IRELAND HUNT DOWN ENGLAND WITH KEVIN O’BRIEN HITTING FASTEST EVER HUNDRED
Ireland achieved the greatest chase-down in World Cup history to overhaul England by 3 wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. They were inspired by Kevin O’Brien hitting the competition’s fastest ever century in 50 balls. Such a result seemed to be impossible as England powered to 327-8 with the four leading batsmen scoring well. Jonathan Trott (92 with 9 fours) and Ian Bell (81 with 8 fours and a six) put on 167 for the third wicket after Andrew Strauss (34) and Kevin Pietersen (59 with 7 fours and 2 sixes) had put on 91 for the first. Then Ireland captain Bill Porterfield chopped the first ball of the innings into his stumps. Although the early batsmen refused to surrender Ireland seemed to be well out of contention at 111-5. Then Kevin O’Brien (113 from 63 deliveries with 13 four and 6 sixes) played one of the greatest innings in cricket. He received sound support from Alex Cusak (47) with 162 for the sixth wicket and then and John Mooney (33 n.o.). They were aided by some wayward bowling and slipshod fielding. Nevertheless the Irishmen kept their heads commendably in the crisis and won from the first ball of the 50th over. England 327-8 (I.J.L. Trott 92, I.R. Bell 81, K.P. Pietersen 59, A.J. Strauss 34, J.F. Mooney 4-63) lost to Ireland 329-7 (K.J. O’Brien 113, A.R. Cusack 47, J.F. Mooney 33 n.o., P.R. Stirling 32, E.C. Joyce 32, N.J. O’Brien 29, G.P. Swann 3-47) by 3 wickets
MALINGA’S MASSACRE SCUTTLES KENYA
Lasith Malinga’s decisive spell of four wickets in five balls ended the Kenyan innings abruptly and set up Sri Lanka’s victory by 9 wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The East Africans’ woeful innings of 142 from 43.4 overs owed everything to a 94 runs third-wicket stand between brothers Collins Obuya (52) and David Obuya (51): no other batsman reached double-figures. The end was spectacular as Malinga (6-38 from 7.4 overs), who had taken 4 wickets in 4 balls already against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup, fired in his Yorkers to have one batsman l.b.w. with the last ball of one over and bowl three batsmen in the first four balls of the next. The Kenyans knew exactly where he was going to land the ball but could nothing about it. Upul Tharanga (67 n.o. with 12 fours) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (44 with 8 fours) chased the demoralised bowling by putting on 72 for the first wicket. Sri Lanka sped hurried home in 18.4 overs – a striking rate of 7.82. Kenya 142 (C.O. Obuya 52, D.O. Obuya 51, S.L. Malinga 6-38) lost to Sri Lanka 146-1 (W.U. Tharanga 67 n.o., T.M. Dilshan 44, K.C. Sangakkara 27 n.o.) by 9 wickets
ROACH WRECKS THE DUTCH – AS WEST INDIES HAMMER HOLLAND
Fast bowler Kemar Roach took a hat-trick, and Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle and Devon Smith hit powerful half-centuries, as West Indies swept the Netherlands from the field in winning by an overwhelming 215 runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. The West Indians will have been inspired by the manner of the victory, as much as the victory itself, for the more testing contests ahead. Devon Smith (56 from 51 deliveries with 9 fours) started batted – with driven, and a few edged, fours – in the manner in which he entered big-time cricket a decade ago. The Grenadian a more subdued Chris Gayle (80 with 7 fours and 2 sixes) in the opening partnership of 100 from 16.3 overs. The Jamaican increased his scoring rate in putting on another 68 with Darren Bravo (30 with two sixes and a four). Both men were caught in the deep in the pursuit of runs by Alexei Kervezee. These three left-handers set the platform from which Kieron Pollard (60 from only 27 deliveries with 5 fours and 4 sixes) powerfully plundered the bowling. The Trinidadian showed clearly why his big League hitting has made him so popular in India. The fielding wilted as Pollard and Ramnaresh Sarwan (49 from 42 deliveries with 7 fours and a six) seemed to reach the boundary at will on a fast outfield. Left-arm spinner Pieter Seelar (3-45 at an economic 4.50) put a brake on the scoring which had seemed likely to reach almost astronomical proportions. The innings ended at 330-8 of vintage Caribbean cricket – allowing for the associate status of their opponents. Undone by the uneven bounce and unaccustomed pace of Kemar Roach (6-27 from 8.3 overs at 3.17) the Dutch batting fell apart from the moment Chris Gayle, obscured by Darren Sammy diving in front of him, held a slip catch to dismiss opener Wesley Barresi before he had scored. The early part of the innings became a procession of batsmen out to the opening attack of Roach and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (3-28). The fifth batsman was out at 36 before the bowling was changed. How would the Dutch batsmen have fared if the injured Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor also had been available! Tom Cooper (55 n.o.) and Mudassar Bukhari (24) held up the bowlers only briefly. Then Roach came back to finish off the innings with three wickets in consecutive balls. The Netherlands managed to score only 115 runs from 31.3 overs. West Indies did not cede a single wide or no-ball. West Indies 330-8 (C.H. Gayle 80, K.A. Pollard 60, D.S. Smith 53, R.R. Sarwan 49, D.M. Bravo 30, P.M. Seelar 3-45) beat Netherlands 115 (T.L.W. Cooper 55 n.o., K.A.J. Roach 6-27, S.J. Benn 3-28) by 215 runs
HAT-TRICK ROACH CREATES CRICKET WORLD CUIP HISTORY FOR WEST INDIES
New Delhi, India – Kemar Roach created ICC Cricket World Cup history with an amazing hat-trick, as the Windies demolished the Netherlands by 215 runs in their Group B contest at the Feroz Shah Kotla, on Monday night. It was a solo hat-trick for the 22-year-old as he had Pieter Seelaar and Bernard Loots plumb leg-before with in-swingers, and then produced a superb yorker to shatter the stumps of last man Berend Westdijk to end the match. Roach ended with the amazing figures of 6 for 27 from 8.3 overs to take the Man-of-the-Match award as the Dutch fell for 115 chasing 330 for 8 made by the Windies. For Roach it was a career-best performance beating the 5 for 44 he took against Bangladesh two years ago. He became the first West Indian to take a hat-trick in the ICC Cricket World Cup, and the sixth man in World Cup history to achieve the feat. “I feel really great. This is an amazing feeling, getting a hat-trick and doing it in the World Cup. This is the biggest stage and to perform this way for the West Indies on this stage is just amazing. We needed a win and the captain and the coach asked me to be aggressive and go for the wickets,” Roach said after the match. I knew I had to give it my all and that’s exactly what I did. At first it (hat-trick) was not on my mind. I was just looking to finish off the batsmen and get the win for the team but then the captain pointed out to me that I was on a hat-trick. I went for broke and it worked. It’s tough coming here as a bowler to the subcontinent, you have to be very accurate and consistent, once you get that right, you get wickets.” Overall Roach said the team was happy with the performance as they secured their first victory in the tournament. The result moved the Windies to third spot in Group A with two points from two matches at an impressive Net Run Rate of +1.879. “Our bowling is coming on. We have some very good bowlers and once we click we can get the job done. We can definitely repeat this kind of performance. We will take a lot of confidence into the game against Bangladesh. This match was good preparation for the Bangladesh game. We’ll go there on a high. Bangladesh are an improving team but we believe we are better than them.” The West Indies will travel to Bangladesh on Tuesday. Their next match will be against the host nation on Friday at the Shere Bangla Stadium. First ball is 2.30 pm (4.30 am Eastern Caribbean Time/3.30 am Jamaica Time).
ZIMBABWE OUTCLASS CANADA
Zimbabwe outclassed and beat easily Canada in the “battle of the minnows” – winning by 175 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur. After 2 wickets had been lost for just 7 runs Tatenda Taibu (98 with 9 fours) and Craig Ervine (85 with 6 fours and 2 sixes) put on a match-winning 181 partnership for the third wicket. The middle and lower order batted solidly and with enterprise to reach 298-9. Canada were rocked in being 3 wickets down for 7 runs to left-arm spinner Ray Price (3-16 from 8 overs) in just 5.4 overs. From there the batting struggled to get going against an attack effective in depth in which leg-spinner Graeme Cremer (3-31) was prominent. The North Americans were bowled out for 123 from 42.1 overs. Zimbabwe 298-9 (T. Taibu 98, C.R. Ervine 85, S.C. Williams 30, A.G. Cremer 26, W.D. Balaji Rao 4-57, Khurram Chohan 2-44, H.S. Baidwan 2-47) beat Canada 123 (Z.E. Surkari 26, R.W. Price 3-16, A.G. Cremer 3-31, P. Utseya 2-24, G.A. Lamb 2-29) by 175 runs
TITANIC TUSSLE TIED – INDIA AND ENGLAND SHARE THE HONOURS
India and England tied a titanic tussle at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore which either side could have won going into the last three overs. As a classic contest it must outrank, or, at the very least, equal, the World Cup semi-final between Australia at South Africa at Birmingham in 1999. India started in imperial style with Sachin Tendular (120 with ten fours and 5 sixes) with Yuvraj Singh (58 with 9 fours) and Gautam Gambhir (51) leading the way to 38 in 49.5 overs. Fast bowler Tim Bresnan (5-48) clipped the tail as India tumbled from 305-3. Andrew Strauss (158 with 18 fours and a six) gave a splendid start and with Ian Bell (69), with whom he took the score to 281 before the third wicket fell, took England to the verge of victory. Yet the call for a power-play, and the resultant change of tactics, led to a rapid fall of wickets – primarily to quick bowler Zaheer Khan (3-64), led to a complete reversal of fortune. With the required run-rate running away from them tailenders Bresnan and Ajmal Shazad struck sixes which brought England again within striking distance of success. They finished on 338-8 – honours even ! India 338 (S.R. Tendulkar 120, Yuvraj Singh 58, G. Gambhir 51, V. Sehwag 35, M.S. Dhoni 31, T.T. Bresnan 5-48) tied with England 338-8 (A.J. Strauss 158, I.R. Bell 69, K.P. Pietersen 31, Zaheer Khan 3-64)
PAKISTAN – SUCCESSFUL STRANGLE-HOLD ON SRI LANKA
Pakistan put Sri Lanka in a strangle-hold by powerful batting and spinner Shahid Afridi’s destruction of the middle-order to win by 11 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The margin of their superiority would have been greater but for dropped catches and missed stumpings. The powerful Pakistan batting built around a 108 runs fourth-wicket partnership between Younis Khan (72) and Misbah-ul-Haq (83 n.o. with six fours) to reach 277-7. In reply Upul Tharanga (33 with 6 fours) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (41 with five fours) started solidly, but the later stroke-players Kumar Sangakarra (49) and Chamara Silva (57) could not break the shackles imposed by Shahid Afridi (4-33). As Sri Lanka fell behind the required scoring-rate Silva’s stumping off a wide by Abdur Rehman which, in spite of a final flurry of runs, effectively ended their resistance. Pakistan 277-7 (Misbah-ul-Haq 83 n.o., Younis Khan 72, Kamran Akmal 39, Mohammad Hafeez 32, H.M.R.K.B. Herath 2-46) Sri Lanka 266-9 (L.P.C. Silva 57, K.C. Sangakkara 49, T.M. Dilshan 41, W.U. Tharanga 33, Shahid Afridi 4-34, Shoaib Akhtar 2-42) by 11 runs
INJURED DWAYNE BRAVO OUT OF ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP
New Delhi, India – Following an injury to his left knee West Indies Vice Captain Dwayne Bravo is expected to be out of cricket action for a minimum of four weeks and will miss the remainder of the West Indies Cricket World Cup campaign. The right-handed all rounder sustained the injury while fielding to his own bowling in Thursday’s CWC match against South Africa at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. He had an MRI scan on his injured left knee which revealed a sprain of his anterior cruciate ligament and tear of the knee cartilage. Bravo will return to the Caribbean for further orthopaedic assessments and to commence rehabilitation. The West Indies Cricket Board is in the process of applying to the ICC for a replacement player for the duration of the World Cup. The replacement player will be named once approved by the tournament’s technical committee. West Indies Head Coach Ottis Gibson said: “This is a blow for us. Dwayne is our Vice Captain and one of the key members of our team. He has been showing good form with the bat and batted well against South Africa on Thursday. He is also a livewire in the field and a reliable bowler. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he gets back on the field soon.” The Windies will play their second Group B World Cup match against the Netherlands on Monday at Feroz Shah Kotla. First ball is 2.30 pm (5 am Eastern Caribbean Time/4 am Jamaica Time).
BANGLADESH BOWLERS BAMBOOZLE IRELAND
Bangladesh recovered from a disappointing innings to outbowl and outfield Ireland by 27 runs runs before vociferous, partisan crowd on a slow pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur. The batting was uneven with just four batsmen settling and only opener Tamim Iqbal (44) approaching a half-century. The medium-pace of Andre Botha (3-32) and left-arm spin of 18 year-old George Dockrell (2-23) prevented the batsmen from taking the initiative and the hosts were dismissed for 205 from 49.2 overs. Ireland’s promising start was halted by two quick wickets from spinner Mohammad Ashraful (2-42), driven home by an excellent returning spell from medium-paced Shafiul Islam (4-21) and by a spectacular diving catch running in from the deep-field by Tamim Iqbal to discuss top-scorer Niall O’Brien (38) from Shakib Al Hasan (2-28). Ireland were bowled out in 45 overs. Bangladesh 205 (Tamim Iqbal 44, Raqibul Hasan 38, Mushfiqur Rahim 36, Naeem Islam 29, A.C. Botha 3-32, G.H. Dockrell 2-23, D.T. Johnston 2-40) beat Ireland 178 (N.J. O’Brien 38, K.J. O’Brien 37, Shsfiul Islam 3-18, Shakib Al Hasan 2-28, Mohammad Ashraful 2-42) by 27 runs
KIWIS CRUSHED BY ASSURED AUSTRALIANS
Australia overwhelmed neighbours New Zealand by 7 wickets at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur. The defending champions were more assured and masterful in all departments of the game. The Kiwis were never in the contest and at 73-6 were blown away by the opposing pace attack of Mitchell Johnson (4-33) and Shaun Tait (3-35). Nathan McCullum (52) and Daniel Vettori (44) rallied the innings to reach 206 from 45.1 overs. New Zealand’s bowlers could not settle to their task as Australian openers Shane Watson (62) and Brad Haddin (55) powered their way to a first-wicket partnership of 133. Although Hamish Bennett (2-63) dismissed both in the same over, and Brendon McCullum stumped Ricky Ponting brilliantly, Australia got home comfortably by 7 wickets in 34 overs. New Zealand 206 (N.L. McCullum 52, D.L. Vettori 44, M.G. Johnson 4-33, S.W. Tait 3-35) lost to Australia 207-3 (S.R. Watson 62, B.J. Haddin 55) by 7 wickets
WEST INDIES FALL TO SPECTACULAR SOUTH AFRICANS
Bravo effort bettered by de Villiers, Steyn and Imran Tahir Suicidal run-out precedes batting collapse West Indies ran into superb opposition in leg-spinner Imran Tahir, fast bowler Dale Steyn and batsman A.B. de Villiers which, as much as their own inconsistencies, led to a thumping 7-wickets defeat by South Africa at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. Nevertheless the West Indians will be disappointed that they failed to build on the batting brilliance of the Bravo brothers and their spectacular wickets at the start of the South African innings. When things got tough .... their performance fell apart. Darren Bravo (73 with 8 fours and a six) played so much with the style ad panache of his cousin Brian Lara that while he was at the crease the glory days of the “great” West Indies seemed to be revived. After Chris Gayle was out caught by Jacques Kallis to off-spinner Johan Botha (2-48) at 2-1 in the opening over the young Bravo and Devon Smith (36) put on 111 runs for the second wicket. Such was their mastery of the bowling that it would have been difficult to foresee then that the entire rest of the innings would merely double that number of runs. Yet South Africa’s option for spin proved to be decisive. Bravo played all round a ball from Botha to be l.b.w at 113-2 in the fortieth over. Then leg-spinner Imran Tahir (4-41) came on to tempt and tantalise the batsmen to perdition. Smith who had played in the shadow of Bravo hit back a soft caught-and-bowled at 117-3 and Ramnaresh Sarwan got his feet to the ball in front of the stumps at 120-4. Darren Bravo (40 with one four and 3 sixes), taking the mantle of his half-brother, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (31) staunched the fall of wickets and turned the match again towards West Indies. The 58 runs partnership ended at 178-5 with a ridiculous run-out. As Chanderpaul steered the ball to Morne Morkel at short third-man and started for a suicidal single, Bravo sacrificed his own wicket by answering the call. West Indies did not benefit from his generous gesture. Chanderpaul, as if to make amends, took the attack to the bowlers but at 209-6 fell to catch in the deep by Robin Peterson off Imran Tahir. That opened the floodgates to folly. Touted by much praise, not supported by performance, Kieron Pollard was l.b.w to Dale Steyn (3-24) at 213-7 to the first ball he received. At the same totsl wicketkeeper Devon Thomas lifted Imran Tahir into the deep to be caught by Jean-Paul Duminy. Captain Darren Sammy was l.b.w. to Steyn without scoring – the third wicket to fall at 213 – and at 222 the tall Sulieman Benn lofted a catch to the towering Morkel from Steyn. The innings had lasted only 47.3 overs. The South African innings started with two spectacular hairline dismissals. Thomas held a spectacular leg-side catch to dismiss Hashim Amla from Kemar Roach at 15-1 with a delivery which was a mere shade from being a no-ball. At 20-2 Sammy held on to a catch at grass-top level by Jacques Kallis from Benn. Then A.B. de Villiers (107 n.o. with 8 fours and 2 sixes) took over and the result was never really in doubt. Graeme Smith (45), batting solidly, and de Villiers added 119 runs for the third-wicket. During their partnership Dwayne Bravo went sprawling on the pitch after he had delivered the ball and was assisted from the pitch. Pollard scattered Smith’s stumps at 139-3. Nothing, however, could halt de Villiers’ stroke-play – neither West Indies nor the weather. Rain caused a break in play when he was just of his hundred. On the players’ return he and Duminy (42 n.o.) powered South Africa to victory by 7 wickets in 42.5 overs. West Indies 222 (D.M. Bravo 73, D.J. Bravo 40, D.S. Smith 36, S. Chanderpaul 31, Imran Tahir 4-41, D.W. Steyn 3-24) lost to South Africa 223-3 (A.B. Villiers 107 n.o., G.C. Smith 45, J.P. Duminy 42 n.o.) by 7 wickets
SHAHID SHINES AS PAKISTAN PUNISH WOEFUL, WAYWARD KENYA
While Shahid Afridi shone with the ball Pakitan punished some deplorably wayward Kenyan bowling to win by 205 runs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota. The East Africans started promisingly by restricting their opponents to 12-2 after 6.5 overs, but then sprayed the ball all over the place and repeatedly foot-faulted no-ball to cede 46 extras. The Pakistani batsmen grew in confidence and four – Kamran Akmal (55), Younis Khan (50), Misbah-ul-Haq (65), Umar Akmal (71) – reached half-centuries in scoring 317-7. Kenya’s batsmen could not match the required scoring-rate and with Collins Obuya (47) fighting at one end lost wickets regularly in their frustration. Spinner Shahid Afridi (5-16 from 8 overs), the best bowling figures by a captain in the World Cup, toyed with the middle and lower batting which tumbled from 73-2 to all out 112 from 33.1 overs. Pakistan 317-7 (Umar Akmal 71, Misbah-ul-Haq 65, Kamran Akmal 55, Younis Khan 50, T.M. Odoyo 3-41) beat Kenya (C. Obuya 47, Shahid Afridi 5-16, Umar Gul 2-12) by 205 runs
ENGLAND BATTING GUNS DOWN THE FIGHTING DUTCH
England’s more powerful batting gunned down the Netherlands by 6 wickets at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur after Ryan ten Doeschate (119 with 9 fours and 3 sixes) gave the Dutch team a fighting chance in reaching 292-6. The England fielding and bowling became ragged under the assault from ten Doeschate, Tom Cooper (7) and Peter Borren (35 n.o.). England openers Andrew Strauss (88 with 9 fours) and Kevin Pietersen (39) came out positively by taking the fight to the bowlers in a 105-runs stand. The Dutch bowlers stuck to their task but did not have the power or expertise to break down Jonathan Trott (62) and, at the finish, the experience of Paul Collingwood (30 n.o.) and initiative of Ravi Bopara (30 n.o) who clinched victory in 48.4 overs Netherlands 292-6 R.N. ten Doeschate 119, T.L.W. Cooper 47, P.W. Borres 35 n.o., W. Barresi 29, T.N. de Grooth 28, G.P. Swann 2-35) lost to England 296-4 (A.J. Strauss 88, I.J.L. Trott 62, K.P. Pietersen 39, I.R. Bell 33, P. Collingwood 30 n.o., R. Bopara 30 n.o.) by 6 wickets
AUSTRALIA – VICTORY OVER ZIMBABWE IS COMPREHENSIVE BUT NOT COMMANDING
Australia commenced their defence of the World Cup with a comprehensive victory of 91 runs over Zimbabwe at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad. They played themselves slowly against some tight bowling but did not lose too many wickets and were able ro increase the scoring-rate towards the end of the innings. Shane Watson (79) led a competent batting performance of 262-8 in which all the batsmen dismissed reached double figures and Michael Clarke (58 n.o.). Chris Mpofu complemented his two wickets with a brilliant run-out of Ponting. Zimbabwe lost wickets steadily as the early batting faltered against the varied Australian attack. After Zimbabwe had fallen too far behind the required run-rate to challenge seriously from 104-7 Graeme Cremer (37) and the lower-order hung on stubbornly against Mitchell Johnson until the innings ended at 171 from 46.2 overs Australia 262-8 (S.R. Watson 79, M.J. Clarke 58 n.o., B.J. Haddin 29, R.T. Ponting 28) beat Zimbabwe (A.G. Cremer 37, S.C. Williams 28, M.G. Johnson 4-19, J.J. Krejza 2-28, S.W. Tait 2-34) by 91 runs
SRI LANKAN RUN LANDSLIDE LEAVES CANADA HIGH AND DRY
Canada slumped to defeat by 210 runs against Sri Lanka at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota. All else in the host’s innings of 332-7 was dwarfed by the 179 runs third-wicket partnership between Kumar Sangakkara (92 with 7 fours and a six) and Mahela Jayawardene (100 with 9 fours and a six). Canada were never in the hunt for runs after losing their first wicket without a run scored (the next batsman dropped from the following ball). Rizwan Cheema (72) prodded the total into three figures but Nuwan Kulusekara (3-16) and Thisara Perera (3-24) kept chipping away to dismiss the Canadians for 122 from 36.5 overs. Sri Lanka 332-7 (D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 100, K.C. Sangakkara 92, T.M. Dilshan 50) beat Canada 122 (Rizwan Cheema 37, K.M.D.M. Kulusekara 3-16, N.L.T.C. Perera 3-24, M. Muralitharan 2-38) by 210 runs
KENYA CRUSHED
Kenya did not trouble New Zealand to whom they lost by 10 wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium at Chepauk, Chennai. The middle and lower batting collapsed so completely against the bowling of Hamish Bennett (4-16), Jacob Oram (3-2 in only 2.5 overs) and Tim Southee (3-13) that the score fell from 40-1 to 69 all out – the last three batsmen dismissed each faied to score - in 23.5 overs. Martin Gupthill (39 n.o.) and Brendon McCillum (26 n.o.) hit off the runs required without loss in 8 overs. Kenya 69 (H.K. Bennett 4-16, J.D.P. Oram 3-2, T.G. Southee 3-13) lost to New Zealand 72-0 (M.J. Gupthill 39 n.o., B.B. McCullum 26 n.o.) by 10 wickets
India’s batsmen batter Bangladesh to 87 runs defeat
India, advance favourites to win the tournament, commenced their World Cup commandingly in beating hosts Bangladesh by 87 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Their innings of 370-5 was dominated by a 203 runs third-wicket stand between opener Virender Sehwag (175), who cipped the ball into his own stumps when apparently set to established a new competition record, and Virat Kohli (100 n.o.). The Indians absorbed a brisk start to the Bangladesh innings, in which al the front-line batsmen seemed to get in without proceeding further, and then cut off the run –scoring opportunities. With Bangladesh so far behind the scoring rate the match was decided long before they ended on 283-9. Munaf Patel took 4-48 and Harbhajan Singh closed down the scoring with 1-41 at 4.10, a superb catch in the deep, and a brilliant run-iut.
India 370-4 (V. Sehwag 175, V. Kohli 100 n.o., G. Gambhir 39, S.R. Tendulkar 28) beat Bangladesh 283-9 (Tamim Iqbal 70, Shakib Al Hasan 55, Junaid Siddique 37, Imrul Kayes 34, Raqibul Hasan 28 n.o., Mushfiqur Rahim 25, M.M. Patel 4-48, Zaheer Khan 2-40)
