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South Africa take control of second test

DURBAN, Dec 28: India paid the price for some atrocious shot selection, allowing South Africa to take firm control of the second cricket test with a sizeable first innings lead here today.

The Indians showed poor application on a sporting Kingsmead track to be bundled out for 240 in their first innings and concede an 88-run lead to the hosts who pressedhome the advantage by reaching 64 for no loss at close on the third day for an overall lead of 152.

South African skipper Graeme Smith, battling a miserable form slump, was unbeaten on 28 while Ab de Villiers was on 31when play was called off early for the third day running dueto bad light.

Heavy clouds throughout the day forced the match to beconducted under floodlights but against all odds it did notrain.

India, who resumed at overnight 103 for 3, could not gobeyond 240, built largely on half centuries by SachinTendulkar (63) and VVS Laxman (50) and a plucky 28 by tailender S Sreesanth.

South Africa then had their best start of the series —in fact the best opening stand for either side in this engrossing series which India lead 1-0.

Much of the drama centred around the final session whengame was stopped because of power failure after 46 minutesof play; then resumed after 39 minutes of interruption and finally, stopped again, after only eight further balls hadbeen bowled.

Initially, Smith and De Villiers were reluctant to go off the field after power had failed and three of the four floodlight towers had stopped functioning.

But then VRV Singh bowled a lifting delivery which nearlytook the head off De Villiers and after couple of minutes,smith from the other end sought to take the option of poorlight.

Once power was restored, umpires Asad Rauf and IanHowell, substituting for Mark Benson who left the field this morning after five minutes because of palpitations in the heart, asked for the game to be resumed but only after eight deliveries, once again put an end to proceedings, this time at the behest of the fielding side because of poor light.

Smith and De Villiers tried to argue their case but itwas a case of no go as the match ended with 36 overs for the day still to be bowled, a shortage of 80 overs from three days’ proceedings.

The morning belonged to the hosts who reduced the Indians to 183 for 8 in the extended first session of two and a half hours.

Tendulkar started the slide with an injudicious cut off adelivery too close to his body and the dismissal of Sourav Ganguly two balls later made it a twin strike for Makhaya Ntini.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (34) briefly threatened to play hisfirst major innings of the tour when he drove at a delivery away from his body and edged a catch in the slip cordon.

Anil Kumble (0) and Zaheer Khan (2) both opted forbold course rather than try to play within their limitations and perished, leaving India in serious trouble at the break.

On resumption though India enjoyed brilliant resistance from its ninth wicket pair of Laxman and Sreesanth who put on52 runs in entertaining style.

Laxman, who made only 18 runs from the first 150 minutesof play, tried to open his shoulders on resumption but the initiative was truly seized by Sreesanth who struck some delightful boundaries in his 28 from 40 balls with five fours.

Andre Nel finished with three scalps but it was morne Morkel who did much in his debut test to stop the India’s progress this morning. Ntini claimed two while Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall had a hand in one dismissal each.

South Africa Ist innings: 328

India Ist Innings: 240

South Africa 2nd Innings:

Graeme Smith batting 28

Ab De Villiers batting 31

Extras (lb2, w1, nb2) 5

Total (for no loss, 19.3 overs) 64

Bowling: Zaheer 10-4-22-0, Sreesanth 7.3-2-20-0,VRV Singh 2-0-20-0. (PTI)

Aussies crush England in 4th Test

MELBOURNE, Dec 28: Australia will go to Sydney aiming for the first 5-0 Ashes series clean sweep in 85 years after crushing England by an innings and 99 runs in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.

The Australians, hellbent on exacting full revenge for losing the Ashes in England last year, routed the tourists for 161 in their second innings off 65.5 overs to win the Boxing Day Test inside three days.

Led by pacemen Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, Australia wrapped up the comprehensive victory at And will be out to emulate Warwick Armstrong’s 1921 team when they shoot for a series clean sweep in the fifth Test, starting on Tuesday.

It was Australia’s 15th win (one drawn) in their last 16 Tests since losing the Ashes in September 2005.

Lee captured 4-47 off 18.5 overs and Clark claimed 3-30 from 16 overs, including the pyschological wickets of Kevin Pietersen (1) and skipper Andrew Flintoff (25).

It was another sorry England batting performance following their abject first innings of 159 off 74.2 overs after winning the toss and trailed by 260 runs on the first innings.

Clark triggered England’s demise when he bowled Alastair Cook and Pietersen in the hour after lunch when England slumped to 49 for three. Cook got an inside edge onto his stumps and was bowled for 20 and Ian Bell was leg before wicket for the second time in the Test when trapped by Glenn McGrath for two to give the retiring paceman his 557th Test wicket in his 123rd match.(UNI)

Aussies rout England to set up crack at 5-0 Ashes sweep

Led by pacemen Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, Australia wrapped up the comprehensive victory at And will be out to emulate Warwick Armstrong's 1921 team when they shoot for a series clean sweep in the fifth Test, starting on Tuesday.

It was Australia's 15th win (one drawn) in their last 16 Tests since losing the Ashes in September 2005.

Lee captured 4-47 off 18.5 overs and Clark claimed 3-30 from 16 overs, including the pyschological wickets of Kevin Pietersen (1) and skipper Andrew Flintoff (25).

It was another sorry England batting performance following their abject first innings of 159 off 74.2 overs after winning the toss and trailed by 260 runs on the first innings.

Clark triggered England's demise when he bowled Alastair Cook and Pietersen in the hour after lunch when England slumped to 49 for three. Cook got an inside edge onto his stumps and was bowled for 20 and Ian Bell was leg before wicket for the second time in the Test when trapped by Glenn McGrath for two to give the retiring paceman his 557th Test wicket in his 123rd match.

Pietersen, promoted above Paul Collingwood to No.4 in the order, lasted just nine balls before he was beaten by Clark and bowled off-stump for one.

Collingwood was out for 16 in a soft dismissal, taking a Lee delivery on the rise and driving straight to Justin Langer close in to the wicket.

Andrew Strauss was out to the fifth ball after tea, nibbling at Lee to be caught by Gilchrist for 31 in 174 minutes.

Clark struck again for the third time, trapping Flintoff leg before wicket for 25 to expose England's brittle tail at 108 for six.

Shane Warne removed Sajid Mahmood (0) and Steve Harmison (4), both lbw, for his 706th Test wicket.

Lee had Monty Panesar caught in the gully for 14 and clinched victory when he bowled Matthew Hoggard for five. Wicketkeeper Chris Read remained not out on 26 in 127 minutes.

Warne, playing in his last Test in Melbourne before he retires after next week's final Test, remained unbeaten on 40 with six fours in Australia's first innings of 419.

McGrath, who will also retire from Test cricket in Sydney, was last man out for a duck, giving Mahmood four wickets for the innings, while wicketkeeper Chris Read marked his debut Ashes Test with six catches.

Andrew Symonds only added two runs to his overnight total before he was out for 156.

Symonds had a rush of blood and chased after a wide ball from Steve Harmison to edge to Read and end his five-and-a-half hour knock containing 15 boundaries and the six off Collingwood, which brought up his maiden Test century yesterday.

Clark gave Read his sixth dismissal off Mahmood for eight before McGrath lasted six balls for his 35th Test duck, second only in Test cricket to West Indian Courtney Walsh (43).

McGrath and Warne walked off the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) together to a huge ovation from the crowd, sensing their likely last innings at the famous ground before their retirements.

Mahmood finished England's most successful bowler with 4-100 off 21.3 overs with Flintoff taking 3-77 off 22 overs. (AGENCIES)

Jayasuriya century leads Sri Lanka to
victory over New Zealand

NAPIER, Dec 28: A quickfire century by veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya propelled Sri Lanka to an easy seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening one-day cricket international here today.

Jayasuriya hit 111 from just 82 balls as Sri Lanka overhauled New Zealand's respectable 285-8 -- including an undefeated 128 from rookie Ross Taylor -- with 10 overs to spare on an ideal batting surface at McLean Park.

Jayasuriya and fellow opener Upal Tharanga plundered the wayward attack, smashing 90 runs from the first 10 overs and hitting another 50 from the next five.

The 37-year-old Jayasuriya showed no signs of age as he hit 12 fours and five sixes in his whirlwind innings.

James Franklin dispatched both openers in consecutive balls in the 25th over, bringing to an end the 201 run partnership. Jayasuriya was caught a few steps inside the backward point boundary and Tharanga offered a nick to wicketkeeper Brendon McCallum.

But Sri Lanka's victory was all but in the bag, with skipper Mahela Jayawadene (34 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (36) ensuring the victory.

The absence of the home side's top bowlers, including speedster Shane Bond who was being rested, cost New Zealand dearly.

New Zealand pace bowlers Andre Adams, Michael Mason and debutant Mark Gillespie all conceded more than seven runs an over. Left arm spinner Daniel Vettori, standing in as skipper for a resting Stephen Fleming, was the only bowler to emerge with his reputation intact, finishing with 1-36 from eight overs.

Taylor and veteran Nathan Astle (83) provided the backbone of the New Zealand innings in a 151-run partnership, which at one stage appeared likely to set up a huge total.

But New Zealand lost six wickets for 63 runs in the last 12 overs as the Sri Lanka's bowlers found the tight line which had eluded them earlier.

The big-hitting Taylor, playing only his third one-day international, scored his first international century off 133 balls in a masterful innings which included four sixes and 12 fours. The 22-year-old brought up his century in the 44th over and had to battle cramp as he struggled through to end of the innings.

Astle survived some shaky early overs and poor recent form to recover his swashbuckling style of old. His innings ended cruelly when bowler Jayasuriya deflected a drive from Taylor on to the stumps at the non-striker's end, leaving Astle stranded outside the crease.

The wily Chaminda Vaas with 3-50 was the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers, taking the wickets of Vettori and James Marshall in consecutive balls to put the brakes on the New Zealand innings. Lasith Malinga made up for a loose early spell with two late wickets for a tally of 2-66. (AGENCIES)

Jammu City, District Badminton tourney begins

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 28: The 21st Jammu City and District Badminton Championship was got under way at Badminton Hall, M A Stadium today. S S Manhas, Chairman, J&K Housing Board Corporation and also President of Jammu City and District Badminton Association was the chief guest on the occasion, who declared open the championship. Pardeep Sankhyadar, General Secretary, J&K Badminton Association, Dr O D Sharma, Secretary, J&K Badminton Association and Balbir were also present. All the matches in the championship are being played under the supervision of Sat Pal Sharma, SAI Badminton Coach. The championship being organised by the J&K Badminton Association will conclude on December 30.

The Results:

Mini Girls (Singles): Anisha bt Palak by 21-10 and 21-5, Diksha bt Aruhi by 19-21, 21-19 and 21-10, Rashika bt Roshni by 21-5 and 21-3, Gagandeep bt Monika by 21-19, 16-21 and 25-23.

Mini Boys( Singles): Himanshu bt Divit by 21-6 and 21-6, Tarun bt Lalit by 21-12 and 21-16, Aman bt Shubam by 21-11 and 21-18, Varun got walkover Akhil, Pranav bt Parth by 21-9 and 21-6, Sumit bt Tushar by 21-12 and 21-11, B S Shubam bt Gourav by 21-16 and 21-5, Himanshu bt Siddhant by 21-16, 18-21 and 21-12, Chander bt D S Shivam by 13-21, 21-11 and 21-11 and Shantnu bt Tarun by 21-18 and 21-13.

Sub Junior Boys: Abhishek bt Arshdeep by 21-19, 15-21 and 21-13, Rohit bt Faizal by 19-21, 21-16 and 21-18, Anuj bt Shivam by 21-12 and 21-8 and Ashish bt Shubam by 21-4 and 21-9.

Sub Junior Boys (Doubles): B S Shubam and Aman got walkover Nikhil and Tarun, Sutiqshan and Arshdeep bt Faizal and Ashish by 21-16, 17-21 and 21-20.

Sub Junior Girls (Singles): Dipakshi bt Inakshi by 21-8 and 21-2, Sulakhni bt Sakshi by 21-4 and 21-4 and Nisha bt Heena by 21-7 and 21-6.

Sub Junior Girls (Doubles): Payal and Inakshi bt Heena and Diksha by 21-16 and 21-15, Gagan and Aruhi bt Sakshi and Sundan by 14-21, 21-19 and 21-16.

Junior Girls (Doubles): Sulakhni and Inakshi bt Kirit and Diksha by 21-13 and 21-14, Prabjot and Dipakshi bt Sundan and Sakshi by 21-9 and 21-5.

Madhya Pradesh defeat Goa by 3 wickets

INDORE, Dec 28: Riding on captain Abbas Ali's unbeaten century, Madhya Pradesh defeated Goa by three wickets on the final day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Plate Group A match at the Usha Raje cricket ground here today.

With the much-needed victory, Madhya Pradesh got four points from the match.

Resuming at overnight score of 69 for one, Madhya Pradesh lost two early wickets when Ashutosh Jadhav (6) was run out and Amit Paul (36) was caught behind by Damodar Redkar off Robin D'souza in the same over.

Mohnish Mishra (14) and Devendra Bundela (27) also got out early to put Madhya Pradesh under pressure, but Abbas Ali's captain's knock of 101 (4x15 6x1) changed the scenario and helped the hosts register their first victory.

For Goa, D'souza and Anil Naik claimed two wickets each, while Sahil Dhuri and Anup Kolambkar took one each. (PTI)

Shaoib, Asif still in danger of re-imposing ban: Pak expert

LAHORE, Dec 28: Pakistan pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were still in danger of a doping ban even after getting cleared by a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) anti-doping appeals committee, feels its dissenting member Dansih Zaheer.

'"I haven't read the contents of the appeal filed by WADA before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but what I do know is that the Agency has a good ratio of winning doping cases whenever it has gone to the CAS in the past,'" Dr Zaheer, who is also head of the Pakistan Sports Medicine Association, said.

'"WADA has won 14 such appeals cases in the past,'" he added.

The CAS in Switzerland is expected to hear next week an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency against PCB appeals committee's decision to overturn bans on Shoaib and Asif.

A tribunal in November banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.

But, a three-member appeals committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Fakhruddin Ebrahim, exonerated the pace duo on December 5 in a 2-1 verdict with Dr Zaheer dissenting, saying they had not knowingly taken the substance and that they had not been properly educated about doping matters.

Dr Zaheer said the appeals committee verdict was not along the lines of international anti-doping regulations as "the entire testing procedure carried out by the PCB was flawed."

"I have gone through the procedure and I must say that it was questionable. The urine samples did not carry the names of the players and one couldn't be sure that the sample that tested positive was that of Shoaib or Inzamam-ul-Haq's. Asif's sample did not even carry the date," he explained.

He said from the very beginning, he was of the view that the procedure for taking the samples of the two bowlers and other cricketers was flawed and it should have been re-conducted in a proper manner as laid down by the WADA regime.

He pointed out that when he read the sample forms of the cricketers during the appeals process, he could not make out which form belonged to which cricketer.

"The players were told by telephone calls that they were to be tested. According to international regulations, an athlete should be notified in person and should be told about dope tests just an hour before it is to be carried out.

"There were a number of shortcomings in the manner the forms were filled and samples were taken. That was why I had suggested re-conducting of the tests in my dissenting note,"he said. (UNI)

Prakash Amritraj, Rastogi get Chennai Open wildcard

CHENNAI, Dec 28: Davis Cupper Prakash Amritraj and promising Karan Rastogi, along with Spaniard Bartolome Salva Vidal, have been awarded the wild cards for the singles main draw of the Chennai Open 2007.

The Indian pair of Vishal Uppal and Ashutosh Singh also got wild cards for men's doubles main draw in the 12th edition of the tournament which gets under here on January 1.

Spanird Vidal, who got the third wild card for singles draw, is a rising star from the island city of Mallorca in Spain -- the hometown of both Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal.

Vidal, popularly known as 'Tomeu'. Will be making his debut on the ATP tour here and the youngster was given the wild card for some consistent performance in the ITF and Challenger events with a futures 36 (Vilafranca) win under his belt.

Elated after getting the wild card, 23-year old Prakash Amritraj vowed to give his best in the tournament.

"I am delighted to be given the opportunity to participate at Chennai Open 2007. I have always performed well at the tournament and it is one event that I look forward to as it is more of a home-coming of sorts," said Prakash, who had teamed up with Rohan Bopanna and finished runner-up in doubles last year.

"Undoubtedly, this year's field is quite challenging and Iam looking forward to give my best playing alongside Nadal, Nalbandian, Moya and others," he added.

Karan Rastogi, currently playing the ITF Futures in Delhi, was also happy to get a call-up.

"I have had some very good matches recently against top 100 players and it has given be full confidence to perform in the big league. I am looking forward to this challenge and would like to improve upon my earlier performances," he said. (UNI)