Keating Road storm into 1st Div final
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Keating Road demolished Megha SC by 104 runs in the first semifinal of the SCA First Division Cricket League at the Cricket Ground, Polo, on Monday, with Rahul Thapa producing an unbeaten century for the winners. Megha won the toss and put their opponents in to bat first, but that decision went against them as Keating Road piled up a monumental total of 220/3 in 22 overs. Rahul Thapa ended not out on 104 from just 62 deliveries. Vikram Rana took all three of the wickets to fall in the innings for 35 runs in five overs. In reply, Megha SC were bundled out for 116 runs in 19.2 overs. Roshan Gurung top-scored with 59 off 45 balls. Dawa Waiba claimed figures of 4-26 in five overs. The second semifinal will be held on Wednesday between Young Guns and Langsning SC. Two Second Division matches will be held on Tuesday, the first between Laban SC and Boys of Gorkha at 8:30am, followed by Youth Club vs Pinewood at 12 noon.
Dhoni backs Yuvraj to come good
DHAKA: India captain MS Dhoni expressed confidence that out-of-form Yuvraj Singh will come good in the remaining matches of the World Twenty20 but admitted that he is “under pressure and not in great touch”. “Yuvraj is one of the best players of T20 but yes you can say that he is not in great touch at the moment. It becomes tough when you are dropped from ODIs and then you make a comeback in the T20 squad. So there’s bit of pressure on him,” Dhoni told reporters on Monday. “It’s easy to say that it is a short format but when an individual comes into the squad, there is bound to be pressure on him,” he added. Yuvraj scored a painstaking 10 off only 19 balls during Sunday’s seven-wicket win against West Indies but Dhoni was confident that Yuvraj has the ability to get back in form and win matches for his team. “It takes one or two matches. Probably, he will get back into flow as we know how good a match-winner he is. He can turn a game on his own. Today the plan was to have a higher net run-rate but at the same time give Yuvraj a chance to settle his nerves. If he is in flow, Yuvi is a good asset to have,” Dhoni added. (PTI)
Dhawan named captain of Sunrisers
Hyderabad: India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was named captain of Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad for the seventh edition of the Twenty20 event, which will begin on April 16. West Indian Darren Sammy will be the vice-captain of the side, Sunrisers Hyderabad said in a release. “Shikhar Dhawan with his significant contribution as a batsman in the previous season has retained his position in the team not just as a crucial opener in the batting order but as the appropriate choice to extend his captaincy role in Champions League to the upcoming IPL as well,” the release said. “Shikhar Dhawan with his reputation for a mesmerising stroke-maker, who mixes power and panache in equal measure, is sure to lead the pack with his team-building leadership streak,” it said. Sammy, an integral part of the team last season, will now play the role of a deputy to Dhawan. (PTI)
India U-14 girls shine against Bhutan
NEW DELHI: The India U-14 girls team made merry against Bhutan in an emphatic 9-0 victory in the AFC Girls Regional Championship in Colombo on Monday. Midfielder Sirjana Tamang scored four goals (50th, 56th, 66th, 69th minutes) in the second half and Roja Devi (21th, 57th, 62th) netted a hat-trick either side of half time to underline India’s dominance. Lifa Gama (25th, 35th+1) and Daya Devi (31th) also got on the scoresheet. The win takes India to nine points from four outings and into second place after Iran lost 4-0 to toppers Nepal. India play Iran next on Tuesday. (Agencies)