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Monday, December 6, 2010
IPL player auction likely to be postponed again
LATEST EURO 2012 HEADLINES
Neville aware of expectations
Phil Neville appreciates that Everton's recent successes have placed more pressure on the club.
Ibanez - Baggies before Spain
Pablo Ibanez insists he is putting having a good season with West Brom ahead of winning a Spain recall.
Ribeiro tips Flynn for Wales
Christian Ribeiro hopes to see caretaker manager Brian Flynn named Wales coach on a full-time basis.
Clark - No Ireland regrets
Ciaran Clark insists he has no regrets about pledging his international allegiance to Ireland.
McLeish - Johnson for England
Alex McLeish believes late bloomer Roger Johnson has done enough to warrant an international call-up.
Wenger - England deserve WC
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes England deserve to win the vote for the 2018 World Cup finals.
Clarke fights, then falls, as England eye victory
Kevin Pietersen gave England every chance of victory in Adelaide with his career-best 227, but it's his bowling that might have made the biggest difference.
Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey gave Australia a fighting chance of escaping with a draw to head to the third Test in Perth still 0-0, but the loss of Clarke to the last delivery on the fourth day gave England a major boost amid the gloomy conditions, reports cricinfo.
Clarke had 80, and was threatening to stand between England and victory, until he inside-edged onto his pad and the ball looped over the shoulder of the short leg Alastair Cook, who took a good catch.
Adding to the late drama, the umpire Tony Hill called the appeal not out, but England asked for a review and Clarke was found guilty of putting bat on ball, to hand Pietersen his first Test wicket since 2008.
It was exactly what Australia didn't need, after Clarke and Hussey put together a promising 104-run partnership.
Instead of two established men walking out in the morning, the under-pressure Marcus North will join Hussey, who was on 44, with the new ball due at the end of the over Pietersen will complete with four more deliveries.
And if that wasn't pressure enough for North, there is a chance of morning showers, which could mean cloud cover and swing.
Australia will be hoping the showers turn into heavier rain, and there is the chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon.
The battle will be ensuring they last that long, with only Brad Haddin and a long tail to follow Hussey and North, who will resume with Australia still 137 runs behind, at 4 for 238, searching for a draw that would feel like a win.
It remains to be seen whether Andrew Strauss will rue his decision to bat into the fourth morning, despite already holding a 300-plus lead. He might have been questioning that call while Hussey and Clarke were together, batting solidly either side of a heavy downpour late in the afternoon.
Clarke seemed to have shaken off his poor touch and his bad back, looking comfortable against pace and spin.
And it wasn't easy against Graeme Swann, who created the most problems for Australia. He removed Simon Katich and claimed the big wicket of Ricky Ponting, before Steven Finn chipped in by dismissing Shane Watson for another solid half-century that promised to be more.
Swann was finding sharp spin from the rough and his drift and flight caused a few headaches for the Australian batsmen.
Several times, inside edges didn't quite fly to hand for the cluster of fielders surrounding the bat, and Clarke was given out caught at slip on 67 only to have the decision reversed on review; the ball had spun past his bat and lobbed up off his pad.
Generally, though, Clarke handled Swann well, using his feet to smother the spin and driving hard through gaps on both sides of the wicket.
I
mportantly, all the Australian batsmen played positively, refusing to simply bat for time and allow England to dictate the flow. Clarke struck 11 boundaries and Hussey, who continued his excellent series, slammed Swann over midwicket for six late in the day, ensuring that any bad balls were put away, as they would be in happier circumstances.
The only batsman who really struggled was Ponting, who was mesmerised by Swann and couldn't get off the mark until his 13th delivery.
Despite punishing Swann with a vicious cut for four and a powerful sweep to the boundary, Ponting was eliminated by Swann on 9 when he played for the offspinner and edged a straighter ball low to Paul Collingwood at first slip.
Swann had already ended the 84-run opening partnership when Katich tried to defend and was caught behind off a thin edge for 43.
Katich had hobbled his way through the innings with an Achilles tendon injury that severely hampered his running between wickets, and although his hard work was valuable, there is every chance the Australians will need to look for another opener for the third Test in Perth if his problem persists.
The man who threatened to be Australia's anchor was Watson, who batted confidently with his usual aggression and well-timed drives, but once again he failed to convert a strong start.
Watson has passed fifty on 15 occasions in Test cricket but only twice have those half-centuries turned into hundreds, and if ever Australia needed triple figures from him, it was this time.
It was the patience of Finn, who peppered away consistently just outside off stump, that did for Watson when he edged to first slip for 57.
The inability of Australia's batsmen to capitalise on their starts was all the more frustrating for them given the monstrous scores racked up by England's batsmen, led by Pietersen with his double-century.
Pietersen added 14 to his overnight score but it was enough to beat his previous Test best of 226, which he made against West Indies at Headingley in 2007.
He eventually fell caught by Katich at slip, when he misjudged a slog sweep, and it was a consolation wicket for Xavier Doherty, who finished with 1 for 158 and looked nowhere near as threatening as Swann.
England's batsmen scored their runs briskly after Strauss decided against declaring overnight, and in nine overs they pushed the total up by 69 before Strauss called a halt to the innings.
Ian Bell had moved on to an unbeaten 68 and Matt Prior was on 27, which guided England to 5 for 620 - their highest Test innings total in 20 years and their fifth-best of all time against Australia.
The visitors would be sorely disappointed if that effort doesn't turn into a win. They'll want a lift from James Anderson, who didn't bowl at his best, while a stomach strain could keep Stuart Broad from playing much of a part on the final day. England can only hope the weather doesn't play any role either.
Milan overpower Brescia to move three clear
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored another special goal as AC Milan underlined their position as Serie A title favourites with a 3-0 home win over Brescia on Saturday.
The Rossoneri, chasing a first scudetto since 2004, moved three points clear at the top having been briefly caught on Friday by Lazio who beat troubled champions Inter Milan 3-1.
Sixth-placed Inter are now 10 points behind city rivals Milan and their chances of a sixth straight title look remote after 15 games of the season.
Milan, who drew 1-1 with Sampdoria last weekend in a rare blip, took no time at all in dismantling promoted Brescia.
Midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng netted his first league goal for the club in the fourth minute after Ibrahimovic's assist.
Forward Robinho, preferred to fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho for a seventh straight game, extended the lead after 28 minutes when he intercepted a backpass before Ibrahimovic produced great individual skill to make it three on the half hour.
The giant Sweden striker, who failed to net against Samp, scored his eighth of the league campaign and no Milan fan would doubt that the addition of the ex-Inter and Barcelona man is the key reason why they are top of the table.
The shrewd coaching of new boss Massimiliano Allegri, whose only previous Serie A experience was with perennial mid-table team Cagliari, has also made a difference.
The softly-spoken manager has shown his tougher side by daring to leave the underperforming Ronaldinho out despite the playmaker being club owner Silvio Berlusconi's favourite.
The result, along with limiting Andrea Pirlo's slowing influence on the side, has been a quicker and more incisive Milan than the versions seen in the last five years.
"It's important to carry on like this, often it's happened and it will happen that someone is left out. The key thing is that those who play give their all," Allegri told Sky.
"Tonight we can be happy but the championship is still long. Last season (runners-up) Roma made up 14 points on Inter."
CHIEVO COMEBACK
Ronaldinho came on in the second half but, despite long-term injuries to Alexandre Pato and Filippo Inzaghi, the former world player of the year is just a spare part these days and local media say he may leave in January as Milan seek another striker.
In the early game, seventh-placed AS Roma threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Chievo and could easily have lost.
Davide Moscardelli sparked Chievo's comeback midway through the second half before Pablo Granoche equalised seven minutes from time and Roma's Daniele De Rossi was sent off for a foul.
Adriano, who criticised Roma coach Claudio Ranieri in midweek for not giving him enough playing time, finally got a start and was involved in both first-half goals for Brazilian compatriot Simplicio on a terrible pitch.
Ranieri rested forwards Marco Borriello and Francesco Totti after last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Palermo and with one eye on next week's crucial Champions League group match at CFR Cluj.
Third-placed Juventus visit Catania in Sunday's standout fixture (1945 GMT) with Napoli hosting Palermo on Monday (1945).
Next weekend's games are threatened by a players' strike.
The Rossoneri, chasing a first scudetto since 2004, moved three points clear at the top having been briefly caught on Friday by Lazio who beat troubled champions Inter Milan 3-1.
Sixth-placed Inter are now 10 points behind city rivals Milan and their chances of a sixth straight title look remote after 15 games of the season.
Milan, who drew 1-1 with Sampdoria last weekend in a rare blip, took no time at all in dismantling promoted Brescia.
Midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng netted his first league goal for the club in the fourth minute after Ibrahimovic's assist.
Forward Robinho, preferred to fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho for a seventh straight game, extended the lead after 28 minutes when he intercepted a backpass before Ibrahimovic produced great individual skill to make it three on the half hour.
The giant Sweden striker, who failed to net against Samp, scored his eighth of the league campaign and no Milan fan would doubt that the addition of the ex-Inter and Barcelona man is the key reason why they are top of the table.
The shrewd coaching of new boss Massimiliano Allegri, whose only previous Serie A experience was with perennial mid-table team Cagliari, has also made a difference.
The softly-spoken manager has shown his tougher side by daring to leave the underperforming Ronaldinho out despite the playmaker being club owner Silvio Berlusconi's favourite.
The result, along with limiting Andrea Pirlo's slowing influence on the side, has been a quicker and more incisive Milan than the versions seen in the last five years.
"It's important to carry on like this, often it's happened and it will happen that someone is left out. The key thing is that those who play give their all," Allegri told Sky.
"Tonight we can be happy but the championship is still long. Last season (runners-up) Roma made up 14 points on Inter."
CHIEVO COMEBACK
Ronaldinho came on in the second half but, despite long-term injuries to Alexandre Pato and Filippo Inzaghi, the former world player of the year is just a spare part these days and local media say he may leave in January as Milan seek another striker.
In the early game, seventh-placed AS Roma threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Chievo and could easily have lost.
Davide Moscardelli sparked Chievo's comeback midway through the second half before Pablo Granoche equalised seven minutes from time and Roma's Daniele De Rossi was sent off for a foul.
Adriano, who criticised Roma coach Claudio Ranieri in midweek for not giving him enough playing time, finally got a start and was involved in both first-half goals for Brazilian compatriot Simplicio on a terrible pitch.
Ranieri rested forwards Marco Borriello and Francesco Totti after last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Palermo and with one eye on next week's crucial Champions League group match at CFR Cluj.
Third-placed Juventus visit Catania in Sunday's standout fixture (1945 GMT) with Napoli hosting Palermo on Monday (1945).
Next weekend's games are threatened by a players' strike.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Rain blights Pallekele's Test debut
Kumar Sangakkara had opted to field, expecting early assistance for the seamers after weeks of rain and overcast conditions, but the West Indies batsmen were largely untroubled on the first day of the third Test, reports cricinfo.
Darren Bravo continued to impress on his maiden tour, stroking three boundaries to get his innings started. A glide through cover off Angelo Mathews was followed by a controlled edge behind point, before a wristy flick from middle stump in the next over signaled the confidence Bravo had gained from his impressive half-centuries in each of the previous matches.
The runs flowed either side of the wicket for Bravo, with an elegant drive after lunch standing out, as he stood tall to crack the over-pitched delivery through extra cover. He continued assuredly alongside Devon Smith and was unbeaten on 44 when bad light and rained forced the players off the field for an early tea.
Pallekele's debut was set alight in style, as Suranga Lakmal ran in to remove Chris Gayle with the first delivery of the match. Gayle played the wrong line to an inswinger that struck him dead in front, and brought the crowd to life. The spectators cheered the first ever dismissal at the picturesque venue, before Bravo and Smith settled in.
Sangakkara made several bowling changes during the 23 overs of play, using Tillakaratne Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis and Dilhara Fernando in addition to Lakmal and Mathews, who opened the bowling.
Fernando's wayward spell caused few problems for the batsmen, as they found ample scoring opportunities and crashed him for boundaries either side of the wicket.
Mathews too, was flayed after lunch by Bravo, but Dilshan and Mendis extracted some turn from the first-day surface, indicating that the spinners might play a major role as the Test wears on.
Zimbabwe survive dogged Shakib for famous win
Zimbabwe overcame a stubborn Shakib Al Hasan to outlast Bangladesh by nine runs in the opening one-dayer in Mirpur.
The margin of victory did not do justice to the Zimbabwe spinners' control for most part of the chase, and emphasised Shakib's excellence in retrieving a cause that had seemed out of bounds at one point, reports cricinfo.
He played the defining innings on a day dominated by the bowlers, but his team-mates succumbed to the pressure in a spate of poor shots and run-outs to end their team's dream run, and hand Zimbabwe a famous victory.
Bangladesh were in the middle of a major top-order collapse when Shakib walked out: in under six overs, they had gone from 76 for 1 to 98 for 5, with Ray Price and Prosper Utseya breathing down their necks.
When Suhrawadi Shuvo was cleaned up with the score 115, Bangladesh were pushed right to the edge of the precipice. Shakib, however, knew that the run-rate was under control, and chose to wait for the weaker bowlers to come on.
Displaying the kind of composure that made Michael Bevan famous, he turned things around without ever looking like taking a risk. When Price and Utseya hustled through their overs, he resorted to cautious dabs into the gaps before opening up against Keith Dabengwa who came on as back-up.
Shakib used Dabengwa's angle and spin to find the leg-side boundary with a variety of sweeps, looting 13 runs off the 36th over. That assault reduced the equation to 65 from 14 overs and Zimbabwe began to sweat again.
With Mahmudullah showing the requisite gumption at the other end, Elton Chigumbura was forced to bring back the lead spinners. Shakib seamlessly shifted back into the nurdle mode, bringing up his 16th half-century in the 41st over, with one of several check-drives to long-off.
Zimbabwe eventually broke through in the 43rd, Mahmudullah holing out against Mpofu after adding 54 with Shakib. With the batting Powerplay in place for the last five overs, Mashrafe Mortaza helped Shakib narrow the gap further, biffing a couple of boundaries through the off side.
Twenty-three to get off 21 and time for Bangladesh to show they could close things out. Unfortunately for them, there were more twists to the tale.
A dreadful mix-up left Mortaza stranded mid-pitch, forcing him to sacrifice his wicket for the team's cause. It did not help; With 15 needed at run-a-ball, Shakib committed his first error of the day, top-edging a scoop shot into short fine-leg's lap.
That put Bangladesh one shambolic run-out away from defeat. The moment arrived in the penultimate over, Shafiul Islam perishing to the fourth run-out of the innings, leaving Zimbabwe's fielders jumping for joy.
The sad part for Bangladesh was that their errors in the second half came after a very professional job in the first. Once again, they executed the slow left-arm choke they have become dangerously adept at, overcoming a strong opening and a resilient middle-order recovery to dismiss Zimbabwe for 209.
Abdur Razzak played the lead role for the home side, prising out four wickets to go past 150 one-day scalps, while the support cast tied up things at the other end.
He came on in the 10th over and he promptly made an impact with his variations, after the seamers had wasted the morning haze. Chamu Chibhabha perished to an ambitious swipe across the line, before Brendan Taylor's back foot was coaxed out of the crease with lovely flight and spin.
The track suddenly seemed full of demons, with Razzak getting every other delivery to bite and spit across the right-handers. As is often the case in such circumstances, Elton Chigumbura fell to one of the poorer deliveries, chopping a wide ball onto the stumps.
After Tatenda Taibu's dismissal, Zimbabwe quickly reassessed the innings and Sean Ervine combined with Regis Chakabva in a risk-free repair job. With Razzak out of the attack, survival became easier and both batsmen settled in to work the bowling around.
Chakabva swept a couple of leg-stump offerings and Ervine guided a full toss through the covers, all for fours, but otherwise their 65-run stand was characterised by deft placement and smart running.
Mahmudullah eventually broke through with a flighted offbreak, foxing Chakabva into a return catch for 45. By then, Zimbabwe had survived the toughest phase of the innings without losing much ground. They failed to make the most of the platform, though, losing their way towards the end.
Ervine and Utseya failed to cash in on the batting Powerplay, exposing the tail to the spinners. The result was that the last five wickets fell for 25, ending the innings in the 49th over. At that stage it looked like a fighting score.
A couple of hours later, it seemed to be more than sufficient, but Shakib was not going to go down without a fight. On the day, though, he could not do enough to deliver the knock-out punch.
Chris Mpofu was awarded man of the match. He picked up three wickets including Shakib's, for 28 runs.
The margin of victory did not do justice to the Zimbabwe spinners' control for most part of the chase, and emphasised Shakib's excellence in retrieving a cause that had seemed out of bounds at one point, reports cricinfo.
He played the defining innings on a day dominated by the bowlers, but his team-mates succumbed to the pressure in a spate of poor shots and run-outs to end their team's dream run, and hand Zimbabwe a famous victory.
Bangladesh were in the middle of a major top-order collapse when Shakib walked out: in under six overs, they had gone from 76 for 1 to 98 for 5, with Ray Price and Prosper Utseya breathing down their necks.
When Suhrawadi Shuvo was cleaned up with the score 115, Bangladesh were pushed right to the edge of the precipice. Shakib, however, knew that the run-rate was under control, and chose to wait for the weaker bowlers to come on.
Displaying the kind of composure that made Michael Bevan famous, he turned things around without ever looking like taking a risk. When Price and Utseya hustled through their overs, he resorted to cautious dabs into the gaps before opening up against Keith Dabengwa who came on as back-up.
Shakib used Dabengwa's angle and spin to find the leg-side boundary with a variety of sweeps, looting 13 runs off the 36th over. That assault reduced the equation to 65 from 14 overs and Zimbabwe began to sweat again.
With Mahmudullah showing the requisite gumption at the other end, Elton Chigumbura was forced to bring back the lead spinners. Shakib seamlessly shifted back into the nurdle mode, bringing up his 16th half-century in the 41st over, with one of several check-drives to long-off.
Zimbabwe eventually broke through in the 43rd, Mahmudullah holing out against Mpofu after adding 54 with Shakib. With the batting Powerplay in place for the last five overs, Mashrafe Mortaza helped Shakib narrow the gap further, biffing a couple of boundaries through the off side.
Twenty-three to get off 21 and time for Bangladesh to show they could close things out. Unfortunately for them, there were more twists to the tale.
A dreadful mix-up left Mortaza stranded mid-pitch, forcing him to sacrifice his wicket for the team's cause. It did not help; With 15 needed at run-a-ball, Shakib committed his first error of the day, top-edging a scoop shot into short fine-leg's lap.
That put Bangladesh one shambolic run-out away from defeat. The moment arrived in the penultimate over, Shafiul Islam perishing to the fourth run-out of the innings, leaving Zimbabwe's fielders jumping for joy.
The sad part for Bangladesh was that their errors in the second half came after a very professional job in the first. Once again, they executed the slow left-arm choke they have become dangerously adept at, overcoming a strong opening and a resilient middle-order recovery to dismiss Zimbabwe for 209.
Abdur Razzak played the lead role for the home side, prising out four wickets to go past 150 one-day scalps, while the support cast tied up things at the other end.
He came on in the 10th over and he promptly made an impact with his variations, after the seamers had wasted the morning haze. Chamu Chibhabha perished to an ambitious swipe across the line, before Brendan Taylor's back foot was coaxed out of the crease with lovely flight and spin.
The track suddenly seemed full of demons, with Razzak getting every other delivery to bite and spit across the right-handers. As is often the case in such circumstances, Elton Chigumbura fell to one of the poorer deliveries, chopping a wide ball onto the stumps.
After Tatenda Taibu's dismissal, Zimbabwe quickly reassessed the innings and Sean Ervine combined with Regis Chakabva in a risk-free repair job. With Razzak out of the attack, survival became easier and both batsmen settled in to work the bowling around.
Chakabva swept a couple of leg-stump offerings and Ervine guided a full toss through the covers, all for fours, but otherwise their 65-run stand was characterised by deft placement and smart running.
Mahmudullah eventually broke through with a flighted offbreak, foxing Chakabva into a return catch for 45. By then, Zimbabwe had survived the toughest phase of the innings without losing much ground. They failed to make the most of the platform, though, losing their way towards the end.
Ervine and Utseya failed to cash in on the batting Powerplay, exposing the tail to the spinners. The result was that the last five wickets fell for 25, ending the innings in the 49th over. At that stage it looked like a fighting score.
A couple of hours later, it seemed to be more than sufficient, but Shakib was not going to go down without a fight. On the day, though, he could not do enough to deliver the knock-out punch.
Chris Mpofu was awarded man of the match. He picked up three wickets including Shakib's, for 28 runs.
Gautam Gambhir, bowlers make 2-0
Gautam Gambhir's bowlers responded well to his call of bowling first, restricting New Zealand with smart, accurate bowling, and the captain reciprocated with a fluent 138 off 116 balls to make the chase look easy.
Gambhir, capping off a return to form that began with a struggling Test fifty in Hyderabad last month, never let his strike-rate come under 100 once he crossed the mark in the sixth over, reports cricinfo.
He had for company an equally hungry Virat Kohli, who now has two centuries and a fifty in his last three international outings.
Dew, expected later in the evening, was the reason why India put New Zealand in on a cracking surface, but the towels were conspicuous by absence in the second half of the game. This is what made the bowling effort special.
The pitch played slow and low, and India cut out the pace and the room. There was nothing spectacular done with the ball, just accurate, wicket to wicket bowling for most of the part.
Martin Guptill and Scott Styris tried to take New Zealand towards a fighting total with important fifties, but India pulled the visitors back every time they threatened to break free.
New Zealand began with three boundaries in the first two overs, but Sreesanth's late swing removed Jamie How.
Guptill and Kane Williamson looked solid but subdued in a 50-run stand for the second wicket. Those runs took 12.5 overs coming - all but seven of those deliveries in the Powerplay.
The duo did little to upset the bowlers' rhythm. Munaf Patel was allowed to hit the same spot again and again, with slight seam movement either way.
One of those moved a bit more than expected, and found a way through Williamson's bat and pad, taking the top of off. The pressure showed when Ross Taylor went to hit Yusuf Pathan's first delivery for a six, but found deep midwicket.
Styris came out in the 25th over with the score yet to reach three figures, and cut out the unproductive balls, taking singles with ease and finding timely boundaries.
When he and Guptill asked for the Powerplay in the 35th over, R Ashwin responded with a carrom balls to remove Guptill. That set New Zealand back by a couple of overs.
Styris and Daniel Vettori had to take some time set up another charge, but Sreesanth pegged them back again. Like he did in the first match of the series, Sreesanth came back for a new spell in the 46th over, and took two wickets with his first two deliveries.
He ended a threatening ninth-wicket partnership in the last game, and got rid of Styris and Vettori this time.
New Zealand opened their defence with Nathan McCullum, presumably to get through some overs of spin before dew appeared, and immediately troubled M Vijay, who struggled to come to terms with the slowness of the pitch.
Gambhir, however, was playing in a different world. He timed almost everything sweetly except for a couple of inside edges that went for fours.
Against Kyle Mills, he walked down the pitch on a couple of occasions to create the driving length. When Mills pitched slightly short, he cut him away. The driving between mid-off and extra cover stood out.
By the end of the eighth over, Gambhir had scored four times Vijay's eight, taking India to 40, and putting Mills out of the attack. Against Styris he made room and went over extra cover.
Andy McKay strayed too straight, and was clipped for four into the leg side. There was not a hint of power; the short back lift emphasised how well he timed the ball.
Vijay continued his patchy innings until he tried a premeditated slog-sweep off Vettori in the 18th over, and was bowled. Gambhir, though, had reached 54 off 48 by then, out of India's 87, and looked set to carry India through.
A crucial moment came in the 22nd over when Gambhir's bat got stuck into the ground as he tried to slide it in, but Vettori failed to collect the throw cleanly and Gambhir was let off.
Every time Gambhir needed quick runs, he made room and went over extra cover. Kohli batted like he was never dismissed in Guwahati, pulling powerfully wide of long-on, and punching square for most of his runs.
Over by over, the 116-run partnership brought the asking rate down, until it read 4.3 for the last 13 overs when Kohli found short midwicket with a pull shot.
It was a distraught batsman that left the wicket, 36 short of a third straight century, which was possible with 56 still required. His captain and a senior back in Delhi, though, was there to see India home and continue their unbeaten home season.
Gambhir, capping off a return to form that began with a struggling Test fifty in Hyderabad last month, never let his strike-rate come under 100 once he crossed the mark in the sixth over, reports cricinfo.
He had for company an equally hungry Virat Kohli, who now has two centuries and a fifty in his last three international outings.
Dew, expected later in the evening, was the reason why India put New Zealand in on a cracking surface, but the towels were conspicuous by absence in the second half of the game. This is what made the bowling effort special.
The pitch played slow and low, and India cut out the pace and the room. There was nothing spectacular done with the ball, just accurate, wicket to wicket bowling for most of the part.
Martin Guptill and Scott Styris tried to take New Zealand towards a fighting total with important fifties, but India pulled the visitors back every time they threatened to break free.
New Zealand began with three boundaries in the first two overs, but Sreesanth's late swing removed Jamie How.
Guptill and Kane Williamson looked solid but subdued in a 50-run stand for the second wicket. Those runs took 12.5 overs coming - all but seven of those deliveries in the Powerplay.
The duo did little to upset the bowlers' rhythm. Munaf Patel was allowed to hit the same spot again and again, with slight seam movement either way.
One of those moved a bit more than expected, and found a way through Williamson's bat and pad, taking the top of off. The pressure showed when Ross Taylor went to hit Yusuf Pathan's first delivery for a six, but found deep midwicket.
Styris came out in the 25th over with the score yet to reach three figures, and cut out the unproductive balls, taking singles with ease and finding timely boundaries.
When he and Guptill asked for the Powerplay in the 35th over, R Ashwin responded with a carrom balls to remove Guptill. That set New Zealand back by a couple of overs.
Styris and Daniel Vettori had to take some time set up another charge, but Sreesanth pegged them back again. Like he did in the first match of the series, Sreesanth came back for a new spell in the 46th over, and took two wickets with his first two deliveries.
He ended a threatening ninth-wicket partnership in the last game, and got rid of Styris and Vettori this time.
New Zealand opened their defence with Nathan McCullum, presumably to get through some overs of spin before dew appeared, and immediately troubled M Vijay, who struggled to come to terms with the slowness of the pitch.
Gambhir, however, was playing in a different world. He timed almost everything sweetly except for a couple of inside edges that went for fours.
Against Kyle Mills, he walked down the pitch on a couple of occasions to create the driving length. When Mills pitched slightly short, he cut him away. The driving between mid-off and extra cover stood out.
By the end of the eighth over, Gambhir had scored four times Vijay's eight, taking India to 40, and putting Mills out of the attack. Against Styris he made room and went over extra cover.
Andy McKay strayed too straight, and was clipped for four into the leg side. There was not a hint of power; the short back lift emphasised how well he timed the ball.
Vijay continued his patchy innings until he tried a premeditated slog-sweep off Vettori in the 18th over, and was bowled. Gambhir, though, had reached 54 off 48 by then, out of India's 87, and looked set to carry India through.
A crucial moment came in the 22nd over when Gambhir's bat got stuck into the ground as he tried to slide it in, but Vettori failed to collect the throw cleanly and Gambhir was let off.
Every time Gambhir needed quick runs, he made room and went over extra cover. Kohli batted like he was never dismissed in Guwahati, pulling powerfully wide of long-on, and punching square for most of his runs.
Over by over, the 116-run partnership brought the asking rate down, until it read 4.3 for the last 13 overs when Kohli found short midwicket with a pull shot.
It was a distraught batsman that left the wicket, 36 short of a third straight century, which was possible with 56 still required. His captain and a senior back in Delhi, though, was there to see India home and continue their unbeaten home season.
West Ham United humbled holders Manchester United 4-0 on Tuesday to reach the League Cup semi-finals with Old Trafford reject Jonathan Spector scoring twice in the swirling snow at Upton Park. 
The Ashes - Guide to the Adelaide Oval
England return to the Adelaide Oval this Thursday evening for the second test but it's a ground that doesn't hold happy memories from their last tour Down Under.
The Three Lions suffered a demoralising defeat here back in 2006. After scoring a massive 551/6, including a Paul Collingwood double-century, England declared and it looked like there could be only one winner. They maintained a lead after bowling Australia out for 513 but a second innings collapse (69/1 to 129 all out) let the Australians back in and they won that match by six wickets.
They have got some experience of the ground on this tour already, they played a three day game against South Australia which ended in a draw, although there was encouragment for Graeme Swann who took four wickets.
Australia haven't lost at The Oval since India beat them in 2003, winning four and drawing two of the six games since.
England last won in Adelaide back in 1995 with Chris Lewis taking 4/24 in a 2nd innings were Australia were bowled out for 156, chasing a target of 263.
Generally Adelaide is good for batting in the first few three days before taking spin and some uneven bounce in the later stages. There have been eight scores of 500 or more since 2000, the biggest Australia's 575/8 declared against New Zealand back in 2004.
Groundsman Damien Hough makes his test debut after the retirement of the long standing Les Burdett. Hough is likely to follow in his predecessors footsteps by preparing a 'tradional Adelaide pitch'.
"A traditional Adelaide Oval pitch would suggest as the game wears on and we are getting into day four and five, that there will be something in it for the spinners definitely," Hough said on Tuesday.
"And we are getting some hotter weather towards the end of the game, so you would expect there to be some unpredictable bounce, that is for sure."
There is likely to be rain in the next couple of days which could turn the pitch a little green which help the seamers.
There was a total attendance of 136,761 over the five days when these two last met at Adelaide and it's likely to be a great atmosphere this time with the Barmy Army expected to be out in force.
The Oval is located in parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide and has a history which dates back to the 1870s. The ground is a true oval, which makes straight sixes difficult but they are quite common square of the wicket. The grandstands and the scoreboard are all items listed on the City of Adelaide Heritage Register, and two new stands finished in 2003 have raised the capacity to 32,000 for cricket.
The Three Lions suffered a demoralising defeat here back in 2006. After scoring a massive 551/6, including a Paul Collingwood double-century, England declared and it looked like there could be only one winner. They maintained a lead after bowling Australia out for 513 but a second innings collapse (69/1 to 129 all out) let the Australians back in and they won that match by six wickets.
They have got some experience of the ground on this tour already, they played a three day game against South Australia which ended in a draw, although there was encouragment for Graeme Swann who took four wickets.
Australia haven't lost at The Oval since India beat them in 2003, winning four and drawing two of the six games since.
England last won in Adelaide back in 1995 with Chris Lewis taking 4/24 in a 2nd innings were Australia were bowled out for 156, chasing a target of 263.
Generally Adelaide is good for batting in the first few three days before taking spin and some uneven bounce in the later stages. There have been eight scores of 500 or more since 2000, the biggest Australia's 575/8 declared against New Zealand back in 2004.
Groundsman Damien Hough makes his test debut after the retirement of the long standing Les Burdett. Hough is likely to follow in his predecessors footsteps by preparing a 'tradional Adelaide pitch'.
"A traditional Adelaide Oval pitch would suggest as the game wears on and we are getting into day four and five, that there will be something in it for the spinners definitely," Hough said on Tuesday.
"And we are getting some hotter weather towards the end of the game, so you would expect there to be some unpredictable bounce, that is for sure."
There is likely to be rain in the next couple of days which could turn the pitch a little green which help the seamers.
There was a total attendance of 136,761 over the five days when these two last met at Adelaide and it's likely to be a great atmosphere this time with the Barmy Army expected to be out in force.
The Oval is located in parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide and has a history which dates back to the 1870s. The ground is a true oval, which makes straight sixes difficult but they are quite common square of the wicket. The grandstands and the scoreboard are all items listed on the City of Adelaide Heritage Register, and two new stands finished in 2003 have raised the capacity to 32,000 for cricket.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
ICC world cup cricket 2011- The Countdown begins, latest news and update
Cricket is a great sport and the Cricket World Cup is the highlight of every cricket lover’s year. The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup will be the tenth Cricket World Cup and Cricket world cup 2011 matches will be hosted by three South Asian Test cricket playing countries: India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It will be Bangladesh’s first time co-hosting a Cricket World Cup. The 2011 Cricket world cup 2011 fixture has scheduled from February 19, 2011 to April 2, 2011 across 13 venues in the three host countries.
The 100-day countdown for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup began and exact 83 days are left for The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. All of The participating teams are doing their prepation for the world cup cricket. The host countries are preparing the 13 stadiums for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Recently, The International Cricket Council (ICC) removed the one-year ban imposed on the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium in India. For this reason, Ferozeshah Kotla stadium is now ready to host all four scheduled World Cup 2011 matches in India. Reportedly, The International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements of this stadium.
Reportedly, another 23-member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) inspection team has inspected the Punjab Cricket Association stadium. Three matches will be held in this stadium during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. They were satisfied with the security arrangements of this stadium also. In 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Hosts Team will play World Cup knockouts at home.
The trophy for World Cup 2011 was launched in a rather innovative manner and the three host countries are gearing up for the World Cup.
The 2011 Cricket World Cup winning team would be taking home prize money of US$ 4 million, with the International Cricket Council deciding to double the total allocation for the coveted tournament to US$ 10 millon.
The 100-day countdown for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup began and exact 83 days are left for The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. All of The participating teams are doing their prepation for the world cup cricket. The host countries are preparing the 13 stadiums for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.Recently, The International Cricket Council (ICC) removed the one-year ban imposed on the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium in India. For this reason, Ferozeshah Kotla stadium is now ready to host all four scheduled World Cup 2011 matches in India. Reportedly, The International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements of this stadium.
Reportedly, another 23-member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) inspection team has inspected the Punjab Cricket Association stadium. Three matches will be held in this stadium during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. They were satisfied with the security arrangements of this stadium also. In 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Hosts Team will play World Cup knockouts at home.
The trophy for World Cup 2011 was launched in a rather innovative manner and the three host countries are gearing up for the World Cup.
The 2011 Cricket World Cup winning team would be taking home prize money of US$ 4 million, with the International Cricket Council deciding to double the total allocation for the coveted tournament to US$ 10 millon.
2011 cricket world cup theme song by ar rahman
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