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Ruthless Aussies show their might
Kochi, October 2 |
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Sparks fly in ill-tempered tie
Dhoni unhappy with spinners
Panel set up to draft new sports policy
Dhruv, Nabi join ICL Sania-Fusano win DSCL Open Tennis
Chautala re-elected HOA chief An ‘ideal pitch’ for Aussie ODI
Haryana Games
Ambala shuttlers win gold
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Sparks fly in ill-tempered tie
Kochi, October 2 After 20 overs of apparently peaceful cricket, where aggression was limited to glare and unuttered curse, there were enough hints that everything was not going well out there. In the 21st over, Andrew Symonds stepped out to send Harbhajan Singh's second delivery soaring high over the long-on ropes. As the 'Turbanator' completed his over, he apparently had an altercation with Hayden, who was at the non-striker's end and their body language made it obvious that they were not exchanging pleasantries. And Hayden's swagger looked bit prolonged after he brought up his fifty with a mighty six off the off-spinner. Sreesanth has already made a name for being an youngster with a volatile temper, especially so when he is facing Australia. In the 43rd over, the local favourite exchanged a few words with Symonds and the drama repeated again in his next over when Sreesanth made a prolonged leg before appeal against Brad Haddin and Symonds had something to say on that from the non-striker's end. Eventually, Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked up to the pacer, asking him to keep his cool. Sreesanth finally had his moment when he caught Symonds off his own bowling and went simply delirious. He was screaming at the top of his voice, while Symonds too left not before mouthing his parting words. Harbhajan featured in another high-voltage moment while batting. Stumped off Michael Clarke in the 31st over, Harbhajan stopped to give a piece of his mind to the garrulous Australian close-in fielders prompting umpire Steve Bucknor to approach and tap him on his shoulder, asking him to move on. The only moment of rare bonhomie came when Dhoni's shot hit Sreesanth on his helmet and a few of the Australian fielders came forward to enquire about his well-being. It was, in fact, Ponting who set the ball rolling before the series when he took a dig at Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly and claimed that the presence of the ageing stalwarts would in fact help Australia's cause. — PTI
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Kochi, October 2 After Dhoni had inserted Australia, India seized early initiative by reducing the visitors to eight for two in the fourth over and then 66 for three in the 16th over. After that, Matthew Hayden (75) and Andrew Symonds (87) took over and down the order Brad Haddin's (87 not out) late flurry propelled Australia to a commanding 306 for six in 50 overs. "The pacers bowled well and gave us a good start but I think we did not bowl well during 30 to 50 overs once again and that made a lot of difference. I think we need to improve on this aspect," a dejected Dhoni said after the match. India went into the match with two specialist spinners but while Harbhajan Singh went wicketless and conceded 57 runs in his 10 overs, Ramesh Powar gave away 30 runs in his five overs without any success. Asked if he was happy with the show by the spin twin, Dhoni's terse reply was "There is room for improvement." The skipper, who scored a fighting 58 even as wickets kept tumbling around him, did not spare the batsmen either and said they needed to be more patient on the slow track. "I think the batsmen needed to apply themselves a bit more. It was a wicket where one needed to do that to score runs", he said. "Unfortunately, our batting did not click. Hopefully we will do that in the next match," Dhoni said. Dhoni's opposite number Adam Gilchrist was ecstatic at getting the result after the frustrating wash-out in Bangalore. "It was a solid performance. We had a wash-out in Bangalore and it is fantastic to get a result here. It was a solid performance and the only area we let ourselves down was the top-order batting. "Me and (Brad) Hodge didn't score again but otherwise it was a fantastic display," he said. Gilchrist said the pitch was exactly the way the Aussies had expected, which helped them adapt better. "This wicket is a bit similar to what we expect in India. And that helped us. We won today but there are still five more games to go," he said. Coming into the series with a depleted squad, Gilchrist said he was impressed with the way last-minute inclusions proved themselves. "As I have said before, with injury comes opportunity and the way these guys, who came into the side because of injuries to others, have performed is just fantastic," he said. The wicket-keeper batsman praised man of the match Brad Haddin, saying, "Haddin is a great example of how one needs to convert opportunities. He got his chance and proved himself." On Ricky Ponting's injury status, Gilchrist said the regular skipper was on course for a comeback soon. Ponting has been out of action due to a hamstring strain. "We are getting closer and closer," he said, when asked whether Ponting would return to the side for the third match in Chandigarh. "I will be happy to have him back. We have got a couple of days to assess the situation," he added. — PTI
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Pak struggle to avoid follow-on
Karachi, October 2 Captain Shoaib Malik (9) and Abdul Rehman (1) were at the crease with the home side still requiring another 124 runs to make the visitors bat again. South Africa, riding on a brilliant 155 from Jacques Kallis and 77 from AB de Villiers, dominated the second day's play with left-arm spinner Paul Harris getting prodigious turn and bounce on the uneven surface to snap up openers, Kamran Akmal (42) and Mohammad Hafeez (34). He was well supported by pacers - Andre Nel, Kallis and Dale Steyn - who took a wicket each. Harris came into his own after the makeshift pair had plundered 71 runs in quick time. Harris trapped Akmal leg before and then picked up Hafeez to a catch by Kallis to leave Pakistan reeling on 84 for two in the final session after the home side had gone to tea on 17 for no loss. — Reuters Scoreboard South Africa (first innings): Gibbs c Hafeez b Gul 54 Graeme Smith lbw Hafeez 42 Hashim Amla b Asif 71 Kallis c Akmal b Kaneria 155 Prince c and b Kaneria 36 AB de Villiers b Gul 77 Boucher c Akmal b Rehman 1 Andre Nel c Misbah b Rehman 2 Paul Harris c Akmal b Rehman 1 Dale Steyn b Rehman 0 Makhaya Ntini not out 0 Extras (b-1, lb-6, nb-4) 11 Total
(all out, 136.3 overs) 450 Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-109, 3-279, 4-352, 5-373, 6-392, 7-408, 8-412, 9-448. Bowling: Mohammad Asif 26-6-83-1, Umar Gul 21.3-6-60-2, Kaneria 36-3-124-2, Abdul Rehman 31-3-105-4, Shoaib Malik 8-2-31-0, Hafeez 14-0-40-1. Pakistan (first innings): Hafeez c Kallis b Harris 34 Kamran Akmal lbw Harris 42 Younis Khan b Nel 6 Faisal Iqbal b Kallis 7 Misbah c Boucher b Steyn 23 Shoaib Malik not out 9 Abdul Rehman not out 1 Extras (b-4, nb-1) 5 Total (five wkts, 40 overs) 127 Fall of
wickets: 1-71, 2-82, 3-84, 4-97, 5-120 Bowling: Dale Steyn 10-1-37-1, Ntini 5-0-30-0, Paul Harris 12-6-18-2, Andre Nel 7-1-22-1, Kallis 4-2-10-1, Graeme Smith 2-0-6-0.
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Pak board undecided about Inzy
Karachi, October 2 Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman refused to confirm today whether the senior batsman would be considered for the match. "We are looking into it and I will be able to say something on this in one or two days," Ashraf said when asked about Inzamam's future and his selection for the second Test. Inzamam, who has joined the rebel Indian Cricket League and has retired from one-day internationals after the World Cup, was asked about his availability for the first Test against South Africa but declined for personal reasons. Chief selector, Salahuddin Ahmed had said Inzamam would be considered for the second Test but after Ashraf's comments it appears the board is still not clear about the future of their former captain.
— PTI
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Asian bloc destroyed my career: Hair
London, October 2 Hair, who is seeking compensation for alleged racial discrimination, told an employment tribunal here that the ICC stopped him from umpiring at top level international cricket to appease the powerful Asian bloc. The controversial Aussie also told the tribunal that there was a cover up in the ICC Board meeting in Mumbai last November which was called to decide his fate and the minutes of which were missing. “The ICC bowed to the racially discriminatory pressure that was brought to bear on it by the Asian bloc and ICC board member countries. That has traumatised the world of cricket. The Asian bloc is dominant in cricket and it appears that it uses that dominance unlawfully,” Robert Griffiths, Hair's lawyer, submitted before the tribunal. “A fundamental issue is whether this was done to save Pakistan's reputation and/or to teach a lesson to a white Australian and any other umpires who dare take similar action,” the counsel said. — UNI
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Panel set up to draft new sports policy
Bathinda, October 2 A committee comprising former union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (chairman), R.S. Gill, DGP, Punjab police and Pargat Singh, director, sports, Punjab, had been assigned the task of making the new policy. The main stress in the policy will be on the fact that a major section of players from Punjab, who are playing for different non-Punjab organisations, should be brought back to the state by offering them lucrative jobs and other facilities. Acting president of SAD (B), Sukhbir Badal said that the state government wanted that representation of players of Punjab in different sports at national and international level should be increased from the existing three to four per cent to 25 per cent. He said the state government had decided to honour Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh for their performance in the Twenty20 World Cup and six hockey players for their achievements in the Asia Cup with cash prizes and other incentives. He said that a function in this connection would be organised shortly. He said that three Punjab Institute of Sports (PIS) in Malwa, Doaba and Majha regions on the pattern of National Institute of Sports would be set up and a central PIS would be set up at
Jalandhar.
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Dhruv, Nabi join ICL
Jammu, October 2 Jammu and Kashmir skipper Dhruv Mahajan said the ICL has emerged as a turning point at this critical juncture of his career. “I think this is an outstanding start to my career and the stage I was looking for. God gave it to me to introduce myself to the world outside,” the all-rounder said. Besides Mahajan, Srinagar medium pacer Abid Nabi has also signed up for the rebel league, which is at loggerheads with the BCCI. “I and Abid would try our level best to bring Jammu and Kashmir on the world map,” said Mahajan, who has played 40 First Class Ranji matches and captained the state for four consecutive years.
— UNI
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New Delhi, October 2 Sania and Fusano beat their rivals 6-3 6-2. The Indo-American pair will now take on the winner of the first-round match between the Spanish duo of Arantxi Parra Santonja and Lourdes Dominguez Lino and the Colombian-American combine of Catalina Castano and Abigail Spears. — PTI
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DSCL Open Tennis
New Delhi, October 2 Top-seeded Aditya Madkekar also entered the third round, but had to fight hard in the second set before downing Arjun Goutham of Karnataka 6-1, 7-6 (7-1). Second seed Ashutosh Singh of Delhi was a bit lucky to move up as Rohan Gajjar of Maharastra retired when he trailed 0-2 in the third set, after winning the first and losing the second. Ashutosh won 4-6, 6-3, 2-0 but he could have been trouble had Gajjar not retired. In other men's singles matches, eighth-seeded Navdeep Singh from Delhi weathered a mid-match slump to defeat qualifier Christopher Marquis of Maharashtra 6-0, 6-7 (2), 6-1, fifth seed and former champion Vijay Kannan trounced his fellow-Tamil Fariz Mohammad 6-2, 6-1, fourth-seeded Vivek Shokeen of Delhi outplayed qualifier Abhijeet Tiwari 6-0, 6-2 and third seeded Vishnu Vardhan of Andhra was upset by Prajnesh Gunneswaran of TN 6-4, 6-3. Prajnesh also moved up in the boys singles when he defeated S Siddarth 6-2, 6-1. In the boys singles third round, Vijayant Malik of Chandigarh maintained his winning spree when, defeating V Vignesh of Tamil Nadu while another Chandigarh lad, Kinshuk Sharma, went down fighting to B Vikram Reddy of Andhra 6-1, 1-6, 7-5. Manav Dhawan of Punjab put up a brave fight to tame Shantanu Rajput of Delhi 5-7, 7-6 (1), 6-3 in a sapping encounter while Shiva Sangwan of Chandigarh lost to Ronak Manuja of Maharashtra 2-6, 4-6. In other women's matches, third-seeded Sanaa Bhambri of Delhi beat Kelsi Sundaram of Tamil Nadu 6-4, 6-2, qualifier Aishwarya Srivastava of Tamil Nadu edged out Kyra Shroff of Maharashtra 7-5, 6-3, fourth seed Sonal Phadke beat Sheetal Goutham 6-1, 6-3, eighth seed Parul Goswami got past Kisika Jayapalan 6-2, 2-6, 6-0, second seed Rushmi Chakravarti trounced Vishaka Sheoran 6-4, 6-2 and Parija Maloo downed Rashmi Teltumbde 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
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Chautala re-elected HOA chief
Sirsa, October 2 Abhey Chautala said the action of the government in appointing an administrator of the HOA was unjustified and illegal. The HOA had not been getting any financial aid from the government and the state government was creating all possible hurdles in the games, he added "I have consulted the legal advisors and would file a defamation case against the state government for its illegal action of appointing the administrator of the HOA as we have been allowed to conduct the games under the banners of the HOA by the court" he added. "Not only cricket, but all other sportspersons too deserve equal respect and reward. I am happy that cricketer Joginder Singh had performed well. The government appointed him DSP. However, there are a numbers of athletes of other games who too deserve the equal treatment," he said. The GOC meeting was attended by the various representatives of the affiliated sports organisations, boards and institutions of HOA. Those who were elected as vice-presidents of the HOA include Ashok Arora, Gopi Chand Gehlot, Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Surinder Barwala, Vijay Parkash and Bimla
Sangwan.
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An ‘ideal pitch’ for Aussie ODI
Chandigarh, October 2 The pitch at the stadium has traditionally had a smattering of grass on it. If the same is retained the toss could be vital. The pitch can afford seam movement in the first half of the match. Among Indian team at least two of the players have played here. For Yuvraj it is his “home ground”. Harbhajan Singh has played here as a youngster when he was a trainee in the BCCI run “pace academy”. Daljit Singh said the pitch, which has been has been newly laid, has been prepared keeping in mind the interest of public. “It is an ideal one-day pitch. I expect the batsmen to produce a good score”, said Daljit Singh after inspecting the progress of the work being done on the pitch at the stadium. The rolling work was on this morning which would give proper bounce, added Daljit. The curator also claimed that the nature of the pitch is similar to PCA’s pitch which has earned a good name at world level, producing very good results not only in short version of the game but in Test matches also. When asked if he has got any instruction from anyone for to “shave-off “ the grass from the pitch, Daljit denied. “No one has given any instruction so far. It’s totally curator’s discretion. No one can interfere in this area”, said Daljit Singh.
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Haryana Games
Sirsa, October 2 Meena finished the 10 km walk for women in 56:25:00. Surekha got silver in 1:00.01 as she finished more than one lap behind the leader. Menakshi of Rohtak bagged the bronze. A blunder by Dinesh of Rohtak cost him the gold in the 10,000 metres race for men and Devinder Singh of Rohtak emerged winner. Dinesh accelerated his pace at the 600 metres mark from the finish and exhausted himself. He might have thought that it was his last round. Kawaljeet of Sonepat raced for the bronze in 35:14.00 seconds. Surender of Yamunanagar became the fastest runner of Haryana by winning the 100 metres dash for men, clocking 10.79 seconds. Ajay and Dayakishan, both of Bhiwani, got second and third places with 11.03 and 11.07 seconds, respectively. National thrower Saroj Sihag made her mark by throwing the iron ball to a distance of 15.34 metres in her second attempt. Neelam of Bhiwani and Suman of Jhajjar got silver and bronze with 13.10 metres and 9.20 metres, respectively. Sandeep of Ambala won the gold medal in the 50 kg class in the karate competition. Archana of Rohtak (women individual kata) and Varun Jetly of Yamunanagar (male individual kata) bagged gold in their respective sections. Results (athletics) (all finals): Men: 1500 m: (1) Rajesh (Sui) 4:13:44, (2) Birbal (Jind) 4:13:63, (3) Sanjeev (Rohtak) 4:13:80. High Jump: (1) Pardeep Kumar (Sui) 1.95 m, (2) Vipin Kumar (Bhiwani) 1.90 m, (3) Navjot (Hisar) 1.85m. Shot Put: (1) Malkhan Singh (Faridabad) 16.12 m, (2) Naveen (Sui) 15.33 m, (3) Jagvir Singh (Bhiwani) 14.76 m. 10000 m: (1) Devender (Rohtak) 34.22 , (2) Dinesh (Jhajjar) 34.29, (3) Kamaljeet 25.14. 100 m: Men (1) Surender (Yamunanagar) 10.79, (2) Ajay (Bhiwani)11.03, (3) Daya Kishan (Bhiwani) 11.07. Women: 100 m: (1) Reetu (Hisar) 13:35, (2) Babita (Yamunanagar) 13.40, (3) Sunita (Rohtak) 14.10. 1500 m: (1) Munesh (Rohtak) 5:04.31, (2) Meena (Jhajjar) 5:06.69, (3) Sujata (Rohtak) 5:16.69. Shot put (women): (1) Saroj Sihag (Hisar) 15.34 m, (2) Neelam (Bhiwani) 13.10 m, (3) Suman(Jhajjar) 9.20 m. 10 km: (1) Meena (Jhajjar) 56:25.00, (2) Surekha (Jhajjar) 1:00.01, (3) Meenakshi (Rohtak). Volleyball (Women): Kurukshetra bt Hisar 25-19, 25-16,25-23.— UNI
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Ambala, October 2 SD College, Ambala, defeated SD College, Panipat, DN College, Hisar, and GNK College, Yamunanagar, to win the gold medal. The winning team comprised Kapil, Ravi Singh, Ravi, Ankur, Sahil, Lakshveer and Matlood Ali. Ravi Singh and Sahil were selected for the KU men’s badminton team to participate in the inter-university championship. — TNS
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