Thursday, February 3, 2011

Rooney at the double as United stay in front

LONDON, Feb 2 (AFP): Wayne Rooney scored twice as Manchester United remained five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a 3-1 win at home to Aston Villa.

For much of last night it looked as if United might extend their lead but second-placed Arsenal came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at the Emirates and so stay in touch with Sir Alex Ferguson’s unbeaten side.

England striker Rooney’s first minute goal – his first in open play in the Premier League in 11 months – gave the hosts the ideal start at Old Trafford.

Rooney controlled United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar’s long goalkick downfield before unleashing a 20-yard dipping shot past Brad Friedel.

The former Everton forward then doubled United’s lead on the stroke of half-time when he turned in Nani’s cross from close range.

“Goals always help strikers but Wayne has got a great appetite to play,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “Everyone should remember that – we know that.

“It’s an inbred thing in the boy, he’s got a great appetite to work and fight and he gets his rewards eventually.

“The aim for us is to keep the momentum going and hopefully that gets us where we want to be.”

Darren Bent, a 24 million pound transfer window capture from Sunderland, gave Villa hope with a 58th minute goal before United defender Nemanja Vidic blasted an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net five minutes later. Louis Saha fired Everton into a 24th minute lead against Arsenal, although the French striker appeared to be several yards offside.

But Arsenal grabbed a 70th minute equaliser through Andrey Arshavin.

And the Gunners completed their revival 15 minutes from time when unmarked defender Laurent Koscielny headed in a Robin van Persie corner.

English champions Chelsea, still 10 points behind United, came from a goal down to win 4-2 at Sunderland.

Blues captain John Terry made it 3-2 on the hour mark before striker Nicolas Anelka, whose place has come under threat follwing Chelsea’s 50 million pound British record signing of former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres on Monday, put the result beyond doubt in the 90th minute.

It took Sunderland a matter of minutes to score the first of four first-half goals, with Phil Bardsley’s swerving shot deceiving Petr Cech.

But Chelsea equalised through Frank Lampard’s 15th minute penalty after Ahmed Elmohamady was ruled to have climbed over Ashley Cole in the box.

And eight minutes later Chelsea were in front when Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon made up Salomon Kalou’s mind by misguidedly rushing off his line.

However, Sunderland were level in the 26th minute when, after Elmohamady was fouled by John Obi Mikel, former Manchester United midfielder Kieran Richardson saw his 20-yard free-kick go under the Chelsea wall.

In Tuesday’s other Premier League match, Wigan remained in the relegation zone after a 2-2 draw away to West Brom.

http://www.assamtribune.com

Pakistan beat NZ, win first series in two years

AUCKLAND: Pakistan won their first one-day series since November 2008 when they beat New Zealand by 41 runs in the fifth game of their six-match series at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday.


The victory, courtesy of Ahmed Shehzad's 115 and a polished bowling performance gave Pakistan an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with only the final match to be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

Pakistan made a below-par 268 for nine, but New Zealand wasted a golden opportunity to level the series with only Martin Guptill (65) and stand-in captain Ross Taylor (69) posting any scores of substance in their 227 all out in 46.5 overs.

The hosts had looked well set to push for victory when Taylor was batting with James Franklin in the 42nd over, but when Taylor, who had survived a confident leg before appeal by Shahid Afridi, was given out in the same over their run chase disappeared.

New Zealand have now lost 14 of their last 15 completed one-day internationals.

Pakistan's innings had been anchored by Shehzad's first one-day international century, which he brought up with a push to square leg after he wandered across his stumps to well outside off to give himself some room.

His century came off 101 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes, and the 19-year-old looked to increase the scoring rate even further once he reached the milestone but was caught in the deep by Franklin off Scott Styris in the 38th over.

The visitors had looked well set to push on to 300-plus on a good pitch with short boundaries and while several batsmen got starts, New Zealand's bowlers varied their pace and length to restrict the scoring in the final few overs.

TOI

Yusuf, Sachin hosts' trump cards in WC'

NEW DELHI: Out-of-favour batsman Robin Uthappa reckons impact player Yusuf Pathan along with Sachin Tendulkar will be India's trump cards in the forthcoming cricket World Cup to be held in the sub-continent from February 19.

The hard-hitting Karnataka opener, who has been out of reckoning since 2008, said Yusuf apart, Sachin Tendulkar's form over the next couple of months will also be crucial to India's fortunes.

"Yusuf Pathan is the biggest surprise package. He can do the talking with both bat and ball," Uthappa said from Visakhapatnam where he is representing South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final.

The 25-year-old Karnataka player said that it would be a tough call between Suresh Raina and Pathan for the number seven spot.

"With Sachin back, it will be a tough call... If he gets a chance, Yusuf can be really devastating down the order," Uthappa, who was bought for a whopping $2.1 million (approx Rs 9.66 crore) by Indian Premier League franchise Sahara Pune Warriors, said.

A vital cog in India's wheel during the team's triumphant campaign in the inaugural edition of the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, Uthappa said the entire country will be behind Tendulkar, who, in all likelihood, would be featuring in his last World Cup.

"No particular role should be assigned to him... Sachin Tendulkar should go there and be like Sachin Tendulkar. We must send all positive energies and give all the support needed. Hope he is able to express himself fully. It will do wonders to the side," he said.

Known for his clean hitting against fast bowlers, Uthappa said, "If all play to strength and potential we can definitely win it. We have the class and recent history in the sub-continent is phenomenal. We are definitely the best bet."

"Pressure definitely will be there. It's a World Cup after all, the competition of highest standard. There is going to be pressure on players. Hype is pretty much normal. We must get used to this. I don't think hype will have any negative impact on the side," he said on the buzz surrounding the event being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"We have a fantastic side, it's a pretty solid batting line-up and the team is shaping up really well. Virat Kohli is in super form and with Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order and Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the middle it's going to be a fantastic line-up," Uthappa said.

"Yusuf down the order is fantastic. We have a variety of spin option and Ravichandran Ashwin and Piyush Chawla will back Harbhajan Singh very well. The selectors should be given credit for picking this balanced line-up."

Uthappa refused to compare Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men with Kapli Dev's 1983 World Cup winning side.

"It's too soon to say it's the best ever Indian one-day side. Let them win the World Cup and only then it would be a fair enough comparison with the class of 1983. Let's just hope and pray that this is the right mix to win us the World Cup," he said.
Uthappa felt South Africa, England, Australia and Sri Lanka will be India's biggest threat in the mega event.

"England are doing pretty well recently. South Africa too are a very good side. Then there are teams like Australia and Sri Lanka who utilise the conditions well. We have to take one match at a time. We have an excellent captain in Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He should do the way he has been doing so far."

The Karnataka player gave credit to coach Gary Kirsten for moulding the side into a fighting unit and helping it reach the pinnacle in Test rankings and the second spot in ODIs.

"I have not played under his coaching but I have always heard good things about him. He has moulded the team well," he said.

TOI