NST Online: Sports

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 07:31 PM PDT

DURHAM: India batsman Virat Kohli insists the world champions will prove Nasser Hussain wrong after the former England captain labelled some of the tourists as "donkeys".

Hussain made the controversial remark about India's fielding while commentating during Wednesday's one-off Twenty20 international, which England won by six wickets.

The comment has prompted criticism in India with the Board of Control for Cricket vice president Rajiv Shukla describing it as "totally uncalled for".

India have endured a miserable tour to England, losing their position as the number one test team after being drubbed 4-0 by Andrew Strauss's team, but Kohli believes Hussian's criticism was wide of the mark.

He points to India's successful World Cup campaign earlier this year as proof that the tourists have nothing to be embarrassed about when it comes to fielding in hectic one-day games.

"Everyone has their opinion. We don't have to get angry about it and try really desperately to change it," said Kohli ahead of yesterday's opening one-day clash against England in Durham.

"I don't really pay attention to all of this. We just have to do what we have been doing for a while. We haven't become world champions just like that.

"If we fielded like the remarks that have been said then we wouldn't have been world champions.

"I don't think these remarks should be making a difference to us. It's up to us to perform at our level best -- like we have been for a while in the limited-overs format.

"We are the ones playing in the field and we have to know that we've given 100 per cent." -- AFP

Harris stars in Australia's victory

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 07:31 PM PDT

GALLE: Fast bowler Ryan Harris claimed five wickets as Australia beat a valiant Sri Lanka by 125 runs in the First Test yesterday to take the lead in the three-match series.

Sri Lanka, who resumed the fourth day at 120-5 chasing an improbable victory target of 379, were dismissed for 253 in their second innings midway through the afternoon session.

Mahela Jayawardene hit a classy 105 and Angelo Mathews made 93 to hold off Australia, but the rest of the batting caved in.

It was Michael Clarke's first test win as Australian captain, having lost to England by an innings in Sydney in January when he stood in for the injured Ricky Ponting.

The emphatic win in Galle helped Ponting set a new benchmark of becoming the first cricketer to have been part of 100 test victories.

The 36-year-old, the team's frontline batsman, was already test cricket's most successful captain with 48 wins when he stepped down in April to make way for Clarke.

Jayawardene and Mathews, who came together on Friday afternoon with Sri Lanka tottering on 68-5, put on 142 for the sixth wicket in a courageous fightback.

The pair batted through the entire morning session, defying the Australian bowlers on the dusty, crumbling wicket that made strokeplay difficult.

The classy Jayawardene, 34, Sri Lanka's highest run-getter in test cricket, notched up his 29th century with the help of 15 boundaries and a six.

Mathews, 10 years Jayawardene's junior, showed why he is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the modern game even though he narrowly missed his maiden test century.

The partnership made some amends for the home team's poor batting earlier in the match, when Sri Lanka were shot out for 105 in the first innings and reduced to 68-5 in the second.

The stand was broken in the seventh over with the second new ball when Jayawardene inside-edged a delivery from Harris on to his stumps after lunch.

Mitchell Johnson had Suraj Randiv fending a catch to second slip, while Mathews was ninth out, bowled by Shane Watson attempting a big hit.

Scores: Australia 273 (M. Hussey 95; S. Lakmal 3-55, R. Herath 3-54) and 210 (M. Clarke 60; Herath 5-79) beat Sri Lanka 105 (N. Lyon 5-34; S. Watson 3-11) and 253 (M. Jayawardene 105, A. Mathews 95; R. Harris 5-62) -- AFP

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Sabtu, 3 September 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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