World Cup Cocktail

Afghanistan will head into the cricket World Cup with momentum after downing a spirited United Arab Emirates by 14 runs in the teams' last warm-up match in Melbourne on Friday.
A match that had meandered for much of a steamy day at Melbourne's Junction Oval sprang to life late in the afternoon as the dogged Emiratis scrambled hard to reel in their opponents' 308-9, but paceman Dawlat Zadran intervened to bowl Javed and the Middle Eastern minnows succumbed quickly thereafter.

SCORES IN BRIEF
AFGHANISTAN: 308 for 9 in 50 overs (Shenwari 58; Javed 4-39)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 294 all out in 48.2 overs (Khurram 86)
Result: Afghanistan won by 14 runs.

Disgraced Vincent issues warning
"My name is Lou Vincent and I'm a cheat."
With those words the disgraced former international batsman warned the more than 200 players in the World Cup about the perils of corruption.
Banned for life last year after admitting to a range of match fixing offences, Vincent, 36, has been used by the ICC to issue an emotional video message to players ahead of the tournament.
The New Zealander appeared for about 30 seconds in footage that was shown to players from the 14 competing nations, as well as the staff, before they were also addressed by the ICC anti-corruption unit chairman, Ronnie Flanagan.

‘India should fear Irfan'
Rahul Dravid may have termed India as favourites against Pakistan in their opening Cricket World Cup clash, but he warned the Men in Blue to beware of Mohammad Irfan, the 7-foot pacer who can turn the game on his day.
"The key player from Pakistan is Mohammad Irfan. Having watched him bowl just recently, I believe he is going to pose a challenge to the Indian batsmen," Dravid said.
"We spoke about the strength of Pakistan’s bowling. He is going to hold the key. If he picks up early wickets and pushes India back, it will allow the spinners to come in," he added.

Kiwis punters choice
A punter has bet $10,000 that New Zealand will come away with the World Cup, the biggest bet ever made on the team.
Bookies expected to take $1 million of bets for the two games today, the first of the World Cup.
Over the course of the tournament about 300,000 bets were expected.
However, two significant bets, one of $5,000 and another of $6,000, were made yesterday for New Zealand to win the tournamen.
In December 2013 when books opened they were at $12 to win, and over 60 per cent of the money bet so far has been for New Zealand.

Oz out to 'kill' Eng
Australia have unveiled their plans to unleash an all-out fast bowling frenzy and "kill off" the besieged tourists.
"With our attack we can do a lot of damage up front and kill games off," said captain George Bailey.
"We can win games early which is just so exciting."
England's gloomy body language at the MCG nets would suggest they're almost resigned to being like lambs to the slaughter, as they have been all of this summer and the last.

                                          -- Compiled