Bishnah Club wins opening Badminton match

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 9: Bishnah Club defeated Arnia Club in straight sets 15-12, 15-7 to win the Ist Babu Ram Memorial Badminton tournament started at Arnia in Bishnah.

Earlier, the tournament was declared open by Romesh Gupta, MD Cooperative Marketing Society. Prominent among others present on the occasion were Dr Tilak Raj Badyal, Bharat Bhushan, Basan Singh Saini and Ved Paul Saini.

Ponting and his boys look just too good

By Ravi Shastri

Long after this TVS Cup game was over, New Zealand would have wondered how they could have muffed it up. Lucky to get to bowl first on a track that had enough juice for the bowlers, and sending the top half of the Australian order back in the pavilion before the score had reached 100, they should have won quite easily. Now, they will have to wait and see if India are equally fragile.

Frankly, Australia should not have even reached 200 on this track after losing the openers, Martyn and Symonds, and with Gilchrist and Hyaden not playing. New Zealand till then, looked like a team that meant business. But they were thwarted as much by their own inadequacies in the field, as by the Bevan Factor.

Michael Bevan to me remains the finest finisher in limited overs cricket still, and he showed this in no uncertain manner. His innings was superbly constructed, first dropping anchor to steady the boat, and towards the end letting fly the big shots to get the score past 200 and then 225.

As Bevan blossomed, New Zealand’s bowling and out-cricket started to get ragged. The key bowlers, including Tuffy, Oram and Mills, lost their length and the fielders missed opportunities to run batsmen out. It was quite uncharacteristic of them, for they are at most times, brilliant in the field.

There was a spillover of this poor cricket when they batted. The target was competitive, but not daunting. It required steady, rather than a spectacular approach, but New Zealand’s batsmen appeared to miss the plot, some of them playing needlessly flamboyant shots, some getting needlessly run out .

There were a couple of poor decisions against them again which did not help matters, but I thought New Zealand buckled in under pressure. Only Scott Styris, who has been very impressive with the bat, played an innings of some note. But New Zealand needed at least two more batsmen to do the same to win this match.

Chris Cairns missed this match too, and it hardly need be said that New Zealand missed him, especially in the batting. His presence at number 5 or 6 would have given the batting depth and experience. A 30 or 40 by anybody at that stage could have transformed the game.

New Zealand’s defeat obviously helps India. But they will have to play out of their skins to beat Australia at Bangalore. Right now, Ponting and his boys look just too good. (TCM)

Young Hero wins Ist Banarsi Dass Football trophy
* Rajesh Kumar bags best scorer award

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 9: A hat trick by Rajesh Kumar Sumbriya today guided hosts Young Hero to a 3-1 win over Young Star in the final of the Ist Banarsi Dass Memorial Football tournament played at Science College grounds, here.

Rajesh opened Young Hero’s account netting the ball in the 24th minute after getting a pass from Balwinder. However, the lead was equaled by Young Star through Raman Slathia in the 35th minute who made a solo effort.

Later, in the second half of the game, Rajesh struck for his second goal in the 69th minute to help Young Hero again take a 2-1 lead. This time Daniel gave an excellent pass to Rajesh. Three minutes later, Daniel made another good move taking the ball upto the circle. Finding Rajesh in an open area, Daniel kicked the ball to him (Rajesh) who did not mistake in converting the pass into a goal.

For his match winning performance and the hat-trick Rajesh was adjudged as best scorer with six goals in two matches he played. The final was officiated by Nissar Hussain (chief referee), Kushey, Suresh Gupta and Chaman Lal.

In the final and prize distribution function, Majid Wani, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development was chief guest who distributed prizes among the winners and runners-up teams.

Roopali’s unbeaten 75 guides J&K’s triumph over Delhi

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 9: A brilliant unbeaten knock of 75 runs by skipper Roopali Slathia today guided Jammu and Kashmir to a five wickets win and further brighter hosts prospects for the second position in the North Zone Junior (under-19) Women’s cricket championship being held here under the banner of J&K Women’s Cricket Association.

Since, J&K has equal points to that of Delhi with today’s win and even if points remained the same after both completing their tomorrow’s league engagements, J&K will claim the second position. In tomorrow’s final league round, J&K will take on defending champions Punjab, who have failed to win even a single match, and Delhi will be fighting against the strong side and title contender, Haryana.

Out of three league engagements, Haryana have the highest six points while J&K and Delhi are trailing behind with four points each. Punjab, who could not win a single match, but managed a walkover against Chandigarh today, have two points.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Delhi set a target of 154 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 35 overs.

Skipper Dipti, who came at number four, remained unbeaten at 48 including five fours. Indu, who was stump out off Surbhi, made 39 runs. From J&K, Surbhi took two wickets for 33 runs in seven overs while Ankita, Roopali and Ravinder shared one each.

Later, chasing a target of over four runs per over, J&K attained the goal in 33.3 overs with five wickets in hand. No doubt, Delhi managed to take the early wicket when they run out Shweta (1) when score onboard was just 12, but Roopali and Shafia faced Delhi bowlers confidently adding runs steadily to the team’s score.

However, Shafia’s innings were cut short by Shagun, who got her caught behind at 23. Their 56 runs partnership boost the morale of other incoming batswomen who added quick runs. Sonam and Meenu contributed 13 and 12 runs respectively facing 17 deliveries each. Roopali remained unbeaten at 75 studded with seven hits to the fence.

Dipti took two wickets for 32 runs in seven overs for Delhi. Indu, Shagun and Rohini shared one each.

With today’s win over Delhi, the hosts, J&K Women’s Cricket Association, is confident enough to elevate their position from third to second. "Though J&K is capable of beating Punjab, yet we don’t need a win, but surely we are looking at the outcome of Delhi-Haryana match. Delhi’s loss in the hands of Haryana will help us clinch the second position", said Shambu Nath Sharma, general secretary of the JKWCA.

He also clarified that the J&K skipper Roopali Slathia is not an overage player as alleged by some women cricketers. "As per Women’s Cricket Federation of India rule, a January 1984 born can play in junior tournaments held during 2003-04 season and Roopali’s date of birth is March, 1984", said Mr Sharma adding that Roopali is over 19 years but not an overage.

Tomorrow’s two remaining league matches will be followed by the prize distribution function, to be held at 4.30 pm at MA Stadium. In the concluding function, Mrs Rani Baloria has consented to be the chief guest.

Australia choke Kiwis to maintain winning run

GUWAHATI, Nov 9: Australia gave another demonstration of their cricketing might as the world champions relied on some disciplined bowling to fashion a 44-run victory against New Zealand in the TVS Cup triangular series match here today.

Chasing a modest target of 226 for victory, New Zealand could never really find their bearings after a top-order collapse to fold up for 181 in 45.3 overs and give the Aussies their fourth consecutive victory in the series.

The black caps, who desperately needed a win to bolster their chances of making it to the final, enjoyed an upper hand in the early stages of the contest by reducing the aussies to 61 for four but the world champions fought their way out with characteristic grit to maintain their supremacy over their trans-tasman rivals.

The Aussies, who have already assured themselves of a berth for the November 18 final in Kolkata, widened the lead atop the points table with 23 points from five outings.

New Zealand, who managed to gain a bonus point today, climbed to the second position on the table with ten points from five matches. The Kiwis will now have to battle it out for the other finalist’s spot with India who have nine points from four outings.

Put in to bat, Australia weathered an early storm to post a modest 225 for seven, mainly built around a resolute unbeaten 84 by Michael Bevan. Skipper Ricky Ponting was the other notable contributor with an 84-ball 52.

The Kiwis’ run chase began on a disastrous note as they lost opener Chris Nevin when the score was on seven and could not really recover from the early jolt as wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals.

Speedster Nathan Bracken, who has been quite impressive right through the series, put the world champions in control by getting rid of Nevin with a gem of a delivery which saw ponting taking a smart catch in second slip.

Captain Stephen Fleming and Lou Vincent tried to steady the ship by negotiating the two Aussie new ball operators Bracken and Michael Kasprovicz without taking too many risks.

Fleming executed some glorious shots picking up bracken for some special treatment by clobbering him for two consecutive boundaries.

The second wicket pair put on 31 runs before bracken struck again by evicting Vicent who has been struggling with the bat right through the triangular series.

The right-handed Vincent was foxed by a slower delivery by bracken as he attempted to play on the leg side and Brad Hogg gleefully held on to a simple catch at point.

A big blow awaited the black caps six overs later when captain Fleming was deceived by a slower ball by Ian Harvey, much to the jubilation of his teammates.

Fleming, who appeared quite comfortable in the middle, failed to read the slower delivery and offered a simple return catch to the bowler. His 46-ball 29 contained four boundaries. The dismissal of Fleming triggered off a collapse as Craig McMillan (0) and Jacob Oram (14) returned to the pavilion in quick succession.

Speedster Andy Bichel, who was introduced into the attack in the 13th over, accounted for the hard-hitting McMillan who had guided New Zealand to a stunning four-wicket victory with an unbeaten 82 against India in the last match in Cuttack.

McMillan was a trifle unlucky to be given out by umpire K Hariharan as the ball appeared to hit his pad before sailing into the hands of Jimmy Maher behind the stumps.

Left arm spinner Brad Hogg then compounded New Zealand’s misery by plotting the dismissal of the lanky Jacob Oram to leave the Kiwis tottering at 88 for five in the 22nd over.

Hogg found success in his very first over as he trapped Oram plump in front of the wicket with a flipper, allowing the Assies to tighten the noose around their rivals. The Kiwi seamers Daryl Tuffey and Kyle Mills struck early blows to have Australia on the mat at 61 for four after Fleming made the right call at the toss and elected to field.

But saving the champion side from further trouble was the duo of Bevan (84 not out) and Rickey Ponting (52) who stitched an invaluable 78-run partnership for the fifth wicket on a pitch which offered a fair amount of help to the seamers initially as it has been the trend in all the day matches played so far in the triseries.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori extracted some turn from the wicket and got rid of Ponting and Clarke within a space of two runs at a crucial stage to reduce the Aussies to 141 for six in the 34th over. He returned the most impressive figures of 2 for 20 off his ten overs. (PTI)

SCOREBOARD

Australia

I Harvey c Nevin b Tuffey 25

J Maher lbw b Tuffey 3

R Ponting c McMillan b Vettori 52

D Martyn c McCullum b Mills 0

A Symonds c McCullum b Mills 18

M Bevan not out 84

M Clarke c McMillan b Vettori 2

G Hogg c Styris b Harris 9

A Bichel not out 15

Extras (b-4, lb-9, w-3, nb-1) 17

Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 225

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-33, 3-34, 4-61, 5-139, 6-141, 7-164.

Bowling: Tuffey 10-1-60-2, Mills 8-0-36-2, Oram 10-0-47-0, Vettori 10-0-20-2, Styris 9-1-38-0, Harris 3-0-15-1.

New Zealand

C Nevin c Ponting b Bracken 2

S Fleming c and b Harvey 29

L Vincent c Hogg b Bracken 12

S Styris c Ponting b Hogg 54

C McMillan c Maher b Bichel 0

J Oram lbw b Hogg 14

C Harris run out 38

B McCullum c Maher b Kasprowicz 7

D Vettori run out 0

Mills c Maher b Bracken 4

Tuffey not out 0

Extras (b-4, w-9, nb-2, lb-6) 21

Total (all out in 45.3 overs) 181

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-38, 3-66, 4-68, 5-88, 6-143, 7-169, 8-170, 9-181.

Bowling: Bracken 7.3-0-34-3, Kasprowicz 8-0-28-1, Bichel 7-0-21-1, Harvey 4-0-14-1, Hogg 10-0-39-2, Symonds 4-0-14-0, Clarke 5-0-21-0. (PTI)

HSS Nowshera wins 12th Sham Memorial Hockey tourney

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

RAJOURI, Nov 9: Higher Secondary School, Nowshera clinched 12th Sham Memorial Hockey championship beating Junior National Club by a solitary goal in the final played today at HSS Nowshera, here today.

Whereas, in 11th War Hero Memorial Hockey Tournament Middle School Nowshera outplayed Christ School, Nowshera 6-5 in sudden death. Finals were officiated by Rakesh Chowdhary, Mangat Ram Sharma, Dinesh Kohli and Kuldeep Singh, all PETs.

Both these tournaments were organised by the district hockey tournament under the supervision of Rakesh Choudhary.

Ponting ready for final

GUWAHATI, Nov 9: Australian cricket captain Rickey Ponting today oozed confidence that his team was ready to take on any one of India or New Zealand in the final.

Talking to the media in the post match news conference, the victorious captain said the match turned to their favour by Michael Bevan who scored a gallant 82.

"Early in the morning, the ball was doing a bit because of the morning dew but later the pitch eased up considerably," he said.

Asked whether the team would go full strength against India or rest the key players before the final, Ponting said it would be decided on the match day. He was, however, not afraid that law of average would catch up with them before the final.

"We did not do that way in the World Cup and there is no way we are going to lose the final at Kolkata," he opined.

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming admitted that after taking a flurry of wickets his team messed up a good chance to win the match. "We had the match under control but faltered at the crucial point," he rued.

He was, however, happy at the performance of the bowlers. "It was the batsmen which let us down," he remarked. (UNI)

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