India vs Zimbabwe : Cricket World Cup 99 : IndiaExpress.Com

Toss Won By: India
Batting First: Zimbabwe   Score: 252 / 9 in 50 overs
Batting Now: India Required to get 253 in 46 overs
News: Sachin is not playing in the match today more..

(Meanwhile, in the South Africa-Sri Lanka match, South Africa is in trouble with 54 runs for 4 wickets from 15 overs. will Sri Lanka spring a surprise? That will make the points tally interesting in this group.)

The Zimbabwe batsmen are attempting to consolidate their innings. They have a reasonable run rate. But the Indians look nippy. Even Azhar is showing some urgency.
Over: 16 Score: 66 / 2   RRate: 4.12
Just two runs off the Ganguly over, including a noball.
Over: 16
Jadeja is very fast in the field. Most Indian fielders are unshaven, perhaps, because of Sachin's bereavement.
Over: 16
Ganguly introduced in the attack, replacing Agarkar, who was expensive, but took a wicket. First ball by Ganguly a no ball, followed by a dot ball.
Over: 15 Score: 64 / 2   RRate: 4.26
Good over from Prasad.
Over: 14
Prasad continues the bowling. The last over before the field restrictions are lifted. Two dot balls to Goodwin.
Over: 14 Score: 64 / 2   RRate: 4.26
Expensive over from Agarkar, 11 runs off it.
Over: 14
Grant Flower lofts Agarkar square off the wicket for three. Then Goodwin hits a cracking square cut for four. The boundary from one side is short and on the other very long.
Over: 13 Score: 53 / 1   RRate: 4.07
Goodwin stumbles facing a full-length delivery from Prasad. Next ball, prasad decieved him outside off stump.
Over: 13
Flower batting miserably on 9, made in 35 balls.
Over: 13
Prasad brought back, but from the other end, from where Srinath was earlier bowling. In his first spell Srinath bowled six overs for just 12 runs, taking the wicket of Johnson.
Over: 12 Score: 52 / 2   RRate: 4.33
Goodwin crashes Agarkar to the very short cover boundary. Seven off the over.
Over: 12
Agarkar has got back his line. Jadeja is quick in the field, perhaps feeling more responsible in Tendulkar's absence.
Seven no balls and two wide balls already in the Indian bowling, indicating the pressure.
Over: 12
Meanwhile, the South Afrika-Sri Lanka match is important because these teams are competitors for a place in the super six.
Over: 11 Score: 45 / 2   RRate: 4.09
India is looking for getting another wicket. They are on fire. This was a maiden over by Srinath.
Over: 11
The Indian close in fielders have surrounded Flower, who is not able to score freely.
(Meanwhile, South Africa is 33 for 3 against Sri Lanka in 8.5 overs in the other match).
Over: 11
Srinath bowling the 11th over of the innings. The Indian side appear unshaven, but determined to win without Tendulkar. G Flower batting on 8 made from 30 balls.
Over: 10 Score: 45 / 2   RRate: 4.5
Murray Goodwin, a fierce hitter, has joined Grant Flower at the crease at the departure of Paul Strang. Agarkar has given nine runs off five bowls but has taken a wicket. Last ball a dot ball.
Over: 10
Agarkar has clean bowled Strang. Zimbabwe loses second wicket early.
Terrible bowling from Agarkar, two no balls and a wide.. Strang playing him comfortably. Strang lifts him just a foot over Nikhil Chopra in cover point for two runs. Almost a catch touching Chopra's outstretched hand.
Over: 10
Agarkar in the attack. Ball did not carry to Ganguly at square leg first ball. Second ball played to covers for two runs. Off side wide given.
Over: 9 Score: 36 / 1   RRate: 4
Srinath troubles G Flower again with his in cutter. Flower not able to get Srinath away. Strang is on 13 off 21 balls.
Over: 9
Strang hits Srinath through mid off for two runs. Jadeja sprints and restricts runs. Srinath troubles G Flower after Strang steals a single.
Over: 8 Score: 33 / 1   RRate: 4.12
Strang on 10 runs made from 19 balls. Zimbabwe has weathered the initial storm.
Over: 8
Strang hits Prasad over his head for a four. Before that he takes two runs when Azhar in third slip fails to take a very difficult catch.
Over: 7 Score: 26 / 1   RRate: 3.71
Everytime Srinath bowled a good ball, he followed it up with a no ball.
Over: 7
Srinath moving the ball outside off stump. Very good delivery. Then delivers an overstepping no-ball. Repeatedly beating G Flower outside off. Another no ball.
Over: 6 Score: 24 / 1   RRate: 4
Six runs off the over.
Over: 6
Prasad's fast delivery kisses strang's pads and goes for a leg byes boundary. A second overthrow yields extra runs.
Over: 5 Score: 18 / 1   RRate: 3.6
Single by Strang on the last ball of Srinath over, to get off the mark on the 10th ball he faced. Lot of Indians in the crowd beating drums and waving the tricolour.
Over: 5
Strang repeatedly trying to hit Srinath and missing. No runs off seven balls.
Over: 5
Srinath bowling the fifth over. Is bowling ferociously, getting a good bounce.
Over: 4 Score: 17 / 1   RRate: 4.25
The last ball of the Prasad over went through Grant Flower to keeper Mongia.
Over: 4
Grant flower has crashed a square drive to the ropes on the very short boundary. The pressure is off on the batsmen?
Over: 4
Prasad's third delivery goes just over the bails to G Flower. Fourth a dot ball. Indians are all charged up.
Over: 4
Though Strang has been sent as a pinch hitter, he is an all-rounder. Prasad continues attack, bowling to Grant Flower. Two dot balls.
Over: 3 Score: 13 / 1   RRate: 4.33

Over: 3
No ball from Srinath.
It was a lovely ball by Srinath that claimed Johnson, who could not avoid playing that rising ball which cramped him.
Over: 3
Johnson made seven runs off 10 balls. He was the batsman in form, was the man of the match in Zimbabwe-Kenya encounter. Paul Strang, pinch hitter has been sent in.
Over: 3
Johnson is out, caught Mongia bowled Srinath.
Srinath bowls fine deliveries to Grant Flower, outside off stump. Robin Singh dives and fields well, restricting a shot through point to a single.
Over: 2 Score: 10 / 0   RRate: 5
Prasad bowls a wide and a no ball in his first over. Grant Flower takes two singles. And Neil Johnson one. Prasad appeals for caught behind against Johnson, who edges next ball for single, an overthrow by Agarkar gives one more run.
Over: 1 Score: 4 / 0   RRate: 4
Lovely cover dive for a four by Johnson on the last ball of Srinath's over.
Over: 1 Score: 4 / 0   RRate: 4
Lovely cover dive for a four by Johnson on the last ball of Srinath's over.
Over: 1
On the fifth dot ball, Srinath hit Johnson on the pad, a near lbw, but somewhat high.
Over: 1
Srinath is bowling on target. Beat the left hander Neil Johnson outside off stump.
Over: 1
Ganguly fields well at short square leg. Two dot balls.
Over: 1
Srinath opening the Indian bowling attack. Bowling to Johnson. Flower on the other end.

Both the teams lining up for one minute silence condoling the demise of Sachin Tendulkar's father, Ramesh Tendulkar.

Indian captain Azharuddin has won the toss and put Zimbabwe in to bat. S Ramesh has replaced Tendulkar in the Indian team, rest of the team is the same. The sun is shining at Leicester, but showers are forecast later in the afternoon.

Toss Won By: New Zealand
Batting First: Bangaladesh

The New Zealand victory over debutants Bangladesh was expected. But the Bangladeshi fielding and bowling has given a good account of itself. Its batting collapsed in face of the Kiwis' pace attack.
The match between Bangladesh and Scotland should be interesting.
Perhaps, New Zealand has not done the right thing by not scoring at a quick pace. If other teams in the group defeat Bangladesh more comprehensively, New Zealand will have a run rate disadvantage.

A well deserved win for New Zealand. And, a creditable World Cup debut by Bangladesh, who have some good fast bowlers and quite some spirit.
Over: 33
Cairns on strike. One run taken. It is victory for New Zealand by six wickets. a comfortable victory. Target reached in exactly 33 overs.
Over: 33
Cairns takes a single. Two needed for victory. Twose on strike. Takes a single. Scores level.
Over: 33
Cairns takes a single. Two needed for victory. Twose on strike. Takes a single. Scores level.
Over: 33
Cairns swinging his bat at everything now. Just three runs wanted for victory.
Over: 32 Score: 114 / 4   RRate: 3.56
New Zealand just seven runs from victory, but still in no hurry, playing immaculate forward defensive strokes, especially Twose. Yes, one such forward defensive shot goes for a four.
Over: 31 Score: 110 / 4   RRate: 3.54

Over: 31
The Bangladeshis, with some accurate bowling, are denying the New Zealanders a quick victory.
Over: 31 Score: 106 / 4   RRate: 3.41
Cairns has come to the middle on the fall of Horne's wicket. Takes a single. Just one run and a wicket in Rehman's first over.
Over: 30
Naimur Rehman has taken Horne's wicket, plumb Leg Before Wicket. Naimur Rehman striking in his first over.
Over: 30
Off-break bowler Naimur Rehman tantalized Horne with his first delivery spinning in.
Over: 29 Score: 105 / 3   RRate: 3.62
Just 12 runs required for victory from 126 balls.
Over: 29
Bangladeshi fielders diving all over to stop the runs. But the New Zealanders getting their singles and twos.
Over: 29
New Zealand needs 14 runs to win from 21.4 overs.
Over: 28 Score: 102 / 3   RRate: 3.64
Rafiq unlucky not to get Twose's wicket, who played on virtually, but the ball went kissing the stumps for a four behind the keeper. Just before that Twose hit an extra cover drive boundary. and after the providential escape, he lifted Rafiq for a six out of the ground.
Over: 27 Score: 88 / 3   RRate: 3.25
No pressure on the New Zealand batsmen. Horne on 34, now taking no risks, Twose on 9. And, 29 runs wanted in 23 overs.
Over: 26 Score: 85 / 3   RRate: 3.26
Rafique has an inviting ball outside off stump, which claimed Fleming. Twose made the same mistake of flashing at it, but missed, fortunately for him.
Over: 25 Score: 81 / 3   RRate: 3.24
Twose is watchful. Maiden over.
Over: 24 Score: 81 / 3   RRate: 3.37
Roger Twose has joined Horne at the crease and sliced Rafique for three runs.
Over: 24
Mohaddad Rafiq has taken the wicket of Captain Fleming, gone for 16. Keeper took a very good catch.
Over: 23 Score: 77 / 2   RRate: 3.34
Horne has reached 32. Fleming on 16. Just 40 runs required for victory.
Over: 22 Score: 75 / 2   RRate: 3.40
Square-driven boundary by Horne off Haq.
Over: 21 Score: 69 / 2   RRate: 3.28

Over: 19 Score: 63 / 2   RRate: 3.31
Maiden over. 54 more runs required at the rate of 1.74 runs per over. Horne on 20 and Fleming on 14.
Over: 18 Score: 63 / 2   RRate: 3.5
Enamul Haq, the spinner, introduced in the attack. Horne chanced his arm and picked up a boundary and more runs.
Over: 17 Score: 53 / 2   RRate: 3.11
Just three runs off the over. Bangladesh will have to try something new.
Over: 16 Score: 50 / 2   RRate: 3.12
Just 67 runs required for victory. New Zealand batsmen are now stroking the ball more fluently.
Over: 15 Score: 44 / 2   RRate: 2.93
Fleming just hanging in there. In no hurry to make runs. There are plenty of overs for that. But what will then happen to New Zealand's run average?
Over: 15
First ball of Hasan's over was almost a return catch. Fleming lucky to be there. Second ball beaten outside off stump.
Over: 14 Score: 40 / 2   RRate: 2.85
Brilliant over by M Islam. Maiden. Beat Horne once on the off side.
Over: 14
The Bangladeshis are putting everything into their fielding. Four dot balls bowled by M Islam.
Over: 13 Score: 40 / 2   RRate: 3.07
One well placed on drive by Fleming. Otherwise, a tight over.
Over: 13
Even though winning the match is next to impossible, the gritty Bangladeshis are not giving up.
Over: 12 Score: 38 / 2   RRate: 3.16
M Islam bowled a maiden over to Horne. Almost induced him to get a nick to the keeper. Still need 79 runs for victory, New Zealand, from 38 overs.
Over: 11 Score: 38 / 2   RRate: 3.45
Eventful over. H Hasan bowled a slower one to McMillan, who could not check his shot and gave a catch at mid wicket. Then hasan bowled a wide to Captain Fleming who came to the crease. and then a fine leg boundary.
Over: 11
M Islam has taken the wicket of Craig Macmillan, the dangerman.
Over: 9 Score: 29 / 1   RRate: 3.22
McMillan, using the width on the off side, hit two square driven boundaries on consecutive balls to reach the score of 22. Then, off the bowling of H Hasan, he survived a close lbw appeal.
Over: 8 Score: 20 / 1   RRate: 2.5
Three runs off the over as the two batsmen, Horne and McMillan of New Zealand, get back into their rhythm after the break. 97 more runs needed
Over: 8
The match has restarted after lunch.
Over: 7 Score: 17 / 1   RRate: 2.42
M. Hasan bowls a maiden over to McMillan, troubling him throughout.
The players have now gone off the field for lunch for 45 minutes. New Zealand needs to score exactly 100 runs, and has 43 overs in which to do it and get victory in their opening match. And, Bangladesh needs to take the remaining nine wickets. Advantage New Zealand, definitely, but the Bangladeshis are not giving up without a fight.
McMillan is batting on 6 runs and Horne on 5.
Over: 6 Score: 17 / 1   RRate: 2.83
Horne on drove M Islam to the ropes once. Otherwise an intimidating over. But the target is too small. Exactly 100 runs needed for victory now, from a comfortable 44 overs.
Over: 5 Score: 12 / 1   RRate: 2.4
McMillan gets away with false strokes and a leading edge. Troubled by H Hasan, with the moving ball and varied pitching.
Over: 4 Score: 11 / 1   RRate: 2.75
A square driven boundary by McMillan in this over by M Islam. Horne is on the other end.
Over: 4
M. Islam is bowling to McMillan, who is playing and missing.
Over: 3 Score: 5 / 1   RRate: 1.66
The third over was a maiden over. After 3 overs Bangladesh were 8 runs for 2 wickets.
Over: 3
Bangladeshi pacemen are bowling with fire and passion, troubling the New Zealand batsmen. The crowd is roaring. But the target before New Zealand, just 117 to win in 50 overs, is too small.
Over: 2 Score: 5 / 1   RRate: 2.5
Bangladesh has struck early. Monjurul Islam has claimed the wicket of Nathan Astle, caught at mid on by Aminul. New Zealand 5 runs for one wicket in the second over.