india VS Westindies one day international Live

INDIA TAKES THE WORLD CUP IN GRAND STYLE

Twenty-eight years after Indian cricket changed forever on an English summer's day, the country's dream of enhancing its reputation as a major force in the world game found glorious realisation at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

Mahela Jayawardene lit up the World Cup final with a century (103 not out) of rare radiance, enabling Sri Lanka to score 274 for six in 50 overs. But Gautam Gambhir responded with an innings of 97 that was just as masterful. Captain M.S. Dhoni (91 not out) summoned his best under pressure and hit the winning runs — a six — to gift India and the great Sachin Tendulkar the World Cup.

India's mood had been grim when Lasith Malinga impaired it early. The Sri Lankan fast-bowler trapped Virender Sehwag ‘lbw' for a duck in the first over before having Sachin Tendulkar caught behind in the seventh. Tendulkar had looked in fine touch during his brief stay — the maestro's dismissal stunned the home crowd into silence while Sri Lanka's cricketers celebrated the big wicket that had left India at 31 for two.

Gambhir saw out the remainder of Malinga's first spell and took calculated risks against the other seamers to ensure that India kept pace with the asking rate. It was brave, intelligent batting under duress. Virat Kohli (35) applied himself to the task of rebuilding the innings, helping raise 83 for the third wicket before he fell to a brilliant one-handed return catch by Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Dhoni promoted himself above Yuvraj Singh to join Gambhir. Together, the two batsmen set about controlling the run chase, guarding against Muttiah Muralitharan, who posed a threat despite not being fully fit, and Malinga, whose pace and unique action merited careful handling.

Whenever the opportunity presented itself — when Kumar Sangakkara brought the field up for instance or one of the bowlers erred — Gambhir and Dhoni capitalised. Dhoni also pushed a tiring Gambhir hard between the wickets, ensuring that the fielders were constantly hassled and the bowlers had to often switch line. Just when it seemed as if the pressure had been transferred to Sri Lanka, the 109-run partnership ended.

India needed 52 in 52 balls after Gambhir's departure. Dhoni and Yuvraj brought it down to 30 in the last five overs, which would span the batting Power Play, before a three-run over from Malinga made it tense. The batsmen were able to relieve the pressure in the next two overs, delivered by Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga. It was a matter of time before the rest of the Indian team surged onto the field to celebrate the historic six-wicket win.

Saturday afternoon witnessed drama, and this was before a ball had been bowled in the match. The toss had to be staged twice after match referee Jeff Crowe said he hadn't heard Sangakkara's call the first time.

India swiftly put the disappointment of losing the toss behind it. Zaheer Khan produced an exceptional first spell, bowling three successive maidens before having Upul Tharanga smartly caught at slip by Sehwag. The ground-fielding was of a high quality as well. Yuvraj and Raina looked particularly impressive. As a result, Sri Lanka managed only 31 runs in the first ten overs.

Dilshan (33) and Sangakkara (48) looked to hasten the rate. They targeted Sreesanth, who was preferred over R. Ashwin to replace an injured Ashish Nehra in the Indian team. The pair added 43 for the second wicket before Dilshan, who became the first batsman to reach 500 runs in the 2011 edition, dragged a sweep off Harbhajan Singh onto the stumps.

Jayawardene timed and placed the ball adeptly to rotate the strike before accelerating — often with stylish, orthodox cricket strokes – in the end overs. He was involved in partnerships of 62 with Sangakkara for the third and 57 with Thilan Samaraweera for the fourth wicket.

India fought back, reducing Sri Lanka to 182 for five. But Jayawardene seemed to find the boundary at will in the batting Power Play, which came into force after the 45th over. Nuwan Kulasekara (32) and Thisara Perera (22 not out off nine balls) gave him the support he needed in punishing India's bowling. Zaheer, who had started so well, went for 35 runs in his last two overs, the 48th and 50th of the Sri Lankan innings.

Sachin and such outs; After Tendulkar's brilliance, India crumbles to 296 against SA

Electing to bat, India were all out for 296 against South Africa in their group B cricket World Cup match at VCA stadium here today.

Brief Scores:

India: 296 all out in 48.4 overs. (Sachin Tendulkar 111, Virender Sehwag 73, Gautam Gambhir 69; Dale Steyn 5/50).

India's preparation remains the same: Dhoni

Complacency will be kept at bay when India takes on Ireland at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.

At a press conference laced with humour here on Saturday, M.S. Dhoni said: “We have ‘very fond' memories of getting beaten by Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup and we won't make that mistake again. There are individuals in every team who can score at an amazing strike-rate of 150 or 200 and that can change the game. Our preparation level remains the same and the intensity should remain the same.”

The Indian captain also took note of Kevin O'Brien's blazing hundred that stumped England on Wednesday night but refused to divulge strategies against the Irish big-hitter.

“It was an unbelievable innings and it was impressive to see him change gears. He got run out (against England) so we will try to get him run out,” Dhoni said.

Trend of high scores

Dhoni pointed out that the pitch for Sunday's game might continue the trend of high scores. “Close to 1400 runs were scored in the last two matches and it says what kind of a wicket it is.

“Probably it won't change much and it could still be a high-scoring game. In both the games, batting under lights has been quite easy compared to the afternoon session where the ball stops a bit and the spinners get a little bit of turn. In the second half it gets quite a bit placid,” Dhoni said but he remained non-committal on whether R. Ashwin would figure in the eleven. “Wait for tomorrow,” he quipped.

Dhoni's counterpart William Porterfield refused to be overawed by the challenge of playing the host. “We played Bangladesh in Bangladesh and it would be similar. There were some fanatical supporters and there will be a few more on Sunday. We have put Wednesday behind us, we have got bigger challenges ahead,” Porterfield said.

The Irish captain said all-rounder Andre Botha was likely to be fit though he might be tempted to field an extra batsman. “We have got so many options with the ball. Even Kevin O'Brien did not bowl an over (against England) but he gave us a 50-ball 100. We have to plan our options with the ball. If we want to chase a 300 plus total as was the case in the last game, we need depth in our batting,” Porterfield said.

Irish flair and dare could test India

Ireland's rousing display against England betokens danger for India. This Irish side has grown in belief. William Porterfield's team's palpitating three-wicket win, the side rode on archetypal big-hitter Kevin O' Brien's smashing hundred, over England has opened up Group ‘B'.

Ireland dishes out a bold and a rather direct form of the game. It relies on courage than chicanery. This is a side with flair, dare and gravitas.

India has to be on guard in the ICC World Cup day/night duel versus Ireland at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. After its giant-killing act against England, defeating India is no longer a mere chimera for Ireland.

The Indian batting has tongues of fire. Yet, will the bowling, amidst insistent pounding of the drums by the fans, rediscover rhythm?

The Indian fielding in the competition has been torpid and the team-management is chafed. It's a combination of fielding and bowling that creates stress.

SAME SURFACE

India, with good reasons, would want the surface to assist spin. The contest will be played on the pitch used for last Sunday's India versus England game that produced over 670 runs.

For the surface to change its character within seven days, the curator will have to stop watering the pitch completely to make it dry; such a surface could crumble. But then, the wicket here, even on Saturday, was watered.

The Irish batsmen are not quite the most accomplished players of spin. Bangladesh employed its four spinners, Abdur Razzak, Naeem Islam, Shakib-Al Hasan and Mohammed Ashraful for 34 overs against Ireland at Dhaka. The spinners conceded 136 runs while scalping six. Pursuing 206 on a surface that offered turn, Ireland stumbled to 178 all out.

And when Ireland astounded the cricketing world by chasing down 328 against a dumbstruck England, off-spinner Graeme Swann sent down 10 immaculate overs for 47 while scalping three batsmen. That was a night when England desperately lacked quality spin support.

Coming to its own spin attack, Ireland's left-arm-spinner George Dockrell and Paul Stirling, who can send down off-spin, are no more than steady.

A spinning surface would suit India, but the host might have to be content with a pitch that might only assist the famished spinners a tad more.

DHONI'S PREFERENCE

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has indicated that the side would continue with the seven-batsmen theory. This strategy is not without risk, particularly against the big guns.

Left-arm paceman Aashish Nehra is fit for the fray but the think-tank is likely to opt for a two plus two combination (two pacemen and two spinners). Zaheer and Munaf should team up again and spearhead Harbhajan Singh might have either Piyush Chawla or off-spinner R. Ashwin for company.

Chawla, despite going for runs, did achieve both fizz off the pitch and turn against England. He deserves another outing.

However, the team-management could also consider Ashwin's sense of equanimity during the Power Play overs and his subtle variations.

POWERHOUSE BATTING

The Indian batting is a powerhouse in these conditions. Yet, looking back at the game against England, the late collapse cost the side at lest 25 runs. And the two maiden overs India conceded during the innings did not help its cause either. The strike needs to be rotated during all times.

Apart from the destructive Kevin O' Brien, Ireland has the smooth-stroking Ed Joyce and exciting shot-maker Stirling in its ranks. The side bats deep and the likes of Alex Cussack and John Mooney can alter scripts.

The lanky Boyd Rankin, the quickest bowler in the Irish ranks, will have to provide the early breakthroughs. The Irish attack, though, has to ascend steep steps.

Chasing represents a better option for both sides.

The teams (from):

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

Ireland: W. Porterfield (captain), P.R. Stirling, E. Joyce, N. O' Brien, G. Wilson, K. O'Brien, A. Cussack, J. Mooney, T. Johnson, G. Dockrell, B. Rankin, A. Botha, A. White, A. Van der Merwe, N. Jones.

Match starts at 2.30 p.m (IST).

South Africa steamrolls Netherlands in Mohali

As the venue basked in sunshine, the South Africans chose the platform to make a strong statement. The thin attendance at the Punjab Cricket Stadium was in keeping with the spectator response to non-India matches at this 2011 ICC World Cup, but not A.B. de Villiers and his batting. It has been exceptionally refreshing and entertaining.

South Africa's 231-run victory against The Netherlands was never to be doubted. Some cricket lovers may have anticipated an Ireland-like motivational show but then the South Africans are made of sterner stuff than the English.

They gladly accepted the Dutch invitation to bat first and shut the opposition out through centuries by Hasim Amla and de Villiers. The Netherlands, for all its claims of learning and improving, proved nothing but a minnow.

The knocks by Amla and Man-of-the-Match de Villiers had little in common. Amla was willing to wait; de Villiers looked to grab. Amla used the book to play his shots. de Villiers relished setting his own benchmarks.

It was rocking all the way and the result was a 221-run stand for the third wicket, which, incidentally was South Africa's highest for that wicket.

Lured by conditions

Overcast conditions and overnight rains lured the Dutch into bowling first but the South Africans were prepared. The runs did not come at a canter as expected. The Dutch bowled wicket-to-wicket and the South Africans chose to eschew their desire to play shots. The initial circumspection was misleading and the Dutch came to realise it once de Villiers and Amla took charge.

Amla's eighth century in ODIs and de Villiers's 11th suited the occasion. The bowlers had no control and containment too became a challenge for the fielding side as Amla and de Villiers systematically decimated the attack and the Dutch seemed to give up quickly.

The fluency with which de Villiers moves into top gear makes him the batsman to watch at this tournament. Hitting on the rise comes so naturally that de Villiers toys with the bowling; like he did on Thursday. Even when he played across the line, he connected well and hard.

The bowlers struggled to pitch in the right areas as de Villiers explored and experimented with style with ample to spare. His three sixes off Bernard Loots gave glimpses of his awesome potential to force the pace at will.

Grinding the attack

Amla is a champion at grinding the attack in Tests. He is no different in the shorter version. Five dot balls in a row don't worry him for he can pick the sixth and collect a boundary with a delightful display of skill.

A deft flick or a controlled glide can always scatter the field and Amla revels in it. His century was the strong base on which the South African innings progressed. The two perished in succession but the Dutch had been shut out of the game by then.

The Netherlands batting lacked the character that marked its performance against England at Nagpur. Ryan ten Doeschate, the hero against England, shone with the ball here. Opener Wesley Barresi was an exception to the Dutch capitulation with a sedate 44. The rest were an embarrassment.

Scoreboard

South Africa: H. Amla c Cooper b ten Doeschate 113 (130b, 8x4), G. Smith b Loots 20 (32b, 1x4), J. Kallis c Barresi b ten Doeschate 2 (12b), A.B. de Villiers (run out) 134 (98b, 13x4, 4x6), F du Plesis (not out) 18 (14b, 1x4), J.P. Duminy c Borren b ten Doeschate 40 (2x4, 4x6), M. van Wyk (not out) 0 (0b); Extras(b-2, lb-5, nb-1, w-16): 24; Total (for five wkts. in 50 overs): 351.

Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-58, 3-279, 4-283, 5-349.

The Netherlands bowling: Bukhari 10-0-44-0, Westdijk 9-0-76-0, ten Doeschate 10-0-72-3, Loots 9-0-60-1, Seelaar 10-0-74-0, Cooper 2-0-18-0.

The Netherlands: A. Kervezee c & b Kallis 10 (18b, 1x4), W. Barresi st. van Wyk b Duminy 44 (6bb, 5x4), T. Cooper c Steyn b Kallis 9 (21b, 1x4), B. Zuiderent lbw b Peterson 15 (26b,1x4, 1x6), R. ten Doeschate lbw b Steyn 11 (21b), T. de Grooth (run out) 12 (26b), P. Borren lbw b Peterson 3 (13b), M. Bukhari b Tahir 0 (4b), P. Seelar (not out) 2 (5b), B. Loots lbw b Tahir 6 (7b, 1x6), B. Westdijk lbw b Tahir 0; Extras (w-8): 8; Total (in 34.5 overs): 120.

Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-46, 3-81, 4-83, 5-100, 6-109, 7-109, 8-110, 9-120.

South Africa bowling: Steyn 6-1-26-1, Morkel 5-0-18-0, Kallis 6-0-19-2, Tahir 6.5-0-19-3, Peterson 5-0-22-2, Duminy 6-0-16-1.

New Zealand ready for Zimbabwe spin test

By any yardstick, New Zealand has the look of a more powerful outfit than its rival Zimbabwe.

Led by the bespectacled, stubble-faced, artful practitioner of left-arm orthodox spin and able stroke player Daniel Vettori, New Zealand is equipped to put up a strong performance here on Friday at the Sardar Patel Stadium and thereby get a whiff of a quarterfinal berth in the World Cup competition.

Apart from Vettori, who brings in a 268-match experience, Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and Scott Styris can be relied upon to impose themselves in pursuit of a timely second victory and bring cheer to the team and the tragedy-struck people at home.

In addition, New Zealand has a competent and skilful bowling department to bring down a motivated and determined opponent that flaunted its spin tricks against a listless Canada and regained its poise.

It's not that the less dominant of the Antipodean sides has been in control of every aspect of its game in the sub-continent's heat, dry surfaces and the turning ball.

Only the second cricketer of Samoan heritage to play for New Zealand, Ross Taylor has often been regarded as a match-winner. Very soon, he will take over the baton from Vettori.

An elegant stroke player and powerful hitter, Taylor admitted on Thursday that his form has been poor in terms of scoring only three centuries in 101 ODIs and he hopes to rectify it in the remaining part of the World Cup.

On Friday, Taylor and the batsmen who will precede him — Martin Guptill, McCullum and Ryder — will strive to succeed against the probing spin bowling of left-arm spinner Raymond Price, off-spinners Prosper Utseya and Greg Lamb and leg-spinner Graeme Cremer.

Taylor has his task cut out. His tally of 138 runs in five ODI innings and 136 runs in three Tests on Indian soil is far from impressive. “Yes, it's disappointing. On the slower wickets, I have probably struggled. I am not sure why,” he said.

Plan of action

Coach John Wright has outlined a plan of action. “He talked to the team and emphasised the need to be more consistent and clinical. As a batting unit we need to step up and score about 300-330 which is the par score in this tournament. Our whole batting order has struggled over the last 12 months or so. We need a couple of players to stand up.”

While Taylor and his fellow New Zealanders are geared up to face the spin challenge, Zimbabwe is desperate to improve its run-getting ways. Coming a cropper against Australia's pace attack, it posted a sizeable score against Canada at Nagpur.

“New Zealand is a big team. We have to get our basics right and play our best cricket. Taibu and Irvine got the runs in the last match. Hopefully, we will get better in the batting department. Cricket is a funny game. The game is not over until the last ball is bowled, just like the Ireland game yesterday,” said skipper Elton Chigumbura.

The teams (from):

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

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Brendon Taylor, Charles Coventry, Tatenda Taibu, Greg Lamb, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Shingirai Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Raymond Price, Terry Duffin and Tinashe Payangara.

Umpires: Aleem Dar and Marais Erasmus; Third Umpire: Rod Tucker; Fourth Umpire: Billy Bowden; Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama.

Match starts at 9.30 a.m.