Sri Lanka fight back after initial jolt

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 02:23 PM

India dismissed both the openers in the first session even as Sri Lanka fared decently to reach 102 for two at lunch on the opening day of the third and final cricket Test here today.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) was run out at the stroke of lunch while Tharanga Paranavitana (8) became a victim of young pacer Ishant Sharma early in the innings.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara, dropped on 23, was batting on 48 and will resume the innings with a new partner at P Sara Oval.

It could have been different for India had Suresh Raina, preffered over Yuvraj Singh, not dropped Sangakkara off Abimanyu Mithun.

The Karnataka pacer, bowling around the wicket, induced an edge which flew in the slip cordon straight to second slip VVS Laxman but Raina lunged on the chance from the left and in utter confusion the opportunity was lost.

The young Indian pace duo did a much better job, with the track being a little helpful in morning conditions.

Ishant bowled fast, troubled batsmen and got the wicket of Paranavitana, who edged one to Dhoni behind the wicket as early as in the fourth over of the innings.

Unlike the first two Tests, Ishant and Mithun did succeed initially to contain the batsmen but once the Lankans got their eye in they were at their usual best.

Dilshan smashed Ishant for two cracking boundaries and Kumar Sangakkara hit Amit Mishra, who came in for injured Harbhajan Singh, for a four and a six to break the shackles.

Together they raised a 87-run stand, which ended with a brilliant piece of work by Murali Vijay in the close fielding position.

Dilshan pushed one off Pragyan Ojha and left his crease anticipating that Vijay, at silly point, will not be able to stop the ball.

But a full stretched Vijay succeeded in clutching the ball and threw it towards Dhoni, who took off the bails in no time and left Dilshan bamboozled.

Dilshan hit four fours in his 70-ball knock while Sangakkara faced 65 balls and helped himself with four fours and a six.

Earlier, Dhoni lost his third successive toss and India were forced to bowl in batting friendly conditions.

Source: Web Search

China guarantees overseas media rights to cover Asian Games

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 02:07 PM

Beijing, August 3 (ANI): China has guaranteed that overseas media will be given freedom to cover the 16th Asian Games scheduled for Nov 12-27 and the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Para Games for disabled Asian athletes in december.

"Overseas reporters will be free to interview athletes, coaches, officials and residents if they abide by relevant Chinese laws and rules and the regulations of the Olympic Council of Asia during the upcoming Asian Games," China daily quoted Xu Ruisheng, deputy mayor of Guangzhou and executive deputy director of the organizing committee of the 16th Asian Games, as saying.

The Chinese government adopted a more relaxed regulation on overseas media on Jan 1, 2007, lifting many restrictions on journalists' reportage during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The regulation was formalized in October 2008, making it easier for overseas journalists to conduct interviews.

A total of 10,000 journalists, including more than 3,000 from overseas, are expected to cover the Guangzhou event this year.

An employee from the Guangzhou bureau of Japan's Nikkei Inc said the local government has provided "plenty of help" to foreign media in the past months.

"They have provided me with enough materials and pointers for interviews in the past days, and the service is good," the employee told China Daily.

Ruisheng also said that relevant departments will "seriously consider the applications for rally and protest in line with laws, regulations and relevant procedures".

He urged rally and protest organizers to apply for approvals before they hold mass protests.

Late last year, the organizing committee promised to set up special protest zones in the city's Panyu district, where the Asian Games Town (AGT) is located, for protesters to air their grievances during the Games. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Yousuf set for England but unlikely to play 2nd Test

Tue, Aug 03 10 01:51 PM

Karachi, Aug 3 (PTI) Senior batsman Muhammad Yousuf is expected to join Pakistan''s cricket team in England tomorrow but is unlikely to play in the second Test starting on Friday. "Yousuf has a visit visa on which he can''t play cricket in the United Kingdom. We have applied for a work permit visa and hopefully he will be issued the fresh visa on Tuesday," a PCB official said. "If he gets the visa on time we will put him on the first available flight to London on Wednesday," the official said. But he admitted that Yousuf is unlikely to be played directly in the second Test starting in Edgbaston from Friday. "In all probability he will be given a chance to practice for a few days and also play a tour match before the third Test that begins on August 19," the official said. Yousuf, a former Pakistan captain, kept a low profile yesterday avoiding speaking to the media. The senior batsman, who has played 88 Tests and 283 one-day internationals, was called back from retirement to join the team after Pakistan lost the first Test against England by a whopping 354 runs in Nottingham. Pakistan was bowled out for 80 runs in their second innings in that match. Meanwhile Pakistan tour manager Yawar Saeed has rubbished reports that captain Salman Butt and head coach Waqar Younis were not taken into confidence regarding Yousuf''s call-up. "This is totally untrue all decisions taken after the first Test were taken after taking Butt and Waqar into confidence. Chairman of PCB Ijaz Butt spoke to the touring selection committee consisting of Salman, Waqar and myself we all agreed on Yousuf and Raza''s inclusion and Danish Kaneria''s omission from the squad," Yawar told a television channel. PTI COR PM

Source: Published>

Technical teams moved to CWG venues: Bhanot

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 01:37 PM

New Delhi, August 03 (ANI): Secretary General of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) Lalit Bhanot in New Delhi on Monday said that the designated technical teams for the Games have been shifted to the respective games stadia in New Delhi and the work on overlays has commenced. He noted that the things were going as scheduled and asserted there was no delay. In context to approaching deadline, he confidently said that they are ready to host the games. There has been a constant debate from politicians and the general public on the preparations of the CWG over the alleged poor quality of work.

Source: Web Search

Anderson restoring dying art of swing bowling in cricket: Moores

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 01:07 PM

London, Aug 3(ANI): Former England coach Peter Moores has said that fast bowler James Anderson is restoring one of cricket's dying arts - swing bowling.

Moores reckons that Anderson's ability to deceive batsmen by swinging the ball both ways makes him unique these days.

The 28-year-old returned stunning figures of 11-71 as England thrashed Pakistan by 354 runs in the first Test at Trent Bridge.

"The key is he can swing the ball both ways to left and right-handers," The Sun quoted Moores, as saying.Swing bowling has been a bit of a dying art for the last 10 years or so. With Jimmy, there isn't any discernable change of action when he swings the ball the other way," he added.

He also believes that as England puts together a bowling attack to take on the world, Anderson is an inspiration for the team's younger bowlers.

"Jimmy is a mature performer now and, with Stuart Broad and Steve Finn, England look to have a good pace attack," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

BSP members raise alleged diversion of SC/ST funds for CWG

Tue, Aug 03 10 12:57 PM

New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) BSP today disrupted proceedings in the Lok Sabha over alleged diversion of about Rs 750 crore, earmarked as special component for the development of SC/ST, for Commonwealth Games. BSP wanted a debate on the matter and had given a notice to Speaker Meira Kumar for the same. Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal refuted the charges saying no diversion of funds has taken place and assured the BSP members that he would look into it. Even as the Speaker gave an assurance that she would decide on the notice today, the BSP members led by Dara Singh Chauhan staged a walkout. Chauhan alleged that as much as Rs 72,000 crore have been diverted in the name of Commonwealth Games over the last five years and termed it as gross irregularities in the name of games.

Source: Published>

Lankans make a strong start after initial jolt

Tue, Aug 03 10 12:51 PM

Colombo, Aug 3 (PTI) India dismissed both the openers in the first session even as Sri Lanka faired decently to reach 102 for two at lunch on the opening day of the third and final cricket Test here today. Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) was run out at the stroke of lunch while Tharanga Paranavitana (8) became a victim of young pacer Ishant Sharma early in the innings. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara, dropped on 23, was batting on 48 and will resume the innings with a new partner at P Sara Oval. It could have been different for India had Suresh Raina, proffered over Yuvraj Singh, not dropped Sangakkara off Abimanyu Mithun. The Karnataka pacer, bowling around the wicket, induced an edge which flew in the slip cordon straight to second slip VVS Laxman but Raina lunged on the chance from the left and in utter confusion the opportunity was lost. The young Indian pace duo did a much better job, with the track being a little helpful in morning conditions. Ishant bowled fast, troubled batsmen and got the wicket of Paranavitana, who edged one to Dhoni behind the wicket as early as in the fourth over of the innings. Unlike the first two Tests, Ishant and Mithun did succeed initially to contain the batsmen but once the Lankans got their eye in they were at their usual best. Dilshan smashed Ishant for two cracking boundaries and Kumar Sangakkara hit Amit Mishra, who came in for injured Harbhajan Singh, for a four and a six to break the shackles. Together they raised a 87-run stand, which ended with a brilliant piece of work by Murali Vijay in the close fielding position. Dilshan pushed one off Pragyan Ojha and left his crease anticipating that Vijay, at silly point, will not be able to stop the ball. But a full stretched Vijay succeeded in clutching the ball threw it towards Dhoni, who took off the bails in no time and left Dilshan bamboozled. Dilshan hit four fours in his 70-ball knock while Sangakkara faced 65 balls and helped himself with four fours and a six. Earlier, Dhoni lost his third successive toss and India were forced to bowl in batting friendly conditions.

Source: Published>