Football,Cricket,Soccer,Sports result,Fixture,Sports news,: March 2009

Friday 27 March 2009

South africa vs Australia,20-20 Cricket result,march,27.09

South africa vs Australia,20-20 Cricket result:

Albie Morkel (37) and Mark Boucher (36 not out) propelled South Africa to a four-ball win over Australia in the opening Twenty20 international.

The hosts' reply seemed to flag at 83-5 but the pair's big-hitting saw them comfortably ease past their target.

Earlier David Hussey had been Australia's star, scoring a quicksilver 88 that cleared the boundary six times.

But Robin Peterson's disciplined spin frustrated the rest of the upper order as Hussey's efforts proved in vain.

UEFA Cup Quarter Final Second Leg,Fixture


Thursday 16th April 2009
UEFA Cup Quarter Final Second Leg			Bet
Dynamo Kiev	v	PSG	17.30

Man City	v	Hamburg	19.45

Marseille	v	Shakhtar Donetsk	19.45

Udinese	v	Werder	19.45

Thursday 30th April 2009
UEFA Cup Semi Final First Leg			Bet
PSG/Dynamo Kiev	v	Shakhtar Donetsk/Marseille	19.45

Werder Bremen/Udinese	v	Hamburg/Man City	19.45

Sunday 22 March 2009

Man City 1-0 Sunderland result.22.march 09

Defender Micah Richards spared team-mate Robinho's blushes by scoring Manchester City's winner against 10-man Sunderland at Eastlands.

Sunderland were up against it in the 15th minute when George McCartney was shown red for pulling back Shaun Wright-Phillips on the edge of the box.

Robinho then had a penalty saved by Marton Fulop after Steed Malbranque was judged to have fouled Richards.

City's goal came after the break when Richards headed in Elano's free-kick.

Victory was just about deserved for a City side who had a man advantage for the majority of the game, but often found it desperately difficult to break down a resolute Sunderland.

During the short time it was 11 versus 11, Wright-Phillips spurned a fantastic chance to put the home side in lead when he dinked his shot a foot wide of Fulop's goal after a glorious ball from Valeri Bojinov.

Moments later, Wright-Phillips was again through on goal but this time he was judged to have been pulled back by McCartney which led to the defender's dismissal.

Referee Steve Tanner had initially not spotted the incident and the decision to show McCartney red was only made after the Somerset official consulted his linesman who had flagged.

Further pain should have been inflicted on Ricky Sbragia's team shortly after when City were awarded a penalty when Malbranque hacked down Richards.

However, Robinho, who had not scored since the end of last year, made a pig's ear of his run-stutter-kick technique which resulted in a flat penalty saved by Fulop low to his right.

Sbragia had by this stage changed his formation from 4-5-1 to 4-4-1, and the nine remaining outfield players defended admirably for the rest of the half - limiting City to playing hopeful balls into the box without any calling Fulop into action.

However, the next time Fulop was troubled was when Richards powered his header past him 10 minutes after the restart.

The England defender connected with Elano's delivery from six yards out for his first goal since scoring against Everton in 2006.

City should have added a second when the rejuvenated Richards sped down the right and found Elano unmarked in the area but the Brazilian slipped the ball past the Sunderland's right-hand upright.

Despite being in front, City still did not look comfortable and were almost made to pay for their earlier misses when Andy Reid had a sight on goal from 12 yards but was prevented from pulling the trigger by a great block tackle from Richard Dunne.

The impressive Fulop made superb saves from Elano and Robinho late in the game, but in the end Richards' earlier strike was enough for victory.

Man City boss Mark Hughes: "We should have put the game to bed with all the chances we had.

"We had a hard week with our Uefa Cup tie going to extra-time and we were also without Wayne Bridge and Stephen Ireland today.

"Sunderland were freshness at the end because they didn't play in midweek."

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia: "George made slight contact but ball was in keeper's hands.

"I'm dumfounded as to why he was sent off. A long debate ensued and the linesman made the decision."

Man City: Given, Richards (Garrido 83), Onuoha, Dunne, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Elano, De Jong, Kompany (Fernandes 84), Robinho, Bojinov (Bellamy 65).
Subs Not Used: Hart, Evans, Etuhu, Berti.#

Booked: Bojinov, Fernandes, Wright-Phillips.

Goals: Richards 56.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Collins, Ferdinand, McCartney, Edwards, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Murphy (Davenport 16), Malbranque (Reid 72), Jones (Cisse 72).
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Yorke, Healy, McShane.

Sent Off: McCartney (15).

Booked: Bardsley, Davenport, Leadbitter, Ferdinand, Reid.

Att: 43,017

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

man of the match: Shaun Wright-Phillips 6.80 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

Collingwood cool on Twenty20 role

Paul Collingwood has ruled himself out of being England's captain in this summer's World Twenty20.

England's selectors are considering whether Andrew Strauss, captaining the team on their current tour of the Caribbean, should lead in all formats.

Former one-day skipper Collingwood said: "I had a year in the job, and you feel as if you've had your go.

"I gave up the job and I would take a lot of persuading to do it again," added the Durham all-rounder.

Collingwood skippered England in 24 one-day internationals, winning 10, before quitting the role last summer to concentrate on his own game.

He also led the team in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007 where England failed to reach the semi-finals.

Former captain Kevin Pietersen has already stated he does not want to be considered for the Twenty20 role.

If the selectors do not opt for Strauss, a specialist skipper such as Kent's Rob Key could be appointed.

Collingwood, who was on standby to take over the captaincy from injury doubt Strauss in the current one-day series, said: "Whoever takes it I'm sure will do a very good job.

"But there's a lot of things to happen between now and then, a coach to come in and things like that. We will have to wait and see."

Newcastle 1-3 Arsenal

Nicklas Bendtner, Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri secured victory for

Arsenal to leave Newcastle in the relegation zone.

Arsenal took the lead when Bendtner headed home Andrey Arshavin's free-kick while Obafemi Martins volleyed home from 12-yards a minute later.

The Gunners were back in front when Diaby smashed home from 18-yards with Nasri sealing the win soon after.

Earlier, Manuel Almunia had saved Martins first-half penalty after he had brought down Newcastle's Ryan Taylor.

Newcastle had begun the day just out of the relegation places but Stoke's 1-0 victory against Middlesbrough meant the Magpies slipped into the bottom three before kick-off.

And defeat to Arsenal further compounds Newcastle's place in the relegation places with eight games left.

For Arsenal victory sees them consolidate their position in fourth place with the Gunners 10 points behind leaders United having played a game more.

Newcastle left Michael Owen on the bench but could have done with the England striker midway through the first half when they were awarded a penalty.

Martins took it, but his weak strike was easily saved by Almunia low to his left.

The Newcastle striker missed further chances, with Peter Lovenkrands also guilty of wastefulness in front of goal.

Newcastle played well in an open first half, but Arsenal always looked dangerous on the break.

Magpies defender twice Steven Taylor blocked goal bound strikes that looked destined for the back of the net, while keeper Steve Harper also saved well from close range from Robin Van Persie.

Taylor, meanwhile, was lucky to escape punishment for a crude elbow on Andrey Arshavin who later shaved the top of the Newcastle crossbar with a fine 25-yard strike.

But despite the open nature of the game, the first half ended goalless. The second half was a different affair.

Newcastle started brightly forcing a series of corners, and from one of them, Steven Taylor had a header cleare

But Arsenal responded and took a 56th minute lead when an unmarked Bendtner headed home Arshavin's out swinging free-kick from close range. A minute later Newcastle were level.

Martins latched onto a hopeful long ball, blocked Gallas' clearance and volleyed home from inside the box for 1-1.

Arsenal were soon back in the lead with Diaby playing a neat one-two with Van Persie and from 18-yards smashed past Harper for 2-1.

Two soon became three with Nasri beating Harper from a tight angle at the Newcastle keeper's near post.

A rampant Arsenal had further chances with Van Persie forcing a fine save from Harper with Diaby hitting a post in injury time as the Magpies were spared further punishment.

man of the match: Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin 7.93 (on 90 minutes).

Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea

Luka Modric capped a man-of-the-match display with a superb goal as Tottenham dealt Chelsea's title bid a huge blow with a deserved win at White Hart Lane.

The Croatian grabbed the winner on 50 minutes, drilling Aaron Lennon's cross into the corner from 18 yards.

It might have been more had Robbie Keane not been denied three times.

But Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes also played a part, saving brilliantly from John Terry before Alex headed on to the bar as the hosts desperately held on.

The three points were no more than Tottenham deserved from a full-blooded and frantic London derby, but Chelsea will be kicking themselves as their first defeat under Guus Hiddink saw them miss the chance to close the gap on league leaders Manchester United.

United's earlier 2-0 defeat to Fulham meant a win would have taken the Blues to within a point of the champions, but instead they were left to rue a disjointed display and a fine performance from Spurs.

All signs before the match pointed to a Chelsea victory, given their 100% league record under Hiddink and the fact Spurs had secured just one win in 37 league games against their London rivals.

But Tottenham, unbeaten in five matches themselves, are looking every inch an outfit rejuvenated under Harry Redknapp of late and they edged the opening 45 minutes.

With the Blues deploying a 4-3-3 formation, with Juliano Belletti wide right and Nicolas Anelka wide left, Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King were able to nullify the threat of Didier Drogba in the centre.

And with Jermaine Jenas and Wilson Palacios impressing in midfield against Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Michael Essien, Chelsea's greater possession only rarely led to clear openings.

Essien had the first chance of note, though, playing a one-two with Anelka before unleashing a skiddy shot that Gomes did well to get down and save in the Tottenham goal.

Spurs - and Keane in particular - responded well.

First the Irishman unleashed a fierce half-volley that Petr Cech did well to turn round the post from 20 yards, and the keeper then had to save from two rather tamer efforts from the striker as Tottenham's organised, thoughtful approach play almost bore fruit.

Anelka forced another smart stop from Gomes up the other end with a clipped effort from 16 yards, but it was Tottenham impressing - and they got their reward five minutes into the second half.

Lennon - kept quiet until that point - was the creator, the winger getting the better of Ashley Cole on the right and pulling back to Modric to rifle a superb right-foot shot into the corner from 18 yards.

The goal rattled Chelsea and, buoyed by a vocal home support, Spurs pressed forward.

Modric went close again with a similar effort to the goal and King headed over unmarked from a corner as the visitors backtracked.

Something had to change for Chelsea - and Hiddink obliged by sending on Ricardo Quaresma, with almost immediate affect.

The Portugal winger gained half a yard down the right and his deep cross was headed goalwards by Lampard, only for Vedran Corluka to desperately clear the Spurs lines.

Minutes later, Drogba forced a smart near-post save from Gomes, while Keane curled narrowly wide for Spurs up the other end.

It was all set up for a frantic finale - and so it proved, with Drogba heading wide when well placed and Lampard firing wide from close range at one end, and Aaron Lennon wasting a great chance to set up Darren Bent on the counter at the other.

The best chance fell to Terry, though, the Chelsea centre-half rising highest to aim a firm header towards the corner from eight yards out, but Gomes produced a stunning right-hand stop to keep it out and effectively seal the game for the hosts.

There was still time for Alex to head into the ground and onto the bar deep into injury-time, but Chelsea could not find the breakthrough as Spurs held on to jump into the top 10 for the first time this season.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp:
"That is a big three points for us and we've been in great form of late, I think that's 18 points from our last nine games, which is terrific.

"We've a long way to go to get into the top four - that's very, very difficult - and I'm not going to kid myself or anyone by saying we're close to that at the moment.

"But we were excellent today and I thought we were comfortable throughout, even if they put us under pressure in the last 10 minutes.

"We're in a good situation now where we can start looking up. I don't know what it'll take to stay up but, with the way we're playing, we're all about how high up we can finish in the table now."

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Zokora 90), Jenas, Palacios, Modric (O'Hara 87), Bent, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bentley, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson.

Booked: Palacios, Modric.

Goals: Modric 50.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien (Malouda 76), Ballack, Lampard, Belletti (Quaresma 61), Drogba, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Kalou, Mancienne.

Booked: Belletti, Ballack.

Saturday 21 March 2009

Cricket: Tendulkar adamant disputed catch was fair

Sachin Tendulkar was emphatic: his low catch at first slip to dismiss New Zealand opener Tim McIntosh yesterday was fair.

New Zealand disagreed, but very politely.

The loss of McIntosh to the third ball of the second innings, chasing 241 to make India bat again, immediately put them on the back foot.

Tendulkar, India's rock with a fine 160 yesterday, was "100 per cent confident" he took the catch off Zaheer Khan.

"I have seen replays, and I've seen my fingers under the ball," he said last night of the television replays which appeared to cast some doubt on the catch. "Sometimes on camera it looks different. I was pretty much confident, otherwise I would not have appealed for it."

Of his century, Tendulkar thought the ball "did take time to find the centre of my bat", a view New Zealand's bowlers might dispute.

"But once the new ball was taken I was timing it much better," he said, while pointing out that "every hundred is not fluent".

However, he deflected talk of his century by putting the team first.

"We are in a strong position. That's what really matters. We have led from the front right from the first session, but we don't want to take anything for granted."

New Zealand coach Andy Moles was disappointed with the catch decision, but accepted "that's part of the game. When you're not playing well things seem not to go for you."

Moles did give his team a slap for a substandard effort.

"Hands up, we have under-performed. It's not a very good advert for the test team so far.

"There are no excuses. We haven't bowled well enough for long enough, haven't batted well in pairs for long enough and been sloppy in the field."

David Leggat: Sachin provides days to savour

When Babe Ruth slammed his record-breaking 60th home run for the New York Yankees in 1927, he celebrated in typically understated style: "60! Count 'em, 60. Let's see if some son of a bitch can match that."

It took 34 years before Roger Maris went one better, also for the Yankees.

Mark Spitz won seven gold medals in the pool at the Munich Olympics in 1972. No one would match, let alone topple that, right?

That belief held good until last year, when Michael Phelps made the Water Cube in Beijing his personal splash pool in winning eight golds, which if you stop and consider for a moment is a stunning achievement in a sport where world records fall these days like autumn leaves.

And what about Roger Bannister, whose 3m 59.4s mile at Oxford in 1954 broke a barrier thought impossible?

New Zealand's middle-distance legend John Walker retired having slid below the 4m barrier 135 times. The present world mark is 3m 43.13s by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome almost 10 years ago.

There is no such thing as a record that's not meant to be broken, and that's the beauty of them: the thought that one day someone will better what's been done, and who will do it, and where and when, and might you be there to witness it.

I'll venture one record which won't be overtaken.

Hell will freeze over before a batsman retires with a test average superior to Don Bradman's 99.94. Forget fluky numbers bulked up by not outs, or those who aren't around long enough to allow a reasoned assessment of them to be made. Proper test batsmen are what we're talking about.

Which brings us to Sachin Tendulkar, who yesterday stroked his 42nd test century. He is five clear of Australian captain Ricky Ponting. After that, in terms of current players who might catch him, forget it.

The next best are fellow-Indian Rahul Dravid on 26, Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene on 25 and West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 21. None will get near Tendulkar.

But one day he will be eclipsed. Ponting could do it. Or someone not yet born.

Ponting is 34, a year younger than Tendulkar. But although time is running out on Mumbai's most famous citizen, he's still got life left in him, as he amply demonstrated against bowlers largely powerless to stop him doing much as he pleased yesterday.

When will Tendulkar retire? Answer: when it suits him. But he'll certainly be around until the 2011 World Cup.

That gives him two years at least. Eight more centuries give him 50. He's got 43 in ODIs. A double of 50 in each form of the game has a nice ring to it. It is certainly within his capabilities.

He's talked of the desire to play the game being intact, that despite the runs, the adulation, the records, it is the love of playing for his country, and the challenges that brings, which continue to stir him.

The three great batsmen of the past 10 years are Tendulkar, Ponting and West Indian Brian Lara.

Whom you prefer is a matter of personal choice: Ponting's hard-headed craft, Lara's shot-making brilliance or Tendulkar's technical perfection and style?

Bradman reckoned Tendulkar to be the closest thing to himself at the crease. On this tour New Zealand crowds have seen two demonstrations of his capabilities, a sizzling 163 off 133 balls in an ODI in Christchurch and now a superb 160. Days to savour.

Beckham flop: Two top execs quit

Two senior Auckland Regional Council executives quit yesterday after the David Beckham soccer match fiasco in which the council-owned Mt Smart Stadium lost $1.79 million.

Parks general manager Lance Vervoort and Mt Smart Stadium group manager John Lynch were on extended leave following an internal review into the way last December's LA Galaxy match was planned and managed.

ARC chairman Mike Lee also called in the Auditor-General to investigate what went wrong when the stadium departed from its normal role as venue operator - charging a fee - to act also as event promoter and underwriter.

The two executives wrote a confidential report to councillors last April recommending the soccer match, between Beckham's LA Galaxy and an "all-star" Oceania team.

The game, which drew only 16,600 people instead of the 20,000, needed to break even.

Yesterday, ARC chief executive Peter Winder told staff he had accepted the resignations of both men.

Neither he nor Mr Lee would comment further about the resignations.

The Auditor-General's report is expected to be released next month.

Last night, Mr Vervoort and Mr Lynch would not comment on the game.

"It's time for me to move on," said Mr Vervoort, 46, who has been with the ARC for 15 years - the last nine running the parks department, which has a staff of 137.

Mr Lynch, 43, said he was "feeling a bit homesick" for a family lifestyle in Palmerston North where he headed the redevelopment of the Arena Manawatu sports complex before taking on the Mt Smart role two years ago.

Last month, Mr Lee said the future of Mt Smart Stadium as a business unit in the parks network was being reviewed.

The stadium has a $24.2 million debt - mostly incurred by capital works, such as the East Stand. In the half year to January 31, the stadium's earnings were $1.45 million in the red. In the previous seven years, earnings ranged from $874,000 to $1.59 million.

Records given to the Herald show the Auckland City Council also played a role in the event.

City officials secured $80,000 in cash sponsorship and $70,000 in services, and the council's final contribution was $128,000.

Although a financial flop, the event is credited with helping to raise New Zealand's international profile

England Cricket match Fixture 2009.

Please note: Fixtures are subject to change. This Blogsite is not responsible for any changes that may be made.

Sunday, 22 March 2009

One Day International Series

Second One Day International
West Indies v England, Guyana, 13:30

Friday, 27 March 2009

One Day International Series

Third One Day International
West Indies v England, Barbados, 13:30

Sunday, 29 March 2009

One Day International Series

Fourth One Day International
West Indies v England, Barbados, 13:30

Friday, 03 April 2009

One Day International Series

Fifth One Day International
West Indies v England, St Lucia, 13:30

Friday, 05 June 2009

ICC World Twenty20 2009

England v Netherlands, Lord's, 17:30

Sunday, 07 June 2009

ICC World Twenty20 2009

England v Pakistan, The Brit Oval, 17:30

Wednesday, 01 July 2009

Other Match

Warwickshire v England, Edgbaston, 11:00

Wednesday, 08 July 2009

npower Test Match Series

England v Australia, Cardiff, 11:00

Thursday, 16 July 2009

npower Test Match Series

England v Australia, Lord's, 11:00

Thursday, 30 July 2009

npower Test Match Series

England v Australia, Edgbaston, 11:00

Friday, 07 August 2009

npower Test Match Series

England v Australia, Headingley Carnegie, 11:00

Thursday, 20 August 2009

npower Test Match Series

England v Australia, The Brit Oval, 11:00

Thursday, 27 August 2009

One Day International Series

First One Day International
Ireland v England, Belfast, 11:00

Sunday, 30 August 2009

NatWest International Twenty20 Match

England v Australia, Old Trafford, 17:30

Tuesday, 01 September 2009

International Twenty20 Series

England v Australia, Old Trafford, 17:30

Friday, 04 September 2009