|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Lanka, Kiwis look for momentum
Minnows look to sign off on a high
Shoaib Akhtar to call it quits after World Cup
Rafa beats Somdev
Rafael Nadal (R) consoles Somdev Devvarman after defeating him at the Indian Wells tennis tournament on Wednesday. Nadal beat Somdev 5-7, 4-6. — Reuters
45 probables for hockey camp
Saina Nehwal advances with easy win
Real enter quarters
Rishab to lead Delhi
Short ones
|
|
England down WI in thriller
Chennai, March 17 Defending a 243-run total on a wicket that offered plenty of runs, James Tredwell (4-48) wrecked the West Indies top order while Ravi Bopara claimed two vital wickets to bowl out the Caribbean side for 225 in 44.4 overs. Chris Gayle (43) and Darren Sammy (41) made a whirlwind start but West Indies were unable to keep up the momentum as they lost regular wickets. Earlier, the English top order was guilty of squandering promising starts and not a single batsman could score a half-century against a West Indies attack, spearheaded by pace bowler Andre Russell (4-49) and debutant leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (3-34), which bowled them out for 243 in 48.4 overs. Andrew Strauss (31) and Matt Prior (21) fell before their opening stand could really blossom and even though Jonathan Trott (47) and Luke Wright (44) down the order got the starts, none could hang on till the final overs to make it count. England's quarter-final prospects now depend on the outcome of the other Group B matches. Earlier, Useful knocks from Jonathan Trott (47) and Luke Wright (44) helped England post a competitive total of 243 in 48.4 overs. Trott's solidity and Wright's rearguard action helped England set a target which the Caribbean batsmen might find difficult to chase on a slow track. Speedster Andre Russell (4-49) was the pick of the bowlers and was well supported by debutant leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (3-34) while pace spearhead Kemar Roach (2-34) chipped in with a couple of scalps. Even though England made a positive start in their must-win match to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the knockout stage, they lost the track during the middle-overs when the Caribbean bowlers started calling shots. — Agencies Scoreboard Strauss c Gayle b Russell 31 Prior b Russell 21 Trott c Gayle b Bishoo 47 Bell b Roach 27 Morgan c Thomas b Bishoo 7 Bopara b Russell 4 Wright c Russell b Bishoo 44 Tredwell run out 9 Bresnan not out 20 Swann b Russell 8 Tremlett c Thomas b Roach 3 Extras: (b1,lb4,w15, nb2) 22 West Indies Gayle lbw b Tredwell 43 Sammy b Bopara 41 Bravo c Strauss b Tredwell 5 Thomas b Bopara 9 Sarwan c Bell b Swann 31 Pollard lbw b Swann 24 Russell lbw b Tredwell 49 Benn run out 2 Roach c Tremlett b Swann 0 Bishoo not out 0 Extras
(lb 8, w 3) 11 |
|
Lanka, Kiwis look for momentum
Mumbai, March 17 While New Zealand are currently second, a rung behind group leaders and defending champions Australia, a victory for tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka, a point behind the Black Caps with 7 to their credit, would push them ahead of the Kiwis in the pecking order. However, it will be the concluding league fixture between Australia and Pakistan in Colombo a day later that would decide the final order of merit in the group as well as decide which team takes on which from Group 'B' in the knock-out phase. New Zealand, seventh in ICC rankings are set to go into the tie against fourth-ranked Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium here without their captain Daniel Vettori and key new-ball bowler Kyle Mills. The duo is carrying injuries and targeting the quarterfinals to get back into action, and this could prove to be a major handicap against the Sri Lankans who are adept at playing on the slow wickets of the sub-continent. "We are looking at having Kyle Mills and Daniel Vettori fit for the quarterfinals. Their injuries have come along fine but they probably are not ready for this match," said New Zealand's vice captain Ross Taylor. The 27-year-old Taylor will lead the Black Caps for the second match running after having been at the helm when they won their previous game against Canada to ensure entry in the last eight at this venue on March 13. Lanka's 33-year-old star batsman Mahela Jayawardene, while conceding that Vettori and Mills' absence would be to his side's advantage, also cautioned that they can expect a new gameplan confronting them as a consequence. "I think those two guys probably are the senior-most bowlers in their line up. But then again we can't take anything lightly," said the former Lanka skipper ahead of the day-night tie. New Zealand have called up Darryl Tuffey from home as cover for Mills and the bowler is scheduled to join the team on the day of the match. But he cannot be part of the playing unit unless the injured Mills is ruled out of the tournament and his replacement is agreed to by the International Cricket Council. — PTI
|
|
Minnows look to sign off on a high
Kolkata, March 17 The two teams may disappear from the big stage for an indefinite period with the International Cricket Council aiming to trim down the next edition of the World Cup to 10 nations after the lengthy 14-team format with some dull one-sided affairs had been subject to criticism. Now that the two teams know that they cannot make the quarterfinals with Ireland on two points from five matches and the Netherlands none, it will be an opportunity for the players to grab attention with some individual performances at the majestic Eden Gardens. Ireland will go into the match with the favourites tag while the Netherlands will be keen to open their account and avoid the wooden spoon in group B. But there seems to be little interest among the local crowd to turn up at the Eden Gardens. — PTI
|
|
Shoaib Akhtar to call it quits after World Cup
Colombo, March 17
The 35-year-old speedster, regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in his prime, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 247 in 163 ODIs in a 13-year career which started against the West Indies in December 1997. "I have decided to retire. Mentally I wanted to go on forever but I have decided to make way for the youngsters," an emotional Akhtar told reporters here. Akhtar added, “I have no regrets. I made lots of friends but some people have misunderstood me. I thank all the players who played with me and against me”. "It was an honour to have played with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. I never imagined I would play for Pakistan. It was my greatest moment. Pakistan's last match in this World Cup will also be my last. I hope that will be the final on April 2," he said. With an injury-ravaged body finding it tough to withstand the rigours of international cricket, Akhtar was looking at the World Cup as his final shot at glory. Akhtar was impressive in the opening match against Sri Lanka but form began to desert him as the event progressed prompting the team management to drop him for the last match against Zimbabwe. It remains to be seen whether he would be picked for Saturday's last Group A match against Australia. Despite a chequered career, Akhtar, who was hugged by teammates while stepping out for today's practice session at the R Premadasa Stadium, said he wanted to "be remembered as an honest and patriotic player who never trod a wrong path." The pacer missed out competing in the Champions Trophy that year but the verdict was overturned by a three-man tribunal a month later. Poor fitness prevented him from participating in the 2007 ODI World Cup and he was banned for 13 ODIs after hitting fellow pacer Mohammad Asif with a bat before the World Twenty20 Championships in South Africa that same year. He had his share of run-ins with the Pakistan Cricket Board as well and was banned for five years in 2008 after criticising the PCB for not offering him a contract. Although a mercurial character both on and off the field, Akhtar will forever be remembered for some remarkable pace bowling during the early days of his career even though there were question marks on the legality of his action. — PTI
|
|
Indian Wells, March 17 Somdev went down 5-7 4-6 but not before making the Spaniard work hard for every point in a contest that lasted close to two hours — the first set alone accounting for more than an hour. The 26-year-old Indian, known for his fighting spirit and appetite for long-drawn matches, seemed set for another marathon when he was locked 5-5 with Nadal in the opening set itself. The world number 84 Somdev got a crucial break point in the 11th game, his second of the set, but could not convert it handing the advantage back to the Spaniard. That is where the difference in rankings and experience showed as Nadal managed to break the Indian in the very next game to finally seal the set in his favour after slogging it out for more than an hour. The second set went on serve till the eighth game before Nadal managed to convert the only break opportunity to edge past the Indian. — PTI
|
|
Indian Wells, March 17 Bopanna and Qureshi triumphed 6-1 7-6 (5) over the Serbs yesterday to set up a clash with the Spanish-Canadian combination of Feliciano Lopez and Milos Raonic. The Indo-Pak pair, which upstaged third seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in the previous match, raced away with the opening set very easily after breaking Djokovic and Troicki twice. But the second set was stiffly-contested. Both the teams held serves, failing to convert any of the break chances they earned. The issue was settled in the tie breaker in which Bopanna and Qureshi held their nerves to emerge triumphant. — PTI
|
|
|
45 probables for hockey camp
New Delhi, March 17 The first phase of the camp will conclude on April 9 though the Azlan Shah Cup will be held in Ipoh (Malaysia) from May 5 to 15. The event will feature defending champions for the last two years India, world champions Australia, England, Korea, Pakistan, New Zealand and hosts Malaysia. The probables are being trained under the supervision of chief coach Harendra Singh, assisted by Romeo James, Clarence Lobo, Jugraj Singh and Gundeep Kumar. The inclusion of drag flicker Jugraj Singh of Punjab Police in the coaching staff is a welcome addition as the player's career was cut short following a crippling road accident a few years ago, when he was at his prime. The probables: Goalkeepers: Adrian D'Souza, Shreejesh P.R, Bharat Chetri, Dinesh Ekka, Jaswinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh; full-backs: Sandeep Singh, V Raghunath, Diwakar Ram, Dhananjay Mahadik, Rupinderpal Singh, Amit Prabhakar and Sunil Yadav; mid-fielders: Gurbaj Singh, Vikram Pillay, Prabodh Tirkey, Sardar Singh, Ravipal Singh, Vikas Pillay, Ajitesh Roy, V.S. Vinay, Birender Lakra (jr), Vikas Sharma, Virenderjit Singh, Amardeep Ekka, Rajesh Kumar; Preetinder Singh, Jasjit Khullar and Vikas Choudhary; forwards: Tushar Khandekar, Shivendra Singh, Rajpal Singh, Arjun Halappa, Roshan Minz, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Hari Prasad, S.V. Sunil, Vikas Toppo, Bharat, Dharamveer Singh, Mandeep Antil, Mohd. Amir Khan, Danish Mujtaba, Sarvanjit Singh and S Arumugam.
|
|
Saina Nehwal advances with easy win
New Delhi, March 17 World number four Saina, who turned 21 today, shrugged off initial jittery to notch up a 23-21 21-9 victory over Sashina in her campaign opener in the women's singles last night. The second seed Indian will now clash with Eriko, who had spoilt her campaign in the All England Championships last week. — PTI
|
|
Paris, March 17
With Benzema's goal in the first leg having secured a 1-1 draw, Real took the lead in the 37th minute when Brazilian left-back Marcelo skipped through the Lyon defence to score. Benzema and Di Maria capitalised on hesitancy in the visiting back four in the second half to complete the victory — their first over Lyon in eight attempts — and nudge Real a step closer to a record 10th title. "We did what the manager wanted and went out to win the game," said Marcelo. "This victory gives us a lot of confidence and we owed it to the Madrid fans. We are not thinking about who we could get in the next round. "We will just wait for the draw and see." Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Chelsea kicked off their game at Stamford Bridge within touching distance of the last eight but received a shock when Copenhagen forward Dame N'Doye curled a free-kick against the woodwork. — AFP
|
|
Rishab to lead Delhi
New Delhi, March 17 Team: Goalkeepers: Anuj Kumar and Varun Bisht; defenders: Arjun Singh, Aditya Nath, Anshul Negi, Yash Kumar and Jawad Naseem; mid-fielders: Adeeb Hussain, Karan Yadav, Rishab Bhandari and Arayaman; forwards: Hitesh Dogra, Rohan Agarwal, Inderyudh Roy, Roshan C and Rohit Negi. Coaches: Nirmal Singh and Yusuf Ahmed. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chennai, March 17
Mumbai, March 17
Indian Wells, March 17
