Colombo, September 22
India's listless bowling attack will aim to put up an improved performance ahead of the Super Eight stage when the team takes on England in its final group league encounter in the ICC World Twenty20 in Colombo on Sunday.

Both India and England are through to the 'Super Eight' but the contrasting manner of their respective victories certainly makes Stuart Broad and Co favourites ahead of a clash that has gained marquee status over the years.

While the Indian team management will be looking to plug the loopholes that appeared in the match against Afghanistan, England, after a facile 116-run win, will look to repeat that performance against a much better team.

The cause of concern for India across all formats has been their bowlers and it is no different in Twenty20. 33-year-old Zaheer Khan, who has manfully shouldered the burden as the leader of the attack, seems to have reached the fag end of his career and is increasingly looking pedestrian. It is Zaheer's poor show that has led to the entire Indian attack looking ordinary.

Add to it, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's penchant for playing only four specialist bowlers always leaves the team in a high risk zone where it is expected that the part-timers need to perform above expectations. The Mumbai-pacer has looked totally out of sorts in the net sessions so far.

Although it is too early to predict whether Zaheer will be benched considering that both Irfan Pathan and Laxmipathy Balaji have bowled better than him, but it can be said that he is playing the shortest format on borrowed time. The trip at the R Premadasa Stadium has been of great help for the pace bowlers but the 'Men in Blue' are more reliant on spinners.

Teams (from):

India: MS Dhoni (c), Gautam Gambhir, Ravichandran Ashwin, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Ashok Dinda, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Yuvraj Singh.

England: Stuart Broad (c), Jonathan Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter (wkt), Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright. 

Colombo, September 22
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday defended beleaguered speedster Zaheer Khan, calling him the “Sachin Tendulkar of Indian bowling" but at the same time indicated a few changes in the team line-up for the last World T20 group match against England here on Sunday.

“It`s easier to go after a bowler when is not doing well. For me, Zaheer is the Sachin Tendulkar of the Indian bowling attack. He has been the leader of the bowling unit for a number of years now," Dhoni said.

“He might not have been so effective in the last few matches but in those situations others need to step up. I believe it`s a matter of time for him to get back to form," he added. However, Dhoni looked a little circumspect when asked whether he would remain a `Zaheer backer` even if the bowler`s bad patch is a prolonged one. "It`s a difficult question to answer. Obviously, it depends on the format. For me, he is an experienced cricketer but then you have to look at the format. In this format you don`t get too many matches.”

With a place in the Super Eights already confirmed, Dhoni indicated that there were plans to make a few changes in the playing XI for their game against England.

“We are looking to make a few changes in the side. Obviously, we only name the playing XI on the day of the match. We ideally want most of our 15 members to get some game time in the middle before we get on with the Super Eights," he remarked.

The skipper has looked in good touch and it was his 8-ball 19 that helped India reach close to 160 but he is still not keen on dropping Yuvraj down the order. — PTI

Hambantota, September 22
South Africa topped Group C after skipper A B de Villiers led them to a 32-run victory over Sri Lanka in a rain-curtailed match of the ICC World Twenty20 here today.

South Africa rode on De Villiers' 13-ball 30 to post 78 for four after the match was reduced to a seven-over-a-side affair. In reply, the Sri Lankans were restricted to 46 for five as the Protea bowlers took centrestage at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.

The loss meant Sri Lanka will enter the Super Eight stage as the second best team from the group. Besides de Villiers, Amla (16), Faf du Plessis (13) and Duminy (12) chipped in with important runs to lay the foundation for a comfortable win, after being put in to bat. In what was the first international T20 match between the two sides, the hosts always had a tough task at hands after the Proteas set a stiff target. It became even more difficult after the Lankans lost openers — captain Mahela Jayawardene (4) and Tillakaratner Dilshan (0) — cheaply.

The Lankan batsmen simply failed to find their ground, even as Steyn, Morkel and Jacques Kallis came up with tremendous bowling efforts to restrict the opponents. The bowlers managed to tightened the noose further and the likes of Dilshan Munaweera, Sangakara (13) and Perera (1) could never get the momentum going. — PTI

Score board

South Africa:
Levi c Munaweera b Kulasekara 4
Amla st Sanga b Herath 16
Plessis c Mendis b Perera 13
Villiers c Mendis b Malinga 30
Duminy (not out) 12
Morkel (not out) 0
Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3
Total (4 wkts; 7 ovrs) 78
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-27, 3-65, 4-68
Bowling: Kulasekara 1-0-9-1, Malinga 2-0-27-1, Herath 2-0-21-1, Mathews 1-0-8-0, Perera 1-0-12-1

Sri Lanka:
Jayawardene c Behardien b Steyn 4
Dilshan (run out) Villiers 0
Munaweera c Behardien b Morkel 13
Sanga c Villiers b Kallis 13
Perera c Duminy b Steyn 1
Mendis (not out) 7
Thirimanne not out 5
Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3
Total (5 wkts; 7 ovrs) 46
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-8, 3-30, 4-32,5 40
Bowling: Morkel 2-0-9-0, Steyn 2-0-10-2, Botha 1-0-9-0, Kallis 1-0-9-1, Morkel 1-0-8-1

Colombo, September 22
Australia qualified for the Super Eights round of the World Twenty20 by defeating the West Indies in a rain-interrupted group B match in Colombo on Saturday.

Australia, chasing a challenging target of 192, were 100-1 in 9.1 overs when heavy rain forced the match to be called off in front of 18,000 fans at the Premadasa stadium. The Aussies, who were ahead of the par score of 83 at that stage, won by 17 runs, according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Australia's second successive win — they beat Ireland by seven wickets on Wednesday — leaves the West Indies and Ireland battling for the other Super Eights spot from the group on Monday. The weather ruined a keen finish with Australia edging ahead, needing 92 more from 65 balls with nine wickets in hand. Warner hit 28 of 30 with Watson, before Mike Hussey joined Watson to add 70 in 42 balls for the second wicket.

Watson was unbeaten on 41 off 24 balls with three sixes and two boundaries. Earlier, the West Indies posted 191-8 following attacking half-centuries from Gayle. — PTI

Score board

West Indies:

Samuels c Warner b Hogg 50
Bravo b Cummins 27
Pollard x Hussey b Watson 10
Sammy c Warner b Starc 12
Ramdin b Starc 3
Rampaul not out 0
Narine not out 4
Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3
Total (8 wkts; 20 ovrs) 191
Fall of wickets 1-8, 2-47, 3-93, 4-140,5-162,6-171, 7-187, 8-187
Bowling: Watson 4-0-29-2, Starc 4-0-35-3, Cummins 4-1-41-1, Christian 3-0-29-1, Hogg 4-0-30-1, Maxwell 1-0-17-0

Australia:

Warner c Ramdin b Edwards 28
Watson not out 41
Hussey not out 28
Extras (w 1, nb 2) 3
Total (1 wkt; 9.1 overs) 100
Bowling: Edwards 2-0-16-1, Rampaul 1.1-0-23-0, Narine 2-0-16-0, Sammy 2-0-15-0

Colombo, September 22
So, the real contest begins now. The first Twenty20 world champions are taking on the defending champions. Both India and England have defeated Afghanistan but the manner of those wins separates the two teams.

One team seems a mere hopeful, the other a serious contender. England arrived in this tournament with the Kevin Pietersen controversy looming large in the background. To England’s credit, they have not allowed the focus to drift away from the cricket.

England’s main striker Graeme Swann looked very upbeat when this correspondent chatted with him as they prepared to begin their defence. “We won the last time in the Caribbean and we naturally want to defend the title,” he said. “We are very excited about it.”

England probably realise that spin will be a key factor on the Sri Lankan pitches. The success of Swann and Samit Patel in the last match may encourage England to play the same victorious XI. However, against an Indian line-up which has a formidable reputation against spin, England may be forced to alter their game-plan.

The pitches in Sri Lanka have so far surprised everyone with the bounce and some late movement, especially in the evening matches. Local observers say that the Sri Lankan wickets, especially the one at Colombo’s RS Premadasa Stadium, hitherto turners, have changed significantly in the post-Muttiah Muralitharan era. In the recently held SLPL, the top-three wicket-takers were pace bowlers.

Swann too doesn’t expect it to be a spinner’s paradise. “I am not sure that it will assist spinners but let’s hope that, since I am a spinner. We have got some good spinners and let’s hope it helps us,” England’s premier spinner said.

On the other hand, India know that the time has come to get the momentum going. In the current squad, there are seven players who were part of the 2007 T20 World Cup victory. Thus India are short of neither big-match experience nor explosive power in their batting line-up.

But the presence of seven 30-plus players is clearly affecting the fielding standards. In spite of that, some of the finest names of world cricket are still backing India to do well in this tournament.

“I don’t think so (that age is an issue). Bing over 30 doesn’t mean that you can’t be a good player. I envy the fact that some of the young Indian players get such great exposure by playing the whole IPL. India is one of the favourites,” says Daniel Vettori.

Regardless of the New Zealander’s reassuring words, India have started feeling the heat. India may have started the new cricket season on a winning note but coach Duncan Fletcher has hardly anything significant to show on his Indian CV, especially in the shortest version of the game. To change that, the former England coach would be keen to see his current team beat his former team.

The writer is a journalist with CNN-IBN-7 

Colombo, September 22
The mere mention of 'six sixes' rankles England captain Stuart Broad, who was at the receiving end when Yuvraj Singh accomplished the feat in the 2007 World Twenty20, but the pacer was sporting enough to "welcome" the Indian batsman back after recovery from Cancer.

“I know you don't want to remember but I have to remind you about the six sixes hit by Yuvraj Singh," quipped an Indian mediaperson at the pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's India-England clash in the ongoing WT20. "So, what's your question?" was the curt response from Broad, who has come a long way since that fateful September 19, five years back.

“Well, Yuvraj is a great player and we all welcome him having made such a strong comeback. Obviously, he is one of the most dangerous players but we will meet on the field tomorrow," Broad said when asked to comment on Yuvraj's comeback. After having thrashed Afghanistan by a whopping 116-run margin, Broad hoped a repeat of this performance against India.

“It was a great innings by Luke (Wright). I believe the match against India will be a good one. They have a huge fan following and hopefully it will be an exciting contest. Having played Australia and Pakistan in the two warm-up games, we are well-prepared to take on India,” Broad said.

Broad also doesn't want to think too much about whether India's bowling line-up is weak or not. "We would rather concentrate on our strengths. I don't think it's as weak as it is being made out to be. They have some experienced bowlers but they have a very strong batting line-up. "They have players who can be dangerous if they are allowed to get set. Obviously, we have watched the match against Afghanistan and we have some strategy for them". Broad seemed pleasantly surprised at the nature of the Sri Lankan wickets which has more bounce and carry nowadays.

“It's good that it's helping the fast bowlers. The other day, I watched Kallis's spell against Zimbabwe and was pretty impressed seeing the carry as well as some of the deliveries that skidded off the surface. "Hopefully, once we are in Pallekele for Super Eights, we would be able to exploit conditions". — PTI 

Bangalore, September 22
Opener Murali Vijay's unbeaten knock of 151 ensured a crucial 75-run first-innings lead for Rest of India on Day 2 of their Irani Trophy match against Rajasthan on Saturday.

Rest of India were 328 for two at stumps, with Vijay and S Badrinath (1 not out) at the crease, at the Chinnaswamy stadium. Rajasthan were all out for 253 on the first day. Vijay hit 18 fours and five sixes during his 257-ball innings, which turned out to be his tenth first-class century.

Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara contributed 81 and 78 respectively, and both were involved in big century stands with the Tamil Nadu opener.

After adding 173 runs for the first wicket with Rahane, Vijay was joined by Pujara, and the two raised 153 runs for the third wicket to put their team in a commanding position, a day after the bowlers set it up with Umesh Yadav leading the way with a five-for.

Vijay notched up his century by ambling across for a single off Madhur Khatri, a fleeting moment after hitting him out of the park for a maximum. Out of the Indian team, Vijay used the opportunity with a well-stitched innings, that should force the selectors to take note.

Just before the close of play, Vijay reached 150 after he pushed Khatri for a single to long off. The first-wicket partnership was broken when Rahane, who reached 5,000 runs in first-class cricket, was run out after facing 143 balls. His knock was studded with twelve hits to the fence. The second wicket fell in the form of Pujara, who was snapped up by Dishant Yagnik off Aniket Choudhary for a well-made 78 off 140 balls, and laced with eleven boundaries and a six.

Earlier, the Saurashtra player survived a scare on 57 when he was dropped in the slips. On a pitch that has a tinge of grass but no real assistance for the bowlers, Rajasthan were sent on a leather-hunt by ROI batsmen. That the Ranji champions failed to utilise the early morning conditions, only made their task difficult. Rajasthan missed strike bowler Pankaj Singh, who had taken 77 wickets since 2010-2011.

The absence of Ashok Menaria and Rituraj Singh -- both doing duty for the India 'A' team in New Zealand -- was also felt. They were further jolted when pacer Deepak Chahar walked off the field due to an injury. — PTI 

Singapore, September 22
Sahara Force India's Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg finished in the top 10 in both opening practice sessions for the Singapore Grand Prix, here.

Hulkenberg was seventh in the first free practice with a timing of 1:51.658 while Di Resta finished a place behind after clocking 1:51.943, two days ahead of Sunday's floodlit race. The German pair of Resta and Hulkenberg were sixth and seventh fastest in the second run, with Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, Ferrari driver Felipe Massa and Lotus pilot Romain Grosjean rounding off the top 10.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel indicated his title defence isn't over yet as he scorched to the quickest times in both opening practice sessions.

Mc Laren's Lewis Hamilton was second quickest in the first session followed by teammate Jenson Button. Button was second fastest in the later session. — Reuters

Bangalore, September 22
The Karnataka High Court today stayed the two-year AITA ban on tennis players Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna from representing the country till June 30, 2014 on disciplinary grounds.

Hearing a writ petition filed by the duo challenging the two-year ban imposed by All India Tennis Association, Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar ordered issue of emergent notice to AITA. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Pallekele
Pakistan gear up for New Zealand challenge:Having won their tournament opener with consummate ease, a resurgent New Zealand side would be on a look out for a Super Eight berth when it takes on Pakistan in a Group D encounter here Sunday. The Kiwis, led by a record 123-run knock by Brendon McCullum, registered a convincing victory over Bangladesh, but it would, by no means, be an easier preposition for Ross Taylor's boys against the former champions. Pakistan are far better equipped than their Asian neighbours, and with a formidable bowling line-up that includes the likes of offspinner Saeed Ajmal and speedster Umar Gul, they certainly have the necessary fire power to put a tab on the Kiwis. Pakistan's main worry, however, remain their inconsistent batting. They were bundled out for a paltry 96 against England in their warm-up match and their victory against India in the first warm-up game came only after being revived from a precarious position by an extra-ordinary innings from Kamran Akmal. Pakistan's two most experienced campaigners in Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik have woefully been out of form and their top-order exhibits inexperience in the shortest format of the game.Hafeez may well start with a spinner from one end given the Kiwis' discomfort against the turning ball. — Agencies