Eng vs WI: England beat West Indies by 18 runs to stay afloat in World Cup

CHENNAI: England kept their World Cup campaign alive by beating blow-hot-blow-cold West Indies by 18 runs on Thursday.

In a ding-dong battle, England first wasted a good batting start (79-1 in the 11th over). But after being 151-6, their last four wickets added 92 runs to take the tally to 243.

When West Indies made 58-0 in eight overs, it looked an uphill task for Strauss' men. But they stuck to it by removing the middle-order of West Indies in quick succession, especially Pollard. On a challenging track, Andre Russell and Ramnaresh Sarwan showed great resilience to take it from 150-6 to 222. But once they lost Russell, nerves played a part and the West Indies lost.

Spinners Graeme Swann and James Tredwell shared seven wickets between them on a helpful track and Ravi Bopara varied his pace to scalp two.

West Indies started the chase of 244 by throwing caution to the wind. They probably thought survival was difficult on this track. The strategy seemed to have worked when Chris Gayle hammered away, hitting pacemen Tremlett and Bresnan (1-0-18-0) out of the attack. Probably, it was a mistake in hindsight as it brought another spinner Tredwell (Swann opened from the other side) into the attack.

Tredwell had Gayle (43 off 21, 8x4s, 1x6) lbw; Prior made a brilliant stumping of the off-balanced Smith and skipper Strauss plucked Darren Bravo at first slip. All the three lefties fell to off-spinner (Dhoni please note: Peterson was leftie and Bhajji an off-spinner).

Sammy and Thomas then played on to the stumps against Bopara.

Pollard hit two typical sixes after playing out one maiden over. But classy offie Swann had him lbw to a turner. Russell was generally quiet but he also hit three sixes, the one being particularly contentious. Strauss appeared to have caught him at long-on off Swann, but unclear TV footage and the shadow of the boundary line ads seemed to have put a doubt in the TV umpire's mind. And he passed that advantage to the batsman.

But Tredwell got Russell lbw. Swann, in his last over, got Sarwan caught at short-leg and Roach caught by Tremlett, running in and diving in front at mid-off.

Earlier, at 121-2 in the 22nd over, with Jonathan Trott in sublime touch, England lost the momentum despite the lack of relentless pressure from the bowling attack.

Matt Prior was bowled through the gate by Andre Russell. But the bigger culprits were Andrew Strauss (top edged a difficult high catch to Chris Gayle, who ran back from mid-wicket) and Eion Morgan (edged a reverse sweep to the wicket-keeper).

James Tredwell couldn't have asked for better World Cup debut than this. England had their backs against the wall and a loss would have thrown them out. However, Tredwell delivered when it mattered the most. Every time Andrew Strauss threw the ball to him, he came up with a breakthrough. He was brought in when Chris Gayle was belting England's bowlers all over the park. He trapped the dangerous Gayle in front and then sent back Devon Smith and talented Darren Bravo. Later on, when the West Indies were cruising with the 7th wicket stand between Ramnaresh Sarwan and Andre Russell, he claimed Russell's wicket.

It seemed as if the game against England was going to be one dominated by Andre Russell. The pacer had picked up four wickets for 49 to bowl England out for 243 after Strauss had won the toss and chose to bat on a two-paced and dry pitch. After Pollard was dismissed for 24, England had West Indies down for the count at 150 for 6. The experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan needed someone to hang around and it was Russell who put his hand up. Tonking sixes, he scored an entertaining 49 and took West Indies to within 21 runs of a quarterfinal berth. His dismissal to Tredwell's off-spin started the collapse and the West Indies lost four wickets for three runs.

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Indian playing XI row heats up

CHENNAI: All is not well in the Indian camp.

Right from the time the World Cup squad was selected, the selectors and skipper MS Dhoni were not sharing the same thought process. With the group stage almost done and dusted, the rift has only increased.

It's understood that Dhoni's "stubbornness" regarding team selection hasn't gone down too well either with the BCCI bosses or with the selectors. And now, with just a couple of days to go for the crucial game against West Indies at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth met Dhoni & Co at the team hotel just before they were to come for practice. One understands that a few harsh words were spoken and the team management was asked to have a closer look at the playing XI. Dhoni has been extremely stubborn on the issue of playing with Piyush Chawla as the second spinner and the selection committee thinks that "it's time R Ashwin is given a chance".

A couple of days back, two selectors had a talk with Dhoni and he was clearly told that "Chawla has got enough chances" and that Ashwin should be in the playing XI. But the skipper was not ready to budge, even though there are senior members in the team who believe that the TN offie should get his chance.

Chika, despite his stature, has never interfered with the playing XI, but now that things have gone too far, there was no other alternative for the chairman but to have a talk with the team management. He clearly communicated the displeasure of the selectors but finally left it to the captain to take his call.

BCCI secretary N Srinivasan was also present and was a witness to the conversion between the chairman of selectors and the captain.

Later, Chika was present at the IIT Chemplast ground as well where he caught up with the other members of the team. The chairman had a long conversation with coach Gary Kirsten and later he was seen having a talk with the bowlers. As the media swarmed around him for a sound byte, he refused for the time being. "We will have a talk after India win the West Indies game," Chika said trying his best to deflate the tension.

Meanwhile, Suresh Raina has been given indications from the team management that he will play Sunday's game. The left-hander has mentioned to his close friends that he is making mental preparations to play the game.

Ashwin vs Piyush

What works in favour of Ashwin:

- His ability to bowl in the Powerplays. The off-spinner is known to contain the batsmen.
- Has done well in the Chennai, which is home turf for him.

What not for Chawla:

-Hasn't been able to contain batsmen or take wickets.
- Is under immense pressure to perform.

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Canon may pull out IPL ads

MUMBAI: As the crisis in Japan deepens, Canon India, a subsidiary of the Japanese imaging and optical products major, has pressed the panic button. In a major setback to its plans, Canon India is contemplating pulling out from advertising during the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting April 8.


The Japanese multinational which specializes in products like cameras and photocopiers plans to launch a new range of cameras next month and was going to put out a new campaign starring its brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar. But with supplies being hit, the company is not sure of being able to fulfil the demand if it goes ahead with the media campaign.


Alok Bharadwaj, senior VP, Canon India, told TOI, "With the launch of a new campaign we expect demand to be created for the product but with issues on the supply side the decision on whether we will go ahead with the mass media campaign will be taken in a couple of days."


However, an official broadcaster of the IPL-SET Max said there is no clause which can allow for any advertiser to pull out from the tournament under any circumstances. "There is no question of any advertiser pulling out once the contract is signed. Such provisions are not part of the terms and conditions," said Rohit Gupta, president of Multi Screen Media (the parent company of SET Max).


Canon, along with other Japanese companies, has increased its advertising and marketing spends over the last one year to ramp up its presence in the country.


Sony, one of the biggest exporters of electronics out of Japan, has been on an overdrive and signed on the Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni before the start of the ICC World Cup to garner market share away from its Korean rivals LG and Samsung, but the Japanese electronics major said it cannot comment on any expected cuts in marketing and advertising budgets post what happened in Japan. But given the ongoing crisis, with the kind of destruction that has been brought about by the earthquake and the tsunami and now the threat of a nuclear meltdown, the Indian subsidiaries of Japanese multinationals may have to cut costs and resort to austerity measures. In fact, Canon has cancelled a foreign jaunt that it had organized for its trade partners as a mark of respect to the victims back in Japan and also to cut unwanted expenditure.

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Aus vs Can: Ponting compares Patel with Sehwag

BANGALORE: As Hiral Patel smashed the likes of Brett Lee and Shaun Tait to all corners of the Chinnaswamy Stadium during a World Cup match, Australian captain Ricky Ponting said the Canadian batsman reminded him of Indian swahsbuckler Virender Sehwag.

Patel's blazing 45-ball 54-run innings had the Australians on the backfoot before the defending champions regrouped to skittle out the Canadians for 211 and chase the total with ease.

"He plays a lot like him (Sehwag)," Ponting said after his team's seven-wicket win over the North Americans in a Group A match on Wednesday night.

Ponting felt it would be difficult for the title-holders to fight back if bigger teams get off with the kind of blistering start that Patel gave to the Canadians.

"We did well to get wickets and restrict them today. But against good teams with deeper batting line-up (it would be hard)," Ponting said.

The unknown factor probably worked to Canada's advantage and Ponting said his team would be better against Pakistan.

"We didn't know much about him and the others. We just saw some clippings of them. He needed some room and played some amazing shots.

"But Pakistan, we know their game better," he said before adding, "It's always great playing Pakistan. One never knows about Pakistan. They have been good but against New Zealand they were ordinary."

Ponting has, so far, failed to live upto his billing in the World Cup, but hoped he would click in the bigger games.

"There wasn't much left for me to do today. Hopefully, I am saving them for the big matches," he said.

Asked about his angry reaction following his collision with Steve Smith while taking a catch, Ponting said, "It wasn't a great reaction. But it wasn't designed or intentional. It just happened in the spur of the moment. If it looked bad, I apologise."

Australian opener Shane Watson, who struck a 90-ball 94, said, "It was one of those innings which took a while to get going."

Talking about his opening partner Brad Haddin, with whom he was involved in a record 183-run stand, Watson said, "I think the way he batted tonight and against New Zealand was brilliant.

"I think we are building a very good partnership at the top of the order."

Canada skipper Ashish Bagai made his disappointment obvious after his side failed to capitalise on the good start.

"It's very, very disappointing. The lack of experience showed. They have some good wicket-taking bowlers," Bagai said.

About the team's overall experience in the tournament, he said, "It's a young side and I think the bowling has been fantastic throughout the tournament. They will take a lot of positives which will help them grow and make Canada a lot stronger in the next five years," he said.

Bagai also felt that they should get to play against better oppositions on a more consistent basis.

"If we can get some decent competitions, it doesn't matter to me even if its an A level tournament, that will help the side tremendously. We need some help in the next five years," Bagai said.

"For a nation that's trying to grow, it takes more than just six games," he said.

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Team India mulls over pace partner for Zaheer

NEW DELHI: With off-spinner R Ashwin almost certain to make his World Cup debut against the West Indies on Sunday, the Indian team management is now sweating it out to decide who will share the new ball with Zaheer Khan as the second pacer in the playing XI.

According to sources, Team India is divided between Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra.

If some members of the team are banking on Munaf's recent form, the others are backing Nehra for his wealth of experience. Sources said that the final call on this is yet to be taken, but Nehra enjoys considerable backing of some of the top players in the team. Will this translate into Nehra getting the nod for the West Indies match?

But this is of great significance for Nehra, especially at a time when the Delhi pacer is been getting a lot of flak for conceding 13 runs in the last over against South Africa on last Saturday. While Munaf has taken nine wickets in the World Cup so far, Nehra has claimed four from two outings in the tournament. "It's a tough call for the team management for sure. Clearly, Munaf is bowling well but Nehra is backed by the seniors despite that last over against South Africa," another team insider told TOI.

Backing someone in a crisis is heartening, especially for a team whose bowling attack lacks consistency. But for former Indian medium-pacer Manoj Prabhakar, Nehra does not look the right option. "If one has to pick either of the two, I would bat for Munaf. Nehra is not looking confident as a bowler right now," Prabhakar, who coached the Delhi Ranji team this season for which Nehra plays, feels.

Agreed another former medium-pacer Roger Binny. "Going by the current form, Munaf has the upper hand. Ideally, Nehra would have been the first pick, but of late he has struggled with injuries and hasn't played regular competitive cricket for the last two months. So, it's showing in his bowling performance. You need at least two or three matches under your belt to get your rhythm right," Binny said.

Eng vs WI: England meet West Indies in now-or-never contest

CHENNAI: An inconsistent England are expected to rejig their line-up with the hope of beating West Indies in their final World Cup Group B match on Thursday to keep alive their quarterfinal prospects.

Out of form pace bowler James Anderson may have to pave way for Chris Tremlett, while Matt Prior is expected to drop down the batting order so that either Ravi Bopara or Ian Bell can partner captain Andrew Strauss at the top.

Having tied their match with India and gone down to Ireland and Bangladesh, a victory would keep England afloat even though Strauss and his men would move into the quarterfinals only if other Group B results also favour them.

Strauss and off-spinner Graeme Swann have recovered from a stomach bug to join the team that looked jaded in the tournament.

West Indies, on the other hand, will be banking on fit-again opener Chris Gayle and in-form all-rounder Kieron Pollard to provide the batting firepower that would take them through to the quarterfinals.

Captain Darren Sammy expects coach Ottis Gibson's experience of working with England to provide them the insider knowledge that would come handy in this contest.

STATBOX

Facts and figures relating to the Group B World Cup match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Thursday.

Head-to-head record: West Indies lead 41-37 (NR: 4)
In the World Cups: England lead 4-1
In the sub-continent: England lead 3-1

* The teams first played each other in Sept. 1973 at Headingley, Leeds when England chased down a modest 181 in a thrilling one wicket win. The response to that match set in motion the creation of the World Cup in 1975.

* Since then England are still seeking their first 50-over World Cup while West Indies are a pale self of the indomitable bunch that dominated the first two editions.

* England camp (LWLTW) have to beat West Indies if they are to have any hope of reaching the last eight. Even then if other Group B results do not fall their way, England might find themselves as the only test-playing nation not to make the cut.

* West Indies (WWWLL), on the other hand, have had a poor year, fell behind Bangladesh in ODI rankings and then lost to South Africa in their opening Cup match. Since then they have gone from strength to strength having dismissed Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland easily.

* West Indies need to win one of their remaining games against England or India to confirm their place in the quarter-finals. If they win both matches, they could finish as group leaders.

* It is likely to be a clash between the English batsmen in form - Andrew Strauss (298 runs), Jonathan Trott (289 runs) and to a lesser extent, Ian Bell (193 runs) - against the West Indian in-form bowlers - Sulieman Benn (12 wickets at an economy of 4.43) and Kemar Roach (11 wickets at 4.00)

* The West Indies batsmen have not been in the best of forms, besides Devon Smith (202 runs), while the English bowlers have really struggled against most oppositions, other than South Africa, with Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan (nine wickets each) being the only consistent bowlers.

* England will have a slight advantage having played in Chennai earlier in their win against South Africa, where the pitch was not a very high scoring one and good line and length bowlers were rewarded for their toils.

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Shoaib Akhtar to retire after World Cup

COLOMBO: Pakistan's maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar, whose colourful career has been a heady mix of on-field brilliance and off-field controversy, will quit international cricket after the World Cup.


"Yes, I will quit international cricket after the World Cup" the 35-year-old said.

"I have taken this decision after much thought. Pakistan's last match in this World Cup will also be my last. I hope that will be the final on April 2."

Akhtar made up his mind after Pakistan's 110-run defeat against New Zealand, in which he went for 70 runs in his nine overs.

He was rested for the match against Zimbabwe on Monday and was thought to be an unlikely starter for Saturday's last Group A match against Australia.

Akhtar, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests, the last of which was against India at Bangalore in 2007.

He is three wickets short of 250 in 163 one-day internationals and has taken 19 wickets in 15 Twenty20 internationals.

Pakistan squad members hugged him in the dressing room on Thursday before captain Shahid Afridi embraced him as the players entered the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo for practice.

Akhtar, known as the Rawalpindi Express during his tearaway days as one of Test cricket's most feared if unpredictable talents, once cracked the 100mph barrier at the 2003 World Cup.

At this World Cup, which was always likely to be his swansong, Akhtar looked neat and tidy with figures of 0-10 and 2-42 against Kenya and Sri Lanka respectively.

He missed the win over Canada but was then smashed all over the park at Pallekele against New Zealand, with figures of 1-70, before being dropped for the game with Zimbabwe.

His career will always be remembered for a series of fitness problems, discipline violations as well as a doping offence that put the brakes on achieving his true potential.

Most recently he was fined $2,000 for breaching discipline after the defeat to New Zealand.

Team manager Intikhab Alam confirmed the fine, which was levied after an on-field spat with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who missed two chances off his bowling.

Akhtar and the now banned Mohammad Asif failed drugs tests in 2006 and were suspended for two years and one year respectively, both of which were lifted on appeal.

Fitness problems forced him to miss the 2007 World Cup while he was fined heavily and banned for 13 ODIs after he hit Asif with a bat two days before the 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa.

In 2008 he was banned for five years after publicly criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board following his exclusion from the list of centrally contracted players.

The ban was reduced to 18 months by a tribunal, which levied a fine of 7.0 million Pakistani rupees ($105,000 at the time). His appeal against the ban is still pending.

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Spirited Somdev goes down fighting to Nadal

INDIAN WELLS (USA): Somdev Devvarman put up a spirited fight against Rafael Nadal but the world number one eventually managed to tame the lion-hearted Indian in straight sets in the pre-quarterfinals of the ATP BNP Paribas Open.

Somdev went down 5-7, 4-6 but not before making the Spaniard work hard for every point in a contest that lasted close to two hours -- the first set alone accounting for more than an hour.

The 26-year-old Indian, known for his fighting spirit and appetite for long-drawn matches, seemed set for another marathon when he was locked 5-5 with Nadal in the opening set itself.

The world number 84 Somdev got a crucial break point in the 11th game, his second of the set, but could not convert it handing the advantage back to the Spaniard.

That is where the difference in rankings and experience showed as Nadal managed to break the Indian in the very next game to finally seal the set in his favour after slogging it out for more than an hour.

The second set went on serve till the eighth game before Nadal managed to convert the only break opportunity to edge past the Indian.