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Hunt for ideal combination on, says Dravid
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Dalmiya gets another show-cause notice
Parmar reported for suspect action
Mills puts SA on back foot
India beat Pak
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India deliver knockout punch in style
Indore, April 15 The 20-year-old Karnataka opener showed no signs of nerves in his 96-ball effort to not only help India record a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the last match but also put enormous pressure on a woefully out-of-form Virender Sehwag. Chasing a stiff target of 289, the home team had the game in control right through the chase as they surpassed the total with five balls to spare through useful contributions from Rahul Dravid (69), Yuvraj Singh (63 not out) and Suresh Raina (53) on a good batting strip at the Maharani Usharaje Stadium. Young Kerala speedster S Sreesanth was India’s bowling hero with career-best figures of 6-55 which was largely responsible for restricting the tourists under the 300-run mark. The hosts, who opted to rest their struggling duo of Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif for the match, put up a clinical display to ensure that the beleaguered Englishmen left the country with their morale and reputation in tatters. The Indians also continued their stupendous run of 16 consecutive wins while chasing, having broken the West Indies’ world record of 14 wins in the fourth ODI in Kochi. Put in to bat, England raised hopes of yet another face-saving win by scoring 288 built around a blistering 56-ball 64 by the in-form Kevin Pietersen, while Paul Collingwood (64) and Geraint Jones (53) were the other notable performers. A solid start, which had been evading India throughout the series, by Uthappa and Dravid ensured there were no jitters for the home team. The new opening pair unleashed delightful strokes in their stand of 166 runs to enthrall the crowd of 25,000. Uthappa, who virtually struggled at the domestic level this season barring a century in the Challenger series and a knock of 70 in Baroda, hit 12 boundaries and one six to ensure the fans did not miss Sehwag even for a moment. Uthappa gained in confidence with each ball in the presence of Dravid but his inexperience showed in the way he was run out. Showing no urgency in scampering back home for the second run after driving Ian Blackwell to long on, he gifted away his wicket. James Anderson, who saved a four there, threw the ball towards the wicketkeeper’s end and Geraint Jones removed the bails with Uthappa failing to ground the bat. Dravid, who looked composed in the middle, perished soon after as he was trapped leg before by Sajid Mehmood to leave India at 166 for 2, the hosts losing their openers on the same score of 166. Yuvraj and Raina then steadied the innings with another entertaining 115-run partnership for the third wicket which sealed the fate of the visitors. Raina was dismissed when just eight runs were needed for the win, clean bowled by Kabir Ali. The Uttar Pradesh batsman hit two fours and one six in his 64-ball knock. Yuvraj, declared the man of the series, remained not out and hit six fours in his 58-ball knock. The Punjab left-hander also crossed the milestone of scoring 4,000 runs in what was his 148th ODI appearance. It was only apt that the winning runs were scored by Yuvraj, a delectable four off James Anderson, to bring the crowd on its feet. Earlier, England relied on half centuries from Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Geraint Jones to make merry on a benign pitch and could have taken the score beyond the 300-run mark but for a late burst from Sreesanth who was later named the man of the match. The hard-hitting Pietersen extended his rollicking form in the series, smashing 11 fours and a six in his 55-ball 64. Collingwood was his usual solid self, making 64 from 84 balls with two fours and as many sixes, while Jones provided the lower order thrust with a 50-ball 53 that contained seven fours and a six. England, at 257 for four after the 45th over, were prevented from crossing the 300-mark by a flurry of wickets in the closing stages of the match. The visitors were given a reasonably good start by their stand-in captain Andrew Strauss (25) and Ian Bell (32) who put on 43 runs for the opening stand inside the first 10 overs. But two quick wickets, of Strauss and Matt Prior (2) pegged back the visitors somewhat. The arrival of Pietersen to the crease, however, changed the complexion of the innings. The South African-born player found the Indian seamers to his liking and repeatedly whipped them off his legs. After putting on 63 runs for the third wicket with Bell, Pietersen added another 55 with Collingwood before falling while trying to slog sweep, as usual, with Uthappa taking the catch in the deep off Yuvraj. While Collingwood kept the scoreboard ticking, Jones picked up the scoring baton handed by Pietersen. England were cruising at this stage and seemed set for a 300-plus total when the seamers returned to put the brakes. Jones fell to a superb low catch behind by Dinesh Kaarthick off Sreesanth, while Collingwood holed out to Rudra Pratap Singh off Irfan Pathan. Kabir Ali then became Pathan’s third victim before Sreesanth cleaned up the tail off the last two balls of the innings. Scoreboard England Strauss c Kaarthick
b Sreesanth 25 Bell run out 32 Prior c Pathan b Sreesanth 2 Pietersen c Uthappa b Yuvraj 64 Collingwood c RP Singh
b Pathan 64 Jones c Kaarthick b Sreesath 53 Blackwell c Raina b Sreesanth 11 Plunkett c VRV Singh
b Sreesanth 6 Ali c Rao b Pathan 1 Mehmood c VRV Singh b Sreesanth 9 Anderson not out 0 Extras
(lb-4, nb-8, w-9) 21 Total (all out, 50 overs) 288 Fall of wickets:
1-43, 2-47, 3-110, 4-165, 5-257, 6-267, 7-274, 8-277, 9-288. Bowling:
Pathan 10-1-44-2, Sreesanth 10-1-55-6, RP Singh 7-0-44-0, VRV Singh 7-0-72-0, Powar 9-1-38-0, Yuvraj 7-0-30-1. India Uthappa run out 86 Dravid lbw Mahmood 69 Yuvraj not out 63 Raina b Ali 53 Pathan not out 1 Extras
(b-5, nb-4, w-8) 17 Total (3 wickets, 49.1 overs) 289 Fall of wickets:
1-166, 2-166, 3-281. Bowling: Anderson 8.1-0-67-0, Mahmood 10-0-62-1, Plunkett 10-0-40-0, Ali 8-0-47-1, Blackwell 10-0-50-0, Collingwood 3-0-18-0.
— PTI |
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Hunt for ideal combination on, says Dravid
Indore, April 15 “The youngsters have put their hands up and performed well. The boys select themselves. Still there is a long way to go,” Dravid said after India’s seven wicket win in the seventh and final one-dayer here. “It is still a young team, a team in progress. We are no where near the finished article.” The series win, with a 5-1 margin, was India’s third since the start of the home season, interrupted only by a 2-2 tie against South Africa. Dravid said the series performance would help in gauging the team’s and the individual’s prospects for the future. “It will help us now to finalise the team for some of the important tournaments towards the end of the year,” he said. The captain praised his team-mates for their performance in the one-dayers. “To have comeback the way we did after the Mumbai Test loss, credit to the whole team for the way they fought back,” he said. Dravid also lauded debutant Robin Uthappa’s effort in scoring a stroke-filled 86 off 96 balls. “It was his first game and the team needed a good start in chasing a target of 289. I am sure he will gain the confidence to go up from here,” he said. Andrew Strauss, who led England in the absence of Andrew Flintoff, said the visitors failed to consolidate the good start and middle game by losing quick wickets in the end. “Yes, we should have go 15-20 runs more. The last 10 overs were the key,” he said. Strauss fended off criticism that England did not have the back up players for important positions. “We made some improvement. The bowlers put their hands up and came to party towards the end of the series. There is talent in the dressing room.” Speedster S. Sreesanth was named man of the match for his six for 55, his first five-wicket haul, while Yuvraj Singh with three half centuries was adjudged man of the series with a purse of Rs 1 lakh.
— PTI |
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Dalmiya gets another show-cause notice
Kolkata, April 15 The second show-cause notice was sent to Dalmiya asking him to explain within 21 days the expenses from the PILCOM (Pakistan, India, Lanka Committee) accounts at the Indian Overseas Bank in Kolkata, BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI. Shah said the withdrawals from the bank showed “abnormally high” expenses under different heads like telephone bills, travel as well as cash. The BCCI Secretary said the notice to the former board chief was based on a report submitted by BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan before the Working Committee. To a query whether further action would be taken against Dalmiya, he said it would be decided only after the response from the former BCCI President to the latest notice. BCCI had issued the first show-cause notice to Dalmiya and two former board treasurers, Kishore Rungta and Jyoti Bajpai, on February 27, alleging misappropriation of funds from the PILCOM account. Later, Shah filed a FIR at the Marine Drive police station in Mumbai alleging misappropriation of Rs 26 lakh in funds in transactions during the 1996 World Cup. This prompted Dalmiya and others to move the Bombay High Court to obtain interim relief against arrest in the case, but the court directed them to appear before the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police for interrogation, which was completed only last week in two rounds. Dalmiya was the convener of PILCOM, which was created to organise the 1996 World Cup in the subcontinent. The enquiries into the PILCOM accounts started after the Dalmiya-backed group lost control of the BCCI to the Sharad Pawar-led group in a bitterly fought election in November last year.
— PTI |
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Parmar reported for suspect action
New Delhi, April 15 The BCCI said it had taken note of the observations on Parmar made by the ICC-appointed expert panel during the event and would appoint an “experienced off-spinner” to study the bowler’s action and suggest corrections, if needed. But the BCCI also said the three-member panel, comprising former Indian pacer Javagal Srinath, biomechanist Marc Portus and Richard Done, had not arrived at any “definitive conclusion” on Parmar. “The panel has observed that the bowling action of Parmar has raised some concerns at the event and was reported to the panel by the match officials when they arrived in Sri Lanka. “But when the panel was in attendance, Parmar was either not selected or injured and (therefore) was not filmed and consequently the panel could not reach a definitive conclusion,” BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement. “The board will investigate the action, as suggested by the panel, and wherever necessary, take corrective measures,” the BCCI statement said. “The board will make available the services of a experienced off-spinner to study the action of the player in depth, identify the problem, if any, and suggest rectification with the help of video-analysis.”
— PTI |
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Mills puts SA on back foot
Centurion, April 15 South Africa, who won the toss, stumbled to 266 for eight at stumps after Mills maintained a tight line and extracted bounce to take a career-best four for 43. Left-arm paceman James Franklin supported Mills effectively, taking three for 67. New Zealand’s medium pacers ensured the absence of express bowler Shane Bond, who was forced out of the match with a knee injury, was hardly felt. New Zealand bowled with discipline on a pitch that offered steepling bounce at times but little in the way of significant movement off the seam. Stephen Fleming became the first New Zealander to reach 100 Test caps, while Kallis and Shaun Pollock joined the retired Gary Kirsten as the only South Africans to reach the milestone. Scoreboard SA (Ist innings) Smith lbw Franklin 45 Gibbs b Mills 6 Dippenaar c Fulton
b Mills 52 Kallis b Franklin 38 Prince c Styris b Mills 9 De Villiers b Franklin 27 Boucher c Fleming
b Martin 18 Pollock c Styris b Mills 24 Boje not out 20 Steyn not out 8 Extras
(b-6, lb-4, nb-6, w-3) 19 Total (8 wkts, 90 overs) 266 Fall of wickets:
1-16, 2-95, 3-119, 4-130, 5-177, 6-197, 7-229, 8-233. Bowling:
Mills 18-7-43-4, Franklin 15-3-67-3, Martin 20-4-64-1, Oram 14-7-27-0, Vettori 18-2-44-0, Astle 5-2-11-0.
— Reuters |
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Jeev jumps to tied 2nd
Beijing, April 15 It has been a long time since he last held a trophy in 1999. On the third day of the event, co-sanctioned by Asian and European Tours, Jeev today braved strong winds and overcame the scare of a “twister” resembling a mini tornado barely 50 metres away to tie second with Prayad
Marksaeng, who himself had a roller-coaster 72 to be at eight-under for three days. The Indian and the Thai are one shot behind Englishman David Lynn, who is still experiencing discomfort in the groin due to mosquito bite. Lynn managed an up-and-down day 72 to stay at nine-under and in lead. Meanwhile, the other Indians had a big struggle. Rahil Gangjee, tied fifth overnight, had a free fall of sorts after starting well. He birdied the second and moved to seven-under, and then the bogey trail began. He dropped shots on the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth to turn in three-over. The back stretch was no better with bogeys on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th followed by a triple on the 17th as he ended the day with a 10-over 82 and slipped from overnight fifth to 63rd. Amandeep Johl, who just squeezed into the weekend rounds improved his position to 45th with a 72 that had two birdies and two bogeys to be one-over after 54 holes. Harmeet Kahlon went three-over for the front nine and then with one each of birdie and bogey ended with a 75 that put his total at two-over and in 49th place. Jeev’s fine round brought him in contention for the title. “I have been close a few times,” said Jeev, keeping his smile intact despite painful memories of losing playoffs and blowing out in last rounds in the past few years. Jeev, who has finished second or tied second at least five times since 1999, last played the bridesmaid at the Pakistan Open in January. Tomorrow, he goes out in the final pairing with leader Lynn.
— PTI |
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India beat Pak
Faridabad, April 15 Seventy players of various kabaddi teams from India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal and the USA are participating in the tournament which is jointly being organised by the Indian Kabaddi Federation and the District Kabaddi Federation. Women’s teams from India, Bhutan and Nepal are also participating in the tournament. The inaugural match was played between India and Pakistan in which India defeated Pakistan 36-23. Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said a new sports policy would soon be implemented in the state under which various incentives would be given to sportspersons, besides developing better sports facilities.
— UNI |
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JCT go down to Mahindra United
Ludhiana, April 15 After a barren first half, Barreto capitalised on a cross from team-mate Sushant Mathew to head the ball home as JCT custodian Kalyan Chaubey looking on helplessly. It was in fact a unique display of opportunism by Barreto, the 30-year-old striker from Porto Alegre in Brazil, following a slight lapse of concentration in the JCT camp after injured JCT stopper back Julius Akpele was replaced. Substitute KV Dhanesh had barely taken his position when Sushant Mathew, who incidentally scored the equaliser against Bahrain heavyweights Al Muharraq in the AFC Cup in Bahrain on April 11, despatched a cross from the right. Barreto, lurking in danger zone, leapt high to head the ball into the net, sending a wave of joy in the Mahindra United camp. The victory not only fetched the Mumbai outfit full points but also brought them closer to current leaders East Bengal, who are now ahead by just one point. The match was off to an electrifying start as both teams carried out forays in rapid succession. The teams had an equal share of the exchanges in the first half with the JCT defenders marking Ghanian striker Yusif Yakubu and Jose Baretto tightly. The well-orchestrated JCT attacks were spearheaded by Brazilian recruit Marcos Pereira, who incidentally earned the man-of-the-match award for his gallant efforts. The return of Rennedy Singh and induction of diminutive striker Sunil Chhetri in the starting line-up did sharpen the JCT attack but the Mahindra United defence manned by international Deepak Mondal, Peter Siddiqui and Samson Fernandes seldom let down their guard. The Mumbai outfit's attack was led by Yusif Yakubu and Jose Barreto with Rauf Khan, Indian captain S. Venkatesh, and K. Ajayan lending valuable support. It was Barreto who made the first serious move in the tenth minute when he raced into the box only to see JCT custodian Kalyan Chaubey advancing out of charge to make a neat collection. M Midway into the first half, Mahindra United initiated a good move with Barreto, Yakubu and K. Ajayan moving in tandem. A pass by Yakubu saw Ajayan on the clear but his piledriver was neatly collected by Chaubey. Off a counter attack, JCT's Jaswinder Singh put striker Parveen Kumar in possession, who despite having ample time at his disposal, sent a feeble shot which was easily collected by Subhasish Roy Chowdhury under the Mahindra United bar. A few minutes before the interval, JCT striker Marcos Pereira unleashed a power-packed shot from 25 yards which brought out the best in the rival goalie who punched the ball out for a flag kick. The JCT goal had a narrow escape a few minutes before the lemon break when off a free kick, Julius Akpele brought off a goal-line save. The second half took a dramatic turn when in the 55th minute, JCT stopper back Julius Akpele lay on the ground writhing in pain due to a shoulder injury. His replacement led to a slight lapse of concentration which Mahindra United utilised to the hilt. As Sushant Mathew's cross was headed home by Jose Barreto, the fate of the mill men appeared to be sealed. The induction of Johnson Banner did make a difference upfront but JCT's attacks failed to beat the Mumbai outfit's defence time and again. In the 65th minute, JCT had a gilt-edged chance when a cross by Johnson was sought to be connected by Parveen but the latter failed in his attempt. A flag kick by Sunil Chhetri again saw Parveen making a futile attempt. Mahindra United coach Derrick Perrira, expressing satisfaction over the outcome, admitted that they opted to play safe in the first half. "The boys were tired after the gruelling tie in Bahrain and hence did not go all out in the first half," he said. |
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