West Indies crush Scotland

LEICESTER, May 27: The West Indies steamrollered past hapless scotland by eight wickets in one of the shortest matches in World Cup history to post their third victory and keep good pace for a place in the super six stage.

Veteran Courtney Walsh led the Caribbean pace assault by capturing three for seven runs in an incredible seven over spell as debutants Scotland were bundled out for the second lowest World Cup total of 68 in just 31.3 overs.

Left-handers Shivnaraine Chanderpaul, who hit up 30 not out opening the innings, and skipper Brian Lara (25 n.o) then made shortwork of the rival attack to hit up 70 for two in just 10.1 overs to complete the formality before lunch break.

The victory has left the Caribbeans, steadily showing ominous form after their 27-run defeat to Pakistan in the opener, with six points ahead of their crucial tie against Australia on may 30 at old trafford.

The brave scots chose to bat first, but had no clue what hit them from then on as only the Yorkshire professional Gavin Hamilton with an unbeaten 24 and tail-ender Asim Butt (11), who hit paceman Reon King for a six to raise cheer, managing to reach the ‘magical’ double figures.

Scotland can take some heart that they managed to go past the lowest one-day total - 43 by Pakistan against South Africa - and the lowest World Cup tally of 45 by Canada against England in 1979 before losing their fourth straight tie.

Walsh returned amazing figures of 7-1-7-3 while his pace partner Curtly Ambrose was even more miserly (10-4-8-2) with Hendy Bryan (2/29) and Reon King (2/9) joining the fun. (PTI)

Indian batsmen have a stranglehold on centuries

TAUNTON, May 27: Indian batsmen have a stranglehold on centuries in the Cricket World Cup.

The three who have made centuries thus far in the cricket World Cup are Indians with Rahul Dravid who matched Mark Waugh’s deeds in the World Cup with centuries in successive matches leading the pack with two hundreds while the others are Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly.

Rahul Dravid has also placed himself at the top of the run scorers list in the Cricket World Cup. His four innings have fetched him 316 runs which places him just 14 runs ahead of Saurav Ganguly who partnered him in the world record stand of 318 against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Lance Klusener of South Africa heads the successful bowlers list with 12 wickets that places him three ahead of Darren Gough of England. Steve Elworthy of South Africa has been the most economical bowler of the World Cup so far with an economy rate of 2.39 runs per over. Courtney Walsh of the West Indies is second on the economy list with a rate of 2.53 runs per over.

Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka heads the list of the big hitters with a 63.16 percent of balls he has faced having been hit to the boundary.

Wasim Akram, the Pakistan skipper, heads the table of quick runs with a percentage a fraction above one point five which means he has scored runs at the rate of one and a half runs per balls faced.

The five best performers in the World Cup (current to May 26): most runs :

1.Rahul Dravid (India) 316

2.Saurav Ganguly (India) 302

3.Gavin Hamilton (Scotland) 173

4.Sachin Tendulkar (India) 170

5.Nasser Hussain (England) 161

Most wickets:

1.Lance Klusener (South Africa) 12 wickets

2.Darren Gough(England) 9

3.Geoff Allott (New Zealand) 8

4.Courtney Walsh (West Indies) 8

5.Mark Ealham (England) 8

6.Allen Mullally (England) 8

7.Merv Dillon (West Indies) 8

8.Allan Donald (South Africa) 8

9.Pramodya Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka) 8

The best five on economy rate:

1.Stev Elworthy (South Africa) 2.39

2.Courtney Walsh (West Indies) 2.53

3.Shaun Pollock (South Africa) 2.63

4.Gavin Larsen (New Zealand) 2.74

5.Curtly Ambrose (West Indies) 2.75 (PTI)

CRPF Inter-Bn Sports Meet
34 Bn lifts Wrestling trophy

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 27: The 34 Bn lifted the CRPF Inter-Battalion Wrestling trophy after securing 36 points in the six-day long competitions which held at MA Stadium, here.

Host 136 Bn finished second with 19 points, while the 16 Bn bagged third position by securing 14 points.

The prizes were distributed among the winners and runners-up teams in a colour closing ceremony held at Group Centre, Bantalab ground this evening.

Mr Ramesh Chander, ADIG Group Centre, Bantalab was the chief guest, who took salute and declared the competitions closed. Whereas, the prizes were distributed by Mrs Naginder Singh wife of Commanding Officer of 34 Bn.

Later, addressing the players, the Commanding Officer of host 136 Bn, Mr P P Singh expressed his gratitude to all those who extended cooperation during the competitions. He urged the participants to prepare themselves for Ghreco Roman (one of the wrestling event) as this year only Free Style competitions took place.

Those present on the occasion included Messrs ADIG, Mr Arun Chibber, CJS Heera, Commandant 83 Bn and Naginder Singh, Commandant 34 Bn.

In all, 54 wrestler from eight battalions including 34, 136, 16, 74, 50, 68, 83 and GC Bnt. participated in the competitions.

The matches were conducted by Om Prakash(JKP) and Charan Singh, Wrestling coach, MA Stadium.

Final results:

54 kg: Raj Kumar of 16 Bn beat Shri Krishan of 136

58 kg: Jai Veer Singh of 50 Bn beat Ramesh Chander of 34 Bn

63 kg: Jai Prakash of 136 Bn beat Dina Nath of 16 Bn.

69 kg: Manoj Kumar of 34 Bn beat Basudev Yadav of 136 Bn.

76 kg: Ashok Kumar Pal of 34 Bn beat Mohan Singh of 136 bn.

85 kg: Sanjay Kumar of 74 Bn beat Anokhe Singh of 34 Bn.

97 kg: Karpal Singh of 136 Bn beat Dalbir Singh of 16 Bn.

Above 97 kg: Rana Partap Singh of 34 Bn beat Mohd Yusuf of 16 Bn.

Inter-school competitions end

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 27: Inter-school competitions of Gandhi Nagar, Satwari, Marh, R S Pura, Bishnah and Vijaypur Zones organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports concluded here today.

In all, 742 students drawn from 18 schools including both Secondary and Middle level participated in the two zones of Gandhi Nagar and Satwari. Mrs Kanchan Gupta, Zonal Education Officer, Gandhi Nagar and Mrs Kanta Sharma, ZEO, Satwari were the chief guests in the concluding day functions.

The concluding function of Zone Marh which held in Government School, Dhataryal, Mr S P Sharma, ZEO Marh was the chief guest.

Three-day competitions in the disciplines of Volleyball, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho and Athletics organised by the Bishnah Zone in the age group of Under-14 years also concluded today. Zonal Education Officer, Mr Chaman Lal Malkay was the chief guest in the concluding function.

Vijaypur Zone sports meet was also concluded today. The function was presided over by Mr Jagdish Kumar, ZEO, Vijaypur.

In Kho-Kho girls final, Government Middle School, Rarian beat Middle School, Badhori by point. While, in Kabaddi boys High School Jakh beat Middle School Badhori by a huge margin of 77 points.

In 100 meter boys race: Monu Sharma of MS Rarian, Devi Ditta of MS Pakki and Abinash of MS Bara bagged first, second and third positions respectively. Whereas, in girls category, Nasrat Khatoon of MS Badhori, Sapiya Bibi of MS Badhori and Asha Rani of MS Tarore secured first, second and third positions respectively.

In RS Pura Zone, Sukhdev Singh of High School Rangpur beat Vickey Kumar of HS Dablaher in boys high jump. Chander Paul of HS Basti Gulab Garh beat Bopinder Singh of HS Dabelahar in long jump.

In shot-put, Baljeet Singh of MS Satryain beat Sukhbinver Singh of HS Sulabgarh in shot-put. Whereas, in Kho-Kho MS Basti Gulab Garh beat HS Rangpur.

RCC Domana beat DCC Paloura in opening tie

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 27: RCC, Domana beat DCC, Paloura by three wickets in the opening tie of Late Rakesh Memorial Cricket Tournament which begun at Muthi, here today.

The tournament which is being organised by the Jammu Development Association was inaugurated by Mr Omi Khajuria, BJP leader.

India in dilemma over selection

TAUNTON, May 27: The Indians are in a dilemma over selection of their team for the crucial World Cup league match against England on Saturday.

They were without injured wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia in the match against Sri Lanka yesterday and Rahul Dravid stood in for him behind the stumps.

Skipper Mohd Azharuddin praised Dravid’s gritty effort in front and behind the stumps, but admitted India needed Mongia back as early as possible. But for four byes, Rahul did not keep badly. But I’d still like Mongia back if he is fit.

In Mongia’s absence, Robin Singh got in and took five wickets including the all important ones of Aravinda De Silva and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga to send Sri Lanka to defeat.

If Mongia returns, India will have to drop opener S Ramesh as, after his superb bowling, it will be very difficult to leave out Robin Singh.

But, the exclusion of Ramesh will create different problems. If the team management sticks to its decision of sending master batsman Sachin Tendulkar in to bat at number four, who will open the innings with Saurav Ganguly.

The other option could be to omit young Orissa seamer Debashish Mohanty, who claimed three wickets against Kenya and one against Sri Lanka. But, in the best of times, India has always been one bowler short.

Also, off spinner Nikhil Chopra could be considered as he could prove to be a handful for the Pommies whose weakness against the turning ball is well known.

But the final word is yet to be out on the fitness of Mongia, the man in the centre of it all. (PTI)

Technique no burden in one-dayers, says Dravid

TAUNTON, May 27: Not long ago, he was declared to be unfit for one-day cricket, but after his stylish 145 against Sri Lanka yesterday, Rahul Dravid asserted today that good technique is no burden in one-dayers.

It is sad, says the 26-year-old brilliant batsman, if you are accomplished, you are labelled as no good for limited overs cricket.

But, he says, he has no regrets about being dropped from the one-day India squad. You can’t expect things to go your way all the time, he says philosophically in an interview.

Q: Rahul, this must be your most satisfying hundred?

A: I think yes, from the way it helped the team in such an important tournament. I also have very sweet memories of my hundred against New Zealand in the first one-dayer at Taupo earlier this year when I got 123. But looking at the context of the match and it’s importance, this must be the most satisfying of all one-day hundreds.

Q: Since you were back in the side, you seem to be willing to shoulder more and more responsibility.

A: I have played cricket from that objective only. No individual hundred can match the pleasure you derive when your team does well. If I get a hundred and the team loses, there is no joy. There is greater joy if I contribute nothing and the team wins.

Q: In the past, you have been seen as too technically accomplished to be part of the one-day squad.

A: It is sad that if you are technically accomplished you are labelled as no good for limited overs cricket. But good technique is no burden in one-dayers.

Q: And because of it perhaps you were sidelined?

A: I have no regrets about it. I was dropped from the one-day squad and it was fair enough. You can’t expect things to go your way all the time.

Q: How did you fight you way back in the side?

A: I always backed myself. I had the ability but perhaps I was low on form. It can happen to anybody. What I did I went back to Ranji Trophy and worked hard on my game. I believed I was good enough to succeed in one-day cricket. I was hoping my form would return and it did.

Q: How was it like, being on the sidelines with everyone, including the media, gunning for you?

A: It affects you but I am wiser now. I know how to handle it. There is no point getting too carried away or worked up about what appears in print. In fact, I feel there were people writing good things about me when I was down. It kept me going.

Q: What are the areas you think you could still work upon in one-day cricket?

A: Frankly, there are quite a few areas. It is not easy to pinpoint. The thing is if you are not creative, if you are not good enough to improvise, the rival bowlers will work you out. They can plan with a certain strategy and they might succeed.

But, if you are on top of your game, when you are looking to surprise them, then you have a greater chance of consistent success. In that respect, I would say I have to build upon a bit more on my creativity to keep the good thing going.

Q: For the second match running, the media missed you in press conferences because you were not man of the match?

A: It doesn’t bother me. My team winning is a reward in itself. (PTI)

Breather for Azhar after emphatic wins

TAUNTON, May 27: I have never been abused so much in my life, India’s cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin said two days ago, but he is a different man today.

Nothing has gone right for him in recent months. He has lost his batting form and his leadership has been under attack from the public, the press, former players, almost everyone except the man who appointed him to the job, board president Raj Singh Dungarpur.

The emphatic wins against Kenya and Sri Lanka have given the 36-year-old veteran a fresh cricketing lease of life.

But he faces a strong challenge ahead when India meets England on Saturday. His fortunes, and those of his team, depend on the result of that match.

After India had crushed the defending champions yesterday, Azhar asked his critics to be patient. By winning the last two matches, we have vindicated that we are a good side, he said after the match.

But Azhar is Azhar. For, he had this to add: People who have criticised us over our performances in the first two matches, must remember that we lost from winning positions.

Praising Ganguly and Dravid who put the match beyond Sri Lanka, he said the performance of Saurav and Rahul today was exceptional as anybody can see.

What must be said here is both kept encouraging each other. It is very important. They kept talking to each other, exchanging notes and it helped.

On the toss, Azhar said it was a blessing in disguise he did not win it. Had I won the toss, I would have also elected to field, he said.

Asked to pick one of the four centuries India has hit in the tournament, Azhar said he didn’t want to take anything away from Ganguly or Dravid, but said Sachin Tendulkar’s 140 not out against Kenya at Bristol was special.

It was special because the circumstances in which he batted was not easy. (PTI)

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