Cricket World Cup: Co-hosts to battle for world crown

GROUP STAGES
Full Results here
Qualified from Group A: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand
Qualified from Group B: South Africa, India, England, West Indies
KNOCKOUT PHASE
QUARTER FINALS

Date	Venue	Result
23 Mar	Dhaka	PAKISTAN 113-0 beat WEST INDIES 112 by 10 wickets
24 Mar	Ahmedabad	INDIA 261-5 beat AUSTRALIA 260 by five wickets
25 Mar	Dhaka	NEW ZEALAND 221-8 beat S AFRICA 172 by 49 runs
26 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 231-0 beat ENGLAND 229-6 by 10 wickets

SEMI FINALS

Date	Venue	Result
29 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 220-5 beat NEW ZEALAND 217 by five wickets
30 Mar	Mohali	INDIA 260 beat PAKISTAN 231 by 29 runs

FINAL

2 Apr

Mumbai

INDIA 277-4 beat SRI LANKA 274-6 by six wickets

Semi Finals
CO-HOSTS India and Sri Lanka will contest the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final in Mumbai on Saturday after they beat Pakistan and New Zealand in their respective semi finals.

In a fascinating contest, MS Dhoni's India overcame their great rivals Pakistan by 29 runs as they chase their first World Cup win for 28 years.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka - winners in 1996 - proved too strong for New Zealand who hold the unenviable record of having lost all six semi finals in which they have appeared.

Sachin Tendulkar was perhaps inevitably the man of the match as India made it five wins out of five over Pakistan in World Cup matches.

And, although Tendulkar made it 85, he will have rarely played a scrappier innings than this.

The Little Master was dropped four times by the Pakistani fielders and also survived a stumping opportunity and a close lbw.

When he was eventually out, caught by Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi off Saeed Ajmal, India were rocking at 187-5.

Captain Dhoni followed soon after, lbw to the excellent Wahab Riaz for 25, but Suresh Raina hit 36 off 39 balls with the tail to ensure India batted out their 50 overs.

Still, India's total of 260 looked decidedly under-par on a flat pitch especially after the start which Virender Sehwag had given them.

Sehwag scored 38 off 25 balls to guide India to 47-0 from the first five overs but, just like Dhoni later on, he fell lbw to Riaz.

Though Gautam Gambhir (27) also scored at a run per ball, India's innings slowly subsided until Raina ensured a competitive score.

Pakistan began their innings with great belief that they could achieve their target, and they also got off to a good start.

The visitors were 43-0 off their first eight overs and still looked in good shape at 70-1 after 15 overs.

However, opening batsman Mohammed Hafeez then played a poorly judged attempted scoop shot straight behind to Dhoni off Paresh Patel.

Hafeez had made 43 but the nature of his dismissal was hugely disappointing and seemed to affect the rest of his team-mates.

When Asad Shafiq (30) and Younis Khan (13) were both dismissed by Yuvraj Singh, Pakistan had begun to struggle at 106-4.

Then, another two wickets fell in quick succession when Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq were bowled by Harbajan Singh and Patel for 29 and three respectively.

And those dismissals left Pakistan's hopes in the hands of Afridi and Misbah Ul-Haq.

Unfortunately, Misbah did not seem to recognise Pakistan's need to keep the run-rate down and scored just 56 off 76 balls.

Afridi scored more quickly but could only make 19 before being caught by Sehwag off Harbajan.

That left Misbah to struggle on with the tail. And they did struggle for the most part as Ashish Nehra took the wickets of Riaz and Gul.

Zaheer Khan had a quiet day by his standards in this World Cup but he took the final wicket of the match, putting Misbah out of misery one ball short of 50 overs.

Virat Kohli took the catch and the Punjab Cricket Stadium erupted into a cacophony of joy except for the small corner housing the Pakistani fans.

For many Indian fans, beating Pakistan will be enough but Dhoni and his team will undoubtedly want to put their name on the trophy.

In order to do so, they will need to beat a strong Sri Lankan team who had a more comfortable passage to the Final after beating surprise package New Zealand.

Daniel Vettori's Black Caps shocked South Africa in the quarter finals but never looked like pulling off another unexpected result in Colombo.

Vettori, perhaps playing in his last ODI, won the toss and elected to bat but it did not take long for Sri Lanka's varied attack to make inroads.

Brendan McCullum was the first victim, bowled by Rangana Herath for just 13 before Jesse Ryder was caught behind off Muttiah Muralitharan for 19.

All the while Martin Guptill had made agonisingly slow progress and the opener was eventually out for 39, bowled by a Lasith Malinga yorker.

Ross Taylor and Scott Styris provided hope of the Kiwis compiling a competitive score but Taylor lost his wicket just before NZ took the batting powerplay.

Styris and Kyle Williamson then attempted to compensate for that loss but, once the latter was trapped lbw by Malinga, the end was nigh.

Nathan McCullum came and went for nine off as many balls and the NZ tail collapsed as Sri Lanka took the final four wickets for four runs in 12 balls.

New Zealand were all out for 217, and Sri Lanka's opening pair Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan set off in pursuit of their target with familiar zeal.

Forty runs were plundered off the first seven overs and, even after Tharanga was dismissed by a brilliant catch from Ryder off Tim Southee, Sri Lanka continued at a steady pace.

At 160-1 in the 33rd over, the contest looked all but decided but then a flurry of wickets somehow gave New Zealand a fighting chance.

Southee and Ryder combined again to remove Dilshan before Mahela Jayawardene did not last long, lbw to Vettori for a solitary run.

When Kumar Sangakkara became the third lost wicket in four overs, Sri Lanka did not look so steady.

Tim Southee then claimed his third wicket of the match, bowling Chamara Silva for 13 and, at 185-5, Sri Lanka were still 32 short.

But Tilan Samaraweera and the injured Angelo Mathews, playing with a runner, got Sri Lanka over the line with 13 balls to spare...

Quarter Finals
... Earlier, Sri Lanka had ended England's dream of a maiden World Cup in the quarter finals with a thumping 10 wicket win in Colombo.

England could not add to their six thrilling group games as the Sri Lankan openers Tharanga and Dilshan both scored centuries to knock off the runs inside 40 overs.

Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat but England again lost early wickets.

Strauss was bowled by Dilshan for five and fellow opener Ian Bell departed in the next over for 25 having been caught by Samaraweera off Mathews.

Jonathan Trott and Ravi Bopara then established a decent partnership for the third-wicket but that came to an end when Bopara was trapped lbw by Murali on 31.

Next, Eoin Morgan joined Trott at the crease and the pair put on 91 valuable runs for the fourth wicket.

But the stand ended when Irishman Morgan - who had been dropped twice - eventually ran out of luck, skying a catch to Mathews off Malinga on 50.

England had really needed the partnership to last if they were to make best use of the batting powerplay although Graeme Swann's departure for a duck hastened the arrival of big-hitting Matt Prior.

However, by that stage, England had been suffocated by the on-song Sri Lankans bowlers as Trott and Prior limped through the powerplay.

Trott departed shortly before the end for 86 from 115 balls and Prior saw off the final over with Luke Wright as England posted 229-6.

Certainly, England had batted a lot worse during this tournament even in games which they won against South Africa and West Indies.

This time, there were useful contributions from Trott, Bopara, Morgan, Bell and Prior but Strauss' men still looked about 30 runs short.

Sri Lanka's openers made a mockery of that assessment, though, knocking off all the runs without losing a wicket or breaking sweat.

The wondrous Dilshan reached his century first, scoring nine fours and two sixes in 107 balls, before Tharanga's ton was stage-managed so that it would give the hosts victory.

This had proved a step too far for England's jaded bowlers as Swann, Tim Bresnan, Chris Tremlett, Bopara, James Tredwell and Wright all tried and failed to take a single Sri Lankan wicket between them.

Notably, from now on, the ECB and the ACB have agreed to keep Ashes series and World Cups in separate winters.

That can only be a good thing as it will surely avoid a repeat of this winter in which many of the England players have spent only three days at home since October.

In the biggest of the quarter finals, India ended Australia's World Cup run, beating them by five wickets in Ahmedabad.

Of course, the Aussies' 34-match tournament unbeaten run had been brought to an end by Pakistan in the final group game but they still held hopes of winning a fourth successive crown.

But, despite a defiant century by skipper Ricky Ponting, surely one of his finest one-day innings, Australia's score of 260-6 never looked enough to prevent a home win.

And so it proved as an unbeaten stand of 74 between Yuvraj (57) and Raina (34) helped India over the line with 14 balls to spare.

Earlier Tendulkar (53) and Gambhir (50) also scored half centuries in a good team performance.

The defeat had immediate repercussions as Ponting brought the curtain down on his captaincy of Test and ODI teams, though he still makes himself available as a batsman.

Statistically, Ponting is Australia's most successful ever captain with 48 wins from 77 Tests, including a run of 16 in a row between December 2005 and January 2008.

However, once Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist all retired, Ponting struggled to raise the game of a clearly more average intake.

As such, his record is punctuated by three Ashes defeats and the loss of the World Cup which had been held since 1999.

At least Ponting can retire from the top looking back on some notable successes including two World Cups and a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith departs with only bad memories of the World Cup as the Proteas gave various demonstrations of how to choke.

In 1999, a run-out mix-up in the semi finals led to a tie with Australia which meant the South Africans went home on account of their weaker group record.

In 2003, at home, they tied a match under the Duckworth-Lewis rule having miscalculated how many runs they needed.

And in 2007, they wilted to 149 all out against an Aussie attack in the semi finals.

This time against New Zealand, Smith's men collapsed again - to 172 all out in pursuit of a highly achievable target of 222 in Mirpur.

Ryder (83), Taylor (43) and Williamson (38 not out) all contributed for the Kiwis but they received little help from elsewhere and the scoring rate seemed to be too slow.

In reply, South Africa lost Hashim Amla early on but Smith, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers appeared to be dealing with the pressure well.

The Proteas were 108-3 when Kallis was caught by Jacob Oram off Southee but they still had more than half their overs left.

But the loss of Kallis completely knocked the stuffing out of South Africa and the final eight wickets ended up falling for just 64.

Only Francois du Plessis (36) provided any resistance as Nathan McCullum ended up with figures of 3-24 and Oram took 4-39.

All this after South Africa had appeared to shrug off their chokers tag by finishing top of Group A after beating India in the final over.

The soft underbelly had always remained, though, and had already been exposed by England who bowled out the South Africans for a six-run win.

Surprise Group B winners Pakistan made a much better job of their quarter final, thrashing the dismal West Indies by 10 wickets.

Brilliant bowling by Afridi, the tournament's top wicket taker, Ajmal and Hafeez destroyed the Windies who were blown away and bowled out for 112.

Only Shiv Chanderpaul occupied the crease for the Caribbean men but his 44 not out came off 106 balls - no fours and a solitary six - as he struggled to maintain a decent rate while losing partners.

Thus, the West Indies went home having achieved the bare minimum. Hammering Bangladesh was an undoubted highlight but outside of that, they only beat Associate nations Ireland and Netherlands.

Long gone are the days where the West Indies were the hotbed of world cricket, and with Australia's star now having fallen too, the subcontinent has taken over.

That is true for this tournament at least, although the three main subcontinental teams - India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - have, of course, benefited from the familiar conditions.

Still, the coming India v Sri Lanka Final is the first time that ODI cricket's showpiece event has featured two sides from the subcontinent.

And, with stars like Tendulkar and Muralitharan on show - perhaps for the final time on the world stage - it should hardly come as much of a surprise.

Euro 2012 qualifiers: All too easy for England in Cardiff

ENGLAND moved back to the top of Euro 2012 Group G with an comfortable 2-0 win over Wales at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium.

Frank Lampard converted a penalty and Darren Bent scored a tap-in to leave the match over as a contest after barely 15 minutes.

The Welsh dragon failed to roar and the players in red started nervously in front of the 68,959 crowd.

James Collins made the first critical mistake on seven minutes, slipping before clumsily bringing down Aston Villa team-mate Ashley Young in the box.

And once Lampard sent Wayne Hennessey the wrong way from 12 yards, the dye in this match had been cast.

The lead was doubled within quarter of an hour when Glen Johnson played a rasping pass to Young who whipped the ball to Bent who applied the finish.

Three touches and it was in the net - this was clinical stuff from England who had adopted a 4-3-3 formation with Wayne Rooney and Young flanking Bent.

It was disappointing, then, that England's performance somewhat denigrated as the match wore on and the possibility of handing out a thrashing was passed up.

Still, the victory returns Fabio Capello's men to the summit of the qualifying group, level on 10 points with Montenegro but with a superior goal difference.

Switzerland and Bulgaria remain third and fourth in the group on just four points after they cancelled each other out in a drab 0-0 draw in Sofia.

And Wales' fourth successive defeat of this qualifying leaves them bottom without a point and the size of the unenviable task for new manager Gary Speed is clear for all to see.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland's chances of making it to the finals took a hit after a 2-1 defeat away to Serbia on Friday night.

Nigel Worthington's men had looked to take advantage of the fact that there were no home fans in the ground following the violence which caused Serbia's last qualifier against Italy to be abandoned.

Indeed, it looked to be going to plan when Gareth McAuley looped a header in from Chris Brunt's free-kick.

But, amid an eerie atmosphere, the 240 Northern Irish fans who were allowed to attend saw a second-half comeback from the home side in Belgrade.

Marko Pantelic restored parity with a 65th-minute shot before Zoran Tosic won it for the hosts late on.

Northern Ireland have a chance to redeem themselves on Tuesday when their Group C campaign continues with a home match against Slovenia.

However, Italy have now taken control of the group after they beat the Slovenians 1-0 in Ljubljana through a Thiggo Motta goal.

The narrow win means Italy have 13 points from five games, six clear of Slovenia and Serbia. Estonia are fourth on six points from four games with Northern Ireland down in fifth with five points from four matches.

The Republic of Ireland's chances of making it to the finals are in rather better shape after they secured a 2-1 home win over FYR Macedonia in Dublin.

Just like England earlier in the day, the Irish controlled the first part of the game and they were 2-0 up in 21 minutes.

Indeed, it took Aiden McGeady just 84 seconds to open the scoring with a low strike that goalkeeper Edin Nuredoniski should have saved.

Nuredoniski was at fault again for the Irish second after he failed to hold Darron Gibson's free-kick, enabling Robbie Keane to pounce for his 46th international goal.

At this stage, it was all too easy for Ireland and Shane Long should have made it 3-0 but he sliced wide with only Nuredoniski to beat.

But Giovanni Trappatoni's men got a rude awakening just before half-time when Ivan Trickovski turned Richard Dunne too easily and slotted the ball past Keiran Westwood.

In the second period, the Irish had to be on their guard against a Macedonia team ever increasing in confidence.

Goran Pandev volleyed wide in the opening minutes of the half but it was a Westwood save from Trickovski towards the end which ensured the points would go to Ireland.

At the halfway stage in Group B, Republic of Ireland are on 10 points alongside Slovakia - who squeezed home 1-0 against rock-bottom Andorra - and Russia who were held in Armenia.

While it would be a brave man to predict the outcome of that group, the identity of some of the qualifiers is already looking quite clear.

Defending champions Spain lead Group I by six points after they beat their closest rivals Czech Republic 2-1.

Barcelona striker David Villa became Spain's all-time leading scorer with two goals to put himself on 44 international goals, two clear of Raul with whom he was previously level.

The Czechs had threatened an upset in Granada after Jaroslav Plasil gave them a half-time lead but two Villa goals in four second-half minutes ensured the World Cup holders would retain their 100% record.

Scotland, who are in this section but not playing competitively in March, are in third place on four points, eight behind the Spanish.

Meanwhile, Germany - beaten finalists in Euro 2008 - lead Group A by eight points after an easy 4-0 home win over Kazakhstan.

Braces from Miroslav Klose and Thomas Mueller meant the Germans' grip on their 100% record was never in danger of being lost in Kaiserslautern.

The Nationalmannschaft were also helped by Austria's 2-0 home defeat to Belgium. The Belgians now leapfrog the Austrians into second place but both sides on seven points are well behind Joachim Loew's leaders.

France appear to be in control of Group D after an unconvincing 2-0 win in Luxembourg gave them 12 points from five matches, a four-point lead over Belarus and Albania.

Albania beat Belarus 1-0 in Tirana today but it is fair to say that the unusual identity of France's challengers says everything about the disappointing campaigns of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania.

Bosnia inflicted further woe on the Romanians by beating them 2-1 in Sarajevo and leaving them with just two points from four matches.

Romania finished fifth in their qualifying group for World Cup 2010 and there are now genuine fears that the same fate may befall them in this competition.

Another east European nation now staring into the wilderness are Hungary after their 4-0 home defeat to the Netherlands left them six points adrift of the Dutch in Group E.

Rafael van der Vaart, Ibrahim Affelay, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie got the goals as Netherlands retained their 100% record in the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest.

Hungary remain second in the group for now but Sweden are much more a threat to the Oranje, currently third on six points but with two games in hand on the Dutch.

Group F and Group H are shaping up to be three-horse battles in the second part of the campaign.

Euro 2004 champions Greece lead Croatia by a point in Group F with Temuri Ketsbaia's Georgia just a further point behind.

The unbeaten Georgians pulled off another shock with a 1-0 win over Croatia allowing Greece to take the lead in the group after their late 1-0 win over Malta.

The Group H table is still led by Norway after Erik Huseklepp snatched a late leveller in a 1-1 home draw with Denmark.

The Danes had taken the lead in the first half through a brilliant volley by Dennis Rommedahl but they could not hold onto their advantage in Oslo.

Egil Olsen's Norwegians are on 10 points from five games, three clear of Denmark and Portugal who usually improve in the second half of the qualifying stages.

EURO2012 Qualifying
Group-by-Group update

GROUP A
Germany continue to dominate Group A after a 4-0 win against Kazakhstan. Austria, who were second in the group last week, dropped to fourth after successive 2-0 defeats to Belgium and Turkey. The Belgians made it two wins in a week with a fine 4-1 victory over Azerbaijan to move into second place. Turkey are third, a point behind but with a game in hand in the chase for a playoff place.
Austria 0-2 Belgium
Germany 4-0 Kazakhstan
Turkey 2-0 Austria
Belgium 4-1 Azerbaijan

GROUP B
Slovakia, Russia and Republic of Ireland are all on 10 points after the Russians dropped points while the Slovakians and the Irish sneaked wins. Armenia are still a threat in fourth place on eight points at the halfway stage.
Armenia 0-0 Russia
Andorra 0-1 Slovakia
Republic of Ireland 2-1 FYR Macedonia

GROUP C
Italy confirmed their control of Group C with a 1-0 win over Slovenia, a result which leaves the Azzurri five points clear at the top. Second place is up for grabs, though, after Tuesday's two draws. Slovenia and Serbia are both on eight points from six games with Estonia, in fourth on seven points from five games, and Northern Ireland, in fifth place on six points from five, still in touch.
Serbia 2-1 Northern Ireland
Slovenia 0-1 Italy
Estonia 1-1 Serbia
Northern Ireland 0-0 Slovenia

GROUP D
France hold a four-point lead at the top of Group D, ahead of surprise challengers Belarus and Albania. Bosnia-Herzegovina, currently in fourth, nonetheless remain favourites for second spot after their 2-1 win over Romania left them on seven points from four games - just a point behind the Belarussians and Albanians. Fifth-placed Romania beat Luxembourg 3-1 for their first win of another terrible campaign.
Luxembourg 0-2 France
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 Romania
Albania 1-0 Belarus
Romania 3-1 Luxembourg

GROUP E
Scoring nine goals in the process, the Dutch did the double over Hungary this week to lead Group E after 18 points out of 18 so far in this qualifying campaign. Sweden took advantage of the Magyars' miserable week by moving second with a 2-1 win over Moldova. Both the Swedes and the Hungarians have nine points each but Sweden are in a better place to challenge the Dutch as they have two games in hand.
Hungary 0-4 Netherlands
Sweden 2-1 Moldova
Netherlands 5-3 Hungary

GROUP F
Either Greece or Croatia seem likely to end up as Group F winners but Israel and Georgia cannot be discounted. Euro 2004 winners Greece went top of the group after a late 1-0 win over Malta while Croatia were going down to a shock 1-0 defeat in Georgia. But the Georgians then lost 1-0 in Israel who moved third with their second home win of the week. Greece have 11 points from five games, Croatia 10 points from five, Israel 10 points from six, and Georgia nine points from six.
Georgia 1-0 Croatia
Israel 2-1 Latvia
Malta 0-1 Greece
Israel 1-0 Georgia

GROUP G
England moved top of Group G on goal difference above Montenegro who were not in competitive action this week. An easy 2-0 win over Wales helped Fabio Capello's men to 10 points from four games. Bulgaria and Switzerland cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw and both remain well adrift on just four points. Wales have yet to score a point.
Wales 0-2 England
Bulgaria 0-0 Switzerland

GROUP H
Norway scored a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Denmark to retain their three-point advantage at the top of Group H. The Norwegians have 10 points from four games, three ahead of the Danes and Portugal who did not play this week.
Cyprus 0-0 Iceland
Norway 1-1 Denmark

GROUP I
Spain stretched their lead at the top of Group I to six points with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on Friday. David Villa scored twice to become Spain's highest international goalscorer in history. The Czechs recovered in midweek to beat Liechtenstein 2-0 but Spain won yet again, 3-1 in Lithuania, to retain their 100% record. Those wins for the top two are particularly bad news for Scotland who did not play this month. The Scots are now 11 points behind Spain and five behind the Czech Republic although they do have a game in hand.
Spain 2-1 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 2-0 Liechtenstein
Lithuania 1-3 Spain

Next Euro 2012 fixtures take place on 3-4 June. This report was written on Saturday 26 March with the Group updates written on Tuesday 29 March.

Osborne will not be judged on this Budget

CHANCELLOR George Osborne pulled off a major surprise in today's Budget speech by reducing fuel duty by 1p.

Mr Osborne vowed to "put fuel in the tank of the British economy" with his Budget which reversed Labour's planned 1p rise and has deferred future increases.

The planned rise has been shelved until April 2012 with the increase expected at that point delayed until the summer of 2012.

Mileage allowance relief was increased from 40p to 45p per mile but the Chancellor did 43 other reliefs would be abolished.

Mr Osborne also confirmed that the VAT rise to 20% on fuel would remain, while rather oddly suggesting it would be "illegal" to reverse that decision.

A decision deferred is any move to introduce an air passenger duty but, as usual, alcohol and tobacco levies will rise 2% above inflation on Sunday - about 10p on a pint and 50p on a packet.

In better news, Mr Osborne announced an increase in the annual personal tax allowance by £630 to £8105 from April 2012 on top of the £1000 rise planned for next month.

But he has kept Labour's 1% increase in employee National Insurance Contributions, and he has indexed any further tax allowance increase from 2012 to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

This is an effective tax increase as, unlike the Retail Price Index (RPI), CPI does not include mortgage payments and so future allowances will not increase by as much as previously.

Additionally, a proportion of taxpayers will not enjoy the fruits of this coming tax year's allowance increase as they move into the unadjusted higher rate bracket.

However, in better news for high earners, the Chancellor did announce a review of the 50% tax band which he, and previous Labour Chancellor Alastair Darling, considered a temporary measure.

And those who may need to pay inheritance tax will have noted with interest that a 10% discount will be given to those who give part of the profits from their estate to charity.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor's other surprise announcement related to a 2p cut in Corporation Tax from next month, double the amount previous forecast for this coming tax year.

He also confirmed that further 1p reductions in Corporation Tax would take place over the next three years, eventually reducing the rate to 23% by 2014.

Realising that a cut in Corporation Tax would leave him open to attack from Labour regarding tax on bankers' profits, Mr Osborne then announced the bank levy rate would be adjusted to offset this effect.

It was another shrewd political move by the Chancellor and it allowed him some wriggle room regarding investment in a Budget in which no real gifts were expected.

Using the money raised from the bank levy, Mr Osborne has pledged £250m to a shared equity scheme to help first time buyers purchase newly-built homes.

And he extended the small business rate relief holiday for a further year to October 2012 in a move worth £370m.

Meanwhile, £100m of Treasury money will be given to local authorities to deal with pot-hole problems and another £100m invested in various science projects.

In another pledge, Mr Osborne said that a further £2bn towards a "green investment" bank will allow it to start operating in early 2012, a year earlier than planned.

But it seemed other investments, such as the nationwide introduction of 21 so-called enterprise zones and the 24 University Technical Colleges, are at an embryonic stage with little detail known about them.

Undoubtedly, the Chancellor will hope that such schemes will encourage growth in the economy and reduce the unemployment rate.

It was a somewhat embarrassing moment for Mr Osborne when, in this much-vaunted "Budget for growth", he revised the figures for growth in 2011-12 and 2012-13 downwards.

And, furthermore, the Office for Budget Responsibility says it expects inflation to remain between four and five percent in the coming year.

Unsurprisingly, Labour leader Ed Miliband jumped on January's VAT rise and the increase in the cost of living as negating today's fuel duty cut and personal allowance rise straightaway.

In an unusually strong House of Commons performance, Mr Miliband continually used the line, "It's hurting but it isn't working", and referred to the "'Del Boy' economics" of the government.

At times, the attacks were personally directed. Mr Osborne was compared to "Norman Lamont with an i-pod" in reference to the 1990s Tory Chancellor who oversaw Black Wednesday.

And there was also a snipe at a recent soundbite by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg when he referred to him as being part of "alarm clock Britain with the snooze turned on".

Of course, the fuel duty and Corporation Tax cuts will ensure Mr Osborne gets the newspaper headlines in the morning.

But, with many more public sector job cuts to follow, both Mr Osborne and Mr Miliband will know that the arguments at the next election will be about the amount of growth in the private sector and the impact of that on the unemployment rate.

At this point, the Institute for Fiscal Studies considers the government's strategy to be a gamble, and it certainly still looks that way from here.


2011 BUDGET DETAILS
Growth forecasts/Fiscal policy
*Growth for 2011 revised down from 2.1% to 1.7%, and 2.6% to 2.5% in 2012
*OBR expects inflation to remain between 4-5% in 2011, to fall to 2% by 2013
*Borrowing below target for 2011 at £146bn, falling to £29bn by 2015/16
*National debt forecast to be 60% of GDP in 2011

Taxation
*Consultation on possibility of income tax and NICs to be merged
*Income tax allowances to be indexed by CPI from April 2012 - this is a tax increase
*Personal tax allowance to increase by £630 to £8105 from April 2012 - higher rate tax band increased by respective amount
*Chancellor announces review of 50% income tax rate - seen as a temporary measure
*NI rate will be increased as previously planned by Labour
*Corporation tax reduced by 2% (not 1% as previously announced) in 2011 before falling a further 1% in the next three years to 23% - bank levy rate adjusted to offset this effect
*Inheritance tax: if more than 10% of estate left to charity, 10% taken off tax rate
*Mileage allowance relief increased to 45p

Levies
*Alcohol: No further changes to those announced in October's Spending Review
*Cigarettes: Rise by 2% above inflation
*Fuel: Duty cut by 1p per litre. Rise deferred until 2012, April 2012 rise deferred until summer 2012. Fuel duty escalator cancelled, measures paid for by North Sea oil firms
*Air passengers: delayed until April 2012

Investment
*Shared equity scheme worth £250m to help first time buyers purchase newly-built homes
*Rate relief holiday for small business buildings extended by a year to Oct 2012, worth £325m
*Extra £100m to help councils repair potholes
*£100m to be invested in science projects
*21 enterprise zones in England to be announced
*At least 24 new University Technical Colleges to be funded, another 40,000 apprenticeship places for young unemployed people
*Public money to help reduce water bills in the south west of England
*Further £2bn to allow "green investment" bank to begin a year early in 2012

See also: BBC - Sky - Treasury
2010 Spending Review: Osborne wields his axe on the welfare state
2010 pre-election Budget: The quiet Budget
2009 Pre-Budget report: Darling sets the dividing line
2009 Budget: The black hole Budget

MPs back Libya action but confusion reigns over Resolution 1973

PROPOSED MOTION
That this House welcomes United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1973; deplores the ongoing use of violence by the Libyan regime; acknowledges the demonstrable need, regional support and clear legal basis for urgent action to protect the people of Libya; accordingly supports Her Majesty's Government, working with others, in the taking of all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under threat of attack in Libya and to enforce the No Fly Zone, including the use of UK armed forces and military assets in accordance with UNSC Resolution 1973; and offers its wholehearted support to the men and women of Her Majesty's armed forces.
Result: Ayes (for) 557 Noes (against) 13 Majority 544

557 Ayes: See Hansard
13 Noes:
Con John Baron (Basildon & Billericay)
Lab Graham Allen (Nottingham North), Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), Barry Gardiner (Brent North), Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Hall Green), John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington), Linda Riordan (Halifax), Dennis Skinner (Bolsover), Mike Wood (Batley and Spen), Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran), Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South-East),
Green Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion),
SDLP Mark Durkan (Foyle), Margaret Ritchie (Down South)


MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of military action in Libya but confusion reigned during yesterday's six-hour debate over the extent of UN Security Council Resolution 1973.

Resolution 1973, passed in an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Thursday, was backed by 557 members and opposed by just 13 for a thumping 544 majority.

But, as bombs fall over the Libyan capital Tripoli for a third night, the ultimate aim of Operation Odyssey Dawn depends upon to whom you are speaking.

Today's front page of the Independent newspaper had it just about right with a series of flags and statements above the headline "The disunited nations".

Unsurprisingly, the biggest international criticism has come from Russia and China who both abstained during Thursday's vote, passing up their right as permanent members to use a veto.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has compared the air strikes on Libya to the Crusades while Chinese state media condemned "armed actions against a sovereign country". Both have called for an immediate ceasefire.

However, a more worrying concern has come form the head of the Arab League, which requested Western involvement in the first place.

Amr Moussa has called for civilians to be "protected, not bombarded" while Turkey PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that the operation must not turn into an occupation.

In a move also supported by the French and Germans, Mr Erdogan has also called on the UN to lead the mission rather than the exercise turn into a NATO-led military one.

But, conversely, Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini has threatened to withdraw authorisation for the use of its military bases if the airstrikes do not come under NATO command.

And yesterday President Barack Obama confirmed the US would reduce its role "within days" in favour of a NATO-led campaign.

Undeniably, the shadow of Iraq and lack of international support for that campaign casts itself long over this new episode.

American nerves will not have been helped by this morning's pictures of a crashed US warplane although both airmen are confirmed as having been rescued.

Mr Obama had already appeared reluctant to take any action until calls by Britain and France were supplemented by the Arab League.

And, back in Britain, concerns were also raised in a six-hour House of Commons debate that this operation does not become another Iraq.

Prime Minister David Cameron denied that this would be the case, and said: "A successful outcome [of this campaign] is the enforcement of the will of the UN, which is a cease of attacks on civilians.

"In Iraq, we had been prepared to go into a country, to knock over its government and put something else in place. That is not the approach we are taking here."

He was supported by Labour leader Ed Miliband who said: "Where there is just cause, where there is reasonable action that can be taken, where there is international consent - are we really saying we should be a country that stands by and does nothing?"

But Scottish and Welsh nationalist party leaders also raised concerns over the open-ended statement in the Resolution which refers to "all necessary measures short of an occupation force".

SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson told the government to "address concerns about an open-ended commitment and the potential for mission creep."

And Elfyn Llwyd, leader of Plaid Cymru, said: "We are concerned the clear wording of resolution 1973 might become clouded and this whole matter could be a smokescreen or shorthand for regime change."

However, the biggest criticism of the day came from Green Party leader Caroline Lucas.

Ms Lucas suggested that while the action may have at least gone through the UN this time, the UK itself lacks the moral high ground to intervene.

She said: "We cannot ignore our own complicity in arriving at this point.

"We cannot continue to arm regimes that abuse their own citizens, and try to claim the moral high ground when addressing the conflicts that those same arms have helped to perpetuate."

Ms Lucas is correct in what she says about the UK's role in the grubby world of arms dealing in which Mr Cameron was recently implicated after details of a six-figure party donation.

But, surely the greater crime at this stage last week, would have been to allow the unhinged Colonal Gaddafi to massacre his own people in Benghazi.

For that reason, I agree that the Resolution had to be passed and a no-fly zone over Libya established.

However, like the Scottish and Welsh nationalists, I remain worried about the open-ended nature of the statement in the UN Security Resolution 1973.

The US has repeatedly said so far that Col Gaddafi himself is not a target and that it has no desire to enact regime change.

That does not appear consistent, though, with the bombing of an administrative building in central Tripoli.

It is no surprise that some nations who supported the action originally are already becoming slightly nervous.

Of course, the most vital of these parties is undoubtedly the Arab League. Lose the support of them and this operation will effectively become the Western Crusade which Col Gaddafi claims that it already is.

Surely the way forward from this point is to continue to extend the no fly-zone but tone down the aerial attacks. Certainly, there can be no good reason to bomb central Tripoli again.

After that has been established and enforced, it would be then up to Col Gaddafi and the rebels to sort out their differences - and hopefully through mediation and not a continuation of this bloody civil war.

Cricket World Cup: England progress against Windies as Aussie run ends

ENGLAND made it six thrilling games out of six to qualify for the Quarter Finals of the World Cup after a tense 16-run win over West Indies in Chennai.

Spin pair James Tredwell (4-48) and Graeme Swann (3-36) were the heroes as the Windies fell just short of their target of 243.

Earlier, Andrew Strauss had won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch which was clearly playing much better than in the previous low-scoring victory over South Africa.

All of the top four batsmen got themselves in - Strauss scored 31, Matt Prior 21, Jonathan Trott 47 and Ian Bell 27 - before giving their wicket away.

Then, just one over after Bell had been dismissed, bowled by Kemar Roach, Eoin Morgan was caught behind attempting a reverse sweep off debutant bowler Devendra Bishoo.

And when Andre Russell bowled Ravi Bopara for just four, England looked to be in tatters on 151-6.

But Luke Wright's 44 edged England nearer a competitive total although, once again, they fell short of batting for 50 overs.

That fact looked like it might cost England dear as the Windies closed in on a victory which would have sent them through with India and Bangladesh.

Remarkably, the Windies had found themselves in a very similar position to England at 150-6 after big-hitter Keiron Pollard was trapped lbw by Swann for 24.

However, a stand of 72 between Ramnaresh Sarwan (31) and Russell (49) seemed as if it would be sufficient.

At 222-6, Windies required just 19 more runs from nine overs (54 balls) - England desperately needed four wickets.

Somehow, over the course of the following four overs, England got them - and for the addition of just three runs.

First, Russell's innings was brought to an end one short of a half-century after he was trapped lbw by Tredwell.

Then, Swann had Sarwan caught a short leg by Bell and Roach caught in the deep by Tremlett in the same over.

Finally, the climax to another great game arrived in the 45th over when the Windies made a foolish attempt at a second run and Sulieman Benn failed to make his ground.

England's players unsurprisingly celebrated wildly at the fact that they were not coming home early after a Group B campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Tight wins over West Indies and eventual group winners South Africa, a fine tie against India and an unconvincing victory over Netherlands have proven to be enough to set up a Quarter Final against Sri Lanka next Saturday.

The less said about the matches against Ireland and Bangladesh, the better.

But, if nothing else, England have done wonders for a tournament which was panned in its build-up for lacking in intensity and featuring too many one-sided matches.

Group Stage Reflections
In fairness, there were still too many thumpings with Kenya setting the tone on the second day of the tournament by being bowled out for just 69 against New Zealand.

Bangladesh, though, were the biggest disappointment. Their victory over England had given them a great chance to progress and put to bed the criticism which they have faced since joining the Test arena to no great effect in 2000.

But, despite having all their matches on home soil, the Tigers were bowled out for just 58 by West Indies and 78 by South Africa, and so featured in two of the most one-sided games.

South Africa had even afforded Bangladesh the privilege of facing a second-string seam attack with Dale Steyn and Mornel Morkel rested.

However, in Imran Tahir, the Proteas have discovered a top-class spinner, previously a void in their team and they should have won all six group games.

Indeed, Graeme Smith's men would have done if they had held their nerve in chasing a small target against England.

But they improved their chances of shedding their chokers tag in their next match against India by scrambling to victory by three wickets with two balls to spare.

Pre-tournament favourites India have provided some fine individual displays with the bat but they have still been under-par overall.

Virender Sehwag opened the tournament in style by scoring 175 in a big win against Bangladesh.

However, India failed to win on the two occasions that Sachin Tendulkar scored a ton, tying against England and losing to South Africa.

There were also unconvicing five-wicket victories over Associate pair Ireland and Netherlands with Yuvraj Singh scoring half-centuries on both occasions.

But, then after the disappointment of the South Africa game, Yuvraj ensured India would finish the group stages on a high note, scoring a century in an 87-run win over West Indies.

MS Dhoni's men now host Australia in the most mouth-watering of the Quarter Finals after the Aussies qualified from Group A alongside Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Indeed, Group A was easier to call than Group B with a greater gulf between the heavyweights and the minnows in the section.

Even here, though, there were still some surprises and notable individual performances which have helped this World Cup to rise above expectations.

With captain Shahid Afridi to the fore and seamer Umar Gul in great form, Pakistan topped the pool to the surprise of many.

On the way, they beat Sri Lanka and ended Australia's long unbeaten World Cup run of 34 matches.

The Aussies had last tasted World Cup defeat in 1999 at Headingley - to Pakistan - before going on to win that tournament and subsequent events in 2003 and 2007.

And a washout in the match against Sri Lanka means antipodean rivals New Zealand are the only major which team who Ricky Ponting's men have beaten so far in this World Cup.

That victory over the Black Caps came just a day after the Christchurch earthquake disaster in which 182 people died, and prompted a pre-match huddle between both sets of players.

But the Kiwis bounced back with a brilliant display against Pakistan as Ross Taylor had a 27th birthday to remember.

Remarkably, Taylor's unbeaten 131 helped New Zealand score 113 runs from their final six overs in a merciless display of huge hits for six against some poor death bowling.

Meanwhile, Lasith Malinga turned in another virtuoso display to become the first man to take two World Cup hat-tricks, adding to the one he got in 2007 against South Africa.

Some correspondents argued that Malinga's efforts this time were somewhat wasted on a hapless Kenya team who were easily the worst at the tournament.

But, in fairness to the Kenyans on this occasion, Malinga's yorkers would have dismissed more talented batsmen than they could field.

Incredibly, Sri Lanka almost celebrated another hat-trick courtesy of Tillakaratne Dilshan in their penultimate match against the slowly-improving Zimbabwe.

The indefatigable Dilshan, who had scored 144 in the match with the bat, was only denied the feat after Mahela Jayawardene not dropped a sitter in the slips.

Admittedly, though, Jayawardene had just taken a fine catch there moments earlier.

However, there was a second hat-trick in the World Cup, making it seven overall in the tournament history, and it came as Windies bowler Roach cleaned up the Dutch tail in Group B.

The 22-year-old from Barbados finished that game with superb figures of 6-27 though, by then, the Dutch had already had their brightest moment of the World Cup.

That came in the form of Ryan ten Doeschate's magnificent century in a losing cause as England just sneaked home against the Dutch with eight balls to spare.

Essex batsmen ten Doeschate was unsurprisingly the main Dutch hope and he also scored another fruitless century in a defeat to Ireland.

But, if we're talking about big hitting against England, there is really only one person to mention and it is only fair that this column finishes on my World Cup highlight so far.

Kevin O'Brien's majestic 113 off 63 balls included the fastest World Cup century from just 50 balls as the Irish shocked England in Bangalore.

Thankfully, O'Brien's efforts did not end up denying England a place in the last-eight and, more importantly, they furthered Ireland's push for full-member status in the ICC.

For this particular tournament, though, Ireland's dream is over, albeit with a second chapter of memories to add to their success in the 2007 tournament.

Meanwhile, for England, there can be no more bad days at the office from now on.

WORLD CUP RESULTS/TABLES

GROUP A FIXTURES
AUSTRALIA + CANADA + KENYA + NEW ZEALAND + PAKISTAN + SRI LANKA + ZIMBABWE
Qualified for the Quarter Finals: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand

Date	Venue	Result
20 Feb	Chennai	NEW ZEALAND 72-0 beat KENYA 69 by 10 wickets
20 Feb	Hambantota	SRI LANKA 332-7 beat CANADA 122 by 210 runs
21 Feb	Ahmedabad	AUSTRALIA 262-6 beat ZIMBABWE 171 by 91 runs
23 Feb	Hambantota	PAKISTAN 317-7 beat KENYA 112 by 205 runs
25 Feb	Nagpur	AUSTRALIA 207-3 bt NEW ZEALAND 206 by seven wkts
26 Feb	Colombo	PAKISTAN 277-7 beat SRI LANKA 266-9 by 11 runs
28 Feb	Nagpur	ZIMBABWE 298-9 beat CANADA 123 by 175 runs
1 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 146-1 beat KENYA 142 by nine wickets
3 Mar	Colombo	PAKISTAN 184 beat CANADA 138 by 46 runs
4 Mar	Ahmedabad	NEW ZEALAND 166-0 bt ZIMBABWE 162 by 10 wkts
5 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 146-3 v AUSTRALIA (No result - rain)
7 Mar	New Delhi	CANADA 199-5 beat KENYA 198 by five wickets
8 Mar	Kandy	NEW ZEALAND 302-7 bt PAKISTAN 192 by 110 runs
10 Mar	Kandy	SRI LANKA 327-6 beat ZIMBABWE 188 by 139 runs
13 Mar	Mumbai	NEW ZEALAND 358-6 beat CANADA 261-9 by 97 runs
13 Mar	Bangalore	AUSTRALIA 324-6 beat KENYA 264-6 by 60 runs
14 Mar	Kandy	PAKISTAN 164-3 bt ZIMBABWE 151-7 by seven wkts (DL)
16 Mar	Bangalore	AUSTRALIA 212-3 beat CANADA 211 by seven wickets
18 Mar	Mumbai	SRI LANKA 265-9 bt NEW ZEALAND 153 by 112 runs
19 Mar	Colombo	PAKISTAN 178-6 beat AUSTRALIA 176 by four wickets
20 Mar	Kolkata	ZIMBABWE 308-6 beat KENYA 147 by 161 runs

	W	L	NR	RR	Pts
PAKISTAN	5	1	0	0.76	10
SRI LANKA	4	1	1	2.58	9
AUSTRALIA	4	1	1	1.12	9
NEW ZEALAND	4	2	0	1.13	8
Zimbabwe	2	4	0	0.03	4
Canada	1	5	0	-1.99	2
Kenya	0	6	0	-3.04	0

GROUP B FIXTURES
BANGLADESH + ENGLAND + INDIA + IRELAND + NETHERLANDS + SOUTH AFRICA + WEST INDIES
Qualified for the Quarter Finals: South Africa, India, England, West Indies

Date	Venue	Result
19 Feb	Dhaka	INDIA 370-4 beat BANGLADESH 283-9 by 87 runs
22 Feb	Nagpur	ENGLAND 296-4 bt NETHERLANDS 292-6 by six wkts
24 Feb	New Delhi	S AFRICA 223-3 bt WEST INDIES 222 by seven wkts
25 Feb	Dhaka	BANGLADESH 205 beat IRELAND 178 by 27 runs
27 Feb	Bangalore	INDIA 338 tied with ENGLAND 338-8
28 Feb	New Delhi	WEST INDIES 330-8 bt NETHERLANDS 115 by 215 runs
2 Mar	Bangalore	IRELAND 329-7 beat ENGLAND 327-8 by three wickets
3 Mar	Mohali	S AFRICA 351-5 bt NETHERLANDS 120 by 231 runs
4 Mar	Dhaka	WEST INDIES 59-1 beat BANGLADESH 58 by nine wkts
6 Mar	Chennai	ENGLAND 171 beat SOUTH AFRICA 165 by six runs
6 Mar	Bangalore	INDIA 210-5 beat IRELAND 207 by five wickets
9 Mar	New Delhi	INDIA 191-5 beat NETHERLANDS 189 by five wickets
11 Mar	Mohali	WEST INDIES 275 beat IRELAND 231 by 44 runs
11 Mar	Chittagong	BANGLADESH 227-8 beat ENGLAND 225 by two wickets
12 Mar	Nagpur	SOUTH AFRICA 300-7 beat INDIA 296 by three wickets
14 Mar	Chittagong	BANGLADESH 166-4 bt NETHERLANDS 160 by six wkts
15 Mar	Kolkata	SOUTH AFRICA 272-7 beat IRELAND 141 by 131 runs
17 Mar	Chennai	ENGLAND 243 beat WEST INDIES 225 by 18 runs
18 Mar	Kolkata	IRELAND 307-4 beat NETHERLANDS 306 by six wkts
19 Mar	Dhaka	SOUTH AFRICA 284-8 bt BANGLADESH 78 by 206 runs
20 Mar	Chennai	INDIA 268 beat WEST INDIES 188 by 80 runs

	W	L	T	RR	Pts
SOUTH AFRICA	5	1	0	2.03	10
INDIA	4	1	1	0.77	9
ENGLAND	3	2	1	0.07	7
WEST INDIES	3	3	0	1.65	6
Bangladesh	3	3	0	-1.36	6
Ireland	2	4	0	-0.70	4
Netherlands	0	6	0	-2.05	0

KNOCKOUT PHASE
QUARTER FINALS

Date	Venue	Result
23 Mar	Dhaka	PAKISTAN 113-0 beat WEST INDIES 112 by 10 wickets
24 Mar	Ahmedabad	INDIA 261-5 beat AUSTRALIA 260 by five wickets
25 Mar	Dhaka	NEW ZEALAND 221-8 beat SOUTH AFRICA 172 by 49 runs
26 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 231-0 beat ENGLAND 229-6 by 10 wickets

SEMI FINALS

Date/time	Venue	Result
29 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 220-5 beat NEW ZEALAND 217 by five wickets
30 Mar (10am)	Mohali	INDIA v PAKISTAN

Cricket World Cup: Bangladesh defeat leaves England hopes on a knife edge

ENGLAND'S World Cup rollercoaster continued after they lost to Bangladesh by two wickets to make it five thrilling Group games out of five.

Andrew Strauss' men appeared to have turned the corner on Sunday in Chennai when they beat South Africa by just six runs.

But it all went wrong again in Chittagong today as the Tigers successfully chased 225 for only their second-ever win over England.

The defeat to Bangladesh is England's second embarrassment of the tournament after their dreadful loss to Ireland.

And it leaves England on five points and on the brink of a humiliating early exit.

Basically, if the other pool results go as expected, England will need to beat the West Indies and hope that the Windies do not get a result against India.

However, even if they somehow scramble through, the chances of England regaining enough form to win the World Cup would now seem to be minimal.

Having said that, England have performed much better in the so-called 'bigger' matches of this tournament, only to then totally misfire against the minnows.

After the defeat to Ireland, reported here, England came into the match against South Africa under severe pressure to perform.

That pressure seemed to tell as the wickets of Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell all fell early leaving England on 15-3.

From there, Jonathan Trott and Ravi Bopara shared a fourth wicket partnership of 99, but once they were dismissed, England provided little more resistance and failed to bat out their overs.

Despite a slow pitch, their score of 171 looked at least 30 runs short and South Africa made light work of the chase early on.

Opening pair Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith put on 63 for the first wicket before a combination of Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann removed them and Jaques Kallis.

It appeared only to be a slight interruption to the Proteas' progress as the wonderfully-named pair AB de Villiers and Francois du Plessis set about restoring the innings.

However, when their wickets tumbled in quick succession, it began a collapse which would prove terminal.

South Africa lost their last seven wickets for 41 runs as Broad picked up figures of 4-15 off 6.4 overs.

The notorious chokers, South Africa, had choked again as England took relief from coming out the right side of a tight result.

But the mood in the England camp was soon dampened by news that Pietersen would have to fly home for a hernia operation.

And it got even worse later in the week when match-winner Broad was forced home with side strain. Eoin Morgan and Chris Tremlett were drafted in as the two replacements.

Morgan played well this afternoon, scoring 63 off 72 balls as England were once again forced to recover from a poor start.

Bangladesh won the toss and reduced the English to 53-3 before Trott, again, and Morgan shared a significant stand of 109 for the fourth wicket.

However, back came the co-hosts and England lost their last seven wickets for 63 and fell short by two balls of batting 50 overs again.

Roared on by the noisy crowd, the Tigers began their reply in superb fashion with dangerous opener Tamim Iqbal hitting 38 off just 26 balls.

England got a foothold in the game and took three quick wickets to reduce Bangladesh to 73-3 before Iqbal's opening partner Imrul Kayes then played himself in.

Kayes ended up winning the man of the match award for his knock of 60 but it looked as if he may have dealt a decisive blow against his team during the game.

When his wicket fell to a run out on a second run that was never there, it prompted a collapse of five wickets for 14 runs.

Ajmal Shahzad (3-43) and Swann (2-42) shared those five wickets as Bangladesh collapsed to 169-8 and disappointed supporters made their way to the exits.

The Tigers had already endured a humiliating afternoon a week ago when bowled out by the West Indies for just 58, the lowest score in World Cups by a Test-playing nation.

But, in keeping with the rest of this England campaign, there was to be a final twist in the tale as Bangladesh snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

An unbeaten partnership of 58 by Mohammad Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam got the home side over the line, taking advantage of some inaccurate, exhausted death-bowling from James Anderson and Tim Bresnan.

Predictably, the ECB's decision to extend England's tour to Australia into February has not worked out.

Pietersen and Broad are back in UK with injuries while the players who remain on the subcontinent look physically and mentally shot.

However, those factors should not take away anything from the Bangladeshi performance which was much improved on their last outing against the West Indies.

The victory relieves the pressure on the Bangladesh team and the skipper Shakib Al Hasan who faced sharp criticism in the wake of last week's humiliation.

Now, with matches still to come against the Netherlands and South Africa, the Tigers look in good shape to progress.

Sadly, the same could not be said of England - or, indeed, of Ireland's chances.

Since their fine win over England, the Irish have faded in Group B after successive losses to India and the West Indies.

But those defeats are no great disgrace for an Associate nation and the records will show Ireland competed relatively well in both contests.

Against India in Bangalore, the scene of their triumph over England, captain William Porterfield scored 75 but found support only from Niall O'Brien who made 46.

Niall's brother, Kevin - who was the hero against England with the World Cup's quickest ever century - was quiet on this occasion, caught and bowled by Yuvraj Singh for nine.

Ireland's total of 207 never looked likely to trouble India's strong batting order but the Irish attack never gave up.

George Dockrell, an 18-year-old spinner from Dublin, took the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and India captain MS Dhoni while Australia-born Trent Johnston removed Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

Add in a run out by Kevin O'Brien on Virat Kohli and it was clear that Ireland had made India toil towards a five-wicket victory which put them top of the group.

Ireland continued their respectable form today against the West Indies, only to fall 44 runs short in the run chase.

Devon Smith struck a career-best 107 and Kieron Pollard hit 94 off 55 balls as the Windies made an imposing total of 275.

But, again, the Irish refused to accept they were beaten and, after the early failures of Porterfield and Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce knocked them into contention.

Joyce scored 84 and Gary Wilson hit 61 off 62 balls before the latter was controversially given out lbw even though replays showed the ball pitched outside the line and he was playing a shot.

Despite referring the on-field decision, Wilson was adjudged not to be attempting a shot and, at 199-6, Ireland's last hope of pulling off a second shock was gone.

Dockrell scored 19 but none of the rest of the lower order could get out of single figures as Sulieman Benn took 4-53 and Windies captain Darren Sammy finished with 3-31.

The result leaves Ireland needing to beat Netherlands (probable) and South Africa (unlikely) to have any chance of making it through to the last eight.

But, as long as Porterfield's men beat the Dutch and maintain their level against the Proteas, they can look back on this World Cup with a clear conscience of having tried their best.

That does not look like being the case in the England camp.

For, while Ireland were no doubt expecting to have to rely on other results, it is a frankly inexcusable situation for even an exhausted England side.

WORLD CUP RESULTS SO FAR

GROUP A FIXTURES
AUSTRALIA + CANADA + KENYA + NEW ZEALAND + PAKISTAN + SRI LANKA + ZIMBABWE
Qualified for the Quarter Finals: Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan

Date	Venue	Result
20 Feb	Chennai	NEW ZEALAND 72-0 beat KENYA 69 by 10 wickets
20 Feb	Hambantota	SRI LANKA 332-7 beat CANADA 122 by 210 runs
21 Feb	Ahmedabad	AUSTRALIA 262-6 beat ZIMBABWE 171 by 91 runs
23 Feb	Hambantota	PAKISTAN 317-7 beat KENYA 112 by 205 runs
25 Feb	Nagpur	AUSTRALIA 207-3 bt NEW ZEALAND 206 by seven wkts
26 Feb	Colombo	PAKISTAN 277-7 beat SRI LANKA 266-9 by 11 runs
28 Feb	Nagpur	ZIMBABWE 298-9 beat CANADA 123 by 175 runs
1 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 146-1 beat KENYA 142 by nine wickets
3 Mar	Colombo	PAKISTAN 184 beat CANADA 138 by 46 runs
4 Mar	Ahmedabad	NEW ZEALAND 166-0 bt ZIMBABWE 162 by 10 wkts
5 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 146-3 v AUSTRALIA (No result - rain)
7 Mar	New Delhi	CANADA 199-5 beat KENYA 198 by five wickets
8 Mar	Kandy	NEW ZEALAND 302-7 bt PAKISTAN 192 by 110 runs
10 Mar	Kandy	SRI LANKA 327-6 beat ZIMBABWE 188 by 139 runs
13 Mar	Mumbai	NEW ZEALAND 358-6 beat CANADA 261-9 by 97 runs
13 Mar	Bangalore	AUSTRALIA 324-6 beat KENYA 264-6 by 60 runs
14 Mar	Kandy	PAKISTAN 164-3 bt ZIMBABWE 151-7 by seven wkts (DL)
16 Mar	Bangalore	AUSTRALIA 212-3 beat CANADA 211 by seven wickets
18 Mar	Mumbai	SRI LANKA 265-9 bt NEW ZEALAND 153 by 112 runs
19 Mar	Colombo	PAKISTAN 178-6 beat AUSTRALIA 176 by four wkts
20 Mar	Kolkata	ZIMBABWE 308-6 beat KENYA 147 by 161 runs

GROUP B FIXTURES
BANGLADESH + ENGLAND + INDIA + IRELAND + NETHERLANDS + SOUTH AFRICA + WEST INDIES
Qualified for the Quarter Finals: South Africa, India, England, West Indies

Date	Venue	Result
19 Feb	Dhaka	INDIA 370-4 beat BANGLADESH 283-9 by 87 runs
22 Feb	Nagpur	ENGLAND 296-4 bt NETHERLANDS 292-6 by six wkts
24 Feb	New Delhi	S AFRICA 223-3 bt WEST INDIES 222 by seven wkts
25 Feb	Dhaka	BANGLADESH 205 beat IRELAND 178 by 27 runs
27 Feb	Bangalore	INDIA 338 tied with ENGLAND 338-8
28 Feb	New Delhi	WEST INDIES 330-8 bt NETHERLANDS 115 by 215 runs
2 Mar	Bangalore	IRELAND 329-7 beat ENGLAND 327-8 by three wickets
3 Mar	Mohali	S AFRICA 351-5 bt NETHERLANDS 120 by 231 runs
4 Mar	Dhaka	WEST INDIES 59-1 beat BANGLADESH 58 by nine wkts
6 Mar	Chennai	ENGLAND 171 beat SOUTH AFRICA 165 by six runs
6 Mar	Bangalore	INDIA 210-5 beat IRELAND 207 by five wickets
9 Mar	New Delhi	INDIA 191-5 beat NETHERLANDS 189 by five wickets
11 Mar	Mohali	WEST INDIES 275 beat IRELAND 231 by 44 runs
11 Mar	Chittagong	BANGLADESH 227-8 beat ENGLAND 225 by two wickets
12 Mar	Nagpur	SOUTH AFRICA 300-7 beat INDIA 296 by three wickets
14 Mar	Chittagong	BANGLADESH 166-4 beat NETHERLANDS 160 by six wkts
15 Mar	Kolkata	SOUTH AFRICA 272-7 beat IRELAND 141 by 131 runs
17 Mar	Chennai	ENGLAND 243 beat WEST INDIES 225 by 18 runs
18 Mar	Kolkata	IRELAND 307-4 beat NETHERLANDS 306 by six wkts
19 Mar	Dhaka	SOUTH AFRICA 284-8 bt BANGLADESH 78 by 206 runs
20 Mar	Chennai	INDIA 268 beat WEST INDIES 188 by 80 runs

Barnsley Central destroys last remnants of Clegg's credibility

Barnsley Central by-election result Lab hold
Dan Jarvis Labour 14724 (61%, +14)
Jane Collins UKIP 2953 (12%, +8)
James Hockley Conservatives 1999 (8%, -9)
Enis Dalton BNP 1463 (6%, -3)
Tony Devoy Independent 1266 (5%, +5)
Dominic Carman Lib Dems 1012 (4%, -13) 
Other candidates 802 (3%)
Total votes: 24219 Turnout: 36.5% Majority 11771

 THE LIBERAL Democrats hit a humiliating low last night after their candidate Dominic Carman finished in sixth place and lost his deposit.

Mr Carman, son of the late QC George Carman, mustered just 1012 votes (4%) to be beaten by the BNP and a local independent as well as the top-three Labour, UKIP and the Conservatives.

In this Labour heartland, Dan Jarvis won as easily as expected with almost 61% of the vote for a majority of 11771 over second-placed UKIP candidate Jane Collins.

And, given the sheer inevitability of the result, the big story became the pecking order of the candidates behind former Parachute Regiment officer Mr Jarvis.

On a bad night for the coalition government as a whole, Conservative prospect James Hockley polled 1999 votes (8%) to be beaten into third by UKIP.

But, the biggest downfall was reserved for the Lib Dems who had been placed in second in the 2010 General Election in May on 17%.

This time, they failed even to match the 1463 votes of Enis Dalton from the far-right BNP (6%) or the 1266 votes for local independent Tony Devoy (5%).

In truth, the result seems a little harsh on Mr Carman who "had a horrendous campaign, canvassing daily to repeated abuse and with virtually no senior figures to help him", according to Guardian journalist Martin Wainwright on Twitter.

And that lack of support belies the low confidence of leader Nick Clegg for whom this rout represents an indelible blot on the copybook.

For, until now, reports of a collapse in the Lib Dem support since the General Election existed only in the form of some woeful opinion polls.

At their first major test in the Oldham East & Saddleworth by-election in January, the Lib Dem escaped unscathed thanks to tactical voting from their Tory partners.

But, this time, UKIP provided the alternative for many Conservative voters after running a strong campaign. 

Nigel Farage's Eurosceptic party appealed to a much wider demographic than usual, their single-issue politics of Europe expanded to include pension reform, weekly bin collections and student grants.

It should also be noted that UKIP did much better than the other parties to mobilise its vote on a dismal overall turnout of 36.5% on a drizzly day in south Yorkshire.

Of course, a Labour victory in Barnsley comes as no surprise whatsoever. Barnsley has elected a Labour MP in every election since 1935 and this is indeed territory in which the old joke about a donkey with a red rosette being elected actually applies.

But, while Barnsley Central is no bellwether of future political fortunes in UK elections, this could yet prove to be a watershed moment for the Lib Dems.

This morning, Nick Clegg appeared as defiant as ever, and said: ""I have no doubt people will try to use this single result to write off the Liberal Democrats.

"They have done it in the past and we have proved them wrong and we will prove them wrong again."

It is true that the Lib Dems suffered even worse results in their history before recovering steadily over the past two decades to become a party of government.

But those earlier embarrassments came in the party's infancy and grassroots supporters must be wondering what the value is of them being in government on days like this.

Mr Clegg would undoubtedly remind them of what they hope to achieve in government with 5th May and the referendum on the alternative vote now on the horizon.

However, even under AV, Labour would have won this seat in the first round of voting anyway, and that is the case for many deep-Red and true-Blue seats around the country.

By contrast, Lib Dem support seems a lot more susceptible to collapse and many party supporters fear a massacre at the local election polls on the same day as the referendum.

This week, Mr Clegg came under fire from the Telegraph for his dreadful handling of Prime Minister's Questions in David Cameron's absence. One Labour MP even felt compelled to ask: "What's the point of Nick Clegg?"

A political and electoral liability as he now is, perhaps it will not be long until Lib Dems are asking the same question themselves.

Cricket World Cup: Record-breaker O'Brien helps incredible Ireland beat bungling England

IRELAND caused yet another World Cup shock after Kevin O'Brien hit the fastest century in the tournament's history to humiliate England in Bangalore.

O'Brien's astonishing ton took just 50 balls as the Irish recovered from 111-5 to beat Andrew Strauss' men and add to their wins in the 2007 World Cup over Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The result leaves England with a win, a loss and a tie from three dramatic games while Ireland's record World Cup run-chase means they have one win and one loss from their two matches so far.

England began their campaign eight days ago against the Netherlands in inauspicious fashion, securing a six-wicket win with just eight balls remaining.

A shambolic performance in the field featured overthrows, no balls for having too few fielders in the circle, and four dropped catches including sitters from Graeme Swann and James Anderson.

It all aided the Dutch on their way to making 292-6 with Essex batsmen Ryan ten Doeschate scoring 119 off 100 balls.

An opening century stand from Strauss and Kevin Pietersen in reply had seemed to ease nerves but, once the top order departed, the game was back in the balance until some lusty blows from Ravi Bopara.

Having struggled against the Netherlands, England fans feared the worst in the next game against the mighty Indian batting line-up.

It looked as if the pessimists might be correct as home favourite Sachin Tendulkar scored 120 off 115 balls to set India up for a big score.

But, from a position of 292-3 off 45 overs, India lost their last seven wickets for 33 runs to finish on 338 all out, thanks to the efforts of Tim Bresnan who took 5-48.

Bresnan's bowling ended up being vital as England, stirred by a magnificent 158 from skipper Strauss, put themselves in a position to make a record run-chase win the game.

At one stage, England required 61 runs for victory from nine overs but they then lost five wickets for the addition of just 26 runs in five overs.

The run rate had crept above more than two runs per ball and the pendulum had swung firmly in the Indians' favour.

India did not reckon on Bresnan contributing with bat as well as he had done with the ball, though, and he and Swann swished the bat to score 15 off the penultimate over.

But Bresnan was then bowled by Piyush Chawla and so the inexperienced Ajmal Shahzad had to face the final over.

Incredibly, Shahzad hit his first ball for a six to leave England needing five runs from three balls for victory which soon reduced to two runs from the last delivery.

Fearing an incredible defeat, India captain MS Dhoni set his field in such a way as to concede a single for a tied match.

England, aware that they also had done well to emerge from this game without defeat, took the run on offer gleefully in front of a stunned full house in the stadium.

The result seemed to leave England in good shape and in good spirits after the close call against the Netherlands.

But, astonishingly, England have proceeded to bowl and field as poorly in the match against Ireland as they had done in their opener against the Dutch - this time, to costly effect.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, England again made a decent score in excess of 300 with contributions from Ian Bell (81), Pietersen (59) and Strauss (34 on his 34th birthday).

The top score in the innings came from Jonathan Trott who hit 92 and, in doing so, became joint quickest man to reach 1000 ODI runs along with Sir Viv Richards and Pietersen.

However, with Trott as the last of the four main contributors departing in the 45th over, England stuttered over the line and their score of 327 should have been bigger.

It still looked more than enough, though, against an Irish team which had been bowled out for 178 by Bangladesh in their previous match.

That defeat in Dhaka had really hurt the Irish who appeared to have done the hard work by restricting the Tigers to 205.

But Ireland's run chase in Bangladesh faltered throughout and, once the O'Brien brothers, Kevin and Niall, were dismissed, they never looked like keeping enough men at the crease.

England also seemed to be exposing Ireland's batting line-up after skipper William Porterfield fell to a first-ball duck.

Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien all managed to play themselves in but they made 32, 32 and 29 respectively and the required run-rate began to mount.

Once Gary Wilson was trapped lbw to Swann for just three runs off 14 balls, an England win seemed only a matter of time away.

What's more, the margin of victory would surely be even greater than the 48-run win in the 2007 World Cup.

However, those thoughts were soon evacuated once it was clear that Kevin O'Brien had decided to hit his way out of his side's seemingly desperate situation.

At first, there still seemed little to worry about. Surely, it was only a matter of time before he miscued a shot straight down the throat of a fielder.

But, aided by Alex Cusack, whose fine 47 from 58 balls has been understandably barely mentioned, O'Brien played the innings of his life.

Starting positively with a slog sweep off Swann for six in just his fourth over, O'Brien began as he meant to go on, scoring 13 fours and six sixes in an eventual score of 113.

Undoubtedly, he was also helped by another atrocious fielding performance from England who conceded yet more overthrows and dropped four catches in the innings as a whole.

Matt Prior and Strauss should be particularly embarrassed by notably botched efforts to dismiss Joyce and O'Brien.

And, despite the close shaves, O'Brien and Cusack scored at nearly 10 per over for almost 17 overs to push Ireland within sight of the finishing line.

It meant that, even when both had departed, the Irish - who, at one stage, had been 400-1 outsiders - were on the brink with only 12 runs required from 12 balls remaining.

Some fine hitting by Trent Johnson and O'Brien's other companion at the crease, John Mooney (34 not out off 30 balls), left Ireland needing three off the final over.

Mooney got them off Anderson's first ball to send Ireland back into dreamland in on-field scenes reminiscent of their win over Pakistan in 2007.

Meanwhile, England were left punch drunk by a bewildering evening although the warning signs were already there against the Netherlands.

Strauss and his underperformers will be eternally thankful that the ICC has rather ridiculously organised the tournament in such a way that teams can get away with two, or even three, defeats.

But such a long round-robin structure also opens the possibility of the agony being prolonged. Certainly, the athletic fielding and innings wins in the Ashes seem a lifetime ago, now.

Indeed, you really have to wonder who these bumbling amateurs are, and what on earth have they done with the real England?

WORLD CUP RESULTS/FIXTURES

GROUP A FIXTURES
AUSTRALIA + CANADA + KENYA + NEW ZEALAND + PAKISTAN + SRI LANKA + ZIMBABWE

Date	Venue	Result
20 Feb	Chennai	NEW ZEALAND 72-0 beat KENYA 69 by 10 wickets
20 Feb	Hambantota	SRI LANKA 332-7 beat CANADA 122 by 210 runs
21 Feb	Ahmedabad	AUSTRALIA 262-6 beat ZIMBABWE 171 by 91 runs
23 Feb	Hambantota	PAKISTAN 317-7 beat KENYA 112 by 205 runs
25 Feb	Nagpur	AUSTRALIA 207-3 bt NEW ZEALAND 206 by seven wkts
26 Feb	Colombo	PAKISTAN 277-7 beat SRI LANKA 266-9 by 11 runs
28 Feb	Nagpur	ZIMBABWE 298-9 beat CANADA 123 by 175 runs
1 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 146-1 beat KENYA 142 by nine wickets
3 Mar	Colombo	PAKISTAN 184 beat CANADA 138 by 46 runs
4 Mar	Ahmedabad	NEW ZEALAND 166-0 bt ZIMBABWE 162 by 10 wkts
5 Mar	Colombo	SRI LANKA 146-3 v AUSTRALIA (No result - rain)
7 Mar	New Delhi	CANADA 199-5 beat KENYA 198 by five wickets
8 Mar	Kandy	NEW ZEALAND 302-7 bt PAKISTAN 192 by 110 runs
10 Mar	Kandy	SRI LANKA 327-6 beat ZIMBABWE 188 by 139 runs
13 Mar	Mumbai	NEW ZEALAND 358-6 beat CANADA 261-9 by 97 runs
13 Mar	Bangalore	AUSTRALIA 324-6 beat KENYA 264-6 by 60 runs
14 Mar	Kandy	PAKISTAN 164-3 bt ZIMBABWE 151-7 by seven wkts (DL)
16 Mar	Bangalore	AUSTRALIA 212-3 beat CANADA 211 by seven wickets
18 Mar	Mumbai	SRI LANKA 265-9 bt NEW ZEALAND 153 by 112 runs
19 Mar	Colombo	PAKISTAN 178-6 beat AUSTRALIA 176 by four wickets
20 Mar	Kolkata	ZIMBABWE 308-6 beat KENYA 147 by 161 runs

GROUP B FIXTURES
BANGLADESH + ENGLAND + INDIA + IRELAND + NETHERLANDS + SOUTH AFRICA + WEST INDIES

Date	Venue	Result
19 Feb	Dhaka	INDIA 370-4 beat BANGLADESH 283-9 by 87 runs
22 Feb	Nagpur	ENGLAND 296-4 bt NETHERLANDS 292-6 by six wkts
24 Feb	New Delhi	S AFRICA 223-3 bt WEST INDIES 222 by seven wkts
25 Feb	Dhaka	BANGLADESH 205 beat IRELAND 178 by 27 runs
27 Feb	Bangalore	INDIA 338 tied with ENGLAND 338-8
28 Feb	New Delhi	WEST INDIES 330-8 bt NETHERLANDS 115 by 215 runs
2 Mar	Bangalore	IRELAND 329-7 beat ENGLAND 327-8 by three wickets
3 Mar	Mohali	S AFRICA 351-5 bt NETHERLANDS 120 by 231 runs
4 Mar	Dhaka	WEST INDIES 59-1 beat BANGLADESH 58 by nine wkts
6 Mar	Chennai	ENGLAND 171 beat SOUTH AFRICA 165 by six runs
6 Mar	Bangalore	INDIA 210-5 beat IRELAND 207 by five wickets
9 Mar	New Delhi	INDIA 191-5 beat NETHERLANDS 189 by five wickets
11 Mar	Mohali	WEST INDIES 275 beat IRELAND 231 by 44 runs
11 Mar	Chittagong	BANGLADESH 227-8 beat ENGLAND 225 by two wickets
12 Mar	Nagpur	SOUTH AFRICA 300-7 beat INDIA 296 by three wickets
14 Mar	Chittagong	BANGLADESH 166-4 beat NETHERLANDS 160 by six wkts
15 Mar	Kolkata	SOUTH AFRICA 272-7 beat IRELAND 141 by 131 runs
17 Mar	Chennai	ENGLAND 243 beat WEST INDIES 225 by 18 runs
18 Mar	Kolkata	IRELAND 307-4 beat NETHERLANDS 306 by six wkts
19 Mar	Dhaka	SOUTH AFRICA 284-8 bt BANGLADESH 78 by 206 runs
20 Mar	Chennai	INDIA 268 beat WEST INDIES 188 by 80 runs