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India survive CHITTAGONG, Dec 23: An indisciplined India allowed minnows Bangladesh to come too close for comfort before scripting a thrilling 11-run victory in the first one-day international cricket match here today.............more Kerala
takes 179-run first PALAKKAD, Dec 23: Captain Sreekumar Nair and Sureshkumar shared seven wickets amongst themselves as Kerala took control of the Ranji Trophy plate Group ‘A’ Ranji cricket match here today.............more Bangladesh
was CHITTAGONG, Dec 23: After India pulled off a 11-run win over Bangladesh here today, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said the home team was "never really in the game" although the narrow margin of victory suggested a close match. "We kept picking wickets at regular intervals, they were never really in the game," said Ganguly at the post-match presentation ceremony..........more HYDERABAD, Dec 23: France defeated India 2-1 in the second junior (U-21) hockey Test match played at the Gachibowli hockey complex here today.............more |
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City Club, HSS girls win distt volleyball titles Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 23: City Volleyball Club and Higher Secondary School girls won volleyball titles in the district volleyball championship which was concluded today at Master Madan memorial volleyball complex, here............more Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Government MAM College today lifted the inter-college football trophy beating equally good side of GGM Science College in the final which was played today at University ground, here.............more Army
Nursery School Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 23: Army Nursery School today celebrated their annual sports day with tiny tots performing PT display and other entertainment programmes at the school premises here........more Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: All the parents of players who have been selected by the Department of Youth Services and Sports for the inter-state national competitions in various desciplines have expressed.......more |
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rope skipping team announced....... Sumit, Sharma make winning start in open chess...... |
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India survive Bangladesh scare CHITTAGONG, Dec 23: An indisciplined India allowed minnows Bangladesh to come too close for comfort before scripting a thrilling 11-run victory in the first one-day international cricket match here today. Chasing a target of 246, the hosts relied on a blistering unbeaten 50 by Khaled Mashud to stage a remarkable comeback before the Indians restricted them to 234 for eight to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The home team paid the price for launching the onslaught a little too late against an Indian bowling attack which lacked discipline, bowling as many as 17 wides and seven no balls. The visitors had the game under control right through before Mashud’s 39-ball 50 very nearly turned the contest on its head with captain Habibul Bashar (65) being the other notable contributor. Put in to bat, middle order batsman Mohammad Kaif rose to the occasion with a well paced half century that helped India recover from a top order collapse and post a competitive 245 for eight in the face of some disciplined bowling by the hosts. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mashud then led the hosts’ fight in the final stages as Bangladesh, needing 45 runs off the last two overs, plundered 33 runs to reach 234 for eight. Mashud hit four fours and a six as he shared two vital partnerships that took the team closer to the Indian total. He added 40 off 33 balls with Khaled Mahmud for the eighth wicket and then 34 off 16 balls with Tapash Baisya (7 n.o.) for the unfinished ninth wicket. Sridharan Sriram picked up three for 43 with his left arm spinners even as Bangladesh showed temerity in the face of consistent pressure applied by the experienced visitors. Till Mashud came along, however, captain Bashar had to wage a lone battle with a composed 65 as wickets kept falling at regular intervals at the other end. In the end, it was not a meek capitulation like in the second innings of the second Test at the same venue earlier this week. Bangladesh showed more toughness as they kept themselves in the reckoning till the skipper’s fall at 156 for five in the 41st over. Bashar had no hesitation in electing to field on a pitch, different from the one used for the Test, that promised help for the seamers. He justified the decision with some accurate seam bowling and had the Indian top order in trouble from the start, and 17-year-old Nazmul Hossain, coming in one change for Mushfiqur Rahman, provided ample support at the other end. Bangladesh’s decision to field first might have been more due to the fear of facing Irfan Pathan on a juicy wicket, but they made a rousing start when Baisya had captain Ganguly in the very second ball of the match. With Virender Sehwag being rested, India reverted to their most destructive opening combination ever of Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar. But the pair lasted just two minutes as Ganguly tried to cut a rising delivery away from the body but ended up dragging it on to his stumps for zero. Baisya also beat Tendulkar’s bat twice but not lucky enough to get the edge. Tendulkar (19), although he struck three boundaries, was finding the pitch difficult to read. After turning Nazmul Hossain from outside off to square leg fence, he fell to the same bowler with an inside edge to Mashud. (PTI) SCOREBOARD India: S Ganguly b Baisya 0 S Tendulkar c Mashud b Hossain 19 Yuvraj Singh lbw b Rahman 21 R Dravid c Mashud b Mahmud 53 M Kaif c and b Hossain 80 S Sriram st Mashud b Rafique 3 M S Dhoni run out 0 A Agarkar c Rahman b Baisya 25 I Pathan not out 21 Joginder Sharma not out 5 Extras (lb-6, w-11, nb-1) 18 Total (for 8 wickets in 50 overs)245 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-37, 3-45, 4-173, 5-180, 6-180, 7-203, 8-232. Bowling: Tapash Baisya 10-0-67-2, Mushfiqur Rahman 6-0-29-1, Nazmul Hossain 9-1-39-2, Khaled Mahmud 10-0-43-1, Mohammad Rafique 10-0-39-1, Aftab Ahmed 5-0-22-0. Bangladesh N Iqbal run out 9 M Rafique c Yuvraj b Pathan 8 H Bashar c Dravid b Sriram 65 M Ashraful c Ganguly b Sharma 2 A Ahmed c Harbhajan b Sriram 30 R Saleh Not c Sharma b Sriram 14 K Mashud not out 50 M Rahman lbw b Agarkar 2 K Mahmud c Kaif b Agarkar 21 T Baisya not out 7 Extras (lb-2, w-17, nb-7) 26 Total (for 8 wkts in 50 overs) 234 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-40, 3-44, 4-108, 5-143, 6-156, 7-160, 8-200. Bowling: Irfan Pathan 9-0-45-1, Joginder Sharma 8-2-28-1, Ajit Agarkar 10-0-51-2, Harbhajan Singh 10-1-46-0, Sourav Ganguly 4-0-19-0, Sridharan Sriram 9-0-43-3. (PTI) |
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Kerala takes 179-run first innings lead over J&K PALAKKAD, Dec 23: Captain Sreekumar Nair and Sureshkumar shared seven wickets amongst themselves as Kerala took control of the Ranji Trophy plate Group ‘A’ Ranji cricket match here today. The hosts, who had scored 319 runs in their first innings, dismissed Jammu and Kashmir for a platry 140 and then consolidated their position and were 109 for 3 in their second innings. They have now an overall lead of 288 with seven wickets in hand. Earlier, resuming at 23/1, J and K were in trouble, as they lost two quick wickets-Kanwaljeet Singh (2) and Majid Dar (4). However, captain Dhruv Mahajan and overnight opener Sajjad Sheikh steadied the innings and added 68 runs for the fourth wicket before left-arm spinner Sureshkumar broke the stand by having Sheikh edging to wicket-keeper Mausam Nathani for 29. He dealt two more blows and J&K were in dire trouble at 130/6. Dhruv, who batted sensibly and confidently did not last long as Sreekumar Nair had him edging to Nathani for 78 which included 13 boundaries. Sureshkumar and Sreekumar Nair, who hit a century in Kerala’s first innings, then ensured that the Jammu and Kashmir innings did not last long. Sureshkumar claimed 4 for 25 in his 16 overs. Brief scores: Kerala 319 and 109/3 (Sreekumar Nair batting 29, Sunil Oasis batting 16, Pranav Mahajan 2/28) versus J&K 140 (Dhruv Mahajan 78, Sajjad Sheikh 29, Sreekumar Nair 3/5, Sureshkumar 4/25). (PTI) |
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Bangladesh was never really in the game: Ganguly CHITTAGONG, Dec 23: After India pulled off a 11-run win over Bangladesh here today, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said the home team was "never really in the game" although the narrow margin of victory suggested a close match. "We kept picking wickets at regular intervals, they were never really in the game," said Ganguly at the post-match presentation ceremony. Bangladesh were brought tantalisingly close to the target through an enterprising 39-ball 50 by wicketkeeper-batsman Khaled Mashud after they were struggling at 160 for seven in the 42nd over. "We gave away some runs in the end and that made it look close," Ganguly said. On the new faces who were given a look-in in today’s match, he said they played well in patches and would improve with more exposure. "It was the first game for them, they did well in patches and will improve with time," he said adding every new player would get a chance to play at least two games in the three-match series. Ganguly also said the wicket was a little tricky to bat on and the players did well to take the score to 245 in the end. Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar said giving away too many runs in the last three overs proved crucial for his side. "We gave away too many runs in the last three overs but it was good to see the boys work hard out in the middle," he said. "We will try to put up the same fight that we showed towards the end of the match today in the remaining two games," he said. Man-of-the-match Mohammad Kaif said the wicket was "double-paced" and difficult to bat early on but he was happy that he hung in to score 80. "Some balls kept low and some rose high but if you stayed for some time and got your eye in, it was easier to bat," said the batsman adding that he was told to keep things simple and not to panic. (PTI) |
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HYDERABAD, Dec 23: France defeated India 2-1 in the second junior (U-21) hockey Test match played at the Gachibowli hockey complex here today. After a barren first half, Moreau Antonine put the visitors ahead in the 50th minute while Gouedard Conte extended the lead seven minutes later. Nitya Jayanand reduced the margin in the 68th minute but the Frenchmen went on to win the second Test, two days after they thrashed the hosts 5-0 in the first Test. Improving the game by a few notches, India rose to the occasion and held the french in the first half to return tied goalless at the breather. The tempo of the game remained the same even in the initial stages of the second half but Anotnine drew first blood for the visitors when he converted the penalty corner with clinical precision. Conte made most of lead and dribbled past Indian defenders to score a spectacular field goal within six minutes and to swell the lead 2-0. At a time when the match appeared to be closing, a late resurgence from the Indian camp saw Jayanand breach the French defence to find the net in the dying moments. This was the only goal scored by the Indians in the two-Test series. France converted one of the four penalty corners it was awarded while hosts squandered away all the eight chances it got in the scramble at the scoring post. Earlier, France had blanked India 5-0 in the first junior (under-21) hockey Test match played on December 21. (PTI) |
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City Club, HSS girls win distt volleyball titles Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 23: City Volleyball Club and Higher Secondary School girls won volleyball titles in the district volleyball championship which was concluded today at Master Madan memorial volleyball complex, here. Director Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy, Ram Lubhaya was chief guest in the finals. He later gave away prizes to the winners and runners-up teams. Earlier, in men’s final, City Club defeated Sports Training Centre (STC) in a tough contest that lasted for full five sets. The score: 17-25, 25-21, 25-15, 15-25, 15-10. Amit Sharma, Manik and Swarn Singh played a good game for the winners while Shashi, Raman Radha and Naim fought well for STC. In girls final, Girls Higher Secondary School outplayed Ramnagar girls in straight but close sets 25-21, 25-18, 25-19. Finals were officiated by Ashok Kumar, Pawan Kumar, Vijay Mehra, Yog Raj and Kulwant Singh. Amit Sharma of City Volleyball Club was awarded with best player trophy. Prominent among others present were Bodh Raj, Roshan Lal, Pradeep Chopra, Bhushan Sethi, Arun Gupta and Rajeev Dogra and Ashok Kumar (District Youth Services and Sports Officer). General secretary of the Volleyball Association of Udhampur, Sunil Sharma presented vote of thanks. |
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Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Government MAM College today lifted the inter-college football trophy beating equally good side of GGM Science College in the final which was played today at University ground, here. The final was decided only in the last minute of 30-minute extra-time after the matched ended in a 1-1 draw in the stipulated 90-minute game. Amit scored the all important goal for the MAM College in the extra time beating badly the guard at the net. Earlier, in the match time, Science College scored the first blood through Vishal Verma taking lead in the 30th minute. But within five minutes, MAM College made equaliser with Sanjeev converting a beautiful pass from right corner in 40th minute. The interesting final attracted a big crowd of students from MAM and Science College besides from the University of Jammu. It was an entertaining game for the football lovers because players from both sides fought for every move thorughout the final. Final was officiated by David Masih, R C Vaid, Dr Daljeet Singh, Suresh Gupta and Rajesh. Inter-college football tournament was held under the overall supervision of Dr Brij Balowria. |
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Army Nursery School celebrates annual sports day Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 23: Army Nursery School today celebrated their annual sports day with tiny tots performing PT display and other entertainment programmes at the school premises here. President Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) Northern Command, Lakshmi Hari Prasad was chief guest, who declared the sports day open by releasing balloons much to the delight of the tiny tots present there. The inaugural programme was followed by the children of Nursery and KG presenting a march past followed by a PT display. Chief guest complimented the little ones for their performance and congratulated the teachers for the efforts put in by them in preparing the student. Army Nursery school is amongst many schools being run by the Army in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition there are three other Army Public School, one each in Rajouri, Pahalgam and Kargil also on the anvil. |
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Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: All the parents of players who have been selected by the Department of Youth Services and Sports for the inter-state national competitions in various desciplines have expressed their unhappiness over the way Department of Youth Services and Sports functioning. Talking to EXCELSIOR on telephone some of these parents who were called at the MA Stadium by the Department for briefing before departure of the teams for the venue—Surat in Gujarat, were informed that ‘inabsence’ of proper reservation their wards will be taken to the venue in general compartment. Angry over the lazy and non-serious approach of the sports department, parents alleged that it has become a routine that every year lame excuses are being made by the officials at the last moment regarding reservation issue. They (players) are being sent without proper reservation, the parents remarked. The first batch of state teams will proceed for national competitions at 10 am tomorrow through Super Fast. J&K rope skipping team announced Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Jammu and Kashmir Rope Skipping Association today announced 34-member team for participation in the 5th national rope skipping championship to be held at Meerat in Uttar Pradesh from December 25 to 29. The team, which earlier underwent a 20-day coaching camp, will proceed for the venue tomorrow. The teams (junior boys and girls): Syed Irfan, Dilawar Ahmed, Syed Mohd Hussain, Sheikh Mohd Sharik, Abrar Anjum Baba, Zahoor Ahmad Khan, Muzamil Jan, Saima Afzal, Subreena Muzaffar, Arsheena Arshaf. Shafat Bashir (Coach). Sub-junior boys and girls: Sheikh Shahid, Waseem Afzal, Adil Hussain, Furkan Farooq, Tanzeele, Sadaf Jan, Shabir, Muzaffar. Mukhtar Rasool Bhat (coach). Senior men: Riyaz Ahmed Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmad, Zahid Hussain, Mehraj-u-Din, Sheikh Wahid, Rouf Ahmad Khan, Saba Naiz, Saima Hamid. Officials: Riyaz Ahmad Wani (coach) and Bashir Ahmad (manager). Sumit, Sharma make winning start in open chess Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Former J&K champion, S P Sharma and budding Sumit Grover made a winning start in the All India open chess championship being organised by Malerkotla chess association at Malerkotla in Punjab. Both of them have won two matches each in as many outings while youngest participant in the competition, Agrim Pandotra of Jammu has one win and one loss in two matches he played today. Aditi Sharma, Akanksha Sharma and Shiv Chander have also won one game each in the first round. In all, 150 players (14 girls), including 24 rated, are participating in this championship. Ex-Pakistan hero backs Shoaib’s long run-up KARACHI, Dec 23: Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz today defended paceman Shoaib Akhtar’s notoriously long run-up, saying he would be a mediocre bowler if he shortened the distance to the crease. "I designed Akhtar’s run-up in a camp in 1996 and his effectiveness is at its fullest if he comes from a long run-up. Akhtar has not been used properly," Nawaz, remembered for taking 9-86 at Melbourne in 1978, told AFP. Pakistan take on Australia in the second Test at Melbourne from Sunday, after suffering a demoralising 491-run hammering in the first Test at Perth earlier this week. After the defeat, Pakistan’s english coach Bob Woolmer urged Akhtar to cut his run-up for his team’s sake and to ensure captain Inzamam-ul Haq avoids suspension for a slow over rate. Akhtar dismissed the idea, saying "a jet cannot get full flight if its runway is cut short." Nawaz maintained that Akhtar’s current run-up helped to distract batsmen and suggested that his teammates could help speed things up. "When he takes a long run-up it puts a lot of things on the batsman’s mind, and fielders can save time by quickly changing ends at the end of an over," said Nawaz. However Nawaz, who took Test 177 wickets and is known for introducing reverse swing to Pakistan’s bowling attack, added that Akhtar needed to be fully fit for long bursts. Shoaib took hauls of 5-99 and 1-22 in Perth but could not sustain spells longer than five overs at a time. "For this long run-up and long bursts Akhtar needs full fitness. He has been very soft and reacted more even to minor injuries like we saw at Perth," Nawaz added. Akhtar hurt his shoulder in the first Test but has been cleared to play at Melbourne. The former bowler also blamed a poor relationship between captain Inzamam and Akhtar for the Pakistani side not being at their best. (AFP) Australia’s Langer doubtful for 2nd Test MELBOURNE, Dec 23: Australia opening batsman Justin Langer is rated a "50-50" chance to play in Sunday’s second Test against Pakistan after suffering a back injury, team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said day. Alcott said Langer suffered the injury while bending down to pick up a ball during practice at the Melbourne cricket ground today. A scan revealed Langer has a bulging disc in his lower back. "(he has) very severe back pain," Alcott told reporters. "It’s 50 percent he might play, 50 per cent he might not play. But it’s just a bit too early (to say) at this stage." Langer is Test cricket’s leading scorer in 2004 with 1,426 runs, including five centuries. (AGENCIES) |
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