NEW HAVEN : Zak Koenig receives some tips on the proper racquet position for his backhand from newly-crowned Wimbledon women's champion Lindsay Davenport at a tennis clinic in New Haven, Conn., on Tuesday — AP/PTI

Lanka may replace India or Pak
SYDNEY July 7 — Tension between India and Pakistan over the Kargil conflict is likely to force the Australian cricket board to find a substitute team for the three-nation one-day series here later this year, and Sri Lanka is the prime candidate.

Greene, Boldon back anti-doping tests
ROME, July 7 — Maurice Greene and Aio Boldon, the top sprinters on the IAAF circuit, have said their goal is to keep the sport drug-free and expressed full support for anti-doping measures.

USA in grip of soccer mania
CLAREMONT (California), July 7 — Soccer mania has hit the USA. In the midst of one of its countless bus rides during the women’s World Cup, the US team was told that Saturday’s final against China was sold out. The Rose Bowl will be filled, just as it was for the men’s championship five years ago, and this time, President Bill Clinton will attend.

Major challenge for Jayasuriya
COLOMBO, July 7 — Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been installed the new Sri Lankan cricket captain, was once known as the most devastating batsman in one-day internationals who introduced pinch-hitting and changed attitudes at the 1996 World Cup.

Mumbai XI, AI to meet in semis
CHENNAI, July 7 — Air-India, Mumbai, clash with crosstown rivals Mumbai XI while IHF seniors take on hosts Tamil Nadu in the semifinals of the 77th MCC-AMM Arunachalam All-India Hockey Tournament here on Friday.

Imran flays govt for ordering probe
KARACHI, July 7 — Former captain Imran Khan lashed out at the government for ordering an inquiry into match-fixing allegations following the Pakistani cricket team’s defeat in last month’s World Cup final.

Whatmore likely to take over by Aug 1
COLOMBO, July 7 — Dave Whatmore is expected to take over as Sri Lankan cricket team coach by August 1. The Sri Lankan-born former Australian Test cricketer shot into prominence after Sri Lankan cricket team coached by him lifted the 1996 World Cup. However, shortly afterwards he was forced to quit.

Cup think-tank was ‘unsure’ of format
MUMBAI, July 7 — All- rounder Robin Singh has said the Indian World Cup team management was unsure about the method by which points were to be carried from the first phase into the super six stage till the end of their first league match.

Robin Singh backs Kapil, Tendulkar
MUMBAI, July 7 — Indian all-rounder Robin Singh has supported the stand taken by Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar to snap cricketing ties with Pakistan over the Kargil stand-off.

Brazil beat Chile to top table

CIUDAD DEL ESTE (Paraguay), July 7 (Reuters) —Brazil beat Chile 1-0 in the Copa America, the South American Football, Confederation deciding the score would stand after fog suspended play in the 85th minute.

Match observer Alvaro Castro told journalists a 1-0 win had been awarded to Brazil in the group B match, meaning the defending champions finished top of the group with nine points, followed by Mexico on six and Chile on three.

A dense fog suddenly descended on the pitch with around 10 minutes left, causing visibility to drop from clear to nearly zero in the space of five minutes. The referee waited around five minutes before suspending play.

The decision suited everyone as both teams had already qualified for the quarterfinals and the unlikely event of Chile turning the game around would only have altered the order of finishing in the group. This would not have been matched by the inconvenience of turning out today in a competition which has a tight schedule.

Ironically, the problem would not have happened if the match, which began 10 minutes late, had started on time.

Before the fog descended, Brazil’s Ronaldo had converted a penalty to give his team the lead following a foul by Miguel Ramirez on Ze Roberto.

At the other end, Chile kept up the competition’s amazing record of missed penalties. Pedro Gonzalez was the culprit, when his weak shot was saved by Dida in the 75th minute.

Brazil dominated the match and Ronaldo was denied from adding further goals by some superb goalkeeping from Chile goalkeeper Marcelo Ramirez.

AP adds: In the 36th minute, Ronaldo calmly jogged up and struck the penalty shot — a low, driving ball that sailed under the sprawled legs of Chilean goalkeeper Marcelo Ramirez.

Brazil’s 22-year-old star was inexhaustible in Brazil’s final first-round match, constantly attacking the goal only to be denied by bad aim or Ramirez.

In the first half, Ronaldo dashed between two players and danced around a third before his shot landed in the goal’s side netting. Minutes later, Ronaldo charged forward again this time on a one-on-one, only to be tripped up.

Chile had chances of its own. Pedro Gonzalez lined up for a penalty kick in the 74th minute but his straight-on shot was easily denied by Brazil’s goalkeeper Dida. Forward Ivan Zamorano also had several good looks early in the match.

Wimbledon may move back

LONDON, July 7 (AP) — Wimbledon may move back one week and be staged during the first two weeks of July to avoid rainy weather and lengthen the grasscourt season.

Although a change cannot be made in the next two years because of scheduling conflicts, it could happen by 2002, the Guardian newspaper reported yesterday.

The paper quoted Chris Gorringe, chief executive of All-England Club, as saying the move would allow a bigger gap between French Open and Wimbledon, which are only two weeks apart.

The players have to make a big change from playing on clay to playing on grass courts. Some players have bypassed Wimbledon because they can’t adapt to the change.

“Grass is our lifeblood,” the Guardian quoted Gorringe as saying. “With an extra week on grass courts, players would find it worthwhile to spend more time and effort playing and practising on it, enhancing its popularity.”

Until the early 1970s, three of the four Grand Slam events were played on grass but the US Open changed to clay in 1974 and then hardcourts in 1978 and the Australian Open moved to hardcourts in 1988.

Wimbledon has stoically remained faithful to grass despite the problems caused by the rain.

Moving Wimbledon back a week would take advantage of drier weather in first half of July.

Lanka may replace India or Pak

SYDNEY July 7 (AFP) — Tension between India and Pakistan over the Kargil conflict is likely to force the Australian cricket board to find a substitute team for the three-nation one-day series here later this year, and Sri Lanka is the prime candidate.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to play three Tests each against Australia this summer and then compete in the one-day clashes.

But with the fighting in Kargil intensifying, the season has been thrown into chaos with political pressure dictating that the two countries may not be allowed to play each other.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has been forced to draw up contingency plans.

“We’re reviewing it on a daily basis and we’re seeking advice from Foreign Affairs,” said ACB chief executive Mal Speed today.

“But, given the situation we are looking at other options.”

With an increasingly cluttered international calendar, reports said Sri Lanka looked like the only available country.

But it would mean Australia playing Sri Lanka three times in a year.

They were in Australia last summer and the Aussies leave for a tour of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe next month.

Another possibility would be to revive the contentious Australia ‘a’ concept to make up the third team.

“The other option is not to have a triangular series but instead go head to head against India or Pakistan,” Speed said.

Reuters: Political pressure from India and Pakistan has already forced the cancellation of the annual one-day tournament between the two countries held in Canada each September.

Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar said in New Delhi on Friday that while the two countries were fighting “it’s very hard to go out there and play on a cricket field”.

His remarks came after former Indian captain Kapil Dev demanded that India should not play Pakistan even on neutral territory.

At least two former Pakistani captains have also called for an end to cricketing relations between the two countries.

Intikhab Alam and Javed Miandad both said that India should have the courage to pull out of the tri-nation one-day series in Australia early next year.

“But they can’t dare do that. The Australia Cricket Board will hold them by the scruff of their necks,” Javed said.

Greene, Boldon back anti-doping tests

ROME, July 7 (AP) —Maurice Greene and Aio Boldon, the top sprinters on the IAAF circuit, have said their goal is to keep the sport drug-free and expressed full support for anti-doping measures.

“We love drug tests,” said Greene, the world record holder in 100 m.

Greene and Boldon expressed their strong stand against doping during a press conference arranged by Italian organisers of tomorrow’s golden gala track meet at Rome’s Olympic stadium.

Goldon, who upset Greene in the 100 m in the athletissima meet in Lausanne, will be running his favourite distance — the 200 m — in Rome, Greene will run the 100 m.

Boldon, of Trinidad and Tobago, will be confronting world champion Michael Johnson, who runs the 200 m for the first time in six weeks.

Johnson, who missed the US trials because of injury, comes from a season best of 43.92 in the 400 m at Athletissima.

Johnson said Boldon was the favourite in the 200 m in Rome “as he has run faster this year”.

Johnson added he was focusing on the 400 m this season and that his goal was to set a world record for the distance.

Sprints were unlikely to produce world marks at the golden gala as the Rome track is regarded as “slow”. However, Johson soberly said it’s not the track but the runner that makes the times.

A cricket legend passes into history

HYDERABAD, July 7 (PTI) — Former Test cricketer and national selector M.L. Jaisimha died here today due to throat cancer. He was 60.

Jai, as he was affectionately called, was unconscious and appeared to be drifting away a few minutes before the end, his son and former Ranji player Vivek Jaisimha said.

A large number of cricket fans and Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) office bearers thronged the Sainik Puri residence, where the former Test star breathed his last at around 2 p.m.

Jaisimha, the flamboyant batsman of yesteryear, was recently granted a sum of Rs 25,000 by the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) from its benevolent fund while he was in hospital for a radiation treatment.

Jaisimha had led Hyderabad and South Zone with the then national captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi playing under him. He was also the Vice-President of the HCA and the Hyderabad Ranji coach last season.

Jaisimha is survived by his wife and two sons, Vivek and Vidyut, both of whom played first class cricket.

Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar called on his childhood idol, M.L. Jaisimha at his Sainik Puri residence just hours before the Hyderabadi all-rounder breathed his last.

“Gavaskar came here in the morning and he (Jai) was barely able to recognise or talk to him,” family sources said.

“He was here for some time and left and Jai breathed his last,”they said.

Jaisimha was one of the three batsmen whom Gavaskar revered, the other two being Rohan Kanhai of the West Indies and G.R. Vishwanath.

Motganhalli Lakshminarasu Jaisimha, belonged to an era when cricketers played purely for the fun of the game with little thought of monetary compensation.

Jaisimha was a stylist par excellence who played both as an opener and middle-order batsman for India and delighted millions of cricket followers with his grace and timing during a Test career spanning 12 years (1959-71).

The Secunderabad-born Jai played in 39 Tests, making his debut against England at Lord’s in 1959, and aggregated 2056 runs at an average of 30.68.

He scored three centuries and 12 half tons in his 12-year-long career with a knock of 129 against England in the 1963-64 home series being his best effort.

Jai’s other two tons were made against England (127 in 1961-62) and Australia (101 in 1967-68 when he flew in as a late replacement for the injured Bhagwat Chandrasekhar).

He also took nine Test wickets with his gentle medium-pacers by giving away 829 runs with 2 for 54 at Kanpur against England in 1963-64 as his best effort.

Jai’s superb knocks of 101 and 74 in the third Test at Brisbane in 1967-68 soon after landing in Kangaroo land elicited comparisons with England’s great stylist Tom Graveney.

Jai was a splendid strokeplayer and a childhood idol of Sunil Gavaskar, whose first Test tour, the victorious 1971 trip to the West Indies under Ajit Wadekar, was ironically Jai’s last.

In the Calcutta Test of 1959-60 series against Australia, Jaisimha was at the crease at least for some time on each of the five days which was a unique record. Opening the innings he remained not out on two on the first day, 20 not out on the second, zero not out (after follow on was enforced) on the third day, 59 not out on fourth day and went on to score 74 before getting out on the fifth day.

Jai also played an innings of 99 against Pakistan lasting 500 minutes in the 1960-61 Calcutta Test which was totally out of character.

He was a superb player of spin with nimble footwork and unravelled the mysteries of the unorthodox Johnny Gleeson on the 1967-68 tour to Australia for the benefit of the entire team and the spinner was not the same force thereafter.

He toured England, Australia, the West Indies (twice), and New Zealand with the Indian teams and also played against Pakistan at home. He played in 13 Test series overall.

Jai was also a shrewd captain, an inspirational leader and a superb reader of the game.

He was easily the best captain never to lead India.

He captained Hyderabad for 14 seasons (1963-64 to 1976-77) and South Zone in Duleep Trophy for seven seasons sharing the trophy once with West Zone and winning the title outright on three other occasions.

The BCCI President, Mr Raj Singh Dungarpur, said a great Indian sportsman had passed away. “Apart from his grand style of play he was in outstanding thinker and it is a pity he never captained India,” Mr Dungarpur, who had played against him at first class level, said.

Jaisimha amazed everybody with two sterling knocks against the likes of Graham McKenzie and Neil Hawke in the Test few hours after landing in Australia, Wadekar recalled. “I shall always remember him for his jovial nature”, Ajit Wadekar said.

Gulabrai Ramchand said Jaisimha first played under him against Richie Benaud’s Australians. “He was sent at a lower order but he impressed me so much that I sent him as an opener in the second innings,” Ramchand remembered.

Former India captain Kapil Dev and opener Abbas Ali Baig today said M.L. Jaisimha had left an indelible mark on Indian cricket with his stylish batting and gentlemanly behaviour both on and off the field.

Another former India captain and opening batsman Krishnamachari Srikkanth today expressed shock at the death of M.L. Jaisimha.

USA in grip of soccer mania

CLAREMONT (California), July 7 (AP) — Soccer mania has hit the USA.

In the midst of one of its countless bus rides during the women’s World Cup, the US team was told that Saturday’s final against China was sold out. The Rose Bowl will be filled, just as it was for the men’s championship five years ago, and this time, President Bill Clinton will attend.

“We all kind of jumped out of our seats and were pumping our fists and yelling and cheering,” Brandi Chastain said yesterday.

“What a great tribute,” Cindy Parlow added. “I think the fans appreciate how much we appreciate their coming to the games and coming out to see us.”

The women’s World Cup has become a phenomenon in this country. Sure, soccer isn’t a high-visibility sport in the USA and the major league soccer is struggling to draw fans and television ratings.

But the American women have captured the imagination of the nation with their forthrightness, friendliness and accessibility.

“It’s something we want to do,” Tiffeny Milbrett said. “We’ll stay and sign autographs and we’ll talk to the fans because we want to do it, not because someone tells us we should, it’s important to them and it’s important to us.”

Mr Clinton, who attended the quarterfinal victory over Germany in Landover, Maryland, decided to extend his seven-state trip across the country through the weekend so he can attend the final.

In 1994, Mr Clinton went to the World Cup opener in Chicago, and the Vice-President, Mr Gore, went to the final.

“We’ve been excited by the tournament and overwhelmed by the response,” Chastain said. “I knew there was a special package we had to offer and now we are getting a chance to present it.”

What makes it extra special is that the women are doing it on their own. While they were one of the more popular teams at the 1996 Olympics, they shared the spotlight with the US basketball, softball and gymnastics teams that won gold medals. This time, the Americans and Chinese and Brazilians are selling soccer — and selling out major league stadiums.

“This event has done better than anyone could have expected.” Milbrett said. “I’m shocked at how massive it has been. We knew it would be huge and we felt it would be OK if we have maybe 40,000 fans at the games. But we never thought of anything like sellouts at every game.”

Major challenge for Jayasuriya

COLOMBO, July 7 (PTI) — Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been installed the new Sri Lankan cricket captain, was once known as the most devastating batsman in one-day internationals who introduced pinch-hitting and changed attitudes at the 1996 World Cup. Playing with an injured forearm, Jayasuriya, however, failed to impress at the recent World Cup from which Sri Lanka made an inglorious exit that cost skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda de Silva their jobs.

The adventurous batsman however takes charge with the team morale at its lowest ebb after the World Cup debacle, with the team as well as the board riven with divisions.

The 29-year-old Jayasuriya holds the fourth highest Test score of 340 made against India at the Premadasa Stadium here in August 1997 and a year later scored another stunning 213 to enable Sri Lanka beat England at The Oval.

Mumbai XI, AI to meet in semis

CHENNAI, July 7 (PTI) — Air-India, Mumbai, clash with crosstown rivals Mumbai XI while IHF seniors take on hosts Tamil Nadu in the semifinals of the 77th MCC-AMM Arunachalam All-India Hockey Tournament here on Friday.

Mumbai XI made it to the last four stage today with a confident 5-1 win over IHF juniors in the last league tie.

With the league engagements coming to an end, IHF topped group A with nine points followed by Air India. Mumbai XI led group B with seven points with Tamil Nadu placed second with six.

Karnataka, needing to beat Hyderabad by an eight-goal margin to spoil Air-India's chances of reaching the semis, almost pulled it off but their courageous effort fell short by one goal as they could manage only a 7-0 win.

Samson Fernandez (two), Arjun Hallapa, Feroz Khan, P.T. Aiyappa, Laxman Rao and Sunil Benjamin scored for Karnataka.

In the Mumbai-IHF (jr) match, the former worked as a well-knit team and their well spread out attack made full use of the wings after being down by a Prabhjot Singh goal.

Both Sabu Varkey and Ravi Nayakar coordinated well and Shanta Kumar was in fine nick today. Shanta Kumar made it 1-1 and Ajay Saroha scored off a penalty corner to make 2-1.

Cricketers, film stars for benefit match
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, July 7 — Almost the entire Indian cricket team and top Bollywood film stars would clash in the “Kargil benefit” football match on Sunday in the capital to raise funds for the families of soldiers, who have died or were wounded in the Kargil operations.The proceeds of the match, being organised by the Sahara India Pariwar, would be donated to the Army Central Welfare Fund.

The organisers were optimistic that they would be able to raise at least Rs one crore from the benefit match to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on July 11.

Former Indian captain and director of Sahara India, Kapil Dev said the “stalwarts of the two national passions -cricket and Hindi films - would come together to provide a common platform for the people from all walks of life to express support to our brave soldiers, who are truly giving their today for our tomorrow.”

Sachin Tendulkar, Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Robin Singh, Nayan Mongia, Ajit Agarkar, Debashish Mohanty, Venkatesh Prasad, S Ramesh, Amay Khurasia, Harbajan Singh and Vinod Kambli will be part of the team of cricketers.

While Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, Nana Patekar, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Mithun Chakraborthy, Gulshan Grover, Saif Ali Khan, Arshad Warsi, Manoj Bajpai, Mukesh Rishi, Mukul Dev, Dino Morea and Rahul Dev will be in the lineup of the film stars.

Kapil Dev, who called for snapping all sporting ties with Pakistan after he and current Indian vice-captain Ajay Jadeja recently visited injured jawans in Srinagar, said “people are giving their lives for the country. We know whatever funds we raise will not bring them back to life”. “But it is only to convey the solidarity of sportsmen and film stars who have entertained people for many years, and that of the people and give back something to the jawans who are sacrificing their lives,” he said.

Kapil Dev said he was for calling off all sporting ties with Pakistan till their aggression in the Kargil region stopped. “When there is war, all ties should break. We shouldn’t have something, when it’s going on,” he said answering a question.

Asked whether there was any difference in his (Kapil’s) present stand and that of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray (who demanded in January that Pakistan cricket team’s tour should be cancelled), Kapil Dev said “we’re not politicians. It was his opinion then. It is my opinion now”.

Ajay Jadeja, who with Kapil Dev is taking the initiative for the match, said “they (soldiers) look at us as heroes. But we’re not a patch on them. We don’t even realise what they are doing for us and this match is only to show our solidarity.”

“The spirit of the jawans was incredible despite the fact that the enemy was at an advantage occupying the heights. Someone had to get up there and remove them, nobody knew how many lives will have to be sacrificed, but they all wanted to be the first to die,” he said. Kapil Dev said:, “Sahara India - which had earlier pulled out of sponsoring the annual Indo-Pak series in Toronto -will organise the match and entry will be through donor passes and tickets that will be available in all Archie galleries in the capital.”

Matinee idols Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Raj Babbar, Jeetendra and actresses Shabana Azmi, Preiti Zinta and Raveena Tandon will be among those present as special guests.

Kapil Dev said Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin will not be present as he was recovering in London after shoulder surgery.

The organisers have planned a performance by noted artistes Remo, Shankar Mahadevan, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Sapna Mukherjee during half-time while Shekhar Suman and Durga Jasraj will be the comperes of the programme.

The match, to kick-off at 6.30 p.m., will be telecast live by Doordarshan.

Imran flays govt for ordering probe

KARACHI, July 7 (AFP) — Former captain Imran Khan lashed out at the government for ordering an inquiry into match-fixing allegations following the Pakistani cricket team’s defeat in last month’s World Cup final.

“They try to find scapegoats and nothing else,” said Imran, who retired after leading Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup triumph and later entered politics, launching his own movement for justice (Tehrik-e-Insaf) political party.

The government last week asked the anti-corruption accountability bureau to conduct the probe after allegations the final against Australia was rigged.

Defending the national team, Imran told AFP yesterday it was “the mere pressure of the final that the team succumbed to and nothing else.”

The defeat of the side led by Wasim Akram sparked an outcry and allegations of match fixing.

“Every loss here is linked with drinking, gambling and match fixing. It is ridiculous,” Imran said. He hit out at the Pakistan cricket authorities for not resolving match-fixing allegations when they first began to surface.

“The matter should have been solved four years ago. But the cricket board delayed all this to save their offices.”

The Pakistan cricket board initiated an inquiry last year after captain Wasim Akram, Salim Malik and Ejaz Ahmed were implicated in an interim report by the board.

In September a judicial commission under Lahore High Court Judge Malik Mohammad Qayyam started investigating the matter. It has so far recorded statements of dozens of players and others including alleged bookies.

The commission resumes its hearing on Thursday and is expected to finalise its finding this month.

“I can’t understand why the commission delayed the report until after the World Cup.” There is no link between justice and the World Cup,” Imran said.

He said he believed the delay was also a factor increasing pressure on the players during the World Cup.

“It was hanging like a sword over the players heads. Boys shiver that if they lose, they have to face allegations,” he said.

Whatmore likely to take over by Aug 1

COLOMBO, July 7 (UNI) — Dave Whatmore is expected to take over as Sri Lankan cricket team coach by August 1.

The Sri Lankan-born former Australian Test cricketer shot into prominence after Sri Lankan cricket team coached by him lifted the 1996 World Cup. However, shortly afterwards he was forced to quit.

Whatmore was asked by the interim committee of Sri Lankan cricket board to take over as coach of the national team following its disastrous showing in the recent World Cup in England.

Whatmore was relieved by English county Lancashire after its executive meeting, held yesterday, board officials said.

He is expected here to take over his three-year assignment by this month-end before Sri Lanka’s home Test series against Australia.

Cup think-tank was ‘unsure’ of format

MUMBAI, July 7 (PTI) — All- rounder Robin Singh has said the Indian World Cup team management was unsure about the method by which points were to be carried from the first phase into the super six stage till the end of their first league match.

The revelation by Robin Singh, who was here on his way to Chennai after visiting his ailing father at his birthplace, Trinidad, highlighted the team management’s lack of preparation for the mega event.

The team management, he was referring to, consisted of captain Mohammad Azharuddin, vice-captain Ajay Jadeja, coach Anshuman Gaekwad and manager Brijesh Patel. The squad had in fact reached England as early as April 24 for acclimatisation.

Robin Singh backs Kapil, Tendulkar

MUMBAI, July 7 (PTI) — Indian all-rounder Robin Singh has supported the stand taken by Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar to snap cricketing ties with Pakistan over the Kargil stand-off.

“It was very difficult to play cricket under so much tension during the World Cup in England. Anyone could have been injured after the match between the two teams because of crowd invasion,” Singh told reporters here last night.

Kapil Dev had made a call for halting all sporting ties with Pakistan because of the Kargil conflict and his stand gained support from Tendulkar too.

Subsequently, the sponsors of the India-Pakistan series in Toronto, Sahara India Parivar, pulled out of the event.

Randev XI win

AMRITSAR, July 7 (FOSR) — A fine knock of 129 by left handed allrounder Tajinder Pal helped Randev XI to beat Amritsar Trust by 151 runs in the Amritsar District Cricket League Championship at Gandhi ground today.

Randev XI won the toss and elected to bat.

Tajinder Pal and Manbeer Singh opened the innings and were involved in a record partnership of 180 runs for the first wicket.

Randev XI scored 251 for 5.

Tajinder Pal (129) Manbeer (46) Ritesh Mehra (39) were the scorers.

Bowling: Chetan took 3 for 42 Rajesh 2 for 39. Amritsar Trust were all out for 101 runs. Sarandeep took 6 for 19 while Harish took 1 for 23.

In the evening Khalsa College beat Bhanoi XI by 52 runs.

Khalsa College won the toss and elected to bat. Khalsa College in 30 overs score 158 runs. S.P. Singh who scored a century in the first match, scored a fine half century (55) and helped Khalsa College to pile up 158.

S.P. Singh (55) Munish Sharma (20) Jang Bahadur (23) were the scorers. Bowling: Aswani for 3 for 32 Raja 3 for 25. Bhanot XI: 106 all out. Rajan Gill took 3 wickets for 30 runs.

SDP CC triumph

LUDHIANA, July 7 (FOSR) — SDP Coaching Centre defeated Sargodha National Public School by five wickets in the fourth Chamanlal Malhotra Cricket Cup Tournament (U-16) being organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) at S.D. Government College ground here today.

Requiring 140 runs for victory, SDP Coaching Centre made 143 after losing five wickets with two overs to spare.

Brief scores:

Sargodha National Public School: 139 all out in 30 overs (Gangandeep Singh 43, Ravi 28, Charanpreet Singh 20, Roobal 13; Ashu 2 for 21).

SDP Coaching Centre: 143 for 5 in 27.5 overs (Jimmy Shanker 53 n.o., Rattan 41; Rajan Singh 3 for 13, Roobal 1 for 23, Bhupinder Singh 1 for 17).

TT tourneys

JALANDHAR, July 7 (FOSR) — Jalandhar District Table Tennis Association is organising North Zone and Punjab ranking table tennis tournament at Corporation table tennis hall inside Hans Raj Stadium here from July 10 to 12.

Nearly 250 players from all parts of Punjab and institutions like PSEB and the State bank of Patiala are likely to participate in the Punjab ranking tournament. For the North Zone invitation teams from all Northern states have been invited.

Besides the prizes, the organisers will provide free board and lodging to players.

Meeting put off

LUDHIANA, July 7 (FOSR) — The executive committee meeting of the Punjab Volleyball Association scheduled to be held at Jalandhar on July 10 has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances, according to Mr Raj Kumar, Secretary-General, Punjab Volleyball Association. The meeting will now be conducted at PAP Jalandhar on July 17 at 12.30 pm.