Colombo, October 1
Their campaign is back on track after the morale-boosting win over Pakistan but India can hardly afford to relax as they take on an erratic but still quite intimidating South Africa in their final Super Eight match on Tuesday for a place in the semifinals.

The fight for the second semifinal slot from Group 2 is indeed intriguingly poised as both India and Pakistan have a fair chance of making the cut although Australia seems favourite at the moment. India captain MS Dhoni admitted that devising a strategy without knowing the result of the Australia versus Pakistan game will be foolhardy as that will help them chart their course of action.

In case Pakistan (-0.426), who are a shade better than India (-0.452) in terms of net run-rate happen to win against Australia, Dhoni and his men will then have to win comprehensively against the South Africans in order to make it to the last four. If Australia maintain a clean slate in the Super Eight by beating Pakistan, the equation will be a lot easier for India as a win will be good enough. Even in case of a defeat against South Africa, India should ensure that they don't lose by a big margin as the net run rate will come into play with three teams tied with one win each.

South Africa have lost both their matches. AB de Villiers and Co. will now want to end the tournament on a respectable note and think of an outside chance of qualifying, though their low net run-rate might still keep them out. — PTI

TODAY: Australia v Pakistan, 3.30PM India v South Africa, 7:30PM LIVE ON STAR CRICKET

Colombo, October 1
Former Indian - and current South African - coach Gary Kirsten has seen Virat Kohli as a precocious talent who later evolved into a premier batsman and that's the reason why the former India coach termed him as a "stand out player" who has got the "x-factor".

"I am very pleased for Virat. He has worked a lot on his game and is a stand-out batsman in world cricket today. He is one of those cricketers with x-factor who doesn't get himself out," Kirsten said today.

"You have to get him out as he doesn't give away his wicket," Kirsten said on the eve of the match against India.

Due to his hugely successful coaching stint with the Indian team, the question was asked whether the Proteas will have an advantage, but the former opener sounded pretty dismissive.

“There is enough information available on every player to be analysed at length. There is internet, there are recordings of matches available. So there are plenty of options and I don't think we (Kirsten and mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton) have anything unique to offer," he said. "Our focus should be to understand each other and play well."

Questioned on Virender Sehwag being dropped from the team for the Australia match, Kirsten presented a dead bat: “I am not going to answer that question.”

South Africa have lost back-to-back matches and the coach was forthright in admitting that they had to "make good decisions".

“We had a chance of winning both games and we let it slip. When we left the South African shores for the World T20, everyone said it is a balanced side," he said. "The main thing is that we haven't played well during key moments. We had Pakistan seven down for 60-odd and we should have won that match."

About the positives that have emerged from the match, he said that his batsmen have done well despite losing early wickets.

"We played really well against Australia after losing early wickets. I though 150 was a par-score and we got to 146 which was good enough to make it competitive. We should have closed both games after making good starts."

Left-arm spinners Raza Hassan and Xavier Doherty had troubled the South African batsmen in the two matches but Kirsten insisted that playing them wasn't a problem. “It would be very difficult to answer that but we have played well against left-arm spinners. It's not that there is a lot of turn but the off-ball gripping to the surface. We do have batsmen who are capable of playing high quality innings.” South African teams over the years haven't done well in the sub-continent and that has got to do with not being able to adapt properly. — PTI

Colombo, October 1
All praise for Yuvraj Singh's small but notable contributions in India's World Twenty20 campaign so far, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the all-rounder, who returned to cricket after beating cancer, is an indispensable part of his T20 line-up.

Yuvraj, playing his first international event after recovering from a rare germ cell cancer, has been in decent form both with the bat and ball besides making his mark as an agile fielder. The 30-year-old effected a run out, picked up two crucial wickets besides contributing 19 runs with the bat in the Super Eight win against Pakistan last night which kept India's chances of making the semifinals alive. "If we look at our combination, we play seven batsmen and you can't leave out someone like Yuvraj Singh. We had never considered the option of leaving out Yuvraj," Dhoni said at the post-match press conference. "Our bowling line-up is such that we need a left-arm bowler who can take the ball away from the batsman. Also he is a brilliant fielder as you saw with the run-out today," he added. Yuvraj's fitness has been questioned by former India captain Ravi Shastri but Dhoni feels that the senior player is certainly fit for this format. "I am not really concerned about his fitness as far as this format is concerned. He has worked really hard at the NCA for the past few months. He has also played some active T20 matches before coming into international cricket. More so the batting time in the middle will certainly help him as in domestic cricket, you don't get the kind of bowlers you get here." The question of combination was asked and Dhoni's reply was the cliched "horses for courses". "Our combination always depends on the kind of wicket we get. Like it will be very difficult for me to say what will be my strategy for the next match," Dhoni said.

"Also we have the liberty of watching how the wicket behaves during first match and that certainly has an impact on our team selection for the next game," he explained. He praised Virat Kohli for his consistency and defended both Kohli and Yuvraj for not trying to finish it with 20 deliveries left as that would have bettered their run-rate.

“I think they have played in the way they should have. There are times when you go for shots and lose wickets which increase the pressure on the side. Here when they realised that even if they get out they are not going to lose the match, they did go for big shots." The skipper also felt that Pakistan losing wickets at regular intervals made it difficult for the arch-rivals to put up a big score. “When you lose wickets at regular intervals, around 10th or 12th over, there is a dilemma whether to go all out or to play for par-score. Normally, teams choose the second option."

After the hammering his bowlers received at the hands of Australia, Dhoni felt that they recovered well to have a "good day" in office. "We don't have 145 kmph bowlers. We have bowlers who are slightly slower but do have the skill to get opposition batsmen out. But they need some help from the wicket in order to perform. — PTI

Colombo, October 1
India might have bowled out Pakistan for a paltry 128 in the World Twenty20 but Sri Lankan batting great Aravinda de Silva feels that Dhoni-led side has a weak bowling attack, besides also lacking in variation.

“Whatever I have seen so far in this tournament, the Indian bowling attack seems to be weak. And when I am saying weak, it means pretty weak," de Silva, whose century helped Sri Lanka win the 1996 World Cup (50-over) final, told PTI during an interaction. — PTI

New Delhi, October 1
Himself a livewire of the Indian cricket team on and off the field, young Indian batsman Virat Kohli said that he admires West Indian swashbuckler Chris Gayle for the entertainment he provides on a cricket field.

While shooting for an ad film for a soft drink brand, Kohli said Gayle brings fans to the cricket field with his antics. Kohli says in a release that Gayle is one of the most exciting cricketers on-field along with him and playing with the West Indian brings out the craziness in him.

He admires Gayle for his unique dance styles, the signature lightning pose, the celebrations and the calypso dance after the wickets fall as it brings a smile to every cricketer on-field and also the fans watching the match.

Kohli said he also loves to play pranks with his team-mates at the dressing room as it helps team bonding.

Asked about his favourite 'na tameez' moments off-field, Kohli spoke about the pranks he plays inside the dressing room, claiming that it keeps the atmosphere relaxed, the T20 cricket spirit alive and helps the team to bond. Virat was recently seen in a soft-drink commercial with his captain Dhoni, Suresh Raina along with Ranbir Kapoor in an ad shoot. — PTI

Pallekele, October 1
West Indies kept alive their semifinal hopes after pulling off a sensational win over New Zealand via Super Over in their final Super Eights match.

Needing 18 to win in the Super Over, West Indies rode on Chris Gayle and Marlon's Samuels pyrotechnics to finish the game with a ball to spare at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium which saw a tied game with both teams finishing on 139 in regulation time.

While Gayle started the chase in the Super Over with a huge six over long-off off a no ball by Tim Southee, Sameuls completed the job with a maximum over deep mid-wicket. With three loses from as many games, New Zealand have crashed out of the tournament.

On the other hand, West Indies' fortune will now hinge on the result of the other Group 1 match between Sri Lanka and England. — PTI

Scoreboard
West Indies
Charles c & b Bracewell 8
Gayle c B McCullum b Southee 30
Russell c Franklin b Bracewell 6
Samuels c Southee b N McCullum 24
Bravo b N McCullum 16
Pollard c Taylor b Bracewell 28
Ramdin c Taylor b Hira 1
Sammy c Franklin b Southee 11
Narine b Southee 3
Badree b Oram 1
Rampaul not out 1
Extras: (lb 2, w 6, nb 2) 10
Total: (all out; 19.3 overs) 139
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-36, 3-61, 4-87, 5-98, 6-102, 7-123, 8-133, 9-136
Bowling: Mills-2-0-25-0, Bracewell 4-0-31-3, Southee 4-0-21-3, Oram 1.3-0-17-1, Hira 4-0-24-1, N McCullum 4-0-19-2

New Zealand
Nicol lbw b Rampaul 3
Guptill c Samuels b Sammy 21
B McCullum b Badree 22
Taylor not out 62
Franklin c Gayle b Narine 14
Oram lbw b Narine 6
N McCullum c Charles b Narine 5
Bracewell run out 1
Extras: (lb 2, w 2, nb 1) 5
Total: (7 wickets; 20 overs) 139
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-41, 3-52, 4-85, 5-115, 6-125, 7-139
Bowling: Rampaul 4-0-23-1, Badree 4-0-18-1, Narine 4-0-20-3, Sammy 4-0-35-1, Pollard 2-0-13-0, Gayle 1-0-15-0, Samuels 1-0-13-0

Super Over
N Zealand 17 (Taylor 15)
W Indies 18 ( Samuels 9, Gayle 7)

Pallekele, October 1
Lasith Malinga blew away the England top-order by dismissing three batsmen in a single over as Sri Lanka defeated the defending champions by 19 runs in their last Super Eight match to qualify for the semifinals along with the West Indies here today.

England needed to chase the 170-run target in less than 13 overs to qualify for the semifinals but paceman Malinga's performance (5/31) made it a lop-sided affair.

England ended 150 for nine through a fighting 67-run knock from Samit Patel and and his 51-run stand for the eighth wicket with Greame Swann (34).

Sri Lanka's win pushed England out of the tournament since they had just one win from three Super Eight matches in Group I while the Caribbean side had two. The West Indies had edged past New Zealand in a thrilling match early in the day to keep themselves in the hunt. None of Lanka batsmen played a big knock but they rode on a collective batting effort to reach 169/6. Mahela Jayawardene (42), Angelo Mathews (28) and Jeevan Mendis (18) got good starts but could not convert those into big innings after the hosts were sent in to bat. — PTI

Lasith Malinga celebrates after dismissing Jos Buttler on Monday. — Reuters

Scoreboard
Sri Lanka
Jayawardene c Morgan b Swann 42
Dilshan lbw b Finn 16
Sangakkara c Bairstow b Swann 13
Mathews b Broad 28
BMAJ Mendis c Bopara b Broad 18
Thirimanne b Broad 13
Perera not out 26
Kulasekara not out 1
Extras: (b 4, lb 2, w 6) 12
Total: ((6 wKts; 20 ovrs) 169
Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-74, 3-74,4-126, 5-126,6-162
Bowling: Finn 4-0-24-1, Dernbach 4-0-42-0, Broad 4-0-32-3, Swann 4-0-26-2, Bopara 2-0-12-0, Patel 2-0-27-0

England
Wright c Dilshan b Malinga 12
Hales lbw b Malinga 3
Bairstow c Kulasekara b Malinga 2
Patel not out 67
Morgan lbw b Dananjaya 10
Bopara b BMAJ Mendis 1
Buttler c BAW Mendis b Malinga 8
Broad c Jayawardene b Dananjaya 1
Swann b Kulasekara 34
Finn not out 1
Dernbach not out 2
Extras: (b 1, lb 4, w 3, nb 1) 9
Total: (9 wkts; 20 ovrs) 150
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-18, 3-18, 4-73, 5-76, 6-91, 7-93, 8-144, 9-147
Bowling: Mathews 3-0-21-0, Kulasekara 4-0-22-1,Malinga 4-0-31-5,BAW Mendis 4-0-40-0, Dananjaya 4-0-26-2, BMAJ Mendis 1-0-5-1

Colombo, October 1
Annihilated by India in their second Super Eight match, an inconsistent Pakistan are faced with a do-or-die situation and need nothing less than a big win when they take on a rampaging Australia in the World Twenty20 here on Tuesday.

Pakistan will have to pick up the pieces from their all-round failure against the arch-rivals and come up with an inspired performance against the unbeaten Australian side, which has been almost assured a semifinal berth with a commanding eight-wicket victory over South Africa in their last game on Sunday.

Aware that one more defeat will ensure their exit from the tournament if India manage to beat South Africa later in the evening on Tuesday, Pakistan, after a win and a loss, have to clinch it against Australia to have any chance of making the semifinals.

If Mohammad Hafeez`s men lose on Tuesday, then everything will boil down to the high-octane clash between India and SA. A win against the Proteas will be good enough for them to march into the last-four stage.

Even in case of a defeat, India should ensure that they don`t lose by a big margin.

South Africa have lost both their matches in contrasting manner — a close defeat against Pakistan and a comprehensive one against Australia. Even if they win on Tuesday, it would be an unlikely proposition for the A B de Villiers` side to seal the semifinal berth as their inferior run-rate (-0.605) at this stage of the tournament makes their case weak.

On a roll with an all-win record in the tournament so far, the George Bailey-led Australian side`s eight-wicket win over perennial chokers but serious title-contenders, South Africa yesterday must have done a world of good to their morale after topping Group B with wins over Ireland and the West Indies.

Pakistan, on the other hand, would have to regroup their resources after being shot out for a meagre 128 against India. Their main worry would be Shane Watson and David Warner. — PTI

Medinah, October 1
Inspired by the spirit of Seve Ballesteros, Europe pulled off one of the greatest comebacks on a golf course to beat the United States and win the Ryder Cup by 14-1/2 points to 13-1/2 on Sunday.

Needing to claim eight points in the concluding singles to retain the trophy, Europe won six of the first eight encounters before Germany’s Martin Kaymer secured the vital point to retain the Cup by beating Steve Stricker one up.

After Stricker had holed his par putt from eight feet at the last, Kaymer buried his five-footer for a matching par before thrusting his arms skywards in delight as European fans erupted with deafening cheers at Medinah Country Club.

“It’s undescribable,” the German said as chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole” echoed across the course. “I was so nervous the last two, three holes. I loved it. It’s amazing.”

With the chance of a tie resting on the final match, Tiger Woods astonishingly missed a three-foot par putt at the 18th, then conceded a putt from similar length to halve his contest with Italy’s Francesco Molinari to hand Europe outright victory.

“It was already over,” Woods said. “This is a team event and the Cup was already been retained by Europe.”

Europe, who sent out their best players early, emulated the miracle comeback achieved by the U.S. at Brookline in 1999 when they also overhauled a deficit of 10-6 on the final day, in front of vocal home crowds, to triumph by the same margin.

However Europe’s astonishing turnaround will be viewed as more impressive having been delivered on foreign soil.

“We believed in our hearts we could win this,” said Englishman Luke Donald, who earned Europe’s first point of the day in the opening match with a 2&1 win over Masters champion Bubba Watson.

The Europeans drew inspiration on Sunday from their beloved Ballesteros, who died last year aged 54 after a battle with cancer, with every player wearing the navy blue colours favoured by the Spaniard in the final rounds of tournaments.

“Seve will always be present with this team,” said a teary-eyed Olazabal, for whom his compatriot Ballesteros was both a friend and mentor.

Europe won four and halved one of the six matches that reached the 18th hole as they triumphed for a fourth time on U.S. soil. They have now won the Ryder Cup seven times in the last nine editions. U.S. captain Davis Love III, whose team had been in a dominant position overnight when leading 10-6, was stunned by the defeat.

“We know what it feels like now from the ‘99 Ryder Cup. It’s a little bit shocking. We were playing so well, everyone on our team was playing so well,” he said. — Reuters

Bangalore, October 1
Punjab and Air India entered the final of the second Hockey India National Hockey Championship after registering contrasting victories over their opponents on Monday.

While Air India came from behind to beat last year’s runners-up Karnataka 3-2, Punjab outplayed defending champions Haryana 4-1.

Air India were out of the frame for most of the match, as Karnataka led 2-0 with goals from Pundalik Bellary (32nd) and Nitin Thimmaiah (44th).

But a profitable 20-minute spell at the end of the second half changed the equation completely as three quick goals were scored. Arjun Halappa converted two penalty strokes (50th and 61st minute) before Vinaya Vokkaliga slammed home a penalty corner just as the final hooter went.

In the first semifinal, penalty-corner specialist Gurjinder Singh struck twice to help Punjab win. Gurjinder continued his goal-scoring spree and converted two penalty-corners in 15th and 21st minutes. Satbir Singh (51st) and skipper Sarvanjit Singh (55th) completed the rout. For Haryana, Naveen Antil scored the consolation goal in the 58th minute. — PTI