Devastated Pietersen out of W. Cup

Superstar batsman Kevin Pietersen became the latest victim of the injury-cursed World Cup on Monday, dealing a blow to England's hopes as well as the lustre of the sport's showpiece tournament. Pietersen will head home to undergo a hernia operation that he had been hoping to postpone until after the competition. But after looking troubled during Sunday's six-run win over his native South Africa in Chennai, where he made just two off three balls, the 30-year-old will go under the knife immediately.

"I fly home tonight. Out of the WC & IPL (Indian Premier League). Absolutely devastated," Pietersen wrote on his Twitter account. "Sad to leave India. Love the people & the hospitality. Alvida doston (Goodbye friends)." Pietersen will be the 14th player to be replaced at the World Cup as the gruelling international schedule takes its toll.

He first complained of the problem after the 6-1 ODI defeat to Australia on the eve of the World Cup which immediately followed the Ashes triumph. Pietersen, who in common with the majority of his English colleagues has been on the road virtually non-stop for more than four months, played in all of England's opening group games at the World Cup. He made 39 against the Netherlands, 31 in the game against India, and 59 during the embarrassing loss to Ireland before finishing with two in the narrow victory over South Africa. Pietersen will also suffer a financial hiding as the injury rules him out of the IPL where he was due to earn around $650,000 playing for the Deccan Chargers. England, who will ask for Eoin Morgan as a replacement, will now hope Pietersen is fit and rested ahead of a busy home season of international cricket with Sri Lanka and India due to visit.

"Kevin's a world class player," England coach Andy Flower told Sky Sports News as the team headed for Chittagong and Friday's match against Bangladesh. "But he's got a problem and I've seen the scan. It's a problem that he has been dealing with for a number of weeks now so he has to get that sorted out and hopefully he will be ready for the first Test against Sri Lanka in May." England are second in Group B after Sunday's win, just behind India who ended Ireland's hopes of another upset with an efficient five-wicket victory in Bangalore. Defeat to England sent South Africa, still searching for a first World Cup title, spinning from top spot to fourth place in the table after they failed to chase down a 172 target.

Meanwhile, Mike Hussey said he was delighted to be called up to Australia's World Cup squad. The 35-year-old batsman, who was originally sidelined by a hamstring injury which required surgery, has been summoned to replace paceman Doug Bollinger. "Just going is a bit of a dream come true but to actually be there as part of a winning Australian team would be out of this world, so let's hope," Hussey said. In Monday's clash of the Group A whipping boys at New Delhi, Kenya made 198 with Canadian fast bowler Henry Osinde grabbing a career-best 4-26. For Kenya, both Tanmay Mishra and Thomas Odoyo made half centuries.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37816/devastated-pietersen-out-of-w-cup

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De Villiers' IPL knowledge boosts South Africa

AB de Villiers put his Indian Premier League experience to good use on Thursday when he led South Africa to a comfortable seven-wicket World Cup win over the West Indies.

De Villiers smashed an unbeaten 107 and shared a crucial third wicket partnership of 119 with captain Graeme Smith as his side surpassed the West Indies' total of 222 with 43 balls to spare.

The 27-year-old said his time with local IPL side Delhi Daredevils had allowed him to share vital inside information with Smith on the playing conditions at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

"My time here helped. I chatted to Graeme before the game and said that the outfield gets very damp at night here therefore it's better to bat second," he said.

"It's really hard to defend a total on this outfield."

De Villiers hit the fastest ever World Cup century by a South African with his landmark coming off 97 balls.

"I wasn't timing it in the nets last week, but it came off well tonight," he said.

Smith, who has been nursing a cold, made a dogged 45 off 78 balls and said he was happy with his team's overall performance.

"Winning the toss was nice, we started well. Darren Bravo (73) played really well, but we managed to peg it back in the middle," he said.

"My batting wasn't the best - I have been a little ill coming into the game, so I just wanted to bat through with AB and build a partnership. AB went faster than run a ball and paced it real well."

West Indies captain Darren Sammy was disappointed with his team's batting after they had stood at 113-1 at one stage.

"We had an opportunity to get a lot more runs. We needed someone to play like AB did," he said.

"Darren Bravo played really well and we hope he can continue. We kept losing wickets in clusters which didn't help. Losing Dwayne Bravo (with a knee injury) wasn't good. We don't know the extent of the injury. Hopefully he'll be OK."

South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir was also celebrating after enjoying a four-wicket debut, but his World Cup bow was almost shattered by a double warning for running on the pitch.

The 31-year-old Pakistan-born player claimed 4-41 but Australian umpire Simon Taufel twice warned him about straying onto the pitch.

A third warning would have seen him pulled out of the attack.

"I'm not comfortable bowling away from the stumps, but I'm working hard on it," said Tahir

"I want to get it right. I don't want to get a third warning and not be able to bowl."

Tahir, who was born in Lahore and has married a South African girl, dismissed Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Thomas and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in his 10-over spell.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37042/de-villiers-ipl-knowledge-boosts-south-africa

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