Aus beat England in 5th ODI to clinch series


Brisbane: Australia claimed the one-day international series against England with a 51-run win in the fifth match at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday.
After winning the toss and batting Australia made 249, with second-gamer Chris Woakes picking up a record-equalling six wickets.
It seemed insufficient, but the tourists slumped to 145-9, before a late flurry from Steve Finn (35 off 24 balls) boosted their score to a more respectable 198.
The result gave Australia an unbeatable 4-1 lead in the seven-match series, ending England's run of five straight ODI series wins, and the match also raised more than $ 6 million for victims of the recent Queensland floods.
The English were in early trouble in the chase at 22-3, when Brett Lee (2-21) was on a hat-trick.
Kevin Pietersen (40) and Ian Bell (36) put on 73 to revive their hopes but when the pair, and Eoin Morgan, fell in quick succession, they were 103-6 and all but beaten.
England's poor batting squandered the stellar effort by Woakes, who was recalled to replace spinner Michael Yardy and claimed 6-45.
The 21-year-old Woakes became just the second England bowler to claim six wickets in an ODI, the other being Paul Collingwood (6-31) against Bangladesh.
His victims included four of the top six batsmen, Clarke among them.
However, Clarke finally showed signs of a long overdue return to form by top-scoring for the Australians with 54 from 74 balls.
Leading the side in the absence of the injured Ricky Ponting, Clarke was booed by local fans when he came out to bat.
It was the culmination of a poor season where he had previously posted just one score over 50 for Australia, having been out of form in Test cricket, ODIs and Twenty20s.
He finally broke the shackles of a dreadful summer when he hit paceman Steve Finn, making his ODI debut, for successive boundaries early in his innings.
However, the loss of Shaun Marsh and the underperforming Cameron White, both for 16, after opener Brad Haddin had earlier thrown his wicket away, restrained Clarke and he had to settle for trying to patiently rebuild the Australian innings.
The experiment of promoting Marsh up the order failed for the third match in succession when he fell to Collingwood in the gentle seamer's first over, while White was removed by Woakes.
When Clarke did decide to take on the bowlers late in the innings, he fell to a poor shot, advancing down the wicket to Woakes and skying a catch to Strauss.




NZ-Pak: Pak level series with solid win



Wellington: Mohammad Hafeez scored his first one-day century and Shahid Afridi blasted the equal-fastest half century in New Zealand as Pakistan levelled their one-day series against the hosts following a 43-run victory at Lancaster Park on Saturday.
New Zealand never really challenged Pakistan's imposing 293 for seven, with Martin Guptill (39), Jamie How (24) Scott Styris (46) and Kane Williamson (42) all getting starts but leaving too many runs for the lower order to overhaul the total.
Skipper Afridi also cleverly rotated his bowlers, who expertly changed their pace and angles, bowled to their fields and took wickets just as New Zealand's batsmen appeared set to push on.
Tim Southee (13 not out) hit a six off the last ball to drag New Zealand to 250 for nine. Hamish Bennett was with Southee on four.
The six-match series is locked at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first match in Wellington by nine wickets last week and the second in Queenstown was washed out on Wednesday.
Pakistan's innings had been held together by Hafeez (115), who also shared a 94-run partnership with Misbah-ul-haq (35) and 52 runs with Umar Akmal (44).


Eden not to host Ind-Eng World Cup tie: ICC


Kolkata: In a big jolt to the Kolkata cricket fans, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday ruled out the city for the India-England match scheduled for February 27 at the Eden Gardens.
A venue inspection team, which included the Tournament Director, members of the Central Organising Committe (COC) and the ICC, on Thursday reported on the readiness of five under-construction venues to host matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
Following the inspection tour, the three Sri Lanka venues – Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele – as well as Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai have been approved subject to minor finishing work being completed within specified time frame not exceeding 14 days.
The expert report, however, determined that Eden Gardens in Kolkata would not be ready within an acceptable time frame to host the India vs England ICC Cricket World Cup match on 27 February.
"All venues had ample time in which to prepare for world cup matches. We had been understanding and had provided extensions to the deadline dates but unfortunately we are now at a point where we must carefully manage our risks," the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ICC, Haroon Lorgat, said in a press release.
"The COC had provided venues with a deadline of 30 November 2010 to complete all construction work and then to be match-ready by 31 December 2010. An extension was granted by the ICC for five venues, which were again inspected over the past week. Sadly, Eden Gardens in Kolkata was unable to meet the final deadline date of 25 January 2011," Lorgat added.
"Regrettably, Eden Gardens has not made sufficient progress to justify the level of confidence required to confirm that the venue would be ready in good time. This was no easy decision to take and while it is most unfortunate, it is absolutely necessary,” Lorgat said.

4th ODI: Trott helps Eng keep series alive


Adelaide: Inspired by a Jonathan Trott century, England secured a 21-run victory over Australia on Wednesday, keeping alive their hopes of winning the one-day series after trailing 3-0.
The tourists needed a win to claw their way back into the seven match series and a fine century by Man-of-the-Match Trott helped them to 299-8, the first time they have lasted their full complement of overs in this series.
Australia never looked comfortable in reply at the Adelaide Oval and their chances all but evaporated with the wicket of opener Shane Watson for 64, caught behind of Ajmal Shahzad.
Captain Michael Clarke's season-long woes with the bat deepened when he was clean bowled by part-timer Paul Collingwood for just 15 as the home team fell short with just 278 for seven.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the tourists looked poised for a huge score when they brought up their century for the loss of one wicket in the 15th over.
But the middle order stuttered and the innings lost its way, regaining momentum through a late flourish from Michael Yardy, who hit 39 not out from 27 balls.
Trott (102 from 126 balls), who also picked up two wickets in the Australian innings, set up the win with his second ODI century while opener Matt Prior belted 67 from 58 balls.



Ind-SA: Yusuf's ton in vain as SA clinch series


Centurion: Yusuf Pathan hit a blistering 68-ball century but could not stop South Africa from winning the series-deciding fifth and final one-day international against India at SuperSport Park on Sunday.
South Africa won by 33 runs according to the Duckworth/Lewis method, clinching a come-from-behind 3-2 series win thanks mainly to a century by Hashim Amla and four wickets by fast bowler Morne Morkel.
Opening batsman Amla made 116 not out as South Africa reached 250 for nine in a rain-interrupted innings.
Set to make 268 to win, India were headed for a heavy defeat when they slumped to 119 for eight with fast bowlers Morkel and Dale Steyn inflicting most of the damage.
But Pathan unleashed a ferocious assault on the South African bowlers during a ninth wicket stand of 100 with Zaheer Khan.
Pathan slammed eight sixes and eight fours as he made 105 before he top-edged another attempted big hit against Morkel and sent a catch spiraling to cover.
Khan got a reprieve when the stand was worth 20 when he top-edged a short ball from Morkel and was caught by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.
But umpire Simon Taufel asked television umpire Shaun George to check whether Morkel had bowled a no-ball. George ruled that Morkel had overstepped by millimetres and Khan batted on.
As the ball flew to all parts of the ground, South African captain Graeme Smith called on Morkel and the fast bowler finally induced a false stroke.
Morkel finished with four for 52 as India were all out for 234.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that South Africa deserved to win. "It has been a disappointing series for the batsmen. We have not really performed as a batting unit. To say we wanted to win the final game just because Yusuf scored a hundred was asking for too much," said Dhoni.
Looking ahead to next month's World Cup, Dhoni said the big lesson for India was that if they were able to keep wickets in hand they could chase down almost any target with a powerful hitter like Pathan in the side.
Smith said South Africa had finished the series strongly.
"We were 2-1 down and we played two good games."
He said South Africa had paced their innings well, despite a late collapse after a rain break, and had bowled "really aggressively".
South Africa's innings was interrupted when the hosts were strongly placed at 226 for three after 42 overs.
The rain caused a delay of more than an hour and the match was reduced to 46 overs a side.
South Africa lost six wickets for 24 runs in the remaining four overs of their innings, with a succession of batsmen falling to ill-judged strokes and two run-outs in a chase for quick runs.
Dhoni sent South Africa in, hoping to take advantage of expected early morning life in the pitch - and also to have the option of revising his team's strategy in the event of predicted rain interruptions.
Smith fell once again to left-arm opening bowler Khan - for the 11th time in international cricket - edging a catch to second slip in the third over.
But Amla played a calm innings, content to play the supporting role in a second wicket stand of 97 with Morne van Wyk, who made 56 off 63 balls, then picking up the pace in a fourth wicket stand of 102 off 98 balls with JP Duminy (35).
There were only four boundaries as Amla reached his fifty off 72 balls, but he added another five fours as he needed just 41 more deliveries to reach the first century by a batsman of either side in the series.
India opted to play only two seam bowlers, bringing in leg-spinner Piyush Chawla in place of Ashish Nehra.
For the second match in a row, Dhoni used eight bowlers, mainly in short spells.
As in the fourth match in Port Elizabeth, left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh was the most effective of the slow bowlers, taking two for 45 in eight overs - the longest unbroken spell by any of the players.
But when Yuvraj conceded nine runs off his eighth over Dhoni immediately took him out of the attack.



SA win rain-affected 4th ODI by D/L method


Port Elizabeth: Virat Kohli struck a sparkling 87 not out and had a hand in three dismissals but couldn't stop South Africa from winning the fourth one-day international against India at St George's Park on Friday.
South Africa won the rain-affected game by 48 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method to level the five-match series at 2-2, making Sunday's final match at Centurion the decider.
JP Duminy was South Africa's star, making an unbeaten 71 and leading a recovery after the hosts suffered a top-order collapse.
South Africa scored 265 for six after winning the toss while India were struggling at 142 for six after 32.5 overs when rain ended play.
Kohli was the only batsman to master South Africa's bowling attack, making his runs off 92 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
The only partnership of note was with Suresh Raina, who made 20 in a fourth-wicket stand of 63 before he was drawn out of his crease by left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, enabling AB de Villiers to make a smart stumping.
India had lost their first three wickets for 49 runs, with Smith taking a sensational catch to dismiss Yuvraj Singh, who top-edged a lap shot against off-spinner Johan Botha. Smith raced from slip to hold a diving catch at short leg.
India's hopes nosedived after Raina was out, with Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan falling in quick succession.
Dhoni was Peterson's second victim, playing an awkward stroke to cover.
Pathan, who was India's match-winner in the third game with a hard-hit 59, showed his vulnerability to fast bowling when he was squared up by Morne Morkel and edged a catch to de Villiers.
Rain stopped play with India on 137 for six after 31.3 overs. Play resumed after more than an hour but only another eight balls were bowled before more rain ended the match.




Boucher misses out in South Africa's WC squad


Cape Town: South Africa has included injured allrounder Jacques Kallis and Pakistan-born spin bowler Imran Tahir in their 15-man squad for next month's World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Team manager Mohammed Moosajee said on Tuesday he is confident Kallis will recover from his side strain in time for the tournament, which begins on Feb. 19.
Kallis was ruled out of the ongoing one-day series with India to undergo rehabilitation.
Uncapped legspinner Tahir is picked after qualifying for South Africa, as is batsman Faf du Plessis, who played his first international game on Tuesday.
Robin Peterson earns a place as a third spinner alongside Tahir and Johan Botha while Morne van Wyk is backup wicketkeeper to AB de Villiers. Veteran 'keeper Mark Boucher misses out.
Graeme Smith will captain South Africa for the final tournament, having said he will step down as one-day skipper after the World Cup.
Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk.



New Zealand announce World Cup squad


Wellington: All-rounder Luke Woodcock and top-order batsman Jamie How were surprise inclusions in New Zealand's 15-man World Cup squad on Wednesday.
Left-arm spinner Woodcock made his international debut in a recent Twenty20 match against Pakistan, while How was brought back into the national set-up for their tour of India late last year after an absence of two years.
All-rounder Jacob Oram and pace bowler Hamish Bennett have also been named in the squad after being sidelined with injury.
New Zealand have been drawn in Group A against Kenya, Australia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Canada and Sri Lanka for the February 19-April 2 tournament.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Jamie How, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Kane Williamson, James Franklin, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Kyle Mills, Hamish Bennett, Luke Woodcock.



Prior in for Davies in England WC squad


Hobart: England selectors opted for Matt Prior as wicketkeeper ahead of Steve Davies in the 15-man squad announced hours before the deadline on Wednesday for the World Cup starting next month in the Indian subcontinent.
Prior has been playing domestic cricket in Australia since playing a key role in England's Ashes Test series victory in Australia, while Davies has been the gloveman for England in its last six limited-overs internationals.
England squad: Andrew Strauss (Captain), Jimmy Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy.


Dhoni says Harbhajan is an all-rounder


Cape Town: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was all praise for Harbhajan Singh's batting pyrotechnics which ensured their victory in the third ODI against South Africa and said he considers the off-spinner an "all-rounder".
India pulled off a two-wicket thrilling win on Tuesday and now lead the five-match series 2-1. The visitors chasing a target of 221 runs were 93-5 at one stage but Yusuf Pathan scored a smashing 59 and Harbhajan chipped in with 23 after the fall of Pathan to guide the team home.
"Harbhajan is an all-rounder for us, though we do not put the pressure on him by calling him one. He has been bowling very well, taking the momentum away from the South Africans," Dhoni said.
Harbhajan has been a revelation with the bat, of late. He struck two successive Test centuries against New Zealand, which came at crucial times.
On Yusuf Pathan, Dhoni said he expected the elder of the Pathan brothers from Baroda - Irfan is Yusuf's younger brother - to play his natural game.
"We just told the youngsters to play their natural game; we want Yusuf to play the sort of game he plays."
The captain gave out the reasons for the side's second successive victory after suffering a heavy loss in the opening game in Durban.
"We have been outstanding so far, ground fielding has also improved a bit. Our catching has been decently good."
"It was a very good effort from the lower middle order. We also did well in the death bowling and powerplays."



3rd ODI: India beat SA in a cliffhanger


Cape Town: A burst of powerful hitting by Yusuf Pathan spurred India to a thrilling two-wicket win in the third one-day international against South Africa at Newlands on Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 221, India were struggling at 93 for five before Pathan launched a savage assault against South African off-spinners Johan Botha and JP Duminy.
On a pitch where most batsmen found it difficult to play positive strokes, Pathan, making his first appearance in the series, struck 59 off 50 balls as India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Pathan and Suresh Raina (37) put on 75 for the sixth wicket but both were out in quick succession to set up a tense finish.
Fast bowler Morne Morkel took three for 26 and fellow paceman Dale Steyn claimed two for 31 but could not stop India from getting home with ten balls to spare. Harbhajan Singh made a crucial 23 not out, including two sixes.
The match changed dramatically in the 28th over of the Indian innings when Pathan, on six, edged Botha for a four between wicketkeeper AB de Villiers and captain Graeme Smith at slip.
Pathan swept the next delivery and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, running in from the boundary to try to take a catch, misjudged the ball and it went for another four.
In the next over from Duminy, Pathan again swept in the air and Morkel also misjudged the ball in contemplating a catch and another boundary was the result.
Then Pathan struck three sixes off four balls from Botha, all sailing over a fielder at deep mid-wicket.
On an untypical Newlands pitch, South Africa struggled to 220 all out with newcomer Francois 'Faf' du Plessis and JP Duminy putting on 110 as they rescued a floundering innings.
Du Plessis made 60 and Duminy 52 on a pitch of inconsistent pace and bounce.
The pair came together with their side in trouble at 90 for four in the 24th over.
They put on 110 off 129 balls before Du Plessis slipped as he went down the wicket to attack Munaf Patel and sliced a catch to cover.
Du Plessis, 26, a former schoolboy teammate of De Villiers, who has been signed to play for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, made his runs off 78 balls.
He showed composure at the crease and the only sign of nerves came when he needed treatment for cramps in his forearm.
Du Plessis was out in the first over of the batting powerplay, which was taken in the 45th over, and as in the second international in Johannesburg, the lifting of fielding restrictions heralded a flurry of wickets.
Duminy was bowled in the next over and the innings folded rapidly, with the last six wickets falling for 20 runs.
Zaheer Khan, with three for 43, and Singh led a superb Indian bowling performance, which was backed up by good fielding.
Khan repeatedly beat South African captain Graeme Smith with swing and movement off the pitch, although Smith survived to make a laboured 43 off 79 balls before falling to Harbhajan's off-spin.
Khan also took a spectacular diving catch in the outfield to dismiss De Villiers.
Harbhajan mesmerised the batsmen, taking two for 23 in nine overs, helped by two diving slip catches by Virat Kohli.