Sports World

WestIndies Vs Sri Lanka Gayle Power give West Indies comfortable win

2013-06-28T17:14:00.001-07:00

Chris Gayle had failed to leave a mark in cold and wet England, but he probably knows there is only one thing cool in the warmer climes of Jamaica - he himself. And no one at Sabina Park would disagree. After a lean patch in the Champions Trophy where his highest score was 39, Gayle scored his 21st ODI century - his first against Sri Lanka - as West Indies brushed the visitors aside by six wickets and earned a bonus point in the first match of the tri-series.

Sri Lanka didn't have a strong total to defend after their batsmen were felled by the spin of Sunil Narine, who picked up four wickets. Angelo Mathews kept his main bowlers on throughout to try and ensnare the big fish, but Gayle kept blocking, blocking, and then powering it over the ropes with metronomic precision.

Confederation Cup Final

2013-06-28T17:10:00.002-07:00

The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, the ninth FIFA Confederations Cup, is an international association football tournament currently being held in Brazil, as a prelude to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.^[2] The eight-team tournament began on 15 June 2013 and will conclude with the final on 30 June 2013. Host nation Brazil are also the defending champions.

The third place match will be contested between Uruguay and Italy. Brazil will play Spain in the championship match; Spain has the opportunity to become the third team (after Argentina and France) to win all three major FIFA tournaments: the World Cup, the Olympic football competition and the Confederations Cup.

Sri Lanka break series drought on rainy night

2010-11-07T08:52:00.001-08:00

Sri Lanka came on this tour with one goal and achieved it with a match to spare. By handing Australia a seventh straight defeat, Kumar Sangakkara's men delivered their maiden series win in Australia in 26 years of trying. When the hosts slipped over for 210 in the greasy conditions it gave Sri Lanka victory by 29 runs - and it had come more easily than expected.

There was much to like about Sri Lanka's play in a match regularly threatened by rain, but there was little to inspire the hosts as they head to Brisbane for Sunday's dead rubber. The only time the visitors struggled was in the first two overs of the match - when they didn't score - but once the openers Upul Tharanga, who held the innings together with 86 not out, and Tillakaratne Dilshan got going there was nothing that could stop them. Not even the weather.

The rain disrupted Sri Lanka's innings twice as it finished early at 3 for 213 in 41.1 overs, but Australia's target was quickly inflated to 244 in 39 overs under the Duckworth Lewis method. The calculations added more difficulty to what was already a tricky pursuit in a seamer-friendly environment, and they began needing more than a run a ball. A short rain break towards the end trimmed another over from the match and reduced the target to 240. It didn't help.

Mistakes came quickly, starting with Brad Haddin's flash at a Nuwan Kulasekara inswinger and the knocking back of his middle stump. Ricky Ponting (10) fell hooking, just as he did so often last summer, and when Michael Clarke's (25) attempted pull ended up with a lunging Muttiah Muralitharan at third man, Australia were 4 for 80 and the game was heading one way.

Murali then watched Michael Hussey tap a catch to deep mid-off, a wicket which came after Shane Watson had missed a sweep on 40 to be lbw. He finished with 2 for 30 off seven while Thisara Perera, Suraj Randiv and Kulasekara also claimed two victims. Cameron White (35) and Steven Smith (33) could not achieve the miracle, especially when Lasith Malinga was varying his pace superbly.

Sri Lanka were 2 for 161 off 34 overs when the weather intervened for the first time, chopping five overs from their original allocation, and they finished in a rush before the clouds reopened. Tharanga ensured Sri Lanka built on the high gained from their stunning victory in Melbourne on Wednesday as he put on 98 for the first wicket with Dilshan.

The 70-run stand between the captain Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga was starting to warm up when the rain arrived for the first time. Instead of acceleration, the ground received 90 minutes of saturation. Sangakkara (45) sliced Watson (2 for 45) to Clint McKay at third man before Angelo Mathews, the hero from the first game, provided a timely surge by swinging to 17 off 11.

Tharanga, who was comfortable chipping over the infield, was the slower partner alongside Dilshan, but he ended up in the lead role during his 112-ball stay. His half-century came up with two lofted boundaries to the legside off Nathan Hauritz and there were six fours in his display.

While his innings was highly worthy, Tharanga was dropped on 61 by Haddin and also survived a comical run-out attempt when stranded at the wrong end on 76. Haddin's throw flew over the bowler Watson's head before Clarke backed up and shied at the bowler's end. His on-target effort hit the leg of Watson, who was trying to get out of the way of the stumps, and Tharanga eventually regained his ground. It is a moment that will be replayed often until Australia can show they are a committed, unified and successful unit.

After Australia's bowling troubles in their awful loss in Melbourne, they demoted the spinner Xavier Doherty to 12th man despite his four-wicket debut, and also dropped John Hastings. The replacements didn't create a sudden shift in the team's fortunes.

McKay (0 for 42) came in to take the new ball and was steady, while Hauritz showed some useful signs in picking up 1 for 49 from nine overs. Mitchell Johnson gave away 11 runs in his first over while Peter Siddle was handy without being dangerous.

While there only 11,495 watching at the ground, Australia's seventh consecutive loss in all forms of the game will be noticed by everyone. England are in Perth, having started well in their tour opener, and can see a host of Ashes weaknesses. Over in Colombo there will be celebrations for the Sri Lankan team after their biggest obstacle ended up being the weather.

UNSUNG HERO of SRI LANKAN SPORTS – R KARUNANANDA, 1964 OLYMPICS

2010-10-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

We know Susanthika, Damayanthi Dharsha, Marion Jones, Michael Jordan but have we heard about R Karunanada. He represented Sri lanka (then Ceylon) in the 1964 Olympics, in the mens 10,000m event.
Karunananda did his best to win a medal to his country, one could see the effort he took to his boot from the beginning and right throughout the race despite the spectators shouts. Finally, he won his battle making the spectators to a standing ovation that exceeded the salutation that the spectators gave to any athlete, and completed the race.

The Sri Lankan media has forgotten about this great athlete who fought his best to win a medal for his country, a true heroes like Karunananda should be honoured for his efforts made at this race. most of your’l might had not seen the race i am talking about, watch it at the end of this post.

Here is an article i pulled out, that would give one more information about Karunananda; (i don’t know the source of this article maybe daily mirror)

Those who unwittingly inhabit others’ versions of their realities might find Karunananda in a different way, I realized. If they scanned world cinema, the greatest or the most entertaining flicks, they might come across Ron Ichikawa’s ‘Tokyo Olympiad’ (Tokyo Orimpikku). They would no doubt be amazed to learn that a man who came last in the 10,000m race was also featured among the winners, including the incredible Ethiopian, Abebe Bikila who was the first Black African to win an Olympic gold medal and the first to win the marathon twice in a row. Karunananda didn’t compete in the marathon. He was placed 47th out of 52 in the 5000m race and started the 10,000 with a bad cold and a considerably weakened body. This was in 1964, when athletes didn’t chicken out if they were less than 100 percent fit, a time when athletes were not pampered with sponsorships, employment, vehicles, houses and other gifts.

Karunananda competed because he wanted his little daughter to be happy that he competed, from start to finish. He came last. He could have stopped at any point, it would not have changed anything. He didn’t. He was with the leaders when Billy Mills of the USA breasted the tape. That’s because he had been lapped four times by that time. When he continued, it surprised the spectators. When he came around they jeered. When he came around a second time, there was silence. And then there was cheering. Wild applause. He finished the race to a standing ovation that exceeded the salutation that the spectators gave Mills. Mills is reported to have said that the gold should have gone to Karunananda.

Days after the race he still received gifts from sympathetic Japanese. One housewife wrote, ‘I saw you on TV, running all alone and I could not keep back my tears’. He was the original ‘Marathon Karu’ (the subsequent Marathon Karu, better known, died with Jeyaraj Fernandopulle in a suicide attack). The Japanese remember. His story is related to schoolchildren to teach the virtue of determination and the triumph of the human spirit.

Karu was offered a job in Japan. A few days before he was to leave Sri Lanka, he died. Some say he died in an accident. Some say he was murdered. Some say he just disappeared. Years later a Japanese television crew arrived in Sri Lanka to do a documentary on this incredible man. No one knew him. They had been taken to the then ‘Marathon Karu’ by mistake and he had helped the Japanese find the man’s family. Karu’s wife had lost her mind when her husband ‘died’. The family was literally on the street until a kind relative had offered to take care of the children. This is how his own country has recognised him………….

‘We don’t have to look beyond our shores, ‘We are a nation blessed with our own heroes.’ There’s one in every body in fact. if we want to remember men and women who stood taller than the multitude, then let’s spare a thought for Ranatunga Karunananda.

Bloggers comments >> No wonder we live in Sri Lanka, we usually forget the people who were part and parcel of our lives and our country. So, the great Ranatunga Karunananda, i salute you on behalf of all the Sri Lankans as Sri Lankans will remain as Sri Lankans for many years to come.
Lesson learnt — People will drag you down, once your no longer an assert to them. Selfish indeed !

nb: Daily Mirror and The Sunday Island has some articles on Ranatunga Karunananda

Spain won the 2010 FIFA world cup..!

2010-07-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Iniesta fires Spain to World Cup glory

2 / 5

Andres Iniesta scores with four minutes left in extra time to give Spain their first World Cup with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.

The greatest steps down with a smile…

2010-07-09T00:09:00.000-07:00

Lankan Spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan is pictured here at a press briefing where he officially announced his plans of retiring from test cricket. Murali announced on Tuesday that he will retire from Test cricket after the first Test against Indiastarting in Galleon July 18.

also Champion offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan said he decided to quit international cricket at the end of the first Test against India at Galle to challenge himself to capture the eight wickets he needs to become the first bowler in cricket history to reach 800 Test wickets.

"Eight hundred wickets is just a number because I already have the world record," said Muralitharan addressing his first press conference since announcing his retirement on Tuesday. "I have taken it as a challenge to give me the motivation to take the eight wickets I need to reach that mark and also win the Test for my country. I hope we can achieve it. I have confidence that we have a good Test team and I hope we can win my farewell Test and hopefully the series."

Muralitharan was happy with the quality of spin bowlers in Sri Lanka, with Ajantha Mendis, Rangana and Suraj Randiv coming along well. "I thought the time is right to move out because we have three good spinners. I hope they also get a chance because as a youngster I got a chance to perform that's how I came to this level. They will also become good spinners in time to come."

Puyol winner puts Spain in World Cup final

2010-07-07T13:37:00.001-07:00

Puyol winner puts Spain in World Cup final
Carles Puyol is the hero as Spain beat Germany 1-0 to make their first ever World Cup final, where they will face the Netherlands.

Australia steady after losing openers

2010-06-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

Australia's batting struggles continued at The Oval before Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke steadied the innings and built a solid platform by the halfway mark. Shane Watson again fell after making a strong start and England's decision to send the visitors in looked well founded, but after 25 overs Australia had worked their way to 115 for 2 with Ponting on 33 and Clarke on 28.

England could have made it three wickets when Clarke was dropped on 5 by James Anderson, who watched the ball sail through his hands at cover from an uppish drive off Graeme Swann. It was a bad miss for one of the better fielders in the England side, and only time will tell how costly it could prove.

Ponting was in better touch than during his scratchy innings at Old Trafford on Sunday, and a perfectly timed and placed off-drive for four off Tim Bresnan was a positive sign. Ponting's desire for the batsmen to turn around their poor results was evident when he saw Watson's demise and gave his partner a stern and prolonged stare for his ill judgment.

Chile salutes its new kids on the block

2010-06-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

Despite defeat by Brazil, Chile has finally cast aside its jealousies and rivalries and found inspiration in its young footballers

Chile, led by their Argentinian coach, Marcela Bielsa, aka El Loco, were talked about for their passion and agility. Photograph: Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images

"Thanks for everything kids!" blared the headline of La Cuarta, Chile's populist news daily yesterday. The national team may be out of the World Cup after a 3-0 thrashing by the five-time champions Brazil, but they will be welcomed home as heroes.
Known as "La Roja" (The Reds), Chile's team was the youngest in the competition, which showed in their passion, agility, and, unfortunately, mistakes on the field. As other teams were beset by scandal in the group stages, Chile were talked about for their action-packed attack, leading to solid victories over Honduras and Switzerland, their first World Cup victories since 1962, when they hosted the tournament.
If ever there was a year that Chile needed to shine on the international stage it is 2010. Following a devastating earthquake in February, the country was shaken, shattered, then united in a mission to rebuild before the winter rains. World Cup football became the glue that cemented this nascent sense of national unity.
In September Chile celebrates its bicentennial, but 200 years of independence from Spain has not provided a sense of national identity. Unlike neighbouring Argentina or nearby Brazil where national flags sprout from every third apartment window, in Santiago the signs of World Cup fever were reserved for match days. Chileans are not patriotic, often criticising their country to the extent of berating expats, "Why would you live here?"
Typically Chileans look to foreigners for a measure of self-worth and this World Cup was no different. Most of the attention given to the Chilean team was focused on an Argentinian – the coach, Marcelo Bielsa, aka El Loco or The Crazy One – who was regularly photographed contorting his face into wild screams, exhortations and hair pulling as his young superstars sparked but never quite took flight.
And yet, this World Cup provided a tunnel of focused optimism in which the nation's best characteristics were reinforced and the legendary jealousies, rivalries and envy were dumped aside. Chileans saw their nation's potential unleashed on the world in a young, intelligent group of players whose camaraderie screamed "team".
Unlike most of South America, Chile is not a football nation. Only Venezuela has less interest in football and their excuse is baseball – the national pastime. Chile has never been a sports nation, unless you include competitive parking at the supermarket or an hour a week of gym for schoolchildren who are often seen running around the block in blue jeans and rain boots.

Martin Keown - Upson and Barry must face Algeria

2010-06-18T07:33:00.001-07:00

Five days on and everyone seems to have finally calmed down after England's disappointing 1-1 draw with the United States last Saturday.
Obviously it wasn't the result we had all been hoping for but there were some positives to take out of the performance.
England started very well, particularly during the first 15 minutes, with Steven Gerrard looking much more comfortable playing through the middle than being stuck out wide.
But after going ahead we started to look more exposed, particularly in the centre of midfield. Frank Lampard is not a natural holding player but that is the role he was forced to play with Gerrard continuously bombing on to support the two strikers.
Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey both managed to find space in-front of the back-four on a number of occasions, with Dempsey scoring and Donovan coming close.
Emile Heskey did well up-front but he needs to be dropped so that Gareth Barry can return to protect John Terry and co. Barry has become an integral part of the England side under Fabio Capello and he needs to get games under his belt before we come up against a team of real quality in the knockout stages.

- England News

- Group C fixtures

- Group C table

Another player I'd like to come into the team to face Algeria would be Matthew Upson.

I wasn't convinced by Jamie Carragher when he came on in place of the injured Ledley King on Saturday evening. His lack of pace makes the defence look vulnerable at times, as we saw when Jozy Altidore almost put the US in-front in Rustenburg.
The other option is Michael Dawson, who had a fine season for Tottenham but is just too inexperienced at international level to be thrown into such an important game.
Upson has a bit more pace than Carragher and although he didn't have the greatest season with West Ham, he played well alongside Terry during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Germany 0-1 Serbia - Match report

2010-06-18T07:27:00.001-07:00

Most of the first half was little more than a stalemate as Serbia's back four, marshalled with authority by Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic, held firm against a wave of controlled, steady attacks from a patient Germany.
Neither side were able to produce a shooting chance inside the penalty area, although a knock-down from Miroslav Klose after 35 minutes almost found Mesut Ozil who for once had worked his way into some space.
That would prove to be Klose's last touch of the ball as, two minutes later, he was given a second yellow card for a trip from behind. It was a bookable offence and, although his first yellow for a similar offence was more debatable, Klose should have been experienced enough to know when to let some tackles go.
Germany, shocked and disorganised by that decision, were made to pay only one minute later. Milos Krasic drove down the right to the byline and stood up an excellent cross under pressure to find the giant Nikola Zigic at the back post where the new Birmingham City striker had the sense to see Milan Jovanovic unmarked in the centre, allowing the 29-year-old to apply a simple finish.
The Germans didn't have to wait long for a chance to equalise as Serbia failed to control the match despite an extra man. Vladimir Stojkovic was at fault as the keeper weakly punched away a corner to Sami Khedira who struck a fierce half-volley against the underside of the bar.
For most of the second half Germany didn't look much like a team with one man short, with Lukas Podolski on the left and Thomas Muller on the right finding space on regular occasions.
It was a run from the left that provided Germany with their best chance of the half, when a cross from that flank looked to be going harmlessly over everyone in the area before Vidic inexplicably raised his arm to stop the ball.
Podolski stepped up to take the spot-kick but his effort was a weak one, low to Stojkovic's left. Germany, for the first time in over 35 years, had missed a regular time penalty in a World Cup.
From then on the Germans dropped off the pace and Serbia grew in confidence, hitting the crossbar through Zigic and the post through Jovanovic but in the end they were more than happy to be on the right side of a 1-0 result.

Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal

2010-06-15T12:22:00.001-07:00

One of the most exciting meetings of the group stages failed to ignite in Port Elizabeth with neither side able to bring a low-key game to life.

Much of the pre-match build-up had focused on whether Didier Drogba would start for Ivory Coast just 11 days after breaking his arm. The Chelsea striker was named on the bench by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and struggled to make an impact on the game after being sent on as a 66th minute substitute.

The other major star on display, Cristiano Ronaldo, started like he meant business with a string of strong runs at the Ivory Coast defence. He brought the match to life on 11 minutes when he crashed a 30-yard shot off the upright with the goalkeeper well beaten.

The world's most expensive player was then involved in a 21st minute flashpoint when he and Guy Demel squared up to one another amid suggestions that he had dived to win a free-kick. The result was a yellow card for both and the rest of the first half descended into a tetchy contest devoid of any moment of real quality.

Ivory Coast looked brighter after the interval and Gervinho mis-controlled in the box to waste a shooting opportunity, before Salomon Kalou side-footed an effort straight at the goalkeeper from 18 yards as the match threatened to burst into life.

Liedson directed a headed half-chance on target midway through the half but goalkeeper Boubacar Barry was able to pluck the ball out of the air.

Drogba came on soon after but was something of a bystander until he skewed a stoppage-time chance from a tight angle wide after being shadowed well by club-mate Ricardo Carvalho.

With the game 30 seconds over the allotted three minutes of stoppage time, Ivory Coast decided to take a short corner and the referee saw that as a fitting place to end a match short on quality and attacking inspiration.

Malinga helps super Sri Lanka survive Afridi

2010-06-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka survived Shahid Afridi's finest innings and Shoaib Akhtar on comeback through some desperate fielding and lovely bowling from Lasith Malinga. The batsmen before Afridi seemed either incompetent of or uninterested in the chase, the batsmen with him seemed intent on running themselves out, his cramp-induced groans could be heard through the stump microphone, he hobbled the last 17 of his runs, and he had taken Pakistan from 32 for 4 to within 39 of the target when Kumar Sangakkara produced a catch for the ages. Malinga, coming back into ODI cricket, then produced a lethal three-over spell inside the batting Powerplay to wipe the tail off much in the fashion Pakistanis are used to doing with others.

Afridi then reminded the crowd Pakistan were indeed trying to win the match. Just like that, he smacked the first two balls pitched up to him for sixes. Farveez Maharoof was at the receiving end, and learned his lesson fast: he hardly pitched anything up in the rest of his spell, and bowled some impressive cutters, but didn't court success.

You could sense Sri Lanka were now waiting for the inevitable mistake from Afridi. You could sense Afridi was not going to make that inevitable mistake. The deep fielders waited for catches, all they got was shots to their right or their left that got Pakistan couples. Umar Akmal joined in the process, and the pair began to use the big ground to their advantage. On nine occasions they managed to take couples during their 73-run fifth-wicket stand. In a further exhibition of calculated hitting, Afridi lofted Murali for four sixes in four overs, all over his head, all risk-free.

With cause for worry, Sangakkara brought Malinga back for the 25th over, and Umar set off for a suicidal single having defended straight to short cover. And Tillakaratne Dilshan is not the man to steal sharp singles off. Umar's brother, Kamran Akmal, way better with the batting gloves than the keeping ones, started another important partnership.

Afridi now took his innings to a level higher, finding gaps through the field for fours. Murali was welcomed back with a swept boundary in the 32nd over, taking Afridi to 74, and Pakistan to 154. Off the second ball, Kamran got run out. Still no impact on Afridi. He was not fazed even by a short ball from Malinga that he couldn't spot. A fantastic slower ball followed, which he was deceived by but still managed to glance it for four.

First test of Pakistan's unity

2010-06-14T07:37:00.001-07:00

Pakistan cricket is in the spotlight, once again. Having endured a period of internal upheaval, they have zeroed in on a squad full of surprises. One former captain retired, while two others appealed successfully against their bans. One of those two - Shoaib Malik - returned to the side and will be playing under a new leader, Shahid Afridi, who not very long ago accused Malik of back-biting. Out of nowhere, the once spectacular Shoaib Akhtar was recalled. Even faithful fans struggle to keep track of the changes, while critics question the madness surrounding the method. But one thing everyone will acknowledge is that the selectors have hit upon a reasonably balanced ODI outfit.

Pakistan have traditionally under-performed at the Asia Cup, winning just one tournament, and their recent one-day record is miserable, but they have managed to lift their game in recent multi-team events. Admittedly, three of those four have been in the Twenty20 format, and there-in lies the danger Pakistan poses - both to their opponents and to themselves. They have the ability to go all the way with short and sharp bursts of inspiration, but are just as likely to combust.

Taibu, Coventry take Zimbabwe to 140

2010-06-13T05:44:00.000-07:00

After paying for too many strokes too early in the first match, Zimbabwe seemed to have erred on the side of caution in the second, but Tatenda Taibu and Charles Coventry took Zimbabwe to their second-best Twenty20 total. Sweeps and reverse-sweeps from Taibu and a late cameo from Coventry took them to a mildly competitive total after an inexplicably slow start had them down at 64 for 3 in the 13th over.

There were 48 dot balls in the innings, five of them because Hamilton Masakadza shouldered arms to the first six deliveries he faced, one of them a wide. He was out to the first aggressive shot he played, hitting straight down mid-off's throat. Brendan Taylor and Chamu Chibhabha didn't try any big shots off the seamers, and Ashok Dinda and R Vinay Kumar got through the first five overs for just 16 runs.

In the sixth over, Chibhabha tried the expansive slog sweep and was bowled by Pragyan Ojha. Taylor managed a couple of lovely boundaries down the ground, but there weren't enough singles off his bat. When he was taken superbly at the long-off boundary by Yusuf Pathan, he had reached only 26 off 31.

Taibu, though, was playing a different game: sweeping, reverse-sweeping, running crazily fast, hitting the spinners off their lengths. He may have hit only two boundaries - a sweep of each variety - but had raced to 25 off 18 when Taylor got out. Coventry came out and made you wonder just why the top order batted so slowly. He reverse-swept R Ashwin for two boundaries in the 16th over, and between those two hits fit an exquisite six over extra cover. Vinay offered him length in the next over, and Coventry got another six.

In the 18th over, Dinda removed Coventry with a perfect yorker. Elton Chigumbura played a mini cameo, hitting Ashwin in the 19th over for six, six and four, but Suresh Raina took a blinder running behind from midwicket towards deep midwicket to control the damage. Taibu didn't manage any more boundaries, and his incredible running helped them get 10 runs in the last over.

Debutant Ervine seals terrific win to Zimbabwe

2010-05-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

Zimbabwe 289 for 4 (Taylor 81, Ervine 67*) beat India 285 for 5 (Rohit 114, Jadeja 61*) by six wickets
It wasn't really an upset. Zimbabwe were the stronger of the two sides, which showed in the assured manner of a tall chase, set up by Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza's fliers and finished off with ten balls to spare by a cool debutant, Charles Ervine. The return of high-profile cricket to Zimbabwe brought the spirited crowd much joy as the hosts meticulously beat a weak India side, whose only creditable spell came when Rohit Sharma scored 69 off the last 36 balls he faced to reach his maiden ODI century, and give India a fighting total on a flat track.

Full score card:-http://www.cricinfo.com/zim-tri2010/engine/current/match/452146.html

1 st ODI S.Africa VS W.Indies watch live

2010-05-22T07:56:00.001-07:00

1st ODI match
1 st ODI S.Africa VS W.Indies watch live

1.Link S.Africa VS W.Inidies

2.Link S.Africa VS W.Inidies

3.Link S.Africa VS W.Inidies

4.Link S.Africa VS W.Inidies

5.Link S.Africa VS W.Inidies

6.Link S.Africa VS W.Inidies

England tour pay dispute is settled

2010-05-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

England's players and the Rugby Football Union have reached an agreement to end the dispute over pay.

Team England Rugby and the RFU say they have "resolved all the outstanding tour issues" over payments for the summer tour to Australia and New Zealand.
The row had led to an independent third party being appointed to review the matter and their recommendations have been accepted.
The two parties say that details of the agreement will not be revealed.
A joint statement from Team England Rugby and the RFU read: "The Rugby Football Union and Team England Rugby are pleased to announce that they have resolved all the outstanding issues over tour payments for the elite player squad for the tour to Australia and New Zealand.

Lance Armstrong dismisses Floyd Landis doping claims

2010-05-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Armstrong says he is "a little confused" by the claims

Lance Armstrong has dismissed disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis's allegations that he saw the seven-time Tour de France winner use illegal drugs on a team bus.

Stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping, Landis has admitted that he regularly doped as a rider.
Landis also accused cycling boss Johan Bruyneel and Armstrong of paying off a cycling official over a failed test.
"We have nothing to hide. With regards to the specific claims, they're not worth getting into it," Armstrong said.
Armstrong has often been accused by his rivals and critics of cheating but has never officially failed a doping test and has always maintained his innocence.
"I'm not going to waste my time or your time. It's our word against his word. I like our word," added Armstrong, with his long-time coach Bruyneel standing next to him. "We like our credibility."
The 32-year-old Landis has sent a series of e-mails to cycling officials and sponsors acknowledging and detailing his long-term use of banned drugs, and accusing former team-mate Armstrong of doing the same, including once on a team bus during a race.
American Landis claimed Armstrong and Bruyneel paid an International Cycling Union official to cover up a test in 2002 after Armstrong purportedly tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO.

In an e-mail sent to USA Cycling chief Steve Johnson, Landis said Armstrong's positive EPO test was in 2002, around the time he won the Tour de Suisse.
However, Armstrong won the Tour de Suisse in 2001, not 2002, prompting the cycling great to say: "We're a little confused, maybe just as confused as you guys. The timeline is off, year by year."
The UCI released a statement saying it had "never changed or concealed a positive test result."
Landis also alleged that Bruyneel had introduced Landis to practices including steroid patch use and blood doping.
Bruyneel led the US Postal team, which later became Discovery Channel, to victory in eight of nine Tour de France races from 1999, including Armstrong's seven successive wins between 1999-2005.
Landis joined US Postal in 2002, and teamed with Armstrong in three Tour de France campaigns before winning in 2006 riding for Phonak.
Landis also implicated other cyclists, including Armstrong confidant George Hincapie and former US Postal team-mate Michael Barry.

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of David Villa

2010-05-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of David Villa after the striker passed a medical at the Nou Camp on Friday.

The Spain star has signed a four-year deal after the Catalan side agreed a £34.2m fee with former club Valencia.
The 28-year-old is Barcelona's first summer capture, with Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas also said to be a target.
"Anybody would be happy to come to a club like this - as everybody says, this is the best team in the world," Villa told Barcelona's website.
"I'm very happy and proud to be here."
Barcelona also have the option of extending Villa's contract by another 12 months as well as negotiating a huge buyout clause of 200m Euros (£174.39m).
The man from Asturias, in the north of Spain, is a regular in his country's first team and will be highly fancied to make a big impact at the World Cup.

New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Twenty20s, Florida ,An adventure breaking new ground

2010-05-21T05:56:00.001-07:00

Match Facts

The Big Picture

It is tempting to look at these matches - two Twenty20 internationals between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, being played in the USA - as precisely the reason why tournaments like IPL prosper. Twenty20 is the best vehicle for the globalisation of the game, which somehow - rightly or wrongly - seems to be a big concern for the administrators. The ICC sees the USA, with a team full of Asians and a country boasting enough immigrants to constitute a crowd for a match, as a prospective market. Since the two teams had been to the Caribbean, why not have them stop over on their way back.

Yet, on another level, there is much to suggest that this series is yet another example of the ICC sanctioning an ill-timed series, one without context. It hasn't been even a week since the end of the World Twenty20, and the fatigue, even for the slam-bang format, was evident among the audience during the bilateral series earlier this week between West Indies and South Africa. It would have been foolish to expect anything but in the first place: there is only so much Twenty20 people can take.

In any event, it is going to be a huge weekend for cricket in the USA, especially as a venue. Already the series has been cut short because of poor floodlighting. It is the first time two Test teams are playing in America, and how the matches go from an organisational point of view will have a bearing on the future of international cricket in the USA.

There has also been concern over whether New Zealand and Sri Lanka, small countries with small diaspora, will be able to attract enough supporters, leave alone taking the game to the natives, which should be the real aim. The onus will be on the teams to play attractive cricket; it is not easy to make a pitching-obsessed nation fall in love with bowling. They can't turn up jaded, like West Indies and South Africa did, three days after the World Twenty20 final.

South Arica VS West Indies 2nd T-20 live stream

2010-05-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Watch Live Live South Africa Vs West Indies T 20 match

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Dilshan to lead Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe

2010-05-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Tillakaratne Dilshan will lead Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe in the absence of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, both of whom have been rested for the triangular series also involving India. Sanath Jayasuriya, who had a horrid World Twenty20, and Lasith Malinga also have been rested. Angelo Mathews, the allrounder, will deputise for Dilshan, who is on his first assignment as captain for an ODI series.

Muttiah Muralitharan, who was ruled out during the World Twenty20 due to a groin injury, also hasn't been picked. Sri Lanka have drafted in allrounder Jeewan Mendis, who's been in his country's domestic circuit for almost ten years but is yet to make a international appearance. Also featuring in the squad of 15 is left-handed batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, who played for Sri Lanka in two ODIs in Bangladesh in January.

Returning to the squad are opener Upul Tharanga, middle-order batsman Chamara Silva and fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who were not picked for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

The tournament gets underway in Bulawayo on May 28, with Zimbabwe taking on India in the opener.

Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Silva, Thissira Perera.
Crom:-http://www.cricinfo.com/zim-tri2010/content/current/story/460370.html

Charlton - England must win USA opener

2010-05-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

Jack Charlton is confident England will ease their way into the last 16 if they get their World Cup finals campaign off to a winning start against the United States.
The former Leeds man has warned Fabio Capello's men not to take the USA too lightly when the sides meet in their Group C opener in Rustenburg on June 12.
Charlton said: "At the moment, we have got top players there and it is up to the manager to decide who he plays, how he plays them and what type of game he wants to play. I am sure he is a very knowledgeable man and we have got a good start knowing we have got good players. I think the first game against America will be very difficult. If we win that, then we will win the group."
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Charlton knows exactly what it takes to succeed on the big stage having enjoyed World Cup glory as a player in 1996 and led the Republic of Ireland to the finals as a manager.
But where his Ireland team fried in the heat of the American sun in 1994, he is hoping the elements could provide England with a further boost this time around.
He said: "We are going there in the winter where we might get rain and it might get a bit chilly, which might suit the England lads.
"Ninety per cent of the times you play at European Championships and World Cups, you are playing in very, very warm, very hot temperatures, and that is very hard for the players.
"But this time it looks as if we might have an opportunity to play in conditions which might suit us."

Ref:-http://www.football.co.uk/england/charlton_-_england_must_win_usa_opener_rss799687.shtml

Ryan McLaren shines as South Africa beat West Indies

2010-05-19T23:13:00.000-07:00

Ryan McLaren ripped through the West Indies batting line-up to take 5-19 as South Africa eased past the hosts in the first game of their Twenty20 tour.

Jacques Kallis had struck 53 off 45 balls to guide South Africa to 136-7 off 20 overs.
The 34-year-old Kallis struck three sixes and one four in a second-wicket stand of 73 with captain Graeme Smith.
And, on a two-paced wicket, the West Indies were unable to build up any momentum as they lost by 13 runs.
Both sides made changes to their line-ups after disappointing World Twenty20 campaigns.

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