England's win by 15-run at first ODI at Lord's

London: England's 15-run win over arch-rivals Australia in the first ODI at Lord's here on Friday.

win kept alive England's hopes of replacing their oldest foes as the world's top-ranked ODI side and topping the standing in all three formats, though they need to sweep this campaign 5-0 to knock Australia off their 50-over perch.

England was stressed when left-hander Morgan, on his Middlesex home ground, came in at 121 for 3. But the former Ireland international, the man-of-the-match, broke the shackles with a 63-ball innings featuring four sixes and five fours to propel England to 272 - 5.

He shared stands of 68 with Trott (54) and 83 with Kieswetter, out for 25 off the last ball the innings after Australia had win the toss. Australia, chasing 273 for win, saw captain Michael Clarke top-score with 61 after opener David Warner had made 56.But England's bowlers were largely on top, with all their four seamers taking 2 wickets apiece.Australia opener Shane Watson fell for just 12 when he was caught behind off Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn, although England had to review Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar's unique not out decision before the all-rounder exited. But left-hander Warner and George Bailey settled into a partnership of 76.

Warner's impressive 61-ball innings, including One 6 and five 4, came to a close when he edged Anderson and wicket-keeper Kieswetter, diving to his left, held the 1st of 4 catches in the innings.The run-rate slowed and Hussey made just 13 before a Finn bouncer hit his helmet and deflect onto the stump to leave Australia 132 for four.

Clarke and wicket-keeper Matthew Wade got Australia back into the game with a stand of 57 at better than a run-a-ball. Wade pulled Anderson for 6 and Clarke drove off-spinner Graeme Swann high over the top to seal a 59-ball fifty. However, a terrible mix-up ended with Wade run out as he sacrifices his wicket on behalf of his captain.

Tim Bresnan then captured the prize wicket of Clarke after the batsman swung crossways a low full toss and was plumb lbw.After Stuart Broad had taken 2 wickets for 5 runs in 6 balls, Australia were 231 for nine. But Brett Lee and final man Xavier Doherty held on to leave Australia with a target of 21 off the final over, from Finn.

However, Finn kept his nerve and approved just five runs as England beat Australia in a ODI at Lord's for the 1st time since 1997.Earlier Ian Bell, who in his 2previous innings during a 2-0 series win over the West Indies had made a hundred and a fifty, was the 1st England wicket to fall when lbw to Lee for 41.

Soon afterwards teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins took his 1st wicket against England when he had home skipper Cook caught behind for 40.Trott, missed on 38 when Cummins dropped a caught and bowled chance, finished a 65-ball fifty with just 3 fours before effectively yorking he when bowled by left-arm spinner Doherty.

However, Morgan struck consecutive Lee deliveries for 6 over long-on and made it 3 in as many balls faced with a pull off Watson.

The series continues across London at The Oval on Sunday.

S A failed again.bangladesh thrill win

Stunned South Africa must defeat hosts Zimbabwe to reach the non-cap T20 tri-nations tournament last at Harare Sports Club after losing by 3 wickets to Bangladesh Friday.

South Africa win the toss and selected to bat, then lost wickets at regular intervals en route to 129-7 off 20 overs as they sought to put a shock loss by Zimbabwe 2 days ago behind them.

Bangladesh tossed away several wickets through reckless shots and needed 19.5 overs to reach 132-7 and claim a 2nd win in as many days after losing their 1st 2 games. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have 8 points each and South Africa 4 in an unofficial tournament intended to prepare the 3 countries for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka during September and October.

Victory for South Africa over Zimbabwe would mean the 3 teams finishing level on points and net run rates decide which 2 advances to the Sunday climax of a drama-filled tournament South Africa were predictable to dominate. I am very happy with our spin bowlers for doing a superb work again, said Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim. Chasing the total was not easy on a tough wicket but we got there.

Bangladesh scored more speedily, but the loss of leading scorer Mohammad Ashraful (40) after 12.2 overs while trying to slam the ball over mid-on made life more nervous than it must have been for the tail.

Excellent last-over bowling by Morris left Bangladesh needing 2 runs from the last 2 balls for victory and Ziaur Rahman rose to the occasion by latching on to a wide full toss and cracking it for 4on the off side.

Score

South Africa-129-7

Bangladesh-132-7

SA Squad Announced Upcoming ENG Tour

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the 3-test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday.

The 15-man squad is the same to the touring side that beat New Zea land 1-0 in a 3-test series in March.

The Protease are currently ranked number two in the world behind England and convener of selectors Andrew Hudson believes constancy and depth of squad have been the key ingredient to the team's success. The players fully deserve a vote of self-confidence after the outstanding manner in which they outplayed New Zea land away from home, Hudson said in a statement.

Consistency has also been one of the key pillars of our selection policy and this is also causal to our victory on the field. We are now building up brilliant depth in both the batting and bowling departments. Opening batsman Graeme Smith will again captain the side after recovering from ankle surgery.

Graeme has been outstanding both as our leading run scorer and as captain during our last 2 test tours of England and I have every confidence he will continue that form, Hudson added. The South Africa squad boasts a formidable pace attack spearhead by the world's top-ranked test bowler Dale Steyn, backed up by Vernon Philander, who has taken 51 wickets in just seven tests, and Morne Morkel.

The test series begins at the Oval on July 19 before moving to Headingly in Leeds on August 2. The series conclude with the last test at Lord's starting on August 16.

Following the tests, England and South Africa will play a Five ODI series and Three T20 internationals Matches.

SOUTH AFRICA TEAM

Graeme Smith (captain)

Hashim Amla

Mark Boucher

Marchant de Lange

AB de Villiers

JP Duminy

Imran Tahir

Jacques Kallis

Morne Morkel

Alviro Petersen

Robin Peterson

Vernon Philander

Jacques Rudolph

Dale Steyn

Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Gul, Sami Stunning.Pakistan wins by 6 wickets

Pakistan made a triumphant start to the One-day series as they registered an easy 6-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the 1st ODI at Pallekele, on Thursday.

Mohammad Hafeez top-scored with 37 in a chase of 135, as the visitors secured their 9th win in 11 matches over Sri Lanka. The match was interrupted several times by rain, as Umar gul harness the conditions to grab 3 wickets in a sharp opening spell, restricting the home team to 135-8 after Mahela Jayawardene selected to bat.

The fast bowler (3-24) removed captain Jayawardene, Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal to send Sri Lanka reeling at 23-3 in 9 overs, in the rain-curtained encounter which was eventually reduced to 42-overs-a-side.Although Pakistan lost Azhar Ali and Younis Khan early in the chase, Hafeez, captain Misbah-ul-Haq (30) and Umar Akmal (36 n.o.) ensured that there were no further hiccoughs for the visitors, as they romped home in the 35th over with 6 wickets to spare.

Earlier, Gul was superbly back by paceman Mohammad Sami, who dismiss Kumar Sangakkara and all-rounder Mathews in his first 2 overs to reduce the hosts to 41-5. Sami finished with 3-19 off 6 overs. Lahiru Thirimanne, who added 50 for the 8th wicket with Nuwan Kulasekara (18), top-scored for Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 42 while extras contributed 31, the 2nd-highest tally of the innings.

Thisara Perera (17) and Upul Tharanga (10) were the other batsmen to reach double-figures.Sangakkara, who took 20 deliveries to open his account, complete just nine runs before being trapped leg-before while Mathews was caught at 1st slip by captain Misbah-ul-Haq for no score. Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez bagged 2 of the last 3 wickets to finish with an impressive 2-20 off 10 overs. Gul struck in his 3rd over when he had opener Dilshan (five) caught by Saeed Ajmal at mid-on and then trapped Jayawardene (three) leg-before in his next over.

He put more pressure on Sri Lanka when he bowled Chandimal for no score in his 5th over.

The second ODI will also be played in Pallekele on Saturday and the last 3 games in Colombo on June 13, 16 and 18. The one-dayers will be followed by a 3-test series starting on June 22.

Man of the match

Umar Gul

Today Starting Sri lanka vs Pakistan ODI Series Match

Sri Lanka will look to improve their recent ODI record against Pakistan when they clash in a 5-match series starting in Pallekele on {07-06-12} Thursday.

The World Cup runners-up have lost 5of their last 6 ODI against Pakistan, 4 in the United Arab Emirates last November and one in the Asia Cup in Dhaka in March. The key to Sri Lanka's victory will be a solid batting feat by Mahela Jayewardene’s men against a side that boast a rich diversity in both spin and pace bowling.

The spin trio of Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez has proved a handful for the majority rivals, helping Pakistan win 16 of their last 22 ODIs. The pace attack will be spearhead by Umar Gul, Mohammad Sami and Sohail Tanvir, who was drafted into the ODI squad in place of injured batsman Nasir Jam shed.

Sri Lanka will rely heavily on their trusted trio of Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan to test the resurgent tourists, led by middle-order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq.Pakistan will be a challenge and what makes them gung ho is the sort of bowling options available, apart from the specialists, Jayawardene said in front of the series.

The rivals shared the preceding T20 series in the southern town of Hambantota as Pakistan bounced back to draw level after Sri Lanka had win the opening match. Afridi, who scored a brisk half-century and grab 2 wickets in Pakistan's series-leveling win last Sunday, will once again play a central role in the 50-overs-a-side games.

Misbah, who remains the Test and ODI captain despite being dropped from the Twenty20 team, called for a group display from his side to tackle the Sri Lankans. It’s not about 1 or 2 players, the whole team has to contribute, because Sri Lanka is tough opponent anywhere, especially at home, Misbah said.

Pakistan's batting has been bolstering with the return of Misbah and veteran Younis Khan, who was also not part of the Twenty20 squad. The 2nd ODI players will also be played in Pallekele on Saturday before the action shifts to Colombo for the last 3 games on June 13, 16 and 18.

The ODI Players will be followed by a 3-Test series starting on June 22.

SRI LANKA	PAKISTAN
Mahela Jayawardene	Misbah-ul-Haq
Tillakaratne Dilshan	Mohammad Hafeez
Kumar Sangakkara	Younis Khan
Dinesh Chandimal	Umar Akmal
Angelo Mathews	Sarfraz Ahmed
Lahiru Thirimanne	Shahid Afridi
Jeevan Mendis	Umar Gul
Thisara Perera	Rahat Ali
Nuwan Kulasekara	Saeed Ajmal
Sachithra Senanayake	Abdur Rehman
Lasith Malinga	Mohammad Sami
Rangana Herath	Asad Shafiq
Upul Tharanga	Aizaz Cheema
Nuwan Pradeep	Azhar Ali
Dilhara Fernando	Imran Farhat and Sohail Tanvir