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Resolute Rlys reclaim Ranji Trophy
Haryana trounce Services
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Windies pacemen send SA reeling
Sweet victory under trying conditions
The sporting Pope
Stadium leased out for political convention
Technical glitch undoes Narain
Mahindra hold JCT
Mukesh bags golf title
India finish third in junior hockey tournament College’s sports day held
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Resolute Rlys reclaim Ranji Trophy
Mohali, April 3 Starting at their overnight score of 362 for 8, Railways went on to score 471 in the second innings. With a 46-run first innings lead, they set an impossible victory target of 517 runs for Punjab on the last day. Never in the hunt, Punjab lost four wickets, putting 137 runs on the board, at close as the match fizzled out to a draw. Railways emerged winners on the basis of the first-innings lead. This was Railways’ second Ranji title. They had earlier emerged winners in 2000-01. The hosts were in quest of their second title win, having earlier won the trophy in 1992-93. Punjab had also entered the final in 1994-95, but their hopes of winning the trophy had been dashed by Mumbai. In the absence of key players like Dinesh Mongia, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, selected in the Indian squad for one-day matches against Pakistan, Punjab batting lacked solidity while their bowling looked innocuous. It proved to be a frustrating outing for the hosts, who started as favourites, particularly after they defeated Mumbai in the semifinal. Stand-in skipper Pankaj Dharmani shouldered immense responsibility admirably, but Railways looked determined and won the trophy. Under Vinod Sharma as team coach, Railways played as a well-knit unit. Not having big stars in their ranks, the visitors made sincere efforts. Their batsmen batted with purpose and bowlers were on target most of the time as they accomplished the task without fuss. Putting Railways in after winning the toss, Punjab bowlers failed to restrict the rivals to a modest total. The batsmen, barring Dharmani, failed to cope with the pressure and conceded a crucial first-innings lead to Railways. In the second innings, as the wicket eased out considerably and gave no assistance to spinners or pacers, the Punjab bowlers struggled. Dropped catches added to their woes. As the Railways’ innings progressed, Punjab bowling attack looked increasingly toothless, more so after the lunch break yesterday. The hosts had great hopes when, at one stage, the rivals were 236 for 6 yesterday. But Yere Gaud chose the perfect occasion to come to form. In the company of tail-enders, he anchored the Railways’ innings in a brilliant fashion. Gaud was untroubled during his 395-minute stay at the wicket and remained unbeaten on 138. Resuming at 362 for 8 today, Railways played for nearly two-and-a-half hours before their innings came to an end. Number 10 batsman Harvinder Singh occupied the crease for 76 minutes for his 26 runs while last man Madan Yadav fared better. Staying at the crease for 89 minutes, he scored 38 runs as the innings folded up for 471. The fate of the match having been sealed, Punjab went through the motions and were 137 for 4 when the match was called off after the seventh mandatory over. There was widespread jubilation in the Railways’ camp as the players performed bhangra amidst the beating of drums and blaring of loud music at the ground. The Punjab Cricket Association gave a cheque for Rs 15 lakh to Intikhab Alam in appreciation of his services as Punjab coach. Scoreboard
Railways (1st innings): 355 Punjab (1st innings): 309 Railways (2nd innings): Pagnis lbw Gagandeep 0 Bangar b Rajesh 77 Khanolkar run out 3 JP Yadav c Dharmani Raja Ali c Dharmani Yere Gaud not out 138 TP Singh lbw Rajesh 12 Wankhede c Dharmani Parida lbw Kakkar 6 Harvinder c Gupta b Rajesh 26 Madan Yadav c Dharmani b Vineet 38 Extras (nb 5, b 26, lb 5): 36 Total
(all out, 152.3 overs): 471 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-31, 3-179, 4-205, 5-205, 6-236, 7-302, 8-333, 9-396. Bowling: Gagandeep Singh 31.4-12-58-2, Vineet Sharma 25.3-3-91-1, Rajesh Sharma 44-7-142-3, VRV Singh 18.2-4-40-1, Ankur Kakkar 16-4-58-1, Sandeep Sawal 1-0-1-0, Reetinder Sodhi 16-3-50-1. Punjab (2nd innings): Ricky b Parida 64 Sodhi c Wankhede b Bangar 15 Kakkar c Wankhede b Bangar 1 Munish c Pagnis b Madan 7 G Gupta not out 27 Dharmani not out 19 Extras
(nb-2, w-1, lb-1): 4 Total (4 wkts, 47 overs): 137 Fall of wickets:
1-32, 2-34, 3-52, 4-110. Bowling: Madan Yadav 21-4-57-1, JP Yadav 8-4-17-0, S Bangar 7-2-15-2, K Parida 8-0-35-1, A Pagnis 3-0-12-0. |
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Haryana trounce Services
Gurgaon, April 3 Besides Vashisht (4 for 31), Sachin Rana (2 for 25) and Joginder Sharma (1 for 25) were the other successful bowlers today while Amit Mishra, who had claimed all three wickets yesterday, could not add to his tally. After captain Ajay Ratra had won the toss, Haryana scored 342 in their first innings and then bundled Services for 191 to take a 151-run first innings lead. The hosts declared their second innings at 312 for eight, thus setting Services a victory target of 464. Chasing the huge target, Services resumed at their overnight score of 76 for three and it took Haryana bowlers just 26.4 overs today to skittle their opponents out for 157 in 55.4 overs. Services suffered an early jolt in the fourth over of this morning when they lost KG Chawda (1) when a Joginder Sharma delivery rapped him on the pad and up went the umpire’s finger. Yashpal Singh (58 off 64 balls, 7x4, 1x6) then joined the other overnight batsman S. Upadhaya (16) in the middle. Yashpal played positive cricket but did not get any support from the other end. Sachin Rana removed Upadhaya, caught by Sunny Singh before he could settle down, and Vashisht then took over, claiming his first wicket when Services skipper Sarabjit Singh (1) perished, holing out to Shafiq Khan. At this stage, Services were reeling at 129 for six. Expecting the lower order to save the match was asking for too much and with Services batsmen struggling against Vashisht, the writing was on the wall. Once Rana removed Yashpal, as Sunny took his second catch of the innings, it was only a matter of time. Vashisht trapped AK Mohanty (4) leg before in the 54th over and the clean-bowled Arun Sharma (0) and Sudhakar Ghag (0) in the same over to drop curtains on the Services innings which folded up for a paltry 157 runs. Scoreboard
Haryana (1st innings) 342 Services (1st innings) 191 Haryana (2nd innings) 312 for 8 Services (2nd innings) Narender c Ganda b Mishra 26 MP Reddy c Shafiq b Mishra 16 Jasvir Singh c Shafiq b Mishra 3 S. Upadhaya c Sunny b Rana 16 KG Chawda lbw b Joginder 1 Yashpal c Sunny b Rana 58 Sarabjit c Shafiq b Vashisht 1 AK Mohanty lbw b Vashisht 4 Fazil Mohammed not out 2 Arun Sharma b Vashisht 0 Sudhakar Ghag b Vashisht 0 Extras
(b-16, lb-1, nb-8, pen-5) 30 Total (all out, 55.4 overs) 157 Fall of wickets:
1-44, 2-48, 3-64, 4-79, 5-122, 6-129, 7-155, 8-155, 9-157. Bowling: Joginder Sharma 13-4-25-1, Sachin Rana 10-3-25-2, Jitendra Malik 5-2-8-0, Gaurav Vashisht 12.4-5-31-4, Amit Mishra 15-4-46-3. — UNI |
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Windies pacemen send SA reeling
Georgetown, April 3 When bad light stopped play yesterday eight overs early, South Africa were 130 for six, replying to the West Indies’ formidable first innings total of 543 for five declared. Collins, Powell, and King each snared two wickets to deliver some early, punishing blows to the South Africans. First, South Africa captain and opening batsman Graeme Smith was caught behind for two nibbling at a ball moving away outside the off stump. Next over, Powell, who has earned a recall after three years in the wilderness, had left-hander Jacques Rudolph caught low at third slip for a first-ball duck. Scoreboard
West Indies (1st innings) 543 for 5 dec South Africa (1st innings) Smith c Browne b Collins 2 De Villiers c Browne b King 41 Rudolph c R. Hinds b Powell 0 Kallis b Powell 0 Gibbs lbw b Collins 5 Boucher not out 32 Hall c Collins b King 2 Boje not out 21 Extras:
(lb-6, w-1, nb-20) 27 Total: (6 wkts) 130 Fall of wickets:
1-15, 2-16, 3-16, 4-30, 5-75, 6-95. Bowling: Collins 12-2-33-2, Powell 10-1-42-2, King 9-1-32-2, R. Hinds 6-2-17-0. — AFP |
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Sweet victory under trying conditions
We could not have asked for a better way to start the Pepsi Cup one-day series. As we were leaving Kochi on Sunday afternoon, dark clouds were gathering and heavy rain followed. Perhaps that was the reason why the weather was so humid on Saturday. The conditions really sapped the energy of the players, but we left God’s Own Country a tired but happy lot.
The victory was particularly sweet because everybody was going on and on about how Pakistan had the psychological edge going into the one-day series. In one of my earlier articles, I had mentioned how I had never understood what a moral victory was. Well, the term psychological advantage also makes no sense to me. Pakistan had the psychological advantage going into Kolkata, but we beat them there. Then we had the psychological advantage in Bangalore, but got defeated in that Test. Now Pakistan were armed with the psychological advantage in Kochi, but we beat them quite convincingly here. These are terms cooked up by the media and former cricketers, who should actually know better. You have to constantly prove yourself on the field, and the team that does that more consistently, wins. Cricket is a demanding, unpredictable game and ‘moral’ and ‘psychological’ explanations tend to over-simplify this wonderful sport. Coming back to Kochi, it was a very good toss to win, but even so, we were in a spot of bother before Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid once again proved that they are playing the best cricket of their lives. Veeru has never looked better and I continue to marvel at him. I have been playing with him since we were both playing under-16 cricket, and his style has not changed in these past 10 years. I have heard people write him off at every level — they first said his style would not endure the pressure of international cricket, they then said he would be sorted out by fast bowlers but now finally the world is sitting up and taking him very, very seriously. Today, it’s not the fast bowlers who have sorted him out, it is he who has begun to play pace bowlers like spinners. He did get a couple of lives, but then that happens to any cricketer who hits a purple patch. Dravid was also crucial to our cause, and I doubt whether Veeru could have played as freely as he did if he did not have the support of Dravid at the other end. There was a time that we thought the team would cross 300, but the conditions ensured that Pakistan would only have to chase 281. We knew that it was a very good score, particularly after our pace trio made early inroads into the Pakistan batting. While all three bowled with great commitment and energy in really trying conditions, I would like to make special mention of Ashish Nehra’s efforts. He has been on the bench for the past 10 Tests, but he hit his rhythm and bowled superbly as soon as he got a game. He has been really working hard at the nets, and the results were there for everybody to see. Finally, Sachin Tendulkar proved once again that he is a fifth bowler who can often overshadow the other four. He was bowling so well from the other end, all I had to do was to keep my end tight so that there was enough pressure on the batsmen from both ends. At the end of the game, we all had a wonderful swim at the beautiful Taj Malabar pool and had a quiet dinner at the hotel. We go into the next match with no moral victory, no psychological edge — all we have is a 1-0 lead and the knowledge that we will have to keep playing well in order to keep ahead of our opponents. Vizag will be hotter and the Pakistanis will be more desperate on Tuesday, so there is no question of celebrations at this stage.
— Gameplan |
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The sporting Pope
Vatican City, April 3 No previous occupant of the Vatican has been so associated with outdoor exercise, whether cycling, hiking through the mountains or canoeing down a river. He was the first Pope to have a swimming pool installed, much to the surprise of the Vatican hierarchy. He persisted in going skiing for as long as his health allowed. Presented by the captain of the Italian skiing team with a custom-made pair of skis in 1979, he joked with an AFP reporter: “I pray every day to be kept from temptation.” But at times the temptation was too strong and the pontiff often took to the slopes — on occasion accompanied by the then Italian President Sandro Pertini — for secret excursions, to the amazement of whichever other skier he might happen to encounter on the ski-lift. The Pope was also a keen swimmer and spent the free time before the two 1978 conclaves — the first which elected his predecessor John Paul I, and the second which a few weeks later elected him — at the beach. His love of sport can be traced back to his schooldays when he displayed considerable prowess as a goalkeeper, and to his early years as a priest in Krakow, when he organised skiing trips to Zakopane, or cycling or hiking trips through the Tatras mountains. Events suspended
ROME: Italy’s highest sport authority decided to suspend all weekend sport events as a sign of respect for Pope John Paul II. Gianni Petrucci, president of Italy’s Olympic Committee (CONI), announced the decision, which affects Serie A soccer matches, a playoff deciding the Italian ice hockey title, basketball and volleyball league matches and amateur sports. Grand tourism and Ferrari challenge car races were also cancelled at the Imola circuit.
— AFP, AP |
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Stadium leased out for political convention
New Delhi, April 3 DSA secretary NK Bhatia said here today that the ground had been dug up for the political convention, and the DSA may not be able to get it ready for the Vision India Project on time. “Therefore, the prospect of Delhi losing out on the opportunity is very real”, Mr Bhatia added. If the project takes off, the Vision India team of the AFC and the All- India Football Federation will help in building up the DSA as a model association in India. Mr Bhatia said the Vision India team from the AFC would be in Delhi from April 24 to 27 to “analyse the present status of football in Delhi and to recommend remedial measures”. The Vision India project will put emphasis on developing the Delhi State League, the structure and administrative set-up of the DSA, youth football competitions and development, women’s football competitions and development, referees’ and coaches’ development, marketing and communication. But the DSA’s worry is that with the Ambedkar Stadium being used for political and other functions, the AFC may find the atmosphere not conducive for the project unless the government intervenes to discipline the MCD, who leased out the stadium at its whim. |
Technical glitch undoes Narain
Manama, April 3 It was the first time that the Indian finished with a “Did not finish” (DNF) result. Starting in the 18th place, Karthikeyan, driving the Jordan EJ-15, retired in the third lap while racing strongly in the 15th position owing to mechanical problems in his car. Meanwhile, Formula One championship leader Fernando Alonso won the Bahrain Grand Prix to hand Renault their third win in three races. The young Spaniard, triumphant for the second race in a row, was simply unstoppable as Ferrari’s hopes of winning on their new car’s debut evaporated in the shimmering desert heat. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who had raised Ferrari’s hopes by qualifying on the front row of the grid alongside pole man Alonso, retired after 12 laps with suspected hydraulics failure. Italian Jarno Trulli crossed the line 13.409 seconds behind Alonso to take Toyota’s second top three finish in succession, with Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen following for McLaren’s first podium of the season in the third place.
— UNI, Reuters |
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Mahindra hold JCT
Ludhiana, April 3 The match began on a brisk pace with the hosts making the first move. JCT Mills’ Sukhwinder Singh and Sukhjinder made a good move and managed to enter the visitors’ territory where Harvinder got control of the ball. He stormed into the penalty box and attempted a powerful shot which was saved by Mahindra goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar. Except for this attempt, both teams were engaged in defensive play till the 73rd minute when in a solo effort, Harvinder Singh of JCT Mills pierced through the rival defence, entered the penalty box where he found the custodian on the wrong foot and neatly place the ball into the net. Stung by this reverse, Mahindra United went all out for the equaliser. They made three substitutions in quick succession which ultimatley proved fruitful. After repeated attacks, they earned a corner with a few seconds to go for the final whistle. N.S. Manju took the shot and Abhishek Yadav sent a header into the net to make it 1-1. Syed Nayeemuddin, coach of Mahindra United, expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the match as the team was playing without their three foreign recruits. Vasco draw
with Churchill
MARGAO (PTI): An injury time goal by Sidney Rodrigues helped Vasco hold Churchill Brothers to a 1-1 draw in a 15th round match of the National Football League (NFL) at Nehru stadium here today. Churchill, who controlled the proceedings for the major part of the match, surged ahead in the 27th minute when Yakubu tapped in a flag kick by Roque Baretto. Aqueel Ansari sold a dummy to Yakubu, unsighting Vasco goalkeeper Virender Singh, and Yakubu, standing near the goal line, tapped the ball in. After coming close to equalising on three occasions, Vasco restored parity in the injury time when Sidney Rodrigues banged home from close a pass from substitute Denis Cabral. The draw took Churchill to 14 points from 15 matches while Vasco, who are below Churchill Bros in the 11th place, took their tally to 13 points from the same number of matches. |
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Mukesh bags golf title
New Delhi, April 3 It turned out to be ‘lucky 15’ for Mukesh Kumar as the Mhow-based pro, aided by a tournament tally of 15-under 273, posted his first win in 15 years at the Delhi Golf Club. Kolkata’s Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia was undone by a couple of visits to the much-feared Golf Club bushes while Digvijay Singh posted a valiant fightback, nearly catching up with Mukesh on one occasion. However, the duo had to settle for the tied-second position at 12-under 276, to pocket Rs 4,37,500 each. Pre-tournament favourite Jeev Milkha Singh finished joint 24th after he hit a poor round of 72 and ended with a total of four-over 292. Another fancied player, Shiv Kapoor, carded two-under 70 and with a total of 288, jhe ended at the joint 14th place. While the focus was on the leader-group, three other golfers turned a few heads today. Amateur Gaganjeet Bhullar was involved in a neck-and-neck race for the second position before double bogeying his final hole to finish at nine-under 279. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Anura Rohana equalled the course record with a superb round of nine-under 63 to join Myanmar’s Zaw Moe. The other major achievement was that of Chandigarh’s Roop Singh. Roop fired a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh with a well directed four-iron.
— UNI |
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India finish third in junior hockey tournament Kuala Lumpur, April 3 The Indians, who missed on a final berth after losing their last league encounter against hosts Malaysia yesterday, trailed 0-1 at the breather, but came back strongly in the second half. Adam Sinclair scored a brace and Vikram Kant netted one for India while both goals for the South Koreans came from penalty corners. The start of the match was delayed by 45 minutes and was later suspended for 35 minutes in the second half due to heavy downpour. — PTI
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College’s sports day held Fatehgarh Sahib, April 3 Volleyball team led by Gurjit Singh won the trophy, handball team led by Ms Gurwinder Kaur won the trophy, Tug of war team led by Harkamal won the trophy, Pooja Malhotra won the shotput event in girls section and Ravinder Pal Singh won in the boys section. Mr Raj Kumar Sharma, Director Sports, Punjabi University Patiala gave away the prizes to the winners. Mr Didar Singh Bhatti, Chairman presided over the function.
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Punjab Police are football champs Selection trials Eves football Cricket tourney Wrestling bouts |
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Virender
Sehwag's amazing run with the bat continues.
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