Sports News in Brief: Feb-March 2009

ATHLETICS
Greatest Race on Earth: The Indian marathon team topped the South and South East Asia region standings for the third year in a row and ended up overall third in the fifth edition of the Greatest Race on Earth challenge which concluded with the Hong Kong marathon. India's 25-year-old Army man Angad Kumar Prasad finished men's full marathon on seventh spot in the final leg of Standard Chartered Greatest Race on Earth challenge. Angad's effort kept India on top in the South Asia and West Asia challenge for the fifth year in a row.

 

CRICKET
West Indies-England Test Series: England suffered a humiliating innings and 23-run defeat at the hands of the West Indies in the first Test when the tourists were bowled out for 51 runs in their second innings. West Indies cricket was plunged into fresh controversy when the second Test against England had to be abandoned after just 10 balls because of a dangerous outfield. England and West Indies drew
the third Test when play was called off with four overs still to bowl.

 

Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test Series: The series had to be called-off after a terrorist strike on Sri Lankan team during the Lahore Test match. Earlier, the first Test had ended in a tame draw with both teams hitting in access of 600 runs in their first innings. Younis Khan hit 313 to help Pakistan achieve a record total. For Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera posted world record partnership of 437 runs for the fourth wicket. Sri Lanka has now inscribed their name on three world records for the second, third and now fourth wickets. Jayawardene, on the other hand, has now been involved in two separate world record partnerships, a landmark which he shares with Donald Bradman.

 

South Africa-Australia Test Series: Fiery fast bowling from Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle led Australia to a 162-run win over South Africa in the first Test. Australia thus took 1-0 up in a three-match series that will determine which of the two teams tops the world Test rankings.

 

Australia-New Zealand One-Day Series: Australia lost the first two matches but then snapped their five consecutive ODIs losing streak by registering a thrilling 32-run victory over New Zealand in the must-win third tie. Australia then went on to a six-wicket win in the fourth match to level the five-match series 2-2. Australia retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after the crucial fifth and final One-Day International was called off because of heavy rain.

 

Sri Lanka-India Twenty20 Match: The Pathan brothers helped India win the match by three wickets. India were looking down the barrel at 115-7, needing another 57 runs from 29 balls, when Yusuf was joined by his brother Irfan and both just blasted their way out of trouble.

 

New Zealand-India One Day Series: Shrugging off the T20 defeats, India bounced back with a solid batting display to spank New Zealand by 53 runs on the basis of Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-marred first one-dayer. The second match was abandoned due to rain. India then hit record 392 runs with the help of sparkling 163 not out by Sachin Tendulkar to win the third match by 58 runs and take a unassailable 2-0 lead.

 

New Zealand-India Twenty-20 Series: Suresh Raina's fighting unbeaten 61 went in vain as world champions India began their New Zealand tour on a dismal note with the hosts thrashing them by seven wickets in the first Twenty-20  match. New Zealand followed this win with a last ball win in the second match, thus taking the series 2-0.

 

Duleep Trophy: Ramesh Powar wrecked South Zone with a 10-wicket match haul as West Zone lifted their 17th Duleep Trophy title.

 

GOLF
Women's Indian Open: 19-year-old Thai girl, Phatlum Pornanong emerged winner of the tournament. She pipped her nearest rival Kim Hae-Jung of Korea by two strokes to defend the title.

 

HOCKEY
New Zealand-India Test Series: Captain Sandeep Singh and Dilip Tirkey struck a goal each in the second half to guide India to a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the final Test and win the series 2-0.