Australia pip India to go 1-0 up in the series

Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan Singh's batting heroics took India agonisingly close to a sensational win before the hosts slumped to a four-run defeat against Australia in the first match of the seven-ODI series on Sunday.


At 201 for seven in their pursuit of a 293-run victory target, India seemed heading for a comprehensive defeat before Praveen (40 not out) and Harbhajan (49) came up with a defiant 84-run stand off 57 balls for the eighth wicket that nearly took them home.

Much to the disappointment of the crowd, India eventually managed 288 for eight, put together by cameos from Gautam Gambhir (68), Virat Kohli (30), MS Dhoni (34), Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting (74) led from the front and was amply supported by Mike Hussey (73), Tim Paine (50) and Cameron White (51) as the visitors rattled up 292 for eight after opting to bat first on a featherbed track.

Faced with the daunting task of scoring at 5.86 per over, the star-studded Indian line-up came a cropper against some disciplined bowling and tight fielding to be left struggling at 201 for seven with the last 10 overs remaining.

Harbhajan and Praveen brought down the target to 30 from the last 15 balls and then nine from the last six.

But once Harbhajan departed off the second ball of the final over from Peter Siddle, India lost the momentum and Australia stopped the hosts four runs short of their total.

Earlier in the innings, Gambhir played the sheet-anchor's role after the cheap dismissal of openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar to top-score with 68 off 85 balls with six fours and a six in it.

Dhoni and Kohli, surprisingly promoted to number four in the batting order, made starts before getting out when in their 30s.

After being 167 for three in the 35th over, the Indians lost three quick wickets - Gambhir, Suresh Raina (9) and Dhoni - while adding only 19 runs and it became 201 for seven at the fall of Ravindra Jadeja in the 40th over.

Harbhajan and Praveen kept the hosts in the hunt with some lusty hits to raise visions of a come-from-behind victory, but in the end it proved of no avail.

With this win, Australia surged to their second successive victory at this venue over the home team, having beaten the hosts by nine wickets in 2007 at this ground.

The thrilling victory put the visitors 1-0 up in the series ahead of the second day/night encounter at Nagpur on October 28.

Though India came close, their top-order batting, bowling as well as fielding were thoroughly exposed by the Australian team which is riding on a high after whipping England 6-1 and then retaining the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

In the morning, the Australia top-order took a heavy toll of the listless Indian bowling attack and raised a big total.

Australia suffered an early blow, when Watson fell off the eighth ball, before recovering superbly through a near-century stand between Ponting and Paine.

The sound beginning was built upon by half-centuries from White and Hussey as the Indian bowling, which has struggled of late, was put to the sword in merciless fashion.

India began their chase in style with Virender Sehwag hitting Lee's first two deliveries for successive boundaries. Lee eventually settled score by getting rid off Sehwag by having the batsman caught for 13 in 11 balls.

India lost another big wicket when Sachin Tendulkar drove a wide ball from Watson up into a packed off-side field and Ponting took a blinder at short cover-point.

Virat Kohli, playing in company of Delhi teammate Gambhir, steadied the rocking ship with a stand of 58 in 75 balls and the pair raised the 100 in the 19th over when Kohli fell to Adam Voges.

Gambhir and Dhoni then strung a partnership of 64 runs with diligence for the fourth wicket before Mitchell Johnson first removed the left-hander and then caught and bowled Suresh Raina to leave India at 183 for five in the 37th over.

It was left to Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja to guide India home but the Indian skipper got out soon, trying to loft Watson and giving a tame catch to Lee at mid on.

For Australia, Johnson led the bowling with two for 59, while Watson secured 2 for 70.

Sehwag, Yuvraj take part in net session

Returning from injuries, dashing batsmen Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh joined the rest of the Indian cricket team in an over two-hour long net session to prepare for the seven-match ODI series against Australia starting October 25.

Sehwag, who has recovered from a shoulder injury, and Yuvraj, still nursing a fractured finger, looked comfortable during their stay in the middle at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla complex grounds.

While Sehwag was his usual self, trying to hoick the bowlers out of the ground, Yuvraj looked at ease facing the likes of Ishant Sharma, Sudeep Tyagi, Amit Mishra and Virat Kohli.

Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar had a half-an-hour stint against medium pacers Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Ashish Nehra and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh as the team practiced ahead of the series that starts in Vadodara.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who warmed up by sharpening his wicketkeeping skills, was seen practising big shots.

Meanwhile, coach Gary Kirsten, who had arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, took charge of the catching and fielding drills in the absence of fielding coach Robin Singh who, along with bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad, was sacked by the BCCI last week.

Prithvi-2 missile successfully test fired

Me and Sehwag have to steer Daredevils: Gambhir

Missing key players and off to a disastrous start, Delhi Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir says he, along with senior batsman Virender Sehwag, will have to shoulder the entire responsibility of steering the team to Champions League Twenty20's next stage. Victoria Bushrangers put up a clinical performance last night to beat Daredevils by seven wickets in the low-scoring opening Group D match on a slow Feroz Shah Kotla wicket. And Gambhir, who took over the team's captaincy after Sehwag stepped down to focus on his batting, said in the absence of some key players, the onus is on him and his India opening partner to guide the Daredevils in the tournament. "Obviously, there is responsibility. There is huge responsibility on me and Sehwag when experienced players like (Daniel) Vettori, AB de Villiers and (Paul) Collingwood are not there and we are ready for that," Gambhir said after the defeat. Boasting of big names like Gambhir, Sehwag, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Owais Shah among other, Daredevils could only manage 98 against a disciplined Victorian bowling. Gambhir was candid enough to admit that Daredevils batsmen cut a sorry figure against Victoria. "We just didn't bat well. We were looking for a score around 130-140 and in the end we felt 30-40 runs short." "We always knew there will be low bounce in this wicket but the way we started off, we should have made 130-140 which I feel was a match-winning total in this wicket. We just didn't have any partnership," Gambhir said. He credited Victoria bowlers for their stupendous display on the tricky Kotla track. "I must say they outplayed us today. They bowled really well and we found it difficult to score runs," Gambhir said. Asked what the plan was while defending such a small total, Gambhir said, "We thought if we could get some early wickets, we are in the game but that didn't happen. "The way Quiney batted, he took the game away from us." Daredevils will next take on unpredictable Sri Lankan domestic Twenty20 champions Wayamba in their second Group D encounter and a defeat in that match will ensure the Delhi side's ouster from the tournament. "From here on every match is a must win game for us if we want to stay in the competition. The situation is also good for us as we know exactly what to do to stay alive in the tournament. If we play to our potential, we should cross the line in the next game against Wayamba. "Now we have nothing to lose and hopefully, the next time we get into the field we will put up a much better performance," Gambhir said. Gambhir also joined New South Wales skipper Simon Katich and Diamond Eagles captain Boeta Dippenaar in criticising the newly-laid Kotla wicket, saying, "It was not ideal to play a Twenty20 game." Victoria captain Cameron White, meanwhile, lauded his bowlers and fielders for setting up the platform for the win. "We did really well in bowling and fielding. We executed our plans to perfection. Our fielding, particularly, was outstanding. Sehwag's catch which Clint McKay took of his own bowling was brilliant," White said. "The wicket wasn't ideal but it wasn't that bad. It was little slow but I feel we adapted to the conditions well," he added.

India placed with South Africa, England in 2011 World Cup

India have been placed in Group B -- along with England and South Africa -- for the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday after a Board meeting.

"In Group A there will be Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya. In Group B there will be India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands," the ICC said in a statement.

The meeting also approved the schedule for next year's Under-19 World Cup scheduled in January in New Zealand.

"The full schedule will be posted on the ICC website shortly," the statement read.

Apart from this, the meeting also discussed ways to promote cricket and decided to have more research on the concept of day/night Tests.

"A competitive analysis of other sports and entertainment products will be carried out by a working group and there will be further research carried out into various proposals for product development and variation of Test cricket, such as day/night Test matches," the ICC said.

"The working group will be chaired by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and will include a representative from each Full Member as well as the ICC General Manager - Commercial, Campbell Jamieson and ICC General Manager - Cricket, David Richardson," it added.

Group A: Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya

Group B: India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands.

ICC Awards: Gambhir Test player of the year

Morgan, Collingwood guide England to victory

Eoin Morgan steered England to a morale-boosting six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka with a solid half-century in the Champions Trophy on Friday.

Scorecard | Points Table

England achieved a 213-run target on a lively track with five overs to spare in the day-night match, thanks to Morgan (62 not out), man-of-the-match Paul Collingwood (46) and Owais Shah (44).

South Africa and Sri Lanka now have one win apiece from two games in the four-team group, while England were playing their first match after being thrashed 6-1 by Australia in a recent home One-day series.

New Zealand have lost their opening match. The top two sides will make it to the semi-finals.

Sri Lankan spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, who were expected to keep the pressure on England, could not make an impact on a pitch which hardly helped slow bowlers.

England's win was set up by pacemen James Anderson (3-20), Stuart Broad (3-49) and Graham Onions (2-58) who bowled well to restrict Sri Lanka on a seamer-friendly track.

They were struggling at 19/2 when they lost openers Andrew Strauss and Joe Denly, but Collingwood put the innings on the right track with a vigorous counter-attack.

Paceman Nuwan Kulasekara did the early damage when he removed Strauss (nine) and Denly (five) in his sharp opening spell. Skipper Strauss fell pulling, with Thilina Kandamby taking a superb one-handed catch at short mid-wicket.

Collingwood then eased the pressure with his attractive cameo, advancing down the pitch to swing Kulasekara over mid-wicket for a six and then smashing the next two deliveries for boundaries.

He did not spare seamer Angelo Mathews, hitting two boundaries in an over and later swung Lasith Malinga for two sixes. His flourish ended when he inside-edged a Malinga delivery on to his stumps.

Shah was involved in two partnerships, adding 63 for the third wicket with Collingwood and 76 for the next with Morgan.

Morgan then batted steadily to see England home, hitting seven fours in his seventh half-century in one-day internationals.

Kandamby and Mathews earlier hit impressive half-centuries under pressure as Sri Lanka recovered from a horror start to post a competitive total.

Sri Lanka were struggling at 17-4 before Kandamby (53) and Mathews (52) led the fightback with an 82-run stand for the sixth wicket.

It was a rare sporting gesture by Strauss that allowed Mathews to resume his innings after he was run out.

Mathews turned Onions to square-leg and completed the first run before colliding with the bowler going for a second, with wicket-keeper Matt Prior effecting the run out after receiving the throw.

The Sri Lankan batsman stood briefly at the pitch before walking back to the pavilion, but Strauss called the batsman back.

Mathews, who was then on 51, failed to make the most of the opportunity as he added just one run more to his score before being caught behind off Luke Wright.

Kandamby added 64 for the fifth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (30) and 82 for the next with Mathews.

Ramesh Kumar creates history, bags bronze in World Wrestling

India's Ramesh Kumar created history by winning the bronze medal in the freestyle 74kg category at the World Wrestling Championship inHerning, Denmark.

The Uttar Pradesh wrestler did what Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar failed to achieve, clinching India's first medal in the prestigious event after a gap of 32 years.

Kumar defeated Alexandr Burca of Moldova on technical points after the repechage round ended with both the wrestlers tied at the score of 7-7.

Kumar, however, started the bout on a disappointing note, trailing 0-3 after the first period.

He then came back strongly in the second session to score two points and then finished off the final period picking up five points as against his opponent's four to finally come out victorious on technical points.

Kumar had earlier defeated Dustin Schlatter of the US 3-2 in the opening round. His next casualty was Great Britain's Michael Grundy, whom he beat 4-2 and then prevailed over Kiril Terziev of Bulgaria 7-4 in the quarterfinal.

Kumar, however, lost out on the gold medal opportunity, going down 0-5 to Chamsulvara Chamsulvarayev of Azerbaijan in the last-four stage to set up a repechage encounter against Burca.

The gold in this category was won by Denis Tsargush of Russia.

Earlier, Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar failed to replicate boxer Vijender Singh's feat and lost out on a medal opportunity in the elite event after losing the bronze medal play-off match in the 66kg freestyle category on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in the female style, India's Nirmala Devi lost in the opening round of the 48kg category to Great Britain's Yana Stadnik, while Babita Kumari bowed out in the quarterfinal against Natalia Budu of Moldova in 51kg division.

Yuvraj Singh out of Champions Trophy

JOHANNESBURG: Injury-hit India's Champions Trophy campaign was on Wednesday dealt a massive blow as middle-order mainstay Yuvraj Singh was ruled out of the eight-nation event due to a fractured right-hand finger. ( Watch Video )

The stylish left-hander, who picked up the injury during a training session, has been advised rest for six weeks and will return home.

Delhi middle order batsman Virat Kohli has been named as Yuvraj's replacement.

"Yuvraj Singh has fractured a finger in his right hand and has been ruled out for six weeks. The selectors have chosen Virat Kohli as replacement for Yuvraj Singh," BCCI said in a statement.

"He will fly out as soon as formalities are completed," it added.

India will open their campaign against arch rivals Pakistan on September 26.

Yuvraj was enthusiastically taking part in the fielding session at the University Ground here. But in the process, he ended up hurting his right finger so badly that he couldn't participate in the batting and bowling sessions which were conducted later in the day.

The left-hander was attended to by physio Nitin Patel before he proceeded for a medical examination which revealed that he had fractured his finger.

India are already an injury-hit side going into the tournament, missing the services of star opener Virender Sehwag, who is nursing a shoulder problem.

Sehwag's fellow opener Gautam Gambhir was also nursing a groin strain ahead of the tournament. Gambhir did not play in the team's only practice match against New Zealand.

Pacer Zaheer Khan is also missing from action due to an injury.

India move up to second spot in ICC rankings

DUBAI: India regained the second spot in the ICC One-day rankings following their tri-series triumph in Sri Lanka and are in with a chance to clinch the top spot if they manage a good show in the Champions Trophy.

India moved back up to second in the ODI Championship table following the 46-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final of the tri-nation series played at R Premadasa Stadium on Monday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men had briefly enjoyed the top spot in the team rankings after beating New Zealand earlier in the series. But slipped to the third within 24 hours of that win after being beaten by the home side on September 12.

The same day Australia beat England by seven wickets at Lord's to sneak ahead into second position.

But yesterday's victory put India back to within a single ratings point of South Africa and with just two points separating first from third in the table, everything is set up for a rankings showdown at the ICC Champions Trophy, which gets underway in South Africa on September 22.

Before the Champions Trophy, Australia could go top of the rankings if they manage a clean sweep against England.

Anil Ambani group lashes again on RIL gas pricing

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Natural Resources (RNRL) today said Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries (RIL) is charging an illegal and unauthorised marketing margin of 13.5 cents (Rs 6.6) per mBtu on the sale of gas from its KG basin D-6 fields.

RIL declined to comment on this or related allegations, saying the entire issue was in court. Seeking government’s intervention in the matter, J P Chalasani, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Power, said, “RIL’s charge of unauthorized marketing margin accounts for over 3 per cent of the price at which the KG gas is being sold and the marketing margin levied till date should either be refunded immediately or adjusted against future sale of gas.”

“RIL’s decision to levy the marketing margin does not have approval of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) and has not been subjected to any official scrutiny. On the contrary, the petroleum ministry has categorically denied giving permission to RIL to charge any such marketing margin. This strengthens the apprehensions about the biased and partisan approach of the petroleum ministry,” Chalasani added.

In Delhi, senior ministry officials sharply denied the charges, stating that government approval is only for landfall price of the gas and its utilisation. “It is between the two contracting parties to decide on the marketing margins. In case of a dispute, a buyer can always go to the Competition Commission, (the sector) regulator or the administrative machinery with its complaint,” said an official, reacting to the charges.
The power and fertiliser sectors, RNRL said, will have to bear an additional burden of over Rs 10,000 crore towards this illegitimate and unjustified charge claimed by RIL. The major burden will be borne by Government of India in the form of fertiliser subsidies and by the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat in the form of power subsidies.
“RIL is selling the gas produced by itself, and there is no intermediate marketing agency involved. Above all, the gas is being supplied to customers identified by the government, and there is no element of marketing involved – there can be no question of the levy of a marketing margin,” Chalasani said.
Drawing comparisons with state-run GAIL, Chalasani said the latter is not permitted to charge any marketing margin on the supply to government’s identified customers under the administered price mechanism (APM), whereas RIL is doing so. Officials, however, said the comparison with APM gas was not fair. Besides, GAIL charges a Rs 8.40 marketing margin on all non-APM gas. This includes gas produced from privately-operated Panna-Mukta-Tapti and also D6 gas, whenever the government-owwned company gets to market the gas.
GAIL said it charges around 12 cents for its gas from the Panna-Mukta-Tapti fields, which is sells at around $5.7 per mBtu. It charges 17 cents for its gas from the Dahej terminal. The price of the gas in August stood at around $6.3 per mBtu, approximately.

Asin came after me: Anushka

Anushka has just completed 10 months in Bollywood after she made her debut in Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. When someone asked her how does she feel to be the baby of Bollywood, the sharp-witted Anushka replied, “Asin is the baby. Her movie
Ghajini released after my Rab Ne...” When told that Asin has already done a dozen movies down South before she came to Mumbai, Anushka replied, “But in Bollywood, she’s still a newcomer. And since she came after me, she’s the newest babe in town.”

Pakistan confirms New Zealand series in Abu Dhabi, Dubai

KARACHI: Abu Dhabi and Dubai
will co-host Pakistan's limited-overs series against New Zealand in October and November, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday.

The final match dates have yet to be approved but PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt said four One-Day Internationals would be played in Abu Dhabi while two T20s would be held in Dubai.

"I have had fruitful and constructive meetings with the emirate cricket officials last week and we will be sending the final itinerary to cricket New Zealand for approval," Butt said in Lahore.

"Once we get approval from Cricket New Zealand we will announce the final dates but the series will be held some time in October-November."

Pakistan were due to host New Zealand both in Tests and limited-overs matches but the matches were moved because of ongoing security concerns.

The Test series will now be played in New Zealand from mid-November while the remaining games will be played in the United Arab Emirates, which also played host to Pakistan's matches against Australia earlier this year.

India beat New Zealand to reach tri-series final

COLOMBO: No side has won a match at the Premadasa Stadium batting second in the last 13 ODIs played here. India broke that hoodoo on Friday, beating New Zealand by six wickets in the second match of the Compaq Cup tri-series and thereby ensuring a place in Monday's final against hosts Sri Lanka and also moving to the top of ICC's ODI rankings. India now take on the hosts in an inconsequential game on Saturday.

Scorecard

But the real positive to come out of Rahul Dravid's comeback match was the superb performance of another man on the comeback trail: Ashish Nehra whose career was thought to be as good as over after he suffered a serious ankle injury during the 2003 World Cup. into a match winner again. "It was tough but I never for once thought that I won't play for India again," said Nehra after his man-of-the-match showing.

Nehra generated good pace and bounce and, more importantly, moved the ball either ways after pitching. That he got both the New Zealand openers, Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum, one a left-hander and the other a right-hander, out leg-before with balls that came in after pitching showed that he knew what he was doing with the ball.

The Delhi left-armer opened the floodgate in his first over and also wrapped it up in the 47th over as New Zealand managed a modest 155 for nine wickets.

Nehra finished with figures of 3 for 24 from his 8.3 overs. New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori top scored with 25 in a card that had quite a few 20s, some 10s and a duck too. In reply, India notched up the required runs in the 41st over losing just four wickets.

Sachin Tendulkar, back in the squad after skipping the West Indies tour, scored 46 valuable runs before skipper MS Dhoni (35 n.o.) and Suresh Raina (45 n.o.) saw to it that India broke the Premdasa jinx.

But more than India's batting, coach Gary Kirsten & Co would have taken heart from what their fast bowlers did early in the day. Bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad applauded every New Zealand wicket that fell with a great sense of satisfaction.

It could be seen in his big smile as it flashed on the giant screen. And he had some good reasons for that too. Without Zaheer Khan in the line-up, many thought that this attack lacked bite and venom.

But Nehra's comeback and RP Singh return to form and fitness meant that a bowler like Ishant Sharma could afford to come in first change to trouble the opponents. Of course, conditions at the ground helped the bowlers and the Kiwi batsmen failed to put up any credible resistance. But Indian bowlers were still spot on.

If Nehra was hungry for some action, so was RP. He too had a point to prove and didn't let go of this opportunity. He mixed his deliveries well and never hesitated to dig in one short or bowl the slower ones every now and then.

And while the focus was on the seamers, part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh also proved incisive, grabbing three wickets for 31 runs to hasten New Zealand's fall.

Sony Ericsson C903 Comes to India

Sony Ericsson on Wednesday announced the C903 CyberShot branded camera phone in India. Boasting of seamless social networking and imaging abilities, the addition of this new phone to its portfolio gives consumers a wider choice. We first heard of the C903 back in February during the Mobile World Congress.

This is the first major announcement from Sony Ericsson after the company unveiled its Windows Mobile 6.5 based Xperia X2 last week. Coming back to the C903, the device boasts of a 5 megapixel camera that features imaging tools like Smile Shutter, Face Detection, Active lens cover, BestPic. It also has the 'The photo Fix' function that helps the camera automatically adjust light balance, brightness and contrast simultaneously for optimal results. A glaring omission in an otherwise excellent device is WiFi, which would have made the phone a very good media device.The social networking intentions of the device is obvious, thanks to the presence of the Facebook application that promises to keep users connected to their friends and colleagues. Almost as good as the fully web version of the site, the application allows users to update their status, pictures as well as receive updates about the status of their friends. The C903 also supports video and image uploads to YouTube and Picasa. Another interesting feature is the threaded SMS functionality that displays sent and received messages together; like a single unbroken chat conversation.The C903 gets support for HP's Snapfish service that allows users to order for printouts of photographs that are delivered directly to the doorsteps. The Sony Ericsson C903 Cyber-shot handset is now available at all Sony Ericsson Experience stores and retail outlets all over the country. The phone is priced at Rs. 18,850.

Reliance Introduces Pack 999 Offer

Reliance Communications has announced the launch of its new promotional 'Pack 999'. The scheme is aimed at subscribers with high usage of local calls, STD calls and SMSes.


With Pack 999, subscribers can avail 999 local minutes on Reliance network
as well as other networks, 999 STD minutes on Reliance Network as well as outside network, and 999 SMS for local as well as national SMS. The company says that at a price of Rs. 999 the subscriber effectively gets value worth Rs. 4,000. The scheme comes with 30 days validity. It will be available till Sept. 30 for GSM prepaid subscribers in TN, Chennai, Kerala, Karnataka, AP, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, J&K, UP-East and UP-West telecom circles.

Delhi school stampede: 2 injured still critical

The condition of two students injured in a stampede in a government school in north east Delhi on Thursday remained critical on Friday, an official said.
"Two patients still remain critical. Other patients are showing recovery," JP Kapoor, the head of Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital's casualty department, told IANS.
Five girl students were killed and at least 34 others were injured Thursday morning in a stampede at the Government Senior Secondary School (Class 6-12) in Khajoori Khas. The victims were mostly from Classes 7-10, who had come to the school in pouring rain for their half-yearly examinations.
The injured were rushed to the GTB hospital.
The school also remained closed on Friday.
Angry families and relatives of the victims had indulged in stone pelting and protests outside the school Thursday, leading to the police throwing a security cordon around the premises.
Though police maintained that the initial reports suggested that a rumour about electric current leaking into the rainwater in the school triggered a stampede, some of the victims said that the boys who came over to the school to give their examination tried to molest them, resulting in the mishap.
However, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had also denied these claims, saying: "These are just rumours. The incident took place when some girls were going up the stairs and others were coming down."

Jet crisis: Will it be another harrowing day for passengers?

The Jet Airways pilots strike is into the third day. Today the airlines has put out a list of 233 flights cancelled - domestic and international - and despite speculations of a solution in the Jet management and pilots' standoff pilots show no signs of relenting.

Over 14,000 passengers are suffering and today at least for now it seems like there is no change in the situation.

The mass sick leave plan continues. The pilots are now unwilling to come on camera with any response or reaction or statement. Possibly after the Bombay high court has served them the contempt notice.

On Wednesday Jet Airways chief Naresh Goyal met with Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel. The Jet owner is parked in Delhi trying everything possible to end the pilot strike.

"I hope there will be some solution," said Naresh Goyal, Jet Air chief.

Goyal and his team say they're willing to negotiate, but first the 400 pilots on strike have to return to work. Jet management warns that they will not hesitate to hire expat or retired pilots to replace current staff, if it comes to that.

But for now he has simply hit an air pocket as 72 more pilots were absent on Wednesday and the total pilots on strike now is 432 up from 360 on Tuesday and they are in no mood to give in. Two hundred twenty six domestic and 20 international flights were cancelled on Wednesday.

"We have given 40 days to the management to solve this. Now when the management has said that they have taken care of the passengers, how can they say the public is being affected," said Sam Thomas, one of the sacked pilots.

With the problems deepening, Jet has set up a crisis management centre, its job is to try and accommodate as many of its passengers as possible.

The pressure on jet seems to be from all sides: the pilots, the passengers and now the government which wants the strike to end. But for now it is not willing to intervene since NDTV has learnt that Jet pilots are in touch with Air India pilots on this matter.

The Aviation Ministry wants an early resolution but they are not keen on intervening, they don't want to be seen as taking sides. After all the government too owns an airline. Air India and they too face similar problems.

But it's an issue that has many considering the future of unions in the corporate sector. Most private airlines refused to comment on issue but experts feel this strike is a test case for the aviation industry.

"How can they not let us form a union, it's our Constitutional right and there is no question of disbanding it," said the sacked pilot.

The negotiations are on and the waiting has begun to see who will blink first. And now the defiant pilots are also feeling the heat.

On Wednesday morning, they were met by loaders requesting them to withdraw the strike because their salaries depend on the flights flying out.

Also the question: Will Jet go ahead and terminate every striking pilot? Can a tottering airline industry accommodate over 400 unemployed pilots?

NEW!! iPod Nano has Video camera, FM radio, and much more!!!

Just watched some live blogs from the Apple ipod event. Now iPod Nano will include video capability, FM radio that you can pause and rewind up to 15 minutes with the new Live Pause feature! No need to bust out the video camera with one click YouTube uploads! This will truly bring the Nano back as a top seller! it will even have a larger screen!

8GB $149
16GB $179
(available today!)

iTunes also has an update to iTunes 9!