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Younis, Afridi power Pakistan victory
News agencies boycott
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Jaques hits century
SA struggle against Kiwis
South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs plays a shot on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg. — AFP
Dhoni bombs a smash hit
MISUSE OF FUNDS
Benkenstein joins ICL
Zero tolerance for ‘monkey chants’: CA
Gurmit Hockey
Man U, Arsenal advance
YPS Mohali enter semis
Ashutosh, Sunil in last 4
Delhi win by an innings
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Younis, Afridi power Pakistan victory
Mohali, November 8
Younis Khan top scored with 117 and Shahid Afridi made 29 off 14 balls (three fours, one six) in the Pakistani chase. Earlier, spearheaded by master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who slammed 99, and his 173-run second wicket partnership with Gautam Gambhir, India piled up a massive 321 for nine against Pakistan in their second one-day international match here today. The Indian top order, barring Sourav Ganguly, and the lower order clicked well with Harbhajan Singh blasting an unbeaten 20-ball 38 which included two huge sixes off Rao Iftikhar to take the Indian score well past 300. The hosts were served well by the tailenders who added 42 runs in the last five overs after a mini middle order collapse. The score of 321 is the second highest total in this ground so far, the highest being 339 for 4 by Sri Lanka, also against Pakistan in 1997. Hosts skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat after winning the toss but Ganguly’s dismissal in the third ball of the first over created some doubts about Dhoni’s decision. The doubts were laid to rest as Tendulkar and Gambhir got together to shred the Pakistan bowling. Pakistan opted to go into the game with a four-pronged pace attack replacing spinner Abdur Rehman with seamer Sohail Tanvir. When their spearhead Shoaib Akhtar castled Ganguly’s middle and leg stumps, the decision to pack the attack with seamers seemed justified. But, Tendulkar and Gambhir had other ideas as they demolished not only the pace but the part time spin attack. The two took time to settle down and in the first few overs, runs came either through extras or due to poor fielding.
After three overs, Akhtar seemed to have lost his sting and Umar Gul, on the other hand, was also not able to penetrate the solid defence offered by the Indian duo.
Tendulkar, playing his record 404th one-dayer, soon got into his rhythm and Gambhir, seeing his senior partner in his elements at the other end, also started emulating the master blaster. Tendulkar belted Gul for three successive stunning boundaries to race to his 86th ODI fifty. He first sent the bowler past short fine leg and then edged him past second slip to the third man boundary and then slammed another four to leave the bowler bewildered. Gambhir, though not as aggressive as his senior counterpart, kept the scoreboard moving with deft ones and twos and an occasional boundary. Akhtar looked flat and Gul stingless in their first spell and the next two seamers in Sohail Tanvir and Rao Ifthikar Anjum also could do nothing as the Indian duo looked well entrenched. Tendulkar was in his elements as he sent the bowlers all over the park and Gambhir, as if taking a cue, started cutting and hitting. Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik himself came into attack but was torn apart by the Indian duo who took 31 runs off his three overs and Malik thought it wise to take himself off the firing line. Shahid Afridi, who had best figures of 2 for 18 here on this track, came into the attack and Tendulkar greeted him with two super fours and in his next over hoisted him for a six over long off. On the other end, Gambhir, playing his 34th ODI, raced to his 50, his sixth and first half century against Pakistan, and in the process scored 1000 runs in the shorter version of the game. However at this stage, the plot changed. Umar Gul was brought in for his second spell. His first five over spell had cost him 28 runs and this time he struck. Tendulkar, who was all focused, tried to run a full length delivery to third man only to see Kamran Akmal taking a superb diving catch. The Mumbaikar made 99 runs off 91 balls which included one six and 13 hits to the fence. This was the fifth time this year that the master blaster got out in his 90s and third time on 99. He was out against South Africa and later against England early this session on this score and today, he earned another distinction of being the only player to have got out thrice on 99 in ODIs. The 173-run second-wicket partnership came off 153 balls in 127 minutes. Gul struck in his next over again as he had well set Gambhir caught by Afridi at mid wicket when the batsman was on 57 (68 balls, 7 fours) and India were 186 for three then. Virender Sehwagand Yuvraj Singh added 53 runs for the fourth wicket before Sohail Tanvir clean-bowled the former.
Sehwag made a sedate 25 off 31 balls hitting one boundary. — UNI Scoreboard India
Extras (lb-7, nb-3, w-31) 41
Pakistan Extras (lb-9, w-16, nb-1) 26
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Nervous 90s
Mohali, November 8 Tendulkar got out on 99 — one short of his 42nd ODI hundred — at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) ground here today while playing in the second ODI against Pakistan. This is the third time that Tendulkar got out on 99. The earlier two occasions were also this year itself — against England at Bristol and against South Africa at Belfast (Ireland) in the summer. Tendulkar, who has been at the receiving end for several poor umpiring decisions in recent years, was today cleanly caught behind by Kamran Akmal off the bowling of Umar Gul. In 394 innings in a record-setting 404 limited over games, Tendulkar has been dismissed in the 90s no less than 15 times. And five of these have come this year alone. Tendulkar, who made his international debut in Pakistan in 1989, has the highest number of centuries in Tests and ODIs.
— IANS Sachin’s dismissals in the 90s in one-dayers this year 99 vs SA at Belfast (June 26) 93 vs SA at Belfast (June 29) 99 vs England at Bristol (Aug 24) 94 vs England at Oval (Sept 2) 99 vs Pak at Mohali (Nov 8)
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News agencies boycott
Brisbane, November 8 Australia’s largest media organisation, News Limited, also boycotted the opening of the Australia-Sri Lanka Test after accreditation negotiations with Cricket Australia (CA) remained unresolved before play commenced. The world’s top three global news agencies — Agence France-Presse, Reuters and Associated Press — and News Limited have suspended all coverage of the 2007-08 season unless a deal can be agreed. As play in the Test began at 10 am, international news agency and News Limited photographers and reporters were locked outside the ground without accreditations. The dispute centres on unprecedented demands being made by CA, according to the media organisations at the centre of the dispute, including one that they hand over rights to all photos taken at matches. The blackout of photos, news reports, graphics and video means international cricket fans hoping to follow the Test will not be able to see photos of their favourite team or read about its progress. “It is most regrettable that we are unable to provide our usual comprehensive coverage of cricket due to CA’s refusal to extend reasonable accreditation terms to international agencies,” said AFP chairman Pierre Louette. Australia’s communications minister Helen Coonan said while she was unaware of the details of the negotiations, it would be wrong for fans to suffer. CA has insisted it holds the intellectual property rights to agency photographs taken at its venues, and that those photos cannot be re-sold without its permission. The agencies have refused to give up their rights but have said they hope to cover the series provided an acceptable agreement on accreditation terms can be agreed.
— AFP
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Jaques hits century
New Delhi, November 8 According to Cricinfo, skipper Ricky Ponting scored 56, while Muralitharan picked 2 for 67. Michael Hussey was batting on 28 at close of play.
— PTI Scoreboard Australia (1st innings) Jaques st P Jayawardene b Muralitharan 100 Hayden c Murali b Vaas 43 Ponting st P Jayawardene b Muralitharan 56 Hussey not out 28 Clarke not out 5 Extras
(b-4, lb-5, nb-1) 10 Total (3 wkts, 76 overs) 242 Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-183, 3-216. Bowling: Vaas 16-4-44-1, Maharoof 21-6-48-0, Fernando 16-1-74-0, Muralitharan 23-3-67-2.
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Johannesburg, November 8 South Africa were 161 for five at tea after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Fast bowler Bond took 2-47 while medium pacer Martin, who had two catches dropped, claimed 2-50. Opener Herschelle Gibbs was fifth out for a steadying 63. The hosts got off to the worst possible start when skipper Graeme Smith attempted to leave a delivery from Martin in the second over and was bowled off the edge of his bat for one. Hashim Amla scored 12 before Bond had him caught behind by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum with a delivery that bounced steeply and straightened after pitching. Both of Martin’s dropped catches were offered shortly before lunch by Jacques Kallis, who was spilled on 23 by Michael Papps at third slip and on 27 by Iain O’Brien at fine leg. The errors did not prove costly as Kallis drove at the first delivery after lunch, which was bowled by medium pacer O’Brien, and was caught behind by McCullum for 29. Five overs later, Ashwell Prince, who scored one, edged a Bond delivery to Stephen Fleming at second slip. South Africa were reduced to 141 for five an hour before tea when Gibbs was caught by Fleming, this time at first slip. At the tea interval, AB de Villiers was 33 not out and Mark Boucher had made 11. Daniel Vettori is leading the Kiwis in place of the injured Stephen Fleming. — Reuters Scoreboard South Africa (1st innings) Smith b Martin 1 Gibbs c Fleming b Martin 63 Amla c McCullum b Bond 12 Kallis c McCullum b O’Brien 29 Prince c Fleming b Bond 1 De Villiers not out 33 Boucher not out 11 Extras
(lb-6, w-1, nb-4) 11 Total (5 wickets, 57 overs) 161 Fall of wickets:
1-1, 2-20, 3-73, 4-92, 5-141. Bowling: Bond 12-1-47-2, Martin 14-3-50-2, Oram 12-3- 31-0, O’Brien 10-4-23-1, Vettori 9-5-4-0.
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Patna, November 8 Although they have been priced at a stiff Rs 550, firecrackers named after the stylish wicketkeeper-cum-batsman are in high demand here. Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza is not far behind Dhoni in the popularity charts. Crackers named after the two sports personalities are more popular than those named after politicians and Bollywood film stars in the state. “Lalu bombs, Lalu engine, Nitish phataka and Rabri phuljhari are no match for Dhoni and Sania this time. Even crackers named after Bollywood actresses like Aishwarya, Kareena, Zinta and Juhi are not much in demand,” Karim Ahmad, a shopkeeper, said today. “In the wholesale and retail markets, Dhoni is the number one choice,” Anil Kumar, another shopkeeper, said. Twenty-six-year-old Dhoni hails from Ranchi in neighbouring Jharkhand. His panache for hitting big sixes and riding fast motorbikes has helped him acquire the status of a youth icon. “Each packet of Dhoni bomb is being sold for Rs 550, and those named after Sania are being sold for Rs 500 in Patna,” Mahesh Singh, a shopkeeper, said. Till last year, firecrackers named after Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi were very popular here even though they were voted out of power in the state. Nitish Kumar has been ruling Bihar for nearly two years but he lags behind in popularity stakes. In Bihar, firecrackers named after US President George W. Bush and Al- Qaida chief Osama bin Laden also did brisk business two years ago.
— IANS
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Sawani to head ICC anti-corruption unit
Mumbai, November 8 Announcing the roping in of the 57-year-old Sawani, who has 30 years service in the Indian police force, including with the CBI, ICC’s CEO Malcol Speed termed it as “a synergy of old-world cricket (Condon of England) and the new-world cricket (India)”. Speed said Sawani’s credentials as joint director in charge of special crimes with the CBI enquiring into match-fixing in cricket was one of the reasons for appointing the former joint commissioer of police in charge of Chennai’s Metropolitan Police to the post. “Sawani was selected as he was an outstanding candidate from among several persons from police and military background who had applied for the job which we had advertised six months ago.” “India has clearly the biggest population playing cricket and we are well aware of the amount of money that is being betted on cricket in the country, to the tune of between $500 million and $1 billion during the ongoing India-Pakistan series,” Speed said. Sawani, who replaces incumbent Jeff Rees, who has been holding the post since ACSU’s inception in the wake of the match-fixing scandal in 2000 and is retiring, would be functioning from Dubai.
— PTI
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Misuse of funds
Hyderabad, November 8 On a direction from a local court, the Uppal police here booked the case against Pawar, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president and secretary G. Vinod Kumar and Shivlal Yadav, respectively, and two others, Uppal police inspector Bhaskar said here today. “We have taken up the investigation,” he said. The third metropolitan magistrate on November 2 issued the order based on a complaint filed by a former Telugu Desam Rajya Sabha member P. Radhakrishna. The petitioner contended that the cricket board had sold 24,000 tickets to VIPs, corporates and others for a premium and made huge money, while only 15,000 tickets were made available for general public. The seating capacity of the Rajiv Gandhi stadium at Uppal is 39,000. He alleged that Rs 12 crore were misappropriated in the process, assuming that each ticket was valued at Rs 5,000. The petitioner also alleged that the BCCI and HCA have deprived the local Telangana people of the opportunity to watch the match by giving away a major chunk of tickets to their favoured sections.
— PTI
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Benkenstein joins ICL
Johannesburg, November 8 At one stage in his career, the 33-year-old former Natal captain, who made his debut for the national side way back in 1998 against England in Dhaka, was earmarked as Hansie Cronje’s successor to take up the reins of the national side. But because of his inconsistent show, he was never a regular member in the South African team. Benkenstein announced on Tuesday his decision to leave the domestic side, saying that the ICL had made him a late offer. He thus became the second Natal player, after all-rounder Lance Klusener, to join the ICL. “For the past 15 years, my working life has been KwaZulu-Natal cricket, but I must also consider my future,” said Benkenstein, who represented South Africa in 23 ODIs, the last being in 2002 against Bangladesh in Benoni. “There are some great names playing in the league, and also the financial package is something that would normally have taken me six years to earn.”— UNI
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Zero tolerance for ‘monkey chants’: CA
Melbourne, November 8 However, the crowd would have the liberty of shouting ‘no-ball’ when Muttiah Muralitharan bowls. “Monkey chanting would result in automatic ejection. There is no place to hide if people misbehave,” said Peter Young, CA’s spokesman and anti-racism officer. Eighty closed circuit television cameras will be on the lookout for such chants and other anti-social behaviour during Australia’s first Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba. “(But) We’re not going to throw people out of the ground for shouting no-ball. We’re expecting people to get an earful, that’s what happens in Australia ... as long as people don’t cross the line,” he was quoted as saying by the ‘Australian Associated Press’. Muralitharan has copped plenty of crowd sledging for his questionable action and also been pelted by fruit at the Gabba four years ago. Young said CA will take a zero tolerance approach to any forms of racism.
— PTI
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Gurmit Hockey
Chandigarh, November 8 In the second match between Indian Airlines (IA) and Canara Bank (CB), the former won 5-3. At the end of the regulation period, IHF and PNB were level at 2-2. The bank team dominated proceedings in the first half. PNB earned a penalty corner in the 24th minute. Drag flicker Jeetinder made no mistake to make the score 1-0. Taking the lead, the high-spirited PNB team made many forays into the ‘D’ and it was in the 36th minute when striker Navdeep Singh finished a good move successfully to extend the lead. Vinod Kumar of IHF reduced the margin in the 56th minute. They made a clinical attack to rip apart the defence and earned a penalty corner in the process. Rupinder converted it successfully to equalise the score 2-2. The match was decided through sudden death and IHF won the match 9-8. In the other match, Sandeep Michael opened the account for Airlines in the ninth minute. Bipin of CB equalled the score in the 26th minute. At half time, IA was leading 4-2. The goals were netted by Sandeep Singh (29th min) and Samia Dad (31st min). Varun struck twice (28th min and 42nd min) to reduce the margin to 4-3. In the 44th minute, Samia Dad sealed the victory for IA 5-3 netting his second goal of the game.
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Paris, November 8 Their means of qualifying, like their managers, couldn’t have been more contrasting as United whipped once-proud Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev 4-0, while a second-string Arsenal side drew 0-0 away yesterday at Slavia Prague — a team they trounced 7-0 a fortnight ago. Gerard Pique nodded United ahead with his first goal for the club and Carlos Tevez scored his first in the Champions League after a darting run and one-two with Wayne Rooney. It was a night of doubles all round as the two Italian sides in action, Inter Milan and Roma, both came from behind — doubles by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Esteban Cambiasso inspiring Inter to a 4-2 win over CSKA Moscow, while despite a brace from Liedson Sporting Lisbon conceded a late equaliser to Roma to only draw 2-2 at home.
— Agencies
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YPS Mohali enter semis
Sonepat, November 8 In today’s quarterfinal matches, Modern Public school, Delhi, crushed RKC, Raipur, by 184 runs while Daly college registered a convincing eight wicket win over RKC Rajkot. YPS Mohali managed to defeat YPS Patiala by 17 runs and DPS Delhi won by 40 runs over hosts MNSS, Rai, by the D/L method. A four-wicket haul by Gurvinder Singh of Mohali and an all-round performance by Madan Sharma (65 runs and 4 wickets) of Modern Public School, Delhi, were the highlights of today’s matches. In the semifinal, DPS will take on Daly College and Modern Public School will clash with YPS Mohali
tomorrow.
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Ashutosh, Sunil in last 4
New Delhi, November 8 The second seeded Indian overcame a fighting sixth-seed Aqeel Khan 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(4) in the quarterfinal tie. Divij Sharan went down to compatriot Sunil Kumar Sipaeya. The third seed Sunil tamed Sharan 6-3, 6-1 in his quarterfinal match. Meanwhile, the Indian duo of Ashutosh and Shokeen won their second doubles title in three weeks as they beat second seeded pair of Leonte and Adam 6-1, 6-4.
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Delhi win by an innings
Srinagar, November 8 Resuming at their overnight score of zero for one, the home team was bundled out for 93. Basit Mohammad was the only batsman who reached double figures, scoring 28 runs. For the visitors, Manoj Chauhan claimed five wickets, while Vikas Mishra scalped four. Manoj had also taken five wickets in the first innings. He was declared the man of the match.
— UNI
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Pakistan beat India by four wickets with a ball to spare during the second one-day international match here today.
Shane Bond and Chris Martin took two wickets each to grab the advantage for New Zealand on the first day of the first Test against South Africa here today.
Hyderabad, November 8
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) junior team came from behind in the last moments and beat Punjab National Bank
(PNB) 9-8 via sudden death in the 37th SN Vohra All-India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament at Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, here today.
