Scoreboard

India 1st Innings: 161

Australia 1st Innings

(Overnight 149 for no loss)

Cowan b Yadav 74

Warner c Yadav b Ishant 180

Marsh c Laxman b Yadav 11

Ponting b Yadav 7

Clarke c Dhoni b Zaheer 18

Hussey c Sehwag b Vinay 14

Haddin c Dhoni b Zaheer 0

Siddle b Yadav 30

Harris c Gambhir b Yadav 9

Starc not out 15

Hilfenhaus c Kohli b Sehwag 6

Extras (lb 3, w 2) 5

Total (all out; 76.2 ovrs) 369

Fall of wickets: 1-214, 2-220, 3-242, 4-290, 5-301, 6-303, 7-339, 8-343, 9-357.

Bowling: Zaheer 21-3-91-2, Yadav 17-2-93-5, Vinay 13-0-73-1, Ishant 18-0-89-1, Virender 7.2-0-20-1.

India 2nd innings:

Gambhir c Hussey b Starc 14

Sehwag c Haddin b Siddle 10

Dravid batting 32

Tendulkar lbw b Starc 8

Laxman c Marsh b Hilfenhaus 0

Kohli batting 21

Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 1) 3

Total (for 4 wkts; 32 ovrs) 88

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-25, 3-42, 4-51.

Bowling: Harris 8-1-23-0, Hilfenhaus 9-2-25-1, Starc 6-2-14-2, Siddle 7-2-21-1, Hussey 2-0-3-0.

Perth, January 14
Young Indian pacer Umesh Yadav, who took five wickets in an exceptional spell of sustained hostile bowling at the WACA today, conceded that the batting failure was not helping the visiting team's cause in the third cricket Test against Australia here.

"The batsmen are not able to make runs. Put it to bad luck or anything. Each and every batsman is trying very hard but unfortunately, it's not happening," said Yadav who took his maiden five wicket haul in Australia's first innings.

Two moments of Yadav (5/93) stood out — first when he claimed the prized scalp of Ricky Ponting and second, the catch he took in the outfield to dismiss David Warner for 180.

"Ponting or Clarke, every wicket is important to me. But I was a bit nervous taking that catch against Warner as he was batting on 180. I was thinking what would happen to the team if I was to spill that chance," Yadav said at the post-match press conference after second day's play.

The Indians, including Yadav, were taken to cleaners by rampant Warner and company on the first evening but they roared back today. Yadav did not think they bowled any differently today than they had done yesterday.

"There is no change in the wicket. Warner is a strokeplayer, he was able to hit and we were having a problem yesterday. We were not able to coordinate. But we started well today and I'm happy now," said Yadav.

"I have been practicing to bowl fuller length. Sometimes you are able to do it and sometimes you can’t. But it’s a learning curve for me," he said.

Asked about the feeling of Sachin Tendulkar on being given out in a debatable LBW decision, Yadav said, "Sachin was disappointed but after umpire gives you out, you are out. You can’t do anything about it. He was unhappy of course.

"As for Laxman, I was sitting outside when he was out and he went inside (the dressing room)." — PTI

Chennai, January 14
Pacers Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan are expected to return to the Indian squad for next month's tri-series in Australia when the national selectors meet here on Sunday to pick the team.

It will also be interesting to see whether the selectors name senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan in the 16-member squad for the tri-series, which will have Sri Lanka as the third team, and the two T20s against Australia.

Both Sachin and Zaheer have not played any ODIs since the World Cup final last year but with back-to-back whitewash on cards, the selectors may want their most experienced batsman and bowler to play the shorter format.

Yuvraj Singh who is recovering from his non-malignant lung tumour and Harbhajan Singh who sustained a shinbone injury are yet to get fully fit and would not be considered for selection. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Manoj Tiwary appear to be automatic choices among the batsmen.

If Tendulkar decides to play ODIs, then Ajinkya Rahane will be dropped as it would not make sense to have four specialist openers.

Although Parthiv Patel is favourite to get the second wicketkeeper's slot, the selectors may just discuss Madhya Pradesh's Naman Ojha's name. Though his wicketkeeping has not been great, Ojha however has scored 668 runs in Ranji Trophy this season with three centuries and two 50's to his credit.

Offie Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja are automatic choices for the two spinners slot. Among the pacers, Praveen Kumar who was out with a rib injury, is likely to come back as he has been bowling regularly in the practice games at the National Cricket Academy.

Umesh Yadav is also expected to retain his place as the fast bowler has impressed one and all with his speed though he lacks control. With Varun Aaron unlikely due to a stress reaction, the selectors may induct Bengal speed merchant Ashok Dinda to complement the Vidarbha lad.

Irfan Pathan with his all-round abilities and current domestic performances will also make it to the squad. If Zaheer is available, then the choice for the fifth seamer's slot will be a toss-up between Munaf Patel, if he is fully fit, and Ranganath Vinay Kumar. — PTI

East London, January 14
Half-centuries from Hashim Amla and JP Duminy helped South Africa secure a five-wicket win in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Opening batsman Amla weighed in with 55 off 58 balls while Duminy was not out on 66 off 87 deliveries. South Africa, chasing Sri Lanka's 236 for six, reached 237 for five with eight balls remaining.

Amla and Graeme Smith (28) provided the hosts with an impressive start thanks to an opening stand of 76 before Duminy controlled the middle-order as the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Amla looked in complete control during his innings, which included five fours and two sixes. Duminy was content to simply work the ball around and struck just one six.

Sri Lanka owed their final total to Dinesh Chandimal, who ended not out on 92, and left-handed opening batsman Upul Tharanga. He made 66 off 85 deliveries with six fours and a six.

Chandimal, together with Nuwan Kulasekara (22) and Angelo Mathews (28), provided the innings with some late impetus. — Reuters

Doha, January 14
The final bid for top Indian shooters Rajyavrdhan Singh Rathore and Anjali Bhagwat to qualify for London Olympics ended in disappointment as they failed to make it to the final round in their respective events in the Asian Shooting Championships here today.

Rathore, Athens Olympic silver medallist in men's double trap, and Anjali, former 10m air rifle world number one, will now miss London Olympics as the competition here is the last qualifying event for them.

Double trap world number two Ronjan Sodhi, who had already earned his London Olympics quota, too could not make it to the final round, adding to the gloom in the Indian camp.

All eyes were on Rathore after he had equalled the world record of 148/150 at Asian Shotgun Championship in November, but he failed to adjust to the windy conditions.

After enjoying near perfect conditions during training, the weather this morning made life difficult for all shooters with high wind speeds playing havoc.

Banking on his experience, Rathore opened with a 48/50 that tied him for the lead. But it all came undone in the second series as he could manage only a 41. With his back to the wall, Rathore needed to shoot at least 47 to be in contention for the final round but he ended with a 46 for a final total of 135/150 "It was apparent what went wrong. The gusts of wind were just too much to handle. That 41 in the 2nd round was the problem. We have ways to adjust technically but those ways are to cope up, not to overcome the conditions. The wind was about 22 miles, the gusts were 27 miles. It was moving the gun," said Rathore in disappointment.

"Training had been fantastic. There is time and then there is effort both have to be balanced out. For that you need to be in the team and training and competing. I knew I had just one chance and it is touch and go in these circumstances," he said. — PTI

New Delhi, January 14
Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal failed to sustain her impressive touch as she suffered a straight-game defeat at the hands of world No 1 Yihan Wang of China in the semifinal of the Malaysian Open Super Series, in Kuala Lumpur today.

Playing in her first semifinal of the new season, world No 4 Saina was outplayed by the top seed Chinese 15-21 16-21 in a 41-minute contest.

The 21-year-old Indian was ahead initially in both the games but her performance dipped several notches down later on with the Chinese dominating in all departments.

Wang had 16 smash winners as against 11 from Saina. The Chinese had 13 net winners as against 10 of Saina. In the first game, Saina was leading 6-2 before Wang caught her up at 8-8. From there, the Chinese kept Saina tied down. From 18-15, Wang reeled off three straight points to take the game 21-15.

In the second game also, Saina opened up a 5-2 lead but her opponent caught her up at 10-10. From thereon, Saina had to play catch-up game. But the veteran Chinese shuttler was not the one to relax a bit, and from 15-14, Wang zoomed ahead with four straight points before closing the game and win the match comfortably. — PTI

New Delhi, January 14
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Olympian Akhil Kumar today realised his dream of nurturing young talent in the country with the inauguration of a boxing club at Rohtak.

Named 'Akhil Kumar Boxing Club and Fitness Society', it will provide boxing training to the young boxers in the country.

Akhil himself inaugurated the club, located at Choturam Nagar at Rohtak, after Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda, who was to do the honours, could not make it to the event.

"The club is only the first step and through this we would look to share my experiences with the young boxers.

Other renowned boxers such as Jitender Kumar, Diwakar Prasad etc will also give their inputs to the budding talents from time to time," Akhil said. — PTI

Melbourne, January 14
After drinking deep from the cup of confidence on the way to three grand slam crowns and the world number one ranking, Novak Djokovic's intoxicating 2011 ended in exhaustion and injury.

The Serbian insists, however, he has slept off the hangover and spoke wondrously of a remedy often prescribed but rarely taken by the world's top players. Rest.

"Almost three weeks (off)," a refreshed Djokovic told reporters on Saturday, looking dapper in a starched-white shirt and sports jacket. "I had some commitments after I finished in London for a week or so, then I had two weeks of the real rest, without racquet, without any physical involvement.

"It came at the right time really. I needed it more than anything at that stage. I had time to reflect on what I have achieved in 2011.” — Reuters

New Delhi, January 14
Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha today became the sixth player to be transferred during the IPL trading window, moving from Deccan Chargers to Mumbai Indians.

"With a spinner of Pragyan Ojha's competence, we fortify our bowling department that has won us many matches in the past seasons. Pragyan Ojha is a player of great international repute, and we welcome him with much excitement," Nita Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians, said.

Ojha has been a part of the Deccan Chargers since the first season of the IPL in 2008. He won the Purple Cap for being the highest wicket-taker in the 2010 edition of the tournament. "Pragyan is an outstanding cricketer. He was one of the chief architects of our triumph in 2009. His performances for India, and in the IPL, speak for themselves. We wish him all the best for the future," said E Venkat Reddy, COO of the Deccan Chargers.

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said while a few cricketers have already been transferred, the auction will see more players up for grabs. "All eyes will now be on the auction," Shukla said. — PTI

Singapore, January 14
Derrick Rose, who took last season's Most Valuable Player award, returned to the Chicago line-up on Friday and paced the league leading Bulls to an 88-79 victory over the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden.

Rose sat out the Bulls' win over Washington on Wednesday with a sprained big left toe, and after a slow start on Friday he finished with a game-high 25 points and added seven assists.

The Celtics (4-6) struggled through a horrendous first half scoring on just 33 percent of their shots while the Bulls (11-2) sprinted to a 52-33 lead. "The great players find a way," Rose told reporters of playing through the pain. "I want to be great. This is something I have to fight through. It's not stopping me."

Slow starts have been a recurring theme in the Celtics' current three game losing stretch, all at home. "We have to have better starts," said Ray Allen. "It's hard to blame it on a lack of energy, because we had great shots and didn't make them." — Reuters