Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Piyush Chawla continued his decent showing in the upper division of English County Championship as his side Somerset beat Surrey by seven wickets to log home five points.
     Chawla's performance in the match is four wickets (two in each innings) and a useful knock of 32 coming in at No 10 which helped Somerset take an invaluable  first innings lead of 65 runs which turned out to be important in the context of the match.
     Having joined the county side late, Chawla has played four first-class matches so far scoring 231 runs in six innings at an average of 38.5 which includes a century against Middlesex at the Lord's. The leggie has also taken 17 wickets including a match-haul of 10-for against Derbyshire.
     Even though Somerset have won the match, they haven't been able to get out of the relegation zone as they are second from the bottom of the nine-team table with 120 points from 15 games with only Surrey on 103 points in last position.

Chawla takes 4 wickets, scores 32 in Somerset win over Surrey

PTI Automatic

Japanese driver Yudai Jinkawa clinched his fourth victory of the season when he took the chequered flag ahead of Vikash Anand and Tarun Reddy in the MRF 1600 race of the National Racing Championship, here today.
     It was an exciting finish to the race as the top three drivers were separated by just three tenths off a second at the finish line at the Buddh International Circuit.
     In the Indian Touring Car category, N Leelakrishnan held off reigning champion Arjun Balu to win by 3.030seconds from pole position while Ananth Pitawala claimed his first ever win in the Indian Junior Touring Car category.
     In the Toyota EMR Trophy, Diljith won Race one from pole position while youngster Akhil Rabindra won Race two.
     Diljith was elated to have driven on an F1 track for the first time in his career.
     "This is a very high speed track. There are a lot of high speed corners and lot of overtaking opportunities. And these cars are also much better," Diljith said.
     Akhil, who .

Jinkawa wins MRF 1600 race in National Racing Championship

George Bailey top scored with 87 as Australia struggled to make a competitive first innings total in the fourth one day international at Cardiff.
     The vice-captain passed 1000 runs in his 28th ODI and smashed three sixes off slow bowler James Tredwell. But the England slow bowler responded by taking three late wickets to help dismiss the tourists for just 227 off 48.2 overs.
     Bailey stood virtually alone in his defiance at SWALEC Stadium as his team-mates struggled to come to terms with the England attack and tricky early conditions.
     Having been reduced to 57-4, Australia battled back and were well poised to set a target of over 250 until a late batting collapse which saw their last five wickets fall for just runs 18 runs.
     England made full use of seamer friendly, slightly damp early pitch conditions to make quick in-roads to the Aussie top order.
     Steven Finn (2-43) struck with only the second delivery of the day as Australia were scrambled to 57-4. The ...

Bailey top scores as Australia struggle

The manager of the Faisalabad Wolves team, which left today for India to take part in the lucrative Champions League T20, believes his side has the quality and depth to make the main rounds of the tournament.
     The Faisalabad team will play in the qualifying round from September 17 to seek a berth in the main rounds.
     Last year Pakistan's national T20 champions, Sialkot Stallions failed to qualify for the main rounds after the Champions League was held in South Africa.
     "We have a good balanced side ideal for T20 cricket and Misbah-ul-Haq and Saeed Ajmal bring in a lot of experience to the side," manager Haroon Rasheed told PTI before the team's departure from Lahore.
     Misbah, Ajmal and young allrounder Ehsan Adil will join the team from Zimbabwe.
     Haroon, a former Test batsman who has remained chief selector, coach and manager of the senior team said it was an ideal opportunity for Faisalabad to showcase the T20 talent in Pakistan cricket.
     "Pakistani players ..

Faisalabad Wolves confident of good showing in CLT20

Pakistan's shock defeat to lowly ranked Zimbabwe in the second Test match today has led to calls for the sacking of captain Misbah-ul-Haq and coach Dav Whatmore and for radical changes in the cricket set-up.
     Pakistan slipped to number six in the ICC test rankings after managing a drawn Test series against Zimbabwe and the 24-run the defeat has led to a lot of backlash in the cricket community.
     "Pakistan cricket has hit rock bottom and we need to rethink our strategies and cricket priorities," former pacer Shoaib Akhtar said.
     Former captain Rameez Raja was more forthcoming and called for Misbah to be changed as captain.
     "I think Misbah has given all he could to Pakistan cricket as captain. There is now a predictability and staleness in the cricket we are playing. This is the right time now to have a new captain and introduce some new players because we can't do worse then this," he said.
     "This defeat is very disappointing and it is very frustrating to see our ..

Former Pakistan players want Misbah, Whatmore's axing

Chandril Sood of Uttar Pradesh capped his fine run with a  a title triumph in the men's singles event of  Rs 3.5 lakh  DS Max Top Spin AITA  Prize money Tennis Championship which concluded at the KSLTA Stadium here today.
     The second seed, Sai Samhita of Tamil Nadu took home the women's singles title.
     The 22-year-old Chandril Sood, seeded fourth, played yet another another three-setter, lasting three hours to overpower the second seed and Mohit Mayur Jayaprakash of Tamil Nadu in the men's singles final at 4-6 6-2 6-4.
     It was an engrossing tie marked with some superb rallies with both youngsters trading blow for blow. But it was Sood's searing cross-court returns and strong smashes gave him the edge.
     Mohit was aggressive in his approach with his  big serve and strong forehand, but was not too consistent and often fumbled on big points at crucial stages.
     The honours belonged to Mohit in the first set as he took a 3-0 lead with a break in the second game, but ...

Chandril, Samhita emerge champions at AITA event

Top members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) today discussed the modalities of the 2014 Asia Cup tournament, which is to be hosted by Bangladesh for a second straight time, in February-March next year.
     The tournament, to be held from February 24 to March 8, has gone to Bangladesh after India, who had earlier agreed to host it, backed out citing a packed international schedule.
     Bangladesh had hosted the last edition of the tournament in 2012. The tournament host was announced during ACC's meeting in April and the details were discussed in today's meeting here, according to ACC sources.
     In the meeting, the BCCI also explored the possibility of hosting an ODI tri-series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka later this year as back-up plan for India's trouble-hit tour of South Africa in November and December.
     A more clearer picture on this will emerge after Monday's meeting between BCCI's secretary Sanjay Patel and South Africa Cricket chief Haroon Lorgat in Dubai.
     ..

Modalities of 2014 Asia Cup discussed in ACC meet

India 'A' coach Lalchand Rajput today said the limited-over cricket series against West Indies 'A' will be a litmus test for Yuvraj Singh, who is desperately looking to get back into the national team.
     "The series against West Indies A will test Yuvraj whether he could make a comeback into the Indian side. Only performance will back him," said Rajput.
     "I think he is very keen on making a comeback with some good performances," he told reporters on the eve of the first ODI against West Indies 'A' at Chinnaswamy Stadium here.
     The swashbuckling left-hander has been out of favour in the recent times after he was dropped from the Indian squad following a terrible Indian Premier League campaign where he failed to make an impression with both the bat and ball.
     Rajput said Yuvraj has been working really hard on his fitness and understands the value of performing in the middle.
     "Yuvraj had gone through a very difficult phase in his life and when he made a comeback there 

Series against West Indies A test for Yuvraj: Rajput

Pakistan's batting woes returned to haunt them as Zimbabwe pulled off a dramatic 24-run win to level the series on the fifth day of the second Test at the Harare Sports Club today.
     Inexperienced Zimbabwe fast bowler Tendai Chatara took five for 61 as Pakistan were bowled out for 239 despite an unbeaten 79 by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
     "The batting is a bit of a worry," said Misbah, looking ahead to Pakistan's next Test series, against world champions South Africa in the United Arab Emirates next month.
     "All the batsmen have to learn from their mistakes. You can't win Test matches with twenties and thirties. You have to score big runs like Younis Khan did in the first Test."
     Younis scored the only century of the series, an unbeaten 200 in the first Test, which Pakistan won by 221 runs at the same venue.
     Misbah and opening batsman Khurram Manzoor both scored two half-centuries in the second Test, while Younis contributed 77 in the first innings. But the ...

Batting woes for Pakistan as Zimbabwe win

As if the stunning loss to minnows Zimbabwe was not enough, Pakistan were pushed two rungs down the ladder to sixth in the latest ICC Test rankings issued today.
     Zimbabwe pulled off a historic 24-run win in the second and final Test of the series against Pakistan at the Harare Sports Club.
     The two-match series was drawn 1-1 with Zimbabwe finishing at 34 ratings points, ahead of 10th ranked Bangladesh.
     Zimbabwe had entered the series unranked and irrespective of the result of the series would have finished ninth on the table, the ICC said in a statement.
     Zimbabwe had pulled out of playing Test cricket in January 2006 and, since its return to the Test arena in August 2011 after a gap of five years, it had been unranked, having not played the requisite eight qualifying Tests to be part of the rankings table.
     In sharp contrast, Pakistan conceded five ratings points and dropped behind Australia and West Indies.
     Misbah-ul-Haq's side had moved to the fourth ...

Pakistan drop to sixth after shock loss to Zimbabwe

Fast bowler Tendai Chatara took five wickets as Zimbabwe pulled off a dramatic 24-run win on the fifth day of the second and final Test against Pakistan at the Harare Sports Club today.
     Chatara's Test-best figures of five for 61 proved the crucial difference despite an unbeaten 79 by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
     The two-match series finished tied at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first Test at the same venue by 221 runs.
     Resuming at 158 for five, Pakistan suffered an early blow when Chatara trapped Adnan Akmal leg before wicket with only five runs added. Akmal, who made 20, went back to a ball which angled in towards his stumps.
     Abdur Rehman scored 16 in a seventh wicket partnership of 34 with Misbah, who was content to continue to bat watchfully, as he had done on the fourth afternoon, before Rehman was caught behind off Tinashe Panyangara.
     Chatara returned to the attack and immediately claimed the wicket of Saeed Ajmal in almost identical fashion to the way ..

Zimbabwe shock Pakistan in second Test

India's top bikers today hailed the decision to host the National Championship at the Buddh International Circuit here but felt the track is best suited for the powerful bikes.
     Sarath Kumar and K Rajini, who are locked in an interesting battle in the ongoing MMSC-FMSCI national Motorcycle championship, said it was great for the bikers to experience riding on a Formula One circuit and enjoy world class facilities but the track is so fast that you need no less than  600cc bikes to have optimum result.
     Competing in the Honda championship, riding CBR 250, Rajini pipped Sarath in last corner of the last lap to win Race 1 of the round three.
     It is for the first time that the bikers have got an opportunity to race at BIC and both two-wheeler and four-wheeler national championships are being hosted together.
     "It is very fast but not comfortable for the bikes. It is different from the MotoGP tracks. It's kind of stop and go. It's eating into your power. Maybe when you have .

BIC is best suited for faster, powerful bikes: Bikers

An unwell Chiragh Kumar shot a disappointing two-over 74 to slip to tied fifth spot at the end of the third round of the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) golf tournament here.
     Chiragh, lying tied second overnight, is now five-under 211 for 54 holes and is five shots behind the new leader, Korean-American Chan Kim, who shot 68 to move to 10-under at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.
     Defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar (74) also slipped from overnight tied ninth to 22nd, while Rahil Gangjee (76) had even bigger fall from overnight 22nd to tied 47th.
     Chan, an Asian Tour rookie, who won the Qualifying School in January, is one shot clear of reigning Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand (71) and Chinese Taipei's Yeh Wei-tze (67). The Asian Development Tour (ADT) graduate Hsu Mong-nan was a further shot back.
     For the third day in a row, Chiragh, who is suferring from cold and cough, birdied the first hole and looked set for ...

Chiragh Kumar drops to tied fifth in Taipei

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hit his third half-century of the series, but his team lost three wickets on a tense fifth day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club today.
     Pakistan were 217 for eight at lunch, 47 runs short of their target of 264, with two wickets remaining. Misbah was unbeaten on 58.
     Fast bowler Tendai Chatara led Zimbabwe's push for a rare win against a leading Test nation, taking two wickets during the morning to add to the two he took yesterday. He had figures of four for 48.
     Resuming at 158 for five, Pakistan suffered an early blow when Chatara trapped Adnan Akmal leg before wicket with only five runs added. Akmal, who made 20, went back to a ball which angled in towards his stumps.
     Abdur Rehman scored 16 in a seventh wicket partnership of 34 with Misbah, who was content to continue to bat watchfully, as he had done on the fourth afternoon, before Rehman was caught behind off Tinashe Panyangara.
     Chatara returned to .

Misbah takes Pakistan closer to win

The upcoming Champions League Twenty20 is all set to be Sachin Tendulkar's last appearance for the Mumbai Indians but chief mentor Anil Kumble feels the emotions related to the veteran's swansong should be kept in check to ensure that the side's performance is not affected.
     "Emotions can't be brought into a game. It won't help players' performance. Emotions would obviously be there, but they have to be kept in check...These emotions have to be kept in check. Every player understands that," Kumble told the team's official website.
     "He (Tendulkar) has been synonymous with Mumbai Indians right from the start of IPL. I have played a lot of cricket with him. It would be ideal for the boys to give him a fitting send-off. He has been a great contributor for Mumbai Indians all those years.
     "Although he couldn't play in the last four-five games in the IPL 2013, but his contribution to the overall cause of the team has always been very important," he added.
     Kumble lauded ...

Keep emotions in check, Kumble to MI players

Ballantine's and Golftripz, India's leading Golf Travel Company announces the kick-off of its fourth amateur international tournament for club golfers to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam from October 15 to 19.
     The premier series known as "Ballantine's Team-Am Golf Challenge" brings together 120 amateur golfers, to compete in a challenging team format.
     The series continues to be the largest international competitive tournament of its kind to be organised for Indian club golfers.
     "Ballantine's and golf share a long history and are enjoyed together throughout the world. Ballantine's Team-Am Golf Championship is an excellent concept to bring the best of Golf amateurs to play at trained courses from around the world. Their passion for golf bridges the teams to make for moments which leave an impression," said Bikram Basu, Vice-President, Marketing Pernod Picard India.
     The fourth edition of the Ballantine's Team- Am series will witness 30 teams gathering to play in three of the 

Golftripz announces Ballantine's Team-Am Golf Challenge 4

Pacers Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan were today ruled out of India A team's unofficial ODI series against the visiting West Indies A side which begins here tomorrow due to injuries.
     Siddharth Kaul and R Vinay Kumar have been drafted in the team in place of them, the Cricket Board (BCCI) said.
     "Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan have been ruled out of the India A team for the one-day games against West Indies A, due to injuries. They have been replaced in the squad by Siddharth Kaul and R Vinay Kumar respectively," the BCCI said in a release.
     Kerala batsman V Jagadeesh has also been added to the India A squad for the second and third four-day games against West Indies A to be played here on September 17 and 19.
     Yuvraj Singh is leading the 14-member Indian squad.

Injured Praveen, Irfan ruled of India A series against WI

Yuvraj Singh would be the cynosure of all eyes when he captains India A, a team on a roll after the cleansweep against New Zealand A, in an ODI series against the West Indies A starting here tomorrow.
     The glory of thrashing New Zealand A 3-0 was achieved under the captaincy of Unmukt Chand, who perfectly marshalled his team to victory.
     All eyes, however, will be trained on how Yuvraj, who has been out of favour in the recent times, handles the team as a captain against the West Indians. The left-hander, who battled and won over cancer, would be aiming to get back into the reckoning.
     Yuvraj is more often seen as a brutal force in limited overs cricket than in Tests with his ability to hit the ball clean and long.
     Yuvraj aside, India A has its share of stars. Unmukt has scored 164 runs at an average of 48 with 94 being his highest in the three ODIs against New Zealand A, while Robin Uthappa has also scored a century in the lung-opener.
     The Under-19 World ...

All eyes on Yuvraj as India A take on WI A

Indian weightlifters bagged a rich haul of 25 medals so far in the ongoing Asian Inter-Club Championships and Asian Cup being held at Pyongyang, North Korea.
     In the Asian Inter-Club Championships, the Indians have won 12 medals (3 silver and 9 bronze) while they have bagged 13 (9 silver and 4 bronze) in the Asian Cup being held simultaneously.
     The Indians though are yet to win a gold so far in September 11-18 events, according to a release from the Indian Weightlifting Federation.
     Medal winners: Asian Cup:
     Manalisha Sonowal (Jr Women 48kg): silver in snatch and bronze in total lift; Kopparthi Shireesha (Jr Women 58kg): a silver each in snatch, clean and jerk and total lift; Apurba Chetia (Jr Men 56kg): silver in snatch and a bronze each in clean and jerk and total lift; Achyutananda Sahoo (Jr Men 62kg): a silver each in clean and jerk and total lift; R V Rahul (Jr Men 77kg): a silver in snatch and total lift and a bronze in clean and jerk.
     Asian Inter-Club ...

Indian lifters bag 25 medals in North Korea

Sanam Singh is one win away from clinching his second ITF Futures singles title of the season as he has reached the final of the Toronto event after a tough victory over fifth seed Michael Shabaz.
     The second seed Indian beat the American 6-3 3-6 7-5 in the semifinals.
     Sanam now faces top seeded Canadian Peter Polansky, who advanced to the summit clash after getting a walkover from Vijayant Malik.
     Malik and Sanam had also conceded the doubles semifinal due to the former's unspecified injury.
     If Sanam wins the singles final, it will be his second title, having triumphed at an event in America in March.

Sanam reaches final of Toronto event, Malik bows out

Asian junior champion N Srinath suffered a shock defeat at the hands of unheralded Murad Nuri of Azerbaijan in the first round of the World Junior Chess Championship that got underway here.
     Srinath had to pay the price after falling into a passive position and he could not solve his problems effectively on an otherwise good day for the Indians in the first round of the premier event for the under-20 aged players in the world.
     Grand Master and highest rated Indian in the fray, Vidit Gujarathi started his campaign with a regulation victory over Roberto Castro Carneiro Vitor of Brazil.
     Another Indian Grand Master S P Sethuraman also got off to a good start at the expense of Melih Yurtseven of Turkey while GM Sahaj Grover got a full point as his opponent withdrew from the event at the last minute.
     But, Grand Master-in-waiting Debashish Das had to sweat hard before he could knock down Pedro Neves of Portugal while S L Narayanan and Sameer Kathmale cruised past Gun Sumer 

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