Rain reduces game to 43 overs at Pallekele

Updated at: 1818 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

PALLEKELE: Pakistan had Zimbabwe reeling at 96-5 in their World Cup Group A match before heavy rain stopped play at the Pallekele International Stadium on Monday.Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bat but lost Brendan Taylor, Regis Chakabva and Vusi Sibanda in quick succession to be 13-3 before Craig Ervine helped stop the rot with an unbeaten 48.When play resumed 90 minutes later, the game was reduced to a 43-over per side match.The start was also delayed due to light drizzle.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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Zimbabwe reeling at 96-5 before rain stops play

Updated at: 1700 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

PALLEKELE: Rain stopped play in Pakistan's World Cup match against Zimbabwe here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Monday.Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bat but lost Brendan Taylor, Regis Chakabva and Vusi Sibanda in quick succession to be 13-3 before Craig Ervine helped stop the rot with an unbeaten 48.Zimbabwe were struggling on 96 for five in the Group A contest when the light showers forced the players off the field at 1105 GMT. The start was also delayed due to light drizzle.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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Tigers down Dutch, keeping quarters hopes alive

Updated at: 1526 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

CHITTAGONG: Imrul Kais guided Bangladesh to an easy six-wicket victory against the Netherlands in Group B match, keeping alive their hopes of playing the World Cup quarter-finals, here at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday The Dutch were shot out for 160 in 46.2 overs after electing to bat first on the slow wicket, a target Bangladesh surpassed in the 42nd over with left-handed batsman Imrul Kayes making 73 not out.Bangladesh's three left-arm spinners shared five of the six wickets to fall to bowlers with Abdur Razzak leading the way with 3-29 in 10 steady overs.Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Suhrawadi Shuvo, who was brought in to replace off-spinner Naeem Islam, claimed one wicket apiece.Kayes put on 92 for the second-wicket with Junaid Siddique (35) after opening partner Tamim Iqbal was bowled by Mudassar Bukhari off the fourth ball of the innings without scoring.Shahriar Nafees, one of the five left-handers at the top of the batting order who replaced right-handed Raqibul Hasan, made 37 in a third-wicket stand of 59 with Kayes.Kayes, who followed his 60 against England with another half-century, was named man of the match for the second time in a row.Bangladesh joined the West Indies and South Africa on six points, one behind Group B leaders India and a point ahead of England.A West Indies win over England in Chennai on Thursday will enable Bangladesh ease into the last eight even before their final league match against South Africa in Dhaka on Saturday.But an unlikely Irish win over the Proteas in Kolkata on Tuesday will once again throw open the quarter-final race from the pool.Ryan ten Doeschate top-scored for the Netherlands with an unbeaten 53, but none of the other batsmen managed 30, six failed to reach double figures and four ran themselves out.Openers Wesley Barrisi and Eric Szwaraczynski plodded to 28 runs in nine overs, following a tidy opening spell by seamer Shafiul Islam, who conceded just seven runs in his first six overs.Tom Cooper (29) and Szwaraczynski carried the score to 66-2 by the 23rd over when both batsmen were run out in the space of 13 runs to set the Dutch back again.Szwaraczynski, who made 28, was unfortunate to be dismissed at the non-striker's end when Shakib deflected a straight drive from Cooper onto the stumps.Wicket-keeper Musfiqur Rahim, who had dropped Cooper on six, made amends when he lunged for a wide throw from the deep and threw the ball at the stumps before the batsman had regained his crease.Shuvo had Alexei Kervezee stumped by Rahim for 18, before Razzak dismissed Tom de Grooth and Atse Buurman in three deliveries to reduce the Netherlands to 127-7 in the 38th over.Skipper Peter Borren and Adeel Raja also ran themselves out, leaving ten Doeschate stranded at the other end.

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Zimbabwe win toss, elect to bat against Pakistan

Updated at: 1336 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

PALLEKELE: Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura has won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in their crucial World Cup Group A match here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Monday.Pakistan were forced to make two changes from the side that lost to New Zealand by 110 runs on Tuesday, bringing in Asad Shafiq for injured Umar Akmal and paceman Wahab Riaz for Shoaib Aktar who was rested.Umar hurt his finger on Thursday and then sprained his ankle on Sunday.His under-fire brother Kamran, who had a disastrous performance against New Zealand, kept his place in the team.Zimbabwe replaced pacemen Christopher Mpofu and Tanishe Panyangara with seamer Shingirai Masakadza and opener Vusimuzi Sibanda in two changes from the team that lost to Sri Lanka by 139 runs on Thursday.Mpofu, who took four wickets in the last match, has suffered side strain.Pakistan, with six points from four matches, will qualify for the quarter-finals with victory.Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Ahmed Shahzad.Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Regis Chakabva, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Greg Lamb, Shingirai Masakadza, Raymond Price, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Vusimuzi Sibanda.Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) and Tony Hill (NZ), TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (SA)Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

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Netherlands 160 all out against Bangladesh

Updated at: 1156 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh boosted their chances of improving their negative net run rate as their trio of left-arm spinners skittled Netherlands for just 160 in a World Cup match on Monday.With the exception of Ryan ten Doeschate (53 not out), Dutch batsmen struggled to score against Bangladesh's miserly spin attack on the slow track at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.Captain Shakib Al Hasan, Suhrawadi Shuvo and Abdur Razzak's left-arm deliveries flummoxed Peter Borren's men, who struggled to find the gaps in the field to build up any form of momentum in their innings.The spinners shared five wickets between them with Razzak proving to be the most destructive as he finished with 3-29.The Dutch also pressed the self-destruct button as Eric Szwarczynski (28), Tom Cooper (29), Borren (3) and last man Adeel Raja (0) ran themselves out chasing tight runs.Ten Doeschate, who scored a brilliant century against England in their opening World Cup match, again produced some fluent strokes to delight the smattering of Dutch supporters in the crowd but eventually ran out of partners.He was dropped on 14 by Imrul Kayes at midwicket and made the most of his let off by slashing Razzak to the boundary to complete his half-century off 65 balls.While victory over the winless Dutch will help Bangladesh to get one step closer to a quarter-final spot, the co-hosts will want to knock off the runs as quickly as possible since it may come down to net run rate to decide who goes through from Group B to the last eight if teams are tied on points.First innings scoreboard in the World Cup Group B match between Bangladesh and the Netherlands at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium on Monday:
The Netherlands:
E. Szwaraczynski run out 28
W. Barresi lbw b Shakib 10
Mudassar Bukhari c Rahim b Razzak 6
T. Cooper run out 29
R. ten Doeschate not out 53
A. Kervezee st Rahim b Shuvo 18
T. de Grooth lbw b Razzak 4
A. Buurman c Kayes b Razzak 0
P. Borren run out 3
P. Seelaar lbw b Rubel 0
Adeel Raja run out 0
Extras: (lb9) 9
Total (all out, 46.2 overs) 160 Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Barresi), 2-37 (Bukhari), 3-66 (Szwaraczynski), 4-79 (Cooper), 5-113 (Kervezee), 6-127 (de Grooth), 7-127 (Buurman), 8-139 (Borren), 9-141 (Seelaar), 10-160 (Raja).Bowling: Shafiul 9.2-3-15-0, Razzak 10-2-29-3, Shakib 8-0-38-1, Rubel 9-0-36-1, Shuvo 10-1-33-1.Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Shahriar Nafees, Mushfiqur Rahim,Mohammad Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Suhrawadi Shuvo.
Toss: Netherlands
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and and Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV umpire: Daryl Harper (AUS)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
(AFP/Reuters)

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Pakistan must win to ensure quarters’ post

Updated at: 0955 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011

PALLEKELE: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is positive of wrapping up a World Cup quarter-final spot on Monday despite another twist in the ongoing Akmal brothers soap opera.Pakistan's build-up to the game against Zimbabwe has been dominated by Kamran and Umar Akmal.Ever since Kamran put in a blundering performance behind the stumps in the 110-run defeat to New Zealand last Tuesday, it had been widely-expected that younger brother Umar would take the gloves.Umar was then accused of feigning a finger injury to save his brother's job.On Sunday, the 21-year-old Umar managed to sprain his right ankle while playing football during practice although Afridi said the batsman was not seriously hurt."We want to put everything behind us, the defeat and any other thing which could hurt our preparation. We are in a positive frame of mind and will play for a win," said Afridi."Umar is OK. As far as Kamran is concerned he has realised his mistakes and we have given him full confidence and at this moment he is our best option," said Afridi, ruling out any make-shift changes.Pakistan also still have a problem with their openers whose inability to put on a healthy partnership is straining the middle-order.But despite the headaches, captain Afridi insists his team will not repeat the first round exits of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups."I have a lot of confidence in my players. We will win against Zimbabwe to reach the quarter-finals," said Afridi, whose team face defending champions Australia in their last group match on March 19.Pakistan, with six points after four matches, need a win to join co-hosts Sri Lanka into the last eight.Pakistan are likely to rest express paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who went for 71 in his nine overs against New Zealand, and if Umar is ruled out, bring in paceman Wahab Riaz and batsman Asad Shafiq.Zimbabwe still have a slim chance of making the last eight despite having so far collected just two points.But they need to beat Pakistan and Kenya, dramatically improve their run-rate and still hope Australia beat Pakistan."We'll believe that if we can play our best cricket then we can proceed but we must not repeat the mistakes of our last two matches," said Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on match day.Chigumbura said his side will be wary of leg-spinner Afridi, who is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 15."With Afridi we have to make sure we look to play him straight. We have noticed that he's had plenty of dismissals either bowled or lbw so we must make sure we don't look to go across the line too much," said Chigumbura.Pakistan have beaten Zimbabwe in three of their previous four World Cup matches, with the 2003 match abandoned due to rain.Pakistan v Zimbabwe head to head:
Head-to-head record for the World Cup Group A match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Pallekele stadium on Monday:
Matches: 40
Pakistan wins: 36
Zimbabwe wins: 2
No result/Tied: 2
First meeting: Feb 27, 1992, Hobart - Pakistan won by 53 runs Last meeting: Feb 2, 2008, Sheikhupura - Pakistan won by 7 wickets World Cup teams:Rival squads, officials and pitch conditions for the World Cup Group A match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at Pallekele stadium on Monday:Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Ahmed Shahzad.Coach: Waqar YounisZimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Regis Chakabva, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Terry Duffin, Craig Ervine, Greg Lamb, Shingirai Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Tinashe Panyangara, Raymond Price, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Vusimuzi Sibanda.Coach: Alan Butcher (ENG)Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) and Tony Hill (NZL)TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)Match start: 02:00 PMPitch condition: Teams will play on the third pitch of the stadium, which has no grass but has bounce. It will help spinners as the game progresses. (AFP)

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Netherlands elect to bat vs Bangladesh

Updated at: 0824 PST,  Monday, March 14, 2011
CHITTAGONG: Dutch captain Peter Borren won the toss and elected to bat against Bangladesh in their World Cup Group B match on Monday.A win for co-hosts Bangladesh, who have won two of their four matches so far, will boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

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Aussies thrash Kenya by 60 runs

Updated at: 2200 PST,  Sunday, March 13, 2011

BANGALORE: Holders Australia claimed their place in the last eight of the World Cup on Sunday but they were made to work surprisingly hard by Kenya who restored pride with a defiant performance despite losing by 60 runs.Michael Clarke (93) and the returning Mike Hussey (54) bailed their team out of trouble to help set up a daunting 324-6 but Kenya defied the much-vaunted Australian fast bowling unit to score a respectable 264-6 in Group A.Earlier, opener Brad Haddin had made 65 but Australia found themselves under unexpected pressure at one stage at 143-4.After four straight losses, Kenya had clearly decided not to go down without a fight and Tanmay Mishra (72) along with Collins Obuya (98 not out) resisted with a stubborn stand of 115 for the fourth wicket.The pace trio of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson regularly generated speeds in excess of 140 kmph but the Kenyan batsmen gave as good as they got and notched up their highest score in the tournament so far.Three of the six Kenyan wickets to fall were by run-outs as the Australian fast bowlers and spinners almost ran out of ideas to dismiss a batting side which was skittled out in their previous four matches.It had seemed as if the match was headed for a fast finish as Kenya slumped to 46-3 in the 10th over. But as the pitch lost its pace, Mishra took on the role of the aggressor and clobbered eight boundaries and one huge six.Obuya, however, was more restrained at the start of his innings but accelerated towards the end and singled out Shane Watson for some especially harsh treatment.Thomas Odoyo joined the African party with a 38-ball 35 at the end but the Kenyans always were well behind the asking run-rate and their valiant attempt fell short.Earlier, Clarke (93 off 80 balls) paced his innings to perfection to avoid a middle-order collapse after Australia lost three quick wickets in the space of 15 balls at the end of the 27th over.Clarke and Hussey (54 in 43 balls), who celebrated his return to the World Cup squad with a typically industrious innings, came together with Australia in a spot of bother and
with a 300 plus score looking a long way off.They immediately put the Kenyan fielders under pressure with singles and twos and the odd boundary to wrest the initiative back with a 114-run partnership for the fifth wicket at better than a run a ball.Shane Watson (21) and captain Ricky Ponting (36) also got some runs under their belt.

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Australia plunder 324 against hapless Kenya

Updated at: 1802 PST,  Sunday, March 13, 2011

BANGALORE: Three half-centuries helped Australia amass 324 for six against hapless Kenya in their Group A day-night match of the World Cup here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday Michael Clarke's 93 helped Australia overcome a mid-innings wobble as the champions made 324 for six against Kenya in a World Cup Group A match on Sunday.Vice-captain Clarke and the returning Michael Hussey (54), in for dropped younger brother David, shared a stand of 114 after Australia had lost three wickets for just 16 runs to be 143 for four.Clarke, on the ground where he made a hundred on Test debut against India in 2004, took 52 balls over his first fifty with only three boundaries.But he then cut loose before he holed out off fast bowler Nehemiah Odhiambo, who took three for 57.Victory for Australia would see the title-holders, unbeaten in 32 matches at the World Cup dating back to 1999, into the quarter-finals.Left-hander Hussey, playing his first match of the tournament after recovering from a hamstring problem and getting a late summons to the subcontinent as a replacement for injured fast bowler Doug Bollinger, once again demonstrated his coolness at the crease.Odhiambo had opener Shane Watson (21) well caught by leaping wicket-keeper Maurice Ouma after Kenya lost the toss.Next ball captain Ricky Ponting, walking across his stumps, survived an Odhiambo lbw appeal.Opening batsman Brad Haddin, dropped twice off tough chances early in his innings, made 65 and helped Ponting add 89 for the second wicket.Haddin completed his 50 off 63 balls with his eighth four, a late cut off Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande but going for a big hit off the same bowler he was caught at deep midwicket by Rakep Patel.A score of 127 for two became 131-3 when Ponting was lbw on review to leg-spinner Collins Obuya for an unconvincing 36.Kamande took two wickets for nine runs in eight balls with some sharply turning off-spinners on his way to two for 46.But paceman Elijah Otieno's eight overs cost a colossal 75 runs.Kenya's best total in four previous losing appearances at this tournament was the 198 they made in a five-wicket defeat by fellow non-Test nation Canada.

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Kiwis record easy win against Canada

Updated at: 1732 PST,  Sunday, March 13, 2011

MUMBAI: New Zealand went on to the top at the Group A points table defeating Canada by 97 runs in a one-sided World Cup Group A match here at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.New Zealand scored a mammoth 358 for six in their 50 overs and it proved too much for the minnows, who never looked remotely like challenging the target and ended on 261-9. However, they played all their 50 overs for their highest total in the tournament.They were in a perilous position at 4-2 before captain Ashish Bagai (84) and Jimmy Hansra (70 not out) came together to put on 125 for the fourth wicket and give the scoreboard a look of respectability.Kyle Mills did the early damage for the Black Caps, dismissing Ruvindu Gunasekera and Zubin Surkari with just four runs on the board but he had to leave the field injured midway through his third over. Jacob Oram took 3-47.Earlier, Brendon McCullum’s aggressive hundred and Jesse Ryder’s explosive 74 to help the Black Caps set an improbable target of 359.McCullum hits 101, his third One-day International century, from 109 balls with 12 fours and two sixes while Taylor smashed five sixes and six boundaries during his 44-ball innings.In one devastating over Taylor, who smashed 131 in 124 balls against Pakistan, took 28 off Harvir Baidwan, smashing four sixes and a four The stand-in skipper came to the crease in the 30th over with his side on 149 for two after a steady start against winless Canada, and injected urgency into the innings. He was caught by Jimmy Hansra off the bowling of Balaji Rao while McCullum, who put on 53 with opening partner Martin Guptill (17) and 96 with Jesse Ryder (38) for the second wicket, perished in the first over of the batting powerplay, holing out to Ruvindu Gunasekera at extra cover.Kane Williamson (34 not out) and Scott Styris (35) also joined in the onslaught, as the Canadian bowlers wilted, before a stunning cameo of 31 from James Franklin off just eight balls including three sixes and two fours. New Zealand lashed 31 off the final over.The pick of the bowlers for Canada was John Davison, whose 10 overs of spin yielded 1-30 but they were ragged in the field, dropping catches amid the New Zealand onslaught.Baidwan went for a whopping 84 runs in his 9.1 overs and Rizwan Cheema was thrashed for 64 off just 4.5 overs.The victory for New Zealand, without injured skipper Daniel Vettori, takes them to top spot in Group A with eight points, one clear of Sri Lanka, the only other team who have qualified for the quarter-finals.Canada have two points after one win and four defeats.

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Afridi backs Akmal brothers

Updated at: 1659 PST,  Sunday, March 13, 2011

PALLEKELE: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said Sunday that struggling wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and his younger brother Umar would both will play against Zimbabwe on Monday.There has been confusion over the Akmal brothers ever since the 110-run defeat against New Zealand last week, with elder brother Kamran spilling two crucial chances to dismiss century-maker Ross Taylor.Pakistan considered using Umar Akmal, Kamran's younger brother, as a makeshift keeper but abandoned those plans after he suffered a finger injury.There were reports in Pakistani media that Umar had feigned injury to help Kamran keep his place, speculation denied by team management.On Sunday Umar sprained his right ankle while playing football but Afridi confirmed the injury was not serious."He (Umar) is fit, it is a light injury. He fielded today and looked better, so definitely he will play tomorrow," said Afridi of Umar, who also took part in light practice.Afridi admitted there was no better option than going back to Kamran as wicket-keeper."Kamran's performance in batting hasn't been bad but, yes, he is struggling with his keeping. He is working very hard, and we haven't got such an option in the squad to whom we can give a chance in this tournament. "Kamran has been working hard for four days. He has support and our confidence, he seems a better choice. I think he knows the mistakes he has committed and he will try to cover it for sure and will perform," said Afridi.Afridi said there were no negative thoughts in the dressing room."We are just focusing on day by day and game by game and if we win against Zimbabwe the dressing room atmosphere will be better and positive. A win always gives you confidence," said Afridi.The skipper said he hoped his batsmen, especially the top order, did not repeat the mistakes they made in the match against New Zealand."At the moment our plan is not to lose wickets and be positive. I have already told them to play to your strengths, like you play in domestic cricket, play like that. "Over the last couple of days the openers have worked really hard and the coaches have worked hard with them as well. The results will hopefully come and realising the importance of the match I am confident that they will perform," said Afridi.A win for Pakistan, with six points from four matches, would take them through to the quarter-finals.

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Australia win toss, bat against Kenya

Updated at: 1339 PST,  Sunday, March 13, 2011

BANGALORE: Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first against Kenya in their Group A day-night match of the World Cup here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadiumon Sunday.Michael Hussey, recovered from a hamstring problem and called into the Australia squad as a replacement for injured fast bowler Doug Bollinger, was selected for his first match of this tournament.The experienced left-handed batsman replaced younger brother David in the Australia line-up.Victory for Australia, bidding for a fourth straight title and fifth in all, would see Ricky Ponting's men into the quarter-finals and extend the champions' unbeaten streak at the World Cup to 33 games, a sequence dating back to 1999.Kenya, by contrast, have lost all four of their group matches at this tournament to date, including a five-wicket defeat by fellow non-Test nation Canada last time out. This is effectively Australia's first match for more than two weeks after last weekend's clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka ended as a no-result washout Australia: Brad Haddin (wk), Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Shaun Tait Kenya: Maurice Ouma (wk), Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, David Obuya, Tanmay Mishra, Thomas Odoyo, Rakep Patel, Jimmy Kamande (captain), Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, James Ngoche.

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McCullum, Taylor power Kiwis to 358 against Canada

Updated at: 1302 PST,  Sunday, March 13, 2011

MUMBAI: Brendon McCullum’s aggressive hundred and Jesse Ryder’s explosive 74 to help fire the Black Caps to a daunting total of 358 for 6 against Canada in the World Cup Group A match here at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.McCullum hits 101, his third One-day International century, from 109 balls with 12 fours and two sixes while Taylor smashed five sixes and six boundaries during his 44-ball innings. In one devastating over Taylor, who smashed 131 in 124 balls against Pakistan, took 28 off Harvir Baidwan, smashing four sixes and a four The stand-in skipper came to the crease in the 30th over with his side on 149 for two after a steady start against winless Canada, and injected urgency into the innings. He was caught by Jimmy Hansra off the bowling of Balaji Rao while McCullum, who put on 53 with opening partner Martin Guptill (17) and 96 with Jesse Ryder (38) for the second wicket, perished in the first over of the batting powerplay, holing out to Ruvindu Gunasekera at extra cover.Kane Williamson (34 not out) and Scott Styris (35) continued the onslaught, as the Canadian bowlers wilted, before a stunning cameo of 31 from James Franklin off just eight balls including three sixes and two fours. The pick of the bowlers for Canada was John Davison, whose 10 overs of spin yielded one for 30 but they were ragged in the field, dropping catches amid the New Zealand onslaught.Baidwan went for a whopping 84 runs in his 9.1 overs and Rizwan Cheema, taken off in the final over after bowling two beamers, was thrashed for 64 off just 4.5 overs.A victory for New Zealand, without injured skipper Daniel Vettori, would make them the second team in the tournament to seal a last-eight berth after Sri Lanka, also in Group A.

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Cricket WC: Canada win toss, puts NZ in to bat

Updated at: 0840 PST,  Sunday, March 13, 2011

MUMBAI: Canada captain Ashish Bagai won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat Sunday in the World Cup Group A match at Wankhede Stadium.Ross Taylor is deputizing as New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who injured his right knee in the 110-run win over Pakistan on Tuesday and is expected to miss at least one match.The New Zealanders have six points from three wins in Group A, with the only loss so far coming against defending champion Australia.After heavy defeats to Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, Canada rebounded to beat 2003 semifinalist Kenya by five wickets in Delhi last Monday, producing only its second win ever at a World Cup. (Online)

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South Africa beat India by 3 wickets

Updated at: 2210 PST,  Saturday, March 12, 2011

NAIGPUR: South Africa won by 3 wickets in a World Cup Group B match against India played here at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday.

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India lose 9 wkts for 29 after Sachin hits 99th ton

Updated at: 1807 PST,  Saturday, March 12, 2011

NAGPUR: After Sachin Tendulkar smashed his second century in the World Cup 2011 India lost six wickets for just 29 runs as Dale Steyn helped South Africa to restrict the hosts to 296 in 48.4 overs in their Group B match here at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday. Batting first after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss, Tendulkar opened the innings with Virender Sehwag and both made 142 runs for the first wicket partnership and then Tendulkar added 125 along with Gautam Gambhir for the second wicket.Sehwag scored 73 off 66 balls with 12 fours while Gambhir made 69 from 75 balls with seven fours.Tendulkar made 111 runs from 101 balls with eight fours and three sixes. This was his second hundred in the tournament, sixth in the World Cups, 48th in One-day Internationals and 99th in all international cricket (Test and ODI).

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India win toss, elect to bat against Proteas

Updated at: 1348 PST,  Saturday, March 12, 2011

NAGPUR: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat after winning the toss against South Africa in a key World Cup Group B match on Saturday Both teams are already virtually assured of quarter-final places.India made one change from the side that beat the Netherlands by five wickets in the previous match in Delhi, bringing in seamer Munaf Patel in place of leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.South Africa replaced injured leg-spinner Imran Tahir with off-spinner Johan Botha for the only change from the team that lost to England by six runs in Chennai.India currently top the seven-team group with seven points from four games, while South Africa have four points from three matches.India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel.South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne van Wyk.Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Simon Taufel (AUS), TV umpire: Billy Doctrove (WI)Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SL)

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Cricket WC: India, S. Africa eye win to justify favourites' tag

Updated at: 0904 PST,  Saturday, March 12, 2011

NAGPUR: Familiar foes India and South Africa will clash in a World Cup Group B match on Saturday with the aim of proving their World Cup credentials as favourites.While India have remained unbeaten in the tournament, with three wins and a tied match, the hard-earned victories against Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands have done little to calm the nerves of their fans.South Africa, on the other hand, compounded their problems by getting skittled for 165 runs, while chasing 172 for victory against England, giving their critics an opportunity of labelling them "chokers" again having never won this tournament.The Africans slipped past India 3-2 in an ODI series preceding the World Cup but the conditions will be completely different in Nagpur."We obviously know each other pretty well. We played a whole summer and we got to know each other. I think both the teams know what to expect today (Saturday)," South Africa captain Graeme Smith told reporters.South Africa also kept the decision regarding injured leg spinner Imran Tahir hanging until late on Friday.Tahir, the most successful bowler for his team in the tournament so far, developed a fracture on his left thumb during last Sunday's defeat against England"He has bowled this week, and come through fine, it's just whether we feel the need to risk him tomorrow or not, and that we'll decide later," Smith said.(Reuters)

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Fearless Bangladesh down England

Updated at: 2148 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh's ninth-wicket pair of Mohammad Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam hammered 58 runs to send England crashing to a two-wicket defeat in the World Cup on Friday.The Tigers appeared down for the count when they plunged to 169-8 in the 40th over chasing a modest target of 226 in the day-night game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong.But Mahmuddullah (21 not out) and Shafiul (24 not out) conjured an unlikely victory in front of 18,000 screaming home fans to resurrect Bangladesh's campaign in the tournament they are co-hosting with India and Sri Lanka.Bangladesh, who have four points from as many games, must still beat the Netherlands and power-packed South Africa in their remaining matches to ensure a place in the quarter-finals from Group B.England remained on five points from five matches, a point behind the West Indies who have played a game less.Opener Imrul Kayes top-scored with 60, adding 82 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Shakib Al Hasan (32), to lift the home side to 155-3 in the 31st over.England hit back to take five wickets for 14 runs, before Mahmuddullah and Shafiul smashed pace and spin alike to seal a dramatic win with one over to spare.England paid dearly for bowling 23 wides as the late evening dew made it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball.Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan were the only England batsmen to defy Bangladesh's spinners, scoring half-centuries before their team was dismissed for 225 in the final over.Trott hit 67 and left-hander Morgan, who arrived in Chittagong on Tuesday to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen, made an immediate impact with a fluent 63 off 72 balls.The duo put on 109 for the fourth wicket after England, sent in to bat by Shakib on a sluggish pitch, slipped to 53-3 in the 17th over.The partnership was broken by a brilliant catch from Kayes, who dived in front at deep square-leg to hold the ball after Morgan skied a sweep against off-break bowler Naeem Islam.Morgan's dismissal triggered a collapse in which England lost their last seven wickets for 63 runs after being well-placed at 162-3 in the 39th over.Naeem finished with 2-29 from eight overs, and left-arm spinners Abdur Razzak and Shakib also claimed two wickets each.Matt Prior, England's new opener in place of Pietersen, made 15 when he was dismissed in bizarre fashion, stumped by his Bangladesh counterpart Mushfiqur Rahim off Razzak's first delivery.Rahim removed the bails off a wide ball down the leg-side, but even though Prior had dragged his back foot in just in time, he again wandered out of his crease.Seeing the batsman out of his ground, a quick-thinking Rahim pulled out a stump to ensure the decision, which was referred to the TV umpire, went in his favour.Bangladesh next play the Netherlands in Chittagong on Monday, while 

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Trott, Morgan rally England as Tigers strike

Updated at: 1739 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

CHITTAGONG: Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan defied Bangladesh's rampaging spinners with half-centuries as England were bowled out for 225 in the World Cup Group match on Friday.Trott hit 67 and left-hander Morgan, who arrived in Chittagong on Tuesday to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen, made an immediate impact with a fluent 63 off 72 balls.The duo put on 109 for the fourth wicket after England, sent in to bat on a sluggish pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium, slipped to 53-3 in the 17th over.The partnership was broken by a brilliant catch from Imrul Kayes, who dived in front at deep square-leg to hold the ball after Morgan skied a sweep against off-break bowler Naeem Islam.None of the other batsmen lasted long against the Bangladesh spinners as Naeem finished with 2-29 and left-armers Abdur Razzak and skipper Shakib Al Hasan also claimed two wickets each.A sell-out crowd of 18,000 backed the Tigers in the day-night game that Bangladesh must win to stay in realistic contention for a place in the quarter-finals.A victory for England, who have five points from four previous games, will ensure them a berth in the knock-out rounds.England picked Matt Prior to open the batting with skipper Andrew Strauss in place of Kevin Pietersen, who has returned home to undergo a hernia operation.The wicket-keeper made 15 when he was dismissed in bizarre fashion, stumped by his Bangladesh counterpart Mushfiqur Rahim off Razzak's first delivery.Rahim removed the bails off a wide ball down the leg-side, but even though Prior had dragged his back foot in just in time, he again wandered out of his crease Seeing the batsman out of his ground, a quick-thinking Rahim pulled out a stump to ensure the decision, which was referred to the TV umpire, went in his favour.England made three changes from the side that beat South Africa by six runs in Chennai on Sunday.Morgan and Ajmal Shahzad replaced the injured Pietersen and Stuart Broad, while seasoned all-rounder Paul Collingwood came in for Michael Yardy.Bangladesh, who fell for their lowest total of 58 against the West Indies in the previous match, dropped former captain Mohammad Ashraful to play all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah.

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