Ireland refuse to give up on Cup dream

Irish skipper William Porterfield still believes his team can qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals despite their five-wicket defeat to India. Ireland, who have won just one of their three matches in Group B, still have to face the West Indies, South Africa and the Netherlands in their remaining games.

"We've got three games left and there's no reason we can't beat any of the three teams we're playing," said Porterfield. Ireland are fifth in Group B with two points, two behind South Africa and West Indies with the top four teams in each pool going into the last eight.

Indian star Yuvraj Singh, who was named man of the match in Sunday's game for his brilliant all-round performance (5-31 and 50 not out), was all praise for Ireland, saying they could surprise any big team in the tournament. "At the last World Cup in the Caribbean, they beat Pakistan and in this tournament they successfully chased 327 (against England). They have been doing really well," said Yuvraj. "Their fielding was outstanding and the stand (113 runs between Porterfield and Niall O'Brien) was very good.

They can put big teams under pressure. They should be playing a lot of international cricket." Porterfield added that his team's never-say-die attitude will always make them a handful. "I am happy with the way my team fought and the way the boys fielded and bowled," Porterfield said after his side succeeded in keeping pressure on the home side in the day-night match on Sunday. Porterfield rallied Ireland with an impressive 75, steadying the innings with a 113-run stand with Niall O'Brien (46) after his side had lost two wickets for nine runs.

Ireland, who upset England by three wickets last week, bowled and fielded superbly while defending a modest total of 207 as they reduced India to 100-4 before Yuvraj guided his side home with an unbeaten 50. "Losing two wickets in three overs is not good for any team. We did well from there, but we kept losing wickets after that," Porterfield said, adding his dismissal came at the wrong time. The Irish captain fell just when his side looked set for the final onslaught after reaching 160-5 in 37 overs, caught in the covers by Harbhajan Singh off Yuvraj. "We should have kicked on from there, but we lost wickets and that set us back a bit. But we did well to keep the Indians under pressure, especially defending a small total like that," he said. "We did well.

We're fighting well and we fought right until the end. An extra 40 runs could have been interesting." Left-arm spinner George Dockrell put India in a spot when he removed batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar (38) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (34) after paceman Trent Johnston had rocked India with two early wickets.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37774/ireland-refuse-to-give-up-on-cup-dream

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India captain Dhoni 'rages against the machine'

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit out at the controversial Umpire Decision Review System (URDS) after a key decision went against his side in their dramatic World Cup tie with England. England, replying to India's 338 all out after Sachin Tendulkar's record-breaking fifth hundred in World Cup cricket, finished on 338 for eight following a magnificent career-best 158 from captain Andrew Strauss. Left-handed opener Strauss shared a vital third-wicket partnership of 170 with Ian Bell (69).

But their stand was worth just 52 when left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh thought he had Bell lbw on review for 17, with replays showing the ball would have hit the stumps. Bell had started to walk off but because New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden's verdict was not out, the decision was returned to him by Australian replay official

Rod Tucker and the Kiwi deemed Bell to be too far down the pitch. However, a capacity crowd of mainly passionate India fans were left bemused having seen Bell 'dismissed' on the Chinnaswamy Stadium's giant replay screens.

Bell himself clearly thought he was out, walking off the pitch before his clearly unexpected reprieve and Dhoni too couldn't understand why he was allowed to continue his innings. India have stood alone amongst major nations in refusing to use UDRS in Tests after getting on the wrong side of the system during a series away to Sri Lanka in 2008 where several reviews went against them. "The adulteration of technology with human thinking meant we didn't get that (Bell) wicket," said Dhoni.

He was unhappy with the instruction to umpires at this World Cup that says if a batsman is more than 2.5 metres down the pitch he should be given not out, unless the ball would have hit middle stump. It was not certain if Bell's middle stump would have been knocked over but Dhoni said: "If Hawkeye says it's good and going to hit middle stump, I see no reason why the distance matters. "Simon (Taufel) once gave me out (like that) in the Champions Trophy. If I can be given out, why not any other batsman? It is pretty difficult for me, what I saw was ball hitting the stumps." Dhoni praised left-arm quick Zaheer Khan for a burst of three wickets for one run in six balls, including two in two to get rid of Bell and Strauss, that swung the match back India's way when England were on course for victory. "Well you know the way they were going, I think they got off to a very good start, I think Andrew (Strauss) batted really well.

There was a time I think where it seemed they were going to chase the score in 48, 49 overs," he said. He added: "We could not win the match, but England too could not finish the game, both teams were facing defeat or victory at some point." England needed 14 off the last over, from seamer Munaf Patel, but managed just 13 despite a third ball six from tailender Ajmal Shahzad. But Dhoni said it was India's fielding, long their Achilles heel, that had cost them a second victory of this tournament to set alongside their 87-run opening win over fellow co-hosts Bangladesh. "We could have fielded better. With this tie, everyone in the team will realise that even one run is important," said the captain.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37253/india-captain-dhoni-rages-against-the-machine

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Tough to improve fielding, says India skipper Dhoni

India's sloppy fielding nearly cost them defeat against England but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted it would be difficult to lift standards in his ageing side. India racked up a huge score of 338 in their clash on Sunday in Bangalore, helped by a century from Sachin Tendulkar, but the match ended in a dramatic tie after England skipper Andrew Strauss hit 158. The host nation's powerful batting line-up has fired in both World Cup matches so far but there are growing concerns about their bowling and fielding after conceding 283 in their win against Bangladesh and 338 against England. Dhoni said it would be tough to boost fielding standards due to the make-up of the squad after a cumbersome fielding performance. "I don't think we can improve the fielding very much because we have got quite a few slow fielders in the side," he said. "But as far as the bowling department is concerned I think we have got a talented group so hopefully in the coming games we can improve a lot." Tendulkar is the oldest player in the squad, at 37, with Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan both 32 but a number of other players are also nearing 30. Giving his reaction to the sensational tie, Dhoni said: "I am not disappointed, not excited. I have got mixed feelings. There were times when we could have lost, and times when we could have won the match." "It was a thrilling match because both the teams were facing defeat or victory at some point. All credit to England for the way they batted," he added. Asked about his frequent discussions with Sehwag during the England innings, Dhoni said he consulted senior players for the good of the team. "There are quite a few decisions you have to make. We have some experienced guys and we are always trying to make the best decisions for the team," he said. "I always let the fast bowlers set the field when they are bowling. It's only when they don't work I set my own." Asked about the inclusion of leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, Dhoni said he was not sure whether three seamers would have given the right balance. He said paceman Ashish Nehra needed to be 100 percent fit to be considered for selection.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37269/tough-to-improve-fielding-says-india-skipper-dhoni

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Yuvraj injured ahead of England clash

Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh injured his hand during nets on Thursday, raising concerns about his fitness for their World Cup Group B match against England on Sunday.

Yuvraj picked up a minor injury on his hand after being hit by a delivery from bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, a Reuters cameraman said.

The explosive middle-order batsman was seen applying ice to the injury before he aborted the training session to seek medical attention.

"It was a minor niggle and he should be fit to play on Sunday," an Indian spokesman said.

Yuvraj is the latest Indian player to suffer injury woes as openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag picked up knee problems at the weekend.

Sehwag, who skipped practice for the last two days, was back at the nets on Thursday and showed off his batting skills at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

A billion dreams are resting on the Indian team's shoulders as they seek to become the second Indian team, after 1983's 'Kapil's Devils', to bag the 50-over World Cup.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37028/yuvraj-injured-ahead-of-england-clash

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