2015 Cricket World Cup about to commence

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The 11th Cricket World Cup, the world's biggest sporting event of the year, is set to start, with co-hosts Australia and New Zealand both playing on the first day.

New Zealand's game against Sri Lanka gets the tournament of one-day matches under way at 22:00 GMT on Friday.

Australia - the favourites to win the tournament for a record fifth time - meet England in front of an expected 100,000 capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground at 03:30 GMT on Saturday.

India defend the title they won for the second time on home soil in 2011, with the final in Melbourne on 29 March.

The 14 teams competing will take part in 49 matches, of 50 overs a side, across 14 venues, followed by an estimated global audience of more than one billion people.

The Cricket World Cup has been described as the third biggest sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games and football's World Cup.

Later this year sees the next biggest - the Rugby World Cup in England.

Cricket World Cup set to start in New Zealand and Australia

By Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Melbourne
13 February 2015

ICC Cricket World Cup

Dates: 13 February - 29 March

Hosts: Australia and New Zealand

BBC coverage: Live Test Match Special radio and text commentary on every match on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra & BBC Sport website, plus desktop, tablets, mobiles and app.

The 11th Cricket World Cup is set to start, with co-hosts Australia and New Zealand both playing on the first day.

New Zealand's game against Sri Lanka gets the tournament of one-day matches under way at 22:00 GMT on Friday.

Australia meet England in front of an expected 100,000 capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground at 03:30 GMT on Saturday.

India defend the title they won for the second time on home soil in 2011, with the final in Melbourne on 29 March.

The 14 teams competing will take part in 49 matches, of 50 overs a side, across 14 venues, followed by an estimated global audience of more than one billion people.

Students in Chennai (aka Madras) give thumbs-up to wish the Indian cricket team luck in the World Cup. Cricket is a religion in India

India are the reigning World Champions after they beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in Mumbai in the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final

"The World Cup is massive because it is one of those special times when all the teams come together," former England off-spinner Graeme Swann told BBC Sport.

"There is a huge audience around the world, there is hype, and you feel the excitement as a player."

The Cricket World Cup has been described as the third biggest sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games and football's World Cup.

Participating nations are split into two groups of seven, with the top four in each group progressing to the quarter-finals.

Both matches on the opening day are from Group A, which also includes Bangladesh and qualifiers Scotland and Afghanistan.

India are in Group B and open their campaign against bitter rivals Pakistan in Adelaide on Sunday. Fellow Test-playing sides South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe are joined by Ireland and the United Arab Emirates.

A capacity 100,000 crowd will watch Australia take on arch rivals England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground at 03:30 GMT on Saturday


Cricket World Cup Finals

Australia have won the tournament a record four times, winning it three times in a row between 1999 and 2007

2011: India beat Sri Lanka. 2007: Australia beat Sri Lanka. 2003: Australia beat India. 1999: Australia beat Pakistan. 1996: Sri Lanka beat Australia. 1992: Pakistan beat England. 1987: Australia beat England. 1983: India beat West Indies. 1979: West Indies beat England. 1975: West Indies beat Australia


The India-Pakistan game could be the most-watched match in the event's history, said tournament chief executive John Harnden.

"The match sold out in 20 minutes, and when we put some further tickets on sale in November, they were literally gone in seconds," he said.

Australia start as favourites to be crowned world champions for a fifth time as they compete in their first major tournament since the death of their batsman Phillip Hughes. in November 2014.

Their first opponents are oldest rivals England - a team they have beaten in 13 of the last 15 one-day internationals games played down under.

England, who reached the final three times in the 1970s and 1980s, have failed to win a match in the knockout stages since the tournament was last held in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, but pace bowler James Anderson said his team do not feel like underdogs.

"There is a real genuine belief that we can surprise a few teams," said the 32-year-old. "We feel confident enough that we can beat anyone if we have our day.

"In a tournament like this, it's all about qualifying for the quarter-finals, then you are only three matches away from winning the World Cup."

Previous World Cups have come in for criticism for various reasons.

In 1999, hosts England were knocked out in the group stage, while the 2003 event in South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe was marred by politics and security fears.

That tournament was the first to expand to 14 teams, and the subsequent competitions in the West Indies in 2007 and India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were derided for being too long.

The 2015 edition is a similar 44-day length, but Swann believes the negatives have been overlooked in the excitement of the build-up.

"Cricket is so big in Australia and New Zealand," said Swann, who was part of the England squad in 2011.

"There is a buzz, everyone is really looking forward to it. It's going to be big."

BBC Sport - Cricket World Cup set to start in New Zealand and Australia

 

[Cannuck]

I think there should be a subsection in the forum for immigrants and wannabe Canadians to post stuff from their homelands (that Canadians don't care about). That way, the regular forum isn't cluttered with this spam-like silliness.

 

[Liberalman]

I still don't understand the game of cricket can anyone explain it?

 

[Cannuck]

You hit a ball around the field then you stop and drink tea

 

[Liberalman]

You hit a ball around the field then you stop and drink tea

Great I am going to Pro-Line to make some money after I check the statistics on how many tea breaks each player takes

 

[captain morgan]

Great I am going to Pro-Line to make some money after I check the statistics on how many tea breaks each player takes

This edge-of-your-seat thrilling game can take days to complete.

Better to bet on how many insomniacs rely on the televised tourney to catch 40 winks

 

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Cricket World Cup 2015: New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in opener

By James Gheerbrant
BBC Sport
14 February 2015

2015 Cricket World Cup, Christchurch (Hagley Oval):

New Zealand 331-6 (50 overs): Anderson 75, B McCullum 65, Mendis 2-5
Sri Lanka 233 (46.1 overs): Thirimanne 65, Mathews 46, Anderson 2-18

New Zealand won by 98 runs

Full scorecard here: Scorecard

Co-hosts New Zealand got off to a winning start with a resounding 98-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the World Cup in Christchurch.

Captain Brendon McCullum struck 65 off 49 balls as the Black Caps put on a rapid 111 for the first wicket.

Kane Williamson added a composed 57 before Corey Anderson blasted 75 off 46 balls to help the hosts to an imposing total of 331-6 from their 50 overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka subsided to 233 all out, with Daniel Vettori taking 2-34.

Ex-New Zealand captain Jeremy Coney

"The big players stepped up for New Zealand. Daniel Vettori bowled beautifully. He showed his experience - he slowed his pace and got a bit of grip to defeat the batsmen."

New Zealand's Luke Ronchi smashes a shot during the opening 2015 Cricket World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Christcurch

Sri Lankan bowler Nuwan Kulasekara bowls during the 2015 Cricket World Cup opener in Christchurch

Lasith Malinga bowls to New Zealand's Grant Elliott during the game at Hagley Oval on South Island

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews plays a shot

A steward is sent sprawling as a streaker turns on the pace at Hagley Oval in Christchurch

New Zealand, who play England next, have reached six World Cup semi-finals without ever going on to make the final.

The Black Caps, however, are one of the favourites for this tournament, and this powerful performance against the 2011 finalists underlined why they are so highly-rated.

"We executed our blueprint with the bat," said McCullum. "It was a really good performance all round. We have been waiting a long time for this so it is great to complete our plans."

Put in under grey skies, the hosts immediately attacked the Sri Lanka bowlers with some explosive hitting in the first powerplay.

Williamson recorded his 13th fifty in his last 17 ODIs, before Anderson, playing in his home city, helped New Zealand to add a crucial 102 in the final 10 overs.

Sangakkara's milestone

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (13,732), who made 39 off 38 balls, has overtaken Ricky Ponting (13,704) to become the second-highest run-scorer in the history of ODI cricket

Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 and reached the final of the last two tournaments, but they will have to improve on this performance in order to challenge at this tournament.

Influential fast bowler Lasith Malinga was disappointing, conceding 84 runs in 10 wicketless overs.

Sri Lanka's chase began well, with opener Lahiru Thirimanne hitting 65, but was soon derailed by the pace of Trent Boult and the spin of Vettori.

They collapsed from 124-1 to 168-6, with Boult, Adam Milne and Vettori, who reversed his retirement from ODIs last year, capturing two wickets each, and their innings never recovered.

They will hope for a rapid return to form when they face Afghanistan on Saturday.

"They probably scored 30 or 40 runs too many and then we needed someone in our top four to get a hundred," said captain Angelo Matthews.

"But we are not going to panic, we still have five group games left."

BBC Sport - Cricket World Cup 2015: New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in opener
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England thrashed by Australia in first World Cup match

By Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Melbourne
14 February 2015

Cricket World Cup 2015, Melbourne (MCG):

Australia 342-9 (50 overs) Finch 135, Maxwell 66, Finn 5-71
England 231 (41.5 overs) Taylor 98*, Woakes 37, Marsh 5-33

Australia won by 111 runs


Full scorecard here:

Scorecard

England have suffered their second-heaviest-ever defeat at a World Cup at the hands of World Cup favourites Australia

England were outclassed by an impressive Australia in a 111-run defeat on the opening day of the World Cup in Melbourne.

Aaron Finch, dropped on nought by Chris Woakes in the first over, hammered 135 and Glenn Maxwell a 40-ball 66 to propel the co-hosts to 342-9 after their allotted 50 overs,

Chasing the biggest score they had ever conceded in a one-day international against Australia never seemed likely for England and a top-order collapse further demonstrated the gulf in class.

Mitchell Marsh took 5-33 as England were bowled out for 231 despite an inventive unbeaten 98 from James Taylor.

Although an expected defeat by the tournament favourites does little damage to England's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, the manner of the reverse should provide cause for concern.

They were substandard in the field, lacked control at the end of the Australia innings and were saved from their heaviest World Cup defeat by Taylor.

England's heaviest World Cup defeats (by runs)

Margin.......... Opposition ..........Date
122................South Africa.....22 May 1999
111..................Australia........14 February 2015
92...................West Indies.....23 June 1979
82....................India...............26 February 2003
78................South Africa.......25 February 1996

The most costly mistake was made by Woakes, dropping a simple chance above his head at square leg off James Anderson to reprieve Finch from only the fifth delivery.

The right-hander made the most of his let-off to dominate the innings through flicks off his pads, brutal pulls and powerful hits down the ground.

But the biggest disappointment was England's death overs, which featured too few yorkers, too many slow bouncers and Maxwell's clean striking.

England captain Eoin Morgan, pictured clipping a ball through to Australia's wicket keeper, failed to guide his side to victory

Australia's Marsh bowls during their Cricket World Cup pool A match against England in Melbourne

Mitchell Starc runs past the crowd with his finger up high after catching out England's Ian Bell

Australia captain George Bailey falls after he played a hook shot during their Cricket World Cup Pool A match

Australia's wicketkeeper Brad Haddin celebrates after catching out England's Jos Buttler

Australia's Aaron Finch, who scored a mighty 135, walks past as England's team celebrates running him out during their match

England bowler Stuart Broad appeals for a wicket during their Cricket World Cup Pool A match ​

​

Steven Finn at least claimed the first World Cup hat-trick by an England bowler from the final three balls of the innings, all skied catches.

Bowling first on a flat pitch in the hope the overnight rain would result in some assistance, England reduced Australia to 70-3 by Stuart Broad and Woakes finding movement on a good length.

The lesson was not learnt, though, and George Bailey was allowed to settle on a diet of short bowling, making 55 and rebuilding in a stand of 146 with Finch.

When Finch and Bailey fell, England looked like they might check Australia's progress, but Maxwell provided the late carnage. The final 10 overs yielded 105 runs, including 76 off the last six.

A successful chase looked fanciful, but England's tepid reply never had them in the game.

As Australia hit their lengths and held their catches to provide the visitors with a lesson, one by one, England's batsmen holed out.
Moeen Ali started the rot by pulling Mitchell Starc to mid-on, before Marsh's medium-pacers took over.

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott

"Diplomatically speaking it was disappointing, but if you want it in straight Yorkshire: it was rubbish. England just didn't seem to have the aggression and the intensity."

Gary Ballance - in the side for Ravi Bopara - flicked to short mid-wicket, Ian Bell cut to deep point, Joe Root top-edged and captain Eoin Morgan toe-ended a pull to diving wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for a third successive duck against Australia.

Steve Smith's wonderful flying catch at short cover accounted for Jos Buttler and left England at a hopeless 92-6.

However, Taylor, dropped down the order to accommodate Ballance, did find a way to score by running hard and capitalising on what loose bowling was on offer.

He nudged towards a maiden century in the company of last man Anderson, but was given out lbw to Josh Hazlewood, only for the decision to be overturned on review.

But, from the same delivery, Anderson was run out and, amid confusing scenes as the TV replays were consulted, England's fate was sealed.

On Friday they face co-hosts New Zealand, who beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs in the tournament opener in Christchurch earlier on Saturday.


BBC Sport - England thrashed by Australia in first World Cup match

I still don't understand the game of cricket can anyone explain it?

The rules and regulations of ODI cricket, the form of the game played at the World Cup:

One Day International - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Cricket scoring:

Scoring (cricket) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Blackleaf]

The Hindus have trounced the Muslims at the Adelaide Oval in the World Cup:

Cricket World Cup 2015: India crush rivals Pakistan

By Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Adelaide
15 January 2015

Cricket World Cup Pool B, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval):

India 300-7 (50 overs) Kohli 107, Raina 74, S Khan 5-55, Riaz 1-49
Pakistan 224 (47 overs) Misbah 76, Shehzad 47, Shami 4-35, Sharma 2-35

India won by 76 runs

Match scorecard

Defending champions India have crushed their arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of the 2015 World Cup

Virat Kohli compiled a composed hundred to help defending champions India begin the World Cup with a 76-run victory over fierce rivals Pakistan.

Kohli made 107 and shared century stands with both Shikhar Dhawan (73) and Suresh Raina (74) at the Adelaide Oval.

When Kohli fell as part of Sohail Khan's 5-55, Pakistan looked to have dragged themselves back into the game by restricting India to a reachable 300-7.

But a chase that never gained momentum was wrecked by a collapse of three wickets for one run and they eventually stumbled to 224 all out, Mohammed Shami claiming 4-35.

In isolation, India's win earns national pride in what was billed as the most watched cricket match of all time, with an estimated television audience of one billion, and extends their World Cup record against Pakistan to six wins from as many matches.

It was also an emphatic way to begin the defence of a trophy they won on home soil in 2011 and represents their first competitive win since arriving for a tour of Australia in November.

Pakistan, winners when the tournament was last held in Australia and New Zealand 23 years ago, can take heart from the way they stuck to the task with the ball, but their limp chase was poor.

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott

"The crowd were 90% in favour of India and it was a canter for their side. Pakistan didn't have the firepower in spin or seam to stop India getting runs. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli found it easy to score - they got to 150 without breaking sweat. Then the fireworks came from Suresh Raina, who is a great talent. He is amazing and he smashes it everywhere."

After all the hype, the action was intriguing, rather than exciting.

Making first use of an excellent pitch on a baking hot day, India's innings was underpinned by Kohli's calm accumulation all around the wicket, his 126-ball stay containing only eight fours.

The right-hander made Pakistan pay for dropping him twice, the first a tough chance in the deep to Yasir Shah when on only three, the second a more straightforward edge behind to Umar Akmal from the spin of Haris Sohail on 76.

When the 26-year-old punched Shahid Afridi to long-on for a 22nd ODI hundred - only Sachin Tendulkar has more for India - he became the first man to score a century in his opening match of a World Cup tournament on two occasions.

Support came from Dhawan, who curbed his attacking instincts, and Raina, who repeatedly heaved through the leg side in his 56-ball knock.

However, after Kohli edged Sohail to Umar, Pakistan fought back through fast bowler Sohail, who demonstrated consistency of length and canny changes of pace.

India scored just 27 runs in their final five overs as five wickets fell, four of them to Sohail.

Rival fans at the 53,500 capacity Adelaide Oval. An estimated 1 billion people are thought to have watched the match between the two bitter rivals, making it the most watched cricket match in history

The Adelaide Oval in South Australia resembles an English cricket ground

Kohli played beautifully as his hundred pushed India up to 300, a total that was well beyond Pakistan

Misbah-ul-Haq lead the chase for Pakistan, but his 76 was not enough to get his side anywhere close

Kohli celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Shahid Afridi as Pakistan collapsed in Adelaide

Shikhar Dhawan cuts on his way to a half century as India piled on the runs against their rivals

Umesh Yadav (centre) celebrates taking an early wicket as India's bowlers backed up their batting effort

​

BBC Sport - Cricket World Cup 2015: India crush rivals Pakistan

 

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This World Cup has delivered its first huge upset, after minnows Ireland - ranked just 11th in the world in ODI, who are an Associate member of the ICC and who are playing in the World Cup for only the third time - beat the once-mighty Test-playing side West Indies by four wickets at the Saxton Oval in Nelson, on the north coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Cricket Ireland has applied for Full Membership of the ICC, which would allow them to become a permanent ODI playing nation and eventually grant them Test status.

Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland stun West Indies in Nelson

By Jamie Lillywhite
BBC Sport
16 January 2015

World Cup Pool B, Nelson (Saxton Oval):

Ireland: 307-6 (45.5 overs) Stirling 92, Joyce 84, Taylor 3-71, Samuels 1-25
West Indies: 304-7 (50 overs) Simmons 102, Sammy 89, Dockrell 3-50, Mooney 1-59

Ireland won by four wickets

Scorecard

Ireland, a team famous for their giantkilling exploits, have pulled off another upset by beating the once-mighty West Indies - who won the first two World Cups and dominated the game from the late Seventies to the early Nineties - in their opening match of the 2015 Cricket World Cup


Ireland caused the first shock of the World Cup with a four-wicket triumph against West Indies in their opening Pool B match in New Zealand.

Lendl Simmons (102) shared 154 with Darren Sammy (89) as the Windies recovered from 87-5 to post 304-7.

But Ireland's Will Porterfield and Paul Stirling put on 71 and Stirling (92) then shared 106 with Ed Joyce (84).

Niall O'Brien added 79 not out as Ireland won with 25 balls left, their fourth World Cup win over a Test team.

Ireland's love of the chase

It is only the fifth successful World Cup chase in excess of 300 and three of them have been by Ireland.

Having beaten Pakistan in their first World Cup in 2007 and England in the 2011 tournament, Ireland were almost considered favourites from the outset at the picturesque venue in Nelson on the south island.

The Windies, winners of the first two World Cups in the 1970s, now languish eighth in the ODI rankings, were skittled for 122 by England in a warm-up match and are rumoured to be in disharmony following the omission of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo from their squad.

Ireland, ranked 11th, reached the second group stage in 2007 and now have matches against the UAE, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India and Pakistan to try and secure a top-four spot in Pool B and a place in the quarter-finals.

Their intrepid fielding and accurate seam bowling after choosing to field quickly led to two wickets falling in the eighth over.

Big hitting Gayle and Marlon Samuels both launched towering straight sixes before both were dismissed by 22-year-old George Dockrell in the 22nd over, the left-arm spinner securing figures of 3-23 at one point.

Former England spinner Graeme Swann on BBC Test Match Special

"I'd say this is a better victory than the one against England, that was a one-man show from Kevin O'Brien, this was a team effort, five or six people putting their hands up and delivering a world class performance."

Sammy unleashed some innovative strokes, often with ferocious power, in a thrilling partnership with Simmons, who accelerated stylishly as West Indies became the fifth successive team in the tournament to post in excess of 300 when batting first.

But far from overawed, the Irish openers punished some loose bowling in a fluent 13-over stand.

Man-of-the match Stirling hit three sixes in his pugnacious innings and was within eight of his sixth ODI hundred when, suffering from severe cramp, he edged behind in the 28th over with 128 still needed.

With the Windies looking ragged and forlorn, Joyce effortlessly guided the Irish within 32 of the target and despite three wickets in 17 balls, John Mooney, just as he did against England four years ago, struck the winning runs.

Ireland, coached by former West Indies batsman Phil Simmons, uncle of Lendl, next face fellow qualifiers UAE on 25 February.

The picturesque Saxton Oval in Nelson on the north coast of New Zealand's South Island has a capacity of 5,000

Mooney edged over the wicketkeeper's head for four to record the winning runs

It was Ireland's first one-day international win in six matches against West Indies

The Saxton Oval in Nelson was hosting only its third one-day international


BBC Sport - Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland stun West Indies in Nelson

 

[Cannuck]

I was shocked I tell you....shocked!!!!!

 

[Blackleaf]

David Miller and JP Duminy made a record one-day international fifth-wicket stand of 256 as one of the tournament favourites, South Africa, recovered to beat neighbours Zimbabwe in their World Cup opener in Hamilton.

World Cup 2015: South Africa beat Zimbabwe after record stand

By Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport

World Cup Pool B, Hamilton (Seddon Park):

South Africa 339-4 (50 overs): Miller 138*, Duminy 115*, Chigumbura 1-30
Zimbabwe 277 (48.2 overs): H Masakadza 80, Chibhabha 64, Tahir 3-36, Philander 2-30

South Africa won by 62 runs

Scorecard

David Miller and JP Duminy made a record one-day international fifth-wicket stand of 256 as South Africa recovered to beat Zimbabwe in their World Cup opener in Hamilton.

After a shaky start, Miller (138 not out off 92 balls) and Duminy (115 not out from 100) came together at 83-4.

They blasted the Proteas to 339-4, including 111 off the last six overs, while Miller smashed 30 off the 48th.

Hamilton Masakadza (80) helped Zimbabwe to 277 in reply, losing by 62 runs.

South Africa - three-time beaten semi-finalists - were among the pre-tournament favourites, but were less than convincing here, despite winning their 27th consecutive ODI meeting with Zimbabwe.

Hammered 5-0 by Bangladesh in their last ODI series, Zimbabwe were facing the highest successful run chase in World Cup history.

Chamu Chibhabha (64) and Masakadza shared a century stand, with Masakadza reaching his fifty by hitting Dale Steyn for an audacious six over cover, until both holed out off leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

When Masakadza fell, Zimbabwe needed 149 from the final 17 overs, which proved beyond them, though tailender Solomon Mire entertained the crowd with a couple of huge sixes before falling to a superb full-length catch by Proteas skipper AB de Villiers.

"We really went for too much in the end," said captain Elton Chigumbura. "We didn't get the wickets we needed in the middle period and paid for it."

Fresh from overwhelming West Indies at home, the tentative Proteas were four wickets down by the 21st over.

Zimbabwe may even have sensed an upset when De Villiers was acrobatically caught by Craig Ervine on the long-off boundary for 25.

Former England women's batsman Ebony Rainford-Brent:

"That partnership won't be forgotten. I was really impressed with the way South Africa applied themselves as they had to stick in and build a strong partnership. Their running between the wickets was excellent, and then it was some of the best hitting I've ever seen."

Miller and Duminy rebuilt against Zimbabwe's spinners, the former hitting nine sixes and taking seamer Mire for 30 off the 48th over with three fours and three sixes, one of which went out of the ground.

"I just needed to construct a partnership with someone, and JP was the man today," said Miller. "It was tough up front and a bit slow initially, but it definitely eased up towards the end."

Duminy took until the final over to reach three figures, the highest one-day international fifth-wicket stand - and the third highest World Cup partnership for any wicket - reasserted South Africa's supremacy.

While Zimbabwe extended their record number of World Cup defeats to 38, this performance will show they are no pushovers under coach Dav Whatmore, and they must have aspirations of beating an out-of-sorts West Indies side to a quarter-final berth.

"We were in the game for a long time so it was a good sign for the games to come," said Chigumbura.

Seddon Park, Hamilton

Zimbabwe's Tinashe Panyangara celebrated bowling Hashim Amla by wriggling like an eel

Craig Ervine (left) spectacularly caught AB de Villiers off leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi's second delivery

An aggressive 80 from Hamilton Masakadza kept Zimbabwe in the hunt

Imran Tahir made two important breakthroughs for South Africa


BBC Sport - World Cup 2015: South Africa beat Zimbabwe after record stand

 

[Cannuck]

Oh my Gawd!!! I'm just beside myself.

 

[Blackleaf]

Minnows Scotland - who spend much of their time actually playing as Scottish Saltires in English county cricket's limited ODI tournament that is now known as the Royal London One-Day Cup - have been easily beaten by co-hosts New Zealand at the University Oval in Dunedin.

Scotland were bowled out for just 142 after just 36.2 overs, and there was concern amongst the Scots that the lowest World Cup total - a pathetic 36 by Canada - was in jeopardy. The Black Caps then took just 24.5 overs to score the 143 runs they needed for victory.

Next up for both New Zealand and Scotland in this World Cup is a match against England.

New Zealand's victory now leaves them top of Pool A.

Cricket World Cup 2015: New Zealand sink Scotland in Dunedin

By Jamie Lillywhite
BBC Sport
17 February 2015

World Cup Pool A, Dunedin (University Oval):

New Zealand: 146-7 (24.5 overs) Williamson 38, Elliott 29, Davey 3-40, Wardlaw 3-57
Scotland: 142 (36.2 overs) Machan 56, Berrington 50, Anderson 3-18, Vettori 3-24

New Zealand won by three wickets

Match scorecard

New Zealand made it two wins out of two in Pool A with a bizarre three-wicket victory against Scotland in Dunedin.

The Scots were reduced to 12-4 in the fifth over before Matt Machan (56) and Richie Berrington (50) put on 97.

Four batsmen fell first ball, a World Cup first, and only the third such instance in a one-day international, as they were 142 all out in the 37th over.

But New Zealand had more alarms than expected in a curious run chase, before winning with 25.1 overs to spare.

The Kiwis were determined to reach their target as quickly as possible to boost their net run-rate

University Oval, Dunedin

The Scots are in their third World Cup campaign and are yet to win a match in nine attempts, but came closer at the University Oval than anyone could have believed after such a destructive start.

They thrashed their higher ranked fellow qualifiers Ireland by 179 runs in a recent warm-up game yet it quickly became apparent they would not be emulating the Irish team's victory over West Indies on Monday.

Facing an in-form New Zealand on their own patch was a rather different proposition to a fragmented Windies, and the co-hosts, semi-finalists six times, justified their position as one of the leading contenders for the trophy with a fine display in the field after winning the toss.

Left-arm seamer Trent Boult expertly exploited the conditions, swinging the ball back into the right-handers at pace to claim wickets with his opening two deliveries in the second over.

Test Match Special scorer Andrew Samson

"Scotland equalled the world record for four first-ball ducks in an ODI innings. The others were Pakistan against England at The Oval, 2003 and Sri Lanka against Pakistan in Jamshedpur, 1999."

Tim Southee also struck with consecutive deliveries and there was concern the lowest World Cup total of 36 by Canada was in jeopardy.

But Sussex left-hander Machan played with calm assurance in a 79-ball innings to restore some respectability with the purposeful Berrington.

However, wily spinner Daniel Vettori wrapped up the innings with successive wickets and the Kiwis had almost 40 minutes of batting before the official lunch interval.

Skipper Brendon McCullum and opening partner Martin Guptill appeared to want to reach the target in the nine overs bowled before the break, with number of wickets lost not affecting a team's overall run-rate in the group table, and both were caught behind in the mini-session.

The prolific Kane Williamson top-scored with 38 but edged seamer Josh Davey in the 18th over, one of four wickets to fall for 31 in a surprisingly ragged batting display from the Kiwis, who next face England in a day-night fixture in Wellington on Friday.

Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said he was "very proud" of his side after they ran the co-hosts so close.

Scotland's next match is against England, in Christchurch on Monday.

 

[Cannuck]

What a game! What...a...game!!!!!

 

[Blackleaf]

History was made today when Afghanistan made their debut in the Cricket World Cup.

Back in Afghanistan, people around the war-torn country crowded around TV sets to watch their heroes take on Bangladesh at the Manuka Oval in Australia's capital Canberra.

But Bangladesh proved too much for the newbies. The Afghans needed 268 to win in their alloted 50 overs after Bangladesh posted 267 from their 50 overs, losing their final wicket on the final ball of the final over of their innings, but were bowled out for 162 after 42.5 overs and lost by 105 runs. At one point, the minnows were on 3-3.

Nabi (44) and Shenwari (42) were the top scorers with the bat for the Afghans, whilst Zadran was the pick of their bowlers, finishing with bowling figures of 2-20.

Afghanistan lose to Bangladesh on World Cup debut

By Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Canberra
18 February 2015

World Cup Pool A, Canberra (Manuka Oval):

Bangladesh 267 (50 overs): Mushfiqur 71, Shakib 63, Zadran 2-20, Ashraf 2-32
Afghanistan 162 (42.5 overs): Nabi 44, Shenwari 42, Mortaza 3-20, Shakib 2-43

Bangladesh won by 105 runs

Scorecard

Afghanistan's historic first World Cup match ended in a 105-run defeat by Bangladesh in Canberra.

Chasing 268, the Afghans did not recover from being 3-3 after three overs and were bowled out for 162.

They had earlier acquitted themselves well with the ball, reducing Bangladesh to 119-4 and claiming six wickets for 34 runs at the end of the innings.

Mushfiqur Rahim (71) and Shakib Al Hasan (63) helped the Test side to 267 and ensured they avoided an upset.

For Afghanistan, becoming the 20th team to take part in a World Cup is the continuation of a remarkable journey that has been set against the backdrop of continuing conflict in their homeland.

In 2008 they were playing in the fifth and bottom tier of the International Cricket Council's world league but have since qualified for this tournament, two World Twenty20s and will soon have the chance to earn Test status.

Here, their pace bowlers showed that they possess the quality to compete in Pool A, where England and Scotland also await.

Ex-England women's batsman Ebony Rainford-Brent on Test Match Special:

"Bangladesh will be delighted with their victory. They could cause an upset against an England side that are hit and miss. The group is strong with Australia and New Zealand, but they will be looking at touching up England and Scotland. Sneak a couple of wins and they will think they can do well in this group."

The only previous one-day international between these two sides was won by Afghanistan and there were occasions in the Bangladesh innings that hinted at a repeat.

Asked to bowl on a slowish pitch, the Afghan accuracy was rewarded as the economical Mirwais Ashraf found seam movement to dismiss both Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque, while the lively Shapoor Zadran ended a stand of 50 between Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah.

And, in the final overs, Hamid Hassan and Aftab Alam returned to bowl full and straight to run through the tail.

But, in between, Afghanistan became ragged as Mushfiqur, strong square of the wicket, and Shakib, who scored through 360 degrees, first rebuilt and then accelerated in a stand of 114.

Still, the target did not seem out of reach at the interval, only for a horrible start to the Afghanistan chase to effectively end the contest.

Javed Ahmadi got a leading edge to be caught and bowled, while Ashgar Stakikzai flashed to first slip, both off Mashrafe Mortaza, either side of Rubel Hossain shooting one through to pin Afsar Zazai lbw.

Captain Mohammad Nabi made 44 and Samiullah Shinwari 42 to ensure respectability, but the final five wickets fell for 26 runs.

"We were under the pressure as the favourites and expected to win the game," said man of the match Mushfiqur.

"But in a World Cup anyone can win any game. Hopefully we will carry on that momentum into the next game."

Listen to highlights from Test Match Special's and 5 live Sport's 2015 Cricket World Cup coverage

Manuka Oval, Canberra

Left-arm paceman Shapoor Zadran (centre) took 2-20 from seven overs for Afghanistan

Mushfiqur Rahim (71) played the crucial innings for Bangladesh, adding 114 with Shakib Al Hasan (63)

At one point, Afghanistan were on 3-3 after losing a wicket in each of their first three overs

Mohammad Nabi's 44 from 43 balls briefly gave Afghanistan hope

Afghanistan's World Cup debut was watched by plenty of fans back home - including these shopkeepers in Kabul



BBC Sport - Afghanistan lose to Bangladesh on World Cup debut

 

[Cannuck]

Rivetting game....absolutely rivetting!!!

 

[Blackleaf]

Zimbabwe vs UAE at 22.00 UK time in Nelson tonight.

The Flame Lily should get their first win of the tournament.

 

[55Mercury]

I think why it's called cricket is because all you can hear is crickets.

see?

 

[Blackleaf]

I think why it's called cricket is because all you can hear is crickets.

see?

You've obviously never watched a cracking game of cricket in places like India or the MCG. I need to put earplugs in when watching the IPL.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

You've obviously never watched a cracking game of cricket in places like India or the MCG. I need to put earplugs in when watching the IPL.

Snooring from the stands is that loud?