Maxwell chalks plans to tackle spinners

PERTH: Set to make his Test debut against India, dashing Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has already chalked out his plans against spinners, and feels his brief experience of playing in Indian conditions will hold him in good stead in the upcoming four-Test series.

Maxwell was named as the main spinning all-rounder in Australia's 17-member Test squad to tour India, which means in all likelyhood he will earn a baggy green on the trip.

"I've thought about how I'm going to be playing spinners over there," said Maxwell, who visited India in 2010 for a training camp as part of the Centre of Excellence side, and also enjoyed a short stint with Delhi Daredevils in 2012 IPL.

"I've been lucky enough to play over there a little bit, I had the Academy a couple of years ago and had the IPL experience last year. I know my game plan over there is going to be pretty simple, using my feet against the spinners and hopefully that will hold me in good stead," he added.

Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 51 off 35 balls to lift Australia to a crushing nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in Friday's one-dayer at the WACA Ground. He hit nine fours and two sixes in his blistering knock.

Maxwell, however, insists he has the patience to make it big at the Test level.

"I'm sure if I get the chance to play Test cricket I'll probably be a bit more reserved," he said.

Despite his batting heroics, Australia would also be banking on Maxwell as an off-spinner during the tour to India.

Maxwell said after working with legendary Shane Warne this summer on the mental side of spin bowling, he is confident of his abilities as a spinner.

"With the wickets and the way they spin, you can bowl a lot faster over there (India) and really use your pace variations to your advantage," Maxwell said here ahead of Sunday's second ODI against the West Indies.

"In Australia you've got to be a lot more accurate, a lot more consistent in a certain area, where India allows you a lot more margin for error just because of the way it spins."

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Maxwell chalks plans to tackle spinners

PERTH: Set to make his Test debut against India, dashing Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has already chalked out his plans against spinners, and feels his brief experience of playing in Indian conditions will hold him in good stead in the upcoming four-Test series.

Maxwell was named as the main spinning all-rounder in Australia's 17-member Test squad to tour India, which means in all likelyhood he will earn a baggy green on the trip.

"I've thought about how I'm going to be playing spinners over there," said Maxwell, who visited India in 2010 for a training camp as part of the Centre of Excellence side, and also enjoyed a short stint with Delhi Daredevils in 2012 IPL.

"I've been lucky enough to play over there a little bit, I had the Academy a couple of years ago and had the IPL experience last year. I know my game plan over there is going to be pretty simple, using my feet against the spinners and hopefully that will hold me in good stead," he added.

Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 51 off 35 balls to lift Australia to a crushing nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in Friday's one-dayer at the WACA Ground. He hit nine fours and two sixes in his blistering knock.

Maxwell, however, insists he has the patience to make it big at the Test level.

"I'm sure if I get the chance to play Test cricket I'll probably be a bit more reserved," he said.

Despite his batting heroics, Australia would also be banking on Maxwell as an off-spinner during the tour to India.

Maxwell said after working with legendary Shane Warne this summer on the mental side of spin bowling, he is confident of his abilities as a spinner.

"With the wickets and the way they spin, you can bowl a lot faster over there (India) and really use your pace variations to your advantage," Maxwell said here ahead of Sunday's second ODI against the West Indies.

"In Australia you've got to be a lot more accurate, a lot more consistent in a certain area, where India allows you a lot more margin for error just because of the way it spins."

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Pak bundled for their lowest Test total

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn took six for eight as Pakistan collapsed to their lowest Test total of 49 on the second day of the first Test at the Wanderers on Saturday.

Scorecard | Table: Pakistan's lowest Test innings scores

Pakistan's previous lowest innings total was 53 against Australia in Sharjah in 2002.

Steyn, the world leading paceman, recorded his best Test figures at home against a Pakistan batting lineup who were unable to cope with the pace and bounce of a lively Wanderers' pitch.

South Africa were dismissed for 253 after winning the toss and electing to bat with Pakistan off-spinner Mohammed Hafeez capturing a career-best four for 16.

Steyn dismissed Hafeez in his first over of the day when the opener got a faint edge which went straight through to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers after failing to add to his overnight total of six.

Debutant Nasir Jamshed survived a television referral from Vernon Philander when the bowler was convinced he had him lbw, only for the replay to confirm the ball was going over the top.

Two balls later, Steyn swung the ball into Jamshed (2) and trapping him in front. The batsman challenged umpire Billy Bowden's decision, but this time Hawk-eye had the ball crashing into the leg stump.

Veteran Younus Khan lasted just five balls before he pushed forward to a full Steyn delivery and edged to Graeme Smith at first slip without scoring.

Forty-two dots ball in a row followed Younus's dismissal as Azhar Ali and captain Misbah-ul-Haq tried simply to survive the South African onslaught.

They managed to tentatively push the score on to 36 before Ali (13) received a vicious bouncer from Kallis that was headed for his throat. He tried to get his bat in the way, but could only fend the ball to De Villiers behind the stumps.

Misbah (12) became Kallis' second victim in controversial circumstances after Bowden gave a caught behind decision not out and South Africa reviewed.

There appeared to be no evidence of a nick on the hot spot replay but third umpire Steve Davis from Australia chose to overturn the decision.

The session got worse for Pakistan when Asad Shafiq (1) chased a wide delivery from Philander and succeeded only in edging to de Villiers for his fourth catch of the innings.

Two balls later and a reckless Umar Gul (0) flayed at another wide delivery, the edge providing Graeme Smith with a comfortable catch in the slips.

Saeed Ajmal lasted just two balls after lunch before he became Steyn's fourth victim. The thick edge was flying to first slip but de Villiers produced a diving effort to take the catch.

Steyn picked up his fifth wicket when he induced an edge from Sarfraz Ahmed that was much simpler for de Villiers, who equaled the South African record for most wicketkeeper dismissals in a Test innings held jointly by Mark Boucher and Dennis Lindsay

The innings was completed when Rahat Ali edged to Faf du Plessis in the slips and was out for a duck. Steyn was once again the wicket taker.

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Paes-Raja win to keep Indian hopes alive

NEW DELHI: Bringing in his wealth of experience, Leander Paes combined with debutant Purav Raja to keep India afloat by winning the do-or-die doubles rubber against Korea today but it would take a super heroic effort to save the hosts from a defeat in the Davis Cup tie.

Playing for the first time together, Paes and his 97th doubles partner Raja pipped Yong-Kyu Lim and debutant Ji Sung Nam 6-4, 7-6 (5) 6-2 in a hard-fought contest that went on for two hours and 30 minutes.

The way Koreans played on the first day, the Indians knew it was not going to be an easy task to tame their super-fit rivals. And it was evident from the very first game in which Paes and Purav faced four breakpoints but managed to escape unscathed.

Given his limitations, Purav supported Paes well. More than the quality of his game, it was his gumption that caught everyone's attention as he came across as someone who wanted to contribute to the country's cause.

Paes, who is now nearing 40, is not as sharp as he used to be but his experience of playing 48 ties before bumping into this fit Korean team counted on Saturday.

It is for the second time in the six months that Paes has produced good result with a first-time partner. At London Olympics, the 39-year-old Indian star had played extremely well with Vishnu Vardhan.

Now India need V M Ranjeet and Vijayant Malik to pull of the reverse singles on Sunday in order to advance to the second round of the Asia/Oceania Group I tie.

However, it is too much to ask form the inexperienced players as the both Suk-Young Jeong and Min Hyeok Cho are far superior players -- both in fitness and game -- than the Indians.

Ranjeet will take on Cho while Malik, who conceded his singles against Jeong after a valiant fight, will clash with Jeong.

It took Paes and Raja 10 minutes to get on the board but soon they were up 3-0 by breaking Lim in the second game, followed by a hold from Purav.

Paes bisected the two Koreans with a volley to earn two break chances in the sixth game but Lim kept his cool and served well to save both.

India soon lost the cushion when Purav was broken in the seventh game. His strokes lacked power and precision. Nam held to make it 4-4, however, the Indians broke Lim for the second time to take the set.

Paes' deft volley gave India three set points and Lim double faulted to hand India the set after an exciting 52-minute battle.

Purav improved as the match progressed egged on by partisan crowd of 2000 as the cheering went from being loud to deafening. At one point of time, the chair umpire had to ask Indian captain S P Misra to ask the Indian supporters to clam down between the points.

The Koreans fought hard to claw their back in the match and it was a commendable effort from then two players to stretch the second-set proceedings to a tie-breaker.

Purav lost his serve in the fifth game but the Indians broke the Nam in the eighth to even the scores. The crowd favourites along with the supporters had some anxious moments when Paes was broken in the 11th game but Indians break back.

In the tie-breaker, Paes' experience counted as the hosts erased a 0-3 deficit to go up 4-3 and then sealed the set when the veteran hit a superb backhand volley.

It was difficult for the Koreans to stage a comeback from two-set down and Indians clinched the issue quite easily.

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UP Wizards beat Mumbai Magicians 2-0

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Wizards dented Mumbai Magicians' hopes of making it to last four of the Hockey India League beating the visitors 2-0 at Dhyan Chand Astroturf Stadium, on Saturday.

Goals from Pardeep Mor and Siddharth Shankar made the difference for the hosts in this bottom of the table clash.

Wizards now have 22 points, 8 more than the bottom-placed Magicians.

Both the teams began the match on a cautions note, with the play stuck in midfield. Neither of the team was ready to go for an all out attack, and were trying to maintain their shape.

It all changed in the ninth minute though, when the hosts took the lead. Under a little bit of pressure from a Wizards' player, Glenn Simpson made a poor clearance, which was collected by Pardeep Mor at the top of the Magicians' circle. Mor took a couple of steps towards the ball, and smashed it in the top right corner, giving Magicians' goalie Sreejesh absolutely no chance.

This was Mor's first goal of the tournament. Mumbai outfit's first real opportunity came in the second minute of the second quarter when Swarnjit Singh failed to find the target with a reverse hit, with the goalie at his mercy.

Wizards responded immediately, with first hitting right post, and then earning back to back penalty corners. The first was hit the Magicians' rusher's leg, second one was deflected out by Sandip Singh.

Magicians then got another chance to equalise, in the 32nd minute, when a superb solo move by Faisal Sarri ended up in the visitors earning a penalty corner. However, Aiyappa was unable to stop the push, and the ball was taken out to safety by Wizards.

Wizards managed to keep their defence tight for most part of the third quarter too, despite Chinglensana coming close on a couple of occasions. Wizards got the best opportunity of the third quarter, earning a penalty corner in the 38th minute.

With Raghunath unable to score off the first two, Wizards went for Doerner to take the drag flick this time. His low shot was well saved by Sreejesh, and Wizards failed to capitalise on the rebound.

The hosts delivered a decisive blow to the Magicians in the 58th minute. A poor clearance that went to David Alegre was well saved by Sreejesh.

However, that was followed by another bad clearance that went straight to Siddharth Shankar, who smashed it low to the left of Sreejesh to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.

Mumbai wasted another penalty corner, in the 62nd minute, when Sandip Singh's drag flick was well saved by the Wizards' goalie Bazeley. Their next penalty corner was taken by Joel Carroll, but the result was the same.

Wizards skipper and ace drag-flicker VR Raghunath said that their strategy for this match worked well.

"We had certain plans to play this game and strategy was good to pay, our goalkeeper also played good we had set some techniques to play this game which work so now hoping to play good game," Raghunath said at the post-match press conference.

Coach Roelant Oltmans said that their team is improving match by match.

"After losing last match 4-0, we are working on each and every player's game and set-up plans to play. We are making strategies and talking to each and every player individually to improve our game. Our forward area was good in this match and hoping to continue playing good games like this," Oltmans stated.

Mumbai Magicians coach Ric Charlesworth said that the team is improving slowly.

"We got new set of players and it's taking time to develop chemistry among the players. From last games, we have improved a lot and trying to better now, hoping to play good games in next matches," Charlesworth added.

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Australian women beat Pak by 91 runs

CUTTACK: Title contenders Australia started their ICC Women's World Cup campaign in a confident manner whipping minnows Pakistan by 91 runs in their group B league opener, on Friday.

Opting to bat first, Australian women could manage only 175 in 46.1 overs on a slow Barabati Stadium track but then bowled with a lot of purpose to skittle Pakistan out for a paltry 84 in 33.2 overs.

Veteran all-rounder of Indian origin Lisa Sthalekar contributed an useful 32 and then bowled nine overs of controlled off-breaks to grab two for 19. Another notable performer was Sarah Coyte who took three wickets and scored 35 runs.

Pakistan team had to shift base to Cuttack for their group league matches after protests from political parties against their participation in the marquee event.

Australian batswomen didn't have a good day as only opener Rachel Haynes (39) and Sarah Coyte (35) were the only other two, who crossed the 30-run mark barring Sthalekar.

The Australian total was propped up by the 17 wides bowled by Pakistani women. Left-arm spinner Sadia Yousuf was the pick of the bowlers grabbing three for 30 while Asmavia Iqbal chipped in with two wickets.

The target wasn't a big one but save 21-year-old batswoman Bismah Maroof who contributed 43, only Nadia yousf reached double figures. There were absolutely no partnerships and the Pakistani women found it difficult to get going against the pce trio of Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt and Sarah Coyte.

Coyte was the most successful bowler taking three for 20 while Perry and Schutt took two and one wicket respectively.

Brief Scores:

Australia 175 in 46.1 overs (Rachel Haynes 39, Sarah Coyte 35, Lisa Sthalekar 32, Sadia Yousuf 3/30)

Pakistan 84 in 33.2 overs (Bimah Maroof 43, Sarah Coyte 3/20, Lisa Sthalekar 2/19).

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Ferrari unveils new F138 car for 2013

MARANELLO (Italy): Ferrari has unveiled the car that it hopes will end a run of four years without a Formula One title.

The car's name - F138 - is a combination of the year and a tribute to the V8 engines which will be used for the last time this season, bringing an end to an eight-year run.

The car features an open nose and a slightly different body and tail from last year's F2012. It will be the 59th Ferrari single-seater to compete in F1.

"This is a starting point for a year with only one goal: To add to our wonderful history," Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said Friday.

Ferrari last won the constructors' title in 2008 with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, while Raikkonen won the team's last drivers' title in 2007.

Ferrari has won a record 16 constructors titles.

Force India launches its car later Friday.

This season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 17, while testing starts in Jerez, Spain, next week.

"This is just the first step of a car that could already look different in Australia," Domenicali said.

"The goal is to have a competitive car right away," Domenicali added. "Unfortunately last year we struggled during the winter and we weren't competitive right away. We're trying to be much more efficient in preparation now, to have a car capable of exalting our drivers already in Australia."

Last season, Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso finished second to Red Bull rival Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' championship and Massa was seventh.

Ferrari was also second to Red Bull in the constructors' standings in 2012.

"We're coming off an intense season," Domenicali said. "Finishing second was difficult emotionally. It left us with a bitter taste in our mouths."

Alonso noted that new rules could make it difficult for a repeat of last season, when seven different drivers won the opening seven races.

"I think it will be just two or three teams that will win, and I hope we will be one of those," Alonso said.

Alonso will sit out the opening tests in Jerez to work on physical training. Recently recruited test driver Pedro de la Rosa will try out the new car instead, along with Massa.

"We're such a great team that it doesn't matter who does the tests, whether it's Felipe, Pedro or I, it doesn't make much of a difference," Alonso said. "I will follow everything very closely."

In October, Ferrari extended Massa's contract for one more season. While the Brazilian hasn't won a race since a life-threatening accident at the Hungarian GP in 2009, he had a solid second half to last season, and finished third in the year-ending Brazilian GP.

"I want to be competitive from start to finish this year, not just for half of the season," Massa said.

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Dismal start for India in Davis Cup

NEW DELHI: Bereft of its top players, India risk losing the Asia-Oceania Group I tie against Korea as the hosts conceded a 0-2 lead on opening day after debutants V M Ranjeet and Vijayant Malik suffered contrasting defeats in their singles matches, on Friday.

It was a forgettable debut for 27-year-old Ranjeet as he was trounced 1-6, 0-6, 1-6 in an hour and 23 minutes in the first singles of the first-round tie at the R K Khanna Tennis stadium.

The onus to bring India back in the tie was on the 22-year-old Malik and he fought his heart out but lacked fitness to meet the challenge as he conceded the second singles against Korean No 1 Suk-Young Jeong.

Malik was trailing 4-6, 5-7, 0-3 against Jeong, ranked 216 places above him at 321st the match, when cramps in his left leg took the fizz out of his challenge.

Leander Paes, the only top player in the hosts line-up, and Purav Raja will now take on Yong-Kyu Lim and Ji Sung Nam in the must-win doubles rubber on Saturday.

India missed its top players badly, especially Somdev Devvarman, as the slow surface required fit players like him who could wear out their rivals.

Somdev, who has the amazing ability of staying in, was the ideal player on this court and his absence was felt.

However, unlike Ranjeet, Malik took the fight into the rival camp, fighting fire with fire. He refused to be dominated by the superior rival and threw everything he had in his arsenal.

His fierce double-handed backhand, stinging serve and a few calculated lobs meant that Korean had to earn points

There was little to separate Malik and Jeong in the opening set but a few unforced errors cost the Indian dear as he dropped his serve in the fourth game to concede a mini lead which stayed with the Korean and he walked away with the lead.

Watched by country's top woman player Sania Mirza, egged on by legendary team-mate Paes, who was waving the tri-colour to the beats of the Dhol, and cheered on by sparse but vocal crowd, Malik continued to fight for India's cause.

He denied Jeong leverage by saving a breakpoint in the very first game and earned four break chances in the fourth game but could convert none.

It was on serve till the 10th game but, when Jeong hit a winner past Malik to earn his second break chance of the set, he did not squander it this time. Malik's forehand error handed Jeong the break and immediately the Indian required a medical time-out to treat cramps.

Jeong served out the set comfortably and with that Indian hopes of levelling the scores evaporated.

A break in the very first game of third set meant that Malik made his job much harder. It required a miracle of sorts for India to save the day and it never happened.

Nevertheless, Malik fought valiantly and it was all expected of him.

Earlier, V M Ranjeet suffered a straight-set thrashing against Min Hyoek Cho to allow Korea grab a 1-0 lead.

Going by the slow nature of the surface, it was clear from the first game itself that hanging in and putting more balls inside the lines was all which matter.

Ranjeet did run hard, retrieved a good number of balls but Cho hardly missed a shot or point.

Korean captain's decision to field 26-year-old Cho, who served his country's Army for two years before resuming his career, proved absolutely correct as he gave his side a flying start in the absence of home team's star players.

Neither the 'Chak De India' song, played in between the games nor the Dhol beats could help lift Ranjeet's game as the Indian was down 0-3 in the opening set.

The first set was over in 30 minutes and the Indian did not hold his serve even once. He was broken at love in the third and fifth games. Ranjeet did try to switch to plan B, playing aggressively, approaching the net but nothing worked as Cho went past him with the winners on the either side of the court.

The only time Cho faltered was in the fourth game and it was only time when Ranjeet got on the board.

The second set was no different and it actually became from bad to worse to pathetic as the Chennai lad was bageled after being broken thrice.

The only saving grace for Ranjeet in the third set was that he could hold his serve, in the fourth game, but otherwise the script was the same.

Cho hit a forehand winner on set point to end Ranjeet's misery.

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Lanka shock England with a last-ball six

MUMBAI: Minnows Sri Lanka caused the biggest upset of the ICC Women's World Cup as they defeated defending champions England by one wicket off a last-ball six in a thrilling Group A encounter at the Brabourne Stadium on Friday.

After drawing level with England off the penultimate ball, Sri Lanka's Dulani Manodara pulled Georgia Elwiss over mid-wicket for a superb six to complete their first-ever win over their fancied rivals in any form of the game.

Chasing 239 for a win, the Lankans got off to a flying start with a record century partnership between Chamari Athapaththu and Yasoda Mendis, but slumped to 157 for 5 before Kaushalya Lokusooriya brought them on the doorsteps of victory with a whirlwind 56 off 41 balls with three sixes and 5 fours.

Kaushalya was run out off the penultimate ball at the non-striker's end before Dulani slammed Elwiss for a six to complete a shock win over the three-time champions.

The left-right opening combination of Atapaththu (62 in 72 balls) and Yasoda (46 in 98 balls) laid the foundation of the Lankan run chase. But after Atapaththu's exit at 103, the underdogs lost a clutch of wickets in a short span -- including that of Yasoda.

They looked like slumping to their eighth defeat in nine contests (one no result) against England in ODIs, before Kaushalya played the match-winning innings to knock the wind out of the champions' sails.

Kaushalya, lucky to be dropped on nine by Jennifer Gunn in the deep, took full advantage of her 'life' to hit her repriever for two fours in the 48th over in which the bowler gave away 16 runs.

Needing 13 from the last 12 balls, Kaushalya lost her eighth-wicket partner Deepika Rasangika, with seven balls remaining and her side needed nine off the last over.

The hard-hitting batter pulled Elwiss for a six to bring down the target, was dropped by the bowler in the next ball and then got run out in a dramatic final over before Dulani hit a six off the last ball to complete a famous win.

Incidentally, 187 is the highest total ever made by Sri Lanka against England in ODIs -- that was bettered in style today -- and 177 was the highest total ever made by Sri Lanka against England in the World Cup.

In between, Catherine Brunt and Georgia Elwiss shared the four wickets to fall in their second spells to bring England back after Atapaththu and Yasoda had laid a solid platform for Lanka.

Athapaththu, the aggressor in the big opening stand, used the bottom hand to good effect to pull and cut her way to nine fours and a six, was the first batter out, caught at mid-on off Arran Brindle in the 24th over.

Her partner Yasoda, lucky to escape a catch in the slips off England's pace spearhead Kathrine Brunt when on 5, played the supporting role to good effect as the duo raised the 50 of the innings in the 11th over.

Athapaththu completed her fifty in 64 balls, with the help of a six and five fours, and then raised the 100 of the partnership in the 23rd over with her partner before she offered a catch to mid-on off Arran Birdle and left. In all she faced 72 balls.

Lanka progressed to 142 and it looked a good position from where they could lead the final assault on the target, but the loss of three quick wickets -- including those of the well-set Yasoda and skipper Shashikala -- set them back.

Yasoda, Prasidini and Shashikala fell in that order between the 33rd and 36th overs for the addition of just 10 runs to bring England back into the game.

Left-handed Yasoda mistimed a pull shot off a ball dug in short by Brunt to be caught at short mid-wicket to end the second wicket stand between her and captain Shashikala. The duo added 39 runs.

Later, Brunt's pace partner Elwiss also came back for her second spell and packed off Prasidini who attempted an almighty pull and lost her stumps. The medium pacer later had Shashikala cutting a ball and being caught well at point by Lydia Greenway.

The same fielder caught Sandamali Dolawatte off Brunt five runs later and Lanka were staring defeat at 157 for 5 and at the end of 40 overs they were 166 for 5 and needed 73 from the last 60 balls.

The target was brought down by the attacking Kaushalya who struck the spinners for a six each over the straight field after being dropped on the boundary line when on nine off Colvin by Greenway.

Earlier, England recovered from a dismal start to their campaign and posted a competitive total.

England lost their top three batters -- skipper Charlotte Edwards, Danielle Wyatt and Lydia Greenway -- within half an hour and by the eighth over after being put in to bat.

Rocked by the loss of three quick wickets against a side which had not beaten them in eight previous encounters, England staged a rally through their fourth and sixth wicket pairs.

From at 29 for 3, Arran Brindle (31) and Heather Knight (38) steadied the England innings with a partnership of 64 for the fourth wicket in 100 balls.

After the loss of this duo in a short span of overs, it was left to Jenny Gunn (52 off 71 balls) and Amy Jones (41) to carry on the good effort with a stand of 83 in 101 balls for the sixth wicket.

Later, the tail wagged as England added 59 runs in the last five overs with Katherine Brunt making a quick 12 off five balls with a four and a six and Danielle Hazell scoring an unbeaten 19 with three fours in eight balls.

For Lanka, Kaushalya Lokusooriya, Chamani Senevirathne and captain Shashikala Siriwardene picked up two wickets apiece.

Brief Scores: England 238 for 8 in 50 overs (A Brindle 31, H Knight 38, J Gunn 52, A Jones 41; K Lokusooriya 2/49, C Senevirathne 2/35, S Siriwardena 2/62) lost to Sri Lanka 244 for 9 in 50 overs (C Athapaththu 62, Y Mendis 46, S Siriwardena 34, K Lokusooriya 56; K Brunt 2/36, G Elwiss 2/39, A Brindle 2/38). P

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Tendulkar takes Kensville by storm

AHMEDABAD: The golfing community got a taste of super celebrity as Sachin Tendulkar paid a visit to the Kensville Golf and Country Club on Friday.

Tendulkar, who has a Villa at the Kensville Golf and Country Club, took time out to go around the golf course and also interact with the players.

The players, fans, officials and members of Kensville virtually swarmed the senior cricketer, who seemed to enjoy himself in the midst of sportspersons and fans.

Tendulkar tried his hand at driving and then putting, too, alongside many of the internationals, like Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Rich Beem, Rahil Gangjee and Rhys Davies, who are participating here this week.

"I have been to many golf courses and even had an occasional attempt at driving range, but visiting a golf course while a tournament is in progress was a new experience. I really enjoyed, the golf course is a lovely one. I have seen other courses but I really liked this one," said Tendulkar.

Asked if he would take up golf seriously sometime, Tendulkar said, "I enjoy racket sports and have not been able to play golf. My focus has been cricket, maybe golf will come sometime in the future."

Asked what was special about the course, he laughed and said, "I liked the bunkers. They look great but don't get into them. The greens is where you should play. They are great."

Tendulkar hit about 25-30 balls on the driving range and not once did he mis-hit or shank. "I enjoyed the sound of some of the shots," he said of the ones, which hit the sweet spot.

His former Mumbai colleague Rahul Sanghvi, a former India spinner, also had a few shots.

A good number of drives sailed past the 200 and 250 yards when he teed up a bit high. But after adjusting height of the tee, his shots went past 250 and some even touched 300 yards.

Tendulkar later took part in the putting challenge with his teammates being Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar. They were up against a team, which included Rich Beem, Rahil Gangjee and Rhys Davies.

Kensville Golf Living presented a cheque of Rs one lakh to Tendulkar's Charitable Trust.

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