Ton-up Tharanga can't save Sri Lanka

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Upul Tharanga hit a majestic century but couldn't stop Sri Lanka from slipping to an 18-run defeat against New Zealand in their final World Cup warm-up on Friday.

Chasing a victory target of 286, Tharanga hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 106 off 112 balls.

New Zealand desperately needed victory after suffering an embarrassing two-wicket defeat to Bangladesh on Tuesday but they were a far more formidable outfit against Sri Lanka.

Lou Vincent (70) and skipper Stephen Fleming (65) shared an opening stand of 131 in 24 overs for New Zealand, with Peter Fulton adding 58.

The Black Caps were able to consolidate the start given them by their openers with the later batsmen adding 78 off the final 10 overs.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas were rested by Sri Lanka while off-spinner Daniel Vettori was kept on the sidelines by New Zealand.

Most worrying for Sri Lanka was the poor form of master spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who conceded 64 runs off his 10 overs for the return of just one wicket.
That was Ross Taylor who was out for 30.

Ponting satisfied with warm-up win against England

By Julian Guyer

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, March 9, 2007 (AFP) - Australia captain Ricky Ponting said the world champions had achieved all they wanted to do in beating England by five wickets in the old rivals' final World Cup warm-up match here Friday.

Australia ended a three-match losing streak in one-dayers against England in convincing style by bowling England out for 197 and then knocking off the winning runs with more than nine overs to spare.

"It was a good solid hit-out for the team," Ponting told reporters.

"I said the other day I wanted the guys to approach these games as proper one-day international games and play them with that sort of intensity."

Brad Hogg took two key wickets to get rid of England captain Michael Vaughan (62) and Ian Bell (57) after the duo had put on 116 for the second wicket.

That ended a barren spell of six wicketless matches for the left-arm wrist spinner.

But Ponting said he saw signs of the former postman returning to form in Australia's 106-run opening warm-up win against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

"His last three or four overs in the first game, he started to work out what was the best pace to bowl on these slower wickets and today (Friday) right from the start he bowled a bit quicker through the air.

"He used his variations very well and got two wickets with his wrong-un. It's good to see him back to his lively self again."

Fast bowler Shaun Tait (four for 33) took wickets at both ends of the innings while Stuart Clark (three for 16) chipped in when brought on towards the finish.

Tait, who can be erratic, did concede seven wides but he also reduced England to six for one with a textbook inswinging yorker that had left-hander Ed Joyce plumb lbw before dismissing Kevin Pietersen and capturing two late wickets as well.

"I sat down and had a bit of chat with Shaun about how he can be best used," Ponting explained.
"Today he showed everybody just how effective he can be - and it's not the first time he's done that."

Australia were all but assured of victory after an opening stand of 140 between Adam Gilchrist, who made 72 on his return from paternity leave and Shane Watson (55).

"I thought Gilchrist and Watson were outstanding. They set up the game for us," Ponting said.
Vaughan, while pleased by his own form and that he suffered no discomfort from his hamstring problem, lamented England's failure to build on his stand with Bell.

"It's nice to get a few runs, spend some time in the middle and test the hamstring in a match situation," said Vaughan, whose side thrashed minnows Bermuda by 241 runs here Monday.

"But at 122 for two you expect to get 250 minimum. That kind of score on that kind of pitch would have been a really competitive total.

"But sometimes it's good that something like this happens before the actual tournament starts because it gives us an indication of how we are going to have to play on these kind of wickets."

India crush West Indies in final warm-up

By Jonathan Gaskin

DANIEL TOWN, Jamaica, March 9, 2007 (AFP) - India completed a morale-boosting nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in their final World Cup warm-up match here on Friday.

Chasing a modest 86 for victory, India hit the jackpot with 31.2 overs to spare, when Dwayne Bravo delivered a no-ball to Robin Uthappa.

Uthappa was not out on 35 and Dinesh Karthik was unbeaten on 38.

They added 80 for the second wicket, after Virender Sehwag was caught behind off Daren Powell for a duck in the second over.

"It was a really good performance today. We had the opportunity to bowl first and had helpful conditions," said India skipper Rahul Dravid.

"We put the ball in the right areas and took our catches. We will take a lot of confidence from this into the World Cup.

"Our body language is good and we have had some good results behind us. We have key players who are coming into form and fitness and results like this give us great momentum."

India's seam bowlers destroyed the West Indies' batting on a helpful Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium pitch.

Munaf Patel was the most successful Indian bowler with four wickets for 10 runs from six overs, Irfan Pathan collected three for 25 in six overs, and Zaheer Khan snared two for 22 from six overs.

Only three West Indies batsmen got into double-figures after the hosts chose to bat - captain Brian Lara top-scored with 22, and Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Smith both hit 13.

Lara was furious with his team's collapse.

"I am very disappointed, no-one in the dressing room is very happy," he said.

"We need to bat a lot more professionally if we are to win this tournament."

West Indies were in trouble from as early as the fourth over, when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught behind down the leg-side for six off Zaheer Khan.

Then Chris Gayle was caught behind for the same score off the first ball of the next over bowled by Ajit Agarkar.

Lara came to the crease and added 39 for the third wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan, but his dismissal in the 14th over, caught and bowled to Pathan, triggered a catastrophic batting collapse that disappointed the stadium which was half-filled with scores of eager West Indies fans.

The hosts lost their last eight wickets for 29 runs in the space of 71 deliveries.

India have been drawn with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bermuda in Group B of the World Cup in Trinidad.

West Indies tackle Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland in Group D to be contested at Sabina Park in the Jamaica capital, Kingston.