2009
11.28

The host India thrashed the current World number 2 team by a innings and 144 runs to take 1-0 up in the second test match held in Kanpur. The toss was considered as the crucial factor for both the teams and unluckily for the Sri Lankan team ; the toss went in against their favor. Dhoni who opted to bat on a batsmen friendly wicket on day 1 saw them put a huge total of 417 for the loss of 2 wickets which is considered as the highest runs scored on a day by India. Thanks to the opening partnership by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir as they put on 233 runs for the opening wicket and pushed the Sri Lankan side on the back foot. Eventually both the batsmen fell to Muralidharan with  Sehwag and Gambhir scoring 131 and 167 runs respectively.

Prasanna Jayawardena and SreeshanthOn day 2, Dravid and Tendulkar put on 94 runs partnership with Tendulkar getting out to Ajanta Mendis  for 40 runs, Dravid who played beautifully and scored his second consecutive hundred in this series, went on to score 144 runs before being run out. Then Yuvraj and Laxman dominated the Sri Lankan Bowling attack with both the batsmen got fifties. In the later part of lunch session Rangana Herath (5 wickets) bowled well to wrap up the tail with the Indian team managed to put on a huge total of 642 runs on the board.

On day 3, Sri Lankan resumed their overnight score of 66/1 got them to surprise as the comeback bowler Sreeshanth bowled an outstanding line and length and took five crucial wickets to help India dismiss the mighty Sri Lankan team for just  229 runs in the first innings on a decent batting track. India who had a huge lead in the first innings asked the Sri Lankan team to follow on, and Dilshan who opened along with Paranavithana found himself returning back to Pavillion with a beautiful delivery from Sreeshanth. Finally towards the end of play, Sri Lankan lost their three other top order batsmen as they found them finishing off their days play with 54 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.

On day4, it was just a formality for the Indian team to finish off the match as they took another 4 wickets in the morning session with Sri Lanka team returning at lunch for 206/8. Then after lunch Ajanta Mendis and Thilan Samaraweera showed some resistance and denied an early victory to India. But unfortunately Mendis  got out to Yuvraj and  Ojha grapping a simple caught and bowled chance from Welegedara saw the Sri Lankan team all out for just 269 runs in their second innings with Thilan Samaraweera remained unbeaten on 78 runs. This big win of 144 runs and an innings completed India’s 100th test victory.  Sreeshanth who bowled well on a good track was declared man of the match.

2009
11.23

Paul CollingwoodPaul Collingwood’s all round performance helped England chase the South Africans target of 250 runs with ease to seal off a seven wicket victory in the second ODI match held in Super Sport Park, Centurion.  England team chose to bat first as they thought fielding first could support their seam bowling attack. Captain Graeme Smith was the first to fall when he scored 12 runs. Hasim Amla who replaced injured Kallis, played according to the condition and scored 57 runs on the board before being getting out to Collingwood. AN Petersen who came at the fall of JP Duminy(41 runs) top scored in the South African innings with 64 runs. Finally with some good knock by some lower middle order batsmen helped South Africa post 250 runs on the board. Anderson took 3 wickets and Collingwood took 2 wickets.

Needing 5 runs per over, England team lost their captain Strauss (16 runs) at the start of their innings as he was dismissed when the team reached 28 runs. Kevin Pietersen too followed him quickly as he had no clue against Morkel’s delivery. Then it was the show of IJL Trott and Paul Collingwood as they both approached the innings carefully and played with responsibility which took the match away from the Proteas. They both added 162 runs for the third wicket partnership with Trott getting out to Langeveldt delivery when he reached 87 runs. Then Collingwood who kept his concentration going scored his 5th ODI century and stood till the end of the match along with Morgan (27 runs) and ensured a seven victory over the mighty South African with 4 overs to spare.

2009
11.17

Aaron BrooksIt seemed to be a one man show on Sunday night; Aaron Brooks, who went on scoring his career high 33 points made Houston Rockets seal off 101-91 comfortable margin victory over Los Angeles Lakers. The loss against Rockets was their second straight loss in their home which made the audience restless and they booed against them.  Lakers were outstanding in the first quarter as they managed to take 6 points lead against Rockets (29-23). Then the Lakers went lethargic and no one seemed to be concentrated and lost the other three quarters. Houston came back pretty well with Brooks’s performance which included 5 three pointers made them finish off the last three quarters with 29-25, 28-29 and 21-28. Lakers Ron Artest top scored with 22 points followed by Andrew Bynum with 21 points. Lamar Odom looked completely out of sorts as he scored just 5 points. Kobe Bryant who went onto score 41 points in their last meet of the both the teams, managed to score only 18 points. This was Lakers third loss in the season which dint occur for them in the last season till December. Before the game began, Houston’s Trevor Ariza got this year Championship ring from Kobe Bryant and Fisher.

2009
11.11

Jenson ButtonJenson Button began his Formula One career in the year 2000 by signing of contract with BMW Williams team. He was picked by his constructor team boss as he won a shoot out match against Bruno Junqueira. He had a chance of scoring a point on his debut, but could not achieve it due to engine failure. During his debut season, he managed to finish at eighth spot with his best finish of 5th place in Circuit de Spa Francorchamps. In the next year he moved to Benetton which turned out to be a worst nightmare for him as he managed to finish 17th place. Benetton has been renamed as Renault F1 team in the next year (2002). This time Button had a good run in the season with fourth place finish in both the Malaysian and Brazilian GP and finished as number seventh racer in the Drivers’ Championship.

Button was forced to join BAR team in 2003 after another driver replaced his race spot from Renault. This time his team mate was former Champion Jacques Villeneuve. He gained a lot of experience and had many better finishes and ended the 2003 season with 9th spot. In 2004, Button had a good run of his career finishing Malaysian GP at third place and San Marino GP at fourth place. He finished the season at 3rd place behind Ferrari drivers and led his constructor’s team finish second.  In 2005, He again went onto the shell finishing at 9th spot in championship ranking. In 2006, he moved on and continued for three years with 6th, 15th and 18th spot respectively. In 2009 many rules were introduced by the F1 officials. Honda team was renamed as Brawn GP following a buy out by Ross Brawn in 2009. With new rules favoring Button and Barrichello (Brawn GP drivers), they both had a dream run in the season with Button finishing the top of the Driver Championship with 95 points and 6 wins.