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Martyn reprimanded Opener Chanderpaul inspires West Indies victory
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Next year’s final on Sunday night Hockey: Indian eves beat Malaysia 4-2 in Asia Cup
Pak kabaddi team to play at Jarkhar
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Perth, February 1 Adam Gilchrist (75) and Andrew Symonds (73) bludgeoned a toothless Indian attack for aggressive half-centuries and took the game away from India with an amazing 122-run stand that came off just 97 balls. The comprehensive victory gave Australia a big psychological boost ahead of the best-of-three-finals with India starting in Melbourne on Friday. It were the Australians all the way on a fast bowler’s paradise at WACA pitch as India cut a sorry figure both with their batting and bowling to suffer their third defeat in four matches against their World Cup nemesis in this series. The famed Indian top order ducked and hopped in the face of some vicious pace onslaught led by Brett Lee (3/22) before Yuvraj Singh hit a fine 47 and the tailenders contributed 104 runs to give the total some respectability. Gilchrist, leading the side in absence of Ricky Ponting, and Symonds played to the gallery entertaining a strong 20,000 holiday crowd with a flurry of fours and sixes. It was difficult to judge who troubled the Indians more as they were both in a murderous mood despite Australia losing three quick wickets to be reduced to 37 for three in the 6th over. But any Indian thought of putting some pressure was smothered by the run-making spree of these two batsmen who rocketed their team to the 100-run mark by the 13th over which saw Symonds hit three consecutive boundaries off young left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan. Symonds did the same to left-arm spinner Murali Kartik before he picked Pathan again to loft him as far as the car parking adjacent to the stadium. Not done as yet, he screamed another sixer, off Kartik this time, to see the ball get stuck on the stadium roof-top. A delirious crowd screamed for more but Symonds was sent packing in the 22nd over by Pathan for 73 that came off 57 balls including 11 fours and two sixes. Gilchrist departed two overs later but the damage had already been done as far as Indians were concerned. The left-hander’s 75 came off 65 balls with the help of 11 fours and a six. Australia started in a fashion similar to India losing three quick wickets but the comparison ended there. Gilchirst, dropped in the first over in the slips by VVS Laxman off Ajit Agarkar, never allowed the pressure to build even though he lost his opening mate Matthew Hayden for a duck in the third over. The record-breaking Hayden looked out of sorts during his 10-ball stay at the wicket before he was caught brilliantly by Rohan Gavaskar off Agarkar with the scoreboard reading 14 for one in the third over. Damien Martyn, in news over the weekend for making an indecent gesture caught on a film by a cameraman, departed two runs later in the same over as India started to eye their chances to successfully defend the modest total. Michael Clarke was the third batsman to go when L Balaji, the most impressive among Indian bowlers with figures of 10-1-37-1, had him caught by Virender Sehwag in the slips. But that was about all as Indians were sent on a leather hunt. — PTI Scoreboard India: Sehwag c Lee b Gillespie 32 Tendulkar c Hayden b Lee 5 Laxman c Gilchrist b Lee 1 Dravid c Hussey b Williams 13 Ganguly c Gilchrist b Bichel 1 Yuvraj c Gilchrist b Symonds 47 Gavaskar b Lee 6 Agarkar run out 9 Pathan c Bichel b Symonds 20 Kartik not out 32 Balaji run out 11 Extras:
(lb-7, w-16, nb-3) 26 Total: (all out in 49 overs) 203 FoW:
1-20, 2-32, 3-50, 4-57, 5-79, 6-101, 7-129, 8-142, 9-172. Bowling:
Gillespie 10-0-51-1, Lee 10-2-22-3, Williams 7-2-23-1, Bichel 7-0-44-1, Symonds 10-0-37-2, Hussey 3-0-15-0, Clarke 2-0-4-0. Australia: Gilchrist c Balaji b Pathan 75 Hayden c Gavaskar b Agarkar 0 Martyn c Laxman b Agarkar 2 Clarke c Sehwag b Balaji 2 Symonds c Laxman b Pathan 73 Katich not out 18 Hussey not out 17 Extras:
(b-1, lb-2, w-14) 17 Total: (5 wkts in 32 overs) 204. Fall of wickets:
1-14, 2-16, 3-37, 4-159, 5-165. Bowling: Agarkar 9-0-56-2, Pathan 8-0-69-2, L Balaji 10-1-37-1, Kartik 5-0-39-0. |
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Martyn reprimanded Sydney, February 1 Martyn was filmed with a raised middle finger, a gesture which prompted Ponting to pull up the batsman. “I acknowledge he didn’t mean to cause offence but his action was inappropriate and not fitting of an Australian player and ambassador for the game,” Ponting said.
— PTI |
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Opener Chanderpaul inspires West Indies victory
Centurion, February 1 Chanderpaul hit 10 fours and two sixes in only 75 balls and, with Ramnaresh Sarwan and Brian Lara contributing brisk half-centuries of their own, West Indies overhauled the victory target with five overs to spare. Leading the five-match series 2-0, South Africa had piled on 297 for four after winning the toss, all rounder Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener sharing an unbroken century stand for the fifth wicket. Kallis, who scored hundreds in all four Test matches against the West Indies and in the first one-day international, made 95 not out off 97 balls while Klusener was 41 not out off 38 balls. South Africa, who lead the five-match series 2-0, scored at nearly six runs an over against a lacklustre attack. Captain Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs shared 53 runs off 65 balls for the first wicket before Gibbs mistimed an on-drive to a ball from fast bowler Mervyn Dillon and was caught by Dwayne Smith at mid-on for 18 in the 11th over. Scoreboard
South Africa Smith b Gayle 46 Gibbs c Smith b Dillon 18 Peterson c Gayle b
Kallis not out 95 Dippenaar b Sarwan 30 Klusener not out 41 Extras:
31 Total: (4 wkts, 50 overs) 297 Fall of wickets:
1-53, 2-108, 3-124, 4-190 Bowling: Dillon 9-0-58-1, Collymore 10-0-52-0, Hurley 10-0-65-0, Gayle 10-0-53-1, Rampaul 9-0-49-1, Sarwan 2-0-15-1. West Indies: Gayle c Peterson b
Chanderpaul c Boucher b Pollock 92 Powell b Kallis 34 Sarwan not out 77 Lara not out 59 Extra:
12 Total: (3 wkts, 45 overs) 300 FoW: 1-31, 2-92, 3-200. Bowling:
Pollock 10-0-40-2, Nel 6-0-63-0, Ntini 7-0-51-0, Kallis 7-0-37-1, Klusener 8-0-51-0, Peterson 6-0-45-0, Smith 1-0-6-0.
— Reuters
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Federer wins Australian Open Melbourne, February 1 The 22-year-old Swiss went up by two sets and two breaks in the third with a forehand winner down the line in the fifth game. He served out in 2 hours, 15 minutes on Safin’s forehand error, securing his second major without dropping a set in the final. He beat Mark Philippoussis in straight sets at Wimbledon last year. Federer ensured he’d be No. 1 when the new rankings are released with a straight-sets semifinal win over third-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero. Safin, who beat top-seeded Andy Roddick in the quarterfinal and ended defending champion Andre Agassi’s 26-match streak here in the semifinals, was frustrated by Federer’s ability to get his potential winners back into play. Federer had 40 winners and 28 unforced errors against Safin’s 19 winners and 41 unforced errors. Safin twice slammed his racket into the court to vent his growing frustration. The Russian served 123 aces in six previous matches here, including 31 against Agassi without a double-fault. But he fired three aces against Federer and five double-faults. With the roof open at Rod Laver Arena, the match was played under mostly overcast skies and no wind. Part of Safin’s game plan was to attack Federer’s second serve, and that helped him break Federer in the third game of the opening set. The pair traded breaks twice and got back on serve to take the first set into a tiebreaker, which Federer dominated. Loud, booming music could be heard throughout the match from a rock concert at a nearby park. Early in the second set, chair umpire Mike Morrissey of Britain told both players that it would likely continue for the duration of the match. At 2-2 and on serve in the second set, Safin was broken when he hit two backhands into the net.
— AP |
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New Delhi, February 1 The fourth seeded Paes-Martina were upset by unseeded pair of Russian Elena Bovina and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia-Montenegro 1-6, 6-7 (3/7), according to information reaching here. Bovina and Zimonjic, teaming up for the first time for the event, also dashed Navratilova's hopes for her 10th Grand Slam mixed doubles title. Navratilova has won 167 singles titles and 173 in doubles event, for a total of 58 Grand Slam titles. Paes, making a comeback after a five-month layoff due to a nonmalignant brain lesion, is now setting his sights on his fourth Olympic appearance in Athens in August. Bovina was a mixed doubles finalist at the French Open in 2002 and Zimonjic is ranked 33 in doubles with seven titles to his credit. — PTI
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Next year’s final on Sunday night MELBOURNE:
Next year’s Australian Open men’s singles final will be played at night for prime time local television, Tennis Australia announced on Sunday.
Tennis Australia President Geoff Pollard said it would be the first Grand Slam men’s singles final to be played at night. Currently the US Open women’s singles final is the only other Grand Slam final played at night. Pollard said the re-scheduling was part of a new five-year agreement signed with host broadcaster Channel Seven, which embraces the Australian Open, Davis Cup matches and lead-in tournaments to the Open.
— AFP
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Hockey: Indian eves beat Malaysia 4-2 in Asia Cup New Delhi, February 1 India were lucky that Malaysia did not possess the right weapons to strike when the going was good, but the story would be different when they lock horns with title aspirants China in their second and toughest pool match tomorrow afternoon. China tested their firepower in the morning and came out with their guns blazing after crushing Kazakhstan 4-1 in another pool A match. The match, though, looked being a close encounter when Kazakhstan equalised in the eighth minute through Imangaliyeva after Ye Ren had put China in the lead two minutes earlier. At the stroke of half time, however, China regained the lead when Ahi U banged home a field goal. China added two more goals on resumption through Lihua Gao and Ahi U to script a convincing victory. In the pool B matches, defending champions Korea and Japan scored identical 15-0 victories over Sri Lanka and Singapore, respectively. The highlight of Korea’s huge victory was four goals, including a hat-trick, by forward Fun Jong Kim. For Japan, Rika Ishida scored four goals, but no hat-trick. The focus of attention, however, was on the India-Malaysia match. The Indian girls seemed to be coursing towards a regulation victory after Mamta Kharab deflected the ball in from close, When Saba Anjum’s pass was relayed to her by Manju. With the Indian eves holding on to the ball and controlling the midfield, the action was confined to the Malaysian half, but the hosts squandered virtual “sitters”, before adding the second goal in the 17th minute through Jasjeet Kaur, who cut in the from the centre to the right before powering the ball home (2-0). In between, what distressed the Indian fans was Suman Bala’s failure to convert penalty corners as she made a hash of the first two in the sixth and 15th minutes, and bungled with the third one too. India slackened their attacking tempo after gaining a 2-0 lead which almost proved suicidal as Malaysia forced four penalty corners in a row from the 27th minute to mount acute pressure on the Indian goal. And off the fourth, Malaysia breached the Indian defence when Binti H Norfaraha scooped the ball towards Nadia B Nurul after the ball evaded the sticks of the penalty corner strikers’ grasp to roll out of the circle. Nadia had to only connect her stick to the ball to guide it into the net (1-2) when Binti sent a high pass. That was in the 31st minute, and with India muffing their fourth penalty corner too, it was touch and go for the hosts who clung on to a slender 2-1 lead at half time. To India’s horror, Malaysia pulled back the equaliser immediately after resumption, thanks to a blatant foul committed by custodian Helen Mary who charged forward and tripped Ludong Lisa, when she was chasing the ball. Male umpire Chandrakant Sekutu Kabaria of Singapore blew for a penalty stroke which was scooped in by Afnida Ayu with Helen Mary beaten all ends up (2-2). From a comfortable perch, India were now struggling to save their skin. With Suman Bala muffing yet another penalty corner, India’s desperation mounted. Mercifully, Suman Bala got one straight when it mattered most as her powerful direct hit, along the carpet, off the sixth penalty corner, raced into the goal box like a bullet, in the 16th minute. Though Suman Bala wasted three more penalty corners, Saba Anjum was on hand to connect a Sanggai Chanu high pass to enhance the lead, in the 22nd minute, to the relief of the hosts. India initiated most of their moves down the flanks with Mamta Kharab, Adline Kerketta and Saba Anjum playing major roles in keeping the attacks like a well-oiled machine. But the forwards’ shoddy finish robbed India of at least a couple of more goals. The predictable manner in which penalty corners were attempted, and then wasted did not enhance the image of the hosts. India take on China in their second pool match on Monday at 3 p m while in other matches, Japan will clash against Sri Lanka, Singapore will meet Korea and Kazakhstan will play Malaysia. |
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Dilip Tirkey named
hockey captain
New Delhi, February 1 The 21-member team to be led by defender Dilip Tirkey, has just one new face in William Xalco. Rajinder Singh will be the team coach. Mercurial forward Dhanraj Pillay, who was injured during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup last month in Malaysia, was left out of the squad. India, who finished last in Malaysia, are looking at this Test series as an ideal preparation for the Olympic qualifiers to be held in Spain next month. The second and third Test matches will also be played in Hyderabad on February 7 and 8. The Dutch, who will be playing a Test series in India after a gap of over 26 years, are reportedly coming with a full strength squad. The squad: Devesh Chauhan, Bharat Chetri, Kamaldeep Singh (goalkeepers); Dilip Tirkey (captain), Kanwalpreet Singh, William Xalco, Harpal Singh (defenders); Ignace Tirkey, Vikram Pillay, Len Aiyyapa, V S Vinay, Viren Rasquinha, Bimal Lakra (midfielders); Gagan Ajit Singh, Sandeep Michael, Prabhjot Singh, Arjun Halappa, Inderjeet Singh, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Didar Singh and Tejbir Singh (forwards). The Dutch, who are the defending Olympic champions, have to qualify for the four-yearly event due to the new eligibility rule according to which only the continental champions are entitled to a direct berth in the Games. Germany are currently the European champions while India lost to South Korea in the Busan Asian Games 2002 and missed out on a direct entry.
— PTI |
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Pak kabaddi team to play at Jarkhar Ludhiana, February 1 During this three-day festival being sponsored by the Vishawkarma Industries and Namdhari Seeds, Bangalore in association with a number of prominent persons and NRIs of the region, the 18th Mata Sahib Kaur Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, besides Bibi Surjit Kaur Basketball Cup, Tara Singh Vishawkarma Memorial Open Kabaddi Cup, Kirpal Singh Memorial Volleyball Cup, Sonu Ghuman Memorial Hockey Cup for girls and Dharam Singh Jarkhar Memorial Kabaddi Cup (one village) will be held. On the concluding day, the star drag flicker, Jugraj Singh would be honoured with Olympian Surjit Singh Randhawa award while kabaddi star Inderjit Phullanwal would
receive Alankar Tony award. Mr Prabhjot Singh, Chief of Bureau, The Tribune, would be felicitated with the Promoter of Sports Amarjit Grewal award, Mr Sidhu added. Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, Minister for Jails will inaugurate the tournament and Mr Rajdeep Singh Gill, ADGP, Punjab and president, Basketball Federation of India will be the chief guest on February 7.
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