Monday, March 8, 1999
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S P O R T | Monday, March 8, 1999 |
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Wasti slams unbeaten century LAHORE, March 7 — Young Pakistan opener Wajahatullah Wasti hammered his second century of the match as Sri Lanka, already assured of a place in the final, reached 60 without loss chasing a formidable victory target of 385 on the fourth day of the Asian Test Championship final league match today. Kasparov halted; Anand triumphs LINARES, march 7 — Garry Kasparov on a hot streak of five wins from as many games with black pieces, was finally halted by a draw against fellow Russian Vladimir Kramnik in the 11th round of the City of Linares Chess Grandmasters Tournament here last night. Sohail, Malik axed from World Cup squad LAHORE, March 7 — Pakistan cricket selectors today surprisingly dropped veteran Salim Malik and outspoken former opener Aamir Sohail from the 19-member squad shortlisted for the coming World Cup in England as well as fixtures leading up to the mega event slated to be held in May and June. |
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Agassi pulls out after injury |
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Kournikova ousted; Hingis wins INDIAN WELLS, March, 7 — When Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova arrived on the WTA Tour a few years ago, both teens were highly touted as future tennis starts. Gebrselassie,
Szabo seal double wins Baroda
succumb to Navdeep Delhi
beat Railways by 9 wickets
Hyderabad brighten chances Karnataka
in Ranji semis Stage
set for eves' handball nationals |
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Wasti slams unbeaten century LAHORE, March 7 (PTI) — Young Pakistan opener Wajahatullah Wasti hammered his second century of the match as Sri Lanka, already assured of a place in the final, reached 60 without loss chasing a formidable victory target of 385 on the fourth day of the Asian Test Championship final league match today. Sri Lankan openers Russel Arnold (batting 13) and Aviska Gunawardena (batting 36) played out the final hour without taking any risks as the match stood poised for a keen finish — with the visitors needing 325 to win — at the Gaddafi Stadium on the final day tomorrow. Regardless of the outcome, both teams have qualified for the March 12 to 16 final in Dhaka as Sri Lanka shut out India by collecting 11 bonus points yesterday. The 24-year-old opener Wajahatullah Wasti hammered an unbeaten 121 following up his 133 in the first innings to become only the third Pakistan batsman to hit a century in each innings of a Test as the hosts made merry before declaring their second innings at 314 for eight, 70 minutes after tea. Wasti slammed 12 boundaries and a six and dominated the Sri Lankan bowling in his 425-minute stay, facing 303 balls after fellow opener Shahid Afridi added just three runs to his overnight score before falling for 84 in the morning. Afridi, reprieved five times yesterday as Pakistan made 149 for none yesterday, edged left arm paceman Sajeeva De Silva to wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharna. Inzamam-ul Haq (4) went cheaply once again, but Wasti and Saeed Anwar (45), coming lower down the order, added 66 runs for the third wicket to take Pakistan total past the 200-run mark. After the quick dismissals of Afridi and Haq, Anwar steadied the innings with a rapid 45 off 62 balls before he was run out. Left arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratilleke chipped in with two wickets, dismissing aggressive youngster Imran Nazir for 13 and Yousuf Youhana (0). But Wasti, who began the day at 61, reached his century with his 11th boundary, sweeping off-spinner Ruwan Kalpage to the mid-wicket ropes. Skipper Wasim Akram played a brief cameo and twice hoisted off-spinner Ruwan Kalpage for towering sixes in his 17. Kalpage had his revenge by castling Akram and Moin Khan (2) joined his skipper soon in the pavilion. Saqlain Mushtaq (9) was stumped as he jumped out for a big one but missed the line, which prompted Akram to declare and set a daunting 385-run target for the islanders. Sri Lanka started the run chase in positive style, reaching 50 in 8.4 overs. Debutant Gunawardene, who hit 43 in the first innings, was giving good company to his senior partner Arnold. Scoreboard |
Kasparov halted; Anand triumphs LINARES, march 7 (PTI) — Garry Kasparov on a hot streak of five wins from as many games with black pieces, was finally halted by a draw against fellow Russian Vladimir Kramnik in the 11th round of the City of Linares Chess Grandmasters Tournament here last night. Kasparov, with 8.5 points, leads the table with clear 2.5 points from the second placed Kramnik (6.5). India’s Viswanathan Anand (6) later scored a superb 43-move win despite a defeat to Kasparov in the previous round. Anand, the defending champion, beat Bulgaria’s Vasselin Topalov and continued chase of second place with three more rounds to go in this eight-player double-leg tournament. With the battle for the first place having been long decided after a brilliant display by Kasparov, the clash for the second place could well be decided by the tussle between Anand and Kramnik in the next round tonight. Kramnik is half a point ahead of the Indian, but Anand has white against the Russian and if he manages to gain a win, he could at least get the second position and the reputation of being the world number 2 behind Kasparov intact. Anand also finished second behind the Russian chess wizard in the Hoogovens chess last month in Wijk Aan Zee. Anand, who suffered his first defeat of the current tournament in the 10th round against Kasparov, rallied from it and showed that it had not demoralised him. In an aggressive caro-kann defence, it was a complex game, which the Indian GM handled superbly. There were four piece sacrifices before he scored his second win of the event. Kasparov played his first draw with black pieces as he moved away from the sicilian, which has given him unprecedented success rate with the black pieces. Kasparov adopted the exchange variation of the Gruenfeld defence and the line was similar to the ones used during the world championship match in 1987 in Sevilla between Kasparov and Karpov. Kramnik’s play did not allow for any more adventurism by Kasparov and the two who have drawn so many times against each other in their career, drew once more. That kept Kasparov still ahead of his nearest rival, Kramnik by 2 points. Michael Adams of England, who led the event for a brief while in the very early stages of this category-20 tournament, had white and drew from the sicilian against Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine). Hungary’s Peter Leko drew with Russia’s Peter Svidler in another clash. The most eagerly awaited clash in the 12th round will be between Anand and Kramnik, while Kasparov plays white against Adams, who lost to the world number one in the first leg. Ivanchuk takes on Leko and Svidler clashes with Topalov. Standings after 11 rounds:
1 Kasparov - 8.5 points, 2 Kramnik - 6.5; 3 Anand - 6;
4-5 Leko, Adams - 5 each; 6-7 Topalov, Svidler - 4.5; 8
Ivanchuk - 4. |
Sohail, Malik axed from World Cup squad LAHORE, March 7 (PTI) — Pakistan cricket selectors today surprisingly dropped veteran Salim Malik and outspoken former opener Aamir Sohail from the 19-member squad shortlisted for the coming World Cup in England as well as fixtures leading up to the mega event slated to be held in May and June. "Aamir is not playing active cricket and Malik has failed to give his hundred per cent in a number of matches at home and away," selection committee chairman Wasim Bari announced to reporters and justified their omission. Bari, who also announced the 14-member squad for the Asian Test Championship final against Sri Lanka at Dhaka from March 12 to 16 and the two one-day tournaments in India and Sharjah, said: "The squad and teams are the unanimous choice of the selectors, team captain and the coach." Leftarm paceman Wasim Akram, riding the crest of a new success wave as captain and bowler, has been retained to lead Pakistan in the two triangular tournaments and the Dhaka tie. But it looked the end of the road for 35-year-old Malik, the most capped Pakistan player who is one of those under investigation by a Pakistan judicial commission for alleged involvement in a betting and match-fixing scandal. Sohail, the 32-year-old left-handed opener, was axed as captain in the aftermath of Pakistan’s home Test series defeats against Australia and Zimababwe. He kept out of the camp for the Indian tour on "health grounds" and has since been ignored. Malik, who was a member of the Pakistan team that drew the Test series in India 1-all and also played in the first Asian Test series tie in Calcutta, had been dropped for the ongoing match against Sri Lanka here. But Akram, when asked about it on the eve of the tie, had said it did not mean that Malik’s career was finished. The World Cup list, however, includes seasoned batsman and Malik’s brother-in-law Ijaz Ahmed, who is also in the thick of the betting and match-fixing controversy. Deadline for announcing the final 15-member World Cup squad is March 31. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will compete in the one-day tournament in India from March 19 to April 3 while India and England are the other teams for the April 7 to 16 event to come off at Sharjah. World Cup probables: Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul Haq, Yousaf Youhana, Wajahatullah Wasti, Imran Nazir, Moin Khan, Waqar Younis, Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzak, Muhammad Wasim, Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Nazir, Sajid Shah, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Arshad Khan. Team for triangular series in India and Sharjah: Wasim Akram (capt), Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Imran Nazir, Inzamamul Haq, Yousaf Youhana, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar Mahmood, Arshad Khan, Abdul Razzak, Shahid Nazir. Team for Asian Test series
final: Wasim Akram (capt), Saeed Anwar, Wajahatullah
Wasti, Imran Nazir, Ijaz Ahmed, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamamul
Haq, Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain
Mushtaq, Arshad Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Shahid Nazir. |
Lara’s dismissal sparks collapse PORT OF SPAIN, March 7 (Reuters) — Australia took charge of the first Test by seizing six West Indies wickets for 18 runs after cutting short a threatening innings of 62 by Brian Lara. West Indies collapsed from 149 for three to 167 for nine at close on the second day at Queens Park Oval yesterday, in reply to Australia’s first innings of 269. Trinidadian left-hander Lara was run out by a smart piece of fielding by Justin Langer at short leg. He had been guiding West Indies into a promising position after their first two wickets went for 28. Lara put on 88 for the third wicket with Dave Joseph, who hit exactly 50 on his Test debut, but the West Indian skipper’s downfall sparked the slump in which leg-spinner Stuart Macgill snapped up three wickets and fast bowler Glenn McGrath captured two. The start of the day had belonged to West Indies as Curtly Ambrose took three wickets to reduce Australia from 174 for six overnight to 203 for nine. However, the touring team were given an unexpected boost as McGrath hit his highest Test score of 39 and added 66 runs for the last wicket with Jason Gillespie, who equalled his Test best by making an unbeaten 28. SCOREBOARD |
Agassi pulls out after injury SCOTTSDALE, March 7 (Reuters) — Defending champion Andre Agassi retired from the $ 350,000 Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic yesterday after straining his right hamstring, sending Jan Michael Gambill to his first ATP Tour final. "It’s a good thing I stopped," Agassi said. "I don’t think I could’ve continued. Had I tried, something severely worse could’ve occurred." Gambill was disappointed he did not get to play his idol on even terms. "It’s a hollow feeling to win like this," Gambill said. "I never hoped to get to a final like this, especially against my hero, the guy who I look up to the most all my tennis life." "It’s unfortunate", the 21-year-old from Colbert, Washington, added. "But tomorrow I’ll be real excited because it will be my first final." Gambill will be battling 18-year-old Australian Lleyton Hewitt for the $ 46,000 winner’s prize. Earlier in the day, Hewitt, ranked 90th in the world, cruised past Mark Woodforde 6-2 6-2 in 69 minutes to win the bragging rights to their common hometown, Adelaide. "It’s fantastic to come through qualifying and make the final," said Hewitt, who has won seven matches without losing a set. "I haven’t seen a lot of Gambill but obviously he’s playing well to knock off Pete (Sampras)," Hewitt said. Gambill was ahead 5-4 when the three-time champion here told chair umpire Norm Chryst of his decision 35 minutes into the semifinal contest. As a result, Gambill became the sixth player to dismiss world number one Sampras and Agassi in an ATP Tour event. "Technically, it’s true." Gambill said. "But it’s getting past Agassi on a fluke." The injury occurred at deuce in the seventh game when Agassi spun around trying to flag down a backhand volley. "I felt a real sharp, significant pain. Then when he went for the pass up the line, I took one more step that way and knew it was something I had to walk off. I wasn’t sure what it was, I’ve never had a hamstring injury." Another sharp pain followed at 30-all in the eighth game with Agassi ahead 4-3 with a break. "He was serving at 15-40 up the middle and I stepped across with my right foot and my leg got out there again. My leg felt worse than the first time. I knew I had an injury, and I couldn’t afford to take chances with." After losing serve, he summoned trainer Doug Spreen and used a three-minute injury timeout to get his leg wrapped. He returned gingerly and didn’t offer Gambill much resistance on his serve before calling it a night. "It’s a
hamstring injury to his right side and I stress it is
mild and not severe," said the tournament doctor.
"The prognosis is good for his return, it’s
just the timing." |
Kournikova ousted; Hingis wins INDIAN WELLS, March, 7 (Reuters) — When Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova arrived on the WTA Tour a few years ago, both teens were highly touted as future tennis starts. The top-seeded Hingis, who won A 6-3 6-4 second-round match over Alexandra Stevenson at the Evert Cup yesterday, has more than lived up to the billing. The ninth-seeded Kournikova, who suffered a first-round 7-6 (7-3) 1-6, 7-5 upset at the hands of Silvia Farina of Italy has yet to set the tour ablaze. In another second round match, third-seeded Monica Seles survived a tough first set to earn a 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 victory over Elena Likhovtseva of Russia. While the 18-year-old Hingis has achieved the world number one ranking, won 21 career titles, including three Australian Opens, one Wimbledon and one US Open, Kournikova has yet to bring home the winner's trophy after 49 tournaments. The closest Kournikova has come to a title was when she lost to Venus Williams in last year's Lipton Championship. "I think I just have to be a little bit more consistent," Kournikova said. "I'm just going to play matches and play tournaments, and try to win as many as possible. I'm going to look forward and try not to get very disappointed if something goes wrong." The 11th-ranked Kournilova arrived here still feelings the effects of a bout with influenza. She believes that took its toll on her performance against the 22nd-ranked Farina. "The only problem right now is that I don't feel physically a hundred per cent," Kournikova said. "I'll be taking a lot of medicine, hopefully, to get better." The match started out oddly as the first eight games were service breaks until Farina finally held serve in the ninth game. After losing the first-set tiebreaker of the two hour, 19 minute match, Kournikova picked up the pace in the second set. She allowed Farina to hold serve only once, in the fourth game. But she couldn't keep the momentum up in the third set. Kournikova was able to recoup an early service break in the final set, but in the end, had her serve broken four times in the third set. It took Hingis only 63 minutes to dispatch the 126th-ranked Stevenson, a wildcard recipient who remains an amateur and still attends high school in San Diego. In the first set, Stevenson won only four points on Hingis's serve. But in the second set, she was able to break the Swiss star's serve twice, in the fifth and seventh games. "I lost my serve
there twice, so I was a little bit upset, maybe
disappointed by the way I gave up those games,"
Hingis said. "Especially since I was up 3-1 and
could have closed it out sooner, but I didn't." |
Gebrselassie, Szabo seal double wins MAEBASHI, Japan, March 7 (AFP) — Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie snatched a dramatic last gasp 1,500 metre victory from Kenya’s Laban Rotich today to become the first man to win two titles at the same World Indoor Athletics Championship. Gebrselassie earned $ 100,000 for winning the 1,500 m and 3,000 m races, a wage packet matched on the women’s side by Gabriela Szabo of Romania, who stormed to the 3,000 m title following her 1,500 m victory yesterday. But Wilson Kipketer Denmark and Mozambique’s Maria Mutola both suffered shock defeats in 800 m on the final day of the championships. John Botha earned South Africa’s first indoor medal when he beat Kipketer in the men’s race while Mutola was overtaken with the finish of the women’s event in sight by Czech Republic’s European indoor champion Ludmila Formanova. Gebrselassie, the 25-year-old Ethiopian powerhouse running in his first major 1,500 m final, trailed Kenyan rivals William Tanui and then Rotich for most of the race. The Olympic 10,000 m champion almost stumbled at one stage, but grittily stayed in contention and kicked after the final bend to overtake Rotich a few strides from the finish. "I had planned to spurt on the last two laps but Rotich had already passed before I started to sprint. I waited until I had a chance and it only came in the last 50 m, because I could not pass him on the curve", he said. Gebrselassie clocked 8 min 36.42 sec, three seconds away from adding the event to his collection of world records, including the 5,000m and 10,000m outdoors. He timed 3:33.77 while Rotich clocked 3:33.98. Africa’s runners suffered a shock when Kipketer, a Kenyan who now runs for Denmark, fell too far behind South African John Botha and Germany’s Nico Motchebon. The outdoor 800 m world record holder, who suffered from illness for much of last year, made a late burst but could not catch Botha, who won in 1:45.47. Kipketer was 200ths of a second behind at 1:45.49 and Motchebon clocked 1:45.74 to come third. Czech Republic’s Ludmila Formanova clocked a championship record of 1:56.90 to win the women’s 800m with Mutola second on 1:57.17 and Natalya Tsyganova of Russia third on 1:57.47. Romania’s Szabo pulled away in the final lap to claim the women’s 3,000m indoor title for the third straight time. "The first time I was surprised because I was in my first year in junior competition", said Szabo. "I was also surprised the second time because I beat the great Sonia O’Sullivan. This time I expected it and I think I’ll win next time as well". The Romanian’s brilliant surge to win at 8:36.42 left Zahra Ouaziz of Morocco in second (8:38.43) while Regina Jacobs of the USA was third in 8:39.74. Britain celebrated a golden double through Jamie Baluch in the men’s 400m and Ashia Hansen in the women’s triple jump. Baluch led from start to finish to win in 45.73 sec. At 200m, the Welshman pulled away from Milton Campbell (US) who was second in 45.99sec. Germany’s Grit Breuer won the women’s 400 m, sealing her comeback from a three year drug ban for which she still insists she is innocent. Breuer, 27, won in 50.80 sec, the best time of the year, ahead of Falilat Ogunkoya of Nigeria (51.25) and Jearl Miles Clark of the USA (51.45). Breuer was suspended for three years for failing a drug test with fellow East German star Katrin Krabbe and came back in 1995. She has since been twice European 400 m champion. Cuba’s Javier
Sotomayor won the men’s high jump on a countback
after he and Vyacheslav Voronin of Russia both cleared
2.36m. Charles Austin of the USA was third on 2.33 m. |
Baroda succumb to Navdeep BARODA, March 7 (PTI) — Left-arm spinner Navdeep Singh took seven wickets for 56 runs in Baroda’s second innings to help Punjab record an innings and 19-run win over the hosts and take the full eight points on the last day of their group-A Ranji Trophy super league match here today. Baroda, who were 162 for three wickets at close of play yesterday after being forced to follow on 196 runs behind the visitors’ first innings score of 372, could not withstand the web spun by Singh and their resistance ended after 12.4 overs and 15 more runs. Kailash Chander, the chief-wrecker in Baroda’s first innings with six wickets, took three wickets in the second innings to take his match tally to nine wickets for 182 runs, while Singh’s match figure was ten wickets for 89 runs. The first one to go today was the top scorer C. Williams. He was caught by Pankaj Dharmani off Singh after making 70 runs in a stay of 262 minutes in the crease. H. Jadhav (44), who remained not out at 38 last evening, was the seventh batsman to go, bowled by Singh. Among the other batsmen fell today, only D. Mulherkar and B. Badola (four runs each) could open their account. With this defeat, Baroda, with one more match to play, are out of reckoning for a quarter-final berth. Punjab (Ist
innings): 372 all out. |
Delhi beat Railways by 9 wickets NEW DELHI, March 7 (PTI) — Delhi kept alive their chances for a semifinal berth by earning full eight points with a nine-wicket win over Railways in their penultimate Ranji Trophy super league match on the fourth and final day here today. Delhi now have 16 points from three matches and are tied with Tamil Nadu for the top spot in group ‘B’. Tamil Nadu scored an innings win over Orissa in Chennai today to collect full points. Maharashtra (15 points) are the other team in line for the knockout stage. Delhi struck the necessary 41 runs off 6.4 overs for the loss of one wicket for outright victory much before lunch after they had bundled out Railways for 167 runs in their second innings. Railways, who conceded a 127-run first innings lead to Delhi, did not last long after resuming at the overnight score of 106 for five. Off-spinner Nikhil Chopra, among the 19 probables for the World Cup, polished off the Railways tail, taking three wickets to finish with innings figures of five for 41, while Rahul Sanghvi claimed two wickets to finish with three for 49. Delhi lost opener Ashu Dani (19) as Vijay Dahiya (12 not out) and Aakash Malhotra (2), who struck century in the first innings, hit up the necessary runs. In their last league match, Delhi meet Orissa in Cuttack. Railways (1st
innings): 246 |
Hyderabad brighten chances HYDERABAD, March 7 (PTI) — Hosts Hyderabad claimed five points on the basis of their 52-run first innings lead against Rajasthan as their four-day Ranji Trophy super-league match ended in a draw at the Gymkhana Grounds here today. Hyderabad (first innings 324) made 251 for seven in their second innings while Rajasthan (first innings 272) were on 109 for four at the end of the day’s play. With 16 points from three matches, Hyderabad have brightened their chances of entering the knock-out stage. They travel to Baroda for their last super league tie beginning on March 14. Rajasthan completed their league engagements with an aggregate of 14 points and are out of contention for the knock-out stage. Hyderabad added 131 runs to their overnight score of 120 for three before declaring their innings. Test discard V.V.S. Laxman (51), who was on 47 yesterday, completed a half-century in 132 minutes off 80 balls with three boundaries, while Vinay Kumar remained unbeaten on 66 (163 m, 120 b, 8x4). Chasing a victory target of 304 for outright victory, Rajasthan were on 109 for four when the match was called off after the ninth mandatory over. Brief scores: Hyderabad 324 and 251 for 7 decl (Laxman 51, V. Kumar 66 n.o.; K. Sharma 3/44) drew with Rajasthan 272 and 109 for 4 N. A. Parmar 37 n.o.; V. Raju 2/23).
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Suresh routs C’wealth Games champ NEW DELHI, March 7 (PTI) — Indian teenager S. Suresh Singh scored a major upset by toppling Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sapok Biki of Malayasia to storm into the lightfly weight class final of the VI YMCA International Boxing Championship here today. The 19-year-old hailing from Manipur rattled Biki with a series of lightning quick combination punches to score a superb 11-7 points victory over the 23-year-old who had won the lone boxing gold for Malaysia in the September Games. Suresh Singh (India-Pink), a Central Industrial Security Force boxer and trainee of L. Ibomocha Singh, the SAI coach who unearthed Asian Games bantamweight gold medallist N.G. Dingko Singh, fought aggressively from the word go. Displaying brilliant footwork and quick reflexes to dodge the powerful right punches from Biki, the Indian came on top with a series of rapidfire combination punches in the last two rounds to the Malaysian’s face. Biki, who was out of competition coming here due to a fracture in his left little finger, looked tentative and the young Indian gave little room for the Malaysian with his superior speed. "I sized him up in the first round and then went after him," said a delighted Suresh Singh, who will take on Booshaduth Raj Kumar of Mauritius, who beat Robert Zoram Thanga (India-Yellow) 32-24 on points, in the final. Biki admitted that Suresh Singh’s speed had put him off balance. Sri Lanka’s Gamini Kumara marched into the bantamweight final against Riaz Dargahed of Mauritius with both posting impressive points verdicts over their rivals. Indian boxers were Asian in limelight when K. Nitya Singh (India-Yellow) made the welterweight final with a 30-25 points win over Mohamed Isinzar Yup of Malaysia. He will take on R.K.S. Prasanna (Sri), who gained a second round referee stopped contest verdict over Singye of Bhutan. Middleweight Dorji of Bhutan made the final after forcing W.P. Mendis (Sri) to retire in the third round. Mendis was up 11-7 after two rounds, but Dorji pummelled his rival in the third to force the Sri Lankan corner to concede the bout. In juniors, India showcased their emerging talent when Parveen Kumar (India-Pink) edged out Kravellenko Oleksandar of Ukraine 18-15 on points in a thrilling lightweight semifinal. But welterweight Andrpi Tsurupa (Ukr) outclassed Manjit Singh (Ind-Y) and forced the referee to step in with a stunning left-hook in the second round. India-Pink boxers claimed
both the semifinal bouts in the sub-junior section. In
the 36-39 kg section, Amardeep Gurung beat Ramdas Hansda
(Ind-Y) 27-13 while Manoj Shah stopped M. Pedige Sameera
(Sri) in the second round. |
Karnataka in Ranji semis BANGALORE, March 7 (PTI) — Defending champions Karnataka entered the semifinal stage of the Ranji Trophy in style, beating Bihar by an innings and 87 runs on the final day of their super league match here today. With this win Karnataka have 29 points and top the table in group "C". Resuming on 120 for six in their second innings after being forced to follow on, Bihar were bundled out for 183 as Sunil Joshi picked up five wickets for 48 runs — his ninth five-wicket haul in Ranji Trophy. The visitors had scored 227 in their first innings in reply to Karnataka’s first innings score of 497. The final day’s proceedings lasted 87 minutes, which saw 25.5 overs bowled. Karnataka (1st innings): 497 Bihar (1st innings): 227 Bihar (2nd innings): Nikhlesh lbw b S. Joshi 2, Yaquin c Shiruguppi b D. Ganesh 26, Rajiv Kumar run out 34, Rahman lbw b S. Joshi 11, Sunil Kumar run out 31, Arafi lbw b S. Joshi 29, C.M. Jha lbw b D. Ganesh 1, Panda c A. Yalvigi b S. Joshi 15, Vikas Kumar not out 14, Dheeraj c M.A. Khan b S. Joshi 06, Sarfraz c Sujith b S. Joshi 04. Extras (b-3, lb-4, nb-3): 10 Total (all out in 71.5 overs): 183 Fall of wkts: 1-29, 2-29, 3-53, 4-105, 5-108, 6-109, 7-140, 8-159, 9-174. Bowling: D. Ganesh 27.5-2-88-3; M.A. Khan 3-0-13-0; S. Joshi 32-17-48-5; Anand Yalvigi 6-1-23-0; Vijay R. Bharadwaj 3-0-4-0.
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Stage set for eves' handball
nationals CHANDIGARH, March 7 — The stage is set for the National Handball Championship for women which gets under way at Nehru Stadium, Ropar, from tomorrow. Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, chairman of the organising committee, announced here today. The championship to be played until March 13 will be conducted according to the new format. Mr Sidhu said the actual matches would start at 4 p.m. The Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, will inaugurate the championship. As a special gesture towards the participating teams, the organising committee has decided to conduct special tours to Sri Anandpur Sahib where tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa are to be held from next months, Mr Sidhu said. All other arrangements for board, lodging and transportation of the teams have been finalised. Teams have already started arriving at Ropar. The remaining teams are expected to reach by tomorrow morning. Mr S.S. Channi, president, Punjab Handball Association, said as per the new format, the finalists of the previous national championship — Punjab and Kerala — have been seeded straight into the quarterfinals. The remaining teams will be divided into six pools and top team from each of these pools will qualify for the quarter-finals. Mr Teja Singh Dhaliwal, who is the secretary of the association, said besides hosts Punjab and Kerala, 14 other teams have confirmed their participation in the championship. Those who have confirmed their participation are Kerala, Association of Indian Universities, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Manipur and Punjab. Mr Teja Singh further said
that four handball playfields were being specially
prepared for the conduct of the round robin league and
final classification games. All arrangements for the
smooth conduct of the championship have already been
reviewed. |
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