Zimbabwe vs Canada Online Live Score Cricket World Cup 2011

NAGPUR: Beaten comprehensively in their respective opening encounters, Elton Chigumbura's determined Zimbabweans will take on Canada in the cricket World Cup's 'Battle of the Minnows' on Monday.

While Zimbabwe bowlers managed to restrict Australia to 262 in their first match, their batsmen couldn't soak in the pressure and were all-out for 171.

Canada, on the other hand, were no match for former world champions Sri Lanka as they were walloped by 210 runs in the newly built Hambantota stadium.

Monday's Group A match will be the best chance for both teams to try and force a victory which will give them requisite confidence to fight in the month-long tournament.

With the format being very difficult for the minnows, a victory will certainly keep these teams interested in showing stomach for fight.

On paper, Zimbabweans are a superior side with players who have a lot of ODI cricket against the big teams against their names.

However, winning is a habit and certainly something that hasn't been the strength of the African nation which has seen a lot of political turmoil in the last few years.

Yet the likes of Chigumbura, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Ray Price will hope to showcase their fighting ability on the biggest stage.

Since it will be a day match, the bowlers may expect a bit of help early in the morning but the Jamtha strip is an absolute belter where batsmen will make merry once they set their eye in.

Charles Coventry, Taylor and Taibu are the three batsmen on whom Zimbabwe's hopes of a big total will rest.

A big innings would be expected from Coventry who once held the world record for the highest individual score in ODIs (194 not out) before Sachin Tendulkar surpassed him.

The Zimbabwean bowling is largely dependent on their spin trio of left-armer Ray Price, offie Prosper Utseya and leg-break bowler Graeme Cremer.

The Jamtha strip slows down as the day progresses and it might just help the slower bowlers.

Canada will be hoping that they put up a decent show which will have the big bosses of International Cricket Council sit up and take notice.

With the number of teams for the 2015 World Cup being reduced to 10, it will be a last chance for the Canadians to showcase their skills at the world stage.

The cavalier John Davison, who caught everyone's imagination with a blazing century in the 2003 edition, would like to make an impression.

So would the likes of skipper Ashish Bagai, Rizwan Cheema, Harvir Baidwan, Balaji Rao - all of whom have some Indian connection.

At 40, Davison, is the oldest player in this World Cup. Baidwan, who grabbed a couple of wickets against Sri Lanka in the last match feels that a good performance may just open the doors for him to play in Ranji Trophy (if he gets a chance he will apply for dual citizenship) and Indian Premier League.

"I have played first-class cricket in Sri Lanka with the likes of Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perrera. This is my big chance to prove my worth. Whether it's Canada or India, this is World Cup and it's a dream come true for me," said Baidwan, shifted to Canada some eight years back.

Baidwan is one of the centrally contracted players of Cricket Canada which gives him a chance to concentrate fully on his game.

Then there is leg-break bowler WD Balaji Rao who was once considered as an India prospect and even played in the Challengers Trophy. Balaji, a regular for Tamil Nadu during early 2000, will also be gearing up to give a good account of himself.

An insurance officer by profession, a good performance will definitely reduce Balaji's pain of not being able to represent India although he was considered a serious prospect at one point of time.

Teams (from):

Canada: Ashish Bagai, Rizwan Cheema, Harvir Baidwan, WD Balaji Rao, John Davison, Parth Desai, Tyson Gordon, Ravindu Gunasekara, Jimmy Hansra, Khurram Chohan, Heeral Patel, Henry Osinde, Zubin Surkari, Karl Whatham, Hamza Tariq

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura, Regis Chakabva, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Terry Duffin, Craig Ervine, Greg Lamb, Shingirai Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Tinashe Panyagara, Ray Price, Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Brendan Taylor, Tino Mawoyo.

Dhoni eager to win 2011 World Cup under his captaincy

With the Twenty20 title already in his kitty, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday said he wants to lift the upcoming ICC World Cup in the sub-continent as the coveted trophy is the ultimate dream of every cricketer.

Dhoni, under whose leadership India won the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007, said his burning desire is to see India capture the trophy for its fans."Every one of us in the India dressing room wants to lift that cup, not only for ourselves, but also for the billions of fans we have around the globe. It is not a surprise to me as it doesn't get any bigger than the World Cup.

"It is the ultimate dream of every cricketer to represent his country in this competition and win the trophy at least once in his career. It will require a lot of hard work, self belief and also a positive approach which Team India is capable of displaying at the highest level," Dhoni said during a promotional ICC event here to mark the 50-day countdown celebrations of the mega-event starting next month.

With little more than a month to go for the tournament, Dhoni said he can feel the buzz around him."With just 50 days remaining before we launch our campaign to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, I can clearly feel and sense the tremendous excitement which is gripping the cricket fraternity," he said.

Commenting on his side's preparations for the World Cup, the wicket-keeper batsman said: "I'm happy with our preparations so far as we have gelled well, we have backed each other all the way and have played some excellent cricket lately.

"But we are also aware that we need to peak at the right time and maintain a winning momentum as the competition will be tough and every team will enter the event fancying its chances.""Each team and match will bring a fresh challenge and we will have to play to our potential every time we take the field," he added.

The charismatic India captain urged the spectators to play their part in making the event the most successful ever."I also take this opportunity to urge the India public and spectators to support the tournament and all the teams taking part in it. I would love to see every stadium packed to capacity even when we are not playing," Dhoni said.

"With billions of eyes following the World Cup on television, this would be another great opportunity for us to showcase our love and passion for this great sport. Let us all unite and make the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the subcontinent the best ever," he added.The tournament begins in Mirpur, Dhaka, on February 19 with the India taking on co-hosts Bangladesh in the opener.

During the event at the picturesque and world famous V&A Waterfront this evening, the World Cup trophy was put on display and an official promotional film was revealed to celebrate the arrival of the game's flagship event.Among others present at the occassion were ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, South Africa captain Graeme Smith and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith, whose side opens its campaign against two-time champions West Indies in New Delhi on February 24, said: "I can't believe that the World Cup is only 50 days away! The spectacular way that 50 days to the World Cup was marked is a pointer to the magnitude of the event."

"As a unit, we are looking to make sure we head into the showpiece with the best preparation possible. The five-match ODI series against India starting on January 12 will be our last chance to make sure we are fully prepared and we hope to bring home the silverware," Smith said.

ICC chief Lorgat said he was delighted to see the interest and excitement amongst the players and followers of the game for the tournament."With 50 days to go before cricket's flagship event starts, key players are starting to think and talk a lot more about the World Cup. The players will soon start with their World Cup focus and preparation and the related anticipation across the world will escalate with each passing day," Lorgat said.

Lorgat also urged all the three host countries - India, Sri Lanka Bangladesh - to step up their preparations and complete all the infrastructure work in time to successfully stage a world-class event."We must do our utmost to complete all the necessary work to deliver another memorable event," he added.

Lorgat also thanked the host countries and ICC's commercial partners for their excellent work to date.