ICC Twenty20 World Cup News

South Africa defeated New Zealand by one run in a thrilling low-scoring match at Lord's.

South Africa's total of 128-7 seemed below-par but New Zealand never got the upper-hand in reply to eventually fall just short of their target on 127-5.

The Black Caps had only reached 57-2 by the halfway point in their reply with the third-wicket partnership of Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor holding the key.

Their 50-stand came up off an uncharacteristically circumspect 63 deliveries just before slow left-armer Roelof van der Merwe (who finished with the outstanding figures of 4-0-14-2) removed both in quick succession.

Shahid Afridi carried Pakistan into the Super Eights at the expense of a spirited but outclassed Dutch side at Lord's, as he ripped his top-spinning legbreaks through a succession of bamboozled defences to deliver his team a thumping 82-run victory with the superb figures of 4 for 11 from four overs. For the Netherlands, the end came with unseemly haste as they lost their last nine wickets for 52 in 10.2 overs, but they still left the tournament with their heads held high after last week's unforgettable floodlit triumph over England.

Today, however, the greater class and knowhow of the Pakistanis came to the fore. They produced a chastened display after their error-strewn effort against England at The Oval on Sunday, and though their batting was kept on a tight leash by some determined Dutch bowling, the prospect of defeat was never seriously entertained. Netherlands were set 176 for victory, but thanks to their superior net run-rate going into this game, they could still have gone through with a score of 151 or more. In the end, the calculations were academic.

Sri Lanka eliminated Australia from the ICC World Twenty20 with a six-wicket victory at Trent Bridge. Kumar Sangakkara played a captain's innings to lead them across the line, with an over to spare, as they chased 160 after Tillakaratne Dilshan sparked the pursuit with an innovative 53 off 32 balls. Australia were set back by a magnificent display from Ajantha Mendis, who bamboozled with his variations, and although the match went to the final over Sri Lanka always held the edge to book their Super Eights berth.

Australia's stay in this tournament - the international title they don't hold - lasted three days and now they face two extra weeks in Leicester to prepare for the Ashes series. Make no mistake, they desperately wanted to win this event, and further stock their trophy cabinet, but were short on their skills for the second game running against a highly impressive Sri Lanka outfit.

O'Brien brothers Niall and Kevin's scintillating knocks gave Ireland a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh and a berth in the Super Eight stage of the World Twenty20  championship, at Trent Bridge, in Nottingham, on Monday.

Niall blasted a 25-ball 40 that was studded with three fours and as many sixes, while Kevin fired an unbeaten 17-ball 39, inclusive of fours and a couple of sixes, as Ireland attained the target with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier, all-rounder Trent Johnston's three-wicket haul restricted Bangladesh to 137 for eight in the Group A match.

Niall stitched a 55-run partnership for the first wicket with skipper William  Porterfield (23) to lay the foundation for victory before the left-handed batsman was dismissed by Shakib Al Hasan in the 10th over.

The world's number one Test side have got one of the beefiest batting line-ups in the game - David Warner, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin - healthy, even in the absence of Symonds. Their bowling attack looks good on paper as well- Mitchell Johnson with his newly acquired inswinger, Nathan Bracken, the top one-day bowler on the ICC rankings, and Brett Lee form one of the meaner pace trios in the game. And their fielding has always been sharp, irrespective of the length of the game.

What, then, is with Ponting's men and Twenty20 cricket? Their record, so intimidating otherwise, gets watered down as the length of the game shrinks. In the 22 T20 internationals they have played during and since the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 championship, they have won 11 and lost 11. Not quite the stuff world champions are made of.

Victory was a necessity, after losing their opening game to the Netherlands, and the hosts duly obliged with an outstanding performance with both bat and ball.

Kevin Pietersen, who passed a late fitness test on an Achilles injury, showed how crucial his presence was as he top-scored with 58 off 38 balls in England's total of 185-5.

All of the bowlers then played their part as England boosted their run-rate sufficiently to ensure their place in the Super Eights.

Shehzad Ahmed (4) went early in the run-chase when he sliced high into the off-side and Paul Collingwood took a fine tumbling catch as he backed off from his position in the covers.