Port of Spain, June 8
West Indies squandered a solid start to post a total of 240 for nine in the second ODI versus India at the Queen’s Park Oval here today. After the top order had taken the home team to 192 for 4 in 41 overs, the Windies lost wickets quickly as they failed to seize the initiative.

West Indies made a sound start with Simmons and Edwards putting on 57 runs for the opening wicket in 12 overs. The first breakthrough was provided by Amit Mishra when he removed Edwards, who was caught behind by Parthiv Patel after scoring 25.

Ramnaresh Sarwan came in at number three and alongwith Simmons kept rotating the strike with singles.

Simmons was the second batsman to be dismissed when he charged down to off-spinner Yusuf Pathan, who slid in a wide down the leg side for Parthiv to complete a smart stumping. Simmons scored 53. The fall of that wicket brought Marlon Samuels to the wicket. Samuels and Sarwan added 51 runs for the third wicket before Pathan struck again in similar fashion this time claiming Samuels stumped by Parthiv after the Jamaican had scored 36.

Sarwan too completed his half-century but fell in the 41st over to munaf patel after scoring 56. Sarwan’s was once again a slow effort as he got his runs from 90 balls but his knock provided the platform to launch a final assault. But almost instantly Amit Mishra got the important wicket of Pollard to jolt the Windies. Pollard was caught in front of the wickets for a duck in what was huge disappointment for the local fans who were expecting some lusty hits from him. Captain Sammy slogged some hits to the fence to take the score to 240. — Agencies

Scoreboard
West Indies
Simmons st Patel b Yusuf 53
Edwards c Patel b Mishra 25
Sarwan c Yusuf b Munaf 56
Samuels st Patel b Yusuf 36
Bravo c Harbhajan b Mishra 8
Pollard lbw b Mishra 0
Baugh b Mishra 2
Sammy not out 22
Rampaul c Raina b Munaf 14
Bishoo c Patel b Munaf 0
Martin not out 0
Extras (b 1, lb 6, w 16, nb 1) 24
Total (9 wkts; 50 overs) 240
Bowling: Praveen 10-0-54-0, Munaf 10-2-35-3, Mishra 10-2-31-4, Harbhajan 10-1-51-0, Yusuf 8-0-51-2, Raina 2-0-11-0.

New Delhi, June 8
The top guns of Hockey India, the national selectors, Government observers and coaches will assemble in Bhopal during the National Championship there from June 10 to 19, to select 48 probables for a coaching camp, to be held in Bangalore from July 1.

A Hockey India source said here today that the selectors will cast the net wide during the Nationals to pick the best available talent for the camp as a prelude to picking the Indian teams for various engagements in the coming months, including the Champions Trophy, slated to be held at the National Stadium in Delhi in December, and the Olympic qualifiers, also to be held in Delhi in February, 2012.

Though the name of the foreign coach has not yet been finalised, five Indian coaches, who will be associated with the National team, will be present in Bhopal to assess the talent on view. Though the Sports Ministry has accorded recognition to the rival Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), it has also allowed Hockey India to conduct the Nationals with a view that “hockey should not suffer”. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has stated that it will deal only with Hockey India, which has put the Government in a dilemma.

As a consequence, institutional teams like Services, Railways and the Combined Universities would be among the 32 teams participating in the Nationals.

The source said the name of the foreign coach/consultant would be finalized in the “next ten days”. He said it was “too early, too premature” to name the possible candidate/candidates for the top job as various names were under consideration.

Former Indian captain, Olympian Pargat Singh, who is chairman of Hockey India’s Development Committee, which will decide on the foreign coach, said the committee will finalise a suitable name “as early as possible, may be in the next 10 to 15 days”.

“I am aware of the urgency of the situation, but we have to zero-in on the right candidates who would be able to work to uplift Indian hockey”, Pargat told The Tribune. He had lamented in Delhi last week that the laggard attitude of Hockey India was stalling the selection of a foreign coach.

Hockey India has requested the Ministry and Sports Authority of India to hold the National camp in Bangalore, taking into account the pleasant weather conditions in the southern metropolis, though the two major home assignments of the Indian team will be played at the National Stadium in Delhi.

Colombo, June 8
Former captain Hashan Tillakaratne has denied that he had named ex-skippers Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya as being involved in match-fixing, which he had claimed to have been going on in Sri Lanka since 1992.

Squashing reports by a Lankan website that he had revealed the names of de Silva and Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne made a statement denying mentioning any names to President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a recent meeting.

"While my wife Apsari Tillakaratne and Rev Uduwe Dhammaloka also took part with me in a meeting which had been summoned by His Excellency the President to find out about the earlier statement I had made to this assembly, I would like to insist to this august assembly that there was no mention of any player or person at that meeting," Tillakaratne stated.

Tillakaratne, who is now an opposition UNP member in the Western Provincial Council, made this statement at a Council meeting, according to 'Daily Mirror'.

A Lankan website had reported that Tillakaratne had named de Silva and Jayasuriya as involved in match fixing when he met the president along with popular Buddhist monk Uduwe Dhammaloka. Tillakaratne also said that he is co-operating with the Sri Lanka Police investigation and the ICC investigation into the allegations he had made about match fixing. — PTI

London, June 8
Pakistani pacer Mohammed Aamir could be in further trouble as the ICC has launched an investigation into claims that the bowler had defied the ban imposed on him by the world body by playing in an English Division One competition.

A report in 'Daily Mail' said that Aamir, who was handed a five-year ban by the ICC in February for his involvement in last year's spot-fixing scandal, played for Addington in Surrey Cricket League Division One at the LSE ground in New Malden near here. The ICC ban on Aamir — and his Pakistani national teammates Slaman Butt and Mohammed Asif — bars him from participating in the game at any recognised level and his turning up for the English club side could be in breach of ICC terms and conditions on his sanction.

"We are investigating and awaiting the details. If true, it is clearly a breach of the sanction imposed in February. The ban is absolutely worldwide covering all levels and any activities connected with cricket. What might happen next is a hypothetical question at this stage," ICC spokesman Colin Gibson was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Aamir confirmed that he played in the match but said he thought it was a friendly game.

"I was informed by club representatives before the game that it was a friendly match, being played on a privately owned cricket ground. I asked the club representatives if the match fell under the jurisdiction of ECB and they informed me that the match did not," Aamir was quoted as saying by PakPassion.net. — PTI

Patiala, June 8
A day after the West Bengal Government announced it would bid for the 2015 National Games, the Punjab Olympic Association (POA) is now showing ‘keen interest’ and has decided to challenge the Bengal bid to host the event. Sources confirmed that POA would soon discuss the matter with the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who holds the sports portfolio, and to bid for the event.

Sources in the Government said that matter could be discussed on next Thursday, with POA top brass meeting Badal in Chandigarh. “West Bengal Sports Minister Madan Mitra was quoted in a section of the media as saying that Bengal would bid for the National Games in 2015 as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had given it the nod. Following this, we have decided to get the Government into confidence to ensure that Punjab bids for the Games,” they said.

Punjab had earlier hosted the National Games in 2001, when they were held in Ludhiana and infrastructure worth crores, including an astro-turf ground, floodlit athletic track and the Guru Nanak Stadium were developed. The 34th edition was held in Jharkhand in February this year, while the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has already allotted the next three editions to Kerala, Goa and Chhattisgarh respectively.

A senior POA official confirmed that though Punjab would raise the issue, the chances were bleak, given the status of the former Railway minister in the present Government. “If she wants it in Bengal, there is no stopping her,” he told TNS.

Speaking to The Tribune, from London POA President Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa confirmed that he would take up this matter with Badal and once he gives a sanction, Punjab would strongly pursue the case. “We would need some good sponsors for successful hosting and there is ample Government will to promote sports in Punjab. Therefore I see no problems,” said Dhindsa.

Meanwhile Punjab Director of Sports, Pargat Singh, said that the Government was yet to discuss this issue. “Once POA takes it up with the State Government, Punjab could be a front-runner for the 2015 edition of the Games,” he said.

Dallas, June 8
The Dallas Mavericks used some fourth-quarter fireworks by an ailing Dirk Nowitzki to overcome a 32-point performance by Dwyane Wade and defeat the Miami Heat 86-83 on Tuesday to square the best-of-seven NBA Finals at 2-2.

Dallas got 10 final-period points from a feverish Nowitzki, including a clutch basket down the stretch, to overcome a nine-point deficit in the final eight minutes. The 32-year-old All-Star played down his sinus infection and 101-degree fever, but his team mates did not.

"The average person has sick days and battling 100-something (fever), it's just tough to get out of bed," said center Tyson Chandler, who had 13 points and 16 rebounds. "The doctors tried to keep (the fever) down and they couldn't get it under control.

"This guy is playing against the best athletes in the world, and he's putting himself out there, because if he has a terrible night, he's going to get criticised about him not making shots and not stepping up in the challenge."

The Mavericks overcame a 74-65 deficit with a 17-4 run to take an 82-78 lead with just over two minutes left, igniting the capacity crowd of 20,430 at the American Airlines Center. With the Mavericks clinging to an 82-81 lead, Nowitzki drove to the basket tightly guarded by Udonis Haslem and softly banked in a lay-up with 14 seconds left.

"I was going to play the clock down, but I saw I had a little opening there," said Nowitzki, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds but hit only six-of-19 shots from the floor.

"So I just went for it. I was able to rip through and go to the right. They really played my left, which obviously the whole league does. So I was able to rip through and get to my right and finally finish a lay-up." — Reuters

Patiala, June 8
Black Elephant Cricket Club defeated AGA Amritsar by 84 runs to list the 11th Hot Weather Under-14 trophy.

The Amritsar boys won the toss and elected to field first. The decision backfired as BECC hammered 171 runs with opener Shalinder playing a superb knock of 50 runs while Jashan scored 51 runs to help BECC reach the total.

Chasing the huge target, the Amritsar boys struggled hard and kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were ultimately bundled out in 24 overs for 87 runs.

Scores:

Black Elephant Cricket Club (BECC):

171 in 33.5 overs (Jashan 51, Shalinder Salaria 50 Tejpreet 15, Rahul 4-23, Akshay 3-43).

Amritsar Games Association: 87 in 24 overs(Danish 24, Karan 10, Ramandeep 3-24, Tejpreet 2-16, Abhisek 2-14).

New Delhi, June 8
Young Deepika Kumari's outstanding performance helped India maintain second position behind leaders South Korea at the end of the opening round of the World Cup (Stage II) Archery Competition in Antalya, Turkey.

The youngster from Ranchi scored 1354 points to remain fourth behind three Korean archers as Indian women's recurve team finished second in the team standings with 4005 points. Korean archers lead the field with 4099 points.

China are placed third with 3999 points. Among the other Indian eves in the fray, L Bombayla Devi (1334) is placed 11th, Chekrovolu Swuro (1317) is at 30th place while Seema Verma (1292) is currently 52nd. In the team event, India will play 15th ranked Turkey in the first round.

The Indian men's recurve team had a poor day as they are ninth in the team standings with 3963 points. Jayant Talukdar with 1335 points is 15th in the table. — PTI

Colombo, June 8
International woman grandmaster Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa today won the Asian Junior Chess Championship held at Bentota beach resort here. Kulkarni, 20, is Goa's first international woman grandmaster.

Having already won the under-14 and under-16 Asian crowns in 2006 and 2010, respectively, Kulkarni today got the better of Sri Lanka's Dissanayake to clinch the top prize. "I have to prepare well for the World junior with some specialised training," Kulkarni said in statement.

"This victory is good because the World Chess Federation awards the winner with a norm of Woman Grandmaster," she said. — PTI

New Delhi, June 8
Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) stunned the fancied Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) by five wickets to enter the semi-finals of the 35th Lala Raghubir Singh Prize Money Hot Weather Tournament at the Modern School ground here today. Vaibhav was adjudged the Reebok man of the match.

Scores: ONGC: 194/7 (Radhey Shyam Gupta 45 not out, Tanmay Srivastava 45, Mayank Tehlan 33, Sumit Narwal 2 for 35). RCA: 196 for 5 in 32.5 overs (Vaibhav Deshpande 95, Ankit Lamba 51, Pranay Sharma 26). — TNS

BRIEFLY

Bopanna-Qureshi enter semifinals
New Delhi: Indian Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi today advanced to the quarterfinals of Gerry Weber Open after defeating the pair of Ivan Dodig and Alexandr Dolgopolov in straight sets in the first round of the event at Halle, Germany. The "Indo-Pak Express", seeded top in the Euro 7,50,000 grass court tournament, defeated the duo of Dodig (Croatia) and Dolgopolov (Ukraine) 7-5 6-4. In the quarterfinals, Bopanna and Qureshi will take on the combo of Dustin Brown of Germany and Gael Monfils of France, who beat Spanish duo of Pabio Andujar and David Marrero 6-0 6-4 in another first round match. — PTI

Sachin, Kallis on top of ICC rankings
Dubai: India's Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa's Jacques Kallis remained jointly on top Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen. Both Tendulkar and Kallis have garnered 883 points each. Kallis also maintained his top spot in the list of leading all-rounders in Test cricket. India's Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman also held on to their sixth and eighth place respectively. Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara dropped one place to be at fourth in the current list released by the ICC. — PTI

Australian cricketer legend Shane Warne has even given up his favorite pie to ditch another five kilos for lover Liz Hurley. "Feel like having a hot pie with copious amounts of sauce with crinkle cut chips!!" the Daily Telegraph quoted him as tweeting. But then he quickly recovered his poise. "NO Shane!! 78kg is target currently 82.5. Settle on a protein shake with an apple and banana - sob," he wrote. — ANI

JCT trio signs two-year deal with Salgaocar
Panaji: JCT trio Balwant Singh, Randeep Singh and Rahul Kumar have signed a two-year deal with newly crowned I-League champions Salgaocar SC. These players now join Ishfaq Ahmed, Biswajit Saha, Dada Nabeel, Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Kartik Kisku in the list of Indian players, who have signed for the country's champion club. Among the foreigners, Edeh Chidi is the only one, who has signed for Salgaocar, replacing Yusif Yakubu for the upcoming season. Salgaocar's general secretary Raj Gomes informed that the club assessed the performance of the trio before striking a deal with them at the club house in Vasco yesterday. — PTI

Tendulkar, Federer are my role models: Valthaty
New Delhi: Seven weeks of Indian Premier League has turned Paul Valthaty from a rank outsider to a household name and he is enjoying every bit of his stardom but is keen to retain the humility which has been the hallmark of his two role models Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer. "I have always looked up to Roger Federer and Sachin Tendulkar for inspiration. They are the true champions and their achievements really inspires me," the Kings XI Punjab player said during an interaction. — PTI