Celebrations erupt in Mumbai

Mumbai: Mumbai exploded in fireworks, youngsters trooped into the streets carrying the tri-colour and people danced in joy as India made it to the cricket World Cup final defeating arch-rivals Pakistan Wednesday. As Virat Kohli took a skier at mid-wicket to see the back of the last Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, celebrations broke out in full steam in the western metropolis that had virtually come to a halt as people set aside all work since afternoon to watch the "mother of all cricket matches" in Mohali.The revellers, who had been in a party mood for quite some time as India seemed on road to victory in the later half of the...

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It has been a privilege to be with this team: Kirsten

Mohali: He has been a quiet backroom man monitoring things meticulously and no wonder that's the precise reason why every Indian player wants Gary Kirsten to remain the coach of the national team. But Kirsten who now only has one more match left to complete his tenure as India coach termed the experience as a "great one". "The next match will be my last as India coach. It's been a great experience. It was a privilege to be with this team. Hopefully, we will play well against a great team (SRi Lanka) in Mumbai," Kirsten said in one of his last post-match interviews. Asked about Team India's batting, the former South African opener...

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Indian fans celebrate, Pak fans heartbroken

Mohali: Indian fans broke into wild celebration even as the the Pakistanis were left heartbroken after their team lost the high-voltage semi-final of the World Cup to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men on Wednesday.Watched by the Prime Ministers of both countries and accompanied by top dignitaries, the semi-final had generated a lot of hype, and when India took the last Pakistani wicket, the capacity crowd at the PCA stadium erupted."India deserved to win. This fact had been admitted by Afridi, who had yesterday said that India were the favourites," said Anuj Gupta, an ardent fan.History repeated itself as India maintained their record...

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The super semi-final: India vs Pakistan

Ahmedabad: India have set a semi-final date with Pakistan on March 30 at Mohali. India ousted defending champions Australia after beating them by 5 wickets in the 2nd quarter-final at Ahmedabad. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Wednesday said that his team were unnerved by the prospect of playing India, whom they have never beaten in the World Cup, in the semi final in Mohali. "If we happen to clash with India, we won't lack crowd support because (Pakistani) people will come from across the border to watch the match in Mohali," Afridi told MiD DAY. Pakistan booked their semi-final berth by crushing the West Indies by 10-wickets...

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South Africa up for New Zealand challenge

Mirpur: Title aspirants South Africa will look to shed their chokers tag and take a step closer to the World Cup title when they lock horns with an inconsistent New Zealand in the third quarterfinal on Friday.South Africa started their World Cup campaign in a rollicking fashion beating West Indies and Holland but the choker tag came back to haunt them against England when they failed to chase down a target of 171 and folded up for 165.But Graeme Smith's men bounced back to beat the mighty Indians in their next match and then blew away Ireland and Bangladesh to finish on top of the Group B table.Although their brilliance has never been in...

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Win over Pakistan gives Vettori hope

Dhaka: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori wants his team to take inspiration from their win over Pakistan in the league for Friday's World Cup quarterfinal against South Africa. New Zealand scored a stunning 110-run victory over Pakistan in the Sri Lankan town of Pallekele on March 8 following a Ross Taylor blitz on his 27th birthday. Taylor smashed an unbeaten 131 off 124 with eight boundaries and seven sixes as the Kiwis hammered 100 runs in the last five overs. The spectacular assault not only convinced Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhar to retire after the World Cup, but also gave New Zealand confidence that they can beat...

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South Africa to stick to spin against New Zealand: Smith

Mirpur: South Africa have switched from a pace-centric line-up to a spin-dominated attack this World Cup and skipper Graeme Smith today said he expects the strategy to continue paying dividends when they take on a "street-smart" New Zealand in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Proteas' purposeful shift from pace to spin has worked wonders for them as despite having fast bowlers in Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel in their ranks, Smith has chosen to give the new ball to off-spinner Johan Botha or left-arm spinner Robin Peterson often during the league stage. And the move seemed to have paid rich dividends, as Peterson has taken 14 wickets...

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Victory can set-up a semifinal blockbuster between IND & PAK in Mohali on March 30

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan are on a World Cup collision course, but the two neighbours still have quarterfinal hurdles to overcome as the marathon tournament enters its sixth week.India take on defending champions Australia in Ahmedabad on Thursday while a resurgent Pakistan face an inconsistent West Indies in Dhaka to kick-start the last eight stage on Wednesday.Victory for both Asian giants will set-up a semifinal blockbuster in Mohali on March 30.But Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi insisted he was not even thinking about the semifinals."Our focus is on the quarterfinals, we have to win that to reach the semifinal, so we are not...

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India are better off facing world champs than Lanka at Motera

Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni during a practice session at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. (PTI Photo)MUMBAI: For the most part, on Sunday evening, India would have been tempted to take the easy route ahead: lose to West Indies and avoid Australia in the quarterfinal. After all, the world champions are a daunting mission, even if they are not in full flow; but the fact is India probably have a much better chance to quell Australia in Ahmedabad than the other option: Sri LankaThe Lankans would surely have been trickier: their batting is versatile while their bowling has a mysterious ring to it, thanks to the three Ms: Malinga,...

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India are bookies' favourite to lift World Cup

Indian players during a practice session at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. (PTI Photo)MUMBAI: India might face the monumental task of overcoming four-time champions Australia in the quarterfinal at Ahmedabad on March 24, but for bookies, MS Dhoni & Co are the runaway favourites to win the 2011 World Cup. Top betting site Ladbrokes is offering odds at 3/1 for India to lift the trophy on April 2 in Mumbai. In other words, a bet of Rs 1,000 on India will earn you a profit of Rs 3,000 if Team India justifies its billing. Another leading betting website, Williamhill, also tips the hosts to win the Cup. While India get top...

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Ponting could be dumped as captain: Report

Australian captain Ricky Ponting asks for an umpiring review of a decision against Pakistan batsman Kamran Akmal during the Cricket World Cup match on March 19, 2011. (AFP Photo)SYDNEY: Ricky Ponting could be in the final week of his nine-year reign as captain after a troubled build-up to the World Cup, a report said on Tuesday, citing a Cricket Australia official. The Sydney Morning Herald said there was stiff opposition at boardroom level to the 36-year-old retaining the job for next month's tour of Bangladesh, although his position as a player was not in jeopardy. "We need to be looking at the future. It's time for us to make a change,"...

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India fired up for Aussie challenge, says Dhoni

Indian skipper MS Dhoni gestures during the ICC World Cup match against West Indies at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. (TOI Photo)CHENNAI: India captain MS Dhoni vowed his team will be at their best when they face defending champions Australia in the World Cup quarterfinals. India sealed an 80-run win over West Indies in the concluding group match of the tournament in Chennai on Sunday, but only after a spectacular collapse by the brittle Caribbean side, who crashed from 154-2 to 188 all out. While India will tackle Australia in Ahmedabad on Thursday, the West Indies take on in-form Pakistan in Dhaka on Wednesday in the opening...

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I wait for umpire's decision, says Ponting

Australia's Ricky Ponting watches as Pakistan's wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal takes the catch to dismiss him for 19 runs during the Cricket World Cup match in Colombo on March 19, 2011. (AP Photo)COLOMBO: Australia captain Ricky Ponting reignited the walking debate at the World Cup after admitting he stood his ground despite knowing he had been caught behind in his team's defeat to Pakistan. Ponting had made 19 when he edged off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez to Kamran Akmal in Saturday's game at the R Premadasa stadium. When on-field umpire Marias Erasmus gave the Australian captain not out, the decision was reviewed and overturned. Ponting admitted...

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Tamim makes a promise

As Bangladesh prepare for Saturday's last group match against formidable South Africa, vice-captain Tamim Iqbal issued a warning that the Tigers are yet to play their best cricket in this ICC Cricket World Cup."We are on the right track and moving forward to our target as we already have won three matches out of five as per our expectation. Everything is okay with the team, but still we believe that we are yet to play our best cricket in the tournament," stated Tamim while talking with reporters at the indoor facility of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.Many might fear the South African attack as the Proteas have...

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Eng vs WI: England beat West Indies by 18 runs to stay afloat in World Cup

England cricketers congratulate teammate James Tredwell after taking the wicket of unseen Chris Gayle during their World Cup match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. (AFP Photo)CHENNAI: England pipped West Indies by 18 runs in a thrilling Group B match on Thursday to stay in the hunt for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Defending a 243-run total, James Tredwell (4-48), Ravi Bopara (2-22) and Graeme Swann (3-36) came out with a lion-hearted effort to bowl out West Indies for 225 in 44.4 overs.For the Caribbean team, Chris Gayle (43), Darren Sammy (41) and Andre Russell (49) shone with the bat but it was not enough...

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We have no fears playing in India: Afridi

Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi gestures during the Cricket World Cup match against New Zealand in Pallekele. (AP Photo)COLOMBO: Rubbishing media reports that Pakistan do not want to play their knockout stage games in India, national team captain Shahid Afridi on Wednesday insisted that his side has no fears playing in India. "I have never said anything along the lines that we don't want to go to India. I never said that," said Afridi, "We are here to play the World Cup, so wherever we have to play we will go and we have no fears over going to India. I think a cricket match has always brought the people of both countries together and has...

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Chaotic entertainers face the final curtain

Match Facts March 17, Chennai Start time 2.30pm (0900 GMT) Stretched to the limit: James Anderson could pay the price for his poor form in the tournament to date © Associated Press Enlarge The Big Picture "Did I entertain you?" was the poignant sign-off that Brian Lara uttered at Barbados four years ago, after his final international appearance had ended with a cruel run-out and a one-wicket defeat at the hands of England in the 2007 World Cup. The same question - and the same affirmative answer - would undoubtedly apply to England's chaotic campaigners this time around. Then as...

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Indian team minus five players arrives in Chennai

Chennai: The Indian cricket squad arrived for Sunday`s crucial group B match of the World Cup against the West Indies.The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side, smarting from the three-wicket loss to South Africa in Nagpur, arrived here from Delhi by a Jet airways flight this afternoon.Sachin Tendulkar, who scored a century in the match against South Africa, Gautam Ghambir, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan did not come with the rest of the team and are likely to join them tomorrow.The players drove straight to the hotel and are not having any practice session today.India suffered a stunning batting collapse as they lost nine wickets for...

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