Euro 2012: Flying Kicks

A taste of football actions and emotions from Euro 2012.

Spain's Fernando Torres celebrates after scoring a goal against Ireland during their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match at PGE Arena in Gdansk June 14, 2012. 

Netherlands' Gregory van der Wiel (L) and Portugal's Raul Meireles jump for the ball during their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match at Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, June 17, 2012. 

Netherlands' goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg fails to save an invalidated goal from Portugal's Helder Postiga (R) during their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match at Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, June 17, 2012.

Ireland's Aiden McGeady falls down during their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Spain at the PGE Arena in Gdansk, June 14, 2012. 

France's soccer player Franck Ribery plays with the ball during a training session at the team's training center in Kircha near Donetsk June 12, 2012. France drew 1-1 with England in their Group D Euro 2012 soccer match yesterday in Donetsk, Ukraine. 2012.

Netherlands' Robin van Persie (L) and Portugal's Joao Pereira jump for the ball during their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match at Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, June 17, 2012. 

Russia's Sergei Ignashevich challenges Poland's Robert Lewandowski (R) during their Group A Euro 2012 soccer match at the National stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012.

Poland's Damien Perquis (up) jumps on Czech Republic's Milan Baros as they fight for a ball during their Group A Euro 2012 soccer match at the City stadium in Wroclaw, June 16, 2012.

France's Franck Ribery and England's Glen Johnson (R) fight for the ball during their Group D Euro 2012 soccer match at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, June 11, 2012. 

Italy's Antonio Di Natale gestures as the ball flies during their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Croatia at the ctiy stadium in Poznan June 14, 2012. 

 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates in front of Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder after winning the Group B Euro 2012 soccer match at Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, June 17, 2012.

A steward removes a flare from the pitch next to Croatia's Ognjen Vukojevic during their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Italy at the city stadium in Poznan June 14, 2012. 

Russia's goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev challenges Poland's Robert Lewandowski (R) for the ball during their Group A Euro 2012 soccer match at the National stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (L) is challenged by Denmark's Simon Kjaer during their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match at the New Lviv stadium in Lviv June 13, 2012.

Portugal's Silvestre Varela (R) celebrates his goal against Denmark with Joao Moutinho during their Euro 2012 Group B soccer match at the new stadium in Lviv, June 13, 2012. 

Poland's Eugen Polanski (L) tries to score next to Russia's Aleksei Berezutski (L) and Sergei Ignashevich during the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match at national stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012.

 Italy's Mario Balotelli (R) challenges Croatia's Ivan Strinic during their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match at the city stadium in Poznan June 14, 2012.

Russia's Aleksandr Kerzhakov (R) tries to score against Poland's goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton (L) and Damien Perquis during their Group A Euro 2012 soccer match at national stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012.

Sweden's Markus Rosenberg (R) challenges Ukraine's Yevhen Khacheridi during their Group D Euro 2012 soccer match at Olympic Stadium in Kyiv, June 11, 2012.

  Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic competes for possession with Ukraine's Yevhen Selin (L) during their Group D Euro 2012 soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, June 11, 2012. 

India favourites to lift Twenty20 World Cup: Williamson

With less than 100 days to go to the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson feels that cricketing powerhouse India will be amongst the favourites to lift the trophy.


Williamson feels that India will be the team to be beat at the T20 World Cup, although Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also amongst the favourites in Sri Lankan conditions.


"The obvious favourites are India, although Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also strong contenders as they are familiar with the conditions. 


"But there are other great teams around too that will push the Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan sides. Twenty20 cricket is just so unpredictable, who knows on the day - anything is literally possible," Williamson told Pakpassion.net

The young batsman also said the chances of New Zealand winning the Cup should not be written off.


'It's going to be a challenge for the non-Asian sides'

He said: "It's going to be a difficult challenge for the non Asian sides in Sri Lanka. Having said that though I feel we have the players who can do well in those sorts of tournaments like we showed in the World Cup last year.


"The boys will be really excited and we know we can beat anyone on our day. 


"The key is to keep on looking to improve and we know that when we go onto that international stage against the world's best, we can go there with confidence and know that if we come off, we can beat anybody," he added.




Williamson made a nine ball duck against India on debut

Williamson's international cricket debut could not have been more inauspicious, as he made a nine ball duck against India in a one day international at Dambulla in August 2010.


However since that debut in Sri Lanka, Williamson has become an integral part of the New Zealand team in Test cricket and one day internationals and has recently also forced his way into the Twenty20 side.


In twelve Test appearances, the right handed middle order batsman has already completed two centuries and four half centuries.


In the fifty over format Williamson has reached three figures on two occasions and has made one half century, in twenty-four appearances, which was against South Africa in February. 

Sania Mirza's incredible feats

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi defeated Klaudia Jans-Ignacik/Santiago Gonzalez to win their second Grand Slam title together

Partnering Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza reached the mixed doubles final of the Australian Open, where she lost 6-7, 4-6 to the Serb/Sino pair of Nenad Zimonjic and Sun Tiantian

Sania Mirza was just 18 when she was conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2004. Two years ater, she was given the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.

Sania Mirza won her first Grand Slam title by winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title alongside Mahesh Bhupathi. The duo beat Andy Ram (Israel) and Nathalie Dechy (France) 6-3, 6-1 in the final.

Sania best-ever performance in a Grand Slam came at Flushing Meadows in 2005. She reached the fourth round, beating the likes of Mashona Washington, Maria Elena Camerin and Marion Bartoli on the way

Sania Mirza won the WTA Newcomer of the Year award in 2006, for her achievements in 2005. She finished the year ranked 31. Her achievements in 2005 included winning her first WTA title in Hyderabad and reaching the fourth round of the U.S Open.

Sania Mirza won the bronze medal after losing to Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan in the semi-finals.

Sania Mirza won the mixed doubles gold partnering Leander Paes, and two silver medals in the singles and team events.

Sania Mirza became the first Indian lady to win a WTA title when she defeated Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to win the Hyderabad Open

In one of the biggest wins of her career, Sania Mirza defeated Martina Hingis at the Korea Open in 2006.

Thanks to her steady rise in the WTA rankings (she was ranked as high as 27 in singles, and 18 in doubles), it came as no surprise when she became the first Indian woman to be the seeded in a Grand Slam.

West Indies' unlikely heroes at Edgbaston

Tino Best and Denesh Ramdin added 143 runs for the last wicket for West Indies against England at Edgbaston and in the process also broke some records. Here are the statistical highlights of their partnership.

Tino Best's 112-ball 95 is the highest-ever Test score by a No. 11 batsman. Best bettered the 75 scored by India's Zaheer Khan against Bangaldesh at Dhaka in December 2004. This was Best's first Test in almost three years and only the 15th of his career. Best's previous highest Test score was 27 made against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2005; while his previous highest first class-score was 51.

A single off Tim Bresnan saw Best - only called up to this tour as a replacement for injured fast bowler Shannon Gabriel - to fifty in 44 balls. Best jumped for joy and roared even as he kissed the badge of his maroon helmet in celebration.

Best became the first No. 11 in 106 years to score a Test fifty against England. The Barbadian had, though, registered the first half-century against England by a number 11 in 106 years. Only Australian Fred Spofforth (1885) and South African Bert Vogler (1906) had previously managed a half-century in the final batting position. 

It was also the first Test half-century by any number 11 in England for 46 years since John Snow made 59 not out against West Indies at the the Oval.

Best fell only five runs short of his maiden century when he failed to read a Graham Onions slower delivery and holed out to England captain Andrew Strauss at first slip. He walked off the field with disappointment etched large over his face despite playing a stupendous knock.

The 143-run partnership between Best and Denesh Ramdin for the tenth wicket is now the highest last-wicket partnership for West Indies, beating the 106 between Carl Hooper and Courtney Walsh against Pakistan at St. John’s, Antigua in May 1993. West Indies was all out for 426 in their first innings against England at Edgbaston.

 Best and Ramdin's partnership of 143 is the third-highest for the last wicket in Tests behind the 151-run partnerships between New Zealand's Richard Collinge and Brian Hastings against Pakistan at Auckland in February 1973; and a similar stand between Azhar Mahmood and Mushtaq Ahmed of Pakistan against South Africa at Rawalpindi in October 1997.

Ramdin, who remained not out on 107, scored his second Test century. Both his Test tons have come against England, but the landmark at Edgbaston came more than three years after he had scored his maiden ton.

  After reaching his century, Ramdin produced a piece of paper from his pocket on which the words "YEAH VIV TALK NAH" were written, in an apparent reference to criticism from former West Indies captain Viv Richards who is commentating for BBC Radio. Richards had said Ramdin had deteriorated as a cricketer.

Best's strike rate of 84.82 is the second-highest for a No.11 batsman for a fifty-plus score behind Pat Symcox's 128.57 during his 54 against Australia in 1998.

Reacting to Ramdin's jibe, the legendary Sir Viv Richards said, "I think I remember saying he'd lost his confidence, but I'm on the other side of the fence now and I'm here to do a job - there's no sentiment in it. I'm glad that he got the motivation from it." Richards also told Ramdin to make runs for a winning West Indies.

Best then capped off a remarkable and memorable day by dismissing Andrew Strauss and Jonny Bairstow to finish with figures of 12-2-37-2 at the end of the fourth day's play at Edgbaston.

Flying Cricket Bats

 ndia's MS Dhoni loses control of his bat during a T20 cricket match against Australia in Sydney February 1, 2012.

Chennai, INDIA: Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni loses his bat as he plays a shot during the second match of the N.K.P Salve Challenger Trophy between "India Green" and India Blue"at the Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, 02 October 2006.

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BASSETERRE, SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS: Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting loses his grip on bat while playing a shot during his 91 runs innings against South Africa at the Warner Park ground in Saint Kitts 24 March 2007. 

aMumbai Indians batsmen Rohit Sharma (R) loses his bat while watched by Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper Pinal Shah during the IPL Twenty20 match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 20, 2011.

 BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Steve Waugh of Australia loses grip of his bat during the 1st test match between Australia and Pakistan held at the GABBA 1995 in Brisbane, Australia.

Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan loses his bat as it slips out of his hands while attempting to hook England fast bowler Tim Bresnan during the Cricket World Cup 2011 quarter-final match.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 02: Marcus North of the Warriors loses the grip on his bat during the Ford Ranger Cup match. 

 BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS - APRIL 28: Adam Gilchrist of Australia loses grip of his bat during the ICC Cricket World Cup Final between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Kensington Oval on April 28, 2007.