NO CONTEST AS NEW ZEALAND EASE PAST KENYA

New Zealand had few problems securing their place in the next stage as they gave Kenya a reality check with a 148-run victory in St Lucia. An injury-hit Ross Taylor struck an elegant 85 and Craig McMillan a brutal 48-ball 71, as the Kiwis compiled their highest World Cup total (331 for 7). Kenya's top order then fell in a heap for 183 with Ravi Shah's determined 71 only delaying the inevitable.

Final score
New Zealand (7 wickets; 50 overs) 331
Kenya (all out; 49.2 overs) 183

HIGHLIGHTS

NEW ZEALAND
Ross Taylor 85
Craig McMillan 71 (off 48 balls)
Scott Styris 63
Stephen Fleming 60

KENYA
Ravi Shah 71
Thomas Odoyo 42

PAKISTAN, UL HAQ END ON HIGH

Imran Nazir's career-best 160 was crucial to Pakistan's defiant 93-run victory over Zimbabwe under the Duckworth-Lewis method, ending on 349. It was a day full of emotion as they took the field for the first time since the death of Bob Woolmer, none more so than when Inzamam-ul-Haq's final ODI knock ended and he walked off in tears. Pakistan powered to their highest World Cup total before Zimbabwe, already in a hopeless position, collapsed in a heap after a lengthy rain delay, in the end only amassing 99 all out. Nazir's blistering century set a series of landmarks. It was comfortably the highest score of the tournament - overtaking Jacques Kallis's 128 against Netherlands - and is also the highest individual ODI total in West Indies. The eight sixes he struck equals the World Cup record for a batsman's innings, set by Ricky Ponting in the 2003 final against India at Johannesburg.

Final score:
Pakistan: (all out; 49.5 overs) 349
Zimbabwe: (all out; 19.1 overs) 99

HIGHLIGHTS:

PAKISTAN
Imran Nazir 160 (off 121 balls)
Inzamam-ul-Haq 37
Iftikhar Anjum 32 (off 16 balls)
Shahid Afridi 3 for 20

ZIMBABWE
Elton Chigumbura 3 for 50
Gary Brent 3 for 68

SRI LANKA BLITZ BANGLADESH

Despite hoping for another upset, Bangladesh were overwhelmed by Sanath Jayasuriya and a confident Sri Lankan side is the Group B clash in Port-of-Spain. The match was, for all practical purposes, sewn up when Sri Lanka scored 318 after being put in to bat, but even the second half, interrupted by rain as it was, gave Bangladesh little hope as they caved in to a 198-run loss.

Final Score:
Sri Lanka: (4 wickets; 50 overs) 318
Bangladesh: (all out; 37 overs, D-L system) 112

HIGHLIGHTS

SRI LANKA
Sanath Jayasuriya 109 (off 87 balls)
Kumar Sangakkara 56
Chamara Silva 52 not out
Lasith Malinga 3 for 27

BANGLADESH
Mohammad Ashraful 45 not out

LACKLUSTER WEST INDIES BEAT ZIMBABWE

The hosts on World Cup 2007 overcame a late, but determined challenge from Zimbabwe, winning by 6 wickets and securing their place in the Super Eights. Despite the loss, the Zimbabweans are still in the competition - they need to beat Pakistan on in their final Group D match and then rely on having a better run-rate than Ireland.

Zimbabwe batted first and within three overs Zimbabwe were 2 for 2 and it looked to be an early finish. But the African team settled, dug in and they eventually posted 202 for 5 thanks to Brendan Taylor (50), who played a vital anchoring knock when the innings was coming apart at the seams. Sean Williams finished with a career-best 70 not out, and Elton Chigumbura, whose boldness yielded 30 off 29 balls took them over the double century.

West Indies took the crease and despite some anxiety when Marlon Samuels (28) drove loosely to point and West Indies were 129 for 4 chasing 203. But Brian Lara (44 not out), aided by Dwayne Bravo (37 not out), steadied the ship and then eased West Indies home scoring 204 and winning by 6 wickets. Even so, Zimbabwe had chances: Twice Lara should have been run-out, Elton Chigumbura spilt a tough return catch and substitute Gary Brent dropped Bravo at third man. The only area that Zimbabwe could compete was in the field, and while their commitment was unquestionable, they fell short when it mattered.

Final score:
West Indies: (4 wickets; 47.5 overs) 204
Zimbabwe: (5 wickets; 50 overs) 202
OUR MAN OF THE MATCH

Sean Williams
Full Name: Sean Colin Williams
Born: 26/09/1986, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Age: 20 years
Team: Zimbabwe
Batting Style: Left-hand bat
Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox

Regarded as being one of Zimbabwe's most promising youngsters, Williams is a left-hand top-order batsman and more than useful left-arm spinner. He was the pick of Zimbabwe's batsmen with 157 runs at 31.40, as well as five wickets, in the Under-19 World Cup in 2004. With just one first-class match under his belt, he was drafted into the Zimbabwe squad to tour South Africa and was selected to represent his country in the World Cup 2007.

INDIA BOUNCE BACK AND DESTROY BERMUDA

India turned their shock defeat against Bangladesh around and thumped a totally mismatched Bermuda side at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad, winning by 257 runs. It was a display of creative and powerful batting, where four of India’s big six racked up 413, a record total in World Cups and the bowlers then did their job, bundling Bermuda out for 156. Bermuda’s David Hemp resisted with an unbeaten 76, but lacked support from the rest of his side in a one-sided contest.

Virender Sehwag, pushed down to the middle-order, began badly, slashing and missing outside the off stump. But soon he settled down, and his half-century came off only 43 balls, with 11 fours. While Sehwag was roaring back to his run-scoring ways, Sourav Ganguly was sedately keeping his end going. When Sehwag was dismissed for 114 (87 balls, 17 fours, 3 sixes) India were 205 for 2, in under 30 overs, with Ganguly on 76 from 94 balls. Soon after, Ganguly too fell, stumped after coming down and having a mighty heave, for 89.

Bermuda never had any realistic chance of chasing 414, Zaheer Khan provided the opening pressure with the help of Anil Kumble, playing in place of Harbhajan Singh. Dean Minors and David Hemp added 43 for the sixth wicket, the best stand of the innings, but Bermuda only managed 156, handing India victory by 257 runs.

Final score:
India: (5 wickets; 50 overs) 413
Bermuda: (all out; 43.1 overs) 156

OUR MAN OF THE MATCH

Virender Sehwag
Full Name: Virender Sehwag
Born: October 20/10/1978, Delhi, India
Age: 28 years
Team: India
Batting Style: Right-hand bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak

Virender Sehwag is a primal talent whose rough edges make him all the more appealing. By the time he had scored his first centuries in one-day cricket (off 70 balls, against New Zealand) and Test cricket (on debut, against South Africa, from 68 for 4), he was already eliciting comparisons with his idol Sachin Tendulkar. Career highlights include 80 and 100 in consecutive matches on the tour of England in 2002. Sehwag bowls effective, loopy offspin, and is a reliable catcher in the slips.

CRICKET MOURNS WOOLMER’S PASSING

Pakistan coach and former England player Bob Woolmer died in a Kingston hospital at 58. Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room after his side’s World Cup match against Ireland. Woolmer is known to the cricket community as the coach pf Pakistan leading up to the 2007 World Cup as well as serving as the ICC's High Performance Manager and coaching South Africa. He also played 19 tests for England. Woolmer played English county cricket for Kent, initially as an all-rounder. He graduated to Test cricket with England in 1975 again, at first, as an all-rounder, having taken a hat-trick for MCC against the touring Australian cricket team with his fast-medium bowling. He was dropped after his first Test, only reappearing in the final match of the series at The Oval where he scored 149, batting at number five, then the slowest Test century for England against Australia. Further batting success followed over the next two seasons, including two further centuries against Australia in 1977. Woolmer was also a regular in England ODI cricket from 1972 to 1976. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1976.

But Woolmer's international career stalled after he joined the World Series Cricket break-away group run by Kerry Packer. Though he appeared intermittently in the Test team up to 1981, he never recaptured the form of the mid 1970s. He also took part in the South African rebel tours of 1982, a move that effectively ended his international career.

Woolmer had obtained his coaching qualification in 1968. After retiring from first class cricket in 1984, he emigrated to South Africa where he coached cricket and hockey at high schools. He returned to England in 1987 to coach the second eleven at Kent. He went on to coach the Warwickshire County Cricket Club in 1991, the side winning the Natwest Trophy in 1993, and three out of four trophies contested the next year.

Woolmer was appointed coach of South Africa in 1994. In the next five years, South Africa would win most of their test (5 out of 10 series) and One-day International matches (73%). However, the side failed narrowly in their bid to make the final of the 1999 World Cup and Woolmer resigned. He was appointed coach of the Pakistan team in 2005 and steered them to the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, where he tragically died.

Pervez Mir, the Pakistan team media manager said that Woolmer had suffered from an un-named medical condition although Naseem Ashraf, the Chairman of the PCB, later said that Woolmer had complained of breathing difficulties before the team left for the World Cup, and also revealed that he had been a diabetic. His son speculated that Woolmer may have died as a result of stress brought on by his job or from a heart attack.

ENGLAND GET ON THE BOARD WITH WIN OVER CANADA

Despite the much publicized disciplinary problems of the previous day England managed to keep their focus, dispatching Canada by 51 runs and scoring 279 in St Lucia, to open their World Cup account. Ed Joyce and Paul Collingwood were the pick of England’s batting lineup hitting sixties. However Canada showed they could score runs racking up a double century.

Final score:
England: (6 wickets; 50 overs) 279
Canada: (7 wickets; 50 overs) 228

HIGHLIGHTS

ENGLAND
Ed Joyce 66
Michael Vaughn 45
Paul Collingwood 62 not out

CANADA
Ashif Mulla 58
Abdool Samad 36
Desmond Chumney 27 not out

NETHERLANDS SUFFER SECOND HIDING

The Netherlands suffered their successive big total defeat in St. Kitts after Australia gave them a 229 run pummeling in the Group A match up. Australia looked unphased and exploded during the final overs to bat The Netherlands out of the match with 358 for 5. After being stranded in the nineties twice this year, Brad Hodge reached his maiden one-day hundred during what was a perfectly paced innings. Defending 359 was not a worry for the double champions and Australia's battery of fast bowlers were too hot for The Netherlands to handle and they were skittled for 129.

Final score:
Australia: (5 wickets; 50 overs) 358
Netherlands: (all out; 26.5 overs) 129

HIGHLIGHTS

AUSTRALIA
Brad Hodge 123
Michael Clrke 93 not out
Adam Gilchrist 57
Brad Hogg 4/27

NETHERLANDS
Daan van Bunge 33
Darron Reekers 25

IRELAND SEND PAKISTAN PACKING

A big Group D match upset in Kingston will in all likeliness see Pakistan go home after the first round of the competition when Ireland beat the former world champions by 3 wickets. Chasing 133 on a difficult pitch, with conditions assisting Pakistan's bowlers, Ireland’s Niall O'Brien led Ireland's response with a superb fifty which was interrupted by a rain break, and Duckworth-Lewis, altered the required total, leaving a confident Ireland side with a well-deserved victory.

Final score:
Ireland: (7 wickets; 41.4 overs) 133
Pakistan: (all out; 45.4 overs) 132
HIGHLIGHTS

IRELAND
Niall O'Brien 72
Boyd Rankin 3/32
Andre Botha 2/5

PAKISTAN
Kamran Akmal 27
Mohammad Sami 3/29
Iftikhar Anjum 2/29

Bangladesh Stun India

Port-of-Spain saw the tournaments first big upset when Bangladesh defeated India in a closely contested Group B Match. Mashrafe Mortaza inspired a clockwork bowling effort, helped largely by a slew of sloppy strokes, a young bowling attack showed composure beyond their years to turn a tricky chase into a stroll, winning by five wickets.

Final score:
Bangladesh: (5 wickets; 48.3 overs) 192
India: (all out; 49.3 overs) 191

HIGHLIGHTS

BANGLADESH
Tamim Iqbal 51
Mushfiqur Rahim 56 not out
Saqibul Hasan 53
Mashrafe Mortaza 4/38
Abdur Razzak 3/38
Mohammad Rafique 3/35

INDIA
Yuvraj Singh 47
Sourav Ganguly 66

South Africa Demolish Netherlands

A well-oiled South African team made very short work of an inferior Netherlands team at St. Kitts in a highly mismatched Group A clash. It was epitomized by Herschelle Gibbs, who slammed six sixes in an over and setting a new record. South Africa smashed 353 from 40 overs (due to a match delay) against Netherlands and then restricted them to only 132 for 9, winning by the embarrassing margin of 221 runs.

Final score:
South Africa: (3 wickets, 40 overs) 353
Netherlands: (9 wickets; 40 overs) 132


HIGLIGHTS

SOUTH AFRICA
Graeme Smith 67
Jaques Kallis 128 not out
Herschelle Gibbs 72 (off 40 balls)
Mark Boucher 75 (off 31 balls)

NETHERLANDS
Ryan ten Doeschate 57
Tim de Leede 21

ZIMBABWE BLOW IT AND TIE WITH IRELAND

Sabina Park saw World Cup 2007’s first nail-biter with Zimbabwe and Ireland tying in an entertaining Group D clash that produced some pulsating, enthralling cricket. Ireland put forth a gritty performance with hero Jeremy Bray making a century. Zimbabwe have only themselves to blame after some poor performances in the field that ultimately cost them the game.

The Irish looked to be getting very little of that famous luck after starting the innings at the crease. Elton Chigumbura (taking 2 for 21) ripped through the middle order. But it was Bray, who kept the Irish in it smacking ten 4’s and two 6’s to finish his innings on 115. He was best supported by Andrew White who went out LBW to Brent on a paltry 28.

Zimbabwe took up the bat and seemed to be cruising to victory on 93 for 1 chasing 222. But within 45 minutes had slumped to 133 for 5. Composing themselves the African team steadied the innings courtesy of Stuart Matsikenyeri and Brendan Taylor. Ireland started to look sloppy in the field, and Zimbabwe looked on course to their first victory of the tournament. Then Taylor was run-out and Gary Brent fell LBW with ten needed.

Zimbabwe, who have had so little to cheer in recent years, will be left wondering quite what happened bur after reviewing some game tapes will see exactly how.

OUR MAN OF THE MATCH

Full Name: Jeremy Paul Bray
Born: 30/11/1973, Sydney, New South Wales
Age 33 years
Team: Ireland
Batting Style: Left-hand bat
Fielding Position: Occasional wicketkeeper

Although the World Cricket League in Kenya was generally disappointing for Ireland, Bray returned with a one-day century to his name when he hit 116 from 136 against Scotland. Born in Australia and representing New South Wales Bray was player of the tournament in the 1992-93 Australian Under-19 Cricket Championships in Brisbane and top scored for Ireland with 71 in their famous win against the West Indies in 2004. He held the highest ever first-class score by an Irishman with his 190 against the UAE in the 2005 Intercontinental Cup until Eoin Morgan surpassed that with his double century against the same opponents earlier this year.

PONTING, AUSTRALIA DEMOLISH SCOTLAND

Australian Captain Ricky Ponting and his arsenal of fast bowlers destroyed minnows Scotland, laying waste to them with a 203-run victory. The World Champions went in first at the crease and set a formidable total of 334 for 6 with Ponting top scoring on 113 off only 93 balls.

It was Ponting’s 23rd ODI century and showed Australia are intent on making this their third successive World Cup triumph in a very one sided affair. The Australian total was bolstered by solid performances by Matthew Hayden (60), Adam Gilchrist (46) and Brad Hogg (40 off only 15 balls ) before the Scots took up the bat and faced the Australian attack.

A 335 total was always going to be a big ask and despite a valiant effort by Colin Smith (51) none of the rest of the order managed to reach a score of over 20. Smith was eventually dismissed by Brad Hogg with the rest of the order tumbling after. The Australian pace attack tore through the Scots with Glenn McGrath being the top wicket take with figures of 3 for 14, finally resulting in all out for 131.

This could have been nothing but a warm up match for the Aussies and an opportunity for the likes of Ponting to increase their run-rate.

OUR MAN OF THE MATCH:

RICKY PONTING
Full Name: Ricky Thomas Ponting
Age: 19/12/1974, Tasmania, Australia
Age: 32 years
Team: Australia
Role: Higher middle order batsman
Batting Style: Right-hand bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm medium
Height 1.78 m

A natural batman, Ricky Ponting plays with a full flourish of the bat and knows only to attack, and his breathtaking, dead-eye fielding is a force in the game by itself. Ponting's growing maturity was acknowledged by the ACB when he saw off competition from Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist to succeed Steve Waugh as Australia's Captain in 2002, leading to a successful 2003 World Cup campaign, clouting a 140 not out in the final. Carreer highlights include 207 against Pakistan, joining Don Bradman and Greg Chappell as the only Australians to reach four double-centuries. Ponting is the world's leading strokeplayer, and finished 2005 with 1544 runs and posted twin hundreds three times in five months.

Kevin Pietersen - England's big gun,pow pow!

Full Name: Kevin Peter Pietersen
Born: 27/06/1980, south Africa
Age: 26 years
Team: England
Batting Style: Right-hand bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak
Height: 6.04 ft

Expansive with the bat and just as much with his personality, the South African-born Kevin Pietersen is a big-hitting No 5. Shunning his home he favoured of England (his eligibility coming courtesy of an English mother).

His first game for his adopted home was ironically against South Africa in 2005 where he silenced hostile receptions with an unbeaten century in the second ODI at Bloemfontein. Highlights in his career include a pair of 50s in his debut against Australia as well as an impressive 158 on the final day at The Oval, to secure the draw that England needed for a first Ashes triumph in 18 years.

A Tale of Two Dwaynes – Hosts West Indies Secure First Victory of World Cup Over Pakistan

World Cup 2007 Hosts West Indies overcame a shaky start with a 54-run victory over Pakistan in the opening match, with an impressive allround performance from Dwayne Smith. The West Indies set a total of 241.

Captain Brian Lara's side successfully defended a target of 242 and dismissed Pakistan for 187 in 47.2 overs after being put into bat first by Pakistan Captain Inzamam-ul- Haq. The 2 Dwayes were pick of the bowlers with Dwayne Bravo collecting three for 42 from nine overs, and Dwayne Smith snaring three wickets for 36 runs from his allotment of 10 overs. The hosts are regarded as the Dark Horses of the tournament and looked to lack a bit of confidence after the first wicket of Chris Gayle fell for 2 after a catch by Kamran Akmal.

However, the ship steadied with Marlon Samuels striking five fours and three sixes ending on a top score of 63. Assistance came from useful contributions by Ramnaresh Sarwan (49), Brian Lara (37), and Dwayne Smith, who smashed 32 from 15 balls to raise the total to a respectable challenge.

Pakistan fought back, but top scores by Shoaib Malik (62), Mohammad Yousuf (37) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (36) were not enough and Pakistan were all out for 187.

OUR MAN OF THE MATCH
Dwayne Smith

Full Name: Dwayne Romel Smith
Country: West Indies
Born: 12/05/1983, Barbados
Age: 23 years
Batting Style: Right-hand bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm medium

Virtually unknown, Smith made his debut in December 2003, against South Africa. On the final day of the third Test at Newlands, he brought the calypso back to Caribbean cricket with a wonderful debut century. Smith had been given a surprise opportunity when Marlon Samuels flew home with a knee injury. His flamboyant hitting is matched by his athletic fielding, while his useful medium-pacers have already tasted some success at domestic level for Barbados.