Tigers prepare for bumper barrage

The first semi-final of the World Cup will have to wait one more day as play was suspended due to excessive rain.

The covers have gone on and off a few times but the match was eventually called off. New Zealand were 211-5 off 46.1 overs when persistent rain worsened sufficiently for the umpires to halt play with 23 balls left in the innings. Ross Taylor was 67 not out and Tom Latham three not out. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had earlier made 67 after winning the toss, with Jasprit Bumrah (1-25 off eight overs) leading a disciplined India bowling attack. After more than four hours without play, the covers started to be removed but no sooner had an inspection been announced then fresh rain fell on the Manchester ground. 

The play will continue tomorrow from where it left off today. 

The covers at Old Trafford in Manchester are coming on. Drizzle starts and although it does not seem heavy, the umpires halted the proceedings. 

Click here to see what happens if the first semifinal is not concluded today.

 

New Zealand lose wickets in quick successions

New Zealand lost Jimmy Neesham and Coolin De Grandhomme in quick successions as the Kiwis reach the 200-run mark.

Neesham never looked comfortable on the field as he was sent back by Hardik Pandya after he scored 12 off 18 balls. However, De Grandhomme on the other hand scored a quickfire 16 off ten balls before being caught behind the stumps by Dhoni as Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a slower. Ross Taylor still on the crease having scored 60 runs off 81 balls after 45 overs.

Williamson departs trying to up the tempo

After a 64-run third wicket stand between New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, the former fell prey to Chahal in the 36th over. A tossed up delivery from Chahal that got the outside edge of Williamson's bat who was already into the shot. A simple catch to Ravindra Jadeja who was standing at point. This could be a massive moment in the game where the Kiwis have been struggling with their scoring rate.

New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls take a single during their semifinal against India at Old Trafford. Photo: Reuters

Williamson, Taylor hold firm against India in World Cup semi-final

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson again helped his side recover from the loss of an early wicket as the Black Caps reached 122-2 after 33 overs in the World Cup semi-final against India at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Williamson, who won the toss, remains 58 not out and Ross Taylor 22 not out, with hopes of a competitive Black Caps total once more resting on the shoulders of the two senior batsmen. The duo have strung together an ongoing 53-run stand for the third wicket.

New Zealand lost opener Martin Guptill with just one run on the board and crawled to 27-1 off the first 10 overs.

All five previous matches in the tournament at Old Trafford had been won by the side batting first, so Williamson's decision at the toss was understandable.

But, Williamson apart, the Black Caps' top order has struggled at the World Cup and the overcast conditions in Manchester on Tuesday allied to a fresh pitch offering some seam movement promised to assist India's impressive pace attack.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar appealed for lbw against Guptill off the first ball of the match and an India review of the original not out decision proved unsuccessful, with replays indicating the ball would have gone down the legside.

It took New Zealand 17 balls to score the first run of the match and India did not have long to wait for Guptill's wicket in any event.

The right-hander was the leading run-scorer of the tournament when New Zealand finished runners-up at the 2015 World Cup.

But he had made just one when he fended carelessly outside off-stump against a rising Jasprit Bumrah delivery and was well caught, head-high, by India captain Virat Kohli at second slip.

Guptill's fifth single-figure score of the tournament left New Zealand 1-1 in the fourth over.

His exit brought in Williamson, who prior to Tuesday's match had scored over 28 percent of New Zealand's runs this tournament -- a remarkably high percentage for one batsman.

Left-hander Henry Nicholls eventually struck the opening boundary of the match when he cover-drove Bumrah for four in the eighth over to reach his first double-figure score of the tournament.

Bumrah's opening spell still yielded fine figures of one wicket for 10 runs in four overs.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja ended a second-wicket stand worth 68 when he turned one between bat and pad to bowl Nicholls for 28. (AFP, Manchester)

New Zealand batsmen Ross Taylor and skipper Kane Williamson were not allowed to score freely as Indian bowlers bowled excellently.

Indian spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja kept the Kiwis in check, leaving the batsmen scratching their heads on how to score runs. The fielding has been excellent such that the Kiwis were not able to reach the hundred mark after 25 overs. Henry Nicholls was sent back as a good length ball broke back in and bounced, as the batsman aimed to defend off the front foot, but, he did not expect it to spin so much. Ravindra Jadeja breached Nicholl's defence. The middle stump was knocked back just as New Zealand looked to build a partnership.

 

Skipper Kane Williamson and opener Henry Nicholls steadied the ship and consolidated after New Zealand lost Martin Guptill for 1 following a very nervy and slow start by the Kiwis. Williamson was unbeaten on 26 with Nicholls not out on 23 as the Kiwis reached 52 for the loss of one wicket after 14 overs.

3.3 overs Jusprit Bumrah removes an out-of-form Martin Guptill with a peach outside off-stump. The ball rose sharply as Guptill hesitantly poked at it, only finding the safe hands of Virat Kohli at second slip. 1 run for Guptill off 14 deliveries and 1 run on the board for Kiwis for one wicket.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat first in the first semifinal of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup at Old Trafford in Manchester today.

The kiwis made one change to their side. Fit-again speedster Lockie Ferguson comes in for Tim Southee. India, too, made one change, with Yuzvendra Chahal replacing Kuldeep Yadav.

Playing XIs:

India: Lokesh Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(c), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni(w), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

"We would've batted first. Fresh wicket, nice and hard, and not moist. A bit of rain around as well, the ball will get wet as the game goes on. It could remain decent throughout the game," India captain Virat Kohli said after losing the toss.

The prolific batsman feels their experience of playing two matches on this ground would help them negate the impact of losing the toss. "It's going to remain similar throughout the course of the game - we have done well in Manchester. We have had two good games in Manchester, and it's about focussing on the basics. We need to remember why we are in the semis."

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said, "It looks like a good surface. We have played a number of games here. A toss-up with the overheads, but it'll be around all day, so we need to get the job done first up. We are used to the routine, but we have to start afresh after the round robin we have a great opportunity to put up a good performance against a side like India."

The umpire who awarded England six runs from a freak overthrow in the last over of the World Cup final has admitted he made an "error" and should have given one run fewer, a report said Sunday.

A throw to the stumps deflected off the bat of a diving Ben Stokes as he tried to complete a second run and raced to the boundary, with Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena awarding six. Three balls later the scores at 50 overs were tied as England reached 241 all out replying to New Zealand's 241-8. It took the nail-biting final to a Super Over which again was tied but England lifted the trophy by virtue of having scored more boundaries. 

Critics, including former leading umpire Simon Taufel, said England should have been awarded five runs, not six, as the batsmen had not crossed for the second run at the moment the ball was thrown.

Former Sri Lankan Test player Dharmasena told the Sunday Times he did not have the benefit of television replays which showed the batsmen had not crossed.

"I agree that there was an error of judgement when I see it on TV replays now," Dharmasena, who was umpiring the final with South Africa's Marais Erasmus, told the local Sunday Times. "But we did not have the luxury of TV replays at the ground and I do not regret the decision I made."

Dharmasena said he signalled six after consulting the other match officials. "So, I did consult the leg umpire (Erasmus) through the communication system which is heard by all other umpires and the match referee," he told the newspaper.

"While they cannot check TV replays, they all confirmed that the batsmen have completed the second run. This is when I made my decision."

Taufel had told Fox Sports Australia the umpires made a "clear mistake" as the batsmen had not crossed for their second run.

But the Australian also defended the match umpires, who he said had to make a complicated judgement, and said it would be "unfair" to say the decision altered the outcome of the tournament as it was impossible to now what would have happened in the final balls had five been awarded.

Prolific opener David Warner smashed a brilliant 122 but could not claim victory for Australia as they slipped to a 10-run defeat to South Africa in their Cricket World Cup clash at Old Trafford on Saturday, leaving them facing a semi-final against England.

The result allowed India to take over at the top of the round-robin table at the end of the first stage, meaning Australia will battle the host nation at Edgbaston on Thursday, while the Indians meet New Zealand at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Already-eliminated South Africa chose to bat and a century from captain Faf du Plessis took them to 325 for six in their 50 overs, a total boosted by Rassie van der Dussen’s well-constructed 95.

Australia were in trouble early in their innings and a hamstring injury to number three batsman Usman Khawaja saw him retire hurt, and put the rest of his tournament in jeopardy, but they rallied magnificently before being bowled out for 315 with one ball remaining. (Reuters, Manchester)

South Africa post mammoth 325 for six

South Africa have posted a mammoth 325 for six in the last group stage match of the World Cup against top placed Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester today.

After a 79-run opening stand between Aiden Markram adn Quinton de Kock, South Africa went onto post a mammoth total on the board, courtesy of a brilliant century from skipper Faf du Plessis and a valiant 97-ball 95 from Van der Dussen. Du Plessis was dismissed in the 43rd over after scoring a 94-ball 100. However, Dussen was denied a century when the right-hander was dismissed by Australia quick Pat Cummins in the very last delivery of South Africa's innings

Markram falls after a solid start by South Africa

South Africa got a brilliant start in the last group stage game of the World Cup against Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester today.

The two openers -- Aiden markram and Quinton de Kock -- provided a solid start for the Proteas after having elected to bat first. The duo strung together a 79-run opening stand before Markram fell prey to Nathan Lyon after scoring 34 off 37 in the 12th over. De Kock remains unbeaten on 41 with skipper Faf du Plessis on seven at the other end.

SA win toss and choose to bat against Aus

South Africa have won the toss and decided to bat against Australia in the last group fixture of the World Cup at Old Trafford today.

A win would put Australia on top of the table, ensuring them a semifinal against Trans-Tamman rivals New Zealand. A defeat for them, together with a win for India today against Sri Lanka, would see them finish second, setting up an Australia-England battle.

South Africa, on the other hand, would be looking to end their miserable campaign on a high, and a handsome win today might see them overtake Bangladesh in seventh position. 

Australia are unchanged while South Africa make a forced change, with wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi replacing Hashim Amla.

Playing XIs:

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon

South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Jean-Paul Duminy, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi

Bangladesh got off to a brilliant start in the first ODI of their three-match series against West Indies at the Providence Stadium in Guyana today. 

Electing to bowl, the Tigers reduced the hosts to 45 for two after 17 overs in a game that has been reduced to 41-overs-a-side due to overnight rain in Guyana. 

The relentless showers in the past two days also meant that the spinners are getting a lot of assistance from the pitch. 

The first to strike for the Tigers, however, was Mustafizur Rahman as the left-arm pacer removed Shai Hope with his very first delivery in the game. A fuller length inswinging delivery had Hope undone as it got inside edge of the right-hander's willow before hitting his pads and crashing onto his stumps. 

Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz was the next to dismiss Kyle Mayers when extra turn and bounce off the pitch saw Mayers completely miss his shot as the ball went onto hit the off stump. 

Bangladesh could have had Windies in further trouble. Debutant Nasum Ahmed saw a very controversial LBW review go against him while Mayers could have been dismissed earlier as he saw a Miraz delivery go between the keeper and first slip for a boundary after a thick edge off his bat. 

The Tigers have kept things tight so far, mostly with spinners operating from both ends. The fact that the Windies batters could only score a solitary run between overs six to nine should be enough to realise how hard it has been for the Windies batters out in the middle today. 

However, Shamarh Brooks seems to have settled himself down as he remains unbeaten on 28 off 54 deliveries.   
 

Despite a comfortable six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first ODI, Bangladesh struggled on some occasions during the match, especially in the fielding department. 

The Tigers dropped multiple catches, which enabled the hosts to stitch a 39-run 10th-wicket stand.

ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal hinted that fixing these issues was imperative because it may cause greater suffering against stronger opponents.

"I think there are so many things to improve on. The mistakes we made today [Sunday] would be very costly in better conditions and against bigger teams," Tamim said after the match.

"Ever since I became the captain, I have been worried about this. It has to stop. If we had caught the catches, we would have chased 115 runs in this match. We need to figure it out," he added.

While Bangladesh have often opted for a "safer" option while approaching any cricket match, they decided to form a squad with six bowlers and five batters for the first ODI against the Windies. 

When asked about the unusual game plan, Tamim said: "We had a lot of debates about whether we should play an extra bowler or a batter. If we'd played an extra batsman, it would have been safer, but you have to take chances in international cricket. You'd probably ask me the question another way round if we had lost the game today, but I'm glad that the plan worked out well." 

Mahmudullah Riyad played a decent unbeaten 41-run knock and finished the game in style with a boundary. Although his recent performances with the bat in T20 cricket have been called into question, the ODI skipper backed his colleague and illustrated the significance of Riyad's contribution in the absence of the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali Rabbi.

"Regular batsman at No. 3, 4, 5 were not available, who are are very important for us. 25-30 runs also became very important for Riyad Bhai. When we look back after one or two failures, we see only 25 runs, 26 runs. But those 25, 26 runs are very important.

"If you think of the three ODIs in South Africa, he didn't have a chance to play big innings there. That's why I think his situation should be looked at from a different perspective. Because his work is hardly appreciated," he concluded.