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India begin with a win Indian players celebrate their win against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge on Saturday. — AFP
photo Taylor master does it for NZ Ross Taylor of New Zealand plays a shot against Scotland at The Oval on Saturday. — AFP
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Gayle storm blows Oz
Netherlands in neverland
Eng face make or break Pak clash
FIH nod for Hockey India
Doubles delight for Paes-Dlouhy
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Ojha's four-wicket haul in his maiden Twenty20 International broke Bangladesh's back as the minnows finished at 155 for eight, a total they owe to Junaid Siddique (41) and Naeem Islam (28).
Earlier, Gautam Gambhir (50) and Rohit Sharma (36) gave India a rollicking start but it was Yuvraj's violent 18-ball 41 that propelled them to 180 for five in the Group A opener. Chasing 181, Bangladesh began on a positive note with Tamim Iqbal (15) hitting Zaheer Khan for two successive fours and Junaid (41 off 22 balls) pulling Irfan Pathan for a six. M S Dhoni introduced Yusuf Pathan and it paid off as the duo collaborated to get Tamim stumped in the third over. Junaid looked unperturbed as he scored at a brisk rate, hitting sixes off the Pathan brothers -- Yusuf and Irfan -- and Harbhajan Singh. Unfortunately, wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Mohammad Ashraful (11) fell to Ishant Sharma and then Pragyan Ojha struck twice in his first over to unhinge Bangladesh. Shakib Al Hasan (8) top edged Ojha's first delivery to Dhoni and then Junaid holed out in the deep as Bangladesh slumped to 77 for four. Yuvraj took a stunner to remove Mahmudullah (8) and by then, the writing was clear on the wall for Bangladesh and their defeat was just a matter of time. Earlier, Bangladesh groaned under the late assault by the Indians who finished with 180 for five. Sixes rained off the Indian bats in the final four overs as the defending champions looted 59 runs from the final four overs. Yuvraj was in the thick of it, repeatedly smashing sixes in his favoured midwicket zone and finishing with 41 from 18 balls with three fours and four sixes. The Indians apparently played to a plan with opener Gautam Gambhir holding one end up (50 off 44 balls), Rohit Sharma (36 off 23 balls) leading the carnage, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26) staying put and then the late assault by Yuvraj, propelling India to its eventual score. With Virender Sehwag nursing an injured shoulder, Rohit walked out along with Gambhir and played with the gay abandon that has become his wont. — PTI Scoreboard India Gambhir c Shakib b Islam 50 (46) Rohit b Shakib 36 ( 23) Dhoni b Islam 26 (21) Yuvraj c Tamim Iqbal b Shahadat 41(18) Raina b Rubel 10 (8) Yousuf not out 1 (1) Irfan not out 11( 3) Extras
(w 5) 5 Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 180 FoWs:
1-59, 2-112, 3-140, 4-157, 5-169. Bowling: Mortaza 4-0-29-0, Rubel 4-0-49-1, Shahadat 3-0-31-1, Mahmudullah 2-0-15-0, Shakib 4-0-24-1. Islam 3-0-32-2 Bangladesh Tamim st Dhoni b Yusuf 15 (10) Junaid c Harbhajan b Ojha 41 (22) Ashraful c Gambhir b Ishant 11(9) Shakib Al Hasan c Dhoni b Ojha 8 (10) Mahmudullah c Yuvraj b Ojha 8 (13) Raqibul c Ojha b Khan 16 ( 21) Mortaza b Ojha 11( 8) Mushfiqur Rahim not out 11 (11) Islam c Yuvraj b Ishant 28 (17) Shahadat Hossain not out 0 (0) Extras
(lb 3, w 3) 6 Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 155 Fall of
wickets: 1-24, 2-55, 3-74, 4-77, 5-95, 6-111, 7-121, 8-154. Bowling:
Zaheer 3-0-26-1, Irfan 2-0-20-0, Yusuf 3-0-26-1, Ishant 4-0-34-2, Harbhajan 4-0-25-0, Ojha 4-0-21-4.
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Conditions helping underdogs Two upsets in four matches and minnows Scotland scoring an amazing 89 runs in seven overs against New Zealand before they were subdued confirms that in damp and overcast conditions the underdogs narrowed the gap against more fancied opposition. In the prevailing environment even ordinary bowlers became incisive because of the assistance they derived in the air and off the wicket. This, in addition to the already closer competition between sides as a result of concentration and stamina playing a lesser roles in the Twenty20 format. Admittedly, England squandered their opportunity against Holland after racing to three figures in a mere 10 overs. But the latter chasing without any pressure dramatically accomplished the unimaginable. The question mark over Kevin Pietersen’s fitness is in practical terms as well as psychologically a setback for the Englishmen. Although this right-hander’s record in Twenty20 is unexceptional; his inherent power has explosive possibilities. Scotland are virtually playing at home; with a number of county professionals accustomed to English domestic Twenty20 in their ranks. Their rather truncated clash with the Kiwis created a close-your-eyes-and-swing situation. Nevertheless, for an associate side confronting a test team, their run rate was impressive. From a batting perspective, Twenty20 is undoubtedly a slog; but not a slog-every-ball platform. Surprisingly, the Australians haven’t mastered this subtle difference. Loss of early wickets meant, they left the gate ajar for a hitherto ragged West Indian unit. T20 is now the love of his Chris Gayle’s life! He gleefully grasped the opening with both hands. Thus, the India-Bangladesh match was the only one in the first two days to fully adhere to the form book. Come sunshine, though, the distance between better players and those making up the numbers will grow. The men will get separated from the boys.
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Taylor master does it for NZ
London, June 6 But in the end their bowling could not quite match their batting with the Kiwis getting home with an over to spare. That meant they avoided the embarrassment suffered by hosts England, beaten by the Netherlands in yesterday's tournament opener at Lord's, of losing to a minor cricket nation. Brendon McCullum, captaining in place of the injured Daniel Vettori, began the pursuit of the 90 New Zealand needed by striking four fours from Calum McLeod as 19 runs in all came off the first over. Jesse Ryder continued the assault by launching Craig Wright for two huge sixes. But after a run of four successive boundaries, the left-hander holed out to McLeod off Wright. Then 51 for one became 59 for two when McCullum was run out for 18 after a huge mix-up with Taylor. Jacob Oram was given a reprieve when Gordon Drummond dropped a miscued effort and knocked the ball on four. But next delivery the giant all-rounder holed out off Watsom whose lone over cost just four runs. That left New Zealand 68 for three. Each 'dot ball' was cheered to the echo by a crowd keen to witness an upset. New Zealand got the target down to 22 off 12 balls but then scored the runs they needed in just one over from medium-pacer Stander, who had two sixes scored off him by Taylor and one by Scott Styris. Scotland made a blistering start with the bat. They stole 18 runs off the first over with Zimbabwe-born and South Africa raised Watson striking four fours off Iain O'Brien. He began first ball with a top-edged hook and, after two leg-byes, followed up with a couple of pulls before a straight drive also went to the boundary. But he eventually holed out off Ian Butler's first ball to Taylor in the covers. New batsman Kyle Coetzer kept the tempo high with a superb off-driven six against medium-pacer Ryder and next ball followed that up with a four. At the end of the fifth over Scotland were 67 for one. — AFP Scoreboard Scotland Watson c Taylor b Butler 27 (10) Poonia run out 27 (15) Coetzer c McGlashan b Butler 33 (15) Stander not out 0 (1) Smith b Butler 0 (1) Extras (lb 2) 2 Total (4 wickets; 7 overs) 89 Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-89, 3-89, 4-89 Bowling: O'Brien 1-0-16-0, Franklin 1-0-12-0, Butler 2-0-19-3, Oram 2-0-21-0, Ryder 1-0-19-0. New Zealand McCullum run out 18 (7) Ryder c MacLeod b Wright 31 (12) Taylor not out 21 (10) Oram c Stander b Watson 8 (6) Styris not out 8 (4) Extras (w 1, nb 3) 4 Total (3 wickets; 6 overs) 90 Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-59, 3-68 Bowling: MacLeod 1-0-19-0, Drummond 2-0-25-0, Wright 1-0-20-1, Watson 1-0-4-1, Stander 1-0-22- 0.
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Gayle storm blows Oz
London, June 6 Gayle shared a superb stand of 133 - the third highest in all Twenty20 internationals - with Andre Fletcher (53) for the first wicket. But the platform for victory was laid right at the start of the match when Jerome Taylor removed both Shane Watson and Australia captain Ponting for ducks in the first over. Defeat left Australia with a make-or-break clash against Sri Lanka on Monday at Trent Bridge. Gayle, who in the opening match of the 2007 tournament became the first and only batsman to score a Twenty20 international hundred, against South Africa, began the West Indies’ pursuit by driving the first ball of the innings from Brett Lee through mid-off for four. — AFP Scoreboard Australia Watson c Sarwan b Taylor 0 (3) Warner c Benn b Bravo 63 (53) Ponting lbw b Taylor 0 (1) Clarke c Benn b Edwards 2 (7) Haddin c Benn b Pollard 24 (19) Hussey c Fletcher b Bravo 27 (16) Hussey not out 28 (15) Johnson c Bravo b Edwards 9 (7) Lee not out 1 (1) Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 7, nb 2) 15 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 169 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-3, 3-15, 4-81, 5-113, 6-143, 7-153 Bowling: Taylor 4-0-33 2, Edwards 4-0-34-2, Bravo 4-0-31-2, Benn 4-0-35-0, Gayle 2-0-13-0, Pollard 2-0-17-1. West Indies Gayle c Watson b Lee 88 (50) Fletcher c Hussey b Johnson 53(32) Marshall c Hopes b Johnson 8 (12) Chanderpaul not out 0 (1) Sarwan not out 8 (2) Extras (lb 5, w 8, nb 2) 15 Total (3 wickets; 15.5 overs) 172 Fall of wickets: 1-133, 2-157, 3-162 Bowling: Lee 4-0-56-1, Johnson 3.5-0-36-2, Bracken 2-0-21-0, Hopes 2-0-13-0, Hussey 1-0-16-0, Watson 2-0-13-0, Clarke 1-0-12-0.
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London, June 6 Earlier, Luke Wright hit a blazing 71 and shared a 102-run opening partnership with Ravi Bopara (46) to help England post a decent 162 for five. Put in to bat, England openers laid a strong foundation for a big score but hosts lost quick wickets to lose plot in the end. Once Bopara was dismissed in the 12th over, England struggled to forge partnerships as batsmen got out in hurry. While the hosts raised first 100 runs in 11 overs, they could manage just 62 runs in the subsequent overs. Ryan ten Doeschate, who dismissed both Bopara and Wright, was the most successful bowlers for the Netherlands, giving away 35 runs in his four overs. Bopara provided an apt start to the second edition of the T20 World Cup by hitting the first ball of the slam-bang event for a boundary off Dirk Nannes. — PTI Scoreboard England Bopara c Seelaar b Doeschate 46 (34) Wright c Borren b Doeschate 71 (49) Shah c Kervezee b Schiferli 5 (8) Morgan c Zuiderent b Borren 6 (8) Collingwood c Schiferli b Seelaar 11 (10) Key not out 10 (8) Foster not out 3 (3) Extras (w 10) 10 Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 162 FoWs: 1-102, 2-113, 3-127, 4-144, 5-153. Bowling: Nannes 4-0-30-0, Schiferli 4-0-33-1, Doeschate 4-0-35-2, Seelaar 4-0-33-1, Borren 4-0-31-1. Netherlands Kervezee c Broad b Anderson 1 (4) Reekers c Shah b Broad 20 (13) Zuiderent st Foster b Rashid 12 (16) Grooth c Key b Collingwood 49 (30) Borren c Shah b Anderson 30 (25) Doeschate not out 22 (17) Bunge c Wright b Anderson 8 (8) Schiferli not out 5 (7) Extras (b 1, lb 13, w 2) 16 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 163 FoWs: 1-2, 2-23, 3-66, 4-116, 5-133, 6-146. Bowling: Anderson 4-0-23-3, Sidebottom 4-0-23-0, Broad 4-0-32-1, Rashid 4-0- 36-1, Wright 2-0-18-0, Collingwood 2-0-17-1.
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Eng face make or break Pak clash
London, June 6
South Africa born shotmaker Pietersen, who remains doubtful for the tomorrow’s match, is capable of clearing the ropes - something England lacked against the Dutch, with the visitors’ scoring four sixes to the hosts’ none. SA keen to remove ‘chokers’ tag
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FIH nod for Hockey India
New Delhi, June 6 The FIH has also put Hockey India on its website. But a formal FIH recognition of Hockey India will materialise only when all the State associations are formally accepted as its members. “Immediately we receive your confirmation that this has happened, FIH will formally recognise Hockey India as the sole governing body for hockey, men and women, in India. When this is completed, Hockey India will be entitled to participate in all FIH events and activities, especially the 2010 Men’s World Cup,” Cohen explained in his communication. Cohen said: “this was mandatory in the hosting and organising of the 12th FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup at New Delhi from 7-20 March, 2010.” Though the IOA has recognised Hockey India and informed the FIH through e-mail, the FIH has not insisted on a formal letter from the IOA. “Formality would normally require a letter to FIH from the IOA, but FIH waives this requirement on the clear understanding, not only that the IOA recognise Hockey India as the sole governing body for hockey in India, but that the membership of the IOA by the Indian Hockey Federation, the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation and the Indian Hockey Confederation have all been terminated” Cohen said. Hockey India president A.K.Mattoo said a formal election to the new body would be held earlier than the six-month time frame stipulated by the FIH. Meanwhile, senior vice-president of Hockey India Vidya Stokes, who was the president of the now dismantled Indian Women’s Hockey Federation, affirmed her support to the unified hockey body. Stokes has, however, insisted on women getting proper representation in the new hockey body. “There shall be at least 40 per cent presence of women at the State level, and two representatives will represent the State association at the national level, i.e one each from men and women,” she noted. Mattoo said the senior selection committee, headed by Ajitpal Singh, will continue though a separate selection panel for women may be constituted. |
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Doubles delight for Paes-Dlouhy
The third seeded Indo-Czech pair defeated the giant-killing South African-Belgian pair 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to win their first Grand Slam title together. It is almost after a gap of three years that Paes has won men’s doubles title at a Major, since winning the 2006 US Open with Martin Damm. Paes had earlier won the French Open in 1999 and 2001 with his estranged compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi. After losing the first set, Paes and Dlouhy staged a brilliant comeback and completely overwhlemed Moodie-Norman, who had upset second seeded Americans Mike and Bob Bryan in the semifinals. An early break left Paes and Dlouhy trailing in the opening set. They got chances to break back but failed to convert any of the two breakpoints and that was enough for Moodie and Norman to seal the lead. — PTI Kuznetsova ends Safina’s dream Svetlana Kuznetsova won her second grand slam title when she outplayed fellow Russian and world number one Dinara Safina 6-4 6-2 in the French Open final on Saturday. The seventh-seeded Kuznetsova, U.S. Open champion in 2004, dictated the points consistently and prevailed after 74 minutes on Centre Court to deny Safina a first grand slam title. “Today, when I was coming out on court I knew that everything would be alright,” said Kuznetsova. “I was pretty calmed down. (Safina) is better than me at the moment, she is the world number one, but she was too tight.” For Safina it was a familiar story, following her defeat by Ana Ivanovic in last year's final. “I am in the same situation as last year,” she told the 15,000 crowd. “Hopefully one day I can win here.”
— Reuters |
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Yuvraj Singh dazzled with the bat before Pragyan Ojha spun a web around Bangladesh as India thumped the minnows by 25 runs to begin their title defence with a bang in the Twenty20 World Cup here today.
Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 21 saw New Zealand to a seven-wicket win over outsiders Scotland in their opening Group D match in the Twenty20 World cUP at the Oval here today.
Trent Bridge, June 6
England captain Paul Collingwood faces a test of his leadership credentials ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 clash with Pakistan tomorrow at the Oval after their shock loss to the Netherlands. Friday’s stunning four-wicket defeat by the minnows means England cannot afford another reverse if they are to progress to the second round Super Eight phase.
England, surprisingly, left out off-spinner Graeme Swann and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas from their team that played the Dutch while star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out with an Achilles tendon injury.
South Africa begin their quest to win the ICC World Twenty20 title against Scotland at the Oval tomorrow determined to shed their reputation as one-day ‘chokers’. The Proteas have recently enjoyed some memorable Test triumphs, winning series in both England and Australia.
But since South Africa’s re-admission in 1991 they have not reached the final of a major one-day tournament. “We have had a wonderful past 12 months, which has included winning away test series in both England and Australia and winning home-and-away one-day international series against Australia to gain top spot in the world rankings,” said South Africa captain Graeme Smith.
— AFP
Paris, June 6
