India v England: 3rd ODI in Mohali

MS Dhoni was India's matchwinner once again, as he marshalled an asking-rate approaching ten an over to seal an unassailable 3-0 series lead in the third ODI at Mohali. With Ravindra Jadeja alongside him, he clubbed Tim Bresnan for consecutive boundaries in the final over of the match to finish unbeaten on 35 from 31 balls, as England's best total of the series - 298 for 4 - proved insufficient to keep the series alive.

It was a sloppy fielding display from England in a match they could and should have won. Their own total had been built on another sheet-anchor performance from Jonathan Trott, who finished unbeaten on 98 from 116 balls, but the point-of-difference innings had been played by Samit Patel, whose career-best 70 from 43 balls enabled England to add 91 runs in their final ten overs. Given the history of chasing at Mohali - only five teams had previously managed it in 19 matches at the venue - their route back into the series was awaiting them.

Instead, they produced a listless defence, with Ajinkya Rahane cruising along to 91 from 104 balls in a second-wicket stand of 111 with Gautam Gambhir. They managed just one wicket in the first 34 overs - a marginal lbw against Parthiv Patel, which broke an opening partnership of 79 - and though they rallied well to claim four wickets in an eight-over spell of dominance, their failure to take their chances cost them dear in the closing stages...

Pakistan v Sri Lanka 1st Test: 3rd day

Pakistan Goes on with Taufeeq's double-century:

Twelve hours of monkish accumulation in the Abu Dhabi heat earned Taufeeq Umar only the seventh double-century by a Pakistan opener, and the first since 1992. It also left a tired Sri Lanka waiting for a declaration as Pakistan's batsmen, barring Misbah-ul-Haq, favoured accumulation over urgency. Misbah finally relented about an hour before close of play, after the lead was 314, leaving the Sri Lanka openers a testing period to survive.

Sri Lanka's day got worse when umpire Tony Hill, who is having a rough game, harshly adjudged Tharanga Paranavitana leg-before first ball. Several close shaves against the new ball followed, which was the last thing Sri Lanka needed after Taufeeq had ground them out of the match.

Taufeeq went through three contrasting partnerships on the third day: he collected runs without risk with Younis Khan, stepped back as Misbah attacked the bowlers and finally took charge when Asad Shafiq - coming in at 436 for 4 - remained stuck on 1 for 30 deliveries.

And he Rocked the Stadium.

Pakistan v Sri Lanka: 1st Test ,1st day

Sri Lanka crawl in dull first session:

On a dead Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch that brought back memories of Pakistan's drawn series against South Africa last year, Sri Lanka crawled at under two runs an over in a dull first session of the three-match Test series before Saeed Ajmal dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne on the stroke of lunch.

Flat would be an understatement for the way the surface played given that it was the first morning of a Test. Though the three Pakistan fast bowlers, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan - surprisingly chosen ahead of the quicker and more experienced Wahab Riaz - ran in with heart, they were rendered ineffective by the lack of bite, and life, in the pitch.

Pakistan news:Afridi withdraws retirement

Shahid Afridi has withdrawn his international retirement and says he is available for selection for Pakistan in the limited-over formats. Afridi had announced his retirement from international cricket in May after having been stripped of the ODI captaincy following a public spat with coach Waqar Younis.

He had, however, said it was a 'conditional' retirement, stating that if there were changes in the PCB and the team management, he would consider playing for Pakistan again. Since then, Waqar Younis has quit as coach of the national team, and Ijaz Butt has been replaced as PCB chairman by Zaka Ashraf. Afridi said he had not really retired but had only said he wouldn't play under the previous (Ijaz Butt-led) board.

"I didn't as such retire," Afridi told reporters in Karachi. "I only said I will not play under the previous board but now people are changed - exactly what I wanted - so I am available for selection for the country."

Good Luck for Pakistani team.

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