Kohli, Dhoni show keep England attack at bay

December 15, 2012

kohli_Dhoni

Nagpur, December 15: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli batted resolutely to take India to 146/4 at lunch on the third day of the fourth and final cricket Test against England in Nagpur on Saturday.

Battling hard to resurrect the stuttering innings, the two overnight batsmen carried on in a sedate fashion against the England attack to remain unconquered in a lunch score of 146 for 4 in 73 overs, that left India 184 runs behind England’s first innings total of 330.

At the break, Kohli was not out on 46 - his highest individual score of the series - after a total stay of 170 minutes in which he faced 155 balls and hit three fours. His captain was on a 103-ball 33 that included four fours and came in 155 minutes.

The day began with the two batsmen, who tried their best to eschew all risks, facing innings wrecker-in-chief James Anderson and Monty Panesar.

The first four of the morning was an edged for by Dhoni off Anderson, who had ripped out the stumps of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in a sensational stint of fast bowling on Friday.

Strangely, there was not a slip in sight to wait for the edges to Anderson who later gave way to Tim Bresnan after a four-over spell in which he conceded that four and three more runs.

The sight of a new fast bowler into the attack galvanised Kohli a bit and he off-drove him superbly for his first boundary of the day to raise the team’s 100 in the 52nd over.

Kohli then crossed his previous best score in the series - 20 made in the second innings of the third Test - and then Dhoni square cut Swann, who replaced the frugal Panesar after the latter’s six-over spell for two runs, to increase the rate of scoring.

The fifth wicket duo also completed their half-century re-building stand in 106 minutes and 170 balls.

The first hour produced just 27 runs in 17 overs and India were 217 runs adrift of the visitors’ first innings total of 330.

Panesar went to the end from where Bresnan and Anderson bowled, soon after the start of the second hour’s play and the two batsmen got a few boundaries with square cuts off the spinners.

Eager to get a breakthrough, England captain Alastair Cook brought the unimpressive Bresnan for Swann late in the session and then gave the ball to debutant Joe Root.

The hosts added 59 runs in 32 overs in the session, and more importantly, did not lose a wicket while putting on 75 runs for the unfinished fifth wicket in 248 balls.


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News Network
June 20,2020

Dhaka, Jun 20: Former Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza on Saturday tested positive for coronavirus.

The skipper had gone for a coronavirus Test last week, and now his reports have come back as positive, ESPNCricinfo reported.

As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, it is not known how Mortaza contracted the virus.

Mashrafe, also a member of the parliament from Narail 2 constituency, had stepped down as the ODI captain of the country in March this year.

Covid-19 cases have crossed 1,00,000 mark in Bangladesh and the government is now planning area-wise lockdown.

Bangladesh was slated to face Sri Lanka in July in a three-Test series and the side would have later hosted New Zealand in August, but both series look unlikely now.

The Asia Cup, scheduled for September, is also uncertain due to the coronavirus.

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Agencies
July 20,2020

Vitoria, Jul 20: Lionel Messi won a record seventh top scoring title in the Spanish league after netting twice in Barcelona's 5-0 rout of Alav s in the final round.

Messi ended with 25 goals, four more than Karim Benzema, who did not score in Real Madrid's 2-2 draw at Legan s.

Messi is the first player to finish as the league's top scorer in seven different seasons. He reached the milestone despite missing games because of an injury early in the season. The Argentine's 25 goals came in 33 matches.

Messi was tied with Telmo Zarra with six scoring titles. He has also now equaled Hugo Sanchez's feat of four straight top-scorer trophies.

"Individual achievements are always secondary," Messi said on Sunday.

"I wished it could have come along with the league title."

This is also the third successive season that Messi finished with the most assists 21 in the league.

Ansu Fati, Luis Su rez and Nelson Semedo also scored Sunday for Barcelona, which had already secured second place behind Madrid.

Fati opened the scoring in the 24th minute, Messi added to the lead 10 minutes later and Su rez closed the first-half scoring in the 44th. Semedo got on the board in the 57th and Messi in the 75th to help Barcelona rebound from a 2-1 home loss to Osasuna.

"Today things were different," Messi said.

"The team showed better attitude and commitment. It was an important step forward for us ahead of what's left in the season."

Barcelona now turns its focus to its Aug. 8 home game against Napoli in the round of 16 of the Champions League. The first leg, played before the break, ended 1-1.

Barcelona coach Quique Seti n finished under pressure after the team relinquished a two-point lead over Madrid when the league resumed following the pandemic break. It was four points back before Madrid's match at Legan s.

Barcelona defender Cl ment Lenglet had to be substituted early in the second half because of an apparent muscle injury.

Alav s, sitting in 15th, had already done enough to stay up.

BAR A "B" TEAM

American winger Konrad de la Fuente scored twice as Barcelona's "B" team beat Valladolid B to keep alive its hopes of reaching the second division next season. The victory put Barcelona in the second round of the promotion playoffs.

The 19-year-old De la Fuente, who recently had his contract with Barcelona extended through the 2021-22 season, scored in each half.

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News Network
April 15,2020

New Delhi, Apr 15: Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri on Wednesday urged people to beat coronavirus by staying at home and by maintaining social distancing. He termed the virus 'mother of all World Cups' and asked people to combat this disease together and win the World Cup of humanity.

Taking to Twitter, Shastri shared a video post where he cited cricket examples to aware people about the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic. "As I would know, sports teaches you life lessons that can be applied to just about anything you want to pursue in rest of your life.

Today the COVID-19 has put us in a situation where we got our backs to the wall. To combat this coronavirus is like chasing a World Cup where you give your everything in trying to win it. What's staring you at the face is no ordinary World Cup. This is the mother of all World Cups where not just eleven are playing but 1.4 billion are in the playing arena and competing. Guys we can win this. For that, we have to observe the basics. You have got your Prime Minister leading from the front ahead of the curve like other countries have farmed out," Shastri said.

"You have to obey the orders that come from the top: be it centre, state or the frontline workers who are risking their lives. Two orders that stand out: staying home and maintaining social distancing. It is not easy but to win the game you got to go through the pain to break the chain and see the gain. Come on, guys! let's do it together. Let us get out there in a bruit force of 1.4 billion and beat this corona and get your hands on the World Cup of humanity. Let's do it," he added.

With 1,076 new COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 11,439, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.

Out of the total tally, 9,756 cases are active while 1,306 patients have been cured/discharged and migrated. With 38 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll rises to 377.

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