Cricket-South Africa set Pakistan 354 to win final test

ABU DHABI: South Africa declared their second innings on 203 for five wickets, setting Pakistan 354 runs to win the second and final test on Wednesday.

Scores: South Africa 584-9 declared (J. Kallis 105, A. de Villiers 278 not out; Tanvir Ahmed 6-120) and 203-5 declared (H. Amla 62) v Pakistan 434 all out (A. Ali 90, Misbah-ul-haq 77, A. Shafiq 61, A. Rehman 60). AGENCIES

Defiant Younus guides Pakistan to safety

DUBAI: Younus Khan notched his 17th test hundred to guide Pakistan to a draw against South Africa on the final day of the first test on Tuesday.

Set 451 for victory after the visitors declared their second innings on 318 for two, Younus stroked an unbeaten 131 as Pakistan lost just one wicket on the fifth day to reach 343 for three.

Younus got solid support from skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (76) as the pair put on an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 186.

Their partnership was a record for any Pakistan wicket against South Africa, eclipsing the 161-run second-wicket stand between Kamran Akmal and Younus scored in Lahore during the 2007/8 season.

South Africa began the day with high hopes of pushing for victory but did not help their chances by spilling three catches.

Younus was dropped twice, with his score on 16 and 70, while Misbah was put down at

Pak avoid follow-on, all out at 182 in Nottingham test

NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan were bowled out for 182 in reply to England”s first innings 354, a deficit of 172, on the third day of the first Test at Trent Bridge here on Saturday.

Umar Gul was a Test-best 65 not out after last man Mohammad Asif was run out by Eoin Morgan”s direct hit from cover for nought. James Anderson, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Friday, took five wickets for 54 runs in overcast conditions ideally suited to his swing bowling.

England lose the wicket of captain Andrew Strauss in at the start of second innings after Pakistan are dismissed for 182 following Umar Gul”s unbeaten 65.

Earlier, Pakistan began the day’s play needed nine runs to avoid follow-on. Umer Gul while playing aggressively not only averted follow-on but also completed his maiden test half century. He was remained unbeaten at 65 runs.

Muralitharan claims 800th Test wicket

GALLE: Retiring world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka reached the 800-wicket mark with his last delivery in Test cricket on Thursday.

The 38-year-old Muralitharan, the leading wicket-taker intests and one-day internationals, dismissed India”s PragyanOjha to reach the milestone in his final test matchappearance.

Muralitharan clinches record 800th Test wicket

GALLE: Retiring world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka reached the 800-wicket mark with his last delivery in Test cricket on Thursday.

The off-spinner, 38, had last man Pragyan Ojha caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene to terminate India”s second innings after lunch on the final day of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium.

Muralitharan, who has more Test and one-day (515) wickets than any bowler in history, will retire from Test cricket after the match.

India, who were made to follow on 244 runs behind, were all out for 338 in their second knock.

Sri Lanka need 95 to win the Test and take the lead in the three-match series.

Johnson leads Australia to series win vs NZ

HAMILTON: Australia completed an unbeaten 2009/10 campaign after a superb 10-wicket match haul by Mitchell Johnson saw them beat New Zealand by 176 runs in the second Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Wednesday.

Chasing an unlikely 479 to win, the Kiwis were dismissed for 302 just before lunch on the fifth and final day despite half-centuries from Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum, and late hitting from Tim Southee, who scored 45 off 25 balls.

The victory gave the tourists, who had beaten the West Indies 2-0 and Pakistan 3-0 during their home summer, a 2-0 series triumph. They won the first Test in Wellington by ten wickets.

Man of the match Johnson, who claimed six wickets for 73 from 20.1 overs in New Zealand”s second innings, finished with match figures of 10-132, having bagged 4-59 in the first.

New Zealand resumed their second innings on the final day at 185 for five, still 294 short of the huge target and only their last two recognised batsmen at the crease. But Guptill and Brendon McCullum lasted 18.3 overs, stretching their sixth wicket partnership to 87 runs.

McCullum registered his 16th Test half-century off 93 balls, but was out after scoring just one more when he cut a Doug Bollinger delivery to Michael Hussey at gully off the third delivery with the second new ball.

Jeetan Patel, promoted to No 8 for the Test, lasted 10 deliveries before becoming Bollinger”s second victim of the innings.

Guptill battled for 205 minutes and 157 balls but was out trying to hit Johnson through the covers; he edged the ball to Ponting at second slip and was out for 58.

Johnson then had Brent Arnel caught behind for a duck.

Southee also waged a solid battle and took the Kiwis past the 300-run mark before Johnson had him caught on the cover boundary by Michael Clarke after hitting seven fours and a six in scoring 45 off 25 balls.

South Africa Beats India by an Innings

NAGPUR, India: South Africa Beats India by an Innings, South Africa romped to a crushing victory over India by an innings and six runs on Tuesday after another superb display by pace bowler Dale Steyn on the fourth day of the first test.

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India scored 233 in its initial reply to South Africa’s mammoth first innings total of 558 for six declared at BCA stadium, forcing the follow on. Though Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 in his team’s second innings, his 46th test century, the home side again ran into trouble and was all out for 319.

Steyn, who had ripped through India’s first innings with a career best figure of 7-51, took another three wickets for 57 runs in its second, while Paul Harris also plundered three wickets for 76 runs as South Africa sealed a comfortable victory.

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South Africa Beats India by an Innings was first posted on February 9, 2010 at 5:35 pm.