MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Maxwell’s century thwarts Sangakkara’s latest ton

SYDNEY: Australia supplanted in easier when he holed out to James Faulkner the 50-ball record for the fastest World Cup second spot in World Cup Pool A propelled by for 104 giving a running catch to hundred set by Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien against a ‘big show’ ton from before end his otherwise chanceless knock. Maxwell England in 2011. In a solid effort by Australia’s they weathered ’s third thrilled the SCG full house with his audacious batsmen, Watson struck 67 off 41 balls, Steve consecutive century in yesterday. reverse sweeps, flicks and powerful hitting in Smith hit 72 off 88 balls and skipper Michael The Australians, aiming for a fifth World an innings he has threatened to unleash in his Clarke chipped in with a run-a-ball 68. Cup triumph, amassed 376 for nine, Maxwell previous 44 ODIs. The 1996 World Cup champions lost Lahiru lighting up the Sydney Ground with ‘The Big Show’, as he is known, blasted his Thirimanne for one in the second over, 102 off 53 balls and then restricted Sri Lanka half-century off 26 balls with a pulled six off snapped up behind by off to 312 for nine to win by 64 runs. It was a cru- and was particularly brutal with . But the experienced pair of cial win by the co-hosts, leapfrogging Sri Seekkuge Prasanna, hoisting the leg-spinner and Sangakkara set about Lanka into second spot behind New Zealand for 34 off just 12 balls. Maxwell and Shane taking on the challenge, with Dilshan defiant- with one more group match to play. Watson, back in the side after being dropped ly smacking Johnson for six fours off one over. SCOREBOARD Victory secured Australia’s place in the last in Australia’s previous match against Clarke dropped Dilshan on 46 in a running eight and made a quarter-final against South Afghanistan for repeated failures with the bat, two-handed chance as the pair raced along SYDNEY: Completed scoreboard in the World Cup Pool A match between Australia and Africa less likely. In a high-scoring match plundered 160 runs off 13.4 overs. with home fans clapping dot balls. But Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday: before almost 40,000 fans, plenty of them Sri The Sri Lankans were at their wits’ end try- Dilshan fell leg before to James Faulkner’s Lankans, Maxwell produced one of his famed ing to find ways to stop the run riot as slower ball for 62 off 60 balls after putting on Australia Sri Lanka ‘big shows’ with a pulsating maiden one-day Maxwell and Watson took the bowlers apart. 130 with Sangakkara. L. Thirimanne c Haddin b Johnson 1 D. Warner c Prasanna b Malinga 9 international century off 51 balls to leave Sri threw away his on 19 attempting a A. Finch st Sangakkara b Prasanna 24 T. Dilshan lbw b Faulkner 62 Lanka with a massive run chase. MAXWELL REPRIEVE risky single only to caught short of his ground S. Smith c Perera b Dilshan 72 K. Sangakkara c Finch b Faulkner 104 M. Clarke b Malinga 68 M. Jayawardene run out (Clarke) 19 No side batting second have made more to Maxwell had a life on 93 when he top- by Clarke’s throw from mid-off. Sri Lanka kept G. Maxwell c Malinga b Perera 102 A. Mathews c Haddin b Watson 35 win a World Cup match than Ireland’s 329 for edged Mathews and wicketkeeper fighting until the end with S. Watson c Chandimal b Perera 67 D. Chandimal retired hurt 52 seven against England in Bangalore four years Sangakkara scurried back and made his cracking 52 off 24 balls before retiring hurt J. Faulkner run out (Mathews) 0 T. Perera c Doherty b Johnson 8 ago. The mighty Sangakkara gave it a big ground only to drop the catch, but he was out with hamstring trouble and skipper Angelo B. Haddin c Perera b Mathews 25 U. Tharanga c Warner b Faulkner 4 shake, raising his third consecutive ton at the soon afterwards when caught by Lasith Mathews gloved Watson to Brad Haddin for M. Johnson 3 S. Prasanna b Starc 9 tournament off 100 balls and his 24th century Malinga at mid-on. 35. Faulkner finished with an impressive three S. Senanayake c Doherty b Starc 7 M. Starc run out (Perera/Mathews) 0 in his 402nd ODI. But the Australians breathed Maxwell narrowly missed out on equalling for 48. — AFP L. Malinga not out 0 X. Doherty not out 0 Extras (b2, lb5, w4) 11 Extras: (b1, lb1, w4) 6 Total (9 wkts, 46.2 overs) 312 Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 376 Fall of : 1-5 (Thirimanne), 2-135 Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Warner), 2-41 (Dilshan), 3-188 (Jayawardene), 4-201 (Finch), 3-175 (Clarke), 4-177 (Smith), 5- (Sangakkara), 5-283 (Mathews), 6-293 337 (Maxwell), 6-338 (Faulkner), 7-368 (Perera), 7-305 (Prasanna), 8-307 (Watson), 8-373 (Haddin), 9-374 (Starc). (Tharanga), 9-312 (Senanayake) : Malinga 10-0-59-2 (1w); Bowling: Starc 8.2-0-29-2 (1w); Johnson Senanayake 9-0-59-0; Mathews 7-0-59-1 9-0-62-2 (2w); Watson 7-0-71-1; Doherty (2w); Prasanna 10-0-77-1; Perera 9-0-87-2 7-0-60-0; Maxwell 6-0-35-0; Faulkner 9-0- (1w); Dilshan 5-0-33-1 48-3 (1w).

AUSTRALIA: Sri Lanka batsman Seekkuge Prasanna is bowled by Australian paceman Mitchell Starc during their 2015 Group A match. — AFP Younis wants more balance Najibullah counter attacks between bat and ball in ODIs KARACHI: Pakistan coach with allegations of nepotism and against New Zealand pace has urged the International Cricket favoritism in the dressing room. Younis Council and its member boards to sit said he was used to such flak. NAPIER: Najibullah Zadran wrote himself into respect for that Afghan team,” Vettori said. “We and their bowling line-up, particu- down and have a rethink on balancing the “There is nothing new and we are used 50-over format for the good of the game. to these sort of things,” he added. “I know cricketing folklore yesterday when he deposited scouted them pretty hard. “They have got a nice- larly their three fast bowlers are very impressive. In an interview to Reuters from it is an emotional time for the country and a from Tim Southee onto the roof of the ly balanced lineup and you saw that today with “When you have three guys who run it at 140 Australia, the former test said he I guess everyone can’t be happy. “We are Harris Stand at McLean Park, a shot with a dis- the way they were able to counter attack. I think (kmph) that is going to give you the ability to had no doubts that bowlers are suffering trying to do our best and people who tance of close to 100 metres. that is the beginning of a very good team. win games at the top-tier level. “They have the in one-day international cricket due to the understand the game will appreciate that. It was one of two sixes the 22-year-old hit off “They have got firepower all through their makings of an exceptional side.” — Reuters change in laws. Improvement in skills, bet- “I am a patriotic Pakistani and I will Southee, the World Cup’s joint top wicket-taker ter bats and fielding restrictions have all never do any harm to my country or team who had destroyed England’s batting line-up contributed to making it a nightmare for and we are trying to do everything to just over two weeks ago with seven for 33. bowlers, according to the 43-year-old for- make our people feel proud of us.” Najibullah also had a particular liking for mer Pakistan fast bowler. Pakistan have bounced back at the Adam Milne’s express pace, hitting the fast He has no qualms about the shortest World Cup with wins over Zimbabwe, bowler for four boundaries in his run-a-ball 56. Twenty20 format which according to him United Arab Emirates and South Africa The left-hander’s aggressive innings rescued was a “three-hour cinema”. “But for real after losing their first two games to India Afghanistan from 59 for six as he combined in a cricket which is one-day cricket there is a and West Indies by big margins. 86-run partnership with Samiullah Shenwari, need to balance the game,” Younis said. But he advised his countrymen to tem- who went on to make 54 as the associate nation “Bowlers are suffering as pitches have per their hopes. “I don’t want to give big were dismissed for 186. “He’s an aggressive play- gone very flat around the world. hopes to anyone although I am hopeful er,” Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi told “Bowlers just have an opportunity in for good things to come,” Younis said. reporters in Napier of Najibullah. “We put him in first six to seven overs than it is a bats- “I don’t want to think too far ahead but to use him in the last 10 or 15 overs to hit the big men’s game. We are seeing that in this the last week has been good for us and shots. World Cup. “Cricket has changed since our now we are quietly confident, we have “We did not give him the platform for him to times but there is a real need to balance it started to get our self-belief back in the do that. Every match he has been under pres- and the administrators need to start dressing room and in players that they sure after losing early wickets and low scores, thinking again.” The former captain felt have the ability to do well.” but today he played really well.” cricket in Pakistan also needed to catch up There were no clear favourites too for While Afghanistan eventually lost to New with changing times. Younis and captain Younis and despite the strong starts for Zealand by six wickets, they earned some praise Misbah-ul-Haq have come under fire for co-hosts New Zealand and holders India, from their opponents, with man-of-the-match not playing wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed he felt the knock-outs will be the real Daniel Vettori stating they had spent a lot of in the first four games of the World Cup pressure time for teams. — Reuters time analysing Nabi’s side. “There is a lot of Najibullah Zadran