Pakistan cricketer arrives in UK after Dubai no-show

Pakistan cricket faces a new crisis after wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider turned up in London after leaving the team camp in Dubai without permission.

The 24-year-old was earlier feared missing ahead of Monday's deciding one-day international against South Africa.

Haider's brother told the BBC that the cricketer had fled because he and his family had received death threats.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has is trying to clean up cricket in Pakistan, has launched an inquiry.

"He will definitely face an inquiry and disciplinary action whenever he contacts us. But we are concerned about this whole situation," said PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi.

Facebook messages

A message posted on Haider's Facebook page said he had been sent messages asking him to lose Friday's one-day match against South Africa.

In an unbeaten 19, he hit the winning runs as Pakistan levelled the five-match series 2-2 in the fourth one-dayer.

But on Monday South Africa won the final one-day international against Pakistan to claim the series 3-2.

Haider was replaced as wicketkeeper for Monday's game by Umar Akmal, the brother of Kamran Akal, whose performance behind the stumps in the Sydney Test against Australia earlier this year is at the heart of an ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit investigation.

The PCB confirmed that it had passed details of Zulqarnain's disappearance to the ACSU.

"I have come here on my own expenses on a one-month visa," said Haider after arriving at Heathrow. "I will be staying at a hotel on my own expense."

Haider's disappearance is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the team.

Three other Pakistan cricketers are still under investigation after they were accused in August of taking part in a spot-fixing scam during a match in London.
Curfew breach

The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit has been made aware of the case and may wish to speak to Haider.

Haider was fined 12,000 rupees ($140; £86) on Sunday after allegedly breaking curfew hours imposed by the team management along with fellow players Shahzaib Hasan and Abdur Rehman.

Team manager Intikhab Alam told the BBC's Islamabad bureau that Haider had asked for his passport on Sunday night, saying he needed it to get a SIM card for his mobile phone.

The BBC's Shoaib Syed Hasan in Karachi says that the wicketkeeper's absence at the start of the final ODI sent shockwaves through the team.

Haider's older brother Aqeel, who lives in Lahore, said the wicketkeeper had received messages on his mobile phone threatening to kill him and target his family after the one-dayer against South Africa.

Haider's brother says the PCB knew of the threats and accused it of doing nothing about them.

He has now demanded a government inquiry into the matter.

'Full inquiry'

A PCB statement said: "Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider left the team hotel without informing any member of the Pakistan team management.

"The PCB has informed Dubai police of the incident and also has brought it into the notice of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit."

The statement said a "full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no further comments will be made until the facts are known".

On Sunday the ICC said it had been impressed by the progress the PCB had made in working on an anti-corruption code.

Italy defeat US to retain Fed Cup title

Holders Italy won their third Fed Cup in five years with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over the United States.

Flavia Pennetta secured the decisive point, beating Coco Vandeweghe 6-1 6-2 in San Diego, meaning the final doubles rubber need not be played.

Italy had opened up a 2-0 lead after Pennetta and French Open champion Francesca Schiavone won their opening singles matches on Saturday.

Melanie Oudin beat Schiavone 6-3 6-1 on Sunday to pick up America's point.

That result kept a relatively inexperienced US team, who were without the injured Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, in the match.

Oudin, who had only been scheduled to play in the doubles, took on Schiavone as American number one Bethanie Mattek-Sands was forced to withdraw through illness.

The 19-year-old Oudin had never taken a set off her Italian opponent in two prior meetings but she took advantage of Schiavone's poor serving to give the US team hope of avenging their defeat by Italy in last year's final of the Fed Cup.

However, Pennetta proved too strong for 18-year-old world number 114 Vandeweghe in the final singles match.

The American did break serve in the opening game of the tie, but she went on to make 27 unforced errors in the set as Pennetta upped her game to take the next six games.

"She was just too nervous after like the second game, when I won in 14 or 15 minutes, a really long game," said Pennetta.

"But then I started to play really aggressive. I was really consistent. I didn't make a lot of mistakes, I was moving her a lot."

Schiavone and Pennetta won their opening singles matches on Saturday to put the Italians into a commanding position.

Schiavone beat Vandeweghe 6-2 6-4 in the opening rubber in San Diego while Pennetta saved a set point before defeating American number one Mattek-Sands 7-6 6-2.

"A team like that in five years to win three Fed Cups and one final is a great team, a fantastic team," stated Italian captain Corrado Barazzutti.

Abdul Razzaq century stuns South Africa in one-dayer

Abdul Razzaq hit a sensational 109 not out from 72 balls with 10 sixes as Pakistan staged an astonishing recovery to beat South Africa in Abu Dhabi.

Chasing 287 to level up the five-match one-day series at 1-1, Pakistan needed an improbable 53 from the last 24 balls with three wickets standing.

Razzaq attacked Albie Morkel and Charl Langeveldt with brutal efficiency.

And the winning hit came off the penultimate ball when Morkel was crashed through the covers for four.

Pakistan had performed poorly in the 2-0 Twenty20 series defeat to the same opponents and were then swept to one side in the first ODI.

In this game, Colin Ingram fired his second century in only his fourth ODI innings as South Africa put up 286-8, before Pakistan struggled to 70-4 in the 19th over. A familiar script appeared to be writing itself.

The first suggestions that there might be a surprise ending came when Shahid Afridi hammered a rapid 49, though it was the stand between Fawad Alam (48) and Razzaq - batting at seven in the order - that really began to make South Africa wonder.

When Alam became Langeveldt's 100th ODI victim in the 42nd over, slicing a catch to extra cover to end an 81-run stand from 12.3 overs, the momentum was lost for a while.

Razzaq, who joined a select group of eight men to have hit at least 10 sixes in an ODI innings, went ballistic in the 47th over, which began with a required run rate in an excess of 13.

Three sixes were pummelled off Langeveldt (3-75), and although a succession of tail-enders were run out in the process Razzaq managed to retain enough of the strike to keep his team in with a hope.

The next two overs went for a combined 19, leaving 11 wanted from the last set of six balls, and crucially Razzaq was facing.

He went to 99 from the second ball with his ninth six, hit the next one way over deep mid-wicket to go to 105 and could afford a dot ball before carving the winning strike from Morkel's fifth.

ICC upholds Pakistan suspensions

The International Cricket Council has upheld the provisional suspensions of Pakistan duo Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir after turning down their appeals.

The duo, along with Mohammad Asif who withdrew his appeal, were suspended while the ICC investigated spot-fixing claims from their tour of England.

ICC code of conduct head Michael Beloff said: "I've dismissed the application.

"All three players accordingly are still, for the time being, unable to participate in cricketing activities."

Butt, who was Test captain during the summer tour of England and bowlers Amir and Asif were questioned by British police following allegations published in the News of the World newspaper at the end of August about the final Test against England at Lord's.

It was claimed Asif and Amir deliberately bowled no-balls at pre-arranged times during the Test, with Butt also said to be involved, in return for money from a bookmaker's "middle man".

Fellow seamer Wahab Riaz was also questioned by police, whose investigation - separate from the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit's (ACSU) own investigation - remains ongoing, although no criminal charges have yet been brought.

Caroline Wozniacki suffers shock WTA Championships loss

World number one Caroline Wozniacki suffered a shock straight-sets defeat by Samantha Stosur at the WTA Championships in Doha on Wednesday.

Wozniacki lost 6-4 6-3 in her second Maroon Group game as she missed out on the chance to confirm her status as the season-ending world number one.

Vera Zvonareva won her second match to move closer to the semi-finals as she kept her world number one hopes alive.

And Kim Clisters made a winning return with victory over Jelena Jankovic.

In the first match of the night, second seed Zvonareva was not at her best but still managed to record a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory over Belarussian Victoria Azarenka in the White Group.

Zvonareva recovered from 2-0, 4-2 and 5-4 down in the first set, winning the tie-breaker with the help of an ace and several other big serves.

In the second set, she was behind 2-0 and 3-1 before winning 6-4 against a visibly frustrated Azarenka.

The Russian's win kept alive her slim hopes of overtaking Wozniacki as the season-ending world number one.

Zvonareva must win her last match in the group stage and then make it to the final if she is to have any chance of toppling Wozniacki.

Elsewhere in the White Group on Wednesday, Belgium's Clisters beat Serbia's Jankovic 6-2 6-3.

Clijsters had not competed since retaining her US Open title six weeks ago in New York but made a satisfactory start to her bid to win back the WTA Championships title she last won seven years ago.

There were few obvious signs of discomfort from the foot which still has a small wound from the operation last month to remove a mole, though Clijsters' tally of double faults did creep to a surprisingly high total of 10.

But the Belgian hit the ball well from the forehand side and struck 25 winners altogether, and on the big points she played well.

"It was my first match back, and I was happy - not with everything but I'll take that, and take the positive things into the next match," said Clijsters.

"I need to be a little more consistent and deliver fewer double faults, but I will try to be better tomorrow [Thursday]."

Wednesday's action ended with Stosur stunning Wozniacki.

Australian Stosur had too much pace and power for baseline battler Wozniacki, who needs one more win in Doha to secure the year-end number one ranking.

Stosur opened her Maroon Group campaign on Tuesday with a straight sets win over French Open champion Francesca Schiavone and she produced another dominant display at the Khalifa Tennis Complex.

The first set went on serve until the 10th game when Stosur's relentless pressure paid off. With Wozniacki's serve lacking her customary zip, Stosur pressed home the advantage and forced the Dane into a weak lob that she put away to win 6-4.

In the second set, Stosur continued to take the game to Wozniacki, who began to show signs of frustration.

The Australian broke to go 3-1 up and with Wozniacki finding Stosur's serve too hot to handle the crowd sensed an upset.

The Danish 20-year-old had a glimmer of hope at 3-5 when Stosur double faulted twice, but the Australian held her nerve and closed out the set for the win.

South Africa seal series victory over Pakistan

South Africa completed a 2-0 series win in the Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan after cruising to a six-wicket win in the second game in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan, who turned in a poor batting display in the opening game when they set 120, were equally poor on Wednesday in managing to set 121 for victory.

Juan Theron took 4-27 for South Africa who eased to victory in 18.4 overs.

The Proteas cruised for most of the response with Graeme Smith (38) and Colin Ingram (32) top scoring.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan's innings bore similarities to the first six-wicket defeat and they had to rely on newly appointed Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq (33) to see them to a respectable total.

At one stage Pakistan were 39-5, but Misbah and Abdul Razzaq's (25) 45-run stand helped them edge over 100 in the 18th over.

Misbah was eventually out in the last over when Theron claimed three wickets from the final four balls to leave the hosts at 120-9.

Pakistan needed early wickets, but got none as Smith and Loots Bosman (11) put on 38, before skipper Shahid Afridi came in and struck immediately.

Afridi should then have taken the wicket of Smith in the ninth over, but Umar Akmal spilt a regulation chance at long-off.

AB de Villiers also fell for 11, before Afridi ended his miserly spell with 1-13.

There was a little more pressure when Smith was stumped with 53 still needed from 40.

But JP Duminy (22 not out) along with rookie Ingram took them to their sixth consecutive T20 win.

"We didn't get teams out in Twenty20 previously and to get Pakistan out twice on two days was nice," said South Africa captain Johan Botha.

"Theron bowled superbly and all the guys deserved this win."

Pakistan's captain blamed poor batting for the series loss.

"We needed good starts but that didn't come in both the matches," said Afridi.

"My own performance was not up to the mark so we have to sit down and plan to improve our batting which is struggling."

The two teams now play the first of five one-day internationals in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Third seed Jelena Jankovic knocked out of China Open

Third seed Jelena Jankovic crashed out of the China Open after being beaten by Serbian compatriot Bojana Jovanovski at the second-round stage in Beijing.

Jankovic lost 6-4 2-6 2-6 but paid tribute to her Fed Cup team-mate, saying: "It was a tough game. My opponent played really well.

"She was very solid off the baseline and she really gave me a hard time."

"I think she's doing very well and she's improving. I'm happy for her," added the world number six.

Last year's runner-up, Polish sixth seed Angela Radwanska, also made an early exit, beaten by Angelique Kerber.

The unseeded German twice fought back from 5-4 down to record a 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 victory.

Vera Zvonareva was made to work for her win over former world number one Dinara Safina in the first round, eventually going through 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

Wimbledon and US Open finalist Zvonareva said: "Dinara is a great player. It is very difficult to expect to play your best tennis in the first match of a tournament."

Danish world number two Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed in Beijing and is just two victories away from taking the top spot in the WTA rankings.

Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova went out on Sunday, as did Australian fourth seed Sam Stosur.

The Russian 10th seed was beaten 6-3 2-6 6-3 by Italy's Roberta Vinci, while Stosur suffered a 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 defeat by Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova.

Commonwealth Games 2010: England defeat Wales in hockey

Crista Cullen scored a hat-trick as England eased to a 4-1 victory in their opening hockey match against Wales.

The 25-year-old Leicester full-back scored from two short corners in the first half before adding her third in similar style shortly after the break.

Charlotte Craddock intercepted a poor pass across the Welsh backline, before rounding the keeper to add the fourth.

Wales rarely threatened until Sarah Thomas's excellent consolation after a mazy run and reverse-stick shot.

But the result leaves the Welsh, who lost 5-1 to New Zealand on the opening day, facing a must-win match against Malaysia in Pool B on Thursday.

England, who won bronze at the 2010 World Cup in Argentina last month and are one of the favourites to win gold in Delhi, next play Canada on Wednesday.

Pakistan lifters threaten C.wealth Games boycott

Angry Pakistan weightlifters threatened a Commonwealth Games walkout after an embarrassing opening ceremony scuffle saw a top official snatch his country's flag from a national sports hero.

Chef de mission Mohammad Ali Shah insisted on carrying the flag at the head of the team parade during Sunday's showpiece instead of the country's celebrated former gold medal weightlifter Shuja-ud-Din Malik.

Pakistan weightlifting manager Rashid Mehmood said the team had considered a boycott in protest at the humiliation suffered by Malik, a gold medallist at last Games in Melbourne four years ago.

"It was a shameful act because holding the flag was Malik's right and it was decided before the Games that Malik would carry the flag in the opening ceremony," said Mehmood of an incident witnessed by 60,000 people inside the stadium and a worldwide television audience of millions.

"It was an embarrassment for Pakistanis all around the world as television showed the name of Malik on the telecast under a picture of Shah carrying the flag and we considered a boycott but decided against it."

Aqil Shah, vice-president of the Pakistan Olympic Association, added: "I was shocked to see the chef de mission holding the flag.

"Holding the national flag is always the prerogative of an athlete and that's decided before the ceremony.

"I was the chef de mission of the Pakistan delegation on various occasions and never tried to hold the flag in the opening ceremony, because it is the right of the athlete. This controversy should have been avoided."

Former hockey star Shahnaz Shaikh has demanded an inquiry into the controversy.

"I was shocked to see Shah snatching the flag from weightlifter Shuja Malik and carrying it. It was unacceptable and I demand an inquiry against Shah."

Reports in Delhi said Pakistan Olympic Association president Arif Hasan had intervened to avoid a boycott by the weightlifting team.

Troubled Games come alive in fortress Delhi

The troubled Commonwealth Games sparked into life with a pulsating opening ceremony on Sunday in a fortress-like New Delhi after a shambolic run-up that threatened to derail the event.

Britain's Prince Charles, representing his mother Queen Elizabeth II, formally declared the start of the sporting showpiece at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium after a last-minute scramble to get ready went to the wire.

He read a message from the Queen that said it was fitting that the Games were being held in Delhi after the recent celebration of the 60th anniversary of Indian independence.

"Indian independence brought into being the modern Commonwealth of nations," said the message.

"These Games serve as an inspiration to all nations to work together for peace throughout the world."

A crowd of 60,000 packed into the steamy arena to soak up a spectacle aimed at celebrating the country's long history as well as its emergence as a powerful global player.

It was also a powerful riposte to the months of worries over threats of terror attacks, corruption and construction delays that have dogged the event.

Amid fears militants might attack the quadrennial competition, the ceremony took place amid tight security, with nearly 100,000 police and paramilitary forces enforcing a lockdown of the Indian capital.

Bazaars and malls were ordered to shut for the day and major traffic restrictions were in place as security forces lined roads and armed guards were posted behind sandbag positions.

Since 2008, when Pakistan-based Islamist militants killed 166 people in a 60-hour assault in Mumbai, India has been fearful the Games, which feature 71 nations and territories formerly belonging to the British Empire, could be hit.

Western governments have persistently warned of the threat of a militant attack during the event, which runs until October 14.

But Delhi police commissioner Y.S. Dadwal has promised "foolproof security".

Until the opening ceremony, the event had been a public relations disaster.

Many of the sports venues have only been completed in recent weeks, the athletes' village was slammed for being "filthy" and equipment has been installed hastily as the clock ticks down.

Highlighting the last-minute rush, a new metro line linking central Delhi with the main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was only inaugurated Sunday morning.

Instead of showcasing emerging India, the run-up to the Games have been a national embarrassment, uncovering corruption and inefficiency in its bureaucracy.

Compounding the problems, they were hit by a case of dengue fever on Sunday, with Indian lawn bowls manager Ruptu Gogoi taken to hospital.

But with the event now open, Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell said it was time to focus on the sport.

"The preparations have been filled with many challenges and our hope is that the next 11 days will focus on the competition and the athletes in their quest for victory and glory," he said at the opening.

It is the first time India has hosted the Games and only the second time the event has been held in Asia after Kuala Lumpur in 1998, but a slew of top names have pulled out, dealing another devastating blow to organisers.

Absentees include Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, tennis aces Andy Murray, Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur, swimmer Stephanie Rice and cyclist Chris Hoy.

But some 4,300 athletes have turned up to compete in 272 events across 17 sports, including aquatics, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.

Australia has topped the medals table in the last five Games and is expected to do so again, with chef-de-mission Steve Moneghetti expressing confidence that the event would be a success.

"The opening ceremony is here, it is very exciting and there is a tremendous buzz. This is a great moment for Indian sport," he said.

And in a boost, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said India could still make a serious bid to host an Olympics, despite the problems.

"I think India has set a good foundation stone for the Olympics bid and a successful Commonwealth Games can help India mount a serious bid for the Olympics," India's Zeenews quoted him as saying.

Prince Charles still to open Commonwealth Games

Prince Charles will open the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next week, the heir to the British throne's office has said, playing down reports of a row over who would preside over the ceremony.

Indian officials had said that following Queen Elizabeth II's decision in May not to travel to the Games, the piqued organisers had discussed whether Indian President Pratibha Patil should instead open the Games.

A spokeswoman at Clarence House, Charles's official London residence, said both president and the prince would play a role but insisted that Charles would formally open the games as the official stand-in for his mother, the queen, who is the head of the Commonwealth.

"Both the Prince of Wales and the President of India will have a prominent role in the opening ceremony in Delhi," a Clarence House spokeswoman said on Monday.

"The Queen has asked the Prince of Wales to represent her at the opening of the Commonwealth Games.

"We cannot be specific about the choreography but the Prince will read out the Queen?s baton message, ending by declaring the Games open."

The 84-year-old queen had cited her hectic schedule as the reason for not attending the Games, which she traditionally opens, but the move drew criticism in India.

The secretary to the Indian president, Archana Datta, told AFP in Delhi earlier Monday the issue was still up in the air, while there was no immediate comment from the organising committee.

"The decision is yet to be taken," Datta said. "If the decision is taken, I will let the media know."

The Indian ANI news agency quoted unnamed government and Games organising committee sources as saying it would be the president who opened the event.

Briton Emma Pooley wins time trial gold in Australia

Emma Pooley has become the first British woman to win the Road World Championships time trial with a dominant victory in Australia.

The 27-year-old clocked a time of 32 minutes, 48.44 seconds to beat Judith Arndt of Germany by 15.17 seconds.

New Zealand's Linda Melanie Villumsen finished third.

Pooley, who won the time trial silver medal at the 2008 Olympics, had to change her bike at the last minute when officials found a discrepancy with it.

The incident happened just before the start line but Pooley was able to put it behind her and was quickest at every checkpoint on the 22.9km (14.22 mile) course in Geelong.

The Cervelo TestTeam rider was marginally in front at the first checkpoint but gradually extended her lead over the length of the course, posting a time that was 43.94 seconds clear of the field.

She then faced an anxious wait for the other riders but no-one could overhaul her time.

Reflecting on her achievement afterwards, she told BBC Sport: "I slept really well. I wasn't stressed, ate the right things and listened to some Radio 4 comedy to kind of relax.

"If you spend a whole day getting worked up you're just a shivering wreck. You have to banish the doubts and just think 'I've done the best I can and can't do much more.'

"I came over to look at the course in February and was quite taken by it because it was bumpy enough and I felt it would make the rolling time-triallists suffer a bit. It worked out alright!"

The Swiss-based Londoner went on: "The Olympic Games is pretty special, but in a way that was easier for me because I had no expectations and no pressure.

"This time it was different. I trained specifically for this, doing a lot of hill training and intervals on my time trial bike.

"Now I get to wear the world champion's jersey with the stripes for a whole year."

Pooley has the chance to claim a second gold medal in the women's road race on Saturday, but even if she does not win herself she has confidence in her team-mates.

"The good thing about our team is we have lots of people that are strong, and I think we have a really good chance - not necessarily me, I think Lizzie [Armitstead], Sharon [Laws], and Nicole [Cooke] are going really well at the moment."

It caps a fine year for Pooley, who won the Fleche Wallonne in April, the British Road Race Championships title in June as well as the Grand Prix de Plouay in September.

Pooley is also likely to compete in the Commonwealth Games road race on 10 October and time trial on 13 October.

England returns from top secret trip

England's cricketers have returned from their top-secret pre-Ashes bonding camp, which took them to Bavaria in southern Germany.

The players went on a five-day trip organised by the team's security officer, with only Andy Flower and his closest management aware of the destination beforehand.

The players spent the last few days near Nuremberg taking part in mental and physical challenges including boxing, hiking and abseiling.

The trip was rounded off on Tuesday by a visit to a world war two memorial.

Sharapova to defend Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo

TOKYO — Maria Sharapova returns to a happy hunting ground to defend the star-studded Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament starting in Japan on Sunday.

Twenty six out of the world's top 30 players will take part in the two-million-dollar hard court tournament, with only Kim Clijsters, Serena and Venus Williams and Justine Henin missing.

Sharapova won her first WTA singles and doubles titles at the 2003 Japan Open in Tokyo, and earned her first professional title on the ITF Circuit series in Gunma, north of the capital, a year earlier.

The Russian has won four of her 22 WTA titles in Tokyo, including the Japan Open twice and the Pan Pacific Open in 2005 and 2009.

Last year, Sharapova put an end to a long lay-off caused by a shoulder injury by winning her first title since Amelia Island in April 2008, beating Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the final.

The former world number one has slipped to 15th and will start her campaign from the first round against wild card entrant Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan, the winner in 1995.

The 2009 US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark will lead the upper echelon, which includes fourth seed Samantha Stosur of Australia, sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland and eighth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

It also includes 2008 champion Dinara Safina of Russia, whose ranking went down to 59th in the world.

Wozniacki and other top seven seeds received first-round byes. The top seeded Dane will take on a qualifier in the second round.

The bottom half includes Sharapova, second seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia, third seed Jankovic, Beijing Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva of Russia, and French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy.

Dementieva, also the Sydney Olympic silver medallist, won her career biggest title then by winning the 2006 event here.

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, who caused a sensation by reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon, will make their Japan debuts.

Fernando Alonso reigns supreme for Ferrari in Singapore

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso held off Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel from start to finish to win a superbly hard-fought and eventful Singapore Grand Prix.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton failed to finish after colliding with the Red Bull of Mark Webber.

Webber went on to finish third, ahead of Hamilton's team-mate Jenson Button.

Alonso's win lifts the Spaniard to second in the drivers' championship, just 11 points behind Webber, with Hamilton nine points adrift in third.

It was a fascinating and attritional grand prix, which may have marked a decisive turning point in the world championship.

Although only 25 points cover the top five in the drivers' standings with four races remaining, the fact Alonso was able to follow his win in Italy with a second successive victory when Vettel again appeared to have the slightly faster car was significant.

It was also hugely disappointing for McLaren. Even before Hamilton's accident the British team were struggling to match their rivals for pace, and it is hard to see them closing the growing gap in time for Hamilton and Button to renew their championship challenges.

Alonso acknowledged how hard the race had been.

"Not an easy race in terms of physically, conditions and also mechanically, but we tried to keep control everything, avoiding the walls," he said.

"After the first stop the race was pretty much under control. I was not too much worried about the gap with Sebastian, I was more worried about the people we were lapping."

Vettel, who is now fourth in the standings, a point behind Hamilton, was philosophical.

"I tried to push him as hard as I could, but he didn't make a major mistake," he said.

"But the most important thing is the car was competitive. Something was a bit missing yesterday [during qualifying].

"[The result] helps us in the constructors [championship], and in the drivers' everything is still open."

Webber was satisfied with third after a gamble on strategy during an early safety car period paid off.

"I didn't feel mega comfortable here this weekend, so I'm very happy with how the race went," he said.

"It was easy to panic and worry about losing a lot of time behind guys. Getting out of bed this morning I would have taken third."

The fact the first five on the grid came out of the second corner in unchanged order - albeit that Alonso, from pole, mercilessly chopped across Vettel as the German closed up - did not appear to bode well for those hoping to see plenty of passing action.

Their consolation was that no Singapore Grand Prix has been completed without a safety car period shaking things up, and sure enough, suspension damage forced Vitantonio Liuzzi to stop his Force India on track on lap three.

Offered a chance to gamble, Red Bull called in Webber for an immediate change from soft tyres to the harder 'prime' compound - the only one of the front-runners to pit.

The Australian rejoined in 11th, and quickly muscled his way past Virgin's Timo Glock and then, on the inside at Turn Five, Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber.

Up front, Alonso was keeping Vettel at bay, with the McLaren drivers dropping away behind them.

Webber was now some 18 seconds behind Alonso, and it was beginning to look as though the top four would be able to build up a big enough gap to pit for a change of tyres and still emerge comfortably in front.

By lap 21, Webber was almost 40 seconds behind Alonso, but the McLarens were struggling, and with the pit stops approaching, the championship leader was only 20 seconds behind Hamilton in third.

Hamilton came in on lap 29, Button on lap 30, and both were duly jumped by Webber. Red Bull called in Vettel, but Ferrari immediately responded to bring Alonso in on the same lap, ensuring he stayed ahead at the matched stop.

Now it looked like a straight race to the flag, but a second safety car period - caused when Kobayashi dumped his Sauber into the railings at Turn 18 and collected Bruno Senna - brought the field back together.

The restart resulted in disaster for Hamilton. Webber was held up by a Virgin, and as he got past Hamilton closed up and began to overtake going into turn seven.

But the Englishman had not fully completed the pass when the two cars came into the corner. Webber had the inside line as Hamilton turned in, and the two cars came together.

While Webber was able to continue, the resulting damage to the McLaren - and possibly to Hamilton's world title hopes - was terminal. The stewards announced the incident would be investigated, but concluded no further action was required.

Hamilton was understandably downcast.

"I'm not really sure what happened, he was in my blind spot, I didn't see him alongside me, next thing I know is my tyre's blown and that's it," he said.

"[With not finishing at the previous Grand Prix in Italy] I couldn't have had a worse two races at this time of year. Hopefully myself or Jenson can still win the world championship."

Ahead of Webber, Vettel and Alonso were exchanging fastest laps. The gap remained constant at about a second, but the final lap saw Vettel harrying Alonso as they came up to lap backmarkers. The Spaniard made no mistake.

ECB insists Trott and Riaz scuffle is 'closed matter'

The England and Wales Cricket Board has told BBC Sport that a scuffle between batsman Jonathan Trott and Pakistan bowler Wahab Riaz is a "closed matter".

The ECB was responding to a Reuters news agency report that the Pakistan Cricket Board was considering taking legal action against England's Trott.

The ECB said the fourth one-day international match referee had dealt with the Lord's spat on 20 September.

Spot-fixing allegations against members of the Pakistan team marred their tour.

The final day of the fourth and final Test at Lord's in August was overshadowed by claims Pakistan's bowlers had purposely overstepped for no-balls - causing shockwaves through the sport.

And as the tour neared its conclusion PCB chairman Ijaz Butt last weekend accused England of throwing one-dayer at The Oval on 17 September for "enormous amounts of money".

Things became even more acrimonious on Monday when Riaz, the Pakistan fast bowler who has already been interviewed by police in their spot-fixing inquiries into the Lord's Test, clashed with Trott in the nets.

Words were exchanged between the pair and, amid rumours of physical contact as well, the incident was brought to the attention of match referee Jeff Crowe.

The ECB has said it will take Butt to court if it does not get a "full and unreserved apology" from the PCB chief.

"There is a strong likelihood that the PCB, in a tit-for-tat response to the threat by the ECB to sue Butt over his remarks against English players, will go after Trott," a PCB source told Reuters.

The law firm that has been representing the PCB over the spot-fixing allegations, refused to comment on the threat of legal action against Trott.

England triumphed 3-1 in the Test series, 2-0 in the Twenty20s and 3-2 in the one-day matches.

The embattled Pakistan team returned home from their tour earlier on Friday.

Eoin Morgan seals England series win over Pakistan

Eoin Morgan hit an unbeaten century as England beat Pakistan by 121 runs to win the one-day series 3-2.

Morgan, who had scored a hundred in the opening Test of a troubled summer against Pakistan, was key as England recovered from 47-3 to post 256.

Pakistan started their reply brightly, bringing up the 50 inside eight overs.

But wickets then fell regularly, with Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann taking three apiece, Kamran Akmal top scoring for Pakistan with 41.

Akmal's dismissal sparked the beginning of the end for the tourists, the innings petering out in his wake as the tourists ended a disastrous tour having lost the Test, Twenty20 and one-day series.

And Pakistan's collapse finally brought to a finish a series of matches that started in late July.

England triumphed 3-1 in the Test series, 2-0 in the Twenty20s and 3-2 in the one-day matches. On paper, therefore, it has been a summer to savour for the England team, but only the most naive of supporters would expect the results to be what people remember in years to come.

Instead the overriding emotion may well be one of relief - relief that a summer tainted by allegations of spot-fixing against members of the Pakistan team, ridiculed counter-claims made by the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and occasional flare-ups between players is finally over.

Yet against the off-field tensions, Pakistan - and Shoaib Akhtar in particular - looked lively from the off, Strauss doubled up by an opening delivery that jagged back sharply into his ribs.

And while there were easy pickings to be had courtesy of an out-of-sorts Abdul Razzaq, England's innings hit trouble as early as the fifth over.

Steven Davies has had a solid series and surely cemented a place as reserve wicketkeeper for the Ashes tour, but he remains prone to the odd moment of impetuosity.

At 31 without loss and the gentle spin of Mohammad Hafeez on as a surprise first change - he had a decision to make, milk the spinner or attack immediately. He chose the latter, danced down the pitch to a turning delivery that he got nowhere near and was easily stumped by Kamran Akmal.

Apart from Andrew Strauss carting Razzaq over mid-wicket for six, the passage of play that followed was dominated by the visitors.

Jonathan Trott, on to a chorus of boos from Pakistan supporters following his altercation with Wahab Riaz prior to the fourth match, departed shortly afterwards, clean bowled by Shoaib for the third time in succession. Strauss then edged Shoaib behind as England lost two wickets for five runs in six overs.

With the run-rate plummeting as wickets fell, the arrival of a desperately out of form Paul Collingwood was perhaps not the tonic the England fans would have wanted, but the Durham man is nothing if not a fighter.

Initially forced off with a migraine, he returned after Ian Bell had gone for 28. During the time Collingwood presumably spent lying down in a dark room, Morgan had started off another extraordinary innings. Patient at first, brutal at the end and with a couple of new shots thrown in for good measure.

While Morgan went through the gears, seemingly scoring off every ball, Collingwood accumulated. He arrived in the 11th over and departed in the 44th, failing to hit a single boundary in his 47, but the 93 he put on with Morgan helped glacially move the game in England's favour.

Morgan, though, merely enhanced his reputation as England's talisman in this form of the game.

He hit glorious cuts and drives among his nine boundaries, managed to work balls pitched well outside off backward of square on the leg side and timed his final assault to perfection, hitting consecutive deliveries for six and four in the final over to bring up his century.

While England finished in a flurry, 19 coming off the final over, the reply started in a similar manner, Kamran Akmal and Hafeez bring up the 50 off only 45 balls. But from there it went downhill, Pakistan playing as if someone had pulled the plug on their innings.

Hafeez, by now completely becalmed, tried a forcing shot off Stuart Broad only to be stunningly caught by a plunging Collingwood, Asad Shafiq following next ball, falling to a routine edge.

The key wicket, though, was that of Kamran. Beautifully set on 41 and looking set for the big innings he had threatened all series he would have been hoping to take the attack to the medium pace of Luke Wright.

Instead, he got a shocking lbw dismissal, given out despite a thumping inside edge, the injustice compounded by the fact Collingwood had been given not out when plumb leg before during England's innings.

Not that there was any doubt about the next three wickets, Swann bowling Fawad Alam with a beauty that spun from leg to off, Mohammad Yousuf and, first ball, Shahid Afridi.

In the middle of those dismissals, Pakistan brought up their 100, their second 50 having taken 107 balls.

Collingwood, not called upon until the 33rd over, saw his first ball flicked for four by Umar Akmal, but revenge was almost instant, a caught and bowled accounting for the batsman two balls later.

What this shambolic collapse needed was a run-out and two duly arrived.

First Davies reacted sharply to field on the onside and throw to Swann who did the rest to send Umar Gul packing, then Morgan threw down the stumps from cover point with Saeed Ajmal not in the frame.

The coup de grace arrived when Shoaib skewed Broad to that man Morgan. England left to enjoy victory, Pakistan to try to repair damaged reputations.

Umar Gul inspires Pakistan to 23-run win over England

Pace bowler Umar Gul took 4-6 in 18 balls to inspire Pakistan to a 23-run win in the third one-day international against England at The Oval.

England, chasing a modest 242 under lights, were 201-5 in the 40th over and seemingly on course to seal an unassailable 3-0 series lead.

But Gul, who ended with 6-42, dismissed Eoin Morgan for 61 and then took three more wickets as England collapsed.

The win was Pakistan's first since the spot-fixing allegations came to light.

And it was the perfect tonic to a summer of cricket that had threatened to peter out, with Pakistan having gone into the match on a run of five straight defeats since claims surfaced that no-balls had been deliberately bowled in the fourth Test at Lord's.

Amidst that background, the sides, somewhat unwittingly on England's part, served up a classic. The game ebbed and flowed, with Pakistan recovering from a terrible start to post a competitive total - one that would have been higher but for a bizarre run-out of captain Shahid Afridi.

They then had England under pressure at 103-5, lost initiative in the middle overs, but grasped victory in a thrilling denouement.

Having won the toss on a traditionally batsman-friendly square, Pakistan would have had hopes of posting a commanding total, but inside three overs Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez, who put on 62 and 122 in the opening matches, suffered their first failures of the series.

James Anderson produced a textbook delivery to dismiss Hafeez, but Akmal was unlucky, his face a picture of confusion on turning round to see the ball had deflected off his thigh pad and on to the stumps.

When Mohammad Yousuf went leg before to the excellent Anderson for 16, Pakistan were in danger of recording their fifth score of below 100 against England this summer.

Fawad Alam, in partnership with Asad Shafiq, averted that embarrassment with a steady, if unspectacular, partnership.

A couple of drives off Luke Wright apart, Shafiq was generally becalmed before an out-of-character wander down the wicket to Graeme Swann saw him caught in the deep by Morgan for 40.

Boundaries, though, remained at a premium. The dangerous Umar Akmal went for 14, while Alam only managed two fours in reaching his half century.

The one man capable of something out the ordinary was Afridi and he certainly managed that, but not in the manner expected. He had for once played himself in before smiting Swann for the innings' first six, but he then departed in bizarre circumstances.

Inexplicably, rather than ground his bat he left it hovering above the crease, from where it only served to deflect an innocuous return from the fielder on to the stumps.

Bowler Stuart Broad's appeal was polite, apologetic even, but the evidence condemning. For a man who has previously bemoaned his own side's shortcomings it was an appalling error.

Coming shortly after Alam had departed to Michael Yardy, Afridi's wicket ended any hope of a total approaching 300 and although Abdul Razzaq hit a breezy 31, Gul used up 32 balls to make 14.

To keep the series alive, Pakistan needed early breakthroughs and with Razzaq replacing Mohammad Irfan the new ball attack had added threat.

Strauss and Davies delivered an early flurry of boundaries, but Razzaq produced a slower ball that bowled Davies through the gate before Shoaib Akhtar rolled back the years with a dream of a yorker to bowl Jonathan Trott.

Denied the services of Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif as the investigation into spot-fixing allegations continues - a case file being passed to prosecutors earlier on Friday - the previously out-of-form Gul came on as first change and conceded 10 in his first over.

Saeed Ajmal accounted for Ravi Bopara, his departure leaving England 77-3, though with Strauss and Morgan at the crease England remained favourites to record an eighth victory in nine matches against Pakistan.

Strauss, on the back of a match-winning 126 in the second match of the series, appeared set for another century as he effortlessly passed 50 off 48 balls, while Gul looked likely to endure another frustrating afternoon having taken a combined 1-126 from 15.3 overs in the previous two matches.

One ball was enough to reverse both their fortunes as Strauss attempted a trademark cut off a wide delivery only to get an inside edge on to the stumps.

Suddenly Gul had his line and length back, a mix far too good for Yardy who played and missed at numerous deliveries and saw an edge dropped by Akmal before playing down the wrong line to be plumb lbw for four.

England, seemingly a man light in their batting line-up because of Paul Collingwood's absence, were under pressure but Afridi made his second misjudgement of the match, bringing himself into the attack and conceding runs at more than seven an over.

As an opener in Twenty20 cricket, Wright has appeared manic at times, but with Morgan's presence at the other end he played the support role perfectly, rotating the strike and hitting the occasional boundary off any loose ball.

But while Wright was functional Morgan was brilliant, showing his full array of strokes, including the reverse hit, to calmly bring the total into view.

However, there was time for another moment of controversy as Pakistan saw a clear stumping denied.

Umar Akmal, deputising for his brother who was injured in dropping Yardy, whipped the bails off with Wright overstretching, but umpire Billy Doctrove chose not to refer the decision, despite replays clearly showing the Sussex man failed to ground his foot in time.

That missed chance appeared likely to be Pakistan's last hurrah, but the return of Gul swung the game.

First he had Morgan caught in the deep on the leg side before a stunning reverse-swinging yorker accounted for Tim Bresnan.

When, in his next over, he picked up his fifth wicket with another stunning yorker, Pakistan had victory in their sights.

By now moving the ball at will, Gul picked up Swann for an eight-ball duck with his final ball, bringing Anderson to the crease at least safe in the knowledge he would be spared becoming a seventh victim.

But Razzaq is no mean death bowler himself and, with Anderson backing away, he sent down a full and straight delivery to spark the celebrations.

Nathan Cleverly says he is 'destined' to rule world

Nathan Cleverly says he is destined to be a world champion after defeating Karo Murat in Birmingham on Saturday.

The European light-heavyweight champion closed in on a shot for the WBO title after the 10th round stoppage in an official final eliminator.

"It all went to plan, I trained hard and I'm destined to be world champion," Welshman Cleverly told BBC Sport Wales.

"That's what world champions do, they go in, remain unbeaten, look exciting and I took that guy apart."

Cleverly, 23, is now unbeaten in 20 fights with 10 of those finishing inside the scheduled finish.

The WBO title could become vacant if champion Juergen Braehmer fails in his appeal against a 16-month prison sentence for assault and insulting behaviour.

But if Braehmer's appeal is successful, promoter Frank Warren would like to match the pair on another blockbuster bill in December.

"I'm not too sure what the situation is with him," added Cleverly. "If he doesn't go to prison then I'm fighting him in December and that will be for the full world title.

"It's getting close, I can feel it, it's within my grasp.

"It's everything I've dreamed for and there's no way I'm going to let it slip. I've come too far to let this occasion slip.

"I will become world champion, I will remain unbeaten and I will be the next big thing in Great Britain.

Man Utd boss Ferguson relieved to beat Liverpool

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed anything but a win would have been a travesty after seeing his side beat Liverpool 3-2.

Dimitar Berbatov completed a hat-trick six minutes from time to deny Liverpool after a Steven Gerrard double had hauled the visitors back from 2-0 down.

Ferguson said: "From thinking to myself 'it's going to be 10', we ended up level at 2-2.

"It was a travesty of a scoreline then - but a great result at the end."

Liverpool levelled within 11 minutes of falling two goals behind but Ferguson felt the visitors were lucky to get a foothold back in the game.

"Liverpool didn't offer anything and depended on decisions from the linesman to get back in the game," he added.

"Edwin van der Sar had no saves to make, Paul Scholes controlled the midfield and we looked dangerous up front, with Dimitar and Nani - I couldn't see us losing the game."

And while Ferguson was fulsome in his praise of Berbatov, who became the first player to score a hat-trick for United against Liverpool in 64 years, he did concede that United had their own moment of good fortune when the Bulgarian scored with an overhead kick via the underside of the bar to make it 2-0.

"It was unexpected, a surprise attempt. Not many of those go in the net but fortunately it did this time," stated Ferguson.

"There was a lot of criticism of Berbatov last season from the media - it happens when we buy someone for a lot of money, that's the way of the world.

"But this season he has started off in the right fashion. He was good in pre-season and on tour and has carried it on. There has never been any doubt about the quality of the man."

Berbatov, who has now scored seven goals this season, enthused: "It was probably my best day in a United shirt.

"I am happy. I am going home with a smile on my face but I am nothing special. I am going home to play with my kids."

For Liverpool, meanwhile, manager Roy Hodgson was left to reflect on a defeat that left his side languishing in 16th place in the table, having endured their worst start to a Premier League season, with only five points from as many games.

"I thought our second-half performance was good and we deserved to get back in the game," said Hodgson.

"I think we were a bit unlucky to go two down when we did - and of course to concede late on was tough.

"We're disappointed but otherwise I thought we made a really good effort in the second half to get back in the game.

"Had we had a little bit more composure at the end maybe we'd have seen the game out.

"In the first half I don't think the front players received that many balls they could deal with, more because of good defending than anything else. But then the game opened up and there was more excitement for the fans in the second half."

Fernando Torres won both the penalty and free-kick, which Gerrard scored from, and Hodgson added: "Fernando is still a player who needs more games, time and training but we'll get a lot of tremendous use out of him for the rest of the season."

Gerrard echoed Hodgson's comments, claiming Liverpool did not deserve to lose.

"When you recover a two-goal deficit at Old Trafford you feel really good and you fancy yourself to hang on in there and get a fantastic point," said the Reds captain.

"But Berbatov completed his hat-trick - he was the difference and his second goal was world-class.

"We're disappointed with the result but really pleased with how we played and disappointed to go away within nothing."

Rafael Nadal wins US Open to seal career Grand Slam

Rafael Nadal joined the ranks of the all-time greats of tennis as he beat Novak Djokovic to win the US Open and complete his set of Grand Slam titles.

The Spaniard, 24, won a rain-interrupted final 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 at Flushing Meadows in New York.

Nadal's first US Open victory takes him to nine Grand Slam titles.

And he becomes only the seventh man in history to complete the set of majors - Wimbledon, the French, Australian and US Opens.

Nadal joins Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Don Budge and Fred Perry in having swept the board, and also becomes the first man since Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year.

"That's more than I dreamt," Nadal said at the trophy presentation. "It's just amazing to be here in this final, just to arrive in this final. To have this trophy here in a few seconds, with my hands, is going to be unbelievable."

Neither the New York rain, which had seen the final postponed on Sunday and then interrupted for nearly two hours on Monday, nor Djokovic could halt the Spaniard's relentless march to the one title that still eluded him.

There was a case to be made for Djokovic going into the final, not least because he had defeated five-time champion Roger Federer in a dramatic semi-final and had a 7-3 record against Nadal on hard courts, but the world number one is a different animal in major finals.

Monday's encounter began in pulsating fashion, with the first five games taking over half an hour as both men pounded away from the baseline.

Djokovic was the slower out of the blocks and looked exhausted after the lengthy first point of the match, hinting at an ankle problem after dropping serve straight away.

Some uncharacteristic errors from Nadal allowed Djokovic to level in game four, but the Spaniard regained the break immediately in an epic fifth game that saw five break points slip by before he cracked a huge forehand winner on the sixth.

Nadal regained the dominance on serve he had enjoyed for most of the tournament as he saw out the set until he played a poor game at 2-1 down in the second, a double fault and a backhand error giving Djokovic the break to love.

Djokovic was starting to dictate with his forehand as he had against Federer and he consolidated the break to move 4-1 clear, only to miss a game point on his next serve and allow Nadal back into it with a heavy backhand on his third break point.

Suddenly, the momentum was with the man from Majorca and he looked ready to press home that advantage at 4-4, 30-30, only for the widely predicted rain to start falling.

After a delay of one hour and 50 minutes, the players returned and immediately resumed at, if anything, an even higher level of intensity, with Djokovic in particular firing on all cylinders.

The Serb survived from 30-30 on the resumption and held the edge as a tie-break loomed, levelling the match with a fizzing return at Nadal's feet in game 12.

Djokovic could not maintain that spectacular level, however, and Nadal came roaring back at the start of the crucial third set, with a quite brilliant cross-court backhand helping him to break for 2-1.

As his opponent began, understandably, to look weary, Nadal created opportunity after opportunity to increase his lead, but when a wayward backhand flew long in game eight he had missed 17 of 21 break points.

It left him needing to serve out the set and Djokovic made what would be his final push as he attempted to recover the break, but Nadal held his nerve like a champion at 5-4, 30-30, with an ace and a service winner.

That all but broke his opponent's resistance and, although there were more flashing forehand winners to come from the Serb, Nadal broke again to lead 2-1 in the fourth and got the double-break when a tired Djokovic was broken to love two games later.

After three hours and 43 minutes, Nadal finally stood at championship point, and his place in history was secured when Djokovic sent a forehand long, prompting the world number one to fall to his knees in celebration while his family and friends leapt to their feet in the stands.

Century for Andrew Strauss in England win over Pakistan

England edged to a four-wicket win over Pakistan at Headingley to take a 2-0 lead in the one-day series.

Openers Kamran Akmal (74) and Mohammad Hafeez (43) shared 122 after Pakistan opted to bat, and Asad Shafiq hit 50 in their 294-8, Stuart Broad taking 4-81.

Andrew Strauss put on 146 with Jonathan Trott, but fell for 126 in the 45th over and Eoin Morgan went in the next.

Six were needed from the final over but Michael Yardy and Tim Bresnan guided their side home with three balls left.

An exciting finish in good conditions was exactly what the series needed, given England's dominance in the Test and Twenty20 matches.

Another improved Pakistan performance saw them come agonisingly close, but they succumbed to their seventh defeat in eight internationals against England this summer.

The opening stand was their highest first-wicket ODI partnership against England and more than the entire team has made on five occasions during the international matches on this trip.

Bresnan's first three overs went for 25, and the 50 partnership was recorded in 53 balls courtesy of a rare James Anderson misfield.

The bright Leeds sunshine and flat surface gave little assistance to the bowlers, but England's fielding in general was unusually lax and tactics with the ball that previously proved so effective did not work.

Yardy has often stemmed the scoring with his unique brand of flat slow to medium left-arm, but he conceded 26 in his opening four overs.

It was Paul Collingwood who made the breakthrough, ironically with an off-cutter, to trap Kamran marginally on the line of off-stump when sweeping, while Hafeez was bowled via the inside edge and pad off Graeme Swann, who found some spin and was relatively economical.

Mohammad Yousuf, who made only eight in the first ODI and looked out of place in the Twenty20 matches, again started slowly before gradually beginning to find his touch.

Things did not improve for Yardy when he returned to the action and was wristily flicked over mid-on for six by Yousuf.

The 36-year-old reached 46 before he got a faint edge to a lifting ball from Broad, leaving him with only one half century in his last 10 ODI matches.

But the momentum was maintained by Shafiq, who displayed an elegant straight bat throughout and, when launching Swann for six, one of the most expansive follow throughs of recent years.

Umar Akmal added a breezy 28 with three successive fours in a Broad over that also contained two wickets, although Pakistan may have felt that more than 73 should have been made from their final 10 overs.

Indeed England were ahead of the rate from the off with left-handers Strauss and Steven Davies playing in calm fashion, picking off the loose balls and using the pace of Shoaib Akhtar to good effect.

But Shoaib, often measured above 90mph despite having the appearance of a man clearly in the twilight of his career, angled one across to take the edge of Davies and the scoring slowed.

Strauss backed away to smash Shoaib down the ground and record the 50 in the ninth over but he was reprieved next ball on 23 when the giant Mohammad Irfan, rather incongruously stationed at leg gully, could not get his 7ft 1in frame down in time and spilled the low chance.

The England captain had another moment of fortune on 39 when Umar Gul nipped one back and the ball flicked off the glove before being superbly snaffled by a wrongfooted Kamran diving back to his right, but umpire Billy Doctrove deemed that no contact had been made.

After a quiet period Strauss recorded both the England 100, and his 23rd ODI half century, in magnificent fashion when he skipped down the wicket to Shahid Afridi and sent a sweetly timed stroke high over mid-wicket for six, leaving his team needing 188 from 30 overs.

Afridi took himself out of the attack having conceded 22 from three overs and Strauss and Trott were then content to keep things progressing steadily with singles, sharing England's highest second-wicket ODI partnership against Pakistan as they put on 146.

The gargantuan Irfan continued to have difficulties: with his fielding, with his bowling - which despite his great height was again wicketless and largely unthreatening - and then to cap it all, with his fitness.

But there was hope for Pakistan in the 33rd over with 106 still needed when Trott was run out by a direct hit after wandering out of his crease following an appeal for lbw.

And with the required rate touching seven per over for the first time, Collingwood holed out to long-on for 19, the all-rounder having reached 50 only twice in 19 international innings this summer.

Morgan survived a tough chance on one when a thick edge would not stick in Kamran's gloves and Strauss departed with 47 needed when he missed a sweep at a quicker ball and was lbw.

England's ice-calm finisher Morgan played one trademark reverse flick for four but lofted a catch to deep cover with his team 35 short of their target.

Yardy made a composed unbeaten 13 and shared 22 with Ravi Bopara, but the Essex batsman was caught in the deep and with both sets of fans in fervent mood, Gul bowled the final over.

Bresnan saw a top-edged hook fly over the wicketkeeper's head for four as England leapt up to second in the one-day rankings, but Pakistan will be hopeful of reversing their fortunes in the third match of the series at The Oval on Friday.

England complete 2-0 Twenty20 series win over Pakistan

England equalled the international Twenty20 record with a seventh straight win as a six-wicket victory gave them a 2-0 series triumph against Pakistan.

Umar Akmal top-scored with 17 as Pakistan were all out for 89 within 19 overs for their lowest T20 total.

Tim Bresnan took 3-10 and Michael Yardy recorded 0-10 from four overs, the most economical England figures in T20.

Eoin Morgan made an assured unbeaten 18 as England won a heavily one-sided encounter with six overs remaining.

Pakistan won both their Twenty20 matches with Australia in July, but following the intense scrutiny surrounding them since last month's newspaper allegations of spot-fixing, they again looked like a team in crisis.

Captain Shahid Afridi chose to bat first in overcast conditions at Cardiff, with the 15,000 stadium barely a third full.

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez came in for Wahab Riaz and Afridi promised a revitalised batting line-up, but things continued in sorry fashion for the beleaguered tourists, who were beaten by five wickets in the first match on Sunday.

Kamran Akmal top-edged a hook to mid-wicket in the second over, just as he did in that opening game, and Mohammad Yousuf again looked ill at ease with the frenetic pace of the game batting at number three.

Yousuf was dropped on one by Morgan at backward point but made only three more before he hooked a short ball from the accurate Bresnan straight to deep backward square-leg, where Ravi Bopara made no mistake.

The short ball was the favoured tactic from England, and each of the seam bowlers were timed at 90mph.

It proved too much for Shahzaib Hasan, who got a faint touch to an attempted hook at Stuart Broad which went through comfortably to wicketkeeper Steven Davies.

Afridi moved up a place to number five but his innings was particularly clueless, and after surviving one top edge which evaded the fielders on the leg side, he succumbed to a similarly rash stroke on the off, with coach Waqar Younis unable to hide his disgust in the team dug-out.

Umar Akmal at least briefly gave the small but excitable Pakistan contingent something to cheer by lofting Graeme Swann for two sixes, the first of the series, but the astute off-spinner completely deceived him with a slower, well-flighted delivery that turned sharply and knocked back the middle pole.

There was also time for the traditionally farcical Pakistan run-out, with confusion after an attempted reverse sweep, and some swift work from Ryan Sidebottom at leg gully to leave Hafeez short of his ground.

Abdul Razzag and Umar Gul shared the highest partnership of the innings with 29 but were caught off successive Sidebottom deliveries as the Pakistan innings subsided.

Something inspirational was needed by the Pakistan bowlers, but instead it came from bat of England opener Craig Kieswetter, who struck some stylish strokes in his 16, including a six when backing away to leg and launching over extra cover.

Two wickets fell in two balls as Davies chipped to mid-wicket before the much-maligned Pakistan fielding briefly showed some improvement as Umar threw down the stumps at the non-striker's end from point to end a promising start from Kieswetter.

England skipper Paul Collingwood, who made only 37 runs in his last five innings in the Test series, looked to be ending that barren run, having stepped down the wicket to launch Shoaib, consistently bowling in excess of 90mph, over square-leg for six.

However, on 21 he edged a Saeed Ajmal doosra to slip and Bopara ended a hesitant innings by missing a quick ball from Afridi that trapped him lbw.

But England were able to call upon Morgan, a man averaging 98 from 12 successful T20 run chases prior to this game.

And just as in the first match on Sunday he clinically concluded proceedings in partnership with Yardy to leave England totally dominant ahead of the five-match one-day international series beginning on Friday.

Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams reach US Open quarters

Defending champion Kim Clijsters demolished Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1 to ease into the US Open quarter-finals.

The pair struggled on serve until the Belgian broke twice to lead 5-2 and it proved to be the turning point as the Serb, 22, capitulated.

After taking the first set, the second seed raced to a 4-0 lead and soon wrapped up the victory in 59 minutes.

Venus Williams was given a scare in the first set by Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer before winning 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

The American made just 48% of her first serves and was broken three times, and the two-time champion admitted afterwards she was still finding her way back after a recent knee injury.

"It was a little tricky - it was important for me to stay positive," said the 30-year-old third seed. On her fitness, she added: "I'm OK. It helps me not playing the doubles. I'm happy to be here and playing well."

Williams will next play French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who comfortably saw off 20th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a 6-3 6-0 win.

The Italian sixth seed continued her fine run with a strong performance on Louis Armstrong Stadium to overcome the 19-year-old Russian, who was playing in the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time.

Pavlyuchenkova required medical attention on her right arm and racked up four double-faults and 29 unforced errors as Schiavone made the last eight in New York for the first time in seven years.

With blustery conditions returning to Flushing Meadows on Sunday, Clijsters produced a display that showed all the signs of a player determined to keep hold of the crown she won in 2005 and 2009.

The Belgian and Ivanovic suffered early breaks of serve, but it was the defending champion who slowly seized control with a dominant combination of aggression and tireless defence.

It took Clijsters, who returned to the sport last year after retiring in 2007, half an hour to wrap up the opening set with a crushing backhand that left Ivanovic stranded and increasingly frustrated.

Although Ivanovic, currently ranked 40, showed brief glimpses of the talent that took her to number one status two years ago, there was no stopping Clijsters as she powered to a 4-0 lead before sealing another victory without dropping a set.

After taking her match-winning run at the US Open to 18 to set up a clash with fifth seed Samantha Stosur, she said: "I played well and I'm happy to get through in two sets.

"It's all about staying with her. She's a player who likes to grow in confidence and then she takes more risks when she's ahead. Once she started to make errors I tried to really get in and be aggressive and play my game. I'm happy with the way I'm improving."

Ivanovic admitted: "I was on the big stage again. Lots of emotions came back, and I just felt a little slow and just a little bit out of it."

Australian Stosur, who has never previously been further than the second round of the tournament, took the first set in a promising start against 12th seed Elena Dementieva.

But her groundstrokes became increasingly erratic as she failed to win a service game in the second set.

It appeared that she was bound for defeat when her Russian opponent broke at the first opportunity in an astonishing final set that neither player seemed to have the nerve to close out.

Stosur was behind for much of the decider, saving four match points as she clung on at 5-2 down, but, after squandering a chance of her at 6-5 up, the pressure finally told on Dementieva in the tie-break.

The 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-2) win took two hours 38 minutes, finishing after 0130 local time, and was Stosur's first hardcourt success over Dementieva in five meetings on the surface.

England cruise to win over troubled Pakistan in Cardiff

England underlined their status as World Twenty20 champions as they won the first of two internationals against Pakistan with 17 balls left.

With the controversy over Pakistan's alleged spot-fixing plot hanging over the game, England weathered a mid-innings wobble to chase a 127 target.

Spinner Graeme Swann found massive turn to take 2-14 as Pakistan struggled.

England also had batting problems, but Eoin Morgan and Michael Yardy put on 67 from 43 balls in a five-wicket win.

They came together after Luke Wright had been bowled on the sweep for a duck, leaving England in a precarious position at 62-5 after 10 overs in Cardiff.

Many players on both sides had made batting look difficult on a slow wicket, with the ball stopping in the pitch.

But Morgan and Yardy timed the ball effortlessly well against all the bowlers, and Morgan's cut for four off the first ball of the 18th over finished off the job with style.

While Morgan (38) and Yardy (35) were key in England's sixth win in a row in Twenty20 cricket, Steven Davies also played a strong hand with 33 from 27 balls.

Paul Collingwood won a useful toss after play had been delayed by half an hour following rain, but Pakistan's batsmen were well placed at 49-1 following the six-over power play with the veteran Mohammad Yousuf unbeaten on 26 and beginning to find his range.

The introduction of Swann forced Pakistan to re-evaluate their targets, however, as Yousuf holed out to deep midwicket in the off-spinner's first over before Shahzaib Hasan was neatly stumped by Davies off a ball that turned a lot.

Umar Akmal was dropped by Tim Bresnan at short midwicket off Collingwood on five, but England continued to bowl tight lines and produced some fine boundary saves.

Pakistan were ironically hampered by one of their own players, Fawad Alam who produced a series of desperate swishes at fresh air in an innings of 20 from 29 balls before being put out of his misery.

England had a poor day with their catching as Shahid Afridi was missed twice in the 18th over, but neither he nor Akmal (35 not out) were able to time the ball cleanly enough over the closing overs to take Pakistan up to a total that was likely to trouble England.

The host team's batting showed two changes from the team who lifted the ICC World Twenty20 trophy in Barbados in May.

Kevin Pietersen's well-documented dropping, which one has to presume is temporary, has freed up a space at number three for Ravi Bopara, while Michael Lumb's injury provided Craig Kieswetter with a fresh opening partner in Davies.

Kieswetter has had a mixed season at Somerset, and after cracking an early boundary off Abdul Razzaq, he nicked an attempted drive in a terrific opening wicket maiden bowled at good pace from the 35-year-old Shoaib Akhtar.

Davies played neatly, pushing the ball well into gaps for twos and adding the odd boundary, but he was unable to build partnerships as an inspired Shoaib had Bopara smartly caught by Yousuf, peddling back from mid-on.

Collingwood also fell cheaply, dragging on an attempted pull, and when Davies picked out deep square leg a few alarm bells started ringing in the home camp.

The problems only increased when Wright became Afridi's second victim, especially with the dangerous spinner Saeed Ajmal still to bowl.

But Yardy drove Ajmal's first ball sweetly through the covers for four after Shoaib had dropped a simple catch that would have ended Morgan's innings with the batsman on 13.

The two left-handers played Ajmal particularly well but also took regular boundaries off other bowlers as the required rate came down rapidly.

Pakistan soon had nowhere to turn to, though they will reflect that it was their batsmen, and not their bowlers, who had let them down.