AHMEDABAD, Dec 15: After a day of dull play when his team batted slow to settle for draw in the second ...............more

Lara airlifted
to hospital after
elbow injury

KANDY, Dec 15: West Indian star Brian Lara was today airlifted to a Colombo Hospital after dislocating his..................more

Jayawardene helps
Sri Lanka win as
West Indies lose Lara

KANDY (SRI LANKA), Dec 15: The West Indies’ hopes of qualifying for the tri-series final dwindled as ............more

Resurgent India lift
Champions Challenge
Hockey Trophy

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15: India, for once, lived up to its pre-tournament billing defeating South Africa .....more

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 15: In the Inter-College Kho-Kho competition which begun here today.......more

Alan Thilak Karate School
conducts technical camp

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 15: A National Technical Training Camp was organised under.....more

Goa, Kerala record
victories, Delhi
locked with Chandigarh

JAIPUR, Dec 15: Goa and Kerala recorded victories over their rivals while Delhi were locked......more

Ranji Trophy
matches washed
out due to rain

JALLANDAR, Dec 15: All the three North Zone Ranji Trophy limited over matches......more

Ganguly happy to retain 1-0 lead

AHMEDABAD, Dec 15: After a day of dull play when his team batted slow to settle for draw in the second test, a relieved Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said he was happy his team still held a 1-0 lead.

The man, who talked of a 3-0 whitewash after his team’s 10 wicket win in Mohali, was now denying ever harbouring such hopes. "I never had a 3-0 series win in my mind. I was just taking one test at a time. You cannot walk into a test series thinking of a 3-0 win," he said.

"Let’s not take credit away from the England team who played well on a good flat track," Ganguly said.

"Our spinners bowled well and in the end we did well to be still 1-0 up in the series. I hope we will do better to win the series in Bangalore."

Ganguly was also willing to give the benefit of doubt to Dasgupta, who has had a very poor match as wicketkeeper, saying he was a very bright prospect for India.

"He has a good character and very good temperament. Moreover, he is young and just had one bad match. I am sure he will improve soon. In fact, he is a better `keeper than this and he sweated it out scoring 60 runs today. He is a very fine prospect for India for years to come," he said.

England skipper Nasser Hussain was full of praise for his team for putting up an improved performance and earn a creditable draw after the drubbing in the first test.

"One could see the improvement over the last five days. The hard work paid off. I would like to congratulate all the members. To bowl out the strong Indian lineup for 291 was an exceptional display by our bowlers," Hussain said.

"I was not at all annoyed with my boys after we lost at mohali as our team is an inexperienced one. They tried to adapt to the conditions in Mohali and failed but they adapted well here and got back their confidence.

"In this test, except for the one hour when Sachin Tendulkar was batting, we were in complete control," Hussain said.

"However, we still have to work out a way to get 20 wickets to win a test match in India."

Asked whether his batsmen had learnt to play Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, Hussain said, "we did pretty well against them in this match but I don’t want to be too excited because the next wicket (in Bangalore) may be a turning track and good bowlers like Kumble and Harbhajan have a lot of tricks up their sleeves".

Hussain looked quite satisfied with the performance of his own spinners. "It was great to have him back," he said about Ashley Giles who had missed the first test due to a foot injury. "To come back and bag five wickets was a great effort.

"(James) Foster and (Richard) Dawson are playing just their second game and I was pleased by their effort," he said. (PTI)

Lara airlifted to hospital after elbow injury

KANDY, Dec 15: West Indian star Brian Lara was today airlifted to a Colombo Hospital after dislocating his left elbow during a one-day international against Sri Lanka here.

Lara collided with Sri Lankan fielder Marvan Atapattu while attempting a quick run and lay clutching his left hand before officials took him off in a stretcher.

X-rays at a local hospital revealed a dislocated left elbow and a broken forearm, forcing doctors to call on an Army helicopter to transport Lara to Colombo," West Indian coach Roger Harper said. "We are all very worried."

The injury is likely to rule Lara out for the tour of Pakistan in February and the home series against India in April.

The left-hander, one of modern cricket’s leading batsman, was in terrific form during the recent test series against Sri Lanka in which he made over 650 runs in three matches.

It was at the same Asgiriya Stadium in this hill resort two years ago that australian captain Steve Waugh broke his nose and fast bowler Jason Gillespie dislocated a leg after a horrific collision in a test match.

Like Lara, both players had also been airlifted to the Sri Lankan capital for further treatment. (AFP)

Jayawardene helps Sri Lanka win as
West Indies lose Lara

KANDY (SRI LANKA), Dec 15: The West Indies’ hopes of qualifying for the tri-series final dwindled as they lost to Sri Lanka and Brian Lara was ruled out for the rest of the tri-series here today.

Mahela Jayawardene’s superb 106 and his 187-run unbroken partnership with Marvan Atapattu (82) helped the home team coast to an eight-wicket victory in the penultimate league match of the tournament.

It was Sri Lanka’s third win in four matches and leaves Zimbabwe and the West Indies fighting it out for the other final berth in the last league tie tomorrow.

But without Lara, who dislocated his left elbow and suffered a fractured arm, the West Indies are likely to have a tough time against Zimbabwe.

They could not give Sri Lanka a run for their money as Jayawardene made up for missing a century by four runs in the previous match against Zimbabwe.

Jayawardene hit eight fours and two sixes off 94 deliveries, even as Atapattu struck seven fours and two sixes.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya had earlier scored a run-a-ball 34.

Put in to bat, the West Indies scored 235 in 49.5 overs, lara retiring hurt when in full flow. He had scored 24 off 29 deliveries when he collided with Marvan Atapattu near the non-striker’s end.

The West Indies had lost opener Chris Gayle by then and after a cameo by Ramnaresh Sarwan (24), it was left to captain Carl Hooper to stop the rot in the company of opener Daren Ganga.

Hooper hit 72 off 98 balls, with the help of four fours, putting on 69 runs for the third wicket with Ganga (52).

The West Indian captain was out when he lofted Sanath Jayasuriya and was caught at long off by Upul Chandana.

There were no worthwhile partnerships down the order, with wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs fighting a lone battle with a quick 25 off 29 balls. The innings folded with one delivery still to go.

Charitha Buddika, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jayasuriya and Russel Arnold took two wickets each.

The West Indies and Zimbabwe both have one win from three matches each and the winner tomorrow will make it to the final to be held at Colombo on Wednesday. (AFP)

SCORECARD:

West Indies C Gayle lbw B Fernando 8 D Ganga c Sangakkara b Arnold 52 B Lara retd hurt 24 R Sarwan c Sangakkara b Fernando 5 C Hooper c Chandana b Jayasuriya 72 M Samuels c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 10 R Powell c Jayasuriya b Muralitharan 8 R Jacobs not out 25 N Mcgarrell b Jayasuriya 0 C Collymore b Arnold 5 J Lawson run out 3 Extras (b-4 lb-4 nb-4 w-11) 23 Total (all out, 49.5 overs) 235

Fall of wickets: 1-16 2-77 3-146 4-170 5-193 6-205 7-2058-229 9-235

Bowling: Zoysa 7-1-37-0 (7w), Fernando 7-0-25-2 (1w, 2nb),Nissanka 2-0-22-0 (2nb), Muralitharan 10-0-33-2 (2w), Chandana8-0-41-0 (1w), Jayasuriya 10-0-36-2, Arnold 5.5-0-33-2

Sri Lanka S Jayasuriya c Sarwan b Lawson 34 A Gunawardene c sub (D Brown) b Lawson 10 M Atapattu not out 82 M Jayawardene not out 106 Extras (lb-2 nb-1 w-4) 7 Total (for two wickets, 43.1 overs) 239

Fall of wickets: 1-36 2-52

Did not bat: R Arnold, K Sangakkara, U Chandana, N Zoysa,B Fernando, P Nissanka, M Muralitharan.

Bowling: Collymore 10-1-46-0 (1nb), Lawson 10-1-47-2,McGarrell 8-0-57-0 (1w), Hooper 8-1-34-0 (1w), Gayle 3-0-18-0,Samuels 4-0-31-0 (2w), Ganga 0.1-0-4-0.

Result: Sri Lanka won by eight wickets.

Next match: West Indies v Zimbabwe, Kandy, Dec 16.(REUTERS)

Resurgent India lift Champions Challenge Hockey Trophy

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15: India, for once, lived up to its pre-tournament billing defeating South Africa 2-1 to clinch the inaugural Champions Challenge Hockey Trophy and a place among the elite for next year’s champions trophy after a gap of six years.

With this victory, India registered their first big win at the senior level after the 1998 asian games gold medal and their first win here at this venue. The victory sends India to the 2002 Champions Trophy in Cologne, Germany.

Skipper Baljit Singh Dhillon played his best match of the tournament and won the man-of-the-match award.

India had 13 strikes at the South African goal but could put the ball in only twice. It showed the awesome superiority of the Indians but not without exposing their deficiencies from the word go with Baljit Dhillon, Dhanraj Pillay and Deepak Thakur severely testing the South African defence.

The first opening came in the sixth minute when on top of the circle, Dhanraj Pillay turned and hit a reverse shot that just went over the post.

The attacks continued with Sukhbir Singh gill also coming up from midfield. In the 9th minute came the opening goal for india off a superb move. Baljit Dhillon seized the ball in the midfield and ran through the middle tapping it to Dhanraj Pillay who after entering the striking circle gave it to Deepak Thakur whose shot on the bounce beat South African goalkeeper Chris Hibbert.

In the 11th minute, it could easily have been a second goal but India muffed the chance.

India earned their first penalty corner in the 17th minute but Jugraj Singh’s flick was deflected off a South African defender’s stick.

Minutes later, Dhanraj Pillay after making a run in the South African striking circle, was hit by the ball around the shoulder and had to be taken off.

South Africa re-grouped as India’s initial pace slackened. Baljit Dhillon fell back and with only Deepak Thakur and Gagan Ajit upfront, the space was created by south africa who used it effectively and earned their first penalty corner in the 22nd minute which was, however, wasted as the shot was delayed.

Just a minute before the break, Thirumalvalvan went for the ball and made a stirring run but instead of giving the ball away, decided to go on his own. He was, however, stopped in the circle by the defence.

At the break, India led 1-0.

For five minutes into the second half, both teams restricted themselves to holding possession and trying to find a way of breaking each other’s defence.

In the 40th minute, Baljit Dhillon moved up and gave a superb pass to Daljit but he shot out wide. Two minutes later, Pillay was back after his shoulders had been taped heavily but he was wary of the tackles and was not the same throughout the second half.

India earned two penalty corners in the 42nd and 43rd minutes but both were wasted as first Deepak and then Jugraj hit out. In the 50th minute, after yet another attack, India earned their fourth penalty corner but South African goalkeeper made a wonderful save.

India finally increased the lead with their second goal in the 54th minute which came off the fifth penalty corner. Baljit Dhillon passed to Jugraj for the hit but the ball got deflected and came back to Jugraj who gave it back to Baljit who was standing next to the goal. He then let fly a stinger that beat the South African ‘keeper.

India could have then increased the tally by atleast four more goals but Deepak Thakur was the main culprit as he consistently hit the ball out even when he had only the ‘keeper to beat.

South Africa meanwhile stepped up the pressure, desperate to get a goal back. They succeeded in the 59th minute when Craig Fulton made a wonderful run into the Indian striking circle and gave it to Denzil Dolley who virtually slided into goal with the ball.

South Africa suddenly took on the role of the aggressors as they earned two penalty corners in succession but luckily for India both the strikes deflected out.

With four minutes to go and tension mounting on the Indian bench, South Africa earned their fifth penalty corner but Jugraj, rushing out, deflected the ball off his stick.

The Indian bench rushed out as the hooter sounded signalling the second big triumph for India in international hockey and their first tournament victory here at the Bukit Jalil stadium. (PTI)

GWC Parade beat Kathua College in Kho-Kho

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 15: In the Inter-College Kho-Kho competition which begun here today, Women College Parade defeated Kathua Degree College.

The players of Women College Parade played good game and register one turn and 9 points victory over Kathua Degree College. Udhampur Women College got walk-over Degree College Udhampur as the later could not reach the venue for the match.

Government College for Women, Parade and Udhampur Women College have entered into the semi-finals of the competition.