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India fight back
with late strikes
Nothing grander than a Test at Lord’s
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Bangladesh hope to hit back in ODIs
Miandad ready to work with Lawson
Philippine Open
World Junior Golf Championship
British Open
Smith to lead SA in Twenty20 WC
Kickboxing team for Indoor Asiad
GND varsity to host korfball meet
Athlete defies docs, eyes win
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India fight back
with late strikes
London, July 19 The host batsmen feasted on listless variety dished out to them in the morning but the Indian bowlers used the overcast conditions in the afternoon to pick vital wickets and restrict England to 268 for 4 at close. Andrew Strauss broke his poor patch with a composed 96, while captain Michael Vaughan hit a fluent 79 to help their side wrest the early initiative but both fell in the final session — that was interrupted to stoppages — to let India back into the
match.
At stumps, Kevin Pietersen was batting on 34, accompanied by night-watchman Ryan Sidebottom, who was yet to open his account. The two interruptions in the final hour included a 53-minute stoppage due to bad light and drizzle. On either side of that lengthy suspension of play, India dismissed Strauss and Vaughan. Strauss fell agonisingly four short of a well-deserved century but had only himself to blame as he charged down the track to Anil Kumble and ended up edging it to Rahul Dravid at first slip. Vaughan’s was a classic case of batsman losing concentration due to the break after being well set. The England skipper edged left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh to Mahendra Singh Dhoni after looking in fine form and set for a long haul. Kumble was clearly the best bowler on view with figures of 2-56 from 22 overs. But until Strauss committed hara-kiri, things looked gloomy for India as the three seamers — Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth and RP Singh — failed to hit the right line and length. Earlier, Zaheer began the proceedings in earnest, bowling a maiden over to Strauss. However, Sreesanth failed to complement his effort from the other as he repeatedly strayed in line and was severely punished. The Kerala pacer helped Cook in getting off the mark in style to the very first ball he faced when he bowled one at his pads and was easily despatched to the square leg fence. In the same over, Sreesanth again bowled Cook on his legs and the batsmen enjoyed depositing the ball behind square with a lovely flick. Soon Zaheer also lost his length and direction in the fifth over of the innings and was pulled and turned past the square-leg umpire for two fours by Cook. England reached their 50 in just 39 minutes off just 52 and there were eight fours in it. The first hour saw England scoring 76 runs without loss. Ganguly then provided the breakthrough for India by trapping Cook leg before in his very first over. Cook made 36 in his 69-minute stay at the wicket. He faced 39 balls and hit six fours. Strauss, who was dropped by Dinesh Karthik off Sreesanth just before lunch when on 43, put on 76 runs for the first wicket with Cook in just 14.4 overs as England took charge after electing to first on a good batting surface. As expected, India went into the Test with a much-familiar eleven with seven batsmen and four bowlers, and naming Yuvraj Singh as the 12th man. England surprisingly gave Hampshire pace bowler, Chris Tremlett a Test cap ahead of the much-favoured Stuart Broad because of his pace, while James Anderson came in place of Matthew Hoggard, who was troubled by back spasm at the nets yesterday. — Agencies
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Nothing grander than a Test at Lord’s
London, July 19 But where Mohammed Nissar of the united Punjab, widely recognised as genuine fast, and Amar Singh, a swing artiste, reduced England to 19 for three (before they recovered) in 1932, India’s undisciplined attack on this occasion conceded the first 50 of the England innings without taking a wicket in a mere 39 minutes. Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan were, particularly, wayward. The failure was all the more worrying as conditions - with an ideal cloud cover - were perfect for movement in the air. The dodgy lbw in his favour notwithstanding, even Sourav Ganguly, who is not exactly threatening, beat the bat, where the so-called specialists were pedestrian. A number of runs came off thick edges, but many more ricocheted off the middle of the bat. There was obviously residual moisture on the surface after months of wet weather. But Khan was characteristically nervous on a big occasion; and though Sreesanth improved when switched to the pavilion end, he had the mortification of witnessing Dinesh Karthik drop a dolly at point - the left-handed Andrew Strauss escaped. In contrast, RP Singh was initially accurate and even generated a fair amount of pace. But he, too, lost his line after Michael Vaughan had worked him away a couple of times through midwicket. As one approached the ground, streams of people were pouring out of St John’s Wood tube station, some with hampers. While there are no restrictions on carriage of food, no more than two cans of beer or a bottle of wine are allowed in such baskets. There are, of course, no ceilings on purchases at the venue. The bar behind the Long Room in the ancient, sand stoned pavilion was, as usual, doing brisk business, as were the watering holes below the stands and at the “nursery” - the practice area behind the spaceship shaped media centre. It was a near capacity crowd. A Lord’s Test is an annual reunion for many, especially past cricketers. Tiger Pataudi, who captained India here in 1967, as did his late father, Iftikhar Ali Khan in 1946, was among the pilgrims. For him it was special, for the Marylebone Cricket Club, owners of this “Mecca”, have donated a Pataudi Trophy to commemorate 75 years of India in Tests, which will be played for series held in England between the two countries and will be presented at the end of the current one at the Oval. Farokh Engineer, who settled down in England after his long stint with Lancashire, was also there, as was Raj Singh, president of Mumbai’s Cricket Club of India. For such luminaries, it was all terribly disappointing. A golden opportunity had presented itself, with no one among the Ashes winning pace quartet of Steve Harmison, Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard in the England playing XI. After England won the toss, India’s best chance was in the first hour; but what a hash the Indian quicker bowlers made of it. Strauss, struggling for the past two series, was back among the runs. And Vaughan, his knee problems behind him, looked majestic and menacing.
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Bangladesh hope to hit back in ODIs
Colombo, July 19 Bangladesh may have been blanked in a recent three-Test series in Sri Lanka, but have given a good account of themselves against higher-ranked sides in the shorter version of the game. They made history at the World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year when they qualified for the second round for the first time, beating Rahul Dravid's Indians in a group game. Bangladesh also defeated then top-ranked South Africa in the second round, underlining how they are capable of surprising big teams on their day. Vice-captain Mashrafe Mortaza said Bangladesh would seek inspiration from their recent big wins and be more competitive against the hosts in the one-dayers. The second and third ODIs will be played here on July 23 and 25. The tourists warmed up for the series with a three-wicket victory over a Sri Lanka XI in a practice match here on Wednesday, with middle-order batsman Aftab Ahmed scoring an unbeaten 92. Sri Lanka will be without ace bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, both on county duty in England. Hard-hitting opener Sanath Jayasuriya, the only Sri Lankan to score 10,000 one-day runs, returns to the squad after missing the Test series.
— AFP
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Miandad ready to work with Lawson
Karachi, July 19 Miandad, who had lashed out at the country’s cricket board for hiring the Australian to coach the national team and also described him as an “average” player, mellowed down after Australian media reported Lawson as saying that he would like to take the three-time national coach’s inputs for the job. “My top priority has always been Pakistan cricket and if Lawson wants my advice or help and if ever he wants me to work with him I have no ego problems doing that,” he said. Miandad, who played against Lawson in eight Tests between 1982 and ‘84, had earlier said “I am not keen for a job but our own players can do a better job than foreigners”. Lawson, however, told The Australian: “I’d like to get Javed on board to be part of the coaching crew, to be part of the system and help out, because he was an outstanding player and a tough bloke as well. “We could do with a few of those characteristics among the guys at the moment. “I’m hoping to talk to all those people and see what contributions they can make. We can’t control outside influences but it would be good if we could have some of those outside influences being positive.” Miandad said Lawson’s positive remarks about him and other players was an apt reply to the way the Board had treated its own people during the selection process for a new coach. “What Lawson has said it shows that our Board also needs to learn to respect its former players and not treat them as second grade citizens,” he said. Miandad said even when Bob Woolmer was appointed coach he was always available for the country. “I had also told Bob if ever he wanted my help he could give me a call. As far as my personal opinion about the Board’s policy of appointing foreign coaches is concerned it remains there.” — PTI
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Sania sails into quarterfinals
Cincinnati (Ohio), July 19 Mirza downed her opponent from Uzbekistan 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals here yesterday for the third straight year. Mirza has been working her way back into shape after missing two and a half months earlier this season due to knee surgery. Yesterday’s victory marked the first time she has put together back-to-back victories since February. Mirza now awaits the winner of the second-round match between ninth-seeded Jill Craybas of the US and Olga Govortsova of Belarus. Top-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze also reached the quarterfinals, defeating Romanian qualifier Anda Perianu 6-4, 6-3. Perianu had recorded her first WTA Tour match win on Tuesday when she beat Melinda Czink in the first round. But she couldn’t stop world number eight Chakvetadze, who has won titles at Hobart and s’Hertogenbosch already this season. The only other seeded player in action, No 7, Akiko Morigami of Japan also had an easy second-round match. A finalist here in 2005, Morigami despatched German teenager Angelique Kerber 6-2, 6-2. Bopanna moves up
New Delhi: Rohan Bopanna came back from the brink of defeat to post a three-set win and reach the quarterfinals of the $25,000 ATP Challenger men’s tennis event in Manchester, England, on Thursday. Bopanna saved two match points at 4-5 in the decider on his way to a thrilling 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 victory against Dominik Meffert of Germany in the second round. Earlier, the wiry lad beat home contender Lee Childs 6-4, 7-6 in the first round.
— AFP, PTI
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Rupesh-Sanave in 2nd round
Manila, July 19 The Indian duo will now meet fourth-seeded Albertus Susanto Njoto and Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama of Hong Kong in the next round. In the men’s singles, Anand Pawar lost his second-round tie against top-seed Chen Hong of Hong Kong 14-21, 18-21 while women’s doubles pair of Saina Nehwal and Aparna Balan went down tamely to Indonesia’s Meliana Jauhari and Shendy Puspa Irawati 14-21, 14-21 in the first round. Yesterday, Saina, who won the title here last year, crashed out of the Grand Prix Gold tournament, losing her first round tie against qualifier Zhu Jingjing of China 15-21, 13-21. The mixed doubles pair of Aparna Balan and V. Diju could get past the first round, beating Chinese Taipei duo of Shao Chieh Cheng and Chia Hsin Tsai 14-21, 21-18, 21-17 only to lose in the next round 15-21, 18-21 to Kunchala Voravichitchaikul and Songphon Anugritayawon of Thailand today. Indian shuttlers had come up with a disastrous show in the tournament. None of the men shuttlers, except Pawar, could get pass first round in singles. Chetan Anand, Anup Sridhar, Ajay Jayaram, Nikhil Kanetkar and P. Kashyap had exited out of the tournament with straight set first round defeats. In women’s singles, none, except Saina, could qualify for the main draw. Aparna Balan, Jwala P. Gutta, Shruti Kurian and Aditi Mutatkar were eliminated in the qualification stages. — UNI
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World Junior Golf Championship Donald Banerjee
Chandigarh, July 19 It was a bad day for the 16-year-old junior champion of the country. After showing good match temperament on the opening day when he finished tied 15th, Rahul just could not get his putting right. But he made the cut to remain in the fray for the next two rounds After losing a stroke each on the fourth and fifth holes, Rahul blundered with a double bogey on the ninth for a four-over score in the first nine. The bad patch continued into the return nine. Rahul lost a stroke on the 12th and capped it with another double bogey on the 14th to finish with an eight-over card of 152 after two rounds. However, Amanjyot Singh of Jaipur
(Rajasthan) climbed up the ladder to occupy the tied 25th spot playing a two over card of 73 for a two-day aggregate Sixteen-year-old Amanjyot sank three birdies after bogeying the opening hole for a first nine score of two under.But he bogeyed four times in the return nine, birdying just once for the second day one-over card. Another Indian Ankur Chadha made the cut in the 11-12 age-group when he returned a card of 76 for a two-day aggregate of 153.
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Jeev makes shaky start
Carnoustie (Scotland), July 19 Jeev failed to capitalise on a strong start with a birdie at the opening hole at Carnoustie as he subsequently dropped five bogeys and one double bogey in the year’s third Major. However, Korean KJ Choi kept the Asian challenge flying high with two-under 69 to be in the top 10 at the 136th British Open golf tournament. Korean star Choi Kyung-ju also underlined his intentions to become Asia’s first Major winner with a strong start on a cold and wet day. The Asian stalwart, known better as KJ, battled to a two-under-par 69 at Carnoustie to lie one shot behind early clubhouse leader Michael Campbell of New Zealand. Playing alongside former US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman and Australian left-hander Nick O’Hern, Jeev began superbly with a birdie three on the par-four 406-yard hole. But his game remained as cold as the weather and he started dropping shots on the back nine after turning in one-over. Jeev was particularly disappointed with his finish where he double bogeyed the 17th and bogeyed the 18th with some poor shots that were punished by the demanding 7,421-yard Carnoustie layout. “It was lack of rhythm or no rhythm at all. I started well but after that, I didn’t hit it good at all. I didn’t have distance control and didn’t hit it on the fairway too often and I put too much pressure on my putts and didn’t make many,” said Jeev. “It was just a bad day today. I just played badly and that’s the score I shot. Conditions were not too bad... they were fine. It was just bad shots, bad putts.” His performance left his proud Major record in jeopardy. In four previous appearances in the Majors, he has always played in all four rounds. — PTI
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Smith to lead SA in Twenty20 WC
Durban, July 19 The list which include veterans Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher will be pruned to 15-member. “The final 15-man squad must be submitted to the ICC by August 11,” tournament director Steve Elworthy said yesterday. The championship starts on September 11 and the final will be held on September 24 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Provisional squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis(vice-captain), Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Hashim Amla, Loots Bosman, Gulam Bodi, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB De Villiers, J.P. Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Neil McKenzie, Albie Morkel, Mornh Morkel, Andre Nel, Justin Ontong, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath and Mornh van Wyk.
— PTI
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Kickboxing team for Indoor Asiad
Chandigarh, July 19 Giving this information, Gursharan Singh, chairman, selection committee, Indian Association of Kickboxing Organisations said trials were conducted at Solapur (Maharashtra). The Indian Olympic Association has cleared the team. He said the team would attend a coaching camp at Pune from August 15. Team: Semicontact: Anchal Sharma (J&K), Sachinn Chavan (Maharashtra), Laxman Koli (Maharashtra), Sanjay Katode (Maharashtra), Satish Rajhans (Maharashtra), coach: Pradyumna Behera. Full contact: Amir Khan (Manipur), Praveen Laxury(Assam Rifles) M.Tomba Singh (Assam Rifles), Shyam Prasad (Kerala), Pardeep Shad (Delhi), coach: Md Islamudin. Low kick: Tarkesh Godbole (Maharashtra), Subhachandra Singh (Assam Rifles) Purna Chandra (Orissa), S.Pajaniraja (Pondicherry), Pradeep Shinde (Maharashtra), coach: Montu Dass. S. S. Harichandan will be the chief coach of the contingent.
— TNS
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GND varsity to host korfball meet
Amritsar, July 19 Stating this, Dr Kanwaljit Singh, director, sports, Guru Nanak Dev University, said the korfball championship would be organised from October 15, while the handball and kabaddi competitions would be held in November. The basketball event would be hosted in October-November.
— TNS
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Athlete defies docs, eyes win
Algiers, July 19 “I suffered a back problem some time back and it has been troubling me,” Fasuba said. “I was advised by doctors not to come for these games to heal, but my coach said even with 80 per cent fitness I still stood a good chance of winning.
— Reuters |
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