Younis scores first World Cup 50

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka: Former Pakistan skipper Younis Khan celebrated his first ever World Cup half century on Wednesday as he helped the side to a commanding total of 317-7 against Kenya.

The 33-year-old scored 50, one of four half-centuries in the Pakistan innings along with Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal.

“It is my first 50 in the World Cup. This is my third World Cup so I’m happy about that,” said Younis, whose previous best Cup score had been 32.

He said he was happy with the score against lowly Kenya in Hambantota and Pakistan were confident of defending the total on a slow pitch.

“When we started it looked like we were struggling but suddenly we had a couple of good partnerships,” he said.

Pakistan set Kenya 318-run target after initial wobble

HAMBANTOTA: Led by Umar Akmal’s smashing half-century, Pakistan scored 317-7 in their opening match of the ICC World Cup against Kenya on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old right-hander, playing his first World Cup match, top scored with a 52-ball 71 and gave the innings the final flourish with a rapid fire 118-run stand for the fifth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq who hit a 69-ball 65.

Umar’s elder brother, Kamran, notched 55 and senior batsman Younis Khan made exactly 50 as Pakistan racked up 70 runs in the batting power-play on a flat, grassless pitch at the Mahinda Rajapakse stadium.

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

Misbah, 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, conceding 20 in wides in a total of 46 extras.

Earlier, both Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shahzad managed just 10 runs in the first five overs with the new-ball pair of Odoyo and Elijah Otieno bowling three maidens between them.

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 to leave Pakistan struggling at 12-2.

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

Kenya, who were shot out for 69 runs in their first match against New Zealand in a 10-wicket loss on Sunday, spoiled the early good work with erratic bowling throughout the Pakistan innings.

Sri Lanka removes WC ban on musical instruments

HAMBANTOTA: Sri Lanka removed a ban on Tuesday on taking musical instruments into the island nation’s World Cup venues, a day ahead of an expected low attendance match between Pakistan and Kenya.

Sri Lankans, especially youths, love to watch cricket accompanied by music from within the ground and the initial ban threatened to take away much needed atmosphere, especially at sparsely attended games.

“The match without bands is like going to a hotel without the most favourite dish,” Mahindananda Aluthgamage, the sports minster, told Reuters.

“I had a discussion with the Inspector General of Police, and we have removed the ban on bands and musical instruments.”

Sri Lanka Cricket has already decided to reduce World Cup tickets prices by more than 50 percent for some matches not featuring the host nation to boost crowd numbers.

Officials expect a near empty arena on Wednesday during Pakistan’s opening World Cup game against Kenya at Hambantota, which saw a near capacity crowd of 35,000 turn up to see the 1996 champions Sri Lanka thrash Canada on Sunday.

Sri Lanka officials on Sunday relaxed another earlier bar on spectators carrying banners and posters in to World Cup-playing venues.

Sri Lanka, co-host of the World Cup with Bangladesh and India, is hosting 12 matches including the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

New Zealand players shocked by quake horror

CHENNAI: New Zealand cricketers, in India for the World Cup, on Tuesday reacted in horror to the grim news that at least 65 people had died in the Christchurch earthquake.

“Thoughts go out to the people of Chch today. Terrible thing to have happened again,” New Zealand opener Martin Guptill wrote on Twitter.

At least 65 people died in the 6.3 magnitude quake that hit New Zealand’s second city early Tuesday and the death toll was likely to rise in a region still recovering from a 7.0 quake in September last year.

“The team woken early in India to news of another Christchurch earthquake.

Thoughts are with everyone and hoping all are OK,” New Zealand Cricket said on its Twitter account.

Veteran player Scott Styris was concerned for the members of his squad who have families in Christchurch.

“Watching CNN. Amazing scenes. Some worried boys here in India. Be safe,” he said.

England off-spinner Graeme Swann shared the concern of his rivals.

“Shocking news for Christchurch. Fingers crossed for everyone’s safety.”

New Zealand media manager Ellery Tappin sought to allay the concerns.

“All immediate friends and family are okay, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that there have been fatalities,” Tappin told cricinfo.

Amongst the New Zealand World Cup squad, fast bowler Hamish Bennett plys his trade for the Canterbury team in the devastated area while coach John Wright was born in the region.

The news would have also rattled Netherlands captain Peter Borren who was born in Christchurch. The Dutch were playing England on Tuesday.

New Zealand are slated to play their second World Cup game against Australia in Nagpur on Friday.

Wankhede stadium given all-clear by fire chiefs

UMBAI: Mumbai’s revamped Wankhede stadium was cleared by fire chiefs on Tuesday to host the World Cup final, a welcome boost for a venue criticised for failing to respect safety standards.

“We have given the NOC (no objection certificate) to the stadium. They have fulfilled all the fire safety norms,” Mumbai deputy chief fire officer A. N.

Shinde told the PTI news agency after a fourth inspection of the ground.

“They can host matches. The stadium is safe and secure.”

The Wankhede will host the final on April 2 as well as two group matches.

Last week, the fire department officials had given match organizers a scare when they declared that they were unhappy with the fire safety system at the stadium.

‘Ton’ Doeschate takes Netherlands to 292 against England

AGPUR: Ryan ten Doeschate’s maiden World Cup century powered the Netherlands to an astonishing 292 for six wickets against England in a Group B match on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old South Africa-born right-hander hit three sixes and nine fours in his 110-ball 119 that was the cornerstone of the Netherlands’s innings at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

Ten Doeschate added 78 runs with Tom Cooper (47), 64 with Tom de Grooth (28) and 61 with skipper Peter Borren (35 not out) to set a target that should be quite a test for England’s tweaked batting order.

After Borren had opted to set a target rather than chasing one, openers Alexei Kervezee (16) and Wesley Barresi (29) looked quite at ease against the English pacers before change bowlers collaborated with stumper Matt Prior to remove both.

Barresi, having hit three fours off Stuart Broad’s third over, top edged a Tim Bresnan delivery and Kervezee fell to Prior’s sharp stumping in Graeme Swann’s first over.

Ten Doeschate ensured there was no panic in the Dutch camp.

He offered dogged resistance in the company of former Australia under-19 player Cooper, consolidated the innings with his smart association with de Grooth before providing the late charge with Borren.

Borren was fortunate to be called back despite being bowled by Broad as England had just three players inside the circle in that powerplay over.

Indian police smash betting syndicates

NEW DELHI: Indian police say they have smashed four betting syndicates and arrested nine men in New Delhi and Mumbai for running illegal gambling syndicates during the World Cup.

Ashok Chand, a senior police official, says officers raided a hotel and three apartments in central and northern Delhi on Sunday when they seized laptops, mobile phones and other equipment used by the bookies to accept and record bets on the outcome of matches.

Chand tells The Associated Press that police were ”acting on a tip that gambling syndicates are active during the matches” and have broken up at least four gambling syndicates.

Police arrested eight bookmakers taking profits on the bets and seized about 28 million rupees ($620,000).