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India eye series
Yuvraj Singh during a game of football at a training session ahead of the third ODI in Vadodara on Friday. India lead the five-match ODI series 2-0. — AFP
Dhoni signs Rs 26 cr deal with UB
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HAL beat JCT 1-0
Jaini leads Indian challenge into weekend
anderson strikes rattle Australia
Ranji Trophy
‘Arsenal, Blues decisive ties’
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Vadodara, December 3 A series triumph at the Reliance Stadium tomorrow would not only be a morale boost for India ahead of the forthcoming tour of South Africa and the World Cup after that but would also keep the team entrenched in second spot in the ICC rankings behind leaders Australia. That India finds itself in this happy situation despite the absence of key players Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh, is an indication of the team's resilience and bench strength though they are playing at home. Skipper Gautam Gambhir and in-form batsman Virat Kohli are certainties in the team, but the absence of the leading lights has allowed a few others like Murali Vijay, Yusuf Pathan and Ravichandran Ashwin to try and perform, and they have done with varied degrees of success. The selectors are using the series to try out different players in the run-up to the 2011 World Cup and have rested Shantakumaran Sreesanth with an eye on the South Africa Test series starting on December 16 after the temperamental and injury-prone pace bowler seemed to have rediscovered his rhythm with a haul of seven wickets in the first two ties. Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has been brought back for tomorrow's encounter, which New Zealand must win to keep the series alive, to ease him back into big-time cricket following a spell of rest and recuperation from his injury. Indian batting has clicked in stunning fashion in the first two matches, a day affair in Guwahati followed by a day/night one at Jaipur, and the bright aspect for the hosts is that it had achieved success both when setting and chasing targets. ‘No complacency’ India might be comfortably placed to wrap up the five-match series going into the third ODI against New Zealand with a 2-0 lead tomorrow, but skipper Gautam Gambhir today warned about the dangers of complacency creeping into the mindset of his team. "I have always felt players need to be wary from becoming complacent. We are going to see it now as three-match series. New Zealand are a dangerous one day side and we are looking forward to the contest tomorrow," said the India captain at his pre-match media conference at the Reliance Stadium. Gambhir, who would not be a part of the senior members team going to South Africa early for acclimatization, said his entire focus is now on the current series and in particular tomorrow's match. "I am not thinking about South Africa. My focus is on the series at hand and tomorrow's match. I have been given a responsibility to captain the team and only after completing it I would think about South Africa tour," Gambhir said. Kiwis hopeful on McCullum
Faced with a do-or-die situation to stay afloat in the five-match series, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori today said his injury-hit side was hoping that dashing batsman Brendon McCullum would be available tomorrow to bolster the batting line-up in the third ODI against India here. New Zealand had been lacking the spark in their batting in the absence of McCullum in the first two matches and Vettori said he was hoping that the aggressive opener, who took part in the net sessions today, is available tomorrow. — PTI |
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Dhoni signs Rs 26 cr deal with UB
New Delhi, December 3
As a part of the recent Rs 26 crore deal with the UB Group, Dhoni will become the brand ambassador for McDowell's soda for a period of three years. Earlier this year, Rhiti Sports Management along with Mindscapes One, signed a Rs 210 crore deal with Dhoni to manage his endorsements and brand associations. "Currently Dhoni is the face of 23 brands and charges over Rs six crore per endorsement," Pandey added. The pack of brands endorsed by Dhoni includes Reebok, Aircel, Godrej and TVS Motor. During the first six months of this year, Dhoni topped the chart for celebrity endorsements on television, leaving behind not only Shahrukh Khan and Sachin Tendulkar, but also the gorgeous ladies of the silver screen. According to the Adex survey of TAM Media Research, while Dhoni endorsed brands for 24 companies on TV, Shahrukh and Sachin were seen promoting the products of 16 and 15 firms, respectively. — PTI
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HAL beat JCT 1-0
Gurgaon, December 3 JCT will next face Chrchill Brothers on December 7 in Goa while HAL will be up against Mohun Bagan on the same day in Bangalore. Salgaocar bt Viva Kerala
Kannur: Salgaocar SC produced a clinical performance to thrash Viva Kerala 3-0 in a one-sided match of the I-League football tournament here today. Salgaocar dominated the proceedings right from the word go and never allowed the home team to dictate terms. Japanese midfielder Ryuji Sueoka scored a double -- in the eighth and 51st minute -- while Antony Barbosa scored the other goal in the 45th minute to complete the scoreline for Salgaocar. Salgaocar started aggressively and soon surged ahead in the eighth minute when Sueoka tapped in his first goal from a corner kick. The Goan outfit made it 2-0 just before the half time whistle thorugh Barbosa, who scored in the injury time after taking advantage of Viva goalkeeper's mistake. Much was expected from the home team, but they disappointed as they failed to convert the chances that came their way. Even though they were playing at home, Viva lacked confidence in their attacks. Resuming after the breather, Salgaocar further consolidated their lead in the 51st minute through Sueoka, who fully made use of a confusion in the Viva defence, to net home his second goal of the match. Viva could have scored a consolation goal, but the booming drive by medio Kulothungan, flew inches over the cross-piece, much to the relief of Karanjit Singh. Dempo in action
Margao: Bouyed by their Super Cup win, defending champion Dempo would be looking forward to carry their winning streak when they take on Churchill Brothers in their opening I-League match, to be played at the Nehru Stadium here tomorrow. Both the teams did not get the right pre-season start as they were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Federation Cup. Dempo then skipped the Durand Cup and concentrated on getting the right combination before the I-League in the absence of their six regular players, who are with the Indian team. The Goa Professional League tournament helped them to settle down quickly. Dempo played their best match against Salgaocar which turned out to be high scoring affair and a win there took them at the top of the table with 21 points, one above Churchill Bros. The win also boosted their confidence ahead of the Super Cup, where they beat East Bengal 3-1 in the finals. Churchill, who lost Kalu Ogba to Dempo and Vashum Reisingma and Naoba Singh to East Bengal, struggled to get the right combination in the midfield and as a result did not do well in the Federation Cup and the Durand Cup. Boima is unlikely to play tomorrow as his registeration formalities is still not done. — PTI |
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Jaini leads Indian challenge into weekend
New Delhi, December 3
The youngster did well to overcome initial hiccups to score a three-under 69 today, which added to his two-under, gave him an aggregate of five-under 139 and a share of the joint third place with Swede Rikard Karlberg and Americans Anthony Kang and Ben Fox, all three big enough names on this circuit. The quartet was one stroke astray of Korean Baek Seuk-hyun and Briton Simon Griffiths, who were both at seven-under 138. The cut was applied at four-over 148 and 70 golfers, including one amateur, made it to the weekend. These included Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa and Paul McGinley. Jaini birdied the 2nd, 13th and 18th holes to keep himself well in the fray, managing to avoid dropping any strokes, which seems to be the formula of success at this course, especially since, as always, it is dodgy. "I think being anywhere around 10-under at the end of the day tomorrow would keep me in the competition," Jaini said. "The greens are comfortable though the fairway is soft, because of the pounding the course took during the monsoons. The course is tricky in the sense that the rough is high and one needs to get off well from the tee to stay afloat." That seems to be the general trend here. Like all golf, the front-runners aren't always the ones to make it. That makes Baek's round admirable, since he has been up there from Day One and today's efforts won't hurt him at all. The Korean had a four-under round yesterday and returned a two-under 70 today. He would have been happier had the scorecard not taken the dent of a bogey on the 18th, since that was the difference between sole lead and joint first position. Griffiths blasted away to score six birdies, something that has been a rarity on this course and like Baek, had one bogey, on the 11th, to blame for not snatching the lead. However, if he can keep this form going, this golfer could well be the one to beat. Lurking behind them is Mukesh Kumar. What one can safely forecast about him is that he cannot ever be underestimated. At joint seventh with four-under 140, he is very much in the scene. So long as his hunger for a win is not satisfied by the cut. Daniel Chopra's hopes of a good end to the year were consigned to history as he ended with a six-over aggregate.
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anderson strikes rattle Australia
Adelaide, December 3 Australia got off to their worst Test start in 60 years at two for three in the opening three overs and then lost their last five wickets for 38 to hand England the inside running on a crucial early victory in the series. It was a horror performance by Australia, coming off the drawn first Gabba Test and needing to finish ahead of holders England to reclaim the Ashes. If not for Mike Hussey it would have been considerably worse for Australia with the senior number five batsman showing plenty of spirit in a fighting 93 before 38,615 spectators, one of the biggest Ashes crowds here in decades. James Anderson was the best of England's bowlers, taking 4-51 off 19 overs. At the close, England's openers had negotiated one over to be one without loss. England had a sensational start when they removed senior opener Simon Katich, skipper Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke in an amazing opening spell. Australia were reeling at 2-3 inside the third over with only Lindsay Hassett's team faring worst at 0-3 in the second innings of the 1950 Brisbane Ashes Test. Katich set off a calamitous day for Australia when he was run out by a direct hit from Jonathan Trott side on at square leg. Shane Watson hared off for a single off an lbw appeal on Anderson's fourth ball of the innings and Katich had the misfortune to be out without facing a ball, a victim of chaotic communication with his opening partner. There was more calamity to come for Australia when Ponting edged Anderson's outswinger to Graeme Swann at second slip for his fifth Test first-ball duck. The hosts plunged into deeper trouble when out-of-form Michael Clarke on two went hard after a moving Anderson delivery and snicked to Swann in the slips for the spinner's second catch. Hussey says quick wickets key on day two Mike Hussey says early wickets tomorrow will be crucial if Australia is to have a chance of getting back into the second Ashes test against England. After winning the toss and batting first, Australia were 2-3 today before Hussey hit 93 to take his side's score over 200. He then fell to Graeme Swann in the third session, prompting a collapse to 245 all out. Hussey admitted to being shocked when Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke all fell in the first three overs sending him to the middle, and suggested that their final total was not too bad considering their start. "I was rushing to get my gear ready, it was all happening very quickly," Hussey said. "I couldn't really believe it to be honest. Before I blinked I was out in the middle. "I was actually looking forward to having a nice relax for the first couple of hours and watching the first session." Hussey is taking heart from the way England recovered after being dismissed for 260 on the first day of the first test at Brisbane's Gabba ground to dominate with the bat later in the match, and says Australia can do the same. — Agencies Scoreboard Watson c P’rsen b Anderson 51 Katich run out 0 Ponting c Swann b Anderson 0 Clarke c Swann b Anderson 2 Hussey c C’wood b Swann 93 North c Prior b Finn 26 Haddin c Finn b Broad 56 Harris lbw b Swann 0 Doherty run out 6 Siddle c Cook b Anderson 3 Bollinger not out 0 Extras: (LB-6, W-1, NB-1) 8 Total: (all out, 85.5 overs) 245 Bowling: Anderson 19-4-51-4, Broad 18.5-6-39-1, Finn 16-1-71-1, Swann 29-2-70-2, Collingwood 3-0-8-0 England 1st innings: Strauss not out 0 Cook not out 0 Extras: (LB-1) 1 Total: (0 wkt in 1 over) 1 Bowling: Harris 1-1-0-0.
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Ranji Trophy
Bhubaneswar, December 3 Resuming at 25 for no loss, Orissa ended the day three at 216 for seven in reply to Punjab's huge 550 for seven declared. Gony (3/57) and Ladda (3/44) never let Orissa batsmen built a big partnership and kept taking wickets at regular intervals to leave the hosts trailing by a huge 334-run margin. Had it nor been a 48-run stand for the seventh wicket between Subhrajit Sahoo (batting 43) and Alok Sahoo (28), Orissa would have been in deeper trouble. Gony drew the first blood when he had Paresh Patel (8) caught behind as early as in the fourth over of the day. The hosts had not even added a single run to their overnight total at that time. The other opener Natraj Behera (32) and Neeraj Behera (24) added 42 runs for the second wicket when Ladda got into action and had former caught behind. From there on, Orissa never settled and kept losing wickets. Ladda scalped Neeraj and Gony snared Subit Biswal (11) and Biplab Samantray (33) as Orissa slipped to 165 for six. Subhrajit and Alok then steadied the rocking ship with their 48-run stand. Ladda broke their partnership by having Alok caught by Inder Singh. Brief Scores: Punjab 1st innings: 550/7 declared Orissa 1st innings: 216 for seven in 97 overs. (S Sahoo 43, B Samantray 33; M Goby 3/57, S Ladda 3/44). Himachal eye upset win Dharmasala: Manvinder Bisla and captain Paras Dogra shared an unbeaten 101-run stand after early hiccups as Himachal Pradesh eye an upset victory over Karnataka in their Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match here today. Chasing 286 runs for victory, wicket-keeper Bisla (54 not out) and Paras Dogra (32 not out) steadied the Himachal ship with a 101-run sixth wicket stand that came of 137 balls after the home team lost half of its side for 52 runs. Brief Scores: Karnataka: 254 and 230 (Manish Pandey 112; Mohinderraj Sharma 4/52, Rishi Dhawan 4/40). Himachal Pradesh: 199 and 153 for five in 40 overs (Manvinder Bisla 54 not out, Paras Dogra 32 not out; Abhimanyu Mithun 3/51). — PTI
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‘Arsenal, Blues decisive ties’
London, December 3 "You always want to win those games because I think they're really significant. We've managed to claw ourselves into a position two points ahead of Chelsea. So the game at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal's trip to Manchester will certainly be very important," Ferguson said. —
ANI |
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Vadodara, December 3
New Delhi, December 3
Gurgaon, December 3
England backed up a sensational three-wicket start to bowl out Australia for 245 on an extraordinary opening day of the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval today.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said that a six-day period later this month will be key to his team's chances of winning back the Premier League title. Manchester United hosts rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday week and then travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on December 19. Ferguson has earmarked the back-to-back fixtures as vital to their hopes of winning the trophy back from Chelsea.
"We are talking to several companies at the moment. At least three to four new brand endorsement deals will be closed in the next two months," Rhiti Sports Management, Promoter, Arun Pandey told PTI.
New Delhi
