Nasir, Younis guide Pakistan to victory against India

CHENNAI: A steady hundred by Nasir Jamshed and a classic half-century by veteran Younis Khan guided Pakistan to an exciting six-wicket win against India in the first One-day International here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk on Sunday.

Chasing a modest target of 228, Pakistan were under immense pressure as they lost two early wickets for only 21 runs on the board. Both wickets went to young pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Mohammad Hafeez was bowled on the very first ball of the innings and later Azhar Ali was caught by Rohit Sharma.

However, a 112-run third wicket partnership between Nasir and Younis made the target easy and Pakistan completed the victory in 48.1 overs when Shoaib Malik hit Dinda to boundary.

Younis Khan made 58 off 60 balls. He was caught by Ashwin off Dinda.

Nasir Jamshed completed his second ODI hundred and remained unbeaten on 101 while Shoaib Malik was 34 not out.

Earlier, Mahinder Singh Dhoni leading from the front rescued his team from trouble. He made an unbeaten 113, off 125 balls with three sixes and seven fours.

After Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to take field in the match delayed by an hour due to morning rain, India made a disastrous start when their top-order batsmen could not resist against the fierce bowling by Junaid and Irfan.

First to go was veteran batsman Virender Sehwag who was clean bowled by Junaid in the fourth over. He made only four and India were 17 for one.

Then his partner Gautam Gambhir was also bowled but this time by Irfan at the same score in the fifth over.

Two runs later, the most in-form batsman Virat Kohli departed without opening his account. as Junaid uprooted his stumps

Dashing batsman Yuvraj Singh also could not stay at the crease and he was also clean bowled by Junaid for only two runs and India lost four wickets for only 20 runs.

Later, Rohit Sharma was brilliantly caught by Mohammad Hafeez at third slip off Junaid for four and India were reeling on 29-5.

Then, Rohit Sharma and Dhoni came to rescue and steadily batted to see India reach 100 in 30 overs but just runs later Sharma was bowled by off-spinner Hafeez for 43.

He and Dhoni added 73 runs for the sixth wicket partnership.

Then with Ashwin (31 not out), Dhoni made record 125 runs for an unfinished seventh wicket partnership

Junaid claimed four for 43 while Irfan and Hafeez took one wicket each.

Pakistan win toss, put India into bat in 1st ODI

CHENNAI: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to take field first against India in the first of the three One-day Internationals here on Sunday.
This is the last ODI of the year 2012 being played in India.
Teams:
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Gaul, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Saeed Ajmal.
India: Mahinder Singh Dhoni (captain & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda.
Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and S Ravi (India), TV Umpire: Sudhir Asnani (India), Reserve Umpire: CK Nandan (India).
Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

Greig hailed as 'godfather' of the modern game

SYDNEY: The cricket world on Sunday paid tribute to former England Test skipper and broadcaster Tony Greig, remembering him as "the godfather of modern cricket" due to his influence in shaping the game.

South African-born Greig died Saturday after a heart attack at his Sydney home at the age of 66, as he battled lung cancer diagnosed just two months ago.

The towering Greig was remembered as being instrumental in the formation of late Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer's breakaway World Series Cricket (WSC) contest staged from 1977-79, which sent shockwaves through the sport.

"It could be argued that Tony Greig was the godfather of modern cricket, the man who believed the game should be entertaining and a little irreverent but always ruthlessly competitive," wrote The Australian's Peter Lalor. "Cricket has lost one of its giants."

Broadcasting doyen Richie Benaud, a former Australian captain who shared the Channel Nine commentary box for decades with Greig, described him as a dynamic cricketer, a fearless thinker and an entertainer.

Kerry Packer's son James said Greig "stood shoulder to shoulder with my father at times when it was not always fashionable".

Former Australian captain Lawry was distraught by the news, describing Greig as "an Englishman with an Australian attitude" whose absence from the commentary box had left a big hole in the game this Australian summer.

Greig's opposing captain in WSC and fellow Channel Nine commentator, former Australia captain Ian Chappell, spoke of Greig's trademark competitiveness.

Current Australian captain Michael Clarke said the news was upsetting for the Test team.

"Personally, he has also been a great mentor for me, providing great advice through the good times and the bad."

Greig played 58 Tests -- 14 of them as captain -- for his adopted country England between 1972 and 1977, scoring 3,599 runs with eight centuries at 40.43 and capturing 141 wickets at 32.20.

He is survived by his wife, Vivian, and four children. (AFP)

India fighting back after early collapse

CHENNAI: India captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni and middle-order batsman Suresh Raina were fighting back to repair the early damage made by Pakistan fast bowlers Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan in the first One-day International here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk on Sunday.
After Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to take field first, India made a disastrous start when their top-order batsmen could not resist against the fierce bowling by Junaid and Irfan.
First to go was veteran batsman Virender Sehwag who was clean bowled by Junaid in the fourth over. He made only four and India were 17 for one.
Then his partner Gautam Gambhir was also bowled but this time by Irfan at the same score of 17 in the fifth over.
Two runs later, the most in-form batsman Virat Kohli departed without opening his account. as Junaid uprooted his stumps
Dashing batsman Yuvraj Singh also could not stay at the crease and he was also clean bowled by Junaid for only two runs and India lost four wickets for only 20 runs.
Later, Rohit Sharma was brilliantly caught by Mohammad Hafeez at third slip off Junaid for four and India were reeling on 29-5.
Then, Rohit Sharma and Dhoni came to rescue and steadily batted to see India reach 100 in 30 overs.
Junaid captured four for 19 in seven overs while Irfan claimed one for 19 in six overs.