Friday, January 29, 1999
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S P O R T | Friday, January 29, 1999 |
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Kumble, Srinath restrict
Pakistan to 238 Mauresmo,
Hingis in title clash |
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Paes-Bhupathi duo moves into final Kambli
hits ton as West Zone triumph JCT
shock Mohun Bagan
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Kumble, Srinath restrict Pakistan
to 238 CHENNAI, Jan 28 — Day one of the first Test between India and Pakistan at the Chidambaram Stadium here today clearly belonged to the hosts. They first restricted Pakistan to 238 all out in their first innings and then the opening pair of debutant S. Ramesh (30 not out five fours) and V.V.S. Laxman (18 not out three fours) had knocked up 48 for no loss when stumps were finally drawn for the day, fourteen minutes after the scheduled close of play. Pakistan must blame themselves for the plight they have fallen into after captain Wasim Akram did a good turn to his team by winning the toss and opting to bat. And had it not been for two half centuries, the first by Yousaf Youhana and the second by wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan, their plight would have been even worse. One must give credit to the way the Indian bowlers bowled and the way skipper Mohammad Azharuddin handled his four regular bowlers. And with Sachin Tendulkar, who today claimed the prized wicket of Yousaf Youhana after the Pakistan middle-order batsman had scored 53 (140 minutes, 107 balls, one six, six four)in his brief spell of three overs (3-0-10-1), the hosts could not have asked for more. It was a delight to see Srinath and Prasad making full use of the new ball. Both the two Indian new ball bowlers bowled with a lot of guile, with Srinath doing the early damage to the Pakistan innings. Srinath ended the innings with figures of 15-3-63-3. And if Prasad went wicketless today he should not be blamed, with skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who has a very safe pair of hands, dropping Saeed Anwar at third slip and the bowler to suffer was Prasad. If Srinath did the early damage to the Pakistan innings, the later order Pakistani batsmen ran into Anil Kumble. Kumble finished the day with figures of six for 70, the 12th time that he has ended with a haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings. Kumble was indeed in his elements today. He tormented the batsman, forced them to play every delivery and in the process induced them to make errors. The wicket did not have any devil and it was amply proved by the Indian opening pair as they scored runs at a very quick pace. When play resumed tomorrow morning local lad Ramesh and Laxman must continue the good work. Srinath was the first to strike this morning. After the Pakistani opening pair of Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi, playing in only his second Test, had taken the score to 32 Srinath gobbled up Afridi, forcing the batsman to snick a delivery to Ganguly at first slip. Afridi scored 11 (35 minutes, 27 balls, two fours). And fall of this wicket signalled a mini collapse as the visitors went on to lose four more wickets for the addition of only 59 runs. Next to return to the dressing room was the other Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar, who was the second Srinath victim of the day, after scoring 24 (50 minutes, 30 balls, four fours). This wicket fell at 41 and 20 runs later it was Kumble’s turn to be among the wickets, catching Inzamam Ul Haq off his own bowling. It was an innocuous full toss delivery which the Pakistani batsman literally patted back to the Indian spinner. Inzamam could score just 10 (27 minutes, 17 balls, two fours). Five runs later, at 66, Pakistan suffered a big jolt when the in-form Ijaz Ahmed was trapped in front of the wicket by Kumble after scoring 13 (57 minutes, 37 balls two fours). Lunch was taken with the Pakistani total reading 83 for four but soon after resumption Srinath, returning to the attack, claimed the wicket of Salim Malik, bowling the Pakistani batsman with a rising delivery after the Pakistani veteran, playing in his 101th Test, had scored just eight (39 minutes, 34 balls, one four). Youhana and Malik put on 25 runs for the fifth wicket but when Malik was out, half the Pakistani side was back in the pavilion with the scoreboard reading a very poor 91. Then came the most successful partnership of 63 of the Pakistani innings as Youhana and Moin Khan played with a fair amount of confidence. Youhana, who went on to score 53, his fifth half century in eight Tests, looked well settled before he was foxed by a Sachin Tendulkar delivery as he tentatively tried to play a well pitched up delivery. Youhana, whose 50 came with a four past the slip region off Prasad, in a stay of 133 minutes during which he faced 104 deliveries in which he hit a six, straight to the screen off Kumble and six fours, was largely instrumental for restructuring the Pakistani innings. He fell with the score reading 154. Youhana’s dismissal brought skipper Wasim Akram to join Moin Khan, then batting on 27. The Pakistani skipper and the wicketkeeper put on 50 runs in 60 minutes as both the batsmen tried to use the long handle seeing there was very little they could do to end the Indian domination. While Akram added 26 runs to the partnership Moin Khan was more orthodox as he raced to his 50 with a short pull to square off Srinath, whom today sent down 15 overs in three different spells. And as his confidence grew Moin did play an uppish cheeky shot only to see Ganguly at slip diving to his right to pick up the ball inches off the ground. Moin Khan scored 60 (145 minutes, 116 balls one six, seven fours). He fell at 214 and the three remaining wickets fell for the addition of only 24 runs. First to go was Akram and he was followed in quick succession by Nadeem Khan and Aqleen Mushtaq. There is nothing in the pitch. But the Indians must bat with application if they want to put the visitors under pressure. (Scoreboard) Saeed Anwar lbw Srinath 24 Shahid Afridi c Ganguly b Srinath 11 Ijaz Ahmed lbw Kumble 13 Inzamam-ul-Haq c and b Kumble 10 Yousuf Youhanna lbw Tendulkar 53 Salim Malik b Srinath 8 Moin Khan c Ganguly b Kumble 60 Wasim Akram c Laxmanb Kumble 38 Saqlain Mushtaq c Laxman b Kumble 2 Waqar Younis not out 0 Nadeem Khan c Dravid b Kumble 8 Extras (lb-5, nb-6) 11 Total: 238 all out in 79.5 overs, 327 minutes. Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-41, 3-61, 4-66, 5-91, 6-154, 7-214, 8-227, 9-237, 10-238. Bowling:
Javagal Srinath 15-3-63-3, Venkatesh Prasad 16-1-54-0,
Anil Kumble 24.5-7-70-6, Sunil Joshi 21-8-36-0, Sachin
Tendulkar 3-0-10-1. |
Mauresmo, Hingis in title clash MELBOURNE, Jan 28 (Reuters) — Unseeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo staged a stunning Australian Open fightback today to upset world number one Lindsay Davenport 4-6 7-5 7-5 and reach her first Grand Slam tournament final. The big-hitting 19-year-old will play defending champion Martina Hingis in the final after ambushing Davenport for the second time in as many matches against the tall American. Hingis made relatively trouble-free progress to the final when she disposed off four-time open winner Monica Seles 6-2 6-4 to end a remarkable winning streak of 33 matches in Melbourne for the former number one. Mauresmo’s path to the final has been far more dramatic. The strongly-built teenager fought off two match points against her in her opening round match in a battle of no-names on an outside court against American Corina Morariu last week. World number 29 Mauresmo then downed eighth seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the second round and toppled Belgian 11th seed Dominique Van Roost in the quarter-finals. Mauresmo is the first Frenchwoman to make the final in Melbourne since Hingis beat Mary Pierce in 1997 to take the first of her two successive open titles. A successful junior, Mauresmo had never before made it past the third round of a Grand Slam but beat Davenport when they first met at the German Open last May. Top-seeded Davenport began confidently before Mauresmo battered the American with service winners and swarmed over her with brutal groundstrokes. "A couple of times I thought I was playing a guy she was hitting the ball so hard,’’ Davenport told reporters. "She hits the ball so hard it’s not like any other girl.’’ The pair slugged it out through the second set until Mauresmo gained a crucial advantage when she broke Davenport’s serve to love in the 12th game. Five service breaks were traded in an enthralling third set before the French teenager broke again for the match, sinking to her knees in joy after drilling a backhand down the line past an outstretched Davenport. US Open champion Davenport had not dropped a set before the semifinals and had plenty of chances to reach her first Australian Open final, particularly when she held three break points in the third game of the final set. But the broad-shouldered Mauresmo saved those points and rallied as her powerful serve began to find its mark again. Instead, it was Davenport who wilted slowly. "I couldn’t touch her serve at the end,’’ Davenport said. "Every time I got my foot through the door and I thought I was going to get to the end, the door was shut on my foot.’’ Mauresmo said after beating Van Roost that she devoted at least an hour a day to strength training. She rated herself as powerful as any player on the women’s tour, including Davenport and aggressive American teenager Venus Williams. World number two Hingis was also too strong for Seles, but relied more on deft placement and timing than raw power. The Swiss teenager slammed a forehand winner past Seles in her second match point after 59 relatel trouble-free minutes of 33 matches in Melbourne. Seles won in her only four previous appearances in Melbourne from 1991-93 and again in 1996. "You hate that to happen after so many years, but I tried my best,’’ Seles said, "It’s sad it’s really ended, but I’ll start a new one.’’ Hingis ruthlessly shut Seles out of the match, breaking Seles early in the first set to stamp her authority. The pair traded service breaks at the beginning of the second set before the 18-year-old then used her superior court coverage to gain another important break in the seventh game. Hingis declared she was glad not to be playing Davenport in the final and felt the occasion might prove too big for Mauresmo. "Mentally it’s easier to be the favourite,’’ Hingis said. Davenport downed Hingis in the US Open final last year to grab the number one ranking.
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Mauresmo's power game stuns Davenport MELBOURNE, Jan 28 Reuters — More than once today world number one Lindsay Davenport had to make sure she wasn’t playing in the wrong semifinal at the Australian Open. Her opponent, 19-year-old Amelie Mauresmo, was hitting the ball so hard and with such fierce topspin that Davenport could not help thinking she was up against a man. "A couple of times, I mean I thought was playing a guy," Davenport said after her 4-6 7-5 7-5 defeat by the broad-shouldered Frenchwoman. "The girl was hitting it so hard, so strong, and I would look over there. And she’s so strong in the shoulders — those shoulders — and she just hits the ball very well. "I mean she hits the ball not like any other girl. She hit it so hard and with so much topspin. Women’s tennis isn’t normally played like that." Make no mistake: even at 19, ranked at a distant 29 in the world, Mauresmo can go all the way in Melbourne. She showed no fear against Davenport, turning around a one-set deficit with thundering first serves, speeding forehand winners and low-spinning sliced backhands for her second straight win over the world number one. Her opponent in Saturday’s final will be Martina Hingis, against whom she took a one-set lead in two encounters last year before Hingis fought back. In one of those meetings, in a France-Switzerland fed cup match in the Swiss Alpine town of Sion, Mauresmo even had a 4-1 lead in the second set. "I have a winning record, but not a very easy one," said Hingis after beating Monica Seles 6-2, 6-4 in today’s other semifinal. That Fed Cup match came with Hingis in the middle of a form and fitness slump from which she has now recovered. But Mauresmo, too, is getting stronger and stronger. When she is not playing matches on the tour, Mauresmo is busy pumping iron at home in Saint Tropez on the French Rivera. She goes to the gym at least three times a week to build up her muscles and staying power. Physically the Frenchwoman is an intimidating opponent — 1.75 metres tall, she has the shoulders of an Olympic swimmer, powerful hands and unflinching eyes over a firm jaw. And she has no obvious mental weaknesses. She survived two match points in the first round of the tournament against American Corina Morariu and has barely flinched since. Today’s deciding set showed her strength. She fell a service game behind after Davenport returned to the court from a toilet break, only to break back. Davenport broke again, only to see the Frenchwoman break her serve twice more for the match. "I had nothing to lose. So I just played my game and did what I had to do," said the soft-spoken Frenchwoman. Mauresmo fell in love with tennis at the tender age of three when she watched Frenchman Yannick Noah win the 1983 French open. Within a couple of years she was already dreaming of a professional career and by the age of 12 her mind was made up. She was named world junior champion in 1996 and had to cut back on her other pursuits — downhill skiing and horse-riding — as she began to follow the tour. "I have to keep this level for as long as possible," said Mauresmo, whose ranking will rise to 14 if she wins Saturday’s final. "and I think now I can play one match after another at this kind of level."
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SA defeat Windies by 55 runs DURBAN, Jan 28 — Hostile, short-pitched bowling, more often seen in Test cricket, set South Africa on the way to a 55-run defeat of West Indies in their third one-day international. After totalling 274-9, South Africa dismissed the West Indies for 219 in 43.1 overs yesterday to take a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series. South Africa built their healthy total on a second-wicket stand of 70 between Lance Klusener (64) and Daryll Cullinan (46). They were helped by an aggressive 58 by captain Hansie Cronje who faced just 42 balls and hit three fours and three sixes. Carl Hooper, bowling off-spinners around the wicket, took 4-52 from his 10 overs. The West Indies, seeking to build on last Sunday's much-needed morale-boosting victory, got off to a fine start, mainly through Shivanarine Chanderpaul. He hit a blazing 52 off 44 balls with eight four and a six. Chanderpaul survived some torrid chest-high stuff from opening bowlers Steve Elworthy and Andrew Hall and with Junor Murray put on 88 for the first wicket. Murray was struck on the head by a ball from Elworthy but resumed after treatment for bleeding round the ear only to be run out later for 24. Hooper went for one and when Brian Lara was out for 32, brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off Cronje, the writing was on the wall. Medium pacers Cronje and Jacques Kallis both profited handsomely in the wake of the fast bowlers' softening up the batsmen, taking 3-45 and 3-24, respectively. In a curiosity in the South African innings, Cullinan became only the second batsman in one-day internationals to be given out handled the ball. Cullinan was dismissed when he cut a delivery from Keith Arthurton and the ball bounced closed to the stumps. Cullinan caught the ball as it descended and, on appeal from West Indies captain Lara, was given out by umpire Dave Orchard. India's Mohindra Amarnath is the only other man to be dismissed handled the ball in a one-day international against Australia in 1985-86. SCOREBOARD Cullinan Handled the ball 46 Gibbs c McLean b Hooper 29 Klusener c Lara b Hooper 64 Kallis b Hooper 24 Cronje c King b Ambrose 58 Rhodes c Murray b Arthurton 11 Benkenstein c Jacobs b Ambrose 10 Boucher c Jacobs b Hooper 5 Hall not out 9 Symcox not out 5 Extras (LB-8, NB-3, W-2) 13 Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 274 Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-119, 3-156, 4-183, 5-221, 6-251, 7-252, 8-261, 9-274. Bowling: Ambrose 10-1-31-2, King 7-0-40-0, Hooper 10-0-52-4, Arthurton 10-0-43-1, McGarrell 5-0-41-0, McLean 8-0-59-0. West Indies: Murray run out (Klusener) 24 Lara c Boucher b Cronje 32 Hooper c Boucher b Kallis 1 Arthurton c Cronje b Kallis 13 Semple c Kallis b Cronje 22 Jacobs c Boucher b Cronje 0 McLean c Boucher b Kallis 4 McGarrell c Rhodes b Elworthy 19 Ambrose run out (Gibbs) 9 King not out 7 Extras (B-1, LB-14, W-11, NB-10) 36 Total all out, 43.1 overs) 219 Fall of wickets: 1-88, 2-95, 3-101, 4-125, 5-164, 6-170, 7-177, 8-178, 9-194. Bowling: Elworthy
7.1-1-45-1 NB-3), Hall 7-0-38-0 (W-2), Symcox 3-0-21-0
(W-2), Klusener 6-0-31-1 (W-2, NB-3), Kallis 10-2-24-3
(W-2, NB-4), Cronje 10-1-45-3 (W-3). |
JCT shock Mohun Bagan CALCUTTA, Jan 28 (PTI) — Defending champions Mohun Bagan were today shocked 2-1 by JCT, Phagwara in their National Football League home match at Salt Lake Stadium here today. Bagan went in the lead in the 30th minute of the first half via Khemtang Paite, but could barely hold on to it for about six minutes with Jasbir Singh scoring the equaliser from a sudden counter-attack. Substitute striker Sukhjit Singh sealed the fate of the fancied Calcutta giants in the 85th minute of the game. The men in green and maroon shirts controlled the proceedings in the first half, but seemed to be tiring towards the end of the match. Bagan went into attack from the first minute and was rewarded in the 30th minute when a centre by Lolendra Singh went past the fumbling JCT custodian Virendra Singh. After touching Khemtang Paite, the ball changed course and entered the goal. But Lolendra was taken off the next minute much to the disappointment of the crowd. JCT capitalised from a beautiful centre by medio Hardip Saini in the 36th minute. The cross flew past a couple of Bagan defenders and Jasbir Singh, who was standing unmarked near the far post, had no difficulty in guiding the ball home through a header. The final goal of the match was scored when Dipankar Roy, after getting a pass from Saini, chipped a flowing centre into the box and Sukhjit Singh headed in the ball by placing it neatly to the right of Bagan custodian Dinesh, who stood helplessly watching it enter the goal. East Bengal win MUMBAI: Calcutta giants East Bengal scored once in each half to tame local outfit Mahindra and Mahindra 2-0 and lead the group-B of the National Football League at the Cooperage here yesterday. East Bengal captain Baichung Bhutia tapped in a Ranjan Dey header in the 16th minute to open their account. In the 87th minute, substitute Dipendu Biswas scored the second goal after being fed by Bhutia following a counter attack. A verbal duel between East Bengal’s Julley Musah and Mahindra players following the second goal resulted in stoppage of play for a few minutes and a yellow card to the Calcutta team’s African recruit. The trouble started when Mahindras’ medio Bernard Operanozie was brought down just outside the East Bengal box by a defender, but the referee R D Sow of Madhya Pradesh allowed the match to continue. In the meantime, the East Bengal defence cleared the ball and Bhutia, getting the ball in his own half, raced into the rival half and passed to Biswas, who replaced Raman Vijayan in the second half. Biswas beat keeper Mark Mascarenhas with a neat placement. Mahindras players protested against the referee’s decision, but he refused to relent, which led to arguments between the players of the two teams. East Bengal have 11 points from five matches, while Mahindras, who also played the same number of matches, have lost four and won one to have three points.
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6-match suspended sentence for Ranatunga PERTH, Jan 28 (AFP) — Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga was given a suspended sentence of six one-day internationals and fined 75 per cent of his match fee at a disciplinary hearing here today. The penalty was imposed on Ranatunga, 35, for his action in leading players to the edge of the field and causing a 12-minute hold-up after the team’s controversial off-spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan, was no-balled for throwing by Australian umpire Ross Emerson in a one-day game against England in Adelaide last Saturday. International Cricket Council (ICC) referee, Peter Van Der Merve, announcing his decision, said: "Ranatunga expressed regret at the embarrassment he caused his opponents, the public, and officials." "He has been warned that his every action will be very closely monitored over the next 12 months." The sentence means Ranatunga is free to continue playing immediately and the penalty will not be applied unless he offends again in the next year. Ranatunga learned his fate after a four-hour hearing at the Western Australian Cricket Association headquarters where the man who led Sri Lanka to the one-day World Cup in 1996 and the ICC were both represented by senior lawyers. The suspended penalty means he will be able to play in Sri Lanka’s two crucial Perth games this weekend against England tomorrow and Australia on Sunday.
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SA name squad for New Zealand tour DURBAN (South Africa), Jan 28 (Reuters) — South Africa stuck to the tried and trusted today when naming their squad to tour New Zealand in February and March. Hansie Cronje will lead a team including Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock to play three Tests and six one-day internationals. Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, who is facing a charge of rape and is scheduled to appear in court during the tour, was not selected. Selection convenor Peter Pollock said Ntini was left out solely because of his poor current form. "Ntini has been around for some time and he has to compete with the other front-runners for a place in the side," Pollock said. Black fast bowler Victor Mpitsang, an 18-year-old product of the United Cricket Board of South Africa’s (UCB) development programme, will travel with the squad to "broaden his cricket experience and give him the benefit of touring with the national team", said UCB president Ray White. Pollock said off-spinner Pat Symcox would return to South Africa after the first three one-day internationals to play in domestic matches while the Test series took place. Symcox could, if required, rejoin the squad for the remaining limited overs games. South Africa: Hansie Cronje (captain), Shaun Pollock (vice-captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Daryll Cullinan, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Allan Donald, David Terbrugge, Paul Adams, Nicky Boje, Dale Benkenstein, Pat Symcox, Victor Mpitsang. South Africa in New Zealand 1998-99 tour itinerary: Feb 13: v New Zealand Academy, Molyneux Park, Alexandra Feb 14: 1st ODI, Dunedin Feb 17: 2nd ODI, Christchurch Feb 20: 3rd ODI, Auckland Feb 22 — 24: v Northern Districts, Hamilton Feb 27 — March 3: 1st Test, Auckland March 11 — 15: 2nd Test, Christchurch March 18 — 22: 3rd Test, Wellington March 25: 4th ODI, Napier March 27: 5th ODI, Auckland March 30: 6th ODI, Wellington.
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Paes-Bhupathi duo moves into final MELBOURNE, Jan 28 (UNI) — Calling it historic may be overdoing it a bit. And perhaps a bit presumptuous. But Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, who have notched a few admirable firsts in their tennis careers, added another one at the Australian Open today. They became the first Indian pair to the reach the men's doubles final of a Grand Slam event. Paes-Bhupathi, having already become the first Indians to be top seeded at a Grand Slam, defeated American Rick Leach and South African Ellis Ferreira 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park today, showing great control and composure, especially in the two tie-breakers. Paes-Bhupathi will play fifth-seeded Patrick Rafter and Jonas Bjorkman in the final tomorrow. The occasion will be truly historic if they win that match. Paes-Bhupathi are fully aware of that. Said Bhupathi later: "It hasn't sunk in yet. We are maybe three to four sets away from a Grand Slam title. We've been in 15 finals or so in our career but this is different". Getting to a Grand Slam final was proving to be some sort of a bogey for Paes-Bhupathi. Three times last year (Australian, French and US), and once in 1997 (US), they lost in the semi-finals. Was it some sort of a stumbling block? Said Bhupathi: "It was beginning to play on our minds. Three consecutive Grand Slam semi-final losses. But now it's behind us." Paes-Bhupathi's win today was not as fluent as was their quarter-final victory over Jonathan Stark and Richey Reneberg but it was one which was equally professional in its execution. The points had to be earned the hard way against the experienced Leach-Ferrieria, ranked 15 and 10, respectively, and seeded fourth here. The two left-handers constantly kept the pressure on them with accurate serving and good returns. But the Indians held their own. Neither Paes nor Bhupathi dropped serve in the two-hour, 14-minute match, Bhupathi, in fact, didn't even face breakpoint. There was only one break of serve in the entire match, when the 28-year-old Ferreira was broken in the sixth game of the second set. That was enough to give Paes-Bhupathi that set, though Paes went through a bit of trouble closing it out, when he served in the ninth game. He faced a breakpoint, one of four he faced in the set. Leach, who turned 34 a month ago and a real tour veteran, turned on the heat, with a couple of neat volleys and returns of serve. But Paes, who later said he had problems serving because the sun was in his eyes, still managed two good serves and volleys to see it through. Paes-Bhupathi left their best for the tie-breakers, which decided the other two sets. Their first-set tie-breaker performance was near perfection. They won seven straight points after losing the first. The third set tie-breaker showed their resilience after a long set, in which the heat was getting to all four players. Paes had to serve at 4-5. Leach-Ferreira were just two points away from the set. But Paes took both points and the pressure got to Ferreira. The next point, matchpoint, he completely mishit a high volley and it was all over. Said Paes later: "At the start of the third set, Hash (Mahesh) came to me and said 'let's find a way to get to the final'." They did that. Now they have to find the winning touch one more time and make history. In the second semi-finals
Rafter-Bjorkman came from two sets down to defeat No 2
seeds Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge in a three-hour
thriller. They won 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 8-6. Bjorkman had
won the title last year, partnering Dutchman Jacco
Eltingh. |
Kambli hits ton as West Zone triumph CALCUTTA, Jan 28 (PTI) — West Zone skipper Vinod Kambli struck a belligerent unbeaten 109 to guide his team to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over East Zone in the Deodhar Trophy limited overs cricket tournament at the Eden Gardens here today. Chasing a target of 228 for an outright victory, the dashing Kambli showed signs of regaining his touch after his ankle injury as he blasted the hapless East Zone bowlers all over the park to help his team register their first win in the tournament. Kambli and Jacob Martin (37 n.o) put on an unbeaten 115-run third wicket partnership on a good batting track as West Zone scored 228 for two in 44 overs. Put into bat, East Zone managed a modest 227 for nine in their allotted 50 overs riding mainly on a brilliant 124 by opener Shiv Sundar Das. None of the other East Zone batsmen could make any substantial contribution. East Zone, who have lost all their three league matches, take on North Zone in their last match at the Eden Gardens on January 31. West Zone will clash with South Zone at Guwahati on the same day. Brief scores: East Zone : 227 for nine in 50 overs ( S S Das 124, N Kulkarni 4/44). West Zone: 228 for two in 44 overs. (V Kambli 109 n.o, S Kotak 44, J Martin 37 n.o).
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Test highlights on Doordarshan NEW DELHI, Jan 28 (PTI) — National broadcaster Doordarshan will telecast highlights of the two cricket Test matches between India and Pakistan to be played at Chennai and Delhi respectively. The 60-minute highlights
will be telecast from January 28 to February 1 for the
first match and from February 4 to 8 for the second Test,
Prasar Bharati release said here today. BCCI assignment for Desh Prem
Azad CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 —
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed
Mr Desh Prem Azad, the country's first cricket
Dronacharya awardee, as match referee for the super
league Ranji Trophy match between Maharashtra and
Railways to be held in New Delhi from February 14. |
H
Athletics trials HISAR, Jan 28 (FOSR) — The Haryana State Amateur Athletic Association will conduct trials to select the Haryana team for the National Games at Hisar on January 31. The president of the association, Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, said here yesterday that nine athletes of Haryana had already qualified for the National Games. They are Shakti Singh (shot put and discus) Manoj Kumar (100 m) Rajesh (800 m) Surender (1500 m) Sanjay (10,000 m) Jai Singh (110 m hurdles) Sugan Yadav (discus) Poonam (javelin) and Phoolwati (hammer throw). Trials to select the Haryana teams for National Cross Country Races to be held at Hardwar from February 7 will be held at Hisar on January 31 at 10 a.m. according to Mr HS Bhadu secretary of the Haryana State Amateur Athletic Association. Haryana soccer meet begins CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 (TNS) — Third Haryana State Women's Football Championship began of the newly-constructed Hoshiyar Singh Stadium at Bahadurgarh, according to information reaching here. As many as 14 district teams are participating in the four-day tournament. Inaugurating the tournament, Dr G. Prassana Kumar, Commissioner, Rohtak Division, said that Haryana girls had excelled in the national and international hockey meets. He hoped that the state girls would do well in football also. Football team of Nuna Majra Government Primary School which remained winners in the state school games was honoured on the occasion. The stadium will cater to the needs of sportspersons of Bhadurgarh and the nearby areas. The stadium has the provision of two volleyball courts, one boxing ring, one football ground and a 400 m athletic track. The Haryana Sports Department had released a grant of Rs 15 lakh for the stadium. Coaches of kabbadi, athletics, wrestling, volleyball, boxing and gymnastics have been deputed to impart training to players. PFC, OIC in final CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 (TNS) — The PFC and the OIC will clash in final of the 5th Inter-Financial Institutional Cricket Tournament at Gursagar Stadium on January 31. In the first semifinal on Tuesday OIC defeated Canara Bank by 7 wickets. Scores: Canara Bank 130 all out (Charan Dass 31, Sandeep 2 for 20, Bhagrian 2 for 27) OIC 131 for 4 (Sandeep 36, Vipin 22). In the 2nd semifinal, PFC defeated PNB by 42 runs. Scores: PFC: 172 for 7 (Manoj 51, Deepak 44 Inderjit 31, Subodh 4 for 27) PNB 130 all out (Subodh 58, Deepak 3 for 24, K.K. Madan 3 for 28, Manoj 2 for 14) The final shall be played on 31.1.99 at Gursagar stadium. Punjab handball LUDHIANA (FOSR): As many as 30 teams are expected to participate in the Punjab State Senior Handball Championship for men and women at the Labhu Ram Doaba Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar, from January 30 to February 1, according to Mr S.S. Channy, president, Punjab Handball Association. Haryana wrestling HISAR (FOSR): The
26th Haryana State Senior Wrestling Championship and the
16th Haryana State Junior and Subjunior Wrestling
Championship will be held at Navdeep Memorial Stadium,
Narwana, from February 4 to 7, according to M.S. Malik,
president of the Haryana State Wrestling Association.
Over 500 grapplers will take part in this championship.
Free board and lodging facilities will be provided to all
participants and officials. |
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