Ajay, Rajesh fashion Delhi win
MANDI, Nov 5 — Rajesh Gehlot’s three-wicket haul and Ajay Sharma’s brilliant knock of 55 runs led Delhi to emphatic six-wicket victory over the hosts in the first one-day Ranjhl Trophy Tournament played at the Padal Stadium here today.

Punjab register 3rd successive win
LUDHIANA, Nov 5 — Punjab continued their winning streak by registering third consecutive victory outplaying Jammu and Kashmir by 48 runs in the North Zone Ranji Trophy one-day match at the Punjab Agricultural University ground here today.

Yuvraj wrecks HP
SOLAN, Nov 5 — Punjab defeated Himachal by an innings and 168 runs in the Cooch Bihar under 19 tie that concluded at the picturesque Parmar University cricket stadium at Nauni, near here, today.

Ludhiana, Amritsar in super league
NEW DELHI, Nov 5 — Amritsar’s Khalsa Academy and Sat Guru Pratap Singh Academy of Ludhiana made it to the super league stage of Nehru Cup Sub-Junior Hockey Tournament when they won their second straight league encounters here today.

GND varsity lads, DU eves champs
CHANDIGARH, Nov 5 — GND University, Amritsar, and Delhi University, Delhi today became the proud winners, in the men and women section respectively in the North Zone Inter University Table Tennis tournament which concluded here at the Panjab University gymnasium hall.

PSEB, DFA to clash for title
NABHA (Patiala), Nov 5 — PSEB packed enough punch in their game to outwit Punjab Police 2-0 while DFA, Kapurthala, triumphed over BSF, Jammu, 1-0 to set up a title clash in the All-India Gurdarshan Memorial Football Championships played at the Ripudaman College grounds here today.

Sangrur, Ludhiana lads in final
SANGRUR, Nov 5 — Sangrur and Ludhiana will clash in the finals in the boys U-19 catagory in the Panjab Schools Inter District Badminton Championships here.

Haryana Deputy Director retires
CHANDIGARH, Nov 5 — Mr H.S.Bhadu, Deputy Director, Sports, Haryana, retired after putting in 32 years of service.

Astle scripts NZ victory

RAJKOT, Nov 5 (PTI) — Nathan Astle slammed a strokeful 120 and captured three for 40 as New Zealand defeated India by 43 runs despite Ajay Jadeja’s valiant 95 in a high-scoring opening tie of the five-match limited overs Pepsi Cricket series here today.

The 28-year-old opener struck his seventh one-day hundred and was the pivot in rapid century stands for the first two wickets with Craig Spearman (68, 44b) and Roger Twose (56, 53b) as the Kiwis rattled up a record 349 for nine wickets in 50 overs and bowled out a fighting India for 306 in 47 overs.

India gave hot chase to the target as openers Saurav Ganguly (41 off 44 balls) and skipper Sachin Tendulkar (32 off 31 balls) raised 87 runs in 11.4 overs, but both fell in the space of a few deliveries.

Jadeja (95 - 97 b, 3x4, 3x6) and Rahul Dravid came up with a rapid 81-run third-wicket stand and India were in with a game chance to make it, but a sudden collapse saw four wickets tumble for just 11 runs to dash their hopes.

Some reckless shots played by the batsmen when all they had to do was play around Jadeja undid the good build-up.

The Kiwis, electing to bat first, cashed in on a perfect batting track and the small ground by racing to their best-ever score in limited overs cricket, improving upon the 348 they scored against India at Nagpur in 1995.

The Indian bowlers had little respite as runs came in a torrent. Javagal Srinath (1/51 off 10 overs) was relatively economical, but his pace partner Venkatesh Prasad (3/75 in 10 overs) was the most expensive.

India started on the right note and though Tendulkar was dropped by wicketkeeper Parore off Dion Nash off the very second ball he faced, he did not curb his natural aggression and hit a six and two fours before he fell.

Kiwis, who dropped three catches in all, lost Nash who suffered a lower back problem owing to that fall.

Jadeja and Dravid added 81 runs after Ganguly’s dismissal but the loss of four quick wickets in the space of three overs proved curtains for the home team, who tasted their fourth defeat on this ground playing their fifth match.

All-rounder Robin Singh (23) added 69 runs for the fourth wicket with Jadeja to lift India towards what looked like a memorable victory, but he fell hitting the slow stuff of Chris Harris to spearman followed by the collapse.

Though Srinath (19 off 16 balls) and Kumble (15 off 16 balls) threw their bat around, it was just a matter of time as they had too many runs to reach with few overs left.

In the morning, the Kiwi batsmen went after the Indian attack on the docile track with all-rounder Chris Cairns (24 off 20 balls) and Harris (23 off 18 balls) chipping in with useful scores in the slog overs.

Robin Singh with a superb direct hit from covers ran out Cairns and Bharadwaj removed left-hander Harris to a superb leaping catch by Tendulkar at extra-cover but these successes came after the batsmen had completed the run plunder.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand:

Spearman c Bharadwaj b Prasad 68

Astle c Dravid b Prasad 120

Twose b Srinath 56

Fleming c Dravid b Prasad 10

Cairns run out 24

Harris c Tendulkar b Bharadwaj 23

Parore c Chopra b Bharadwaj 18

Nash not out 6

Styris st Prasad b Kumble 1 Vettori c Jadeja b Kumble 0 O’Connor not out 0 Extras: (lb 5, w 13, nb 5) 23 Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) 349

Fall of wickets: 1/115, 2/224, 3/244, 4/277, 5/310, 6/336, 7/343, 8/345, 9/345.

Bowling: J. Srinath 10-2-51-1, V. Prasad 10-0-75-3, A. Kumble 10-0-64-2, N. Chopra 10-0-72-0, S. Tendulkar 3-0-18-0, V.R. Bharadwaj 5-0-44-2, R. Singh 2-0-20-0.

India:

Ganguly c Harris b O’Connoer 41

Tendulkar c Cairns b Styris 32 Dravid lbw b Astle 39

Jadeja c sub (Horne) b Astle 95

R. Singh c Spearman b Harris 23

V. Bhardwaj c Twose b Vettori 1

Chopra st Parore b Vettori 0 M.S.K. Prasad b Astle 2

Srinath c sub (Horne) b Styris 19

Kumble c Astle b Styris 15 V. Prasad not out 9 Extras (b-1, lb-7, w-19, nb-3) 30

Total (all out in 47 overs) 306 Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-90, 3-171, 4-240, 5-247, 6-248, 7-251, 8-268, 9-288.

Bowling: D. Nash 1-0-2-0, S. O’Conner 3-0-42-1, C. Cairns 8-0-47-0, S. Styris 10-0-63-3, C. Harris 10-0-56-1, D. Vettori 8-0-48-2, N. Astle 7-0-40-3.

He was ‘always positive about life’

NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (PTI) — Malcolm Marshall would not have got his chance in the West Indies team had Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Colin Croft, Joel Garner and Wayne Daniel not been signed by Kerry Packer.

For two or three years he was the sixth or seventh choice, alongwith Sylvester Clarke, since his debut series against India in 1978-79 yielded only three for 265 runs.

But when the “big boys” returned, Marshall took only two years to join the inner circle. He was predatory by nature and wanted to replace Holding as the grandmaster of all West Indian fast bowlers.

He was short, only 5’ II’’ and was in competition with taller, stronger and more experienced men than him. He strove so hard to rival Holding that he strained stomach muscles in the Kingston Test against England in 1981. And in the end he got what he wanted. When he wrecked India in Kanpur in October 1983 and knocked Sunil Gavaskar’s bat out of his hands, Viv Richards rated it as the most ferocious spell he had ever seen from Marshall.

When Marshall went round the wicket, it was the return of ‘’bodyline’’ tactics. The consequence was nasty injuries to batsmen.

England’s Andy Lloyd took his eyes off the ball and to be carried off to the hospital, hit on the head; Mike Gatting misjudged a hook and had his nose broken. And there were countless others who suffered smashed noses, broken teeth and cracked heads.

He once told Aussie batsman David Boon “are you going to get out, or do I have to come around the wicket and kill you”. In Bridgetown in April 1983, Mohinder Amarnath missed a hook against Marshall and had to retire with a cut lip.

About Ian Smith, Marshall said he never saw a batsman more scared of him than the former Kiwi wicketkeeper during their 1985 tour of the Caribbeans. Allan Border said he was apprehensive about facing Marshall.

Marshall was surprisingly small for a fast bowler. Ian Botham referred to him as the “skinny wimp”. There seemed hardly anything threatening about his fast pedalling run up or fluid delivery. But for a batsman, his arm action was so fast it was difficult to sight the ball and then it came skidding through. Subtle pace variations added extra punch.

Litle wonder Andy Lloyd spent nine days in hospital and reckoned he never recovered 30 per cent of his right eye vision. Dean Jones once likened him to shark that has smelt blood. Umpire Dickie Bird once cautioned him for intimidation during the Edgbaston Test of the 1984 series.

He was a huge influence on South Africa’s critical early years on return to the international fold. As player-cum-coach of Natal, it was Marshall who moulded Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener as world class fast bowlers.

Marshall, during the recent World Cup in England, had an operation for the removal of a tumour in the colon. He was appointed as coach of the West Indies team on a three-year contract in October 1996.

Marshall sporadically complained of abdominal pain but tests never revealed anything serious. He was even once told it was nothing more than a strained muscle.

When the agonising pain returned during the West Indies’ World Cup warm up match against Warwickshire in Birmingham in May, Dr Rudi Webster, a medical doctor and the team’s performance consultant, was concerned enough to commit him to Priory Hospital, half mile distance from the Edgbaston ground where the cricket was being played.

The hope of an exploratory operation was dashed when the problem was identified and Marshall underwent what then seemed to be a successful operation for the removal of the cancerous tumour.

Dr Webster, who left the team in the emergency and Marshall’s fiancee, Connie Earle, were almost constantly by his bedside. He was visited by his friends and team members and by Desmond Haynes.

Marshall had only one thing to say to everyone: “I am always positive about life. I never concern myself with things over which I have no control”.

Once out of hospital, Marshall tied the nupital knot with Connie, his girlfriend for 13 years.

Australia seize initiative

BRISBANE, Nov 5 (AFP) — Damien Fleming seized initiative for Australia with late wickets after a near record stand between Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yusuf Youhana put Pakistan in command on the opening day of the first Test here today.

The Victorian swing bowler removed Yusuf Youhana and nightwatchman Mushtaq Ahmed to add to two earlier scalps which left the Pakistanis at 280 for six at close after they had been 265 for three.

Fleming finished the day with 4-57 off 25 overs - three of the dismissals involved catches for Test debutant wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

Earlier, it looked as if Pakistan would make Australian captain Steve Waugh pay for sending them into bat with a huge partnership between Inzamam (88) and Youhana (95).

Inzamam and Youhana put on 152 runs for the fourth wicket — three short of Pakistan’s best against Australia.

At close Azhar Mahmood, who was sickened by a blow to the groin nearing stumps, was not out seven with Abdur Razzaq yet to score.

Youhana fell just five runs short of his first century against Australia when he edged Fleming to Gilchrist 15 minutes before stumps.

SCOREBOARD:

Pakistan (1st innings):

Anwar c M. Waugh b Warne 61

Mohammad Wasim c Gilchrist b Fleming 18

Ijaz c Warne b Fleming 0

Inzamam lbw b McGrath 88

Youhana c Gilchrist b Fleming 95

Azhar batting 7

Mushtaq c Gilchrist b Fleming 0

Razzaq batting 0

Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-5) 11

Total (6 wkts, 92 overs) 280

Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-42, 3-113, 4-265, 5-280, 6-280. Bowling: McGrath 21-2-86-1, Fleming 25-5-57-4, Muller 13-4-42-0, Warne 22-9-54-1, Blewett 5-1-22-0, Ponting 5-1-12-0, S. Waugh 1-0-1-0.

Srinath in title clash with Messmer

PUNE, Nov 5 (UNI) — Third seeded Prahlad Srinath of India today outplayed second seed Radim Zitko of Czech Republic with a degree of comfort 6-2, 6-2 and set up a title clash against fourth seeded Thomas Messmer of Germany in the men’s singles of the ITF Satellite Tennis Circuit third leg being played at the synthetic courts of the Deccan Gymkhana here.

Messmer downing the top seed Tom Chicoine of the USA in identical fashion 6-4, 6-1 in the other semi-final tussle lasting 62 minutes.

The Indian Davis Cupper needed merely an hour to bring Zitko into submission. Srinath has thus put himself in line for the second consecutive title. Only last week he won the men’s singles title in the second leg played at the same venue getting the better of Tom Chicoine of the USA. Srinath was in total command as he served and vollyed with precision and accuracy. Zitko the winner of the opening leg at Mumbai two weeks ago hardly could measure up to the situation.

The Czech dropped his serve in the very first game as Srinath went up 3-1 breaking the rival in the third game as well. Zitko who was still struggling to get his bearings was broken once again in the seventh game as the Indian producing a beautiful down the line passing shot. Srinath served out to take the set 6-2.

In the second set Srinath broke the rival in the very first game and holding his serve went up 2-0. He once again broke the rival in the fifth game after having three advantages to lead 5-1.

Messmer was much more consistent and managed a break in the seventh game to lead 4-3. He held his serve and made it 5-3, Chicoine also held to make it 4-5 but Messmer served out to clinch the set 6-4.

The second set saw Chicoine dropping his serve in the very first game to trail 0-1. Chicoine who was having problems with his first serve again dropped his serve in fifth game with a double fault to trail 1-4.

As six players have an identical tally of five points each a play-off has to be played to decide the three placings in the draw of 24 for the masters to be held in Mumbai from Monday. In the play off Mustafa Ghouse (India) got the better off K. Shivshankar of India 7-5, 6-1. Former junior national champion Saurav Panja put it across Niko Karagiannis of Greece 7-6 (7-4), 7-5. And yet another India Vasudev Reddy eclipsed reigning national champion Sunil Kumar in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

The Indian combination of Rohan Bopanna and Kedar Tembe had to over come a spirited opposition from Doug Abraham of (USA) and Sayed Fazaluddin of India 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 and breezed into the finals of the men’s doubles.

They now awaits the winners of the second semi-final being played between the Kirtane cousing Nitin and Sandeep and Srinath and Vasudev Reddy.

The following are the results men’s singles (semi-final): Prahlad Srinath (Ind) beat Radim Zitko (Cze) 6-2, 6-2 Thoms Messmer (Ger) beat Tom Chicoine (USA) 6-4, 6-1.

Men’s doubles (semi-finals):

Rohan Bopanna and Kedar Shah (Ind) beat Doug Abraham (USA) and Sayed Fazaluddin (India) 6-2, 5-7 6-2.

Nitin and Sandeep Kirtane (Ind) beat P. Srinath and Vasudev Reddy (Ind) 7-6, 6-8, 7-6.

Ajay, Rajesh fashion Delhi win
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Nov 5 — Rajesh Gehlot’s three-wicket haul and Ajay Sharma’s brilliant knock of 55 runs led Delhi to emphatic six-wicket victory over the hosts in the first one-day Ranjhl Trophy Tournament played at the Padal Stadium here today.

Gehlot (3 for 23) and Ashish Nehra (2 for 25) wrecked (Himachal’s who were all out for 174 runs in 49.1 overs after Himachal skipper Rajiv Nayyer won the toss and elected to bat.

Chasing an easy target Delhi mustered the required runs in 41.4 overs losing four wickets.

Earlier during the day Himachal lost its opener Nischal Gaur (0.1) with just 12 runs on the board. The other opener Ajay Manu (11) was sent to the pavilion by Gehlot. Consequently, Arun Verma (0.1) and Yashwinder (0.1) became the victim of Ajay Sharma and Rajesh Gehlot, respectively, with just 40 runs on the board. Himachal’s skipper Rajiv Nayyer, the only man in form, played cautiously and put on 61 runs to steady the Himachal innings before he was caught by V. Sehwag off Ajay Sharma in 46th over.

Middle order batsmen Sangram Singh (25) and Rahul Pantha (29) managed to take the score to 174.

Delhi started the run chase disastrously losing Ashu Dani (0) on the very second ball of the first over with no score on the board. Sohail Rauf (8) and Vijay Dahiya (46) piled up 40 runs before Sohail fell leg before to Shakti Singh. Ajay Sharma (55) and Harinder Chaudhary (37) played some brilliant shots to the fence and helped Delhi reach the target with six wickets in hand.

Ajay Sharma (55 not out) was declared ‘man of the match’. Rajiv Nayyer (67) and Rajesh Gehlot (3 for 23) were declared best batsman and bowler, respectively.

SCOREBOARD

Himachal: 174 all out in 49.5 overs.

Nischal c and b Nehra1, Ajay b Gahlot 11, Rajiv c V. Sehwag b Ajay

61, Yashwinder c Dahiya b Nehra 1, Arun c Ajay b Gahlot 1, Sangram b Sunil Joshi 25, Panta c Dahiya b Rathore 29,

Shakti r.o. 9,

Satya Prakash not out 3, Jaswant r.o. 1, Parveen c Joshi b Gahlot 3, Extras 26, Total (49.5 overs) 174.

Fall of wickets: 1/12, 2/33, 3/39, 4/40, 5/114, 6/151, 7/155, 8/168, 9/169, 10/174.

Bowling: Ashish Nehra 10-2-25-2, Rajesh Gahlot 7.5-0-23-3, Ajay Sharma 10-0-33-1, Rajiv Rathore 10-2-45-1, Sunil Joshi 6-0-8-1, Virender 5-0-21-0.

Delhi: 175 for four in 41.1 overs.

Dani b Nischal b Shakti 0,

Dahiya c Parveen b Jaswant 46, Sohail lbw /Shakti 8, Harinder st Arun Verma b Jaswant 37, Ajay not out 55, Minhas not out 18, Extras 11.

Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/40, 3/60, 4/128.

Bowling: Shakti Singh 9.1-3-29-2, Parveen Sharma 5-0-30-0, Rahul Panta 10-1-39-0, Jaswant Rai 10-1-40-2, Nischal Gaur 6-0-25-0.

Punjab register 3rd successive win
From Our Sports Reporter

LUDHIANA, Nov 5 — Punjab continued their winning streak by registering third consecutive victory outplaying Jammu and Kashmir by 48 runs in the North Zone Ranji Trophy one-day match at the Punjab Agricultural University ground here today.

Electing to bat first hosts Punjab made a sedate start and after skipper Vikram Rathore’s dismissal in the third over, Sandeep Sharma and Reetinder Sodhi played well to set an excellent launch pad for other batsmen to exploit in the final stages of the match. The pair added 81 runs in 14.1 overs for the second wicket. Sodhi top scored with 68 runs while Sandeep Sharma made 51.

Punjab’s innings witnessed two more useful partnerships. For the fourth wicket, Sodhi and Dinesh Mongia (33) hoisted 53 runs. Reetinder again figured in a half-century partnership with Amit Sharma (47) for the fifth wicket. India’s Test player Harbhajan Singh gave a final thrust smashing 22 runs off only 12 deliveries which included two sixes and one hit to the fence.

Punjab scored 250 runs for 9 after 50 overs. Left arm pacer Surinder Sharma and spinner Ashwani Gupta shared the spoils capturing two wickets each.

Requiring 251 runs for victory, Jammu and Kashmir suffered early jolts to be reduced to 28 for four after 8.2 overs. Reetinder Sodhi and Sandeep Sharma took two wickets each to force them on defensive Shashi Sharma (59 no) and Pardeep Bali (57) then steadied the innings. The duo raised 58-run fifth-wicket stand. After Pradeep’s departure, J and K lost two more wickets in quick succession. But Shashi proved his capability as he and Vikrant Taggar stepped up the pace and in the process added 64 runs for the 8th wicket.

Harbhajan Singh (3 for 38) and Sarandeep (2 for 45) polished off the tail as the inning folded at 202 runs in 43.3 overs.

With this win, Punjab have garnered six points from three fixtures.

Punjab: Vikram Rathore c Vikrant b Surinder Sharma 01, Sandeep Sharma run out 51, R Sodhi st Vikrant b Ashwani Gupta 68, Pankaj Dharmani c and b Ashwani Gupta 11, D Mongia c sub (Amitpal) b Kanwaljeet 33, Amit Sharma run out 47, Harminder Jugnu run out 01, Harbhajan Singh not out-22, Sarandeep Singh c Sanjay b Surinder 00, Lakhbir Singh run out-00.

Extras 15.

Total 250 for 9 in 50 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-85, 3-101, 4-154, 5-206, 6-210, 7-239, 8-244, 9-250.

Bowling: Vijay Sharma 2-1-13-0, Surinder Sharma 10-1-41-2, Shashi Sharma 0.5-0-11-0, Pradeep Bali 10-1-50-0, Ashwani Gupta 10-0-37-2, Kanwaljeet Singh 7-0-40-1.

J and K: Rajesh Gill b R Sodhi 15, Ranjit Bali c Vikram b R Sodhi 08, Kanwaljeet Singh c Amit b S Sharma 01, Ashwani Gupta c Amit b S Sharma 01, Shashi Sharma not out 59, Pradeep Bali c Amit b Harbhajan 57, Dhruv Mahajan c Amit b Harbhajan 02, Sanjay Sharma b Harbhajan 08, Vikrant Taggar c Harbhajan b Sarandeep 28, Vijay Sharma c Amit b Sarandeep 02, Surinder b S Sharma 06.

Extras 15.

Total 202 all out in 43.3 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-27, 3-27, 4-28, 5-96, 6-99, 7-115, 8-179, 9-181, 10-202.

Bowling: S Sharma 7.3-2-29-3, R Sodhi 7-1-27-2, Lakhbir Singh 2-0-28-0, Navdeep Singh 8-0-33-0 Harbhajan Singh 10-3-38-3, Sarandeep Singh 9-1-45-1.

Yuvraj wrecks HP
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Nov 5 — Punjab defeated Himachal by an innings and 168 runs in the Cooch Bihar under 19 tie that concluded at the picturesque Parmar University cricket stadium at Nauni, near here, today.

Scores — Himachal 125 and 77. Punjab 370 for nine declared.

Resuming at their overnight score of 147 for four, Punjab started making mincemeat of Himachal bowling from the word go. While Vivek Mahajan, who remained unbeaten at his individual score of 151, steadily kept the one end going, his successive partners wielded the long handle. Vikramjit Singh who came at the fall of Manav Dhuper’s wicket yesterday scored 20 runs off 26 balls. Harikishan Kali scored a whirlwind 32 off 29 balls, Ankur 19 off 17 and Amit Uniyal 53 off 53.

Punjab’s formidable total was helped by 19 extras.

Faced with a first inning deficit of 202 runs, a dispirited Himachal failed to put even a semblance of resistance. Their first wicket that of opener Hitesh Angrish fell with only one run on the score board. Eight runs later the second wicket fell and another run later the third. At this stage Pankaj Kapur tried to steady the rocking Himachal boat with some sensible batting. He had contributed 28 runs when Munish Kumar brought off a fine catch off Yuvraj Singh, Himachal score read a dismal 57 at that time. Kapur had fallen to the same fielder and bowler in the first innings.

Himachal second innings folded in a space of 80 minutes during which only 18.3 overs were bowled. Yuvraj with 6 for 5 was the chief wrecker.

Scores:

Himachal(Ist innings): Hitesh Angrish c Gaganendra b Yuvraj 31, Amit Verma c Ankur b Kali 0, Yadvinder lbw Kali 0, Surinder Dogra b Kali 0, Pankaj Kapur c Munish b Yuvraj 19, Amit c & b Dhull 7, Negi c S.P. Singh b Yuvraj 1, Shivinder c Vikramjit b Dhull 16, Mohan Singh c Mahajan b Dhull 13, Ajay Pratap lbw Yuvraj 31, Anuj Kumar n.o.0.

Total: 125

Bowling:- Kali 3 for 20, Yuvraj 4 for 29 Dhull 3 for 48.

Punjab: 370 for 9 declared

Himachal (2nd innings): Angrish c S.P. Singh b Kali 0, Amit lbw Uniyal 4, Yadvinder c Kali b Yuvraj 5, Dogra b Kali 9, Kapur c Munish b Yuvraj 28, Anil lbw Yuvraj 0, Negi c Gagan b Yuvraj 1, Shivendra c Dhuper b Yuvraj 10, Mohan Singh did not bat, Ajat Pratap c S.P. Singh b Yuvraj 9, Anuj Thakur n.o.2.

Total: 77

Bowling:- Yuvraj Singh 6 for 5 runs, Kali 2 for 26, Uniyal 1 for 4.

Ludhiana, Amritsar in super league

NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (PTI) — Amritsar’s Khalsa Academy and Sat Guru Pratap Singh Academy of Ludhiana made it to the super league stage of Nehru Cup Sub-Junior Hockey Tournament when they won their second straight league encounters here today.

Balwinder Singh put Amritsar boys ahead after GGS Sports College, Lucknow, gave good fight and went into the halftime scoreless.

Amritsar boys picked up the lead in the 47th minute through Balwinder’s field effort that inspired Ranjit Singh who consolidated Khalsa Academy’s position by converting a penalty corner in the 56th minute.

Ludhiana Academy also beat their rivals Danapur boys by same scoreline — 2-0 — after taking one-goal lead at the halftime.

Though Ludhiana team faced stiff resistance from their Danapur counterparts, Harinderjit Singh converted a penalty corner in the 23rd minute to give his team a welcome respite.

After the breather, Ajaypal Singh increased the margin by netting a goal in the 49th minute.

In the first match of the day, Mizoram’s Zotlang Middle School handed a 5-1 defeat to Panhala School, Maharashtra.

David Lalrammawia gave an early lead to Mizoram boys slamming a goal in the 7th minute. Eight minutes later, C. Lalremruata netted another to give 2-0 lead which they held on till the lemon break.

Skipper Lalrinnunga scored in the 45th minute while Lalrammawia (44th), and P.C. Lalhmangaiha (52nd) were the other scorers. For Panhala boys Vishal Patil’s 49th minute goal came as a consolation.

GND varsity lads, DU eves champs
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 5 — GND University, Amritsar, and Delhi University, Delhi today became the proud winners, in the men and women section respectively in the North Zone Inter University Table Tennis tournament which concluded here at the Panjab University gymnasium hall.

In the men’s final,GND University triumphed over the hosts Panjab University in all the three singles.

In the first singles between Manish Bhardwaj (GND varsity) and Anoop KC (PU), the latter won the first game at 21-11 but Manish wrapped up the next two games at 21-16, 21-16. Tarun Akku, a student of Punjab Engg College representing PU and son of former Haryana TT player Tilak Raj gave a good display but the controlled smashes of Dheeraj and steady game displayed by him emerge winner at 21-19, 21-10. In the third game, Deepak Sharma went down fighting to Vikram Aditya of GND varsity at 13-21, 21-18 and 11-21.

PU Chandigarh and CSJM, Kanpur, had earlier secured third and fourth place, respectively, in men’s section.

The women’s final played between GND varsity, Amritsar, and Delhi University, Delhi, was an action packed in which Delhi girls won at 3-1.

In first singles, Ishani Baruah of Delhi was pitched in a fierce battle with Shikha Ghai of GND varsity with latter taking the first game easily at 21-7 but the next game was bagged by Ishani at 21-14. In the decider, both were locked in thrilling match which the Delhi girl won at 24-22 won at 24-22.

Ekta Bhambri of Delhi clinched the second singles from Anu of GND varsity in straight games at 21-9, 21-11. The lead of 2-0 in favour of DU was reduced to 2-1 by Kuldeep Kaur of GND varsity when she defeated Ravjeet Kaur of DU 12-21, 21-19, 21-16.

In the reverse singles, Ekta Bhambri, the star player of DU, showed her prowess by taking away the match and finally led her university in taking away the title at 3-1 from GND varsity. Ekta beat Shikha Ghai by 21-8, 21-11.

PU Chandigarh eves got third place while HNB, Garhwal, Univ. , Srinagar (Garhwal) secured the fourth place.

PSEB, DFA to clash for title
From Our Sports Reporter

NABHA (Patiala), Nov 5 — PSEB packed enough punch in their game to outwit Punjab Police 2-0 while DFA, Kapurthala, triumphed over BSF, Jammu, 1-0 to set up a title clash in the All-India Gurdarshan Memorial Football Championships played at the Ripudaman College grounds here today.

The decks have now been cleared for a pulsating finale on the morrow with both outfits having a fair sprinkling of national and international footballers to make the climax of this edition of the tourney an excitable one.

In the opening minutes of the encounter between the powermen and the cops, both medio Dalip and old warhorse Pardeep Maruti made their presence felt with both striking enough rhythm to break through the cops defence repeatedly. But somehow the powermen were unable to translate their dominace into goals.

The best scoring opportunity in the second half, after the first one ended goalless, came when Jatinder Singh of PSEB ducked under a lob to allow an unmarked Ramesh slot the ball home. Ramesh collected the ball neatly and unleashed a stinging shot at the goal which struck the wood to rebound back into play. And with Dalip lurking dangerously in the danger area he quickly pounced on the loose ball to score his team’s first goal.

The cops went all out but in their endeavour for the all-important equaliser they left too many gaps in their defence. This proved to be costly as the powermen were awarded a flag kick in the dying minutes of the match and as Dalip took the kick, striker Gurvinder rushed in to pack immense punch in his left footer to enable PSEB cruise into the final with a 2-0 verdict.

The first half in the second semi-final between DFA, Kapurthala, and BSF, Jammu, was barren. But after the breather the Kapurthala boys played with a lot more fluency and fortitude.

The goal that mattered the most came in the last minute of the match when Lakhvir Singh shredded the defence by dodging his way past two defenders and after side-stepping another one passed the ball to Manjit who beat P. Saha with a grounder that touched the vertical but the ball after hitting the wooden post slowly rolled into the BSF net, much to the anguish of the BSF players.

Sangrur, Ludhiana lads in final
From Our Sports Reporter

SANGRUR, Nov 5 — Sangrur and Ludhiana will clash in the finals in the boys U-19 category in the Panjab Schools Inter District Badminton Championships here.

Sangrur defeated Amritsar in the first semifinals 2-0 in a one-sided match, while in the second semifinals favourite Ludhiana defeated Amritsar 2-0 after facing stiff resistance from the rivals.

Results semifinals:

Boys U-19: Sangrur beat Patiala -2-0. Arif beat Rishi 15-0, 15-2. Akhtar & Asim beat Ashok & Arun-15-10, 15-8. Ludhiana beat Amritsar 2-0: Dilpreet beat Varun-15-6,15-10. Delpreet & Iqbal beat Varun-12-15, 15-10, 15-8.

Girls U-19: Amritsar beat Sangrur-2-0. Radha beat Swati- 11-2,11-1 Radha & Jyoti beat Swati & Karamjit - 15-4, 15-1, Moga beat Ludhiana- 2-1 Adeshpal lost to Rupinder 11-3, 11-1 Manju & Surjit beat Rupinder & Jaspal 15-7, 15-11. Manjit beat Jaswinder 11-0, 11-0.

Boys U-17: Ropar beat Sangrur- 2-1. Harpreet lost to Kazim 5-15, 6-15. Harpreet & Gurpreet beat Kazim & Shahbaaz 15-10, 15-10. Anshuman beat Kalimullah.

Girls U-17: Patiala beat Ropar 2-0-Puneet beat Ravinder 11-0, 11-0, 11-1, Jaspreet & Amrit beat Mamta & Poonam 15-1, 15-2.

Amritsar beat Sangrur 2-0. Amrit beat Meenu 11-1, 11-7. Jaspreet & Amrit beat Meenu & Rajni 15-0, 15-3.

Boys U-14: Amritsar beat Patiala 2-0. Kunal beat Manpreet Singh 15-2, I Kunal & Punit beat Raj Kumar & Manpreet 15-3, 12-15, 15-13 Nawanshahr beat Sangrur 2-1. Jaswinder Singh beat Munir 17-15, 15-7, 15-8. Jaswinder & Rakesh lost to Munir & Mohit 9-15,3-15. Vivek beat Gurdeep-15-6, 15-18

Haryana Deputy Director retires
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 5 — Mr H.S.Bhadu, Deputy Director, Sports, Haryana, retired after putting in 32 years of service. Mr Bhadu started as Director, Physical Education in Government Senior Secondary School, Narnaul, in 1967. He worked in various capacities in the sports department before rising to the rank of a Deputy Director.

A distinguished sportsperson, Mr Bhaduisgh was awarded by the Governor of Haryana for his outstanding contribution towards the promotion of sports in Haryana in 1982-83, 1988-89, 1990 to 1996.

Mr Bhadu was manager for the Indian athletic team which participated in tournaments in Kuwait in 1982, Singapore in 1984, Rome in 1985, the erstwhile USSR in 1986, Singapore in 1987, SEA Games held at Kolalumpur in 1989 and Nagoya (Japan) in 1994.

He was best athlete of DAV College , Jalandhar, from 1961 to 1964. He was best athlete of Hisar district in 1965. He won silver medal twice in 100 m and 200 m in the Panjab University athletic championships in 1963 and 1964. He also won two gold, two silver and one bronze medals in Panjab University athletic in 1965. He was also a qualified technical official of the Amateur Athletic Federation of India.

He was elected joint secretary of the Haryana Olympic Association election of which were held yesterday.

Roller skating meet results

PATIALA, Nov 5 (FOSR) — Patiala Blues, aided by three goals from Sarabjit Singh and a brace from Bhupinder, beat Patiala Whites 5-3 to win the senior roller skating hockey event in the eleventh Punjab State Roller Skating Championships which concluded here today.

The other results of roller skating hockey are:

Junior boys: Patiala 1, Amritsar 2, Ludhiana 3

Sub-Junior boys: Patiala 1, Jalandhar 2, Ludhiana 3.

Senior women: Patiala 1, Muktsar 2, Ludhiana 3.

Junior girls: Muktsar 1, Amritsar 2, Jalandhar 3.

Results of rink races (all finals):

12-14years (boys): Alamgeet 1, Punrageet Singh 2, Talwinder 3, Baljinder 4,

12-14 years (girls): Hargurbir 1, Amola Tandon 2, Heena Sandhu 3, Kangan Mahajan 4.

Above 14 years (boys): Deepak 1, Navdeep 2, Amarinder 3, Harmanjit Singh 4.

Above 14 years (girls): Sanya Dhaliwal 1, Divya Dhanda 2, Ishwinder Virk 3.

10-12 years (boys): Manavpreet 1, Kanwar Yuvraj 2, Mandeep 3, Simranjit 4.

10-12 years (girls): Heena Bharti 1, Gupreet Kaur 2, Pallavi Sharma 3, Tashika 4.

Judo trials

PATIALA, Nov 5 (FOSR) — Trials to select junior ( U-18) Punjab Judo teams (boys and girls) will be held at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, on November 9 at 9.00 am, according to Mr A.S. Grewal, honorary secretary Punjab Judo Association.

Meanwhile according to a separate press release issued by the Patiala District Judo Association (PDJA), it has been decided that the association will organise the sub-junior Punjab State Judo Championship for both boys and girls at the Polo Grounds from November 21 to 23.

NHPC triumph

CHAMBA, Nov 5 (FOC) — The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) beat Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) by six wickets in the Inter-Departmental Cricket Championship here.

The NHPC won the toss and decided to field first. The HPSEB were bowled out for 81 runs in 18.2 overs. IN reply, the NHPC were 84 for 4 in 17 overs.

Score (HPSEB): 81 all out in 18.2 overs. Satish Mehra 13 Kuldeep 11, Virender Thakur 3 for 27 J.K. Awasthy 2 for 20, Sunil for 2 for 8.

NHPC: 84 for 4 in 17 overs. (J.K. Awasthy 23, Rajesh 20 not out, Kuldeep 2/21, Tilak 15, Rajeev 2/12).

J.K.Awasthy was declared man of the match as well as man of the series”. He scored 207 runs and got 6 wickets in the championship.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.Sanjaymurthy, gave away the prizes to the participants.

B’minton ranking tournament

LUDHIANA, Nov 5 (FOSR) — The Ludhiana District Badminton Association will conduct the second edition of the Majesty Food Punjab State Major Ranking Badminton Tournament (men and women) here at the Shastri Hall of the Guru Nanak Stadium from November 11 to 13.

This was disclosed by the general secretary of the association. Performance during the tournament will be the basis for selecting the state men’s and women’s teams for the senior National Badminton Championship scheduled to be held at Koch (Kerla) in February next year.