NZ set tough target for Sri Lanka

World Cup warm-up match, Barbados:
New Zealand 285-7 (50 overs) v Sri Lanka

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Fleming plays the ball away through the off-side

New Zealand's top order made a welcome return to form as they totalled 285-7 against Sri Lanka in Barbados.

Lou Vincent (70) and Stephen Flmeing (65) put on 131 for the first wicket and Peter Fulton also passed fifty.

It was a much improved effort by the Kiwis, who were surprisingly beaten by Bangladesh earlier in the week.

Both sides rested key players with Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas left out by Sri Lanka and spinner Daniel Vettori by New Zealand.

Despite the absence of Vaas, his best and most experienced new ball bowler, Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene chose to bowl first after winning the toss.

But they had to wait a long time for their first success as Vincent and Fleming laid the foundation for a substantial total.

The New Zealand openers were eventually seperated when Nuwan Kulasekera had Fleming caught by Farveez Maharoof, but it took the run out of Vincent with the total on 175-1 to really check their progress.

Scott Styris followed immediately for a duck when he was caught behind off leg-spinner Malinga Bandara but Ross Taylor and Fulton batted brightly before Taylor fell to Muttiah Muralitharan for 30.

It was Murali's sole success in a spell which lacked his usual accuracy, as indicated by figures of 1-64.

But the introduction of fast bowler Lasith Malinga as the fifth change made a big difference as he bowled Craig McMillan for three and then had Fulton caught by Mahela Jayawardene.

The dangerous Jacob Oram fell to Maharoof for 16 and the final wicket to fall saw James Franklin run out.

India seamers run through Windies

World Cup warm-up match, Jamaica:
West Indies 85 (25.5 overs) v India

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Irfan Pathan stoops to claim the prized wicket of Brian Lara

India underlined their World Cup credentials by skittling West Indies on a seamer-friendly surface in Jamaica.

In the final warm-up game for both sides, the tournament hosts were bowled out for 85 in just 25.5 overs.

Munaf Patel (4-10) and Irfan Pathan (3-25) did most of the damage after Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan had removed the West Indies openers.

And India were well set for an easy win as they cruised to 62-1 off 14 overs in reply before the mid-match break.

They went into the 13-a-side game without batting star Sachin Tendulkar, who was resting what was described as a "niggle", but is expected to be fit to face Bangladesh in their first game of the tournament proper.

Lara won the toss for the home side and opted to bat first but soon found himself out in the middle as Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle departed in successive overs, both caught behind by Mahendra Dhoni.

After the double setback, Lara and Sarwan guided West Indies to 53-2 but an astonishing collapse then followed as six wickets went down for nine runs in the space of five overs.

Lara chipped a return catch to Pathan from the final delivery of the 14th over and three balls later Sarwan (13) followed him back to the pavilion after playing across the line and edging a ball from Patel to Robin Uthappa at second slip.

Dwayne Bravo and Marlon Samuels went for ducks and youngster Kieron Pollard, the surprise selection in the West Indies squad, made only two before swiping at a wide one from Pathan and giving Dhoni his third catch.

Denesh Ramdin was taken in the slips by Virender Sehwag for three from another fine Patel delivery before Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Smith briefly halted the slide by adding 18 for the ninth wicket, the second highest stand of the innings.

But Patel had Smith caught by Dinesh Karthik for 13 and Anil Kumble wrapped things up with the innings only five balls past the half-way point by dismissing Jerome Taylor lbw for nought.

With such a miserable total to defend, the best West Indies could hope for was to unsettle the Indian top order and pick up a few cheap wickets of their own.

They were soon rewarded as the out of sorts Sehwag played a loose stroke outside off stump and edged Daren Powell to the keeper for a third ball duck.

But Robin Uthappa and Karthik, two of the less experienced members of the Indian side, dealt with the situation calmly, avoiding unncessary risk as they posted a half century stand.

Uthappa was 30 not out at the interval, with Karthik on 23.

Proteas anger over Trinidad pitch

World Cup warm-up match, Trinidad:
South Africa 199 (48.3 ovs) v Pakistan

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There were serious concerns for the safety of the players

South Africa mustered a respectable 199 in the World Cup warm-up with Pakistan, despite concerns over the pitch which almost led to the game being abandoned.

Put into bat, the South Africans were unhappy with the erratic bounce at Trinidad's Frank Worrell Stadium.

Coaches Mickey Arthur and Bob Woolmer came on to the field to discuss the pitch with the umpires Peter Parker and Ian Gould, causing a 10-minute delay.

Loots Bosman hit an attacking 53 to guide the Proteas to a useful total.

The South Africans were without Justin Kemp, who missed out with a toe injury and paceman Makhaya Ntini - who would no doubt have relished bowling on such a sprightly wicket - but was at home awaiting the birth of his child.

Pakistan omitted all-rounder Yasir Arafat and fast bowler Mohammed Sami from their expanded 13-man squad.

Opening bowlers Mohammed Sami and Umar Gul found some extravagant lift, but also saw some deliveries shoot along the ground.

AB de Villiers was the first casualty in Sami's opening over, playing back to one that did not bounce and trapped him lbw.

With no addition to the score, Graeme Smith was bowled and Herschelle Gibbs fell for 11 when he gloved a brutal delivery from Sami in the 10th over, leaving the world's top one-day side at 27-3.

They had recovered to 56-3 when the mid-pitch consultation took place.

"The batsmen were not happy with the way the ball was bouncing, but the umpires asked them to continue," said Dhiraj Malhotra, an International Cricket Council official at the venue.

Live Scores-Srilanka VS Newzealand-Worldcup 2007 warmup matches

09-03-2007 at Barbados

Lunch

Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to field

New Zealand Innings 285 for 8 (50.0 overs)

New Zealand Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
L Vincent	run out		70	0	0	0
S P Fleming	c M F Maharoof	b K M D N Kulasekara	65	0	0	0
R L Taylor	c D P M D Jayawardene	b M Muralitharan	30	0	0	0
S B Styris	c K C Sangakkara	b C M Bandara	0	0	0	0
P G Fulton	c D P M D Jayawardene	b S L Malinga	59	0	0	0
J D P Oram	c W U Tharanga	b M F Maharoof	16	0	0	0
C D McMillan		b S L Malinga	3	0	0	0
B B McCullum	not out		7	0	0	0
J E C Franklin	run out		1	0	0	0
D R Tuffey	not out		1	0	0	0
Extras		9nb 17w 3b 4lb	33
Total		for 8	285	(50.0 ovs)

Bowler O M R W M F Maharoof 6.0 0 23 1 C R D Fernando 10.0 0 61 0 K M D N Kulasekara 8.0 0 41 1 M Muralitharan 10.0 0 64 1 C M Bandara 6.0 0 37 1 T M Dilshan 6.0 1 26 0 S L Malinga 4.0 0 26 2

Fall of wicket 131 S P Fleming 175 L Vincent 175 S B Styris 204 R L Taylor 258 J D P Oram 272 C D McMillan 277 P G Fulton 278 J E C Franklin

Umpires: S J Davis, I L Howell
New Zealand: S P Fleming, S E Bond, J E C Franklin, P G Fulton, B B McCullum, C D McMillan, M J Mason, J D P Oram, J S Patel, S B Styris, R L Taylor, D R Tuffey, L Vincent (sub)
Sri Lanka: D P M D Jayawardene, W U Tharanga, M S Atapattu, K C Sangakkara, L P C Silva, T M Dilshan, R P Arnold, M F Maharoof, C M Bandara, M Muralitharan, S L Malinga, C R D Fernando, K M D N Kulasekara (sub)

Live Scores-Pakistan VS Southafrica-Worldcup 2007 Warmup matches

Live Scores-Pakistan VS Southafrica-Worldcup 2007 Warmup matches
09-03-2007 at Trinidad

Pakistan beat South Africa by 7 wickets

Pakistan won the toss and decided to field

South Africa Innings 199 all out (48.3 overs)

Pakistan Innings 200 for 3 (44.3 overs)

South Africa Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
G C Smith		b Umar Gul	1	8	0	0
A B de Villiers	lbw	b Mohammad Sami	3	4	0	0
J H Kallis	lbw	b Danish Kaneria	29	74	0	0
H H Gibbs	c Kamran Akmal	b Mohammad Sami	11	21	0	0
A G Prince	lbw	b Mohammad Hafeez	35	55	0	0
L L Bosman	c Inzamam-ul-Haq	b Shoaib Malik	53	57	0	0
M V Boucher		b Mohammad Hafeez	22	40	0	0
S M Pollock	c Yasir Arafat	b Shoaib Malik	9	14	0	0
A J Hall	run out		5	14	0	0
R J Peterson		b Umar Gul	4	9	0	0
R Telemachus	not out		1	2	0	0
Extras		7nb 6w 12b 1lb	26
Total		all out	199	(48.3 ovs)

Bowler O M R W Umar Gul 6.3 2 20 2 Mohammad Sami 5.0 0 13 2 Yasir Arafat 7.0 0 27 0 Azhar Mahmood 4.0 0 18 0 Danish Kaneria 10.0 0 35 1 Mohammad Hafeez 7.0 0 23 2 Shoaib Malik 5.0 0 35 2 Shahid Afridi 4.0 0 15 0

Fall of wicket 5 A B de Villiers 5 G C Smith 27 H H Gibbs 93 A G Prince 93 J H Kallis 136 M V Boucher 173 S M Pollock 183 L L Bosman 194 A J Hall 199 R J Peterson

Pakistan Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Imran Nazir	c L L Bosman	b A Nel	0	0	0	0
Mohammad Hafeez	c M V Boucher	b C K Langeveldt	49	0	0	0
Younis Khan	lbw	b G C Smith	79	0	0	0
Mohammad Yousuf	not out		48	0	0	0
Shoaib Malik	not out		16	0	0	0
Extras		5w 3lb	8
Total		for 3	200	(44.3 ovs)

Bowler O M R W S M Pollock 7.0 2 19 0 A Nel 7.0 2 21 1 A J Hall 5.0 0 23 0 C K Langeveldt 6.0 1 21 1 R Telemachus 5.0 0 21 0 J H Kallis 2.0 0 15 0 R J Peterson 6.0 0 40 0 G C Smith 5.3 0 34 1 A G Prince 1.0 0 3 0

Fall of wicket 7 Imran Nazir 75 Mohammad Hafeez 157 Younis Khan

Umpires: P D Parker, I J Gould
Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Sami, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria (sub), Azhar Mahmood, Naved-ul-Hasan
South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, C K Langeveldt, R J Peterson, R Telemachus, A J Hall, A Nel (sub), L L Bosman

Live Scores-England Vs Australia-Worldcup 2007 Warmup Matches

09-03-2007 at St Vincent

In Play

England won the toss and decided to bat

England Innings 197 all out (48.3 overs)

Australia Innings 38 for 0 (5.5 overs)

England Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
E C Joyce	lbw	b S W Tait	5	7	1	0
M P Vaughan	c S R Watson	b G B Hogg	62	73	7	0
I R Bell	st A C Gilchrist	b G B Hogg	56	79	6	0
K P Pietersen	c G B Hogg	b S W Tait	4	9	0	0
P D Collingwood	c G B Hogg	b N W Bracken	18	37	1	0
A Flintoff	c M G Johnson	b S R Clark	13	31	0	0
J W M Dalrymple	not out		8	19	0	0
P A Nixon	c A C Gilchrist	b S R Clark	6	16	0	0
L E Plunkett		b S R Clark	0	5	0	0
S I Mahmood		b S W Tait	2	7	0	0
J Lewis		b S W Tait	5	9	1	0
Extras		1nb 9w 4b 4lb	18
Total		all out	197	(48.3 ovs)

Bowler O M R W N W Bracken 10.0 1 39 1 S W Tait 8.3 0 33 4 G D McGrath 4.0 1 13 0 M G Johnson 2.0 0 20 0 S R Watson 4.0 0 20 0 G B Hogg 10.0 1 28 2 M J Clarke 4.0 0 20 0 S R Clark 6.0 0 16 3

Fall of wicket 6 E C Joyce 122 I R Bell 131 M P Vaughan 131 K P Pietersen 167 A Flintoff 168 P D Collingwood 182 P A Nixon 183 L E Plunkett 189 S I Mahmood 197 J Lewis

Australia Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
A C Gilchrist	not out		14	21	1	0
S R Watson	not out		19	17	2	1
Extras		3nb 1w 1lb	5
Total		for 0	38	(5.5 ovs)

Bowler O M R W J M Anderson 3.0 0 13 0 J Lewis 2.5 0 24 0

Fall of wicket

Umpires: A L Hill, N Malcolm
Australia: A C Gilchrist, S R Watson, B J Haddin, R T Ponting, B J Hodge, M J Clarke, M E K Hussey, G B Hogg, S R Clark, M G Johnson, N W Bracken, G D McGrath (sub), S W Tait
England: E C Joyce, M P Vaughan, I R Bell, K P Pietersen, P D Collingwood, A Flintoff, J W M Dalrymple, P A Nixon, L E Plunkett, S I Mahmood, J Lewis, J M Anderson (sub), M S Panesar

Live Scores-India VS WestIndies-Worldcup 2007 Warmup matches

09-03-2007 at Jamaica

In Play

West Indies won the toss and decided to bat

West Indies Innings 85 all out (25.5 overs)

India Innings 56 for 1 (13.4 overs)

West Indies Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
C H Gayle	c M S Dhoni	b A B Agarkar	6	8	0	0
S Chanderpaul	c M S Dhoni	b Z Khan	6	17	0	0
R R Sarwan	c A R Uthappa	b M M Patel	13	27	2	0
B C Lara	c and b	I K Pathan	22	35	4	0
D J Bravo	c Harbhajan Singh	b M M Patel	0	6	0	0
K A Pollard	c M S Dhoni	b I K Pathan	2	14	0	0
D Ramdin	c V Sehwag	b M M Patel	3	2	0	0
M N Samuels	lbw	b I K Pathan	0	1	0	0
L M P Simmons	not out		9	22	1	0
D R Smith	c K D Karthik	b M M Patel	13	19	2	0
J E Taylor	lbw	b A Kumble	0	6	0	0
Extras		2nb 9w	11
Total		all out	85	(25.5 ovs)

Bowler O M R W A B Agarkar 7.0 1 27 1 Z Khan 6.0 1 22 1 I K Pathan 6.0 0 25 3 M M Patel 6.0 2 10 4 A Kumble 0.5 0 1 1

Fall of wicket 14 S Chanderpaul 14 C H Gayle 53 B C Lara 53 R R Sarwan 57 D J Bravo 61 K A Pollard 62 M N Samuels 62 D Ramdin 80 D R Smith 85 J E Taylor

India Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
A R Uthappa	not out		30	33	3	0
V Sehwag	c D Ramdin	b D B Powell	0	3	0	0
K D Karthik	not out		17	47	1	0
Extras		1nb 1w 7lb	9
Total		for 1	56	(13.4 ovs)

Bowler O M R W J E Taylor 4.0 0 23 0 D B Powell 6.4 0 15 1 C D Collymore 3.0 0 11 0

Fall of wicket 6 V Sehwag

Umpires: E A R de Silva, B G Jerling
India: V Sehwag, S C Ganguly, A R Uthappa, S R Tendulkar, R Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, M S Dhoni, K D Karthik, I K Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, A Kumble, S Sreesanth, M M Patel (sub), A B Agarkar, Z Khan
West Indies: C H Gayle, S Chanderpaul, D S Smith, M N Samuels, R R Sarwan, D R Smith, B C Lara, K A Pollard, I D R Bradshaw, D J Bravo, D B Powell, D Ramdin, J E Taylor (sub), C D Collymore, L M P Simmons

Australia ease to comfortable win

World Cup warm-up, St Vincent: Australia 290-7 beat Zimbabwe 184-7 by 106 runs

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Shane Watson gives Australia an extra option as an opener

Australia began their preparations for the World Cup with a comprehensive 106-run victory over Zimbabwe.

Ricky Ponting's reigning champions piled up 290-7 in the warm-up contest, four more than England managed on the same ground against Bermuda.

Shane Watson (81) and Michael Clarke (82) were the main contributors.

In reply, the Zimbabweans struggled to force the ball away on a sluggish surface before Sean Williams struck a well compiled 44 in their 184-7.

The Australians used eight different bowlers as the match petered towards its inevitable conclusion and any intensity in their early overs was diluted considerably in the latter stages.

It was a combination of Australia's recent lack of potency with the ball and Zimbabwe's conservative approach which dragged out the contest through its full course.

Australia, who came into this Caribbean tournament on the back of five consecutive one-day international defeats, fielded only 12 of the 13 players permitted in these practice contests.

Andrew Symonds (shoulder) and Matthew Hayden (broken toe) are currently sidelined while Adam Gilchrist, who remained at home to witness the birth of his third child, only arrived late on Monday night.

Ponting, returning from a back injury, nicked an outswinger from Elton Chigumbura and made just two.

He was the only Australian batsman not to get some meaningful time at the crease.

But Clarke's energetic innings showed no signs of the troublesome hip problem which put him out of the trip to New Zealand last month.

Zimbabwe were profligate in the field, spilling three chances.

Live Scores-Australia VS Zimbabwe-Worldcup 2007 warmup matches

06-03-2007 at St Vincent

Australia beat Zimbabwe by 106 runs

Australia won the toss and decided to bat

Australia Innings 290 for 7 (50.0 overs)

Zimbabwe Innings 184 for 7 (50.0 overs)

Australia Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
S R Watson	c E Chigumbura	b S C Williams	81	0	0	0
B J Haddin	c S C Williams	b E C Rainsford	47	0	0	0
R T Ponting	c B R M Taylor	b E Chigumbura	2	0	0	0
M J Clarke	c G B Brent	b C B Mpofu	82	0	0	0
B J Hodge	c S C Williams	b K M Dabengwa	17	0	0	0
M E K Hussey	c G B Brent	b S C Williams	15	0	0	0
G B Hogg	run out		5	0	0	0
M G Johnson	not out		20	0	0	0
N W Bracken	not out		13	0	0	0
Extras		6nb 2w	8
Total		for 7	290	(50.0 ovs)

Bowler O M R W C B Mpofu 7.0 1 44 1 A J Ireland 6.0 1 40 0 E C Rainsford 4.0 0 32 1 G B Brent 7.0 0 40 0 E Chigumbura 1.0 0 5 1 P Utseya 10.0 1 36 0 S C Williams 8.0 0 48 2 K M Dabengwa 7.0 0 45 1

Fall of wicket 91 B J Haddin 105 R T Ponting 149 S R Watson 177 B J Hodge 224 M E K Hussey 237 G B Hogg 266 M J Clarke

Zimbabwe Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
T Duffin	c B J Haddin	b N W Bracken	5	0	0	0
V Sibanda	c B J Haddin	b M G Johnson	5	0	0	0
C J Chibhabha	c M J Clarke	b S R Clark	22	0	0	0
S C Williams	c and b	B J Hodge	44	0	0	0
S Matsikenyeri	run out		35	0	0	0
E Chigumbura	c M G Johnson	b S R Clark	15	0	0	0
B R M Taylor	not out		10	0	0	0
K M Dabengwa		b G D McGrath	15	0	0	0
G B Brent	not out		0	0	0	0
Extras		5nb 15w 5b 8lb	33
Total		for 7	184	(50.0 ovs)

Bowler O M R W S W Tait 7.0 1 24 0 N W Bracken 5.0 2 8 1 G D McGrath 5.0 2 8 1 M G Johnson 7.0 2 22 1 S R Clark 7.0 0 33 2 G B Hogg 8.0 0 36 0 B J Hodge 6.0 1 26 1 S R Watson 5.0 1 14 0

Fall of wicket 11 T Duffin 32 V Sibanda 56 C J Chibhabha 123 S C Williams 159 E Chigumbura 160 S Matsikenyeri 184 K M Dabengwa

Umpires: Asad Rauf, B R Doctrove
Australia: S R Watson, B J Haddin, R T Ponting, M J Clarke, B J Hodge, M E K Hussey, G B Hogg, M G Johnson, N W Bracken, S R Clark, S W Tait, G D McGrath
Zimbabwe: P Utseya, G B Brent, V Sibanda, T Duffin, C J Chibhabha, S C Williams, S Matsikenyeri, E Chigumbura, B R M Taylor, K M Dabengwa, C B Mpofu, E C Rainsford, A J Ireland (sub)

Bangladesh stun Kiwis in Barbados

World Cup warm-up, Barbados: Bangladesh 230-8 beat New Zealand 224 by two wickets

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Bangladesh celebrate an early wicket during their memorable win

England's first World Cup opponents on 16 March, New Zealand, crashed to a two-wicket defeat to lowly Bangladesh in their first tournament warm-up.

The Kiwis, on the back of a 3-0 home thrashing of Australia, lost four top batsmen for scores of 4, 0, 11 and 3.

Mashrafe Mortaza took 4-44 before Jacob Oram made light of a recently broken finger to hit 88 in a total of 224.

Teenager Tamim Iqbal hit 46 off 48 before Mortaza saw his team home with successive sixes off James Franklin.

Bangladesh did not even require the last over as they celebrated their first win of any description against New Zealand.

At one stage, it appeared the economy and wickets of Daniel Vettori (3-30) and Oram's runs would prove just enough to help the Kiwis home.

Instead, Mortaza and co proved too much for a team who looked to be coming into the tournament in decent form.

Oram's heroics with the bat were sadly not matched by his colleagues, with Brendon McCullum (46 not out) the only other Kiwi to offer anything substantial with the bat.

Tamim Iqbal's rapid 46 got Bangladesh off to a strong start

Oram came in at 34-4 and was eighth out 37 overs later with the score on 218 - having hit five fours and a six from 107 balls.

He shared a stand of 105 in only 19 overs with McCullum, before the wicketkeeper-batsman was run out.

The pace of Mortaza did the damage at the top of the Kiwi order.

He shifted opener Lou Vincent with the third delivery of the match and also bagged frontline batsmen Ross Taylor and Peter Fulton.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Abdur Razzak was another to have a fine match for the Tigers, who for once lived up to their nickname.

He took 4-26 off 10 overs, and it was fitting that he was at the crease when his ninth-wicket partner struck the winning blows.

Bangladesh always looked in with a chance of a successful chase when 17-year-old opener Iqbal (46) - with just four one-day internationals behind him - hit Franklin out of the new-ball attack.

Fellow opener Javed Omar (45) adopted a more watchful approach, but the combination worked well.

The entry into the attack of Vettori turned a 73-0 scoreline into 79-2, but Bangladesh did not panic.

Mohammad Ashraful (29) kept a small but attentive crowd guessing well into the final straight, until falling lbw to Franklin.

The Kiwis looked to have regained the initiative at the crucial stage.

But Mortaza, with three sixes and a four in a whirlwind 30 off 14 balls, would not be denied.

Easy for India despite Doeschate

World Cup warm-up, Jamaica: India 300-9 beat Netherlands 118 by 182 runs

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Sachin Tendulkar looked in solid touch, with 61 from 59 balls

Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate took 5-57 and added a rapid 31 but India warmed up for the World Cup with a 182-run win over the Netherlands.

Batting first, the old guard of Rahul Dravid (74) and Sachin Tendulkar (61) made light of an unfriendly batting wicket to take India to 300-9.

The two Dutch batsmen with county experience, Ten Doeschate and Bas Zuiderent (32) did their best.

But others struggled and the minnows were all out for 118 in the 38th over.

Unexpectedly, Yuvraj Singh proved to be the most successful bowler, his part-time slow left-arm giving him 4-12 in 3.5 overs.

Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble took two wickets apiece on the kind of slow, unpredictable wicket they will be happy to bowl on throughout the World Cup.

Netherlands seamer Edgar Schiferli, suffered a left hamstring injury during the pre-match warm-up.

He looks certain to miss the tournament.

India enjoyed the ideal preparation, with only one batsman in the top eight, Dinesh Karthik, failing to get some sort of innings under his belt.

Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel each took a wicket as the Netherlands' top order struggled for early boundaries against some disciplined seam bowling.

Pakistan too powerful for Canada

World Cup warm-up, Trinidad
Pakistan 273-8 beat Canada 196 by 77 runs
Match reduced to 48 overs per side

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Younis Khan tries to work out how he got himself out in Trinidad

Pakistan's batsmen struggled to impose themselves on Canada in both teams' first World Cup warm-up, though the Test nation still won by 77 runs.

Batting first, Pakistan were reduced to 160-6 when all-rounder Shahid Afridi was bowled by John Davison for a duck.

But Mohammad Hafeez (61) and Kamran Akmal (56 not out) recovered things.

The match was reduced to 48 overs per side because a sightscreen was knocked down early on by strong winds, and Canada were all out for 196.

The early exchanges suggested Pakistan's troubled Cup preparations were preying on their minds.

Younis Khan was caught by wicket-keeper Ashish Bagai off the bowling of Anderson Cummins for 11 after he was surprsingly asked to open the batting.

Henry Osinde then dismissed Imran Nazir for 26 and Mohammad Yousuf followed him back to the pavilion for 21, after becoming an Umar Bhatti victim.

Inzamam-ul-Haq (59) held the middle order together, but Canada picked up further cheap wickets as Afridi and Shoaib Malik fell by the wayside.

It would have been an interesting match indeed had not Hafeez and Akmal picked up the pieces once Inzamam and Afridi had departed in quick succession.

For Canada, Cummins, Osinde and Sunil Dhaniram all took two wickets.

Pakistan were able to pick from just 13 players for the match in St Augustine.

The replacements for injured bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have not yet arrived in the Caribbean.

Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat are expected to arrive later in the week - and Pakistan are hoping the International Cricket Council will allow them to stand in for Shoaib and Asif.

But the bowlers that were available for Pakistan acquitted themselves well.

Seamer Rao Iftikhar Anjum and spinner Hafeez each took three wickets with Qaiser Ali's 37 the best effort by a Canadian batsman.

Richards predicts Windies revival

By Jamie Lillywhite

Sir Viv in a portrait at Lord's recently commissioned by the MCC

Sir Viv Richards believes the World Cup in the Caribbean could lead to a regeneration of West Indies cricket.

"The atmosphere is phenomenal, everyone is in position and the West Indies is just ecstatic about what is about to take place," he told BBC Sport.

"It's important the whole Caribbean realises cricket means so much to us.

"It's up to us to run with this when it's a success - not if - when it's a success. No host country ever won it so we have a wonderful opportunity."

Since the halcyon days of the 1970s and 80s when West Indies dominated world cricket, performances have deteriorated spectacularly and the calypso kings are now ranked towards the foot of both the Test and one-day standings.

A popular theory is that young West Indians have been lured towards the more lucrative worlds of American sports, such as basketball.

But Richards is adamant that cricket is still worshipped as much as ever in the West Indies.

"We had basketball way back in the 70s and 80s and even people like Michael Jordan couldn't convince us we should all change to basketball," he said.

"It's just for us to try and get certain things in place, our preparation, our development programme.

"If we can deal with all these things to give an avenue for these young individuals to play, an opportunity to enjoy it and make a decent living out of it, then we could be back again."

IVA RICHARDS World Cup games: 23 Average: 63.31 Highest score: 181

One of the major reasons why West Indian cricket has declined is the absence of genuine match-winning bowlers.

For a decade from 1976-86, the West Indies produced a stream of world-class pacemen, including Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner and Curtley Ambrose.

"We had a pool of individuals who came at the same time. We'd have loved some of these great fast bowlers to come along at a different time - like now!

"But you can never change the cycle of life. Our fast bowlers were 6ft 9 and they used to be so intimidating - just seeing the presence of these huge guys was so intimidating - now they are so short they look more like jockeys."

Now, two legendary figures are back at the forefront of West Indian cricket, Gordon Greenidge as chairman of selectors and Clive Lloyd as team manager.

And Richards, an ambassador for Johnnie Walker's "Know Your Boundaries" responsible drinking campaign, is delighted.

"It's great to have these guys who know what it's all about involved and hopefully some of the wisdom can be passed on," he said.

Having reached the final of last year's Champions Trophy, optimism is beginning to return in the Caribbean and Richards believes West Indies have a "realistic chance" of winning the World Cup.

"I would love to see Brian Lara accomplish his goals - he would have had a hard ride. The driver's seat in the West Indies when you are captain and the team is not doing well is never comfortable!

"It would be ever so fitting because of the wonderful innings we have seen from Brian Lara - a magnificent player - it would be nice to see him end that wonderful career by holding up the World Cup."

Richards, who celebrates his 55th birthday on Wednesday, played in four World Cups, but does not think there is a clear favourite this time.

"This is going to be a pretty open World Cup, There are seven or eight teams who have a good chance.

"Australia's pride has been dented and I don't think they have the depth they had in the past in order to create that fear. They are reachable, beatable and it just depends whether you want it or not."

Woolmer happy without injured duo

Woolmer coached South Africa at two World Cups

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer believes it may prove a blessing in disguise that injury has ruled pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif out of the World Cup.

The duo saw doping bans overturned last year but the World Anti-Doping Agency want the suspensions to be reinstated.

"As far as Pakistan goes, it's been resolved but obviously other people want to get involved," Woolmer said.

"This is hanging over their heads. So in an obtuse way, it's best for them and the team that they're not here."

Shoaib and Asif were selected for the original Pakistan World Cup squad, but failed to convince the selectors they had recovered from injury in time.

Our chances are as good as anybody's Bob Woolmer

Akhtar, 32 this year, who was initially banned for two years in November, was hoping to play in his third World Cup, having taken 27 wickets from 16 previous matches in the competition, but has been troubled by a hamstring problem.

Asif, 24, whose suspension was originally one year, has not played in a World Cup before, but was denied the opportunity this year by an elbow injury.

Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat have been added to the squad, and Woolmer is confident Pakistan can be a major force in the Caribbean.

"We're going to give everyone a run," he said. "It's going to be interesting because no one really knows what the surfaces are going to hold but our chances are as good as anybody's."