Asia Cup 2014: Let off the hook, Umar Akmal and Pakistan make the Afghans pay
Wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal notched up a breezy century under pressure before the bowlers came to the party and guided Pakistan to abonus-point 72-run victory over Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. Chasing a challenging target of 249, Afghanistan could only manage 176 in 47.2 overs in front of a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack.Put in to bat, Pakistan rode on Akmal’s scintillating batting effort to post 248 for eight in their quota of 50 overs on a sluggish pitch at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here. The young batsman smashed unbeaten 102 off 89 balls after Pakistan were reduced to 117 for six inside 30 overs. The 23-year-old, who scored 74 off 72 against Sri Lanka in the last match, clobbered three sixes and seven boundaries while helping his team recover from a precarious position.Afghanistan, in reply, had a poor start as they lost opener Mohammad Shahzad (9) early. His partner, Noor Ali Zadran, played a few attractive shots at the other end. Zadran made 44 off 63 deliveries and hit seven boundaries, before he was trapped in front by off-spinner Saeed AjmalAsghar Stanikzai and Nawroz Mangal started the resurrection job for Afghanistan and tried to build a partnership.
With the required rate steadily going beyond reach, Afghanistan batsman played shots and perished in pursuit of quick runs. Afghanistan lost the wickets of Stanikzai and Mangal in the space of three balls. Skipper Mohammad Nabi (15) and Najibullah Zadran (1) failed to make an impact in the run-chase as Afghanistan fell way short.
The Afghan team faced difficulty in negotiating the Pakistan spin-trio led by Saeed Ajmal, who picked up two wickets while giving away just 25 runs in his nine overs. Shahid Afridi (1/31) and Mohammad Hafeez (3/29), too, kept the opposition batsmen in check, besides chipping in with wickets.
2nd Test: South Africa seek better fortunes at Kingsmead
Durban: South Africa will seek to arrest a dismal Durban run of four straight defeats at Kingsmead when they host India in the second and final test on Thursday, four days after their epic draw in Johannesburg.The Proteas are at a loss to explain their miserable run at one of the country`s premier test grounds, where they have not won since beating West Indies in 2008.Australia, England, India and Sri Lanka have all enjoyed handsome triumphs in Durban over the world`s top ranked test team since then and vice-captain AB de Villiers cannot fathom the poor run."I am confused about Durban. I don`t know what to expect," he told reporters."I am going to play it like I always play my cricket. I am going to take it one ball at a time and use my experience to adapt as quickly as I can. So will the whole team."De Villiers suggested it would be a good toss to win, with a lively pitch expected for the first part of the test."I think there will be a bit of movement on the first day. Batting first always seemed the better option in the past."I don`t expect as many cracks as there was at the Wanderers. It will probably be a bit more green, a bit firmer, and there may be a bit of turn towards the end of the test.
England cricketers Matt Prior and Stuart Broad rescue man preparing to jump from Sydney bridge
LONDON: England cricketers Matt Prior and Stuart Broad helped rescue a man preparing to jump off a bridge near the team hotel in Sydney.Britain's Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday that wicketkeeper Prior helped pull the man away from the edge of the bridge in Darling Harbour and chatted to him along with fast bowler Broad for almost an hour before New South Wales police arrived on the scene."We just did what anybody would do in that situation," said Prior. "We were trying to help a bloke who was struggling and in a bad way. I look back and I'm just glad we left the bar when we did and we were there for him."The players believe the unnamed man was British. He had thrown his telephone, passport and wallet in the water. Initially the players thought he was standing on the railings of the bridge for a dare before realising the seriousness of the situation.They were returning from a "Barmy Army" supporters event on Tuesday night raising funds for the Broad Appeal, a charity founded in honour of Broad's late stepmother to raise money and awareness to combat Motor Neurone Disease.Terry Minish, the team's security officer, was with the England pair and claimed the man -- who said he was from Cheltenham, south-west England -- had indicated he wanted to drown. He had reportedly already thrown his telephone, passport and wallet into the water.
Australia thrash England by 218 runs to win second Ashes Test
ADELAIDE:
Australia wrapped up a comprehensive 218-run victory over England
on Monday to take a 2-0 series lead, leaving them on the brink of
reclaiming the Ashes from their fierce
rivals.
The home team
claimed the four remaining wickets in just under an hour on the
final morning in Adelaide and are now just one victory away from
winning back the famous urn after three consecutive series
defeats. It was a second emphatic defeat for England after
they lost the first Test in Brisbane by 381 runs and the tourists
must regroup before the third match of the series, which starts in
Perth on Friday. England have only won once in 12 Tests on the
traditionally pacy WACA pitch. "I think that something that is
most pleasing is we are finally getting some results," said
Australian skipper Michael Clarke. But he added: "I think we
have to be realistic. That's our second Test win in the past 12
months -- certainly not a record we're proud of. There's a lot
of work for us to do to get back to being the number one team in
the world and that's our goal."
MUMBAI:
Backed by a high-flying Indian politician closely associated with
Indian cricket, a new seven-a-side corporate cricket league - to be
called 7PL- is set to be launched this week. It will be
bankrolled by a United Arab Emirates-based conglomerate, and if
everything goes as planned, is all set to get underway this
year. India
captain MS is the chief brand ambassador of the league and the
official announcement is expected in Dubai this week. 7PL, it
is learnt, has the blessings of the International Cricket Council
(ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
However, it will not be an ICC recognized tournament, sources
said. The
league - that aims to further shrink the number of overs in a game
- will be played between seven teams, each representing
tseven.Emirates of the UAE - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah,
Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain. The teams will have
players from seven countries -
India, Pakistan , Srilanka, South Africa,
the UKand Australia, apart from the UAE. Each country is
expected to be affiliated with one Emirate. All the involved
cricket boards have reportedly given their consent to 7PL. The
number 'seven' happens to be significant not just because of the
number of Emirates in UAE; it also happens to be Dhoni's favourite
number. Scheduled to be played from March this year, the
matches will first be played in Dubai - both indoors and outdoors
at its state-of-the-art cricket facility that also houses the World
Cricket Academy - while the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final
will be played outdoors.
Dhoni,
along with teammate Suresh Raina, will be in the
UAE this week to launch the league. The league will be a
collaboration between a leading corporate from the Gulf and Rhiti
Sports, the company co-owned by Dhoni's close friend Arun Pandey
which also manages international cricketers. The politician's
upcoming 24x7 sports channel is expected to exclusively broadcast
the event. The details of the television deal are not yet
known.
Gareth Bale to start against Osasuna in Copa del Rey, confirms Carlo Ancelotti
Gareth Bale hasn't started Madrid's last three matches due to a calf injury, but did make his return as a substitute for the final 25 minutes of Monday's 3-0 win over Celta Vigo.
Xabi Alonso will also miss out against Osasuna as he continues to suffer from a burst left eardrum.
Alan Pardew sees red, Chelsea and Liverpool march on
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was fined and warned by his club after he was sent off for headbutting a Hull City player whileChelsea and Liverpool claimed convincing away wins in the Premier League on Saturday.Pardew was fined 100,000 pounds ($167,600) and given a formal warning by Newcastle who said his behaviour was “unacceptable”, while FA chairman Greg Dyke said the governing body would investigate the incident.Pardew was sent to the stands by referee Kevin Friend when he headbutted Hull midfielder David Meyler on the sideline after 72 minutes of Newcastle’s 4-1 win at Hull’s KC Stadium and he is likely to face a hefty FA fine and a touchline ban.
In the title race, Germany international Andre Schuerrle scored a hat-trick as leaders Chelsea went four points clear with a 3-1 victory at neighbours Fulham while Liverpool jumped into second spot with a 3-0 win at Southampton.Brendan Rodgers’ side leapfrogged Arsenal and Manchester City after the Gunners suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat at Stoke City due to a second-half Jon Walters penalty
Manchester City were without a league match as they play Sunderland in the Capital One (League)
Cup final on Sunday.The results left Chelsea top with 63 points from 28 games, followed by Liverpool on 59 ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.Fourth-placed City, who have two matches in hand on the clubs above them, have 57 points.While Schuerrle’s Chelsea treble, and goals by Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and a Steven Gerrard penalty for Liverpool, will make headlines for the right reasons, Newcastle manager Pardew’s name will be splashed across the back pages for the wrong ones.
