The England fast bowlers concluded the first Test match in Hyderabad without taking a wicket, a feat last achieved in 1952 against Kanpur.
Updated On – 28 January 2024, 07:36 PM
Englands Joe Root plays a shot during the first day of their first test cricket match against India in Hyderabad. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Hyderabad: England secured a 28-run victory over India in Hyderabad, thereby taking the lead in the 5-match series.
The Indian batting performance left fans disappointed, especially cricket enthusiasts in Hyderabad who turned out in large numbers at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium to witness the Test match.
Even Rohit Sharma acknowledged the team’s struggle during the post-match presentation.
Here are some interesting trivia points:
This Test marked the second instance since 1945 where English seam bowlers failed to pick a wicket, and all 20 wickets in the match were claimed by spinners.
The England fast bowlers concluded the first Test match in Hyderabad without taking a wicket, a feat last achieved in 1952 against Kanpur.
India faced its first-ever defeat in a Test match in Hyderabad.
The Men in Blue suffered a Test match loss after 92 years when holding a lead of over 100 runs in the first innings.
This defeat marked the fifth instance where India lost a red-ball game after scoring more than 400 runs on home soil.
India’s chase of 231 went horribly south once Hartley (7/62) spun into India’s top-order, igniting a rot that saw India getting bowled out for 202 in the final over of the day.
Published Date – 28 January 2024, 06:04 PM
Photo: AP
Hyderabad: The pushback started by incandescent Ollie Pope was given its perfect conclusion by debutant left-arm spinner Tom Hartley whose soul-ripping spell fashioned England’s memorable 28-run win over India on the fourth day of the first Test here on Sunday.
India’s chase of 231 went horribly south once Hartley (7/62) spun into India’s top-order, igniting a rot that saw India getting bowled out for 202 in the final over of the day. England now lead the five-match series 1-0.
This is India’s fourth defeat in home Tests since 2013 and India’s approach during chase was in complete contrast to how Pope tackled Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja with a lot of intent. The spin twins have never been lethal on surfaces which aren’t exactly dustbowl and England’s second innings batting show won’t do their reputation any good.
Earlier, Pope’s brilliant 196 took England to 420 in their second innings, and gave them a substantial lead and genuine hopes of stretching India. And England did way more than stretching the hosts.
In fact, this defeat will leave a deep burn in Indian hearts as they stumbled against a 25-year-old rookie Lancastrian with a combined experience of three international matches on a pitch that did not hide any demons.
There was appreciable turn and variable bounce but nothing this set of Indian batters could not have negated. Three dismissals showcased the travails of Indians on the day – Shubman Gill (0), Yashasvi Jaiswal (15) and Shreyas Iyer (13) fell to their own ineptitudes.
Jaiswal made a half-hearted charge against Hartley and the spinner pulled back his length after spotting movement of the batter. All the left-hander could manage was to spoon a catch to Pope at silly point.
Gill followed the suit two balls later in the same over. He made a hard-handed, indecisive push at the ball after Hartley tossed one around the off-stump. Pope did the rest at silly point.
Jack Leach, who is still not 100 per cent after taking a blow on his knee while fielding, dealt another telling blow to India’s aspirations.
He produced a rather regulation ball that went across the right-hander from around the stumps, and Shreyas just poked the ball to Joe Root at first slip. It was just a nothing dismissal that encapsulated India’s turmoil on the day.
India could have felt a greater pinch with Iyer’s dismissal as he is one of the better-equipped batter in this batting unit to negate spin.
In-form KL Rahul (22) looked all set for another impact innings, but Root pinned him on the back-foot as the batter attempted a whip on the on-side. Rahul went upstairs after the on-field umpire gave him leg before, but the TV umpire too concurred with his distant colleague’s decision.
Ravindra Jadeja challenged Ben Stokes for a quick single and the England captain found his target with a direct throw, catching the batter well short of the crease. But the sight of him walking back with a clutched hamstring might just offer a tad concern to the Indian camp.
Skipper Rohit Sharma looked in good space but Hartley’s guile had him stationed in front of the wicket when the ball thudded on to his pads. After losing three wickets in the post-lunch session, India slipped further in the final passage losing wickets in a cluster before Ravichandran Ashwin (28) and KS Bharat (28) stemmed the slide for a while with a 58-run alliance for the eighth wicket.
Their assiduousness was a marker for some of their top-order teammates but it remained just that. A gloomy pointer. But for getting into a position from where they can dictate the course of the match, England, resuming from 321 for six, should be indebted to Pope, who ballooned his overnight 148 to 196.
England’s lead was a good 126 when play ended on Saturday, but they needed more to give a fight to India. Pope did that in the company of equally resolute Rehan Ahmed (28) and Hartley (34). With Ahmed, Pope added 64 runs for the seventh wicket and then made 80 off 106 balls with Hartley on his side for the eighth wicket.
However, Bumrah brought India the first breakthrough of the morning session when he had Ahmed caught behind. Ashwin’s shooter ended the burgeoning Pope-Hartley alliance as the off-spinner sneaked a low-flying ball past the latter’s bat to bowl him.
Pope was the last man to depart. Fittingly, Bumrah, the best of Indian bowlers, ended his stay with a slower ball that dishevelled the stumps as Pope tried a reverse scoop. However, by then, he had also reversed the course of the Test match by then. Irrevocably.
Iran’s Azimi emerged victorious against his rivals from Russia Arsen Ali Musalaliev 7-4, Nazhmudinov 4-0 to reach the quarterfinal.
In the quarterfinal, Azimi defeated Azamat Zakuev from Russia 8-6 to qualify for the semifinal.
In the semifinal, the Iranian freestyle wrestler beat another Russian opponent Shamil-Imam Gadzhialiev 9-0 to reach the final.
In the final, Azimi will compete with a Russian contestant Magomed Kurbanov to gain the gold medal.
The preliminary stage of the sporting event was held on Sunday in 74, 86, 92, and 97 weight categories.
Iran’s national wrestling squad comprised Adel Panahian (74kg), Ali Savadkoudi (86kg), Mohammad-Mobin Azimi (92kg) and Abolfazl Babalou (97kg) competed with rivals on the first day of the tournament.
All Iranian freestyle wrestlers were eliminated from the tournament except Azimi.
The 2024 Yarygin wrestling tournament is underway in Krasnoyarsk, Russia on January 25-28.
KL Rahul and Axar Patel were batting on 21 and 17 respectively when tea was called.
Published Date – 28 January 2024, 02:25 PM
Indias KL Rahul plays a shot during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between India and England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad (Photo: AFP)
Hyderabad: Hosts India were 95 for three at tea on day four, needing 136 more runs to win the opening Test against England here on Sunday.
KL Rahul and Axar Patel were batting on 21 and 17 respectively when tea was called.
Debutant spinner Tom Hartley (3/31) cleaned up India’s top three.
In the morning session, India bowled out England for 420 in their second innings.
Brief Scores: England: 246 and 420 all out in 102.1 overs (Ollie Pope 196; Jasprit Bumrah 4/41). India: 436 and 95 for 3 in 29 overs (Rohit Sharma 39, KL Rahul 21 batting; Tom Hartley 3/31).
Joseph took 6-60 off ten overs with the 24-year-old reaching speeds of close to 150 kph (93 mph) and tore through the Australian middle order in a breathtaking spell.
Published Date – 28 January 2024, 01:55 PM
West Indies
Brisbane: Australia was 29 runs away from winning the day-night test and completing a clean sweep of its Test summer, but an inspired spell by Shamar Joseph has the West Indies on the brink of its first win Down Under in 27 years in a dramatic fourth day.
At the dinner break on Sunday, Australia was 187-8 with Steve Smith unbeaten on 76, and seemingly holding the key for victory for the hosts, which lost six wickets in the first session.
Nathan Lyon was not out on five, with only Josh Hazlewood left to bat for Australia.
After being helped off the ground with what appeared a badly injured toe from a searing Mitchell Starc yorker from the final ball of West Indies’ second innings on Saturday, Joseph returned with a stunning spell of fast bowling to breathe life into the tourists’ push for a famous test victory against Australia.
Joseph took 6-60 off ten overs with the 24-year-old reaching speeds of close to 150 kph (93 mph) and tore through the Australian middle order in a breathtaking spell.
He bowled Cameron Green (42) to break a 71-run stand before blasting through Travis Head’s defence with a yorker with his next ball. It was Head’s second first-ball duck of the match.
Mitch Marsh (10) and Alex Carey (two) both came and went quickly as Australia wobbled and belief grew for West Indies of a stunning upset.
Starc made 21 before he became Joseph’s fifth wicket when he was caught by Kevin Sinclair at cover.
Cummins, who scored a career-high 64 not out in the first innings could only manage two before he edged a ball through to Joshua da Silva with Australia still requiring 41 runs to win.
On Saturday, West Indies made early inroads through as Australia ended Day 3 at 60-2 still needing 156 runs Australia lost its recently named test player of the year Usman Khawaja (10) and Marnus Labuschagne (5) before Smith and Green saw Australia to stumps.
West Indies wasted numerous opportunities on Saturday to swell its lead beyond 215 runs as it got bowled out for 193 in the last session after No. 11 batter Shamar Joseph had to retire hurt.
Hazlewood picked up 3-23 with his impeccable bowling and Lyon grabbed 3-42 with Starc and Green picking up one wicket apiece.
Berlin: Bayern Munich cut their deficit to two points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen after moving 3-2 past resilient Augsburg, while Borussia Monchengladbach held Leverkusen to a goalless stalemate in the 19th round.
Augsburg started courageous against the German record champions and thought they had broken the deadlock in the 12th minute, but Elvis Rexhbecaj’s goal was ruled offside, reports Xinhua.
As the match progressed, Bayern took over as Leon Goretzka hit the side netting in the 14th minute before Raphael Guerreiro’s flicked home the corner from Aleksandar Pavlovic on 23 minutes.
Augsburg tested Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer following a fast break at the half-hour mark.
Clinical Bayern showed no mercy and doubled its advantage before the halftime through Alphonso Davies, who had all time and space to drill the ball from 20 meters past Augsburg custodian Finn Dahmen.
Augsburg halved the deficit after the restart as Kevin Mbabu’s pinpoint cross allowed Ermedin Demirovic to head home from seven meters with seven minutes into the second half.
It was a short-lived joy for the hosts as Bayern restored the two-goal lead six minutes later when Harry Kane ended his two-game goal drought with his 23rd goal of the season.
Thomas Tuchel’s men had the chance to extend the lead in the 81st minute but Mathys Tel rattled the woodwork following a one-on-one.
In the 88th minute, Augsburg’s Sven Michel saw his penalty attempt defused by Neuer who was hapless six minutes later when Demirovic converted the second awarded penalty to make it 3-2.
“We are of course pleased with the result. We knew it would be a difficult game in Augsburg. We were a bit lucky at the beginning as we didn’t gain a foothold into the game. Then we did it better,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel.
With the result, Bayern close the gap to front-runners Leverkusen to two points. Augsburg slip to the 13th spot.
In the other matches, leaders Leverkusen dropped points in the title race after a 0-0 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Stuttgart cemented its third place as a hat-trick from Deniz Undav paved the way for a 5-2 victory over uninspired Leipzig.
Cologne secured a vital point in the relegation battle after sharing the spoils with Wolfsburg following 1-1.
Werder Bremen beat Freiburg 3-1 to reap their second straight victory and Hoffenheim played out 1-1 tie with Heidenheim.
On Friday, Mario Gotze’s sole goal helped Eintracht Frankfurt edge Mainz 1-0.
The second-seeded pairing of Hseih and Mertens beat 11th seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine 6-1 7-5 in Sunday’s final. It was Hseih’s seventh Grand Slam women’s doubles title and Mertens’ fourth, their second together.
Updated On – 28 January 2024, 01:36 PM
Melbourne: Hseih Su-wei of Taiwan has become the second-oldest woman to win a Grand Slam doubles title after teaming with Elise Mertens of Belgium on Sunday to win the Australian Open women’s doubles.
The second-seeded pairing of Hseih and Mertens beat 11th seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine 6-1 7-5 in Sunday’s final. It was Hseih’s seventh Grand Slam women’s doubles title and Mertens’ fourth, their second together.
Hsieh follows Rohan Bopanna of India who became the oldest men’s champion when he won the men’s doubles title Saturday with Matthew Ebden of Australia.
American Lisa Raymond was eight days older than Hseih when she won the 2011 US Open women’s doubles. Martina Navratilova was 49 when she won the mixed doubles at the 2006 U.S. Open with Bob Bryan.
Hseih has the benefit of being coached by Australian Paul McNamee who won six Grand Slam doubles titles, including two Australian Opens and was the Australian Open chief executive until 2006. She already had taken out the mixed doubles at the current tournament with Jan Zielinski of Poland.
Mertens won the Wimbledon title with Hseih in 2021 and won the Australian Open title the same year with Aryna Sabalenka, who won her second straight singles title in Melbourne on Saturday. She also won the U.S. Open women’s doubles in 2019.
Mertens will return to the No. 1 WTA doubles ranking on Monday, a position she first held in May, 2021. She has spent 28 weeks in the top ranking spot.
Hseih and Mertens needed only 1 hour, 33 minutes on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday to pad their already impressive Grand Slam resumes. They took the first set in just over half and hour. The second set was much tighter as Mertens lost her serve in the opening game. She recovered to serve for the championship at 5-3 but was broken again.
Finally, Hseih and Mertens took the match when they broke Kichenok in the 12th game. Mertens leapt into the air in delight; Hseih was more reserved.
They make a formidable combination, Mertens with the stronger serve, Hseih with skillful touches around the net and flat, strong ground-strokes.
“It was a tough final,” Mertens said.
“It was a really great match for us and we had to stay focused all the time.” Ostapenko and Kichenok faced a tough road to the final, beating the US Open champions Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe 7-5 7-5 in the semifinals.
They lacked communication and teamwork in the first set but worked better together in the second in which Ostapenko’s serve was dependable. Kichenok lost her serve in the fourth, eight and final games.
Kichenok ended her comments at the presentation ceremony with the words Slava Ukraini, Glory to Ukraine’.
On the second day of the 2024 Karate 1-Premier League, Heydari displayed her dominance by defeating Olympian Silvia Semeraro of Italy with an 8-4 score to qualify for the final round in the Female Kumite -68kg category.
Previously in the tournament, she emerged victorious against rivals from France, Croatia, and Indonesia in the preliminary stage to qualify for the knock-out stages.
In the knock-out stages, Heydari defeated her opponents from 4-2 and Italy 8-4.
In the final, Iran’s Heydari will face her rival from France Thalya Sombe.
The 2024 Karate 1-Premier League is underway in Paris, France from January 26-28, 2024.
The England No. 3 batter showed amazing resilience to help the visitors make a fightback in his knock from 278 balls laced with 21 boundaries.
Updated On – 28 January 2024, 11:48 AM
Hyderabad: Ollie Pope struck a majestic 196 as England were bowled out for 420 in their second essay to set India a target of 231 runs to win the opening Test of the five-match series here on Sunday.
The England No. 3 batter showed amazing resilience to help the visitors make a fightback in his knock from 278 balls laced with 21 boundaries.
Jasprit Bumrah (4/41) cleaned Pope up at the stroke of lunch on the penultimate day.
Ravichandran Ashwin bagged 3/126, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed 2/131.
Resuming the day on 316/6, England lost Rehan Ahmed (28) in the sixth over of the day.
But thereafter, England No. 9 Tom Hartley (34 off 52 balls) provided fine support to Pope in a 80-run alliance for the eighth wicket.
Brief Scores: England: 246 and 420 all out in 102.1 overs (Ollie Pope 196; Jasprit Bumrah 4/41). India: 436.
Pehlwani also known as Kushti, traditional Indian wrestling, a practitioner of this sport is referred to as a pehlwan.
Published Date – 28 January 2024, 08:00 AM
Hyderabad: In the vibrant city of Hyderabad, where the aroma of biryani mingles with the hustle and bustle of daily life, the ancient art of wrestling known as ‘pehlwani’ has a long history with the city. Pehlwani also known as Kushti, traditional Indian wrestling, a practitioner of this sport is referred to as a pehlwan.
Pehlwani combines physical strength, technique and discipline, emphasizing both physical and mental prowess. “A Pehlwan, or wrestler, is someone who has dedicated their time to professional wrestling, practicing for two to three hours every morning and evening in order to compete at the district, state, national, and international levels and win medals,” says AshokKumar Guguloth, a wrestling coach and District Youth and Sports officer at District Sports Authority, Hanamkonda.
Moreover, this form of wrestling also has a spiritual aspect, “Many wrestlers follow a code of conduct that includes principles of humility, discipline, and respect for one’s guru (coach) and the sport,” he asserted.
However, recent events have cast a shadow on the Pehlwan community in Hyderabad. Akhil Pehlwan, was recently arrested for his alleged involvement in a prostitution ring. Because his name has the word ‘pehlwan’ attached to it, this incident has not only brought disgrace to the individual but has also tarnished the reputation of the entire Pehlwan community in the city.
As Shailender Singh, also known as Kalia Pehlwan, senior vice president of Hyderabad Amateur Wrestling Association clarifies, “Akhil is not a wrestler as he has not competed in any wrestling competitions at any level, apart from once or twice in local tournaments by cheating in his weight category bout many years ago.”
“A wrestler or a pehlwan who trains for two to three hours in the morning and evening in a wrestling mat or in a dangal is honoured as a wrestler. I am very disappointed to hear the word pehlwan has been defamed after the news of his arrest broke out recently,” he added.
Pehlwani holds a special place in Hyderabad, while the recent controversy involving Akhil is unfortunate but the pehlwani community continues to honour its heritage and promote the values of discipline and respect as it is visible in a 150-year-old akhara (traditional wrestling pit made of clay, where wrestlers practice and compete) name SriRatan Singh Ustad Aakhada, where a 14-year-old lad SakatKarunLal trains for free, is the third generation wrestler in their family. “Since my father was a wrestler, I also inherited the sport and my kid is now interested in it as well,” says Karun’s father SakatPrem Lal.
“We are dedicated to the sport because it fosters numerous virtues like mental toughness, physical fitness and life discipline,” he concluded. Similarly many deeply ingrainedpehlwani stories are evident in numerous akharas throughout the city defending the integrity and genuine spirit of the sport.
