Daily Excelsior.........State

JAMMU, Oct 24: Arjun Anand outplayed Aditya Pradeep in the exhibition tie in the five-day Jammu District Table Tennis Championship which began at ...more

Coca Cola Cup Cricket
Inzamam tops batting averages,
Mahmood a successful bowler

SHARJAH, Oct 24: Pakistan’s Inzamam Ul Haq topped the batting averages while Azhar Mahmood proved the most successful bowler in the just-concluded Coca Cola Cup Cricket Tournament here.

In the five matches he played, Inzamam scored 261 runs at an average of 52.20, the highest being 71. He struck three half-centuries and was adjudged man of the series. He also took five catches.

Mahmood bowled a total of 39 overs in the five matches and claimed 13 wickets, his best being six for 18. The Pakistani medium pacer, who played a pivotal role in his country’s victory in two matches, including the final, was declared best bowler of the tournament.

Yousuf Youhanna had the second best batting average. He scored 175 runs in five matches at an average of 43.75, his highest being 71 not out. Youhanna struck the fastest half century in the tournament. His 50 came off just 38 balls.

Romesh Kaluwitharna of Sri Lanka had a batting average of 41.75 from the five matches. He had an aggregate of 167 runs, with 75 being the highest.

Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Rusell Arnold, Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar and Hasan Raza and West Indian Wavell Hinds had batting averages of 40, 24.40, 38.75, 36.33 and 28.50 respectively.

In bowling, Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram was the second best after Mahmood. He claimed seven wickets with three for 38 being his best effort. In his 30 overs, Wasim gave away 90 runs at an average of three per over.

Abdur Razzak of Pakistan claimed eight wickets in the tournament with five for 31 being his best effort.

Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka also claimed eight wickets while Shoaib Malik of Pakistan had nine wickets. Muthiah Muralitharan also got eight wickets, while his skipper Jayasuriya had six wickets. Arnold of Sri Lanka and Perry of the West Indies bagged two wickets each. (Agencies)

Kanpur test
Kumble strikes leave India in full command

KANPUR, Oct 24: India took a vice-like grip on the second cricket test against New Zealand after leg-spinner Anil Kumble’s stunning triple strike in the space of seven balls left the visitors crippled at 17 for three wickets in their second innings today.

On a dramatic third day, India were restricted to 330 for a modest 74-run first innings lead as the Kiwis staged a tremendous fightback led by 20-year-old left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, but the hosts looked all set to drive home the leeway at the Green Park Stadium on the fourth day tomorrow.

Kumble, brought on in the very fourth over as skipper Sachin Tendulkar sought to cash in on the vagaries of a fast-deteriorating track, trapped opener Matt Bell (7) leg before and bowled night watchman Dion Nash first ball to be on a hattrick, before trapping plumb the other opener, Matt Horne, to give India the scent of victory.

Indian hopes to build up a huge first innings lead were scuttled by a highly disciplined Kiwi bowling performance as well as the host batsmen’s over-defensive approach influenced largely by the track.

Twelve wickets fell for the addition of just 135 runs in 88 overs sent down overall, and India, who lost opener S Ramesh (83) in the second over of the morning, followed by skipper Sachin Tendulkar (15) and Sourav Ganguly close to lunch and Rahul Dravid (48) immediately after that - all to Vettori - had to drastically peg down their ambitions in the first essay. But Kumble, who became the third Indian to complete 250 test wickets - behind Kapil Dev (434) and Bishen Singh Bedi (266) - when he trapped Matt Horne leg before wicket as his third victim, gave India all the initiative to cash in on tomorrow.

The 20-year-old Vettori claimed his third five-wicket haul (6/127) and wiped out the Indian tail in a final spell of 12.1-4-18-3, but the Indian spinners looked set to have the final say and clinch the lead in the three-test series.

Indian hopes of rapidly building upon their overnight score of 217 for one were dashed by a disciplined Kiwi attack led by the young Vettori on a rapidly deteriorating track that enabled the spinners to extract appreciable turn.

The host batsmen did not cover themselves with glory with an over-cautious approach from the morning and the loss of skipper Sachin Tendulkar (15) and Saurav Ganguly (0) to Vettori - in the space of seven balls and three runs - that left the bowler on a hattrick nearing lunch break further undermined the innings.

India managed to score only 118 runs in five hours and lost their last five wickets for only 37 runs in sharp contrast to the enterprising batting by openers Devang Gandhi and Sadagopan Ramesh that saw the hosts reach 212 for one yesterday.

Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming rotated his spinners and used Nathan Astle’s slow medium stuff and never claimed the second new ball despite the Indian innings lasting into the 149th over. Only openers Gandhi (88), unlucky to miss his maiden test hundred yesterday, and Ramesh (83 - 315m, 219b, 11x4), who also fell close to his second century in the second over of the morning, and Rahul Dravid managed to come up with any substantial contributions.

But the dry and slow pitch with plenty of cracks was showing all signs of deteriorating to offer plenty of hope for the Indian spinners to pile on the pressure in search of victory with two days left.

The 24-year-old Ramesh also fell to Astle’s gentle medium pace like Gandhi. Beaten by the mild swing the previous ball, he managed only to nick the next to Adam Parore behind the stumps, unable to convert his fifth fifty in his 11th innings into his second century.

Dravid, unbeaten on 29 overnight after a brief but brisk effort, followed up on the 52-run second wicket stand by adding 29 runs with Tendulkar, but both drastically slowed down, frustrated by the combination of Chris Cairns’ pace and Dion Nash’s spin.

Tendulkar, pegged at 15 after reaching there with three fours, was deceived by the slow pitch and failed to get on top of Vettori’s flat delivery and Astle ran quite a distance from extra cover to complete the catch at mid-off.

Vettori, the Hamilton-based spinner who showed tremendous temperament in handling the workload and occasional punishment, struck another telling blow in the next over, when he had Ganguly caught and bowled for nought to be on a hat-trick as India went to lunch at 254 for four. (PTI)

Ponting, Bevan sew up international series against Zimbabwe

HARARE, Oct 24: An unbeaten partnership of 157 runs between Australia’s Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan destroyed Zimbabwe in the last of the three one-day international cricket matches here today.

The nine-wicket win clinched the series 3-0 for Australia and emphasised the difference in quality between the two countries, already indicated by Australia’s ten-wicket test win last weekend.

Set a target of 201 runs for victory, Australia lost Adam Gilchrist for 28 with 44 on the scoreboard. But Ponting and Bevan did the rest in a display of bright and almost casual batting against a patently inferior attack.

Fielders were sent scurrying to all parts trying to cut off a flow of both orthodox shots and some others rarely seen off a golf course.

Ponting’s 87 contained nine fours and a six and he required 110 balls. Bevan’s 77 was gathered in 107 balls and he hit ten fours.

But the man of the match was Andy Flower, the Zimbabwe wicketkeeper.

As his team-mates crumbled around him Flower slammed 99 not out off the Australian bowlers, very nearly half the Zimbabwe total of 200. Nobody else made more than the 21 runs contributed by his brother grant.

It was his 121st one-day international in succession since his debut in the 1991-92 World Cup - a world record. And it was one of his finest performances, not least because it served to set Australia something of a target. (AFP)

North-Zone Ranji trophy
Puri’s unbeaten century put Haryana in command

FARIDABAD, Oct 24: Middle order batsman Rajesh Puri struck an unbeaten century after openers Jitender Singh and Parminder Sharma gave a solid start as Haryana posted a commanding 261 for two on the first day of their four-day North Zone Ranji Trophy league match against Jammu and Kashmir here today.

Puri (batting 107) hit his 15th first-class century as Haryana, electing to bat, thrashed the modest Jammu and Kashmir bowling all over the ground to pile up a big score.

The opening pair of Jitender Singh (36) and Parminder Sharma (79) put the hosts on sound footing as they raised 80 runs for the first wicket partnership.

Jitender was the first man to go when Ashwani Gupta caught him at first slip off Sanjay Sharma (1/57).

Puri joined in to give Parminder company and added 119 runs for the second wicket before Parminder, trying to steer a slower ball from Kanwaljit Singh, gave a return catch.

Jammu and Kashmir bowlers then toiled for over two hours without success as Puri completed his ton with veteran Amarjeet Kaypee (batting 17) giving him good company.

Brief scores:

Haryana - 261 for 2 (Parminder Sharma 79, Rajesh Puri batting 107). (PTI)

IAS-IPS clash at Cricket Stadium
DGP's XI defeats Chief Secy's XI

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 24: Chief Secretary's XI and DGP's XI clashed today in a 25-over cricket match at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here. DGP's XI won the match as the rival team was introduced just one run short of its target.

DGP's skipper Rajan Bakshi (Addl DG headquarters) won the toss and decided to bat. Even as the captain Bakshi himself was dismissed at a duck, IGP Kashmir Gopal Sharma, IGP JKAP Dr Ashok Bhan, IGP Fire Services and Prisons PS Gill and Mr Mahindro of R&W played well. However, the best performance was put up by a Prosecuting Officer of J&K Police Rajesh Gill who scored a scintillating 60 runs and later took 3 wickets of the rival team. The DGP's scored a total of 156 runs on ten wickts.

Chasing the target of 157 runs to win, Captain of the Chief Secretary's Eleven, Principal Secretary Forest Vijay Bakaya played a superb innings. Mohammad Sidiq and a Ranji Trophy player Mr Mehboob also put up a brilliant performance.

However, Hilal Ahmed of Chief Secretary's Eleven almost turned the tables with his fiery innings scoring over 50 runs with 5 boundaries and 3 electrifying sixes besides a good running between the wickets for singles. Chief Secretary's required 40 runs on 30 balls but wickets too fell fast till it required 9 runs in the last over. The team needed three runs on the last two balls with the advantage of a wide. It however ended up with 155 runs on 9 wickets, just one run short of the tie.

Director General of Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat gave away the mementos to several players and organisers including G Q Draboo of J&K Cricket Association, Rauf Ahmed and the coach of his team Niyaz Mehmood.

A large number of Government officials enjoyed the match.

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Lions Club Jammu Kohinoor had organised an Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Camp (IPPI) near Super Bazar Complex, Old Hospital Road Jammu with assistance of Deptt. of Health.

Speaking on the occasion Lion KB Mohtra (President) said that for the last 4 years, under Pulse Polio Immunisation programme, Polio drops were being given twice a year to children below 5 years. This is our moral duty to create awareness and help people. Our club will try its best to work for the general welfare of public.

Lion VM Gupta, Secretary of the Club said that we will give full cooperation and work with full courage and dedication in future also.

This camp was attended by Directors of the Club Lion Gurmeet S Raina, Harvinder Singh, Dharm Vir Chopra, Arun Gupta, Surinder and Navin Jandial.

10th Raising day
Power Grid organises Solo-dance competition

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: The Power Grid Corporation of India organised ‘Solo-dance competition’ on the occasion of 10th Raising day which celebrated at Grid Headquarter, Kishenpur today.

The culture evening presented by the Vardaan Association, Udhampur, wherein the employees of the Power Grid also took part. The items of skits and mymes entertained the audience a lot.

Different schools, colleges, clubs and professional dancers also participated in the Solo-dance competition.

Aneet Malhotra of Girls Higher Secondary School, Udhampur bagged first position and awarded best dancer award. Whereas, Lokesha of National Academy High School and Mala of Devika Cultural Society, Udhampur claimed second and third positions.

Mr Koushal, Deputy General Manager of the Corporation was the chief guest in the function who appreciated the colourful programme, especially the items presented by Mr Bodh Raj, Director Vardaan group.

Later, Mrs Koushal distributed prizes among the winners of the Solo-dance competition.

Mr P L Suri, Principal, Government Higher Secondary School, Udhampur and Principal, National Academy were the guest of honour.