India beat South Africa by 21 runs

An injury-hit India produced all-round performance to slash up an emphatic 21-run triumph over South Africa in the only twenty20 international.

Playing without regular openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, India ride on a brilliant half-century by Rohit Sharma (53 off 34 balls) and Suresh Raina's racy 23-ball 41 to post a competitive 168 for six after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat.

The visitors then returned to contain South Africa to 147 for nine in the stipulated 20 overs to complete the victory at the Moses Mabhida Stadium here.

Ashish Nehra and Yusuf Pathan chimed in with two wickets each to contribute to the cause.

For South Africa, opener Morne van Wyk blasted a whrilwind 39-ball 67 comprising five fours and as many sixes but he didn't get support from the other end as the hosts fell short by 21 runs in the end.

van Wyk then sent one Ashwin delivery flying over the deep midwicket for a six to complete his half-century in just 24 balls, registering the fastest fifty by a South African in twenty20 cricket.

India and South Africa will next play the five-match ODI series starting here on Wednesday.

Michael Clarke retires from international Twenty20 Cricket

Michael Clarke announced his retirement from T20 international in the fallout from Australia's Ashes humiliation against England on Friday.

Clarke, standing in for injured captain Ricky Ponting, presided over an Australian team thrashed by an innings and 83 runs in the fifth Sydney Test and made the announcement during his post-match press conference.

Cameron White was later named skipper of Australia's side for their two T20 games against England next week, with wicketkeeper Tim Paine his vice-captain.

It was a personal series failure by one of Australia's senior Test batsmen, scoring just 193 runs at 21.44 in nine innings against the dominant English bowling attack.

"I'm retiring from international T20 cricket," Clarke said.

"I guess, looking back on this series, my Test cricket isn't where I want it at the moment.

"This gives me the opportunity to focus wholly and solely on Test cricket and one-day internationals and to use that time to play more domestic or first-class cricket for New South Wales and become a better Test player.

"For me, I've always said Test cricket is the ultimate for me. This gives me that opportunity."

Clarke admitted that even as captain he has struggled in the T20 format of the game, scoring just 419 runs in 23 innings at 22.05.

Brett Lee signs up for New Zealand domestic T20 stint

Australian faster Brett Lee has signed to play domestic T20 cricket in New Zealand later this year with the Wellington Firebirds, the club said Monday.

Brett Lee, looking for as much match-time as possible as he seeks a career swansong at ICC World Cup 2011, will entrance for Wellington against Auckland on December 14, Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen said.

"It’s marvelous to have secured the services of Brett and his record speaks for itself," Larsen said.

"He's a gifted all-round sportsperson who has proven himself a true match winner for Australia in over a decade at the highest level."

The 33-year-old will miss the first half of the New Zealand domestic competition because of prior commitments to his home state New South Wales but will play five matches and be available for the final on January 2.

Lee retired from Test cricket earlier this year after a string of injuries but is worried to cap his international career by appearing for Australia at the World Cup 2011.

Raina powers India win T20 Series

Captain Suresh Raina led from the frontage with a blistering 72(44) as India signed off their Zimbabwe tour with a complete 7 wickets win over the hosts in the 2nd and final T20 International at Harare.

Chasing 141, India made 144 for three with Suresh Raina striking the winning runs and comprehensive the two match Twenty20 series 2-0. Raina's effort earned him the Man of the Match & the Man of the Series awards.

India lost the 1st wicket of Naman Ojha early, but Vijay and skipper Suresh Raina ensured that India would not face any complexity. Along with Murali Vijay (46), Raina shared a 79-run standing for the 2nd wicket, which set up the second easy win. Raina's 44-ball knock contained 6 fours and 2 sixes.

India's 2nd consecutive win, after a poor show in the ODI tri-series, will do a world of good to the confidence of its youngsters as they head off for the Asia Cup 2010 in Sri Lanka, which starts in two days time.

Match Summary:

1st T20: Zim 111/9 20 Over Chibhabha 40 Ervine 30 V.Kumar 3/24 A. Dinda 2/27 Ind 112/4 15 Over Y. Pathan 37 S. Raina 28 Price 2/24 Mpofu 2/31

2nd T20: Zim 140/5 20 Over Taibu 45 Coventry 28 A. Dinda 2/15 A. Mishra 1/21 India: 144/3 in 18 Over S. Raina 72 M. Vijay 46 Chibhabha 1/19

Clarke wants to continue as Australia Twenty20 captain

Michael Clarke's leadership qualities have come under the scanner in the World T20 in the West Indies, but Michael Clarke said he was enjoying every bit of the duty and wants to continue as Australia's T20 skipper.

"No doubt, I'm disappointed we couldn't win the World T20, win the final, but I've really enjoyed the opportunity," Clarke said yesterday after returning home following Australia's loss to England in the World Twenty20 final in the Caribbean.

"I've loved playing with the guys, I've had a lot of support from people back at home, the people who came and watched the games in the West Indies, and family and friends, so it's been great and I'm enjoying it," he said.

Clarke's future as T20 captain is likely to be decided over the next week as the selectors sit to name the Australian squads for the tour of England, where they will play Tests Series, one day matches and T20 games against Pakistan and the hosts.

He also has the backing of Test skipper Ricky Ponting, who feels Clarke is the future of Australian cricket.

However, it is not Clarke's captaincy that has been a matter of concern but his poor run with the bat.

The right-hander himself admitted that it was high time he reinvent his aggressive manner.

England had won a major international T20 World Cup

South Africa born batsmen Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen starred as England won their first major one-day title in a 7 wicket victory over Australia in the World T20 final.

England, chasing 148 to win in 20 over, after reducing a formerly unbeaten Australian side at this tournament to eight for three, saw Kieswetter and Pietersen put on 111 for the second wicket at the Kensington Oval.

They finally won with three overs to spare when skipper Paul Collingwood struck Shane Watson for a four as his side finished on 148 for three.

It was the first time England had won a major international one-day event after losing in 3 World Cup finals (1979, 1987 and 1992) and the 2004 Champions Trophy.

England, who detained Australia to 147/6, had an early setback when Michael Lumb's out them seven for one.

But Kieswetter(63) and Pietersen(47) then conquered the Australian bowlers. Pietersen, who faced 31 balls, with six and four fours, was out when he hoisted leg-spinner Steven Smith to David Warner on the long-off boundary line.

And, troublingly for England, 118 for two became 121 for three when Kieswetter was bowled by left-arm faster Mitchell Johnson, having faced 49 balls, with two sixes and seven fours.

But Collingwood and Eoin Morgan saw England home.

Beat in what was a first World T20 final for both the Ashes rivals left an Australia side before unbeaten at the tournament still searching for the one major title that has so far eluded them.

Earlier, David Hussey's 59 kept Australia in the match during an innings where the next best score was Cameron White's 30.

Kieswetter, a former South Africa Under-19 international, then struck medium-pacer Watson for two fours in as many balls

He later launched the all-rounder for a huge six over midwicket.

At the 10-over halfway mark, England were 73 for one compared to Australia's 47 for four.

Australia badly needed a breakthrough but, in Tait's comeback over, Pietersen drove him over his head for a boundary and then struck an even more impressive six high over long-off to bring up England's hundred.

Jacob Oram and Kyle Mills ruled out of T20i

The New Zealand will be without two player of the squad for first T20 International against Pakistan in Dubai.

All rounder Jacob Oram is returning to New Zealand on Thursday to be with his wife, Mara, who is expecting the couple's first child may be having the baby early.

Kyle Mills has a shoulder injury but is stay with the team. He is not expected to take part in the first Twenty20 International but may be available for the second match.

James Franklin, who has been sidelined with a back injury during the first part of the UAE ODI series, came through a light practice yesterday and may be available for the T20 matches.

The Blackcaps plays Pakistan in the first of two T20 Internationals at Dubai International Cricket Stadium at Dubai Sports City on Thursday 12 November, and the second the following day.

Shahid Afridi signs up with South Australia

Aiming a berth in the 2nd edition of the Champions League, South Australia has signed up glitzy Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi for their domestic T20 tournament, starting in December 2009.

South Australia officials believe that the inclusion of the hard-hitting all-rounder would increase their chances of making the final of the domestic big bash tournament, which will make them suitable for the cash-rich event.

Afridi has swapped Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis in the Redbacks' squad.

"We narrowly missed out on finals last season and these signings are definitely a boost to our quest to qualify for the Champions League 2009," SACA High Performance Manger, Jamie Cox said.

"I have made no secret of the fact that I view the Big Bash competition as the most commercial on the domestic calendar and the inaugural Champions' League also provides fantastic opportunities for young players to showcase their skills on the world stage," he added.

Afridi was the player of the tournament in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and has a unbelievable strike rate of 147 in 24 T20 internationals. He also has best bowling figures of 4/11.

Afridi has played 285 ODI matches with strike rate of 110. He has also taken 264 wickets with best figures of 6/38 against Australia.