The Latest: More rain delays as Pakistan chases India's 336

By Associated Press 17 June 2019, 12:00AM

LONDON (AP) — The Latest on Day 18 of the Cricket World Cup (all times local):

6:20 p.m.

Rain has interrupted play again with Pakistan 166-6 in the 35th over chasing India's 336-5 in the Cricket World Cup game at Manchester.

Pakistan was well behind the run-rate required for games interrupted by rain, and India was on the verge of extending its record to 7-0 in Cricket World Cup head-to-heads with its archrival.

Imad Wasim was not out on 22 and Shadab Khan was on one when the rain started, players left the field and the pitch was covered. India's innings contained a 55-minute interruption for rain. The start of Pakistan's reply was also delayed by rain.

Because both teams have batted for more than 20 overs, there will be a result at Old Trafford.

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5:10 p.m.

There will be a result in the India-Pakistan group game at the Cricket World Cup regardless of how much it rains from now.

Pakistan was well behind the Duckworth-Lewis equation for rain-interrupted matches when it reached 87-1 after 20 overs in reply to India's 336-5 at Manchester. The D/L par score was 114-1 at that stage of the game.

A minimum of 20 overs for each innings constitutes a contest in a one-day international game. India's innings was interrupted for 55 minutes after rain started in the 47th over, but no overs were lost.

The start of Pakistan's innings was delayed by a further rain interruption, but no overs have been deducted so far.

There have been four games washed out by rain so far in the tournament, including three that were abandoned without a ball bowled. Pakistan had to share the points with Sri Lanka after an earlier washout in Bristol.

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4 p.m.

Vijay Shankar picked up a wicket with his very first ball of the Cricket World Cup, and in very rare circumstances.

Shankar was asked to complete Bhuvneshwar Kumar's over after the Indian paceman left the field with what appeared to be a leg injury after bowling four deliveries in the fifth over.

Next ball, Shankar trapped Pakistan opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq leg-before wicket for 7. It was a big setback for Pakistan, which slumped to 13-1 as it chased 337 to win the game at Old Trafford.

Shankar was a late addition to the starting XI, drafted in when opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out with a fractured thumb after scoring a century in India's previous win over Australia.

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3:45 p.m.

India captain took a swipe at a ball as it bounced over his head and turned to walk off after he saw his Pakistan counterpart Sarfaraz Ahmed catch it in their Cricket World Cup match at Old Trafford.

It's accepted in cricket that the batter stays at the crease until the umpire holds up an index finger to signal out.

Not waiting for the decision is called walking. And it's rare. Kohli breaking with convention in such a big game against archrival Pakistan was sure to spark questions. In this case, umpire Marais Erasmus only appeared to nod his head.

Some questioned whether or not Kohli got any bat on the delivery from pace bowler Mohammad Amir, or whether he just heard a noise that could have been anything from a creaky handle to a flick of a shirt or pad.

Whatever the case, he'd scored 77 and set India on course for a record total of 336-5 for a one-day international at the venue.

Earlier, former India captain MS Dhoni walked off before waiting for the umpire's signal when he was caught behind by the wicketkeeper off the same bowler.

Kohli is not noted for walking. The highest-profile recent so-called walker was retired Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who drew praise for sportsmanship from some quarters and criticism from those opposed to the concept of walking.

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3 p.m.

India returned from a rain interruption to post the highest total ever in a one-day international at Old Trafford and set Pakistan a victory target of 337 in their group game at the Cricket World Cup.

India was 305-4 when rain stopped play in the 47th over and, after a 55-minute break, added 31 runs and lost one wicket — Virat Kohli caught behind off Mohammad Amir for 77 — to finish at 336-5.

Vijay Shankar finished unbeaten on 15 and Kedar Jadhav was not out nine. Amir returned 3-47.

The total passed Sri Lanka's 318-7 against England in 2006 as the highest ODI total in Manchester. No team has scored more than 329 batting second to win a World Cup game.

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1:45 p.m.

Rohit Sharma scored his second century of the tournament and Virat Kohli posted an unbeaten 71 as India reached 305-4 before rain halted play in the 46th over of the Cricket World Cup group game against Pakistan in Manchester.

Sharma stroked 140 from 113 balls and shared partnerships of 136 with KL Rahul (57) and 98 with Kohli before he needlessly paddled a Hasan Ali to Wahab Riaz at short fine leg in the 38th over, with India at 234-2.

Kohli became the third Indian batsman to pass 11,000 in one-day international cricket, doing so in his 222nd innings and becoming the fastest to reach the milestone.

Mohammad Amir took two wickets as Pakistan rallied late, having Hardik Pandya (26) caught on the boundary and MS Dhoni (1) caught behind.

Vijay Shankar had just been given out as light rain began and he reviewed the decision, which was overturned by the TV umpire as the players were leaving the field.

He remained not out on three. The highest ODI total at Old Trafford is Sri Lanka's 318-7 against England in 2006.

The rain interruption in the 47th over was the first of the day in Manchester.

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1:15 p.m.

India is pushing toward a daunting total after reaching 248-2 after 40 overs in its Cricket World Cup game against archrival Pakistan.

Opener Rohit Sharma reached his second century of the tournament from 85 balls and continued to score rapidly until he needlessly paddled a ball from Hasan Ali to Wahab Riaz at short fine leg and was out for 140.

He shared a 136-run opening stand with KL Rahul (57) and a 98-run second-wicket stand with India skipper Virat Kohli, who was unbeaten on 39 with 10 overs remaining.

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11: 50 a.m.

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have combined for an unbeaten 105-run partnership in the first 20 overs of India's Cricket World Cup game against archrival Pakistan.

Sharma and Rahul were opening a one-day international innings together for the first time, with Rahul promoted to the top of the batting order as cover for the injured Shikhar Dhawan.

Sharma went on the attack early and raced to 64 from 57 deliveries as India evenly paced the innings with 52 in the first 10 overs and 53 in the second 10-over span. Rahul was playing an anchor role and was batting on 39.

The forecast rain has held off since Pakistan won the toss and decided to field, hoping to take advantage of the overcast conditions early with the new ball.

Left-arm paceman Mohammad Amir troubled the batsmen early in a four-over spell that conceded eight runs, but he was warned twice by the umpire for running on the protected area of the pitch on his follow-through. One more warning will result in him being suspended from bowling for the remainder of the innings.

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10:15 a.m.

Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed has won the toss and sent India in to bat in a Cricket World Cup match between the archrivals.

India has a 6-0 record in World Cup head-to-heads against Pakistan, including the 2011 semifinal at Mohali enroute to the title.

But Pakistan has already beaten top-ranked England in this tournament and had an upset win over India in the Champions Trophy final here two years go.

India made one injury-enforced change to the lineup that beat Australia in its last completed match, with injured opener Shikhar Dhawan replaced by Vijay Shankar.

India skipper Virat Kohli said Shankar was "a solid batsman, brilliant in the field, and gives us a few overs of bowling as well."

Pakistan made two changes to the lineup that lost to Australia on Wednesday, with fast bowler Shaheen Afridi and Asif Ali replaced by spinners Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim.

Lineups:

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir

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9:40 a.m.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has weighed in on selection of the national XI for the Cricket World Cup group game against India.

It's not garden-variety political interference, though. Imran led Pakistan to the Cricket World Cup title in 1992.

Imran has advised skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to go in with specialists in the batting and bowling departments.

"In order to have a winning offensive strategy Sarfaraz must go in with specialist batsmen and bowlers," Imran posted on Twitter in the hours leading up to Sunday's match in Manchester, England.

Khan also said that both teams will be under "great mental pressure, and the power of the mind will decide the outcome of the match. In Sarfaraz we are fortunate to have a bold captain & today he will have to be at his daring best."

India has won all six previous World Cup head-to-heads with archrival Pakistan. Imran said No. 2-ranaked India would start as favorite to win but advised the Pakistan players to "banish all fear of losing. Just give your best and fight till the last ball. Then accept whatever the result like true sportsmen. The nation's prayers are with all of you. Good Luck."

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9 a.m.

Much hinges on Manchester's weather and whether or not the group-stage encounter of the Cricket World Cup achieves a result between India and Pakistan.

It was overcast and cool on Sunday morning, an hour before the scheduled toss at Old Trafford. The stadium was expected to be at a capacity of 23,500 people — tickets which could have been sold 20-times over.

India has beaten Pakistan in all six previous World Cup encounters, including the 2011 semifinal at Mohali before it went on to win the title on home soil.

But Pakistan had an upset win over India in the Champions Trophy final in England two years ago and has won more games overall in the meetings in one-day internationals.

The forecast includes showers and generally overcast conditions on Sunday, but organizers were hoping to at least get the game started on schedule at 10:30 a.m. local time.

India won its opening games against South Africa and defending champion Australia before having to share the points with 2015 finalist New Zealand following a washout in Nottingham.

Pakistan lost its opening game to West Indies, and then rebounded to upset top-ranked England. It followed that with a washout against Sri Lanka and a loss to Australia on Wednesday.

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More AP cricket: www.apnews.com/cricket and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By Associated Press 17 June 2019, 12:00AM

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