India claims first blood
Agencies
Sydney, Mar 2:
A historic Sachin Tendulkar century ensured India claimed first blood in the tri-series finals with a stunning six-wicket win over Australia at the SCG on Sunday. With Tendulkar making an unbeaten 117 from 120 balls and youngster Rohit Sharma offering wonderful support, India made 242 for six in 45.5 overs in reply to the home side's 239 for eight to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three finals.
After the war of words between the sides preceding the match, the Indians had extra reason to celebrate when they notched their first ever One-Day International win at the SCG and just their third win in their past 20 matches against the home side in Australia.
The result followed a tense week since their last encounter, with Matthew Hayden calling Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious weed," the Indian spinner responding by saying the opener was one of the last liked players in world cricket. And the Indians lodged an official complaint about provocative behaviour by the Australians on the field.
Criticised for not batting well in run chases recently, Tendulkar had a point to prove and did it emphatically, placing the ball exquisitely to score his first One-Day International century in 39 matches in Australia, and 42nd overall, to lead his side to victory.
He and Robin Uthappa (17) set the foundation with India's highest opening partnership of the series in putting on 50, but India then wobbled in the chase, slipping to 87 for three when Yuvraj Singh again fell cheaply.
However, Tendulkar looked in total command and joined with Sharma to put on 123 and take the game away from the Australians, who were beaten in last year's tri-series finals by England.
Tendulkar brought up his hundred with an easy single off James Hopes, having faced only 106 deliveries and hit eight boundaries. Sharma fell the very next ball, bowled by Hopes (2-42) for a fine 66 from 87 balls, but it was academic, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Tendulkar guiding their side home. made the important early breakthroughs to finish with 2-49. Ishant Sharma had 1-32 from eight overs, but was forced from the field by an apparent hand injury.
India lift U-19 World Cup
Kuala Lumpur, March 2In a rain-spoiled match, India lifted Under - 19 world cup on the basis of higher run rate here on Sunday.
After setting a target of 160 runs for South Africa, bowlers restrict them to 103/8, helping Indian juniors emerge the world champions.
Earlier, Indian bowlers were on song as South Africa lost 6 wickets for 72 after play resumed after rain interrupted the game. When play resumes, South Africa needed 66 from 60 balls to win the U-19 World Cup.
South Africa need to have a run-rate of 7.00 to win the game, while their current run-rate is 3.36.
Rain stopped the play in the final match between Indians and South Africans in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Chasing 160 for win, South Africa were 17 for three in 8.4 overs when rain interrupted proceedings at the Kinrara Oval. R Henricks was batting at 7 while J Vandiar, the other batsman on crease, was yet to open his account.
Earlier, Indian batting succumbed to disciplined South African bowling and agile fielding to be dismissed for just 159. Put in to bat, India lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out in just 45.4 overs. They would now need a special effort in the field to claim the crown. Tanmay Srivastava was the highest scorer, making 46 (74 balls, 4x4, 1x6) but there were hardly any other significant contributors as the Proteas had a stranglehold on proceedings.
Strike bowler Wayne Parnell was most impressive, claiming two wickets conceding only 21 runs. Matthew Arnold and Roy Adams also scalped two victims apiece.
India were on the backfoot straightaway losing Taruwar Kohli (1) with the team score at three.
The control that the South Africans exercised is evident from the fact that the three runs had accrued till the fifth over.There were hardly any significant partnerships thereafter and the biggest partnership was worth only 47 between Srivastava and skipper Virat Kohli (19). But after that stand, wickets kept falling and the South African fielders kept them under pressure and affected two runouts.
India riut Russia
Santiago, March 2India opened their campaign in the World Hockey Olympic qualifying tournament with a rousing 8-0 win against Russia at the Prince of Wales Country Club here today.
Prabhjot Singh, who has been in tremendous form in the past one year, did the star turn for the Indians scoring three goals (19th, 29th, 65th) while Dilip Tirkey (14th), Tushar Khandekar (36th), Sardara Singh (48th) and V Ramachandra Raghunath (54th) netted the others.
Scoring four goals in each half, the Indians left nothing to chance and were on the attack against the 50th ranked team that appeared clueless.
The Russians left huge gaps in their defence and the Indian forwards needed no second invitation and came away with a flattering scoreline.
Using the quick short passes to good effect, India moved fluently and ripped apart the Russian defence that increasingly grew tentative before yielding ground at the first hint of trouble.
Only late in the game when the Indians erred in relaxing their grip on the game did the Russians squeezed in a couple of moves the last of which led to two back-to-back penalty corners on the stroke of full-time.
India, backed by a sizeable group of expatriate countrymen besides Ambassador to Chile Mrs Susmita Gongulee Thomas, did not have to wait long for their first goal.
After Raghunath failed with an early penalty corner, Dilip Tirkey was on the mark with a well-angled direct hit to the boards.
Print This Page
Terms
and Conditions