Semi-final #1: South Africa vs Pakistan
T20 Final Report
Semi-final #1: South Africa vs Pakistan
ICC T20- Super 8's Report
Group-E (India, England, West Indies, South Africa)
It was a tough group and close games were expected. But it was not the case. South Africa out bowled England, out batted West Indies and out played India to enter the semifinals as the Winners from this group. South Africa bowled out England for 111, Scored 183/7 against West Indies and atlast defended a moderate 130 against a down and out India. AB Devilliers, Kallis, Gibbs and Smith in patches were the stars with the bat, while the 19 year old Wayne Parnell was the star with the ball ably supported by Johan Botha and Roelof van der Merwe. They were brilliant in the field as usual. West Indies pace bowlers blew away the match fancied Indians with Bouncers. Dwayne Bravo with an unbeaten 66 of 36 balls and 4 wickets was the star, but Fiedel Edwards set the tone with Aggressive pace bowling. The Windies also beat England in a rain-shortened chase. Chasing 80 in 9 overs Windies top order lost their heads, collasping to 45-5 with 22 balls remaining. But the Guyanese pair of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul put on 37 off 18 balls with just 4 boundaries to see them through to semi-finals. England, the hosts had the consolation of beating defending champions India. Taking a leaf out of the Windies book the Englishmen also bowled hostile bouncers at Indian batsmen to come out on top by 3 runs. India failed to win a single game and already Indian fans are demanding for Skipper MS Dhoni's head. They even failed to overhaul South Africa's dismal 130 in an attempt to get a consolation win.
Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +0.787 | ||
West Indies | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.063 | ||
England | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.414 | ||
India | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.466 |
Group-F (Ireland, Pakistan, Srilanka, New Zealand)
New Zealand began convincingly with a 83 run win over Ireland and Pakistan started with a loss against Srilanka. But in the end the table turned. Srilanka, with tremendous middle over bowling strength won all their three matches comprehensively. Yes, their batting and opening bowling looked not so great, but Muralitharan, Mendia and Malinga is a combination any team would dream of in a T20 match. Mendis and Malinga took wickets while Murali tied the batsmen down. Tillakaratne Dilshan tops the run charts for the tournament ably supported by Mahela Jayawardane. Pakistan, after the loss against Srilanka, some how found the desire to win. Abdul Razzaq returned to the side after two playing in the unofficial Indian Cricket League for 2 years. But it was the brilliant bowling of Shahid Afridi and Umer Gul that helped Pakistan. Gul's 3-0-6-5 against New Zealand was a fantastic T20 spell (Best T20 bowling figures and the first ever 5 wicket haul). Pakistan beat New Zealand and Ireland with comfort. The Kiwis had their chance of making it to the Semis ahead of Srilanka based on Net Run Rate, but they failed miserably in a chase of 158. Ireland showed some fight against Srilanka where they lost by 9 runs, but were beaten comprehensively by New Zealand and Pakistan.
Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sri Lanka | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +1.267 | ||
Pakistan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +1.185 | ||
New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.232 | ||
Ireland | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.183 |
Semifinal Line-up
South Africa vs Pakistan
Srilanka vs West Indies
Given the form shown by the teams it should be a final between South Africa and Srilanka. But the other two mercurial sides can sprang in a surprise anywhere along the line. So, adios from me until the finals.
ICC T20- First Round Report.
Group- A (India-A1, Bangladesh-A2, Ireland)
India and Bangladesh were expected to make it to the second round. But Ireland sprung in a surprise by kicking an abject Bangladesh out of the competition with a 6 wicket victory, fashioned by Trant Johnston and the O'Brien brothers, Niall and Kevin. Bangladesh had lost their first game against a classy Indian out-fit. So Ireland replaced Bangladesh as the A2 in the second round. India's swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag has been deemed unfit and Dinesh Kartik replaces him.
Group-B (Pakistan-B1, England-B2, Netherlands)
Netherlands almost caused an upset. They beat England in the tournament opener to put the hosts on the verge of a defeat. Pakistan turned in an abject performance against England that made sure the hosts were through to the next round. Pakistan, the last years finalists needed a convincing win over Dutch to qualify for round-2, which they achieved through useful batting contributions and excellent spin-bowling. Despite England topping this group on Net Run Rate, Pakistan are the B1 and England are B2 in the Super-8s. For more details on how the tournament works please refer the end of the article.
Group-D (Australia-C1, Srilanka-C2, West Indies)
Termed as group of death, this group lived up to the expectations. 50 Over World Champions Australia were Chris Gayled and Genocided out of the competition with the Lankans topping the group table with two wins out of two. The Lankans probably have the best T20 bowling attack. Their middle order is brittle but the top order always makes up. Windies are far more dangerous when their captain, 'Calypso King' Gayle, fires, as he did against the Kangaroos. Since West Indies were replacing Australia, they are the C1.
Group-D (New Zealand-D1, South Africa-D2, Scotland)
As expected South Africa and New Zealand qualified. The match between the top two was a classic as South Africa defended a modest 128 to win by a run. South Africa, under the Impressive Graeme Smith, looks the hot favorites. Even from the Warm-up matches they are playing the same XI something none of the other 11 teams didn't even come close to doing. With Smith leading 'his' team like a colonel, they are on course to win a first cricket WC Silverware. Despite topping the group South Africa are D2.
The Super-8 Groups
Group E: India (A1), England (B2), West Indies (Replaced C1), South Africa (D2)
Group F: Ireland (Replaced A2), Pakistan (B1), Srilanks (C2), New Zealand (D1)
The A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2 Confusion.
These were the rankings before the tournament.
India - A1 | Pakistan - B1 | Australia - C1 | New Zealand- D1 |
Bangladesh - A2 | England - B2 | Sri Lanka - C2 | South Africa - D2 |
Ireland | Netherlands | West Indies | Scotland |
As the tournament progressed, the teams that qualify for the second round were divided onto two groups based on the following rule:
Group E | Group F |
A1 | B1 |
B2 | A2 |
C1 | C2 |
D2 | D1 |
The top two ranked teams in each group are seeded 1 and 2. They will retain this seeding for the Super Eights stage, irrespective of whether they finish first or second in their group, unless they are knocked out by team 3 in their group. In this instance, team 3 replaces the position of the team they knock out. For example, if Bangladesh wins Group A and India comes second, for the purposes of the Super Eights, India will still be A1 and Bangladesh will be A2. If for example, Ireland qualifies instead of India, Ireland will become A1. (Source: ICC)
My Semifinal Predictions:
India, South Africa, Srilanka and New Zealand
For Scores and other tournament features: Cricinfo
Let's enjoy the entertainment version of the great Game. I'll be back after Super-8s. Untill then Adios......
Symonds does it again!!!!
Andrew Symonds is believed to be contemplating retirement after being ordered home from the ICC World Twenty20 for an "alcohol-related incident" that has thrown Australia's tournament plans into disarray.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland announced Symonds' contract was under review, but Cricinfo understands the allrounder may jump before he is pushed. The developments come after the Australian team's leadership group - consisting of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Tim Nielsen and Steve Bernard - recommended to Cricket Australia's board that Symonds be withdrawn from the World Twenty20 for drinking while watching the State of Origin rugby league match on Wednesday morning.
While not a serious offence in isolation, Symonds' alcohol consumption contravened the conditions of a personal contract struck with Cricket Australia following a string of behavioural infractions. It is understood the terms of the contract have left Symonds feeling restricted and, according to one confidante, "no longer knowing how he can fit into the Australian team".
Ponting, speaking at a hastily convened press conference at The Oval, said Symonds had let down his employers, his teammates and himself.
"There's no doubting Andrew's capabilities as a player, but there are other things happening around him that made the decision we've come to a relatively easy one," said Ponting. "This is not wholly and solely about Andrew Symonds. This is about the Australian cricket team. We've got some young guys who are just finding out what international cricket is all about. This is about the bigger picture and bringing on the next generation of Australian players."
Though Symonds is not disputing the decision to withdraw him from the World Twenty20, he is apparently keen to tell his side of the story, and is expected to wait until he lands in Australia before speaking.
Various reports have suggested Symonds' drinking became problematic during Australia's recent limited overs tour of the UAE, and again after the Twenty20 warm-up match against New Zealand on Tuesday. But it was the "several beers" imbibed in the company of several teammates while watching the State of Origin that is believed to have prompted Australia's leadership group to act, and push Symonds' career to the brink.
Symonds attended a PCA dinner with the Australian Twenty20 squad at a Kensington hotel on Wednesday night, but was a notable absentee at Australia's training session at The Oval on Thursday. He was due to return to Australia on Thursday night, and a source close to the player told Cricinfo a retirement announcement could be imminent.
"He is feeling like a square peg in a round hole," the source said. "It got to a stage where he had to make these commitments if he wanted to be selected for Australia. He knows he has put himself in this position, but there is no doubt he is struggling with it."
Following a series of misdemeanours in the past 12 months, Symonds was on a final warning from Cricket Australia. Senior figures within CA pushed for his contract to be torn up after the "gone fishing" incident in Darwin last year, and Sutherland yesterday told reporters in Melbourne the allrounder's contract was "under review".
"Tonight we have also advised him that we will take the [contract] offer off the table at this stage," Sutherland said. "In isolation, the breaches that I am talking about are not serious, but in the scheme of things, in the scheme of history, they are enough for it to be the final straw. I'm disappointed in Andrew, but I'm also disappointed for Andrew. I'm sad about it."
Symonds has been involved in numerous off-field incidents in recent seasons, most notably a pre-match drinking session in Cardiff in 2005 which led to him being stood down from Australia's limited overs team barely an hour before a match against Bangladesh. He also missed a team meeting to go fishing during a one-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin last year, which prompted team management to send him home and CA to arrange psychological counselling.
An altercation with Clarke on last year's tour of the West Indies further frayed tensions between Symonds and the team management, and a drunken radio interview in January - in which he referred to the New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendan McCullum as "a piece of s..." - resulted in him receiving a fine and further disciplinary action. Symonds apologised, having admitted that alcohol was a problematic influence in his life, and he subsequently stated that he was "entering the final chapter of his career".
Despite retaining his central contract only last month, Symonds was omitted from Australia's Ashes squad in favour of Andrew McDonald and Shane Watson. After 26 Tests and 198 ODIs dating back to November 1998, it is hard to see how his career can possibly recover from this latest episode.
Cricket Australia confirmed that they had applied to the ICC technical committee to see if a replacement for Symonds is permitted. Should their application be successful, Moises Henriques and Cameron White are the likeliest candidates for a call-up.
Source: Cricinfo