Daily Excelsior.........sports

Tendulkar equals record as India maintain stranglehold

DHAKA, Dec 11: Sachin Tendulkar ended a prolonged run drought by cracking a world record-equalling 34th Test century as India maintained their strangle hold by keeping themselves on course for a huge first innings lead in the first cricket Test against Bangladesh here today. Tendulkar overcame a shaky start before equalling .......more

Sachin more precious than Kohinoor: Gavaskar

NEW DELHI, Dec 11: India may have lost possession of the Kohinoor but the country has a more precious gem in the form of Sachin Tendulkar, said batting legend Sunil Gavaskar after the former equalled his record of 34 Test ..........more

Former Test cricketers praise Tendulkar’s feat

MUMBAI, Dec 11: Former Test cricketers praised batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar for equalling legendary Sunil Gavaskar’s 34 Test hundreds and described it as "a fantastic feat". ..........more

India-Pak face off in Champions Trophy

LAHORE, Dec 11: Having managed to qualify for the bronze medal play-off by the skin of the teeth, India would be keen to match their best-ever performance in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament with a win over arch-rivals Pakistan here tomorrow. ............more

Sumesh wins junior snooker title
* Kamal Rohmetra makes highest break of 76

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: Sumesh Turki today lifted the junior snooker title beating equally talented Kuldeep Sharma in a well fought final played today morning at Billiards Hall, M A Stadium, here. Losing first frame to Kuldeep 49-67,..........more

J&K wins opening pool match in national Kabaddi

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: Jammu and Kashmir today won their opening match in the 52nd senior national (men and women) kabaddi championships which were started today at Peva, .........more

Dr Pragya awarded Swarn Jayanti Puraskar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: Dr Pragya Khanna, Lecturer in Zoology, Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar Jammu has been ..........more

Vishal enters final of cricket

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: Vishal Cricket Club (VCC) defeated Kathua Cricket Club (KCC) by 30 runs to enter into the final of third qualifying round cricket tournament being organised by Roshini Cricket Academy at Science College ground, here. .......more

Tendulkar equals record as India maintain stranglehold

Tendulkar overcame a shaky start before equalling compatriot Sunil Gavaskar’s record and was unbeaten on 159 as the visitors reached 348 for seven at close on the second day, taking a lead of 164 runs.

The 31-year-old star batsman’s memorable moment came just before the tea break when he took a single off paceman Tapash Baisya to join Gavaskar at the top of the century maker’s list.

Tendulkar had his share of luck in the initial stages but settled down to exhibit his class with some glorious shots and steer his team out of early trouble when they lost three quick wickets with just 68 runs on the board.

Anil Kumble, yet to open his account, was giving Tendulkar company at stumps with India having taken a firm control of the game.

The hosts, who threatened to spoil India’s party when they picked three early wickets, gradually conceded the advantage, thanks to some butter fingered fielding and lack of support to their strike bowlers Baisya and Mashrafe Mortaza.

For the Indians, it was second day on the trot to celebrate an individual performance following Anil Kumble claiming the 435th Test wicket to become the country’s leading wicket-taker.

Tendulkar and Gavaskar are among the three batsmen to have 30 or more centuries, with former Australian captain Steve Waugh having 32 tons to his name.

As did Gavaskar, Tendulkar too achieved the milestone in his 119th Test. And while the now retired maestro was 37 years of age when he notched up his final hundred, Tendulkar is only 31.

The little master also became the third batsman after South Africa’s Gary Kirsten and Steve Waugh to have scored centuries against all Test playing nations.

But for all his feats, Tendulkar almost walked back to the pavilion without opening his account when his fierce pull shot off Mortaza nearly got stuck into Mohammad Ashraful at short leg.

The star batsman then snicked a rising delivery from the same bowler when on 28 but host skipper Habibul Bashar spilled the simple catch at first slip.

Another chance went abegging on 47 when a sharp turner from left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique struck the shoulder of his bat but Rajin Saleh at silly point let it go.

Besides, Tendulkar also needed Gautam Gambhir to sacrifice his wicket after a mid-pitch mix up when the former was on 19.

But the batting genius, much like when scoring his 29th ton against the West Indies to be on par with Sir Don Bradman, fought the demons inside him and went on to play what could be a match winning knock.

Tendulkar faced 272 balls so far and hit 23 boundaries during his unfinished knock.

Sourav Ganguly was the second highest scorer. The skipper was more solid in his 71 and added 164 runs with Tendulkar for the crucial fourth wicket.

In the end, Bangladesh would have been better placed had their fielders supported their bowlers.

The Bangladeshi seamers made the most of the morning moisture as the play began half an hour early to compensate the loss of time yesterday.

Mortaza in particular, making a comeback after more than a year’s gap from injury, had the Indian batsmen hopping on their feet.

Both Ganguly and Tendulkar ducked and weaved at his ferocious bouncers. Tendulkar was even hit on the helmet when Mortaza ducked at a short pitched stuff, prompting the locals, frustrated by the earlier reprieves, to let out a cry "in Australia, he would have been out."

Mortaza was clearly the outstanding bowler from the moment he sent Rahul Dravid’s off stump cartwheeling in the eighth over of the day, sending a shiver down the spine of the Indians.

Baisya struck the first blow when he rapped Virender Sehwag (13) on the pads in his third over but Dravid completely misjudged the line of Mortaza and let go a straight delivery at his own peril.

Tendulkar lived perilously during the entire morning session, and those in the Indian camp had their heart in the mouth while he was taking the strike.

On the other hand, there was collective gasps of breathe from the stands as a catch went down from time to time.

The batting ace, however, was determined to play his shots and his run graph covered all parts of the ground. There was the square drive, punched on-drive and the back foot square cut that marked his trademark aggression.

Gambhir also looked quite comfortable before he was run out for 35. The Delhi left-hander had collected 14 runs off Mortaza at the end with the help of three fours — a drive off the pads, a cover drive and a glance through the slips. Gambhir’s 35 came from 50 balls and contained six fours.

Tendulkar, however, kept playing his shots and was particularly severe on the spinners Rafique and Manjural Islam. (PTI)

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh 1st innings: 184

India 1st innings:

G Gambhir run out 35

V Sehwag lbw b baisya 13

R Dravid b Mortaza 0

S Tendulkar batting 159

S Ganguly b Baisya 71

V V S Laxman lbw b Rafique 32

Kaarthick c Mortaza b Rahman 25

I Pathan c Rahman b Rafique 5

A Kumble batting 0

Extras (lb-6, b-2) 8

Total (for 7 wkts in 95 overs) 348

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-24, 3-68, 4-232, 5-291, 6-339.

Bowling: Tapash Baisya 20-4-78-2, Mashrafe Mortaza 22-7-80-1, Mushfiqur Rahman 15-4-70-1, Mohammad Rafique 28-8-65-2, Manjural Islam 10-1-47-0. (PTI)

Sachin more precious than Kohinoor: Gavaskar

Showering praises on the little champion, Gavaskar in a statement said, "right from the time when I first saw Sachin play a flick shot wide of mid-on in the nets for Mumbai Ranji Trophy probables, I knew that there was a special talent. Within a year he was playing for India and scoring runs in a manner that belied his age and delighted and excited the spectators. He continues to do that a decade and a half after his debut and ...Hope he keeps doing that for years to come."

"We may not have the Kohinoor but we have Sachin and to us Indians he’s worth far more and even more precious," he said.

Gavaskar also egged on the batting maestro to go for 50 Test tons.

"When he came off the field at tea I said to him that my expectations of him are now higher and I want not 40 but 50 Test hundreds from him," said Gavaskar who is with the Indian team in Bangladesh as a consultant.

Hailing Sachin, the former opener said, "his enthusiasm for the game remains undiminished and his bearing on and off the field has always been exemplary. My few weeks in the Indian dressing room as consultant allowed me to have a closer look at the temperament of the players and the way they prepare themselves for the stern battles on the field."

"Sachin was most impressive that inspite of the huge expectations from him he was always at hand for the other players in the side and made newcomers feel at ease in his company," he added. (UNI)

India-Pak face off in Champions Trophy

India must be considering themselves lucky to be still in the medal race despite coming up with a mediocre performance that saw them managing just one win from as many as five league matches in the elite six-nation tournament.

They got a chance to play for the 3-4 position after pipping Germany, who have come to the tournament with a developmental side keeping an eye on the 2006 World Cup and having nevertheless a lackluster tournament.

Germany also fetched four points in the league stage quite like India but lagged behind in the goal difference and would play in the relegation match against New Zealand tomorrow.

The final will see European powerhouses Holland and Spain fight it out for a slice of glory at the National Stadium. Olympic finalists Holland are seeking to win their third title in a row while Spain must be keen to lay their hands on the Champions Trophy for the first time ever.

Even though the two european teams play for title glory, all eyes in the subcontinent would be fixed on the bronze medal match and the contest promises to be a thrilling affair as several things were at stake for the arch-rivals.

Performance wise, the elite six-nation tournament has so far been forgettable for India and the team must put up a semblance of fight against the hosts to salvage some pride.

A win tomorrow would also help India, who have never qualified to play a Champions Trophy final, match their third-place finish they had managed in 1982 in Amstelveen, Holland.

This would also give underfire coach Gerhard Rach something to cheer about since he took over the mantle from Rajinder Singh just before the Olympics, the team has done nothing noteworthy.

Pakistan, who disappointed their fans after failing to qualify for the final following a morale shattering loss against Spain yesterday, would like to finish off the championship on a high note and give a perfect parting gift to coach Roelant Oltmans, whose contract with the team expires later this month.

The tournament is the final major assignment for Oltmans as Pakistan coach and the Dutchman has already signed up a four-year contract with Holland.

The match would give Pakistani forwards a chance to regain their striking form after an erratic show throughout the tournament that deprived the side a place in the final.

Pakistan, who the league contest between the two sides with a 2-1 margin on Wednesday, were expected to start as favourites, but rach said his side has the potential to emerge the winners.

"Pakistan is a better side but it will be 50-50 tomorrow. The gulf between the two teams seemed to be getting narrower with each outing. We have a good team and it would certainly not going to be easy for them," Rach said.

"They had a hard time against us in the last match, we are going to perform even better."

To win tomorrow, India must pray for a quick recovery of Adrian D’souza from the hamstring injury he suffered during the match against New Zealand yesterday.

The goalkeeper had to miss most part of the match after he suffered the injury while charging out to save an attempt from a penalty corner and was replaced under the bar by Devesh Chauhan.

If D’souza recovers in time, it would be a boost to the indians as the gutsy custodian seemed to have devised a strategy to counter the deadly drag flicks of world’s leading goal scorer Sohail Abbas of Pakistan.

Holland would start as favourites for the title, but they could not afford to take lightly Maurits Hendriks’ team that has showed superb skills in the tournament so far.

Germany, who would be upbeat after shocking Holland yesterday, would be looking to carry forward the good form by beating New Zealand and avoid relegation as the team finishing last would miss out an automatic qualification for the next edition. (PTI)

Sumesh wins junior snooker title
* Kamal Rohmetra makes highest break of 76

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: Sumesh Turki today lifted the junior snooker title beating equally talented Kuldeep Sharma in a well fought final played today morning at Billiards Hall, M A Stadium, here.

Losing first frame to Kuldeep 49-67, Sumesh fought back and leveled the score 1-1 taking away the second frame narrowly 62-52. Sumesh then took lead in the third frame 66-25 but only to lose fourth with black ball 59-66.

However, with the help of some good chances coming his way, which he availed in a professional manner, Sumesh clinched the two successive frames and won the match 4-2. The score: 49-67, 62-52, 66-25, 59-66, 60-50, 53-27.

In the meantime, Kamal Rohmetra, who last year could not win even a single title, made it to both senior billiards and snooker finals this time.

In billiards, Kamal will be facing young Nishant Azad in the final to be played tomorrow. In snooker, Kamal is pitched locked horns with another junior Kuldeep Sharma.

Earlier, in the billiards semi-finals played today, Kamal defeated Sohail Khalid 390-356 in the two-hour match while Nishant outplayed Vishal Abrol in high scoring game 659-422.

In the billiards quarterfinals, Kamal surprised Sumesh Turki making 76 points highest break of the tournament. Kamal, who was in a different mood in this match, made two more healthy breaks of 65 and 55. He won his quarterfinal game against Sumesh with a wide gap of over 200 points 460-254.

To reach the last four stage, Sohail Khalid had defeated Jaideep Manocha 297-246.