SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 (PAGE 12) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Unadkat fires Saurashtra to maiden Ranji TRAU take on Real Kashmir in mid-table COVID-19 stumps IPL: BCCI pushes start clash as battle for 2nd spot heats up SRINAGAR, Mar 13: and lost two. date, postponements galore in other sports Trophy title, delivers on final day yet again The upcoming match will be RAJKOT, Mar 13: average of 13.23, one short of an a very long time," said Hosts Real Kashmir FC come their fifth on the bounce at home NEW DELHI, Mar 13: subject of most intense specula- in general, and it is taking all all-time record. Saurashtra stalwart Cheteshwar up against Tiddim Road Athletic and they go into the game having tion ever since sporting events necessary steps to ensure that, Skipper Jaydev Unadkat One hour and 10 minutes of Pujara. Union (TRAU) FC in the I- been beaten by East Bengal in the India's ODI series against began taking a hit because of the all people related to IPL includ- today produced a lion-hearted play in the decisive morning ses- Despite the loss, it was a League here tomorrow as the bat- previous encounter. South Africa stood cancelled, the virus, will have a meeting of its ing fans have a safe cricketing spell when it mattered the most sion yielded 27 runs and four memorable season for Bengal, tle for a runner-up finish heats up. TRAU, on the other hand, IPL was pushed back by a fort- Governing Council in Mumbai experience," read a statement against Bengal, leading wickets with Bengal all out for who reached the title clash after Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan will be buoyed by their win at night while there were postpone- on Saturday where the official- from Board Secretary Jay Shah. Saurashtra to their maiden Ranji 381, giving Saurashtra a 44-run 13 years at the back of stellar have already won the title. home in their last clash against ments galore in other sports as dom will thrash out the league's There is a possibility that the Trophy triumph a year after first innings lead. At the start of performances from the pace trio The Snow Leopards lie fourth Indian Arrows. That was their the COVID-19 pandemic threw format in view of the changed tournament will feature more stumbling at the last hurdle. the day, Bengal needed 72 runs of Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, in the league with 22 points from second win in as many games the country's sporting calendar schedule. double-headers than previously Ishan Porel and vet- 15 games while TRAU are fifth after having beaten former into unprecedented disarray. A decision to have it in planned and at least five optional eran batsman Manoj with the same number of points, Champions Churchill Brothers. A day after the sports min- empty stadiums is also likely to venues are being kept ready after istry ordered that fans be locked be ratified at the meet. state governments of Tiwary and but having played two games Their captain Princewill out of sporting events in a des- "The BCCI is concerned Maharashtra, Karnataka along Majumdar. more. Nothing but a win will sat- Emeka, who has struck three perate bid to halt the deadly and sensitive about all its with Delhi refused permission for For Saurashtra, isfy both sides on Saturday. times this season, said, "We have coronavirus spread, an under- stakeholders, and public health the games. (PTI) the star performers Real Kashmir's Scottish coach started to get things together David Robertson was taking again and we know that if we pressure BCCI finally relented were Sheldon and on Friday postponed the Jackson, Arpit things one day at a time. keep doing the right things, we First priority is safety, says "Even though I feel we had a have it in us to beat any team in start of its most glitzy event Vasavada, and of from March 29 to April 15. course, their cap- very inconsistent season, we still this league. We are going to go find ourselves in with a shout for with the attitude of winning three Hours later, the Board also Ganguly after IPL’s suspension tain. second place, but almost every points." decided to call off India's MUMBAI, Mar 13: that only the start date has been Unadkat, who team is eyeing that position. We The home side will be ham- remaining two ODIs against pushed while the window opened the bowling still have five games left and it strung on the day with two key South Africa in Lucknow BCCI president Sourav remains the same with regard to alongside Chetan will be tough, such is the compet- contributors in Danish Farooq (March 15) and Kolkata (March Gangulyn today said the "first the IPL. Sakariya on day itiveness and standard of the and, more importantly, Kallum 18) citing the pandemic, which priority is safety" after the Board The decision to suspend IPL five, was a tad league." Higgingbotham having to miss has led to over 5,000 deaths suspended the start of this year's came hours after Delhi defensive with the Real Kashmir's performance out due to suspensions, an advan- globally. The BCCI later issued a IPL from March 29 to government suspended Saurashtra Ranji Trophy Team posing for a group photograph after April 15 in wake of the field placement at home has been disappointing tage TRAU will look to drive statement to say that the series all sporting activity in claiming title. COVID-19 pandemic. early on, consider- this season as they have notched home. (PTI) will be rescheduled at later dates. the national capital due "Let's stick to the The win was achieved on the for the first-innings lead with ing the team conceded easy up three wins out of seven games India has recorded more than to the ever-growing postponement (at the basis of the first-innings lead four wickets in hands. runs to Bengal on the penulti- 80 positive cases, including one health crisis. Delhi is moment). First priority here. In the second innings, all mate day. death. home to the Delhi Chess, Shooting meets postponed Other sports were also in clo- is safety, so we post- Bengal had the upper hand Saurashtra had to do was to bat The onus was on the Capitals IPL franchise. Excelsior Sports Correspondent Open Chess Championship, sure mode to ensure compliance poned the games," going into day five after time before both captains decid- Saurashtra skipper to deliver The Sports which was to be held on March with government guidelines. Ganguly said in his Anustup Majumdar (63) and ed to call off the game and again after his performance Ministry had on JAMMU, Mar 13: All J&K 19, 2020. The Association will The remainder of the nation- first reaction. Arnab Nandi (40 not out) shared shake hands. They eventually against Gujarat propelled his Thursday issued an advisory ask- Chess Association and Jammu announce fresh dates only after al football league was officially "We will see what happens. It an unbeaten 91-run stand in the did that at tea time after team to its fourth final in eight ing national federations to follow and Kashmir Shooting the atmosphere is congenial for declared out of bounds for fans, is too early to answer," said final session Thursday. Saurashtra sauntered 105 for seasons. He had bowled 32 Association have postponed their the Health Ministry's guidelines But Unadkat, who had sin- four in 34 overs. overs before that match-win- holding the activities. the chess federation and the golf Ganguly when asked if there will activities in view of the spread of be more double headers if they and avoid large gatherings in gle-handily taken Saurashtra With the win, Saurashtra ning over without getting a Meanwhile, Jammu and body suspended all action for Coronavirus (COVID-19). are able to host it from April 15. sports events. into the final with a seven-wick- ended their Ranji Trophy title wicket despite giving his all. Kashmir Shooting Association the next one month, while the "As per the directions of the The BCCI also called off the India has recorded more than et haul against Gujarat on the drought while a fighting Bengal But such is his conviction (JKRA) has also postponed the fate of badminton's India Open authorities, All J&K Chess ongoing ODI series against 80 positive cases so far with the final day of their semifinal, rose will have to wait longer for their that he backs himself to do the Shooting Championship which hung in balance after host Association has decided to post- Delhi's government banned all South Africa. global infected count standing at to the occasion yet again to first crown since the 1989-90 job in the toughest of situations. was scheduled to be held from pone J&K UT Chess sporting activity for a month. Asked whether the IPL fran- over 1,30,000. script a historic victory. season. In fact, he thrives on it. Championship which was sched- March 24 to 28, 2020 at the The India Open is scheduled to chises are happy, Ganguly said, The death toll because of the The left-arm pacer had the "It's a great feeling, different Majumdar and Nandi, who uled to be held from March 21, General Zorawar Singh Shooting start March 24. "Nobody has a choice." virus has gone beyond 5,000 in-form Majumdar LBW and world altogether. Last season we resumed the day on 58 and 28 2020 at J&K Sports Council Range, Bari Brahamana.