Perera and Dilshan help Sri Lanka sink Pakistan

(Reuters) - A superb all-round display by Thisara Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan's 13th one-day century helped Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 76 runs at the Pallakele Stadium on Saturday to level the five-match series 1-1.

Man of the match Perera took a career-best six for 44 as Pakistan were bowled out for 204 in reply to the home team's 280 for four.

Sri Lanka's innings revolved around Dilshan's unbeaten 119 off 139 balls that included 11 fours and one six.

The home side made changes to their batting lineup, promoting Upul Tharanga to opener while captain Mahela Jayawardene dropped down the order to stabilise the middle.

The move paid off with Tharanga (18) and Dilshan seeing off Pakistan's new-ball bowlers with an opening stand of 37.

Dilshan played a workmanlike knock and shared half-century partnerships with Dinesh Chandimal (32) and Jayawardene (53).

Perera, promoted to number six, played a cameo innings of 24 not out in 14 balls.

With fast bowler Mohammad Sami sidelined due to a sore thumb, Pakistan's attack lacked its usual sting.

Pakistan's batting was then undone by Perera who started off by holding on to a stunning return catch to dismiss Mohammad Hafeez for 14.

With a career-best 96 from 119 balls, Azhar Ali was the only visiting batsman to show any resistance.

Kumar Sangakkara rounded off a good day for the home side by snatching his 300th ODI catch, holding on to an edge offered by Younus Khan (four) having put down an easy chance off the same batsman three balls earlier.

The third ODI is in Colombo on Wednesday.

Messi hat-trick gives Argentina 4-3 win over Brazil

(Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina beat arch-rivals Brazil 4-3 in an end-to-end friendly on Saturday, dealing a blow to the Brazilians as they wrapped up their preparations for the London Olympics.

Messi levelled the scores after 31 minutes after Gonzalo Higuain robbed Brazilian captain Sandro and fed the striker with a defence-splitting pass for him to shoot low into the corner of the goal.

Within three minutes, the diminutive striker ran clear again to put Argentina 2-1 up, collecting a pass from Angel di Maria and rounding Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.

A young Brazil side, facing a more experienced Argentina, had opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when a quickly taken free-kick found Romulo, who banged in the goal as Argentina's defenders appealed in vain for offside.

After half time, Brazil got back in the game when Oscar scored from close range after 56 minutes and then reclaimed the lead when Hulk took advantage of a fumble by Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero to score.

Argentina stormed back quickly in a rollercoaster game as Federico Fernandez headed in from a corner in the 75th minute.

Then, with six minutes of normal time left, Messi scored the best goal of the game with a trademark run and an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the goal from outside the penalty area.

"It's always beautiful to beat Brazil and I am very happy with my three goals," Messi told reporters after the game.

Messi has been criticized in the past for not repeating his Barcelona form for the national side but Saturday's hat-trick was Messi's second in three matches for Argentina and his tally for the national side now stands at 26 in 70 matches.

The game was played in front of a sell-out crowd of nearly 82,000 - many of them Brazilians and Argentines living in the United States - at Meadowlands Stadium, home of New York's two American football teams, the Giants and the Jets.

Germany starts with success, Denmark punish wasteful Dutch

Mario Gomez's second-half header ensured Germany made a winning start to Euro 2012 after Portugal had threatened to frustrate Joachim Loew's side.
Germany dominated possession but struggled to create many chances until Gomez broke the deadlock from Sami Khedira's cross in the 72nd minute.
Portugal were disappointing and only came to life after Germany scored.
Pepe hit the bar with a rare first-half chance while Nani was also denied by the woodwork late on.
Germany face Netherlands, who lost 1-0 to Denmark in their opening game, in their next game on 13 June while Portugal will attempt to bounce back against the Danes on the same day.

Michael Krohn-Dehli's expertly taken first-half strike earned Denmark a shock win against a Netherlands side who missed a host of chances.
Krohn-Dehli took advantage of a lucky bounce of the ball after a battling run on the left flank by Simon Poulsen, dummied two defenders and shot low through goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's legs.
But the Dutch dominated only to waste numerous efforts, with Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie the main culprits.

Harry Redknapp would have accepted England job

Harry Redknapp has told BBC Sport he would have taken the England coach's role if it had been offered to him.
The Tottenham manager was the favourite to take over from Fabio Capello, but revealed he was never contacted by the Football Association, who gave the role to Roy Hodgson.

"I would have taken it," Redknapp said. "It would have been difficult to turn it down, [but] I was never approached.
"I love club football. I was relieved I didn't get offered it."
The 65-year-old added: "I'd have missed being away from it [club football] for a couple of months. I love the day-to-day involvement."
Redknapp said he heard the news of Hodgson's appointment, at the start of May, "on the radio like most people".
"It's a great opportunity for Roy. He's been involved doing work with the FA for a long time," the Spurs manager said.
Redknapp has a year remaining on his contract with Tottenham and admitted he had yet to discuss his future with club chairman Daniel Levy.

Maria Sharapova wins French Open by beating Sara Errani

Maria Sharapova blasted her way to victory over Sara Errani in the French Open final to become only the 10th woman to complete a career Grand Slam.
Sharapova, 25, claimed a one-sided 6-3 6-2 win to add to the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open titles from earlier in her career.

The Russian overwhelmed her Italian opponent, who was playing in her first Grand Slam singles final.
Sharapova's run in Paris has also moved her top of the women's rankings.
At a time when the women's game is lacking a dominant and consistent figure, Sharapova provided more evidence that she is capable of filling that vacuum.
Since she was last world number one in June 2008, the top ranking has been held by eight different players and changed hands on 15 occasions, while the last six Grand Slams have been won by six different women.
Sharapova, who has battled back from shoulder surgery that threatened her career and severely disrupted her serve, produced a display of power and precision which will now see her head into Wimbledon as a strong favourite.
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