Tendulkar's world-record 200 boosts India

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 GWALIOR: Sachin Tendulkar hammered a world-record 200 not out as India posted a massive 401-3 against South Africa in the second one-day international on Wednesday.Zimbabwean Charles Coventry (194 not out) and Pakistan's Saeed Anwar (194) were the joint-record holders for the highest individual score before Tendulkar became the first batsman to hit a double-century in one-dayers.Tendulkar, 36, reached the milestone in the last over when he took a single off paceman Charl Langeveldt, much to the delight of the sizeable crowd at Gwalior.The veteran Indian opener smashed 25 fours and three sixes in his 147-ball knock for his 46th one-day hundred in the day-night match to boost his team's hopes of clinching the three-match series.

The hosts lead 1-0 following their one-run victory in the previous game in Jaipur on Sunday.Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan also feasted on the South African attack on a flat track. Dhoni hit a 35-ball 68 not out and Pathan 36 off 23 balls as India posted their highest total against South Africa.But the day belonged to Tendulkar who delighted the spectators with his rich stroke play, executing breathtaking shots on both sides of the wicket to reduce the South African bowlers to a state of helplessness.India lost Virender Sehwag (nine) in the fourth over after electing to bat, but Tendulkar received valuable support from Dinesh Karthik, who scored a career-best 79 in a record 194-run stand for the second wicket off 29.3 overs.India's previous best for the second wicket against South Africa in one-dayers was 180 between Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in Nagpur in 2000.Tendulkar went for shots early in the innings, racing to his half-century off just 37 balls with nine fours. He took 53 more deliveries to reach his hundred. Runs came thick and fast from both the ends as Karthik also batted aggressively, cracking three sixes -- one each off Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis and Jean-Paul Duminy.Karthik was caught by Herschelle Gibbs at mid-wicket while attempting to pull seamer Wayne Parnell, but not before he had put the hosts on course for a big total with his fourth half-century in one-day internationals.South Africa made three changes from the team that lost the opening match, bringing in Hashim Amla, Duminy and Roelof van der Merwe in place of Loots Bosman, Albie Morkel and Johan Botha.

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Pakistan win hockey test series against England

LONDON: Pakistan hockey team has beaten England persuasively in the second test mach here by 3-2 goals, thus bag the three-match test series by 2-0 on Friday
In the thirteenth minute of the first half, Waqas Shareef scored first goal from Pakistan while Muhammad Imran, score second goal from Pakistan in the twenty-fifth minute of the first half, got Pakistan 2-0 guide.

The team regularly lost grip on the match in the second half but in the fifty-fifth minute of the match, Hafeez Khan complete the third goal from Pakistan however, English team, pending back into the game, had manage to score two goals thirteen minutes previous to the final whistle of the match.

Consequently, Pakistan hockey thrashed England by 3-2 in the second test match, winning the test series by 2-0.
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Afridi devotes T20 victory to Swat people

KARACHI: The hero from Pakistan cricket team in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Shahid Khan Afridi has said our ambition were to reduce the restless nation by winning the world cup and I dedicate our victory to the people of Swat.
Afridi devotes T20 victory to Swat people.He advised political leaders to get united as our national team is and they must learn lesson from our commitment, he added.

Talking to rehmankhan66@gmail.com (Rehman) on his return to country, he said the prayers of the people set the ways for our victory; my seniors kept my moral high and boosted my confidence as the tournament progressed.

He advised political leaders to get united as our national team is and they have to learn lesson from our commitment, he added.

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Younis Khan receives hero's welcome in Karachi

KARACHI: A jubilant crowd gathered at Jinnah international airport to greet Pakistan cricket team’s skipper Younis Khan.Younis’ family members, friends and large number of cricket lovers were present at the airport to welcome winning captain. Fans shower flower petals as soon as Younis came out from the airport. They chanted sologans in Younis Khan and Pakistan’s favour. Younis at this occasion avoid media.

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Victorious Pakistan cricket players returning home

LAHORE: Most of the players of triumphant Pakistan cricket team have dead from London to return home where the complete nation is impatiently waiting to accord them warmest welcome.People of all ages together with cricket fans, women and children will be gathering outside Lahore airport where the flight transportation the cricket heroes is scheduled to land at 3:00 AM.The team captain Younus Khan, star performer Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul are not among the players returning home in the wee hours tonight.The nation is prepared to pay tribute to the cricket heroes who made the entire nation pompous.This is the second time when the Pakistan cricket team is returning home after becoming world champions.The memories of Pakistan team recurring home still lingers in peoples mind and heart when the players led by captain Imran Khan returned home after wining 1992 World Cup.
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Watch Live Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka Final Match Twenty Twenty World Cup 2009 t20 Cricket lords London

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T20 World Cup Victory celebration @ Bangalore

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Final Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Lords

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Pakistan celebrate victory in for world twenty20

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Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2009 T20 World Cup Final (Celebrns + Post Match)

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Twenty20 Cricket World Cup Final 2009 Pakistan vs Srilanka

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PAKISTAN WON THE WORLDCUP of t20 2009

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Pakistan lift World T20 Cup, beat Sri Lanka by 8 wkts

LONDON: Pakistan won their first major title in 17 years when they astonished Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the World Twenty20 final at a sell-out Lord's here on Sunday.

Seamer Abdur Razzaq claimed three wickets as Pakistan bowled and field aggressively to restrict Sri Lanka to 138-6, then coast home easily with eight deliveries to spare.

Shahid Afridi hit an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, his second consecutive half-century, and former captain Shoaib Malik made 24 not out during a match-winning partnership of 76 for the unbeatable third wicket.

Pakistan, runners-up to India in the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, ended Sri Lanka's winning run in the tournament with style.

Pakistan last won an offical multi-nation tournament in 1992 when Imran Khan's team lifted the World Cup by beating England in the final at the Melbourne cricket ground in Australia.

The win by Younus Khan's team gave Pakistanis back home reason to cheer as the cricket-mad nation has been deprived of international tours due to security concerns in the volatile nation.

The International Cricket Council has already ruled out holding World Cup matches in Pakistan in 2011 following the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore on March 3.

Pakistani openers Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan ensured there were no early scares as they put on 48 for the first wicket in seven overs.

Sanath Jayasuriya broke through with his first delivery in the next over when he beat Akmal in the air with his left-arm spin and had him stumped for 37 off 28 balls.

Jayasuriya then took a catch to get rid of Shahzaib off Muttiah Muralitharan for 19, but Afridi and Malik took Pakistan home amid loud celebrations from their fans in the stands.

Sri Lanka were dealt quick blows after Sangakkara won the toss and elected to take first strike on a slow wicket.

The Lankans slumped to 2-2 in the first nine balls and that became 34-4 before Sangakkara himself led the rescue act with a defiant unbeaten 64 from 52 balls.

Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews put on 68 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket as Sri Lanka plundered 59 runs in the final five overs.

Mathews returned unbeaten on 35 off 24 balls.

Pakistan got off to a sensational start when teenage fast bowler Mohammad Aamir sent back the in-form Tillekaratne Dilshan with the fifth ball of the match.

Dilshan, the tournament's leading scorer with 317 runs, miscued a pull shot off the speedy left-armer and was caught at backward square-leg by Shahzaib Hasan for zero.

Four balls later, Shahzaib grabbed his second catch at mid-off as Jehan Mubarak skied a leading edge off Razzaq, who shared the new ball with Aamir.

Jayasuriya counter-attacked with a six and four in Razzaq's second over, but the bowler hit back two balls later as the left-handed veteran edged a ball on to his stumps after making 17.

Razzaq, who replaced the injured Yasir Arafat after ending his links with the rebel Indian Cricket League, struck again in his third over when Misbah-ul Haq dived to his right at slip to remove Mahela Jayawardene for one.

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Pakistan, Sri Lanka in ICC World T20 final today

LONDON: Pakistan and Sri Lanka will competition the World Twenty20 final at Lord's today.
Pakistan, who beat favourites South Africa by seven runs in Thursday's semi-final, has bounced back in style at this tournament.
They will face unbeaten Sri Lanka in the final after their Asian rivals thrashed the West Indies by 57 runs at the Oval on Friday.
Despite the events in Lahore, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said relatives amid the two sides had remained friendly.
"What Lahore truly brought home to us was we are just the same as anyone else," he said.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs in a Super Eights match former at this tournament but Sangakkara said: "We've played Pakistan many times before but in T20 you must take every game in separation. Different players come into form at different times.

"Hopefully, we can put in a good performance and walk away with a trophy."

The dangerous Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant all-round display in Pakistan's semi-final triumph, scoring 51 and then taking two wickets for 16 runs with his leg-spinners.

"He is a guy who can take the game away in few overs, but we can't just concentrate on him," said Sangakkara.

In Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, Sangakkara has two star spinners of his own although Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal should not be disregarded.

"Mendis, the way he's bowled in the middle overs had been a charm," Sangakkara said. "Even Pakistan watch him closely, they know he can get their wickets."

Sri Lanka's semi-final victory was built on a brilliant innings from Tillekaratne Dilshan, the leading scorer at the tournament with 317 runs, who carried his bat for 96 not out in a total of 158 for five.

Then came a sensational first over in the West Indies' reply, which saw seam bowler Angelo Mathews take three wickets as Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo all played on for ducks.

Chris Gayle made 63 not out but none of the West Indies captain's colleagues could stay with the left-handed opener long enough to mount a serious chase as Sri Lanka won with 14 balls to spare.

Dilshan decided not to employ the 'Dilscoop' shot where he flicks the ball over the wicket-keeper's head and settled for more orthodox strokes.

"Now we've one more match, hopefully I can stay strong. I think I'll keep the paddle for the final," Dilshan explained.

Sangakkara, who said he expected something special from veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya in the final, added: "I have run out of superlatives for Dilshan. He is a pioneer stroke-maker in Twenty20.

"The best thing is that he understands his role and has become very responsible and mature. He has finally understood how good he is."

And as for Mathews, the captain said: "It's Mathews's first major international tour and you can't ask for much more than three wickets in the first over.

"Now we will take this confidence into the final against Pakistan."

Pakistan, who lost by just five runs to arch-rivals India in the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg, are desperate to go one better this time.

The dark horses of this tournament, they have justified veteran coach Intikhab Alam's belief that they would be at their best when it mattered most.

"We want to make people back home happy," Pakistan captain Younus Khan said. "Winning the title will mean a lot to them and that will inspire us in the final. One more game and the World Cup will be ours."

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said: "You couldn't ask for a better final, they are two quality teams."
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Sangakkara lauds Sri Lanka spirit

LONDON: Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said Pakistan is one of the best team and he expects an exhilarating encounter with Pakistan in the final of T20 World Cup.
Addressing a press conference, Sangakkara said both countries enjoying good cricket ties and their is definitely a thrilling final ahead for cricket lovers.
West Indian captain spoken regrets over the defeat in semi-final. He said both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have talented players and large number of supporters, therefore, an interesting final is probable.

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Sri Lanka reach final, beat WI by 57 runs

LONDON: Sri Lanka had beaten the West Indies by 57 runs with 14 balls to spare in the second semi-finals of the World Twenty20 Cup 2009 here at The Oval on Friday.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle, who open the innings remained not out on 63 as no other batsman could resist against the accurate bowling from Sri Lankans.
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Pakistan can easily win World T20 Cup: Ramiz Raja

ISLAMABAD: Previous captain of Pakistan cricket team Ramiz Raja, declare the Pakistan victory against South Africa a good omen, said that the national cricket team after defeat Proteas now can easily win the final of the World Twenty20 Cup 2009.
Talking with rehmankhan66@gmail.com (Rehman), the former captain said that the success against a big team like South Africa is a result of the best team combination.
Praising the performance of Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, he said that equally these players have played a significant role in the team’s victory.
Replying to a question, Ramiz said that Abdul Razzaq is a good cricketer but fresh cricketers is given more chances in Twenty20 cricket.
He said that his favorite team for the final would be Pakistan only.

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Afridi blitz takes Pakistan to 149-4 against SA

NOTTINGHAM: Shahid Afridi hit 51 off 34 balls as Pakistan made a challenging 149-4 in the World Twenty20 semi-final against South Africa at Trent Bridge here on Thursday.The hard-hitting batsman smashed eight boundaries, counting four in succession off Johan Botha, after Pakistan chosen to bat on a wicket expected to assist spinners later.Pakistan, who was 120-3 after 15 overs, failed to build on the early advantage and managed just 29 runs in the final five overs. South Africa, unbeaten in the tournament so far, regrouped after Afridi's assault and did not concede a boundary after 14.4 overs.Pakistan captain Younus Khan returned unbeaten on 24, while Abdur Razzaq was on 12."It's not an easy wicket to bat on, the ball is not coming onto the bat," said Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik."Our bowlers will use their variations and that will help them."South Africa's JP Duminy praised his team's bowlers who limited Pakistan to just 29 runs in the last five overs."Shahid Afridi played really well and hit the ball nicely," said Duminy."But it was a great fightback by us in the last five overs. The bowlers did really well and were judgment the block holes."Pakistan made a frenetic start, racing to 28 off the first 15 deliveries but at the cost of two wickets.After Kamran Akmal had taken eight runs in Dale Steyn's first over, Shahzaib Hasan fell in the second over for zero when he miscued a big hit off left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell.Akmal struck a six in Steyn's second over, but fell off the next delivery as he top-edged a pull to Albie Morkel at mid-on. Akmal made 23 from 12 balls with four boundaries and a six.Afridi, promoted to number three, swung Jacques Kallis for two fours in one over as Pakistan reached 47-2 by the time the field restrictions ended after the sixth.Afridi brought up his half-century off 33 deliveries after slamming off-spinner Botha for four consecutive boundaries in the 11th over that realised 18 runs.A desperate South African captain Graeme Smith turned to slow bowler Jean-Paul Duminy in the 13th over and struck gold first ball as Afridi holed out to mid-wicket.Shoaib Malik, who faced 39 balls to make 34, also returned playing a lofted shot as Botha took a well-judged catch at long-on off left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe.

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Pakistan in final beating South Africa

NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan beaten South Africa by seven runs in an exciting finish in the first semi-finals of the World Twenty20 Cup 2009 here at Trent Bridge on Thursday.Chasing a rather difficult target of 150 runs, South Africa were restricted to 142-5 when the 20 overs were completed.
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Pakistan to play SAfrica in Twenty20 semi-final

NOTTINGHAM: An intriguing clash is on the cards when favorites South Africa clash with buoyant Pakistan in the semi-final of the World Twenty20 here on Thursday.
The South Africans have show their all-round prowess throughout an unbeaten run in the tournament, counting emphatic wins in all three Super Eight games against the West Indies, England and defending champions India.
The latest success came at Trent Bridge on Tuesday when the Proteas fight back after being restricted to a modest 130-5 on a slow wicket to keep off-colour India down to 118-8.
Pakistan bounce back after losing their first Super Eights game to Sri Lanka to beat New Zealand by six wickets before ensuring their place in the semi-final by packing off minnows Ireland by 38 runs.
In the preliminary round, the enigmatic Pakistanis had shown a similar never-say-die attitude by thrashing England-conquerors Netherlands by 82 runs after losing their breach match against the hosts.
"We are slow starters but we never give up," said Pakistan captain Younus Khan. "If we lose a game we regroup fast and go out and prove ourselves."
Pakistan have been lifted by a sensational display by seamer Umar Gul, who claimed five wickets for six runs against New Zealand at the Oval last Saturday, the first five-wicket haul in Twenty20 internationals.
Gul, who was the highest wicket-taker in the initial World Twenty20 in South Africa when Pakistan ended as runners-up to India, again tops the list with 12 scalps in this tournament.
"Gul is a class act," said Pakistani coach Intikhab Alam. "He has exposed that the best way to confine a side in T20 is by taking wickets. He is definitely a trump card."
Suggestions from the New Zealand camp that Gul extracted reverse swing during his five-wicket haul against them was dismissed by the on-field umpires. But when Pakistan returned to the field against Ireland on Monday, umpires Rudi Koertzen and Rod Tucker regularly checked the ball.

Younus, however, wanted his team to overcome the embarrassment and focus on the semi-final. "It will be a tough game because South Africa have proved they are a very good side, but we will be ready for the challenge," he said.

"The bowlers have done a great job so far, but I think the batsmen do not give them enough runs to defend. We can't let that happen against South Africa."

Graeme Smith's side have the advantage of having played two matches at Trent Bridge during the tournament, while Pakistan's games were all confined to Lord's or Oval in London.

"Pakistan is a brilliant team who will arrive expecting to beat us," said Smith.
"Regardless of who deserves to win going into a semi-final, it's about who plays best on the day. It's a simple matter." Smith, however, warned Pakistan his team will not be beaten easily.

"We are professional and scientific but I think we have also prove that we have enough flair and enough options available to us to be the all-round package," he said. "We have played at all the grounds; we have faced many dissimilar challenges on different wickets and defended low totals.
"So I think we are a well-rounded team going into the semis. We just need to give ourselves the best chance on Thursday and play our type of cricket."
Sri Lanka face the West Indies in the further semi-final at the Oval on Friday, with the final scheduled to take place at Lord's on Sunday.

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