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India-New Zealand play draw
Anand loses to Aronian, slips to tied 3rd
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Punjab thump Services
Delhi defeat Haryana
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IPL: Is Freddie not ready?
London, February 21 The all-rounder is under great pressure from the public to rest himself so that he can recover fully to serve his national team and Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s decision to pull out from the IPL’s second season hasn’t done anything good to him. However, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph, not many English players are bothered about what Ponting decides on his availability in the Twenty20 tournament. “Ponting can do what he likes. I’m playing in IPL, end of story,” the daily quoted an unnamed players as saying. Ponting, along with several other leading Aussies, played in last year’s IPL. Since then, their own stock, and that of Australia, has declined so rapidly that they lost home Test and ODI series to South Africa. Stung by the defeat, Ponting has decided to take this year’s IPL off to concentrate on playing for Australia. England, which is currently in the West Indies on a five-match Test series, has a tight schedule ahead with Ashes also lined up against Australia. Assistant coach Andy Flower said the decision to withhold players from the IPL will be made by Hugh Morris in conjunction with the new team director, a post that was advertised yesterday on the ECB website. “Fred is injured now but there is still quite a way until the IPL, so we will have to monitor that,” Flower said. “I haven’t seen the reasons for Ponting’s decision but as far as our guys are concerned they are committed to doing the IPL. But if there are any injury problems Hugh and the new director of cricket will have to make a decision closer to the time,” Flower added. The Daily Telegraph, however, reported that the board could once again be held responsible for the current state. “Once again the ECB are not without fault, and had they not made such an issue over IPL participation last year, and let us not forget the ill-fated Stanford venture was part of keeping their best cricketers away from India’s Twenty20 moguls, then the players would probably have been less bullish now about taking part. “The Board’s other option, and one many former England cricketers feel they should have taken, was to have handed players, especially those dithering over signing their central contracts, an ultimatum: ‘You can play in IPL but while it takes place when it does, if you do you won’t play for England,” the newspaper reported. Flintoff himself had claimed that his hip injury was something that had been building and his team needs him especially England is to pose a strong challenge to Australia in the Ashes. His team needs him to be fit but if the all-rounder decides to make use of the three-week window opened by the ECB for the IPL, he could well develop the injury once again. — UNI
Oz media praises Ponting for IPL skip
Melbourne: Australian media today praised Ricky Ponting and others for skipping the second edition of the Indian Premier League, terming it a "brave" and "smart" decision.
“First Mitchell Johnson opted out, then Michael Clarke and now Australian captain Ricky Ponting has made the brave decision not to play in the Indian Premier League this year. The decision by the skipper to spend two weeks at home with his family rather than dashing for the IPL cash is a smart move,” The Australian reported. “Ponting’s move is brave and bold and will silence the critics, but more importantly it will give him the sort of rest he needs before the Ashes and the Twenty20 World Cup.” The newspaper felt the inaugural edition of the IPL has affected many Australian players and so skipping the Twenty20 event will save the cricketers from unnecessary injuries and prolong their career. “The players are in the middle of the most gruelling 18 months of cricket ever endured. Two weeks in the IPL may not seem much, but it is a game that places a lot of strain on tired bodies and a lot of the players who competed last year came home with injuries. “Matthew Hayden never got his career back on track, Andrew Symonds’ knee continues to trouble him and Brett Lee eventually broke down. To name a few,” it said. ICC to bring BCCI and ICL on table
Dubai: In a step aimed at ending the tussle between the Indian Cricket Board and the Indian Cricket League, the International Cricket Council has invited both the parties to a meeting in Johannesburg on Monday. ICC president David Morgan and the chief executive Haroon Lorgat would meet with representatives of the BCCI and the ICL. The representative of the BCCI and the ICL had met in October last year but the talks had failed. Morgan said he had arranged the meeting to try and bring about a settlement to the long-running dispute between the two parties. “I’ve long regarded it as a priority to bring together the BCCI and the owners of the ICL and I’m pleased to say we have fixed a meeting to take place in Johannesburg on Monday,” Morgan said in a statement. The ICC president cautiously said they were hoping to see an end the dispute but nothing can be promised. “I hope we might be successful in coming to a mutually acceptable conclusion. I can’t be certain that will be the case but I hope we can at least make a start in bringing about a settlement. “I think this is significant because experience tells me that the best opportunity to solve a dispute is to have the parties face-to-face,” he said.
— PTI |
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India-New Zealand play draw
Wellington, February 21 The visitors were jolted by a third minute goal through New Zealand captain Phil Burrows but their smart change of tactics in the second session yielded the equaliser in the 55th minute through SV Sunil. The Kiwis, who lost both their matches to India in the Punjab Gold Cup in Chandigarh earlier this month, dominated the first half and went into the breather 1-0 up. However, India changed tactics in the second session by switching to short passing build-up instead of hard hitting into the circle. This caught up the Black Sticks unawares and, coupled with some solid defending by the Indians, the home side were forced to commit mistakes. India missed three chances for the equaliser as forwards Rajpal Singh, SV Sunil and Shivendra Singh were off target. However, Sunil made amends 15 minutes from the final hooter and slotted home from close range past goalkeeper Stephen Graham after a set up by Arjun Halappa. India started brightly in the opening session forcing a penalty corner in the first minute when New Zealand defender Richard Petherick committed a foul inside the circle. Captain Sandeep Singh's flick was well saved by Graham to his low right. The Black Sticks took control of the game thereafter with well orchestrated midfield forays. Their 28-year-old home town skipper Burrows, playing his 212th international, was the beneficiary of good work done by fellow striker Simon Child as he scored from the right to break into the lead. India were, however, a transformed side in the second half and veteran Dilip Tirkey formed the backbone of their defence. His measured interceptions denied the opponents much headway in this session. The second Test will be played here tomorrow.
— PTI
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Anand loses to Aronian, slips to tied 3rd
Linares, February 21 Having started with a brilliant victory against Teimour Radjabov in the opener, Anand had a big advantage before he suddenly missed some simple tactics and lost without further resistance. Aronian emerged as the new leader along with Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk of Russia, who tamed Wang Yue of China. The other two games of the second round were drawn. Anand shares the third spot with Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, Magnus Carlson of Norway and Lenier Dominguez of Cuba. Radjabov and Wang Yue are now at the bottom of the tables with a half point each. Twelve rounds still remain in the traditional tournament which is being played on a double round robin basis between eight players. Anand showcased his preparation against the Semi Slav defense and went for a razor-sharp pawn sacrifice that had been played before. Aronian accepted the pawn
offer but came under tremendous pressure on the king side. It was a practical decision by Aronian to sacrifice a piece for a few pawns that kept him in the game. The optical problems resulted in Anand losing his control and his desire to exchange queens to simplify the position proved disastrous. Aronian clinched the issue after 53 moves. Wang Yue played the Slav defense against Grischuk but could not find the equaliser after the latter went for complications with a pawn sacrifice in the center. The Chinese player found some solace after giving the pawn back and reached a slightly worse endgame wherein Grischuk showed immaculated technique and romped home after 57 moves.
— PTI |
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Jayawardene leads Lanka’s assault
Karachi, February 21 Jayawardene (136 not out) and Thilan Samaraweera (130 not out) shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 229 in Sri Lanka’s 406 for three at the close. The Sri Lanka captain hit his 25th Test hundred from 169 balls with 15 fours while Samaraweera made his eighth century from just 127 balls with 17 fours. Jayawardene, 31, who will step down as captain after this series, also became the first Sri Lankan and only the 20th player ever to reach 8,000 runs. Pakistan's rustiness was evident in their first Test for 14 months as the Sri Lanka batsmen scored at a brisk pace, making 158 runs from 35 overs in the final session. — Reuters Scoreboard Sri Lanka (first innings) Warnapura c Misbah b Arafat 59 Paranavitana c Misbah b Gul 0 Sangakkara c Misbah b Kaneria 70 M Jayawardene not out 136 Samaraweera not out 130 Extras (lb-3, w-1, nb-7) 11 Total (for 3 wickets; 90 overs) 406 Fall of wickets: 1-3 2-93 3-177. Bowling: Gul 16-1-82-1; S Khan 16-1-105-0; Arafat 17-1-57-1; Malik 16-2-60-0; Kaneria 24-2-93-1, Younis 1-0-6-0.
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Chirag stun JCT
Ludhiana, February 21 There was barely any space and a stumbling and fumbling JCT mid-field did nothing to help matters. Edu, the maverick Brazilian, had a real bad day in office. Chirag took advantage of the overall clumsiness and in the 37th minute, Daniel headed the ball in from a cross by Snehasish, off a corner, to put the visitors in the lead. JCT were just not able to find their feet and their best chance of the half, unfortunately, fell to Edu. The Brazilian had Baljit Sahni open on the right flank, but went solo instead only to be tackled and dispossessed. After the breather, JCT sprung back to life as Edu was substituted by Balwant. The JCT forward line pushed for the entire duration of the second half, but to no avail. JCT have made life tough in the league with some very stiff games coming up, especially the next fixture against Churchill on the 26th. |
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Una, February 21 However, Inder Singh and Ankur Kakkar took charge, putting up a 147-run partnership to steady Punjab’s ship. After Kakkar (74) was dismissed in the 45th over, Punjab had three big overs, smashing 36 runs in the space of just three overs. However, Services hit back, as Yashpal Singh took a fine catch off the bowling of Abhimanyu Singh to account for the wicket of Inder Singh. Inder Singh scored 126 runs off 149 deliveries, with 13 hits to the fence and two sixes.
— UNI
Delhi defeat Haryana
Dharamsala: A century from Virat Kohli helped Delhi defeat Haryana by 139 runs in the North Zone Ranji Trophy one-dayer at HPCA Stadium, here today. Put into bat, Delhi put up a massive 364 for the loss of six wickets.
Kohli made 124 in just 82 balls with the help of nine fours and seven sixes. He was well supported by Shikhar Dhawan (65) and Akash Chopra (75). In reply, Haryana were bundled out for 225 in 43.2 overs. For Haryana, opener Amardeep Sohkar was the topscorer with 61.— PTI Punjab: Sunny Sohal lbw b Narender 17 Ravi Inder c Yashpal b Abhimanyu 126 U Kaul b Rakesh 0 Dharmani c Yashpal b Rakesh 7 Kakkar c Chatarjee b Sharma 74 T Kohli st Sarabjit b Abhimanyu 4 M Sidhana not out 3 S Kaul c Jasvir b Yashpal 2 Gaurav not out 1 Extras (lb 2, w 3, nb 1) 6 Total (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 240 Fall of wickets: 1/34, 2/35, 3/51, 4/198, 5/234, 6/234, 7/237. Bowling: Rakesh 8-1-35-2, Narender 8-1-42-1, Abhimanyu 9-1-31-2, DS Attri 6-0-30-0, A Sharma 9-0-60-1, Yashpal 10-0-40-1. Services: Jasvir b Gagandeep 11 Tahir c Inder Singh b Gagandeep 4 NK Sharma c Ladda b Kohli 2 S Chatarjee c Kakkar b Kohli 5 Yashpal c Sidhana b Ladda 53 Sarabjit c Ladda b Kohli 6 Abhimanyu c Sidhana b Kakkar 16 A Sharma run out 23 Narender c Kaul b Gambhir 12 DS Attri not out 9 Rakesh c Kohli b Gambhir 9 Extras (b 4, lb 10, w 4) 18 Total (all out, 49.5 overs) 168 Fall of wickets: 1/11, 2/17, 3/23, 4/23, 5/40, 6/70, 7/121, 8/139, 9/150, 10/168 Bowling: Gagandeep 7-1-15-2, S Kaul 7-3-10-0, T Kohli 7-1-26-3, S Ladda 10-0-37-1, A Kakkar 10-1-23-1, Gaurav Gambhir 6.5-0-35-2, R Inder Singh 2-0-8-0. |
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