TOP 100 SPORT SITES
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
|
| |||
| Nemanja Vidic: new passenger for gravy train to Madrid Nemanja Vidic was never a loss to the diplomatic corps, to judge from his suggestion once that Manchester’s “main attraction is considered to be the timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for less rainy cities”. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Tahir fiasco leaves selectors with Harris • Cricket South Africa claimed permit papers delay• ICC rules demand four-year residenceThe South African selectors who goofed by including the ineligible Imran Tahir in their squad for the fourth Test will now have to explain themselves to Paul Harris, the other spinner in the party who he would have been the man to make way for Tahir, as South Africa were never going to play two specialist spinners. The mess is hardly likely to boost Harris's already faltering confidence after a difficult series so far.South Africa included the uncapped leg-spinner Tahir, 30, in their 15-man squad for the Wanderers but were forced to withdraw him on Sunday. In a statement, Cricket South Africa said Tahir's permit residence papers had not come through.Under International Cricket Council rules, however, Tahir had to be resident in South Africa for four years, which he has not been. He lives in Durban and is married to a local woman but he played in Pakistan and England until November 2006.Tahir was Hampshire's leading wicket-taker last season, with 52 wickets. He has taken 37 wickets in domestic four-day cricket in South Africa, whose coach, Mickey Arthur, is known to be an admirer of the former Pakistan A bowler.South Africa cricket teamEngland in South Africa 2009-2010CricketPaul Weaverguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Bangladesh battle but India have edge India 243 and 122 for one; Bangladesh 242Mohammad Mahmudullah, the Bangladesh all-rounder, led a strong fightback by the home side with a maiden half-century on the third day of the first Test against India in Chittagong.Mahmudullah made a career-best 69 and his 108-run partnership with the wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who made 44, rallied Bangladesh from 98 for six to end the innings on 242, only one behind India's total.India's openers then regained some of the initiative with a 90-run stand for the first wicket in their second innings, a partnership ended by Shakib Al Hasan's dismissal of Virender Sehwag as the visitors reached 122 for one at the close. Gautam Gambhir was three short of a half-century and the nightwatchman Amit Mishra on 24 when bad light ended play early.Fog and gloom had again delayed the start by an hour but India's bowlers made steady inroads, quickly regaining the momentum they had generated before play was halted yesterday afternoon.The overnight batsman Mohammad Ashraful was off the mark with an edged-boundary that VVS Laxman failed to grasp at third slip but his scratchy stint at the crease was brief. Ishant Sharma squared up the former captain with a delivery that pitched on off-stump and flicked the edge, and Rahul Dravid neatly held the catch at second slip.Shakib, off the mark with a crisply-driven four, had struck four boundaries in his 17 when he was dismissed, attempting one big shot too many. The left-hander slashed at a delivery from Zaheer Khan but only managed to find Sehwag at gully, the stand-in-captain completing the dismissal with a good catch.Shanthakumaran Sreesanth then snared Raqibul Hasan with a lifting delivery that pitched just outside off and the batsman obliged with a nick.However, Mahmudullah and Rahim, who came together just before lunch, batted through most of the afternoon session, rescuing the home side in the process. Mahmudullah, aggressive at the start of his innings but far more circumspect after the break, reached his half-century with a single off Mishra. Rahim had mirrored his cautious approach but was out when he attempted a slog-sweep off Mishra and top-edged to Sehwag at midwicket.Mishra then claimed Shahadat Hossain, who threw his bat at a wide one only to edge to Yuvraj Singh at point, and Bangladesh lost their final two wickets cheaply after tea.Sreesanth, who had struggled with his run-up in the second session, finally prised out Mahmudullah for 69, the batsman finding the wicketkeeper, Dinesh Karthik, as he attempted to run the ball down to third man.Shafiul Islam, who had hit Mishra for a six off the first delivery he faced, attempted another big shot off the bowler but top-edged to Yuvraj at point.Sehwag and Gambhir drove home the advantage with an aggressive opening stand. Sehwag had smashed four boundaries and a six in his innings of 45 when he attempted a slog-sweep against the turn of Shakib's left-arm spin but dollied one straight up in the air. Mishra then joined Gambhir and the duo battled through to the close.Bangladesh Cricket TeamIndia Cricket TeamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Steve Bruce attacks Liverpool's 'disrespectful' pursuit of Kenwyne Jones Steve Bruce has accused Liverpool of being "disrespectful" in their pursuit of Kenwyne Jones. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Venus Williams in shock upset to Li Na at the Australian Open Venus Williams threw away a one-set lead as Li Na progressed to the semi-finals of the Australian Open in a scrappy match where they made a combined 110 unforced errors. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |