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Aussie juggernaut rolls on
This time batsmen let us down, says disappointed MSD
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Jesse’s Olympic medal worth its weight in gold
Korea in India’s way to quarters
India arc hers shoot silver, bronze medal
Bad day for English teams
Somdev hopes to break into top 60
Maharashtra score an easy 9-wkt win over J&K
Punjab vs Vidarbha Ranji match ends in a draw
Blackburn striker Campbell arrested in spot-fixing probe
Arsenal frustrated by Everton’s late equaliser
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Aussie juggernaut rolls on
Adelaide, December 9 The crushing win at Adelaide Oval puts Australia 2-0 ahead in the five-test series, a stunning turnaround from the 3-0 Ashes defeat they suffered in England in August. The hosts will fancy their chances of securing the famous urn in Perth, where England have not won since 1978 and where man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson looms as an even greater threat on the WACA's bouncy wicket. "It's not a fluke that we have won the first two test matches," Australia captain Michael Clarke told reporters after his team tore through England's tail in less than an hour. "We're finally getting the results for the hard work and commitment over a long period of time. "(Realistically) that's our second test win in the past 12 months. There's a lot of work for us to get back to the number one position." The win proved Australia's victory in Brisbane was no flash in the pan, while confirming a seismic shift in the balance of power between the teams. Any hopes England had that rain might save them were quickly dispelled when a shower cleared to allow play to start only 10 minutes late. Pacemen Peter Siddle (4-57) and Ryan Harris (3-54) combined with aplomb to seal the win in less than an hour on a gloomy morning at the re-developing ground. In reality, however, England lost the test on Saturday when their batsmen failed to stand up to another withering spell of extreme pace bowling from the resurgent Johnson. The red-hot Queenslander took 7-40 in England's first innings of 172 and twice dismissed their talismanic captain Alastair Cook cheaply to win his second successive man-of-the-match award after his nine-wicket performance in Brisbane. Cook's second innings dismissal, hooking Johnson to a man in the deep, was emblematic of his team's poor shot selection throughout. Few Illusions
He has little time to restore his team's battered self-belief before the third test gets underway on Friday. "The only guys who can change it are the guys in the dressing room," said a shell-shocked Cook, who has gone from Australia's tormentor in the 2010-11 series to becoming merely tormented. "No one else can change it for us. We can't sit there moping around about it. It's hurting us like hell but we're the only guys who can change it." Having restored some pride on Sunday after managing to bat through a day under extreme duress, England resumed on 247-6, still 284 runs shy of their victory target. Any sense of self-satisfaction would surely have been quashed, though, when Stuart Broad pulled the fifth ball of the day from Siddle straight to Nathan Lyon at deep square leg to be out for 29. Matt Prior notched his first half-century to end a wretched run of scores, but appeared determined to get himself out by hooking at almost every short ball. In the end he did just that, succumbing to Siddle for 69, with Harris taking a simple catch in the deep. Inbetween, Clarke threw the ball to Harris who dismissed Graeme Swann for six runs with his third delivery, the spinner driving at a short one moving away that he nicked straight to the Australian skipper in the slips. Harris returned to seal the match by having Monty Panesar caught at short extra cover by Chris Rogers for a duck, and Australia embraced to a noisy ovation from the sparse fifth-day crowd. As holders of the urn, England need only level the series 2-2 to retain it, but Cook was under few illusions about the scale of the task. "A lot of people who'll be sitting in this room and outside will probably give us no chance," he said. "But if we don't believe that in our dressing room that the urn's gone, then it might as well have gone." Brief scores: Australia 570 for 9 decl (Clarke 148, Haddin 118, Broad 3-98) and 3 for 132 dec (Warner 83*) beat England 172 (Bell 72*, Carberry 60, Johnson 7-40) and 312 (Root 87, Prior 69, Siddle 4-57, Harris 3-54). — Reuters Vaughan fears 5-0 drubbing for England
England are heading for a 5-0 Ashes series drubbing in Australia unless they can recover mentally from two crushing defeats, former captain Michael Vaughan said on Monday. "The Australians have played a great brand of cricket," Vaughan, who captained England to a home series victory in 2005, told the BBC. “If England are getting out playing the pull shot on a slow wicket, what's it going to be like at the WACA? “I see a few technical flaws with England, but it's in their minds - unless they twist the mentality round, it's going to be 5-0.” Vaughan also said the senior players in the team needed to start pulling their weight. It's the worst case scenario, a horrible environment to be in when you start losing,” he said. “But the senior lads have to step up to the plate. They have to get England out of the mess they're in." |
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This time batsmen let us down, says disappointed MSD
DUrban, December 9 “The bowlers did well. They learnt from the last time, but the batsmen played too many shots. I think the shot selection was not right,” Dhoni said. India gave a pathetic batting display on seam-friendly conditions to suffer an embarrassing 134-run defeat in the second one-dayer. Openers Quinton de Kock (106) and Hashim Amla (100) added a record 194-run stand for the first wicket to pile on 280 for six in the allotted 49 overs before bundling out the hapless visitors for 146 in 35.1 overs at the Kingsmead. “The SA attack is very accurate and they keep bowling in the same areas and that's what makes them different. Overall, there was not much for the bowlers, not much seam or swing, so that's why I say they bowled well. The pitch was a nice one and the target was a decent one, and we didn't execute our plans with the bat,” Dhoni said. “I don't get too much worried about the losses, how we stand up from here is what I want to see. That will test our character.” Matches postponed for Mandela services Cricket South Africa and their Indian counterparts agreed to start a two-day warm up match for their Test series 24 hours earlier to avoid finishing on Sunday. The switch means the tourists will now have just one day between the final 50-over match of their current series against the Proteas in Pretoria on Wednesday and the two-day game in Benoni starting on Friday. South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile (wk). — PTI Embarrassed to overtake Viv's record: Amla
Prolific South African batsman Hashim Amla said he was “a bit embarrassed” to have overtaken West Indian legend Sir Viv Richards’ record of being the quickest batsman to reach the 4000-run mark in ODIs. During his knock of 100 runs in the second one-dayer against India, Amla became the quickest batsman to score 4000 ODI runs. He achieved this feat at the personal score of 59 runs, in 81 matches, ahead of the 88-marker set by Richards. “I am grateful for the record. But I feel a bit embarrassed to have it because Sir Viv Richards is certainly the master blaster, the original great batsman,” said Amla, rather sheepishly. “He is more deserving than anyone else. Fortunately I have met him on a few occasions, so it makes it even more embarrassing. It would be befitting if he was ahead.” |
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Jesse’s Olympic medal worth its weight in gold
The medal sold in the auction was not identifiable to a specific event but was given to famed dance and movie star Bill “Bojangles” Robinson by Owens after Robinson helped Owens find work in the years after his epic Olympic victories. The estate of Robinson's late widow, Elaine Plaines-Robinson, put the medal up for auction. The auction house said the buyer of the medal wished to remain anonymous at this time. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the medal will be donated to the Jesse Owens Foundation. Other top lots included Jackie Robinson's game-used bats from his historic 1949 National League Most Valuable Player season and the 1955 World Series that sold for $183,500 and USD 128,617, respectively; and a Jackie Robinson single-signed baseball attracted a record sum of $104,765. A Muhammad Ali v Jimmy Young fight-worn robe fetched $60,667 in the auction and a 1960s Wilt Chamberlain Los Angeles Lakers game-worn road jersey went for the same price. Ali wore the robe before defending his world title in the fight. “We are honored to have handled what we consider to be among the most inspiring sports artifacts ever offered at auction,” said SCP Auction Vice President Dan Imler. “The worldwide attention garnered by the auction of Jesse Owens 1936 Gold Medal and the extraordinary auction result proves that Owens' triumphant legacy continues to endure.” — PTI
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Korea in India’s way to quarters
New Delhi, December 9 But India cannot afford either a loss or a draw against Korea in their final pool match to secure their quarterfinal berth. Both India and Korea are on three points each from two outings but Korea have a better goal difference and a draw would be enough for them to pip the home team and go forward. With two wins out of as many games, Netherlands have already qualified for the quarterfinals from Pool C. The Manpreet Singh-led Indian outfit has some thinking to do ahead of the crucial match as less formidable Canada made them toil hard for the 3-2 win which came in the dying stages of the match, courtesy a penalty corner conversion by Gurjinder Singh. Against Canada, India were by far the better side on display but missed chances were the order of the day for the hosts as they ended up making life difficult for themselves. India's chief coach Greg Clark too admitted that his wards need to be more accurate against a dangerous opponent like Korea. “We really got good chances in the last matches. We created fairly good chances and would like to stick with the same in future matches,” he said. “I have full confidence that the boys will do well in the next match against Korea like they did in the last match against Canada. Statistically we did lot of right movements like circle entry and created chances in the opposite end of the field,” Clark said. —PTI Results
Today’s matches
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India arc hers shoot silver, bronze medal
Kokata, December 9 According to information received, Asian Games silver medalist Tarundeep Rai stunned Olympic silver medalist Brady Ellison en route to a silver medal, while Atanu Das won the bronze. Even as the win has come from an indoor event that has no challenge from the wind, it will boost the morale of the Indian men's recurve archers who have slipped out of the top 10 ranking. For Rai, this was his first medal since winning a silver at the World Cup Stage 2 at Antalya in May last year. Ranked ninth in a draw of 32, Rai first defeated Hing King Ma of Hong Kong 6-0 and then got the better of Sultan Duzelbayev of Kazakhstan 6-4 to set up a last eight clash with former world number one Ellison. But it was a one-sided affair as Rai stunned the American heavyweight 6-2 before ousting Denis Gankin of Kazakhstan with an identical score to make the final. — PTI
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Bad day for English teams
Denmark scored 33 points, a majority of which were scored by raider Mleie Pedersen (14 points) and stopper Camilla (11 points), while England could manage 30 points. At the half time the score was 17-16 in favour of Denmark, and despite strong performances by raiders Ysanne (seven points) and Jonne Ford (six points) and stopper Asley Hunter (nine points), England could not catch up. It was a bad day for England as the men also lost, but the manner of their defeat was completely opposite. The England men had no chance against the dominant Pakistan men, losing 69-28.
The first half was a hopelessly one-sided affair as Pakistan scored 37 points against England’s seven points. Pakistan’s raiders Maroof Ahmed and Aklam scored 13 and 11 points respectively while stopper Matlub Ali got eight points. For England, Paramjot Singh and Karpreet Singh got eight points each. In another women’s match, New Zealand thrashed USA 53-23. At the interval the New Zealand team led 26-14. New Zealand raider Cathlein was the top scorer with 11 points. US captain Gur Amrit Kaur Hari Khalsa scored nine points. After their huge defeat against Pakistan on Sunday, the Canadian men would take comfort from their 24-point win over Sierra Leone today. Canada were in a different zone today, leading from the start. They won 58-34 after leading 30-14 at half time. Raiders Vicky Ghotra and Gagandeep Singh scored 10 and eight points respectively for Canda, while Suleman (captain) scored 13 points for Sierra Leone. Results
Today’s matches
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Somdev hopes to break into top 60
Hyderabad, December 9 "I have had a good 2013. Coming back from 600 to inside the top 100. So, now, I feel like there is a good chance for me to build and get back inside the top 75 and top 60 hopefully," Somdev, whose career best ranking has been 62, said. Somdev, along with other top players like Rohan Bopanna, is currently training at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy on the outskirts of the city. One of his greatest achievements so far has been on the ATP World tour when he reached the finals of the Chennai Open in 2009. Asked when a similar performance could be expected from him again, Somdev said, "Hopefully, this year (this season). You never know. All I can do, or for that matter any player can, is really work hard, try his best. Sometimes results come and sometimes they don't come. So, I think all you have to do is work hard and try to improve, put in a good effort and then let whatever happens, happen." — PTI
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Maharashtra score an easy 9-wkt win over J&K
Pune, December 9 With just 124 runs to chase for an outright win, Khadiwale preferred to adopt an attacking approach and struck as many as 13 boundaries during his unconquered innings to overwhelm the target in 26.2 overs. Vijay Zol (26) and Sangram Dilip Atitkar (21*) also made notable contributions in Maharashtra's chase. Earlier resuming at the overnight score of 333/6, skipper Parvez Rasool struck a quickfire unbeaten 64 to delay the inevitable for Jammu and Kashmir, who were eventually bowled out for 439 in 153.5 overs. Rasool took the attack to the opposition and decorated his 65-ball knock with seven hits to the fence and two sixes. Overnight batsmen Samiullah Beigh (23) and Ram Dayal (32) batted for a while before both becoming victims OF pacer Shrikant Mundhe's. Mundhe finished with figures of five for 123 while leg-spinner Bharatkumar Solanki scalped three wickets giving away 47 runs. By virtue of this win, Maharashtra pocked six points from the match. Brief scores: J&K: 85 and 439 all out in 153.5 overs (Haroon 94, Bandeep 79, Rasool 64*; Mundhe 5/123, Solanki 3/47); Maharashtra: 401/9 decl & 126/1 in 26.2 overs (Khadiwale 74*; Raza 1/15). Karnataka beat Haryana by three wickets
Rohtak: Karnataka batsmen made heavy weather of small run-chase before registering a three-wicket win over Haryana in the group A match. Karnataka were made to toil hard by Haryana pacer Harshal Patel, who snared his second five-for of the match, to reach the 97-run target at Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium. Allrounder Stuart Binny (31 off 30 balls) played a cameo and held one end up to take his side home after they started the fourth and final day at 62/4. Patel, who had two wickets against his name, removed Karnataka skipper C M Gautum (5) without adding to his overnight total after Binny looked to finish off the target quickly. Brief Scores: Haryana: 247 and 105 Karnataka: 256 and 97 for 7 in 33.5 overs (Stuart Binny 31*, Harshal Patel 5/41) Points: Points Karnataka 6, Haryana 0.
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Punjab vs Vidarbha Ranji match ends in a draw
Mohali, December 9 Vidarbha took three important points on the basis of first-innings lead — Vidarbha had scored 360 all out in reply to Punjab’s 184 all out. Jiwanjot, on 188 overnight, was out for exactly 200, having struck 25 fours, while Uday made 133 on the fourth and final day at the PCA Stadium. Punjab eventually declared their second innings at 469/5, having batted for 24 overs on the fourth day to add 139 to their overnight 330/1. That left Vidarbha 294 to get for their second win of the season, but those hopes received a quick blow when Punjab struck twice early. Sandeep Sharma trapped Faiz Fazal for a duck in the first over before Siddarth Kaul dismissed Ravi Jangid for 10 to leave the visitors at 46/2. But Akshay Kolhar and the captain Shalabh Shrivastava shut the door on Punjab, putting up 140 for the third wicket in 39 overs. Kolhar faced 154 balls to score 91. Shrivastava was batting on 60, having struck five fours, before the game fizzled out into an inevitable stalemate. Brief Scores: Punjab: 184 and 469/6 dec (Jiwanjot 200, Kaul 133; Ravi 2/84, Sandeep 2/86) drew with Vidarbha 360 and 186/3 (Kolhar 91, Shrivastava 60*)
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Blackburn striker Campbell arrested in spot-fixing probe
London, December 9 "Following reports in today's national media, Blackburn Rovers can confirm that striker DJ Campbell has been arrested," the Championship (second division) club said in a statement. "The club will be making no further comment on what is now an ongoing legal matter." The National Crime Agency (NCA) has launched a second probe into alleged match-fixing in English football after a Sunday newspaper claimed a player told an undercover reporter he could guarantee certain events in a Championship match. Six people have been arrested. — Reuters
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Arsenal frustrated by Everton’s late equaliser
London, December 9 An absorbing contest burst into life in the closing stages as Ozil swept Arsenal in front from close range in the 80th minute, only for substitute Deulofeu to fire a powerful shot past Wojciech Szczesny four minutes later. Olivier Giroud almost snatched victory in stoppage-time for the hosts when his 30-metre thunderbolt thumped against the woodwork, although that would have been harsh on Everton, who won at champions Manchester United on Wednesday. With a treacherous-looking fixture list looming, Arsenal lead the table with 35 points, five clear of Liverpool who were the only one of the top five to win this weekend. Chelsea also have 30 points with Everton, beaten only once in the league this season, fifth on 28. "We played well at United but we played even better today," Everton's impressive new manager Roberto Martinez said. "These two results show we have got over the mental block when playing away at title contenders." — Reuters Inter held by Parma
Milan: Inter Milan and Parma produced shocking defending as they shared six goals in their Serie A match at San Siro late on Sunday. Lazio continued their downward slide by losing 1-0 at Torino, their sixth league game without a win. At this point, five points separate Roma (37) and third-placed Napoli, with Juventus top with 40. |
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