Styris wants to carry on in ODIs

New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris Sunday said he wanted to play limited overs cricket as long as possible as his desire for improvement is still alive.

"I want to play as long as I can and trying to improve so that I can be in the team and having achieved what I wanted to achieve it's important to strive," Styris said ahead of Monday's series deciding third match against Pakistan.

Styris dismissed Younus Khan (19), Shahid Afridi (nought) and Kamran Akmal (four) in the space of just ten balls to help New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs in the second match on Friday.

Pakistan won the first match by 138 runs on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old retired from the five-day Tests in February last year in a bid to prolong his ODI and Twenty20 career but said he still seeks improvement.

"I wasn't expecting (to bowl), it surprised me but I have always loved bowling and have been an allrounder throughout my career, so I loved bowling and when it helped my team win, its pleasing," said Styris.

Styris was not part of New Zealand's ICC Champions Trophy squad last month but was later called in as cover after injuries depleted the team in South Africa.

He earned a place after fast-rising all-rounder Grant Elliott, opener Jesse Ryder and fast bowler Daryl Tuffey failed to make the UAE trip due to injuries.

Styris said he has been enjoying the Indian Premier League (IPL), which provided him a chance to share thoughts with players from other countries.

"IPL is fantastic, great to enjoy and gives an opportunity to talk cricket with a lot of other players, like Deccan Charges had Shahid Afridi from Pakistan and Australia's Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds."

Styris hoped Test cricket will survive Twenty20 cricket's popularity.

"Twenty20 is getting very popular and IPL can also be part of the landscape of cricket, but I sincerely hope Test cricket and one-day cricket will survive," said Styris.

Former players question Umar Akmal's absence in 2nd ODI Against New Zealand

Former Pakistan captains have questioned the manner in which Umar Akmal was omitted from the second ODI against New Zealand, which Pakistan lost to leave the series tied at 1-1. Akmal's name was a surprising omission from the team sheet at the toss - Shoaib Malik took his place - and Younis Khan's explanation for the change was not entirely clear.
Akmal, 19, has had an excellent start to his international career, scoring his maiden ODI century in just his third game and averages 49.83 in the format.
"It can be very discouraging for a young man like Umar since he has been very impressive in recent games for Pakistan and is raring to go against the Kiwis," said Waqar Younis, commentating on the series in the UAE. "It is bound to shake his confidence in the coming games."
Rameez Raja questioned whether the decision was down to Pakistan's rotation policy or something else entirely. "I would like to know the logic behind this and whose decision was it to omit Umar from this game," he said. "This will only hurt Pakistan."
Salahuddin Ahmed, a former national selector, was similarly critical of the decision to drop an in-form player. "I think the ouster will hurt the confidence of Umar to a large extent. This should have not been done with him at this moment," he told the Karachi-based Dawn. "I will also not support the decision of dropping Shoaib Malik from the first ODI, since he is one of the best allrounders for this version of the game. Pakistan should have gone with Kamran Akmal with any of the regular openers to make room for both Shoaib and Umar for all these matches."

Australia beat Pakistan in a thriller

Australia stopped India's progress to the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in the Group A match at the SuperSport Park here Wednesday.

Chasing a modest Pakistani total of 205 for six after deciding to field, Australia from 140 for two in 32nd over lost six wickets for 40 runs to bring the match down to the wire.
Brett Lee (12 not out) with Nathan Hauritz (9 not out) took the winning run for the defending champions in the last ball. Man of the match Michael Hussey was the best batsman for Australia, hitting 64 off 87 balls.
The Pakistani bowlers, especially Naved-ul-Hasan (1-39) and Saeed Ajmal, were particularly impressive in the death overs. And so was Mohammad Asif, returning to international cricket after completing his 12-month dope ban, with figures of 2-34.
They were instrumental in wreaking havoc in the Australian side who were looking comfortably poised to reach the total. But once skipper Ricky Ponting (32) was caught by Umar Gul off Shoaib Malik, to make it 140 for three, the Australian batting went spiraling downhill.
Hussey stabled the rot, his innings including six fours and a six, but once he departed in the 41st over, the Australians fell like ninepins.
Lee and Huauritz survived the swing and spin of the Pakistani bowlers, who had suddenly came alive after the unexpected turn around, pushing for singles rather than going for the boundaries. With Australia needing four off the last over, the two rotated the strike well to see their side into the semi-finals.
India were hoping Pakistan would beat Australia to stay alive in the tournament. But that was not to be. Pakistan's defeat has thus rendered the outcome of the India-West Indies match at the New Wanderers stadium later in the day meaningless.
Australia's win also means they are now on top of Group A and will face England in the semi-final at the same venue Friday. Pakistan too are in the semi-finals and will take on New Zealand at the Wanderers Saturday.
Earlier, Mitchell Johnson (2-45) and Shane Watson (2-32) troubled the Pakistani batsmen from the start and were well complemented by Brett Lee and James Hopes who took a wicket each.
Among the Pakistani batsmen, only Mohammed Yousuf (45), Kamran Akmal (44) and Misbah-ul-Haq (41) could weather the Australian attack.

I try to give my best against India: Malik

Pakistani batsman Shoaib Malik has attributed his match-winning innings against India in Centurion to the fact that he always tries to give his best against arch-rival India.
“My record against India speaks for itself. I try to give my best against India and that is why I have been able to score four out of seven of my hundreds against them,” The News quoted Malik, as saying.
Malik said he and partner Mohammad Yousuf mainly concentrated on the cover area to steal as many runs as possible.
“When India started the bowling they were bowling within the stumps. But then they started bowling outside the off stump. So we were able to accelerate,” he said.
“I feel that Dhoni held back Harbhajan because we were three wickets down. I feel that if Harbhajan Singh was brought into the attack earlier it would have been better for India,” he added.
Malik hoped that his good form would continue for the rest of the championship.
“You feel satisfaction if your team wins because of your efforts,” he said.

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