India take 1-0 lead with eight-wicket win against Australia

MS Dhoni, R Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Tendulkar were the pivotal contributors to India's 1-0 series lead, showing greater discipline and awareness of the sort of cricket best played on the MA Chidambaram Stadium's clay court. Save for Michael Clarke's first-day century and James Pattinson's fiery pace, it was not until Moises Henriques stood up with the bat in the second innings that the tourists showed evidence of catching up.

A target of only 50 to win was reached with the help of some Tendulkar fireworks - towering sixes from his first two deliveries against Nathan Lyon - but Pattinson again bowled well to the openers and Lyon showed far greater consistency of line and control of length than he had managed while being taken for 3 for 215 in the first innings.

India were left with some questions about their opening pair, M Vijay and Virender Sehwag doing little in either innings, and they may also wonder about subtracting another seam bowler from their XI should the Hyderabad surface be anything like this one. Australia have found a steady batting hand in Henriques, but much of their display in this match will be the cause of serious introspection.

Henriques and Lyon had put on 66 for Australia's last wicket, a defiant gesture after the earlier batsmen had failed to stand their ground. Henriques' unbeaten innings completed a fine double for the debutant, who has surely made his place safe for the second Test.

Ultimately it was Ravindra Jadeja who ended the stand after 25 minutes on the final morning, switching from over to around the wicket against Lyon and coaxing an inside edge onto pad that was snapped up by short leg.

Pattinson's first ball of the innings was a snorter, pitched short and seaming back sharply at Vijay, though it angled away from Matthew Wade and flew away for four byes. The ball kept Vijay thinking, and after depositing Lyon for one straight six, he fell when an indecisive drive was well taken by Henriques at a shortish mid-off.

In the next over Cheteshwar Pujara offered a sharp chance when padding up to Lyon, the ball striking pad and glove but eluding Wade, who was unable to adjust to the ball's shifting trajectory. Sehwag sliced a brace of boundaries over the slips cordon from Pattinson, and when Peter Siddle replaced him he drove sweetly down the ground.

Lyon, meanwhile, showed some evidence of improvement in his bowling. He twirled down far fewer deliveries that could be tucked around the corner behind square leg, and the better line forced some impatient premeditated strokes from Pujara. It also undid Sehwag when he snicked to Clarke at slip. This little joust was ultimately immaterial to the result, sealed as it was by Tendulkar's sixes, but demonstrated that Lyon was learning.

Dhoni's double century builds large lead against Australia

Spectators entered the M Chidambaram Stadium earnestly hoping to see a Sachin Tendulkar century. They were to leave it chanting the name of the unbeaten double-centurion MS Dhoni, after watching one of the most brutal and influential innings the ground has witnessed.
It was a passage that sapped Australia, its after-effects notable in the final session when a contest once finely balanced now looked almost as lopsided as that between Dhoni's top and bottom hands for control of the bat. The debutant and No. 9 Bhuneshwar Kumar played the pesky tail-end role with aplomb, and by the close had taken part in a record, unbroken ninth-wicket stand for India against Australia. In all, 144 runs were ransacked from the final session.
Dhoni arrived with India becalmed. He responded with hard hands and aggressive shots, while Kohli heeded his captain's example and pulled a Lyon long hop into the crowd beyond midwicket to help them regain their voice. Boundaries began to leak again where previously none could be found, and the 50 stand was raised at better than four an over.

Others fell by the wayside - R Ashwin edged Lyon onto the stumps via his boot, and Harbhajan Singh gifted Henriques a first Test wicket with an unseemly waft that did not impress Dhoni - but Bhuvneshwar provided sturdy support. Dhoni toyed with the strike, taking singles at times and spurning them at others, and invariably connecting cleanly when he deigned to swing for the fences.

Australia's bowlers and fielders gradually wilted, Ed Cowan missing a tough chance from Bhuvneshwar while others misfielded, and Pattinson's pace dipped as steadily as Lyon's bite. All the while, the lead grew from pesky to match-defining dimensions. Such a possibility had seemed so unlikely at the moment Tendulkar fell.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Singapore

For many, Valentine’s Day is a dreadful day as restaurants mark up their prices ridiculously. However, it is still possible to have fun celebrating Valentine’s Day – with your partner, your family, or a group of friends – if you know where to go.
Akashi Japanese Restaurant
Akashi is probably not the most romantic restaurant, but what it lacks in ambience it certainly makes up for with top quality Japanese food. This is a nice place to go for your first omakase experience as the restaurant uses the finest ingredients imported from Japan. Otherwise, there are also many value-for-money bento sets to choose from.
Five and Dime Eatery 

Located in a colonial shop house along River Valley Road, Five and Dime Eatery is a restaurant which serves comfort food like mac & cheese, burger, fish & chips, and pasta. Most of the items are priced between $20-30.

It is a charming place, with a friendly and cosy atmosphere. Take my word for it: Five & Dime Eatery is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day with your partner.

Pakistan blown away record 49 lowest test total

If Pakistan were in any doubt about the challenge of facing South Africa's pace attack, they were quickly disabused on the second morning at the Wanderers, as they were bowled out for their lowest total in Tests. Dale Steyn took 6 for 8, his 20th five-wicket haul in Tests, in an extraordinary, lethal display that gave South Africa a choke hold on the match with a lead of over 200. Graeme Smith, deciding not to enforce the follow-on, then picked up his bat with a view to having some more fun in his 100th Test as captain.

As South Africa ascended to the No. 1 Test ranking over the last year, a succession of teams have been left thrashing helplessly in their wake. After dispatching England and Australia in their own backyards, Smith's team are now relishing the chance to display their talents in front of home crowds. The only disappointment for the Johannesburg locals may be that this contest - like the two Tests against New Zealand last month - is unlikely to go anywhere near the distance.

The Pakistan innings could not have resembled a horror show any more had Freddie Krueger been spotted in the stands. As ever, Dale Steyn was a batsman's nightmare incarnate, his opening spell decapitating the Pakistan top-order in a manner worthy of any slasher flick, as the South Africa bowlers made perfect use of swinging conditions, useful bounce and more than a modicum of indecision among the tourists. After lunch arrived with Pakistan clinging on at 40 for 7, Steyn returned to stamp on their fingers and send them hurtling into the abyss. His relentless display produced six wickets and 39 dot balls, and only allowed three scoring shots, in 8.1 overs of mesmeric bowling.

Having resumed without loss, Pakistan would have known that the chances of them getting up towards South Africa's first-innings 253 rested on their successfully getting past the new ball. Recognising that did not come close to actually helping them achieve it, however, and at 12 for 3 after six overs the tone had been set. A partnership of 24 in almost 14 overs seemed to have stabilised the Pakistan innings, only for the darkness to swallow them up again, the last seven wickets falling for 13 runs and the roar of the crowd becoming a blanket of white noise.