Dutch captain Peter Borren blamed poor batting for the six-wicket loss to Bangladesh on Monday, the fifth consecutive defeat for the minnows in a miserable campaign.
The Dutch were shot out for 160 in 46.2 overs after electing to take first strike on the slow wicket, a target Bangladesh surpassed in the 42nd over with left-handed Imrul Kayes making 73 not out.
Ryan ten Doeschate top-scored for the Netherlands with an unbeaten 53, but none of the other batsmen managed 30, six failed to reach double figures and four ran themselves out.
"We just kept losing wickets at crucial times," said Borren. "We were trying to form partnerships but failed. Four run-outs and a couple of poor dismissals is criminal at this level. I am a bit disappointed with that."
Bangladesh's three left-arm spinners shared five of the six wickets to fall to bowlers with Abdur Razzak leading the way with 3-29 in 10 steady overs. Shakib Al Hasan and Suhrawadi Shuvo claimed one each.
But Borren credited Bangladesh's success to seamer Shafiul Islam, who conceded just seven runs in his first six overs as the Dutch plodded to 28-0 by the ninth.
"Shafiul bowled very well today," Borren said. "He was consistent and did not bowl bad balls. We were looking at opportunities of scoring in the initial powerplays when the ball was hard, but to be honest Shafiul did not allow us to do that. He went without a wicket, but probably deserved many."
Borren conceded his team found it tough to adjust to the slow wicket at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium against the home team's spin assault.
"It takes time to get used to spinners on such wickets," he said. "We can't get used to it if we don't stay long enough on it. We kept losing wickets at crucial times. We were trying to form partnerships but failed. We are just not accustomed to playing in these sort of conditions. The guys were trying to play shots but there was no pace on the ball. We just could not deal with it as well as we should have."
The Dutch take on fellow minnows Ireland in their last match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Aussies ready to ramp up bid for 4th World Cup title: Hussey
Veteran Australian batsman Mike Hussey has said that his side is ready to ramp up their bid for a fourth straight ICC World Cup.
Australia are unbeaten in 33 World Cup matches after a 60-run victory over Kenya in their Group A contest.
Hussey, who returned to the middle-order with a bright 54 of 43 balls against Kenya, said Australia's clash with Pakistan in the final group match marked the real beginning of their title defence.
"Pakistan is going to be a huge game down in Colombo and we should be starting to try and peak around that stage as well," Fox Sports quoted Hussey, as saying.
He added: "We can still get better in a lot of areas and if we keep getting better it should be a great game against Pakistan."
"It wasn't so bad for me but for the boys, I think they've had enough netting. They're pretty keen to get into the real stuff and we've got three games in seven days now so it should be good," Hussey said.
Ponting said he was happy to have his middle-order rock back in the batting line-up.
"Great to have Huss back around the squad. He fitted back in beautifully today and played the way we know he can play," Ponting said.
Australia are unbeaten in 33 World Cup matches after a 60-run victory over Kenya in their Group A contest.
Hussey, who returned to the middle-order with a bright 54 of 43 balls against Kenya, said Australia's clash with Pakistan in the final group match marked the real beginning of their title defence.
"Pakistan is going to be a huge game down in Colombo and we should be starting to try and peak around that stage as well," Fox Sports quoted Hussey, as saying.
He added: "We can still get better in a lot of areas and if we keep getting better it should be a great game against Pakistan."
"It wasn't so bad for me but for the boys, I think they've had enough netting. They're pretty keen to get into the real stuff and we've got three games in seven days now so it should be good," Hussey said.
Ponting said he was happy to have his middle-order rock back in the batting line-up.
"Great to have Huss back around the squad. He fitted back in beautifully today and played the way we know he can play," Ponting said.
Collingwood dismisses retirement talk
England's Paul Collingwood has scotched speculation on his one-day future after coming in to bat at number eight during the World Cup defeat to Bangladesh.
Collingwood quit Tests during the Sydney Test against Australia in January this year to allow himself to focus on one-day internationals and Twenty20 cricket.
The Durham all-rounder, who led England to a famous World Twenty20 triumph last year, has had an unimpressive run in the tournament so far, managing just 61 runs and one wicket from four league matches.
He missed the win over South Africa through injury.
"One reason I retired from Test cricket was to prolong the one-day side of things and I still feel I have major contributions to make," Collingwood, 34, said.
"I'm still the Twenty20 captain. I want to continue that as well. It's not in my mind to even think about things like this (my future)."
Collingwood shrugged off England's topsy-turvy form at the World Cup where they need to beat the West Indies on Thursday to keep up their hopes of a last-eight place.
"I see things developing very much how the Twenty20 did last year in the West Indies. We scraped through the group stages, but once we did we really put our performances together and went on to win it.
"We really need to focus on getting this complete game. You put the whole thing together, and we're a formidable team. We want to do that against the West Indies."
Collingwood said the scheduling of the World Cup, that followed on the heels of a gruelling Ashes and one-day campaign in Australia, was no excuse for their showing so far.
"It's not ideal having two huge series or tournaments together, it's like having two Olympics in the same winter. But we can't make that as an excuse."
"We have to beat the West Indies. It's not all over for us and if we can win four games on the trot we can win the World Cup."
Collingwood has garnered 5,092 runs and 111 wickets from 197 one-day internationals.
Collingwood quit Tests during the Sydney Test against Australia in January this year to allow himself to focus on one-day internationals and Twenty20 cricket.
The Durham all-rounder, who led England to a famous World Twenty20 triumph last year, has had an unimpressive run in the tournament so far, managing just 61 runs and one wicket from four league matches.
He missed the win over South Africa through injury.
"One reason I retired from Test cricket was to prolong the one-day side of things and I still feel I have major contributions to make," Collingwood, 34, said.
"I'm still the Twenty20 captain. I want to continue that as well. It's not in my mind to even think about things like this (my future)."
Collingwood shrugged off England's topsy-turvy form at the World Cup where they need to beat the West Indies on Thursday to keep up their hopes of a last-eight place.
"I see things developing very much how the Twenty20 did last year in the West Indies. We scraped through the group stages, but once we did we really put our performances together and went on to win it.
"We really need to focus on getting this complete game. You put the whole thing together, and we're a formidable team. We want to do that against the West Indies."
Collingwood said the scheduling of the World Cup, that followed on the heels of a gruelling Ashes and one-day campaign in Australia, was no excuse for their showing so far.
"It's not ideal having two huge series or tournaments together, it's like having two Olympics in the same winter. But we can't make that as an excuse."
"We have to beat the West Indies. It's not all over for us and if we can win four games on the trot we can win the World Cup."
Collingwood has garnered 5,092 runs and 111 wickets from 197 one-day internationals.
De Villiers has scan on left thigh injury
South Africa's leading batsman AB de Villiers has undergone a scan on his left thigh after picking up an injury during their World Cup win over India, a team spokesperson said.
The right-handed player has been the most successful batsman for his country in the showpiece event and is currently placed third with 318 runs in the list of highest scorers. He has notched up two hundreds and a half-century from four matches.
"He got a scan done on his thigh. I can't update the details till he gets the scan report," the South African team spokesperson said.
De Villiers needed a runner during his 52-run knock against India on Saturday during South Africa's thrilling three-wicket win against the co-hosts.
The 27-year-old has been in sensational form, hitting back-to-back centuries against West Indies and the Netherlands, but additional wicketkeeping workload has been taking a toll on his back.
He handed over the wicketkeeping duties to Morne van Wyk in South Africa's last two matches, against England and India, to help his ailing back recover.
South Africa play their next Group B match against Ireland on Tuesday at the Eden Gardens.
The right-handed player has been the most successful batsman for his country in the showpiece event and is currently placed third with 318 runs in the list of highest scorers. He has notched up two hundreds and a half-century from four matches.
"He got a scan done on his thigh. I can't update the details till he gets the scan report," the South African team spokesperson said.
De Villiers needed a runner during his 52-run knock against India on Saturday during South Africa's thrilling three-wicket win against the co-hosts.
The 27-year-old has been in sensational form, hitting back-to-back centuries against West Indies and the Netherlands, but additional wicketkeeping workload has been taking a toll on his back.
He handed over the wicketkeeping duties to Morne van Wyk in South Africa's last two matches, against England and India, to help his ailing back recover.
South Africa play their next Group B match against Ireland on Tuesday at the Eden Gardens.
Pakistan into quarters after Zimbabwe win
Former champions Pakistan sailed into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a rain-affected Group A match at Pallekele stadium on Monday.
Pakistan, set a revised 162-run target in 38 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis formula, successfully achieved that in 34.1 overs on the back of an unbeaten 78 by Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Hafeez (49).
The victory gave the 1992 winners eight points from five matches and a place in the last eight, sending Zimbabwe packing after the first round. New Zealand, Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia make up the other qualifiers from Group A.
The final group standings will depend on the results of the remaining matches in the first phase. The top four teams will also qualify from Group B.
Pakistan's target looked tricky as Zimbabwe bowled a tight line and length. Left-arm spinner Raymond Price (2-21), opening the attack, dismissed opener Ahmed Shahzad (eight) in his second over.
Price and Utseya then bowled two maiden overs before Hafeez and Shafiq - playing his first World Cup match in place of injured Umar Akmal - opened up with some attractive drives.
Hafeez fell one short of his half-century, caught off Utseya after hitting six boundaries during his 65-ball knock. Shahid Afridi promoted himself to number four but managed just three runs. Shafiq and Younis Khan (13 not out) saw Pakistan home. Shafiq hit seven boundaries during his sedate 97-ball knock.
Earlier, seamers Umar Gul (3-36), Abdul Razzaq (1-24) and Wahab Riaz (1-21) removed Zimbabwe's top four for just 43 after Elton Chigumbura won the toss and chose to bat in overcast conditions. Spinners Afridi and Hafeez, with a wicket each, further derailed Zimbabwe, who at the first rain break were 96-5.
Left-hander Craig Ervine fought a lone battle, hitting a patient 52 off 82 balls with five boundaries for his third ODI fifty, before Hafeez bowled him in his first over. Chigumbura (32 not out) and Prosper Utseya (18) added 48 for the seventh wicket.
Zimbabwe made a disastrous start, losing in-form Brendan Taylor off the fifth ball of the innings, caught off Razzaq by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. Gul made it 5-2 when he dismissed Regis Chakabva off the last ball of the second over, before removing Vusimuzi Sibanda (five) shortly afterwards.
Ervine and Tatenda Taibu added 30 for the fourth wicket before Wahab Riaz, in for Shoaib Akhtar, had Taibu caught off a miscued drive at mid-off by Afridi for 19. Zimbabwe play their last match against Kenya on March 20.
Pakistan, set a revised 162-run target in 38 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis formula, successfully achieved that in 34.1 overs on the back of an unbeaten 78 by Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Hafeez (49).
The victory gave the 1992 winners eight points from five matches and a place in the last eight, sending Zimbabwe packing after the first round. New Zealand, Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia make up the other qualifiers from Group A.
The final group standings will depend on the results of the remaining matches in the first phase. The top four teams will also qualify from Group B.
Pakistan's target looked tricky as Zimbabwe bowled a tight line and length. Left-arm spinner Raymond Price (2-21), opening the attack, dismissed opener Ahmed Shahzad (eight) in his second over.
Price and Utseya then bowled two maiden overs before Hafeez and Shafiq - playing his first World Cup match in place of injured Umar Akmal - opened up with some attractive drives.
Hafeez fell one short of his half-century, caught off Utseya after hitting six boundaries during his 65-ball knock. Shahid Afridi promoted himself to number four but managed just three runs. Shafiq and Younis Khan (13 not out) saw Pakistan home. Shafiq hit seven boundaries during his sedate 97-ball knock.
Earlier, seamers Umar Gul (3-36), Abdul Razzaq (1-24) and Wahab Riaz (1-21) removed Zimbabwe's top four for just 43 after Elton Chigumbura won the toss and chose to bat in overcast conditions. Spinners Afridi and Hafeez, with a wicket each, further derailed Zimbabwe, who at the first rain break were 96-5.
Left-hander Craig Ervine fought a lone battle, hitting a patient 52 off 82 balls with five boundaries for his third ODI fifty, before Hafeez bowled him in his first over. Chigumbura (32 not out) and Prosper Utseya (18) added 48 for the seventh wicket.
Zimbabwe made a disastrous start, losing in-form Brendan Taylor off the fifth ball of the innings, caught off Razzaq by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. Gul made it 5-2 when he dismissed Regis Chakabva off the last ball of the second over, before removing Vusimuzi Sibanda (five) shortly afterwards.
Ervine and Tatenda Taibu added 30 for the fourth wicket before Wahab Riaz, in for Shoaib Akhtar, had Taibu caught off a miscued drive at mid-off by Afridi for 19. Zimbabwe play their last match against Kenya on March 20.
Pakistan seek confidence boost against Zimbabwe
Smarting from their comprehensive drubbing by New Zealand, Pakistan will want to restore their self-confidence with a big win against Zimbabwe in Monday's World Cup Group A match in Kandy.
Pakistan showed uncharacteristic consistency in the tournament, winning their first three matches before Ross Taylor's sensational century snapped their winning streak.
Kamran Akmal's woeful form behind the wicket remains a major worry for the team even though the management has backed the beleaguered stumper to come good.
Umar Akmal's finger injury is also a concern for the side, which otherwise could have asked him to keep wicket instead.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, are wary of a Pakistan backlash and while their spinners are capable of restricting most line-ups, their batsmen would face a tough task against a Pakistani attack that includes Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi.
Both teams will also be concerned with the dark clouds that have hovered above the Pallekele ground all weekend and with rain forecast for Monday, the players might not be able to play out 100 overs.
In Chittagong, a bullish Bangladesh will take on a winless Dutch side in a Group B encounter.
On a high after pulling off an upset against England, Shakib Al Hasan's men are on the hunt for another win that would brighten their quarter-final prospects.
For the Netherlands, their last two group stage matches, against Bangladesh and Ireland (March 18), provide them with their best chance of finishing the tournament with at least one victory.
Pakistan showed uncharacteristic consistency in the tournament, winning their first three matches before Ross Taylor's sensational century snapped their winning streak.
Kamran Akmal's woeful form behind the wicket remains a major worry for the team even though the management has backed the beleaguered stumper to come good.
Umar Akmal's finger injury is also a concern for the side, which otherwise could have asked him to keep wicket instead.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, are wary of a Pakistan backlash and while their spinners are capable of restricting most line-ups, their batsmen would face a tough task against a Pakistani attack that includes Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi.
Both teams will also be concerned with the dark clouds that have hovered above the Pallekele ground all weekend and with rain forecast for Monday, the players might not be able to play out 100 overs.
In Chittagong, a bullish Bangladesh will take on a winless Dutch side in a Group B encounter.
On a high after pulling off an upset against England, Shakib Al Hasan's men are on the hunt for another win that would brighten their quarter-final prospects.
For the Netherlands, their last two group stage matches, against Bangladesh and Ireland (March 18), provide them with their best chance of finishing the tournament with at least one victory.
Rahim praises Bangladesh bowlers
Bangladesh wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim praised his side for tight bowling and fielding in restricting the Netherlands to just 160 in their crucial World Cup Group B clash on Monday.
The Dutch won the toss and opted to bat but slumped to 160 all out in 46.2 overs despite 53 not out from the dangerous Ryan ten Doeschate. Abdur Razzak was the pick of the bowlers, with 3-29 from his 10 overs.
"After we lost the toss we had to field and our bowlers did a great job to restrict them to 160 and I think all the fielders also fielded well," said Rahim.
Bangladesh did not bowl a single wide or no-ball in a disciplined display.
Rahim said the ground fielding had been excellent, although some catches were dropped. "We will make sure it doesn't happen in the big matches," he added.
"Last match we had a do-or-die match (against England) and everybody was motivated and really performed well and we got over the line and hopefully today we will chase that down."
The Dutch won the toss and opted to bat but slumped to 160 all out in 46.2 overs despite 53 not out from the dangerous Ryan ten Doeschate. Abdur Razzak was the pick of the bowlers, with 3-29 from his 10 overs.
"After we lost the toss we had to field and our bowlers did a great job to restrict them to 160 and I think all the fielders also fielded well," said Rahim.
Bangladesh did not bowl a single wide or no-ball in a disciplined display.
Rahim said the ground fielding had been excellent, although some catches were dropped. "We will make sure it doesn't happen in the big matches," he added.
"Last match we had a do-or-die match (against England) and everybody was motivated and really performed well and we got over the line and hopefully today we will chase that down."
Ponting likely to continue as Oz skipper
Former Australian cricket captains Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor are unlikely to recommend the sack for current skipper Ricky Ponting during their forensic review of Australian cricket.
And, Cricket Australia boss, James Sutherland, too insists that Ponting's captaincy is not in jeopardy despite former captain Ian Chappell and former stars Doug Walters and Geoff Lawson, demanding his sacking.
The panel will interview key figures, including Ponting.
"We're very comfortable with the performance of the team under Ricky," The Daily Telegraph quoted Sutherland, as saying.
"These sorts of things are very much in the hands of selectors. (But) the first thing for any Australian player is performance and Ricky's contribution as a leader . . . he's doing a fantastic job with the one-day side at the World Cup," Sutherland added.
Ponting has said he would take no offence if the review suggested ways he could improve as captain.
"That's what I'm all about-I'm all about learning, every day," he said.
"If there's something that comes out of the review that's going to make me a better player or captain, great. I think that's the attitude and approach we all should have," he added.
And, Cricket Australia boss, James Sutherland, too insists that Ponting's captaincy is not in jeopardy despite former captain Ian Chappell and former stars Doug Walters and Geoff Lawson, demanding his sacking.
The panel will interview key figures, including Ponting.
"We're very comfortable with the performance of the team under Ricky," The Daily Telegraph quoted Sutherland, as saying.
"These sorts of things are very much in the hands of selectors. (But) the first thing for any Australian player is performance and Ricky's contribution as a leader . . . he's doing a fantastic job with the one-day side at the World Cup," Sutherland added.
Ponting has said he would take no offence if the review suggested ways he could improve as captain.
"That's what I'm all about-I'm all about learning, every day," he said.
"If there's something that comes out of the review that's going to make me a better player or captain, great. I think that's the attitude and approach we all should have," he added.
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