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India look to keep up momentum
‘Sizzling’ Sehwag a huge threat
Johnson’s 3-wkt burst rattles SA
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ICC to hear Broad, Jayawardene
Sachin should play in 2011 WC: Ganguly
Lahore security not as expected: Morgan Collingwood, Prior hammer WI attack
World Cup: India eves thrash Pak by 10 wkts
England
record 100-run win
Edu proves a point, rescues one too
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India look to keep up momentum
Christchurch, March 7 But the two rain-marred matches at Napier and Wellington have not only upset the rhythm of the players to some extent, but have also put New Zealand in a tricky situation. If the Black Caps lose tomorrow's crucial day-nighter at the AMI park, the door to a possible series victory would be shut on their face. New Zealand have more at stake than India, who have gathered steam since their 0-2 rout in the Twenty20s. Sehwag is in red-hot form and has already logged two half centuries (77 and 54) in the series and India will loom to him for yet another explosive start. However, the Black Caps mistakenly believe that if they could get Sehwag early, they could rein in the rest of the Indian batters. But Vettori does not seem to realise that it is not Sehwag who produces most of India's win. But he does set it up. Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and Dhoni have contributed when it matters most. The Kiwis would be at peril if they underestimate Sachin Tendulkar, who has prudently switched to the role of a moderator. The Mumbaikar may be 36 years old, but he still has the fire to take the attack to the rivals, as he did in the abandoned ODI at the Westpac stadium. It was the fear of their batting being decimated by the destructive combo of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma that New Zealand, who had blatantly prepared green tops on India's last tour here, opted for flat, hard and brown tracks. Though Ishant has not played a match since hurting his right shoulder, Zaheer and Praveen Kumar have combined to rock the inexperienced Kiwi batting line-up. Instead of spending sleepless nights over Sehwag, the Black Caps would do well to play to pep up their confidence, which has been at a low since losing the rain-truncated first one-dayer at Napier by 53 runs. Unlike India, theirs is an inexperienced side, with a good crop of batsmen and bowlers. They need to train their eye on the future, rather than worry about immediate goals. — PTI
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‘Sizzling’ Sehwag a huge threat
With Virender Sehwag in ominious form in the ongoing series, New Zealand bowlers are bracing themselves for another whirlwind innings from the dashing opener ahead of the third one-dayer here tommorow.
The 'Sultan of Multan' has dominated the bowlers right from the the first ball that he faced in New Zealand. During the opening T20 clash, he slammed three sixes off the first three balls of his innings. India may have lost that match, yet Sehwag's declaration of intent during his slambang innings of 26 runs off just 10 balls was unmistakable - he wanted to hit every ball out of the park. To add to the hosts' woes, he has improved with every match throwing the most well laid plans of the Kiwi's completely off track. In the first two ODIs, Sehwag has destroyed the confidence of the bowlers, scoring half-centuries at strike-rates of 137.5 and 150. To curb Sehwag's strokeplay, the New Zealanders have tried to bowl on the shorter side and into his body. But that strategy has backfired. Sehwag has scored 109 of his 131 runs in the two ODIs square of the wicket, cover and midwicket - 63 of them on the leg side. Off-spinner Ross Taylor admitted that it is a difficult proposition bowling to Sehwag and the home team has failed to put the lid on him. ''We have to pitch it up a little bit more,'' he said. ''We've been punished square, and the New Zealand grounds are very short square, so we have to get them to hit down the ground more. If we bowl a heavy ball and force them to hit down the ground more, it'll give us a chance and help us set fields as well.'' The bowlers seem to be bowling to a plan, the fields are in place, but still, something goes wrong against Sehwag. Even New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori is apprehensive of what the 30-year-old from Najafgarh might come up with during tomorrow's match, given the sort of form he is in. ''That's what destructive batsmen do,'' Vettori had said after the second ODI. ''They put people off their game plans. I wouldn't say intimidated, but you are fearful of what's going to come next. You are never sure what he is going to do, he is that good a player that he can hit all around the park.''
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Johnson’s 3-wkt burst rattles SA
Durban, March 7 Johnson took two wickets in his first over, then struck Smith with the third ball of his next over to throw the South African innings into disarray after the hosts had fought back earlier in the day, taking the last six Australian wickets for 49 runs, including the last five for four runs in 18 balls. Smith had a fracture at the base of the little finger on his right hand, an injury likely to keep him out of action for two or three weeks, almost ruling him out of the third and final Test, while making his participation doubtful. — AFP Australia (1st innings): South Africa (1st innings)
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ICC to hear Broad, Jayawardene
London, March 7 Jayawardene and rest of the Sri Lankan squad survived with life while Broad escaped unhurt after 12 gunmen carried out an attack on the convoy while it was on its journey towards the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day's play of the second Test against Pakistan. Broad had subsequently criticised Pakistan for the poor security arrangement in Lahore and drawn the ire of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt, who called the former England cricketer a liar. The ICC board meeting is expected to resolve this blame game over the botched security arrangement and if the invitations get accepted, then both Butt and Broad would get a chance to clear the air. Pakistan skipper Younis Khan could attend the meeting as well, the Daily Telegraph reported. Despite the criticism aimed at Broad, ICC president David Morgan acknowledged that security was 'not as expected'. "Sadly it would seem the level of security was not what might have been expected. Mr Butt's views are well known, but on the other hand Imran Khan has a view that is not dissimilar from Chris Broad's," said Morgan.
— PTI |
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Sachin should play in 2011 WC: Ganguly
Patna, March 7 Ganguly expressed concern over the recent terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. Asked whether Pakistan should be denied hosting rights of 2011 World Cup matches, Ganguly said, "The terror strike on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore proves that Pakistan as of now is not safe for the game." The Kolkata Knight Riders captain, however, dismissed apprehensions of any terror threat to the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying, "It is completely safe and preparations are already underway for holding the matches. "The Knight Riders will begin practice from March 16," he said. Describing the current Indian team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a 'balanced' one, Ganguly said when he was captain, he often suggested the gifted wicketkeeper-batsman to go up in the batting order.
— PTI |
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Lahore security not as expected: Morgan
London, March 7 "Our people were in touch with the Pakistan board and had assurances of presidential level security. We were satisfied as were the Sri Lankan Board. Sadly, it would seem it was not as expected," he said. The ICC President, however, refused to make any comment on PCB chairman Ejaz Butt's claim that security was adequate. "I have spoken with Ijaz Butt and I think his views are well known. I also spoke with Mahela Jayawardene and I had his account of security, and also Chris Broad, and I think it would be wrong for me to comment on widely differing accounts," Morgan told the BBC. Incidentally, both ICC match referee Broad and Sri Lankan skipper Jayawardene questioned the level of security provided to the visiting team as well as match officials during Tuesday's terror attack. Six Sri Lankan players and assistant coach Paul Fabrace were injured, while eight people were killed when 12 gunmen opened fired at the team convoy while it was heading towards the Gaddafi stadium for the third day's play in the second Test. — PTI
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Collingwood, Prior hammer WI attack
Port of Spain, March 7 The pair has added 104 - unbroken - for the fifth wicket to fortify England's position, after West Indies removed England captain Andrew Strauss and the stylish Owais Shah in the first half-hour of the day. Collingwood reached his landmark from 206 balls in the over before lunch, when he paddled Brendan Nash, plying his modest left-arm medium-pace, to deep fine leg for a single. But Prior led the counter-attack for England and reached his 50 from 52 balls, when he cut slow left-arm bowler Ryan Hinds to deep cover for a single. When the pair were brought together, England were 268 for four, and West Indies felt justified about their decision to take the new ball immediately. Brief Score: England: 372/4 (Strauss 142, Collingwood 101 n.o., Prior 57 n.o.; Edwards 1/49, R.Hinds1/60) — AFP
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World Cup: India eves thrash Pak by 10 wkts
Bowral (Australia), March 7 Electing to bowl first, India shot out the Pakistanis for a paltry 57 in 29 overs and then their openers finished the Group B game in 10 overs at the Bradman Oval ground here. The target of 58 was never enough to test the India batters who achieved the victory in 10 overs. Anjum Chopra (17) and stumper Anagha Deshpande (26) remained unbeaten to guide India home. Earlier, Sana Mir (17) and Bismah Maroof (11), apart from the 10 extras, were the only batters to reach the double figures in Pakistan's innings. The Indian bowlers, spearheaded by captain Jhulan Goswami, bowled a teasing line and length and made full use of the early morning conditions. While Goswami picked up a wicket by conceding 18 runs, her new ball partner and Player of the Match Rumeli Dhar finished with figures of 8-5-7-3. Vice-captain Amita Sharma and Priyanka Roy chipped in with 2 for 9 and 2 for 13, respectively.
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Kaohsiung, March 7 Paes-Bhupathi were cruising along comfortably after winning the first two sets but the Taipei pair surprised them with their never-say-die spirit as they upset the multiple Grand slam winners in the third set. The Indians saved six points and stretched the third set to tie-breaker but both Paes and Bhuapthi double faulted at crucial junctures to lose the set. The Indian pair was down 1-5 as the immensely talented Taipei players broke them twice - third and fifth games - but the visitors raised their game a few notches, won five games on the trot to make it 6-5. Stunned by a brilliant fightback of the home players, who are ranked as low as 498 and 700, the Indian pair then stepped on the accelerator and rode on a double break to win the fourth set and seal the issue. Yet Chinese players, especially left-hander Yi, made a statement by pushing one of the best in the business to limits in a battle that lasted three and a half hours at Yang Ming tennis centre. After this victory, India need to win one of the two reverse singles tomorrow to advance to the third round of the Asia/Oceania Group I competition. Somdev Devvarman, who won the first singles for India, is up against a tough customer in Yen-Hsun Lu and considering Lu's form, it will be an uphill task for the Indian to beat the world number 59. Rohan Bopanna, who will play the second reverse singles against Ti Chen, may have to pull it off for India in the deciding fifth rubber. — PTI
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Edu proves a point, rescues one too
Ludhiana, March 7 JCT started with early domination and in the third minute, Baljit Sahni was gifted with a straight forward chance. The AI keeper missed the ball on the bounce, and Baljit was left with an open goal. But the usually clinical winger got a poor first touch and then shot back straight at Arup Debnath, the AI custodian. As AI began to settle, their mid-field led by captain Tayo created a lot of spaces in the JCT half. In the 26th minute, after having received two back to back corners, AI took the lead as Gourango Biswas headed one in. In the 45th minute, Amandeep made a blistering run on the right and beat three AI players to get into the box. Just when he was about to unleash a shot, he was tripped by Sayid Farid. It looked a certain penalty but the referee, somehow, was not convinced. It was hardly the start JCT were looking for and they chased the game for the rest of the half. After the breather, JCT took off Julius with an injury and soon Sakatar made way for Balwant. It was an astute move by Sukhwinder as Baljit moved into the mid-field and the team reverted to an attack-minded 4-4-2. Man of the match Edu was the main pivot weaving move after move, showing why he is rated among the best foreign recruits in the league. He was floating all around and AI had a tough time pinning him down. He was also in his element with dead ball situations as he twice struck the bar. But time was clearly slipping out. In injury time JCT were awarded a corner and Harish played it short to Edu, who curled it in from close to the corner flag. The ball swirled like a boomerang and to the sheer horror of AI, hit the crossbar and then fell in. It was unreal as the ball had looked long, but the Brazilian kissed his badge and announced his return to form. Just a point for the draw, but at times in football, one looks like three…numbers in sports you see!
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Christchurch, March 7
With Virender Sehwag in ominious form in the ongoing series, New Zealand bowlers are bracing themselves for another whirlwind innings from the dashing opener ahead of the third one-dayer here
tommorow.
