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NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Tuesday, May 03, 2011

West Indies finally win with help from rain

Updated at: 0311 PST,  Tuesday, May 03, 2011
BRIDGETOWN: Mohammad Hafeez made a century but West Indies restored some of their battered pride with a rain-affected win in the fourth one-day international (ODI) in Barbados on Monday.Dwayne Bravo struck a six in the final over before a downpour finished off the game, giving Darren Sammy's team victory by one run through the Duckworth-Lewis scoring method.Pakistan lead the five-match series 3-1.It is the first time West Indies have beaten a test side, other than Bangladesh, in an ODI since June 2009.Pakistan compiled 248 for nine in 50 overs, Hafeez smashing seven fours and three sixes as he hit 121 from 138 balls before being bowled by leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.Bishoo was again the top wicket-taking threat for West Indies, snapping up three for 37 in 10 overs.The key partnership for Pakistan was a second-wicket stand of 153 from Hafeez and Asad Shafiq (71)."After the way Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq played on a difficult pitch I think we should have got 270-275. We didn't bat well at the end," said skipper Shahid Afridi.Rain meant West Indies chased a reduced target of 223 from 39 overs and they lost opener Kirk Edwards to the second ball of the innings, caught behind for a duck by Mohammad Salman off Junaid Khan.Lendl Simmons (76) then struck his third half-century of the series and was helped by Darren Bravo (21) and the recalled Ramnaresh Sarwan (28).With Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo at the crease and rain closing in, instructions were given from the pavilion as Afridi bowled what turned out to be the 30th and final over.Bravo pulled a short delivery over mid-wicket for six which put the home side just ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis target and they played back two balls before the heavens opened and a total of 154 for four from 29.5 overs was enough for the win.The series concludes on Thursday in Guyana before the two teams meet in a pair of five-day test matches.

Kochi record easy 7-wkt win over Delhi

Updated at: 1520 PST,  Tuesday, May 03, 2011
DELHI: Kochi Tuskers Kerala posted an easy seven-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils, achieving a 141-run target with five overs to spare for their fourth win in nine games, here in a day-night match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground on Monday.New Zealander Brendon McCullum put Kochi on course for victory with a 19-ball 37, including two sixes and as many fours in seamer Umesh Yadav's over. He also hit South African paceman Morne Morkel for three fours in an over.Parthiv Patel (37 not out) and Australian Brad Hodge (24 not out) completed the victory with an unfinished 52-run stand for the fourth wicket.Venugopal Rao top-scored for Delhi, who suffered their sixth defeat in nine matches.Brief scores:Delhi Daredevils 140-6 in 20 overs (V. Rao 40, T. Brit 27; V. Kumar 2-25, P. Parameswaran 2-29) lost to Kochi Tuskers Kerala 141-3 in 15 overs (B. McCullum 37, P. Patel 37 not out, B. Hodge 24 not out) by seven wickets.

Younis, Gul recalled for WI Test series

LAHORE: Captain Younis Khan and pace bowler Umar Gul have been recalled for the two-Test series against West Indies this month.Younis and Gul were dropped for the one-day series in West Indies after the World Cup.The 15-man Test team was announced here on Monday.Experienced batsman Misbah-ul-Haq will captain Pakistan in the two- Test series. Wicket keeper Mohammad Salman Ahmed was retained in the Test squad after making his international debut in the one-day series.The first Test starts on May 12 in Guyana and the second on May 20 in St Kitts.Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Taufiq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Salman, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz,Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Tanvir Ahmed.