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Tuesday,
April 23, 2002, Chandigarh, India
  
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Akhtar happy to prove detractors wrong |
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DOWN MEMORY LANE — SOCCER WORLD CUP Singapore, Korea win Majoli ends Schnyder’s run Tatas defeat
CR Punjab basketball
results Bhullar, Gill to
be honoured
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India set 313-run target for Windies
Port of Spain, April 22 Speedster Javagal Srinath dismissed opener Stuart Williams for 13 to give India a headstart after West Indies started their second innings, chasing 313 for victory. But Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan batted positively to take the score to 62 when rains forced an early tea. Gayle was batting on 21 while Sarwan was on 17 with West Indies needing another 251 runs to win. Earlier, India suffered a batting collapse to be all out for 218 in their second innings. The visitors lost their last six wickets for just 13 runs after skipper Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman had put the side in position of strength with their 149-runs partnership for the fifth wicket. Indian innings ending in the second over after lunch when Ashish Nehra was clean bowled by Mervyn Dillon for nought. Skipper Sourav Ganguly remained unbeaten on 75 after batting for 290 minutes. He faced 221 balls and hit six boundaries. Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman were engaged in a 149-run stand for the fifth wicket which pulled India out of deep trouble after they had crashed to 56 for four yesterday. But once Laxman was out for 74 this morning, Indian batsmen fell like a pack of cards. India took lunch at 218 for nine and the last wicket fell immediately after the break without a single run being added. The collapse was triggered by the dismissal of Laxman who played on to his stumps after making a brilliant 74. Ganguly continued with his innings and was unbeaten on 75 at lunch but was in danger of running out of partners. Ajay Ratra, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan were out cheaply in quick succession, but India had already established a solid 312-run lead. Play was interrupted for 40 minutes due to rains after only four balls had been bowled this morning. India resumed at their overnight 165 for four, and Ganguly hit the first ball he faced, the fourth of the morning, for a boundary to move from 48 to 52. Ganguly took 192 minutes and hit four fours in reaching his 16th half- century. When play restarted after the rain-interval, Ganguly continued to bat freely and twice square cut Sanford and Carl Hooper for boundaries. Laxman didn’t have much of strike in this period but managed to pull Hooper once to midwicket boundary. The second new ball was taken almost straightaway by Hooper after he had rushed through the morning overs with spinners — Ramnaresh Sarwan and himself. Laxman flicked Mervyn Dillon to fine leg boundary to move to 74. But he was out soon after when he misjudged the bounce while attempting a cut shot and the ball crashed into the stumps after taking the inside edge of the bat. Laxman had batted for 228 minutes and faced 157 balls hitting nine fours. Wickets fell like nine pins after that as the tailenders failed to tackle the new ball. Cameron Cuffy sent back Ratra (2) and Harbhajan Singh (0) off successive deliveries and Dillon claimed Srinath (2) in his next over to reduce India to 213 for eight. Zaheer Khan (4) was run out off the penultimate ball before lunch when he hesitated in responding to a call for a single by Ganguly. Earlier in the day, the home team’s first innings folded with the addition of 48 runs to their overnight total of 197 for six. The West Indian tailenders, in the company of their skipper Carl hooper, frustrated the Indian bowlers for close to two hours but their effort could not prevent India from taking a first innings lead. Both Ganguly and Laxman curbed their natural instincts for strokeplay and were very judicious in their shot selection. There was no flashing outside the off-stump or any ambitious drives. They batted patiently and waited for the bad deliveries to despatch to the boundary. Ganguly even showed restraint in going for his favourite cut shots and was more inclined to play with a straight bat. The two batsmen slowly but steadily built a crucial partnership and denied any success to the West Indies bowlers in the last session of play during which they added 88 runs in 37 overs.
PTI Scoreboard India (Ist innings): 339 West Indies (Ist innings): 245 India (2nd innings): Das lbw b Dillon 0 Bangar c Hooper b Sanford 16 Dravid c Murray b Cuffy 36 Tendulkar lbw b Sanford 0 Ganguly batting 75 Laxman b Dillon 74 Ratra lbw b Cuffy 2 Harbhajan c Gayle b Cuffy 0 Srinath c Williams b Dillon 2 Khan run out 4 Nehra b Dillon 0 Extras (b-5 lb-2 nb-2) 9 Total 218 FoW: 1-6, 2-54, 3-54, 4-56, 5-205, 6-210, 7-210, 8-213, 9-218. Bowling:
Dillon 21.1-7-42-4, Cuffy 20-6-53-3, Black 14-3-36-0 (nb-2), Sanford 17-5-46-2, Hooper 17-4-28-0, Sarwan 3-0-6-0. West Indies (2nd innings): Williams c Dravid b Srinath 13 Gayle batting 21 Sarwan batting 17 Extras (b-2, Ib 2, nb-6, w-1): 11 Total
(for 1 wkt, 20.1 overs) 62 Fall of wicket: 1-27 Bowling:
Srinath 6-2-16-1, Nehra 6-2-17-0, Harbhajan Singh 4.1-1-11-0, Zaheer Khan 4-0-14-0. |
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Ganguly praises Laxman Port of Spain, April 22 “I wish people who criticise him understand he is a class player. He has looked better than the rest in the series so far,” said Ganguly, who added valuable runs with the Hyderabadi in an unbroken fifth wicket stand that took India from 56 for four 165-for four on the third day of the second Test against the West Indies here yesterday. Laxman, a Wisden cricketer of 2001, is on a roll here with three successive half-centuries. After his 69 in the first Test, he is yet to be dismissed in this Test scoring 69 in the first innings and was on 60 at close on the third day.
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Akhtar happy to prove detractors wrong Karachi, April 22 “I am delighted I have answered my critics by taking wickets yet again and I love to prove my detractors wrong,” Akhtar told AFP. “I am back in form and hope my wicket-taking form reaches acme in the World Cup so that I can play my part in Pakistan’s triumph.” Known as the “Rawalpindi Express” for his charging run-up and blistering pace, the 26-year-old wrecked New Zealand in yesterday’s day-night limited overs match with career best figures of six for 16. His previous best of five for 19 was also against New Zealand in Auckland last year. He looked like he was bowling grenades yesterday as the New Zealanders fended off balls they could hardly see or struggled to get out of the way completely. Yesterday’s fearsome display put batsmen around the world on notice that Akhtar, whose career has been plagued by suspicions about his action, was back and reaching the peak of his powers. As well as taking career-best figures, he became the 12th Pakistani bowler to reach 100 one-day wickets, having played 60 matches. “Reaching a milestone is great and motivates you to take more and more wickets,” said Akhtar. “Every time they criticise me the fire burns more in me to prove them wrong. I don’t know how many times they wrote me off and they would still do so,” said Akhtar. Akhtar is tipped to break the 160 km per hour (100 mph) barrier and become the fastest bowler on the planet, although his Australian rival and friend, Brett Lee, is in hot pursuit. He sent down a 159.5 kph thunderbolt in last week’s Sharjah Cup, second only to Australian Jeff Thomson’s 161 kph ball in 1975, the fastest ever recorded. “Well, it’s one of those things and basically we entertain the crowd who come to watch cricket which is full of action and with it help the team win matches.” Akhtar said he had his sights set on World Cup champions Australia. “I am waiting for the Australians to come and then I want to achieve the best against them because they are the team to beat,” he said. “Pakistan is the only team that can beat Australia and I am sure we will not only beat them in Pakistan but also dethrone them as world champions.” Akhtar has spent a lot of time working on his bowling in Australia and enjoys playing club cricket there, but there is no love lost when he is playing for Pakistan. “I have forgotten the bowling action controversy and hope it doesn’t bother me again,” Akhtar said. Thomson, who is covering New Zealand’s tour here as a commentator, said it was “a bit funny and ridiculous” that the ICC had twice been forced to examine Akhtar’s action and cleared him on both occasions. “I think he is just no different to Brett Lee. Lee also has a similar sort of action and their actions are just fine,” said Thomson, who also had a distinctive slinging style to his delivery.
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DOWN MEMORY LANE — SOCCER WORLD CUP Paris, April 22 Fears that the conditions would hinder attractive play were totally unfounded as the tournament produced a feast of attacking football. Brazil, with Pele back at his best, were magnificent. They beat holders England 1-0 in the group stages, despite Gordon Banks’ now legendary save from Pele, and with Jairzinho on fire upfront roared into the knockout stages. West Germany, with Franz Beckenbauer imperious and impish striker Gerd Muller in top form, gained revenge for their defeat in the 1966 final by recovering from 0-2 down to England to win 3-2 after extra time in the last eight. Their semi-final match with Italy was just as dramatic, the Italians eventually coming through 4-3 in extra-time after another seesaw encounter. Brazil marched past Peru in the quarter-finals and then saw off Uruguay 3-1 in the semis. Italy never stood a chance in the final as the South Americans gave an exhibition of “the beautiful game”. Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho and, gloriously, Carlos Alberto scored in a 4-1 rout of the Italians, and Brazil were allowed to keep the Jules Rimet trophy having won it three times. The ninth World Cup finals in the thin air of Mexico were the first held in the CONCACAF continent. For the first time substitutes were allowed in all games. The use of red and yellow cards by referees was also introduced, yet, amazingly, no players were sent off in this tournament. For the first time matches were broadcast live to all points of the globe. Hosts Mexico drew their first game 0-0 with the USSR in the magnificent Azteca Stadium. The first substitution was made when the Soviets replaced Victor Serebriannikov with Anatoli Puzach. England beat Romania 1-0 in their first game with Geff Hurst scoring the goal. England’s first substitute was Tommy Wright who replaced Keith Newton. Israel, making their debut in the finals, lost their opening game 0-2 to Uruguay in group two. West Germany beat Morocco, who were also making their finals debut, 2-1 in Leon. Belgium beat another first time finalist, El Salvador, 3-0. Uwe Seeler of West Germany became the first European player to appear in four consecutive finals in their match against Morocco and he scored one of the goals. Gerd Muller, later to finish top scorer with 10 goals, scored the first hat-trick of the finals in West Germany’s 5-2 win over Bulgaria. Mario Zagallo became the first man to win the World Cup as player and manager. In honour of their third World Cup victory, Brazil were presented with the Jules Rimet trophy for all time. A new trophy was then ordered by FIFA. 1970 World Cup finals winning
squad: Brazil: Goalkeepers: Ado, Felix, Emerson Leao. Defenders:
Baldochi, Brito, Carlos Alberto (capt), Clodoaldo, Edu, Everaldo, Fontana, Joel, Marco, Piazza. Midfielders:
Gerson, Paulo Cesar. Forwards: Jairzinho, Dario, Pele, Rivelino, Roberto, Tostao, Ze Maria. Coach: Mario Zagallo. 1974, West Germany: Watertight security surrounded the 1974 World Cup in West Germany following the terrorist killings that blighted the Munich Olympics two years earlier. The tournament saw a new format — the quarter — and semi-finals were scrapped in favour of two group phases — and the birth of “total football”. Finalists Holland, led by the outstanding Johan Cruyff, and Franz Beckenbauer’s West Germany were the leading exponents of the new art which involved players switching positions at will to open up defences. The highlight of the first round came when East Germany shocked West Germany 1-0 in Hamburg, Jurgen Sparwasser scoring the goal. The result meant the hosts avoided Holland and Brazil in the next round. The Dutch were a delight as they romped into the second stage, and victories over East Germany, Argentina and Brazil secured them a place in the final. There they faced West Germany, who had seen off an impressive Poland in the other group, and barely a minute from the start the Dutch went ahead when Cruyff won a penalty, scored by Johan Neeskens. Holland toyed with the Germans for a while, then suddenly lost their grip. Paul Breitner equalised after 25 minutes and just before half-time Gerd Muller scored the clincher. Some 90 countries took part in qualifying, for 14 places. Belgium were unbeaten and didn’t concede a goal but lost out to Holland on goal difference. The 16 finalists were competing for the new FIFA World Cup trophy. The organising committee had also devised a new format. After the first round games the two countries in each group would then be drawn in two further groups of four. The winners would then contest the final. FIFA had also elected a new president, Joao Havelange of Brazil. The first non-European to hold such office, he succeeded Sir Stanley Rous, who was later made an honorary president in recognition of his service to FIFA. Scotland were the only British nation to qualify and four countries were making their debuts in the finals: Haiti, Zaire, East Germany and the first representatives from Oceania, Australia. For the first time the hosts didn’t open the tournament. Holders Brazil had the honour, drawing 0-0 against Yugoslavia in a violent match that featured 46 free-kicks. Yugoslavia ran riot against Zaire, winning their group two match 9-0. Zaire became the first country to substitute their goalkeeper, replacing Nuamba with Tubilandu. They also had Ndaye sent off. Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff conceded his first goal in 1,143 minutes when Haitian Sanon scored in their 1-3 loss to the Azzurri. The historic first meeting between East and West Germany took place in Hamburg before 58,900 fans. East Germany won 1-0 with a goal by Jurgen Sparwasser in the 77th minute. Scotland, although failing to make it past the first round, finished the only undefeated side. Two draws and a win saw them bow out early. Winners West Germany lost earlier to East Germany in a group match. Gerd Muller’s four goals brought his personal tally to 14, which established him as the top World Cup scorer ever, a record that may never be beaten. 1974 World Cup winning squad: West Germany: Goalkeepers: Wolfgang Kleff, Sepp Maier, Norbert Nigbur. Defenders: Franz Beckenbauer (capt), Paul Breitner, Horst-Dieter Hottges, Georg Schwarzenbeck, Berti Vogts Midfielders: Dieter Herzog, Rainer Bonhof, Bernhard Culmann, Jupp Kapellmann, Helmut Kremers, Gunter Netzer, Wolfgang Overath, Herbert Wimmer Forwards: Heinz Flohe, Jurgen Grabowski, Josef Heynckei, Uli Hoeness, Bernd Holzenbein, Gerd Muller. Coach: Helmut Shoen.
AFP
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Hotlines
for soccer World Cup Seoul, April 22 South Korean Defence Minister Kim Dong-shin met Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Seoul at the weekend. They agreed a temporary hotline should be set up for the May 31-June 30 finals to help coordinate security, the South Korean Defence Ministry said in a statement. To help inform each other on any bio-terrorism threats and the spread of any contagious diseases, the governments also agreed to set up another hotline in early May, South Korea’s National Institute of Health said. Reuters |
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Singapore, Korea win Margao, April 22 While in the second match of group ‘C’ played at Tilak Maidan Vasco da Gama, DPR Korea hung on to the first half goal to get better of Uzbekistan by a solitary goal scored by Ri Kwag ok in the 9th minute, which turned out to be the match winner. Korea would have won by one more goal had not Uzbekistan goalkeeper Olga Makhmudova brought off a brilliant save off a penalty spot kick taken by Ko Jong Ryon, which was awarded to them in the first half itself. With this win DPR Korea and Myanmar are tied with six points from two wins each in group ‘C’. In the earlier match at Fatorda, Hong Kong shot into the lead in the 28th minute of the first half through Fung Kam Mui off a pass from Wong Man Ching and maintained the lead till the breather. After change over, Singapore played with renewed vigour accelerating the pace of their game and restored the parity in the 53rd minute through Nursyaima Abdul Aziz whose long ranger shot found the net 1-1. Inspired by the equaliser Singapore continued to attack and scored the second goal in the 67th minute through Huraizah Ismail, which ultimately turned out to be the match winner.
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Majoli ends Schnyder’s run Charleston (USA), April 22 “I don’t think I can even explain how it feels,” said Majoli, who hugged her brother, Drago, courtside after the match. “It’s been so long since I won a tournament.” The 58th-ranked Majoli ended a glorious week for Schnyder in Charleston, where the Swiss player shocked sixth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France in the second round, third-seeded Serena Williams in the quarterfinals and top-seeded Jennifer Capriati in the semifinals. Despite failing to take the title, the 30th-ranked Schnyder’s spirits were not dampened by the loss. “Of course, I’m a little disappointed,” said Schnyder, whose ranking should move up to approximately 17 in the world. “I thought I could win the whole thing, but I live so many great moments during the week. “It has been the best week of my life.” Majoli, whose ranking is projected to move up to around 29th in the world, also had success with seeded opponents during the week, upending 13th-seeded Amanda Coetzer of South Africa in the quarterfinals and seventh-seeded Sandrine Testud of France in the semifinals. Taking the one hour, 49 minute match was a major achievement for Majoli, who has struggled to return to the form that once established her at a world ranking of No 4. The Croatian’s progress on tour was stalled when shoulder surgery in 1999 kept her off-court for close to 12 months and her comeback has been anything but easy. “Of course, it’s always worth it, but it’s only been the last month or two when I’ve been able to work hard since my injuries,” Majoli said. Majoli, who is the lowest ranked player to win a WTA Tour Tier I level event, had lost her four prior meetings against Schnyder in straight sets. Compared to the exciting tennis from earlier in the week, the final was an anticlimactic affair in which both players failed to perform at the standards they set in previous matches. Part of that could be attributed to the intense humidity and heat, with an on-court thermometer registering up to 114 degrees during the match. There also was the element that Majoli and Schnyder met more or less as equals, rather than facing higher ranked players against whom they had nothing to lose. “I mean, I couldn’t expect it from me to play a match like I did a day before or two days ago,” Schnyder said, “I just tried to do my best, and I was fighting every point and trying to get some good shots. “I think she played very smart and she kept fighting.” Eight of the first 11 games in the mostly baseline brawl were decided on service breaks as each player struggled through the error-riddled match trying to find their games. Majoli, who turned out to be the more aggressive, committed 36 unforced errors to 28 for Schnyder. The first set tiebreaker was an important victory for Majoli, who went ahead 5-1, and kept her composure as Schnyder worked her way back into it before losing her serve on the 12th point by smacking a forehand long. “If I lost the tiebreaker, I think she would’ve won the match,” Majoli said. “That’s how it happens in a match like this where it is so hot. “In the first set, I was really focused. In the second set, I stayed with her and waited for my chance. I tried to be aggressive as much as I could.” As for Schnyder, she felt a certain let down in her game. “My energy level was not there, mentally, in the first set and that was the difference. My concentration was so good the other days. I tried to improve things but it didn’t work.”
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Tatas defeat CR Mumbai, April 22 In the second match of the day, star-studded Indian Airlines pipped youthful Karnataka XI 2-1, after leading by the same margin at half time. In fact, Tatas were sitting pretty after centre forward Shivendra Singh scored a brace in the first 10 minutes. He gave his team the lead in the eight minute when he converted the first penalty corner off Claes Ferreira pass. A couple of minutes later he was again bang on target with a solo effort. However, the railwaymen fought back in the 44th and 58th minutes thorough centre forward Tabrez Khan following a goal-mouth melee and then forward Umar Farooq equalising with a solo effort. Former international Asad Khan scored the match winner with just five minutes to go for the hooter off defender Rahul Bhatkar’s pass to see his team through to the semis. Indian Airlines, who fielded as manny as seven former and current internationals, found Karnataka a bit hard to beat. In the tenth minute, forward Virender Singh put the airmen ahead when he sounded the boards off a defender Irshad Ali pass. Karnataka centre half John Verghese equalised in the 23rd minute off a former international Arjun Halappa back pass before another former international Altaf-Ur-Rehman scored the match winner in the 34th minute off a free hit.
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Punjab
basketball results Chandigarh, April 22 In the boys section, Muktsar overcame tough opposition from Hoshiarpur and won 56-40. At the end of the first quarter, Muktsar were leading by 8-3. For Muktsar, Sukhpal (20) and Amritpal (18) were the main scorers and for Hoshiarpur, Harjiwan (11) was the top scorers. In another closely contested girls section match Hoshiarpur defeated Gurdaspur by 48-46. Though the Gurdaspur girls were leading 16-11 at the end of first quarter, Hoshiarpur levelled the score at the end of the second quarter of 22-22, scoring eleven points against six of Gurdaspur. At the end of the third quarter, Gurdaspur were having a lead of four points (35-31). In the fourth quarter Gurdaspur girls could not stop Rajpal Kaur, who scored eight points in this quarter itself. Sandeep Kaur scored seven for Hoshiarpur, Rajwinder (10) Sandeep (20) Rajpal (10) and for Gurdaspur, Ravneet Kaur (19) and Parmjit (10) were the main scorers. Results: (Boys): Ludhiana b Mansa 67-31, Jalandhar b Sangrur 55-20, Bathinda b Patiala 68-32, Muktsar b Hoshiarpur 56-40. Girls: Hoshiarpur b Gurdaspur 48-46, Kapurthala b Muktsar 50-11, Patiala b Bathinda 19-10. |
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Bhullar, Gill to
be honoured Chandigarh, April 22 Mr Bhullar is credited with completing the sports complex at the PAP headquarters. Mr R.S. Gill, president of the Punjab Basketball Association, was the chef de mission of the Punjab contingent which won the overall championship in the National Games. |
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