 |
|
|
Injury worries for Kiwis on match eve
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Odds favour Australia, SA
Rs 200 cr lawsuit filed against PCA
India lose
Punjab thrash HP
Darshan Academy wins gold in
tae kwon do
|
|
Clinical Aussies ready to dissect Kiwis
Mohali, October 31 New Zealand will need to summon all their resources and be at their competitive best when they clash with their neighbours in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy at the PCA Stadium here tomorrow. Almost every Aussie batsman fired and same was the case with bowlers and fielders in the victory against India. Pace spearhead Glenn McGrath has dispelled all doubts about his form or his famed nagging accuracy. He emerging victorious in his duel with Sachin Tendulkar, scalping him for the seventh time in ODIs. Though the other Aussie seamers proved equal to the task, it is emergence of Shane Watson as a fine all-rounder which should be very satisfying for Ricky Ponting. In his brief international career so far, Watson has given a good account of himself as a seam bowler capable of doing the job for his skipper. As a batsman, Watson has shown the ability to play big shots and the skipper has faith in his abilities. In the two ODIs he has played against India, Watson has scored two fifties. Australians have been bolstered by Ponting regaining his touch. After two failures, Ponting came good against India. The biggest plus for the Aussies is the form of Damien Martyn. The veteran middle order batsman has been rock solid in this tournament and his presence at the crease must be reassuring for the Aussie camp. In what could be a big blow to their aspirations, key New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris is a doubtful starter tomorrow. Styris along with Fleming played a major role in New Zealand’s victory over Pakistan in the group stage of the competition. Styris sustained a hamstring injury in the match and has yet to recover. The Black Caps under the inspirational Stephen Fleming are a highly combative one-day side and shone against more fancied teams. With Shane Bond leading the pace attack and wily left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori adding variation, New Zealand’s bowling attack looks quite balanced. Seamer Kyle Mills has done well in the tournament, while all-rounder Jacob Oram has also proved his mettle. However, it is the presence of Bond, capable of matching Brett Lee in pace as well as effectiveness, that invigorates the whole Kiwi squad. Bond has been a proven match winner and holds the key to New Zealand’s making the final. New Zealand have an impressive batting line up with dangerous Nathan Astle and Fleming leading the charge at the top. Hamish Marshall and Lou Vincent, both talented batsmen, will have to drop anchor if the Kiwis lose early wickets. Wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum will need to be at his best behind the stumps or in front of it. McCullum has shown that he can be useful in the slog overs. Fleming has let it be known that his aim is to win the trophy, while Ponting is no less eager to lay hands on the trophy which has eluded the Aussies so far. Teams (from): Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Nathan Bracken, Dan Cullen, Michael Clarke, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds. New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Brendon McCullum, Hamish Marshall, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.
|
|
Injury worries for Kiwis on match eve
Mohali, October 31 “Styris is pretty unlikely to play tomorrow. He has been suffering from hamstring injury and back problem,” New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said here today. Fleming revealed that pace spearhead Shane Bond had picked up a hamstring injury but was likely to recover in time for the contest. Fleming said Hamish Marshall or Peter Fulton could come play if Styris failed to recover. “We have some options. Spinner Jeetan Patel is there and he could also be used,” he said. Fleming said if his team had to go up the ladder on international stage, New Zealand will have to win big tournaments and winning the Champions Trophy was among his aims. “We will keep looking forward, find new things in the armour and meet the challenge,” he said. About the playing eleven, the left-handed batsman said the conditions could change quite dramatically in the past 24 hours. So a final decision on the team composition will be taken before the start of the play. Meanwhile, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting denied that there would be any pressure on them as they go into the contest. The Aussie skipper was asked because the World Cup winners have never progressed beyond the semifinal stage of the tournament. He said Australia will go into the match as in any other contest. Ponting said pace spearhead Glenn McGrath was improving and regaining his form with each outing. “He knows his game and body. He bowled well in Kuala Lumpur. He has been improving ever since. Yesterday he was superb against Tendulkar. We have high hopes from him.” McGrath was forced to be out of the game for nearly six months on account of illness to his wife. He rejoined the squad in the DLF Cup tri-series in Kuala Lumpur last month. He said playing a spinner like Brad Hogg was a possibility as Symonds, the other day, was getting the ball to turn a lot. “But if the wicket is as conducive to seam bowling as it was on the day during the Pakistan-South Africa match, I don’t think a spinner will have any role to play.” The flamboyant batsman said Brendon, McCullum and Vettori were dangerous players, adding that he would try to bring the Kiwis under pressure by proper field placements. Ponting said that Fleming was a shrewd captain but Australia were ready and looking forward to the contest. About the forthcoming Ashes series, Ponting said: “We are concentrating on the Champions Trophy at the moment. We have a lot of time to prepare for that.”
|
|
Odds favour Australia, SA
Few would have forecast that the semifinals of this ICC Champions Trophy would feature none of the subcontinent’s sides. India, as the hosts, have been unable to raise their game sufficiently despite the obvious talent in the team, Pakistan could not shrug off the loss of three key players and even Sri Lanka, who looked as though they might have been in the mood to surprise a few, found that beating one of the eventual semifinalists was not enough. Whether or not the crowds flock to Mohali and Jaipur for these next two games, for the four teams involved, the stakes are suitably high.
In the battle between Australia and New Zealand, there is plenty of high-charged rivalry at the best of times; if ever such a thing existed between these two nations as a “friendly”, it would still be contested as the most important sporting match since the word “grudge” was first coined. New Zealand have won a Champions Trophy before, while, strange though it might be, Australia have not and Ricky Ponting’s men showed against India that now might be the time to put that right. Australia played mighty well as a team in that match against India. They have developed the happy knack over the years of improving through a competition like this. Remember the 1999 World Cup, when they had to beat South Africa in their final Super Six match to go through to the semis where they met the Proteas yet again? Two great matches produced two great results – for the Aussies – and set them up for a most convincing win in the final against Pakistan. In the last World Cup in South Africa, the Aussies again got better and better throughout the tournament and demolished India in the final. While nothing in knockout cricket comes with a one hundred per cent guarantee, you have to admit that such experience is invaluable and that once again, their form is apparently heading in the right direction. They have to be favourites to win in Mohali, but the Kiwis have earned their place after a couple of hard fought wins. It has been a cliché of cricket for sometime now that the New Zealanders base all their success on strong teamwork. Man for man, they are not as strong as Australia, but Stephen Fleming knows his job as captain better than any and knows how to make the sum of the parts adds up to a winning formula. He has a habit of leading from the front and will need to do so again. With runs on the board, if he can coax an inspired spell from Bond or Mills at the front of the Australian innings then maybe he can upset the odds. For South Africa and the West Indies, it is more a question of which team will manage to find its best from on the night. They have both had their ups and downs but when they play well are hard to beat. The South Africans were on fire to beat, sorry – demolish, Pakistan, to claim this semifinal berth. Jaipur might not have the pitch to encourage the South Africans that they can blow away the West Indies in the same fashion, but having found that form at such a crucial time, it will have given a real boost to their confidence. If there are vagaries in the Jaipur pitch, then the South African seam attack looks well placed to take advantage. For the West Indies, the incentive is there to defend their title, and they will no doubt restore Ian Bradshaw to the team after his day on the ‘subs’ bench against England. The best news for the West Indies over the course of the tournament has been that virtually all batsmen have had a proper score to their names at some stage or other. Gayle and Bravo’s hundreds might have come in a lost game but Chanderpaul, Lara, Sarwan, Morton have all made runs, and as long as they don’t succumb to the temptation to leave it to each other to do it on the day, the team has the capacity to put all the runs it needs on the board.
— PMG
|
|
Rs 200 cr lawsuit filed against PCA
Mohali, October 31 The Sports Department, Punjab, today initiated legal proceedings under The Punjab Public Premises and Land (Eviction And Rent Recovery) Act 1973, against the PCA before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate here to seek possession of 15.35 acre of land that belongs to it. The Sports Department has alleged that the land on which the PCA stadium in Mohali stands belongs to it and the PCA illegally took possession of it. Besides, the department also seeks recovery of Rs 150 crore as use and occupation charges from 1992 till the filling of the application and Rs 50 crore as damages and an interest of 18 per cent per annum from the date of filing the application through the court. The court has set November 15 for the PCA to file their reply. According to facts of the case, the lease agreement, signed between Punjab State Sports Council (PSSC) and the PCA office-bearers, was in complete violation of the laws. The land was transferred to the PCA, flouting all the rules and regulations. “The land in question, belongs to the Punjab Sports Department so we have initiated legal proceedings to take it back from the PCA,” said Mr Pargat Singh, Director, Punjab Sports Department and Secretary of PSSC. Giving facts about the illegality of the lease document, Mr Pargat Singh, Secretary of PSSC, said, “From the government side, the lease was signed by Mr I. S. Bindra, in his capacity as Secretary, Punjab Industries, at that time. He was also Secretary, Sports Department, and Vice-President of PSSC then, besides holding post of President of the PCA while Mr M. P. Pandove signed it as secretary, PCA. The witness of the deed was also an official of the PCA. As all the signatories were related to the PCA, it made the lease document invalid.” “Moreover, the Secretary, Department of Industries and Sports, Punjab, has no authority to lease out government land to a private body like PCA, moreover no proper procedure and rules were followed while preparing the lease deed,” Mr Pargat Singh added. “Earlier, a notice was sent by the council to the PCA on June 9 but after demanding time to file reply, the PCA officials did not send any answer,” said Mr Pargat Singh. He also informed that the land was meant for setting up a cycling velodrome on which the PCA built a cricket stadium. Reserving his comments on the issue, the PCA president Mr Bindra said, “We will file our reply in the court.”
|
|
NATIONAL hockey ‘06 Sanjeev Singh Bariana Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 31 The highly charged atmosphere on the ground, because of both the teams contesting for a berth in the semifinals of the championship, saw a red card in the 55th minute, which was issued to Damandeep Singh of Delhi. Delhi struck almost as the match begun in the third minute in a field goal off the stick of Jitender Sharda. This was followed by two very close chances for Air-India as the hits missed the goal by a whisker. The second half began with a charged Air-India making an all out effort to score the equaliser and ball remained in action near the Delhi post. In the 45th minute, the Delhi team rallied back and a shot near the penalty area was converted by Bikash Toppo. The third goal by Parmod Kumar for Delhi was a rare display of controlled stick work by Prem Kumar, which he passed to the converter. Air-India had nearly given up after the third goal by the rivals. Air-India team managed to show a class of its star-studded line up in the 54th minute conversion by Brund Lugun. In another match, Tamil Nadu went down 0-1 to the Indian Railways in the second match of the day. In the last match of the day, Punjab defeated Indian Airlines 2-1 in an inconsequential match because both the teams are already out of the tournament. Jarnail Singh scored the first goal for Punjab in the sixth minute and the second one came in as a penalty corner, which was converted by Amit.
|
|
Jalandhar boys lift Nehru Hockey title
New Delhi, October 31 Harjinder Singh scored the other goal for the winners, while the Orissa side reduced margin through two quick goals by Ignacis Toppo and Ernes Surin. The first half, by and large, was evenly fought before Harjinder opened the account for the winner with a field goal in the 12th minute as the Jalandhar side went into the breather with a one-goal cushion. Prabhdeep then displayed his penchant for scoring, when he butressed the lead, converting a penalty corner and within two minutes, a defensive lapse by the Orissa school resulted in a penalty stroke and Prabhdeep was bang on target again as he made it 3-0.
— UNI
|
|
India lose
Kolkata, October 31 A win against the hugely superior Korea Republic, which is nothing short of a miracle, will see them attain a quarterfinal berth. India shot into lead in the 26th minute from a set piece. Jordan restored parity in the 33rd minute from their fourth corner. Jordan went into lead in the 64th minute. India restored parity in the 76th minute but Jordon established their lead barely four minutes from time when Tariqs cross was slotted home in the second attempt by Nofal (3-2). North Korea, South Korea win Bangalore: Aided by a splendid brace each by Jong Chol Min and Kim Kum IL, a determined North Korea handed out a crushing 5-0 defeat to Islamic Republic of Iran in the Group ‘C’ match of AFC Youth Football Championship here today. The North Koreans, who kept alive their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals with this victory, took control of the game leaving nothing to chance. Meanwhile in Kolkata, South Korea toyed with Kyrgyztan enroute to their 7-0 victory in Group A tie of AFC Youth Championship today to virtually assure themselves of a quarter-final berth. — UNI, PTI
|
|
Punjab thrash HP
Patiala, October 31 Overnight 60 for six, Himachal Pradesh were all out for 114 in the morning session. Saurav Rattan scored 52 in style and Paras Dogra reached the double figure mark with 22. The rest of the batsmen could not withstand the strong pace and spin attack of the Punjab bowlers. Amanpreet captured three for 36; Hardevinder Singh also took three wickets, giving away 40 runs, while Varun Khanna and Karanveer Singh took two wickets each, giving away 27 and 8 runs respectively. Punjab earned five points, while Himachal Pradesh got a blob. Punjab will now play the runners up of the South Zone on November 27, 28 and 29.
— UNI
|
|
|
Darshan Academy wins gold in
tae kwon do Ambala, October 31 Under 14 boys, Pardeep Singh won gold medal while Maninder Singh and Sant Prasad bagged silver medals. Rajeev Sharma won a bronze medal. Under 14 girls, Prabhjot Kaur won a bronze medal. In under 19 boys, Amit Kapoor won gold. Pardeep, Maninder, Sant Prasad and Amit have been selected for the nationals.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
