Pakistan women's team Sunday notched up a 12-run win over West Indies in the third and final match to end its three-match T20 international series on a high.
Batting first, the home side rattled up a good total of 150 runs and than restricted the West Indies women's team to 138 for eight in the allotted 20 overs at the Southend club.
The win came as a big relief for the Pakistani players as it was their first T20 international win over the West Indies after 2011/12 and ensured that the visitors didn't complete a clean sweep of the series.
The West Indies team had won the first two matches with the second one going into a super over decider.
The two teams now travel to Dubai to play a ODI series that is part of the ICC's qualifiers for the World Cup.
Nida Dar led the charge for Pakistan with 53 runs, while Umaima Sohail (28) and Aliya Riaz (24 not out) contributed as well.
In reply, West Indies -- the former World T20 Champions -- struggled to get going against the spinners as only ...

Pakistan women's team beat WI by 12 runs in 3rd T20I

PTI Automatic

Stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma Sunday said his side wanted to test themselves in tough conditions after the Hamilton loss and lauded his team for showing character in the fifth ODI which India won to clinch the series 4-1 against New Zealand.
India suffered a heavy defeat in the fourth ODI after they were dismissed for just 92 runs but the visiting side bounced back in the fifth match Sunday to score 252 before winning by 35 runs.
"The Hamilton loss, the way we lost was big. We need to get together as a team. I knew there was some moisture on the pitch. If the series was alive, we would have chased but we wanted to test ourselves today," Rohit said after India beat the home side by 35 runs.
Ambati Rayudu (90) and Vijay Shankar (45) shared a 98-run partnership to resurrect the Indian innings, before Hardik Pandya (45 off 22) and Kedar Jadhav (35) powered them to a competitive total.
Rohit heaped praise on Rayudu and Shankar, saying their partnership was the turning point of the ...

We wanted to test ourselves after heavy Hamilton loss: Rohit

India overcame a disastrous start to earn a hard fought 35-run win over New Zealand in the fifth ODI Sunday to finish the series with a 4-1 scoreline in their favour, proving the heavy loss at Hamilton was an aberration.
At 18 for four, India were heading towards another sub-100 total before Ambati Rayudu (90 off 113) and Vijay Shankar (45 off 64) forged a 98-run stand to ensure India ended with a fighting 252.
Hardik Pandya's 45 off 22 balls also went a long way in India posting a challenging target and his two wickets later on showed why he is such an important member of the team.
New Zealand batsmen, including skipper Kane Williamson (39), squandered their starts in the chase but the home team remained in the contest until Jimmy Neesham (44 off 32) was dismissed in the 37th over.
His freak run out, which was effected by the ever so sharp Mahendra Singh Dhoni from behind the stumps, came after a lbw appeal was turned down. New Zealand eventually ended with 217 in 44.1 overs despite .

Rayudu, Pandya power India to 35-run win in fifth ODI

Less than three months after recovering from a surgery, 45-year-old Anjali Saraogi retained her title in the IDBI Federal Life Insurance Kolkata Marathon with a career-best timing here Sunday.
Seniormost runner in the women's field, Anjali clocked 3 hour 16 minutes 54 seconds to win the race and better her last year's timing of 3:30:53.
Samiksha Rai (4:04:40) was second while Rashmi Somani (4:15:24) took the third place.
Before this, Anjali also ran in Mumbai Marathon last month and finished second in the amateur category.
"I started training for Mumbai Marathon only in the last week of December. Because of the surgery (to remove breast lump) I could not train much. But I'm always passionate about running and the performance in Mumbai boosted my confidence," Anjali, who runs a medical centre, said after the race.
Anjali was a member of the Indian team at the 100km World Ultra Running Championship in Croatia in September last year.
"As I had experience in ultra running, I knew I could .

Anjali, Wahlang win Kolkata Marathon as Tendulkar cheers participants

Usman Khawaja finally found form again to stroke a fine century Sunday and steer Australia into a massive lead over Sri Lanka as the tourists battle to stay in the second Test at Canberra.
At stumps, the visitors were 17 without loss, chasing a huge 516 to win with two days remaining after Tim Paine declared Australia's second innings at 196 for three.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne were both unbeaten on eight, weathering some 30 minutes before bad light stopped play slightly early.
Sri Lanka had resumed the third day at 123 for three and in a hostile morning session lost four wickets and Kusal Perera, who retired after being hit on the head by a bouncer.
Their resistence folded in the second over after lunch, with Mitchell Starc taking five wickets to leave them trailing by 319 after Australia's first innings 534 for five declared.
Paine opted against the follow-on in Australia's last Test batting opportunity before the Ashes tour to England later this year.
Khawaja padded .

Khawaja smacks century as Sri Lanka chase massive 2nd Test total

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice but champions Juventus had to settle for a point as a late Gervinho double snatched a 3-3 draw after promoted Parma staged an impressive comeback in Serie A on Saturday.
Juventus' dropped points allowed Napoli to cut the gap on the leaders to nine points after a confident 3-0 win over Sampdoria.
Massimiliano Allegri's side had already had their confidence shaken after a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta shattered their hopes of winning a fifth straight Coppa Italia.
Saturday's draw was not the response Allegri had called for ahead of their Champions League last 16 first leg tie against Atletico Madrid on February 20.
"I'm happy for the goals but not the result," said Ronaldo.
"Parma didn't do anything special, they waited for us to make a mistake.
"But we're not worried, we know it will be a great season for Juventus." Juve, hit by injuries to defenders Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli, have now conceded six goals in their last two ...

Gervinho matches Ronaldo double as Parma frustrate Juventus

Australia zeroed in on a 2-0 series win after dismissing Sri Lanka for 215 Sunday then piling on more runs to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb to stay in the second Test at Canberra.
Sri Lanka resumed the third day at 123 for three on what appeared to be a decent batting track, but in a hostile morning session lost four wickets and Kusal Perera, who retired after being hit on the head by a bouncer.
Their resistence finally folded in the second over after lunch, with Mitchell Starc taking five wickets to leave them trailing by 319 after Australia's first innings 534 for five declared.
By tea, the hosts' lead had been extended to 386 with Usman Khawaja not out 25 and Travis Head on 14 after skipper Tim Paine opted not to enforce the follow-on.
But it was far from plain sailing for Australia, who were 67 for three at the break.  Marcus Harris again failed, out for 14 with Kusal Mendis taking a superb diving catch at slip off Kasun Rajitha, throwing his place on the Ashes tour .

Australia extend lead as Sri Lanka struggle to stay in 2nd Test

The Indian top-order struggled again in testing conditions before Ambati Rayudu and Hardik Pandya powered the visitors to a fighting 252 in the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand here on Sunday.
India's middle-order, which has been under scrutiny, delivered under pressure after the visitors were left gasping at 18 for four.
Rayudu (90 off 113) and Vijay Shankar (45 off 64) shared a 98-run stand for the fifth wicket to lead India's recovery before a spectacular cameo from Hardik Pandya (45 off 22) pushed India past 250.
Pacer Matt Henry was the standout bowler for the hosts, taking four wickets for 35 runs while Trent Boult picked up three for 39.
After a 'humiliating' loss in the fourth ODI in which India were shot out for 92, captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and took the challenge of batting first on a surface aiding the fast bowlers.
India made three changes in the playing eleven.
A fit again Mahendra Singh Dhoni was back in the team in place of Dinesh Karthik while Mohammad ..

Rayudu, Pandya power India to 252 after top-order collapse

Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne has been released from hospital and cleared to play Sunday after being hit by a bouncer in the second Test against Australia in Canberra.
The experienced opener was 46 not out when a rising ball from Pat Cummins glanced off his shoulder and onto his helmet, close to the neck area on Saturday.
He lay prone on the ground for at least 10 minutes before being stretchered off in a neck brace.
Cricket Australia said on Sunday "Sri Lankan Cricket has cleared him to play".
"They have said there are no concussion issues," it added.
Sri Lanka Cricket said in a tweet early Sunday that Karunaratne had been released from the hospital "as investigations have shown that the 'results are normal'".
Karunaratne tweeted his thanks to Canberra Hospital and "to all who were there when I received a blow".
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for looking after my well-being. Cheers. My cricketing battle starts all over again tomorrow (Sunday).

Sri Lanka's Karunaratne cleared to play after bouncer hit

Sri Lanka lost four wickets in a hostile session against Australia Sunday that saw Dimuth Karunaratne complete a half-century after being cleared of concussion and dazed teammate Kusal Perera retire hurt.
Following an incident-packed morning on day three of the second Test in Canberra, the visitors went to lunch at 215 for seven in reply to Australia's 534 for five declared.  Dilruwan Perera was not out 10 with Niroshan Dickwella out for 25 on the last ball before the break.
Sri Lanka resumed on a hot day at 123 for three on what appeared to be a perfect batting track.
Australian skipper Tim Paine opted to hand the ball first up to Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins and they threw down plenty of bouncers.
Both Perera, who resumed on 11, and Dhananjaya de Silva, who was on one overnight, took blows to the head in the opening two overs, but were fine to continue.
Perera was then hit flush on the helmet ducking into a Richardson ball on 27.  The neck protector flew off and a Sri Lankan ...

Australia grab four wickets as Sri Lanka's Perera retires hurt

Kemar Roach and captain Jason Holder led another rout of the England batting line-up as the West Indies completed a crushing series-clinching 10-wicket victory after tea on the third day of the second Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Saturday.
Trailing by 119 runs at the start of the second innings after Darren Bravo's ultra-patient half-century extended the West Indies first innings total to 306 in the morning, England were demolished for 132 with Roach and Holder claiming four wickets each.
Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell then enjoyed the formality of knocking off the 14 runs required for victory in 2.1 overs, Campbell sealing the result in style by hoisting James Anderson for six over midwicket.
Following on a 381-run hammering of the visitors in the first Test in Barbados a week earlier, the result gave the West Indies the series 2-0 with the final match of the rubber starting next Saturday in St Lucia.
West Indies have also reclaimed the Wisden ...

West Indies crush England again for series win

India won the toss and opted to bat in the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand here on Sunday.
India made three changes in the playing eleven. M S Dhoni was back in the team in place of Dinesh Karthik while Mohammad Shami and Vijay Shankar replaced Khaleel Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav, who has been rested.
Teams:
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal.
New Zealand (Playing XI): Henry Nicholls, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.

India opt to bat in fifth ODI, Dhoni back

President Donald Trump golfed in Florida with two of the game's greatest champions, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Trump arrived at his private club in sunny Jupiter on Saturday after he escaped the bitter cold and snow in Washington a day earlier.
He later tweeted a photo of him standing next to them on a tee box and said it was a "great morning."
The weekend trip is Trump's first to his Florida home and properties since Thanksgiving. The president had limited his travel during the record 35-day partial federal shutdown that ended last week.
Both Nicklaus and Woods are among Trump's regular golf partners. Nicklaus also designed the Jupiter club's 18-hole course.
Nicklaus and Woods are defined by their major championships. Nicklaus holds the professional record with 18 while Woods has been stuck on 14 for the past 10 years.
Saturday's pairing was believed to be the first time Nicklaus and Woods have played together since 2002 at a Monday night exhibition called "Battle at Bighorn" in .

Trump on course with pro golfers Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods

Darren Bravo's ultra-patient half-century extended the West Indies first innings lead to 119 as the home side were eventually dismissed for 306 on the third morning of the second Test against England on Saturday.
Trailing in the three-match series after suffering a 381-run defeat in the first Test in Barbados, England openers Rory Burns and debutant Joe Denly survived four overs in reaching nine without loss at the interval at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Bravo was the lone West Indies batsman to fail in both innings of the match at Kensington Oval and made amends in a manner completely against his nature, his even 50 coming off 216 deliveries, the slowest-ever by a West Indies batsman in Test cricket in terms of balls faced.
In stark contrast to the watchful defiance which typified his near six-hour occupation of the crease, the left-hander was last out when he charged down the pitch at Moeen Ali to be stumped.
It was the off-spinner's third wicket of the ...

Patient Bravo helps West Indies extend lead against England

Former champions Serbia, Germany, Australia and Italy punched tickets to the Davis Cup finals on Saturday, while Japan rallied from a 2-1 deficit as Taro Daniel won the decisive rubber to overcome China.
Serbia, playing without Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, watched their 2-0 overnight lead evaporate in Tashkent as Uzbekistan roared back to send their clash to a fifth rubber.
Denis Istomin partnered Sanjar Fayziev to a 2-6 6-1 6-3 win over Nikola Milojevic and Viktor Troicki in the doubles before he downed Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-4 in the singles.
But Filip Krajinovic picked up the decisive point by coming from behind to beat world number 280 Sanjar Fayziev 4-6 6-3 6-0 to nail down a place for Serbia at November's revamped finals in Madrid.
Germany, who won the last of three titles in 1993, eased to victory over Hungary as Jan-Lennard Struff and Tim Puetz strolled to a 6-2 6-3 doubles triumph to an unassailable 3-0 advantage.
Third-ranked Alexander Zverev cruised to a 6-3 6-4 ...

Serbia, Germany, Australia grab Davis Cup finals berths

Kochi Blue Spikers beat U Mumba Volley 4-1 in the opening match of the  inaugural edition of Pro Volleyball League that started Saturday.
Led by Manu Joseph's 15 points (14 spikes and one block), Kochi registered a 15-11 15-13 15-8 15-10 5-15 score line to register their first win. For U Mumba, Nicholas Del Bianco was the highest scorer with ten points (9 spikes and 1 block).
Kochi took the initiative in the first set. Kochi's star player David Lee looked pepped with the massive crowd support getting points through spikes, blocks and serves in the first set.
At the first technical time out (TTO), Kochi led by 8-5 and continued to dominate both in defence and attack taking two consecutive points to go up by 10-5.
U Mumba Volley tried to make a comeback but Kochi kept the pressure on and finished off the set by 15-11. For Kochi, Joseph was the highest scorer in first set scoring five points.

Pro Volleyball League: Kochi Blue Spikers beat U Mumba Volley 4-1

FC Pune City rode on Marcelino's double strike to beat a struggling Chennaiyin FC 2-1 in an Indian Super League match at the Nehru stadium here Saturday, to boost its chances of qualifying for the play-offs.
Pune City is in seventh position on the points table with 14 from 13 game while defending champion Chennaiyin is last with five points from 14 games following a 11th defeat this season.
After a goalless first half, the host went ahead in the 55th minute as new signing C K Vineeth scored only to see Pune City hit back with two quick strikes. The game came alive for a period of five minutes which saw three goals being scored.
The second half began just like the first one and the initial 10 minutes looked like the game was going to go goalless till the end but a deflected shot landed fortunately at the feet of Vineeth, who slotted the ball home easily to help his team take the lead.
The advantage though did not last long as Marcelino shot at goal was not completely saved and the ball 

ISL: Marcelino brace wins it for FC Pune City vs Chennaiyin

: Indian lass Divya Deshmukh posted  two wins Saturday to snatch sole lead with seven points after  the ninth round in the Velammal-AICF Women International Grand  Master round-robin chess tournament here.
The Nagpur girl also achieved her maiden International  Master norm and WGM norm in one go, while Chennai's P Michelle  Catherina (6.5) secured a nine-game WGM norm.
Michelle Catherina and Osmak Iuilja (Ukraine) share the  second spot at 6.5 points.
Divya Deshmukh posted wins over WGM Olga Babiy of Ukraine  and Mongolia's Uuriintuya Uurtsaikh, while Michelle Catherina  achieved her WGM norm with a draw against compatriot Aakanksha  Hagawane.
Divya, who needed a draw to achieve her norm, beat Olga  Babiy in a hard fought game that lasted four hours and twenty  minutes after 92 moves.
Results: Round 9 (Indians unless specified):  Chandreyee Hajra (2) lost to Osmak Iulija (Ukr) 6.5, Michelle  Catherina (6.5) drew with Aakanksha Hagawane (5), Divya  Deshmukh (7) bt Olga Babiy (Ukr) 5, ..

Divya achieves WGM norm, snatches top spot

Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that injury is not something that "one should hold against any player" as it is an inevitability that even Sir Don Bradman or Sachin Tendulkar couldn't avoid during their playing days.
Ashwin missed three Test matches on the tour of Australia due to left-sided abdominal strain, something that also made him miss a Test match in England.
Ashwin's injuries prompted a "concerned" skipper Virat Kohli to urge the Tamil Nadu bowler focus on "correcting" this.
"The injury has come and I have to deal with it in a certain way. I have to get my best know how. Injury is not something you can hold up against a certain player," Ashwin, who recently returned in action during a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) league match, said on Saturday.
"Injury has not missed Sachin Tendulkar, injury has not missed Don Bradman and it will not miss players in the future... Whenever I have done a fitness test or yo-yo test, I am at the top of the list. I am doing ..

Ashwin deals with injuries: It has not missed even Bradman or Tendulkar

India opener Smriti Mandhana on Saturday moved up three places to become number one in the ICC women's ODI rankings, joining men's team skipper Virat Kohli at the top of the standings.
Mandhana was player of the series in the three ODI series against New Zealand. The southpaw had scored 105 and 90 in the first two ODIs, helping her team to rare series win in New Zealand. Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning of Australia are second and third respectively.
India ODI captain Mithali Raj has slipped to the fifth spot.
Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami is fourth in the bowlers' rankings while spinners Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma are eighth and ninth respectively.
Deepti is also fourth in the all-rounders standings and is the sole Indian in the top-10.

ICC Rankings: Mandhana becomes number one ODI batswoman

Australia will start their limited overs tour of India in Visakhapatnam, which will now host the first T20 International on February 24 instead of Bengaluru after Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) requested for a change of date due to security concerns.
Bengaluru will host the second T20 International on February 27 instead of Visakhapatnam after KSCA wrote to the BCCI about its inability to host the inaugural match due to security concerns.  The date and venue swap was okayed by Committee of Administrators (COA) members Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji.
On February 24, Aero India Show will be held in Bengaluru and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the event, the reason why the police authorities informed  KSCA about their inability to provide security.
KSCA wrote to BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, who sent it to the COA for approval.
"It was a genuine reason for which KSCA can't hold the match on the specified date (February 24). The acting secretary had ...

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