Sports News

Half an hour into India?s second innings, Virender Sehwag attempted a non-existent run at mid-on. He was nowhere near the crease when Muttiah Muralitharan?s throw missed the stumps at the bowler?s end.

Ghaziabad, Nov. 19 -- Early winter morning, nip in the air and quick fall of wickets often go hand in hand. On the third day of their Ranji Trophy Super League tie here, the Baroda bowlers used the early morning conditions well to have Uttar Pradesh on the mat. But, their effort came a cropper when UP tail-enders stayed long enough to deny Baroda a first-innings advantage.

An unbeaten century by Ajit Agarkar and a plucky 52 not out from Iqbal Abdulla bailed Mumbai out of a precarious situation on the third day of their Super League encounter against Himachal.

India had scored 169 for one when Rahul Dravid got a harsh leg before decision. It could be argued if the ball would have gone on to hit the leg stump but the implementation of a referral system could make things easier for umpires.

Despite Sri Lanka's record-breaking outing, India coach Gary Kirsten exuded confidence at the end of fourth day's play.

The Sports Minister, MS Gill, has taken note of the report published in Thursday?s Hindustan Times under the head, ?SAI splurges on golf, other projects suffer? and has instructed the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to shut the mini golf course at the SAI Sonepat Centre.

In Goa for the national camp, India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia missed the first day?s training session, and so did Mahesh Gawli, Sameer Naik and NS Manju.

Every time Prasanna Jayawardene played a rash shot, Mahela Jayawardene would walk to the middle of the pitch probably explaining to the wicketkeeper batsman the importance of his wicket as Sri Lanka looked to bat India out of the first Test in Ahmedabad.

With more than a session to go, the shoulders of Indian fielders had already started to dip. Precious little had gone the hosts' way as bowlers struggled to get enough purchase from the third-day pitch and Sri Lanka piled on the agony with some sensible batting.

The Sports Authority of India?s Sonepat centre has pumped in lakhs of rupees on the construction and maintenance of a six-hole mini golf course although the sport does not figure in the list of SAI disciplines. The course also does not figure in the sanctioned plan of the Sonepat centre approved by the government.

Arjun Singh Chaudhri?s craft places him in the category of players who?d tell you: ?I?m getting better at golf because I?m hitting fewer spectators.?

Thanks to Ghaziabad Cricket Association?s ?leaky covers? fiasco, winning the toss assumed an unusual importance on the second day of the UP-Baroda Super League Ranji Trophy encounter, in Ghaziabad on Wednesday.

Himachal Pradesh opener Bhavin Thakkar failed to make it a memorable homecoming in his first match in Mumbai this season. The former Mumbai batsman got out on 88 after spending 335 minutes at the crease. But his 266-ball innings gave Himachal the first innings lead, something that would stand them in good stead against the defending champions.

Batting continued to be their weak link as Punjab struggled to 212 for seven on Day One of their Super League Group A match against Tamil Nadu at the Gandhi Ground Stadium on Tuesday.

Tillakaratne Dilshan seems to have found a Philosopher?s Stone, one that turns anything it touches into gold. The 33-year-old has had a stupendous 2009 and whatever responsibility he has taken on in the last 10 months, he has acquitted himself admirably.

In the run-up to the Test series, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara had spoken about the vulnerability of India?s bowlers and the need to put them under early pressure if the visitors were to win a match on Indian soil.

Larger than life posters of Suresh Raina and Sudeep Tyagi, both local boys, were enough to attract a capacity crowd at the Mohan Meakins Cricket Ground ? the venue for the Ranji Trophy Super League match, here on Tuesday.

Reigning national double-trap champion Vikram Bhatnagar retained the title on the final day of the National Shotgun Championships at the New Moti Bag Gun Club on Monday.

A day after the Hindustan Times highlighted discrepancies in the graded contracts awarded to shooters by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Sports Ministry has warned the federation to stick to norms and be transparent in its selection.

Sachin Tendulkar began his 21st year in international cricket with a cracking cover drive. The 36-year-old dispatched the relatively wide delivery and the Sardar Patel erupted in applause in anticipation. But two balls later Chanaka Welegedara brought one in from just outside the off stump to gate crash the party and stun the crowd into silence.