Diamond Jubilee of Assam Cricket Association

Suren Ram Phookun
The cricketing fraternity of the State including the well-wishers of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), burst into jubilation, when the ACA finally decided to observe its eight-month-long Diamond Jubilee celebrations from April 1 to November 30 with great fiesta. In the meantime, ACA worked out detailed programmes to celebrate the historic occasion.

The maiden adhoc committee of the ACA was formed on November 30, 1947 in a well-attended meeting held in the Cotton Collegiate School hostel in Guwahati. Altogether 28 members had represented various districts, clubs, and educational institutions in the first meeting. Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi and Pulin Das were nominated as president and secretary respectively of the newly-formed body unanimously.

Presently, ACA is a busy organisation holding several important tournaments including Nuruddin Ahmed Trophy senior inter-district tournament, Nurul Amin Trophy, Sashi Prasad Baruah Trophy, RG Barooah U-16 tournament, Jaikanta Barooah U-19 tournament, women inter district tournament, Dilip Sarma Trophy inter district school tournament etc.

The great sons of the State like Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi, Fakaruddin Ali Ahmed, Radha Govinda Baruah, Surendra Nath Das, Ratanlal Singhania, Nilimoy Choudhury, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had adorned the ACA president’s coveted chair while Pulin Das, Nurul Amin, Rameswar Tripathy, KD Hazarika, Sahajananda Ojha, Rana Goswami, Abdul Matin, Nandan Bezbarua and presently Bikash Baruah are the persons who have shouldered the responsibility of the honorary secretaryship of the ACA. Ojha is a well-known personality in Indian cricket also. He was the administrative manager of the BCCI, to the Pakistan tour of India. At the moment Bikash Baruah is doing exceedingly well to highlight achievements of the organisation.

The present body of the ACA under the dynamic leadership of president Gautam Roy, a Cabinet Minister of the State, took a laudable decision to construct a cricket stadium at Barsapara in Guwahati. After the completion of the stadium it would be a gift to the entire cricket fraternity in India. Initially the fund position of the ACA was in a pitiable condition. KD Hazarika, the former secretary, had to bank heavily on public donations. Another secretary Rameswar Tripathy also had a similar fate. The ACA was always running under a deficit budget. But in subsequent years, the fund position seems to be improving with holding of the One-day International matches. Interestingly, almost all the past secretaries had to carryout the administrative work of the Association from their own residences. It was only during Pulin Das’s tenure when the ACA was able to acquire an office room in the Nehru Stadium from NSCA. Now one can see the ACA office situated in the Nehru Stadium humming with activities during the peak cricket season.

Foreign Teams in Assam : Before the construction of the Nehru Stadium, Jorhat was the nerve-centre of cricket in Assam and the first ever foreign team to visit the State was the Silver Jubilee Overseas Cricket Team. Several promising Assam cricketers played for East Zone in that match. Then again the Australian team visited Guwahati on December 6, 7 and 8, 1969 to play against the East Zone. Bill Lawry and Ambar Roy were the rival captains. The Australia versus East Zone match attracted record crowd, which was played at the Nehru Stadium. The London School boys also played a match at Guwahati. Except Bangladesh, all the ICC affiliated countries have played ODI matches in Guwahati since 1983. Till date ACA has organized as many as 13 ODI matches.

As the years rolled on, Niloy Dutta and the writer of this column became all India panel umpires under the BCCI.

Lala Amarnath, the legendary figure of Indian cricket, Col. Hemu Adhikari, Eribara of Hyderabad, PS Parmer of Bengal came to Assam on coaching assignments. Cricket is a very costly game, it has gained tremendous popularity throughout nook and corner of the state and one can see more one-day cricket to the delight of the fans. Presently, Gautam Roy has shown keen interest for the development of cricket in this part of the country. At the moment ACA is in the peak of glory mainly due to Bikash Baruah’s initiative. A cricket academy is being set up under the banner of Assam Cricket Association in Guwahati and legendary cricketer Kapil Dev had inaugurated it in 2007. Rajesh Bora is associated with the academy as the chief coach.

Celebration of Diamond Jubilee is always welcomed. The present and past players and the cricket buffs of the State will enjoy the celebrations with their heart content. Let us hope, the ACA will prosper by leaps and bounds and the coming years will bring more accolades to our State in the cricket scenario.
(The writer is a former International Cricket Umpire) ASSAM TRIBUNE

ACA diamond jubilee celebration

Brisk preparation on for ACA diamond jubilee
Sports reporter
GUWAHATI, March 29 – The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) is gearing up for celebrating its diamond jubilee in a gala manner.

Disclosing about various programmes in a press conference here today, the ACA secretary Bikash Baruah said the eight-month-long celebration will begin on April 1 and will be concluded on November 30.

The adhoc committee of the ACA was formed on November 30, 1947 with Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi as president and Pulin Das as secretary. On April 1, 1948 the body became full-fledged with Bordoloi retained as president and Nurul Amin became the new secretary. Since then Fakruddin Ali Ahmed, Radha Govinda Baruah, Surendra Nath Das, Ratanlal Singhania, Nilimoy Choudhury, Gautam Roy and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta adorned the chair of ACA president. After Nurul Amin, Rameswar Tripathi, Krishna Dutta Hazarika, Pulin Das, Sahajananda Ojha, Rana Goswami, Nandan Bezbaruah, Abdul Matin were the secretaries of the Association in different periods. At present Gautam Roy and Bikash Baruah are the president and secretary of the Association respectively while Ghanashyam Baruah is the treasurer.

Baruah said the celebration would be kicked off with a mass jogging at 6 am on April 1, which will be flagged off at the Nehru Stadium by former Test cricketer Maninder Singh. In the afternoon, the ACA will felicitate former first class cricketers, above 60 years of age in a function to be held at the Pragjyoti ITA Centre here. Along with the former players the organizers will also honour former presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers and two former international umpires. The immediate kin of the deceased officials will also be honoured on the occasion.

During the eight-month programme, several competitions like quiz, essay, art, etc. will be organized time to time along with holding seminar for umpires and discussions for the development of the game in the State.

The ACA secretary further revealed that the BCCI has agreed to allot a T20 match with first class players on the occasion. He, however, could not disclose about the teams and the date.

Along with the ACA office here, all the 40 ACA affiliated units will celebrate the opening day by hoisting flags at their respective offices. Other ACA officials, Bhakti Medhi, Ghanashyam Baruah, Bishnu Ram Nunisa, Biswanath Saha, Imdad Hussain, Dilip Nandi were also present in the press conference. ASSAM TRIBUNE

Nazira team disqualified

Sports reporter
GUWAHATI, March 29 – Major anomalies have been unearthed regarding the ages of the players in the Dilip Sarma Memorial Inter District School Tournament which is simultaneously going on at Nagaon, Guwahati and Maligaon.

The tournament was introduced by the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) last year for the school students in the age group of under 15 years. But it has been appeared that almost all the participating schools have fielded over aged players in the tournament violating the rules.

Based on a complaint filed by Loyla English Medium School, Nagaon, the ACA has carried out medical examination to proof the ages of the players of HSMP School, Nazira and found all the 14 players of the team over aged. Following the medical report the ACA disqualified the Nazira team from the championship. The ACA secretary today said several players of schools like Dhemaji, Mangaldai and Kokrajhar are also found over aged. ASSAM TRIBUNE

Kokrajhar boys enter qtrs

Sports reporter
GUWAHATI, March 29 – Riding on luck DN Himatsingka HS School, Kokrajhar cruised into the quarterfinals of the Dilip Sarma Memorial Inter District School Cricket championship.

Their match against Don Bosco High School, Mangaldai ended in tie as both the teams scored 160. After the match coin was tossed to bring out the result and the Kokrajhar captain called correctly. Put into bat the Kokrajhar school scored 160 with Rupan Aich being the top scorer with 22. But despite a solid knock off the bat of Niyar Pawan Deka (37) the Mangaldai team failed to cross the opponents’ total as they were all out exactly at the total of 160.

Brief scores: Kokrajhar 160 (Rupan Aich 22, Soni Dey 19, Sagar Mahanta 3/22, Niyar Pawan Deka 3/45). Mangaldai 160 (Niyar 37, Arnab Jyoti Saharia 18, Anupam Saha 3/33, Amit Sarkar 2/40). ASSAM TRIBUNE

Jamie How cover for Flynn in for 2nd Test

Napier, Mar 24 (PTI) With Daniel Flynn struggling to recover from a hand injury, Jamie How has been drafted into the New Zealand squad as his cover for the second Test against India starting March 26 here.
Flynn injured his left hand during a 67-run knock in the first Test, which the hosts lost by 10 wickets. He did not take the nets today.

He got his hand scanned and no fracture was revealed but the injury is serious enough to prevent him from lifting his bat.

How, meanwhile, is likely to join the squad this evening. PTI

I will work extra hard to prove my worth: Imraan

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Durban, Mar 12 (PTI) Imraan Khan, South Africa's second Indian-origin player after Hashim Amla selected for the national cricket team, today said he will work extra hard to prove his worth for the country.
The 24-year-old Imraan said he had toiled to find a place in the national team but will now work harder for the country.

"My family and I are very very happy that I have been given this opportunity to represent my country," he said.

"I will now have to work extra hard to prove my worth in the team. I believe that all my hard work over the past few years has paid off," he added.

Imraan, who captained the South African Under-19 team a few years ago, is a specialist opening batsman.

He will be given the opportunity to open the batting with Ashwell Prince when South Africa take on the Australians in the third and final Test in Cape Town on March 19.

The Australians have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead after winning the Johannesburg and Durban Tests.

"I have spoken to Hashim and he has encouraged me to do my best for the country. I have been making some big scores recently and also scored a 100 against the Australians when I turned up for the President's X1 in a friendly recently.

"I feel I have the ability to make my mark but I will take one day at a time. I will not put too much pressure on myself," he said. PTI

Kiwis leave out injury-prone Oram of first Test against India

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Auckland, Mar 12 (PTI) Injury concerns have forced New Zealand Cricket selectors to leave all-rounder Jacob Oram out of the squad while including uncapped pace bowler Brent Arnel for the first Test against India in Hamilton from March 18.

Oram, who has been plagued by injury, was left out since it was felt he was not fit enough for the first Test.

The all-rounder, who has five hundreds and 60 wickets in his kitty in 31 Tests, was replaced by James Franklin.

Oram played in the one-day series against India but has been found wanting with his fitness since returning from a calf muscle strain.

"He has made good progress in recovering from injury, but Jacob is not yet fully confident that his body would stand up to the rigours of a five-day game," NZC selection committee chief Glenn Turner said.

Oram will instead play first class cricket and could be considered for later Tests in the series, Turner added.

The second Test starts in Napier from March 26 and the third will be played in Wellington from April 3.

Returning from injury was opening fast bowler Chris Martin. PTI

Sehwag's blitzkrieg has singed the Kiwi psyche

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Auckland, Mar 12 (PTI) Virender Sehwag's blitzkrieg has really singed the Kiwi psyche, so much so, that a vexed Daniel Vettori conceded that if the Blackcaps do not find an answer for the ravishing opener's pyrotechnics soon, India would walk all over in the rest of the series.

He could not find a good enough explanation for yesterday's 10-wicket defeat.

"I can't explain it better. But we haven't found an answer to Sehwag and that is going to be the difference between the two sides. We are pretty inept with the ball when we come up against him." "Sehwag creates a momentum at the top of the order and is such an aggressive player that he can take the game away quite quickly. A lot of our emphasis is on him. If we contain him, it would be handy," Vettori had said at the start of the series.

Sehwag did just that at the Seddon Park, leaving the Kiwis to lick their wounds even after they had posted a challenging 270 for five.

The Delhi blaster produced the fastest hundred (60-ball) by an Indian batsman, the seventh fastest in ODI history, as India galloped to 201 for no loss in barely 24.3 overs, before the game was abandoned due to rain. PTI

Wright reckons India coach Kirsten better than him

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Hamilton, Mar 12 (PTI) Former India coach John Wright reckons incumbent Gary Kirsten is better than him as a motivator and says Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men have what it takes to become the top team in both Tests and one-dayers.

Former South Africa opening batsman Kirsten joined the Indian team as coach last year, replacing the controversial Greg Chappell, and steered the side to Test series wins over Australia and England apart from a number of series triumphs in one-dayers.

"Oh he's (Kirsten) probably better, well I know he did score more runs than me. He is very thoughtful and very passionate and I think he understands the importance and the privilege of coaching India," said Wright, who was India's coach from 2000 to 2005.

"And you have to understand how things work. You bring some ideas from outside India but there is also an understanding of how things are best handled and getting to know your players and keeping them contented and happy and confident and being able to correct them when they need to," Wright told reporters.

Wright, currently a New Zealand selector, also felt the support staff that works with Kirsten has given the team a professional approach. PTI

Dhoni's men determined to wrap up the series on a high

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Auckland, Mar 13 (PTI) With the series already in their pocket, India may opt to rest some of their key players as they go into the fifth and final one-dayer against a demoralised New Zealand here tomorrow, hoping to finish it off on a winning note.

The Indians have already taken an invincible 3-0 lead in the five match series and will be keen to try out their reserve players for the inconsequential game at the Eden Park.

Sachin Tendulkar, who sat out of the last game because of an abdomen injury, is likely to be rested for the match so that he is fully fit for the Test series beginning March 18.

While things have gone favourably for the Indians, the Kiwis have only pride to play for as they desperately need to salvage a win to convince the home fans of their limited-overs potential, especially after recording six consecutive series wins at home.

However, India coach Gary Kirsten has already made it clear that he is no mood to take the game lightly and would like to carry forward the momentum of the ODI series to the three upcoming Tests.

"It is important to maintain momentum and win games of cricket. That might require us to use our best combination. We also need to be mindful of the fact that it might be an opportunity to rest one or two players. We just have to weigh up what we want to do but we haven't decided yet," Kirsten said. PTI

Mithali leads India to World Cup Super Six stage

Sydney (PTI): Mithali Raj stood tall amid the ruins as India edged out Sri Lanka by 35 runs to book a place in the Super Six stage of the ICC Women's World Cup cricket tournament here on Thursday.

Opting to bat first in the Group B match at the Bankstown Oval, India slumped to 78 for seven before an unbeaten 59-run stand for the seventh wicket between former captain Mithali (75) and incumbent Jhulan Goswami (24) guided the side to 137 for seven, a total that looked far from imposing.

Fortunately for them, Sri Lankan batters did even worse as Amita Sharma (3/19), Rumeli Dhar (2/10) and Gouher Sultana (2/16) shone with the ball to skittle out the islanders for 102 in 44.2 overs.

India's second victory did earn them a place in the group stage but their batters looked far from convincing today. India had a disastrous start to their innings and by the sixth over, they had lost their two top-order batters to slump to 11 for two.

Mithali, who had contributed 59 out of 169 against England, came to India's rescue once again and the fact that she hit just one four in her unbeaten 120-ball knock speaks volumes of her grit when wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

Dhoni's team best ODI side in the world: Chandrasekhar

Mangalore (PTI): Former India leg-spinner B S Chandrasekhar on Thursday described the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team as the best one-day side in the world.

"The present team headed by Dhoni is a balanced one and our team is the best one-day side in the world," Chandrasekhar, a match-winner for India in the 1970s, told reporters on the sidelines of a function at which he was awarded the "Vandana" award in recognition of his contribution to cricket.

The importance of spinners in Test arena has not dwindled, he said, pointing out that all countries were fielding spinners in Tests and one-day matches.

Rotaract Club, Dakshina Kannada Cricket Association and Ramakrishna College jointly honoured Chandrasekhar with the award.

Kallis replaces Prince as SA captain for 3rd Test

Durban (PTI): Instead of Ashwell Prince, veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis will lead South Africa in the third Test against Australia, the cricket board said here.

Cricket South Africa initially named Prince as the stand-in captain in place of its injured regular skipper Graeme Smith.

CSA subsequently issued a fresh statement saying Kallis would lead the side next week when the teams meet at Sahara Park Newlands.

The CSA statement said the decision would help Prince to concentrate on his new position of opening batsman.

Kallis had also captained the Proteas in the final Test of the previous Australian tour to South Africa when Smith was injured.

ECB takes steps to block future Stanfords

London (IANS): After a bitter experience with American billionaire Allen Stanford, the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke is all set to introduce a new fit and proper persons test as part of a wide ranging review of the sport's future.

Partly in response to a challenge from culture secretary Andy Burnham earlier this week, Clarke and the ECB's chief executive, David Collier have outlined a series of key reforms in the way the game is governed, including improved representation for women at the highest levels and independent input into a new five-year strategic plan.

Mr. Burnham has challenged major sports to reassess their relationship with money and ensure more is invested at the grassroots, the Guardian reports.

In a meeting with Mr. Clarke and Mr. Collier later the same day, he raised concerns about the long-term health of the county game and the lack of a test for backers of the national team and owners of counties.

Following a board meeting earlier Thursday, Mr. Clarke said the ECB would work far more closely with government in an attempt to tackle the issues raised and will address them in its forthcoming review.

Tendulkar in the same league with Bradman: John Wright

Hamilton (PTI): Sachin Tendulkar is in the same league with Don Bradman and the batting maestro has it in him to become the first cricketer to hit 100 international centuries, former India coach John Wright said on Thursday.

Wright said he expects Tendulkar to continue at least till the 2011 World Cup and retire only when he desires. "I always felt he is in the same line as Bradman and he has the potential to possibly get a 100 international hundreds combining Tests and One dayers," said Wright, who had a successful five-year stint with the Indian team.

"To do something like that would be truly Bradmanesque," the former New Zealand captain told NDTV. Incidentally, Bradman himself found some similarity between his own and Tendulkar's batting. Tendulkar will turn 36 on April 24 but Wright said going by form -- the Mumbaikar hit a sublime 163 off 133 balls before retiring hurt in the third India-New Zealand ODI at Christchurch -- he expects the Indian to continue tormenting the bowlers.

India aim to pocket ODI series against Black Caps

Hamilton, March 10: An injured Sachin Tendulkar will be missed as India go into the fourth cricket one-dayer against New Zealand here tomorrow, confident of being able to wrap up the series by taking an invincible 3-0 lead.

Tendulkar, who has been in superb form, has been ruled out of the match due an abdomen injury but the visitors have the batting might to still get past the Kiwis who have no option but to win the match to stay afloat in the series.

The MRI scan done on India’s premier batsman has revealed internal bleeding in his stomach.
“I had stiffness in the region before the third ODI, but I had stretched myself too far. But I should be ready to play in a couple of days time,” Tendulkar said.

Considering the momentum the Indians have gained since the debacle in the Twenty20 series, the Blackcaps would have to produce something more than their best to stop the marauding visitors at the Seddon Park tomorrow.

If they succeed, Vettori’s men would have served notice as another potential match-winning unit to be reckoned with in the future.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's troops have been playing a sort of firebrand cricket as there is self-belief, confidence and camaraderie. In the past, Indians were regarded as paper tigers on tours. But now they are stalking and devouring national team wherever they travel, be it to the antipodes, the African bushveld, Old Blighty or the Caribbean Indian cricket has never been so good, so consistent and so dominating. The results have been remarkably encouraging over the last two years or so.

The Kiwis would take comfort from the fact that Tendulkar, who had aggravated an abdomen injury during his delightful 163 before he retired hurt at Christchurch, would be rested.
However, the return of Ishant Sharma, who should replace Munaf Patel, will lend more thrust to the Indian attack, which seemed to wilt under the early and late Kiwi onslaught in the third ODI at Christchurch.

The bean pole-like speedster, who had hurt his right shoulder while fielding in the second T20, has not played a game in February 27.

But he had a good bowl at the nets, suggesting he was ready to reestablish his partnership with Zaheer Khan.

It will be an interesting battle between this highly-regarded Indian new ball pair and the Kiwi openers, Brendon McCullum and Jesses Ryder.

The flightless Kiwis strove to take wings at Christchurch, battering the Indian attack, as had Sanath Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharna done of it in the 90s.

Ryder’s pyrotechnics was a revelation as he literally butchered Zaheer, Praveen and Munaf, whose dibbly-dobblies he dispatched to the pickets with utter contempt. Ryder is one to watch. While thundering to his maiden one-day hundred (105), the burly left-hander made it loud and clear to bowlers around the globe that he could destroy any attack on his day. But he has to be a lot more consistent to win the respect of the bowling tribe. (PTI)

Dhoni lauds Tendulkar

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised Sachin Tendulkar for his 'amazing' display of shots but lamented that his team could not shave off the New Zealand tail, which wagged in the third one-dayer in Christchurch on Sunday.

"He (Tendulkar) is an amazing batsman. The kind of shots he plays is amazing," Dhoni said about Tendulkar, who retired hurt at the score of 163 in India's 58-run win.

"Even Yuvraj (Singh) is a difficult batsman when he is in form. The way they both were playing we could easily predict that our total would be past 390," he said after the match. rediff.com

IPL opener likely at Brabourne

Mumbai, March 7: The opening match of the Indian Premier League has been shifted from its original venue Jaipur to Mumbai and hectic parleys are on between the Twenty20 League’s chairman Lalit Modi and the Cricket Club of India authorities to host at the latter’s Brabourne Stadium here.

A meeting between the two parties is scheduled on Monday to narrow down the differences and facilitate the conduct of the league opener at the CCI, according to informed sources.
“There seems to be some sort of give and take planned between the two parties. It’s looking more and more likely that the differences would be sorted out and IPL ties held at the Brabourne,” sources told PTI today.

CCI members had rejected outright when the club’s managing committee approached them with the IPL’s steep demands for playing the Twenty20 ties at the Brabourne which traditionally hosted Test matches in Mumbai from 1948 to 1972.

A proposed special general meeting called to change a bylaw of the club, which would have vested the committee with powers to deal with IPL and other parties of this nature, was cancelled due to vehement opposition from the members. Subsequently the plan to change the bylaw was also scrapped.
The cash-rich IPL had approached the CCI after it was decided that the final of the Twenty20 League, scheduled on May 24, would be held in Mumbai. (Agencies)

Confident India hopeful of extending lead vs NZ

WELLINGTON, March 5 (PTI): India will rely on its high-octane batting to continue their winning ways as they go into the second cricket one-dayer against New Zealand here tomorrow with injured pacer Ishant Sharma’s fitness being the only concern.

India’s batting, which had come a cropper in the T20s, revved up into top gear with Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni serving notice with half centuries in the first ODI at Napier. Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan have also been striking the ball well. Even if two of these celebrated batsmen last out the innings, the Kiwis would find the going extremely tough, despite playing in home conditions.

The visitors are also dealing with fitness concerns to paceman Ishant, who is nursing a shoulder injury, but the team management chose to play the cards close to its chest, saying a final decision on the bowler’s availability would be taken only before the toss.

Though Ishant bowled his arm over in practice, the team management does not seem inclined to risk the lean and mean 20-year-old bowler.

India would rather have him 100 per cent fit for the rest of the series. “We will take a decision on him before the match. We did not let him bowl too much at the nets as it is part of our rehabilitation programme. But he is certainly improving,” said team doctor Nitin Patel.

Ishant’s return would empower the Indian attack which had routed the flightless Kiwis at Napier. But if he doesn’t, it would perhaps put Dhoni in a predicament.

The Indian captain had hinted at a change in guard in the seam attack, obviously disturbed by Munaf Patel’s insipid two-over spell at the McClean park. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Dhoni replaces Munaf with either Irfan Pathan or left-arm tweaker Pragyan Ojha. New Zealand has its own injury concerns and they have already made it clear that wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum, who had injured his right hand thumb during the first ODI, would play as a specialist batsman. THE SENTINEL

Bilasipara clinch sr ID cricket Plate title

Sports reporter THE SENTINEL
GUWAHATI, March 5 – Bilasipara clinched the crown in the Plate Division Senior Inter District Cricket Championship for the Nuruddin Ahmed trophy.

On the second day of the three-day final at the NF Railway Stadium, Maligaon today, Bilasipara lifted the trophy with a thumping nine-wicket victory against Biswanath Chariali.

It was, however, disappointing show by the batsmen of both the teams. If in the final match of a major cricket tournament batsmen perform like this it will reflect the poor cricketing scenario of the State.

Biswanath Chariali scored 38 and 133 in both the innings while Bilasipara’s first innings total was 126.

The highest score in the whole match was 37, which was hit by Nurul Hussain of Bilasipara in the second innings.

In the closing function Assam Cricket Association secretary Bikash Baruah gave away the champions trophy while vice president Bhakti Medhi handed over the runners up trophy. ACA treasurer Ghanashyam Baruah, joint secretary Bishnuram Nunisa and former Ranji player Sumit Dutta presented the individual prizes in the closing function.

The match was officiated by Anjan Pandit and Prabin Das and official scorer was Nandlal Mahato.

Brief scores: Biswanath 1st innings 38 (Deny Hazarika 14, Masum SK 6/6, Arindam Baruah 2/14, P Pratim Singha 2/2). 2nd innings 133 (Onkar Singh 30, Rashid Khan 22, A K Das 21, M Rahman 5/33, S Rahman 3/19).

Bilasipara 1st innings 126 (PP Singha 28, S Chakraborty 18, SK Das 18, RP Roniar 4/32, Paban Maje 4/25). 2nd innings 46 for 1 (Nurul Hussain 37).

Dhoni, Sehwag shine in India’s win

NAPIER, March 3: Virender Sehwag set the tone with a typical fire-starting innings, and fine hands from Suresh Raina and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were also instrumental as India eased to a comfortable 53-run victory (by Duckworth-Lewis) in a match twice interrupted by rain.
India piled up a mammoth 273 for 4 from their 38 overs and then reduced New Zealand to 111 for 4 before further rain left them the near-impossible task of scoring 105 from 43 balls. Harbhajan Singh then picked up three wickets in four balls as the match fizzled out and apart from Martin Guptill's accomplished 64, there was little for New Zealand to take from McLean Park.

After a small mid-innings wobble, Raina and Dhoni added 110 from just 12.2 overs to wrest the initiative. Daniel Vettori had brought about a lull in the proceedings after Ross Taylor's stunning catch to send back Sehwag, but once 40 came from the three overs of the batting Powerplay, there was no holding the Indians back.

New Zealand had reason to rue some poor bowling, with Kyle Mills, returning from injury, especially culpable. Raina was in superb touch, and full tosses from Mills were ruthlessly dealt with, usually with cleaves of the bat that sent the ball soaring over midwicket for six. When the bowlers tried to curb him by bowling wide of the stumps, Raina improvised to squeeze-steer the ball backward of point for fours. With Dhoni rotating the strike cleverly at the other end, New Zealand had no answer.

It wasn’t as though Dhoni was only the supporting act though. He pulled powerfully on occasion, paddle-swept cleverly and also played one majestic wristy flick through midwicket off Ian Butler. With the regular bowlers powerless to stop the onslaught, Vettori turned to Grant Elliott. It worked, with Raina miscuing another big hit. But by then, the run-rate was hovering around seven an over, and it went beyond that as Yusuf Pathan (20 from just 10 balls) and Dhoni finished strongly.

Sehwag had started the day with a clutch off fours off the wayward Mills, but the players were back inside the dressing rooms within 20 minutes as the rain came down. By the time the game resumed, 24 overs in total had been lost, and India's sense of urgency was apparent. Sachin Tendulkar pulled Iain O’Brien for four, and then guided Mills through the vacant slip position, while Sehwag cut a six over point.

Things were looking bleak for New Zealand before Ian Butler came on, playing his first ODI in more than four years. It was an inspired move, with Tendulkar getting the thinnest of edges through to Brendon McCullum. That didn’t stop Sehwag though. He pulled Jacob Oram for four to get to his half-century from 37 balls and then clipped one through midwicket for four more. Even Butler wasn't spared, with a cut for four and a swat through square-leg as the 100 of the innings came up in just 14 overs.

Vettori brought himself on immediately afterwards, but there was little respite. Dhoni cut one powerfully for four and then lofted one to the sightscreen, before Taylor’s dramatic intervention gave New Zealand a sniff of a chance. When Yuvraj, bogged down by accurate bowling, followed soon after - a victim of his own hesitation between the wickets - India could have lost their way, but Dhoni and Raina hadn’t forgotten their compasses or their range of strokes.

New Zealand never got the stroke-filled start that they needed. Zaheer Khan commenced with a maiden over, but it was Praveen Kumar who struck the crucial blow early on, having McCullum caught off the top edge at deep fine-leg. Jesse Ryder thumped him down to long-off for a four, but another attempted heave only found Sehwag inside the circle.

Only 23 runs came from the first eight overs of the Powerplay, but Taylor and Guptill then broke free with some attractive strokes. Taylor cut Munaf Patel for four, while Guptill lofted the ball sweetly down to the long-on boundary. With singles and twos being taken cleverly, the Indians were briefly rattled.

Taylor greeted Yusuf with a cut for four behind point, but a miscued slog-sweep only found Sachin Tendulkar at short fine-leg. Guptill continued to work the ball around cleverly, but with the fours drying up, the game began to drift away. And the pressure eventually told when Raina’s throw from the deep found Elliott just short of his ground while going for a second run.
The rain then returned, and with 10 overs lopped off the innings, there was only time for New Zealand to go down swinging. Jacob Oram was caught behind off Yuvraj and Neil Broom stumped off Harbhajan. Guptill's resistance then ended with a fine catch by Gautam Gambhir at deep midwicket.

Vettori ensured that his team wouldn’t be bowled out, but that was little consolation on a day when New Zealand were second-best by a distance. (Agencies)

Scoreboard
India
Sehwag c Taylor b Vettori 77
Tendulkar c McCullum b Butler 20
Dhoni not out 84
Yuvraj run out 2
Raina c O’Brien b Elliott 66
Yousuf not out 20
Extras: (b 1, lb 1, nb 2) 4
Total: (in 38 overs) 273 for 4
FoWs: 1-69 , 2-121, 3-131, 4-241.
Bowling: Kyle Mills 7-0-69-0, Iain O'Brien 8-1-52-0, Ian Butler 8-1-42-1, Jacom Oram 2-0-19-0, Daniel Vettori 8-0-42-1, Jesse Ryder 3-0-27-0, Grant Elliott 2-0-20-1.
New Zealand (target: 216 runs from 28 overs)
Ryder c Sehwag b Kumar 11
McCullum c Harbhajan b Kumar 0
Guptill c Gambhir b Harbhajan 64
Taylor c Tendulkar b Pathan 31
Elliott run out 11
Oram c Dhoni b Yuvraj 0
Broom st Dhoni b Harbhajan 2
Butler c Patel b Khan 0
Mills c Sehwag b Harbhajan 0
Vettori not out 26
O’Brien not out 3
Extras: (lb 10, w 3, nb 1) 14
Total: (in 28 overs) 162 for 9
FoWs: 1-0, 2-23, 3-81, 4-111, 5-111, 6-132, 7-132, 8-132, 9-132.
Bowling: Zaheer Khan 6-1-19-1, Praveen Kumar 6-1-28-2, Munaf Patel 2-0-14-0, Yuvraj Singh 6-0-42-1, Yousuf Pathan 4-0-22-1, Harbhajan Singh 4-0-27-3.

Lahore Test called off after attack on Lankan team

COLOMBO: The Lahore second Test between Sri Lanka and hosts Pakistan has been called off after a gun attack on the touring team bus injuring
players, a Sri Lankan cricket board official said.

"We are trying to bring the team back as quickly as possible. The Test match has been cancelled," the official said on Tuesday.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lahore_Test_called_off_after_attack/articleshow/4216159.cms

Samaraweera, Sangakkara make merry

LAHORE, March 1: A serene 204-run partnership between Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera allowed Sri Lanka to soak up the pressure of three early wickets and reach a comfortable position by the end of the opening day at Lahore. It might have been a different story had Faisal Iqbal held on to a chance offered by Sangakkara when he was 55.

Sangakkara fell just before the close, but Sri Lanka would be satisfied with the day’s effort after being put in to bat on a pitch with uneven grass cover. The surface was expected to assist the fast bowlers initially but there were enough dry areas to keep the spinners interested as the match progresses.

The way the pair reached their hundreds summed up their attitude. Sangakkara got there with a push along the ground to the off side to bring up the landmark. Samaraweera, who was on 40 when Sangakkara was 75, made it to three figures first with an audacious swing over midwicket on a bent knee. On most other days, and certainly a couple of years ago, it would have been the other way round. But Sangakkara knew he was the main batsman today after the exit of Mahela Jayawardene and he dropped anchor in a risk-free innings.

Samaraweera is fully enjoying his second stint at international cricket. Till the end of 2007, he lived up to his nickname Mr Glue, accumulating runs at a low strike-rate in the 40s. The change to a busy batsman came after he was left out and began to work under the guidance of Sri Lanka A coach Chandika Hathurasinghe.

The bat grip was altered to allow him to score more freely; importantly, he sported a new attitude. In the last 12 months he has averaged over 90 and at a strike-rate close to 60. He still doesn’t turn heads; you won’t catch his name in a banner or hear his name shouted by the crowd even in Sri Lanka. But he is fast proving to one of the mainstays in the middle order.
Pakistan held the advantage till the duo decided to camp in for 55 overs. “The pitch looks nice for batting but there will be one hour of moisture. We want to make use of it,” Younis said at the toss. There wasn’t any dramatic movement in the first hour but Pakistan took two wickets because of rash shots from the batsmen. Gul mixed his short-of-a-length cutters with full deliveries, trying to trap the left-hand batsmen in front, and also sent down the odd bouncer.
Mohammad Talha, the debutant who replaced Sohail Khan, was unspectacular but steady. As in the first Test, Yasir Arafat kept up the pressure by bowling full and moving the ball late.
Pakistan’s bowlers bowled to the Sri Lankan openers’ strengths and induced mistakes. Malinda Warnapura fell due to his penchant for driving. The ball from Gul was not full enough to drive but Warnapura went for his favourite shot, only to edge it low to first slip.
Tharanga Paranavitana, who scored crisp boundaries with the cut, fell cutting hard to point where Malik held on to a blinder. The fielding remained smart through out but unfortunately, for Pakistan, Faisal dropped the crucial catch, a regulation chance, in the second session. Sri Lanka have already made Pakistan pay but by taking Sangakkara’s wicket late in the day, Pakistan have at least ensured that Sri Lanka haven’t run away with the game. Both teams will start the second day with that lovely cricketing cliché of the first session being most crucial. (Agencies)

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka
Warnapura c Misbah b Gul 8
Paranavitana c Malik b Gul 21
Sangakkara c Akmal b Arafat 104
Jayawardene c Akmal b Gul 30
Samaraweera batting 133
Dilshan batting 3
Extras: (b-4, w-2, nb-12) 18
Total: (in 86.4 overs) 317/4
Bowling: Gul 19.4-2-67-3, M Talha 11-0-50-0, Arafat 13-2-53-1, Kaneria 24-1-89-0, Malik 17-2-45-0, Younis 2-0-9-0

The Sentinel

Bopara’s maiden Test century keeps England on top

Bridgetown (Barbados), Feb 28: Ravi Bopara collected his maiden Test hundred to help bat England to a formidable first innings total in the fourth Test against West Indies on Friday.
Bopara followed up his blistering hundred in a two-day, warm-up match last weekend with an equally purposeful 104 which allowed England to declare their first innings on 600 for six, 45 minutes after tea on the second day at Kensington Oval.

England then enhanced their position when James Anderson claimed West Indies captain Chris Gayle for six before stumps were drawn as the home team reached 85 for one in reply.
Bopara arrived in the Caribbean last Saturday from the England Lions’ tour of New Zealand as cover for the injured Andrew Flintoff, who has flown home for treatment on his injured hip, and got into his stride with 124 against a side of young, inexperienced Barbadians.

The 23-year-old yesterday shared successive hundred-run stands with Paul Collingwood and Tim Ambrose. Collingwood scored 96 and Ambrose was unbeaten on 76 when England declared.
Fidel Edwards took three for 151 runs from 30 overs and was the most successful West Indies bowler.

Anderson then trapped Gayle lbw for six playing back and across to a delivery that straightened on him in the fifth over of the West Indies reply. England had to refer the decision to video umpire Daryl Harper to get the decision, after on-field umpire Russell Tiffin chose to give the West Indies captain the benefit of the doubt.
But England could not make another breakthrough before the close, as Ramnaresh Sarwan, not out on 40, and Devon Smith, unbeaten on 37, defied the visitors’ attack in an unbroken stand of 72.

Bopara, playing his first Test since the tour of Sri Lanka at the end of 2007, overcame a black eye, the result of being accidentally hit under his grill by paceman Fidel Edwards.
“I felt pretty confident from the minute I went out there on the back of a hundred in the warm-up game,” said Bopara.

“I’m happy with that and hopefully I can build from there. Fidel Edwards did come back at me, getting me on the grill, but it fired me up.”

“It looks a flat wicket out there and, if I have to do my overs, I have to do my overs, and hopefully I can get a few wickets as well.” England benefited from West Indies’ indifference in the field, after the visitors continued from their overnight total of 301 for three.
At lunch, England reached 405 for four with Collingwood and Bopara having started to drop anchor, after Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for 41 in the first half-hour. Collingwood reached his 50 from 68 balls in the final over before lunch, when he struck Daren Powell into mid-wicket for three.

But he and Bopara were both fortunate to have survived until the interval.
Bopara, on four, was dropped at long-leg by Jerome Taylor off Edwards hooking, and Collingwood was dropped by short leg fielder Ryan Hinds on 44 off spinner Suleiman Benn.
Pietersen was out when Edwards trapped him lbw on the back-foot - a decision which the batsman challenged under the umpire review system and lost.

After lunch, Ambrose joined Bopara and they continued to plunder the runs, following the dismissal of Collingwood, as England reached 553 for five.

Collingwood was caught inside the deep backward point boundary off Edwards trying to reach his hundred in grand style. He added 149 at close to a run-a-minute for the fifth wicket with Bopara. Ambrose was more fortunate, when keeper Denesh Ramdin dropped him third ball before he had scored off Sulieman Benn.

After tea, Bopara continued untroubled to his landmark which came when he clipped a slower ball from Taylor to fine leg for a single.

But trying to accelerate, he was caught at deep fine leg hooking at short, rising ball from Edwards. He batted close to four hours, faced 143 balls, and struck nine fours and one six.
England trail in the five-Test series 1-0, following an innings and 23-run defeat in the opening Test at Sabina Park in

Jamaica. (PTI)