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Sehwag happy to equal Kapil's World Cup record

Dhaka, Feb 20 (IANS): Having set up India's victory in the opening Cricket World Cup match against Bangladesh with a rollick said he would have loved to bat 50 overs but scoring a double hundred was never in his mind.
Sehwag, who plundered the Bangladesh bowling attack in Saturday's game here, was happy to have equalled Kapil Dev's feat of 175 runs in a World Cup game.

Kapil's 175 - then the highest by a batsman in a One-day game - came under trying circumstances after India were struggling at 17/5 in a must-win league match against Zimbabwe at the 1983 World Cup.

Later, Sourav Ganguly scored 183 against Sri Lanka at Taunton in the 1999 World Cup.
"I am happy and honoured to have equalled his (Kapil Dev) score in the World Cup. People will now speak about both of us getting 175," said Sehwag after India scored a convincing 87-run win over Bangladesh in their first Group B game.
Asked about his 200-minute stay in the middle, Sehwag replied: "My strike rate was still more than 100. My aim was to bat minimum 30-40 overs and when I batted 47 I was happy that at least once in my career I had batted for so long. I was planning to bat 50 overs but could not do that today. Hopefully will do that some time."
Sehwag, who was dismissed in the 48th over, categorically said getting a double hundred never crossed his mind.

"No, not at all. I never thought about getting a double century. When I got out less then three overs were left. I could have got a maximum of 15 balls and score 25 runs.I didn't even think about getting a double century. My target was to play 50 overs," he said at the post match media conference.

He said the wicket was good to bat on and he and fellow opener Sachin Tendulkar began by scoring at 10 runs an over in the first three overs. "After that we decided we are going too fast and we have to be a little careful. That's because, if we had lost early wickets it would have been tough for the batsmen to follow."
Sehwag said when the field was spread, it became easy for him to rotate the strike.
"I think I hit a six on 49, and after that till 75 or 80 I was just rotating the strike. Because I knew I had to play 30-40 overs, and if I do that I would get hundred. I was not worrired about my hundred, or runs, because I knew it will come if I stay there."
About Sachin Tendulkar's run out, Sehwag said they had decided to take it easy on singles. "He was calling and I wasn't listening. I was looking at the direction of the ball. For a second, I thought I had committed a mistake, but when I got back to the dressing room he said the bottomline was to win the game for the country. It's not important who is performing."

Kenya vs New Zealand

Fast bowler Hamish Bennett grabbed four wickets in a sensational opening spell as New Zealand skittled out Kenya for 69 en route a 10-wicket win in just 8 overs in a World Cup Group A match on Sunday.

Bennett finished with 4-16, his best figures in nine one-day internationals, while Tim Southee and Jacob Oram took three wickets each to derail the minnows in the day game at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

NZ openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum needed just eight overs to reach 72 to complete the win, making this one of the shortest matches in World Cup history. It gave Daniel Vettori's men a much-needed winning start after their long losing streak leading to the tournament.

The decision to bat first backfired for Kenya as half of the side was cooling its heels in the pavilion by the 16th over.

New-ball bowler Southee started the rot by dismissing opener Alex Obanda in the seventh over before first-change Bennett got into the act by removing promising youngster Seren Waters (16) in his second over.

Bennett, a replacement for the more experienced but injured Kyle Mills, had Kenya in deep trouble when he sent back veteran Steve Tikolo (two) and Collins Obuya (14) off the second and fifth deliveries in his next over.

Tikolo lost his off-stump to a peach of a delivery and Obuya was struck plumb in front of the wicket, leaving Kenya in deep rut at 44-4. Kenya asked for a review of Obuya's decision, only to be disappointed as replays showed the ball would have hit the middle stump.

Former captain Maurice Ouma became the fourth victim of the 23-year-old Bennett, trapped leg before for one.
Oram joined the bowlers' party, accounting for captain Jimmy Kamande, Thomas Odoyo and Elijah Otieno in three overs.
Southee was on a hat-trick when he removed Nehemiah Odhiambo and Shem Ngoche with the last two balls of his sixth over.
But there was no second international hat-trick for him, with Otieno flicking Oram straight to midwicket shortly afterwards to end the misery for Kenya.
Kenya, semi-finalists of the 2003 edition, showed little application in their batting with just three batsmen managing to reach double figures.



Dhoni Shows Preparedness Not a Problem in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Warm up v NZ

If all the talk after India’s first ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 warm up match against Australia was about the Indian captain’s comment about lack of preparedness, he quickly turned it around that warm up was not so much of a problem after all as he hammered New Zealand into submission.

It is too bad that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s century will not be official because the manner in which Dhoni bludgeoned the New Zealand bowlers in Chennai, it was reminiscent of the manner in which Dhoni first stormed onto the scene.

India suffered the early loss of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag but rallied back into contention with a partnership between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir that yielded a hundred runs between them. While Kohli was eventually dismissed by Jacob Oram for fifty-nine, Gambhir batted for his eighty-nine runs before Tim Southee came back to inflict another blow.

From four down for 218 in the thirty-ninth over, India posted a colossal total of 360 after a whirlwind partnership between the Indian captain and Suresh Raina buried New Zealand who are desperately trying to find some confidence before the big event. Raina perished for a Twenty20-like innings of fifty runs from twenty-six balls.

• However, it was Dhoni who stole the show with a magnificent century that showed why team India are such a formidable unit and if they can keep the consistency up, they are bound to take the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 by storm.

Sehwag, Kohli set up strong Indian win in World Cup opener

Mirpur: Played like the World Cup favourites, check. Negated the toss and dew factor, check. Outbatted the opposition, check. Avenged the 2007 defeat, check. Gave the 2011 World Cup a memorable start, check.
Bangladesh's famed spin attack bled before a stunned Mirpur crowd as Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli plundered hundreds to set up a strong 87-run win to begin the World Cup. The home fans had little to cheer today except Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan's brisk fifties, the dismantling of Sreesanth's five wayward overs and Sachin Tendulkar's clumsy run-out.
On a slow wicket at a venue where sides chasing under lights are significantly advantaged, India were inserted by Shakib Al Hasan. They had to out-bat Bangladesh because of the dew and they did by posting a mammoth 370-4.
Sehwag batting with a runner threatened to score the second ODI double hundred. He eventually fell on 175 in the 48th over before the consistent Kohli completed an 83-ball hundred on World Cup debut. Munaf Patel (4-48) and Zaheer Khan (2-41) bowled tidily but there had to be only one result today.
Sehwag has stated his desire to last the full 50 overs. He came out in a mood to attack, and it didn't seem he'd last the course. The first ball of the tournament --- a short, wide ball from the young Shafiul Islam, was slashed through point for four. Sehwag was in a mood to bash everything, and Bangladesh's seamers seemed nervous.
Shafiul and Rubel Hossain bowled trash in the first three overs --- short and wide to Sehwag, and on the shins to Tendulkar --- and 32 runs were quickly added. Shakib then brought on spin and the inevitable slow down occurred.
Sehwag wanted to attack them too but Abdur Razzak and Shakib initially gave him no room to free his arms. Sehwag kept making room or stepping down to them, getting the odd ball away for four, and it seemed this risky approach would cost him soon. It was only after Tendulkar's wicket that Sehwag settled down for a long innings.
Tendulkar fell trying to steal a single to Shakib's throwing hand at midwicket. The veteran playing his sixth World Cup ran blindly down the pitch only to see Sehwag remaining firmly behind his crease. Gautam Gambhir then joined Sehwag for a quick 39, but this was the sideshow compared to what was follow.
Kohli quietly moved to a fifty (46b) while Sehwag led the show, frequently going aerial against the spinners. As Kohli's innings blossomed, the two attacked the straight boundary and midwicket with scary regularity.
Kohli later said Sehwag was egging him on to hit a bigger six than him. "He was teasing me that I was just clearing the ropes and he was hitting sixes into the stands," Kohli said after the innings.
Bangladesh's bowlers had no degree of control during the 203-run partnership for the third wicket. Even the cool-headed Shakib seemed so freaked out at the thought of bowling at the batsmen, he began bowling wide outside off-stump and got penalised three times for wides.
Sehwag had to call Gambhir to run for him after being struck on the knee. He was on course for a double-hundred but the blow softened him up. Thereon, his one-point agenda became bashing every delivery in his arc. He played on to Shakib and seemed quite tired by then.
Imrul Kayes gave Bangladesh the ideal start, tearing into Sreesanth who went for 24 in his third over. Bangladesh moved to 51 in five but Kayes fell as soon as Munaf Patel replaced Sreesanth.
Munaf operated within the stumps and was difficult to hit. Kayes played on trying to force him through the covers and Tamim pulled a straight ball to midwicket.
There will be better days for Bangladesh in the World Cup, but India's campaign as hot favourites couldn't have begun better.

Dhoni urges Sreesanth to control his temper

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has warned the temperamental pacer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth to control his short temperament in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2011.

“If you want to irritate someone that should be the opposition and not your side," said Dhoni.
The Kerala bowler who is known for his erratic behaviour, was involved in sledging against opener Brendon McCullum on Wednesday’s warm-up encounter with New Zealand.
Prior to this, the pacer was involved in a face to face argument with the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. Sreesanth made a rude gesture with his thumb and index finger, making an ‘L’ or the ‘loser sign’.
Ponting ignored the rather inane attitude of the Indian fast bowler and stated that this was nothing new done by the pacer. Sreesanth, however asserted that he is a real person and loves to show his emotions.
Dhoni who has now warned the pacer publically, added that he has no issue with Sreesanth’s conduct as long as his aggression stays within limits. "Till he does both these things, I am really happy to let him do whatever he wants to do. A bit of chit-chat is always fine. As I said, you should not get too personal with a player. If these guidelines are followed I am quite happy with it,” Dhoni said.
Sreesanth was called into the World Cup 2011 squad after Praveen Kumar was ruled out owing to his injury. The player remained wicket-less in the warm-up match against Kiwis. He was struck for 38 runs in the match where the formidable Indian’s overpowered a weak Kiwi side. Sreesanth and Munaf Patel faced more than six runs in an over but could not claim a single wicket. To the contrary, fast bowler Zaheer Khan was rested to recover completely ahead of mega event.
Talking about their performances, Dhoni insisted that there was still room for improvement in the bowling department. He said his bowlers were not giving their 100 percent for they have been asked to save their strengths for the main matches during the World Cup.
India have performed commendably during both the warm up games prior to the commencement of the World Cup. They have managed to defeat the four time champions Australia in their first Warm up match, and ruthlessly thrashed a debilitated New Zealand side in the second tie. India are expected to play their first World Cup match against Bangladesh on Saturday, 19th February 2011.

Pressure nullifies India's home advantage: Kallis

New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI): Perennial chokers they might be but South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis feels there is nothing called favourites in a big event like the World Cup and the huge pressure of expectation will nullify India's home advantage in the ongoing tournament.

Kallis said in World Cup no side can afford to take its opponent lightly, and the team which handles pressure at crunch situations, will run away with the coveted trophy.
"I don't think any team starts as favorites at the moment. A lot of people are talking about India but we know how hard it is to play under pressure at home. That probably negates their home advantage," the 35-year-old all-rounder told reporters during their practice session at the Feroze Shah Kotla here on Tuesday.
"Ultimately it boils down to how you play in the group stage and once you reach the quarterfinals, semifinals, final, anything can happen. I think all the teams are evenly matched."
"The team which plays the best game under pressure will come out on top," he added.
Asked about the chokers tag associated with the Proteas in ICC tournaments, Kallis said, "A lot is being made in the media about the chokers tag. But we players don't even think about it."
"Everytime the team loses, people say the team has choked. But it is certainly not something which haunt us. We have a young team, 11 out of the 15 have never played in a World Cup.
"So it doesn't bother us. We are just worried about playing good cricket."
Kallis, who is the numero uno all-rounder in ODI cricket with 11,002 runs and 259 wickets, said he has completely recovered from his rib injury and will feature in the opening clash against the West Indies here on Thursday.
"So far, everything is going according to plan. I have been bowling for about a week. I am 100 per cent fit for the match."
"In fact, most of the guys are in good condition, raring to go. The good thing is that we have all the 15 to pick from," he said.
Although South Africa boast of a good record against West Indies in recent times, the right-hander said the match is evenly-balanced and the Proteas need to be on top of their game on Thursday.
"They are a dangerous side. They have got a few players who can change the game. We need to be on the top our game."
"You can't take any side lightly because one bad result against you can put pressure," Kallis said.
Kallis, however, was apprehensive about the under-fire Kotla wicket producing a high-scoring affair on Thursday.
"I haven't had a look at it as yet. I have seen it during the IPL and it wasn't too bad. Probably it's not gonna be 300-350 wicket," he said.
He also seemed excited with the fact that South Africa have packed their squad with three specialist spinners.
"We know that the wickets are going to help the spinners. It's nice to have three quality spinners in our side. I think it's an advantage."
"Certainly we haven't had a leg-spinner (Imran Tahir) in a very long time. So that brings something different. We have an off-spinner, we have a leg-spinner and the variety we've got to choose from is fantastic. I think we covered all our bases," Kallis insisted.
Kallis also dismissed suggestions that South Africa may be little rusty going into Thursday's match, saying their preparation so far went of well.
"It has been a fantastic two-and-a-half weeks for us. We have already had our preparation for the game; it's just the finishing touches we need to take care of.
"As far as preparation goes, we have been as well prepared as we have been in any other World Cup. The guys are in a lot more relaxed frame of mind, probably better prepared than any other World Cup," he said.
"The team has spent a lot of time together as well. Each guy knows his role in the team. That to me is a major positive. As a senior player, I am telling the youngsters to go out there and enjoy the World Cup," Kallis added.