England takes series lead in close encounter

Updated January 12, 2013 12:21:13

A big century opening stand by Alistair Cook and Ian Bell has put England on the way to a nine-run victory in the first one-day international against India in Rajkot.

England made 4 for 325 off the full 50 overs, before India replied with 9 for 316.

Cook and Bell shared a 158-run partnership, before Bell was run out for 85 in the 28th over.

The captain was out four overs later for 75, then England's middle order kept things going with Kevin Pietersen (44), Eoin Morgan (41), Craig Kieswetter (24 not out) and Samit Patel (44 off 28 balls) all making starts.

All up, England scored 35 boundaries and eight big sixes to set India a serious target. Paceman Ishant Sharma came in for particular punishment, going for 86 off his 10 overs.

In reply, India started off at a run a ball through openers Ajinkya Rahane (47) and Gautam Gambhir (52).

England's seam bowlers Steven Finn (1 for 63), Jade Dernbach (2 for 69) and Tim Bresnan (2 for 67) were all expensive, but the star was spinner James Tredwell, who took 4 for 44 including the wickets of Rahane, Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh (61) and Suresh Raina (50).

The home side came close, but India needed 18 off the final over from Dernbach and could only manage nine runs.

The second international in the five-match series will take place in Kochi on January 15.

Tags: sport, cricket, india, united-kingdom, england

First posted January 12, 2013 09:37:46

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Cool customer Morgan levels series for England

Updated December 23, 2012 09:59:52

England chased down its highest ever Twenty20 target to level the series against India with a six-wicket win in Mumbai.

Captain Eoin Morgan (49 not out) proved a calm hand to have at the death when, requiring three runs off the final delivery and waiting for India's lenghty field placements, he smashed a lofted straight drive into the crowd for six.

Morgan's unbeaten innings was backed up by South African-born Michael Lumb's 50, after the opener shared an 80-run stand with Adam Hales (42).

Yuvraj Singh (3 for 17) cleaned up England's top order, snaring Lumb, Hales and Luke Wright (5) to put the hosts in the ascendancy with England on 3 for 123 in the 15th over.

But Morgan's quickfire innings off just 26 balls turned the match England's way, meaning it ties the Twenty20 series after winning the four-match Test series 2-1.

Earlier, Virat Kohli set up a big India total with a quickfire 38, before Roshit Sharma (24), Suresh Raina (35 not out) and MS Dhoni (38) all contributed in brisk fashion.

Wickets fell at regular intervals but the English bowlers never constrained the run rate, with Wright (2 for 38) and Jade Dernbach (2 for 37) the pick of the tourists' attack.

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, india, england

First posted December 23, 2012 09:59:52

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England grind on towards series win

Updated December 16, 2012 23:43:43

England remain on track for a series win in India after surviving to lead by 165 runs with a day left in the decisive fourth Test in Nagpur.

At stumps on day four, England was 3 for 161, leaving India only an outside chance of forcing a victory to tie the series 2-2.

India had resumed at 8 for 297, still trailing England by 33 runs on first innings.

The locals batted for just over 12 overs on day four to make just 29 runs, before declaring four runs behind England on 9 for 326.

Ravi Ashwin (29) and Ishant Sharma (2) were the not out batsmen, while the only wicket to fall was Pragyan Ojha, who was bowled by Monty Panesar for 3.

For England, fast bowler James Anderson took 4 for 81, while spinner Graeme Swann had 3 for 76.

On a difficult pitch, the tourists then ground their way through the day, with survival clearly the priority over runs.

Alastair Cook and Nick Compton made 48 for the opening wicket, before Cook was controversially given out caught behind off Ashwin in the 30th over, with replays showing that Cook had clearly missed the ball.

Compton and Kevin Pietersen then took the score on to 81 before Compton was given leg before - again replays appeared to show the England opener had got bat on the ball before it hit the pad.

Ravindra Jadeja made the next breakthrough, knocking over Pietersen's off-stump when he shouldered arms to a delivery from the left-armer.

England were then 3 for 94, but Ian Bell (24 not out) and Jonathan Trott (66 not out) took the tourists through to stumps and made a draw the most likely result.

Tags: sport, cricket, india, united-kingdom, england

First posted December 16, 2012 22:58:46

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Draw clinches India series win for England

Updated December 17, 2012 21:33:32

England have won their first Test series in India since 1984/85 with a draw in the fourth and final Test in Nagpur.

The tourists went into the Test with a 2-1 lead, needing only a draw to clinch the series win.

They duly delivered, with a double-hundred partnership between Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott closing out the match.

England started the final morning on 3 for 161, a lead of 165.

The Indian bowlers tried hard for early breakthroughs, but the writing was on the wall for the home side when Bell and Trott got through the first hour unscathed with the addition of 45 runs.

By lunch, England had a lead of 244, with Bell not out on 61, and Trott - having made his eight Test hundred - unbeaten on 106.

The afternoon session was then a formality, with the pair going on to post an partnership of 208 before Trott was out caught at leg slip by Virat Kohli off the bowling of Ravi Ashwin for 143.

The game was finally halted after England's declaration 10 minutes before the final hour.

England finished on 4 for 352, with Bell on 116 not out and debutant Joe Root on 20.

The result completed England's comeback from one Test down to win the series.

The home side won the first Test by nine wickets in Ahmedabad, before captain Alastair Cook led his side to a 10-wicket win in Mumbai and a seven-wicket victory in Kolkata.

Fast bowler James Anderson was named man of the match for his first innings figures of 4 for 81 that put India on the back foot.

Cook was named man of the series after top-scoring with 568 runs at an average of more than 80.

Tags: sport, cricket, india, united-kingdom, england

First posted December 17, 2012 21:16:15

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Kallis wants series win, not flattery

Updated November 08, 2012 07:34:37

Despite high praise from Australian veteran Ricky Ponting, South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis's objective remains the same - win the Test series starting on Friday at the Gabba.

Ponting was the latest to dip his lid to Kallis on Wednesday, rating the veteran powerhouse as Australia's "number one opponent" ahead of the series opener in Brisbane.

Fast bowling great Glenn McGrath also chimed in, saying Kallis would be "remembered as one of the great all-rounders".

And all after Australian and ex-Proteas coach Mickey Arthur delivered the greatest rap of all, describing his former charge as "the best cricketer ever ... outside of Don Bradman".

But Kallis was quick to distance himself from compliments as he prepared to repeat the Proteas' amazing feat of 2008-09 when they became the first South African side to win a Test series on Australian soil.

"I have never been one who likes to compare players or eras, especially comparing this one to yesteryear," Kallis said on Wednesday.

"I think those players back then would have some unbelievable achievements if they had the chance to play as much as we did.

"Obviously, it is an honour ... but winning games gives me the most satisfaction - not stats or who you are being compared to."

Still, his stats make some impressive reading - in 155 Tests, he has 12,641 runs (history's fourth-highest tally) at 56.94 and 280 wickets at 32.63.

He chimes into a team that boasts world number one Test bowler Dale Steyn and four of the world's top seven Test batsmen - including Kallis at number four.

But Ponting only had eyes for one man ahead of the three-Test series that will decide the world's best ranking.

"He (Kallis) is our number one opponent this week and we've got to find a way we can break him down and make sure he doesn't have any major impact on the series," he said.

"That's our big job this week."

And it seems Kallis will be at his wily best Down Under.

"This is probably the biggest series you can play in. I am hugely looking forward to it," Kallis said.

"I want to repeat what happened here last time (in 2008-09). If we play some good cricket, there's no reason why we can't.

"It will come down to those key moments, and who doesn't crumble to the pressure."

It looms as Kallis' final Australian tour - but McGrath was not so sure, especially if South Africa remained a Test cricket juggernaut.

"He will be remembered as one of the great all-rounders but he still has the determination and motivation to be performing well," McGrath said.

"And to be in a team like South Africa at the moment, he would want to enjoy that as long as possible."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, south-africa

First posted November 08, 2012 07:34:37

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Smith hails series win as 'proudest achievement'

Updated December 04, 2012 18:03:32

South African captain Graeme Smith has hailed the Proteas' second successive series win in Australia as the finest moment of his decorated career.

The Proteas, forced to bat out for draws in the first two Tests, dominated the Australians in the third and final Test at the WACA to post a 309-run win and retain their top ranking in Test cricket.

The Perth win made South Africa the first team in two decades to defeat Australia in Australia on consecutive tours, with the West Indies the previous team to manage it in 1992-93. England is the only other country to have done so.

As it happened: Third Test, Day Four

"It's hard to describe how satisfying this feels, to have done it twice is difficult to put into words," said Smith, a veteran of 105 Tests, 97 of them as captain.

"One win here seemed a very long way off when we lost 2-0 back in 2005, but now we have won twice.

"It's incredible - every single one of the players can feel extremely proud of themselves.

"This is the proudest achievement of my career."

The series win also gave South Africa a six-point lead at the top of the ICC Test rankings, the biggest margin in more than four years.

South Africa has done it by remaining unbeaten in 10 Tests this year, all on foreign soil.

The Proteas have not been beaten away since a 2-0 loss in Sri Lanka in 2006 and Smith said the lead had been well-earned.

"It is nice to go home with a six-point gap and go and play in front of our own fans on our home grounds," he said.

"It has been a long haul away from home, with some tough challenges, and to come through them has been really special."

Smith praised the fighting spirit of his side in regrouping after being outplayed in the first two Tests of the series.

Like retiring Australian batsman Ricky Ponting, Smith pointed to the second day of the Test as the defining point in the series.

The Proteas started the day under pressure after being bowled out for 225, but restricted the home team to 163, before piling on 206 runs in the day's final session on the back of attacking batting by Smith and Hashim Amla.

"Day two for me has got to go down as one of the highlights of South African cricket," he said.

"The way we bowled and the way we batted in that evening session to take the game away from Australia."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia, south-africa

First posted December 04, 2012 11:49:34

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Mendis stars in Sri Lanka one-day series win

Updated November 11, 2012 10:33:59

Jeevan Mendis grabbed three wickets as Sri Lanka clinched the one-day series against New Zealand with a comfortable seven-wicket win in the fourth match in Hambantota on Sunday morning (AEDT).

Sri Lanka achieved a rain-revised target of 131 off 32 overs with more than five overs to spare to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The opening one-dayer was called off without a ball being bowled due to rain.

It was Sri Lanka's third successive win under the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method in the rain-hit series.

Opener Dinesh Chandimal (43), playing his first match of the series after replacing unfit opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Kumar Sangakkara (42 not out) added 87 for the second wicket to ensure their team's victory.

Sangakkara hit one six and five fours in his 55-ball knock.

"The bowlers stuck to their task. Batting under lights here was going to be tough but both Kumar and Chandimal batted very well and put up a decent partnership," said Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

"The win gives us an opportunity to experiment in the last game, but we will try to win."

Leg-spinner Mendis (3 for 15) earlier bowled Kane Williamson and Nathan McCullum with googlies in his third over before trapping Andrew Ellis leg-before in his next over, his three wickets coming off just five balls.

Man-of-the-match Mendis was superbly backed by fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara, who finished with 2 for 17 off five overs.

"I have been working hard for the last couple of months. I tried my best to get the hat-trick but I am happy with the three," said Mendis

Sri Lanka, who elected to field after winning the toss in overcast conditions, put in an impressive bowling performance to restrict New Zealand.

Brendon McCullum, who smashed left-arm spinner Rangana Herath over long-off for the first six of the match, top-scored for the tourists with 30 while Williamson and James Franklin each made 21.

"Sri Lanka played smart cricket and put us under pressure from the start. We are taking positives out from this game. Our bowlers bowled very well. We hope to at least get a win and avoid 4-0," said New Zealand captain Ross Taylor.

Sri Lanka got an early wicket when Kulasekara had opener Rob Nicol (11) caught by Upul Tharanga at mid-on in his third over.

Opener Bradley-John Watling, who scored half-centuries in the last two matches, could make just 15 this time as he was run out while Taylor made six before being caught behind off seamer Thisara Perera.

New Zealand suffered another blow when hard-hitting McCullum fell attempting a big shot, caught by Chandimal at long-on off Herath after hitting one six and two fours in his 44-ball knock.

New Zealand made two changes from the side that played the last match as it brought in Ellis and debutant paceman Adam Milne in place of Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram.

The fifth and final one-day international will be played at the same venue on Monday.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka, new-zealand

First posted November 11, 2012 08:38:59

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Bangladesh edges West Indies for series win

Updated December 09, 2012 07:09:54

A spirited Bangladesh led by all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah edged out the West Indies in the fifth and final one-day by two wickets in Dhaka on Sunday morning (AEDT), taking the series 3-2.

Mahmudullah took 2 for 38 to help the home team bowl the tourists out for 217 in 48 overs and then scored a polished 48 to help Bangladesh chase down the target for the loss of eight wickets with six overs to spare.

Bangladesh won the first match by seven wickets and the second by 160 runs - both in Khulna. The West Indies levelled the series with a four wicket win in the third and 75 runs in the fourth.

Both teams will now play a Twenty20 international in Dhaka on Monday.

It was Mahmudullah and captain Mushfiqur Rahim (44) who set the home team on the victory path through their 91-run stand for the fourth wicket after paceman Kemar Roach (5 for 56) had derailed the hosts in the early overs.

Roach struck thrice in his first five overs, removing Tamim Iqbal (8), Anamul Haque (0) and Jahurul Islam (10) to leave the home team in disarray at 3 for 30.

Mahmudullah hit seven boundaries in his 45-ball knock while Rahim smacked as many boundaries in his 56-ball knock.

But the West Indies staged a comeback through Sunil Narine (3 for 38) as the spinner removed both the batsmen in the space of 12 runs.

Nasir Hossain (39 not out) and Mominul Haque (25) added 53 for the sixth wicket as Bangladesh survived a late order slump to reach the target. Nasir hit Andre Russell for the winning boundary to send the packed crowd into jubilation.

Rahim was delighted with the series win.

"Boys stuck to the task, we knew it will be the test of nerves and happy to execute our plans and win the series," said Rahim.

"We did not bat well in the last two matches so we needed to do the right things in all three departments.

"I thought today we did a good job after losing the first three wickets. It's a good sign for us."

West Indian captain Darren Sammy praised Bangladesh.

"Congratulations to Bangladesh, they played well," said Sammy.

"We were in a good position to score 240 but we did not get there. We have had a good year but this might put a dent on our Christmas.

"But everything happens for a reason and hope to improve."

Earlier, Kieron Pollard hit a return to form with a robust 74-ball 85 and Darren Bravo notched a sedate 108-ball 51 during their 132-run fourth wicket stand to lift the tourists to 217 after they were put into bat.

Bangladesh had removed Kieran Powell (11), Marlon Samuels (1) and Chris Gayle (2) by the eight over.

Paceman Shafiul Islam, who replaced injured Mashrafe Mortaza in the squad, dismissed Gayle for a fifth failure in as many matches to finish with 3 for 31 in his nine overs.

Pollard, who like Gayle was a big flop in the last four matches, hit a six for his first scoring shot as he batted with aggression. He hit five boundaries and eight towering sixes to take the attack to the Bangladeshi bowlers.

He was finally dismissed in the 32nd over, bowled by spinner Haque. The Pollard-Bravo stand for the fourth wicket is a new record in all West Indies-Bangladesh one-dayers, beating the 92-run stand between Jimmy Adams and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in Dhaka in 1999.

Bravo hit three boundaries and a six before he was caught off Mahmudullah who finished with 2 for 38.

Devon Thomas chipped in with a useful 25 to take the West Indies past the 200-run mark.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, bangladesh, jamaica

First posted December 09, 2012 07:02:00

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Amla leads South Africa to share of England series

Updated September 06, 2012 08:19:14

Hashim Amla piled on the runs once again as he led South Africa to a series-levelling seven-wicket win in the fifth and final one-day international against England at Trent Bridge.

South Africa, chasing a modest 183 for victory, collapsed to 3 for 14 inside five overs under the floodlights in this day/night fixture.

But opener Amla responded with a superb 97 not out and, together with Proteas captain AB de Villiers (75 not out) he shared an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 172 that put England's meagre total of 182 in its proper context.

Victory, with more than 15 overs to spare, saw South Africa share the series at 2-2.

Amla, who made a brilliant 150 in South Africa's 80-run win in the second ODI in Southampton, was named man of the series for a total of 335 runs in four innings at an average of more than 111.

That followed on from his corresponding award in the Proteas' 2-0 Test series win over England where he scored a South Africa record 311 not out at The Oval.

Amla's combined tally for both series was a colossal 817 runs at 116.71.

"It's been a good summer for me and I'm glad we got to level the series," said Amla.

"I think the way we bowled set the tone, then me and AB were able to finish it off."

De Villiers added: "We've been a little bit inconsistent, but there's a lot of positives, especially the way we played today. We showed a lot of guts -- 2-2 away from home is a good effort."

One consolation for England was that, despite this defeat, they remained top of the 50-over world rankings having won 12 of their last 14 completed matches.

"It's been a disappointing day - 180 on that wicket was nowhere near enough," said England captain Alastair Cook, who top-scored for his side with 51.

"It's frustrating, we came into this game trying to wrap up the series but you can't do that if we bat like we did.

"However, we've had a really good year in one-day cricket and hopefully we can take that forward to India in the new year."

Cook, recently appointed England Test captain following Andrew Strauss's retirement, will now have a rest as he is is not in the national Twenty20 squad.

"Now I have some time off and I'll turn my attention to the Tests in India," Cook said ahead of a four-match series starting in November.

Amla could only watch as the Proteas slumped at the start of their reply.

Left-hander Graeme Smith fell when he edged Jade Dernbach and James Tredwell held on at the second attempt.

International novices Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar then both nicked excellent James Anderson deliveries to wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter.

But de Villiers then pulled two successive short balls from South Africa-born seamer Dernbach for four.

Amla eased paceman Chris Woakes, in for Steven Finn who had a back problem, off the backfoot for a typically stylish four through the covers.

He then completed a 63 ball-fifty, with de Villiers taking just 54 balls to get to the landmark.

Amla drove off-spinner Tredwell over extra-cover for six and ended the match with a wristy flicked boundary off Dernbach.

In all he faced 107 balls with a six and nine fours.

Earlier, left-arm spinner Robin Peterson took 3 for 37 after enterprisingly being given the new ball by de Villiers as England, without the injured Jonathan Trott and the exiled Kevin Pietersen, failed with the bat.

Only Cook, Kieswetter (33) and recalled paceman Chris Woakes, with a career-best 33 not out, got past 30.

Peterson had in-form opener Ian Bell lbw for 10 while Ravi Bopara, promoted up the order in Trott's absence despite a run of low scores, and Eoin Morgan both exited for ducks.

Left-handed opener Cook completed a 69-ball fifty but fell meekly when he chipped a return catch to part-time spinner du Plessis.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, onedayseries, south-africa

First posted September 06, 2012 08:19:14

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India seals Test series win

Updated September 03, 2012 22:56:13

India survived a mini collapse to sweep the series against a fighting New Zealand with a five-wicket victory on the penultimate day of the second and final Test in Bangalore on Monday.

The hosts slipped from 2 for 152 to 5 for 166 before achieving their 261-run target in the final session, thanks to a 96-run stand between man-of-the-match Virat Kohli (51 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (48 not out).

India won the opening Test by an innings and 115 runs in Hyderabad.

New Zealand fought well as they twice neutralised India's advantage to storm back into the match on a good pitch before Dhoni and Kohli steered their team home, much to the delight of the nearly 15,000 spectators.

The Indian captain finished the match with a six over mid-wicket off off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who took three wickets. Dhoni hit two sixes and three fours, while Kohli cracked nine fours.

India were 77 without loss after brisk knocks from Virender Sehwag (38) and Gautam Gambhir (34) and then 2 for 152 following a 69-run stand between Cheteshwar Pujara (48) and Sachin Tendulkar (27) before New Zealand struck back.

The tourists came back strongly after tea, which was taken early due to rain, as they dismissed well-set Pujara, Tendulkar and Suresh Raina (0) in the space of 14 runs.

The 39-year-old Tendulkar was bowled for a third successive innings in the series - this time by fast bowler Tim Southee - after hitting five fours in his 34-ball knock.

The world's leading scorer in both Test and one-day cricket with an unprecedented 100 international centuries, Tendulkar finished the series without a half-century in three innings.

Patel had Pujara caught by Daniel Flynn, who ran backwards from forward short-leg to take a superb diving catch, and then bowled Raina.

Tendulkar and Pujara steadied the innings after Sehwag and Gambhir had fallen in the morning in the space of six runs.

Pujara, who scored a solid 159 in the first Test, was on 37 when he survived a stumping chance off Patel as wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum failed to collect the ball.

McCullum kept wicket in place of Kruger van Wyk, who was injured after being struck on the arm by a delivery from paceman Umesh Yadav while batting on Sunday.

New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor pressed Patel into the attack in the 12th over after pacemen Trent Boult, Southee and Doug Bracewell had failed to provide the breakthrough in overcast conditions.

Sehwag lofted Patel over long-off, the first six of the innings, and then cut him for a four before falling in the same over. He stepped out to try another big shot, but missed the line and was bowled.

He smashed one six and seven fours in his 33-ball knock.

Gambhir went for his shots early in the innings, hitting Boult and Bracewell each for two successive fours before falling to a loose shot.

He was caught by Taylor at first slip off Boult after hitting seven fours in his 58-ball knock.

New Zealand were earlier bowled out for 248 in their second innings, adding 16 runs to their overnight total of 9 for 232.

Patel (22), the last man out, looked unhappy with the decision when given caught behind off left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan, as the TV replays suggested he had missed the ball.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin finished with 5-69, his third five-wicket haul in four innings against New Zealand. He was named man of the series.

AFP

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First posted September 03, 2012 22:56:13

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Aussies clinch series win over Pakistan

Updated September 04, 2012 10:38:45

Veteran Mike Hussey and youngster Glenn Maxwell scored half-centuries to guide Australia to a brilliant series win with victory in the third and deciding one-day international against Pakistan.

Set a target of 245 to win, Australia was struggling at 5 for 159 before Mike Hussey (65) and 23-year-old fourth-gamer Maxwell shared a 67-run partnership to put Australia back in the contest.

Maxwell's unbeaten 56 came off 38 deliveries and included four fours and three sixes.

After reaching his maiden half-century, the Victorian fittingly hit a six for the winning runs for a total of 7 for 250 at the end of the 47th over as Australia claimed a 2-1 series victory with three overs and three wickets to spare.

"It's a very special feeling and a very special win after our defeat in England," Australia captain Michael Clarke said afterwards.

"I've never played in heat or humidity like this and the series was won by the whole team.

"As a captain you always say it's important to have a blend of youth and experience and today we saw that as Mike Hussey continues to perform consistently while Glenn Maxwell played his natural game and showed no fear."

Pakistan has now not won a series against Australia in ten years and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq wants the result to serve as a wake-up call for his team.

"We have to improve in every department," Misbah said.

"We have to find ways of getting the right combination of fast bowlers and we have to improve our batting and fielding.

"At important stages we collapse and we mess up chances in fielding and we have to improve in those areas."

Pakistan's star spinner Saeed Ajmal, whose first spell yielded 3 for 11 off five overs, finished with 3 for 37 off nine while fellow spinner Abdur Rehman took 2 for 41 off nine.

Earlier, pacemen Mitchell Starc (4 for 51) and Mitchell Johnson (2 for 33) helped restrict Pakistan to 7 for 244.

Clarke won the toss and wanted his bowlers to get first use of the conditions to avoid having to confront the slippery late-night dew which contributed to their defeat in game two in Abu Dhabi.

Mohammad Hafeez (78) and Nasir Jamshed (48) shared a partnership of 129, which was 12 runs shy of the highest opening stand by Pakistan against Australia.

The 22-year-old Starc claimed the key wickets of Asad Shafiq (27), Misbah-ul-Haq (25), Ubmar Akmal (duck) and Kamran Akmal (two).

Australia pushed opening batsman Matthew Wade down the order to give him a rest after wicketkeeping for 50 overs in on-field temperatures in the mid-40s.

David Warner (21) added a brisk 44 with new opening partner David Hussey, who had spoken pre-game of Australia's plan to play attacking cricket against Ajmal.

Warner fell to Rehman and Pakistan's hopes soared after Ajmal claimed the prize wicket of Clarke (32) stumped.

Ajmal also removed David Hussey (43 off 45 balls) caught at long-on. George Bailey (one) tried a sweep shot and was caught behind off Ajmal at 4 for 108.

Australia took the batting power play in the 36th over but Pakistan took control of the game when number six Wade (22) was bowled by Reman three balls later.

The 37-year-old Mike Hussey's innings of 62 came to an end when he missed a slog-sweep and was bowled by paceman Junaid Khan.

Bailey's Australia Twenty20 side take on Mohammad Hafeez's Pakistan in a three-match series starting on Wednesday night in Dubai (2:00am Thursday AEST).

AAP

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First posted September 04, 2012 08:18:00

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Australia set 245 to win ODI and series

Updated September 04, 2012 04:43:47

Pakistan's batsmen suffered through stifling heat and humidity to put the pressure on Australia to chase 245 to win the third and deciding one-day international in Sharjah.

Paceman Mitchell Starc was again the star for Australia with 4 for 51 from his 10 overs, giving the left-armer nine wickets for the series despite failing to make a breakthrough in game two in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

Pakistan finished on 7-244 after being invited to bat by Australia captain Michael Clarke who was keen to avoid his side having to bowl second in the late-night dew which has made gripping the ball difficult.

Even so, Australia still managed to bowl 13 wides after conceding 20 in game two bowling second.

Starc's fellow left-armer Mitchell Johnson (2 for 33 off nine) was also a fine performer, although given the slow outfield the target will be a difficult assignment.

Mohammad Hafeez (78) and Nasir Jamshed (48) shared a partnership of 129, which was 12 runs shy of the highest opening stand by Pakistan in an ODI against Australia. Mudassar Nazar and Mohsin Khan put on 141 at the MCG in February 1985.

Jamshed was caught behind from an attempted pull shot off the bowling of Johnson in the 27th over.

Johnson struck again in his next over as Pakistan's decision to promote Shahid Afridi to number three backfired when the all-rounder was caught at deep square leg for seven.

Pakistan had lost 3 for 26 after a weary Hafeez was lbw to spinner Clarke at 3 for 155.

Asad Shafiq (27) and gifted strokeplayer Umar Akmal (duck) fell in the 39th over as Starc made two key breakthroughs.

Starc's dream run at Sharjah continued in the 47th over when Misbah-ul-Haq (25) holed out to long-off and Kamran Akmal (two) was bowled three balls later.

Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 27.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, united-arab-emirates, pakistan, australia

First posted September 04, 2012 04:43:47

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Sri Lanka bat out draw to win series

Updated July 13, 2012 07:47:23

Sri Lanka batted out for a draw against Pakistan in the third and final Test at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy to win its first series in nine attempts since 2009.

Dinesh Chandimal (65) and Kumar Sangakkara (74 not out) shared an 88-run second wicket partnership as Sri Lanka finished on 4 for 195, having been set a 270-run victory target earlier in the day by Pakistan, seeking a draw to level the three-match series.

It was Sri Lanka's first series victory for almost three years when it beat New Zealand. Since then it has drawn three series and lost five.

The defeat was Pakistan's first since England beat it 3-1 in August 2010 and captain Misbah-ul-Haq's first series loss since his appointment two months later.

Earlier, Asad Shafiq (100 not out) hit his second Test century before Pakistan declared its second innings at 8 for 380.

The visitors batted for 100 minutes on the fifth and final day, allowing Shafiq to get his century before their attempt to salvage something from the series.

Sri Lanka won the first Test in Galle by 209 runs, while the second in Colombo was drawn.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted July 13, 2012 07:47:23

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England takes series lead over Proteas

Updated September 03, 2012 10:23:36

Alastair Cook was in an upbeat mood after England topped a memorable few days for its captain with a six-wicket win in the fourth one-day international against South Africa at Lord's.

A week that saw England fall 1-0 behind in this five-match series following an 80-run thrashing in Southampton on Tuesday ended with them 2-1 in front after a four-wicket victory across London at The Oval was followed by the success at Lord's.

In between going 1-0 down and levelling at 1-1, Cook, the one-day skipper for more than a year, was appointed England's Test captain after his longstanding opening partner Andrew Strauss retired from all cricket.

England, which had been knocked off top spot in all three international formats by South Africa this season is now set to regain their place at the summit of the 50-over world rankings even if the Proteas square the series in Nottingham.

Cook's bowlers backed him up after he won the toss in overcast conditions by restricting South Africa to 8 for 220.

Then, after Cook himself fell early to Dale Steyn, a stand of 141 between the Warwickshire duo of man-of-the-match Ian Bell (88) and Jonathan Trott (48) saw England chase down the bulk of its target as it won with 20 balls to spare.

New-ball duo Steven Finn, on his Middlesex home ground, and James Anderson both proved difficult to get away.

Finn might have had two early wickets but for spinner James Tredwell, who later took 3 for 35, dropping a couple of slip catches

"It was a really good performance again," Cook said.

"When you win a toss in those conditions you need to make the most of it and I thought we did.

"Finn and Jimmy asked plenty of questions up front. A couple of chances went down but we hung in there.

"Then with the bat we had that really good partnership between Bell and Trotty which probably got us most of the way home.

"We came here to win the series, we had a slow start but now it is 2-1 and all to play for at Trent Bridge."

Bell has been in fine form since replacing Kevin Pietersen, now in England exile following "provocative" texts he sent to South African players, at the top of the order in one-dayers earlier this season.

"It's been good, it's nice to get to the top of order," said Bell, who faced 137 balls with a six and eight fours.

Meanwhile South Africa captain AB de Villiers criticised his middle-order after they failed to score enough runs for the second match in a row.

"Unfortunately the middle-order failed again so we'll have to look at that," said de Villiers, carelessly stumped for 39 when well set.

"The guys will have to have a look at themselves, including me. It's a matter of knuckling down.

"We go to Trent Bridge 2-1 down but we could make it 2-2 which would be quite a good result."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted September 03, 2012 10:21:30

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Cook century fires England to series win

Updated June 20, 2012 10:02:04

Captain Alastair Cook struck 112 to secure England a 2-0 one-day series win over West Indies with a match to spare after the home side defeated the visitors by eight wickets at The Oval.

Cook's fifth one-day international century and fourth as England captain, included 13 boundaries and one six and exploited almost every part of the ground.

A standing ovation led by Rolling Stone Mick Jagger greeted top scorer Cook as he made his way to the dressing room following his eventual dismissal from a Darren Sammy slower ball.

Cook's departure at 2 for 203 meant little for West Indies though, and England was poised perfectly needing only 36 runs for victory with almost 13 overs to spare.

Set a target of 239, Cook and Ian Bell, fresh from his 126 in the first match, set about their task with a opening stand of 122 from 21.2 overs.

Both cruised to their respective half-centuries before the in-form Bell (53 runs from 64 balls) chipped straight to Chris Gayle at short cover following a Darren Sammy delivery, which leapt deceptively high off the pitch.

Captain Sammy claimed the only two wickets to fall as the West Indies' attack lacked bite and failed to trouble the England batsman, who found gaps in the field at every possible opportunity.

Earlier in the day both teams observed a minute's silence and flags around the ground were at half-mast in memory of Surrey batsman Tom Maynard, 23, who was killed on Monday when he was hit by a train.

Maynard, whose father Matthew represented England, had played for the second string England Lions and had been widely tipped for full international honours.

West Indies' first innings had begun well thanks to Gayle, who was playing his first one-day international for 14 months.

Gayle smashed a quick-fire 53 in 51 balls, including five sixes, after England won the toss and put the visitors in to bat.

His dismissal LBW to off-spinner Graeme Swann, which was reviewed by the television umpire, triggered a collapse and the West Indies slumped from 63 for no wicket to 4 for 79.

Dwayne Bravo combined with Kieron Pollard (41) to put on 100 for the fifth wicket as the sunshine started to emerge from behind the clouds in London.

The pair produced some controlled hitting with Bravo top-scoring with 77 from 82 deliveries before holing out to Ravi Bopara who took a catch off the bowling of James Anderson.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted June 20, 2012 08:20:37

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England coasts to series victory

Updated May 29, 2012 07:08:06

England raced to a series win over West Indies with a nine-wicket victory on the fourth day of the second Test at Trent Bridge after being set a modest target of 108.

Captain Andrew Strauss (45) and Alastair Cook (43 not out) took England near the finishing line soon after tea and Jonathan Trott (17 not out) helped complete the task at 1 for 111.

England is 2-0 up in the three-Test series after a five-wicket win at Lord's in the first match.

"We are delighted to win but again it was quite hard work at times," Strauss told Sky Sports.

"We got ourselves in positions where we felt we could really take the game by the scruff of the neck but all credit to the West Indies they came back at us.

"It's been a hot, hard four days and there were some reallygood performances from the lads for a well-earned victory."

Marlon Samuels had held up the home side with a defiant 76 not out, helping lift West Indies from a desperate 6 for 61 overnight in their second innings to 165 all out.

It was another fine knock by Samuels, who also topscored in the first innings with 117, but, captain Darren Sammy apart, he laboured virtually alone.

With the last man at the crease, Samuels thrashed the spin of Graeme Swann for two sixes and a four in what proved to be the penultimate over of the innings.

All-rounder Tim Bresnan had earlier dismissed Sammy for 25 to secure his fourth lbw victim of the innings and end a stout partnership of 49 with Samuels.

Sammy and Samuels had started the day with the tourists leading by three runs overall and badly needing a repeat of the their first innings heroics when Sammy also hit a century.

The pair responded boldly but Bresnan finally trapped Sammy, winding up with 4 for 37 to go with the four wickets he took in the first innings.

Bresnan, whose patient 39 not out boosted England to 428 all out on Sunday, is proving a talisman for the team, having now won all 13 Tests he has played, and was named man of the match.

Strauss, who fell in the second innings to the off-spin of that man Samuels, is in fine fettle too with centuries in both Tests ending an 18-month barren spell.

The third Test starts at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 7 and West Indies face a tough task to salvage something.

"We really have to consider how we go about playing our cricket. We have been playing for a while now and we're not learning so something has to be done," Sammy said.

"We just have to be more focused, continue working hard andput a higher price on our wickets."

Strauss and his men will likely face a tougher task this summer in a three-match series against South Africa starting on July 19 at The Oval.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom, jamaica

First posted May 29, 2012 07:08:06

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England on verge of series victory

Updated May 28, 2012 16:09:44

England was on the verge of clinching the three-match series against West Indies after the tourists' top order failed again on the third day of the second Test at Trent Bridge.

Trailing by 58 on first innings, West Indies limped to 6 for 61, a lead of just three runs with two days left.

England captain Andrew Strauss with 141 and a useful partnership of 53 by all-rounders Tim Bresnan (39 not out) and Stuart Broad (25) had lifted England past the West Indies first-innings total of 370.

Although the final score of 428 was much less than seemed likely at the close on day one with Strauss and Kevin Pietersen at the crease, it proved too stiff a challenge for the touring side missing the experienced Chris Gayle at the top of the order.

James Anderson struck early to dismiss openers Adrian Barath (7) and Kieran Powell (1) before Broad captured the prized wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 11, top-edging a pull and caught on the boundary by Jonathan Trott.

Bresnan trapped Darren Bravo (22), Denesh Ramdin (6) and Kirk Edwards second ball for nought, all out lbw, to leave the tourists in disarray.

Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy, who both scored centuries in the first innings, were the not out batsmen at the close.

Bresnan ended with figures of 3 for 10 in six overs, cementing his talisman status for England as he has won all 12 Test matches he has played.

He told BBC Radio: "To get them six down on that wicket in that short little session was fantastic."

Critical period

Bresnan's valuable unbeaten contribution with the bat lasted 153 minutes in a critical period of the game.

"It was kind of a battling knock," he said.

"It just shows what the pitch was like really. It was quite slow, quite difficult to score off, especially when they bowled in the right areas."

Bresnan and Broad came together at 7 for 363 and comfortably steered England past West Indies' total of 370 only for Broad to top-edge a catch off the bowling of Shane Shillingford.

Graeme Swann (1) and Anderson (0) swiftly followed to wrap up the innings.

Strauss's steadfast knock, lasting 303 balls and seven hours and 12 minutes, contained 22 fours before he finally offered a catch behind off the bowling of captain Sammy.

West Indies had taken four important wickets before lunch to the disappointment of home supporters expecting a run feast.

Pietersen (80) and Ian Bell (22) fell to reviewed lbw decisions and Jonny Bairstow (4) was given a torrid timein only his second Test by pace duo Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul before top edging an easy catch to mid-on.

Just when it looked as if England was steadying the ship Sammy bowled Matt Prior for 16.

Rampaul, who captured the vital wicket of Pietersen, was the pick of the West Indies bowling with 3 for 75 off 25 overs.

Samuels, top scorer in the West Indies first innings with 117, mopped up the tail with 2 for 14.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom, jamaica

First posted May 28, 2012 06:52:20

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Cricket Series Gives Memorable Moments For Fans

Windies series proves costly for Aussies

Updated March 27, 2012 08:43:22

Australia's hold on the one-day international world number one ranking has been loosened after the disappointing drawn series against West Indies.

While Australia's victory in the opening match of the series ensured it retains top spot, the 2-2 series result has cost four ranking points to bring South Africa just five points behind in second place.

The series also proved costly for stand-in captain Shane Watson, who has lost his world number one all-rounder position to Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, who starred for the Tigers in the Asia Cup tournament.

Watson had only just regained the top spot from Al Hasan after the completion of the tri-series in Australia earlier this month.

The news was more positive for West Indies after its strong display in the series, gaining seven ranking points to join New Zealand on 86 points.

West Indies remains below the Black Caps in eighth place, however, when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, saint-lucia

First posted March 27, 2012 08:43:22

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Windies mix youth, experience for T20 series

Updated March 25, 2012 08:23:12

West Indies named a 14-man squad on Saturday for the two Twenty20 internationals against Australia.

Seamers Fidel Edwards and Krishmar Santokie, batting all-rounders Dwayne Smith and Nkrumah Bonner, as well as left-arm spinner Garey Mathurin were included, having all missed out on the ongoing one-day international series, which West Indies leads 2-1 ahead of Monday's (AEDT) final match.

"We have named a squad with a mixture of experience and youth and we believe they have the quality to defeat the Australians," West Indies chairman of selectors Clyde Butts said

The two matches are to be played in Saint Lucia on Wednesday (AEDT) and Barbados (Saturday).

West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Garey Mathurin, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Dwayne Smith

AFP

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First posted March 25, 2012 08:23:12

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