Youraj Singh

Meghalaya edged out Rajasthan 3-2, while Kerala registered their second consecutive victory with a 2-0 win over West Bengal in the 75th Santosh Trophy National Football championship on Monday.

For new commuters transiting Salar Jung Museum road, Dar-ul-Shifa ground may seem like any other playground with youngsters playing football or occasionally cricket. But, for the sportspeople in the Old City, the place holds a historic significance and stands as a lucky charm to them.

Captain Jijo Joseph led by example as the midfielder scored a treble to help Kerala record a 5-0 victory over Rajasthan in their opening match of the 75th Santosh Trophy national football championship finals at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri on Saturday.

The first Test between Australia and South Africa at the green Gabba pitch saw the result inside two days with 19 wickets falling on Day 2 and 15 on Day 1. The almost similar action unfolded in the Ranji Trophy on Wednesday as the match between Railways and Punjab at the Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi suspended after the track was deemed "dangerous and unfit for play" by the match officials.

The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) is setting up a cricket academy to hone the skills of young players.

Pitch remained the centre of attention at the Karnail Singh Stadium here as the ball kept the batters on tenterhooks after the Ranji Trophy Group D match between Punjab and Railways had to be restarted on Thursday.

On Wednesday at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, the ground staff brought their own tricks to make the game possible on Day 3 of the Plate Group Ranji Trophy match between Chandigarh and Puducherry. They used iron rods to make holes in the ground, so that water made their way. They rolled out a mat and then used a heavy roller on it, which also went on futile.

Earlier this month, Guwahati used hairdryer and steam iron to save the first T20I versus Sri Lanka. On Wednesday, the Sector-16 groundsmen tried own desperate tricks to save the Plate Group Ranji Trophy match against Puducherry.