Sports News (25.07.02010)

Salman praises his young side for beating Australia LEEDS: Pakistan captain Salman Butt praised his young side and their supporters after leading the team to a first Test victory over Australia in 15 years in his first game in charge. Pakistan just about held their nerve to complete a three-wicket win on the fourth day of the second Test at Headingley here on Saturday as they finished on 180 for seven. And when tailender Umar Gul hit the winning run at 11.35am local time (1035GMT) on the fourth day, it meant Pakistan had ended a record run of 13 straight Test defeats by Australia stretching back to 1995. Pakistan's victory also saw them square the series at 1-1 after a 150-run loss in last week's first Test at Lord's which led to their former captain Shahid Afridi's retirement from five-day cricket. A raw side, without senior batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan - both left at home after the fall-out from bans imposed following Pakistan's 3-0 Test series loss in Australia last year - resumed on 140 for three. They lost four wickets for 40 runs on Saturday before Gul hit Mitchell Johnson for the decisive single. Pakistan had blown a seemingly gilt-edged chance against Australia in Sydney in January when, chasing 176, they were bowled out for 139 in a 36-run defeat. "Knowing the history, it was a bit nerve-wracking," opening batsman Butt told reporters afterwards. "Thank God it went positively and we won." This series was played in England because no major international cricket has taken place in Pakistan since an armed attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore in March last year. "Beating the world's best is an achievement which I owe to this young team," Butt said. "We owe it also definitely to the people back in Pakistan. "We would have loved to have won this match in front of our home crowd but unfortunately that is not possible at the moment. But still we need to tell these people that we still remember them and we will be back soon hopefully. "It means a lot. It's a new beginning for Pakistan cricket and the young side," the left-hander added."

	Pakistan survive thriller to end Aussie jinx LEEDS: Pakistan held their nerve to claim a first Test victory against Australia in 15 years during a tense fourth-day finish at Headingley ... more
	Leeds win will have far reaching effects: Butt LEEDS: A delighted Pakistan captain Salman Butt predicted a major turnaround in the fortunes of the national cricket team following a morale ... more
	A dream comes true for Aamer LEEDS: Pakistan’s bowling hero Mohammad Aamer described his match-winning performance against Australia in the second Test here at Headingle ... more
	Well done, but what about our batting? KARACHI: Let me begin with a confession. Like so many others, I had seriously doubted Pakistan’s chances of leveling the series against Aust ... more
	Ponting tips England to beat Pakistan LEEDS: Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes England are better equipped to win their upcoming series against Pakistan, saying that good ... more
	We were 50 runs short: Clarke LEEDS: Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke believes his team fell 50 runs short of setting a winning target to Pakistan in the second Test ... more
	Miandad warns against complacency KARACHI: Commending the Pakistan cricket team and specially its newly-appointed skipper Salman Butt for winning a Test against Australia aft ... more
	bits and pieces Army dominate swimming championships By our correspondent KARACHI: Army lifted the titles of both men’s and women’s National S ... more
	Dancing in the street as Pakistan win ISLAMABAD: Cricket fans took to the streets in Pakistan on Saturday to celebrate their side’s first Test victory over Australia in 15 years, ... more
	England hope for restful gains LEEDS: England will discover if a fixture schedule that left them without any Test cricket at the height of the season has worked in their f ... more
	Contador virtually seals third title PAUILLAC, France: Spain’s Alberto Contador virtually secured his third yellow jersey victory in the Tour de France on Saturday following the ... more
	Vettel on pole for German Grand Prix HOCKENHEIM, Germany: German Sebastian Vettel performed for his home crowd on Saturday after he clocked the fastest time for Red Bull in qual ... more
	Matloob Ahmed grabs lead at Sindh Open Golf KARACHI: Matloob Ahmed of Lahore Gymkhana shot a brilliant 66 to go 11-under par for the championship with a slender lead over Shabbir Iqbal ... more
	briefs... ‘No tampering allegations against pacer’ From our correspondent LEEDS: Match referee Chris Broad has denied that he had any kn ... more

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