England bowlers strike after lunch in Ashes

BRISBANE: England’s bowlers struck back with four wickets, including that of Australia captain Ricky Ponting, after lunch on the second day of the first Ashes test on Friday to reduce the hosts to 168-5 at tea.

Mike Hussey was at the crease having made an aggressive 46 not out with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (9) with him still 92 runs behind England’s first innings total of 260.

After labouring hard for one wicket in the morning, James Anderson came out firing after the break and got immediate reward when Ponting was caught behind by wicketkeeper Matt Prior for 10 in the first over.

His fellow quick Steve Finn kept up the pressure with his first Ashes wicket when he caught and bowled opener Simon Katich, who had survived a couple of scares to make 50, his 25th test half century.

Hussey, under pressure for his place in the side after a thin run of form,

S.Africa’s cricket captain Kallis praises Pakistan

ABU DHABI: Stand-in South African captain Jacques Kallis said Pakistan deserved the credit for drawing the two-Test series on Wednesday.

“We put Pakistan under pressure in both the Tests, but Pakistan performed well and their cricket is looking positive,” said Kallis after the second Test ended in a draw, leaving the two-match series at 0-0.

The first Test also ended in stalemate in Dubai last week.

Set a daunting 354-run target in 82 overs, Pakistan were pegged back by South Africa with three wickets soon after lunch before Misbah-ul-Haq (58 not out) and Azhar Ali (28 not out) took them to safety.

Kallis said Pakistan — hit by spot-fixing scandal since their tour of England two months ago — showed a lot of guts.

“You have to give credit to Pakistan, under severe pressure they put big performances and showed that they have the determination

Laxman guides India to thrilling victory

MOHALI: Venkatsai Laxman defied a back injury to make an unbeaten 73 as India snatched a remarkable one-wicket victory from the jaws of defeat in the opening Test against Australia on Tuesday.

Needing 216 to win, India were facing defeat at 124-8 before Laxman came to his team’s rescue with a brave knock under pressure on the fifth and final day, guiding his side to a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Batting with a runner because of a stiff back, Laxman was well supported by tail-ender Ishant Sharma, who made a defiant 31 in an 81-run stand for the ninth wicket before being trapped leg-before by Ben Hilfenhaus (4-57).

Australia’s last chance of winning the match came when left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson began his 17th over to last-man Pragyan Ojha, with India requiring six runs to win.

Ojha survived a confident appeal for leg-before and then an

Head of Israel fleet raid probe threatens to resign

JERUSALEM: The head of an Israeli commission set up to investigate a deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla threatened to resign unless the probe is given wider powers, Israeli media said.

Yaakov Tirkel, a retired Supreme Court judge, told Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman that he would leave the post if his demands were not met, the private TV network reported.

He called for “the independent public commission,” whose work officially started on Monday, to become a government commission of inquiry with the power to recommend sanctions against political and military leaders. Tirkel also sought two assistants for the three members and two foreign observers that make up the panel, the report said, adding that the judge agreed to put off his resignation until cabinet considered the changes on Sunday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and military chief of staff Gaby Ashkenazi have agreed to appear before the internal commission.

Israel set up the so-called Tirkel Commission under pressure from the United States a fortnight after its commandos killed nine Turkish activists on May 31 after intercepting a six-ship fleet carrying aid to Gaza.

The probe is limited to determining the validity under international law of Israel”s Gaza sea blockade, the deadly raid in international waters, and the actions of the activists and the aid flotilla”s organisers.

Army fully capable to combat challenges: Kayani

Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Tuesday said that Armed Forces are fully capable to combat both internal and external challenges facing the country, on Tuesday.
According to ISPR press release, the COAS while lauding the role of Army in Malakand Operation during his address at Formation Commanders Conference, congratulated the soldiers for completing one-year training. The participants were also briefed about the internal and external security situation of the country.
On this occasion, he congratulated the Pak Army for conducting the largest ever military drills Azm-e-Nau III.

20 killed as bomber struck NATO forces in Kabul

A suicide car bomb targeted NATO troops in Kabul on Tuesday, killing up to 20 people near parliament in one of the deadliest strikes on Kabul in more than a year.
The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.The NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed one of its convoys had been hit and said a casualty assessment was underway. An ISAF convoy was hit. At the moment we’re trying to confirm the number of ISAF casualties, spokesman Lieutenant Commander Iain Baxter told reporters. Children and women were also among the dead and wounded.

Euro under pressure in Asia

The euro remained under pressure in Asia on Tuesday after recovering slightly from a four-year low on persistent worries over European debts.
The euro is bought in $1.23 in currency markets. Eurozone finance ministers met in Brussels on Monday, battling to defend the euro but with no obvious agreement on tactics to slash spending.
Situation remained fragile despite an EU-IMF rescue package worth almost one trillion dollars designed to prevent the Greek crisis from spreading.

Pak U-19 Qualify For Cricket WC U-19 Final

LINCOLN: Pak U-19 Qualify For Cricket WC U-19 Final, Pakistan youth team beat West Indies by four wickets in the first semifinal of the Under-19 World Cup on Monday.

Pakistan under-19 team completed the chase with loss of six wickets at Bert Stucliffe Oval in Lincoln.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field in the first semifinal of the youth world cup.

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KC Brathwaite scored 85 and SD Bowrich 55 for West Indies to set a competitive target of 212 runs.

Hammad Azam 92 remains unbeaten and he does it again for Pakistan. He came in under pressure and played sensibly to get Pakistan over the line.

Rameez Aziz 39, Mohammed Waqas 29 and Ahsan Ali 28 added useful contributions in Pakistan total to reach the victory target.

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Pak U-19 Qualify For Cricket WC U-19 Final was first posted on January 25, 2010 at 10:49 am.