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McMillan slams unbeaten century in a drawn match

JODHPUR, Oct 7: Riding high on the splendid unbroken knocks of Craig McMillan (168) and Adam Parere (72) and their unbeaten 212-run stand for sixth wicket, New Zealand deminated the last day play to gain a 146-run first inning lead over Board President’s XI here today Board President XI, who lost four wickets in the space of 79 runs in the second innings, in the three day tie ending in a tame draw at the Barkatullah Khan stadium here.

With no result in sight, both the captains called off the match on mutual agreement after seven mandatory overs were bowled.

At close, the hosts finished at 79 for four with Harbhatan (110 and Shewage (2) remained unbeaten after Fleming declared the first innings at 444 for five in reply to Board’s 298.

The updermand showing in all departments of game by the New Zealand in the last three daysmight not add a cubit to their stature, but certainly pumped them for battles ahead and put the visitors in a positive state of mind.

Their batting, which had been mediocre in the test series against England, looked relatively in blood stead following their hasty work of 135 for six in the tour opener at Pune. However, Harbhatan spun a web around the Kiwis batsmen and exposed their vulnerability against spinners.

Besides, bowlers, especially spinners, will have to work hard as Vettori looked convincing while Wiseman has to strike the rhythm moreover they will have a lot of thinking to do about how the approach test matches on designer tracks.

In the second innings boards lost their first wicket early as rathore was trappedby Nash for five only in a total of ten. However, Khoda (49) entertained the audience with his fireworks before being caught at a eight by nash off Vettori. Next two batsmen Mullick and Bundela went back in the pavilion in quick succession.

Resuming at 232 for five in the morning. Overnight batsmen McMillan and Parore got off to a rousing start. McMillan, who started slowly yesterday but was at no stage in any real trouble against Board’s bowlers, began the day with a boundary off as Ashish Nehra, who opened the bowling with Punjab off spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Looking in blistering mood from the very beginning, McMillan grafted his way to his half-century by hitting the ball to the ropes off Nehra again. However, the right-hander appeared severe over Sanghvi in whose over. He scored 14 runs, containing two fours and one six on three consecutive deliveries.

Board skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar persisted with Harbhajan, who inflicted the maximum damage to the visiting side with a haul of four scalps, but the Punjab lad could not repeat his yesterday’s magic. He was also thrashed by McMillan who lofted two skiers over the ropes for six, seeing his team score crossing the 300-mark.

Both the batsmen provided stability after the dismissal of two consecutive wickets with the team score at 232, and tried to place their teams hopes on a firm footing from where they could rule the roost.

With no bowler striking rhythm on this dead pitch, Kanitkar took the new ball in the 94th over, and entrusted the responsibility to Ashish Winston Zaidi, who bowled a maiden in his first over. But in Zaidi’s next over, McMillan composed a beautiful on-drive to the fence to complete his century. His 100 runs came in 145 balls with the help of twelve fours and four sixes.

The duo produced unbeaten 116 runs for the third wicket with. The team score read 348 for five at lunch. Both scored 100 runs in the pre-lunch session, however, most of the runs came from the blade of gritty McMillan.

And home team bowlers looked helpless as they failed to put brakes on their free-strokings.

After the lunch break, not out batsmen McMillan and Parore continued to flourish with frequent bursts all over the ground. Parore, who was relatively slow in the pre-lunch session also adopted an aggressive posture and played some delightful shots. Like his partner, he also fashioned his 50 with a hit to the fence off Shewagi. His half-century studded with six fours came in 111 balls.

Playing an outstanding innings, McMillan was not averse to experiments with some shots, and profited from his right initiatives which displayed sheer elegance and penchant of a determined batsman. In between, he notched his 150-mark in 221 balls with the help of 17 boundaries and four sixes.

The pair contributed 212 runs for the sixth wicket unbroken partnership before skipper Fleming declared the first innings after gaining a 146 runs lead over Board President’s XI with McMillan and parore remained unseparated on 168 (238 b, 289 m, 19 x 4, 4 x 6) and 72 (160 b, 217 m, 9 x 4, 1 x 6) respectively.

Interestingly, Kanitkar used eight bowlers to break the partnership but of no avail as none of the bowlers could upset their apple-cart and put a check on their free strokings.

Harbhajan was the most successful bowler, finishing at four for 91 while Zaidi took one for 66.

Declaring the first innings before the tea break, Fleming intended to give their bowlers some vital practice in the last session of the game. Though Kiwi bowlers were thrashed by Khoda but Nash and Wiseman shared one scalp each, while Vettori claimed two scalps. And the Kiwis camp seemed to be thankful to this ‘sun city’ which provided them a plank under bright skies to assess and prepare themselves for what their think, tank called ‘a great challenge’ indeed, a chance to finalise the combination for the first test at Mohali beginning on October 10. (UNI)

Xavier denies drug charges

NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Gold medal winning Indian swimmer Sebastian Xavier is alleged to have tested positive for banned drugs during the just-ended South Asian Federation Games in Kathmandu, but he denies this saying he was not tested at all.

Three participants, one from India and two from Sri Lanka were announced by South Asian Games Federation Secretary General Drubha Bahadur Pradhan yesterday as having tested positive for banned drugs at the September 25-October 4 games.

The organisers claimed that urine samples of Xavier alongwith Sri Lanka’s 85 kg weightlifting bronze medallist Ranjit Kumarusitha and the 400 m hurdles winner, Ashok Kumar Jayasuriya, had returned positive.

According to the organisers, the Indian as well as the Sri Lankan hurdler had tested positive for the banned drug nandrelone while the lifter’s sample had shown traces of the stimulant ephedrine. A positive test for drugs entails an automatic two-year ban while the punishment for taking a stimulant is far lighter, and the culprit can even be let off with a warning.

Pradhan had announced in Kathmandu that the a samples had tested positive and action would be formalised only after the b sample was analysed.

Drug testing, which was introduced only from this edition of the SAF Games, was done at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved laboratory in Kuala Lumpur.

But Xavier, who retained the 50 m freestyle gold medal for the fifth successive games at the Nepal capital, denied the allegation and said I was never tested in Kathmandu, though some other swimmers were.

Xavier, 30, expressed shock when asked to comment on the allegation and said this is very curious. In fact I cleared the tests done before we left when the federation had dropped two swimmers for testing positive, he told PTI.

It is very interesting. If I had given my urine sample, I should be having a copy. My signature will be there in the relevant forms. Anyone can check this, he said.

Meanwhile, Swimming Federation of India president K N Kapur, who was also chef-de-mission at the games, said he did not have any information and that it was not possible.

I left Kathmandu only yesterday. If anyone had tested positive from India, the organisers would have told me. We will wait for official information on any such incident before reacting, he told PTI from Lucknow.

Kapur, however, said testing was done in three batches. The entire first batch returned negative and the next two were awaited when I left, he added.

Chief national coach K V Sharma also expressed surprise that a swimmer had tested positive. I would not like to say anything till there is an official word. But this is totally shocking. All swimmers had cleared drug tests before we left for Kathmandu and we have not received any information, either directly or through the Olympic Association (IOA), he said.

Xavier, who has won over 30 gold medals in SAF Games and championships over the years, said he was never tested at Kathmandu. How can my name even figure when I have not been tested. There is something amiss in this issue, he added. (PTI)

Guru Teg Bahadur Hockey Tourney
Richi outplays Khalsa Blue to reach last four stage

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 7: Richi Land today entered the semi-finals of the ongoing Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Hockey Tournament beating Khalsa Blue 4-1 in the quarter-finals, which played at Green Field grounds, here this evening.

In the first half, winners Richi Land dominated the field and never allowed the opponents to enter their goal area, except for two three occasions through long passes.

They were up by two goals to nil when first half hooter was sounded by the umpire. Maninder Singh, who was playing at centre-forward position hit the first goal in the ninth minute of the match. It was followed by the second goal though right-out Harpal Singh, who sounded the board in the 12th minute to went up by two goals.

In the second half, Khalsa Blue fought back and scored their first goal within five minute after the re-starting of the game. The first and the last goal came through centre-forward Gurpreet Singh,

Richi Land forwarders, who were in fighting mood, struck again and added another goal in their tally in the 16th minute. This was the second goal from Maninder and third from Richi Land Club.

Richi Land, thereafter, exercised restrain for some time and hit again in the 29th minute to make fourth goal of the match. Gurpreet Singh sounded the board this time. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Hockey Association in a separate handout held its executive committee meeting wherein they congratulated their patron-in-chief, Dr Farooq Abdullah for his party’s victory in the recently concluded Parliamentary elections.

Varun gets three individual awards
Champions become champion in Challenge
Cricket Tourney

Excelsior Correspondent

KATRA, Oct 7: Champions Cricket Club lifted the Challenge Knock-out Cricket Tournament beating Mohmmedian Cricket Club by one wicket, final of which played at Panthal, near here.

Earlier, after winning the toss and opted to bat first, Mohmmedian Club set a target of 153 in allotted 25 overs losing their eight wickets.

Sandeep was the highest scorer with 45 runs off 32 deliveries including seven boundaries, while Lambre followed him with 35 off 20 with the help of two sixes. Amjat contributed 25 runs in 20 balls hitting three boundaries.

From Champions Club, Varun, Kanvar and Rattan Dogra took two wickets each.

Chasing the target, Champions attained their goal of 154 runs in 22.3 overs for the loss of nine wickets.

Parshotam Singh and Varun Magotra led the side to victory with their heroic innings of 47 and 35 runs respectively. Varun remained unbeaten making his 35 runs off 22 balls with four boundaries, whereas, Parshotam faced 32 balls to score 47 hitting two sixes and three boundaries.

Munna and Kanvar contributed valuable 35(22) and 20(10) respectively.

Mantu and Akram claimed three wickets each for Mohmmedian, whereas Bobby took two.

Sandeep was declared man of the match, while Varun Magotra bagged three awards of man of the series, best catcher and best batsman on the concluding day function. Best fielder trophy went to Kuldeep.

In all, eight local teams participated in the month long tournament which was organised by the Kanvar Yudhvir Singh. Mr Pankaj Sharma, businessman was the chief guest on the final, who also gave away winners and runners-up trophies, besides other individual awards.