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

Ashok outclass Sumesh in Senior Snooker ......

Games strengthen bonds of camaraderie: Aijaz.....

Collingwood double-century and early
wicket put England on top

ADELAIDE, Dec 2: Paul Collingwood became the first Englishman to score a Test double-century in Australia in 70 years as England struck late on the second day to take control of the second Ashes cricket Test here today.

Collingwood amassed 206 and with Kevin Pietersen (158) shared in resurgent England’s highest fourth-wicket partnership in Ashes Tests of 310 to place the tourists in an impregnable position with three days left.

Andrew Flintoff declared England’s marathon 11-hour 47-minute innings closed at 551 for six with nine overs left and cashed in with the wicket of Justin Langer for four to have the Australians on the back-foot.

Langer was caught by Pietersen in the gully after Flintoff elected to bowl with the new-ball in the second over instead of Steve Harmison.

At stumps, Australia were 28 for one with Matthew Hayden not out 12 and Ricky Ponting on 11.

Pietersen earlier underlined his danger series value to the ageing Australian attack with his second dominating century in the last three Ashes Tests.

England’s marathon innings kept the weary Australians in the field for close to two days in the search for enough runs to give their bowlers the chance of taking 20 wickets and levelling the series after the 277-run loss in Brisbane.

Collingwood’s 516-minute epic put him alongside Reg Foster and Wally Hammond as the only Englishmen to have scored a double century in Australia.

The Durham right-hander, who wasn’t sure of his place in the team until Marcus Trescothick returned home with depression, was out in the final over before tea, caught behind attempting to drive Stuart Clark.

Collingwood’s restrained double-century off 392 balls was the first by an England batsman in Australia since Hammond’s 231 in Sydney in 1936.

The records kept tumbling with Collingwood-Pietersen’s 354-minute stand bettering the 288 by Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe at Edgbaston in 1997 as the highest England fourth-wicket partnership in Ashes cricket.

It was Collingwood’s third Test century and first against Australia and followed the heartbreak of getting dismissed for 96 in the second innings of the first Brisbane Test.

He score 134 not out against India in the first Test at Nagpur last March and 186 against Pakistan at Lord’s in July.

Pietersen equalled his 158 in the drawn-out 2005 fifth Ashes Test at The Oval before he was run out by Ponting at short mid-wicket going for a quick single.

The Hampshire dominator clouted a six off Shane Warne, clubbed Glenn McGrath for three fours in one over and raised his hundred with a scampering single off Clark before lunch.

He ran down the field holding his bat and helmet aloft in jubilation before a warm embrace from Collingwood on attaining his sixth century in his 20^{th Test.}

^{Flintoff
(38 not out) and Ashley Giles (27 not
out) put on 60 runs before the skipper
made the declaration immediately after
passing 550.}

^{It
was a demoralising day for
Australia’s two great bowlers, Warne
and McGrath, first and third all-time
leading Test wicket-takers.}

^{Warne
was heading for his worst Test drubbing
before he claimed his only wicket of the
innings after conceding 145 runs. He
finished the day with 1-167 off 53 overs.}

^{It
was Warne’s worst Test return in an
Ashes Test against England and was close
to his all-time low of 0-147 against
India in Calcutta in 1998.}

^{An
exasperated Warne even resorted to
bowling outside leg-stump in an attempt
to entice Pietersen to get himself out to
a rash shot, to no avail.}

^{McGrath,
heaved for six by Flintoff over square
leg late in the day, claimed the unwanted
milestone of going for 100 runs for the
first time in 121 Tests with 0-107 off 30
overs.}

^{First-change
Clark was by far the best-performed
bowler with 3-75 off 34 overs. (AGENCIES)}

Smith’s men are South African team of the year

DURBAN, Dec 2: Graeme Smith’s men, currently taking on the Indians in a five-match one-day series, have been named the Sports Team of the Year in the country.

The award was bestowed at the annual A Sports Awards in Johannesburg last night. The cricket team was honoured because of the several match-winning performances during the period between November 1, 2005 and October 31, 2006.

"This is a wonderful accolade to the teamwork of the Proteas under the leadership of Graeme Smith," Gerald Majola, CEO of Cricket South Africa, said.

"The Proteas worked hard throughout the year under review, and the cherry on the top was when they beat world champions Australia to set a world record in the greatest ODI ever played," he added.

The South Africans, which lost its Pro20 match against India by six wickets last night, have also committed themselves in the fight against HIV-AIDS.

During the match, the players wore red ribbons in support of raising awareness for HIV and AIDS on World AIDS Day. The sponsors of the event also committed themselves to the fight against the pandemic. (PTI)

India drawing confidence from 20-20 win

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 2: India’s stand-in captain Virender Sehwag says the good luck charm of Centurion as well as the win from the Twenty20 game would help the team turn around its fortunes.

The Indians would take on South Africa in the last ODI at the Centurion tomorrow with nothing more than pride to play for as they have already conceded the rubber 3-0. But a victory would ensure that India go into the following three-Test rubber in a more positive frame of mind.

"Centurion has been the lucky ground for us. We will carry the confidence from the Twenty20 win and try to turn the tables on the hosts on Sunday," said Sehwag after India’s six-wicket win in the Twenty20 international at the Wanderers yesterday.

India have played two games against South Africa in Centurion Park and won both of them, first in 1992-93 when W V Raman’s century helped them in a modest chase and then in 2001-2002 when a very fine bowling performance saw them defend a total of 233.

Sehwag was also hinting at the Centurion Pak match against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup when along with Sachin Tendulkar he had slammed 50 runs from the first five overs.

The Delhi batsman took great heart from the penultimate-ball win over South Africa and made light of the observation that the hosts were without any of their regular bowlers.

"As far as I am concerned, we were playing against South Africa and we have beaten them," he said.

The stocky Indian opener did not feel it was right to suggest that juniors like Dinesh Mongia and Dinesh Kaarthick had stolen a march over seniors like Sachin Tendulkar and he himself.

"In a team game it is not right to suggest that juniors have stolen a march. We are playing a team game and everyone has to contribute."

Sehwag, who has been stripped of vice-captaincy, did not appear concerned by it.

"It’s a selectors’ decision and I accept it. As far as I am concerned it is not a worry for me."

Sourav Ganguly’s return to the national squad was also underplayed by Sehwag.

"He is like any other player in the side. But he has a wealth of experience and he has done well in South Africa before so it must have influenced the selectors’ decision."

Sehwag more or less ruled out Munaf Patel for the final game stating that the lanky paceman was still experiencing pain in his left ankle.

He was very excited by the Twenty20 format and said the pace of the game would bring more and more spectators to the ground.

"I enjoyed it immensely. It was a different feeling to be sitting near the boundary, football style, rather than be in the dressing room. Also only a minute was being allowed to the incoming batsman which was a difference.

"I am sure people are going to like it. It must be introduced in domestic cricket, looking at the schedule."

Kaarthick, man of the match in the Twenty20 game, stated that he was competing for the specialist batsman’s position rather than with wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"I am thankful to the team management who told me at the very start that they were expecting me to play as a frontline batsman.

"So in a way I was ready, I knew it could happen (that I would be called to play in eleven). So I was ready as a batsman," said Kaarthick.

"If I am competing for the keeper’s slot then there is only one slot to fight for. As a batsman you actually have six slots to push yourself in the team."

Looking at the Twenty20 game, Kaarthick felt his side was always on top of South Africa.

"We were controlling the match throughout the day. I knew my areas, I had a plan in my mind. I knew it was highly gettable," remarked Kaarthick whose unbeaten 31 played a handsome role in the win.

South African skipper Graeme Smith felt that another 15 runs by his side could have made the difference.

"Another 15 runs, may be a total of 250 would have been decent. But we were not consistent or accurate in our first 15 overs.

"Still it’s a credit to India for their first win and it would surely boost their confidence. But we would be back to full strength from Sunday.

"India should not expect any easy ride from Sunday," he said. (PTI)

India win first 20- 20 match to salvage some pride in SA

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 2: Displaying commendable fighting spirit, India put an end to their losing streak and salvaged some pride by posting a six-wicket victory over South Africa in their first ever Twenty20 international clash at the Wanderers here.

In a cliff-hanger last night, India needed nine runs off the last over when Dinesh Kaarthick(31 not out) pulled spinner Robin Peterson over mid-wicket for a six and then hit the winning run with one ball to spare to lift the sagging spirits of the struggling visitors.

India made 127 for four in 19.5 overs after restricting South Africa, who opted to bat, to a modest 126 for nine.

This was the visitors’ first victory of the tour after having conceded an unassailable 3-0 lead to the hosts in the five-match one-day international series.

The main contributors in the successful Indian run chase were stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag (34 off 29 balls), Dinesh Mongia (38 off 45) and player of the match Kaarthick(31 off 28).

India were off to a poor start again when Sachin Tendulkar (10) dragged a Charles Langeveldt delivery onto his stumps.

However, Sehwag and Mongia put the innings back on course with a 43-run second wicket stand.

At team total of 60, Sehwag (34) departed to a brilliant run out by bowler Langeveldt who flew in the air to disturb the stumps and catch the Delhi batsman short of ground.

Before the fatal mix up with Mongia, an ominous looking Sehwag, who had struggled in the ODI series, struck five boundaries and one six to set up the platform for victory.

India were soon dealt a blow in the guts when Mahendra Singh Dhoni chopped Langeveldt onto his stumps.

But Mongia and Kaarthick added crucial 37 runs for the fourth wicket that steadied the Indian ship.

Mongia, who hit a fabulous six over extra cover off Morkel, took the hosts’ attack to task hitting some big shots while Kaarthick played smart cricket by rotating the strike.

With 18 runs needed off 14 balls, Mongia, in search of a boundary, lifted left-arm spinner Peterson and Langeveldt held on to the skier.

That did not unnerve the Indians as Kaarthick played sensibly and guided India home in the company of Suresh Raina (3 not out).

During the South African innings, Zaheer Khan (2-15) and Ajit Agarkar (2-10) were brilliant up front and had reduced the hosts to 41 for 4 by the eighth over, a situation which worsened further with swashbuckling Justin Kemp (22) falling leg before to Tendulkar.

India received a jolt in the form of Ajit Agarkar, who tore his right groin muscle in the middle of his third over. Home-bound after the one-day series, Agarkar has almost been ruled out of the last ODI tomorrow.

South Africa rested five of their regulars-Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini-while India, searching for the first victory on the tour, fielded their full side.

South Africa lost their first wicket in Loots Bosman (1), when he edged Zaheer to Sachin in the slips. Agarkar then struck from the other end by claiming Herschelle Gibbs (7), caught brilliantly at short cover by Suresh Raina.

Morkel’s power-packed knock lasted 18 balls and included one four and three sixes.

A sizeable crowd turned up to soak in the pleasure of the match which was replete with cheerleaders with music playing in the background.

One of the innovations of the game was also witnessed when Harbhajan Singh bowled a no-ball and according to the rules, the next ball was to be a free hit.

Robin Peterson hit it down the throat of deep mid-off fielder but he was found standing out of his crease after running towards the non-striker’s end when the bowler took off the bails. (PTI)

32nd National Women Sports Festival gets under way

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 2: The much awaited 32nd National Women Sports Festival (Group IV) in the disciplines of Volleyball, Kabaddi and Kho-Kho were commenced at M.A. Stadium here today.

About 1000 players from 22 states/Union Territories namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, U.P., West Bengal and host J&K are participating in the mega Sports Event. The festival is being organised by the J&K State Sports Council under the aegis of Sports Authority of India.

Babu Singh, Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports was the chief guest on the opening ceremony of the Sports Festival. In his address, he said that sports not only play an important role in the overall development of an individual but also helps in bringing peace and harmony by conducting such sports events.

A.K. Angurana, Principal Secretary, Higher/Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports gave the welcome address. Ravinder Gupta, Secretary State Sports Council, was also present on the occasion.

B.L.Lachotra, Joint Director, Planning/Higher/Technical Education, Sudhir, Assistant Director, SAI, N.D. Wani, Director Colleges, Sheikh Fazal Ahmad, Former Secretary State Sports Council, Siddharth Sharma, G.M. Dar, Madan Lal, S.A. Wani, and other members of State Sports Council were also present on the occasion.

The inaugural ceremony concluded with a colourful cultural item presented by the students of Environmental High School, Kachi Chawni and DBN Canal Road.

Today’s Results:

Volleyball: U.P. beat Gujarat by 2-0, Tamil Nadu beat Kerala by 2-1, Punjab beat M.P. by 2-0, West Bengal beat Delhi by 2-0, Karnataka beat Maharashtra by 2-0, Chandigarh beat Orissa by 2-0, Jharkhand beat J&K by 2-0 and U.P. beat Rajasthan by 2-0.

Last year winner:U.P. Runner up: West Bengal

Kho-Kho: Punjab beat Delhi by 9-2, Andhra Pradesh beat Tamil Nadu by 7-6, West Bengal beat Chandigarh by 1 inning and 7 points, Assam beat U.P. by 9-6, Maharashtra beat M.P. by 15-4, Kerala beat Bihar by 16-2, Haryana beat Rajasthan by 9-3 and Punjab beat Chandigarh by 13-3.

Last year winner: Punjab Runner up : West Bengal

Kabaddi: Haryana beat Bihar by 57-26, U.P. beat Orissa by 23-19, H.P. beat Gujarat by 92-21, Karnataka beat Andhra Pradesh by 49-31, Delhi beat West Bengal by 48-11, Rajasthan beat J&K by 57-52, Karnataka beat A.P. by 49-31, H.P. beat M.P. by 73-28 and Chandigarh beat Kerala by 60-49.

Last year winner: H.P. Runner up: A.P.

IIIrd Division North Zone National Football
J&K Bank to face Amity United for title clash

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 2: Host J&K will clash with Amity United (Haryana) in the final of the ongoing IIIrd Division North Zone National Football Championship on December 4.

In the semifinal played today, host J&K finally broke the jinx to stun formidable BSF (Punjab) in a breathtaking Tie Breaker by 9-8 goals as both teams failed to score in the allotted and in the extra time as well.

J&K Bank started off in a brilliant fashion by making some good moves but were unable to convert those half chances into goals. BSF on the other hand, tried their level best to take lead but J&K Bank was looking a different team today, who played well as a unit to frustrate BSF players with their impeccable defence.

Extra time of 15 minutes each was given to the teams but that too wasn’t enough to decide the fate of the finalist.

Rizwan gave the lead to J&K Bank by scoring the first goal in the tie breaker. From BSF, Sarvjeet scored the equalizer. Abdul Qadir then came in to score the 2nd goal for J&K but Bhattacharya missed the kick for BSF as Vikramjeet (J&K goalkeeper) made a brilliant save to put BSF on the back foot.

The drama was not finished as Mozzam of J&K also missed his chance. Kabal Singh on the other hand, scored the goal for BSF to make the contest more exciting.

Total 12 penalties were given to both teams out of which J&K converted 9 while BSF 8.

The other goal scorers for J&K were Emmaniul, Adeianlu, Majid Dar, Amrit Pal, Billo Khan and Vikramjeet.

Byouned by the brilliant performance of J&K Bank, Abdul Majid Kakroo, Coach J&K Bank Football team while talking to Excelsior said, "All in all it was a total team effort today that eventually helped us to beat such a formidable unit like BSF. The biggest plus point for us today was that we played according to the plan right throughout the match that finally paid dividends. It was a victory not only for J&K Bank but also for the State as a whole and I hope that the team would continue its brilliant run to claim the Championship". he replied.

It is pertinent to mention here that J&K Bank had lost four finals against the same opponents. In Mushtaq Memorial Football Tournament, BSF defeated J&K Bank in 2005 and 2006. In Guru Gobind Singh Football Tournament played at Jallandhar in 2005 they (J&K Bank) lost the final in a tie breaker and in National Football League in Delhi, J&K Bank lost semifinal.

In the second semifinal, Amity United (Haryana) beat Chandigarh F.C. by 2-0 goals. The goal scorers were Tushar and Sanjeev Yadav, who scored in the 60th and 78th minute respectively. Babu Singh, Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports was the chief guest in the semifinal.

PG College Udhampur clinches Inter
Collegiate Volleyball title

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 2: Hosts Government PG College, Udhampur, clinched Inter Collegiate Volleyball Tournament defeating Government Degree College, Kathua by 3-0 sets played in the college premises today.

The final set score was 25-18, 25-17 and 25-23. Mohd Ashraf and Sher Singh were the top performers for the winning team.

Aijaz Ahmad Khan, Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education was the chief guest in the match. He said that conduct of such tournaments help in bringing youths from different parts of the country to provide them an opportunity to share their experiences. Earlier, he was introduced to the players of both teams before the start of the match. The officials in the match were Ashok Kumar, Rajesh Virdhi, Pawan Kumar and Vijay Kumar.

Brig K K Chopra, Sub-Area Commander, was the chief guest on the occasion, who gave away winner and runner up trophies to the teams.

O P Kalandia, District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Prof R L Sharma, Principal, GGM Science College, Prof Keshav Sharma, Director, Physical Education Jammu University, Usha Jayee, Principal, GCW Udhampur, Sham Lal, Hardeep Singh Gill, Raj Guru and Pardeep Chopra were the Guests of Honour.

The technical officials in the match were Romesh Sharma, Anchal Singh, Rajiv Dogra, Ashok Kumar, Pawan Kumar, P L Sharma, Ravi Kanchan, J S Ahlawat, Romesh Bharti, Kulwant Singh and Ravi Singh Jaswal.

KAWA trounces New Modern College

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 2: KAWA- Gandhi Nagar "A" defeated New Modern College by 10 runs in the ongoing GKR Memorial Twenty-20 Cricket Tournament being played at GGM Science College Ground today.

KAWA Gandhi Nagar won the toss and opted to bat first. They made 117 runs in the allotted 20 overs. Paramjeet and Tauseef were the top scorers with 27 and 15 runs respectively. For New Modern College, Sourav, Shakeel and Tahir took 2 wickets each.

In reply, New Modern College managed 107 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.

Sourav played a fighting knock of 22 runs with the help of 1 four. Rafique also chipped in with 18 runs.

For KAWA Gandhi Nagar, Salim, Harun and Asif grabbed 2 wickets each.

The umpires in the match were Pappu Dogra and Chunu. The scorers were Mohit Puri and B.B. Verma.

Ashok outclass Sumesh in Senior Snooker

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 2: Ashok Raphael defeated Sumesh Turki by 3-0 frames in a league match in quarterfinal in Senior Snooker in the ongoing 16th J&K State Billiards and Snooker Championship being played at Billiards Hall, M.A. Stadium today.

The frame score was 76-44, 63-43 and 45-17. Umar Humayun had to struggle for earning a win over Avish Sharma by 3-2 frames 55-60, 69-25, 49-65, 60-59 and 58-57.

Umar Farooq also won a close contest against Nikhil Kapahi by the same margin 49-36,37-70, 66-19, 32-52 and 62-58.

However in pre quarterfinal matches played earlier, Avish Sharma beat Ajay Pal Singh by 3-0 frames 73-2, 72-28 and 67-48, Vishal Abrol beat Kuldeep Sharma by 3-2 frames 55-14, 75-02, 47-58, 55-60 and 69-37, Ishuk Choudhary beat Sheetal Gandotra by 3-0 frames 77-37, 58-37 and 58-26 and Umar Humayun beat Jaideep Manocha by 3-1 frames 58-40, 45-56, 58-53 and 50-27.

The officials in the match were Rakesh, Surjit Singh and Shanker Dass.

The tournament is being organised by the J&K Billiards and Snooker Association and sponsored by J&K State Sports Council.

Games strengthen bonds of camaraderie: Aijaz

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 2: Minister of State for Higher Education and Technical Education Aijaz Ahmad Khan has said that sports activities not only help in all round personality development but strengthens bonds of camaraderie among youth.

Mr. Khan was addressing players where he was the chief guest at sami final match of 3rd North Zone Division of National League Football Championship being played at Jammu University.

The Minister while interacting with the players and organizers of the mega sports event said that such tournaments help in bringing together youth from different parts of the country and provide them an opportunity to share their experiences. This cements unity, national integration and harmony for which the country is known world over. He said youth of Jammu and Kashmir are most talented and called upon them to strive for bringing laurels for the state.

The players of the J&K Bank and BSF XI Jalandhar were introduced to Mr. Khan before start of semi final match between the two teams.