Brisbane faces World Cup washout, West Indies sink Pakistan

Australia's World Cup clash against Bangladesh faced a washout Saturday as heavy rain, the legacy of Tropical Cyclone Marcia, drenched Brisbane just as Pakistan sunk to a heavy defeat by the West Indies in Christchurch.
Marcia, a category five storm which slammed into the Queensland coast late Thursday causing widespread devastation, had been downgraded to a tropical low on Saturday morning.
However, forecasters were still expecting another 45mm-120mm of rain to swamp the Gabba ground, adding to the 77mm which had already fallen on Brisbane since Friday.
The scheduled 0330GMT start was delayed and, with more rain falling in the afternoon, even a curtailed match was looking unlikely.
If the Pool A fixture is called off before each side has faced 20 overs, a no-result will be declared and the teams awarded a point apiece.
That would suit Bangladesh who have lost 18 of their previous 19 one-day intern matches against Australia.
Only one World Cup contest has ever been washed out without a ball bowled and that was back in 1979 in the game between Sri Lanka and West Indies at The Oval.
Australia captain Michael Clarke had been set to play on Saturday after missing the co-hosts' opening 111-run win over England in Melbourne last weekend as he continued to recover from his long-standing hamstring injury.
But his return looks likely to be delayed until next weekend when Australia go to Auckland to face New Zealand, where more wet weather is expected.
In Christchurch, the West Indies cashed in on a sensational Pakistan batting collapse to notch their first win of the tournament by 150 runs at Hagley Oval.
The 1975 and 1979 champions scored 310 for six, with 115 runs coming in a swashbuckling final 10 overs as Lendl Simmons, Andre Russell and Darren Sammy hit out.
In reply, Pakistan crumbled to their second straight defeat when they were all out for 160 after the top four wickets fell in the first four overs for just one run, the worst start in ODI history.
The West Indies, meanwhile, blocked out memories of their shock first-up loss to Ireland as six batsmen posted scores of 30 or more.
- 'Tough day' -
Denesh Ramdin top-scored with 51, Simmons added 50 to go with his century against Ireland, Darren Bravo scored 49, Russell smashed 42 not out off 17 balls, while Marlon Samuels and Sammy chipped in with 38 and 30 respectively.
Bravo was unfortunate not to reach what would have been his 17th ODI half-century when he was forced to retire hurt with a pulled hamstring.
It was the second time he required medical treatment after being dazed earlier in the innings when a powerful throw from Younis Khan hit him on the side of the helmet as he scrambled through for a single.
"It was a wonderful performance," said West Indies skipper Jason Holder. "We batted really well.
"Russell, Simmons and Sammy added impetus at the end of the innings.
"Jerome Taylor (3-15) was excellent with the new ball."
Pakistan were staring down the barrel at one for four.
Nasir Jamshed went without scoring when he lobbed the second ball from Taylor to Russell at short midwicket.
Taylor finished off the opening over with Younis caught behind for a duck and in his next over dismissed Haris Sohail to have the impressive figures of two overs, three wickets and one run.
Holder bagged his first wicket of the tournament when he had Ahmed Shahzad caught in the gully for one in his first over.
"It was a tough day, especially after we won the toss," said Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq whose side at least saved face to a certain degree thanks to Umar Akmal's 59 and Sohaib Maqsood's 50.
"The guys batting up front have been struggling a bit, and that made it very difficult for us, especially on a pitch like that, with the ball seaming a bit. We just have to pick ourselves up."
Saturday's result, combined with their opening loss to defending champions India, has left Pakistan at the bottom of Pool B.
But the West Indies' chances of making the top four to qualify for the quarter-finals have improved considerably.
Source: AFP