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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 ...


Saturday, March 17, 2012

South Africa beat New Zealand by nine wickets


HAMILTON: South Africa beat New Zealand by nine wickets on the third day of the second Test in Hamilton on Saturday.

New Zealand were all out for 168 in their second innings leaving South Africa a 101-run target, which they easily reached in 20 overs and with more than two days to spare.

Kane Williamson top scored in New Zealand's second innings with 77 while Vernon Philander was the most successful of the South African bowlers with 6-44.

After South Africa lost Alviro Petersen in the second over for one, Graeme Smith (55 not out) and Hashim Amla (46 not out) carried the tourists through to the finish at Seddon Park.

They now lead the three-Test series 1-0, after the rain-disrupted first Test ended in a draw.

The final Test starts in Wellington next Friday.

Tendulkar becomes first to score 100 centuries



India's Sachin Tendulkar became the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries during the Asia Cup one-dayer against Bangladesh on Friday.The 38-year-old Indian stroked a single off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan to reach the landmark. He has scored 51 centuries in tests and 49 in one-day internationals.Here are six facts about one of the all-time greatest batsmen and the face of Indian cricket for over two decades.


A teenage prodigy, Tendulkar was born on April 24, 1973 in Mumbai and made his test debut against Pakistan as a curly-haired 16-year-old, becoming the youngest Indian test player. A year later, he hit his maiden test hundred in England.
Tendulkar holds a number of batting records, including the aggregate one-day runs (18,360 at the time of reaching his 100th ton) and centuries (49). He also holds the record for most test hundreds (51).
He had two unsuccessful terms as India captain, the first aged 23 in 1996 before being axed 17 months later after his batting suffered. He was reappointed in 1999 but stood down after a 3-0 test series rout in Australia the following year. * Tendulkar was named player of the 2003 World Cup, scoring a record 673 runs to help India reach the final, where they lost to Australia. The next year, he equalled compatriot Sunil Gavaskar's world record of 34 test hundreds while compiling 248 not out, his highest score, in Australia.
Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997
Surpassed West Indies' Brian Lara as the highest test run-scorer in 2008. Lara had scored 11,953 runs before he retired from international cricket in 2007. Tendulkar has scored 15,470 test runs .
Became the first batsman to score 200 runs in one-day internationals against South Africa in Gwalior, India in Feb 2010. He finished 200 not out off 147 balls with 25 fours and three sixes.
Became the first batsman to score 100 international centuries after stroking a single off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan in an Asia Cup one-dayer against Bangladesh.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka to reach Asia Cup final



DHAKA: Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets on Thursday to virtually book their place in the final of the Asia Cup one-day tournament here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing 189, Pakistan made a disastrous start losing three early wickets for 33 but captain Misbah-ul-Haq and young Umar Akmal came to rescue and steered their team to a comfortable victory in 39.5 overs.

This was Pakistan’s second successive win after a 21-run victory over Bangladesh on March 13. Now, Pakistan will face India in their last league match on March 18.

Both hit half-centuries, 19th for Misbah and 14th for Umar in one-day international cricket.

They were involved in an impressive fourth wicket partnership of 152 runs which was Pakistan’s second century stand for any wicket in this tournament.

Misbah remained not out on 72, scored off 93 balls with a six and nine fours while Umar hammered 77 from 72 balls with two sixes and seven boundaries.

For Sri Lanka, paceman Suranga Lakmal claimed two wickets for 37.

Earlier, the defending champions were bowled out for 188 runs in 45.4 overs after captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and decided to bat first.

Kumar Sangakkara (71) and Upul Tharanga (57) hit half-centuries while only openers Jayawardene (12) and Tillekaratne Dilshan (20) were the only other batsmen to get into double figures.

Paceman Aizaz Cheema was the most successful bowler with four wickets for 43 runs and later won the man-of-the-match award while off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal captured three for 27 and pacer Umar Gul two for 20.

Umar Gul also completed his 150 ODI wickets – the tenth Pakistani bowler to reach this milestone.

Sri Lanka were well-placed at 161-4 following a 96-run fifth wicket stand between former skipper Sangakkara before losing their last six wickets for 27 runs.

Saeed Ajmal started the slide when he bowled Tharanga and then removed Farveez Maharoof and last-man Suranga Lakmal.

Cheema, who conceded 21 runs in his first two overs, came back strongly to dismiss openers Mahela Jayawardene (12) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (20) in quick succession before removing Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga.

The Pakistani bowlers were backed by their fielders, with Younis Khan taking a superb catch to his left in the slips to account for Dinesh Chandimal off Gul.

Sri Lanka raced to 33 in the opening five overs before they were reduced to 65-4, with Cheema taking two wickets and Gul and Hammad Azam one apiece.