Yuvraj leads India’s big win over England

Bravo for Indian cricket player Yuvi. Today India defeats England in first one day international at Rajkot. Yuvraj Singh struck the second fastest one-day century by an Indian to set up the team’s thumping 158-run victory over England in the first one-day international on Friday. Despite some fighting knocks from skipper Kevin Pietersen and Ravi Bopara, England fell short by 158 runs as India won the first One-Day International of the seven-match series in Rajkot.

 

The 26-year-old left-hander smashed 138 not out in just 78 balls to help India post an imposing 387 for five for their best one-day total against a test-playing nation.It was the highest total England has ever conceded and end in one of their heaviest defeats after being bowled out for 229 despite fifties by skipper Kevin Pietersen (63) and Ravi Bopara (54).

 

Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan took three quick wickets in an electrifying seven-over opening spell to trigger a top-order collapse from England.

The second match in the seven-match series will be played in Indore on Monday.

 

Put in to bat first, Indian batsmen made merry after seeing through the first few overs. England’s nemesis Yuvraj toyed with the bowlers to raise ninth ODI hundred, his second against the visitors. Yuvraj, who was suffering from a back spasm, dealt the bowlers in boundaries, and hit sixteen 4s and six 6s in his 78-ball long outing. Everything that he hit found itself on the other side of the rope. His hundred was the second fastest ton by an Indian.

Children of the Lesser God

Dressed in rags, with unkempt hair, seven-year-old Rani sweeps the floor of a building. She gazes at the adjacent school, where children of her age study and play. But, for her, it’s an unfulfilled dream. She has an ailing mother to take care of.

Caught in a vicious cycle of poverty, hunger and exploitation, such children crave for better opportunities, hope and dignity. Restaurants, tea-stalls and as households do not hesitate to employ theses young kids. When asked why he employs children, a kitleewala in Naranpura, says, “They come from poor families, desperately need jobs and work sincerely. That’s why we employ them.”

Children who work as domestic help wake up between 6 and 7 am and get to sleep only after 11 pm. “I want to go to school and learn English. My parents can’t afford to educate me. I don’t like working, but I have no choice,” says 10-year-old Maya, working as a domestic help.

Though child labour is banned in the country, millions of kids are put to hard labour. A child worker, as defined by UNICEF, is aged between 5-14 years. Use of children as labourers is rampant in agriculture sector, industries such as match box making, sari manufacture, gem cutting and polishing and many others all across Gujarat.

According to a survey, Surat has the maximum number of child labourers. “Although Gujarat has an active labour department, which has carried out raids at many places, rescuing these children, it is not possible in all sectors,” says child-rights activist, Sukhdev Patel.

Sometimes, child labourers work for long hours with no rest or remuneration. Eleven-year-old Jay lost his parents and works at a tea-stall in Vastrapur to support himself. He puts up with beatings and hunger and earns just Rs 20 per day.

Bans have worked only in some sectors. And, the reality is that in many cases children

have to work to as a necessity, to support themselves and their families.