Birmingham, September 7
Skipper Eoin Morgan found his form at the right time to lead England to a thrilling three-run victory over India in a one-off T20 international on Sunday. Morgan, who had scored only 198 runs in 10 one-day international innings since returning from injury in March, smashed 71 off 31 balls including seven sixes and three fours, as England posted a daunting 180 for seven wickets in their 20 overs.

In reply, Virat Kohli led the India charge but his 66 off 41 balls and 27 off 18 by MS Dhoni at the death could not clinch victory for India who finished on 177 for five.

Ajinkya Rahane took a T20 record-equalling four catches, including a stunning running, diving effort to dismiss Alex Hales (40) but India's bowling took a battering late on, conceding 81 runs off the last five overs as Morgan and Ravi Bopara ran riot.

India's reply got off to a poor start, Rahane lasting four balls, bowled by Ali, before Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan led the India charge. Kohli and Dhawan put on 79 in nine overs before Chris Woakes bowled Dhawan.

Kohli survived a difficult catch to Harry Gurney when on 65 but fell one run later, tucked up by Steve Finn and caught in the deep by Hales. India were always up with the scoring rate but a mix-up between Dhoni and Ravindra Jadaja seemed to have ended their hopes before Dhoni set about Woakes in the final over with India still 17 runs short. Dhoni smashed 12 off the first four balls before Woakes managed to skipper and Englnd scraped home. — Reuters

Scoreboard
England
J Roy c Rahane b Shami 8 
A Hales c Rahane b Jadeja 40
M Ali c Rahane b M Sharma 0 
J Root c Rayudu b K Sharma 26
E Morgan c Rahane b Shami 71
J Buttler c Rayudu b Shami 10
R Bopara not out 21
Woakes run out (Dhoni) 0
Extras: (lb-3, nb-1) 4
Total: (For 7 wkts in 20 overs) 180
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-27, 3-75, 4-85, 5-130, 6-166, 7-180 
Bowling
R Ashwin 4-0-37-0
M Sharma 4-0-39-1
M Shami 4-0-38-3
K Sharma 4-0-28-1
R Jadeja 4-0-35-1

India
Rahane b Ali 8
Dhawan b Woakes 33
Kohli c Hales b Finn 66
Raina b Gurney 25
Dhoni not out 27
Jadeja run out (Bopara/Finn) 7
Rayudu not out 3
Extras: (lb 4, w 4) 8
Total: (5 wickets; 20 overs) 177
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-89, 3-131, 
4-145, 5-153 
Bowling
Finn 4-0-28-1
Ali 3-0-31-1
Gurney 4-0-29-1
Woakes 4-0-43-1
Bopara 1-0-14-0
Tredwell 4-0-28-0

Top four’s domination

n It’s for the first time in the last nine years that none from the Big Four has made it to the final of a Grand Slam. It happened last in the Australian Open in 2005 when Marat Safin from Russia and Lleyton Hewitt from Australia made the final. Safin won the title.

n In the last 38 Grand Slam finals, at least one from the elite group has been there. Federer has featured in 25 finals, Nadal in 20 and Djokovic in 14. Murray, a slightly lesser player than the other three, too has seven final appearances to his credit.

n One has to go back all the way to 1997 to find an instance when two players from outside top 10 made the Grand Slam final. That year, in the US Open, Britain’s Greg Rusedski faced Pat Rafter of Australia in the title clash. 

Know the giant-killers 

Marin Cilic

n Country: Croatia

n Born:28 September 1988

n Birthplace: Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina

n Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco

n Height: 6 ft. 6 in.

n Turned pro: 2005

n Career Singles Titles: 11

n Career matches won: 293

n Career matches lost: 162

n Current rank: 16

n Highest rank: 9

n Career prize money: $7,722,989

n Previous best Grand Slam performance: Australian Open semifinal (2010)

n Coach: Goran Ivanisevic

Kei Nishikori

n Country: Japan

n Born: 29 December 1989

n Birthplace: Shimane, Japan

n Residence: Bradenton, Florida, USA

n Height: 5 ft. 10 in.

n Turned pro: 2007

n Career Singles Titles: 5

n Career matches won: 169

n Career matches lost: 100

n Current rank: 11

n Highest rank: 9

n Career prize money: $5,441,044

n Previous best Grand Slam performance: Australian Open quarterfinal (2012)

n Coach: Michael Chang

New Delhi, September 7
In an apparent bid to give its president N Srinivasan some time, the BCCI has deferred its much-anticipated AGM after an informal gathering of its members units here on Sunday. The meeting decided to convene a Working Committee meeting on September 26. With this, the AGM is unlikely to be held on the scheduled date of September 30 as the rules demand a three-week gap between the two meetings.

“After taking all possible technical and legal opinions, there seems no option but to postpone the AGM,” said BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel.

The meeting could also be seen as a show of strength by Srinivasan. “Around 20 members today attended the meeting which shows Srinivasan has an overwhelming majority in the 31-member body,” said another BCCI official. — PTI

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 7
Roger Federer said that losing in straight sets in the semifinals was not “too disappointing” for him. Talking after the loss, he said he didn’t play well enough, and so it was possible for him to move on very quickly from the defeat. He also said that he didn’t need an 18th Grand Slam to be “more happy”. Excerpts:

What happened tonight?

It’s fairly simple — Marin played great. I, maybe, didn’t catch my best day, but I think that was pretty much it in a nutshell.

Is this leftover from the Monfils match where you had to go so long and so late? Were you tired?

No, I was feeling good. I just think if I could have stayed longer with him in the first set; I felt like there was a proper match going on. But I think him playing with the lead, you know, no fear and just full-out confidence, which clearly everybody at this point sort of has in the semis of a Slam. I think he served great when he had to. I think the first break was tough. I think I was up 40-love and then lose five straight points, and then had one chance in the third when I was up a break and he came straight back. Those are my two moments really.

When you lost the first two sets, were you thinking you were going to plot another comeback?

I wasn’t as confident this time around, because Marin played more aggressive. He was serving huge. From that standpoint I knew that margins were slim, even though I still believed in my chance. The reaction was there. I did break straight back like I did with Monfils, but I knew this comeback would be tougher just because of the risk he was taking and how big he was serving really.

Was it more his serve or your return that wasn’t at the best?

I mean, he’s been serving well for some time now. I’m definitely not happy the way I was able to return his serve. I expect better, especially on his first serve; at least get the feeling like I know what’s going on, I know where it’s coming. Today that didn’t work at all. He served big; he served close to the lines. Then I need to focus on my own service game, what I did well against him in Toronto. I didn’t get broken for all three sets, I think. So today I probably had to manage something similar. But I think he was also playing really well from the baseline, so let’s not only talk about just his serving. I think he was hitting the ball very well.

Cilic and Nishikori will be going to their first Grand Slam final. How do you see the future of tennis shaping up?

Yeah, I think it’s exciting for the game, you know, to have different faces from time to time. At the same time, I think people still enjoy seeing the guys they have seen for a while or often in the big matches. But I think it’s definitely refreshing to some extent.

This is the first time in a long time without either you, Nadal, or Djokovic playing final. Does that mean something or...

You create your stories. You said the same in Australia, everybody; and then we know what happened at the French Open final, Wimbledon final.

How important it is to get an 18th Grand Slam?

I mean, not to my life. I don’t need it to be more happy or anything. But the moment itself, it would mean a lot, you know. I keep working hard to win titles on the tour, not just No. 18. I was very happy to get to No. 80 the other week, so that was huge for me. You know, I’ll give it a go again in Australia; hope to be healthy there. — Agencies

New Delhi, September 7
With the teams entering the final phase of their preparations for next year's World Cup, cricketing great Ian Chappell has said defending champions India, Australia and South Africa are the favourites to win the game's showpiece event.

“As teams enter the home straight in preparation for next year's World Cup, it seems that three of the big names are in an advanced state of readiness and a fourth is primed for an early exit,” Chappell wrote in his column for a cricket website.

“The winner is likely to come from the trio of Australia, India and South Africa, with captaincy playing a role in any success, whilst West Indies is the dark horse,” said the former Australian captain. — PTI

MONZA, September 7
Lewis Hamilton battled back from an agonisingly slow start to win the Italian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday and slash teammate Nico Rosberg's Formula One championship lead to 22 points.

Rosberg finished second as dominant Mercedes celebrated their first one-two since Austria in June and seventh in 13 races.

With the sport taking a deep breath as the championship rivals lined up together on the front row, two weeks after they had collided in Belgium, the start provided an immediate sensation. Hamilton had taken pole position for the first time since May but problems with the car's start mode left him struggling to get away and fourth into the first corner as Rosberg sped away untroubled. It was the start of a thrilling chase, with the 2008 world champion fighting back and retaking the lead on the 29th of 53 laps when Rosberg missed the first chicane as he had done earlier in the race.

With the German under pressure and driving straight on, slowing and weaving to get back on track, Hamilton seized the lead in the decisive moment of the afternoon. The two crossed the finish line 3.1 seconds apart, with Hamilton celebrating his first win since Britain in July. It was his fifth of the season and 28th of his career, taking him ahead of triple champion Jackie Stewart in the all-time lists. “It was a difficult race,” said Hamilton. “For whatever reason, at the start the button didn’t press which engages the launch sequence. “For the formation lap it didn’t work and when I got to the grid and put it on again, again it didn't work. It was very strange. I’ve never really had that happen before. I tried to pull away as fast as possible and the RPM was all over the place. Fortunately I managed to not lose too many places.”

Rosberg now has 238 points to Hamilton's 216, with six races remaining after the end of the European part of the season. Brazilian Felipe Massa finished third for Williams, his first podium appearance since Spain last year with Ferrari, on Brazilian independence day and after the team had announced he was staying for 2015.

The points, at the fastest track on the calendar, meant Williams leapfrogged Ferrari into third place in the constructors' standings. In the absence of their current Ferrari heroes, the passionate home crowd welcomed their ex-driver's appearance on the podium with cheers as they spilled out in a vast red wave onto the start/finish straight.

Rosberg, blamed by his own team for the second lap Spa collision that led to Hamilton's retirement from that race, was booed for the second grand prix in a row. Massa's Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas was fourth.

Sergio Perez earns 6 points for Force India

Sergio Perez finished seventh to secure six points for Force India as the team reduced the gap with fifth-placed McLaren to just one. — Reuters

Hyderabad, September 7
Caught in a dilemma over whether to compete in the Asian Games or the WTA tournaments which clash with the event, Sania Mirza today left it on the All India Tennis Association to take a call on her participation in the continental extravaganza in Incheon, Korea.

Sania today returned to the country after lifting the US Open mixed doubles title on Friday and was quizzed about the Asian Games dilemma after pullouts by Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna.

“There are few problems obviously in Asian Games. Because it is clashing with two other biggest tournaments in Asia, Beijing and Tokyo. I have lot of points to defend in the same two weeks. So, it is a very difficult situation,” Sania told reporters. “But I leave it to the Federation to try and take this decision. Because it is very difficult for me to take this decision right now,” she said.

Sania said choosing to participate in the Games over the circuit would affect her chances of making the WTA season finale. “So, it is very difficult for me to take this decision right now. Because, I think we have a chance to get into the championship which is in Singapore at the end of the year and if I don't play these two tournaments, the chances of that happening are very small. Still if the country needs me, I will go and play Asian Games. But, this decision, I cannot take myself. I leave it to the Federation to help me out. I have to come and talk to them,” she said.

She also wondered about India's medal chances in tennis, saying her participation may not be enough given that the big stars have already pulled out. “With all the big stars pulling out, I don't know how good the chances are left anyways with me playing. But, we will see what we can do,” she said.

Sania hopes to win a Wimbledon. “It is great to win my third Slam and hopefully I will win Wimbledon one day to finish with a career Grand Slam,” she said. — PTI 

New Delhi, September 7
Veteran star Leander Paes is set to combine with Rohan Bopanna for the doubles rubber during the Davis Cup tie against Serbia, Indian captain Anand Amritraj confirmed on Sunday but he says nothing has been decided on the Asian Games squad as yet.

The inclusion of 41-year-old Paes in the side means that originally selected Saketh Myneni, who made his Davis Cup debut against Chinese Taipei early this year, will miss out. The tall and big serving player will now be a reserve along with Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Ramkumar Ramanathan.

“Yes, Leander will play with Rohan in the doubles,” Amritraj, the non-playing captain, told PTI from Bangalore.

“It was Rohan who approached Leander first and then I got in touch with him. I spoke to him and he agreed to play,” Amritraj said.

Asked if Myneni won't feel that he has been ousted from the playing squad, the US-based Amritraj replied in a negative. “He's absolutely fine. I have spoken to him. He had a rough idea that it might happen,” he said about Myneni.

Talking about the Asian Games squad, from where the top Indian stars intend to pull out, Amritraj said nothing has been decided as yet and status quo remains.

“It’s still the same. Rohan, Leander, Sania (Mirza) are still there in the squad. I have a meeting with AITA officials and we will decide about it later, there’s no hurry,” he said. “It's only Somdev (Devvarman), who has officially pulled out. Others are still in,” he said. Some top international tennis events are clashing with dates of the Asian Games, forcing Indian players to consider pulling out to take care of their rankings.

After not so impressive results at the US Open, Paes and Bopanna’s rankings are set to suffer and if they do not play in top-tier ATP events in China (Beijing and Shanghai) they can slip further in the ladder.

Sania Mirza is targetting to make it to the WTA year-end finals and for that she needs to maintain her rank for that to happen. Sania is currently placed fourth along with partner Cara Black in the Race to Singapore, where top-eight teams fight for the glory.

Bopanna, who will be playing in his home state in this World Group play-off tie, said it would be a “pleasure” for him to play with Leander Paes. “We have been in discussion for the past few months and were looking for the opportunity to play together for the country. Leander brings a tremendous amount of experience to any partnership,” he said.

“Since he has been ranked as high as No. 1 in the world and I have been ranked No. 3, I am confident that we will be a formidable team. I am sure there is going to be some great, exciting tennis over the weekend and I hope we are the strongest team out there,” he said. — PTI

ludhiana, September 7
United Singhs edged out Royal Kings USA 59-53 to post their third win of the World Kabaddi League at the Hockey Stadium in Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. In another match, Lahore Lions beat Yo Yo Tigers 69-59.

Singhs’ Sandeep Singh Sandhu was declared man of the match. Shafiq Muhammad Butt of United Singhs (16 raids) was the best raider. Sandeep Singh Sandhu with 8 stops was declared the best stopper.

Thunders’ appeal upheld

Punjab Thunders late-night appeal against last point being awarded to Khalsa Warriors was upheld by the technical committee of the World Kabaddi League.

Earlier, the match was awarded to Khalsa Warriors 59-57 but the reversal of the decision led to the final result being revised to a tie at 58-58, making it the first draw of the league. 

miami, September 7
FIFA has asked for an explanation from a member of its financial watchdog who was arrested on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering in the Cayman Islands.

Canover Watson, one of eight members of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee and a vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union, has denied the charges and been released on bail in the British overseas territory.

Domenico Scala, head of the committee, said he had asked Watson for details.

“In agreement with the Ethics Committee we have asked Canover Watson whether he can share with the Audit and Compliance Committee any additional information,” said Scala in a statement issued by FIFA. Once we have more information we will consider appropriate measures, he added. — Agencies 

Hyderabad, September 7
Having won a gold medal in the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games, ace shuttler Parupalli Kashyap is keen on repeating his superb show in the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, Korea from September 19 to October 4.

"I want to win a medal. I don't expect anything. I am going to prepare very well. I will try and win a medal. These two weeks are crucial for me," he told PTI here.

The Indian shuttlers are likely to leave for the sporting extravaganza in the middle of this month.

Kashyap, whose campaign ended in the first round in the World Championship recently, said he would leave it to national coach Pullela Gopichand to point out his mistakes and train him.

"I am trying to improve upon certain aspects of the game. I am sure Gopi (Pullela Gopichand) sir can explain you better on what he is thinking. I completely leave it to him to think about my mistakes and train me. My duty is to go and perform. My duty is not thinking too much about coaching. That's his job," he said. Kashyap is currently ranked world number 28 in BWF men's singles. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Prannoy loses in Vietnam Open final
Ho Chi Minh City: Top seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka of Indonesia ended the impressive run of Indian shuttler H S Prannoy in the Vietnam Open Grand Prix final in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday. Fifth seeded Prannoy could not maintain the level of play he showed in the opening game as he went down 21-18 15-21 18-21 in an hour and three-minute contest. The loss for the Indian means he will have to wait for his maiden title. The 22-year-old from Kerala earned $ 1900 for finishing runner-up.

Bailey steps down as Australia's T20 captain
Melbourne: Cricket Australia (CA) on Sunday announced that George Bailey has elected to stand down as Australia's Twenty20 captain. Bailey has indicated that he wants to concentrate on his preparation for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and play more first-class cricket for Tasmania, particularly before Christmas. — Agencies