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Sunday,
March 2, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Tendulkar shows the exit door to Pak
Sachin crosses 12,000-run mark PROFILE OF THE WEEK Sheer joy to see the master in full flow Minnows Kenya reach Super Sixes
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Injured Gillespie ruled out
Vaas inspires Lanka win Lack of common sense lets West Indies down I’d do same again,
says Hooper Kiwis to play Canada with eye on Durban tie Minnows’ bid to avoid ignominy
East Bengal
beat Tollygunge Seema, Rajesh
win gold AIFF to conduct dope tests
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Tendulkar shows the exit door to Pak
Centurion, March 1 Tendulkar, who became the first batsman to score 12,000 runs in one-day cricket today, captivated a packed sub-continental crowd at the SuperSports Park with a breathtaking knock of 98 runs that saw India easily overtake Pakistan’s score of 273 for seven and ensure their place in the Super Six.
India reached 276 for four with 26 balls to spare to finish their league encounters with 20 points from six matches. Pakistan, who have eight points from five games, still have a mathematical chance to qualify for the next round provided they beat Zimbabwe by a huge margin in their last match. Australia, who have 20 points with a game against England to go, have already qualified for the Super Six. The victory in today’s much-hyped game, the first between the two countries in nearly three years, maintained India’s record of having defeated Pakistain every time the two teams have met in a World Cup. Pakistan, who elected to bat first on a beautiful batting track, did well to reach a handsome total of 273 for seven, mainly due to the efforts of veteran opener Saeed Anwar who chose the big occasion to come out of his recent indifferent form and crack a fine 101. However, Tendulkar launched a stunning assault on Pakistan’s celebrated pace bowlers in the first 15 overs that not only completely unsettled Waqar Younis and Company but the resultant high run rate also ensured that the later order Indian batsmen never had to panic. Yuvraj Singh played another crucial knock and remained unbeaten on 50 runs in the company of Rahul Dravid who made 44 not out. However, it was Tendulkar, predictably declared the Man of the Match, who completely dominated the proceedings with his amazing strokeplay. All the Pakistani bowlers bore the brunt of his fury as Tendulkar wielded his bat with complete contempt. With Virender Sehwag, who was in equally murderous mood during his brief stay, Tendulkar put on 50 runs for the first wicket in just five overs. A stunning six off Shoaib Akhtar over the point region signalled the arrival of Tendulkar who sent the next two balls to boundaries to take 18 runs from the over, forcing Waqar to withdraw his main bowler after just one over. Waqar introduced himself into the attack but he was not spared either, Sehwag emulating his idol in hoisting the very first ball from the Pakistan captain to a six over point. Next came the turn of Akram to take the punishment and the veteran left-hander was hit for 11 runs in his third over which included two square cut boundaries by Sehwag. With both Tendulkar and Sehwag going at full steam, it looked too good a situation to be true for India. The Indians were soon in a for a shock as Waqar brought Pakistan roaring back into the match with the successive ball dismissals of Sehwag, who made 21, and skipper Sourav Ganguly. Skipper Saurav Ganguly was forced to take Zaheer out of the attack after he had bowled just three overs in which he conceded three wides and three no-balls. However, with Nehra going for 19 runs from his first two overs, Zaheer came back into the attack and produced the first breakthrough with the fifth ball of his second spell. PTI SCOREBOARD Pakistan: Anwar b Nehra 101 Umar b Zaheer 22 Razzaq c Dravid b Nehra 12 Haq run out 6 Youhana c Zaheer
Khan c Mongia b Zaheer 32 Afridi c Kumble b Mongia 9 Latif not out 29 Akram not out 10 Extras
27 Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 273 Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-90, 3-98, 4-171, 5-195, 6-208, 7-256. Bowling: Zaheer Khan 10-0-46-2, Srinath 10-0-41-1, Nehra 10-0-74-2, Kumble 10-0-51-0, Ganguly 3-0-14-0, Sehwag 4-0-19-0, Mongia 3-0-19-1. India: Tendulkar c Younis Khan b Akhtar 98 Sehwag c Afridi b Younis 21 Ganguly lbw b Younis 0 Kaif b Afridi 35 Dravid not out 44 Yuvraj Singh not out 50 Extras (b-1, lb-3, w-19, nb-5) 28 Total (for 4 wkts, 45.4 overs) 276 Fall of wickets:
1-53, 2-53, 3-155, 4-177. Bowling: Akram 10-0-48-0, Akhtar 10-0-72-1, Younis 8.4-0-71-2, Afridi 9-0-45-1, Razzaq 8-0-36-0.
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Sachin crosses
12,000-run mark
Centurion, March 1 Needing 83 runs to achieve the feat, he drove Shahid Afridi for a boundary to take his score to 85 and cross the mark in India’s Pool A match against Pakistan here today. The milestone came in Tendulkar’s 309th match. However, he missed his 35th century by a whisker, failing to keep down a 150 kmph delivery from Shoaib Akhtar to be caught at point by Younis Khan for 98. Tendulkar, with 34 hundreds and 12,015 runs to his credit till the end of his innings today, also missed the opportunity to score his fifth century in World Cup.
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Sheer joy to see the master in full flow Yes, the celebrations are well and truly on and the noise of crackers bursting is absolutely deafening to say the least. And why not, they have just got the better of archrivals Pakistan in a cracking encounter and kept their record intact in the World Cup. I take great pride in calling myself a ‘cricket-purist’ as much as the ‘Indian-ness’ embedded in me. However, having said that it was complete entertainment for 95.3 overs on Saturday. The result did have significance but it was eclipsed by the quality fare put by India and Pakistan together. Before I start lavishing my praises on the important characters of this high profile thriller, it’s pertinent to note that the contrasting brown patch in the middle of the Centurion Park acted as the fulcrum to get the adrenaline pumping for the players as well as the spectators. The wicket was an absolute belter and a first look in the morning gave clear indications of the things to follow. India has always looked upto Sachin Tendulkar to deliver and the master blaster did stand and deliver. Looking Sachin coming out in the middle with a positive frame of mind was heartening, just the tonic Indian fans needed to spring onto their feet and wave the tricolour. The rollicking drives gave India the perfect start they were searching for against a daunting total, made to look more menacing by the bowling attack on the offing but none could stop Tendulkar from going his way-not even a nasty, muscle pull. So the likes of Shoaib and Wasim were quickly taken care off and India breezed past the fifty-mark within a blink of an eye. India seemed to take this match hands down but Waqar led the fight with back-to-back wickets to check the Indian onslaught and the match was still wide open. Sehwag once again wasted a good start while Ganguly did not stay long for people to comment on his style of play. But the good thing was just started to happen. I feel that Kaif’s promotion up the order deserves a pat for the team management. Kaif’s always been like a player, who believes more in milking the bowling with ones and two, getting his eye in before opening out. He is not the Yuvraj type who can start in full gear from the word go and it was encouraging to see Kaif, who has not been in the best of form and under some pressure, come out confidently and hold the fort for India valiantly. His style of play allowed Sachin on the other end to go his way. In my words, Kaif deserves an award in the best supporting role. Sachin Tendulkar’s determination could be seen on his face and its sheer joy to see the master in his full flow. That some one like Wasim watched in awe was testimony to his exhilarating innings. A well-deserved century would have been the icing on the cake but he won’t brood over anything, India has won and that’s important. I must admit that soon after Sachin’s departure, the memories of Chennai Test did come haunting but this time around Yuvraj and Dravid made sure that everything falls into place. Their partnership was important because Pakistan had their tail up after scalping the prize wicket and it needed Dravid’s experience and Yuvraj’s exuberance to set the India ship on shore in style. From Pakistan’s point of view, it’s heart breaking that they have to possibly bow out of this tournament so early on. Anwar’s century, yet another time he came good against India and a total of 272 raised hopes among ardent fans that Pakistan might redo another ‘92 but Sachin had some another plans and by the time Pakistan removed their thorn, the wounds were a bit too deep to heal quickly. The Pakistani bowlers were also guilty of some wayward bowling and inexplicable field setting and soon Pakistan’s body language suggested that they were only delaying the inevitable. Hats off for a true professional approach shown by the Indians and they have now become a source of worry for oppositions. A good sign indeed but’s there’s a lot of distance to be covered yet. But for now, raise a toast for the Indian team. Cheers!
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PROFILE OF THE WEEK CENTURION PARK: Wasim Akram has probably more fans in the Indian camp than among his own volatile bunch of lads. Cricketers have either grown up playing against him or watched and read his exploits-the Indian team doesn’t have a single cricketer who is not an unabashed admirer of Wasim
bhai. We all know how he sledged a little Sachin Tendulkar during the latter’s first series in Pakistan in 1989. “Aap itna accha bowling karte
hain, to aap gaali kyon dete hain,” Tendulkar had asked him during one particularly hard verbal-go in that series. Wasim, speechless for a moment, hasn’t sledged the little man since then. Ganguly recalls a moment when Wasim had walked up to him before the start of a game and told the Indian left-hander: “Today I will not swing the ball. I will just bowl fast.” Ganguly recalls it as the fastest spell of bowling he has ever faced in his life. This when he was in the twilight of his career in Australia in 2000. There is also an incident when Zaheer Khan accompanied Ganguly to learn some tips from Wasim bhai in Kenya three years ago. “Aap sharaab pete
hain? Aap ki diet acchi hai? Aap aur bhi shouk rakhte hain?” as Zaheer started to reply in negative to each of Wasim’s query, the legendary Pakistani said in disgust “Aap fast bowler nahin ban sakte
hain.” Intikhab Alam, the former Pakistan captain and for long the manager of the team recalls “There was one particular match in which he started the run up and just before he approached the bowling crease, the ball slipped out of his hands. Normally, another bowler would have gone back to his run-up. Not Wasim. He just picked up the ball from the very spot, proceeded to go with his delivery anyway and clean bowled the batsman!” Sunil Gavaskar calls Wasim as the second best left-arm bowler he has ever seen — typical of Gavaskar’s mischievous intent, the legendary Indian opener rates Bishan Singh Bedi as the best left-arm bowler, pace or spin, of all time. Kapil Dev too terms Wasim as magician. It is a tribute to Wasim’s profile that despite serious match-fixing allegations, the mud hasn’t stick to him. He is still rated the bowler supreme and that’s how he would be known in history. As Wasim himself says “I must be a superman if despite all these match-fixing, I could still take nearly a thousand-Tests and
one-dayers-international wickets.” Wasim is also extremely accessible. You call him up in his room and he would invariably pick the phone himself. There are no instructions to the hotel reception not to put the callers through, as practically every Indian cricketer does. Pradeep
Mandhani, the well-known Indian photographer, the other day requested Wasim and Shoaib to step out of bus and pose for photo. The bus was about to move but Wasim asked the driver to wait and obliged
Mandhani. He is the greatest bowler of our generation, Shane Warne included. He has fought injuries, took insulin injections and overcome frequent dehyderation in the field to retain his wicket-taking ability. Till Chaminda Vaas broke free against the West Indies on Friday with a four-wicket haul, Wasim was still the leading wicket-taker of this World Cup. In a team teeming with fast bowlers, Wasim still commands the new ball at the start of the innings. In this Wasim’s swansong, everyone is joining together to hail the legend. |
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Minnows Kenya reach Super Sixes
Johannesburg, March 1 Odumbe, who top-scored with an unbeaten 52 in Kenya’s 217 for seven, took four for 38 in 10 overs as Bangladesh slumped to 185 all out. Kenya, who follow defending champions Australia from Group A into the next phase, have now beaten Bangladesh in six of their seven one-day meetings. The Asian team, whose last victory in a one-day international came against Pakistan at the 1999 World Cup, have now gone 32 consecutive matches without a win. Chasing 218 to win, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals, with only Tushar Imran, hitting a composed 48, and Akram Khan, smashing a 58-ball, offering genuine resistance. Odumbe, bowling his 10 overs on the trot, removed Alok Kapali (18), Imran, Sanwar Hossain (16) and captain Khaled Mahmud (three) as Kenya recorded their fourth victory of the tournament. Earlier, Odumbe blasted an unbeaten 52 off 46 balls to help his side recover to 217 for seven, after they had slipped to 164 for six after off spinner Hossain removed Kenya skipper Steve Tikolo (27), Hitesh Modi (12) and Thomas Odoyo (19). Scoreboard
Kenya: Otieno c Mashud
Shah c Akram b Rafique 37 Patel c Manjural
Tikolo b Sanwar 27 Modi c and b Sanwar 12 Odumbe not out 52 Odoyo lbw b Sanwar 19 Obuya b Baisya 22 Ongondo not out 2 Extras (b-1 lb-2 w-11) 14 Total
(7 wkts, 50 overs) 217 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-68, 3-80, 4-116, 5-124, 6-164, 7-197. Bowling: Manjural 7-0-30-1, Baisya 8-1-22-1, Mahmud 10-1-39-1, Rafique 7-0-35-1, Sanwar 10-0-49-3, Kapali 2-0-9-0, Ashraful 6-0-30-0. Bangladesh: Sahariar c Otieno b
Ashraful lbw b M Suji 1 Imran c sub
(Angara) b
Mashud c Shah b Obuya 14 Kapali c Otieno b Odumbe 18 Khan c sub
(Angara) b
Hossein c M Suji b
Mahmud st Otieno b
Rafique c Modi b Tikolo 5 Baisya not out 2 Islam st Otieno b Tikolo 2 Extras: (nb-3, b-2, lb-3, w-10) 18 Total: (all out, 47.2 overs) 185 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-17, 3-53, 4-99, 5-111, 6-151, 7-159, 8-180, 9-180. Bowling:
M Suji 8-1-27-2, T Odoyo 4-0-9-0, Ongondo 7-0-29-0, C Obuya, 9-0-40-1, T Suji 4-0-23-0, Odumbe 10-0-38-4, Tikolo 5.2-0-14-3.
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Aussies aim for huge win Port Elizabeth, March 1 Australia, already through to the Super Sixes, will be firm favourites to break the mark set by the West Indies in 1985 as they have beaten England in their last 13 one-day encounters. However, England came agonisingly close to ending that losing streak, when the sides last met in January, in the second VB Series final at Melbourne. But they were overwhelmed by a sensational spell of fast bowling from Brett Lee and lost by five runs. The desolation across all the England players’ faces that night was clear to see and Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes his opponents have not yet had time to recover from that loss. “What happened in the second final will make some scars,” Ponting said. “They (England) were certainly disappointed with the way they lost that last game and they were saying afterwards they were getting closer and closer to beating us. “But we know, if we perform near our best, we will be hard to beat, not just by England, but by any side. All we have to do is focus on the things that make us play well,” Ponting explained. Australia go into this game on the back of a record 256-run thrashing of Namibia, a game where fast bowler Glenn McGrath posted a new World Cup best haul of seven for 15. By contrast, England went down to an 82-run defeat against India under the Kingsmead lights in Durban on Wednesday. Another reverse here would not end their World Cup campaign but would leave them dangerously dependent on other results. “It’s going to be a very tough game,” said England coach Duncan Fletcher, who insisted that his team were edging nearer to the standard of the World Cup holders. “We’ve played some good cricket. We made Australia fight for it in Melbourne. We’re getting closer and closer and this is the time to turn it around.” England opening batsman Nick Knight has been suffering with a lump on his right knee and needed a painkilling injection to get through Wednesday’s match. Nevertheless the opener, one of four current England players who were members of the side that won at Sydney in 1999 — England’s last one-day victory against Australia — is confident of being fit for what will be his 100th international limited-overs appearance. “It’s like a cramp feeling which tends to get inflamed and worse the more I play,” the left-hander said of his knee injury. “But the Australia game is going to be the biggest one in my career because it stands for so much.” England could recall Knight’s Warwickshire county colleague and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles in a bid to add variety to their bowling, having opted for an all-seam attack against India.
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| Injured Gillespie ruled out Jason Gillespie will miss reigning champions Australia’s bid to set a new world record of 12 consecutive one-day victories when they take on England. "Gillespie’s still got inflammation in his
achilles," said Australia captain Ricky Ponting, referring to the injury that sidelined the paceman from his side’s record 256-run thrashing of Namibia in Potchefstroom on Thursday. "It’s a little bit of a worry that he said the injury was worse today than it was a few days ago. "I don’t think it is too much of a concern," added Ponting whose team has won all its five group matches so far and already qualified for the Super Sixes ahead of tomorrow’s game. "Brett Lee will take the new ball. When you bowl at Brett’s pace, over 150kph, there aren’t too many batsmen good enough to pull you." Ponting admitted he was concerned by the sight of Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar breaking the 100mph mark earlier in the tournament as it could goad Lee into trying something similar to the detriment of the team. "I don’t like it at all," Ponting said. "I don’t want Brett just to bowl as fast as he can for the sake of it. But he’s grown up a lot and is more mature now."
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England hope to end
1,505-day wait Port Elizabeth, March 1 England’s last triumph over the world champions came on January 17, 1999, when emerging fast bowler James Anderson had not long completed his school exams and Australia’s one-day all-rounder Shane Lee was the best known cricketer in his family. Nasser Hussain had not begun his spell as England captain and Fat Boy Slim was No 1 in the British popular music charts when a Graeme Hick hundred brought England victory under the lights at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Only four members of Alec Stewart’s side from that match have a chance of playing against Australia on Sunday and, since that January day in 1999, 48 different players have pulled on the royal blue shirt of England. England’s 67-run victory in Melbourne was their second win in three matches against Australia but, since then, the team have suffered a barren run of defeat and, at times, humiliation against the world champions of the one-day game. England went into that 1999 match having just been exposed to the pace of Brett Lee, who opened the bowling for the Bradman XI two weeks earlier to give the batsmen an early glimpse of the man who would be their chief destroyer on their next Ashes tour. The closest England have come to victory since then was their five-run defeat in Melbourne during their second final of the triangular series in January. Reuters |
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Vaas inspires Lanka win Cape Town, March 1 Opening bowler Chaminda Vaas was again the hero, scoring an unbeaten 28 and capturing four vital wickets to leave the West Indies just short of Sri Lanka’s modest total of 228 for six. But even his performance was overshadowed by the heroics of Ramnaresh Sarwan who played one of cricket’s most courageous innings to give the West Indies the chance of a miraculous victory. Rushed to a nearby hospital after being felled by a Dilhara Fernando bouncer, Sarwan returned to score an unbeaten 47 that almost won the match for his team. The in-form batsman was struck flush on the side of the head by a steeply-rising delivery timed at 137.5 kmh. The ball crashed into his helmet and the impact knocked him to the ground, opening up a small cut behind his left ear that required stitches, but he returned after being cleared of serious damage. Unbeaten on 10 when he was carried off, Sarwan added another 36 runs but eventually ran out of overs as Sri Lanka snatched the victory that should ensure their progression to the next round at the expense of the West Indies. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle scored half-centuries for West Indies but it was Vaas who ultimately decided the match. He dismissed Wavell Hinds for two and Brian Lara for one in his first spell before returning to get rid of Gayle and Ridley Jacobs. Gayle and Sarwan had added 35 for the third wicket but the disturbing sight of Sarwan’s departure and Carl Hooper’s next-ball golden duck left the West Indies struggling at 62 for three. Gayle, who made 55 off 76 balls after scoring a total of 32 in his four previous matches, steadied the innings in a 59-run stand with Chanderpaul before Vaas removed him and Jacobs in the space of four balls. Chanderpaul hit 65 off 90 deliveries to give the West Indies hope before he holed out to Marvan Atapattu chasing quick runs, before Sarwan returned to a hero’s welcome. He smashed two sixes and four fours to give his team an outside chance of winning, but they failed to get the 14 runs required off the final over to finish on 222 for nine. Vaas had also played a key role with the bat, helping Sri Lanka reach 228 with an unbeaten 28 and sharing a 50-run partnership with Russel Arnold (34 not out). After winning the toss, Sri Lanka had looked to be heading towards a smaller total after a sloppy batting display. Their captain Sanath Jayasuriya scored a patient 66 to prop up the innings but did not get the support he needed.
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Lack of common sense lets West Indies down Common sense is not so common as commonly believed. It is a commodity that can be in short supply on the cricket field. The Sri Lankans had it but their counterparts from Caribbean islands did not have as much of it. As a result, the Lankans may squeeze into the Super Six, while the West Indians head home empty-handed from another World Cup. An extreme example of the cricketing common sense the Lankans displayed may have come in Sanath Jayasuriya rubbing his elbow guard after gloving a catch down the leg side. Another example may have been the entrusting of Pedro Collins with the final over of the innings. The job could have gone to anyone else, including the captain Carl Hooper himself. “It was a close thing in the end but a miss is as near as a mile,’’ said Hooper in the casually philosophical way in which he accepts defeat. This one will hurt a bit because his side was the one on the rebound in the subcontinent last winter. The application of a bit of cricket logic may have helped immensely even after the Lankans won the lottery at the toss. Ramnaresh Sarwan’s heroics are the stuff of sport. Athletes like him show a remarkably tough attitude under pressure of physical pain. They defy everything including medical advice as they turn up at the arena even when rendered hors de combat. But many instances of such heroics only help embroider a nice tale for a losing side while the winners move on like a caravan on safari. Common sense was evident as Jayasuriya abandoned his regular swashbuckling ways to prod and poke for his 66 in the knowledge that his team needed runs from him the most. His colleagues in the middle order were as destructively suicidal as those in the opposing middle order proved just after Chanderpaul had plugged the leaks. Common sense was pointedly evident when Chaminda Vaas batted in a crucial innings at the death. And it was even more apparent when he bowled, albeit on another bowler-friendly night at Newlands when swing and length become more important. Hitting the deck with the simplicity of a rustic as Collins did in a distinctly profligate way was not called for. The ball with which he got rid of Gayle - a slower ball spun in the orthodox way of a left arm bowler - was a masterpiece. Having used Drakes as his bowler at the death with success in the competition, Hooper changed his strategy and used Drakes up in searching for wickets as the Lankans abandoned their prudence in the middle overs. Given the general success of spin in his six as well as Gayles’ 10 overs, Hooper could have used common sense in handling the death overs. These West Indians hanker so much for their early days of glory in the fast bowling department that they have a regimented approach to the one-day game. Collins not only bowled an ill-directed wide but also served up another in the form of a silly bouncer in the 50th over. He also twice allowed Vaas to hit in the arc with the inward movement when wide mid-wicket was as vacant as tactical brains in the West Indian team. The two-time world champions who used to pride themselves on their professionalism are, perhaps, the least professional of one-day sides in world cricket. The Asians have progressed a lot on that front leaving them behind. Between 1983 when they lost their crown and now they have figured only in one semifinal at Chandigarh in ‘96 where they panicked in the end to surrender to Australia. Living in their holiday paradise must leave them with a relaxed approach to life, which, however, does not suit professional sport. It has long been the fashion to bemoan the demise of the West Indies as a force in world cricket. But you can see the reasons why. The days of champions like Viv Richards, who dominated the cricket scene with just their attitude are long gone. Brian Lara’s 17-ball prodding for his first run betrayed a negative approach that is just not in a batsman of his calibre. Richards would never have allowed such passivity to take over his batting. Remember the ‘83 World Cup final in which he batted as if he was in a hurry to take in the 4:30 at Ascot! If the West Indians have to go home after their last game on Tuesday against Kenya, they will have only themselves to blame. They had a team that could have fared better here. The weather gods were not kind to them since they were the only ones among the major teams actually affected by the need to share points in a rained-off game. The same weather can come to their rescue if it pours when New Zealand plays Canada at Benoni. Reality suggests something quite different. Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand and Kenya have a far better chance of qualifying to the Super Six than the two times World Cup champion. That is a pity considering how Lara lit up the opening game in this World Cup.
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I’d do same again, says Hooper Cape Town, March 1 “We’ve employed this policy for the past year. If I had to do it all over again I’d do it the same way,” said Hooper after a six-run defeat by Sri Lanka at Newlands yesterday almost certainly put the West Indies out of the tournament. “I’m very disappointed. It all looked so promising,” added the captain of a campaign which started on a high when his team beat South Africa in the opening match at the same ground on February 9. Hooper said there had been no temptation to include more than three fast bowlers in order to take advantage of Sri Lanka’s vulnerability against pace on a pitch with good bounce. He said the fact that Sri Lanka had scored only 228 for six after winning the toss justified the tactics. “Chasing a score like that, we should have got it,” he said. The West Indian captain refused to blame the fact that his team had to bat second under the floodlights on a ground where sides batting first have now won 15 out of 19 day-night internationals.
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Kiwis to play Canada with eye on Durban tie Cape Town, March 1 Stephen Fleming’s side know they need to win as quickly and ruthlessly as possible at Willowmoore Park but they will be just as concerned about the other match in the group being played that same day, between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Durban. While net run-rates could still play a part, New Zealand’s best hopes of qualifying for the Super Sixes hinge on the 1996 champions beating hosts South Africa in a day-night clash at Kingsmead. “All we can do is try and win our last game because we’re just passengers now,” said Fleming. “There are some scenarios, including run-rates, that we can try and improve but, like everyone else, we’ll just have to sit back and watch events unfold.” After losing their opening match to Sri Lanka by 47 runs, New Zealand have been the most consistent side in group B, posting back-to-back victories against the West Indies and South Africa to win their last three games played. That should have been enough to secure them a place in the second phase, but their decision to boycott their February 21 match in Nairobi because of security concerns continues to haunt them. Fleming has warned his players to forget about the Kenyan issue and to focus on beating a Canadian side showing encouraging signs of improvement since being skittled by Sri Lanka for 36, the lowest score ever recorded in a one-day international. Canada’s Australia-raised all-rounder John Davison blasted the quickest century in World Cup history against the West Indies while Ishwar Maraj showed the team has plenty of defiance by doggedly batting through the full 50 overs against South Africa. The Canadians pulled off an early upset when they beat Bangladesh in their opening match but captain Joe Harris says their main ambition against New Zealand is quite simple — to make a genuine contest of the game. “We know they’re going to come after us and it’s going to be hard,” Harris said. The West Indies were forced to share the points with Bangladesh when their match in Benoni was abandoned because of rain so Fleming knows he has to field first if he wins the toss in a bid to win the game as swiftly and efficiently as possible. However, the New Zealand skipper is also wary of falling into the trap of being too reckless. “When it comes down to things like run-rate, there’s an onus on playing the game a certain way so that you win as well as possible, and that comes with its own complications,” Fleming said. “It’s important to be patient despite the need to win quickly because it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to make something happen with every ball. That can play into the hands of the opposition.” Sri Lanka top group B on 16 points, after four wins in five games, with South Africa second on 12. New Zealand also have 12 points but trail South Africa on run rate.
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Minnows’ bid to avoid ignominy Port Elizabeth, March 1 The Group A game at Bloemfontein’s Goodyear Park is a re-match of their 2001 ICC Trophy final, won by the Dutch by two wickets and which led to both sides qualifying for South Africa. “Every game is a huge game for us but it’s our last match and against probably the weakest team in the group,” said the Netherlands captain Roland Lefebvre. “It’s the two smaller nations in the World Cup playing each other, and we’re longing for a big game and a good result. But then, they probably have the same perspective too. “We’ve played each other twice and it’s 1-1. We have to come up with a win, and hopefully we will if we can bat like we did against Zimbabwe.” Despite their run of defeats, both the Netherlands and Namibia have had their good moments. The Dutch bowled out India for 204 in their cup opener at Paarl, before losing the match by 68 runs, and impressed with the bat against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo yesterday, finishing the 50 overs on a respectable 202 for nine. Namibia, making their cup debut, played their best game of the tournament against England in Port Elizabeth. Jan-Berry Burger produced an inspired innings of 85 to give his side hope of an extraordinary upset Cup before England overpowered them to win by 55 runs. Medium pacer Rudi van Vuuren also took five for 43. “We have been very competitive and quite good all the way through the tournament with our fielding and bowling and we have got to apply those same disciplines against the Netherlands,” said Namibia captain Deon Kotze.
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Anand crushes Leko Linares, March 1 Kramnik proved his mettle as he handed Azerbaijani sensation Teimour Radjabov his second defeat in the tournament. Both Kramnik and Anand shared the lead with 3.5 points apiece from their five games played so far and were followed by Leko on three points. World’s highest rated Garry Kasparov was half a point behind on 2.5 along with Radjabov who has played an extra game and has a bye in the final round of the first lap later today in the seven-player double round robin tournament. Anand was in his element right from the start and displayed remarkable technique in crushing Leko, who played black. Embarking on yet another anti-Sicilian Sveshnikov, Anand chose the same move order of the Rossolimo attack that failed to yield anything against Kramnik in the third round. This time, however, he had an ace up his sleeve that gave the Indian grandmaster a commanding position right after the opening.
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East Bengal beat Tollygunge Kolkata, March 1 After an unproductive first half, during which both sides dished out a dull variety of soccer, the glamour outfit went into the lead through Brazilian Douglas de Silva’s fortuitous strike, before Kulothungon put the issue beyond Agragami following a sudden counter-attack. Wing back Suryabikash Chakraborty’s free kick from the right was headed by Douglas and the ball struck both the posts, leaving the Tollygunge defenders dumbfounded, before going in. Vasco blank Dempo Margao: Two second half strikes helped Vasco score a convincing 2-0 win over Dempo in the oil PSU National Football League at the Nehru Stadium here today. Vasco could have led at least by three goals but Dempo keeper Abjit Mondal gave good account of himself to deny Vasco lead in the first half. After the barren first half, Vasco took the lead in the 76th minute when substitute Agnelo Gomes capitalised on defender Luciano’s delay in clearing the ball. Gomes quickly relayed it to Marcos Pereira, who on the run sent a deft placement to beat keeper Mondal to his left. Eleven minutes later, Vasco increased the lead when Risto Rodrigues found the net from inside the box off Rui Wanderley’ pass. After a lethargic game in the first half, Dempo improved their performances and came close twice in the second half to score but Luciano’s header and Channa’s shot was saved by keeper Ramos. Vasco, placed second behind East Bengal, increased their tally to 31 points from 17 matches, while Dempo remained on 21 points from as many matches. Referee Saji Kurian showed yellow card to Vasco’s Satish Minz.
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Seema, Rajesh
win gold Chandigarh, March 1 She maintained the lead in all the laps and clocked 19:12:44 to finish the race. Pritaba of Kurukshetra finished second clocking 20:12:44 while Tinu of Rohtak got third place clocking 20:55:00. In the men’s 1500m, Rajesh of Panipat won the gold medal in 4:08:94 while Ramesh of Sonepat and Naresh of Kaithal got second and third place, clocking 4:11:84 and 4:14:03, respectively. In the first round matches of volleyball in the men’s section Kaithal prevailed over Fatehabad 25-21, 25-20. Presiding over the opening ceremony of the Rural Games Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said the Haryana Government was striving hard to create modern sports infrastructure in the state, so as to enable players to improve their performances. He said Chaudhary Devi Lal Regional Sports Centre was coming up at Joshi Chauhan over an area of 84 acres in Sonepat. |
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AIFF to conduct dope tests New Delhi, March 1 Mr Colaco said since each dope testing kit would cost around Rs 3,000, the AIFF would conduct only random tests on the players. He said the urine samples collected would be sent to an International Olympic Commitee (IOC) accredited dope-testing laboratory in Malaysia, instead of relying on the ‘indigenous’ Sports Authority of India (SAI) lab in Delhi, to ensure irrefutable result. It may be recalled that the AIFF had to pull out one of the key players from the Asian Games squad-Arun Malhotra—after he tested positive for a banned substance in a random testing conducted by the SAI lab before the Indian contingent left for Busan for the Asian Games. |
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