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India out to make amends
Champions
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2nd successive double ton by S’weera
Johnson bowls Aussies to 162-run victory
Force India records 6th fastest time
Anand held again, slips to fifth spot
First match crucial for Saina: Gopi
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India out to make amends
Napier, March 2
A defeat in the first day-nighter at the McClean Park tomorrow would mean India, who will miss the services of Ishant Sharma because of injury in the first match, would have to play catch-up with the Black Caps who are on a high after blanking the fancied visitors 2-0 in the Twenty20 series. If India began their 48-day sojourn as the favourites, the tide has cruelly turned against them. They have been outdone by a set of talented all-rounders, who could be classified as batsmen-bowlers, bowler-batsmen and a swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman. India desperately lack a match-winning all-rounder and in Ravindra Jadeja they had one in the making, but the left-hander has returned home after the T20 internationals. His alacrity in the field coupled with his all-round abilities would have been of value to the side. The right shoulder injury to Ishant Sharma has set India back with the lanky pacer ruled out of the game. The wiry speedster had formed a formidable new-ball pair with Zaheer Khan, bowling out teams even on lifeless tracks. His pace and nagging accuracy would have come handy on this rock-hard wicket, which curator Phil Sotom described as "good as gold." Ishant's indisposition, however, paves the way for either Praveen Kumar or Munaf Patel to find a place in the eleven. The team management remains hopeful that the 20-year-old seamer, who has scalped 37 wickets in 25 ODIs, will be ready for the second ODI at Wellington on March 6. It is a return of sorts for Sachin Tendulkar, who hasn't played a game in almost three weeks, since being dubiously adjudged lbw thrice in the one-day series in Sri Lanka, which India handsomely won 4-1. The batting maestro said he was happy with his form. "I have been working hard at the nets and have been hitting the ball well. I am looking forward to the ODIs," said Tendulkar, who will look to improve on his already glittering record (16446 runs, 42 centuries). Having garnered over 60 per cent of his runs as an opener, Tendulkar would seek to continue to open the batting. But with Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag forming a productive pair at the top, the team management would be inclined to stick to this combination. Though it is too early on the tour to judge performance, Indian batsmen have not batted as well as they could have. The top order, which floundered in the T20s, would have to fire if the tourists are to win tomorrow's contest, and take the lead in the five-match series. Only if Sehwag, Tendulkar and Gambhir provide the platform, would Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan be able to play their natural game. With or without Ishant, India can answer New Zealand's pace with fire. And if the batting gets going, the visitors can destroy the Kiwis with their strokeplay. But when it comes to fielding, the Kiwis hold a distinct edge over their opponents. Noticeably, the hosts' athleticism has deprived India of vital runs, which could have possibly won the second T20 at Wellington Interestingly, it is only the 76th ODI contest between the two teams, since rubbing shoulders with each other in the World Cup in 1975. India have won 36 of these contests while New Zealand have come on top in 35. — PTI
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Champions
Trophy Johannesburg, Dubai and Abu Dhabi possible venues
Lahore, March 2 ICC Director of cricket operations Dave Richardson said weather pattern in the Island Nation during September-October, when the tournament is being planned to be held, is not conducive to cricket. "It is true some doubts have been raised over the weather conditions in Sri Lanka. We are keeping an open mind on the final venue for the tournament," Richardson said at the Gadaffi Stadium, here today. With the ICC keen to finish off the tournament in 12 days, it would require two venues at a particular place and that narrows down the list of countries who can host the tournament. Richardson said that from this perspective Johannesburg, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were possible options but said the final decision would be taken at the ICC Board meeting in March-April. There have been reports that some countries also have safety concerns about playing in Sri Lanka, who are keen to host the tournament after it was relocated from Pakistan due to security issues raised by England, Australia and New Zealand. Sri Lanka is even willing to host the matches at one venue, Dambulla, and is said to enjoy the support of other Asian boards to host the Champions Trophy. Richardson, meanwhile, described the year as a very important one for since it was the centenary year of the ICC celebrations. "We have couple of high profile bilateral series this year and the ICC Twenty20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. The T20 is going to be fantastic," he said. — PTI
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2nd successive double ton by S’weera
Lahore, March 2 Manzoor and Butt scored at brisk pace in their opening stand before the latter's unfortunate run out in the last over of the day as Pakistan reached 110 for one at stumps at Gaddafi stadium, here. As the pair ran to steal a single off ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene picked the ball at short fine leg and an accurate throw found Butt just short of the crease. Earlier, Thilan Samaraweera (214) hit his second successive double hundred and Tilkaratene Dilshan scored a brilliant 145 to pile up Pakistan's agony after resuming the day at 317 for four. Samaraweera, who made 231 in the first Test in Karachi, helped himself with 32 fours for eighth Test hundred of his career while Dilshan notched up his seventh Test century. Samaraweera also became only the sixth player and provided only the eight instance of a batsman scoring successive double hundreds in back-to-back Tests joining the likes of Sir Donald Bradman, Wally Hammonds, Vinod Kambli, Kumar Sangakkara and Graeme Smith achieve this unique feat. Bradman and Hammonds achieved this feat twice in their illustrious careers. — PTI Scoreboard Pakistan (1st innings):
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Johnson bowls Aussies to 162-run victory
Johannesburg, March 2 The home team, chasing an improbable victory target of 454, were bowled out for 291 as Johnson (4-112) and Siddle (3-46) put Australia 1-0 up in a three-match series that will determine which of the two teams tops the world rankings. South Africa began the day on 178 for two but lost batsmen at regular intervals after Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis batted through the first hour to extend their partnership to 76. Amla fell for 57 when he hit paceman Siddle to Phillip Hughes at mid-wicket. First-innings centurion AB de Villiers was next to go, trapped leg before for three by Andrew McDonald. Scoreboard
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Sarwan, Ramdin help WI pile up 749
Bridgetown, March 2 Sarwan hit the top score of 291 and Ramdin supported with 166. England (1st innings): decl for 6: 600 England (IInd innings):
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Force India records 6th fastest time
Jerez, Spain, March 2 Driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, the VJM02 recorded a time of 1:21.584 over 31 laps yesterday to be sixth among eight teams. Although Fisichellao was not able to complete his round, and the car also experienced some downtime when the fuel system developed a problem following initial runs, he was encouraged by the improved performance of the 2009 challenger. ''It's very promising and I felt much more consistency, even under braking, and more stability in the high speed corners. The lap time is good and I am quite pleased as we did it with one set of new tyres and I know I can do much better than this,'' the German said after his round. ''We are not that far away from the other people so I am looking forward to tomorrow and another day with more laps where we can try to improve the car a little bit and concentrate on reliability.
— UNI |
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Anand held again, slips to fifth spot
Linares (Spain), March 2 Having lost to Aronian from a position of strength with white pieces, Anand could do little as black and the game petered out to a draw. Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk remained a full point clear of nearest rivals after settling for a quick draw with Wang Yue of China. The Russian took his tally to a very impressive six points out of a possible nine. The second spot is now shared by Magnus Carlsen of Norway, Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Aronian who all have 5 points each while Anand is a half point adrift of this lot. Sharing the sixth spot now are the remaining three players, Lenier Dominguez of Cuba, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan and Wang Yue.
— PTI |
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First match crucial for Saina: Gopi
New Delhi, March 2 A shoulder injury had forced the Indian world No. 10 to skip the National Badminton Championships last month and coach Pullela Gopichand feels although she is fit, she could be a little wary since this would be her first tournament since coming back from injury. "I don't think the injury will have any bearing on her performance but yes, since it is her first tournament after the injury, she may feel a bit wary in the initial moments," Gopichand said. The former All-England Champion said the first match would be a tough one and decide the course of the tournament. "The first match is against Hongyan, it would be a tough match. Although Saina has defeated her in the past, the French is having a good form at the moment. If Saina can get past her things could turn out well for her," he said.
— PTI |
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Tendulkar
returns, injured Ishant ruled out
Openers Khurram Manzoor (59 not out) and Salman Butt (48) led Pakistan's fight back in the second Test against Sri Lanka, who scored a mammoth 606 in their first innings on the second day.
Manzoor and Butt scored at brisk pace in their opening stand before the latter's
unfortunate run out in the last over of the day as Pakistan reached 110 for one
at stumps at Gaddafi stadium, here.
Johannesburg, March 2
He(Tendulkar) is a great player. Not only from a batting or bowling point of view. The amount of contribution he can make to the side from his experience is amazing. He changes the dressing room atmosphere completely
The way
the Indians play is they come out and play with freedom. Once they get on a roll they are difficult to stop. At the moment, the roll is with us. We just got to make sure that we keep it going and keep putting them under some pressure