Shot selection, umpiring errors cost India first Test

February 10, 2014

Umpiring_errorsAuckland, Feb 10: Shoddy shot selection and a couple of umpiring errors put paid to India’s hopes of notching up a historic win in the first Test against New Zealand at Eden Park here on Sunday.

Chasing a mammoth 407, India started the fourth day on a shaky note, losing Cheteshwar Pujara after adding nine runs to the overnight score of 87 for one. But a 126-run alliance for the third wicket between centurion Shikhar Dhawan (115) and Virat Kohli (67) put India on course for an improbable victory.

However, poor judgment by both batsmen and umpires ensured that India would end up at 366 all out, losing the match by 40 runs.

Incidentally, this was India’s 10th defeat in the last 11 away Tests under MS?Dhoni.

Kohli’s half-hearted attempt to pull Neil Wagner, the stand-out New Zealand bowler, resulted in a bottom edge that Bradley Watling gobbled up behind the stumps. Then onwards, India steadily lost wickets, with the shot selection of some of the batsmen leaving a lot to be desired.

While Dhawan got a brute of a ball from Wagner that the left-hander gloved to Watling, both Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja were guilty of throwing their wickets away. Rohit, who looked settled in the middle, returned to the hut in the first ball after tea, edging an away swinger from Tim Southee to the big gloves of Watling.

Jadeja played like a man having no tomorrow when the situation demanded a little more caution. His 21-ball 26 entertained the crowd, but what India needed at that moment was a firm hand at one end so that Dhoni could keep gathering runs at the other side.

Jadeja seemed oblivious to the situation, and his cameo came to an end when he skied?Trent Boult to Ian Sodhi at mid-on. Amidst all that rush of blood, Ajinkya Rahane was adjudged leg before to Boult when the replays suggested a big edge.

Dhoni carried India’s last smidgeon of hope, but the third umpire decided that Wagner’s foot was inside after Dhoni’s bottom edge off a bouncer dishevelled the bails. It was the last nail in India’s coffin, and now they will be eager for a turnaround in the second Test at Wellington, starting on Friday.

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News Network
February 2,2020

Mount Maunganui, Feb 2: India registered a rare 5-0 whitewash against New Zealand after notching up a seven-run win in the fifth and final T20 International at Bay Oval here on Sunday.

Electing to bat, India posted 163 for three, riding on Rohit Sharma's 60 off 41 balls and a 33-ball 45 from K L Rahul.

The visitors then restricted the hosts to 156 for nine with Jasprit Bumrah claiming three wickets for 12 runs.

Chasing the target, the Black Caps were tottering at 17 for three in 3.2 overs.

Tim Seifert (50) and Ross Taylor (53) then added 99 runs for the fourth wicket as New Zealand recovered to 116.

Seifert clobbered a 30-ball 50 studded with five fours and three sixes, while Ross Taylor hit two sixes and five fours in his 47-ball 53-run innings.

However, once Seifert was dismissed in the 13th over, the hosts suffered a collapse, losing five wickets, including Taylor, for 25 runs to loss the plot in the end.

Brief Score:

India: 163 for 3 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 60; S Kuggeleijn 2/25)    

New Zealand: 156 for 9 in 20 overs (Ross Taylor 53, Tim Seifert 50; Jasprit Bumrah 3/12).

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News Network
June 22,2020

Zadar (Croatia), Jun 22: Grigor Dimitrov took to Instagram to announce that he has tested positive for coronavirus. The tennis star was one of the players who took part in the Adria Tour with the likes Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem among others.

Taking to Instagram, the player wrote: "Hi Everyone-I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for Covid-19. I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions. I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering. Thanks for your support and please stay safe and healthy."

He also urged those who had come in contact with him over the last few days in Monaco should also get tested for the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, World no.1 Djokovic reached the final of his exhibition tournament in Zadar, Croatia, after easing through the round-robin group stage on the first day. This is the second stage of the Adria Tour with Austrian Dominic Thiem winning the first leg in Belgrade, Serbia.

Djokovic started by saving three set points in his 4-3, 4-1 win over fellow Serb Pedja Krstin. He then beat home favourite Borna Coric 4-1, 4-3 in front of several thousand fans at the Visnjik tennis complex.

The tournament in Zadar is being played on red clay over two days. In the other group, Russian Andrey Rublev is in pole position to advance into the final after wins over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic and Serb Danilo Petrovic. He faces German star Alexander Zverev in the final round robin match on Sunday who stayed in contention after beating Cilic 4-3, 0-4, 4-3.

Djokovic''s own inconsequential final group match is against Croatian Dino Serdarusic who replaced Grigor Dimitrov after the Bulgarian pulled out of the tournament with sickness following his opening 4-1, 4-1 loss to Coric.

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News Network
March 12,2020

Miami, Mar 12: The NBA has suspended its season "until further notice" after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league's owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas.

Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Jazz player who tested positive was center Rudy Gobert. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the team confirmed the test.

"The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice,'' the league said in a statement sent shortly after 9:30 p.m. EDT. "The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.''

The test result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game on Wednesday night was called off. Players were on the floor for warmups and tip-off was moments away when they were told to return to their locker rooms. About 30 minutes later, fans were told the game was postponed ``due to unforeseen circumstances."

Shutdown for two weeks?

Those circumstances were the league's worst-case scenario for now -- a player testing positive. A second person who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity said the league expects the shutdown to last a minimum of two weeks, but cautioned that time-frame is very fluid.

"It's a very serious time right now," Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think the league moved appropriately and prudently and we'll all just have to monitor the situation and see where it goes from here."

The Jazz released a statement saying a player -- they did not identify Gobert -- tested negative earlier Wednesday for flu, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. That player's symptoms diminished as the day went along, but the decision was made to test for COVID-19 anyway. That test came back with a preliminary positive result.

"The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City," the Jazz said, adding that updates would come as appropriate.

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