held on.Earlier Azhar and Asad Shafiq plundered 96 in 14.4 overs in the

RECIFE, Brazil -- Andres Iniesta repeated several times that Spain deserved the 2-1 victory over Uruguay in their Confederations Cup opener. The midfielder had only one quibble with the result Sunday. The game wasnt as close as the score made it look, and he said Spain should have had at least one more goal. "I think it was clear Spain was the undeniable winner, a deserved victory," Iniesta said. "It left a very good taste in our mouth. But we probably deserved another goal." Spain had 77 per cent of the possession in the first half, and 71 in the match -- and that tells plenty. Cesc Fabregas hit the post in the 10th minute, which is the near-goal Iniesta was probably talking about. The World Cup champions did get two first-half goals just after Fabregas miss -- one in the 20th from Pedro and another 12 minutes later by striker Roberto Soldado. Spain had a little luck with the first goal, which may have been heading wide when it took a huge deflection off Uruguay defender Diego Lugano to beat goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. The second was perfect finishing by Soldado after a cute reverse pass from Cesc Fabregas. Luis Suarez scored a consolation goal with a delicately curling free kick for Uruguay in the 88th. Spain is trying to win the only major trophy it lacks to go with a 2010 World Cup and two consecutive European championships. Coach Vicente del Bosque talked about the importance of a damp, quick pitch so that Spain could put on a show. It rained just before the match, and Spain did just that. "I think we took advantage in the first half, but dropped off a bit in the second," Del Bosque said. Uruguay barely touched the ball in the first 15 minutes as Spain linked dozens of touches together, eventually setting up Pedros goal. He scored from just outside the area as Lugano lunged trying to stop the shot -- and pushed it into the goal, instead. Soldados goal could have a lasting impact -- a clean finish when he was left alone in front of Muslera. The Valencia striker is Spains latest "No. 9," the true striker that Del Bosque has often shunned, playing an attacking midfield player instead. Soldado scored 24 goals in La Liga this season, surpassed only by the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Radamel Falcao and Alvaro Negredo. Among the other strikers, Fernando Torres scored only eight in the Premier League this season for Chelsea, and David Villa managed only 10 with Barcelona. "First of all, to be among the 23 to be on the team is great," Soldado said. "But then to be a starter is a radical change. And then to score. Of course Im happy." Del Bosque also returned captain Iker Casillas to his spot in goal. Casillas had not played a competitive match in 4 1/2 months. He was dropped in December by then-Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, and then broke his left hand in a match on Jan. 23. Even after it healed, Mourinho left him on the bench. Casillas had little to do for much of the time -- but was helpless against Suarezs free kick. Spain and South American champion Uruguay are viewed as the class teams of Group B -- Tahiti and Nigeria are the other teams -- and Spain clearly outclassed Uruguay with its usual domination of possession. "We know our next opponent (Tahiti) is a lesser team, but you have to play every match," Iniesta said. The second half was more of the same, but it turned more physical with the pro-Uruguay crowd often jeering Spains long spells of possession. Only after Suarezs late free kick did the game seem in doubt. Mitch Richmond Jersey . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Harry Giles Jersey . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. http://www.nbakingsonline.com/Customized/ . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Oscar Robertson Jersey .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Marvin Bagley III Jersey .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Pakistanis 359 for 8 dec (Younis 104, Shafiq 80, Masood 62) and 236 for 4 dec (Azhar 101*, Shafiq 69*) drew with Somerset 128 (Sohail 3-26, Amir 3-36) and 258 for 8 (Trescothick 106, Yasir 4-107) ScorecardA century from Marcus Trescothick held Pakistan to a draw in the tour game in Taunton while Yasir Shah, in his first first-class appearance for more than six months, delivered 32 well-controlled overs and claimed four wickets. But Trescothicks skill - Azhar Ali described him as an inspiration afterwards - and a dropped catch from Mohammad Amir helped Somerset survive with eight wickets down.Under normal circumstances, Pakistan would have declared much earlier. But these games are more about gaining experience of the conditions than the result, so they delayed until Azhar Ali had reached an impressive century and Somerset required 468 to win in 73 overs. On an increasingly slow wicket offering neither seam or spin, taking 10 wickets was always likely to prove hard work.Pakistan might well have done so, however, had Amir held on to a simple chance at mid-on. Josh Davey, who chose to take his chance with Somerset this week rather than represent Scotland, lunged at one from Yasir before he had scored and saw the ball loop to Amir. But the chance went down and Davey lasted another 50 minutes to take his side within sight of the finishing line. With Dominic Bess, the 18-year-old debutant, also lasting 56 minutes and Jack Leach lasting 44, Somerset did just enough to frustrate Pakistan.Perhaps Pakistans seamers were a little stiff after their exertions the previous day. Perhaps they were just a little complacent. But they bowled pretty well without ever quite appearing to be able to summon the intensity of their first innings performance. A quiet day in Taunton might not inspire as a full Test ground will.In the grand scheme of things, though, this has been a highly satisfying three days for the tourists. Having not played red-ball cricket for six months or more, most of their batsmen enjoyed time at the crease, all their bowlers enjoyed decent spells with a Dukes ball. Such issues are more important than the result in such games.There was an interesting observation from Matthew Maynard, the Somerset coach, afterwards, though. Asked whether he thought Pakistan could threaten England he agreed that they could, but with the caveat that their opening pair found form. If Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood can see off the new ball, the middle order can capitalise. But if they are exposed early, Pakistan could be vulnerable and the tail looks long. Their fielding, despite all the talk of improvement, also remains some way below standard for this level.There is an episode of The Simpsons in which Homer, having overindulged, is asked to leave an all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant, then drives around in vain looking for another seafood restaurant. And then goes fishing.Trescothick could identify with such an appetite. Only in his case, the appetite is for cricket. Many batsmen, at Trescothicks stage of life, would have skipped this match. But such is his love of the game that he not only wanted to play, but volunteered for a second XI game in Kent a couple of weeks ago in a bid to find some form having not played for a few weeks; he no longer features in Somersets T20 side.The reward for that dedication was this century: the 61st of his first-class career and the 47th for Somerset. That means that only Harold Gimblett (who made 49) has scored more for the club and brings Trescothick level with Sir Viv Richards. And any time any batsman equals a record of Sir Vivs they know they have done pretty well.Its hard to remember a time when Trescothick was not a feature of Somerset ccricket.dddddddddddd His first-class career started in 1993 before some of his teammates in this match were born. There is only one building on the ground that has been here longer than him and he is as much a part of the furniture as the tower of St James church and The Quantocks.There have been some to concessions to age. Though he remains willing, he is more limousine than sports car between the wickets and in the field these days and he now wears spectacles when batting. Every so often, he has to remove his helmet to clean the sweat from them. Its a right pain in the backside, he said afterwards.But many of the strokes are familiar: the half step forward followed by the firm push through the covers brought him a first ball boundary, the cut shot helped him to four boundaries in an over from Sohail Khan while Yasir was heaved for a six over long-on and towards Gimblett Hill. Its not surprising that they love him in these parts and he gives every indication he loves them right back. It will be a surprise if hes not still playing in a year.By tea it seemed the match was drifting to a draw. Forty overs had been bowled and Somerset had lost just two wickets. Tim Rouse, who required several minutes of treatment after taking a crushing blow on the helmet from Amir when he had 14, had showed character and skill in going on to make 41 and Trescothick survived a few airy strokes through the gully region to the brink of safety.But after Trescothick fell, edging as he reached for a wide one, Alex Barrow was adjudged leg before by despite hitting the ball through cover for four (umpire Billy Taylor reasoned that the ball brushed the pad before Barrow hit it) and James Hildreth rather spoiled his pleasing innings by chasing one angled across him and edging to the keeper. Suddenly Somerset had 15.5 overs to survive and only four wickets in hand. It was a little reminiscent of the Old Trafford Test of 2001 when England lost eight wickets, including Trescothick, against the same opposition to slip to defeat.Perhaps, had Amir taken the simple chance or the DRS been in operation, Pakistan might have pushed for victory. Certainly Yasir could count himself unfortunate to be denied a couple more leg before dismissals. Despite gaining little turn and rarely utilising his googly, he troubled all the batsmen with his control and will be a real handful on a surface offering him any assistance. But Somerset held on.Earlier Azhar and Asad Shafiq plundered 96 in 14.4 overs in the morning to extend their overnight partnership to 138 and see Azhar record the 26th first-class century of his career. Manipulating the spinners masterfully by going deep in the crease or skipping down the pitch, they disrupted their lengths and then punished them. Leach was cut for successive fours by Shafiq and Bess thrashed for successive sixes by Azhar. It was a reminder that Moeen Ali faces a tough series.Were pretty happy, Azhar said afterwards. Most of the batsmen have spent time in the middle and today the pitch has become flatter and flatter. Yasir had a good, long spell but Trescothick batted well. He is definitely someone we look up to.They are a pretty impressive attack, Trescothick said in reply. Yasir is probably the best leg-spinner in the world. He is on the money all the time. But if the ball doesnt swing and the pitch is good, you can score runs against them.I scratched around a bit at the start, but I started to feel a bit better in the afternoon. Its good to integrate with the youngsters and help ingrain the culture of the club within them. It was a nice day. ' ' '