CHESTER-LE-STREET, England: Kevin Pietersen’’s unbeaten 110 was the cornerstone of England’’s 114 run thrashing of New Zealand in the first one-day international at the Riverside here Sunday which saw them go 1-0 up in the five-match series.Pietersen’’s sixth hundred in 72 one-day internationals guided England to 307 for five and was his first century at this level since his 104 against Australia at the World Cup in Antigua last year.World Cup semi-finalists New Zealand were bowled out for 193 with more than seven overs remaining as they lost for only the second time in nine one-dayers.South Africa-born Pietersen, who on Friday made 42 not out in England’’s nine-wicket Twenty20 thumping of New Zealand at Old Trafford, was in total command and at times appeared to be toying with the bowling.The 27-year-old faced 113 balls with three sixes - two of them outrageous reverse hits off medium-pacer Scott Styris - and eight fours.Together with England one-day captain Paul Collingwood, who made a run-a-ball 64 in front of his Durham home crowd, he put on 136 for the fourth wicket after England had wobbled at 95 for three.Owais Shah ensured the runs kept coming, his dashing 49 off 25 balls featuring three sixes and four fours.Three New Zealand seamers - Tim Southee, Michael Mason and Styris - all conceded more than 60 runs apiece with Kyle Mills going for 59.Only captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori escaped the onslaught with one for 38 in 10 overs. Medium-pacer Collingwood, who wrapped up the match with four wickets for 15 runs in 17 balls, was at the other end when Pietersen smashed Styris for those two extraordinary sixes. New Zealand had high hopes for the one-dayers. But defeats at Edgbaston and Bristol on Wednesday and Saturday respectively could see them lose this series with a week to spare. New Zealand’’s reply got off to a rapid start with openers Jamie How and Brendon McCullum putting on 50 inside eight overs.But Broad, with his first ball, had McCullum, on 36, cutting a short delivery straight to Ian Bell at extra-cover. New Zealand were soon 72 for three after James Marshall was run out by Collingwood and How spooned a catch to cover off Broad.
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KARACHI: The national selection committee will meet on June 19 at Lahore to select the Pakistan cricket team for the Asia Cup.Chief of the selection committee Salahuddin Sallu told Geo News that captain Shoaib Malik, coach Geoff Lawson and selector Shafqat Rana are arriving from Bangladesh on Monday and on their returning home the team selection would be discussed.He said that the number of players would be determined after consulting with the team management and the Pakistan Cricket Board.The chief selector told that the training camp of the team would be held in Karachi.
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LAHORE: President Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said that the PPP government is displaying democratic spirit in the centre while in Punjab, chief minister Shahbaz Sahrif wants to bring civilian dictatorship.During a press briefing after the meeting of the PML (Q) parliamentary party in Lahore, he told that it has been decided in the meeting to fully boycott the Punjab Assembly session to be held today and this boycott would continue until the notification for Chaudhry Zaheeruddin as the opposition leader of the Punjab Assembly be issued.He said that the PPP, displaying democratic spirit in the centre, had issued the notification of the opposition leader within ten days while in Punjab signatures of the opposition members in more than the required number were sent to the speaker but still no notification has been issued.Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said that if the notification is not issued immediately then a new strategy would be announced on Thursday.
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KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatened on Sunday to send troops across the border to fight militants in Pakistan, a forceful warning to insur
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PESHAWAR: The troubled flour industry in the NWFP has sought the help of the federal government and the Sharif brothers to allow private wheat procure
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The president of Afghanistan has long pleaded for Pakistan and international forces to confront militants in Pakistan and now says he might send Afghan troops across the border.
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Pakistan News
ISLAMABAD: The government came under blistering attack from the opposition parties in the Senate on Sunday for its “pro-elite budget” as subsidies wor
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BADIN: Poisonous and contaminated water is causing dermatitis, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disease besides other ailments in Badin and coastal areas of
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ISLAMABAD: No one from the treasury benches in the Senate on Sunday either confirmed or denied that the Capital Gain Tax (CGT) was shelved for two yea
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LAHOREPUNJAB budget to be presented today (Monday) would be a model of austerity as the provincial government has decided to deviate from the
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