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Pietersen will be missing from England’s line-up when they face New Zealand in their final Super Eights match at the Beausejour Stadium here on Monday because he has returned to London for the birth of his first child. However, he has promised to return should England advance England will be in the last four even before they play the Black Caps if Pakistan beat South Africa in the day’s first match at the same venue. And even if England’s game is a ‘live’ one, |
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from their point of view, only a huge margin of defeat against New Zealand would deny them a semi-final place. England are within touching distance of the last four after beating defending champions Pakistan and South Africa on the back of Pietersen fifties. “The contributions he’s made in the last two games – two man-of-the-matches – have been fantastic,” saidEngland captain Paul Collingwood. “His contributions have certainly gone a long way towards getting us into the semi-finals.” England have never lifted a major one-day international trophy but Collingwood has no qualms about letting Pietersen leave the camp and so changing a winning side. “Everything is going well, we hope we can get him back as well,” Collingwood said. “We’re delighted for him. “He’s about to have his first child. I know what that feels like, so it’s great that he can go back and see that.” Meanwhile, England off-spinner Graeme Swann wants the team to “absolutely hammer” New Zealand. “It seems like we’ve got one foot in the door (of the semi-finals). But that’s all it is,” Swann said. “We need to go and absolutely hammer New Zealand. That’s what we want to do, smash every team we play, by playing this same brand of cricket. “I genuinely think, for the first time looking at an England team, we can actually win this. It’s not all hot air and bluster.” Swann and fellow spinner Michael Yardy took five wickets between them as England overwhelmed South Africa by 39 runs in Barbados on Saturday. “I’ve always been an advocate of at least two spinners in Twenty20 cricket,” said Swann, an off-spinner whose style dovetails with Yardy’s left-arm style. “We’ve struggled to nail that over the last 18 months, but I think Yards has come in and done a fantastic job. “The fact he’s left-arm, spinning the ball the other way (to me) makes a huge difference. “If you’ve got two guys spinning the ball the same way it can be very effective – but batsmen can get set. “The fact we’ve got eight overs to bowl in the middle and the ball is turning one way from one end and the opposite from the other, it makes it tricky for batsmen to get set. That’s why it works so well.” Source: Yahoo cricket |
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England hope to give Pieterson reason for return
Batting failure did us in: Dhoni
“It’s no rocket science, it’s not that we have come up against it suddenly. Outside the subcontinent, we always have to face short-pitched deliveries, so we are equipped to cope with them. But the problem in T20 is that if the opposition consistently bowls short, you can’t leave too many balls and the pressure to score increases. We had prepared well for the tournament, we knew we will face short-pitched stuff but the execution was not good on our part,” Dhoni said.
In a match delayed by 30 minutes due to damp pitch, the Indian skipper defended his decision to bowl first and without an extra bowler, blaming the defeat on batting failure.
“Batting has always been our strength. Chasing 170 wasn’t impossible but our batting failed. Our bowlers did well; the opening bowlers are doing extremely well and have given us a good start in the first six overs. Most of the batsmen have struggled against our spinners as well, specially Bhajji. I don’t think we were short of bowlers,” he said.
Dhoni did admit that and several other India players had requested to be rested from the upcoming Zimbabwe tour after a hectic schedule but denied that the virtual non-stop cricket due to the IPL was responsible for the poor performance.
“I don’t blame the IPL. Not getting a break is not an issue, one cannot compare the two tournaments, it’s different when you play for your country,” he said.
He also admitted that dropping rival skipper Chris Gayle early on proved costly.
A collision between Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan meant Gayle, who was on 47 then, got a life with both fielders dropping the ball off Nehra.
“It was a mistake. I did see Yusuf but he wasn’t going for the catch then; and later, when he went for the catch, I didn’t see him running. If we had caught him then, may be West Indies would have scored less, or may be Pollard would have scored instead.”
Source: Yahoo cricket
Gayle force leaves India on the brink
Gayle’s innings of 98 powered the hosts to a total of 169 for six before a good all-round display by the West Indies in the field at the Kensington Oval saw India held to a total of 155 for nine from 20 overs.
If Sri Lanka beat Australia in Saturday’s second Super Eights match at Kensington, India will be out even before their final second-round game. But if Australia win, India will still have a shot at reaching the semi-finals.
However, India will have to beat Sri Lanka in St Lucia on Tuesday and then hope both for an Australia win over the West Indies and that their own run-rate is better than that of Gayle’s side. West Indies’ victory revived their bid for a last-four spot after a 57-run thrashing by Sri Lanka at Kensington on Friday.
“It was a good win, just what we needed,” said Gayle, whose typically enterprising innings lasted 66 balls, with seven sixes and five fours. “I was under pressure, not just cricket-wise, but I was also given so much support. So it was important to play well myself,” the man-of-the-match added.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni blamed his batsmen for India’s plight. “The batting hasn’t been up to expectations. The bowlers have done decently, give or take a few overs here and there. Batting is supposed to be our strength, and we should chase 170 in these conditions,” he added.
India lost opener Murali Vijay in the fourth over when he was caught at deep backward square leg for seven pulling a short, rising ball from Darren Sammy. They suffered another early blow when Gautam Gambhir gloved a short ball from Kemar Roach and was caught behind for 15.
India slipped to 38 for three in the eighth over, when Rohit Sharma gloved behind essaying a scoop shot off Kieron Pollard. The dismissal was mired in controversy, when the batsman essentially asked umpire Billy Bowden to refer the decision to TV umpire Steve Davis. But the umpire decision review system is not in place for the competition, and Bowden upheld his original decision, following consultation with his on-field colleague Simon Taufel.
A stand of 42 between left-handers Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh bolstered India, but they were both removed in the space of five balls. Raina was caught inside the deep mid-wicket boundary off Gayle for the top innings score of 32, and Yuvraj was caught at wide mid-on off Sulieman Benn as India slipped to 81 for five in the 13th over.
Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan put on 33 in 19 balls to raise Indian hopes of a come-from-behind victory. But Pathan was caught at long leg off Jerome Taylor for 17 in the 16th over, and Dhoni was run out going for a second run by Dwayne Bravo’s direct hit at the bowler’s end from long-on to take India’s last hopes with him.
Earlier, Gayle was run out going for a second run, when he failed to beat substitute fielder Dinesh Karthik’s throw from the cover boundary to wicketkeeper Dhoni off the penultimate ball of the West Indies innings.
Gayle was dropped at square leg on 46, when he top-edged a pull off Ashish Nehra in the 12th over and Dhoni and short third man fielder Yusuf Pathan ran into each other.
With left-handed opener Gayle nearing a hundred, both Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan sacrificed their wickets with miscued pulls to mid-wicket off Nehra, who ended with three wickets for 35 runs.
Gayle was the first of only four men to score a Twenty20 international hundred when he made 117, still the highest individual score at this level, against South Africa at the inaugural World Twenty in Johannesburg in 2007.
Source: Yahoo cricket
Relentless Aussies march on with Sri Lanka win
The Australians were in trouble at 67 for five before Cameron White led an extraordinary fightback with an unbeaten 85 off 49 balls which dominated their total of 168 for five.
White and Michael Hussey (39 not out) added 101 runs, a record sixth-wicket partnership in international Twenty20 as Sri Lanka were left frustrated.
White was dropped when on 23 by Ajantha Mendis at short leg as he top edged while attempting to sweep Suraj Randiv.
It was a missed chance that turned the game – by the end of his innings White had smashed six sixes and six fours in an explosive knock that put intense pressure on Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka have the man for most moments in opener Mahela Jaywardene, the tournament’s top scorer, but he failed for the first time in the Caribbean and his team collapsed to 87 all out against the relentless Australian attack.
The contrast between the two teams could not have been more stark - Australia managed to claw themselves into a winning position after their top order had failed while Sri Lanka simply folded after they lost Jayawardene and skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
“When someone misses out, someone stands up,” White said. “In all facets of our game we are playing pretty well.”
Mitchell Johnson was the pick of the bowlers, ending with figures of three for 15 from 3.2 overs but all the Australian attack kept the ball in the right areas and never allowed Sri Lanka the chance to regroup.
Australia top Group F with four points and are almost certain to reach the semi-finals going into their match against West Indies on Tuesday in St. Lucia.
Sri Lanka, though, having beaten West Indies, must come up with victory over winless India in their final game to progress.
“We started off well but we missed one crucial catch. We were dismal with the bat. They grabbed this match from us. The stand between White and Michael Hussey put it beyond us,” Sangakkara said.
Source: Yahoo cricket
David Warner roars in the T20 WorldCup!
It was the day when Australian batsmen decided to showcase there talent and let the world know why are they the force to recon with this T20 world cup. Leading them was the sensational left hander David Warner who made quick fire 72 runs in 49 balls and teaming up with him was Shane Watson with his 54 runs. Both of them provided excellent start and 200 were on the cards. But Indian bowler did manage to pull back things in the last overs of the match. At the end they manage to post 184/5.
It was up to Indian batsmen now to chase down the huge total now more so when there bowlers have disappointed them, India was going in with a extra batsman Rohit Sharma and he was alone the saving grace of team India, he scored 79 not out. Other batsmen who manage to reach double figure was Harbhajan Singh with 13 runs rest all batsmen were in hurry to get back in to the pavilion. At the India was all out on 135 runs and defeat was of 49 runs.
Hope Indian players will pull up there socks and manage to give there best shot in remaining matches.
Vettori wants more from Kiwis in ‘must-win’ games
Daniel Vettori
The Black Caps suffered their first loss of this tournament when they began the second round Super Eights with a 13-run loss to South Africa that was more comprehensive than the raw result suggests.
New Zealand’s attack was hammered by man-of-the-match Albie Morkel, who struck five sixes in an innings that lasted just 18 balls.
Together with AB de Villiers, who finished on 47 not out, he shared a stand of 72 in six overs towards the end of the innings as South Africa scored 170 for four at the Kensington Oval here on Thursday.
“It’s the nature of Twenty20 that you can’t get it right every time but there are crucial situations that you have to get right and this time it was the last four or five overs,” Vettori said.
Having previously defeated Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the group phase, Vettori’s men will now probably need to beat both defending champions Pakistan and England if they are to reach the last four.
“Today (Thursday) wasn’t what I expected or what I want and we have to improve pretty quickly going into two must-win games now,” left-arm spinner Vettori added.
Against South Africa, several top order batsmen got starts but none could go on to play the significant innings required if New Zealand were to enjoy a successful run chase.
“It’s the nature of the format that your four overs can be brilliant one day and pretty tough the next and we are hoping for a quick turnaround from some of the guys’ performances today,” Vettori said. “It’s hard to know what turns it round but hopefully we can adapt pretty quickly.
“It was probably the last five overs where we weren’t good enough. It’s a very small ground and when you have a destructive hitter like Albie Morkel it’s a very bad combination if you miss,” he explained.
Meanwhile Vettori refused to attribute New Zealand’s poor display against South Africa to an inability to cope with a more lively pitch than the one they were used to in Guyana.
“It’s certainly not a quick wicket so it still suited us and we weren’t bothered by the wicket being drastically different to Guyana. But in Twenty20 you have to be almost perfect and we weren’t.”
Source: Yahoo cricket
Hard hitting elite eight go head to head in Caribbean
While the un-favoured teams ended their participation at the tournament with Afghanistan’s loss to South Africa on Wednesday, the next phase is considered too tight to predict.
The crowds, thankfully much larger and livelier than for the World Cup in the region three years ago, can expect to see plenty of big hitting over the next four days when eight games will take place at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The ground is the spiritual home of West Indian cricket, and after slow and low surfaces in Guyana, many of the players will be relishing the pace and bounce offered by the wicket.
“I think the wicket is really nice, it’s a wonderful ground to play on here in Barbados,” said Australia captain Michael Clarke. “It’s a really good pitch. There’s a little bit in it for everyone.
“For the fast men, there’s a bit of pace and bounce. For the spinners, there’s some spin and bounce as well.
“It depends how the bowler executes his skills. If he gets it wrong, he’ll get hit out of the park,” he said.
If pace gets rewarded in Barbados, Australia with Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson should expect to cause the Indian batting line-up some trouble on Friday.
But India’s top order, even without Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, has plenty of class as Suresh Raina illustrated in his outstanding century against South Africa.
England meet champions Pakistan in the first match of the second phase on Thursday, while South Africa and New Zealand play immediately afterwards.
Sri Lanka, who face hosts West Indies on Friday, are without injured spinner Muttiah Muralidaran, but have the variety of slow right-armer Ajantha Mendis as well as the dangerous pace of the slingy Lasith Malinga.
The Sri Lankans also have plenty of run-scoring potential and Mahela Jayawardene offered a reminder of his quality with a century against Zimbabwe that showed big scores don’t have to include wild slogs.
Home captain Chris Gayle would bring the biggest roars if he can get into his destructive rhythm but Australia’s David Warner, England’s Kevin Pietersen, and New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder are all also capable of aggressive batting.
The Super Eight phase moves on to St. Lucia on May 10, with the best four teams staying there for the semi-finals, before the final is back in Barbados on May 16.
Source: Yahoo cricket
Fit-again Gambhir keen to contribute with bat
“I am fit and feeling strong. I am looking forward to the big games. These are really important matches and I am looking forward to play a big role in that,” said Gambhir, after a long hit at the nets at the Three Ws Oval here.
“You have seen how one player can change the course of the game when Suresh Raina scored a hundred against South Africa. I want to contribute,” said the Delhi player. Gambhir has been one of India’s most prolific batsmen in recent years and the left-hander said he wanted an encore of his performance in the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup which India won.
“It is always good that you have been scoring in the last one year. The team wants you to score more and more. This is one tournament where you want to really step up and show good form. I am enjoying the challenge and hopefully if I get the same kind of form that I had in 2007 it would be great,” he said.
Even though India won the 2007 title, they could not reach the semi-finals last year but Gambhir felt India were better prepared for the Super Eights this time round.
“The difference between the last event and this year is that we played Bangladesh and Ireland in England. But this time round we played South Africa who are one of the best sides in the world. So we can take that confidence into the Super Eights,” he said.
Gambhir had no issue if the Kensington Oval deck generated pace and bounce on Friday. “We haven’t played on this wicket so we don’t know how it will play. Obviously, we have heard from people that it has a got a lot more bounce in it than at St Lucia. You cannot go into the match with set ideas just because the wicket is sluggish or fast. Sometimes it works the other way when a guy goes and turns the match around in six overs,” said Gambhir.
Source: Yahoo Cricket
India Beats South Africa in a Group Match
It was India’s first game against a major team in a group. Both the team where even-steven as far as talent is concern, so it was all about playing your best game on that day and it was India who manage to rise to the occasion and beat South Africa quite convincingly.
India’s opener G.Gambhir was ruled out of match as he was not match fit for the game. He was replaced by D.Karthik was opening partner of M.Vijay. M.Vijay got out on the first ball he faced and Karthik too got out without contributing much. It was Suresh Raina’ s day when he decided to tear apart the South African bowling, he scored 101 in just 60 balls, well supported by Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni . India mange to force their total to 186/5.
In reply South African batsmen look under pressure from the start when got slow start with J.Kallis holding the fort at one end it was up to the other batsmen to play around him and keep up to the Required Run Rate. Kallis played an sought out innings of 73 runs of just 54 balls he got some support from AB Villiers. But once they got out the total proved to be too much for the next batsman and hence they lost by 14 runs.
MoM was S.Raina well deserve for his century knock first by an India in T20 format.
India lose against West Indies
It was that kind of day for team India when not there batting or bowling was up to the mark, except Yuraj Singh who was the only saving grace he scored quick fire 67.
The target set by team India was a modest total of 153/7 which was easily chase down by West Indies. Dwayne Bravo was the star for the West Indies who scored 66(36). He scored at great pace and made every Indian bowler pretty pedestrian.
Dhoni said “It’s disappointed to be in the losing side. We didn’t get a good start and though me and Yuvraj tried to turn it around, I got out at the wrong moment,” He played very slowly and not even once did he find his form. He played to many dot, balls scored 11(23)
Its do or die for team India on Sunday against England, they had to win at any cost.
