Afghanistan Cricket Team beat Netherlands by 5 wickets

Afghanistan cricket Team on Saturday defeated Netherland by 5 wickets to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Netherland players managed to score 256 by losing 9 wickets and set up a target of 257 for the Afghan cricket palyers.

A tremendous contribution by Karim Sadiq after scoring his second One-Day International centruy helped Afghanistan clinch a five-wicket win over the Netherlands in the second One-Day International at Sharjah.

Both Afghanistan and Netherlands kept themselves in the contention during the two day match series which was organized to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Three Netherlands batsmen Tom Cooper, Michael Swart and Wesley Barresi managed to score half centuries while from Afghanistan side Karim Sadiq managed to struck 100 in 74 balls, and Javid Ahmadi and captain Navroz Mangal stroked 43 runs.

Afghan bowler Izatullah Dawlatzai took four wickets by giving 38 runs where Karim Sadiq managed to hit 12 fours and four sixes.

Netherlands and Afghanistan scored 6 points following Ireland and UAE at the ICC World Cricket League Championship where Kenya secure 4 points and Namibia and Kenya secure 0 points.

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MTC lauds Cricket Namibia

The One Day 50-over matches will be of crucial importance since they will count towards qualification for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

“The upcoming game is of critical importance to our cricket team and I therefore wish to encourage all Namibians to come out and support the team,” he said.

The coach of Canada, Michael Dighton said they were looking forward to the contest and hoped to give Namibia a good run for their money.

“Namibia showed how good they are at the T20 Qualifiers. They are very well coached and led. It’s a shame that six teams won’t be qualifying for the T20 Wold Cup because then both Namibia and us would have made it,” he said.

“We are looking forward to give you a good game in the I-Cup and the two one-dayers,” he added.

The CEO of Cricket Namibia Graham MacMillan said that the One Day 50-over matches would be crucial since the two top teams at the end of the Intercontinental Cup tournament would qualify automatically for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Two more places will be filled via a qualification tournament.

News source by:- http://www.namibiasport.com.na/

Yuvraj discharged after cancer treatment

India's World Cup cricket hero Yuvraj Singh announced on Sunday that he has been discharged from hospital after undergoing chemotherapy for a cancerous tumour.

"3rd chemo cycles over, back from hospital n I am free.... Can't wait to be back home," the 30-year-old all-rounder said via Twitter from the United States, where he has been receiving treatment. 

Left-handed Yuvraj, named man of the tournament after India's World Cup triumph at home last April, was diagnosed with a rare condition, mediastinal seminoma - a malignant tumour between his lungs - soon after the event.

Thousands of well-wishers, including US cycling great Lance Armstrong, have sent messages to the player, who is known for his aggressive batting and disciplined spin bowling.

Thanking fans for their support, Yuvraj also doffed his hat to Indian cricketing superstar Sachin Tendulkar for achieving the "unachievable" after becoming the only player to score 100 international centuries on Friday.

"Overwhelmed and full of emotions Tendulkar take a bow What he has achieved is immeasurable and what he has done is unachievable," he said.

Yuvraj, who scored 362 runs and bagged 15 wickets in nine World Cup matches, has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two of the three home Tests against the West Indies in November.

He has scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 in 37 Tests since making his international debut in 2000. 

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Swann blasts 'cheat' Perera over catching row

England off spinner Graeme Swann has criticized Sri Lankan batsman Dilruwan Perera for refusing to walk after being caught at slip off James Anderson, and credited captain Andrew Strauss for restoring calm among the players.

Swann accused Perera of trying to cheat after knowing he was out.

"It was very difficult to take, as it was so blatantly out. What annoyed us was the batsman stood there, knowing 100 per cent he was out. He chose to cheat in my view," The Sun quoted Swann, as saying.

"I'm glad Straussy was there, because I'm sure it would have gone further had we not had someone with a bit of onus to calm things down," he said.

England had won the warm up game against Sri Lanka Board eleven with relative ease, as Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Monty Panesar gave encouraging performances.

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'Ruthless' Smith in no mood to ease up on Kiwi bowlers

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has warned New Zealand bowlers that he intends to carry forward his good form in the final Test match at Wellington, as the team's peak form hasn't been achieved yet.

Smith and his team were able to celebrate St Patrick's Day in style after savaging the Black Caps in the second Test to take a 1-0 lead with one match to play in the series.

The Proteas were out on the town after three days of play, following an inexorable bowling display, in which they dismissed the home side for 185 and 168, with the prolific Vernon Philander grabbing ten wickets in the match.

Smith, who hit an unbeaten 55 as the tourists hurried to their target of 101 in the 20th over, was in no mood to feel for the hosts who have a sole Twenty20 win to their name against the visitors this summer.

"It's been a tough summer but, if you are not successful in a home summer the pressure - with your own crowds and your own media - does feel a whole lot more than when you're away," The Age quoted Smith, as saying.

"In professional sport, you want to be as ruthless as possible. Wellington can be a tough venue for a touring team with the conditions you can face there, particularly the wind at the Basin," he said.

Smith said the team would like to conclude the series on a high, as it has been a tremendous tour for them.

"We would like to finish this tour strongly because it has been a terrific tour for us," he added.

But, Smith also cautioned the Kiwis that the best from them was yet to come, as the team is still improving.

"We've still got a lot of improving to do," he said.

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Windies have heart to beat Australia, says Narine

Right-arm slow bowler Sunil Narine believes the West Indies' success in finally ending their Australian jinx could pave the way for victory in the five-match series.

The 23-year-old was named man of the match for his four for 27 off eight overs as the West Indies beat Australia by five wickets on Sunday, a first win over their rivals since 2006.

"It feels really great to get my best figures in just my fifth match and bowl the team to a victory," said the Trinidad-born off-spinner.

"We needed this win after going 1-0 down in the first match on Friday. This will be a huge boost for the players in the team and everyone in the dressing room. This is the first West Indies win over Australia in a long time and it shows that we have it in us to win." 

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Windies end six-year losing streak to Australia

Big-hitting Kieron Pollard blasted a typically muscular 47 as West Indies clinched their first win in almost six years over Australia when they took the second one-dayer by five wickets on Sunday.

In a match reduced to 40 overs a side because of rain, Australia struggled to 154 for nine under cloudy conditions with West Indies reaching their Duckworth-Lewis target of 158 with 10 balls remaining.

Pollard top-scored with 47, an innings which featured four huge sixes, one of which, off spinner Xavier Doherty, cleared the Arnos Vale stands and ended on the runway of the neighbouring St Vincent airport.

Carlton Baugh had the honour of hitting the winning runs, another six off the hapless Doherty which flew over midwicket as the home side finished on 163 for five.

Dwyane Bravo also played a crucial role, making 30 in a fifth-wicket partnership of 64 with Pollard which swung the game the West Indies' way after they had lost opener Kieran Powell to a first ball lbw off Brett Lee.

"It's a good feeling, the team played much better today, the bowlers did well again and there was much more responsibility when chasing the runs," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

"It was a total team effort. All in all we were searching for a win and we are glad we got over the line. From the last game, when we batted, there was not much change; today we did what we had to do and I'm just happy we won one."

Australian captain Shane Watson admitted that his batsmen had come up short. "In the end we were 20-30 runs short. Unfortunately we weren't able to get big enough partnerships through the start or middle," said Watson.

"Once the sun got on the wicket it seemed to settle a little more but that's the great challenge of playing in the West Indies and we have to adapt a little better. It's about getting the balance of the batting -- the wickets are a little different from home."

Australia won the first game at the same venue on Friday by 64 runs, their 15th win in their last 16 one-dayers against West Indies, a run stretching back to the 2006 Champions Trophy in India.

West Indies, who suffered an embarrassing middle order collapse on Friday when they lost six wickets for just seven runs, won the toss on Sunday and put Australia into bat.

David Hussey top-scored for the tourists with 37 off 62 balls, an innings which featured four boundaries before he fell to off-spinner Sunil Narine, who finished with figures of 4-27 off eight overs. Narine was named man of the match.

The start of play was delayed by rain before more showers forced the players off for 90 minutes when Australia were 16-0 after five overs.

Australia then slipped to 46 for three in the 14th over with David Warner (13) and Peter Forrest (0) both dismissed by seamer Kemar Roach in the sixth over of the day.

Roach, desperate for a Test match call-up next month, finished with 2 for 23 off eight overs.

The next match in the series takes place at the same venue on Tuesday with the two concluding matches in St Lucia on Friday and Sunday. 

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Kohli destroys Pakistan in Asia Cup run-fest

Virat Kohli smashed a blistering 183 off 148 balls as India produced their highest ever run chase to beat Pakistan by six-wickets on Sunday and keep alive their hopes of reaching the Asia Cup final.

Chasing a daunting total of 330, India pulled off a thrilling victory with 13 balls to spare thanks to Kohli, who notched up his third one-day century in four matches.

Rohit Sharma (68) and Sachin Tendulkar (52) also chipped in as India surpassed their previous highest successful run chase of 326-8 against England in 2002.

Kolhi belted 22 boundaries and one six while Tendulkar and Sharma also clobbered the Pakistani bowlers, with each hitting five fours and a six.

Pakistan qualified for Thursday's final despite losing to India as they had earlier registered wins against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, earning a bonus point in the process.

India must now hope Sri Lanka, who have already been eliminated, beat Bangladesh in the final round robin match on Tuesday if they are to go through to the final.

India's Asia Cup campaign suffered a setback following their shock five-wicket defeat by Bangladesh on Friday, meaning that the hosts will go through to the final if they beat Sri Lanka as head-to-head results are taken into account before net run rate.

India's dazzling batting display on Sunday completely overshadowed the 224-run opening partnership by Pakistan's Nasir Jamshed (112) and Mohammad Hafeez (105).

The duo looked to have put the match out of India's reach as they could not be separated until the 36th over. Jamshed was the first to fall after he tried to hoist a Ravichandran Ashwin delivery over the boundary but instead found Irfan Pathan, who was fortunate not to drop the catch.

Hafeez was trapped lbw by pace bowler Ashok Dinda just three balls later but not before the duo had laid the foundations for Pakistan to post 329-6 from their 50 overs.

When opener Gautam Gambhir perished for a duck in the second ball of the Indian innings, it seemed as if Pakistan would be soon celebrating a quick victory.

Kohli had other ideas.

The 23-year-old shared a 133-run second-wicket partnership with Tendulkar and both players produced a flurry of boundaries to ensure India were on top of the required run rate.

Tendulkar, who completed an unprecedented 100 international centuries against Bangladesh on Friday, was foxed by a doosra off Sajeed Ajmal and was caught by Younus Khan at slip.

Kohli, dropped by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal on two, punished the Pakistan bowlers for the let off and added a further 172 runs with Sharma to put India firmly in control.

Kohli was finally dismissed in the 48th over after edging a Umar Gul delivery to Hafeez but by then India were 12 runs short of their target and they easily knocked off the remaining runs.

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