Australia Crowned World Champions for the 5th Time!

ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2015: Australia vs New Zealand at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne on 29th March 2015 - Match Review

Australia beat New Zealand by 7 wickets at MCG to win the 2015 World Cup.

The D day had finally arrived. After 6 weeks of some pretty riveting cricket the two best teams had reached the final. It was to be played at one of the most iconic cricket grounds in the world – the MCG. Some 90,000 spectators were expected to fill the huge stands and fill they did, those stands were all a vast sea of green and yellow spattered with black and beige!

Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum won the toss and decided to bat first. That gave them a chance to put pressure on the Australians by putting a decent score on the board and then let their in-form bowlers and pressure do the rest. Brendon McCullum faced up to Starc after Guptill took a single off the second ball and that was when the first big face off of the day took place. McCullum swung and missed at the first ball which just missed his off stump. He charged the second time around but still could not lay bat to ball as it swung a tad on its way to Brad Haddin. It was third time lucky for the Australians and Starc who rattled the stumps with a deadly yorker that McCullum missed again and the Aussies were off on a celebratory run!!

It was all nervy stuff after that for Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill as Starc bowled with fire and looked like taking a wicket with every delivery. Guptill top edged a pull for 6 off Hazlewood that gave the Kiwis some momentary relief and Kane played a lovely straight drive. Just when things seemed to be easing up with Clarke introducing Maxwell, Guptill played back to see his off peg being rattled. Williamson chipped a tame return catch to Johnson 2 overs later as New Zealand slumped to 39-3 in the 13th over and starring down the barrel.

But Ross Taylor and the hero of the semi final for the black caps, Grant Elliott steadied the rocking ship with some cool and calm batting as they collected the singles and twos regularly and kept the score ticking over. Elliott was the more comfortable partner of the two and he looked in ominous form almost carrying off from that six he hit off Steyn the other day.

New Zealand had reached 150-3 when the powerplay was taken at the end of the 35th over. They seemed to have recovered sufficiently to lay a charge on the Australians in the last 15 and a score of around 300 looked on the cards. All that changed in a matter of a few balls as Faulkner first induced a nick off Taylor the first ball of the powerplay. Corey Anderson was the cleaned up the very next ball, a fast yorker pinging his off stump. When Ronchi was caught off Clarke at first slip off Starc in the next over, the match had turned on its head. New Zealand were now 151-6 and looked down and out.

Grant Elliott tried to take a few risks as he ran out of partners and he was the 8th wicket to fall with the score on 171, he made a superb 83 off just 82 balls. The Kiwi innings ended with a brilliance of flash in the field by Glenn Maxwell who fielded the ball at short mid-wicket and hurled it at the non strikers end to catch Tim Southee short of his ground. New Zealand could only make 183. They had slipped from 150-3 to 183 all out losing their last 7 wickets for just 33 runs.

New Zealand still could make a match out of this as they had the bowlers and an aggressive captain who backed them to a hilt. Boult swung the ball in to Aaron Finch in the second over and he just inside edged it on to his pads which lobbed up for a simple caught and bowled. Australia 2-1. In walked Steven Smith, the man who had made a half century in the quarter final and a century in the semi final and he looked in fine touch once again. David Warner was a bit nervy and edgy but he too was soon hitting the ball right of the middle of his big, heavy bat.

Australia were cruising but Warner pulled one straight down mid-wickets throat off Matt Henry as Australia were 63-2 in the 13th over. That brought their captain to the crease for the final time in yellow cloths for Australia and he looked nervous. Short balls have troubled him lately and McCullum attacked him with plenty of short bowling. He placed ultra attacking fields too; 3 slips, a gully, a short cover and a short point for Clarke. But Clarke battled through and was soon hitting the ball as sweetly as he has ever hit. As the target got within sight Clarke decided to up the ante. He hit Southee for 4 consecutive boundaries in an over and then Smith got to his 5th consecutive fifty in the next over. But Clarke could not witness either Smith’s 50 from the other end neither could he hit the winning runs as he chopped one onto his stumps from the impressive Henry.

He walked off to a rapturous applause from the 93,000 strong fans voicing their support for him. The chase was sealed by Smith as he pulled a short Southee delivery to mid-wicket for a 4. The World Cup had been wrested back from India and Australia had won the World Cup for the 5th time!

All smiles for the Australian team as they lift the World Cup after

beating New Zealand by 7 wickets at the MCG

James Faulkner won the man of the match award for his game changing spell and Mitchell Starc won the man of the series as he ended up as the joint leading wicket taker along with Trent Boult. Both the awards were handed by the master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar. Michael Clarke made a reference to Phil Hughes when he emotionally and with a lump in his throat mentioned, ‘We dedicate this World Cup win to our little brother Phil Hughes’. A big pat on the back to him for that and respect too!!

And so, it ended. The cricket carnival has come to an end with Australia being crowned the World Champions for a staggering 5th time! Congratulations to them!

As for me I will do a few more posts on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 before bringing down curtains on what has been the most prolific period for me and my blog.

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Road to the 2015 Cricket World Cup Finals - Australia

Hosts Australia have made it to yet another World Cup Final where they will meet New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the 29th March to decide who is the ODI champion. Their campaign was marked by a whitewash against the Bangladeshi's and a narrow loss against co-hosts New Zealand at Auckland. Let us look at how their World Cup has been thus far and how they reached the finals.

The Australian team has performed exceptionally and find themselves 

in yet another World Cup Title Race!

• Australia v England at Melbourne - Feb 14, 2015

Australia won by 111 runs

• Australia v Bangladesh at Brisbane - Feb 21, 2015

Match abandoned without a ball bowled

• New Zealand v Australia at Auckland - Feb 28, 2015

New Zealand won by 1 wicket (with 161 balls remaining)

• Australia v Afghanistan at Perth - Mar 4, 2015

Australia won by 275 runs

• Australia v Sri Lanka at Sydney - Mar 8, 2015

Australia won by 64 runs

• Australia v Scotland at Hobart - Mar 14, 2015

Australia won by 7 wickets (with 208 balls remaining)

• 3rd Quarter-Final: Australia v Pakistan at Adelaide - Mar 20, 2015

Australia won by 6 wickets (with 97 balls remaining)

• 2nd Semi-Final: Australia v India at Sydney - Mar 26, 2015

Australia won by 95 runs

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Smith Ton Flattens India, Sets Up Final Clash With The Black Caps

Semi Final 2: Australia vs India at SCG, Sydney on 26th March - Match Review

Australia beat India by 95 Runs

A sea of blue greeted both the teams as they arrived at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground for this important Semi Final clash and the right to play New Zealand at the MCG on the 29th March 2015 in the Final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Australia won the toss and decided that they will bat first, the pitch looked like a belter and it was the same pitch on which Sri Lanka had nearly chased down Australia’s 370 odd just 2 weeks ago. Both the teams were unchanged for this fight.

Warner hit a six off Umesh Yadav but then lobbed a simple catch off the leading edge to Virat Kohli stationed at mid off. Mohammad Shami was getting the new ball to swing and he was all over Aaron Finch in his opening spell. Steven Smith, the man who had tormented India right through their recently concluded test series just started off from where he had left. He started in grand fashion and was middling the ball right from the word go. Umesh Yadav was hit straight down the ground for a 4 and was then pulled disdainfully three times in the same over, that over cost him 16 runs.

Finch meanwhile continued to struggle at the other end but he fought on. Australia brought their 100 in the 19th over and Smith completed his 50 off just 53 balls. Finch also eventually got to his half century but took 82 balls. Australia opted for the powerplay in the 33rd over as they looked to up the tempo of their innings and with wickets in hand they were headed towards a massive score.

Smith and Finch both attacked the Indian bowlers in the powerplay and Smith completed a well deserved century off just 89 balls. But he could not carry on to a bigger score as he pulled a ball from Yadav straight to Rohit in the deep. Maxwell came in and smashed 23 runs in no time when the introduction of R Ashwin got him a bit too greedy and he was out for 23 off 14 balls. Finch departed in the next over as he tried to pull Yadav but got the toe end of his bat, the ball lobbing to Shikhar Dhawan at short mid widwicket. He made a laborious 81 off 116 balls.

Steve Smith was all over India with the bat and in the field in their Semi Final Clash at the SCG!

At this point of time, India were just starting to claw their way back in to the game as a flurry of wickets had slowed the Aussie charge. The wicket of Michael Clarke further boosted the Indian confidence but first Faulkner who made a vital 21 off just 12 balls and then Watson who steadied the wobble a bit with a 30 ball 28 dented India’s charge. Mitchell Johnson then smashed a game changing 27 off just 9 balls right at the end as Australia posted an imposing score of 328 in their 50 overs.

India needed to bat with caution early on in a bid to preserve wickets for a late assault and that is exactly what they did. Rohit was caught by Watson off Starc in the first over but was reprieved as the replays were inconclusive if the ball had carried to him or not. Haddin then clanged a catch off Dhawan off Hazlewood and everyone felt that maybe it would be an Indian night after all. Dhawan started charging the bowlers and took on Faulkner who was smashed for 30 runs in his first two overs. At the other end Rohit hooked Johnson in the crowd for a six and the crowd roared. India were going along nicely when Dhawan had a brain freeze and he sliced a wide ball straight to Maxwell off Hazlewood.

The whole complexion of the game changed with that one error. Australia were right on top and the bowlers started charging in again. Virat made a solitary run before top edging a pull off Johnson; he took 13 balls to score that one run. Rohit pulled Johnson for another six but was bowled the very next ball as the ball just swung in a bit leaving India at 91 for 3 after 18 overs. Raina was the next in the firing line and he copped a few from Starc before edging one off Faulkner to Haddin. Dhoni and Rahane tried to forge a partnership but just when they were starting to get going in the powerplay, Rahane fell tickling a faint edge to Haddin off Starc which was originally given not out by the umpire but was reversed after Smith convinced Clarke that he had heard something!!

Dhoni dawdled around to complete an utterly meaningless half century but the script had been written and the film had been over long before he was eventually out. The Indian tail did not offer any resistance and India were bowled out for 233 as they whimpered to a loss against Australia one final time this Australian summer.

So, after 48 games and nearly 6 weeks; we now have the two Finalists of the World Cup. It will be the two co-hosts who will collide for the prestigious title once again just like India and Sri Lanka had in 2011. Australia and New Zealand have already given us a thriller earlier in the tournament, can they give us one more at the MCG?

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

New Zealand Pip South Africa to Reach the 2015 World Cup Finals!

Semi Final 1: New Zealand vs South Africa at Eden Park, Auckland on 24th March 2015 – Match Review

New Zealand beat South Africa by 4 Wickets (D/L Method)

It was cloudy and a bit blustery at the toss which AB De Villiers won and decided that South Africa will bat first. That was a big plus for South Africa as the pressure of chasing in a big knockout game had been avoided. In a debatable team selection the stellar Kyle Abbot was replaced by Vernon Philander who had had an ordinary tournament up until today. New Zealand threw in Matt Henry for the injured Adam Milne.

Nervousness was writ large on the faces of the Protea openers Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock as Tim Southee and Trent Boult swung the ball just like every day morning routine. De Kock edged one wide of the 3rd slip for a streaky boundary off Boult before being put down by Luke Ronchi in the same over. In the very next over Boult could not reach a miscued pull shot from Amla! But Amla was bowled off Boult in the 4th over chasing a wide one and dragging it back on to his stumps. South Africa were 21 for 1 in the 4th over which soon became 31 for 2 in the 8th as De Kock swung wildly and gave a catch to third man, Boult picking up his second.

Faf Du Plessis, the man who was at the center in 2011, was battling against Boult and Matt Henry. He was having a tough time but he soaked up all that was being thrown at him. Giving him company was the young Rilee Rossouw who, after a slow start was starting to open up a bit. Rossouw hit some beautiful shots straight down the ground. South Africa reached 100 in the 25th over, slow going as the conditions were tough and the Kiwis were throwing themselves in the field. Rossouw was held brilliantly by the hero of their Quarter Final clash Martin Guptill, he flew to his right to grab the ball with just two fingers!!

That brought AB De Villiers to the middle and it was Faf and De Villiers again that had to do the job for the South Africans. Faf was starting to blossom as the sun made an appearance and AB was off the blocks in typical busy manner. AB was dropped by Kane Williamson and Faf hit a big six as the powerplay was taken in the 35th over. Rain arrived with South Africa at 216 for 3 in 38 overs. As the delay got longer with the persisting rain, overs started to get reduced and D/L came in to picture.

The match was reduced to 43 overs a side when play finally began again. Faf Du Plessis was out caught behind, strangled down the leg side soon upon resumption. David Miller, the next man in though got straight in to the act as he started slamming fours and sixes off Anderson and Southee. De Villiers was going about business at the other end as usual. The 50 partnership between these two took just 23 balls and David Miller was out in the last over, he made a vital 49 off just 19 deliveries. Duminy played out the last 4 balls for 8 runs as South Africa made an imposing 281 for 5 off their 43 overs which was propped up give New Zealand a target of 298 to win in their 43 overs!

Brendon McCullum had dismantled the English attack and tore the Australian attack to shreds and he was at work again. He blasted Vernon Philander, his first over costing 18 runs. Dale Steyn was his next target, the South African ace was smacked straight back for a six before being pulled in to the crowd. He was also driven and tucked down to the fine leg, the over going for 25! McCullum brought up his fifty off just 22 balls and New Zealand raced to their fifty in just the 5th over. Martin Guptill, a man fresh from a double ton, was a spectator at the other end!

South Africa needed McCullum fast as the game was quickly slipping away from them and Morne provided a double breakthrough as the Kiwi skipper chipped a catch to Steyn at mid on and then bowled Kane Williamson off a short lifting delivery as New Zealand slipped from 0-71 to 2-81. That brought Taylor to the crease and he along with Guptill went about resurrecting the innings. They were just about getting in a safe zone when a huge mix up saw Martin Guptill being run out. Ross Taylor was guilty of ball watching and New Zealand lost the in form player to a silly run out. Taylor tried to make up for his blemish but was caught by De Kock off the part time spin of Duminy down the leg side.

New Zealand was 149-4 in the 22nd over, still 150 runs adrift from their target. The big hitting Corey Anderson joined forces with Grant Elliot as they slowly but surely kept chipping away at the target. South Africa had a chance to run Anderson out when he was on 33 but a combination of a bad throw and the over excitement of AB meant that South Africa had missed their chance. Both the players completed their respective half centuries and the 100 partnership came up between the two as well. It was their game to lose at that point. But Morkel returned to snaffle Anderson after he had bowled a superb over to him, Du Plessis holding on to a skier. Luke Ronchi came and went as New Zealand were at 269 for six after 40.1 overs.

The old man, Daniel Vettori, no mug with the bat and who has been in the pressure situations for New Zealand since the past 15 years was at the crease now. 29 were needed off 17 balls at this point in time. Pressure, pressure!! Grant Elliot was dropped off the last ball of the 42nd over, JP Duminy flying in to the way of Farhaan Behardien at fine leg. 12 needed of the last over. Vettori on strike. Dale Steyn with the ball in his hand. A bye was stolen off the first ball and a single off the second meant that Vettori was on strike for the 3rd ball. Steyn went down with a calf/ hamstring injury and was tended to by the physio. Vettori squeezed a boundary wide of third man and another bye of the next ball meant that the equation was now 5 from 2 balls. New Zealand needed to tie this game to advance but Elliot, just as Kane Williamson had done against Australia at this very ground, calmly hit Steyn for a six to spark wild scenes at the Eden Park.

Grant Elliot lets his emotions out after dispatching the penultimate ball of the match

for a six off Dale Steyn that sealed the match

Elliot let out a guttural roar but was the first to give Steyn a hand as he lay slump on the pitch after conceding that six. Faf fell to his knees at short mid wicket and De Villiers could not believe it. The Kiwi players were hugging each other and rushing out on the outfield. Morne Morkel was a picture of despair as he cried inconsolably. David Miller and AB De Villiers had red eyes too. Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum sported huge smiles. Daniel Vettori was emotionless as always. The fireworks lit up the Eden Park and the rest of New Zealand but the spark and the fire that the match had provided would remain lit in the hearts of the cricket fans for years to come. South Africa had not chocked this time around and they can hold their heads high as they gave everything they had to win this game. It was just that New Zealand were better on the given day.

This was a match that had everything, brilliant swing bowling, batting under pressure, dazzling fielding, sloppy fielding, clean ball striking, menacing bowling, calmness under pressure, joy and pain, sadness and anguish and a gut wrenching and a stomach churning finish. The atmosphere at the ground was electric; I wish I could one day witness such a game live at the stadium. New Zealand awaits the winners of the Australia-India clash as they pack their bags for Melbourne!

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Guptill, Boult Power New Zealand to the Semi Final

New Zealand vs West Indies at Westpac Stadium, Wellington on 21st March 2015 - Match Review

New Zealand Defeat West Indies by 143 Runs.

It was time for the final Quarter Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and co-hosts New Zealand were up against the Men from Caribbean at the scene where England were slaughtered by Tim Southee’s 7-33. Brendon McCullum won the toss and had no hesitation in deciding to bat first. Milne was back for them in place of Mitch McClenahegan and Benn and Gayle replaced Roach and Dwayne Smith for the West Indies.

Martin Guptill caressed the first ball from Jerome Taylor back past him for a boundary and then was dropped by Marlon Samuels on 4 off the third! Guptill hogged most of the early strike and was playing superbly in the ‘V’ but when McCullum got the strike he hit a six and a four off Holder. McCullum tried to blast one off Taylor over mid on in the next over but did not get all of it, Jason Holder taking a fine catch running backward. That slowed the Kiwi’s down a wee bit and there was some uncertainty in the running between Williamson and Guptill to start with. But they settled down and both of them played some gorgeous shots when Andre Russel just got one ball to hold up slightly in the pitch which Williamson spooned to Gayle at short cover.

Ross Taylor, who had got into a bit of form in the last game against Bangladesh, began slowly. But with Martin Guptill now in his elements, Taylor was not really forced to take any undue risks and he could play himself in. Guptill got to his 100 off 111 balls and with wickets in the bank; New Zealand looked like they would post a big total. Ross could not power on due to a breakdown in communication with Guptill, he was run out for 42 which consumed 61 deliveries.

Corey Anderson was promoted up the order, ahead of Grant Elliot and he muscled a four and six but was struggling for his timing and gave a catch to Gayle off Russel as a pull shot caught the toe end off his bat. In the meantime Guptill had effortlessly upped the ante and brought up his 150 off just 134 balls. Grant Elliot joined him and had fun as he smashed a valuable 27 off just 11 balls.

It was all Martin Guptill after that, he raced to his 200 off 152 balls and kept peppering the boundaries. Everything that the West Indies bowlers threw at him disappeared into the crowd. The best part was that all of his shots were regular cricket shots, played with a straight bat. No slogs, reverse sweeps, switch hits or ugly hoicks towards mid wicket. He finished on a remarkable 237*, the highest score by a batsman in a World Cup knockout match, the first 200 by a Kiwi; New Zealand made the highest ever score in a World Cup knock out stage, 393.

Martin Guptill, the fifth batsman to score an ODI 200 and the first Kiwi to do so, 

he achieved his in the World Cup Quarter match against West Indies

The score was a huge one but if any team had the firepower to chase it down, it was West Indies. Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles started the innings but Charles was bowled by Trent Boult as he tried to advance to Boult. West Indies promoted Lendl Simmons up the order but he lasted only for a short time as he edged behind to Guptill off Boult again. Gayle was unable to run and hence started playing big shots to almost every ball. Daniel Vettori was introduced early by McCullum but he traveled the distance as Gayle swept him for 3 6’s in a row. At the other end, Marlon Samuels was striking the ball sweetly too. He had raced to 27 off just 15 balls when he uppercut a wide Boult delivery that seemed destined to go for a six but Vettori nonchalantly leapt up in the air, struck out one hand and caught the ball high in the air!! Catch of the World Cup right there, Dan the Man!

Denesh Ramdin was caught right in front of the stumps and Boult was on fire as he took his 4th. Carter came out and looked good as he played some pleasing strokes. Gayle in the meanwhile continued with his onslaught. McCullum then handed over the ball to the raw Adam Milne and he got one past Gayle, West Indies 120-5 in the 17th over. Sammy, Russel and Holder all played shots and kept hitting balls for 4’s and 6’s but the score that they were chasing was just too much and out of their reach. They were all out for 250, but incredibly the runs had come in just 30 overs!! If the West Indies had kept wickets in hand then they would probably have chased this mountain of the total down. New Zealand won the match by 143 runs, the highest margin of victory in a World Cup knockout game.

With this extraordinary win New Zealand booked a place for them in the Semi Finals where they will face South Africa who had defeated Sri Lanka in the first Quarter Final. India, who had defeated Bangladesh and Australia, who came out on the top against Pakistan, will battle each other in Sydney in the other Semi Final.

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Hazlewood and Smith Seal Semi Final Spot For Hosts Australia

Australia vs Pakistan at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide on 20th March 2015 - Match Review

Australia Won by 6 Wickets.

Misbah Ul Haq won the toss and decided to bat first. The blueprint for Pakistan to score a win against Australia was a simple one, get around 270 runs and then unleash their bowlers to do the rest. Josh Hazlewood was brought in for Pat Cummins as he is more in the mould of McGrath and has control over his line and length.

Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad started cautiously and rightly so as the suffocating line of Hazlewood and the pace of Starc did not offer them easy fodder. Sarfraz was just getting in some rhythm when he chased a wide one off Starc and Watson grabbed a super catch at 2nd slip. Shehzad followed soon and Pakistan was in strife at 24-2 after 5 overs. Misbah walked in, yet again summoned to the crease early and yet again he went about doing his business with a zen like calm. His calmness rubbed on the Zing Bail which refused to fall after a ball from Hazlewood had just brushed the leg stump. Only for a fleeting moment did it get out of the groove, lit up; perhaps saluting the crisis man of Pakistan and then silently fell back in to the groove again.

Misbah along with Haris Sohail was beginning to restore some parity to the score, Pakistan were even looking like a team that was just ahead but just then Misbah; who had hit Maxwell for two sixes over mid-wicket fell trying to repeat the dose. Haris fell soon after driving casually away from his body and offering Haddin a simple catch. The perennially talented Umer Akmal followed in the footsteps of Misbah as he too fell to a long hop from Maxwell trying to clear the short square boundaries of the Adelaide Oval.

Out walked, Shahid Afridi, possibly for the last time in his career, with his team in trouble and in a Quarter Final match but started as if he were having nets as he plundered 4’s and 6’s off his first 5 balls. He made a whirlwind 23 off 15 balls and fell to a slapped pull shot of Hazlewood, Finch having a merry time on the mid-wicket boundary.

Wahab had hit an important fifty against Zimbabwe and he was welcomed to the crease by Starc by some incessant chatter as Wahab played and missed a few. ‘It’s a Little White Thing!! Try to Hit that’ Starc shouted to Wahab and Wahab responded with a few boundaries off Starc. He was also the beneficiary of 5 overthrows when Johnson threw at the non strikers end unnecessarily. Maqsood and Wahab both departed with the score on 188. The last wicket partnership added 18 runs and Pakistan were all out for 213.

Warner began in a hurry and was creaming balls through the off side with pure timing. Finch was stuck in front of the stumps by Sohail Khan and he wasted a review after consultation with David Warner. Australia seemed to be cruising when Misbah introduced the quickest bowler of the World Cup 2015, Wahab Riaz. He made an immediate impact as Warner was caught at third man by Rahat Ali, a brilliant catch. Michael Clarke has an antique back and has problems with the short ball. Wahab had him fending at one and Misbah had a short leg in place who accepted the dolly with glee.

That was the start of the most brutal spell of fierce and nasty display of bowling by Wahab Riaz. He bowled brute after brute as Shane Watson, a fine puller and hooker of the cricket ball was ducking and fending balls off his throat and head. The balls either just evaded his head or landed short of the fielders until one reared up on him and he pulled instinctively. Rahat dropped a simple chance and the Pakistani shoulders drooped. Wahab had given his heart out in that spell and it was definitely the best fast bowling spell that I have witnessed.

Shane Watson was locked in an epic battle with Wahab Riaz 

in the Quarter Final at the Adelaide Oval

At the other end Steve Smith was just going about his business without any fuss, hitting balls through cover or flicking them off his pads while charging to Afridi and hitting him against the turn too. Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali were unable to keep up the quality that Wahab had displayed. Ehsaan Adil picked up Smith as he went across his stumps once too often to be leg before wicket. Wahab was brought back and he bowled an absolute rip-snorter to Glenn Maxwell as the ball ballooned towards third man where Sohail Khan ran in confused and just got his fingertips to what should have been a simple chance. Everyone in that ground must have felt a soft corner for Wahab at that moment as he was left disconsolate by the catching of his mates.

Watson soon hit the winning runs and held his arms out and let out a cry of victory but there was also a relief from him that he still had his head on his shoulders after his battle with Riaz.

So Australia moves in to the Semi Final where they will meet India at SCG. As for Pakistan, their bowlers tried hard enough but once again it was the batting and definitely their fielding that had let them down. The match also brought curtains on Misbah Ul Haq, a man widely criticized for his slow batting but who I always believed was the glue that held it together. Boom Boom Afridi also played his last match and he played his innings just like he has played countless ones before this match. These two will always be remembered for their contributions to Pakistan Cricket but just like Mahela and Sanga a few days earlier, they were denied a fairy tale ending.

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Rohit Sharma, Bowlers Land India in Semi Final of CWC15

Bangladesh vs India at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on Mar 19, 2015 - Match Review

India beat Bangladesh by 109 Runs.

The MCG was supposed to have been jam packed with around 90,000 spectators for the India-Bangladesh Quarter Final clash. It was not even half filled but the noise and color that the fans from both the countries presented more than made up for it. Dhoni won the toss and decided that India would bat first. India were unchanged while Bangladesh welcomed back their skipper Mashrafe Mortaza while also recalling the young quickie Taskin Ahmed.

Indian openers did not find the going easy but they were still able to pierce the infield and hit at least a boundary every over. Spin was introduced by Mashrafe as the quicks were unable to make a breakthrough and the wily Shakib deceived Shikhar Dhawan in the flight to have him stumped. The Bangladeshi fans roared. Virat Kohli was worked over by Rubel Hossain with a wonderful display of fast bowling and Bangladesh were on top with the Indian run rate going nowhere and two of the inform batsmen back in the hutch.

The situation did not improve as Ajinkya Rahane struggled to get his timing right and made a painstaking 19 off 37 balls before being undone by Taskin Ahmed as he chipped a catch to short cover. That brought the centurion from the last match, Suresh Raina to the pitch but the Bangladesh bowlers were in the zone. Raina huffed and puffed his way to 10 off 19 balls before the powerplay was taken.

At this point India were going at under 4.5 runs per over and seemed to be in total control of the match. But a close lbw decision went against them as they lost a review and Rohit should have been given out as he was caught off a high full toss but the umpire signaled it as a no ball. There was no looking back for the Indians after those moments and the Bangladeshis appeared that they had been robbed, rightly so too. India made 50 for no loss in the powerplay. The momentum had swung, and how. Raina departed when the score was on 237 after scoring an important 65 off just 57 balls.

Rohit went on to complete a sublime century, an innings in which he curbed a lot of his natural instincts and played with a lot of maturity. He too departed, bowled by Taskin after hitting 137 off just 126 balls.  Jadeja provided the finishing touches with a rapid 23 in just 10 balls even as MSD struggled with his timing at the other end. India made 302 off their allotted 50 overs, which had to be a par score with a good pitch and a fast outfield.

Bangladesh started well, Tamim Iqbal giving glimpses of his assault that left India stunned in 2007 but this time around he could not go on. Imrul Kayes was involved in a mindless run out the very next ball and suddenly Bangladesh was under a lot of pressure. Soumya Sarkar and the in form Mahmudullah stitched a partnership and gave a ray of hope but they both departed within a space of 3 overs.

Shakib and Mushfiqur have been the batting mainstays for Bangladesh but they dawdled around not hitting the gaps and unable to get their timing right. Umesh Yadav, Jadeja and Shami all claimed wickets in quick intervals and dented the chase every time the batsmen tried to take a risk. Ashwin was tight as he has been right through the tournament. Bangladesh were bowled out for 193 as India romped home by 109 runs.

India celebrate their Quarter Final win over Bangladesh by 109 runs at the MCG

The margin of victory looks bigger than what it really was. Bangladesh were at the top for almost 35 overs while India were batting. They looked good when they were 70-2 while batting. A little more experience at playing the knockouts might have given them a better chance of competing with India. India had bowled out an opposition for the 7th straight game running, a feat that must warm the hearts of every Indian fan.

India will face the winner of tomorrows Quarter Final clash between Australia and Pakistan at the SCG. The games will get bigger from here on in, the competition tougher and the stakes higher.

South Africa Apply the Anti Choke, Storm Into the Semi Finals

Sri Lanka vs South Africa, Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on 18th March 2015 - Match Review

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets.

It was a bright sunny afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground when Angelo Mathews and AB De Villiers walked out for the toss with mark Nicholas. It was Angelo who won the toss and without any hesitation decided to bat first. There was speculation about the fitness of Rangana Herath and he was indeed injured and off spinner Tharindu Kaushal made his ODI debut for the Lankans the high pressure game. South Africa brought in Kyle Abbot for Vernon Philander.

In another surprise move, Sri lanka promoted Kusal Perera, and that was a move that I liked as Kusal is a batsman who can get the team off to a flier and in a crunch match that often helps settles the nerves in the dressing room. But he played and missed going for his shots in the first Dale Steyn over and finally offered a catch off Kyle Abbot to De Kock in the second over who juggled but pouched the ball. Dilshan then, slashing at a ball too close to his body gave a catch low to Faf Du Plessis at second slip who took it easily. Dilshan was out for a duck and Dale Steyn was pumped.

Lahiru Thirimanne came in at number 4, so that Mahela could be used for later overs and he started in a confident manner. He hit Abbot for two sweet boundaries through the covers before repeating the dose off Morkel. But at the other end, Kumar Sangakkara, the man who was coming in to this game off his 4 hundreds was being kept quiet by the South African quicks who bowled close to his body not affording him any room. Thirimanne made an attractive 41 before lobbing up a simple catch to Tahir off his own bowling. Mahela then came to the crease and joined hands with his old mate Kumar. But, with Sanga already struggling, Mahela too got bogged down by the variations of Tahir. Mahela was out to Tahir for the 4th time in his career and one could sense that the Lankan innings was just falling apart.

Sangakkara struggled on, at one stage he was on 5 off 40 balls but he batted manfully, trying to eke out runs for his team. Mathews then got hit by a nasty Morkel bouncer and he looked flustered after that. he was out caught at short mid wicket off the part time spin of JP Duminy. Thisara Perera departed without troubling the scorers as he gave Rossouw a catch in the slips. When JP Duminy got Nuwan Kulasekara and Tharindu Kaushal off the first two balls in his next over, he had completed an unexpected hat trick. Sanga, feeling frustrated and strangulated, attempted to break free and managed a couple of boundaries but he was caught at third man off Morkel. The skies opened up for a few moments at that stage and probably had the South Africans heaving a collective gasp of "Oh No!! Not Again!!". But it was just a passing shower and Tahir claimed his 4th wicket upon resumption of play and the Sri Lankans were bowled out for a paltry 133 in just 37.2 overs.

That total was never going to trouble the Proteas and they got there with the loss of just Hashim Amla, brilliantly caught at third man by Kulasekara off Malinga. Tharindu Kaushal bowled with guile and loop, and Chameera, though he leaked runs, with pace and fire. Quinton De Kock made a brilliant fifty, a welcome return to form for the diminutive wicket keeper.

Not the end that Sangakkara would have been hoping for as 

South Africa crushed Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in the 1st CWC15 Quarter Final at SCG

It was the last ODI that Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene played for Sri Lankans and they could not repeat their fairy tale script from the WT20 in Bangladesh where they bowed out on a high. There were a few tears and hugs all around for these two absolute legends of the game and they surely deserved a better end then this.

South Africa had turned a corner with this win, a World Cup win in the knockout match for the first time in 23 years. It took a long time coming but they finally achieved that. Now they will probably face their 2011 Quarter Final nemesis New Zealand who had handed them a trashing in the sub continent.

Bangladesh Sink Woeful England, Make Quarters!

Bangladesh vs England, Adelaide Oval Stadium in Adelaide - 9th March 2015 - Match Review

Bangladesh beat England by 15 runs.

The equation was pretty simple for both Bangladesh and England before this game. The winner would most likely proceed to the Quarter Final and face India. Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided that England will chase. There were a couple of changes to both the sides. England brought in Alex Hales and Chris Jordan as expected in place of Gary Ballance and Steve Finn. Bangladesh brought in Arafat Sunny and Imrul Kayes.

James Anderson, who had taken just 2 wickets thus far in this World Cup doubled his tally by the end of his 2nd over as he got the ball to curl and hoop, properties which make him such a dangerous customer. Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah Riyad began the recovery process from that stage and played with caution but still took advantage of any loose ball. Sarkar was dismissed by Jordan in the 21st over, the Bangladesh score reading 94. It soon became 99-4 as Shakib al Hasan presented a simple catch to Joe Root in the slip off Moeen Ali. Bangladesh were now in a hole and needed a solid partnership to take them to a score of any respectability.

Mushfiqur Rahim joined Mahmudullah and the two of them went about collecting runs in a non fussed manner. Mahmudullah brought up his 50 off 69 balls and Bangladesh reached 150 in the 33rd over. The batting power play yielded 37 runs as the two Bangladeshi batsmen did not take any undue risks. Mushfiqur got to his 50 off just 49 balls and a big total loomed for England. Mahmudullah hit the first century by a Bangladeshi batsman in World Cup, the previous highest being Tamim Iqbal's 95 that he had scored the other day against Scotland. Bangladesh lost their way a bit towards the end but still made a competitive 275/7 at the end of their 50 overs.

England began brightly as Moeen Ali and Ian Bell both found the boundaries with relative ease. But a mix up ended the fruitful partnership as England lost Moeen Ali with the score reading 43 in the 8th over. Alex Hales, in the side in place of Ballance hit a few fours and was largely convincing but edged through to Mushfiqur when on 27. Bell departed after a painstaking 63 off 82 balls leaving on England 121-3. England slipped further in a hole as captain Morgan departed without opening his account and James Taylor could make just a solitary run. England were 312-5 in the 30th over and staring at an early exit.

Joe Root also went soon after after grinding out 29 runs from 47 balls and England now needed a miracle to keep their World Cup campaign alive. The two men at the crease were Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler. Buttler and Woakes steadied the English ship and opened up after a few overs playing freely. Buttler especially was playing superbly and hitting boundaries at will. He fell with the England score on 238, he made 65 off 52 balls. Jordan was run out off the very next ball as a huge mix up between him and Woakes ensued. The match was getting tighter. Broad hit a lusty six and Woakes hit a couple of boundaries to give England hope but Rubel Hossain returned to clean up both Broad and Anderson in the 49th over to seal a famous Bangla win!

The Bangladesh Players are over the moon after their historic win against the English by 15 runs 

at Adelaide Oval to find a place in the Quarter Finals

The English team has had a woeful World Cup campaign and they have a last game against Afghanistan remaining which is pretty meaningless. They have been annihilated this World Cup suffering huge losses to Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and now this. Bangladesh, well they have deserved this win. They have been the better side right through the World Cup and this victory means that they will most likely face India in the Quarter Finals. It was certainly a night to remember for the Bangladeshi fans and I hope they live up in the knock outs as well!

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Sarfraz, Misbah and Pakistan Quicks Stun Proteas

Pakistan vs South Africa, Eden park in Auckland on 7th March 2015 - Match Review

Pakistan Beat South Africa by 29 Runs (D/L Method).

It was an overcast day at Auckland and AB De Villiers won the toss and elected to field first. Surely the overhead clouds would help the South African quicks. Pakistan included Sarfraz Ahmed and Younis Khan in place of the out of form Nasir Jamshed and Haris Sohail who was out with a heel injury.

Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad started off slowly but they looked in control and had seen off the early threat of Steyn and Abbot and were just beginning to impose themselves on the bowlers when Shehzad turned one off his hips in to the leg side and Steyn running backwards from mid on took a wonderful full length diving catch. That brought Younis Khan to the crease and AB tried himself and JP Duminy for a couple of overs. They were both taken to the cleaners by Younis and Sarfraz, one Duminy over costing over 20 runs! Pakistan were looking pretty comfortable, runs were coming and there was no threat but suddenly a brain fade from Sarfraz saw him get run out after he went for a non existing second run. He made 49. Younis also departed after a well made 37 to AB De Villiers much to the delight of the South African captain.

Dale Steyn pulled off a stunner to send Ahmed Shehzad on his way!!

Misbah was there holding an end and scoring like he always does but as always things were starting to fall at the other end. Sohaib Maqsood made just 8 before he gave the point fielder a simple catch off Kyle Abbot. Umar Akmal played a few deft shots before he too gave his wicket away, chipping a catch to De Villiers off Morkel. Shahid Afridi had just arrived at the crease but the rain also decided that it was time to make an appearance. Play was stopped for some time but no overs were reduced when play resumed. The rain returned again after 40 overs with Pakistan at 197-5. When play resumed this time the overs had been reduced to 47 per side. Pakistan would have looked to add around 70-80 runs in the last 7 overs but they were demolished by Steyn and Morkel as they lost their last 5 wickets for just 25 runs.

The D/L method adjusted South Africa's target to 232 off 47 overs as De Kock and Amla strode out to the middle. This was the ground where Australia had nearly pulled off a victory against New Zealand and Irfan produced a peach of a delivery to De Kock which he nicked behind. The delively came in to De Kock and left him at the last moment, also gaining height; South were 1 down with no score on the board. The ball was moving around and Pakistan were in with a big chance. But 38 runs were scored off the 3 overs from 6-8 thus nearly killing the chase!

The pendulum swung once again as Pakistan stuck back through Rahat Ali who dismissed Faf Du Plessis and David Miller and Wahab Riaz got Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw in successive overs. From 67-1 South Africa had slipped to 77-5 and much now depended on De Villiers and JP Duminy.

Duminy has a problem against the short ball and he was peppered by the Pakistani left arm quicks. He finally gave a catch off Irfan to Wahab Riaz who took it gleefully at deep fine leg! Steyn swung the bat and got a couple of fours but nicked behind, again off Irfan. Kyle Abbot also hung around for sometime with AB, who was trying his best to get as many runs as possible. He stuck Wahab Riaz for 2 sixes in an over and then hit Afridi for a six and a four.

It looked as if AB might just win it for the Proteas but AB fell for 58 ball 77 and Tahir soon followed him as SA were all out for 202. Sarfraz took 6 catches behind the wicket and the Pakistani left armers had a ball taking 9 wickets between them.

This Pakistan win means that they now have 6 points with the game against Ireland in hand. That will be a huge game and the winner will probably make the Quarter Finals. As for South Africa, they have lost to India and now Pakistan and the pre tournament favorites tag sits uncomfortably on their heads right now.

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

India Edge Out West Indies in a Low Scoring Encounter

India vs West Indies, WACA Stadium in Perth on 6th March 2015 - Match Review

India beat West Indies by 4 Wickets.

It was a beautiful sunny day at Perth and with Australia having smashed over 400 just a few days ago against Afghanistan, the pitch looked a belter. Another high scoring game was in the offing but the bowlers from both the sides decided to have some fun of their own! West Indies won the toss and they decided to bat first.

The West Indian openers, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith are on most occasions pretty slow starters and they take their time settling in before trying their shots. Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami, who was returning back to the side after missing the last game were getting the ball to zip around with some extra bounce as well. They were getting lots of help from the 'Freemantle Doctor' Wind and it was tough going for both the West Indies openers.

Dwayne Smith, after getting a working over from Shami finally nicked one behind to Dhoni. Marlon Samuels dawdled for a few balls and with Gayle too not finding any runs they were getting twitchy in the middle. Gayle mistimed a pull which fell just short of a diving Mohit at mid-on but a terrible breakdown in communication saw Samuels get run out as Gayle was just ball watching. That woke up Gayle and he launched Yadav and Shami for a couple of fours and sixes but was out caught pulling Shami soon after. Ramdin departed first ball, Simmons, Carter and Russel also departed without making any dent in the Indian bowling figures. But the West Indian captain Jason Holder added 39 for the 8th wicket with Darren Sammy and then 51 with Jerome Taylor for the 9th wicket as he completed his half century. He was the last man out to Ravindra Jadeja and West Indies were all out for 182.

Mohammed Shami took 3-35 as he broke the back of the West Indian batting, 

he won the Man Of the Match Award for his efforts.

During the innings break, the West Indian team were given a rousing pep talk by their fast bowling coach and one of my all time favorite players, Curtly Ambrose. The great fast bowler had once taken 7-1 against Australia at this very ground and surely his talk must have fired up the West Indian quicks. Jerome Taylor and Jason Holder swung the ball prodigiously and Rohit and Dhawan bot found it very hard to score runs. They were beaten numerous times before Dhawan finally nicked one to 2nd slip off Taylor. Rohit too nicked behind and both the Indian openers were back in the hutch for single digit scores with India at 20-2 after 7 overs.

Kohli and Rahane were then peppered with short balls from both Kemar Roach and Andre Russel but they were also fed a few deliveries on the pads which took the pressure off the Indians. Kohli played and missed severel deliveries before falling to the short ball from Russel. Rahane got a feather behind and Raina was also caught behind off the part time bowling of Dwayne Smith. Jadeja fell to a scorching short ball from Russel and India were in some strife at 134-6 still needing 50 runs to win the game. There were a few nervy moments for Dhoni and Ashwin but as they got closer to the target the West Indians slacked in their approach and in the end the Indians won by 4 wickets with more than 10 overs to spare.

Having won all its games, against Pakistan, South Africa, UAE and West Indies thus far, India must easily top the Pool B now. They play Ireland and Zimbabwe in their last two games. West Indies have 4 points and they have a game against UAE which they should win. This group is very tight and we could very well have a three way tie between West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland. West Indies's loss to Ireland could bite them big time if things do not go well for them.

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Thirimanne, Sangakkara Tons Set Up Huge Sri Lanka Win Against England

Sri Lanka vs England, Westpac Stadium in Wellington - 1st March 2015 - Match Review

Sri Lanka beat England by 9 wickets.

England and Sri Lanka have met each other quite a few times since the last year and Sri Lanka seem to have a measure of the English (well, who doesn't at the moment?) and they once again trashed them by 9 wickets as they chased down a massive 309 runs with almost 3 overs to spare! Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to bat first once again at Wellington, the place where they were massacred by Tim Southee and Brendon McCullum just last week. It was a beautiful sunny day and the pitch looked flat. Ian Bell started off in a frenzy as he fed off the loose bowling of Suranga Lakmal and England were motoring at around 8 an over for the first 6 or 7 overs. But the introduction of Dilshan and Mathews himself put a break on the run rate and the pressure finally got to Moeen Ali who threw away his wicket with a half hearted loft straight to Lakmal standing at mid off. Gary Ballance, who I believe seriously, unbalances this English side scratched around for 15 deliveries or so before giving Dilshan a simple catch off his own bowling. The wind had been taken out of the English sails and Bell too had gone in a shell after a bright start. He too was bowled by Suranga Lakmal on 49.

 Morgan and Root put on a decent partnership with Morgan still not entirely convincing in his footwork or shot making and Root too was dropped by Mahela before he had made it in to double figures. The English skipper got out to Perera just before the power play was to be taken and England had a chance to promote the dynamic Jos Buttler ahead of James Taylor but they stuck with the conventional line up. Taylor kept the scoreboard ticking and made 25 before getting out. Joe Root in the meanwhile had quietly compiled the runs and was looking fluent by the minute. He brought up his century, the youngest Englishman to do so in a World Cup, and then upped the ante. Jos Buttler was welcomed to the crease by a scorching bouncer by Lasith Malinga which caught him just below the ear and the entire ground gasped as the episode of Phil Hughes is still fresh in everyone’s mind. But everything was fine and Buttler hammered a 19 ball 39 to take England to a competitive 309 after their 50 overs.

Sri Lanka had made a big total in their last game against Bangladesh and one could feel that they were quietly confident about chasing down this total. Dilshan and Thirimanne got them off to a safe start as Anderson and Broad kept things tight but there was no swing or seam for them. Thirimanne edged one at the start of the innings but was dropped by Root after he was blinded by Jos Buttler as he pulled out of the catch at the last moment. Dilshan and Thirimanne stitched together another 100 partnership and they were just starting to open up when Dilshan got out to Moeen Ali as the ball appeared to have stopped a bit on him. That brought Kumar Sangakkara, fresh from his fastest hundred against Bangladesh, to the crease.

Twin Centuries by Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne saw 

Sri Lanka home against England by 9 wickets

In the end, Sri Lanka cantered to a victory with 9 wickets and plenty of balls and fire power stored in the tank. This Sri Lankan team is starting to peak at the correct time and they have a reputation of lifting their game in the big tournaments. Their batsmen are piling on the runs and they have now lost only 2 wickets and scored around 700 runs!!! England is down and almost out and their clash against Bangladesh becomes a virtual Quarter Final and if they lose that they can pack their bags and go home.

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Kiwis Edge Out Australia in a Nail Biter in Auckland!

Australia vs New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland: Feb 28, 2015 - Match Review

New Zealand beat Australia by 1 wicket.

Who says low scoring matches are boring, who says that more 4's and 6's means more fun? I have for long believed that low scoring matches are much more interesting than when a team rakes up 400 and the pressure of that high score leaves the chasing side crumbling under pressure. Australia and New Zealand provided a match that ebbed and flowed and rose and fell like waves of a churning and turbulent sea. This match was always billed to be a classic and both the teams gave us a match to remember for a very long time!

The match started with both the teams a bit nervous as Tim Southee sprayed it around trying to locate his radar and Australia raced to 30 in the third over. Finch had just deposited Southee for a six straight over his head but was bowled the very next delivery trying to repeat the shot. Watson joined Warner and he struggled early on. Southee continued to leak runs up front but Boult was economical and found his line and length. McCullum turned to the experience of Daniel Vettori to put a cap on the scoring rate and he responded beautifully by controlling his pace and with subtle variations of flight. Watson would soon succumb to the pressure and hole out and when Southee, changing ends pinged back Warner to win an lbw decision the Australians had lost two in two and were 80-3 in the 13th over.

Michael Clarke and Steven Smith were entrusted with the job of resurrecting the Aussie innings but Smith departed soon to the guile's of Vettori again. Brendon McCullum, the most aggressive captain of the modern day then brought back his ace spearhead Trent Boult and he responded to the call by a brilliantly blinding display of bowling. If Tim Southee had ripped apart the English a few days ago, today was the turn of Boult who left the Aussie batsmen confounded. Boult cleaned up Maxwell and Marsh in the same over, both playing on to their stumps as uncertain foot movements led to their downfall. Clarke soon followed as he gave a simple catch to short cover off the rampaging Boult. He would soon dispatch the two left armers in the Australian team, Johnson to a brilliant catch by Williamson and Starc to an absolute peach that bowled him neck and crop. Haddin put on a fighting 45 for the last wicket with pat Cummins to lend some respectability to their total but the Australians had finished with a subpar score of 151. Boult finished his second spell with magical figures of 5-3-3-5

New Zealand again came out to bat before the lunch break and Brendon again went in to an overdrive against the pace of Starc and Johnson. He carved pitched up deliveries over mid-off, cover and point regions. The Aussie bowlers pitched it up to find some swing but the only swing that was found was off the bat of McCullum as he flayed them to all parts of the ground reminiscent off his innings against the English last week. Clarke soon switched to plan B and instructed Johnson to bowl short at the rampaging McCullum. The field was set for that and the first ball hit the Kiwi skipper flush in his arm. Ouch!! That was a painful blow and though he hit some more fours but he was quite ginger in his movements after that blow. McCullum departed in the 8th over after hitting 50 off just 24 balls and his pyrotechnics ensured that they were almost 80 by that time.

But if New Zealand believed that they could have it easy against their hardnosed neighbors then they were in for a shock and a little collapse of their own. Starc clean bowled Ross Taylor and Grant Elliot either side of the lunch break to set hearts fluttering in the packed stands of the Eden Park and giving a glimmer of hope to the Australian fans. Corey Anderson and Kane Williamson took the score to 131 but Corey was tentative throughout his stay. He gave a catch off Maxwell looking for a release and then Starc had Ronchi caught by Haddin. When Vettori went for a duck the match was still in control of the Kiwis as they needed only 7 runs with 3 wickets in the bank. Johnson bowled a maiden and then Clarke tossed the ball to Starc once again. Williamson took a single off the second ball and left Milne with 4 balls to survive. Starc produced two high class yorkers to dismiss Milne and Southee off successive deliveries and New Zealand were suddenly 146 for 9 with 6 still needed for a victory. Out walked Boult, the hero with the ball for New Zealand and he somehow kept out the two deliveries. Williamson nonchalantly picked up the first ball off the next over by Pat Cummins back over his head to seal the game by a wicket.

The Kiwi players pose with the Chappel-Hadlee trophy after beating 

Australia by a solitary wicket in Auckland

With this win, barring a stunning reversal in fortunes, New Zealand are almost sure to top the Pool A. Australia, well they still have a lot to do as they have already dropped a point against Bangladesh, a game which was washed out. This was a match, which everyone expected the batsmen to dominate because of the short straight boundaries but classic swing bowling from both sides brought the batsmen to ground. Boult and Starc were the stand out performers though Vettori, McCullum and Williamson all had their say in the final result as well!

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

Cricket World Cup 2015 hit by Gayle Storm!

West Indies vs Zimbabwe at Manuka Oval, Canberra: Feb 23, 2015 - Match Review

West Indies beat Zimbabwe by 73 runs.

Jason Holder, the West Indies skipper when asked after West Indies had won their last game against Pakistan if he was concerned about the form of his top order replied that he was not too concerned as they had plundered 300 in both their opening games and that they would get 400 if the top order fired. Well, Gayle did fire today and how!! West Indies scored a mammoth 372 runs as Gayle and Samuels broke record after record against a hapless Zimbabwe side.

West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first. Panyangara removed Dwayne Smith in the first over for a duck and they could have had Gayle for a golden duck too as they reviewed a close lbw shout against him. Unfortunately, for them though it was a 50-50 decision and since the umpire had originally given it not out, the decision stayed. Zimbabwe were steady and Gayle and Samuels struggled to score. West Indies reached their 100 only in the 24th over but Gayle was beginning to flourish and Samuels was batting with a steely determination. Zimbabwe needed a wicket but it never came. They tried as many as 7 bowlers and each one tried honestly but they simply could not breach the defenses of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels.

Gayle reached his hundred in 105 balls and Samuels labored to his 50 off 95 balls. West Indies reached 200 in the 39th over. What followed was carnage. Gayle launched into the Zimbabwean bowlers and he peppered the straight and the mid-wicket fence repeatedly. He smashed his way to a double hundred off just 138 balls. Samuels also reached his ton in 143 balls. Gayle was out on the last ball but by then he had hit a record 16 sixes in his epic 215. West Indies had reached 372 off their 50 overs. The partnership was the highest ever in ODI cricket for any wicket, Gayle's 215 the highest score in all World Cup's.

Chris Gayle is all smiles after a satisfying, record breaking innings of 

215 off 147 balls against Zimbabwe at the Manuka Oval in Canberra

Zimbabwe lost Chakabva in the first over to a review from West Indies and the rain soon arrived. When play resumed 2 overs were removed from Zimbabwe's innings and they had to score 363 in 48 overs. Raza played a cameo of 26 runs from 20 balls but Zimbabwe were 46-3 in the 8th over, they had lost Hamilton Masakadza earlier. Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams launched a mini recovery and scored runs freely up until the DRS made an entry again. West Indies reviewed a decision when they thought that Taylor had edged one to Ramdin off Samuels. The replays did not show anything that warranted a reversal of the decision but reversed it was. Zimbabwe were earnest in their chase and were in the hunt right through. Sean Williams and Craig Ervine both hit spirited half centuries but 363 was little too much for Zimbabwe. They made 289 and lost by 73 runs.

The skies were dark and there was rain in the air when the match started and right through the West Indies's innings. A storm was about to hit the Manuka Oval in the Australian capital of Canberra. It rained sixes and and records were shattered. Chris Gayle made his first century since 2013 and it was a breathtaking one. West Indies, after losing to Ireland in their opening game have now won 2 and with almost all their batsmen firing, they will surely cause headaches to South Africa and India.

PS - The image used is courtesy www.espncricinfo.com