Australia beat South Africa by 8 wickets


Shane Watson's good form continued in the ICC World Twenty20. Australia go through the semi finals of the tournament with a comfortable eight wicket win over South Africa in the Super Eights at Colombo on Sunday.

Chasing the target of 147, Watson smashed 70 off 47 balls. and also take two wickets. Australia reached their target in 17.2 overs. Shane Watson's 70 consists of eight fours and two sixes. Shane Watson scored 234 runs and also take 10 wickets in this tournament. Michael Hussey made 45 runs, Shane Watson and Hussey added 99 runs for the second wicket. 

Earlier South Africa loss wickets in early. Robin Peterson top scorer for South Africa with 32 runs. Xavier Doherty take 3 wickets for 20 runs. Shane Watson got 2-29. South Africa ended the innings with 146 for 5 in 20 overs. Shane Watson got his fourth consecutive Man of the Match award. Australia will take on Pakistan on Tuesday.


Sri Lanka hold the semis spot with nine wicket win over West Indies


Sri Lanka hold to qualify for the World Twenty20 semifinals after thrash West Indies by nine wickets in ICC World Twenty20 2012 in Pallekele on Saturday.

Sri Lanka advance with Super Over win and have healthy run rate to take defending champions England on Monday. West Indies need to beat New Zealand on the same day.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene made unbeaten 65 off 49 balls helped Sri Lanka to reached their target 130 for 1 in 15.2 overs. Sri Lanka restricted West Indies in 129 for 4 in 20 overs. Ajantha Mendis take 2 wickets for 12 runs.

Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara (39) added 108 run unbeaten partnership for the 2nd Wicket. Ravi Rampaul take Tilakratne Dilshan wicket on 13.

Marlan Samuels top scorer for West Indies with 50 runs and Dwayne Bravo 40 . Chris Gayle got out for earlier in the West Indies batting. Mahela Jayawardene awarded as Player of the Match.

England beat New Zealand by six wickets

Half century from Luke Wright and Steven Finn take 3 for 16 keep Defending champions England's hopes alive in the ICC World Twenty20 2012 with six wicket win over New Zealnad in the Super Eights on Saturday.

Luke Wright made 76 off just 43 balls and Eion Morgan 30 guide England to reach the target 149 in 18.5 overs. after were restricted to 148/6 in 20 overs.

England paceman Steven never allowed Zealand batsmans to score.He claimed 3 wickets for 16 runs. James Franklin top scorer for New Zealand with 50 off 30 balls.

England top order not shined for previous two games, but Luke Wright and Eoin Morgan batted well. they add 89 runs for the third wicket.This is the second loss for New Zealand after losing Super Over match against Sri Lanka. 

Luke named as the Man of the Match. New Zealand will take on West Indies and England will meet Sri Lanka on Monday.

Australia thrash India by nine wickets


After beating 90 run over defending Champions England that carried them into the Super Eights on a high. India crashing down by Australia in Colombo on Friday. Australia chased down the target in just 14.5 overs that credits goes to Shane Watson and David Warner.

India dropped Virender Sehwag and played with 5 bowlers its not worked yesterday. The Indian batsmans are struggled to score against aussies. Irfan Pathan top scorer for India with 31 runs and Suresh Raina 26 runs, MS Dhoni contribute 15 runs. India ended the innings with 140 for 7 in twenty overs. Shane Watson take 3 wickets for 34 runs and Mitchell Starc got 2-16.

In the Chasing India's target 141, Shane Watson and David Warner strong start for their team. they really hurt the Indian bowler. Shane Watson and David Warner add 133 runs for the first wicket. finally Yuvraj singh got Shane Watson wicket, but it was too late. Shane Watson Smashed 72 off just 42 balls and David Warner scored unbeaten 63 of 41 balls. Australia reached their target in 14.5 overs with one wicket loss. Shane Watson awarded as the Man of the Match.


Pakistan beat South Africa by 2 wickets


Umar Gul turned with bat as Pakistan recover from the middle order collapse to beat South Africa by two wickets in the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 in Colombo on Friday.

Pakistan chasing South Africa's 133 for 6, And collapsed to 76 for 7 in the 15th over. Umar Akmal and Umar Gul added 49 runs for the 8 wicket.Umar Gul made 32 off just 17 balls and it consists of two fours and three sixes. 

A nine required from last over Umar Akmal smashed six and saeed ajmal boundry helped to chase the target comfortably. Pakistan ended the Innings with 136 for 8 in 19.4 overs.

In the Earlier, Pakistan spinners bowled well against agressive South African batsmans. JP Duminy top scorer with 48 runs from 38 bals and AB de Villiers made 25. South Africa post 133 for 6 in 20 overs. Umar Gul named as the Man of the Match.


West Indies beat England by 15 runs



A brilliant all-round performance by Chris Gayle led West Indies to a stunning 15-run win over defending champions England in the Super Eights of the World Twenty20 on Thursday.

Gayle smashed 58 off 35 balls and featured in a century stand with Johnson Charles, who made 84 off 56 deliveries in West Indies' total of 179 for 5

Score Card:

West Indies won the toss chose to bat first

West Indies 179 for 5 in 20 overs.

Johnson Charles 84
Chris Gayle 58
Stuart Broad 2-32

England need 180 runs in 20 overs

England 164 for 4 in 20 overs

Eoin Morgan 71*
AleX Hales 68
Ravi Rampaul 2-37

West Indies won by 15 runs.

Man of the Match - Johnson Charles


Sri Lanka beat New Zealand in Super Over



Lasith Malinga bowled well his team to beat New Zealand in Super Over in opening game of the Super Eights at the ICC World Twenty20 on Thursday.

New Zealand needed 14 runs for the Victory in the Super Over after Sri Lanka posted 13/1, But Malinga tight deliveries difficult to score and were restricted to 8/1.

New Zealand had scored 174 for 7 in their 20 overs. Rob Nicol made 58 runs, Martin Guptil scored 38 and Brendon McCullum got 25 runs. Akila Dananjaya take 2 wickets for 32 runs.

In the Chasing Sri Lankan openers start solidly Jayawardene out 44 runs. Tilakratne Dilshan made 76 runs. Sangakkara scored 21 runs. finaly Sri Lanka ended the Innings with 174 for 6 in 20 overs. Match was tied so the Super Over came into play for the results. Tilakratne Dilshan named as the man of the match.


Pakistan enter into the Super Eights with 8 wickets win over Bangladesh


2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

In do or die situation, Bangladesh made themself a good chance of qualifying with a fighting total but failed in Bowling performance. Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 8 wickets and enter into the Super Eights. Shakib 84 off 54 balls gave solid target for his team but Imran Nasir and Mohammad Hafeez century partnership help them to win. Bangladesh knoked out from the ICC World Twenty20 2012.

Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first. Bangladesh made solid start. Bangladesh reached 30 runs in first 3 overs. Tamim Iqbal got run out by Mohammad Hafeez at 24. Shakib Al Hasan played brilliantly he got out in final over. He made 84 off 54 balls and consists of 11 fours and 2 sixes. Bangladesh ended innings with a fighting 175 for 6 in 20 overs

In the chasing, Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Nasir gave strong start for pakistan. Hafeez made 45 off 47 balls and Imran Nasir scored 72 off just 36 balls. Imran Nasir reached his fifty in just 25 balls this is the fastest half century in World Twenty20. Pakistan reached 178/2 in 18.4 overs. Imran Nasir named as the Man of the Match Award.


West Indies qualified for Super Eights after washout



West Indies qualified for the Super Eights in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka,after their match was called off due to rain on Monday.

Ireland scored 129 for 6 in 19 overs before the rain.Both teams got one point each, West Indies go through the Super Stage with their net run rate compared to Ireland.

West Indies are placed along with defending Champions England, New Zealand and hosts Sri Lanka. The other group have Australia, India South Africa , Pakistan or Bangladesh. The Super Eight match will starts from thursday.


Spinners help India to 90 runs win over England



Harbhajan Singh's 4 for 12 and Rohit Sharma half century helped India to beat England by 90 runs in ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Chasing big total of 171 England were allout for 80 runs in 14.4 overs This is the England lowest total in T20 internationals.Harbhajan take 4 wikets for 12 runs and Piyush Chawla and Irfan pathan got two wickets each. Craig Kiewetter top scorer for England with 35 runs.

Earlier Rohit Sharma unbeaten 55 from 33 balls. Gautam Gambhir made 45 runs and Virat Kohli scored 40 runs helped to India post 170 for 4 in 20 overs. Harbhajan Singh named as the Man of the Match for his best bowling figures. 

England and India are already qualified Super Eight stage.


Jamshed and Ajmal setup Pakistan beat New Zealand by 13 runs



Saeed Ajamal take 4 for 30 and Half Century from Nasir Jamshed guide Pakistan to beat New Zealand by 13 runs in ICC World Twenty20 on Sunday.

Nasir Jamshed made 56 off 35 balls it consists of two fours and four sixes lead to Pakistan to post 177 for 6 in 20 overs.

In the chasing, New Zealand made a solid start. Rob Nicol scored 33 runs. McCullum 48 runs off 41 balls and Daniel Vettori made 18. Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal take 4 for 30. New Zealand ended innings at 164 for 9 in 20 overs.

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 59 runs in its previous game. In this match New Zealand lose by very small margin. New Zealand now top of the table have Net Run Rate. Pakistan need high margin win against Bangladesh on Tuesday.


Australia beat West Indies on D/L method



David Warner and Shane Watson blitz Australia to a rain hitted 17 run win over West Indies in D/L Method in the World Twenty20 on Saturday. Australia are qualified for the super eights.

West Indies scored mamooth 191 for 8 from agressive half centuries from Chris Gayle (54) and Marlon Samuels (50), David Warner start solidly with 28 off 14 balls which consists of three boundaries and two sixes.

Watson made 41 off just 24 and Michael Hussey were at 28 off 19 balls. Australia at 100/1 (9.1) overs. rain interupted the match. Australia 17 run ahead of the 83 par score on the D/L Method. Finaly Australia declared winners. Shane Watson named as a Player of this Match.


AB de Villiers leads South Africa to win over Sri Lanka



South Africa skipper AB de Villiers quike fire 30 off 13 and his seamers bowled well against Sri Lanka's batsman helped comfortable 32 runs win over Sri Lanka in a rain hitted match on Saturday.

De Villers 30 consists of one four and two sixes. This match was reduced to 7 perside due rain. South Africa scored 78 for 4 in seven overs. Dale Steyn take 2 for 10 helped to restrict Sri Lanka at 46 for 5.

The both teams qualified for the Super Eight stage. 

Scorcard:

South Africa 78 for 4 in 7 overs
De Villiers 30, H Amla 16

Sri Lanka 46 for 5 in 7 overs
Munaweera 13
Sangakkara 13
Dale Steyn 2-10

Man of the Match - AB de Villiers.

AB de Villiers said, beating Sri Lanka was nice beacause Sri Lanka are best team in the world.Now we are ready for Super 8.



England thrash Afghanistan by 116 runs


2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

Defending Champions England thrash Afghanistan by 116 runs in the ICC World Twenty20 2012. Luke Wright unbeaten 99 helped England post 196 for 5. chasing a big total Afghanistan could manage only 80 runs in 17.2 overs. 

Gulbodin Naib was the top scorer for Afghanistan with 44 runs. Stuart Broad, S Patel, S Finn, Greame Swann take two wikets each.

Scorecard:

England 196/5 in 20 overs

Luke Wright 99* (8 fours and 6 sixes)
Alex Hales 31

Izatullah Dawlatzai 56-2

Target 197 runs from 20 overs

Afghanistan 80 allout in 17.2 overs

Gulbodin Naib 44

S Patel 2-6, S Broad 2-10, J Dernbach 2-16, Greame Swann 2-22

England won by 116 runs. Man of the Match - Luke Wright. England will take on India on Sunday. From this lose against England Afghanistan knocked out from the ICC World Twenty20 2012. 


McCullum stars as New Zealand win over Bangladesh


2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

Brendon McCullum's brilliant record century leads Nea Zealand beat Bangladesh by 59 runs in ICC World Twenty20 on Friday. McCullum scored 123 runs from 58 balls it consists of 11 fours and seven sixes.

Nasir Hossain made 50 from 39 balls. Bangladesh ended innings with 132 for 8. Tim Southee take 3 for 16 and Kyle Mills 3 for 33 collapse the Bangladesh batting line up.

Scorecard:

Bagladesh won the toss chose to bowl 

New Zealand 191 for 3 in 20 overs

Brendon McCullum 123

Brendon McCullum was the only batsman to score two century in the twenty20 internationals. this is highest individual score by a any batsman in this format of the game. he reached his century in 51 balls, it was the fouth fastest century in T20'S. 
James Franklin 35

Abdur Razzak 2-28

Bangladesh 132 for 8 in 20 overs

Nassir Hossain 50
Tim Southee - 3-16

New Zealand won by 59 runs.

Man of the match - Brendon McCullum

New Zealand will meet pakistan on Sunday. Bangladesh will take on Pakistan on next Tuesday.



South Africa crush Zimbabwe by 10 wickets


South Africa produced a dominant performance to knock Zimbabwe out of the ICC World Twenty20 with a 10 wicket win on Thursday. Zimbabwe crashed out of the tournament after second lose in the event having lost to Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the tournament opening game.

Richard Levi scored 44 ball unbeaten 50 while Hashim Amla remained not out on 32 runs from 33 balls. South Africa chase their target in 12.4 overs.

Jacques Kallis took his carrier best 4-15, Morne Morkel 2-16 guide to restrict Zimbabwe to 93 for 8 in 20 overs. Craig Ervine top scorer of the Zimbabwe with 37 runs. 

Jacques Kallis named as the Player of the Match. South Africa will meet Sri Lanka on Saturday.


Yuvraj, Balaji stars as India beat Afghanistan by 23 runs.


2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

India beat spirited Afghanistan by 23 runs in colombo. L Balaji and Yuvraj Singh took three wickets each as Afghanistan were bowled out for 136 in 19.3 overs.

Balaji got first wicket in the fourth over. The middle order batsman Mohammad Nabi give fight to the India with his 31 from 17 balls. this upset India, Ashwin got Mohammad Nabi wicket and then then the task become too big. Yuvraj took 3-24, and Balaji finished Afghanistan innings with 3 for 19.

Earlier Virat Kohli scored brilliant half century well suported by Yuvraj and Suresh Raina. Kohli made 50 from 39 balls , Dhoni quikfire 18 to post India 159 for 5 in 20 overs.

Virat Kohli now completed hatrick T20 international half centuries. and also he awarded as the Man of the Match.


Shane Watson scripts Australia won by 7 wickets



Shane Watson's 51 and 3 for 26 with the ball helped Australia to a comfortable seven wicket win against Ireland.

While chasing the target of 124, Shane Watson made 51 runs and David Warner scored 26 runs. both of them add 60 runs in the first seven overs. Australia reached target in 15.1 overs.

Watson's 51 consists of five fours and three sixes. Earlier he got 3 for 26 runs including the wickets of Kevin and Niall O'Brien. Australia restricted Ireland to 123 for 7.

At 33 for 4, Kevin O'Brien and Niall O'Brien recoverd Ireland to post decent total on the board, Kevin O'Brien got 35, Niall O'Brien made 20 runs.

Scorecard:

Ireland 123 for 7 in 20 Overs
Kevin O'Brien 35, Shane Watson 3-26, Mitchell Starc 2-20.

Australia 125 for 3 in 15.1 Overs.
Shane Watson 51, David Warner 26

Man of the Match : Shane Watson


Ajantha Mendis Sets up big win for Sri Lanka in a opening Match



Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 82 runs in the opening game of the ICC World Twenty20 in Homantotoa. Jeevan Mendis performs both bat and ball, He scored unbeaten 43 runs and also taking 3 wickets. Ajantha Mendis take 6 for 8, the best bowling figures in the ICC World Twenty20 History.

Zimbabwe won the asked to Sri Lanka bat first, Sri Lanka made a good solid start. Sangakkara and jeevan mendis recoverd the Sri Lankan innings from 82/3. Sangakkara made 44 runs and Jeevan mendis scored unbeaten 43 helped to Sri Lanka 182 for 4 on the board

While chasing Zimbabwe start steadly but Ajantha Mendis came into bowl the wickets are falling into regular intervals. Zimbabwe captain Brendon Taylor out for a first ball. Ajantha Mendis took 6 for 8 and Jeevan Mendis got 3 wickets for 24 runs. Finally Zimbabwe all out for 100 runs.

Sri Lanka 182 for 4 in 20 overs

Zimbabwe 100 allout in 17.3 overs

Ajantha Mendis got Man of the Match Award for his best bowling performance.




Kumar Sangakkara sweeps three major awards

Colombo: Former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara walked away with three awards at the ICC Awards ceremony 2012. He bagged the LG People's Choice Award, ICC Test Cricketer of the Year Award and the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award.
Sangakkara won the LG People's Choice, which was introduced in 2010, for the second year in a row. This award is chosen by cricket fans around the world who vote for their favourite player. Other contenders for the award this year were Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, James Anderson and Vernon Philander.
For the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year Award, Hashim Amla, Vernon Philander and Australia captain Michael Clarke were Sangakkara's competitors but he pipped them to the post. During the performance period, 4 August 2011 and 6 August 2012, he played 14 Tests and in 27 innings and rattled up 1,444 runs at an average of 60.16, including five centuries and five half-centuries. His highest score of 211 came against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in October 2011, while he also scored 199 not out against the same side on home soil in Galle.


Virat Kohli wins ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year 2012 Award

Colombo: India's middle-order batsman Virat Kohli has been named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year 2012 at the LG ICC Awards in Colombo. During the performance period, he played 31 ODIs and compiled 1,733 runs at an average of 66.65, including eight centuries and six half-centuries. His highest score, 183, came against Pakistan in the Asia Cup on 18 March 2012.
The independent voting academy of 32 highly credentialed cricket experts put Kohli first, ahead of such talented and in-form players as Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga as well as Kohli’s India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Kohli said upon receiving the honour said, "I think I have tried to keep things as simple as possible and it's worked for me on the field."
"This year has been a learning curve along the way from the seniors in the team. It's been an all-round effort and I'm very happy to have won this award.
"It's always nice to be recognised by the ICC and it's a great feeling and it's the first time I've won one of these awards and it feels great," he added.



England beat South Africa by 28 runs to square the series

Jos Buttler's quickfire 32 not out provided the platform for England to beat South Africa by 28 runs in the third and final Twenty20 international at Edgbaston on Wednesday. Victory saw World Twenty20 champions England, who head to Sri Lanka on Thursday to defend the title they won in the Caribbean two years ago, square this three-match series at 1-1 with one no result.
Opener Craig Kieswetter made 50 off 32 balls with three sixes and three fours and together with Buttler, whose previous England best was 13, he put on 48 in 14 balls. South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel's third ball of the match was a huge wide that sped past Proteas captain and wicketkeeper AB de Villiers on its way to the fine leg boundary, with 16 runs in all coming off the first over. But South Africa pulled things back in the second over when Parnell bowled recalled opener Michael Lumb middle stump.

South Africa suffered an early setback when the big-hitting Richard Levi was bowled by Tim Bresnan for one. And they lost Faf du Plessis for eight when he became debutant left-arm spinner Danny Briggs's first Twenty20 international wicket, the Hampshire bowler deceiving him in flight as the batsman hit across the line and got a leading edge to mid-off. Briggs took 1 for 16 in two overs. But Hashim Amla, a thorn in England's side throughout this summer, was still there, having hit his 100th four of the season in all formats. After six overs South Africa were 51 for two, needing a further 68 runs from their final five overs for victory. However, Amla fell for 36, off 27 balls with six fours, when he slogged offspinner Graeme Swann to Jonathan Bairstow in the deep.
That left South Africa 53 for 4 off seven overs and in the next over, seamer Jade Dernbach conceded just two runs. From then on, there was no way back for the Proteas.



India lose to New Zealand by one run in a cliffhanger

Chennai: New Zealand pipped India by one run in a thrilling Twenty20 international in Chennai on Tuesday to ruin cancer survivor Yuvraj Singh's return to big-time cricket.
Brendon McCullum smashed 91 off 55 balls as the Kiwis posted 167 for 5 and then restricted the hosts to 166 for 4 despite Virat Kohli's 70 from 41 deliveries and a valiant 34 from Yuvraj.
India were cruising at 120 for 2 in the 14th over when left-arm seamer James Franklin turned the match around by having Kohli caught in the deep. The dismissal put the brakes on the scoring, leaving India needing 13 runs off Franklin's last over.

Franklin bowled Yuvraj with the fourth ball when six more were needed, but new batsman Rohit Sharma could manage only four runs from the last two deliveries.
McCullum led the charge for the Black Caps with 11 boundaries and three sixes before he was bowled by left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan. McCullum added 90 runs for the third wicket with Kane Williamson (28) after the Black Caps had lost openers Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill by the second over.
Taylor and Oram plundered 21 runs in the last two overs, which proved costly for India in the end.




Australia beat Pakistan by 94 runs

Dubai: David Warner's whirlwind half-century, and bowling exploits of Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Starc enabled Australia to defeat Pakistan by 94 runs in the 3rd T20.
David Warner and Shane Watson smashed a century opening stand to propel Australia to 168 for 7 in the third and final Twenty20 match against Pakistan.
Warner hit 59 off 34 balls and Watson scored 47 off 32 deliveries in an electrifying 111-run first wicket stand — the best Australian partnership for any wicket in the shortest format of the game.

Pakistan, already leading 2-0 in the series, stumbled in their run-chase at 36 for 6 before being bowled out for 74 in 19.1 overs.
Pakistan were out of reckoning once the top order crumbled, with seamers Mitchell Starc 3 for 11 and Patrick Cummins 3 for 15 taking the bowling honors. It is Pakistan's heaviest ever defeat in T20s.



South Africa beat England in T20 Opener

Chester-le-Street: Jacques Kallis guided South Africa to a seven-wicket win over World Twenty20 champions England in the first Twenty20 international at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
The Proteas were in trouble at 29 for three, chasing a seemingly modest 119 for victory
But opener Kallis, returning to international duty after being rested from the drawn one-day series between the two countries, made 48 not out of 44 balls with seven fours.
Together with left-hander JP Duminy (47 not out) he shared an unbroken stand of 90 in 91 deliveries as the Proteas, who won with an over to spare, went 1-0 up in a three-match series ahead of this month's World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
The series continues in Manchester on Monday.



Pakistan beat Australia in Super over to take series

Pakistan won the second Twenty20 against Australia in a thrilling Super Over finish at the Dubai Stadium here on Friday, taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
With both tied on 151 runs at the end of 40 fascinating overs in the match, a Super over round was played for the result.
Pakistan paceman Umar Gul restricted Australian batsmen David Warner, Shane Watson and George Bailey to 11-1 before Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq hit the required runs, the winner coming off the last delivery.
The third and last match will be played here on Monday.
Pakistan had made 151-4 with Mohammad Hafeez (45), Nasir Jamshed (45) and Kamran Akmal (43 not out) contributing with the bat.



Ashwin 4th, Ajmal becomes No.1 in ODI rankings

Dubai: Pakistan offspinner  has replaced teammate Mohammad Hafeez as the number-one ranked bowler. Saeed was the highest wicket-taker in the recent ODI series against Australia where he picked 10 wickets at an economy rate of 3.41.
His teammate Hafeez slipped to second position in the bowlers' table but moved up a place to second in the Rankings for allrounders with a career-best rating of 413. South Africa paceman Dale Steyn has re-entered the top 10 in the bowlers' table. He has moved up four places to 10th.
Meanwhile, Indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin has moved up by two places to fourth while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has dropped a place to sixth in batting Rankings.
Ashwin is the only Indian player in the top-20 in the bowlers' list while in the chart for the batsmen, India have two players with Virat Kohli retaining number two spot. South Africa's Hashim Amla, who was the highest run-getter in the series against England with 335 runs, has consolidated his position as the number-one ranked batsman.
Meanwhile, India remained unchanged at number three position in the team list, headed by England and followed by South Africa.



Pakistani spinners wreck Australia in first T20

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept 5, 2012  - - Pakistan's spinners Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Raza Hasan bowled Australia out for just 89 to set up an easy seven-wicket win in the first Twenty20 international here on Wednesday.
Ajmal (2-13), Hasan (2-15) and skipper Hafeez (2-24) shook the Australian batting before left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir (3-13) wrapped up the innings in 19.3 overs. Pakistan then romped home in 14.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
It was an easy win for Pakistan at Dubai Stadium after going down 2-1 in the preceding one-day series.
Shoaib Malik hit the winning boundary, finishing with nine not out while Kamran Akmal finished with an unbeaten 31 with three boundaries and a six.

The victory was never in doubt once Pakistan bowled well. Hafeez (17) and Imran Nazir (22) gave Pakistan a solid start of 30 before losing Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed (10) in quick succession.
Akmal and Malik saw off the target without any discomfort.
The second match will be played here on Friday.
Hafeez was delighted at his team's fightback.
"We stuck to our plans and the bowlers did very well to bowl them out cheaply," said Hafeez. "We were more determined to do well after the disappointment of the one-day series."
Australian captain George Bailey praised Pakistan.

"Certainly they were the better side and when we were bowled out for 89 there was not much for the bowlers," said Bailey. "Hopefully we do well in the next game."
Earlier Australia were let down by poor shot selection against quality spin bowling after they were sent into bat.
Australia hit only three boundaries in the innings with their last coming in the fourth over as Pakistani spinners never allowed them to settle on a turning track, reducing their opponents to their second-lowest Tweny20 total.
Opener David Warner top-scored with 22 off 25 deliveries, hitting two boundaries.

Cameron White (15) and Bailey (14) were the only others to reach double figures.
Paceman Umar Gul dismissed Shane Watson (eight) in the third over while Tanvir accounted for Michael Hussey (one) in the next before Warner and Bailey put on the best stand of the innings, adding 33 for the third wicket.
Pakistan's spinners then came into their own, as the last eight wickets went for a mere 43 runs.
Australia's lowest Twenty20 total of 79 came against England at Southampton in 2005.



Amla, de Villiers help SA to level series

Nottingham: South Africa routed England by seven wickets in their fifth and final one-day international at Trent Bridge, to tie the series 2-2.
South Africa recovered from 14 for 3 to coast with 15.3 overs remaining, after skittling England for 182.
Hashim Amla hit an unbeaten 97, while Proteas captain AB de Villiers made 75 not out. James Anderson had England's best bowling figures with 2 for 41.
"We've been a little bit inconsistent to my liking," De Villiers said. "(But) there are a lot of positives, especially today, the way the boys came back with a lot of character. Under pressure we showed a lot of guts there and that's the thing I would like to hang on going forward."

Earlier, South Africa's Robin Peterson claimed 3 for 37 as the hosts were all out with 4.4 overs to spare.
Captain Alastair Cook made 51, but Chris Woakes and Craig Kieswetter were the next highest scorers, with 33 not out and 33 respectively.
"Clearly 180 on that wicket was nowhere near enough," Cook admitted. "Quite a lot of soft dismissals from everyone really. Pretty much all of us gave our wickets away.
"It's frustrating. We came into this game trying to wrap up the series and you're not going to do that when you bat like that."

The hosts sorely missed Jonathan Trott, who on Wednesday was ruled out for the rest of the domestic season with a broken hand, sustained during Sunday's six-wicket win at Lord's in the fourth ODI.
England won the toss and chose to bat, only to lose two wickets in the space of four balls.
Ian Bell (10) was lbw to Peterson to the final ball of the fourth over, a call he referred in vain and the decision to promote Ravi Bopara to number three in Trott's absence backfired when he fell for a duck, edging Steyn behind in the next over.
Trott's replacement Jonny Bairstow was nearly caught behind off Steyn in the ninth over when he was on 10 but De Villiers just failed to hold a one-handed catch.

Peterson then missed a chance to remove Cook caught and bowled in the 18th when the batsman was on 34. But Bairstow fell for 29 in the next over when he pulled Morne Morkel to Justin Ontong on the square leg boundary.
That ended a stand of 55 for the third wicket and England's hopes of posting a competitive score suffered a serious blow when Eoin Morgan was out for 0, after some inspired captaincy.
De Villiers brought on spinner JP Duminy for the 19th over and moved Hashim Alma in to mid on.

Morgan tried to hit Duminy's fifth ball out of the ground but misjudged his shot and chipped him straight to Amla.
Cook advanced to 50 with a single off Wayne Parnell, only to fall in the next over, the 26th, when he lofted a simple return catch to Faf du Plessis.
That left the usually aggressive Kieswetter to muster as many runs as he could with the tail and he was unsuited to the anchor role. With over 12 overs remaining he skied a Morkel delivery to Amla at mid off.

James Tredwell was beaten in the flight by Peterson and bowled for 6, before James Anderson skied Peterson's next ball to Morkel for a golden duck.
Woakes, in the side because Steven Finn has a back problem, blocked the hat-trick ball but ran out of partners when Jade Dernbach slashed Wayne Parnell behind for 2.
A cluster of early wickets threatened to make things interesting, but England's early momentum vanished and the run chase became one-sided.
Graeme Smith (1) fell to the 10th ball of the innings, slashing Jade Dernbach to James Tredwell, who took a juggling catch at second slip.
Five balls later Du Plessis' poor series continued when he nicked Anderson behind for 3.
In Anderson's next over, the fifth, Dean Elgar was caught behind for 1, but Amla and De Villiers killed the contest with an unbroken stand of 172, a South African record for the fourth wicket against England.
Both batsmen reached 50 with singles off Anderson in the 23rd over and the only alarm came when de Villiers just avoided being run out by Woakes in the 28th.
Amla cover drove Tredwell for the first six of the match and the rout was confirmed when Amla, voted man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series, whipped Dernbach through square leg for four.



3rd ODI: Maxwell guides Australia to series win

Sharjah: Michael Hussey and Glenn Maxwell hit fighting half-centuries to help Australia beat Pakistan by three wickets in the third and final one-day international, taking the three-match series 2-1 on Monday.
Hussey scored 65 for his 39th fifty and Maxwell hit a 38-ball 56 not out to round off a challenging chase of a target of 245 in 47 overs spoiling Pakistan's chances of beating Australia for the first time since 2002.
Opener Mohammad Hafeez topscored with 78 in Pakistan's fighting total of 244 for 7 after they were put into bat. Hussey added an invaluable 51 for the fifth wicket with Matthew Wade (22) after Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal (3 for 37) had threatened to wreck their rival's batting as Australia were struggling at 108 for 4.

Australia won the first match by four wickets here last week before Pakistan levelled the series with a seven wicket win in the second match in Abu Dhabi on Friday. But the 37-year-old Hussey, regarded as one of the best finishers in limited overs cricket, kept his cool during a 72-ball knock. He hit seven fours and a six.
Even when Wade was bowled by Abdur Rehman, Hussey fought hard, adding 67 with Maxwell. When Hussey was bowled by Khan, Australia still needed 19 but Maxwell ensured the chase was successful, hitting four fours and three sixes.
Australia got off to a rapid start with David Hussey putting on 44 by the ninth over with David Warner (21), both taking the attack to the Pakistanis from the outset. David Hussey hit three sixes during his 45-ball knock of 43. But once Ajmal came on the Australian innings faltered as the offspinner dismissed David (Hussey), Michael Clarke (32) and George Bailey in his first five-over spell but Hussey then foiled Ajmal in his second spell.

Pakistan were also sloppy in the field as they dropped four catches and their wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal spurned one stumping. Earlier Hafeez's 97-ball knock -- his first fifty against Australia in eight matches -- helped Pakistan post a challenging total.
Hafeez put on 129 for the opening wicket with Nasir Jamshed (48) and it looked as if Pakistan would post a big total but they were once again derailed by some sustained pace bowling by Mitchell Starc who finished with 4 for 51.

Jamshed, who hit 97 at Abu Dhabi, was again at his fluent best as he hit six boundaries during his 75-ball knock. Once Hafeez fell, trapped leg-before by Clarke in the 33rd over Pakistan were hard pressed for runs. Hafeez hit four boundaries and two sixes.
Starc, who took a career best 5 for 42 in the first match, then came into his own. The lanky left-arm paceman had Asad Shafiq (27) and Umar Akmal (0) in the same over before ending skipper Misbah-ul Haq's short 25 runs innings in the 47th over.
Azhar Ali made 27 not out to give fillip to Pakistan's total. Surprisingly, Australia -- considered weak against spin on the Asian pitches -- have lost only one bilateral limited overs series in the sub-continent and Middle East in 20 years. They lost to India in a three-match series in 2010.
Pakistan and Australia now play three Twenty20 internationals -- all in Dubai -- on September 5, 7 and 10.