When Mohali roared, Islamabad fell silent

Given the frenzy that was drummed up for the semi-final encounter between India and Pakistan in the World Cup in Mohali on Wednesday, this was never a day for the faint-hearted. And, it became even more so with the frequent swings in the fortunes of the two teams.

Every time Mohali erupted in a roar of elation over a boundary or a wicket taken by India, an eerie silence would descend on the streets and homes here. And, the reverse would happen whenever Mohali fell silent as India lost a wicket or a Pakistani player went after the Indian bowlers.

War days

According to one old-timer from Rawalpindi, the federal capital's twin city resembled the war days of 1965 and 1971 in the early overs of the match when India's opening pair were going great guns. Such was the silence.

But once the Indian batting attack was contained with the fall of four wickets, the tension eased and youngsters got their motorcycles and cars out to zip across town and into Islamabad where the usually firm traffic police was indulgent; allowing boys to triple-ride their two-wheelers without helmets and move around the fortified city on car-tops.

While the government had declared a half-day holiday, most private offices followed suit knowing fully well that it was pointless to keep their staff at work with their minds totally preoccupied with cricket.

Hoping to cash in on the crowds that had gathered at marketplaces where giant screens were put up to telecast the match, shopkeepers sought to brave the mood; but even their attention was clearly diverted.

Colour of the day

Green and white was the colour of the day as youngsters either donned the team's shirts or painted their faces with the nation's flag colours in anticipation of good tidings.

Some attributed the early celebrations to the fact that Pakistan has had so little to rejoice about in recent years, that they felt it was best to enjoy the thrill of the close encounter with India as long as it lasted.

So much so that as India came closer to bringing the curtains down on Pakistan's run in this World Cup, even singles and doubles were cheered with whistles in an attempt to keep the flagging spirits up. But the writing on the wall was picked up quietly.

Early retreat

The more faint-hearted beat an early retreat from cricket parties, giant screens went blank, and a deathly silence descended on the blighted nation as gloom returned to edge out the joy and excitement that had taken residence over the past week.

INDIA MEETS SRI LANKA IN WORLD CUP FINAL

The Hindu MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: The Men in Blue celebrate after booking a place in the World Cup Final. Dhoni's men came up with a commendable display on the field after posting what looked like a modest total of 260 against Pakistan in the semifinal at Mohali. Tendulkar (85) was named Man of the Match. India will play Sri Lanka on Saturday at the Wankhede Stadium hoping to re-enact the heroics of Kapil Dev's Devils 28 years ago. Photo: S.

India maintained its unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cup cricket, securing a 29-run win in Wednesday's marquee semifinal in Mohali to set up a title clash with Sri Lanka.

Sachin Tendulkar rode on his luck to make 85 and Suresh Raina contributed a vital cameo (36 not out) under pressure to help their side's score 260 for nine after winning the toss. Although it appeared an under-par total, the bowlers did their bit to give India its fifth World Cup win over its traditional rival. Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh shared the wickets, claiming two apiece.

Saturday's match in Mumbai will be India's third appearance in the World Cup final.

Pakistan had seemed in control when it began its pursuit spiritedly. Openers Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez looked comfortable against the new ball as they put on 44. India needed lifting – Zaheer did the job, having Akmal caught off a slower ball.

Hafeez (43) and Asad Shafiq (30) batted well, but fell attempting over-ambitious strokes. When Yuvraj got Younis Khan to lift a drive to Suresh Raina, Pakistan had slipped to 106 for four. India tightened the screws causing the asking rate to climb.

Umar Akmal (29) aimed to relieve the pressure. But just when it seemed as if India would pay for failing to run him out, Harbhajan bowled the young, talented batsman. With Misbah-ul-Haq (56) struggling, M.S. Dhoni's side needed only to gain the wickets of Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi to put the result beyond doubt.

Misbah chanced his arm, but he had left his charge too late. Pakistan was bowled out for 231 in 49.5 overs.

India earlier got off to an electric start, thanks to Virender Sehwag (38), but faltered thereafter as Pakistan fought back. Had Afridi's men held their catches – Tendulkar was dropped four times – they would have inconvenienced India further.

Wahab Riaz (five for 46) kept Pakistan in the contest with a fine display of left-arm fast bowling. After getting rid of the dangerous Sehwag in his first over, Riaz later struck twice in two balls, removing Virat Kohli and Yuvraj, to reduce India to 141 for four.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was excellent as well; he deserved better than figures of two for 44 from 10 overs. He nearly had Tendulkar out twice in successive balls for 23. The maestro was adjudged ‘lbw' on the first occasion, but a review saw the decision overturned. Pakistan appealed for a stumping off the next ball. The third umpire rightly decided a close call in the batsman's favour.

Tendulkar was then reprieved thrice off Afridi's leg-spin: on 27 when Misbah dropped a pull the batsman didn't keep to ground, on 45 when Younis Khan spilt a lofted drive, and on 70 when wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal failed to take a difficult chance. Tendulkar had another moment of fortune, on 81 when Umar Akmal shelled a catch off Hafeez's bowling, before his luck ran out.

A high-voltage encounter between two subcontinent giants

All roads will lead to the Punjab Cricket Association ground here on Wednesday when sub-continental giants India and Pakistan face-off in the second semifinal of ICC World Cup.

The game will probe the character, nerve and skill of the cricketers in question. 'Belief' will be a key word.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men start as favourite. But then, the Shahid Afridi-led Pakistan is neither short of ability nor motivation.

Let's look at the factors that could influence this high-pressure match-up.

The pitch: By the time the match commences, the surface is likely to be devoid of any grass. The pitch here has generally offered decent carry and a measure of seam movement to the pacemen. Lately in the ODIs here though, the surface has favoured batsmen. The ball comes on to the bat on this clay-based pitch and the outfield is quick.

Hope for spinners

Would there be any assistance for the spinners, at least in the second half of the contest? The dryness of the track and the conditions might offer spinners some hope.

In the earlier matches of this World Cup - both day games - at this venue, South Africa amassed 351 for five against the Netherlands and the West Indies notched up 275 versus Ireland. The figures indicate there are runs on this track.

The History: India has beaten Pakistan in all four matches between the two sides in the World Cup. However, Pakistan has won both its ODIs against India at Mohali.

The second win for Pakistan, in 2007, throws up some interesting numbers. India, powered by Sachin Tendulkar's 99, raced to 321 for nine in 50 overs. Pakistan's response was a winning one; the side clinched the game in the final over.

Two key players in that remarkable chase, Younis Khan (117) and Misbah-ul-Haq (49), are still buzzing in the middle-order.

The dew factor: This could have an impact in a day\night game. But then, the conditions in the end of March here are generally drier than a game in winter.

The bowlers, spinners in particular, should have less difficulty in gripping the ball. In the seven day-night ODI games here over the last five years, five have been won by the side batting first. In fact, the ball has tended to skid around for the pacemen under the lights due to the slight evening moisture on the surface.

Strengths and weaknesses (India): India has the batting might. In the top-order, Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar are game-changers while Gautam Gambhir has grown in confidence. The middle-order, where Yuvraj Singh has displayed the temperament to match his natural gifts, can be resilient. Skipper Dhoni's batting form remains a concern but Suresh Raina's cameo at the crunch against Australia has provided greater depth to the batting.

Coming to an area of concern, the Indian running between the wickets has been rather ordinary.

Used in short bursts, Zaheer Khan has contained and struck with his control and movement. Off-spinner R. Ashwin is excelling in the Power Plays, and Yuvraj's left-arm spin has evolved.

On the flip side, India seeks more wickets from its premier spinner Harbhajan Singh; he needs to adopt a more attacking outside the off-stump line. Struggling seamer Munaf Patel could make way for either S. Sreesanth or Ashish Nehra.

Strengths and weaknesses (Pakistan): The side has greater sting in its attack. Umar Gul's swinging yorkers have dented line-ups. Afridi has been influential with his leg-spin while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal can be handy against three specialist left-handers in the Indian line-up.

Akhtar or Riaz?

Pakistan will mull over the inclusion of paceman Shoiab Akhtar for left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz. Akhtar has shock value but seems to be battling fitness concerns. All-rounders Afridi and Abdur Razzaq provide depth and options to the side.

Younis and Misbah offer stability to the batting line-up while younger men such as Umar Akmal and Mohammed Hafeez have sparkled. However, the Pakistani batting can implode in stressful situations. The Indian bowling, backed by smart fielding, will need to create the pressure. The chances are that Afridi, searching for form, could walk in at the top of the order. He has been destructive in India as an opener.

The teams (India): M.S. Dhoni (captain), V. Sehwag, S. Tendulkar, G. Gambhir, V. Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, S. Raina, Harbhajan Singh, R. Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, S. Sreesanth, A. Nehra, Y. Pathan, M. Patel, P. Chawla,

Pakistan: S. Afridi (captain), K. Akmal, M. Hafeez, A. Shehzad, Younis Khan, Misbah, U. Akmal, A. Razzaq, U. Gul, S. Ajmal, W. Riaz, S. Akhtar, A. Shafiq, A. Rehman, J. Khan.

Sri Lanka has history and momentum in its favour

Between Sri Lanka and its third World Cup final stands New Zealand, the World Cup over-achiever which has made a habit of gate-crashing into the last-four, but never beyond, in the premier event.

New Zealand bushwhacked South Africa in Mirpur to enter is sixth Cup semifinal and on paper the contest between the Kiwis and the Lankan Lions would appear to be governed by the stark logic of the food chain: ominously tilted in favour of the carnivores.

Sri Lanka is an outfit better-rounded; its premier batsmen have been on a rampage; its bowling variety and three-pronged spin attack has time and again tightened the tourniquet on the opposition; and the site of the semifinal is the R. Premadasa, a Lankan stronghold if ever there was one.

Impressive record

The co-host has won 50 of the 82 ODIs it has played here. Against New Zealand at the Premadasa, Sri Lanka holds a 5-1 winning advantage.

The last time the two teams met, in the league phase, Sri Lanka registered a comprehensive win by 112 runs, as skipper Kumar Sangakkara struck a hundred and Muttiah Muralitharan dismantled the Kiwi chase with four for 25.

For Murali, any match from here on holds the bitter promise of being his last, and the off-spinner was once again on the list of fitness suspects on the eve of the semifinal.

Having strained his hamstring in the earlier game against New Zealand, Murali recovered in time for the quarterfinal against England on Saturday, bowling his full quota, at the end of which he was seen limping.

Sangakkara said the two injuries were unrelated — it was Murali's quadriceps which was under the scanner this time — and that a call on the world's most successful bowler would be taken on Tuesday morning.

Same pitch

The pitch used for the semifinal will be the same one on which Sri Lanka's openers amassed an unbeaten partnership of 231 chasing against England, which pretty much means that winning the toss and batting first would have a limited bearing on the ultimate result.

New Zealand last played Sri Lanka in an ODI at the Premadasa Stadium in 2009 when the visiting side, in pursuit of 216, was shot out for 119 under lights.

New floodlights and a raised track mean that a similar fate might not have to be endured this time, and New Zealand, after facing the horrors of the sub-continent in its last tours to Bangladesh and India, looks a side capable, at least, of mounting a fight.

Donald's compliment

Tim Southee — whom Kiwi bowling coach Allan Donald considers to have the potential of becoming the best swing bowler in the world — has been a revelation.

Southee's 15 victims in the tournament include Jacques Kallis, caught magnificently by Jacob Oram at the boundary, the wicket starting South Africa's familiar slide at Mirpur.

Oram himself has snared 12 and while skipper Daniel Vettori though hasn't been in the wickets, has been miserly (economy rate 3.60) and led the team admirably. Nathan McCullum too has been effective with his off-breaks.

New Zealand's openers pale in comparison to the prolificacy of Sri Lanka's, but Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum have combined for 353 in seven matches.

Ross Taylor has been the team's most consistent batsman, and Jesse Ryder, with an 83 in the quarterfinal, looks to be getting into a groove.

In the 2007 World Cup, Sri Lanka thrashed New Zealand by 81 runs in the semifinal at Kingston, Sangakkara's hundred and Murali's four-wicket haul being the major factors in the result, which prompts one to mull over yet again on the importance of Murali taking the field on Tuesday.

The teams (from):

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thisara Perera, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva and Upul Tharanga.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson and Luke Woodcock.

Australia win restored Pakistan image: Afridi

COLOMBO: Pakistan's World Cup victory over Australia has restored the team's battered image and boosted its credentials as champion-in-waiting, skipper Shahid Afridi told pressmen here on Monday.

“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 said.
Pakistan entered the tournament on the back of a spot-fixing scandal which led to bans on former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.

Pakistan has also been a no-go area for international teams since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore two years ago.

Afridi said Pakistan still had a deep well of natural cricketing talent. “Despite all the problems, Pakistan is blessed with talent and it is 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.

Afridi said he was not thinking of a potentially high-voltage semifinal clash against India.
“Our focus is on the quarterfinal, we have to win that to reach the semifinal, so we are not thinking that far. First we have to win a match against a dangerous opponent,” said Afridi. — AFP

Pakistan's batting woes remain

COLOMBO: As Pakistan left for Dhaka on Monday for its quarterfinal match against West Indies in the ICC World Cup, the biggest concern for it was the team's batting form. Not one batsman came anywhere close to a century in six games in Sri Lanka, even against minnow nations.
Pakistan joins Australia in the list of nations that qualified but is still looking for a century maker. Australia too has not found a century maker yet, but two of its batsmen have pushed past the nineties. Shane Watson with 94 is its highest scorer so far. Maybe Pakistan is looking to 1983 for inspiration when the team made 338 for five against Sri Lanka without an individual century.
For Pakistan, Misbah-ul-Haq's 83 has been the highest so far, followed by young Asad Shafiq's 78. “Asad Shafiq is not a big hitter. He quietly manoeuvres the ball and picks up runs, boundaries also. At No. 3 he did a superb job in the last match (against Zimbabwe) and also against Australia. He is doing really well,” said Pakistan coach Waqar Younis. Shafiq has got just two games so far and has scored 78 and 46.
Classic case
Most batsmen have been hanging around and have failed; Ahmed Shehzad being a classic case. In five innings he has made 44, while captain Shahid Afridi has had an equally horrendous tournament, scoring a total of 65 in six matches.
The only batsman to cross the 200-run mark (in five matches, missed one due to a mysterious injury) is Umar Akmal. Misbah and Younis, the batting mainstays, have scored two fifties each in a total of six matches (Misbah in five innings, and Younis in six) and have also gone for a duck on one occasion each, piling up the pressure on the latter batsmen.
“We definitely have a problem with our openers… We need to improve (our batting)… Pitches here (in Sri Lanka) are a little difficult to bat on. Things will get a lot easier when we go to the other part (of the sub-continent),” said Waqar.
The main problem is that of the openers not putting together a partnership that the later batsmen could work on. “Hopefully in the quarterfinals the story will be different,” he added.
Afridi has admitted at least thrice in Sri Lanka that his own batting form is also a concern. But that has not meant that he has improved.
There is no evidence that he even tried to improve. He agreed that he played a stupid shot against Australia when the chase was getting tougher.
But admitting one's mistake is only a small step towards corrective action. Afridi has done enough talking, now he has to show something on the scorecard.
Waqar defended Afridi stoutly, when asked about Afridi's shot selection in the crunch match against Australia.
“If the same shot had sailed over the boundary, you would have said that it's a marvellous shot. That is the way he plays his game,” he said.
On playing in Bangladesh, he said Pakistan had played a practice match against Bangladesh in Mirpur and had won that game.
“But now we will have to go there and re-assemble ourselves. We have to forget the victories here and look at the tournament afresh. Regardless of the ground we need a new strategy,” he said.
Waqar wanted critics to remember that Pakistan had defeated Australia and Sri Lanka, the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the world, despite the problems afflicting Pakistan cricket.
“I am very happy. This is a small gift (the victory against these teams). Insha-Allah, more such gifts will come,” he added.

Sehwag reminds Richards of himself

Chennai: Vivian Richards, in the city as part of a promotional event, named Virender Sehwag as the contemporary cricketer who reminds him the most of his own swashbuckling style.
Speaking to the media during an interaction of the ‘Nokia-meet and bowl to Viv Richards' event, the World Cup winner said, “Sehwag, he is as brutal as it can get. He brings purpose to the game.”
Richards shared his thoughts on captaincy and leadership drawing from his extensive experience as skipper of the West Indian side. He also fielded questions ranging from the most difficult bowlers he had faced (B.S. Chandrasekhar and Dennis Lillee) to the state of present-day West Indian cricket.
Richards also said that there was a need to ensure that “we don't get carried away by the financial side of things,” while striking a balance between T20 and Test cricket.
Later, winners of the contest got autographed memorabilia and the opportunity to bowl to the legend on a matting strip laid out for the purpose at Park Sheraton hotel.

We can play better cricket: Dilshan

After steering Sri Lanka to the quarterfinals of the World Cup with his all-round performance, opener Tillakaratne Dilshan said the team has the ability to play better cricket.

Dilshan scored a 131-ball 144 during his record 282-run stand for the opening wicket with Upul Tharanga (133) and then picked up four wickets giving away as many runs to cap off a memorable day, as Sri Lanka thrashed Zimbabwe by a massive 139 runs in a Group A match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium here yesterday.

“Upul and I had a good opening stand today. We are playing good cricket as a unit at the moment, but the important thing is we can do better,” said Dilshan.

The 34-year-old, who fell one run short of equalling Aravinda de Silva’s record for most runs by a Lankan in a World Cup game, was asked if he was aware of the record, the hard-hitting batsman said, “I didn’t know that.

“When I went to the dressing room I was informed that Aravinda’s record was 145 and that I had missed the milestone by just one run. That’s how it goes, I don’t look forward to records.”

“In the tournament so far I hadn’t capitalised after getting a few decent starts. So I was determined to make it count this time around. It’s good to got a hundred,” said Dilshan.

He could have recorded the third hat-trick of the World Cup had Mahela Jayawardene, fielding at first slip, latched onto Graeme Cremer’s edge but Dilshan said that he has no regrets.

“Mahela took a terrific catch to create the hat-trick ball. So you can’t really blame him. These things happen in cricket,” he said.

There had been media reports suggesting that Dilshan had failed a drug test, but Sri Lanka Cricket was quick to squash the rumours saying the player wasn’t even tested in the first place.

Asked about that, Dilshan said he wasn’t worried about the speculations.

“Honestly, it didn’t bother me,” he said.

Zimbabwe were going well at one stage with their openers taking the team to 116 by the 20th over, but Dilshan always knew it was going to be Sri Lanka’s day.

“Not really. We knew that when the ball gets old attacking would get difficult. They had a big total to chase and things were under control.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara said that the partnership between Dilshan and Tharnaga took away the match from Zimbabwe.

“The opening stand just took it away. Dilshan has that magic touch with bat, ball and on the field. Murali is a champion, and that’s why he is rated the best in the world.

When the tough times come, he stands up,” he said.

Losing captain Elton Chigumbura said, “We have to beat Kenya and do well against Pakistan. Disappointed with the show today. Good atmosphere in this stadium.”

India makes heavy weather of the Netherlands' modest total

The Hindu India had an improved showing while fielding against Netherlands. Here M.S.Dhoni runs out Bradley Kruger from a throw off Virat Kohli. Photo: S. Subramanium

On a typically sluggish Kotla wicket, Yuvraj Singh sizzled with controlled aggression. The left-hander is making all the right moves.

The straightness of his willow, his ability to pick the length in a jiffy, and his composure in a situation of duress carried India to a five-wicket win over the Netherlands at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Wednesday.

Man-of-the-Match Yuvraj's unbeaten 51 and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's steadying hand followed a worrying Indian slump to 139 for five; the host was chasing 190.

In fact, India made heavy weather of a regulation pursuit under the lights. Left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar, steady at best, made serious inroads and the sharp Dutch fielding created an element of pressure.

With seven points from four matches, India is virtually assured of making it to the last eight stage of the ICC World Cup.

100th ODI scalp

Yuvraj struck twice with his left-arm spin earlier in the day; this included his 100th ODI scalp. He then pulled his weight with the bat while notching up his third successive half-century of the competition. The southpaw punched Seelaar through wide mid-off, creamed seamer Ryan ten Doeschate through point and bludgeoned paceman Bradley Kruger down the ground.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar went for shots early on when the ball was harder; there was a little more pace for the batsmen to harness.

Tendulkar twice cover-drove ten Doeschate and then whipped the bowler over mid-on. The maestro grabbed another slice of history in a career of miles and milestones by becoming the first batsman to reach 2000 runs in the World Cup.

Sehwag began like a runaway train, pulling paceman Mudassar Bukhari into the stands and then easing Seelaar over the extra-cover ropes. It was spectacular stuff.

Creating room for the slice, Sehwag was held at point off Seelaar; the openers had blasted 69 off only 7.3 overs. Then, Tendulkar was well caught at long-off by Bradley Kruger off the persistent Seelaar.

Yusuf Pathan, promoted in the order to gain some batting practice, did not last long. Seelaar shortened his length and a surprised Yusuf knocked it back. From nowhere, the Netherlands had a sniff.

India slipped into further trouble. Virat Kohli was done in by the one that came back from seamer Peter Borren. And Gambhir, light on his feet against the spinners, was a shade unlucky as a delivery on the leg-stump from Bukhari deflected off his pad onto the stumps.

A chance for India to improve

All mine! Harbhajan Singh with coach Gary Kirsten's son, Joshua, during the practice session on the eve of India's World Cup match against the Netherlands at the Ferozeshah Kotla.
New Delhi: The decisive punch should not take too long in coming when heavyweight India takes on lightweight the Netherlands in a World Cup Group B match at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, here, on Wednesday.
A victory away from ensuring its place in the quarterfinals, the game at the Kotla provides India a valuable opportunity to iron out the chinks before the death-or-glory knockout phase.
And India does have problems, particularly in the bowling department. Spinners can be winners in the sub-continent. However, the specialist Indian spinners have failed to sting so far.
Actually, Yuvraj Singh's five-wicket haul against Ireland saved the regular bowlers the blushes. Ahead of the crunch duels, this is not a healthy situation to be in.
Vital overs
Harbhajan Singh has scalped two from three matches and Piyush Chawla has two from two. Consequently, India has struggled to strike in the vital middle-overs.
To be fair to Harbhajan, his figures of 9-1-29-0 versus Ireland are not the kind to be scoffed at. Spinners operate in pairs and there has been little support for the off-spinning spearhead at the other end.
Chawla has struggled to hone in on the right line, especially when operating at the southpaws. And the flurry of runs conceded has eased pressure from the other end as well.
Teams realise that Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan are the two quality bowlers in the Indian line-up and often consider it wiser to see them off. The Irish batsmen were largely circumspect against Harbhajan.
This said, Harbhajan needs to harness the angles, with variations in speed and length, in a more telling fashion. India's No. 1 spinner has to rise above the compulsions of support and create his own path. Chawla went for 71 runs in his 10 overs against England and 56 in eight versus Ireland.
He has impressed in phases with his wrong 'uns and the fizz off the pitch but has lacked consistency. Chawla has delivered too many boundary balls.
Leg-spinners are essentially confidence bowlers — no other breed of bowlers rely more on the belief of the captain — and perhaps Chawla needs a longer run.
Bowling with control
Yet, without leaving Chawla out of the equation for the rest of the competition, India would do well to give Ravichandran Ashwin a fling.
The off-spinner bowls with control, possesses a few interesting variations and has this ability to operate without being ruffled in the Power Play overs.
Ashwin could combine better with Harbhajan; the two are very different off-spinners and will not cut into each other.
India also has a wonderful opportunity to include left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra. There have been speculations about the level of Nehra's fitness. If India intends to play him in future games, he has to be tried now.
Bowlers returning from injury need to rediscover their rhythm and Nehra deserves a look-in. Munaf Patel or Zaheer could be rested for the purpose.
India's last ODI at the Kotla — against Sri Lanka in late 2009 — had to be abandoned after 23.3 overs on account of the pitch behaving in a dangerous manner. The surface for Wednesday's match should hold no devils though. The pitch is expected to be a slow turner; there could be some assistance for the pacemen early on.
The match presents the Netherlands another chance to showcase its players. The side fought hard against England, displayed plenty of spunk.
In Ryan ten Doeschate it has a fine batsman who uses his feet and possesses a sense of timing. The bowling, though, is mediocre.
The teams (from):
India: M.S. Dhoni (captain), V. Sehwag, S. Tendulkar. G. Gambhir, V. Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, R. Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, A. Nehra, M. Patel, P. Chawla, S. Raina, S. Sreesanth.
The Netherlands: P. Borren (captain), W. Barresi, M. Bukhari, ten Doeschate, A. Buurman, T. Cooper, Tom de Grooth, A. Kervezee, B. Kruger, B. Loots, A. Raja, P. Seelaar, E. Swarczynski, B. Westduk, B. Zuiderent.

Taylor gives the Kiwis a birthday gift

ECSTATIC: New Zealand speedster Tim Southee, who struck early in Pakistan's chase, celebrates with Martin Guptill after removing Kamran Akmal, as others rush in to congratulate in the Group 'A' match in Pallekele on Tuesday.
PALLEKELE (KANDY): On a day when a match turned on its head in under five overs because birthday boy Ross Taylor (131 not out) willed it so, Pakistan, the most unpredictable team in the tournament, crashed to a stunning defeat in a group A match here.
Its famed bowling line up came apart: Shoaib Akhtar conceded 28 runs in one over and Abdul Razzaq came soon after and made Shoaib look better: he gave away 30.
At the end of 45 overs, New Zealand was at a modest 200. By the end of the innings five overs later, it was 302.
In between, Taylor and Jacob Oram put on 85 in 3.4 overs for the seventh wicket. In the last 25 deliveries, New Zealand put in 95.
In reply, chasing under lights the Pakistanis gave up. It crawled to 46 for five at the end of 15 overs and folded up soon enough.
The Ross Taylor act
Taylor, thriving on Pakistani largesse and a wayward Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq, helped New Zealand set a target of 303 in the first one day international game at this stadium in a group A match.
Shoaib showered full tosses and forgot the basics of line and length in his third and final spell. The result: 28 runs in an over, the maximum in this World Cup. Well, that was till Razzaq came now. Two overs later, Razzaq, who conceded 30 in an over, holds that record. All the runs were c/o Taylor, who equalled Kevin O'Brien's record of seven sixes in an innings in the world cup.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss, read the pitch correctly and elected to bat on a pitch that had quite a bit of grass.
Shoaib Akhtar, who missed the last match, was in the middle of all action early on.
Three no-balls in three overs, an overthrow, an elaborate discussion with the umpire; a wicket in the first over of the match, heart-break in the first over of his second spell as two catches went down — all the elements that make him Shoaib Akhtar were there.He opened the proceedings with a no-ball according to tv replays, but the umpire missed it.
No fast bowler likes being hit. So when Brendon McCullum swung him over mid-on off a free-hit ball, that too in the first over, Shoaib had to comeback. His comeback ball was not the expected bouncer, but a length delivery pitched far outside the off-stump. It came back in to knock off the off stump. Brendo McCullum did not expect that.
Then came the classic careless Shoaib act. He stopped a ball on the follow through and threw it back to the keeper. The throw sailed over the leaping Kamran Akmal. Another four to the tally. At the end of the ninth over, New Zealand had progressed to 41 for the loss of Brendon. In all, Shoaib gifted them 22 (14 runs off free hits, three no balls, a wide and the overthrow for four). Shoaib was taken off after his indifferent first spell that read 5-0-31-1.
Pakistan showed some refreshing thinking for once and opened the other end with left arm spinner Abdur Rehman. It worked. Rehmankept it tight at one end, giving away 14 runs in his first five-over spell. But with one end leaking, the New Zealand 50 came up in 73 balls.
Shoaib's second spell was better. He found an unsure Taylor's edge which flew between Kamran Akmal and Younus Khan. Both did not move. Again, ball No 3 found Taylor's edge. This time Kamran Akamal did not need to move. The ball came straight to him, and he dropped it. Akmal was to miss another catch to let off a nervy Scott Styris off Afridi. Pakistan paid for these lapses with the match.
Guptill and Taylor steadied the innings. The 100 took 25.2 overs to compile; the 150 came up in the 37th over. An ambitious Guptill attempted to turn a quicker, straight one from Afridi. He missed the line became Afridi's wicket no 15 in this edition of the world cup. James Franklin came and went in quick time, trapped in front by Mohammed Hafeez.
Nathan McCullum hit Afridi over long on and backward of square for two huge sixes, spoiling Afridi's statistics. Nathan departed playing early to a slower one from Umar Gul.
New Zealand: M. Guptill b Afridi 57 (86 b, 6x4), B. McCullum b Akhtar 6 (3b, 1x6), J. How lbw b Gul 4 (29b), R. Taylor (not out) 131 (124b, 8x4, 7x6), J. Franklin lbw b Hafeez 1 (2b), S. Styris lbw b Gul 28 (37b, 1x4), N. McCullum b Gul 19 (10b 1x4, 2x6), J. Oram c Gul b Rehman 25 (9b, 1x4, 3x6), K. Mills (not out) 7 (3b); Extras (nb-3, w-11, lb-10) 24; Total (for seven wkts. in 50 overs) 302.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-55, 3-112, 4-113, 5-175, 6-210, 7-295.
Pakistan: Akhtar 9-0-70-1, Rehman 10-0-60-1, Gul 10-1-32-3, Razzaq 4-0-49-0, Afridi 10-0-55-1, Hafeez 7-0-26-1.
Pakistan: M. Hafeez lbw b Southee 5 (6b, 1x4), A. Shehzad lbw b Mills 10 (16b, 1x4), K. Akmal c Taylor b Southee 8 (16b, 1x4), Younis Khan b Mills 0 (3b), Misbah c Styris b Southee 7 (31b), U. Akmal c Oram b N. McCullum 38 (58b, 3x4), S. Afridi b Oram 17 (9b, 2x4, 1x6), A. Razzaq c Oram b Styris 62 (74b, 9x4), A. Rehman lbw b N. McCullum 1 (10b), U. Gul (not out) 34 (25b, 3x4, 1x6), S. Akhtar c N. McCullum b Styris 0 (2b). Extras (lb-6, w-4): 10, Total (in 41.4 overs): 192.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-23, 3-23, 4-23, 5-45, 6-66, 7-102, 8-125, 9-191.
New Zealand bowling: Mills 8-1-43-2, Southee 8-1-25-3, Oram 10-1-47-1, Franklin 5-0-26-0, N. McCullum 6-0-28-2, Styris 4.4-0-17-2 .

Vettori wary of even better Pakistan

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has warned his teammates to expect an even stronger Pakistan in the World Cup Group A match on Tuesday than the team they lost to shortly before the tournament started.

New Zealand lost a hard-fought one-day series to Pakistan 3-2 just two weeks before the World Cup started last month.

“It was a pretty tightly-fought series in our conditions, this is more like their conditions,” Vettori said. “They’re probably going to be an even better team than the one we came across.”

Pakistan has six points with three wins out of three games while New Zealand are on four after lopsided victories over Kenya and Zimbabwe and a defeat against Australia.

New Zealand go into Tuesday’s match with a very poor recent record in the subcontinent after Bangladesh and India both whitewashed them in one-day series and with Vettori demanding consistency.

“That’s pretty much where we’ve let ourselves down in the past,” said Vettori. “We’ve not been able to put consistent team performances together.”

Vettori said his team needed to lift its own game against Pakistan, which despite fielding and batting lapses managed victories over Sri Lanka and Canada - mainly due to Shahid Afridi’s bowling.

“They are playing really well,” Vettori said. “We have to find a way to beat them rather than anything else because I think they are going to be tough opposition throughout the tournament as well.”

New Zealand’s batsmen had been exposed just once in the World Cup when they were beaten by Australia. Opening batsmen Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum put on two solid partnerships in 10-wicket victories over weak Kenya and Zimbabwe.

“There’s always more to be done,” he said. “Hopefully there is some confidence from the Zimbabwe game....if we can bring the same performance in this game then it’s going to be huge for us in the tournament.”

Middle-order batsman Ross Taylor has a fair idea about playing at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, which will be hosting its first one-day international.

Taylor scored 47 runs against Sri Lanka ‘A’ when New Zealand played a warm-up match here in August before a triangular series.

“Ross Taylor is obviously one of our very good players if not our best batsman,” Vettori said. “He has high expectations from himself and he wants to perform. “I expect him at some stage in this tournament to win a game for us and hopefully it’s tomorrow.”

Hansra, Bagai star for Canada

Finally, here comes a World Cup match that offers Kenya and Canada equal opportunities of picking up points.

Searching for a win after three outings, the favourite whipping boys of the seven-nation Group ‘A’ will be looking to salvage some pride by escaping a last-place finish in the league.

The majority of the World Cup followers are not likely to keep track of this match involving two of the weakest teams in world cricket. For the countries involved, Monday’s clash at the Ferozeshah Kotla is the one where they fancy their best chance to experience the rare joy of victory in a World Cup tie.

Canada has won the last four encounters against Kenya but still does not hold any psychological advantage. The teams are well aware of each other’s inconsistency. In this battle of equals, where quality will be at premium, the team that commits lesser mistakes will come out smiling. Canadian wicketkeeper-skipper Ashish Bagai would once again like to lead the team to victory though there have been some changes in the side that last beat Kenya in the fifth-place playoff of the ICC World Cricket League Division One at Schiedam in July last year.

“It will be a spin game,” said Bagai, going by the results of the two matches played on the surface here. So far, (leg spinner) Balaji Rao has had good games and I expect him to come good again.

While praising the former Tamil Nadu and Railways’ googly bowler, Bagai added, “Perhaps, we can go in with an extra spinner. Kenya, too, has a couple of good spinners.”

An additional reason for the teams to find near empty stands is a fact that the match happens to be on a weekday. But Bagai, who studied at the Capital’s St. Columba’s School and visited his Grandparents and cousins on arrival here, was hopeful of some support from the crowd. “We hope to get good support here. Many of our players are from the Indian background. Our best chance to win a game is here and that’s why it is an important game for us” said Bagai, who turned 29 this Republic Day.

Incidentally, Canada’s only victory in World Cup came against Bangladesh, by 60 runs, in 2003. But since then, it has lost all 11 matches, including three so far in this edition.

Canada’s vastly experienced all-rounder John Davison, 40, who has turned out for Victoria and South Australia, once held the record of the fastest century in the World Cup after smashing the West Indies attack in 2003. Davison is has not scored in two games before being dropped against Pakistan in the last outing. “He brings in a bit more extra to the team. Lots of players gain from his presence and experience,” said Bagai about the seasoned campaigner expected to take the field against Kenya. Like Davison, Kenya’s veterans Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo, too, have struggled to fire so far. In fact, the team itself has failed to have one good session so far. But skipper Jimmy Kamande sounded optimistic on the eve of the match.

“Hopefully, we will get a win out there tomorrow. The Test teams (New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) did not give us a chance to express ourselves fully. They came too hard on us. Now, we have to go out there and enjoy our cricket, hit the ball and not play too defensively. We have to stay positive. We can do wonders in this World Cup itself since we have three more games coming up. Of course, Tikolo and Odoyo will play a key role for us. Obviously, we want to give them a nice send off.”

Cricket world cup Timetable Schedule

Group A: India, England, Afghanistan, Hong Kong

Group B: South Africa, Australia, Ireland, USA

Group C: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada

Group D: Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Papua New Guinea

Fri 15 : Group A – Afghanistan v India

Fri 15 : Group B – Ireland v South Africa

Fri 15: Group C – Canada v Zimbabwe

Fri 15: Group D – Pakistan v West Indies

Sat 16: Group A – England v Hong Kong

Sat 16: Group B – Australia v United States of America

Sat 16: Group C – New Zealand v Canada

Sat 16: Group D – Bangladesh v Papua New Guinea

Sun 17: Group A – India v Hong Kong

Sun 17: Group B – Australia v Ireland

Sun 17: Group C – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

Sun 17: Group D – Bangladesh v West Indies,

Mon 18: Group A – Afghanistan v England,

Mon 18: Group B – South Africa v United States of America,

Mon 18: Group C – Canada v Sri Lanka,

Mon 18: Group D – Pakistan v Papua New Guinea,

Tue 19: Group A – Afghanistan v Hong Kong,

Tue 19: Group B – Ireland v United States of America,

Tue 19: Group C – New Zealand v Zimbabwe,

Tue 19: Group D – West Indies v Papua New Guinea,

Wed 20: Group B – Australia v South Africa,

Wed 20: Group C – New Zealand v Sri Lanka,

Wed 20: Group D – Bangladesh v Pakistan,

Thu 21: Group A – England v India,

Sat 23: TBC v TBC (3rd Group C v 4th Group B)

Sat 23: TBC v TBC (3rd Group B v 4th Group C)

Sat 23: 1st Quarter-Final – TBC v TBC (Winner Group A v Runner up Group D)

Sat 23: 4th Quarter-Final – TBC v TBC (Winner Group D v Runner up Group A)

Sun 24: TBC v TBC (3rd Group D v 4th Group A)

Sun 24: TBC v TBC (3rd Group A v 4th Group D)

Sun 24: 2nd Quarter-Final – TBC v TBC (Winner Group C v Runner up Group B)

Sun 24: 3rd Quarter-Final – TBC v TBC (Winner Group B v Runner up Group C)

Mon 25: TBC v TBC (Runner up QF 2 v Runner up QF 3)

Mon 25: TBC v TBC (Runner up PC QF 2 v Runner up PC QF 3)

Mon 25: TBC v TBC (Runner up QF 1 v Runner up QF 4)

Mon 25: TBC v TBC (Runner up PC QF 1 v Runner up PC QF 4)

Mon 25: TBC v TBC (Winner PC QF 2 v Winner PC QF 3)

Mon 25: 1st Semi-Final – TBC v TBC (Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4)

Tue 26: TBC v TBC (Winner PC QF 1 v Winner PC QF 4)

Tue 26: TBC v TBC (Runner up SL Play-off Semi 1 v SL Runner up Play-off Semi 2)

Wed 27: TBC v TBC (Winner SL Play-off Semi 1 v Winner SL Play-off Semi 2)

Wed 27: TBC v TBC (Runner up PC Play-off Semi 1 v PC Runner up Play-off Semi 2)

Wed 27: TBC v TBC (Winner PC Play-off Semi 1 v Winner PC Play-off Semi 2)

Wed 27: 2nd Semi-Final – TBC v TBC (Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3)

Thu 28: TBC v TBC (Runner up PC Semi 1 v Runner up PC Semi 2)

Thu 28: Plate Final – TBC v TBC (Winner PC Semi 1 v Winner PC Semi 2)

Fri 29: TBC v TBC (Runner up SL Semi 1 v Runner up SL Semi 2)

Sat 30: Final at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

UDRS is confusing: Yuvraj Singh

India’s dislike for the controversial Umpire Decision Referral System (UDRS) was never a secret and Yuvraj Singh is the latest player from the side to put a question mark over the technology, calling it “confusing”.

“It’s a bit confusing. I don’t know, don’t understand it much,” Yuvraj said after leading India to a five-wicket win over Ireland in their World Cup match here on Sunday night.

The DRS, which has come under constant scrutiny in the ongoing tournament, yesterday again came into focus when on-field umpire Rod Tucker gave Ireland’s Alex Cusack out even though the point of impact of the ball on the pad was more than 2.5 metres from stumps.

The umpire ruled Cusack not out off Yuvraj in the 44th over but after an appeal by India, he reversed his decision and gave the batsman out though TV replays showed the point of impact at the pad would have been more than 2.5 meters from the stumps.

Yuvraj, who scored an unbeaten 50 in India’s successful chase, said he was happy to have finished the game for India.

“I am very happy that I finished the game for India, it will give me a lot of confidence. It was important that somebody stays till the end. My responsibility in the team has always been to play till the end,” he said.

Yuvraj starred with the ball too picking up five wickets.

“The feeling was like when I scored my first century. For a part-time bowler, I am very happy to have picked up five wickets. Can’t ask for more. I am trying very hard, I am much fitter. I always want to do well for India, and don’t want to look back. Last two games, I scored two fifties,” he said.

The specialist India spinner Harbhajan Singh fared poorly but Yuvraj defended his teammates.

“Everyday can’t be your day. They have all been performing well and Bhajji has been a world class bowler for many years. Taking wickets don’t mean I will overshadow Bhajji. There was a time when Bhajji was scoring centuries.”

Despite his good run with the ball in recent times, Yuvraj made it clear that batting will remain his priority.

“Bowling, I won’t say, has (helped) regaining my confidence.”

Yuvraj said batting in the second innings was easier as the ball was coming on to the bat.

“Ireland bowled very well but the wicket was better in the second innings. When the ball changes, it spins a bit.”

Asked why India did not opt for the batting powerplay during his partnership with Dhoni, he said, “We just wanted to play till the end and didn’t want to lose a wicket at that stage.”

The left-hander felt the turning point of the match was Niall O’ Brien’s run out by Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Yuvraj has now scored two successive fifties in the tournament but when asked if he is the right contender for the number four slot, he said, “We have a team strategy and won’t change slots because of one or two fifties.”

Yuvraj felt the ability to do well at any given situation bodes well for the team.

“In every situation, everyone is doing well, and that’s a good sign,” he said. Yuvraj also said that Ireland deserved to play in the World Cup.

Yuvraj thrilled with his show

Bangalore: Yuvraj Singh has truly shed the cobwebs that clouded his mind over the past year following injuries and poor form. The southpaw has regained his talismanic role with the Indian team and after Sunday's super show of five wickets and a match-winning unbeaten 50, Yuvraj admitted to a feeling of joy and satisfaction over a job well done.
Speaking to the media, Yuvraj said: “My responsibility to the team is to finish matches, be there till the end and I am happy that I did that. I scored a 50 in the last game and another here and to help the team win and that makes me happy. There was a bit of a turn on the pitch and someone had to bat through.”
Yuvraj reiterated that he is a part-time bowler despite his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs. “I am a part-time bowler and when I got those five wickets I was as happy as I was when I scored my first international hundred. Just because I got five wickets it does not mean that I have over-shadowed a world class bowler like Harbhajan Singh or a talented bowler like Piyush Chawla.
“Every player has his day. Bhaji has scored two Test centuries, now you don't turn around and say that he over-shadowed the batsmen, do you?,” Yuvraj asked.
The last year has not been easy and Yuvraj admitted that. “I missed quite a bit of cricket over a year and a half due to injuries and now to come back and play my part in victories is very satisfying.
“May be I am not having my 100 per cent strike rate right now but more than that I am helping to finish matches and that is important. In the last match I was coming in with a lot of frustration and so when I got my 50 I was more animated but out here it was a more satisfying experience and may be I was a bit quiet,” Yuvraj said.
Meanwhile Ireland skipper William Porterfield said that the loss of early wickets affected his team. “Losing two wickets in three overs is not a good scenario for any team. We did well from there but we kept losing wickets and my dismissal came at the wrong time when actually we should have kicked on from there.
“But I am happy with the way my team fought, the way the boys fielded and bowled. Some one like George Dockrell showed a calm head on his shoulders and he has a bright future. We did well to keep the Indians under pressure,” Porterfield said.