By Javagal Srinath

The Indians would not be too pleased by what has happened to them in the triangular cricket series so far. The team is coming from a long lay off and then there were a few unfortunate injuries which slowed down their progress..........more

India happy with
scheduling of
triseries: Ganguly

BANGALORE, Nov 10: Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly today came out in support of the much criticised triseries schedule..........more

Humpy emerges
sole leader

KOZHIKODE, Nov 10:Top seed and overnight joint leader Koneru Humpy continued to dominate proceedings to emerge......more

Salgaocar pip
East Bengal to
win Durand Cup

NEW DELHI, Nov 10: In a repeat of the 1999 final, Salgaocar Football Club upset defending champions East Bengal 5-4............more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: Good average in the league matches today guided Jammu and Kashmir to the title victory in the North......more

Zakir bags first Malhi
in Jhiri dangal

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: Zakir Hussain bagged the first Malhi beating Parbhat Singh........more

Walkovers galore in
inter-college meets

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: All today’s scheduled matches in women’s Table Tennis, men’s.......more

Stag State TT Championships
Chandpreet to meet
Mohita in Jr girls final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: Chandpreet and Mohita Singh have reached the final of junior girls while Nitani will take on Vasumana in the......more

Daljeet’s services hailed by Bharat Scouts and Guides Association.....

Rugby in New Zealand is like cricket in India....

Time for big guns like Sehwag to deliver

By Javagal Srinath

The Indians would not be too pleased by what has happened to them in the triangular cricket series so far. The team is coming from a long lay off and then there were a few unfortunate injuries which slowed down their progress.

We saw a few exceptional performances from Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman and the bowlers pitched in a few good spells but the big guns like Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh are yet to deliver as they can. Sourav Ganguly’s absence due to injury and subsequent surgery was a crushing blow.

It is the opening batsmen who are the torch-bearers in any form of cricket. Explosive start given by them decides the fate of most of the games. Cricket being a batsman’s game, successful openers obviously are the much sought after cricketers. However, they are put under the microscope as soon as they hit a lean patch.

Virender Sehwag made a big impression at the beginning of his career but now finds himself in such a situation. Sehwag, who at times is a lookalike of Tendulkar himself on telly, has set high standards for himself.

His demolition act on several occasions only leaves the garrulous Indian cricket followers to expect nothing less than a repeat of another explosive innings.

But Sehwag has not hit form in this tournament so far. He has been dismissed in the first over itself and neither luck nor a fair decision has come his way.

The wise critics would not undermine his ability. It is only a question of time before he recovers his poise and gives India the start it wants.

The talk of this tournament has been the ground conditions because of match-timings. In a day game, because of the early morning start, the team bowling first can make use of the advantage of the heavy dew factor, aiding their bowlers with exaggerated movement.

By noon, the team batting second enjoys playing on a flattened surface. Thus the right call with the toss is half the job done. Likewise in a day-night game, the team bowling second is at a disadvantage. The late evening dew at times makes it difficult to bowl as the ball gets wet on the soggy outfield. Spinners are the real victims because it is virtually impossible to grip the ball.

So we have seen fans miss out on a good contest because of the unfair weather conditions. Toss becomes a critical factor which, as we all know, is a matter of luck. It perhaps would not be too bad an option if, in a day game, a little late start is made to negate the effect of early dew.

I know it is not easy to fit in 100 overs in few parts of our country if a late start is made but authorities could look at reduction in lunch break or ask teams bowling second to stick to three-and-half hour schedule to make it possible. Similarly, a little early start for the day-night game might also reduce the effect of excessive late evening dew and poor light as well.

It is time the concerned authorities take initiative to restore fair play.

There is little to say about the Australians but to accept they are the trend-setters of modern cricket.

They rested their best players and yet came up winners against New Zealand in Guwahati. It is now left to the other two teams in the fray to fight it out for the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

This is a side which was depleted by the absence of its top pace guns and a recognised batsman in Darren Lehmann. But it does not seem to have hurt them. If at all, the fine show in India would only spur them to even greater heights in the forthcoming series because there are now more than one genuine contender for a lot of spots.

It does say something about their strong cricketing culture. Competitive domestic cricket is the breeding ground for their quality cricketers. Cricket academies, sports medicine institutes, belief in sports psychology and great sporting wickets are the pillars on which the Australian cricket culture is built upon.

They have not only set a precedent for the rest of the world to follow but have also marketed their cricket expertise to the other cricketing nations. (PTI)

India happy with scheduling of triseries: Ganguly

BANGALORE, Nov 10: Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly today came out in support of the much criticised triseries schedule saying the hosts had not gained any undue advantage from it.

"As far as India is concerned, we are happy with the scheduling," Ganguly told reporters here ahead of the day-night triseries match against Australia tomorrow.

Ganguly said both day matches and day-night ones have their advantages and disadvantages. "In the recent Cuttack day-night match against New Zealand, we found it difficult to bowl with a wet ball," Ganguly said.

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming triggered off a debate by slamming the triseries schedule and accusing that it was aimed at helping the hosts who play only day-night matches in the series. Aussie captain Ricky Ponting supported Fleming’s views.

Ganguly said the schedule was drawn up by BCCI and approved by the International Cricket Council. "In Australia we have played back-to-back games... India is a vast country and there is obviously a lot of traveling involved," said the Indian skipper throwing his weight behind the schedule. (PTI)

Humpy emerges sole leader

KOZHIKODE, Nov 10: Top seed and overnight joint leader Koneru Humpy continued to dominate proceedings to emerge sole leader with three points at the end of the third round of the 30th National Women’s ‘A’ Chess Championship here today.

Humpy, the reigning Asian women’s champion, deployed the queen-pawn’s opening in the top board to defeat Tania Sachdev whose Nimzo Indian defence lasted only 32 moves.

Following Humpy in the second spot were the other two overnight leaders, WGM Nisha Mohota and youngest IWM, Dronavalli Harika besides defending champion and fourth seed, Aarthie Ramaswamy with 2.5 points each.

Employing Dutch defence against Eesha Karvade’s Reti opening, Mohota settled for a draw after 27 moves, while Harika, runner-up in the Asian women’s meet here in August, also agreed to split points in the 18th move with Anupama Gokhale.

Five-time champion, Bhagyashree Thipsay’s nightmare continued as she lost her third consecutive game to Aarthie who adopted Sicilian defence.

Tamil Nadu’s S Vijayalakshmi, who has won the title six times, gained full points when she overpowered V Rajalakshmi in a queen’s Indian defence to finish with two points and take the third place alongwith Anupama and Koneru Chandrahawsa. (PTI)

Salgaocar pip East Bengal to win Durand Cup

NEW DELHI, Nov 10: In a repeat of the 1999 final, Salgaocar Football Club upset defending champions East Bengal 5-4 via tiebreaker, capitalising on costly misses by star strikers Baichung Bhutia and Mike Okoro in the penalty shootout, to lift the Durand Cup here today.

The two teams, who finished as the champions and runners-up in the last National Football League, were locked 1-1 at the end of the full time and golden goal extra time.

No goals were scored in the exciting first half and after changing ends, Tomba Singh suerpbly bended the ball from a set piece to put the goans ahead at the hour mark. But three minutes later the stadium, packed with supporters of the red and gold brigade, erupted when Mahesh Gawli put the 15-time title winners back on level terms with a fine header.

In the penalty shootout, Bhutia missed East Bengal’s crucial fourth penalty, with the teams locked on 3-3, managing only a weak grounder which was easily saved by Rajat Ghosh Dastidar. Bhutia’s miss came after Jathin Bisht missed from the spot for the goans.

The goans went 4-3 up through Bello Rasaq before Dastidar leapt high to his right and saved a powerful shot from Okoro and ran to the centreline, where he was floored by the entire team who joined in to celebrate their second Durand Cup victory.

Suley Musah, Chandan Das and Malsawmtluanga were the three scorers for East Bengal, playing their 25th final, in the shootout while climax, Tomba Singh, Dharamjit and Rasaq made no mistake from the spot for Salgaocar.

The final at the Ambedkar Stadium today was a virtual replay of the 1999 clash when Salgaocar won their first title beating East Bengal 3-2 via tie-breaker.

The first goal today came after the two teams failed to score in the first session. Nine minutes into the second half, East Bengal coach Subash Bhowmick sent in Bhutia, who missed the semifinal with a calf muscle injury, in place of Subhas Chakraborty but it were the goans who went ahead at the hour mark.

Salgaocar’s attacking medio Dharamjit Singh began the move going up through the right as East Bengal’s Shasty Duley conceded a free kick and picked up a yellow card trying to stop the move.

Soon a second free kick resulted from the top of the penalty box which was brilliantly curved in by Tomba leaving the East Bengal ‘keeper Sangram Mukherjee with no chance as the East Bengal supporters were stunned into silence.

Tomba’s goal was enough insult to the Asean Club champion and they restored parity in exactly three minute’s time.

Nigerian Okoro, who had an indifferent tournament despite scoring three goals, split the goan defence through the right side and found Gawli who beat Dastidar with a fine header to make it 1-1. (PTI)

Good average helps J&K become North Zone champion

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: Good average in the league matches today guided Jammu and Kashmir to the title victory in the North Zone Junior Women’s Cricket Championship which concluded today at MA Stadium, here.

Haryana, who were all set to take home the championship trophy with three wins off as many matches, lost their today’s last league match played at Nagbani, to Delhi.

In fact, Delhi not only halted Haryana’s run for the championship trophy, but also assisted J&K in emerging as new champion after they brought three teams at par with six points each. Delhi, who were looking at third position, changed the whole scenario beating the title contender Haryana, thus forcing the organisers to decide the winner on average basis.

And, finally, hosts had the better average as compared to Haryana and Delhi thus claimed the championship trophy. Upset by the outcome, Haryana team left the venue before the prize distribution function.

J&K skipper, Roopali bagged the best batswoman (150 runs) trophy while best bowler (11 wickets) trophy went to Shashi of Haryana. Shagun of Punjab bagged best all-rounder trophy. She made 124 runs and took six wickets.

Those, who were given away special prizes, as committed by the Secretary, Sports Council, Manoj Pant, for hitting above 60 runs and taking three wickets, were Shweta Slathia, Roopali Slathia, Meenu Slathia, Surbhi Didichi and Safia.

Earlier, in today’s last league matches, J&K defeated Punjab by 15 runs at M A Stadium, while Delhi outplayed Haryana by a margin of 44 runs.

J&K, batting first after winning the toss, made 172 runs for the loss of five wickets in 35 overs. In reply, Punjab could score 157 runs for eight in complete 35 overs. Brief scores: J&K- Safia 51, Chhaya 29, Roopali 18, Anureet 2 for 37, Manjeet 1 for 34. Punjab-Anureet 24, Bharti 21, Rajinder 18, Roopali 2 for 29, Ravinder, Meenu, Surbhi and Chhaya one wicket each.

Mrs Rani Baloeria, a prominent social and political activist of the State, who is also wife of Chief Secretary, Dr S S Baloeria, was chief guest in the prize distribution function.

She first met the winners and runners-up team members and later presented them the trophies and individual prizes.

Speaking on the occasion, Rani Baloeria congratulated the visiting teams members and their parents for sending their wards to Jammu and Kashmir for this championship.

"I must appreciate the parents of girls from Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi for showing guts to send their loved ones to otherwise disturbed state of Jammu and Kashmir. Every body fear to come to J&K, but I must say to the guests teams that the situation in this part of the country is fast improving. I am sure that these young cricketers, who are future of the country, should tell their friends and relatives that there is nothing to fear in J&K as the general impression is."

She suggested Secretary, State Sports Council, that next time when teams from outside come to the State, the players must stay in the homes of hosts teams so that they learn about the culture and tradition of each other.

She later offered a dinner to the winners and runners-up teams.

President of the J&K Women’s Cricket Association, Neeru Goswami presented a cash prize of Rs 1000 to J&K team.

Earlier, Secretary, State Sports Council, Manoj Pant complimented the J&K team, especially the Women’s Cricket Association of the State for winning the North-Zone championship.