The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SPORTS

IA fly past Sonnet, enter semis
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 24
Indian Airlines sailed past Sonnet Club by five wickets to enter the semi-final of the 12th All-India Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament for the HRS Trophy at the Khalsa College ground in the Capital.

Indian Airlines won the toss, and put Sonnet into bat. The Sonnet Club batsmen could not withstand the fierce bowling spells of former India player Doda Ganesh, Abdul Qayoom, Subhash Chaudhary and Ishan Ganda to crash for 165 in 38.5 overs.

After Sonnet tottered at eight for 73, Deepak Joon and Gaurav Tyagi played a fine rearguard action to take the total to some semblance of respect when they put on 69 runs for the ninth wicket.

Deepak Joon made 42 off 68 balls with two fours and one six while Gaurav Tyagi made 31 off 43 balls with three boundaries. Sonnet were at a precarious 51 for 4 at the 15-over mark and 116 for 8 in 30 overs. Indian Airlines did not have to labour much to reach the easy target as despite the early fall of former India player Vijay Dahiya, Airlines pulled ahead through the fine knocks of Munish Sharma, J Arun Kumar and Ravneet Ricky. Munish hit 25 quick runs off 40 balls with four boundaries while Arun Kumar’s 66 came off 83 balls with 11 well-struck boundaries. Ravneet Ricky remained not out on 40. Indian Airlines made 166 for the loss of five wickets in 38.4 overs. Arun Kumar was declared the Pepsi man of the match.

Scores: Sonnet Club: 165 all out in 38.5 overs (Rajiv Rathore 13, Deepak Joon 42, Gaurav Tyagi 31, Vikrant Yadav 18, Doda Ganesh 2 for 22, Abdul Qayoom 2 for 33, Subhash Chaudhary 2 for 31, Ishan Ganda 4 for 24).

Indian Airlines: 166 for 5 in 38.4 overs (Munish Sharma 25, J Arun Kumar 66, Ravneet Ricky 40, Shafiq Khan 14, Naresh Jain 1 for 17, Rajiv Rathore 1 for 32, Sumit Kapoor 1 for 29, Deepak Joon 1 for 24). Wednesday’s fixture: ONGC vs ACE XI, Agra; from 8 am.

Rakesh Sharma shines: Business Standard beat JRA by 82 runs in the first TERI Summer Cup Cricket Tournament played at the Teri Oval ground. The highlight of the match was a fine all-round performance by Business Standard captain Rakeshh Sharma, who scored 33 and took four wickets for 13 runs. Rakesh was declared the man of the match.

Scores: Business Standard: 197 in 25 overs (Gajendra Malik 48, Hemant 47, Rakesh Sharma 35). JRA: 115 for 9 in 25 overs (Rajesh 46, Rakesh Sharma 4 for 13 in 5 overs ).

Port of Spain Test win is a big ‘morale-booster’
Our Sports Reporter

Rohtak, April 24
Former chairman of the Junior National Cricket selection committee and the highest wicket taker in Ranji Trophy championship Mr Rajinder Goel has described India’s victory in Port of Spain Test against West Indies today as ‘morale boosting’.

Giving his reaction to the NCR Tribune here today Goel said “nothing succeeds like success”. He said that large scope exists there for Indian team to make amends in all departments. However, he said that in the last sessions of the Port of Spain Test, the Indian bowlers bowled well to clinch a memorable win over Caribbeans.

He praised pacer Ashish Nehra for his bowling and Ajay Ratra for his excellent work behind the stumps. Goel said Ratra justified his role as a specialist wicket keeper. He also stressed the need for a regular opening batsman in the team. When Sanjay Bangar is not being utilised properly as a bowler and he is not scoring as an opener, then why don’t we induct a specialist opener like Wasim Jaffar in the team? Goel who holds a unique distinction of capturing record 640 wickets in Ranji Trophy without donning national colours.

AIR Rohtak: All India Radio, Rohtak, will broadcast a series of five special programmes on World Cup Football. Mr Rakesh Kapila, programme executive (Sports) in All India Radio told the NCR Tribune that these programmes have been planned keeping in view the enthusiasm of the sports lovers in the Hindi speaking belt of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh for the mega event starting in Korea and Japan on May 31. He said that these programmes will be broadcast on every Thursday i.e. on 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 May in at 8.15 pm. Each episode will of 15 minutes of duration. The history, legends, anecdotes and statistical highlights of the Word Cup Football will be featured in these programmes.

Parthiva to drive in Barber Dodge Series
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 24
Following Narain Karthikeyan’s shift to the heart of motorsports—Europe—Parthiva Sureshwaran, another JK Tyre prodigy, is all set to drive in the home of cars — the United States of America.

Driving the 3.5 litre, V6-265 Bhp Skip Barber racing car for the first time on April 10 and 11, Parthiva delivered a sterling performance, setting the second fastest time in the last session of testing and earning a seat in the coveted Barber Dodge Pro Series. Barber Dodge Pro Series is the feeder formula to CART Champ Car Championship in America.

Parthiva had a two-day test at the Sebring Raceway with team SKIP Barber Racing, which handles all its 25 cars on the Barber Dodge Pro Series grid.

Expressing satisfaction over his performance, Parthiva said, “I am happy with the outcome of the testing.

Considering that I am used to driving Formula 3 cars, the Barber Dodge car was quite a challenge. I hope I will be able to replicate and surpass my testing performance when I race for the first time in America on May 27”.

During the testing, Parthiva spent the first day learning the track, the car and the mechanics. As he got familiar with the conditions, he started pushing harder, aiming for the lap times towards the end of the first session.

After adjustments to his car, and analysing his performance in various sectors of the track, Parthiva started improving his timings in the second session of Day 1. By the end of the first day, he had done 65 laps and ended up within nine

tenths of a second behind leader driver A J Allmendinger, who happened to be team USA scholarship winner.

Parthiva’s best time of 1.09.35 secs against Allmendinger’s 1.08.35 put him fifth overall on the time sheets, ahead of many experienced drivers.

SPORTS CORNER
Mayank, Karan star in Sonnet’s win

New Delhi, April 24
A dashing knock of 76 (59b, 5x4, 5x6) by Mayank Sidana and all-round performance by captain Karan Harit (3 for 18 and 25) helped Sonnet Club beat Lal Bahadur Shastri Club by nine wickets in a league match of the first Gyan Prakash Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in the Capital.

Scores: Lal Bahadur Shastri Club: 154 for 8 in 40 overs (Saurabh Jain 65 n o, Abhishek Rohilla 21, Karan Harit 3 for 18, Harish Kumar 2 for 26).

Sonnet Club: 155 for 6 in 28.2 overs (Mayank Sidana 76, Karan Harit 25, Rajiv Mahajan 2 for 21, Abhishek Rohilla 2 for 26).

Adarsh Club beat Dronacharya: Adarsh Club beat Dronacharya Cricket Foundation by 34 runs in a limited-over match played at the Yamuna Sports Complex.

Scores: Adarsh Club: 196 in 50 overs (Harish Pahwa 32, Rahul Arora 39, Kartik Abhi 14, Aditya Chaudhary 4 for 30, Suman Singh 3 for 25, Sajan Malhotra 2 for 30).

Dronacharya Foundation: 161 all out in 45 overs (Shubhankar Sharda 31, Varun 14, Nakshit Teta 2 for 9, Amiteswhar Singh 2 for 11, Nikhil 2 for 8.

Rahul Arora was adjudged the man of the match, Harsh Pahwa the best batsman and Aditya Chaudhary the best bowler. In another match, Dronacharya beat Sovereign Academy by six wickets.

Scores: Sovereign Academy: 161 in 38.4 overs (Manish Singh 57, Akhil Kumar 20, Manav Yadav 4 for 43, Ankit Kaistha 3 for 23, Maninder Singh 2for 26).

Dronacharya Foundation: 165 for 4 in 33.4 overs (Joel 66, Ankit Kaistha 28).

Akash Chopra shines with bat: A brilliant knock of 75 by Delhi Ranji Trophy player Akash Chopra and 51 by Sumit Berry helped Sonnet Club defeat Patel Times by 96 runs and enter the semi-final of the third ARBDM Cricket Tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Ghaziabad. Scores: Sonnet Club: 243 for 5 in 40 overs (Akash Chopra 75, Sumeet Berry 51, Devender Sharma 41, Mobin Ahmed 2 for 31).

Patel Times: 147 all out in 37.3 overs (Sanjay Nagar 38, Ashok Verma 30, Gaurav Tyagi 3 for 18, Deepak Joon 2 for 05, Sumeet Kapoor 2 for 15). OSR

ADMINISTRATION

NDMC initiates major projects
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 24
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in its monthly meeting took some major decisions including strengthening, re-surfacing and maintenance of roads, installation of high-mast lights and replacement of wiring, construction of nursery schools and additional classrooms. The council has sanctioned Rs 6.5 crore for all these works.

Disclosing the decisions, Mr Ram Bhaj, MLA and Vice-Chairperson of the NDMC, said that the civic body had decided to strengthen and improve the footpath of Man Singh Road, to resurface and strengthen Jai Singh Road, Jaswant Singh Road, Bishamber Dass Marg, Moti Lal Nehru Marg, Dr Rajinder Prasad Road, Kautilya Marg, Maharshi Raman Marg, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, San Martin Marg, Middle Circle and Radial Roads of Connaught Place. An amount of Rs 3.33 crore has been sanctioned for these works.

For electrical works, the civic body had sanctioned Rs 1.74 crore, which included installation of 16 high-mast lighting systems in various intersections in the NDMC area, replacement of internal electrical installations at Senior Secondary School, Mandir Marg, special repairs of 15 MVA power transformers at School Lane Sub-Station, he said. For water supply, Rs 18.54 lakh was sanctioned. The civic body also sanctioned over Rs 50 lakh for improving the lawns by constructing brick wall with MS Railing and entry gates in the Sarojini Nagar area against the MLAs’ Funds Scheme.

Mr Bhaj further said that the 46 shops, which were rehabilitated earlier in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Place from Baird Lane Market, would again be rehabilitated at the newly constructed shops at Baird Lane.