Sports

Barbados, May 07: A blistering 72-run fourth wicket stand between Albie Morkel and AB de Villiers powered South Africa to a 13-run win over New Zealand in their Super Eight match of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup at the Kensington Oval here.

The pair produced 72 runs in 38 balls to help South Africa make an intimidating 170 for four yesterday.

In reply, New Zealand could only muster 157 for seven with only Jesse Ryder (30) and Nathan McCullum (26 not out) making scores of substance.

Bridgetown, May 07: England defeated defending champions Pakistan by six wickets in the first Group E Super Eight stage match of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup here today.

Pakistan rode on cameos from Salman Butt (34) and Umar Akmal (30) to post a modest 149 for nine against England in the first Group E Super Eight stage match of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup here
today.

New Delhi, May 07: Young Vidarbha pace bowler Umesh Yadav, who had an impressive Indian Premier League (IPL) for Delhi Daredevils, will join the India squad at the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, replacing Praveen Kumar who is returning home with a side strain.

Announcing this here Thursday night, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India N. Srinivasan stated that the national selectors picked Yadav as replacement for Praveen Kumar and he will leave for the West Indies Friday.

Barbados May 07: South Africa defeated New Zealand by 13 runs in the Super Eights of the World Twenty20 here.

Set to chase a winning target of 171 runs, New Zealand finished at 157 for seven in 20 overs.

For New Zealand, Jesse Ryder was the top scorer with 33 runs while Nathan McCullum contributed an unbeaten 26.

Charl Langeveldt, Morne Morkel and Johan Botha took two wickets each.

The following is the scoreboard of the Super Eights match between South Africa and New Zealand in World Twenty20.
South Africa:

Jacques Kallis c Southee b Oram 31

New Delhi, May 07: Beleaguered Lalit Modi today got into fresh problems with BCCI issuing a showcause notice to him after the English cricket board accused him of inciting counties to overpower their governing body and the players to revolt if not allowed to play in IPL.

The five-page BCCI showcause notice, a copy of which is available with PTI, made a series of serious allegations against the suspended IPL Commissioner, giving him 15 days to respond to charges.

Sydney, May 06: West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels feels he was made a “scapegoat” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as he nears completion of the two-year ban for leaking team information to a bookie.

In three days, Samuels will complete his ban from international cricket, and he maintains he did nothing wrong.

“I am an honest person. My conscience would not allow me to come back if I knew within myself I had done something wrong,” Samuels was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald.

Barbados, May 06: England captain Paul Collingwood won the toss and opted to field against Pakistan in the first match of the Super Eight stage of the World Twenty20 at the Kennsington Oval here Thursday.
Teams:

Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Shahid Afridi (captain), Abdul Razzaq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal.

Sydney, May 06: West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels feels he was made a “scapegoat” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as he nears completion of the two-year ban for leaking team information to a bookie.

In three days, Samuels will complete his ban from international cricket, and he maintains he did nothing wrong.

“I am an honest person. My conscience would not allow me to come back if I knew within myself I had done something wrong,” Samuels was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald.

Barbados, May 06: India are faced with a selection dilemma on whether to strengthen their pace attack or rely on part time spinners when they brace up for the crucial Super Eights match against Australia in the T20 World Cup on Friday.

The Indians have a clutch of part-time spinners, who have filled up the slot of the fifth bowler but the think tank may be tempted to tinker with the composition and bring in a specialist fast bowler with the Kengsington Oval expected to favour the quickies.

Bangalore, May 06: South African captain Graeme Smith was full of confidence after his side’s thumping 59-run win over Afghanistan and said his side can become “a real force in this tournament”.

South Africa showed impressive bowling form, shooting the Afghans out for 80 all out after posting 139/7 while batting first. That Afghanistan crossed the 50-run mark was a credit to them, after the Protea pacers had them at 32/8.

Smith believes there is still much more to come from the bowlers and the rest of the team.

New Delhi, May 06: India is bracing for the next round of mudslinging in the Indian Premier League corruption scandal as the cricket tournament’s chief prepares to take on the establishment to save his job.

Tension is mounting as the clock ticks down to a May 10 deadline set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for suspended IPL boss Lalit Modi to respond to the charges against him.

Bridgetown, May 06: Afghanistan coach Kabir Khan wants professional teams around the world to help his players build on their performances at the World Twenty20.

Afghanistan bowed out of the tournament with a 59-run loss to South Africa after being dismissed for 80 as they collapsed in the face of hostile fast bowling from Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn.

Bridgetown, May 06: South Africa won through to the second round of the World Twenty20 with a 59-run win as newcomers Afghanistan were bowled out for just 80 at the Kensington Oval.

The Afghanistan top order on Wednesday had no answer to fast bowlers Morne Morkel, the man of the match, with four wickets for 20 runs, Dale Steyn (two for six) and Charl Langeveldt (three for 12).

But the lowest record score in a Twenty20 international remains the 67 made by Kenya against Ireland in Belfast in 2008.

Bridgetown, May 06: England coach Andy Flower believes his side can cause something of an upset by beating defending champions Pakistan in the opening Super Eights match of the World Twenty20.

Flower’s men face the title-holders at the Kensington Oval here on Thursday, having scraped through to the second round after losing in a rain-affected match to the West Indies, despite scoring 191 for five, and qualifying on superior run-rate after a washout with Ireland.

Bridgetown, May 06: India vice captain Gautam Gambhir made himself available for the team’s first Super Eight stage match of the Twenty20 World Cup on Friday and said he was eager to contribute with the bat.

Gambhir missed the group match against South Africa because of a groin injury but the left-hander said he has recover from it and was raring to go.

“I am fit and feeling strong. I am looking forward to the big games. These are really important matches and I am looking forward to play a big role in that,” said Gambhir, after a long hit at the nets at the Three Ws Oval.

Bridgetown (Barbados), May 06: The following is the scoreboard of the Group C match between South Africa and Afghanistan in the World Twenty20 at the Kensington Oval here Wednesday.

South Africa:

Graeme Smith c Mangal b Nabi 27

Loots Bosman run out (Zadran/Shenwari) 0

Jacques Kallis c Shahzad b Hassan 34

AB de Villiers st Shahzad b Mangal 17

Jean Paul Duminy c Mangal b Hassan 25

Mark Boucher lbw Hassan 4

Albie Morkel c Mangal b Zadran 23

Roelof van der Merwe not out 2

Dale Steyn not out 1

Extras: (lb 4, w 2) 6

Total: (for seven wickets in 20 overs) 139

Bridgetown, May 06: Australia produced a clinical performance to beat Bangladesh by 27 runs and qualify for the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup here today.

The Aussies rode on Michael Hussey’s unbeaten 47 and Dirk Nannes’ four-wicket haul to drew curtains on their group campaign on unbeaten note after having defeated title holders Pakistan by 34 runs in their opening match.

Australia now join Pakistan from Group A in the Super Eight stage and will take on India in their opening second round encounter on Friday.

New Delhi, May 05: The International Olympic Committee has warned India of potential sanctions over government interference in the running of national sports federations.

The IOC said autonomy is the fundamental principle in the Olympic Charter and any external interference could result in India’s exclusion from international sports events.The government cannot tell the Sports federations what rule to follow. That is infringement of the Olympic charter and will not be tolerated by the IOC.

New Delhi,May 05: Indian sports minister MS Gill was forced to go into a rethink mode over the latest ‘tenure-row’ after Indian Olympic Association president’s open allegation, that the ugly controversy could have been avoided ahead of Delhi Commonwealth Games.

“We don’t want to go on the offensive. Gill could have waited for the Games to get over. We have also told PM that all sports federations will work hard to make the Commonwealth Games a huge success.”

New Delhi, May 05: It was the most draining tourney of their nascent boxing careers but World Youth Championships gold-medallist Vikas Krishan and silver-medallist Shiva Thapa didn’t have a doctor to take care of their niggles ahead of their summit clashes in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The volcanic ash cloud over Europe that disrupted air traffic for a week meant that the championships started a couple of days later than scheduled, thereby sending the participating teams’ travel plans haywire.

Ipoh (Malaysia), May 05: With almost all the teams bringing in new-look squads, India would target their fifth Sultan Azlan Shah trophy but will have to overcome some stiff resistance from world champions Australia and Asian champions South Korea on the way.

India, the defending champions and four time winners, will play China in their campaign opener tomorrow and will clash with traditional rival Pakistan here on Friday.

Providence (Guyana), May 05: England entered the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup after heavy downpour washed out their crucial Group D match against Ireland here.

With each team getting one point, England qualified for the Super Eight stage, thanks to their superior net run-rate.

England have a net run-rate of -0.452, better than Ireland’s -3.500 after the two group matches.

Hosts West Indies have already qualified as the top team from the Group D.

New Delhi, May 05: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has joined Twitter, and film personalities went all out to welcome the ace cricketer on the micro blogging site.

One of Sachin’s early tweets were: “By the way this time its real me. No more wrong information…”

Soon after, many actors posted messages on their Twitter pages welcoming him.

“The original rock star is here. Welcome Sachin Tendulkar. He is here. Give him all the love he deserves,” posted Arjun Rampal.

Karachi, May 05: Pakistani pacer Umar Gul, who was ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies due to shoulder injury, has been advised complete rest for three weeks.

“The doctors have given me three weeks complete bed rest so I am not playing cricket at all. But I am definitely following the progress of my team in the World Cup,” Gul said.

He had picked up the injury during team’s training camp in Lahore for World Cup preparations.

Milan, May 05: Barcelona took another big stride towards a second-straight La Liga triumph when top scorer Lionel Messi struck twice in the leaders’ 4-1 home win over relegation battling Tenerife.

Carles Puyol’s howler gifted the visitors an equaliser after Argentina forward Messi had put Barca ahead in the 17th minute before Bojan Krkic and substitute Pedro netted with clinical second-half strikes.