The Hindu : Sport Digest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

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Sport - Sports : General

Sport Digest

CRICKET: GEORGETOWN: There will be heightened security for the Indian national cricket team when it arrives in Guyana on Monday at the start of a five-Test series against the West Indies. Worried about past field invasions by overzealous spectators, the Guyana Cricket Board said it plans to have at least 130 police officers on duty at the Bourda Cricket Ground, the venue for the first Test against the West Indies on April 11. The heightened security is linked to the popularity of the Indian team in Guyana where half of the population is of East Indian descent.

FOOTBALL: PARIS: Zinedine Zidane said France fears no other team and can conquer a second straight World Cup title even without injured midfielder Robert Pires. ``We know we have a great team, a great chance of winning a second straight World Cup,'' the star player told Friday's edition of French sports daily L'Equipe. ``We do not fear any opponent, but that doesn't mean we have a superiority complex.'' Zidane scored once as the World and European champion thrashed Scotland 5-0 in Wednesday's World Cup warm-up match at the Stade de France. It was France's first game since losing Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires through injury.

LONDON: Fourth-placed Newcastle boosted its chances of a Champions League place next season with a stunning 6-2 victory at home to Everton in an eight-goal premiership thriller at sunny St. James' Park on Friday. Everton went in at half time on level terms at 2-2, but Newcastle turned up the heat after the interval with second-half goals from Peruvian Nolberto Solano (2) and one a piece from Andy O'Brien and Olivier Bernard securing three valuable points. Defeat for Everton, which was looking for its third win in a row since new manager David Moyes took charge, leaves it precariously close to relegation.

Standings in English and Scottish soccer leagues after play on Friday: p-denotes promoted, r-denotes relegated.

England Premier League: Read under team, played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points: Liverpool 32-19-8-5-53-26-65; Manchester United 32-20-4-8-78-41-64; Arsenal 30-18-9-3-60-32-63; Newcastle 31-18-5-8-60-42-59; Leeds 31-14-12- 5-44-30-54; Chelsea 31-14-11-6-58-31-53; Aston Villa 31-10-12-9- 35-36-42; Charlton 31-10-11-10-35-36-41; Tottenham 31-12-5-14-41- 45-41; Middlesbrough 31-10-8-13-30-38-38. Scotland Premier league: Celtic 33-29-3-1-78-15-90; Rangers 33-23-8-2-75-23-77;Aberdeen 33-15-6-12-46-43-51; Livingston 33-13-10-10-40-35-49; Dunfermline 33-12-7-14-39-52-43; Hearts 33-12-6-15-44-46-42; Kilmarnock 33-11-9-13-37-46-42; Dundee 33-10-7-16-35-50-37; Dundee United 33-9-8-16-32-56-35; Hibernian 33-8-10-15-43-51-34.

GOLF: THE WOODLANDS, Texas: Vijay Singh, winless on the PGA Tour since the 2000 Masters, shot a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead in the Shell Houston Open. Singh had a 12-under 132 total on the TPC at the Woodlands. Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke was second after a 65, and J.P. Hayes (68) was three strokes back at 9 under. Singh birdied the first and fifth holes, and then strung consecutive birdies at 8, 9 and 10. His tee shot at the par-3, 175-yard (159-meter) 16th wound up in the bunker to the left and behind the hole, but Singh's shot out of the sand from 54 feet (16.2 meters) away found the cup, breaking a tie with Clarke for the lead. Singh also finished with a flourish, rolling in a 12-footer (3.6 meters) at No. 18 for his final birdie. Second round scores: Vijay Singh 67-65_132; Darren Clarke 69- 65_134; J.P. Hayes 67-68_135; Geoff Ogilvy 71-65_136; Brandt Jobe 70-66_136; Scott Verplank 67-70_137; Jay Haas 67-70_137;Chris Riley 67-70_137; Greg Norman 70-68_138; Justin Leonard 70- 68_138.

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