CWC 2019 Match 39 – West Indies lose to Sri Lanka in a tight chase

The match between Sri Lanka and West Indies was not of much importance as both teams have already lost the opportunity of making it to the semifinals of world cup 2019. But each team had to play this game for their honor, for their fans, to boost the self confidence of the team and dressing room and to walk away with a consolation. Both these teams had their bit of disappointments and missed fortunes, some things destined and some things created by themselves.

Chasing a mammoth 339 runs to win, West Indies had a bad start when Lasith Malinga dismissed Sunil Ambris and Shai Hope for almost nothing on board. But it was the partnership between Nicholas Pooran and Fabian Allen which created hopes for the West Indies to win this encounter. While Pooran got a superb hundred under pressure, Allen scored a superb half ton and became a surprise hero for Windies. But their efforts weren’t enough as West Indies couldn’t manage the pressure scenario towards the end of the game and lost the combat by 23 runs. Had one among the set batsmen stayed back to take their team home and if the tail would have wagged longer, West Indies would have won the match. It was so near yet so far scenario for Windies, yet again. But throughout the world cup they have shown a grit and attitude to chase big totals in spite of losing early wickets. They have gone close to the winning target and fumbled at the threshold of win. Fortune hadn’t been their companion throughout the competition. But West Indies really played well. Three unnecessary run outs cost Windies their match, but the fielding of Sri Lankan players too need to be appreciated. They held nerves and made use of the chances at their disposal.

Earlier Sri Lanka batted superbly with their top order blasting all cylinders. West Indies bowlers had no clue so as to what to do to put brakes to the scoring rate of the islanders. Sri Lanka came to the party, but it is too late for them. Had they played such good cricket all through the tournament, ignoring the rain curtailed matches, they would have created an opportunity for themselves to be in contention of semifinal berth. A superb ton by Avishka Fernando laid foundation for a huge total for Sri Lanka and they kept building on that foundation. Earlier to that Karunaratne (32 runs) and Kusal Perera (64 runs) put on 93 runs for the first wicket in 15 overs and made their intentions clear. Useful contributions from Kusal Mendis and Lahiru Thirimanne enabled Sri Lanka to post a mammoth 338 runs on board.

It was a good contest which all fans would have loved to see at the beginning of the tournament. It seemed that both these teams had kept their best for the last, but the consequences of the match wouldn’t do favor to either teams!

Until we catch up with more action from the next match, it is goodbye from me!

Keep enjoying your world cup matches and have fun!

CWC 2019 Match 38 – India throw their match into England’s lap at the verge of win!

Though it was a big total India was chasing, India was in command for most of the match. They just threw it away. Chasing 338 runs to win, India lost K.L.Rahul for naught. It was not a start India would have loved to have. A 138 run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the second wicket showed the command of team India over this match. English bowlers imparted pressure on these two batsmen in the earlier part of the match. Rohit and Virat slowly picked up gears and accelerated the score, trying to keep in pace with the run rate. After the dismissal of Virat Kohli, debutant Rishabh Pant walked into his first world cup match. And boy…how confidently he played! He looked better than his predecessors, Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav who had showed no promise in the world cup. When the partnership between Rohit Sharma and Pant reached the brim of 200 runs, India were fancying pulling gears and accelerating the score at any moment.

Rohit Sharma continuing his superb form in this outing of the world cup smashed yet another world cup ton to his name taking the tally to 3. Hardik Pandya got out at the wrong time after briskly scoring 45 runs in 33 balls. M.S.Dhoni once again played without any intent and so did Kedar Jadhav. Though Dhoni finished with 31 ball 42, it did not serve the purpose of the match as far as India winning the encounter was concerned. I was really unhappy seeing the way India played the last 10 overs. It clearly showed that India was playing this match with different mathematics and had no intent to win. They just wanted to throw away this match. In the final 10 overs India scored just 60 runs and lost 1 wicket. They never accelerated the score. Even in the last 3-4 overs, Dhoni and Jadhav were luxuriously leaving out the shot balls and playing dots. They were mercilessly defending. Even at the beginning of the match everyone had predicted that India would lose this and they did just that! Being a cricket fan, it was painful for me to see the attitude of Indian team, the reasons were clearly available which I would not discuss in this instance. Being a supporter of Indian team, I wish that this tactic doesn’t hit back at India in their last two matches. India is not yet in the semis and they have to win at least one of the next two matches to enter into the elite four stage.

Earlier a quick fire 160 runs partnership for the first wicket in just 22.1 overs between Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow laid the foundation for an England win. Roy scored 66 runs while Bairstow smashed a scintillating 111. A late assault by Ben Stokes who smashed 79 runs in just 54 balls took away the match from India. Indian bowlers bowled pathetically and without any attitude or intent. Even Mohammed Shami who took 5 wickets, gave away 69 runs in his spell of 10 overs. Only Jasprit Bumrah was disciplined as ever with the ball. At a stage it looked as if England would score in excess of 380 runs, even a 400 was possible seeing the way England was belting India and Indian bowlers bowling without clue. Indians pulled it back but England had already posted a mammoth 337 on board. India would have chased it…should have…but they had different plans…!

England stay in the world cup and they need to win their next encounter against New Zealand to make it to the Semis. It looks they would!

Until we catch up with more action from the next match, it is goodbye folks!

Keep viewing and enjoying your world cup matches…!!

CWC 2019 Match 37 – Starc Tsunami blows New Zealand away as Australia register a big win

The match between Australia and New Zealand was a story of one team recovering from a bad stage and the other never showing intent to recover. Everything worked for New Zealand when Australia lost half its team in 22^nd over after having won the toss and elected to bat first. The resuscitation for Aussies came in the form of 107 run partnership for the 6^th wicket between Usman Khawaja (88 runs) and Alex Carey (71 runs) who played sensibly and helped their team post 243 runs on board, which looked reasonably good score after a bad start. Trent Boult was lethal with the ball and dismissed 4 of the Aussie batsmen.

It still looked as if New Zealand would easily win the match but Mitchell Starc had a different script in his mind. He came up with a destructive attack and spelt havoc on the Kiwis as they crashed for 157 runs with more than 6 overs remaining. Mitchell Starc’s 5/26 in his 9.4 overs rooted out the New Zealand batting order and enabled Australia clinch an 86 run win over the Kiwis.

Australia stay at the top of the table and they would be happy to be the first team to grab their position in the semi finals. What a journey Australians had in this world cup? They are looking professional, lethal, menacing, clinical and at the top of their game!

On the other hand, it is tough time for New Zealand. After having started their world cup campaign in a superb way, they have lost the plot and are looking shaky. Mid way in the tournament, it looked like New Zealand’s place in the semis was for sure. Now it is looking like the Kiwis need to sweat and bleed to get a place in the semis. They need to wish that the mathematics of qualification work their way!

Until we catch up with more action from the next match, it is goodbye folks!

Keep watching your world cup matches and have fun!

CWC Match 36 – Imad Wasim helps Pakistan clinch a nail biting thriller against Afghanistan

Pakistan who is having mixed bag of their outing in this cricket world cup and are on the verge of missing out on a semifinal berth would never have expected to het a hard game against Afghanistan. In fact they would have expected a cake walk. Had Pakistan lost this match, they would have been knocked out of the world cup and Afghanistan would have made history for making one of the great upsets in a world cup match. At the same time, Pakistan would have made it easy for New Zealand who too is fighting their fate after a stupendous start in the world cup, to enter the semifinal. They would also have made it easy for England to go into the semis. In one way Pakistan’s loss would have almost finalized the four semifinal teams. This was not to happen.

Chasing 228 runs to win Pakistan had almost messed it up if it weren’t for sensible batting from an unexpected hero, Imad Wasim. In spite of wickets tumbling around and the scare of losing the match beckoning all round him, Imad played a superb cool knock to see his team through. His 54 ball 49 was like a 150 for Pakistan. Pakistan won the match by 3 wickets with 2 balls sparing. Pakistan would thank not only to their stars but also the captain of Afghanistan, Gulbadin Naib. Gulbadin Naib bowled horribly and let the match from Afghanistan’s grip when they were well in control of the game and looked almost like winning the encounter. Naib had a bad day at office, with the ball even as all his bowlers bowled tight spells and spellbound Pakistan batsmen. Mohammad Nabi went on to take 2/23 in his 10 overs on the contrary. Afghanistan had discovered newer methods of losing matches in this world cup outing. They would like to forget this world cup as a nightmare.

Earlier Asghar Afghan and Najibullah Zadran, with 42 run a head, enabled Afghanistan to register 227 runs on board against a clinical Pakistan bowling attack. With figures of 4/47 in his 10 overs, Shaheen Afridi was the pioneer of Pakistan bowling attack.

With this win, Pakistan not only stays alive in this world cup but also has made the road difficult for New Zealand and England. The coming matches will be interesting!

Until we catch up with more action from the next match it is goodbye from me!

Keep enjoying the world cup matches and have fun!

CWC 2019 Match 35 – Amla-Faf special helps South Africa hand over a shocking defeat to Sri Lanka

They came late to the party, but, yes…they are late! But they will take this compliment win this Proteas team! A 175 runs unbeaten partnership between Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis helped South Africa to register 9 wicket win over Sri Lanka with 76 balls remaining. Both batsmen would have felt on losing their centuries but there wasn’t much which could have done! They were chasing a target of 204 runs to win, set by Sri Lanka. I had expected South Africa do well in this world cup tournament but it was a pity that they were knocked out much earlier than expected. After first 3-4 matches, I feel South Africa had lost the battle in their mind. They never looked in good touch and showed no intent or character on field. In every game they were pathetic in all departments. They, at last got a good and big win, but this wouldn’t help them. Though it came at wrong time, South Africa will take this consolation prize.

Earlier, Sri Lanka could manage just 203 runs and were rattled down by a clinical bowling display by South African bowlers. Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando top scored for the islanders with 30 runs each. Dwaine Pretorius and Chris Morris picked three wickets each and scripted a good win for their team.

Sri Lanka stays live in this format and are hung with a thin mathematical chord, but I feel that they cannot make it to the semis.

Until we catch up for more action from the next match, it is goodbye from me!

Keep watching the world cup matches and keep enjoying!

CWC 2019 Match 34 – Kohli-Shami excel as India beat West Indies by huge difference

India defeat West Indies by 125 runs at Old Trafford after they won the toss and elected to bat first. Chasing 268 runs to win, Windies made a mess of their chase and were bundled out for 143 runs with more than 15 overs remaining. Nicholas Pooran scored 28 runs in 50 balls and he happened to be the highest scorer in the match. The West Indies seemed to be lost in their intent and were batting like school boys. Indian bowlers were clinical in their approach seeing that they did not have a great total to defend on board. India had sent half of West Indies team packing in the 24^th over itself with just 98 on board for the Windies. They never recovered from there and lost the next 5 wickets for 45 runs in next 11 overs. Mohammad Shami with 4 for 16 in his 6.2 overs was the most successful bowler for India and pioneered the bowling attack. He looked unplayable. While Jasprit Bumrah took 2 wickets giving away just 9 runs in his tight spell of 6 overs, all other bowlers were of great support to these key bowlers.

Earlier India had a slow start. Following early dismissal of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (72 runs) and K L Rahul (48 runs) put on 69 runs for the 2^nd wicket and laid the foundation for India to make a decent total. Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav once again proved to be waste selections for India as they almost contributed anything to the total. In fact they gave away their wickets cheaply and created pressure. MS Dhoni played a turtle knock yet again and scored a 50 while Hardik Pandya’s 38 ball 46 helped India to put 268 runs on board.

India is 1 point or 1 match away from getting their semifinal berth while it looks like the endpoint for West Indies.

Until we catch up for more action from the next match, it is goodbye from me folks!

Enjoy seeing your world cup matches!

CWC 2019 Match 33 – Babar Azam smashes a superb ton as Pakistan register a 6 wicket win over New Zealand

Babar Azam’s superb unbeaten ton helped Pakistan register an emphatic win over the New Zealand team. Chasing 238 runs to win, Pakistan did it with 5 balls and 6 wickets sparing. This win would open up the gates of the world cup tournament for Pakistan. Pakistan badly needed this win to keep them in contention of a semifinal berth. With this win, they keep their hopes alive. After a slow start and after having lost 2 early wickets, Pakistan held the ground and won the match without much panic. They played sensible according to the merit of the ball and situation of the match without throwing their wickets for bad shots. Mohammad Hafeez (32 runs) and Haris Sohail (68 runs) too contributed their part towards Pakistan victory. New Zealand bowled as many as 8 bowlers and experimented everything in their books to avoid Pakistan from winning the match, but the total was less for them to defend.

Earlier after having lost half their team for 83 runs in 27^th over, New Zealand managed to put 237 runs on board while losing 6 wickets in the proceedings. James Neesham (97 runs) and Colin de Grandhomme (64 runs) gave a good fight back and put on 132 runs for the 6^th wicket. It never looked like New Zealand getting to that total at half way. Neesham was ill fated to have missed a century which he deserved the most. Pakistan bowling was tight and to the plan. Shaheen Afridi with 3 for 28 was the pick of bowlers for Pakistan.

The loss would prove dangerous for the Kiwis. If they lose the remaining matches, they need to remember that Bangladesh and Pakistan are still mathematical contenders for the semifinal berth. No one can take their places for granted. New Zealand has played good cricket and they need to be in the semis. And we know that Pakistan can fight back for their place and create upsets on their given day!

Until we catch up for more action from the next match, it is goodbye from me!

Keep enjoying the world cup matches and have fun!!

CWC 2019 Match 32 – Finch-Behrendorff excel as Australia upset hosts England

Chasing 286 runs to win, England were all out with 64 runs remaining to win. They still had 32 balls in hand when they had lost the last wicket. Jason Behrendorff was the chief wreck for England as he dismissed 5 English batsmen back to pavilion in his excellent spell. Mitchell Starc who is in excellent form with the ball was not too far away as he too became the party spoiler for England. He took 4 wickets. After having lost 4 of their top order batsmen in 14 overs with just 53 runs on board, it was always a Herculean task for England to reach the needed target. They needed someone to play a superhero with the bat and stand tall to lead them home. Ben Stokes batted like a sole warrior and hit 89 runs, though Australia did not allow him to score runs at will. When Stokes was dismissed by Starc in the 37^th over, England was 177 for 6 and needed more than 100 runs to win in 13 overs. It was just a matter of fact for Australia to finish off the match cleanly and go home with a win. They did just that.

Earlier David Warner (53 runs) and Aaron Finch put on 123 runs for the first wicket in 23 overs and showed their intent. When they were looking to put on big runs on the board with a 320 or 340 looking easily coming, Australia fancied some unwanted shots and managed to score just 285 runs. With strong England batting line up this looked an easy job if English batsmen played with intent and plan. But the Aussie bowlers were too clinical and lethal for them. Aaron Finch top scored for Australia with 100 runs. A quick fire 27 ball 38 from Alex Carey at the end helped Australia put 280 plus runs on board, which proved to be more than enough for them to make a match out of it.

Australia is at the top of their game and looking lethal. They top the chart and are sitting pretty with their scarf on one of the seats in the semifinals. England should have batted first after winning the toss. Batting is their strength and all their batsmen are in top notch. They had to pay for their wrong decision. England, who were looking like making to the semi finals just like that, are making their journey difficult by planting some stones and thorns in their way. They are good bunch and deserve to be in semis, they need to take caution and play their next matches sensibly. Else, they have other teams in the hunt for semifinal berth, mathematically.

Until we catch up with more action from the next match, goodbye folks!

Enjoy viewing your world cup matches! We are inching towards the business end of the tournament!!

CWC 2019 Match 31 – Shakib excels with bat and ball as Bangladesh defeat Afghanistan by 62 runs

It was humiliation yet again for Afghanistan boys as they lost to Bangladesh by 62 runs. Shakib Al Hasan pioneered the win for Bangladesh team with his excellent all round performance. He scored important 51 runs in the third wicket partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim, while the later top scored with 83 runs for Bangladesh. Mosaddek Hossain smashed 35 runs in 24 balls at the end to make sure Bangladesh finished with a healthy 262 runs on board while losing 7 wickets in the proceedings.

As if this wasn’t enough Shakib showed how dangerous an all-rounder he is when he handled the ball. He dismissed 5 Afghanistan batsmen giving away just 29 runs in his 10 overs. Afghanistan was bundled out for 200 runs with 3 overs to spare. Gulbadan Naib (47 runs) and Samiullah Shenwari (49 runs), top scored for Afghanistan. They tried to hold ends but ran out of partners to accomplish the finishing act.

Bangladesh is looking in good touch and it will not be a surprise if they upset few more teams or if they make it to the semis. But a lot of equations need to work in their way and they need to play committed cricket and win each of their next encounters to make it happen. That means they need to fish some bigger fishes. Let us see how they go ahead!

Until we catch up with action from the next match, good bye folks!

Keep watching the world cup cricket and enjoy!

CWC 2019 Match 30 – Win drought continues for South Africa, as Pakistan upset them by 49 runs

It is really painful to see South Africa being knocked out of the world cup 2019. This officially happened when Pakistan registered a clinical win over the Proteas by 49 runs.

South Africa needed to win this battle if they had to mathematically remain in the world cup prospects without being announced as ‘knocked out’! But amidst all rains in England, the pains and win drought continued for South Africa. It was as if the bad luck had accompanied them as an extra member in the team right from the start and has masked its influence over them. I have never seen such pathetic and lack luster cricket from South Africa. This should be their worst world cup outing ever and they would definitely carry on many bad memories from here when they travel back home. They have not given any single performance or any single name to remember from this world cup as it goes into the history book. This is the sad tale of South Africa!

Chasing 309 runs to win, South Africa never looked in contention of winning the match. It never looked as if they would chase it down. South Africa had carried the wound of every previous defeat into the next match, went with morals and face down only to worsen their wounds in every successive encounter. They never traced their remedies. A 92 run stand between Quinton de Kock (47 runs) and Faf du Plessis for the second wicket (63 runs) and a terminal onslaught by Andile Phehlukwayo (46 runs in 32 balls) were the only events to remember from South Africa’s perspective as far as this match is concerned. Wahab Riaz and Shahdab Khan picked 3 wickets each and pioneered a good win for Pakistan.

Earlier Babar Azam scored a superb 69 to lay foundation for a big total, after their openers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman gave a 81 run stand for the first wicket scoring 44 runs each. But the best of Pakistan’s innings definitely came from the timber of Haris Sohail. Sohail scored 89 runs in 59 balls and took his team’s total beyond 300 runs.

After their loss against India, Pakistan needed a quick win to reinforce morals back into the team and this win would give them confidence and keep them alive in the race for semifinal berth.

Until we catch up with more action from the next match, it is goodbye from me.

Keep viewing the world cup matches and have fun!