AUSTRALIA VS PAKISTAN 2nd ODI:Australia thump Pakistan by 140 runs

Australia thrashed an insipid Pakistan side by 140 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series at the SCG on Sunday. Chasing 268 for victory, the tourists were dismissed for 127 - their lowest one-day total against Australia on these shores.


Skipper Mohammad Yousuf (58) top scored with a gritty half-century.


In-form batsmen Shane Watson (69 off 71 balls) and Cameron White (55 off 58 balls) earlier navigated Australia to 6-267 after Pakistan elected to field.That total looked imposing from the start of Pakistan's innings as paceman Doug Bollinger (2-17 off eight overs) pierced the top order. He removed Salman Butt and (2) and Younis Khan (zero) in the space of four balls in the fifth over.


White pouched both catches off Bollinger's bowling before his Victorian teammate Clint McKay produced his own fine piece of fielding to run out Kamran Akmal (16) following a mix-up with Yousuf.


Siddle knocked back Umar Akmal's (0) off-stump with the youngster done for pace.


Ponting then joined in the fielding exhibition by taking a spectacular one-handed diving catch in his left hand at point to end Shoaib Malik's (2) painful stay.


When Shahid Afridi (9) fell the score was 6-58 the contest had ended.


Watson earlier handed the home side an ideal start before spinner Afridi (2-35 off 10 overs) put the clamps on Australia in the middle overs.


Ponting (13) never really got going, deputy Michael Clarke (25) didn't do much better and Mike Hussey (29) fell late trying to lift the rate.


But White backed up his century in game one with a typically helter-skelter knock.


The two teams will now meet on Australia Day in Adelaide.

IND VS BAN 2nd test:INDIA dominate day 1 of the 2nd test today

Mahmudullah Riad's grit was not enough as India skittled out Bangladesh for a modest total and then got off to a flying start to take early control of the second and final cricket Test here on Sunday.


The opening day belonged to India as Ishant Sharma (4/66) and Zaheer Khan (3/62) decimated the Bangladesh top and middle order to reduce the hosts to 127 for seven.


Batting at number eight, Mahmudullah, however, refused to throw in the towel and showed exemplary grit, even though he was stranded four runs away from his maiden Test century as his side folded for 233.Mahmudullah's was a sterling 156-ball knock studded with 13 fours. The last two wickets produced 78 crucial runs that lent some respectability to the home side's total.


In reply, India milked 69 runs off the 13 overs they faced with Virender Sehwag (41 off 40 balls) and Gautam Gambhir (26 off 38 balls) scoring at a brisk rate while staying put at stumps.


India would return on Monday to first wipe out the 164-run deficit and then push for a big total to bat the hosts out of the match and complete a 2-0 rout in the series.For the home side, Mahmadullah was the star of the day. Coming at the wicket when his side was at a precarious 106 for six, Mahmadullah, who scored 69 and 20 in the first Test in Chittagong, stitched two important partnerhips with the tailenders - 58 with Shafiul Islam (9) for the ninth wicket and 20 for the last wicket with Rubel Hossain (4) - to frustrate the Indian bowlers for nearly three hours.


His side in dire straits, Mahmadullah waited for loose balls to punish the Indian bowlers with some delightful shots on either side of the wicket.


For India, Ishant and Zaheer shared seven wickets between them while left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who came in for Amit Mishra in the match, chipped in with two wickets while Harbhajn Singh, who returned to the side after missing the first Test due to a stiff neck, got one.


Bangladesh were tottering at 51 for five inside the first hour play today with most of their batsmen on self-destructive mode though the Indian bowlers were also impressive as they bowled a tight line and length under helpful conditions on the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium pitch.


Captain Shakib Al Hasan (34), opener Tamim Iqbal (0) and Ashraful (39) were out to rank bad shots and it was left to Mahmadullah to give a semblance of a fight which he did admirably well.


Shakib chose to bat after winning the toss but his decision boomeranged as his side lost three quick wickets for 13 runs inside the fifth over and their top half returned to the hut inside the first hour.

IPL 3rd Edition auction:windies rule IPL auction

The explosive Caribbean all-rounder Kieron Pollard and New Zealand paceman Shane Bond emerged as the most expensive players, being sold for a whopping USD 750,000 (app Rs 3.42 crore) at the auction for the third edition of the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday.


West Indies paceman Kemar Roach was the second costliest player sold to Deccan Chargers for USD 720,000.


It was a four-way tie among Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders to grab Pollard and eventually Mumbai won the player through a silent tie-breaker bid in the high profile auction which saw no Pakistani player being sold out.


The price of the silent bid was not disclosed by the organisers with IPL Chairman Lalit Modi saying that the information will be confined to the bidders and them.


Like Pollard, a keen tussle was witnessed to grab Kiwi paceman Bond with Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers making the highest bid.


After a tie-breaker, the Kolkata grabbed the paceman.


Delhi Daredevils bought South African all rounder Wayne Parnell for USD 610,000 against a base price of USD 200,000.


Rajasthan Royals bought retired Australian Damien Martyn for USD 100,000 apart from securing the services of Adam Voges for USD 50,000.


Chennai Super Kings recalled South African Justin Kemp by paying USD 100,000 and also bought emerging Sri Lankan batsman Thisara Perera for USD 50,000.


Mohammed Kaif, the only Indian player featuring in the auction, went unsold in the first round but was later bought by Kings XI Punjab for USD 250,000. They also recalled South African Yusuf Abdullah.


Royal Challengers Bangalore bid for just one player and got England's Eoin Morgan for USD 220,000.


In all, 56 players remained unsold out of 67 that went under the hammer.


Three Under-19 Indian players at a fixed price of Rs 8 lakh were also in the auction list.


Royal Challengers Bangalore chose U-19 skipper Ashok Maneria, Deccan Chargers preferred Harmeet Singh and Mumbai Indians opted for Harshal Patel.


The third edition of the extremely popular Twenty20 tournament will begin from March 12.