BRISTOL: The World Cup was still buzzing here on Monday over the sizzling debut of Pakistan's paceman Shoaib Akhtar. The 23-year-old, dubbed the `100-miles-per-hour man' - although he has yet to find an extra yard of pace to break that mark - lived up to the hype.

His first ball, pitching just short of a length, was so fast that Sherwin Campbell was late on his attempted hook. The rearing ball took the right-hander's top edge and soared over the slips, then over third man, for six.

Six balls later and the Rawalpindi tearaway beat Campbell for pace again. His bat was still coming down as his stumps exploded behind him. Campbell delayed a few seconds before trudging off, a perplexed expression on his face.

`Chubby in trouble'

London: Temperamental Australian spinner Shane Warne hit the World Cup headlines for the wrong reasons again today following reports he made an obscene gesture at the crowd during yesterday's match against Scotland.Warne, who last week received atwo-match suspended ban and a fine for criticising Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga in a newspaper article, was reported to have raised his middle finger at a Scottish fan who had shouted: ``You're having a nightmare, chubby.''

The fans at the match at Worcester also displayed an inflatable plastic whale to represent the player and taunted him throughout the match.Match referee Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka, however, did not see the alleged incident.

The highly-fancied Australians failed to impress in their six-wicket win over tournament debutants Scotland, although Warne had the last laugh as he took three for 39.

Warne can be sensitive over references to his physique. He once stormed out of a press conference in Australia after it was suggested to him that a wax model made in his honour was a bit too thin to be realistic.