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Younis puts Pak in command
Greg Chappell rubbishes spat between Ganguly, Dravid
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England team for India tour announced
Australia thrash Sri Lanka
Haryana finishes with 10 points
SC allows Zar’s team to play Ranji matches
Thakur shines in Dynamos win
Australian Open
Bopanna goes down fighting
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Younis puts Pak in command
Lahore, January 13 The reliable Younis Khan gave a fine exhibition of strokeplay to notch up his 10th Test century while Mohammad Yousuf was five runs short of his ton as the hosts relied on a solid batting display to reach a commanding 326 for two at close on the opening day. Younis first teamed up with opener Shoaib Malik (59) to put on 124 runs for the second wicket and then consolidated the position for the home team with an unfinished 190-run stand with Yousuf on a placid track at the Gaddafi stadium. Bad light forced play to be called off with five overs still remaining to be bowled on a highly forgettable day for the visitors who sprang a surprise by including both Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh in the team, sacrificing a regular opener instead. Nothing seemed to go right for the Indians on the opening day of the high-profile series as they not only lost the toss but also failed to check the run flow with the Pakistani batsmen maintaining a brisk scoring rate right through the day. The hosts, seeking to make amends for the series loss against the Indians in 2004, lost opener Salman Butt (6) early but swung the momentum in their favour with an aggressive batting approach which took India by surprise. None of the Indian bowlers could really make much of an impact as both Younis and Yousuf unleashed a barrage of strokes on both sides of the wicket to steer Pakistan past the 300-mark. Younis had faced 243 balls and hit 19 fours so far while Yousuf had struck 10 fours and a six in his 124-ball knock. Considering the toothless nature of the Indian attack on a shirtfront surface, a score of plus-500 was on the cards and the best bet for the visitors to make a comeback in the match tomorrow would be with the second new ball that was taken 15 minutes before close as soon as it was due. To make matters worse for the visitors, Yousuf was dropped when on 90 just before draw of stumps by Virender Sehwag at gully off Ajit Agarkar as he fiercely cut the ball. Neither the new ball bowlers, including Ganguly who was also given a stint of seam-up stuff, nor the two spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh could test the Pakistan batsmen after India got an early breakthrough. Opener Salman Butt was run out by a direct throw from Yuvraj Singh at the non-striker’s end from short mid wicket in the third over of the day as the batsman was sent back from mid pitch by his partner Malik. That was the only success for the visitors in the first session as Malik and Younis Khan consolidated the position with attacking shots and added 98 runs in the two-and-a-half-hour session as Pakistan adjourned for lunch at 110 for one. The first hour after lunch was the best of the entire day for the Indians as they not only got rid of the solid-looking Malik, who faced 145 balls and struck seven fours and a lofted six over mid wicket in his 183-minute stay, but also kept the run-rate down. The second wicket partnership between Malik and Younis realised 134 runs off 260 balls and laid the platform for the third wicket pair to push forward the Pakistan run surge. The two batsmen kept their feet on the accelerator as Pakistan score galloped to 220 for two at tea, with 110 runs coming in only 26 overs, while another 106 runs were added in the final, shortened session in 20 overs to complete the domination for the hosts. Younis was especially harsh on the spinners as he pulled, cut and drove them without much trouble as the ball hardly did anything in the air or off the wicket though both the slow bowlers got some bounce off the track at times. His century came off 183 balls with the help of 12 fours. Scoreboard Pakistan (1st innings) Malik c Harbhajan b Pathan 59 Butt run out 6 Younis batting 147 Yousuf batting 95 Extras (lb10, nb8, w1) 19 Total (for 2 wickets) 326 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-136. Bowling: Pathan 21-3-76-1, Agarkar 15-3-59-0, Ganguly 6-1-14-0, Harbhajan 16-4-64-0, Kumble 23-1-92-0, Sehwag 4-0-11-0.
— PTI |
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Pawar, Musharraf talk cricket
Islamabad, January 13 Hoping that the two teams would give their best to provide entertainment to the followers of the sport, Musharraf said both teams had some very good batsmen and high quality bowlers. “I am confident that the series will be a treat for cricket followers all over the world,” an official statement here quoted him as telling Pawar. President Musharraf, an avid cricket follower, said the current series would contribute further in raising the standard of the sport in South Asia. On his part, Pawar thanked Musharraf for the opportunity to call on him, it said. The Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shivshankar Menon and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Shaharyar Khan, also the former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, were present at the meeting. Earlier, officials of both the sides maintained that it was a courtesy call and much of their talks centred on issues relating to cricket. Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam said the focus of the discussions was cricket.
— PTI |
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Greg Chappell rubbishes spat between Ganguly, Dravid
Lahore, January 13 Going by Chappell: “They were discussing cricket’’. His explanation could not convince the scribes who were speculating that Ganguly and his successor were involved in a spat. “They were discussing cricket. I don’t know where all these talks come from. There was nothing of the sort,’’ Chappell said, advising media not to read too much into it. An important Test match was being played and people should focus on that, he said. Even the television commentators were surprised by the episode and a former Pakistani skipper felt these things should be confined to the dressing room.
— UNI |
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England team for India tour announced
London, January 13 However, the England Cricket Board on Friday left fast bowler Darren Gough out of the one-day squad, which may prompt his international retirement. Vaughan had an operation on his right knee, spinner Giles had surgery on his hip and Pietersen sustained a rib injury before Christmas. Jones has just returned to cricket after surgery on an ankle injury that forced him out of the final Ashes test last September. “In choosing our Test squad, we wanted to show faith with the same group of players who have performed extremely well for England over the past two years,” chairman of selectors David Graveney said. Test squad:
Michael Vaughan (captain), Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Geraint Jones, Simon Jones, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Matthew Prior, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick and Shaun Udal. One-day squad: Michael Vaughan (captain), Kabir Ali, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ian Blackwell, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Geraint Jones, Simon Jones, Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Prior, Liam Plunkett, Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick. —
AP |
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Australia thrash Sri Lanka
Melbourne, January 13 The out-of-form Sri Lankans, who have slipped from second in the world rankings to sixth, have now won just two of their last 12 one-day matches. They were no match for the big-hitting Australians with the two batsmen bringing up their fourth-wicket partnership off just 88 balls as Australia climbed to 318-5. In reply Sri Lanka could muster just 202-7. Sri Lanka’s less-experienced batting line-up also failed to withhold a full-strength Australian attack led by speedster Brett Lee and veteran Glenn McGrath. Scoreboard Australia Gilchrist lbw Perera 13 Katich run out 60 Ponting b Perera 13 Martyn b Fernando 70 Symonds c Dilshan b Mubarak 66 Clarke not out 45 Hussey not out 34 Extras
(lb-8, nb-3, w-6) 17 Total (5 wckts, 50 overs) 318 Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-58, 3-132, 4-238, 5-238. Bowling:
Vaas 10-0-73-0, Perera 10-0-45-2, Fernando 10-0-60-1, Muralitharan 10-0-67-0 , Dilshan 8-0-55-0, Mubarak 2-0-10-1. Sri Lanka Tharanga b Lee 2 Mubarak c Ponting b Lee 1 Vandort run out 48 Sangakkara c Martyn b Bracken 16 Dilshan b Bracken 29 Jayawardene c&b Hopes 50 Atapattu c Katich b Hogg 9 Arnold not out 28 Vaas not out 7 Extras
(b-1, lb-3, w-8) 12 Total ( 7 wckts, 50 overs) 202 Fall of wickets:
1-2, 2-11, 3-32, 4-93, 5-118, 6-137, 7-176. Bowling: Lee 7-0-29-2, McGrath 9-1-30-0, Bracken 8-2-11-2, Hopes 9-1-35-1, Hogg 10-0-57-1, Symonds 4-0-20-0, Clarke 3-0-16-0. — AFP |
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Haryana finishes with 10 points
New Delhi, January 13 Resuming at their overnight score of 182 for 3, Services were all out for 342, setting a target of 302 runs for Haryana. In reply Haryana, who had taken a first innings of lead of 41 runs, scored 108 runs without losing a wicket at the end of the match today. Haryana finished with 10 points from the league stage while Services, languishing at the bottom of the tables, will have to play in the Plate Group next year. Ananthapur:
Uttar Pradesh entered the semifinals by defeating Andhra by eight wickets on the fourth and final day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B league match. UP has earned four points from the tie to take its tally to 13 points off six matches. Hosts on the other hand ended up with seven points after the six round league phase. KOLKATA: Bengal registered an edge-of-the-seat victory, successfully chasing 303 in the fourth innings for five wickets against the Railways here today to set up a semifinal clash against Baroda. This is the first time in four years that Bengal managed to reach the semifinal. Last time Bengal played the semifinal against Delhi and lost. CHENNAI: In a well-contested encounter that ended in a draw, Tamil Nadu gained two points on the basis of first innings lead over Delhi in their last round robin league Elite Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match here today. Tamil Nadu ended the season with a total of 11 points as against Delhi’s six. MUMBAI: Maharashtra beat Mumbai by 65 runs in their Ranji league tie on the fourth and final day at the Wankhede Stadium here today. While Mumbai already qualified for the semifinals, Maharashtra’s win swelled their tally to eight points in the competition, which helped them avoid relegation and remain in the Elite Division.
— PTI |
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SC allows Zar’s team to play Ranji matches
New Delhi, January 13 Passing an interim order to this effect on a petition of “official” HPCA President Rajinder Zar, challenging the Himachal Pradesh High Court order of January 10 staying the registration of the body headed by him, the apex court said the team which had played the last three matches, will continue to represent the state in remaining Ranji matches. Observing that the bitter fight between rival associations in almost all the states due to dominance of money in cricket had the potential to make the game itself a “casualty”, a Bench of Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice C. K. Thakker and Mr Justice R. V. Raveendran accepted for urgent hearing the petition of Zar, who had rushed to the apex court. The Court issued notices to the HP Government, its Registrar of Societies, rival association led by Thakur and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), seeking their replies by January 30. The Court was informed that only one fixture of HP team with Baroda, starting on January 1 remained to be played by it and the problem would continue to haunt the state cricket during the one-day matches starting thereafter. Zar challenged the High Court order on the ground that it was passed on “erroneous” conclusion even when the vote of his association was recognised by the BCCI observer T. S. Krishnamurthy, the former Chief Election Commissioner, in the recent board election and the body was registered by an Act passed by the state last year. The apex court said that it would examine the questions raised by Zar and try do decide the matter before the one-day matches in domestic cricket start after the current Ranji ties. But at the same time the court asked the parties to the dispute to have some “soul searching” whether such fights were doing any good to the game. “At some point of time there has to be some soul searching by every body that the money dominating the game will make the sport itself a casualty… Look at the Ranji Trophy standard…during past few years it has lost its status,” the Chief Justice observed. But the Court made it clear that interim order issued by it was without any “prejudice” to the rights of the rival association, headed by Thakur. |
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Thakur shines in Dynamos win
Chandigarh, January 13 The spirited Dynamos showed their dynamism by drubbing Warriors 2-1. Deepak was declared man of the match and has now joined the club of those players who have scored three goals in the league so far.
The match generated excitement from the very beginning. Hardly when the Maratha Warriors sitting pretty with six points had begun their play, it was Deepak Thakur who scored a superb goal through a reverse flick after a pass from Rajpal Singh.
In the second quarter, Maratha Warriors played an offensive game. The forward line of Maratha Warriors remained the centre of attraction and a scare for Dynamos. Till half time, Dynamos led 1-0. In the third quarter, Maratha Warriors again played an attacking game and this bore fruit for them this time when the Pakistan’s Imran Warsi was able to convert a penalty corner to a magnificent goal in 43rd minute making the score 1-1. Both sides played a neat and fast hockey and got cheers from the supporting crowd. The match was in the dying moments and the crowd was expecting that the match will go into extra time. But just 12 seconds before the whistle, an outside D circle flick by Sukhbir Gill was cleanly put into the goal by Deepak Thakur making the score 2-1 in favour of Chandigarh Dynamos. Tomorrow, Bangalore Lions will play Sher-e
Jalandhar in the Tier I tie to be played at 7 pm. Orissa Steelers steal victory
Orissa Steelers brushed aside the challenge of Imphal Rangers winning the match by a golden goal in the Tier II Premier Hockey League match held at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today. Jayanta Singh of Rangers executed a powerful drag-flick to dodge Orissa goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh and posted the lead for Rangers 1-0. In the 33rd minute, Orissa Steelers were awarded two consecutive penalty corners and were lucky enough to have a penalty stroke to post the equaliser. Inder Singh Salaria simply despatched the ball to the corner of the net making the score 1-1. Two penalty corners earned by Rangers and one by steelers in the first half of the extra time for silver goal did not yield any result. Then in the second half for golden goal, Orissa forced another penalty corner and got penalty stroke where Inder Singh Salaria made no mistake in converting it sailing Orissa Steelers to victory 2-1. Veerans down Delhi Dazzlers
It was again a day for Raghunath of Chennai Veerans who scored three goals in his team’s victory over Delhi Dazzlers 4-2 in the second match of Tier II. Chennai Veerans started on a passive note but Raghunath’s powerful drag-flick found the corner of the net to grasp the lead in the 15th minute. Four minutes later, Mandeep Singh of Delhi Dazzlers equalised through a penalty corner. In the 29th minute, Gurbaj made the Chennai Veerans ahead 2-1. The team forced fifth penalty corner in the 52nd minute, which fetched the third goal. During this moment, Raghu dragged the ball two steps ahead to dodge an advancing Dazzler player Kushwant Singh and smashed into the net from narrow angle. Raghu came back in form three minutes later by converting a penalty corner to clock the score 4-1. |
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Australian Open
Melbourne, January 13 World number four and third seed Lleyton Hewitt was placed in the same half of the draw as Federer, setting up a potential semifinal showdown with the Swiss, and will play Czech Republic’s Robin Vik in the first round. Australian Hewitt, who was knocked out of the Sydney International by Italy’s Andreas Seppi on Thursday, could face a difficult second round opponent in either rising British talent Andy Murray or Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela. American Andy Roddick, seeded second, has been drawn against a qualifier and is in the same half as Croatia’s Davis Cup winner and world number nine Ivan Ljubicic. Ljubicic will meet Australia’s Chris Guccione in the first round. Germany’s Tommy Haas is in the same quarter of the draw as the Swiss and will play 14th seed Richard Gasquet of France. World number five David Nalbandian, who beat Federer in the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai last year, will meet a qualifier in the first round. Top womens’ seed Lindsay Davenport will play Australian wildcard Casey Dellacqua in the first round and faces a tough path into the quarter-finals after being drawn in the same quarter as Venus Williams and Justine Henin-Hardenne. Former world number one Henin-Hardenne is fast emerging as the most dangerous player in the draw after blasting her way to the Sydney International final. Defending champion and 13th seed Serena Williams will meet Na Li of China and has been drawn in the same quarter as former French and U.S. Open finalist Elena Dementieva and world number six Nadia Petrova. Serena is scheduled to meet fourth seed Maria Sharapova in the fourth round. Sharapova has been drawn to meet Germany’s Sandra Kloesel in the first round. Former world number one Martina Hingis, making a return to tennis after foot and ankle injuries forced her to retire in 2002, has been granted a wildcard for the year’s first grand slam and is drawn against 30th seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia. — Reuters
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Bopanna goes down fighting
Melbourne, January 13 In a match that resembled gun shootout, Bopanna had more winners than his opponent Jean Christophe Faurel of France, but his best weapon, serve, let him down as he lost 6-4 1-6 6-3 at the Melbourne Park. But the big serving Indian also had 43 unforced errors and six double faults while Faurel had 26 and two. Prakash Amritraj and Shikha Uberoi, the other two Indians trying to qualify for the men’s and women’s singles main draw respectively, also bowed out. Todd Widom of the US needed little more than an hour to dismantle Amritraj 6-2 6-1. Uberoi started off well but her opponent, Anastassia Rodionova, ranked 140 on the WTA Tour, pulled away gradually for a 7-5 6-2 win.
— PTI |
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Lahore, January 13
