Australian PM congratulates Stosur for US Open win

Canberra, Sep 12 : Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Monday congratulated tennis player Samantha Stosur for claiming the women's crown at the US Open.
The 27-year-old Stosur became the first Australian female to win a Grand Slam in 31 years, when she defeated three-time champion Serena Williams 6-2 6-3 in one hour and 13 minutes in front of 23,000 people on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The previous female Australian winner of the U. S. Open was Margaret Court in 1973.
In a joint statement with Sports Minister Mark Arbib, Gillard said Stosur displayed great skill and poise to overcome obvious nerves to beat the crowd favorite, Xinhua reported.
"She has shown great determination and skill to win the U. S. Open and everyone involved with tennis in Australia will be celebrating with her today," she said in a statement released Monday.
Gillard said Stosur's win would encourage the next generation of Australian tennis players.
"Her win will encourage the next generation of young Australian players to take to the court," she said.
"This is a great achievement and shows the future of Australian tennis is on the rise following other Grand Slam successes earlier this year, with Ashleigh Barty and Luke Saville winning the junior titles at Wimbledon."

Continue Reading... Tags: Australia, Canberra, Julia Gillard, Samantha Stosur

Short-pitched bowling to Raina similar to Superman’s exposure to Kryptonite: Ian Chappell

Sydney, Sep 12: Indian star Suresh Raina is a talented batsman with a fatal flaw that wasn't addressed in his formative years, according to former Australian captain Ian Chappell.
"Raina is a left-hander of the modern generation and has played a role in India's success in the shorter versions of the game, but was also part of the problem in their recent abject failure in the Test series in England," Chappell wrote in an article for espncricinfo. com.
"He can thrash an attack when the field is spread and the bowling restricted, but crowd him and apply the threat of short-pitched bowling and it brings a reaction similar to that of Superman exposed to Kryptonite," he added.
He further said that it is crucial for a batsman with international ambitions to be able to play all the shots.
"What then separates the successful players from those who fade quickly is the knowledge of when to utilize the different weapons in one's armoury. A wise army general doesn't order machine-gun fire when the situation calls for heavy artillery," Chappell wrote.

Continue Reading... Tags: Australia, Cricket, Ian Chappell, Sydney

Nude male rugby team outclassed for first time by clothed women’s one!

London, Sept 12 : Rugby Team Nude Blacks lost for the first time in their nine-years of existence, after being beaten 25-20 by a clothed women's team from Spain.
Keeping up the spirit of the friendly competition, the ladies promised to remove an item of clothing for each try they scored at the exhibition game at Kettle Park, played hours ahead of the match between Argentina and England.
On being asked if they had allowed the visiting Conquistadoras score a few easy tries, Brad Henderson, a 23-year-old student, replied in the affirmative.
"Of course," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.
A modest crowd of about 1,500 gathered at the ground, to watch the all-male team surpassed by the all-female team, which includes a pole dancer, a teacher and a student.
The winners gave no quarter to the "defenceless" opposition, winning 25-20 by playing the match like any other.
"It could have been a distraction but we played the match like any other," Vanessa Pleguezuelos said.

Continue Reading... Tags: London, Rugby, United Kingdom

Football scandal: Warner slams FIFA over recent moves

Port of Spain, Sep 12      Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner has launched another scathing attack on world football's governing body, questioning its decision to charge the 16-member Caribbean Football Union
(CFU) over the cash-for-votes scandal that rocked the sport and led to his ouster.
Warner, who also quit as CONCACAF and CFU president, has also faulted FIFA for terminating a multi-million dollar TV rights deal with the CFU.
Warner was suspended from football activity following allegations that he and FIFA presidential challenger Mohamed bin Hammam had offered financial incentives to CFU members.
"When I resigned from the FIFA of my own volition, it was because I was prepared to pay the ultimate price and become the sacrificial lamb for alleged wrongdoings prior to the FIFA elections," Warner said.
"I was led to believe that that would have been the end of the matter as far as I was concerned."
"Never did I believe that the FIFA would have engaged in such an acrimonious battle with the CFU, an organisation, which for 33 years has served the FIFA well, and had demonstrated its loyalty not only to the FIFA, but its president (Sepp Blatter)," he added.
"Such ignoble pursuit has nothing to do with the cleansing of corruption within the FIFA, but rather to offer the perception of an aura of cleansing within the FIFA.
"In their pursuit, they have devastated the lives of many persons, destroyed many golden friendships which were forged over the years, and sadly affected generations of footballers to come within the region of the Caribbean.
"All this has been perpetuated by the men of the FIFA's gentry who were once viewed as friends of the CFU. This is done in the name of seeking to cleanse the FIFA of all corruption," said Warner.
Warner also railed against FIFA for not investigating CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer.
The American was responsible for providing FIFA with information on cash payments to CFU delegates that allegedly took place at a meeting last July in Trinidad.
"To maintain their whiteness, their whistleblower must never be tainted, and so their (FIFA's) bias, their prejudice and their partiality continue unabated favouring a certain kind of people and damning another," said Warner.
FIFA terminated a 2014 World Cup TV deal with the CFU after discovering the rights had been sub-licensed to a company owned by Warner.
The CFU were told in a letter from FIFA they had not approved the sub-licensing deal with Warner's company, JD International.

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Queen’s Park Ranger owner asks Beckham to lead club

London, Sep. 12 : New Queen's Park Ranger owner Tony Fernandes has reportedly asked David Beckham to lead the club in a bid to join the elite in football. Billionaire Fernandes reckons the ex-England skipper would be the big signing that proves Rangers can compete with the top clubs.
Fernandes is ready to battle with Spurs if Beckham decides to return home from LA Galaxy to boost his chances of leading a British team at next year''s Olympics.
"It will be a massive statement of intent for us if we bring Beckham back in January. We have been led to believe he would like to be at a bigger club but it''s for us to persuade him that we have bigger ambitions and he can be part of that," the Sun quoted Fernandes, as saying.
He added: "Whether that fits in with Neil Warnock and the squad, who knows. "Ultimately, the manager has to decide. I can give him the vision that I''ve got the balls to do it. It may fail but nothing ventured, nothing gained."
SunSport exclusively revealed last week that Becks, 36, is being hunted by Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
But Fernandes, who also owns Air Asia and the Lotus F1 team, added: "Environment, love, care and attention - we can offer that to Beckham.

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Dhoni, Yuvraj, Sehwag and Zaheer named in ICC ODI Team of the Year

London, Sep 12 : Indian cricketers M. S. Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan were today named in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI Team of the Year.
The team, which was chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by West Indian legend Clive Lloyd, was announced at a special function ahead of today's ICC Awards ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.
Six countries are represented in the 12-man line-up and just one player - Dhoni - four years in a row.
The World Cup winning captain keeps wicket and leads the side.
ICC ODI Team of the Year (in batting order): Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh, M. S. Dhoni (wicketkeeper/captain), Graeme Swann, Umar Gul, Dale Steyn, Zaheer Khan and 12th man - Lasith Malinga.
Chairman of the ICC Awards selection panel, Lloyd said: "The ODI team of the year reflects the success of India with four players selected - Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, M. S. Dhoni and Zaheer Khan. Yuvraj was, of course, the player of the tournament and MS Dhoni, the man of the match in the final, whilst fellow finalists Sri Lanka has three players in the side."
Lloyd was joined on the panel by former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas, former England captain Mike Gatting, former New Zealand bowler Danny Morrison and former South African bowler Paul Adams.
The ICC ODI Team of the Year was one of two teams selected by the ICC selection panel along with the Test line-up which was announced last month.

Continue Reading... Tags: Cricket, London, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, United Kingdom, Yuvraj Singh

World champions Blake and James win at Berlin meet

Berlin, Sep 12  World champions Yohan Blake and Kirani James led four young Caribbean athletes with notable victories at the International Stadium Festival meet here Sunday to enhance their growing reputations.

Jamaican Blake and Grenadian James comfortably won their pet events to continue their impressive form, along with the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Jehue Gordon at the IAAF World Challenge meet at the Olympic Stadium.
Blake, the newly-minted World 100 metres champion, ran a personal best of 9.82 seconds for the second time in three days.
He also shattered the previous stadium record of 9.86 secs held jointly by compatriot Asafa Powell (2006) and American sprint legend Maurice Greene (2000).
"There were some very good guys in this field, so it was not easy to win," said Blake. "It is a wonderful feeling to get the win.
"It pushed me to run faster, maybe in the next race. Life changed a bit after the World Championships. The fans are cheering loudly for me, and that is something new for me."
Former World champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis ran a season's best time of 10.01 to finish runner-up ahead of T&T's Richard Thompson (10.08).
James ended his season on a high note, taking the 400 in 45.33. It was his fourth straight victory since the first week in August, when he made his maiden professional appearance.
"I was a little bit tired because of the travelling this week," said Blake. "My goal was just to run, and to put on a great show for the fans.
"I tried to control the race, and wanted to have a good finish. It worked. But the main thing was to put on a great show. I am done for this season. I have to go back to school (University of Alabama in the United States)."
Nery Brenes of Costa Rica finished second in 45.62, and Rondell Bartholomew, another quarter-miler from Grenada, grabbed third in 45.82.
In the women's 100, there was a sweep of the top positions by Caribbean athletes with Baptiste taking command at the mid-point, and running away from the field for a time of 11.15, followed by a string of Jamaicans.
Sherone Simpson was second (11.24), Kerron Stewart third (11.28), and Aleen Bailey, sister of dancehall reggae star Capleton, came in fourth at 11.37.
Promising hurdler Jehue Gordon made up - a little bit - for his disappointing appearance at the World Championships with a sound victory in the 400 hurdles.
In the lead after the first 100 metres, he stretched his lead over the rest of the distance, crossing the line in a season's best time of 48.66.
Trevor Barry of the Bahamas was the only other Caribbean athlete to make it to the podium, clearing 2.30 metres to finish runner-up to American Jesse Williams in the men's high jump.

Continue Reading... Tags: athletes, Berlin, Blake and James win

Wahab Riaz aims to become a genuine all-rounder for Pakistan

Islamabad, Sep 12: Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz reckons that he can be considered as a genuine all-rounder for the national team in the future.
"Definitely. In order to become an all-rounder, I feel I have the ability and can contribute with the bat. At this point though, I still need to focus a little bit more when batting and improve my concentration. I have been working hard to improve," PakPassion. net quoted Riaz, as saying.
"Also, concerning my batting, the coaches at Kent have helped me a lot so when I play for Pakistan next time around, I will be a different batsman," he added.
He further said that Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and former captain Wasim Akram have helped him develop as a fast bowler.
"Waqar has supported me a lot. He's always been very helpful and told me that whatever your basics are, try to bowl in relation to this and other things will come with time. Also, Wasim told me that when my inswinger develops further, I will become a very different bowler to what I am at the moment," Riaz said.
"That's why, I have been working very hard to develop the inswinging delivery and it is coming along. While it will take some time to perfect, I know that once it is perfected I will become a better all round bowler," he added.
When asked which batsman does he rate as the world's best, the 26-year-old said: "It's difficult to single out one batsman. From Australia, I would have to say Ricky Ponting. From India, of course Sachin Tendulkar is a great batsman and then there are also Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. All are great batsmen."

Continue Reading... Tags: Cricket, Islamabad, Pakistan, Wahab Riaz

Top UK Premier League footie ace is ''on cocaine''

London, Sep. 12 : A top Premier League footballer, who tested positive for cocaine, will be revealed tonight.
According to the Sun, he was later sold by his club in a multimillion pound deal, but his new team were not told of the drug test, a TV investigation claims.
The star will be named by BBC's Channel 4 show Dispatches as it focuses on the use of recreational and performance-enhancing drugs in football.
The show claims to have discovered the identities of dozens of footballers who have failed drugs tests for cocaine and cannabis.
Their names have been kept secret by the Football Association and their clubs.
It is also claimed 240 drugs tests had to be abandoned between April 2007 and August 2010 after officials turned up at training grounds to discover the players were not there.

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Stosur''s parents, brothers watch her US Open win from Gold Coast

Sydney, Sep. 12 : The Gold Coast-based family of Australian tennis star Samantha Stosur have expressed their jubilation at her stunning US Open triumph.
Sam''s parents and brothers watched the final on television from their Surfers Paradise high-rise apartment this morning with loud cheers and screams heard from down on the footpath on match point.
Talking to the media afterwards, Stosur''s father Tony said the family was overjoyed.
"We''re so proud of her. Her mum had tears streaming down her face, I think we all did," news. com. au quoted Tony Stosur, as saying.
Both parents spoke to the tennis world''s newest champion over phone moments after the presentation ceremony.
Her former junior coach Nick Watkins was also over the moon at the stunning straight-sets triumph.
"She played a great match. Hopefully she can really kick on and there is no reason why she couldn''t win another three or four slams," he said.

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Samantha Stosur upsets Serena to win US Open

New York, Sep 12 : Australia's Samantha Stosur beat Serena Williams to win the US Open Championship and her first Grand Slam tennis title Sunday.
The 27-year-old Stosur become the first Australian woman in 31 years to capture a major singles championship.
Ninth-seeded Stosur overpowered the 28th-seeded Williams 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 13 minutes.
She is the third women's player to capture her first major this year after China's Li Na took the French Open title and Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic won Wimbledon, Xinhua reported.
"I think I had one of my best days," Stosur said. "This was a dream of mine to be here one day, and I don't really know what to say and how I'm feeling."
Williams, whose previous appearance at the US Open in a 2009 semifinal loss ended with a foot fault and a penalty point when she threatened a lineswoman, had another controversy in store in Sunday's final.
She lost a point, and a service game, in the second set because she yelled "Come on!" before the point was over. She faced a break point on her serve when she slammed a forehand that Stosur barely tipped as it shot past her.
Match umpire Eva Asderaki cited Williams for a verbal hindrance because she shouted before Stosur had a chance to swing at the ball. The point, and first game of the second set, went to Stosur.
Williams had a contentious discussion with chair umpire that included her saying, "If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way."
"I get a code violation for this? I express who I am. We're in America," Williams said later after the awarding ceremony in an on-court interview.
"I hit a winner, but I guess it didn't count," Williams said. "But it wouldn't have mattered in the end."
Talking about what she said to the umpire in the post match conference, Williams said: "I don't even remember what I said. It was just so intense out there. It's the final for me, and I was -- I guess I'll see it on YouTube. I was just in the zone. I think everyone, when they play, they kind of zone out kind of thing. I don't know."
Williams made a brief comeback after the controversy, breaking Stosur's serve in the next game and winning her next two service games to take a 3-2 lead. Stosur, who won the final 12 points of the first set, responded by winning the final four games of the match.
Stosur played 147 games in the first six rounds of the tournament compared with 103 for Williams, and was part of a women's Grand Slam record when she and Maria Kirilenko played a 17-15 tiebreaker, in which Stosur lost, in the fourth round,
Williams, who had not lost a set in the tournament before the final, was the pre-tournament favorite to win her 14th Grand Slam singles title.
The 29-year-old American was playing the US Open for the first time since 2009 and was coming back from two operations on her foot and blood clots in her lungs, returning to the courts in June after more than a year on the sidelines.

Continue Reading... Tags: Australia, Samantha Stosur, Serena Williams, Tennis, United States

American duo Huber-Raymond wins US Open women's

New York, Sep 12 : Fourth-seeded American team of Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond won the US Open Tennis Championship women's doubles title by outlasting defending champions Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova. The American pair beat third-seeded duo of American King and Kazakhstan's Shvedova 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) to lift the title here Sunday.
It's the sixth Grand Slam women's doubles title for 38-year-old Raymond, for whom it was also her third US Open doubles championship. The prevois title came in 2005 when she teamed with austrlian Sam Stosur.
Stosur overpowered Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3 to win the US Open women's singles in a later match, Xinhua reported.
Raymond and Huber saved match point trailing 5-4 in the second set, then got to the third-set tiebreaker.
After winning the point to go ahead 6-2, Huber started celebrating, thinking they had won.
Two points later, they actually did. Huber, who teamed with Nadia Petrova last year, avenged a loss to the King and Shedova team, who won last year's Wimbledon, in the 2010 final.
The winning pair will carve up a prize of $420,000.
Huber and Raymond overcame Slovakia's Daniel Hantuchova and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the final Friday.
King and Shvedova upended the fifth-seeded Russian tandem of Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova, 7-6 (9-7), 2-6, 6-3 in another semifinal.

Continue Reading... Tags: Liezel Huber, Lisa Raymond, New York, Tennis, United States

Oz PM, sports legends hail Stosur’s US Open success

Sydney, Sep 12 : Australian tennis star Samantha Stosur's US Open women's singles title win is being rated as one of the country's greatest sporting achievements.
Stosur became the first Australian woman to win a grand slam singles title in 31 years when she defeated Serena Williams in the final at New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday.
The 27-year-old produced the match of her life to beat Serena 6-2, 6-3, in an hour and 13 minutes.
The win makes Stosur her country's first female Grand Slam champion since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon in 1980 and the first Australian woman to win the US Open women's singles crown since Margaret Court Smith in 1973.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement that the "great achievement shows that the future of Australian tennis is on the rise."
"She has shown great determination and skill to win the US Open and everyone involved with tennis in Australia will be celebrating with her today," the Herald Sun quoted Gillard, as saying.
Goolagong-Cawley said that Stosur's achievement would inspire future generations of Australian female tennis players.
"It's just a wonderful day for women's tennis. It's great for Australian tennis," Goolagong-Cawley said.
Australian tennis coach Roger Rasheed said that Stosur's performance was almost perfect.
"It was about the purest performance that you can have in a Grand Slam and this is about as daunting as it gets. It would have been the biggest occasion of Sam's life, but she came out played as relaxed as she could possibly play, though she probably had butterflies inside," Rasheed said.
"To think she hadn't played on centre court for the whole tournament, that she had played the longest tie-break and the longest match in history leading into this ... it's thoroughly deserved," he added.
Former Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis tweeted: "Amazing performance congrats to Sam Stosur ... so proud of her."
Formula One driver Mark Webber tweeted: "Sam Stosur what a effort!! You can be extremely proud of that one that's for sure.. Really enjoyed the silent crowd!! super!!"
Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath tweeted: "A huge congratulations to Sam Stosur on winning the US Open. That is an incredible effort. Well done Sam :)"
Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne tweeted: "Sam Stosur wins US open - awesome effort, well done!!!"

Continue Reading... Tags: Australia, Samantha Stosur, Sydney, Tennis

Russian ice-hockey plane crash survivor dies in hospital

Moscow, Sep 12   One of the only two survivors of last week's plane crash that wiped out almost an entire ice-hockey team died in hospital Monday, officials said.
"Alexander Galimov died from severe burns in the Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery," a statement said.
"We did everythng possible to save him," burn specialist Andrei Alekseev said.
Alexander Galimov began his career in 2004 and was a member of the silver-medal winning Russian U-20 team at the 2005 World Junior Ice-Hockey Championships. He also played for the senior national team. He was 26.
Galimov, who had suffered 90 percent burns, was sent to Moscow Institute of Surgery Thursday together with another survivor, crew member Alexander Sizov.
Sizov was moved from intensive care to a ward on Monday and his life is now out of danger, hospital officials said.
Police eyewitnesses said that Galimov had walked away from the wreckage of the plane.
Forty-five people died Wednesday afternoon when a plane carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice-hockey team crashed during take-off near Yaroslavl, some 300 kilometers from Moscow.

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Rain halts Australian juggernaut on day 3 of Kandy Test against Lanka

Kandy, Sep 10 : Australian batsmen Michael Hussey and Shaun Marsh slammed centuries to consolidate their team’s position before rain halted the second Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy today.
Hussey (142) and Marsh (141), who began the day at 264-3, shared a match-defining fourth-wicket partnership of 258 before part-time spinner Thilan Samaraweera dismissed Hussey 10 minutes before lunch.
Their partnership was the highest ever against Sri Lanka for the fourth wicket, surpassing the 256 by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly for India in Mumbai in 1997.
The pair had joined forces on Friday morning when Sri Lanka grabbed three quick wickets to reduce Australia to 116-3 in reply to its own 174, ABC News reports.
Australia were 411-7, a lead of 237 runs with three wickets remaining, when rain stopped play during the second session on day three.
Usman Khawaja was batting on 13 with tailender Ryan Harris on nine.

Continue Reading... Tags: Cricket, Kandy, Michael Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Sri Lanka

England clinch ODI series against India as well

London, Sep 12 - Rain robbed India a chance to end their losing streak as the fourth One-day International against England ended in a tie via the Duckworth Lewis Method at the Lord's here Sunday. England clinched the series with still a match left.
Suresh Raina (84) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (78) shared a blistering 169-run partnership to propel India to 280 for five and the tourists seemed set to secure their first win over England, having suffered a whitewash in the Test series.
But Ravi Bopara guided England to the brink of victory with his career best 96. Both Bopara and Raina were jointly adjudged as the Man of the Match.
The match was evenly balanced when rains interrupted for the third time with England at 270 for eight in 48.5 overs chasing a target of 281. But with the rain, the Duckworth/Lewis method came into play and India were unlucky.
Both teams wasted time in the final few overs that saw sides in pole position at different points. Going into the penultimate over, England were ahead of the required rate but Graeme Swann (31) was run out by Munaf Patel and then the bowler had Bopara caught on the boundary to ensure the match was tied.
Having set a challenging target for England, the visitors started on a good note with Rudra Pratap Singh dismissing the openers Alastair Cook and Craig Kieswetter for identical 12s. Praveen Kumar then trapped Jonathan Trott for
23 as England were reduced to 61 for three.
Bopara and Ian Bell (57) then added 98 runs for the fourth wicket to bail out England. But Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin then struck in quick successions to get rid of Bell and Ben Stokes (7) as England again slumped to 173 for five.
But Bopara was involved in two crucial partnerships with Tim Bresnan (27) and Swann to take England to the threshold of a win. With Bresnan, Bopara added 47 runs and with Swann 50 that nearly pulled England through.
Earlier, Raina smashed 84 runs off 75 balls while Dhoni struck 78 off 71 balls for his second consecutive fifty of the series. The two got together when India were struggling at 110 for four at the half-way stage but their brutal assault on the England bowlers in the last 13 overs produced 130 runs and took their side to a formidable total.
The visitors, put into bat, were off to a solid start with Ajinkya Rahane (38) and Parthiv Patel (27) being made to work hard for every run.
Both of them fell to Stuart Broad (2-52) while trying to push the scoring rate. Rahul Dravid (19) and Virat Kohli (16) took the mantle from 70 for two and batted sensibly before Grame Swann (2-49) removed them in his first over to turn the match in England's favour.
With India being 110 for four in 26 overs, Dhoni and his deputy Raina were left with the job of resurrecting the innings. England were able to sustain the momentum as India could only score 30 runs in the next 10 overs.
But Dhoni and Raina stepped on the gas there after, using the extra pace of the English bowlers for a flurry of boundaries and sixes.
Raina completed his half-century by hitting a James Anderson delivery for a massive six over square-leg. Dhoni's good form in the series continued as he smacked three sixes and six fours in his 71-ball innings. (IANS)

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Tie was a fair result: Cook

London, Sep 12 - England captain Alastair Cook said that the tie was a fair result in the rain-affected fourth One-day International against India at the Lord's here Sunday.
The match was evenly poised when rain interrupted for the third time with England needing 11 runs to win off seven balls with two wickets in hand. But with the rain falling the Duckworth/Lewis method came into play and India were unlucky. England clinched the series with still a match left.
"It was touch and go towards the end, we ended up batting for D/L, being more defensive knocking off the singles, not sure when the rain was coming. Tie was a fair result," said Cook.
The England captain was all praise for Ravi Bopara, who hit a career best 96 and took his team to the threshold of a win. Bopara was jointly adjudged as Man of the Match with Suresh Raina.
"Great to see Bopara delivering on the big stage to get us a tie. We tried everything earlier but that partnership (between Dhoni and Raina) was fantastic. If we had kept them to 250, we could have got there comfortably. Possibly we missed (Jade) Dernbach. We will know on Stuart Broad in 48 hours," he said.
Bopara said it was not the ideal way to clinch the series.
"With the rain around, we did not know when to accelerate. Should I knock it for ones and twos, or go for the big shots, once (Graeme) Swann got out I thought we should really go for it towards the close. Last couple of games have been nice for me, long way to go ahead," he said. (IANS)

Continue Reading... Tags: Alastair Cook, Cricket, London

Stosur breaks Australia’s grand slam title drought by winning US Open

New York, Sep 12: Samantha Stosur has become the first Australian woman to win a grand slam singles title in 31 years after pulling off a stunning upset over Serena Williams in the US Open final.
Stosur produced the match of her life to beat Serena 6-2, 6-3, in an hour and 13 minutes at New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The win makes Stosur her country's first female Grand Slam champion since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon in 1980 and the first Australian woman to win the US Open women's singles crown since Margaret Court Smith in 1973.
Lleyton Hewitt, who won the Wimbledon in 2002, was the last Australian to win a grand slam title.
"Ever since I started playing ... this was a dream of mine to be here one day," Fox Sports quoted Stosur, as saying after the match.
"I don't really know what to say," she added. (ANI)

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‘Cash-strapped’ PCB opts against using UDRS in Test series against Sri Lanka, England

Islamabad, Sep 12: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided against using the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in the Test series against Sri Lanka and England, which will be played in the United Arab Emirates.
The technology will, however, be in place for the ODI and Twenty20 matches.
PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said that the technology would not be used due to the high costs of having it installed.
"We in principle support the use of the UDRS and want it for both Tests and ODIs, but unfortunately we couldn't reach an understanding with our broadcasters for the Tests (in the United Arab Emirates)," the Daily Times quoted Ahmad, as saying.
"We have, however, reached a understanding with a company to bear the costs for the use of the technology in the one-day matches in both series," he added.
Pakistan will play three Tests, five ODIs and Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka in October and November, and three Tests, four ODIs and two Twenty20 matches against England in January and February next year.
Ahmad further insists that the board would include the use of the UDRS when it signs a fresh contract with the broadcaster.
"When we sign our next contract for broadcasting rights we will try to ensure the broadcaster is willing to bear the costs of using the UDRS system in our series, including Tests and ODIs," he said. (ANI)

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US Open: USTA to rule on Serena Williams outburst

New York, Sep. 12: American tennis star Serena Williams will discover on Monday whether she faces further punishment for an angry tirade at umpire Eva Asderaki in the US Open final.
Australia's Samantha Stosur won the match 6-2 6-3 after Williams was given a code violation for verbally abusing the Greek official.
Tournament referee Brian Earley must now decide whether to fine the 13-time Grand Slam champion.
Williams, 29, has been serving a two-year Grand Slam probation for an outburst at the US Open in 2009.
According to the BBC, umpire Eva Asderaki made a brave call - completely within her rights - to penalise Serena for hindrance and didn''t deserve the hurl of abuse.
"Any impact this code violation might have on Serena Williams'' Grand Slam probation would require the incident being ruled a major event," said a statement from the United States Tennis Association. (ANI)

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Pak cricket team likely to tour Bangladesh in December

Islamabad, Sep 12: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly agreed to tour Bangladesh for a full series in December.
According to the Daily Times, the PCB has approved a tentative itinerary sent by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for the series, which will include two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 match.
"Pakistan has not played Bangladesh in a bilateral series since early 2008 as it believed that the Bangladesh board had let it down on many occasions, especially by not supporting Pakistan when the World Cup matches were moved out of the country. But now things seem to have settled down," the newspaper quoted a source, as saying. (ANI)

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