IRELAND V UAE PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE

IRELAND V UAE PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE

Watch the post-match press conference here

Ireland beat UAE by two wickets in the 16th match of the ICC World Cup 2015.

To view the full scorecard, match highlights and videos, click here.

Big wins for New Zealand, Zimbabwe in warm-ups

Big wins for New Zealand, Zimbabwe in warm-ups

Boult grabs five-for after strong batting performance; Masakadza ton hands Sri Lanka seven-wicket loss

A strong, all-round performance helped New Zealand defeat South Africa by 134 runs in its World Cup warm-up match at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday (February 11).

After opting to bat first, New Zealand's batsmen made merry, racing to 331 for 8 in 50 overs, powered by half-centuries from Brendon McCullum (59 off 45) and Kane Williamson (66 off 53). All the batsmen, barring Luke Ronchi (19) and Tim Southee (1 not out), scored above 20, and there were three partnerships in excess of 50. Trent Boult then ran through South Africa's batting line-up and ended with 5 for 51 to bowl it out for 197 in 44.2 overs.
In another warm-up match, a spirited Zimbabwe, led by an unbeaten century from Hamilton Masakadza and an all-round display from Sean Williams, got the better of Sri Lanka at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. Sri Lanka posted 279 for 8 from its 50 overs, courtesy half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne (58) and Jeevan Mendis (51). Masakadza (117), Brendan Taylor (63) and Williams (51) then made light work of the target, winning with seven wickets in hand and 28 balls to spare.

The result meant that Sri Lanka have now lost both its warm-up matches before the marquee tournament.

McCullum started aggressively alongside Martin Guptill but after the fielding restrictions were lifted, Guptill (26) edged Wayne Parnell to the wicketkeeper. That hardly deterred McCullum. The New Zealand captain was joined by the in-form Williamson and the pair scored at more than eight runs an over, taking their side past 125 in the 19th over. Aaron Phangiso gave South Africa the much needed breakthrough, bowling McCullum and ending the 70-run partnership, but Williamson and Ross Taylor continued the good work with a 53-run stand for the third wicket.

Vernon Philander dismissed Williamson after his half-century and Taylor fell nine runs short of his, but Grant Elliott (24) and Corey Anderson (21) kept New Zealand going. Daniel Vettori (27) and Nathan McCullum (33 off 19) then added 46 from the last five overs to power the side past 300.




South Africa's chase never got going and it was reduced to 62 for 6 in the 14th over, with Boult and Vettori 

picking up five between them. However, JP Duminy and Vernon Philander looked comfortable during their 121-run stand for the seventh wicket, both hitting half-centuries. After Duminy was bowled by Boult for 80 in the 41st over, New Zealand wrapped up the innings. Only two South Africa batsmen, apart from Philander (57) and Duminy, got to double-digit scores.

To see full scorecard between New Zealand and South Africa, click here.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe got off to a poor start in its chase, losing openers Chamu Chibhabha and Sikandar Raza within the first seven overs. Masakadza and captain Taylor kept the side going with a steady partnership. Angelo Mathews rotated his bowlers but to no avail. Both batsmen hit half-centuries and kept the run rate around six, taking Zimbabwe past 160 in 27 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan finally ended the 127-run partnership with the wicket of Taylor, but Williams ensured that the good work didn't go to waste. With 118 runs needed from 22 overs, Williams and Masakadza upped the ante. Masakadza went past his century and remained undefeated on 117, a knock studded with eight fours and three sixes, while Williams' 46-ball 51 included six fours. Suranga Lakmal conceded 56 runs from his seven overs while 46 runs came from Lasith Malinga's seven wicketless overs..

Earlier, Sri Lanka opted to bat and opened with Kumar Sangakkara in place of Tillakaratne Dilshan, but the left-hander fell for just 8 to Tinashe Panyangara in the third over. Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene consolidated with a 62-run stand for the second wicket but both fell for 30 in quick succession, reducing Sri Lanka to 85 for 3 in the 16th over.

The twin strikes led to a slight dip in the run rate but the pair revived Sri Lanka's innings with 64-run partnership before Utseya dismissed Chandimal for a 46-ball 29. Karunaratne fell for 58 and Sean Williams' left-arm spin accounted for Thisara Perera (17) and Nuwan Kulasekara (9), but Jeevan Mendis gave the innings a much-needed boost. He stroked four boundaries on his way to a run-a-ball 51 and took Sri Lanka to 260 before he became Williams' third victim in the 48th over. Sachitra Senanayake (25 off 17) then struck a couple of sixes to take Sri Lanka to 279.

To see full scorecard between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, click here. 

Ticket Sales Heading for the Magic Million

Ticket Sales Heading for the Magic Million

Tickets for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 continue to sell in record numbers, with just 9 days to go to the tournament all fans are being advised to buy their tickets now for this once in a generation event

Cricket fans from around the world are rushing to get their tickets with just nine days before the start of the ICC’s flagship tournament.

The 14 ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 venues around Australia and New Zealand are filling up for what promises to be the most intense competition ever for the silver and gold trophy.

More than 750,000 tickets have been sold to date, well on the way to a predicted total attendance of more than a million.

While there are plenty of good seats left to great matches, organisers are urging fans to get their tickets now to avoid disappointment.



ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “The ICC Cricket World Cup is on track to be the most open and competitive tournament ever. I’d urge everyone who can to get out and support their team.”

Australia and New Zealand last hosted the event 23 years ago and the lure of some of the world’s best cricket grounds and the chance for a great holiday is attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

For locals it’s a once in a generation chance to experience the unique atmosphere of a Cricket World Cup in their own backyard.

So what are you waiting for?  Check out the ticketing, hospitality and travel package options and start your World Cup experience today.

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