SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

World Cup result and standings

Pool A At Hobart Scotland 130 all out v Australia 133-3 Australia won by seven

Pool B At Auckland Zimbabwe 287 all out (Brendan Taylor 138, Sean Williams 50) v India 288-4 ( 110 , MS Dhoni 85 not out) India won by six wickets

Pplayed won lost tied no result points run rate Pool A New Zealand 6 6 0 0 0 12 +2.564 - qualified Australia 6 4 1 0 1 9 +2.257 - qualified Sri Lanka 6 4 2 0 0 8 +0.371 - qualified Bangladesh 6 3 2 0 1 7 +0.136 - qualified England 6 2 4 0 0 4 -0.753 Afghanistan 6 1 5 0 0 2 -1.853 Scotland 6 0 6 0 0 0 -2.218

Pool B India 6 6 0 0 0 12 +1.827 - qualified South Africa 6 4 2 0 0 8 +1.707 - qualified Pakistan 5 3 2 0 0 6 -0.194 Ireland 5 3 2 0 0 6 -1.014 West Indies 5 2 3 0 0 4 -0.511 Zimbabwe 6 1 5 0 0 2 -0.527 UAE 5 0 5 0 0 0 -1.961 Note: Top four in each group qualify for quarter-finals.

Bangladesh want to build on ‘remarkable’ World Cup

AUCKLAND: Bangladesh hope their But in the last few years Bangladesh have “remarkable” progress into the World Cup shown improvement in one-day interna- HOBART: Australian cricketers congratulate Michael Clarke (center) after he took a catch to dismiss Scotland batsman Frederick quarter-finals will help the passionate tionals and Twenty20 by beating top Coleman at the Bellerive Oval ground during the 2015 World Cup Pool A match. —AFP cricketing nation build for the future and nations like England, India and Sri Lanka. compete on a regular basis with stronger Their recent progress has impressed rivals. Ranked number nine in the one- New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. Australia skittle Scotland day standings, Bangladesh defeated num- “I think the development of their skills in ber six England to qualify for the knock- general has improved a lot over the last out round for the first time. few years. They’ve always been tough at HOBART: continued his impres- internationals against Australia had ended in innings, including six fours, ended when he High on confidence after their tough home,” said McCullum. “But their ability to sive World Cup campaign with a four- thumping defeats-by six wickets in 1999, 203 turned a short ball from Cummins to James fight against Pool A table-toppers New now travel, I think you’re seeing their haul as Australia overpowered Scotland by sev- runs in 2007, 189 runs in 2005 and 200 runs in Faulkner at long leg. Zealand on Friday, a match won by the skills-set develop as well. “I think what we en wickets in Hobart yesterday. Left-arm pace- 2013. Opener -who made 253 runs Scotland were 130 for eight off 25 overs co-hosts by just three wickets, saw the other night with a couple of the man Starc took four for 14 in 4.4 overs as in Scotland’s first four matches of this tourna- when rain fell and their innings was finished four Bangladesh now face defending champi- guys there (against England in Adelaide), Scotland, in their last Pool A match of this tour- ment-fell for nought, his second successive balls after the resumption, with Davey and Iain nament, collapsed to 130 all out in barely half duck, when his flat-footed drive off Starc was Wardlaw (nought) both undone by Starc . ons India in the quarter-finals in the threat that they pose with ball in hand their alloted overs after losing the toss at caught by Steven Smith at third slip. Australia lost early in their chase Melbourne on March 19. for their quick bowlers is a lot more dan- Bellerive Oval. Wickets fell in clusters and 36 for two became before Clarke and Watson (24) put on 58 for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief gerous than a few years ago. There were five ducks in the innings, with fast 37 for three when Scotland captain Preston second wicket. Watson became Davey’s 15th executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury “So I guess that is the sheer weight of bowler Pat Cummins, recalled in place of Mommsen fell for a second-ball duck when he wicket of the World Cup when he top-edged a described Bangladesh’s progress as numbers as well that Bangladesh possess- dropped spinner , taking three for mishooked a bouncer to Starc at sweep and was caught by wicket-keeper remarkable. “This has been a remarkable es, and the passion for the game is start- 42 in seven overs. deep backward square leg. Then 50 for four was Matthew Cross. success and validates our faith in the ing to flow through so you’re starting to , who plays for English county soon transformed into 51 for five when off-spin- Clarke’s quickfire innings, including seven team,” Chowdhury told AFP. see talent rise to the top, and they’ll side Sussex, top-scored with 40 and Calum ner struck first ball, Richie fours and two sixes, came to end when a pull off “It is also important to look at the big- become a very tough proposition over MacLeod made 22 but at 79 for seven there was Berrington chipping tamely to cover. Wardlaw was brilliantly caught by the diving ger picture. Achievements like this go a the next few years.” a real chance Scotland would be dismissed for Left-hander Machan’s enterprising 35-ball Leask, running round the . —AFP long way in further popularising the Bangladesh’s chief selector Faruque under 100. game, unearthing talent, drumming up Ahmed predicted the team will continue However, bold hitting from the ninth-wicket support and attracting opportunities and to improve after the World Cup. “This duo of (26) and (23 SCOREBOARD investment in cricket.” World Cup showing means a lot to us,” not out) took the non-Test side to three figures. Chowdhury believed the performance Ahmed told AFP. “We have great passion Australia captain Michael Clarke-passed fit after HOBART: Scoreboard in the World Cup Pool A match between Australia and Scotland at Bellerive Oval, Hobart, yes- will help in building for the future. “There for the game which is evident in all cor- missing training in midweek to rest his ham- terday: are always challenges in the path of ners of the country and by watching the string injury-then decided to give himself some Scotland : Starc 4.4-1-14-4 (1w); Cummins 7-1-42-3 (1w); development and progress but we have Bangladesh team do well will inspire a practice ahead of the quarter-final in K. Coetzer c Smith b Starc 0 Watson 3-0-18-1; Johnson 4-1-16-1 (1w); Maxwell 4-0- been patient with our system. We have whole generation.” Adelaide on March 20 by making a run-a-ball 47 C. MacLeod c Warner b Starc 22 24-1 (1w); Faulkner 3-0-15-0 (1w); M. Machan c Faulkner b Cummins 40 seen a steady improvement across all for- Journalist Azad Majumdar said recent opening the innings. There was a worrying moment for Australia, P. Mommsen c Starc b Watson 0 Australia mats of the game in recent years,” he said. performances will boost Bangladesh’s sta- when with 39 still needed for victory, rain F. Coleman c Clarke b Johnson 0 M. Clarke c Leask b Wardlaw 47 “I am confident that Bangladesh crick- tus at international level as well as their stopped play. But when the match resumed, R. Berrington c Warner b Maxwell 1 A. Finch c Coleman b Taylor 20 et is ready to take the next step forward.” coffers. M. Cross c Haddin b Cummins 9 S. Watson c Cross b Davey 24 new batsman -usually an opener - J. Davey b Starc 26 J. Faulkner not out 16 A cricket-mad country of 156 million peo- “A quarter-final berth will give them a settled Australia’s nerves with a straight six and a ple, Bangladesh inherited their passion for financial boost. Bangladesh badly needed R. Taylor c Haddin b Cummins 0 D. Warner not out 21 four off the first two balls he faced. M. Leask not out 23 Extras (lb2, w3) 5 the game from Pakistan, of which they to perform at some level to keep the oth- Warner finished on 21 not out, off just six I. Wardlaw b Starc 0 Total (3 wkts, 15.2 overs) 133 were part until independence in 1971. er countries interested in playing against balls, while James Faulkner (16 not out) ended Extras (lb1, w8) 9 Did not bat: S Smith, G Maxwell, B Haddin, M Johnson, They were granted Test status in 2000 them. the match with a six as Australia finished on 133 Total (all out, 25.4 overs) 130 M Starc, P Cummins but have shown little progress in the five- “Bangladesh is slowly becoming a for three in 15.2 overs. Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Coetzer), 2-36 (MacLeod), 3-37 Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Finch), 2-88 (Watson), 3-92 (Clarke) day format, losing all but seven of their 88 force to reckon with at home. But a quar- Scotland have still to win a World Cup match, (Mommsen), 4-50 (Coleman), 5-51 (Berrington), 6-78 Bowling: Wardlaw 5-0-57-1 (1w); Taylor 5-0-29-1; Davey Tests. Five wins were against Zimbabwe ter-final berth will also now give them having now taken part in three editions-a run of (Machan), 7-79 (Cross), 8-95 (Taylor), 9-130 (Davey), 10- 5-1-38-1 (1w); 0.2-0-7-0 (1w) 130 (Wardlaw) Result: Australia won by seven wickets. and two against a depleted West Indies. confidence to do well abroad.” —AFP 14 games-and all four of their previous one-day Windies’ Cup dream hinges on weather

NAPIER: The West Indies will have one eye on marred their campaign. or South Africa and we would like to put up a the skies and the other on the scoreboard as Certainly, UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir better show.” The West Indies have never met they seek to keep their World Cup campaign indicated that the intimidating mystique that UAE in a one-day international and Holder was alive in a must-win clash with the United Arab once surrounded the men from the Caribbean confident his team would get the job done Emirates today. had evaporated after their four-wicket loss to against the Gulf amateurs, weather permitting. The two-time champions’ hopes of a quarter- Ireland. He said the match was a chance for the West final berth hinge on a convincing victory in Tauqir vowed the UAE, winless at this year’s Indies to wrest back control of their own destiny Napier after a series of unconvincing perform- tournament, would be no pushovers in Napier and make the knockout stages, when he ances in Pool B, including a shock loss to Ireland. after providing stubborn resistance against what believed the team would finally hit their straps. They currently lie fifth in the group and to he considered superior teams. “We have played “What I can control is the game against UAE, and advance must snatch fourth place off Pakistan or 50 overs against Pakistan. We have almost I can assure you that we are going to win that Ireland, who play each other on Sunday in played 50 against South Africa. These are posi- game by all means,” said Holder. “We just need to Adelaide. tive signs,” he said. be aggressive and finish this preliminary round But a cyclone thousands of kilometres away “I don’t see the West Indies as strong as India in a good manner.”—AFP in the South Pacific could blow away their chances if it brings heavy rainfall to New Zealand’s North Island by today. A washout would send Jason Holder’s men tumbling out of the tournament-they need two points from a victory, the solitary point awarded for a no-result will not be enough. Forecasters say a cyclone-related downpour is due on Monday, although the New Zealand weather is notoriously fickle and they warn rain is still possible today. Team manager Richie Richardson was confi- dent the weather gods would smile on the West Indies. “It’ll be fine on Sunday,” the former bat- ting great told the local Hawkes Bay Today news- paper. “We have to play the game to give our- selves a chance so we want sunshine. We need two points badly and we need it big.” Further complicating matters, the West Indies must soundly beat the UAE by 70 runs or more to ensure they have a better run rate than Pakistan and Ireland. Holder is also sweating on the fitness of key batsman Chris Gayle, who missed training on Wednesday as he struggled with a back injury. The explosive left-hander has been in patchy form but showed how dangerous he can be blasting a World Cup record 215 against Zimbabwe. The fact that the West Indies’ qualifi- cation hopes are so tenuous is testament to the HOBART: Scotland’s Matt Machan plays a shot during the 2015 Cricket World Cup erratic form and pre-tournament bickering Pool A match between Australia and Scotland at the Bellerive Oval. —AFP between players and management that has Jason Holder