Friday 18th March, 2011

Sri Lanka (From): Kumar Sangakkara ( and Wicketkeeper), , Tilakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Sri Lanka looking at positives Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath.

New Zealand (From): , James of playing in Mumbai Franklin, , , Brendan McCullum (Wicketkeeper), Nathan McCullum, REX CLEMENTINE , , , reporting from Mumbai gated to third position and Sri Lanka some of their middle order batsmen have , (Captain), Kane will have to travel to Ahmedabad to play not been really tested could also force Williamson and Luke Woodcock. The irrational scheduling of Sri the quarter-final. them to play a full strength side. Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (Eng), Asad Lanka’s Group ‘A’ World Cup match Having already qualified for the quar- New Zealand have got plenty of Rauf (Pak) against New Zealand away from home ter-finals, that probably gives the Sri things to worry about, ahead of the Third Umpires: Amish Saheba (Ind) annoyed many, but Kumar Sangakkara’s Lankan team management to provide an encounter as they have lost both captain Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zim) side will be looking at the positive side of opportunity to some of the players who playing their final first round game here haven’t played a game in the tournament and fast bowler at the Wankade as the venue will be the so far. If Sri Lanka lose here, that pushes Kyle Mills due to location for the April 2nd World Cup them to the fourth position in the points injuries. final. A win here will enable Sri Lanka table and more importantly, rules out an Ross Taylor, to finish in the top half of the group, India – Sri Lanka clash in the quarter- who hit a match irrespective of the result of the finals. winning century Pakistan-Australia clash in Colombo on However, having won only against the against Pakistan Saturday. minnows in the group stage – Sri Lanka in Pallekele last Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara looks However, that doesn’t necessarily lost to Pakistan and the game against week, will lead at his bat during a practice session ahead ensure they will avoid a quarter-final Australia was washed off – they will be the side in the of their World Cup match against clash against India, away from home, as keen to have a win under their belt absence of New Zealand in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, if West Indies win over the Indians, the against a stronger team before the Vettori. March 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade) hosts will be rele- knockout stage begins. The fact that High security Akhtar to retire after WC planned for World BY RIZWAN ALI match against the West Indies already qualified for the quarter- Cup return to Dhaka and is regarded as one of the finals. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - fastest bowlers ever to play the Akhtar played in 46 Test BY RICHARD SYDENHAM Pakistan paceman Shoaib game. But his career has been matches and took 178 Akhtar will retire from interna- plagued by injuries and, more while in 163 one-day internation- Security will be tighter and much tional cricket after the World recently, off-field issues with the als he captured 247 wickets. improved at the Dhaka stadium on Cup, bringing an end to one of Pakistan Cricket Board. Despite struggling with his Saturday as the World Cup returns to the the most colorful careers in the Akhtar’s teammates hugged fitness after knee surgery in Bangladeshi capital for the first time sport. him in the dressing room before Australia two years ago, the since the West Indies’ team bus was Pakistan team manager captain Shahid Afridi also Pakistan selectors picked stoned by angry fans. Intikhab Alam has confirmed embraced the paceman as they Akhtar for the World Cup. The tournament security director for that the 35-year-old quick, nick- walked onto the field for a train- But his his performance has Bangladesh tells The Associated Press named the “Rawalpindi ing session at the R. Premadasa been mixed in the tournament. that “more protective measures” have Express,” will make a formal Stadium. He has taken only three been put in place ahead of the Group B announcement at a news confer- Pakistan plays defending wickets in the three 2011 World match between tournament co-host ence later Thursday in Colombo. champion Australia in Colombo Cup matches and was rested for Bangladesh and South Africa at the Akhtar made his interna- on Saturday in the last match in the games against Canada and Shere Bangla National Stadium at tional debut in 1997 in a test Group A. Both teams have Zimbabwe. Mirpur in northeastern Dhaka. Tredwell, Wright keep England alive at World Cup By Gerald Imray the tournament. fate - will now be decided with West Indies lost three wick- the final round of games where CHENNAI, India (AP) - ets for three runs at the end. West Indies play India and James Tredwell and Luke Group B’s remaining three Bangladesh faces already-quali- Wright kept England alive at quarter-finalists - and England’s fied South Africa. the World Cup after another dramatic finish, helping their SCOREBOARD team to a close 18-run win over West Indies in Group B on England Innings D. Bravo c Strauss b Tredwell 5 Thursday. A. Strauss c Gayle b Russell 31 D. Thomas b Bopara 10 Playing for its survival, M. Prior b Russell 21 R. Sarwan c Bell b Swann 31 England bowled West Indies out J. Trott c Gayle b Bishoo 47 K. Pollard lbw b Swann 24 I. Bell b Roach 27 A. Russell lbw b Tredwell 49 for 225 after making 243 all out. E. Morgan c Thomas b Bishoo 7 S. Benn 2 England had to win its final R. Bopara b Russell 4 K. Roach c Tremlett b Swann 0 group game to avoid an early L. Wright c Russell b Bishoo 44 D. Bishoo 0 exit. J. Tredwell run out 9 Extras: (7lb, 3w) 10 Tredwell took 4-48 on World T. Bresnan not out 20 TOTAL: (all out) 225 Cup debut, including a key late G. Swann b Russell 8 Overs: 44.4. strike, after Wright had hit a C. Tremlett c Thomas b Roach 3 Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-67, 3-91, 4- priceless 44 in his first game at Extras: (1b, 4lb 15w, 2nb) 22 113, 5-118, 6-150, 7-222, 8-223, 9-223, TOTAL: (all out) 243 10-225. Overs: 48.4. Batting time: 210 min- : Bresnan 7-1-47-0, Swann utes. 10-1-36-3 (1w), Tremlett 5-0-47-0 Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-79, 3-121, 4- (1w), Tredwell 10-2-48-4 (1w), 134, 5-134, 6-151, 7-192, 8-216, 9-238, Bopara 8.4-2-22-2, Wright 4-0-18-0. England’s 10-243. plays a shot during the Bowling: Roach 9.4-2-34-2 (2nb, Result: England won by 18 runs. Cricket World Cup match 1w), Benn 10-0-56-0 (2w), Russell 8- Toss: England. between England and West 0-49-4 (3w), Sammy 3-0-28-0, Bishoo Umpires: Steve Davis, Australia, Indies in Chennai, India, 10-0-34-3, Pollard 8-0-37-0 (1w). and Bruce Oxenford, Australia. TV : Simon Taufel, Thursday, March 17. West Indies Innings (AP Photo/Kirsty D. Smith st Prior b Tredwell 10 Australia. Wigglesworth) C. Gayle lbw b Tredwell 43 Match referee: Roshan D. Sammy b Bopara 41 Mahanama, Sri Lanka.

Friday 18th March, 2011