West Indies beat England by five wickets in a rain-reduced run-chase to reach the semi-finals at the expense of the hosts.

CaribWorldNews, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Mon. Mar. 23, 2009: Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit a brilliant century before his adoring fans in Guyana on Sunday as the West Indies beat England by 21 runs to win the 2nd Digicel One-Day International.

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Chris Gayle dedicated West Indies' first Test series win in five years to the cricket-loving public in the Caribbean.

Skipper Gayle oversaw a 1-0 victory against England, a scoreline that was clinched in nail-biting fashion when the hosts clung on for a draw in the final Test in Trinidad.

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Alastair Cook hit his eighth Test hundred to steer England to an inevitable draw against West Indies at Kensington Oval.

Cook's unbeaten 139 comfortably represents his highest Test score and Kevin Pietersen weighed in with 72 not out as the tourists averted anything untoward on the final day of a run-heavy contest. Quick Read

Ramnaresh Sarwan stroked a splendid, unbeaten half-century and shared a scintillating unbroken, fifth wicket stand with Denesh Ramdin, to fire West Indies to an exciting, five-wicket win over New Zealand with a ball to spare, in the second one-day international yesterday. Continue

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP): A strong bowling display helped Pakistan beat the West Indies by 24 runs yesterday in the second One-Day International and also gave the team victory in the three-match series.

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Durban, South Africa:
Despite Marlon Samuels' second test hundred and a defiant half century by stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo West Indies were still easily defeated by an innnings and 100 runs by South Africa in the third and final test at Durban in South Africa.
The win assured South Africa of a 2-1 series win over the Caribbean Men and they get to keep the Sir Vivian Richards trophy.

South Africa fought back well on the fourth day of the second test of three to level the series 1-1 against the West Indies on Saturday Morning, January 5, 2008, local time (JA time) winning by seven wickets in South Africa.

West Indies, battled to 243 on a slow pitch and an even slower outfield, with
Shivnarine Chanderpaul scoring an unbeaten 65, Marlon Samuels 51, and Chris Gayle 46.

*Taylor, Powell, Edwards blow away Proteas

Port Elizabeth, South Africa:
West Indies won their first Test match overseas against a top-ranked Test team in seven years when they defeated hosts South Africa by 128 runs on the fourth day at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth in South Africa on Sunday, December 30, 2007.

Jamaica helped via steady batting from Shawn Findlay (64), and Danza Hyatt (41) and a terrific bowling performance by Australian-born Brendon Nash (4-20) easily defeated a depleted Guyana team by seven wickets in a semi-final encounter of the WICB KFC Regional one-day International at Three Ws Oval in Barbados on Thursday, October 25, 2007.

BENONI, South Africa:
West Indies All-rounder Marlon Samuels shone with the bat hitting a quick fire 63 off just 30 balls to lead the West Indies to a six-wicket victory over Kenya in a warm-up game for the ICC Twenty/20 World Cup Cricket tournament now on in South Africa.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul supported with 46 (33 balls), while, opener Devon Smith chipped in with 28 (23 balls).

BASSETERRE, St Kitts:
Second placed nation Jamaica are in a fight for first innnings points in the
their final round TLC-sponsored West Indies Regional U-19 Cricket League match against the Windward Islands, in BASSETERRE, St Kitts, on Thursday, August 9, 2007.
Jamaica were bowled out for 209 runs, with openers Christie Jones and Horace Miller scoring an even 50, against the fine spin bowling from Dalton Polius who wrecked the Jamaica batting with a haul of 8-96.

Trent Bridge, England:
West Indies won the NatWest One-Day International series against England 2-1, on the back of a 93-run victory in the third and final match at Trent Bridge, England, on Saturday, July 7, 2007.
West Indies won the toss and batted first and made a challenging 289-5 from their allocation of 50 overs, this was despite their most consistent batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul going early for 33, with the score on 93-2. However, the Windies were able to recover, as captain and opening batsman Chris Gayle joint top scored with 82 runs from 126 balls, Runako Morton also made 82 not out, but from only 89 balls , while Dwayne Bravo slaughtered the host team's bowling in the latter overs with 42 runs from a mere 24 balls.

England tied their two-match NatWest International 20/20 series against the West Indies at 1-1, with a nail-biting five-wicket win at the Brit Oval, in England on Friday, June 29, 2007.
The Windies won the first contest by 15 runs.
A five-wicket win, seemed easy but England's winning runs, came with only three balls to spare in the game.

The West Indies led by half centuries by Devon Smith and Marlon Samuels defeated England for the first time on tour this year, by 15 runs in a NatWest International 20/20 Cricket match at the Brit Oval in England on Thursday, June 28.
The West Indies batted first and posted a challenging 208-8 off 20 overs, and England in reply came close but they ran out of balls, making 193-7 off 20 overs.

Riverside; England
West indies inconsistency continued yesterday, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 on the final day of the fourth and final test match against England at Riverside.
The match was heading for a certain draw, with the Windies looking comfortable at 162-4 but, a dramatic middle order collapse saw the Caribbean men crumbling for 222 all out, leaving England needing only 110 runs to win in the final session.

West Indies went into the last day of the fourth and final test against England on 83-3 still 30 runs behind, England's first innings score of 400. Any slip by the Caribbean men and the Englishmen will go in for the kill. The highlight of the fourth day's play was England all-rounder Paul Collingwood knock of 128, while Matthew Prior made a defiant 62.

Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul made an impressive 136 not out to pilot West Indies to 287 all out, and on top on the third day of the fourth and final test match against England, at Riverside, yesterday, June 17, 2007.
Dwayne Bravo was the next best Windies batsman with 44, while Chris Gayle made 28, and Marlon Samuels on his return chipped in with 19.
Seamer Ryan Sidebottom took 5-88 for England.
England at the close were struggling on121-4 with Andrew Straus unbeaten on 72.
Fidel Edwards was the West Indies leading wicket taker with 3-40 off seven overs.
England has an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Kingston, Jamaica:
Nineteen Ninty six (1996) Cricket World cup champions Sri Lanka stormed in their third ICC Cricket World Cup final with a 81-run victory over five time semi-finalists New Zealand in a semi-final clash at the historial Sabina Park in Kington, Jamaica on Tuesday April 24, 2007.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene 115 not out, and Upul Tharanga 73, helped Sri Lanka to a challenging 289-5 after their alloted 50 overs. James Franklin 2-46 had the best Kiwi bowling figures.

Coach of the West Indies Cricket team Bennett King has resigned his post has head coach of the regional cricket team on the back of an early exit by the Caribbean cricketers at this year's ICC Cricket World Cup, the first to be hosted in the Caribbean.
The West Indies were expected to at least make the semi-finals, but finished unofficially sixth overall, after coming to the Super 8s stage with three consecutive wins. But lost five of six games in the Super 8 stage, forcing journalists, administrators and Caribbean fans demanding that heads should roll.

*England beat Caribbean men with one ball to spare

Hosts the West Indies and Captain Brian Lara ended their ICC Cricket World Cup campaign on a losing note, going down to England by one wicket at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday April 21, 2007.

Alot of questions is being asked about the invincibility of the Australian team, after they battered semi-finalists New Zealand by 215 runs, their worst defeat in a one-day International, in both nations final Super 8 match, on Friday April 20, 2007 in Grenada.

This was Australia's 27th straight Cricket World Cup win.

World record holder for both test (400 not out) and first class cricket (501 not out), Brian Charles Lara, yesterday announced his retirement from International Cricket, after his side's match against Bangladesh, in Barbados, April 19, 2007.
The West Indies final super 8 match against England will be Lara's last in the Caribbean team's colours.

Finally!
Windies win first Super 8 match
On a very eventful and emotional day of cricket the West Indies won their first ICC Cricket World Cup Super 8 match in Barbados on Thursday April 18, 2007.
After four straight defeats, the Windies playing in a match of only academic interest defeated Bangladesh by 99 runs, on the heels of Ramnaresh Sarwan's 91 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 50, while Bryan Lara in his last international game for the West Indies chipped in with 33, and Marlon Samuels back from a short absence tallied 31, as the Windies closed on 230-5 off 50 overs.

*Lankans gave cricket minnows no mercy

Sri Lanka warming up for their semi-final clash with New Zealand next week whipped new comer Ireland by eight wickets in Grenada on Wednesday April 18, 2007.

South Africa crushed England by nine wickets to take the fourth and final semi-final spot in a Super 8 ICC Cricket World Cup match in Barbados on Tuesday April 17, 2007.

The win saw England's hopes of a semi-final berth dashed and their final game against the Windies only a contest of academics.

*Sri Lanka's depleted bowling attack was no match for Aussie batters
World Champions Australia chalked up their eight consecutive win of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup after a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka yesterday, April 16, 2007 in Grenada.

*South Africa in a must-win situation against England

New Zealand bounced back from a battering from Sri Lanka in their last outing, to beat South Africa by five wickets in a key ICC World Cup Super 8 match in Grenada on Saturday April 14, 2007.

*Australia whip minnows Ireland by nine wickets

Australia were in a ruthless mood against minnows Ireland on Friday, April 13, after whipping the Irish team by nine wickets in a ICC Cricket World Cup Super eight game in Barbados.

Australia won the toss and decided to field.

The Aussie bowlers justified their captain's decision to field first by making early in roads on the brittle Irish batting, as the minnows crashed to 91 all out, in 30 overs. Only three batters, John Mooney (23), Trent Johnston (17), and Kevin O'Brien (16) made double digit scores.

Australia's veteran seamer Glen McGrath had the best bowling figures with 3-17, while speedster Shaun Tait snatched 3-39.

Fingers are being pointing everywhere as Organizers, Caribbean Governments, Advertisers and stakeholders of the ICC Cricket World Cup are trying to see who to blame for the under performing tournament that is currently taking place in the West Indies.
Added to the fire is the early exit of the West Indies team, that still has two group matches to go, but are without a realistic chance to make it into the World Cup Cricket semi-finals set for St Lucia and Jamaica on April 24.

*Haiti gets for first World Youth Cup berth

Defending U-17 World Youth Football Champions Mexico had a surprise exit from the tournament in the qualification stage after playing to a 0-0 draw with Honduras in a CONCACAF group A match in Hondoras on Sunday.

England revived their semi-final hopes in the ICC Cricket World Cup with a nervous four-wicket win over Bangladesh in a Super 8 game in Barbados yesterday (April 11, 2007).

The Bangladeshis were skittle out for a meager 143 runs off 37.2 overs, and the odds firmly against them upsetting a third top ranked team.

Only, Saqibul Hasan who made 57 offered any real resistance to the bowling of Monty Panesar 3-25 and Sajid Mahmood 3-27.

Hosts the West Indies saw their semi-final chances in the ICC Cricket World Cup all but ended after they crashed to a 67-run defeat to South Africa in a Super Eight match in Grenada yesterday, April 10, 2007.

Windies won the toss and decided to field, and may rue this decision as the the Proteas batsmen plundered the Windies bowling attack-aided by poor deliveries by Windies bolwers-as most times they were guilty of bowling too short or down the wrong line.

World champions Australia looked in ominous form after easily defeating rivals England by seven wickets in an ICC Cricket World Cup Super Eights match in Antigua on Sunday, April 8, 2007.
England who made a moderate 247 all out, at their time at bat, looked short by at least 50 runs against an Aussie side that scores over 300 runs regularly.
South African born, Kevin Pietersen, led the Englishmen batting with 104, and Ian Bell smashed 77 off 90 balls, but apart from these two, only Ravi Bopara 21, made it into doubles figures.

*Asian team spank South Africa by 67 runs
Bangladesh continued their giant killing act in the ICC Cricket World Cup when they disposed of World cricket's number one nation South Africa by 67 runs in a Super 8 match in Guyana on Saturday, April 7, 2007.

Kingston, Jamaica:

Skipper of the bewildered West Indies Cricket team Brian Lara has come under much crititism from commentators of the ICC Cricket World Cup and local cricket fans around the Caribbean for questionable leadership.

Mathematically, there is a slim chance of the windies making it to the next phase, but on performance of the Caribbean Side in three ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) Super 8 games, which they all lost comprehensively, it is a matter of playing for pride.

If the West Indies cricketers still hugging their two points, carry- over from the first round, do not lift their game then they will bow out of the tournament without winning a game.

They have, World number one, South Africa next Tuesday, and Bangladesh in their penultimate game and play England last.

Hosts the West Indies went down to another heavy defeat in their second ICC Cricket World Cup Super eight match against fancied New Zealand yesterday (March 29, 2007) in Antigua.
The Kiwis thrashed the Caribbean side by seven wickets, in another embarassing display from the World Cup hosts cricketers.

The West Indies weren't picked to win this match but it was expected that they gave a good account of themselves, but the Caribbean side batting first with a extra batsman in their line up could only score a lousy 177 all out off 44.4 overs.
Only the hard hitting opener Chris Gayle who made 44, and Brian Lara 37 offered any real resistance.

Australia yesterday (Wednesday March 28, 2007) showed why they are World Champions by routing hosts the West Indies for 219 runs and won their ICC Cricket World Cup Super 8 match which they was forced into a reserved day by 103 runs at the Sir Vivian Richards Grounds in Antigua.

Hosts the West Indies will take on Champions Australia in a big ICC Cricket World Cup Super eight clash in Antigua tomorrow morning, March 27, 2007.

Both teams carry two points into the Super 8s, but winning this clash will aid these two nations in advancing to the semi-finals scheduled for Jamaica and St Lucia on April 24.

The West Indies beat Australia last year, in the group stages of the ICC throphy in Asia the second most important tournament in World Cricket, though Australia defeated the Caribbean side comprehensively in the final.

Asian team Bangladesh secured the eight and final spot for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Super Eight stage with a seven-wicket victory against Minnows Bermuda in their final Group B preliminary round match in Trinidad.

The result meant that Asian Power house India crashed out of the tournament in the group stages along with Pakistan.

We are down to eight teams, with two surprise teams being Bangladesh and Ireland making it to the Super 8s.

Now pick your winner:

Will it be?

West Indies into Super eight after six-wicket win over Zimbabwe
Kingston, Jamaica:
The West Indies led by skipper Bryan Lara beat Zimbabwe by six wickets In a group D match on Monday March 19, at the Sabina Park, in Kingston, Jamaica and became the second team to advanced to the Super eight.
Australia with a massive 229-run win over minnows the Netherlands on Sunday is the first team to advance to the next round, with a game in hand.

Kingston, Jamaica:
Apparently, Pakistan’s Cricket coach Bob Woolmer could not deal with his team’s World Cup loss to minnows Ireland by three wickets last Saturday and died suddenly in Kingston, Jamaica.
Woolmer was found unconscious at his Hotel room in Kingston on Sunday and was rushed to the University Hospital in St Andrew, a semi-private medical facilty, where he died.
The Police are awaiting an autopsy to confirm his cause of death.
However, reports out of Pakistan suggested that Woolmer suffered from a respiratory illmess.
Woolmer, 58, was born in Kanpur India, and played County Cricket for Kent Cricket Club and 19 test matches for England.

Kingston, Jamaica:
They say lightening does not strike at the same place twice, but Ireland playing in their first World cup created quite a stir in this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup in Jamaica not once but two times; after playing to a exciting 221 runs a piece tie against Zimbabwe to salvage a point, in their first match in group D, then carving out a three-wicket win against Pakistan on the Dutworth/Lewis method, on Saturday just after humbling Pakistan 132 runs.
Many thought Ireland came here for the vacation, but their performance on the field shows that they are here to compete, and they have shortened the vacation time for one of Asia’s top team, Pakistan.
Ireland will play hosts the West Indies this Friday at Sabina Park, let’s see if lightening can strike the same place three times.

Irish celebrate remarkable tie against Zimbabwe

Kingston, Jamaica:

Zimbabwe dashed a glorious chance to win against minnows Ireland when they played to a remarkable tie with the Europeans in a Group D ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) match at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica yesterday.

Ireland batted first and posted a fighting 221-9 off their alloted 50 overs as Jeremy Bray smashed a maiden century (115).

World Champions Australia led by opening batsmen Adam Gilchrist (72) and Shane Watson's (55) hundred partnership (140) beat nemesis England by five wickets in St Vincent yesterday.
England taking first strike could only muster 197 runs in 48.3 overs, as two Aussie fast bowlers Shaun Tait (4-33) and Stuart Clark (3-16) shared seven wickets. Michael Vaugh was England's main contributor tallying 62, with Ian Bell compiling 56.

Woeful Windies...India shot out Caribbean side for 85

Trelawny, Jamaica:

The West Indies wind up their warm up preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) with a humilating nine-wicket loss to rivals India at the Trelawny Multipurpose Sports Complex in Jamaica today (March 9, 2007).

The long anticipated International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 in the West Indies unofficially gets underway with a practice match on Monday March 5, 2007 with Kenya taking on hosts West Indies at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Complex in Green field.
Even though it is a practice match the Caribbean side will want to win this match to kick start their campaign for their third ICC World Cup Cricket trophy. West Indies won the first tournaments in 1975 and 1979 and lost to India in the 1983 final.

The Indian Police are currently investigating Jamaican and West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels for having telephone conversations with an unauthorised bookmaker on the eve of their one day International against India in the Asian Continent last month.
If the allegations are true Samuels could be sanctioned for breaching the ICC code of regulations, with regards for giving out information about his team.
However, the West Indies Cricket Board did not offer a comment as they will be carrying out their own investigations on the matter.

Jamaica Cricket team went to bed last night, January 12, 2007 wondering what went wrong in the final session of their match against the Windwards Islands in Gros Islet, St Lucia yesterday.
Jamaica progressed to 171-1 at tea and was cruising at 204-2, but during the final session wickets began tumbling as Jamaica closed on 231-6, losing four wickets for 27 runs.

Brenton Parchment

Jamaica powered by four half centuries via Brenton Parchment 63, Chris Gayle 54, Tamar Lambert 51 not out, and Marlon Samuels 50, beat the Lee wards Islands by five wickets in yesterday's KFC cup in Canyon, St Kitts.

Lee wards islands helped by a sixth wicket partnership of 148 between the Lee wards skipper Sylvester Josephs 100, and Omari Banks 76, tallied 232-6 after their allotted 50 overs.

David Bernard Jnr. grabbed 2-20, while West Indies pace bowler Jerome Taylor bagged 2-47.

Jerome Taylor

Jamaica had to dig deep into their reserves to hold on for a draw against hosts the Leeward Islands in their Carib Beer Regional cricket match in Cayon, St Kitts yesterday.

Jamaica was set a challenging 269 runs to win on the final day of the match, and were off to a fast start, but they lost wickets in crucial periods and had to settle for a draw as they reached 185-7 when the game was called off.

The Leewards all-rounder Omari Ebanks was named man-of-the-match as he smashed an even 100 his maiden First class ton in his team's second innings.

Jamaica fought back well on Day two of their Four Day Carib Beer Cricket match against the Leeward Islands in Cayon, St Kitts yesterday, January 5, 2007.

Jamaica closed on 165-3 some 231 runs behind Leeward Islands first innings total of 396.

The Leewards looked as if they were going to run away with the match starting the day on 291-4, but Jamaica struck back well taking the remaining six wickets for 105 runs.

Australia spank England 5-0
Sydney, Australia:.

Stuart Clark

It was wild celebration in Sydney Australia, this morning local time after Australia crushed rivals England by 10 wickets to take the fifth and final test match at the Sydney Ground, Down Under, to wrap up the series 5-0, the first white wash in over 85 years between the two teams.

England first made 291 all out, and Australia replied with 393, England in their second time at bat were skittled out for 147, and the Aussies openers Justin Langer 20, Matthew Hayden 23 cruised home with 46-0.

Australia's strike bowler Stuart Clark was named man-of-the-match
for his match figures of 5-91.

Shane Warne

*Australian Legends Glen McGrath, Shane Warne looking to go out in style
Sydney, Australia:

Any hope of England spoiling Australia's celebration party in the fifth and final Ashes test were quickly dashed by the English Men's day two batting collapse and Australia's solid first innings reply.

Australia will surely go for the kill tonight (local time) on day four at the Sydney ground as they have the tourists on the ropes reeling at 114-5 just 12 runs ahead of Australia, batting a second time; the home nation made 393 all out in their first innings.

Sydney, Australia

Ian Bell

England batsmen had one of their better day in Australia this morning (January 2, 2007) local time after closing the opening day of their fifth and final test between themselves and Australia on 234-4 in Sydney, Australia.

Ian Bell top scored for the Europeans with 71, and Kevin Pietersen made 41.
When play resumes tomorrow morning local time, Andrew Flintoff 42 not out, and Paul Collinghood 25 not out will face the Aussie music.

Cape Town, South Africa:

Wasim Jaffer

India has batted themselves into a good position over South Africa on the first day of the third and final cricket test in Cape Town, South Africa this morning, January 2, 2007 local time.

At stumps Sachin Tendulkar, 28, and VVS Laxman four are the not out batsmen.
Earlier in the day India looked as if they were going to run away with the match, being at one point, 153 without loss, as Wasim Jaffer 116, and Dinesh Karthik 63 executed a good opening stand at the top of the innings. But, the Proteas picked up three valuable wickets during the day, that of Jaffer, Karthik, and Captain Rahul Dravid for 29, as the South African bowlers peg back the tourist's scoring rate.

Shaun Pollock 1-32 had South Africa's best bowling figures.
The series is tied at 1-1.

South Africa?s captain Graeme Smith will sleep much easier these days after they defeated India by 174 runs to tie the three test match series at 1-1 on the fifth and final day of the second cricket test in Durban, South Africa on Saturday December 30.

Melbourne, Australia:

Australia will be gunning for a clean sweep, a 5-0 ?white wash? in the final test match against England after they just destroyed their European opponents in the fourth and penultimate test in Melbourne, Australia by an innings and 99 runs; winning within three days yesterday December 28, 2006 and push to an unbeatable 4-0 lead in the Five test-match Ashes series.

It will take something special from the tourists to leave Australia with a draw, or more remotely a win in the final test, taking into consideration their dismal run of form in the series. The last time Australia had a white wash over England was in a 1920-21 series.

*Australia beat England by 206 runs this morning local time

PERTH, AUSTRALIA: World champions Australia regained the Ashes crown which they relinquished last year in England with a pulsating 206-run victory over their long time rivals on the fifth and final day of the Third Cricket Test at the WACA, in Australia this morning (December 28, 2006) local time.

Australia currently has an unassailable 3-0 lead with the two test matches remaining only of academic interest. But knowing how Australia plays they will be hell bent on embarrassing the Englishmen by giving them a proper spanking a 5-0 white wash may be on the cards.

Melbourne, Australia:

England paid dearly for their earlier indiscretions against Australia this morning local time (December 27, 2006) as the homeside piled on the runs to have a 213-run lead at the end of day two in the fourth Ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket ground Down Under.

England, who was skittled out for 159 runs, had Australia on the ropes in their time at bat struggling on 84-5, but a defiant and resolute sixth-wicket partnership of 289 runs between Matthew Hayden 153 and Andrew Symonds 154 not out rescued the world champions from that precarious position. Australia closed on 372-7.

Shane Warne

*Australia beat England by 206 runs this morning local time

PERTH, AUSTRALIA: World champions Australia regained the Ashes crown which they relinquished last year in England with a pulsating 206-run victory over their long time rivals on the fifth and final day of the Third Cricket Test at the WACA, in Australia this morning (December 18, 2006) local time.

Australia currently has an unassailable 3-0 lead with the two test matches remaining only of academic interest. But knowing how Australia plays they will be hell bent on embarrassing the Englishmen by giving them a proper spanking a 5-0 white wash may be on the cards.

*Australia tallies mammoth 527/5 declared

Australia inched closer to wrestling the urn from England after compiling 527/5 in their second turn at bat this morning, December 16, 2006 local time on day three in the third test at the Perth Cricket Ground.

*Hosts beat Windies by seven wickets this morning local time despite Chanderpaul's 101

Pakistan led by half centuries by Mohammed Hafeez and Kamran Akmal won the fifth and final one day international against visitors West Indies by seven wickets to complete a 3-1 series win in a day/night affair at the Karachi Cricket Ground this morning local time.

Australia played their way into a commanding position at the end of day two of their Third Ashes Cricket Test against England at the Perth Cricket ground in Australia this morning December 15, 2006 (Local time).

At the close Australia batting a second time were 119-1 having a lead of 138 runs with nine second innings wickets in hand. Opener Matthew Hayden (57) and captain Ricky Ponting (57) are the not out batsmen.

*Samuels stars in Windies convincing win…series now stands 2-1

Multan, Pakistan:

Jamaican batsman Marlon Samuels hit a sparkling unbeaten 100 off 99 balls as the West Indies beat Pakistan in Multan by seven wickets to record their first victory of the tour of this Asian country this morning, local time.

West Indies still remain winless in their tour of Pakistan after going down by seven wickets to the host country this morning (local time)at the Lahore Cricket ground.

West Indies batted first and made 207-7 off 46.3 overs and Pakistan replied strongly hitting 192-3 off 33.4 overs, as the D/L method was used after interruptions in play.

*Windies fall to Pakistan in Second one day International

West Indies were beaten by two wickets by host Pakistan this morning local time in a low scoring Second One Day International in Faisalabad.

West Indies were skittled out for 151 in the day/night match with one ball remaining in the innings, as Runako Morton 43, and Marlon Samuels 37 had starts but did not carry on.

World Champions Australia has almost regained their Ashes crown after their resounding six-wicket win against visitors England on the fifth and final day of the second Cricket test at the Adelaide Cricket ground in Australia to take a 2-0 lead in the series this morning local time.

Mohammad Yousuf

Hosts Pakistan wrapped up their three test series against the West Indies 2-0 after winning the third and final test this morning (local time) at the Karachi Cricket ground by 199 runs.

Again the West Indies brittle batting in test matches was exposed as they only faced 96 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez

Pakistan enters tomorrow morning’s (local time) fourth and penultimate day of the third and final test against the West Indies at the Karachi grounds with an overall lead of 174 runs with eight second innings wickets in tact as the home team closed at 130-2 with the not out batsmen being opener Mohammad Hafeez 57 and the dangerous Mohammad Yousuf on one. Earlier Younis Khan contributed 38 in a partnership of 79 for the second wicket with Hafeez.

West Indies fast bowler Darren Powell has so far claimed 1-35 and all-rounder Chris Gayle 1-23.