South Africa elect to bat against New Zealand

Updated at: 1304 PST,  Friday, March 25, 2011

DHAKA: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa in the third quarter-finals of the World Cup here at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Friday.Teams: New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Luke Woodcock, Daryl Tuffey.South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk.Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Rod Tucker (AUS), TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SL)Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SL)

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South Africa bank on spin to outwit Kiwis

Updated at: 0900 PST,  Friday, March 25, 2011

DHAKA: South Africa captain Graeme Smith says the deliberate shift from pace to spin could help his team beat New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-final on Friday.South Africa, who in the past always used their accomplished battery of fast bowlers to blow away rivals, have played three spinners to take advantage of the slow wickets in the sub-continent.Smith has often handed the new ball to either off-spinner Johan Botha or left-arm spinner Robin Peterson even though South Africa boast a formidable pace attack in Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.The gamble has appeared to work so far with Peterson taking 14 wickets and leg-spinner Imran Tahir, the third slow bowler in the side, has 12 wickets."The thing about our three spinners is they're very different from each other," said Smith. "They've all performed different roles at different times, but worked well together."The versatility of the guys has been great. Imran's definitely been the more attacking option for us. To have him in the line-up adds a bit more to me as a captain."Robbie (Peterson) has been around for a long time but it is only now that people have started to show a lot of confidence in him as a cricketer. Through that faith and confidence, he's starting to believe more in himself."Spinners love being here, especially South African spinners. They don't get as much help back home, so to be able to execute their skills in these conditions is very exciting for them."Smith attributed South Africa's impressive run in the tournament which saw them top Group B with five wins in six matches to contributions from everyone in the squad.It also made picking the right combination difficult, he added."Selection has always been tough and it's getting tougher as guys perform well," he said. "It's an ideal challenge to have players performing well and that you have a good squad of players to pick from."We are not relying on four, five guys to win us the World Cup."In five previous tournaments, the Proteas crashed out three times in the semi-finals, once in the quarter-final and another time in the first round, earning them the unwanted tag of cricket's perennial chokers.South Africa know New Zealand will not be pushovers -- the Kiwis have won three of their five World Cup meetings against them, including a five-wicket success in the Super Eights round of the 2007 edition."New Zealand have always been a very street-wise, street-smart team," said Smith. "They have obviously got some power-batters in the top order, guys who can take the game away from you."From the bowling point of view, they can take the pace off the ball as a lot of their guys can bowl medium-pace or change of pace. And they have got a spinner like (skipper Daniel) Vettori."You can't take any guy in their line-up for granted. We need to play well to beat them."Smith said the presence of former South African pace spearhead Allan Donald as New Zealand's bowling coach was not worrying him."If we stressed over a South African in another team I don't think we'd sleep much," he said. "Allan was a great performer for South Africa and we wish him all the best in his role as New Zealand bowling coach."I'm sure he believes he can add value to their environment, but our environment has changed a lot since Allan was a part of it."

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Defeated Ponting backs India to beat Pakistan

Updated at: 0952 PST,  Friday, March 25, 2011
AHMEDABAD: Australia captain Ricky Ponting predicted India would beat Pakistan when the arch-rivals meet in the World Cup semi-finals after seeing the co-hosts end his team's 12-year run as champions.Ponting made his first international century in over a year when Australia batted but it wasn't enough as India, thanks to an unbeaten 57 from Yuvraj Singh, won by five wickets after finishing on 261 for five with 14 balls to spare."If you look at their attacks, they're quite similar," said Ponting, who in Australia's preceding final group match saw Pakistan end the title-holders' 34-match unbeaten streak at the World Cup."Pakistan played the quicks against us, (Abdul) Razzaq and (Umar) Gul and (Wahab) Riaz played that game as well and he's done a pretty good job for them. They used a lot of their spin."How do I compare the bowling attacks? It's pretty hard to say, but I think India will beat Pakistan in the semi-final."Ponting added of the March 30 clash in Mohali: "We all know how fierce a rivalry it is between Pakistan and India so I'm sure that's going to be a very entertaining semi-final."India have a got a great chance now. Their batting is very powerful and they bat quite deep."

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Cricket WC: Muted Ponting praise as Aussies bow out

Updated at: 0635 PST,  Friday, March 25, 2011

Muted Ponting praise as Aussies bow out MELBOURNE: Ricky Ponting has subdued calls for his dumping as captain with a stoic overdue century despite Australia making their earliest exit from a World Cup in almost two decades, newspapers said on Friday. Under-fire Ponting made 104 -- his first international hundred in 13 months -- in Australia's total of 260 for six, but it wasn't enough as India finished on 261 for five to win their quarter-final in Ahmedabad Thursday with 14 balls to spare. Ponting has now presided over the end of Australia's 12-year run as World Cup champions after his third Ashes series defeat to England earlier this year. Although the Australian cricket public still want Ponting, 36, to go as skipper 65 to 35 percent in one newspaper poll of 10,000 fans he looks to have bought himself more time in the job, the press said. "Ricky Ponting's spot in the Australian cricket team is safe for now but his side's glorious World Cup era is over after losing their quarter-final to India," the Daily Telegraph said

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World Cup: India floor Aussies to meet Pakistan in semis

Updated at: 2210 PST,  Thursday, March 24, 2011

AHMEDABAD: India recorded a sensational five-wicket victory to oust defending champions Australia with14 balls to spare in the second quarter-finals of the tenth World Cup here at the Sardar Patel Stadium on Thursday.Now they will meet Pakistan in the semi-finals to be played on March 30 at Mohali.Chasing a modest total of 261, India completed the victory in 47.4 overs to shatter Australia's dream of an unprecedented fourth straight World Cup title and fifth in all was shattered. Yuvraj Singh, who struck the winning boundary, was the man-of-the-match yet again as he top-scored with an unbeaten 57 besides taking two wickets.The left-handed batsman has so far scored four fifties in the tournament where he is averaging over a hundred.Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir also hit fifties for India.Tendulkar was caught behind off Shaun Tait for a fluent 53, his 94th ODI fifty, during which he became the first batsman to score 18,000 one-day international runs.Gambhir and Virat Kohli batted steadily in a stand of 49 before Kohli (24) slapped a full toss from part-time spinner David Hussey straight to Michael Clarke at short mid-wicket.One ball after surviving a run-out, he set-off for a non-existent single and was well-beaten by Cameron White's throw to David Hussey having made 50, his 24th ODI half-century Batting first after captain Ponting won the toss, defending champions Australia made 260 for six in their 50 overs.Ponting made 104 from 118 balls with seven fours and a six, his 30th ODI hundred and the fifth in World Cups.It was also his first century in 39 international innings since he made 106 against the West Indies in a one-day international in Brisbane last year.He was out late on when, he reverse-swept Ravichandran Ashwin straight to Zaheer Khan at short third man.David Hussey, recalled in place of the dropped Steven Smith, made a useful 38 not out and helped Ponting add 55 for the sixth wicket after Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Cameron White all fell cheaply.Back-up spinners Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh took four wickets between them with left-arm quick Zaheer taking the other two to fall. But lead off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's 10-wicketless overs cost 50 runs. Australia got off to a steady start through openers Shane Watson and Haddin but a change of ends for Ashwin had them roaring again when he bowled Watson for 25.Later, Haddin gave his wicket away by driving Yuvraj to mid-off where Suresh Raina took a low, tumbling catch to leave Australia 110 for two.Haddin was the second top scorer with 53. Together with Ponting, he shared a second-wicket stand of 70 runs.

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Tendulkar crosses 18,000 runs in ODI cricket

Updated at: 2144 PST,  Thursday, March 24, 2011

AHMEDABAD: India's batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar completed 18,000 runs in one-day international cricket when he reached 45 against Australia in the second quarter-finals of the World Cup 2011 here at the Sardar Patel Stadium on Thursday.This was his 94th ODI half-century as he has already made 48 hundreds in this form of cricket, and both remain world records.The master batsman has also scored 51Test hundreds which takes his overall hundreds to 99, one short of the century of centuries.However, he missed a chance to score his 100th international hundred as he was dismissed for 53, made off 68 balls with seven fours against Australia on Thursday.Tendulkar edged paceman Shaun Tait to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin in the 19th over and had started walking when umpire Ian Gould called him back while he confirmed the legality of the delivery.Once the replays showed that the delivery was legal, Tendulkar walked away, much to the disappointment of the crowd which packed the Sardar Patel stadium for India's do-or-die encounter.Tendulkar, 37, looked in sublime form during his 68-ball innings, hitting seven fours in his 94th one-day half-century.Tendulkar has so far made 18,008 runs at an average of 45.13 in record 451 one-day internationals.His highest score of 200 not out is the only double-century made by any batsman in ODI cricket.

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World Cup: Ponting ton helps Aussies reach 260 against India

Updated at: 1748 PST,  Thursday, March 24, 2011

AHMEDABAD: Skipper Ricky Ponting’s classic century guided Australia to set a target of 261 runs for India in the second quarter-finals of the tenth World Cup here at the Sardar Patel Stadium on Thursday.Batting first after Ponting won the toss, defending champions Australia made 260 for six in their 50 overs.Ponting made 104 from 118 balls with seven fours and a six, his 30th ODI hundred and the fifth in World Cups. It was also his first century in 39 international innings since he made 106 against the West Indies in a one-day international in Brisbane last year.The 36-year-old Tasmanian, who had managed just 102 runs at 20.4 in five previous innings this tournament, had come into the match amidst reports he could be quitting international cricket completely after the World Cup.He was out late on when, he reverse-swept Ravichandran Ashwin straight to Zaheer Khan at short third man.David Hussey, recalled in place of the dropped Steven Smith, made a useful 38 not out and helped Ponting add 55 for the sixth wicket after Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Cameron White all fell cheaply. Back-up spinners Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh took four wickets between them with left-arm quick Zaheer taking the other two to fall. But lead off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's 10-wicketless overs cost 50 runs. Australia got off to a steady start through openers Shane Watson and Haddin but a change of ends for Ashwin had them roaring again when he bowled Watson for 25.Later, Haddin gave his wicket away by driving Yuvraj to mid-off where Suresh Raina took a low, tumbling catch to leave Australia 110 for two Haddin was the second top scorer with 53. Together with Ponting, he shared a second-wicket stand of 70 runs.India made one change from the side that beat the West Indies by 80 runs in their final group match in Chennai, bringing in Virender Sehwag, fit after recovering from an allergic reaction to a painkilling injection in his knee.He replaced dropped all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, with Suresh Raina retaining his place.Australia made one change from the side that lost to Pakistan by four wickets -- a defeat that ended their 34-match unbeaten run at the tournament dating back to 1999.Leg-spinning all-rounder Steven Smith was dropped and his place was taken by David Hussey.

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England's Yardy quits World Cup with depression

Updated at: 1654 PST,  Thursday, March 24, 2011

COLOMBO: England all-rounder Michael Yardy has quit the World Cup suffering from depression just days before the quarter-final against co-hosts Sri Lanka.The 30-year-old Sussex left-hander, who played in three matches at the tournament, said he felt he had no option but to return home."Leaving at this stage of a World Cup campaign was a very difficult decision to make but I felt that it was the only sensible option for me and I wanted to be honest about the reason behind that decision," he said."I would like to wish the squad all the very best ahead of the game on Saturday. "I would appreciate some privacy over the coming weeks while I spend time with family and close friends ahead of what I hope will be a successful season for Sussex."The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said they had applied to the International Cricket Council technical committee to request a replacement for Yardy. "I would like to offer my full support to Michael on behalf of everyone involved with the England team and the ECB," said ECB managing director Hugh Morris."Michael has been an integral part of the England set up in recent years and while he will be missed in the knock out stages of the World Cup, our priority now is to ensure that he returns home to his family and is able to spend time recovering with a strong support network around him."Sussex cricket manager Mark Robinson reacted to Yardy's exit by saying: "Sussex are very proud of Michael Yardy and very supportive of his decision, not only to come home but also to be prepared to go public with the reasons.As captain and one of our leading players, we'll give him all the time and all the support necessary so that he can continue to lead this club forward."Left-arm spinner and lower order batsman Yardy had managed just two wickets at an expensive 79.50 apiece and contributed a mere 19 runs at the World Cup.He was not set to feature in the quarter-final in any event, having been omitted from the team that beat the West Indies by 18 runs to secure England's place in the last eight.Yardy has though played in 28 one-day internationals since making his debut in 2006 and was a member of the England side that won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean last year.England had already lost star batsman Kevin Pietersen and fast bowlers Stuart Broad and Ajmal Shahzad to injury at this tournament.Yardy's condition appeared reminiscent of the problem that forced former England opener Marcus Trescothick to retire from international cricket.

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Australia win toss, elect to bat against India

Updated at: 1333 PST,  Thursday, March 24, 2011
AHMEDABAD: Australia captain Ricky Ponting has won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the second quarter-finals of the tenth World Cup here at the Sardar Patel Stadium on Thursday.India made one change from the side that beat the West Indies by 80 runs in their final group match in Chennai with opener Virender Sehwag fit after recovering from an allergic reaction to a painkilling injection in his knee.
Sehwag replaced dropped all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, with Suresh Raina retaining his place.Australia, bidding for a fourth successive World Cup title and fifth in all, made one change from the side that lost to Pakistan by four wickets -- a defeat that ended their 34-match unbeaten run at the tournament dating back to 1999.Leg-spinning all-rounder Steven Smith was dropped and his place was taken by David Hussey, a batsman and handy occasional off-spinner.India's Sachin Tendulkar came into this match needing just one more century to become the first player to score a hundred international hundreds.The winners of this match will play Pakistan, who thrashed the West Indies by 10 wickets in Dhaka on Wednesday, in a semi-final in Mohali on March 30.Their last World Cup meeting was in the 2003 final when Australia beat India by 125 runs in Johannesburg, with Ponting making a match-winning 140 not out.India: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain, wk), Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel
Australia: Brad Haddin (wk), Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Shaun TaitUmpires: Marais Erasmus (SA) and Ian Gould (ENG), TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SL)

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DRS results: Aleem Dar hasn’t had single decision overturned

Updated at: 1129 PST,  Thursday, March 24, 2011
COLOMBO: In all, 162 decisions have been reviewed so far, of which 35 have been upheld (i.e, the original decision has been changed), while 127 have been struck down. Among the umpires, Aleem Dar, Ian Gould and Billy Bowden haven't had a single decision overturned through the DRS. At the other end of the scale are Asoka de Silva and Daryl Harper, with 50% or more of their decisions being overturned. South Africa have used the DRS better than any other side with a success rate of more than 38%. Zimbabwe and Canada, while not matching South Africa for results, have done almost as well in terms of reviews. Ireland impressed everyone with their skills with bat, ball, and in the field, but they'll need to do some work on the DRS - they didn't get a single review correct in 11 attempts, making them the only team with a 0% record. Bangladesh, Netherlands and New Zealand weren't much better.

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