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India go down fighting to Holland
Pakistan rally to beat New Zealand
Marshall leads Kiwis to win
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Bradman felt Murali didn’t chuck
Himachal Pradesh pile up 425
Polo season set to be revived in Patiala
PSEB lift TT crown
Spain win Davis Cup
CRPF triumph
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India go down fighting to Holland
Lahore, December 5 India showed a remarkable improvement in their game following the morale shattering loss to Spain yesterday, but their effort was not enough to get them past the defending champions at the National Hockey Stadium. The positive thing visible in India’s game today was their positive approach when they were in the dumps and they even almost pulled them out of the rut by coming close to equal the margin twice in the last few minutes of the match when Holland was leading 3-5. They also hardly missed scoring opportunities that captain Dilip Tirkey had said as “an old disease” after the 0-4 drubbing against Spain. The Dutch started the match in an attacking mode and immediately put a lot of pressure on their opposition with some fine moves from both the flanks but it was India who took the lead in the 5th minute. The goal scored by Sandeep Michael gave India the much-needed boost they needed against a team like Holland, but their joy was shortlived as the Europeans bounced back in style slamming home five minutes later through Greet Jan Derikx. Derixk scored off a rebound after Taeke Taekema’s shot, from the team’s second penalty corner, hit the bar and came on to play. Then there was no looking back for Holland who intensified the pressure with some perfect long balls and swift movements which put enormous pressure on the Indians who conceded as many as 10 penalty corners in the match. India were lucky not to concede a goal when umpire Daniel Santi disallowed a Dutch strike on the ground that the ball had gone out of the backline before Teun de Nooijer hit it in. But soon after Holland made amends when Taekema scored from a penalty corner in the 16th minute to give his side 2-1 lead. Although V.S. Vinay made the score 2-2 four minutes later, Holland pumped in two more goals — Nooijer off a rebound from penalty corner in the 25th minute and Karel Claver just a minute before half-time — to ensure that they go to the half time in a commanding position. At that stage India looked almost out of the match but that was not to be as the side regrouped themselves well to stage a comeback in the second half. Appearing charged up after the break, India forced their way into the Holland circle with some purposeful moves and earned a penalty stroke 10 minutes into the half. Arjun Halappa converted the goal to set the stage for an exciting finish. Holland went on the defensive as India grew in confidence and carried out some very good moves particularly from the right flank with some short but accurate passes in a bid to level the score. But the Holland defence, the Achilles’ Heal for the holders, held ground to deny anything to the Indians. With the Indians threatening to level the score, Holland put in another goal through Nooijer (59th) to rattle the Indians who, though reduced the margin again in the 61st minute through a brilliant Vikram Pillay goal, failed to force any point from the match. India would take on Germany on Tuesday after tomorrows rest day while Holland play hosts Pakistan.
—PTI |
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Pak fans miss
Dhanraj, Gagan
LahorE: India’s loss in the opening match against Spain disappointed not only their fans back home but also broke the hearts of their supporters in Pakistan who came to the National Stadium anticipating some good action from their neighbour’s team.
A group of youngsters from the city had turned up to watch India play Spain but were disappointed after the team got a 4-0 drubbing. “I am feeling bad for the side. Maybe they should have brought some senior players like (Dhanraj) Pillay or Gagan Ajit (Singh). These two are really good players,” said Akram, a teenager from the Gulberg area of the city.
— PTI
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Pakistan rally to beat New Zealand
Lahore, December 5 The win took Pakistan’s points tally to six from two games while New Zealand are yet to open their account. The hosts had beaten Germany while the Kiwis lost to Holland yesterday. Yet, it was no cake walk for Pakistan who were the favourites today. After Wayne McIndoe gave New Zealand the lead in the 39th minute, Pakistan equalised through Shakeel Abbasi in the 49th minute before Sohail Abbas showed his class with two penalty corner conversions (53th and 55th) to take the match away from their rivals. Pakistan were obviously the better side for the better part of the match but still they were given a tough time in the field by their opponents who, despite not having won points so far, proved that they deserved their place in the elite competition. Pakistan had the upper hand in the first half but their opponents denied them any advantage by defending stoutly. In between, New Zealand also came out with some good moves but were found wanting in finishing skills. New Zealand were content with a 0-0 scoreline and it was evident from their game as they slowed down play a bit and held onto the ball for a long time. Spanish armada rolls on
Riding on another second half blitz, Spain trounced Germany 5-2 in a league match of the Champions Trophy here today. Carrying from where they left against India, whom they beat 4-0 yesterday, Spain toyed with the German defence to score at will to take their points tally to six from two matches. Though the Germans have come to the tournament with an experimental side, the win was a sweet revenge for Spain who were defeated by their continental rivals in the Olympic semifinals at Athens in August. After a dull initial phase, Spain expectedly took the lead in the 20th minute when Albert Sala sounded the board. But the Germans did well to bounce back and level the score five minutes later with Florian Keller scoring the first of his two goals. Germany managed to hold fort till the break but on resumption, Spain intensified the pressure as they had done against India and struck two goals in as many minutes to take complete control of the proceedings. Captain Juan Escarre (40th) and the promising Eduard Arbos (41st) made the scoreline 3-1 in favour of Spain with two field goals. Even though Germany reduced the margin through Keller in the 55th minute, Spain ended the contest with two more goals in the last three minutes — Pau Quemeda scoring a field goal in the 67th minute which was followed by a penalty corner conversion by Albert Sala in the dying moments.
— PTI |
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Dempo star striker Cristiano dies after scoring goal
Bangalore, December 5 In a tragic end to the championship, Cristiano collapsed immediately after he was hit by Mohun Bagan custodian Subrato Paul, who tried to push the Brazilian striker after he gave the finishing touch. Attempts to revive Cristiano through artificial respiration by some Bagan players failed and he was shifted to the accident relief hospital, Hosmat, where he was declared brought dead. Doctors at Hosmat said he was brought dead to the hospital and cardiac arrest might be the possible cause. The actual cause would be known only after a post-mortem examination. The action-packed final saw at least two Goan players injured and sent to hospital. Cristiano, after scoring his second goal, was felled by Bagan custodian Subrata Paul inadvertently and was carried outside the field. Earlier, in the first half, Valeriano Rebello was injured in the left leg when he slipped and fell while tackling Mehtab Hossain of Bagan. Rebello later returned to the sides with a plastered leg. Clearly Dempo stood out as the champion in the proceedings, in which Bagan played second fiddle despite having a few first half initiatives which they threw away. Aggression was the key word for the Goans, who right from the start attacked the rival citadel. Despite the dominance of Dempo, Bagan strikers managed a few forays into the rival citadel and in the 15th minute, captain Sunil Chettri wasted a good chance by kicking wide. Similarly, Amit Das saw his misjudged header go awry. Three minutes before the breather, Dempo went one up in a brilliant move by Cristiano, who close from the citadel pushed into the net a clear cross from Riston Rodrigues. Changing ends saw the Kolkata giants throwing up the initiative and attempting to defend the goalmouth instead of mounting counter-attacks. There was some rough play leading to Bagan defender Noel Anthony Wilson being shown the red card by referee S M Balu (Karnataka). In the first instance, he obstructed Jose Colaco and later infringed upon Satishkumar. Noel, who got two yellow cards for his foul, was seen arguing with the referee, who later flashed the red card and sent him out. In the 78th minute, encashing on a pass from Jose Colaco, Cristiano barged in with only the custodian to beat. After he completed the kick that landed in, Subrata Paul, the Bagan keeper, who moved swiftly, hit Cristiano in the chest and the Goan immediately fell down unconscious. After artificial respiration by some Bagan players, he was shifted to a nearby hospital.
— UNI |
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Marshall leads Kiwis to win
Melbourne, December 5 Beige-shirted Kiwi fans celebrated loudly in the crowd of 30,753 as the world champions looked on stunned when wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum (20 not out) hit the winning run and raised his arms in triumph. Earlier New Zealand bowlers Daniel Vettori and Chris Cairns took three wickets apiece to limit Australia to 246 for nine in their 50 overs. The Black Caps replied with 247 for six in 49.4 overs after Nathan Astle (70) and Mathew Sinclair (48) put on 128 runs for the second wicket. New Zealand lost three wickets for 12 runs to slump to 140 for four and found the target daunting despite some late hitting from Jacob Oram (24) and Chris Cairns (14). However, Marshall and McCullum plundered 22 from the 48th over of the innings to put the Kiwis back in the game at 237 for six with 12 balls left. Scoreboard Australia Gilchrist b Cairns 68 Hayden c Sinclair b Oram 13 Ponting lbw b Vettori 29 Lehmann c Butler b Oram 50 Martyn lbw b Vettori 1 Symonds c Mills b Vettori 0 Clarke b Cairns 36 Watson c McCullum b Butler 3 Hogg not out 20 Lee b Cairns 8 Kasprowicz not out 9 Extras: (b-2 lb-2 nb-3 w-2) 9 Total: (9 wkts, 50 overs) 246 FoW: 1-64 2-113 3-121 4-123 5-123 6-194 7-198 8-220 9-236. Bowling:
Mills 4-0-28-0 (w-1), Butler 8-0-58-1 (nb-2, w-1), Oram 9-0-51-2 (nb-1), Cairns 10-0-39-3, Vettori 10-1-31-3, Styris 9-0-35-0 New Zealand: Fleming lbw b Lee 0 Astle c Ponting b Lehmann 70 Sinclair run out 48 Styris c Lee b Lehmann 5 Marshall not out 50 Oram c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 24 Cairns b Lee 14 McCullum not out 20 Extras:
(lb-9 w-7) 16 Total: (6 wkts, 49.4 overs) 247 FoW:
1-0 2-128 3-131 4-140 5-189 6-208. Bowling: Lee 8-0-40-2 (w-1) Kasprowicz 9-1-53-1 (w-6) Watson 8.4-0-42-0 Hogg 7-0-33-0 Lehmann 9-0-35-2 Symonds 8-0-35-0.
— Reuters |
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Bradman felt Murali didn’t chuck
Sydney, December 5 According to The Sun-Herald, Bradman made this observation shortly before his death in 2001, and he was also piqued with Australian umpire Daryl Hair’s attitude towards the offie, which he found ‘distasteful.’ According to the daily, the notes in which the legendary cricketer made these comments did not see the light of the day so far because publisher Tom Thompson and the Bradman Museum were engaged in a legal argument over the rights. Heaping praises on the offie, Bradman said, “Murali, for me, shows perhaps the highest discipline of any spin bowler since the second World War. He holds all the guiles of the trade but something else, too. His slight stature masked a prodigious talent and what a boon he has been for cricket’s development on the subcontinent.” Opining that Hair’s calling of Murali was “distasteful”, Bradman said it was technically impossible for Hair “to call Murali from the bowler’s end, even once!” The cricket legend went to the extent of saying that Hair — who called Muralitharan seven times for throwing the ball in the Boxing Day Test of 1995 — had reversed the development of cricket by a decade. “For me, this was the worst example of umpiring that I have witnessed, and against everything the game stands for. Clearly Murali does not throw the ball.” Defending the spinner, Bradman said, “No effort in that direction is made or implied by him. His every effort is to direct the ball unto the batsman! Murali wants to bamboozle, to trick through flight and change of pace.” — UNI
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Sodhi slams double ton as Punjab take huge lead
Chandigarh, December 5 Sodhi finished the day unbeaten on 251, his career-best knock in the national championship. Ricky hit 119, while Yuvraj Singh and Ankur Kakkar also notched up half centuries as Punjab amassed a mammoth 566 for the loss of four wickets at close today. Maharashtra having been dismissed for a paltry 123, Punjab are in an impregnable position as they are now ahead by 443 runs. Sodhi was the hero of the day. Starting from his overnight score of 89, he did not waste much time in completing his century. Growing in confidence as the day progressed, Sodhi unleashed an impressive array of strokes all round the wicket to accumulate runs. Maharashtra bowlers, seamers and pacers alike failed to make much impression on the batsmen on the track which also eased out considerably and did not help their cause either. Seamer Iqbal Siddiqui, who went for 147 runs for his lone wicket in 30 overs, and left-arm spinner Kiran Adhav, who conceded 146 runs in his 28 overs and remained wicketless, were the most expensive bowlers. Sodhi suffered the cramps and started limping after completion of his double century. The team physio had to rush to the ground. But this did not dampen the spirit of the gritty batsman and he continued to bat in a similar fashion. During his 406-ball knock, he hit 28 fours and two sixes. His previous best score was an unbeaten 200 against Delhi in 1997-98. Ricky, who has been in good nick this season, also completed his century before he was caught behind the stumps. Yuvraj was in a punishing mood and chipped in with a scintillating 66 with the help of 12 scorching fours and a six. Left-handed batsman Ankur Kakkar carried on the good work by slamming a 43-ball 55 as Punjab put an imposing total on the board. Ironically, skipper Dinesh Mongia was the only batsman to miss out on the party and lasted just two balls. The only ball he played with the blade was an attempted cut which landed in the hands of wicketkeeper Satyajit Satbhai. Seamer Ranjit Khirit was the most successful bowler and finished with two wickets. Scoreboard M’rashtra (1st innings) 123 Punjab (1st innings) Ricky c Satbhai Sodhi not out 251 Yuvraj lbw b Siddiqui 66 Mongia c Satbhai b Khirid 0 Dharmani lbw Khirid 50 Kakkar not out 55 Extras
(lb-6, w-2, nb-17) 25 Total (4 wkts, 136 overs) 566 Fall of wickets:
1-270, 2-371, 3-372, 4-484. Bowling: I Siddiqui 30-3-147-1, A Sanklecha 32-2-113-1, R Khirid 33-4-100-2, K Adhav 28-5-146-0, H Kanitkar 4-0-14-0, D Mohan 4-0-13-0, K Aphale 5-0-27-0. |
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Dinesh Mongia, Gagandeep, Yuvraj felicitated
Chandigarh, December 5 While Mongia has been selected for the three-match one-day series along with Yuvraj Singh, Gagandeep Singh has been inducted
in the Indian squad for the two-Test series. Mr I.S. Bindra, PCA president, speaking on the occasion, said it was a matter of pride for Punjab that four players from the state were playing for the country. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is a key bowler in the Indian one-day and Test squads. He promised all assistance to players from the association. Players, on their part, promised to do their best for the country. |
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Himachal Pradesh pile up 425
Dharamsala, December 5 Resuming the play at overnight total of 230 for four, Himachal lost the valuable wicket of Sangram who added only one run to complete his 100. However, Ajay Mannu, who was not Out at 50, added 111 runs for the sixth wicket with Varinder Sharma before he was out for 82 and the sixth wicket fell at 342. Varinder Sharma was bowled by Deepak Mangraj for 72 with scored board reading 344 while Vishal Bhatia remained not out At 44. Earlier Sangram Singh and Ajay Mannu added 119 runs for the fifth wickets while Vishal and Vikram Malik added 33 runs for the last wicket. Debasis Mohanty took four wickets for 86 runs while Deepak Mangraj claimed three wickets for 107 runs. Sanjay Satpaty took two wickets for 90 and Niranjan Behra took one wicket conceding 32 runs. Orissa made a disasterous start and lost the opener Subrata Behra in the first over with just five runs on the board. He was bowled by Vikram Malik for one. Visitors were 21 For the loss of one wicket with S.S. Dass (2 n.o.) and Rashmi Ranjan (14 n.o.) were at the crease at the close of the play. Scoreboard HP (first innings):
Rahul Panta b Mohanty zero, Sandeep c Privrata b Mangraj 07, Sangram c Behra b Mangraj 100, Bisla b Mohanty 32, Dogra lbw Mohanty 20, Mannu c Privrata b Mohanty 82, Varinder b Mangraj 72, Dhiman b Satpathy 16, Bhatia n.o. 44, Thakur c Mohanty b Satpathy 08, Malik b Niranjan Behra 14, Extras
30 Total (all out) in 177 overs 425 Fow: 1/2, 2/8,3/57, 4/112,5/231, 6/342, 7/344, 8/368, 9/392,10/425. Bowling:
Mohanty 36-10-86-4; Deepak Mangraj 29-4-107-3; Pravanjan Mulik 6-0-17-0; Sanjay Satpathy 39-7-90-2; Niranjan Behra 22-9-32-1; Srikant Jena 34-10-64-0; P. Jay Chandra 5-0-15-0. Orissa (first innings):
S.S. Dass (n.o.) 02, Behra b Malik zero, Rashmi Ranjan (n.o.) 14. Extras: 5 Total
(for one wicket) 21 Fow: 1/5 Bowling: Vikram Malik 3-1-11-1; Ashok Thakur 3-1-6-0; Vishal Bhatia 1-1-0-0. MP well placed
New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh were well placed at 207 for 4 in reply to Delhi’s 239 for 9 declared on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite A league match at the Jamia Millia Islamia university grounds here today. Brief scores: Delhi (1st innings): 239 for 9 dec in 95.4 overs (A Chopra 37, Sarandeep Singh 37; Sanjay Pandey 4-83, Sunil Dholpure 4-63). Madhya Pradesh (1st innings): 207 for 4 in 75 overs (A Khurasiya 61, D Bundela batting 63; Bhatia 1-25, Jadeja 1-25).
— PTI |
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Pak players allowed special entry
Wagah, December 5 Owing to the non-arrival of the players till the scheduled closing (4 p.m) of the border yesterday doubt had arose over the smooth opening of the games today. However, according to immigration officials, in a rare gesture special entry was allowed to nearly 131 players yesterday between 6 and 7 pm to cross over to India. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for players to participate in the opening ceremony of games. The Sports Minister Punjab (Pakistan) said the players could not enter earlier India due to some incomplete paper work and thanked the authorities for facilitating the special entry. He said 350 players and officials had arrived to take part in the games from his country. He said some leaders from both the countries were peeved at the closeness gained by the two countries. Giving credit to players and artists for bringing people of the neighbouring countries nearer, he said it would help in flourishing sports, art and trade in the region. He said it was at the insistence of Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh that the games were being held at Patiala. Otherwise, those would have been organized at Lahore. He said the next Punjab Games would be held in Pakistan’s Punjab and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi would announce its dates during his ongoing stay here. Teams in athletics, archery, gymnastics, kabaddi, hockey, shooting, wrestling, tug-of-war, cycling, handball, basketball, badminton and polo reached here today. The district officials led by Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, K. S. Kang, also officiating Deputy Commissioner, welcomed the players at the border. |
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Polo season set to be revived in Patiala
Patiala, December 5 The polo field has been re-established to replace the erstwhile polo ground in the heart of the city which was the venue for the polo season in the city during princely times. This ground has become an athletics track field along with facilities for other sports. Polo cannot be played in the old ground also because an indoor stadium has come up on its premises. The ground has now become a good polo playing field. ‘’This, however, required more than 250 trucks of Ghaggar sand”, says Deputy Commissioner Tejveer Singh. He said the ground used to earlier get partially water logged during the rains, which rendered it hard and uneven, traits not good for running of polo ponies. He said the riding quality as well as the ground’s soaking capacity had increased after mixing sand in its top soil. To make the ground easy to maintain and also ensure regular growth of grass, underground pipes have been laid at a cost of Rs 5.5 lakh. “These ensure that the ground can be watered quickly in a uniform manner”, says Horticulture Development Officer Sandeep Grewal. He said these efforts had been complemented by the introduction of the Toro Ride On mower which had come about due to the interest shown by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. “The Toro mower, which has a 16 horse power motor and is in the shape of a extra-mini tractor can mow the entire ground in two days”. It is not only the efficiency of operations which the mower, acquired at a cost of Rs 3 lakh, has ensured. “The mower is known for fine cutting which has improved the overall look and quality of the field”, Mr Grewal added. The ground has been carved out over a 15-acre stretch allowing ample room for the horses to come in and out of the field following rapid trots. Permanent stands are coming up on one side while it is also being fenced. Besides this, finishing touches are being given to a Club House which is being done up close to the polo field. The Club House houses a lounge bar and rest rooms ready for use during the polo match between the Indian and Pakistan Punjab polo teams on December 8 and also later for a series of matches which have been planned for the next fortnight. Lt-Gen
T.S. Shergill, Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, who was himself a four-handicap player and is coordinating the entire polo season in Patiala, says the effort is to give a quality field and other facilities to the visiting polo players so that the centre becomes a permanent feature of the country’s polo calendar. He said after the Indo-Pak Punjab match on December 8, the Army Polo championship would start the next day. “Then we will host the Patiala Polo Cup reviving an old tradition and also giving Patiala a polo season after decades”, he added. |
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PSEB lift TT crown
Ferozepore, December 5 In the women singles category, Shelly Dhawan of Amritsar defeated Anu of Jalandhar 3-2 in a tough contest to bag the women’s crown. The final results:
Team championship: Men: PSEB 1, Jalandhar, 2, Amritsar, 3. Women:
Amritsar 1, Jalandhar 2, Ropar 3. Boys: Ludhiana 1, Jalandhar 2, Amritsar 3. Girls:
Ropar 1, Patiala 2, Amritsar 3, Sub Junior Boys: Patiala 1, Ludhiana 2, Amritsar 3. Sub Junior Girls:
Ropar 1, Ludhiana 2, Amritsar 3. In the Individual events category, the final results are: Men:
Vikas Mahajan (PSEB) b Pankaj Sharma (PSEB). Women: Shelly Dhawan (Amritsar) b Anu (Jalandhar). Boys:
Kamaljit (Patiala) b Rachit ( Ludhiana) Girls: Manisha (Patiala) b Reetika (Ropar) Sub junior boys:
Manpreet (Ludhiana) b Vandit (Jalandhar) Sub junior girls: Nirdosh (Ludhiana) b Aruna (Amritsar) Cadet boys:
Akashdeep (Patiala) b Vatish (Amritsar) Cadet girls: Lovepreet (Ropar) b Kirti ( Ludhiana).
— OC |
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Spain win Davis Cup
Seville, December 5 Moya’s victory gave Spain an unassailable 3-1 lead over the USA, Moya having beaten Mardy Fish and Roddick having fallen to Rafael Nadal on the opening day before Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan won yesterday's doubles rubber.
— Reuters |
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CRPF triumph
Nawanshahr, December 5 In the first match played between CRPF, Jalandhar and Sikh National Sports Club, Banga, no team could score any goal in the first half. Harpreet of Sikh National Sports Club, Banga scored the first goal for his team in the 9th minute of the second half. Shibhu of CRPF, Jalandhar scored the equaliser in the 20th minute of the second half. Mustaq of CRPF, Jalandhar scored the victorious goal in the extra time. In the second match, JCT,
Phagwara (B) beat Guru Gobind Singh Sports Society, Jalandhar by 1-0. Sumit Thapa of JCT, Phagwara scored the lone goal of the match. |
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