ABU DHABI: Paceman Doug Bollinger led a spirited attack as Australia bowled Pakistan out for 197 in the 49th over of the fourth day-night international at Abu Dhabi Stadium on Friday.Bollinger, the 27-year-old left-arm fast bowler, playing only his second match, finished with 5-35 as Pakistan struggled after Younus Khan won the toss and decided to bat on a flat pitch which proved difficult for shot making.However, 197 is a competitive score at the very slow pitch of the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, though something in the range of 220 would have been really challenging. Bollinger, who went wicket-less on his debut at the second match in Dubai last week, provided his team an early breakthrough when he had opener Salman Butt (two), flashing off a wide delivery, caught behind in the first over.From the other end, Nathan Bracken (2-31) bowled out Pakistani skipper Younus Khan for seven.However, Misbah-ul-Haq joined the 17-year-old Ahmed Shehzad and both rebuilt the innings during a steady stand of 68 runs. They were far more comfortable against the finger spinners. Young opener Ahmed Shahzad was the top-scorer with 43 runs and allrounder Shahid Afridi hit 40 from as many balls while Misbah-ul-Haq made 34. Shahzad hit only two boundaries during his 81-ball knock. He also added 36 for the fourth wicket with Shoaib Malik who made 27 before Bollinger returned for his second spell to remove Malik and Afridi.Bollinger took two more wickets, Shoaib Akhtar (two) and Saeed Ajmal (nought) to dismiss Pakistan in 48.4 overs.Australia made two changes from their Monday line-up, bringing in Marcus North and Bollinger for Ben Hilfenhaus and David Hussey. North, 29, made his one-day debut.Pakistan surprisingly rested the in-form paceman Umar Gul to include Shoaib Akhtar.
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Pakistan News
Michael Clarke struck a sparkling hundred as Australia beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the fourth day-night international here on Friday to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.
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EAST LONDON: An unbeaten half-century from Jean-Paul Duminy helped Mumbai Indians reach 148 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders in the first match of the day here on Friday.Skipper Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and decided to bat first but his team could not resist against the accurate bowling from Kolkata. Brendon McCullum tried seven bowlers and all except Laxmi Shukla took one wicket each.None of the Mumbai batsmen except Duminy and Tendulkar could make any significant contribution. Duminy was unbeaten on 52 while Tendulkar scored 34.Duminy faced only 37 deliveries and hit four sixes while Tendulkar struck two sixes in his 30-ball innings. Mumbai made two changes: Graham Napier replaced Dwayne Bravo, who is being rested, and Ajinkya Rahane came in place of Shikhar Dhawan, who was hit in the toe by a Yorker while Kolkata remained unchanged. Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Ajinkya Rahane, JP Duminy, Graham Napier, Abhishek Nayar, Saurabh Tiwary, Harbhajan Singh, Pinal Shah (wk), Zaheer Khan, Laith Malinga. Kolkata: Brendon McCullum (captain), Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly, Brad Hodge, Morne van Wyk (wk), Wriddhiman Saha, Laxmi Shukla, Ashok Dinda, Ajit Agarkar, Murali Katik, Ishant Sharma.
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EAST LONDON: Despite an enterprising 73 by Brad Hodge, Kolkata Knight Riders suffered from a nine-run defeat by Mumbai Indians in a thrilling match in the Indian Premier League here on Friday.Paceman Zaheer Khan captured three wickets as Kolkata batsmen except Hodge and Morne van Wyk failed to get into double figures.Hodge smashed three sixes and five fours during his 60-ball innings and Wyk made 32 with three fours.Earlier, an unbeaten half-century from Jean-Paul Duminy helped Mumbai Indians reach 148 runs after skipper Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and decided to bat first.However, Mumbai batsmen could not make a big score due to accurate bowling from Kolkata. Brendon McCullum tried seven bowlers and all except Laxmi Shukla took one wicket each.Only two Mumbai batsmen, Duminy and Tendulkar could make any significant contribution. Duminy was unbeaten on 52 while Tendulkar scored 34.Duminy faced only 37 deliveries and hit four sixes while Tendulkar struck two sixes in his 30-ball innings. Mumbai made two changes: Graham Napier replaced Dwayne Bravo, who is being rested, and Ajinkya Rahane came in place of Shikhar Dhawan, who was hit in the toe by a Yorker while Kolkata remained unchanged.
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ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Younus Khan won the toss and opted to bat in the fourth day-night international against Australia at the Abu Dhabi Stadium on Monday.Australia lead the five-match series 2-1 after winning the second match by six wickets in Dubai and the third by 27 runs here on Monday. Pakistan won the first match by four wickets in Dubai.Australia replaced paceman Ben Hilfenhaus and all-rounder David Hussey from their Monday line-up, bringing in paceman Doug Bollinger and all-rounder Marcus North.North was flown in as a replacement for opener Shaun Marsh who returned home after suffering a hamstring injury in the first match.Pakistan surprisingly rested frontline paceman Umar Gul — team management said he did not have any fitness problems — in the must-win match and brought in Shoaib Akhtar, who was rested for the third match.The fifth and final match will be played here on May 3. The only Twenty20 international will be played in Dubai on May 7.Teams: Pakistan: Younus Khan (captain), Salman Butt, Ahmed Shahzad, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Yasir Arafat, Saeed AjmalAustralia: Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin, Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, James Hopes, Marcus North, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Doug BollingerUmpires: Billy Bowden (NZ), Aleem Dar (PAK), TV umpire: Zameer Haider (PAK)Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)
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An escalating battle between security forces and Taliban militants left more than 50 dead in a district near the capital even as Pakistan’s government pressed on Friday with a much-criticized peace plan in the region, officials said.
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ROME: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer defeated their third round opponents and cruised their way into the ATP Rome Masters quarterfinals. Nadal played against Robin Soderling of Sweden and won 6-1, 6-0. Federer defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-1.In the match against Nadal, Soderling took the first set, but Nadal came back to win the match in 1 hr and 24 minutes.Nadal will face Fernando Verdasco next. Federer will face Mischa Zverev of Germany. The quarterfinals will be played on Friday.
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Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi held talks on Friday with visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on the situation in Pakistan and ways of bolstering ties between the two nations, officials said.
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EAST LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar, captain of Mumbai Indians won the toss and decided to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders here on Friday.Mumbai have made two changes to their side. Dwayne Bravo was rested, and Graham Napier came in. Shikhar Dhawan, who was hit in the toe by a yorker, made way for Ajinkya Rahane, who had been prolific in the Indian domestic season.Kolkata went in unchanged, but were in desperate need of a change of fortunes. Chris Gayle, playing possibly his last game, and Brendon McCullum, the opener and captain who has been their biggest flop, faced the most pressure. Although the pitch looked like it would help spinners, they chose to go without Ajantha Mendis.Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Ajinkya Rahane, JP Duminy, Graham Napier, Abhishek Nayar, Saurabh Tiwary, Harbhajan Singh, Pinal Shah (wk), Zaheer Khan, Laith Malinga.Kolkata: Brendon McCullum (captain), Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly, Brad Hodge, Morne van Wyk (wk), Wriddhiman Saha, Laxmi Shukla, Ashok Dinda, Ajit Agarkar, Murali Katik, Ishant Sharma.
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Pakistan News
Pakistan captain Younus Khan won the toss and opted to bat in the fourth day-night international against Australia at the Abu Dhabi Stadium on Monday.
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