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Twenty20
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Flintoff wrecked WC: Vaughan
C’wealth TT: Gao Ning, Sun bag titles
Golf coaching camp begins
Humpy joins race for Khel Ratna
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Twenty20 Bangalore, June 5 After restricting the Africans to a manageable total of 109 for eight, the Asian batsmen kept their cool in reaching the target for the loss of four wickets in 15.5 overs. Bangladesh’s pocket dynamo Tamim Iqbal led the victory charge early on with a quick-fire 30 off 22 balls, including three fours and a six, before he stepped out to spinner Thandi Tshabalala and was easily stumped. Iqbal had steadied the rocking Asia boat with a stand of 27 with Tillekaratne Dilshan, who cracked an unbeaten 47 in only 36 balls with a six and six fours embellishing it, after Asia XI were in a spot of bother at 34 for 3 in the sixth over. There was enough firepower in the experienced Asia line-up to weather the cheap dismissals of Pakistan’s Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal and Bangladesh’s Mohd Ashraful to cruise home comfortably. Dilshan and Asia captain Shoaib Malik (14 not out in 18 balls) ensured the momentum was maintained with a stand of 49 runs in 36 balls for the fifth wicket after coming together with at 61 for four. The battle-hardened duo gathered runs at a fast clip with both clouting sixes off the hapless Africa bowlers who showed they were not experienced enough to take on batsmen of their class. Earlier, put in to bat, Africa men floundered, like their women had done when going down tamely by 60 runs to Asia XI earlier in the day, on a seaming track and were restricted to a paltry 109 for eight wickets. The Africa batsmen struggled to find their bearings against the Asian seam attack in which Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza and Sri Lanka’s Farveez Maharoof were the pick of the lot with their bounce and seam movement on the re-laid track. South African Loots Bosman was the lone batsman to appear well in control with a well-compiled 52, inclusive of three sixes and as many fours in 55 balls. He was out in the penultimate over. The inexperience of the African line-up came to the fore once the opening partnership between South Africans Bosman and Ghulam Bodi was separated by India’s lone figure in the Asian ranks Shantakumaran Sreesanth when the score was 21 in the fifth over. Once the left handed Bodi miscued a pull off Sreesanth and skied the ball to Shahid Afridi at mid on, the struggle for the Africans commenced with Bosman looking on perplexed from the other end. The opener later slammed Afridi for a four and two sixes in the Pakistan all-rounder’s third over. The first six was over the straight field and then he swung the leg spinner over long on for a second six in the same over. Bosman then cracked Sreesanth for a well-timed six over mid-wicket but the Indian speedster got his revenge in the over when he got the South African caught at the wicket when trying for another huge hit over mid-wicket. Mortaza, who grabbed 2 for 17 in his four overs bowled on the trot, and Maharoof made the ball seam and bounce a bit to flummox the inexperienced Africa batsmen from Zimbabwe and Kenya. Sreesanth, coming off an injury lay-off, picked up 2 for 26. From 21 for one the African XI team slid quickly to 51 for five just past the halfway mark with Bosman looking undisturbed but without taking command at the other end. It soon became 65 for six with the last five overs due to be bowled when Pakistan all rounder Abdul Razzak picked up his first wicket by sending back Nehemiah Odhiambo. None of the inexperienced lot crossed double figures. Then came the Bosman assault and his 36-run stand with Morkel (not out 8) to pull Africa past the 100-mark which did not look likely when they were struggling at 65 for six. Brief scores: Africa XI 109 for 8 (Loots Bosman 52, S Sreesanth 2 for 26, M Mortaza 2 for 17, S Afridi 2 for 31);
Asia XI 110 for 4 in 15.5 overs (T Iqbal 30, T Dilshan 47; N Odhiambo 2 for 21). Earlier, India’s Jhulan Goswami and Rumeli Dhar ripped through the Africa XI batting line-up to power Asia XI women to a comprehensive 60-run victory in the Afro-Asia Twenty20 tie at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here today. Jhulan picked up three wickets, all in her first spell of three overs, while her new ball partner Rumeli claimed four as Africa XI folded up for 45 in 15 overs while chasing Asia XI’s total of 105 for 9. Africa tottered from the very start losing four wickets for five runs. Rumeli sent back Africa captain Cri-Zelda Brits (2) after Jhulan packed off Margaret Banja and Julle Chibhabha for ducks to leave them gasping at 3 for three. Jhulan, considered one of the fastest women bowlers in the world, then got rid of wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty (1) and Africa never recovered from these early blows. All the four batswomen were trapped leg before. Wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter, with Rumeli claiming three wickets in one over—including two off successive balls. Africa XI’s Alicia Smith was the lone woman to stand tall among the ruins and was unconquered on 23 at the end. Put in to bat, the Asian women got off to a shocking start when they were reduced to three wickets for four runs in the first two overs and then slumped further to 27 for four before slowly recovering poise. Opener Sulakshana Naik played a sheet-anchor role to notch up 31 off 34 balls with the help of five fours. She played well before being castled while trying to slog Ashlyn Kilowan, Africa’s most impressive bowler, to the legside. After sliding once again to 64 for eight, Asia XI regained momentum when tail-enders Urooj Khan (18 off 18 balls) and Kumarihami (22 off 16 balls with 3 fours) put on 36 runs off 26 balls to take the score past the three-figure mark. Urooj remained unbeaten at the end after Kumarihami became the third player to be run out. For Africa medium pacer, Ashlyn bagged two wickets in as many balls when she claimed Asian skipper Mithali Raj (0) and Deduru Silva (0).
— PTI
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Coach Hunt New Delhi, June 5 The BCCI made the announcement that Emburey, 54, who is now director of coaching in English County Middlesex, joined the race for the high-profile job. Both Ford, 46, and Emburey would appear before a coach selection team set up by the BCCI in Chennai on June 9. “The BCCI has invited Graham Ford and John Emburey to come to Chennai and make a presentation to the special committee on June 9, after which a final decision on the next coach of Indian team will be made,” BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement. Emburey was quoted by AFP as saying that he felt honoured to be considered for “one of the biggest jobs of the world game and one of the most difficult” and he would attend the June 9 meeting in Chennai. He termed Indian cricket team as a “sleeping giant” and said, “with the quality of players they’ve got and young players coming through, I’d really like to be a part of their development”. “At this stage of my career, it is a way of moving forward onto the international stage”, he said. Emburey said Middlesex has received the news of his being considered for the Indian coach’s post “very well”. “They (Middlesex) see it as a move forward in my career. But it’s not a foregone conclusion. There is another candidate and they have said the Middlesex job remains open for me”, Embury said. Emburey played in 64 Tests and took 147 wickets. He was also a capable batsman for an off-spinner, scoring 1713 runs at an average of 22.53 between 1978 and 1995. He took 76 wickets from 61 ODIs. Besides, he also captained England in two Tests in 1988. After his playing career, Emburey coached Northamptonshire and Middlesex, two other teams he played for in first-class cricket. Ford, who coached South Africa between 1999 and 2001 and currently Director of Coaching with Kent County Club, emerged as the front runner after the BCCI search committee meeting in Bangalore last evening, displacing Australian Dav Whatmore to succeed fellow Aussie Greg Chappell as India’s coach. Ford said he felt “very honoured” and “excited” to be considered for the job. “Anybody involved with cricket would like to be associated with Indian cricket”, he told Times Now TV news channel. “I am considering the position but I have a contract with Kent. I need to sort that out”, Ford said. Asked if his removal as South African coach in 2001 in the wake of the match-fixing scam would go against him in the race for the Indian coach’s post, he said, “I don’t think that should be held against in anyway. “I think the wrongdoing started before my time as coach. They were exposed very shortly after I joined. I certainly have no links to it. So, I don’t suppose anything overtly will be held against me”, he said. Ford claimed his coaching will be successful with the team for its work ethics and long hours he spends with each individual. “I will do a supporting act to get the players out there to give their best, empowering them and giving them the confidence to perform at the big stage”, said Ford who had worked as assistant to late Bob Woolmer with the South African team before taking over from him after the 1999 World Cup. Arthur thumbs up for Ford Bangalore: South Africa cricket team coach Micky Arthur today gave a huge thumbs up for his predecessor Graham Ford who has emerged as prime contender for the Indian job, saying the latter was best suited to bring the team back on track after the World Cup debacle. “Graham (Ford) is the man India would need at this moment. He is very hard working and gets the best out of the players. He will do a very good job if given the chance,” Arthur said on the eve of the first Afro-Asia Cup one-day international here. “He’s a fantastic man. If he does get selected he would do a fantastic job. India need a guy who can lead them and Graham will be there as the ideal backroom man,” Arthur said in his praise of Ford. The 46-year-old Ford was named as one of two candidates to take over as coach of the Indian team from former Australia captain Greg Chappell by a seven-man panel which met here last night.
— PTI
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Flintoff wrecked WC: Vaughan
London, June 5 Vaughan said players were not relaxed as they took the games too seriously after the incident. They were also lacking in spirit, he added. “We arrived at the World Cup in a positive frame of mind. But unfortunately incidents happened which affected the team. You have to be honest: the ‘Fredalo’ incident did affect the team. It did affect morale,” Vaughan said. Flintoff, the England vice-captain, indulged in a drinking binge after their first World Cup game, which they lost against New Zealand, and had to be rescued the following morning after capsizing a pedalo. “Those incidents are bound to affect team spirit. Suddenly you’ve got players who have no freedom left. I like to see players enjoy themselves but no one would dare go out after that incident - and you can’t create any spirit then,” Vaughan was quoted as saying by The Guardian. “That incident changed the whole atmosphere in the camp. We went into the New Zealand game with a really good attitude but we didn’t play well and after ‘Fredalo’ we just started taking it all too seriously. “That might sound silly but everyone was too tense and desperate. There was no escape - and even on the field you have to be pretty free, especially in one-day cricket,” the skipper said. Vaughan acknowledged he supported the decision to strip Flintoff of the vice-captaincy after the incident. “I was obviously asked... It was a tough decision but after what went on it was bound to happen,” he said. Vaughan also put some of the blame for the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign on himself. “I was more tense than I’ve ever been as a captain. Duncan Fletcher was more tense than he’d ever been as a coach. And sometimes the captain and coach have to look at the way they'’e acting because the team follows.”
— PTI
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Henin on track for Paris hat-trick Paris, June 5 Henin’s 6-4, 6-3 quarterfinal victory means she has now won 31 consecutive sets at the claycourt slam. More importantly she is two wins away from equalling the hat-trick of titles achieved by Monica Seles in 1992. Roger Federer’s record 36-set winning streak in Grand Slam play was snapped, however, by Spain’s Tommy Robredo before the Swiss rolled through to the men’s semifinals 7-5, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2. The world number one had not dropped a set at a major since losing the second in his 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 triumph over Andy Roddick in the US Open final last September. During his run to the Australian Open title in January, he became the first man in 27 years to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set. Federer won the first set against Spaniard Robredo 7-5 but the ninth seed pulled back to level the match by taking the second 6-1. By winning the first set on Tuesday, the Swiss world number one broke the record for the professional era he had shared with John McEnroe. Federer will meet Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko who overcame Argentine baseliner Guillermo Canas 7-5, 6-4, 6-4. Williams, the 2002 champion here but loser to Henin in an acrimonious 2003 semifinal, was beaten more comfortably than the scoreline suggested and was scathing of her own performance. “All she had to do today was show up,” Williams told reporters later. “I’ve never played so hideous and horrendous.” Joining Henin in Thursday’s semifinals is Maria Sharapova, who reached the last four for the first time by brushing aside fellow 20-year-old Russian Anna Chavetadze 6-3, 6-4. Jelena Jankovic and Anna Ivanovic also won, underlining Serbia’s emergence as a tennis power. It is the first time two women from the country have reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam. In-form fourth seed Jankovic beat 18-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova 6-3, 7-5 while Ivanovic, also born in Belgrade, beat 2006 runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-0, 3-6, 6-1. “Wherever you go you just see Serbians all over the place, winning all these matches it’s incredible,” said the 22-year-old Jankovic, who will now face Henin in her first semifinal at Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic has the chance to join them on Wednesday in the men’s event. Williams started badly against Henin, losing her opening serve and toil as she might she was always uncomfortable against a player whose game is tailor-made for clay. In 2003, Williams was booed off Centre Court and although the crowd were fair this time they cheered loudly when the Belgian saved a break point in the first set and heckled Williams when she slammed her racket down in anger after dropping serve at the start of the second. Williams briefly threatened when she broke back but Henin was in no mood to let the lacklustre American off the hook. “From the first point to the last I was focused, I was mentally and emotionally under control today,” said Henin. The 19-year-old Ivanovic could not stop smiling after reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal. She romped to the first set in 21 minutes and dominated again in the third set after Kuznetsova, hampered by an abdominal injury, briefly came to her senses. “It’s very exciting for us and I’m sure people back home are very proud of us,” said Ivanovic after going one step further than she managed here in 2005 to line up a semi-final with Sharapova. “I’m not going to go ‘Wow! I’m in the semifinals,” said Sharapova after beating Chakvetadze for the second time this year in a grand slam last eight. “Whether it’s clay or mud we’re playing on I know what I’m capable of.” Bhupathi-Radek
in semis Mahesh Bhupathi and his Czech comrade-in-arms Radek Stepanek came from behind to upset second seeds Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Max Mirnyi of Belarus 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) and book a berth in the doubles semifinal of the French Open here today. The unseeded Indo-Czech combine showed tremendous guts to bounce back from a set deficit to defeat their fancied rivals in two hours and 14 minutes. Roy bows out Rupesh Roy’s campaign at the junior French Open came to an end when he bowed out of the boys’ doubles today. The 18-year-old Bengal lad, partnering Vladimir Ignatic of Belarus went down 0-6, 6-1, 8-10 in the second round to Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia and Andrej Martin of Slovakia. Roy had earlier bowed out of the singles in the first round yesterday.
— Agencies
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C’wealth TT: Gao Ning, Sun bag titles
Jaipur, June 5 Top seed and world No. 18 Gao Ning had little trouble trouncing second seed Yang Zi 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7. But the script unfolded otherwise in the women’s section, with top seed Yue Gu Wang going down 3-11, 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-13, 3-11 to second seed Sun Bei Bei in a thrilling match. Singapore lived up to their top billing as they pocketed all but one of the four gold medals on offer on the last day at the Sawai Mansingh stadium here. And the only team which could challenge their superiority was the third seeded Nigerian pair of Monday Merotohun and Nosiru Kazeem who beat top seed Ning and Zi 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8 in a thrilling men’s doubles final. The women’s doubles final saw no upset as Gu Wang and Bei Bei thrashed Mo Zhang and Sara Yuen of Canada 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 to bag the title. Sinagpore had also captured the mixed doubles title yesterday with Zi and Wang thrashing Ning and Bei Bei 11-9, 11-7, 11-7. They finished with a staggering tally of six gold out of seven in the championship. For India, the loss of defending champion Achanta Sharath Kamal’s 11-13, 10-12, 8-11, 7-11 loss to Ning in the semifinals drew curtains on their campaign. India finsihed with a haul of four bronze and a silver medal this time. The bronze came in men’s singles, doubles, women’s doubles and team event while the only silver came in men’s team event. India had won two gold, men’s team event and individual, besides a silver and a bronze in the last edition of the tournament in Kuala Lumpur.
— PTI
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Golf coaching camp begins
New Delhi, June 5 General secretary of the PGAI, P. K. Bhattacharyya said the newly constituted board of management of the PGAI “has decided to take various development programmes in hand and one of them to be accorded priority is to impart coaching to juniors.” The programme is restricted to juniors in the age group of 7-17. The camp will be held daily in two session between 9 am and 1 pm and would conclude on June 16.
— OSR
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Humpy joins race for Khel Ratna
New Delhi, June 5 Nineteen-year-old Humpy had won the individual medal in rapid format and a team medal with K. Sasikiran and P. Harikrishna in the classical format when chess made debut in the Asian Games in December last year. Grandmaster Humpy is second only to Judit Polgar in the FIDE world rankings for women. Humpy’s father Koneru Ashok has been recommended for the Dronacharya Award and Harikrishna for the Arjuna Award.
— PTI |
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