The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Vaughan, Cook prop
up England
for England

Colombo, December 9
Michael Vaughan scored 87 and Alastair Cook 81 to help England to 258 for five at stumps on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka today.

Vaughan was in glorious form, stroking 12 boundaries during a 139-ball innings, as he added 133 for the first wicket with Cook having won the toss and batted on a fine batting pitch.

Cook later shared partnerships of 35 with Ian Bell (15) and 66 with Paul Collingwood (49 not out) as England bounced back from their first Test defeat with a more assured batting performance.

Sri Lanka clawed their way back into the game in the final session with four wickets including two in two balls from Lasith Malinga after the hosts took the second new ball.

Cook’s 234-ball innings ended with a poor lbw decision with the ball missing the leg stump and Ravi Bopara was bowled first ball by a brilliant swinging yorker.

When bad light stopped play after 87 overs, Collingwood was left unbeaten with Matthew Prior on 10.

Malinga finished with 2-57 from 14 overs and Muttiah Muralitharan toiled for 34 overs for his 2-85.

In the morning, Sri Lanka's bowlers rarely beat the bat and the hosts squandered the only chance offered, dropping Cook in the slips when the left-hander had made just nine.

Vaughan was in sublime touch early on, especially off the front foot as he drove through the off side.

Cook, who scored a duck and four in the first Test, was more cautious and worked harder for his runs.

Sri Lanka only broke through courtesy of a catch between the legs of Jehan Mubarak at short leg as Vaughan tried to clip Muralitharan through the leg-side.

Muralitharan grabbed his second wicket immediately after tea as Bell edged on to his pad and was caught one-handed by Mubarak at short leg.

A few minutes later Pietersen (one) was controversially given out caught at slip after edging Chaminda Vaas.

Chamara Silva at second slip dived to his left to scoop up the ball and Kumar Sangakkara at first slip snatched the rebound. Television replays, though, indicated that the ball may have touched the ground.

England made two changes from the team that lost the first Test by 88 runs, including fast bowlers Steve Harmison and debutante Stuart Broad.

James Anderson was dropped after the first Test in Kandy and Matthew Hoggard was ruled out with a back injury.

Sri Lanka also made one change, including opener Upul Tharanga in place of the retired Sanath Jayasuriya. — Reuters

Scoreboard

England (1st innings)

Cook lbw Malinga 81

Vaughan c Mubarak b Murali 87

Bell c Mubarak b Murali 15

Pietersen c Sangakkara b Vaas 1

Collingwood not out 49

Bopara b Malinga 0

Prior not out 10

Extras (b-8, nb-7) 15

Total (5 wickets, 87 overs) 258

Fall of wickets: 1-133, 2-168, 3-171, 4-237, 5-237

Bowling: Vaas 23-5-49-1, Malinga 14-1-57-2, Fernando 16-2-59-0, Muralitharan 34-5-85-2.

ZAHEER ABBAS WRITES
Pak have been batted out of match

When teams — especially one with a proud history like Pakistan — are reduced to such circumstances as the present one, one cannot help but feel a bitter pang of sorrow. We have not lost a series here in India in 27 years, but I am afraid that little bit of history is now set to change.

India have all but batted Pakistan out of the third Test in Bangalore. Sourav Ganguly carried on with his spectacular innings that began yesterday and Irfan Pathan too joined in the merry making, but Pakistan today suffered simply because they did not have the bowling to test India in any way.

At many points during the second day’s play in Bangalore, it looked to me like Pakistan were sitting back and waiting for things to happen. This is a mistake they have made earlier in this series too, and once again, they seemed to be waiting for the Indians to make the mistakes and then capitalise.

This is no great secret but to win a Test match, you need to take 20 wickets.

At no point yesterday and today has this Pakistan attack — especially with Shoaib Akhtar on the field but unable to bowl thanks to his back spasms — appeared even remotely capable of doing that. Quite naturally, India capitalised on that.

I have a feeling that those Indian batsmen who did not get big runs — Dravid, Laxman, Jaffer and even Karthik — will have good reason to feel that they have missed out on a big opportunity.

The pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium may have produced the odd ball that has kept low, but by and large it has been a good strip for the batsmen.

No wonder therefore that we have seen so many records fall. Ganguly was simply magnificent in his career-best 239 and Pathan seems to have benefitted from his time outside the India ranks and has come back a far more compact and complete cricketer. His innings lent some real thrust to the home team’s effort to put on a big total, and make no mistake, this Indian score of 626 is a massive one.

To all effect, Pakistan have been batted out of this match already, India are already one up in the series and they do not want or need to take any risks. It was up to Pakistan today to upset India’s plans but I am sorry to say that they just could not do so. With one key bowler out of the equation, Younis Khan had his options further reduced and the end result was there for all to see.

Having said that, it was still up to those fit enough to bowl to at least try and worry the Indian batsmen and put pressure on them. Instead, we saw a scenario in which just one Indian wicket fell in the first session and thereafter Ganguly and Pathan combined to make sure that Indians simply cannot lose this match, no matter what the Pakistan batsmen do from this point on.

With one wicket already down, Pakistan are in real trouble. They have the batsmen to save this Test match, of that I have no doubt. But to play under the hammer almost constantly, as Pakistan have had to do in this series also has its share of pressure and at least as far as I am concerned, anything is still possible in this game.

For India, Anil Kumble will be the key bowler. We saw Salman Butt spin a ball across Pathan’s stumps when India were going after the runs in the afternoon and if a part-time bowler can get that sort of assistance, I wonder just how much more Kumble and his spin partner Harbhajan Singh will extract from the pitch. These are after all home conditions for the Indian bowlers and they have combined to great effect many times in the past. It is a wonderful opportunity for Kumble to head for Australia with a comprehensive series win under his belt.

It is now up to Younis, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq and the other frontline batsmen to see that Pakistan at least leave for home with some dignity intact.

One session in Delhi put India ahead in the series, but I am afraid that Pakistan’s opportunity in this match has come and gone. It was there with the home team down at 61 for four wickets. It is now a very different story. — News Watch Asia

Heroes halt Superstars’ winning run
Gopal Sharma
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 9
Hyderabad Heroes bounced back in style. Having suffered two reverses out of the three games played earlier, the Inzamam-led team came back most emphatically, posting a convincing seven-wicket victory over toppers Chennai Superstars in the ICL Twenty20 tournament at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here today.

In pursuit of a 163-run victory target, Hyderabad Heroes coasted home for the loss of just three wickets with more than two overs to spare. The defeat also bought to a halt the three-match winning spree of Chennai Superstars.

Man of the Match Inzamam-ul Haq controlled the innings in his inimitable style, notching up an unbeaten 44 runs, while Abdul Razzaq played his typical attacking innings, clobbering a 20-ball 40 to remain unconquered at close.

Hailing the efforts of the team after the convincing win, which should serve as a warning to the other teams, the burly skipper said the victory was achieved due to the joint efforts of the players.

He, however, made a special mention of the hitting prowess of Razzaq. “He is one of the finest hitters in the world and deserves credit for the knock he played for the team.”

Razzaq, who came in after the fall of Ambatti Rayudu, played a gem of an innings on a pitch which is easing out for the batsmen with each passing day. He was in superb touch and slammed a six off Ian Harvey to finish the contest.

Though Razzaq was at his effervescent best and wasted no time in getting on with the job, it was Inzamam who anchored the innings admirably along with Rayudu after a decent opening start provided by Sasank Nag and Anirudh Singh. Anirudh Singh was the dominant partner and did the bulk of the scoring as the openers put on 44 the board before being separated.

Rayudu maintained the tempo and played a useful knock in the middle overs. Slamming five fluent fours, Rayudu raced to 22-ball 28 before being dislodged.

Inzamam dominated the bowling attack with a mix of powerful strokes as well as deft touches. He slammed a six and a four in the same over to complete the hundred of the innings.

Once the three-figure mark was reached, Inzamam and Razzaq went hammer and tongs after the rival bowling attack. The duo were at their devastating best in the 13th over, clobbering a hapless R. Satish for 27 runs to take the team on to the doorstep of victory.

Both continued to dominate the bowling as the side cruised to victory with a lusty six by Razzaq in 18th over. Inzamam’s unbeaten 44 included two sixes and four fours, while Razzaq cleared the fence thrice and hit two fours.

Earlier, continuing his fabulous run, Ian Harvey scored another half century (55-ball 63), while skipper Stuart Law contributed 44 as Chennai Superstars scored an impressive 162 for four in 20 overs.

With this victory, Hyderabad Heroes now have four points in their kitty. With three victories on the trot in the earlier matches before the loss today, Chennai Superstars are at the top of the table with six points.

Cairns devastates Mumbai Champs

A belter of a knock by Chandigarh Lions skipper Chris Cairns devastated Mumbai Champs sending them out of the reckoning for a semifinal berth in the ICL Twenty20 tournament in the evening match here today.

Cairns toyed with the Champs’ bowling attack notching up a hurricane 26-ball 70, which was instrumental in Lions notching up their third victory and a semifinal berth.

Lions became the first team to cross the 200-run mark in the tournament. Spirited chase led by Dheeraj Jhadav and Ramesh Powar, who both scored blazing half centuries, resulted in Champs putting up the second highest total by any team. But this was not good enough as Lions cantered home by 38 runs.

Known for hitting the ball hard, former New Zealand all rounder Cairns unleashed a savage assault on the hapless bowlers. Hitting fours and sixes at will, he made the ground look small. He completed his half century hitting seamer Rakesh Patel for successive sixes.

When he finally was caught off Astle, in the 18th over, the score was close to the 200-run mark. Munish Sharma added quicksilver 37 as Lions scored 219 on the board.

Brief scores:

Chandigarh Lions: 219 for 4 (Cairns 70, Manish Sharma 37 n.o., Imran Farhat 34, T.P. Singh 27, Astle 2-31, Avinash Yadav 1-32)

Mumbai Champs: 181 for 5 (Dheeraj Jadhav 58 n.o., Kiran Powar 54, Andrew Hall 1-29, Tuffey 1-24, Ablish 1-42, Chetan 1-29, T.P. Singh 1-7)

Scoreboard

Chennai Superstars

Harvey not out 63

V Devendran c Shashank Nag

b Azhar Mahmood 10

CMW Read run out 2

S Law b PK Reddy 44

RP Arnold run out 0

HK Badani not out 31

Extras (lb 7, w 5) 12

Total (4 wickets, 20 overs) 162

FoW: 1-15, 2-25, 3-110, 4-110

Bowling: Abdul Razzaq 4-0-37-0, Azhar Mahmood 4-0-23-1, PK Reddy 4-0-27-1, Harris 3-0-23-0, PIS Reddy 4-0-33-0, Boje 1-0-12-0.

Hyderabad Heroes

Shashank c Devendran b Harvey 13

Anirudh Singh c Devendran

b Shabbir Ahmed 31

Rayudu c Law b Saravanan 28

Inzamam not out 44

Abdul Razzaq not out 40

Extras (lb-4, w-4, nb-1) 9

Total (3 wickets, 17.5 overs) 165

Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-50, 3-86

Bowling: Harvey 3.5-0-38-1, Shabbir Ahmed 4-0-27-1, DT Kumaran 3-0-15-0, T Kumaran 2-0-22-0, SV Saravanan 3-0-29-1, R Sathish 2-0-30-0.

Today’s match

Mumbai Champs v Kolkata Tigers 6 pm

Karan’s ton props up Punjab
Ashok Sethi

Amritsar, December 9
The opening day of the Ranji trophy tie being played here belonged to Punjab’s opener Karan Goel who hit his maiden unbeaten century in the match against Baroda at the Gandhi Ground stadium. At the close of play, Punjab were 214 for 1.

Winning the toss, the visitors put Punjab into bat with an overcast sky and thick fog conditions but failed to exploit the conditions.

Punjab lost Ravneet Ricky in the seventh over leg before wicket to Sankalp Vohra after he stayed at the wicket for 33 minutes for his 4 runs.

Karan joined by Ravinder held the Baroda attack at bay for the whole day without losing any further wickets.

The day belonged to Karan who in his 13th match and in 20 innings scored his first century playing some exquisite shots all round the ground.

Karan and Raviinder were severe on the loose balls and played with lot of concentration on a perfect batting track.

Baroda skipper Conner Williams used his fast bowlers deftly but failed to create any impact on the home side.

Sunit Singh and Sankalp Vohra tried hard but could not get much purchase from the wicket as they failed to bowl wicket to wicket. Baroda spinners Yousuf Pathan and Rajesh Powar failed to extract any spin and allowed the home team to score at will.

The only chance Karan gave to the opposition was when he was at 78. Wicketkeeper Pinal Shah failed to stump him on the bowling of Rajesh Powar after tea.

Karan with 121 (16 fours) and Raviinder with 13 hits to the fence shared an unbroken stand of 201.

Scoreboard

Punjab (1st innings) 214 for 1

Ravneet Ricky lbw Vohra 4, Karan Goel n.o. 121, Raviinder Singh 84 n.o.

Extras: (lb-3, b-2) 5

Fall of wicket: 1-30,

Bowling: Sunit Singh 19-5-52-0, S. Vohra 20.2-4-63-1, A. Chauhan 8-3-16-0, Yousuf Pathan 25-8-49-0, Rajesh Powar 12-4-29-0.

Volvo Masters
Gangjee finishes tied 12th

Bangkok, December 9
Rahil Gangjee leapfrogged to tied 12th with a late assault for the best finish by an Indian, while fellow SSP Chowrasia joined 2005 champion Shiv Kapur at the 19th place at the end of the Volvo Masters of Asia here today.

Riding on his impressive front nine, Gangjee signed off with a round of three-under 69 to aggregate five-under 283.

Local hero Prayad Marksaeng birdied the 18th hole at the Thai Country Club for three-under 69 to win the $750,000 Asian Tour finale by a shot from overnight leader Juvic Pagunsan and England’s Chris Rodgers, who both bogeyed the closing hole for a 75 and 68 respectively.

Marksaeng produced several Houdini-like escapes on the back nine to total 13-under 275 and pocket $135,000.

Gangjee began well with birdies on the second and fourth holes followed by an eagle on the par-five seventh.

A bogey on the ninth snapped the rhythm and though he dropped two more shots in the 11th and 16th as well, Gangjee atoned with birdies on the 13th and 17th.

Meanwhile, Shiv Kapur was left to rue his disappointing final round of two-over 74, which denied him a better finish.

Overnight tied 13th, Kapur needed another solid round to finish inside the top 10 but came up with his worst card of the week.

When he began, there were no signs of impending trouble as Kapur birdied the first and fourth holes before dropping his first shot on the ninth.

But, the Delhi golfer was in all sorts of trouble on the treacherous back nine, as he bogeyed the 11th, 13th and 15th holes to slip down the leaderboard with a total of three-under 285.

Chowrasia too was denied a grand sign-off and a birdie quartet was cancelled out by as many bogeys as the Kolkata pro settled for a level-par round.— PTI

Chandigarh slump to second defeat
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 9
In a one-sided match, Chandigarh lost to Jharkhand 9-0 on the second day of 56th All-India Police Hockey Championship being played at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir had defeated Chandigarh 10-0 on the inaugural day of the championship on Saturday.

Chandigarh was lagging behind 3-0 at halftime. Jharkhand converted a penalty stroke in the 61st minute and two penalty corners into goals in the 42nd and 57th minutes.

The remaining six were field goals. Roshan Sanjay Tirkey of Jharkhand scored three goals, whereas Suresh Handa and Maninasi Sanga scored two goals each and Cosmos Bhebgra and Tetus Purty scored one goal.

In another match, Tamil Nadu outplayed Chhattisgarh 8-0 (halftime score 3-0). Tamil Nadu succeeded in converting three of total nine penalty corners into goals in the ninth, 15th and 53rd minutes. Chattisgarh could not take the benefit of the lone penalty corner in the 69th minute.

Uttarakhand defeated Bihar 3-1 (halftime score 2-0). Uttarakhand converted the second of the three penalty corners into goal in the eighth minute.

The other two were field goals in the 21st and 41st minute. Bihar scored the lone field goal in the 43rd minute.

BSF beat Orissa 11-0 (halftime score 2-0). BSF scored eight field goals and converted three penalty corners in goals.

On the first day of the meet, Haryana beat Madhya Pradesh (7-1), Karnataka defeated Andhra Pradesh (6-1), Jammu and Kashmir outplayed Chandigarh (10-0) and Maharashtra defeated Tripura (8-0).

As many as 22 teams with players of national and international repute including Gaganajit Singh, Jugraj Singh, Tejbir Singh, Kanwalpreet Singh and Daljit Singh Dhillon from all over the country are participating in the championship being held from December 8 to 16.

Punjab DGP N.P.S. Aulakh formally inaugurated the championship yesterday.

‘Drug abuse in sports under control’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9
With a figure of four per cent positive, drug abuse in India is still in control, said Dr Alka Beotra, deputy scientific director and quality manager, Dope Control Centre SAI, Delhi.

Talking to the Tribune at the National Seminar on Prevention of Drug Abuse and Doping at Jat Bhawan, here, Dr Beotra was of the view that only education and awareness among the masses, especially sportspersons, about the use of drugs could help control the menace.

“More than 300 drugs are there on the ban list of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Research is on to find more illegal substances. To deal with the threat efficiently, our laboratory at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, is likely to get WADA accreditation in February next year. The lab will not only cater to the country’s needs but also serve the purpose to South East Asian countries at competitive rates”, said Dr Beotra.

Dr Kiran Kumar Kulkarni, sports medicine specialist from Karnataka, said that with educating people and sportspersons, there is also a need of more doctors, dealing with sports medicine.

“Only 60 to 70 sports medicine specialist doctors are there in the whole country. With this number, one can easily imagine their plight”, said Dr Kulkarni.

Citing a case of Russian gymnast Andria Reducan, who had to stripped off her medals during the Sydney Olympics after she tested positive due to her doctor’s ignorance about banned substances, Dr Kulkarni said, “The need of the hour is that sports medicine course should be added to the medical curriculum”.

Meanwhile, in the seminar by Haryana Olympic Association, Haryana Governor, Dr A.R. Kidwai, Abhey Singh Chautala, president, Haryana Olympic Association and many sports officials, prominent sportspersons took part.

Abhay, who is also vice-president, Indian Olympic Association, remarked that the main aim of the seminar was to create awareness among the public in general and the sports fraternity in particular about the harmful effects of drugs by sportspersons.

Tania adjudged best amateur

Bangalore, December 9
Tania Wadhwa finished tied 23rd — the best show by an Indian — to be adjudged the best amateur, while French woman Gwladys Nocera survived compatriot Virgine Lagoutte-Clement’s late charge to lift the inaugural Emaar-MGF Ladies Masters here yesterday.

Fifteen-year-old Tania produced her best card of the week — a one-under 71 — to finish tied 23rd at six-over 293, two strokes head of country’s number one pro Smriti Mehra, who settled for tied 32nd place after signing off with 73.

UK-based Kiran Matharu, too, aggregated 295, after rounds of 76,73,73 and 73.

Starting the day with a three-shot cushion, Nocera carded 71 for a tournament total of seven-under 281 to beat Lagoutte-Clement by one shot.

Lagoutte-Clement, who closed in with a sizzling 69, produced a big effort on the 345-yard, par-four 17th when she drove to the green, but missed her eagle putt from 15 yards.

She needed to birdie the last, but came up just short of the hole, while Nocera holed for a par to claim her second victory this season. — PTI

Dempo hold East Bengal

Margao, December 9
Roberto Mendes Silva's late goal helped Dempo Sports Club hold East Bengal to a 2-2 draw in round four of the ONGC I-League at Nehru stadium here today.

East Bengal scored through strikers M.M. Mukasi (24th) and Edmilson Marques (60th) while Dempo, who controlled the proceeding equalised through Valeriano Rebello (26th) and Silva (86th).

East Bengal keeper Subrato Pal was declared man of the match.

The draw keeps Dempo at the top of the table with 10 points, the same as JCT.

East Bengal are third with seven points from four matches.

Both teams started cautiously. But Dempo gradually took control over proceedings and forced three flag kicks and saw Silva’s header missing the target narrowly.

East Bengal took the lead through a counter-attack.

Edmilson Marques, accepting a ball on the right relayed it to M.M. Mukasi who hoodwinked defender John Dias with a body feint, raced down and beat keeper Abijit Mondal on his left.— PTI

Powerlifters finish with 21 medals

New Delhi, December 9
Indian men collected a silver and bronze medal on the final day of the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand, finishing with a rich haul of 11 gold, six silver and four bronze medals in the event.

Indrapreet claimed the silver in the +125kg category in the senior division with a total lift of 740kg, while Jeevan Kumar won bronze in the 110kg category by managing 635kg.

J. Jenson lifted 690kg in the 125kg category but had to settle for fourth position.

Dronacharya awardee Bhupender Dhawan was the coach of the Indian contingent at the championship, a press release from the Indian Powerlifting Federation said.
— PTI

Dempo hold East Bengal

Margao, December 9
Roberto Mendes Silva's late goal helped Dempo Sports Club hold East Bengal to a 2-2 draw in round four of the ONGC I-League at Nehru stadium here today.

East Bengal scored through strikers M.M. Mukasi (24th) and Edmilson Marques (60th) while Dempo, who controlled the proceeding equalised through Valeriano Rebello (26th) and Silva (86th).

East Bengal keeper Subrato Pal was declared man of the match.

The draw keeps Dempo at the top of the table with 10 points, the same as JCT.

East Bengal are third with seven points from four matches.

Both teams started cautiously. But Dempo gradually took control over proceedings and forced three flag kicks and saw Silva’s header missing the target narrowly.

East Bengal took the lead through a counter-attack.

Edmilson Marques, accepting a ball on the right relayed it to M.M. Mukasi who hoodwinked defender John Dias with a body feint, raced down and beat keeper Abijit Mondal on his left. — PTI

Tania adjudged best amateur

UK-based Kiran Matharu, too, aggregated 295, after rounds of 76,73,73 and 73.

Starting the day with a three-shot cushion, Nocera carded 71 for a tournament total of seven-under 281 to beat Lagoutte-Clement by one shot.

Lagoutte-Clement, who closed in with a sizzling 69, produced a big effort on the 345-yard, par-four 17th when she drove to the green, but missed her eagle putt from 15 yards.

She needed to birdie the last, but came up just short of the hole, while Nocera holed for a par to claim her second victory this season. — PTI

Haryana recover

Rohtak, December 9
Haryana scored 268 for the loss of seven wickets against Madhya Pradesh on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Plate league Group B match played here today.

Haryana were off to poor start as their first two batsmen were back in the pavilion at the score of 25. But then A. Lavasa scored a patient 76 in 181 balls (8 fours) and along with S. Rana put on 92 runs for the fourth wicket.

Haryana (1st innings): MR Beerala c Saxena b Pandey 5, A Mishra lbw Pandey 17, Sumeet Sharma lbw Ali 25, A Lavasa c Ojha b Jadhav 76, S Rana lbw Jadhav 40, SS Viswanathan batting 47, Joginder Sharma lbw Saxena 30, P Prateek c Golwalkar b Dholpure 0, Sandeep Singh batting 5

Extras (b-10 lb-9 nb-4) 23

Total: (86.2 overs) 268 for 7

Fall of wickets: 1-12 2-25 3-79 4-171 5-190 6-254 7-257

Bowling: S Pandey 15.2-3-44-2, Sunil M Dholpure 15-4-34-1, M Ali 8-2-32-1, D Bundela 5-1-16-0, YA Golwalkar 10-0-39-0, JS Saxena 23-4-49-1 A Jadhav 10-1-35-2 — UNI

Thakur wrecks TN

Chennai, December 9
A superb 111 by Tamil Nadu’s S Badrinasth notwithstanding, Tamil Nadu were bowled out for paltry 234 on the first day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Super League match here today. Seamer Ashok Thakur, who claimed a six-wicket haul, was instumental in Tamil Nadu crashing to the paltry total. In reply, HP were 10 for 1, having lost Sandeep for seven.

Tamil Nadu (1st innings) Abhinav Mukund b A K Thakur 0, M Vijay b V S Malik 35, S Badrinath c M S Bisla b A K Thakur 111, K Vasudevadas lbw A K Thakur 39, R Srinivasan c M S Bisla b A K Thakur 0, S Suresh Kumar c Sandeep Sharma b Sarandeep Singh 12, K H Gopinath st M S Bisla b Sarandeep Singh 21, R Ramkumar c Sandeep Sharma b A K Thakur 6, Yeo Mahesh c M S Bisla b A K Thakur 2, P Amarnath not out 0

Extras (b-6, nb-2) 8

Total (all out, 77 overs) 234

Fall of wkts: 1-5, 2-48, 3-145, 4-147, 5-166, 6-206, 7-221, 8-225, 9-226

Bowling: A K Thakur 20-10-34-6, V S Malik 14-4-29-1, J Mehta 7-0-43-0, Sarandeep Singh 24-4-77-3, V Bhatia 11-1-37-0, Sandeep Sharma 1-0-8-0.

Rahil finishes tied 12th

Riding on his impressive front nine, Gangjee signed off with a round of three-under 69 to aggregate five-under 283.

Local hero Prayad Marksaeng birdied the 18th hole at the Thai Country Club for three-under 69 to win the $750,000 Asian Tour finale. — PTI