एक बच्ची की डायरी पढ़कर आपका दिल फट जाएगा

चंद दिनों पहले एसएमएस के ज़रिए ‘एक बच्ची की डायरी’ मिली। आप इसे पढ़िए : 15 जून - मैं मां की कोख में आ गई हूं..। 17 जून - मैं एक टिशू बन चुकी हूं..। 30 जून - अम्मी ने बाबा से कहा कि तुम अब बाप बनने वाले हो। अम्मी और बाबा बहुत खुश हैं..। 15 सितंबर - मैं अब अपने दिल की धड़कन महसूस कर सकती हूं..। 14 अक्टूबर - अब मेरे नन्हे-नन्हे हाथ-पैर हैं, मेरा सिर है..। 13 नवंबर - आज मैंने ख़ुद को एक अल्ट्रासाउंड मशीन की स्क्रीन पर देखा। वाह! मैं एक लड़की हूं..। 14 नवंबर - मैं मर चुकी हूं। मैं मार दी गई, क्योंकि मैं एक लड़की थी। 

लोग मांओं, बीवियों और प्रेमिकाओं से मोहब्बत करते हैं, तो फिर बेटियां क़त्ल कर दी जाती हैं? डायरी की आख़िरी लाइन पढ़ते हुए दिल का जो आलम हुआ वह बयान से बाहर है। औरतों की आज़ादी और उनके हक़ों के लिए आज साइंस ने बहुत काम किया है, लेकिन अल्ट्रासाउंड तकनीक को पैदाइश से पहले ही लड़कियों से निजात पाने के लिए जिस तरह इस्तेमाल किया जा रहा है, वह नाक़ाबिले-यक़ीन है।

इस लुहा मुझे उर्दू की मशहूर शायरा ज़ोहरा निगाह की एक नज़्म याद आई। इसे आप भी पढ़िए : ‘तेरे कच्चे ख़ून की मेहंदी/ मेरी पोर-पोर में रच गई मां/ गर मेरे ऩश भर आते/ वो फिर भी लहू से भर जाते/ मेरा क़द जो थोड़ा-सा बढ़ जाता/ मेरे बाप का क़द छोटा पड़ जाता/ मेरी चुन्नी सिर से ढलक जाती/ मेरे भाई की पगड़ी गिर जाती..।’ ज़ोहरा निगाह मुशायरोमें शिरकत के लिए अक्सर हिंदुस्तान जाती हैं। हो सकता है आपने कभी उनकी ज़बान से भी यह नज़्म सुनी हो जो भ्रूण हत्या की कहानी सुनाती है।

पैदाइश से पहले और पैदाइश के बाद बेटियों के क़त्ल के बारे में एक रिपोर्ट हमें बताती है कि एशिया में छह करोड़ औरतें कम हो गई हैं। ये वो बच्चियां थीं जो अपने लिंग की वजह से पैदा होते ही क़त्ल कर दी गईं या अल्ट्रासाउंड रिपोर्ट से इनके जेंडर के बारे में मालूमात करके पैदाइश से पहले ही इनसे निजात हासिल कर ली गई। एक दूसरी रिपोर्ट का कहना है कि सारी दुनिया में यह तादाद 10 करोड़ से ज्यादा पहुंच चुकी है। पिछले वर्षो में जो आंकड़े इकट्ठा किए गए, उनके मुताबिक़ चीन में 3.05 करोड़ , हिंदुस्तान में 2.28 करोड़ , पाकिस्तान में 31 लाख , बांग्लादेश में 16 लाख, पश्चिम एशिया में 17 लाख, मिस्र में 6 लाख और नेपाल में 2 लाख बच्चियां गायब हैं। पाकिस्तान और बांग्लादेश में नवजात बच्चियों के क़त्ल के बारे में एक रिसर्च रिपोर्ट आई, जो इस कड़वे सच के बारे में बहुत कुछ बताती है।

बात आज के दौर में भ्रूण की जांच के लिए इस्तेमाल अल्ट्रासाउंड की नई टेक्नोलॉजी से शुरू हुई थी। यह मालूम होने के बाद कि बेटी होने वाली है, कई मां-बाप पैदाइश से पहले ही उससे निजात हासिल कर लेते हैं। यह ऐसा तरीक़ा है, जिसमें ज़मीर पर बोझ नहीं होता। दिल को इत्मीनान दिलाया जाता है कि हम अपने माली हालात के सबब या बेटियों को नापसंद करने की ख़ानदानी परंपरा के सम्मान के नाम पर ऐसा कर रहे हैं और इंसानी जान को मारने का गुनाह भी नहीं कर रहे हैं। 

यह काम अमेरिका-ब्रिटेन में भी हो रहा है, लेकिन हिंदुस्तान और पाकिस्तान में पैदाइश से पहले ही बेटियों को मौत की नींद सुला देने का यह नया ज़ालिमाना तरीक़ा तेज़ी से फैला है। पाकिस्तान में इस हवाले से सिर्फ़ ज़ोहरा निगाह की नज़्म मेरी नज़र से गुज़री। लेकिन आपके यहां यानी हिंदुस्तान में इस दर्दनाक विषय पर औरतों-मर्दो ने सैकड़ों लिखी हैं।अंशुमाला मिश्रा की एक कविता : ‘मैं हूं एक लड़की/ मैं भी इक इंसान/ मुझे जीने का अधिकार दो/ मुझे बेटे की तरह ह्रश्वयार दो/ मुझे पढ़ने का अधिकार दो/ जिस देवी-दुर्गालक्ष्मी को पूजते हो/ उसका करते हो अपमान/ लड़की को लक्ष्मी कहते हो/ तो फिर क्यों लक्ष्मी को बोझ समझते हो?’ यह कविता पाकिस्तान की कई पत्रिकाओं में छपी और पसंद की गई। इसी तरह हमारे अलीगढ़ में पैदा होने वाली ज़ोया ज़ैदी का भी नाम लिया जाता है। उन्होंने मॉस्को से एमबीबीएस किया और अब अलीगढ़ में ही प्रै िटस करती हैं। हमारे मुल्कों में अल्ट्रासाउंड से लिंग मालूम करने के बाद बेटियां जिस तरह क़त्ल की जा रही हैं, उसने ज़ोया पर गहरे असरात छोड़े। नवजात बच्चियों के क़त्ल का दर्द उनकी शायरी में बार-बार झलकता है। अपने एक लेख में वो उत्तरी भारत के एक बहुत पुराने लोकगीत का हवाला देती हैं : ‘प्रभुजी मैं तोसे बिनती करूं.. पैयां पड़ूं बार-बार.. अगले जनम मोहे बेटिया न दीजो.. नरक दीजो चाहे डार..।’ इस लोकगीत के बोल पढ़ते हुए एक और लोकगीत याद आता है : ‘जो अब किए हो दान ऐसा न कीजो.. अगले जनम मोहे बिटिया न कीजो..।’ हमारे यहां पैदाइश के बाद नवजात बच्चियों के क़त्ल में इज़ाफ़ा हुआ है। एक पाकिस्तानी ग़ैर-सरकारी तंज़ीम के मुताबिक़ 2009 में 1000 नवजात बच्चियां मार दी गईं या वीराने में मरने के लिए छोड़ दी गईं।

Victoria Azarenka crushes Maria Sharapova to win Australian Open title

Victoria Azarenka claimed her first major title by hammering Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-0 in the Australian Open final to leap to the top of the world rankings.

Victoria Azarenka: Wins her maiden grand slam with a thumping victory against Maria Sharapova  ,

Eleven months ago, Victori a Azarenka was considering quitting tennis, unsure of whether she really wanted to give the sport her all. On Saturday, with a performance full of power and maturity, she became a grand slam champion and the world No1.

The 22-year-old's 6-3, 6-0 demolition of Maria Sharapova in theAustralian Open final here in Melbourne was as much a surprise as it was impressive. With three grand slam titles under her belt, it was expected that Sharapova would bring her experience to bear on the big occasion. But with her powerful game malfunctioning, Azarenka took advantage to record the biggest win of her career.

After falling to her knees and staring towards her player box with a look of disbelief, the reality of what she had achieved began to sink in. She is the 21st woman to top the rankings since they began in 1975 and the first woman from Belarus to do so.

"It's a dream come true," she said, having accepted the trophy from the former champion, Martina Hingis. "I have been dreaming and working so hard to win the grand slam and being No1 is a pretty good bonus for that." Having changed into a T-shirt that said "I got this" for her media commitments, Azarenka said she was looking forward to celebrating. "I think I am just going to have champagne showers," she said.

The match was billed as the battle of the screamers and the grunts reached 94.3 decibels according to the Whoo-ometer of local broadcaster Channel 7. But it was Azarenka who screamed last as another errant Sharapova backhand went astray.

"Right after the win I couldn't understand what's happening," she said. "I could not believe the tournament is over because it's been so long, this road since Sydney. I didn't have one day off so it kind of kept going, kept going and right now it still hasn't hit me that it's over and I won this. I keep enjoying it."

With so much on the line, it was no surprise to see Azarenka start poorly, with two double faults in the first game to hand Sharapova the break on the way to a 2-0 lead. In the next game, the Russian led 30-0 on the Azarenka serve, but the Belarussian dug deep to hold and, from then on, she relaxed.

How she played, though, was a revelation. From 3-3 in the first set she won nine straight games, ripping apart a below-par Sharapova with a combination of force and greater agility. The Russian's gameplan was to attack, but her radar was off – she hit 30 unforced errors – and she was completely outplayed.

The only question was whether the nerves would return for Azarenka as she tried to serve out for victory. But she saved a break point and then, when Sharapova's backhand found the net, she sank to the ground, her head in her hands.

"I was super nervous," she said. "I couldn't wait to actually go on the court and play. It was a long wait. The first two games were a little bit of a disaster, but then I kind of got the momentum going and I relaxed."

As she left the court, after signing a stack of autographs, Azarenka texted her grandmother, who, along with her mother, was responsible for giving her some perspective.

It was after she had lost a first-round match in Doha last February that Azarenka was at a crossroads, unsure whether the grind of the tennis tour, with its constant travel, was really what she wanted. It took her family to make her realise she actually had it good.

Azarenka is the fourth consecutive first-time grand slam champion on the women's side, but she said the work really begins now. "I really have to keep going the same way," she said. "It's going to be a long year. It's going to be a lot of matches. I just want to keep improving. I feel like there is no limit, if I can try my best every day, I can improve a little bit, little by little. That's my mentality, how I have been working hard. It's just going to have to stay the same."

For Sharapova, who has reached two of the past three grand slam finals, it was a second defeat, having lost to Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon last summer. The 24-year-old, who came into the event with no match practice after an ankle injury, was gracious in defeat, admitting she had been outplayed, but rueful that she had failed to produce her best.

"As in any sport, you have your good days and your tough days, and days when things don't work out the way you want them," she said. "But Victoria was better on every level today and she was just too good. From my side, I don't know, the switch just went off."

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England crumble in the desert

Rehman stuns England to give Pakistan series

England collapsed to 72 all out as Pakistan won the second Test in Abu Dhabi by 72 runs and clinched the three-match series.

Abdur Rehman: took six England wickets in a stellar display

The tourists were set a target of 145 to win the match and square the series after their humiliating defeat in Dubai in the opener.

But they paid a heavy price for their cautious approach, with just Andrew Strauss (32) and Matt Prior (18) getting into double figures.

Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman claimed 6-25 in a magnificent 10.1 overs that completely bamboozled the hapless England batsmen.

England had earlier dismissed Pakistan for 214 to give themselves every chance of levelling the series, but they again failed to deal with the host's triple spin threat of Rehman, Saeed Ajmal (3-22) and Mohammad Hafeez (1-11).

Monty Panesar's 6-62 suggested that spin was set to play a key part on day four and England's top order soon found themselve sin trouble.

Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan all went in 22 overs of tortured batting before tea - and the rest followed in less than 15 more as England failed to chase a target as low as this for only the second time in 100 years.

They were lucky too not to be without captain Strauss for half the 32 he eventually managed, following a third-umpire ruling which surprisingly reprieved him on a bat-pad decision.

Cook was first to go, caught and bowled by Hafeez as England's openers struggled to find scoring opportunities past well-set fields as the slow bowlers tested attack and defence on a turning pitch.

Bell was in at number three in place of Jonathan Trott, who spent time off the field because of stomach trouble this morning and therefore had to wait until after tea to bat.

His replacement went in unfortunate circumstances, a diffident defensive shot to Ajmal played with such soft hands that the ball somehow rolled back between the batsman's legs and on to the base of the stumps - just hard enough to dislodge a bail.

If Bell's luck was out, Strauss' had surely been in a few moments earlier.

The ball appeared to run off the face of his bat, on to pad, before being caught low down byAzhar Ali at short-leg off Rehman.

After consulting slow-motion video replay, it was unexpectedly concluded that the ball did not carry.

Rehman, however, instead soon had Pietersen lbw pushing forward - even after an England DRS - and two balls later Morgan missed one that turned and kept low to go for a duck.

Strauss had just swept Rehman for four after tea when he went back fatally to Rehman, and was lbw.

Trott came and went in similar fashion, and Rehman had his fifth wicket after Stuart Broad was bowled through the gate for a second-ball duck.

Shambolic end

The game was up by then, and it was a matter of whether England could avoid a shambolic end.

They could not as the tail folded in a blur, Strauss and Prior the only batsmen to make double-figures.

Panesar had appeared earlier to put the tourists on course for victory.

In his first Test for two-and-a-half years, his was the outstanding contribution as England finally got through Pakistan's second innings.

Panesar ended a determined fifth-wicket stand between Azhar (68) and Asad Shafiq this morning, and then James Anderson and Broad also struck once each with the second new ball before lunch.

Just as Shafiq and Azhar had threatened a century partnership, Panesar got one in the perfect spot to the former - and marginal turn was enough to take the edge for a sharp slip chance, well taken by Anderson.

Yet with each ball that Panesar and Graeme Swann spun past the bat, it was ever more obvious that England would need to bat well when the time came.

Azhar had survived an lbw appeal on 65 via DRS when Hawkeye suggested a big Swann off-break was beating leg-stump.

But he was unable to take advantage because, as predicted by Broad last night, the new ball proved a telling weapon.

Anderson struck in the third over after it was taken, and it was a big wicket too when he got one to climb to Azhar's gloves and end his 195-ball vigil.

England were into the tail, and Broad made another breakthrough in the very next over - Adnan Akmal chasing a wide drive and edging to slip.

Rehman helped Ajmal to shut England out up to lunch, but lasted less than an over of the afternoon - lbw sweeping at Swann.

Panesar then got enough turn and bounce for Ajmal to glove a catch to slip, and last man Junaid Khan was bowled by the slow left-armer heaving across the line and against the spin.

If that was an embarrassing end to a fruitless match for him, it was nothing compared with what was to follow from England.

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Aussies clinch Indian whitewash 4-0

It took less than an hour for Australia to wrap up proceedings on the final day of their fourth Test against India in Adelaide, securing a 298-run win and with it a 4-0 series whitewash.

Aussies crushed India to register a comprehensive 298-run
win to complete a series whitewash at the Adelaide Oval.

Before the Sydney Test, Glenn McGrath gave his typical prediction that Australia would win the series 4-0. Few people truly expected it to happen. But such has been the gulf between the two sides that four weeks later, Australia wrapped up a whitewash within 59 minutes on the last day at Adelaide Oval, the only Test in the series that India managed to take to a fifth day.

Australia's 298-run victory was finalised when Nathan Lyon found the edge of Umesh Yadav's bat and Brad Haddin gloved the ball cleanly, which led to celebrations from the Australians. Not wild celebrations, though. The restrained type of self-congratulation that follows a long period of work, with the knowledge that even more toil remains ahead.

That the 4-0 series win was not enough to lift Australia out of fourth position on the ICC rankings is an indication of how far the side had fallen, and how much work remains for Michael Clarke and his men. But they are the on the way up. Their next Test tour is to the West Indies in April, and there they can move up the rankings list, closer to their goal of regaining the No.1 spot.

For India, this was the culmination of a miserable year away from home. They remain in third spot on the rankings, but only just. They began the day at 6 for 166, with no hope of chasing the target of 500 or batting all day to play out the draw. The first wicket came when Ishant Sharma edged behind off Ryan Harris for 2, and that was closely followed by Wriddhiman Saha (3) also edging behind off Peter Siddle.

R Ashwin and Zaheer Khan stole a few boundaries but it was only ever a question of which bowlers would get the wickets. Zaheer skied a catch off Ben Hilfenhaus for 15 and the final wicket came when Yadav edged behind with the total on 201. That gave Lyon 4 for 63, an encouraging end to a series in which he was the least effective of Australia's four main bowlers, against batsmen adept at handling spin.

Harris ended up with 3 for 41 but it was appropriate that all four frontline bowlers, including Man of the Match Siddle, picked up at least one wicket. It has been their constant pressure throughout the summer that has kept India's powerful batting line-up in check. Significantly, it was not until the final Test of the series that India found a centurion, and then it was the newest member of the top six, Virat Kohli.

VVS Laxman averaged 19.37 for the series, Virender Sehwag averaged 24.75, Rahul Dravid 24.25, Gautam Gambhir 22.62, MS Dhoni 20.40 and Sachin Tendulkar 35.87. None of them scored as many runs as Kohli, whose 300 came at 37.50, and such results should encourage the selectors to give more opportunities to fresh batsmen.

The Indian bowlers were also below-par. Zaheer finished with 15 wickets at 31.80, a decent result and an indication that he keeps working hard even in trying circumstances, and Yadav showed promise with his 14 wickets at 39.35. But Ishant's five wickets at 90.20, Ashwin's nine victims at 62.77, and the folly of picking Vinay Kumar at the WACA all stood out as disappointments.

Hilfenhaus and Siddle headed the Australian attack throughout the series, and they were wonderful. Clarke and Ricky Ponting were outstanding with the bat. It was a complete display from an Australian unit that heading in the right direction. And a squad that can always look back on this 4-0 result with pride.

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Australia just four wickets away from a whitewash at Adelaide

Whitewash, clean sweep, shutout. Whatever you like to call it, Australia were on track for a 4-0 series victory over India by stumps on the fourth day in Adelaide. Four wickets stood between Michael Clarke's men and the completion of a remarkable feat. India finished the day needing a further 334 for victory, but a comeback from Kapil Dev is more likely than one from India in this match.

At stumps India were 6 for 166, having been set a target of 500. To put that in perspective, the highest successful chase in all of Test history was 418 by West Indies in Antigua nine years ago. The best in Adelaide was the 315 that Joe Darling's Australia chased down against England 110 years ago. In the past century, the highest Test chase in Adelaide was less than half of what India required in this innings.

Ishant Sharma was at the crease on 2 and Wriddhiman Saha was yet to score when India walked off, any minuscule hope they had having disappeared along with VVS Laxman and Virat Kohli in the dying stages. Laxman and Kohli had steadied, relatively speaking, with a 52-run partnership when Laxman fell victim to his own wristy tendencies.

Clarke set a leg slip, a short leg and a short catching midwicket for Laxman facing the offspin of Nathan Lyon, and on 35 the batsman complied with a flick straight into the hands of Shaun Marsh at short midwicket. The ball had rocketed off the bat but Marsh's reflexes were good enough, and Laxman was left to wonder if it would be his final act in Test cricket.

But even more remarkable was Kohli's departure. India had sent in Ishant as a nightwatchman, traditionally a position that requires a lower-order batsman to maintain the strike and protect the specialist. Instead, Kohli wanted so desperately to face the last over of the day that he pushed the final ball of the penultimate over wide of mid-on and raced off for a risky single.

Smart statsRicky Ponting scored a half-century in the second innings to go with his first-innings double-century. This is the second time that Ponting has achieved this feat and the ninth such instance for an Australia batsman.

Since his Cape Town century in January 2011, Sachin Tendulkar has gone 22 innings without a century. This is the longest century drought for him surpassing the 17 innings he went without a hundred between 2005 and 2007.

Tendulkar's average of 35.87 in the series is his lowest ever in a series in Australia and his fourth-lowest overall in series of four or more matches. His lowest average is 33.66 in South Africa in 1992-93.

Rahul Dravid once again had a batting failure taking his run tally to just 194 runs in the series. Except for the 2003 tour, Dravid's average in Australia is just 24.95 in 22 innings.

VVS Laxman ended the series with 155 runs in eight innings at an average of 19.37. This is his second-lowest average in a series (four or more matches) after the 17.57 in the home series against Australia in 2004.

Dravid, the Test record holder for the most catches, failed to take a single catch for the first time in a series of three or more matches since the series against Sri Lanka in 1997.

Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag last shared a century stand in Centurion in 2010. Since then, they have aggregated 182 runs in 12 innings at an average of 15.16 with a highest of 27.

The highest score made by any team in the fourth innings to win a Test in Adelaide is 315 by Australia in 1902. The most overs a team has played out in the fourth innings in Adelaide to draw a game is 120 (eight-ball overs), when Australia ended at 273 for 9 against West Indies in 1961.

The ball was collected by Ben Hilfenhaus, whose momentum was carrying him away from the stumps, but his fast throw hit the stumps and Kohli was run-out for 22. It was a remarkable piece of fielding from Hilfenhaus, hardly the nimblest of Australia's fielders, and as Kohli walked off he thumped his fist on his own helmet in frustration at his ill-judged run.

Already Australia had seen the backs of Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. It was the wicket of Tendulkar that really got the hosts going, as it left India at 4 for 110 and ensured that despite Tendulkar's greatness, he had had no serious impact on the series, finishing with 287 runs at an average of 35.87.

Tendulkar was caught for 13 at short leg when he inside edged onto his leg off Lyon and the ball bobbed up to Ed Cowan. Tendulkar walked off to a standing ovation, but at least Australian fans will see him bat again, during the one-day series. Another all-time great, Dravid, almost certainly walked off an Australian ground for the last time a short while earlier.

On 25, Dravid's thick edge off the bowling of Ryan Harris was snapped up by Michael Hussey at gully. Australia were making good progress after Sehwag gave Indian fans a brief glimmer of hope with a brisk half-century. He was so aggressive to anything wide of off stump that 54 of his 62 runs came through the off side, including all 12 of his boundaries, as he gave little regard to the risk of being caught.

Eventually his downfall came when he miscued an attempted slog off a Nathan Lyon full toss and was caught at cover. Already India had lost Gambhir, who will finish the series with a disappointing average of 22.83 after he pushed at a Harris delivery and was caught behind for 3.

India had come to the crease after Clarke allowed his own batsmen to play for three overs after lunch in order to set the target of 500, before he declared with Australia on 5 for 167. Ricky Ponting finished unbeaten on 60 and Brad Haddin was on 11.

As Homer Simpson once pointed out after observing that it was time to play the waiting game, "the waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos!" Such was the case in the first session as Australia accumulated more and more runs without any sense of urgency, despite already having ample to defend, with both teams waiting patiently for Clarke's declaration.

Australia added 104 in the first session for the loss of two wickets. Clarke had just started to lift his tempo against the spin of R Ashwin when he feathered a catch behind for 37 off Umesh Yadav, and Hussey was adjudged lbw to Ishant Sharma for 15.

As the innings moved on, India's batsmen could see that some runs remained in the pitch but the surface was only going to become more difficult, perhaps another reason why Clarke delayed his declaration. Whatever the case, India knew they would have to completely rewrite history in order to escape with a victory.
By stumps, any slim hopes they had were gone.

Smart stats                                        

• Ricky Ponting scored a half-century in the second innings to go with his first-innings double-century. This is the second time that Ponting has achieved this feat and the ninth such instance for an Australia batsman.
• Since his Cape Town century in January 2011, Sachin Tendulkar has gone 22 innings without a century. This is the longest century drought for him surpassing the 17 innings he went without a hundred between 2005 and 2007.
• Tendulkar's average of 35.87 in the series is his lowest ever in a series in Australia and his fourth-lowest overall in series of four or more matches. His lowest average is 33.66 in South Africa in 1992-93.
• Rahul Dravid once again had a batting failure taking his run tally to just 194 runs in the series. Except for the 2003 tour, Dravid's average in Australia is just 24.95 in 22 innings.
• VVS Laxman ended the series with 155 runs in eight innings at an average of 19.37. This is his second-lowest average in a series (four or more matches) after the 17.57 in the home series against Australia in 2004.
• Dravid, the Test record holder for the most catches, failed to take a single catch for the first time in a series of three or more matches since the series against Sri Lanka in 1997.
• Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag last shared a century stand in Centurion in 2010. Since then, they have aggregated 182 runs in 12 innings at an average of 15.16 with a highest of 27.
• The highest score made by any team in the fourth innings to win a Test in Adelaide is 315 by Australia in 1902. The most overs a team has played out in the fourth innings in Adelaide to draw a game is 120 (eight-ball overs), when Australia ended at 273 for 9 against

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Nadal stops Federer in thriller

Roger Federer, left, congratulates Rafael Nadal after their semifinal match.

In tennis, the times they may be a-changin’ but some things remain resolutely the same: Roger Federer cannot get the better of Rafael Nadal at the Grand Slam events. He struggles to beat the raging bull at most of the other tournaments, too, but when it comes to the majors, Nadal reigns supreme.

Federer has not beaten the Spaniard at a Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon 2007. Indeed, his only two wins against Nadal at a major have both come on the grass of SW19 – and Nadal redressed that balance by winning their next Wimbledon showdown in 2008. In 10 meetings at the big events, Nadal has won eight times; in 27 meetings overall, the Swiss has won just nine times.

As Federer’s final forehand sailed over the baseline on Thursday – the 36th forehand fluff from the once mighty Swiss – Nadal celebrated as if he had won the trophy. He had stood firm in the face of everything his old rival had to throw at him and he had emerged the 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4 winner. It had taken three hours and 42 minutes of eye-watering effort, but Nadal was through to the final. Again. Federer, meanwhile, retired to lick his wounds.

For almost two weeks, Federer had looked stylish, confident and dominant (he had not dropped a set on his way to the semifinal) and for the first five games against Nadal, he had looked unbeatable. But it did not matter. Not against Nadal.

Nadal had seemed dejected and lost as Novak Djokovic beat him in six finals last year and wrenched the No.1 ranking from his grasp. He did not know how to deal with the new-look Serb, the Djokovic who swept all before him. But put Federer in front of the man from Manacor and suddenly everything changes, suddenly everything becomes clear.

Nadal and Federer have been chasing each other around the globe for the past nine years – there are no secrets between them and neither man can surprise the other. Roger knows exactly what Rafa is going to do against him and, more importantly, Rafa knows that it is going to work.

“We have had good matches over the years,” Federer said. “I enjoy playing him. The crowd really gets into it, which is nice. We have a lot of respect for each other, which is good, too, I think.


“You know, works as well at the highest of levels. We also play well against each other. I always think he plays a bit better against me than against other players, but that's good for him.”

The problem for Federer – and for most everyone else, too – is that Nadal is like a bulldozer. The sheer force and power, both mental and physical, of the world No.2 is enough to crush almost everything in his path. Other men – even men as brilliant as Federer – cannot maintain such relentless pressure over the course of four or five sets but Nadal appears to get stronger with every game that passes.

Once upon a time, Federer was the best front-runner in the business, but then Nadal pushed his way to the fore. Now, aged 30, he can still play brilliantly but he can only do it in spells. There are times when the frustration mounts or the pressure becomes too much – and then Nadal goes for the kill.

Even so, for much of those four sets, the two old war horses put on a display that took the breath away. The power, the placement and the sheer audacity of some of the winners was remarkable; the fact that they were able to conjure up such magic game after game was beyond belief. No matter how many times you see them play, Nadal and Federer still make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

For Nadal, beating Federer had been a major stepping stone. After the disappointments of last season’s finals against Djokovic and the injuries he had collected by the end of the year, the very fact he has reached another final means that he is ready to compete with the best again. He is fit, he is playing with passion and aggression – and that bodes well for the rest of the season.

“I am very happy about my result on these two weeks,” he said. “I did much better than what I thought, what I dreamed for three weeks ago. So very happy for everything. It's a fantastic victory for me. Very, very happy playing against the greatest of the history in semifinals, big match on Rod Laver. It's one of the victories that's going to stay in my mind forever, no?

“But if the opponents [in the final] play better than me and he beat me, I going to go home very happy about my tournament. I going to go home knowing that the way that I am working is working very well, and keep working on this way. Probably this way give me a good success in the next months.”

That just leaves one question unanswered: if, as Nadal says, Federer is indeed “the greatest of the history” then what does that make Nadal, his conqueror in 18 of 27 matches? Answers, please, on a postcard.
 
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Gutsy Azarenka into first major final after beating Clijsters

Victoria Azarenka: Through to the Australian Open final

Victoria Azarenka reached her first Grand Slam final and staked a claim for the No. 1 ranking when she beat defending champion Kim Clijsters 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the Australian Open semifinals on Thursday.
The third-seeded Azarenka recovered her composure twice in periods when a resurgent Clijsters seemed to have the upper hand, breaking the veteran Belgian's serve three times in the third set to secure victory in only her second appearance in a major semifinal.

The 22-year-old Belarusian will play either Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova or 2008 Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova in the Saturday night final. Azarenka, Kvitova and Sharapova can all finish the tournament with the No. 1 ranking.

After a strong start due to a consistent serve, Azarenka's serve deserted her in the second set and Clijsters dictated play with her solid groundstrokes and some amazing defense.But Azarenka rallied immediately again, breaking serve. She got triple match point trying to serve out the match and, after a double-fault on her first, she clinched it on a Clijsters' error.


But after getting the momentum back, it was Clijsters who blinked first in the third set, dropping serve in the second game and again in the fourth. She got two of those service games back, including one when she rallied from 40-0 down to win a game to get the score back to 4-3.




Azarenka threw her racket on the court and sank to her knees, bent over with her hands covering her face. Clijsters came around the net to congratulate her.

''I felt like my hand is about 200 kilograms and my body is about 1,000 and everything is shaking, but that feeling when you finally win is such a relief. My God I cannot believe it's over. I just want to cry,'' Azarenka said as she choked back tears, then buried her face in the towel.

''It was just trying to stay in the moment. Kim really took over the second set and I felt there was nothing I could do. I just tried to regroup.''

Clijsters is a popular player in Australia, where she's widely known as ''Aussie Kim.'' The four-time major winner had most of the backing from the crowd on the national holiday in what is likely to be her last Australian Open.

Azarenka held her nerve despite the crowd.

''I guess before you all thought I was a mental case. I was just young and emotional,'' she said in a courtside interview. ''I'm really glad the way I fight, that's the most thing I'm really proud of. I fight for every ball.''

The Sharapova-Kvitova semifinal was next match on Rod Laver Arena, followed by the blockbuster men's semifinal between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
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Australian Open men's semfinals preview

One of these four will win the Australian Open.

For the second straight major and third of the last five, the game's top-four players — Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray — will square off in the semifinal round. To go even further, with only one exception — Juan Martin del Potro's 2009 US Open win — either Federer, Nadal or Djokovic has been the winner of every Slam tournament since Marat Safin's Australian Open win in 2005. Murray has yet to win a Slam, but the other three combine for 30 Grand Slam singles titles. Federer has the most of any player in the Open era with 16, Nadal has 10 and Djokovic has four, including two in Melbourne.

At various points in 2011, each of these four dominated the men's game. Most notable, of course, was Djokovic's 43-match win streak to begin the season. Roger Federer ended the year with a 15-match, three-title streak of his own and Andy Murray took two titles in Asia after the US Open. Combined, the four won 22 titles (Djokovic, 10; Nadal, 3; Murray, 5; and Federer, 4) and more than $31 million in prize money. Djokovic won the Australian Open (defeating Murray), Wimbledon and the US Open (defeating Nadal in both). Nadal defeated Federer to win the French Open. Federer won the ATP World Tour Finals, and Nadal led Spain to a fifth Davis Cup.

(2) RAFAEL NADAL VS. (3) ROGER FEDERER

When: Thursday, Jan 26, 3:30 a.m. ET
Head-to-head: Nadal leads 17-9
Evans: Nadal's heroics on display to reach semis

Path to the semifinals:

2. Rafael Nadal, ESP

SF (3) Roger Federer, SUI
QF (7) Tomas Berdych, CZE 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-3
R4 (18) Feliciano Lopez, ESP 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
R3 Lucas Lacko, SVK 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
R2 Tommy Haas, GER 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
R1 Alex Kuznetsov, USA 6-4, 6-1, 6-1
3. Roger Federer, SUI

SF (2) Rafael Nadal, ESP
QF (11) Juan Martin del Potro, ARG 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
R4 Bernard Tomic, AUS 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
R3 Ivo Carlovic, CRO 7-6(5), 7-5, 6-3
R2 Andreas Beck, GER Walkover
R1 Alexander Kudryavtsev, RUS 7-5, 6-2, 6-2
(1) NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS. (4) ANDY MURRAY

When: Friday, Jan 27, 3:30 a.m. ET
Head-to-head: Djokovic leads 6-4
Evans: Djokovic shows strain, lands in semis

Path to the semifinals:
1. Novak Djokovic, SRB
SF vs. (4) Andy Murray, GBR
QF (5) David Ferrer, ESP 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-1
R4 Lleyton Hewitt, AUS 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
R3 Nicolas Mahut, FRA 6-0, 6-1, 6-1
R2 Santiago Giraldo, COL 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
R1 Paolo Lorenzi, ITA 6-2, 6-0, 6-0

4. Andy Murray, GBR
SF (1) Novak Djokovic, SRB
QF (24) Kei Nishikori, JPN 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
R4 Mikhail Kukushkin, KAZ 6-1, 6-1. 1-0 Ret.
R3 Michael Llodra, FRA 6-4, 6-2, 6-0
R2 Edouard Roger-Vasselin, FRA 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
R1 Ryan Harrison, USA 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

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Google strikes deal

Google strikes deal to bring 27,000 Chromebooks to US schools in three states

It remains to be seen if they'll be the big game-changer in education that Google hopes they will be, but the company is making some progress at getting its Chromebooks into schools. The latest push is a deal with three US school districts, which will see some 27,000 Chromebooks land in the hand of students in Iowa, Illinois and South Carolina. As CNET reports, South Carolina's Richland School District Two is making by far the biggest investment of the lot, ordering 19,000 Chromebooks that will be used as part of a three-year program for students in the third through twelfth grades. As for Google itself, it still isn't being too specific on the total number of Chromebooks now being used by schools, noting only that "hundreds" of schools across 41 states are using them in at least one classroom.
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Clarke and Ponting double-tons keep Australia on top

Aus vs India, 4th Test, Adelaide, 2nd day:- India 61/2 (Gambhir 30*, Sehwag 18) trail Australia 7 for 604 dec (Ponting 221, Clarke 210) by 543 runs

Numbers Shows

Michael Clarke was once again India's nemesis as he smashed a superb double century 210 from 275 balls  on day two of the fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval.



Ricky Ponting also got into the act on a lifeless pitch as he scored 221 from 404 deliveries before India's bowlers finally had something to celebrate.

A late flurry of wickets helped check the Australian charge - with the hosts finally declaring on 604-7.

And India were left well and truly on the ropes at the close as they were reduced to 61-2.

Clarke and Ponting showed tremendous intent from the outset and created further history with their partnership of 386 the highest for any wicket in all Tests at Adelaide, surpassing the previous best of 341 held by South African duo Eddie Barlow and Graeme Pollock against Bob Simpson's Australians in 1963-64.

It is also the highest partnership in all Australia-India Tests, going past the epic 376-run stand between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid at Eden Gardens in 2001.

Clarke moved to 150 in only the third over of the morning before reaching 200 from just 255 deliveries when he turned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin through mid-wicket for two.

It was Clarke's second double century in his past three Tests, the 30-year-old, whose career average has now tipped just over the 50-mark, in the form of his life and clearly relishing being in charge of his country.

Edged                                                                                                                   

Ponting notched the 15th 150 of his career from 274 balls with an exquisite straight drive for four off Ishant Sharma.

Having had Australia on the ropes at 84-3 just before lunch on day one, India went three sessions without taking a wicket.

However they finally struck three balls into afternoon session when Clarke was bowled by Umesh Yadav.

Michael Hussey (25) came in and shared a 50-run stand before his run out - following a great piece of field at silly point by Gautam Gambhir - sparked a mini-collapse.

Ponting was heading back 13 balls later after pulling Zaheer Khan straight to Sachin Tendulkar at deep midwicket, while Peter Siddle managed to add just two to the score before he edged Ashwin behind to Wriddhiman Saha.

Brad Haddin (42no) and Ryan Harris (35no) put on 71 for the eighth wicket, though, before the declaration came.

India attempted to set about the mammoth score - and they were gifted an early lifeline when Ed Cowan dropped Virender Sehwag off Ben Hilfenhaus in just the second over.

It was a brief reprieve, though, as Siddle held on to a one-handed caught and bowled chance to remove the acting India skipper for 18.

Rahul Dravid quickly followed for just one as he was clean bowled by Hilfenhaus.

Gambhir (30*) and Tendulkar (12*), though, put on an unbroken stand of 30 to see India through to the close.
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Andy Murray into Australian Open semifinals

Andy Murray produced an outstanding display as he blew away Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in straight sets in the Australian Open quarter-finals.and moved into the semifinals of Australian Open 2012

Andy Murray, Aussie runner-up the past two years,

 has started the year 10-0.

Two-time runner-up Andy Murray has moved into the semifinals of the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win over Kei Nishikori on Wednesday.

Murray will next meet either defending champion Novak Djokovic or No. 5 David Ferrer, who play later Wednesday.


No. 4-ranked Murray has lost back-to-back finals at Melbourne Park. He is on a 10-match winning streak after his victory in a tune-up tournament at Brisbane this month.

Two of the so-called ''Big Four,'' Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, are already through to a marquee semifinal after winning through Wednesday.

Federer beat 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in a quarterfinal marking his 1,000th tour-level match. Nadal rallied for a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych.

Their match on Thursday will be their 27th in all and 10th a major, but their first in a Grand Slam semifinal since 2005.

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Petra Kvitova, Maria Sharapova set up Australian Open semi-final with straight-sets victories



No.2 seed Petra Kvitova has won her way into the semi-finals of the Australian Open. 

Dominant ... Kvitova overpowered her unseeded opponent.

The Czech defeated unseeded Italian Sara Errani in straight sets, 6-4 6-4 in 1 hour and 51 minutes.

Kvitova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, reached her first Australian Open semi-final, snuffing out a brief fightback from Errani in the second set.

Kvitova, the clear favourite, broke serve in the opening game of the match but found herself staring down a service break in the next as the pair fought for an edge.

The Czech took the crucial break to win the first set in 53 minutes before Errani battled her way to a 4-1 edge in the second set.

That was where her challenge ended though as Kvitova won the next five games straight, amassing three match points and sealing the clash after Errani netted a return.

"I expected a tough match because she has been playing well and also today played well," Kvitova said.

"Backhand or forehand, I never knew where the ball would come to. So I had to concentrate on every point and always think about tactics."

Kvitova will now meet Russian Maria Sharapova after the former champion accounted for countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova 6-2 6-3.

The No.4 seed displayed a pinpoint serve and power-packed returns to overwhelm Makarova.

She cruised through the first set in 42 minutes but had to fight to seal the match as Makarova saved three match points.

Sharapova eventually clinched a berth in the semis in one hour and 27 minutes.

"It's been a long road back but after all those winning points it's been worth it," said Sharapova, who anticipated a tough battle against Kvitova.

"She is playing the best tennis," she said.

Both Sharapova and Kvitova have a chance of becoming the world No.1 at the end of the Open.


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Sachin is a 'cricket god': Hussey

Adelaide: Completely enamoured with Sachin Tendulkar in the present series, Australian batsman Michael Hussey feels it's "inevitable" that the Indian icon would get his 100th century in due course.

"He has played brilliantly. Watching him closely, his footwork, the time he has and the straight bat, both off the front and backfoot, he's playing really well. If he continues it's inevitable," said Hussey as he shaped up for the final Test at Adelaide, beginning on Tuesday.

Hussey feels it's inevitable that Sachin would get his 100th century in due course

"That's the way batting goes. Sometimes you are playing well but one ball, one mistake and you are back to the pavilion. I am sure to his own mind he is batting well, his bat is as broad as ever at the moment," Hussey added.

Tendulkar hasn't got his desired 100th century from the first three Tests of the summer and his wait has only got extended to 10 Tests and 19 innings so far. But Hussey has only admiration for the iconic cricketer as described him as "cricket god" in India.

"I don't know what he is going through mentally. I haven't scored 99 centuries though I would love to be in that position and feel the pressure. I have admired him how he's gone through his whole career. To score consistently at such a long period of time, deal with external pressures is amazing.

"He is a cricket god and yet how he handles himself in India, in a cricket-mad country, where just to walk on the street means being mobbed by thousands and thousands of people...to handle all this and put it aside and perform for India for over 20 years in international cricket is just amazing," he said.

"He must be such a strong person mentally. I hope he bats well but his 100th century comes in the next series, not this one."

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Nadal reaches quarterfinals at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia  – His right knee and left ankle taped, Rafael Nadal didn't look to be in any pain as he gave his friend Feliciano Lopez the runaround on Sunday,winning 6-4, 6-4,6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

Nadal, who bizarrely hurt his knee while sitting in a chair the day before the tournament began, is one win away from a possible semifinal against old rival Roger Federer after beating his fellow Spaniard for the ninth time in 11 matches.


On a sunny day with the temperature rising to 32C (89F),
both players sat with ice towels around their necks during the changeovers.


Nadal needed treatment from the trainer for a left ankle problem after three games of the first set. By that time, he had already broken serve and he did the same early in the next two sets to maintain control against his "very good friend" Lopez.

"I am fine," Nadal said. "It was a very, very hot day. I think it's positive to keep winning in straight sets."

Federer was up against 19-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic in the first match of the night session later Sunday. The 16-time Grand Slam champion hasn't been beaten by a teenager since 2006, when he lost to Andy Murray at the Cincinnati Masters.

Also Sunday, defending champion Kim Clijsters was to face Li Na in a repeat of the 2011 final. Clijsters beat Li 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to win her fourth major title a year ago.

Victoria Azarenka was the first player to reach the quarterfinals when she beat Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-2.

The third-seeded Belarusian is yet to drop a set at the tournament and will next meet eighth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Julia Goerges of Germany 6-1, 6-1.

With the win, 22-year-old Azarenka stayed in the hunt for the No. 1 ranking. Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova can also claim the top spot from Caroline Wozniacki.

"I would be a liar if I said I didn't care about it," Azarenka said. "It's in the back of my head and we'll take it day by day, I guess."

Azarenka, like Wozniacki, is aiming for her first Grand Slam title. She has never gone past the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, but goes into her match against Radwanska with a 6-3 winning record. The last of those victories came at the Sydney International tournament, which Azarenka won before coming to Melbourne.

Sunday's win was her ninth straight, but the likes of Serena Williams and Clijsters are still attracting more attention.

"For me, doesn't really matter. I try to focus on myself," Azarenka said. "I think I'm in the best shape physically right now, so it kind of helps other aspects of the game. I feel pretty good out there."

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Sri Lanka turn tables on South Africa

Hard-hitting Perera seals first win for Sri Lanka



AB de Villiers congratulates Angelo Mathews on Sri Lanka's win

South Africa v Sri Lanka, 4th ODI, Kimberley

Sri Lanka restored some pride against
South Africa with a five-wicket victory

in the fourth one-day international in Kimberley.

Sri Lanka 304 for 5 (Dilshan 87, Perera 69*, Chandimal 59)

beat South Africa 299 for 7 (de Villiers 96, Smith 68) by five wickets

It took Sri Lanka three consecutive defeats to get their batsmen firing in unison. Tillakaratne Dilshan finally played with freedom to give the chase momentum, Dinesh Chandimal anchored it in the middle overs, and Thisara Perera stunned South Africa with sustained hitting to overhaul a stiff target in Kimberley. Perera had also struck crucial blows earlier with the ball, making South Africa lose their way in the final quarter of their innings, when 350 had looked achievable at one stage.

In the end, that late batting stumble on a flat pitch was where South Africa lost the game, after having been 171 for 1 in the 24th over and 242 for 3 in the 39th. They did have Sri Lanka requiring more than 100 at close to seven an over but the visitors always had wickets in hand, and Perera sealed the chase with a volley of sixes. He also pressurised South Africa's fielding, which unravelled in a series of dropped chances and missed run-outs.

Perera, playing his first game of the series, was promoted ahead of Angelo Mathews with Sri Lanka on 194 for 4 at the start of the batting Powerplay. When Perera was trapped lbw by Wayne Parnell off the sixth ball he faced, it looked like Sri Lanka had only heaped more pressure on Mathews. But Parnell was found to have overstepped by a big margin on referral, and it was to be Perera's night. He almost hit his next delivery straight back to Robin Peterson but recovered to slam the next two for a six and a four.

Perera swung the game in Sri Lanka's favour with consecutive blows over the midwicket boundary off Peterson in the 43rd over, the second bringing up his maiden ODI fifty off 30 deliveries. With 34 now needed off 42, Perera soon took Sri Lanka to the highest ODI total in Kimberley with a straight six off JP Duminy in the 49th over.

Smart statsThis is the sixth time overall and the first time against South Africa that Sri Lanka have managed to chase down a target of 300 or more. It is also their first successful chase over 300 since their win over India in Nagpur in 2009.

South Africa suffered their first defeat at the venue in six matches. It is also the first time they have batted first in Kimberley. In their previous meeting against Sri Lanka at the venue in 2002, they won by eight wickets.

Thisara Perera's 69 came off only 44 balls. The strike rate of 156.81 is the highest for a Sri Lankan batsman against South Africa for an innings of fifty or over. It is also his first half-century in ODIs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan scored only his third half-century since the World Cup. In 20 innings, he has scored just 399 runs at 19.95.

AB de Villiers' 96 is the second-highest score by a South African captain in a defeat after Graeme Smith's 141 against England in 2009. de Villiers' strike rate of 126.31 is second on the list of top strike rates for fifty-plus innings by South African captains in losses.

That Perera had a manageable asking-rate to contend with was down to Dilshan. With his captaincy on the line, and having made 0, 0 and an uncharacteristically subdued 33 in the first three ODIs, Dilshan's approach was anything but muted. His fluent 83-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara set the tone for Sri Lanka's response.

South Africa tried to bounce Dilshan out but he pulled his second delivery for four, whipped his fourth over square leg for six and soon scooped Vernon Philander for six over fine leg. Despite Upul Tharanga falling early to Tsotsobe, Dilshan and Sangakkara never allowed the asking-rate to climb over six.

Sangakkara's first attempt to take on the left-arm spin of Peterson seemed to have paid off when he lofted the bowler cleanly towards the midwicket boundary. But Alviro Petersen pulled off an astounding leaping catch near the rope and Sangakkara could scarcely believe his misfortune.

Chandimal ensured Sri Lanka did not lose momentum. Two balls after Sangakkara fell, Chandimal stepped out to slam Peterson over the long-on boundary. Both Dilshan and Chandimal kept taking singles, and the stand was already worth 68 before Dilshan slapped Tsotsobe straight to short extra cover to depart for 87.

Lahiru Thirimanne followed soon but Perera arrived to take control of the innings, and despite Chandimal falling to Tsotsobe for 59, he ensured Sri Lanka had enough firepower to register their first win of the series.

It was Perera who brought Sri Lanka back after de Villiers had threatened to blow them away in a feast of exquisite boundary hitting. Perera removed Duminy and de Villiers in successive overs as South Africa stumbled from 242 for 3 to an ultimately underwhelming 299. Until de Villiers fell for 96 in the 41st over, South Africa had control over a listless Sri Lanka attack and were racing towards a total of about 350.

The under-pressure Graeme Smith made only his second half-century in 17 innings and his 84-run opening partnership with Alviro Petersen prepared a solid base for the middle order. de Villiers promoted himself to No. 3 and raced to 50 off 31 deliveries, peppering the extra-cover boundary with lofted shots.

Smith, who had been subdued throughout the series, was allowed to find much-needed form as Sri Lanka fed his strength by bowling on leg stump. From the moment he worked Lasith Malinga for consecutive boundaries, through fine leg and midwicket in the third over, Smith's struggle was over. In all, 57 of Smith's 68 runs came on the leg side.

While Smith had the poor lines to cash in on, de Villiers needed no help from the bowlers. He put on a display of effortless hitting, making room and carving the offspin of Sachithra Senanayake and Dilshan over extra cover. It made no difference where the spinners bowled - even deliveries fired in on leg stump met with the same fate as they disappeared over extra cover.

Kulasekara gave the visitors some respite when he trapped Colin Ingram leg-before. The scoring-rate, which was comfortably above seven, now started dipping. Duminy was unable to keep up the pace, and even de Villiers tapered off, making his final 46 runs off 45 deliveries.

After Perera's double-strike, Faf du Plessis came and went, but the lower order sensibly batted out the remaining overs to push South Africa to one short of 300. As it turned out, they hadn't budgeted for Perera's six-hitting prowess.


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