Windies win firSt test
Kingston: West Indies overcame their own atrocious catching and a defiant hundred by Mushfiqur Rahim to defeat Bangladesh by 10 wickets before lunch on the fifth and final day of the first Test at the Arnos Vale Stadium here on Tuesday. After missing a succession of chances on the fourth day, the home side’s fielders continued with their sloppy work before Musfiqur was last out for 116. The tourists’ captain was the prime beneficiary of the butter-fingered Caribbean cricketers in lifting his side to a second innings total of 314. Needing just 13 runs for victory and a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, Chris Gayle and Kraigg Brathwaite, the “Man of the Match” for his first innings 212, knocked off the runs 40 minutes before the scheduled lunch interval. Fast bowler Kemar Roach finished with four for 64, making the critical breakthrough on the final morning when Nasir Hossain spooned a catch to Shannon Gabriel running in from mid-on after he and his captain resumed with the total on 256 for five, still needing 46 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Gauti’s win, loss logic
New Delhi: Winning is all what matters to Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir as he intends to be “mean winner than a polite loser” when the reigning IPl champions take part in the upcoming Oppo Champions league Twenty20. “We always take the field thinking that we will win and this time it is no different. Ideally, one should not be thinking about the title in the first lap of the competition but such is the subconscious mind that it often takes you to the title leap even before you reach there. That is why I want to focus on the first game against Chennai (on September 17) and not go too far,” Gambhir told PTI in an interview here today. Asked whether he hurts himself at times by being too intense, the 32-year-old left-hander says that “it’s too late in the day to change himself”. Yes, a lot of people have told me that but my approach has always been like that. The other day I was playing badminton with Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra and a few others. There again it was not for enjoying the game but winning. I have always been like that. Frankly, I’d rather be a mean winner rather than a polite loser. I play to compete and not look good or make friends. It’s too late in the day to change my approach, I am happy the way I am,” Gambhir said.
Shehzad ducks queries
New Delhi: Controversial Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad on Tuesday evaded all queries relating to his alleged religious comments made towards veteran Sri lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan during a recently concluded ODI series between the two countries. The 22-year-old Shehzad today arrived with the lahore lions squad in Delhi this afternoon to play in the Champions league T20. As he came out of the International terminal standing with his luggage, some of the mediapersons asked Shehzad about his alleged religious comments to Dilshan. The young batsman chose to look through the scribes and decided to completely ignore their queries as one of their officials told the media not to hound Shehzad. The PCB chief Shahryar Khan has already termed Shehzad’s comments to be “stupid”. Interestingly, Shehzad’s lahore lions will take on Sri lanka’s Southern Express which consists of Dilshan.
Yusuf, 3 others return
New Delhi: In their quest to be battle-ready for the upcoming Champions league Twenty20, Kolkata Knight Riders sent four of their players -- Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Manvinder Bisla and Kuldeep Yadav -- to Bloemfontein in South Africa for 15 days of training that included cycling, running and mountaineering. looking to carry on the momentum from the Indian Premier league triumph, KKR batsman Yusuf said the camp between August 20 and September 3 in the rainbow nation under renowned trainer Adrian le Roux has helped them immensely to be in top shape during the off season. “We trained hard during those 15 days. We used to go for outdoor cycling and mountaineering and for long treks. The gym sessions were also very good. So it was a complete fitness and endurance routine that helped us remain in great shape during our off season,” said Yusuf in an interview with PTI. “It was good fun as well. We had a great time together. All of us gelled well and made use of the opportunity. Though Piyush, Bisla and Kuldeep came back after 12 days I stayed on for 3 more days to complete a satisfying camp,” added Yusuf.