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After 33 years...
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De Villiers puts Aussies to sword
KP to lead Royal Challengers
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After 33 years...
Hamilton, March 21 The Indian off-spinner produced a devastating spell to rip through the New Zealand middle-order with figures of six for 63 as the home team folded up for 279 in their second innings. Brendon McCullum (84) and Daniel Flynn (67) stood bravely amid the ruins as the Kiwis just about managed to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat, taking a 38-run lead. The Indians rattled up the required runs in 5.2 overs to wrap the Test, just before close of play, with a full day to spare. The Indian dressing room erupted in joy as Gautam Gambhir (30) scored the winning runs to keep them on course for a historic triumph on New Zealand soil where there last won a series way back in 1968 under the captaincy of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. This is India's first Test win in Kiwi backyard since their eight-wicket win at Auckland in 1976 when the three match-series was drawn 1-1. The two teams will now travel to Napier for the second Test, beginning March 26. McCullum and Iain O'Brien (14) frustrated India with their gritty 76-run partnership for the ninth wicket which proved crucial in saving defeat by an innings margin. New Zealand were at 199 for 8, still needing 43 to make India bat again, but McCullum braved the odds with his pugnacious knock, his 13th half century, taking him past 2000 runs in Test cricket. O'Brien also showed gumption and character while frustrating the Indians for 100 minutes but eventually fell to Harbhajan when gobbled up by VVS Laxman at silly point. Set a feeble target of 39 to win, India romped home with Gambhir and Rahul Dravid (8)-- opening in place of Sehwag -- polishing off the runs. The architect of India's emphatic victory today was Harbhajan, who grabbed his 23rd five-wicket haul and also his best overseas figures. The Kiwis began the day on a stoic note with the left-handed Flynn and Ross Taylor determined to spend time in the middle.
— PTI
Scoreboard New Zealand (1st innings): 279 India (2nd innings):
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BCCI meet to decide fate of IPL
Mumbai, March 21 According to sources, the senior board officials who administer cricket in India will examine the feedback received from various state governments over provision of security for the tournament which coincides with the Lok Sabha elections. Though IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi has promised the tournament will not be truncated, the last word on the matter is likely to be left to Nationalist Congress Party leader and ICC vice-president Sharad Pawar. The board officials will be depending on the political clout of Pawar to get state governments to provide security for the tournament. However, the biggest hurdle for the tournament happens to be in Maharashtra itself where most of the matches are to be held. The establishment here is giving conflicting statements on the fate of the matches to be played in Mumbai and Nagpur. Observers here say, leaders of the Congress party which shares power with Pawar's NCP were putting roadblocks in the smooth passage of the tournament. Reports allegedly emanating from Chief Minister Ashok Chavan's office say he is not keen on the IPL being staged in the state till the elections are over. Meanwhile, owners of various IPL franchises like liquor baron Vijay Mallya, actors Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta are to meet with BCCI officials after the Working Committee meeting on Sunday to thrash out a compromise formula.
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De Villiers puts Aussies to sword
Cape Town, March 21 Earlier, AB de Villiers went on a six-hitting spree as South Africa stretched their first innings lead beyond 400. De Villiers hit 163 as South Africa reached a total of 651, a first innings lead of 442. They were bowled out shortly before the scheduled tea interval as they bid to gain some compensation after losing the series. In an afternoon of rapid scoring De Villiers equalled the world record when he hit four sixes off successive balls from medium-pacer Andrew McDonald. The only other players to achieve the feat were Kapil Dev for India against England in 1990 and Shahid Afridi for Pakistan against India in 2006. The previous two scoring shots by De Villiers were also sixes, against leg-spinner Bryce McGain, who was replaced by McDonald. De Villiers, the third centurion in the South African innings. Brief Score: Australia (1st innings): 209, South Africa (1st innings) 651 (Prince c Haddin 150, De Villiers 163 Johnson 4 for 148, Katich 2 for 9). Australia (2nd innings): 102 for 2.— AFP |
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JCT stun Sporting
Ludhiana, March 21 They, again managed to sneak into the striking zone but this time forward, Nathaniel Amos was off the target. On the other hand, in a counter attack, JCT FC threatned visitors’ territory in the ninth minute. Harish Sharma and Balwant Singh combined well to dodge past rivals’ defence with the former rolling the ball towards Paul Macjames who sent in a blistering strike to produce a brilliant goal (1-0). Elated at an early success, the Millmen made repeated forays into the opponents’ half but could not breach the defence. They could have consolidated the lead in the 29th minute when Baljit Sahni missed a sitter and four minutes laer, Paul’s powerful grounder was saved by Goan custodian, Felix. In the second session too, JCT players exhibited ball control and struck again with what was the fatal blow. In the 77th minute, they extended the lead through Jagpreet Singh who, after dribbling past defenders, lobbed the ball over Felix’s head (2-0). JCT were distinctly unlucky not add two more goals to their credit in the dying minutes when Pawan Kumar and then Balwant Singh’s blistering volley hit the crossbar. With this win, JCT, facing relegation, secured three points to take their points tally to 21 from 19 matches while Sporting Clube de Goa, with 39 points from 20 matches, remained at second spot behind Churchill Bros. Sarabjeet Singh of JCT was named player of the match.
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KP to lead Royal Challengers
Bangalore, March 21 Dravid will not play for the entire tournament as his wife is expecting a child. The team will be led by Pietersen for the first phase of the second edition of IPL until he leaves at the end of April following which Jacques Kallis will assume captaincy. Mallya told reporters that “This decision was taken after extensive consultations with Rahul Dravid and it was not an easy one. We have a wealth of talent and expertise in our team and have six international captains to choose from,” he added. “The decision on captaincy was taken by keeping into account three considerations. One, player’s availability during each phase of the tournament; two, flexibility in selection of playing squad during the phases; and three, the fact that Dravid will not be available due to personal reasons for the entire tournament,” Mallya said. — PTI |
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We were outplayed in all three facets of the game. If we look back to the start and the situation we put ourselves in at 60 for 6, we recovered moderately from there. In every aspect India just showed us how to do it in this Test match
