"BHAJJI SAVES D DAY"

The tail-ender slammed a match-saving, maiden ton to save team from certain defeat

India found an unlikely batting hero in tail-ender Harbhajan Singh who produced a match-saving maiden Test century to steer his team to safety along with VVS Laxman as the first cricket Test against New Zealand ended in a draw here today.

The gutsy Harbhajan (115) notched up his only first class century and combined with veteran Laxman (91) as the duo dented New Zealand's push for victory with a solid 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Resuming their second innings at a precarious 82 for six, Laxman and Harbhajan saved India the blushes by batting cautiously before the innings folded up for 266 shortly after the tea break for an overall lead of 294.

The Kiwis were 22 for one in their second innings before both captains decided to call off play.

Zaheer Khan removed opener Tim McIntosh for a duck but Brendon McCummum (11) and Bradley-John Watling (2) ensured there were no further setbacks for the visitors who will take a great deal of confidence from their performance here.

The two teams will now travel to Hyderabad for the second Test to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium from November 12 to 16.

It was Harbhajan who stole the spotlight on the final day's play and had it not been for his valiant batting effort, the story could have been quite different for the home team.

Harbhajan, who made his highest score of 69 in the first innings, achieved his dream of scoring a century in Test cricket. His 115 came off 193 balls and contained 13 boundaries and three sixes.

Harbhajan reached his maiden hundred in style with a six off Vettori and held his bat aloft to reciprocate the applause of his teammates in the dressing room.

The stylish Laxman, who has bailed India out of many a crisis, was a picture of poise and concentration as he held the innings together and kept guiding Harbhajan.

Laxman was wrongly given out leg before wicket to rival team captain Daniel Vettori by umpire Steve Davis as TV replays showed the ball had deflected on to the pad off the inside edge of the bat.

Laxman and Harbhajan took India from a difficult 65 for six last evening at the fall of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's wicket and were not separated till close to the tea interval when Vettori won the verdict against the former. The duo was together for 10 minutes under four hours and faced 328 balls.

Vettori also sent back Zaheer Khan off the next ball, to another questionable decision by the same umpire as the bat and pad were close together when the ball hit its target, to be on a hat-trick which was staved off by Ojha.

Earlier, Laxman and Harbhajan made sure that India did not lose a wicket in the pre-lunch period of play by mixing caution and aggression.

Starting the day at 82 for 6, the seventh wicket duo steadily re-built the home team's second innings that was left in tatters at 15 for 5 on the fourth evening by the tall Chris Martin's brilliant swing bowling.

But the 35-year-old bowler did not get the same sort of movement today and was played out quite comfortably by the two batsmen.

Harbhajan was the aggressor complementing Laxman's vigilant stay as the hosts made 164 for 6 to be ahead by 192 runs at the lunch break.

The duo, especially Harbhajan, were in a more aggressive mood in the post-lunch period as they raised 200 of the innings with the off spinner on 85 compared to Laxman's 74.

Harbhajan was fortunate to be dropped by wrecker-in-chief Chris Martin off his own bowling when seven short of the coveted three-figure mark when the batsman tried to flick and offered a difficult return catch.

Zaheer Khan fell off the first ball but Ojha prevented Vettori from achieving a hat-trick.

Harbhajan flat-batted, swept, drove on the up and swung his way to his second half century of the match with a couple off Chris Martin after Laxman had completed his a few minutes earlier.

While Laxman's 27th half century came in a little over 240 minutes and off 154 balls when he pull-swept Jeetan Patel for his first boundary and fourth of the knock, Harbhajan's contained 5 fours and a six and took him only 106 minutes and 78 balls to compile.

Laxman played a pivotal part in saving the match for his team. It was the third successive time in as many matches he played that the Hyderabad specialist had come to his team's rescue but he could not go on and enjoy the fruits of it with a century to boot.

New Zealand clearly missed frontline bowler Bennett who did not bowl due to a groin strain picked up in the Indian first innings. Also missing was Ryder due to a calf muscle strain.

Rooney will put up at stripper haven during US recovery trip

 English footballer Wayne Rooney has arrived in America, and he will be putting up at party haven Portland, which has more strip clubs per capita than anywhere else in the US.

Rooney, 25, will be there for a week's "intensive conditioning" to recover his lost form, but he will not be staying in the Oregon town where the Nike sports training complex is located.

"With 63 breweries and brewpubs Portland has just overtaken Munich as the beer capital of the world. There are strip clubs on every corner too. It is one of the top party tourism destinations," the Sun quoted a tourist guide as revealing.

Another guide boasts that due to the unparalleled proliferation of strip joints, "you can satisfy any number of naked girl desires".

The Red Devils hope the week at Nike World HQ, which boasts some of the best fitness equipment in the world, will finally put Rooney back on track.

"Lanka beat Australia, win first series Down Under"

Sri Lanka achieved its first-ever victory in a cricket series on Australian soil when it beat Australia by 29 runs in the rain-shortened second limited-overs international for a 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Friday.

Opener Upul Tharanga made an unbeaten 86 as Sri Lanka scored 213-3 in 41.1 overs, batting first after winning the toss. Australia was all out for 210 in 37.4 overs, chasing a revised target of 240 from 38 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis system. Sri Lanka won the first match of the series by one wicket at Melbourne on Wednesday, and its win on Friday extended to seven matches Australia's losing streak in all forms of cricket. Defeat on Friday may increase Australia's crisis of form and confidence as it approaches its Ashes Test series against England.

The first Test of the series begins in Brisbane on November 25.

Australia was outplayed in all facets of Friday's match, which was made trying for both sides by rain interruptions. Sri Lanka was 161-2 when rain first intervened, forcing players from the field for almost 90 minutes. When it returned the match had been shortened from 50 to 45 overs per side but more disruption followed.

Heavy showers again halted play after 41.1 overs when Sri Lanka was 213-3 and umpires Bruce Oxenford of Australia and Marais Erasmus of South Africa were forced to end the Sri Lanka innings.

Tharanga had been its bulwark, batting for its entire duration and hitting six fours from 112 balls. He formed partnerships of 98 for the first wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan (47) and 70 for the third with Kumar Sangakkara (45).

With Angelo Mathews — hero of Sri Lanka's win at Melbourne — he dashed 33 runs from the last four overs of the innings. Australia was first set a chase for 244 from 39 overs but a further over was lost to rain during the home side's innings, most of which was played in drizzle. It was immediately on the back foot when hard-hitting opener Brad Haddin was dismissed for one with the total on three.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting (10) fell to a leg-side catch from a lazy pull shot at 32 and Sri Lanka was able to assert steady pressure on the remainder of the top order. Shane Watson was Australia's main hope and he batted with authority to reach 40 from 44 balls with two fours and a six before falling lbw to Muttiah Muralitharan.

Australia needed regular boundaries but fours and sixes slowed to a trickle against tight Sri Lankan bowling and Australia's required run rate grew oppressively as the innings continued. Michael Clarke made 25 from 30 balls with one four and one six and Cameron White failed to hit a boundary in an innings of 35 from 43 balls. When he was out with the total 155 in the 31st over, Australia's chase was virtually at an end.

Steven Smith made 33 and Mitchell Johnson a quickfire 23 from 17 balls before Australia fell well short of its target. Muralitharan finished with 2-30, Thissara Perera 2-39, Nuwan Kulasekara 2-48 and Suraj Randiv 2-53. Lasith Malinga bowled superbly through the latter stages of the inning and finished with 1-34 from 7.4 overs.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 213 for 3 in 41.1 ovs (Upul Tharanga 86 not out, Tillakaratne Dilshan 47; Shane Watson 2-34) bt Australia 210 all out in 37.4 ovs (Shane Watson 40; Muttiah Muralitharan 2-30, Thisara Perera 2-39).

Tendulkar's wicket my biggest scalp, says Patel

It's the biggest scalp of my career," said the 30-year-old Wellington-born Patel after grabbing three for 135 in the Indian first innings total of 487.

After going wicket less and giving away 79 runs in 13 overs yesterday, the off spinner made amends by giving splendid support to his skipper Daniel Vettori in restricting the Indian innings that looked all set to cross 500 with a close-of-play total of 329 for 3 yesterday.

Patel, born of Indian parents, said the key to his success today was self-belief and an alternation to his run-up and mental make-up.

"I tried to bowl too hard yesterday. When I came out to bowl today I told myself I belonged to this level. I shortened my run-up after bowling too fast yesterday. My idea was to bowl dot balls and apply pressure," said the bowler who had taken 37 wickets in 11 Tests previous to the current game.

Patel said the game was at a very interesting stage and New Zealand would have to bat for five sessions to take the upper hand.

"Match is exciting. We got a great opportunity and will have to bat for five sessions. The wicket will increasingly assist the slower bowlers," he said.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea	10	8	1	1	27	3	+24	25
2	Arsenal	10	6	2	2	22	10	+12	20
3	Man Utd	10	5	5	0	22	12	+10	20
4	Man City	10	5	2	3	13	10	+3	17
5	Tottenham	10	4	3	3	11	10	+1	15
6	West Brom	10	4	3	3	14	17	-3	15
7	Newcastle	10	4	2	4	19	14	+5	14
8	Everton	10	3	4	3	10	8	+2	13
9	Blackpool	10	4	1	5	15	21	-6	13
10	Fulham	10	2	6	2	12	11	+1	12
11	Bolton	10	2	6	2	13	14	-1	12
12	Sunderland	10	2	6	2	9	12	-3	12
13	Liverpool	10	3	3	4	10	14	-4	12
14	Aston Villa	10	3	3	4	9	13	-4	12
15	Birmingham	10	2	5	3	10	12	-2	11
16	Stoke	10	3	1	6	10	14	-4	10
17	Wigan	10	2	4	4	7	18	-11	10
18	Blackburn	10	2	3	5	9	12	-3	9
19	Wolverhampton	10	2	3	5	10	16	-6	9
20	West Ham	10	1	3	6	7	18	-11	6

Bursaspor 0 United 3

United edged a step closer to qualification for the Champions League knock-out stages with a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Bursaspor in Turkey.

After surviving a couple of minor scares in a tepid first half, the Reds were, in the end, just too good for the Turkish champions who could not be faulted for effort on the night. Effort can only get you so far, however, with quality more often than not winning out and so it proved. Darren Fletcher put the visitors ahead three minutes after the break, with Gabriel Obertan and Bebe sealing the win late on with a pair of fine finishes to put United on 10 points at the top of Group C.

CARRICK BACK ON TRACK

Michael Carrick admits he is relieved to be enjoying his football again following a prolonged battle to hit top form.

The midfielder quickly became one of United's most influential players after joining from Tottenham in the summer of 2006. But he struggled to reach his high standards last season and consequently was not always a regular starter.

A troublesome Achilles problem did not help the situation, but having now fully recovered from the niggle, Carrick feels he is back on the right track.

Bale keen to learn from Giggs

Gareth Bale believes he has the perfect role model in Ryan Giggs as the Tottenham winger comes to terms with his new superstar status.

The last fortnight has seen Bale become one of the most talked about players on the planet following his virtuoso performances against European champions Inter Milan. Bale's meteoric rise echoes of that of fellow Welsh wizard Giggs 20 years ago, and the youngster was keen to pay tribute to the example his idol has set.

"He's shown, ever since he made his debut, what a good player and what a good person he is for football," Bale said at the launch of BT's new football fan website.

"He's an amazing person to follow and hopefully I can come a little bit near him."

With comparisons already being made with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, that may not be such a tall order.

Bale said of the lavish praise that has come his way: "It's obviously nice to get people talking about you, saying nice things.

"But I know I have to keep working hard and keep improving and that's all I want to do."

Nani: I can be one of the greatest

M@nchester United winger Nani has vowed to keep working until he has fulfilled his dream of becoming one of the world's best players.

Nani has emerged as a key figure in United's pursuit of honours this season, a status that has been enhanced by a long-term injury to Antonio Valencia. He earned high praise from Arsene Wenger earlier this week and his drive for perfection continues.

"I want to be one of the best players," he said.

"In the future, I want everyone to be saying Nani is one of the best players in the world. That is my ambition.

"Maybe some people are saying it now. If they are I am very happy. I have been working hard to be in this position. But I know I can also do much better and will keep going every day to get there."

The arrogance is similar to that shown by fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo during his own time at Old Trafford, and he ended up becoming the undisputed world number one in 2008.

Nani might not quite reach that level but his influence on this current United side cannot be understated. Not that he is fazed by the added responsibility.

"I enjoy the pressure of being an important member of the side," he said.

"When you have the ambition to be a top player you have to like the pressure as well. I am happy to take on that responsibility and am enjoying my football at the moment.

"SEHWAG PUTS INDIA ON DRIVER SEAT"

There was something sadistic about Virender Sehwag's innings at Motera. It didn't have any of those trademark slogs or vicious lunges towards the fence, the strokes were more classical, dripping with carpet-hugging finesse. Yet, he scored an almost run-a-ball 173, never once tugging at his leash or straining to up the ante; it happened automatically. On Thursday, Sehwag was on auto-pilot. For a very long time, it looked like the batsman was scoring runs for fun. No field or strategy could've possibly gotten him out. Just ask New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori. From the first concentric ring around Sehwag — who stood in the centre of the cricketing universe — Vettori and 10 other Kiwis watched the bludgeoner put his mental range on display.

"Bats are also used to play defensive strokes," Sehwag said later. With dropped jaws and spiraling eyes, the Black Caps tried everything within the rules to get him out, as Sehwag quelled wave after wave of their strategies with a dead bat. And when the opposition got the false impression of tying him down, he would score hordes of boundaries, not with a powerful crack, but gently with supple wrists.

It took him four balls to get off the mark, and 45 balls later, he notched up a half century. If his conversion rate of fifties to three figures is outstanding — almost 50 per cent — then the transformation of hundreds to big 150+ is unprecedented.

Out of the 21 centuries that Sehwag had scored before Thursday, 13 of them had surpassed the 150 mark, while six had cluttered the double hundred list. Against the hapless Kiwis, he made it 14 out of 22. He could have had his seventh 200 but a niggle put an end to those hopes. Somewhere deep beneath those furrowed brows, Vettori knew that only an injury could end Sehwag's run on Thursday, and that's exactly what happened.

"I was batting really well but then I injured my right knee when I slipped while taking a quick single. It started to hurt after tea and I stopped concentrating on my batting, the focus was on the pain," he said, after limping back to the pavilion with runner and Delhi-mate Gautam Gambhir for support. When a stunned New Zealand journalist enquired why he played the waiting game, Sehwag said casually: "I knew if I stay and the crease for half hour initially, I will make a big century." Maybe he was feeding off his partner, Rahul Dravid, with whom he stitched a 237-run stand for the second wicket.

With two of the most contrasting styles in cricket at a distance of 22 yards, the Kiwis were clearly confused. If Sehwag blocked, Dravid blocked some more. The wickets had dried up for Vettori & Co, and so had the ideas. "Batting with Rahul is great fun because we can't advise each other on anything. All we can say to each other is to watch the ball. There is no 'do this, do that' because our games are completely different," he added.

However, Vettori and the NZ team management will take solace and at least a couple of positives from Terrible Thursday. For one, Sehwag is out and hence the pace of the game is bound to fall. Two: it happens to everyone, as Sehwag has shown captains around the world 21 times before that there's pretty much nothing they could've done but stand by and watch.

"Gerrard's 15-minute hat-trick saves Liverpool"

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard came off the bench to score a hat-trick in the last 15 minutes as the struggling Premier League side came from behind to beat Napoli 3-1 in the Europa League on Thursday

Kashmir recovers turmoil,gardens get facelift

After three months of curfews and strikes hitting Kashmir region,the Jammu and Kashmir administration launched a massive facelift drive on Wednesday to beautify the region's famous gardens.

England very 'cocky' about retaining Ashes

 Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne has said that England has become too cocky about their chances of retaining The Ashes.

e legendary Aussie spinner bantered with Michael Vaughan on Twitter yesterday and has warned against English arrogance.

According to The Sun, Warne told Vaughan: "Yeah, yeah, whatever bud. Your Poms are cocky at present. Could end in tears for you all, just chill."

Another post said: "Just wait until it starts. What's with the English lip? You that sure of winning? I'm not sure."

Then he added: "What's wrong with it's going to be a great, close and thrilling series. Good luck to both teams. Lots to happen yet."

Australia have not won since July and lost their last five games in all formats.

The First Test starts on November 25 in Brisbane, where England have not won since 1986.

Vaughan replied: "All on the first game. If the Aussies go ahead we will struggle."

Gibbs stands by his controversial autobiography

South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs has said he stands by his controversial autobiography that has ripped open a horrific tale of drinking, drugs and sexual intimacy during his international tours.

Gibbs said his book 'To The Point' is an 'open and honest account' of his 14 years in international cricket.

Gibbs has revealed that current captain Graeme Smith was 'too powerful' and part of a 'clique' of senior players that included Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers.

'When you are that forthcoming and honest you are bound to face that sort of criticism. I've been that honest. It's not surprising,' Gibbs was quoted as saying in The Age.

'That particular clique of Graeme and Mark and Jacques, and to a certain extent AB, were very outspoken when Mickey was coach. I've made it clear in the book that I thought that around Graeme, Mickey buckled a little bit. That's how I saw it.'

Gibbs said hopefully people can respect the honesty.

'It is about the issues that have made headlines for the right and wrong reasons,' he said.

'I have been very open and honest about the whole thing. I knew from the start that it would get a lot of criticism, so be it. I've enjoyed the experience.'

Gibbs, 36, said Smith had sent him a message asking him if he really thought he was 'too powerful.'

'My answer to him was it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out,' Gibbs said.

Smith has said that the players are very disappointed with the book.

In the book, Gibbs talks about his battle with alcohol, a stint in rehabilitation, his marijuana smoking on a tour to the West Indies, and a six-month ban in 2000 for his part in a match-fixing scandal.

He has also given details of sexual escapades between South African players and local girls, and in some cases group sex in hotels, on a tour to Australia in 1997-1998.

Present suspects who tried to kill Musharraf: Pakistan court

The Supreme Court in Pakistan has directed the authorities concerned to present 11 suspects who were charged with plotting to assassinate then president Pervez Musharraf and have gone missing from police custody.

BCCI yet to pay me for my services to IPL: Gavaskar

Omitted from the IPL Governing Council, a disgruntled Sunil Gavaskar has said that BCCI, the promoters of the Twenty20 League, has not paid him a single penny for his services. In a major revamp, the BCCI left out the former Indian captain from the Twenty20 League''s Governing Council at its Annual General Meeting in September.

The Cricket Board did not give any reason for Gavaskar''s ouster, but there were reports that it could be a result of a payment dispute. But the legendary batsman mantained that he had not been paid for the last three years which forced him to sent a "gentle reminder about the non-payment" to BCCI. "I am yet to be paid by the BCCI for my role on the IPL Governing Council.

I have not been paid at all by the BCCI, since I took on the offer," Gavaskar told NDTV. "I have just been told that Mr Sharad Pawar (ICC President) will organise a meeting between Shashank Manohar (BCCI chief) and me in his presence to sort out the matter and that for me is good enough," he said. The former India captain, however, refused to divulge what the pay packet would be, saying, "Never ask a woman her age and never ask a man what he gets.

" Gavaskar also denied that he had any links with the beleaguered Kochi IPL team and said he had still not made up his mind whether to accept the franchise''s offer to head it''s cricket operations. "They only came to me for advice," he said.

"I will wait for Kochi''s internal problems to be resolved before deciding to take up the offer. Apart from Kochi, I have also been approached by another franchise to head cricket operations," the former opener added.