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Tuesday 25 October 2016

Ind v NEw Zealand ODI Series: Virat Masterclass Sinks Kiwis

#IndvNZ #ODI Series 2016
#Mohali, #Punjab

India Beat New Zealand by 7 Wickets in the 3rd #ODI #Match to take a 2-1 lead in the 5 match series.

Powered by #JimmyNeessham's super hitting in the final overs to sail New Zealand from a precarious 199 for 8 to 285 all out in 49.4 overs, the #Kiwis fancied their chances bowling under lights on a lively Mohali pitch.

They snuffed #AjinkyaRahane and #RohitSharma cheaply as well leaving India struggling at 52 for 2. In walked #Skipper #MSDhoni to join #ViratKohli. Slowly and steadily they began to maneuver the ship in direction safety. The no. 4 slot seems perfect for #MS since he can stablize and take the bowlers to the cleaners in the latter part of the #Innings. he did exactly that and added a valuable 150 partnership with Virat before being dismissed softly off Henry for a well made 80.

Virat on the other hand is increasing his #Chase reputation by the day. Cant remember India failing to chase a score when he has scored above 50. He is the bankable star for India in #Runchases and he did just that smashing his 26th ODI #Ton. A true masterclass to steer India to victory by 7 wickets.

All in all, a clinical victory for India as they head into the 4th ODI attempting to wrap the series.
The #BlackCaps need to find in all their reserves and assist their #Captain #KaneWilliamson salvage something from this horror tour for them.

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Saturday 22 October 2016

ISL 2016: Indian Players Need Better Facilities To Become World Class - FC Goa midfielder Jofre

#ISL2016
#IndianSoccerLeague #Season3

For Indian football to develop, the stress should be on creating an environment where players do not just enjoy the sport but are well aware of their tactical positioning, feels #Spanish #Midfielder #Jofre Mateu Gonzalez.



The #FCGoa #Footballer who robbed Atletico de Kolkata (#ATK) of a win by winning and converting a late #Penalty here on Sunday, said: "You need to have academies where children grow in a #Football environment."

"It's not only about practicing and enjoying the game, but knowing a lot about being part of a team, a lot of skills and #Tactical issues which you must know in your (playing) position," Jofre added.

"It's very good for the #League and for the country. And my mates (Indian players at FC Goa), you can see they are improving every year." Jofre, who has played over 300 games in the second division of the #Spanish #LaLiga, pointed out the importance of off-field activities like nutrition and rest, which are as important as the on-field development.

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File image of Jofre. AFP

Friday 21 October 2016

Ind v NZ ODI Series: Kiwis Find New Zeal To Beat India By 6 Runs

#IndvNZ #ODISeries2016
#Kotla #NewDelhi

New Zealand defeated India by six runs in a closely-fought second One-Day International (#ODI) cricket match at the #FerozeshahKotla here on Thursday - the #Kiwis' first win on the current tour of the country.

#KedarJadhav (41) was the highest scorer for the hosts and skipper #MSDhoni contributed 39 runs in the team's chase of 243-run target. For New Zealand, #TimSouthee scalped three wickets while #TrentBoult and #MartinGuptill took two #Wickets each. #NewZealand scored 242/9 riding on skipper #KaneWilliamson's fine century (118). With the win, New Zealand squared the five-match series 1-1. It is also after 11 long years that India have lost an ODI at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground here.

"I feel this was one game where we lost wickets against the run of play, it was not that the deliveries were good, we just kept losing wickets," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "Until the end we had the run rate under control. When you're chasing you need to play 50 overs and at one stage it didn't look like we would," he said. Dhoni also credited New Zealand as his own bowlers for the superb show in the match.

"I felt the New Zealand bowlers bowled really well but we just kept losing wickets. I don't think there was a lot of #Dew, it was not coming out to the bat," he said. "I think we bowled really well, after the new ball it was key to get #ReverseSwing and put pressure on the #Batsman," Mishy (Amit #Mishra) bowled well and got crucial wickets.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was adjudged #ManOfTheMatch for his 118-run knock which was largely responsible for the visitors 242 run score on the board. Williamson too credited his bowlers for helping the Kiwis register their first win in the tour. "The wicket wasn't easy to increase the scoring rate, at the halfway stage we were a few off where we wanted to be. A lot of credit to the way we bowled, to create pressure on that surface was key and Trent Boult was outstanding," he said.

"The bowling was huge for us. We were below #Par but we did have enough runs to create a squeeze, dealing with the dew is never easy. The dew didn't help the #Spinners and they did a great job. There wasn't much turn but they did great for us. #Seam #Bowling was easier to face on that surface. It was a good game of cricket," Williamson added.

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ISL 2016: Delhi Dynamos Rally From Behind To Hold Mumbai City FC 3-3

#ISL2016
#Indian #Soccer #League #Season 3

#Delhi #Dynamos and #MumbaiCity #FC are at second position but the former are above because of better goal difference.

Delhi Dynamos staged a remarkable comeback to play out a 3-3 draw with Mumbai City FC in a high-scoring encounter of the Indian Super League (#ISL), which witnessed end-to-end football throughout, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

For Mumbai City FC, Hungarian midfielder Krisztian #Vadocz found the net twice, in the 33rd and 38th minutes, and the consistent Sony #Norde added to the tally by finding the back of the net in the 69th minute at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Richard Gadze opened the account for the hosts when he found the target in the 51st minute and then substitute Badara #Badji and #Marcelinho scored in the 76th and 82nd minutes respectively.

This was the ongoing #season's highest scoring game. It was an impressive outing by Mumbai too, considering that they were missing a few key players, though their coach Alexandre Borges #Guimaraes will be livid for twice letting slip the advantage.

Mumbai City FC remained on second position with two wins, two draws and a defeat after five appearances, while Delhi Dynamos moved to second place owing to a better #Goal #Difference than #AtleticoDeKolkata.

Dynamos have played four #Matches and recorded a win and three #Draws. This was their third successive draw after starting the #Campaign with a win. The match started on a positive note with both teams looking to #Attack. 

The first breakthrough came when Vadócz, after being fed by playmaker Leonardo Da Costa with a through, sent the ball into the bottom right corner.

Barely five minutes later, it was Vadócz again who emerged as the scorer. Norde took the freekick from just outside the box and Dynamos goalkeeper Roberto Volpato tried to palm it away, but Vadocz headed it off the rebound to make it 2-0 for the visitors.

Mumbai City went into the break with a comfortable two-goal cushion. The visitors were the better of the two sides in the first half. Two goals in the space of six minutes changed the complexion completely and the pressure was certainly on Delhi Dynamos and their coach Gianluca #Zambrotta. Before the breather, the hosts did not really create any great opportunities.

However, they upped their game in the second half and eventually forced Mumbai to settle for a stalemate. The Dynamos came out all guns blazing and first scored through Gadze. Skipper Florent Malouda sent a through to #Marcelo and he, in turn, squared one to #Gadze, who made no mistake while finding the back of the net.

Replay showed that Marcelo could have been offside, but the goal stood. Even as Dynamos tried to come back into the game, Sony Norde dribbled past Souvik Chakraborty and slotted the ball at the far bottom corner.

Mumbai were sitting pretty at that stage with a two-goal cushion again. But there was more to come as Dynamos rallied to find the net through Badji. Malouda played the ball to Badji and he only had #Volpato to beat, and he did that successfully.

As the Mumbai goalkeeper came out rushing to collect the ball, the referee called for penalty, and Marcelinho managed to beat Volpato with a wonderful spot kick. The goalkeeper guessed it correctly as he dived to the right, but the ball evaded his fingertips.

Mumbai made three changes from their 1-0 loss to Blasters. David Lalrinmuana, Boithang Haokip and Cardozo went out and in came Sony Norde, for his first appearance, Pronay Halder and Sena Ralte.

For #Dynamos, goalkeeper Toni Doblas alongside the likes of #Sweepers Lalchhawnkima, Ruben Rocha and holding #Midfielder Marcos Tebar were benched for this game and included in their places were former Aizawl goalkeeper Soram Poirei, David Addy and Ibrahima Niasse.

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isl, isl 2016, delhi vs mumbai, mumbai vs delhi, delhi dynamos vs mumbai city fc, mumbai vs delhi isl, football news, football

Sunday 16 October 2016

ODI Cricket New Method To Minimise Loss Of Play In Rain-Affected Games

#ODI #Cricket

What happened at #Kingsmead, #QueensParkOval and more recently at #GreenPark in #Kanpur is fresh in memory. Rain had rendered the #Ground #Unfit for play resulting in #TestMatches in Durban and Port of Spain turning out to be a farce.

In the India-New Zealand Test in Kanpur, India's 500th Test match, which India won by 197 runs, the visitors were 152 for one at tea on the second day when it started raining. But though the rain relented and despite bright sunshine, the rest of the day's play was lost as the ground staff feared that removing covers immediately could endanger the ground. Moving the #Water #Logged #Covers, they reckoned, would result in seepage and more damage to ground conditions.

Agreed, elements are beyond control, but a solution to playground management is within reach. At least if Ch Yaamalaiah, a training and place ment officer at Krishna Chaitanya Institute of Technology and Sciences in Markapur of Andhra Pradesh, is to be believed. Yaamalaiah has applied for a patent titled: Methods and apparatus for covering a playground from rain.

The drill when it starts raining is cricket grounds are covered with multiple covers manually. It takes time to cover and they cannot cover the entire ground in time. Even after covering, rain water seeps through the edges and the ground gets damp in case of heavy rain. Even with #SuperSoppers at work, it takes time to dry the covers and matches get delayed or sometimes cancelled after a long wait due to #Wet #Outfield.

Yaamalaiah reckons the outfield would not get wet if the entire ground is covered with a single cover in quick time. #Rain water that falls on the cover, he said, will reach the boundary along the g round and flows out through the gutter/moat along the playing field. If his solution works fine, there will be no need for super soppers. His invention, Yaamalaiah said, does exactly that. The #Unicover method solves the problem by covering the entire ground with a single #WaterProof cover. That can be done by an apparatus which holds, unrolls and rolls back the rain cover. 

Instead of allowing water and #Mopping, this apparatus prevents rain water from falling on the outfield surface and the cover does not allow water #Seeping on to the ground as the said cover has no gaps. Water that falls on the cover reaches the edge/boundary of the ground and exits through the #Gutter.

Yaamalaiah said the apparatus is installed on one side of the ground near the boundary. It comprises two vertical bars, one rotatable horizontal bar and one rain cover. The waterproof cover, equivalent in size and shape of the playground, is wound to the horizontal bar that can be rotated with th e help of an electric motor.

When it starts raining, the apparatus' cover holding the bar is rotated so that the waterproof cover rolls on to the ground. Groundsmen spread the cover and rain water that collects on the cover rolls into the moat - as most playgrounds have surfaces that slope towards the boundary - so the ground staff can immediately roll back the covers, he said. 

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ISL 2016 2 week Review - Points Table, Team Standings, Match Results

#ISL2016
#Indian #Soccer #League

#Chennaiyin #FC registered their first win of the Indian Super League 2016 as they defeated #FC #Goa by 2-0 margin. For Chennaiyin FC, Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Hans Mulder scored one goal each to help their side open their account on the ISL 2016  points table. 

It is going to be a long season in the #ISL. We will bring you all the updates and news on the tournament which is expected to grip the imagination of football fans for more than two months. It is fair to say that with only eight teams competing with each other, there is little confusion on who stands where. All teams have a fair idea about their opponents and can eventually set a plan accordingly.

#AtléticoDeKolkata and Chennaiyin FC have been the two winners of the tournament thus far and what will really spice up things will be a new winner and it is fair to say that it is difficult to predict. #KeralaBlasters and #FCGoa have been the two runners-up which means that we have had four different teams in the two seasons as far as the finals go. 

Team Matches Wins Losses Draws Points 
NorthEast United 4 3 1 0 9 
Mumbai City FC 3 2 0 1 7 
Atletico de Kolkata 3 1 0 2 5 
Delhi Dynamos 2 1 0 1 4 
Chennaiyin FC 3 1 1 1 4 
FC Pune City 3 1 2 0 3 
Kerala Blasters 3 0 2 1 1 
FC Goa 3 0 3 0 0

One thing is for sure, predictions are most difficult to make. It will not be different at this point either. Anything other than a win will not shape up the points table and eventually the more results we have, the better it may be.

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Tuesday 11 October 2016

ISL 2016 Last Minute Goal Exposes FC Goa Brittle Defence Vs FC Pune City

#ISL2016
#Indian #Soccer #League

Fragility is fast becoming the overarching trait that defines manager #Zico's #FC #Goa.This goes back to the last season of the Indian Super League (#ISL) in which #Goa thumped #MumbaiCity #FC by a record seven-goal margin, yet also suffered two 0-4 meltdowns against #AtleticoDeKolkata and #ChennaiyinFC, in addition to throwing away a last-minute lead in the final at home.

Dying moments of that final would've replayed in the minds of the Goan supporters on Saturday night, when #FC #PuneCity's forward Momar #Ndoye breezed past #Lucio, the home team's marquee defender, and curled in a 90th-minute winner that gave goalkeeper Laxmikant #Kattimani no chance of saving. It meant another disjoint display by Goa ended in another defeat.


ISL

FC Pune City had won only once in 14 away matches heading into this fixture and that was back in 2014 during the inaugural season. The visitors carried mental baggage of their own, even with a revamped squad. However, there's a growing belief in Goa's opponents that if you can stop Zico's men from scoring, you will, sooner or later, be gifted clear-cut openings to take full advantage of.

The Brazilian manager had a familiar moan after the match — "we created many chances but we were able to convert just once"— and to a certain extent, it's hard not to sympathise with him. Two gilt-edged chances fell to Romeo Fernandes, a second-half substitute who brought with him greater attacking emphasis, but the Indian winger shot one straight at the goalkeeper and skied the other high and wide.

On the other hand, Pune profited twice from a handful of their own opportunities. Arata Izumi converted a generous rebound into an open goal, while Ndoye found himself in space and one-on-one with Lucio. All of Pune's six shots were on target and, furthermore, they were unlucky not to have at least one, if not two, penalties (though Goa should've had one of their own too).

It's a worrying trend for Zico. Opponents, who acknowledge Goa's attacking potential, are content to sit back and then wait for the right opportunities to come by (though Pune were adventurous in patches).Owing to injuries in a revamped FC Goa squad, a new-look team is taking longer to gel — which means Goa must learn how to eke out points on the tougher days or, at the very least, not throw points away.

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ISL 2016 Chennaiyin FC Suffer Defeat At Hands Of Delhi Dynamos

#ISL2016
#Indian #Soccer #League

#DelhiDynamos #FC began their #ISL2016 campaign in style with a comprehensive 3-1 win against #Defending #Champions #Chennaiyin #FC at the Marina Arena. The home team looked a pale shadow of the team that went toe to toe against #AtleticoDeKolkata four days ago.

First of all, Delhi manager Gianluca #Zambrotta sprung a surprise by dropping his marquee signing, Florent #Malouda, to the bench. Bruno Pelissari, the Chennaiyin player who moved to Delhi Dynamos this season was benched as well. This turned out to be a masterstroke as Chennaiyin had to face five in the midfield. The defending champions could barely string a few passes at will at the center of the park. This is indicated clearly when we see Raphael Augusto had 67 (highest) passes while the highest among the other five of his teammates was a mere 37 passes. The midfield battle was Delhi's for the taking.
Chennaiyin's defence set up for a kicking

Badara Badji of Delhi Dynamos celebrates scoring during an ISL match. Sportzpics

Bernard Mendy and John Arne Riise were caught out of position as the Delhi Dynamos' attacking players ran circles around them. A team that was touted to have the strongest defence, Chennaiyin have already conceded 5 goals in 2 games!

Delhi should have had 4 or 5 goals in the first half alone. They were denied as early as the 12th minute by the referee's assistant with a contentious offside call. Duwayne Kerr also didn't help matters making two costly errors - he was saved the blushes on the first one, thanks to Kean Lewis' heavy touch following his misplaced pass and the second was the penalty he conceded that led to the first goal. 

The centrebacks where caught ball watching as Richard Gadze split the defence to send Marcelo through for the second goal. And for the third goal again, Riise was too busy keeping up with the ball than with Badara Badji leaving young Jerry Lalrinzuala to handle him. Mehrajuddin Wadoo was the lone light of comfort within the chaos that was Chennaiyin's back four.

One of the biggest reasons John Stiven Mendoza flourished was because of the pace at which Chennaiyin could transition the ball up front. Raphael Augusto played a very important role in this aspect. He had the liberty to venture forward last season with either of Harmanjot Khabra or Manuele Blasi or Zakeer Mundampara providing the defence a screen. So far in the two matches that Chennaiyin have played, Augusto seems to be wasted in a deeper role and this has clearly affected the creativity from the midfield. Jeje's pass to send Dudu through for Chennaiyin's only goal was one of the flashes of brilliance which the forward had to create.

Chennaiyin, with just a point from two games, have a week before the next match to dwell on their mistakes. They should look to put on a much better performance for their beloved home crowd come next Thursday.

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Sunday 9 October 2016

Ind v NZ Test Series - Kohli Double, Rahane Tons Flatten Kiwis On Day 2

#IndvNZ #TestSeries
#Indore
#TestMatch

Day 2: Stumps - New Zealand, 29 for 0 (9 overs) trail by 529 runs

Rahane and Kohli put India in control at the end of the first day of the third Test.
Rahane and Kohli put India in control at the end of the second day of the third Test. 

Day two of the third Test in Indore was studded with centuries from #Virat #Kohli and #Ajinkya #Rahane. The pair added 365 for the fourth wicket and en route broke a series of record, both personal and partnership ones. It was indeed a day to remember for the pair as India went through two sessions without losing a wicket.

The tiring New Zealand bowlers were punished as the duo kept collecting runs before Kohli fell in the first over after Tea for 211 while Rahane departed after for 188. Rohit Sharma then carted the bowlers away for a quick-fire half-century after which India soon declared for 557/5.

#Martin #Guptill and Tom Latham have started their innings strongly, seeing out the nine overs unscathed. New Zealand end with 28/0, with Guptill on 17 and Latham on 6.

#Rohit #Sharma came out all guns blazing with the intent of scoring quick runs. With #Jadeja, he added 53 runs in 59 balls before reaching his fifty in the bargain. India have done enough to last them across both innings.

Penalty: 
Ravindra Jadeja runs straight down the wicket. That, after a prior warning. A five-run penalty has been levied. 

Records tumbling: 
Kohli's 193* is the second highest by an Indian captain against New Zealand in Tests. Only Sachin Tendulkar's 217 in Ahmedabad in 1999 is higher.

New best scores: 
Kohli now has his second-best Test score, surpassing 169. Rahane, too, crosses his previous-best Test score of 147, getting to a score of 150-plus for the first time in Test cricket.

The last time two non-openers scored 150-plus in the same innings for India was Ganguly (239) & Yuvraj (165) vs Pakistan in Bangalore in 2007.

Kohli and Rahane surpass the Ganguly-Tendulkar stand of 281 to now being the second-highest against New Zealand in Tests. 

Century twins: 
After Kohli got to his century yesterday, Ajinkya Rahane scored his eighth Test century, his third at home, on the second day. Albeit increasing trouble against the short ball, he has emerged a winner. 

#LIVE #Score
India 557 for 5 decl
New Zealand 28/0 (9.0 Ovs)
Guptill  17 (30)

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ISL 2016: NEUnited FC Off To A Great Start This Season With Two Wins

#ISL2016
#IndianSoccerLeague
#Season3

#NorthEast #United #FC's Indian Super League (#ISL) season has got off to a dream start with two wins from two matches. After beating #Kerala #Blasters in the inaugural match of ISL 3, NorthEast United FC beat #FC #Goa for the first time on Tuesday, and the John Abraham-owned side is already looking a side to watch out for.


NEUFc 380

NorthEast were confident going into the match against Goa, with new coach Nelo Vinganda making one change to his starting XI from the opening day's victory. Nicolas Velez was on the bench and defensive midfielder Wellington Priori replaced him.

The coach's idea was to add more steel to the midfield, with more cover for the back four. The Highlanders chose to go with only one out-and-out striker in Emiliano Alfaro. The hero of the opening match, Katsumi Yusa, started the match on the right flank with Halicharan Narzary pushed on the left side.

Contrary to the rather dull opening game, this match got off to an exciting start with some brilliant end-to-end action. Yusa is proving to be a shrewd and excellent buy for the side and once again, he created brilliant opportunities for his team. He won an early free kick and earned his team the first sniff of goal in the 12th minute.

In the 20th minute, NorthEast got their lead in a rather bizarre fashion. Goa defender Lucio won an aerial duel with Alfaro and passed the ball back to goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani who took too many touches as he was being hounded by Alfaro.

Kattimani made a pass that hit the onrushing Alfaro's knee and got deflected into the goal. It was a howler by the Goa #Goalkeeper, who just had to pass the ball to one of his teammates, or just kick it long. Instead, he got pressurised and couldn't take the correct decision. NorthEast got their goal with some luck, but credit should go to Alfaro for keeping up the pressure on the Goa keeper. Goa knit some quick passes and tried to equalise, but when in the 62nd minute, Alfaro scored NorthEast's second goal, the Highlanders were ensured three points.

Starting the match without last season's top scorer Nico Velez, NorthEast still managed to score two goals and win, which is good news for the side, as it means the team would not have to rely on one player for goals. If they can have three or four players sharing the burden of getting the goals, they will find the task of crossing the league stage for the first time much easier.

What also helps is that 'Professor' Vingada has evidently tightened the screws at the back. In both the matches, NorthEast have defended obstinately. #Kerala were poor and didn't attack as much, but #Goa offered more in that department. Still the NorthEast defence managed to stand tall.

Subrata Paul is proving to be another great signing for the club. Considering the side already had the services of TP Rehnesh, it seemed odd that the management went ahead and signed another goalkeeper. Arjuna award winner Paul is massively experienced, and while his signing looked ideal for that reason, there were doubts if he would be able to perform as well as he used to when he was younger.

However, Paul has has brilliant, clearing doubts over his abiities. Ten minutes into the second half, he pulled off a blinder of a save when he thwarted a long-range effort from Trinidad Goncalves. Just a few moments later, he was brought into the act again and managed to save Mandar Rao Desai's shot from inside the box and Trinidad's follow-up as well.

With the 2-0 win, #NorthEast handed #FC #Goa what was just their fifth away loss in the history of the ISL. Granted, Kattimani's poor goalkeeping helped, but credit has to be given to NorthEast for their win.

Yusa and Paul have both shown their worth, but perhaps Vingada is the best signing for NorthEast. The coach's tactics, his managerial style and his transfer business cannot be understated. It's been a busy first week for the Highlanders, and their third match comes in just a couple of days' time. It will be their first away match as they face Mumbai City FC at the Andheri Sports Complex. It is already the best start for the side in the ISL, but if NorthEast can get another win, it will be an incredible start to the season, and their title prospects will brighten significantly.

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Wednesday 5 October 2016

ISL 2016: Mumbai City FC Beat FC Pune 1-0

#ISL2016

Having seen his side start its Indian Super League (#ISL) 2016 campaign with a 1-0 win over state rivals #Pune, #Mumbai City #FC coach Alexandre Guimaraes was cautiously optimistic about their prospects this season. A Matias Defederico goal in the 69th minute helped Mumbai defeat #FC Pune City at the latter's Balewadi Stadium home.

But Guimaraes stressed on the need to improve. "We didn't get enough possession of the ball, and it was only after 20-25 minutes that we found our game and the space for our players to perform. In #Defence, we have to be much more alert and not allow counter attacks. It is now a matter of recovery, rest, eating well and making adjustments. The practice we had in Dubai has shown. But we'll need to play well throughout the #Tournament. We would have to adjust fast," he said.

Though marquee player #Diego #Forlan had a quiet outing, Guimaraes wasn't too perturbed by Forlan's no show. "I think he did what we wanted him to do. He moved the way we wanted him to move. He played like a No 9. When he moves he creates distraction and that is a situation that we profit from. Other players will find him more game-by-game, and he will be able to show his ability," Guimaraes said.

The first Maharashtra derby of the season produced a fairly even match, however, and the team that took its first chance came up triumphant. Guimaraes also spoke of the number of issues that have plagued Mumbai since the start of the tournament. "The start of a tournament is always difficult, because we have to manage different situations in hours. Just 3-4 days ago, #Sony had to go to Haiti for national team duty, while we also have the situation with Bengaluru FC (Five players from Mumbai City FC are away with the I-League side on AFC Cup duty)," he lamented.

#Guimaraes heaped praise on his players, however. "In just five days, our players have shown tremendous ability through our work and have shown discipline. They understood the way we have to play against a very good team, a very well worked team. We had to be strong in our defensive organisation and with the players we have up front. It is a matter of time. We kept working and I think the result is a good start," he said.

Mumbai City FC players celebrating their side's goal against FC Pune City. Sportzpics
















The visitors were also handicapped by the non-availability of #Winger Jackichand Singh. The Manipuri international is the best Indian player in the Mumbai line-up after #Sunil #Chettri, and after appearing with the manager in the pre-match conference, was a shoe-in to play on the right wing. But according to the Costa Rican coach, Jackichand was "dealing with some leg problems" and didn't get enough practice with the team. "I decided to think about him as an energiser player from the bench. He is working hard and is doing well. The way this tournament works, everyone will have their opportunity."


Mumbai will now take on NorthEast United FC in their first home game of the season at the Andheri Sports Complex on 7 October.

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New Zealand Tour Of India Tour Reportedly Cancelled?

#IndvNZ #Cricket #Series 2016

New Zealand are preparing for the Third #TestMatch against India as scheduled despite a local media report the remainder of the tour has been cancelled by the Indian cricket board due to financial problems.

An unnamed official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (#BCCI) as saying the board's #Bank #Accounts had been frozen after a recommendation by the Lodha Committee, a court-appointed panel set up to look into its operations.

"We have no option other than to call off the India-New Zealand series as our banks have decided to freeze BCCI accounts," the paper quoted the official as saying.

"We don't want India to be humiliated in front of the world.

"How can we function, how can we hold any games now? Who will make the payment? Freezing a bank account is no joke. An international team is here, and there is so much at stake."

India sealed the three-match test series 2-0 on Monday with a 178-run victory in Kolkata. The third Test is scheduled to start in Indore on Saturday, with a five-match one-day international series to follow.

A New Zealand Cricket spokesman said they had heard nothing from the BCCI.
The BCCI has had a long-running battle with India's Supreme Court, which has demanded a raft of administrative and governance reforms for the world's richest cricket board.

The board, run by politicians and businessmen and criticized for a perceived lack of transparency, said after a general meeting on Saturday that it had adopted a number of "important recommendations" made by the Lodha Committee but rejected others out of hand.

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SC vs BCCI Struggle-Lodha panel tells banks to defreeze BCCI accounts

#SupremeCourt vs #BCCI - Power Struggle
#Lodha #Commitee Disappointed by BCCI practices 

MUMBAI: The #Justice #Lodha #Committee clarified on Tuesday morning that the Supreme Court "has not frozen the bank accounts of the BCCI nor has it objected to the banking operations/payments relating to routine administration and conduct of cricket matches/tournaments".

The committee was reacting to TOI's exclusive report on Tuesday that said #BCCI was worried about conducting the Indore Test against New Zealand as its bank accounts had been frozen.

The committee said it had clarified to the banks in 'express terms' that it had not asked for the BCCI accounts to be frozen as it did not want cricket and the public to suffer due to the actions of board administrators. Hours after the email was sent to the #President, #Secretary, #Treasurer and the #CEO of the BCCI, it came to light that the #CLT20 surplus cash - distributed by the board to member associations - was transferred on Saturday itself, the day when the adjourned SGM was held at the BCCI headquarters.

The Lodha Committee then wrote to all state associations, saying: "It is further learnt that amounts between Rs 10-20 crore were disbursed to each association as infrastructure subsidy and Rs 28 crore as compe nsation shares from the Champions League T-20 cancellation. The banks confirm that most of these transactions were hurriedly carried out by RTGS between 29th September and 1st October."
We never ordered the banks to freeze BCCI's accounts. After reading about it in the morning, we informed them to defreeze them immediately... Either our e-mail hasn't been read properly, or it's being presented in a wrong manner

The letter adds, "In this light of events, as the actions of the BCCI to transfer these funds is contrary to this committee's directions and subjudice, you are hereby directed not to in any way transfer or disturb those funds that have been transferred as above to your association. If anything is done contrary to this express direction, it will be brought to the knowledge of the Hon'ble Supreme Court for appropriate orders on contempt."

Five state associations confirmed to TOI on Tuesday that they had received the Champions League surplus disbursement, but added that only part of the annual subsidy had been received.

BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, who convened the SGM, could not be reached for comments. BCCI sources said Shirke had left for London on a business trip and would be accessible only after 11pm IST on Tuesday night. The board has 27 full members, apart from Railways, Universities, Cricket Club of India and the National Cricket Club. The BCCI's share of compensation from the one-time payment ran to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore. "Such decisions were neither routine nor emergent," the Lodha Committee said even as their sources clarified that any expenses related to cricket were perfectly alright.

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Sunday 2 October 2016

India Win Second Test Match Against New Zealand To Clinch Series

#IndvNZ #TestSeries 2016
2nd Test Match - Kolkata

India's bowlers propelled the hosts to a comprehensive 178-run win over New Zealand in the second Test Monday, to clinch the series and reclaim the top spot in the world rankings.

Chasing 376 runs for victory, New Zealand were bowled out for 197 in the final session on the fourth day in Kolkata, with India's Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja taking three wickets each.

Shami claimed the final wicket of Trent Boult, sparking celebrations in the Indian team who now take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the first Test in Kanpur.

The victory also sees India jump back to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings after starting the series just one point behind archrivals Pakistan.

Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took five scalps in the first innings, shared 12 wickets between them on a two-paced track at Eden Gardens that offered the seam bowlers of both sides great help.

But batsman Wriddhiman Saha was awarded man of the match for his unbeaten half-centuries in both innings against New Zealand's seamers.
Spinners also played their part after Ashwin broke New Zealand's opening stand just after lunch, trapping Martin Guptill lbw for 24.

Tom Latham also scored a gritty 74 before falling to Ashwin soon after the tea break. Ashwin got Latham on a well-crafted off-spinner that pitched and spun away from the left-hander, who was caught behind. Latham's 49-run second-wicket partnership with Henry Nicholls had raised the visitors' hopes of batting the day out, but Ashwin's partner Jadeja soon joined forces.

Jadeja claimed the wicket of Nicholls after his angled delivery got the edge of the New Zealander's bat for an easy catch at slips. Shami got some reverse swing towards the end of the day to rattle New Zealand's middle-order with the wickets of Mitchell Santner and BJ Watling.

Earlier India, who resumed the day on 227 for eight in their second innings, were bowled out for 263 with Saha scoring an unbeaten 58. The contributions of Saha, who scored an unbeaten 54 in the first innings, proved vital to India putting up decent totals.

India's pace duo of Shami and Kumar helped bowl out New Zealand for 204 in response to India's 316 in the first innings. New Zealand pacers Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Neil Wagner, who shared 14 wickets between them in the two innings, also enjoyed the seaming conditions.

India secured a 112-run lead in the first innings that proved vital in outplaying the visitors, who lost regular skipper Kane Williamson to a viral infection just before the start of the match.

Rohit Sharma's dominant 82 on Sunday gave India the upper hand in its 250th Test at home. Half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77) in the first innings also ensured India made a solid start.
The final Test will be played in Indore starting on October 8.

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