Chandigarh, February 4
The Indian Premier League’s (IPL) fifth edition auction held at Bangalore witnessed active participation from Kings XI Punjab which added Australian All Rounder: James Faulkner, Former Pakistani All-rounder: Azhar Mahmood and maverick Indian off-spin bowler: Ramesh Powar, to its team.

The franchisee had retained the South African middle-order batsman, David Miller too last week and given him a two-year contract. Ness Wadia, Co- Promoter, KXIP and Col Arvinder Singh, COO, KXIP represented the franchise at the auction and were seen at the forefront for bidding.

Enumerating on the additions in the team, Ness Wadia, co-promoter, KXIP commented, “We are happy with the additions that have been made to the team. We have bagged best of the talent both nationally and internationally. Azhar, James and Ramesh further strengthen the equation with regard to all aspects of the game, be it batting, bowling or fielding.”

Melbourne, February 4
Finally with a win under their belt in what has been a highly disappointing tour, India would now aim to carry the Twenty20 momentum into the one-dayers when they take on Australia in the first match of the tri-series starting here tomorrow.

After a 0-4 thrashing in the Tests and a loss in the first T20 against Australia, India tasted victory in the second T20, winning by eight wickets last night. The beleaguered Indians have been revitalised by the arrival of young players such as Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul Sharma.

The effort on the field was markedly improved and the Indians would be hoping that the shift in the momentum continues in the ODIs as well. The team will have its share of seniors as well with veteran Sachin Tendulkar's return to the fold.

Tendulkar, still on the threshold of his 100th international century, has put his hands up for the tri-series in order to cross the milestone. The maestro has faced unprecedented pressure in the last one year during which he played 11 Tests and 21 innings but still wasn't able to get over the line.

There were two scores in the 90s and one in 80s but Tendulkar could not go the whole hog and found a way to eject himself out from the middle. Now the iconic player is available for selection and it means either Ravichandran Ashwin or promising leg-spinner Rahul Sharma would have to watch the proceedings from the sidelines at the MCG.

Both Ashwin and Sharma were excellent in the first two Twenty20 matches though the latter appeared to have done marginally better than his more experienced spin partner. Ashwin claimed one wicket at an economy rate of 7.12 while Sharma had three wickets at an economy of 7.63.

Ashwin is a better bat than Sharma with a Test century under his belt but Sharma showed a very large heart by bowling with a heavily bandaged bowling hand - result of a split webbing - at the MCG last night.

Australian Twenty20 captain indeed pointed out Sharma as very difficult to work around as the 6'3" leg-spinner got unusual bounce even on a flat deck at the MCG. If India wants to keep both the spinners in the eleven, it would imply shortening the batting, most likely at the cost of Rohit Sharma.

Sharma waited the entire Test series for his opportunity which never came his way. Luck bedevilled him in the Twenty20s as well. He was bowled on nought on a diabolic pitch in Sydney and didn't have the opportunity to bat in the second at MCG on Friday.

Tendulkar's return would mean greater stability in the top order which is finally beginning to show promise with Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. One of the two regular Test openers would have to make way for Tendulkar at the start of the innings but both Gambhir and Sehwag would have no qualms in doing so.

Gambhir in fact has quite a decent record at number three and indeed slammed an outstanding 91 in the World Cup final coming one drop. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is another one who is just turning the corner of a miserable summer with unbeaten knocks of 48 and 21 in the two Twenty20 internationals.

India most probably would bring back Zaheer Khan and it could mean the omission of one of the two Kumars - Praveen or Vinay. — PTI

Melbourne, February 4
The emphatic triumph in the second Twenty20 match against Australia has lifted India's morale and the struggling tourists are now looking forward to the one-day tri-series with renewed enthusiam, said batsman Suresh Raina. The tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka, gets underway tomorrow with India taking on Australia.

"The morale has lifted. Every youngster is now looking forward to the one-day series. We have seniors, such as Sachin (Tendulkar) and Zaheer (Khan), who have been here for a month and a half. It would help," Raina said.

India excelled in the field during the eight-wicket triumph last night and Raina, one of the foremost young fielders in Indian cricket, said the key is to show confidence in the field. "You should expect each and every ball coming your way. Only then you can dive right and left and take brilliant catches - that's the key for me," said Raina.

"If you are fielding in a big ground, it's a challenge for you. Yesterday was amazing. We fielded very well as a unit. If you look at the circle, Jadeja, Virat, Rohit and me were sharp in the circle. Then Gauti (Gambhir) took a brilliant catch in the outfield. If you can do well in the nets, you can do it in the match as well." — PTI

Melbourne, February 4
Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke today declared his team as the favourites to win the ODI tri-series but conceded that it will have to produce its best to nail down world champions India in the opening game here tomorrow. The series features Sri Lanka as the third team.

"We have to play at our best to beat both these teams. They were both in the final of the most recent World Cup. We're the number one one-day team in the world so I'd like to think we are favourites," Clarke said today ahead of the opening match.

India, blanked 0-4 in the Test series, finally got something to cheer about when they won the second Twenty20 match against Australia here last night. Clarke praised the effort put in by the beleaguered team. "India is a very good team... the way they fielded last night is how you need to field in cricket.

“Fielding is a big part of our game and I certainly wasn't surprised by how they fielded. They are a very good outfit, there are some really good athletes in that team. But that's the game. Unfortunately, you can't win every single game."

Clarke said if people were excited about the one-day series, there were enough reasons for it. "When you're playing two very good opposition teams, Sri Lanka and India, if I was a fan, I would love to get out there and watch it so I'm expecting people to continue to turn out.

"If any city is going to turn out, it's Melbourne though. They're very supportive of Australian cricket and of the sport," he said. — PTI

Dubai, February 4
An unbeaten century by Younus Khan, the first of the series, took Pakistan to a superb position as they piled on a 180-run lead at the close of the second day of the third Test against England on Saturday.

The hosts ended the day on 222 for two in their second innings to leave number one-ranked Test side England facing a third defeat in the three-test series unless the struggling tourists suddenly strike form. The England bowlers laboured as an unbeaten 194-run partnership between Younus (115 not out) and Azhar Ali threatened to take the match away from Andrew Strauss's men, who must bat last having crumbled in a similar position in the second Test in Abu Dhabi.

Younus's 20th Test century was studded with 11 fours and one six and came off 195 balls as the 34-year old batsman skillfully worked through England's pace and spin attack. Azhar eased to his half century and was unbeaten at 75 off 246 balls at the stumps.

The post-lunch run-scoring was in stark contrast to what has been seen in the match and series so far. This Test, being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, had already seen 22 wickets fall in less than two days. Six wickets tumbled in the morning session. Both Pakistani openers were dismissed cheaply.

James Anderson struck first, dismissing Taufeeq Umar (6) for the second time in the match, this time caught at slip. Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar trapped Mohammad Hafeez lbw (21) on the sweep. Earlier, Pakistan bowled out England's lower order to trail by 42 runs as the touring party made 141 in reply to Pakistan's first innings of 99. — Reuters

Chandigarh, February 4
In a low scoring encounter KXIP Red defeated KXIP Blue by 8 wickets with 16 balls to spare in the inaugural match of KXIP Cup 2012 being played at PCA stadium, Mohali today.

KXIP Red won the toss and elected to field first. Openers Sarul Kanwar (23) & Parshant Chopra (23) gave a good start as the duo added 37 runs for the 1st wicket before Sarul Kanwar was sent back to pavilion by Jitender Mehta. Amitoze Singh (32) shows some resistance in the middle order, whereas other batsman gave away there wickets very cheaply. KXIP Red bowlers bowled a tight line and length and didn’t give their opponents the free run scoring options.

Kuldeep Diwan was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped 4 wickets at the cost of 21 runs from his 4 overs. He was ably supported by Jitender Mehta who took 2 wickets for 19 runs. KXIP Blue managed to score a modest total of 128 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in allotted 20 overs.

KXIP Red chased the target with ease in 17.2 overs due to belligerent knocks by Chetan Sharma (54) and Abhimanyu Rana (44 n.o.). Chetan Sharma’s knock of 54 runs came off 48 balls with the help of 7 boundaries & Rana remained not out at his individual total of 44 runs which came off 33 balls, he hit 2 boundaries and 2 sixes. Kuldeep Diwan for his spell of 4-0-21-4 was adjudged Man of the Match.

In the second match played at same venue KXIP Green outclassed KXIP Silver by 12 runs.

Chandigarh, February 4
Punjab Police were too tough on the day for SN Club Banga in the first semifinal of the Principal Harbhajan Football Tournament Mahilpur today. It only took 13 minutes for Harpreet of Punjab Police to put his team in precedence. Vijay Kumar, the leading goal scorer of the tournament, made his contribution with two goals. As though the demage was not enough, Baljit Singh bashed in the concluding moments to wreak complete havoc upon the SN Club making the final score 4-0.

An entertaining draw between BSF and Tata Academy exhibited some superb soccer moments for thousands of fans congregated in the Khalsa College Stadium. The second semifinal was a head on fight as the target remained obscure for both the teams all through the first half. Tata Academy broke the lock, with Sumanjit scoring with a well-hit volley. But their jubilation didn’t last long as BSF’s Mandeep came with an equaliser, heading a curling corner kick into the netting. Equally thrilling was the penalty shoot-out in which Tata Academy triumphed 6-4.

The school championship of the tournament went to SAS School, Paldi. A strong display from them piled misery on FA Mahilpur (under 17) who were knocked out. The architect of victory came out to be Baljit Singh who slided the ball into the far corner leading his team to an inspiring 1-0 win.

Sunday is set to be another sensational day as Khalsa College line up against FA Rurka and Guru Nanak College Phagwara meet FA Mahilpur.