Sunday, June 20, 1999
today's calendar
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S P O R T | Sunday, June 20, 1999 |
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Spotlight
on Akhtar, Warne
South
Africa in mourning |
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Marsh
on threshold of history Chandigarh
go down to Orissa |
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Confident Pak face determined Aussies THE LORD'S, June 19 (PTI) — A versatile Pakistan take on a never-say-die Australia in a titanic World Cup final battle between two former champions that is expected to go all the way down to the wire at the Mecca of cricket tomorrow. Pakistan, sky-high on confidence and backed by a menacing bowling attack, will hope their fast improving batting form and resolve under pressure will be more than a match for their opponents, who have scripted two grand escape acts to land in the summit clash. The last World Cup of the millennium will see the winners equal the West Indies record of a second trophy triumph, but no quarters will be sought or conceded in what is predicted as a war of nerves between teams led by men of contrasting personalities aiming for a personal double as well. Inspirational Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram and his Australian counterpart Steve Waugh chase personal dreams as they were key young members of their teams that won the Cup in 1992 and 1987 respectively. Akram will be aiming to emulate his mentor Imran Khan’s feat while Steve Waugh, who has typified Australia’s fighting spirit with stirring personal deeds thus far, will be hoping that Australia’s two epic contests against fallen heroes South Africa do not carry over. The final is expected to be a tussle between Pakistan’s formidable attack spearheaded by young speedster Shoaib Akhtar and the all-round strength of the Australians. Pakistan have shown ominous form in reaching their second World Cup final, brushing aside Zimbabwe in their last and crucial Super Six tie and then simply blowing away New Zealand by nine wickets in a lopsided semifinal. Australia return to the scene of their final in 1975 — when they lost a close battle with the Caribbeans — with tremendous self-belief after two dramatic tussles against their arch-rivals South Africa. With defeat and elimination staring in their face, Steve Waugh revealed his leadership and character in making a classy 120 not out in the thrilling five-wicket win in the super six and again batted and led with aplomb as the Australians ousted the Proteas after a dramatic tie in the semifinal at Edgbaston. There will be little to choose between the teams after Pakistan’s 10-run victory over Australia in their group clash. But Pakistan will once again bank on their tremendous depth in bowling. Led by 23-year-old "Rawalpindi Express" Shoaib Akhtar, who has captured 16 wickets in nine matches so far and Akram, the cutting edge is expected to be provided by wily off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. Bowling could emerge the key as weather has turned drier in the final stages of the competition with the run-of-the-mill bowlers, who looked menacing under friendly conditions early on, finding the going tough. Pakistan’s batting has also improved with the weather. Key opener Saeed Anwar has touched great form, cracking back to back centuries against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, and with the orthodox Wajahatullah Wasti also in good nick, gives the solidity at the top. The seasoned Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul Haq have not been as consistent, but the side filled with all-rounders like Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mehmood and the captain himself, not to speak of Moin Khan, has the potential to take on Australia’s attack led by lanky paceman Glen McGrath. Australia, who recovered superbly from early reverses, have shown the grit associated with teams from down under. The stylish Mark Waugh, who failed twice against South Africa, will be determined to take the challenge of handling the Pakistan paceman. The 34-year-old, who has emerged the highest century maker in World Cup history after cracking the fourth against Zimbabwe, will have to come up with a big knock if his team has to set a good target or pull off a tough chase. Steve Waugh, a key member of Allan Border’s Cup-winning side in 1987, is in roaring form after amassing 398 runs to be behind India’s Rahul Dravid (461) as the highest run-getter in the tournament. Blonde leg spinner Shane Warne, whose stupendous bowling enabled the Australians to bounce back in the semifinal, may not be similar threat to the Pakistan batsmen, but Australia will definitely have the edge in their superior fielding. Both teams are expected to retain the same 11 that won the semifinal and will be keen to win the toss and bat first to avoid the pangs of chasing. There will be a lot of grudge involved in the clash between two teams that have had poor relations on and off the field for the last few years. Allegations by Mark Waugh and Shane Warne that former Pakistan skipper Salim Malik, a member of the team here, offered them bribes to lose a test in 1994 were not proved, but the bitterness has remained. A judicial probe into betting and match-fixing charges continue to cast a shadow despite Pakistan’s fine victories to reach the summit clash. Australia hold a slender edge over Pakistan in head to head one-dayers, but Pakistan hold a3-2 record in World Cups. The last time the two met in the World Cup,prior to this edition Pakistan beat Australia by 48 runs at Perth on their way to the title in 1992. An interesting statistic from their World Cup clashes is that the team batting first has always won. Akram has revived the spirit of 1992 to encourage his players for the big day. "When we won the World Cup in 1992, you cannot imagine the feeling and reception we got back at home," he said. Steve Waugh, on the other hand, feels that the two emotionally draining contests with South Africa has prepared his team for the final. "We are well prepared for a tough game. They are a tough side to play against, so we know what we are going to get," he said. Teams (likely): Pakistan: Wasim Akram (capt), Saeed Anwar, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ijaz Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq, Inzamam-ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan, Azhar Mehmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar. Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Tom Moody, Shane Warne, Paul Reiffel, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath. Umpires: David Shepherd
(England) and Steve Bucknor (West Indies). Third umpire:
S. Venkatraghavan (India). |
Intense battle of nerves on the
cards LONDON, June 19 — The grand finale at Lords may not match the cocktail of skill and drams, error and failure and twists and turns of the greatest one-day game of all time that the Edbagston semifinal will come to be known as. The final tomorrow will not produce a tie if only because the odds are astronomical. A winner will be feted on the Lord’s balcony on Sabbath. There will be more heart-breaking tales before this cricket World Cup ends. But one more tied match and weak hearts might simply give way. "I reckon there is something in our blood that gives us that hunger and desire to come through as winners", were Shane Warne’s famous lines before the semifinal. Not for nothing is he the World Cup’s leading soothsayer. And he had to produce a near magical feat with the ball to let Australia enact cricket’s great escape on Thursday. "I have always believed in destiny and I reckon now that we are destined to win the World Cup", Warne writes in his latest column. Going by the track record of his predictions in this competition, it would be hard dispute the claim. The bookies do not share all of Warne’s optimism. They have installed Australia as the marginal favourites at a high of 10 to 11 (99 paise return to the rupee staked) while Pakistan are at best evens (rupee for rupee). There is just one per cent between them. Steve Waugh declares that the Aussies like playing at Lord’s and that a total of 260 collected under cloudy skies would be enough to expose Pakistan’s batting weaknesses. Wasim Akram asserts that his team is running at full throttle now and that neither Steve Waugh nor Shane Warne are the biggest threats to his team in the final. Nor is the weather likely to be a threat, the forecast being a fine and sunny Sunday with a top of 19 Celsius. "I only ask that all of them go flat out, from the fast bowlers to the batsmen", says Akram who has less claims to prescience and more to a capacity to lift men and inspire them to success. Akram tried to score a point or two in the psychological battle waged at captains’ Press conferences on the eve of the final. "The Aussies are mentally and physically tired. It doesn’t bother us they’ve won six matches in a row because they have to have a bad day. And if they’re confident, we’re more confident", Akram said. Steve Waugh laughed it off saying he should know better in what shape his boys are. Also, he reckons the Indian batsmen are the best players of spin and of Warne and the Sri Lankans are the next best and that the Pakistanis will have problems handling Warne. Wasim is the leader with the Midas touch who has transformed his team from the confused men of 1998 to world beaters in ’99. He runs the team more with his heart because he has such emotional men under his command. The Pakistanis bring a passion to the game that is often confused with fervour. They were the cornered tigers who fought back in ’92 under Imran Khan and here they are in ’99 for another shot at the title. Ranged against them are the professionals with a clinical precision to them. The Aussies also bring a rare spirit to the game in which they battle to the very last ball as if their very life depends on it. A part of their luck can be attributed to their being so good. Like the golfer Gary Player said, "the more I try, the more lucky I get". Their trying to the very last ball is a major reason why Australia have recovered so miraculously on so many occasions in Test cricket as well as in one-day internationals. A major battle of Cup nerves is more easily predicted. It will be flair versus determination as the Pakistanis, blessed with a talent that is all too rare in so many of any playing XI, take on the Australians who are the sport’s biggest battlers who just never throw in the towel. Nothing exemplifies the flair versus determination theme than the battle of Shoaib Akhtar versus Glenn McGrath. The World Cup’s fastest bowler is told just to be himself and go and bowl flat out. McGrath has had to dig deep to find the discipline that has made him a major force after a tardy start in which he was not bowling the new ball in the competition. The history of World Cups suggest that Cup nerves get to the chasers more than the batters (those who bat first). Five of six World Cups have been won by the team batting first. It is a little known fact of World Cup history that Ian Chappel, Mike Brearly and Clive Lloyd put the opposition in at the finals in 1975, 1979 and 1983 and the world well knows the results. The only World Cup won by a chaser was that of the 1996 edition when Arjuna Ranatunga’s men put Australia in and were in such good batting form that they chased 241 and won with nearly four overs to spare. So any captain who believes the toss will not be significant would be wrong. Lord’s is a difficult venue so far as predicting pitch behaviour goes. The surface is generally fine and full or runs. On a warm hot day, there will be a high scoring game. But if there is cloud cover, the ball starts swinging and darting and the totals will be much lower. Going by the evidence of the Australia-Zimbabwe match on a bright day in early June, the final will be a cracker of a match. There is also under current between the teams that flows on from the accusation that certain Aussie cricketers levelled against the Pakistanis. Only much later did the world come to know that the accusing finger had actually been the one to have accepted tainted money first. If the Pakistanis win,
they can have their revenge over a perceived imperialist
attitude of Australian cricket. Let it be said that
sparks are set to fly. — UNI |
Pak best prepared team: Akram LONDON, June 19 (UNI) — Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram yesterday said that his team will exploit the absence of the fifth bowler in the Australian side and exuded confidence that "we will be able to overpower the exhausted side." "We are a step away from the final and I think June 20 is beckoning us to be the world champion again." Australian skipper Steve Waugh when told about Akram’s discretion of his side as a "exhausted" squad shot back, "You want me to laugh or what," and then said, "We are a professional side, we have been playing cricket for the last six months, we have gone through many a tough situation and have come out with flying colours." He said "I don’t think we are short of a fifth bowler, any way we will come to know in the evening of June 20 who is short of bowlers." Akram, whose press conference preceded Steve Waugh’s displayed "Great confidence" saying, "We are a much better side compared to the one which won the 1992 title." When asked about Thursday’s match, Akram said, "Australia won in a great finish, but it will have no effect on us, we are not overawed by the finish. Australia is a good side, but we are better." But it was obvious that in the war of words, Steve Waugh had got better of his Pakistani counterpart. Akram said "We have beaten Australia earlier and hopefully we will beat them again, I think we are a best prepared team in this competition." In his view, Australia would be under tremendous pressure and may find it tough to handle that because of the "two great escapes they had." Asked about Shane Warne’s bowling against South Africa, Akram said: "Shane is great bowler, the Press did him wrong by writing him off. He can be a match winner on any given day" but added, "We have good players to play spin." Akram said his team’s motto was to enjoy the game and "we will bring carnival to the game, we are used to play before a noisy crowd." About Yousuf Youhanna’s fitness, he said "We will take a final decision after the doctor’s report comes". He said it has not yet been decided to include spinner Mushtaq Ahmed in the match "We have enough time to decide about the team." Shoaib Akhtar, who was also present at the Press conference, said he would try to break the 100 mph barrier but added: "The most important thing for me is to get wickets even if I bowl 80 or 90 mph." Steve Waugh was more down to earth, he dismissed Pakistan skipper’s remarks and said: "We are focusing on the game." Asked how much his team was drained out after two "great escapes," he replied "I never thought in those terms, if they were great escapes, then we also played two great games." He said: "Last week has been very good for us and I hope we will finish with a win." He remembered fondly the final Australia won at Calcutta in 1987 saying: "Playing before hundred thousand people at Eden Gardens was great and with 90,000 people supporting us, it was out of the world feeling, it was a great experience for us." Steve Waugh’s concern appeared to be the reverse swing which the Pakistan bowlers are known to exploit in the last 10 to 15 overs. "We are not bothered by the pace of Shoaib Akhtar, which we all can tackle well but it is the reverse swing which we have to guard against. We have worked out some plans, let us see how things take shape," he said. Waugh said he was hopeful that if "we bat first at Lords, which is known to be a very good batting strip, we can put up a good total to put Pakistan under pressure. They (Pakistan), like most of the teams, are a little tentative in chasing and come under pressure." Earlier, Akram disclosed that his in-form batsman Saeed Anwar was down with viral fever but hoped that the opener would be fit for the final. "Saeed is one of
the best if not the best batsman in the world, he can
play all shots. He is just amazing." |
Pak vs Australia form guide LONDON, June 19 (AFP) — Australia vs Pakistan World Cup final form guide: Australia: coach — Geoff Marsh, captain — Steve Waugh. Pakistan: coach — Mushtaq Mohammad, captain — Wasim Akram. 1999 World Cup results to date: Australia: beat Scotland by six wickets, lost to Pakistan by 10 runs, lost to New Zealand by five wickets, beat Bangladesh by seven wickets, beat the West Indies by six wickets. Super Six — beat India by 77 runs, beat Zimbabwe by 44 runs, beat South Africa by five wickets. Semifinal tied with South Africa. Pakistan: beat New Zealand by 62 runs, beat Australia by 10 runs, beat the west Indies by 27 runs, beat Scotland by 94 runs, lost to Bangladesh by 62 runs. Super Six — lost to South Africa by three wickets, lost to India by 47 runs, beat Zimbabwe by 148 runs. Semifinal beat New Zealand by nine wickets. Recent head-to-heads: Australia had a remarkable tour to Pakistan last year, when they won the three-Test series 1-0, then clean-swept the one-dayers 3-0. The third fixture saw them win after scoring a world record second-innings of 316 for four, with Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting both scoring centuries. World Cup: They have met five times, with Pakistan having won three matches and Australia two. In 1987, Australia won and went on to take the title, beating England in the final. In 1992. Pakistan won — and went on to take the title, also beating England. In the current tournament, Pakistan beat Australia in the first round by 10 runs. Venue: Lord's regarded
as the home of English cricket and dominated by a weather
vane depicting old father time. The home of MCC, the
International Cricket Council (ICC) and English county
side Middlesex. The site was established in 1814. The
ground slopes from one edge to the other by seven feet.
Capacity 30,000. |
Akram, Waugh chase personal dreams NEW DELHI, June 19 (PTI) — Their place among the greats of the game is secure, but Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram and his Australian counterpart Steve Waugh will both chase personal dreams when they lead their teams out in the cricket World Cup final tomorrow. As personalities go, there is hardly anything similar between the volatile 33-year-old Akram and the ice-cool Waugh, but both have inspired their talented teams to stirring deeds to reach a summit clash that is expected to witness plenty of drama, joy and disappointment at the Lord’s. Both have savoured the elixir of World Cup triumph and heartbreak, but a victory tomorrow will lift them to demi-god status among their cricket-crazy fans. In 1987, as a 22-year-old all-rounder, Steve Waugh was a vital cog in Allan Border’s scheme of things as the unheralded team won the title beating England in Calcutta. Steve Waugh, a man who hardly betrays any emotion, has inherited much of Border’s introspective temperament and will be looking to emulate his former skipper, who marked a major turnaround for the Australians after the Packer era. A victory will also enable Steve Waugh to quickly step out of the shadows of his illustrious predecessor Mark Taylor, a great leader who enabled Australia install themselves as one of the most respected teams in the world. In his short tenure as skipper of both the Test and one-day sides, Steve Waugh, has suffered comparison with the extrovert Taylor, but he let his deeds, both in the arduous Caribbean tour and the World Cup, speak for him. Wasim Akram, to his credit, has marshalled a highly talented, but temperamental bunch, into a fighting unit. It will be his dream come true to emulate his mentor Imran Khan and also help Pakistan cricket lift itself from the morass of betting and match-fixing charges it finds itself in. The great all-rounder was the general who led Pakistan to the 1992 triumph against all odds, instilling self-belief in a side that had stood on the verge of elimination during the league stage. As a 26-year-old fast bowler and free-hitting lower order bat, Akram contributed much in that victory, but a second win will only add gloss to his reputation as the best skipper in this mega event. Akram has been the elder statesman of a fairly young side, his nurturing of fiery paceman Shoaib Akhtar into a lethal weapon, with admonishment and praise in equal measure being a fine example. Steve Waugh, in comparison, leads a seasoned bunch that has experienced the highs and lows before, the crushing defeat by Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup final in particular. Whoever holds the trophy
aloft on the Lord’s balcony, surging national pride
rather than personal glory will be ruling the emotions of
two indefatigable warriors of the game. |
Spotlight on Akhtar, Warne LONDON, June 19 (AFP) — Two players — Shane Warne and Shoaib Akhtar — loom large over tomorrow’s cricket World Cup final. More has been said, more written and more thought about them than any other player throughout the five-week tournament. Pakistan’s 23-year-old Akhtar, thin, angular, hungry and bowling at up to 95 miles per hour, has been hailed as the find of the World Cup. A brilliant career is forecast. Australian leg spinner Warne, 29, tubby and round and tired, is at the end of a brilliant career. Or so it was presumed, until his two performances against South Africa in the second round and the semifinals, reminded the doubters of his magical powers. The ball which bowled Herschelle Gibbs at Edgbaston on Thursday turned square out of the leg-side rough to clip the top of the off stump. Warne, who has struggled back following a shoulder operation last year, believed it was not quite as good as his 1993 ashes ball — the "ball of the century" — which removed Mike Gatting at Old Trafford. "The ‘Gatting ball’ will always be special because of the situation — my first ball in a test against England in England," he told The Times newspaper. "It wasn’t quite on the same shelf — maybe the next row down. "But if people want to talk about a ‘Gibbs ball’ as well, then that’s fine by me." Australian captain Steve Waugh was under no illusions about the importance of Warne’s first of four wickets in the semifinal. "The ball that got Gibbs won us the game, mainly because of the psychological damage that it did to South Africa. "I hope Pakistan were watching that game and that it damaged them," he said. Akhtar has done a fair bit of psychological damage himself here. His "ball of the tournament", ironically, did not earn him a wicket but made the world gasp in disbelief. It was also his first ball at the top level in England. No more than a loosener, it beat West Indian opener Sherwin Campbell for pace, caught the top edge of his bat and sailed over third man for six. Campbell’s face was a picture. He looked as bemused as Gatting and Gibbs. Six balls later, courtesy Akhtar, his stumps exploded behind him. Waugh said Akhtar was not all about pace, however. "Pace isn’t the worry. The reverse swing is where it gets difficult," he said. Warne admits he is ever so slightly jealous. It’s all very well making batsmen look stupid, he says, but terrifying them but of their wits must be really fun. Akhtar, asked if he would like to be able to spin the ball like Warne, smiled broadly. "No," he said. He’s young and
dashing and wild. And young men belong to the fast lane. |
The great escape and after SYDNEY, June 19 (Reuters) — Australia’s media was still waxing lyrical today about the country’s great escape in the World Cup semifinal against South Africa. Columnist Mike Coward said: "with a few flicks of his wrist leg spinner Shane Warne had "filled Australia with hope and South Africa with self-doubt". Australia’s drama-filled tie on Thursday, taking them through to Sunday’s final at Lord’s, continued to dominate newspaper headlines and television and radio bulletins. Footage of Allan Donald’s farcical run out has been replayed ad nauseum while match reports have featured on the front and back pages of every major newspaper. The country’s only national paper, The Australian, attributed the success to the mental strength of the team’s key players under the headline "Waugh of nerves". Cricket writer Andrew Ramsey made special mention of Steve Waugh’s mental toughness both on and off the field. "Few cricketers play the game as hard as Waugh. And no advantage over an opponent can be considered too small when the stakes are as high". Coward said Warne proved yet again what a great player he was by winning the man-of-the-match award after being subjected to weeks of barbs about his weight, appearance, lifestyle and future in the game following the emergence of Stuart MacGill. "With a few flicks of his wrist he filled Australia with hope and South Africa with self-doubt," Coward wrote. "Much like Steve Waugh, Warne does not know when he is beaten. And by his actions and his voice he transmits his positiveness and confidence. To a man, his team mates feed off him." The Melbourne Age’s Martin Blake said Waugh’s men were playing like a team touched by destiny: "The Australians will enter the final on a torrent of emotion." While most of the mainstream press focused on the Australians’ great reserves of strength under pressure, some also took aim at the South Africans. The Sydney tabloid, The Daily-Telegraph, ran a full-page photo of the team on its front page with the simple headline: "There is a God." The paper’s chief
cricket writer Robert Craddock wrote that the Australians
had squeezed the life out of their opponents with their
effective "death by suffocation game plan". |
Fire on all cylinders, Shoaib told KARACHI, June 19 (Reuters) — Shoaib Akhtar has been advised by some former Pakistan Test players to bowl at full throttle in tomorrow’s World Cup final against Australia. "His opening spell may turn out to be decisive. I think he should fire on all cylinders," said Aqib Javed who took two wickets in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup final win over England. Akhtar, currently the most exciting player in the world, is expected to be a potent weapon in the final at Lord’s. "He is the world’s fastest bowler and Lord’s will be the perfect stage for him to cement his reputation," said former off-spinner Tauseef Ahmad. "It is the last match of the World Cup. His speed is the major difference between the two teams. There’s no point if he or Pakistan don’t benefit from God’s gift in the crunch match, said Iqbal Qasim, another former slow bowler. But former Pakistan captain Fazal Mahmood, a fast medium bowler, said "line and length" should definitely come first. "I think it’s Wasim Akram who should decide whether Akhtar should go all guns blazing or concentrate on accuracy. "There is no denying the fact that he is a match-winner who takes big wickets at crucial stages of the game," he said. Mahmood, who took 139 wickets in 34 Tests, added: "There should be no pressure on him. He has gone through all the testing experiences of his life. The Lord’s game should be just another match for him. Javed, whose seven for
37 against India is the best return in international
one-day cricket, said it was Akhtar’s role to take
wickets. |
Cricket frenzy sweeps Pak KARACHI, June 19 (Reuters) — cricket-mad Pakistan was in an upbeat mood and ready to party today ahead of the World Cup final against Australia at Lord’s. Fans thronged Karachi with banners, posters and huge portraits of the Pakistan players. "Melbourne history to be repeated at Mecca of cricket," read one poster while another said: "The World Cup is ours." Pakistan beat England in the 1992 World Cup final in Melbourne, setting off countrywide celebrations. More than two dozen giant screens have been set up in different parts of Karachi for fans who do not have televisions. When Pakistan won their semifinal against New Zealand on Wednesday young fans danced in the city’s streets, let off firecrackers and honked car horns. A much bigger celebration is expected if they beat Australia tomorrow. "If Pakistan win the celebrations will continue for days," said Mukhtar Ahmad, a social worker. "Pakistan have
peaked at the right time. They will be physically and
mentally stronger than the Australians who had to go the
full distance to reach the final," said Dr Mohammad
Ali Shah, an orthopaedic surgeon who has operated on some
of the country’s top players. |
Aussies destined to win: Warne LONDON, June 19 (AFP) — Australia are destined to beat Pakistan in the cricket World Cup final, Shane Warne said today. The leg spinner told The Times newspaper on the eve of the game: "I have always believed in destiny and I reckon now that we are destined to win the World Cup. "I thought it before that incredible semifinal and, after coming through that, I’m absolutely convinced." Australia reached the Lord’s showpiece after a tie in the semifinal with South Africa. Both sides made 213 but the Australians scraped through because of a better record in the second round of the tournament. South Africa had needed just one run off the last four balls but then lost their final wicket in a desperate run-out. Warne, who took four for 29 in the game, said: "that was the best I’ve bowled during the tournament. "Losing in the final to Sri Lanka three years ago was one of the worst moments of my life. "I am determined that it will not happen again." Australia won the World
Cup in 1987. Pakistan followed suit in 1992. |
Rain may disrupt today's final LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) — World Cup organisers would be keeping their fingers crossed that rain does not disrupt tomorrow’s showpiece final between Australia and Pakistan at the Lord’s. But the forecast is not promising for the early part of the day. The morning in London is expected to be cloudy and humid with a period of rain. Forecasters expect the rain to clear by mid-day (1100 gmt - 3.30 pm IST). It should then be a fine, fresh afternoon with scattered clouds and sunny spells. Only two of the tournament’s 41 games have had to be carried over to a second day because of rain. England’s group
qualifier against India in Birmingham was completed on
the reserve day while the Super Six match between
Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Leeds had to be abandoned
when rain washed out play on the reserve day. |
Cup to be shared if match is tied MUMBAI, June 19 (PTI) — What happens in case of a tie in tomorrow’s World Cup final between Australia and Pakistan at Lord’s ? The answer to this all-important question: the trophy would be shared by the two finalists, according to the playing conditions for the event. And what if the match is rained off tomorrow and on the subsequent two reserve days ? Again, the rule says, the trophy would be shared by Australia and Pakistan. A memorable tie in the semifinal between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston on Thursday saw the former scrape through to the final on the basis of their superior position over South Africa at the end of the Super Six stage. But no such distinction
exists if the title-clash too ends in a stalemate. |
Betting chaos after semifinal tie LONDON, June 19 (UNI) — There is a betting chaos in England as bookmakers disagree over how to settle bets on the semifinal between Australia and South Africa, which ended in a tie but Australia came through to the final on the basis of their higher qualifying position from the Super Six. Britain’s top three bookmaking firms settled the bets on the match in different ways which led to such confusion that punters are seeking the intervention of independent bookmaking arbitration service. Apparently, four different methods of settlement were used by the betting industry with all minor firms voiding the betting but the exceptions were the big ones, Ladbrokes, Hills and Bet Direct. Ladrokes refunded all bets on South Africa and settled bets in Australia as they would in a dead heat in a horse race. Bet Direct voided South Africa bets but treated Australia as winners and paid out in full. Hills (William Hill) ruled that punters backing Australia were on a winner but those backing South Africa lost. One aggrieved punter complained to the Racing Post newspaper that "I had a bet on South Africa on an individual match, not on who progressed to the final. One firm, surrey, is offering 16 to one on a tie in the final. Forecasters who study the career figures predict that Australia will win by something between 10 and 20 runs if they bat first and by three wickets if they chase. The forecast is made on the basis of respective economy rates and wickets taken by each bowler per match. The head to head record
in their last 10 meetings between October 1994 and may
1999 is most interesting — both have won five
matches. In their last meeting in this World Cup,
Pakistan just won a high scoring game by 10 runs at
Headingley on May 23. |
South Africa in mourning CAPE TOWN, June 19 (AP) — First Nelson Mandela’s retirement, now a cricket tragedy. Two days after their beloved Mandela stepped down as President, many South Africans mourned the ouster of their national cricket team from the World Cup. But the black majority, mostly indifferent to cricket, gave a big shrug. Had the South African team advanced to the final of the World Cup, the majority of sports fans might have rallied behind the team and exulted in their triumph if they had beaten Pakistan in Sunday’s final. The draw with Australia unceremoniously pushed the Proteas aside. Cricket has a mostly white following, meaning the elimination didn’t register for most in the overwhelming black nation where most people are soccer fans. "The cricket? I was taking a nap during the afternoon,’’ said Durban soccer fan Lucky Hadebe. And I was still upset that Bafana (the national soccer team) lost against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.’’ But for cricket fans, it was not so easy to forget the match in Birmingham, England. "It was visceral stuff, gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, heart-breaking, and it made me sick to my stomach,’’ commentator Archie Henderson wrote in the Cape Town daily Cape Argus newspaper. President Thabo Mbeki said the players had "nothing for them to be ashamed of.’’ "We played very well,’’ he told reporters in Pretoria. We discharged ourselves brilliantly. It is one of those things that happens.’’ When the climactic moments unfolded at about 7:30 p.m. South African time, shouts of despair could be heard from houses all over Suburbia. I woke (up) at 3 a.m. and I hoped it had all been a bad dream,’’ Mr Michael Phillip, 42, of Cape Town said. When I realised it wasn’t, I lay awake for hours hoping there could be a recount, or something.’’ South Africa’s opening batsman, Gary Kirsten, told a local radio station from England that it was difficult to come to terms with the outcome. "I have experienced disappointment before, but nothing makes me feel like this,’’ he said. Mr John Maytham, a radio talk show host on Cape Town’s Cape Talk, recounted how he had been at a wine-tasting after the match had been broadcast in South Africa on the day new President Thabo Mbeki named his government. "People weren’t talking about Mr Thabo Mbeki’s new cabinet, a possible interest-rate cut, or even about the weather. They were talking about the cricket,’’ he said. Newspapers with a largely white circulation have editorialised about the loss, careful to exonerate the brilliant allrounder Lance Klusener of any blame, especially since he had been the hero of the World Cup campaign for South Africa. But the nation’s
largest black daily newspaper, The Sowetan, devoted its
sports page yesterday to national soccer team call-ups. |
Australia lift women’s Champions Trophy BRISBANE, June 19 (AFP) — Australia claimed their fifth consecutive women’s hockey Champions Trophy with a torrid 3-2 win against The Netherlands here today. Katrina Powell was Australia’s star, scoring in the first 43 seconds and then powering home the winner with 14 minutes left. The world and Olympic champions were taken all the way by the determined Dutch, who fought back twice from behind, only for Powell to break the deadlock before a 5,500 capacity home crowd. Australia began explosively and were in front after 43 seconds through Powell. Nikki Mott passed from the right giving Alsyon Annan a powerful strike on goal, but the rebound off goalkeeper Clarina Sinnige ran free for Powell, who found the net. The Dutch were rattled in the opening minutes under the scorching Australian start, but they equalised through Dillianne Van Den Boogard in the 17th minute off a penalty corner. Van Den Boogard’s strike deflected off Lisa Carruther’s foot to beat Australian goalkeeper Rachel Imison. Australia breached the Dutch defence to lead 2-1 in the 30th minute when Bianca Langham converted a penalty corner. But with seconds left to half-time the Dutch rocked the Australians when Karlijn Petri broke free inside the circle and beat Imison at the near post for a sharply-angled goal. Powell broke the deadlock with her second goal in the 56th minute when her reverse stick shot was knocked away by Sinnige, only for determined Powell to get to the rebound and find the far corner of the net. Germany clinched the bronze medal in the women’s Champions Trophy after Natascha Keller struck three minutes from time to give her team a 1-0 win against Argentina. The 21-year-old Berlin forward, described by her team-mates as "a genius" player, smashed home from a cleverly-worked penalty corner for the game’s sole goal. It was Germany’s third bronze medal along with two silvers in seven Champions Trophy tournaments since 1987. "We were trying to get penalty corners, but only got one," said coach Berthold Rauth. "But they played a good alternative, we had not practised it at training, but rather spoken about it before the game." "I think she’s a genius of a hockey player," German captain Katrin Kauschke said of Keller, who has found the back of the goal five times in the tournament. Australian coach Ric Charlesworth has suggested Keller be nominated as the player of the tournament. Meanwhile, New Zealand beat South Korea 3-1 in the play-off for fifth place to qualify for next year’s tournament in The Netherlands. The Kiwis led 2-0 at half-time after goals off penalty corners from captain Anna Lawrence in the 16th minute and star player Mandy Smith 12 minutes later. The Koreans pulled one back in the 39th minute with a field goal by Kim Mi Hyun, but New Zealand restored their two-goal buffer 15 minutes from time with a field goal by Moira Senior. Korea, who leave the
tournament without winning any of their six games, will
be replaced by South Africa in next May’s Champions
Trophy in Amstelveen. |
Marsh on threshold of history MUMBAI, June 19 (PTI) —A unique feat is up for grabs for Australian World Cup coach Geoff Marsh. If the Aussies win the final against Pakistan at the Lord’s tomorrow, the 40-year-old West Australian will become the only cricketer in the history of the game to win the Cup as a player and as a coach. In fact, irrespective of the result of the final, history could have been made had Javed Miandad not quit the Pakistan coach’s post just before the start of the championship. But a coach is not as important a figure in cricket as in football. The first soccer star to win a World Cup as a player and as a coach was the German great Franz Beckenbauer. Marsh opened the innings with David Boon in the 1987 Reliance Cup winning squad and scored 428 runs in the tournament, the highest personal score for the champions. Now, Steave Waugh along with his players, has taken his 1987 team-mate to just a match away from achieving another feat. Miandad, a key member in the 1992 team that won the Cup in Australia, had quit after being named as the World Cup coach following differences with skipper Wasim Akram and co. After retiring from international cricket following the 1991-92 World Cup, Marsh took over the mantle as the coach from Bob Simpson with experience of 50 Tests and 117 one-dayers under his belt. Not a stylish batsman, Marsh was, however, known for consistency at the top with the burly boon at the other end of the crease. The two had scored 851 runs in between them in the 1987 reliance World Cup. He came into the side at the age of 26 when Australia were desperately searching for a consistent opening pair, and he and the Tasmanian Devil, Boon, were an instant hit. The first and last tests he played were against India, in 1985 and 1991 respectively. He had hit 13 centuries — four in tests and nine in one-dayers — in his international career spanning over six years. Perhaps, the severest setback Marsh had faced after becoming the coach was the 1-2 Test loss during early last year’s Indian tour though they had then won the triangular one-day tournament. The legendary Miandad,
known for style, controversy and what else, is already
part of the history having played maximum number of World
Cups and scoring more runs than any one else. The talented former
captain could have added one more feather to the plenty
he already has on his hat had he not suddenly announced
his decision to quit. |
Chandigarh go down to Orissa BANGALORE, June 19 (PTI) — Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) thrashed Madhya Pradesh 16-0 while Orissa beat Chandigarh 6-2 in the 30th Junior National Hockey Championship here today. The bankmen, in their opening match in pool ‘C’, looked too good for Madhya Pradesh. Bikramjit Singh netted six goals for the winners and was well supported by Parminder Singh with another four, Harmit Singh (three), Prabhdeep Singh (two) and a lone goal by Lakwinder Singh. The winners kept up the tempo throughout the game and did not give any room for their opponents to make headway. Orissa, who were also seen in action for the first time in the championship, played as a well-balanced side with forwards Rajit Minz and Sushil Kujur playing in tandem. Chandigarh’s attack lacked thrust and they depended mainly on Navdeep Singh and Rajpal Singh. Chandigarh concentrated on defence and did not attack. Orissa opened their account through Severn Kumar Barla followed by a penalty stroke conversion by Johson Ekka. Other scorers for Orissa were Simon Tirkey (14th) Ail Parful Ekka (37th and 56th) and Tarcius Kullu (68th). For the losers, Inderjit Singh scored off a penalty corner in the 34th minute and again in the 67th minute. In pool ‘D’ matches, Nagaland beat Maharashtra 2-1. Avtar Singh (6th) and Bharat (59th) scored for the winners, while Thejakhrienyu (15th) scored for Maharashtra. The Hyderabad-Himachal Pradesh match ended in a 2-2 draw. Sanjeev Kumar in the 25th scored the first goal for HP and Prakash Singh of Hyderabad equalised in the 55th minute. Though Pulkit Sharma (57th) got the lead for HP, Hyderabad skipper Osman Bin Adullan restored parity in the very next next minute. Tamil Nadu thrashed
Madhya Bharat 8-1 in a pool ‘C’ encounter.
Mohammed Nawaz scored three goals (37th, 46th and 67th),
S. Vinodh Kumar two goals (29th & 62nd) and Nataraj,
Vimalanathan, Ratha Krishnan scored one each. For the
losers, Bharat Pankaj Dixit scored the lone goal in the
55th minute. |
H
Negi knocks out
Lalit Kumar The subjunior section, which has attracted boys in the age group of 12 to 17, Manoj Kumar of Kumaon Regiment outwitted Ashwani Shah of Chandigarh on points. The results: Light weight-60-63.5 kg; Navin Kumar (Pepsu-WP); Tara Chand (Haryana-A) b Dharmender Kumar (Haryana-B-RSC-OC-Ist round); Welter weight-63.5-67 kg; Vicky Sharma (Punjab) b Sanjay Singh (UP-WP). Subjunior 13-14 years (42-45 kg) Manoj Kumar (KRC) b Ashwani Shah (Chd.) on points; 14-15 years (48-51 kg) Bhagwan Singh (Chd) b Dinesh Kumar (KRC-WP); Mohammad Chishti (UP) w/o Ramjit Singh (Pepsu); 16-17 years (45-48 kg); Abhishek Malviya (UP) b Arun Saini (Haryana-B) on points; 16-17 years (48-51 kg) Dharamvir (Haryana) b Karamvir Negi (Chandigarh) WP; Anil Kumar (Pepsu) b Prem Singh Rawat (J&K) on points; Deepak (Delhi) b Arvind Singh (KRC) on points. Bharat Bhushan
takes 9 wickets In reply to Ludhiana's first innings total of 284, Jalandhar made 187 runs in 45.4 overs. With this victory, Ludhiana clinched the title winning all their five matches. Ludhiana won this title after a gap of 18 years. Brief scores: Ludhiana (Ist innings): 284 all out (Ankur Kakkar 94, Devinder 22, Manav Dhuppar 24, Rajan Singh 54, Bharti Vij 67; Rajeev Jolly 3 for 55, Lalit Kapoor 1 for 42, Harbhajan Singh 1 for 51, Vivek Mahajan 3 for 24). Jalandhar (Ist innings): 187 all out (Ankur Sondhi 53, Gaurav Sharma 30, Lalit Kapoor 29 n.o. Vineet 26, Harbhajan Singh 13; Bharat Bhushan 9 for 54, Bharti Vij 1 for 60). Ludhiana (2nd innings) 72 for 4 in 21 overs (Devinder 15, Rakesh Saini 37 n.o., Ankur Kakkar 16 n.o. Vineet 2 for 10, Vivek Mahajan 2 for 12). Chandigarh beat
Patiala Needing 405 to win in 90 overs, the hosts openers Reetinder Sodhi and Gaganinder Garry laid a solid platform by adding 131 runs for the opening wicket. But the middle order failed and as a result they were all out for 282 runs. Brief scores:
Chandigarh: 404 all out. Patiala: 282 all out (R. Sodhi
82, G. Garry 71, Amit Kakria 44 , Munish Bali 33; Sanjay
Dhull 4 for 86, Yuvraj 2 for 31, D. Mongia 2 for 45). |
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