Four-time champions Pakistan’s semifinal hopes go up in smoke

Four-time champions Pakistan’s semifinal hopes go up in smoke after loss to minnows South Africa.





South Africa registered their first win of the tournament as they surprised Pakistan 4-3 in a World Cup Pool B match at the National Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. With this defeat the four-time champions are now out of the semifinal reckoning.





Pakistan went into the break leading 1-0 thanks to goal from Rehan Butt. The South Africans turned the tables in the second half as Gareth Carr, Ian Haley, Taine Paton and Marvin Harper were on the money to bring about a dramatic victory over their much-fancied rivals. Muhammad Imran and Waseem Ahmed reduced the deficit by scoring in the last two minutes of the game, but their efforts were too late in the day.





Eyeing a big win to keep their semifinal hopes alive, the Pakistanis started off well in the match as forward Butt scored a beautiful field goal five minutes into the match. But that was all from them in the first half.





But what happened after the break is beyond credulity. The South Africans, 13th in the world rankings and already out of last-four contention, hit the back of the net four times in the space of 16 minutes to take a 4-1 lead. Carr turned the video referral-influenced penalty corner successfully through a high shot into the top right corner in the 38th minute. Three minutes later, it was Haley’s turn to join the party. And then Paton scored on an accurate pass from right-out Carr. The fourth and last South African goal came through the stick of Harper who took no time to smash a Thornton McDade pass into the goal.

England a ticket to the semis.-

England held on to a 3-2 triumph for their fourth straight World Cup victory in group B. The victory guarantees England a ticket to the semis.

It was the third defeat for India in four matches. India played with nine men in the last three minutes with Sardar Singh and Gurbaz Singh seeing the yellow card for clumsy tackles.

Chances of a semifinal berth virtually gone, India take on unbeaten England in their fourth World Cup Group B match. The hosts will be bolstered by the return of Shivendra Singh. India have just one win from three games while England have scored 9 points from their three matches, including upsetting Australia in their first game.

India and England have met six times in World Cup matches, with India winning 3 and England 2. England have won the last two matches in 2002 and 2006. India's last win against England came in 1994 World Cup. The scoreline was 1-0 in India’s favour. India and England last met in a Champions Challenge match in 2007. It was a contest for the bronze and India won 4-3.

It has been a bad day for Asian superpowers Pakistan, who lost to unfancied South Africa 4-3 in the second match on Saturday. This was Pakistan’s third defeat. Can India restore Asian pride?

Zimbabwe have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Zimbabwe beat West Indies by 2 runs in a pulse pounding finish which could have proven too much for the faint hearted. Zimbabwe have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Utseya tossed the ball to debutant Shingirai Masakadza when 15 runs were needed off the last over. Miller got a six and a boundary off the first two balls. Utseya might have just thought he did a mistake giving the ball to the debutant. But Smith threw his wicket when it mattered the most.

Benn tried to hoick over mid-wicket but Cremer took a stunning catch running in from the deep. West Indies started the chase well with a opening stand of 99 runs between Gayle(57) and Barath(50). Later Chanderpaul(70) stood up battling but ran short of partners as the Zimbabwe bowlers tightened the screws.

Sibanda was named the Man of the Match for his innings of 95.

West Indies will have to come back fighting to level the series in the second match which starts in a day's time at the same venue.

Daniel Vettori is bowled and Australia win the game,

Australia returned to winning ways as they enjoyed a tight 12-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis method against New Zealand.





Although they once again failed to reach the magic 300-run mark at a ground with small boundaries, their 273 for seven turned out to be a defendable total even after a brief shower saw the Black Caps given a revised target of 266 from 45 overs.





That still proved to be beyond the reach of the home side who were dismissed for 253 despite the best efforts of Napier hero Scott Styris (46) and captain Daniel Vettori, who returned to the side even though he had not fully recovered from a neck problem and took two for 43 with the ball and made an almost match-winning 70 with the bat.





Vettori's return was largely prompted by the absence of vice-captain Ross Taylor who was ruled out with a hamstring problem and he was sorely missed as not even one of the top five batsmen were able to post a meaningful score.





Mitchell Johnson's heated exchange with Styris in the Napier match ensured he got a less than friendly reception from the crowd at Eden Park who booed and jeered him throughout the match.





But the left-arm quick had the last laugh taking four for 51 from nine overs as he removed dangerman Brendon McCullum (24) in just the fifth over, followed that up with the wicket of James Franklin (two) then got Daryl Tuffey (20) and Shane Bond (six) late on in the New Zealand innings.





Wicket-keeper Brad Haddin made a spectacular diving catch in front of first slip to dismiss McCullum but it was a far more regulation effort that sent Franklin on his way to leave New Zealand reeling on 46 for four.





Ryan Harris (three for 34 off 8.2) also caused some damage early on, trapping Peter Ingram (14) and Neil Broom (duck) leg before wicket with consecutive deliveries before he came back at the death to bowl Vettori and seal the win.





Franklin, using Broom as a runner after hurting his hamstring while bowling earlier in the day, survived Harris' hat-trick ball and then the showers came to allow the New Zealanders a chance to regroup.





White was far more circumspect than he had been in Napier but he cut loose in the 43rd over striking consecutive sixes off Franklin to bring up his half-century, his 54 taking 59 balls and including just one boundary and three sixes.