Category: Sports

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 20, 2007 (AFP) – Matthew Hayden’s third century of the tournament helped champions Australia extend their unbeaten run at the World Cup to 27 matches with a 215-run Super Eights thrashing of fellow semi-finalists New Zealand at Grenada’s National Stadium here Friday.But going for another big hit off the medium-pacer he […]

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 21, 2007 (AFP) – Stephen Fleming is adamant New Zealand will bounce back from their record-breaking defeat by Australia as they head into the World Cup semi-finals.New Zealand, without sidelined bowlers Shane Bond and Jacob Oram, conceded 348 for six, with Matthew Hayden making 103, before being bowled out for 133 […]

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 19, 2007 (AFP) – Ireland’s World Cup squad have supplied statements to police investigating the murder of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.These were carried out Thursday at the team’s hotel in Grenada following Ireland’s final World Cup Super Eights match against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Debutants Ireland caused one of the major […]

LAHORE, Pakistan, April 19, 2007 (AFP) – Pakistan Thursday appointed Shoaib Malik to succeed Inzamam-ul-Haq as national cricket captain, saying the young all-rounder symbolised the team’s future after a dismal World Cup.The 25-year-old Malik, who has played 18 Tests and 137 one-day internationals, was unveiled at a press conference here as captain of the Test […]

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 19, 2007 (AFP) – Having umpires wired-up to new technology at the World Cup to improve decision-making is a money well spent, according to world cricket’s leading official Simon Taufel.At the Super Eight stages of the World Cup, umpires have been able to listen into the stump microphones for thin edges that […]

April 20, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s air force said Friday it had lost an unmanned spy plane flying over the country’s embattled northeast close to Tamil Tiger territory. The Israeli-built Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was lost somewhere over the northern edge of Trincomalee district, close to the Tamil rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu, Group Captain […]

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 20, 2007 (AFP) – Former greats on Friday paid glowing tributes to retiring batting genius Brian Lara, saying he leaves behind a great legacy.But the praise was tinged with regret over his failures as captain of a declining team.The record-setting left-hander announced he would retire from international cricket after his team’s last […]

April 20, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka are drawing inspiration from their 1996 World Cup victory ahead of their likely match-up with New Zealand in the next week’s semi-finals.Sri Lanka stunned India in a group game in 1996, beating them again in the semi-final before going on to lift the trophy. Romesh Kaluwitharana, the former […]

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 20, 2007 (AFP) – West Indies captain Brian Lara will be keen to cap his last international match with a win against England when the two under-performing teams clash in the World Cup here on Saturday.“I am bidding farewell to international cricket as a player after the game,” Lara said after his […]

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 19, 2007 (AFP) – It appears that the best way to win the World Cup is not to host it.The West Indies became the latest prey to the curse of the hosts after failing to qualify for the semi-finals even before they had finished their Super Eights engagements. The hosts will take […]

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 19, 2007 (AFP) – Factfile on Shane Bond ahead of New Zealand’s World Cup Super Eights clash against Australia at Grenada National Stadium here on Friday: Name: Shane Edward Bond Born: June 7, 1975, Christchurch, Canterbury Age: 31 Major teams: New Zealand, Canterbury, Warwickshire Bowling style: Right-arm fast ODI career (debut: […]

April 19, 2007 (AFP) – The wretched form of Sri Lanka’s left-handed opener Upul Tharanga has opened the possibility of former captain Marvan Atapattu making a comeback in the semi-final clash with New Zealand.Tharanga managed just 17 runs in his last three outings and his longest innings lasted no more than 22 balls — a […]