 |
|
|
All set for Ranji final
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fruitful series for batsmen
Cricket Australia bans Mexican wave in ODIs
Himachal emerge Plate champs
Randhawa makes solid start
Kila Raipur Games
Digvijay lies tied 7th
Golden day for Indian boxers
CFA enter football final
Warriors pip Veerans
Steelers blank Lions
Joshna rises to career-best 38th spot
|
|
All set for Ranji final
Mumbai, February 1 If the results of the previous meetings are anything to go by, Mumbai will be the clear favourites to regain the national championship, with the inclusion of several seasoned players making it even stronger. For the record, Mumbai and Bengal have played five Ranji Trophy finals with the former emerging triumphant on each occasion. Both teams are at full strength with Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar and Zaheer Khan coming in after the semifinal against Baroda. The left-arm paceman will make his debut for Mumbai in the showpiece match of the Indian domestic calendar. Determined to make amends for last year’s disappointment in the final, Bengal have a much more balanced look to their side with the induction of former India captain Sourav Ganguly. Mumbai, led by middle-order batsman Amol Muzumdar, cannot be complacent against the formidable visitors. The two sides had met during the league stage also when Bengal came up with the points on the basis of first innings lead. However, that result will count little in the five-day final as the situation, the circumstances and players are different, believes Mumbai captain Amol Muzumdar. “This is a different game, this is a final. It is a different situation, circumstances are different and the players are different. We all are looking forward to it, hopefully it will be a good final,” Muzumdar said after the practice session. Dwelling on the combination for final, Muzumdar said that composition has not yet been decided after the inclusion of senior players in the squad. “According to me, the best eleven from Mumbai should play. This is not the first time it has happened, it has been a Mumbai tradition. It is absolutely a great honour for me to captain Sachin,” added Muzumdar, the mainstay of Mumbai batting this season. Bengal look slightly weak in the spin department but their seam attack, spearheaded by the impressive Ranadeb Bose, looks quite potent with Sourav Sarkar, Ashok Dinda and Ganguly providing back-up. The wicket looks a sporting one and which is expected to hold true the full distance. “It is a sporting wicket and it will last full five days. It will help the pacers early on and provide the spinners turn from day three. Even after the ball gets old, it will have good carry as it is a firm wicket, good for five-day cricket,” said curator Sudhir Naik. With Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan to share the new ball, it remains to be seen who fills in as the third seamer for Mumbai, while the spin department is taken care of by left-armer Nilesh Kulkarni and off-spinner Ramesh Powar. Teams: (from) Mumbai: Amol Muzumdar (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ramesh Powar, Sahil Kukreja, Wasim Jaffer, Hiken Shah, Rohit Sharma, Abhishek Nair, Wilkin Mota, Vinayak Samant, Nilesh Kulkarni, Rajesh Verma and Swapnil Hazare. Bengal: Deep Dasgupta (captain), Sourav Ganguly, Rohan Gavaskar, Arindam Das, Shubhomay Das, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Manoj Tiwari, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Saurashish Lahiri, Ranadeb Bose, Ashok Dinda, Sourav Sarkar, Amitava Chakravarty, Shiv Sagar Singh and Kamal Hasan Mondal.
— PTI
|
|
Hopefully the Sri Lanka series, that follows, will be used similarly to look for the bowling combination that will not only get wickets but also keep down the runs in limited overs matches, especially with the World Cup looming large over the horizon. The decision to send Ganguly to open the batting and drop Sachin Tendulkar down the order worked very well with both batting splendidly and giving India just the momentum it needed. Ganguly, like Tendulkar, is a 10,000 plus-run player in limited overs cricket with a strike rate that is terrific and both have proven a fantastic opening pair in the past. In this series though, Tendulkar was batting at the number he occupies for the Test matches and Ganguly had Gambhir and Uthappa as his opening partners. Gambhir’s tendency to be self-destructive once again surfaced and that’s an area that Uthappa has to watch out for. Attractive 20s and 30s do not quite serve the purpose and Uthappa must begin to convert the starts he is getting, into major scores. He is technically sounder than Gambhir and plays more in the areas that openers should be playing at the start of the innings before widening the degree of their shots. With Uthappa doing well, the obvious question is what happens to Virender Sehwag? He might have been expecting a call during the one-day series but that didn’t happen and Uthappa’s success means that he will now know that he cannot take his place for granted in the team and that is how it should be with any player, however good he may be. With Tendulkar and Ganguly both playing the Ranji Trophy final, there is scope to rest them from the first one-dayer against Sri Lanka and bring back Sehwag in the team. With Yuvraj back to fitness, the Indian batting can be firmed up if Sehwag comes back to form against Sri Lanka. The benefit of being an opening batsman is that he can bat down the order quite easily and adapt to the position a lot quicker than the other way around. So a Sehwag batting down the order like Tendulkar may work, if like Tendulkar the Delhi player takes a little time to get himself set. Pathan’s recall for the last one dayer didn’t quite work but he is the kind of cricketer who will give a nice balance to the side. It’s a pity that Sharma was discarded after just one game because, like Pathan, he could be the balancing factor in the team. The return of the seniors like Ganguly and Kumble does slow things down a fair bit in the field but if used in good positions according to their strengths it can still be worked out in favour of the team. In the bowling department Agarkar and Zaheer have combined well and have given the early breakthroughs that are so crucial to a team. In the spin department all three have done nothing wrong. Both Harbhajan and Powar can bat usefully down the order if need be. India’s win was a revenge of sorts though in sport that is not the correct way to put it. They certainly gained more from the one day series than the West Indies for they found more options than the Windies did. — PMG
|
|
ODI Rankings
Dubai, February 1 Tendulkar, who hit his 41st hundred in the fourth and final match of the one-day international series against West Indies yesterday, climbed four places to be joint 18th along side Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga. He amassed 191 runs from four matches. The Mumbai batsman had slipped out of the elite club in April last year but briefly regained his place during a tri-series against Australia and the West Indies in Malaysia and the ICC Champions Trophy, and then dropped out again by the end of the latter tournament in November, 2006. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the highest-placed Indian, occupying fourth place after gaining two spots to be behind leaders Mike Hussey of Australia, England’s Kevin Pietersen and Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting in that order. India now boast four players inside the top 20 batting slots with captain Rahul Dravid moving three places up in 12th spot and Yuvraj Singh lying 20th. Although Yuvraj has slipped one place, the good news is that he is playing again after being sidelined since October with a serious knee injury. India’s 3-1 success against the West Indies, was however, not enough to lift it up from sixth place in the ODI Team Championship table. India is four rating points away from third-placed Pakistan and there is still plenty of scope for upward movement when they line up against Sri Lanka in another four-match series later this month. Australia is nine rating points clear of South Africa at the top of the table and is yet to lose a match during its ongoing tri-series against England and New Zealand. — PTI
|
|
Cricket Australia bans Mexican wave in ODIs
Melbourne, February 1 CA Chief James Sutherland said the Mexican wave had become a blight on the game and the ban would prevent a repeat of the loutish behaviour that marred a match in Melbourne last month. Bad behaviour, pitch invasions and alcohol smuggling had marred the one-day match between Australia and England at the MCG on January 12. Almost 200 fans were ejected from the ground that day, resulting in the Victoria Police, along with the CA and MCG officials, reviewing security arrangements. Sutherland said the ban at this stage only applied to one-day internationals, but would not rule out it being imposed at Test matches.
— PTI
|
|
|
Himachal emerge Plate champs
Cuttack, February 1 Set to score a mere 57 runs to win in their second innings on the last day, Himachal reached the target losing the lone wicket of Vikarmjeet Malick. Sandeep Sharma and Ajaya Manu saw the visitors through. Orissa, which had entered the Plate Group final after a gap of three seasons, disappointed yet again. Having conceded a first innings lead of 160 runs, Orissa batsmen failed miserably in the second knock too as they were bowled out for 216. Haladhar Das was the sole batsman, who showed some grit by scoring 51. For the visitors, Vikarmjeet Malick claimed four for 63, while Vishal Bhatia took two wickets for 55 runs. The match was sealed for Orissa on the fourth day morning when Himachal tailenders batted confidently to post a lead of 160 runs with number nine Sarandeep Singh and number 10 Ashok Thakur scoring 50 and 70, respectively. Brief scores: Orissa (1st innings): 317 all out; HP (1st innings): 477 all out; Orissa (2nd innings): 216 all out (Haldhar 51, Vikramjeet 4 for 63); HP (2nd innings): 58 for 1 (Vikarmjeet 30, Sukant 1 for 18). — UNI
|
|
|
Randhawa makes solid start
Dubai, February 1 The 34-year-old Randhawa was in devastating form, particularly from the 16th to the 18th holes, firing in birdies in each of them after sinking in five more birdies at the Emirates Golf Club. Randhawa, who already has two top-10 finishes on the European Tour this season, however, did not enjoy a bogey-free round as he sank in two bogeys on the seventh and 15th holes. Jeev Milkha Singh had an ordinary day for a two-under-par 70 score, pocketing three birdies, all on the front nine to finish tied 37th. The only other Indian in the fray, Harmeet Kahlon, stayed in the hunt, sinking in four birdies for a three-under-par 69 score to be tied 18th behind world No.1 Tiger Woods’ four-under-par 68. Randhawa now shares the third spot alongside South African Ernie Els and Jose Manuel Lara of Spain. The day, however belonged to Ross Fisher of England and Graeme McDowell of Ireland, both finishing joint leaders with a seven-under-par 65. Woods, who pipped Els for the title in a playoff last year, was placed 10th alongside seven others.
— UNI
|
|
Kila Raipur Games
Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 1 More than 100 villagers took part in bullock-cart time trial races today. Other winners of the race were Karan Veer Singh of Madera village (20.72 sec), Harchand Singh of Dhandari village (20.77 sec), Amar Singh of Sandaur village (20.79 sec), Shangara Singh of Sarbarpur village (20.81 sec), Harnek Singh of Dhaler Kalan village (20.86 sec), Ajit Singh of Ghudani Kalan village (20.87sec), Jyoti of Dhanon village (20.95 sec), Bela Singh of Lang village (21.04 sec), Davinder Singh of Kohara village (21.15 sec) and Jasveer Singh of Wadala village (21.17 sec). Adventure reigned the stadium during the race when some of the bullocks ran outside the track and spectators had to run for shelter. Though the formal inauguration would take place tomorrow, the games attracted a large number of participants and spectators from Punjab and its neighbouring states on the first day. Sukhvir Singh Grewal, former international hockey player and the chief organiser of the games, said participants from Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana had confirmed their participation in this event.
|
|
Digvijay lies tied 7th
Manila, February 1 The six players sharing the lead included two local Filipino players, one pro, Carito Villaroman and amateur Jay Bayron, besides China’s Liang Wen-chong, the 1999 Philippine Open winner Anthony Kang, Jason Knutzon and Chinese Taipei's Wang Ter-chang. Wen-Chong, coming off a top-10 finish in Qatar last week, had a bogey-free four-under-par 68. While Gurbaaz Maan shot a two-under 70 to be tied 12th, things were not so bright for the other Indians, as Uttam Singh Mundy and Arjun Singh shot three-over 75 each and were tied 75th. Other Indians included Amritinder Singh (77th and tied 107th), Amardip Malik (78 and 120th), Vivek Bhandari and Gaganjeet Bhullar (79 and tied 131st) and Naman Dawar (81 and tied 141st). Digvijay, who was headed for a good finish in Pakistan Open before he dropped on final day, had a good start today.
— PTI
|
|
Golden day for Indian boxers
New Delhi, February 1 Sunil Kumar scored the smartest victory in the 51 kg final in the junior section when he outscored Bactporat Ludovic of Mauritius with a vicious assault which forced the referee to stop the contest. V Santosh Kumar outslugged Smagulov Yerlan of Kazakhstan in the 57 kg sub-junior final. Sandeep outpointed Sunil in the 48 kg title clash, while Roshan boxed his way past Sandeep in the 54 kg bout. Rakesh wrested the 60 kg title defeated Halilov Asman of Turkmenistan in a lopsided bout. Kulvinder put up a stout fight against Sadykov Issa of Kazakhstan in the 57 kg title bout before losing 32-35. In the sub-junior section, Nano Singh defeated Rajesh Sonakar (48 kg), Vipin Kumar got the better of Madan Lal (50 kg), Bajrang beat Rojit Singh (54 kg), while Umesh Kumar lost the 46 kg bout to Agyabayev Almat of Kazakhstan.
|
|
|
CFA enter football final
Chandigarh, February 1 Tomorrow CFA will meet Guru Nanak College, Phagwara, in the final. In the club category, JCT Academy got past PSEB, Hoshiarpur, by 1-0. The all- important goal was scored by Sunil. In another match RCF, Kapurthala, reached the semifinals defeating BSF, Jalandhar, 1-0.
|
|
Warriors pip Veerans
Chennai, February 1 In the sixth minute of the ‘silver goal’, Adam Maqsood successfully converted the third penalty corner of Maratha Warriors to romp home winners. However, Chennai Veerans were more cohesive in both attack and defence throughout the match and true to the run of play they went into the lead. Hard-working Albert Casass, Raja and Prasad made a fine move and Pramod Kumar capped with the goal. Five minutes before the hooter, Maratha Warriors found parity following a penalty stroke awarded for Veerans’ goalkeeper Shreejesh blocking Shivendra from taking a shot. Dhananjay Mahdik converted the ‘push’ to level the score.
— PTI
|
|
Steelers blank Lions
Chennai, February 1 The Steelers, who were in total control of the match, went into the lead in the 32nd minute through a goal by Stellar. They increased the lead in the 51st minute when A Zakir sounded the board. International Ramandeep Singh got the third goal for the team when he scored in the 59th minute. The Lions failed to get past the rival defence decisively throughout what turned out to be a one-sided contest. The Steelers now have 11 points from five matches and have one more match to go in the first phase of the league, while the Lions have nine from six outings. In yesterday’s match, Maratha Warriors downed Chennai Veerans 2-1.
— UNI
|
|
Joshna rises to career-best 38th spot New Delhi: India’s squash queen Joshna Chinappa continued her rise, climbing three spots for her career-best 38th place in the latest world rankings. The Chennai girl lost 8-10, 0-9, 2-9 to 27th-ranked Mexican Samantha Teran at the Harrow Greenwich Open, her first event of the year. — PTI
|
| 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 | |
After showing great character and ability in recovering from a lacklustre start, Mumbai will be keen to maintain winning momentum when they meet Bengal in the Ranji Trophy Super
Leag- ue final starting tomorrow at the Wankhede Stadium here.
India achieved their primary objective of winning the one-day series against the West Indies and in the process also discovered some batting options that give the team a more solid and rounded look.
