THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS 20 PLAY � CHENNAI WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

CRICKET ROUND-UP TAMIL NADU AGAINST Eye on Rio, Judoka VIDARBHA IN SEMIS MS Warms Up Ducking Combo Talk New Delhi: Tamil Nadu will Rues Shortage of meet Vidarbha in the Ranji India accomplish first win in Australia, fail to bowl out in last friendly fixture following Rohit 150 Trophy quarterfinal in Jaipur Adelaide: from February 16-19. Mumbai Mahen- Early Blows wicketkeeper-batsman Afsar Exposure Overseas will host the final. Ranji knock- dra Singh Dhoni has left the Riding Rohit’s 150, India Zazai contributed but the outs: Quarters: Karnataka question on bowling combi- registered their first win in target proved beyond reach. by Vishnu Prasad v Assam (Indore); Delhi v nation for the World Cup Australia. first , India Umesh Yadav, Ashwin and Thrissur: Mumbai (Cuttack); Vidarbha beginning on Saturday un- lost Shikhar Dhawan and Jadeja picked up a She was not ex- v Tamil Nadu (Jaipur); Andhra answered, saying the team Virat Kohli early. Afghani- each as all bowlers kept their actly the country’s brightest v Maharashtra (Lahli, live on will take a decision depend- stan, making debut in the economy rates under 4.5 al- medal hope going into the TV). Semis: Feb 25-Mar 1: ing on conditions. 50-over World Cup, man- beit against weak batting. Commonwealth Games, but (Bengaluru, Kolkata). Final: “We’ll have to wait aged to play out the overs. On the batting front as when all was said and done March 8-12, Mumbai. and watch, depend- The day belonged to Rohit, well, the Indian players had in Glasgow, judoka Ra- ing on conditions whose dominating a good outing before their jwinder Kaur had a bit of and the kind of wick- laid the foundation of a crucial opening match bronze around her neck. VERMA WEIGHS ets,” Dhoni said after strong batting show. He against . Rohit and The 29-year-old from CONTEMPT CARD the warm-up match stitched a 158-run third Raina complimented each Punjab does not sound too Chennai: Cricket Association against Afghanistan, wicket partnership with other in the course of their excited though, when she of Bihar secretary Aditya where Rohit Sharma hit Suresh Raina to help partnership as the relives that experience. “Ev- Verma is mulling moving 150. “I wanted Jadeja and India gain ground. duo hit the hapless erybody wants gold and I court against N Srinivasan’s Ashwin to bowl 10 overs, The left-hander was Afghan spinners at was no different,” she says. decision to chair Sunday’s but just wanted to use after hitting will. “It was a tough bout. And I WE HAVE JUDOKAS BCCI working committee five bowlers in this five fours and three Rohit hit bound- am happy that I was able to [ meeting. Verma said he is g a m e , a n d sixes in 71 balls, but aries and sixes at do my country proud.” HERE WITH POTEN- awaiting legal opinion before n e e d e d Rohit carried on will in his punishing It may not be one of the TIAL. BUT WE NEED taking a step. Board mem- R a i - with Rahane. Rohit knock while Raina country’s more fancied MORE EXPOSURE AND bers have didn’t object during na,” hit 12 fours and 7 also tormented the sports, but Judo has netted OPPORTUNITIES TO or after the meeting, the first sixes in 122 balls. bowlers with his aggressive India a medal every time it PARTICIPATE IN TOUR- one attended officially by Dhonisaid Dhoni once again failed to batting. was included in the Com- Srinivasan since 2013. after his side get going and looked out of Following Raina’s run out, monwealth Games. The NAMENTS OVERSEAS crushed the min- sorts during his 20-ball stay Rahane walked to the crease Glasgow performance was — RAJWINDER SINGH, nows by 153 in their final but Rahane and Jadeja add- and remained till the end, capped off when the Indian Indian judo star CHENNAI TO HOST warm-up match with six ed late runs. playing a confident knock judokas brought home four IPL 2015 MATCHES bowlers. Afghanistan started on a with lots of attractive strokes, medals – two silvers and a Mumbai: Chennai and Pune will “We had big partnerships cautious note as opener Us- steering India past the 350- bronze along with Rajwind- the top hundred in her host IPL matches in April- with Rohit, Raina and Rah- man Ghani and former cap- run mark. Medium-pacer er’s third place finish in the weight category, Rio may May, after missing out in 2014 ane coming good. In bowl- tain man- was the only women’s +78kg category. seem an ambition too lofty due to different reasons. ing, after 4-5 overs we did aged a 63-run second wicket Afghanbowlerwhomanaged The Olympics have re- for the Jalandhar-born ath- Kings XI Punjab will play two well and also got some re- partnership but the asking an under-five economy rate mained an entirely different lete, but she is not giving up. of their home games in Pune. verse swing.” About own rate kept mounting. in his six wicketless overs prospect. But Rajwinder “I’ preparing myself for Rio. Chennai returns as host after form, Dhoni said, “I’m not a Asghar Stanikzai and while others bled runs. believes that with a bit more It’s going to be tough, but I all CSK matches were shifted big fan of practice games, but push, judo can make the believe I can do it. I hope to to Ranchi following objection a bit of time in the middle SCOREBOARD growing list of sports that get opportunities to partici- from the municipal corpora- helps.” About Ajinkya Rah- India: R Sharma c Ashraf b b Yadav 17, U Ghani c Yadav b the country can expect a pate in few competitions in tion on parts of stands. ane who scored 88 off 61, he Nabi 150, S Dhawan b H Hassan Jadeja 44, N Mangal c Dhoni b medal in. “It is not for want the coming months and a said, “Rahane is crucial. If 4, V Kohli c Zazai b D Zadran 5, Mohit 60, A Stanikzai c Shami of talent. We have judokas few good performances may MEDIA RIGHTS you see the history of Indian S Raina run out 75, A Rahane b Mohit 20, N Zadran st Dhoni here with a lot of potential. get me back into contention ODI cricket, No 5 has been 88, MS Dhoni c Mangal b Ashwin 4, S Shenwari run But we need more exposure for an Olympic berth.” FETCH `302 CRORE really crucial.” b S Zadran 10, R Jadeja not out out 17. M Nabi b Jadeja 1, A and opportunities to par- Her unlikely road to Rio, Mumbai: Novi Digital Enter- Off-spinner Ravichandran 11. Extras (lb 7, w 13, nb 1) 21. Zazai not out 24, M Ashraf ticipate in tournaments she believes, starts with the tainment Private Limited, Ashwin said, “Leg-breaks are Total (for 5 , 50 overs) b Raina 2, N Jamal not out 2. overseas. Only then can we National Games. “I last won a subsidiary of Star India, a part of what I’m doing. You 364. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-16, Extras (lb 13, w 6, nb 1) 20. Total improve and move up the silver at the National Games has secured certain media can’t be one-dimensional. 3-174, 4-269, 5-322. Bowling: (for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 211. world rankings,” she said. in 2007. I was hampered by rights relating to the IPL for Five fielders in the circle, Hassan 8-1-49-1, D Zadran 8-0- Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-93, 3-153, Rankings, in Judo, are injury in 2011 and had to 66-1, S Zadran 8-0-58-1, Ashraf 4-158, 5-160, 6-169, 7-199, 8-206. a total of `302.2 crore over people have to accept it.” vital with the top fourteen settle for silver. But this three seasons. The reserve 6-0-29-0, Nabi 9-0-62-1, Alam Bowling: Yadav 9-0-35-1, Shami About Ravindra Jadeja, he 4-0-40-0, Shenwari 3-0-26-0, 9-0-39-0, Mohit 9-1-40-2, Jadeja women and 22 men qualify- time, I am hoping to get price was `120 crore. Bids Rohit Sharma in action in said, “It’s heartening to see Ahmadi 4-0-27-0. 10-2-38-2, Ashwin 10-1-37-1, ing for the Olympics with gold. That should stand me from Times Internet and Multi Adelaide on Tuesday | AFP Jadeja bowl 10 overs, and Afghanistan: J Ahmadi c Dhoni Raina 3-0-9-1. additional places for each in good stead for the rest of Screen Media were rejected. he’s also batting well.” continent. Hovering outside the year,” she signed off. Fanfare Will Bless Blue: Sachin by Ashok Venugopal nament.Butourteamisused to challenges,” he said. Chennai: A tour of Austra- As defending champions, lia is a challenge for any expectations from fans are cricketer. Conditions, boun- high. Despite board exams cy wickets, bigger grounds around the corner, many make it difficult to adapt. wish to watch the games. After their dismal show in Tendulkar believes this will the Test series, India were help the team. expected to do better in the “With your (fans) support, tri-series. they will go out and give their But to the dismay of many, best and make us smile India lost all matches. Bar- again,” said the legend, in the ring West Indies and Austra- city to launch an indoor sta- lia, no other team has de- dium at Sri Sairam Engineer- fended a World Cup. Al- Sachin Tendulkar addressing the ing College . though the Indian team re- gathering during the inauguration India were outplayed in fuses to accept, sources indi- of the indoor stadium at Sai Ram their practice game against Engineering College | ALBIN MATHEW cate the team is suffering Australia. Despite the win from fatigue and there are heavily against India, Sachin over Afghanistan, there are fitness concerns to a couple Tendulkar, ever the optimist, question marks over combi- of key players. wants to put his money on nation. “I have full confi- Dhoni, who quit Tests to India. “The Indians are in dence in the team. They can concentrate on other for- Australia (playing practice go out, do something special mats,isunderhugepressure. games). The World Cup is a and bring cheers to us,” said Despite the odds stacked going to be challenging tour- Tendulkar. Karnataka Start Strong Relief for DD in Express News Service sociation-ShethShashikanth Cup Feed Row memorial open snooker New Delhi: The Supreme Chennai:Abhishek Reddy’s tournament from February Court on Tuesday stayed the 166 not out (277b, 26x4, 1x4) 10-20. Delhi High Court judgement helped Karnataka post 275 Besides veteran Arvind barring Prasar Bharati from for two against Tamil Nadu Savur (coach of multiple sharing with cable operators on Day 1 of the U-23 C K world champion Pankaj Ad- through Doordarshan (DD) Nayudu Trophy quarterfinal vani), Faisal Khan, Laksh- channels the live feed of the in Bengaluru on Tuesday. man Rawat, Lucky Vatnani, 2015 World Cup in Australia Brief scores: Karnataka 275/2 in Varun Kumar, Manish Jain and New Zealand, set to be- 90 ovs (Abhishek Reddy 166 and Himanshu will partici- ginonFebruary 14, onwhich no; M Mohammed 1/74, DT pate. Chitra Magimairaj will ESPN and Star have exclu- Chandrasekar 1/47) vs TN. also be in action in the meet sive broadcasting rights. offering `50,000. “The order of the High Open Snooker The ten-day tournament Court shall remain suspend- TNBSA will conduct the An- will be played in a league- ed,” a bench comprising Jus- glo American Cue Sports As- cum-knockout basis. tice Ranjan Gogoi and Jus- tice Pinaki Chandra Ghose said in its interim order and posted the hearing to Febru- ary 17 while asking the pri- vate channels and BCCI to come with their proposals to resolve the dispute.

ANAND FINISHES 7TH Baden-Baden (Germany): Viswa- nathan Anand’s campaign ended on a sour note as he lost to English Grandmaster Michael Adams in the seventh and final round to finish seventh in the Grenke Chess Jeppiaar Institute of Technology girls who won the basketball title in Classic held here on Tuesday. the Tamil Nadu Inter-Engineering Sports-2015 (TIES) held at Sri Sairam Anand has also slipped to Engineering College. They beat SSN College 58-28 in the summit clash ninth spot in world rankings.