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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Ireland beaten by Windies after good fightback

Updated at: 1706 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

MOHALI: Big-hitting Kieron Pollard nudged West Indies closer to the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday as Bangladesh were locked in a knife-edge struggle for survival against England.Pollard hammered 94 off just 55 balls and shared an 88-run stand with Devon Smith (107), who hit a maiden one-day century, as West Indies posted 275 before bowling out the Irish for 231 for a 44-run win in Mohali Pollard belted eight fours and five sixes to frustrate the Irish who won the toss and put the Caribbean side into bat on an easy-paced track at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium.Pollard also took a memorable catch to send back Irish dangerman Kevin O'Brien for five off seamer Darren Sammy, who returned impressive figures of 3-31 off his 10 overs.Ed Joyce, who played for England in the 2007 World Cup, made a 106-ball 84, containing nine fours and put on 109 for the fourth wicket with Gary Wilson (61).The win took West Indies to six points from four Group B outings while Ireland, with one win from four matches, now must beat South Africa and the Netherlands to have any hope of progressing.Smith also shared 89 runs with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, opening the innings after Chris Gayle was ruled out on the morning of the match with an abdominal strain.Kevin O'Brien, who struck World Cup's fastest hundred against England, showed he had the skills with the ball as well, grabbing a career-best 4-71.Ireland fast bowlers kept things tight in the first 15 overs and did well in the last seven overs, taking the last five West Indies wickets for 53 runs.The Irish had to wait till the 25th over to pick their first wicket when Chanderpaul (35) chipped O'Brien to short extra cover where captain William Porterfield took a low catch.O'Brien struck again three balls later in the same over when he uprooted the middle-stump of Darren Bravo before the promising left-hander could even get off the markLeft-arm spinner George Dockrell, introduced into the attack late in the 30th over, had Ramnaresh Sarwan caught in the deep for 10 to reduce the West Indies to 130-3 Ireland were left to rue missed chances against Pollard who was let off twice early in his innings with John Mooney messing up a simple run-out chance and Gary Wilson grassing a catch off Andre Botha.

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Bangladesh elect to field against England

Updated at: 1327 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and opted to field against England in a World Cup Group B match here at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Friday.England made three changes to the squad that beat South Africa on Sunday. While opener Kevin Pietersen and pace bowler Stuart Broad have returned home injured, all rounder Michael Yardy was also dropped. Pietersen's replacement Eoin Morgan was playing his first World Cup match for England after flying into the country just three days ago while Paul Collingwood was also back after missing the last match with a knee problem. Fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad was picked instead of Yardy.Bangladesh made only one change to the squad that was humiliated in a nine-wicket defeat by West Indies last week. Mahmudullah replaced Mohammad Ashraful in the playing XI.Both teams need to win Friday's match to boost their chances of a quarter-final berth.Teams: Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Raqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain England - Andrew Strauss, Matt Prior, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Ajmal Shahzad.

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West Indies set 276-run target for Ireland

Updated at: 1306 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

MOHALI: Opener Devon Smith hit a maiden one-day international century and Kieron Pollard smacked 94 off just 55 balls as West Indies posted 275 all out against Ireland in their World Cup Group B match here on Friday Smith hit a 133-ball 107 and Pollard belted eight fours and five sixes to frustrate the Irish who won the toss and put the Caribbean side into bat on an easy-paced track at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.Smith also shared 89 runs with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, opening the innings after Chris Gayle was ruled out on the morning of the match with an abdominal strain.Kevin O'Brien, who struck World Cup's fastest hundred against England, showed he had the skills with the ball as well, grabbing a career-best 4-71.A victory for West Indies will virtually assure them of a place in the quarter-finals while Ireland can keep their last-eight hopes alive if they manage to pull off an upset win.Ireland fast bowlers kept things tight in the first 15 overs and did well in the last seven overs, taking the last five West Indies wickets for 53 runs.The Irish had to wait till the 25th over to pick their first wicket when Chanderpaul (35) chipped O'Brien to short extra cover where captain William Porterfield took a low catch.O'Brien struck again three balls later in the same over when he uprooted the middle-stump of Darren Bravo before the promising left-hander could even get off the mark.Left-arm spinner George Dockrell, introduced into the attack late in the 30th over, had Ramnaresh Sarwan caught in the deep for 10 to reduce the West Indies to 130-3.Ireland were left to rue missed chances against Pollard who was let off twice early in his innings with John Mooney messing up a simple run-out chance and Gary Wilson grassing a catch off Andre Botha.Pollard punished the Irish, hitting O'Brien for two sixes in four balls to race to his third ODI half-century off 35 balls.O'Brien returned to take two more wickets, again in the same over, to dismiss Smith and Darren Sammy while John Mooney sent back Pollard and Andre Russell in two balls.

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England poised to kill off Bangladesh hopes

Updated at: 1147 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

NEW DELHI: England can deliver a potentially fatal bodyblow to Bangladesh's World Cup dreams on Friday and virtually ensure their place in the quarter-finals.Andrew Strauss's side, reeling from the double loss through injury of batting superstar Kevin Pietersen and strike bowler Stuart Broad, have endured a rollercoaster campaign.A win over the Netherlands was followed by a tie against India, a shock defeat to Ireland and a tense, gritty six-run win over South Africa where they defended just 171.Bangladesh, hoping to exploit spin-friendly conditions by playing all of their group games on home soil, have been in turmoil, losing two of their three matches so far.Last week's nine-wicket loss to West Indies, when they were bowled out for a paltry 58, sparked violence and demonstrations in the streets as fans raged against a team who had high hopes of making the last eight.Defeat on Friday will leave the Tigers needing to beat South Africa to have any chance of staying in the competition while also hoping other results go their way."The boys are tense, but they are also confident that they can put up a good show," said Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan ahead of the day-night Group B game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong."We have prepared well for the game. We have worked hard in the last few days. I have tried to take the pressure on myself, so it eases the pressure on them."Strauss is staying tight-lipped over his new opening partner for the game following the loss of Pietersen, who returned home to undergo hernia surgeryThe free-scoring Pietersen revelled in his new position, contributing to stands of 105, 68 and 91 in the first three games."I am very clear in my mind who will open, but will not say before the game has started," Strauss said. The choice is likely to be limited to Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara or wicket-keeper Matt Prior.
West Indies can help England's cause, as well as their own, by beating Ireland in Mohali in the early Group B game.Wins for West Indies and England will guarantee Strauss's team a last eighth place.

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Ireland win toss, put Windies into bat

Updated at: 0838 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

MOHALI: Ireland captain William Porterfield won the toss and decided to field first against the West Indies in their World Cup Group B match here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.West Indies ‘star opening batsman Chris Gayle was ruled out of the key clash with an abdominal strain and Ireland were without experienced all-rounder Trent Johnston, who is nursing a bruised knee..The West Indies have four points from three matches and Ireland have two from three games.A victory for West Indies will virtually assure them of a place in the quarter-finals while Ireland can keep their last-eight hopes alive if they pull off a win Teams: West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Andre Russell, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Devon Thomas, Sulieman Benn, Nikita Miller, Kemar Roach.Ireland: William Porterfield (captain), Alex Cusack, Niall O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien, George Dockrell, Andre Botha, John Mooney, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson, Ed Joyce.Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SL) and Shavir Tarapore (IND), TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SL)

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Dilshan shines in SL win over Zimbabwe

Updated at: 2122 PST,  Thursday, March 10, 2011

PALLEKELE: Zimbabwe lost the battle against Sri Lanka after their openers provided an impressive century stand in their World Cup Group A day-night match here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Thursday.Chasing a huge total of 328, Brendan Taylor and Regis Chakabva accepted Sri Lanka’s challenge by posting a courageous 116 runs in 19.5 overs for Zimbabwean opening stand.But as soon the magician off-break bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan, ended the partnership, bowling Chakabva out, Zimbabwean wickets were falling like nine pins and the whole team was out for 188, losing the match by 139 runs. Taylor hit a dashing 80 off 72 balls with nine fours and a six while Chakabva gave him valuable support scoring a patient 35 from 61 balls. No other batsman could make any significant contribution.Off-spinner Tillekaratne Dilshan, giving the best allround performance, captured four wickets for only four runs, including two on successive balls, while Muralitharan bagged three and Angelo Mathews grabbed two wickets Earlier, openers Dilshan and Upul Tharanga hit centuries during a record World Cup opening stand to lift Sri Lanka to 327-6 against hapless Zimbabwe.This was a rare incident of both openers of a team scoring hundreds in a World Cup match.Dilshan scored 144 for his ninth one-day hundred, while left-hander Tharanga notched a career-best 133 for his tenth, making Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura pay for his decision to field after winning the toss on a docile pitch.They put on 282, just failing to beat the record opening stand of 286 in all 50-over cricket. Tharanga also featured in that partnership with Sanath Jayasuriya against England at Leeds in 2006.This was also the fourth highest partnership for any wicket in ODI history.It all ended when Tharanga was caught at cover by Chigumbura in Christopher Mpofu's 45th over, after a brilliant 141-ball knock, spiced by 17 hits to the fence.Dilshan fell in the next over, caught off spinner Prosper Utseya off a miscued drive. The 34-year-old opener smashed one six and 16 boundaries during his attractive 131-ball knock.Mpofu finished with 4-64 as Sri Lanka lost four more wickets for just 45 runs late in the innings.

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Dilshan, Tharanga butcher Zimbabwean bowlers

Updated at: 1757 PST,  Thursday, March 10, 2011

PALLEKELE: Sri Lankan batsmen ruthlessly punished Zimbabwean bowlers to amass a huge score of 327 runs for the loss of six wickets in a World Cup Group A match here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Thursday.Sent into bat by Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura, Sri Lankan openers Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan set a new record for a first wicket partnership at the World Cup surpassing the previous best of 194 made by Pakistan's Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti against New Zealand at Manchester in the World Cup 1999.The duo set the new record in 33rd over, then crossed 200 runs in 202 balls and later 250 off 249 but Tharanga fell just five runs short of the world record for the highest opening partnership of 286, set by himself with Sanath Jayasuriya against England at Leeds in 2006.However, this is the fourth-highest stand for any wicket in a one-day international.This is also a rare incident that both openers made centuries in a World Cup innings. Tharanga was eventually out for 133, his career-best, from 141 balls with 17 fours. He was caught by Elton Chigumbura off Chris Mpofu in the 45th over.Dilshan followed shortly afterwards, caught by Chigumbura off Prosper Utseya. He hit 144 off 131 balls with 16 fours and a six Later, Sri Lanka lost four more wickets in an effort to make quick runs and finished on 327-6 in the allotted 50 overs.A victory for the co-hosts in this match will guarantee them a quarter-final place.

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