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Pak survive Bangladesh scare
As expected, India win
SL in do-or-die situaton against Zimbabwe
England set to face HOSTility
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Yuvraj: I am ready for action
Blue thunder strikes Liverpool
BCCI Working Committee endorses charges against Modi
Gagandeep sole Punjab archer on the mark
Higgins suspended over match-fixing claims
Tiger not blaming personal life for on-field woes
Bayern win Bundesliga
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Pak survive Bangladesh scare
Gros Islet (St. Lucia), May 2 However, the fall of Shakib off Twenty20 international debutant Mohammad Sami, who took two wickets in the 16th over, drew curtains on the Bangladesh's hopes of creating an upset and they were stopped at 151 for seven. Sami, who was picked in place of an experienced Mohammad Asif for the match, showed heart to recover from a nervy start to end with three wickets for 29. The start of Bangladeshi innings threatened to make it a stroll in the park for Pakistan but Ashraful and Shakib joined forces to put up a fight. The two mixed caution with aggression as they slowly built the Bangladeshi innings and came heavily on slow bowlers especially Mohammad Hafeez (1-28) and Shahid Afridi (0-37). Shakib's two towering sixes off Hafeez in the 14th over left Bangladesh needing just 59 runs off 36 balls. But their hopes were cut short when Shakib lofted a drive off Sami in the very next over, only to be caught by Umar Akmal at the long off. Shakib' innings came off 34 balls and featured three fours and two sixes. Mahmudullah, who came next, became Sami's second victim in the same over and when Ashraful was caught behind by Mohammad Aamer in 18th over, it was all but over for Bangladesh. Ashraful's knock came in 49 balls with four fours and three sixes. Earlier, Pakistan deciding to bat, were given a solid start by their openers Kamran Akmal (73) and Salman Butt (73) who put up a 142 run stand. The two tore apart the Bangladeshi attack and it wasn't till the 16th over when Akmal departed that there was an over that did not go for a boundary, Akmal struck eight fours and a six in his 55 balls innings. Butt, whose ability to play in the Twenty20 format was always questioned, played with purpose, his innings coming in 46 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Shakib was the pick of Bangladeshi bowlers finishing with figures of 2-27 from his four overs. —
IANS Salman b Shafiul 73 (46) Afridi c Mahmudullah b Shakib 9 (9) Razzaq not out 6 (5) Misbah not out 8 (5) Extras (lb 2, w 1) 3 Total (3 wickets; 20 overs) 172 Bowling: Mortaza 4-0-39-0, Razzak 4-0-41-0, Islam 4-0-25-1, Naeem 2-0-18-0, Shakib 4-0-27-2, Shuvo 1-0-12-0, Ashraful 1-0-8-0. Bangladesh:
Tamim c & b Hafeez 19 (18) Kayes c Misbah b Aamer 0 (2) Ashraful c Kamran b Aamer 65 (49) Shakib c Umar b Sami 47 (31) Mahmudullah c Aamer b Sami 0 (3) Naeem not out 10 (9) Mushfiqur c Ajmal b Sami 4 (3) Mortaza st Kamran b Ajmal 1 (3) Shuvo not out 1 (3) Extras (w 3, nb 1) 4 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 151 Bowling: Aamer 4-0-16-2, Sami 4-0-29-3, Hafeez 3-0-28-1, Razzaq 2-0-23-0, Ajmal 3-0-18-1, Afridi 4-0-37-0. |
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As expected, India win
St Lucia, May 1 Earlier, India produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Afghanistan to 115 for eight. Ashish Nehra returned with figures of three for 19 while Praveen Kumar scalped two wickets for 14 to restrict Afghanistan to the paltry score. Yuvraj Singh, who has been troubled by a wrist injury, returned to form with an unbeaten 23 off 22 balls while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who accounted for four victims standing behind the wicket, remained unbeaten with a six-ball 15, laced with two towering sixes. Earlier, Noor Ali scored his maiden Twenty20 half century and together with Asghar Satnikzai (30 off 33) put on 68 runs for the fourth wicket to form the base of the Afghanistan innings. Chasing the not-so-modest score, India lost Gautam Gambhir (4) early in the third over of the innings, caught by Mohammad Nabi at off Dawlat Ahmadzai. Suresh Raina announced his intentions at the crease with a huge six off Nabi, but lasted barely 13 balls before he was trapped in front of the wicket by Samiullah Shenwari. Debutant Murali Vijay made an impressive 48, studded with three sixes and two fours, before he gave his wicket away when the 2007 champions barely needed 15 runs to wrap up the game. —
PTI Scoreboard Karim c Dhoni b Nehra 0 (4) Shahzad c Dhoni b Nehra 6 (5) Nowroz c Gambhir b Jadeja 5 (11) Stanikzai c Khan b Kumar 30 (33) Nabi c Dhoni b Kumar 0 (3) Raees not out 5 (5) Shenwari run out 7 (6) Hassan c Nehra b Zaheer 6 (5) Shapoor not out 0 (0) Extras: (lb 3, w 3) 6 Total: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 115 Bowling: Kumar 3-0-14-2, Nehra 4-0-19-3, Zaheer 3-0-24-1, Jadeja 4-1-15-1, Yuvraj 1-0-4-0, Harbhajan 4-0-24-0, Pathan 1-0-12-0. India:
Gambhir c Nabi b Dawlat 4 (6) Vijay c Shapoor b Hassan 48 (46) Raina lbw b Shenwari 18 (13) Yuvraj not out 23 (22) Dhoni not out 15 (6) Extras: (lb 1, w 3, nb 4) 8 Total: (3 wickets; 14.5 overs) 116 Bowling: Dawlat 2-0-21-1, Shapoor 2-0-6-0, Nabi 3-0-33-0, Shenwari 2-0-11-1, Sadiq 2-0-22-0, Hamid 3-0-8-1, Nowroz 0.5-0-14-0. |
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SL in do-or-die situaton against Zimbabwe
Guyana, May 2 That has placed the Lankans in a do-or-die battle against Zimbabwe, who are coming into tomorrow's match after beating formidable Australia and defending champions Pakistan in warm-up games. —
PTI |
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England set to face HOSTility
Guyana, May 2 All-rounder Darren Sammy did the rescue act for West Indies in their opening match against Ireland with a 17-ball 30 but the rest of the batsmen came a cropper and that would be a major worry for the hosts. Sans big-hitting skipper Chris Gayle, the Windies managed to pull off a 70-run win against Ireland but even the comprehensive margin of victory could not hide their batting frailties against the minnows.
George Dockrell, a 17-year-old spinner, managed to rattle a line-up that boasts of Twenty20 big-hitters like Dwayne Bravo and West Indies cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes against England. The hosts showed more purpose while defending the total against Ireland, but Sammy, Ravi Rampaul, Bravo and Kemar Roach will face a tougher test against Paul Collingwood and his men who open their Group D campaign tomorrow. Kevin Pietersen's return to form in the recent Indian Premier League would be reassuring for his team, which will also expect the talented Eoin Morgan to live upto the expectations. Chasing or setting a target, a lot will also depend on what kind of start they get from Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb. In the bowling department, off-spinner Graeme Swann will play a key role with his natural guile and characteristic spunk that make him such a valued member of the side. The sluggishness of the Providence Stadium means England will be tempted to field Miachel Yardy as well, especially after the 29-year-old player impressed with his slow left-arm spinners. Both Swann and Yardy have done well in the warm-up matched, prompting Pietersen to say that the spin duo can take the team a "long way". — PTI |
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Yuvraj: I am ready for action
St Lucia, May 2 "The physios and the specialist in Australia were okay with me to play from the first game of the IPL," added the dashing left-hander, who is known for his magical six sixes of successive balls off England's Stuart Broad. The 28-year-old middle-order batsman said it is always difficult to come back from injury. "Every time you come back from an injury you will take some time to strengthen it. When I came back from my knee injury, I struggled for the first few months. It is just that you need to be careful, make yourself stronger, be careful when to rest yourself and when not to play," he said. Yuvraj was out of the squad for sometime after he injured his wrist during the second Test against Bangladesh in January and though he played IPL, he was a big disappointments as he struggled with form. —
PTI |
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An honour to play India, says Afghan captain
St Lucia, May 2 "Yesterday (Friday) when we were here practising and we heard our national anthem, we were very happy. When the game started this morning it was a huge honour for us," Mangal said after the seven-wicket loss to India in their opening match of the event. "India is one of the best teams in the world. We were very happy to play our first match against them. Early in the morning the wicket was difficult for us but it was a good experience for our guys," he added. Coach Kabir Khan said, “So far they haven't played fast bowlers of that pace, which normally they would have trouble with," Khan said. Khan hoped that more top-class teams would play against his side from now on to help find a foothold in international cricket. "I hope after the World Cup we play against good sides so they get used to it," said Khan. Khan revealed that Afghan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad is a huge fan of MS Dhoni. —
PTI |
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Blue thunder strikes Liverpool
London, May 2 Their superior goal difference of 10 over United could mean they could afford to lose their final game at home to Wigan Athletic next Sunday. Didier Drogba's 33rd-minute opener and a clinching second by Frank Lampard early in the second half took Chelsea to 83 points to United's 79. Sir Alex Ferguson's side complete their fixtures at home to Stoke City. Although Chelsea will look back on the game as an unexpectedly easy victory, Liverpool started like a train and were on top for the first half-hour. Alberto Aquilani skimmed the bar with a well-struck 25-metre shot and then over-ran a chance when sent through by the lively Maxi Rodriguez. Chelsea had shown almost nothing in attack but were then gifted a goal, and possibly the title, by Gerrard. The England midfielder who was on the brink of moving to Chelsea five years ago, chose this, of all days, to deliver a totally unnecessary long-distance back-pass that was easily intercepted by Drogba, who rounded Pepe Reina with ease and rolled the ball into the empty net. The goal clearly unsettled the hosts and Lampard and Nicolas Anelka were both given a sniff of goal soon after as Liverpool's defensive concentration wavered and they were lucky not to give away a penalty in stoppage time when Lucas tangled with Salomon Kalou as the forward bore down on goal. It mattered little as within nine minutes of the restart Chelsea did have the second as Anelka crossed low for Lampard to sweep in his remarkable 21st league goal of the season. That knocked the remaining stuffing out of Liverpool as their extra-time exertions on Thursday against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final kicked in. Reina saved well from Florent Malouda and Anelka as Chelsea continued to press but in the end they will be delighted to have overcome what was supposed to have been a dangerous penultimate fence while barely breaking their stride. It was their first league win at Anfield since 2005 and leaves them firmly on course for the League and Cup Double - they face Portsmouth at Wembley on May 15 in the final. "This was a huge game for us and we knew if we dropped points it would hand momentum to Man Utd," Lampard told Sky Sports. —
Reuters |
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BCCI Working Committee endorses charges against Modi
Mumbai, May 2 "All the members agreed upon the charges against Modi," a source told PTI. "All the happenings leading up to the suspension were also told to the members. Manohar informed the members about several deals that Modi entered into without the IPL Governing Council's knowledge, including the TV rights deal," he added. Modi was suspended as the Chairman and Commissioner of the league after the IPL final last Sunday because of alleged financial irregularities and rigging of bids. Modi was charged on five counts, including irregularities in the bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab and in the broadcast and internet deals, and has to file his replies within 15 days to these charges. Zinta, Burman visit BCCI headquarters
Bollywood actor Preity Zinta and Kings XI Punjab franchise co-owner Mohit Burman visited the Cricket Board's headquarters here during the meeting of the Board's Working Committee today. Apparently the duo had arrived to hand over some documents relevant to the shareholding details of the IPL franchise, which are under a scanner, to the Board and also to meet the BCCI bigwigs. With the top BCCI officials busy in the meeting, the duo left after a short stay. The Mohali franchise, whose principal owners are Preity Zinta and industrialists Mohit and Gaurav Burman, Ness Wadia and Karan Paul, is under the tax scanner with authorities investigating alleged financial irregularities in the cash-rich league. — PTI |
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Gagandeep sole Punjab archer on the mark
Patiala, May 2 With this Gagandeep Kaur has once again strengthened her stake for the Commonwealth Championship. She is the only girl from Punjab who is in the Commonwealth camp is currently a part of the Indian squad and is continuously representing India in all international championships. With a sudden rise in her sports career graph, Gagandeep wants to make the best of every opportunity. One of the top probable for the 2010 Commonwealth Championship, winning a medal during this championship is her current aim. She says, “I am seeking good job offers also but as of now I want to focus on my performance. Another problem is that none of the job offers have come from Punjab. I want to play for the state I have always represented since I started playing but the only problem is lack of opportunities. I hope the state government recognizes our contribution and gives us an opportunity to serve it. I am still looking forward to some good job opportunity from other state but after a certain point I will definitely have to take up job in which ever state I am offered,”. |
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Higgins suspended over match-fixing claims
London, May 2 The news came after Britain's News of the World released a video showing what it said was Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney agreeing to lose frames in four matches later this year in return for a 300,000 euro (USD 400,000) bribe.
Hours later, Barry Hearn, chair of the sport's governing body the WPBSA, told the BBC that Higgins would be suspended with immediate effect while an investigation took place. —
AFP
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Tiger not blaming personal life for on-field woes
Charlotte, May 2 He has never had a worse nine holes than his 43 on the inward half and the 36-hole total of 153 was the highest of his US Tour career. The player refuses to be cowed down by these numbers saying that he had the same opportunity as anyone else on the field "Does it test you? Yes, of course it does, is that any excuse? No, because I'm out there and I have the same opportunity as everybody else here in this field to shoot a good number, and I didn't do that," the Daily Express quoted him as saying. —
ANI |
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Bayern win Bundesliga
Munich, May 2 Louis van Gaal's team have also reached the final of the German Cup, where they face Werder Bremen, and the Champions League, where they play Inter Milan. The Dutchman, who was in danger of losing his job after a poor start to the season, has already won league titles with three clubs in two countries and Bayern will clinch their 22nd German title after last winning in 2007-8. The formality of completing the first part of the treble will be complete when Bayern visit Hertha Berlin next Saturday. Twenty-year-old Mueller, who has been drafted into the team by Van Gaal this season, struck twice in a devastating start by Bayern
against a demoralised Bochum team who fired coach Heiko Herrlich only 48 hours before the kickoff. —
Reuters |
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Gros Islet (St. Lucia), May 2
With their campaign derailed by a shock loss to New Zealand, Sri Lanka face a battle of survival against a confident Zimbabwe in their second Group B match of the Twenty20 World Cup here tomorrow. In their opening match, Sri Lanka had done most things right till the last over. The Islanders posted a good score on board and defended it well before Nathan McCullum stole the match with a six in the final over.
London, May 2
Mumbai, May 2
Adding another feather in the cap of Punjab, Gagandeep Kaur, a first year student of Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication, Punjabi University,
Patiala, gave a spectacular performance to win the sole silver medal for the state during the 30 th Senior National Archery Championship that was held at
Gauhati, Assam, recently from April 23 to 27 in the compound round. This is her first individual medal during a senior national championship.
London, May 2
Charlotte, May 2
Bayern Munich effectively won the Bundesliga on Saturday when a Thomas Mueller hat-trick gave them a 3-1 win over VfL Bochum while rivals Schalke 04 lost 2-0 at home to Werder Bremen. The win took treble-chasing Bayern three points clear of Schalke with a one game left and a 17-goal difference over their rivals, making it all but impossible for them to be caught.
Scoreboard
The Punjab batsman said at one point in time, he had decided to go for a surgery but later dropped the idea as he was keen on playing the T20 World Cup. "If I had to undergo surgery it would have taken me a lot more time to recover. Definitely, I would have been out for a long time. I had been in and out for a while from the finger injury and was desperate to play," Yuvraj said.
Margao: 
Mumbai: