S P O R T S

Home crowd will be missed: Sehwag
New Delhi, April 11
Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag said home crowd will be missed in the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 Cricket Championship to be held in South Africa from April 18 to May 20.

(L-R) Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Amit Mishra share a light moment as they pose during a sponsored send-off event for the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament, to be held in South Africa, in New Delhi on Saturday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

IPL dress rehearsal for T20 WC: Yuvraj
Mumbai, April 11
Flamboyant Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh sees the second edition of the Indian Premier League in South Africa as the perfect dress rehearsal for cricket playing nations ahead of the World Twenty20 Championship in England in June.

Colts let Aussies off the hook
Hobart, April 11
Indian boys squandered a position of strength as the Australian Under-19 team declared its first innings at 306 for seven riding on Tom Beaton's century on the opening day of the first three-day match here today.

Jeev disappoints, cherishes Woods’ company
Augusta (Georgia), April 11
Jeev Milkha Singh's cold putter left him in agony as the Indian missed the halfway cut at the Masters golf tournament by just one stroke on a wind-swept day at the Augusta National here. Struggling to roll his putts in, Jeev brought home three-over 75 for a two-day total of 146 to miss the cut, first time in three appearances, by just one stroke and join the likes of Greg Norman and Ernie Els on the sidelines.

Sandeep takes India into final
Ipoh (Malaysia), April 11
Skipper Sandeep Singh scored two goals as India pipped arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 in a do-or-die round robin match to enter the final of the five-nation Azlan Shah hockey tournament here today.

Liverpool cruise past Blackburn 4-0 London, April 11 Fernando Torres scored twice and Daniel Agger and David Ngog were also on target as Liverpool cruised to a 4-0 Premier League win over a feeble Blackburn Rovers on an emotional occasion at Anfield on Saturday. Liverpool's Fernando Torres (R) vies with Blackburn Rover's Ryan Nelsen during the Premiership match. — AFP

Home crowd will be missed: Sehwag
M.S. Unnikrishnan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 11
Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag said home crowd will be missed in the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 Cricket Championship to be held in South Africa from April 18 to May 20.

He said factors like not having home supporters and day matches will surely be minus points for IPL-II, but he did not envisage any problem on account of the bouncy wickets in South Africa.

Sehwag reminded that the present Indian team had been winning matches on all types of wickets in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. "We won the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa. So wickets would not matter. Indians can play well anywhere", Sehwag said at a send-off function for the Delhi Daredevils by team sponsors Coca-Cola at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here today.

Sehwag's India teammates Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra were also present. Sehwag, who began IPL-I with a bang hitting a soaring six, said every time he went out to bat "everyone expects me to play my shots".

He said it was a "great honour" for him to represent the country, and nothing else mattered. "Playing for my country is the biggest honour. I concentrate on what I can do, and am not bothered about criticism".

Sehwag also showered praise on his opening partner Gautam Gambhir for the manner in which he had consolidated his position as the India opener. He said he did not consider himself as a natural opener, as his orginal slot was in the middle order, till Sourav Ganguly pushed him up the order.

"Gambhir is a sound player who adapts according to the nature of the wicket. He has the qualities of an opener. My combination with Gautam is a big hit. After Sunil Gavaskar he's the only opener who is consistently scoring well and heavily".

Gambhir, hero of India's recent cricket series win in New Zealand and the top scorer during the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year, said he wanted to enjoy IPL-II.

"I just want to go there and enjoy myself", he said. Gambhir was a consistent scorer for Delhi Daredevils in IPL-I.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra said he would try to perform "as well as last year". "I don't think there will be any problem for me on the South African wickets", he added.

IPL dress rehearsal for T20 WC: Yuvraj

Mumbai, April 11
Flamboyant Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh sees the second edition of the Indian Premier League in South Africa as the perfect dress rehearsal for cricket playing nations ahead of the World Twenty20 Championship in England in June.

"The IPL has come at the right time to help all prepare for the T20 World Cup. It will give all the players lot of practice as each team will play at-least 14 matches" the left-hander told reporters here today.

Yuvraj, who is the captain of Kings XI Punjab, co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, was here along with the latter to announce Emirates association with the Mohali-based outfit as its official team sponsor.

Yuvraj, who did not have a successful Test series in New Zealand, said the Kings XI would play similar to what they dished out last year en route the semi-finals in the first edition of the cash-rich T20 league.

“We won 8-10 games (actually 10 out of 14 before losing to Chennai Super Kings in the semi-finals on May 31, 2008) last year. We will play in a similar fashion,” he said.

He, however, refused to be drawn into a debate on the controversial multiple-captaincy theory put forth by Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan.

"No comments. I do not want to say anything about other teams," Yuvraj said and skirted away from the raging debate that started in the country ahead of Knight Riders' departure for South Africa a few days ago.

The decision of the former Australia coach to introduce multiple captains for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata outfit was opposed by Sourav Ganguly, who led the franchise team last year and is a member of the team this year too. — PTI

Colts let Aussies off the hook

Hobart, April 11
Indian boys squandered a position of strength as the Australian Under-19 team declared its first innings at 306 for seven riding on Tom Beaton's century on the opening day of the first three-day match here today. The Indians, who have won the limited overs series 2-0, reduced the Australians to 69 for three by the 24th over but the home team wriggled out of the tight spot with a 101-run fourth wicket partnership between Tim Armstrong (50) and Beaton (106).

In reply, India were 18 for no loss with openers Mayank Aggarwal and Manan Sharma undefeated on six and 12 at the draw of stumps on the opening day.

Jeev disappoints, cherishes Woods’ company

Augusta (Georgia), April 11
Jeev Milkha Singh's cold putter left him in agony as the Indian missed the halfway cut at the Masters golf tournament by just one stroke on a wind-swept day at the Augusta National here. Struggling to roll his putts in, Jeev brought home three-over 75 for a two-day total of 146 to miss the cut, first time in three appearances, by just one stroke and join the likes of Greg Norman and Ernie Els on the sidelines.

"My putting let me down. I didn't putt too well and three-putted three times. I didn't hole anything," lamented Jeev. "It was one of those days when you hit good putts but they don't go in. I tried in the end and made a good birdie on 18 and hope that's good enough. If not, we'll try again," he said.

With winds swirling at Augusta National, Jeev was in for a torrid time. He turned in 36, with a birdie on five erasing the bogey on the previous hole. But he boarded the bogey train soon after, dropping four shots over a seven-hole stretch before salvaging his round with a final hole birdie.

"There isn't (room for error). It's a windy day and you're just hanging in there. The three putts were tough to take. You just have to roll the putts in. I think I hit the ball good today, better than yesterday," Jeev said.

However, for Jeev, the upside of his week was the two rounds he played with Woods. "I've enjoyed myself. I had a great pairing and he made me feel comfortable out there," said Jeev. "Tiger never gives up. Obviously, his recovery is fantastic and mentally he's very good. He makes sure he's got a putt for par and makes a roll at it. If he starts holing putts, he'll be up there on Sunday," said Jeev. — PTI

Sandeep takes India into final

Ipoh (Malaysia), April 11
Skipper Sandeep Singh scored two goals as India pipped arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 in a do-or-die round robin match to enter the final of the five-nation Azlan Shah hockey tournament here today.

Sandeep, leading goal scorer for his side in the tournament, continued his rich form and struck twice in the 28th and 60th minutes to seal the victory for the Indians in the crucial tie at the Azlan Shah Stadium.

Sandeep Singh celebrates after he scored the first goal for India against Pakistan during the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey tournament in Ipoh on Saturday. — AP/PTI

For Pakistan, Mohamed Saqlain reduced the margin in the 50th minute.

With this win, India sealed their place in tomorrow's final with eight points in their kitty and will take on hosts Malaysia in the summit clash. Malaysia drew 1-1 with New Zealand in the last round robin match.

After 28 minutes of mid-field scramble by both the sides, India finally took the lead through Sandeep from a penalty stroke to go into the breather with a 1-0 lead.

Trailing by a goal, Pakistan came out all guns blazing in the second half and made repeated unsuccessful forays into the Indian penalty area before Saqlain drew parity in the 50th minute through a neatly worked out field goal.

Stung by the reverse, India, who needed a victory to ensure their place in the final, attacked with purpose and regained lead 10 minutes later with Sandeep again founding the cage through a powerful dragflick from a penalty corner. Although Pakistan tried hard for the equaliser in the dying stages of the match, the Indian defence stood firm and ensured that there were no last moments hiccups. — PTI

Liverpool cruise past Blackburn 4-0

London, April 11
Fernando Torres scored twice and Daniel Agger and David Ngog were also on target as Liverpool cruised to a 4-0 Premier League win over a feeble Blackburn Rovers on an emotional occasion at Anfield on Saturday.

The win took Liverpool back to the top of the standings on 70 points. They were two points ahead of Manchester United, who were away to Sunderland later on Saturday in one of their two games in hand. Chelsea, at home to Bolton Wanderers later, were third on 64.

After the nail-biting drama of last week when Yossi Benayoun scored in stoppage time to beat Fulham 1-0, Saturday's match was a stroll in the spring sunshine for Liverpool, who had been rocked by their midweek 3-1 Champions League defeat by Chelsea.

They took the lead spectacularly after five minutes when Jamie Carragher lofted a long ball into the box and Torres chested it down before hooking a fierce shot across the goal and into the top corner. — Reuters