Mumbai Indians defeat Bangalore in Champions League final

Champions Twenty20 final, Chennai

Mumbai Indians 139 (20 ovs) beat Bangalore Royal Challengers 108 (19.2 ovs) by 31 runs

Match scorecard

Harbhajan (left) took three for 20 to spark Mumbai celebrations

Mumbai Indians won the Champions League Twenty20 title with a 31-run final victory over the Bangalore Royal Challengers in Chennai.

India Test spinner Harbhajan Singh took 3-20 for Mumbai to dismiss Bangalore for 108 in 19.2 overs, as they chased a seemingly below-par 140.

Yuzvendra Chahal took 2-9 and Lasith Malinga 2-23 in Mumbai's impressive bowling effort.

Kiwi James Franklin had top-scored for the Indians with 41 off 29 balls.

Mumbai were all out for 139 in 20 overs as Raju Bhatkal claimed three for 21 from three overs.

Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan made a quickfire 27 in response but the rest of the side struggled as the Royal Challengers fell short.

Harbhajan's efforts were timely as he was recently dropped recently dropped from India's one-day side for the forthcoming series against England.

Steven Finn hat-trick helps England beat Hyderabad XI

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Finn is looking to force his way into England's ODI side on a regular basis

Steven Finn took a hat-trick as England began their tour of India with a somewhat flattering 56-run victory over a Hyderabad Cricket Association XI.

Finn's first ball went for six but his last sealed his treble as the home side collapsed to 163 all out.

But England also struggled with the bat, recovering from 47-4 and 124-6 as Ravi Bopara's 73 helped them to a competitive total.

England face India in the first of five one-day internationals on Friday.

Before that England have one more warm-up match, against the same opposition, and they will go into it with a number of batsmen keen for time in the middle.

On a slow surface, captain Alastair Cook edged behind off Anwar Ahmed for six before Kevin Pietersen, back in the side having been rested as England beat India 3-0 in the ODI series on home soil, speared a drive straight to mid-on.

When Jonathan Trott was bowled by a Naidu delivery that kept low and Ian Bell fell to Ashish Reddy's first ball England were 47-4 in the 14th over and struggling.

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Selectors look to experience for Sri Lanka

	Umar Gul is among the experienced group set to return to the Pakistan Test team against Sri Lanka © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Umar Gul | Wahab Riaz Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka tour of United Arab Emirates Teams: Pakistan

Pakistan may shift their focus back to experience to take on Sri Lanka in the home series in the United Arab Emirates, according to chief selector Mohsin Khan. Khan hinted the bowling attack was likely to be strengthened after testing new players against Zimbabwe.

"We can't just go out [to play Sri Lanka] with the similar combination as it [ the Zimbabwe tour] was just a test for our back-up lot for future prospects," Khan, told ESPNcricinfo. "Indeed it was a successful experimentation but at the same time we are wary of the opposition as Sri Lanka are a tough side to play.

"[Finding talent] is an ongoing process and the emphasis is currently on finding players with good fielding ability."

The Pakistan squad for the recent series against Zimbabwe was an experimental one, with the bowling attack in particular featuring several new names and missing some senior players.

Seasoned fast-bowlers Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed and Wahab Riaz, who have been Pakistan's three premier bowlers in recent times, were rested, with Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan making up the pace attack.

There were changes in the spin department as well: left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman was rested while legspinner Yasir Shah was called up.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan also said the bowling combination needed some changes before the series.

"Senior players have their own importance and we have to go with the [them] when playing Sri Lanka," Misbah told reporters on the sidelines of ongoing Twenty20 Championship in Karachi. "The major goal was to induct youngsters in the side [for the Zimbabwe series] to have a tested lot in the back-up, since we are in the transition process.

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England denied Rose Bowl win by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara

Third Test, The Rose Bowl (day five):

England 377-8 dec drew with Sri Lanka 184 & 334-5

Match scorecard

Sangakkara's 25th Test century was his first in England

Kumar Sangakkara's maiden Test century in England denied Andrew Strauss's side victory on the final day of the third Test at the Rose Bowl.

After Sri Lanka had resumed on 112-3, 81 behind, Sangakkara (119) shared 65 with nightwatchman Rangana Herath (35).

Herath eventually fell lbw to Graeme Swann before Thilan Samaraweera (87 no) added 141 more with his captain.

Sri Lanka were 334-5, 141 ahead, when rain arrived at tea, leaving England to settle for a draw and a 1-0 series win.

England will rue the early chances they missed to dismiss Herath, with Strauss dropping a chance at slip off James Anderson and the Lancashire paceman missing with a shy at the stumps when the batsman was well short of his ground.

At the other end, Sangakkara took advantage of some below-par England seam bowling by punctuating some careful leaves with elegant drives through the covers and down the ground.

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Nadal's grip on title and Federer tightens

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Rafael Nadal of Spain bites the trophy as he poses during a ceremony after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland during their men's final at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 5, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Vincent Kessler

By Mark Meadows

PARIS | Mon Jun 6, 2011 2:25am EDT

(Reuters) - Rafa Nadal had doubted he could seal a sixth French Open title having started in shaky form and with rivals looking imperious, but the Spaniard need not have worried after triumphing with another claycourt masterclass.

His 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 victory over his great rival, the in-form Roger Federer, in Sunday's final was a microcosm of the Spaniard's tournament as he equalled Bjorn Borg's record for Roland Garros men's singles crowns.

Ice cool Swede Borg won his six titles in eight years while Nadal has reached that mark in seven and his delight was clear as he sank to his knees on the court that since debuting in 2005 has become a private stage for his audacious skills.

This year had not all been plain sailing though.

The top seed, who has clung on to the world number one spot under pressure from Novak Djokovic, slumped 5-2 down in the first set just as he was two sets to one down in the first round against John Isner in his first five-set match at Roland Garros.

Both times Nadal refused to budge and roared back despite the majority of the crowd supporting the underdog.

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Dilshan sets record before weather halts Sri Lanka

Second Test, Lord's (day three):

Sri Lanka 372-3 v England 486 all out

Match scorecard

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan tormented England's bowlers throughout his innings

Tillakaratne Dilshan scored a record-breaking 193 as Sri Lanka closed in on England's first innings total of 486 on a weather-affected third day of the second Test.

The captain made the highest score by a Sri Lankan at Lord's and helped the touring side reach 372-3 before rain and bad light brought a premature end to play.

In truth, Dilshan's task was made easy by some wayward bowling from England's seamers, who fired an alarming number of deliveries down the leg side and never really built enough pressure to unsettle their opponents despite plenty of evidence that the ball was swinging under heavy cloud cover

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Dhoni and Gambhir lead India to World Cup glory

India 277 for 4 (Gambhir 97, Dhoni 91*) beat Sri Lanka 274 for 6 (Jayawardene 103*, Sangakkara 48) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

MS Dhoni played a masterful captain's innings to steer his side to World Cup success © Associated Press Enlarge

Twenty-eight years on from the match that transformed the history of world cricket, India recaptured the crown that Kapil Dev and his men first lifted at Lord's in 1983, and this time they did so in their very own back yard. An iron-willed 97 from Gautam Gambhir was matched for intensity by the finest captain's innings since Ricky Ponting in Johannesburg eight years ago, as MS Dhoni trumped a poetic century from Mahela Jayawardene to pull off the highest run-chase ever achieved in a World Cup final.

Against a triumphant backdrop at the Wankhede Stadium, victory was sealed by six wickets with 10 balls to spare, as Dhoni - who had promoted himself to No. 5 to heap extra lashings of responsibility onto his own shoulders - rushed through the gears as the victory target drew nearer. With 15 required from 17 balls, he flicked Sri Lanka's only true threat, Lasith Malinga, through midwicket for consecutive boundaries, before smoking Nuwan Kulasekara over long-on to finish on 91 not out from 79 balls, and spark the most delirious scenes of celebration ever seen on the subcontinent.

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The Real War Begins Tommorrow

	Who will hold it for real tomorrow? © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Analysis : Battle of the wicketkeeper captains Analysis : It's all about remaining in the present - Dhoni Matches: India v Sri Lanka at Mumbai Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup Teams: India | Sri Lanka

The defending champions didn't make it, the mercurial outsiders stumbled, the strong contender choked, the Ashes winners ran out of gas, and after six weeks of high drama, we have come to this: the first all-Asian World-Cup final. And they deserve to be there: five of the top six run-getters, two out of top five wicket-takers, the fielder with the most catches and the wicketkeeper with the most dismissals will all be on show. The two teams have rallied around two of the best modern-day captains: MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara.

Sangakkara is a fiercely ambitious man. Arjuna Ranatunga was almost the freedom fighter, infusing self-respect and clearing the colonial hangover, Mahela Jayawardene was the astute captain who brought so much tactical nous and cricketing intelligence, and Sangakkara is trying to add ruthlessness. Ranatunga pushed the boys to become men, Jayawardene made the men self-aware, and Sangakkara is trying to turn them ruthless. The evolutionary journey has produced a World Cup triumph, a runners-up finish and now, a chance to win it for the second time.

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Sri Lanka edge NZ to reach final

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final, Colombo: Sri Lanka 220-5 beat New Zealand 217 by five wickets
Match scorecard

Highlights - Sri Lanka through to final

Sri Lanka reached the World Cup final after holding their nerve to beat a spirited New Zealand by five wickets.

The Black Caps looked set for a competitive score in Colombo, but they collapsed from 192-4 to 217 all out.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (73) and Kumar Sangakkara (54) sent Sri Lanka charging towards victory before a flurry of wickets brought the match to life.

But Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews kept their cool to see the hosts home with 13 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 winners and 2007 finalists, will face the winner of Wednesday's showdown between India and Pakistan in Saturday's final in Mumbai.

And although they will be leaving the comfort of home soil, Sangakkara's men will go into the showpiece in confident mood, and all the better for having had their mettle tested by the ever-gutsy Kiwis.

When Chamara Silva was dismissed to leave the co-hosts 185-5 in the 43rd over, their score was almost identical to New Zealand's at the same point in their innings.

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Twin tons power Sri Lanka victory

Sri Lanka 231 for 0 (Dilshan 108*, Tharanga 102*) beat England 229 for 6 (Trott 86, Morgan 50) by ten wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Tillakaratne Dilshan starred with bat and ball to put Sri Lanka into the World Cup semi-finals © Getty Images Enlarge

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga set an emphatic seal on Sri Lanka's place in their home semi-final against New Zealand next Tuesday, as England's chaotic World Cup campaign came to an abrupt and anticlimactic end under the floodlights at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Set a testing total of 230 at a venue where successful run-chases have been notoriously thin on the ground, Sri Lanka's openers set about proving that history is bunk as they sauntered to victory by 10 wickets and with a massive 63 balls to spare. After five months on the road for England's cricketers, and six consecutive nail-biters in the group stages of the tournament, they found they had nothing left to give as the first round of knock-out matches was concluded with an utter walloping.

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New Zealand stun South Africa at World Cup

South Africa's defeat in the third quarter-final clears the way for New Zealand to advance to the semis [EPA]

New Zealand have stunned South Africa in the quarter-finals of the Cricket World Cup to extend the Proteas' miserable losing run at the knockout stages of the competition.

The Kiwis pulled off a dramatic 49-run win over their highly rated opponents in Mirpur on Friday to reach the semi-finals for the sixth time.

South Africa have now lost all five of their knockout matches since first playing in the tournament in 1992.

The Black Caps, restricted to 221-8 after batting first, bundled out the Proteas for 172 in an exciting finish in front of 23,000 fans at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Man-of-the-match Jacob Oram took two brilliant catches and captured four for 39 with his nagglingly accurate medium pace after the South Africans had appeared to be cruising to victory.

The South Africans had reached 108 for two shortly before the halfway point with their premier batsman Jacques Kallis well set on 47.

But Kallis was magnificently caught on the boundary by Oram off Tim Southee, JP Duminy was bowled for three and AB de Villiers run out two balls later for 35.

New Zealand, who had fielded tenaciously and bowled with spirit, piled on the pressure with Oram snapping up two more quick wickets.

Faf du Plessis, who was dropped by Oram on 29, hit the New Zealander for six off the next ball before holing out to Southee for 36. Morne Morkel (3) was the last man to fall as South Africa collapsed for 172 off 43.2 overs.

Jesse Ryder anchored the New Zealand innings with 83, his maiden World Cup half-century.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori praised his team's spirit.

"Every single bowler stepped up today, and probably it was the fielding that got us through," said Vettori.

South Africa, often regarded as the best team never to have the World Cup, have now lost in three semi-finals, two quarter-finals and once in the first round....

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Sri Lanka & England prepare to do or die

Graeme Swann's expertise will be invaluable for England as they seek to stifle a talented Sri Lankan batting order © Getty Images Enlarge

Fifteen years ago this month, England and Sri Lanka met at the same quarter-final stage of the 1996 World Cup, only for an epoch-changing contest to pan out in front of an astounded crowd in Faisalabad. With his remarkable 82 from 44 balls, Sanath Jayasuriya not only ignited Sri Lanka's charge towards their maiden global title, he signalled the end of England as a force in one-day cricket, as they failed to reach the last four of the World Cup for the first time in the tournament's history.

Since that match, the fortunes and expectations associated with the two teams have been flipped on their head. Sri Lanka went on to crush Australia in the 1996 final in Lahore, and have since contested a semi-final in 2003 and another final four years later in Barbados. England, on the other hand, have found a range of ignominious means to bomb out at the earliest opportunity - a trait they came perilously close to emulating this time around as well, following their embarrassments at the hands of Ireland and Bangladesh.

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Australia's loss heralds the end of an era

Ricky Ponting's tenure as captain of the one-day side may be coming to a close © Getty Images Enlarge

Ricky Ponting doesn't think Australia bowing out of the World Cup marks the end of an era, but it's impossible to come to any other conclusion. For more than a decade, Australia have owned all sorts of silverware, Cricket Australia's headquarters in Melbourne more a trophy cabinet than an office. Now, the last of those major prizes is finding a new home after 12 years in Australian hands.

Over the past six months, Ponting's men have lost the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, or to be more accurate, they have failed to regain them. Those crowns were already gone. They are clinging on to the Champions Trophy, but there's every chance the ICC will soon scrap that event entirely. In any case, it is a trinket compared to the World Cup.

Losing the World Cup for the first time since 1996 will hurt tremendously, but winning three in a row should be celebrated. No country has ever matched that feat in the FIFA World Cup. Since Steve Waugh's men began the dynasty in 1999, the football title has changed hands four times: from France to Brazil, then Italy and now Spain. Winning one world tournament is exceedingly difficult, let alone three in succession.

That is little consolation to this 2011 Australian squad, roughly half of whom didn't experience any of those earlier successes. Times change, and to be beaten by an India side that was better than Australia is no disgrace. Ponting's team entered the tournament with the No.1 ODI ranking - for now, they still hold that position - but were far from being the favourites.....

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