TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 Scots hope this is not final World Cup fling NEW ZEALAND: Given that Scotland still have a 156 at Saxton Oval in Nelson. “It got totally out of hand. I had people from more big-match experience between the elite four- mountain to climb to win their first ever cricket A bowling unit that impressed in a comfortable Nepal tweeting to say ‘good luck, I’m sure it won’t be yearly tournament, said skipper Preston Mommsen. World Cup game, it is a pity that tales of bowler Iain win over Ireland ahead of the World Cup has been as tough as climbing the mountain’.” “For me what is even more important is what Wardlaw scaling Mount Everest turned out to be picked apart at times during the tournament but happens in between every World Cup and the fix- nothing more than a joke that got out of hand. both Josh Davey and Wardlaw have enjoyed some NO JOKE tures that are made available to associate nations Cricket’s global showpiece has confirmed the success and collected some high-profile victims. While Wardlaw’s Everest claim was made in jest, and the ... amount of cricket they’re playing at a high Scots are a way from being able to compete with the Right-arm seamer Wardlaw took three wickets Scotland have been no joke at the World Cup. With quality level,” he said. top test playing nations but they have shown against New Zealand, including those of in-form the ICC set to cut the number of teams at the next “Because at the moment, it’s quite clearly not glimpses of quality and been involved in some of openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum. tournament to 10 from the current 14, qualification enough.” Coetzer, Aberdeen born and bred despite the tournament’s most enjoyable games. However, while he has been far from embar- will become that much harder. the South African-sounding name, was disappointed After briefly threatening co-hosts New Zealand in rassed on the field, Wardlaw has somewhat sheep- Scotland played 24 matches between the 2011 at the defeat to Bangladesh but hoped his perform- their opener, Scotland were beaten handily by ishly had to set the record straight about his claim to and 2015 World Cups, with just four of those against ance with the bat had helped Scotland stake a claim England and Bangladesh but were on the verge of a fame-that he climbed Everest. test nations, and a continued lack of exposure to top for inclusion at future tournaments. “It’s nice to show milestone win against Afghanistan, losing a nailbiter “A couple of years ago, when I first started with level cricket could leave them caught up in a vicious the world what we’re capable of,” he said. in the final over. Their six-wicket loss to Bangladesh Scotland, we had a bit of a joke. Somehow it got mis- circle. One of four non-test playing nations at the If the ICC go ahead with its plans, however, it may on Thursday also featured the first World Cup centu- construed, put on the website and it spiralled out of World Cup alongside Ireland, Afghanistan and be some time before we see the likes of Scotland at ry by a Scotland batsman, Kyle Coetzer smashing control,” he told the BBC. United Arab Emirates, “associates” Scotland needed the World Cup again. — Reuters Five great England one-day disasters ADELAIDE: England’s humiliating 15-run defeat by Bangladesh in Adelaide yesterday, that saw them knocked out of the World Cup, was far from the first time they’d been embarrassed in 50-over cricket. Below AFP Sport looks back at five other one-day international matches England would rather forget. March 2 1994, Kingstown, St Vincent: Lost to West Indies by 165 runs England’s heaviest ODI defeat in terms of runs saw the West Indies pile up 313 for six, opener Desmond Haynes leading the way with 83. In reply England-against one of the less celebrated West Indies’ attacks slumped to 148-9 in 50 overs, with Graeme Hick’s 32 the only individual score of 20 or more in the innings. July 1 2006, Headingley: Lost to Sri Lanka by 8 wkts A terrible day for English cricket started with the death of fast bowling great Fred Trueman. The confusion among fans at the Yorkshire legend’s Headingley home ground on how to pay tribute-some stood for a minute’s silence while others applauded-was echoed by England’s bowlers. Defending a seemingly stiff target of 322, they were ren- dered helpless as Upul Tharanga (109) and Sanath Jayasuriya, with a stunning 152, put on 286 for the first wicket-still a world record opening partnership in ODIs-with fast bowler Stephen Harmison’s 10 wicketless overs costing 97 runs. March 2, 2011, Bangalore: Lost to Ireland by 3 wkts An experienced England side were stunned at the World Cup by their non-Test opponents as Ireland recorded one of the greatest wins in their cricket history. NEW ZEALAND: India players warm up during training ahead of their 2015 Cricket World Cup Group B match against Ireland, in Hamilton. — AFP Batting first, England made 327 for eight featuring 92 from Jonathan Trott and 81 by Ian Bell. With Ireland 111 for five in the 25th over, the match was going according to the formbook. Point-seeking Ireland But Kevin O’Brien had different ideas, smashing the fastest-ever World Cup hundred, off just 50 balls, before John Mooney (33 not out) saw Ireland home with five balls to spare. expecting no easy ride March 26, 2011, Colombo: Lost to Sri Lanka by 10 wkts ‘Anything can happen in a knockout game’ was the posi- tive spin of loyal England followers before this World Cup WELLINGTON: Ireland do not expect an “They’re obviously qualified but I’m pret- India came out after West Indies, I don’t a country ourselves, and hopefully the ICC quarter-final against Sri Lanka. easy ride from India in their penultimate ty sure they’ll be looking to get top spot in think they’ve necessarily got a weaker suit will take notice and we’ll start looking at the Instead it became the most lopsided last eight clash World Cup Pool B clash today, even though the group as well,” he added. “I don’t expect as such. “The first 10 overs is going to be next World Cup,” he said. imaginable. Firstly England were held to 229 for six before Tharanga (102 not out) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (108 not out) the world champions have already qualified them to come in any way lightly at our- big, we have to start the game well and get “If you want to progress your game saw Sri Lanka to victory with 63 balls to spare in front of their for the quarter-finals with four wins out of selves, so we’ll be ready for that.” With India into it.” Porterfield has become pretty much and grow the game of cricket, then cut- own fans. four. The Irish have enjoyed an excellent in fine form, Ireland will be looking to put the spokesman for the battle against the ting teams in world competitions isn’t the campaign with three wins out of four but some pressure on them from the very first International Cricket Council’s plan to way forward.” Indian seamer Mohit February 20, 2015, Wellington: Lost to New Zealand by 8 still need one more point from their final ball at Seddon Park. reduce the field from 14 to 10 teams for the Sharma said the team were well aware of wkts two matches against India and Pakistan to While the Indians can almost take for next World Cup. the threat Ireland presented and they After starting their World Cup campaign with a 111-run secure a spot in the knockout stage. granted a strong batting line-up, Porterfield Since the cut will most likely be made at would need to be on top of their game to defeat by Australia, it was hard to imagine that England’s “It’s a nice position to be in but it doesn’t thought their bowlers had also acquitted the expense of non test-playing nations, he win a fifth straight match. “They played next game might produce an even more comprehensive count for anything if we don’t keep getting themselves well in their four-wicket victory sees Ireland’s qualifying for the knockout good games earlier and still have a defeat-but that’s what happened. good performances,” Ireland captain William over West Indies last week. rounds as having wider significance than chance to qualify,” he said. “They have a England, after winning the toss, were skittled out for just Porterfield told a news conference in “Whatever we do first tomorrow, we just national pride. “Hopefully we do make good team. We have to play well to beat 123 in 33.2 overs, with swing bowler Tim Southee taking a Hamilton on Monday. have to start well,” he said. “Seeing how hard those quarter-finals and keep pushing on as them, and we’ll try to do it.” — Reuters national record seven for 33. New Zealand, on the back of captain Brendon McCullum’s whirlwind 77 at the top of the order, raced to their victory target in 12.2 overs. A match meant to last 100 overs was Bangladesh erupts in joy completed in 45.4. — AFP DHAKA: Cricket-mad Bangladesh erupt- while the sports minister announced Watson takes his second ed in joyous celebration yesterday after bonuses for each player.