ICC Cricket World Cup 2007


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World T20, 2nd Semi-Final

India vs West Indies

at Mumbai, Mar 31, 2016
West Indies 196/3 beat India 192/2 by 7 wickets



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The Cricket World Cup is the world's third largest and most viewed sporting event, behind soccer's World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games. The 2007 World Cup will be televised in over 200 countries to a viewing audience estimated at more than two billion television viewers.
It is the first time the Cricket World Cup has been held in the Caribbean.
Trivia: The United States contingent lobbied strongly for matches to be staged at its newly built cricket ground in Lauderhill, Florida, but the ICC decided to award all matches to Caribbean nations.

Semi-Final Line up

Semi Final 1 - Tue 24 April
Sabina Park, Jamaica
Semi Final 2 - Wed 25 April
Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia
Sri Lanka Cricket team SL vs NZ New Zealand Cricket team
Super Eight 2nd vs Super Eight 3rd
Australia Cricket team AUS vs RSA South Africa Cricket team
Super Eight 1st vs Super Eight 4th

Super 8, Match 24, ENG vs WI: Lara bows out in a dramatic loss

West Indies Cricket team England Cricket team Kevin Pietersen and Paul Nixon spoiled Brian Lara's farewell to international cricket as England snatched a dramatic one-wicket win over West Indies. Pietersen (100) and Nixon (38) kept England in the hunt and Stuart Broad hit the winning runs as as they reached 301-9 with one ball to spare. Skipper Michael Vaughan produced an excellent all-round performance, taking 3-39 and then scoring 79 off 68 balls.
West Indies earlier made 300 all out with Brian Lara run out for 18.
World Cup Super 8, Match 24, Barbados: West Indies 300 all out lost to England 301-9 by one wicket

Super 8, Match 23, AUS vs NZ: Massive win for Aussies

Australia Cricket team New Zealand Cricket team Australia continued their ominous form to beat New Zealand by 215 runs in the final Super 8 match for both teams. Matthew Hayden's 103 made him the third batsman to hit three centuries in a single World Cup as the Aussies won the toss and hit 348-6 in Grenada.
The Black Caps raced to 77-2 in 11 overs before collapsing to 133 all out.
The victory was Australia's record-extending 21st in a row at the World Cup, a run that includes the past two titles. Australia is top of the Super Eight second round standings and will meet fourth-place South Africa in the semifinals. New Zealand and Sri Lanka will contest the other last-four match. Australia also gained revenge for a 3-0 sweep at New Zealand's hands in February, during which the Black Caps twice chased down totals of more than 330 runs.
World Cup Super 8, Match 23, Grenada: Australia 348-6 beat New Zealand 133 all out by 215 runs

Super 8, Match 23, AUS vs NZ: New Zealand set to put Australian attack under pressure

Australia Cricket team New Zealand Cricket team New Zealand plan to put the Australian attack under the sort of pressure on Friday they have faced only twice in the World Cup since losing 3-0 to the Kiwis in the Chappell-Hadlee series this year.
Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals but there will be no letup in the final Super Eights match at the Grenada National Stadium in the intense rivalry between two countries who compete fiercely at cricket, both rugby codes and netball. New Zealand thrust aside all inhibitions to record two of the three highest run chases ever in February's one-day series against a side whose attack has only faltered against South Africa and England at the World Cup.
South Africa reached 160 without loss chasing 378 to win the final Group A match and England were 164 for two in the Super Eights with Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen batting superbly. In both cases Ricky Ponting's men fought their way out of potential trouble with the help of a brilliant run-out from the boundary by Shane Watson against South Africa and a soft dismissal by Bell in the England match. Australia team (from): Adam Gilchrist (Wicket Keeper), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (Captain), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hodge/Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath.
New Zealand team (from): Stephen Fleming (Captain), Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Hamish Marshall, Brendon McCullum (Wicket Keeper), Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Jeetan Patel, Shane Bond, Chris Mason.

Super 8, Match 22, WI vs BAN: West Indies beat Bangladesh

West Indies Cricket team Bangladesh Cricket team Ramnaresh Sarwan scored 91 not out as the West Indies beat Bangladesh by 99 runs in the Super Eight stage of the Cricket World Cup. The hosts have already missed out on a place in the semi-finals, but they restored some pride with a comfortable victory in Barbados. The West Indies struggled to 230 for five in their 50 overs. Lara hit a robust 27-ball 33 with two sixes and a four before he was caught off Abdur Razzak in the 47th over.
The hosts took control when they went into the field, bowling Bangladesh out for 131 in less than 44 overs. Daren Powell claimed three wickets for 38 runs, while Corey Collymore, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo claimed two each. Victory could have been wrapped up even sooner if Lara had held on to some of the four catches he missed in the slips in his penultimate one-day international.
World Cup Super 8, Match 22, Barbados: West Indies 230-5 beat Bangladesh 131 by 99 runs

Super 8, Match 22, WI vs BAN: West Indies play for pride against Bangladesh

West Indies Cricket team Bangladesh Cricket team Two-time World Cup champion West Indies will be playing for little more than pride when it takes on Bangladesh.
It failed to reach the semifinal after four successive defeats in the Super 8s, leaving skipper Brian Lara embarrassed at his team's poor show in front of the Caribbean fans. West Indies has logged just two points from the preliminary-round win over Ireland. But team manager and former skipper Clive Lloyd has implored his players to win the next two games and salvage some pride ahead of next month's tour to England, which also faltered in the Super 8s and failed to make the semifinals. West Indies started with victories in all three preliminary-round matches, but failed to reproduce the winning form in the Super 8s. West Indies team (from): Brian Lara (Captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Ian Bradshaw, Corey Collymore, Jerome Taylor, Denesh Ramdin, Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Daren Powell, Kieron Pollard.
Bangladesh team (from): Habibul Bashar (Captain), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Saqib Al Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Farhad Reza, Syed Rasel, Rajin Saleh, Javed Omar.

Super 8, Match 21, SL vs IRL: Sri Lanka bowls down Ireland

Sri Lanka Cricket team Ireland Cricket team Sri Lanka cruised to an eight-wicket win over Ireland in the teams' last World Cup Super 8s match on Wednesday, easily passing a lowly victory total. Sri Lanka, which had already been assured of its place in the semifinals for almost a week, bowled out Ireland for a tournament low 77 before reaching 81-2 with 40 of its 50 overs to spare.
Opener Upal Thuranga fell in the opening over of Sri Lanka's reply at Grenada National Stadium. But Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 56 to seal the result.
Farveez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan (4-19) had each taken four wickets for Sri Lanka, with Maharoof's haul of 4-25 including the top four batsmen and three wickets in four balls. Ireland's total was the lowest of the tournament, replacing the 78 Bermuda managed against Sri Lanka in the first round. It was also the sixth lowest total in tournament history. However, Ireland's players took a well-deserved lap of honour after completing a first World Cup campaign that shocked everyone by stretching into the Super 8s.
World Cup Super 8, Match 21, Grenada: Sri Lanka 81-2 beat Ireland 77 by eight wickets

Super 8, Match 21, SL vs IRL: Sri Lanka take on resurgent Ireland

Sri Lanka Cricket team Ireland Cricket team Sri Lanka could rest at least one of their still potent but now aging bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan for their final Super Eights match against Ireland on Wednesday.
Left-arm swing bowler Vaas, 33, and off-spinner Muralitharan, who turned 35 on Tuesday, sat out Monday's seven-wicket defeat by defending champions Australia. Their absence helped to spoil the match as a contest and prompted speculation that they had been deliberately sidelined to keep them away from the Australian batsmen before a possible Australia-Sri Lanka final in Barbados on April 28.
Australia are on course for a semi-final in St Lucia next Wednesday against the fourth-placed side in the second round while Sri Lanka look certain to meet New Zealand in Jamaica on the previous day. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene defended his decision to rest two of the bowlers who were instrumental in winning the 1996 World Cup and said it had not been a tactical ploy. He said Muralitharan had been suffering from a groin strain while Vaas had missed the World Cup warm-up matches because of a sore hamstring. Sri Lanka team (from): U Tharanga, S Jayasuriya, K Sangakkara (Wicket Keeper), M Jayawardene (Captain), C Silva, T Dilshan, R Arnold, F Maharoof, C Vaas, M Muralitharan, D Fernando, L Malinga, N Kulasekara, M Bandara, M Atapattu.
Ireland team (from): W Porterfield, J Bray, E Morgan, N O'Brien (Wicket Keeper), K O'Brien, T Johnston (Captain), A White, D Langford-Smith, A Botha, K McCallan, B Rankin.

Super 8, Match 20, SA vs ENG: South Africa beat England, enter semis

South Africa Cricket team England Cricket team South Africa booked the last available semi-final berth with a crushing 9-wicket victory over England in their final Super Eights match in Barbados. The South Africans, who seemed to have lost their way after defeats to Bangladesh and New Zealand, bounced back to put up a stirring performance, first restricting England to a meagre 154 and then chasing down the target comfortably with more than 30 overs to spare.
Andrew Strauss top scored for England with 46 and combined with Paul Collingwood (30) for a 58-run partnership to lead an initial recovery from 53-3. All-rounder Andrew Hall led the Proteas' march with a burst of 5-18, his maiden five-wicket haul and the best ever South African bowling figures in the World Cup. Skipper Graeme Smith then stepped to smash a hurricane 89 off 58 balls with 13 fours to lead the South Africans home.
Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand have already qualified for the last four. Reported Earlier: England won the toss and elected to bat first in what could be termed as a quarter final match against South Africa. The winner of this match is highly placed for a fourth semi finalist spot.
With Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka already through to the final four from the round-robin Super Eights, the eagerly awaited Barbados match amounts almost to a knockout game to reach the remaining semi-final spot. South Africa team: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, J M Kemp, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, A J Hall, A Nel, C K Langeveldt
England team: M P Vaughan, I R Bell, A J Strauss, K P Pietersen, P D Collingwood, A Flintoff, R S Bopara, P A Nixon, S I Mahmood, J M Anderson, M S Panesar
World Cup Super 8, Match 20, Barbados: South Africa 157-1 beat England 154 by nine wickets

Super 8, Match 20, SA vs ENG: England, South Africa chase last semifinal spot

South Africa Cricket team England Cricket team The South Africans call it a World Cup quarter-final. England has another chance it didn't expect.
Struggling through in the Super 8s, they meet at the Kensington Oval today chasing the last place in the semifinals. With Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka already through to the last four, England and South Africa must slug it out. South Africa will qualify if it beats England, although England could still fail to qualify even with a victory.
Tuesday's game is South Africa's last in the Super 8s, while England must still play the West Indies in the final match before the semifinals. South Africa, imperious-looking at the start of the tournament, has stuttered, inexplicably losing to Bangladesh in Guyana and then bettered by New Zealand in Grenada on Saturday. England's World Cup campaign has lurched from disappointment to crisis. It has beaten Bangladesh and Ireland, losing to Sri Lanka and Australia. The South Africans have lost to Bangladesh and New Zealand, beating Sri Lanka, Ireland and the West Indies. South Africa team (from): G Smith (Captain), AB de Villiers, J Kallis, H Gibbs, A Prince, L Bosman, M Boucher, S Pollock, A Hall, A Nel, M Ntini, J Kemp, R Peterson, R Telemachus, C Langeveldt.
England team (from): M Vaughan (Captain), I Bell, A Strauss, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, A Flintoff, R Bopara, P Nixon (Wicket Keeper), S Mahmood, M Panesar, J Anderson, E Joyce, L Plunkett, J Dalrymple, S Broad.

Super 8, Match 19, AUS vs SL: 26 and not out for Aussies

Australia Cricket team Sri Lanka Cricket team Australia wrapped up a comfortable seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Grenada, scoring 232-3 to extend their unbeaten World Cup run to 26 games. Captain Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds saw Australia home with an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 106. Earlier Sri Lanka were bowled out for 226 as they tried to end Australia's 25-game unbeaten one-day run. They lost three early wickets before captain Mahela Jayawardene (72) and Chamara Silva (64) compiled a patient stand of 140 for the fourth wicket. But five wickets fell for 17 runs and only a late assault took the score past 200, while Nathan Bracken took 4-19.
In the morning, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in Monday's World Cup Super Eights clash with world champions Australia under a hot sun on a slow pitch at the Grenada National Stadium. Australia team: A C Gilchrist, M L Hayden, R T Ponting, M J Clarke, A Symonds, M E K Hussey, B J Hodge, G B Hogg, N W Bracken, S W Tait, G D McGrath
Sri Lanka team: W U Tharanga, S T Jayasuriya, D P M D Jayawardene, K C Sangakkara, L P C Silva, T M Dilshan, R P Arnold, M F Maharoof, K M D N Kulasekara, C M Bandara, C R D Fernando
World Cup Super 8, Match 19, Grenada: Australia 232-3 bt Sri Lanka 226 all out by seven wickets

Super 8, Match 19, AUS vs SL: Sri Lanka take on Australia to assert supremacy

Australia Cricket team Sri Lanka Cricket team Sri Lanka will enjoy conditions equivalent to a home match in Monday's World Cup Super Eights clash with world champions Australia under a hot sun on a slow pitch at the Grenada National Stadium.
Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals on April 24 and 25 along with New Zealand who beat South Africa by five wickets on Saturday. The Sri Lankans ended New Zealand's unbeaten run on Thursday with a six-wicket victory and Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming later admitted it had been a mistake to play only one spinner on a surface which has suited the slower bowlers.
Even in the probable absence of strike bowler Lasith Malinga, who has injured his left ankle, Sri Lanka field a versatile attack headed by Chaminda Vaas's left-arm swing and Muttiah Muralitharan's right-arm off spin. They also possess Sanath Jayasuriya, still one of the most destructive opening batsman in the world, and a host of other stroke-makers ready to take on an Australian attack which has not yet been fully tested during their unbeaten progression through the tournament. Australia team (from): R Ponting (Captain), A Gilchrist, M Hayden, M Clarke, A Symonds, B Hodge, M Hussey, B Hogg, N Bracken, G McGrath, S Tait, S Clark, M Johnson, B Haddin.
Sri Lanka team (from): M Jayawardene (Captain), S Jayasuriya, U Tharanga, K Sangakkara, C Silva, T Dilshan, R Arnold, C Vaas, F Maharoof, D Fernando, M Muralitharan, M Atapattu, N Kulasekera, M Bandara.

Super 8, Match 18, BAN vs IRL: Ireland beat Bangladesh by 74 runs

Bangladesh Cricket team Ireland Cricket team Ireland ended Bangladesh's slim hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals with a 74-run victory in a Super Eights match on Sunday.
Sloppy fielding from Bangladesh allowed Ireland to reach 243 for seven and the debutants then recorded their first second-round win at the tournament after bowling out the Asian test side for 169. Reported EarlierAndrew White was the fourth run out casualty as Ireland reached 243 for the loss of 7 wickets in their Super Eight game against Bangladesh. Habibul Bashar was a worried man as chasing 243 wont be an easy task for the Asian giant beaters.
Bangladesh should chase the target if they dont want to face an outster before their match against the hosts West Indies. William Porterfield was the top scorer with 85 runs. Bangladesh should chase the target if they dont want to face an outster before their match against the hosts West Indies. William Porterfield was the top scorer with 85 runs.
Kevin Obrien was run out as he tried to steal runs owing to sloppy fielding by Bangladesh throughout the match. Even after some poor fielding, Bangladesh managed to run out 3 Irish batsmen. Kevin Obrien made a quickfire 48 off just 44 balls. Andrew White had joined skipper Johnston as Ireland looked well poised to touch the 250 mark. Reported EarlierIreland skipper Trent Johnston won the toss and elected to bat first. Ireland would be keen in putting up a good total on the board and create another upset against 'overachievers' Bangladesh.
World Cup debutant Ireland hopes it will recover from its mauling by defending champion Australia to beat overachiever Bangladesh in Sunday's meeting when little more than pride is at stake. Bangladesh team: Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Habibul Bashar (Captain), Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicket Keeper), Saqib Al Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain.
Ireland team: Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Eoin Morgan, Andre Botha, Niall O'Brien (Wicket Keeper), Kevin O'Brien, Andrew White, Trent Johnston (Captain), Kyle McCallan, Dave Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin.
World Cup Super 8, Match 18, Barbados: Ireland 243-7 (50.0 overs) beat Bangladesh 169-10 (41.2 overs) by 74 runs

Super 8, Match 18, BAN vs IRL: Ireland see spin threat in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Cricket team Ireland Cricket team Ireland will be looking for their first Super Eight points as they take on Bangladesh in Barbados on Sunday.
Bangladesh, who have stunned India and South Africa in this World Cup have been inconsistent with their batting and Ireland would be aiming to exploit that chink in their rivals. Ireland's confidence took a knock when the ruthless Australians bowled them out for 91 on Friday. But Bangladesh do not posses anyone with the speed of Shaun Tait, or the nagging accuracy of Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark. However, the Irish batting will be challenged by Bangladeshs left-arm spin trio of - Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak and Saqibul Hasan - who had combined figures of 4-82 from 26 overs in their last game against England. Bangladesh team (from): Habibul Bashar (Captain), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Saqibul Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Farhad Reza, Javed Omar, Rajin Saleh.
Ireland team (from): T Johnston (Captain), J Bray, W Porterfield, E Morgan, N O'Brien, K O'Brien, A White, J Mooney, K McCallan, D Langford-Smith, B Rankin, A Botha, P Mooney, K Carroll, P Gillespie.

Super 8, Match 17, SA vs NZ: New Zealand beat South Africa by 5 wickets

South Africa Cricket team New Zealand Cricket team New Zealand were too strong for an uncertain South Africa side, winning by five wickets with 10 balls left.
The result ensures New Zealand's entry into the World Cup semi-finals, and means Tuesday's England South Africa match is a virtual quarter-final. Reported Earlier: New Zealand had restricted South Africa to a poor 193 for 7 in their stipulated 50 overs. Part time medium Craig McMillan was the pick of the bowlers as he took 3 wickets to leave South Africa grasping for breath.
South African bowlers had a modest 193 to defend which seems unlikely with an upbeat Kiwi squad. A defeat will virtually mark the end of South Africa dream to lift a World Cup Reported Earlier: New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming won the toss and chose to field first in the Super 8 match against South Africa in Grenada.
The South Africans, currently fourth in the table, recalled spinner Robin Peterson for batsman Loots Bosman. New Zealand, seeking a victory to secure a place in the semi-finals, decided on two spinners, with Jeetan Patel returning to the side. England will also be hoping for a New Zealand win, leading up to their key match with the South Africa in Barbados on Tuesday. South Africa team: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, A J Hall, A Nel, M Ntini, R J Peterson
New Zealand team: P G Fulton, S P Fleming, R L Taylor, S B Styris, C D McMillan, J D P Oram, B B McCullum, D L Vettori, J E C Franklin, S E Bond, J S Patel
World Cup Super 8, Match 17, Grenada: New Zealand 196-5 (48.2 overs) beat South Africa 193-7 (50.0 overs) by 5 wickets

Super 8, Match 17, SA vs NZ: New Zealand hope to rise against South Africa

South Africa Cricket team New Zealand Cricket team New Zealand hope to return to its winning ways against South Africa in a Group Eight clash of the Cricket World Cup here on Saturday.
Rattled by their crushing loss to Sri Lanka on Thursday, New Zealand is keen to settle its anxiety on a semi-final spot as quickly as it could. It doesn't appear an easy task as the conditions here suit the batters and South Africa has any number of power-hitters in their ranks. New Zealand have eight points from five games and need at least one win to absolutely seal a place in the last four. Sri Lanka, Australia appear certainty for the moment and South Africa has made a strong statement after that upset loss to Bangladesh in Guyana. New Zealand's worry has as much to do with the form of its top batsmen as it has to do with the tough battles it has ahead in the group eight stage. South Africa team (from): Graeme Smith (Captain), AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Kemp, Robin Peterson, Roger Telemachus, Charl Langeveldt.
New Zealand team (from): Stephen Fleming (Captain), Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Jeetan Patel, Shane Bond, Hamish Marshall, Mark Gillespie, Michael Mason, Chris Martin.

Super 8, Match 16, AUS vs IRL: Australia beat Ireland by 9 wickets

Australia Cricket team Ireland Cricket team Australia wrapped up a convincing nine-wicket victory over Ireland in their Super 8 match, reaching their target of 92 in just 12 overs.
Adam Gilchrist carved three successive fours in his 34 but was bowled by Trent Johnston with one that nipped back. Reported Earlier: Ireland capitulated to 91 all out after 30 overs after being put in by world champions Australia in Barbados.
Glenn McGrath struck in the first over and after the rapid Shaun Tait took two wickets in two balls it was soon 12-4. At that stage Ireland were in danger of the lowest World Cup total, 36 made by Canada against Sri Lanka in 2003.
Kevin O'Brien hit three defiant fours in his 16 and John Mooney battled his way to 23, McGrath returning the best figures with 3-17 from seven overs. Reported Earlier: Australia have won the toss against Ireland in Barbados and have elected to field first. Australia team: M L Hayden, A C Gilchrist, R T Ponting, M J Clarke, A Symonds, M E K Hussey, B J Hodge, G B Hogg, S R Clark, S W Tait, G D McGrath
Ireland team: J P Bray, W T S Porterfield, E J G Morgan, N J O'Brien, K J O'Brien, D T Johnston, A R White, W K McCallan, D Langford-Smith, J F Mooney, W B Rankin
World Cup Super 8, Match 16, Barbados: Australia 92-1 (12.3 overs) beat Ireland 91 all out (30.0 overs) by 9 wickets

Super 8, Match 16, AUS vs IRL: Ireland hope just to avoid annihilation against Australia

Australia Cricket team Ireland Cricket team Ireland coach Adrian Birrell said his World Cup rookies would be looking chiefly to avoid an annihilation by world champions Australia in their Super Eights match on Friday.
Australia beat second-tier teams Scotland and the Netherlands by the huge margins of 203 and 229 runs in the group stage and Birrell knows his men need to be right on their games to avoid a similar mauling. The match provides a dream opportunity to Ireland captain Trent Johnston, who was born in Sydney and played six first-class games for New South Wales.
Opener Jeremy Bray, who played for Australia under-19s and opening bowler Dave Langford-Smith, a former Australia under-17s player, were also born in Australia and are keen to impress. Australia will be assured a semi-finals berth with victory, while Ireland are all but eliminated after losing their first three Super Eights matches. Australia team (from): Ricky Ponting (Captain), Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath, Brad Hodge, Mitchell Johnson, Brad Haddin, Stuart Clark.
Ireland team (from): Trent Johnston (Captain), Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Eoin Morgan, Niall O'Brien, Andre Botha, Kevin O'Brien, Andrew White, Kyle McCallan, Dave Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin, Kenneth Carroll, Peter Gillespie, John Mooney, Paul Mooney.

Super 8, Match 15, SL vs NZ: Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 6 wickets

Sri Lanka Cricket team New Zealand Cricket team Sri Lanka ended New Zealand's unbeaten World Cup run and moved to within sight of the last four with a comfortable six-wicket Super 8 victory in Grenada.
Scott Styris made an unbeaten 111 as the Black Caps laboured to a modest total of 219-7 from their 50 overs. Chaminda Vaas took 3-33 and Muttiah Muralitharan 3-32 for Sri Lanka.
In reply, Sanath Jayasuriya made 64 before Kumar Sangakkara guided Sri Lanka home with almost five overs to spare with an unbeaten 69. Reported Earlier: Scott Styris gritty knock of 111 in 157 balls helped an otherwise unimpressive New Zealand post 219 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs in the World Cup Super Eight match against Sri Lanka at the Grenada National Stadium.
Styris held the New Zealand innings together but his partners deserted him in the efforts at regular intervals. Murali dismissed Brendon McCullum(1) and Daniel Vettori(5) in quick succession around the 40th over taking his tally in the match to three. Vaas also managed 3 wickets in his 10 overs. Reported Earlier: New Zealand have won the toss against Sri Lanka in Grenada and have elected to bat first.
Sri Lanka will be without paceman Lasith Malinga, who misses out with an ankle ligament injury, and his place goes to Farveez Maharoof.
Batsman Ross Taylor is recalled by New Zealand after missing their last four matches with a hamstring injury. He replaces Hamish Marshall in the line-up, while seamer Mark Gillespie is preferred to spinner Jeetan Patel. Sri Lanka team: W U Tharanga, S T Jayasuriya, D P M D Jayawardene, K C Sangakkara, L P C Silva, T M Dilshan, R P Arnold, W P U J C Vaas, M F Maharoof, C R D Fernando, M Muralitharan
New Zealand team: P G Fulton, S P Fleming, R L Taylor, S B Styris, C McMillan, J D P Oram, B B McCullum, D L Vettori, J E C Franklyn, S E Bond, M R Gillespie
World Cup Super 8, Match 15, Grenada: Sri Lanka 222-4 (45.1 overs) beat New Zealand 219-7 (50.0 overs) by 6 wickets

Super 8, Match 15, SL vs NZ: Malinga out of New Zealand match

Sri Lanka Cricket team New Zealand Cricket team Lasith Malinga, the leading bowler at the World Cup, has been ruled out of Sri Lanka's Super Eights clash against New Zealand on Thursday with an ankle injury.
Malinga, who missed practice Tuesday, trained at the Grenada National Stadium on Wednesday and bowled just three deliveries at reduced pace. He was then seen sitting in the stand with his left ankle heavily strapped. Malinga, whose distinctive slingy action makes him difficult to face, tops the tournament bowling averages with 15 wickets at an average of under 15 apiece.
Against South Africa, in a Super Eights match in Guyana last month, he became the first bowler to take four wickets in four balls in an international fixture. Farveez Maharoof or Nuwan Kulasekara, both right-arm ace bowlers, are the leading contenders to take the 23-year-old Malinga's place in the side. New Zealand, yet to win the World Cup, top the Super Eights table on run-rate ahead of champions Australia the only other unbeaten side in the tournament. Sri Lanka team (from): Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara (Wicket Keeper), Mahela Jaywardene (Captain), Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara
New Zealand team (from): Stephen Fleming (Captain), Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (Wicket Keeper), Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Jeetan Patel, Mark Gillespie

Editor: Nishanth Gopinathan.