Latest

Ambitious rivals to pursue Aussies in slog-fest

Cricket's undisputed leaders Australia are favourites to win the inaugural Twenty20 world championships starting on Tuesday, but rivals are geared to spring surprises. The shortest version of the game promises to underline the belief that limited-overs cricket is an unpredictable sport.

Braun, balls and luck at Twenty20

It took Kevin Pietersen, of all people, to articulate the edgy appeal of the Twenty20 World Championship. "Twenty20 is totally different from one-day cricket, where you can plan your innings and do so many things in your preparation to make sure the procedures you want to happen out in the middle do happen," he said this week.

India send SA packing

Hosts South Africa were eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup after paceman Rudra Pratap Singh led India to a 37-run win in their Group E Super Eights match on Thursday. Singh took four for 13 as South Africa made 116 for nine in reply to India's 153 for five.

Pakistan secure top spot in group

Pakistan laboured to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh at Newlands on Thursday to earn themselves a Twenty20 World Championship semifinal date at the same ground this weekend. Pakistan's win ensured they finished top of group F in the Super Eight stage with three wins in three matches.

Australia thump Sri Lanka

Openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist continued their prolific form to take Australia into the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals after a 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka at Newlands on Thursday. Hayden lashed 58 from 38 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes while Gilchrist remained unbeaten on 31 from just 25 balls.

Fireworks sparkle as India beat England

On a night of high excitement and fireworks both on and off the field, India beat England by 18 runs in their Twenty20 World Championship Super Eight match at Kingsmead, Durban, on Wednesday evening. Helped by a dazzling innings from Yuvraj Singh, India, who won the toss, made 218 for four in their 20 overs.

Kemp, Morkel lead SA to comfortable win

Justin Kemp blasted 89 not out off 56 balls after Morne Morkel claimed 4-17 as South Africa thrashed New Zealand by six wickets in the Twenty20 World Championship on Wednesday. Graeme Smith's home team restricted the Kiwis to 153-8 after giving them first strike at Kingsmead and then knocked off the modest target with five balls to spare.

Sri Lanka dump Bangladesh out of T20

Bangladesh were dumped out of the Twenty20 World Championship on Tuesday after slumping to a 64-run defeat to Sri Lanka, whose miserly attack quashed early fears of an upset. Veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas, who took 2-14 off his four overs, and Dilhara Fernando were the stars for Sri Lanka.

England skipper apologises for visiting lap-dancing club

England captain Paul Collingwood apologised on Tuesday for visiting a lap-dancing club one day before playing South Africa in Twenty20 World Championship. "It's obviously unacceptable and I'll have to learn from that," Collingwood said. "I made a mistake." Collingwood visited the club in Cape Town after England had lost to Australia on Friday by eight wickets.

Pakistan stun Aussies in six-wicket victory

Captain Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul Haq put on a century partnership as Pakistan stunned Australia by six wickets in a Twenty20 World Championship match at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Tuesday. The pair put on 119 off 78 balls for the unbroken fifth wicket to help their team recover from 46-4 and surpass Australia's 164-7 with five balls to spare.