TOP 100 SPORT SITES
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| TCU's Patterson is AP Coach of the Year NEW YORK (AP) -- Gary Patterson guided TCU to its best season in 70 years on the way to becoming the first Associated Press Coach of the Year from outside the six conferences with automatic BCS bids.... hosted.ap.org |
Pakistan chase world record victory • Australia 454-5 & 225-8; Pakistan 258 & 170-3• Pakistan require 252 to win with seven wickets remainingThe Pakistan captain, Mohammad Yousuf, will hold the key as his team chase a record 422 for victory after Shane Watson's maiden Test century gave Australia the upper hand heading into the final day of the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.Yousuf (45 not out) and the exciting youngster Umar Akmal (27 not out) steered the visitors to 170 for three at stumps on day four, still requiring a further 252 runs with seven wickets remaining to pull off what would be the most successful run chase in Test history. To win, Pakistan must surpass the highest ever successful chase of 418 made by West Indies in their defeat of Australia in Antigua in 2003.Ricky Ponting earlier declared Australia's innings on 225 for eight midway through the second session with Watson unbeaten on 120. Having come so close on three previous occasions already this summer, Watson finally broke through for his first Test ton shortly after lunch – but only after being dropped on 99. The Queenslander spent 67 agonising minutes and 39 balls in the 90s before eventually reaching his maiden century.In front of just over 15,000 fans, including his parents, Watson, who had fallen short of a first Test century with scores of 96, 89 and 93 this summer, converted his seventh Test fifty into three figures after yet another dropped catch from the tourists.Pakistan have been plagued by poor fielding in recent times and have grassed five opportunities in this match alone. The game, however, now rests in the hands of their batsmen after Australia forged into a formidable lead on the penultimate day, despite the efforts of Mohammad Aamer, who finished with five for 79.The 17-year-old had threatened to turn the match in Pakistan's favour with his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, tearing through the Australia middle-order in the first session to reduce the hosts to 161 for six. Aamer captured three wickets in the space of 16 balls to have Australia on the ropes.Playing in his seventh Test, he took the wicket of Michael Clarke for 37 before following up with Marcus North (six) and Brad Haddin for a duck two balls later as Pakistan took the fight up to the hosts.Clarke and Watson put on 103 runs for the fourth wicket before the vice-captain was caught behind by Kamran Akmal. Watson brought up his milestone when he drove at a full delivery from Aamer in the third over after lunch that flew straight through the hands of Abdur Rauf at backward point. The 28-year-old managed a wry smile as he strolled through for a single before raising his arms in celebration as he became the first Australian to make a Test century since Michael Hussey against England at The Oval in August.Pakistan's chase got off to a rocky start when Doug Bollinger claimed an early breakthrough trapping Imran Farhat lbw for 12. But Iqbal Faisal and Salman Butt steadied the ship for Pakistan with the former particularly brutal with any short deliveries, smashing a four off Mitchell Johnson and a six off Nathan Hauritz in consecutive overs.Johnson (one for 36) had the last laugh shortly after when he caught Butt plumb in front for 33. And when Iqbal, on the verge of a half-century, was deceived by a fiercely spinning Hauritz delivery and bowled for 48, Pakistan were staring down the barrel at 116 for three.They were lucky not to lose another wicket shortly before stumps when Hauritz dropped a difficult chance from Akmal from the bowling of the part-timer Simon Katich.CricketPakistan cricket teamAustralia Cricket TeamShane Watsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Leicester miss chance to go fourth with a draw Ipswich surprised Leicester with a goal after only 20 seconds, but the hosts recovered from the early setback to earn a Coca-Cola Championship point on a bitterly cold afternoon at the Walkers Stadium. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Brian Laws: I can keep Burnley in top flight Brian Laws is confident that he can keep Burnley in the Premier League, having been confirmed as their new manager only a month after he was sacked by Sheffield Wednesday. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Van Nistelrooy seals move to Hamburg • Dutchman signs a one-and-a-half-year deal• 33-year-old's wage demands concerned TottenhamRuud van Nistelrooy has joined Hamburg on a one-and-a-half-year contract from Real Madrid, the German club have announced.Van Nistelrooy had been linked with a host of clubs in a bid to secure more playing time, with West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur just two of the clubs who were interested in the former Manchester United striker.And Hamburg have confirmed they have won the race to sign the 33-year-old Holland international.Harry Redknapp had admitted that Tottenham Hotspur were keen to bring the former Manchester United striker back to England, but warned that meeting the Dutchman's reported wage demands could "kill the club".HamburgTransfer windowguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |