Shamik Das


Saturday, September 29, 2007

Bishops cast Saints further into abyss

St Albans City FC    Bishop's Stortford FC

FA Cup, second qualifying round:
St Albans City 1-2 Bishop’s Stortford


GREG Pearson bagged a brace to send the Bishops into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup tonight.

Pearson's double continued St Albans' miserable start to the season, second bottom of the Blue Square South and now out of the Cup.

The Friars' defeat, their seventh of a poor campaign, will have dented caretaker boss Steve Castle's hopes of succeeding Ritchie Hanlon, sacked earlier this week.

The opener came midway through the first half, Pearson curling a beautifully struck free kick over the wall and into the left-hand side of the goal following Gary Elphick’s foul on him on the edge of the box.

Pearson struck again after the break to put the game beyond St Albans' reach with a cool finish off the far post after Jack Midson's wonderfully weighted through ball set him free.

Elphick grabbed a consolation for the hosts in injury time, burying Scott Cousins's centre with an unstoppable header.

Star man: Pearson (Bishop’s Stortford); Entertainment: ***

Read my full report, featuring the reactions of both managers, in tomorrow’s Non-League Paper.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Happy birthday, Chuckle Brothers! From me, to you

AND THE FUN GOES ON: Paul and Barry Chuckle.    RUSHIE & ALDO: Ian Rush and John Aldridge parade the FA Cup in the eighties.

THE Chuckle Brothers are celebrating twenty years of ChuckleVision today.

No, not Ian Rush and John Aldridge but Paul and Barry Chuckle, still going strong two decades on.

Here is an excerpt of their unforgettable theme tune; I'll be playing it
to me, to you ...



Mint!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Dhon it!

THE MOMENT DREAMS ARE MADE OF: India's players are cockahoop following a thrilling last over victory against Pakistan.

• India squeeze home in thriller • Déjà vu as Misbah misses out • Dhoni touted for Test captaincy after win
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wanderers, Johannesburg, World Twenty20 Championship final: India 157/5 (20 overs) beat Pakistan 152 (19.3 overs)
by five runs



INDIA won the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in dramatic style today with a nerve-jangling last gasp win against their deadliest rivals.

The victory – India's first global triumph since winning the 1983 World Cup – sparked wild celebrations back home, as millions of fans across the cricket-mad country partied long into the night.

Fireworks lit up the Johannesburg sky as thousands of flags waved with a patriotic fervour not seen on these shores since the Springboks' 1995 Rugby World Cup success.

"It's something I will treasure for the rest of my life," said India's talismanic captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he basked in the glow of glory, draped in orange, white and green.

"There was a determination among us. We were not expected to do well because we had not done well in the last World Cup and that was a key point.

"We also enjoyed this format of the game because nothing much was expected from us so we didn't have added pressure or added responsibility on anyone – the guys really enjoyed it and played it match by match."

And Dhoni believes that his team's success can be the start of something big on the sub-continent. "The Twenty20 version will catch on in India," he added.

"The excitement and type of game it is will be a big hit in India. After the way we departed from the World Cup this will do some repair work for some time."

LET THE PARTY BEGIN: Fireworks go off as Mahendra Singh Dhoni hoists the Twenty20 World Championship trophy aloft.

Pakistan had appeared destined for defeat for the majority of their chase, especially so as the game and the tournament neared its denouement.

Seven wickets down and requiring a further 54 runs to win from four overs, the game seemed up for the men in green. Then Misbah-ul-Haq, who so nearly saw off India in the group stages, set about the task of putting the record straight.

Three enormous sixes off Harbajhan followed by two more by Sohail Tanvir off Sree Santh brought the equation down to 20 off 13. Then two more wickets fell to leave Pakistan needing 13 runs and India one wicket off the final over to win.

Joginder Sharma fired down a wide and then a dot ball, followed by a full toss which Misbah smoted into the stands. Six off four. Tension at its most taut; fingernails gone; nerves shredded.

Then Sharma sent in a full-pitched delivery, Misbah twisted his bat in his hands and scooped the ball up, high up into the air and straight into Sree Santh's grateful hands.

What a shot to play at such a moment.

Misbah had again lost his mind with the finish line in sight, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory to send a billion Indians into ecstasy, and a hundred million Pakistanis into agony.

Earlier Gautham Gambhir had rescued India's innings, scoring a well-crafted 75 to take them to a below-par 157. It proved defendable, though only just.

Here is the full match scorecard from Cricinfo.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

T20 final promises plenty of fun in the Jo'burg sun

STANDING IN THE SHADOW OF GIANTS: Shoaib Malik and Mahendra Singh Dhoni pose with the world Tewnty20 trophy ahead of tomorrow's final, under the watchful gaze of Nelson Mandela.

Wanderers, Johannesburg, World Twenty20 Championship final: Pakistan v India (24th September)


OVER a billion men, women and children are set for a sleepless night ahead of the most anticipated match in 20-over history.

Their fervent populaces awaiting with bated breath, the players of India and Pakistan are geared up for what promises to be a thrilling end to a fascinating tournament.

Separated only by a bowl out in the opening phase, the two form teams in South Africa have just one regulation time defeat between them, with only first round flops Kenya, the West Indies and Zimbabwe escaping their wrath.

Victory for either team will be especially sweet given the sides' failures at the World Cup in the spring, when they were both knocked out at the group stage.

For Pakistan it would be a fitting tribute to former coach Bob Woolmer, who died in the Caribbean following the shock defeat to Ireland.

Success for India, meanwhile, would help erase the memory of an equally unimpressive campaign in which they managed a solitary win against the might of Bermuda. Remember Dwayne Leverock, anyone?

Yuvraj Singh  Sree Santh  Shahid Afridi

With both the sub-continent giants packed brimful with match-winners, the game could go either way. Yuvraj Singh, Sree Santh and Shahid Afridi the three most likely to pull off something spectacular.

Singh blasted six sixes in an over off England's Stuart Broad earlier in the tournament, only the fourth man in the history of the game to achieve the feat, and turned the semi-final against Australia around with a blistering 30-ball 70.

Santh also fired on all cylinders against the 50-over world champions, finishing with the amazing figures of 4-1-12-2, combining accuracy with hostility to rile the Aussies.

Pakistan all-rounder Afridi, however, has the skill to win a game with bat and ball, scoring 91 runs and taking 12 wickets to lead the player of the tournament standings going into tomorrow's final.

And on the eve that final India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni summed up the mood of the two nations when he said: "There is nothing more exciting than an India-Pakistan match, so expect some fun."

If their previous meetings at ICC tournaments are anything to go by, Dhoni won't be disappointed.

Listen live to full coverage of tomorrow’s final on the
BBC Sport website from 1:00pm.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Prince on song to bring down the curtain in style

GOODBYE LONDON: Prince departs centre stage with the applause of the crowd ringing in his ears.

OVER 20,000 revellers partied like it was 1999 on the site of the Millennium Dome last night as Prince played London for the final time.

The purple clad genius rolled out a string of hits on his last night at the 02 Arena in Greenwich, the 21st gig of a 21 night sell-out tour at the location which welcomed in the 21st century seven long years ago.

Mixing old-school classics like When Doves Cry and Kiss with a splattering of new tunes from his latest album Planet Earth, Minnesota's most famous son delivered a spellbinding performance in front of a capacity crowd.

Indeed, such is the repertoire of the man that 90's chart-toppers Diamonds and Pearls and The Most Beautiful Girl in the World merited only a couple of bars apiece, melded together in one of a series of medleys.

This was real music performed by real artists, using real instruments; trombones, guitars, pianos, drums, … not some bint lip-synching to a bubblegum pop cd digitally enhanced by computer.

"My name is Prince and I am funky, my name is Prince the one and only!"

The beats kept on coming, Purple Rain, Nothing Compares to U, My Name Is Prince and 1999 meriting extended run-outs as the show, the whole tour even, built up to a thrilling crescendo.

Purple glow-sticks, handed out to every concert goer upon arrival at the event, rained down on the stage as Minneapolis's finest teased the audience, disappearing from view several times as the show reached its conclusion.

With the fans - young and old, male and female, smart and casual, rich and poor, black and white - clamouring for more, the artist formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince finally reappeared, making no less than four encores.

Those watching may not have realised it, but we were witnessing one of the last of a dwindling breed. Entertainers who can sing, dance and play music - pure music - the way it used to be played, before the corrosive influence of Big Brother et al.

And such is the paucity of class among the current generation’s talentless talent show wannabes that it may be a long wait before we see such brilliance burst onto the scene again.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Bye, everybody!

"Hi, everybody! I'm Dr Nick. Your life is safe in my hands!"    "Hi, todos! Eu sou sua equipe de Jose Mourinho. Sou seguro em minhas mãos!"

• Mourinho out • £25 million pay-off • Grant takes charge


JOSE Mourinho's reign as Chelsea manager is over. His departure was announced in a terse statement on the club's website late last night.

Mourinho, the most successful manager in Chelsea's history, is believed to be in line for a massive £25 million severance package – in exchange for the Portuguese’s silence.

Though the club insist Mourinho left "by mutual consent", many observers believe he was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich after the pair had a very public falling out.

Their disagreements stem from Mourinho's displeasure at being forced to play Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack – both signed by Abramovich from behind his back – allied to a failure to land the European Cup.

Former Israel manager Avram Grant, described as an Abramovich stooge in some quarters, was today named the 44-year-old's successor, knowing that nothing less than Champions League glory will do.

The "Special One" follows in the footsteps of predecessors Gianluca Vialli and Ruud Gullit, who, like him, were forced to leave the season after winning the FA Cup. Mourinho also won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the Community Shield.

DEAD MAN WALKING? Big Phil Scolari could make way if the Special One decides on a quick return to management.  NEXT MAN IN? Jurgen Klinsmann has plenty of experience winning European silverware and could be the man to bring the Champions League crown to Stamford Bridge.  RUTHLESS: Chelsea owner Roman abramovich had no qualms dispensing with the services of the man who'd brought him six trophies in three years.

Amongst those being lined up to take over long-term at Stamford Bridge is Jurgen Klinsmann, who coached Germany to the World Cup semi-finals last year and has already enjoyed considerable success in London.

The Italia '90 winner captained his country to the Euro '96 title at Wembley and starred for Spurs the year before, scoring 21 goals in 41 games during his sole season at White Hart Lane.

As for Mourinho, the future may lie back in his homeland, with the Portuguese Soccer Federation set to hold an emergency board meeting next week.

Portugal lie third in their qualifying group for Euro 2008 with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari under renewed pressure after receiving a four-match suspension for an on-pitch brawl which followed the 1-1 draw against Serbia last week.

But the last word must surely go to the man himself, who was quoted towards the end of last season as saying: "There are only two ways for me to leave Chelsea.

"One way is in June 2010 when I finish my contract and if the club doesn't give me a new one. It is the end of my contract and I am out.

"The second way is for Chelsea to sack me."

Jose, we'll miss you my son! You were EGG-CELLENT!!!