Pakistan on rampage against Windies

Updated at: 1442 PST,  Wednesday, March 23, 2011

DHAKA: Pakistan bowlers demolished the West Indies three top-order batsmen as the opponents are reeling at 18 for three in their first ten overs in the first quarter-finals of the ICC World Cup 2011 here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on
Wednesday.After captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat, West Indies openers Chris Gayle and Devon Smith opened the innings, with two fours in two overs but pacer Umar Gul got an early breakthrough dismissing Gayle, caught at mid-off by captain Shahid Afridi for eight and in the next over off-break bolwer Mohammad Hafeez struck twice getting Smith out, lbw for seven and Darren Bravo, lbw for first ball duck.The West Indies could make only 16 runs during the powerplay in the first five overs and then could score just two in the next five.Gul claimed one wicket for eleven and Hafeez two for seven in their five overs each as experienced batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are at the crease 2 and nought.

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West Indies win toss, elect to bat against Pakistan

Updated at: 1306 PST,  Wednesday, March 23, 2011

DHAKA: West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the first quarter-finals of the ICC World Cup 2011 here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Wednesday.This is for the first time that the West Indies has won the toss in a World cup match.The winners of the match will face either India or Australia in the semi-finals.The West Indies welcomed back opener Chris Gayle and fast bowler Kemar Roach, who both missed the last league match against India due to injury and illness respectively.Also included was veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul as the West Indies omitted left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, fast bowler Andre Russell and batsman Kirk Edwards.Pakistan made one change from their winning combination against Australia, bringing in off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in place of left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman.Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz.West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Devon Thomas, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul, Devendra Bishoo.Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZ) and Steve Davis (AUS), TV umpire: Daryl Harper (AUS)Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).

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WC Cricket: Ajmal may be option to counter WI

Updated at: 0604 PST,  Wednesday, March 23, 2011

DHAKA: On the eve of what is Pakistan’s biggest World Cup game since their forgettable appearance in the 1999 final at Lord’s, Pakistan’s players sat over the dinner table at the Sheraton here on Tuesday and vowed to give their best in the quarterfinal clash against West Indies.They received a motivational talk from coach Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi and later the captain said that the ‘boys are ready for the big game’.“For most of our players, it’s the biggest game of their lives,” Afridi told ‘The News’. “They all know how important this World Cup is for our cricket and for our country and they are all pumped up to give their very best tomorrow,” he stressed.Pakistan were thrashed by Australia in the 1999 World Cup final that turned out to be a huge mismatch and later the Greenshirts flopped miserably in the 2003 and 2007 editions.But this time, when not many gave them much chance, Pakistan have been at their brilliant best and enter the quarterfinals after clinching the top spot in Pool A ahead of co-hosts Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia.“I have played for 14 years and never seen the team train so seriously and focus on their game,” Afridi said while speaking at a press conference here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. “The entire team is together in the dream to do well in the World Cup.“Our aim at the start was to make the semifinals and I am confident we can achieve that. The expectations back home are high and we are determined not to let our supporters down.”Afridi is looking forward to stick to the ‘winning combination’ that helped the team beat Zimbabwe and Australia in the last couple of games but at the dinner meeting the idea of bringing in off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was seriously discussed.Pakistan team’s think-tank believes that Ajmal can help tackle the four left-handers in the West Indian top order. Ajmal, they believe could be even more useful that left-armer Abdur Rehman, who is likely to sit out of the last-eight clash.Afridi, however, refrained from confirming it saying that a final decision will taken this morning.He made it clear that Pakistan’s won’t be taking anything for granted.“We will not take the West Indies lightly. Any team is capable of winning on their day, there are no second chances in a knock-out match. I think they are a very good side.”Afridi is urging his batters to get their acts together.“Our success so far has been entirely due to the bowlers, who have done a very good job,” said Afridi. “I myself have not batted well and will focus on that tomorrow.”Akmal has scored 211 runs at 52.75 and is Pakistan’s top scorer in the event. Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq scored prolifically when the event began but didn’t make any big contributions in the last three games.The skipper promised he will do better with the bat after contributing just 65 runs in the last six games. “I know how important my batting is for the team and I will try to get some runs on the board.”Afridi made it clear that he and his team is just focusing on today’s game, stressing that he is not concerned about a possible semifinal clash against old rivals India. “Our entire focus is on winning the quarterfinal, I am not even thinking of the next match, whether it is India or Australia,” he said.West Indies bowled out Bangladesh for just 58 on their way to a nine-wicket triumph here at Shere Bangla in a group match but Afridi made it clear that the result has no significance ahead of the quarterfinal.“That was Bangladesh, this is Pakistan,” he said. “It’s not that we are playing for the first time in these conditions. We feel at home anywhere in the sub-continent.”West Indies have lost five of their last six matches against Pakistan and have won only three of their last 16 matches since 2005.Teams (likely):Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz.West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Devon Thomas (wk), Andre Russell, Sulieman Benn, Kemar Roach, Devendra Bishoo.

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Pakistan to stick with winning combination

Updated at: 1731 PST,  Tuesday, March 22, 2011

DHAKA: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi indicated on Tuesday he would retain the side who defeated Australia in the World Cup group stages for Wednesday's quarter-final against West Indies.Pakistan took the field for the Australia match without fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and opened the bowling with left-armer Abdur Rehman as the defending champions were beaten for the first time at a World Cup since 1999."We want to go with the winning combination. We will see, but I think we are happy with this winning combination," Afridi told a news conference.Afridi said the victory over Australia had given the 1992 champions a welcome confidence boost before the knockout stages."We worked hard before this World Cup. We are taking the practice sessions very seriously," he said. "I think we are feeling more confident now, it's a good sign before the quarter-final."Afridi paid tribute to his bowlers, signalling out pace bowler Umar Gul for particular praise."He was struggling a little bit with his ankle before but I think he is 100 percent fit," Afridi said."He is doing a great job with the ball, especially with the new ball."

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Pakistan take on Windies in 1st Q-final

Updated at: 1413 PST,  Tuesday, March 22, 2011

DHAKA: Struggling West Indies need look no further than their manager Richie Richardson for inspiration when they clash with buoyant Pakistan in the World Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.Richardson was captain when the West Indies overturned the form book in the 1996 quarter-final in Karachi and stunned South Africa, who had come through the league phase unbeaten.Brian Lara smashed 111 off 94 balls to fashion a 19-run victory and a similar effort from Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo or Kieron Pollard could upset Pakistan's applecart."Anything can happen in the knock-outs, you don't get a second chance," said the 49-year-old Richardson, who took over as manager for a two-year term in January."Every one starts on an equal footing."Darren Sammy's men will need a desperate last fling at a time when they seem to be falling apart after two inexplicabe defeats against England and India from dominant positions.They were on the brink of victory against England when, chasing a modest target of 244, they were comfortably placed at 222-6 before losing their last four wickets for three runs.Against India on Sunday, they caved in again as eight wickets fell for 34 runs after they were 154-2 and lost by 80 runs.The West Indies, who have now lost 18 successive matches against the leading nations, cannot afford another defeat.All is, however, not over yet for the West Indies.They return to the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka where they shot out Bangladesh for their lowest one-day total of 58 in the league to romp home by nine wickets in a match that ended in under two hours.Gayle and key fast bowler Kemar Roach are set to return after missing the India game, the former with a abdominal strain and Roach due to illness.Pakistan, in contrast, have been the revelation of the tournament by topping Group A with five wins in six matches.Shahid Afridi's Pakistan broke three-time defending champions Australia's unbeaten streak of 34 World Cup matches with a four-wicket win in Colombo on Saturday.It was just the tonic Pakistan needed after being stripped of big-time cricket at home due to security concerns in their volatile nation and tainted by an unsavoury spot-fixing scandal.The absence of former captain Salman Butt and pace spearheads Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif due to the controversy was not felt as the team rallied superbly under their inspirational captain.All-rounder Afridi is the tournament's leading bowler with 17 wickets with his fastish leg-breaks, while seamer Umar Gul has kept the pressure on at the other end with 13 wickets.Afridi may have failed with the bat so far with just 65 runs in six games, but young guns Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq have shone brightly in their first World Cup.Akmal has scored 211 runs at 52.75 and Shafiq averages 124 in the two games he has played so far, while seasoned seniors like Misbah-ul Haq and Younis Khan have lent solidity to the middle-order.Team manager Intikhab Alam, who was coach when Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup under Imran Khan, was delighted with his side's performance so far.The former captain attributed the success to "self-belief, fitness and high energy levels.""We are peaking at the right time," Intikhab said.World Cup teams: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 Younis (PAK)West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Devon Thomas, Sulieman Benn, Nikita Miller, Kemar Roach, Kirk Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Devendra Bishoo.Coach: Ottis Gibson (WIS)Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Steve Davis (AUS)
TV umpire: Daryl Harper (AUS)Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)Match start:0830 GMTPitch conditions: A slow, sluggish wicket that hinders strokeplay but provides equal opportunities for both seamers and spinners.Pakistan v West Indies head to head:Matches: 114Pakistan wins: 48West Indies wins: 64Tied: 2First meeting: June 11, 1975, Birmingham - West Indies won by one wicket.Last meeting: September 23, 2009, Johannesburg - Pakistan won by five wickets

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India poised for Pakistan semi-final

Updated at: 1359 PST,  Tuesday, March 22, 2011

MUMBAI: An India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final is the most appetising prospect to emerge from a month of preliminary matches which otherwise served primarily to confirm the identity of a predictable final eight.Pakistan and West Indies open the quarter-finals in Dhaka on Wednesday with the winners drawn against the victors of the India versus Australia match in Ahmedabad on the following day.South Africa and New Zealand meet in Dhaka on Friday before Sri Lanka host England in Colombo on Saturday in the battle for the second semi-final spot.Anxious to avoid an early exit for any of the leading contenders after India and Pakistan flew home early from the 2007 tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) pitched the 14 teams into a round-robin first round format."We trying to ensure we give every team the best opportunity of remaining in the competition and not losing out just because of one bad game so that the best do go through," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said before the start of the tournament on Feb. 19.The ICC, the television networks and the sponsors got their wish in a tournament which, after finally reaching the knockout stages, now looks the most open since 1999.Australia, aiming for a fourth consecutive title, are not the force of previous tournaments, losing a World Cup match for the first time in 12 years when they were deservedly beaten by Pakistan in the first round.India have a nation willing them to success in the Mumbai final on April 2. But their collective temperament has been questioned after they emerged with only one point from their matches against England and South Africa despite centuries on both occasions to the peerless Sachin Tendulkar.BEST-BALANCED SIDESouth Africa's belief that this may at last be their year after a history of underachievement in the tournament is based on a fine pace attack, able spin bowling, solid batting and their customary slick fielding. They are also the only team to have bowled out their opponents each time in the group stages.Sceptics, though, point to their failure to overhaul a modest target against England as evidence of a continued fallibility under pressure.England, who have looked at times physically and mentally spent since their Ashes heroics, lost to Ireland and Bangladesh but emphasised their fighting spirit under Andrew Strauss in a tie with India and victories over South Africa and West Indies.Winning in Colombo against the 1996 champions still looks like a step too far after Sri Lanka did nothing in the first round to erode pre-tournament assessments that they have the best-balanced side in the competition.With the weather getting hotter and the pitches starting to deteriorate faster, the sub-continental sides have an increasing advantage which Pakistan should exploit to West Indies' cost in Dhaka.Their swashbuckling captain Shahid Afridi has led from the front, emerging as a match winner with the ball by taking 17 wickets with his aggressive wrist spin.The winners of the New Zealand-South Africa semi-final will play the victors of the Sri Lanka-England tie in Colombo on March 29. Mohali will stage the second semi the following day. (Reuters)

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Gayle, Roach fit for Pakistan clash

Updated at: 1311 PST,  Tuesday, March 22, 2011

DHAKA: Struggling West Indies will be boosted by the return of star batsman Chris Gayle and pace spearhead Kemar Roach for the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan on Wednesday.The duo missed the last league match against India in Chennai on Sunday with Gayle resting an abdominal strain and Roach feeling unwell due to viral fever and a stomach infection.Skipper Darren Sammy said both Gayle and Roach worked out in the nets at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Tuesday and expected them to report fully fit for the quarter-final."I liked the way Chris was hitting balls in the nets," said Sammy. "He is very committed to the West Indies cause. Come tomorrow, and I have not doubt both he and Kemar will play."Sammy would not confirm if fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, who took five wickets against India in his first appearance in this tournament, will be retained if Roach returns to the side."We will assess the conditions and discuss it amongst ourselves before finalising the team," he said. "We will put out the best possible team which can deal with the conditions."The West Indies need to be at full strength for the quarter-final at a time when they seem to be floundering after two inexplicabe defeats against England and India from dominant positions.They were on the brink of victory against England when, chasing a modest target of 244, they were comfortably placed at 222-6 before losing their last four wickets for three runs.Against India on Sunday, they caved in again as eight wickets fell for 34 runs after they were 154-2 and lost by 80 runs.The West Indies, who have now lost 18 successive matches against the leading nations, cannot afford another defeat."We did lose our way and can't keep collapsing like that all the time," the captain said. "And we certainly can't do that in a quarter-final."But I am confident we can put the past behind us and hopefully the West Indies will win. It will be an exciting game."The West Indies return to the venue where they shot out Bangladesh for their lowest one-day total of 58 in the league to romp home by nine wickets in a match that ended in under two hours."It is definitely an advantage to have played here earlier," said Roach. "We executed our plans well against Bangladesh and we will take confidence from that."Sammy expected a tough fight against the in-form Pakistanis, who topped Group A with five wins in six matches, including a four-wicket demolition of Australia in Colombo on Saturday.The win ended the three-time defending champions' unbeaten streak of 34 World Cup matches over a 12-year period."Pakistan have been playing good cricket, especially Shahid Afridi who has led from the front," said Sammy. "But we must focus on what we have to do to execute our plans and win the game."This is the quarter-final and everything depends on how we play on the day. It does not matter if you are number one or number eight. If you don't win you are out.

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Ponting could be dumped as captain: report

Updated at: 0831 PST,  Tuesday, March 22, 2011

SYDNEY: Ricky Ponting could be in the final week of his nine-year reign as captain after a troubled build-up to the World Cup, a report said Tuesday, citing a Cricket Australia official.The Sydney Morning Herald said there was stiff opposition at boardroom level to the 36-year-old retaining the job for next month's tour of Bangladesh, although his position as a player was not in jeopardy."We need to be looking at the future. It's time for us to make a change," the newspaper quoted the official as saying.Ahead of the World Cup, Ponting earned the dubious distinction of becoming the only Australian skipper to fail to win the Ashes three times, putting him under enormous pressure.He has also done himself no favours in India, taking a reprimand from the International Cricket Council after smashing a dressing-room TV in a fit of fury after being run out during Australia's World Cup win over Zimbabwe.He was also criticised for angrily throwing the ball to the ground after colliding with teammate Steven Smith during their victory over Canada Then his sportsmanship was questioned when he failed to walk in Saturday's defeat to Pakistan."We're waiting for the next thing to blow up," the official said. "We don't go a game without there being some issues with him."Michael Clarke, who led Australia to an emphatic 6-1 one-day series victory over England to give them a boost after the post-Ashes despondency, is seen as favourite to take his job.The Australians face India in Thursday's World Cup quarter-final in Ahmedabad.

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Cricket WC: Australia win restored Pak image, says Afridi

Updated at: 1523 PST,  Monday, March 21, 2011

COLOMBO: Pakistan's World Cup victory over Australia has restored the team's battered image and boosted their credentials as champions-in-waiting, skipper Shahid Afridi said on Monday. Pakistan upstaged Australia by four wickets to end the defending champions' unbeaten 34-match streak in the World Cup stretching back to 1999. It also meant Pakistan finished top of Group A and gave them a quarter-final clash against the West Indies in Dhaka on Wednesday while Australia tackle India in Ahmedabad on Thursday. "We knew that beating Australia would be very important for us and this win has enhanced our image, sending a good signal to the cricket world that we can win despite our difficult situation," Afridi told. "Despite all the problems Pakistan is blessed with talent and it's because of this talent that we are a dangerous team and can win against anyone. We now hope to carry on the momentum," said Afridi. The Pakistan captain disagreed that the West Indies, who squeezed into the last eight on run-rate, will be easier opponents. "They have qualified for the quarter-finals after some good play, so we have to do well in all three departments because it's a knockout stage from here," said Afridi, the leading wicket-taker with 17 in six matches so far.Afridi said he was not thinking of a potentially high-voltage semi-final clash against India if the two Asian rivals come through their last-eight tests."Our focus is on the quarter-final, we have to win that to reach the semi-final, so we are not thinking that far. First we have to win a must-win match against a dangerous opponent," said Afridi. The winners of the first two quarter-finals meet in the second semi-final at Mohail on March 30. South Africa play New Zealand on March 25 (Dhaka) and Sri Lanka face England (Colombo) in the last quarter-final a day later -- with the winners to play the first semi-final in Colombo on March 29.

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Buoyant Pakistan on pole against rattled Windies

Updated at: 1145 PST,  Monday, March 21, 2011

DHAKA: Confident Pakistan take on the West Indies in the World Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday hoping to continue their winning run in the tournament against a side bruised by recent defeats.The hugely talented, but unpredictable, Pakistanis have been the revelation of the tournament so far by topping Group A with five wins in six matches in the preliminary league.The West Indies inexplicably lost their last two games against England and India from dominant positions to finish fourth in Group B with three wins, the same as Bangladesh, but with a superior run-rate.Shahid Afridi's Pakistan saved the best for the end when they broke three-time defending champions Australia's unbeaten streak of 34 World Cup matches with a four-wicket win in Colombo on Saturday.It was just the tonic Pakistan needed after being stripped of big-time cricket at home due to security concerns in their volatile nation and tainted by an unsavoury spot-fixing scandal.The absence of former captain Salman Butt and pace spearheads Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif due to the controversy was not felt as the team rallied superbly under their inspirational captain.Afridi is the tournament's leading bowler with 17 wickets with his fastish leg-breaks, while seamer Umar Gul has kept the pressure on at the other end with 13 wickets.All-rounder Afridi may have failed with the bat so far with just 65 runs in six games, but young guns Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq have shone brightly in their first World Cup.Akmal has scored 211 runs at 52.75 and Shafiq averages 124 in the two games he has played so far, while seasoned seniors like Misbah-ul Haq and Younis Khan have lent solidity to the middle-order.Team manager Intikhab Alam, who was coach when Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup under Imran Khan, was delighted with his side's performance so far.The former captain attributed the success to "self-belief, fitness and high energy levels.""There's a lot of positive energy among the boys after the victory over Australia and we will take that into the quarter-finals," Intikhab said. "We are peaking at the right time."The West Indies, in contrast, appear to be falling apart just when it matters most.They were on the brink of victory against England in Chennai when, chasing a modest target of 244, they were comfortably placed at 222-6 before losing their last four wickets for three runs.Against India on Sunday, they caved in again as eight wickets fell for 34 runs after they were 154-2 and lost by 80 runs.The West Indies have now lost 18 successive matches against the leading nations, but Darren Sammy's men cannot afford another defeat in the knock-out rounds.All is, however, not over yet for the West Indies.They return to the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka where they shot out Bangladesh for their lowest one-day total of 58 in the league to romp home by nine wickets in a match that lasted under two hours.Batting star Chris Gayle and key fast bowler Kemar Roach are expected to be back after missing the India game, Gayle with a abdominal strain and Roach due to illness.Sammy said he was aware of Pakistan's threat, but remained confident his team can bounce back strongly."Pakistan have done well so far, but hopefully they will have their bad match against us and we will bring our A game," he said.

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India beat Windies in final group match

Updated at: 2127 PST,  Sunday, March 20, 2011

CHENNAI: India set their clash with Australia in quarter-finals after beating West Indies by 80 runs in the final World Cup Group B match here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.Chasing a tough target of 269, the West Indies were all out for 188 runs in 43 overs after opener Devon Smith’s fighting innings of 81 ended in the 31st over. For India, paceman Zaheer Khan was the most successful bowler with three for 26 while Yuvraj Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets each.Earlier, a brilliant hundred by Yuvraj Singh steered India to 268 after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. India got a major blow in the very first over when star batsman Sachan Tendulkar was dismissed by Ravi Rampaul for a mere two.However, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli repaired the damage upto some extent but Gambhir went for 22 when India reached 51.Then Kohli was joined by Yuvraj and both added 122 runs for the third wicket before Kohli departed for 59. Later, Yuvraj completed his 13th one-day century from 112 balls but he was caught and bowled by Kieron Pollard for 113. His innings was laced with ten fours and two sixes.But no other batsman could make any significant score except Dhoni (22) as India were all out for 268 in 49.1 overs.Rampaul bowled splendidly well to grab five wickets for 51 in his ten overs while Andre Russell claimed two.

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India set Windies 269 to win final group match

Updated at: 1805 PST,  Sunday, March 20, 2011

CHENNAI: A brilliant hundred by Yuvraj Singh steered India to 268 against the West Indies in the final World Cup Group B match here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.After captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first, India got a major blow in the very first over when star batsman Sachan Tendulkar was dismissed by Ravi Rampaul for a mere two.However, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli repaired the damage upto some extent but Gambhir went for 22 when India reached 51.Then Kohli was joined by Yuvraj and both added 122 runs for the third wicket before Kohli departed for 59. Later, Yuvraj completed his 13th one-day century from 112 balls but he was caught and bowled by Kieron Pollard for 113. His innings was laced with ten fours and two sixes But no other batsman could make any significant score except Dhoni (22) as India were all out for 268 in 49.1 overs Rampaul bowled splendidly well to grab five wickets for 51 in his ten overs while Andre Russell claimed two.India were already through to the quarter-finals before this match, the last of the World Cup group phase, while only a mammoth defeat at the Chidambaram Stadium would prevent the West Indies reaching the last eight.Co-hosts India made two changes after opening batsman Virender Sehwag was ruled out with a knee injury.Suresh Raina replaced Sehwag while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, on his home ground, was handed a tournament debut in place of left-arm fast bowler Ashish Nehra. For the West Indies, opening batsman Chris Gayle, who had been an injury doubt, was replaced by Kirk Edwards while Ravi Rampaul came in for fast bowler Kemar Roach.Victory for India would see them play champions Australia in the last eight while defeat would see them face fellow hosts Sri Lanka.But if the West Indies win they will play Australia while a defeat, assuming it was not by a colossal margin, would see them facing Pakistan.

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Zimbabwe crush Kenya by161 runs

Updated at: 1613 PST,  Sunday, March 20, 2011

KOLKATA: Zimbabwe recoded a massive 161-run victory against their African neighbours Kenya in the last Group A match of the World Cup here at the Eden Gardens on Sunday Zimbabwe showed their batting prowess to post 308-6, their highest total of the tournament, with man-of-the-match Craig Ervine (66), Vusimuzi Sibanda (61) and Tatenda Taibu (53), all making the most of a mediocre Kenyan attack.Kenya, who have looked out of their depth on the Indian subcontinent, losing all six of their matches, put in another disappointing batting performance, slumping to 147 all out in 36 overs at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.Nehemiah Odhiambo (44 not out), Rakep Patel (24) and opener Alex Obanda (23) were the mainstays of their batting.Left-arm spinner Raymond Price, who shared the new ball, off-spinner Greg Lamb and leg-spinner Graeme Cremer took two wickets apiece for Zimbabwe.Both African nations were already out of contention for a place in the quarter-finals, but Zimbabwe had the consolation of ending their World Cup campaign with two wins in six matches.Zimbabwe were earlier struggling at 36-2 after electing to bat, but Sibanda steadied the innings with a 110-run stand for the third wicket with Taibu, who also completed 3,000 one-day runs during his half-century.Ervine and skipper Elton Chigumbura (38) then added 105 for the fifth wicket as Zimbabwe plundered 104 runs in the last 10 overs, with Prosper Utseya (19 not out) smashing three fours and a six in seamer Elijah Otieno's final over.Left-handed Ervine, who cracked one six and nine fours in his 54-ball knock, survived a stumping chance on 15 off spinner James Ngoche as stand-in wicket-keeper Patel failed to collect the ball.Patel kept wicket for a brief spell in place of regular wicket-keeper David Obuya, who suffered an injury while trying to stop a wide delivery.Veteran all-rounder Steve Tikolo, making his last World Cup appearance, led Kenya in the absence of Jimmy Kamande, who was ruled out of the match due to a knee injury.Sibanda hit one six and seven fours in his 57-ball knock before being run out following a mix-up with Taibu.hit seven fours before being trapped leg-before by Ngoche.

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India to bat against Windies in last group match

Updated at: 1338 PST,  Sunday, March 20, 2011

CHENNAI: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first against the West Indies in the final World Cup Group B match here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday India were already through to the quarter-finals before this match, the last of the World Cup group phase, while only a mammoth defeat at the Chidambaram Stadium would prevent the West Indies reaching the last eight.Co-hosts India made two changes after opening batsman Virender Sehwag was ruled out with a knee injury.Suresh Raina replaced Sehwag while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, on his home ground, was handed a tournament debut in place of left-arm fast bowler Ashish Nehra. For the West Indies, opening batsman Chris Gayle, who had been an injury doubt, was replaced by Kirk Edwards while Ravi Rampaul came in for fast bowler Kemar Roach.India batsman Sachin Tendulkar headed into the match needing just one more hundred to become the first player to score a hundred international centuries.Victory for India would see them play champions Australia in the last eight while defeat would see them face fellow hosts Sri Lanka.But if the West Indies win they will play Australia while a defeat, assuming it was not by a colossal margin, would see them facing Pakistan.India: Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wkt), Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf PatelWest Indies: Devon Smith, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Kieron Pollard, Devon Thomas (wkt), Darren Sammy (capt), Andre Russell, Sulieman Benn, Devendra Bishoo, Ravi RampaulUmpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Simon Taufel (AUS), TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SL)

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Zimbabwe plunder 308-6 against Kenya

Updated at: 1255 PST,  Sunday, March 20, 2011

KOLKATA: Craig Ervine and Vusimuzi Sibanda hit brisk half-centuries as Zimbabwe recovered from early setbacks to post a challenging 308-6 against Kenya in their last World Cup match on Sunday.Zimbabwe were struggling at 36-2 after electing to bat at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, but Sibanda (61) steadied the innings with a 110-run stand for the third wicket with Tatenda Taibu (53).Ervine and skipper Elton Chigumbura (38) then added 105 for the fifth wicket as Zimbabwe crossed the 300-mark for the first time in the tournament.Zimbabwe plundered 104 runs in the last 10 overs, with Prosper Utseya (19 not out) smashing three fours and a six in the final over bowled by seamer Elijah Otieno.Both the African nations are out of contention for a place in the quarter-finals, with Zimbabwe having earned two points and Kenya none after five matches before this game.Left-handed Ervine, who cracked one six and nine fours in his 54-ball knock, survived a stumping chance off spinner James Ngoche as stand-in wicket-keeper Rakep Patel failed to collect the ball.Patel kept wicket for a brief spell in place of regular wicket-keeper David Obuya, who suffered an injury while trying to stop a wide delivery.Veteran all-rounder Tikolo, making his last World Cup appearance, led Kenya in the absence of Jimmy Kamande, who was ruled out of the match due to a knee injury.Sibanda hit one six and seven fours in his 57-ball knock before being run out following a mix-up with Taibu.hit seven fours before being trapped leg-before by Ngoche.

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Zimbabwe elect to bat against Kenya

Updated at: 0840 PST,  Sunday, March 20, 2011

KOLKATA: Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura elected to bat after winning the toss against Kenya in their final World Cup match at the Eden Gardens on Sunday Steve Tikolo, making his last World Cup appearance, led Kenya in the absence of Jimmy Kamande who was ruled out of the game due to a knee injury Both the African nations are out of contention for a place in the quarter-finals, with Zimbabwe having earned two points and Kenya none after five matches.Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Regis Chakabva, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Greg Lamb, Christopher Mpofu, Raymond Price, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Vusimuzi Sibanda Kenya: Steve Tikolo (capt), Alex Obanda, David Obuya, Collins Obuya, Tanmay Mishra, Rakep Patel, Thomas Odoyo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, Peter Ongondo, James Ngoche.Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SRI) and Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG)Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

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Line-up and schedule for quarter finals confirmed

With the group matches completed today, the fixtures and venues have now been confirmed for the knock-out stages of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.The quarter-final matches will take place in the following order:

Match C Pakistan v West Indies in Dhaka on 23 March
    Match E Australia v India in Ahmedabad on 24 March
    Match F New Zealand v South Africa in Dhaka on 25 March
    Match D Sri Lanka v England in Colombo on 26 March
    The semi-final matches will take place as follows:
    Winner Match D v Winner Match F in Colombo on 29 March
    Winner Match C v Winner Match E in Mohali on 30 March

    The final will be contested in Mumbai on 2 April.

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Pakistan halt Aussies winning streak, take top spot

Updated at: 2126 PST,  Saturday, March 19, 2011

COLOMBO: Pakistan stopped Australia’s unbeaten 34-match run in the World Cup and secured top spot on their group table, beating the defending champions by four wickets in their final match of the Group A here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.Chasing an easy target of 177 runs, Pakistan completed victory with nine overs to spare but they lost six wickets in the process.Umar Gul took three for 30 to help Pakistan dismiss Australia for 176 -- their lowest World Cup total since 1992 -- before Umar Akmal hit an unbeaten 44 to steer Pakistan to victory in 41 overs, finishing top of the pool with 10 points.Pakistan, champions in 1992, will play the fourth placed team in Group B, while Australia (nine points) finished third behind Sri Lanka (nine points) on run-rate and will play the second placed team from Group B.This was Australia's first defeat in the World Cup since losing to Pakistan by 10 runs in Leeds in 1999.But the champions, led by spearhead Brett Lee (4-28), fought hard and twice raised hopes of an unlikely win.Pakistan were cruising along on 98-2 before Lee derailed the chase in his first over of his second spell, dismissing Younis Khan (31) and Misbah-ul-Haq for a first-ball duck -- both caught by keeper Brad Haddin.Mitchell Johnson removed Asad Shafiq (46) while Jason Krejza tempted skipper Shahid Afridi (two) to hole out in the deep, but Umar and Abdul Razzaq (20 not out) saw their team home with a cautious 36-run stand for the seventh wicket.Razzaq hit two boundaries off spinner Jason Krejza to complete the victory.Lee had taken two wickets in his first spell, taking a smart catch off his own bowling to dismiss opener Mohammad Hafeez (five) before trapping Kamran Akmal lbw for 23.Shafiq, who hit five boundaries during his 81-ball knock, added 53 with Younis and 41 with Umar to keep Pakistan on track. Earlier, Gul and Razzaq (2-8) exposed the untested Australian batting after Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to bat on a seemingly flat R. Premadasa stadium pitch.Haddin (42), Michael Clarke (34) and Steve Smith (25) offered some resistance as Pakistan applied relentless pressure to take the last seven Australian wickets for a mere 59 runs after they were 117-3.Pakistan, who opened the attack with left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman from one end, forced an early breakthrough when Gul bowled opener Shane Watson for nine.Haddin added 63 for the second wicket with Ponting (19) before Pakistan struck twice, with Hafeez removing the Australian skipper off a miscued cut, caught by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.Left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz then had Haddin caught behind by Kamran in the 24th over. Haddin hit three boundaries and a six during his 80-ball knock.Pakistan then took four wickets in the space of 30 runs to reduce the Aussies to 147-7 and later Gul removed Krejza and Lee cheaply to wrap the Australian innings for their sixth lowest World Cup total.

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Pakistan bowl Aussies out for 176

Updated at: 1723 PST,  Saturday, March 19, 2011

COLOMBO: Pakistan bowled defending champions Australia out for 176 runs in 46.4 overs in their crucial match of the World Cup Group A here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.After Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first in their final match in Group A, a devastating bowling and fielding display by Pakistan saw the Aussies dismissed for their lowest World Cup total since 1992..The four-time champions, unbeaten for 34 matches in the tournament dating back to 1999, struggled for momentum throughout their innings as pacers Umar Gul (3-30) and Abdul Razzaq (2-8) exposed their untested batting All the other bowlers chipped in with one wicket apiece as only Brad Haddin (42), Michael Clarke (34) and Steve Smith (25) offered resistance in a match where the winner will top Group A.Pakistan, the last team to beat Australia in a World Cup way back in 1999, pressured Australia from the start and did not relinquish their grip as the defending champions lost their last seven wickets for just 59 runs.Pakistan, who opened the attack with left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman from one end, forced an early breakthrough when paceman Gul bowled opener Shane Watson with a sharp incoming delivery for nine.Haddin added 63 for the second wicket with Ricky Ponting (19) before Pakistan struck twice, with Mohammad Hafeez removing the Australian skipper off a miscued cut, caught by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.Umpire Marais Erasmus of South Africa turned down a vociferous appeal before Pakistan successfully overturned the verdict on review to leave Australia 75-2.Left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz then had Haddin caught behind by Kamran in the 24th over. Haddin hit three boundaries and a six during his 80-ball knock.Pakistan then took four crucial wickets in the space of just 30 runs to reduce the Australians to 147-7.
Cameron White was smartly run out by Misbah-ul-Haq when the batsmen tried to steal a quick single, before Razzaq bowled Clarke.Pakistan removed dangerman Michael Hussey (12), caught off a miscued drive at short mid-wicket off Rehman, who finished with 1-34, and Mitchell Johnson (nought) was the next to go.Gul removed Jason Krejza and Brett Lee cheaply to wrap the Australian innings for their sixth lowest World Cup total.Pakistan left out Shoaib Akhtar, who on Thursday announced he would retire but brought in Umar Akmal for opener Ahmed Shahzad.

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Australia win toss, bat against Pakistan

Updated at: 1341 PST,  Saturday, March 19, 2011

COLOMBO: Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and opted to bat as Pakistan left out express paceman Shoaib Akhtar in the World Cup Group A match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
On Thursday Shoaib announced that he would retire after the World Cup and hoped he would get another chance against the defending champions.
The only change in the Pakistan side which beat Zimbabwe on Monday was the inclusion of Umar Akmal, who has recovered from a finger injury, in place of out of form opener Ahmed Shahzad.Australia kept an unchanged side from their win over Canada on Wednesday Both teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals.Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait.Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz.Umpires: Tony Hill (NZ) and Marais Erasmus (SA), Tv umpire: Tyron Wijewardena (SL)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG) 

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Bangladesh need 285 to make quarterfinals

Updated at: 1215 PST,  Saturday, March 19, 2011

DHAKA: Bangladesh were set an imposing 285-run target by mighty South Africa to reach the World Cup quarter-finals here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.South Africa made 284 for eight after captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat first in their World Cup Group B match.Co-hosts Bangladesh have to defeat the Proteas for only the second time in 14 meetings if they are to stay alive in the tournament.Defeat would send Group B rivals India, England and West Indies into the last eight along with South Africa, who have already qualified.South Africa's only defeat to Bangladesh came during the World Cup 2007.Jacques Kallis hit his ninth World Cup half-century as he hit five boundaries and a six in his 69 off 76 balls, sharing a fourth wicket stand of 82 with Faf du Plessis.Du Plessis smashed a run-a-ball 52 before the lower order added 92 runs in the last 10 overs.South African captain Graeme Smith (45) put on 98 for the first wicket with Hashim Amla (51).Bangladesh will chase a stiff target of 5.7 runs an over to win against a South Africa side who rested fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and brought in left-arm seamers Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Wayne Parnell.Leg-spinner Imran Tahir, fully recovered from a thumb injury, joined Johan Botha and Robin Petersen in a rare three-man spin attack.

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Pak-Aus encounter to decide group champions

Updated at: 1100 PST,  Saturday, March 19, 2011

COLOMBO: Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the World Cup effectively starts for his four-time champions on Saturday in their Group A clash with Pakistan.Today's match would decide the champion of the Group A. Australia currently at second after Sri Lanka have 9 points after playing five matches and if win today would surpass the Lankans. And if Pakistan beat Australia they would top the group."As a team, we really do feel the tournament is kicking off now," Ponting told reporters in a pre-match news conference on Friday for a game which may well decide who wins the group.Australia, the only unbeaten team in this World Cup, have beaten Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Kenya and Canada by big margins.Their game against co-hosts Sri Lanka was washed away due to heavy rains, ending the much-anticipated game in a 'no result'.The skipper said his team were in good shape to play Pakistan who pulled off a surprise win over Sri Lanka before falling to New Zealand."We have trained exceptionally hard and very, very well," Ponting said.It is still not clear whether Ponting's men will face Pakistan's fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who announced his retirement following the World Cup on Thursday, after he was dropped for their last match against Zimbabwe on Monday."I have always said that he is the fastest bowler I have ever faced in international cricket," Ponting said of the 'Rawalpindi Express'. "With the new ball he still has good pace."Facts and figures relating to the Group A World Cup match between Australia and Pakistan (0900 GMT) at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Saturday.Head-to-head record:Australia lead 52-29 (Tied: 1; NR: 3)In the World Cups: Australia lead 4-3In the sub-continent: Australia lead 7-5* The last time they played in the World Cup was in Johannesburg in 2003 when Australia cruised home by 82 runs.* Whoever wins Saturday's match will finish top of Group A.* Australia (WW, NR, WW) will look to extend their 34-match unbeaten run in the World Cup.* While Australia are the only undefeated side left in the World Cup, they have looked far from invincible. They notched up a 91-run win against Zimbabwe, allowed second-tier side Kenya to rack up 264-6 before beating them by 60 runs and struggled to tame the inexperienced Canadian batting line-up before securing a seven-wicket triumph. * Pakistan (WLWWW) supporters are perennially unsure of which side will turn up. They have been brilliant against Kenya (205 run win), Sri Lanka (11 run win) and Zimbabwe (seven-wicket win) but they were quite shoddy against Canada (46 run win) and were humiliated by New Zealand in a 110-run loss.* The tie is likely to be a clash between the Australian batting -- Shane Watson (256 runs), Brad Haddin (237 runs) and Michael Clarke (191 runs) -- and the sharp bowling of the tournament's leading wicket-taker Shahid Afridi (16 wickets) and Umar Gul (10 wickets).* The Australian bowling led by the pace trio of Shaun Tait (10 wickets), Mitchell Johnson (nine wickets) and Brett Lee (eight wickets) might be considered somewhat one dimensional in the context of spinning sub-continental conditions. However, the Pakistani batting has not been very convincing either, with only Misbah-ul-haq (192 runs), Umar Akmal (167 runs) and Younus Khan (141 runs) among the runs. (Reuters)

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South Africa bat against Bangladesh

Updated at: 0810 PST,  Saturday, March 19, 2011

DHAKA: South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat in the World Cup Group B match against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Saturday.Bangladesh, who need a win to qualify for the quarter-finals, replaced left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo with off-break bowler Naeem Islam from the side that beat the Netherlands in Chittagong.South Africa, already through to the last eight, rested fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and brought in left-arm seamers Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Wayne Parnell in their place.Leg-spinner Imran Tahir, fully recovered from a thumb injury, joined Johan Botha and Robin Petersen in a rare three-man spin attack.Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Shahriar Nafees,Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam.South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk.Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Daryl Harper (AUS)TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)Pitch conditions: A slow wicket where the ball does not come on to the bat, but it has provided equal opportunities for fast bowlers and spinners.

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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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