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Sehwag's ton propels India to 210 for 2 in 30 overs Port of Spain, March 19 (PTI): Virender Sehwag finally wriggled out of his bad patch and struck 114 off just 87 balls to power India to 210 for two after 30 overs in their crucial Group B cricket World Cup match against Bermuda here today. With 20 more overs of their innings remaining, Sourav Ganguly was batting on 76 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (0) was giving him company in the middle. Put in to bat, the beginning was quite ominous and the fear of another upset crossed Indian minds when the side lost opener Robin Uthappa with the score reading three. Sent to open with Ganguly ahead of Sehwag, Uthappa poked at a Malaichi Jones' delivery outside the off-stump and Dwayne Leverock, the 270-pound policeman by profession, leapt to his right to land with the ball safely in his right palm. That brought in Sehwag and along with Ganguly, who was clearly scrappy in the beginning, the hard-hitting right-hander ensured there was no more early upsets and at the same time the run-rate, so vital for their survival in the tournament, hovered around six per over. Ganguly, at 14, had got a life when Delyon Borren, running backwards from mid-off, floored a skier. He, however, soon was in his elements, charging down the pitch to hoick Leverock for two sixes.

Soon after getting his century, Sehwag went for a hoick only to ballon a catch at mid-off to perish after a blistering knock, which was studded with 17 fours and three sixes.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200703192140.htm

Sehwag back in form Special Correspondent

Virender Sehwag Chennai: Virender Sehwag returned to form against Bermuda with his eighth One Day International hundred in a World Cup Group B match at Port of Spain on Monday. Sehwag, who struck 17 boundaries and three sixes in his 87-ball 114, added 202 runs with Sourav Ganguly for the second wicket in 28.4 overs. At the conclusion of 30 overs, India was 210 for two with Ganguly (76, 96b, 5x4, 2x6) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (0) at the crease. Tentative in the early stages, Sehwag gradually found his rhythm and range. His trademark back-foot punches were soon scorching the turf. Ganguly, intelligently, played second fiddle on a pitch lacking in pace. The 28-year-old Sehwag was finally caught at deep mid-off by Malachi Jones off paceman Kevin Hurdle.

Bermuda inserted India under a cloud-cover and struck with the new ball. Robin Uthappa (3) edged paceman Malachi Jones in the second over and Dwayne Loverock picked up a brilliant catch in the slips.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/20/stories/2007032010080100.htm

The real challenge is ahead: Dravid

After a record win against minnows Bermuda put its World Cup campaign back on track, Indian skipper Rahul Dravid cautioned his teammates against any slip-up in their must-win game against Sri Lanka on Friday.

"There are some things which are not in our control, like the net run-rate. The other teams' matches and results are not in our control. What is in our control is to go and try to win the next game and win it as well as possible," Dravid said after India beat Bermuda by 257-runs.

Dravid asked his boys not to sit on their huge win against Bermuda but look ahead for the bigger challenge of overcoming Sri Lanka.

"The real challenge is ahead of us. We had two must-win matches, but have won just one. The guys know what they have to do now," said Dravid, with man of the match and centurion Virender Sehwag sitting in tow.

India now need to put it across Sri Lanka to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the Super 8 stage.

India posted the highest Cup total of 413-5 and then bowled Bermuda out for 156 to record the biggest victory in one-day internationals by run-margin. Dravid underlined the fact that not only his team needed to win but also do it handsomely to up the run-rate.

The Indian skipper saw it as a good sign that dashing opener Virender Sehwag returned to his swashbuckling ways ahead of vital clash against the Sri Lankans.

"Viru (Sehwag) is a very good player and I'm happy he's part of my team -- a key member. He's back into form just when we need him before a very critical match," said Dravid.

Sehwag, without a hundred in the last 61 games, smashed 114 off only 87 balls with 17 fours and three sixes and looked a relieved man.

"The effort he has put in is fantastic. It is nice for him to get runs. All credit to him. To be honest, we expect a lot from him. He has been picked to score more than one hundred for us," said Dravid.

Sehwag said a big innings from him was long overdue and he was just waiting for his chance.

"I had the confidence. I knew the captain, coach and selectors were backing me up and I had to deliver," said the aggressive opener.

"I was waiting for just one innings. It was due for a long time. Thank God, it has come at the right time. So I am happy with my performance."

http://www.rediff.com/wc2007/2007/mar/20dravid1.htm

Pakistan board chairman 'resigns'
Dr Naseem Ashraf
Ashraf came under fire from the media after the defeat by Ireland
Dr Naseem Ashraf is to step down as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman after the national team's poor results at the World Cup, according to reports.

Ashraf was only in charge for five months, having replaced Shaharyar Khan last October.

His decision follows defeats by West Indies and Ireland in the Caribbean.

A PCB statement, meanwhile, has confirmed that Wasim Bari and the rest of the national team selection committee have also resigned.

"The committee's tenure was up to the 2007 World Cup and it shares responsibility for the team's performance in the World Cup," the statement read.

The two defeats mean Pakistan cannot qualify for the Super 8 phase of the tournament and have also prompted captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to announce his retirement from one-day cricket.

He will play his final limited overs international when they face Zimbabwe in Jamaica on Wednesday, a game which has been overshadowed by the sudden death of coach Bob Woolmer at the age of 58.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/ pakistan/6469675.stm

Pakistan fans reel from double blow
By M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Islamabad

Mohammad Iqbal
Mohammad Iqbal says he feels numbed by the developments

Pakistani cricket fans are still trying to take in a weekend of shocks. First, Pakistan's defeat at the hands of Ireland on Saturday, and then the sudden death of their team coach, Bob Woolmer, on Sunday.

Woolmer, 58, died of a suspected heart attack in a Jamaica hotel room, a day after exiting the cricket World Cup following defeat by novices Ireland.

Mohammad Iqbal, an inventory controller at a department store in Islamabad, says he felt numb after the twin shock.

"I watched the Ireland match right until the last ball, cursing the players and Bob Woolmer for letting the nation down in such a humiliating manner."

But then came the news of Bob Woolmer's death. "And I felt that he must have been a good man, a man who was sensitive enough to take the defeat to his heart," he says.

A day later, he feels nothing but fatigue. "I have had enough of cricket. I think I will switch to watching something else."

'Very hard'

Khurram Iqbal, the manager of a guest house in Islamabad, feels totally overwhelmed by the defeat by Ireland.

Haseeb Jawad
Haseeb Jawad felt like 'someone in the family' had died

He agrees with Mohammad Iqbal that Bob Woolmer's death must have been caused by the strain resulting from Pakistan's defeat. "He worked very hard, so the defeat must have put him under a lot of strain."

Grief and disappointment are writ large on the face of Haseeb Jawad, a student.

"Bob Woolmer was diabetic and also had some problem with his respiratory tract because he wore a mask when he went to bed, but I am sure that the immediate cause of his death was Pakistan's defeat. He had worked so hard," he says.

Haseeb was given the news of Woolmer's death by his father, himself a cricket enthusiast.

"I was with my brother when he told us. Both of us fell silent. I felt as though someone in my close family had passed away," he says.

'Amazed'

Bob Woolmer had many critics among Pakistani cricket fans. But Haseeb was not one of them. "I never blamed him for our misfortunes, but many cricket stars and experts did. I was amazed to see one such person on TV this afternoon heaping praises on him."

Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Amir says there has been too much experimenting with the team

Others are deeply saddened by Woolmer's death. But they keep their opinions as to his record as national coach.

"It is wrong to blame a dead man, but the way Bob Woolmer and Inzamam-ul-Haq, the captain of the team, kept experimenting with the opening pair, it was obvious they were not going to get anywhere," says Mohammad Amir, an accountant.

He says he does not dismiss claims that Mr Woolmer was a hard worker, but hard work must yield good results.

Farhan Tahir, a student, agrees. "The captain and the coach continued to stick to a player with an 18-run average, ignoring openers who had been performing much better."

Likewise, he says, they neglected to use seamers on pitches that helped the ball swing.

He blames the selectors as well as the coach and the captain for the troubles that have beset the Pakistani team.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6467897.stm

Cricket-India back in the World Cup picture, says skipper Dravid

Cricket-India back in the World Cup picture, says skipper Dravid

Cricket: India thrashes Bermuda by 257 runs

Our Web Bureau / Mumbai March 20, 2007

After losing to Bangladesh, not surprisingly India found themselves in a situation that required them to trounce Bermuda in a resounding manner. The run-rate needed to be jacked-up and the team's flagging morale had to be revived. Things didn't start off too well with Dravid losing the toss and India being asked to bat first, thereby foiling the plan of bowling first. To add to the team's woes, Robin Uthappa got out cheaply leaving Indian fans wondering whether it would be the same old story rerun once again. Thankfully, it was redemption time for Virender Sehwag and he buckled down with Ganguly in a 202-run partnership to set up a great base for the mammoth total that the team needed. Sehwag hit a blistering 114 (17 fours, 3 sixes) off just 87 balls. Ganguly made 89 (6 fours, 2 sixes) from 114 deliveries. Towards the end of the innings, Yuvraj Singh 83 (4 fours, 7 sixes) from 46 balls and Sachin Tendulkar 57 (2 fours, 4 sixes) from 29 balls, garnering 122 runs off just 10.2 overs. Dravid hit a last ball sixer to finish off the innings in style. As viewers rubbed their eyes in disbelief, the team had amassed a whopping 413 runs - a World Cup record score - for the loss of five wickets. Bermuda, who never had a chance, were all out for 156 from 43.1 overs. Thus, India won the game by a record 257-run margin. For Bermuda, the top scorer was David Hemp who was unbeaten on 76 runs off 105 balls, when the innings ended. For India, Anil Kumble and Ajit Agarkar picked 3 wickets each. Virender Sehwag was declared the man of the match.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.p hp?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=21574

Cricket: India break one-day batting record

Mar 20 2007

Western Mail

INDIA posted a World Cup record 413 for five as minnows Bermuda were put the sword at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The match began badly with Robin Uthappa caught at slip for three by Dwayne Leverock, the 19-stone left-armer flinging himself to his right to cling on to the catch which gave Malachi Jones a wicket with his first ball in World Cup cricket. Jones immediately burst into tears at the enormity of it all but soon the weeping spread to his team-mates as India plundered the Bermuda bowling. Virender Sehwag finally found some form with 114 off 87 balls, hitting three sixes and 17 fours in a 202-run second-wicket stand with Sourav Ganguly (89). With the match already out of Bermuda's reach Yuvraj Singh smashed seven sixes and three fours in an innings of 83 in 46 balls. Sachin Tendulkar hammered a six - one of four in his innings - to take India past 400 as he finished 57 not out off just 29 balls. Kevin Hurdle was the only bowler to escape with anything like respectable figures, claiming one for 53 off 10 overs.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0700sports/1200sportsroundup/ tm_headline=cricket--india-break-one-day-batting-record& method=full&objectid=18780223&siteid=50082-name_page .html