South Africa thrash Netherlands by 231 runs

Updated at: 1610 PST,  Thursday, March 03, 2011

MOHALI: South Africa defeated the Netherlands by a huge margin of 231 runs in their Group B match of the World Cup here at the Punjab Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh on Thursday.After South Africa piled up a massive total of 351-5, the Netherlands were bundled out for 120 in 34.5 overs.Except opener W Barresi who top scored with 44, no Dutch batsman could make any significant score.Leg-spinner Imran Tahir captured three wickets for 19 runs while Jaques Kallis and RJ Petersen claimed two wickets each for South Africa.Earlier, De Villiers scored a dazzling 134 for a second successive ton while Amla made 113 as the Proteas set a stiff target after being put in to bat in overcast conditions before a few thousand spectators in Mohali.The pair put on 221 runs, South Africa's best for the third wicket in a World Cup Amla completed his eighth one-day hundred off 121 balls, while de Villiers raced to his 11th ton off just 88 deliveries. The pair set the stage for the final onslaught, which saw South Africa plunder 136 in the last 10 overs. JP Duminy hammered 40 off just 15 balls with fours sixes and two fours.De Villiers, who scored an unbeaten century in the previous game against the West Indies, smashed seamer Bernard Loots for three successive sixes before hitting Ryan ten Doeschate for three fours in a row.Amla hit eight fours in his 130-ball knock before being caught at point off ten Doeschate and de Villiers was run out after striking four sixes and 13 fours in a 98-ball innings.The Netherlands had some success early on, removing skipper Graeme Smith (20) and Jacques Kallis (two) in the space of seven runs, with Loots and ten Doeschate taking one wicket apiece.But their joy proved short-lived as Amla and de Villiers dismantled their attack.

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Pakistan slump to below par 184 against Canada

Updated at: 1830 PST,  Thursday, March 03, 2011

COLOMBO: Pakistan, one of the tournament favourites, slumped to a well below-par 184 off 43 overs against the unfancied Canada in their World Cup Group A match on Thursday.Winning the toss and taking first use of the pitch, Pakistan could not get their batting rhythm going and lost wickets at regular intervals.They slumped to 67-4 before Misbah-ul-Haq (37) and top scorer Umar Akmal (48) posted the best partnership of the innings with 73 for the fifth wicket.Once the stand was broken at 140, the rest of the Pakistan batting collapsed with the last five wickets tumbling for 19 runs unable to cope with the medium-pace and spin combination of Canada who had heavily lost their first two matches to Sri Lanka and Zimbawe.Canada lost their opening bowler Khurram Chohan who failed to complete his fourth over but he was not missed as the rest of the bowlers bowled a tight line and length.Medium-pacer Harvir Baidwan was the pick of the attack with three for 35 while Rizwan Cheema, Balaji Rao and Jimmy Hansra shared six wickets among them.Canada, whose only World Cup victory was over Bangladesh in 2003, will take on the relatively modest target against a Pakistan attack missing the resting Shoaib Akhtar.

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Pakistan set 185-run target against Canada

Updated at: 1720 PST,  Thursday, March 03, 2011
COLOMBO: Pakistan set 185-run target for Canada during Group A day-night match here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.

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Pakistan reeling at 67 for four against Canada

Updated at: 1549 PST,  Thursday, March 03, 2011

COLOMBO: Pakistan lost their four top order batsmen for 72 runs after winning the toss and elected to bat against minnows Canada in their Group A day-night match of the World Cup 2011 here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.First to go was Mohammad Hafeez when Pakistan score was only 16. He was adjudged lbw off Henry Osinde for 11.Later, Ahmed Shahzad and Kamran Akmal took the score to 42 before Shahzad was gone for 12 caught Tyson Gordon off Harvir Baidwan.Veteran batsman Younis Khan could add only 13 runs along with Kamran when Harvir Baidwan struck again to get rid off Younis. He made only six and Pakistan were 55-3.Then, Kamran also departed for 16, caught by young Nitish Kumar off Rizwan Cheema.Now Pakistan were reeling at 67-4.in 15.3 overs.Pakistan replaced left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who has injured his abductor muscle, and rested paceman Shoaib Akhtar from the line-up that beat Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday.Their places were taken by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and paceman Wahab Riaz -- both making their World Cup debuts.Canada, who lost to Zimbabwe in their last match, dropped out-of-form opener John Davison and brought in paceman Henry Osinde.

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Pakistan win toss, bat against Canada

Updated at: 1337 PST,  Thursday, March 03, 2011

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has won the toss and decided to bat against Canada in their Group A day-night match of the World Cup 2011 here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday. Pakistan replaced left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who has injured his abductor muscle, and rested paceman Shoaib Akhtar from the line-up that beat Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday.Their places were taken by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and paceman Wahab Riaz -- both making their World Cup debuts.Canada, who lost to Zimbabwe in their last match, dropped out-of-form opener John Davison and brought in paceman Henry Osinde.Teams: Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Ahmed Shahzad.Canada: Ashish Bagai (captain), Rizwan Cheema, Harvir Baidwan, Nitish Kumar, Tyson Gordon, Henry Osinde, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Khurram Chohan, Jimmy Hansra, Zubin Surkari, Balaji Rao.

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Tons by Amla, de Villiers steer Proteas to 351-5

Updated at: 1246 PST,  Thursday, March 03, 2011

MOHALI: Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers hit brilliant centuries to help South Africa reach a mammoth total of 351 for the loss of five wickets against the Netherlands in their Group B match of the World Cup here at the Punjab Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh on Thursday De Villiers scored a dazzling 134 for a second successive ton while Amla made 113 as the Proteas set a stiff target after being put in to bat in overcast conditions before a few thousand spectators in Mohali.The pair put on 221 runs, South Africa's best for the third wicket in a World Cup.Amla completed his eighth one-day hundred off 121 balls, while de Villiers raced to his 11th ton off just 88 deliveries. The pair set the stage for the final onslaught, which saw South Africa plunder 136 in the last 10 overs. JP Duminy hammered 40 off just 15 balls with fours sixes and two fours.De Villiers, who scored an unbeaten century in the previous game against the West Indies, smashed seamer Bernard Loots for three successive sixes before hitting Ryan ten Doeschate for three fours in a row.Amla hit eight fours in his 130-ball knock before being caught at point off ten Doeschate and de Villiers was run out after striking four sixes and 13 fours in a 98-ball innings.The Netherlands had some success early on, removing skipper Graeme Smith (20) and Jacques Kallis (two) in the space of seven runs, with Loots and ten Doeschate taking one wicket apiece.But their joy proved short-lived as Amla and de Villiers dismantled their attack South Africa, who defeated the West Indies in their opening match, are seeking their second successive victory while the Netherlands have lost both of their games.South Africa made one change from the side that played the first game, replacing off-spinner Johan Botha with Morne van Wyk. 

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Netherlands win toss, put Proteas into bat

Updated at: 0853 PST,  Thursday, March 03, 2011

MOHALI: Netherlands captain Peter Borren won the toss against South Africa and elected to field in overcast conditions in their Group B match in the World Cup here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali on Thursday.South Africa, who defeated the West Indies in their opening match, are seeking their second successive victory while the Netherlands have lost both of their games.South Africa made one change from the side that played the first game, replacing off-spinner Johan Botha with Morne van Wyk.Teams:South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Morne van Wyk.Netherlands: Peter Borren (captain), Wesley Barresi, Mudassar Bukhari, Tom Cooper, Tom de Grooth, Alexei Kervezee, Bernard Loots, Pieter Seelaar, Ryan ten Doeschate, Berend Westdijk, Bas Zuiderent.Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SL) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG), TV umpire: Simon Taufel (AUS)Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)

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Cricket WC: Pakistan to meet lowly Canada today

Updated at: 0603 PST,  Thursday, March 03, 2011

COLOMBO: John Davison, the veteran Canadian batsman, hoped on Wednesday that his under-achieving team will find Pakistan napping in their World Cup game here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday (today).“There is no point in playing a match without having any hopes of winning it,” said the 40-year-old, who shined for Canada in 2003 and 2007 World Cups but has begun this tournament with back-to-back ducks against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.“Pakistan are a great side but we will go into tomorrow’s match hoping that we do well and they have a poor day. They’ve had poor days in the past.”Davison, Canada’s most experienced player, said that the biggest challenge for his team will be to read Pakistan’s spinners. “The biggest challenge is to read their spinners because of the conditions here,” he said.Davison hoped that he will regain his form against the Pakistanis. “It’s probably a mental thing,” said Davison referring to his poor form. “I got a very good ball against Sri lanka while against Zimbabwe. I should have waited for a while before going for my shots,” said Davison, who has scored 766 runs from 29 One-day Internationals including a stunning 76-ball 111 in the 2003 World Cup against the West Indies at Centurion.

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