India get a tit for tat…Lankans reply strongly…take 2nd day honours of the Ahmedabad test…

Sri Lanka reply strongly to the challenge of India. At stumps on day 2 of the Ahmedabad test Sri Lankan team was breathing a sigh of relief and were comfartably placed with 275 runs on the board losing only 3 wickets in the interium. Earlier the Indian tail was denied a wag by a disciplined bowling of the Lankan bowlers to finish off the Indian innings on 426. Resuming at the overnight score of 385 for 6, India managed

The Wall…Dravid stands strong,,helps India take first day honours, against Lankans..

In the first test match against Sri Lanka…India winning the toss and electing to bat first on day 1 at Ahmedabad…India finished with 385 for the loss of 6 wickets. After the worst possible pathetic start…India survived a collapse…courtesy a magnificient 224 runs for the 6th wicket

Aus v/s India: 4th ODI…India surrenders without trying much…Tail wag insufficient

2nd november 2009….PunjabCricket association ground…Mohali. The 4th ODI between Australia and India had to be played…with India leading the series 2-1. India won the toss and chose to field. The decission to field first by captain Dhoni was complimented by the bowlers when they bundled out the Aussies for a formidable 250 which was chasable…seeing the batting order of India. The Indian bowlers were always on top during the course of the game. They denied a big score by takin 6 of their wickets giving just 33 runs in the final 7 overs when Aussies would have planned to accelerate the run machine.Watson made a 52 ball 49 at the top and the middle order was steadied by 52 and 62 runs respectively by Ponting and White…a useful run a ball 40 coming from Hussey aswell.Nehra was the pick of the bowlers for India with 3 for 37 from 8 overs.Harbhajan bowled tidy to take 2 for 48 in his 10 overs.Indians effected 4 run outs showing fielding skills just for a change.

Now it was Indias turn to get one more than Australia and take a lead in the series….and as usual when it matters India doesnt make use of opportunities…and it was not a different story this time aswell.Sehwag and Sachin gave a good start for India puttin 40 runs for the first wicket.He was caught by Watson off Bolinger for a brisk 19 ball 30 with 7 blisterig fours.Sachin made a useful 40 before being out leg before to Hauritz in the 19th over.Later Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni and Raina couldnt stabilise the start in the middle and made meagre contributions.When Ponting effected a run out of Jadeja…going for 7…in the 39th over…India were struggling with 177 for 7 with 73 runs needed to win with nothing much left…since the tail had to wag and wag too good.Harbhajan gave a gallent fight making 31 in just 25 hitting 5 fours and a six..and Praveen contributing a good 16 as well…but it was not to be enough…India fell short of 24 runs and were bundled out for 226 with 20 balls remaining. Another display of unplanned Indian team…saw Aussies levelling the series at 2-2.Bollinger and Watson took 3 wickets each and effected damage at frequent intervals.Hauritz with 2 for 31 in 9 overs provided the essential support.

For a wonderful innings of 49 runs with the bat and for claiming 3 crucial wickets….Shane Watson was adjudged the man of the match.

Aus v/s Ind: 3rd ODI – India beat Australia…take a 2-1 lead in the series…

In the 3rd ODI played at Feroz shah kotla grounds Delhi on 31st october 2009…India beat Australia by 6 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the 7 match series. Earlier Ausrtralia wonn the toss and chose to bat first. Openers Watson and Ponting gave a solid start to the innings and kept the momentum going. They pied up 72 runs playing cautiously for the first wicket in 16.2 overs…before Yuvraj struck and had the good looking Watson stumped by Dhoni for a well deserved 41 made in 59 balls.Jadeja trapped Ponting leg before in the 32nd over and sent him for a well made 59. The score at this instance was128 for 2. One over and one run later White was dismissed for naught y Raina…making it 129 for 3 quickly. Voges and Henriques made small contributions. But at the other end it was Hussey who held the nerves and compiled runs for his team…He made 81 in 82 deliveries and remained unbeaten till the end and along with Johnson took the score to 229 in the stipulated 50 overs. The score looked much within reach of the Indian batting line up. But Aussies were not to give the piece of cake so easily…and India had to plan to get to that small total….and small totals are difficult to chase in the one day format. For India almost all the bowlers were consistent. With 2 for 41 in 9 overs Jadeja was the pick of bowlers. Harbhajan, Yuvraj and Raina took a wicked each bowling a tidy line and length. This work was to be complimented by the Batsmen.

In reply India achieved the desired target with 8 balls to spare and 6 wickets in hand. It was not easy with an attacking Auz force and a slowing wicket…But Indian batsmen played with determination and made sure they are home. Indian start too was slow and Sehwag struggling to get runs departed early in the 9th over making 11 runs. When the score was 51 in the 14th over…Sachin went back making 31…run out by Johnson.Gambhir could manage only 6 and 2 runs later in the 16th over he was bowled by Hauritz…when the board read…55 for 3. Now a stabilising act was needed to prevent further hiccups…since Aussies creep up when they get opportunities. This came in the form of a 148 run stand for the 4th wicket between Yuvraj and Dhoni. They made sure that they play sensibly and take India home and their intention became fruitful.Yuvraj was dismissed by Henriques in the 44th over for a well made78 off96 balls with 2 sixes and 8 boundaries.The score was 201 at that time and with Dhoni at the crease…it only required a finishing act..and Dhoni accomplished it in style.He remained undefeated on 71 made off 95 balls and along with Raina…9 not out…took India to a deserved win.

For a well drafted 78 when needeed and 1 for 30 with the ball…Yuvraj Singh was adjudged the man of the match……

Aus v/s Ind: 2nd ODI – Dhoni hammers Aussies to all corners…India level at one all…

Vidarbha cricket association stadium…Nagpur…Afternoon of 28th october 2009…2nd ODI between Australia and India. India were playing for pride as they had lost the tour opener badly…and a win here meant a lot to them. Dhoni…the captain led from the front…and drafted one of the greatest wins of India against Australia…making a world record for highest ever runs made by a wicket keeper batsmen and Captain playing against Australia.

In the back drop…Australia won the toss and put India to bat first. Little did they know the future of the match when they took this decission. India lost Sachin early in the 4th over when the score was 21.A 46 run stand between Sehwag and Gambhir steadied things for India. Johnson in the 11th over had Sehwag caught by Hilfenhaus for 41 made in 30 ballswith 6 boundaries and a six.Yuvraj was lookin good not until he backed one to Hilfenhaus off his own bowling making a 24 ball 23 witha six and 2 fours. But at the other end Gambhir was looking rock solid…as usual. He was joined by his captain Dhoni in the 16th over when the score was 97 for 3. They not only kept things going for India but made sure that the runs were scored quicker…They put on 119 for the 4th wicket…with the bulk of scoring done by Gambhir…while Dhoni made sure of rotating the strike.Gambhir was run out by Hauritz in the34th over for a 80 ball 76 with 6 hits to the fence…the board reading 216 at that time. Raina joined his captain. Dhoni who was playing safe until then broke free and started the demolition act…not to leave behind the prolific scoring partner in the form of Raina.Both stayed till the last over and made sure India reached a healthy total of 350 plus. In the last over of the innings 3 wickets fell back to back in th form of Dhoni, Raina and Praveen Kumar…But the damage was already made and it came too late for Australia. What could be ranked as one of the greatest knocks by a wicket keeper batsmen and a captain against the mighty Australians….Dhoni leading from the front made an aggressive 124 in just 107 balls with 9 boundaries and 3 mighty sixes…tearing apart the Aussie attack mercilessly. Raina executed a masterly 62 in 50 balls including six boundaries and a six…complementing his captain in the finishing act. All the bowlers were punished by Indian batsmen…Johnson managed to get 3 wickets at the cost of 75 runs.

The Australian reply cannot be underestimated by any means by any opponents…since they plan and chase well. But this time it was not to be. Australia had to surrender to a disciplined bowling attack and the pressure of chasing 357 runs.Australia had bad start with batsmen contributing in bits and pieces….never ever looking as reaching the Indian total.In the 21st over Australia had already lost its strong top order in the form of…Watson, Siddle, Ponting and White…none troubling the scorers.Voges and Hussey showed some resistence and tried to stabilise the innings putting 47 for the 5th wicket…but the pressure was always on with creeping asking run rate. In the 31st over Jadeja bowled Hussey for a well made 60 ball 53..when the score was 140 for 5. With 218 runs required in the remaining 19 overs looked a uphill task for the Aussies now.The Aussie tail wagged long…with Voges making 36, Johnson and Marsh making quickfire 21 a piece, Hauritz making 30 and Hilfenhaus making 16…but not to worry the Indians. Australia lost the match by 99 runs…conceeding a level up for India.Jadeja with 3 for 35 in his 7 overs was the best bowler for India.Pravin and Ishant took 2 wickets each.

For a great display with his bat…Dhoni was adjudged the Man of the match…..

SA Surrenders..Pak in Finals…[icc wt20,1st semi final]

You lose one game and you are out… This had happened to many teams in the past.But when it comes to big tournaments…big day…and big match…in a must win situation…one team had all the bad luck in the world…always…that is South Africa.This time it was no exemption.After doing all the hard work and being in the semis with a track record of not losing any match till then,South Africans were expected to cruise through to the finals against all odds and against any team on a given day.But destiny had written a different story for them…So near yet so far.. Another major championship went begging for the perfect team.South Africa lost to Pakistan in a match which they shouldnt have…the semis…and decieved themselves from the possibility of being the world champions.Pakistan in general and Afridi in particular came better holding their nerves to pull a win to enter the finals on thursday.

Nottingham…18th june 2009.Pakistan won the toss and had no hesitation in taking to bat.Things didnt start well as their opener Shahzaib departed for naught in the second over when the score was 8.But at the other end Akmal was playing fearless and fired all cylinders with a 12 ball 23 including 4 fours and a six.Steyn sent him back when he looked dangerous.Akmal fell in the 3rd over when the score was 28.Later Afridi and Malik put on 77 for the 3rd wicket in quick time aswell.Afridi made a 34 ball 51 with 8 hits to the boundary.He hammered 4 consecutive fours in the 11th over bowled by Botha.His heroics came to an end when he landed one into the hands of DeVilliers off Duminy in the 13th over when the score was 95.Later things slowed on for the Pakistanis.Malik departed in the 16th over after struggling to make 34 in 39 deliveries.Younis and Razzak tried to press the accelerator but the speed didnt pick up much for the desire of Pakistan.Pakistan could only make 149 at the end inspite of having 6 wickets in hand.This looked to be an easy piece of cake for the inform Proteas.But the threat was always there…the one of the chasing pressure and the other fact that the ball was not coming to the ball that easy which was indicated by the struggle of the Pakistani batsmen.In this context much planned and desired chase was desired from the South African batsmen.

South Africa chasing 150 to win had a decent start from their openers.They put on 40 for the 1st wicket.Smith struggled to connect the ball whereas his partner in form Kallis was batting with grit and pace at the other end.Smith made 10 in 14 balls and departed in the 6th over with the score reading 40.Then came the dangerous Afridi into the attack.After the bat show in the first session it was not over for him in the 2nd session as well.He struck twice in the 7th and 9th overs to dismiss Gibbs and DeVilliers cheaply.South Africa were left struggling at 50 for 3 in the midway of the 9th over.The required runrate was creeping,balls not coming to the bat and Proteas never recovered from this Afridi assault.On the other end much for the hope of the Africans Mr.Reliable…Kallis was carrying on with discipline as if he was all alone interested in seeing his team win…and with him at the crease anything can happen and the hope was always on for the Africans.Pakistan too knew that Kallis was a thorn in their fish.He is a match winner and they cant breath easy until he is holding crease at the other end.In the 18th over the pressure got better of Kallis.When Ajmal had him caught by Malik..he had made 64 in 53 deliveries including 7 fours and a six.Pakistan sighed relief as they felt they had got rid of more than half the team as Kallis meant that.With 39 required from 17 deliveries it almost looked an uphill task for the Proteas to accomplish.They needed a supermans innings from somebody.Duminy was giving a fight at the other end.The African bench looked desperate as the loss and quit was clearly visible in their eyes.He made 44 in 41 balls but couldnt take his team to victory.South Africa could only manage only 142 losing 5 wickets in the proceedings.South Africa lost the match by just 7 runs.Bad luck continued its alliance with this superb team.But the credit should not be taken from the gritty Pakistanis.They played superb aggressive cricket and more over as a unit.Afridi was adjudged the Man of the match for his masering efforts with the bat and the ball and for taking his team into the dream finals.It was the end of the road for the South Africans and they have to wait and see if their turn to win a great event comes atleast after 2 years in the 3rd version of the wt20 format.Good Bye and good luck Africans…You people have played a wonderful game of cricket…professionally.But Pakistan on the other hand entered the Finals of the t20 world cup for the 2nd consecutive time.It looked that they are determined not to repeat their mistakes what they had done in their lost finals against India two years ago.They were looking hungry to win the world cup.Can they establish history by writing their name on the world cup or whether the history is going to repeat against Pakistan again….We will watch and see.But for now ….Good Luck Pakistan…..Keep Going…..

Indians reject complimentary win,S.A in semis…[icc wt20,Sup8,match 12]

The dismal performance of team India continues even after being knocked out of the competition.Yet another loss at the hands of the inform Proteas on tuesday in a GroupE match of the super8 stage at Nottingham was nothing but rubbing salt on the wounds.Its a different story whether the injury or the salt really mattered for the Indian team.In a display of character and professional cricket,the South African team totally outplayed India in all the departments of the game and kept their record of being unbeaten in the competition straight.They won the match by 12 runs and cruised into the semis in style.Even without winning this match they would anyhow make it to the semis.Being out of competition already,Indians had nothing to lose.They would have atleast defeated the Proteas and took a complimentary win home.Even if the Proteas would go on to win the world cup,India would have proudly said that they were the only team to beat the Sout African team.But that was never to be.After the first session when the Indians restricted the South Africans for a meagre 130,it looked that India is all set to win atleast this match until they proved it wrong at the end.

Earlier South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first.They had a bad start much to the satisfaction of the Indians,when RP Singh bowled Gibbs when the score was 13 in the 2nd over.Smith and DeVilliers put on 46 runs for the 2nd wicket and effected the recovery.When the score was 59,Smith was out with a run a ball 26 being caught by Jadeja off Harbhajan.But India took control over the game at this situation and put the brakes on the run machine.South Africa struggled to make runs.The other batsmen did tiny contributions.Seeing the context of the match and its results,the 51 ball 63 made by DeVilliers becomes vital.He played sensibly knowing that the batting conditions were not good,holding ground at one end.He hit 7 fours in his innings.His effort took South Africa to a respectable but not so enough total when they ended with 130 for the loss of 5 wickets.Jadeja and Harbhajan bowled tight.

The Indian opening wicket stand was promising as Gambhir and Rohit put on 48 for the 1st wicket.Gambhir was the first to go for a 19 ball 21 including 3 boundaries,in the 7th over.7 runs later Raina went cheaply in the 9th over,followed in the parade by Rohit,Dhoni and Yusuf not troubling the scorers.Among them Rohit made a run a ball 29.India lost 4 wickets in a hurry,in a space of 4 and a half overs sharing 14 runs between them.This careless act of the top order put India in the dolldrums,in what should have been a comfortable win.The required run rate was in and around that threatning 10 per over mark in the last 6 overs.Yuvraj showed a lone unsupported resistence at the other end and made a run a ball 25.Harbhajan showing signs of anger hit a four and a six in his 15 ball 14.Asmall partnership of 31 runs between the two singhs gave some hopes to India,not before Harbhajan fell in the 18th over when India had just reached the 3 digit mark.India still required 31 off the last 16 balls at this stage and never looked impossible with Yuvraj at the other end.But fortune was not favouring the Indians.In the 19th over Steyn hit the final nail into the Indians coffin of hope when he had Yuvraj caught behind,the decission in question cleared later by the television umpire in favour of the bowler.Here India required 25 off the last 10 balls and pressure made India to score only 13 runs,thanks to wonderful bowling and fielding of the Proteas at the death,holding their nerves.South Africa won the match by 12 runs and entered the semis in style,where they meet the Pakistan team on thursday.That will be an interesting affair to see.For Africa Botha was the pick of the bowler taking 3 for 16 in his 4 overs.The other bowlers supported well.Steyn picked 2,Merwe and Duminy chipped in with a wicket each.India dejected yet again…come home with plenty of things to think and implement to better the Team India for future ventures in the international front,having not played as a unit.South Africa on the other hand go into the semis with a clean record of being unbeaten yet,alike Sri Lanka.Will they repeat the feat even there and head towards the big one…..is what we have to wait and see.But for time being…Good luck Proteas…..

Windies send England home,Enter semis…[icc wt20,Sup8,game 10]

Monday..the 15^th of june 2009… London…The 10^th match of the super8 stage at the icc wt20 championship was to be played between hosts England and the West indies.It was clear that the winner would find a place in the semi finals and the loser would pack their luggages.England,playing in front of their home crowd would have been in enormous pressure to perform and win in the do or die encounter.Meanwhile West Indies would play a fearless game as they always do.India were out of the competition and the Proteas had already qualified.Being a semi final qualifier,this match had an enormous importance.Battin first,England lost Wright withonly 8 on board,Pollard striking early for the Windies.Bopara and Pietersen made the recovery and repair act.They put on 56 vital runs for the 2^nd wicket,Kevin doing the bulk of scoring.KP hit 31 in 19 deliveries with 5 hits to the fence before being caught by Fletcher off Simmons.The other batsmen made small contributions without troubling the Windies bowlers with Shah making 18 in 15 balls.Collingwood,Foster and Swann made 11,13 and 10 runs respectively almost scoring run a ball.But it was Ravi Bopara who made the bulk of scoring at the other end before being adjudged leg before for Gayle.He made a 47 ball 55 with 5 fours.Rain played the spoil sport every now and then disturbing the momentum of the game.England would probably be cursing the rain god for playing a mischief which cost them the match and the championship chances too.When England were at 129 for 4 in the 17^th over,the showers came in and went away as quickly.The number of overs were not curtailed and England played their full quota of 20 overs finishing at 161 losing 6 wickets,thanks to the finishing touch given by Broad when he smashed a four and a six in the last two deliveries to take the score past 160.The Windies bowling was tidy.Bravo picked 2 giving away 30 runs.Gayle,Simmons,Pollard and Benn picked a wicket each.

The commencement of the second session was again delayed due to the rains,this time for a pretty long time.The DL calculations came into the scene as a curse in disguise for the English team,setting a winning and qualifying target of 80 runs in 9 overs for the Windies.Anderson dismissed Fletcher in the first over and got the necessary breakthrough for his team.Gayle blasted 3 boundaries in his short stay,where he scored a 8 ball 15.But Sidebottom bowled a beauty of a delivery to get Gayle,once again putting England on top.In the third over Simmons went without disturbing the scorers dismissed by Broad when the score read 16 for 3.Pollard and Bravo put on 25 runs for the 4th wicket to get some revival hopes in the Windies camp.Pollard hit a six and was bowled by Rashid for 9 when the score was 41.Everything seemed to be working in Englands way when Bravo who was playing well was outin the 6th over being stumpped wonderfully by Foster off Swann.He made a 13 ball 18 with a six and a four.That was the last time when England rejoiced.At that level Windies needed 35 runs to win in 22 balls with half their team back in the pillion.Then came the experience of the windies,with Sarwan and Chanderpaul joining hands at the crease.The senior players made sure that there were no more hiccupps.They took their team home with 4 balls to spare.This 5 wicket win took Windies into the semis while it was the end of the story for the host team.The dejected England team had to walk back home having lost to a better team.Chanderpaul made 17 in 10 balls with a four.Sarwan was adjudged the man of the match for his 9 ball 19 in pressure situation which guided the Windies to a win.He hit 3 boundaries in his knock.Good luck Windies…see you in semis….

Pak beat Ireland,Enter Semis…[icc wt20,Sup8,match9]

Day 11 of the t20 world cup.The championship was reaching a point of finish.The final 4 top teams making it to the semis had to be decided.In group F,Sri Lanka were through to the semis and Pakistan too had almost made it.But they had to beat Ireland for an official entry and they accomplished it in style on monday.Ireland was always a easy piece of bread for them if there were no untoward surprises.Batting first Pakistan had a good start provided by their prolific scoring openers Akmal and Shahzaib.Shahzaib made the bulk of the scoring in the partnership and scored a 19 ball 23 before he departed with the score board reading 38.Afridi continued the momentum and made a quickfire 24 in 13 balls with 3 boundaries.Pakistan were cruising along at one stage when Ireland put brakes on the run machine.Younis,Misbah and Razzaq made useful but minor contributions.But the bulk of the scoring for Pakistan was done by a brilliant knock of 57 runs made in 51 deliveries by Kamran Akmal,who was a part of many tiny partnerships.He set the platform for the Pakistanis holding the ground at the other end and playing sensibly to build up a total.His efforts saw Pakistan ending up at 159 runs in their 20 overs losing 5 wickets in the proceedings.He hit 5 fours and a six in his well drafted innings.For Ireland,McCallan picked up two wickets giving away 26 runs and in the context was their successful bowler.Rankin bowled tight and gave away only 11 runs in his 4 overs,not to speak about the other bowlers,who were punished by the Pakistanis batsmen.

For Ireland,Porterfield top scored with a 36 ball 40 including 2 hits to the fence.But that really didnt solve the purpose for the Irish team.While Porterfield showed charecter,the others didnt.It was a parade thereafter wherein the batsmen kept coming and going untill nobody were left to do anything.Stirling and K.O’Brien tried to keep things going and showed some resistence.But it was never enough.None of the Irish batsmen tried to hang in and put on a decent partnership which could take them somewhere near the desired target.They played kids cricket.Their inexperience never got the better of the Pakistani skills.The Pak bowlers never allowed the pressure on the Irelanders to ease out and constantly kept attacking at them,picking the wickets in the proceedings at will.Ireland was shattered out for 120 runs in their 20 overs,losing 9 wickets.All the Pakistani bowlers delivered goods and bowled a tidy line and length,testing the nerves of the Irish batsmen.Ajmal picked 4 wickets giving away only 19 runs.Gul chipped in with an impressive 2 for 19.Aamer,Afridi and Razzaq bowled tightly at the other end and chocked the batsmen.The Akmal-Ajmal show made sure that the Pakistani team entered the semi finals ending the world cup campaign of the Ireland team.

Lankans deny win to Pak… [icc wt20,Sup8,match-3]

Sri Lankans continuing their winning streak went on to beat the Pakistani team by 19 runs in a tight tug on friday in the 3rd match of the super8 stage at London.Infact it could be said that the Pakistanis threw away the match when things were going their way.It was a dismal performance by them after their disciplined restricting act that they did in the first session of the game when Lankans had a flier of a start.Lack of winning strategy and unnecessary heroics made Pakistan to bite the dust.Earlier Sri Lanka batting first fired great guns right from the word go. Openers Jayasurya and Dilshan accumulated 18 runs in the 1st over itself,courtesy Sohail Tanvir who bowled a 11 ball over which looked never ending.After 6 overs Lankans were cruising along at 10 runs per over and yet to lose a wicket.They looked like putting a mammoth total.Jayasurya made a 24 ball 26 with 2 fours and a six and fellow opener,the man in form-Dilshan made a 39 ball 46 which was the highest individual score for the Lankans.They put on 81 runs for the 1st wicket.Introduction of Afridi into attack came in handy for the Pakistanis when he claimed the wickets of both the openers who were living dangerously.This put a platform for easy operation for the bowlers to come and tighten the things up,especially for Ajmal and  Malik.After this flier the Lankan kite started moving in undesired directions following the Pak wind.Sangakkara and Jayawardane chipped in with few runs,but none of the other batsmen could contribute much to the ailing innings.Pakistan was right on the top and put brakes on the run machine.The run rate detoriarated and wickets started falling at regular intervals.Sri Lanka could somehow manage 150 losing 7 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.For Pakistan,Gul,Ajmal and Afridi picked 2 wickets each.The runs never seemed to be enough in the 20-20 format until Lankans proved it false.

In reply Pakistan had the worst possible start when Mathews bowled Butt for naught in the 3rd ball of the proceedings.Akmal was run out for 5 and Malik who was looking in good knick with a 20 ball 28 was sent back by Malinga.The board read 35 for 3 which was not a good news for the Pak camp.Enter mission recovery.Misbah joined captain Younis and both put on an important partnership of 66 runs which could have been a match winning effort…had the things gone in favour of Pakistanis.But that was not to be.Murali produced the vital breakthrough as he usually does when things were going in favour of Pak.He had Misbah caught by Silva for 21.In the very next ball Afridi tried unwanted heroics and skied one to Dilshan off Murali.Pakistan was now put on the back foot when conditions suddenly changed from 101 for 3 to 101 for 5 in the 16th over.To make things worse Malinga dismissed the only hope for the Pakistanis, captain Younis who was playing well with a 37 ball 50,when the total was 108.The tail really didnt wag long after this and Pakistan was bundled out for 131 losing 9 wickets aiding a 19 run win for the Lankans.For Lankans Malinga came up with the best figures of 3 for17 in 4 overs.Mathews and Kulashekara chipped in with a wicket each,but the wily veteran Murali picked up tso important wickets which turned the fate of the match in favour of his team.Not to forget the wonderful display of professional cricket by the Lankans withlots of guts character and nerves to upset their Asian counterparts.The story ahead looks to be easy for the Lankans as they have to play only one tough opponent i.e New Zealand.They would probably take the other match on Ireland for granted.Their way to the Semis seem to be almost clear unless something untoward takes place.Pakistan have to come up with all their best weapons,as they have to win both their next matches to stay in contention for the semis….