Ind vs Pak: India suffer humiliating ODI series defeat to Pakistan

January 3, 2013

New Delhi, Jan 3: India witnessed another batting collapse as Pakistan bundled out hosts for 165 to clinch massive 85-run victory in the second ODI and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Suresh Raina and skipper MS Dhoni tried to revive India innings but could not get going when Mohammad Hafeez dismissed the former to leave India in spot of bother.
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Umar Gul joined the party, removing Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh to turn the momentum in Pakistan's way. Sehwag was edgy throughout his innings, making 31 off 43 balls before caught plumb in front of the wicket.

Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan dismissed Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli in quick succession to rock Indian chase. Left-armer continued his dream run, giving India second blow by dismissing Virat Kohli to reduce them to 55/2 in 12 overs.

Kohli attempted to flick the wide down the leg side but only managed to play it with the inside half of the bat behind the stumps where Kamran Akmal dived full to his left to take a spectacular catch.

India got off to cautious start with Sehwag and Gambhir negotiated Pakistan pacers well and added 42 for the first wicket before the southpaw got his inside edge onto the stumps.

Earlier, opener Nasir Jamshed struck his second consecutive century to give Pakistan a solid start but a middle-order collapse saw India bundle out Pakistan for 250 in their must-win second match.

Under overcast conditions, Jamshed scored a fluent 106 from 126 balls (12x4, 2x6) and along with Mohammad Hafeez (76 from 74b; 10x4) put up a handsome 141-run opening partnership.

But India made a dramatic comeback riding on left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja's 3 for 41 as Pakistan were bundled out in 48.3 overs.

After giving the first breakthrough, Jadeja took two wickets -- Jamshed and Kamran Akmal -- in one over to trigger a collapse, as Ishant Sharma (3/34) polished off the tail.

From 141 for no loss, Pakistan lost 10 wickets in 25 overs as India made a spectacular comeback in their must-win match.

Put into bat, in-form Pakistani opening duo of Hafeez and Jamshed were at ease against the Indian pace attack up front and got off to a watchful start.

The inexperienced Indian attack of Ashok Dinda and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could not make use of the overcast conditions like skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have expected after winning the toss.

On the other hand, it was intelligent cricket on display from the opening duo as they cleverly bisected the field to steal a boundary almost every over in the first Power Play to go almost six an over.

In his 'home' debut, Dinda was wayward with his bouncers, conceding three wides -- two in his second over -- while Bhuvneshwar too lacked the bite as the Pakistani duo went scotfree.

Against an ordinary Indian fielding that saw the ball flying past the fielders, it just made the task easier for the Pakistani opening duo.

The 23-year-old Jamshed continued from where he had left in Chennai, while Hafeez made up for his duck with a sensible batting display and rotating the strike.

The duo never panicked and such clinical was their approach that they put on 100 runs in exactly 100 balls -- incidentally, Pakistan's first century stand by any opening pair at the Eden.

Hafeez completed his 15th half-century from 50 balls with a single to deep square leg.

After two overs, Jamshed followed suit notching his seventh half-century hammering Ashwin for a boundary over long-on.

The New rules -- that stipulate five players inside the 30-yard circle for full 50 overs -- added to India's misery as Pakistani batsmen were not deprived of the boundaries.

Part-time spinner Jadeja finally gave the breakthrough almost at the midway stage when Hafeez missed the ball trying to break free to end the glorious opening wicket stand.

Azhar Ali (2) continued his poor run when he was run out after being sent back by Jamshed from the striking end as Pakistan lost their second wicket in four runs.

They quickly lost a third, when Younus Khan (10) was unlucky to be adjudged leg before despite a bat-pad as the Indians managed to arrest the free flowing Pakistani run-rate.

Jamshed, however, kept his cool in his elegant innings to bring up his second consecutive century, third overall, all against India.

Jamshed clobbered Jadeja over his head for a straight overboundary to move to 96 and retained the strike taking a single on the last ball with a cool-headed demeanour.

The left-hander straight drove one uppishly in the mid-off boundary region to bring up yet another century against India.

But he could not carry his innings through as he became Jadeja's second victim.

Jadeja claimed Kamran Akmal (0), his third, in the same over to bring in the Pakistani middle order collapse.

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July 19,2020

Manchester, Jul 19: Former England pacer Dominic Cork reckons star all-rounder Ben Stokes will go on to become one of his country's greatest cricketers ever.

Stokes, the hero of England's World Cup triumph last year, sparkled with a fine 176 and powered his side to a strong first-inning total of 469/9 declared in the ongoing second Test against the West Indies here.

"I genuinely think he can get better because of his work ethic. He wants to bat, he wants to bowl, he wants to work on his game, wants to get better," Cork said on Sky Sports show The Cricket Debate.

"I know he works a hell of a lot on his bowling as well. I just see this man not becoming only the best in the world but one of the best we have had ever. That's how highly I rate him."

The former seamer thought things changed for better for the World Cup hero after the Bristol bar brawl three years ago.

Last year, Stokes himself had said that the unsavoury incident and the ensuing chain of events, which dogged his career for 15 months, may be the best thing that could have happened to him.

Following the incident in September 2017, Stokes was acquitted of affray by a Bristol court in August 2018, before the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ended his 15-month exile after a hearing in December 2018.

Former England batsman Ravi Bopara also spoke about the remarkable change in Stokes' approach.

"I think there has definitely been a change with Ben. He has made his mistakes and learnt from them. He looks a formidable cricketer," he said.

"He is a fiery character and always has been - even if you are playing PlayStation in hotel rooms.

"But as he has had a more important role in the side as an all-rounder, making an impact with bat and ball, winning games for England, and since England have started looking at him as the main guy, his attitude has changed with it."

West Indies lead the three-match series 1-0 after their win in the opener at Southamton.

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April 21,2020

New Delhi, Apr 21: India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday said people seem to have become more compassionate while coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and hoped the sense of gratitude towards frontline workers like doctors and police personnel remains even after the crisis is over.

Speaking in an online class organised by "Unacademy", Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma spoke at length about the challenges they faced before tasting success.

"The one positive out of this crisis that we as a society have become more compassionate. We are showing more gratitude to the frontline workers in this war, be it police personnel, doctors or nurses.

"I hope it stays this way even after we overcome this crisis," said Kohli with Sharma seated next to her.

Kohli said the pandemic has taught the world a very important lesson.

"Life is unpredictable. So, do what makes you happy and not get into comparisons all the time. People have a choice now how to come out of this phase. Life is going to be different after this," said the skipper.

For Sharma, the pandemic has forced people to care about the basics in life.

"There is a learning in all of this. Nothing happens without a reason. If the frontline workers were not there, we would not have access to basics," she said..

"This has taught us that no one is special than the other. Health is everything. We are more connected as a society now," she added.

During the session, Kohli was asked about the moment when he felt most helpless.

"I felt nothing was working for me when I was not picked for the state team initially. I cried the whole night and asked my coach 'why did I not get selected'?" he responded.

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February 9,2020

New Delhi, Feb 9: The Indian Fed Cup team will travel to Dubai for this year's competition as the ITF has named the desert city as the new venue for the matches, to be held from March 3 to 7.

The ITF named the new venue after moving out the matches from then Chinese city of Dongguan due to Coronoavirus threat. The Asia/Oceania Group I matches were originally scheduled to be played from February 4-8.

"The event will be held in the week following the ATP Dubai tournament at the same venue, and will see six nations China P.R., Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Korea Rep. and Uzbekistan - compete for a place in the Fed Cup Play-offs in April," an ITF release said.

The six teams will vie for two spots in Fed Cup Play-offs.

"Being in Dubai makes no difference. But the dates give enough time to Sania for her recovery. Doubles is an important point. Ankita is playing well. The other team members will also get some tournament to play under their belt," India's Fed Cup captain Vishal Uppal told news agency.

Sania's participation was under doubt due to a calf injury she aggravated during the Australian Open, where she pulled out of the mixed doubles before retiring mid-way into her women's doubles opening round match.

"I think we have a good chance but we will have to be at our best and fight hard for every point, every game, every set, every match," Uppal added.

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