Goa enjoy upper hand against Assam
Guwahati: Goa gained a big first innings lead with almost all their top and middle-order batsmen making useful contributions before spinner Amit Yadav struck thrice to rock Assam in their Group C Ranji Trophy match here on Sunday. Replying to Assam’s 247 all out, Goa declared first innings at 406 for nine at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Amogh Desai led the way with 97 while Swapnil Asnodkar (57), Sagun Kamat (60) and Rohit Asnodkar (54) too scored half-centuries. Off-spinner Yadav then picked up 3/5 in five overs to reduce Assam to 31/4 at stumps on the third day of the match. The hosts need another 128 runs to make Goa bat again. Brief scores: Assam 1st innings: 247 all out and 31/4 in 18 overs Goa 1st innings: 406/9 declared in 143 overs. (PTI)
Tripura =declare on 650/8 on Day 3
Hyderabad: Tripura scored a massive 650 for eight declared in their first innings before Hyderabad reached 258 for one at the end of the third and penultimate day in their Group C Ranji Trophy match here on Sunday. Resuming on 588 for six, overnight centurion S Abbas Ali, who started Sunday on 105, remained unbeaten on 132 off 222 balls laced with 12 fours and two sixes when the visitors declared their innings. Other overnight batsman Rana Dutta (11) added 10 runs to his overnight score of one before Tushar Saha (20) also chipped in with some important runs. In reply, Hyderabad lost opener TL Suman (21) early but skipper Akshath Reddy scored an unbeaten century, while DB Ravi Teja completed his half-century to ensure there was no further damage. At stumps, Reddy was not out on 138 and Ravi Teja was on 90. Brief scores: Tripura 1st innings: 650 for eight declared (S Abbas Ali 132*, Tushar Saha 20; M Ravi Kiran 2/110). Hyderabad 1st innings: 258 for one (Akshath Reddy batting 138, DB Ravi Teja batting 90). (PTI)
FIFA shifts World Cup kickoff timings
Rio de Janeiro: World football’s governing body FIFA has changed the kickoff timings for seven 2014 World Cup matches, including three in the Amazonian city of Manaus. The announcement follows pressure from the international players’ union FIFPro amid fears that players could suffer dehydration in the country’s north and northeast. Among the changes is England’s clash with Italy at Manaus’s Arena da Amazonia on June 14, which has been shifted from 9pm to 6pm, appeasing the wishes of European television broadcasters. Ivory Coast’s clash with Japan in Recife on the same day has been pushed back from 7pm to 10pm. The Cameroon-Croatia duel in Manaus on June 18 has been moved to 6pm from 3pm, while Spain and Chile will now meet at 4pm in Rio de Janeiro instead of 7pm. Rio de Janeiro is seven and a half hours behind that of India. Manaus is nine and a half hours behind and Recife eight and a half. (IANS)
Kapur, Lahiri finish 12th in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Shiv Kapur collapsed in the final round and signed off on a disappointing card of three-over 73 to finish tied 12th after being in a position of contention at the Hong Kong Open here on Sunday. Kapur, lying tied second at nine-under after three rounds, finished at six-under 274. Also tied at 12th was Anirban Lahiri (69). Up at the top, Spanish veteran star Miguel Angel Jimenez held off Thailand’s Prom Meesawat and Stuart Manley of Wales in the first-hole of a sudden-death play-off. It was a record-equalling fourth Hong Kong Open for Jimenez. Almost all the Indians had a disappointing final day. Jyoti Randhawa (72) finished tied 30th at three-under 277 while Himmat Rai (73) ended tied 57th at even par 280. Sujjan Singh (70) and SSP Chowrasia (75) were tied 65th at two-over 282. Jimenez, who will turn 50 in January, successfully retained the title after a dramatic day at the Hong Kong Golf Club when he exquisitely rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to reduce Prom to a second play-off loss in three weeks. The wily Spaniard rewrote a slice of his own history in becoming the oldest winner on the European Tour at the age of 49 years and 337 days and also became the second oldest winner on the Asian Tour. (PTI)