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SPORTS
Allan zooms to 2nd spot Pg 15
Rodriguez snatches win for Liverpool Pg 17
GOA, TUESDAY, 2 NOVEMBER, 2010 www.oheraldo.in
E Bengal, JCT in Durand semis lSalgaocar shown the door lMillmen face Churchill
UNI NEW DELHI, NOV 1
Federation Cup winners East Bengal and JCT, Phagwara advanced to the semi-finals of the Durand Cup with emphatic victories in their respective quarter-final league matches at the Ambedkar Stadium here today. East Bengal came back from a goal down to overcome Salgaocar 2-1, while JCT defeated spirited local challengers Garhwal Heroes by the same margin. East Bengal, who had outclassed Air India 4-1 in their earlier match, needed only a point to enter the semi-finals. They have garnered six points from their two matches in the quarter-final stage. The Kolkata giants will play the winners of Group 2 for a spot in the summit clash. On the other hand, it was a must win match for Salgaocar and the Goan outfit bowed out of the tournament despite giving stiff competition to their rivals for much of the game. Sanju Pradhan equalised for East Bengal by converting a penalty in the 62nd minute after Yusif Yakubu (31st) had put the Goans ahead in the Group 4 match with an accurate header. Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey (68th) scored the winner for the red and gold outfit. However, despite their win, East Bengal have a couple of issues to worry about as experienced Mehtab Hussain will miss the semi-final as he picked up his second yellow card of the tournament today. There are also injury worries over defender Uga Okpara who was substituted in the second half after a crunching tackle by a Salgaocar player. In another match, JCT rode
on a brace by African import Ibrahim Keke to enter the last four stage with full six points from Group 3. They had downed Sporting Clube de Goa 3-0 in their first match. But the team from Punjab will face a trial by fire in the semi-finals as they will be up against defending champions Churchill Brothers. East Bengal were expected to enjoy a relatively easy outing today after their classy performance against Air India but Salgaocar proved to be a tough nut to crack. The Goan outfit created several chances and both teams were equally matched for most of the match. Star striker Yakubu was a livewire in attack for Salgaocar and their other striker Ryuji Seoka linked up nicely with the experienced Ghanaian on a number of occasions. Yakubu gave Salgaocar the lead when he connected an accurate corner by Rocus Lamare. The Ghanaian rose above the East Bengal defence before unleashing a stunning header which found the back of the net as goalkeeper Sandip Nandy watched helplessly. Yakubu almost doubled the lead in the 39th minute when Salgaocar were awarded a freekick at 25 yards after Francis Fernandes was brought down by Okpara. Yakubu unleashed a fierce pile-driver which was well saved by Nandy. Yakubu was in the thick of things again just before halftime when he released Sueoka with a nice pass into the box. But Okpara saved East Bengal the blushes with a timely tackle. The Kolkata outfit were finding it difficult to penetrate the Salgaocar defence and to add to their woes, young forward
Vettori aims at 4000 runs, 400 wkts in Tests PTI AHMEDABAD, NOV 1
He is regarded as the best leftarm spinner in contemporary cricket, but New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori still yearns to improve and has set himself a target of 4000 runs and 400 wickets in Test matches. "I think at times I have been a Test bowler but that is one part of my game which I would like to improve the most. I think that my batting in both forms of the game has come on well and also oneday bowling," Vettori told reporters during an interactive session here today. "It is Test match bowling that I want to get better at. It is one of the goals that I want to achieve," he said when asked to comment on him being tagged as an ODI bowler rather than a Test material. Vettori said his game has developed in the last few years and he has concentrated more on improving on his all-round skills. Asked how does he viewed Sir Richard Hadlee's record of
413 wickets in Test cricket, Vettori said, "4000 runs and 400 wickets is something that I aspire to and it is not too far away." "I look at that in 431 (Hadlee's record). I still see Sir Richard Hadlee as the greatest bowler," the 31-year-old Kiwi said. Vettori has 325 wickets and 3,962 runs from 100 Test matches, in addition to the 1979 runs and 275 wickets from 259 ODIs. A s ke d w h e t h e r batting at number six was taking away his interest from bowling, Vettori said, "I like the responsibility. I like to contribute with the bat as well. I think it helps me in my bowling and keeps me going." He described the series against India as the toughest challenge for the Kiwis, who were recently mauled 0-4 in a five-match ODI series by minnows Bangladesh. "India is number one for a reason. They will be looking for a comprehensive win. It is up to us to maintain our standards because that's the only way we can compete with India," Vettori said.
Razzaq blasts Pak to unlikely victory AGENCIES DUBAI, NOV 1
Abdul Razzaq gave Pakistan welcome on-field respite with a stunning century to set up a dramatic one-wicket victory over South Africa in the second oneday international on Sunday. The International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier confirmed suspensions on three Pakistan players over spot-fixing allegations and the team looked to be struggling as they chased a formidable target of 287. But Razzaq launched an astonishing assault to smash an unbeaten 109 from just 72 balls and seal victory with one ball to spare. Razzaq struck seven fours and 10 sixes to rescue Pakistan from 228 for seven, adding 32 for the final wicket with Shoaib Akhtar who faced just a single delivery. South Africa's huge total of 286 for eight was built around a second century by 25-year-old left-hander Colin Ingram in just
his fifth match and featured rapid half-centuries from opener Hashim Amla and middle-order batsman J-P Duminy. Ingram started slowly on an awkward pitch and was given a life on 54 when Zulqarnain Haider missed a straightforward stumping chance but grew in confidence to reach exactly 100 from 119 deliveries with 10 fours and a six. Amla belted four of his first seven deliveries to the boundary in a runaway start before slowing to reach 65 from 62 balls. Duminy ended the innings in style with 54 from just 43 balls including three fours and a towering straight six. Pakistan seemed certain to pay the price for a pedestrian start during which they crawled to 135 for five in the 30th over before Razzaq rewrote the script and blasted 14 runs from the final over from just five balls to square the series at 1-1.
Robin Singh, who sustained an injury to his forehead after a clash of heads with Salgaocar defender Khelemba Metei, had to be substituted at half-time by Budhiram Tudu. But they got their chance to grab the equaliser when their Australian striker Tolagay Ozbey was fouled inside the Salgaocar's 18-yard box by Metei. Sanju Pradhan stepped up to take the spot kick and beat Salgaocar custodian with a powerful grounder. Ozbey clinched the issue in East Bengal's favour when he scored off a beautiful through from Mehtab. The second goal seemed to perk up the red and gold and the impressive Penn Orji almost scored their third goal when he received a pass from Tudu. But the Nigerian fired his shot wide of the target. Earlier, JCT made heavy weather of things during their
match against the Heroes. Keke put the Ludhiana side with a good finish in the 16th minute. Daniel Bidemi created a good chance early in the second ses-
sion with a nice back heel for Keke who hit the side netting. Kamal Rawat (62nd) brought the Heroes back on equal terms when he latched on to a cross from the right despite some
Pg18 close attention from JCT defender Daljit Singh. Koko completed his brace in injury time when he beat the rival goalkeeper with a nice turn and produced a good finish.