CENTURION PARK (PRETORIA), Oct 11: Indian bowlers made ample amends for their poor performance in the first match and skittled out South Africa for 192 to enable their team register a 41 run win in the ...............more

Harbhajan Singh

Ganguly rues Harbhajan’s
omission in first match

CENTURION PARK (PRETORIA), Oct 11: The success of Harbhajan Singh in India’s 41-run win against South Africa................more

Junior World Cup Hockey
India scores 2nd big win

HIBART, Oct 11: India maintained its winning streak chalking out its second big win in the Junior ...................more

US Davis Cup team to
donate 100,000 dollar

WINSTON-SALEM (NORTH CAROLINA), Oct 11: US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe and ......more

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 11: Degree College Bhaderwah and Degree College Poonch are to clash in the final of the Inter-Collegiate Volleyball........more

8th National Thang-Ta Championship
J&K team wins 45 medals
in different categories

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 11: State team of Thang-Ta bagged runners-up trophy by winning 45 medals in different weight..........more

8th National Thang-Ta Championship
J&K team wins 45 medals
in different categories

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 11: State team of Thang-Ta bagged runners-up trophy by winning 45 medals.....more

Sakina hopeful of tourism picking up
Pony race, golf competition
enlivens Gulmarg

Excelsior Correspondent

GULMARG, Oct 11: The captivating meadows of famous hill station Gulmarg in the Kashmir valley today witnessed......more

Defender of Degree College Bhaderwah saving a smash by MAM College player. -Excelsior/Ashok

India end 9-year drought on South African soil

CENTURION PARK (PRETORIA), Oct 11: Indian bowlers made ample amends for their poor performance in the first match and skittled out South Africa for 192 to enable their team register a 41 run win in the triangular one-day series here last night.

Harbhajan Singh justified his inclusion in the side claiming three wickets while Anil Kumble took two as they ran through the South African middle order after India, electing to bat first, had been bowled out for 233 in 48.4 overs.

India’s road to victory was not entirely smooth though. All-rounder Lance Klusener and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher gave India some anxious moments, adding 77 runs for the eighth wicket after the hosts had been sent reeling at 106 for seven in the 25th over.

The duo brought their team within 50 runs of the Indian total and seemed to be taking the match away from the visitors before a fine catch by Ajit Agarkar on the mid-wicket fence broke the partnership and paved the way for India’s win, the first against the hosts on the South African soil since the 1991-92 series.

Klusener, who made 44, and boucher, with 38, were the only notable contributors for the hosts who surprisingly fell like a pack of cards today.

Earlier, it was once again a case of missed opportunities for the Indians who were bowled out for 233 after a reasonably good start. They got a couple of partnerships going but got out at crucial junctures to derail the Indian innings.

The Indian medium-pacers, who were the main culprit in the six-wicket loss to South Africa in the first match at Johannesburg last Friday, bowled an inspired spell today as if determined to silence their critics.

Agarkar provided the breakthrough in his very first over, getting the big wicket of Herschelle Gibbs who was caught by Virender Sehwag for just one run with the South African total on five.

Then, 33 runs later the other opener Gary Kirsten, who had remained unbeaten on 133 in the last match to guide his team to victory, was clean bowled by Javagal Srinath, bowling a very tight line and length, for 12.

In a bid to keep up the pressure, skipper Sourav Ganguly introduced his trump cards Anil Kumble in the 10th over and Harbhajan Singh in the 17th and both immediately produced the results.

Kumble sent down a quicker delivery that skidded through Neil McKenzie’s bat and crashed into the stumps. McKenzie, who had hit Srinath for two boundaries in the previous over, had absolutely no answer to Kumble and walked back to the pavilion after making 29 off 35 balls.

In his next over, Kumble had Jonty Rhodes, who made a quick eight off just four balls, caught by Rahul Dravid at first slip to reduce the South African side to 76 for four in the 14th over.

But that was just the beginning of the South African collapse. Harbhajan lured Jacques Kallis out of his crease and foxed him with a straighter delivery that saw the batsman totally stranded in the middle with wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta doing an easy stumping.

With the top order gone, the South Africans surprisingly sent Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje ahead of Klusener and boucher, a move that proved to be a masterstroke in the final analysis.

Both pollock, who earlier in the day had completed a five wicket haul and also reached 200 one-day dismissals, and Boje were trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan and South Africa were in a seemingly hopeless situation at 106 for seven.

So much so, the chances of India bowling out South Africa inside 186 runs to earn a bonus point looked to be a distinct possibility.

However, Klusener and Boucher decided they would not go down without a fight and started a damage control exercise. With the required run rate still under five runs an over, the duo got down to picking up gaps and scoring through singles and twos without taking any risks.

With the hosts on the backfoot, Ganguly found it an opportune time to bowl his fifth bowler, bringing Sachin Tendulkar on. This provided the much needed breathing space to Klusener and Boucher who slowly but steadily kept the scoreboard ticking and managed to keep the asking rate within control.

The partnership started taking dangerous proportions for the Indians when the two took the score beyond the 160-mark. Both Klusener and Boucher were well set by then and had absolutely no difficulty in finding the gaps. An ocassional boundary was also available and suddenly it looked an Indian victory was not all that certain anymore.

Sehwag replaced Tendulkar, who was not very much effective with the ball, but the South African run flow could not be contained. Ganguly’s hands were tied in that he could not afford to bowl the fifth bowler in the slog overs and had to persist with Sehwag, who was not doing all that bad.

Kumble, who had already bowled seven overs, was back in the 41st over but was punished on a short ball by Boucher who hit an easy boundary.

In the 44th over, Ganguly made a bold move and, instead of bringing back Srinath, decided to continue with Sehwag, who had conceded 24 runs in his seven overs, despite the quota of the fifth bowler having been completed.

And Sehwag turned the match around with the very first ball of that over. With asking rate going just above six runs an over, Boucher decided to go for a hit. He went for a sweep but could not time it properly and Agarkar took a brilliant running catch at mid-wicket boundary.

That proved to be the turning point of the match as the next two batsmen, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel, were not expected to score many runs.

Sehwag’s over proved to be a maiden which put further pressure on South Africa. In his next over, Sehwag clean bowled Ntini off the very first ball. The batsman went for a big hit and completely missed the line.

With 46 required from the last four overs, Klusener had no choice but to go for his shots. Agarkar returned in the 46th over, only to be thrashed to the boundary by Klusener off the very first ball. But the Mumbai paceman got his back when Klusener mistimed the next ball and Yuveraj Singh took a well judged catch to bring the innings to a close.

The Indian batsmen had not fared much better either. Unlike in the first one-dayer where they had started with a flourish, Ganguly and Tendulkar began on a more cautios note today, preferring to have a good look at the bowlers before going on the attack.

With the pitch slightly more difficult for the batsmen than the one at Johannesburg only 18 runs could be scored in the first six overs.

However, Ganguly, who returned to form with a brilliant 127 in the previous match, decided to up the ante and hoisted Pollock for two sixes in the bowler’s fourth over. On both ocassions, the left-hander came out to make room and lofted the ball over the cover region.

Tendulkar also took the cue and hit nel for two successive fours in the next over. The two overs produced 25 runs for the Indians before disaster struck.

Pollock, in his fifth over, decided to come round the wicket to Ganguly who snicked to second slip where Jacques Kallis looked to have taken a brilliant reflex catch. However, TV replays showed the ball had touched the ground while in the fielder’s hand and clearly Ganguly should not have been given out. Ganguly’s 24 came off 24 balls and contained two sixes and a four.

Shiv Sunder Das, who is trying to get a foothold in limited overs cricket, could not stay long and gave a regulation catch to Lance Klusener at second slip in the South African captain’s next over after making just two runs. (PTI)

SCORECARD:

India S Ganguly c Kallis b Pollock 24 S Tendulkar c Nel b Ntini 38 S Das c Klusener b Pollock 2 R Dravid c Klusener b Pollock 54 Y Singh b Ntini 42 V Sehwag c Ntini b Nel 33 D Dasgupta c Boucher b Klusener 8 A Agarkar c Boucher b Klusener 1 H Singh lbw b Pollock 15 A Kumble not out 7 J Srinath c Kallis b Pollock 2 Extras (lb-2, nb-4, w-1) 7 Total (all out, 48.4 overs) 233

Fall: 1-44, 2-52, 3-75, 4-165, 5-167, 6-204, 7-208,8-208, 9-231.

Bowling: Pollock 9.4-1-37-5, Nel 10-0-49-1, Kallis9-0-42-0, Ntini 10-0-42-2, Klusener 7-0-30-2, Boje 3-0-31-0.

South Africa G Kirsten b Srinath 12 H Gibbs c Sehwag b Agarkar 1 J Kallis st Dasgupta b Harbhajan 29 N McKenzie b Kumble 21 J Rhodes c Dravid b Kumble 8 S Pollock lbw b Harbhajan 15 N Boje lbw b Harbhajan 9 L Klusener c Yuveraj b Agarkar 44 M Boucher c Agarkar b Sehwag 38 M Ntini b Sehwag 1 A Nel not out 0 Extras (b-2, lb-4, w-5, nb-3) 14 Total (all out, 46.2 overs) 192

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-38, 3-66, 4-76, 5-85, 6-101,7-106, 8-183, 9-188.

Bowling: Srinath 6-0-32-1, Agarkar 8.2-0-40-2, Kumble10-0-42-2, Harbhajan Singh 10-0-27-3, Tendulkar 4-0-21-0,Sehwag 8-1-24-2. (PTI)

Ganguly rues Harbhajan’s omission in first match

CENTURION PARK (PRETORIA), Oct 11: The success of Harbhajan Singh in India’s 41-run win against South Africa in a triangular one-day series match last night has forced captain Saurav Ganguly to admit that keeping the off-spinner out of the first match last week was a mistake.

"Probably it was a mistake not to play him (Harbhajan) at Wanderers (Johannesburg, in the first match)," Ganguly said after the match with Harbhajan within a earshot.

At Wanderers last Friday, India failed to defend a record total of 279 in the absence of Harbhajan. And the off-spinner proved his worth last night, claiming three for 27, to play a major role in India’s first victory in the tournament.

Ganguly appreciated that the disappointment of being left out in the first match had not affected the bowler at all.

"He has done enough and doesn’t need anyone’s confidence to keep himself going. He bowled fantastically well," the captain said.

Harbhajan himself was quite modest in his hour of glory and said his feat would have amounted to little if India had not won the match. But more importantly, he said, he had showed that he could be effective on seamer friendly pitches as well.

"I got a good chance to prove I can bowl well on seaming tracks as well. I would be happy if I can keep up this form," Harbhajan said and admitted it was his best performance in one-day internationals to date.

Despite the victory, both Ganguly and coach John Wright were worried over the batsmen’s continued failure to capitalise in the slog overs.

"Quite a few of our batsmen got in and couldn’t carry on. It is one aspect we have to work on," Ganguly said. "If a batsman gets set, he must score big runs. It would serve him as well as the team. It was a crime we wasted the last seven deliveries and couldn’t bat the full 50 overs."

Almost all the top order batsmen, including Ganguly, got good starts yesterday but, except for Rahul Dravid who top scored with 54, none could convert them into big knocks.

"We wasted a good opportunity of 250-plus (total). We have to learn from it. We are putting ourselves in a position in which if we bat well, we can score big runs," Wright said.

Wright said the team had worked hard on their ground fielding and it was finally showing results. He said he was very pleased to see Virender Sehwag diving to his full at the boundary to save what looked like a certain four for Jonty Rhodes.

"Next ball Jonty (Rhodes) was out. These are little things which change a match though you never know if it made the difference.

"It is a good confidence booster for us, especially for the coming matches of the series. I think we are getting a little more fluent in the field," the coach said. (PTI)

Junior World Cup Hockey
India scores 2nd big win

HIBART, Oct 11: India maintained its winning streak chalking out its second big win in the Junior World Cup crushing Scotland 7-1 today.

Deepak Thakur was the main scorer with four goals to his name, which included a hat-trick. Prabhjot Singh, Tejbir Singh and Kanwan Singh scored one each.

With the second straight win India have assured themselves a place in group ‘E’ which will feature top two teams from all four pools in the final league stage. Tomorrow India will meet Spain to decide the pool three topper.

Spain defeated Canada 6-1 today.

In another match today, Germany edged out the Kiwis 2 -1 to maintain their top position in Pool D in the third match of the first session in Hobart here.

Even though the performance of the Indian team satisfied most, coach Rajinder Singh was not happy. "We should have got more goals on the scoreboard. I am disappointed with the penalty corner conversions, we could get only one goal from the six PC’s we got today."

The Indian team went into the offensive right from the start. They earned a penalty corner as early as the 5th minute but failed to stop the ball cleanly.

Prabhjot Singh opened the scoring for India in the 10th minute with a shot from mid-circle after a pleasing bout of passing among the Indian forwards.

Although India continued to dominate the proceedings with the mid-field supplying the forwards with a lot of through balls the Indians had to wait till the 23rd minute for their second goal.

Deepak Thakur got into his class act for the day when he received a reverse shot from high left of the circle close to the right port and tipped it in. India then immediately forced two penalty corners and got a goal off their second one with Tejbir Singh flicking in an indirect pass from the mid-circle to put India three up.

Scotland then made a rare move into the Indian circle and received a penalty stroke for the body check by a defender in the circle. Niall Stoll made no mistake with a stroke sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and the Scottish had got their first goal of the tournament and the first half ended with Indian 3 -1 up.

India started the second half eager to pump in more goals and quickly earned themselves a penalty stroke in the 40th minute. Kanwan Singh made no mistake from the spot to increase India’s lead to 4 - 1.

The Indian attack continued to camping the scottish circle, but failed to avail of their 2 penalty corners in the 41st and 50th minute. Deepak Thakur’s purple patch in the match began in the 51st minute when he deflected a free hit from the left of the field into the goal.

Seven minutes later Deepak was again supplying the finishing touch to a great ball from Lakra. Deepak earned himself a hat trick with a fine individual run from the 25 yard line to beat the entire defence and slip the ball under the keeper.

"We must improve on our penalty corner conversions in our match against Spain tomorrow. This will be the key match to decide the toppers of our group," said the Indian coach.

The Indian think tank had earlier watched Spain score their second successive big win with a 6 - 1 scoreline in the first match of the session today. Spain went up the attack straightway and earned 2 early penalty corners in the first five minutes but failed to score.

Canada surprised themselves when the got the first goal in the 12th minute when graene sowerby trapped a hit from the left in the circle and shot passed a surprised Spanish keeper. Spain came back with a vengeance to score thrice in the first half, two of penalty corners and one a great reverse stick from mid-circle by one of the tournament’s star players Eduard Tabau. Spain pumped in three more goals in the second half to emerge 6 - 1 victors.

"Eduard Tabau, Albert Sala and Pablo are Spain’s key players," said Singh after watching Spain in their last two matches.

Germany won a battle of penalty corners, scoring two of the fifteen penalty corners they received to the Kiwi’s one conversion from six.

The match started with the Kiwi hockey team replicated what their famous all black rugby team does at the start of each match - the full Haka in a pre-match huddle. This was a strange sight at a hockey pitch but very welcome.

The match as it turned out was a defence oriented match, both teams giving very little away with tight marking. Most of the chances came from penalty corners, Germany earning 15 to the six of the Kiwis. Eike Duckwitz scored for Germany in the 19th minute to give Germany the lead. Stephenson Lloyd equalized for the Kiwis in 43rd minute. The German’s edged ahead in the 65th minute with wess timo flicked the ball past the goalkeeper of an indirect variation. (UNI)

US Davis Cup team to donate 100,000 dollar

WINSTON-SALEM (NORTH CAROLINA), Oct 11: US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe and his team will donate 100,000 dollar to the relief effort for the September eleven attacks in New York and Washington, the US Tennis Association (USTA) announced last night.

Team captain McEnroe, a lifelong New York city resident, players Andy Roddick, Todd Martin, James Blake, Don Johnson, Jared Palmer and Robby Ginepri and assistant coach Jim Courier will all contribute to the total donation.

The decision to donate the money was reached at a meeting in Winston-Salem, where the team will take on India in a Davis Cup qualifying round tie this weekend.

"This monetary donation is our small way of giving back to people who have been closely affected by the tragic events of September 11," said McEnroe.

"As athletes and role models, we have a duty to help out however we can, to make a difference in the lives of those whose lives have been changed forever."

USAT president Merv Heller said: "The USTA is proud that the USA Davis Cup team is demonstrating its commitment to our country by reaching out and helping those touched by our recent tragedies."

The US team will also wear hats from the New York City Fire Department and Police Department as a show of support. (REUTERS)

Inter-Collegiate Volleyball
Degree College Bhaderwah to clash with
DC Poonch in final today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 11: Degree College Bhaderwah and Degree College Poonch are to clash in the final of the Inter-Collegiate Volleyball Championship tomorrow at New University Campus Grounds, Jammu.

In the first semi-final match, Degree College Bhaderwah defeated MAM College by 3-0 with scores 25-22, 25-18 and 25-17.

Mudasir Maqbool Bhat and Hafiz Ul Rehman of Degree College Bhaderwah played extra-ordinary game by exhibiting unleashed smashes against MAM College team. The defence of MAM College was totally failed and even the blockers of the MAM College could not stop the powerful smashes of Mudasir and Hafizul Rehman.

MAM College players have no coordination between them. Naresh Kumar and Anil Dev Singh of MAM College showed little existence in the first set and in other two sets their performance go down and lost the match.

Degree College Poonch beat Degree College Kathua by 3-2 with score 25-17, 18-25, 20-25, 25-16 and 25-9 in the second semi-final.

The match was well contested. Degree College Poonch after winning the first set, lost second and third set miserably. But again in 4th and 5th set Degree College Poonch’s smasher break the block and defence of the Degree College Kathua team.

Neeraj Sharma and Sorab Sharma played a marvelous game and Anil Sharma and Jagjeet Singh of Degree College Kathua also played a good game but due to less coordination between the players they lost the match.

Degree College Poonch and Degree College Bhaderwah teams qualified for final match of the Championship.

Degree College Bhaderwah team qualified first time for the final of Inter-Collegiate Championship. The final will be played tomorrow at 11.30 am at New University Campus Ground.