Pakistan books quarter-final berth

Updated at: 1953 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

Pakistan booked its place in the quarter-final stage with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe with 23 balls to spare at Pallekele on Monday.In a rain-affected game, Zimbabwe batted first and posted 151 for 7 in 39.4 overs. And in the chase Pakistan finished at 164 for 3 in 34.1 overs to enter the knock-out stage.Rain halted play twice during the game when Zimbabwe batted first. Zimbabwe lost wickets at regular intervals with only Craig  Ervin(52:82b,5x4)offering any  resistance.Later, skipper Elton Chigumbura (32 not out) added crucial 48 runs with Prosper Utseya before rain halted play. In its chase, Mohammad Hafeez (49: 65b, 6x4) added 82 runs with Asad Shafiq (78 not out: 97b, 7x4) to script the chase. Then Shafiq teamed up with veteran Younus Khan to lead Pakistan to an easy win.For Zimbabwe, Ray Price (2-21) was the best bowler on view.

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Bangladesh keeps hopes alive

Updated at: 1953 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

Bangladesh registered a six-wicket win over Netherlands on Monday to keep its hopes of making the quarter-finals alive.Netherlands after opting to bat first was bowled out for 160 in 43.2 overs with only Ryan ten Doeschate making an unbeaten 53 off 71 balls. In its reply, Bangladesh finished at 166 for 4 in 41.2 overs.Earlier, Netherlands lost wickets at regular intervals thanks to four run-outs and excellent spell of 3-29 by Abdur Razzak triggered the collapse. Among the other spinners Sohrawadi Shuvo and skipper Shakib Al Hasan also picked a wicket apiece.In its reply, Bangladesh lost an early wicket, but opener Imrul Kayes (73 not out: 113b, 6x4) led the home team to script another win.Kayes shared a 92-run stand with Zunaed Siddique to pace the Bangladesh chase. Later Shahriar Nafees (37) and Kayes kept Bangladesh in hunt with a 59 run stand.In the end Mushfiqur Rahim completed the last rites for Bangladesh.

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Pakistan book quarters berth, beating Zimbabwe

Updated at: 2223 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

PALLEKELE: Pakistan qualified for playing the quarterfinals in the World Cup 2011, defeating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the rain-shortened Group A match here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Monday.Pakistan, set a revised 162-run target in 38 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis formula, successfully achieved that in 34.1 overs on the back of an unbeaten 78 by Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Hafeez (49).The victory gave the 1992 winners eight points from five matches and a place in the last eight, sending Zimbabwe packing after the first round.New Zealand, Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia make up the other qualifiers from Group A.The final group standings will depend on the results of the remaining matches in the first phase. The top four teams will also qualify from Group B.Pakistan's target looked tricky as Zimbabwe bowled a tight line and length. Left-arm spinner Raymond Price (2-21), opening the attack, dismissed opener Ahmed Shahzad (eight) in his second over.Price and Utseya then bowled two maiden overs before Hafeez and Shafiq -- playing his first World Cup match in place of injured Umar Akmal -- opened up with some attractive drives.Hafeez fell one short of his half-century, caught off Utseya after hitting six boundaries during his 65-ball knock.Shahid Afridi promoted himself to number four but managed just three runs. Shafiq and Younis Khan (13 not out) saw Pakistan home.Shafiq hit seven boundaries during his sedate 97-ball knock.Earlier, seamers Umar Gul (3-36), Abdul Razzaq (1-24) and Wahab Riaz (1-21) removed Zimbabwe's top four for just 43 after Elton Chigumbura won the toss and chose to bat in overcast conditions.Spinners Afridi and Hafeez, with a wicket each, further derailed Zimbabwe, who at the first rain break were 96-5.Left-hander Craig Ervine fought a lone battle, hitting a patient 52 off 82 balls with five boundaries for his third ODI fifty, before Hafeez bowled him in his first over.Chigumbura (32 not out) and Prosper Utseya (18) added 48 for the seventh wicket.Zimbabwe made a disastrous start, losing in-form Brendan Taylor off the fifth ball of the innings, caught off Razzaq by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.Gul made it 5-2 when he dismissed Regis Chakabva off the last ball of the second over, before removing Vusimuzi Sibanda (five) shortly afterwards.Ervine and Tatenda Taibu added 30 for the fourth wicket before Wahab Riaz, in for Shoaib Akhtar, had Taibu caught off a miscued drive at mid-off by Afridi for 19.Zimbabwe play their last match against Kenya on March 20.

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Pakistan set 162 in 38 overs under D/L method

Updated at: 1953 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

PALLEKELE: Pakistan were set a Duckworth/Lewis victory target of 162 off 38 overs after rain interrupted play twice in their World Cup Group A match against Zimbabwe here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Monday.The rain interrupted the match for the first time in the 28th over when Zimbabwe were reeling at 96 for five and the match was reduced to 43 overs a side when the play was resumed after 90 minutes.It came again in the 40th over of the Africans' innings with the score on 151-7.Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura won the toss and batted on a slow wicket but lost Brendan Taylor, Regis Chakabva and Vusi Sibanda in quick succession to be 13-3 before Craig Ervine helped stop the rot.Ervine was bowled by Mohammad Hafeez for 52 when the play was resumed after the first interruption. Then, Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya added 48 runs for the seventh wicket before Utseya was dismissed by Umar Gul caught behind for 18 and rain interrupted for the second time. Chigumbura remained unbeaten on 32.For Pakistan, Umar Gul was the most successful bowler with three for 36. This is the second World Cup match to be affected by rain after Sri Lanka's showdown with Australia was washed out in Colombo earlier this month.

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