Zimbabwe won by thrilling match between New Zealand

Zimbabwe's two big-hitting all-rounders, Elton Chigumbura and Malcolm Waller, finally came good, with a 112-run sixth-wicket partnership to end a 12-match losing streak across formats. On a flat pitch in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's batsmen, Waller in particular, showed immense character to chase a total of more than 300 for the first time in Zimbabwe's history, and stave off a clean sweep in the series.

Captain Brendan Taylor set them on the right track with an aggressive 75 off 65 balls before Tatenda Taibu's feisty fifty kept the momentum going. Waller and Chigumbura came together at the start of the 31st over, with 146 runs required to win and crafted a match-winning partnership. They batted themselves in, took on the spinners - Nathan McCullum and Rob Nicol - capitalised on anything on a length or too full and left New Zealand's bowlers wondering how many more runs they needed to work with.

The chase was punctuated with twists, and after Chigumbura and Waller brought the target down to less than a run a ball, Chigumbura was bowled by Jacob Oram, swinging down the wrong line. He left Waller to marshal the lower order, a task he completed with distinction.

Zimbabwe loosened their grip to allow Taylor and Jesse Ryder to rebuild. Ryder played with remarkable finesse and did well to work with Taylor through the middle period. He gave it away when he popped a leading edge back to Waller to fall three runs after reaching a gritty half-century.

Taylor had to consolidate with Williamson and, even when boundaries were rare, rotated strike well to avoid being tied down by Zimbabwe. The pair did not have to be patient for too long and were reprieved by all Zimbabwe's bowlers. When Meth offered the right length, the batsmen got under it; when Price bowled a full toss, they dispatched it; and even M'shangwe was punished when he erred. M'shangwe dropped Williamson when he was on 65, off his own bowling, an act that opened the floodgates at the end, allowing a deluge of runs during which both Taylor and Williamson brought up centuries.

Pakistan vs Sri lanka First match would be Drawn

Sri Lanka had a positive morning session against Pakistan on day five of the first Test of the three match series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday, October 22, 2011. The tourists have now gained an overall lead of 50 runs in the match and still have five wickets remaining. The star of the show for the team was veteran middle-order batsman Kumar Sangakkara, who remained unbeaten 185 runs before the session was called off.

Wicketkeeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardene also offered tremendous support to Sangakkara and was rock solid in the middle. He was not out on 66 runs at lunch.

Pakistan’s first innings lead of 314 runs looked quite impressive and the opposition had only one option to try and play defensive cricket for more than two days.

Sri Lanka needed a solid effort from one of their best three batsmen Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

The latter two failed to make an impression and put the team under immense pressure. However, Sangakkara did not lose focus and batted with brilliance. He was a touch lucky, as a couple of catches went down when he was batting.
However, the star middle-order player made most of these chances and continued to hurt the Pakistan team badly. He will now be looking forward to completing a double century and continue his majestic knock.
Before start of play today, the former Sri Lankan captain had stated, “It would have been nice if I had I got it in the first innings but it was a tough fight and one of my better hundreds. But there is still work left and if we can get the first session through we can put some pressure on Pakistan.”
The veteran batsman certainly lived up to his word and continued his resistance against the opposition. His aim will now be to bat out the second session of the day as well, which will ensure a draw.

Pakistani Cricketers involved in the Spot fixing Matches

 It refers to allegations on Pakistan's Cricket team by a report of News of the World released during the Pakistani cricket team's tour of England. It was alleged in that report that three Pakistani players, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt, had accepted bribes from agent and bookmaker Mazhar Majeed to purposely under-perform at certain times in the 4th Test match at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England. Undercover reporters from News of the World led by Mazher Mahmood secretly video-taped Mazhar Majeed accepting money and informing the reporters that fast bowlers Asif and Amir would deliberately bowl no-balls at specific ball in an over. This information could be used by gamblers to make wagers with inside information (a process known as spot-fixing; compare with match fixing where the result of a whole match is predetermined).

 In response to these allegations, Scotland Yard arrested Majeed on the charge of match-fixing. The International Cricket Council (ICC) temporarily suspended the three players from playing in international cricket while investigation was carried out. The players denied the charges and maintained their innocence. A three-man tribunal was held in 2011, and the three players were suspended from all forms of cricket for terms of five to ten years.

Al Habsi focued only on survival

The Oman goalkeeper will make the final appearance of his loan spell at relegation-threatened Latics in Sunday's decisive final Premier League match at Stoke. he sure to make his own game plan actions.
He also tried to focus on the game plans and the strategic rules to apply on them.

The 29-year-old could be in demand this summer after an outstanding season at the DW Stadium but his only immediate concern is the relegation battle.
Al Habsi, speaking after being named as Wigan's player of the year, told the club website about the future: "That is all about the gaffer, the chairman and the people at Bolton.

Manchester City have dismissed reports linking them with Cristiano Ronaldo, branding the rumours "ill-informed" and "unfounded".

Cristiano Ronaldo have the potential in the earlier years but later he couldn't formed in his natural scenarios. On the spot player have the capacity to get carried out right in the  middle to forward direction.   
A £150million bid was said to be in the pipeline as the ambitious owners at Eastlands look to flex their financial muscles.
With the club preparing for a Champions League campaign in 2011/12, it is expected that they will be busy once the transfer market re-opens.
They have, however, moved quickly to distance themselves from a proposed approach for former Manchester United winger Ronaldo, who has spent the last two seasons in Spain.
Senior officials at Eastlands told Sky Sports News HD: "Speculation linking the club with Ronaldo is ill-informed and unfounded and nothing other than mischief-making.
"Whilst there is no doubt that Ronaldo is one of the world's greatest players, he is not on the club's list of transfer targets."
Ronaldo spent six years at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, landing three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions League crown during that time.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle expects striker Johan Elmander to join Turkish club Galatasaray in the summer.

Elmander, 29, is out of contract at the end of next month and will almost certainly play his last game for the Trotters on Sunday against Manchester City at the Reebok Stadium.
Coyle is resigned to losing the Sweden international, who has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season after just 10 in the past two campaigns.
"Galatasaray have announced on their website they have agreed something with Johan," Coyle said.
"I have spoken to Johan and certainly nothing has been signed. That is not to say it won't be signed, maybe in the next couple of weeks but not before Sunday.
"Do I expect him to leave? In my heart of hearts, yes. These are the things you have to deal with as a manager. I am very comfortable with that.
"I have always felt and always known given the dialogue (chairman) Phil Gartside had with his representative they were probably looking for a new option.
"I personally wish Johan well if and when that comes about because he has worked ever so hard for me in training each and every day.
"When he has worn that shirt he has given me everything he has got in a number of positions and worked his socks off for the team. He is someone I have a very good relationship with."
Gala claimed on their website to have reached an "understanding in principle" with Elmander.

Alexandr Dolgopolov upset top-seeded David Ferrer in the quarter-finals of the Open de Nice with vital victory.

Dolgopolov, the world number 23, held his nerve despite a disastrous second set and now has the chance to reach his second ATP Tour final of the season when he faces Romania's Victor Hanescu.
Hanescu, the world number 69, ended the run of Dutch lucky loser Robin Haase. Haase was trailing 6-2 2-0 when he was forced to withdraw with a right ankle injury.
Second seed Tomas Berdych was an impressive 6-1 6-4 winner over Latvia's Ernests Gulbis. He will play world number 12 Nicolas Almagro in the second semi-final after Almagro beat fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar, also 6-1 6-4.