Ricky Ponting fall but Michael Clarke drives Australia on

Australia 5 for 254 (Clarke 99*, Ponting 78, Haddin 2*) follow New Zealand 295 by 41 runs

Ricky Ponting's extended wait for his 40th test century continue but Michael Clarke was just one run short of his 17th hundred as Australia reach 254-5 at have lunch on the third day of the first test next to New Zealand on Saturday.

Australia, who resume on 154-3, inch progressively towards New Zealand's first innings tally of 295 with Clarke uncertainly balanced on 99 and Brad Haddin next to him on two when the break arrived to end an comprehensive morning session.

Ponting, who Clarke replaces as captain previous this year, had been hoping to notch up his first century since January 2010 but was able only to add 11 to his for the night total before being attentive lbw by Chris Martin for 78.

Clarke and Mike Hussey added another 60 runs before the knowledgeable Western Australian nicked within edge onto his pads and was caught by Jesse Ryder off the bowling of Daniel Vettori for 15.

That came a ball after Clarke had been drop on 85 by wicketkeeper Reece Young, the 30-year-old existing a big scare as he had when he was bowled on 23 on Friday but called back when television replays show he had been dismiss off a no ball.

Ponting's discharge was a reward for some good tight bowling from the New Zealanders, even if Clarke determined to challenge Aleem Dar's decision with a TV referral that upholds the umpire's call.

Clarke, who resume on 28, had earlier bring up his 22nd test half century in some style with a towering six back over the head of bowler Vettori. (Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, suppression by Greg Stutchbury)

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"Tough to stop Indian juggernaut"

With India on a 10-match winning strip at home, it is hard to stop their juggernaut, said West Indies captain Darren Sammy in front of the 2nd ODI.

West Indies are yet to win a match next to India despite coming agonizingly close on a few occasion during this tour so far.

"India so far has won the last 10 games at home. When you have a winning run, you forever tend to get a method to go over the line," said Sammy.

India wriggles out of an unstable position to clinch a nerve-wrecking one-wicket win over the West Indies in the first ODI at Cuttack to take 1-0 lead in five-match series.

West Indies had an existent match in their hands when they had India 201 for 9, chase 211 but the victory remains unbelievable as Indian tail of Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron cross the line in time.

However, Sammy said that they would be taking a lot of positives from the last game and felt that their indefinable victory was just approximately the corner.

"We keep receiving close. We need to find ways to defeat that. We manage to take India all the way down to the wire, defensive a small total. As much as we were dissatisfied in losing, the guys will take a lot of self-assurance going forward in the one-day series," the skipper insists.

"We are definitely looking to win games here. We have showed that we can compete with the best one-day teams in the world. Had we showed killer instincts in the last game, we could have crossed the line. Confidently, we would come victorious.

"We as a young team, we need to find a way out whether it's spiritually, physically or strategically. I consider in all the guys here. A win is just round the corner. It could be tomorrow," he added.

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England's Bresnan has prod operation

England bowler Tim Bresnan has undergone surgery on his elbow but is predictable to be fit for the Test series next to Pakistan in the New Year, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) exposed on Thursday.

Yorkshire pace man Bresnan feel pain in his elbow during the new one-day tour of India and was sent for an operation to remove a bone portion.

But the ECB said they probable him to be fit for next month's visit to the United Arab Emirates, where Pakistan are once more playing a 'home' series because of security concern in their own country.

"The Yorkshire and England pace bowler Tim Bresnan undergo an operation yesterday (Wednesday) to take away a bone piece from the back of his elbow," said an ECB statement.

"His symptoms started during the England one-day squad’s new tour of India and have failed to settle with rest.

"The ECB medical employees will oversee his analysis programmed in combination with Yorkshire and he is predictable to make a full revival in time for England's Test Series against Pakistan in the UAE which starts in January."

England, the world's number one ranked Test side, are predictable to name their squad for the three-match series next week.

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Kamran Akmal meet PCB chief about 'Ignored'

Discarded Pakistan wicketkeeper, Kamran Akmal, met with the PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, in yet another endeavor to revive his international career.

The knowledgeable wicketkeeper, who established a lot of flak for his shoddy work behind the stumps during the World Cup, has allegedly complained about selectors for overlooking him in spite of his good showing in domestic matches.

"Kamran convey to the Board chairman that the selectors were being unjust to him despite his good performance in domestic cricket as he had been ignored for the Sri Lanka series and Bangladesh tour," a source close to the cricketer, informed.

Kamran's name also came up during the spot-fixing scandal, along with pacer Wahab Riaz, who has also not been picked during recent matches.

"Kamran wanted to clear a few misunderstanding surrounding him," the source exposed.

The source added that Kamran told the PCB chief that he had submit all the needed documents such as his bank accounts and resources details to the ICC and PCB's honesty committee.

Kamran has been in good form in the continuing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and scored another half-century in a ninth-round match for the National bank on Wednesday.

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