Sangakkara, Mathews help Sri Lanka to 218-9

ABU DHABI: Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews hit fighting half-centuries as Sri Lanka reached 218-9 off their allotted 50 overs in the fifth and final day-night international against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi stadium here on Wednesday. Sangakkara scored 78 and Mathews made 61 during their innings-repairing fifth wicket stand of 118 before Sri Lanka lost track, with only a late order batting fightback helping them to a fighting total. Sri Lanka, who trail 3-1 in the five-match series, were reduced to 46-4 after they decided to bat under overcast conditions which the Pakistani seam attack took full advantage of, grabbing four early wickets by 11th over. Paceman Sohail Tanvir, who took 4-34, had opener Upul Tharanga (three) and Dinesh Chandimal...

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Butt, Amir lose appeals against jail terms

LONDON: Disgraced Pakistan players Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir lost their appeals Wednesday against their jail sentences for their part in a betting scam that rocked the world of cricket. The Court of Appeal dismissed their appeals at a hearing in London. On November 3, former Test captain Butt, 27, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and promising fast bowler Amir, 19, was ordered to serve six months in a young offenders’ institution. The pair were not present at the Court of Appeal in London for the hearing before Lord Chief Justice Igor Judge, the head of the English judiciary, and two other judges. The judges rejected a claim by Butt’s lawyer Ali Bajwa who argued that the former skipper’s sentence was “manifestly...

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Sri Lanka elect to bat in final ODI against Pakistan

ABU DHABI: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in the fifth and final day-night international against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi stadium here on Wednesday. Sri Lanka were forced to bring in batsman Chamara Silva for Mahela Jayawardene who returned home after injuring his knee in the fourth match. Pakistan, who have an unbeatable 3-1 lead, made three changes from the line-up which won the fourth match by 26 runs in Sharjah on Sunday, bringing in paceman Junaid Khan, batsman Asad Shafiq and allrounder Sohail Tanvir for Aizaz Cheema, Sarfraz Ahmed and Imran Farhat. Pakistan won the first match by eight wickets and the third by 21 runs while Sri Lanka were victorious in the second match by 25 runs – all three matches...

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