Ojha scalps six
Chennai: Test specialist Pragyan Ojha’s deadly spell (6/48) of left-arm spin bowling enabled South Zone record a crushing innings and 38 runs victory over Central Zone to clinch a place in the Duleep Trophy final. South Zone, who had virtually sealed a final berth on the third day itself after ensuring a first innings lead, declared at 467 for nine having played one over in the morning. Needing 258 runs to avoid innings defeat, Central Zone again batted poorly as they were all out for 220 in only 57.2 overs even before tea on the final day. The innings was terminated after the fall of ninth wicket as veteran Mohammed Kaif didn’t come out to bat as he was injured.
Game needs Sachin
New Delhi: Sri lanka’s World Cup winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga feels that Sachin Tendulkar could have continued playing Test cricket for some more time which would have only benefitted the traditional format of the game. “I wished that he (Sachin) could have played Test cricket for a bit more time as the game needs people like Sachin Tendulkar more than ever. My sincere hope is that Sachin will continue to support Test cricket even in retirement as he has done during his playing days,” Ranatunga said on Sunday.
Pujara stays seventh
Dubai: Cheteshwar Pujara continues to be the only Indian batsman in the top-10 list as he managed to maintain his seventh spot, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is the highest-ranked bowler at number eight, in the latest ICC Test rankings issued here today. With 777 points to his credit, right-handed batsman Pujara is sitting at seventh position in the table, which is headed by South Africa’s Hashim Amla (903 points). Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi has rocketed up the table after becoming the first cricketer to score a century and take a hat-trick in a Test against New Zealand, which ended in a draw at Chittagong on Sunday.
Pak media praises SRT
lahore: The Pakistan English press has showered heap of praise on legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar in their editorials, saying “the game of cricket will surely be poorer without him”. Dawn wrote Tendulakar’s retirement marks the end of a truly memorable career that spanned nearly a quarter of a century. “Rated by critics and contemporaries as arguably the greatest postwar batsman to have played the game, Tendulkar continued to rewrite the record books with his brilliant batting skills since making his debut against Pakistan in Karachi way back in 1989,” an article in the newspaper said. “His 100 international centuries and over 15,000 Test runs are records that are unlikely to be surpassed for many years. Tendulkar, now 40, enjoys the status of a demigod in India. It is to his credit that he never allowed success to go to his head at any point during his illustrious career, staying away from needless controversies. His image remains impeccable, both on and off the field, a rare feat in an age when the game of cricket has been dogged by scandals. Tendulkar has always attempted to give his best to the Indian team each time he walked onto the field — this fact alone speaks volumes for both his playing skills and his integrity.
PNS/Agencies