Champions Trophy: India thrash Sri Lanka to reach final

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Champions Trophy: India thrash Sri Lanka to reach final

By Stephan ShemiltBBC Sport in Cardiff

Champions Trophy semi-final, Cardiff
India 182-2 (35 overs) beat Sri Lanka 181-8 (50 overs) by eight wickets
Match scorecard

India thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets to set up a Champions Trophy final with England.

Chasing only 182 to win, India cantered home in 35 overs, with Shikhar Dhawan hitting 68 and Virat Kohli a sparkling unbeaten 58.

Earlier, Mahendra Dhoni's side took advantage of the damp conditions in Cardiff to reduce Sri Lanka to 41-3, effectively 41-4 after Tillakaratne Dilshan retired with a calf injury.

Match analysis

Aakash ChopraFormer India opener on BBC Test Match Special

"It was a dominant display of quality cricket from India. They haven't dropped a single game in this tournament so far; they've been exceptional and clinical in every game. This is the stuff that champions are made of. This team is definitely in transition - they've lost about two and half thousand caps since the 2011 World Cup win but they have gone from strength to strength."

Angelo Mathews made 51 and Mahela Jayawardene 38 as Sri Lanka fought back, but India's spinners found turn to restrict Mathews' men to 181-8.

Any comfort that Sri Lanka could have taken from the difficult batting conditions was dismissed by Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who shared 77 for the first wicket.

Then, when Rohit was needlessly bowled swiping at Mathews, Kohli arrived to take India to a date with the hosts at Edgbaston on Sunday.

England made the most of the help given to their pace bowlers in a similarly one-sided semi-final victory over South Africa on Wednesday, but if they were hoping for more of the same in Birmingham, India proved that they can adapt to traditional English conditions.

The most impressive side in the tournament to date, India had built their three previous victories on the prolific opening pair of Dhawan and Rohit, the spin of Ravi Jadeja and some lively fielding.

Here, their seam attack came to the fore, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma all found movement from the pitch to virtually eradicate run-scoring from the early part of Sri Lanka's innings.

Man of the match Ishant Sharma

"The conditions were really favourable today. The wicket was helpful for the fast bowlers so that paid off for us. Bounce and pace is my strength but Bhuvee (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) and Umesh (Yadav) bowled really well."

Recognising the assistance on offer, skipper Dhoni removed his wicketkeeping gloves and pads to become India's fourth seamer and even had Jayawardene given out lbw in his first over, only for an inside edge to be detected on review.

By that time, India had already ripped through the Sri Lanka top order, albeit if they were given the boost of the injury to Dilshan, who limped off with an injury sustained when playing Yadav through the on side.

In amongst Dilshan's exit, three left-handers - Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara - all edged to the sharp Suresh Raina at second slip as Sri Lanka managed only 47 runs in the first 20 overs.

The slow rebuilding job was done by Jayawardene and Mathews, whose fourth-wicket stand of 78 was based on patient accumulation, bar Mathews' dance to smash Ishant over long on for six.

Leading tournament run-scorers

332 S Dhawan (Ind) (4 innings)

222 K Sangakkara (SL) (4 innings)

209 J Trott (Eng) (4 innings)

173 Misbah-ul-Haq (Pkn) (3 inns)

168 M Jayawardene (SL) (4 innings)

168 R Sharma (Ind) (4 innings)

166 J Root (Eng) (4 innings)

They were parted by Jadeja, the left-arm spinner skidding one through Jayawardene's pull shot, leaving Mathews to complete an 85-ball half-century scored almost exclusively on the leg side.

Both Mathews and Mendis fell late on trying to attack the impressive off-breaks of Ravichandran Ashwin, who in between turned one the other way to bamboozle Nuwan Kulasekara around his legs.

Sri Lanka had at least managed to bat out their overs, but any hope they had of making life difficult for India was undone by Rohit and Dhawan, whose strokeplay made the game look like it was being played in entirely different conditions.

Drops by Mathews and Sangakkara, both off Dhawan with Kulasekara the bowler on each occasion, did not help Sri Lanka's cause as the left-hander repeatedly blazed through the off side as well as lifting over third man for six.

Following the surprise dismissal of Rohit, Dhawan completed a half-century to add to the two hundreds he has already scored in the tournament before he was again put down, this time at point by substitute fielder Sachitra Senanayake, with Kulasekara the victim once more.

Match analysis

Russel ArnoldFormer Sri Lanka batsman on Test Match Special

"I don't think Sri Lanka picked the right horses for this course; you needed seamers more than spinners. Even in these very typically English conditions, Indians have flourished, so hats off to the way they have played."

He eventually fell in lazy fashion, stumped dragging his foot to Mendis, leaving Kohli to accelerate to a half-century, victory and a place in the final.

"I think it is a well-written script, started well by the bowlers," said Dhoni. "It was a good toss to win, but unfortunately for Sri Lanka they lost Dilshan. We capitalised on that, then the bowlers bowled well - especially the spinners.

Opposing skipper Mathews agreed that the toss was crucial, saying: "If we had won the toss we would have bowled. It was seaming, swinging - the batters were finding it really hard.

"We didn't play well but credit should go the Indian bowlers - they bowled really well.

"All our younger guys need to take responsibility. We choked in the semi-finals but the credit should go to the whole team for the character they showed after we lost the first game."

James Hunt: Remembering F1's 'swashbuckling playboy'

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James Hunt: Remembering F1's 'swashbuckling playboy'

By Ben DirsBBC Sport

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A few years back, Niki Lauda branded Lewis Hamilton boring. As insults go, it's up there with being called ugly by Quasimodo. Because in his heyday, the cool, calculating Lauda was about as buttoned up as Formula 1 could get.

But the image of Formula 1 in the 1970s as one non-stop round of partying, with drivers making love seconds before climbing into the cockpit and guzzling magnums of champagne seconds after climbing out of it, is something of a myth.

Except, of course, for James Hunt, who died 20 years ago on Saturday and who was always an anachronism, even when winning the World Championship in 1976.

The golden mopped Hunt shone like a lighthouse amid the grey, wearing waves of austerity, an intoxicating throwback to apparently more care-free and less complicated times.

James Hunt factfile

Hunt at 1978 'Speedman of the Year' party in Munich

Early life: Born 29 August 1947. Son of a stockbroker. Parents strict but James rebellious from a young age.
Racing: Started off in Mini Racing, then progressed to Formula Ford and Formula Three.
F1: Raced for British-owned Hesketh from 1973 to 1975. Signed for McLaren in 1976 and won world championship in first season, by one point from arch rival Nicki Lauda. Ended career with Wolf Racing.
Broadcasting: Started commentating alongside Murray Walker for the BBC in 1979. Continued for next 13 years, until his death.
Personal life: Married model Suzy Miller in 1974. After they divorced she married actor Richard Burton. Had two children with his second wife, Sarah Lomax. Proposed to girlfriend Helen Dyson hours before he died, in 1993, at the age of 45.

When Hunt burst onto the scene in the mid-1970s, he spoke of "taking up the cudgels" for Great Britain.

"We've got quite a few foreigners winning races at the moment," said Hunt. "It won't do, will it?" But Hunt wasn't only keen to emulate the feats of great British drivers past - Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart - he was keen to tap into their restive spirits.

"I trained like mad," says Hunt's great rival and friend Jody Scheckter, the 1979 world champion . "I didn't have sex for three days before a race. I don't know how you'd be more professional than that. I had parties, just not when I was racing. Niki Lauda didn't do anything, at least that he talked about or that we saw.

"But James was outrageous. I remember racing in Japan, where they were very formal in those days. There was an event with different speeches from high-level people and he walked on stage with no shoes on, jeans with holes in and an old T-shirt. He was playing up to this English public schoolboy stereotype.

"What was it he had embroidered on his overalls? 'Sex, breakfast of champions.' Some girls like a rogue and he let it hang out in that respect. He was a boy, you know? I out-charmed him once. They must have been mad."

Formula 1 doyen Murray Walker formed an unlikely partnership with Hunt in the BBC commentary box after his retirement from driving in 1979. Hunt turned up for his first engagement in Monaco with one foot in plaster, the other minus a shoe and ploughed through two bottles of rosé during the broadcast.

"James was a product of very different times," says Walker. "He drank heavily, he smoked heavily and he was keen on women. And they were keen on him.

"But he was an extremely nice bloke underneath it all. He could be charmingly endearing at times. Although at other times he could be extremely rude and unpleasant, overbearing and arrogant.

"James had a hell of a temper, it could be absolutely terrifying. I remember being in the commentary box at the Australian Grand Prix and one of the technicians did something that annoyed James. He blew his top, ranted and raved at the chap, who hadn't done anything wrong."

James Hunt with his first wife, the model Suzy Miller. After they divorced she married actor Richard Burton

In September, Ron Howard's film based on the duel between Hunt and Lauda during the 1976 season, entitled Rush, is due to be released. Hunt is apparently portrayed as a swashbuckling playboy, a link to an age of certainty - real and imagined - of roistering gentlemen amateurs, living out the dreams of pie-eyed schoolboys. Lauda, meanwhile, is shown as the clean-living, scientific driver he was. "Like a computer," says Scheckter. "How I thought you should be."

Howard, as any good director must, has focused on certain truths to strengthen the narrative.

Hunt was indeed an arch roisterer, a man who claimed to have slept with 5,000 women, who caroused with the great and the good, who hoovered up cocaine in far-flung nightclubs. Who had an awful lot of fun, or at least seemed like he did.

And the 1976 Formula 1 season was indeed a transitional one, with Hunt representing the last flowering of corinthianism and the rational, ultra efficient Lauda providing a glimpse of the sport in its modern form.

But Hunt, a fine racquet sports player who was fitter than he had a right to be, possessed a ruthlessly professional streak.

He needed one to rise from the hugely competitive Formula 3 ranks, where he earned the nickname 'Hunt the Shunt', partly because of his numerous accidents but also because he once ironed out fellow driver Dave Morgan in the Crystal Palace paddock.

"They called him 'Hunt the Shunt' but I never saw him as this daredevil."

Jody Scheckter, 1979 F1 world champion

Having joined the big boys, Hunt put in some mightily impressive displays in a shoestring Hesketh, a car carrying no sponsors and with only one chassis and a single extra gear box in the garage. Hunt finished the 1975 season in fourth, behind champion Lauda, and landed his first victory at the Dutch Grand Prix.

When Lord Hesketh's money ran out - Hunt's benefactor was rich but no longer rich enough for Formula 1 - Hunt moved to McLaren, for whom he won the drivers' championship in his first season.

Ferrari driver Lauda had been romping itbefore a dreadful crash at the Nurburgring, after which he was administered the last rites. In sport's greatest comeback, he returned six weeks later only to be pipped by one point in the final race in Japan, having retired in protest at the monsoon conditions. Now that's courageous.

But a recurring character in British sport is the folk hero who burns brightly for a short time before fizzling out almost as quickly - Catherine wheels of vicarious thrills. Within three years Hunt, his heart no longer in it and, riddled with fear following the death of his close friend and Lotus driver Ronnie Peterson, had disappeared from the paddock.

"They called him 'Hunt the Shunt' but I never saw him as this daredevil," says Scheckter. "We went to America and on the ovals he just didn't want to do it, it scared him. He wasn't this macho, do-anything driver he was made out to be.

"People say: 'He must have been good. Look at what he did while doing all that other stuff.' Well, how good could he have been if he'd not done all that other stuff? He neglected himself, after a race he just let go.

"I picked him up after a race at Watkins Glen in New York and he hadn't bathed or slept. He got into the car and he stunk, so I hung my head out the window the whole way to the airport.

"Was he having a good time? I don't know."

Hunt commentated alongside Murray Walker for the BBC from 1979 until his death in 1993

Even after his retirement from motor racing, Hunt continued to live life fast, although he was a languid and erudite presence next to Walker in the BBC commentary box.

He also had a sensitive side, spending hours in his aviary talking to his beloved budgerigars and doting on his two boys, Tom and Freddie.

"People always go on about Dad and his playboy reputation," says Tom, Hunt's son from his second marriage to interior designer Sarah Lomax. "But those birds of a feathered variety were his true passion. I never saw anything negative. To me, he was the best daddy ever."

A string of financial calamities forced Hunt to ease off the gas as he entered middle age. When he could no longer afford his Mercedes, he swapped it for a push-bike, on which he would pootle around Wimbledon.

Having been divorced twice, Hunt found a new girlfriend who helped him quit booze and cigarettes and smoothed him out. But just when Hunt finally seemed to be having a good time, he died of a heart attack aged only 45. Some people, it seems, are not meant for a peaceful life.

It says much about the nature of Formula 1 today that Kimi Raikkonen, the mono-syllabic 2007 world champion, is often said to be Hunt's modern equivalent. Is Kimi having a good time? As with James Hunt in his hell-raising pomp, no-one really knows. But at least Hunt looked like he was.

James Gandolfini: Tributes paid to Sopranos actor

Lizo Mzimba takes a look back at James Gandolfini's career

Tributes have been pouring in for Sopranos actor James Gandolfini, who has died in Italy at the age of 51.

"We lost a giant today. I am utterly heartbroken," his Sopranos co-star Lorraine Bracco said.

The actor, who became a household name playing conflicted mob boss Tony Soprano, suffered a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Rome.

He had been due to attend the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily where he was to receive a special prize on Saturday.

"Jimmy was one of the most talented, authentic and vulnerable actors of his time. He was unorthodox and truly special in so many ways. He had the sex appeal of Steve McQueen or Brando in his prime as well as the comedic genius of Jackie Gleason," said Hollywood executive and Sopranos producer Brad Grey.

His co-stars from The Sopranos, which ran for six series between 1999-2007, were among the many to pay their respects to the popular star, who began his career on Broadway.

Paying tribute on Twitter, Steven Van Zandt, who played Silvio Dante in the show, wrote: "I have lost a brother and a friend. The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time."

Actress Edie Falco, who played his on-screen wife Carmela, said: "I am shocked and devastated by Jim's passing. He was a man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with a kindness and generosity beyond words. I consider myself very lucky to have spent 10 years as his close colleague.

"My heart goes out to his family. As those of us in his pretend one hold on to the memories of our intense and beautiful time together. The love between Tony and Carmela was one of the greatest I've ever known."

Steven Van Zandt (centre) said he had "lost a brother"

The Sopranos creator, David Chase, was also greatly saddened by the news.

"He was a genius. Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that. He is one of the greatest actors of this, or any time.

"A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes. He was my partner. He was my brother in ways I can't explain and never will be able to explain."

Susan Sarandon, who co-starred with Gandolfini in 2005's Romance and Cigarettes, wrote: "So sad to lose James Gandolfini. One of the sweetest, funniest, most generous actors I've ever worked with. Sending prayers to his family."

Steve Carrell, who appeared alongside Gandolfini in the recent magic comedy film The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, said the death was "unbelievably sad news".

"If you watch his work in anything, he is so specific in his characterisations - I think he was a genius," he told the BBC.

"When I had a chance to work with him, everyone I know was jealous because this guy was the real deal - he was a consummate actor but apart from that, an incredibly generous good man."

In 2009, Gandolfini worked on the big screen version of TV sitcom The Thick of It. In the Loop saw him play the hard-nosed Lieutenant General George Miller.

Its creator, Armando Iannucci, tweeted: "People were surprised James Gandolfini was so different from Tony Soprano. That's because he was a great actor. Warm, gentle and funny."

Marcia Gay Harden starred with Gandolfini in God of Carnage on Broadway

And co-star Chris Addison called him "a colossus in all respects. He could do it all but I loved his gift for comedy."

In The Loop co-star Peter Capaldi added his own statement: "I was a huge fan of James Gandolfini's. To actually work with him was one of the highlights of my career. He lived up to my expectations in every way."

"But what I will remember most about him, was not just the incredible truth and power of his acting, but his kindness and grace as a man. He was revered by us as an actor, but set us an even greater example as a man."

Before his career-defining role as Tony Soprano, Gandolfini was a notable stage actor most recently winning acclaim for his turn in God of Carnage, in 2009.

US film historian and critic Leonard Maltin said: "I was lucky enough to see him on Broadway in God of Carnage, in which he commanded the stage....Watching him try to harness his volcanic temper and sense of resentment against some 'entitled' fellow parents was riveting.

"The news of his death is still shocking, but his presence will continue to resonate for many years."

Comic actor Robin Williams also offered condolences to the star's family, going on to call him "an extraordinary actor".

Gandolfini also worked on documentaries including 2007's Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq and Wartorn: 1861-2010, which dealt with post traumatic stress disorder in the military.

Documentary-maker Michael Moore wrote on Twitter: "One of the good guys, kind and generous and an active supporter of documentary filmmakers."

Ricky Ponting will retire from all forms of cricket in October

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Ricky Ponting, the second highest Test run scorer of all time, will retire from all forms of cricket in October.

The former Australia captain, playing for Surrey until the end of July, quit international cricket in November 2012.

Ponting, 38, will end his career after appearing for Indian Premier League side Mumbai Indians in the Champions League, which ends on 6 October.

Ponting in numbers

Born 19 December 1974, Launceston, Tasmania
168 Test caps & 13,378 runs
375 ODI caps & 13,704 runs
71 international centuries
Highest Test score: 257 v India in 2003
Won three World Cups
Tests as captain: 77
Tests won as captain: 48

"While I'm enjoying my cricket as much as ever, it just feels like the right time to finish playing," said Ponting.

"My body and mind are in great shape and I know I'm going to really enjoy these last few months before the next stage of life begins."

Ponting made his first-class debut for his native Tasmania in 1992/93, and broke into Australia's one-day side against South Africa in February 1995.

He scored 96 against Sri Lanka in Perth the following November in the first of his 168 Tests, an Australian record he holds jointly with Steve Waugh.

A total of 13,378 runs at an average of 52.21 saw Ponting retire as the second-highest run scorer in Test history behind Sachin Tendulkar.

The Tasmanian also played 375 one-day internationals, leading Australia to victory at the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, and 17 Twenty20 matches.

Ricky Ponting after Australia regained the Ashes in Perth in December 2006

Ponting led Australia to 48 wins out of his 77 Tests as captain, but he also became the first captain to lose three Ashes series.

England's 2-1 series win in 2005 was followed by Australia's 5-0 whitewash in 2006-07, but two more Ashes defeats followed in 2009 and 2010-11, and Pontinggave up the Australian captaincy after a World Cup quarter-final defeat to India in March 2011.

Australia batsman Chris Rogers, recalled to the Test squad for this summer's Ashes,paid tribute to Ponting, captain when Rogers won his one Test cap in 2008.

"He was one of the best, if not the best," declared Rogers.

"He set standards that the rest of us have to follow so to play against him this year, and watch him dominate, showed what a fabulous player he is. I have nothing but huge respect for him."

Following his international retirement, Ponting was part of the Tasmania side that won the state's third Sheffield Shield in March before joining up with Surrey for the English season.

Ponting made 192 on his Surrey debut in June, and after his contract ends in late July he will play for the Antigua Hawksbills in the first Caribbean Premier League.

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China factory activity slows further

Textile factory in central China's Anhui province

The manufacturing and export sectors play a huge part in driving growth in China

China's manufacturing activity weakened further in June, falling to a nine-month low as demand fell, according to a preliminary survey by HSBC.

The bank's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) declined to 48.3, from May's reading of 49.2. A reading below 50 indicates a contraction.

The weak data comes amid fresh concerns over the health of Chinese economy, the world's second-largest.

Last week, the World Bank lowered its 2013 growth forecast for China.

The bank now expects the China to grow 7.7% this year, down from its earlier projection of 8.4%.

Among the concerns cited by analysts have been fears that a protracted slowdown in key markets such as the US and Europe may hurt demand for Chinese exports and impact its manufacturing sector.

Qu Hongbin, chief China economist at HSBC. said the sector was being "weighed down by deteriorating external demand" as well as "moderating domestic demand".

Reforms v stimulus

“Start Quote

We expect the People's Bank of China to ease monetary conditions shortly”

Dariusz KowalczykCredit Agricole-CIB

The data adds to evidence that growth is slowing from 7.7% in the first three months of the year after industrial output and exports came in below expectations.

However, the current leaders have shown more tolerance for slower growth than previous administrations.

After the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, China had unleashed a huge amount of stimulus in an attempt to boost economic growth.

This time there has been no stimulus of that scale.

"Beijing prefers to use reforms rather than stimulus to sustain growth. While reforms can boost long-term growth prospects, they will have a limited impact in the short-term," Mr Qu said.

However, some analysts said that given the slowdown in its economy Beijing was likely to take some steps to try and sustain its growth rate.

"We expect the People's Bank of China to ease monetary conditions shortly," said Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist with Credit Agricole-CIB in Hong Kong.

He said that the central bank was likely to announces a cut in the reserve ratio requirement (RRR), the amount of money that the banks are required to keep in reserve, to try and boost lending in the country.

Mr Dariusz added that the recent slowdown in inflation had given more room to policymakers to take such measures.

Data released earlier this month showed that consumer prices in China rose by 2.1% in May, from a year earlier, down from the 2.4% year-on-year growth in April.

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