Warner runs riot as Australia rout India

David Warner smashed a rapid 72 as Australia thrashed India by 49 runs in the teams' opening Super Eights match in the World Twenty20 at the Kensington Oval here on Friday.

Left-handed opener Warner's innings was the top score in an Australia total of 184 for five built around his first wicket stand of 104 in 11 overs with Shane Watson (54) after India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss.

In reply, India collapsed to 23 for four inside five overs as several batsmen miscued big shots in a bid to keep up with the run-rate.

India were eventually bowled out for 135, with Rohit Sharma (79 not out) and tailender Harbhajan Singh (13) the only batsmen to reach double figures.

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Albie Morkel inspires South Africa win over Kiwis

Albie Morkel's quickfire 40 helped take South Africa to a 13 run win in their opening Super Eights match against New Zealand at the World Twenty20 on Thursday.

Morkel's innings at the Kensington Oval lasted just 18 balls but still featured five sixes and helped South Africa pile up a total of 170 for four.

Together with AB de Villiers, who finished on 47 not out, he shared a stand of 72 in six overs as they built on a solid foundation laid by the top order.

De Villiers faced 39 balls with two sixes and a four.

New Zealand's reply suffered an early setback when dangerman Brendon McCullum was brilliantly caught in the first over by a diving Herschelle Gibbs in the covers off Charl Langeveldt.

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Pietersen guides England to 6-wicket win

Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten 73 saw England to a six wicket win over defending champions Pakistan in the opening Super Eights match of the World Twenty20 at the Kensington Oval here on Thursday.

Pietersen, who put on 60 for the third wicket with captain Paul Collingwood (16), gave England a scare when he clipped his leg with his bat on 16 and he was dropped on 34.

Pakistan put down five catches, with Saeed Ajmal dropping three, in an error strewn display.

In total, Pietersen faced 52 balls with two sixes and eight fours as his side finished on 151 for four in reply to Pakistan's 148 for nine.

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South Africa end Afghanistan's dream

Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn delivered Afghanistan a harsh lesson by demolishing them for 80 to end their World Twenty20 dream and hand South Africa a safe path to the Super Eights. There was no mercy from Morkel and Steyn, whose speed and bounce was simply of a standard that Afghanistan had never faced before, and Charl Langeveldt chipped in with three wickets to confirm the result.

The 59-run victory showed the newcomers that, for all their incredible progress over the past couple of years, there is a long way still to go. Afghanistan's spirits were high after their bowling effort, having restricted South Africa to a respectable 139 for 7, but the chase was quickly and comprehensively derailed.

Steyn (2 for 6) beat the bat with his outswing and had Noor Ali caught behind for a duck in the first over, before Morkel ran through the middle order to finish with 4 for 20. The batsmen struggled to react to the quality bowling and especially the short deliveries, and six of the ten dismissals were caught behind the wicket.

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