Singer Lana Del Rey storms UK charts

LONDON: American singer Lana Del Rey shot straight to the top of the UK album charts on Sunday with her debut release, the Official Charts Company said.

The 25-year-old, whose real name is Elizabeth Grant, entered in top spot with “Born To Die”, ahead of veteran Canadian singer and poet Leonard Cohen, another new entry, who was in second with “Old Ideas”, his first studio album in eight years.

Last week’s number one “+” by Ed Sheeran dropped to third, with English singer Adele’s “21″ falling a place to fourth and “Mylo Xyloto” by British rock group Coldplay falling to fifth.

In the singles chart, French DJ David Guetta and Australian singer Sia climbed from second to claim the number one spot with “Titanium”.

Teenage Canadian singer Alyssa Reid was new in second with “Alone Again”, while “Somebody That I Used To Know” by singer-songwriter Gotye featuring Kimba climbed to third place.

English singer-songwriter Jessie J’s “Domino” dropped one place to fourth, American rapper Flo Rida was unchanged at number five with “Wild Ones” while last week’s chart-topper “Twilight” from Barbados pop group Cover Drive was in sixth. AGENCIES

Paul Collingwood retires from Test cricket

England batsman Paul Collingwood said on Thursday that he will retire from Test cricket after the final Sydney Ashes Test against Australia.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said Collingwood, 34, would remain as England’s Twenty20 captain and play for England’s one-day team. Collingwood’s announcement comes in the midst of a poor Ashes series, scoring just 83 runs from six innings at the number five batting position. Collingwood’s announcement comes in the midst of a poor Ashes series, scoring just 83 runs from six innings at the number five batting position. Representing England at Test level has always been a dream of mine and I’ve been fortunate enough to have enjoyed some amazing highs throughout my Test career, Collingwood said in a statement. I am proud of the fact that I have always given my all for the England Test team, he added. Collingwood made his Test debut in 2003 against Sri Lanka at Galle and has earned 68 caps. The Durham right-hander has scored 4,259 runs in Tests at 40.95 and taken 17 wickets. England retained the Ashes after beating Australia in last week’s fourth Melbourne Test and is on top in the current final Sydney Test, set to become the first England team to win a series in Australia for 24 years. Collingwood led England to their first-ever success in a global tournament when his team defeated Australia by seven wickets in the World Twenty20 final in Barbados last May.

Tiger Woods, Wife officially Divorced

Tiger Woods and Swedish model wife Elin Nordegren divorced on Monday, their marriage irretrievably broken by a blistering sex scandal that has left the world number one golfers life in disarray.

Woods, 34, and Nordegren, 30, issued an amicable joint statement, saying they were sad to be ending their six-year marriage, wishing each other the best and promising to work together for their childrens happiness. We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future, it said. While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance to both of us.In Nordegrens petition for divorce, filed at the beginning of July, she claimed the marriage was irretrievably broken and asked for her maiden name to be restored.

Woods and Nordegren attended Mondays execution of the divorce at a court in Panama City, Florida, where they agreed to share parenting of their children. Both had attended the obligatory parenting classes, the court documents showed. Woods wed Nordegren, a former model, in October 2004 in Barbados and the couple have a three-year-old daughter, Sam, and a 19-month-old son, Charlie.Once we came to the decision that our marriage was at an end, the primary focus of our amicable discussions has been to ensure their future well-being, their joint statement said.The weeks and months ahead will not be easy for them as we adjust to a new family situation, which is why our privacy must be a principal concern.Nordegrens lawyer, contacted by AFP, could provide no information about the terms of her divorce settlement, valued in media reports at anywhere between 100 million and 500 million dollars.Woodss spectacular fall from grace began on November 27 last year when he crashed his car into a tree and a fire hydrant near his Orlando home.The incident touched off a massive sex scandal, leading to his admission of adultery and subsequent decision to put his golf career on hold while he tried to rescue his marriage.It may not be possible to repair the damage Ive done, but I want to do my best to try, Woods wrote on his website. I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children.Long seen as an ambassador for a new generation of golfers, Woodss previous clean-cut image had earned him record sponsorship deals and a place in the select pantheon of globally-known sports stars.According to Forbes business magazine, he was the first athlete to have broken through the billion dollars earnings mark.That image was decimated in the weeks after the car crash as a string of women, including a porn star, a cocktail waitress and a Las Vegas club manager were romantically linked to the sporting superstar. Later, Woods apologized publicly to Nordegren for igniting the tabloid frenzy in which more than a dozen women claimed affairs, saying he had been living a lie and admitting to doing some ugly things.In what was widely seen as a bid to save his marriage, Woods was treated for sex addiction at a clinic in Mississippi before making his highly anticipated comeback at the US Masters in March.Returning at the Augusta National a comfortable setting where he has captured four titles, his first in 1997 being the first major crown won by a black golfer Woods finished a respectable fourth.Since then, however, a string of performances ranging from mediocre to poor have seen many question whether the 14-time major winner is capable of recapturing the form that saw him dominate the game for a decade.A disappointing tie for 28th earlier this month at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wisconsin came just one week after the worst performance of his career when he finished second to last at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.Nine months after the sex scandal first broke, Woods enters this weeks opening event of the US PGA Tour season-ending playoffs without a win this year.Stripped of his invincible aura, he ranks only 108th in the points race and could at any moment lose his number one ranking.Without a good finish at The Barclays starting on Thursday in New Jersey, it could be his final outing of the season, as only the top 100 qualify for the next event.US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin is yet to say if Woods will be one of his four wild-card picks for the Ryder Cup the biennial tournament against the best European golfers contested this October at the Celtic Manor in Wales.

WC soccer Octopus receives death threats

JOHANNESBURG: He was once the most popular sea-creature in Germany. But since that nation”s loss yesterday, a psychic octopus has received death threats from angry soccer fans.

Paul, or as he”s referred to in Germany, Das Krakenorakel, has incurred the wrath of a nation by correctly predicting that Spain would defeat Germany in the World Cup semi-final.

Octopus handler Daniel Fey reports that: “People send us recipes in threats.” And German newspapers report angry crowds converging in Berlin after the game, chanting anti-octopus songs.

How they came to know the lyrics to any anti-octopus songs is not immediately clear. But, according to a spokeswoman for Sea Life Aquariums, Paul”s home, “he has very good people looking after him”. Fey adds, “He”s definitely safe.”

Paul is as beloved in Spain as he is reviled in Germany. “Pulpo Paul”, Spanish for Paul the Octopus, is a Twitter trending topic. And at least one restaurant in Spain has removed octopus from its menu, in honor of the prognosticating sea critter.

He”ll next be called into action to predict a winner of Saturday”s runner-up match between Germany and Uruguay, then the final between the Netherlands and Spain.

England beat Bangladesh by 6 wkts in 1st ODI

NOTTINGHAM: Ian Bell marked his return to England”s one-day side with an unbeaten 84 as they defeated Bangladesh by six wickets in the first of a three-match series at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Bell, recalled in the absence of injured Kevin Pietersen, faced 101 balls with six fours as England, chasing 251 to win, finished on 251 for four with 29 balls to spare in this day/night fixture.

Defeat left Bangladesh still searching for their first win against England, who have now beaten the Tigers in 20 matches all told, a sequence comprising eight Test victories and 12 one-day international successes.

This was Bell”s first ODI since facing India in Bangalore in November 2008.

However, he”d restated his one-day case with a limited overs best 158 for the second string England Lions in their tied triangular series match against India A on Tuesday.

This was a much less spectacular innings but one England needed after they lost two wickets in quick succession to be 93 for two.

Earlier, Bangladesh”s Raqibul Hasan marked his return to international duty with 76 in a total of 250 for nine after Tigers captain Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss.

Raqibul hadn”t played for his country since an ODI against New Zealand in Napier in February after quitting in protest at being left out of Bangladesh”s 30-man preliminary squad for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

England made a rapid start to their reply thanks to a first wicket-stand of 75 between captain Andrew Strauss, whose 37-ball fifty featured seven boundaries, and Craig Kieswetter.

Strauss has opted out of Twenty20 – in which Kieswetter won the man of the match award for his 63 in England”s World Twenty20 final win over Australia in Barbados in May – because he believes his game is not suited to the format.

But there was no lack of aggression from the left-hander as he lofted Shafiul Islam over extra-cover.

However, in the 12th over and having just reached his fifty, Strauss was needlessly run out.

Kieswetter pushed spinner Abdur Razzak into the covers and Strauss called him through for a single. But Strauss, who didn”t dive, failed by a fraction to beat Mahmudullah”s direct hit from cover.

Then Kieswetter, who”d launched Razzak for six, fell for 32 when he top-edged a slog-sweep off Shakib Al Hasan, another of Bangladesh”s spinners, and Faisal Hossain took a well-judged catch on the boundary.

Paul Collingwood and Bell stopped the rot with a partnership of 80, albeit in 100 balls.

Collingwood was out for 33 when a top-edged sweep off Shakib was caught by stand-in wicketkeeper Junaid Siddique, deputising after Mushifqur Rahim was hit in the face by a Faisal delivery.

But Bell, using his feet well against the spinners, saw England to victory with his 16th fifty in 80 ODIs.

Tamim Iqbal, who made hundreds in both of England”s two recent Test wins over the Tigers, got Bangladesh off to a blistering start as he slammed fours off the first two balls of the innings from James Anderson.

But their run-rate was checked when Tamim, trying to guide a straight ball from first change Stuart Broad to third man, was lbw for 28 to leave Bangladesh 40 for one.

Siddique and Raqibul frustrated England and it needed the introduction of left-arm spinner Michael Yardy, the seventh bowler used, to break the third-wicket stand when he had Siddique lbw for 51.

The series continues at Bristol on Saturday.

South Africa vs West Indies 3rd Test Match Full Scoreboard

South Africa vs West Indies 3rd Test played at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on 26-30 June 2010. West Indies won the toss and choose to bat. West Indies 1st innings made 231/10 in 73.5 overs with Dwayne Bravo played good innings, he made 61 runs. South Africa 1st innings made 346/10 in 134.4 overs. West Indies 2nd innings made only 161 runs in 65.1 overs. In 2nd innings South Africa chase target 49/3 in 8.4 overs very easily. South Africa win the match by 7 wickets. South Africa won the Test series by 2-0. Man of the match : Johan Botha and Man of the Series : Dale Steyn.

South Africa vs West Indies 3rd Test Full Scoreboard

West Indies 1st Innings
Chris Gayle (c) b D Steyn 20(19b,3/4)
Dale Richards lbw b M Morkel 0(1b)
Narsingh Deonarine b J Botha 46(106b,7/4)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul c J Kallis b J Botha 22(63b,1/6)
Brendan Nash lbw b J Botha 2(6b)
Dwayne Bravo c G Smith b D Steyn 61(104b,4/4,1/6)
Denesh Ramdin (wk) c D Steyn b J Kallis 27(71b,4/4)
Shane Shillingford c J Botha b J Kallis 0(4b)
Sulieman Benn c H Amla b J Botha 24(36b,2/4,2/6)
Kemar Roach c M Boucher b D Steyn 2(13b)
Brandon Jeremy Bess not out 11(11b,1/4,1/6)
Extras: (b 4, lb 7, w 5) 16
Total: (10 wkts, 73.5 ovs) 231

South Africa Bowling
Dale Steyn 13 3 37 3
Morne Morkel 10 2 48 1
Jacques Kallis 12 1 36 2
Johan Botha 19.5 2 56 4
Paul Harris 19 3 43 0

South Africa 1st Innings
Graeme Smith (c) c D Richards b S Benn 70(115b,9/4)
Alviro Petersen c S Chanderpaul b K Roach 1(6b)
Hashim Amla c B Nash b S Benn 5(24b)
Paul Harris c C Gayle b B Bess 11(30b,2/4)
Jacques Kallis b S Benn 43(86b,4/4)
AB de Villiers c D Ramdin b S Benn 73(189b,6/4)
Ashwell Prince not out 78(262b,5/4)
Mark Boucher (wk) run out (B Bess/D Ramdin) 17(56b,2/4)
Johan Botha lbw b S Benn 9(26b,1/4)
Dale Steyn b K Roach 4(10b,1/4)
Morne Morkel c D Bravo b S Benn 9(12b,2/4)
Extras: (b 5, lb 6, w 7, nb 26
Total: (10 wkts, 134.4 ovs) 346

West Indies Bowling
Kemar Roach 25 7 59 2
Brandon Jeremy Bess 9 0 65 1
Shane Shillingford 25 2 85 0
Sulieman Benn 46.4 13 81 6
Dwayne Bravo 27 12 43 0
Chris Gayle 2 20001.0

West Indies 2nd Innings
Chris Gayle (c) c M Boucher b D Steyn 10(23b,2/4)
Dale Richards c A Petersen b D Steyn 17(13b,4/4)
Narsingh Deonarine c A Prince b D Steyn 0(1b)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul not out 71(179b,7/4,1/6)
Brendan Nash c J Kallis b J Botha 12(51b)
Dwayne Bravo b P Harris 2(12b)
Denesh Ramdin (wk) c M Boucher b J Botha 1(5b)
Shane Shillingford lbw b J Botha 25(77b,2/4,1/4)
Sulieman Benn b M Morkel 9(19b,2/4)
Kemar Roach c M Boucher b M Morkel 8(13b,2/4)
Brandon Jeremy Bess c J Kallis b M Morkel 0(1b)
Extras: (b 1, lb 1, w 1, nb 3) 6
Total: (10 wkts, 65.1 ovs) 161

South Africa Bowling
Dale Steyn 11 4 36 3
Morne Morkel 14.1 5 33 3
Paul Harris 16 3 34 1
Johan Botha 20 6 46 3
Jacques Kallis 4 0 10 0

South Africa 2nd Innings
Graeme Smith (c) c S Chanderpaul b K Roach 10(8b,1/4)
Alviro Petersen b K Roach 6(9b,1/4)
Hashim Amla c S Benn b K Roach 25(20b,3/4)
Jacques Kallis not out 0(15b)
AB de Villiers not out 4(1b,1/4)
Extras: (w 2, nb 2) 4
Total: (3 wkts, 8.4 ovs) 49

West Indies Bowling
Kemar Roach 4.4 1 22 3
Brandon Jeremy Bess 4 0 27 0

England edge thriller to seal Australia series

MANCHESTER: England survived a dramatic collapse to beat Australia by one wicket in the third one-day international at Old Trafford here on Sunday and so take an unbeateable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

England, set 213 to win, after off-spinner and man-of-the-match Graeme Swann took four wickets 37 runs, were cruising to victory at 185 for three.

But they lost six wickets for 18 runs in 39 balls as they slumped to 203 for nine.

One of the men out was England captain Andrew Strauss, who made his best ODI score against Australia of 87.

But Tim Bresnan (14 not out) held his nerve and, with four needed off the last over, edged James Hopes to the boundary as England, who finished on 214 for nine, won with five balls to spare.

Strauss was caught behind off Ryan Harris before left-arm quick Doug Bollinger (three for 20 in 10 overs) and fast bowler Shaun Tait, playing his first ODI since February last year, ran through the tail.

England”s victory ended world champions Australia”s run of seven straight one-day series and tournament wins following their 3-2 loss in South Africa last year.

It also meant Ashes holders England, who beat the Aussies in last month”s World Twenty20 final in Barbados, had completed a ”treble” of victories in all three international formats against Australia.

Australia were without injured fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.

But it was a top-order lacking only wicketkeeper/batsman Brad Haddin that failed, as did captain Ricky Ponting, who was stumped for three.

Swann did most of the damage and pace bowler James Anderson, on his Lancashire home ground, polished off the tail on his way to three for 22 off eight as Australia were bowled out for 212 with four overs to spare.

Shane Watson top-scored for Australia with 61 while Tim Paine, Haddin”s replacement, made a brisk 44.

Australia were given fresh hope when Tait, called up in place of injured off-spinner Nathan Hauritz on Friday, produced a brilliant 95mph yorker with only his fourth ball to bowl Craig Kieswetter middle stump for nought.

Strauss, on 23, then survived a huge lbw shout from part-time left-arm spinner Michael Clarke. English umpire Ian Gould was unmoved although replays suggested the ball would have hit the stumps.

But Australia did have a second wicket to celebrate when Tait held a sharp return catch to dismiss Kevin Pietersen for 25 on the South Africa-born batsman”s 30th birthday.

Left-hander Strauss shared stands of 76 with Paul Collingwood (40) and 57 with Eoin Morgan (27) before he fell having faced 121 balls with eight fours.

Strauss fielded first after England had twice won chasing in four-wicket victories at the Rose Bowl and Cardiff earlier this week.

Paine was severe on Bresnan, taking 18 off one over from the Yorkshire seamer.

But a first-wicket stand worth 75 ended in the 14th over as Yardy, with his third ball, had Paine, playing back, plumb lbw.

Ponting”s best score in four previous innings this tour was 33, against Ireland. Here his 16-ball struggle ended when, going down the pitch, he was beaten legside by Swann and wicketkeeper Kieswetter completed a neat stumping.

Watson went on to a 54-ball fifty but gave his wicket away when top-edging a flick off Swann to square leg where Strauss held the easy catch.

Anderson ended the innings with a burst of three for five in seven balls.

The series continues with a day/nighter at The Oval on Wednesday.

Collingwood out as Morgan gets Bangladesh call

LONDON: Paul Collingwood has been ruled out of England”s two-Test series against Bangladesh with a shoulder injury, it was announced on Sunday.

But batsman Eoin Morgan, who played in the side captained by Collingwood that last Sunday won the World Twenty20 final against Australia in Barbados, has been called up into a 12-man Test squad for the Bangladesh series opener, which starts at the Middlesex left-hander”s Lord”s home ground on Thursday.

Meanwhile England fast bowler Stuart Broad will miss the series in order to undergo a “strengthening programme”.

Collingwood”s absence has created room in the Test squad for 23-year-old former Ireland batsman Morgan, although South Africa-born Jonathan Trott also remains in contention.

For middle-order batsman Collingwood, a mainstay of England”s team across all three formats — Tests, one-dayers and Twenty20 — a left shoulder injury sustained during the World Twenty20 will give him a break from the international treadmill.

“Paul will undergo a period of rehabilitation for a shoulder injury and has been ruled out of the Test series against Bangladesh,” England national selector Geoff Miller said after announcing the Lord”s squad on Sunday.

“There”s a need for Stuart to undertake an intensive strengthening programme before an arduous summer and a busy winter, and the next three weeks have been identified as the ideal period for this programme.

“We believe we”ve selected an exciting squad – and with Paul Collingwood and Stuart Broad taking no part in this series, the opportunity arises for a number of younger players to make a mark at Test level.”

Turning to Morgan, former England off-spinner Miller added: “Eoin Morgan has impressed everyone since his inclusion in England”s one-day squad and he now has the opportunity to play a role in the Test team.

“He has always held ambitions of playing across all forms of the game, and we believe he has earned his place in this Test squad.”

Morgan”s county colleague Steven Finn retains his place in the Test squad, the fast bowler having played in both of England”s wins in Bangladesh two months ago.

Their fellow Middlesex team-mate Andrew Strauss returns to captain the side, having been rested from the Bangladesh tour and then missing the World Twenty20 as the opener has opted out of international cricket”s shortest format.

Regular Test wicketkeeper Matt Prior returns while there is also a place for Yorkshire quick Ajmal Shahzad in a squad missing injured quick Graham Onions.

“We were encouraged by Steven Finn”s Test debut in Bangladesh during the winter, and he has had a fine start to the domestic season for Middlesex,” Miller said.

“He is aware of what is involved at the international level — and along with Ajmal Shahzad, who has also made a bright start to the county season after touring Bangladesh over the (northern) winter, offers us a great deal of depth in the bowling ranks.”

Alastair Cook, who captained England in Bangladesh, is set to resume his opening partnership with Strauss.

As well as Collingwood and Broad, other players from England”s victorious side in the Caribbean not selected for Lord”s include openers Michael Lumb and wicketkeeper/batsman Craig Kieswetter, left-arm pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom, left-arm spinner Michael Yardy and all-rounder Luke Wright.

The four ”survivors” are Morgan, star batsman Kevin Pietersen, seamer Tim Bresnan and off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Paceman James Anderson, in the squad in the Caribbean but who didn”t play, is in England”s 12 for Lord”s as is batsman Ian Bell.

“We were all delighted and extremely proud of the way the Twenty20 squad performed at the ICC World Twenty20,” said Miller.

The second Test starts at Old Trafford on June 4.

England first Test squad
Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Graeme Swann, Tim Bresnan, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Ajmal Shahzad

Twenty20 World Cup 2010 Final Video Highlights | England won the T20 World Cup 2010

Match : ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010 Final
Team : England vs Australlia
Date : 16th May, 2010
Vanue : Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Toss : England won the toss and choose to bowling first
Man of the Series : Kevin Pietersen
Man of the Match : Craig Kieswetter
Champion of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010 : England

The two oldest teams of cricket Australlia and England will batle it out today for the world of the best formet of Cricket. England won the toss and choose to field first. England team is very good form. Their batting was phenomenal and their new wicketkeeper batsman Craig Kieswetter was very good played in every match also Kevin Pietersen is the main man for England, He was a great form. and England captain Paul Kollingwood, Eoin Morgan and Michael Lumb was very good form. Also their bowler was good form. Australlia is strong in their bowling department but its batting perfomance down.

ICC Twenty20 World Cup Final against England vs Australlia Match Full Scoreboard

Australlia Batting
Shane Watson c G Swann b R Sidebottom 2(3b)
David Warner run out (M Lumb) 2(4b)
Michael Clarke (c) c P Collingwood b G Swann 27(27b,2/4)
Brad Haddin (wk) c C Kieswetter b R Sidebottom 1(2b)
David Hussey run out (L Wright/C Kieswetter) 59(54b,2/4,2/6)
Cameron White c S Broad b L Wright 30(19b,4/4,1/6)
Michael Hussey not out 17(10b,2/4)
Steven Smith not out 1(2b)
Extras: (b 1, lb 2, w 4, nb 1) 8
Total: (6 wkts, 20 ovs) 147

England Bowling
Ryan Sidebottom 4 0 26 2
Tim Bresnan 4 0 35 0
Stuart Broad 4 0 27 0
Graeme Swann 4 0 17 1
Michael Yardy 3 0 34 0
Luke Wright 1 0 5 1

England Batting
Michael Lumb c D Hussey b S Tait 2(4b)
Craig Kieswetter (wk) b M Johnson 63(49b,7/4,2/6)
Kevin Pietersen c D Warner b S Smith 47(31b,4/4,1/6)
Paul Collingwood (c) not out 12(5b,1/4,1/6)
Eoin Morgan not out 15(13b,1/6)
Extras: (lb 1, w 9
Total: (3 wkts, 17 ovs) 148

Australlia Bowling
Dirk Nannes 4 0 29 0
Shaun Tait 3 0 28 1
Mitchell Johnson 4 0 27 1
Steven Smith 3 0 21 1
Shane Watson 3 0 42 0

ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010 beetwin England vs Australlia Match Video Highlights

England beats Australia in T20 final

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: England beat Australia by seven wickets in the World Twenty20 final at Kensington Oval.

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England beats Australia in T20 final

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