The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SPORTS

Team MRF win APRC group title
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 3
Stuart Warren and co-driver Darryl Judd piloted the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII of Team MRF Tyres to a superb second-place finish at the third round of the 2002 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship at Rotorua, New Zealand. In the process, the Perth-based Kiwi rally driver emerged winner in the Group N (unmodified cars) category for the first time, according to information available in Delhi.

Warren started the final day of the grueling three-day event with a close fight on cards with local favourite Reece Jones at bay. The MRF driver eventually finished with a lead of less than 14 seconds in what was one of the most keenly fought battles at Rotorua.

“We were definitely off the pace on day one. Day two, conditions were pretty hard but we managed to come out stronger. But we were determined to stay ahead of Reece Jones today. We tried that much harder and the results are there to see”, said the calm-faced Warren of what was his best ever Asia-Pacific result.

“The car and tyres worked superbly today. Although Reece is a regular here and not surprisingly could do better than us in terms of time, we tried to maintain a balance between aggression and patience”, he added. The MRF try-shod Group N Evo VII finished second only to overnight leader Malaysian Karamjit Singh who was driving the Group A (modified) Proton PERT. In the APRC drivers’ championship standings, Warren has taken his Group N points total to 24 to be placed second behind Italian Nico Caldarola.

In the overall standings, Warren has nine points for fifth in the series.

Asia-Pacific Overall Classification: 1 (A) Karamjit Sing/Allen Oh (Proton Pert—Petronas Eon Racing) 3h4m31.6 secs. 2 (N) Sutart Warren/Darryl Judd (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII -MRF Tyres) 3h11m6.4s. 3 (N) Reece Jones/Jeff Juddd (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI—Reece Jones Rallysport) 3h11m20.2s..

Brielfy....
Indian spikers lose to Tunisia
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 3
The Indian senior men’s volleyball team went down fighting to Tunisia 3-2 in the first match of the Test match series between the two countries.

Kapildev marshalled the Indian team combination very well to give Tunisia a close run. Tom Joseph and Abhijit Bhattacharjee came out with their guns blazing in the attack. Amir Singh put up a rock-like defence at the net with good blocks while Joby Joseph did an excellent job as a libero.

India won the first set 25-23, but lost the second set 21-25. India won the third set at 25-22 to regain the lead.

But in the last two sets, India narrowly lost at 24-26,15-13.

Ansul hits century

Ansul Gupta hit a stroke-filled 105 with ten fours and two sixes and deadly bowling of 3 for nought by Ritesh Joshi and 3 for 13 by Suraj Mandal helped

National Stadium beat Gyan Bharti South Delhi Academy (Blue) by 178 runs in the first Gyan Bharti South Delhi (Under-13) Cricket Tournament at the National Stadium.

Electing to bat, National Stadium posted a handsome total of 210 for five in 35 overs. Ansul Gupta’s fine knock coupled with good support from Surender Dahiya (42) helped National Stadium to a good total. In reply, Gyan Bharti South Delhi Academy crashed out for 32 in 19.5 overs with Ritesh Joshi and Suraj Mandal doing the damage.

Scores: National Stadium: 210 for 6 in 35 overs (Ansul Gupta 105 n.o., Surender Dahiya 42, Jas Karan Singh 2 for 31).

Gyan Bharti South Delhi Academy (Blue): 32 all out in 19.5 overs (Ritesh Joshi 3 for 0, Suraj Mandal 3 for 13).

Mohit, Sachin excel for RPCA

An unbeaten knock of 70 with eight fours by Mohit Vadera and a fine all-round performance by Haryana Under-19 player Sachin Rana (2 for 20 and 62 n.o,) helped RPCA defeat DAV Shalimar Bagh by six wickets in the Maharaja Agarsen (Under-19) Cricket Tournament at the Gargi College ground.

Scores: DAV, Shalimar Bagh: 188 for 9 in 40 overs (Sumit Rana 45, Tapan Jain 39, Siddarth Gupta 29 n.o., Hemant Kumar 3 for 23, Sachin Rana 2 for 20).

RPCA: 189 for 4 in 35.2 overs (Mohit Vadera 70 n.o., Sachin Rana 62, Ashish Joshi 28, Sumeet Rana 3 for 33).

Raju, Mahesh bowl Collage Group to victory
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 3
Devastating bowling performances by Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy medium-pacer Raju Sharma (4 for 29) and off-spinner Mahesh Bhati (3 for 32) enabled Collage Group defeat Air Force by 62 runs in the fourth Varun Mahajan Trans Yamuna Cricket Association Super League at the Air Force ground, Palam.

Collage Group, batting first, were all out for 187 in 37.3 overs. Sachin Chaudhary was the top-scorer with 55, followed by Adil Ahmad (42).

Off-spinner K.K.Taneja played havoc with the Collage Group batting lineup with a massive haul of five for 22. But Air Force could not capitalise on the fine bowling performance of Taneja as their own batsmen failed to negotiate the wiles and guiles of Raju Sharma and Mahesh Bhati to tumble all out for 125 in 33.3 overs.

Scores: Collage Group: 187 all out in 37.3 overs (Sachin Chaudhry 55, Adil Ahmad 42, Rajeev Rathore 22, Ashish Sharma 25, K K Taneja 5 for 22, A K Mohanti 2 for 29).

Air Force: 125 all out in 33.3 overs (Mohd. Sajid 20, Raju Sharma 4 for 29, Mahesh Bhati 3 for 32)

Anmol Bhayana hits century for Faith Academy
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 3
An excellent unbeaten century knock by Anmol Bhayana (112) and a deadly spell by Gourav Butain (three for 24) guided Faith Academy School to a four-wicket victory with 13 balls to spare against Tyagi Public School in a Pool A League match of the inaugural Shiv Narain Khinchi Memorial Cricket Tournament (Under-15) at the Tyagi Public School ground in the Capital.

Faith Academy won the toss and opted to field. Tyagi Public School made 247 in 34.2 overs with Ishan Kumar slamming a precious 80 runs. Gourav Butain claimed three wickets while Rajat Bhanaya and Manoj Trehan claimed two wickets each for Faith Academy.

Chasing the total, Faith Academy raced to 251 for six in 32.5 overs, thanks to the brilliant century of Anmol Bhayana and the valuable contributions of Ashish Monga (64) and Gourav Butain (28 n.o). Nikhil Aggarwal claimed three wickets for Tyagi Public School.

Poorvi Delhi Cricket Academy take on R.K.Puram Coaching Centre on Thursday.

Anmol Bhayana was adjudged the man of the match.

Scores: Tyagi Public School: 247 all out in 34.2 overs (Ishan Kumar 80 n.o., Manish Saini 38, Dinesh Rohilla 29 n.o., Gourav Butain 3 for 24, Rajat Bhayana 2 for 39, Manoj Trehan 2 for 41).

Faith Academy: 251 for six in 32.5 overs (Anmol Bhayana 112 n.o., Ashish Monga 64, Gourav Butain 28 n.o., Nikhil Aggarwal 3 for 37).

ESPN School Quiz finals
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 3
The finals of the ESPN School Quiz will be held on Thursday and Friday at 5.30 pm. ESPN School Quiz 2002, after enjoying colossal response from schools all over India, has reached a conclusive stage.

DPS Farakka, Mt. St. Mary’s (Delhi) and Loyola (Thiruvanathapuram) are the schools contesting the finals for the ultimate honours. DPS Farakka will be represented by its bright students Suvojit Chakraborty and Rahul Mukherjee. They will face the challenge from Delhi’s Mt. St Mary’s School and Loyola School from Thiruvanathapuram.

Mt. St.Mary’s will be represented by Anirvan Chowdhury and Rahul Tom Joseph while Jayendran Srinivasan and Tarun Murali will represent Loyola School.