India began their campaign to their World Cup defense in style at Notingham by defeating the 'giant-killers' Bangladesh. India playing without the services of the master Blaster Virender Sehwag put up a good score of 180 on the board before taking all the Bangladeshi wickets for 155 runs and thereby winning by 25 runs.
Rohit Sharma who has been giving company to Gautam Gambhir as an opener since the warm-up games again proved to be a scoring move. Rohit kept his good form going that he had set up in he warm-up games against the Kiwis - 36 off 23 balls and 80 off 53 balls against Pakistan - so much so that he even overshadowed his partner Gambhir.
After taking the score beyond the 50 run mark, Sharma was the first to go. Having scored 36 of 23 balls, he missed out on the opportunity to convert it into a big score. Gambhir on the other hand kept the scoreboard moving by excellent running between the wickets along with Dhoni - yet another good runner between the wickets - who promoted himself at the number 3 spot.
Soon enough Gambhir completed his half-century, but he didn't look quite in his elements as he always is wasn't relaxed and lost his wicket sharp on 50. Because the Bangladeshi bowlers were really bowling some good spells to curb the famed Indian batting line-up. Shakib Al Hasan proved to be a thorn for India as he was the most economical bowler who conceded only 24 runs from his quota of 4 - run a ball.
But as Bangladesh was making mockery of India by bowling tight line and length, in came Yuvraj Singh with some different plans in his mind. The man of the moment duly handled the pressure. Yuvi has always has his 'Raj' over the bowlers as he slammed 41 off just 18 balls that he faced. All the equations went in total disarray as Yuvraj batted India right into the match again. His 41 included 4 huge sixes, which were just watched in total awe by all the spectators along with the 11 on the ground. 67 runs were added in the 5 overs and 59 in the last 4.
The tone for a sure Indian victory was set right then. The newfound spinner for India in Pragyan Ojha spun a web around the Bangladeshi batsmen in which they got entangled. They could never really recover from his strikes. Ojha bowled a memorable spell of 4 for 21 to give India a winning start and the Man of the Match award for himself.
India Vs. Bangladesh T20 WC League Match
Australia out of T20 WC - with an awesome record!
You are absolutely right. I completely agree with what you have written in you heading. Really Australia have grown poorer and poorer day by day. And all this is happening due to the leadership. Ponting just is not ready to go. He thinks he is the one who is driving the Australian cricket. See he is stuck everywhere. He is the captain of the ODI team. He is the captain of the Test team. And also he is the captain of the T20 team. Isn't there any other guy other than Ponting? This guy is playing this much cricket that his already poor form is becoming poorer and poorer. And due to this Ponting has got a rate distiction. All know that Aussies are famous for their records. So, there is one more record in the feather of Ponting. This man called Ponting has led his team to most T20 DEFEATS. Yes, you read it right. Ponting has lost around 10 T20 matches as a captain. Out of these 10 he has lost 5 matches on the trot. Now isn't that too a good record?
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Aussies out of the T20 WC
Yes and that's quite a good news for all of us. We wanted some other team other than the Aussies to play good cricket. Other than Australia, South Africa and India are playing good cricket. Sri Lanka and West Indies too lifted their games to send Australia packing. I completely agree with the fact that, Australia is nearer to the end of cricketing history. You know, everyone has got his share of luck, be it good or bad. The same is happening with the Aussies. They were so high after the 1996 World Cup that, they became the first country in the history of the game to win the World Cup three times in a row. So, in a way that was their good luck going their way. Now the tide seems to have turned the other way round. And India has a big role to play in that. Since India defeated Australia in their own backyard in the Perth Test - after the infamous Sydeny Test - all seem to be going against the Aussies. They lost the CB series to India too. And the biggest upset was seen just yesterday. The Australian team being knocked out of the T20 World Cup. What's more to come?
Seguir leyendo...Holland beat England
Oh my god! I was shocked to read the news that Holland beat England. I was anaware of the match and the match result. I had completly forgotten about this match and the world cup. When I remembered it for a while during my work, I just imagined to myself that it might surely be England who might have won the match. But to my horror I read right now that, Holland beat England. It was really unlucky of England to lose a World Cup match and that too at the hands of minnows like Holland. I am sure the coach and the support staff will surely find out what might have gone wrong. Upsets are the order of the World Cups these days. In the last ICC World Cup in West Indies, Bangladesh too had defeated India. That defeat sent India out of the World Cup. And the same opponents face each other shortly. So, that too might be at the back of the Indians. But I hope, India do not repeat what they had done then and not exactly what the Englishmen did against Holland.
Seguir leyendo...Openers' Battle
Let me first begin with what you said about Sehwag. You said 'when he comes back'. Now that's a point to ponder - will he come back? No doubt, he is a great cricketer. But not in the eyes of the captain. Dhoni wanted Sehwag to play in the warm match. Sehwag refused citing sour shoulder. Now we all know that Sehwag did really have a sour shoulder. But how much it is sour we don't know. Well, both Dhoni and Sehwag want India to defend the title so both might be thinking in their own ways. Sehwag for one might be looking to get match-fit by avoiding the unnecessary match. Dhoni on the other hand might be thinking of giving Sehwag some match practice before they actually begin on the task ahead of them. But reports say that they are not the best of the friends. That's why I think, Dhoni promoted Rohit Sharma up the order. And to Sehwag's disbelief Sharma clicked upfront. Then Dhoni said that there was Ravindra Jadeja too to do the job of the opener. Which clearly meant that he didn't need Sehwag any more. But let's hope that, that is not the case with Sehwag and Dhoni and that both of them will patch as early as possible. That's a great thing for India in general and cricket in particular. The fans are eagerly waiting for this.
Seguir leyendo...India Vs Pak - Warm Up match!
India play Pakistan in a warm up game today - Wednesday - 3rd June. I think, to be honest, this is going to be a real gem of a match. With both Pakistan and India, looking to get the better of the other will really go all out after each other. It will really be a cracker of a match. Pakistan has already been defeated twice by India in the first edition of the ICC World Cup of T20. The first time was during the league stage where India won the match in a super over via a bowl out. But I think, it was the second time that really mattered the most - the finals of the T20 WC. India then became the first Champions for the first time of the inagural World Cup of 20-20. As far as this current match is concerned, I think, it will be a wait and watch type. Let's keep our fingures crossed and hope that India wins. I am saying this because, India is currently under a spate of injuries, which India doesn't want at this stage. Pakistan will really take this opportunity to unsettle India's confidence.
Though the lack of form of Gambhir and Dhoni can give some sleepless nights for India, along with the lack of form of Sehwat. To add to it even Zaheer Khan is still not fully fit and as per Mahi's statement he can't even play in the first game against Bangladesh at the weekend. Time doens't seem to be on India's side this time around. But each game is a new game and each day is a new day. Saying this only can we give ourselves some respite and say that Team India can overcome all the obstacles and get on top.
Seguir leyendo...IPL Warm Up
A loss is a loss. But still, I think, the practice matches are their to learn for. And these failures shouldn't be taken so seriously, though it's a loss. But you should see the brighter side of the match. Though the lack of form of Gambhir and Dhoni can give some sleepless nights for India, along with the lack of form of Sehwat. To add to it even Zaheer Khan is still not fully fit and as per Mahi's statement he can't even play in the first game against Bangladesh at the weekend. Time doens't seem to be on India's side this time around.But each game is a new game and each day is a new day. Saying this only can we give ourselves some respite and say that Team India can overcome all the obstacles and get on top.
Seguir leyendo...