India eves beat Pak, qualify for 2016 WT20
Sylhet: India \defeated traditional rivals Pakistan on Wednesday by six runs in a low-scoring but close qualification play-off match of the Women’s World Twenty20 here to secure a direct ticket in the 2016 edition of the tournament. By virtue of this win, India finished joint fifth along with New Zealand in the tournament. Earlier in the day, the Kiwis eased to six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in another qualification play-off here. As per the rules, the teams that finish in the top six at the ongoing World Twenty20 automatically qualify for the next edition of the tournament. The four semifinalists – Australia, South Africa, England and West Indies – are already through, while New Zealand and India take the remaining two spots. The teams that don’t secure qualification here have to compete in a separate qualifying tournament, to make it to the 2016 showpiece event. In the match against Pakistan, India failed to put up a challenging total on the board after electing to bat as they managed just 106/7. Skipper Mithali Raj top-scored for the Indians with 39, while Sania Khan (3-15) was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan. Defending the target, the Indian bowlers were right on the money from the word go and picked up wickets at regular intervals as Pakistan lost half of their side inside the 50-run mark. Pakistan only had themselves to blame as they made a heavy weather of the chase to eventually finish at 100/9. For India, Soniya Dabir (3-14) picked up three wickets, while Sravanthi Naidu (2-12) and Poonam Yadav (2-25) shared four wickets between them. (PTI)
Serena stunned by unseeded Cepelova
Charleston: World number one Serena Williams crashed out of the WTA Tour’s Family Circle Cup, losing her opening match in straight sets to world number 78 Jana Cepelova. The 20-year-old Slovakian Cepelova shocked defending champion Williams 6-4, 6-4 in a second-round match at the clay court tournament in Charleston. The 17-time Grand Slam winner Williams complained about being mentally fatigued after the 84 minute contest. “I am really just dead,” said the 32-year-old American. “I need some weeks off where I don’t think about tennis and can kind of regroup. I’ve had a long couple of years.” Williams, who won this event in 2013, 2012 and 2008, also had her 15-match tour win streak snapped. Williams was fresh off winning her sixth Miami title and 59th singles crown after beating world No. 2 Li Na, of China, on the weekend. (AP)
Kashyap, Saina win, Sindhu bows out
New Delhi: India’s Parupalli Kashyap stunned world number seven Chinese Zhengming Wang, while Saina Nehwal made mince meat of Austria’s Simone Prutsch, but it was heartbreak for PV Sindhu in the opening round of the India Super Series here on Wednesday. Kashyap produced one of his finest performance, despite playing with strapping on his shoulders, to overcome Zhengming 21-12, 17-21, 21-12 in the opening round of the men’s singles but Sindhu failed to extend her 3-0 record against Shixian Wang of China as the two-time All England champion extracted revenge for her Swiss Open loss with a 15-21, 21-12, 10-21 win over the Indian in a women’s singles match. However, Saina brought some smiles back to the Indian camp after she thrashed Simone 21-7, 21-9 in another women’s singles first round match later in the day. She will next take on Natcha Saengchote of Thailand. Among other Indians in the fray, Malaysia Grand Prix Gold finalist Sourabh Varma also reached the second round after beating Russia’s Vladimir Ivanov 21-16, 17-21, 21-14. His compatriot RMV Gurusaidutt also made his way into the next round with a 17-21, 21-16, 21-17 win over Taiwan’s Tien Chen Chou, but he will face Kashyap in the second round on Thursday. Sourabh, who won three titles in the last four months, will take on world number one Malaysian Lee Chong Wei, also on Thursday. Lee defeated Indian qualifier Ajay Kumar 21-9, 21-9. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa reached the second round after a hard-fought 21-19, 17-21, 21-14 win over Thailand’s Chaladchalam Chayanit and Peeraya Munkitamorn in a women’s doubles match. However, it was curtains for other Indians, including K Srikanth, HS Prannoy, B Sai Praneeth, Anand Pawar, Shreyansh Jaiswal and Anup Sridhar in the men’s singles, while Saili Rane, Shruti Mundada and PC Thulasi also faltered in women’s singles. (PTI)