England win series against Pakistan

England beat Pakistan by nine wickets to win the third day-night international here on Saturday, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match series. Kevin Pietersen hit his first ODI century since November 2008, finishing unbeaten on 111 while Alastair Cook scored 80 as England easily chased a modest 223-run target set by Pakistan in 37.2 overs. Shahid Afridi (51) and Umar Akmal (50) helped Pakistan recover from a difficult position of 97-5 before Steven Finn (3-24) and Stuart Broad (3-42) knocked them out in 50 overs. England won the first match by 130 runs and the second by 20 runs -- both in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan v England third ODI England Win

England win by 9 wickets against Pakistan

Pakistan scores 222 as Afridi shines in 3rd ODI

Playing the third ODI in Dubai, Pakistani top order succumbed one after the other to the English bowling attack. However, Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal hit soild half-centuries to help Pakistan to a challenging 222. Their knocks came in the third day-night international against England at Dubai Stadium on Saturday. The duo was joined by maverick Umar Gul who scored brilliant 27 off as many balls. Afridi hit a 55-ball 51 while Umar scored a 92-ball 50 during their 79-run sixth wicket stand which lifted Pakistan from a precarious 97-5 after Misbah-ul Haq won his first toss in the four-match series and chose to bat. But Pakistan, trailing 2-0 after losing the first two matches in Abu Dhabi, initially failed to improve their fortunes as they lost Azhar Ali (five), Mohammad Hafeez (29) and Misbah (one) in the space of just two runs. Two of these wickets went to paceman Stuart Broad, who finished with 3-42, while the impressive Steven Finn added one to his early breakthrough of Imran Farhat (nine) in this pacemen domination period. Finn - who took four wickets apiece in the first two matches after sitting out the test series - finished with 3-24 off ten overs. Afridi and Umar repaired the innings, with Afridi hitting three boundaries and a six. Broad returned for his second spell to dismiss Umar, caught by Samit Patel after hitting just one boundary. Afridi followed four runs later when he failed to connect properly with a big drive off paceman James Anderson who finished with 2-52. Pakistan were forced to leave out experienced batsman Younis Khan who was suffering from fever. Left-arm spinner Andul Rehman was also left out from Wednesday s line-up and Asad Shafiq and Adnan Akmal were brought in. England remained unchanged from the second match. Shafiq (18) also added 46 for the fifth wicket with Umar before he was run out. Umar Gul made 27 not out to give some late momentum to the innings.

Pakistan look to avoid series defeat

After suffering successive defeats for the first time since the twin losses to the West Indies in the One-Day International (ODI) series last year, Pakistan will have to go all-out if they want to keep their chances alive against England. The two teams face off in Dubai today for the third ODI with England leading the four-match series 2-0. After a stunning whitewash of the Test series, if the first two ODIs are anything to go by, Pakistan have their work cut out. They are yet to find a suitable combination and their bowlers, barring off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afrid, have hardly looked threatening. Missed chances, poor fielding and the batsmen’s failure to convert starts have compounded the hosts’ problems. Add to this the criticism levelled for fielding Umar Akmal as a wicket-keeper and one sees a grim picture. However, captain Misbahul Haq, while admitting that fielding was still a concern, said the batsmen showed improvement from the first ODI where Pakistan were bundled out for 130. “The batsmen showed improvement,” Misbah had said after the second ODI. “But the fielding was the main difference. We also lost wickets in a cluster.” A worry for Pakistan would still be to whether play two fast-bowlers and weaken a already fragile tail or bring in Shoaib Malik to give another spin option and strengthen the batting. However, former captain and coach Waqar Younis warned against too many changes and advised Misbah to change his approach for the shorter format. “I feel that too many changes for every game do not send the right message,” said Waqar. “I think Misbah has to realise that he can’t play the waiting game in ODIs. It works in Test cricket but you can’t sit around waiting for things to happen in one-day cricket. I think he needs to attack more.” While Misbah’s tactics and approach were being questioned – yet again – the batsmen had themselves to blame. Most got starts but threw away their wicket. With a tail as weak as Pakistan’s, the top-order batsmen needed to get the job done. For England, pretty much everything seemed to be in its place. Their captain Alastair Cook hit successive hundreds with Ravi Bopara contributing vital runs. Bowlers, especially Steven Finn, were in full flow and did not make it easier for Pakistan. Kevin Pietersen, who has opened the innings, praised Cook and said it was a good turnaround after losing the Tests 3-0. “It’s been a really good turnaround after the Test matches,” said Pietersen, who flopped in the Tests with just 67 runs. “The team have done really well. Cook and Bopara have done a brilliant job, and Finn has been remarkable.” With Pakistan desperately needing someone to make it click, there will be only one thing on their minds today — avoid their first ODI series defeat since losing to South Africa in November 2010.

Sangakkara reaches 10,000 as Sri Lanka hammer Australia

Kumar Sangakkara hit his 10,000th run in one-day internationals to help Sri Lanka hammer Australia by eight wickets in a rain-shortened Tri-series match on Friday.  Sri Lanka were set 152 for victory from 41 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method after Australia had been bowled out for 158 in an innings that was interrupted for two hours by wet weather.They never looked like needing much more than half of their allocated overs, however, and captain Mahela Jayawardene smashed an unbeaten 61 as they reached their target for the loss of two wickets with 101 balls to spare. Sangakkara delighted the large Sri Lankan contingent in the crowd by becoming the 10th cricketer to pass the 10,000-run milestone on his way to a 29-ball 30. He was congratulated at the crease by Jayawardene, another member of the exclusive club. Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan made the other major contribution to the Sri Lanka tally with a quickfire 45 before being caught by David Hussey off Clint McKay, handing out brutal punishment to Brett Lee in particular early in the innings. All rounder Thisara Perera was the standout for Sri Lanka in the field, taking 2-29 with his right-arm medium pace and running out two more Australian batsmen with brilliant fielding. The 22-year-old’s contribution would have been more telling had Lasith Malinga managed to hold onto a catch from David Hussey off his first ball of the day, when the batsmen was on eight. Hussey was also dropped by Angelo Mathews when he was on 33 and he made the most of his reprieves to score 58, his third half century of the series. His stand of 49 for the ninth wicket with Mitchell Starc rescued the Australian innings from 104-8 after a top order collapse but ultimately it proved too little to save the hosts from defeat. Ricky Ponting – standing in as captain for the injured Michael Clarke – had a miserable evening after winning the toss, continuing his poor form with the bat by being caught and bowled by Farveez Maharoof for two. It was Sri Lanka’s first win in the series, which continues when the hosts take on India in Brisbane on Sunday.

New Zealand beat South Africa by 6 wickets

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill continued a dream run of form as the Black Caps posted a six wicket win over South Africa in the opening Twenty20 international in Wellington on Friday. Guptill s undefeated 78 off 55 balls was his sixth successive international half-century, steering New Zealand to four for 148 with four balls to spare in reply to South Africa s six for 147. The opener, who put Zimbabwe s attack to the sword in the recent tour whitewash, looked comfortable against more challenging opposition in South Africa s first trip to New Zealand in eight years. He smashed four sixes in his innings, one booming effort off Lonwabo Tsotsobe s bowling sailing onto the roof of Westpac Stadium before it bounced back down onto the pitch. Kane Williamson also made a valuable cameo with 24 off 22 balls, while paceman Tim Southee took three for 28 to limit South Africa s total. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum s decision to send South Africa into bat on a slow pitch after winning the toss paid dividends with early wickets, preventing the Proteas building momentum. JP Duminy top scored for South Africa with 41, while Justin Ontong, returning to the national team after a three-year absence, hit four successive sixes in his 32 off 17 balls. Hashim Amla, who had looked threatening, was the first to go after trying to snatch a quick single off a mis-field in the fourth over, only for Guptill to dive in from the field with ball in hand and knock over the stumps. Colin Ingram departed for a duck in the next over when he charged down the pitch to attack a Nathan McCullum off-break, leaving himself stranded when it slipped past him and into the hands of Brendon McCullum behind the wicket. Southee then joined the attack, smashing Levi in the helmet with his second ball, then going on to claim the wicket with the last ball of the over when Levi misjudged a slower ball and sent it sailing to Doug Bracewell. AB de Villiers came to the crease with his side reeling at 38 for three but could only manage eight off 17 balls before being ruled out to a debatable catch and the carnage continued. De Villiers hit spinner Ronnie Hira to short cover, where Guptill swooped and claimed a low catch, the South African captain initially standing his ground until third umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled him out after inconclusive TV replays. New Zealand, their tails up, then restricted Ontong and Duminy to just six runs an over through the middle of the innings, forcing the batsmen onto the back foot with aggressive bowling and sharp fielding. It was the Black Caps  turn to question the umpire when Ontong appeared to edge the ball to wicketkeeper McCullum, with the umpire ruling the ball hit his body. The decision proved costly for the home side when Ontong belted four successive sixes off part-time spinner Kane Williamson to add some respectability to South Africa s score. But he was dismissed in the next over, caught and bowled by Southee, who just got his fingertips to the ball as he lunged to his right. Southee claimed his third wicket when Duminy, who battled doggedly to steady South Africa s innings, departed for 41. The next T20 of the three match series will be played at Hamilton on Sunday. The tour includes three T20s, three one-day internationals and three Tests.

Ajax-Manchester fans scuffle with Dutch police

Dutch police intervened between Ajax and Manchester United supporters in Amsterdam on Thursday (February 16) hours before their Europa League match. Riot police, dog handlers and mounted officers forcibly separated crowds of Dutch and English fans gathering in the red light district. Several people were detained. More than 70 Ajax supporters were arrested on Wednesday night.

Man City’s racism complaint surprises Porto

Porto were surprised on Friday over Manchester City’s complaint that striker Mario Balotelli suffered racist abuse during their Europa League match and said nothing abnormal had happened during the game.  A City representative said the English club had brought the matter to the attention of UEFA officials, while witnesses gave accounts of “monkey chanting” towards the Italian during his side’s 2-1 win in Thursday’s round of 32 first leg in Portugal. The Portuguese champions and Europa League holders were stunned by the accusations. “What we can basically say is that nothing abnormal happened, no one noticed anything strange, not even the UEFA delegates that worked closely with Porto during the match,” Porto spokesman Rui Cerqueira said by telephone. He went on to describe two chants from Porto and City fans in support of their respective players Hulk and Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero that could have been mistaken for other sounds. “Kun, Kun, Kun; Hulk, Hulk, Hulk,” he said, demonstrating the chants. “(Those chants) can be easily confused with racist chants.” He also said Porto had no record of previous racism. “We are very proud of having a multi-racial team, with players from all backgrounds and to have achieved many titles with respect,” he said. “Porto players have never felt the slightest hint of racism and we were very surprised with the accusations.” However, Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure said he had “heard something”. “That’s why we like the Premier League because it never happens there … maybe in a different country they don’t expect black players,” he told Sky Sports News. 

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Porto fans at the match said abusive chants could be heard. “Monkey chants were clearly heard, even if for just a brief moment and not coming from the whole stadium, particularly after a nastier foul by Balotelli,” supporter Francisco Pimento told Reuters. “But it all died off afterwards, though Balotelli kept being whistled and booed from then on.” City manager Roberto Mancini said he had not heard anything during the match. “I didn’t hear this because I was concentrating on the game,” local media quoted the Italian as saying. “But I think the players are strong. Mario did very well. He was calm and it is important he contributed. “He knows these kinds of things can happen every game. This is the reason I spoke to Mario before the game and said: ‘you should think only about football’.” Racism is a hot topic in English football at present with Liverpool’s Luis Suarez having served an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and Chelsea captain John Terry facing criminal charges over alleged comments he made to Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand. He denies wrongdoing.

Villas-Boas shrugs off Chelsea ‘revolt’

Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that he does not enjoy the full support of his Chelsea squad ahead of the FA Cup fifth-round meeting with Birmingham City on Saturday. The manager has endured a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge since succeeding Carlo Ancelotti last summer and last weekend’s defeat at Everton sparked reports he had lost the dressing room. Club owner Roman Abramovich has become a regular visitor at the Blues’ Cobham training ground, fuelling speculation the Russian billionaire is once again growing impatient in his quest for more success. Defeat to Championship outfit Birmingham would do nothing to strengthen Villas-Boas’ position and could only undermine confidence ahead of next week’s Champions League last 16 first-leg meeting with Napoli. But the coach, who has already accepted Chelsea are bystanders in this season’s Premier League title race, insists he retains the full support of Abramovich even if not all the players share his vision of change for the club. “They don’t have to back my project. It’s the owner who backs my project,” he said. “I think the owner has full trust in me and will continue to progress with the ideas that we have. “In the end, that is the objective of getting us the best position possible in the league, plus these two trophies which we are fighting for. “It will be extremely good for us if we win against Birmingham to put ourselves in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. “But we need strong progression in the league and to show our strength. Third place is already 10 points ahead of us. We have to get Champions League qualification.” Didier Drogba is back at the club from the Africa Cup of Nations but will not be considered for selection, although Villas-Boas hopes the striker’s presence will help motivate Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku. “Drogba gives us another solution up front. We’ve used Torres in all the games since he went away,” Villas-Boas said. “For the Birmingham game it will be between Torres and Lukaku and from then on with Drogba as well. For the type of player he is, he’s as strong as anybody.” John Terry and Ashley Cole will again be missing with injuries but midfielder Ramires should return. Chelsea’s cause will be helped by the fact that Birmingham are focused more on securing promotion back into the Premier League than the cup. Manager Chris Hughton, however, insists his side’s experience in handling the demands of competing in the Europa League this season demonstrates his squad can cope when changes are made to the line-up. “We are in the same situation here as when we had to marry up the league fixtures with the Europa League,” he said. “But this is what we have and, one thing I can guarantee you, is that there will be genuine excitement in that Chelsea dressing room to go out and get a win. “Even with the fixture problems it could cause us, there isn’t anyone in the club – players and fans – that won’t want us to try and win a game on Saturday against one of the top clubs. “If we are able to do that, we will be delighted. This will be a massive test but whichever way it goes, it is certainly one we will enjoy.”

Football: Drogba warns of Champions League disaster

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba believes it would be a "disaster" if the club fails to qualify for next season s Champions League but insists he backs under-fire manager Andre Villas-Boas. The 33-year-old Ivory Coast forward said Chelsea were currently battling through the most difficult period of the striker s career since signing from Marseille in 2004. "If we don t make the top four it would be a disaster," Drogba was quoted as saying Friday in several media reports. "Every time we ve started a season since I ve been with Chelsea we never even finished as low as fourth. "It is the hardest season I ve known since I ve been here." Chelsea are currently just outside the top four following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Everton last week which has raised questions about the position of the club s young manager Villas-Boas. The Portuguese coach reportedly faced an open revolt from several senior Chelsea players earlier this week after a training ground bust-up. However Drogba rallied to Villas-Boas  defence. "It s hard for everyone at the moment, for the players and for the manager," Drogba said. "I think he s a big man and he s also learning. There s no age where you can say you don t learn any more. "He came with his philosophy which is playing a bit more football than the other managers. That s how he succeeded in Porto so he wanted to do the same at Chelsea. "You know how it is when you come with a lot of ambition and it doesn t go the way you want, it s difficult. It s not easy for him but he s not the only one who is responsible, we all are. "In football everyone blames the manager first which is difficult for him because he is on the sidelines when we are playing but I guess that s football."

Danish Kaneria named as ‘corrupter’ in Westfield trial

Pakistan international spinner Danish Kaneria was named in court on Friday as being involved in a spot-fixing scam that led to the trial of a former English county cricketer. Prosecutors in the case of former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield, who has pleaded guilty to spot-fixing and faces sentencing on Friday, said the player had been lured into the fix after an approach by Kaneria. The Old Bailey heard that Kaneria told Westfield he would be paid to concede a certain number of runs in a particular over. Prosecutor Nigel Peters QC said the deal emerged after another Essex player, Tony Palladino, showed Westfield “the most money he had ever seen”. Kaneria was arrested in connection with the case in 2010 but later released without charge. Westfield admits receiving 6,000 pounds ($9,200) to bowl so that 12 runs would be scored in the first over of a 40-over match between Durham and Essex in September 2009, although in fact only 10 were scored. This case took place against the backdrop of Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer being jailed in Britain last year for their role in a separate spot-fixing scandal in a Test match against England. Kaneria’s lawyer Farogh Naseem brushed aside Westfield’s claims. “I think we can only take any step once the inquiry is finished,” Naseem told AFP in Karachi. “It is Westfield’s words against Kaneria and a lot will depend on what evidences he puts before the court against my client.”Naseem reiterated Kaneria was cleared by the police. “At the time of the police inquiry Kaneria was not charged and cleared. The ICC (International Cricket Council) cleared him so we feel that Kaneria was discharged in the case,” he said. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) withdrew Kaneria after he was selected for the series against South Africa in October 2010 and has since not cleared him for selection, apparently waiting for the Westfield inquiry to complete.Kaneria’s petition against the PCB to revive his career was dismissed by the Sindh High court in November last year and despite vowing to take the case to higher courts Kaneria has not made any progress. Kaneria was allowed to play domestic cricket and was representing Sindh in the ongoing Pentangular Cup in Pakistan.