India Vs West Indies | Dhoni helps India take a 2-1 lead
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni played another responsible knock of 46 not out as India took an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series, winning the third One-day international by six wickets according to the Duckworth-Lewis (DL) Method with just one ball to spare here on a rain-marred Friday.
India capitalised on a good start by openers Dinesh Karthik (47) and Gautam Gambhir (44) and Man of the Match Dhoni played a composed innings off 34 balls as the visitors achieved the rain revised target of 159 in 22 overs at the Beausejour Stadium.
India skipper opted to bowl but the start was delayed by over two hours due to rains and when the game started persistent rains interrupted the game thrice.
Ramnaresh Sarwan's fine 62 off 59 balls went in vain even as West Indies made a challenging 186 for seven in 27 overs. But India were set a target of 195 according to the DL method.
But another spell of shower in the 14th over during India's innings revised gave the target to 159 in 22 overs.
However, it was the 84-run opening run stand that always kept India ahead of the run rate and Dhoni ensured that he stayed till the end as India scampered home to win in the penultimate ball. Dhoni's only six came in the last over and it reduced the equation to four from four balls that India achieved easily.
Earlier, Sarwan's 62 lifted the West Indies to 186 in 27 overs in the rain-shortened match. Left-armer Ashish Nehra led India's bowling with 3-21 off five overs while Harbhajan Singh took 2-35.
West Indies skipper Chris Gayle then blasted off six fours to score a quickfire 27 off 14 balls before he fell on the resumption of the game after the first spell of shower.
Sarwan and Runako Morton (22) then stitched a 51-run stand for the second wicket before a fine piece of stumping by Dhoni off Harbhajan ended Morton's stay.
Sarwan kept on playing his shots while Shiv Chanderpaul (15), Dwayne Bravo (14) and Darren Bravo (21) made valuable contributions. Denesh Ramdin remained unbeaten on 14 from six balls as the West Indies achieved the challenging total courtesy the Duckworth-Lewis Method.
The fourth and the final ODI will be played here Sunday.
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 7:16 AM 0 comments
Labels: India - West Indies ODI Series, Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Pakistan win T20 World Cup
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Pakistan Sunday emerged World Twenty20 cricket champions with an eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Lord's here Sunday.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 138/6 in 20 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 64 not out, Angelo Mathews 35 not out; Abdul Razzaq 3-20) lost to Pakistan 139/2 in 18.4 overs (Shahid Afridi 54 not out, Kamran Akmal 37; Sanath Jayasuriya 1-8)
Fantastic game of cricket this. It was not all too hunky dory for Pakistan when things were going slow for them during the middle overs but a few overs of Afridi's brilliance changed things around. 139 was not the stiffest of totals but with a bowling line up of Sri Lanka to deal with, Pakistan could never have afforded to take it light. Akmal and hasan got off to a cautious start and made steady progress. Then Malik and Afridi batted sensibly to make sure that there are no heart attacks for the Pakistani fans.
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 10:39 PM 0 comments
Labels: ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009
Arthur says SA the best in world despite semis loss
South Africa's disappointing loss to Pakistan in the World Twenty20 semi-finals has not dented the side's confidence one bit and coach Mickey Arthur had little doubt in claiming his wards as the best in the business.
The Proteas were remarkably upbeat on their return to South Africa yesterday although they looked to be the best team in the World Twenty20 until Pakistan put halted their march.
Arthur also refused to accept that South African team once again justified their tag of being chokers.
''Choking is when you panic,'' he said. ''We didn't panic. We just have to take our hats off to Pakistan - sometimes the opposition is allowed to play well.
''Things like this can happen in a knock-out tournament.
''We beat all those sides during the tournament, except for a couple like Australia and the Netherlands that we didn't play.
''I believe we are the best team in world cricket at the moment, and our time will come to prove that.
''The past 18 months have been incredibly successful and we are still capable of reaching an even higher level,'' he added.
Captain Graeme Smith and Arthur also rejected suggestions in the English media that South Africa were one-dimensional and robotic in their approach to T20 cricket.
''We have plenty of players who play with flair in our team, and I think we're a very exciting team to watch,'' Arthur was quoted as saying by Sports24.
''Yes, we play a structured game where everyone knows his role, but there is nothing stereotyped about our batting and our fielding is the best in the world,'' the coach remarked.
Smith said he had been particularly pleased with the way younger members of the team, such as Wayne Parnell, had performed.
''It was so exciting to watch the way Wayne and Dale (Steyn) bowled at the death.
''I think the success of youngsters like Wayne is a tribute to the success of the structures in place in South Africa to identify and develop talent,'' he pointed.
The Proteas now have a fairly long break of nearly three months before they set their sights on ICC Champions Trophy, to be played in here in Johannesburg and Pretoria between September 24 and October 7.
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 4:50 PM 0 comments
Labels: ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009, south africa
Injured Smith to undergo elbow surgery
South African captain Graeme Smith will undergo a surgery on his elbow to deal with chronic tendonitis which has caused him considerable trouble over the last one year.
''I have left it too long, and it is now time to have the problem solved,'' Smith said on his return from the ICC World Twenty20 yesterday.
''I will be out of action for 10 to 12 weeks, and should be fit again in time for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa in September,'' he added.
It was under Smith's caoptaincy earlier this year, when he led South Africa to a famous series victory despite the pain in his elbow and he entered the realms of cricket legend when, after having to leave the field during this first innings when the little finger on his right hand was broken during the final Test, he went out to bat in a vain effort to save the Test, with severe injuries to both arms.
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 4:49 PM 0 comments
Labels: ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009, south africa
World T20 success prompts ECB to become resistant to IPL
The huge commercial success of the World Twenty20 has given the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) enough reasons to turn down the offer to host an overseas edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in order to promote their own domestic tournament.
The figures have been staggering as far as the success of the second World Twenty20 was concerned and an estimated global audience of 400 million watched India lose to England in the group stages.
Just under 96 per cent of the available tickets were sold for the games at Lord's, the Oval and Trent Bridge, which have reached record television audiences.
The inaugural event in 2007 struggled to sell enough tickets to make up the International Cricket Council's (ICC) minimum guarantee of 2m dollars to South Africa for hosting the competition.
At this year's tournament, though, the final warm-up day alone matched that amount. This was because the ECB could charge as much as 60 pounds for a ticket and still attract 23,000 to The Oval for India's warm-up meeting with Pakistan and sell 10,000 Lord's tickets for South Africa's meeting with Sri Lanka.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has already disclosed a few of his which also includes to play two editions of the tournament from 2011.
Although the unqualified success of the World Twenty20 makes England the only viable commercial option, the recent IPL played in South Africa attracted disappointing crowds the ECB are thought to be resistant to Modi as the domestic governing body launches its own second T20 competition next season, the P20, reports The Guardian.
''We'll have to see the availability of the dates. We wouldn't be in a position to do it next year because after the IPL is the (T20) World Cup in the West Indies,'' Modi said.
''So I don't think we will move to across the world then but we'll definitely try and aim for 2011,'' Modi said.
Meanwhile, the ECB are more intent on promoting the P20 next season while continuing to discuss with the Indian, South African and Australian boards how best to arrange an international calendar which could include a global event every two years.
Those would be the World Cup and World T20, which means the Champions Trophy should eventually be phased out from the international schedule.
This year's IPL was moved from India to be played in South Africa because of security concerns as the government failed to guarantee the safety of the particpating teams.
But Modi was adamant the IPL will take place in India next season. ''Absolutely confident, we'll always want the main season in India. And we are looking at taking a second season around the world.''
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 4:48 PM 0 comments
Labels: ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009
India - West Indies ODI Series | Darren gets maiden call-up in WI team
Darren Bravo, brother of all-rounder Dwayne, received his maiden call-up, while injury to Fidel Edwards has paved way for David Bernard who has been named in the West Indies' squad for the first two ODIs of the four-match series against India, starting June 26.
Edwards suffered a lower back injury during the World Twenty20 where the West Indies were knocked out in the semi-finals and the pacer was unavailable for selection.
The selectors called up all-rounder Bernard in his place.
The 27-year-old Bernard last played an ODI in 2003 and was also a part of the ICC World Twenty20 squad.
Left-handed batsman, Darren Bravo has staked a strong claim for a place in the team with 605 runs at 43.21 for Trinidad & Tobago in the domestic four-day competition.
He was part of the West Indies Under-19 team that played in the 2008 World Cup.
Narsingh Deonarine, another left-handed batsman, has also been included. He was the leading run-scorer in the four-day competition with 1,068 runs at 59.33 with seven half-centuries. Deonarine last played an ODI in 2007.
In a surprise exclusion, Lendl Simmons, who played reasonably well in the World Twenty20, could not make the cut as did Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy and Dale Richards.
The first two ODIs are on June 26 and 28 here in Kingston.
West Indies: Chris Gayle (capt), Denesh Ramdin (wk), Lionel Baker, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Sulieman Benn, David Bernard, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Runako Morton, Ravi Rampaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor.
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 4:46 PM 0 comments
Labels: India - West Indies ODI Series
Lee confident to secure a place in Ashes' playing XI
Having made an unimpressive come back at the World T20, Brett Lee is on his way to prove his critics wrong for the forthcoming Ashes series as the speedster said he is completely fit, and is feeling stronger than ever.
Former fast bowler Geoff Lawson claimed Lee should be country's last-choice bowler, who will prove to be a liability in Australia's challenge to retain its Ashes, but Lee said he had the best of the preperations, which will help him come out with impressure figures for getting a place at the Ashes playing XI.
''My preparation before this tour has been outstanding.
''It's probably the best preparation I've ever had,'' Lee was quoted as saying in the 'Herald Sun'.
''That all came through getting injured and having 17 weeks to get my strength back up at home. I'm at a stage in my life, at 32, I feel I'm definitely the strongest I've ever been and I feel fit,'' he stressed.
Lee, who returned with excellent spells at the IPL while playing for Kings XI Punjab, could not play to his potential and proved costly at the T20 World Championships.
Lee's performance in the game against Sussex, and the July 1-4 trial against England Lions would decide a place for hime in the Ashes side, and the pacer said he has a plan B for himself if he doesn't get a place in the playing XI.
''So I give myself every opportunity and if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't I'll work on plan B.
''You've always got a second plan in place but I'm not planning to work on plan B at the moment. I've done the hard work and if I get the opportunity then the hard work will pay off,'' the 32-year-old added.
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 4:38 PM 0 comments
Labels: Ashes
T20 World Cup Final | Preview: It's the win of Cricket
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka: Final Match facts
Sunday June 21
Start time 1500 local (1400 GMT)
Pakistan (probable) 1 Kamran Akmal (wk), 2 Shahzaid Hasan, 3 Shahid Afridi, 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Younis Khan (capt), 6 Misbah-ul-Haq, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Fawad Alam, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad Aamer.
Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt/wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Jehan Mubarak, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Lasith Malinga, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Ajantha Mendis.
Stats and Trivia
* Pakistan and Sri Lanka have both contested two 50-over World Cup finals in the past, with one victory and one defeat apiece. Pakistan beat England in the final at Melbourne in 1992, then lost to Australia at Lord's in 1999. Sri Lanka beat Australia at Lahore in 1996, then lost to the Aussies at Bridgetown in 2007.
* Pakistan, of course, contested the inaugural World Twenty20 final as well, when they lost by 5 runs against India at Johannesburg.
* All five of the tournament's leading wicket-takers will be on display in the final. Mendis, Gul, Malinga and Ajmal have all taken 12 wickets, Afridi is tucked in behind them on 10.
Quotes
"Sanath is always a big-match player. He's won a lot of matches for us in the past, and I think he's going to win a lot more in the next few years as well. As long as he's fit and is performing, we are happy to have him in the side. I think he'll do something special in the final."
Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara talks up the form and focus of Sanath Jayasuriya, who was off-colour during the semi-final victory over West Indies.
"I used to think of myself as a batsman three to four years ago because that is how everyone started to think of me. But I was moved around so much the order that I just went back to concentrating on bowling. I told Younis I wanted to bat up the order and it worked."
Shahid Afridi concedes that bowling is his strongest suit these days, despite his destructive batting against South Africa at Trent Bridge.
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 10:12 PM 0 comments
Labels: ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009