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Friday,
May 9, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Mumbai lift Ranji Trophy
Ties with Pak political issue: Ganguly Waugh plays down records Hurley, Smith in
Windies squad Vincent in Kiwi squad |
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Bangalore, Mohali
likely to host India-Kiwi Tests Malhotra comes to veterans’ rescue
AC Milan held goal-less Jordan shown the door Federer enters
quarterfinals H.S. Kang, Riar lift
Sher-e-Kashmir Cup
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Mumbai lift Ranji Trophy
Mumbai, May 8 Tamil Nadu, resuming at their overnight second innings score of 102 for three, failed to put up a fight despite a stylish 109 by Hemang Badani. The visitors, chasing a target of 377, were all out for 235, about half an hour before the tea interval at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai had last won the trophy in 1999-2000, beating Hyderabad in the final at the same venue. Tamil Nadu, who had taken a slender 11-run lead after bowling out the hosts for 260 in their first innings, needed 275 runs for victory when they came out to bat today with seven second innings wickets intact. Like in the first innings, the visitors went too much on the defensive and paid the penalty losing their wickets at regular intervals. First to go was S. Badrinath. After making a patient 20 off 86 balls and adding 59 runs with Badani, he played forward to a ball from Ramesh Powar, which turned and jumped, to be held by Vinayak Mane at short leg. Left hander S. Sharath played just one good drive off Ajit Agarkar before padding up to a googly from Bahutule. He was adjudged leg before wicket for nine. M.R. Srinivas hung in for sometime after facing 59 balls in his 84-minutes stay at the wicket. From the other end, Badani was going great guns, playing some well timed shots against both medium pacers and spinners. With Srinivas too much on the defensive, the pressure came back on the visitors especially with Mumbai skipper Paras Mhambrey making regular changes in his bowling. After making just four runs, Srinivas was trapped leg before wicket by Avishkar Salvi. Then J. Gokulakrishnan pulled Powar straight to Nishit Shetty at midwicket for five. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Badani fought a lone battle. SCOREBOARD Mumbai (1st innings): 260 Tamil Nadu (1st innings): 271 Mumbai (1st innings): 387-7 declared Tamil Nadu (2nd innings): Suresh b Mhambrey 44 Ramesh c Jaffer b Agarkar 6 Sriram lbw b Bahutule 5 Badrinath c Mane b Powar 20 Badani c Shetty b Bahutule 109 Sharath lbw b Bahutule 9 Srinivas lbw b Salvi 4 Gokulakrishnan c Shetty b Powar 5 Raaju lbw b Bahutule 0 Balaji not out 3 Dandapani c Mane b Bahutule 0 Extras (b-8, lb-13, nb-9): 30 Total (all out, 100.4 overs): 235 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-62, 3-62, 4-121, 5-151, 6-199, 7-214, 8-225, 9-235. Bowling:
Agarkar 19-6-44-1, Salvi 13-3-23-1, Bahutule 30.4-4-70-5, Mhambrey 14-5-20-1, Powar 24-4-57-2.
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Ties with Pak political issue: Ganguly Kolkata, May 8 "It is a totally political question and it will not be fair for me to comment," Ganguly said here when asked if he favoured resumption of cricketing ties with the neighbours. The Indian skipper, who was informally speaking to mediapersons at a press conference by the Indian Cricket Players’ Association here, was cautious in his response when asked whether he missed playing a full-fledged series against Pakistan. "India-Pakistan is always a big game. If you win, you say you like to play and if you lose, you say you do not like to play. It is a very difficult question to answer. Whatever decision the government will take, we will abide by it," Ganguly said. He went on to say, "Efforts are being made and the ultimate decision will be in the hands of the government and the Prime Minister." Ganguly’s comments came on a day when Union Sports Minister Vikram Verma said the resumption of bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan was under the consideration of the government, but things would not happen overnight as it depended on ‘satisfactory’ progress on the political and diplomatic fronts. The Indian skipper said like others, he was following news about the possibility of resumption of Indo-Pak cricket ties in newspapers and on television channels. Ganguly, who has already emerged as one of India’s most successful captains, is yet to lead the country to a full-fledged tour against traditional rivals Pakistan. He has the satisfaction of leading the country to a brilliant victory over Pakistan in the recent World Cup in South Africa with help of a mind-boggling innings by Sachin Tendulkar. Ganguly said he had almost recovered from his back pain, which had troubled him during the recent tri-series in Dhaka, and was enjoying his much-needed break from international cricket. After the tri-series last month, the Indian team has a long break of nearly four months as their next international engagement is scheduled in August. Meanwhile, the newly-formed Indian Cricket Players’ Association (ICPA) today unveiled an insurance policy covering all current and former Test, ODI and first class cricketers. The insurance and mediclaim policy launched by the ICPA in association with Medicare Service Club and National Insurance Co Ltd for all the current and former Test and ODI players also covers their family members. Talking to the reporters, Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly expressed concern for first class cricketers. He said, “The first class cricketers need a boom. They deserve much more than what they get at present. I have seen it from close and feel for them.”
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Waugh plays down records St John’s, May 8 Australia, 3-0 ahead in the series, will become the first side to hand the hosts a whitewash in the Caribbean if they pull off another win. The win will allow Steve Waugh, who made a world-record 157th appearance in the first Test and became the first Australian to score 30 Test centuries in the third, to break former West Indies’ batsman Clive Lloyd's record of 36 victories as captain. “These records come along,” he said. “If you follow the process, the end result will be the record. All we are thinking about is playing the same sort of cricket we played in our last game. I thought that in our last game, we were relentless,” he said. Waugh has stood by fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who failed to take a wicket in the third Test on his return to action following his wife’s illness. “I thought he did reasonably well. He did a great job for us,” said Waugh after McGrath played second fiddle to leg spinner Stuart MacGill, who took five for 75 in the second innings. Waugh said Australia would probably continue with their five-bowler attack on what is expected to be another docile pitch. McGrath told reporters he had found difficulty slotting into the new-look attack. “It is a little bit unusual to take five bowlers in, but the (Caribbean) wickets in the past have had a little more in them,” McGrath said. “When you go in with five, you do not bowl as much and sessions go by where a bowler is not used,” he said. “But, looking at that wicket, I think we picked the right team,” he said. Australian vice-captain Ricky Ponting, who scored a century in each of the first three Tests, including 206 in Port of Spain, is doubtful because of a viral infection. West Indies, who have never previously lost three consecutive home Tests, have named an unchanged 14-man squad for the match as they attempt to prevent setting another unenviable record. Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs, who missed the second and third Test matches because of a groin injury, is included for a possible appearance on his home ground. Mervyn Dillon is expected to rejoin the attack after Tino Best experienced a torrid debut. Mystery surrounds the health of captain Brian Lara, who was rumoured to have chickenpox during the third Test as he batted at number eight in the first innings and five in the second. Former West Indies’ fast bowler Ian Bishop asked Lara how he was feeling at the post-match presentation and the captain said he would have to speak to his doctor before replying. Later, at the news conference, Lara said only that he had a “medical situation.”
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Hurley, Smith in
Windies squad St John’s, May 8 Joining him in the 15-member squad will be Devon Smith, David Bernard and Omari Banks, all of whom made international debuts during the current Test series against Australia. The seven-match series begins in Jamaica on May 17. Hurley enjoyed a prolific 2003 regional series for the champion Barbados team. The 27-year-old off spinner scored 337 runs and took 18 wickets in nine matches. The squad: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Omari Banks, Ricardo Powell, David Bernard, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey
Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hurley, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Marlon Samuels and Devon Smith.
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Vincent in Kiwi squad Kandy, May 8 Vincent’s ability to bat in several positions, and the option to utilise him as a wicket-keeper, secured him the final spot, that had been left vacant by the New Zealand selectors while naming the squad. The limited-overs series from May 10 to 23 also features Pakistan and host Sri Lanka. Mathew Sinclair and Richard Jones were the other players in contention for the spot, but Sinclair blew his chance with failures in four successive Test innings in the series that concluded yesterday. The New Zealand selectors also asked off spinner Paul Wiseman to stay back in Sri Lanka for some time as a cover for Daniel Vettori, who was injured in a mid-pitch collision with Sri Lankan Marvan Atapattu during the drawn second Test. Wiseman would remain as precautionary cover for Vettori at least until the first one-day international, chief selector Sir Richard Hadlee said. The squad: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Chris Nevin, Lou Vincent, Scott Styris, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Andre Adams, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Kyle Mills and Shane Bond. COLOMBO: Right-handed batsman Mahela Jayawardene has been named Sri Lanka’s vice-captain for the upcoming tri-nation limited-overs tournament, a cricket official said. Chief selector Lalith Kaluperuma said on Wednesday that a 15-member squad had been named for the tournament. The squad includes World Cup discards Romesh Kaluwitharana and Upul Chandana. Left-handed batsman Russel Arnold, who was left out of the team that toured Sharjah last month, was also recalled. Kaushalya Weeraratne, a 22-year-old all-rounder, earned a recall after two years, with an impressive bowling performance, taking six for 18 in a warm-up match in Colombo. Michael Vandort, a left-handed opening batsman, would stand in if injured skipper Marvan Atapattu failed to regain fitness, Kaluperuma said.
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Bangalore, Mohali
likely to host India-Kiwi Tests Mumbai, May 8 Cricket board secretary S.K. Nair said here today that the fixtures committee was expected to meet this month-end to finalise the dates and venues, but on rotation basis, Bangalore and Mohali were the likely venues. “The Indians will also play a triangular one-day series against New Zealand and Australia. The tri-series will involve 10 matches, including the final. The dates and venues are yet to be decided,” he
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Malhotra comes to veterans’ rescue New Delhi, May 8 Prof Malhotra had brought to the notice of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vikram Verma the pathetic condition of veteran athlete Joginder Singh and hockey Olympian Sylavnus Dung Dung and had sought financial assistance for them under the existing scheme of the ministry. Joginder Singh has been sanctioned a lumpsum amount of Rs 25,000 while Dung Dung will be given a monthly pension of Rs 2500. Prof Malhotra had also suggested that financial assistance may be extended to another veteran athlete C.L. Saighal, who had brought laurels to the country in veteran athletics. Dung Dung was a member of the Indian hockey team, skippered by Baskaran, who lifted the gold medal in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Prof Malhotra said since Dung Dung was a member of the gold winning team, he could be covered under the existing scheme for financial assistance while in the cases of Joginder Singh and Saigal, some modifications would have to be made in the scheme to bring them also under the
purview of the scheme. Prof Malhotra has also suggested to the Sports Ministry to ask all the national sports federations to keep a data about their veteran sportspersons. |
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Bathinda girl fulfils promise Bathinda, May 8 Asha Rani, known as strong woman of this city had made the promise at a function in the local Civil Lines Club in April. A section of the local population helped her financially for ensuring her participation in the championship. Asha Rani lifted the gold in the 44 kg category after braving all odds. She was selected on the basis of her performance in Federation Cup at Kolkatta in January 2003. A section of prominent citizens and a social organisation collected Rs 40,000 for meeting her expenses in the meet and the remaining amount of Rs 17,000 also through donations. Mr Kanwar Bhim Singh, coach of Asha Rani, said another boy of Amritsar, Harinder Singh, who was trained at Bathinda had also broken the Asian record in the Subjunior Asia Power-lifting Championship which was also held at Kazakistan by lifting 140 kg in bench press in 60 kg category. Harinder secured the third position in that championship. |
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AC Milan held goal-less Milan, May 8 “It is a small advantage that we will try to exploit. The only regret is that we were unable to score one goal,” AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We deserved victory,” he added. Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko squandered two second-half scoring chances for AC Milan while Inter’s Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba missed a pair of chances in the first half AC Milan controlled the ball for long periods, but was unable to turn its supremacy into goals in the “EuroDerby” in front of a crowd of 80,000. The clash between the two Italian soccer giants, who had won seven Champions Cup titles between them, was the 254th “Derby” in their history, but the first-ever for a berth in the final of the most prestigious European competition. AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini set another milestone in the match, playing against Inter for the 44th time and matching the record set by Inter’s Giuseppi Bergomi. AC Milan, which had defeated Inter twice in the Serie A this season, missed a third victory as top striker Filippo Inzaghi was shut out by Inter’s defence while Shevchenko was unable to take advantage of two clear opportunities.
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Jordan shown the door
Washington, May 8 In a stunning sequence of events, team owner Abe Pollin met Jordan and his representative Curtis Polk, yesterday and informed the five-time NBA most valuable player that his services were no longer needed by the Wizards. According to the Washington Post, the meeting quickly deteriorated into a heated shouting match and personnel at the MCI Center arena, the Wizards’ home court, said Jordan stormed out of the building.
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Federer enters quarterfinals Rome, May 8 The 19th-ranked Robredo did not play poorly - making just as many unforced errors (13) as his opponent - Federer just seemed to be making any shot he wanted to. Federer notched his third consecutive straight-set victory at this clay-court tuneup for the French Open, extending his leading match victory total this season to 34. "I felt good on the returns, tried to keep the rallies short on my own service games," he said. "It worked so perfectly I didn’t have to change anything. I had the perfect game plan." Federer is aiming for his fourth title of the year and second in two weeks after capturing the trophy in Munich on Sunday. "Since Miami, I haven’t lost a set in Davis Cup, Munich and here now," Federer said, referring to his last loss in March. "I’m surprising myself every time I win so easy." With the match finished in just 49 minutes, many fans had not yet arrived on an overcast day at Foro Italico. Federer will face either Italian wild card Filippo Volandri or Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in the quarters. Yesterday Roger Federer defeated Argentine Mariano Zabaleta 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to advance into the third round. The fourth-seeded Federer showed his all-around arsenal of consistent baseline play, accurate serves and volleys and tricky drop shots to extend his leading match victory total this season to 33. Federer unleashed four straight aces to close out the match. Overall, he hit 14 aces, while Zabaleta had none. In the winners’ category, Federer led 42-18. In other second-round matches, eighth-seeded Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic eliminated Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty 6-1, 6-4, 12th seed Rainer Schuettler defeated South African veteran Wayne Ferreira 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, Spanish clay-court specialist Felix Mantilla beat rising US talent Mardy Fish 6-4, 6-3, and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic topped Spain’s Alberto Martin 6-4, 6-3.
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Berlin, May 8 The 2001 French Open champion, looking forward to the Paris event, starting on May 26, needed 89 minutes to beat Schiavone in her first match of the season.
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H.S. Kang, Riar lift
Sher-e-Kashmir Cup Chandigarh, May 8 About 100 players participated in this tournament, which was played on doubles match-play basis against 3\4 handicap. Two players constituted a team and played against the other team on a knockout basis as per the draw. Among those who took part in the tournament included national level players Parnita Garewal, Kanika Minocha among ladies and national level junior players Zoravar Singh, Sagar Bhatia and of course H.S. Kang. The final was keenly contested between the teams of Col Mohan Singh Ghuman and Lt-Col J.S. Panag (who were tipped to be one of the hot favorites to win this cup) and H.S. Kang and G.S. Riar. However, H.S. Kang (handicap 1) and G.S. Riar (handicap 11) made a brilliant team effort to emerge winners of the cup. Giving details of the tournament Mr I.P.S. Doabia, Chairman, Media Publicity, said the Sher-e-Kashmir Cup was earlier played at Gulmarg Golf Course. It was so named after late Sheikh Abdullah, Chief Minister of J & K. Due to the disturbed conditions in the valley the tournament was shifted to Chandigarh where it is now played annually. |
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Kolkata, May 8
