Sharma focused on big prize
ROHIT SHARMA crafted a magnificent 140 from just 113 balls to spearhead India’s emphatic victory over Pakistan, but then declared that lifting the World Cup was more important than downing the old rivals. ‘For us, it’s simple,’ said the brilliant 32-year-old batsman. ‘We’re here to win — whether it’s Australia, South Africa, England or Pakistan — for us it doesn’t matter. ‘We’re here on a mission and our focus is to make sure we accomplish that mission. ‘We have to focus on the job at hand and make sure the job gets done.’ Opener Sharma played the key innings in India’s 336 for five, a total which proved well beyond their opponents, but declined to put it at the top of his list of centuries. ‘Every hundred is satisfying,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to put any knock on
top because they are all for your country and are really important.’ The only downside for India was the loss to injury of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who left the game with a hamstring strain, although the injury is not thought to be serious. For Pakistan, who eventually fell short by 89 runs, there are bigger issues, and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed gave an honest assessment. ‘We won a good toss but we didn’t capitalise on it, we didn’t bowl in the right areas,’ he said. Sarfaraz and his side now need a miracle to reach the semi-finals. ‘It’s disappointing,’ he admitted. ‘It hurts.’ Asked what they needed to do to improve, he joked: ‘If I become Pakistan coach I will tell you.’
lANCASHIRE stand to make an incredible £2million from the India versus Pakistan World Cup clash at their old Trafford ground. The county pocketed the majority of the vast sum from corporate offerings for the meeting of the two fierce rivals, with some of the 63 boxes in the Hilton Hotel, which overlooks the field of play, going for £5,000. The game was a 23,500 sell-out with 8,560 in the gargantuan Party Stand, which has 71 rows of seating and 47,000 metres of scaffolding. It took 25 days and 15 people to build. old Trafford will also host a semi-final and an Ashes Test in what promises to be the most profitable year in lancashire history.