Thorpe proves fitness with century
LONDON, May 2 — Graham Thorpe, sent home from England’s tour of Australia with back trouble, proved his fitness in the run-up to the World Cup with a match-winning century for Surrey against Northamptonshire yesterday.

Stewart set to resume triple role
LONDON, May 2 — In the Test arena, England have never decided whether Alec Stewart is the true heir of Graham Gooch or Ian Botham.

Warne's form a major boost for Australia
SYDNEY, May 2 — Love him or loathe him, the World Cup would not be the same without Shane Warne.

Miandad's resignation accepted
KARACHI, May 2 — The Pakistan Cricket Board executive yesterday accepted the resignation tendered by Pakistan coach Javed Miandad, but declined to officially confirm the same.

• Rs 5 crore for National Games
  

Radhika top seed in Delhi leg

NEW DELHI, May 2 (PTI) — Mumbai-leg winner Radhika Tulpule will lead a field of 26 women in the third leg of ITF Women’s Satellite Tennis Circuit here with competition going down to the wire for the 16 places in the Lucknow Masters.

The Maharashtra girl, who shocked seeded players on her way to the title in the first leg and reached quarterfinal in Bangalore, has collected 22 circuit points to edge past Sai Jayalakshmi (20) — top seed in the first two legs.

Sai is seeded second while her Tamil Nadu statemate Rushmi Chakravarthy, finalist in Bangalore, is third. The winner in Bangalore, Shruti Dhawan of Chandigarh, who won last year’s ITF Masters here, has cemented her chances for another good ITF circuit.

With ITF rules not permitting players who missed first two legs to play in the third one, only 26 players could sign in for the 32-player draw. This meant that top six seeds received first round bye in the Delhi event starting at the DLTA courts tomorrow.

Sai, top Indian in the absence of Nirupama Vaidyanathan and Uzma Khan, has been showing indifferent form recently and will hope for a solid performance here to prop up her chances for the masters. She lost to Shruthi in the final last year.

Sai had won two legs and was finalist in other, but this year she has managed to reach final in Mumbai before losing to Radhika while in Bangalore, Shruti downed her in the semis.

Only a place in the masters assure players WTA points. The winner gets five WTA points, while runner-up is assured four. Semifinal appearance will fetch two points and a last eight place gives 1.5 points.

The Delhi leg starts with Russia’s Anna Nefedova taking on Radhika Mandke in the top half of the draw. Sumitra Rao meets Vishnu Pritam Mahalingam in a first round clash and the winner will go on to face top seed Tulpule in the round of 16.

Third seed Rushmi, will await the winner of first round match between Sonal Phadke and Kalpita Raje. Should Rushmi move in to quarter-finals, she will have a likely opponent in Sheetal Gautam, who meets winner of match between Sandhya Kanury and Stuti Smit in the second round.

Fourth seed Shruti, has a relatively tough draw with sixth seed Arthi Venkatraman her likely opponent in the round of eight and will face Sai in a possible semifinal showdown where the Tamil Nadu girl will be eager for a revenge of the Bangalore loss.

Shruti, ranked number one in India in U-18 category, had scalped three seeds on her way to Bangalore win. With 16 points already in her pocket, a quarterfinal showing will assure her a place in Lucknow Masters starting on May 10.

In the doubles tournament, second leg winners Sai and Rushmi, are seeded top while Shruti and Sheetal Gautam have been seeded number two.

Venkatraman sisters, Archana and Arthi, are ranked third followed by Harsimran Kaur and Nikita Bhardwaj at fourth.

The Indian ITF women’s circuit which failed to attract players from abroad as five women skipped the event after confirmation, has been left with only one foreign face — Anna Nefedova of Russia — and her poor performance so far has left the organisers much to desire from the circuit.

Sachin, Lara Aussies' biggest worry

SYDNEY, May 2 (Reuters) — Australia’s build-up to this month’s World Cup began almost immediately after their loss to Sri Lanka in the final of the 1996 tournament.

It was only then that Australia’s cricket selectors finally decided to embark on a fresh approach to one-day game.

Australia’s philosophy before that had been to rely upon the same players who had proven themselves in the Test arena with the addition of the odd all-rounder.

They worked on the theory of building their innings by keeping their wickets intact for a late flourish then pressuring the opposition with tight bowling.

Australia’s strategy had been good enough to enable them to win the 1987 World Cup but their defeat by Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore nine years later exposed the shortcomings of the game plan.

Lanka’s innovative use of pinch-hitters at the top and their policy of chipping over in-field from start of innings changed forever the way one-day cricket would be played.

It signalled to the rest of the world that limited-overs cricket had finally evolved from the longer version of the game and needed to be treated as a different entity.

Australia, to their credit, were one of the first nations in the world to take heed of the Sri Lankan message, even though they were already recognised as the best Test-playing country on earth.

They did not, however, follow Sri Lanka’s attack-at-all costs approach but instead restructured their selection policy by choosing separate teams for Tests and limited-overs.

A number of players were chosen in both sides but some of the biggest names in Australian cricket, including former captain Mark Taylor and veteran wicketkeeper Ian Healy, suddenly found themselves out of favour for one-day selection.

The policy, which was implemented for the sole purpose of winning the World Cup, ruffled more than a few feathers when it was first introduced but has since been seen as a masterstroke following the emergence of a new breed of one-day specialists, particularly Adam Gilchrist and Michael Bevan.

Gilchrist, who singlehandedly replaced both Taylor and Healy, has proved a revelation. A dashing left-handed batsman, Gilchrist has been appointed to open the innings along with Mark Waugh, who normally bats at number four in the Test team.

Together they have formed a formidable partnership with Gilchrist, in particular, relishing his role. He has already scored five centuries including the highest ever score (154) by an Aussie in a one-day which he made against Sri Lanka earlier this year and helped the team off to a flying start.

He also keeps wicket and while he is perhaps not as nimble behind the stumps as Healy he has been more than adequate for the abbreviated version of the game.

Bevan, too, has also been a revelation, propping up the Australian middle-order with an endless stream of runs although he has failed to shine in his limited Test appearances for Australia, partly because of his problems against short-pitched bowling, Bevan has shone on the one-day stage where bouncers are effectively banned.

Bevan’s almost unbelievable average of 62 is a tribute to the number of times he remains not out although his real genius is in the manner in which he calmly goes about shepherding the tail-enders from the strike at the close of innings as he carefully builds his own score.

But Australia’s strengths do not lie entirely with their one-day specialists. They also boast a number of highly experienced, and equally shrewd, campaigners.

Their captain, Steve Waugh, is possibly the fiercest competitor in the game and leg-spinner Shane Warne and paceman Glenn McGrath remain as two of world’s premier strike bowlers.

Australia’s fresh approach to the game has already met with a degree of success. They beat South Africa last season to win a triangular world series tournament at home then hammered England to retain their title this year.

But they also crashed to an early defeat at last year’s mini World Cup tournament in Bangladesh and were beaten by South Africa in the Commonwealth Games final in Kuala Lumpur.

Australia’s biggest problems in recent years have been at the hands of two individual players, India’s Sachin Tendulkar and West Indian skipper Brian Lara.

The two have an uncanny knack of producing their best against Australia, who remain supremely confident that if they can keep that pair in check they can go all the way and win in England.

Indians can ‘repeat’ feat of 1983

NEW DELHI, May 2 (UNI) — Despite a torrid time against Pakistan in the recent Tests and one-dayers and the loss of a practice match due to inclement weather in England, the Indian team has a fair chance to repeat the 1983 feat of winning the World Cup if they play to their potential, say former cricketers.

"Recent showing does not score much optimism but one-day cricket is a funny game and it all depends on how a squad performs on a particular day. Unfortunately, Indians fail to lift their game during crucial moments," observes former cricketer Abbas Ali Baig.

Barring a few occasions, the Indian teams of different periods have been guilty of performing below potential and losing matches from winning positions. He says, "What they need is to rise to the occasion and translate potential into performance with fighting spirit and passion to repeat the history after 16 years."

Kirti Azad, a member of the victorious 1983 World Cup squad, says the failure to win a couple of tournaments should not be taken as a yardstick to measure India’s prospects in the 1999 World Cup. The present Indian team’s biggest potency lies in "its wealth of experience and promising youngsters. Something we lacked in 1983 when we won the Prudential Cup. And I see the Indian team coming up trumps in the forthcoming extravaganza."

He, however, admits the fact that the team is suffering from ‘consistency problem. The potential of the top batsmen — Tendulkar, Ganguly, Azhar, Dravid and Jadeja — promises so much but rarely is it realised these days because the effort is not collective. This adversely affects the performance of bowlers who do not have defendable score.

Besides batting and bowling, fielding and body language have been other aspects where the team has fallen short of expectations, the former allrounder says specifying that it requires a lot of self-motivation for each member of the unit if they have to click as a team. "If they do not give up, anything is possible."

Recent showings have been mixed but the Indians have the capability to emulate the wonderful performances of Kapil’s devils, remarks Sunil Valson, also a member of the triumphant 1983 side, who considers acclimatisation as the biggest challenge in England after the heat of Sharjah.

In the heavy and overcast conditions of the early summer in England where the ball will continuously be seaming and testing the concentration of batsmen, the responsibility will mainly rest on the batsmen. All that freedom enjoyed by the Indian batting on passive subcontinental pitches will not be available on English tracks where stormy weather tends to assist seamers, says Valson sounding caution that batting needs a lot of patience and application to upset bowlers’ rhythm and maximise runs in 50 overs.

The team is bursting with just the kind of bowling talent demanded in English conditions, provided they are accurate enough. Ultimately bowlers win matches for their teams. But only if their batsmen have given them a defendable total.

"We have the right ingredients to concoct a perfect blend to win the World Cup a second time if our players deliver when it matters. What is needed is deep self-scrutiny before they move forward and most importantly, the thinktank must give due emphasis to fielding and running between the wickets."

Veteran Bishan Singh Bedi feels the Indian team has not been at its best in recent times because of strategic failures and collective desires to do well. For any team to do well, a lot depends on the strategic planning, he says.

Apart from setting specific strategies against their opponents, the thinktank has to be very clear about their players’ roles if they wish to win. They should also prepare players mentally for the tactical shifts and get the best out of their players, the greatest spinner of his time adds.

He wants players to understand their actual worth, urgency to make a collective effort and get their act together. The rest then shall fall in position, just the way it was in 1983.

Exuding optimism in his own way, former skipper Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi remarks: "In 1983 people asked me about the prospects of the Indian team and I said I would be surprised if we won. And everyone was surprised, including me and the captain. Now again I would say the same that I would be very surprised."

One-day cricket has the ability to stun analysts. After all, how many experts gave India any thought in 1983.

He guided England to greatest moment

LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) — Sir Alf Ramsey, who guided England to the greatest moment in their soccer history when they won the 1966 World Cup, died on Wednesday, according to sources in his former club Ipswich. He was 79.

Ramsey played 32 times for England before going on to manage the national team from 1963 to 1974.

Ramsey, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1967 after the World Cup triumph, had suffered a mild stroke last June.

He coached the unfashionable Ipswich town to English league title in 1962 in their first season in first division.

In his playing career he was regarded as one of the most cultured defenders to play in the England side.

But his greatest day came in 1966 when England beat the former West Germany 4-2 at Wembley, their only triumph in the world's most prestigious soccer competition.

Within minutes of the announcement of his death, tributes flooded in from the English soccer and political world.

"I don't think we'll see one like him again," former England captain Alan Mullery said. "He was the best England manager ever. When he said something you listened."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "Sir Alf gave England its greatest moment in its sporting history. It would be a fitting tribute to bring the World Cup in 2006 back to this country."

Sir Alf Ramsey was a quite innovator who ruthlessly pilotted England's 1966 World Cup triumph.

A cultured defender with a distinguished playing career at club and international level, Ramsey proved to be one of the most brilliant tacticians of his era when he turned to coaching.

Ipswich's triumph in 1962 in their first season in the top flight astounded the soccer world and earned Ramsey an awesome reputation as a masterly tactician.

He took over the national team in 1963, making the one rash move of his career by confidently predicting that England would win the World Cup as Hosts in 1966.

A quiet and taciturn character, who spurned dealings with the media as much as he could, Ramsey had to endure endless taunts about his prophecy but always insisted he would be proved right in the end.

He attracted numerous critics by drastically changing the style of the England team, shunning the conventional two-winger system and playing a then unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation.

Many thought England could only succeed with their traditional game of high crosses aimed at the foreheads of tall bustling forwards.

England's 4-2 extra time victory over West Germany at Wembley in the final remains the nation's greatest sporting moment.

Ramsey had little time for gifted individuals who would not submit to his insistence on strict discipline on and off the field and acquired an authority that was absolute.

Yet he contrived to build a better and more attractive team for the 1970 finals when more success beckoned.

But his England wilted in the Mexican sun, throwing away a two-goal lead before losing to old rivals West Germany 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

Ramsey's star began to wane and a 1-1 draw with Poland at Wembley in 1973 which cost England the chance of reaching the 1974 World Cup finals ultimately led to his downfall.

A courteous and correct man, he was unceremoniously sacked as England manager 25 years ago and remained bitter about the furtive manner in which it was done.

"It was the most devastating half-hour of my life," he said. "I stood in a room almost full of staring committee men. It was just like I was on trial. I thought I was going to be hanged. I was never given one reason for the sack."

His record for England was remarkable — 69 victories in 113 matches to 27 draws and just 17 defeats.

An attacking right-back who specialised in free kicks and penalties. Ramsey appeared 32 times for England.

Thorpe proves fitness with century

LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) — Graham Thorpe, sent home from England’s tour of Australia with back trouble, proved his fitness in the run-up to the World Cup with a match-winning century for Surrey against Northamptonshire yesterday.

Thorpe hit 138 not out in an eight-wicket win at Northampton’s county ground. He faced 211 balls and hit two sixes and 20 fours in his 31st first class hundred.

Thorpe, 52 not out overnight, resumed his partnership with Ian Ward with the total on 112 for one as Surrey set off in search of the 301 they needed for victory.

Ward was out for 63 with the score at 177 but Thorpe and Alistair Brown (66 not out) added the 124 needed.

Leicestershire, champions twice in the last three years, forced their second win of the season at home to Lancashire when their Australian pace bowler Michael Kasprowicz took the wickets of Andrew Flintoff, top scorer Nathan Wood (82) and former captain Michael Watkinson.

Wood, son of former England test opener Barry Wood, batted for four and a half hours and hit 12 boundaries before he was sixth out at 176. Flintoff was bowled. Leicestershire won by 107 runs.

Opening batsman Steve James hit 153 off 215 balls as Glamorgan made 341 for six to beat Sussex by four wickets. His 32nd first class century included 24 boundaries.

Middlesex beat Gloucestershire by two wickets with only five overs left to bowl. Promising batsman Owais Shah, who had taken three second innings wickets, led the run race with 60.

Somerset have dominated Yorkshire for three days but still require five runs on the fourth day after losing two wickets for 20 chasing 25 for victory in their second innings.

Scores at the close of play in four-day English County Championship cricket matches on day four:

At Cardiff: Glamorgan beat Sussex by six wickets. Sussex 222 (S. Humphries 57; S. Jones 5-31) and 265 (T. Pierce 123, R. Martin-Jenkins 52; R. Croft 5-82). Glamorgan 149 (J. Kirtley 5-49) and 341-4 (S. James 153, R. Croft 58 not out).

At Bristol: Middlesex beat Gloucestershire by two wickets. Gloucestershire 297 (M. Alleyne 76, K. Barnett 51) and 215 (P. Tufnell 5-61). Middlesex 268 (M. Ramprakash 101; J. Lewis 5-79) and 245-8 (O. Shah 60).

At Leicester: Leicestershire beat Lancashire by 107 runs. Leicestershire 388 (C. Lewis 108, D. Maddy 86; G. Chapple 5-92) and 215 (A. Habib 79). Lancashire 241 (A. Flintoff 86) and 255 (N. Wood 82.)

At Northampton: Surrey beat Northamptonshire by eight wickets. Northamptonshire 248 (R. Bailey 75, P. Taylor 71; M. Bicknell 4-48) and 338 (A. Penberthy 88, D. Sales 69; A. Tudor 5-64). Surrey 286 (A. Hollioake 96, M. Butcher 52) and 301-2 (G. Thorpe 138 not out, A. Brown 66 not out, I. Ward 63).

Day three: At Taunton: Somerset 468 (J. Cox 173, M. Burns 63, R. Turner 53) and 20-2. Yorkshire 148 and 345 (following on - D. Byas 90, A. Mcgrath 75).

Stewart set to resume triple role

LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) — In the Test arena, England have never decided whether Alec Stewart is the true heir of Graham Gooch or Ian Botham.

Selected solely as an opening batsman, particularly against pace bowling on fast pitches, Stewart is the equal of Gooch as one of the most attractive and prolific stroke players in the world.

Picked as a wicketkeeper and batting down the order he is the closest England have come to fielding a true all-rounder since Botham was pensioned off seven years ago.

What has been proven is that not even the endlessly willing Stewart is able to captain England, open the batting and also don the wicketkeepers’ gloves in Test matches.

But for the World Cup, at least, Stewart will resume all three roles and it is no exaggeration to say that the host country’s fortunes depends largely on how well he performs each function.

Stewart has predictably shown no outward concern at a slump in form after he recorded his first Test century against Australia during the recent Ashes series.

"You always back your own ability," Stewart told reporters this week. "I’ve got a fair track record behind me, I’ve been through bad patches before and I’ve come out of them, it augurs well.

"Throughout the last few years I’ve been the leading run scorer in Test cricket and like to think that by the World Cup I’ll have turned it around."

Like Gooch in the latter stages of his career, Stewart has tightened his technique and worked hard to eradicate the lapses of concentration which saw him getting out in unnecessary ways

Unlike Gooch he is fallible against spin in the early stages of his innings, prone to pushing forward with feet firmly anchored and falling to catches close to the wicket.

Batting at top of the order this weakness should not be a problem during World Cup and Stewart’s ability to punish all but the very best bowling is a real bonus for England.

As a captain, he leads from the front and his leadership is essentially conventional with no obviously blinding flashes of insight.

He has not been noticeably affected by the pressures of one of the highest profile jobs in British sport and, a year after taking office, retains a boyish enthusiasm. "I have enjoyed it," he said. "I have had a lot of good times. I love playing for England and being captain is a huge honour.

"A lot of good things have happened."

Even at the age of 36, Stewart is not bothered by the burdens of keeping wicket and opening the batting, at least in 50-over matches.

As a wicketkeeper, Stewart is much more than just a fielder with gloves and he has been every bit as effective as Jack Russell, regarded throughout 1990s as the best specialist keeper in England.

"In one-day cricket I have done this for the majority of my career," Stewart said. "As long as I am coping and doing okay I will keep doing it."

Warne's form a major boost for Australia

SYDNEY, May 2 (Reuters) — Love him or loathe him, the World Cup would not be the same without Shane Warne.

A player of rare genius, Warne ranks alongside Brian Lara as one of modern cricket’s greatest drawcards.

Yet his participation in the World Cup looked to be in doubt just a month ago after he was dropped from Australia’s Test team because of a dramatic form slump.

The leg-spinner was struggling to rediscover his form after undergoing shoulder surgery and was battling the stigma of his admission he had once accepted money from an illegal bookmaker during Australia’s tour of the sub-continent in 1994.

He said at the time he was considering retirement but Warne has since turned his game around to go into the World Cup as one of Australia’s in-form players. And that is a major boost for his team.

Already recognised as one of the greatest slow bowlers in cricket history, the blond Australian with the trademark earring is credited with helping revive the dying art of spin bowling at a time when pacemen ruled.

He has also been the driving force behind Australia’s success over the past decade and remains their trump card for the tournament in England.

Some of Warne’s greatest moments have been on English pitches, including his unforgettable first delivery in an Ashes Test, which pitched outside leg stump and hit the top of the off to bowl Mike Gatting at Old Trafford in 1993.

Although most of his triumphs have been in the Test arena where he is able to wear down his opponents, Warne is just as effective in limited-overs cricket because of his ability to bowl economically.

He finished the recent seven-match one-day series in the West Indies as the leading bowler with 13 wickets at an average of 19.

More importantly, Warne has regained his confidence, bowling with the same deception that has tormented a generation of batsmen the world over.

"It is a test of character when anyone gets dropped and I think I have bounced back pretty strongly," Warne said.

"I still think I wasn’t bowling that badly in the test series but now wickets have started to come in the one-dayers.

"I think that when I bowl at my best I am still the best leg-spinner in the world."

Miandad's resignation accepted

KARACHI, May 2 (ANI) — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) executive yesterday accepted the resignation tendered by Pakistan coach Javed Miandad, but declined to officially confirm the same.

Members who attended the meeting and wished to remain anonymous confirmed that the resignation had been discussed in detail and the majority of the council members ruled in favour of accepting it.

The council also decided to elevate South Africa's Richard Pybus as coach of the national side for the World Cup. However, it did not name a long-term replacement for Miandad.

One of the members disclosed that Sirajul Islam Bukhari, who had gone to Sharjah as team manager, had been asked to brief the council after which the resignation of Miandad was discussed in detail. The official version was that the council had not discussed issue in detail and a decision had been deferred to Sunday as the members had sought time to study Bukhari's report on the Sharjah tournament.

But in his briefing, it is understood, Bukhari came clean before the members. The sources disclosed that the majority of the members were of the opinion that Miandad had timed his resignation badly and let down the team, and even if he had any problems be could have first spoken to the PCB to sort out the same instead of taking the issue to the press.

Earlier, when the accounts were discussed, the Karachi member, Nusrat Azeem, who is also on the PCB's finance committee regretted that the board were spending too much money in some areas and required to curtail their expenses. He also complained that in some cases, supporting vouchers and ticket jackets were not submitted to the PCB for audit purposes.

The condition of the national Stadium here also came under discussion and members felt it required to be given a proper facelift.

Rs 5 crore allotted for National Games
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 2 — At the meetings of the executive committee and the general council of the Punjab Olympic Association held here today under the chairmanship of S. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, president, Punjab Olympic Association, the performance of the state contingent in the last National games held at Imphal (Manipur) early this year was acclaimed and felt that had all prominent sportspersons who won medals in the international events held in the recent past, including the Asian and Commonwealth Games, participated in the Manipur Games, the state would have been richer by another about 30 medals enabling Punjab to top the medals tally table.

On the organisational front of the next National Games allotted to Punjab to host in 2000, after a lapse of over four decades (the last Games were held in 1956), the president was authorised to constitute the various committees in consultation with the government, where need be, and take further action to obtain financial assistance from the government to enable the POA to do the initial spadework for staging the games.

Mr Dhindsa also announced that with a view to ensure performance par excellence of the state in the forthcoming National Games, he has nominated S.M.S. Bhullar, Addl DGP, PAP, to head a committee to plan selection, training etc. of the Punjab contingent in different sports disciplines in right earnest from now onwards.

Mr Arvind Khanna, secretary-general, POA, disclosed that the POA had already prepared a working paper on the organisation of the games covering all aspects, right from creation/ upgradation of infrastructure for holding the games.

In this context Mr Dhindsa informed that the state government had made a token allocation of Rs 5 crore in the current financial year towards infrastructure and the Chief Minister had also assured him that further allocation of funds, as need be would be made in the budget for the conduct of the games. Besides, the government had also approached the Centre to extend financial assistance for this purpose.

On the revision of the POA's constitution, which is in vogue since 1962 and warranted modification in the light of the developments that had taken place during the intervening period, the executive committee after debate on various provisions directed the sub committee under the chairmanship of Mr S. Umrao Singh vice-president, to re-examine certain provisions and make its final recommendations.

On the report regarding miserable condition of S. Parduman Singh, former ace athlete and an Asian Games, medallist, the president, POA announced a grant of Rs 21,000/- from the POA Mr S. Kulbir Singh Sidhu, DC, Ropar, also volunteered similar amount and Rs. 5000 by the Punjab Cycling Association. It was also assured that the POA would take up the cause of such veteran sportspersons, with the authorities concerned and efforts would be made to extend all help to them.

Cricket tourney

PATIALA, May 2 (FOSR) — National Institute of Cricket and Sports defeated MES Coaching Centre by seven wickets in the first hot weather under-16 league cricket tournament being played in MES Ground here today.

The NICS won the toss and decided to field first. MES made 115 runs in the allotted overs. The NICS achieved the target in 22.2 overs.

Scores:

(MES 115 runs in 25 overs (Shanker 35. Jagrup 33. Aman Sood 2 for 5. Gurmeet Sahni 2 for 25. NICS 119 for 3 (Karan Sandhu 41 not out. Aman Sood 20, Parneet 21 not out, Arun Arora 2 for 18).

Harpal excels

CHANDIGARH, May 2 (TNS) — An all round performance by Harpal Pala (22 runs off 12 balls and three for 13 in four overs) enabled the Sarab Cricket Club to beat Jubilee Cricket Club, Palsora, by eight wickets in the first Sarab Memorial Cricket Tournament held at Government Senior Secondary School at SAS Nagar, near here, today.

In another match at the same venue Punjab High Court, Chandigarh, beat Punjab Secretariat, Chandigarh by 35 runs.