Big-hitters power West Indies to 330 against Dutch

NEW DELHI: West Indies capitalised on a strong start to post a commanding 330-8 against the Netherlands in a World Cup Group B match on Monday.

Put into bat at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium where they went down to South Africa on Thursday, the twice champions got off to a rollicking start with Chris Gayle (80) and Devon Smith (53) stitching together a century opening stand.

Down the order, Kieron Pollard (60) celebrated his promotion in the batting line-up with a 27-ball blitz to guide the team past the 300-mark.

Smith dominated the initial stage of the opening partnership, hitting Mudassar Bukhari for three boundaries in the first over before offering the same treatment off Berend Westdijk.

Gayle followed suit, hitting three boundaries off Ryan ten Doeschate’s first over and went on to help himself to some more but his second World Cup century would eventually elude him.

Bernard Loots earned the breakthrough for the Netherlands in the 17th over when he had Smith caught behind but West Indies had reached the 100-mark by then.

Next man in Darren Bravo (30) proved why people compare him to Brian Lara, wowing the sparse crowd with a fluent 38-ball cameo that included two sweetly-timed sixes before spinner Pieter Seelar cut short his stay.

Pollard continued punishing the Dutch bowlers, hitting four sixes and five fours in his entertaining knock.

Team mate Ramnaresh Sarwan fell one run shy of the half-century mark despite two reprieves from his butter-finger opponents.

Zimbabwe sink Canada in 175-run win

NAGPUR: Tatenda Taibu just missed a maiden World Cup century while Raymond Price grabbed three early wickets as Zimbabwe crushed hapless Canada by 175 runs for their first win in Group A on Monday.

Zimabwe were indebted to former captain Taibu (98) and Craig Ervine (85) for posting 298-9 before dismissing Canada for a paltry 123, with left-arm spinner Price finishing with 3-16 off eight tight overs.

The African nation, who lost to Australia in their opener, virtually reduced the match to a no-contest when Price, sharing the new ball for a second successive game, took three wickets in his opening three overs.

The spinner bowled John Davison, the oldest player in the tournament at 40, before accounting for 16-year-old Nitish Kumar, the youngest player to feature in a World Cup, and skipper Ashish Bagai as Canada teetered at 7-3.

Kumar, who needed permission from his school to take a month off for the event, contributed just one before offering a return catch.

Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer (3-31), and off-spinners Prosper Utseya (2-24) and Greg Lamb (2-29) then built on Price’s superb effort as Canada continued to struggle against spin to suffer their second successive defeat.

Zubin Surkari (26), Ruvindu Gunasekera (24) and Jimmy Hansra (20) were the main scorers in Canada’s dismal batting performance.

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said victory had reignited their chances of making the quarter-finals.

“We are still in the running for the next stage. The big game is against New Zealand, we will have put in our best performance,” he said.

Canada captain Ashish Bagai said he had been happy to field first.

“We started well, but we went on to bowl both sides of the wicket. They then kept getting wickets every over,” said Bagai.

Taibu and Ervine earlier dominated the Canadian attack with impressive strokeplay to add 181 for the third wicket after their team had lost both the openers for seven runs.

Zimbabwe made a shaky start after electing to bat as Khurram Chohan trapped Brendan Taylor lbw off the first delivery of the match and Harvir Baidwan dismissed Charles Coventry for four.

But Canada had to wait nearly 28 overs for their next success as Taibu and Ervine applied themselves.

India-born leg-spinner Balaji Rao broke the partnership when he had Ervine caught behind, but not before the batsman had smashed two sixes and six fours in an 81-ball knock for his second half-century in one-day internationals.

Rao finished with a career-best 4-57 off 10 overs.

Taibu looked set to complete his third one-day hundred before slog-sweeping Rao to Davison at deep mid-wicket after hitting nine fours in his 99-ball knock.

“I wasn’t really thinking about getting to 100. I was really thinking about the position of the team,” said Taibu.

When asked about the team’s score, he said: “We’re quite happy. That was our target in the morning, to get around 290/300 and anything past that was a bonus.”

Sean Williams (30), Cremer (26) and Utseya (22) also made useful contributions to help their side set a stiff target.

Injury-hit Pakistan contemplate changes for Canada match

COLOMBO: Pakistan will be without left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman in their World Cup match against Canada on Thursday after suffering a left leg muscle injury in the 11-run over Sri Lanka.

Team manager Intikhab Alam said Rehman’s injury will take five days to heal.

“Rehman sprained his leg while fielding in the match against Sri Lanka and had to put on a strapping in order to bowl. It’s an adductor muscle rupture,”Alam told AFP.

Rehman, who will be 31 on Tuesday, took one wicket in Pakistan’s win against the 1996 champions in Colombo on Saturday.

“We don’t want to risk Rehman and will wait for him to recover,” said Alam, of the spinner who has 13 wickets in 17 one-day internationals.

Alam said Rehman’s place is likely to be taken by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has yet to play in the tournament.

Senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, who hurt his hamstring, may be rested, said Alam.

Pakistan fined for slow over rate against Sri Lanka

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, right, chats to his bowler Abdul Razzaq during the ICC Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011.

NEW DELHI: Pakistan have been fined for their slow over rate during their 11-run win over Sri Lanka in the World Cup, the International Cricket Council said on Sunday.

Captain Shahid Afridi has been fined 20 per cent match fee while his team mates will lose 10 per cent after Pakistan was found to be one over short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration, the ICC said.

England tie with India in World Cup thriller

BANGALORE: A masterly century by Sachin Tendulkar and an inspired bowling spell by Zaheer Khan led India to a nail-biting tie against England in their World Cup Group B match on Sunday.

After India slammed 338 runs, England were coasting before Zaheer produced a superb bowling spell to take three quick wickets to revive India’s fortunes.

The match went down to the last ball with England needing two to win but they managed to get one to tie the match — a result that was loudly cheered by all those lucky enough to witness it at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Earlier India’s total revolved largely around Sachin Tendulkar’s (120) 47th one-day international century and a record fifth in World Cups.

In reply, England’s run-chase was set well on its way helped by a cracking century by skipper Andrew Strauss (158), the first century by an English captain in a World Cup.

India innings

V. Sehwag c Prior b Bresnan 35

S. Tendulkar c Yardy b Anderson 120

G. Gambhir b Swann 51

Yuvraj Singh c Bell b Yardy 58

M. Dhoni c sub (Wright) b Bresnan 31

Y. Pathan c Swann b Bresnan 14

V. Kohli b Bresnan 8

Harbhajan Singh lbw b Bresnan 0

Z. Khan run out (Prior/Strauss) 4

P. Chawla run out (Anderson) 2

M. Patel not out 0

Extras (lb-3 w-7 nb-5) 15

Total (all out; 49.5 overs) 338

Fall of wickets: 1-46 2-180 3-236 4-305 5-305 6-327 7-327 8-328 9-338 10-338

Bowling: Anderson 9.5-0-91-1 (1nb 1w), Shahzad 8-0-53-0 (2w), Bresnan 10-1-48-5, Swann 9-1-59-1 (2w), Collingwood 3-0-20-0, Yardy 10-0-64-1 (2w).

England innings

A. Strauss lbw b Khan 158

K. Pietersen c and b Patel 31

J. Trott lbw b Chawla 16

I. Bell c Kohli b Khan 69

P. Collingwood b Khan 1

M. Prior c sub (Raina) b Harbhajan Singh 4

M. Yardy c Sehwag b Patel 13

T. Bresnan b Chawla 14

G. Swann not out 15

A. Shahzad not out 6

Extras (b-1 lb-7 w-3) 11

Total (for eight wickets; 50 overs ) 338

Did not bat: J. Anderson

Fall of wickets: 1-68 2-111 3-281 4-281 5-285 6-289 7-307 8-325

Bowling: Khan 10-0-64-3 (1w), Patel 10-0-70-2 (1w), Chawla 10-0-71-2 (1w), Harbhajan Singh 10-0-58-1, Yuvraj Singh 7-0-46-1, Pathan 3-0-21-0

Result: Match tied

Toss: India won the toss and elected to bat.

Tendulkar ton takes India to imposing total against England

BANGALORE: Sachin Tendulkar smashed his 47th one-day international century to take India to a commanding total of 338 against England in their Group B World Cup match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.

The 37-year-old’s flawless 120 was studded with 10 fours and five sixes – two of them off consecutive Graeme Swann deliveries – and by the time he left in the 39th over with the score on 236, he had set the perfect launch pad for India’s big-hitting middle order.

Gautam Gambhir (51), Yuvraj Singh (58) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (31) also chipped in with useful scores.

However, India were bowled out with one ball left of their allotted 50 overs as they tried to score quick runs towards the end of their innings.

India got off to a flyer with Virender Sehwag, who showed no signs of discomfort from his rib injury, scoring a typically brisk 35 featuring six boundaries and four half-chances, including three in the first over of the match.

England skipper Andrew Strauss’ frequent bowling changes were ineffective as their attack, which leaked 91 runs in the last 10 overs, sorely missed the service of the in-form Stuart Broad, who had to sit out the match due to an upset stomach.

Although Tim Bresnan took a career-best five for 48, four of them were claimed in the last five overs as the Indian batsmen were looking to score as many runs as possible.

India: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Piyush Chawla, Munaf Patel.

England: Andrew Strauss (captain), Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Michael Yardy, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Ajmal Shahzad, James Anderson.

Butt, Aamer appeal against corruption ban

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and paceman Mohammad Aamer have lodged appeals against their bans for corruption at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, lawyers said on Saturday.

“We have filed a statement of appeal in the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport against the ban by the International Cricket Council anti-corruption tribunal,” Butt’s lawyer Yasin Patel told AFP by email.

Opening batsman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Aamer were all banned on charges of corruption relating to last year’s Lord’s Test against England.

Butt was banned for 10 years, with five suspended. Asif was banned for seven years, two of which were suspended, with Aamer handed a five-year penalty. All three players are also facing criminal prosecution in Britain.

Butt confirmed his lawyer had appealed.

“This is to confirm that today my legal team served a statement of appeal upon the Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal against the tribunal’s findings in relation to the Lord’s Test and the sanctions imposed at the recent hearing in Doha,” Butt said in a statement to AFP.

“Full grounds for the appeal will be lodged in due course. Due to the pending proceedings in the UK, my barrister… has advised me against saying anything further at this stage in relation to the appeal.”

“I can also confirm that it is my intention to attend the hearing at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on the 17th of March. At this stage I have no further comments to make in relation to that matter,” said Butt.

Aamer has also appealed against his ban, while Asif hinted at challenging the punishment before the March 2 deadline.

Aamer’s lawyer Shahid Karim said he filed the appeal on Friday.

“We have filed an appeal against the ban on Friday. We are challenging the judgement on various grounds,” Shahid Karim said.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs

COLOMBO: Shahid Afridi took four wickets and Misbah-ul-Haq notched a second successive half century as Pakistan upstaged Sri Lanka in a highly-charged World Cup Group A match by 11 runs on Saturday.

Afridi, who became the 11th player to take 300 wickets in ODIs, finished with 4-34 to help Pakistan defend a 278-run target, as they restricted Sri Lanka to 266-9 in 50 overs for their second win in the tournament.

Captain Afridi, who recorded Pakistan’s best bowling figures of 5-16 in all World Cup matches in the 205-run win against Kenya, reached his 300-wicket career landmark in his 314th match by dismissing Kumar Sangakkara for 49.

Chamara Silva, who made a 78-ball 57, gave Pakistan a scare with a 40-run stand with Angelo Mathews (18) before the 1992 champions held their nerve to win.

The win gave Pakistan four points from two matches and top spot in the table.

“That was a big game and the boys knew how big it was but I think the way Misbah-ul-Haq (83) and Younis Khan (72) played their beautiful innings, it was very mature cricket from those guys,” said captain Afridi.

“I think the way we played is a message for other teams that we will come harder and harder game by game.”

Sri Lanka skipper Sangakkara admitted they lost wickets at crucial times.

“Any defeat is tough but there are quite a few positives to take. I think we bowled pretty well on a flat deck. Unfortunately we lost wickets at the wrong times,” he said.

At a ground which traditionally favours the team batting first, Sri Lanka just failed to better the highest run-chase here, registered by India when they chased 270 against England in the 2002 Champions Trophy.

It was 30-year-old Afridi who kept Pakistan on track by bowling dangerous opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) and Sangakkara before having Thilan Samaraweera (one) stumped and Mathews caught in the deep.

Pakistan could have finished the match earlier had wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal not missed stumping Sangakkara on two occasions off spinner Abdur Rehman while Rehman also dropped a simple chance off Silva.

Sri Lanka had raced to 76 without loss by the 15th over before losing four wickets in the space of 20 runs.

Pakistan were earlier set on course for a big total by in-form Misbah-ul-Haq, who finished with an unbeaten 83 and Younis Khan (72) who added 108 during a fourth-wicket stand of 108.

With Pakistan looking set for a 300-plus total, Sri Lanka’s bowlers, especially Muttiah Muralitharan, kept a tight line and length, only allowing Pakistan 36 runs in the five-over batting power-play.

The wily off-spinner, who finished with 1-35 off his 10 overs, conceded just five runs in his two overs with only three fielders outside the circle.

Misbah hit six boundaries during his 91-ball knock.

Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, lost Ahmed Shahzad (13) in the sixth over, before Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Kamran Akmal (39) steadied the innings during their second wicket stand of 48.

Hafeez opened up, hitting paceman Nuwan Kulasekara for a well swept six, but a crazy run out accounted for his downfall when he swept Muralitharan to backward square-leg without noticing Kamran running down to his end.

Wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara’s throw went over the bowler’s head but Hafeez, leaving his crease late, had no time to recover.

Hafeez hit four boundaries and six during his 31-ball knock.

Kamran, who hit five boundaries in his 48 balls, was stumped off Rangana Herath who finished with 2-46.

Younis top-edged Herath in the 41st over, and was smartly caught by Jayawardene after hitting four boundaries during his sedate 76-ball innings.

Pakistan now play Canada on March 3, while Sri Lanka, who now have two points in as many games, meet Kenya on Tuesday.

Younis, Misbah take Pakistan to 277-7 against Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Pakistan recovered from a mid-innings wobble to post a total 277-7 of in their second World Cup match against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan led the way as the visitors reconstructed their innings after a comic run out left them 76-2.

Younis (72) and Misbah (83) scored their second consecutive half-centuries of the World Cup, after scoring 50 and 64, respectively against Kenya in Pakistan’s opening game on Wednesday.

Captain Shahid Afridi also contributed towards the end of the innings, with 16 runs.

In the 14th over of the innings, Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal were left wondering which of them was out after a mix-up left them both comically stranded at the same end.

Kamran Akmal scampered to the striker’s end for a quick single when Hafeez swept the ball behind the wicket facing off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s in the 13th over.

Hafeez did not move an inch, even after Sri Lanka wicketkeeper and skipper Kumar Sangakkara’s initial throw eluded Muralitharan. Angelo Mathews successfully returned it to the bowler for the simplest of run outs.

For a couple of agonising minutes – for Pakistan – the confused batsmen tried to figure out who faced his marching orders before Hafeez trudged disconsolately back to the pavilion after a brief consultation with the umpires.

Kamran Akmal was later stumped by Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara off the bowling of Rangana Herath for 39 runs. His brother Umar, meanwhile, could only manage 10 runs after top-scoring against Kenya with 71 runs.

Opener Ahmed Shehzad was the first man to be dismissed, caught behind in the sixth over for 13 runs.

Sri Lanka have never beaten Pakistan in a World Cup match, but to be fair to them, the last time they faced their Asian neighbours was in 1992. This was approximately the time when Pakistan cricket was at its peak under Imran Khan’s leadership, after which there has rarely been an uneventful year for them.

This was also when a much more combative, aggressive Sri Lanka team was coming together under Arjuna Ranatunga’s leadership.

At the Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are neck-to-neck with five wins apiece. However, Sri Lanka have lost their last three encounters to Pakistan at the ground.

Sri Lanka without Malinga as Pakistan bat first

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka in their World Cup Group A match on Saturday.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga was left out of the team as he was being rested for the later games.

“We’re not going to take a risk with Malinga. We’re just going to play this game to the best of our ability and try and win it,” said captain Kumar Sangakkara after the toss.

Both teams are seeking their second win in the tournament.

Pakistan kept the same line-up that defeated Kenya by 205 runs at Hambantota on Wednesday.

Chamara Kapugedera and Ajantha Mendis made way for Chamara Silva and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Teams:

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Ahmed Shahzad.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG)

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

Pitch conditions: The pitch at the Premedasa stadium is devoid of grass, brown in colour and hard. It is expcted to have good bounce and seam besides helping the spinners.

Dwayne Bravo out of World Cup with knee injury

NEW DELHI: West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury, the team spokesman said on Friday.

Bravo had sustained the injury during Thursday’s World Cup defeat by South Africa.

“He is out of the World Cup. The MRI revealed cartilage damage to the left knee,” the spokesman said.

“He is out for at least four weeks. We will name the replacement after getting the approval from the International Cricket Council.”

Bravo slipped on his follow-through while bowling and was seen lying on the pitch clutching his knee before he hobbled off the ground with his arms around the shoulders of two team mates.

He did not take any more part in the match that his team lost by seven wickets.

West Indies already have lost opener Adrian Barath and wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh through injuries.

Bangladesh overcome Ireland for first win

DHAKA: Bangladesh stung flat-footed Ireland to resurrect their World Cup campaign with a 27-run victory in front of some 25,000 boisterous home fans on Friday.

Bangladesh, bowled out for 205 after taking first strike in the day-night match, hit back to dismiss the leading non-Test nation for 178 in 45 overs at the packed Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Former captain Mohammad Ashraful, who scored just one run, turned an unlikely hero with the ball by claiming two top-order wickets with his part-time off-spin.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan also picked up two wickets with left-arm spin before seamer Shafiul Islam polished off the tail in quick time with 4-21 from eight overs.

Bangladesh, who had lost their first match to India last week, lapped up the pressure in a game they had to win to stay in contention for the quarter-finals from Group B.

But the co-hosts, who play all their league matches at home, must still beat the Netherlands and at least one of the established teams among England, South Africa and the West Indies.

The win helped Bangladesh avenge two successive defeats by Ireland in major events, having lost during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and again in the 2009 World Twenty20 in England.

Shakib turned to spin after just one over from Shafiul, bringing on left-armer Abdul Razzak in the second over and off-spinner Naeem Islam in the third.

The move paid immediate dividends as Paul Stirling was stumped off Razzak for nine, before Irish captain William Porterfield fell to Shakib’s first delivery for 20.

Ed Joyce and Niall O’Brien carried the score from 36-2 to 75 when Ashraful struck with the first delivery of his second spell.

Joyce, the former England batsman, made a fluent 16 when he was beaten in the air by a flighted ball and gave a delighted Ashraful an easy return catch.

Ashraful then bowled Andrew White for 10, while Shakib claimed his second wicket when Niall O’Brien fell to a diving catch by Tamim Iqbal at deep mid-wicket after making 38.

Kevin O’Brien slammed three fours and a six in 37 during a sixth-wicket stand of 41 with Andre Botha when he pulled Shafiul to mid-wicket to reduce Ireland to 151-6 in the 37th over.

Shafiul, who had recovered in time from a shoulder injury to play the key match, claimed three of the last four wickets to send Ireland crashing.

Earlier, seamer Andre Botha picked up three wickets and George Dockrell and Trent Johnston claimed two each to bowl out the hosts in 49.2 overs.

The hosts made a blistering start, racing to 49 without loss by the end of the fifth over, 37 of those runs coming from the blade of Tamim.

But the advantage was soon lost as four wickets fell for 33 runs in the next 10 overs.

Man of the match Tamim, who top-scored with 70 against India, began by taking 10 runs in Boyd Rankin’s opening over and stroked seven boundaries in his 44 off 43 balls.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Raqibul Hasan lifted the hosts with a 61-run stand for the fifth wicket, before tailender Naeem Islam boosted the total with a defiant 29 towards the end.

Ruthless Australia thump Kiwis by seven wickets

NAGPUR: Ruthless Australia compounded the miseries of rivals New Zealand by notching up a seven-wicket victory in their World Cup match on Friday.

Chasing an easy target of 207 runs for victory, Australia openers Shane Watson (62) and Brad Haddin (55) piled on 133 runs for the first wicket in just 18 overs as they punished the erratic bowling of New Zealand in the Group A encounter.

The start ensured that there were no hiccups, though both openers departed in the same over to paceman Hamish Bennett.

Captain Ricky Ponting (12) followed soon after, stumped brilliantly down the leg side by Brendon McCullum off Tim Southee.

Vice captain Michael Clarke and Cameron White saw Australia home in just 34 overs with an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 40 runs to extend their team’s unbeaten run in World Cup to 31 matches.

The match was played against a sombre backdrop following the devastating earthquake in Christchurch earlier this week. Both teams wore black arm-bands and the New Zealand flag flew at half mast in memory of the victims of the earthquake, which has claimed at least 113 lives with 228 people still missing.

Pakistan’s blind cricketers thrash Australia in T20 series

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s blind cricket team completed a comprehensive whitewash over Australia when they won the third Twenty20 match by 89 runs on Thursday.

Pakistan, who led the series 2-0, decided to bat first in the third T20 match at Adelaide’s Park25 and posted a mammoth 217 runs for the loss of four wickets.

Muhammad Jameel starred for Pakistan with the bat, as he scored 104 runs off 65 while Anees Javed scored an unbeaten 50 off 25 balls.

Raymond Moxly, David Gauci and David Saxberg took a wicket each for the hosts.

In reply to the huge total, Australia were unable to score at a brisk rate and finished their innings at 128-2 in their 20 overs. Lindsay Heaven was the main contributor with 49 runs and Mathew Horsey scored 24 runs.

Meanwhile Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Mudassar took a wicket each for Pakistan.

Jameel was declared man of the match for his swashbuckling knock.

Pakistan wrapped up the Twenty20 series 3-0 and will play their first one-day international against the hosts on February at the same venue.

Dwayne Bravo to undergo scans after hurting knee

NEW DELHI: West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will undergo a scan on Friday after falling and hurting his left knee while bowling in his team’s World Cup opener against South Africa.

Bravo, 27, who scored a quickfire 40 in the West Indies total of 222, fell clutching his left knee on his follow-through after bowling just 2.1 overs and was helped from the field. Kieron Pollard completed the over.

“He will take no further part in tonight’s game,” said West Indies spokesman Philip Spooner.

“He will probably sleep uncomfortably tonight but tomorrow we will take him for a scan.”

Spooner said it was too soon to judge how serious the injury was.

Unbeaten De Villiers stars as South Africa beat Windies

NEW DELHI: A B de Villiers’ unbeaten 107 powered South Africa to a seven-wicket victory over West Indies in a World Cup Group B match on Thursday.

South Africa’s Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir (4-41) dazzled on debut, sharing seven wickets with pace colleague Dale Steyn (3-24) to skittle out West Indies for 222 in 47.3 overs.

The West Indies total was built around Darren Bravo’s assured 73 and a quick-fire 40 off 37 balls by his half-brother Dwayne before the twice champions lost their last five wickets for just 13 runs.

South Africa lost opener Hashim Amla in the fourth over and batting mainstay Jacques Kallis in the fifth but de Villiers added 119 runs with skipper Graeme Smith (45) and got good support from JP Duminy (42 not out) down the order to overwhelm the target in 42.5 overs.

South Africa went into the match with a three-pronged spin attack and after winning the toss, Smith wasted precious little time in unleashing one of them, Johan Botha, in a move that is getting increasingly popular in the tournament.

Botha began with a bang, inducing an edge from danger man Chris Gayle’s tentative blade with his third delivery that flew to Kallis in the lone slip.

Darren Bravo and Devon Smith denied them another chance to celebrate until the 24th over.

Darren Bravo welcomed Kallis with a couple of boundaries in his first over and went on to hit six more to go with the six off Tahir before Botha trapped him lbw.

From 113-1, West Indies suddenly slumped to 120-4 with Tahir claiming Ramnaresh Sarwan and Devon Smith.

Dwayne Bravo continued to enhance the family reputation, taking the onus on himself to score at a brisk rate, hitting three sixes in his enterprising 37-ball knock that came to an end after an almighty mix-up with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (31).

West Indies could not make the most of the foundation and collapsed in a heap to fall well short of the 250-mark.

Afridi spins Pakistan to mammoth win over Kenya

HAMBANTOTA: Shahid Afridi took five wickets and Umar Akmal scored one of four half-centuries as Pakistan crushed Kenya by 205 runs to get their World Cup campaign off to a flying start on Wednesday.

Kenya found their opponents too hot to handle after Umar hit a 52-ball 71 to anchor Pakistan’s challenging total of 317-7 before they bundled out their rivals for just 112 in 33.1 overs.

Kenya, who lost by 10 wickets to New Zealand in their opener, bowled a record-equalling 37 wides in a hapless display.

“It was a good start but I think the next game (against Sri Lanka) is very important for us. I think it will become harder. I think we learned a lot of things from here,” Afridi said.

Kenyan skipper James Kamande admitted his side had under-performed.

“We’ve given away a lot of extras. I think maybe the guys are trying hard because every time we got a wicket we gave a few runs here and there and that should not be the case.”

Once Pakistan introduced spin, Kenyan wickets fell quickly with Afridi unplayable in the day-night match at Mahinda Rajapakse stadium.

Only Collins Obuya, with 47, and three other batsmen managed to reach double figures as Kenya — bowled out for a paltry 69 in their first match against New Zealand on Sunday — faltered again.

Pakistan headed for a 300-plus total thanks to Umar Akmal (71), Misbah-ul-Haq (65), Kamran Akmal (55) and Younis Khan (50) as four batsmen scored half-centuries for the ninth time in a World Cup match.

Man of the match Umar, 21, playing his first World Cup tie, gave the innings a final flourish, sharing a rapid 118-run stand for the fifth wicket with in-form Haq who was equally aggressive during his 69-ball stay.

With Umar and Haq in full swing, Pakistan racked up 70 runs in the batting powerplay, with the junior Akmal hitting four boundaries off one Elijah Otieno over.

Haq, Pakistan’s best batsman in the recent Test and one-day series in New Zealand, also added 45 for the fourth wicket with Khan before giving impetus to the innings with Umar to help Pakistan put up an impressive total.

Haq, whose first scoring shot was a six, hit one more six and a single boundary, while Umar notched eight boundaries and a six before holing out off Thomos Odoyo who finished with 3-41.

Odoyo conceded 20 wides in an embarrassing team total of 46 extras.

Kenya equalled the highest number of wides bowled in a one-day innings of 37 conceded by the West Indies against Pakistan at Brisbane in 1989.

Pakistan had been sluggish at the start with openers Mohammad Hafeez (nine) and Ahmed Shahzad (one) falling in quick succession, leaving their team struggling at 12-2.

Hafeez was the first to go, failing to keep a drive down as a diving Seren Waters picked up a beautiful catch at short mid-wicket.

Two overs later, Shahzad, who scored his first run after 13 deliveries, was caught by skipper Jimmy Kamande off Odoyo.

Khan and Kamran revived the innings through a solid 98-run stand for the third wicket, pushing for singles off some tight bowling.

Pakistan next take on Sri Lanka, winners against Canada in their first match, on Saturday. Kenya meet Sri Lanka on March 1 with both matches in Colombo.

Sri Lanka may tour Pakistan to end cricket isolation

HAMBANTOTA: Pakistan’s cricketing isolation could end in October if Sri Lanka, who were targeted in a deadly terror attack in Lahore two years ago, agree to tour the troubled country.

Sri Lankan officials said Wednesday they were in talks with the International Cricket Council’s Pakistan Task Team (PTT) to explore the possibilities.

“We are still discussing the option with the ICC and with all the other board members,” said Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Somachandra de Silva.

“There are still some security concerns in Pakistan but if things improve, and Pakistan is a brotherly nation, we can consider it – all depends on the ICC’s clearance,” De Silva said.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to tour Pakistan in October this year under the Future Tests Programme.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, the governments of both countries are already in talks to hold the series in Pakistan.

The attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus on March 9, 2009, killed eight people and injured seven Sri Lankan players as well as their assistant coach, leading to the suspension of all international cricket in Pakistan.

Barely a month later, the ICC stripped Pakistan of its share of World Cup matches, forcing the team to play all their Group A matches in Sri Lanka, co-hosts with India and Bangladesh.

The suspension also meant Pakistan have been forced to play their home series in the United Arab Emirates, England and New Zealand for the last two years.

The ICC formed the Pakistan Task Team (PTT) with England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke to find ways of reviving international cricket in Pakistan and to help improve the disciplinary situation.

Even before the Lahore attacks, Pakistan was a no-go area for international teams because of security fears sparked in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the United States which sparked a “war against terror” in and around the country.

Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998, forcing Pakistan to play their home series in Sri Lanka and Sharjah in 2002 and in England last year.

Pakistan was also stripped of the right to host the 2008 Champions Trophy after Australia, South Africa and England refused to tour, forcing the ICC to move the tournament to South Africa, held in 2009.

Meanwhile, De Silva said he hoped Hambantota will become a major cricket venue in Sri Lanka.

“It was only Colombo for the last two decades, but with Hambantota coming up for the World Cup matches we have brought cricket to the poor people and we will develop this,” said the 68-year-old former Sri Lanka international.

De Silva said the stadium – which became one-day cricket’s 177th venue when Sri Lanka played Canada on Sunday – will also host a Test against Australia.

“We have decided to stage a Test in Hambantota against Australia when they tour in July this year and also one or two one-dayers in the same series. There is an option of staging World Twenty20 matches next year,” said De Silva.

Sri Lanka will host the fourth edition of World Twenty20 next year.