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IOC, IA to clash in final
Cold will toughen players: Jyothikumaran
Indian eves win Asia Cup
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Mongia shines with bat, ball
CHENNAI OPEN
Sanaa, Glushko to clash in semis
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IOC, IA to clash in final
Jalandhar, January 4 In the semifinals held today, Indian Airlines defeated Bharat Petroleum in sudden death by 7-6 where as Indian Oil edged out Punjab Police by 3-2. Among the women, Haryana XI won the title after defeating Pepsu XI by a solitary goal. Ritu Rani of Haryana was declared the best player of the tournament. The first semifinal between Punjab Police and Indian Oil was played on a fast note. In the first half Indian Oil dominated, where as in second half cops made their come back. Prabhjot Singh of Indian Oil scored the first field goal in the 23rd minute of the game. Further strengthening the team position, Deepak Thakur showed his Olympian class to score another field goal and Inderjit Singh sounded the board in the 39th minute of the game. The Punjab Police team struggling to make good moves was helped with the entry of Jugraj Singh on the field as he provided the much needed support to the players and played attacking strokes. Both goals for the team were scored by Jugraj. He scored through two penalty corners in the 41st and the 51st minutes of the game. The day’s most exciting game was the second semifinal match between the Indian Airlines and Bharat Petroleum. The match, that seemed destined to be won by the IA team in the face of slackening performance by Bharat Petroleum players, became exciting in the last minutes of the game as the 1-0 lead of the Indian Airlines was equalised by the Bharat Petroleum. In the 19th minute of the game, Arjun Hallappa of the Indian Airlines scored a field goal through a pass from Dhanraj Pillay. Showing spark, Bharat Petroleum’s Len Aiyappa scored in the 70th minute to bring the match to an exciting turn. In the penalty shoot-out, both teams leveled at 4-4. In sudden death Bharat Petroleum’s Prabhdeep not able to score where as Sandeep Michael of the Indian Airlines scored the goal to send his team into the final of the Surjit hockey for the first time. In the women final, both Haryana XI and Pepsu XI teams played good game and the goal for Haryana came from the stick of Arti Sharma in the 18th minute of the play. After that Haryana girls wasted five penalty corners where as Pepsu girls missed two golden chances in the second half. Haryana lifted the trophy for the third time. |
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Cold will toughen players: Jyothikumaran
Chandigarh, January 4 The second edition of the PHL is commencing tomorrow as the first match will be played between Tier II teams Delhi Dazzlers and Orissa Steelers at 2.05 pm. Commenting on the chilly conditions, Mr Jyothikumaran was of the view that playing in such conditions would make our players tough. “To play matches in chilly conditions is really challenging for the players but it would definitely help them in the foreign competitions where cold weather conditions prevail,” he said. Expressing his pleasure at the private companies coming forward to sponsor the PHL, he said it would not only make the game popular but also help the players financially. He said the PHL, which is a collective effort of IHF, ESPN and Leisure Sports Management, is making the game popular. “We have been trying to improve the standards of the league with the introduction of the concept of third umpire and some new rules.” On the idea of inviting foreign players to play in in the league, he was of the opinion that it would give the local players opportunity to learn from the foreign players. “In the next edition we will try to bring more foreigners as well as teams to make it more competitive,” said Mr Kumaran. |
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Chappell is no dictator: Dravid
New Delhi, January 4 In an interview in the inaugural issue of the Cricinfo magazine, Dravid said Chappell is, contrary to popular perceptions, no
dispute. “I’ve not found him domineering at all,’’ he said. “Chappell has been more than willing to listen to my ideas and my thoughts and I get a very good say. “At the end of the day I think he believes that a captain must get what he wants. In fact, in a lot of ways we do a lot of things in my way,’’ Dravid added. He also played down the apprehension among players regarding Chappell. “...sometimes it takes a bit of time for people to understand what the other person is trying to do and achieve. I think the guys have responded very well. I’ve really enjoyed it.’’ “In a lot of ways he’s trying to bring in some new thoughts, some new ideas. We have our opinions and sometimes we agree and sometimes we might disagree. At the end of the day he’s done a really good job. He’s trying to coach teams in a slightly different way. I think it’s a good way,’’ he said. The right-hander who took over the reins from predecessor Sourav Ganguly, also made it clear that he would not like to have certain players in his side. ‘’You don’t want people whose own insecurities, whose own problems and whose own fears drag everyone else down. That can be a big dampener in teams,’’ he said. “I want to say that at this level I shouldn’t need to motivate anyone. If I’m needing to motivate an international cricketer then there’s something wrong actually. The challenge is to not demotivate anyone.’’ “If you’re going to be spending time in the team always having to cajole and look after a few people in the team, you’re doing a disservice to the rest because you’re wasting and investing too much time and energy in a few people who’re taking away from the group,’’ he explained. “Players need to understand that they need to give energy to the unit. There are times of course when you’re not doing well, and your form’s not good and you’ll need the support of other people. But most of the time you’ve got to give to the team and make sacrifices to the team and give back to the team,’’
he added. — UNI |
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Shoaib will trouble Indians: Inzamam
Karachi, January 4 It will be a battle between Indian batsmen and Pakistani bowlers, the veteran Pakistani batsman told PTI in an interview. Inzamam unveiled his strategy against the top-line Indian batting, saying his bowlers needed to get opener Virender Sehwag early because he can destroy any bowling attack thereafter. He fancied his chances against Sachin Tendulkar and said the Pakistani bowlers can restrict him. The burly Pakistani skipper still feels that Indians were the favourites although he was pleased to hear that Pakistanis were being billed as such. “I know the Indian batsmen have not done as well as they should have in the recent past. But we cannot ignore their track record which is of the highest class. Similarly, Pakistan bowling, especially the fast bowling attack, will not be the same as the Indians faced in 2004 and I am sure the Indians would have realised it after last year’s series,” Inzamam said. The Indians arrive in Lahore tomorrow evening on their second tour of Pakistan in three years for a three-Test and five-match one-day international series. The Test series starts in Lahore on January 13. “It is going to be a battle between the Indian batting and Pakistan bowling. Spearheaded by a rejuvenated Shoaib Akhtar, I fancy my team’s chances more than the Indians but we have to remember that every Indian batsman has earned respect and recognition after performing consistently over the years. “It’s heart-warming to read and pleasing to hear that Pakistan is billed as series favourite, but I still believe that India will start as favourite for the simple reason that they have experienced, matured and proven cricketers,” said Inzamam who scored 1,000 runs in eight Tests last year. A veteran of 105 Tests and 351 one-day internationals, Inzamam said Pakistan had been unfortunate that, except for the series against England, it had not played with its best bowlers. “In 2004, Shoaib was struggling and so was Mohammad Sami. Then Umar Gul broke down in Lahore. So, if you analyse our last two years, you will know that we have not played with our best fast bowlers. “The only time we played with them was against England (late last year) and we convincingly beat them although Shabbir Ahmed had to sit out. Shoaib Akhtar is probably the most improved bowler in terms of fitness, approach, attitude and discipline. He has inspired the other fast bowlers to do even better. “Not necessarily that Shoaib would always take a fiver, but his aggressive bowling allows the bowler from the other end to pick wickets,” he said. “If Shoaib remains fit, which I am sure he will, and maintains the same form, I think he will be too hot for the Indians to handle,” Inzamam said. Inzamam, who has scored 8,052 Test and 11,141 one-day runs, said the Indian batting was a mixture of aggression and solid defence. In Virender Sehwag, he said, the Indians had an opener who, if not dismissed early, could destroy any bowling attack like he did against Pakistan at Multan on way to scoring 309 to set up an innings victory for India. “Sehwag likes to play his shots and if not dismissed early, he can single-handedly take the game away from you or at least, set up a platform for others to post a huge target. It’s difficult to set a field against someone like Sehwag who relies more on his eye than footwork. “I also know that the bowlers don’t like to bowl to him because he picks the ball very early and punishes even the good balls. But if we bowl straight, give him little space to free his arms and contain him, we can get him early.
— PTI |
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Ponting, Gilchrist lead Aussie fightback
Sydney, January 4 Skipper Ponting became only the sixth player to score a century in his 100th Test with his 120 and his deputy Gilchrist rediscovered his scoring touch with a blazing 86 to shake the Sydney Test into life after days of cricket torpor. Australia were dismissed for 359 after the last three wickets added 96, in reply to the South Africans’ 451 for nine declared. In the final over, South Africa lost the wicket of AB de Villiers in the evening gloom, leg before wicket to Brett Lee for one, to end the day on four for one, 96 ahead. Skipper Smith was not out three. Ponting joined Colin Cowdrey (104), Gordon Greenidge (149), Inzamam-ul-Haq (184), Javed Miandad (145) and Alec Stewart (105) with a ton in his 100th Test. When the momentum in the Australian run chase slowed after three wickets fell for four runs, Gilchrist staged a display of batting pyrotechnics, damaging three bats in the process. He shook off a poor run of scores to thrill the home crowd with 10 fours and two sixes, frustrating South African attempts to grab a much bigger innings lead with two days remaining. Gilchrist found willing allies in Brett Lee (17), Stuart MacGill (29) and Glenn McGrath (1) to prolong the Proteas’ agony before he was caught by Mark Boucher off Andre Nel. Australia began the day on a shaky 54-3 as South Africa pressed for victory to square the three-match series. But Ponting put on 130 for the fourth wicket with Mike Hussey, raising his hundred off a misfield by Jacques Rudolph at mid-on. Hussey went on to make 45 before he was caught off his glove and pad by Mark Boucher, giving debutant off-spinner Johan Botha his first Test wicket. Umpire Aleem Dar controversially turned down a strident lbw appeal by Nel when Hussey was on nine and Australia on 102 for three. Television replays showed the ball pitched in line with the stumps and did not deviate. Ponting was out just before tea, leg before wicket to Jacques Kallis, after an innings lasting 174 balls with 12 fours and a six. Wickets then began to fall. Nel dismissed Symonds (12) and Shane Warne (0) with consecutive deliveries to finish with 4-81 before Gilchirst stopped the rot. The milestones tumbled for Ponting, who finished 2005 as leading Test scorer with 1,544 runs at 61.32 and this week supplanted Kallis as cricket's top-rated batsman. He became Australia's third all-time leading scorer when he passed Mark Waugh's Test aggregate of 8,029 runs. The Aussie skipper now has Allan Border (11,174) and Steve Waugh (10,927) ahead of him. Ponting, who has hit four centuries in his last six Tests this southern summer, had a big let-off on 95 when he survived a confident leg before wicket appeal off Charl Langeveldt which was turned down by Dar. Scoreboard South Africa (1st innings) 451 for 9 decl Australia (1st innings) Langer b Langeveldt 25 Hayden b Langeveldt 4 Ponting lbw Kallis 120 Hodge c Rudolph b Nel 6 Hussey c Boucher b Botha 45 Symonds lbw Nel 12 Gilchrist c Boucher b Nel 86 Warne c Boucher b Nel 0 Lee c Smith b Kallis 17 MacGill c Nel b Pollock 29 McGrath not out 1 Extras (lb-10 w-2 nb-2) 14 Total (all out) 359 Fall of wickets:
1-22, 2-35, 3-54, 4-184, 5-222, 6-226, 7-226, 8-263, 9-322, 10-359. Bowling:
Pollock 25-3-109-1, Langeveldt 24-4-108-2, Nel 24.1-3-81-4, Kallis 15-4-25-1, Botha 7-2-26-1. South Africa
(2nd innings) Smith batting 3 De Villiers lbw Lee 1 Extras
0 Total (for 1 wkt) 4 Fall of wicket: 1-4. Bowling: McGrath 1-0-4-0, Lee 0.3-0-0-1. — AFP SA complain of more racial abuse
South Africa complained of another incident of racial abuse by a spectator against fast bowler Andre Nel during the third cricket Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground today. Nel, a white South African who was fielding close to the boundary, reported the taunts to his captain Graeme Smith, who informed the match umpires. They in turn reported it to match referee Chris Broad. All three Tests in the current series have been marred by racist incidents. “None of the team minds any form of abuse because it happens in any country,” South African coach Mickey Arthur said after the third day’s play. “But we feel once it becomes a racist taunt then the boundaries are being overstepped and the South African team categorically deplores that type of behaviour.” — AFP |
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Indian eves win Asia Cup
Karachi, January 4 Mithali remained unconquered on 108 as she led India to a commanding 269 for four before the bowlers, led by Devika Palshikar (3-31), restricted the Lankan eves to 172 for nine in the final at the National Stadium. The Indian women, who won the title two years ago in Sri Lanka, and their Pakistani counterparts were honoured by the presence of retired Pakistani allrounder Wasim Akram. Pakistan was hosting an international women’s match for the first time and men were not allowed to watch the matches. Mithali, however, was overwhelmed by the victory. “It is a fantastic win for us. Although we proved stronger than Pakistan and Sri Lanka (whom India beat in round-robin matches), we were never complacent,” the skipper from Andhra said. — PTI |
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Mongia shines with bat, ball
Visakhapatnam, January 4 Resuming at his overnight score of 52 with the team’s total at 190/4, the Punjab skipper fought a lone battle as wickets kept falling on the other end. He completed his third century of the season just after lunch. Andhra, who still have a chance to make it to the semis, failed to make a bright start, ending the day at 79 for two. Play was called off three overs early due to bad light. With Punjab struggling at 246/8, Mongia and tail-ender Rajesh Sharma (22) had a vital 65-run partnership for the ninth wicket to take his team past the 300-mark. The left-hander, who had struck seven boundaries yesterday, added seven more today in his long drawn innings that lasted 276 balls and 356 minutes. K.S. Shahbuddin, M.N.V. Varma, Y. Lakshman Kisore and Md Faiq took two wickets apiece for Andhra. Returning with the ball, Mongia struck in his very first over. He had Andhra opener T. Suman caught by Rajesh Sharma. The left-arm spinner tied down the Andhra batsmen in his eleven-over spell conceding just 17 runs. Medium pacer Gagandeep Singh, who bowled with fire, took the other wicket sending back Kumar Swamy for 15 to provide a slight edge to the visitors. M.S.K. Prasad (26) and captain Venugopala Rao (15) remained unbeaten for Andhra at close of play. Brief scores: Punjab
(Ist innings) 316 (Dinesh Mongia 132, Rajesh Sharma 22, K.S. Shahbuddin 2/79, M.N.V. Varma 2/30, Y. Lakshman Kisore 2/58, Md. Faiq 2/72) vs
Andhra (Ist innings) 79/2 (M.S.K. Prasad 26 n.o.). — UNI |
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Stepanek downs Prakash
Chennai, January 4 In a lively encounter in which world number 19 Stepanek was tested to the limit, there were signs of an upset before Prakash lost 6-3, 0-6, 4-6 in a tense two-hour battle at the centre courts at the Nungambakkam Stadium here. The win propelled Stepanek to a place in the quarterfinals, where seventh seed Bjorn Phau of Germany joined him. The German defeated his compatriot and qualifier Michael Berrer 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in a marathon encounter. Considering Prakash was ranked 250 places lower than his rival, he was not overawed and meant business from the word go. Hitting deep and volleying well, Prakash put up a scintillating display in the first set, in which he broke his more fancied rival in the fourth game, despite struggling to hold his own serve. A majority of his service games went to deuce. A deep return followed by a fine volley helped Prakash gain the decisive break, before managing to pocket the opening set 6-3. However, Stepanek, playing in the centre court for the first time, took time to feel the bounce of the surface. Once he got his moorings, it was a treat to watch. Stepping up the pedal in the second set, Stepanek took six games in a row, while Prakash struggled to arrest the onslaught. His backhand returns deserted him and he had a horrible time at the net, messing up some easy volleys. Stepanek on the other hand struck a purple patch. He returned hard and deep and pinned the Indian to the baseline. Even during the occasional venture to the net, the Czech got the better of Prakash. Stepanek broke the Indian in the second, fourth and sixth games to win the second set 6-0. It was touch and go in the third, though Prakash continued to struggle with his volleys. Both players indulged in long rallies and were content with hitting from the baseline. When it appeared that the contest would meander to the tie breaker, came the break for the Czech in the tenth game of the decider. Results: 3-Carlos Moya (Spa) b Justin Gimelstob (USA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Thierry Ascione (Fra) b 8-Tomas Behrend (Ger) 6-4, 6-1; 2-Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) b Prakash Amritraj (India) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4; 7-Bjoern Phau (Ger) b Michael Berrer (Ger) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. — UNI
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Sanaa, Glushko to clash in semis
Chandigarh, January 4 In another quarterfinal match that lasted for more than 150 minutes, second seed Julia Glushko of Israel defeated Xuan-Yu Guo of China 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Glushko is now pitted against Sanaa Bhambri in the semifinal tomorrow.
The second semifinal will be an all-Chinese affair. Qualifier Ni Zhou of China caused a major upset as she defeated the apple cart of top seeded Ksenia Palkina of Kyrgyzstan 6-4, 0-6, 6-2. Yi-Miao Zhou, also of China, moved into semifinal with a 7-6 (4), 6-0 win over Nadine Fathoum of Israel. The biting cold did not dampen the spirits of the players who maintained their poise all through to prove their worth. The Indian boys also moved ahead to claim prestigious place in the semifinals tomorrow. The boys’ singles semifinal line-up is: Rupesh Rao (India) vs. Akshay Bajoria (India) and Ivan Anikanov (Ukraine) vs Sumit Parkash Gupta (India). Earlier, top seed Rupesh played a solid game against Chinese qualifier Chen-Yu Wu. Rupesh broke his opponent in the fifth game and gained a 3-2 lead. But the Chinese player immediately hit back and broke his opponent to level the score at 3-3. Rupesh was given a tough fight by Chen-Yu in the eighth game. However, the Indian saved two break points (15-40) before holding his serve with a brilliant passing shot followed by an ace. In the tie-breaker, Rupesh and Chen-Yu were tied 2-2 before the Indian took control and won the tiebreaker at 7-2. Rupesh won the second set without any problem at 6-3. Results: all quarterfinals: Boys (singles): Rupesh Roy (India) b Chen Yu Wu (China) 6-3, 7-5; Xiao-Long Yin (China) b Akshay Bajoria 6-2, 6-4; Ivan Anikanov (Ukraine) b Tomer Hodorov (Israel) 6-4, 6-3; Sumit Prakash Gupta (India) b Jiang Chuan (China) 6-2, 6-3. Girls (singles): Zhou Ni (China) b Ksenia Palkina (Kyrgyzstan) 6-4, 0-6, 6-2; Zhou Yi Miao (China) b Nadine Fahoum (Israel) 7-6(4), 6-0; Sanna Bhambri (India) b Zhong Yi (China) 6-1, 6-3; Julia Glushko (Israel) b Xuan Yu Guo (China) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Boys (doubles): Rupesh Roy and Sumit Parkash Gupta (India) b Tomer Hodorov and Mark Fridaev (Israel) 6-3, 6-2; Ashwin Vijaragavan and Gursher Harika (India) b Vijayant Malik and Priyank Gangadharan (India) 7-5, 2-6, 6-1; Chen-Yu Wu and Jie Li (China) b Tejas Chaukulkar and Akash Gujarati (India) 6-0, 6-1; Kinshuk Sharma (India) and Ivan Anikanov (Ukraine) b Min-Woo Shin (Korea) and Yuki Bhambri (India) 6-4, 6-4. |
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