Spinners give India superb win

Piyush Chawla lead India's tremendous fight back picking up 4 important wickets, while Harbhajan picked up 3 wickets towards the end to hand India a superb 38 run win.

Kallis, Morkel star in South Africa cricket win

Morne Morkel grabbed three wickets and Jacques Kallis hit an unbeaten 49 as South Africa raced to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.

Paceman Morkel took 3-16 and Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir bagged 3-35 as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 152 after electing to bat in the day-night match in Chennai.

South Africa achieved the target with more than 26 overs to spare in the one-sided contest, with Hashim Amla (45), skipper Graeme Smith (41) and Kallis being the main run-scorers.

All-rounder Kallis, who missed a recent home one-day series against India due to a rib injury, did not bowl but smashed three sixes and as many fours in his 39-ball knock.

Amla played some handsome shots in his 33-ball cameo, hitting seven fours, while Smith hit one six and three fours in his 54-ball knock.

South Africa were earlier well-served by Morkel and Tahir, who did not allow Zimbabwe to build a big partnership with their disciplined spells.

The pair were backed by left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who took two wickets, and off-spinner Johan Botha (1-18).

Opener Brendan Taylor top-scored with 40 in a disappointing Zimbabwean batting performance. Sean Williams (35) and Charles Coventry (21) were the other main run-getters.

South Africa are in Group B with India, England, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands, while Group A comprises Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.

Four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.

India meet Bangladesh in the opening World Cup match in Dhaka on February 19.

© AFP

Sarwan leads WI to facile win

Ramnaresh Sarwan struck a masterful 123 to set up a comfortable 61-run victory for West Indies in a World Cup warm-up match against Kenya on Saturday.

Sarwan, 30, hit 11 fours and five sixes in his 125-ball knock and put on 94 runs with Dwayne Bravo (54) for the fifth wicket to propel his side to 253-8 after they were put in to bat at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Kenya started their chase confidently with Collins Obuya making 68 and opener Seren Waters 43, but they lost quick wickets in the middle overs and were bowled out for 192 off 45.3 overs.

Young West Indies paceman Andre Russell, who is yet to make his one-day debut, impressed the most among the bowlers, picking four wickets for 43 runs off his 10 overs while Kemar Roach took 3-23.

West Indies were in early trouble when veteran Kenyan seamer Thomas Odoyo (3-34) removed openers Devon Smith and Adrian Barath inside the first 10 overs.

Fast bowler Peter Ongondo then had Darren Bravo caught by wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma for 12 and Alex Obanda sent back the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul (seven) to reduce the West Indies to 65-4.

Sarwan, recalled to the World Cup squad after being dropped in May last year, showed his worth once again in sub-continent conditions as he set out to rebuild the innings.

The right-hander has an excellent one-day record in India, where West Indies play five of their six World Cup group games. He has played 15 matches there with an average of 57.30 and five half-centuries.

Dwayne Bravo provided solid support to Sarwan before Steve Tikolo brought an end to his 56-ball innings that included six fours and a six.

Kenya have played every World Cup since 1996 and pulled off a couple of surprises. They beat West Indies in 1996 and even qualified for the semi-final in 2003.

Kenya and the West Indies are in different groups in this edition of the World Cup starting on February 19 in Dhaka.

© AFP

BAN VS CAN - BAN WIN

qbal and Kayes are at the crease. Iqbal is on strike. Chohan will open the attack
Patel and Davison are at the crease. Patel is on strike. Shafiul Islam will open the attack
Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to field