Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid

Ganguly powers India
to four-wicket win

BULAWAYO, June 27: Saurav Ganguly finally shrugged off his poor form and powered India to a comfortable four-wicket win against Zimbabwe in the Triangular one-day series match here today. ......more

ACB to host three one-dayers between Australia and India

NEW DELHI, June 27: The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today confirmed that it will host a three-match one-day international series between Australia . . ...more

Australia to host one-day series against India

MELBOURNE, June 27: Australia are to host India in a three-match one-day series in September, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said today. . ...more

Alec Stewart interviewed
by ICC anti-corruption unit

LONDON, June 27: LONDON, June 27: England’s stand-in captain Alec Stewart has been questioned by International Cricket Council’s anti corruption unit regarding allegations. ....more

Ist Hot Weather Tamar Cup Cricket
Shastri Club registers easy win over Diamond

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, June 27: Shastri Cricket Club registered an easy six wickets victory over Diamond Cricket Club to reach the quarter-finals of the Ist Hot Weather...more

Citizens, Bharat Club win ties in 2nd Kulbir Memorial Cricket

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, June 27: Citizens Cricket Club and Bharat Cricket Club won their respective ties in the ongoing 2nd Kulbir Memorial Cricket Tournament being organised by Azad Cricket Club at Government Model School, Satwari, here today. ....more

Inter-school competitions
of Mandi zone held

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

POONCH, June 27: Inter-school competitions of Mandi zone in Poonch district concluded with the playing of finals in various disciplines at Higher Secondary School, Mandi, here today......more

Anand-Kramink
draw first two boards

MAINZ (Germany), June 27: The first day of the of the ten-game Maiz Classic rapid chess festival between world ......more

Mr Shiv Kumar Sharma, treasurer, Indian Style Wrestling Association of India being honoured at the 10th Annual Majalta Kesari Vishal Dangal, which held at Majalta in district Udhampur, by the Deputy SP, Mr Sewa Singh and Capt. Anant Ram, chairman and Kuldeep Singh, secretary of Majalta Dangal Committee for his dedications and contribution for the traditional game of wrestling.

Ganguly powers India to four-wicket win

BULAWAYO, June 27: Saurav Ganguly finally shrugged off his poor form and powered India to a comfortable four-wicket win against Zimbabwe in the Triangular one-day series match here today.

Ganguly worked hard for his 85 runs and looked very determined to end the run-drought that has haunted him and the team for the last two series. He should have got his century but for an ambitious shot off Grant Flower that was caught by Alistair Campbell at the mid-wicket fence.

As Ganguly concentrated hard to get his timing and placements right, he got fine assistance from his deputy Rahul Dravid, who remained unbeaten on 72, as India went past Zimbabwe’s 234 for six with four balls to spare.

Earlier, India squandered an initial advantage and allowed Zimbabwe to post a healthy total conceding as many as 85 runs in the last ten overs. Ganguly called the coin correctly for the second time in row and promptly put Zimbabwe in to bat and Zaheer Khan proved the decision correct by dismissing two batsmen in his first over, the second of the innings.

The spotlight was focussed on Ganguly throughout as the Indian captain concentrated hard and assiduously avoided balls outside the off-stump, his nemesis on so many occasions recently.

It helped his - and his team’s - cause that his partners, first Dinesh Mongia and then Rahul Dravid, settled down quickly and kept the scoreboard moving after Sachin Tendulkar had been dismissed cheaply. Mongia’s and Dravid’s fluency took the pressure off Ganguly who in the meanwhile grew confident with every run he scored.

Ganguly started with two fours but got into the shell after that as the bowlers tested him with outgoing deliveries. Tendulkar, who looked off-colour today and took 27 balls for his nine runs, got out when he failed to judge a slower ball from Bryan Strang and gave a simple catch to Grant Flower.

Ganguly’s problems would have been compounded had Mongia, promoted to come at number three, not got his rhythm going quickly. But the Punjab youngster, who had not quite played to his potential in his earlier matches, seized the initiative and played a few fine shots. A few boundaries gave him a lot of confidence and the breathing space to Ganguly who wasn’t able to middle the ball despite playing nearly 50 deliveries.

Mongia drove Travis Friend through the off-side for his third four and hit David Mutendera behind the point region for another boundary. The duo raised 69 runs for the second wicket before Mongia’s innings was cut short by a fine catch by Guy Whittall in the covers, again on a slower delivery this time by Mutendera.

Dravid was in brilliant touch and started working the ball into the gaps right from the very first delivery he faced. He also hit a few sweetly timed fours including a couple of pulls to keep India on course of the asking rate.

Ganguly, in the meanwhile, was looking much better and starting to get the singles. His third four, a pull shot off a short ball from Travis Friend in the 23rd over, gave him a lot of confidence and he looked to open up a bit.

Dravid was in terrific form, scoring at over run-a-ball without actually taking any risks. All his shots were clean hits and placed perfectly into the gaps. His straight drive off friend for a four in the 35th over was a copybook shot and he hit pulled the bowler two balls later for another boundary.

Ganguly’s fifth four, a smashing straight drive off Guy Whittall in the 34th over brought up his fifty, off 95 balls, and the captain celebrated it by going over the top in the same over for a six.

He looked more like himself after that and was able to find the gaps with greater regularity. He avoided risks preferring grounded shots even against the slow bowlers and looked set to convert the advantage into a big hundred.

But, probably just to prove that he was back to his usual touch, he couldn’t resist the temptation of stepping out to the spinner. He was unable to time his shot against Grant Flower properly and Campbell took a well-judged catch within inches of the boundary line.

Ganguly’s pain-staking innings came off 125 balls and contained eight fours and a six.

The dismissal of Ganguly effected a mini-collapse with Flower removing Hemang Badani and Virendra Sehwag in quick succession to reduce India to 193 for five in the 42nd over from a comfortable 185 for two.

However, Dravid stood like a rock and ensured that India attained the target comfortably. He reached his half-century off just 44 balls with five fours and played the role of sheet-anchor to perfection.

Wicketkeeper Samir Dighe too could not last long and was out for nine but Ajit Agarkar gave company to Dravid who brought the team’s victory with a four, India reaching 237 in 49.2 overs.

Dravid’s unbeaten 72 came off just 64 balls and contained seven hits to the fence - his effort winning him the man of the match award - while Agarkar remained not out on 13 off 12 balls with two fours.

For Zimbabwe, Grant Flower finished with figures of four for 44 from eight overs and he was clearly the best of the lot.

Earlier, the hosts overcame a shaky start and capitalised on loose bowling and shoddy fielding by India to reach a decent total which looked quite improbable when they were two down for seven in the second over.

For the second time in two matches, India were off to a dream start when Zaheer Khan dismissed opener Campbell and Stuart Carlisle in his first over.

They would have been in greater trouble had the Indians latched on to the chances offered. Opener Dion Ebrahim, who went on to make 42, was let off on three occasions.

Then there were 28 extras conceded by the Indians that included 12 no-balls and nine wides. Zaheer Khan, the most successful bowler with four wickets for 42 runs, was the major culprit bowling seven no-balls and four wides.

Zimbabwe, in a must-win situation after losing the first two matches, showed enough patience during the middle overs and concentrated on saving their wickets. They went on the attack only after the 40th over and scored 85 runs from the last ten overs.

Guy Whittall, leading the side in the absence of Heath Streak, played a captain’s knock and remained unbeaten on 58 and there were handsome contributions from Grant Flower (45) and Craig Wishart (46) too.

Ebrahim and Craig Wishart did the initial damage control but lived dangerously. Ebrahim, when on three, was caught by wicketkeeper Samir Dighe off Agarkar but no one, except the bowler, appealed and the batsman stayed.

On nine, he was dropped by Mongia at second slip and two overs later, Agarkar grounded a tame return catch to give him his third life.

Ebrahim raised 87 runs with Wishart before the latter was caught by Agarkar off Saurav Ganguly for a well-made 46 off 68 balls with three fours. Ebrahim became Zaheer Khan’s third victim, adjudged leg before wicket after making 42 off 110 balls that contained four boundaries.

That brought flower and Whittall together and marked the resurgence of the Zimbabwe innings. Both batsmen were patient in the beginning preferring to settle down before launching the onslaught. Flower was the first to press the accelerator when he came out to Nehra and hit through the off-side in identical fashion for two boundaries.

Whittall took a cue and reverse swept Harbhajan twice in the 43rd over for two more fours. (PTI)

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe

D Ebrahim lbw b Zaheer 42

A Campbell c Ganguly b Zaheer 2

S Carlisle lbw b Zaheer 0

C Wishart c Agarkar b Ganguly 46

G Flower c Sehwag b Zaheer 45

G Whittall not out 58

A Blignaut c Harbhajan b Agarkar 11

T Taibu not out 2

Extras (lb-7 nb-12 w-9) 28

Total (for six wickets, 50 overs) 234

Fall of wickets: 1-5 2-7 3-94 4-122 5-184 6-215

Did not bat: D Mutendera, T Friend, B Strang

Bowling: Nehra 10-0-31-0 (nb-3, w-2) Zaheer 10-0-42-4 (nb-7, w-4) Agarkar 10-0-55-1 (nb-1, w-2), Harbhajan 9-0-41-0, Ganguly 7-0-39-1, Sehwag 4-0-19-0 (nb-1, w-1).

India

S Ganguly c Campbell b G Flower 85

S Tendulkar c G Flower b B Strang 9

D Mongia c Whittall b Mutendera 37

R Dravid not out 72

H Badani b G Flower 0

V Sehwag c Ebrahim b G Flower 2

S Dighe c and b G Flower 9

A Agarkar not out 13

Extras (lb-1, nb-2, w-7) 10

Total (for six wickets, 49.2 overs) 237

Fall: 1-22, 2-91, 3-184, 4-187, 5-193, 6-210

Did not bat: Z Khan, H Singh, A Nehra.

Bowling: Blignaut 10-0-41-0 (w-3), B Strang 10-2-26-1 (nb-1), Friend 9-0-45-0 (w-2, nb-1), Mutendera 8-0-52-1 (w-2), Whittall 4-0-28-0, G Flower 8-0-44-4. Man of the match: Rahul Dravid. (REUTERS)'¿pÁv·q·ºÑÏä½O  @

ACB to host three one-dayers between Australia and India

NEW DELHI, June 27: The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today confirmed that it will host a three-match one-day international series between Australia and India on September 21, 23 and 26 in Melbourne and Brisbane.

The Melbourne fixtures will take place at Colonial Stadium and at the Gabba in Brisbane, an ACB release received here said.

The series follows on from last year’s historic tournament between Australia and South Africa, which saw international cricket played indoors for the first time.

ACB chief executive officer Malcolm Speed said the series would build on the success of last year’s event.

"The success of super challenge 2000 has paved the way for more international cricket out of the traditional summer season. Colonial Stadium is now a proven venue for cricket, while the warmer climate at the Gabba in Queensland provides us with an alternative to take the series to other parts of Australia," he added.

"Australia and India had a terrific battle in India earlier in the year and super challenge 2001 will give Australian cricket followers the chance to enjoy the rivalry between these two teams," Mr Speed said.

Australian captain Steve Waugh said he was looking forward to the series.

"It’s going to be great for the boys to play on home soil again after tours to India and the UK and the event should prove an excellent start to the new season," he said.

"Super challenge 2000 was a superb and innovative event that was a great experience to be involved in. The matches against India, both at colonial stadium and at the Gabba, promise to be an equally impressive spectacle, especially after the high-quality and closely-fought cricket the two sides produced in India last autumn, " he added.

"I know some of the players, like myself, have family commitments around that time and that’s a difficult situation, but both sides, the ACB and the players, understand the other’s point of view. I’m happy we’ve been able to reach an amicable solution that means Australia will field the strongest side available," Waugh said. In order to prepare Colonial Stadium for super challenge, the ACB will again use a " drop-in" pitch to make the transition from an AFL ground to a surface suitable for international cricket. The pitch will be developed off-site, using similar technology to last year’s event.

The Brisbane lions Australian Football Club, which play at the Gabba, have agreed to move any training session they have scheduled for the ground, should it coincide with the super challenge event on September 26. The lions would only be training on this date should they win through to the AFL grand final.

Malcolm speed said he was very appreciative of the lions’ support. "I would like to thank the lions for their flexibility in allowing the ACB to take super challenge to the people of Queensland," he said.

The nine network will televise the series in Australia. Ticketing details, sponsorship and overseas television arrangements will be announced in due course.

The fixture:

Friday 21 September Australia v India Colonial Stadium Melbourne (d/n)

Sunday 23 September Australia v India Colonial Stadium

Wednesday 26 September Australia v India Gabba, Brisbane (d/n) —(UNI)

Australia to host one-day series against India

MELBOURNE, June 27: Australia are to host India in a three-match one-day series in September, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said today.

The series follows last year’s experiment in which the world champions played three games against South Africa under a closed roof at Melbourne’s Colonial Stadium, the first time international cricket had been played indoors.

Colonial will stage matches against India on September 21 and 23, with the third game due to take place in Brisbane on September 26.

Australia Captain Steve Waugh, currently in England preparing for the five-test ashes series, had expressed reservations about the tournament, particularly because the wives of three players, himself, Glenn Mcgrath and Shane Warne, are expecting babies around that time.

"It’s going to be great for the boys to play on home soil after tours to India and the UK, and the event should prove an excellent start to the new season," Waugh said in an ACB statement.

"I know some of the players have family commitments around that time and that’s a difficult situation, but both sides, the ACB and the players, understand the other’s point of view.

"I’m happy we’ve been able to reach an amicable solution that means Australia will field the strongest side available."

ACB Chief Executive Malcolm speed said he had discussed the series recently with Waugh in London.

"He’d like to be present when the baby’s born and that’s pretty reasonable," Speed said. "But he’s keen to play in the series."

India beat Australia 2-1 in a test series on the sub-continent earlier this year, ending Waugh’s team’s record 16-match winning streak. (REUTERS)

Alec Stewart interviewed by ICC anti-corruption unit

LONDON, June 27: England’s stand-in captain Alec Stewart has been questioned by International Cricket Council’s anti corruption unit regarding allegations that he accepted money from an Indian bookmaker eight years ago.

Stewart, currently leading the England side in the absence of Nasser Hussain, was interviewed by investigators led by ACU chief Sir Paul Condon, ICC said in a brief statement yesterday.

"A report in relation to the allegations against Alec Stewart, will be submitted to the England and Wales Cricket Board," the statement said.

Bookmaker Mukesh Gupta, in his deposition before CBI, had alleged having given 5000 pounds to sessed "total shock" when Gupta’s allegations were made public in CBI report on betting and match-fixing last November and hoped that his reputation, when he finished playing, would be "a good one not just in England, but throughout the world". (PTI)

Ist Hot Weather Tamar Cup Cricket
Shastri Club registers easy win over Diamond

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, June 27: Shastri Cricket Club registered an easy six wickets victory over Diamond Cricket Club to reach the quarter-finals of the Ist Hot Weather Tamar Cup Cricket Tournament organised by the Rehari Cricket Club at M A Stadium, here today.

Earlier, Diamond Club won the toss and decided to bat first. The whole side was bowled out for 80 runs in 22 overs off the 25 overs match. In reply, Shastri Club reached the target in just 16.2 overs for the loss of four wickets.

Diamond Club was in difficulty right from the beginning, when its first two wickets fell without any run on the board. Since the fall of wickets continued at regular intervals, Diamond Club innings ended at a score of 80. Last three wickets fell at the same score of 80.

Swaran Singh was the top scorer with 21 runs off 29 deliveries made with the help of one six, while Gurdev Singh played a slow inning of 17 runs. Jasbir Singh contributed 10 runs off 10 balls.

Sanjay was the most successful bowler from Shastri, who bagged three wickets for 26 in three overs. Ashish took two wickets, while Munish, Suresh and Lucky shared one each. Batting second, Shastri Club made a confident start and reached the target in 16.2 overs with six wickets in hand.

Nikhil was the main scorer, who remained unbeaten at 24 made off 21 balls, while Amit Paul Singh contributed 14 and Munish 13 runs to the total.

From Diamond Club, Jasbir Singh took two wickets, while Harvinder Singh and Janak Singh claimed one each.

Today’s match was officiated by Ravi and Rohit, while Ashwani was scorer.

Tomorrow’s fixture: KCCC will take on Challenger Cricket Club in the first quarter-final at 7.30 am.