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Spinners set up big win for India
Couldn’t post enough runs on board, says Hafeez |
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HC restrains pubs, eateries from showing matches
The Netherlands blast away Ireland to qualify for Super 10
ICC welcomes India’s bigger role
WI ready to defend their title, says coach Richardson
Eves beat Ireland in practice match
IPL-bound players to participate in domestic T20
HC restrains pubs from showing matches
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Spinners set up big win for India
Mirpur, March 21 If it was his strategy, it worked like magic on Friday, on the big day of the India-Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup. The bowlers finally decided to pull their weight and bowled India to a fantastic seven-wicket win, giving the side a perfect start in the tournament and keeping intact their unbeaten record against the arch-rivals. They won half the battle for the side when they restricted Pakistan to a below-par 130. The total appeared all the more achievable when the Indian opening pair, another problem area for India of late, put on a solid 54-run partnership for the first wicket. India wobbled a bit when the two openers, Shikhar Dhawan (30 off 28 balls) and Rohit Sharma (24 off 21) departed in quick succession, followed by Yuvraj Singh (1) But the ever dependable Virat Kohli and much-improved Suresh Raina calmed the frayed nerves and saw India home without any further hiccups. Kohli remained unbeaten on 36 off 32 balls (four fours, one six), while Raina made 35 off 28, also with four fours and one six. More than anything else, this contest was always going to a battle of nerves in the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, packed with the supporters of both the sides in equal numbers. For every joyous face over a hit to the fence or at the fall of a wicket on either side, there was a glum and frustrated face. In this cauldron of simmering emotions, the Pakistan batsmen looked like a deer caught in the headlights. As a result of this confusion and initial jitters, opener Karman Akmal ran himself out and Mohammed Hafeez nearly went down that route twice. And by the time they came to terms with the gigantic occasion, the Indian spin trio of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra had already taken control of the situation. Hafeez attempted to shift gears to break the shackles but his lofted stroke off Jadeja went straight into the obliging hands of Bhuvneshwar Kumar at cover. Soon, Amit Mishra had Ahmed Shehzad, the other opener, stumped. With just 50 runs with three wickets down after 10 overs, Pakistan looked headed for trouble. A Yuvraj Singh over at this stage gave Pakistan the much-needed respite as the Umar Akmal-Shoaib Malik pair picked up few quick runs, giving their side the needed momentum. Another two good overs gave more boost to the innings and Pakistan appeared hurrying to a stage from where they could launch a final assault. But that didn't happen as the spinners tightened the screws yet again and choked every effort Pakistan made to up the ante. Even Shahid Afridi, who has come into this tournament in red-hot form from the Asia Cup, couldn't find a way out of the stifling web spun by the Indian spinners. And to complete the superb bowling effort, India's pacers didn't lose the plot in the death overs. Both Bhuvneshwar and Shami bowled a tight line to restrict Pakistan to a total that was very much within the reach of the power-packed Indian batting. Scoreboard
Pakistan Akmal run out (Kumar) 8 Shehzad st Dhoni b Mishra 22 Hafeez c Kumar b Jadeja 15 Akmal c Raina b Shami 33 Malik c Raina b Mishra 18 Afridi c Raina b Kumar 8 Maqsood run out (Jadeja/Dhoni) 21 Bhatti not out 0 Extras (lb 2, w 3) 5 Total (7 wkts; 20 ovs) 130 Fall of wickets: 1-9 2-44 3-47
4-97 5-103 6-114 7-130 Bowling Ashwin 4-0-23-0 Bhuvneshwar 3-0-21-1 Shami 4-0-31-1 Mishra 4-1-22-2 Jadeja 4-0-18-1 Yuvraj 1-0-13-0 India Rohit b Ajmal 24 Dhawan c Ajmal b Gul 30 Kohli not out 36 Yuvraj b Bilawal 1 Raina not out 35 Extras (w 5) 5 Total (3 wkts; 18.3 ovs) 131 Fall of wickets: 1-54 2-64 3-65 Bowling Hafeez 3-0-14-0 Junaid 3-0-23-0 Ajmal 4-0-18-1 Gul 3.3-0-35-1 Afridi 3-0-24-0 Bhatti 2-0-17-1
TODAY’S MATCHES S. AFRICA VS S. LANKA (3PM) ENGLAND VS N. ZEALAND (7PM) LIVE ON STAR SPORTS |
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Couldn’t post enough runs on board, says Hafeez Mirpur, March 21 “It’s there and we can’t wish it away but this wasn’t playing on our minds at all when we went into the game. But it’s history now and hopefully we will snap the chain in our next meeting,” he said. Asked to pin point the reason where they lost the plot, the skipper said they couldn’t post enough runs on the board. “We actually lost the momentum in the 16, 17 and 18th over. We had recovered well from the initial setbacks through a partnership between Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik but we couldn’t get enough runs in the three overs after the 15th over. And that meant we didn’t have the total we wanted on the board,” he said. The skipper also patted away the suggestion that they were caught unaware by India fielding three spinners. “We were actually expecting India to field three spinners and we were ready. But they bowled really well, especially Amit Mishra who wasn’t afraid to flight the ball”. The skipper felt that though dew didn’t make much of an impact in this game but it did help the ball come slightly better on to the bat compared to the first innings.
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HC restrains pubs, eateries from showing matches
New Delhi, March 21 Justice G S Sistani ordered an interim ex-parte stay on "exhibiting" the ongoing 'ICC Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014' World Cup matches involving the national cricket teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and others from March 16 to April 6. "Issue notice of this application to defendants for the aforesaid date and it is ordered that till further orders the defendants (except defendant 45 who is the copyright owner), ... as also all other persons who are unknown at present but are found to be similarly infringing the copyright in the cinematograph film of ongoing ICC T2O WC matches..." the court said. "...are hereby restrained from, in any manner, exhibiting, communicating to the public, making available for viewing and/or publicly performing the ICC T20 WC matches, without obtaining a licence from the plaintiffs (Star India and others), in establishments such as pubs, bars, restaurants and other public places where matches are made available for public viewing," the court said. — PTI
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The Netherlands blast away Ireland to qualify for Super 10
Sylhet, March 21 Wesley Barresi remained unbeaten on 40 of a brisk 22-ball after Tom Cooper hammered his way to 45 off just 15 balls in the final qualifying Group B match. Chasing a stiff target of 190 in 14.2 overs to qualify for the next stage, the Netherlands completed the task with 37 (13.5 overs) balls remaining, with the winning team hitting a staggering world record 19 sixes. This is also the highest score by any team after 13.5 overs, the previous highest being 175 by South Africa versus England in Centurion in 2009. Myburgh raced to his fifty off just 17 balls, the third fastest in T20 Is. Brief scores: Netherlands 193/4 (Myburgh 63, Cooper 45, Barresi 40*) bt Ireland 189/4 (Poynter 57, Porterfield 47) by six wickets. Zimbabwe beat UAE
Zimbabwe did what it had to do in beating the United Arab Emirates by five wickets on Friday, but it missed out on the World Twenty20 second round on run rate. The Netherlands did Zimbabwe a favour later by toppling Ireland, but in doing so in the best match of the qualifiers, the Dutch topped the group on run rate and advanced. Zimbabwe raced to 118-5 in 13.4 overs after the UAE was restricted to 116-9. Elton Chigumbura hit a rapid 53 not out with six fours and three sixes off 21 balls. The last six straight back over bowler Kamran Shazad sealed the win in emphatic fashion. Brief scores: UAE 116/9 in 20 overs (Khurram 26, Swapnil 30, Kamran 21; Williams 3 for 15, Sikandar Raza 2 for 15) lost to Zimbabwe 118/5 in 13.4 overs (Chigumbura 53*, Maruma 22*; Manjula Guruge 2/18) by 5 wickets.
— Agencies Match highlight The Netherlands batsmen hit 19 sixes in this match - the most in a T20 international innings. The previous best was Australia's 18 against England at the Rose Bowl last year
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ICC welcomes India’s bigger role
Mirpur, March 21 From Australia and Bangladesh to Pakistan and South Africa, fans reacted with outrage when the BCCI — along with Cricket Australia (CA) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) — took greater control of the sport's finances and administration recently. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) sees the BCCI's greater “participation” in world cricket quite differently. “Their (BCCI's) approach was always to sit on the outside, not to partake in developing strategy,” David Richardson, the ICC CEO, said here today. “They left that to the other people. Now for the first time, they have taken the responsibility on their shoulders to lead in developing the strategy." “What I like about the position is that for the first time, the BCCI will be very much part of the governance structure, playing a full role in developing the strategy going forward. So I am looking forward to working with the BCCI in that request,” he added. Richardson seemed to indicate that the different cricket boards had to make concessions to allow the BCCI to have its way in the recent structural and financial changes in the ICC. Hitherto the Full Members of the ICC used to have an equal share of the ICC revenues. The changes will allow the BCCI, CA and ECB to pocket a much bigger share. “It's a negotiation. Not so much for the ICC but essentially, it is a negotiation between the members and because it is their revenues and they have to decide how they have to distribute it amongst themselves,” Richardson said. “I don't know where you draw the line. In any negotiation, I always find once the deal gets done, once you've agreed to sign and buy the house, you always think you could have done a better deal. But you run the risk of losing the deal if you don't agree.” The dangers of not agreeing with the BCCI are immense. Cricket South Africa learned it the hard way last year. Due to a conflict between the two boards, the BCCI reduced the number of Tests to be played with South Africa from three to two, causing a huge financial loss to CSA. Richardson, the former South African player, would know that it's not prudent to argue with the Indian cricket board on any issue. One point of conflict is the Decision Review System (DRS), which the BCCI has successfully kept out of matches involving India. Richardson hoped that Anil Kumble, who chairs the ICC Cricket Committee, would convince the BCCI that the DRS should be used. “At the moment, Anil Kumble chairs the ICC Cricket Committee. He's a member of a working group set up to specifically review the DRS and how technology is going to be used in the future,” Richardson said. "I don't want to put a time limit on it. He's not a chairman of the working group; he's chairman of the cricket committee.” “Can Kumble convince the BCCI? First of all, we must convince Mr. Kumble,” Richard said. |
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WI ready to defend their title, says coach Richardson
Mirpur, March 21 Well, no one knows how to lighten up the mood better than a West Indian. While the Caribbean cricket may have gone through countless ups and downs since the playing days of Richardson, one thing that hasn’t changed till date is their languid and mirthful approach towards cricket and life in general. Even as Richardson, who has been knighted recently back home, held the small group captive with his disarming jovialness, the team was busy ‘enjoying’ their practice session. The joyous shrieks, back-slapping and banter suggested the tag of the defending champions sat easy on the team. The lack of seriousness in their demeanor, however, shouldn’t be mistaken for casualness. “We are absolutely prepared to defend our title. And if we play to our potential, nobody can beat us,” said Dwayne Smith, the West Indian opener. Backing up the brave assertion of his explosive opener, Richardson, the batting coach of the side, said that this particular group knows how to win a big tournament. “We aren’t taking anything for granted but the team is in high spirits, everyone is fit, healthy and ready to go,” he said. Having the same group that won the last World Cup, save for the notable exception of Kieron Pollard, is obviously a huge advantage. It gives the team a settled look, sparing it the last minute experiments. The other factor that West Indies are banking on is the vast experience of their players in T20 format across all conditions, what with their players playing in the IPL, the Big Bash and even the Bangladesh Premier League. No wonder, Richardson refused to factor in conditions in their quest for the successive World Cup triumph. “We have a lot of things in our favor, having some world class T20 players who have played leagues around the world is one,” said Richardson. So high is the confidence of the defending champions that they are taking the absence of Pollard, a vital cog in their T20 wheel, in their stride. “He played a crucial role last time, but we are not going to dwell on the fact that he is not there. We have got enough quality players and are sure we could do it even without him,” said Richardson. The success of West Indies in T20 has contributed a lot in making the format popular. Sadly, they aren’t the same force in the longer formats. If they manage to lift themselves in the longer formats too, cricket will become far more exciting overall. “We are working to get better in all formats of the game. We want to be in the top four in all three formats. It’s a process, there is no quick-fix and you have to be patient. West Indies cricket is doing all it can but it will take time,” said Richardson. dhaka diary Celebrity journo
Sports journalists generally scoff at autograph seekers and the celebrities doling it out all the time. That perhaps could be because they are always pestered by their friends and colleagues to get them the autographs of their favorite stars or maybe because they spend enough time around them and hence aren’t as star struck as others. Coming from that point of view, this writer was stunned for a minute when an old man with flowing grey beard requested for the autograph on a massive bat, already half filled with the signatures of fellow jurnos. “I’ve autographs of all players, so I thought I should have the autographs of those writing about them too,” he explained, sensing the confusion. I obliged, and, to tell the truth, it didn’t feel that bad. Maybe jurnos need to be a little more considerate and respectful to this autograph business.
— Subhash Rajta/TNS |
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Eves beat Ireland in practice match
Savar, March 21 Put into bat, the Indians made 148 for four before restricting Ireland to 122 for nine. The Indian team had earlier lost the first practice game to New Zealand. Poonam Raut struck an unbeaten 40-ball 50 while skipper Mithali Raj scored a 34-ball 42 to power India to 148 for four. It was a good batting practice for the Indians with most of the top-order getting a decent outing in the match. There was nothing spectacular about the Irish bowling effort as the Indians scored freely. In reply, the Irish were off to a steady start with openers Clare Shillington (47) and Emma Flanagan (16) putting on 61 runs. But post their dismissal by pacer Shikha Pandey, the Irish line-up collapsed miserably and failed to put up much of a fight against a disciplined Indian bowling. Shikha was the pick of the Indian bowlers, grabbing three wickets in her four overs which cost 24 runs. Fellow medium-pacer Soniya Dabir picked up two wickets in her three overs, during which she conceded 20 runs. Brief scores: India Women: 148/4 in 20 overs (Poonam Raut 50, Mithali Raj 42); Ireland Women: 122/9 (Clare Shillington 47, Shikha Pandey 3/24).
— PTI |
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IPL-bound players to participate in domestic T20
New Delhi, March 21 The five zones will organise their respective Twenty20 leagues from March 30 to April 5. BCCI sources said the Board has asked all the affiliates to make sure that all players, including the ones involved with IPL, play in the domestic T20 league. Two IPL matches unlikely at Dharamshala
Shimla: The possibility of the two IPL matches scheduled to be held at Dharamshala from May 10 to May 17 is almost ruled out with the tentative dates clashing with the election schedule. BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel has intimated the state police that as per the schedule for the holding of 60 IPL during the months of April-May the tentative dates for the two matches to be held at Dharamshala shall be between May 10 and May 14 and the second on May 17. Strangely, the letter does not make any mention of providing security arrangements as the BCCI in this letter has sought proper guidance and advise from the police. The copy of this letter which has been addressed to SP, Kangra has also been given to the DGP by the HPCA President. “We have directed SP, Kangra to take a decision keeping in view the elections," said Sanjay Kumar, Director General of Police.
— TNS |
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Attacking Anand settles for draw
Khanty Mansiysk (Russia), March 21 In other games, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria was outdone by Dmitry Andreikin in the big upset of the day while Russian Vladimir Kramnik won against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Levon Aronian also won his match against Sergey Karjakin and is now joint top of the standings with Anand. Svidler was a bit tentative in the closed Ruy Lopez after Anand went for the Berlin Defence — the flavour of the season. The Indian got into the groove pretty fast with his knights moving to the King side for some rapid action in the early stages of the middle game. Svidler felt the heat but did not give much away. The critical moment was when Anand could have won a pawn, as suggested by most chess engines, but it was hard to judge for a human mind. Anand in the end concluded that it was all a bit "messy", a sentiment echoed by Svidler. However, the game was far from over as Anand came up with a positional queen sacrifice to liven things up. Svidler knew his chances of holding were high with pawns exchanges and the Russian wasted no time in pushing his brigade forward. Anand could do little after a timely exchange sacrifice that left him with two rooks for a queen. "In fact his draw offer was useful, it helped me with my evaluation. Peter (Svidler) is not a devious guy, there are people who will offer a draw in a worse position," Anand said. The Indian ace conceded that he was not at his best today: "I needed a lot of time and calm moves before I can threaten 'f3', I can't do it." Andreikin caused a sensation at the expense of Topalov who was a pale shadow of himself. It's been a roller-coaster ride for Topalov in the last three rounds as he lost against Svidler, bounced back to beat Kramnik and now suffered a disastrous loss against Andreikin. Topalov went for the Queen's Gambit declined as black and faced a side variation. The Bulgarian got a decent opening with a temporary pawn sacrifice but missed the thread as he gave to much weightage to an optical attack against the king. Andreikin steered his king to safety with a long walk to the queen side and the extra pawn did the damage thereafter.
— PTI |
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Serena shrugs off slow start to win Miami opener
Miami, March 21 Nieminen beats Tomic in record 28 minutes
Finland's Jarkko Nieminen claimed the fastest ever ATP Tour win by crushing Australian Bernard Tomic 6-0 6-1 in 28 minutes and 20 seconds to advance to the second round. Tomic had not played since retiring injured against Rafa Nadal in the Australian Open first round and won just 13 points in the shortest match since the Tour began keeping official records in 1991. "I felt like I did the best that I could and I'm happy with the way I'm coming back," said Tomic, who had hip surgery after Melbourne Park. "Hopefully in a little bit of time I can get back to 100 percent.”
— Reuters "It's not easy but I'm trying, doing everything, doing my best to get there." Once regarded his country's brightest prospect and a future top 10 player, Australian tennis fans have grown increasingly weary of the two-time junior grand slam champion's lack of progress along with a string of controversies that have blighted his career. After reaching the 2011 Wimbledon quarter-finals at the age of 18, Tomic was booted off Australia's Davis Cup team the following year for a perceived lack of commitment in the wake of a string of late-season fade-outs. He earned the nickname 'Tomic the Tank Engine' after an infamous straight sets loss to American Andy Roddick at the 2012 U.S. Open where he was accused of not trying by former players and pundits. His career has since been overshadowed by his father and coach John Tomic, who was found guilty by a Spanish court last year for assaulting a former practice partner and banned by the ATP from accreditation to his son's events. Despite playing injured against Spanish world number one Rafa Nadal, Tomic was jeered by centre court fans at his home grand slam when he pulled out the match after losing the first set. News of his record trouncing by 40th-ranked journeyman Nieminen drew scathing criticism in Australian media and social networks on Friday. "Tomic was returning from a month off with injury so there will be excuses," a column on News Ltd websites said. "But this performance didn't so much scrape the bottom of the barrel as drill straight through it." Sania-Cara pair advances
Sania Mirza and Cara Black fought their way into the second round even as Leander Paes made his third first round exit in five tournaments this year. Sania and Cara faced stiff resistance from Taipei pair of Hao-Ching Chan and Yung-Jan Chan before prevailing 6-3 6-7(8) 10-8. Paes and Radek Stepanek suffered an upset against American Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen 3-6 6-7(7).
— PTI |
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Man United to face Bayern in quarters
Nyon (Switzerland), March 21 Four-time champions Barcelona will play the first leg at the Nou Camp against La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid in an all-Spanish blockbuster while Chelsea tackle Paris Saint-Germain with the first leg in the French capital. Real Madrid continue their quest for a record-extending 10th European Cup against 2013 finalists Borussia Dortmund. Runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern will relish the chance of taking on a United side that snatched a 2-1 victory from the jaws of defeat in the 1999 Barcelona-hosted final. For the first time, all eight group winners from the pool round have advanced to this stage in an explosive quarterfinal line-up. Cristiano Ronaldo goes into Real's match against Dortmund with 13 goals, one short of Lionel Messi's record for Champions League strikes in one season. Messi is on 67 Champions League career goals and just four short of the all-time mark held by Spaniard Raul as Barcelona take on Atletico. First leg matches will be played April 1 and 2 with the return fixtures slated for April 8 and 9 before the draw for the semifinals on April 11. The final will be played at Benfica's Stadium of Light on May 24. — Agencies Benfica survives Spurs fright
Paris: Tottenham crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday but not before giving Benfica a huge scare as English interest in the continent's second-tier tournament ended. Benfica survived a dramatic late onslaught in Lisbon to reach the quarterfinals with a 2-2 draw having won the first leg 3-1 at White Hart Lane last week. An Andrea Pirlo free-kick secured Juventus's ticket to the quarterfinals after a 1-0 win over 10-man Serie A rivals Fiorentina, going through 2-1 on aggregate.
— PTI |
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HC restrains pubs from showing matches New Delhi, March 21 The court appointed six local commissioners "to visit premises intimated to them by the plaintiffs as and when information is received by the plaintiffs about the infringing activity taking place in cities of Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Goa and Chennai..." The order came on Star India and other's plea seeking protection from infringement of their copyright. — PTI
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