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Gautam Gambhir in action against Australia in the ODI in Adelaide on Sunday. — AFP |
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Dhoni, Gambhir long for Yuvi's quick recovery after win
BCCI's Working Committee to decide on Sahara dispute
United on top, Spurs slam five goals
Tottenham Hotspur's Louis Saha (top) is challenged by Newcastle United's Michael Williamson during their English Premier League match in London on Saturday. — Reuters
Jeev ends 37th, Westwood pipped to title by Cabrera-Bello
Daljeet wins final spot on the Chandigarh team for LP Cup
Fortis Healthy Heart Golf Tournament
Title slips away for Barca
Boxers prepare for Olympic qualifiers
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 Gambhir, Dhoni star as India beat Aus by 4 wickets Rohit, Raina chip in Vinay, Yadav claim 2 wickets each
Adelaide, February 12 After restricting Australia to 269 for eight, built largely around David Hussey's 72, the visitors overcame some jitters before overhauling the target with just two balls to spare in a dramatic last over to record their second successive win in the tournament. Gautam Gambhir (92) led the way with an assured knock at the top of the order and the finish was provided by the reliable duo of Suresh Raina (38 off 30 balls) and Dhoni (44 not out) as the visitors chased down the record target of 270. The Indians needed 13 runs from the last over and Dhoni hit a huge six -- 112m -- from the third ball off Clint McKay to swing the game in India's favour. The subsequent ball turned out to be a no-ball and that made the task easier for the Indians. This is the highest-ever chase India have managed against any side in Australia. Their previous best was 263 against New Zealand in Brisbane in 1986. India's best chase against Australia was 242 for four in Sydney in 2008. It still was a touch and go when Raina departed in the 47th over and the equation was down to 27 runs from the final three overs. Some brisk running brought it down to 17 from the final two overs. Xavier Doherty bowled the penultimate over and gave only four runs, claiming Ravindra Jadeja (12) to a catch in the deep. It was now down to 13 from the final over. The Indian skipper, who batted slowly but assuredly, remained unbeaten on 44 of 58 balls with a solitary six. Earlier, Gambhir played his most assured knock of the summer. The left-hander was in control all through till he was adjudged leg before wicket to McKay which was a marginal call at best. Gambhir began with a few silken off-drives off Mitchell Starc before settling down and playing the sheet anchor role to perfection. He forged important stands all through his stay in the middle. To begin with, there was that rare half century opening stand with Virender Sehwag (20) and 38 for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (18) which promised more than it delivered. — PTI Scoreboard Australia Warner run out 18 Ponting c Kohli b Vinay 6 Clarke b Yadav 38 Forrest c Vinay b Yadav 66 DHussey c Sehwag b Zaheer 72 Christian run out 39 Wade b Vinay 16 Harris not out 2 McKay run out 3 Extras (lb 4, w 4, nb 1) 9 Total (8 wkts; 50 ovrs) 269 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-53, 3-81, 4-179, 5-235, 6-254, 7-265, 8-269. Bowling: Zaheer 10-0-46-1, Vinay 10-1-58-2, Jadeja 10-0-50-0, Yadav 10-1-49-2, Ashwin 8-0-47-0, Rohit 2-0-15-0. India Gambhir lbw b McKay 92 Sehwag c Hussey b McKay 20 Kohli c Forrest b McKay 18 Rohit c Starc b Harris 33 Raina b Doherty 38 Dhoni not out 44 Jadeja c Ponting b Doherty 12 Ashwin not out 1 Extras (lb 2, w 9, nb 1) 12 Total (6 wkts; 49.4 ovrs) 270 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-90, 3-166, 4-178, 5-239, 6-257. Bowling: Harris 10-0-57-1, Starc 8-0-49-0, McKay 9.4-1-53-3, Christian 10-0-45-0, Hussey 3-0-13-0, Doherty 9-0-51-2.
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Dhoni, Gambhir long for Yuvi's quick recovery after win
Adelaide, February 12 Yuvraj is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the US, for a malignant tumour in between lungs. "He will get well soon, he is someone who loves challenges and I believe he will come out strong," Dhoni said about Yuvraj after leading his side to a four-wicket win over Australia in the ODI tri-series here. Gambhir too wished for the left-hander's qucik recovery to the Indian team. "There is a message for a very good friend. We want Yuvraj to get well soon. This is the place where he belongs and we are missing him a lot," Gambhir, who was named the man of the match for his knock of 92, said. Needing 13 to win in the final over, Dhoni smashed Clint McKay for a massive six, which helped India to eventually seal the issue and the skipper said it was special shot. "This six was very special. This was the match when we needed that six. The World Cup six was also special but we could have done that with singles," Dhoni said. India have recorded their second consecutive win but Dhoni felt shot selection still required improvement. "You have to analyse whether you should be playing that shot. There were a few shots we shouldn't have played in this game so we need to work on that," he said. Dhoni said the plan was to take the game till the end. "I told Suresh (Raina) that let's take the game till the end. That was the time they were bowling well. So the idea was to take the game till the end and make use of the bad deliveries." Dhoni also said that his team is taking things one game at a time. "It's always great to be in the top 2, but it's important to take one game at a time, no need to think about the finals. We need to now concentrate one game at a time," Dhoni said. Gambhir was relieved to have beaten the Aussies for the first time in the series. "It was an important match for us against Australia, and I have happy to be contributing to the team's success. Any runs in Australia is special." As for Dhoni's gigantic six, Gambhir said, "Dhoni is a good finisher and he stays calm and that's important in those situations." Australian captain Michael Clarke said they they were 10-20 runs short. "We were 10-20 short and the fielding was sloppy." Clarke had a word of praise for Dhoni, who finished it off for India. "I have saying for a long time, the entire summer. He (Dhoni) played that innings beautifully and full credit to him Dhoni is a very good one-day player," Clarke said. — PTI
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BCCI's Working Committee to decide on Sahara dispute
Mumbai, February 12 Both parties have agreed to discuss the matter further in Monday's BCCI Working Committee meeting in Chennai but did not disclose what transpired in Sunday's crucial meeting. The meeting, it is learnt, was held in a cordial atmosphere and both parties have made significant headway in breaking the stalemate which prompted the corporate giant to withdraw sponsorship of the Indian cricket team and also pull out of the IPL. "Sahara and BCCI met today and discussed all the outstanding issues, and it was agreed that the subject will be further discussed in the BCCI Working Committee meeting tomorrow," a joint statement issued after the meeting said. "The interaction was focused on the interest of Indian cricket, including the IPL," it added. Sahara Group was headed by its supremo Subrata Roy while the BCCI president N Srinivasan, secretary Sanjay Jagdale, treasurer Ajay Shirke and IPL chief Rajiv Shukla represented the Board in the meeting which lasted almost one and a half hours. A top source said that some of the decisions have to be now ratified by the Working Committee which meets in Chennai on Monday. "Since some of the decisions have to be ratified by the Working Committee, they were not announced today," the source said. It is also learnt that Sahara's request to get fringe players from other franchises on loan could be considered after discussion with other teams and stakeholders. The BCCI, as part of a compromise formula, has also shown a lot more flexibility in accommodating some of the genuine grievances but has requested Sahara to continue sponsoring the Indian cricket team till the end of its contract. After the meeting, both the camps had internal meetings to chalk out the future course of action. Sahara supremo Roy had a round of meeting with his close aides and top management of his IPL team Pune Warriors. The BCCI top brass also met separately for a while. IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla had a meeting with IPL CEO Sundar Raman. Sahara, sponsor of the Indian team for over 11 years, decided to part ways with the BCCI on February 4, complaining that the Board did not give due consideration to its genuine grievances with regards to players and number of matches in the IPL. The decision to severe all tied with BCCI was taken just hours before the IPL auction got underway in Bangalore.
— PTI |
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United on top, Spurs slam five goals
Manchester, February 12 With closest rivals Manchester City not playing until Sunday, Manchester United made the most of the opportunity to leapfrog their neighbours on a day when Arsenal also capitalised on another Chelsea slip-up to climb to fourth. Manchester United's victory in the north-west derby at Old Trafford, which arrived courtesy of two Wayne Rooney goals, was marred by Liverpool striker Suarez's refusal to shake hands with home defender Evra before the match. It was the first time the two players had met since Suarez, who scored a late consolation goal for the visitors, was banned for eight matches for racially abusing the United defender in October's reverse fixture at Anfield. The snub had United manager Alex Ferguson branding Suarez a "disgrace to Liverpool" who should never play for the club again. While all the focus in that game was on the escalation of the controversy, with Evra also criticised by his manager for his wild celebrations right in front of Suarez after the final whistle, it was all about the football at White Hart Lane. Emmanuel Adebayor scored one goal and set up four as Tottenham thumped Newcastle to strengthen their grip on third place and underline why their manager Harry Redknapp is favourite for the vacant England job. Spurs were two up after six minutes and had established a four-goal lead by halftime, with new signing Louis Saha on target twice and Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Niko Kranjcar also netting. Adebayor then struck midway through the second half, volleying in a Saha header as Spurs chalked up 53 points from 25 games, five behind Manchester United who are a point above City ahead of the latter's game at Aston Villa on Sunday. Home fans sang "There's only one Harry Redknapp" throughout, hoping he chooses to stay at the club rather than take over as England boss, a post he is widely tipped to fill after Fabio Capello's resignation this week. Redknapp said his mind was on Spurs and he was not planning to abandon them while things were going so well. "If it ever happened and you got the offer (of the England job) you would have to consider what you feel is the right thing to do," he said. "But at the moment I am focusing purely on Tottenham ... I'm not just going to leave them in the lurch.” — Reuters
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Jeev ends 37th, Westwood pipped to title by Cabrera-Bello
Cabrera-Bello tallied 18-under 270, while Westwood and Gallacher were at 17-under 271. Jeev, making his 14th appearance in the Middle-East's oldest event on the European Tour, had a birdie on the fourth but a double bogey on par-4 fifth took away the tempo and he struggled. He did have a birdie on par-3 11th and then came a bogey on par-4 16th and he finished with a 73. Jeev finished at five-under 283 and his next event is the Avantha Masters in Gurgaon, India. Westwood gave himself a great chance with an eagle two on par-4 second, but then a lot of putts did not fall and a bogey on fifth did him in. On the 18th, his chip was a let-down and, needing a birdie to get into a play-off, he managed only a par. He shared second with Gallacher. Marcel Siem (71) was fourth, while George Coetzee (70) was tied for fifth with Rory McIlroy (71), who came alive on the back nine, for which he was four-under. Thomas Bjorn (71) who had an eagle on 13th was tied ninth, while Martin Kaymer (74) slipped to tied 13th. — PTI
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Tiger Woods climbs into contention at Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach, February 12 Woods shot a five-under par 67 on the Pebble Beach Golf Links to pull within three shots of South Korean clubhouse leader Charlie Wi at the $6.4 million Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. "Today the putts were going in. I had a nice little run there," said Woods. "The bad days and bad shots aren't as bad as they use to be." Woods began the day six shots back of second-round leader Wi. Starting from the 10th tee, Woods shot a 35 on the back nine and a sizzling 32 on the front side. He needed just 27 putts in the third round, rolling in five birdies in the final six holes on the front nine. "I made far more putts," said Woods. "I really managed my game well." The swing and confidence appear to be back in Woods' game thanks in part to improvements he has made with his swing coach. But Woods credits his late father, Earl Woods, with teaching him how to putt. "I have written a lot of my dad's teachings down over the years," Woods said. "I have tried different styles under Butch (Harmon) and Hank (Haney), but when push comes to shove I revert back." — AFP
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Daljeet wins final spot on the Chandigarh team for LP Cup
Chandigarh, February 12 Col Daljeet Singh with a net score of 65 points overcame stiff competition to book his berth in the Chandigarh team and will represent the city along with legendary cricketer Kapli Dev and top Indian Pro Gaganjeet Bhullar in the Louis Philippe Cup to be played at Karnataka Golf Association from March 5-10, 2012. Sahil Joshi, with a net score of 66 points, missed a berth on the Dev Ellora Chandigarh team by a whisker, losing out in a nail-biting contest to the eventual winner. After winning, Col Daljeet Singh said, " I didn’t expect to win the tournament. The Putter worked very well today. My son was one shot behind me. I wish he had won instead of me." The Louis Philippe Cup, with its new IPL-style format, and Rs.1.20 crore purse is the richest domestic event on the PGTI calendar. All the top ranked golfers on the PGTI circuit including Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, SSP Chowrasia, two time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar, 2011 Asian Tour winner Anirban Lahiri, 2011 Singapore Classic winner Himmat Rai and current No.1 in the Rolex-PGTI rankings Chiragh Kumar have confirmed their participation in the extravaganza.
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Fortis Healthy Heart Golf Tournament
Chandigarh, February 12 The Tournament was played in the Stableford format. There were 8 categories according to age group and the winners in the various categories were: Gents: 65 years - 75 years: G S Ruppal; 76 years - 80 years: K S Sandhu; 81yrs - 85 yrs: Brig. K Sandhu; 86 years and above : Capt Shamsher Singh. Ladies: 60 years - 70 years: Pramilla Chari, 71 years and above Dalbir
Sahi. |
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Madrid, February 12 Spanish World Cup winners Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas started on the bench, and although Alexis Sanchez pulled one back for the visitors in the 52nd minute, Raul Garcia quickly restored Osasuna's advantage. Barca's youth team winger Cristian Tello grabbed a second in the 73rd but a late charge just failed to produce the equaliser. — Reuters
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Boxers prepare for Olympic qualifiers
Patiala, February 12 Right from rigorous training to studying new techniques through various sources, the boxers are leaving no stone unturned to defeat their fellow players. As four Indian players have already qualified for the Olympics- L. Devendro Singh (49 kg), Jai Bhagwan (60 kg), Manoj Kumar (64 kg) and Vikas Krishan (69 kg), these weight categories have already been reserved. As a result, many players will be compelled to change their weight category in case they want to continue in the race for the qualifiers. This will certainly mean tougher competition in the other weight categories. The selection trials will will be held on February 25 and 26 at
NIS, Patiala. |
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Adelaide,
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and opener Gautam Gambhir today longed for Yuvraj Singh's quick recovery and hoped the left-hander would overcome health issues and make a strong comeback.
Yuvraj is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the US, for a malignant tumour in
between lungs. "He will get well soon, he is someone who loves challenges
and I believe he will come out strong," Dhoni said about Yuvraj after
leading his side to a four-wicket win over Australia in the ODI tri-series here.
The top brass of BCCI and Sahara, which had severed ties with the Board and had pulled out of the IPL, met on Sunday to discuss the contentious issues amid indications that a breakthrough has been achieved.
Dubai, February 12
