Bookies rule out India, bet on SA

NEW DELHI: Local bookies seem to be counting onSouth Africa to lift the cricket World Cup even though India has been heavily tipped to beat Australia in the quarterfinals on Thursday. This is in stark contrast to what is being projected by international agencies like William Hill who are banking on India as the most likely country to win the Cup. India's slip from the top (it had started as favourites at the start of the tournament) came after its unimpressive show - both in batting and bowling - against South Africa, England and even the West Indies, which India finally managed to beat. 

According to bookies, South Africa are strong favourites with the odds staked at 3.75:1 for a win. This is comparable to the international odds that have been pegged at 10:3. Though the English bookies have kept India as the most probable country to lift the Cup, local bookies have given India the second spot at 3.80:1. Given its number one rank in ODIs, Australia has managed the fourth spot at 5.65:1. India's neighbour Sri Lanka(5.40) is ahead of Australia. South Africa, often dubbed as the greatest chokers of the game, was initially in the fourth spot before clinching the number one spot now. Bookies though are banking on the hosts to prevail over the Kangaroos at Ahmedabad with an offer of Rs 75/79 for Rs 100 for an India win and Rs 78/81 on Rs 100 for an Australian win. The real rates, though, will open only on the day of the game. 

"The fact remains that Sri Lanka too will play at home. With several all-rounders in both the Indian and South African teams, we believe the likes of Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Ajantha Mendis and even Virendra Sehwag will play a major role. However, this is a long tournament and there are always chances of players getting injured. These rates will certainly change once the quarterfinals are over," said a bookie. The rear end is brought up by Pakistan (6.35), England (11.50) and New Zealand (26) after West Indies was knocked out on Wednesday. 

The Delhi police, though, seem reluctant to act against Delhi-based bookies this time round. Most bookies are expected to operate from different areas of central and northwest Delhi. "We nabbed some bookies during the last FIFA football World Cup. But till date, no one has been prosecuted. Many of them, wanted in cases dating back to the last cricket World Cup, have escaped after paying petty fines. You can only stop them temporarily, but the industry - worth crores - manages to bounce back," said a senior district officer on condition of anonymity. 

, a bookie told TOI that with "heightened" police action still likely, since the tournament has reached the quarterfinal stages, they will be "rotating" their hideouts across the city. "We will be entertaining bets only through proven references so that our business is not affected," said the bookie.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Bookies-rule-out-India-bet-on-SA/articleshow/7774738.cms

Biggest World Cup upset: O'Brien smashes fastest WC ton as Ireland stun England by 3 wickets

BANGALORE: Kevin O'Brien struck the fastest-ever World Cup hundred as Ireland pulled off a sensational three-wicket win over England on Wednesday. 

Ireland won with five balls to spare as they finished on 329 for seven after England, who had made 327 for eight, had been cruising when they reduced non-Test playing Ireland to 111 for five. 

But a brilliant burst of power-hitting got O'Brien to three figures in just 50 balls at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. 

That meant he'd obliterated former Australia opener Matthew Hayden's previous fastest World Cup century record off 66 balls against South Africa at St Kitts in 2007. 

O'Brien's whirlwind innings of 113 off 63 balls, including six sixes and 13 fours, ended when he was run out by Stuart Broad's throw to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. 

Ireland's target was down to three off the last over and victory was secured when John Mooney struck a four off James Anderson. 

"I don't think it's quite sunk in," said 26-year-old O'Brien, after another famous win to follow Ireland's shock World Cup triumph over Pakistan in 2007. 

"It's probably the best innings I've ever played. I just hit the ball pretty well and got a bit of luck and things went my way. I just kept going and kept attacking. 

"When we were 111-5 I said to myself we could have just pottered around and got 220 off 50 overs for eight or nine and the game would have been pretty boring to watch. 

"But I just chanced my arm and said I was going to be as positive as I can and got a few away and didn't look back." 

It was the highest successful run chase in World Cup history beating Sri Lanka's 313 against Zimbabwe at New Plymouth in New Zealand in 1992 

"It's pretty amazing," said Ireland batsman Alex Cusack, who made 47 in a decisive sixth-wicket partnership of 162 with O'Brien. 

"I was just trying to knock it around for Kev. He's got the power. That was my job and he was playing the big shots." 

England captain Andrew Strauss said: "We thought we'd done a reasonable job with the bat and we got Ireland at five down and things were looking pretty comfortable. 

"But we weren't reckoning on an outstanding innings from Kevin O'Brien. It was pretty brutal." 

Mooney struck several superb blows of his own on his way to 33 not out to complete a fine all-round display after he had claimed four wickets for 63 runs with his medium-pacers. 

O'Brien went to fifty in 30 balls when he pulled Anderson for six. 

He then lofted Anderson for an enormous six over midwicket, with television replays estimating the ball had carried for 102 metres, the longest of the tournament. 

O'Brien did have a break on 91 when a huge skyer off Paul Collingwood was dropped by Strauss. 

Ireland burst into life during the batting powerplay, scoring 62 runs in five overs. 

It was the second-time in a matter of days the Chinnaswamy Stadium had served up a run-fest after Sunday's extraordinary tie between India and England had seen the two teams make 676 runs between them. 

Anderson, whose first overs yielded one wicket for 11 runs, finished with figures of one for 49 in 8.1 overs while Broad was pummelled for 73 runs in nine wicketless overs. 

Earlier Jonathan Trott equalled the record for the fastest 1,000 runs in one-day internationals 

Trott's 92 was the centrepiece of England's 327 for eight and when he made 64 he equalled West Indies great Vivian Richards and England team-mate Kevin Pietersen in taking just 21 innings to reach four figures in ODIs. 

Ireland's victory was all the more impressive as they lost captain William Porterfield to the first ball of their reply when he dragged on to Anderson.

Read more: Biggest World Cup upset: O'Brien smashes fastest WC ton as Ireland stun England by 3 wickets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Biggest-World-Cup-upset-OBrien-smashes-fastest-WC-ton-as-Ireland-stun-England-by-3-wickets/articleshow/7613583.cms#ixzz1FVa47HZ6

India's Simhapuru targets S.African coal

CAPE TOWN: India's Simhapuri Energy , a unit of the Madhucon Group , wants to buy new or existing collieries in South Africa from where it aimed to export a minimum of 5 million tonnes within five years, an official said on Tuesday. 

Indian companies are buying coal assets in top five global exporter South Africa as it moves to secure resources for a growing economy and to feed coal into new power plants. 

"We want to invest in coal and are looking at some acquisitions. From South Africa we are targeting a minimum of five milion tonnes of coal for export within five years," Nama Krishnaiah, director of Simhapuri Energy, told Reuters on the sidelines of an African mining conference. 

Displacing Europe, India and China are emerging as the two main destinations for coal from South Africa, which last year shipped some 63 million tonnes of thermal coal. 

Maducon Group has interests in the construction, coal and sugar industries, with Madhucon Projects listed in Bombay. 

Krishnaiah said the company, which recently opened offices in Johannesburg, was in discussions with unnamed junior miners, as well as applying directly to the Department of Mineral Resources for mining licenses. 

"At this moment we are targeting some brownfield projects that have mining licenses, but we are looking at greenfield (developments) also," said Krishnaiah, adding that Zimbabwe's coal fields were also attractive. 

He said the company, which was developing a 1,920 megawatt power plant near India's Krishnapatnam port, was financially strong and had capital to purchase coals assets. 

The company already owns coal mines in Indonesia.

Source: India's Simhapuru targets S.African coal - The Economic Times

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Pathan ton in vain, SA win by 33 runs

Hosts South Africa beat India by 33 runs (D/L method) in the rain-marred fifth and final ODI to win the series 3-2 at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday. SCORE

Chasing 268, India were all out on 234. The win could have been massive but for Yusuf Pathan's batting blitzkrieg, that saw him score a 68-ball ton towards the end.

 Yusuf Pathan on way to his 105 in Centurion. AP
Coming in to bat at the stage when India were 60/5, Pathan changed the face of the game with his sixes and fours. Spinners or pacers - all were sent across the park. In fact, the over before he was dismissed he hit two sixes and two fours in Lonwabo Tsotsobe's over.


He forged a 100-run ninth wicket stand with Zaheer Khan bringing down the escalating run rate to run-a-ball. But a lofted shot off paceman Morne Morkel ended his 105-run innings that was decorated with eight sixes and an equal number of fours.

Morkel completed his four-wicket haul when Faf du Plessis caught him at extra cover.

Keeping aside Pathan's impressive knock, the hosts dominated the proceedings from the start.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss but failed to capitalise on it. He chose to field first under overcast conditions - a surprising decision keeping in mind that the lopsided Duckworth Lewis method was lurching round the corner.

That and Hashim Amla's impressive 116 not out, took the game away from the Indians.
South Africa put 250 on board in their stipulated 46 overs. But the same target after the D/L calculations swelled and India ended up chasing 268 for a win.

Batting second with a huge total looming large and ball doing wonders in the moist air, India had little chance.

Opener Rohit Sharma was the first to get a taste of South Africa attack that had become lethal under the prevailing conditions.

Even before he could settle down he was bowled out by Lonwabo Tsotsobe on 5 with an inside edge crashing into his stumps. There wasn't any foot movement and his bat-pad gate was wide open.

With a poor stance Sharma's chances were slim, but what followed could have been avoided as Virat Kohli, who had scored a fine 87 in the last match, too fell early.

Morne Morkel's ball took an outside edge off Kohli's bat to carry to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers. He fell for two and India slumped to 32/2.

Then it was skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's turn to walk. It's time he does something about his batting that has hit a new low in South Africa. He managed to score five before Morkel send him back on 45/3.

Post Dhoni, Morkel upped the ante and claimed Parthiv Patel too and India fell to 60/4. Parthiv could only score 38, still his innings was a lot better than those who failed to cross the single digit number.

Hashim Amla en route to his century. AP
However, South Africa's experienced pacer Dale Steyn was still wicket-less. He got an opportunity to open his account when Yuvraj Singh edged his ball to Duminy in the slips when batting on eight. India fell to 60/5. He followed that up with Suresh Raina's wicket.

The left-handed batsman scored a four off Steyn but the next ball was tinge higher than what Raina had expected. He played it on the up but failed to clear Morkel in the deep. India were 74/6 at the stage with practically no chance of a win.

Finally, Yusuf Pathan did what he is famous for - go after the bowlers without thinking of the outcome.

He along with Zaheer Khan batted on to forge a 100-run ninth wicket partnership that highlighted the Indian innings that came to an end on 234 in the 41st over.

Zaheer, who supported Pathan in his endeavour scored a useful 24.

SA innings

Earlier, Hashim Amla became the first batsman to score a century in this ODI series even as the rain gods tried to spoil his concentration.

South Africa were batting on 226/3 in 42 overs against India when showers pushed the covers on.

Post the rains, which lasted for more than an hour, India scalped six wickets in quick succession to reduce the hosts to 250/9 in 46 overs. But Amla carried his bat through the innings to remain unbeaten on 116. The effort earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

As is the norm in rain-reduced matches, the teams batting second get a revised score with the Duckworth Lewis method coming into the picture.

In this case too the D/L method was applied and the revised score for India was 268 in 46 overs.

Put in after India won the toss, Amla batted with determination scoring an unbeaten 116. On the way he forged two partnerships even as the India bowlers found hard to contain the Protea charge.

South Africa' Morne van Wyk en route to his 56 in Centurion on Sunday. AP
First Amla put on 97 runs for the second wicket with Morne van Wyk and then got busy with another long innings with Jean-Paul Duminy.


Amla and Duminy had put on 102 for the fourth wicket before Munaf Patel scalped Duminy caught and bowled on 35 after the match resumed.

From there on the India pacers got busy counting their victims. Zaheer Khan ended up with two while Munaf claimed three wickets.

In the morning, Protea skipper Graeme Smith failed to read a Zaheer Khan ball and departed early. Pitched on the off, the ball took a strong edge off his bat and Yusuf Pathan did the rest in the slips cordon. He fell for 7 as the hosts went one down with 16 runs on board.

However, India bowlers failed to work on the advantage as Hashim Amla and Morne van Wyk batted on to push the score to 113.

Source:-http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/127470/top-stories/india-vs-south-africa-odi-live-update.html

SA beat India by 48 runs (D/L method)

 South Africa beat India by 48 runs (D/L method) in the rain-reduced fourth ODI at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Friday. SCORE

India were batting 137/6 in the 31st over with Virat Kohli and Harbhajan Singh at the crease when rain halted play.

 South Africa's Jean-Paul Duminy en route to his unbeaten 71 against India. AP
The game resumed only to end within minutes as rain again stopped play - this time for ever as India score read 142 for 6 in 32.5 overs. Virat Kohli (87) and Harbhajan Singh (3) remained unbeaten.


Earlier, the duo got busy chipping away from the 266-run target even as the South Africa pacers were busy tightening the noose around India.

First South Africa pacer Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who has been in good from throughout the series struck early to claim both openers Rohit Sharma and Pathiv Patel. India were 32/2 post Pathiv's dismissal.

New man Yuvraj Singh had only stayed in the middle for twenty minutes before offie Johan Botha scalped him.

He followed the unwritten rule - if you don't understand which way the ball is turning just sweep it. But the sweep proved costly, the timing was entirely wrong and the ball took the aerial route only to come down at skipper Graeme Smith's throat. He fell for 12 and India to 49/3.

Then Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli formed a 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Raina fell to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson on 20. India were 112/4 at the stage.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2) dropped by for a visit before Peterson thought he looked better on the benches. And India slumped to 123/5.

In came Yusuf Pathan, famous for his heavy heaves, and up went India's hopes only to crash land with a big thud.

A fatal edge off paceman Morne Morkel and Pathan was walking back on 2 with India score reading a poor 128/6.

Finally Virat Kohli and Harbhajan Singh decided to do the unthinkable before rain and Messrs Duckworth and Lewis dampened their spirits.

Earlier, the hosts treated their Indian visitors to some fine stitching exercise with Jean-Paul Duminy and Johan Botha showcasing their craftsmanship with the bat.

India bowlers were left awestruck as the duo put 70 runs on board for the sixth wicket. The end result was a fine 265/7 in 50 overs.

India didn't fall far behind. They too displayed their wares. In fact the South Africa total could have stretched on had India not used the scissors at the right time.

South Africa opener Hashim Amla en route to his 64. AP
Four quick wickets and South Africa were reeling on 118/5. The figure in the runs column could have been even lesser had opener Hashim Amla not posted 64 before being run out.

Yuvraj Singh, who finished with three wickets in the bag, started the snipping job with Morne van Wyk's dismissal on 15. Wyk departed edging an away moving ball to Virat Kohli in the slips.

At the stage the hosts were batting on 106 - not a bad figure considering that they had lost just one wicket (Graeme Smith) before.

Amidst all this cutting and snipping, Amla decided to display his running skills. But he was too greedy and paid heavily for it, falling short on the second run and South Africa fell to 111/3. Still his 64 proved to the central piece in South Africa's design.

AB de Villiers showed how good he is at marching. He marched back on 3 with Yuvraj claiming his wicket and the Protea score was 115/4.

Young Faf du Plessis knew he was good at running and he has proved it before with a half-ton in the last ODI. But today he ran out of steam and got out run out on 1. By now the hosts had slumped to 118/5.

But Duminy with his unbeaten on 71 and Botha, who scored 44 before being sent back by Yuvraj, turned out to be their team lifeguards. Duminy earned a Man-of-the-Match award for his efforts.

With this win, South Africa have levelled the series 2-2 against India. The two now meet on Sunday for the final ODI in Centurion.


Sorce:-http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/127138/latest-headlines/india-vs-south-africa-odi-live-update.html