England not approaching World Twenty20 final with trepidation: Flower

Published>Sat, May 15 10 12:16 PM

Barbados (West Indies), May 15 (ANI): The England cricket team is not approaching the World Twenty20 final against Australia with trepidation, said coach Andy Flower on Friday.

"The guys are bouncing off the walls and really looking forward to the game (against Australia)," Flower said.

"I'm excited to be here having never been anywhere near a World Cup final or anything. We all are. No one is approaching it with any trepidation at all," he added.

Talking about England's semi-final victory over Sri Lanka, Flower said while the team was gung-ho with happiness, "This is not the time for back-slapping."

"We have a final tomorrow and we haven't achieved anything yet," he said.

Flower stressed the need to look forward, not back, but allowed himself a small glimpse in the rear-view mirror at a tenure as coach that has seen relentless progress in all forms of the game culminating in a chance at a limited-overs title.

From steadying the ship as interim coach here in the Caribbean last winter, he has since guided England to an Ashes win, drawn against South Africa on tour in a Test series and beaten them in the ODIs, and beaten Bangladesh.

"We played some really good cricket to start off the winter in the Champions Trophy, carried it on by beating South Africa and now we have transferred a bit of that into the Twenty20 stuff," said Flower.

"I've been very pleased with the way the guys have played in this tournament so far. The batsmen have shown confidence and innovation, made good decisions and handled themselves well under pressure. The bowlers have shown a lot of skill and nous in using the conditions to our advantage," Flower said.

"But we have achieved nothing yet. We have a game to win and if we don't win it we won't be holders of any world cup or trophy - it is as simple as that," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

'I couldn't watch the last over,' says nervous Clarke

Published>Sat, May 15 10 12:08 PM

Melbourne, May 15 (ANI): A nervous Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke said he couldn't watch Mike Hussey's heroics in the last over of the World Twenty20 championship semi-final against Pakistan at St. Lucia's Beausejour cricket stadium on Friday.

Clarke spent his time in the dugout biting his nails.

Needing 18 off the last over to pass Pakistan's 6-191, Hussey hit two sixes, a four and another six from consecutive balls to deliver Australia a spot in the final against England in Barbados.

"I enjoy biting my nails when I"""m nervous I guess. I couldn't watch the last over. I watched the first ball when Mitchell Johnson got a single. Then I've gone back into the change rooms. I heard loud cheers," The Herald Sun quoted Clarke, as saying.

"I knew it was a six and then another six and I thought oh my God, what is going on out there? I was too nervous. I couldn't watch," he said.

Hussey said he had a fairly simple game plan in the final over.

"Just try to slog every ball for six. I knew he (spinner Saeed Ajmal) would probably try to spear a few fast yorkers in. If he got them right then I don't think there's too much I could have done. Thankfully he probably just missed his length a little bit," Hussey said.

"I don't know what I was saying to myself. It's all a bit of a blur. I was just saying please this last ball, please come out of the middle. I just wanted to feel what it felt like. I didn't know what it was going to feel like and it's an absolutely amazing feeling.

"It's the best feeling you can ever have, to hit the winning runs for your country, particularly in such a big game as a semi-final. I'm so happy and it was great to see the elation on all the other boys' faces. We're so excited to be in the final," Hussey added.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis refused to blame his bowlers for letting the game get away from them. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

'Unbelievable' Hussey's performance to put Australia in T20 final 'freakish': Clarke

Published>Sat, May 15 10 11:52 AM

St. Lucia (West Indies), May 15 (ANI): Australian skipper Michael Clarke on Friday described 'Mr. Cricket' Michael Hussey's match-winning 24-ball 60 runs to put his side into the finals of the World Twenty20 championship as "unbelievable and freakish".

Speaking to reporters after Australia miraculously trounced Pakistan by three wickets in a humdinger of semi-final here, chasing down 191, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted a delighted Clarke, as saying: "Today is a freakish performance from an unbelievable cricketer in any form of the game. His (Huss) attitude, he just never gave up."

"Losing three wickets in the first (7.2) overs, it was always going to be a tough chase for us," Clarke said at St Lucia's Beausejour Stadium.

"But with the batting we have in the team, how far down in the order we go, you just can't write us off. We'll take a lot of confidence going into Barbados. The conditions will suit us more than St Lucia has, with a bit more pace and bounce for both our batters and our bowlers," he added.

"Our mindset through this whole tournament has been exactly what Huss showed today. We're never beaten," he said.

Hussey compared the win to Australia's victory in the Adelaide Test against England in 2006-07.

"When we won the Ashes Test in Adelaide and I hit the winning runs, I thought that was the best feeling," he said.

"This one's definitely up there, maybe even ... if not better. It's the best feeling you can ever have, to hit the winning runs for your country, particularly in such a big game as a semi-final," he said.

Needing 18 to win from the final over bowled by spinner Saeed Ajmal, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson took a signal of the first ball, and then Hussey fired 6-6-4-6 to post a career-best 60 not out from 24 balls and put his side into the final.

In all, he hit three fours and six sixes and was mobbed by team-mates as Australia finished on 7-197 after Pakistan had appeared set for an upset win, scoring 6-191 against Australia's highly rated pace attack.

After the win, Clarke said Kevin Pietersen would be the key wicket to nab when Australia take on England in the final.

"He'll be a big part of the final. If we can get him out early it will hold us in good stead," Clarke said.

"We've just come off one of the best wins of my career so we're pretty confident. I love playing against England. It's a great build-up to what's going to be an amazing summer in Australia. Any opportunity you get to beat England, you look forward to," he said.

Pakistan coach Waqar said: "When you have such momentum with you, it's always handy. They (Australia) played like champions," he said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Shock, disbelief in Pakistan after T20 WC ouster

Published Sat, May 15 10 11:36 AM

Karachi, May 15 (PTI) They were gearing up to celebrate a win when Michael Hussey turned the match on its head, leaving scores of fans in Pakistan shocked at their team''s ouster from the Twenty20 World Cup following the last-over loss to Australia. A pall of gloom descended on the city of Karachi and in other parts of the country after Pakistan were stunned by Australia in the high scoring semifinal of the mega event last night. Australia snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by overhauling a 191-run target with a ball to spare, leaving Pakistani supporters in disbelief. "It is shocking we were just getting ready for a feast and to distribute sweets and to just celebrate a great victory and that was just two overs back and now we are simply stunned and shocked," former Test player Jalaluddin said. Jalaluddin was among thousands of people in the city who had made special arrangements to watch the match with family and friends at their homes where people had set up barbecues and big television screens. People thronged big hotels, private clubs and cafes, to watch the match and as a likely victory loomed large for Pakistan, the celebrations had already begun at most places with people dancing and cheering every Australian wicket that fell. But it took just two overs to change the mood of the as they left disheartened after Pakistan lost despite coming so close to beating Michael Clarke''s men. "It was just poor captaincy and nothing else, our players don''t have self belief, they don''t realise how much we pray for their success," an angry student said in the Lines area. In the Lines area, a lower and congested middle class locality of Karachi, people had set up giant screens on the roads for children and elders watched the match. There were special arrangements to watch the match on generators due to the energy crisis in the country. "I think we should accept defeat with grace, our team played like true champions but in sports one team has to lose and unfortunately it was not our day today but our players made us proud," said Zeesh another student watching the match at Area 51. If Pakistan had won, it would have been their third successive final in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Source: Web Search

England should thank imports for reaching T20 World Cup finals

Published>Sat, May 15 10 11:26 AM

Sydney, May 15 (ANI): England must thank South Africa born Kevin Pietersen and Irish Eoin Morgan for giving the team their best chance of winning their first World Cup.

England has never won an ICC event, but has reached the finals of the World Twenty20 in Barbados with the help of these two players.

England has qualified for the first time since 2004 for a final. Six years ago they were defeated by the West Indies in the Champions Trophy final on home soil, and they have repeatedly failed in World Cups, World Twenty20s and Champions Trophy tournaments since 1975.

Pietersen has been phenomenal so far, striking 201 runs at 67.00, the best average of any of the 19 batsmen to have scored more than 100 runs in the tournament, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Before the second semi-final between Australia and Pakistan, Pietersen was third and Morgan sixth in the tournament's leading run-scorers list, while another South African-turned-English player, Craig Kieswetter, was seventh.

Morgan's 168 runs at 33.60 has proved vital for England. He was the rock of their innings in the first match against the West Indies (55), then saved them from disaster with 45 against Ireland, and his team-high 40 was enough to eliminate New Zealand from the Super Eight stage.

He is the only player to have scored ODI centuries for two countries (Ireland and England). (ANI)

Source: Web Search

You just can''t write us off: Clarke

Published Sat, May 15 10 11:06 AM

Joseph Hoover St Lucia, May 15 (PTI) Australia captain Michael Clarke says the incredible last-over victory against Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup semifinal shows that his team is "never beaten until the game is really over". Clarke lauded Michael Hussey (60 not out in 24 balls) and Cameron White (31-ball 43) for their awesome batting while successfully chasing an imposing 191, which gave his side the right to play England in the final. Chasing Pakistan''s 191 for six, Australia made 197 for seven in 19.5 overs. "I think Michael and White had an amazing day tonight and won us the game. Walking off the field I honestly thought Pakistan got 15-20 runs more then I would have liked and losing three wickets in the first six overs was always going to be hard for us," Clarke said after the three-wicket win. "But the strength we have in batting and how far we go, you just can''t write us off, I think that''s what today has shown. You can''t write us off. We have got talent and we have quite some class in the team," he added. Clarke said the win has boosted Australia''s confidence going into the final at Barbados tomorrow. "We take a lot of confidence going to Barbados, no doubt. The conditions there suit us as the pace and bounce suit our batsmen and bowlers. Our mindset has been exactly what Michael has shown today. "We are never beaten until the game is really over. Till the time its over, we are in it. It was a freakish performance from an unbelievable cricketer. Michael showed his attitude, He never gave up," he said. Clarke conceded that he was nervous when Australia needed 18 runs in the last over. "I enjoy biting my nail when I am nervous. I couldn''t watch the final over, I saw the first ball when Mitchell (Johnson) got a single. I went into the change room. When I heard loud cheers I knew it was a six. "Heard another one and I was saying God what''s going on there. I was too nervous, I couldn''t watch," said Clarke, describing the mood in the Australian camp.

Source: Web Search

NZ eves set up clash with Oz in T20 WC final

Published>Sat, May 15 10 10:52 AM

Sara McGlashan starred with a 55-ball 84 as New Zealand beat hosts West Indies by 56 runs to set up a summit clash against traditional rivals Australia in the Women's World Twenty20 here.

Riding on McGlashan's blazing knock, New Zealand, who finished runners-up at the last edition of the event, made 180 for five in their 20 overs.

In reply, the hosts could only manage 124 for eight in stipulated 20 overs last night. McGlashan was declared player of the match.

The win sets up New Zealand against Australia in the final scheduled tomorrow in Barbados.

The Kiwi women were off to a rather wobbly start as they lost opener Suzie Bates (7) with just 18 runs on the board.

The other opener, skipper Aimmee Watkins (20) didn't last long either, leaving New Zealand at a precarious 49 for two in eight overs.

In walked McGlashan and she quickly started rebuilding the innings. Together with Sophie Devine (27), McGlashan put on 93 runs for the third wicket, which pout New Zealand in a strong position.

McGlashan struck six fours and a couple of sixes in her fantastic innings before being run out by Shakera Selman. Devine's 22-ball knock included a four and a six.

For West Indies, Selman was the most successful bowler picking up two wickets, conceding 27 runs in her four overs.

In reply, opener Stafanie Taylor was the lone West Indian batter to put up some resistance with a 33-ball 40 that included three fours and a couple of sixes.

Watkins was New Zealand's star with the ball as she grabbed three wickets giving away just 26 runs in her four overs.

After playing a stellar role with the bat, McGlashan made an impression in the field as well when she ran out Taylor.

The West Indies kept losing wickets at regular intervals and never got a partnership going, which was crucial to the chase.

Source: Web Search

For a change, Aussies made to chase leather

Published>Sat, May 15 10 10:46 AM

India, May 15 -- As though someone was throwing a switch to activate the power, showers came and went in little bursts through Thursday night and Friday morning. In the end this only delayed the start of the game, not reducing it, but the build-up to a semifinal was dampened, and the organised Australian team seemed to have been shaken by it. Pakistan, however, used to chaos, thrived in the first half of their batting, pushing the Australians onto the back foot by scoring 191 for 6 from their 20 overs. Both teams played unchanged sides, keeping the faith in the players that had got them this far in the competition. With the air thick with moisture and the pitch having been under the covers for an extended period, Michael Clarke had little hesitation in putting Pakistan in. The Australian pace battery has run away with the early stages of most matches and the approach was no different on the day, with Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait hurling thunderbolts. The only difference, though, was that Pakistan's openers, unlike other opposition, were not cowed down. Salman Butt and Umar Akmal were confident enough to try and make use of the extra pace on offer, and though the connections were not always clean, the runs flowed. Australia's bowlers showed hints of frustration as the 50 was raised without a wicket falling. Kamran, the more aggressive of the two openers, got to his own half-century, and it was only an acrobatic catch in the outfield that gave Australia a breakthrough. David Warner, tumbling to his right, latched on to the Kamran offering. The agile fielder would be in business once again soon after as Butt tried to heave leggie Steven Smith out of the ground and holed out. With two new batsmen at the crease the runs dried out a touch, allowing Australia to regain control of proceedings. Adapting quickly to the conditions, Clarke pressed part-time spinner David Hussey into service and then took the ball himself. Hussey struck the crucial blow, inducing a sliced drive from Shahid Afridi that Brad Haddin held onto, running towards point, but not before colliding with Shane Watson.

Source: Web Search

A chess team in a different mould

Published>Sat, May 15 10 10:22 AM

India, May 15 -- What would your stereotype image of a chess player be like? An unfashionable, quiet, bespectacled guy who'll have nothing on his mind but chess. Someone who hates outdoors and eats, breathes and sleeps chess. Right? Wrong. The South African team, here to participate in the Parsvnath Commonwealth Chess Championship, completely defies the general perception. The second biggest contingent after the hosts, if not racking their brains on the chessboard, can either be seen playing snooker in the hotel lobby or chatting with strangers. Ask them about the number of hours they put in to hone the finer nuances of the game, and prompt comes the reply, "Give us a break!" So what makes these boys stand out in the crowd? It is their love for the outdoors. Werner Kannemeyer is a 19-year-old boy from Pretoria. Kannemeyer always wanted to be a cricketer until he took to chess. "I played cricket till class VIII. I have also played at the district level. But when I realised it was really hard to get into the provincial or national team, I took up chess. Moreover, my brother also plays chess. I still play cricket," he said. Kannemeyer is not the only one. His city-mate Henca Marcais, 18, is a footballer and plays for FC Rabels. "I can play in any position," said Marcais. The Pretoria boy is really excited about the football World Cup scheduled in South Africa in June this year. "I am really excited and have put my money on Lionel Messi (Argentina)." Another player, Ryan Van Rensburg is also a football buff. Ryan is a bookmaker. His inclination towards chess is the result of watching his friends play the sport. "I love the game, which is why I am here." The list doesn't end here. Daniel Barrish, 9, the youngest in the team, plays rugby. It's not for nothing South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation.

Second seed Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi took sole lead with six-and-a-half point after beating GM Sriram Jha in the seventh round on Friday. Meanwhile overnight joint leader GM Maletin Pavel drew with top seed GM Alexey Dreev of Russia.

Source: Web Search

Manager gives team clean chit

Published>Sat, May 15 10 10:16 AM

New Delhi, May 14 -- The report of the Indian T20 World Cup team manager to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, likely to be submitted on Saturday will not recommend any disciplinary action against any player, including Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who, contrary to reports in a section of the press, will continue as India skipper in all forms of the game in the forseeable future. It is also likely to focus entirely on cricketing issues, avoiding matters like fitness and discipline, putting down India's failure in the Caribbean to an "inability to cope with bounce". The team returned to India on Friday. "It makes no sense to sack Dhoni," said a top BCCI official. "We are world No. 1 in Tests and No. 2 in ODIs and are looking at keeping the core of the team stable ahead of the ODI World Cup next year, which is now only eight months away. In any case, the selectors will now only meet ahead of picking the Asia Cup team for Sri Lanka in June." While India tour manager Ranjib Biswal would not comment on his report, sources told HT he is likely to give all the players "a clean chit" on disciplinary grounds. "We've been hearing reports about how the players were unhappy with the 9:30 pm curfew, but it's not true," said a source. "Apart from one unfortunate incident on the night before our departure, when a few American-Indian fans abused some of the players in a St Lucia pub, causing a bit of a scene, the players have had no problems," the source added. "There has been no partying, drinking or nights-out." Biswal's report, however, is expected to point out that certain plans "discussed in pre-match strategy sessions were not properly implemented". Coach Gary Kirsten, for instance, had cautioned against playing the pull shot, or launching a counter-attack against teams like Australia or the West Indies, but the Indian batsmen disregarded him and perished to bouncers trying to go after the bowling. "The problem was that in both games in Barbados, we were chasing in the region of 170-180 runs," an India player told the Hindustan Times. India failed to chase 184 against Australia and 169 against the West Indies. The player added: "With nine runs to get per over, you really had no choice but to go after the bowling from the start." The manager's report is likely to recommend that India play more games on bouncy wickets to acclimatise. Another point likely to be discussed in the report is India's inability to hold on to its wickets in the first five-six overs. "The plan was to have a steady start, even if somewhat slow, keep wickets in hand, get 30-35 on board and accelerate from there to get about 190," said a source. India's highest score in the event was 186 against South Africa in the league stages and they invariably lost early wickets. As always, fielding is likely to be cited as a problem, particularly the dropping of vital catches. While the notorious IPL parties are a non-issue for now, the report is likely to take on board the players' view that playing back-to-back tournaments, with practically no break and then flying 36 hours to the Caribbean didn't help. Incidentally, team sources said that while Kirsten was "livid" about their early exit, chastising the players for "losing consecutive six Super Eights games over two T20 world cups in succession", he has not recommended any drastic action against anyone. "He was quite upset but he basically talked to us about Sri Lanka (the next major tour for the top India players) and how to utilise the break," the source said. Kirsten reportedly gave the players certain "guidelines" for their time off and repeatedly used the term "active rest", asking the six senior players who would not be part of the India tour to Zimbabwe - Dhoni, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Harbhajan and Nehra - to not spend their break "sitting around". While talking to the players, individually and as a group, Kirsten also discussed next year's World Cup and how they would use the next few months to focus and as preparation for that.

Meanwhile, BCCI sources said that all the players in India would possibly undergo a fitness test ahead of the Asia Cup.

Source: Web Search

Will wisdom ever dawn on the BCCI?

Published>Sat, May 15 10 10:06 AM

India, May 14 -- India has been suddenly struck by a rising tide which is threatening to devour one of its most loved and admired cricketing icons - MSD. After India's exit from the T20 World Cup, where it was expected to annihilate the opposition on the strength of having built a "wonderful" brand called the IPL, we are now being told that the players were unfit, lacked commitment and intensity. And the leader of this pack committed so many tactical blunders that he had no business to blame the excesses of the IPL for his and the team's poor performance. The shock and surprise at these "revelations" have infuriated the "fan" and the media so much that now Modi is passe, and instead Dhoni and his band of wayward men should be guillotined. It is amusing to find that the very "experts" who were finding IPL the perfect platform for new young talent, are now finding the quality of the competition substandard and not suited to produce genuine talent. Its cheerleaders are still not willing to blame the excesses of the tournament and its scheduling which left the players drained, exhausted and jaded. It is not my point to find excuses for the technical flaws of the batsmen who can't face the bouncing ball even in the shortest version of the game or do not have the bowling resources to pay back in the same coin. Nor do I want to defend Dhoni for the tactical mistakes he may have made, especially in the selection of his bowling combination. But to ignore the fact that fatigue and lack of fitness resulting from the excesses of the IPL may have played a major role in India being knocked out of the competition without even a fight, and to condemn Dhoni for having pointed to these factors, would be doing a disservice to Indian cricket. As William Blake famously said, "The road to excess leads to the place of wisdom...for we never know what is enough until we know what is more than enough." We should have known what is more than enough when we were warned by coach Gary Kirsten after India met a similar fate in last year's T20 World Cup. He had raised some serious concerns about how he had lost the players to the IPL and his team was unfit and not properly acclimatised to give its best in England. He had suggested that, in future, IPL be scheduled keeping in mind India's international commitments and had even gone to the extent of saying that if a similar situation arises, some of the key players should be rested from the IPL. We did not listen, instead went to the extent of even selling the telecasting rights of the "IPL Night Parties" to a TV channel at a huge price to maximise profits and cut losses. This in turn meant giving licence to the players to indulge in excesses, which could make them lose focus from the game.

One shudders to think what will happen to the Indian team after they play 94 instead of 60 matches in the next IPL! I don't think we and the Indian board have heard the saying that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Source: Web Search

Heavy rain postpones second round of Texas Open

Published Sat, May 15 10 07:46 AM

Heavy rain forced postponement of the second round of the Texas Open on Friday after more than 3 inches (7.5 cm) of rain drenched the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.

Players will start the second round Saturday morning chasing Australian Matt Jones, who held the first-round lead after firing a course-record of six-under-par 66 on Thursday.

The 30-year-old from Sydney held a one-stroke edge over American Paul Stankowski, with U.S. Ryder Cup player J.B. Holmes and compatriots Matt Weibring, Steve Lowery and Charley Hoffman another shot back.

Officials hope to play the third and fourth rounds on Sunday but said it was possible the tournament would require a Monday finish.

The weather forecast was brighter for the weekend, with warm temperatures and only a 30 percent chance of showers predicted for Saturday and Sunday.

Source: Web Search

INTERVIEW - Former speed queen gets second chance at new game

Published>Sat, May 15 10 07:26 AM

The broad smile that had been Marion Jones's trademark for many years returned on Friday and would not go away as the fallen sprint queen got set to launch her career as a professional basketball player.

As Jones giggled and joked with her Tulsa Shock team mates during a practise prior to their sold-out WNBA season opener against the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, there were no hints of the dark days from which she had emerged.

"I'm in a good place, a really good place," Jones, flashing another big smile, told Reuters in a courtside interview. "How do I put it into words? It's a wonderful thing.

"I've worked hard to get here and I know a lot of eyes will be on me but I'm just happy to make this basketball team."

Stripped of her Olympic medals and sentenced to six-months in prison for lying to federal investigators about her use of performance-enhancing drugs, Jones will likely come off the bench for a team expected to struggle for a playoff spot.

But Jones, once regarded as the world's greatest female athlete, insists her return to basketball is not an attempt at redemption and not about the money. The league's average salary is about $35,000, a fraction of the millions in endorsements and appearance fees she would have earned before her demise.

FIRST LOVE

Having helped North Carolina capture an NCAA championship as a freshman point guard, Jones's return to the court is about reconnecting with her first sporting love and rediscovering the joy of competing.

But most importantly, Jones said returning to the sporting arena gives her a stage to tell a story that will serve as a cautionary tale to young athletes and her three children.

"My husband and I we teach in our home the whole idea that everyone makes mistakes and it's what you do after the mistake that will ultimately determine how people will judge you," said Jones. "We tell them what the consequences are and the next day they go and make that wrong a right."

The 34-year-old will not be the WNBA's oldest player but she will be the league's most senior rookie, leaving some to wonder if she is nothing more than a publicity stunt.

Looking lean, fit and lightning quick, it is clear Jones will not be outworked on the court, making her a perfect fit for coach Nolan Richardson's basketball philosophy famously known as the "40 Minutes of Hell."

TALENTED ENOUGH

While Jones will need time to knock the rust off her basketball skills, the switch in sports has done nothing to dull her supreme confidence and competitive fires.

"It never has crept into mind whether or not I can compete or whether I'm talented enough to run or play basketball," said Jones. "A lot of people wanted to know if this is just a gimmick to get me back in the public eye.

"If I could have quietly done this I would have loved that. But when it comes to me nothing is really quiet."

Jones's excitement about opening night was no different from her young team mates as the mood in the arena resembled that of giddy school girls about to embark on a new adventure.

Jones said even in prison she knew this day would come. She did not know it would come in Tulsa or include basketball, but she always knew a second chance at happiness awaited.

"I knew there would be a day I would be happy and fulfilled again and satisfied that my life was going in a positive direction," said Jones as the emotion in her voice rose. "Where it would lead me was a total surprise."

Source: Web Search

Big win for Super XI over PSC

Published>Sat, May 15 10 06:08 AM

Super XI thrashed Priyadarshini Sports Centre in their opening match at the Podar International Invitational Hockey Tournament which began at the PCMC Polygrass Ground here on Friday.

Edwin Moti John opened the scoring for Super XI, netting a penalty corner in the 3 rd minute. Uday Baramatikar added another in the 12 th minute to give them a 2-0 lead. Baramatikar added another in the 16 th , and capped off a brilliant hat-trick in the 23 rd minute to leave Priyadarshini reeling at 4-0 down.

Baramatikar increased his tally to four goals when he scored yet again in the 51 st to take the score to 6-1, after goals from Vinit Nimhan in the 31 st and a consolation goal from Priyadarshini player Monish Rajan in the 39 th .

Santosh Musale added two more goals in the 53 rd and 54 th minute to complete an 8-1 rout by Super XI.

In the second match of the day, Vaibhav Gadkari scored off a pass from Jai Jayekar in the 16 th minute to give First MLI the lead against Hockey Lovers. Gadkari had a hand in the second goal as well, setting up Mahesh Shinde in the 54 th to give First MLI a 2-0 victory.

Source: Web Search

ANALYSIS - Milan will stay thrifty despite Leonardo flop

Published>Sat, May 15 10 03:46 AM

AC Milan are likely to continue with their frugal spending policies despite the gamble in appointing rookie coach Leonardo failing to pay off.

The Brazilian will leave by mutual consent following Saturday's final game of the season against Juventus after an average campaign where the Rossoneri finished third in Serie A and went out at the last 16 stage of the Champions League.

He had never coached before and his appointment to replace Chelsea-bound Carlo Ancelotti last May was another indication of cost-cutting by owner Silvio Berlusconi.

Chief executive Adriano Galliani acknowledged that making the former technical director the coach did save money.

Despite the sale of Kaka to Real Madrid which almost balanced the books for the year, few funds were made available for buys and media reports said this was one of the reasons Leonardo became disillusioned.

"There's nothing surprising, it's all very clear, today as always. We have arrived at the end," the 40-year-old candidly told a news conference on Friday having previously said his relationship with Berlusconi was "incompatible".

But if the names in the frame to replace Leonardo are anything to go by, the Italian prime minister is unlikely to be splashing the cash on a highly-paid and famous coach to boost his club despite the slight pickup in the world economy.

Assistant coach Mauro Tassotti, youth team boss Filippo Galli and former Cagliari coach Massimiliano Allegri have been mentioned as possible candidates for the job, not least by Galliani himself.

Milan supporters are not enamoured with the list of potential coaches, especially after former Rossoneri hero Marco van Basten said an ankle injury would prevent him from coaching in the near term.

WIDER PROBLEM

Experts agree Milan will continue to keep a close eye on the purse strings even if their ageing team is again unlikely to be competing for top honours next season.

"I don't think the departure of Leonardo will have much impact. There's still work to do. They've got to be sustainable," Giovanni Palazzi, president of Italy-based sports business consultancy Stage-Up, told Reuters.

Milan's seventh European Cup triumph in 2007 seems a long time ago for fans and if not enough big name players or promising youngsters arrive during the transfer window their gates could continue to decline.

However, it is not just Milan finding it difficult to attract the top talent like they did in the 1990s.

Juventus, another former Serie A powerhouse, will finish seventh this season and Inter Milan's success in reaching the Champions League final is as much down to the brilliance of coach Jose Mourinho as the club's spending or pulling power.

"There's a wider problem in Italian football, the problem is not just Milan's," Sean Hamil, lecturer at the Department of Management at Birkbeck College London, told Reuters.

The continued fallout from Italy's 2006 match-fixing scandal is an issue, alongside the fact Italian clubs miss out on revenue compared to English and Spanish teams because of their decaying council-owned stadiums.

"In 1997 Serie A was number one in terms of revenue. By 2008/09 they were number four. The Italians are at a disadvantage, fighting with one hand behind their back," Hamil added.

"It's a problem Berlusconi and the rest of Italian football have not addressed."

Source: Web Search

Spain roundup - Barca's Xavi appeal rejected

Published Sat, May 15 10 03:06 AM

Brief news from La Liga ahead of this weekend's final round of matches: (All times GMT):

* Barcelona's bid to have the football federation's one-match ban on Xavi temporarily lifted pending an appeal has been rejected by the Spanish Committee for Sporting Discipline (CEDD), the club said in a statement on Friday.

The leaders were trying to overturn a yellow card Xavi picked up for protesting against a refereeing decision in last weekend's 3-2 win at Sevilla -- his fifth in the current cycle.

Barca host Real Valladolid on Sunday (1700) and, with a one-point advantage over chasing Real Madrid, can clinch the title with a final-day victory.

Andres Iniesta could be Xavi's replacement as he is close to a return after a month and a half out injured. But caution is the word with the World Cup starting next month.

"I have been working with the team again for several days and personally I feel very good," the Spain international told a news conference. "Being logical (though) I think it's unlikely I'll be in the starting lineup."

Barca midfielder Seydou Keita also returned to full training on Friday after shaking off an Achilles problem.

Left back Maxwell, ruled out for three weeks after tearing a muscle in his right leg at Sevilla, is the only player unavailable.

* Real Madrid visit Malaga on Sunday (1700) and could be without playmaker Guti, who missed training on Friday. Raul and Pepe are still injured but Rafael van der Vaart and Kaka have recovered and should be available.

Relegation-threatened Malaga have not won in 10 matches.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas has backed coach Manuel Pellegrini amid widespread media speculation the Chilean will be replaced by Inter Milan's Jose Mourinho at the end of the season.

"We are a new team with a lot of changes ... but the important thing is we are on the right track," said the Spain captain.

"The problem at Real Madrid is they demand so much and they don't give you time but the long-term project is very positive. It's very coherent and we are with him (Pellegrini)."

* Fourth-placed Sevilla travel to Almeria on Saturday (2000) needing a victory to secure Spain's last Champions League qualification place. Next Wednesday they take on Atletico Madrid in the King's Cup final.

"I hope things go well in these two games, which are both finals, so the Spain coach takes note of me," striker Alvaro Negredo said of his outside chances of making Vicente del Bosque's final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

* Real Mallorca, one point back in fifth, are the only side who can overtake the Andalucians and they host Espanyol at the same time.

* Sixth-placed Getafe could qualify for the Europa League on their own merits for the first time, having twice made it as King's Cup final losers, if they beat Atletico Madrid away on Saturday (1800).

Atletico have just finished celebrating Wednesday's Europa League final victory over Fulham and are focused on next week's King's Cup date with Sevilla.

The Madrid club have called up a number of youth team players and have rested strikers Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan.

* Basement club Xerez are three points adrift of four teams level on 36 points and need to win at Osasuna on Sunday (1700) and hope the correct combination of sides above them lose.

Xerez, who have been bottom since November, have good head-to-head records over the other four.

"I would say we have an 80 percent chance of survival if we win," said striker Mario Bermejo.

Source: Web Search

Scoreboard: Australia vs Pakistan, semi-final, World Twenty20

Published>Sat, May 15 10 02:36 AM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 15 (IANS) Scoreboard of the second semi-final between Australia and Paksitan in World Twenty20.

Pakistan:

Kamran Akmal c Warner b Johnson 50

Salman Butt c Warner b Smith 32

Umar Akmal not out 56

Shahid Afridi c +Haddin b DJ Hussey 8

Khalid Latif c Warner b Nannes 13

Abdul Razzaq run out (Haddin/Tait) 12

Misbah-ul-Haq run out (Tait) 0

Extras (b 10, lb 1, w 9) 20

Total (for six wickets in 20 overs) 191

Fall of wickets 1-82 (Kamran Akmal, 9.4 overs), 2-89 (Salman Butt, 11.1), 3-114 (Shahid Afridi, 14.2),

4-145 (Khalid Latif, 16.6), 5-189 (Abdul Razzaq, 19.4), 6-191 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 19.6)

Bowling:

Dirk Nannes 4 1 32 1

Shaun Tait 4 0 25 0

Mitchell Johnson 4 0 37 1

Shane Watson 2 0 26 0

Steven Smith 2 0 23 1

David Hussey 3 0 24 1

Michael Clarke 1 0 13 0

Australia:

David Warner c Umar Akmal b Mohammad Aamer 0

Shane Watson c Abdur Rehman b Mohammad Aamer 16

Brad Haddin+ st Kamran Akmal b Abdur Rehman 25

Michael Clarke st Kamran Akmal b Shahid Afridi 17

David Hussey c & b Abdur Rehman 13

Cameron White c Mohammad Hafeez b Mohammad Aamer 43

Michael Hussey not out 60

Steven Smith st Kamran Akmal b Saeed Ajmal 5

MG Johnson not out 5

Extras (lb 7, w 5, nb 1) 13

Total (for seven wickets in 19.5 overs) 197

Fall of wickets 1-1 (Warner, 0.2 overs), 2-26 (Watson, 2.3), 3-58 (Haddin, 7.2), 4-62 (Clarke, 8.2), 5-105 (DJ Hussey, 12.3), 6-139 (White, 16.3), 7-144 (Smith, 17.1)

Bowling:

Mohammad Aamer 4 0 35 3

Abdul Razzaq 2 0 22 0

Abdur Rehman 4 0 33 2

Saeed Ajmal 3.5 0 46 1

Shahid Afridi 4 0 34 1

Mohammad Hafeez 2 0 20 0

Source: Web Search

Michael Hussey guide Australia to T20 World Cup finals

Published Sat, May 15 10 02:26 AM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 14 (PTI) Michael Hussey hit a 24-ball 60 to script a dramatic runchase as Australia snatched a three-wicket victory over Pakistan in the semifinals to set up a summit clash with England in the Twenty20 cricket World Cup here today. Coming at number seven, Hussey added 53 runs off just 16 balls with Mitchell Johnson (5) and blasted three sixes and a four off Saeed Ajmal in the last over as Australia romped home with one ball to spare. Earlier put into bat, brothers Kamran Akmal (50) and Umar Akmal (56) slammed blistering half-centuries as Pakistan amassed an imposing 191 for six. Chasing 192 to win, the Australians were down in the dumps at 105 for five in 12.3 overs with David Warner (0), Shane Watson (16), Brad Haddin (25), Michael Clarke (17) and David Hussey (13) back into the hut. But Cameron White played a 31-ball 43 cameo, laced with five sixes, to conjure up hopes of a successful runchase and once he was gone, Michael took the responsibility of taking Australia to the finals and hit half a dozen sixes and three fours in his 24-ball innings. Earlier, Kamran and Salman Butt (32) shared a 58-ball 82-run opening partnership to set the tone for Pakistan''s innings after inclement weather conditions delayed the start of the match by half an hour. After a watchful start to ensure no initial hiccups, Kamran and Butt went hammer and tongs, smashing Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson with casual disdain to reach 40 in six overs. Kamran set the ball rolling, hitting Dirk Nannes for back-to-back fours at cover and mid-off in the third over. Butt then used his bottom hand to good use to pick up his first four at cover before playing a striking square cut for another boundary in the third over off Shaun Tait. Butt meted out the same treatment to Michell Johnson in the fifth over when he danced down the pitch and slammed an outside off ball to point boundary. With Pakistan going great guns, Clarke turned to spinner Steven Smith but Kamran clobbered the Australian for a four and a six to accumulate 15 runs off his first over. MORE PTI JH ATK

Source: Web Search

INTERVIEW - Gavaskar says Indians must go back to school

Published>Sat, May 15 10 02:16 AM

India's batsmen should be sent back to the national academy to learn how to deal with short-pitched bowling, former great Sunil Gavaskar said in St Lucia on Friday.

India, who lost all three of their Super Eight games and were eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup, struggled in Barbados against the aggressive bowling of Australia and West Indies.

"Because India have some serious test series coming up in the next year and a half ... in South Africa, West Indies and Australia, we need to go to our National Cricket Academy where there are a lot of young players in camp," said former captain Gavaskar.

"Some of the young fast bowlers could be asked to bowl short stuff from 16 or 18 yards or the batsmen could practice with the bowling machine."

Gavaskar, now a television commentator, was known for his ability to play pace bowling and enjoyed an average of 65 against the fearsome West Indian pace attacks of the 1970s and 80s.

The former opener said a spell in the academy would drill the right mindset into the modern generation.

"It's a matter of preparing yourself mentally and getting physically used to transferring the balance from front foot to back foot, that is what they need to practice," said Gavaskar.

NEXT BALL

"It's not an insurmountable problem, in cricket I don't think there has been a batsman born who has been totally comfortable with the short-pitched ball but it is how you face up to the next ball that is the important thing.

"While a lot of people get disconcerted and throw it away, others tend to look to stay at the wicket.

"Where I think it probably went pear-shaped for India was that instead of looking to bat out the frontline bowlers ... that approach was not there and that was a little bit disappointing," he said, noting how many batsmen were out trying to hook or pull.

Gavaskar said England and Australia, the two form teams at the tournament, had more options than India and were stronger in the field.

"(They have) plenty of options ... in terms of batting floaters up and down (the order), options in terms of bowling, that have made both these teams stand out," he said.

"I think Australia have the flexibility and both they and England have an outstanding combination in the field and have made it difficult for teams to take easy singles. They put the pressure on that way."

Source: Web Search

It is the best feeling of my career: Michael Hussey

Published Sat, May 15 10 02:06 AM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 14 (PTI) After scripting a dramatic win over Pakistan, Man-of-the-match Michael Hussey described the victory as the best feeling of his career and said he wasn''t sure if Australia could pull it off eventually. "By the end there I was just swinging hard as I could every ball. I can''t believe we have won the game. This is the best feeling of my career," said Hussey, who slammed a 24-ball 60 to take Australia to the Twenty20 World Cup finals. "White played well. Pakistan played really well, I wasn''t sure whether we would do it. This game continues to amaze. This is the best feeling in my career. I can''t explain it," he added. Australian skipper Michael Clarke heaped praise on Hussey and Cameron White, who hit a 31-ball 43. "Michael Hussey is absolute freak. He and White played superbly. Once Cameron got out I thought It was going to be really tough but with Hussey in you never know," Clarke said. "We thoughts if we have wickets in hand we can chase. But after losing three quick wickets, I thought it was going to be difficult. People will enjoy our win today and I can''t wait to get to Barbados! I need some runs. I do," he added. Needing 18 off the last six balls, Hussey blasted three sixes and a four to snatch a three-wicket victory over Pakistan, who dominated the match for the major part today. Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi also admitted they lost the match in the final over. "It was a very good total. White and Hussey played a mature and good innings. We perhaps lost it in the last over. Ajmal has bowled really well in this tournament. Kamran and Salman gave us a good start and Umar then played really well and gave us a boost," he said.

Source: Web Search

Michael Hussey guide Australia to T20 World Cup finals

Published Sat, May 15 10 01:56 AM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 14 (PTI) Michael Hussey hit a 24-ball 60 to script a dramatic runchase as Australia snatched a three-wicket victory over Pakistan in the semifinals to set up a summit clash with England in the Twenty20 cricket World Cup here today. Coming at number seven, Hussey added 53 runs off just 16 balls with Mitchell Johnson (5) and blasted three sixes and a four off Saeed Ajmal in the last over as Australia romped home with one ball to spare. Earlier put into bat, brothers Kamran Akmal (50) and Umar Akmal (56) slammed blistering half-centuries as Pakistan amassed an imposing 191 for six. Chasing 192 to win, the Australians were down in the dumps at 105 for five in 12.3 overs with David Warner (0), Shane Watson (16), Brad Haddin (25), Michael Clarke (17) and David Hussey (13) back into the hut. But Cameron White played a 31-ball 43 cameo, laced with five sixes, to conjure up hopes of a successful runchase and once he was gone, Michael took the responsibility of taking Australia and hit half a dozen sixes and three fours in his 24-ball innings. Earlier, Kamran and Salman Butt (32) shared a 58-ball 82-run opening partnership to set the tone for Pakistan''s innings after inclement weather conditions delayed the start of the match by half an hour. After a watchful start to ensure no initial hiccups, Kamran and Butt went hammer and tongs, smashing Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson with casual disdain to reach 40 in six overs. Kamran set the ball rolling, hitting Dirk Nannes for back-to-back fours at cover and mid-off in the third over. Butt then used his bottom hand to good use to pick up his first four at cover before playing a striking square cut for another boundary in the third over off Shaun Tait. Butt meted out the same treatment to Michell Johnson in the fifth over when he danced down the pitch and slammed an outside off ball to point boundary. With Pakistan going great guns, Clarke turned to spinner Steven Smith but Kamran clobbered the Australian for a four and a six to accumulate 15 runs off his first over. MORE PTI JH ATK

Source: Web Search

INTERVIEW - Gavaskar says Indians must go back to school

Published>Sat, May 15 10 01:46 AM

India's batsmen should be sent back to the national academy to learn how to deal with short-pitched bowling, former great Sunil Gavaskar said in St Lucia on Friday.

India, who lost all three of their Super Eight games and were eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup, struggled in Barbados against the aggressive bowling of Australia and West Indies.

"Because India have some serious test series coming up in the next year and a half ... in South Africa, West Indies and Australia, we need to go to our National Cricket Academy where there are a lot of young players in camp," said former captain Gavaskar.

"Some of the young fast bowlers could be asked to bowl short stuff from 16 or 18 yards or the batsmen could practice with the bowling machine."

Gavaskar, now a television commentator, was known for his ability to play pace bowling and enjoyed an average of 65 against the fearsome West Indian pace attacks of the 1970s and 80s.

The former opener said a spell in the academy would drill the right mindset into the modern generation.

"It's a matter of preparing yourself mentally and getting physically used to transferring the balance from front foot to back foot, that is what they need to practice," said Gavaskar.

NEXT BALL

"It's not an insurmountable problem, in cricket I don't think there has been a batsman born who has been totally comfortable with the short-pitched ball but it is how you face up to the next ball that is the important thing.

"While a lot of people get disconcerted and throw it away, others tend to look to stay at the wicket.

"Where I think it probably went pear-shaped for India was that instead of looking to bat out the frontline bowlers ... that approach was not there and that was a little bit disappointing," he said, noting how many batsmen were out trying to hook or pull.

Gavaskar said England and Australia, the two form teams at the tournament, had more options than India and were stronger in the field.

"(They have) plenty of options ... in terms of batting floaters up and down (the order), options in terms of bowling, that have made both these teams stand out," he said.

"I think Australia have the flexibility and both they and England have an outstanding combination in the field and have made it difficult for teams to take easy singles. They put the pressure on that way."

Source: Web Search

Sensational Hussey takes Australia to World Twenty20 final

Published>Sat, May 15 10 01:26 AM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 15 (IANS) Sensational last-over hitting from Michael Hussey saw Australia snatch a dramatic

three-wicket victory over Pakistan and stormed into the World Twenty20 final.

Chasing a tough target of 192 runs, Australia lost wickets at the top before Hussey (60 off 24 balls) and Cameron White

Source: Web Search

Gullit goes green as FIFA receives bid books

Published>Sat, May 15 10 01:22 AM

Former Netherlands captain Ruud Gullit has promised the greenest World Cup ever, including two million free bicycles for fans, if his country and Belgium win the right to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.

The two-nation delegation, also including Johan Cruyff and former Belgium international Paul van Himst, emphasised their point by arriving at the headquarters of FIFA, soccer's world governing body, on bicycles for Friday's bid handover ceremony.

Australia kicked off the proceedings in which the nine candidates handed over the so-called 'bid book', a huge document containing details of their plans for hosting the event, to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

They were followed by England, with David Beckham presenting the document to Blatter, and Netherlands/Belgium.

FIFA will decide the hosts for both tournaments on Dec 2 and the 2018 finals are widely expected to go to a European country.

Australia, England, Japan, Netherlands/Belgium, Russia, Spain/Portugal and the United States are bidding for the 2018 or 2022 finals while Qatar and South Korea are bidding for the finals in 2022 only.

Blatter said joint bids would be treated with the same consideration as single bids.

"We will not make a difference if there is a combined bid or a single bid," he said, having in the past been quoted as saying bids with two nations were less likely to be successful.

LIMOUSINES

Most delegations turned up in limousines but the Dutch and Belgians, led by former Netherlands and AC Milan forward Gullit, made a more unorthodox entry.

"It will be the greenest World Cup ever with an environment protection plan the world has never seen before," said Gullit, who is president of the bid.

"The games will be played in 14 truly green stadiums. The compactness of our countries is a great asset -- due to the short distance the next game is never far away and we will offer the fans a network of free public transport and two million free bikes.

"In the Low Countries, everyone can go to the stadiums by bike, just like we arrived this morning."

Beckham emphasised England's passion for football and the country's cultural diversity.

"Football runs through our veins," he told Blatter in his speech. "We are all brought up on it.

"As a player nothing could possibly beat playing in front of your own fans in your own country at the World Cup."

POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHTS

Other countries brought on political heavyweights, with First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov representing Russia and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, son of the Emir of Qatar, putting the case for the Middle East country.

"We consider it a great privilege to be representing the Middle East," said Al-Thani, whose country has promised to build 12 air-conditioned stadiums if it wins.

"It's a first for the region. If we are awarded the World Cup, rest assured that the imprint left on our area of the world would be everlasting.

"In the same way that the World Cup is set to open its doors to Africa later this year, we hope that they will open to the Middle East in 2022."

Shuvalov said: "In hosting the World Cup, it is our entire country as well as our football that would make progress. And with all due respect to the other candidates, I am convinced that only Russia can succeed."

Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the 2002 event while England were hosts in 1966, the United States in 1994 and Spain in 1982. The other candidates are bidding for their first World Cup.

A FIFA inspection team will visit all the candidates before the final decision is made.

Source: Web Search

Pakistan set 192-run target for Australia

Published>Sat, May 15 10 01:06 AM

Gros Islet (St. Lucia), May 15 (IANS) Defending champions Pakistan made 191 for six in 20 overs against Australia in the semi-final of the World Twenty20 at the Beausejour Stadium here Friday.

Kamran Akmal made 50 while his brother Umar Kamran was unbeaten on 56.

Source: Web Search

Pakistan set Australia 192 to win

Published Sat, May 15 10 12:14 AM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 14 (PTI) Put into bat, Pakistan posted a challenging 191 for six against Australia in the second semifinals of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup at the sticky Beausejour wicket here today. Brief Score: Pakistan: 191 for six in 20 overs (Kamran Akmal 50, Umar Akmal 56; Dirk Nannes 1/32).

Source: Web Search

Women grapplers win two bronze in Asian Wrestling

Published Sat, May 15 10 12:06 AM

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) Indian women grapplers followed up with their male counterparts'' fine show with Alka Tomar and Suman Kundu winning a bronze each on the third day of the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship here today. Asian Games medallist Alka Tomar (59kg) and Suman Kundu (63kg) won a bronze each in the Repechage round after falling out of contention for gold and silver. Tomar, 2006 Asian Games bronze medallist, beat Miruert Dynbayeva of Kazakhstan 3-3, 2-1 in Freestyle Repechage to win the bronze. She had lost to Chinese Liu Fengming in the semifinal at the state-of-the-art Wrestling Stadium at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex. Kundu got the better of Olga Kalinina of Kazakhstan in 63kg Repechage round to secure the second bronze for India and her first Asian Championship medal. Other four Indians, however, missed out on a medal in their respective Repechage rounds. Nirmala Devi lost her Repechage round against Sim-Hyang So of People''s Republic of Korea in the 48kg category, while in the 51kg category Babita Kumari lost her Repechage bout to Japan''s Hiromi Sakurai. Geetika Jakhar was beaten by her Chinese opponent Chen Ying in the Repechage round in 67kg category. Anmol, in 72kg category, lost her Repechage round bout to Inoue Yoshiko of Japan. With the two bronze today, India''s medal tally has risen to four, including two gold. Yesterday, in the men''s section, Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar and Narshing Yadav had bagged a gold in the 66kg and 74kg freestyle respectively.

Source: Web Search

Pakistan set Australia 192 to win

Published Fri, May 14 10 11:26 PM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 14 (PTI) Put into bat, Pakistan posted a challenging 191 for six against Australia in the second semifinals of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup at the sticky Beausejour wicket here today. Brief Score: Pakistan: 191 for six in 20 overs (Kamran Akmal 50, Umar Akmal 56; Dirk Nannes 1/32).

Source: Web Search

Lahiri registers impressive six-stroke win

Published>Fri, May 14 10 11:16 PM

Aamby Valley City (Maharashtra), May 14 (IANS) Anirban Lahiri registered an impressive six-stroke win at the PGTI Players Championship presented by Aamby Valley Golf Course Friday after he posted an immaculate five under 67 in the final round.

Lahiri finished the tournament with a total of 24 under 264, thus breaking the PGTI record of 22 under for four rounds set by Jyoti Randhawa in 2007. Shamim Khan finished in second place at 18 under 270.

Anirban Lahiri's (65-65-67-67) final round 67 comprised of six birdies and a bogey.

Lahiri, the overnight leader by six strokes, started slowly as he made par-bogey on the first two holes and followed that up with four pars from the third through the sixth. Shamim, in the meantime, birdied the first, third and fifth to close the gap to two strokes.

Anirban then got back into rhythm with the help of birdies on the seventh, ninth, 11th and 12th to open up a five-stroke lead.

He made a couple of excellent chips on the seventh and ninth and then sank some long putts on the 11th and 12th holes. The Bangalore-based golfer finally coasted to his third professional win after making birdies on the 14th and 17th.

In the process, the 22-year-old also broke the course record of 21 under for four rounds set by Gaganjeet Bhullar in 2009.

'I really enjoyed playing at Aamby Valley as the greens here are perhaps amongst the best in the country. I'm quite pleased that the dry spell I have had in 2010 has finally come to an end with this victory. Hopefully, this win would get the ball rolling for me for the rest of the year,' said Lahiri.

He added, 'I was a little shaky at the start even as Shamim was quite aggressive. I had to change my game-plan once Shamim started closing the gap. I also started attacking the pins as a result of this change in game-plan. Finally, it was my solid putting that helped me sail through. I putted the best in the last round.'

Shamim Khan (71-66-66-67) of Delhi finished second at 18 under 270 thanks to a final round of 67 that featured six birdies and a bogey.

Abhishek Jha of Bangalore came in third at 12 under 276 while Delhi's Ashok Kumar ended up fourth with a total of 11 under 277.

Gurki Shergill of Pune finished tied 15th with a three under 285 total.

Aditya Bhandarkar of Pune, the only amateur to have made the cut, won the amateur title as he totalled 12 over 300. Bhandarkar finished tied 48th.

Source: Web Search

Women grapplers win two bronze in Asian Wrestling

Published Fri, May 14 10 11:06 PM

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) Indian women grapplers followed up with their male counterparts'' fine show with Alka Tomar and Suman Kundu winning a bronze each on the third day of the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship here today. Asian Games medallist Alka Tomar (59kg) and Suman Kundu (63kg) won a bronze each in the Repechage round after falling out of contention for gold and silver. Tomar, 2006 Asian Games bronze medallist, beat Miruert Dynbayeva of Kazakhstan 3-3, 2-1 in Freestyle Repechage to win the bronze. She had lost to Chinese Liu Fengming in the semifinal at the state-of-the-art Wrestling Stadium at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex. Kundu got the better of Olga Kalinina of Kazakhstan in 63kg Repechage round to secure the second bronze for India and her first Asian Championship medal. Other four Indians, however, missed out on a medal in their respective Repechage rounds. Nirmala Devi lost her Repechage round against Sim-Hyang So of People''s Republic of Korea in the 48kg category, while in the 51kg category Babita Kumari lost her Repechage bout to Japan''s Hiromi Sakurai. Geetika Jakhar was beaten by her Chinese opponent Chen Ying in the Repechage round in 67kg category. Anmol, in 72kg category, lost her Repechage round bout to Inoue Yoshiko of Japan. With the two bronze today, India''s medal tally has risen to four, including two gold. Yesterday, in the men''s section, Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar and Narshing Yadav had bagged a gold in the 66kg and 74kg freestyle respectively.

Source: Web Search

Rastogi in final, Ranjeet-Yuan win doubles title

Published>Fri, May 14 10 10:36 PM

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) India's Karan Rastogi overpowered China's Yu Chang 6-3, 6-4, and will face top seeded South African Rik De Voest who breezed past Ranjeet Virali-Mirugesan 6-1, 6-0 in the $15,000 men's International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament here Saturday.

Ranjeet, however, won the doubles title partenering Yu Xin-Yuan of China. The Sino-Indian combination, seeded fourth, overcame the fighthing Thailand pair of Kittiphong Wachiramanowwong and Weerapat Doakmaiklee, seeded third, 3-6, 6-1, 11-9.

In the singles title clash Saturday, it will be 23-year-old Rastogi's second successive final on the trot. He lost to Uzbek Murad Inoyatov in Kolkata last week. De Voest knocked out Inoyatov here Thursday.

It was solid showing by Rastogi. Back on circuit after a two-year injury lay-off, the former Indian Davis Cupper played aggressively against the athletic Chan who shocked fourth seed Rohan Gajjar of India in the first round.

The Chinese matched Rastogi in the baseline battle. Though he came up with some stunning returns, he was far too erratic to hustle the Indian.

Rastogi was also the better server, hitting to Chan's relatively weaker backhand side to clinch critical points. Chan's serve paled in comparison.

A double break gave the Indian the first set, though the Chinese pulled one back.

Chan started the second set on a rousing note and Rastogi was rattled a bit to drop his first service game. The Indian soon steadied himself to break back in the seventh game. He then reeled off the next three games to win the set and the match.

'I lost my concentration in the second set, but I recovered in time to see that the match did not go into a decider. Chan came up with some very good returns but his passes went awry,' said Rastogi, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament.

In the first semifinal, De Voest seems to get better with each outing. He simply toyed with third-seeded Ranjeet, who could do little to stop him. He did not concede a single point on his serve in the first set and the only time Ranjeet managed to hold his serve in the entire match was in the third game of the first set.

Rastogi acknowledges De Voest's powerful game. 'He has been playing really well, but I will focus on my strengths.'

Source: Web Search

Australia elect to field against Pakistan

Published>Fri, May 14 10 10:06 PM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 14 (IANS) Australia won the toss and elected to field against Pakistan in the second semi-finals of the World Twenty20 here Friday.

The start of the match was delayed by 30 minutes due to rain.

Teams:

Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Shane Watson, David Hussey, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wicket-keeper), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes

Pakistan:

Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Khalid Latif, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal.

Source: Web Search

Australia win toss, elect to field

Published Fri, May 14 10 09:56 PM

Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 14 (PTI) Australia skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bowl against Pakistan in the second semifinals of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup here today. Inclement weather and wet ground conditions had earlier delayed the start of the match by half an hour. Teams: Australia: David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (C), David Hussey, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes. Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi (C), Umar Akmal, Khalid Latif, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal. PTI JH ATK

Source: Web Search

Police high-handedness continues in Sr Asian Wrestling

Published Fri, May 14 10 09:26 PM

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) Foreign officials and journalists continued to get rough treatment from the police in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships here when the cops toady stopped official photographer of the Iranian team from entering players'' arena and heckled him. Ali Kaveh, sporting a valid accreditation card, was trying to facilitate an interaction between some Indian scribes and the high-profile Iranian coach Mohammed Bana. Although Kaveh''s accreditation card gives him access to the wrestling arena, hospitality lounge and press area, some senior police officials not only stopped him but also pushed him out of the athletes'' preparation arena. The incident happened a day after the world wrestling body FILA president Raphael Martinetti was made to run around to find the exit gate at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex, a venue of the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games, here. Kaveh was naturally disappointed after the incident. "I have travelled with the team to many international events including the Olympics and have never faced such harassment," Kaveh said. FILA president Martinetti had also warned that if India wished to host a successful Commonwealth Games, this type of mismanagement had to come to an end.

Source: Web Search

Dhoni to remain Twenty20 captain: BCCI

Published>Fri, May 14 10 09:08 PM

Mumbai, May 14 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday brushed aside all media reports that said Mahendra Singh Dhoni might be asked to step down as India's Twenty20 captain following the team's miserable performance at the World Cup in the West Indies.

"Obviously we are not happy with the performance of the team, but it does not mean that we are thinking of removing Dhoni as Twenty20 captain," said a BCCI source.

Critics and former players blamed the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the team's dismal performance in the T20 World Cup.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has, however, come out in support of the cricket team.

Tendulkar said that cricket is a game of uncertainties and people should not lose faith in the players.

"The players have been training hard. They know, and they understand their responsibility. But sometimes they click, sometimes it doesn't click. We Mumbai Indians also played so well, but in the finals things didn't work out for us," said Tendulkar.

"So, it can happen in cricket. All I can say right now is that the players need support so that they can start fresh again and look to deliver a better performance," he added.

India, which had won the inaugural World T20 tournament in 2007, failed to win three of its Super Eight matches in this year's tournament.

The performance has led to many questions being asked of skipper M S Dhoni and his teammates. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Akram, Gavaskar come out in support of Dhoni

Published>Fri, May 14 10 08:28 PM

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Cricket greats Sunil Gavaskar and Wasim Akram have come out in support of Mahendra Singh Dhoni saying that removing him as the Indian captain from Twenty20 and ODI teams will be a hasty decisions.

Gavaskar said Dhoni has done the best that he could.

'I still think he is the best bet as far as captaining the country is concerned. He has not quite had the luck he had when he started with the India captaincy. But I still think he is the best man for the job,' Gavaskar was quoted as saying by CNN-IBN.

Asked if Dhoni's place was safe in the team as a batsman, Gavaskar said: 'I don't think anybody should be complacent enough to think his place in the team is secure be it as the player or as a skipper. Nobody should have that situation. But having said that M.S. Dhoni has done the best that he could. I still think he is the best bet as far as captaining the country is concerned. He has not quite had the luck he had when he had started with the India captaincy. But I still think he is the best man for the job.'

Akram, a former Pakistan captain, said removing Dhoni is not the cure.

'I do not think it would be a good idea to change the captain. It would be very unreasonable of the BCCI if they strip him of the T20 and ODI captaincy,' Akram was quoted as saying by Mobile ESPN.

'It is true that the Indian team has not performed well at the T20 world meet but removing captain is not the cure-all. Except this event, the team has done well, and Dhoni is a brilliant leader. We should not sit in judgment on him so early. He is only 28 and has good prospects ahead. I, for one, would never support his removal,' Akram said.

Source: Web Search

England bid to complete circle from ridicule to glory

Published>Fri, May 14 10 08:06 PM

England's Twenty20 team have gone from national embarrassment to buoyant World Cup finalists in less than a year and a large part of the credit must go to three South Africans.

Ten months ago England made a humiliating exit from the Twenty20 World Cup with a defeat to cricketing minnows Netherlands at Lord's.

Here in the Caribbean though, the team has cruised to victories with three wins out of three in the Super Eight stage followed by a comfortable win in the semi-final over Sri Lanka.

If celebrations of that win seemed muted it was because it came in such a routine manner -- England now expect to win games like that in Twenty20.

The defeat to the Dutch led many observers to bemoan the failure of the English at a version of the game they had invented; a regular lament heard across a number of sports.

It is a very different England team at this tournament and - slightly awkwardly for those who make sport an issue of national pride -- one in which captain Paul Collingwood is the only English-born player in the top five batsmen.

England's most impressive performance was their victory over South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, a triumph in which the majority of England's runs came from South African-born players.

One of those batsmen, Kevin Pietersen, who made his debut for England over five years ago, has long been England's most effective strokeplayer in all forms of the game and he has shown why again with scores of 73 not out, 53 and 42 not out in his last three innings here.

But it is the two opening batsmen from Johannesburg who have made the difference from past teams.

Wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter and left-hander Michael Lumb have brought just the kind of confident and explosive batting that is needed at the top of the order and in this tournament only Australia, with Dave Warner and Shane Watson, have had comparable starts.

VAST IMPROVEMENT

Kieswetter, 22, moved to England to play cricket four years ago and was picked as soon as he became eligible while Lumb, whose English father Richard played for Yorkshire, has a decade of residence and cricketing experience in the country.

With a left-hand, right-hand combination, good technique and a positive attitude, the pair are a vast improvement on the Luke Wright-Ravi Bopara pairing used at the last Twenty20 World Cup.

"This is what we needed, a spark at the top of the order," said Collingwood after Thursday's win.

"Everybody saw it as a bit of a gamble, but we selected them on potential and we knew exactly what they could do.

"They've batted fantastically well and really helped the middle order to overcome totals," he said.

After the experienced Collingwood at four comes the most specialized Twenty20 batsman in the England team - Eoin Morgan, born and bred in Dublin and a member of the Ireland World Cup team in the West Indies three years ago.

The key quality for a middle order Twenty20 batsmen is "improvisation" and little Morgan has plenty of tricks with reverse strokes and paddles used smartly to take advantage of gaps in the field.

Morgan can also hit the ball hard in a more orthodox manner and ensure that the run-rate momentum, gained by the early order batsmen, continues at the right tempo.

On the bowling side, England have got to grips with the tactics and variations of speed and length that are needed to keep opposition batsmen thinking.

Yorkshireman Tim Bresnan is the best example of a 'thinking' Twenty20 bowler while Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom have avoided the predictability that can harm more traditional bowlers in this format.

Crucially, the two slow bowlers, off-spinner Graeme Swann and slow left-armer Michael Yardy, have been on top of their game, applying a run-rate squeeze and picking up vital wickets in the middle of an innings.

Watching England train - with batsmen practising hitting sixes, fielders working on taking skiers and bowlers perfecting disguised slower balls, it is evident that England's coaching staff have focused on the particular skills needed for Twenty20.

It is also evident, watching the intensity of those training sessions and the enthusiasm of the players, that Collingwood's squad are buzzing with confidence, a mood always helped by wins.

Apart from when forced to replace Pietersen, when he flew home to be with his wife for the birth of their child, England have stuck with the same line-up throughout the tournament.

"We have obviously been very consistent in selection as the guys play more and more with each other they understand more what their role is during a game...having the same side has been a real positive for us," said Collingwood.

England have never won an international tournament since the ICC began organising them for limited overs cricket in the 1970s and after all the progress made by England in Twenty20, second place would be hard to take.

Source: Web Search

TFA team to visit Singapore for training

Published Fri, May 14 10 07:52 PM

Jamshedpur, May 14 (PTI) In a bid to have foreign exposure and advanced training, a 16-member team of Tata Football Academy (TFA) cadets will be visiting Singapore. The 10th batch of TFA, currently the senior-most batch, comprising youth in the age group of 1718 years, would visit Singapore Sports School to undertake extensive advanced training for two weeks, a TFA release said today. The team comprising 16 players, a coach, a physiotherapist and a manager will leave Jamshedpur tomorrow. The TFA team will also play four exhibition matches with Singapore U-18, Singapore U-17, Singapore Youth Olympiad and Singapore International Academy teams, the release said. PTI BS NN PDS

Source: Web Search

Monaco does glamour like nowhere else

Published>Fri, May 14 10 07:46 PM

David Coulthard, sunglasses perched rakishly on his head, leaned over the guardrail of the $20 million yacht and shouted at the figure sprawled on cushions on the next door deck.

"Gerhard, Gerhard. Where did it all go wrong?" the Scot, a two times winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, enquired with mock concern.

Austrian Gerhard Berger, former McLaren and Ferrari driver and renowned paddock playboy in his heyday, looked up and agreed that maybe life could be more agreeable. The Mediterranean sun was perhaps a little too hot, the roar of the passing cars a tad too loud.

On the plus side, the champagne was as ever perfectly chilled.

Those present who had kicked off the night before with a champagne celebration of Formula One's 60 years laid on by Mumm, tripped over to an open air Red Bull party and then danced until dawn on board Vijay Mallya's 'Indian Empress', appeared somewhat worse for wear.

Monaco Friday, apart from GP2 and other junior categories, is hangover day for F1's party set (drivers and mechanics excepted). A chance to rest and recover before the serious action starts with Saturday qualifying.

Always a highlight of the Formula One calendar, both on and off the track, it is a race dripping with heritage and history and unfailingly steeped in glamour.

It is also a grand prix where the paying public can get a real taste of Formula One, a proximity that makes the slowest race on the calendar feel like one of the fastest, and watch the billionaires at play.

ULTIMATE CHALLENGE

Standing in the tunnel, as Formula One cars hurtle through from light to artificial light and back into the brightness, the reaction is one of shock and awe with bystanders peppered by tyre debris and assaulted by the sound.

Watch with the marshals at the entry to the Swimming Pool complex and one can almost feel the cars 'kissing' the barriers as they skim past, their tyres barely a metre away.

Coulthard, a winner with McLaren in 2000 and 2002 before retiring in 2008, felt the heart quicken even as a spectator.

"You bring anyone here to Monaco, and other than maybe complaining about the noise, I don't see how anyone would fail to be impressed with the speed of the cars and the skill of the drivers when you see how close they run to the barriers," he told Reuters on a yacht as a guest of watchmaker TW Steel.

"I think it's the ultimate challenge for the driver, the best place for those of us who are not in the car to get sight of who is committed and who is not."

As a driver, Coulthard found the uphill climb from the whitewashed church at Ste. Devote up to Casino square to be one of the biggest challenges.

"You are literally weaving your way through the barriers, which we all make look relatively easy but you really have to concentrate," he said.

"The entrance to Casino Square is actually a bit of a compromise corner, so what is much more impressive is through the tunnel, braking into the chicane and then the ultimate excitement here is running into Tabac and through the swimming pool and chicane into Rascasse.

"That takes total commitment into Tabac...and one and a half seconds later you have to be feathering the throttle as you lift slightly at the entrance to the swimming pool. You see the cars dancing through there, it is just so impressive."

Coulthard went out on Thursday to watch during practice, getting his mobile phone out to record the action and waving to the spectators on the yachts moored less than a car's length from the track.

Here, 200,000 euros buys a week's rental of a floating palace registered in some Caribbean tax haven.

When there is no racing, the road is opened for the world's most expensive traffic jam. Sit at a pavement cafe and the number of Ferraris cruising past will reach double figures before the food has arrived.

For those eager to join the big spenders, a car salesroom just beyond Portier, the final corner before the tunnel, has a sleek black Mercedes 'Stirling Moss' SLS priced at around 1 million euros.

Everywhere there are reminders of the past, from the bronze cast of Fangio and car at the Anthony Noghes pit lane entrance, to the bust of local racer Louis Chiron on the dockside near the Swimming Pool.

"To walk along the grand prix circuit that is essentially the same as when Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart or Fangio were racing here and then to step on a luxury yacht and sip a glass of champagne...anyone who doesn't think that is glamorous, I'm sorry," said Coulthard with a shake of the head.

"What are they doing the rest of the time?"

Source: Web Search

Coach Leonardo says to leave AC Milan

Published Fri, May 14 10 07:26 PM

AC Milan coach Leonardo is leaving the club after just one season in charge, the Brazilian said on Friday.

"We mutually announce that we are parting," he told a news conference.

Source: Web Search

Women grapplers to fight for bronze in Asian C''ship

Published Fri, May 14 10 07:08 PM

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) Asian Games medallist Alka Tomar, along with five other women grapplers, will fight it out for a bronze after falling out of contention for gold and silver at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship here today. Tomar (59kg), the 2006 Asian Games bronze medallist, made an impressive start to her campaign by registering a 8-0 victory in straight periods over Thailand''s Wailaiwan Thongkam but lost her semifinal bout to Chinese Liu Fengming. She now gets a shot at bronze through the Repechage round when she battles Kazakhstan''s Miruyert Dynbayeva. Nirmala Devi, who lost in the first round to eventual finalist Zhao Shasha of China in the 48kg Freestyle category, will contest the Repechage round against Sim-Hyang So of People''s Republic of Korea. In 51kg, Babita Kumari will grapple with Japan''s Hiromi Sakurai. Babita lost to Kazakhstan''s Zhuldyz Eshimova Turtbayeva in the first round. Suman Kundu (63kg), Geetika Jakhar (67kg) and Anmol (72kg) will also get a chance to secure bronze in their respective bouts tomorrow evening. Yesterday, in the men''s section, Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar bagged a gold in the 66kg freestyle. Sushil, also a four-time Commonwealth Championship gold medallist, beat Kim Dae Sung of Korea in straight periods 4-0, 2-0 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex.

Source: Web Search

Berbatov fears new striker at Man U

Published>Fri, May 14 10 06:52 PM

London, May 14 (ANI): Manchester United out of form striker Dimitar Berbatov fears that his career will come under more pressure if the club buys a new striker.

Bulgarian Berbatov, who quit international football on Thursday, has been a flop since his 30.75 million pounds move from Spurs two seasons ago.

Boss Alex Ferguson is already looking to sign either Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka or Real Madrid's Karim Benzema for the next campaign, The Sun reports.

"I'm sure United will buy a new striker - but I am there and that's important. I will try to fulfil my contract because where would I go after United? I have reached the top with them. I do not know about interest from other clubs and I have had no meetings," Berbatov said.

"In my two years, things could have been better but they could have been worse, too. I have had my moments. I have won the title and the Carling Cup but people had great expectations for the money it cost to sign me. We do not know what will happen in the third year," said Berbatov, who has two years left on his deal. (ANI)

Source: Web Search