Cricket World Cup 2015 Results: Updated Rankings and Points Table After Match 12
Day 9 of Cricket World Cup 2015 saw two matches take centre stage, as tournament minnows Afghanistan returned to action against Sri Lanka in Dunedin before South Africa and India went head-to-head at the MCG.
Neither India nor South Africa needed to break a sweat in their opening Pool B victories against Zimbabwe and Pakistan respectively, but their clash in Melbourne promised fireworks, which it certainly delivered.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, were out to prove that they’re not just Down Under to make up the numbers, and fancied their chances against a Sri Lanka side that were undone by New Zealand in emphatic fashion in the tournament opener.
So, it was all set up for another blockbuster day of action. Read on for a full wrap of Sunday’s cricket, together with the Pool A and B points tables and an updated schedule.
Points Tables
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Latest Cricket World Cup 2015 Standings
Pool A
| Played | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | R/R | Points | ||
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.59 | 6.0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2.22 | 3.0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2.10 | 3.0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.86 | 2.0 | ||
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -1.18 | 0.0 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -3.04 | 0.0 | ||
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -3.95 | 0.0 |
Pool B
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.06 | 4.0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.27 | 2.0 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.62 | 2.0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.50 | 2.0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.68 | 2.0 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.26 | 0.0 | ||
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -2.26 | 0.0 |
Upcoming Schedule
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ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Fixtures
Feb. 23 Pool A: England v Scotland, Christchurch (10 p.m. GMT, Feb. 22)
Feb. 24 Pool B: West Indies v Zimbabwe, Canberra (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Feb. 25 Pool B: Ireland v UAE, Brisbane (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Feb. 26 Pool A: Afghanistan v Scotland, Dunedin (10 p.m. GMT, Feb. 25)
Feb. 26 Pool A: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Melbourne (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Feb. 27 Pool B: South Africa v West Indies, Sydney (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Feb. 28 Pool B: India v UAE, Perth (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
Feb. 28 Pool A: Australia v New Zealand, Auckland (d/n) (6:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 1 Pool A: England v Sri Lanka, Wellington (Westpac Stadium) (10 p.m. GMT, Feb. 28)
Mar. 1 Pool B: Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Brisbane (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 3 Pool B: South Africa v Ireland, Canberra (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 4 Pool B: Pakistan v UAE, Napier (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 4 Pool A: Australia v Afghanistan, Perth (d/n) (6:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 5 Pool A: Bangladesh v Scotland, Nelson (10 p.m. GMT, Mar. 4)
Mar. 6 Pool B: India v West Indies, Perth (d/n) (6:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 7 Pool B: South Africa v Pakistan, Auckland (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 7 Pool B: Zimbabwe v Ireland, Hobart (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 8 Pool A: New Zealand v Afghanistan, Napier (10 p.m. GMT, Mar. 7)
Mar. 8 Pool A: Australia v Sri Lanka, Sydney (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 9 Pool A: England v Bangladesh, Adelaide (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 10 Pool B: India v Ireland, Hamilton (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 11 Pool A: Sri Lanka v Scotland, Hobart (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 12 Pool B: South Africa v UAE, Wellington (Westpac Stadium) (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 13 Pool A: Bangladesh v New Zealand, Hamilton (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 13 Pool A: England v Afghanistan, Sydney (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 14 Pool B: India v Zimbabwe, Auckland (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 14 Pool A: Australia v Scotland, Hobart (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 15 Pool B: West Indies v UAE, Napier (10 p.m. GMT, Mar. 14)
Mar. 15 Pool B: Pakistan v Ireland, Adelaide (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Mar. 18 Quarter-final 1, A1 v B4, Sydney (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 19 Quarter-final 2, A2 v B3, Melbourne (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 20 Quarter-final 3, A3 v B2, Adelaide (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 21 Quarter-final 4, A4 v B1, Wellington (1 a.m. GMT)
Semi-Finals
Mar. 24 Semi-final 1, Winner QF1 v Winner QF3, Auckland (1:00 a.m. GMT)
Mar. 26 Semi-final 2, Winner QF2 v Winner QF4, Sydney (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Final
Mar. 29 Final, Melbourne (4:30 a.m. BST)
Schedule courtesy of BBC Sport
India Breeze Past South Africa in MCG Thrashing
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India (307/7) bt. South Africa (177 all out) by 130 runs
India produced another excellent display to cement their place at the top of the Pool B table with a thrilling, 130-run victory over South Africa in Melbourne.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, the tournament holders got off to a nightmare start, as Rohit Sharma went for a duck after being run out by AB de Villiers, India Cricket Team’s photo shows the wicket:
"#IndvsSA RUN OUT! Direct hit from de Villiers and Rohit Sharma is out for a DUCK! India 1-9 #INDvSA #CWC15 Kohli in.. pic.twitter.com/2Npvh5PZkK
— Indian Cricket Team (@IndianCricNews) February 22, 2015"
It was a great piece of fielding by De Villiers, but as the India opener has now rather tossed his wicket away in successive matches, a shake-up may be needed.
Following Sharma’s dismissal, though, the Indians found some irresistible form with the bat.
Virat Kohli, the hero from the Pakistan victory, joined Shikhar Dhawan at the crease, and the duo produced the goods immediately.
South Africa simply couldn’t handle the pair, with Dhawan reaching 100 in style with a fabulous four, per Sky Sports Cricket:
"WATCH: Shikhar Dhawan reaches three figures. See the action live on Sky Sports World Cup #fireitup #cwc15 - http://t.co/KlkmgQcGGG
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 22, 2015"
The variety in the opener’s batting was stunning, chalking up 16 fours and two sixes on the way to his eventual 137-run haul from just 146 balls.
Dhawan set a new record in the process according to SuperSport, too, as his knock was the highest individual score against South Africa in a World Cup clash:
"Shikhar Dhawan's 137 this morning has become the highest individual score against South Africa in a #CWC. #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/YsShHoW5bY
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) February 22, 2015"
Kohli couldn’t quite emulate his brilliance from the Pakistan match, falling for 47 at the hands of Imran Tahir, before Dhawan and Suresh Raina were dismissed in quick succession by Wayne Parnell and Morne Morkel.
However, Dhawan’s damage was done, and at 269/4, it was all just a case of how many runs India could get.
Ajinkya Rahane was another one of India’s star performers, as he slogged his way to 79 from just 60 balls.
That included three sixes, including this cheeky smash over the out-of-touch Dale Steyn’s head, via Sky Sports Cricket:
"WATCH: Rahane hits Steyn back over his head for six. See the action live on Sky Sports World Cup #fireitup #cwc15 - http://t.co/mbjn4pCWlH
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 22, 2015"
Following Rahane’s dismissal at 278/5, India’s middle order failed to make much of an impact, eventually posting 307/7.
Part of the Indians’ brilliance against Pakistan was that they followed up a great performance with the bat with an equally impressive bowling display, and they kept up such form against the sorry South Africans.
Their chase started pretty poorly at the MCG, as Quinton De Kock was sent packing courtesy of a Mohammed Shami delivery with just seven runs to his name.
That rather set the tone for the rest of the South Africa innings. They just couldn’t get a grip on proceedings; Hashim Amla almost being run out twice early on summed up the shaky display, per Sky Sports Cricket:
"WATCH: Amla is almost run out twice in one ball! See the action live on Sky Sports World Cup #fireitup #cwc15 - http://t.co/Q35yP2vH0h
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 22, 2015"
Amla’s wicket eventually tumbled for 22, and although Faf du Plessis produced an excellent half-century, it simply wasn’t enough.
After his dismissal with South Africa on 133/4, Shamla and Ravichandran Ashwin ran riot on the back of the order, with the latter taking three wickets in quick succession.
The bowling was good, sure, but the South Africans contributed to their own downfall with poor decisions and loose batting.
And when Tahir was dismissed via a Ravindra Jadeja delivery, their race was run with just a 177 total to show for it.
The 130-run victory was nothing more than the Indians deserved, though, and they’re really justifying their tag as one of the tournament favourites.
MS Dhoni’s men are next in action against UAE in Perth on Saturday, where there’ll be looking to produce another fantastic all-round display.
As for South Africa, something needs to change ahead of their clash against the West Indies on Friday. The tactics were wrong, the bowling and batting were way off, and chances of qualifying for the knockout stage will be nil if it carries on.
Take nothing away from India, though, who go marching on and looking formidable.
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Brave Afghanistan Run Sri Lanka Close
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Sri Lanka (236/6) bt. Afghanistan (232 all out) by four wickets
Sri Lanka left it late to claim victory over Afghanistan in Dunedin, as they chased down the minnows’ 232 total with just 10 balls to spare.
Had it not been for Mahela Jayawardene’s fabulous century, though, it could well have been another story.
The Sri Lankans won the toss and elected to bowl, and considering Afghanistan mustered just 162 runs in their opener against Bangladesh, it wasn’t looking promising for the underdogs.
However, they displayed a certain amount of solidity in the opening exchanges, with Nawroz Mangal and Javed Ahmadi answering the Sri Lankan bowlers’ questions.
With 34 runs on the scoreboard, though, the beginning of the end arrived, as Suranga Lakmal took Mangal’s wicket before Ahmadi fell at the hands of Angelo Mathews soon after.
From then on, the Afghans failed to find any real rhythm, but with just one duck and one single-figure haul on the card, the score racked up to 232.
Asghar Stanikzai made history with a knock of 54, bringing up his nation’s first ever half-century in the World Cup, per ESPN Cricinfo:
"Well done Stanikzai, for scoring Afghanistan's first World Cup fifty. A run a ball too, against Sri Lanka in Dunedin http://t.co/a88pPEgzXl
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 21, 2015"
Sri Lanka were reasonably solid with the ball, though, with Mathews and Lasith Malinga taking identical hauls of 3/41.
And they were hoping for a similar performance when it was their turn at the crease but got off to a nightmare start, as Lahiru Thirimanne was trapped lbw by Dawlat Zadran with the very first ball of the innings.
The delivery was stunning, but the Afghans weren’t finished there, as Tillakaratne Dilshan fell foul to another golden duck, courtesy of a stunning Shapoor Zadran ball, per Cricket World Cup:
"ANOTHER! What a stunning start from @ACBofficials. Dilshan is caught behind of a peach of a ball! @OfficialSLC 2/2! #SLvAFG
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 22, 2015"
At 2/2, things were looking incredibly rosy for Afghanistan, and when talisman Kumar Sangakkara was out for seven from a Hamid Hassan ball, the impossible suddenly looked possible.
Enter Jayawardene.
While those around the 37-year-old faltered, he produced a fantastic knock to save his side, although there was a little bit of drama in his innings.
Sitting on 43 and playing well, Jayawardene attempted a harmless defensive shot, but it resulted in his bat splitting in half—per Sky Sports Cricket:
"WATCH: Mahela Jayawardene snaps his bat in half! http://t.co/eYafBIwPXe pic.twitter.com/8KPE3Ii9k0
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 22, 2015"
Luckily, he was able to recover, and went on to post an even 100 before Hassan produced the goods—his third wicket of the day—to send him packing.
However, the job was far from finished.
With the overs slipping by, Sri Lanka were panicking, although they had a secret weapon in the shape of Thisara Perera.
Perera was absolutely phenomenal at the crease, finding boundary after boundary to chalk up 47 from just 26 balls to hand his side the victory, as ESPN Cricinfo revealed:
"Afghanistan gave SL a fright, but couldn't quite finish the job. Thisara Perera 47* off 26 finishes the game http://t.co/qoc6uXnqOV #CWC15
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 22, 2015"
While the job was done, it was far from convincing from the Sri Lankans, who will need to drastically up their game in their next match against Bangladesh on Thursday—a sentiment echoed by the skipper, Mathews, via BBC Sport:
"We really need to raise our standards to compete against the top teams. I am feeling relieved at the moment but I thought we came back well. It was a see-saw kind of game. They started off well and then we pulled it back in the end. I knew I had to stay out there with Mahela to get some kind of stand going.
"
Mathews, who chalked up 44 runs, now needs to rally his troops ahead of their meeting with Bangladesh, as Pool A looks like it could go all the way to the wire.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, can take nothing but positives from their defeat and will head into their match against Scotland on Wednesday knowing that an underdog can have its day in the World Cup.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
