DMK to continue 'issue-based' support to UPA govt.; ministers to quit

The Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday decided to pull out of the Congress-led government at the Centre after talks between the two parties on seat-sharing for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections failed.

DMK president M. Karunanidhi, who had last night accused the Congress of being unreasonable in its demand, today charged the ally of trying to push it out of the UPA.

The meeting of the party’s high-powered committee presided over by him adopted a resolution to pull out of the government and to give issue-based support.

Apparently referring to the Congress’ demand of 63 seats of its choice after agreeing to 60, he said the Congress stand does not help for an amicable poll accord.

“We are compelled to suspect that these are all efforts by Congress to push us out of the UPA. Under these circumstances we have to think whether to continue in the government. So we have decided to relieve ourselves from the government,” Mr. Karunanidhi said at the meeting.

He made it clear that while pulling out its six ministers from the Union Cabinet, the party would give issue-based support to the Manmohan Singh government during times of trouble.

With 18 MPs, the DMK is the second largest ally of the Congress in the UPA after Trinamool Congress which has 19 MPs.

The DMK’s decision today puts the seven-year-old successful alliance between the two parties under severe strain ahead of the April 13 polls when it faces a tough challenge from rival AIADMK which has already tied-up with actor Vijayakant’s DMDK and Left parties.

The DMK—Congress alliance swept all the 40 Lok Sabha seats including the lone Puducherry seat in the 2004 elections and won 28 seats in the 2009 general elections. The combine also won the 2006 Assembly elections, though DMK could not get a majority on its own.

O'Brien blazes Ireland to glory

Kevin O'Brien stunned England with the fastest hundred in World Cup history as Ireland secured their greatest victory with a monumental three-wicket triumph in Bangalore. O'Brien clubbed a magnificent 113 off 63 deliveries as Ireland earned the highest World Cup run-chase with four balls to spare. After he'd added a match-changing 162 with Alex Cusack, John Mooney joined him to play the innings of his life and help write another famous chapter in Irish sport.

When the partnership was broken with 55 still needed Ireland could have lost their way, especially when O'Brien couldn't get the strike back. However, after struggling to get the ball away Mooney suddenly started locating the boundary, firstly off the outside edge but then with two nerveless drives through the covers, each coming after England had strung together a few dot balls to build pressure. He was the dominant partner in the seven-wicket stand.

Still, though, there was a final twist when O'Brien was run out in the penultimate over. Trent Johnston, however, drove his first ball, a full toss from Stuart Broad, for four as the equation came down to below a run-a-ball for the first time in the entire chase. The final over started with just three needed and off the second ball Mooney clipped Anderson through midwicket to set off epic celebrations that will take over any available Bangalore bar tonight.

O'Brien's innings was breathtaking. He entered when Ed Joyce, seemingly Ireland's last chance of making the chase a contest, was stumped off Graeme Swann to leave their run-chase floundering at 106 for 4, which soon became 111 for 5 when Gary Wilson fell lbw. But O'Brien proceeded to tear the England attack apart. He showed power reminiscent of Kieron Pollard but with a calmer head and better technique, bringing up his hundred with a tuck for two into the leg side which led to a reveal of his the purple head-do as part of Ireland's charity fundraising campaign.

He showed his intent early when he thumped Swann through the covers second-ball and the tucked into the offspinner's ninth over with two sixes over midwicket which injected life into Ireland's innings. O'Brien was on 35 off 22 balls when Ireland took the batting Powerplay and it was during those five overs that the chance of the impossible became possible as 62 runs surged onto the total.

As happened against Ryan ten Doeschate's onslaught in their opening match against the Netherlands, England's bowlers started to lose the plot during another wayward, undisciplined display. Michael Yardy went for 16 as did James Anderson whom O'Brien pulled for a huge six to take him to a 30-ball fifty. Anderson's next over went for 17 including another leg-side pull and in between whiles, even the normally reliable Tim Bresnan was dispatched, including the finest shot of O'Brien's innings when he drove a six clean over cover.

Really, though, fielding restrictions meant nothing to O'Brien and he continued on his merry way with another huge blow over midwicket to take him into the 90s. Then the whole of Ireland held their breath as O'Brien's next attempt to clear the rope sent the ball high into the night sky where Andrew Strauss made a lot of ground but then couldn't hold on.

O'Brien needed support to play his incredible innings and Cusack's role can't be understated in the amazing scenes which unfolded. He was almost lost in O'Brien's slipstream but sensibly rotated the strike until, off his 49th ball, he joined the boundary hitting by launching Collingwood over midwicket then thumped Yardy straight down the ground. Even his dismissal, run-out from backward point, was for the team cause as he ensured O'Brien stayed at the crease. Although he wasn't quite there at the end he had written himself a permanent place in Irish folklore.

Full report to follow.

25 overs Ireland 113 for 5 (K O'Brien 4*, Cusack 2*) need 215 more runs to beat England 327 for 8

After a spirited start to their huge run chase Ireland began to fall away as Graeme Swann three wickets during a teasing spell to put England on track for a comfortable victory. James Anderson gained a confidence-boosting wicket with the first ball of the innings, but Paul Stirling play some meaty shots in an entertaining innings until Tim Bresnan struck then Swann made his mark as the asking rate climbed.

After two poor matches Anderson made the perfect start when William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, dragged the opening delivery into his stumps. However, the batsmen knew there was no point prodding around and Stirling hooked his fifth ball from Stuart Broad for six. Broad was taken for three more boundaries by Stirling, as his open three-over spell cost 24, and he also talked Andrew Strauss into wasting a review when an lbw shout against Ed Joyce clear pitched outside leg stump.

Strauss rung the changes in the first 10 overs, including an early over for Michael Yardy, but it was the reliable Bresnan who broke a threatening stand of 62 when Stirling tried to launch another shot over the leg side and picked out Kevin Pietersen. Bresnan should have had a second when Joyce, on 21, top edged a pull but Matt Prior spilled a simple chance one ball after another chance had brushed Anderson's finger tips as he dived forward at midwicket.

Bresnan's first four overs cost 15 but he strayed in his fifth as Niall O'Brien collected two boundaries to keep Ireland in touch with the run rate. However, at the other end they were finding it tougher to score off Swann and the pressure could have told with a wicket but Anderson allowed O'Brien's lofted drive to burst through his hands for six.

Paul Collingwood was introduced as England's other pace-off option and his cutters were tricky to force away with O'Brien resorting to a variety of sweeps and paddles to try and score. He was clearly conscious of the rising run rate and heaved across the line at Swann without making contact. Collingwood grassed a tough return chance offered by Gary Wilson, but it wasn't long before the next wicket as Swann spun a beauty past the advancing Joyce to end Ireland's slim chance and Wilson became Swann's third when he missed a sweep.

50 overs England 327 for 8 (Trott 92, Bell 81, Pietersen 59, Mooney 4-63) v Ireland

Led by Jonathan Trott's 92, England's top order continued its productive form as they posted a hefty 327 for 8 against Ireland in Bangalore. Trott, who equalled the record for reaching 1000 ODI runs in fewest innings by matching the 21 taken by Viv Richards and Kevin Pietersen, added 167 for the third wicket with Ian Bell as the Irish attack struggled to stem the scoring rate on a flat surface although late wickets restricted the onslaught.

Andrew Strauss and Pietersen laid a strong platform by adding 91 for the first wicket although both played poor shots when much bigger scores were on offer. Pietersen's reverse sweep off Paul Stirling was especially disappointing after a brisk 59 but Trott isn't a man to forgo such run-scoring opportunities so wastefully. The third-wicket stand finished as England's third best in World Cups, nestled behind the Strauss-Bell alliance from three days ago, and Trott was set for his fourth ODI hundred until missing a booming drive against John Mooney who ended with four wickets.

For the first time in the tournament England needed to set a target after Strauss decided to bat first and Pietersen made his intent clear with three early boundaries off Boyd Rankin. Strauss had a nervous moment as a top edge looped over George Dockrell at fine leg for six, but having hit such heights against India with his 158 it wasn't surprising that his early strokeplay lacked the clarity of that innings. However, with Pietersen in such commanding touch it was the captain's turn to let someone else lead the way.

Ireland were hampered by the absence of the steady Andre Botha who took 3 for 32 against Bangladesh and struggled to maintain control. In the build-up to the match William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, hinted he may open the bowling with Dockrell's left-arm spin but it wasn't until the 12th over that the 18-year-old appeared. Pietersen was quickly down the pitch and flicked him through midwicket to bring up fifty from 40 balls and it was all very easy for England.

Perhaps it was too easy, because both openers played needless shots when there was a chance of copious boot-filling. Strauss walked across his stumps to try and manufacture a shot through fine leg and Pietersen, having crunched another six over midwicket off Mooney, top-edged a reverse sweep in Stirling's first over who became an unexpected weapon with his offspin.

Pietersen has never been a batsman to shine when opposition or conditions haven't tested him but he'd thrown away the ideal chance for his first ODI century since 2008. England, though, continued to move along at a healthy rate as Trott started brightly. He slotted consecutive boundaries off Mooney then started to work the ball around neatly as he settled alongside Bell.

Ireland nearly separated them by a run out when Trott was late to react to Bell's call for a second to deep square and if the throw had gone straight to the bowler's end, rather than the keeper first, Trott would have been found short. But it was their only alarm as they milked an unthreatening attack where batsman error was the main form of dismissal.

Stirling did a good job in controlling the run rate but Bell cut loose when he skipped down the pitch and lofted Dockrell over long off. Trott, meanwhile, moved along in typically unobtrusive style and went to his fifty off 55 balls. When he reached 64 he notched 1000 ODI runs and joined the exclusive club alongside Richards and Pietersen.

Bell's was a lovely, easy, innings as he built with smart placement and deft touches to tick off his fifty from 61 balls. The batting Powerplay, which derailed England's chase against India, was taken at the start of the 38th over and this time it proved more profitable with 45 runs coming, but were also aided by some loose deliveries with both Alex Cusack and Dockrell spearing five wides down the leg side.

Dockrell didn't quite live up to the hype with his 10 overs costing 68 and coupled with another expensive display from Rankin it made for a tough day, while some fumbling ground fielding didn't help Ireland's cause. Bell fell to the final ball of the fielding restrictions when he was well caught at midwicket off Mooney, who continued to do a valuable job for his team by removing Trott.

The innings didn't quite finish in the convincing manner that England would have wanted as Matt Prior was bowled by Johnston's slower ball and Paul Collingwood picked out long-on three balls after clearing the same man. Johnston became the first Ireland bowler to take 50 ODI wickets when another slower delivery did for Michael Yardy and the final five overs only brought 33 runs. But while 338 wasn't enough for India three days ago England will expect to defend this with room to spare.

வைகோ, பழ.நெடுமாறன், தா.பாண்டியன் உட்பட ஏராளமானோர் கைது

வைகோ, பழ.நெடுமாறன், தா.பாண்டியன் உட்பட ஏராளமானோர் கைது. தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள இலங்கை தூதரகத்தை மூட வலியுறுத்தி சென்னையில் இலங்கை தமிழர் பாதுகாப்பு இயக்கத்தினர் ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்ட வைகோ, தா.பாண்டியன், பழ.நெடுமாறன் உள்பட ஏராளமானவர்கள் கைது செய்யப்பட்டனர். விடுதலைப் புலிகள் தலைவர் பிரபாகரனின் தாயார் பார்வதி அம்மாள் கடந்த சில தினங்களுக்கு முன்பு இலங்கையில் காலமானார். அவரது இறுதிச் சடங்கு முடிந்த நிலையில், சிதையை இலங்கை ராணுவத்தினர் அவமதித்ததாகக் கூறப்பட்டது. இதைக் கண்டிக்கும் வகையில் இலங்கை தமிழர் பாதுகாப்பு இயக்கம் சார்பில் சென்னை மைலாப்பூர் நாகேஸ்வர ராவ் பூங்கா அருகில் திங்கள்கிழமை ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் நடந்தது.

அப்போது அந்த இயக்கத்தின் தலைவர் பழ. நெடுமாறன் செய்தியாளர்களிடம் கூறியது : பார்வதி அம்மாளின் சிதையில் மனித நேயமற்றமுறையில் அராஜகத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளார் இலங்கை அதிபர் ராஜபட்ச. இந்திய அரசின் உதவியால்தான், இலங்கை ராணுவத்தினரால் விடுதலைப் புலிகளை தோற்கடிக்க முடிந்தது. இப்போது இலங்கைக்கு இந்தியா தொடர்ந்து உதவி வருவதால்தான் இது போன்ற இழிவான செயல்களில் அவர்கள் ஈடுபடுகின்றனர்.

இந்த செயல் உலக தமிழர்களை அவமதித்ததற்கு சமம். எனவே சென்னையில் உள்ள இலங்கை துணைத் தூதரகத்தை உடனடியாக அப்புறப்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்றார் பழ. நெடுமாறன்.

ம.தி.மு.க. பொதுச்செயலாளர் வைகோ : பார்வதி அம்மாளின் சடலத்தை அவமதிப்பு செய்த இலங்கை அரசை வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கிறோம். இந்த கொடூர செயலுக்கும், பார்வதி அம்மாள் இறப்புக்கும் மத்திய காங்கிரஸ் கூட்டணி அரசுதான் காரணம். பார்வதி அம்மாளுக்கு தமிழகத்தில் சிகிச்சை அளிக்க அனுமதி கிடைத்திருந்தால், இப்போது அவர் உயிருடன் இருந்திருப்பார்.

இலங்கையில் உள்ள தமிழர்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பு இல்லை. தமிழக மீனவர்களுக்கும் பாதுகாப்பு என்பது கேள்விக்குறியாகி விட்டது. எனவே சென்னையில் உள்ள இலங்கை துணைத் தூதரகத்தை உடனடியாக இழுத்து மூட வேண்டும். இல்லை என்றால் நாங்களே இழுத்து மூட வேண்டிய சூழ்நிலை ஏற்படும்.

இந்திய கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சியின் மாநிலச் செயலாளர் தா. பாண்டியன் : இலங்கை அதிபர் ராஜபட்ச பொதுவான நெறி எதையும் கடைப்பிடிப்பது இல்லை. இலங்கையுடனான உறவை இந்திய அரசு உடனடியாக துண்டிக்க வேண்டும்.

சென்னையில் உள்ள இலங்கை துணைத் தூதரகத்தை உடனடியாக அப்புறப்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்றார்.

இதைத் தொடர்ந்து இலங்கை, மத்திய அரசை கண்டிக்கும் கோஷங்கள் எழுப்பப்பட்டன. அப்போது ராஜபட்ச உருவ பொம்மை, இலங்கை தேசியக் கொடிகளை கூட்டத்தினர் தீ வைத்து எரித்தனர்.

இதைத் தொடர்ந்து இலங்கை துணைத் தூதரகத்தை முற்றுகையிடச் சென்ற பழ.நெடுமாறன், வைகோ, தா.பாண்டியன், புதிய பார்வை இதழ் ஆசிரியர் நடராஜன் உள்ளிட்ட 400-க்கும் மேற்பட்டோரை மயிலாப்பூர் போலீஸ் துணை கமிஷனர் பெரியய்யா தலைமையிலான போலீஸôர் கைது செய்தனர். மாலையில் அவர்கள் விடுதலை செய்யப்பட்டனர்.

Tendulkar and Gambhir flourish for India

Sachin Tendulkar produced a half-century of ominous poise and determination, with Gautam Gambhir bristling alongside him on 43 not out from 51 balls, as India's batsmen built on a typically forceful cameo from Virender Sehwag to push along to an imposing 140 for 1 at the halfway mark of their critical Group B encounter with England in Bangalore. Shorn of the services of Stuart Broad, who withdrew before the match with a stomach upset, England's bowlers maintained their composure in a fervent atmosphere, but found little reward on a pitch that offered pace, swing and a hint of turn for the spinners.

It is a curious fact that of Tendulkar's 46 ODI centuries, only one has come against England - at Chester-le-Street in 2002 - but with 57 from 73 balls to his name at the midpoint of India's innings, he will rarely be better placed to rectify that statistic. After a cautious start, his performance began to flourish as England rang the changes in their attack, and India are perfectly placed for the 300-plus total that Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have demanded after winning the toss.

India 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Gautam Gambhir, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Piyush Chawla, 11 Munaf Patel.

England 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Kevin Pietersen, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Tim Bresnan, 8 Mike Yardy, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Ajmal Shahzad.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Points table

ICC Cricket World Cup 2010/11 / Points table

Group A

Teams	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Pakistan	2	2	0	0	0	4	+2.160	594/100.0	378/100.0
Australia	2	2	0	0	0	4	+1.813	469/84.0	377/100.0
Sri Lanka	2	1	1	0	0	2	+1.990	598/100.0	399/100.0
New Zealand	2	1	1	0	0	2	+1.507	278/58.0	276/84.0
Zimbabwe	1	0	1	0	0	0	-1.820	171/50.0	262/50.0
Canada	1	0	1	0	0	0	-4.200	122/50.0	332/50.0
Kenya	2	0	2	0	0	0	-4.897	181/100.0	389/58.0

Group B

Teams	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
India	1	1	0	0	0	2	+1.740	370/50.0	283/50.0
South Africa	1	1	0	0	0	2	+0.766	223/42.5	222/50.0
England	1	1	0	0	0	2	+0.242	296/48.4	292/50.0
Bangladesh	2	1	1	0	0	2	-0.600	488/100.0	548/100.0
Netherlands	1	0	1	0	0	0	-0.242	292/50.0	296/48.4
Ireland	1	0	1	0	0	0	-0.540	178/50.0	205/50.0
West Indies	1	0	1	0	0	0	-0.766	222/50.0	223/42.5

Misbah and Afridi sink Sri Lanka

Pakistan 277 for 7 (Misbah 83*, Younis 72) beat Sri Lanka 266 for 9 (Silva 57, Afridi 4-34) by 11 runs 

Anyone out there who still thinks Pakistan are not dangerous contenders for the World Cup? With tremendous poise and skill in the middle overs, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan propelled Pakistan, who were on a tricky 105 for 2 in the 21st over, to a strong 277, before Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akthar produced bits of magic to derail the chase. Chamara Silva threatened to pull off a thrilling heist with a flurry of boundaries, and Nuwan Kulasekara made one heroic last-ditch effort to reduce the equation to 18 runs from the final over. Umar Gul, however, held his nerve to steer Pakistan home and end a mesmeric exhibition of high-quality cricket in Colombo

Pakistan's innings had everything: rapid start, brain fade, tranquil middle overs, fabulous end-over bowling from Muttiah Muralitharan, who gave only five runs from two batting Powerplay overs, and finally a Misbah blitz, with 32 runs flowing from the final three overs, which eventually made the difference.

The chase too nearly had it all: two inspired moments bursting with imagination and skill from Shoaib and Afridi, two failed stumpings, a dropped catch and a late surge from Silva, who woke up too late after a painstaking start.

In the 21st over, Shoaib produced a crafty offcutter, slightly slower and darting in from outside off, to breach the defences of Mahela Jayawardene and leave Sri Lanka stuttering at 95 for 3. In the next, Afridi, who had earlier removed Tillakaratne Dilshan with a skidding delivery, ripped a loopy leg break that dipped rapidly on Thilan Samaraweera, who was sucked out of his crease and left stranded as Kamran Akmal effected a smart stumping. Akmal later missed two leg-side stumping chances to let off Kumar Sangakkara, on 22 and 33, off Abdur Rehman. The first one kicked more than Akmal anticipated and he had no excuse for the second. Rehman, himself, dropped a sitter to reprieve Silva. However, the twin blows had left Sangakkara with too much to do, especially with Silva struggling to get started, and he fell by holing out to long-on. Silva then stirred from his slumber to reduce the equation from 88 from 47 balls to 46 from 24. He slog swept Rehman for two fours and pulled Gul and Shoaib for more boundaries before he was stumped. Kulasekara took over the baton, whipping a 14-ball 24 but the task proved beyond him.

It was the batting that set up the game for Pakistan, as the Premadasa has always been cruel to the team batting second. Pakistan's innings stood out for its handling of the middle overs. Serenity blew across the ground after the fall of Kamran. Mohammad Hafeez had run himself out after a moment of madness and Kamran, who inexplicably withdrew into his shell after that mix-up, soon combusted, going for an ugly slog against Pakistan's bogeyman Rangana Herath. It wasn't quite a crisis but it definitely needed calm heads. Luckily for Pakistan, you can't find better men than Misbah and Younis to handle these moments. What followed was a perfect advertisement for the much-abused middle overs in an ODI.

Two of the oldest members of the side ran beautifully, worked the angles intelligently, pinged the gaps frequently with the nudge-drive-and-sweep routine, and breathed life into an innings that could have, perhaps otherwise, succumbed to adrenalin rushes. If Misbah pressed back to play Murali, Younis leaned forward to tackle him; if Misbah backed to leg to create room, Younis shuffled to off to work to the leg; if Misbah tapped wide of midwicket for the quick single, Younis nudged just wide of backward point; if Misbah deployed the reverse-sweep, Younis stayed conventional. They always ran well. The runs kept ticking over, the opposition grew increasingly restless, and Pakistan secured ownership of the innings.

What further spiced up this partnership was the knowledge that the powerful lower order was waiting in the dressing room. When Younis fell in the 41st over, with Pakistan on 213 for 4, it even seemed like good news for Pakistan - Afridi and co to follow, unleash violence and 300 would be a formality. Or so it seemed. Here is where Sri Lanka sparkled. Here is when that man Murali and Kulasekara stepped in to do damage control.

While Pakistan's handling of middle overs was a treat to watch, Sri Lanka's skill in the end overs was awe-inspiring. Murali ripped his offbreaks, altering the trajectory, pace, and the extent of turn. Kulasekara punctuated his yorkers with slower cutters to keep Pakistan in check. Murali gave only two runs in the 44th over, the first of the batting Powerplay, and only three in the 46th, which included the wicket of Umar Akmal. Kulasekera gave away just five in the 47th, keeping Afridi quiet with a series of yorkers.

Misbah responded to Murali's magic by growing more innovative. He shuffled to the off and whipped Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews for boundaries as Pakistan collected 32 runs in the last three overs to post a match-winning total. Misbah and Younis' presence in the middle overs had raised a few murmurs before this World Cup but there would be only voices of appreciation after tonight.