Dhaka, June 14
Imposing Pakistan total proved much for the celebrated Indian batting line-up as they lost the tri-series final by 25 runs. Chasing 316-run victory target, India were bowled out for 290 in the second last over being bowled by Shahid Afridi.

Opener Salman Butt and Younis Khan earlier hit centuries to help Pakistan score a challenging 315 for three wickets in 50 overs.

Butt retired hurt on 129 after Younis (108) ended his innings when he was caught at mid-wicket by Virender Sehwag off a delivery from Ishant Sharma.

Pakistan, who won the toss and opted to bat, got off to a slow start until Khan joined Butt after the departure of opening batsman Kamran Akmal for 15.

Akmal was caught behind by captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off a delivery from pace bowler Irfan Pathan on the third ball of the 10th over when the team score read 34.

Younis started boldly and built up an encouraging partnership of 205 runs with Butt. It was Pakistan's biggest second-wicket partnership against arch-rivals India.

Irfan took his second wicket in the innings when Misbah-ul-Haq (33) was caught at long-on by Rohit Sharma. Irfan ended 2-59 while Sharma had 1-57.

Shahid Afridi and captain Shoaib Malik were not out on 10 and 11 respectively.

Younis played 99 balls to post his fourth one-day century, hitting three sixes and eight boundaries. Butt played 136 balls to make his seventh one-day century which featured three sixes and 12 fours.

Scoreboard

Pakistan

Butt retired hurt 129

Akmal c Dhoni b I. Pathan 15

Y. Khan c Sehwag b Ishant 108

Misbah c Rohit b I. Pathan 33

Afridi not out 10

Malik not out 11

Extras: (b-2 lb-4 w-2 nb-1) 9

Total: (3 wickets, 50 overs) 315

Fall of wickets: 1-34 2-239 3-293

Bowling: Praveen 10-1-37-0, Ishant 10-0-57-1, I. Pathan 10-0-59-2, Chawla 10-0-85-0, Sehwag 3-0-26-0, Y. Pathan 2-0-11-0, Yuvraj 4-0-23-0, Raina 1-0-11-0

India

Gambhir c sub b Gul 40

Sehwag c Malik b Tanvir 2

Rohit c sub b Umar Gul 24

Y Pathan c Y Khan b Iftkhar 25

Yuvraj c Akmal b Afridi 56

Raina c Afridi b Alam 24

Dhoni c sub b Afridi 64

I Pathan c Malik b Iftkhar 28

Praveen lbw b Gul 5

Chawla b Umar Gul 2

Ishant not out 0

Extras: (lb-7 w-11 nb-2) 20

Total: (all out, 48.2 overs) 290

Fall of wickets: 1-8 2-67 3-79 4-106 5-179 6-187 7-247 8-262 9-284, 10-290

Bowling: Gul 9-0-57-4, Tanvir 10-1-60-1, Iftkhar 10-0-58-2, Afridi 9.2-0-56-2, Malik 4-0-28-0, Alam 6-0-24-1 Reuters

Berne, June 14
The dazzling Dutch qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 with a 4-1 destruction of France that left the World Cup runners-up hovering over the tournament trapdoor.

Four days after crushing world champions Italy 3-0, Marco van Basten's side ripped the French apart with another superb performance based on their counter-attacking game yesterday.

Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder scored for Netherlands, with Thierry Henry replying as France slid to their heaviest defeat in a major tournament finals since losing 5-2 to Brazil at the 1958 World Cup.

The Dutch clinched first place in Group C with six points, four ahead of Romania. France and Italy, who meet in Zurich on Tuesday, have a point apiece with one game left.

''We are very happy to have beaten the world champions and the World Cup finalists in the same week,'' said Van Basten. ''We started well but then we were too passive under French pressure towards the end of the first half.

''In the second we were dangerous even under French pressure.

(Substitutes) Robben and Van Persie helped us do that.'' Kuyt opened the scoring with a powerful header in the ninth minute following a Rafael van der Vaart corner and poor marking by the defence.

The second goal after 59 minutes capped a swift counter attack involving Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robben who raced away from the chasing defenders before crossing low and hard for Van Persie, who had only been on the field for four minutes, to volley in.

Henry, France's all-time leading scorer, had been guilty of the miss of the match five minutes earlier when he lobbed way over the bar with only Edwin van der Sar to beat.

But he pulled one back after 71 minutes with his 45th goal for France in his 101st international.

His joy was short-lived as 30 seconds later Robben scored from an almost impossible angle, lashing the ball past Coupet.

Sneijder, who netted a superb goal against the Italians on Monday, produced an even better one when he completed the rout with a long-range shot in stoppage time.

''The scoreline is tough if you look at the match but they did the same as they did against Italy, they relied on counter attacks,'' said Henry after France suffered their heaviest defeat since losing 4-0 to Poland in a friendly in 1982.

''We created some chances but the Dutch took theirs beautifully. We played quite well ... now we have to beat Italy and hope Romania don't beat the Dutch.'' — Reuters

Netherlands 4 France 1

Netherlands: Kuyt 9, Van Persie 59, Robben 72, Sneijder 90+2

France: Henry 71

Innsbruck, June 14
Striker David Villa scored in stoppage-time to give Spain a 2-1 victory over Sweden in a scrappy Group D encounter at Euro 2008 on Saturday. Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked to have earned his side a share of the points with a 34th minute equaliser after Spain had taken a deserved lead on 15 minutes with a clever finish from striker Fernando Torres.

The result puts Spain close to a place in the quarter-finals with six points from two games, though Sweden are still in the race on three points. Spain took the initiative early on at the Tivoli Neu stadium with Xavi marshalling the midfield and Torres giving fullback Mikael Nilsson some early problems with his surging runs into the area.

It came as little surprise when Spain took the lead, Torres getting in front of his man and steering the ball in with the sole of his boot after David Silva had clipped the ball into the area following a corner. Largely deprived of possession, Sweden had to rely on isolated counter-attacks involving Fredrik Ljungberg and Ibrahimovic, although Johan Elmander almost equalised a minute after the Torres goal when he lashed the ball into the side netting.

Spain suffered a major setback when experienced centre-back Carles Puyol was forced off through injury and replaced by Raul Albiol midway through the half. Sweden responded by upping the pressure on the back four. The tactic paid off 11 minutes before the break when Ibrahimovic controlled an Elmander cross at the second attempt, turned past fullback Sergio Ramos and beat Casillas with an angled shot. — Reuters 

Neuchatel (Switzerland), June 14
Switzerland is out of contention at the European Championship and faces Portugal in its final tournament match looking for a decent farewell. Having lost its two opening matches, the game in Basel is the co-host's last chance to give some joy to its fans.

"The public deserves another quality match from us," said coach Koebi Kuhn, who will be leading the team for the last time tomorrow. Switzerland's last Group A match follows a 1-0 loss to the Czech Republic and a tough 2-1 defeat to Turkey.

Portugal doesn't have much on the line after having already secured top spot by beating the Turks 2-0 and the Czechs 3-1, which is just as well since the players are coming to terms with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's announcement that he is set to join Chelsea after the tournament.

Scolari could use the game to rest some of his key players and give his backup squad members some playing time. "That could make it more difficult," Switzerland defender Patrick Mueller said. "The players on the bench want to show what they can do so they can get on the pitch."

Scolari said after beating the Czechs that he would carefully consider his options for tomorrow's match. "We will think about it," the Brazilian coach said.

Most of Portugal's players are coming off a long European season with their clubs and could use some rest. Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea defenders Paulo Ferreira, Jose Bosingwa and Ricardo Carvalho joined the squad late because their clubs reached the Champions League final. — AP

Switzerland, June 14
France coach Raymond Domenech said on Saturday he could not decide whether to keep faith with his old guard or give the youngsters a chance as the team bid to escape an early exit from Euro 2008.

“I didn’t sleep last night,” Domenech told reporters a day after the 2006 World Cup runners-up were taught a footballing lesson in their 4-1 loss to Netherlands in Group C in Berne. The France coach, who watched the game over and over on video, could not miss the fact that several of his players, and notably defenders Lilian Thuram (36), and the 31-year-old Willy Sagnol, looked their age on the Stade de Suisse pitch.

“We all get older and matches become tougher and tougher,” said Domenech, who is struggling to find the right mix between tiring warriors and promising newcomers. While Thuram, the only player in the squad to start the 3-0 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil, played the whole match, 20-year-old Karim Benzema, a revelation with 20 league goals for champions Olympique Lyon last term, stayed on the bench.

“Giving the young players more match practice is something to be considered. All depends on the strategy I go for. I’m still hesitating,” he added.

With captain Patrick Vieira, one of three players in the current group with Thuram and Thierry Henry to feature in the 1998 squad, still struggling with a thigh injury, the time might just be right to launch a new era. France, who must beat Italy on Tuesday in Zurich while hoping Romania do not defeat Netherlands paid dearly for not being attentive enough at the back and too clumsy 
in front of goal against the Dutch, Domenech said. — Reuters

Bucharest, June 14
Romanian media today both praised and damned Adrian Mutu after scoring a goal and missing a penalty in a 1-1 draw against Italy at Euro 2008 - but he won backing from former great Gheorghe Hagi.

''Mutu was an angel and a devil,'' summed up Evenimentul Zilei on its front page.

Mutu put Romania ahead 10 minutes into the second half of their Group C clash when he pounced on Gianluca Zambrotta's poor back header but his penalty nine minutes from time was saved, keeping Italy in the tournament.

''I apologise for the missed penalty,'' Mutu's told sport daily Gazeta Sporturilor but was quoted in the daily Pro Sport, adding: ''I will take revenge against Netherlands (their final group match on Tuesday.''

Former Romania captain Hagi, arguably the country's best player of the past century, called for understanding and support for Mutu.

''Mutu must forget as soon as possible that he failed to convert his penalty,'' Hagi wrote in Pro Sport.

''We must, all of us, encourage him - the world's best players have all missed important penalties in their life.

''I'm sure that Mutu will play his best match so far against the Netherlands,'' Hagi said.

''Romania are playing better and better and now we have our chance to emerge alive from the group of death,'' he said. — Reuters 

Colombo, June 14
Mukhtar Naseer's last-gasp goal upset the Indian applecart as Maldives beat the defending champions 1-0 to win their first SAFF Championship title at the Sugathadasa Stadium here tonight.

Inspired by the presence of their President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom and first lady Nasrina Ibarhim, the Maldives players defended well before delivering a late blow to beat the Bhaichung Bhutia-led side by the solitary goal.

This was the first SAFF Championship title for Maldives, who had twice finished runners-up in the past.

India's goal-shy forwards once again let down the side and the defence too crumbled towards the end to allow Mukhtar score the winner.

The Indian defence had just cleared Ismail Mohammad's header off a Mukhtar pass before Mukhtar raided their citadel again when the match was into its 87th minute. Mukhtar stormed into the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful shot that beat Indian custodian Subrata Paul all ends up.

This was a sweet revenge for the winners who were beaten 1-0 by the Indians in a league match earlier.

India started their title defence on a positive note and could have gone up in the opening minute when Mohamed Jameel fouled Bhutia just outside the penalty area but the Indian skipper's free kick sailed over the bar. Maldives soon responded in the eight minute but Subrata Paul came to India's rescue as he thwarted Ismail's powerful right-footer.

There was nothing much to differentiate between the two sides in terms of ball possession in the opening half. To add to that, apart from a few on and off chances, action was more or less restricted to the midfield and both the teams lacked finishing.

The game did not rise to a great hight in the second half either. India got a couple of chances but once Sunil Chetri's header flew over the bar and on another occasion, his shot was blocked by a Maldives defender. Maldives got two corner kicks towards the end but the Indian defenders thwarted their efforts before Mukhtar finally brought down their citadel. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Pre-match test for Turkish trio!
GENEVA: Three of Turkey’s players will take time out from preparations for Sunday’s crucial Euro 2008 Group A match against Czech Republic to sit the national university entrance exam, a team spokesman said today. Striker Semih Senturk, scorer of the equaliser in Turkey’s 2-1 win over Switzerland, central defender Servet Cetin and left-back Ugur Boral will take the three-hour, multiple choice exam at the team hotel on Sunday morning, the spokesman said. The trio, who are all in their mid-20s and plan to take sports degrees, will be supervised by two officials from Ankara and will be sitting the test at the same time as hundreds of thousands of other would-be students back home. — Reuters

PCB seeks two-week window for PPL
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board would request the International Cricket Council and its member nations to spare a two-week window for successfully hosting its domestic T20 competition — the Pakistan Premier League — next year. A senior official of the Board said it was keen to host the Pakistan Premier League sometime in October next year. “It is important we have the PPL with the support and cooperation of the ICC and other member nations because we want to make it a memorable event and add something unique to Pakistan’s domestic cricket circuit,” he said. — PTI

No future help for drug offenders: PCB
KARACHI: Embarrassed by the detention of pacer Mohammad Asif, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board has warned that in future the Board would not come forward to help any player, who gets himself entangled in the sort of mess that Asif finds himself at present in Dubai. Nasim Ashraf held meetings with the Pakistan team management and players in Dhaka on Friday and said he was disappointed with the Asif episode. “In future we are clear that we will not help out any player, who is involved in such embarrassing episodes and gets himself linked with drugs or any other unethical behaviour,” Ashraf said. — PTI

Paes-Dlouhy reach final
HALLE: Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy made a remarkable comeback through the super-tie breaker of their semifinal match to enter the summit clash of the euro 713,000 Gerry Weber Open here. After pocketing the first set, the fourth seed Indo-Czech pair lost the second set without getting on board but eventually pulled off a 6-4, 0-6, 10-4 win against Ivan Lubicic and Robin Soderling. Meanwhile, the eighth seed Indian Davis Cuppers Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna crashed out of the Artois Championships in London after losing their quarterfinal encounter in straight sets against Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonzic. — PTI

Rushmi wins ITF women’s title
GURGAON: Fourth seeded Rushmi Chakravarthi won the $10,000 ITF women’s title by defeating third seed Ankita Bhambri in straight sets at the National Tennis Academy here on Saturday. The 26-year-old Indian Oil officer from Chennai, Rushmi, who had also claimed an ITF title last month by winning the Federal Bank international women’s tennis tournament, held in Kerala, outlayed Bhambri by 6-4, 6-2. Ankita, who was playing along with her sister in the doubles event, also lost her final match to Isha Lakhani and Elina Gasanova on Friday. — UNI

Top teams for Mandi soccer
New Delhi: Top teams Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Punjab State Electricity Board, Rail Coach Factory (Kapurthala), Ludhiana XI, and teams from Hyderabad, Uttaranchal, Ahmedabad and Nagaland will feature in the Hot Weather Football Tournament to be held in Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) from June 16 to 22. In all, 12 teams will compete in the week-long tournament. — TNS