Pathan brothers lead India to victory

COLOMBO: World champions India relied on a late blitzkrieg by Pathan brothers Yusuf and Irfan to snatch a thrilling three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the one-off Twenty20 International on Tuesday. Chasing a stiff target of 172, Irfan (33 not out) and Yusuf (22 not out) scored 59 runs from 25 balls in the tense final moments to steer India home in a pulsating floodlit contest at the Premadasa Stadium.

Suresh Raina (35) and Yuvraj Singh (32) were the other notable performers for the visitors as India capped their brief tour of Sri Lanka with a stunning victory in the Twenty20 game in addition to their 4-1 ODI series triumph.

Earlier, captain Tillakaratne Dilshan led from the front, smashing his maiden half century to guide Sri Lanka to 171 for four after he won the toss and elected to bat. Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya contributed a quickfire 17-ball 33 in the first Twenty20 match between the two sides

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4108601.cms

India targetting higher ranking by year-end: Harendra

CHANDIGARH: The runners-up finish in the Punjab Gold Cup has lifted the morale of the Indian hockey team which will now chase the number six spot from the current 11th in the world rankings by the end of this year, coach in-charge Harendra Singh said on Tuesday.

"After we failed to qualify for the Olympics, the team was low on confidence and morale. Now, after their performance in the Argentina Test series and the Punjab Cup, the confidence level is back and you will see results in upcoming tournaments as well," Harendra said.

He said the team was eyeing the Champions Challenge in Argentina in December which would take them to the number six spot. After that, breaking into top four would be the next target.

"I have set realistic targets for my team. Now, if somebody expects us to be world champions overnight, I think that would be too much," he said.

Harendra said though India lost 1-2 to European Champions Holland in the Punjab Gold Cup on Monday, the result has not been a disappointment at all.

"I think we were equal to the challenge and we delivered. If my team goes down fighting, there is nothing to be disheartened about. Yesterday also though we lost, but I think our hockey won. The Cup has also proved to be a good platform to take our hockey forward," Harendra said.

He, however, said, "it does not mean we will not work on our shortcomings. Of course, there is a lot of scope for further improvement which we will sit back and discuss with the team."

Harendra said India faced a major problem of conceding "soft penalty corners" besides some lapses in the defence, an area where they will need to improve.

Harendra said he has taught his wards to play attacking hockey.

"I cannot think of being defensive. I always tell my team that you have to play for a win and even if the result is not in our favour on some days, we must not surrender without putting up a fight," he said.

Asked why the nation's hockey had lost its glory in recent years, Harendra said, "One of the reasons for the downfall of Indian hockey in recent years is not having international tournaments at home."

"People don't get to see their players in action back home and the support which the national game needs from the crowds is not there," Harendra said.

"We need more events like the Punjab Cup, which was a state government organised event, for which former captain and organising secretary of the tournament, Pargat Singh deserves a lot of credit. Such tournaments and even Test series with different nations should be held in other parts of the country as well for the revival of hockey," he suggested.

"Our hockey needs a collective effort by all to bring back its old glory. I don't think one person like me or for that matter any other individual alone can restore the sport's lost glory," he added.

Harendra said India would be leaving for Australia on February 11 for a two-match series followed by another four-match series in New Zealand from February 19.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_targetting_higher_ranking_by_year-end/articleshow/4105548.cms

Mind your business, Jankovic tells Federer

PARIS: Roger Federer should concentrate on his own career rather than criticising others, Serb Jelena Jankovic said on Tuesday after being irked by the Swiss master's unflattering verdict on her No. 1 world ranking last year.

Last month, former world No. 1 Federer hit out at the way the WTA rankings were calculated, saying a player who has never won a Grand Slam should not be granted the No. 1 spot.

Jankovic reached the top spot in the WTA rankings in August having never won a major. She lost her first Grand Slam final to Serena Williams at last year's US Open.

The Serb has since dropped down to third in the world following a shock fourth-round defeat to France's Marion Bartoli at the Australian Open.

"To be honest, I do not like to talk about players, I really prefer to focus on myself," Jankovic said in an interview at the Paris Open. She said she could not understand why Federer felt the need to hit out at women's tennis while his great rival Rafa Nadal, who took over from the Swiss as world number one, was so "humble".

"Why should he even care? I don't like putting my nose in other's business. I mean, one thing I like about Nadal is that he is such a great champion, he is so humble, always has kind words for everybody, he is a role model for everybody," said Jankovic.

Federer also led the charge against Jankovic's compatriot Novak Djokovic when he quit because of the heat in his Australian Open quarter-final match.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mind_your_business_Jankovic_tells_Federer/articleshow/4108619.cms

Brazil turn on style to beat Italy 2-0

LONDON: Brazil turned on the style to beat world champions Italy 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday thanks to first-half goals by Elano and Robinho.

Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi missed out on a record 32 unbeaten matches in charge as Brazil made light of Kaka's absence to put on a performance which belied their coach Dunga's reputation as a dour tactician.

The defending was not good on either side but the capacity crowd at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium decked in Brazilian and Italian colours were not complaining about the open match.

Elano added to the two goals he scored for Brazil against Argentina at the same stadium in 2006 with a fine opener in the 13th minute after laying the ball back to Robinho and picking up the return pass to slot it past Gianluigi Buffon.

Robinho then had the Brazilian section of the crowd in raptures with a brilliant solo goal.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro's attempted overhead shot was cleared and his opposite number Lucio broke fast downfield before laying the ball off to the right.

Ronaldinho, who mixed silky skills with wayward passing all night, crossed poorly and Italy's Andrea Pirlo appeared to have control of the situation.

But Robinho robbed him of possession and tricked his way past two other defenders before shooting clinically into the far corner.

Italy twice had he ball in the net but were denied first when a high Pirlo ball into the Brazil box was brilliantly volleyed past Julio Cesar from an offside position.

Substitute striker Luca Toni had a second-half effort ruled out after he controlled the ball with his arm under pressure from Lucio and Juan before steering the ball into the net.

Toni might have pulled one back near the end but Julio Cesar blocked his neat close-range flick from a low cross.

Dhoni backs Yuvraj to take up Ganguly’s Test spot

Dhoni backs Yuvraj to take up Ganguly’s Test spot

Colombo, Feb 9: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has little doubts over Yuvraj Singh’s abilities as a Test player and was hopeful that the south paw will carry on his superb form into the longer version of the game during the New Zealand tour. Yuvraj has been an integral part of the India’s ODI and Twenty20 for a long time now but it was only last year when he was recalled into the Test side. The 27-year-old earned his place in the Indian team with some good performances in the limited-over format and Sourav Ganguly’s retirment also played an important role in his selection for the Test matches. “He deserves a place in the Test side,” Dhoni said adding, ''The good thing with him is that if he settles, he puts in a lot of pressure on the opposition. “His bowling is a plus point and he is a brilliant fielder too,” Dhoni pointed. India will begin its tour to New Zealand later this month and is scheduled to play two Twenty20 matches, five ODIs and three Tests. Dhoni admitted that Ganguly’s retirement did open the gates of Test side for Yuvraj and was hopeful that he will make the most out of that opportunity. “Sourav Ganguly’s retirement gives him a good opportunity,” Hopefully, he can cash in on it. “A batsman like him who can come in at number five or six and who can support VVS Laxman will be a big help,” he added. Yuvraj wasn’t amongst the runs the last time India toured Sri Lanka but this time he made the amends, earning the man of the series in India's 4-1 win. Dhoni said Yuvraj was susceptible to spin in the past but he was sure that the left-hander has overcome that problem. “I spent a lot of time in the nets figuring out how to tackle the spinners.” “I haven’t changed too many things in my game. The more you play, the more you learn, so I just backed myself and played to my strengths,” Dhoni said.

Depleted bowling did India in: Dhoni

heir defeat to Sri Lanka in the fifth and final cricket one-dayer, which halted their stupendous nine-match winning run here today.
India had rested its key players such as pacer Zaheer Khan, spinner Pragyan Ojha and batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar but Dhoni said it was crucial to try out youngsters with the series already in their pocket.
"Our bowling was not strong. But it was good to have a go at the guys who had not played. (Ravinder) Jadeja got a chance see what international cricket is all about and how tough it can be sometimes," Dhoni said after 68-run loss which prevented them from making a clean-sweep of the series.

India fail to whitewash Sri Lanka

Colombo, Feb 8: India’s record breaking sequence of nine consecutive ODI triumphs was brought to an end today by Sri Lanka who salvaged some pride with a consolation 68-run win in the fifth and final one-day cricket match of the series which has already been clinched by the visitors.
The defeat mean that India could not make a clean sweep of the series and had to be content with a 4-1 victory margin.
Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan missed a ton by just three runs and Kumar Sangakkara’s hit 84 while spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan regained form just in time to avoid the series whitewash.
Half centuries by Yuvraj Singh (73), debutant Ravindra Jadeja (60 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (53) could not be enough as Indian top order failed to click and the visitors were rolled over with seven balls to spare in chase of Sri Lanka’s challenging 320 for eight on a batting track.
The Indians went into the final match without key players like Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan and spinner Pragyan Ojha with the team management deciding to try out bench strength.
Yuvraj gave some stability to the run chase after his side was reduced to 85 for four inside the 15th over. India, however, struggled again after some time as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals on a day when nothing went right for them.
A cautious Dhoni and Jadeja only tried to delay the inevitable by putting on 55 runs off 66 balls for the seventh wicket. Dhoni’s effort included two massive sixes and a hit to the fence. He reached his 50 with a towering six. Jadeja’s 77-ball knock was aided by four fours.

Sehwag named India's player of the year

NEW DELHI: India's cricket chiefs on Monday named swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag the country's player of the year for 2007-2008.

Sehwag, 30, will receive the Polly Umrigar award, named after a former India captain, at a function organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on February 18.

Sehwag dominated Indian batting since his return to the Test side on the 2007-08 tour of Australia after being overlooked for the away series against Bangladesh and England and the home matches against Pakistan.

In 2008, the opening batsman scored 1,462 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 56.23, including a blistering triple-century against South Africa in Chennai.

Sehwag was also part of India's World Cup-winning Twenty20 squad in South Africa in September, 2007.

Cheteshwar Pujara, a 21-year-old from Saurashtra, was named the best batsman in domestic cricket for scoring 807 runs at an average of 73.36 runs in the country's premier first-class tournament for the Ranji Trophy.

Uttar Pradesh seamer Sudeep Tyagi, who picked up 41 wickets at 21.63 in the Ranji Trophy, was named the best bowler in domestic cricket.

Former Test batsman Gundappa Viswanath will receive the C.K. Nayudu award, named after the legendary India captain, for his lifetime contribution to the game.

The stylish middle-order batsman, who scored a Test century on debut against Australia in 1969, has served as India's chairman of selectors in the past.

India stars Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh, recipients of the country's fourth-highest civilian awards, the Padma Shri, last month, will also receive special awards from the BCCI.

Dhoni led India to victory in the World Twenty20 championships, while Harbhajan surpassed 300 wickets during the home series against Australia last October-November.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sehwag_named_Indias_player_of_the_year/articleshow/4099549.cms

IPL prays for Symonds' axing from Pakistan tour

Brisbane/Mumbai: Indian Premier League Commissioner and Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Lalit Modi has said he would more than pleased to have troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds participate full time in the second edition of the IPL, which is slotted for April-May this year.

Despite the former Test star's off-field controversies, Modi said Symonds would not be blacklisted from competing in the 20-over extravaganza.

"If he is not picked in the Australian team, I would like to see him here for the whole tournament. That would be great," Modi said.

"He would be a wonderful asset. If there was a ban on him by the ICC, that is one thing, but he has not made any derogatory comments or done anything wrong as far as the IPL is concerned. He is a contracted player to the Deccan Chargers and I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to play," Modi added.

Symonds will be almost a million better off if Cricket Australia rules him unfit for the limited-overs series against Pakistan in April.

Even as he embarks on a counselling programme, according to Fox Sports, he stands to profit handsomely if his exile is extended beyond the tour of South Africa.

Any decision by CA to block Symonds will allow him to be available for the duration of the cash-crazy Indian Premier League.

His deal with the Deccan Chargers is valued at 1.47 million dollars and he will pocket every cent if he plays out the six-week tournament.

But if he is cleared to play five one-dayers against Pakistan, Symonds will have only a two-week window to appear in the IPL, slashing his earnings potential to 490,000 dollars.

A five-match stint against Pakistan will earn Symonds 30,600 dollars in match fees - meaning his prospective recall to the national set-up will cost him about 949,400 dollars.

The financial advantages of the IPL have fuelled speculation Symonds could walk away from Australian cricket in favour of an annual six-week cameo in India.

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the governing body would not force Symonds to sit out the IPL if deemed unfit for the Pakistan series.

The enigmatic Queenslander has just over a month to convince CA he is in an appropriate state of mind to return to the Australian fold.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/ipl-prays-for-symonds-axing-from-pakistan-tour/38129-13.html

Lanka return to Pak on Feb 14 for Test series

Karachi: The Sri Lankan cricket team will return to Pakistan for a two-Test series on February 14 after being thrashed 1-4 by India in a one-day series at home.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said the Lankans would play a two-day practice game in Karachi on February 17 and 18 before the first Test starts on February 21.

"The second Test would be held in Lahore from March 1," a board spokesman said.

The Test series is part of a special arrangement between Pakistan and Sri Lanka under which the latter agreed to come here first for a three-ODI series internationals and then for the Tests to fill in the gap created by the cancellation of the Indian team's tour here in January.

Pakistan's new captain Younis Khan is due to meet PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt, the national team management and chief selector Abdul Qadir in Lahore tomorrow to discuss the preparations for the series.

"Younis is adamant over wanting full authority as captain and also wants to discuss reservations of some players over the new central contracts in view of the government decision to not allow Pakistani players to go and play in the Indian Premier League," a source said.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/lanka-return-to-pak-on-feb-14-for-test-series/38137-13.html

Ishant desperate to retain ICC T20 Trophy

Bangalore: Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardena and Indian bowling spearhead Ishant Sharma, who got a taste of the ICC World Twenty20 glory when they launched the trophy in Colombo on Monday, said they would aim to get their hands on it again at Lord’s on 21 June.

"I saw and heard the reception for a winning India team in 2007 and want to be part of that this year. What happened then definitely made me want to be a part of the India team," the young Indian seamer said during the function.

"Everyone saw and heard the reception the players got when they returned to Mumbai. It was a big day for Indian cricket to win a world event after a long time and I want to be a part of that in 2009," Ishant added.

Speaking on the Twenty20 format, Ishant said, bowling in the shortest international form of the game was a test but discipline was the key to success.

"It’s like bowling in a batting powerplay all the time," he said. "It’s not easy for bowlers but it’s all about sticking to plans.

"I toured England in 2007 but didn’t play a lot of cricket then. I have heard about the pitches there being flat but let’s wait and see how they play," he added.

Sharma became an international regular in the months that followed India’s win in the inaugural event in South Africa in 2007, and after seeing and hearing the reaction to that success he said he wanted that winning feeling this time around, an ICC release said.

"It’s a world event, everyone wants to get their hands on the trophy and Sri Lanka would go berserk if we could do it. Anything that involves cricket in Sri Lanka will see the people go crazy for it," Jayawardene said during the same function.

"When we came back home as runners-up from the (ICC Cricket) World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007 it took us three-and-a-half hours to reach Colombo from the airport so I think Sri Lanka would go berserk if we could get hold of this trophy in June," he added.

Jayawardene believed with players and teams now having more experience of the T20 format, the 2009 tournament would offer up even more quality and excitement than was seen in South Africa.

We enjoyed that tournament but in terms of experience hardly anybody had played more than a handful of T20 matches. It was a first and no-one was quite sure how to approach it," he said.

"Now I think everyone realise a lot more about what needs to be done, the tactics involved and so on. It’s a world event, it is gathering momentum and everyone wants to win it. Everyone wants to get their hands on that trophy," he added

"I think it will be a fascinating tournament. Normally anything from 180 to 200 would be a good total but you can’t predict conditions in England in June so 120 to 130 might be a winning score," Jayawardene observed.

"With most of our guys playing in the IPL and then Sri Lanka being invited to take part in the Stanford tournament in England we will have some very good preparations coming into the event. On that basis it will be down to the guys to get focussed and get their individual preparations right," he added.

The trophy is in Colombo at the start of a tour around the cricketing world with the aim of promoting the men’s and women’s events, which take place in England from June 5 to 21.

It will go on display in the Crescat Mall shopping centre in Colombo on Tuesday for two hours from 12 noon to give the Sri Lanka public a chance to get a close look at what will be on offer in four months’ time, the ICC release added.

And the trophy will then form part of the telecast when Sri Lanka and India go head-to-head in a Twenty20 International at the R Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The ICC World Twenty20 2009 sees 12 of the top men’s teams and the top eight women’s teams competing in a best-of-the-best event at four venues – Lord’s, The Oval, Trent Bridge and Taunton (women’s matches only).

Each of the men’s and women’s semi-finals and the finals will be played as double-headers at the same venues offering great value to spectators and great exposure to the women’s game.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/ishant-desperate-to-retain-icc-t20-trophy/38139-13-1.html

England flopped under WI pressure: Flower

Kingston, Jamaica: Coach Andy Flower admitted England buckled under West Indies pressure as they slumped to a humiliating defeat in the first Test where they were skittled out for their third lowest total in history.

England were dismissed for just 51 at Sabina Park to lose by an innings and 23 runs on Saturday with a day and a session to spare.

"I think the bottom line is that the players have to take responsibility for not handling the pressure situation very well and not getting through it," said Flower.

"From this, we can learn that playing international cricket is about dealing with pressure, and batting in the second innings was pressure. What you have to be able to do in international cricket is handle the pressure, and we did not do that on Saturday."

Flower acknowledged this was not the first time that this has happened to England, nor does he believe it would not be the last time.

"Things like this happen in international sport, and it has happened too often to us," he said.

"I do not believe for one moment that the players are not learning anything. I think the contrary is the case, and they are learning.

"But it is not like this is happening every innings, so I do not think you can label the players as totally unable to handle pressure."

Flower acknowledged that his role would be to help the players process what they would have learned from the match and help them come out stronger for it in Antigua where the second Test begins on Friday.

"As a coach, when you are working with players all the time, you are talking cricket, the psychology of cricket, the techniques used - both physical and mental, and you try to have an influence in that way," he said.

"Everyone is very different. It is a very individual thing how you handle pressure and I have got to say that a lot of our guys have delivered under pressure on countless occasions. On Saturday, none of them did."

Flower, however, thinks it's not the time for pointing fingers but a time for serious reflection, and for the players to remind themselves for whom they are playing.

"The guys are very hurt about what happened," he said. "Playing for England or playing for your country is a very proud moment for anyone.

"They are not only playing for themselves or their career or their team, they are playing for their country and the people that have come over to watch them, so to have a performance like this, to subside like this, it's very, very disappointing.

"They are not proud of what happened obviously, people are hurting. The important thing is that we learn something from it and that we become stronger from it," he added.

The second Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua begins on Friday.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/england-flopped-under-wi-pressure-flower/38133-13.html

M S Dhoni best captain in the world: Wadekar

New Delhi: Former captain Ajit Wadekar feels India's current skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the best leader in world cricket at the moment and will enjoy a higher success rate than Sourav Ganguly.

Wadekar, under whose captaincy Indian team won their first series in England and West Indies back in 1971, feels Dhoni will break all records of captaincy.

"The Indian team is lucky to have a captain like him. He is the best captain in the world at the moment. He knows how to get the best out of the team and leads from the front. He is very cool and has tremendous faith on his decisions and squad," Wadekar told PTI in an interview.

The former chief selector said Dhoni will eventually surpass Ganguly as India's most successful captain.

"Definitely Dhoni will become the most successful Indian captain very soon. He will break the record set by Ganguly," he said.

"He does not believe in giving big statments. He is well balanced in dealing with media. He backs young cricketers and never hurt the egos of senior players which is commendable," Wadekar added.

Wadekar said the current has what it takes to clinch the 2011 World Cup to be held in South Asia.

"This team has got a lot of young blood. It has won matches without senior player. In fact, for the first time in the history of Indian cricket we have a balanced team.

It has great pacers and spinners, an equally good batting line up and fielders. I think this team has a chance to win the World Cup," he said.

"We are defeating champions in every format of the game. We have pacers and batters who performed well on every pitch including in Australia. No one should have doubt on the their capabilities now," he added.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/m-s-dhoni-best-captain-in-the-world-wadekar/38140-13.html

Powar powers West to Duleep Trophy

Chennai: Ramesh Powar wrecked South Zone with a 10-wicket match haul as West Zone lifted their 17th Duleep Trophy title after overwhelming the hosts by 274 runs in the five-day final here on Monday.

Chasing an improbable 678 for victory, South Zone ended at 403 for nine after injured tail-ender Vinay Kumar did not come out to bat.

Off-spinner Powar starred with the ball for West Zone and ended with a match haul of 10 for 187, seven of which came in the second innings.

Powar finished the second innings with figures of 7/140.

Resuming at overnight 232 for three, skipper S Badrinath (59) and wicketkeeper Dinesh Kaarthick (75) toiled hard before their dismissal triggered a collapse.

The duo put on 121 runs for the fourth wicket before Badrinath was caught at long on by Powar off the bowling of Rajesh Pawar.

Badrinath, a centurion in the first innings, stroked eight fours during his fighting knock in the second essay. Kaarthick was unfortunate to be dismissed hit wicket off Powar.

While watching the ball go to the 'keeper after shouldering a Powar delivery, Kaarthick dragged his right leg back ending up disturbing the stumps in the process.

Kaarthick hit five fours and three sixes during his stay at the crease.

R Ashwin played a valiant unbeaten 46-run innings -- studded with eight fours -- and combined with M Suresh (28) for a half-century stand but the host team's tail could not offer much support.

Shadab Jakati contributed 22 runs but the match and the title had all but gone to West Zone by then.

Powar scalped five of the six wickets that fell Monday on a crumbling pitch.

For West Zone's Wasim Jaffer, the triumph rounded off a brilliant season as he had led Mumbai to the Ranji Trophy title earlier.

Soruce: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/powar-powers-west-to-duleep-trophy/38141-13.html

Indian ODI squad for NZ tour on Feb 13

Mumbai: The Indian cricket squad for two Twenty20 internationals and five One-Dayers against New Zealand, commencing this month, would be picked on February 13.

"The squad would be selected at the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association's premises in Chennai," Cricket Board sources said on Monday.

The squad for the following three-Test series, scheduled from March 18 to April 7, would be chosen later.

Former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah has been nominated as the team's manager for the first part of the tour.

The team is set to depart for New Zealand from Mumbai in the early hours of February 19 after the BCCI's annual awards function on February 18 evening, the BCCI sources added.

New Zealand tour itinerary:

Feb 20: India arrive in New Zealand
Feb 25: Twenty20 International, Christchurch
Feb 27: Twenty20 International, Wellington
Mar 3: Ist ODI, Napier
Mar 6: 2nd ODI, Wellington
Mar 8: 3rd ODI, Christchurch
Mar 11: 4th ODI, Hamilton
Mar 14: 5th ODI, Auckland
Mar 18-22: 1st Test, Hamilton
Mar 26-30: 2nd Test, Napier
April 37: 3rd Test, Wellington.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/cricket_news/

Giggs fires United back to summit

LONDON: Manchester United hammered out a statement of intent to their title rivals as the champions returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side had arrived in east London in second place after Liverpool's late 3-2 fightback at Portsmouth 24 hours earlier.

But United showed they have no intention of relinquishing their crown as Ryan Giggs' second half goal sent them two points clear of Rafael Benitez's second placed side.

By the time Liverpool are next in action that lead will have extended to five points if United win their game in hand against Fulham on February 18.

The Old Trafford outfit are beginning to have the look of champions again and this was the kind of obdurate display that has become their hallmark this season.

For decades Ferguson has prided himself on producing teams who dazzle with their flair, but this crop of United stars are just as happy to grind out a 1-0 victory as they are to put on a show.

United's defensive excellence in recent weeks has reached record-breaking levels and they chalked up another milestone en route to a 13th consecutive cleansheet and an eighth successive win.

Ferguson's back-four needed to be at their best again as West Ham made a tigerish start.

Nemanja Vidic sent Lucas Neill's cross looping just over his own crossbar and from the resulting corner, Australia defender Neill forced Edwin van der Sar into action for the first time with a low strike.

Carlton Cole had a golden chance early on to show why England coach Fabio Capello, watching from the stands, had called the West Ham forward into his squad for Wednesday's friendly against Spain.

Cole had only van der Sar to beat as he surged onto David Di Michele's pass and held off Rio Ferdinand, but his attempted chip was easily stopped by the United keeper.

After a relatively subdued opening, United began to find some momentum.

Dimitar Berbatov had the ball in West Ham's net midway through the first half when he poked home Paul Scholes' deflected shot, but the United striker's effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

A clever corner to the edge of the penalty area by Giggs caught West Ham flat-footed and when Cristiano Ronaldo nudged Scholes' strike towards the top corner, Robert Green was forced to make a reflex tip over.

As the first half drew to a close van der Sar reached another landmark.

By keeping a cleansheet to that point he established a new British league record of 1,156 minutes without conceding a goal - beating the previous high set by Aberdeen's Bobby Clark in 1970-71.

West Ham's eight-match unbeaten run testified to their own fortitude and they pushed forward at the start of the second half, with Neill drawing a smart save from van der Sar.

But United's array of flicks and feints ensured the Hammers could never be comfortable.

With Ronaldo seemingly content to moan rather than mesmerise it was left to Giggs to break the deadlock in the 61st minute with a classic piece of wing-play.

Giggs relies more on experience than trickery nowadays but the Welsh midfielder showed he still has talent as he cut inside Cole's lunging tackle and swerved past Scott Parker into the penalty area before sending a fierce low shot fizzing past Green.

Gianfranco Zola's side responded well and Cole was unlucky to see a flicked effort deflect wide but, although United were never at their best, the feeling grew by the minute that the visitors' defence would remain unbreached again.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/eplarticleshow/4096245.cms

Depleted bowling did India in: Dhoni

Colombo, Feb 8 (PTI) Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today blamed lack of bowling resources for their defeat to Sri Lanka in the fifth and final cricket one-dayer, which halted their stupendous nine-match winning run here today.

India had rested its key players such as pacer Zaheer Khan, spinner Pragyan Ojha and batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar but Dhoni said it was crucial to try out youngsters with the series already in their pocket.

"Our bowling was not strong. But it was good to have a go at the guys who had not played. (Ravinder) Jadeja got a chance see what international cricket is all about and how tough it can be sometimes," Dhoni said after 68-run loss which prevented them from making a clean-sweep of the series.

"Overall it was good, though we lost (today), we won the series," he added.

The Indian captain dedicated the series win to his teammates, who, he says back each other and enjoy each others success.

"The overall team morale is good. It's important to have good dressing room atmosphere and guys back each other and enjoy each other's success.

"Whenever I needed them they were there, whether I needed a batsman or a bowler (to perform). So I dedicate this win to my teammates. Hopefully, we will continue to win more tournaments," Dhoni said.

Source: PTI

PCB top brass to visit Delhi to discuss 2011 WC preparation

Karachi, Feb 9 (PTI) The Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board will attend a emergency meeting of the 2011 World Cup Central Organising Committee in New Delhi on February 19 to discuss some crucial issues related to the ICC events.

PCB CEO Saleem Altaf confirmed a four-member delegation of the cricket board, including the new Managing Director of the World Cup secretariat in Lahore, would be going to Delhi for the meeting on the invitation of ICC Vice President Sharad Pawar who heads the organising committee.

He said matters related to the World Cup would be discussed at the meeting but sources in the board said this year's Champions Trophy would also come under discussion.

The ICC recently relocated the Champions Trophy from Pakistan due to some teams expressing reservations over playing in Pakistan because of security reasons.

The ICC is due to decide on a new venue for the tournament in April.

"Apparently India is keen that the eight-nation tournament remain in Asia and that is why this emergent meeting has been called from the World Cup platform," one source told PTI.

Source: PTI

Warne capable to guide Rajasthan Royals to another IPL win: Jenner

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Kochi, Feb 7: Shane Warne’s mentor Terry Jenner believes that the legendary leg-spinner is capable to guide Rajasthan Royals to another title in the second season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). "Shane Warne is a good cricketer and has a clever brain as well," Jenner said here today. Jenner is currently the coach of Australian cricket Academy and was here to train 20 young spinners including a girl, at the invitation of Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) "He is very much capable to lead Rajasthan Royals to another title this season," he added. "Warne got the best out from his team member, while he himself bowled only a few overs," Jenner said adding, "Warne is physically fit and he could bowl six leg breaks in an over each with different variation." Pointing out that Australia is going through a bad patch currently, Jenner said possibilities of beating New Zealand in the ongoing Chappell-Hadlee series looks bleak for the World Champions. "Looking at the way Australia played against New Zeland, it looks like they are not going to win the other matches." (Agencies)

ICC’s anti-doping team to visit Pakistan

ICC’s anti-doping team to visit Pakistan
Karachi, Feb 7: A two-member team of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-doping commission will visit Pakistan next week to brief national cricketers and cricket officials about ICC's strict new regulations on the subject. The commission will arrive in Pakistan February 11. It will brief the players and officials about laws of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The commission would hold talks with WADA officials based in Pakistan. According to ICC’s new code of conduct, surprise dope tests could be conducted in any ICC-approved tournament. Pakistan cricket has suffered a lot in recent years because of doping scandals involving a couple of their leading cricketers. The country’s strike bowlers - Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif - tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone during the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 in India. Asif once again tested positive for the same drug while featuring in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) last May. PCB officials say they have tightened anti-doping regulations and hope that such cases will not be repeated. (IANS)