Aussies rise to No. 2 spot with 47-run win

Johannesburg: Australia regained their world number two ranking with a comfortable 47-run win over South Africa in the fifth and final one-day international at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.

Australia took advantage of being given first use of an excellent batting pitch by South African captain Graeme Smith, making 303 for seven despite a mid-innings stumble.

Despite a second wicket stand of 104 between Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis, South Africa fell steadily behind the asking rate and wickets fell at regular intervals after Gibbs was out for 82

The series win meant that South Africa retained their world number one ranking. Australia briefly slipped to third behind India after losing the fourth match in Port Elizabeth on Monday but returned to the number two spot with their consolation win.

South Africa won the series 3-2 following a 4-1 series win in Australia earlier in the series. The two teams shared the honours in two Test series, with South Africa winning 2-1 in Australia and the Australians reversing the result in South Africa.

"It's a good way to finish," said Australian captain Ricky Ponting."We were pretty disappointed with the way we played over the last few games so to bounce back today is a good thing for the group. It's been a really tough few months of cricket."

Smith said he was happy with the overall results. "It's been a terrific summer for South African cricket," he said.

Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke gave Australia a flying start when they put on 127 off 116 balls for the first wicket.Haddin hit 62 off 64 balls and Clarke 66 off 69 as they put together their second successive century partnership. But they were out in quick succession.

Ponting (40) and Callum Ferguson (41) added 54 for the third wicket before Australia again struggled against South Africa's slow bowlers. Left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe took two for 44 and off-spinner JP Duminy made up for the absence of Johan Botha by bowling a full quota of ten overs and taking three for 48. He also held three catches, one off his own bowling.

Gibbs and captain Graeme Smith put on 46 for the first wicket for South Africa before Gibbs and Kallis (64) put the hosts in a winning position.But Gibbs missed a sweep against man of the match, off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, and South Africa found themselves on a slide when Kallis drove at a wide ball from left-arm seam bowler Nathan Bracken.

Ben Laughlin held a remarkable catch to dismiss South African danger man Albie Morkel on the midwicket boundary, leaping high and maintaining his balance to land inside the rope.

South Africa called for the batting power play in the next over and with the first delivery Laughlin bowled man of the series AB de Villiers for 38 to make victory for Australia almost certain.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/aussies-rise-to-no-2-spot-with-47run-win/40045-13-1.html

Djokovic reaches semi-finals at Monte Carlo

MONACO: Third-seeded Novak Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters for the second consecutive year by beating No. 7 Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Friday.

Djokovic broke Verdasco, the Australian Open semi-finalist, in the sixth game of the deciding set and closed out the match on serve.

Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals of the French Open on clay last year, will meet either No. 13 Stanislas Wawrinka or German qualifier Andreas Beck in the last four.

Earlier, top-ranked Rafael Nadal stretched his winning streak at the Monte Carlo Masters to 24 matches by beating Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 6-3, 6-0 in the third round. The match had been suspended Thursday due to heavy rain, with Lapentti up 1-0 in the first set.

Nadal was to play a second match on Friday, facing Ivan Ljubicic in the quarterfinals. Ljubicic beat Simone Bolelli of Italy 7-5, 7-6 (2).

Each time Nadal has won the Monte Carlo title he has gone on to capture the French Open. The Spaniard has won 18 straight matches on clay since losing to Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of the Rome Masters in May 2008.

Fourth-seeded Andy Murray overcame a poor start to beat Fabio Fognini of Italy 7-6 (11), 6-4 to reach a quarterfinal on clay for the first time in his career.

The match was split over two days after rain halted Thursday's play at the start of the second set with Murray leading 1-0 and Fognini serving at 40-40.

Murray had never advanced past the third round on clay. Murray was playing the eighth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia later Friday. Davydenko beat No. 12 David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Chennai confirmed as Davis Cup venue

LONDON: The International Tennis Federation says the Davis Cup match between India and Australia will take place in Chennai as originally planned despite security concerns voiced by the visitors.

The second-round tie in Asia-Oceania Group 1 will take place on 8-10 May.

In a statement released the Davis Cup Web site, the ITF said Chennai was approved by the Davis Cup Committee following "a positive report from the ITF's security consultants."

Australian tennis officials had sought a change of venue amid heightened concerns about security for sports events on the Indian sub continent, following a terror attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan last month.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Hamburg ousts Man City to reach UEFA Cup semis

MANCHESTER, April 17 (AP): Hamburg eliminated Manchester City to reach the UEFA Cup semifinals, surviving a 2-1 loss in England to advance 4-3 on aggregate.

Hamburg held a 3-1 lead after the first leg in Germany, and Paolo Guerrero extended the advantage by scoring after 12 minutes. But Elano responded four minutes later from the penalty spot and Felipe Caicedo scored City’s second in the 50th yesterday.

Elano had a free kick hit the woodwork in each half, as City couldn’t score the third goal needed to force the match into extra time.

Paes-Dlouhy enter Rolex Masters quarterfinal

New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI) Leander Paes and his partner Lukas Dlouhy entered the quarterfinals of the euro 2,750,000 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in Monaco, defeating unseeded Spaniard duo of Albert Montanes and Tommy Robredo in a match tie-breaker.

The third seed Indo-Czech pair had to stretch themselves to the limit to beat Montanes and Robredo 2-6 7-6(5) 10-8 in the third round.

Paes and Dlouhy will next face seventh seeds Julian Knowle of Austria and Andy Ram of Israel.

Knowle-Ram combination defeated Simon Aspelin of Sweden and South African Wesley Moodie 7-6(3) 6-2 in another third round encounter.
PTI

Sania falters at Venus hurdle in Family Circle Cup

Charleston, Apr 16 (PTI) Sania Mirza put up a spirited challenge against multiple Grand Slam winner and second seed Venus Williams before going down in a tough three-setter in the second round of the USD one million WTA Family Circle Cup here.

The Indian ace, fresh after her doubles title win at a Florida WTA event last week, fought valiantly against Venus but ran out of steam as the world number five American used her experience to pocket the encounter 1-6 6-3 2-6.

The match, however, started on an expected note with Venus coming out all guns blazing against Sania. The American won nine of the first 11 games to race on to a 6-1, 3-1 lead.

Down by a set and break in the second, Sania made a remarkable comeback into the match with the help of her monstrous forehand.

She took seven of the next nine games to win the second set 6-3 and then take a 2-1 in the third.
PTI

Sports Minister flays Dhoni, Harbhajan's casualness

New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI) Sports Minister MS Gill today flayed the 'casualness' of Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh for skipping the Padma Shri function and said the Ministry would soon issue a circular to ensure that sportspersons treat national awards with utmost respect.

Dhoni and his India teammate Harbhajan were conspicuous by their absence at the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremony where they were expected to accept the Padma Shri awards from President Pratibha Patil.

Even though reports claimed the duo gave it a miss because of their commercial pre-occupations, Harbhajan cited family commitment as the reason for skipping the event.

The Sports Minister, however, was not convinced and even though he refused to name the duo, Gill said he would not brook such casualness by anyone.

"To be selected for such a national honour and then getting the opportunity of receiving it from the President of India is a rare good fortune and must be treated with greatest respect. I certainly don't approve of any casualness in anyone's approach," Gill told PTI.

And to ensure it does not happen again, the Ministry would issue a new circular soon, he said.
PTI

Sania Mirza books meeting with Venus in Charleston

CHARLESTON: Sania Mirza booked a second-round clash with second-seeded Venus Williams on Tuesday with a straight-sets victory in the one million-dollar Family Circle Cup.

Sania Mirza beat Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-4 to line up the marquee meeting with Williams, who will be launching her campaign on Wednesday afternoon after enjoying a first-round bye.

Top-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva, who rose to a career-high ranking of number three in the world last week, reached the third round with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over American Julie Ditty.

"I don't feel any pressure being the number one seed here," Dementieva said. "Tonight was a good start to the tournament for me. I had never played Julie before so I really didn't want her to get into the match. It's easy to lose your concentration. I really stayed focused tonight."

Third-seeded Vera Zvonareva and number four Nadia Petrova, both of Russia, also reached the third round, as did sixth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France and seventh-seeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova.

Zvonareva cruised past Paraguay's Rossana de los Rios 6-3, 6-2.

"I felt pretty good for my first match of the year on clay," said Zvonareva, a finalist here last year. "I didn't expect myself to play my best, and it was a bit of a struggle at times because of the wind, but it was pretty good."

Fourth-seeded Petrova beat Austrian Patricia Mayr 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, Bartoli defeated Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-1, 6-3 and Cibulkova downed Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-4, 6-0.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sania-books-meeting-with-Venus/articleshow/4403034.cms

Federer advances to 3rd round at Monte Carlo Masters

MONACO: Roger Federer made a successful season debut on clay Wednesday, beating Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Federer wobbled briefly when serving for the match, going 30-40 down. But the second-ranked player got a reprieve when Seppi's return bounced out and Federer clinched the match when another Seppi return sailed long. It was Federer's first match since getting married last weekend.

"I am very happy to have won my first match on clay," said Federer, who can equal Pete Sampras for 14 major titles if wins the French Open for the first time. "It takes some time to adjust to the surface, the rebounds and the sliding."

Federer's win sets up a match Thursday against the 13th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka - his doubles partner at the Beijing Olympics - who outlasted Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Later, top-ranked Rafael Nadal began his bid for a fifth straight Monte Carlo title with a match against Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina.

Federer saved two break points in a patchy first set but clinically took his first chance on Seppi's serve in the ninth game to move 5-4 ahead. He took the opening set with a crisp backhand down the line.

The Swiss star, who married his longtime girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec in a small ceremony in his hometown of Basel on Saturday, broke Seppi in the opening game of the second set with another clinical backhand pass.

Federer has beaten Seppi three times this year and improved to 5-0 overall without dropping a set against the big-serving Italian player.

In other second-round matches Wednesday, there were straight-sets wins for the seventh-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain, No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, Simone Bolelli of Italy, and Albert Montanes of Spain.

Verdasco eased past Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-3, 6-4; Daydenko beat Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 6-4, 6-3; Bolelli beat Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 7-5, 6-3, and Montanes beat Jean-Rene Lisnard of Monaco 6-2, 6-4.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Federer-advances-to-3rd-round-at-Monte-Carlo/articleshow/4406113.cms

Rajasthan Royals axe Mohammad Kaif

NEW DELHI: The Rajasthan Royals, which won last year's inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament, has axed former Test player and Uttar Pradesh captain Mohammad Kaif and seven other players from the squad that will do duty in the second edition.

They will now fly back to India. Kaif was purchased for a hefty $675,000 US at the auction last year, but didn't have much of a role during the victorious campaign.

Kaif had played all the matches last year, but could manage only 176 runs at an average of just 16. He didn't make a single half century, largely because he was shunted lower down the order. The 28-year-old Kaif has played 13 Tests and 125 One-dayers for India so far, reports said.

Source:http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Rajasthan-Royals-axe-Mohammad-Kaif/articleshow/4405762.cms

Dempo, E Bengal to vie for fourth spot in I-League

Kolkata, Apr 15 (PTI) With the title out of their reach, defending champions Dempo SC and East Bengal will aim for the fourth spot in the ONGC I-League standings, locking horns at the Vidyasagar Krirangan here tomorrow.

But a positive result for the Goans will help them gain confidence when they take on Bahrain outfit Muharraq in the AFC Cup on April 21.

Occupying the pole position in Group E with seven points from three matches, Dempo are in line for a pre-quarterfinal berth in that championship.

Obviously, Armando Colaco's boys have AFC as the priority and would look to count the positives by winning against East Bengal ahead of their international outing in Goa.

With their ace striker Ranty Martins and midfielder Roberto Mendis Silva ruled out of the AFC Cup match due to double bookings, Colaco said they have to be vigilant in their last league match.

"I've told the boys to play their natural game but at the same time they should not do anything silly so that our side gets depleted in the AFC Cup home match," said Colaco who is expected to field a full side against the red-and-gold brigade.

PTI

Gagan Narang wins gold, fetches his second World Cup medal

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) Gagan Narang today became first Indian ever to win two medals in a single ISSF World Cup when he claimed gold in the men's 50 metre rifle 3 position in Chongwon, Korea.

Narang, who earlier won the bronze in his pet 10 meter air rifle event, shot 1166 in the qualification round and 98 in the finals to aggregate maximum 1264 points.

The Hyderabad marksman, who reached the finals of all three events he participated here, is also the first Indian to climb the podium in the 50 mt range, according to the National Rifle Association of India.

He had narrowly missed a medal in the free rifle prone event.

Among other Indians in the fray, Sanjeev Rajput finished sixth with 1258.7 (1160+98.7) while Sushil Ghalay failed to make the finals, ending up 11th with qualification round scores of 1155.

The silver and bronze medals respectively went to Jinseop Han of Korea for his effort of 1261.9 (1165+96.9) and Alexei Kamenski of Russia for garnering 1261.7 (1167+94.7) points.
PTI

Azlan Shah win a small step in right direction

NEW DELHI: The Azlan Shah Cup victory is a small step in the right direction and the real test is how well can India perform at the New Delhi 2010 World Cup and the subsequent Commonwealth Games. That's how the hockey selectors and former players see the triumph at Ipoh where India won the Cup after an interval of 13 years.

Former captain and now a selector Zafar Iqbal said India won a title after a long time and it would certainly boost the morale of the team.

"Every victory brings a positive change. Indian hockey needed an international title to move forward. And Azlan Shah has come at the right time. But it is nothing to be boasted about. There is still a long way to go before we can truly say that we are back among the best," Zafar said.

Zafar said their main challenge is to put up a good performance in the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

"We need to think ahead. Our main challenge is World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Both the tournaments are being hosted by India and we have to put up a good performance. We do not have enough time to prepare. The mental strength of the players and their fitness will be tested in these events," he added.

Zafar felt that the team, which has a good mix of youth and experience, is the best possible combination at the moment.

"Let's be realistic. Our senior players like Dilip Tirkey are still performing so well in international meets. But what after they retire?"

"We do not have players of such calibre to replace them. Our junior team is doing well and we do have some good juniors in the rank but that's it. This is the best possible combination for us," he said.

World Cup winning captain and present selector Ajit Pal Singh said the team would have to play consistently well to make a mark at the international level.

"This team has done well in a couple of months. We were runners-up in the Punjab Gold Cup and now the Azlan Shah. They will falter in some matches and will have to work hard to overcome their weaknesses. But overall they have shown they are on the right track," Ajit Pal said.

"Next month's Asia Cup will be a good test for the team as we are the defending champions. It will be slightly more competitive than the Azlan Shah. We have to consistently play well in the continent before we move forward to challenge the world's best."
Olympian and former captain Gurbux Singh lauded the Indian team and hoped they would be able to repeat the triumph in the Asia Cup.

"It's a great win. At least they have done better than what they have been achieving over the last one year," said Gurbux, a member of India's gold medal winning 1964 Olympic team.

"This year they have done well in a few tournaments. The team is gaining in confidence," he said.

"I hope they will be able to replicate the performance in the Asia Cup where they will be up against the formidable South Korea, Malaysia and Pakistan."

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Azlan-Shah-win-a-small-step-in-right-direction-/articleshow/4396535.cms

Indian colts in front against Australia

HOBART, April 12 (PTI): Harpreet Singh (125) and Mandeep Singh (126) struck hundreds as Indian colts recovered from a mid-innings collapse to declare at 417 for seven and take a 111-run first innings lead over the Australian under-19 team on the second day of a three-day cricket match here today.

In reply, Australia scored one run in their second innings before the draw of stumps at Bellerive Oval.

Openers Mayank Aggarwal (68) and Manan Sharma (45) shared an 85-run stand before India found themselves at a precarious 148 for three at lunch.

However, Harpreet and Mandeep combined to add 242 for the fifth wicket and lift India into a potentially match-winning position with big centuries to both players. ASSAM TRIBUNE

Gagan fetches bronze at ISSF World Cup

New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) Indian shooting star Gagan Narang today won the bronze medal in the men's 10 meter air rifle event of the first ISSF World Cup of the year in Chongwon, Korea.

Narang fired an aggregate of 696.7 which included a score of 594/600 in the qualification. He entered the finals as the eighth and last shooter but made up the difference by shooting scores of 102.7 to finish on the podium.

Both gold and silver medals were clinched by China with Zho Qinan and Cao Yifei scoring 700.3 (597+103.3) and 698.6 (595+103.6) respectively.

Another Indian in the fray, Sanjeev Rajput also reached the finals at fifth place with a score of 595 but was relegated to seventh place with a poor final round of 100.4.

His compatriot PT Raghunath failed to qualify for the finals after shooting only 591.

As many as 38 Indian rifle and pistol shooters are competing in the April 9-15 event. They will then travel to Beijing for the second leg of the 2009 World Cup series from April 17-23.

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and Anjali Bhagwat have given the event a miss. PTI

Jeev misses cut at Masters, cherishes Woods' company

Augusta (Georgia), Apr 11 (PTI) Jeev Milkha Singh's cold putter left him in agony as the Indian missed the halfway cut at the Masters golf tournament by just one stroke on a wind-swept day at the Augusta National here.

Struggling to roll his putts in, Jeev brought home three-over 75 for a two-day total of 146 to miss the cut -- first time in three appearances -- by just one stroke and join the likes of Greg Norman and Ernie Els on the sidelines.

"My putting let me down. I didn't putt too well and three-putted three times. I didn't hole anything," lamented Jeev.

"It was one of those days when you hit good putts but they don't go in. I tried in the end and made a good birdie on 18 and hope that's good enough. If not, we'll try again," he said.

With winds swirling at Augusta National, Jeev was in for a torrid time. He turned in 36, with a birdie on five erasing the bogey on the previous hole. PTI

School cricket semifinals today

Sports reporter
GUWAHATI, April 10 – The semifinal matches of the Dinendra Nath Gohain and Dharmendra Sarma Memorial Inter School Cricket Tournament will be played tomorrow at the Dispur playground.

In the first match Delhi Public School will play against Srimanta Sankar Academy while in the second encounter Don Bosco will lock horns against Fairyland School.

India face arch-rival Pakistan in do-or-die tie

IPOH (MALAYSIA), April 10 (PTI:) With nothing less than a win required to make the final, India will have to guard against late defensive lapses when they take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their do-or-die league encounter of the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament here tomorrow.

India has conceded late equalisers in two of the three matches they have played so far in the tournament and Sandeep Singh’s men, who were runners-up here last year, cannot afford such a lapse tomorrow against Pakistan.

No elected federation, no World Cup in India: FIH

New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) The International Hockey Federation (FIH) today threatened to shift next year's World Cup out of India unless the ad-hoc committee, running the sport in the country, puts in place a democratically elected federation within six months.

An FIH delegation, led by President Leandro Negre, is presently on a three-day visit to India to take stock of preparations for the 2010 World Cup to be held here from March 7 to 20.

Although the FIH President has expressed satisfaction over security issues and construction work of the stadiums, he warned that it won't be possible to host the mega event in India without a unified body -- Hockey India -- consisting of both the men's and women's federations under one roof.

He said that the FIH has prepared a plan 'B' in case officials running Indian hockey -- the IOA-appointed ad-hoc committee -- fail to abide by their recommendations.

In that scenario, the mega event might be shifted to Malaysia as they have already expressed desire to host it.

"The FIH is determined to host the World Cup in India. Our goal is to have the best World Cup in Delhi, but the event can't be held without a federation.

"India need a unified body to run hockey before the World Cup. It is essential. But we have received promise from the IOA that within six months everything will be set up," Negre told reporters here.
PTI

Woods calms his nerves, Jeev tied 28th after Rd1 in Augusta

Augusta (Georgia), Apr 10 (PTI) Playing partner Tiger Woods' comforting words calmed his nerves as Jeev Milkha Singh regained his composure to card a one-under 71 for a share of the 28th spot after the opening round of the Masters golf tournament here.

With large crowds following his group, Jeev conceded he was nervous playing with 14-time major winner Woods and Stewart Cink before a little help from the iconic American and Jeev's own solid play helped him settle down.

"It was tough when I was starting out and you're a little nervous. But after that it was fine. Tiger was very nice and made me comfortable," Jeev said.

"I'll try to better the score tomorrow and see what comes my way," said the Indian.

Jeev began on a strong note, with a flawless front nine where he birdied the sixth hole from five feet.

Things went little haywire on his way back but to his credit, Jeev never let things go beyond his control.

His back nine journey began and ended in similar fashion, with a bogey, and he found the greenside trap on the 10th hole.

A glorious three-iron approach set him up for eagle on the par five 13th hole but he failed to build on the momentum, dropping a shot at the next despite having only a nine iron in hand from the middle of the fairway. PTI