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ranji quarters
Thakur grounds Maharashtra
Rishi could be the all-rounder India are looking for |
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RCB to retain Virat, Gayle and AB
India will send three athletes to Sochi
Walsh seeks improvement from team
India laid low by injuries to key players
junior nationals
Man City crushes West Ham in League Cup semifinals
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Rasool keeps it even steven
Hits a sparkling hundred to keep Punjab from moving too ahead in the contest
Vadodara, January 9 In reply to Punjab's first innings score of 304, Jammu and Kashmir rode on Rasool's gutsy 103 off 137 balls before folding up for 277, conceding a slender first innings lead of 27 runs on the second day. J&K seamers Umar Nazir and Mohammed Mudhasir then struck two early blows to remove the in-form openers Jiwanjot Singh (8) and Manan Vohra (7) cheaply. At stumps, Punjab were struggling at 15 for two, having an overall lead of 42. With Ranji quarterfinals being a five-day affair, there is every possibility that the slender first innings lead will be of little consequence as the match is likely to have an outright result with three full days left. The day belonged to Rasool, who showed he was ready for the challenge as he hit 11 boundaries and a lovely six off Harbhajan Singh over deep mid-wicket. He completed his fifth first-class century with a couple of boundaries. The ton came off 131 balls. Rasool had two important partnerships during the course of the Jammu and Kashmir innings. The first was a 81-run stand with in-form opener Adil Rishi (65) for the fourth wicket after J&K were reduced to 62 for three. Rishi and Rasool carried the team to 141 before Yuvraj Singh trapped the opener leg before with an arm ball. Rishi hit nine fours and one six in his 108-ball innings. Once Rishi was out, Punjab got two quick wickets with Majid Dar edging one off VRV Singh to the slips and Hardeep Singh offering a simple catch to Harbhajan Singh. Brief scores: Punjab 304 & 15/2; J&K 277 (Rasool 103, Rishi 65, Sandeep 4/46). — PTI Rasool brings joy to J&K cricket fans
It’s pouring good news for Jammu and Kashmir's cricket fans. After J&K made the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals for the first time, Parvez Rasool's sparkling hundred against Punjab has doubled their joy. Fans took to social networking site to share their joy and excitement when the J&K skipper reached his hundred. "Brilliant hundred by Parvez Rasool under immense pressure. What a time to deliver Captain!" a fan tweeted. Rasool had earned a call-up to the India team for the tour of Zimbabwe last ye ar. Unfortunately, he didn't make it to the playing XI in the entire series. |
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Mumbai, January 9 Thakur bent his back on the bouncy Wankhede wicket and produced fiery spells, backed up by a very attacking umbrella field behind the wicket on both sides, to shake up the Maharashtra batting line up after Mumbai ran up a huge first innings total of 402. Thakur ended the day with highly impressive figures of 4 for 62, shaking up Maharashtra who were reduced to 24 for 3 before recovering to 219 for 7 at stumps on Day Two. Brief scores: Mumbai 402; Maharashtra 219/7 (Bawne 84, Jadhav 51, Thakur 4/62) .Mithun, Vinay shine
Bangalore: Seamers Abhimanyu Mithun and Vinay Kumar wreaked havoc as Karnataka reduced Uttar Pradesh to 221 for nine, giving themselves a good chance to grab first innings lead, on the second day of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match here today. Mithun was the most successful bowler with figures of four for 70 but Vinay was the most difficult as he picked up three wickets after conceding 49 runs in 18 overs. Mithun removed Prashant Gupa (0), Mohammad Kaif (0), Chawla (56) and Amit Mishra (4), while Vinay picked up Tanmay Srivastava (32), Mukul Dagar (13) and Eklavya Dwivedi (2). Brief scores: Karnataka 349; UP 221/9 (Parvinder 92, CHawla 56, Mithun 4/70, Vinay 3/49) Rawat props up Railways
Kolkata: Railways' experienced campaigner Mahesh Rawat proved to be a thorn in the flesh for Bengal as he stood tall with an unbeaten century to lead the visiting team's recovery here today. Brief scores: Bengal 317; Railways 233/5 (Rawat 105 batting, Ghosh 78, Dinda 3/83). — PTI |
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Rishi could be the all-rounder India are looking for
Chandigarh, January 9 Since making his debut for Himachal Pradesh against Tamil Nadu in November 2009, Dhawan has played 33 matches and taken 145 wickets with 12 five-wicket hauls and best figures of 6/63. His batting credentials state 1,539 runs (3 centuries and 10 half-centuries) at an average of 40.50 - his highest being 128. Even the most seasoned cricket followers have to strain their minds to pin-point such a consistent performer in domestic cricket at present. Yet, he has nowhere to go. While the eight Ranji teams are slugging it out in knockouts, the HP captain, sitting at his hometown in Mandi (HP), is now waiting for One-dayers to start. Casting a retrospective glance at the matches gone by, he says, “I worked more on fitness this year. The focus was on strength training as I wanted to bowl with a consistent pace for the whole season. Along with that I ensured that my line and length did not waver.” Apart from some tips here and there and watching his peers bowl, he has had little help from a specialized coach in his three-year-old career. “In HP, you don't get that luxury,” the self-made man says. “On that count, I am satisfied with my performance this year. The bowling part was good but I could have done more in batting,” he adds. Had the bowling all rounder been outstanding with the bat too, he might have had a shot at making the New Zealand bound squad. Stuart Binny, the other pace bowling all rounder with 321 runs and 11 wickets this season, can count himself very lucky.
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RCB to retain Virat, Gayle and AB
Bangalore, January 9 The RCB, expectedly, have retained their batting nucleus in the form of Gayle, Kohli and de Villiers for the seventh edition of the cash rich league. While Kohli has been representing the Bangalore-based side since the inaugural edition, Gayle and de Villiers have joined the Vijay Mallya owned side in 2011 from Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils respectively. Besides appointing former Kiwi and ex RCB captain Vettori as the chief coach, former South African pacer Allan Donald was also roped in as the bowling mentor of the side while Australia's Trent Woodhill would take care of batting and fielding departments. "Having been closely associated with RCB for the last 3 years, I'm very excited by the opportunity to work with this exceptional brand and Virat in delivering on RCB's true potential. My first area of focus will be to work closely with management in developing team composition strategy for the IPL auction," Vettori said in a RCB release. Donald, who coached Pune Warriors in the last IPL edition, said RCB have the capability to bag their maiden title. "I have followed RCB very closely in previous editions of the IPL and believe they have the potential to go all the way. I hope my experience will guide them in getting there," Donald, the current South African coach, said. Commenting on the development, team owner Mallya said, "This formidable trio of players have contributed significantly to RCB's past performance and are match-winners in their own right. Their retention means that we have a strong platform to build an exceptional team." — PTI
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India will send three athletes to Sochi
New Delhi, January 9 Another athlete, Hira Lal also reached the qualification standard in Alpine Skiing but Himanshu will take part in the event as India has been handed only one quota place. "Himanshu Thakur and Hira Lal reached qualification standard in Alpine Skiing but India has got only one quota place and we have to select one. Himanshu has been doing better than Hira Lal in the last four competitions, so we will send Himanshu in Sochi Games," said WGFI Secretary Roshan Lal Thakur. — PTI
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Walsh seeks improvement from team
New Delhi, January 9 India got a chance to play in the HWL Final by being the hosts and placed along side Germany, England and New Zealand in Pool A while the Pool B consists of Australia, Netherlands, Belgium and Argentina. India will open their campaign against England at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here tomorrow. Asked Walsh about his expectations from the tournament, he replied: “The goal is improvement. Improvement in four basic areas of our performance — physiological, psychological, tactical and basic skills.” “Expectations for me is measurement. To measure our steady rate of improvement, to evaluate where we are physiologically. To evaluate where we are in terms of handling pressure,” he said. “That's realistically what we are doing. We have got a training methodology in place which permits us to look at those things. We will also be looking at the level of performance of players and evaluate where they are both as individuals and collectively as a team.” Since taking over the reigns of the team only in last November, Walsh has introduced many new things and the Australian said HWL Final will give him an opportunity to judge where the team stands presently. “I think we have (implemented some changes) but it will be interesting to see whether or not we can apply them on the pitch. In our practice games we had a mixture,” he said. The HWL Final is being treated as a perfect build-up for India ahead of the World Cup to be held later this year at The Hague, Netherlands. “It (HWL Final) would be advantegous but certainly not compulsory. If we finish in top four in this tournament that necessarily doesn't mean we will finish top four in the World Cup. There is a co-relation but there is not a direct relationship,” the coach said.
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India laid low by injuries to key players
Chandigarh, January 9 Among the injured, who have been replaced for the tournament, are key forwards, Nithin Thimmaiah, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Gurwinder Singh Chandi. “I picked up a hamstring injury during a domestic tournament couple of weeks ago. It will take two more weeks for me to heal,” said Akashdeep, who has been advised one month's rest. Akashdeep has been particularly troubled by injury in the recent months. He missed the Asia Cup last year due to a shin-splints injury that kept him out for over three months. “I am disappointed to miss another big tournament,” added the 19-year-old, who recovered for the junior World Cup and was one of the better performers at the tournament, with other high profile strikers such as Ramandeep and Mandeep Singh disappointing. “My performance was not good, it was average. Our preparation was good and we had a positive mindset before every match. We didn't expect this result.” This being a World Cup year, with other big tournaments cramping the schedule, it will be crucial for the team management to keep the players fit. — PTI
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On the ball, right away
Madrid, January 9 Messi then put the tie to bed a minute from time when he slotted home a loose ball inside the area. And he added his 16th goal of the season with a stunning run and finish to round off the scoring in stoppage time. "I had a lot of time out and I felt very good in the training sessions that I had, but playing in a competitive game in completely different,” Messi told Barca TV. “More than just the goals, I feel very good physically and I have been able to play without any pain so I am obviously very happy.” Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino also had Saturday's upcoming top of the table clash away to Atletico Madrid in mind as he made had made six changes to the side that started last weekend's 4-0 win over Elche. However, with Messi and Neymar, ruled out by a stomach bug, again not in the starting line-up, Martino maintained the front three of Alexis Sanchez, Pedro Rodriguez and Fabregas. And despite such a stunning return, Messi said he isn't convinced he will start at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday. “I will speak with Tata and he is the one that will decide, but right now I don't know,” he said. “No one is irreplaceable. I watched the games at home and they were very impressive. Whoever plays in this squad they always respond to the challenge." Martino's selection proved inspired as Pedro's lobbed cross was expertly headed into the far corner by Fabregas after just eight minutes. — Agencies
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HP boys blank Tripura, Punjab eves lose
Tribune News service
Dehradun, January 9 The girls lost the first by three points (25-22) and the second (25-23) by two before a 25-7 margin in the third stamped SAI team's dominance. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand boys continued their dominance with a 25-21, 25-9, 25-16 win over Jammu and Kashmir. On other hand, the Uttarakhand girl's team had to face defeat at the hands of West Bengal, losing 25-15, 25-9, 25-16. In the other matches in the boys category, Andhra Pradesh beat Mainpur 25-20, 25-22, 25-22, while Maharashtra defeated Assam 25-22, 25-21, 25-16. Uttar Pradesh outplayed Delhi to win 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-12, whereas Karnataka boys thrashed SAI 25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21. Himachal Pradesh registered an easy 25-15, 25-11, 25-10 win over Tripura. In the girls section, Odisha defeated Tripura 25-8, 25-14, 25-6, while Uttar Pradesh trounced Chhattisgarh 25-19, 25-4, 25-20). Kerala girls continued their winning form with a thrashing of Jharkhand (25-2, 25-8, 25-7), while Karnataka beat Chandigarh 25-07, 25-06, 25-04 and Andhra Pradesh beat Odisha 25-05, 25-08, 25-15.
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Man City crushes West Ham in League Cup semifinals
Manchester, January 9 Wembley Stadium — and a first appearance in the final since 1976 — couldn't be any closer for free-scoring City after an embarrassingly one-sided contest that also featured two goals from Edin Dzeko and another by Yaya Toure. The result heaped further humiliation on West Ham and its under-fire manager Sam Allardyce, who saw his relegation-threatened side lose 5-0 at second-tier Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Sunday. “It's not unique to us is it?” Allardyce said. "Manchester City have done this to Tottenham and Manchester United. We knew they had to have an off night and they didn't." Sunderland beat Manchester United 2-1 on Tuesday in the first leg of the other semifinal. — Agencies
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Sydney, January 9 The Argentine, who boasts a huge forehand, downed the Czech Davis Cup hero 6-4 3-6 6-3 to set up a last-four clash against Russia Dmitry Tursunov, who advanced with a 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 win against Uzbek Denis Istomin. Top seed Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion who has worked his way back up the rankings after wrist surgery, needed his big serve to get him home after Stepanek levelled the match. “Radek improved his game in the second set. I was positive, waiting for my chance, and I played a fantastic two points in the third game of the third set to break his serve,” del Potro said. “Then I served OK. Just doing my job and I closed the match." Del Potro, 25, broke in the 10th game to take the first set, but 35-year-old Stepanek, who has featured in the top 100 for the past 12 years, broke three times in the second set to square the match at one set apiece. With his big serve and trademark crosscourt forehand, del Potro took charge in the decider and broke twice to seal the win. “I like to play a couple of matches before a Grand Slam," said the Argentine. "Play in a good tournament like Sydney, it's a big opportunity for me and also train before a Grand Slam.” Del Potro has had tough workouts in his two matches in Sydney with his first against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut also going to three sets. “Dmitry is a difficult opponent for me. He plays really flat and good shots down the line, backhands and forehands,” he said. “He's the past champion of this tournament. He likes these courts and the conditions.” Bernard Tomic and Marinko Matosevic could set up an all-Australian semifinal if the pair win their quarterfinals. Tomic takes on Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov. — Agencies
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Skipper Parvez Rasool led from the front with a scintillating century as Jammu and Kashmir fought back gallantly to leave their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Punjab evenly poised here today.
If MS Dhoni is looking for a bowling all rounder there is no way the Indian skipper can overlook Rishi Dhawan's credentials. If consistency is one trait Dhoni seeks from a player, Dhawan has not betrayed it since he made his debut three years ago.
If MS Dhoni is looking for a bowling all rounder there is no way the Indian skipper can overlook Rishi Dhawan's credentials. If consistency is one trait Dhoni seeks from a player, Dhawan has not betrayed it since he made his debut three years ago. His fast learning ability might not have endeared Dhoni yet but given Dhawan's rising graph, sooner or later, selectors are bound to take note of him. After being the highest wicket taker in Ranji Trophy last season and leading this season (36 in 2012-13 and 49 in 2013-14) and some very creditable performances with the bat, Dhawan's hope lies in the captain's words that sooner or later domestic performers have to be given their due.
