Sachin Tendulkar

India holds sway
Tendulkar slams maiden
double-century

AHMEDABAD, Oct 30: Skipper Sachin Tendulkar’s.......more

Double ton, a good
omen before Australia
tour: Tendulkar

AHMEDABAD, Oct 30: Indian skipper Sachin.......more

Mike Tyson

Boxing-no sanctions
for Tyson late blow

LAS VEGAS, Oct 30: Mike Tyson escaped punishment from Nevada....more

Rajouri, Kathua share
honours in girls Kabaddi

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 30: District Rajouri claimed the girls....more

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 30: Tiger Club is leading in the women section, while semi-finals line has been drawn in the men’s section in the ongoing Ist Jammu Gold Club Basketball Tournament organised by the Alfa Sports Club at MA Stadium, here today.....more

Football League Tournament
Young Star draw
with New Bharat

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 30: Young Star drew with New Bharat in the senior division in the ongoing Football League Tournament organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association at Mini-Stadium, Parade, here today......more

Inter-College Volleyball
PG Deptt lifts
winners trophy

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 30: Post Graduate Departments lifted the Volleyball title in the Inter-College competitions beating Government MAM College 3-1 in the final which played at University of Jammu grounds, here today......more

Dogri Research Forum
holds seminar at JU

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 30: The Dogri Research Forum conducted its monthly seminar in the Post Graduate Department of Dogri, University of Jammu, here today....more

India holds sway
Tendulkar slams maiden double-century

AHMEDABAD, Oct 30: Skipper Sachin Tendulkar’s superb maiden double century and his record fourth wicket stand with fellow centurion Saurav Ganguly propelled India to their highest ever total against New Zealand and left them in an ideal position to push for victory on the second day of the third and final cricket test today.

The batting maestro slammed 217 and, with left-hander Ganguly (125), sent the Kiwis on a leather hunt with a massive 281-run stand as India piled up 583 for seven before declaring their first innings an hour into the final session.

The Kiwis were fighting with their backs to the wall as they were 18 for one at close, opener Gary Stead (11 batting) and nightwatchman Daniel Vettori (zero batting) seeing through the last few overs after leg-spinner Anil Kumble claimed Matt Horne for two.

Tendulkar, overnight 104, compiled his much-awaited test double hundred in his 71st test and 110th innings and stayed at the wicket for 14 minutes over eight hours, facing 343 balls and striking 29 boundaries.

The 26-year-old’s 21st test ton, bettering his previous highest of 179 made against the West Indies at Nagpur in 1994-95, and Ganguly’s strokeful seventh test century, lifted India - overnight 311 for three - to a position from where they can look forward to pushing for an innings win.

Tendulkar’s marathon knock, the longest of his glittering career, came to an end soon after tea through a superb diving catch by Dion Nash at midwicket off young left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who finished with four for 200 after sending down 57 overs.

It was only the maestro’s second first class double century and improved upon his 204 made for Mumbai against the visiting Australians last year. Tendulkar looked all set to overhaul Sunil Gavaskar’s Indian record score of 236 when he saw his powerful pull brilliantly caught by Nash.

The visitors, who went wicketless in the first session when India moved to 403 for three, had to take the back seat as Tendulkar and Ganguly played forceful strokes.

At close, New Zealand were still 366 runs adrift of their first target of 384 to avoid follow on, a difficult task on a pitch showing signs of wear and tear.

The day totally belonged to Tendulkar, who had to wait for nearly a decade since his test debut at Karachi against Pakistan in 1989 to score his first test double century.

The maestro flayed the toothless Kiwi attack with majestic pulls, drives cuts and flicks after he had resumed his innings at his overnight 104.

With Ganguly, not out 51 last evening, giving him good support with his confident strokeplay, the two played a major role in helping India better their previous best of 537 for three against the same rivals made at Hyderabad nearly 45 years ago.

Their 281-run stand in 79 overs, which ended when Ganguly was caught at mid-on by Nash off Nathan Astle, also bettered the previous best for the wicket, their own 256 made against Sri Lanka at Mumbai in December 1997.

Tendulkar and Ganguly first got past the fourth wicket mark against the Kiwis of 171 between Polly Umrigar and Kripal Singh at Hyderabad in 1955 before grinding the attack further.

Ganguly completed his ton, his first of the series and third at home, soon after the lunch interval (279 m, 210 b, 17 x 4) and had batted for close to five-and-a-half hours facing 252 balls and hitting 20 fours.

But Tendulkar was undeterred by his partner’s dismissal and he entered the 190’s with a spate of fours before reaching the one landmark which has eluded him so far with a single to squareleg off Vettori (472 m, 319 b, 29 x 4).

It was the first double ton by an Indian since his school chum Vinod Kambli’s 227 against Zimbabwe at Delhi in 1992-93.

Tendulakar surpassed the highest score at the venue of 152 by Mohd Azharuddin against Sri Lanka in 1994-95 and India went past the 395 by Pakistan in 1986-87 which stood as the stadium record for an innings.

All these records only piled on the agony for New Zealand for whom nothing has gone right since Tendulkar was dropped by Astle off Cairns when he was on 93.

Anil Kumble (27 no) and Javagal Srinath (33 no) added a brisk 62 runs for the eighth wickets before the declaration.

The Kiwis began nervously and horne went cheaply once again, playing Kumble straight to Rahul Dravid at silly mid off. (PTI)

AHMEDABAD, Oct 30: Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar today said his maiden test double century has come at the right time, just before the Australian tour, and that he was determined to get to the landmark.

The 26-year-old who hammered 217 for his highest first class score which ended the maestro’s long wait to reach the milestone and lifted India to a commanding 583 for seven declared in the third cricket test against New Zealand.

I became aware of the double-century when I reached 180. It was only a matter of hanging in there, Tendulkar said at the end of the second day’s play here.

The batting maestro admitted that he had waited patiently for 10 years since making his test debut against Pakistan in Karachi in the 1989-90 series.

Ten years is a lot of time. I showed a lot of patience which wasn’t required. Finally I have got it and I am happy about it. I tried my level best. The bottomline is to keep trying and one would get it, he told reporters.

Asked to comment on his charmed existence in the 90’s yesterday when he was dropped by Nathan Astle off Chris Cairns and nearly edged Dion Nash before square-cutting him to reach his 100, Tendulkar said he misjudged the bounce of the ball on the first occasion.

I thought it would come chest high, but it came shoulder high and I wanted to leave it, but could not take away my bat in time, he said about the top-edge which was dropped by Astle who ran back from the slips to short third man.

Asked whether he was aware that he was within striking distance of batting legend Sunil Gavaskar’s 236 made against the West Indies at Chennai in the 1983-84 series - the highest ever test score by an Indian - Tendulkar said he was indeed conscious of that.

I was aware of it, but the team total was more important, he said.

The world’s best batsman also felt the 300-run mark was not really beyond reach. We’ve got some talented people. We should be able to do it, He said when pointed out that the magic mark had not been achieved by any Indian despite the 200-run mark being passed 18 times.

Tendulkar was confident India will be able to beat the Kiwis with three days left to claim the series 2-0. We have good bowlers in Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Harbhajan Singh. I am confident we can do the job. (PTI)

Boxing-no sanctions for Tyson late blow

LAS VEGAS, Oct 30: Mike Tyson escaped punishment from Nevada boxing officials yesterday but they strongly suggested that he take his show on the road after ruling that the former heavyweight champion could keep his nearly 8.8 million dollars purse from his one-round bout with Orlin Norris.

"He should pack his bags and not fight in las vegas in the future," said Lorenzo Fertitta, a member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) during yesterday’s hearing to review the latest bizarre conclusion to a Tyson fight.

The NSAC had withheld Tyson’s purse pending its official review of last Saturday’s bout, which ended after the first round when Norris could not continue due to a knee injury he suffered falling from a Tyson punch delivered after the bell.

The Commission, which declared the fight a "no contest", could have fined or suspended tyson. But upon review, it felt referee Richard Steele’s deduction of two points from tyson’s score for the foul at the time was "an appropriate and adequate response."

"The purse was held up because they wanted to review the films to see what happened," State Athletic Director Marc Ratner said.

But the Commissioners, who had previously suspended Tyson for the Evander Holyfield ear-biting incident, said all of Tyson’s actions would come under scrutiny when he applies to renew his Nevada boxing license next year.

"If and when he reapplies for a license for 2000, we’ll have a lot of questions to ask," said NSAC Chairman Elias Ghanem.

"I’m not prepared to have any hoodlums fight in Nevada. I’d like to send a message that these things will not be tolerated in Nevada. We’ll address these issues at an appropriate time."

Tyson did not attend the hearing and was represented by his promoter, Dan Goosen, and two attorneys.

But the message Tyson receives should be loud and clear.

Glenn Carano, one of the four members of the Commission at the hearing, said it might be advisable if Tyson "fights elsewhere to see if he can bring a fight to a natural conclusion without controversy."

The former champion is likely to fight next on the East Coast or outside the country.

But suggestions by Nevada officials that he fight elsewhere could well be based as much on Tyson’s diminished drawing power in terms of ticket sales, Casino response and television pay-per-view sales, as on his ring behaviour. (REUTERS)

Rajouri, Kathua share honours in girls Kabaddi

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 30: District Rajouri claimed the girls under-14 year trophy in Inter-district Kabaddi, while Kathua bagged Under-19 trophy in the same category, the final of which held at Gharwal in Kathua.

Rajouri won the final beating Jammu district 66-33 points, whereas, Kathua defeated Rajouri 45-33 in the Under-19 year group.

Principal, Government Higher Secondary School, Gharwal gave away prizes to the winners and runners-up.