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Rain saves Kiwis some pain
Ashwin and me make a good pair for India, says Ojha
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India face tough Aussie hurdle in chase for title
Nehru Cup: India toy with Maldives
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Rain saves Kiwis some pain
Hyderabad, August 25 The New Zealand first innings folded at 159 as Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha three for 44 shared the bulk of the spoils as hosts had a hige 279-run first innings lead. In the second innings New Zealand were 41 for one when umpires decided to call off play. Only 37.3 overs of play was possible on the day. Brendon McCullum was batting on 16 in company of Kane Williamson who had scored three. The match was stopped 47 minutes before the scheduled tea-break. New Zealand still require 239 runs to erase the deficit which looks highly unlikely until the 'Weather Gods' intervene like it did today. With thick dark clouds hovering over the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, covers were put on for the second time in the day as heavens opened up within minutes. The heavy showers lasted for more than an hour with puddles of water all around the ground. With no respite in sight, the match officials called off the day's proceedings at 2.56pm. Call it the BCCI's bizzare planning to hold a series at a time when the entire country is under the spell of South-West monsoon. Resuming at 106 for five on day three, the Kiwis lost their remaining wickets at the stroke of lunch with the 'spin twins' Ashwin and Ojha wrapping it up in quick time. Only 19.3 overs were required to take the remaining five New Zealand wickets. Ashwin returned with brilliant figures of 16.3-3-31-6 to better his previous best of 6/47 against the West Indies. It was his third five-wicket haul. Ojha was also brilliant, giving Ashwin a perfect support, with three for 44 from his 21 overs that also included six maidens. India duly enforced the follow-on at lunch after the New Zealand fell short by 80 runs to make the hosts bat again. James Franklin gave the only resistance from an otherwise shoddy New Zealand display to remain not out on 43 (122 balls; 1x4, 1x6). Yadav gave the first breakthrough in Kruger van Wyk with a delivery that skidded through. Van Wyk went for a non-existent pull-shot as the delivery kept low hitting him plumb in-front. But it were Indian spinners who wreaked havoc as the inexperienced visitors found it very tough to negotiate the variable bounce and turn. Ojha began the proceedings and had superb first spell figures of 5-1-9-1 as he took his third wicket in the process dismissing Doug Bracewell. The Kiwi medium-pacer went down the track but missed the line completely for a customary stumping by Dhoni with New Zealand reeling at 141/7. Ashwin was introduced in the 16th over of the day, and like yesterday, he got into action straightway taking a wicket in his very first over of the day when he dismissed Jeetan Patel with his third delivery. A brilliant return catch off his own bowling saw Patel back in the dressing room with New Zealand tottering at 153 for eight. Ashwin was simply unplayable by the New Zealander tail-ender as the off-spinner took two wickets Trent Boult and Chris Martin in two deliveries to bundle out the visitors, 279 runs shy of India's first innings total. In their bid to survive, the visiting team openers McCullum and Martin Guptill employed a defensive approach scoring only nine runs in the first 10 overs. The first boundary of the New Zealand's innings came off the second ball of the 12th over when Guptill punished an Umesh Yadav delivery which was drifting down the leg-side. In the very next over, Guptill looked to break free as he hit Ojha for two consecutive boundaries before getting a reprieve on 15. The Kiwi opener was dropped at the second slip by Kohli who dived to his left but could not put his hand behind the ball. But Guptill could not gain much from the 'life' as Ojha dismissed the Kiwi opener in his next over with trapping the batsman in front of the wicket to break the 26-run opening partnership. Earlier, poor weather delayed the start of the proceedings as early morning downpour meant that the ground was covered and the start was one-hour behind schedule, forcing a deduction of seven overs. PTI We have a mental block against spinners: Franklin New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin today admitted that he has a "mental blockade" against Indian spinners but they are hopeful of putting up a much better show in the coming days. Asked whether New Zealand batsmen have a mental blockade, pat came the reply:"Possibly yes." "But I can't answer for the group. I can only answer for myself. I don't think there was a massive amount of turn. Ashwin got a few balls to turn and bounce but that was the exception rather than norm," Franklin, who top scored with an unbeaten 43 admitted at the post-match media interaction. "We discussed this morning before start of play on what we have to do. Unfortunately, we haven't been quite able to do as we are following on now. It's probably an area (batting against spinners) we can look to improve upon." PTI Scoreboard India 1st innings 438 Franklin not out 43 New Zealand 2nd innings
(following on) Guptill lbw b Ojha 16 |
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Ashwin and me make a good pair for India, says Ojha
Hyderabad, August 25 Ashwin (6/31) and Ojha (3/44) shared nine wickets between as India bundled out the visitors for 159 after scoring 438 in their first innings in the first Test here. "India have legacy of (producing) great spinners and as young spinners we are definitely looking forward to follow their foot steps. We have been picking wickets and the way we are bowling, I am confident that we can do well in this series," Ojha said after rain-affected third day. Ojha said they miss the experience of Harbhajan Singh but he and Ashwin are up to the task. "The most important thing is to win games for India whether it's Harbhajan Singh or Ashwin. When I was bowling with Bhajju-pa, I used to talk a lot to him. That's the kind of thing we miss. "With Ashwin and me playing together, we also talk to each other a lot. The amount of cricket he has played obviously helps. Ashwin and I have bowled really well and we should do well in the upcoming games," he said. Ojha, who represents Hyderabad in first-class cricket, said he was disappointed that he did not get a five-for in the first innings but hoped to get it in the second innings. "To be very frank, I was looking to take five wickets here. Specially when you are playing for Hyderabad, growing up here, you played a lot of games here. It would have been really special. Nevertheless I've got wicket in the second innings. I'm looking forward to do it," Ojha, who took the only wicket in Kiwi's second innings, said. Ojha said India have good chance to warp up things as the wicket has started helping the spinners much more now. "It's a good wicket. There is some bounce off the wicket. Now in the second innings, it has started turning more. It was turning from the fourth stump in the first innings, now it's good to see turning from the middle stump as well. It's a good sign for us. PTI
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U-19 World Cup final today
Townsville, August 25 Patchy in batting with some of their top order batsmen not showing the desired consistency, the Indians will have to raise their game in conditions that have favoured the bowlers at the Tony Ireland Stadium here. India have not quite hit their straps despite the tournament drawing to a close now with not-too-impressive performances in Group C. The Indians followed up a defeat to the West Indies with expected wins against Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea. Superb bowling performances saw them defeat Pakistan in quarters and New Zeland in the semis but the side has failed to get consistent efforts from their batsmen, with Vijay Zol (150 runs) being India's highest run-scorer. They have been much better with the ball though, with Kamal Passi (10 wickets) and Sandeep Sharma (8 wickets) leading their attack. The spin duo of Harmeet Singh and Baba Aparajith also proved their worth with economical spells in the nine-run win over New Zealand in the last-four stage. Batting first is often seen as an advantage in the 50-over format but four countries have pulled off successful run-chases with the side which bats first averaging just 213 runs at the venue. Chand exudes confidence
Chasing a third title, India skipper Unmukt Chand today averred that his side has peaked at the right time as it braces up to take on the formidable in the final of the Under-19 World Cup, here tomorrow. India are set to clash with the three-time champions and hosts Australia in summit clash here tomorrow. Australia won the event in 1988, 2002 and 2010, and is not only bidding to win its fourth title but also to become only the second side after Pakistan to win back-to-back titles (2004 and 2006). However, Chand will be aiming to become the third India captain to put a hand to the trophy after Mohammad Kaif and Virat Kohli lifted the cup in 2000 and 2008, respectively. "I am very optimistic about the final. We have played Australia in Australia and that too at the same venue. We are used to the conditions, and should do well," said Chand. South Africa finish third
South African bowlers wrecked havoc as they beat New Zealand by eight wickets to finish third at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup at the Endeavour Park here today. South Africa and New Zealand had earlier lost semi-finals to Australia and India respectively. Batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand were bowled out for just 90 in 36.5 overs. South Africa chased down the target in just 14.4 overs to end at 94 for two. Agencies Road to the final
India: lost to West Indies by four wickets, beat Zimbabwe by 63 runs, beat Papua New Guinea by 107 runs, beat Pakistan by one wicket in the quarter-final, beat New Zealand by nine runs in the semi-final. Australia: Beat England by 6 wickets, Nepal by 212 runs, Ireland by 6 wickets, Bangladesh by 5 wickets in the quarter-final, and South Africa by 4 wickets in the semifinal. |
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Nehru Cup: India toy with Maldives
New Delhi, August 25 Chhetri converted a penalty kick two minutes before the interval and Syed Rahim Nabi headed in, eight minutes into the second half, to the huge sigh of a large number of fans, before Chhetri came up with his second goal in the 69th minute to seal a convincing win. India now head the five-team league, with six points. Chhetri had scored the first goal against Syria too, a couple of minutes before the break, to pave the way for India's 2-1 victory in the opening match. And this goal too came when India were desperately trying to check the marauding Maldives, who had squandered two clear chances to forge ahead. The move that led to the penalty was fashioned by Syed Rahim Nabi, whose cross from the edge of the box struck defender Abdulla Ahmed's hand inside the box. Referee Hashmi Hamad of the UAE had no hesitation in whistling for a penalty. Chhetri took a clean shot from the spot to fox Maldives' goalie Mohamed Imran, and bulge the net (1-0), for his 33rd international goal. On resumption, Nabi headed in the second goal, off a corner kick taken by Clifford Miranda, to consolidate the lead. Chhetri took the match away from Maldives when he brilliantly headed in off a free throw. He was on a hat-trick when he missed the mark just narrowly, immediately thereafter. Maldives had better chances to score in the initial phase of the first half, and they gave a busy time to goalkeeper Subrata Paul, who, as usual, came up with an outstanding display, to keep the goal from falling. India held the edge in ball possession, with their passing bouts, but they could not penetrate the way they wanted to take shots at the goal, though some of their tries were dangerous, and the custodian had to rise to the occasion, to stop them at the nick of time. For Maldives, their captain and dangerous striker Ali Asfaq came charging in twice early in the match, but Subrata was alert and in position, to baulk him.The Indian defence, which looked porous in the first 20 minutes, got a dramatic makeover after Chhetri scored. And in the second half, they plugged the holes to build a tough defensive ball, which could not be dented by Maldives, despite their best efforts. In the SAFF Cup last year, India had scored a 3-0 win against Maldives, with Chhetri knocking in a brace, and Nabi scoring the third goal. And today, it was history repeating itself, to the pleasant surprise of the fans, who had turned up in large numbers today, compared to the first three days. Cameroon meet Nepal tomorrow.
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