Dharamsala, October 16
The team that adapts to the conditions quickly and weighs its options well is likely to walk away with the fourth ODI and get a foothold on the series as well. It will not be the past records or the recent form but how the two teams cope with the unexpected.

The Dharamsala wicket is unlike the other pitches of the ongoing series. Worse, there is no credible authority that can accurately comment on the weather conditions here. But, this much is sure that the wicket is going to be a lot livelier and there are going to be considerable temperature changes during the play.

“Actually, what matters is how we deal with the conditions. In the practice we are going to see how we will adapt to the conditions. The weather is going to be lot colder than we have faced and the wicket is expected to be bouncy and seamer-friendly. That is going to be important. Both the teams have been playing recently so its not an issue,” said Virat Kohli.

Both the teams were expected to arrive a day earlier but reached the venue on the eve of the match. The Indian team practised in the day time but West Indies did not have that luxury. The visitors checked arrived in Dharamsala in the evening and had to be content without practice. “We just did some recovery exercises today,” said Richie Richardson, the team manager.

The toss is going to be a big factor, the interesting bit however will be in the decisions the two captains make. Obviously, relying on the pace attack will be the rule of the thumb.

West Indies, on that front, have the advantage. Skipper Dwayne Bravo may bring in speedster Kemar Roach along with Ravi Rampaul, Jerome Taylor and all-rounder Andre Russell. For India, Ishant Sharma is likely to make it into the playing XI but it will be Mohammed Shami who will be expected to carry on the good work.

The batsmen of both the teams have flickered through the series and the wicket here is not going to be a bed of roses for them. Shikhar Dhawan probably has a hunch and that’s why he shadow-batted for a few minutes on the pitch. The shot he practiced was not a cut or a pull but leaving the ball.

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Dharamsala, October 16
After a string of scores such as 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0, 7, 6 and 20 in the five Tests against England, and carrying on with 0, 40, 1 and 13 in the ODI series, Virat Kohli had a lot of answering to do. It was wiser for him to remain mum and let his bat do the talking than give excuses. Then came the knock of 62 in the second ODI and Virat Kohli was ready to address the media with all the queries. He talked about the mental aspect of the game, his technique, the learning experience during the lean period and the ‘fun’ side of dealing with turncoat.

On a serious note, Kohli identified two prime reasons for his lean patch: the loss of mental confidence and the time crunch in rectifying the mess. The longer it dragged, the messier it became.

Thankfully, the break Kohli got during the Champions League and the stint at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore seemed to put things in place. The first match of the West Indies series may not have been fruitful for him but Kohli was at peace with himself.

“In international cricket, it is not as much about technique as it is about mental confidence. The technique is more or less same irrespective of whether you are scoring runs or not. It’s just that when you are not scoring, it comes to the fore. The short break I got gave me time to work on my game and regain my confidence,” the 25-year-old said.

Kohli may have sorted out the mess but the runs were yet to flow and a familiar mode of dismissal — opening the face of the bat outside the off stump and getting caught in slips — in the first ODI against the West Indies seemed to belie his belief.

“Having that break in between was really good. I worked hard on the areas I needed to work on. Last two games I went in with a clear head. For me it doesn’t matter if I get out playing the same shot again and again, at least I am feeling clear and confident in the mind. I just needed that one innings and that came in the last game,” he added.

The runs did not come in Kochi (2) but flowed freely in Delhi (62).

When the Delhiite was reminded of the ‘people’ who found varied chinks in his technique, he let out a wry smile, scratched his beard and growing a bit grim said: “It is funny. I had only heard about it and now I have seen it myself. I have learnt a lot, I have seen people change completely, 360 degrees, and that’s not surprising actually. In a way it is a pleasant thing. I feel much stronger and I feel my cricket is going to improve further.”

The middle order batsman was emphatic in praise for Team Director Ravi Shastri. “He has given us what nobody gives when a team is losing. Ravi told us that he believes in us and that we need to play our game. If somebody tells me that I do not need to listen to what anybody else is saying.”

Guwahati, October 16
Ten-man Atletico de Kolkata continued their impressive performance in the Indian Super League (ISL), beating hosts NorthEast United FC 2-0 to register their second consecutive win at the Indira Gandhi Stadium here Thursday.

Ethiopian striker Fikru Teferra Lemessa and Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Podany scored for the visiting team who consolidated their position at the top of the standings with six points from two matches but also had Spaniard Borja Fernandez expelled in the 84th minute for receiving two yellow cards. It was NorthEast United’s first loss of the competition after winning their first match 1-0 against Kerala Blasters.

Atletico de Kolkata led 1-0 at halftime through a superb goal by Fikru in the 13th minute. It was his second goal in as many matches.

The ball was masterly chipped over the NorthEast defence by Kolkata’s ‘marquee’ player Luis Garcia and the striker took it on his chest and volleyed it into the net leaving the vociferous NorthEast crowd stunned. The opening goal was preceded by a strong start from the visiting team.

Spaniard imports Jofre Mateu Gonzalez and Borja came close to scoring, bringing out some fantastic saves from the NorthEast goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas, who was kept busy throughout the first half. Atletico could have extended their lead had the post not come in the way. Jofre’s cleverly-taken corner was nodded towards the goal by Botswana midfielder Ofentse Natobut but the ball rebounded off the right post.

The second half was, however, a more even contest with both teams trying to score and constructing attacks at frantic pace.

NorthEast came close to equalising with ‘icon’ Joan Capdevilla tapping the ball into the goal in the 70th minute but he was adjudged offside. As the match wore on, NorthEast asserted their supremacy. Atletico were forced to back off and that pressure forced Borja, who was booked earlier, to commit a needless foul in the 84th minute and get expelled following his second yellow card.

NorthEast committed more men forward but were left vulnerable at the back and Atletico capitalised on the open spaces left behind by their opponents in the final minute of regulation time, executing an accurate counter-attack that was converted smartly by an unmarked Jakub to confirm victory for the Sourav Ganguly-part-owned side.

Atletico de Kolkata next face Delhi Dynamos FC at home Oct 19 while hosts NorthEast entertain FC Goa on the same day. — IANS

Johor Bahru, October 16
Harmanpreet Singh did the star turn with a hat-trick of goals as India enhanced their chances to qualify for the final of the Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup with a convincing 4-2 win over hosts Malaysia here today.

In top form after thrashing Pakistan 6-0 yesterday, the Harjeet Singh-led side notched up its third win in four games. India though had some tough moments in the game after the hosts overcame a 2-0 deficit to draw level after half-time.

But two late strikes from India saved the day for the Harendra Singh-coached side. The two teams wasted their respective penalty corner chances at the start but India soon forced three more penalty corners to get a goal off the last one in the 25th minute. Two minutes later, Harmanpreet punished Malaysia again with another drag flick.

Malaysia then struck back to reduce the deficit in the 37th minute as Sufi Ismat Rohulmin went past two defenders and sent a reverse stick shot into goal. The goal acted as a booster as Azril Misron levelled the score with his 42nd-minute.

But Harmanpreet proved his ability in penalty corners as he scored India’s third in the 55th minute. India were then awarded a penalty stroke in the 65th minute and Varun Kumar put the result beyond doubt. “I am extremely pleased to see the way the boys performed today. They conceded two quick goals in the second half but did not allow pressure to take hold of them and remained calm. This composure helped the boys to make a brilliant comeback,” Harendra said.

India next take on Australia on Saturday and a win against the Kangaroos would seal the team’s final berth. — PTI

New Delhi, October 16
Harbhajan Singh has threatened to take legal action against controversial umpire Darrell Hair if the Australian continued to damage his reputation by making provocative comments that youngsters with suspect action have made him a role model.

“I have no time for Darrell Hair’s nonsense. Who the hell is he? Is he bigger than the ICC? But if he tries to damage my reputation or belittle my achievements as an international cricketer with another provocative comment, I will be speaking to the BCCI and seek legal action against Hair,” said Harbhajan.

“Just because three for four international bowlers’ actions have been found suspect, who gives him (Hair) the right to put everyone in the same bracket? Those, who have problems with their action will undergo corrective measures. I have undergone bio-mechanics tests at Perth in Australia in 2005 under B Foster.” — PTI

New Delhi, October 16
Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra will participate in the National Shooting Championships in Pune this year in his favourite 10m Air Rifle individual event. “I am definitely going to participate in the Nationals. This is an important event,” Bindra told The Tribune on the sidelines of a felicitation function in the Capital. The dates for the nationals are yet to be announced by the National Rifles Association of India (NRAI).

Bindra had left the nation stunned when he tweeted a day before winning the bronze in Asian Games that it was going to be his last day of professional shooting life, only to clarify later that he would still like to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. When asked about his tweets, Bindra replied: “As I said, I will be a hobby shooter now and shoot twice a week. What else do you want me to say?”

So, what about the Rio Games? Bindra, as has been the case with him, again showed he is a man of few words. He can be as stoic and solemn as he wants. “I will shoot for the next season. I will try to qualify for the Rio Olympics. I will go to the World Cups to get an Olympic berth,” he said.

Indian shooters will have four World Cups and Asian Shooting Championships in November next year to earn a quota place for the Rio Games. Grey strands in Bindra's hair led to another question, quite significant given that he is 32-year-old.

What about marriage? “I don't have any plans to get married. Not in the near future. I have your visiting card with me. I will call you to my wedding,” he signed off. Bindra won two bronze medals at the Incheon Asian Games, in the 10m Air Rifle team individual and team events.

Rome, October 16
Italian tennis players Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace are facing corruption accusations after intercepted internet conversations claiming they sold matches were printed on Wednesday in Italian media. 

The conversations are part of the extensive data that judicial investigators in Cremona have been sorting through in a match-fixing inquiry into soccer. In a July 2007 conversation on Skype between Bracciali and an accountant who was arrested in 2011, Bracciali discusses arranging a match in Newport, Rhode Island, against American player Scoville Jenkins. Jenkins won 6-2, 6-1. — Agencies

Hong Kong, October 16
Former Asia number one Jyoti Randhawa wielded a hot putter to grab the opening round lead at the Hong Kong Open on Thursday while Nicolas Colsaerts and Ernie Els were also off to a strong start at the Fanling course.

Randhawa, 42, began with a bogey but went on to reel off seven birdies to lead Angelo Que of the Philippines by one shot, needing only 23 putts in the opening round of the European Tour co-sanctioned event.

“I've been playing decent in the last few weeks but haven't been able to put up a good number,” said the 2002 Asian Tour number one from India who finished with two consecutive closing birdies for a six-under-par 64. “Today I really putted my heart out, so I'm really happy with the way it went, and I'm glad I got the pace on the greens right,” said Randhawa, who remains winless since claiming his eighth Asian Tour title in 2009. — Reuters

BRIEFLY

Bawne ton gives West Zone 1st innings lead, Pujara fails

Lahli: Maharashtra batsman Ankit Bawne scored a gutsy century under pressure as West Zone took a vital 43-run first innings lead against East Zone on the second day of the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal, here today. Responding to East’s 278 in the first innings, West skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (10) failed with the bat but middle-order batsman Bawne scored a patient 105 off 194 balls to help the team end Day 2 on 321 for nine. Credit should also be given to Yusuf Pathan for his attractive run-a-ball 73 that went a long way in West grabbing the first innings lead. All eyes were on Pujara but he was castled by seamer Basant Mohanty due to lack of footwork. Brief scores: East Zone 1st Innings 278; West Zone 1st Innings 321/9 (Ankit Bawne 105, Yusuf Pathan 73, Rana Dutta 5/60).

Meenakumari impresses in National boxing c’ships

Raipur: Kerala’s Meenakumari was adjudged the most promising boxer in the women’s National championship, here today. Battling in the bantam weight category (51-54 kg), Meenakumari outpunched Haryana’s Sonia to emerge the clear winner. Priyanka Choudhry of Railways beat Priya 3-0 to win the lighweight final and was adjudged the ‘Best Boxer’. Other results (finals): Light fly(45-48kg): S Sarjubala bt Sweety 3-0; Fly(48-51kg): Pinki Rani bt Rebecca Lalinmawil 3-0; Feather (54-57kg): Preeti Beniwal bt Pwilao Basumatary; Lt.Welter (60-64kg): Minu Basumatary bt Pavitra 3-0; Welter (64-69kg): Bhavna bt Neetu 3-0; Middle (69-75kg): Poonam bt Monica Saun 3-0; Lt.Heavy (75-81kg): Saweety bt Laxmi Padiya 3-0; Heavy (+81): Amandeep Kaur bt Kavita 2-0.

Ramkumar shocks Yuki, Somdev also ousted

Indore: Ramkumar Ramanathan proved his ascendancy yet again as he knocked out Yuki Bhambri from the ATP Indore Open, while Somdev Devvarman also made an early exit. Ramkumar, who had also shocked Somdev at the Chennai Open early this year, overcame Yuki 7-6(4) 6-3 to move to the quarterfinals. Third seed Somdev lost a hard-fought quarterfinal 7-6(4) 4-6 4-6 to Chinese Taipei’s Liang-Chi Hunag.

Davydenko announces retirement

Moscow: Former World No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko announced his retirement from professional tennis on Thursday. “I won 21 ATP World Tour tournaments, including three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, and the ATP World Tour Finals in London. I don’t have any regrets about not winning a Grand Slam or not being No. 1 in the world,” he said. — Agencies