Debutant Ervine seals terrific win to Zimbabwe

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

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

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England tour pay dispute is settled

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

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

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

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

 Watch Live Live South Africa Vs West Indies T 20 match

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Dilshan to lead Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe

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

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

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.

Visit More:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/8693551.stm

South Africa Vs West Indies T-20 Live Stream (wi vs sa)

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England 'perfect' as World Cup host, says Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello says he believes England remains "the perfect country to host the World Cup" despite the recent controversy surrounding Lord Triesman.

Triesman quit as chairman of the 2018 World Cup bid after claims that he accused the Spanish and Russian football federations of bribery."My relationship with Lord Triesman was really good," England boss Capello told BBC Sport from the team's Austria base."I am sorry for what happened but now we are focused on what happens here."England's World Cup squad are training near picturesque Salzburg ahead of this summer's tournament, and captain Rio Ferdinand also took time out to support the 2018 bid.

2018 bid is more than one man - Ferdinand "The bid's bigger than any one individual. People come and go in the process but we'd still stage a great World Cup," he told the BBC. "I think this country has got all the tools to hold a tournament of that ilk. We will be great hosts."

Lord Coe, the mastermind behind London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and a board member for the 2018 bid, insisted: "I don't think anybody in the world, including Fifa, doubts we have anything other than a great ability to deliver a fantastic World Cup.
"This does not become a bad bid overnight.
"I understand campaigns. We were bidding to stage an Olympic Games for the best part of three years.

Hurst remains confident over 2018 bid "Campaigns are marathons, not sprints. There's rarely anything that is so serious or so great that you are permanently derailed or you jump across the line in one fell swoop.

"You have to be consistent with your messages. What is the consistent message that we will be punching between now until the vote in Zurich? That we have stadiums in place that are extraordinary, we have passionate fans, we have a marketplace for football.

Visit more on:-http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8689913.stm

Boucher dropped, de Villiers to keep

AB de Villiers will keep wicket for South Africa during the limited-overs leg of their tour of West Indies instead of Mark Boucher, whose place in the team is now uncertain. Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, said the new selection panel led by Andrew Hudson was trying out new ideas ahead of the 2011 World Cup, and having de Villiers keep gave him more options.

"AB will be starting with the gloves in the limited-overs matches," Smith said ahead of the first Twenty20 international in Antigua. "There is a new selection committee and a few new ideas. We only have something like 15 ODIs before we get to India for the World Cup, so we have to make every one of them count."

Boucher, 33, has been a near permanent fixture in South Africa's XI across formats since he made his debut in 1997 and has played 131 Tests, 291 ODIs and 25 Twenty20s. Smith said the absence of Boucher's experience in the line-up would have to be made up by the rest of the players.

Source:-http://www.cricinfo.com/west-indies-v-south-africa-2010/content/current/story/460183.html

Foot ball:-Barcelona ponder move for Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas

Barcelona are considering making a move for Cesc Fabregas after the Arsenal captain's admission that he would like to return to the Catalan giants.

Last week Fabregas, 23, who joined the Gunners from Barca in 2003, said he would only leave Arsenal for Barcelona.
Barca president Joan Laporta said: "It is remarkable the player has said that. If we believe we must make an effort, we will and we will talk to Arsenal."
Meanwhile, Barcelona are close to signing Valencia striker David Villa.
The Spanish international is holding talks with the La Liga champions and Laporta said: "We are in the negotiating process and everything is going in the right direction.
"We hope it is resolved soon. We have set a specific date and will do what is best for the club."
Laporta's reign as the Catalan club's president comes to an end this summer and two of his potential successors, Sandro Rosell and Alfons Godall, have mentioned signing Fabregas as part of their election campaign.
More info-http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/8690067.stm

Sri Lanka v New Zealand T20 Florida series cut to two matches

The Twenty20 series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Florida - the first international series between two full ICC members to take place in the USA - has been reshaped after the ICC declared that the floodlights at the Broward County Regional Park, the venue, were unfit for hosting international cricket. The schedule will now involve New Zealand taking on Sri Lanka twice over the weekend in addition to two Twenty20 games between USA and Jamaica, who also play a 50-over one-day game on May 21.

"Ideally the inaugural game in the Pearls Cup series would have been a night game on Thursday," New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan said. "The lights at the stadium are fine for most levels of cricket, but they need to be of a higher standard for the playing and broadcast of international cricket.

"And added to this, there is a high probability of rain and thunderstorms in the region on Thursday which added weight to our decision. Because of these factors, we have decided, along with our partner USA Cricket, to focus all of the attention on the weekend with the two double headers as well a full one-day international between USA and Jamaica on Friday the 21st."

The original plan was for a three-match Twenty20 series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which had been reduced to two back-to-back fixtures on May 21 and 22.

England T-20 World Cup win to be...

It seems incredible to say it, given the ineptitude of England's history in limited-overs cricket, but this was no fluke, far from it. At the moment of victory, there was only one man to whom the team gravitated, for Collingwood's grounded professionalism has transformed him into the most durable cricketer of his generation, and no one could be more deserving of all the accolades that will flood his way in the coming weeks. In his own unobtrusive manner, he's become England's heartbeat in all forms of the game, the unlikeliest heir imaginable to the last great English "talisman".

Remember Andrew Flintoff? Incredibly, no one this side of the St Lucia marina has given him a second thought in the past fortnight. Not only have England scaled unprecedented heights in his absence, they've done so with an ethos that makes you question whether he would ever have made the cut in the first place. "Who needs Fred when you've got Tim Bresnan?" is the message being projected by the Flower and Collingwood regime. It sounds absurd, but then, two weeks ago, so too was the prospect of England becoming world champions.

Barcelona vice-president Rafael Yuste has revealed they are close to signing David Villa and remain hopeful of landing Cesc Fabregas.

Barcelona vice-president Rafael Yuste has revealed they are close to signing David Villa and remain hopeful of landing Cesc Fabregas.

Newly-crowned Primera Liga champions Barca are keen on signing Valencia ace Villa and Arsenal schemer Fabregas as they look to strengthen their squad for next season.

A move for Villa has been mooted for some time with Valencia resigned to losing their star striker due to their financial problems.

Fabregas has been continually linked with a return to Barcelona with the midfielder admitting his desire to rejoin his former club at some point in the future.

Buy your World Cup Tickets

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Banned Franck Ribery to miss Champions League final

Ribery was handed a three-game ban by Uefa for fouling Lyon's Lisandro Lopez

Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery will miss the Champions League final after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected his appeal against a ban.

The 27-year-old France playmaker turned to Cas after Uefa imposed a three-match suspension following his red card for a tackle on Lyon's Lisandro Lopez.
Uefa had already dismissed an appeal and on Monday Cas upheld the decision.
Saturday's final clash against Inter Milan in Madrid will be the second match of Ribery's European ban.
Cas said it would reveal the reasons for its decision "in a few days" but the court's secretary general, Matthieu Reeb, said that judges were reluctant to interfere in refereeing judgements.

fifth and final Ticketing Sales Phase opens today!

fifth and final Ticketing Sales Phase opens today! As of 9am CET, South African residents will be able to purchase tickets directly at the following locations: 11 FIFA Ticketing Centres and First National Branches. Online purchasing will open on FIFA.com at 6pm CET!
visit:-http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/organisation/ticketing/salesphases.html

Kevin rewards for his hard hittings..!

Life for Kevin Pietersen is pretty good at the moment. He couldn't stop smiling as he sat with the World Twenty20 trophy, the Player-of-the-Series award, his form back to somewhere near its best and a small baby to return home to.

He had unfinished business against Australia after being forced to hobble out of the Ashes with his Achilles injury. His 47 in the final won't quite make up for it - that will have to wait until the Ashes in November - but it could well be another highly significant mark in his career.

"Incredible really," was how he summed the past week of his life. "It will only sink in in a few weeks' time or when I see my little boy to see and hold, everything will probably sink in. Right now in the dressing room we will celebrate as a team but things only seem to sink in a few days later or a week later. Hopefully the ash cloud will stay away and we can get back to our families on Tuesday because its one thing celebrating with the lads but you also want your families around you to celebrate such a successful time."

Australian Women won the T-20 Women's Final

Sara McGlashan's run out allowed the Australians to re-group in their defence of 106, Australia Women v New Zealand Women, Final, Women's World Twenty20, Bridgetown, May 16, 2010

 

ENGLAND won the battle..

Sri Lanka cricket team against New Zealand in USA in 2010

The New Zealand cricket team and the Sri Lanka cricket team will toured the United States in May. This will be the first time Full Members of the International Cricket Council will have met in an official match in the United States. All matches will be played at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida.

1st T20I

20 May	New Zealand	v	Sri Lanka	Central Broward Regional Park, Florida

 2nd T20I

22 May	New Zealand	v	Sri Lanka	Central Broward Regional Park, Florida

 3rd T20I

23 May

New Zealand

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Sri Lanka

Central Broward Regional Park, Florida

FIFA-2010 Korea see off Ecuador

Korea Republic warmed up for the FIFA World Cup™ with a 2-0 win over Ecuador in Seoul courtesy of second-half strikes from Lee Sung-Ryeol and Lee Chung-Yong. Despite fielding a team made up only of domestic-based players, the South Americans proved a hard nut to crack.




Yeom Ki-hun almost broke the deadlock after 37 minutes but the Suwon Bluewings star headed Lee Dong-Guk's cross against the crossbar. Lee Dong-Guk went close on the hour as his low shot looked destined for the bottom corner before a diving save from Marcela Elizaga kept his team level.

Lee Sung-Ryeol had been on the pitch less than five minutes when he ran on to a header from Yeom to fire home from the edge of the area with 18 minutes left to play. Bolton winger Lee Chung-yong sealed the win 12 minutes later by shooting home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The friendly marks the start of the final phase of build-up for the Taeguk Warriors, who are next in action against Japan on 24 May. The team then travels to an Austrian training camp that includes a 30 May clash against Belarus and a 3 June game against European champions Spain.

England 148 for 3 (Kieswetter 63) beat Australia 147 for 6 (D Hussey 59) by seven wickets

Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen powered England to their first ICC global title with an irresistible 111-run stand for the second wicket, as Australia were outmuscled in a battle of the bowlers at Bridgetown. Despite a brave recovery led by David Hussey, who made 59 from 54 balls, Australia's hopes of claiming the only world title to have eluded them were devastated from the moment they lost three wickets in 13 legitimate deliveries in a stunning start to the contest. It was left to the captain, Paul Collingwood, to seal the victory with 17 balls to spare.

England ahead in first half....

Australia's nerveless middle-order overcame a dreadful start to the World Twenty20 final to haul their team to a competitive 147 for 6, as England's bowlers mislaid their intensity after a flying start to the contest. Once again, the Aussies had a Hussey to thank for reviving their prospects - David, this time - whose 54-ball 59 rebuilt the innings from rock-bottom following the loss of three prime wickets in the space of 13 legitimate deliveries.

With Cameron White clobbering 30 invaluable runs from 19 balls, and Michael Hussey chivvying 17 from 10 to follow up his masterful performance in the semi-final against Pakistan, Australia added exactly 100 runs in the final ten overs to put themselves firmly in the reckoning as they bid to capture the one piece of ICC silverware to have so far eluded them. Nevertheless, with the range of big-hitters that they possess, England will remain quietly confident of maintaining a run-rate of 7.4, as they seek to capture their first global title.

ICC 20-20 final live stream(Australia VS England)

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