Shruti triumphs, Nefedova loses LUCKNOW, May 11 — Shruti Dhawan earned a hard- fought victory against Sonal Phadke in a three-set battle lasting one hour 48 minutes on the second day of the Bank of Baroda ITF Women’s Tennis Championship here today.

Kafelnikov, Agassi post wins
ROME, May 11 — Newly-crowned world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov broke a depressing six-match losing streak to beat American Chris Woodruff in the Italian Open.

Martinez advances to second round
BERLIN, May 11 — Defending champion Conchita Martinez has ousted France’s Anne-Gaelle Sidot in straight sets to kick off the German Open, where 16 of the world’s top-20 are competing.

Vikrant Chole stuns Gurpreet
SANGLI, May 11 — Maharashtra’s lowly-rated Vikrant Chole shocked seasoned Gurpreet Pal Singh of Northern Railways in the second round of the 32nd S.K. Vaidya Memorial fide rated chess tournament here today.

Rain thwarts India
TRENT BRIDGE, May 11 — Sachin Tendulkar struck a composed unbeaten 30 in India’s total of 52 for one before their third and final World Cup warm-up match against Nottimghamshire was interrupted by rain as the fickle English weather continued to chase the Indians in the British Isles.

Shruti triumphs, Nefedova loses

LUCKNOW, May 11 (UNI) — Shruti Dhawan earned a hard- fought victory against Sonal Phadke in a three-set battle lasting one hour 48 minutes on the second day of the Bank of Baroda ITF Women’s Tennis Championship here today.

Shruti Dhawan defeated Sonal Phadke 7-6 (7-5),3-6,6-4 while winner of Delhi leg Russia’s Anna Nefedova lost to Jayaram Sai Jayalakshmi 1-6,3-6. Her three services were broken in first set and four services in the second set. She also broke Sai Jayalakshmi’s services twice in the second set.

In the other pre-quarterfinal matches Archana Venkatraman defeated Tara Kanbarginath 6-2,6-3 while Janaki Krishnamoorthy defeated Sheetal Gautam 6-2,6-2 in a one- sided match.

In the Shruti Dhawan-Sonal Phadke match, Shruti took 2-0 lead after breaking Sonal’s service. But Sonal also broke Shruti’s service when Shruti made double fault at 40-40 in the third game.The score was level at 3-3 but Sonal broke Shruti’s service 40-15 and held her service to take 5-3 lead yet Shruti held his next service at 40-30 and broke Sonal’s service 40-30 to level the score 5-5. Both again broke each other’s service and the score tied at 6-6.

In the tie- breaker Shruti Dhawan defeated Sonal Phadke 7-5 and won the first set at 7-6 (7-5).

In the second set Sonal and Shruti easily won their services but Shruti broke Sonal’s service in the third game at 40-40. Sonal also broke the former’s service and levelled the score 2-2. Both held their next service and the score was again level at 3-3 but Sonal forged ahead when held her service and broke Shruti service to take 5-3 lead.She held her next service in the 9th game at 40-40 to win the second set 6-3 and levelled the score one all.

In the deciding set Shruti took 3-0 lead holding both her services and broke Sonal service at 40-40 when Sonal made a double fault. Sonal held her service and broke Shruti service to reduce the margin 2-3. Sonal held her service and levelled the score 3-3 but lost the set and the match when her service was broken in the tenth game at 40-30. Shruti won the match at 7-6 (7-5),3-6,6-4.

Earlier in the first match between Anna Nefedova and Jayaram Sai Jayalakshmi, Jayalakshmi took 4-0 lead after breaking Anna Nefedova’s two services and held her two services. In the fifth game Nefedova broke Jayalakshmi’s service to reduce the margin 1-4 but Nefedova made a double fault in her next service at 30-40. Jayalakshmi took 5-1 lead and held her service to win the first set at 6-1.

In the second set, Anna and Jayalakshmi both broke each other’s service to make the score 1-1 but Jayalakshmi again broke Anna Nefedova’s service at 40-40 and held her service to take 3-1 lead.

Jayalakshmi made double fault twice at 40-40.

Both broke each other’s service in the next two games and Jayalakshmi took a 4-2 lead. Then she held her service in the 8th game and broke Nefedova’s service in the 9th game at 40-40 to win the second set and match at 6-1,6-3.

The other two matches were also one-sided affairs when Archana Venkatraman defeated Tara Kanbarginath 6-2,6-3 and Janaki Krishnamoorthy defeated Sheetal Gautam 6-2,6-2.

Sachin Tendulkar on ‘Time’ cover

NEW DELHI, May 11 (PTI) — Sachin Tendulkar today became the first Indian sportsperson to adorn the cover of the American Newsweekly "Time" which says the "Bombay Bomber's" batting performances have earned him comparisons with soccer great Diego Maradona.

Although cricket is hardly known in the USA, the latest issue of the prestigious magazine carries a write up on this week's World Cup in England with the Indian batting maestro shown in the follow through of a cover drive.

Speaking about comparison between Tendulkar and Maradona, "Time" noted that both were short, stocky and curly-haired.

"But unlike the Argentine ace, Tendulkar is a level-headed, even bland professional who does all his hell-raising at the wicket.

"He wields the heaviest bat in the game, both literally and figuratively, and is a quick reader of bowlers and wicket conditions," 'Time' said.

The magazine said: "It's difficult to single out a standout Tendulkar performance, as there are so many — and so many to come.

"He already owns the record for the most one-day international centuries, and he has at least ten playing years ahead of him. Gulp!"

The four-page cover story which celebrates the top batsmen in the shortened version of the game — who lift the game to dizzy heights as entertainers — and captures cricket's phenomenal growth in the Indian sub-continent thanks to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka cornering glory in three of the last four editions.

"Over the past decade, cricket has reaped an economic bonanza in Asia, fuelled by the on-field success of the World Cup holders (Sri Lanka) as well as victories by the more established cricket countries Pakistan and India."

The magazine says: "Traditional cricket powers like Australia. England and the West Indies have been forced to alter their tactics to keep up with the teams from the sub-continent.

Says, Bill Sinrich, who runs the London sports management firm Trans-World International: "The centre of gravity of the game has moved to the sub-continent."

"Overall the ECB expects that in Britain the World Cup will generate revenues of $ 70 million. In India, businesses are predicted to spend that much during the tournament in TV advertising alone."

The magazine quotes Wisden cricket almanack's editor Matthew Angel to reiterate the point. Says Engel: There's so much money in cricket in South Asia. It gives them tremendous power to influence the game!"

"But there is a potentially catastrophic downside to South Asia's World Cup mania. The economic implications of hundreds of thousands of people taking sick leave to watch cricket are enormous," says Sanjoy Bhattacharya, a Mumbai financial analyst.

"Nobody has done the math, but it's a safe bet that the damage to the combined economies of South Asia will run into millions of dollars."

According to Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian batsman, it's no longer the Englishman's game. Cricket now belongs to the Indians. Pakistanis and Sri Lankans.

Waugh on sledging

LONDON, May 10 (AFP) — Australian captain Steve Waugh and fast bowler Glenn McGrath yesterday slammed proposals designed to erase sledging from the game.

Waugh said the recommendations by an MCC committee, which would see offending sides docked five runs for intimidating or insulting batsmen, were "pretty stupid" and hoped they would not be enforced.

"They don’t even dock runs for missing overs. Why do it for so-called sledging, which is open to interpretation," he said. "It’s always been up to the captain and players to do the right thing on a field. Sometimes you’re going to overstep the boundaries, but that’s happened for 200 years."

"I don’t see it (the law) happening. I mean, it could affect a Test match."

Media reports say the proposals could come into force next year. It would be first time umpires had the authority to mete out on-the-spot penalties. Under existing rules, players can be fined or suspended but without affecting the score.

The committee included leading umpires Steve Bucknor of the West Indies and Nigel Plews of England, besides former Test cricketers Bob Simpson of Australia and Clyde Walcott of the West Indies.

A five-run penalty would also be imposed if a bowler deliberately scuffed the pitch to help spinners or if a fielder tried to obstruct the batsman running between the wickets.

McGrath, who ran foul of umpires for spitting near an opponent on the recent tour of West Indies, said: "If they want to turn the game into a sport full of robots and really kill it, maybe that is what they’d want to do."

McGrath even argued fans and television viewers enjoyed sledging. "With the technology these days, that’s what people love to see... That’s why the cameras get right in your face," he said.

New Zealand flay Surrey attack

LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) — New Zealand, inspired by a belligerent Craig McMillan, hit Surrey’s attack for more than six an over as World Cup sides grabbed what batting practice they could amid the showers.

McMillan topscored yesterday with 86, including 10 fours and four sixes, as New Zealand enjoyed a rarity in the warm-up matches for the tournament that starts on Friday — 50 uninterrupted overs of batting. They finished with 328 for six and won by 108 runs.

Australian opener Adam Gilchrist, tipped to be one of the stars of the World Cup, also hit 86 and put on 127 for the first wicket with Mark Waugh against Worcestershire. Waugh hit a stylish 64 as the 1987 champions won on a faster scoring rate.

Pakistan managed just 10 overs at the crease against Durham before their game was washed out but this was long enough for opener Shahid Afridi to receive a nasty blow on the right elbow.

Afridi was taken to hospital but X-rays showed there was no break and he is expected to be fit for the opening match against West Indies in Bristol on Sunday. Pakistan made 50 for no wicket before the weather intervened.

New Zealand tucked into Surrey’s bowling at the Oval with all their batsmen scoring runs except opener Matthew Horne, who went for a duck. Nathan Astle hit 58, putting on 133 for the second wicket with McMillan. Adam Parore hammered 66 not out.

Surrey fell to the medium pace of Roger Twose, who cut through the lower order to take four for 30 off 5.5 overs. Surrey scored 220 off 49.5 overs.

West Indies, whose match against Gloucestershire was abandoned on Sunday after 16 overs, had better luck at Edgbaston where they made 228 for four off 47 overs against Warwickshire.

The top five all made runs with the highest score of 50 hit by opener RidleyJacobs. Ricardo Powell, a late replacement to the retired Carl Hooper, added a quickfire 32 from 27 balls.

Warwickshire, set 245 to win, were all out for 210 with fast bowler Reon King taking three wickets for 34. Keith Arthurton and Phil Simmons took two each.

Australia only saw 10 overs play on Saturday against Glamorgan but Worcestershire managed to bat for 44 overs yesterday, amassing 162 for seven.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne took two for 27 off his 10 overs. Paceman Damien Fleming and all-rounder Shane Lee also claimed two scalps.

Bangladesh reached 203 for two off 43.4 overs against Middlesex thanks to a spirited 80 not out by right hander Akram Khan and 52 from Shariar Hossain.

They were calculated to have won on a faster scoring rate after Middlesex made 223 for six off 43 overs, Mark Ramprakash hitting 53 not out, off-spinner Minhajul Abedin took two for 4 in seven overs.

Walcott against using too
much technology

LONDON, May 11 (AP) — As cricket finishes a century of global expansion and prepares for the new millennium with a World Cup, one of the game’s leading figures is warning against embracing too much technology.

Sir Clyde Walcott, the first non-Englishman to become chairman of the International Cricket Council, says video replays at grounds should be scrapped to protect umpires.

Two crowd riots in the Caribbean in the leadup to the tournament, caused by controversial decisions in the West Indies vs Australia limited-overs series, may support his argument.

Walcott, a former West Indies Test batsman and wicketkeeper who was manager of the World Cup-winning West Indies teams in 1975 and ’79, said umpires were already under too much scrutiny.

Speaking on Monday in London at the launch of his book "Sixty years on the back foot’’, Walcott said cricket had improved with modern technology.

But there had to be limits.

"You shouldn’t place the umpires in a position to be embarrassed — they’re only human,’’ Walcott said.

"I’d hate to think the game will ever be controlled fully by technology — I don’t think it will happen in my time.’’

The ICC cricket committee chairman said he wasn’t predicting any crowd problems in England for the World Cup.

If you look at England and soccer, then crowd violence can occur,’’ he said. But I think the soccer crowds and the cricket crowds are different.’’

Walcott said if national associations couldn’t ensure international venues were safe for players and officials, the ICC would have to take a more proactive role.

"I don’t think the intention (during the riots) was to injure people. But that’s still not good for cricket,’’ he said.

Turning to the action on the field, Walcott said South Africa has earned its status as favourite for this World Cup, although Australia, Pakistan and the West Indies were also strong chances.
"Limited-overs cricket is a definite gamble. It’s not necessarily the best team that wins, it’s the team that performs better on the day,’’ he said.

"My favourite is South Africa because of its recent performances, not necessarily against the West Indies when they thrashed us recently, but over a long period".

When they came back into international cricket they really were one-day cricketers. Since then their Test cricket has improved but they have remained an excellent limited-overs team."

Walcott said Pakistan was a good side but could be affected by losing coach Javed Miandad in the leadup to the tournament.

The best World Cup he’d experienced was the inaugural tournament in 1975 due to the atmosphere.

"This one can be up for it provided the weather is good in England, which is always doubtful,’’ he said.

Walcott said Sri Lanka’s innovative tactics at the last World Cup had helped the island nation rise from cricket minnows to world champions. But they’d have to come up with something new to win again.

He also said it wouldn’t be long before one or two of the non-Test countries received full Test status.

Bangladesh has an application on the table and Kenya has given notice it intends to apply for full membership,’’ he said.

"We’re not expecting these countries will win the World Cup to earn test status — even if they’re beaten now, like Zimbabwe was, like Sri Lanka was. They’re making good progress,’’ Walcott said.

"If a team from Europe was this strong or a team from North America was in this position. It would just be a matter of course to grant Test status.’’

Ambiguity marks Lanka's gameplan

NEW DELHI, May 11 (UNI) — The latest: "Sri Lankan think-tank decided to continue the first 15-over pinch hitting strategy, which led to their 1996 World Cup triumph, to leave opponents so shellshocked that they would never recover in the remaining game."

Few days back, they said the team must abandon reckless scheme of things while playing if they wish to repeat 1996 and annex the title for the second consecutive time like West Indies.

But their wavering stance every second day in stormy weather and seaming pitches have made them a victim of the Hamletian dilemma of "to be or not to be" before their inaugural encounter with hosts England.

In fact, the eleventh hour hotch-potch with statements and counter-statements is not a positive sign for the team whose recent results have let them down repeatedly. The panacea would be to draw a line according to dictates of the game concerned as different strategies for different games would script a success story.

The pinch-hitting on seaming wickets and swinging ball could also prove suicidal.

Since winning the World Cup in 1996, Sri Lanka have won 43 of their 81 one-day internationals, including six tournaments. But in less than twelve months, they have managed to win only seven of their last 24.

In March, the Lankans failed to reach the final of a tri-nation tournament against India and Pakistan. Prior to it, they missed the final of the world series involving Australia and England. A few months before that in Sharjah, they were beaten by India and Zimbabwe.

This is not like of the defending champions who reinvented the one-day game three years ago in dramatic fashion. With the passage of time, they could not maintain the glorious rhythm which was composed by Jayasuria and company in the sixth edition of the World Cup, making a mockery of tradition at one-day wisdom by throwing their bats during the first 15 overs.

In between, their innovations and elan dried up, so did the trophy award functions. But dismal showing is not the only reason for their misery as several top players have missed many tournaments and games because of injury.

Besides failed attempts to introduce new players into the ageing squad, a controversy over control of the Sri Lankan cricket board just before the team’s departure for the 1999 World Cup has been unsettling.

Though skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has denied that ageing factor has anything to do with poor performance, there is no denying the fact that the current 15-man team for the millennium’s last cricketing extravaganza carries eleven members from the previous World Cup and that means they have aged by three years.

"Experience is the most important thing and our side is based on it. The boys have done it once and they know how to repeat it."

Batting remains Sri Lanka’s forte — be it posting a formidable total or chasing the impossible. The team is built around the batsmen, most of whom are also dependable spinners.

If Sanath Jayasuriya, Arvinda de Silva and Muttiah Muralitharan, plus Ranatunga can hit form in unison, Sri Lanka may yet surprise itself.

However, fielding has let the crew down badly. It is evident from the fact that Roshan Mahanama, 33, once an opening batsman, is picked purely for his fielding and his recall is imminent following Lanka’s waning fielding standards in the lead-up to the World Cup.
Duleep Mendis, chairman of selectors and Sri Lanka’s tour manager, has said that "selective memory may be the best method to come out from the lean trot and they should remember the 1996 victory and forget the last few nightmares."

Practically, a good start to the tournament, against England at Lord’s in the opening fixture on May 14, could rapidly lift the gloom.

After all, few expected Sri Lanka to win the 1996 world cup. Few expect them to defend their title successfully in the 1999 edition.
Can it be the other way round again ?

Storm clouds brewing for Stewart

LONDON, May 10 (AFP) — Storm clouds are already brewing for England’s cricket captain Alex Stewart even before a ball has been bowled in the upcoming World Cup.

Stewart’s form as the tournament hosts’ opening batsman was already under the microscope before his team almost tumbled to an embarrassing defeat against county side Essex in a practice match on Sunday.

His plight was further underlined when he failed again, while Nasser Hussain — one of Stewart’s rivals for the opening slot — scored 82 in the game.

"One more dark day for Stewart" was how the daily Telegraph responded yesterday. "There can be no getting round the fact that things are getting serious for him."

The 36-year-old right-hander, who also doubles up as the side’s wicket-keeper, has not scored a one-day 50 in the past 18 internationals.

"That’s not a record I can be happy with," he conceded.

Calls for him to drop down the order have not yet begun in earnest.

But another failure in England’s last warm-up match on Tuesday against Hampshire, in the run-up to their first World Cup match on May 14, would further chip away at confidence.

There have long been doubts about Stewart’s ability to cope with the triple responsibility of captaincy, opening the batting and keeping wicket in Test matches.

Stewart argued: "In Tests I’m happiest opening the batting and leaving the wicket-keeping gloves in the dressing room. In one-day cricket, there should not be a problem with all three."

But a mix-up with his bowlers in the one-run win over Essex — Vince Wells had to bowl the last over after not bowling earlier in the game — raised eyebrows.

England, currently seen as fourth favourites to win the tournament, play Sri Lanka in group ‘A’ at Lord’s on Friday. Their group is completed by South Africa, India, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Kafelnikov, Agassi post wins

ROME, May 11 (Reuters) — Newly-crowned world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov broke a depressing six-match losing streak to beat American Chris Woodruff in the Italian Open.

Kafelnikov, who rose to the top of the rankings courtesy of an injury to Pete Sampras despite losing every ATP match he has played since late February, triumphed 7-6 (7-1), 5-7, 6-4 in a gruelling first round tie on Rome's red clay.

He had to fight back from 0-4 in the first set and his overall performance was less than spectacular but he was nevertheless relieved when he came off court.

"I'll take any win I can get at this stage," said the Australian Open champion, whose last win on the circuit was against Zimbabwe's Byron Black in the last 16 of an indoor tournament in London in February.

Kafelnikov appeared destined for another immediate exit when Woodruff broke serve twice in the first three games.

The Russian vented his frustration on a ball, smashing it into the crowd to earn a warning from the umpire.

Despite the bad start he took the set and then, after dropping serve in the 12th game of the second set to lose it 5-7, fought back in the third with breaks for 3-2 and 5-4.

He needed six break points to take an epic ninth game before serving out to love to clinch a sweet win.

Andre Agassi, also seen in action, won this match against Golmard.

Aggasi had not played a competitive match since he beat Boris Becker in the final of the Hong Kong Open in early April and had skipped ATP tour events in Tokyo, Monte Carlo and Hamburg as he wrestled with a nagging shoulder injury.

But the American, back at the Foro Italico after a five year absence, took just 70 minutes to defeat Golmard 6-3, 6-4 in brilliant sunshine on centre court.

Agassi's compatriot and 11th seed Todd Martin withdrew with a right shoulder injury but fellow American Michael Chang produced a typically gutsy performance to beat Thomas Muster in a tough battle between two fading clay court masters.

The first two sets went to tie-breaks before Chang rallied from 2-4 down in the third to win it 6-4.

Number three seed and former champion Alex Corretja shook off a bout of fatigue to beat Italy's Diego Nargiso 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) while number four seed Pat Rafter of Australia beat Croatian Goran Ivanisevic 7-5, 6-0.

Rafter, who crashed out to a qualifier in the opening round last year, struggled to dominate the match in the first set before Ivanisevic capitulated in the second.

Martinez advances to second round

BERLIN, May 11 (AP, Reuters) — Defending champion Conchita Martinez has ousted France’s Anne-Gaelle Sidot in straight sets to kick off the German Open, where 16 of the world’s top-20 are competing.

Martinez, a former Wimbledon winner who has fallen to 17th in the world rankings, advanced into the second round with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 victory at the $ one million tournament yesterday .

The top seeds, led by No 1 Martina Hingis, are first scheduled to see action today and tomorrow.

Romania’s Irina Spirlea, No. 13, became the first seed ousted when she withdrew with stomach pains while trailing Zimbabwe’s Carla Black, 4-6, 0-1, while No. 16 Barbara Schett of Austria advanced with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory against South African Mariaan de Swardt,

While many of the new wave of teenagers like Hingis, Serena Williams and Anna Kournikova have entered but they have yet to break the domination of the veterans at the event.

France’s Mary Pierce captured the title two years ago while Hingis, despite her dominance elsewhere, failed to last beyond the quarterfinals in the last three years.

Steffi Graf, a nine-time winner of the event, will also make her latest comeback from injury, when she faces wild card holder Sandra Nacuk of Yugoslavia.

The former world No. 1, seeded third, had been sidelined for three weeks because of a foot injury. Her coach warned not to expect too much of the German, who has won here more often than any other tournament in her career.

"She hasn’t played a single match on clay this year,’’ said Heinz Guenthardt.

Venus Williams, who often doesn’t enter the same events as her sister Serena, the injured Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles are the only top players not competing at the tournament.

In other matches, Lisa Raymond beat Chanda Rubin 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in an all-American duel, Italy’s Silvia Farina ousted Tara Snyder of the USA, 6-4, 6-1 and Israel’s Anna Smashnova routed Germany’s Marlene Weingaertner 6-0, 6-0.

The major surprise of yesterday’s first round was the victory of little-known German Julia Abe, rated 168th in the world, who beat Russia’s Tatiana Panova ranked 100 places above her 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).

Abe will meet the winner of Australian Open finalist Amelie Mauresmo’s meeting with Emmanuell Gagliardi of Switzerland.

Two lakh tour fee for every player

MUMBAI, May 11 (PTI) — The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will pay each of its players taking part in the World Cup Rs two lakh as tour fees, out of which Rs one lakh has already been paid in advance to the touring party members.

The board Secretary, Mr Jaywant Lele, said the team would stand to gain substantially in cash bonus, in excess of Rs five lakh, if it fulfils the dream of the cricket-crazy country by lifting the coveted Cup at the game’s headquarters, Lord’s, on June 20.
"We have given the team Rs five lakhs for winning tournaments in the recent past or even for winning the Delhi Test against Pakistan and will definitely give much more for clinching the World Cup", he said.

But Mr Lele denied reports that the board has written to the players assuring them of cash incentives even if they reach the super-six stage.

"No such letter has been written to the players", he said.

Mr Lele said the Indian team’s request for shifting Sunday’s warm-up match against Yorkshire to Headingley in Leeds was rejected by cup organisers even though the ground was available.
The team had a frustrating time when its second warm-up match against Yorkshire at Harrogate was abandoned without a ball being bowled as rain water had seeped onto the bowlers’ run-up beneath the covers.

Vikrant Chole stuns Gurpreet

SANGLI, May 11 (PTI) — Maharashtra’s lowly-rated Vikrant Chole shocked seasoned Gurpreet Pal Singh of Northern Railways in the second round of the 32nd S.K. Vaidya Memorial fide rated chess tournament here today.

Two former national ‘A’ champions, IM P. Konguvel, the top seed here, and second seeded IM D.V. Prasad of Indian Oil, however, won their games in rook endings against Ramakrishna Kashalkar (Maha) and Vikash Sharma (Punjab).

Also among winners were third seeded Englishman Andrew Webster, IM-elect Vishal Sareen and IWM S. Vijayalakshmi.

The Vikrant Chole-Gurpreet Singh encounter was a French defence exchange variation game. To keep his chances alive, Singh castled opposite in the queen side and advanced his kingside pawns for an attack against the rival monarch.

But he overlooked a positional trap set by white and lost a knight for insufficient compensation, after which Chole came up with precise play to secure full point in 34 moves.

Kashalkar adopted rossolimo attack against the sicilian defence of Konguvel. Konguvel had to allow his kingside pawn structure to be fractured to stave-off white threats. But Kashalkar, facing severe time trouble, missed a simple drawing continuation in the late middle game.

Even in the final double-rook ending, he had some drawing chances but missed all of them to land into a mating net to lose in 41 moves.

Prasad’s opponent Sharma overstepped the time limit and was declared lost on time in a pawn down rook ending which still offered defending possibilities.

Spinners hold the key, warns Kumble

LONDON, May 11 (AFP) — India’s 10-wicket hero Anil Kumble believes spin could be a dominant factor at the World Cup despite the cold, damp English conditions favouring seam and swing bowling.

“I know everyone is talking about how effective the seamers will be at the World Cup,” Kumble said. “My hunch is that the spinners will do as well, if not better.”

Kumble said his experience with Northamptonshire in English county cricket in 1995 showed that aggressive spinners like himself, Shane Warne, Mushtaq Ahmed and Muttiah Muralitharan would have a crucial role to play.

“I took more than 100 wickets that season, many of them during the first half of the English summer when the World Cup will be played,” he said.

“So there’s still hope for us spinners. I know both Shane and I will be looked upon as match-winning bowlers.”

Kumble, who relies more on extracting top-spin and bounce to fool batsmen than sideways turn, has had little opportunity over the last week to display his skills as India’s two warm up matches against county sides have both been washed out.

But Warne showed he would feature prominently as one of Australia’s main bowling weapons when taking two top-order wickets against Worcestershire yesterday.

Pakistan’s leg-spinner Mushtaq was ignored for the recent one-day series in India and Sharjah but was recalled for this tournament because of his consistent good performances for English county Somerset.

Mushtaq has 26 World Cup wickets, giving him sixth place in the all-time list behind five pacemen —Imran Khan (34), Ian Botham (30), Kapil Dev and Wasim Akram (28 each) and Craig McDermott (27).

Pakistan also possess another top-class spinner in Saqlain Mushtaq, who is also well versed in English conditions after playing for Surrey.

And Sri Lanka’s off-spinner Muralitharan, already signed up to play for Lancashire, displayed his liking for England when taking 16 wickets for 220 — the fifth-best Test match figures of all time against the World Cup hosts last year.

Kumble, nicknamed the ‘smiling assassin’ because of his genial nature, is assured a place in cricket’s Hall of Fame even if he fails to take a wicket at the World Cup.

He is only the second bowler in history after Englishman Jim Laker to take all 10 wickets in a Test match innings — against Pakistan in January.

But the 28-year-old knows it will now be harder to live up to the expectations of his cricket-mad countrymen. “You still start with a zero even after claiming five wickets in the previous innings,” he said.

Without the ball, Kumble resembles a friendly computer engineer which he is. On the pitch, according to team-mate Rahul Dravid, his character transforms. “He’s very aggressive, wants a wicket each ball. One miss (by his fielders) and he will let off a mouthful. But you are not offended because it comes from the heart.”

“You give him the ball and something is bound to happen,” says Azharudin. “His form will play a big role in how we perform at the World Cup.”

Rain thwarts India

TRENT BRIDGE, May 11 (PTI) — Sachin Tendulkar struck a composed unbeaten 30 in India’s total of 52 for one before their third and final World Cup warm-up match against Nottimghamshire was interrupted by rain as the fickle English weather continued to chase the Indians in the British Isles.

Tendulkar, who struck four hits to the boundary, was looking to cut loose in his usual style when rains caused interruption after 13 overs.

His opening partner Saurav Ganguly was back in the pavilion, caught brilliantly by Notts skipper J.E.R. Gallian off V.C. Drakes in the fourth over of the innings after India elected to bat.

India’s first warm-up match against Leicestershire was washed out with both the openers failing to impress while in the second match against Yorkshire at Herrogate, not a single ball was bowled after water leaked into the pitch following overnight rains.

World Cup website

NEW DELHI, May 11(UNI) — With the World Cup just three days away, cricket fans in India can now surf the net to get the latest information in their favourite event.

The Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) has announced that the site ‘www.cricket.org’ can be accessed through the portal websites ‘www.vsnl.com’ or ‘internet.vsnl.net.in’ on its servers in India.

VSNL acting Chairman and Managing Director, said: "We want to bring the excitement of the World Cup to the largest internet base of over 300,000 users in India".

He said that the event was generating a lot of excitement and on internet and thousands of hits were being recorded on various World Cup sites via the net.

Chauhan Club win

CHANDIGARH, May 11 (TNS) — Unbeaten century (124 not out) by Amanpreet enabled Chauhan club to beat Star Eleven by 146 runs in the first hot weather league cricket tournament being played in MES Ground, Patiala, yesterday.

Batting first Chauhan Club batsmen Bhupinder and Rajan Preet contributed 72 runs for first wicket in just six overs. Amanpreet scored a hurricane 124 runs with the help of five sixes and 14 boundaries as this team amassed 258 runs losing seven wickets.

In reply Star Eleven lost five wickets for 27 runs. Vikas Dhiman contributed 39 unbeaten as the team could score 112 for 8 in 25 overs.

Brief score:

Chauhan Club: 258 for 7 declared (Amanpreet 124 not out, Rajan Preet 35, Pardeep 32 Vikash Dhiman 4 for 27, Mohan Preet 2 for 56.

Star Eleven: 112 for 8 in 25 overs (Vikash Dhiman 39 not out). Vivek 2 for 18).

Coaching camp at Sundernagar

CHANDIGARH, May 11 (BOSR) — A three-week sports coaching camp during the summer vacations will be organised by the Education Department, Punjab, at Sundernagar (HP). The boys and girls of both secondary and primary levels can take part in the trials for the camp.

The camp will be conducted from June 1 to 21. The trials will be held at Polo Ground, Patiala, as per the following schedule: Primary May 20: athletics, kabaddi; May 21-gymnastics, wrestling and kho-kho. Secondary-level-May 20: athletics, basketball, handball, hockey and kabaddi. May 21-kho kho, judo, Gymnastics and volleyball. The trials will begin at 7.30 am. Girls will be lodged at Government Senior Secondary School, Pheel Khana, Patiala, while the boys will stay at Dhudial Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Patiala, during the trials.