Bains’ 134 guides U-19 to 9-wkt win
Visakhapatnam: Opening batsman Ankush Bains blasted his way to a scintillating century as India inflicted a humiliating nine-wicket defeat on Zimbabwe to seal a berth in the final of the Quadrangular Under-19 One-day Series here on Sunday. Bains cracked 14 fours and seven sixes to notch up a whirlwind 134 in just 89 deliveries and along with his opener partner Akhil Herwadkar (88) forged a match-winning 218 partnership to take India home in just 28 overs. This win was India’s fourth on the trot and the home side made it to the final without losing a match and two games left to play. South Africa Under-19 side are on 12 points, four less than that of India Under-19. After Zimbabwe Under-19 skipper Malcolm lake won the toss and elected to bat, seamer Atit Sheth (3 for 36) led a disciplined Indian bowling attack to restrict the visiting side to 245 for nine in their stipulated 50 overs. Brief Scores: Zim U-19: 245/9 (Clive Chitumba 83, Joylord Gumbie; Atit Sheth 3/36, Abhimanyu lamba 2/55) lose to Ind U-19: Ankush Bains 134, Akhil Herwadker 88; Malcom lake 1/51) by 9 wickets.
‘important to keep up momentum’
Ranchi: Chennai Super Kings opener Mike Hussey has said his side would look to keep the winning momentum going after sailing through the semifinals of the Champions league Twenty20 with a clinical eight-wicket win over Brisbane Heat. “I am happy that we are in the semifinal and will keep up the momentum,” Hussey said at his post-match press conference at the JSCA stadium here on Saturday night. Hussey said the team should get better with each passing game as anything can happen in a short format like T20. “Anything can happen in T20. Any player can come in and have a great play and take the game away from (us). So, we have to keep working on our game. We can get better, there is no question about that,” said Hussey, who scored 57 not out in his team’s triumph against Brisbane Heat. Hussey was all praise for spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for scripting CSK’s easy win against Brisbane Heat. “The wicket had a bit of spin and R Ashwin bowled well in his four overs with Ravindra Jadeja backing him up well. Both were good. Suresh Raina also chipped in with a wicket,” he said.
Panesar feared career was over
london: England spinner Monty Panesar has admitted that he thought he had destroyed his international career after being fined for urinating on a nightclub doorman. The incident occurred two months ago, after Panesar was asked to leave a club in Brighton on the English south coast. The 31-year-old was fined by police and released by county side Sussex, but he was nonetheless named in the England squad for the return Ashes series in Australia later this year. He says that he regrets the incident, but insists that it was not a deliberate act. “I know it looks terrible, but I wasn’t as drunk as people believe,” he told British weekly newspaper The Mail on Sunday. “Yes, I’d had a lot to drink, but I wasn’t paralytic. I was asked to leave and then got caught short. The next thing I knew the bouncers were shouting at me and running after me. “I swear I didn’t see them and I had no intention of purposefully urinating on them.” Agencies