JALANDHAR, Dec 1 — Punjab Table Tennis Association has selected a 19-member team (nine boys and 10 girls) to represent state in the 61st Sub-Junior National and Inter State Table Tennis Championships being held from December 2 to 8.

According to Mr P. C. Budhia, secretary of the Punjab Table Tennis Association, the selected team members are;

Sub-Junior boys: Rohit Mahajan, Sahil, Vaneet and Randeep.

Girls: Anjali, Reetika, Ravneet, Charu and Manisha.

Cadet boys: Ratesh, Suraj, Sukhdev Chander, Shekar and Sahil Sood.

Girls: Reetika, Manisha, Dapinder, Dimple and Gagandeep.

Mr Varinder Gulati and Mr Mukesh Kumar will be accompanied the team as coach and manager, respectively.

Liberals hockey from Dec 5
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Dec 1 — The 24th All India Liberal Hockey Tournament will be held at Nabha, near here, from December 5 to 13.

The tournament which has been categorised in grade ‘A’ by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) will see the Bangladesh national hockey team in action, apart from 30 other top teams of the country, according to Mr G.S. Bains, president of the organising committee of the tournament.

Mr Bains confirmed that he had got written confirmation from the secretary of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), Mr Shamshul Bari, that Bangladesh will field the same team that did duty in the Asia Cup which concluded at Kuala Lumpur recently.

He said the Ministry of External Affairs has already given permission to the organisers to invite the Bangladesh team. However, he said that a team from Pakistan, Lahore XI, was also invited, but the External Affairs Ministry refused permission for the Pakistani outfit.

Shooting meet
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The 24th Northern India Shooting Championship will be organised by City Shooters club, Chandigarh under the aegis of the Chandigarh Rifle Association from December 25 to 30. The five-day meet will be hosted at Patiali Rao Ranges, Sector 25, and events will include rifle and Pistol in ISSF and national rules categories. Teams from Punjab, Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, ITBP, CRPF, BSF, Punjab Police besides Chandigarh will take part. Entries close on December 22.

B’ball trials

JALANDHAR, Dec 1 (FOSR) — Trials to select the Jalandhar district basketball teams (men and women) for the Punjab State Senior Basketball Championship scheduled to be held at Barnala from December 4 to 7 will be conducted here at Hans Raj Stadium on December 3 at 9.00 a.m. according to Mr Parjinder Singh Nijjar, secretary, District Basketball Association, Jalandhar.

Ludhiana boys excel

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 (BOSR) — Government College, Ludhiana, won the overall championship with 15 points followed by Arya college, Ludhiana, who were declared runners-up securing 14 points while SGGS College, Chandigarh finished third with 11 points in the Panjab University Inter-College Weightlifting championship (men) held on the PU campus today. The gold medal winners in the various categories were: Balwinder (SGGSC-Chandigarh) in below 56 kg, Gurbinder Singh (GC, Ludhiana) in below 62 kg, Ram Pal (SGGSC,Chandigarh) in below 69 kg, Kulvinderjit Singh (GC, Ludhiana) in below 77 Kg, Avnash Singh (Arya College, Ludhiana) in below 85 kg and Kuldeep Singh also (Arya, Ludhiana) in 94 kg section.

Dhudike college win PU hockey title

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 (BOSR) — LLR Government College, Dhudike and Government College, Karamsar (Ludhiana) won the Panjab University Inter-College Hockey ‘A’ and ‘B’ division tournaments which concluded today at PU grounds here.In ‘A’ division, GGD SD College, Chandigarh secured the second position followed by Government College, Ludhiana and GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sudhar who finished third and fourth respectively. In ‘B’ division, Guru Nanak College, Doraha finished second.

The results of the matches played today are: LLR G College, Dhudike b GC, Ludhiana 5-2 (half time score 2-1). Manjit, Arshdeep, Tejinderpal Singh, Dilberjani and Ranjit Singh scored one goal each for the winners. Amolak and Satwinder scored one goal each for the losers.

In another match, GGD SD College, Chandigarh got the better of GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sudhar by 4-2 with half time score of 2-1 in favour of GGD SD. The scorers for the SD College were Navdeep Singh(2 goals), Gurpreet Singh and Manmohan Singh (one goal each). Sunil and Manjinder scored one goal each for the losers.

Hardeep is Mr PU

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 (BOSR) — Hardeep Singh of DAV College,Chandigarh was adjudged Mr Panjab University in the Panjab University Inter-college Body-Building Meet here today.

DAV College, were declared overall winners with 21 points followed by GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana with eight points while PU campus and SGGS College, Chandigarh were joint third with five points each.

The gold medal winners in various categories were: Kulwinder Jit Singh of DAVC, Chandigarh in below 65 kg, Ranjit Singh of PU Campus Chandigarh in below 70 kg, Hardeep Singh of DAVC, Chandigarh in below 80 kg, Hari Narayan of DAVC,Chandigarh in below 90 kg and Jagmeet Singh of GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana in above 90 kg section.

HOA panel to meet

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 (BOSR) —The Haryana Olympic Association will hold a meeting of the technical committee on December 3 at 10.30 a.m. at Bhim stadium, Bhiwani, to finalise the competition schedules of various events of the Haryana Sports Festival to begin at Bhiwani from December 13. This was stated by Mr HS Bhadu, Chairman of the technical committee of the HOA. He said the said committee would also decide on the appointment of various technical officials for the conduct of the festival at different venues along with equipments needed for the same.

Athletic meet from Dec 5

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 (BOSR) — The 15th Haryana state Junior Athletic meet will be held from December 5 to 7 at the synthetic track of Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, according to Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, President of the Haryana Amateur Athletic Association.

More than 1000 athletes from all over the state will vie for top honours.

The events will be conducted in under-20, under-16 and under-14 sections while competitions in 10,000 metres, 20 km walk and pole vault will be held in under-14 boys category only.

Mr Chautala also said the state team would also be selected to take part in the 15th Junior National Athletic Championship to be conducted at Salem( Tamil Nadu).