Wednesday, March 31, 1999
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S P O R T | Wednesday, March 31, 1999 |
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South Africa-NZ 1-dayer abandoned WELLINGTON, March 30 — South Africa were on course for a triumphant finale to their New Zealand series when rain halted the last one day cricket tie here today. Shamim
Khan leaves rivals far behind Karnataka
upset Railways Santosh
Trophy: Goa rout Karnataka, enter last four
Navjot Sidhu (124) to Punjab’s
rescue Hyderabad
pile up 270 for 3 Vikramjit
upsets Amish |
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India beat Lanka, enter final PUNE, March 30 (PTI) — Stand-in skipper Ajay Jadeja led from the front with an unbeaten 103 as India came together as a team to register a resounding 51-run victory over Sri Lanka to storm into the final of the Pepsi Cup Triangular Cricket Series here today. ‘Man of the match’ Jadeja, deputising for the injured Mohammad Azharuddin rattled up 124 runs for the fourth wicket with impressive debutant Amay Khurasia (57) to pilot India to an imposing 286 for six on being asked to bat first. Sharp Indian bowling and superb fielding then pegged back the free-scoring Sri Lankans, needing to win the tie to keep in the race for a final berth, who were bowled out for 235 in 45.5 overs at the Nehru Stadium here today. The triumph, India’s second successive one against the reigning World Cup champions following the 80-run verdict at Nagpur on March 22, ensured a much-awaited India-Pakistan day-night title clash at Bangalore on April 4 with the final league match at Mohali on April 1 still to be played. Haryana stalwart Jadeja played a well-planned run-a-ball effort studded with six fours and three sixes as runs flowed in a torrent after he and Saurav Ganguly (65) put on 78 runs for the third wicket to give momentum to the innings. Lanka completed a disappointing outing in the series, their final tune-up event prior to the May-June World Cup in England, with only a single win against Pakistan at Visakhapatnam to show from four ties. The Indian victory was fashioned by Jadeja’s excellently paced fifth one-day international century in his 157th match and his breezy 124-run partnership in only 15.4 overs with Madhya Pradesh lefthander Khurasia, who slammed a quickfire 57 off just 45 balls with four fours and two sixes. Chasing an asking rate of 5.74 per over for victory and to stay in contention for the final, Sri Lanka lost early wickets and stalwarts Aravinda De Silva (55) and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga (25) were run out to brilliant efforts by Nikhil Chopra and Robin Singh off successive balls to leave the visitors tottering at 146 for six. Pace spearhead Javagal Srinath finished with 2 for 44 while Ajit Agarkar returned 3 for 35 with seasoned allrounder Robin Singh, playing his first match of this series, claiming 2 for 45 from his full quota of 10 overs. Put in to bat by Ranatunga, India were given a brisk start of 43 by debutant S. Ramesh (24) and Ganguly (65 - 91 b, 6x4, 1x6). Ramesh was ‘caught’ by Aravinda De Silva, who flouted the rule which makes it mandatory that only two fielders should stand outside the 30-yard circle at the point of delivery in the first 15 overs of an innings. Ganguly and Jadeja stitched up a half-century stand and the latter then got together with Khurasia to flay the attack. Sri Lanka were straightaway in trouble losing both openers Avishka Gunawardene (10) and Marvan Atapattu (6) with only 21 on the board by the sixth over. Both openers Gunawardene and Marvan Atapattu played poor shots and got out cheaply. On a pitch where the ball came on nicely to the bat, the two Lankan batsmen perished playing ambitious shots. A brief stand of 57 ensued between Mahela Jayawardene (30) and De Silva, who made a subdued 55 in 78 balls with five fours, before the former was sent back at 78 by Robin Singh. Chaminda Vaas (0) was promoted to step up the run rate but he was also dismissed by Robin Singh. De Silva and Ranatunga then raised visions of a fightback with a plucky stand of 62 runs in 12.1 overs before both fell to smart Indian fielding. De Silva was caught short at the striker’s end going for a sharp single as wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia completed a fine run out on neatly collecting Chopra’s accurate but low throw from midwicket. The very next ball, Ranatunga dashed down for a quick single, but Robin Singh raced down on his follow through and picked the ball at the silly mid off position and threw down the stumps in one swift motion at the same score of 146. Their dismissals in succession took the fight out of the Lankans and finally the Lankans fell 51 runs short. Jadeja shuffled his bowlers around, cut off the runs with smart field placements and tied down the free-scoring Lankan batsmen to easily emerge the 'man of the match'. Jadeja showed imagination by replacing Kumble with Ganguly after the former had bowled only three overs and then brought in Robin Singh for off-spinner Chopra at the other end and the move paid dividends. SCOREBOARD
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India-Pakistan one-dayer Festive
mood catching on as SAS NAGAR, March 30 — Festive atmosphere pervails and hectic activity was under way at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here ahead of the Pepsi tri-series one-day international match between traditional foes India and Pakistan slated for April 1. A visit to the stadium today revealed the enthusiasm the match has generated, the absence of world's best batsman Sachin Tendulkar due to back problem and the Indian team skipper Mohammed Azharuddin because of shoulder injury,notwithstanding. All the tickets sent to Pakistan for cricket enthusiasts have been sold and the visitors are scheduled to arrive here tomorrow evening by a special train that will run from Attari to Chandigarh and transport them back on April 3. Mr M P Pandove, secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association, detailing the lodging arrangements made for the visitors said Kisan Bhavan, the Sector 42 stadium and Shivalik School, SAS Nagar, had been booked for them. He said the visitors from across the border would not be provided private accommodation as envisaged earlier as the permission to lodge them in private apartments had not been granted by the Intelligence Bureau due to security risks. After the match is over one full day has been reserved for them for shopping, sight seeing and to witness a cultural programme before they get ready for the return journey. Mr Pandove said no confirmation of the visit by any dignitary from abroad had been received so far. Invitations had been sent to Governor Shahid Hamid and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif of Punjab to witness the match. The PCA, this time, has decided to do away with rope denoting the boundary line. Parapet wall on the boundary will serve as the boundary for purpose of counting runs. Nothing, it seems, is being left to chance in so far as security is concerned. Massive security arrangements have been made for the match and the men in khakhi look all pervasive in as well as around the stadium. Arrangements were being made to put up barricades on various. roads leading to the stadium. Pakistan cricketers arrived here by the evening Shatabdi Express, while. The Indian team will reach here in the afternoon. The wicket to be used for the contest seems to have a fair amount of moisture and grass and therefore, should suit the seamers more. The lush green and smooth outfield should surely help the ball race to the fence besides abetting dives and slides by the fielders. A rich feast appears on the cards as the two rivals resume their rivalry on April 1 afternoon.
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Srinath, Kumble rested for April 1 tie PUNE, March 30 (PTI) — The national cricket selectors today rested Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble and Nayan Mongia and also left out injured opener S. Ramesh from the team for the inconsequential concluding triangular series league clash with Pakistan at Mohali on April 1. Announcing the 14 for the match, cricket board secretary Jaywant Lele said the four players had been replaced by Vinod Kambli, Venkatesh Prasad, Syed Saba Karim and Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Karim, incidentally, is not among the 19 shortlisted for the May 14-June 20 World Cup. Ajay Jadeja, who led India to a resounding win over Sri Lanka to ensure his team’s entry into the April 4 day-night final against Pakistan at Bangalore, will captain the side at Mohali too in the absence of injured Mohammed Azharuddin. "Azhar would be fit for the final," Mr Lele said and added Ramesh hurt his back while diving to regain his crease while batting today. "He sprained his back and should be fit in three days’ time. He will be considered for the final when the selectors meet to pick the team at Mohali on April 1," Mr Lele said. The team: Ajay Jadeja
(capt), Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Hrishikesh
Kanitkar, Amay Khurasia, Vinod Kambli, Syed Saba Karim,
Virender Sehwag, Nikhil Chopra, Venkatesh Prasad, Ajit
Agarkar, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Robin Singh and Gyanendra
Pandey. |
Pak team in
city CHANDIGARH, March 30 — The Pakistan team scheduled to clash with India in the tri-series match to be played at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium at SAS Nagar, near here on April 1, arrived here this evening by the Shatabdi Express. The first to alight amidst high security was skipper Wasim Akram. He seemed to be in a jovial mood and looked set for the clash with their traditional rivals. He was followed by middle order batsman Ijaz Ahmed and opening batsman Saeed Anwar. A security ring was thrown around the team members and the accompanying officials to keep the supporters, who were jostling to have a glimpse of the stars at bay. The rest of the members of the team like fast bowler Shoiab Akhtar, middle order batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, wily off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, wicketkeeper batsman Moin Khan, allrounder Azhar Mehmood and Abdul Razzak and others, some of them accompanied by their families, followed thereafter and wading through the crowd made their way into the bus for Hotel Mountview, where they have been lodged. A bit of confusion prevailed earlier as it was disclosed by the PCA that some members of the team would be coming to Chandigarh today, while the rest, would reach in the morning by the Shatabdi. This fact was corroborated by the securitymen present there. The team which looked a
bit jaded after the journey would be in the nets tomorrow
to get a feel of the prevailing conditions and not around
10 p.m. today as was being talked about earlier. |
Toss will play vital role SAS Nagar, March 30 — The India-Pakistan match in the three-nation Coca-Cola series, the last of the league matches of the tournament, scheduled to be played here at the PCA Stadium on Thursday will be the only day-night match of the series barring the final of the tournament to be played at Bangalore on April 4. Given the weather conditions it is apparent that the toss will play a vital role in the match, due to the fact that it is hot in the day while the evenings are cool with the temperature dropping by quite a few degrees. The match is scheduled to start at 2.30 p.m. when the temperature is more than 30 degrees. Therefore, the fast and medium-fast bowlers of the team which opts to field first will be at a disadvantage. On the reverse side the spinners of the side which fields in the second session might find it difficult to grip the ball properly as dew in the outfield will render the ball wet. Also, in such matches where the weather changes so dramatically throughout the day the white ball tends to become dirty very soon. How the umpires tackle this issue remains to be seen. The concept of one-day matches have changed over the years. Earlier skippers mostly opted to chase rather than set a target. But now skippers have to take into account all sorts of considerations before deciding capabilities of their batsmen, their bowlers, the weather conditions as also the strength and weakness of their rivals. So far the PCA has hosted six one-day internationals but no definite pattern is seen in the results obtained. There are cases where the team batting first has won matches while there are also cases where the team which fielded first has gone on to win matches. In the first one-day international hosted here, India took on South Africa on November 22, 1993, .South Africa won the toss, opted to field but lost the match by 43 runs. In the second one-day match held here, the first under lights, Australia beat the West Indies in the semi-final of the 1996 World Cup on March 14. Australia batted first after winning the toss and then won the match by a razor thin five-run margin. But in the very next match Australia played here against India on November 3, 1996, in the Titan Cup, the Kangaroos fielded first after winning the toss but lost by five runs. In the fourth one-day match played here in the Independence Cup, Pakistan took on New Zealand on May 9 , 1997. Pakistan won the toss, opted to field but lost by 22 runs. In the same tournament, on May 24, Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka by a big margin of 115 runs after being sent in to bat first. In the last match played here, on May 14 last year, India beat Bangladesh by five wickets after opting to field first. But what should gladden
the hearts of the die-hard fans is the fact that India
have won all the three matches they have played here
while Pakistan have lost both matches in which they have
figured in the PCA Stadium, so far. |
Another 5-wkt haul by Walsh BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS), March 30 (Reuters) — Australia picked up three wickets for just six runs late on the fourth day to tilt the balance in their favour in the third Test against the West Indies yesterday. Another five-wicket haul by Veteran paceman Courtney Walsh and then a gutsy opening stand of 72 between Sherwin Campbell and Adrian Griffith, West Indies’s best opening stand in 16 Test innings, had raised the home side’s hopes of a remarkable win. But the clatter of wickets left them on 85 for three at the close, still needing 223 for victory and a 2-1 lead in the four-match series. Only three times in 350 Tests have West Indies scored more than 300 to win a Test. They scored 348 for five against New Zealand in Auckland in 1968-69, 344 for one against England at Lord’s in 1984 and 317 for two against Pakistan in Georgetown in 1957-58. Fast bowler Glenn McGrath made the much-needed breakthrough when he trapped first innings century maker Campbell leg before for 33. Leg spinner Stuart MacGill followed with the wicket of Dave Joseph and McGrath took his haul for the series to 21 by dismissing nightwatchman Pedro Collins. Opener Adrian Griffith, run out for nought in the first innings, battled through to the close, scoring 35 off 143 balls. Earlier, high quality bowling by Walsh and Ambrose had been largely responsible for the Australians being dismissed for 146 after they had resumed on 18 for two. It would have been much worse but for Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne. They gave the innings a badly needed fillip with a stand of 53 after Ian Healy had been dismissed in the first over after lunch to leave Australia embarrassingly placed at 81 for seven. Warne’s 32 was the highest score of the innings. After breaking the stand by trapping Warne leg before Walsh went on to dismiss Stuart MacGill and Ponting to finish with five for 39. He, like McGrath has taken 21 wickets in the series. His overall tally is now 418 — just 16 short of Kapil Dev’s world record. High quality pace bowling by both Walsh and Ambrose in the morning restricted Australia to just 63 runs from 26 overs as they stumbled to 81 for six. They were ably supported by Pedro Collins who claimed the vital scalp of Australian skipper Steve Waugh, top scorer with 199 in the first innings. He went for 11 when he chopped the ball on to his leg stump. Opener Michael Slater, who looked capable of forcing the pace, was brilliantly run out for 26 by Campbell’s direct throw from the deep backward point. Australia (Ist
innings): 490 West Indies (2nd
innings): |
Youngsters a revelation INDIA gave a superb batting display to erase the memory of that awful collapse in Jaipur against Pakistan. They needed to lift spirits of their supporters and convince themselves that they can bat without Tendulkar. Another bad day at the office and the knives would have been out for certain players. The young guys were a revelation. Ramesh looked the part as an opening partner to Ganguly. He wasn't spectacular and he will play some more fluent innings in the future but he did enough to suggest to me that the selectors should carry on with him while Sachin rests his back. Debutant Khuresia was a revelation. What a terrific performance! He batted with such confidence and conviction, reading the state of the match perfectly. He had a look at the bowling and when the moment came to up the tempo, he smashed the ball out of the park. Fiftyseven runs in 45 balls is good at any stage of the game. He must be given more chances and he may take them and force his way into the World Cup. Even if he doesn't make the final 15, I think we shall hear a lot more of this young man. Jadeja batting at no. 4 was superb. He paved his innings with due care and then towards the end, thrilled the crowd with his second 50 off 24 balls.If even the selectors needed proof that he is not an opener but a middle order batsman, then I hope everyone points out to them how he scratched out at Jaipur for a half century and here looked A class batsman. It's a waste of a very good player to put him in first. The ‘come-back kid’ Robin Singh had an excellent day. He is not blessed with great ability but he is all heart. After having little opportunity to bat and making a first ball duck, he had enough heart to bowl well and take two early wickets. His fielding was of a high standard and the run-out of Ranatunga spectacular. I can't give it any higher praise than to say Jonty Rhodes would have been proud of it. He followed up his own bowling by sprinting down the pitch, swooping and turning in one movement, and as he was falling off balance, he threw down the batsman's wicket. That sort of commitment and character will be needed in the World Cup. Agarkar got wickets and showed some improvement. Another good sign was Srinath who bowled with a bit of fire, so it looks as he is coming good. What I can't understand is
Sri Lanka's reluctance to bat first. India are not very
good at chasing either. — PMG |
South Africa-NZ 1-dayer abandoned WELLINGTON, March 30 (AFP) — South Africa were on course for a triumphant finale to their New Zealand series when rain halted the last one day cricket tie here today. South Africa amassed 249 for four wickets in 48.4 overs when their innings was cut short and the New Zealand innings never started at the Basin Reserve. The match, the last on the Proteas’ New Zealand tour, will be replayed tomorrow but the forecast is for more rain. South Africa lead the series 3-2. They won the Test series 1-0. South Africa won the toss and made an explosive start that threatened a huge total. They raced to 84 in the 14th over before Herschelle Gibbs was bowled by Dion Nash for 47 made from just 48 balls. Gibbs was in fine touch with his timing, stroking new ball bowler Carl Bulfin over the long-off boundary and hitting six fours. Kirsten was equally effective till he was stumped off Gavin Larsen for 45 with the total on 111 in the 20th over. Larsen was responsible for pegging back the run rate with a fine spell of 1 for 28 from his 10 overs. Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori also slowed the scoring. However, Daryll Cullinan, who smashed 94 from 56 balls in the last game, and Jacques Kallis (54), pushed the score to 182 before Kallis played on to a ball from Nathan Astle and was bowled. Scoreboard: |
2003 world swimming meet in Barcelona HONG KONG, March 30 (AFP) — Barcelona will stage the 2003 World Swimming Championships, the international governing body announced here today. The Spanish city, which hosted the 1992 Olympics, beat Long Beach in California and Montreal to get the event. The 2001 championships are to be held in Fukuoka, Japan. The 2002 sixth World Short-course Championships will be in Moscow, the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA) announced at a press conference ahead of the fourth Short-course Championships which start in Hong Kong on Thursday. Taipei had also been in
the running for the 2002 event. The fifth World
Short-course Championships will be in Athens. |
Shamim Khan
leaves rivals far behind NEW DELHI, March 30 — Delhi youngster Shamim Khan shot the best round of his fledgling career, a super seven-under 65, to leave his more famous rivals way behind on the opening day of the Rs 7.7 lakh SRF Open Golf championship today. At the par-72, 6779-yrd Delhi Golf Club course, the 20-year-old who still doesn’t get to play the main course as regularly as the other pros, used his limited local knowledge to shoot seven-under 65, two strokes better than the defending champion Shiv Prakash and Vijay Kumar, Mahindra Player of last season and winner of five tournaments in the Wills sport Indian Golf Tour this year. In joint fourth spot were two Indian Open winners — Ali Sher and reigning champion Arjun Atwal at three-under 69. Shamim, winner of the 1997- 98 PGAI qualifying school, has been playing golf for just four years. But his scores belied his limited playing experience as he went on a birdie binge after starting with seven pars. He made his first birdie on the 17th and then followed it with another on the 18th after starting from the 10th tee. On his back nine, Shamim had birdies on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and finished with successive birdies on the 8th and 9th. He was also unlucky as his birdie putts on the 1st and 15th holes lipped out. "Though my driving is my strongest point, my putting was exceptional today," said Shamim who sank a 15-footer on the 17th, a 25-footer on the 4th and 10-footers on the 2nd,6th and 9th holes. " I am hoping that I can continue in the same vein tomorrow," he added. Shiv Prakash, who won last year with a record-breaking aggregate of 17-under, went 22-under for his last five rounds in the SRF Open. Today, the Kanpur pro was in scintillating form as he hit 17 regulations to play a bogey-free five-under round. "My putting let me down today. Otherwise, the way I was hitting the ball, I could have broken the course record today, " said the Corrupton Greaves Matchplay champion who missed four footer birdies on the 7th and 18th holes. "also, I could make only pars on the par-5 14th and 18th," he added. Vijay, who started from the 10th tee, made his only mistake on the 16th when he duffeed his 9-iron second shot from the middle of the fairway. From 20 yards short of green, he chipped eight feet short of the cup and then missed his putt. " The score should have been much better as the course is playing easy," said Vijay who had to pull out of the Indian Open two weeks back due to a shoulder injury. His birdies came on the 1st,6th,7th,10th, 14th and 18th holes. Atwal’s was an amazing round as he made two eagles in his first nine holes and a solitary bogey on the 9th, his last as he started from the 10th tee. On the par-5 14th and 18th, the Calcuttan used his driver and 6-iron to be on the green and putted out from 8 and 15 feet respectively. The bogey, his first after 55 holes including the last two founds of the Wills Indian Open, was a result of three-putt from 30 feet. Ali Sher started badly with a bogey on the second hole when he missed the green from right and failed to started badly with a bogey on the second hole when he missed the green from right and failed to make his up and down. Thereafter, the twice Indian Open champion recovered well with birdies on the 6th,7th, 13th and 18th holes with putts ranging from six to 20 feet. Last season’s Mahindra Rookie of the Year, Monish Bindra shot a hole-in-one - on the 5th with a 6-iron off the tee. He was four under at the turn, but a bad double bogey on the 15th saw him finish one-under 71 for the day. Scores (18 holes): 65
Shamim Khan: 67 Vijay Kumar, Shiv Prakash: 69 Ali Sher,
Arjun Atwal: 70 Basad Ali, Jyoti Randhawa, Vivek
Bhandari: 71 Monish Bindra, Mukesh Kumar: 72 Jamman,
Rafiq Ali, Feroz Ali, Asgar Ali, Gaurav Ghei, Prem, Pre,
Mohd Islam: 73 Balbir Verma, Vikramjit Singh, Binod
Pandey, Rohtas Singh: Amateurs: 75 Sanjeev Talwar: 77
Sanjay Kumar, Karan Atwal; 79 Chirag Kumar: 80 Kapil Dev. |
Karnataka upset Railways MANDYA(Karnataka), March 30 (UNI) — Playing brilliantly and coordinating well, hosts Karnataka upset last year’s runners up Railways in straight sets in the National Volleyball League (Group-I) to take a major step forward to assure themselves of a berth in the super league. Karnataka, who had recorded a thumping win over Himachal Pradesh in the lung opener, rose to the occasion and played superbly with home crowd rooting for them to win 25-21, 25-12, 25-15 in 52 minutes. Earlier, Tamil Nadu women fired Karnataka Youth, out last minute replacement for Maharashtra 25-8, 25-12, 25-13 for their first win in four-team round robin league. Karnataka men made the best of the lack of effective blocking by Railways. With this win, they avenged the defeat at the hands of Railways in the recent Nationals in Chinsurah. Helped by some poor serving, Karnataka shot into a 12-4 lead. Though Railways looked like catching up, Karnataka turned the set in their favour. The second set was no better. Brimming with confidence, Karnataka shot into lead and went on widening the gap to win with ease. In the third, Karnataka played seriously and never relaxed and gave Railways no chance of coming back into the match. Railways had rallied back in the Nationals after being two sets down and went on to win the match. Railways, who had defeated Madhya Pradesh, were well served by Venkateswara Rao. In the women’s
section, Tamil Nadu dominated throughout. For Tamil Nadu
Hemamalini, Smitha and Gayathri combined well. |
Santosh Trophy CHENNAI, March 30 (PTI) — Last year’s runners-up Goa booked their berth in the semifinals when they trounced Karnataka 6-0 in their final quarterfinal match in the Santosh Trophy National Football Championship here this evening. Somatai Shaiza scored the first in the 22nd minute of the first half. S Venkatesh (60th min), Mario Soares (65th min), Marcus Carvalho (67th min), and substitute Agostinho Rodrigues (88th min and 89 min) struck after half time on a day when Karnataka were totally let down by their defence. Goa take on Tamil Nadu in the semifinals on April 1, after a day’s rest tomorrow and Bengal take on Kerala the next day. Goa’s cohesive approach saw Karnataka play second fiddle. Their superiority could be gauged from the fact that Karnataka could not get a single chance to pierce the defence. The Karnataka defence was shoddy, Rishi Kapoor, being the main culprit, as his blunders allowed Goa to score the third and fourth goals. Though he was effective in the first half, making a few saves, Kapoor was the loose link in the Karnataka defence, which wilted under pressure. While the Goan forwards hunted for the lead, the medios Roque Pereira, Jules Alberto and Mario Soares worked in tandem to dispossess Karnataka players in the Goan half, not allowing them to enter the box. Despite this, Karnataka’s R C Prakash did try a long ranger, but the feeble shot was cleared by Robert Fernandes. Bruno Coutinho, Somatai Shaiza and Anthony Pereira were always in front and the manner in which they shuffled their attacks from either wings and centre caught the rivals napping. Somatai, who indulged in a rough tackle, was given the yellow card, his second, which means he has to sit it out for Goa’s next match. Goa got the lead in the 22nd minute after a couple of tries. A throw-in by Bruno was, rebounded off S Venkatesh, who had his back to the target and Somatai did the rest. Three more tries went in vain as Karnataka goalkeeper Venkatesh saved two and the last was cleared by Rishi Kapoor. Crossing over, the Goans dictated terms from the beginning and the goals came in quick succession. Karnataka could have avoided the second and third goals. Rishi Kapoor, who was marking S Venkatesh, slackened a bit as the former came from behind him to bang the ball home. In a similar situation, Kapoor allowed Mario Soares to score the third. Once the Goans led 3-0,
the writing was on the wall and Karnataka threw in the
towel. |
Navjot Sidhu (124) to Punjab’s rescue AMRITSAR, March 30 (PTI) — Veteran opener Navjot Sidhu struck a valuable 124 and raised 94 runs for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Mongia (39) as Punjab struggled to 251 for eight wickets on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal tie against Tamil Nadu here today. Medium-pacers S. Mahesh (four for 62) and T. Kumaran (three for 72) struck vital blows as Punjab batsmen fell at regular intervals with only Sidhu successful in negotiating the attack after Punjab won the toss and chose to bat first. Harbhajan Singh (10) and Navdeep Singh (0) were at the crease at close. Mahesh removed skipper and opener Vikram Rathore (S), Sandeep Sharma (16) and Pankaj Dharmani (7) and eventually accounted for Sidhu (124) while the younger Kumaran claimed Amit Sharma (3), Harminder Singh (8) and Sandeep Singh (27). Rathore was clean bowled by Mahesh with the score on three and the bowler struck 30 runs later when he trapped Sandeep Sharma leg before for 16. Dharmani also fell leg before to Mahesh to leave Punjab struggling at 51 for three. Sidhu and Dinesh Mongia stemmed the rot, but P. Subbiah broke the stand by bowling Mongia and three more wickets fell at regular intervals. Sidhu kept up the fight, but fell in the final session after a patient knock comprising eleven fours and one six. Sidhu and Rathore opened Punjab’s innings after the hosts decided to bat after winning the toss. But Rathore was clean bowled off a delivery from Mahesh when the board read three. After the addition of 30 runs to the board Sandeep Sharma (16) was out lbw to Mahesh. Pankaj Dharmani (7) was also out lbw when the board read 51. Sidhu and Dinesh Mongia protected the fourth wicket for which 94 runs were added. The partnership was broken when Mongia (39) was clean bowled by Subbiah. After the exit of Mongia wickets of Amit Sharma, Harminder and Sandeep Singh fell at regular intervals at the totals of 159, 172 and 239 respectively. In the post tea session
Sidhu was also out lbw to Mahesh at the total of 239
itself. His 124 included one six and eleven hits to the
fence. |
Hyderabad pile up 270 for 3 HYDERABAD, March 30 (UNI) — A flawless century by Nandkishore and his 172-run second wicket partnership with M.V. Sridhar (94) saw former champions Hyderabad pile up 270 for three on the opening day of the five-day quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy cricket match against Delhi at the Gymkhana Grounds here today. On a perfect batting strip, Nandkishore scored his second century of this season — he had scored a century against Kerala — with fourteen boundaries from the 236 balls he faced. During his 328-minute stay at the wicket, Nandkishore was associated in a 70-run second wicket partnership initially with Test discard VVS Laxman, who retired with a stretched back after scoring an individual 43, and later with the seasoned campaigner Sridhar. Sridhar, who missed his 22nd Ranji ton, belted 14 fours in his 217 minute-stay and faced 182 balls. Sridhar was first to go after tea, trapped by Test discard left arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi, and within three overs Nandkishore edged debutant Harinder Choudary’s turner to the safe hand in the slip. Delhi, who looked to be the favourites on paper, had only an initial success in the early overs and its six bowlers toiled to pick up another two in the post-tea period. (Scoreboard) Total (for 3 wickets in 90 overs) 270. Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-251, 3-265. Bowling: Aashish
Nehra 15-4-51-0, Amit Bhandari 10-4-35-1, Akash Malhotra
1-0-4-0, Rahul Sanghvi 33-8-75-1, Sandeep Angroola
13-3-51-0, Harinder Choudhary 18-4-49-1. |
Vikramjit upsets Amish CHANDIGARH, March 30 — Nineteen-year-old Vikramjit Singh of Chandigarh created a flutter when he upset Amish Jaitha, who played for the India B team in the international team event, in the 19th Amateur Golf Championship of India here today. Barring this upset, the other favourites moved into the second round of the event. It was step closer to the clash of the titans in the finals. Besides Vikramjit Singh, another golfer who stood out was Gurbaaz Mann striking an eagle on the 13th hole. After his victory Vikramjit said there was an element of luck in his performance and that Amrish was "just having a bad day". The greens and fairways seem to play better with each passing day of the competition much to the delight of the participants. Those who made it to the
next round were; Harmeet Kahlon, Amandeep Bhaika, Alamgir
S. Grewal, Shiv Kapoor, Vaquab Ahmed, H.S. Kang, Aman
Behl, Jaiveer Singh, Shiraz Kalra, Sandy Lehal, Ahmed Ali
Shah, Naman Dawar, Vikramjit Singh, Akhil Nayar, Saurav
Bahuguna, Manav Dass, Jatin Johal, Lalith Kumara, Karan
Sachdev, Anura Rohana, Amit Walia, Lakhan Singh, Suman
Puri, Amit Luthra, Sandeep Sayal, Simerjeet Singh, Anitya
Chand, Rahul Ganpathy, Suleiman Ali, Vinod Kumar, Ashok
Kumar, and Digvijay Singh. |
H
PSEB win v'ball title PATIALA, March 30 (FOSR) — PSEB won the All-India Brij Mohan Memorial Volleyball Tournament which concluded at Jayantnagar (MP) yesterday. After losing to Northern Railway 8-15, 15-5, 12-15, 15-17 in the first league match, the Patiala powermen came back strongly to overcome Bande Hostel, Lucknow 15-10, 15-8, 15-12. In their last league encounter PSEB beat NCL, Nagarcoil easily 15-4, 15-7, 15-9. In the semifinals they derailed NER, Gorakhpur, beating them 15-12, 15-7, 15-12, they lifted the title when in the final they managed to overcome Northern Railway 5-15, 15-5, 6-15, 15-5, 15-9. HSAAA meeting CHANDIGARH (TNS) — The general body meeting of the Haryana State Amateur Athletic Association will be held here on April 4 at 11.30 a.m., according to Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, president, HSAAA. The new office-bearers will be elected at this meeting. Eves’ football trials on April 1 CHANDIGARH, March 30 (TNS) — The selection committee of the Punjab Women's Football Association will organise a 21-day coaching camp at HMV College, Jalandhar, to prepare the Punjab team which will participate in the Senior National Women's Football Championship to be held at Shillong from April 30. As many as 30 probables
will be selected by the association and the coaching camp
will be organised with the help of the Punjab Sports
Department. The selection trials will be held on April 1
at 11 a.m., according to Mr Ram Lubhaya Prabhakar,
chairman of the selection committee. |
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