Colombo, July 25
Sanath Jayasuriya claimed four for 14 as Sri Lanka completed a 3-0 whitewash with a 39-run victory against Bangladesh in the final weather-affected one-day international today.

Bangladesh ended a disappointing tour with a fighting performance, bowling out the hosts for 196 in 39.5 overs, but could not prevent another Sri Lanka victory.

Teenage opener Tamim Iqbal kept their victory hopes alive with 54 from 74 balls, adding 42 with Mohammad Ashraful (20) and 60 with Mahmudullah (36).

But Jayasuriya, playing in his 398th game, sealed victory for Sri Lanka by triggering a late collapse to 157 all out as Bangladesh's last five wickets fell for 28 runs.

Paceman Nuwan Kulasekera also struck two vital blows in the middle order, trapping Ashraful lbw and then dismissing Aftab Ahmed courtesy of a spectacular one-handed catch from Kumar Sangakkara.

Earlier, Jehan Mubarak, promoted to number five in a middle-order reshuffle, rescued the Sri Lanka innings with a fine 72 after the hosts had slumped to 61-4 after being put in to bat in the rain-reduced 40-over contest.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka

Tharanga lbw Rasel 14

Jayasuriya c Rahim b Hossain 8

Sangakkara c Iqbal b Razzak 18

Kapugedera c sub b Reza 7

Mubarak run out 72

Dilshan b Mahmudullah 39

New Delhi, July 25
With an ageing Sachin Tendulkar slowing down, India discard Virender Sehwag today the time has come for himself and the likes of Mahendra Singh Dhoni to assume the responsibility of ripping apart the opposition attack.

“I think Dhoni and me have to fit into his (Tendulkar's) shoes”

''Tendulkar used to be the most explosive batsman in India. We grew up watching his explosive batting. But he is no longer young now and has changed his batting style. So, I think Dhoni and me have to fit into his (Tendulkar's) shoes,'' Sehwag said here.

''Dhoni is the most explosive batsman now,'' he responded when asked who among Tendulkar, himself and Dhoni was the more explosive batsman, at a media interaction during a health awareness function organised by Health Care Foundation of India.

The Delhi batsman, who was dropped from national team after a prolonged form slump, was also confident of an India comeback very soon.

''I am hoping for a comeback in the England ODI series. The Twenty20 World Cup could also be a good platform to revive my career,'' said Sehwag, who has a strike rate of over 97 in the ODIs.

The squad for the England ODI series to be played from August 21 to September 8 will be announced early next month.

Sehwag has been included in the probables of 30 for the Twenty20 world Cup to be held in South Africa from September 11. The final squad of 15 will be announced on August 7.

Sehwag said he had been working on his fitness and doing regular exercise to face the challenges ahead. ''I am spending around four hours a day to do fitness drill and batting on the nets. I spend at least two hours at the nets and the remaining on running sprints, long distances and stability training on springboard,'' he said.

''You have to work hard on your fitness and on your game if you are hungry to do well in your field,'' he replied when asked how hard was it to follow the routine of fitness exercises and batting practices.

Asked on India's tepid performance at the Lord's, Sehwag said credit should be given to Dhoni for saving the match.

''I hope India will do well in the remaining two Tests and win the series,'' said the 28-year-old right handed batsman who has scored 4155 runs in 52 Tests at an average of just below 50 (49.46).

Sehwag also disclosed that none of his India colleagues smoked cigarette and all of them were teetotallers but drank champagne whenever India won against arch rivals Pakistan or a series.

''I don't know about other teams (countries). But as far as I know none of Indian team members are smokers or drink alcohol,'' he said.

When asked about his experience in the USA where he played at the LA Open Twenty20 tournament in Los Angeles, he said, ''The cricketing standard was not high as it was a club competition. But, the excitement was high.'' — UNI

London, July 25
It doesn't necessarily have to be dope to give one a high, getting Sachin Tendulkar out may also induce bouts of delirium as Monty Panesar found on the penultimate day of the Lord's Test against India.

Spin sensation ''lost his mind'', ''didn't know what was happening'' and ''felt like flying somewhere'' as he jumped in the air and ran around the ground getting Sachin Tendulkar lbw at the Lord’s

By his admission, the Sikh spin sensation ''lost his mind'', ''didn't know what was happening'' and ''felt like flying somewhere'' as he jumped in the air and ran around in the ground during his prolonged celebrations getting the master batsman lbw for 16 runs.

''I am not sure if it felt as good getting Sachin Tendulkar out at Lord's as it did in India last year for my first Test wicket, but my celebration was even better - maybe the best yet,'' Panesar was quoted by Daily Mail.

''It was as if I lost my mind. I honestly didn't know what was going on. I just started running and it felt like I was flying somewhere.

''The only thing I can remember is hugging everyone. Afterwards, all I could think to myself was: 'Did I really do that?' I haven't had the chance to see a replay of the celebration but my friends told me that I just went crazy,'' he said.

Panesar, explaining his reaction, said he was overwhelmed with joy after removing a great bat like Sachin. “I was just savouring the moment and the reason I reacted like that was because he is such a great player.

“That is the impact he has on people. I wouldn't have run so far and jumped around like that if he wasn't so good,” he said.

Although Sachin had a short essay in the second innings, he produced some magnificent shots that left Panesar speechless.

''Tendulkar didn't get many runs in that second innings, but he produced some great shots before I got him out.

''One drive he played off me was absolutely awesome. Most batsmen would have defended the ball but he just put it away. There was also a back-foot drive which was fantastic.

''Even though I am playing against him, I still think 'Wow' when he does something like that,'' said Panesar, first Sikh to play for England.

He said he had to remind himself that Sachin was his opponent and the left-arm spinner was not there to stand and enjoy the Mumbaikar's shots.

''I suddenly think: 'Come on, get back to your mark and concentrate, you're meant to be getting this guy out.' I have to remind myself that he is an opponent, not someone whose shots I can just stand and admire. The ball that got him, I really felt it was a close shout and on the replays it looked out. I was so pleased and so excited,'' he said.

Panesar, who took two wickets in the first Test, expressed satisfaction over his show but said coming matches in the series would be tough as the Indians played spinners well.

Panesar said England were purely unlucky that they couldn't win the match that was there for taking.

''From an England point of view, it was so disappointing to finish the match with a draw when we could have won. But when you take all the near-misses we had into account and the rain, you just have to accept that it wasn't meant to be. The person upstairs obviously didn't want there to be a result in this game,'' he said. 
— UNI

Stanford, July 23
Fresh from her season’s best semifinal appearance in last week’s Cincinnati Open, Sania Mirza dug in deep to clinch a come-from-behind opening round victory against Akiko Morigami of Japan in the Bank of the West Classic here.

Coming down from a set deficit, the 20-year-old Hyderabadi girl battled hard to pocket the match 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5), thus making a pre-quarterfinal showdown against sixth seed Tatiana Golovin of France, who earlier defeated Ukranian qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova in straight sets.

Should the World Number 35 manages to get past her seeded French opponent, she would be on collision route with fourth seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland and Wimbeldon finalist Marion Bartoli of France in the quarter and semifinals, respectively, of the $600,000 Tier II tournament.

Meanwhile, Sania’s doubles partner Shahar Peer of Israel also advanced into the second round with a relatively easy 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Camille Pin of France.

In the doubles draw, the third seed controversial Indo-Israeli duo of Sania and Peer will be up against 11th seed Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus and Anastacia Rodionova of Russia in the first round.

Kuala Lumpur, July 25
Iraq reached their first Asian Cup final today, beating South Korea 4-3 on penalties in a pulsating semifinal that ended goalless after extra time.

Noor Sabri was Iraq's hero when he saved Korea's fourth spot-kick from Yeom Ki-hun. After Ahmed Menajed had made it 4-3 to the West Asians, Korean Kim Jung-woo hit the post to send the Iraqi players into raptures.

"It was a great game," Iraq coach Jorvan Vieira told a news conference. "The game was 50:50 but we missed more opportunities than them. We were tired too, but Korea were more tired than us."

It was the vanquished side's second penalty shootout in four days, having overcome Iran 4-2 in Sunday's quarterfinal after another goalless 120 minutes.

Iraq began the tournament as outsiders after having to train and play qualifiers in neighbouring countries because of the war in their homeland.

The Iraqis went into today’s match in confident mood having topped qualifying Group A in which they beat a fancied Australia.

Korea, who last won the Asian Cup in 1960, were runners-up in Group D behind Saudi Arabia, but had shown great resilience in overcoming Iran in the quarters.

Verbeek's team produced their performance of the tournament against Iraq, but again their three-man attack failed to produce a goal for the second straight match.

Showing brilliant individual skills, Iraq dominated the first half but 2002 World Cup semifinalists Korea hit back strongly after the break, though they wasted several chances to knock Iraq out of their stride.

New Delhi, July 25
The high-profile secretary of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Dr B. K.Sinha, has been relieved of his duties, by the director-general of the SAI Rattam P. Wattal.

Sinha, an IPS officer of the 1986 Haryana cadre, who served in Haryana Police before joining the SAI, has been replaced citing "misappropriation of funds" as one of the reasons, though Sinha denied the charges.

Sinha said Wattal exceeded his brief by relieving him from the SAI. He said his repatriation from the SAI was a "routine matter" as he was due for promotion in any case, and he could not have continued in his post after promotion.

But what has surprised him was that the SAI director-general has "relieved" him from duty forthwith which he was not empowered to do so as he "himself is working in a subordinate office".

Sinha said his repatriation could have been done only by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT), and not even the Sports Ministry, and the process would have taken about to "eight-to-nine months".

Sinha was on deputation to the SAI since 1994, and effected many changes to bring the coaching system into order. But he claimed that the SAI DG had been "taking away his powers in a systematic manner" and the financial adviser, who was supposed to do a particular job, and not supposed to anything else, was being given additional charges.

PSEB opened their account in the 42nd minute through Kuldip Singh and Gurpreet Singh made it 2-0 in the 49th minute. Sunil Kumar rounded of the tally in the 85th minute.

It was a rough match and the referee Narinder Singh had a tough time in controlling the players.

Two players from each side were shown yellow cards. Sukhraj Singh (30th minute) and Manpreet Singh (39th) of RCF and Gurpreet Singh (59th) and Rahul (86th) of PSEB were penalised for rough tacklings.