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DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Washout propels India into summit clash Sixth straight fi nal for Australia South Africa falls short by fi ve runs under DLS method Leaves England dejected; Women in Blue will be up against defending champion Australia Press Trust of India turned during the innings needed 19 off the last over Sydney break and South Africa was and we knew we had to nail Fourtime champion Austra set a revised target of 98 it. But that’s T20 cricket for lia used its rich bigmatch ex runs in 13 overs as per the you,” said skipper Lanning. perience to surpass a spirit DLS method. ed South Africa by fi ve runs South Africa ended at 92 Class side in a rainhit semifi nal here for fi ve despite a fi ghting 41 On the fi nal against India, on Thursday, setting up a tit not out off 27 balls from Lau “India are a class side, they le clash against fi rsttimer In ra Wolvaardt. have been playing excellent dia. This is Australia’s sixth South Africa was reeling cricket. We are going to have successive fi nal out of the se at 24 for three before Wol to play really well. We have ven editions held so far. vaardt and Sune Luus (21) been improving each day, it There were fears that the brought their team back in hasn’t been an easy road,” second semifi nal between the game with a quickfi re 47 she said. Australia and South Africa at run stand. Wolvaardt, who South Africa skipper Dane the SCG too will be washed smashed three sixes and two van Niekerk said her team out like the India and En fours, had too much to do on tried its best. “... we have to gland match earlier in the her own. give credit to Australia for day. But the weather im Host Australia, which did the way they bowled and we proved just enough to get a not have the services of in just came six short.” game albeit a curtailed one. jured star allrounder Elysse Gloomy sight: All rain and no play — not the ideal way to decide a semifi nal — but the Indians Contrasting moods: For Knight and Harmanpreet , it must Perry, was ecstatic after Jess The scores: Australia 134/5 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 49 n.o., weren’t complaining. * ICC have meant agony and relief respectively. * GETTY IMAGES Leading from the front Jonassen was able to defend Beth Mooney 28, Nadine de Australia skipper Meg Lan 19 runs in the fi nal over with Klerk 3/19) bt South Africa players in tears. “Really frus tournament well. “It’s all ve Really frustrating. Unfortunate we T20 WORLD CUP <> <> ning led from the front with South Africa getting only 13. 92/5 in 13 overs (Laura Wol trating. Not how we wanted ry English isn’t it?,” talking Not how we wanted didn’t get a game, unbeaten 49 off as many “It was extremely tense. vaardt 41 n.o., Megan Schutt 2/ the World Cup to fi nish for about the weather and get the World Cup to but there are rules balls to take her team to 134 Even in the last couple of 17). Revised target: 98 in 13 Press Trust of India us. No reserve day, no ting knocked out. “It felt that fi nish for us. No and we have to for fi ve in 20 overs. Rain re balls it just wasn’t safe. They overs under DLS method. Sydney chance of getting play, and we gained a bit of momen reserve day, no follow it. Having ultimately that loss against tum in the last few games An unbeaten run in the chance of getting reserve days in the group stage propelled India South Africa cost us,” a de and we were pumped up for play... loss against future will be a great into its maiden Women’s T20 jected England captain the semifi nals,” she added. World Cup fi nal after its last Heather Knight said. England had ended run South Africa cost us idea four clash against England Harmanpreet Kaur also nerup in the previous edi Heather Knight Harmanpreet Kaur England captain India captain was washed out here on agreed that the semifi nals tion. India had topped Thursday. India will take on should have had a reserve Group A with four victories fali (Verma) and Smriti In the earlier seven edi holder Australia — which de day, a request which was in as many matches while (Mandhana). They are giving tions, India had never feated South Africa by fi ve made by host Cricket Austra England had fi nished second us good starts, and that reached the fi nal but this runs in another rainhit sem lia but turned down by the in Group B with three wins helps. Me and Smriti are try time, they have emerged as ifi nal — in the fi nal on Sunday ICC. “Unfortunate we didn’t and a defeat. ing to spend more time in serious title contender after which happens to be Inter get a game, but there are “From day one, we knew the nets,” she added refl ect a string of superlative perfor national Women’s Day. rules and we have to follow we have to win all the games ing on her and Smriti’s so far mances. it. Having reserve days in the because in case the semis indiff erent form. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Persistent rain future will be a great idea,” don’t happen, that would be “We are looking more pos DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Persistent rain since morn said Harmanpreet. hard for us. In that sense, itive now. Unfortunately we The fi nal ing delayed the toss and credit to the team for win haven’t come up with big in B March 8 (Sunday), eventually the semifi nal was Paying the price ning all the games,” said Har nings, but our teammates India vs Australia, called off without a ball be Knight said her team paid manpreet. “Everybody is are, and at the end of the day Melbourne, 12.30 p.m. (IST) Ecstatic:The Aussies’ joy knew no bounds after they emerged on the right side of a tight fi nish ing bowled, leaving England the price for not starting the looking in great touch — Sha it’s a team game.” DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD in the semifi nal against South Africa. * ICC Kohli congratulates women’s team Go out and give your best: Tendulkar Former players also applaud the side for making the T20 World Cup fi nal Says women’s team has inspired so many youngsters Press Trust of India is scheduled to be played in Shayan Acharya their performances and they New Delhi Melbourne on Sunday. Mumbai have inspired so many India’s men’s team skipper “...A reward for winning As the Indian women’s crick youngsters... It is about Virat Kohli congratulated the all the matches in the group et team gears up for its mai bringing laurels to our na Harmanpreet Kaurled wo stage. Congratulations den T20 World Cup fi nal, it tion and you can come back men’s side for reaching its @BCCIWomen and wishing has a piece of advice from Sa (with the trophy). So many maiden fi nal of the T20 you glory this Sunday chin Tendulkar — stay in the athletes in diff erent fi elds World Cup in Australia, say #T20WorldCup,” Sehwag moment and be positive. have brought laurels to our ing the outfi t’s performance said. “Go out and give your best nation, this would be anoth is something to be “proud” Former India Test special — that is what my message to er one. Go and enjoy your of. ist V.V.S. Laxman hailed the them [is]. Don’t take any self…” he said. The Indian women’s team side for its unbeaten record pressure, though it is easier The former India captain advanced to the the summit in the tournament so far. said than done. was in Australia recently, clash owing to a superior “Would have been great to “I genuinely want to tell when he met some of the group stage record, after the see the match, but many them that just stay together, players — including Shafali semifi nal clash against En congratulations to @BCCI you don’t need to spend Verma. Reminiscing that gland was abandoned with Women for making it to the time with outside world. If meeting, Tendulkar said: out a ball being bowled at Kohli says he is proud of the Indian women’s team. * REUTERS fi nals of the #T20WorldCup . you are in the company of “Coincidentally, I was there the Sydney Cricket Ground A reward for winning 4 out each other, keep talking pos next to the trophy, and few due to persistent rain. @T20WorldCup fi nal. We Former India opener Vi of 4 in the group stages. itive things because good members were there from “Congratulations to the are proud of you girls and render Sehwag also took to Wishing the girls the very things have happened to our our women’s team. I said it Indian Women’s team on wish you all the luck for the Twitter to wish the Indian best for the fi nals on Driving home: Sachin Tendulkar has advised the women’s team,” Tendulkar said. would be nice to see you qualifying for the fi nals,” Kohli tweeted. side luck for the fi nal which #WomensDay” team members not to take any pressure. * PTI “I have been following with this trophy in India.” India decides to keep out Nagal SaniaAnkita combo Bindra backs shooters to do Prajnesh, Ramkumar for singles; Bopanna to partner Leander powers India past Korea well at Tokyo Olympics DAVIS CUP big responsibility. I am look replace the players. ing forward to playing with The matches will be FED CUP Sania, who had made her Rohan. We have had some played on a bestofthree Fed Cup debut in 2003, last Says they have to rise to the challenges SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT good wins,” said Leander. format. played in the team competi NEW DELHI Bopanna said playing Da SPORTS BUREAU tion in 2016. Sania, who has Shayan Acharya try and prepare to the best dians faring well in Tokyo. The Indian team sprang a vis Cup always meant “play Live on Dsport DUBAI a 135 record in singles, im Mumbai of their abilities. Then wait “The current lot of athletes surprise by keeping its No. 1 ing with a big heart, and The tie between India and Sania Mirza stepped on proved her doubles record It’s that time of the year and watch how things pan are young and fearless. I player Sumit Nagal out of ac playing to win.” He added Croatia will be telecast live court to help India beat Ko to 125 after this win. when India’s top athletes out,” Bindra said at the think that’s a very happy tion, at least for the opening that he was looking forward by Dsport from 7.30 p.m. IST rea 21 in the third league Earlier, Ankita had lost usually train abroad, to get launch of Boria Majumdar space to be in,” said Bindra, day, of the Davis Cup World to playing his friends on the on Friday. match of the Fed Cup Asia the second singles rather into the groove ahead of the and Nalin Mehta’s book, revealing that some of them Group qualifi er to be played professional tour. The second day’s play on Oceania group1 tennis tour tamely. She was unusually Olympics. But With the Dreams of a Billion. do seek his advise. on indoor hard courts in Saturday, featuring the dou nament on Thursday. subdued and could win only spread of coronavirus International Olympic “I don’t even tell them Zagreb. Full of confi dence bles and followed by two sin It was India’s second win. four games against Han wreaking havoc on the ath Committee (IOC) chief, Tho what to do. What I can tell In the opening rubber, Ramkumar, who was happy gles, will be also start at 7.30 After the loss against top NaLae. letes’ preparations for the mas Bach, had earlier en them is my experiences, the 132ndranked Prajnesh to get an opportunity, said p.m. seed China in the fi rst Tokyo Games, Abhinav Bin couraged athletes to conti things that I did wrong, Gunneswaran will play the he was confi dent of deliver The draw: match, it had defeated Uz Rutuja gives 10 lead dra, India’s only Olympic nue their preparations at things that I learnt. At the 277thranked Borna Gojo. March 6: Borna Gojo vs Praj bekistan 30. gold medallist in shooting, ing the best. Rutuja Bhosale had given ‘full steam’. And Bindra is of end of the day, they have to That match will be followed nesh Gunneswaran; Marin Cilic makes it clear that they need “I am really happy and ex India will meet Chinese the Indians a bright start, a similar opinion. fi nd their way. by the 182ndranked Ramku vs Ramkumar Ramanathan. to deal with such situations. cited. The conditions are Taipei on Friday, and Indo battling past Jang SuJeong “The Games are being They just can’t follow me mar Ramanathan against the March 7: Mate Pavic & Franko nesia on the fi nal day. The “Performing at the high prepared to be on scheduled and copy what I did. If they good for me,” he said. Skugor vs Rohan Bopanna & 75, 64. former World No. 3 Marin top two from the sixteam est level in sports require as the IOC chief said yester have to succeed, they have The 127thranked Nagal Leander Paes; Marin Cilic vs The results (league): India bt Cilic, who had helped Croa league will qualify. adaptability. Coronavirus or day. The best experts are to fi nd their path,” Bindra may have been kept out, but Prajnesh Gunneswaran; Borna Korea 21 (Rutuja Bhosale bt tia win the trophy in 2018. could play in the tie, if need Gojo vs Ramkumar Ramanath Former World No. 1 in Jang SuJeong 75, 64; Ankita no, they are going to the monitoring the situation, said. ed, as there is a provision to an. doubles and sixtime Grand Raina lost to Han NaLae 46, Olympics. When they go to there will be a time when “I am very open if they On the same page Slam champion, Sania com 06; Sania Mirza & Ankita Rai the Olympics, some dynam there will be clarity. No seek my opinion. I will not “It is our strategy for the tie, bined well with Ankita Rai na bt Han NaLae & Kim Na Ri ics will change. point in speculating on actively try to put something and in the best interests of na to script a win for India. 64, 64). “This is a situation which whether Games will be post into their minds. But if I am the team. The team is on the is new for everybody and poned,” Bindra said. asked, I am more than hap same page. It is not about in they need to adapt to it and He is also confi dent of In py to share my experiences.” dividuals,” said Rohit Rajpal, captain of the Indian team, Ashish in quarterfi nals after the draw. India will fi eld Rohan Bo BOXING defeated New Zealand’s panna and Leander Paes in Ryan Scaife in his prequar doubles against the pair of terfi nal bout. Franko Skugor and Mate Press Trust of India Making the semifi nals Pavic. Amman (Jordan) would assure Ashish of his It may be recalled that the Ashish Kumar (75kg) sailed maiden spot in the Olym 46yearold Leander had into the quarterfi nals of the pics this year. won three matches in India’s continental Olympic Quali Up against a spunky rival, shock victory over Croatia in fi ers for boxing with a who he defeated in the 1995, when he outlasted Go thumping win over fourth Asian quarterfi nals last year, ran Ivanisevic in fi ve sets. seed Kyrgyz Omurbek Bekz Ashish played the waiting That has been the only meet higit Uulu in the last16 stage game to perfection. ing between the two teams on Thursday. Ashish’s powerful and in Davis Cup. Ashish won 50 to set up a precise right hand served “It’s a big honour to re Battlelines drawn: Ramkumar and Cilic will match wits clash with Indonesia’s Maik him well in the fi nal three Icons: Bindra, Tendulkar and Bhupathi during the book launch of Dreams of a Billion. present the country, and a on the opening day. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT hel Roberrd Muskita, who minutes. * AADESH CHOUDHARY
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