SPORTS BRIEFS

Big Bash

PERTH, Australia (CMC):

Chris Gayle's Western Australia trounced Dwayne Bravo's Victoria by six wickets in the Twenty20 Big Bash on Tuesday, but both players failed to spark.

Playing for Western Australia, the big-hitting Gayle was dismissed for one, but the hosts got a 59-ball 93 from opener Shaun Marsh to reach 146 for four off 17.1 overs, overhauling Victoria's 145 for eight at the WACA Ground.

Bravo finished with one wicket for 11 runs from his two overs of medium pace. Earlier, Bravo got a run-a-ball 16, but was outshone by opener Aaron Finch, who lashed 61 from 46 balls to set up Victoria.

Playing it safe

Pakistan clinched a 1-0 series win and their first Test series victory for five years by securing a draw against New Zealand in the second Test, which ended yesterday. Chasing 274 for victory on the final day, Pakistan looked well placed to push for a 2-0 series clean sweep when they moved to 160-4 at tea. However, Pakistan were unwilling to risk a rare series victory and took a no-risk approach in the final session to ensure a draw, reaching 226-5 when stumps were drawn.

New Zealand took three wickets in the opening session to boost chances of a rare win of its own, but Younis Khan (81) and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (70 not out) ground out patient innings to deny the home team.

"We saw the series as more important than this Test," Misbah said at the post-game presentation.

India win

Yusuf Pathan produced a terrific 50-ball 59-run innings on Tuesday night to help India chase South Africa's total of 220 with 10 balls to spare, after being precariously placed at 93 for five at one stage. Faf De Plessie top-scored with 60 (72 balls), while J.P. Duminy hit 52 (59) and Graeme Smith 43 (79).

India made 223 for eight with Suresh Raina hitting the second highest India score of 37. Morne Morkel grabbed three for 28, while Dale Steyn took two for 31, both off 10 overs apiece.

Maradona's mourning

Argentina (AP):

Diego Maradona says he is finally over his long mourning period following his removal as Argentina's national team coach and is ready to move on. Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Argentina's coastal resort city Mar del Plata, the 50-year-old Maradona said "the mourning is over", six months on from the World Cup when he led Argentina to the quarter-finals before a loss to Germany.

He said he planned to travel to England later this month, saying he had a commitment without offering any specifics. There has been speculation that Maradona could take over the coaching job at English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.

Life ban

NYON, Switzerland (AP):

UEFA has welcomed a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that upheld a life ban for Ukrainian referee Oleh Orekhov over links with a match-fixing gang. UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino says it is determined to win a difficult fight against corruption and calls on football and sports courts to show "the same spirit of zero tolerance".

UEFA banned Orekhov last year because he failed to report "repeated contacts" with a crime syndicate that offered him £50,000 (US$67,000) to influence a Europa League match in November 2009. CAS dismissed Orekhov's appeal on Tuesday. Orekhov is the second international referee UEFA has banned, using evidence from an ongoing German police investigation into match-fixing across Europe.