New Delhi, February 28
Twice world champions West Indies, riding on a six-wicket haul, including the first hattrick of this edition by seamer Kemar Roach (6 for 27), recorded a comprehensive 215-run victory against The Netherlands in their second Group B ICC World Cup 2011 at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here tonight.

Chasing West Indies' mammoth first innings total of 330, The Netherlands slumped to 37 for 5. Everyone thought Holland's end was very near, and even a lady announced through the public address system that the repoters should assemble for the captains' post-match press conference "in half an hour".

The time was 7.30 then, but Holland did not wish to surrender that meekly, as one down Tom Cooper put up a defiant show to compile a half century, and Mudassar Bukhari gave him company for some time. But after Mudassar Bukhari, who had taken two wickets, was removed by Roach, the Holland collapse became imminent which was hastened by Roach by claiming the scalps of Seelaaar, Loots and Westdik off the first three balls in the ninth over. Roach, who became the six bowler in the World Cup history to capture a hattrick, was adjudged the man of the match. He was given able support from the other end by Benn, who accounted for three wickets while captain Sammy took the scalp of his counterpart Peter Borren.

The victory helped West Indies end a nine-match losing streak, and make amends for the crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa here last Thursday.

Earlier, the West Indies were well-served by their star batsmen to help pile up a huge total of 330 for 8 in 50 overs which looked beyond the reach of The Netherlands.

The Dutch opted to field after winning the toss, as they perhaps wanted to avoid bowling second, taking the dew factor into consideration. But the West Indies made full use of their familiarity with the Kotla wicket to pile on runs to set an over rate of 6.6 runs which Holland foud difficult to attain as Benn and Roach bowled spot on to burst the Dutch like an overblown baloon. The cause suffered an irreversible damage when Ryan ten Doeschate was held for nine. Thereafter, the Dutch slumped like a pack of cards to suffer a humiliating defeat.

Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and Kieron Pollard went on such a leather hunt that Holland's bowling plans came apart. In fact West Indies could have easily gone for a bigger total, but for some injudicious strokes.

And West Indies in the process also rewrote a record at the Kotla of teams batting winning the contest. This was only the third day/night match to be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, with both previous matches won batting second. In those two matches, one captain won the toss and chose to bat and the other chose to field. And Holland suffered the fate of the first captain.

It was time West Indies corrected their winless run as they were without a win in their last nine ODI matches. Their last victory came in April last year against Ireland at Kingston. The only time West Indies and Holland met in an ODI match was in the Quadrangular Series in 2007 at Dublin, when the Caribbeans recorde a 10-wicket victory, thanks to four wickets by Dwayne Smith and an unbeaten 51 from Chris Gayle. 

Scoreboard

West Indies

Smith c Barresi b Loots 53

Gayle c Kervezee b Doeschate 80

Bravo c Kervezee b Seelaar 30

Sarwan lbw b Westdijk 49

Pollard c Doeschate b Bukhari 60

Sammy c Kervezee b Seelaar 6

Chanderpaul b Seelaar 4

Thomas lbw b Bukhari 13

Miller not out 11

Benn not out 3

Extras (b-3, lb-3, w-14, nb-1) 21

Bowling: Bukhari 10-1-65-2, B Westdijk 7-0-56-1, Doeschate 10-0-77-1, Loots 7-0-44-1, Cooper 6-0-37-0, Seelaar 10-1-45-3.

Netherlands

Kervezee st Thomas b Benn 14

Barresi c Gayle b Roach 0
Cooper not out 55

Doeschate lbw b Benn 7

Zuiderent b Roach 1

Grooth lbw b Benn 1

Borren c Pollard b Sammy 10

Bukhari b Roach 24

Seelaar lbw b Roach 1

Loots lbw b Roach 0

Westdijk b Roach 0

Extras (lb 2) 2

Bowling: Benn 8-1-280-3, Roach 8.3-0-27-6, Miller 7-0-23-0, Sammy 7-0-33-1, Pollard 1-0-2-0.

Colombo, February 28
Sri Lanka would look to bounce back after their morale-sapping loss in the last match and avenge their 2003 edition defeat at the hands of Kenya when they take on the African associate nation in their World Cup Group A match here tomorrow.

Sri Lanka, tipped as one of the title contenders, lost to Pakistan by 11 runs on Saturday and they would look to lift their morale with a big win against Kenya at R Premadasa Stadium tomorrow.

They have also got the boost ahead of tomorrow's match with fast bowler Lasith Malinga available for selection for after sitting out of Sri Lanka's last two matches due to a sore back.

Sri Lanka ill-afford to take their tomorrow's opponents lightly though Kenya had suffered heavy defeats at the hands of New Zealand and Pakistan in their last two matches and facing internal division with differences between their coach Eldine Baptiste and senior players.

Against the Kiwis, Kenya were bowled out for 69 runs, their lowest total in ODI cricket, and then Pakistan thrashed them by 205 runs at Hambantota.

But the last time Sri Lanka and Kenya met in a World Cup encounter was in 2003 and the Africans had stunned the 1996 champions on that occasion with an upset win in Nairobi.

Understandably, Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss warned his players not to be complacent "The fact that we did not win our last game will stop any complacency. Our guys are consciously aware of playing good cricket and we certainly will not take them lightly," Bayliss said.

He said Malinga was able to bowl full steam at the nets today and he would be available for selection.

"Lasith bent over to pick up a cricket ball about two weeks ago and strained his back a little. The physio said that the first two weeks were the most important after his injury as the most likelihood of him re-injuring was that period. He bowled in the last two practice sessions. He has bowled with a full run-up today and batted and fielded. We have a selection meeting in the evening and will decide what to do then," Baylisss said. — PTI

Bangalore, February 28
Miffed with the controversial Umpire Decision Review System and his team's fielding, Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he was left with mixed feelings after the thrilling tie against England in a Group B World Cup match here.

"Adulteration of technology with human thinking is bad. That's why we didn't get that wicket. Hopefully, next time it will be either technology or human intention," Dhoni said last night referring to England batsman Ian Bell's close shave.

Bell was ruled not out by on-field umpire Billy Bowden as well as the third umpire despite TV replays clearly showing the ball hitting the stumps, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here.

When Yuvraj Singh struck Bell on the pads with the final ball of the 26th over, Bell was on 17. He later went on to score 69, thanks partly to the DRS that went in his favour. "If the Hawkeye says it's going to hit the stumps, then there is no reason (why an appeal should be turned down)."

Riding on Sachin Tendulkar's record fifth World Cup ton, India piled up a mammoth 338, but despite setting a stiff asking rate, they nearly gave it all away last night. Dhoni hoped the tie would help his team realise the importance of fielding.

"With this tie everyone in the team will realise that even one run can be important. India has many strenghths but fielding is not one of them," he said. "We cannot improve the fielding.

There are some slow fielders. But we have got the talent to improve the bowling," Dhoni said when reminded about India's fielding and bowling. Asked about the penultimate over that nearly paved the way for an England win, Dhoni said he had no other option but to bring in Piyush Chawla. — PTI 

Ludhiana, February 28
It was “Singh is King” all the way during the opening ceremony of the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games which got off to an emphatic fashion with a scintillating performance by Bollywood super star, Akshay Kumar at Guru Nanak Stadium, here this evening.

With this, Punjab scripted a new chapter in the history of sports by organizing the highest ever prize money inter-district tournament, a move to wean away youth from intoxicants and encouraging them to adopt sports as a career.

As Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal declared the biggest ever sports extravaganza open, the sky of Ludhiana lit with sparkling fire works.

The glitter of the show became blinding as bollywood star Akshay Kumar, Ambassador of Shaheed – e – Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games, mesmerized the jam packed Guru Nanak Stadium with his athletic dance work.

As participants from 20 districts descended on the ground, holding proudly the flag of their respective district in an impressive march past, the gala and glitter of opening ceremony of Punjab Games the venue came alive to the reverberations of beats of Punjabi music and a show of lights.

The opening ceremony of Punjab Games was choreographed by Prof. Bansi Kaul who had choreographed the ceremony of CWG. Sportspersons who have brought laurels for the state and the nation during different sports events took part in the torch relay that included boxer, Amandeep Singh, wrestler, Navjot Kaur. Athletes Harwant Kaur, Mandeep Kaur, Manjeet Kaur, hockey stars Rajpal Singh and Gurbaj Singh.

As international basketball player, Talwinder Singh Sahi (Pipli) took oath on the behalf of the participants to play in the true spirit of games, it rewrote a chapter in the sports history of Punjab where budding talent would be nurtured, trained and equipped to compete in International tournaments.

Speaking on the occasion Badal said that these games were always my passion and I have institutionalized the arrangement that these games became an annual feature.

Ludhiana, February 28
After the controversy surrounding the “free” performance of Akshay Kumar, the host of the Shaheed- E- Azam Punjab games landed in another controversy after Davinder Singh Saroya, the director of North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala revealed that over Rs 1 crore was spent on the state-of-the-art stage, installed at Guru Nanak Stadium for the opening ceremony of the games.

He further added that nearly Rs 65 lakh would be charged form the government for paying the fees of 550 members of the dance troupe associated with the NZCC, who were rehearsing in the venue for last four days to perform during the games.

Davinder Singh Saroya said the state government assigned the NZCC with the task of making arrangements for the cultural extravaganza. Following which NZCC floated a global tender and roped in a private event management company to organise the event.

Pargat Singh had yesterday said that the cultural event was being handled by NZCC and the expenditure of the cultural performance was not in the budget.