Pietersen
century rescues England
NAPIER, Mar 22: A century by Kevin
Pietersen saved face for England as
teenage debutant Tim Southee gave New
Zealand the upper hand on day one of the
deciding third cricket Test here today.
Pietersen’s
timely return to form with a solid 129
was the only firm resistance by England
who struggled to 240 for seven at stumps.
Stuart
Broad was not out 42, his highest Test
score, with Ryan Sidebottom on three.
England
captain Michael Vaughan had no hesitation
in batting first when he won the toss
with the wicket showing all the hallmarks
of a batting gem.
But the
game was less than four overs old when
the 19-year-old Southee ignited the
collapse of the England top order.
He
dismissed Vaughan and Andrew Strauss
early in the day and then came back
before stumps with the second new ball to
end Pietersen’s resolute knock.
England
were three down for just four runs and
then four for 36 before Pietersen set
about saving the side from total
capitulation.
Pietersen
and Paul Collingwood batted England out
of a hole with an 89-run stand for the
fifth wicket, and later put on 61 with
broad for the seventh wicket.
But
despite Pietersen’s heroics and the
late resistance from Broad, New Zealand
took overall honours on the first day of
this third and final Test with both sides
keen to break the 1-1 series deadlock
rather than play for a draw.
It was a
dream start for Southee, who trapped
Vaughan plumb in front for two with the
11th ball of his Test career.
In his
next over, he lured the scoreless Andrew
Strauss into attacking a wide ball and
Jamie How took a comfortable catch in the
gully.
Chris
Martin bowled Alastair Cook for two and
New Zealand’s other debutant Grant
Elliott claimed his first Test scalp when
he induced Ian Bell to poke at a long-hop
to take an easy return catch.
Collingwood
had a life on 13 when he survived a
caught behind appeal from Martin and went
on to reach 30, including six boundaries,
before he cut recalled spinner Jeetan
Patel straight to Elliott at backward
point.
Patel also
removed second-Test centurion Tim Ambrose
who reached 11 before sending a simple
edge to Ross Taylor at second slip and
England went to tea at 140 for six.
Pietersen,
meanwhile, continued to forge ahead
despite the carnage at the other end,
reaching his 100 with a boundary through
the slips for his first century since his
101 against India at the Oval last
August.
In all he
struck 12 fours and a six off Vettori
before edging Southee to the safe hands
of How in the gully.
Southee
finished the day with three for 46 from
21 overs, while Jeetan Patel had two for
37 off 18 with the remaining wickets
going to Martin and Elliott.
England
have kept the same side who won the
second Test in Wellington by 126 runs,
while New Zealand have made three
changes, with Southee and Elliott
replacing the injured Kyle Mills and
Jacob Oram and with Patel in for seamer
Mark Gillespie.
New
Zealand won the first Test in Hamilton by
189 runs.(AGENCIES)
PCB
defers action against Shoaib Akhtar,
Kaneria
KARACHI, Mar 22: Pakistan Cricket
Board has delayed taking disciplinary
action against controversial fast bowler
Shoaib Akhtar and leg-spinner Danish
Kaneria after a meeting of its governing
body today.
PCB
Chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters that
the governing body had empowered the
board’s disciplinary committee to
decide on the action to be taken on the
charges of misconduct and violation of
players’ code of conduct against
Akhtar and Kaneria.
The two
players are charged with making
statements against the policies of the
board after new central contracts were
given to 15 players in January.
Akhtar was
dropped and Kaneria demoted from the new
contracts list.
"The
disciplinary committee made a detailed
presentation on the charges against both
players. This committee has now been
authorised to take any action they deem
best and the board would back it,"
Ashraf said.
He said
that Akhtar and Kaneria had a week to
appear before the committee.
Ashraf
said if the players did not appear before
the disciplinary committee, ex-parte
decision can be taken against them.
Akhtar has
also been charged with misconduct and
indiscipline while captaining the federal
areas team in the recent domestic
pentangular tournament. He was dropped
after playing just one match in which he
went wicketless with the team manager and
coach accusing him of spoiling the
dressing room atmosphere.
Last year,
Akhtar was disciplined for having a brawl
with team-mate Mohammad Asif before the
Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.
He was
banned for 13 matches and fined 3.4
million rupees.
Akhtar was
also dropped for the recent home series
against Zimbabwe for lack of match
fitness.
Ashraf did
not say if the body had taken any
decision on the issue of the Indian
Premier League clashing with the planned
home series against Sri Lanka next month.
With a
number of top Pakistani and Sri Lankan
players signed up for the IPL, the board
was to announce a policy for its players.
The
governing body, however, did not change
its policy on the players signed up for
the rebel Indian Cricket League,
retaining a domestic ban on them.
But it
announced that requests from players
wishing to play English county cricket
would be dealt with on a case-to-case
basis.
No
Objection Certificates were given to
Kaneria, pacer Rao Iftikhar and
all-rounder Yasir Arafat to play in
county cricket this summer under the new
policy. (PTI)
JKTA
organises Belt Promotion function
Excelsior
Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: The Jammu and
Kashmir Taekwondo Association (JKTA)
under the chairmanship of P C Sharma,
Advocate and organising secretary
conducted Belt Promotion prize
distribution function at Brahmin Sabha,
Parade Ground.
Anayat
Ali, Examiner of belt grading test
presented belts alongwith belt promotion
certificates to the successful players.
The result
of belt grading test was declared by Atul
Pangotra, Technical Director of the
Association.
Anuj
Mahajan, Gurinder Rakwal, Rajinder
Sharma, Dwarka Nath Sharma and Arvinder
Sharma were also present on the occasion.
Players
upgraded as under:
Yellow
Belt: Vipan Kumar, Avilash Sharma, Sunil
Kumar, Hassanain, Shabir Hussain, Gulzar
Hussain, Sofia Iqbal Khan, Asma Gul, Anil
Singh Parihar, Pranav Pargal, Chaitanya
Pargal, Pankaj Sharma, Sandeep Singh,
Hardeep Singh, Abhay Singh Manhas,
Prageen Sharma, Rahul Pandita, Arnav
Chopra, Rohit Sharma, Ravi Kumar, Mohd
Haiufa, Tashi Tundeep, Aaditya Sharma,
Vipan Singh, Riyaz Din, Wasim Ahmad,
Sudanshu, Ayush, Parival, Chander Udhay,
Sakawat Hussain, Tushar Singh, Irfaan
Hussain, Yudhvir Singh, Shivali Pandita,
Sidharth Bakshi, Varun Sharma and
Sidharth Dutta.
Green
Belt: Ambreen Fatima, Shehnaz Parveen,
Zaafal Chirangoo, Priya Mehra, Preeti
Charak, Ankush Khamotra, Akshay Sahib and
Sahil Bhan.
Green-I
Belt: Shazia Batul, Siafat Iqbal Khan,
Shakti Prakash.
Blue Belt:
Safder Ali, Shabnam Iqbal Khan, Sudhir,
Mittabhilashi and Abhi Nandan.
Red Belt:
Govind Gopal, Ankush Sharma and Deepak
Thakur.
Red-I
Belt: Sadaf Iqbal Khan, Fida Hussain and
Anup Singh Bandral.
Inter
Bn Sports Meet from tomorrow
Excelsior
Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: J&K Armed
Police is going to organise
Inter-Battalion Sports Meet at Police
Stadium from March 24 to 29.
Sheikh
Owais Shah, Inspector General of Police
(IGP), Armed police while briefing the
mediapersons said total 26 Battalions out
of which 11 Bns of JKAP and 15 Bns of IRP
would vye for top honours in 15 different
disciplines during the week long sporting
event.
He (IGP)
further said Sports Meet is an annual
programme which is being conducted to
develop a spirit of sportsmanship among
the jawans and also to make them
physically fit.
Besides
jawans, senior police officers would also
compete in GO’s events for both men
and women to be held in the disciplines
of Badminton, Table Tennis, Lawn Tennis
Shooting (introductory event).
"The
best players of Inter-Bn and Inter Zonal
are selected for various national events
of All India Police and are suitably
rewarded for their performance", the
IGP said.
However,
an organising and other sub committees
have also been constituted for smooth
conduct of the tournament to be played
under the rules and regulations of All
India Police Sports Control Board, New
Delhi.
SP Armed
Police, R K Bhat and other senior
officers of Armed Police were also
present.
JKBA
to conduct selection trials
Excelsior
Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 22: The Jammu and
Kashmir Baseball Association (JKBA) will
conduct selection trials-cum-coaching to
select probables for the forthcoming 18th
Sub Junior National Baseball Championship
slated to be held at Kuman Lampala
Stadium at Imphal (Manipur) in May.
According
to Fida Hussain Fidvi, general secretary
of the Association, the 21- day long
coaching camp for boys would be held at
Buru Hall School whereas for girls, the
camp would be held at Green Valley
Educational Institute from March 24.
All the
State Naseball players who are born
between 1993 to 1995 are eligible to take
part in the camp and are required to
contact JKBA office alongwith their
original Date of Birth Certificates to be
issued by the Competent Authority.
JCC
trounces SCC by 52 runs
Excelsior
Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: Jehlum Cricket Club
(JCC) got the better of Sai Cricket Club
(SCC) by 52 runs today on the second day
of the ongoing Kashyap Rishi Cricket
Tournament being organised by Kashmiri
Pandit Sabha, Jammu in association with
Kashmiri Youth Development Association at
MAM College Ground.
Batting
first, JCC made 96 runs in the stipulated
20 overs with Naresh and Kuljeet top
scored with 38 and 28 runs respectively.
In reply,
SCC was bundled out for paltry 44 runs in
the 17th over.
In the
second match, Surinder Cricket Club (SCC)
prevailed over Tiger Cricket Club (TCC)
by 6 wickets.
TCC made
75 runs in the allotted 20 overs. SCC
overhauled the target in 16 overs losing
four wickets in the process.
Earlier,
the opening match was inaugurated by A N
Sadhu, K K Khosa, vice president and H N
Tiku, general secretary.
In the
opening match, Bantalab Cricket Club
defeated Rajiv Sumair Cricket Club by 44
runs.
In the
second match, MR XI overwhelmed Kashyap
Sports Club by 6 wickets.
Total 16
teams are participating in the tournament
being played in the memory of T N Khosa,
Ex-President, Kashmiri Pandit Sabha.
State
Football Championship
J&K Bank seals berth
in final
Excelsior
Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: J&K Bank
cruised past Vijay Club quite
convincingly to script a 3-0 win today to
seal a berth in the final of the ongoing
State Football Championship.
The
semifinal played at Mini Stadium Parade
Ground was proved to be lop sided affair
as Vijay Club failed to match the skills
of J&K Bank.
Bilal
Ahmed drew first blood in the 27th minute
with a brilliant field goal to give his
team early lead.
At half
time, J&K Bank was leading by 1-0.
Nothing went right for Vijay Club who
looked out of sorts today.
Things got
more worsened for them when Ajay Kumar
was shown yellow card for foul play in
the 21st minute.
J&K
Bank on the other hand tightened their
grip further. Showkat Sultan and Bilal
Ahmed struck in the 41st and 55th minutes
to virtually seal the fate of the match.
The match
was officiated by Nazir Ahmed, Suresh
Gupta, Farooq Ahmed and Suresh Dimple.
Basic
Course in Sport Climbing from Mar 27
Excelsior
Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: North Zone Sport
Climbing Committee, New Delhi under the
aegis of Indian Mountaineering Foundation
is going to conduct a Basic Course in
Sport Climbing at MNDP School, R S Pura
from March 27 to 31.
Ram
Khajuria, general secretary, Tawi
Trekkers, J&K and a founder member of
North Zone Sport Climbing Committee shall
be the coordinator of the 5-day long
event.
Meanwhile,
the North Zone Sport Climbing Committee
is also holding such camps at Delhi and
Mussouri (Uttarkhand) respectively.
VCC
Club wins Cricket tourney
Excelsior
Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: VCC Club, Barnai
outplayed Migrant Cricket Club, Nagrota
in the final to clinch cricket tournament
at Nagrota.
Honey of
VCC Club was declared man of the match
whereas Ramji of Migrant Cricket Club was
adjudged man of the series.
Kulbhushan
Gupta, Prop Gupta Motors was the chief
guest on the occasion while Romi Singh,
Rajesh Raina, Patron of Sangram Sena,
J&K were the guests of honour.
The
winners trophy was jointly presented by
Rajesh Raina and Kulbhushan Gupta.
In all, 16
teams participated in the tournament
jointly organised by Sangram Sena,
J&K and Helipad Cricket Club, Nagrota
under the leadership of Sushil Kumar,
Chairman of Helipad Cricket Club.
Anand
beats Karjakin
NICE (France), Mar 22:
World
champion Viswanathan Anand thumped Sergey
Karjakin of Ukraine in the Blindfold and
won his sixth round game 1.5-0.5 in the
Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess
tournament here.
Past the
half-way stage in this 11-round event
that has one Rapid and one Blindfold game
in each round, the Indian ace now
occupies sole second spot and also
bridged the gap between him and the
leader Levon Aronian of Armenia who
played out draws with Shakhriyar
Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan in both the
games.
It is
still a tight affair and there is no
clear winner in sight. With five rounds
still to go, Aronian is at the top of the
combined points table on 7.5 while Anand
is now close behind with seven points in
his kitty.
Five
players are just half a point adrift of
Anand at joint third. They are Veselin
Topalov of Bulgaria, Peter Leko of
Hungary, Vladimir Kramnik of Russia,
Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Magnus
Carlsen of Norway.
Anand
misread an opening move in the Blindfold
game but thankfully there was no damage.
The Indian ace mistakenly believed that
Karjakin had moved his knight on the
queen side when in fact it was on the
king side and upon realising his mistake
Anand was quick to recover. (PTI)
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