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Top three not playing all games as they are slow: Dhoni
Virat Kohli gestures to spectators after taking a catch to dismiss Peter Forrest in Brisbane on Sunday. — AFP
We bowled so well after long: Ponting
Levi hits fastest T20 ton as Proteas win
South Africa’s Richard Levi (L) celebrates his century against New Zealand in the Twenty20 match in Hamilton on Sunday. South Africa won by 8 wickets. — AP/PTI
Rani Rampal hits a shot during the FIH London 2012 Olympic Hockey Qualifying tournament match against Canada at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. India won the match 4-1. — AFP
Artur Mikula of Poland (R) celebrates a goal during their match against Canada in New Delhi on Sunday. Poland won the match 3-2. — AFP
Kruger wins Avantha Masters
Chauhan, Jignas power India to top in Asian GP
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Brisbane, February 19 Australia now have 14 points from five matches while India are second in the table with 10 points from five games. Sri Lanka have collected seven points from four matches. The top-order Indian batting crumbled in the face of some hostile bowling in early overs. The late rally by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (56) only ended up in delaying the inevitable. Pacer Ben Hilfenhaus marked his return to Australia's one-day side with career-best figures of 5 for 33, including the scalp of Sachin Tendulkar (3) who still remains in search of his elusive 100th international century. None of the Indian top order batted with assurance or long enough and the biggest stand of the innings was 46 which Dhoni and Suresh Raina (28) stitched between themselves for the fifth wicket. Hilfenhaus and Brett Lee (3 for 49) were hostile on a spicy wicket and ripped out the heart of Indian batting in their first spells. Hilfenhaus, playing his first match of the tri-series, and Lee, eager to leave his mark, let it rip from the first ball. Lee bowled a peach of a delivery in his first over and Gautam Gambhir (5), without any discernible footwork, edged a catch behind the stumps. Lee now rattled Tendulkar, bowling a brutish bouncer which thudded into the great man's helmet as he tried to pay an attacking pull shot. The ball then lobbed off to mid-on and there was a concerted appeal for a catch by the Australians. But the ball had made no contact with the bat and Tendulkar survived. Hilfenhaus then turned up the heat from the other end. In his third over, he bowled a widish lifting delivery to Virat Kohli (12) who slashed up high in the air and offered an easy catch to Xavier Doherty at third man. The fielder was not up to the offer and it was now Kohli's turn to survive. Tendulkar departed the next ball though as the batsmen changed ends. Backing away, Tendulkar tried to glide a lifting delivery over the slips but succeeded in only offering a catch at third man. Rohit Sharma (0) copped yet another failure, essaying an ill-adviced slash off the front foot and offering yet another wicket to Lee. It soon turned into 36 for four in the 11th over when Kohli edged Hilfenhaus to first slip David Hussey but refused to budge as the appear was referred to the third umpire. The ruling from the upstairs was no different but Kohli kept gesticulating and showing his disapproval till he disappeared into the tunnel. India then had a reasonable 46-run stand for the fifth wicket between Raina and Dhoni which ended when the left-hander chased a wild delivery from Dan Christian and offered a catch behind the stumps. India were now 82 for five in the 23rd over. India lost their sixth wicket in the form of Ravinder Jadeja (18) who holed out in the deep off Christian to plunge India to 114 for 6 in the 31st over. Dhoni though waged a lone battle and hit a spectacular one-two of a six and a four off Lee after he opted for the batting powerplay in the 35th over. However, the pyrotechnics of Indian skipper was to end when he pulled a short delivery from Hilfenhaus into the hands of midwicket fielder. Dhoni made 56 off 84 balls with two fours and a six. India were 149 for 7 in the 38th over and the match was as good as over, barring the shouting. Earlier, electing to bat, Australia recovered from a wobbly start and smashed 110 runs in the final 10 overs to post 288 for 5. Half centuries by Peter Forrest (52) and Mike Hussey (59) and their century stand for fourth wicket help set the base before impressive cameos by Daniel Christian and David Hussey. Christian (32 off 18 balls) and Hussey (24 off 20 balls) plundered 58 runs from the final five overs, the penultimate over by Vinay Kumar yielding 18 runs. Irfan Pathan claimed 3/61 and Indian effort was generally good in the field but for sloppy work in the final overs. Australia made a fine start before they fell into a quagmire in the first half of the innings. David Warner and Matthew Wade had put on 70 runs for the first wicket by the 13th over before the innings almost came to a standstill. Warner was set for a long innings with 43 from 46 balls (five fours and a six) before he tamely pushed a leg-stump half volley from Irfan Pathan to the lone fielder on the onside inside the ring. — PTI Scoreboard Australia Wade c & b Rohit 45 Warner c Tendulkar b Irfan 43 Ponting c Irfan b Zaheer 7 Forrest c Kohli b Irfan 52 Mike c Raina b Irfan 59 David not out 26 Christian not out 30 Extras: (b-2, lb-12, w-12) 26 Total: (5 wkts, 50 overs) 288 Fall of wickets: 1/70 2/83 3/117 4/217 5/223. Bowling: Zaheer 10-0-46-1, Vinay 10- 0-60-0, Irfan 10-0-61-3, Raina 10-0-44-0, Yadav 7-0-46-0, Rohit 3-0-17-1. India Gambhir c Wade b Lee 5 Sachin c Doherty b Hilfenhaus 3 Kohli c David b Hilfenhaus 12 Rohit c Wade b Lee 0 Raina c Wade b Christian 28 Dhoni c Christian b Hilfenhaus 56 Jadeja c Forrest b Starc 18 Irfan c Wade b Hilfenhaus 19 Vinay b Lee 6 Zaheer c Wade b Hilfenhaus 9 Yadav not out 6 Extras (lb-4, w-10, nb-2) 16 Total (all out, 43.3 overs) 178 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-15, 3-16, 4-36, 5-82, 6-114, 7-149, 8-162, 9-168. Bowling: Hilfenhaus 9.3-1-33-5, Lee 10-0-49-3, Christian 6-0-27-1, Starc 8-0-36-1, Doherty 10-0-29-0.
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Top three not playing all games as they are slow: Dhoni
Brisbane, February 19 Dhoni explained the reasons why Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir are not playing all the games together, even as India lost the tri-series game against Australia by 110 runs at the Gabba here. "It might happen (they playing together, but) it would affect our fielding in a big way, it's not only these three, there are quite a few other players who are also slow on the field. If you really add it up, you would have only two or three good fielders. "These fielders are not bad but on these big fields, they are slightly on the slower side. They would be exploited once the ball goes to them, the Australians and Sri Lankans would look for those two or three runs to put pressure on their body. Their throwing and diving needs to be good," Dhoni said. The skipper said fielding in the big grounds of Australia could lead to breakdowns. "They are safe fielders on the slower side. The pressure would be on them. They would have to throw from positions where there would be pressure on them. There would be breakdowns. It's not like India where the ball goes to a boundary and you just throw it back. Here, you can pull muscle or a hamstring. "Batting and bowling is something which has variables but fielding is one department where you could always score. It keeps the morale of the team up, there is intensity." Dhoni blames early wickets
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said losing early wickets while chasing and leaking too many runs in the last 10 overs due to searing heat, were the main reasons for their defeat against Australia in a tri-series match here. Asked to bowl, India conceded 101 runs in the last 10 overs to let Australia set an imposing target of 289. India were shot out for 178 after a poor start. They had lost their first four wickets for just 36 runs. "With that kind of score you needed a brisk start. They got early breakthroughs and that put pressure on us. Our bowlers were affected by the heat, they were cramping so it affected their execution," Dhoni said after the match. Asked about the continuous failure of India's big guns, Dhoni said," It happens. The two new balls make it a bit difficult so you have to respect that early on. It gets a bit easier to hit in the middle overs. You have to plan well." Paceman Ben Hilfenhaus was adjudged Man of the Match for taking five wickets for just 33 runs. Hilfenhaus said getting the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar was satisfying. "The new white ball swings a lot and I like it for sure. I couldn't get Sachin through the Test series so I had to get him sometime." Stand-in-skipper Ricky Ponting was expectedly pleased with the win after suffering defeat in the last match. "I thought our score was just above par. The Indians didn't hit that many boundaries so we were fantastic. We've turned the momentum back our way. We knew the pitch would offer a bit more at night. Great for Brett the way he bowled," Ponting said.
— PTI
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We bowled so well after long: Ponting
Brisbane, February 19 The Australians bundled out India for 178 after setting them a stiff target of 289 to win. "It's been a long time since I have seen an Australian team bowl as well as they did tonight. The way they were able to be aggressive early on with the new ball, but at the same time be able to restrict India from scoring boundaries was absolutely first class," said Ponting. Comeback paceman Ben Hilfenhaus took a career-best five for 33 in his nine-odd overs. "For Ben (Hilfenhaus) to come away with a five-for in his first game in a long time was a great reward for him. I think selectors have had this gameplan for Hilfy for quite a while. "We always know here in Brisbane the ball is going to swing a lit bit particularly with two new balls we have got now. We knew the conditions would suit him, particularly after we won the toss. "The ball normally does a little bit more at night here, but I thought his control early on, the line and length he bowled early, along with the aggression, was the reason he bowled as well as he did." Ponting was also very pleased with his side's batting. "We felt it was good (score), just a little bit over par. Most of the batters came off today. The wicket was slightly on the slower side for a Brisbane one-day wicket. "I thought the way we approached our batting today, being a little bit more patient at the top, giving ourselves a chance to establish partnerships, keeping wickets in hand until the end of the innings, and being able to explode a bit in the last 10 overs. It's the way we play our best one-day cricket and I think we did really well that today." — PTI
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Levi hits fastest T20 ton as Proteas win
Hamilton, February 19 Levi's 45-ball century was the fastest ever in T20 internationals and included the most sixes, with 13, in a performance which had spectators at the sold out Seddon Park ground in Hamilton ducking for cover. His 117 run total also equalled the highest ever score by a batsman in a T20 international, matching the mark set by Chris Gayle of the West Indies against South Africa in 2007. South African skipper AB de Villiers (39) provided able support as his team reached the 174 target set by New Zealand with ease, but it was Levi who demolished the Black Caps in only his second international appearance. "It was good fun, every shot I played came off, which was quite nice and I just kept myself nice and calm and collected and kept going," the hulking 24-year-old said. The win levels the three match series 1-1 heading into the final game in Auckland on Wednesday. Levi came out firing, plundering 23 off 10 balls in the first two overs, and never relented even after Hashim Amla (2) and Wayne Parnell (4) departed early. He punished all of New Zealand's bowlers but it was a particularly painful night for Doug Bracewell, who conceded 37 runs off his two overs. New Zealand had made four for 173, never managing to dominate as South Africa's bowlers produced a far better display than in their six-wicket loss in the opening match in Wellington on Friday.
— AFP |
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Brisbane, February 19 The Indian side was ruled to be two overs short of their target at the end of the match against Australia today when time allowances were taken into consideration. Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed a 40 per cent fine on Dhoni while each of his players received 20-per-cent fines. Dhoni has been suspended from India's tri-series game on Tuesday against Sri Lanka here as this was India's second minor over-rate offence after they were fined for a slow over-rate in the 2011 Cricket World Cup final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on April 2. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Steve Davis and Billy Bowden, both from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, as well as third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Paul Reiffel. Dhoni pleaded guilty to the charge and the subsequent penalties were accepted both by Dhoni and India. As such there was no need for a formal hearing. The Indian captain also acknowledged that he had been kept informed of the position regarding over-rates on a regular basis throughout the match and therefore accepted the decision. — PTI
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Clinical India pound italy 8-1
New Delhi, February 19 Italy, who had suffered a 0-8 hiding at the hands of Canada in their opening match, had the satisfaction of knocking in a goal from their very first foray into the Indian goal, which earned them a penalty corner and Alessandro Nanni scored off it, though by then India had taken a two-nil lead. India did not allow Italy to have another close peep into their goal, and the Italian goal was the result of a sloppy defensive play. The import of India's game today was that they made maximum use of the penalty corners as Sandeep and V.R.Raghunath brooked no denial. In fact, the first four of India's goals came off penalty corners. Sandeep Singh's clean drag-flick earned the first goal off the first PC in the third minute and Raghunath did ditto with the second, again a clean hit through the carpet. Then Italy pulled one back, but Sandeep widened the lead with a high scoop off the third PC, and he made no mistake with the fourth either, to make a personal tally of three goals. S.V.Sunil and Gurwinder Singh Chandi also etched their names in the score card with a goal each as India retired for the half-time break with a 6-1 lead. As expected, India slowed down on resumption, but still knocked in two more goals through Sunil, who deflected in a long sweep from outside the dee by Sandeep, and Shivendra Singh. In the second half, the only point of interest was whether India would be able to equal the number of goals scored by Canada against Italy, though India let in a goal, unlike Canada. But this win would have surely boosted the morale of India, which will stand them in goodstead when they meet the tough France on Tuesday, after a rest day tomorrow. Eves beat Canada
Indian eves found their scoring touch to make merry against Canada, pounding them by 4-1, in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the National Stadium here tonight. The hosts ensured victory in the first half itself when they took a comfortable 3-0 lead, and the fourth goal on resumption came as an icing on the cake. The hosts kept a high tempo of speed and dribbling skills to charge at the rival goal with their intent of scoring clear, which resulted in five penalty corners and four goals. The Indian girls atoned for their erratic display against Ukraine last night, when they dropped a valuable point with a 1-1 draw. They were in no mood for charity against the Canadians, who had drawn 2-2 against Italy yesterday, as the hosts attacked with venom, and did not relent, till mid-way through the second session. India were quick off the block, and earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute, though it was wasted. But they made no such mistake with the second PC forced in the 16th minute as Soundarya Yendala deflected in, after Joydeep Kaur had swept the ball goalward. Two minutes later, Rani Ramphal cut in from the left, gave the slip to a couple of defenders, before despatching the ball home. Sushila Chanu Pukkrambh's direct hit off the fifth penalty corner fetched the third goal six minutes before the interval. Though India tempered the pace of play on resumption, they added a fourth goal through Anuradha Devi Thokthom, who drove home powerfully.India got a few more chances to score, but they failed to cash in on the chances, and instead, conceded a goal at the fag,when the wiry Hannah Haughn slipped one in following a goal-mouth rush. The victory has certainly not put the hosts on the comfort zone, as earlier in the day, South Africa beat Ukraine 2-0 to record their second win to lead the table while Poland beat Italy. India meet Poland on Tuesday, after a rest day tomorrow, and the Poles' domination against Italy was a matter of concern for the hosts. |
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Poland stun Canada
New Delhi, February 19 The 14th ranked Canadians, looking for their second win in the event after their 9-0 mauling of Italy yesterday, were in for a rude shock when Poland, ranked 19th, came out with a spirited performance to register the stunning victory. Poland seized the initiative by taking a 2-0 lead through two field goals from Mateus Poltaszewski (18th minute) and Artur Mikula (33rd). Canada, however, pulled one back just at the stroke of the half time when Iain Smythe (35th) scored a field goal to go into the breather trailing 1-2. Sukhwinder Gabbar Singh then drew parity for Canada in the 54th minute with a field goal. But Canada's heart broke when Poland captain Darius Rachwalski converted a penalty corner in the final minute of the match to score a magnificent victory for his side.
— PTI |
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Gurgaon, February 19 Kruger show signs nervousness when striding towards his victory but he managed to keep his nerves in check to claim the event that carries a purse of Euros 1.8 million. He finished at 14-under 274, two shots clear of Spain's Jorge Campillo (67) and Germany's Marcel Siem (70) at the DLF Golf and Country Club. Indians who usually do well at home did have not a great tournament. Only a dozen Indians made the cut and none of them came inside top-20. The best was Shamim Khan (71) in 22nd place at five-under 283, while Anirban Lahiri (74) four-under 284 and tied 23rd. Vijay Kumar (73) ended tied 29th at three-under 285. Shiv Kapur (74) was two-under 286 and tied 35th. Defending champion SSP Chowrasia had his best round of the week with a 70, but finished tied 48th alongside Jeev Milkha Singh (72). Manav Jaini (73) and Himmat Rai (72) were tied 54th, Mukesh Kumar (76) and Sanjay Kumar were tied 62nd and Vivek Bhandari, who had a superb time in first two rounds crashed to an 80 and ended tied 65th. Kruger was flawless through the day and had three birdies on the front nine and turned in three-under. Through the day he either led or at least had a share of the lead, when at times Marcel Siem (70) and Jose Manuel Lara (70) seemed to give him a challenge in the richest tournament staged in India. — PTI
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Chauhan, Jignas power India to top in Asian GP
Kolkata, February 19 The men's compound archers contributed three yellow metals as India ended the tournament with a bountiful haul of four gold, five silver and two bronze medals, finishing atop the medal standings. According to information received here, the trio of Chauhan, Chatterjee and Jignas thrashed their opponents from Hong Kong 224-211 to claim the team gold medal, India's third in compound section. In the semis, they had stunned Korea 236-224. The team gold meant that national champion Chauhan and Jignas ended the meet with two gold medals each. Jignas added the team gold to the individual he won earlier, while Chauhan also had a mixed team gold to his credit. — PTI
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Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today backed the team's rotation policy in the top order, saying the top three batsmen were not playing each game because they are slow on the field.
Dhoni explained the reasons why Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir are not playing all the games together, even as India lost the tri-series game against Australia by 110 runs at the Gabba here.
Hamilton, February 19
