Dernbach confirmed as Shazad’s replacement

Updated at: 2121 PST,  Friday, March 18, 2011

The ICC has confirmed the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 has approved Jade Dernbach as a replacement player for the injured Ajmal Shahzad in the England squad for the tournament.The confirmation was conveyed to the England and Wales Cricket Board on behalf of the committee on Friday. Shahzad suffered a hamstring injury in a training session in the build-up to his side’s Group B match against the West Indies in Chennai.Any injury-based replacement requires a written submission to the event technical committee along with a diagnosis from a medical practitioner as to the extent of the injury. Once replaced, a player may not return to the squad save as an approved subsequent replacement for another injured player. Shahzad becomes the fourth player to be replaced in England’s squad – although Eoin Morgan subsequently returned as a replacement for the injured Kevin Pietersen. Dernbach, a right-arm medium-fast bowler with Surrey, was in England’s original 30-man squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 but failed to make the final 15 and has been touring the Caribbean with England Lions.As with all players in the tournament, the eligibility of a replacement player is subject to approval by the ICC before that player can be officially added to the squad.The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 consists of David Richardson (ICC, chairman), Prof. Ratnakar Shetty (Tournament Director), Campbell Jamieson (IDI representative), Anil Kumble (host nominee), David Lloyd (independent nomination) and Sanjay Manjrekar (independent nomination).

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Sri Lanka spin Kiwis out to go on top

Updated at: 2121 PST,  Friday, March 18, 2011

MUMBAI: Spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis mesmerized New Zealand batsmen to bowl them out for 153 runs in 35 overs as Sri Lanka recorded a 112-run victory in their last match of the World Cup Group A here at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday...............

.Muralitharan captured four for 25 and Mendis claimed two for 24 to bundle the Black Caps out to take Sri Lanka to the top of the group with nine points but their final position will be determined only after Saturday's match between Australia and Pakistan.New Zealand stand-in captain Ross Taylor top-scored with 33 whereas no other Kiwi batsmen could make more than 20.Earlier, captain Kumar Sangakkara hit a brilliant century to help Sri Lanka set a modest target of 266 runs for New Zealand after electing to bat first.They made 265 for nine in their 50 overs with the help of a 145-run partnership for the third wicket between Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, which pulled the team out of early trouble.Sangakkara made 111 off 128 balls with twelve fours and two sixes while Jayawardene hit 66 with six boundaries.

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We'd like to finish top of the table: Ponting

Updated at: 2008 PST,  Friday, March 18, 2011
 COLOMBO: Ricky Ponting said Australia were proud of their unbeaten World Cup run, but warned the defending champions were facing their first big challenge against Pakistan on Saturday."We are very proud of our record in World Cups, there's no doubt about that," said Ponting of Australia's unbeaten 34-match streak which started after their 10-run defeat against Pakistan at Leeds in 1999.Since then Australia have won three World Cups, the last two under Ponting, who has yet to lose a match as captain."Whether it's World Cups or the Champions Trophy, Australian players get really excited to be part of them. I've been lucky over the years to play in a lot of good teams."But tomorrow is another good challenge for us. We don't talk about what's happened in the past as far as how many games we've won or the fact that we haven't lost a game."Now it's all about making sure we are prepared for the next game and the next challenge against Pakistan who have played well so far. We are going to make sure that we start to put our print on the tournament."Australia and Pakistan have already qualified from a Group A which Ponting described as "boring because there is nothing happeining"."We'd like to finish top of the table which means we want to win the game on Saturday. That's what we are setting out to do, we are setting out to play our best game."If we win and that means we finish on top, great; if we don't win the game we will finish somewhere else and I'm not concerned about that either. To win a World Cup you have to beat the best team - it's as simple as that."Australia have nine points from five matches with Pakistan on eight, also from five matches."I think we will be negligent if we try to single one (Pakistan) player out," said Ponting."They have got a number of match-winning players... Afridi and Umar Gul are the two guys who've probably been their standout players."Gul took three wickets in Pakistan's last win over Zimbabwe, while Afridi is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 16."Afridi tends to control the middle of their bowling particularly well, he doesn't go for a lot of runs either. He builds pressure and is a world class bowler, so hopefully our skills hold against him," added Ponting."As a team we really feel that the tournament is kicking off now. We've had our games along the way and the big game here against Sri Lanka which was washed out unfortunately.We're excited to play against Pakistan."I think we will get a better feel at the end of the game just where we are and how well we are placed in this World Cup. I think it's a good challenge for us."

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Sangakkara steers Sri Lanka to 265-9 against Kiwis

Updated at: 1813 PST,  Friday, March 18, 2011

MUMBAI: Captain Kumar Sangakkara hit a brilliant century to help Sri Lanka to set a modest target of 266 runs for New Zealand in their last match of the World Cup Group B here at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.Winning the toss, Sri Lanka batted first and made 265 for nine in their 50 overs with the help of a 145-run partnership for the third wicket between Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, which pulled the team out of early trouble.Sangakkara made 111 off 128 balls with twelve fours and two sixes while Jayawardene hit 66 with six boundaries.The two teams have already made it to the quarter-finals and the result of this game will determine their final Group A positions.Sri Lanka lost opener Upul Tharanga early when he was run out in the third over. He backed up too far and Tim Southee (3-63) managed to get his hand to a straight drive from Tillakaratne Dilshan before the ball rolled on to hit the stumps.Dilshan followed his partner to the pavilion soon, lobbing a simple catch to Jacob Oram off Southee while trying to go for an ambitious shot on the leg side, plunging Sri Lanka to 19-2.Jayawardene got embroiled in a controversy early in his innings as he tried to play a defensive shot in the 24th over against off-spinner Nathan McCullum but ended up chipping the ball back to the bowler.McCullum dived and managed to get his right hand under the ball to cap what looked like a stunning effort.But even as McCullum broke into a celebration, TV umpire Amish Saheba was called in and he ruled it not out.A furious McCullum and Kiwi skipper Ross Taylor angrily protested the decision with on-field umpire Asad Rauf.Jayawardene, then on 26, hit six fours in a dour 90-ball innings before being adjudged trapped leg before off Southee, a decision he asked to be reviewed but in vain.Sangakkara played a captain's innings, racing to his 11th century and completing 9,000 ODI runs in the proces, the fourth Sri Lanka player to the mark.This was Sangakkara's first three-figure score in 63 innings, having gone without a ton since June 2008.He was bowled by McCullum in the 42nd over after facing 128 balls and hitting 12 fours and two sixes.Angelo Mathews provided the late impetus to the innings with an unbeaten 41 off 35 balls.

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Ireland beat Netherlands in high scoring match

Updated at: 1655 PST,  Friday, March 18, 2011

KOLKATA: Ireland defeated the Netherlands by six wickets with 14 balls to spare in a high scoring match in the World Cup Group B here at the Eden Gardens on Friday Chasing a tough target of 307 runs, Ireland cruised to win in 47.4 overs for the loss of four wickets after Paul Stirling smashed an explosive century.The 20-year-old opener gave a superb exhibition of hitting, cracking two sixes and 14 fours in his 72-ball 101 as Ireland chased a stiff 307-run target with 14 balls to spare at Eden Gardens.Stirling also upstaged the Netherlands' Ryan ten Doeschate, who scored 106 for his second World Cup hundred. South African AB de Villiers and India's Sachin Tendulkar are the only other batsmen to have made two centuries in this tournament.Ireland and the Netherlands were already out of contention for a place in the quarter-finals, but Ireland had the satisfaction of posting two victories in the tournament while the Netherlands remained winless.The Dutch recorded their highest total at the tournament but failed to keep pressure on the Irish openers William Porterfield (68) and Stirling, who delighted a few thousand spectators with an exciting exhibition of strokeplay.Their 177-run stand was Ireland's best for the first wicket in one-day internationals, surpassing the 118 between the same pair against Bangladesh in Belfast last year.Man-of-the-match Stirling was more aggressive than Porterfield, racing to his half-century off just 25 balls and then taking 45 more deliveries to complete his second one-day hundred.The Dutch had to wait until the 27th over to break the stand when off-spinner Tom Cooper had Porterfield caught behind.Stirling fell in the next over, caught by Alexei Kervezee at deep mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar.All the other batsmen chipped in, with Niall O'Brien hitting 57 not out, Ed Joyce scoring 28 and Gary Wilson 27. Kevin O'Brien finished on 15 not out.Earlier, the Dutch were struggling at 53-3 after being put in to bat, but ten Doeschate came to his team's rescue with his third one-day hundred. He hit one six and 13 fours in his 108-ball knock.Four batsmen were run out off successive balls in the last over, but the Netherlands had crossed the 300-mark at that stage, thanks to ten Doeschate, Borren (84) and opener Wesley Barresi (44).Ten Doeschate, who made 119 against England, put on 121 runs for the fifth wicket with Borren.Ten Doeschate was also involved in another useful stand, putting on 60 for the fourth wicket with Barresi, who played some handsome shots during his brisk knock after overcoming a painful blow to the head.Barresi, who retired in the second over after being hit on the back of his head by a throw returned to bat after the fall of the third wicket.

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Shoaib Akhtar made decision on right time: Afridi

Updated at: 1611 PST,  Friday, March 18, 2011

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi says Shoaib Akhtar's announcement that he will retire from international cricket after the World Cup will not affect the team when they play Australia on Saturday.Akhtar Thursday announced he will quit after the World Cup, ending a colourful and controversial 14-year career amid criticism his decision was ill-timed coming midway through the tournament.Afridi, though, disagreed with the criticism, levelled by former Pakistani players."He (Akhtar) has taken a right decision. He could have announced it after the World Cup, but I don't think the timing is wrong and it won't affect our team," Afridi said on Friday.Afridi denied reports in Pakistani media that Akhtar had a serious spat with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who dropped two crucial chances off the paceman during the team's 110-run defeat against New Zealand.Those chances allowed Ross Taylor to notch a career-best 131 at Pallekele stadium, with the New Zealand batsmen smashing off 28 off Akhtar's last over."There was nothing serious between them, there is no breaking news in it," said Afridi of the tiff, which ended in a $2,000 dollar fine for Akhtar."Akhtar was never upset, he is enjoying the World Cup," said Afridi, who refused to confirm whether Akhtar will be part of the eleven against Australia, though he is unlikely to play. "We have a settled combination and if we need we can play him in the remaining matches."Afridi praised Akhtar for his match-winning performances in the course of his career."Akhtar has won us many games, many series and now he has taken a decision after considering his fitness, so it's his own decision and it's a good decision," said Afridi.And the skipper justified the selection of the paceman for the World Cup."We selected him in the squad because he can get reverse swing going and he worked really hard to get a place in the squad," said Afridi.Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka have already qualified for the quarter-finals from Group A.

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Sri Lanka bat against New Zealand

Updated at: 1340 PST,  Friday, March 18, 2011

MUMBAI: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat in their last Group A World Cup match against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.The two teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals.New Zealand were without injured captain Daniel Vettori (knee) and Kyle Mills (leg) for the tie which will decide group positions.Sri Lanka brought in unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis in place of Thisara Perera.Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.New Zealand: Ross Taylor (capt), Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, James Franklin, Scott Styris, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Hamish Bennett.Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Asad Rauf (PAK)TV umpire: Amish Saheba (IND)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)Pitch conditions: The match is the second of the World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium, which hosts the final on April 2. It is a flat wicket that has been unused for the past two years due to renovation of the stadium but usually favours batsmen.

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Netherlands pile up 306 against Ireland

Updated at: 1300 PST,  Friday, March 18, 2011

KOLKATA: Ryan ten Doeschate cracked a second World Cup century as the Netherlands recovered from early setbacks to post a challenging 306 against Ireland in their Group B match of the World Cup here at the Eden Gardens on Friday.The Dutch were struggling at 53-3 after being put in to bat, but the South Africa-born ten Doeschate helped his side record their highest total of the tournament with 106 in 108 balls, with one six and 13 fours.Their previous highest total was 292-6 against England However, this was for the second time in the World Cup history that the Netherlands made 300 or more runs in a match after their 314-4 against Namibia in 2003.Ten Doeschate, who also hammered 119 against England, became the third batsman to score two hundreds in this World Cup after South African AB de Villiers and India's Sachin Tendulkar.Four batsmen were run out off successive balls in the last over, but the Netherlands were in a strong position at that stage.Middle-order batsman ten Doeschate put on 121 runs for the fifth wicket with skipper Peter Borren, who scored an attractive 84 off 82 balls with 10 fours.Ten Doeschate was also involved in another useful stand, putting on 60 for the fourth wicket with opener Wesley Barresi, who made a brisk 44 after overcoming a painful blow to the head.Ireland, the most impressive of the non-Test-playing nations at the World Cup, were a bowler short when left-arm spinner George Dockrell dislocated his right shoulder while fielding off his own bowling in his fourth over.The spinner went to hospital for a check-up but it was not immediately known whether he would take any further part in the match, said an International Cricket Council (ICC) official.Both sides are out of contention for a place in the quarter-finals, with Ireland having earned just two points and the Netherlands none after five matches each before this game. This is the final match for both teams.Barresi, who retired in the second over after being hit on the back of his head by a throw, played some attacking shots when he returned to bat after the fall of the third wicket.He smashed the first six of the match when he pulled paceman Boyd Rankin over square-leg and then slog-swept spinner Paul Stirling over mid-wicket for another six.

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