2nd Semi-Final India vs Pakistan (Mohali) 30th March

ICC World Cup 2011 – 30^th March

48^th Match – 2^nd Semi-Final     (day/night    50-over match)

Played at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh,

India won by 29 runs;

India won the toss and preferred to bat first;

Scoreboard:

India                260/9    (50 over)

India Innings	50 over maximum	R	B	4s	6s	S/R
V Sehwag	lbw b Wahab Riaz	38	25	9	0	152.00
SR Tendulkar	c Shahid Afridi b Saeed Ajmal	85	115	11	0	73.91
G Gambhir	st †Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Hafeez	27	32	2	0	84.37
V Kohli	c Umar Akmal b Wahab Riaz	9	21	0	0	42.85
Yuvraj Singh	b Wahab Riaz	0	1	0	0	0.00
MS Dhoni*†	lbw b Wahab Riaz	25	42	2	0	59.52
SK Raina	not out	36	39	3	0	92.30
Harbhajan Singh	st †Kamran Akmal b Saeed Ajmal	12	15	2	0	80.00
Z Khan	c †Kamran Akmal b Wahab Riaz	9	10	1	0	90.00
A Nehra	run out (Wahab Riaz/†Kamran Akmal)	1	2	0	0	50.00
MM Patel	not out	0	0	0	0	-
Extras	(lb 8, w 8, nb 2)	18

Total (9 wickets; 50 over) 260 (5.20 runs per over)

Did not bat: All batted;

Fall of wickets:

1-48 (Sehwag, 5.5 over), 2-116 (Gambhir, 18.5 over), 3-141 (Kohli, 25.2 over), 4-141 (Yuvraj Singh, 25.3 over), 5-187 (Tendulkar, 36.6 over), 6-205 (Dhoni, 41.4 over), 7-236 (Harbhajan Singh, 46.4 over), 8-256 (Khan, 49.2 over), 9-258 (Nehra, 49.5 over)

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ.
Umar Gul	8	0	69	0	8.62	(2nb, 1w)
Abdul Razzaq	2	0	14	0	7.00
Wahab Riaz	10	0	46	5	4.60	(4w)
Saeed Ajmal	10	0	44	2	4.40	(2w)
Shahid Afridi	10	0	45	0	4.50
Mohammad Hafeez	10	0	34	1	3.40

Pakistan            231/10    (49.5 over)    (lost by 29 runs)

Pakistan Innings	(target: 261 runs from 50 overs)	R	B	4s	6s	S/R
Kamran Akmal†	c Yuvraj Singh b Khan	19	21	3	0	90.47
Mohammad Hafeez	c †Dhoni b Patel	43	59	7	0	72.88
Asad Shafiq	b Yuvraj Singh	30	39	2	0	76.92
Younis Khan	c Raina b Yuvraj Singh	13	32	0	0	40.62
Misbah-ul-Haq	c Kohli b Khan	56	76	5	1	73.68
Umar Akmal	b Harbhajan Singh	29	24	1	2	120.83
Abdul Razzaq	b Patel	3	9	0	0	33.33
Shahid Afridi*	c Sehwag b Harbhajan Singh	19	17	1	0	111.76
Wahab Riaz	c Tendulkar b Nehra	8	14	1	0	57.14
Umar Gul	lbw b Nehra	2	3	0	0	66.66
Saeed Ajmal	not out	1	5	0	0	20.00
Extras	(w 8)	8

Total (all out; 49.5 over) 231 (4.63 runs per over)

Did not bat: All batted;

Fall of wickets:

1-44 (Kamran Akmal, 8.6 over), 2-70 (Mohammad Hafeez, 15.3 over), 3-103 (Asad Shafiq, 23.5 over), 4-106 (Younis Khan, 25.4 over), 5-142 (Umar Akmal, 33.1 over), 6-150 (Abdul Razzaq, 36.2 over), 7-184 (Shahid Afridi, 41.5 over), 8-199 (Wahab Riaz, 44.5 over), 9-208 (Umar Gul, 46.1 over), 10-231 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 49.5 over)

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ.
Z Khan	9.5	0	58	2	5.89	(2w)
A Nehra	10	0	33	2	3.30	(1w)
MM Patel	10	1	40	2	4.00	(1w)
Harbhajan Singh	10	0	43	2	4.30
Yuvraj Singh	10	1	57	2	5.70

Player of the match:    SR Tendulkar (India)

Umpires:        IJ Gould (England) and SJA Taufel (Australia)

TV umpire:        BF Bowden (New Zealand)

India maintained their winning streak against Pakistan in World Cups as they defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in the semi-final in Mohali in a nerve thrilling contest from both the countries. India is now one rung closer to World Cup triumph after their bowlers' destructed frail Pakistan's batting lineup. India made a place in World Cup final which would be held on Saturday in Mumbai with Sri Lanka. It is the first time in World Cup history playing two south Asian teams in World Cup final. Mumbai's contest will decide the battle of the hosts. India were exceptional in all departments of the game and snatched the victory over Pakistan. Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi said in the post match ceremony, "India played better than us".

In the end of India's batting, India had finished their innings at 260 for 9 which was a par score on the good-friendly pitch of Mohali as Pakistan bowlers did great job and restricted them to 260. Wahab Riaz was extremely remarkable in gathering five important wickets while spinners had also handy for their side. Umar Gul was proved to expensive one persisted the pressure of World Cup semi-final versus India.

India displayed very much amateur attitude in the fielding which created difference in a match on both sides. They were also very promising regarding their bowling as they did not concede any extra until the 37^th over of the innings. All the Indians bowlers got two wickets each to tight the screw around the Pakistan's batsmen. Sachin Tendulkar titled with Player of Match was very luckiest today, he was dropped four times on 27, 45, 70 and 81 and also got the successful Decision review while Ian Gould called him LBW on the ball of Saeed Ajmal of his early spell.

Middle-order batting is exceptional - Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka's skipper, extolled his middle-order batting for propelling his side to the final of the World Cup after they defeated New Zealand by five wickets in Colombo on Tuesday. Chasing New Zealand set a modest score of 217, Sri Lanka were thrashing on their way of victory at 160 for 1 when a sudden top-order crumpled and Sri Lanka lost their four vital wickets for just 25 runs after Samaraweera and Mathews located their side for the final.

Sangakkara said, "The middle-order won the match and it is no need of worrying about. I always think if you give them the chance they would prove themselves and today, they got it in crucial circumstances. We are pleased what they have done". Samaraweera and Mathews added 35 decisive runs for the sixth wicket to hold Sri Lanka to their second successive World Cup final. It was the second time in consecutive knockout matches that Sri Lanka had chased and won under lights. Sangakkara said, "We won two matches chasing because we lost the toss. If we had won the toss we would prefer batting first. Chasing and winning carries a lot of confidence than batting first and defending because you got the bowling attack to defend".

Accomplishment a World Cup final route was the zenith of a long journey and careful planning. Sangakkara said, "We planned for it for over two years. We missed a great prospect in 2007. Ours was to remake those opportunities in 2011 and to be there is very special for us. From that winning side of 1996 World Cup, only one member is with us and that is Murali. If you take his bowling and his character he has played a big part in our cricket".

Umar Gul targets on Indian top order

Umar Gul is one of the vital components of Pakistan's pace attack. He is the leading wicket-takes among the Pakistan having 14 wickets behind his captain Shahid Afridi's 21 so far. Now he will be tested in Mohali clash with India on Wednesday when Gul will bowl against the strongest contingent of the tournament. Umar Gul is focusing on the top order of Indian batting line, he said, "The first three wickets in the top-order are very vital for us. They are depending on the top three and I am targeting on them".

Gul expressed his feelings regarding the strength of Indian batting and told, "Our bowling attack is very handy. Skipper Afridi is the leading wicket-taker of the competition. I am also satisfied with my performance and form. We have a little advantage with our bowling over them but I am also pleased with the way the batting done by our openers in the quarter-final".

Our coach Waqar Younis and assistant coach Aaqib Javed, both are pacers having emerging skills and found good knocks at World Cups, on the tour of New Zealand, Waqar had instructed to Gul to open the bowling with the new ball in the World Cup and Gul was not able to deliver with the new ball for the last less than two years and he also lost his form with the new ball, however Waqar and Aaqib assisted Gul to regain his lost form, rhythm, confidence and success.

Gul was questioned whether he agreed with what MS Dhoni had said about the match actually being bigger than a final. Gul said, "I don't think so Dhoni was talking for himself, he was talking about the expectations of the Indian spectators. As a player, no one would say a semi-final is superior to the final, but every cricketer feels the pressure of their nation. We also feel the same heaviness because our people also expect from us that we must defeat India in each match".

The match was vital for both sides and Gul moved beyond the cricket, "It brings both countries closer and it is very good not only for the players but also for the both nations. People from both lands want us to play each other. Both fans should enjoy cricket. I hope it will be a good contest and both countries play well".

1st Semi-Final Sri Lanka vs New Zealand (Colombo) 29th March

ICC World Cup 2011 – 29^th March

47^th Match – 1^st Semi-Final     (day/night    50-over match)

Played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo,

Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (with 13 balls remaining);

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first;

Scoreboard:

New Zealand            217/10    (48.5 over)

New Zealand Innings	50 over maximum	R	B	4s	6s	S/R
MJ Guptill	b Malinga	39	65	3	0	60.00
BB McCullum†	b Herath	13	21	1	1	61.90
JD Ryder	c †Sangakkara b Muralitharan	19	34	2	0	55.88
LRPL Taylor	c Tharanga b Mendis	36	55	1	0	65.45
SB Styris	lbw b Muralitharan	57	77	5	0	74.02
KS Williamson	lbw b Malinga	22	16	3	0	137.50
NL McCullum	c †Sangakkara b Malinga	9	9	0	1	100.00
JDP Oram	c Jayawardene b Dilshan	7	9	1	0	77.77
DL Vettori*	not out	3	3	0	0	100.00
TG Southee	c †Sangakkara b Mendis	0	3	0	0	0.00
AJ McKay	b Mendis	0	2	0	0	0.00
Extras	(lb 5, w 6, nb 1)	12

Total (all out; 48.5 over) 217 (4.44 runs per over)

Did not bat: All batted;

Fall of wickets:

1-32 (BB McCullum, 7.1 over), 2-69 (Ryder, 18.3 over), 3-84 (Guptill, 21.3 over), 4-161 (Taylor, 39.1 over), 5-192 (Williamson, 43.3 over), 6-204 (NL McCullum, 45.1 over), 7-213 (Styris, 46.6 over), 8-215 (Oram, 47.4 over), 9-217 (Southee, 48.3 over), 10-217 (McKay, 48.5 over)

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ.
SL Malinga	9	0	55	3	6.11	(1nb)
HMRKB Herath	9	1	31	1	3.44	(1w)
AD Mathews	6	0	27	0	4.50
BAW Mendis	9.5	0	35	3	3.55
M Muralitharan	10	1	42	2	4.20	(2w)
TM Dilshan	5	0	22	1	4.40	(1w)

Sri Lanka                220/5    (47.5 over)    (won by 5 wickets)

Sri Lanka Innings	(target: 218 runs from 50 overs)	R	B	4s	6s	S/R
WU Tharanga	c Ryder b Southee	30	31	4	1	96.77
TM Dilshan	c Ryder b Southee	73	93	10	1	78.49
KC Sangakkara*†	c Styris b McKay	54	79	7	1	68.35
DPMD Jayawardene	lbw b Vettori	1	3	0	0	33.33
TT Samaraweera	not out	23	38	2	0	60.52
LPC Silva	b Southee	13	25	2	0	52.00
AD Mathews	not out	14	18	1	1	77.77
Extras	(lb 2, w 10)	12

Total (5 wickets; 47.5 over) 220 (4.59 runs per over)

Did not bat:

SL Malinga, HMRKB Herath, BAW Mendis, M Muralitharan

Fall of wickets:

1-40 (Tharanga, 7.2 over), 2-160 (Dilshan, 32.4 over), 3-161 (Jayawardene, 33.1 over), 4-169 (Sangakkara, 36.2 over), 5-185 (Silva, 42.2 over)

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ.
NL McCullum	6	0	33	0	5.50	(1w)
TG Southee	10	2	57	3	5.70	(1w)
DL Vettori	10	0	36	1	3.60
JDP Oram	8	1	29	0	3.62
AJ McKay	9.5	1	37	1	3.76	(2w)
SB Styris	2	0	12	0	6.00
JD Ryder	2	0	14	0	7.00

Player of the match:    KC Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Umpires:        Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and SJ Davis (Australia)

TV umpire:        M Erasmus (South Africa)

Sri Lanka has cleared their way to move Mumbai participating in Saturday's World Cup final as New Zealand surrendered in hard-fighting contest after Sri Lanka defeated them by five wickets in Colombo. Sangakkara's team will attempt second consecutive World Cup final while Vettori steps down captaincy over the failure of many challenges.

Defending a closed par total of 217 after their batting efforts had tattered before the spin actions of hosts in which Scott Styris ground out a responsible 57 from 76 balls on a worn wicket at the Premadasa Stadium, New Zealand were back into the contest with a vengeance when it seemed the match was finally won by hosts. At 160 for 1 in the 33^rd over, Dilshan and Sangakkara had promising shared in the stand of 120, with a little shaky of Sri Lankan team, when Jayawardene caught LBW on 1 while facing the delivery of Daniel Vettori, next Sangakkara was trapped who was tried to play a pull shot over third man, three quick wickets made alive Kiwis for the contest but Samaraweera and Mathews propelled their side to World Cup final route.