No tailor-made pitch for Muralitharan at Galle

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has planned a COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has planned a grand farewell for Muttiah Muralitharan, who will play his swansong Test against India from Sunday, but will not prepare a tailor-made pitch to assist the spin wizard.

He is just eight wickets shy of touching the magical 800-wicket and SLC officials say Murali does not need a pitch suiting his style as he can strike on any pitch.

Curtains will fall on a dazzling international career which saw Murali becoming highest wicket-taker in Tests well as in one-dayers.

The cricket authorities have invited all former Test skippers to witness the Test and have even formulated a special Muralitharan farewell committee to organise the show.

"We are planning to give him a good send-off and we will ensure that the event is memorable," SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said.

Murali is capable of striking in any pitch, Ranatunga said when asked if a pitch assisting Murali will be laid.

SLC will organise a brief event before the commencement of the first Test and a grand felicitation at the end of the match.

According to officials, the 38 year old bowler will be welcomed by the local bands from Galle District when he will enter the stadium on the first day.

All former chairmen and secretaries of the board have been invited to witness the farewell Test match and the Galle cricket ground is being spruced up for the occasion.

2010 Commonwealth Games: Cautiously Optimistic

It exceeded expectations. We had set out to achieve a reality check, to properly understand what lies ahead with just 80 plus days to go before India plays host to the biggest ever sports event on our soil.

Can we realistically continue to dream that CWG 2010 will be the best Commonwealth Games ever, a statement that has become synonymous with the chairman of the Organizing Committee, Suresh Kalmadi, or is it finally beginning to sound hollow with time fast catching up on us and substantial work still remaining underdone?

We wanted to restore the pride of place to the athlete, the ultimate stakeholder of the games, and also explore what the lasting legacies of the mega event will be like? Can we finally say that the games are a prudent investment that will leave infrastructure that will serve as well into the future or will the tax payer lament the use of his money in ways unacceptable as the games descend on us? All of this and more was achieved while also allowing us the opportunity to get together on one platform the best assemblage of persons to talk on the games from across the country.

The inaugural plenary panel, including Sheila Dikshit, chief minister of Delhi, Suresh Kalmadi, chairman CWG 2010, Abhijit Sarkar, head, corporate communications, Sahara India Pariwar, S. Sridhar, CMD, Central Bank, Rina Ray, MD, Delhi Tourism and V.K. Karthika, publisher and chief editor, Harper Collins, India helped set the stage.

While Suresh Kalmadi and Sheila Dikshit offered an objective update on the state of preparedness, Rina Ray articulated plans for 'empowering every tourist', from abroad and also from within the country, who visit Delhi during the games.

All speakers agreed on the need for community integration and emphasized upon the huge opportunity that Delhi 2010 offered in its wake. While Karthika suggested that much more could be done, the chief minister and the chairman of the CWG outlined the complexities involved in staging the games of this nature and urged for more patience and understanding. "We are moving with a definite plan to raise hype. We don't want to start too early wherein the hype can get diffused", suggested Dikshit. "It will all start with 60 days to go".

Kalmadi was his usual buoyant self, "I am convinced it will be a great games and it will set the stage for the evolution of a sports culture in India", he asserted. With Karthika and Sarkar at their provocative best, the packed Stein Auditorium at the India Habitat Center enjoyed every moment of the one and a half hour discussion.

Cameras clicked quick and fast when the panelists were joined by Arindam Sengupta, executive editor of the Times of India, to launch the Times Commonwealth Guide and when Roop Kishore Maheshwari, chairman of Imagesbazaare.com, the event's primary supporter, offered mementos to the speakers.

He was accompanied by his son Sandeep, whose contribution was essential in making sure that the audience enjoyed a truly engaging morning. With questions hurled at the speakers from almost all corners of the auditorium, the end of the panel on account of time constraints left the audience asking for more, a pleasant departure from the existing norm at conferences of this nature.

This was followed by a stimulating discussion on "Commonwealth 2010 as Investment" chaired by Paromita Chatterjee of ET Now. M.J. Akbar did not let the intensity dip and B.S. Lalli, chairman of Prasar Bharti, articulated the challenges that lay ahead for the host broadcaster.

With Manish Kumar offering an insider's view, the intensity not for once was lost, a fact proved by a packed Steyn auditorium enjoying the deliberations.

The post lunch panel saw the coming together of some of the best corporate brains, men and women, who deliberated on issues of 'legacy' that the games are expected to leave behind.

This panel, chaired by Latika Khaneja, saw Ram Tamara, Abhijit Sarkar, Navroz Dhondy, Sandeep Maheswari and the Joint DG of the CWG OC, T.S. Darbari, emphasize on the singular importance of a positive legacy that CWG 2010 can, if organized well, will leave behind.

Discussions veered on issues of tangible and intangible legacy and Khaneja, in her inimitable style, got the audience into the discussion to ensure the panel was entertaining and stimulating.

The day's last panel began with a reality check. All of the panelists, members of the sports media fraternity and sportsmen who have represented India at the world stage, emphasized the overpowering presence of the market and the TRP's. Cricket, it was repeatedly emphasized, garners eyeballs and despite efforts to promote and market other sports, we remain a nation that only follows stars.

At the same time Ayaz Memon, Charu Sharma, Akash Chopra, Deep Dasgupta and Hakimuddin Habibullah hoped that a successful CWG 2010 will ensure that Olympic sports get their rightful place in the Indian sporting pantheon. The panel highlighted the need for sport for all and emphasized the role of sport in promoting development and peace.

These concerns, going beyond the confines of the sports field, are key concepts enshrined in the legacy document for CWG 2010. All of the panelists drew attention to the close connection between sport and nationalism, a linkage that can only become stronger with a significant number of podium finishes at CWG 2010.

At the end of the day, Gautam Sen, one of the key movers of the summit, summed up the proceedings.

World number two and counting

HYDERABAD: Continuing her meteoric rise in world badminton, Saina Nehwal zoomed to No. 2 spot in the world rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Thursday.

The grand treble she achieved last month, winning the Indian Grand Prix, Singapore and Indonesian Super Series, had catapulted her to the third spot on June 24 and as China’s Wang Xin lost 3,400 points in the last week, the Indian ace moved one rung up to be second.

Thrilled at the phenomenal achievement, Saina said that the rise in rankings reminds her of the responsibility to do well for the country. "I am feeling thrilled. I can’t believe that I am world No. 2. I know it’s all because of the three consecutive victories last month. But I am a little bit tense now. I know there will be a lot of expectations. It’s a great responsibility, though," Saina said.

Admitting that staying at the top will be a tough task, the 20-year-old said that she is determined to work hard and win more tournaments. "I know it’s very tough to stay on top. But if I continue to work hard and stay fit I can stay there," Saina said.

At the start of the season, Saina’s target was to break into the top-5 by the yearend, but the sudden escalation has helped her set new targets for the year. "My plan was to play very few tournaments and reach the top-5 by the end of the year but I am pleasantly surprised to have breached that mark so soon. Now I want to win the World Championship and become the No. 1 at the same time. Hope, I can do that next month," she said.

Saina may have to wait a little longer to achieve the top rank. Even if she wins the World Championship, Saina may not get the top rank unless reigning world No.1 Wang Yihan fails to reach the final. Saina needs to better Wang by a round at the World Championships to be held in Paris from August 23 to 29.

The Hyderabadi girl, who is training hard for the World Championships, said that she’s confident of doing well in Paris. "I feel it’s a great honour to enter the World Championship as No.2 and I am keen on giving my best there. I have about one month to train and I think that is good enough to gear up for a big tournament," she said.

Her coach Pullela Gopichand said that the new ranking will give Saina a great deal of confidence. "It’s a great achievement which will enhance her confidence. I am confident that she has the ability to stay there," Gopi said.

Magical McIlroy seizes Open lead in record fashion

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland: Rory McIlroy matched the lowest round in major golf history on Thursday, firing a nine-under par 63 to seize a three-stroke lead early in the first round of the British Open.

In Pics: British Open

The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland took full advantage of ideal wind-less conditions on the Old Course for the lowest first round in British Open history to outplay Tiger Woods and John Daly, who won Open titles at golf's birthplace.

McIlroy became only the eighth player in British Open history to fire a 63, just the second at St. Andrews after Paul Broadhurst in 1990's third round.

US fan favourite Daly, who won at St. Andrews in 1995, and Scotsman Andrew Coltart were in the clubhouse on 66 with top-ranked Woods, the 2000 and 2005 Open champion at the Old Course, and Sean O'Hair on the course at six-under.

On a links layout where he has never shot in the 70s, McIlroy fired the first 63 in a British Open since Nick Faldo and Payne Stewart in the last round at Royal St. George's in 1993 and the first in a major since Tiger Woods in the second round of the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

Ninth-ranked McIlroy, who won last year at Dubai and in May at Quail Hollow, shared third at last year's PGA Championship and while he missed the cut at this year's Masters and US Open, he served notice in round one he can contend.

McIlroy eagled the par-4 ninth, began the inward nine with three birdies in a row, added a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 14th to move atop the leaderboard.

He missed a five-foot birdie putt at 17, what would have been only the second birdie of the day at the famed Road Hole, but sank a four-footer for birdie at the 18th to complete his historic round.

Daly fired four birdies in a row and set himself up as a people's choice to hoist the Claret Jug just as Tom Watson did last year and Greg Norman had in 2008, although both of them failed in the end.

"I've learned a lot. I've never run from my mistakes," Daly said. "I have been the man you are supposed to be when you screw up and I've screwed up an awful lot. It's how you come back that matters."

Turning back the clock for a third major title would be a stunning feat by Daly, whose struggles with weight, women and alcohol have made him a fan favourite but taken a toll on his game.

"It would be the most gratifying victory I could ever have," Daly said. "I would appreciate it more than any tournament I have won."

Daly, whose other major title came at the 1991 PGA Championship, has not won since 2004 and his status has been reduced to taking US PGA Tour sponsor exemptions. He is ranked 455th and has only once cracked the top 55 on the US tour this year.

The long-driving 44-year-old American opened and closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies and birdied the par-5 fifth as well to make the turn in 31 over the legendary links in the event's 150th anniversary edition.

Daly sank a 10-footer for birdie at the 10th and birdied the par-3 11th before lipping out a five-footer at the 12th to end his birdie streak and begin a set of birdie near-misses that denied him an even better round.

He took a bogey at 17 and another lip-out for birdie at 18 left him only level with his best prior round of 2010 from May's first round at Colonial.

"It was just a great solid ball-striking day," Daly said. "I hit some putts on the back side I thought were in and they just trickled away for me."

Daly, who beat Italy's Costantino Rocca in a four-hole playoff 15 years ago at St. Andrews, wore a pink shirt and light blue vest with purple and green pants, a shock-style fashion that has been a recent trademark.

"It's my good-luck start pants," Daly said.

If anyone was going to have a somewhat redemptive triumph this week, the money literally was on Woods, a betting favourite despite being winless since a five-month hiatus caused by a sex scandal that shattered his iconic image.

Woods, paired with England's Justin Rose and Colombian Camilo Villegas, was greeted with polite applause, similar to his receptions at the year's earlier majors, where he shared fourth each time.

World number one Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, seeks a fourth British Open title after having won at St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005 and at Royal Liverpool in 2006.

Woods sank a 25-foot birdie putt at nine to reach three-under, then birdied three holes in a row starting at the par-4 12th to move into contention.

The winner over some of the most hallowed ground in sport will take home 850,000 pounds (one million Euros) and have his name engraved on the Auld Claret Jug trophy alongside some of golf's greatest legends.

Robinho mulls Manchester City return

LONDON: Brazil forward Robinho has revealed that he has not ruled out a return to Manchester City after the World Cup.

Robinho, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Santos, has been heavily linked with a permanent move away from Eastlands this summer.

However, quoted in the Daily Star Sunday, Robinho said: "I honestly don't know what will happen at City. We will just see what happens over the summer but I haven't ruled out a return.

"First things first. The only thing on my mind now is helping the Brazilian team to win the World Cup.

"But I thought Manchester City were a good choice for me. I understood the reactions when I joined them. People thought I was going for the money but if it was then I would have gone to Dubai or an Arabic country.

"But I wanted to play in the Premier League and I was happy to join a club with big ambitions.

"They have the money and ambition to make it into the top four in England. And, believe me, next season City will. Maybe I'll be there to help them.

"When I moved to City a lot of Brazilians did not really know much about the club and they thought it was a step down.

"But I'm now thinking that people think it was the right decision for me."

Signed from Real Madrid in 2008 for a British transfer record of 32.5 million pounds, Robinho failed to make a major impression on English football.

Robinho is however keeping his options open and could also consider a return to former club Real Madrid.

"I was not satisfied with the way they (Madrid) treated me in the end," the 26-year-old said. "I was very disappointed in how they talked about me like I was some kind of merchandise or currency.

"It would take some convincing to get me to return but I don't have any problems with the people running Real Madrid now."

Barcelona elect new chairman: Television

BARCELONA: Barcelona's former vice chairman Sandro Rosell was Sunday elected to replace his one-time adversary Joan Laporta as the boss of the Spanish champions, Catalan television said.

Rosell, a former Nike executive who was behind Brazilian Ronaldinho's move to Barcelona in 2003, won 62 percent of the vote by club members, beating three other candidates to become chairman of the Catalan giants, TV3 reported, quoting exit polls.

However, Rosell said he would wait for the official result, expected later in the evening, before claiming victory.

"We have to wait, we must be very careful," he said shortly after the voting ended at 9:00pm (1900 GMT). "It would be very exciting, but we have to wait."

Laporta, 47, was ineligible to stand for election again after holding the post since 2003.

Rosell was on the club's board between 2003 and 2005 during Laporta's first term.

He quit as vice chairman in 2005 because he was disillusioned with the way the club was being run, accusing it of lacking "independence, transparency and democracy".

"The problem is Laporta, he has a problem with himself. The project of this group of youths has gotten lost in recent years," he said at the time.

If confirmed in the post, Rosell will have urgent issues to attend to such as getting coach Pep Guardiola to agree to a contract extension and fulfilling the desire of fans to bring midfielder Cesc Fabregas back from Arsenal.

Under Laporta's guidance Barcelona won the Champions League twice - in 2006 and 2009 - and the Spanish league four times - in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 - making it the most successful period in the club's history.

Laporta said in January that he was considering creating a political party to seek independence for Spain's Catalonia region.

Barcelona's outgoing vice-president Jaume Ferrer was the only one of the four candidates in the race who had the backing of Laporta.

We played great, but the ball just refused to go in: Maradona

JOHANNESBURG: On Saturday, Diego Maradona made a return to the World Cup. This is familiar territory for him. He entered the post-game press conference chomping on an apple.

As he heard one of those questions that he's heard a million times before, even though this is different because he is manager and all, he took a huge bite of the fruit.

It was vintage Maradona. Suddenly he remembered he's the manager - he took the field in a suit, actually not recognizable at first - and not wanting to be seen as impolite, instinctively covered his mouth as the question carried on.

Immediately, it became the talking point of the World Cup till Robert Green, England's goalkeeper stole that with his sharp goal-letting against the US later. "I think we played really well," said Maradona. "The ball just refused to go in. It was incredible. And credit to the Nigerian goalkeeper for his performance. If we had won by two-three goals, you would have said we had a great match. I think we couldn't show on the scoreboard what we did on the pitch. That's football," he said.

Argentina have swept South Africa with their opening show against much-respected Nigeria. The second of the half-dozen African teams here who began their campaign were scared off the park by a hypnotic Messi and mates. It was as if the Argentines went Boo! and Nigeria scampered away, with Vincent Enyeama hanging on since the ball belonged to him. It is all still taking some sinking in.

"I fear no one. Never did unless I am wearing a mask. This game is about wins, losses and draws. It isn't about fear," he said about his World Cup debut. After Saturday, everything seems like falling into place.

Argentine journalists later spoke of how complete and hungry Messi seemed both in body and intent. "It was a potent sign," they felt.

Maradona admitted it was a plan to let the boy loose from Game One onwards, to allow him a feel of the ball. "Football's worth watching if he has the ball," he said, adding, "Taking the ball away from him is like taking chocolate from a kid."

Brazil are still to kick off their World Cup, and so are Spain and while England's performance drew the tournament's sniggers, it is Argentina they are raving about.

On Sunday, radio show hosts spoke of how the throb and noise of the Argentinian drums had actually drowned the vuvuzela. The host country had no problems in admitting that they had been upstaged.

In hotel lobbies and restaurant, they offered a sympathetic hand to Nigerian fans the morning after. The Nigerians in turn, offered to support South Africa from now on. "Yes, we are friends now," offered the local. It indicated a lingering regional rivalry that could be forgotten for the sake of United Africa now.

For Maradona, it is an emotional return 16 years after he had to quit the world stage after testing positive for a banned substance at USA 94. "I went through a lot of emotions today. I met my grandchildren, my daughter and kissed her. I went to 2006 as a fan and to be at the World Cup as Argentina coach, is truly an incredible feeling. I thank everyone who supported me and thank them for remembering that I too once scored a few goals for Argentina."

Was it the footballer in the man still speaking? But, wasn't he a manager now, and all set to emulate Franz Beckenbauer (and Mario Zagallo) who won the World Cup both as a player and manager?

Maradona heard the question, regarded it. Like the fruit he chewed on it awhile, then rolled his eyes and said: "I don't think I look like Beckenbauer. Never will."

Then he smiled, didn't wink because he is manager and all. "We are two different people," he continued. "It's just that we won an important match today. We need to improve a lot to win the next six...."

Impressive Germans hammer Australia 4-0

DURBAN (South Africa): Three-time champions Germany fired out a warning to World Cup challengers with a comprehensive 4-0 dismantling of Australia in their opening Group D match on Sunday.

The Germans totally dominated the Socceroos, with captain Philipp Lahm and rising stars Mesut Oezil and Thomas Mueller running Australian veterans Scott Chipperfield and Craig Moore ragged down the right wing.

Goals from Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, Mueller and Brazil-born striker Cacau were just rewards for a team which also had a hatful of other scoring opportunities.

The victory leaves Germany atop of Group D, Ghana having beaten Serbia 1-0 in the day's other game.

Podolski opened the scoring in the ninth minute, the happy recipient of a text-book training ground move executed to clinical perfection.

After Oezil had played in Mueller, the Bayern Munich right winger cut the ball back across the face of the goal for Podolski to hammer home left-footed, with Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer getting a hand on it.

Klose, top scorer in the 2006 World Cup, made it 2-0 in the 27th minute with a well-taken goal - and his 11th in World Cup finals - rising between Australian captain Lucas Neill and Schwarzer to head powerfully home from a Lahm cross from the right.

The Socceroos then paid a heavy price for the dismissal of Tim Cahill, shown a straight red card in the 56th minute by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez for a very clumsy challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Two goals in a matter of minutes from Mueller (67) and Cacau (70), on as a replacement for Klose, sealed Australia's dismal start to their third World Cup campaign.

Mueller, who started the season in Bayern Munich's reserves, looked like he'd overrun a Podolski through-ball it but he dragged it back and shot accurately past Schwarzer, in off the post.

With the Australian defence in disarray, Caucau then had a simple tuck-in from another inch-perfect pass into the box by the 21-year-old Oezil.

It was Australia who had the first real chance of the game, Lahm clearing a close-range effort by Richard Garcia in the fourth minute.

And for all their fine attacking instincts, Germany did at times look slow to close down at the back, allowing time and space for both Garcia and replacement Brett Holman to have shots on target.

Goalkeeping remains England's fragile link

JOHANNESBURG: You don't prepare mentally for making great saves and playing the perfect game. You prepare for trauma. Great thoughts, remarkable composure and some defiance in the face of what has swiftly become the gaffe of the World Cup, Robert 'Greenhorn' Green's playground blooper on Saturday night against the US, has catapulted the West Ham goalkeeper into unwanted limelight.

And while everyone is swiftly drawing up lists of English goalkeeping howlers at major football events rating the Rustenburg riot as the worst, it has also reopened the debate that does the rounds each major football championship: Is England a victim of its own outdated intellectual arrogance?

From David Seaman to Paul Robinson to Green - stopping midway to help David 'Calamity' James fish the ball out of his net - England's tryst with goalkeeping blunders is only strengthening. As videos of the latest blooper are racing up the charts on the Net, Green is unruffled. "It won't affect me psychologically," he said later. "I'm 30, I'm a man, and you have hardships in life and prepare for them. At a younger point in my life it would have affected me more."

This could be just an honest mistake by a top-class goalkeeper (as the English would have us believe) at the highest level, but while clearly apart from Beckham and Rooney's metatarsals, goalkeeping remains the most fragile link in the England set-up, the goalkeepers alone cannot be blamed for England's ineptitude. Current skipper Steven Gerrard is famous for his suicidal backpasses, while Frank Lampard has missed so many penalties that they have stopped keeping count.

With Fabio Capello at the helm, Gerrard as skipper and Rooney at full tilt, there seemed a return to the old working class ethos for England this time. There was a sneaking feeling about them this time, but may be it is their hype which makes it believable, at play again.

Suddenly, there is growing discontent over Capello's methods, his decision of persisting with the out-of-depth Emile Heskey for one - and his perceived lack of control. Many are puzzled why he chose Green ahead of the veteran James, who on his day can swing between the sublime and the ridiculous. Green was James' understudy going into the World Cup.

Which team serious about winning takes along an injured superstar to stand in his best-cut suit in the dugout and ostensibly cheer on his mates? David Beckham has replaced the WAGs in the English scheme of things this time. Ronaldinho has been sacked, no one is shedding a tear anymore for Javier Zanetti. Their countrymen, like their teams have moved on. It is the hallmark of a team focussed on winning, which you cannot say with conviction about England.

2nd T20I: India beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets

HARARE: Skipper Suresh Raina led from the front with a blistering 72 as India signed off their Zimbabwe tour with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over the hosts in the second and final Twenty20 International on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Chasing 141, India made 144 for three in 18 overs at the Harare Sports Club ground with Raina dispatching Chris Mpofu to boundary for the winning runs.

Tatenda Taibu earlier top-scored with 45 and shared a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket with Charles Coventry (28 off 13) to steer Zimbabwe to 140 for five.

Raina stepped on to the field after the fall of Naman Ojha (10) in fifth over and stayed till the job was done.

Along with Murali Vijay (46), Raina shared a 79-run stand for the second wicket, which set up the second comfortable Indian win in as many days.

Raina's 44-ball knock had six fours and two sixes in it. After an ordinary show in the three-week tour, Vijay finally got some runs under his belt and the Chennai batsman would be relived after playing a good hand in the Indian win.

Vijay and skipper Suresh Raina batted with ease and were hardly troubled by the host bowlers.

Vijay missed out on his half-century when he attempted a big shot but off Chamu Chibhabha and his checked shot landed in the hands of Graeme Cremer in the 15th over.

Raina continued the good work and carried the team home just after losing another partner in Yusuf Pathan (4).

India's consecutive win, after a lacklustre show in the ODI tri-series, would do a world of good to the confidence of its youngsters just ahead of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Earlier, confident of chasing down whatever the hosts would put on board, Raina yet again invited the hosts to bat but despite having them in clutches they leaked too many runs in the second half to allow them a come back in the match.

While in the first 10 overs India conceded just 47 runs including a mere five boundaries, spinners struggled to keep the run flow in check and the last over cost India 93 runs.

The slow bowlers could not weave the same magic they had created in the first Twenty20 and leaked 95 runs in the 12 overs shared by Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin.

Ashwin bled most runs as he ended up giving away 48 runs in his four overs.

Taibu, whose 45 came off 40 balls with just two fours, shaped the hosts innings well and along with Charles Coventry (28 off 13) rescued the side with a defiant 43-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Before that stand opener Brendan Taylor played a patient 33-ball 27 to help the side overcome the early jolts of losing Hamilton Masakadza (2) and Chamu Chibhabha (7).

Indian pacers, especially Ashok Dinda, were exceptional and did a tremendous job. The Bengal medium fast bowler gave away just 15 runs in his four-over quota and took two wickets.

Things were set beautifully for India but gritty batting by Taibu and Coventry made it a contest for the visitors.