Kumble's feat unbelievable: Warne
SYDNEY, Feb 8 — Australia’s Shane Warne today paid tribute to fellow leg-spinner Anil Kumble after the Indian bowler’s 10-wicket haul in the second Test against Pakistan.

• A rare privilege to watch: Gavaskar
• Cash awards for Kumble

Pakistan beat India, take 3-0 lead

HYDERABAD, Feb 8 (PTI) — Pakistan beat India 5-2 to take a 3-0 lead in the nine-Test two-leg hockey series in their third match at Begumpet Stadium here today.

Pakistan had defeated India in earlier matches at Delhi and Bhopal. The last tie of the four-Test India leg will be played at Chennai.

Pakistan dominated the proceedings with their forward line functioning like a well-oiled machine and piercing the Indian defence at will.

India earned their first penalty corner in the first minute itself and Gagan Ajit’s feeble pass to penalty corner specialist Dilip Tirkey went waste.

The second penalty corner for the hosts earned in the second minute was well saved by a diving Pakistani custodian Irfan Yousuf.

The Pakistan forwards regrouped themselves with short passes and kept up the pressure on the Indian citadel.

For Pakistan, forwards Mohammed Irfan and Atif Bashir scored a brace each while Sohail Abbas scored once in the tenth minute.

Irfan’s goals came in the fourth and 31st minutes of the match while Bashir sounded the board in the 44th and 48th minutes.

For the hosts, Baljit Singh Dhillon was bang on target in the 19th and 59th minutes of the match.

In the fourth minute, Pakistan skipper Atif Bashir sent a grounder from the top of the circle to Mohammad Sarwar. He took a powerful strike towards the Indian post and in the goalmouth melee, Mohammad Irfan pushed the ball into the net to take the lead.

In the 9th minute, Pakistan got another penalty corner and Mohammad Saqlain’s push was well stopped by Waseem Ahmed. Sohail Abbas completed the formality of scoring their second goal.

In the 19th minute, Dilip Tirkey took a strike at the Pakistan cage, but the Pakistan custodian saved the shot. The ball rebounded straight to Baljeet Singh Dhillon who snicked it into the cross-piece to open India’s account.

The third goal for Pakistan came from the stick of Irfan in the 31st minute.

Indian coach substituted the goalkeeper with B.C. Poonacha at the beginning of the second half.

In the 44th minute, Pakistan increased their lead through Atif Bashir. Sohail Abbas’ powerful shot missed the target, but Rajesh Chouhan failed to clear the ball. It went straight to Atif Bashir who took a powerful shot directly into the Indian cage.

The fifth goal for Pakistan came in the 58th minute through Atif Bashir in a goalmouth melee, and in the last moments of the match, India earned a penalty stroke which was converted by Baljeet Singh Dhillon to take the score to 5-2 in favour of Pakistan.

Atif Bashir was adjudged the 'man of the match.'

India enter final

CAIRO: India thrashed Malaysia 4-1 to reach the final of the five-nation international hockey tournament currently underway here.

The Indian team, basically a second string outfit, outclassed their opponents in all areas of the game and will now play hosts Egypt in the final on Tuesday.

India, with nine points from three wins and a loss, tied with Egypt (9 points) to make the final.

Both the teams played recklessly in the first half and ended up without scoring.

However, India raised their level of game after the lemon break, and 11 minutes into the second half saw right-out Ajinder Pal Singh successfully convert penalty corner and put India ahead.

Two minutes later, left-out Tanwir Jamal connected a pass from Brojen Singh to score India’s second goal and India went 3-0 up when Mukesh Kumar fired a field goal completely deceiving the Malaysian goalkeeper who was stranded at the other end of the post.

Fifteen minutes before the hooter, left out Brojen Singh scored the fourth goal connecting a pass from Rajinder Singh. Malaysia scored the only goal five minutes later when Azhar converted a penalty corner.

Kumble's feat unbelievable: Warne

SYDNEY, Feb 8 (Reuters) — Australia’s Shane Warne today paid tribute to fellow leg-spinner Anil Kumble after the Indian bowler’s 10-wicket haul in the second Test against Pakistan.

Kumble bagged all 10 wickets in an innings in a sensational spell to emulate Jim Laker’s historic feat as he bowled India to a massive 212-run victory over Pakistan in New Delhi yesterday.

He and Laker are the only men in Test cricket history to have taken all 10 wickets in an innings. Kumble returned figures of 10 for 74 in 26.3 overs, nine of them maidens.

Warne, who along with Kumble and Pakistan’s Mushtaq Ahmed has helped revive leg-spin bowling at Test level, admitted to being stunned by the feat.

"For leg-spinners club it’s a very, very good thing," he said. "I’ve played in a game where people have got eight, it’s just unbelievable, you can get 10 wickets, it means opening bowlers didn’t do their job and didn’t get early wickets."

"To get 10 is a huge effort, it couldn’t happen to a nicer leggie, he’s one of the real nice blokes of international cricket and I’ve shared some good times with him and, hopefully, he can keep doing it," Warne told reporters.

Fellow Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill also lauded Kumble’s performance. "He’s a very effective bowler, and so different," MacGill said. "If the wicket’s conducive he can be a real handful with his pace and bounce.

"It doesn’t surprise me because he’s a very devastating bowler, but it does surprise me that no-one else took a wicket," MacGill said.

BANGALORE, (UNI): "It is a fantastic and fabulous achievement. He bowled very well," leg spinner B.S. Chandrasekhar, whom the batsmen world over feared in 1970s and early 80s, said.

"It is a great effort and Kumble has achieved it through hardwork and dedication. The achievement is all the more praise worthy as at one stage he looked lacking in confidence in his bowling. He appeared disturbed due to the fear of getting stale", he added.

The leg spinner said that Kumble appeared to have sorted out his problems regarding his weak points and so was a victorious man.

Legendary off spinner and member of the fame Indian spin quartet E.A.S. Prasanna said it was a great moment for Karnataka. "I am really excited". We are all proud. It is another feather in Karnataka’s cap. I am at a loss for adjectives to describe the achievements", he said.

He said it was a great achievement for it took more than 43 years to achieve the ten-wicket haul. "It is a stupendous task".

Congratulating Anil Kumble, he said the leg spinner bowled a very good line and length.

Former Test wicket keeper S.M.H. Kirmani said: "It is a wonderful achievement. It is remarkable and one does not see such achievements too often.

Former allrounder Roger Binny said it was a "solid performance. As an Indian triumph card, he spearheaded the bowling attack. He bowled beautifully for the Indian victory", he said.

LONDON, (AFP): Former England captain Sir Colin Cowdrey yesterday thanked Anil Kumble for providing a "great day for cricket" after the Indian bowler’s historic 10-wicket performance in Delhi.

Kumble’s 10-74 effectively won the second Test between India and Pakistan in Delhi and levelled the series, and Cowdrey joined fellow ex-England players Ray Illingworth and Fred Trueman in celebrating the wrist-spinner’s achievement.

"I never thought it would happen again," said Cowdrey, who played in Laker’s Test at Old Trafford when the Surrey off-spinner took 10-53 against Australia in 1956, finishing with 19 wickets in the match.

"It is so difficult to do. Of course, you need to bowl brilliantly. But the chances of no other Test match bowler taking a wicket at the other end means you need to stay lucky too.

"(Laker’s Surrey spin twin) Tony Lock also bowled beautifully at Old Trafford but he only got one wicket out of 20 — and that was the one that I caught.

"I never thought an all-10 would happen again. It is so unlikely, especially for a leg-spinner against Pakistan, because they can play it pretty well.

"It in a phenomenal achievement. I am particularly pleased a leg-spinner has done it. It is a great day."

Illingworth, another former England captain, was also at pains to point out the odds stacked anyone taking all 10 wickets, even if a bowler gets well on the way with some early scalps.

"It’s a tremendous achievement at any level, but to do it in an international is almost unbelievable," said the ex-England coach.

"The hard part is when you get to number seven or eight. I’ve played in matches and taken the first seven or eight wickets, but those were in county games.

"It’s not so bad when you can afford for your teammates to perhaps take it a bit easy at the other end, but this was a Test match which had to be won.

"When I got close a couple of batsman always got stuck and someone else came in and got a couple of wickets", added Illingworth.

Paceman Trueman was always similarly disappointed when the prospect of an all-10 return loomed for him.

He paid his own tribute to Kumble, saying: "It’s absolutely fantastic, and I’m really thrilled for him.

"It’s extremely difficult to do when you have international bowlers at the other end. I’m always delighted when cricketers manage to pull off such things.

"I got eight out of the first nine once — I think Alec Bedser got the other in a Test against India at Manchester — but I’ve never got all 10. My best figures were 8-31, I think — but that was 40 years ago."

Kumble, a computer engineer, now has 234 Test wickets from 51 matches, having taken five wickets in an innings 12 times and 10 in a match on two occasions.

A rare privilege to watch: Gavaskar

NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (PTI) — Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar described leg spinner Anil Kumble’s incredible 10-wicket haul against Pakistan in the second Test here as "a rare privilege to watch".

The "little master", who was doing commentary as Kumble snapped up the Pakistan captain to seal victory, summed up the ace leggie’s performance in one expression — "relentlessly aggressive".

"It is only the second time in 122 years since Test cricket began in 1877," Gavaskar said when asked for his comments to describe the brilliant effort at the Ferozeshah Kotla this afternoon.

When asked about what he felt, Gavaskar said: "I have not seen Jim Laker take the 10 wickets, but I can only say this is extraordinary."

He said it was a privilege to watch the bowling which incidentally took place from the pavilion end with all the wickets falling to either catches close to the wicket or leg before, thus giving perfect view of Kumble’s performance.

Gavaskar said Kumble tried to bowl a bit slower than normal and extracted slightly more turn than usual which clinched the issue and enabled him to come up with the bag of wickets.

When Srinath did not want to take a wicket

NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (PTI) — For once, Javagal Srinath did not want to take a wicket.

After bowling 2,736 overs and claiming 340 wickets in international cricket, the Indian speedster found himself in a strange situation at Ferozeshah Kotla on Sunday afternoon - he did not want to take a wicket.

He was bowling from one end while from the other, Anil Kumble had taken nine Pakistan wickets.

The last Pakistani pair, skipper Wasim Akram and fellow fast bowler Waqar Younis, were at the crease.

Srinath was bowling to Waqar Younis what turned out to be the penultimate over of the Pakistan innings.

He did not want to bag Waqar Younis’ wicket to give Kumble a chance to become only the second man in the history of the game to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings.

Waqar Younis did not get out. Srinath did not get a wicket. And Kumble went on to scalp Wasim Akram in the next over.

"It was the most difficult over I ever bowled", Srinath said here today.

Anil Kumble, now part of cricketing lore, was full of gratitude to his team-mates, particularly Srinath.

"I thank my friend Srinath for not taking a wicket", the ace leg-spinner said.

Srinath only did for Kumble what the leggie himself had done in the 1994 Ahmedabad Test against Sri Lanka to help Kapil Dev break Sir Richard Hadlee’s world record for most number of Test wickets.

Cash awards for Kumble

MUMBAI, Feb 8 (PTI) — The Indian cricket board chief Raj Singh Dungarpur today hailed leg spinner Anil Kumble's feat as "the greatest performance in the history of Indian cricket" and announced a cash award of Rs 1 lakh for the bowler and Rs 5 lakh for the team.

GANDHINAGAR, (UN): Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel today announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh to ace leg spinner Anil Kumble who took 10 wickets in an innings in a Test match against Pakistan in New Delhi yesterday.

The decision was taken at a specially-convened meeting of the state Cabinet here today.

Mike Tyson lawyers ponder next move

ROCKVILLE (USA), Feb 8 (AFP) — Lawyers for Mike Tyson spent the weekend pondering their next move in the wake of the former world boxing champion receiving a one-year jail sentence on two assault charges.

Tyson's attorneys can appeal the sentence and try to have the fighter released on bond within 30 days but risk conviction in a circuit court and a stiffer punishment if the oft-troubled champion is found guilty.

With an Indiana judge ready to consider whether or not Tyson has violated probation from a 1992 rape conviction, the former champion could serve three to seven more years, effectively ending his career.

Tyson's attorneys can also try to work with in the system, hope Tyson is out of jail by September with good behaviour and try to fulfil terms of a $ 33 million deal for staging four fights in Las Vegas.

Michael Steele, Tyson's brother-in-law and a lawyer, told the Washington Post yesterday the family was "shell shocked" that Tyson was jailed at all and said lawyers would "look at all options and see what will be in Mike's best interests."

Tyson pleaded no contest to charges he kicked and punched two male motorists, ages 50 and 63, whose car rear-ended one being driven by his wife near here on August 31. The plea did not result in a finding of guilt against Tyson, although he was punished as if he had been found guilty. 

Maryland judge Stephen Johnson received an 11-page memorandum from prosecutor Douglas Gansler detailing why Tyson should be jailed, calling him "a ticking time bomb in our backyard."

Tyson advisor Shelley Finkel asked for Tyson to be allowed to fight so he could repay $ 22 millions of debt, much of it federal taxes, and said even one day of jail time risked ending Tyson’s career.

Nevada state Assistant Attorney General Keith Kiser said Tyson is not in danger of having his fight license revoked but must reapply for a new license in 2000.

Tyson, 32, was being held in a protective custody private cell at Montgomery country jail.

Good behaviour could result in Tyson being free in September and after 60 days, he could be sent to a work-release centre where he would stay at night and find a job during day hours.

A lucrative day job awaits him in Las Vegas. Even an April 24 fight date there has not been wiped out on the chance that Tyson might appeal and be free on bond to box.

The greater threat to Tyson’s career resuming is Indiana judge Patricia Gifford, who said she will wait until receiving paperwork from Maryland to decide whether or not Tyson violated terms of a 1992 rape conviction.

Tyson served three years of a six-year sentence for rape.

Gifford’s options include extending the probation beyond its scheduled March 24 expiry, imposing a fine or making Tyson serve three to seven more years.

Dale, Bichel for Windies tour

SYDNEY, Feb 8 (Reuters) — Pace bowlers Adam Dale and Andrew Bichel were named today for Australia’s cricket tour to the West Indies.

The two Queenslanders were the surprise inclusions in the 15-man Australian squad for the tour. The Australians arrive in Antigua on February 19 for a campaign that includes four Tests and seven one-day internationals.

Dale and Bichel joined pace bowlers Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and the versatile Colin Miller in a seven-man bowling attack supported by leg-spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill.

Australia’s one-day wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist failed to win a berth as a specialist batsman despite his record-breaking innings of 154 in Australia’s win over Sri Lanka in the tri-series limited-overs competition yesterday.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) is scheduled to name the new captain in place of retired Australian Test skipper Mark Taylor on Friday, with Test vice-captain Steve Waugh favoured to get the position ahead of Warne.

Taylor announced his retirement from international cricket last Tuesday, saying his heart was no longer in the game.

The ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed said today the one-day squad for the West Indies would be named on March 24 after the domestic Sheffield Shield final.

Dale, a key member of Australia’s one-day team contesting the tri-series finals against England from Wednesday, leads the first-class bowling averages this summer.

He and Bichel earned selection ahead of Queenslander Michael Kasprowicz and Western Australian Brendon Julian, who were considered leading contenders for fast-bowling berths.

Greg Blewett and Ricky Ponting won a four-man race for the middle-order batting positions ahead of Gilchrist and Darren Lehmann.

Australia retained the Frank Worrell Trophy between the two cricketing rivals with a 3-2 series win in Australia in 1996-97.

They should start favourites after the West Indies’ just-completed dismal tour of South Africa where they were beaten 5-0 in Tests and 6-1 in limited-over matches.

Australian squad: Andrew Bichel, Greg Blewett, Adam Dale, Matthew Elliott, Jason Gillespie, Ian Healy, Justin Langer, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Colin Miller, Ricky Ponting, Michael Slater, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh.

Kallis leads SA to 50-run victory

CENTURION, (South Africa), Feb 8 (Reuters) — A fine performance by Jacques Kallis helped South Africa cruise to yet another emphatic victory over the west Indies in the seventh and final one-day international yesterday.

Set to score 227 for victory, the tourists were eventually bowled out for 176 to give South Africa victory by 50 runs. The result secured South Africa a 6-1 win in the one-day series to add to their 5-0 whitewash in the Tests.

Kallis top scored with 66 and with Jonty Rhodes added 98. As if that wasn’t enough, he then had a hand in the dismissals of the first four West Indian batsmen to fall.

In his first over he took a sharp caught and bowled to send opener Shivnarine Chanderpaul packing for six and then six overs later had dangerman Carl Hooper caught behind for eight.

A fine reaction catch at square leg helped dismiss Brian Lara and when he caught Keith Arthurton in the same position three overs later, Kallis had almost single-handedly taken out the tourists’ top order with the score on 76.

Kallis and Rhodes’ partnership came to an end when part-time spinner Keith Arthurton took a sharp caught and bowled, dismissing Rhodes for 41.

Three overs later Arthurton was again in the thick of things when he caught Kallis in the gully off Lewis.

Despite a mini collapse, where three wickets fell for seven runs, Lance Klusener and Pat Symcox pitched in at the end with a rollicking unbeaten eighth wicket stand of 36 off 32 balls. Klusener scoring 21 off 23 balls and Symcox 17 at a run a ball.

Seamer Reon King was the most successful of the West Indies bowling ending with two for 30 in 10 overs.

But as with most of this tour, which ended on Sunday, the West Indies batting resistance was paper-thin and consisted of part-time opener Junior Murray scoring 57 and the tail end offering some brave fight which proved to be in vain.

SCOREBOARD
South Africa:

Rindel b King 10

Gibbs c Jacobs b King 12

Cullinan b Mclean 7

Kallis c Arthurton b Lewis 66

Cronje c Jacobs b Mclean 11

Rhodes c and b Arthurton 41

Pollock b Arthurton 22

Boucher run out (Lara) 0

Klusener not out 21

Symcox not out 17

Extras: (NB-10, W-6, LB-2, B-1)19.

Total: (for eight wickets in 50 overs) 226

Bowling: Reon King 10-0-30-2, Carl Hooper 8-0-35-0, Nixon McLean 10-0-40-2, Keith Semple 4-0-24-0, Rawl Lewis 10-0-53-1, Keith Arthurton 8-0-41-2.

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-38, 3-40, 4-61, 5-159, 6-165, 7-166, 8-190.

West Indies:
Chanderpaul c and b Kallis 1

Murray c Klusener b Cronje 57

Hooper c Boucher b Kallis 8

Lara c Kallis b Klusener 9

Arthurton c Kallis b Klusener 2

Jacobs c Pollock b Cronje 6

Reifer b Pollock 22

Semple b Klusene 23

Lewis c Gibbs b Kallis 12

McLean run out 23

King not out 0

Extras: (LB-2 NB-5 W-6) 13

Total: (all out, 44.5 overs) 176

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-24, 3-66, 4-76, 5-89, 6-95, 7-124.

Bowling: Pollock 8-2-25-1, Kallis 8-0-38-3, Donald 8-0-33-0, Klusener 7.5-2-31-3, Cronje 5-0-21-2, Symcox 7-2-20-0, Cullinan 1-0-6-0.

Lara sees 'a lot of worrying signs'

CENTURION (South Africa), Feb 8 (Reuters) — Brian Lara, captain of the most dismal tour in West Indies cricket history said yesterday he was content to leave decisions on his future in the hands of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Lara was speaking after South Africa won the final one-day international by 50 runs at Centurion Park. It left South Africa 6-1 winners of the limited overs series to add to their 5-0 drubbing of West Indies in the Test series.

"My captaincy is something that is up to the West Indies board to decide," Lara said, "but I am happy to serve West Indian cricket in whatever capacity."

Lara, world record holder of the highest Test and first-class individual scores, said he believed players and authorities needed to meet and decide the way forward.

"There are a lot of worrying signs. We need to get everyone together to sort out how best to rectify the situation," Lara said. "It might be a long process but we have to be able to play cricket of a reasonable standard.

"The only consolation is that a lot of teams have come back from this."

During the three-month tour, West Indies won just three out of 21 matches, two of which we friendlies against provincial invitation teams. Their only international success was against South Africa in the second one-day match in East London.

Lara denied that pay dispute between players and the WICB at the beginning of the tour had affected their on-field performance.

"We have been through that and been bombarded by questions about it," Lara said. "At the end of the day, not everybody played to the best of their ability. Problems off the field should not affect what happens on the field."

Lara has little time to get his side back on track with Australia due to arrive for a tour of the Caribbean in two weeks time.

"Australia are the best cricketing nation in the world at the moment and we certainly don’t want to lose at home to them," Lara said.

South Africa captain Hanse Cronje was understandably overjoyed at his team’s performance.

"It’s easy to lose that professional edge in a series like this but the guys stuck to it," Cronje said. "It’s always a great honour to play the West Indies, even if they are a bit off."

With South Africa due to leave for a three-match test series and six one-day internationals in New Zealand, Cronje was quick to warn against complacency.

"That is my biggest fear and we must be careful not to fall into that trap," Cronje said.

Mahindras edge out IB

MUMBAI, Feb 8 (PTI) — Local outfit Mahindra and Mahindra football club edged out Indian Bank, Chennai, 4-3, after trailing 2-3 at half-time in a group-B National Football League match here today.

The jeepmen, who were trailing for most part of the match, have got 10 points from eight matches, while the bankmen have seven from eight matches.

The local outfit would be playing two tough away matches against Calcutta giants East Bengal and Kerala outfit F.C. Kochin to complete their group-B engagements. Though Mahindras have a slim chance of making it to the super league stage, they can at least hope to avoid relegation.

The bankmen are placed fifth above Indian Telephone Industries (ITI), Bangalore, who have five points from seven games and will play East Bengal and Goan outfit Salgaocar in their last two away matches.

The bankmen started off in fine fashion with their Lankan import and medio Anton Silva scoring in the 13th minute off winger R. Selva Kumar pass.

Mahindra striker Manjit Singh, who scored a hat-trick in their last match against ITI at home, equalised in the very next minute off mid-fielder Khalid Siddique floater.

Salgaocar hold FC Kochin
Margo: Salgaocar rallied to hold F C Kochin to a 2-2 draw and split points in an exciting group "B" match of the National Football League at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here today.

Salgaocar, who held sway throughout the match, have themselves to blame for the draw as they missed chances galore in both the sessions. They drew first blood in the seventh minute through Venkatesh.

F c Kochin, whose main forte was speed, restored parity of a counter move in the 51st minute through M. Najeeb. Najeeb gave Kochin the lead in 57th minute off a pass from Pradhan.

Salgaocar fought back and after a series of forays into the rival half restored parity through medio Habib Adekunle in the 75th minute off a throw-in from Bruno Coutinho.

With this draw, F C Kochin are in second place with 14 points from eight matches while Salgaocar are in third place with 10 points from as many matches.

Salgaocar move on to Bangalore to play against ITI on February 13. They will play their last match against Indian Bank on February 17 at home.

F c Kochin will play their last two matches at home against Mahindras and ITI on February 13 and 17, respectively.

Referee Inayatullah Khan showed yellow cards to Habib and Ekunle of Salgaocar and Noha Rozario of FC Kochin.

Jadeja hits double ton in drawn tie

RAJKOT, Feb 8 (PTI) — Haryana skipper Ajay Jadeja achieved a rare distinction of scoring a century and a double ton in a match but it went in vain as their clash with Saurashtra in the Ranji super league ended in a tame draw here today.

Test discard Jadeja, who hit 202 not out, scored an aggregate of 338 runs but his knocks proved futile as Saurashtra finished with five points on the basis of the first innings lead.

Resuming on overnight score of 124 for 2, Haryana lost the wicket of Amarjeet Kaypee (48) in the second over when the score was 127. Then Ajay and Rajesh Puri tore apart the host bowlers adding 268 runs for the unfinished fourth wicket.

On a slow turner, Jadeja, who made 138 in the first innings, utilised the situation as his chanceless double ton comprised some of the most juicy drives on the backfoot and thundering pull-shots. He also hit three huge sixes. He stayed for 454 minutes and faced 333 balls.

Haryana (Ist innings): 338 all out.
Saurashtra (Ist innings): 363 all out.
Haryana (2nd innings): Jitinder Singh c Parmar b Chawda 9, Nitin Goel c b Parsana 20, Ajay Jadeja not out 202, Amarjeet Kaypee c Parmar b Garsondiya 48, Rajesh Puri not out 103. Extras (b-2, lb-5, w-5, nb-1) 13.
Total (for 3 wkts in 118.2 overs) 395.
Fall of wickets: 1/24, 2/30, 3/127.
Bowling: Garsondiya 25-4-68-1, Narendra Rana 1-0-7-0, Hitesh Parsana 24-2-116-1, Kamal Chawda 5-1-7-1, Sitanshu Kotak 29.2-7-83-0, Sudhir Tanna 12-4-26-0, Altaf Merchant 10-1-41-0, Prakash Bhatt 12-0-40-0.

Mohanty wrecks Railways
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Feb 8 — Railways were fighting a losing battle needing another 96 runs with just 2 wickets in hand to gain the all-important first innings lead against Orissa on the penultimate day of the Ranji Trophy super league match at the DCW Sports Stadium here today.

Pulling themselves together after they lost southpaw ASIF Murtaza with only 25 on the board, the Railway pair of skipper Parladh Rawat and Abhey Sharma raised visions of gaining the first innings lead and consequently 5 points from the match with a daughty partnership. But whatever hard work they put in was quickly undone by the other batsman who lacked skill and application even as the track offered no assistance to the Orrisa bowlers.

In a breathtaking spell of accuracy and movement in the pre-lunch session, fast bowler Debashish Mohanty took three wickets, sending jitters in the Railway camp. Resuming from the overnight score of 62 for 1 Railways slid to 92 for 3 before Rawat and Sharma provided some steadying influence to the middle order. While Abhey Sharam's innings had an element of doggedness, P. Rawat's knock was full of flair. Both had a touch of assurance to their batting.

At 243 for 5 the railmen were still in with a chance till some reckless batting towards the fag end of the day saw the Railways plummet to 255 for 8. The hosts have dug themselves in a hole and on the last day it will be difficult for them to wriggle out of the precarious situation they have landed themselves in for the battle for the first innings lead.

(Scoreboard)
Orissa (Ist innings): 348 all out.

Railways (Ist innings): 252 for 8.
S. Banger C Robin Morris b S. Khan 42, Asif Murtaza c R. Morris b S. Satpathy 11, Abhey Shrama LBW D. Mohanty 68, Saket Bhatia b D. Mohanty 00, P.S. Rawat c. P. Mullick b S. Raul 63, Yera Gaud n.o. 41, Vishal Sharma c and b S. Satpathy 09, M. karthik c Gautam Gopal b D. Mohanty 00, Zakir Hussain run out 05, Balaji Rao n.o. 00,

Extra 13.
Total 252 for 8.
FOW: 1/25, 2/87, 3/92, 4/159, 6/243, 7/244, 8/246.
Bowling: D. Mohanty 25-0-49-3, R. Morris 10-5-22-0, S. Satpathy 20-0-60-2, S. Khan 32-7-75-1, Sanjay Raul 14-3-27-1, P. Jayachandra 1-0-1-0.

First Punjab batch leaves for Manipur
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 8 — The first batch of the Punjab contingent left for Manipur yesterday to participate in the fifth National Games slated from February 14 to 25. Punjab has selected a 514-member contingent, including officials, to participate in the sports extravaganza.

Mr Arvind Khanna, secretary-general of the Punjab Olympic Association, disclosed here today that keeping in view the size and schedule of events the contingent had been divided into four batches. The second batch comprising 188 members would leave tomorrow evening.

Mr Khanna, who had telephonic talks with Mr Surjit, secretary, GTCC, informed that entries had been received from 23 states and union territories. Strengthwise, hosts Manipur head the list with 700 participants followed by Maharashtra (657), West Bengal (562) and Punjab (514). Sikkim is sending the smallest 14-member contingent.

Competitions would be held in 27 disciplines. Sepak Takraw, popular in Maharashtra, is making its maiden appearance in the games. Punjab, Mr Khanna, said, was keen to show prowess in women's events. There was no participation from the state in sepak takraw.

Mr Khanna said that the Punjab Government had sanctioned Rs 20 lakh as financial assistance for participation in the games.

Srinath promoted

NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (PTI) — The Indian Airlines today promoted fast bowler Javagal Srinath in recognition of his services to Indian cricket.

At a simple function here, IA's Chairman-cum-Managing Director Anil Baijal handed over to Srinath a letter elevating him from the post of Assistant Manager to that of Deputy Manager.

At the function to congratulate and cheer Srinath were his team-mates Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi, Harbhajan Singh and V.V.S. Laxman (the last named also an employee of the Airlines).

Base work for hockey turf complete
From Anil Dutt

LUDHIANA: The Punjab Sports Department is engaged in creating high class international standard sports structures for sports persons of the state to give them technical expertise and providing them free equipment to be used during training and competitions.

At present a lot of construction activity is going on at various projects. The Astro Turf hockey ground at PAU here is one such project. Expected to be ready by the end of March, this Rs 3-crore project will go a long way in the promoting hockey in this area.

Mr Sohal Lal Lotey, District Sports Officer, Ludhiana, informed that the base work had been completed in a record period of about two months. Work relating to stairs for spectators and the pavilion was expected to be completed in the next 2-3 months. The ground would be operational in the coming session and the department would chalk out the programme for its use, Mr Lotey said. The astro Turf synthetic surface has already arrived from Holland.

With this, Punjab would be proud owner of five such hockey synthetic surfaces while the other hockey playing states do not have as much number of hockey fields. Olympians and the other international hockey players feel satisfied with the new project.

The Sports Department has also decided to construct stadia at block-levels in a phased manner. Each stadia will cost Rs 25 lakh which includes one multipurpose hall, a track and stairs for the spectators. Twelve such stadia are coming up in Punjab of which four are in Ludhiana district alone, namely Kila Raipur, Gujjarwal, Ghungrali, Rajputtan and Bhaini Sahib. The money has been deposited with the construction agencies and the work is expected to be completed in the next six month’s time.

The Sports Department also plans to construct multipurpose halls at district headquarters with investment of Rs 1 crore each. Five such complexes were at the stage of completion at Muktsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mansa, Gurdaspur and Bathinda.

Maharashtra, Delhi settle for draw

PUNE, Feb 8 (PTI) — Brilliant unbeaten centuries by opener Hemant Kinikar (129) and Shantanu Sugvekar (131) proved futile for Maharashtra as their match against Delhi ended in a tame draw on the final day of the four-day Ranji Super League Cricket Championship at the Nehru Stadium here today.

Maharashtra fell 44 runs short of the victory target of 383 runs set by Delhi, with eight wickets in hand.

Resuming at their overnight score of five for no loss in 2.3 overs, Maharashtra mustered 339 for two in 92 overs including 16 mandatory overs in their second innings when the match was called off.

In their first innings, the home team had made 221, taking a vital first innings lead of 65 runs. Delhi in their first innings collapsed to 156 in 57.5 overs, while they declared their second innings at 447 for four in 117.2 overs.

In the second innings, Maharashtra’s Kinikar and Sugvekar accelerated the run rate after lunch but it was too late.

At tea, Maharashtra were 211 for 2 in 69 overs, with Kinikar at 87 and Sugvekar at 51.

Both Kinikar (271 balls, 378 mins, 18 x 4) and Sugvekar (171 balls, 193 mins, 15 x 4, 3 x 6) were involved in a 217-run unbeaten partnership for the third wicket.

Maharashtra collected five points, while Delhi got three in their first outings.

SCOREBOARD

Delhi (first innings): 156 all out

Maharashtra (1st innings): 221 all out

Delhi (second innings): 447 for four decl.

Maharashtra (second innings): (overnight 5 for no loss) Hemant Kinikar not out 129, Surendra Bhave c Sehwag b Nehra 24, Abhijit Kale c Sehwag b Nehra 30, Shantanu Sugvekar not out 131. Extras: (b 6, lb 6, nb 12, w 1) 25

Total: (for 2 wkts in 92 overs) 339.

Fall of wkts: 1-48, 2-122

Bowling: Ashish Nehra 22-3-66-2; Amit Bhandari 13-1-32-0; Robin Singh (jr) 5-1-10-0; Nikhil Chopra 16-3-37-0; Rahul Sanghvi 19-3-88-0; Virendra Sehwag 14-0-79-0; Akash Malhotra 3-0-15-0.

Indoor stadium on the anvil
From our correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 8 — The Shivalik Educational Society, comprising six schools in the city and Punjab, has drawn up a plan to contribute to the development of sports in its own way. It will put up a proposal for an indoor stadium to the Governor, Lt-Gen BKN Chhibber shortly, according to Mr DS Bedi, Principal of Shivalik Public school, Sector 41, here today.

The Governor has verbally approved the project according to Mr Bedi.

To be built according to international standards, the stadium will have a seating capacity for 1000 persons. There will be two basketball courts, two volleyball courts, four badminton courts, eight ping pong tables, specific areas for judo, karate and fencing, two lawn tennis courts, a boxing ring and a 50m track for sprints.

Further, it will have an indoor swimming pool, a standard pool and a warm pool. Besides, an open air theatre with a seating capacity of 1500, a health club with a multigym and a children's park has been planned in eight acres.

The society, with schools in Punjab and the city, will give a sum of Rs 2 crore for the development of the stadium. Mr Bedi said another matching grant of Rs 2 crore will come from the government though they were open to financial help from any quarter. He adds: "We will approach the Governor with our plan and finances. Then on, the ball will be in his court. Work will begin whenever and wherever land is allotted to build the stadium."

The stadium, on the anvil, aims at providing a ground for talented sportspersons to hone their skills. "This stadium is going to be the first of its kind in north India. In spite of having talented children in the region there is no place where they can go for regular practice sessions," says Mr Bedi.

The project of about Rs 12 crore will come up in a phased manner. The first phase will be the making of the indoor stadium which will cost about Rs 5 lakh. The auditorium and open air theatre will form the second phase while the indoor swimming pool will come up in the third phase. The health club and parks will come up in the last phase.

The stadium will be open to all age groups and strata of society for a fee. Since it is not a commercial venture all funds collected by way of fee will be utilised to provide better facilities in this fully air conditioned stadium.

Punjab, Rajasthan split points

JAIPUR, Feb 8 (PTI) — Unseasonal rain and poor visibility dashed Rajasthan’s hopes of taking the vital first innings lead in their group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy super league match on the final day, today.

Rajasthan who scored a mammoth 536 in their first essay, restricted Punjab to 292 for eight when rain and bad light prevented further play and the hosts after wresting the initiative were unlucky to have to split points with Punjab.

The visitors, struggling at 239 for five overnight were lucky not to concede a first innings lead as only 105 minutes of play was possible today.

The match began 100 minutes late and when it resumed Punjab lost the wickets of Sandeep Sharma (16) and D Mongia (52) before lunch.

At lunch they were 267 for 7. After lunch just 20 minutes play was possible and Punjab were in further trouble losing Sarandeep’s wicket, bowled by Shamsher, after he had scored just 15.

At 274 for eight and in dire straits, bad light came to Punjab’s rescue as play was stopped.

Play was resumed at 3.15 p.m. and Rajasthan had a ray of hope of getting a first innings lead and five points. But it was just not the hosts' day today as wicketkeeper Manish Singh missed an easy stumping chance of Navdeep off the bowling of Ashish Kapoor.

Then came a steady drizzle that literally poured water on Rajasthan’s hopes of a lead, after piling up a huge score and having the strong Punjab batting line-up on the backfoot, as play was called off much before the scheduled close.

Punjab eves’ soccer team for Games
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 8 — The selection committee of the Punjab Women's Football Association has selected a 20-member Punjab women's football team which will participate in the National Games being held at Imphal (Manipur) from February 14 to 25. The top eight teams of the country will participate in the women's football event, according to Mr Surinder Bhambri, secretary of the Punjab Women's Football Association.

The association organised a 26-day coaching camp with the help of the Punjab Olympic Association for the preparation of the state team.

International Gurmeet Kaur, who represented the country in the Asian Women's Football Championship in China and in Asian Games at Bangkok will be the captain of the team.

The other members of the team are : Amandeep Kaur, Baljit Kaur, Davinder Kaur , Sukhwinder Kaur, Kulwinder Kaur, Jaswinder Kaur, Malkit Kaur, Ranjit Kaur, Harkamal, Rajwant Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Rachpal Kaur, Sunita, Gursharanjit Kaur, Harjinder Kaur, Rajwinder and Rajvir Kaur.

Mr Ram Lubhaya Prabhakar and Mr Joginder Singh will be the manager and coach of the team respectively.

Sandhya creates a flutter

CHANDIGARH, Feb 8 (BOSR) — Sandhya Kanuri of India created a flutter in girls singles when she upset eighth-seed and another Indian Nona Wagh in three thrilling sets on a rain-marred day of the Centurion ITF Junior Circuit Tennis Championship at the CLTA complex, Sector 10, today. Sandhya won at 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The boys matches could not be played as the Plexi cushion synthetic courts were wet.

The other seeded girls who have advanced to the pre-quarter-finals include fourth seed Radhika Mandke, of India and seventh seed Nida Wasim of Pakistan. Radhika outplayed Kalpita Raje by 6-2, 6-1 while Nida blanked Sanya Judge of India by 6-0, 6-0. The top seed Sheethal and the second seed in girls Shruti Dhawan have been given bye in the first rounds.

Results: Vishika Chhetrui (Ind) b Itishree Badu (Ind) 6-1, 6-4: Olga Dzyuba (Kaz) b Poornima Narayanan (Ind), 6-3, 6-1: Sandhya Kanury (Ind) b Nona Wagh (Ind) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3: Radhika Mandke (Ind) b Kalpita Raje (Ind), 6-2, 6-1: Rekna Natrajan (Ind) b M. Sumitha (Ind), 6-1, 6-3: Nida Wasim (Pak) b Sanya Judge (Ind), 6-0, 6-0: Yuvika Sharma (Ind) b Nitika Singh (Ind).

Punjab 169 for 4

PATIALA, Feb 8 (FOSR) — Fine knocks by S.P. Singh (51), Vikramjit Sodhi (41) and Binwant Singh (39) were the highlights of the hosts fightback as Punjab scored 169 for 4 against Rest of India in the Madhav Rao Scindia Trophy match played at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium here today.

Scores: Rest of India (1st innings): 353 all out (A. Kapoor 97, P. Malviya 55, A. Chatterjee 48, Deepak Joon 57, Dharmi Chand 26, O. Khamivilkar 26 n.o. R. Jolly 4 for 72, H. Kali 4 for 109, S.P. Singh 2 for 61).

Punjab (1st innings) 169 for 4 (S.P. Singh 51, V. Sodhi 41, Binwant Singh 39, O. Khanvilkar 2 for 28, Dharmi Chand 1 for 25).

Rathore bags title

CHANDIGARH, Feb 8 (BOSR) — S.K. Rathore bagged the title on the concluding day of the All-India Inter-Zonal AG (IA and AD) Chess Championship at the AG (Haryana) complex, Sector 33, here today. Hari Om Sharma finished second while Milind Gawde and Baij Nath Prasad got the third and fourth positions respectively. In the team championship, AG (A and E) MP Gwalior represented by S.K. Rathore and S.K. Srivastava was the winner while AG (A and E) West Bengal got the second position. AG (UP), Allahabad finished third.

The points at the conclusion of the tournament: S.K. Rathore 4.5, Hari Om Sharma 4, Gawde 3.5, B.N. Prasad 3, P.R. Harsh 3, S.K. Srivastva 2.5, S.K. Gosain 2.5 S.K. Sinha 2, D. Barua 1.5, N.V. Ramakrishna 1, R.K. B. Panchal 1.