Yuvraj Singh in MVP race with Virender Sehwag

Yuvraj Singh was the most valuable player (MVP) in the recently-concluded Sri Lanka - India ODI series, but Virender Sehwag continues to be India's most valuable ODI player so far in the 2008-09 season.

The MVP index (MVPI) is calculated based on the assumption that, in ODI cricket, batsmen offer the best value if they score a lot of runs with good strike rates; bowlers if they take a lot of wickets at good (low) economy rates and fielders if they take the most catches or make the most run outs. The MVPI collapses the player's all-round performance into a single 'run equivalent'.

Kumar Sangakkara (MVPI = 318) is the only Sri Lankan to figure in the top five, in a series that saw dominating performances from Yuvraj, Dhoni , Sehwag and Gambhir.

It is especially interesting to note that Ishant Sharma took the most wickets (10) in the ODI series; one tends to think of Ishant more as a top Test match bowler.

Sachin Tendulkar , who was India's most valuable ODI player last season, is at the bottom of the list after being a victim of three poor umpiring decisions. It's unlikely that something like this will ever happen again. For more info please click here

Sri Lanka clinch consolation win

Sri Lanka clinched a consolation 68-run victory against India in the fifth and final one-day international in Colombo on Sunday to avoid a series whitewash.

Sri Lanka piled up 320 for eight with opener Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scoring with 97, then bowled out India for 252. India won the series 4-1.

Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Nuwan Kulasekara and Muttiah Muralitharan , produced their best display of the series.

In-form Yuvraj Singh provided some resistance with a powerful 73 but the Indian innings eventually ran out of steam.

Thilina Thushara struck first as Virender Sehwag mishit a straight drive.

Kulasekara then followed up with the wicket of Suresh Raina, who was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara standing up to the stumps.

Sangakkara also caught Gautam Gambhir off Kulasekara to leave India in early trouble on 52 for three.

Yuvraj still attacked and the run rate remained high, but he was unable to build partnerships. Muralitharan swung the game decisively Sri Lanka's way as Yuvraj top-edged a sweep to be caught and bowled.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept India's hopes alive for a while with his run-a-ball 53 and all rounder Ravindra Jadeja impressed with 60 not out on debut, but Sri Lanka's slow bowlers squeezed the run rate to maintain the upper-hand.

Earlier, Dilshan top-scored with 97 from 117 balls with Sangakkara adding 84 as the pair provided the foundation for Sri Lanka's largest total of the series with a 143-run second-wicket partnership.

Home skipper Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and opted to bat, a decision that was justified as his line-up responded by dominating the India attack for the only time this series.

Dilshan's opening partner Sanath Jayasuriya helped give the innings a solid start with a rapid 37 in a 66-run first-wicket stand.

After Jayasuriya's cameo was ended by Irfan Pathan , Sangakkara maintained the momentum with a positive innings, using up just 70 balls for his 84 and hitting eight fours and a six.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni tried all his bowling options to make breakthroughs, using nine bowlers during the course of the innings.

He was able to engineer a late collapse with Ishant Sharma making a quick double-strike, bowling Thilina Kandamby for 26 and having Chamara Kapugedera caught behind for a duck.

Dilshan was run out just short of a deserved century and Jayawardene was caught at short cover for one.

During a frenzied passage of play in which India stormed back into the game, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for one run to teeter on 256-6 but all rounder Farveez Maharoof steered the hosts past 300 with a swashbuckling 32, hitting a six and three boundaries.

Sharma was the most successful of the Indian bowlers, finishing with three for 60 from his 10 overs.

Both teams made two changes in the final game, Sri Lanka recalling spinner Ajantha Mendis and fast bowler Thilina Thushara.

India gave a debut to promising all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and a first game in the series to pace bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji.
Source: www.rediff.com

India eye series whitewash

Having achieved their best-ever ODI ranking by displacing world champions Australia as the number two team, a confident India would be eyeing a series whitewash when they take on Sri Lanka in the final cricket one-dayer in Colombo on Sunday.

It has already turned out to be a dream series for Mahendra Singh Dhoni , who made it to the record books by becoming the first Indian captain to win nine ODIs on the trot and the flamboyant wicket-keeper batsman would like to keep the winning momentum going in the last game.

The other thing which will be in Dhoni's mind when he takes the field is that every win from here on will bring his side one step closer to the world number one position, which is being currently occupied by South Africa (125) with a lead of just three points.

And coach Gary Kirstein had no hesitation in admitting that his main aim this year is to take India to the top position.

"Getting to number one is the obvious goal this year, but You just can't think you have won the series 4-0 and be complacent in the next game.

"It doesn't happen with us. When you go onto the field you go to win and not just compete. Great teams are those that carry the momentum forward into every game," Kirsten said.

The Indians have been phenomenal in all departments of the game in the series as compared to the hosts who were rather disappointing.

While Sachin Tendulkar , Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag provide aggression at the top of the order, the likes of Yuvraj Singh , Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and Dhoni have been rock steady at the middle.

The bowlers, on the other hand, have been disciplined all through the series.

Interestingly, the most heartening thing to see was the success of young spinner Pragyan Ojha and part-time bowlers in Yuvraj, Raina, Sehwag and Yousuf.

Zaheer Khan , Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar have been outstanding upfront. Irfan Pathan , who made a comeback in the last match, too joined the party, picking up three wickets.

Faced with the prospect of an embarassing a 0-5 whitewash, a demoralised Sri Lanka will look to salvage some pride before the home crowd in the last match of the series.

The hosts, who are playing non-stop cricket for five months, seemed to have forgotten their basics against the mighty Indians.

The Lankans have floundered in every department of the game. If their batting and bowling has been below par, their fielding has been dreadful.

Without veteran Chaminda Vaas , the Lankan pace attack looked clueless. Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara and Dilhara Fernando lacked sting in their bowling.

The biggest disappointment, however, has been the performance of spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and mystery man Ajantha Mendis .

Although Murali created history in the last match by becoming the highest wicket-taker in one-day cricket, he had to toil hard to achieve the feat which gives a clear idea of his bad patch.

He never looked threatening as Indian batsmen negotiated the spin wizard with ease.

Mendis, on the other hand, seemed to have run out of ideas and looked predictable before the rampaging Indians that forced Mahela Jayawardena to drop the Armyman from the last encounter.

For Dhoni and Co, there are no major worries and it remains to be seen whether some more senior players are rested or not for Sunday's match to make way for reserve players like Ravindra Jadeja who will make his debut if selected.

After taking a break in the last match, Sachin Tendulkar is expected to return to make amends for the dubious umpiring decisions which he received in the first three matches of the series.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt and wk), Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel , Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma , Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jaywardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya , Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera , Jehan Mubarak, Tillakaratne Dilshan , Thilina Kandamby, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilina Thushara and Angelo Mathews.
Source: www.rediff.com

Top Paying Google Key Words: holiday

Keywords	Estimated Avg. CPC	Approx Search Volume: November	Approx Avg Search Volume
holiday insurance	463.83	18100	27100
direct holiday	344.14	3600	3600
holiday com	234.51	49500	74000
holiday thomson	211.25	2900	2400
holiday wales	202.43	5400	5400
flights holiday	178.1	4400	6600
holiday home	169.9	74000	60500
holiday motel	160.94	18100	18100
villa holidays	159.44	6600	8100
holiday cruise	156.71	14800	22200
hill holiday	154.28	33100	40500
holiday hills	151.27	22200	27100
holiday rentals	151.25	27100	27100
state holiday	150.07	27100	22200
holiday lanes	145.35	3600	4400
holidays	140.46	3350000	2740000
algarve holidays	138.42	1900	1900
cheap holiday	134.47	33100	49500
majorca holidays	133.13	2400	4400
beach holiday	132.45	165000	246000
holiday villas	132.1	18100	27100
ski holiday	128.6	12100	18100
majorca holiday	127.92	1900	2400
portugal holiday	126.28	14800	12100
holiday cottages	123	18100	22200
holiday road	118.88	40500	33100
holiday in	117.92	550000	550000
holiday marina	117.5	8100	12100
spain holiday	117.19	90500	60500
australia holiday	117.15	165000	110000
luxury holiday	112.31	14800	12100
holiday coast	111.71	9900	12100
canada holiday	107.27	90500	74000
holiday villa	103.69	18100	22200
usa holiday	103.56	12100	12100
holiday packages	101.91	673000	550000
holiday travel	99.92	201000	673000
holiday apartments	99.72	22200	27100
holiday devon	99.59	3600	4400
holidays tenerife	99.2	3600	8100
holiday group	99.2	5400	4400
holiday gift	98.7	165000	201000
holiday resort	98.58	74000	90500
holiday barn	98.53	2400	1900
holiday homes	97.23	33100	40500
holiday cyprus	95.65	12100	9900
holiday lettings	95.52	1900	1600
holiday rental	94.55	18100	22200
family holiday	94.37	49500	40500
holiday accomadation	92.99	170	170
apartment holiday	92.83	8100	12100
rent holiday	92.44	6600	8100
holiday winter	91.9	22200	22200
holiday queensland	90.59	1900	1900
holiday lodge	90.42	9900	9900
holiday cornwall	90.24	5400	5400
holiday deals	90.13	301000	368000
turkey holiday	90.07	40500	27100
holiday cottage	89.81	12100	18100
holiday gifts	89.72	74000	90500
greece holiday	89.34	33100	27100
holiday station	89.11	18100	18100
airtours holiday	89	480	390
england holiday	87.63	18100	18100
scotland holiday	85.78	8100	9900
last minute holiday	81.7	6600	8100
holiday dorset	81.56	1600	1900
holiday pool	81.48	3600	4400
country holiday	80.31	9900	9900
american holiday	79.79	22200	18100
holiday houses	76.5	6600	6600
last holiday	75.92	27100	33100
holiday systems	75.07	4400	3600
holiday accomodation	74.75	1900	1900
holiday accommodation	74.4	14800	18100
holiday world	74.32	33100	74000
the holiday	73.48	450000	450000
holiday weekend	73.39	6600	8100
may holiday	71.73	5400	14800
body holiday	70.99	4400	4400
ryan holiday	70.63	1900	1600
perfect holiday	68.35	14800	27100
christmas holiday	68.26	450000	368000
holiday farm	67.01	6600	6600
august holiday	65.06	2900	8100
holiday world in	64.12	1900	3600
summer holiday	63.96	9900	14800
holiday in may	59.12	880	1600
holiday events	54.32	33100	22200
holiday automotive	53.86	1300	1300
holiday list	47.54	22200	18100
holiday video	46.07	33100	22200
holiday sands south	45.09	1900	3600
asian holiday	42.28	3600	2400
holiday lyrics	41.99	110000	135000
holiday band	40.42	5400	3600
judy holiday	36.95	1600	1900
holiday systems international	35.3	2900	1900
holiday sands north	34.55	1000	2400
jennifer holiday	25.84	40500	22200
green day holiday	21.63	110000	60500
j holiday	20.54	550000	1000000
bed by j holiday	3	-1	9900
greenday holiday	3	-1	14800
grey holiday	3	-1	3600
holiday market royal oak	3	-1	1300
holiday today	3	-1	9900
j holiday bed	3	-1	165000
j holiday cd	3	-1	2400
jay holiday	3	-1	33100
jrue holiday	3	-1	8100
matt holiday	3	-1	6600
next holiday	3	-1	5400
the last holiday	3	-1	5400
when you re on a holiday	3	-1	320
when your on a holiday	3	-1	1300

Top Paying Google Key Words: holidays

Keywords	Estimated Avg. CPC	Approx Search Volume: November	Approx Avg Search Volume
country cottages	431.46	14800	14800
thomson holidays	406.95	8100	12100
direct holidays	343.32	4400	6600
cosmos holiday	302.74	210	210
holiday co uk	202.79	2900	2900
holiday	180.95	16600000	16600000
cottage holidays	173.06	2400	4400
holiday north	166.81	90500	110000
hoseasons	164.04	4400	2900
holiday gold coast	158.15	3600	2900
cheapest holiday	154.71	1600	1300
hotels	153.16	338000000	414000000
cheap	152.24	83100000	83100000
villa rental	150.01	49500	74000
holiday south	149.23	110000	110000
luxury holidays	143.88	6600	8100
hoildays	136.62	14800	12100
luxury	129.16	16600000	13600000
family holidays	126.62	18100	22200
cottages devon	118.53	1900	2400
travel	117.74	124000000	185000000
last minute	114.89	9140000	6120000
villas	114.29	1500000	1500000
breaks	112.65	1500000	1000000
short breaks holiday	112.33	210	210
holidays in	111.81	246000	246000
holdays	111.16	4400	3600
last minute holidays	108.64	8100	12100
all inclusive holidays	108.27	9900	9900
holiday cottages to rent	106.67	320	260
short breaks	105.55	18100	22200
cottages	105.05	673000	823000
holiday country cottages	103.96	91	91
deals	103.68	55600000	55600000
cheap package holidays	102.9	2400	4400
gold coast	102.24	301000	301000
holiday first choice	101.81	390	880
cheap holiday packages	101.33	880	1300
bargain holidays	101.12	6600	9900
short break	100.42	12100	14800
all inclusive	100.22	1220000	1500000
flights	99.48	24900000	68000000
late deals	99.37	49500	74000
holiday deal	99.18	3600	4400
package holidays	98.59	22200	22200
thomson	98.09	1000000	823000
unijet	94.24	590	720
accommodation	92.75	1500000	1220000
thomas cook	92.71	60500	60500
cottages to rent	92.45	4400	6600
cheap holidays	92.23	49500	74000
accomodation	90.98	201000	246000
package holiday	90.78	22200	22200
cheapest holidays	89.07	1600	1600
winter holidays	88.13	9900	12100
bargain holiday	87.62	4400	6600
late deal	86.83	4400	5400
holiday abroad	86.09	1300	1600
cheap package holiday	85.7	720	1600
lodges holiday	84.76	1000	880
holiday norfolk	84.46	6600	6600
summer holidays	82.83	8100	9900
late holidays	82.13	5400	6600
all inclusive holiday	82.07	3600	5400
book a holiday	80.98	1000	880
holidays abroad	80.49	2900	6600
holiday new year	80.33	2900	4400
cornwall	79.32	368000	368000
holiday lake district	76.78	1000	1600
holiday thomas cook	74.93	320	390
late deal holidays	73.56	1000	1300
cottage	72.62	2240000	2240000
sun holidays	72.01	5400	6600
late deals holiday	71.69	1300	2400
villa	70.23	3350000	3350000
sun holiday	69.49	27100	27100
lodges	68.69	246000	246000
holiday bargains	68.51	1600	4400
holiday destinations	61.46	3600	3600
national trust holiday	57.43	140	210
abta	54.53	3600	3600
christmas	52.96	30400000	30400000
airtours	45.44	6600	8100
caravans	28.03	74000	60500