ICC Twenty20 World Cup News

Shane Watson top-scored with 81 as Australia punished lax Pakistan fielding to win their opening World Twenty20 match by a convincing 34 run margin on Sunday.

Man-of-the-match Watson's innings was the cornerstone of Australia's 191 all out, made after captain Michael Clarke won the toss.

But the all-rounder was dropped on 11 by Misbah-ul-Haq and missed on 20, again by Misbah, who couldn't get a hand on a skied chance after running back at long-on, with Mohammad Hafeez the unlucky bowler on both occasions.

Watson made defending champions Pakistan pay by striking four sixes and seven fours in his blistering 49-ball innings and with David Hussey he put on 98 in under nine overs for the third wicket.

India qualified for the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup as Suresh Raina's maiden T20 hundred scripted team's thrilling 14-run win over South Africa in a group C match on Sunday.

India escaped a late assault from the Protea batsmen to score their second successive win and topped their group.

Powered by Raina's hundred, first by an Indian batsman in the shortest format, India posted a commanding 186 for five after invited to bat at Beausejourn stadium.

Darren Sammy shone in every way to ensure West Indies overcame the absence of Chris Gayle and a stuttering batting display as they overpowered Ireland. Sammy collected 30 runs, three breakthroughs and a record four catches during the 70-run success. Ravi Rampaul's three-wicket opening burst was also crucial in Ireland being knocked over for 68, the second-lowest total in Twenty20s.
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The captain Gayle didn't play due to a problem with his glutes, leaving Dwayne Bravo in charge, and there were thoughts of an upset when West Indies scrapped to 138 for 9 on a sluggish surface. There was a party atmosphere in the stands of the Providence stadium, but life was much more serious on the ground for the home batsmen, particularly when the 17-year-old George Dockrell was operating.
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New Zealand edged Sri Lanka in just the sort of cliffhanger the organisers would have wanted to kick off the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. If McCullum is talked of as a match-winner, it is probably Brendon that one thinks of, but it was his brother Nathan who was the hero with an all-round performance, topped off by a six over long-off to seal a tense victory with one delivery to go.
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On a track that lived up to it's pre-match billing of being sluggish, basic line-and-length bowling from New Zealand's slow bowlers was enough to curtail Sri Lanka to 135, despite Mahela Jayawardene's polished 81, his highest score in Twenty20s.
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The World Twenty20 kicks off with two teams that look good on paper but haven't quite hit their straps in the format. Sri Lanka have the potential to be one of the most dangerous Twenty20 sides in the world, yet have lost five of their last six games. New Zealand boast several match-winners, but lose more than they win. Daniel Vettori's men have the advantage of recent form, having succeeded in both their warm-up games while Sri Lanka lost to South Africa.

Whatever happens, don't be surprised if the scores are low in Providence, where the slow surface has been difficult to score on during the practice matches. Adding to the challenge for the batsmen, both teams have high-quality spinners who will relish the conditions. Nathan McCullum has opened in both New Zealand's warm-ups and will be a handy ally for Vettori, while Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan need no introduction. Although it is a pleasant change seeing batsmen forced to work hard, the one disappointment about the lack of speed and potential dominance of spin is it reduces the chances of a Dilscoop v McScoop battle.

Though India come into the third installment of the ICC World Twenty20 as heavyweights, their leader MS Dhoni knows full well that their first encounter, against Afghanistan, has the potential to be a little uncomfortable. Afghanistan, ahead of their first major tournament featuring the game's top sides, are coming off two consecutive warm-up wins and that was enough indication for Dhoni to rule out complacency on India's part.

"If you ask me, I would not consider our opening match against Afghanistan as a practice game," Dhoni told reporters in St Lucia. "I don't take my opponents lightly. At the end of the day you have to win whichever team you play. I don't know much about them. It is good in a way because if we know too much about a side then you are thinking too much about them. However, our preparation will remain the same as if you are playing the best opponent in world cricket.