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Litmus test for India Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting pose with the DLF Cup at the Kinrara Academy Oval in Kula Lumpur on Thursday. — AFP photo
Boucher blitz blows Zimbabwe away
Gibbs to wed during World Cup
Ponting backs Hair for Champions Trophy
Vengsarkar set to head selection panel
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SAF Games: Indian athletes in dope net
Sania storms into last eight
Haryana sail into quarters
Balwant hockey from Nov 28
Indian challenge ends in world badminton meet
PCA Colts, ONGC win
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Litmus test for India
Kuala Lumpur, September 21 The Indians scraped through for a 16-run victory against the West Indies in their last league match to keep their hopes alive but the real test for Rahul Dravid and his men will come against the Aussies in what is virtually a semifinal encounter. The Indians know well that they can hardly afford to drop their guard even for a moment against Australia who also need a win to book their spot in the final. Stunned by the West Indies earlier this week, Australia would be keen to bounce back in style and avoid the ignominy of taking the flight home early despite being the pre-tournament favourites. Skipper Ricky Ponting had sat out of the previous tie and so did their best bowler on show Glenn McGrath, perhaps in the belief that even their second string side would be good enough for West Indies. But Brian Lara’s men sprung a huge surprise and upset the applecart of the champion team en route to making it to the final. However, one can trust coach John Buchanan to field his best side in the game tomorrow to avoid further embarrassment. The form of some of the top Indian batsmen in this lead-up tournament to Champions Trophy has left much to be desired. While their bowlers did well to defend a meagre 162 against the West Indies yesterday, their batting looked in complete disarray. Barring Sachin Tendulkar, who top-scored with 65, the rest of the batsmen showed little application on a wicket which just required a patient approach. Skipper Rahul Dravid admitted the batting needed to be set right but blamed it on lack of match practice. “We did not bat to our potential. But one must keep in mind that we haven’t played for the last two months,” he said after India’s win on Wednesday. But that excuse will hold little water as the likes of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have to fire if India have to bat out Australia. Yuvraj, who missed the opening game when India scored 309, is yet to open his account in the tournament while Sehwag has scores of 1, 8 and 9. Dhoni, who made 18 yesterday, was out in an atrocious fashion, raising questions once again on his reckless battling style. With Irfan Pathan most likely to sit out once again, the top order will have to give the team a good start which very often becomes the difference between winning and losing. Australia might once again fiddle with their opening combination although Matthew Hayden after his 49 against West Indies is most likely to retain the opener’s slot. Stuart Clark, who was hammered for 87 runs from his 7 overs, is almost certain to make way for McGrath. The weather was kind enough to allow uninterrupted play in the last two matches and the teams, especially India would pray that the sun continues to shine on them as in the case of a washout, Australia, who have seven points currently as compared to India’s 6, will then make it to the final. Squads: India:
Rahul Dravid (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, M S Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, R. P. Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel, Dinesh Mongia, S Sreesanth, Ramesh Powar. Australia:
Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Dan Cullen, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson.
— PTI
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Boucher blitz blows Zimbabwe away
Potchefstroom, September 21 Boucher finished with 147 not out off 68 balls as South Africa reached 418 for five, only the fourth time 400 has been made in a one-day international — and the third time in four matches involving South Africa. South Africa restricted Zimbabwe to 247 for four in reply, completing a 3-0 series sweep Boucher’s century yesterday was the second-fastest of all time, behind Shahid Afridi’s hundred off 37 balls for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996. South Africa took advantage of winning the toss for the first time in the series and batting in ideal conditions. But they fell short of regaining the world record, which they set when they made 438 for nine in an astonishing run chase against Australia’s 434 for four in Johannesburg last March, only for Sri Lanka to better their mark with 443 for nine against Holland in Amstelveen in July. “We were targeting the world record but we lost our way a little in the middle when (Justin) Kemp got out,” said Boucher, who paid tribute to relative newcomers Loots Bosman and Alviro Petersen, who put on 160 off 126 balls for the first wicket. “After the foundation they set for us, we could just go out and play our natural games,” said Boucher. “Loots and Alviro both put bowlers under pressure. That’s what we are trying to do and that’s why they are in the side.” Bosman, in his third match, hit 88 off 70 balls before being stumped off debutant leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi, while Petersen, in his second international, made 80 off 74 deliveries. Captain Jacques Kallis made 50 and Boucher, promoted to number four, rode his luck with some powerful strokeplay. He was dropped on the midwicket boundary on seven and at cover on 59 before reaching his maiden one-day international century in his 220th match. He was dropped three more times after reaching his century as he virtually tried to hit every ball out of the ground in a frantic end to the innings. He hit ten sixes and eight fours. Scoreboard
South Africa Bosman st Taylor b Kamungozi 88 Petersen c and b Utseya 80 Kallis c Chigumbura
b Utseya 50 Boucher not out 147 Kemp st Taylor b Kamungozi 10 Wath b Rainsford 5 Duminy not out 24 Extras
(lb-1, nb-4, w-9) 14 Total (5 wkts, 50 overs) 418 Fall of wickets:
1-160, 2-199, 3-290, 4-317, 5-351. Bowling: Rainsford 10-0-60-1, Mupariwa 9-0-81-0, Chibhabha 6-0-61-0, Utseya 9-0-77-2, Chigumbura 2-0-28-0, Kamungozi 10-0-70-2, Masakadza 4-0-40-0. Zimbabwe
Duffin lbw Nel 88 Sibanda c Langeveldt b Nel 1 Chibhabha c Boucher b Telemachus 46 Masakadza c Boucher b Telemachus 55 Taylor not out 19 Matsikenyeri not out 16 Extras
(lb-14, nb-4, w-4) 22 Total (4 wkts, 50 overs) 247 Fall of wickets:
1-9, 2-103, 3-206, 4-212. Bowling: Nel 8-1-41-2, Wath 8-0-43-0, Langeveldt 8-2-34-0, Hall 9-0-29-0, Telemachus 8-0-33-2, Duminy 6-1-35-0, Kemp 3-0-18-0.
— AFP
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Johannesburg, September 21 According to news24, the couple are planning a wedding ceremony in Antigua during the showpiece tournament. Gibbs met Povey, a Durban beach beauty, before the 2003 World Cup tournament and the feeling became stronger during last year’s visit to Trinidad, Barbados and Antigua. “She just had something totally different, that’s why I kept contact all along. “When we were together in the West Indies I realised in the first few days that we were destined to spend a long time together,” Gibbs said. Gibbs and Povey witnessed a wedding at Jolly Harbour in Antigua and thought to go back there for their own marriage. Gibbs, meanwhile, revealed that his would be wife is also worried about his visit to India for the Champions Trophy where he will be quizzed by Delhi police in connection with match-fixing. — UNI
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Ponting backs Hair for Champions Trophy
Kuala Lumpur, September 21 Ponting said his compatriot was among the best in business, and so deserved to stand in the biennial event to be held from October 7 to November 5. “If he is one of the best umpires in international cricket then of course he should be umpiring,” Ponting said here today on the eve of the do-or-die league match against India. “You need to have the best umpires umpiring cricket at the highest level and obviously Darrell has been on the international panel for a long time. “It is obvious the ICC consider him to be one of (the best). If he wasn’t he wouldn't be there in the first place. “There’s been a bit happening over the last month or so with Darrell but I have always considered him to be a very good umpire and we will see how he performs in the Champions Trophy.” Ponting’s strong backing of Hair comes a day after International Cricket Council scotched media reports that Hair has been cleared to stand in Champions Trophy, saying the umpires for the high-profile event was yet to be finalised. Hair has not stood in any match since the Oval Test controversy. He was quoted as saying in the Australian media yesterday that he was looking forward to officiating in the Champions Trophy. The Aussie captain, however, was not sure how Hair would be received in the subcontinent, with whose players he had run into controversies in the past. “I think it would be good for Darrell to get back on the horse again. I am not sure what sort of reception he will receive in India but at the end of the day that probably doesn’t really matter anyway.” After the Oval Test crisis, Pakistan Cricket Board made it clear to ICC that they do not want Hair to stand in any of the matches they played. Ponting indirectly condemned the trend of national boards dictating which umpire should stand in their game or otherwise.
— PTI
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Vengsarkar set to head selection panel
Mumbai, September 21 The former India skipper’s name will be proposed by the Mumbai Cricket Association as per the association’s recent managing committee decision and it is expected to be unopposed by other West Zone associations of the Board at the AGM, according to well-informed sources. Dhiraj Parsana, a former India all-rounder who played two Tests in the late 1970s, was another front runner for the selection panel from the zone, but is unlikely to muster support against Vengsarkar, the sources said. “Parsana is set to continue on the pitches committee,” they said making it clear that Vengsarkar would make it to the selection panel, and most probably as its chairman, without much hurdle. The name of Karsan Ghavri, another former India all-rounder who has played for Saurashtra and Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, has also been touted about, but is unlikely to get support. From the current five-man senior committee, More and South Zone’s representative V. B. Chandrasekhar of Tamil Nadu, are finishing their terms this month and are expected to be replaced by Vengsarkar and Hyderabad’s Venkatapathy Raju. The other three members — Central’s Sanjay Jagdale, East’s Ranjib Biswal and North’s Bhupinder Singh Sr — are expected to retain their seats in the selection committee for the season which includes the all-important World Cup. HC declines to stay BCCI AGM
Chennai: The Madras High Court today declined to stay the 77th Annual General Meeting of the BCCI, slated to be held at Mumbai on September 27 and 28. However, it directed the Board to consider an application from the Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP) for associate membership, at the meeting. Disposing of a petition filed by the CAP, Justice M. E. N. Patrudu, in his order said if CAP was granted associate membership it could participate in the meeting.
— PTI
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SAF Games: Indian athletes in dope net
Colombo, September 21 The Sri Lanka Olympic Committee (SLOC) refused to divulge either the names or number of the athletes who had tested positive but said the respective national associations have been informed of the findings of the drug tests done at a lab in Malaysia. Hemasiri Fernando, President of the SLOC, said the preliminary investigation normally lasted 24 days and the rules did not permit the hosts to reveal the names of athletes till the process was completed. The news of Sri Lankan woman sprinter Jani Chathurangani de Silva and Pakistani men boxers Nauman Karim and Dur Mahmud having tested positive at the games came two days ago. Nepal is said to be the fourth country that has turned in a positive test. According to Fernando, the Malaysian lab reports were made available two days ago and three weeks remained for the investigation process to be completed. It was up to the respective countries to reveal the names of athletes who had tested positive, he said. Suresh Kalmadi, President of the Indian Olympic Association, denied having received any communication from Sri Lanka. “I have absolutely no idea about any such positive dope tests. We are yet to be informed,” Kalmadi told PTI in Delhi. India emerged atop the medal table with 118 gold, 69 silver and 47 bronze in the 10th edition of the South Asian Games that was held from August 18 to 28.
— PTI
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Sania storms into last eight
Kolkata, September 21 The fifth seeded Indian ace hovered between a slew of blazing winners and a series of unforced errors before playing a superb second set to show the exit door to an unimpressive Kloesel with a 7-5, 6-3 scoreline at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. Sania will now take on fourth seed Aravane Rezai of France tomorrow for a place in the last four. Meanwhile, the Indo-South African pair of Sania Mirza and Liezel Huber lived up to their top seed billing brushing aside Archana Venkatraman and Ragini Vimal in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 and moved into the second round. In other matches, Russian Olga Poutchkova scalped seventh seed Nicole Pratt, while Uzbek qualifier Iroda Tulyaganova shut out Australian Casey Dellacqua to enter the quarterfinals today. Veteran Aussie Pratt went down 2-6, 6-2, 2-6 to Poutchkova in a second round battle before a modest crowd at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. The Russian girl would clash for a semifinal berth with Italian Alberta Brianti, who staved off a tough challenge from Indonesian girl Angelique Widjaja in a three-setter 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 6-3. Tulyaganova, a former world No.16, made short work of Dellacqua 6-3, 6-2 to settle for a last eight fight with Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia, who stormed past Czech Republic’s Hana Sromova 6-2, 6-0 in another second round match.
— PTI, UNI
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Santosh Trophy
Gurgaon, September 21 In the 88th minute of the pre-quarterfinal tie, substitute Pardeep made a brilliant header from a corner with the ball caressing the right side of his head to beat the outstretched hands of rival goalkeeper and crash into the net after hitting the inside of the upright. Haryana now joins Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala in the last eight stage of the competition, which begins from October 14. An elated Haryana coach Sumesh Bagga told UNI later that the side was happy to make it to the quarterfinals after a 14-year gap. “Last time we reached the last eight stage was in 1992 in Coimbatore. So the boys are happy but we would like to keep up the good show,” he said. Incidentally, it was the Meghalaya boys who had a slight edge over the hosts in an otherwise uninspiring match. The boys from the North-East were denied their trademark short passes and free run today, which had made them a formidable-looking outfit in the cluster stage. To make it worse, they also missed a couple of chances in the second half. Miss-passes and midfield scramble marked the dull first half with both the teams showing lack of proper strategy and there was not a single clear opening in this session. Haryana defence, led by captain Pawan Kumar and goalkeeper Navjot Singh, however, did admirable work and the custodian in fact saved at least three scoring chances. Bengal scrape past Services
Faridabad: Man-in-form Vimal Pariyar’s strike in the last minute of the extra time came as a saving grace as a lacklustre Bengal huffed and puffed its way to the quarterfinal league, beating Services by the solitary goal here today. It was a slipshod show by the 29-time winners and Bengal coach Prasanta Banerjee was not exactly thriller with the show by his wards. In a dull match, which saw mispasses galore and was confined to the midfield, goal-shy Bengal forwards failed to cash in on the rare chances that came their way. Services, on the other hand, were never overawed by the reputation of their rivals and successfully defended their citadel before it came down in the final minute of the extra time. It was an inch-perfect pass from Lalhmangaih Zu inside the box which found Vimal in an advantageous position and the striker, who had fired two successive hat-tricks in the cluster stages before going into this match, made no mistake and slotted it home for the all-important winner.
— UNI
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Balwant hockey from Nov 28
Chandigarh, September 21 The tournament will be played on league-cum-knockout basis and teams from Pakistan and Malaysia are likely to participate. According to former Olympian Sanjeev Kumar, the prize money for the winners will be Rs 1,00,000 while the runners-up will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 60,000. The team finishing third will be richer by Rs 40,000. Four outstanding players, including the best goalkeeper, best full back, best half back, and best forward will be awarded cash prizes of Rs 5,000 each. As many as 16 teams from all over the country are expected to take part, including holders Lyallpur Khalsa School, Jalandhar, and Sri Guru Harkrishan Public school, New Delhi. Entries close with joint organising secretary or the organising secretary.
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Indian challenge ends in world badminton meet
Madrid, September 21 The Indian duo proved no match for their fancied Chinese counterparts who cantered to a 21-15, 21-16 in less than half hour to move to the next round. Rupesh and Sanave simply did not have enough weapons to counter the Chinese shuttlers and the Indians tried everything they could but just could not prevent their opponents from walking away with the facile win.
— UNI
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PCA Colts, ONGC win
Chandigarh, September 21 Air India needed just eight runs to win at 192 for 7 when Amanpreet claimed two wickets and Amit Uniyal one to wrap up AI innings on 193 in 47.5 overs. In the second match, Star studded ONGC recorded an impressive win over Canara Bank, Bangalore, by 123 runs and got 5 points, including a bonus point at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium Chandigarh. The match was truncated to 45 overs each because of a delayed start on account of excessive moisture on the wicket. In the third match at DAV College Sector 10, Chandigarh, LIC, Chandigarh, recorded a three-wicket win over World Cricket Academy (WCA), Mumbai. Batting first, WCA scored 212 for 9 in 50 overs. LIC achieved the target for the loss of seven wickets in 47.5 overs.
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Kuala Lumpur, September 21
Potchefstroom, September 21
Dilip Vengsarkar seems all set to take over the mantle of chairman of the national senior selection committee of the cricket board from former team-mate Kiran More at the BCCI’s AGM here on September 27 and 28.
The former India skipper’s name will be proposed by the Mumbai Cricket
Association.
Video
