Surrey v Lancashire: Kevin Pietersen in sensational form

Kevin Pietersen hammered a sensational double hundred as Surrey replied to Lancashire's huge total in fine style.

The visitors, resuming on 425-7, added a further 60 runs before they declared on 485-7 with Steven Croft, 104 not out overnight, reaching an unbeaten 154.

Surrey, struggling at 49-2 when Pietersen arrived, ended the day on 430-5 with Pietersen unbeaten on 234.

He hit eight sixes and 30 fours in his 190-ball innings as a stunning 495 runs were scored on day three at Guildford.

Zander de Bruyn weighed in with 94 and Jason Roy scored 38 as Surrey, seventh in the Division One table, claimed maximum batting points for the first time this season.

The hosts needed to reach 336 to avoid the follow-on and they looked in trouble when Rory Burns was out first ball before Zafar Ansari (21) was also dismissed cheaply.

But Pietersen warmed up for next week's first Test against South Africa with the highest score by any batsman in the 2012 County Championship season.

His next target will be to pass the highest score of his career, the 254 not out he made for Nottinghamshire against Gloucestershire in August 2002

Source BBC

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

Mercedes results too up and down says Ross Brawn

Mercedes must achieve more consistent results, boss Ross Brawn has demanded ahead of the German Grand Prix.

He is unhappy at their inability to finish higher up the field in 2012, despite having a more competitive car than in the two previous seasons.
"Our performance has been up and down recently, ranging from podiums to lower points finishes," said Brawn.

"We need to work hard to improve our level of consistency and ability to challenge at the front."

Last time out Mercedes finished seventh with Michael Schumacher and 15th with Nico Rosberg in the British Grand Prix, helping confirm former Ferrari team principal Brawn's concerns about consistency - Schumacher had finished on the podium in third two weeks' previously in Valencia.

This season Brackley-based McLaren have, at times, been able to keep pace with front runners Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, and they were dominant in China as Nico Rosberg
secured his first career victory.

But their F1 W03 car appears to be more sensitive than its competitors to the differences found among the circuits in the Formula 1 calendar.

"The Hockenheim layout [the venue for the German Grand Prix on 22 July] should be more suited to the F1 W03 than the high-speed Silverstone layout," Brawn added.
"We are bringing some further improvements to the car which should help our performance."

Mercedes, whose factory is based near Hockenheim, will want to put on a good show for the German public, especially the talismanic Schumacher, who has born the brunt of the team's reliability problems this season.

Source : BBC

Brett Lee: Australia fast bowler retires from international cricket

Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has retired from international cricket.

The 35-year-old returned home early from the recent one-day tour of England with a calf strain, the latest in a long line of injuries.

Lee quit Test cricket in February 2010 and exits the one-day arena with 380 wickets - one short of Glenn McGrath's record for an Australian - at an average of 23.36 from 221 matches.

"You get to the point in life where you say enough is enough," Lee said.
"The last two or three nights I thought about it a lot. I woke up this morning and just felt like I was ready."

He told Australia's Channel 9: "I think in a team environment you have to have 100% commitment, mentally and physically.

"I guess, looking at the next few months, I just didn't have that desire any more. It wouldn't be fair on me or my team if I went with that attitude."

At his peak, Lee was arguably the finest quick bowler in the world, and bowled the second-fastest recorded delivery of all time at 99.9mph in Napier, New Zealand, in 2005.

Born in New South Wales, Lee made his Test debut against India in 1999 and his one-day
bow the following year.

Only six players have bettered Lee's tally of 380 ODI wickets. He also took 310 wickets at an average of 30.81 in 76 Tests, and 28 wickets at 25.50 apiece in 25 Twenty20
internationals.

Source : BBC

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Usain Bolt could run 100m in 9.4 seconds, says Michael Johnson

Four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson believes Usain Bolt can run 100m in 9.4 seconds - but only if the Jamaican refines his sprinting style.

The 25-year-old broke his own world record with a time of 9.58 secs at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

Wimbledon 2012: Serena Williams wins fifth singles title

Serena Williams overcame a resurgent Agnieszka Radwanska to clinch a hard-fought 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory and earn her fifth Wimbledon singles title.

The American had eased through the opening set before Radwanska regrouped to win a rain-delayed second set.

But Williams broke twice in the decider to kill off Radwanska's challenge.
The 30-year-old then followed up her success to claim the doubles title with sister Venus, defeating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-5 6-4.

Her singles victory is Williams's 14th Grand Slam title and follows Wimbledon singles victories in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010.

But it is also her first since spending almost a year out of action between summer 2010
and 2011 with a leg injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism.

England v Australia: Steven Finn stars in record ninth straight win

Steven Finn took four wickets as a rampant England strolled to an eight-wicket victory over Australia to win the one-day series with a match to spare.

Finn (4-37) twice took two wickets in consecutive balls as Australia could manage only 200-9 in seam-friendly conditions in Durham. David Hussey top-scored for the tourists
with 70.

England openers Ian Bell (69) and Alastair Cook put on 70 to cement England's advantage, before Jonathan Trott (64 not out) and Ravi Bopara (33no) finished the job with 13 balls to spare.

It was a record ninth consecutive one-day victory for England, beating their previous best of eight, achieved on three occasions.

Wimbledon 2012: Briton Jonathan Marray wins men's doubles final

Jonathan Marray became the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men's doubles title for 76 years after victory with wildcard partner Frederik Nielsen.

Sheffield-based Marray, 31, and Dane Nielsen only teamed up three events ago but beat fifth seeds Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau 4-6 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-3.

Patrick Hughes and Raymond Tuckey were the last British winners in 1936.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Wimbledon 2012: Cilic beats Querrey in second longest match

Marin Cilic beat Sam Querrey in five hours 31 minutes, the second longest match in Wimbledon history. Cilic, 23, finally won the third-round match 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 6-7 (7-2) 6-7 (7-3) 17-15 at 21:02 BST.
It was still less than half the length of the longest match in Wimbledon history, when John Isner beat Nicolas Mahut in 11 hours five minutes in 2010.
"That was complete drama, especially that fifth set," said 16th seed Cilic, who faces Andy Murray on Monday.
The match surpassed the mark of five hours 28 minutes set in 1989 when Greg Holmes beat Todd Witsken 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 14-12.
Cilic and Querrey embraced at the net at the end of the match, and the Croatian said such a long affair was tough both mentally and physically.
"The difficult thing is that you are always thinking you are close, that you are going to break, but the game keeps going and the set is getting longer, and still you have to be really focused not to miss any easy balls," he said.
"You cannot let the other person see you are in physical or mental trouble, so it's not easy, but I would say it was a really big mental battle today."
Cilic, who became Queen's champion after David Nalbandian was disqualified in the final, is anticipating a different style of match against Murray.
"There is going to be more points from the rally, more running and I'd say Sam [Querry] was serving really well today, so it wasn't easy to find the rhythm from the back of the court," said Cilic.
"It was a little bit windy also, so I would say it will be a different match definitely, but I hope I'm going to be fresh and ready to go."
Source : BBC

Wimbledon 2012: Andy Murray beats Marcos Baghdatis in thriller

Andy Murray reached the fourth round of Wimbledon with a victory over Marcos Baghdatis that finished at 23:02 BST. British number one Murray came through 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-1 in three hours and 13 minutes of thrilling tennis to book his place in the second week. The encounter started at 19:15 and the Centre Court roof was closed at 21:00 after Baghdatis had pulled level.
With local rules stating no play beyond 23:00, Murray served out in a hurry and will play Marin Cilic on Monday.
Murray admitted: "I was under the impression I was stopping at 11 (23:00 BST) regardless of what the score was - even if it was in the middle of a game. I am obviously glad I managed to get the finish. The atmosphere at the end was excellent." It was a memorable finish to a bizarre battle, following on from late-night matches involving Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the previous three evenings.
This one was given added spice by the presence of Miles Maclagan - Murray's former coach - in the Baghdatis corner and Maclagan suggested beforehand that inside knowledge could help his charge.
It certainly seemed to as Baghdatis fought back from a set and a break down to lead 4-2 in the third, only for Murray to rally as the Cypriot tired. Baghdatis beat Murray en route to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2006, the same year he reached the Australian Open final.
source : BBC

Wimbledon 2012: Serena Williams & Petra Kvitova reach round four

Serena Williams fought back from a set down and set a new Wimbledon women's record of 23 aces to keep alive her bid for a fifth singles title. Williams, 30, had to dig deep to edge past China's Zheng Jie 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 9-7, while defending champion Petra Kvitova breezed into round four. "I definitely felt like it was a gut check for me," said Williams. "I never felt I would lose. I told myself to stay calm. I'm always strong mentally. That's not going anywhere." The American, who set the previous aces record of 20 in the 2009 semi-final against Elena Dementieva, stumbled in the first-set tie-break. But she romped through the second set before coming out on top in a nail-biting decider after two hours and 28 minutes on Centre Court. "I thought in the third set, if I'm going to go out I want to go out with a bang," said Williams, who served three times to stay in the match, winning each game to love. Williams, the sixth seed, will next play Kazakh wildcard Yaroslava Shvedova, who made history by achieving the first 'golden set' in Grand Slams against Sara Errani . French Open finalist Errani failed to win a single point during a 15-minute first set, in which Shvedova won 24 consecutive points, and eventually fell 6-0 6-4 to the world number 65.
Source: BBC

Euro 2012: Xavi says Spain have a 'great opportunity' to make history

Xavi says Spain have a "great opportunity to make history" as the reigning European and world champions aim for a third tournament triumph. The Barcelona midfielder is desperate to write his name into the history books, but knows Spain face a difficult task against Italy in Kiev. "We have achieved great things with the national team," said Xavi. We're in a great generation of players and we have a great opportunity to make history. This is our chance." Having defeated Germany four years ago, Spain, who overcame the Netherlands to win the World Cup in 2010, will become the first team to retain the European Championship if they beat Italy on Sunday. Even more important, victory over the Azzurri would make them the first country to win three major international tournaments in a row - and Xavi says Spain are determined to show they are still the team to beat. "We really want to do well and show people that this team is still hungry to win and that our football is good," he added. Xavi admitted he was a fan of the approach introduced by coach Italy coach Cesare Prandelli and singled out the Azzurri's Andrea Pirlo for praise. "A few years ago, football was showing tendencies of becoming more physical and the games more condensed," he said. "We were very lucky that, although (Spain's) footballers were slightly weaker physically, they were more talented technically.
Source: BBC

West Indies beat New Zealand by 56 runs in T20

Gayle smashed seven fours and five sixes off 52 balls to anchor a record-breaking West Indian total of 209-2 off 20 overs ysterday.

'Alpha male' Andy Roddick keeps fans guessing

Andy Roddick kissed Wimbledon Centre Court farewell on Saturday, but the ''alpha male'' of American tennis refused to reveal whether it meant goodbye for good.