Kochi: Indian Navy survived a flurry of late attacks from Army Red as they held on to an early goal from Riyad Bakruddin to win the Services football championship 1-0 after 33 years at the Southern Naval Command ground here on Monday.
Striker Riyad volleyed the winner just four minutes from kick-off and the hosts Indian Navy led by their captain, centre-back Sumesh P. S., held the defensive shape, a characteristic that had guided the Services team to the Santosh Trophy title last year.
Though chances were premium at either end of the pitch, it was the Army that raided the naval fortress resolutely, albeit unsuccessfully. The Navy relied, quite naturally, on counter-attacks and in the 82nd minute Riyad wasted a glorious chance to double the advantage when he turned a free-header straight at the goalkeeper.
Playmaker D. Ron and left-back Aakash Kamble had overlapped in a counter and the latter, a former Pune FC squad member, found himself in space to place a flawless cross for an arriving Riyad, who failed to capitalise.
They almost paid a heavy prize for missing the sitter as Arjun Tudu, the diminutive Army winger, who was later adjudged the player of the tournament, came close to striking a late equaliser when his left-footed shot rattled the crossbar. Rakesh Singh and Tudu had almost perfectly weaved the opportunity that would’ve been a splendid team goal had it sunk in.
Niaz helps Kerala take innings lead
Niaz helps Kerala take innings lead
DC CORRESPONDENT
KOZHIKODE/Kochi: Goa’s Sagun Kamat’s brilliant knock of 96 runs was eclipsed by medium pacer N. Niaz’s fierce spells as the Kerala bowler took apart Goa batting line-up with a six-wicket haul to gift the visitors first innings lead on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Group ‘C’ match played at Porvorim on Monday.
Goa, in reply to 273 runs, collapsed to 242 runs from a comfortable position of 132 for two as their batsmen failed to take advantage of a solid start given by Kamat.
Kamat teamed up with opener Amogh Desai (49) in the second-wicket partnership to help the home side dictate terms in the morning session of the match. Both played cautiously and gathered runs in tandem to help Goa take 130 runs.
However, Desai’s wicket turned out to be too costly for Goa, as their five batsmen gave catch to Nikhilesh Surendran one after other to put them at 142 for five suddenly. Though the tail-enders tried for some regrouping, it was too late for the Goa team as Niaz scalped two more wickets to make his tally six and end the Goa innings.
Kerala in the second innings has not opened their account as they got only one over to bat at stumps.
Brief scores: Kerala 273 in 83 overs (Vinoop Manoharan 87, Nikhilesh Surendran 84, Sachin Babu 54, Mangal Das 3/66, SB Jakati 3/72) vs Goa 242 in 91.2 overs (Amogh Desai 49, Sagun Kamat 96, N. Niaz 6/82)
State team runners-up
DC CORRESPONDENT
Kochi: Kerala finished runners-up in the under-16 Vijay Merchant trophy south zone cricket with a draw against a resilient Andhra in Chennai on Monday.
S. Tarun scored an unbeaten 100 as Andhra, facing a massive target of 305 runs, showed great character to achieve a draw that seemed unlikely after their first innings debacle. Andhra was bowled out for just 94 in the first innings, giving Kerala a lead of 134 runs. Kerala later declared the second innings at 170.
Brief scores: Kerala 228 in 84.1 overs & 170/5 dec in 62 overs (A. Krishnan 67, R Kunnummal 43, Pinninti 4/54) drew with Andhra 94 & 186/4 in 67 overs (Tarun 100 not out, Anil 3/57)
Girish guides MG Varsity to semis
DC CORRESPONDENT
KOZHIKODE: J. Girish scored a double to help MG University Kottayam defeat Madras University 2-1 and enter the semifinals of the all-India inter-university south zone football championship at Muvattupzha on Monday.
Girish, after scoring a goal in the 13 th minute, doubled the lead of the Kottayam team by netting the winner in the half time.For Madras Unviersity, Chikku James scored their only goal in the injury time.
In another quarterfinal match, Calicut Unviersity progressed to the last four with the help of the lone goal scored by Suhaine against SRM University.
However, Kerala University and Kannur University had a bitter day as both the teams were shown the exit doors as they lost to Anna Univeristy, 2-0, and Annamalai University 2-1 respectively.
Quarterfinal results: MG University Kottayam 2 (J Girish 13’, 63’) bt Madras University 1 (Chikku James 95’). Annamalai University bt Kannur University, 2-1. Anna University 2 (D Japakumar 16’, Deen Sadham Hussain 86’) bt Kerala University 0. Calicut University 1 (Suhaine 29’) bt SRM University 0
Kerala takes lead against Baroda
DC CORRESPONDENT
KOCHI: Kerala’s disciplined bowling attack gained a handy first innings lead against Baroda on day two of the Under-19 Cooch Behar trophy cricket tournament at Vadodara on Monday.
Fabid Ahmed bagged four wickets while N. Jose and Shinas Hashim took three and two respectively to reduce Baroda to 161, ensuring a lead of 49 runs for Kerala.
The hosts however struck back with three quick strikes that left Kerala reeling at 22 for 3 at stumps. Sheth hunted down the Kerala top order, claiming all three wickets. V. Raj and J. Jose are at the crease as Kerala hold on to a slender 71 runs lead with two days left.
Brief scores: Kerala 210 in 95.4 overs (V. Raj 75, Fabid 56, Sopariya 5/39, Sheth 3/45) & 22/3 in 17 overs (Sheth 3/0) vs Baroda 161 in 60.2 overs (Brahmbhatt 53, Fabid 4/25, Jose 3/62)
Kerala spikers beat Railways
DC CORRESPONDENT
KOZHIKODE: Kerala men staged a remarkable comeback in the fourth game and went on to win their second match against Railway in a grueling five-game match, 22-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-21, 15-13, of the 62 nd national senior volleyball championship at Moradabad on Monday.
Losing first game to Railway, Kerala managed to take upper hand in the second game to cancel out the department teams’ advantage.
However, the Railway men took control of the further proceedings by winning the third game emphatically, 25-18. Railway almost won the match as they lead 21-17 in the fourth game but Kerala players pulled off a comeback to blank their opponents, 25-21, and extend the match to the decider.
In an evenly fought fifth game, Kerala players held their nerve to win the decider with a narrow margin, 15-13. “The comeback we staged in the fourth set was the turning point of the match. The players rose to the occasion and even if it is a league game, it was an important win,” said Kerala coach S. Manoj.
