Theron stars in South Africa win over Pakistan

ABUDHABI: Rusty Theron took a career-best 4-27 to help a clinical South Africa upstage Pakistan by six wickets in the second Twenty20 international here on Wednesday to take the two match series 2-0.

The 26-year-old Theron bowled with purpose as South Africa once again restricted the former World Twenty20 champions to a low score of 120-9 on a flat Abu Dhabi cricket Stadium for a second day in succession.

South Africa won the first match by the same margin on Tuesday.

Graeme Smith (38) and Colin Ingram (31) led the South African reply with Jean-Paul Duminy (19 not out) hitting the winning runs to complete the team’s chase with eight balls to spare.

Smith and Loots Bosman (11) gave South Africa a sound start of 38 before Bosman fell to Shahid Afridi. AB de Villiers and Smith took the score to 63 when Pakistan took two quick wickets.

Smith and

Theron stars in South Africa win over Pakistan

ABUDHABI: Rusty Theron took a career-best 4-27 to help a clinical South Africa upstage Pakistan by six wickets in the second Twenty20 international here on Wednesday to take the two match series 2-0.

The 26-year-old Theron bowled with purpose as South Africa once again restricted the former World Twenty20 champions to a low score of 120-9 on a flat Abu Dhabi cricket Stadium for a second day in succession.

South Africa won the first match by the same margin on Tuesday.

Graeme Smith (38) and Colin Ingram (31) led the South African reply with Jean-Paul Duminy (19 not out) hitting the winning runs to complete the team’s chase with eight balls to spare.

Smith and Loots Bosman (11) gave South Africa a sound start of 38 before Bosman fell to Shahid Afridi. AB de Villiers and Smith took the score to 63 when Pakistan took two quick wickets.

Smith and

Younis Khan likely to replace Yousuf

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khans return from obscurity became a reality on Wednesday, after reports emerged that he may replace injured batsman Mohammad Yousuf in the national squad.
Younis has been out of the Pakistan squad since last year, after he was indefinitely banned as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took disciplinary action against seven players following the teams disastrous tour of Australia. The ban was later lifted but Younis has not been able to play international cricket due to PCB Chairman Ijaz Butts alleged stern stance against the former captain.
Butt, however, invited Younis to meet him in a bid to sort out their differences after former cricketers and politicians openly slammed the board chiefs handling of the situation. The meeting between the two is currently underway and reports emerging from the PCB headquarters at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore say that Younis is likely to make his return in the team at the expense of Yousuf.
Yousuf, part of Pakistans squad for the nine-match series against South Africa, reportedly pulled out of the on-going training camp in Lahore after sustaining an injury on the first day.PCB chief selector Mohsin Hassan Khan is due to hold a press conference shortly after the Butt-Younis meeting and the World Twenty20 winning captains inclusion in the squad is said to be the main agenda of the presser.

Pietersen proud despite missing out on century

BIRMINGHAM: Kevin Pietersen”s long wait for another Test hundred continued on Saturday but he was pleased by a grafting 80 that helped leave England well-placed to beat Pakistan.

Pietersen”s innings at Edgbaston was eight more than the 72 Pakistan made in the first innings of the second Test.

It formed the centrepiece of an England total of 251 and, at stumps on the second day, Pakistan were 19 for one in their second innings.

Pakistan needed a further 160 runs to avoid an innings defeat that would leave them 2-0 down in this four-Test series after last week”s mammoth 354-run loss at Trent Bridge.

Pietersen has now gone 23 innings without a Test hundred since reaching three figures against the West Indies in Trinidad in March last year.

But together with fellow South Africa born batsman Jonathan Trott, he battled hard in difficult conditions to forge a third-wicket stand of 133.

The 30-year-old Pietersen has undergone a see-saw 18 months.

He was stripped of the England captaincy in January 2009, missed most of that year”s Ashes campaign with an Achilles tendon injury, endured a poor tour of his native South Africa and then returned to form as the man of the series in the team”s World Twenty20 triumph in the Caribbean earlier this year.

Afridi wants to lead Pakistan to World Cup glory

LONDON: Former Pakistan Test captain Shahid Afridi vowed to return to England on Sunday, saying the limited over series starting next month will be the launch pad for his ambitions to win the 2011 World Cup.

The 30-year-old announced he would retire from Test cricket after the second and final Test against Australia at Leeds starting Wednesday, citing a lack of temperament for the five-day game.

His announcement came minutes after he led Pakistan to a 150-run defeat against Australia in the first Test on Friday, where Afridi slogged 31 in the first innings and hold out for two in the second.

But a side strain meant the batsman was ruled out of the second Test and he was released from the Pakistan squad which, after the Australia series, will stay on to play four Tests against England.

However, Afridi – who led Pakistan to the 2009 World Twenty20 title – is determined to return for the subsequent limited over series against England.

“I took a decision which I felt was right and now all my concentration is on the limited overs series against England which will be our first step towards winning next year”s World Cup,” Afridi said.

“I have won the World Twenty20, beaten England and India in Tests at home and have achieved some other milestones as well, but before I leave the game I want to win the World Cup,” he added ahead of next year”s tournament in Asia, where Pakistan will try to add to their lone World Cup title won in 1992.

Opener Salman Butt will lead Pakistan at Leeds and in the Tests against England.

“Butt must take coach Waqar Younis and others with him because this team will be tested against England,” said Afridi who may join English county side Hampshire if they qualify for the domestic Twenty20 quarter-finals.

“I had to abandon the contract with Hampshire because I was here for the Test series but now they want me to play the last three matches of the Twenty20, provided they qualify,” said Afridi, known as a Twenty20 specialist.

Afridi rubbished speculation his Test retirement came after differences with Pakistan team-mates.

“This team was unified and there were no problems, nothing. I took the decision in the best interest of the team and hope a youngster with a Test temperament takes my position.

“I also feel that there are other players who are not fit for the longer version of the game and my advice to them is to concentrate on the shorter forms,” said Afridi, without naming names.

Afridi hopes a month”s break will revive him for the two Twenty20 and five one-day internationals against World Twenty20 champions England which follow the Test series.

“I will be fresh for the limited over series which will be very tough because England have been doing very well in both ODIs and T20s, so if we could beat them it would be good for the progress of the team,” said Afridi.

Pakistan”s one-day squad is due to announced next month.

Rashid Latif to coach Afghanistan

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has accepted the job of batting coach for the Afghanistan national team.

Latif, who played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals, will work alongside former Pakistan fast bowler Kabir Khan.

“I am a cricketer and I see great potential in this Afghanistan team,” Latif told reporters. “There is great potential in Afghanistan for cricket to become a major sport and
I want to help them out.

“I think Afghani players have the talent and can compete with other Asian nations.”

Afghanistan qualified for the World Twenty20 this year and are trying to gain full one-day international status.

They are due to tour Scotland next month where they play one four-day match and two one-day internationals.

Pakistan end their Australia losing streak

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan beat Australia for the first time in 13 matches across all formats as they won the first Twenty20 international by 23 runs at Edgbaston here on Monday.

They were indebted to Umar Akmal”s career-best 64 that helped Pakistan to a total of 167 for eight after they”d been 47 for four.

Australia, chasing 168 to win, were bowled out for 144 with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (three wickets for 26 runs off his maximum four overs) and teenage left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer doing the bulk of the damage.

Victory put Pakistan 1-0 up ahead of the second and final Twenty20 here on Tuesday.

Australia were 85 for four when Michael Hussey came to the crease.

They”d been 62 for four, chasing 192 when the left-hander”s unbeaten 60 off 24 balls saw Australia to a thrilling three-wicket win over Pakistan in the World Twenty20 semi-final in St Lucia in May – the last time the teams met.

But Umar Gul, who missed the World Twenty20 through injury, captured the prize wicket of Michael Hussey by bowling him for 18 with a superb reverse-swinging delivery.

Gul then bowled Tim Paine, going across his stumps, to leave Australia needing 31 off 12 balls.

Ajmal finished the match with eight balls to spare by having Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait stumped.

Australia lost opener Shane Watson for a second ball nought when he was lbw to a brilliant inswinger from Aamer.

But the second over, from fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, went for 20 runs as left-hander David Warner struck fours off all the first five balls from the ”Rawalpindi Express”, for four.

However, Australia captain Michael Clarke fell for just five when he was well caught by opposing skipper Shahid Afridi at short extra-cover off all-rounder Abdul Razzaq”s second ball.

But runs kept coming before David Hussey eventually skied leg-spinner Afridi to Shoaib Malik for 34.

And 81 for three became 85 for four when Warner, who made 41 off just 30 balls, was bowled by off-spinner”s Saeed Ajmal”s second delivery as he tried run the ball down to third man.

Afridi then held his second excellent catch, to dismiss Cameron White off Aamer and Pakistan were right back in the match with Australia 109 for five.

Fast bowler Tait led Australia”s attack with two wickets for 25 runs from his maximum four overs, although his return did include nine wides.

Umar Akmal”s innings surpassed his previous best of 56 not out, which he”d made twice before including during the World Twenty20 semi-final loss.

He faced 31 balls with two sixes and seven fours.

Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik (21) revived the innings with a stand of 51 after Pakistan lost three wickets for two runs in six balls to slump to 47 for four in the eighth over.

Umar hoisted left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson for a huge six and pulled him for four off successive balls to go to a 21-ball fifty before he was bowled by Tait to the disappointment of an overwhelmingly Pakistan-supporting crowd.

These matches, and this month”s two Tests between the sides at Lord”s and Headingley are being played in England because of concerns regarding the security situation in Pakistan.

Clarke bowled over by ”neutral” Edgbaston

BIRMINGHAM: Beaten Australia Twenty20 captain Michael Clarke said there was nothing ”neutral” about the support Pakistan had received from a capacity Edgbaston crowd here on Monday.

Australia lost the first of two Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan — the second is at Edgbaston on Tuesday – by 23 runs amidst a din of horns and chants from flag-waving Pakistan supporters.

These matches — and two Tests between the teams at Lord”s and Headingley later this month — were due to be played in Pakistan.

But last year”s terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore made Pakistan a ”no-go” area for international cricket and they have been forced to play their home matches abroad.

However, with Birmingham boasting one of the largest Asian populations in England, they did not lack for support on Monday.

“It would be amazing to see Pakistan versus England out here,” Clarke told reporters. “You wouldn”t get many England supporters.

“It was full of Pakistan supporters.

“I think it”s great for Pakistan cricket, I think it”s really encouraging we are still getting the chance to play against them and the support Pakistan received today has been fantastic. Hopefully, a few more Aussies will turn out tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Pakistan, for whom victory represented their first win in 13 matches against Australia in all formats, were in dire straits at 47 for four after captain Shahid Afridi, who won the toss, was out for a duck.

But thanks to 20-year-old batsman Umar Akmal”s Twenty20 international best 64 they rallied to 167 for eight.

Pakistan, who lost a thrilling World Twenty20 semi-final to Australia in the Caribbean in May, then bowled Australia out for 144 with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking three wickets for 26 runs and 18-year-old left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Aamer three for 27.

Umar Akmal leads Pakistan rally against Australia

BIRMINGHAM: Umar Akmal proved a thorn in Australia”s side again with a career-best 64 as Pakistan made 167 for eight in the first Twenty20 international at Edgbaston here on Monday.

Akmal”s innings followed his previous best of 56 not out, which he”d made twice before including during Australia”s thrilling World Twenty20 semi-final win over Pakistan in St Lucia in May – the last time the teams met. In all, he faced 31 balls with two sixes and seven fours.

Express quick Shaun Tait led Australia”s attack with two wickets for 25 runs from his maximum four overs, although his return did include nine wides.

Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik (21) revived the innings with a stand of 51 after Pakistan lost three wickets for two runs in six balls to slump to 47 for four in the eighth over.

An overwhelmingly Pakistan supporting crowd were silenced early on when Shahzaib Hasan fell to a first-ball duck, pulling Dirk Nannes to David Hussey at mid-on.

Tait, fresh from his 100mph delivery in the fifth one-day international against England at Lord”s on Saturday, struggled for accuracy early on and his first two balls were wides.

Kamran Akmal, who also made a fine fifty in St Lucia, looked in superb touch as he pulled left-arm quick Dirk Nannes for six.But his exit sparked a top-order collapse.

Salman Butt played occasional off-spinner David Hussey behind point and appeared to decline a single quickly. But Kamran, already well down the pitch, was run out by Cameron White”s throw to the bowler.

Next ball, Butt holed out in the deep and, soon afterwards, big-hitting Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who”d won the toss, was out for a golden duck when he missed a sweep off a Steven Smith full toss. Pakistan were now 47 for four in the eighth over.

But Umar Akmal struck leg-spinner Smith for two straight sixes as 15 runs came of the 10th over and 20 were taken off the 11th, from David Hussey, admidst a flurry of fours.

And when Nannes returned, Umar cleverly swept him to the fine leg boundary before Malik cut him for four to bring up a fifty stand in 47 balls.

But the duo added just one more run before Malik was out in controversial fashion after a Nannes delivery went through to wicketkeeper Tim Paine, whose reaction suggested he was uncertain whether the ball had carried.

Pakistani umpires Aleem Dar and Nadeem Ghouri eventually referred the decision to their compatriot Ahsan Raza, the third umpire.

Although replays appeared inconclusive, Raza gave Malik out for 21 and Pakistan were 98 for five off 12 overs.

But Umar continued to attack, hoisting left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson for a huge six and pulling him for four off successive balls to go to fifty off just 21 balls before he was bowled by Tait.

The second and final Twenty20 international takes place here on Tuesday, the matches being played in England because of concerns regarding the security situation in Pakistan.

Nadal reclaims Wimbledon crown in style

LONDON: Rafael Nadal reclaimed the Wimbledon men”s singles title on Sunday, putting in a dominating performance to beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in the final.

The Spanish world number one was too good for the Czech 12th seed on Centre Court and was rarely troubled as he won his second championship at the All England Club.

In securing his eighth Grand Slam, Nadal went level with Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Fred Perry and Ken Rosewall.

And with Switzerland”s Roger Federer showing signs of weakness, Nadal could easily go on to eclipse their efforts.

Furthermore, the “King of Clay” underlined his mastery on all surfaces by completing his second French Open-Wimbledon back-to-back double, winning both finals in straight sets.

Nadal went into the match with a 7-3 head-to-head lead, having won their last six clashes, all in straight sets.

Undefeated at Wimbledon since the 2007 final, Nadal won the 2008 title by beating Federer in an epic five-set tussle, but could not defend it last year, due to the chronic knee problems that he is still not rid of.

But this was a much more straightforward victory than his extraordinary battle with Federer here two years ago.

Second seed Nadal was tested in the early rounds of the tournament, but upped his game from the fourth round onwards, always having too much for every opponent thrown his way.

Berdych, though, had pulled off the shock of the tournament in beating six-time Wimbledon champion Federer in the quarters, then defeated third seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets to earn his first Grand Slam final appearance.

But he could not reproduce those performances this time, being defeated in two hours and 13 minutes.

Nadal walked away with one million pounds (1.5 million dollars), while Berdych collected 500,000 pounds.

Berdych laid down a statement of intent by serving the first game to love, but his service percentages soon waned, allowing Nadal to get into the points and eventually forge an opportunity to break.

In the seventh game, with the fluffy balls taking the edge off the Czech”s serve, Nadal earned himself three break points with a superb passing shot, and won the game when Berdych shot wide.

Nadal took the next game to love, piling the pressure on the Czech as he served for the set.

The Spaniard had two set points, and though Berdych boomed down an ace, he hit a return into the net to give Nadal the set.

Berdych tried to hit straight back in the first game of the second set, and earned himself a break point. It took Nadal 10 minutes, four deuces and another two break points to see off the challenge and the Spaniard never looked back from there.

The Czech served his next two service games to love, but struggled to make inroads on Nadal”s serve.

Despite the deadlock, both players were sticking to their game plans, with neither player taking a risk on serve and volley tactics.

The set seemed destined to go to a tie-break.

However, serving at 6-5 down, Berdych missed a succession of chipped returns, gifting three set points to Nadal and losing it when he hit a forehand just wide.

In the third set, Berdych had an excellent chance to get back into the match when he got a break point in the third game, but Nadal held his nerve.

As the games went with serve, Nadal served the ninth to love to leave Berdych serving to stay in the final.

The game went to deuce and Nadal had championship point when his opponent missed a forehand, then reclaimed the Wimbledon crown with a passing shot.

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