Limitless Messi brings upon Barca’s leap in quality

After orchestrating Barcelona’s demolition of Manchester United in the Champions League final, there seems to be no limit to what Lionel Messi can achieve.

And in a team of World Cup winners and European champions, Messi is still the superstar.
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Federer into French Open last-eight

Roger Federer reached a record 28th successive Grand Slam quarter-final on Sunday when he defeated Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in the French Open last 16.
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Cook and Pietersen exit as draw looms

Sri Lanka finally saw the back of Alastair Cook in the first Test at Sophia Gardens here on Sunday but only after he’d shared another huge stand with fellow century-maker Jonathan Trott.http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=49819&Cat=10&dt=5/30/2011

Djokovic, Nadal cruise at French Open

Novak Djokovic looked to be back to his best at the French Open on Saturday, extending his perfect season to 40 straight wins with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Juan Martin del Potro.

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Pakistan hammer Ireland in first ODI

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MeSSi

Federer, Schiavone advance at Roland Garros

Roger Federer and David Ferrer remained on course for a quarter-final clash in the men’s singles but there were mixed fortunes for last year’s women finalists at the French Open on Friday with defending champion Francesca Schiavone reaching the last-16, and Samantha Stosur crashing out after being a break up in the deciding set on a gloomy Friday.

World number three Federer continued his smooth progress through the tournament in the shadow of Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal, thrashing Serbian 29th seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-1 6-4 6-3 in just 90 minutes.http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=49530&Cat=10&dt=5/28/2011

United aim to surprise Barca in Euro showdown

is the fashion in which Lionel Messi and his teammates routinely frustrate and dismantle opponents that few expect to see United victorious when the teams meet in Saturday’s (today’s) Champions League final.

A Barcelona win is so widely anticipated that British bookmakers rate a side that has just won a record 19th English title the biggest Champions League final outsiders for more than a decade.
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Bolt edges Powell as Americans dominate

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Gayle guides Bangalore into final

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Tendulkar opts out of Windies tour

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=49511&Cat=10&dt=5/28/2011.

Ponting, Hauritz make injury progress

Spinners Nathan Hauritz and Steve Smith are making good progress following surgery ahead of Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka in August-September, team physio Alex Kountouris said on Thursday.

Off-spinner Hauritz missed the World Cup earlier this year with a shoulder injury while leg-spinner Smith had surgery on his left ankle to remove a bone spur.

Kountouris said both bowlers were doing well in their rehabilitation ahead of the series in Sri Lanka, where conditions are expected to favour spin.

“His (Hauritz’s) rehabilitation is progressing as expected and he will hopefully resume bowling over the next month,” Kountouris said.

“His availability for the Sri Lankan tour will be based on how he further progresses over the next month.”

Former captain Ricky Ponting is also expected to be fit despite having surgery to remove screws inserted to stabilise a fractured finger in January.

“His preparation for the tour of Sri Lanka is not expected to be affected by this minor procedure,” Kountouris said.

Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and back-up gloveman Tim Paine are both on track to be available for selection despite finger fractures, Kountouris said.

“Brad Haddin is making very good recovery from a small fracture to the middle finger of his left hand,” he said.

“He has returned to his fitness training and will commence batting and wicketkeeping next month as part of his preparation for the Sri Lankan tour.”

Sri Lanka hold firm against England

Sri Lanka made a steady start to be 35 without loss against England at tea on a rain-marred opening day of the first Test at Sophia Gardens here on Thursday.

Left-hander Tharanga Paranavitana was 16 not out and Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan 18 not out in the first of this three-match series.

Ashes star James Anderson, after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted, produced a miserly opening spell of seven overs for seven runs, including two maidens, but was unable to induce a chance despite repeatedly beating the bat.

Anderson appealed for a catch by Andrew Strauss at slip when Paranavitana had made 16 but this was turned down and the England captain wisely chose not to refer the decision, with replays showing the ball had hit the back pad.

Meanwhile first change Chris Tremlett’s four overs cost just five runs. But Stuart Broad, playing his first Test since a stomach injury in November cut short his Ashes involvement, was more expensive.

His first four overs cost 18 runs. Rain, which washed out the morning session and half the second, meant only 48 overs were due to be bowled on the first day.

Aisam-Bopanna sail into second round

Looking for their first ever Grand Slam title, Pakistanís Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Indiaís Rohan Bopanna made a flying start to their title campaign at the French Open with a convincing first round win at Roland Garros on Thursday.

The Indo-Pak Express was in full during the match against Italyís Andreas Seppi and Simone Vagnozzi, beating them 6-3, 6-2 to sail into the second round.

Aisam and Bopanna, seeded fifth in the doubles event, now face Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina and Kei Nishikori of Japan in the next round.

The Aisam-Bopanna partnership is looking for solid results in the tournament after a series of impressive results over the past 12 months including an appearance in the final of the US Open last year.

Meanwhile, Indiaís Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi marched into the menís doubles second round.

Third-seeded Paes and Bhupathi were a set down before they beat Germans Tommy Haas and Philipp Petzschner 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. They now play Australians Ashley Fisher and Stephen Huss.

Rajasthan give Warne Royal send-off

MUMBAI: Australian leg-spin wizard Shane Warne quit professional cricket on Friday after leading Rajasthan Royals to a 10-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in his farewell Indian Premier League match.

Rajasthan, already out of contention, rode on Shane Watson’s all-round show (3-19 and 89 not out) to achieve a 134-run target and finish their campaign with six victories in 14 games of the Twenty20 tournament.

A capacity crowd at the Wankhede Stadium also witnessed Warne’s last battle with another legend, Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar, their first encounter being in the Sydney Test in 1992.

Skipper Tendulkar, the world’s leading run-getter in both Test and one-day cricket, was batting on 18 after having survived two confident lbw appeals, when Warne came on to bowl in the ninth over.

When Warne came for his third over, Tendulkar (31) had already been dismissed. The Australian conceded just five runs in that over and a fan flashed a placard, reading “Bowling Shane, thanks for the magic Warnie”.

Warne’s fourth and last over in competitive cricket was eventful as he nearly grabbed a wicket with his first delivery but Ashok Menaria dropped top-scorer Rohit Sharma (58) at long-on. He did not have to wait long for his first success as he had Sharma stumped with his fourth delivery, with the batsman losing his bat in the process while trying to attempt a big shot. Warne finished with 1-30.

Tendulkar was the first to pay tribute to the Australian great. “He (Warne) is a true champion, a wonderful friend. I have not been privileged to play with him in the same team, but it’s been a real treat to play against him,” Tendulkar said at the toss. Warne’s team-mates then gave him a guard of honour, standing in two lines to salute the legend.