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Prakash, Somdev falter again
Prakash Amritraj returns the ball to Romania’s Victor Hanescu
during the Davis Cup play-off match in Bucharest, on Sunday. Amritraj lost 2-6, 3-6, 1-6. — AFP
Yusuf powers India A to easy win |
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Selectors doubt Shoaib’s efficacy
Harbhajan is very competitive, especially in his own environment. He's a big threat to our side — Matthew Hayden
IPSC Cricket Tournament
Ministry to monitor PCB
Sub-Jr National Soccer C’ship
Baba Farid Hockey
Former Ranji captain Umesh dead
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Prakash, Somdev falter again
Bucharest, September 21 Both the Indians failed to salvage any pride in their respective reverse singles as Prakash was crushed aside by the 67th ranked Victor Hanescu 2-6, 3-6, 1-6, while Somedev went down to a buoyant Victor Crivoi 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 but not before the latter gave the Romanian a run for his money in a two-and-a-half-hour gruelling encounter. A place in the World Group thus continued to remain an elusive dream for India and it will now again go back to the Asia/Oceania Group where it will have to fight again to come back to play the World Group play-offs. It was way back in 1998 when India last played in World Group. Playing a dead rubber, Somdev took an early lead with some intelligent placements and broke Crivoi in the third game after which he held his serve to take a 3-1 lead in the first set. The 242-ranked Indian did not take much time to increase the lead and made full use of the two break points that came his way in the fifth game. Somedev’s strong backhand had no answer from Crivoi and the Indian looked set to win the first set. The next two games went with the serve but Crivoi battled his way into the match and broke Somdev to make it 5-3. The Indian had an opportunity in the next game to break Crivoi with two break points but the Romanian saved both of them only to see Somdev holding on to his serve and take an early advantage in the match with a 6-4 win in the first set. Earlier, Prakash Amritraj lost in straight sets 2-6, 3-6, 1-6 to Victor Hanescu in the Davis Cup play off to give Romania an unassailable 3-1 lead here today. The 222nd ranked Indian had to face a baptism of fire as he tamely surrendered to his more experienced rival in just an hour and 40 minutes thus making the next reverse singles a dead rubber. Prakash had the opportunity to draw first blood as he got a break point in the fourth game but Hanescu’s superior skills did not allow the Indian to take an early lead. However, when Hanescu got the same opportunity, he did not let it go and converted the break points that came his way in the fifth and seventh game to take an important lead in the set and then won the set 6-2. Prakash looked in all sorts of trouble against his Romanian rival and Hanescu capitalised on it to break the Indian in the very first game of the second set through a brilliant deft touch across the net. The Indian did manage to get a breakpoint in the sixth game but Hanescu rescued himself with an ace and then Prakash had an unforced error to squander another chance of coming back into the match.
— UNI |
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Yusuf powers India A to easy win
The Kiwis tried to make a fight out of it, before falling short by a huge margin. The visitors were bowled out for 224 in 45.4 overs. Openers Redmond and Watling started well. P G Fulton, Hamish Marshal and Broom consolidated but the lower order caved in meekly. The Kiwis, who were cruising well at 168 for three in 34 overs, at one stage, lost the plot after Marshall and Broom fell in quick succession thus ending their hopes of reaching the target. Suresh Raina, who failed with the bat, rolled his arm over with his gentle off spinners and claimed four wickets. Earlier, riding on Yusuf Pathan’s blitzkreig, India A overcame a disastrous start to post a challenging total. Yusuf hit a nonchalant 127-ball 148 studded with nine fours and nine sixers as India recovered from 66 for five in 12 overs to post 305 for eight in 50 overs, after they were asked to bat first. The start was disastrous as openers Robin Uthappa and Swapnil Asnodkar fell in the first two overs without troubling the scorers. Skipper Badrinath, Dinesh Karthick, Suresh Raina fell in quick succession as three of the top five batsmen ran themselves out. Yusuf, coming in at number seven, played a sensible game. He picked up the gaps well and rotated the strike along with Rohit Sharma, before using the long handle effectively in the end to swell the total past the 300-mark. Yusuf steaded the innings adding 105 runs for the sixth wicket with Rohit Sharma in 22.1 overs before adding a further 59 for the seventh wicket with his brother Irfan Pathan in 9.5 overs. He went after the bowlers in the slog overs and added 75 runs for the eighth wicket in just six overs along with Piyush Chawla, who remained unbeaten on 16 of 15 balls. Yusuf, who dominated the eighth wicket stand, fell off the last ball of the innings. — UNI
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Selectors doubt Shoaib’s efficacy
Islamabad, September 21 "Shoaib's form is really a matter for concern for the selectors. If he cannot deliver for a county, how he could do for the country," The News quoted one of the selectors as
saying.
The selector expressed his doubt over his future role as a leading bowler for Pakistan. "One thing is now almost clear that he would find it hard to deliver in the longer version of the game. Keep Twenty20 aside where a bowler has to bowl just four overs, it would be difficult for Shoaib to be an affective bowler in the longer version of the game," the selector said. The selectors questioned Shoaib's role in the Pakistan team, considering the fact that Surrey team management didn't have enough confidence in him and didn't let him open bowling attack for the team. Shoaib had finished with poor bowling figures of 0-63 while representing Surrey against Nottinghamshire in the English County Championship on Friday. Shoaib represented Surrey in two matches and returned just one wicket - that he got in previous match against Hampshire, conceding over 150 runs in the process. Meanwhile, the PCB is waiting for the outcome of Monday's hearing in Lahore High Court, before making plans on his selection for the Toronto (Canada) event. "The PCB has sought the LHC's opinion on whether to consider Shoaib for the twenty20 event without his submitting the seven million rupees fine. It would only be after that we would be able to know whether we should consider him for selection. Even if we get a green signal from the Lahore High Court, the selection committee faces a tough decision on Shoaib's selection considering his form and fitness," said the paper. — ANI
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Hayden set to renew duel with Harbhajan
Melbourne, September 21 Hayden had famously called Harbhajan "obnoxious weed" during India's controversy-ridden tour Down Under early this year prompting the Indian off-spinner to label the Australian opener one of the most reviled men in world cricket. Now among the four players from the 15-man Australian squad with Test experience in India, Hayden said he was all geared up to renew the on-field rivalry with Harbhajan on slow Indian pitches. "Having played over there and played well over there, I think I'm going to be the obvious target," Hayden said before leaving for India. "Harbhajan is very competitive, especially in his own environment. He's a big threat to our side. He's skillful and has got some weapons in conditions that will favour him. My job will be to combat that so for me it's a battle I'm really looking forward to," Hayden was quoted as saying by 'Courier Mail'. The Queenslander spanked 549 runs at 109.80 on that tour and his record against India is imposing, 1654 runs at 66.16 with six centuries. In the same series, Harbhajan took 32 wickets in a gripping contest that India won 2-1. "I think this series is tailor-made for guys like me," said Hayden, who will turn 37 in India. Ponting wants rivalry, not acrimony The bad blood of last summer still fresh in mind, Australia captain Ricky Ponting does not want acrimony to vitiate his team's healthy rivalry with India in the forthcoming Test series. Before leaving for India to play a four-match Test series, Ponting told reporters in Sydney that he expected both the sides to play the game in the right spirit. "There's been a very healthy rivalry between India and Australia in one-day and Test cricket and our last few Test encounters have been very good and some very close results," Ponting told reporters before leaving for India with a 15-member squad. "Hopefully, this is another great series played in the right spirit," he said. Last time the teams locked horns Down Under, the racism row in Sydney, featuring Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds, threatened to split the world of cricket before finally good sense prevailed. Relations between many rival players, however, hit rock bottom and Australian opener Matthew Hayden went on to describe Harbhajan as an "obnoxious weed" during the ODI series. Ponting, however, hoped that the old wounds would not be reopened and said all issues would be thrashed out in the customary pre-series meeting featuring both captains and officials. The Australian skipper did not deny security apprehensions following serial blasts in Delhi but also reposed full faith in Cricket Australia's decision to go ahead with the tour. "I've done it all day today, I've had a lot of discussions with my wife today about those exact issues," Ponting said. — PTI
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Pinegrove, Mayo girls in title clash
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 21 In the first semifinal played between Mayo College Ajmer and YPS, Mohali, the latter won the toss and scored 60 for the loss of 8 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. With a sedate knock of 14 runs, Neelam was the highest scorer for YPS. Arti also contributed 11 runs. For Mayo, Mehak took four important wickets while Shruti and Harshita took one wicket each. Mayo easily overhauled the target in just 7.5 overs. Zara scored 29 not out while Shruti also carried her bat till the end for her 24 runs. Mehak was awarded the Player of the match award for her excellent bowling effort. In the second semifinal also played late last night the hosts Pinegrove School played against Ashok Hall Nainital. The Nainital girls won the toss and elected to bat first. Commendable bowling by Pinegrove girls did not allow the Ashok Hall girls to settle down. They kept on losing wickets in short intervals as the innings folded up for a meagre 42 runs. Komal (nine) and Sonal (seven) were the main scorers. Kirat took four wickets while Urvashi chipped in with a three-wicket haul. Pinegrove achieved the target in the eighth over only losing just two wickets. Surgeet scored 9 not out while Rajnimrit scored 6 runs for Pinegrove. Kirat walked away with the Player of the match award due to her inspired performance with the ball.
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Ministry to monitor PCB
Karachi, September 21 Sports Minister Najamuddin Khan said a notification had been issued after making a minor amendment in the PCB constitution to empower the ministry to monitor the working of the Board until the President of the country appoints a new chairman. "We made the amendment after getting it vetted by the Law Ministry. The amendment is a minor one which says that if the chairman of the Board resigns or is removed or expires and no immediate replacement is announced, the ministry will monitor the day-to-day affairs and working of the cricket Board," Khan said. "We will depute an officer tomorrow and he will look into the financial, administrative and cricket affairs of the PCB," he added.
— PTI |
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EPL: Kalou saves the Blues
London, September 21 Kalou, who came on in the 74th minute, headed home six minutes later after Park Ji-sung's 18th-minute opener. The draw takes Chelsea level with Liverpool on 11 points, one behind leaders Arsenal who beat Bolton Wanderers 3-1 away yesterday. Aston Villa won 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion today to move to fourth on 10 points. Aware that another defeat would leave them nine points adrift of Chelsea, they started well and Rio Ferdinand hit the woodwork in an early attack. They went ahead after Patrice Evra surged into the box and squared for Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian, a peripheral figure for most of the match, had his low shot parried by goalkeeper Petr Cech but straight into the path of Park, who turned it in. Chelsea threw on Didier Drogba for the second half, with United introducing Cristiano Ronaldo, but neither forward was able to make an impact. Joe Cole had a great chance to equalise after 65 minutes when through on goal but he shot weakly straight at Tomasz Kuszczak, on in place of Edwin van der Sar after the Dutchman was injured in a first-half collision. Cole thought he had made amends seven minutes later when he whipped in a fierce low cross that Nicolas Anelka needed only to touch over the line but the Frenchman failed to make contact. As the clock ticked down it appeared that Chelsea were heading for their first home league defeat since Arsenal beat them in February 2004. However, when John Obi Mikel floated in a deep free kick Kuszczak remained rooted to his line and an unmarked Kalou headed home from six metres. Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said the loss of Deco to an injury in the warm-up disrupted his team.
— Reuters |
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Karnataka swamp Chandigarh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 21 The day’s matches were played under ideal ground and weather conditions. Of the two matches played in the morning session, an exceptionally good footwork was seen and speed in the match between Assam and Manipur teams was superb. In the match against Assam, the Manipur team was the first to strike with a goal in the 40th minute through Sanjeev Kumar Singh. However, in the second half the taller players of Assam used their height to advantage to score three goals in quick succession towards the end in the 76th, 84th and 86th minutes with Rafi Ram scoring two goals and Jurden Roy scoring the third to finish the match 3-1 in favour of Assam. Karanataka playing Chandigarh in the second match, were all over the field and kept scoring at will as the goals coming at regular intervals. Four goals were scored from 26th to the 45th minutes with another two in the second half. Karanataka prevailed by 6-0 . The scorers were Deepak (2) and Madan Amoes, Santosh and Dinesh, one each. In the afternoon session, Delhi scored one goal in the first half against Gujarat, whose goalkeeper effected some excellent saves. The second half proved barren as Delhi won by 1-0. Himachal Pradesh prevailed over Bihar by 1-0 scored through Lovepreet in the 63rd minute. In the third match Goa defeated Tripura by 3-0. The goals were secored by D-Fernandis, Alish Sawant and Nixon in the 11th 56th and 68th minutes, respectively. The team from J&K did not report for their match.
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BSF, Signals, RCF enter semis
Faridkot, September 21 In the first quarterfinal, BSF outplayed Roomi Eleven 3-1. All the winning goals were scored in the first half. The BSF opened its account when Swaranjit Singh, right full back, converted first penalty corner in the 7th minute. Jaswinder Singh left out of Roomi XI equalised through penalty stroke in the 12 minute. The BSF scored the second goal through Sushil Khajur, left full back, by converting a short corner into goal in 22nd minute and the winning stroke of BSF came just before the whistle of first half by Parkash Karak, outside right, of a field goal. In the second quarterfinal, Corps of Signals beat CRPF by 8-7. The match was decided by sudden death. — PTI
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Former Ranji captain Umesh dead
Patiala, September 21 A veteran of more than 70 matches for Punjab and North zone, Umesh Kumar complained of uneasiness in the morning following which his family members shifted him to a local hospital. Four days ago, Umesh Kumar’s teenaged son Mohit Jund died due to a heart attack. Umesh, who started his career while playing for Southern Punjab in the early 70s, is survived by his wife and cricketer son Ankur Jund. He was an employee of the State Bank of Patiala and was slated to retire after two years. He also played for North zone against the visiting Alan Border led Australian team in 1979 at Srinagar. Umesh took three wickets in the match including those of Border and Graham Yallop. |
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India’s hopes of making it to the World Group were dashed as Prakash Amritraj was handed a straight set mauling by Victor Hanescu while Somdev Devvarman was outlasted by a buoyant Victor Crivoi to lose the Davis Cup play off tie 1-4 to Romania here today.
Chennai, September 21
Hamilton in court
before night race
TOKYO: