Cape Town, January 4
India struck two crucial blows as South Africa ended Day 3 of the third Test at 52 for 2, Harbhajan dismissed Graeme Smith and nightwatchman Paul Harris. Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar notched up his 51st Test century as India were all out for 364, getting a lead of just two runs. Tendulkar brought about his century with a six off Morne Morkel shortly after the lunch break in an absorbing post lunch session which saw Dale Steyn produce a fiery spell to dismiss Cheteswar Pujara (2) and captain Dhoni (0) in the span of 9 deliveries.

Resuming at the lunch score of 237 for four, the Indians added 79 runs and lost two wickets in the session.

Gautam Gambhir was shot out for 93 as the first Indian wicket of the day. He has never scored a Test ton on South African soil.	Gautam Gambhir	Harbhajan Singh brought up his 2000 runs in Test matches with a massive six off the bowling of arguably the best pace bowler in the world right now and India’s nemesis in the series, Dale Steyn.	Dale Steyn
Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar’s partenrship is the 20th fifty-plus partnership for Harbhajan in his Test career. Out of these 20, 11 have come in the last three years.	Cheteshwar Pujar	Cheteshwar Pujara is the only Indian fielder to take three catches in an innings in South Africa
When Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 94, he and the man next to him in the maximum hundreds list, Jacques Kallis had the exact same Test average of 56.91.	Jacques Kallis	Sachin Tendulkar brought up his 51st century with a six off Morne Morkel over the wicket-keeper's head.

The young Pujara was dismissed in the very first over after lunch, trapped leg before wicket to a gem of a delivery from Steyn to reduce India to 237 for five. Tendulkar then completed his century by hooking Morne Morkel for a six. It was a mistimed shot and the ball took the top edge and flew for a six.

Steyn struck again in his next over by getting rid of captain Dhoni with a ball which swung away sharply. the Indian captain tried to steer the ball but only succeeded in edging it to Ashwell Prince at third slip.

Harbhajan tried to play a few attacking shots to ease the pressure on the Indians who suddenly found themselves in trouble with the two quick dismissals.

Harbhajan had a huge slice of luck when a Steyn express delivery clipped the edge of the off-stump but the bails did not fall much to the disbelief of the South Africans. — PTI

Sydney, January 4
England closed to within 113 runs of an innings lead over fighting Australia today, after an engrossing second day of the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The tourists, chasing their first series win Down Under in 24 years, got off to a rollicking start with a 98-run opening partnership before Australia struck back with three wickets, including the big scalp of Kevin Pietersen.

Michael Clarke's Australians could have been in an even better position at stumps when they had a crucial fourth wicket taken off them by an umpire's referral.

At the close, England were 167 for three in reply to Australia's 280 with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 61 and nightwatchman James Anderson not out one.

Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott were out seven balls apart and Pietersen threw away his wicket on 36 when he was caught hooking.

Debutant Michael Beer was celebrating what he thought was his first Test wicket when Cook on 45 skied to Ben Hilfenhaus at deep mid-on only for umpire Billy Bowden to ask for the third umpire to check on a suspected no-ball.

The spinner was proved to have overstepped. It was the second time in the series that England had received such a rare let-off after Matt Prior was recalled following a slips catch on five on his way to scoring 85 in the fourth Melbourne Test.

Australia bounced back from the Cook reversal to remove the dangerous Pietersen, when he couldn't keep down a hook shot off a Johnson bouncer and was caught by Beer at deep backward square.

Hilfenhaus got the initial breakthrough bowling Strauss for 60 with an unplayable ball that collected his off-stump.

Strauss and Cook put on 98 in 92 minutes with skipper Strauss the aggressor hammering eight fours and a six off 58 balls.

Trott was out for his first Test duck in Johnson's next over, getting a thick inside edge on to his stumps.

Brief Scores:

Australia 280

England 167/3 (48.0 ov)

England trail by 113 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings. — AFP

Karachi, January 4
The PCB today ignored Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria while announcing the 2011 World Cup preliminary squad but stumper Kamran Akmal has been drafted into the 30-man list.

The Board released the names of the probables for the World Cup after a nearly three-hour meeting of the national selection committee. "Apparently these two players were not able to satisfy the cricket board's integrity committee about their recent activities but Kamran managed to win the confidence of the Board back by submitting all relevant documents the integrity committee asked for," one PCB source said.

As expected the selectors have included some new faces in the preliminary squad. The PCB had sought a deadline of January 5 from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to finalise their preliminary squad because of the ongoing inquiry against Kamran, Malik, Kaneira and Rana Naved. Rana was also apparently found not guilty of any links with bookmakers and has been included in the preliminary squad.

The probables: Shahid Afridi, Muhammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shahzad, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Ali, Umar Akmal, Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Abdul Rehman, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Salman Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Taufiq Umar, Zulfiqar Babar, Rana Naved, Yasir Arafat, Yasir Shah, Aizaz Cheema and Naved Yasin. The Board said the one-day squad for New Zealand would be announced next week. — PTI

Vadodara, January 4
Baroda scored an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Karnataka in the semifinal of Ranji trophy here today to enter the final of the Super League tournament after a gap of nine years. In a match that lasted less than five sessions, Baroda crushed Karnataka on day two itself with bowlers Bhargav Bhatt (5 for 30) and Swapnil Singh (5 for 20) claiming five wickets each.

The duo exploited the pitch to their advantage and maintained their length and line to wreak havoc as Karnataka lost their last seven wickets for just 22 runs and were bundled out for 88 in just 32.2 overs. A total of 33 wickets went down in less than two days at the Reliance Stadium with the second day registering 15 of them from both the sides.

Baroda, after resuming on 133 for eight, got all out for 153 today but managed to take a crucial 46-run first innings lead against Karnataka. The highest scorer for Baroda in the first innings -- Pinal Shah (83), who remained unbeaten at 72 yesterday, could however add just 11 runs more. For Karnataka, Sunil Joshi (6 for 58) and Abhimanyu Mithun (2 for 26) contributed with the ball. Thereafter the hosts, riding on exceptional spells by Bhatt and Swapnil, bundled out Karnataka for a meager score of 88 to set themselves a target of only 43 runs. Apart from opener Robin Uthappa (35), who tried to put up some resistance, none of the other batsmen could show any application and Karnataka kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

And once Uthappa and Manish Pandey (11) got out in successive overs, the lower-order also collapsed as the visitors were dismissed for less than 100 runs. Chasing a small total, the home team then hit the required runs in just 12.1 overs losing three wickets. With this victory, Baroda advanced to the finals of Ranji Trophy for the first time since 2002.

Baroda will now play the winner of the other semifinal between Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy final, scheduled to take place from January 11.

Rajasthan 483/5

Jaipur: Rajasthan batsmen employed cautious approach as the hosts reached 483 for five at stumps on second day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final match against Tamil Nadu being played at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium.

At stumps, former India U-19 captain Ashok Menaria (88 batting, 159 balls, 9x4, 2x6) and skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar (65 batting, 174 balls, 6x4) added 95 runs for the undefeated sixth wicket stand. Kanitkar who retired hurt on 28 yesterday came in to bat at the fall of the fifth wicket at 388. Earlier, Rajasthan started the day at 236 for one with centurion Aakash Chopra and nightwatchman Vivek Yadav (5) at the crease.

Yadav didn't last long as he gloved a short delivery from L Balaji to Dinesh Karthik behind stumps. Chopra (139, 329 balls, 15x4) and Robin Bisht (64, 144 balls, 8x4) added 49 runs to take the score to 294. — PTI

London, January 4
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has made a plea for time to make his own mark on the club amid mounting speculation that his days are numbered. British media reports claim that the club's new American owners have already decided to replace Hodgson and are merely biding their time to ensure they get the right man. Having been brought some breathing space by Joe Cole's last-minute winner in Saturday's 2-1 home victory over Bolton Wanderers, Hodgson, who replaced Rafael Benitez before the start of the current season, told the club's website (www.liverpoolfc.tv) that he needed time.

Fixtures Playing this week Blackpool v Birmingham Fulham v West Brom Man United v Stoke City Arsenal v Man City Aston Villa v Sunderland Newcastle v West Ham Wolverhampton v Chelsea Blackburn v Liverpool Bolton v Wigan Athletic Everton v Tottenham

"Being honest about it, I am hoping that one day I will get a chance to stamp a little more of my authority and philosophy on the team by choosing some more of the players," Hodgson said. "It is not often mentioned, but I have not been that active in the transfer market since I have been here.

"The players who are playing are the ones you have watched playing for the past few years. They have done exceptionally well for me in accepting a new manager, with a new style and a new training method, and giving the performances they have given, albeit that unfortunately we have been guilty of inconsistency."

Liverpool are currently ninth in the standings, already 16 points behind leaders Manchester United with their hopes of a first league title since 1990 long gone. Two seasons ago they were top of the league going into the New Year and, having seen Benitez moved on, the fans are hugely frustrated that their club has made no progress under the new man. — Reuters

BRIEFLY

Tax officials to watch IPL auction
New Delhi: Enforcement and tax officials will keep a close watch on the proceedings of players auction for IPL-4 which will see as many as 350 top cricketers from India and abroad go under the hammer in Bangalore later this week. The financial dealings and investments of the earlier editions of IPL are already under the scanner of agencies like the Income Tax department and Enforcement Directorate (ED) since last year when extensive searches were conducted at the IPL headquarters in Mumbai and offices of various franchises. "Enforcement agencies will keep a close but non-intursive watch on the proceedings of the auction (on January 8 and 9) and transfer of funds that would happen thereafter. Although, this has nothing to do with the probes that are already on," sources familiar with the development said. — PTI

WI women's team in India
Mumbai: A multi-faceted sportswoman, a multiple-record holder and the fastest century maker in international Twenty 20 cricket are among the eves in the West Indies side for their India tour, that consists of three T20s and five ODIs. When not playing cricket, Pearl Etienne is a footballer, good enough to be named as Dominica's top female football player for 2010, and also her country's most outstanding defender. If that is not enough, she is also the country "top female pool player". Ask her if it is tough managing the games, "Not really. I love the games. The more I can play... I'll do so," she says. Barbados girl Deandra Dottin, who is cousin of former West Indies pacer Ottis Gibson, holds the record for scoring the fastest Twenty20 century. — PTI

‘Khawaja will challenge Ricky’
Sydney: Former Australia captain Steve Waugh today said the selectors would be in a quandary whether to bring Ricky Ponting at number three when he returns from a finger injury or let Usman Khawaja take that spot in the top order. Waugh was extremely impressed with Khawaja's short but impressive 37-run innings on his debut in the fifth Ashes Test. Khawaja, a southpaw, batted at number three in place of Ponting and impressed Waugh in such a way that the legendary batsman feels he may challenge Ponting for that spot. "Ricky, look, he's been a great player at No.3. That's going to be a tough call for selectors. That's why they're the selectors and I'm not. They're going to make their call, not me, and they've got to sit together and work it out.” — PTI

Patel meets Indian team
Dubai: All India Football Federation chief Praful Patel today met the national team here and told the players to go all out and without pressure at the prestigious AFC Asian Cup, starting in Doha from Friday. AIFF President Patel asked the players to put the best foot forward and enjoy the game. "We have nothing to lose in this tournament. The team has been together for eight months and has had good experience," Patel said while interacting with the players. India will leave for Doha on Thursday and will take on Australia in their opening match on January 10. — PTI

Fire scare in Newlands
Cape Town: A fire scare broke out in the Newlands during the third day of the third and final cricket Test between India and South Africa here today after smoke was seen coming out of the kitchen adjacent to the member's stand and below the Indian dressing room. The minor fire in the kitchen forced the authorities to scurry away the players and spectators from that area. The incident occurred during the 60th over of the Indian innings when smoke was witnessed coming out of the stands situated near the Indian dressing room. However, the flames were soon brought under control by the authorities. Later on, it was discovered that the smoke was coming out due to an oil-fire in one of the kitchens. — PTI