Mushfiqur Rahim gives the charge during his match-winning 56
Trent Johnston dives to catch Kamran Akmal, winding himself in the process.
One for the album: the men who dared to dream, and their leprechaun, Ireland v Pakistan, Group D, Jamaica, March 17, 2007
“It’s St. Patty’s day!” An Irish fan lets himself go during the rain delay
People in Pakistan burn an effigy of Inzamam-ul-Haq in protest of the team’s three-wicket defeat to Ireland, Lahore, March 18, 2007
Review of the games so far…
AUSTRALIA v NETHERLANDS
Australia club Netherlands by 229 runs!, batting first they scored 358/5 with Brad Hodge scoring a magnificent century 123(89) blasting 7 sixes and 8 fours. Michael Clarke gave him good company at 93*(85) hitting 3 sixes and 6 fours himself.
The Netherlands were cleaned up for 129, with van Bunge top scoring 33(33). Hogg was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 27 in 4.5 overs.
Australia are in the Super 8’s now but have a MASSSIVE game coming up with South Africa? the match of the century!!!
ENGLAND v CANADA
England beat Canada very unconvincingly by 51 runs, scoring a decent 279/6 with Joyce 66(103) and skipper Vaughan 45(64) getting them off to a great start. Vaughan was looking really good, but then as usual gave his wicket away playing a ridiculous shot!.
Canada laboured through their innings scoring 228/7 with Mulla top scoring with 58(60). It is important to note that England were not able to bowl them out, it will be very difficult for them to proceed in the Super 8’s, if they cant bowl teams like Canada out. Debutant Bopara was the pick of the English bowlers taking 2 for 43 in his 9.
England now has to beat Kenya in order to make it into the Super 8’s… I think they should be able to do it.
INDIA v BERMUDA
Now was India’s turn to redeem them selves and ensure that they get their net run rate up in order to qualify for the Super 8’s.
Ohhhh and India delivered alright breaking records along the way.
The Indian batsmen annihilated the Bermudan attack scoring a world record 413/5!!! The highest ever score in a world cup and their highest score as well.
Sehwag atlast showed a bit of form when he hammered 114(87) hitting 17 fours!! And 3 sixes. Ganguly gave him good support with 89(114) but the real star of the Indian batting performance was Yuvraj Singh the powerful batsmen raped the Bermudan bowlers scoring 83 of just 46 balls!!! Smacking 7 hyooooge sixes and the little master - Tendulkar gave him good support with 57(29) hitting 4 sixes himself.
The Bermudans were bowled out for 156 with Hemp playing a wonderful innings 76(105), Agarkar was the pick of the Indian bowlers taking 3 for 38 in his 10.
India beat Bermuda by another record, 257 runs and managed to get a Net Run Rate (NRR) OF +2.57 which is crucial now for them to make it into the super 8’s.
Here are the highlights for the Indian Innings. You must watch it!!
WEST INDIES v ZIMBABWE
West Indies defeated Zimbabwe in yet another unconvincing victory. Zimbabwe batted first and scored a respectable 202/5 with Taylor scoring 50(121) and Willams not out on 70*(88). Jerome Taylor being the pick of the West Indian bowlers with 2 for 42 of 10.
West Indies replied with 204/4 in 47.5 overs! With skipper Lara 44*(68) and Bravo 37*(46).
West Indies are now through to the super 8’s but they were not able to bowl Zimbabwe out and that is worrying.
NEW ZEALAND v KENYA
New Zealand eaaaaase past Kenya, with a brilliant batting performance, scoring a mammoth 331/7 with skipper Fleming scoring a quick fire 60(61) including 3 sixes and 7 fours. Ross Taylor scored a solid 85 (107) and Styris 63(62), Mcmillan 71(48) blasted away in the middle order.
Kenya were bowled out for a respectable 183 with Ravi Shah playing a fighting knock, scoring 71(89) and Odoyo giving him some support with 42(67). Franklin was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers with 2 for 20 from his 7.
New Zealand are now through to the super 8’s aswell and are looking incredibly strong, I keep talking about South Africa, but this Kiwi side is a real dark horse and I wouldn’t be surprised if they walk away with the cup.
SOUTH AFRICA v SCOTLAND
South Africa clobbered the Scots, putting them in to bat first, the Scots scored 186/8 in their 50. It was admirable that they didn’t get bowled out though. Brown was the top scorer wit 45*(64). Andy Hall was the pick of the South African bowlers with 3 for 48 in his 10.
The Proteas came out guns blazing with skipper Smith smashing 91(65) with 13 fours and 1 six. AB de Villiers gave him good support scoring 62(45) hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes.
South Africa are also now in the Super 8’s.
SRI LANKA v BANGLADESH
The Lankan Lions completely outclassed the Bangla Tigers, showing India what they SHOULD have done - taken the game seriously!. Sri Lanka batted first and demolished the Bangla bowling attack, the very attack that had bowled India out for 191!. The Lions scored 318/4 with old timer Jayasuriya blasting 109(87) smashing 7 sixes and 7 fours. Keeper Sangakkara gave him good support 56(55) and Chamara Silva was 52*(48).
The Bangladeshi’s were cleaned up for a mere 112 runs with only Mohammad Ashraful offering some resistance, the young talented batsmen scored 45*(63) hitting 6 elegant boundaries.
Malinga was the best of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 3 for 27 from his 6.
The Lankans have now done India a favour by crushing Bangladesh by 198 runs… what this means is that Bangladesh’s run rate is too low for them to knock India out of the tournament. All India has to do now is beat Sri Lanka by any margin and they are through to the next round, irrespective of the NRR.
Bangladesh has done no good to its chances to qualify for Super-8 after being thrashed by 198 runs by Sri Lanka. Its net run-rate has come down to -2.0018 after that game.
Sri Lanka now heads the Group B with a net run-rate of +4.5937. India is second with a net run-rate of +2.507.
A victory by even one run (batting first) or off the last ball (batting second) over Sri Lanka will take India through to the next stage.
Suppose Sri Lanka scores 250 and India successfully chases the target off the last ball, then in such a scenario Sri Lanka will end up as the Group leader with a NRR of +3.0136. India will end up with a NRR of +1.6730.
Since Bangladesh will be playing its last league match against Bermuda after India-Sri Lanka game, theoretically it will have a chance to better India’s NRR, but to do this Bangladesh has to produce something unimaginable.
If India beats Sri Lanka under the circumstances mentioned above, then to beat India on NRR the target for Bangladesh in the match against Bermuda will be:
If Bangladesh bats first
Bangladesh has to score 600 and restrict Bermuda to 168
Bangladesh has to score 550 and restrict Bermuda to 117
Bangladesh has to score 500 and restrict Bermuda to 67
Bangladesh has to score 450 and restrict Bermuda to 16
If Bermuda bats first
Bangladesh can not overhaul India’s NRR even if it bundles out Bermuda for a total of 50 and achieves the target in first over itself!
India’s NRR will remain around +1.65 even if it registers a win over Sri Lanka off the narrowest margin possible - batting first or second.
There will be a slight change in Bangladesh’s target in the last league match depending upon the victory margin for India, but it is obvious that the target will only become more difficult for Bangladesh as the victory margin for India increases.
India can still make it to Super-8 despite losing to Sri Lanka on 23rd. But for that Bangladesh has to lose to Bermuda.
PAKISTAN v ZIMBABWE
This was a very very emotional match for the Pakistani team, with the tragic death of their Coach and their captain putting forth is resignation along with the chaos back home, Pakistan are in dire straits.
They batted first and blitzed the Zimbabwe bowling attacking breaking records by scoring a massive 349 with opener Nazir scoring an awe inspiring 160(121) hitting 8 sixes and 14 fours!!!.
Zimbabwe were bowled out for a mere 99 and had to face the brunt of the Pakistani aggression. This match was played for honour and pride and Pakistan have definitely finished their world cup campaign with their heads high somewhat.
It was heartbreaking to see Inzy walk back to the Pavilion for the last time, crying his eyes out… Cricket has lost one of its best yesterday. I wish Inzy all the best and hope things get better for Pakistan soon.
BOB WOOLMER 1948 - 2007
Woolmer may have been strangled - Jamaican papers
With no official confirmation through Wednesday of the cause of Bob Woolmer’s death, the only statement came late at night from Karl Angell, the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s director of communications, that said a second opinion was being sought on the autopsy. However, Thursday’s editions of two leading Jamaican newspapers quoted unnamed police sources as saying that that Woolmer may have been strangled to death, and Woolmer’s widow Gill conceded there was a possibility of his being murdered.
OMG… If he was murdered, which I always suspected from the start… it was just too much of a coincidence, he was certainly not suicidal and even though old age and stress could have been a reason, it just didnt seem right.
He was planning on retiring in June and was going to complete his book which had detailed reports exposing the underground cricket mafia and bookie-cricket nexus in Pakistan…
Could this be why they killed him???
Pakistan are in big big trouble… their country is in chaos at the moment, so is their cricket and now a murder investigation!
ITS OFFICIAL BOB WOOLMER WAS MURDERED!!!
Pakistan’s cricket coach Bob Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room on Sunday after the team’s World Cup loss to Ireland, Jamaican police say.
A post-mortem examination established that the former England player had died as a result of “manual strangulation”, police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said.
I just dont know what to say… I am speechless
For some reason I doubt Inzamam will be going home. I’m sure he can apply for asylum somewhere.
That’s some culture they’ve got over there. Anyone want to debate the Civilized World vs. the Uncivilized World?
Yeah, didn’t think so.
[quote]nik19 wrote:
People in Pakistan burn an effigy of Inzamam-ul-Haq in protest of the team’s three-wicket defeat to Ireland, Lahore, March 18, 2007[/quote]
Shit, so Australia beat SA today by 83 runs. Dammit!
[u]INDIA v SRI LANKA[/u]
Well this was the match of the tournament, more so than the Aus v SA one because both those teams have already qualified for the Super 8’s.
This was a must win game for India, they had to defeat Sri Lanka in order to progress to the next round, something that they have done easily the past two world cups and India…LOST!!!
ARGHHHHHHH? there is only one word… One word to describe the Indian team -CHOKERS…! Yes they are fucking chokers, they had the game in the bag, with a beautiful bowling performance restricting the might Lankan lions, they failed to chase 255 runs on a batting wicket, with the best batting line up in the world. I have never ever seen such a pathetic performance by a team that is so very talented. 1 billion hopes were sunk the other day, when Team India lost to the Lankans by 69 runs.
Sri Lanka were put into bat by Rahul Dravid and India started the innings magnificently, Agarkar bowling extremely well… good fast consistent bowling. The umpires were ridiculous, they were so off!, at least 7 decisions that should have gone India’s way were not given. The fielding was sharp and the three seam bowlers had the Lankans under pressure. Bhajji wasn’t effective at all, I feel they should have taken Pathan instead, the wicket was a bowlers paradise in the first half and Pathan is a useful all rounder. They managed to restrict Sri Lanka to 254/6 with opener Tharanga 64(90) playing the sheet anchor role, but he was struggling throughout the game. Silva 59(68) and Dilshan 38(41) steadied the ship at the end
India started off their innings well, with Uthapa given the license to swing his bat, but both the openers fell cheaply, Ganguly played a horrible shot and Uthappa was brilliantly taken by Vaas. Sehwag looked in good touch scoring a quick fire 48(46) but was bamboozled by a beauty from Murli. Rahul Dravid, the Indian skipper, tried to fight back as his team and its world cup chances were tumbling all around him, he smashed 16 runs of Malinga and at stage there was a feint glimmer of hope with 4 wickets still in hand but then he fell to Jayasuriya scoring 60(82). India were cleaned up for 185 and Murli was the best of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 3 for 41 from his 10.
Sri Lanka will now progress into the Super 8’s with 2 points ending India’s hopes and sinking a billion hopes… sad…really sad, one bad game against Bangladesh coupled with the pressure and the hype of the world cup and India just buckled, they shouldn’t have… but they did, the world cup wont be the same without India and Pakistan in the super 8’s. India were the runners up last world cup but they failed to get past the first round this time round… Cricket is such an unpredictable game!
Their only hope now is if Bermuda defeat Bangladesh, but that isn?t going to happen.
[u]WEST INDIES v IRELAND[/u]
Well the home team took on the famous Irish side, the same side that defeated the mighty Pakistani’s and upset the whole tournament by qualifying for the Super 8’s. The Irish however, were simply outclassed by the West Indians… they were smashed all round the park and brought back down to earth.
Ireland batted first and after a decent start, lost their way and ended up with 183/8 with opener Bray top scoring 41(72). Chris Gayle was the pick of the West Indian bowlers with 2 for 23 from 9.
West Indies came out and smashed the ball all round the park and Chanderpaul saw them home with a fantastic 102*(113) including 4 massive sixes and 10 fours. West Indies finished with 190/2 in just 38 overs and are through to the Super 8’s.
[u]AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA[/u]
Well well well, the clash of the titans, the number 2 side vs. the number 1 side and they didn’t disappoint!
Australia batted first and were on a mission and that was to destroy the Proteas bowling attack!, I have never seen Pollock getting smacked around the park like that in my life. Hayden 101(107) was electric and Gilchrist 42(42) was his usual best. They got the Aussies off to a flyyyyying start. Hayden scored the fast century in world cup history of just 66 balls, smashing 4 sixes and 14 fours!. Ponting 91(91) and Clarke 92(75) were equally impressive, although I must admit, Clarke was simply superb and overshadowed Ponting throughout their partnership.
The Aussies finished up with 377/6 and this had all makings of a nail biting finish with flashbacks of the game at the Wanderers where SA chased 434!!
The Proteas began their chase magnificently, de Villiers was in supreme touch and smashed a 6 and a 4 of the first over itself!!. Skipper Smith started off a little slow but once he got in, he was unstoppable. Things were looking really good at 159/0 until de Villiers got himself run out to an awessssome throw by Watson, which resulted in a direct hit right from the boundary!!!. That brough Kallis in and he just never got going really, the momentum was lost but Smith was still in and things were looking great at 220/1 and I really thought SA would get there easy, the Aussies body language confirmed it too. However, luck was not with the South Africans yesterday… and Smith began to cramp up bad and was forced to retire hurt. Once he left, the momentum was completely lost and the asking rate hit the roof. Kallis got himself out and from there, the batting collapsed and the South Africans were bowled out for 294 with Nathan Bracken being the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 40 from his 9.
I still feel the Aussies were lucky that Smith left and I think that their next meeting will be a lot more exciting.
So now both Australia and SA are through to the Super 8’s but Australia goes in with the 2 points.
[u]ENGLAND vs KENYA[/u]
Well this was a must with game for both sides, in order to qualify for the Super 8’s.
Kenya batted first and apart from a brilliant knock from skipper Steve Tikolo 76(97) no one else really offered any resistance and they Kenyans were cleaned up for 177 with Jimmy Anderson being the pick of the English bowlers with 2 for 27 from his 9.
England started of badly, losing skipper Vaughan 1(4) and Bell 16(18) as well but opener Joyce 75(90) and KP 56(72) saw them through comfortably. England finished off with 178/3 in only 33 overs and are now through to the Super 8’s.
Good performance by the English team and lets hope they can continue playing well in the next round.
[quote]rsg wrote:
Shit, so Australia beat SA today by 83 runs. Dammit![/quote]
Yep, the normal state of affairs in cricket is being restored, LOL!
Now that India has joined Pakistan on the way home, and with Asia now controlling cricket, I reckon the ICC will now regard this World Cup as a bit of a failure. The sponsors must be seeing red as they are going to have a LOT less people watching the games on TV now!
[quote]rsg wrote:
Shit, so Australia beat SA today by 83 runs. Dammit![/quote]
de Villiers run out was unfortunate and Smith was just unlucky to cramp up so bad… I still feel if Smith would have stayed on, SA would have won the game.
Im putting my money on a SA Aus final… although Sri Lanka could sneak in there as well.
The Aussies rolled West Indies by 103 runs after play resumed today after being washed out yesterday. They are starting to look like the “normal” Aussie team again i.e. winning convincingly. God help any bowler coming up against Matthew Hayden in this tournament, this guy is on FIRE!!! 158 runs, second century in a row, just amazing.
Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga became the first bowler to take four wickets in four balls in international cricket but it was all in vain as South Africa won.
WOOHOO!
Who’s next?