England overwhelm sloppy Pakistan to avoid early exit  

   

 England batted purposefully, bowled accurately and fielded athletically to avert an early departure from the Twenty20 World Cup with a comfortable 48-run win over Pakistan on Sunday.
Defeat at the Oval after the upset loss to the Netherlands on Friday would have condemned the hosts to a first-round exit a month before they begin the Ashes series against Australia. Pakistan meet the Netherlands in the final Group B match at Lord's on Tuesday (1230 GMT). England responded to Friday's humiliation by reaching a competitive 185 for five with Kevin Pietersen celebrating his return from injury with 58 from 38 balls.
Pietersen had a life on 30 when off-spinner Saeed Ajmal dropped a sharp caught-and-bowled opportunity, one of four chances spilled by the Pakistanis whose ground fielding was also sloppy.
He hit three sixes, one travelling more than 100 metres into the stand over long-off, and shared useful partnerships with opener Luke Wright (34) and Owais Shah (33).
Stuart Broad worked up a lively pace when Pakistan batted, capturing the wickets of Kamran Akmal (6) and Salman Butt (28) from successive short-pitched deliveries which the batsman skied to fielders.
Pakistan fell steadily behind the required run rate and Shahid Afridi, a batsman capable of turning any match, missed as often as he connected as England moved in for the kill.
When he was caught for five Pakistan's hopes went with him and the Pakistani supporters, who had vied with the home fans to see who could make the most noise in a packed ground, began heading for the gates. 

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South Africa beat Scotland by 130 runs  


 South Africa beat Scotland by 130 runs in their Twenty20 World Cup Group D match at the Oval in London on Sunday.

South Africa produced an ominously clinical performance to send Scotland packing, beating them by the second highest margin in this format. AB de Villiers cracked a classy and authoritative 79 from just 34 in South Africa's 211 for 5, the highest total of the tournament so far, before Dale Steyn and Johan Botha tore through Scotland who were rolled for 81, the seventh-lowest Twenty20 total.

This was a champion performance from one of the tournament favourites. Unlike England, who were out-thought and out-played by Netherlands in the opening match, South Africa asserted themselves from the outset to lay bare Scotland's technical flaws, not to mention their lack of experience.

Chasing a daunting 212, Scotland were reduced to a hopeless 50 for 6 at the halfway point. Steyn knocked over Ryan Watson and Colin Smith (his second first-ball duck in as many days) while Wayne Parnell removed Gavin Hamilton, who decided to open the innings. Steyn rarely reached his top pace, but he needn't have: he was quick and menacing enough to sound a warning to the other teams in the tournament. Kyle Coetzer briefly stood in South Africa's way, the only Scotland batsman to take them on, smiting Albie Morkel over long-on for two sizeable sixes to give a hearty and patriotic crowd something to cheer, but these were the last desperate runs of an innings already terminated.

Coetzer's 31-ball 42 crowned an impressive personal display from him, following his outstanding catch in South Africa's innings to dismiss Mark Boucher. Before that, however, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis ensured South Africa got off to a flying start. Kallis was first to open his shoulders, thumping the wayward Callum MacLeod through extra cover before flicking him fine for four more. He took to Jan Stander - who had a howler of a tournament - with greed, flaying him over backward point; flicking a stray to fine-leg before square cutting twice more past point. South Africa, unlike England who stuttered so aimlessly two days ago, were not going to let an Associate side get the better of them.

Scotland were urged to improve their fielding by the captain, Hamilton, yesterday, but he himself was twice at fault with a couple of mucky indiscretions, and overall, his side's fielding occasionally verged on the comical. Scotland are nothing if not fighters, however, and they fought back impressively with three wickets. Majid Haq, a canny and underrated offspinner, induced a thick inside edge to a slog-sweep from Kallis to end his innings on 48. Smith, too, attempted a similar shot three balls later but top-edged it to the wicketkeeper. Ryan Watson was then brought on and a lovely piece of flight accounted for Herschelle Gibbs, who was just beginning to look ominous.

And then de Villiers took over with relish. Initially favouring an orthodox approach with a selection of elegant, classy drives, he then scorched Haq for a flat fix over long-on before opening himself up to Glenn Rogers' slow-left-arm spin, cover-driving him with wonderful flare and elegance. With five overs to go, the manic final flurry was instigated and Watson was treated with pure disdain, carted over midwicket for a crowd-pleasing six.

His and Morkel's fifty partnership came from 18 balls and, though Morkel fell for 24, de Villiers powered onwards to bring up a 25-ball fifty with his fifth boundary down the ground as an increasingly overawed MacLeod was clattered to all parts. This mercilessness is how to deal with Associates, England.

The moment of the day, however, belonged to Scotland. Boucher, on two, nailed Gordon Drummond over the top but Coezter was lurking at long-on, practically treading on the boundary, and with a trampoline leap he leapt high and stretched his right hand, swivelling in the process, to cling onto an extraordinarily athletic chance which rightfully received a standing ovation. It was Scotland's only high point.

South Africa wrapped things up in the 16th over with each facet of their game looking polished and their attitude ruthless, but far sterner tests lie ahead in the coming days. 

 Gayle blows Australia away  


 West Indies' captain Chris Gayle smashed the Australian bowlers to all parts of the Oval on Saturday to lead his team to a seven wicket victory in their opening Twenty20 World Cup group C match. Gayle struck 88 with six sixes and six fours from 50 deliveries as West Indies overhauled Australia's 169 for seven with 4.1 overs to spare.

Andre Fletcher proved an excellent foil, scoring 53 from 32 balls in an opening partnership of 133.

Gayle launched an audacious attack on Brett Lee, bowling in excess of 145 kms an hour, in the fifth over of the innings. He clubbed the Australian fast bowler over long-on into the street and struck another huge six over mid-wicket. Twenty-seven came from the over.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting turned to David Hussey's gentle slow-medium and Gayle responded by lofting two more sixes into the crowd.

Jerome Taylor had set West Indies on the victory path by dismissing Shane Watson and Australia captain Ricky Ponting for ducks in the opening over of the match.

Australia, reduced to 15 for three after 3.3 overs, did well to reach their eventual total.

Diminutive left-handed opener David Warner anchored the innings with 63 from 53 balls and Brad Haddin (24), David Hussey (27) and Michael Hussey (28) made useful contributions down the order.

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Tigers caught in Ojha's web

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha claimed four scalps to steer India to a convincing 25-run victory over Bangladesh in the ICC World Twenty20 Group A opener at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday.

Bangladesh ended up with 155-8, chasing India's challenging total of 180-5 mainly due to an 18-ball 41-run knock from Yuvraj Singh.

The Tigers, with hopes of ensuring the Super Eight berths in the first match, had started on the wrong foot when opener Tamim Iqbal went down the wicket against Yusuf Pathan in the third over to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni break the stumps for 15.

Skipper Mohammad Ashraful (11) cover drove Ishant Sharma only to see Gautam Gambhir took an unbelievable low catch to make Bangladesh to 55-2 in 5.2 overs.

Ojha then had started to wave his magic to claim four batsmen – Shakib Al Hasan (8), Junaed Siddique (41 off 22 balls), Mahmudullah Riad (8) and Mashrafee Bin Mortaza (11) – in a row to reduce Bangladesh to 111-6 in 14.4 overs.

Later, Roqibul Hasan and Naeem Islam chipped in with 16 and 28 respectively to just reduce the margin. Naeem struck three sixes in his 17-ball knock.

Earlier, a late blitz from Yuvraj helped India recover from a slow start to post a competitive total on the board.

Yuvraj's smacked 41 off 18 balls studded with four sixes and three fours after Gambhir struck a well-composed 50 off 46 balls with the help of four boundaries.

After struggling against Shakib in the 16th over, Yuvraj cut loose on Naeem Islam with his seemingly effortless shots that included three sixes and in the next over the left-handed batsman blunted quick Rubel Hossain to have smashed 6, 4 and 4 before holing out at mid-off to Shakib off Shahadat Hossain.

Without explosive opener Virender Sehwag, India got off to a fine start with Gambhir and Rohit Sharma adding 59 runs in 7.2 overs before Shakib made the first breakthrough for Bangladesh in his first over.

Rohit was looking dangerous when Shakib thought he had him stumped with his first ball but wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahman missed the opportunity. However the left-arm spinner picked Rohit up with the next delivery. Rohit blazed a 23-ball 36 that included three fours and two sixes.

However, Bangladesh had to pay the price for dropping Gambhir, who was dropped on 13 by Roqibul Hasan at backward point off Shahadat first delivery and the left-handed opener finally struck a fifty.

Dhoni played a 21-ball 26 before being bowled by Naeem Islam who returned 2-32 in three overs while Shakib, Rubel and Shahadat took one wicket apiece.

Bangladesh will face Ireland in their group final match on Monday.