Melbourne, February 2
Stung by a prolonged losing streak in what has turned out to be a nightmarish tour, a hapless India will now look to avoid a Twenty20 whitewash when they lock horns with Australia in the second match here tomorrow.

Completely outclassed in the humiliating 0-4 Test loss against the hosts, India had hoped for redemption in the limited over format but they again succumbed to a 31-run defeat in the first Twenty20 on Wednesday.

The young legs did show some energy on the field but at the batting crease, they were no different to their Test seniors and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has to do something to inpsire his team tomorrow.

In the bowling department too, the Indians failed to make early inroads in the Australian line-up and now that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's card has been shown up to be blank by a rampant David Warner last night, Zaheer Khan's return would be crucial to India's chances.

The wicket at the MCG also might not suit spinners tomorrow so overtly as it did in the ANZ Stadium last night. It's a batting wicket and the skills of the bowlers would be tested utmost.

Dhoni believed it was the uneven surface which did his batsmen in and MCG might reflect their preparedness in a better light. As things stood though, Indians checked in at their hotel in Melbourne this morning and would stay indoors though there was a word that a few youngsters might visit the MCG later in the afternoon.

It's better they do, for if Australia seizes an early momentum, they would be difficult to put down in the one-day internationals. The corresponding effect of despondency in Indian ranks would be palpable too.

Australia, on the other hand, have been simply ruthless so far as after mauling India in the Test series, the hosts notched up a convincing victory in Sydney last night and they would now look to complete a Twenty20 clean sweep against the visitors tomorrow.

Australia would only go better once Daniel Christian, Mitchell Marsh and Clint McKay get an opportunity to show their wares and chances are that they would - in front of 90,000 strong fans who are likely to turn up at the MCG, which is the home of Australian cricket.

Christian has been on the fringes of selection in the Test side this summer and is viewed as one of the upcoming stars of Australian cricket.

He was the top scorer in domestic one-day matches and was also the second highest wicket-taker. A powerful hitter, Christian didn't get a chance to bat last night but picked up two for 35 with his fast deliveries.

Marsh, younger brother of Shaun, has set the domestic stage ablaze with his powerful hitting. Just 20, Marsh likes expressing his talent both with the bat and ball and is one of the many multidimensional cricketers who are coming up through the ranks in Australian cricket.

McKay, a 194cm tall right-arm fast bowler, is renowned for his control and economy. The 28-year-old local boy is said to possess enough variety in his armoury.

The fast bowler is a handy lower order batsman too and has already represented Australia in all the three formats - Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 internationals. — PTI

Melbourne, February 2
Australia all-rounder David Hussey, who played a big part in his team's facile 31-run victory over India in Sydney last night, is looking for a perfect game to make it 2-0 in the second Twenty20 international at the MCG here tomorrow.

"It's pretty important to make it 2-0. We played good cricket and got a few cobwebs out of the way. We want to keep the momentum going forward and play a perfect game in front of 90,000 (fans) at the MCG," said Hussey, who made 43 runs and took two wickets and a catch during his all-round show in Sydney last night.

"There's no better feeling than to do it at MCG, the home of Australian cricket. There's no better atmosphere than this throughout the world."

David Hussey, unlike his brother Mike, bats right handed and was described last night by his skipper George Bailey as “one of the cleanest striker of a cricket ball in the game.”

His performance last night has pushed up his stakes in the Australian hierarchy and he was determined to confirm the impression at the MCG. He is a regular for Australia in both ODIs and Twenty20 matches.

"Men like Finch, Matty (Wade), McKay and myself are looking to get runs and put up a good show in front of the best supporters in the world," he said.

Chandigarh, February 2
Kings XI Punjab have kicked off their preparation for IPL V, with the organising of the KXIP Cup. This would be the third edition of the annual KXIP Cup which is played in a T20 format. This tournament will have over 70 cricketers participating and is considered a suitable platform and stepping stone for budding and talented cricketers.

The players have been divided into four well balanced teams, and are designated as KXIP Blue, Red, Green and Silver.

Speaking on the occasion, Col. Arvinder Singh, COO, Kings XI Punjab said, “Our focus has always been to develop and promote local talent in the catchment areas. Through this annual tournament we aim to provide the cricketers from our catchment area, and the country, a unique platform to display their skills. As in the past, we expect a few select performers to display their exceptional skills and make it to our squad. We wish the teams all the very best.”

The tournament will be conducted in a league format. The matches will be played at the PCA Stadium Mohali and the Sector 16 Stadium Chandigarh, over a period of four days starting February 4 - February 7. The finals will be held at the PCA Stadium Mohali on February 7.

London, February 2
Young Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been released from jail after serving half of his six-month sentence in a spot-fixing case.

Amir, who was sent to jail on November 3 last year along with former captain Salman Butt and pacer Mohammed Asif for a plot to deliberately bowl no balls in a Test match against England in 2010, was released from Portland prison in Dorset, yesterday.

ICC had banned Amir for five years, Asif for seven years (two years suspended) and Butt 10 years (five years suspended) from playing the game.

The 19-year-old was due to be let out of prison tomorrow but the date, according to reports, was brought two days early to avoid media attention.

It was said at the time of the pronouncement of the judgement that the cricketers might have to serve just half of their sentences as they can be released on license if their behavior is good.

Amir has a visa to stay in England until the end of March.

Amir and his two team-mates were sentenced in November 2011 at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat following a sting operation by now defunct 'News of the World'.

Asif, 29, was handed a one-year jail term, while Butt, 27, was sentenced to two and a half year imprisonment for their roles in the spot-fixing case.

The sting operation proved that Asif and Amir bowled deliberate no-balls in the Lord's Test against England in 2010. — PTI

Dubai, February 2
Pakistan will again rely on spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman to run through an underperforming batting lineup in the team's search of a first Test series whitewash against England.

Jonathan Trott (141) and Alastair Cook (109) are the only English batsmen to have crossed the 100-run mark in England's two heavy defeats in the first two Tests.

Ajmal's offbreaks and the left-arm spin of Rehman exposed England's inability to bat on subcontinent-like turning wickets in this Gulf country by taking 29 wickets between them.

And Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq would like to see his spinners bowl with the same intensity in the third Test, which starts tomorrow. — AP

Yangon, February 2
India's Gaganjeet Bhullar shot a four-under 68 that put him tied for 20th place after the first round in the Zaykabar Myanmar Open presented by Air Bagan here today.

USA's Ben Fox shot eight-under 64 and his effort was matched by the Australian duo of Scott Hend and Wade Ormsby.

Bhullar, who had three birdies in first five holes, had five in all and one bogey in his 68.

The next best Indian was Ajeetesh Sandhu and Feroze Ali at 71 each in tied 70th place. Sujjan Singh and Gaurav Ghei with 73 were 106th, Chiragh Kumar, Rahil Gangjee and Himmat Rai with 74 were tied 121st and Digvijay Singh (75) was 128th and Manav Jaini (76) was 135th.

Despite the shot by Indian, the scores at the Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club were rather low with Chinnarat Phadungsil of Thailand, a three-time Asian Tour winner, a further shot back on 65 with Asian Tour graduate Kim Gi-whan of Korea in the $300,000 event.

The event is returning to the Asian Tour schedule after a one-year lapse.

Fox, who is searching for his first Asian Tour victory, credited the hard work in the gym during the off-season for his fast start. He had eight birdies and no bogeys.

Hend, who is among 15 Australians in the field this week, predicts a low scoring week as he aims to end a three-year title drought. — PTI

Chandigarh, February 2
Tata Academy paved their way into the semifinals of the Principal Harbhajan Singh Football Tournament, Mahilpur by beating the CRPF today. A goalless affair in the first half was turned into a breath-taking contest in the second with Tata Academy showing some fascinating maneuvers and coordination.

Inspite of the struggle, the horns remained locked till the end of allotted time. Equally thrilling was the penalty shoot out that turned into sudden death, with Tata Academy beating CRPF 9-8.

In another exciting match, Army Jr. were knocked out by SN Club, Banga. The first half witnessed outstanding play by Army Jr, and soon they were able to strike with Sumayjit Singh scoring in the 55th minute. SN Club’s Varinder brought life back into the game when he equalised in the 63rd minute.

The match looked like heading for parity in the 90 minutes, but that changed when Gurkamal of SN Club thumped an effort to put ball into the bottom corner, thus securing a place for his team in the semifinals.

Football Academy, Mahilpur rode their luck once again to defeat DAV Jalandhar 2-0. After a slow start, hosts took the lead just at the beginning of the second half when Gurlal Singh lashed a strike at goal from 20 yards leaving the goalkeeper dumbfounded.

After only five minutes, he fired once again into the side netting from close range and it became clear that it would not be DAV’s day.

Madrid, February 2
Lionel Messi had a penalty saved early in the second half as Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia in a hard-fought King's Cup semifinal first leg on Wednesday.

Valencia snatched a 27th-minute lead at their Mestalla stadium when Jeremy Mathieu found space down the left wing and Jonas clipped the Frenchman's low cross high into the net past goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto.

Pinto was lucky to be still on the pitch after television replays showed he handled the ball outside his area in the 18th minute but the referee waved play on.

Barca captain Carles Puyol equalised 10 minutes before the break when he met a deep Cesc Fabregas corner and nodded past Diego Alves, who had come out to collect the ball but watched it sail over his head.

Alves, who has an impressive record saving spot kicks, made amends 11 minutes into the second half when he flung himself to his left and parried away Messi's penalty, awarded after Miguel felled Thiago Alcantara in the area.

Barca substitute Daniel Alves smashed a shot against the post after a brilliant one-two with Messi around 15 minutes from time but neither side were able to find another goal ahead of next week's second leg at the Nou Camp.

"He (Messi) is a player who doesn't give you much of a clue about which way he is going to shoot," Valencia keeper Alves said in a television interview.

"You just have to hang in there and try to deceive him and today I was happy to be able to help the team," the Brazilian added.

It was Barca's third successive draw, coming after they were held to a 0-0 stalemate at Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday and last week's 2-2 Cup quarterfinal draw at home to holders Real Madrid that sent Pep Guardiola's side through 4-3 on aggregate.

Guardiola, who was without the injured Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Pedro and opted to rest playmaker Xavi, told a news conference it was the best performance against Valencia he had seen from his players since he became coach in 2008. — Reuters