Going by their performance in the group stage of the cricket World Cup, Wednesday’s semifinal is going to be a battle between India’s power-packed batting line-up and the potent bowling of the the Pakistanis at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium. The build-up has been intense and to cap it all, the prime ministers of the two nations are going to witness the game from the presidential box of the beautiful stadium. History is in India’s …

Star cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who steered India to a comfortable win over Ireland late Sunday with his all-round performance, hoped to play a key role in the upcoming big matches in the ICC World Cup series. “It’s been a very good day for me as I was in form with bat and ball. I am happy to have stayed till the end to finish off the game on a winning note,” a beaming Yuvraj told reporters after India beat a defiant Ireland by five wickets in 46 overs …

England, in a seemingly hopeless position after being bundled out for 171, snatched a dramatic six-run victory against South Africa in a crucial Group B fixture here Sunday to keep their hopes alive in the cricket World Cup. The South Africans, cruising at 63 for no loss at one stage, suffered a middle-order collapse and were eventually all out for 165 in 47.4 overs. Fast bowler Stuart Broad (4-15) gave England hope, dismissing Hashim Amla and veteran …

A match-winning five-wicket haul by captain Shahid Afridi helped Pakistan survive a scare before beating Canada by 46 runs in a low scoring World Cup Group A match at the R.Premedasa Stadium here Thursday. Leg-spinner Afridi picked up five for 23 as Pakistan successfully defended a low total of 184 by bowling out Canada for 138 in 42.5 overs. Afridi was also adjudged as the Man of the Match as Pakistan won its third consecutive match in the mega …

South Africa’s pace spearhead Dale Steyn has a hip strain and is doubtful for their second World Cup match against the Netherlands here Thursday. Steyn strained his right hip during a practice session in New Delhi. Coach Corrie van Zyl said Steyn will undergo a fitness test Wednesday evening and a decision on his inclusion will be taken before the match Thursday morning. “The main fitness issue is with Dale and we hope he passes the test. The …

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach has termed his hat-trick against the Netherlands as most “memorable” and said the side will go to Bangladesh on a high after their flawless performance in a World Cup Group B match here Monday. The West Indies, who opened their points tally after losing the first match against South Africa, next play Bangladesh Friday. Roach, who took the sixth hat-trick of the World Cup during an impressive spell of 6-27 in 8.3 …

Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson lived up to their pre-tournament billing as they set up Australia’s 91-run victory against Zimbabwe in a Group A World Cup match here Wednesday. Watson (79) starred with the bat as defending champions Australia recovered from a bad start against some disciplined bowling by Zimbabwe to put up 262/6 on the board. Australia’s famed pace attack then scythed through the Zimbabwe top order, with Johnson taking four wickets …

Lauding the One-Day International (ODI) format as an ideal mix of Test and Twenty20 cricket, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Friday exuded confidence that the ongoing World Cup in the sub-continent will be a big success. “I love ODI because you see a bit of Test cricket and a bit of T20 in one format and you get the result the same day. If you lose three-four wickets, then the batsmen who come in, need to struggle and slog in the last overs. …

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni not only scored a 64-ball 108 not out but also saw his wish for middle-order partnerships come good as India galloped to 360 for five in 50 overs after winning the toss and batting first in their cricket World Cup warm-up game here Wednesday. After losing openers Virender Sehwag (23) and Sachin Tendulkar (17) by the 10th over, the Indian innings was propped up by Gautam Gambhir (89 off 85) who was involved in a 106-run …

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Tuesday clarified that he was not referring to any cricketing fatigue factor per se in the run-up to the World Cup, but rather to the mental preparations required for a warm-up game, something he was not used to. “It is not fatigue factor but about mental preparation for a warm-up game. It is difficult to prepare like you do for a regular match. I have not played warm-up matches even during the start of my career …