West Indies at last broke their Super Eights duck and defeated Bangladesh by 99 runs in Barbados. This shouldn't surprise us, given that the West Indies have been one of the stalwarts of world cricket for many years (though some of the lustre has gone from their reputation and performances in the last decade).
The facts of this match, which had no bearing whatsoever on the semi-finals, may be ascertained from the scorecard and the Cricinfo coverage. I'll just draw your attention to the performance of the West Indies number 6: B C Lara 33/ 27b (1x4, 2x6). After the game he announced his retirement, which deserves, no requires, a separate post.
Showing posts with label Bangladesh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bangladesh. Show all posts
Friday, April 20, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
England muddle through against tenacious Bangladesh
The fifth ball of the sixth over of Bangladesh's innings, which was shown on tonight's ABC News (and no doubt many other places), summed up the game beautifully. Michael Vaughan at mid-wicket dropped a looped catch from Shahriar Nafees, then picked up the ball and angrily returned it to wicketkeeper Nixon, who ran out the non-striker (and on this occasion non-watcher) Habibul Bashar.
Bangladesh 2/23, soon became 3/26 (Nafees almost let off again, this time by Nixon who handballed the ball on to Andrew Strauss' safe pair of hands), 4/40/, 5/47, then 6/65 before Saqibul Hasan (an obdurate 57 no/ 95b) found enough support from the lower order to lead his team to a disappointing-but-could-have-been-much-worse 143 all out. Sajjad Mahmood (3/27), Monty Panesar (3/25) and James (Jimmy?) Anderson (2/30) kept the Bangladeshis in check and were rewarded with good figures.
England began as if they had all the time in the world to make the runs, which in a metaphorical sense they did. Ian Bell's 10 ball duck was, even for an opener in this situation, literally taking things a little too slowly. Neither Vaughan nor Strauss looked their best, but at least they put a few (or at least more than they'd done recently) runs on the board. Still, both were out by the time the score had crawled to 70 in 20.5 overs: slower than Bangladesh but at least with wickets in hand. Which was just as well, as at 70 Kevin Pietersen (10/25b) failed while Andrew Flintoff's modest success (23/21b) was only so in the context of his batting in the tournament to date. When he went it was 5/110, which looked, and was, shaky; and 6/110 (Ravi Bopara not troubling the scorers) was unquestionably very shaky. Fortunately for England Collingwood (23 no /74b)and Nixon (20 n o/39 b) took their team to victory not with a bang but with a whimper, which means that it's not the end of their World (cup). Yet.
Oh, and I've not mentioned that England sent Bangladesh in.
Once again, Cricinfo has a detailed stats report, this time by S Rajesh going solo.
Scorecard
Tonight's New Zealand - Sri Lanka match should be most interesting. What a pity it's not being shown on Channel Nine. If you're reading this hot from my press and you want to peek at the score click here.
Bangladesh 2/23, soon became 3/26 (Nafees almost let off again, this time by Nixon who handballed the ball on to Andrew Strauss' safe pair of hands), 4/40/, 5/47, then 6/65 before Saqibul Hasan (an obdurate 57 no/ 95b) found enough support from the lower order to lead his team to a disappointing-but-could-have-been-much-worse 143 all out. Sajjad Mahmood (3/27), Monty Panesar (3/25) and James (Jimmy?) Anderson (2/30) kept the Bangladeshis in check and were rewarded with good figures.
England began as if they had all the time in the world to make the runs, which in a metaphorical sense they did. Ian Bell's 10 ball duck was, even for an opener in this situation, literally taking things a little too slowly. Neither Vaughan nor Strauss looked their best, but at least they put a few (or at least more than they'd done recently) runs on the board. Still, both were out by the time the score had crawled to 70 in 20.5 overs: slower than Bangladesh but at least with wickets in hand. Which was just as well, as at 70 Kevin Pietersen (10/25b) failed while Andrew Flintoff's modest success (23/21b) was only so in the context of his batting in the tournament to date. When he went it was 5/110, which looked, and was, shaky; and 6/110 (Ravi Bopara not troubling the scorers) was unquestionably very shaky. Fortunately for England Collingwood (23 no /74b)and Nixon (20 n o/39 b) took their team to victory not with a bang but with a whimper, which means that it's not the end of their World (cup). Yet.
Oh, and I've not mentioned that England sent Bangladesh in.
Once again, Cricinfo has a detailed stats report, this time by S Rajesh going solo.
Scorecard
Tonight's New Zealand - Sri Lanka match should be most interesting. What a pity it's not being shown on Channel Nine. If you're reading this hot from my press and you want to peek at the score click here.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Another Bangladesh upset
Bangladesh, for the second time in the tournament, caused a major upset, this time against South Africa. Sent in (again!), Bangladesh were led forward from a modest 4/84 by Mohammad Ashraful's aggressive 87/83b to reach a reasonable, if hardly ungettable, 8/251. The Proteas attack was uneven: Andre Nel took 5/45 and Shaun Pollock was economical (0/25 from 10 overs), but the rest (who yet again didn't include in their number a front line spinner) struggled.
South Africa regrouped after losing Graham Smith at 18, but stumbled against Bangladesh's three left arm spinners and excellent fielding to be all out for 184. with only Herschelle Gibbs, batting lower than usual because of an injury, making many runs. He was left high and dry on 56 no in 59b, as the innings subsided around him.
Cricinfo has much more.
Scorecard.
Tonight will be a long one for me as the Australia v England match will be shown on free to air TV.
South Africa regrouped after losing Graham Smith at 18, but stumbled against Bangladesh's three left arm spinners and excellent fielding to be all out for 184. with only Herschelle Gibbs, batting lower than usual because of an injury, making many runs. He was left high and dry on 56 no in 59b, as the innings subsided around him.
Cricinfo has much more.
Scorecard.
Tonight will be a long one for me as the Australia v England match will be shown on free to air TV.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
New Zealand continue in Australian vein and trounce Bangladesh
Hard on the heels of their defeat by Australia, Bangladesh had to face up to another in form team, New Zealand at Antigua. Though the match was not interrupted or delayed by rain, the Black Caps' 9 wicket victory was almost the same margin as the Australians' two days before.
NZ opted to field first and kept the Bangladesh batters on so tight a rein that they used up all except 9 balls of their 50 overs in crawling to 174 all out ( Steve Styris 4/43, Shane Bond 2/15 from 10 mean spirited overs, and Jacob Oram 3/30 including a stumping).
Stephen Fleming (102/92b) led his team at the gallop into the final straight . After reaching his century he allowed Hamish Marshall to take them past the winning post, and his 50 in 54b, with a six.
Scorecard.
NZ opted to field first and kept the Bangladesh batters on so tight a rein that they used up all except 9 balls of their 50 overs in crawling to 174 all out ( Steve Styris 4/43, Shane Bond 2/15 from 10 mean spirited overs, and Jacob Oram 3/30 including a stumping).
Stephen Fleming (102/92b) led his team at the gallop into the final straight . After reaching his century he allowed Hamish Marshall to take them past the winning post, and his 50 in 54b, with a six.
Scorecard.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Australia race to victory in 22/22 match
I stayed up last night intending to watch Australia v Bangladesh but grew tired of watching the ground dry slowly (despite the sunshine) and fell asleep after Mark Nicholas, hair was blowing in the wind, had interviewed Umpires Bowden and Aleem Dar (why do they always seem to be officiating when there are delays and interruptions?).
I woke up to find that the game had begun as a 22 overs a side match, that Bangladesh, sent in by Ricky Ponting, were batting and that,at 3 for just over 30, they were in trouble. Glenn McGrath, whose 3/16 (all top order batters) from 5 overs gave him 57 World Cup wickets and therefore the record as the highest wicket taker in the competition, was in top form. As one of the commentators said , he may not be quite as menacing as he was a few years ago, but he is still very, very good.
Bangladesh finished with 6/104 from their 22 overs. In the innings break I nodded off again and awoke to find Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden toying with the bowling. They passed Bangladesh's score without losing a wicket: Gilchrist 59 no/44b and Hayden 47/39b. This took all of 13.5 overs and 56 minutes.
Scorecard.
To judge from the TV pictures and comments by Cricinfo's Andrew Miller the spectators must have felt that they had been shortchanged, especially with all the irksome restrictions (eg no pass outs issued, no food and drinks allowed to be brought in) further diminishing their enjoyment.
Australia are cruising along comfortably at the moment, but even they have a couple of matters to worry about, particularly the injury which Shane Watson, who is so important to the side's balance, sustained in the match, and residual concerns about the middle order batting. Both Michael Hussey and Andrew Symonds would probably have found conditions to their liking today had the match been a full 50 overs a side contest, but they will almost certainly have other opportunities before the semi-finals, in which Australia now looks almost certain to participate.
Bangladesh are struggling in the Super Eight stage, and today's defeat was so comprehensive, even though the match was shortened, that they may just want to go away, try to forget it and regroup before their next game, another tough one, against NZ on Monday Caribbean time.
I woke up to find that the game had begun as a 22 overs a side match, that Bangladesh, sent in by Ricky Ponting, were batting and that,at 3 for just over 30, they were in trouble. Glenn McGrath, whose 3/16 (all top order batters) from 5 overs gave him 57 World Cup wickets and therefore the record as the highest wicket taker in the competition, was in top form. As one of the commentators said , he may not be quite as menacing as he was a few years ago, but he is still very, very good.
Bangladesh finished with 6/104 from their 22 overs. In the innings break I nodded off again and awoke to find Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden toying with the bowling. They passed Bangladesh's score without losing a wicket: Gilchrist 59 no/44b and Hayden 47/39b. This took all of 13.5 overs and 56 minutes.
Scorecard.
To judge from the TV pictures and comments by Cricinfo's Andrew Miller the spectators must have felt that they had been shortchanged, especially with all the irksome restrictions (eg no pass outs issued, no food and drinks allowed to be brought in) further diminishing their enjoyment.
Australia are cruising along comfortably at the moment, but even they have a couple of matters to worry about, particularly the injury which Shane Watson, who is so important to the side's balance, sustained in the match, and residual concerns about the middle order batting. Both Michael Hussey and Andrew Symonds would probably have found conditions to their liking today had the match been a full 50 overs a side contest, but they will almost certainly have other opportunities before the semi-finals, in which Australia now looks almost certain to participate.
Bangladesh are struggling in the Super Eight stage, and today's defeat was so comprehensive, even though the match was shortened, that they may just want to go away, try to forget it and regroup before their next game, another tough one, against NZ on Monday Caribbean time.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Bangla joy dashes bunglers' hopes: World Cup day 13
At Port of Spain the Bangladesh - Bermuda match, the last one of the Group Stage, was interrupted by rain several times . This triggered (and re-triggered) the Duckworth - Lewis method, whose calculations progressively reduced the game to a maximum 21 overs a side, which, as Cricinfo's Jamie Alter reports, Bangladesh eventually won by 7 wickets ( Jim Maxwell on ABC RN Breakfast this morning incorrectly stated that they lost 4 wickets), and will proceed to the Super Eight Series.
Scorecard.
As a consequence of this result (not to mention their own shortcomings) India have been eliminated from the tournament. The excuses and other explanations, eg this, have begun and will no doubt continue for some time.
On to the Super Eights
Despite some uncertainty reported by the ABC (Jim Maxwell seems to have got it right this time), the Super Eight schedule has now been confirmed. In the first match tomorrow Caribbean time ( late Tuesday/ early Wednesday here) Australia will be playing the West Indies, not Ireland. No doubt Australia wil start favourites, but the West Indies have lifted their limited overs game over the last few months and they do have a great player in the autumn of his career who will be keen to leave yet another reminder of his greatness...
Scorecard.
As a consequence of this result (not to mention their own shortcomings) India have been eliminated from the tournament. The excuses and other explanations, eg this, have begun and will no doubt continue for some time.
On to the Super Eights
Despite some uncertainty reported by the ABC (Jim Maxwell seems to have got it right this time), the Super Eight schedule has now been confirmed. In the first match tomorrow Caribbean time ( late Tuesday/ early Wednesday here) Australia will be playing the West Indies, not Ireland. No doubt Australia wil start favourites, but the West Indies have lifted their limited overs game over the last few months and they do have a great player in the autumn of his career who will be keen to leave yet another reminder of his greatness...
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Cold comfort for Pakistan: World Cup Day 9
The scorecard suggests that Pakistan comprehensively wiped the floor with Zimbabwe in their Group Stage match at Kingston. On this occasion the actual scores didn't mirror the realities of the situation, though the Duckworth-Lewis method produced a reasonable result: a 93 run win to Pakistan who, sent in, were all out for 349 in 49.5 overs before the rains came, and extinguished any hope Zimbabwe might have had of making a game of it.
99 all out in 19.1 (out of a possible 20) overs was their reply. Two sentences of the Cricinfo Bulletin sum it up:
Zimbabwe's bowlers showed spirit but their limitations were cruelly exposed. The batting fared no better, in fact providing an ever starker reminder of Zimbabwe's problems. [Peter Roebuck has made some trenchant comments about Zimbabwe's treatment of its cricketers: "Mugabe's cricketing representatives stay in posh hotels in the Caribbean, paying their young players a pittance and shamelessly taking care of themselves."]
Back, for now, to the game. The highlight was Imran Nazir's 160/121 b. The name may be unfamiliar to people outside Pakistan, but he's been on the international scene more often than not in the wings than on centre stage, since 1999. I also noted that Shahid Afridi took the field for Pakistan in what will be his only appearance for the tournament. I've always wondered why a player of his potential is ever omitted from their ODI team: I can think of some possible reasons but don't know enough to comment further.
The match was played against the backdrop of Bob Woolmer's death and continuing police interest in the matter, of which more may be heard. I've mentioned these developments in an update to this post from earlier in the week.
The Sri Lanka v Bangladesh Group C match at Port of Spain was also decided by the D/L method. Bangladesh, like Zimbabwe, won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in. The outcome was 4/318 from 50 overs (the seemingly evergreen Sanith Jayasuriya 109/87b well supported by the other top order batters). In the face of this, and rain interruptions, Bangladesh buckled and were dismissed for 112 in 37 (of a revised possible 46) overs: the D/L margin of victory 198 runs.
If current form is anything to go by Sri Lanka will start clear favourites when they meet India on Friday....but let's hope for a match that isn't blighted by rain.
Scorecard.
99 all out in 19.1 (out of a possible 20) overs was their reply. Two sentences of the Cricinfo Bulletin sum it up:
Zimbabwe's bowlers showed spirit but their limitations were cruelly exposed. The batting fared no better, in fact providing an ever starker reminder of Zimbabwe's problems. [Peter Roebuck has made some trenchant comments about Zimbabwe's treatment of its cricketers: "Mugabe's cricketing representatives stay in posh hotels in the Caribbean, paying their young players a pittance and shamelessly taking care of themselves."]
Back, for now, to the game. The highlight was Imran Nazir's 160/121 b. The name may be unfamiliar to people outside Pakistan, but he's been on the international scene more often than not in the wings than on centre stage, since 1999. I also noted that Shahid Afridi took the field for Pakistan in what will be his only appearance for the tournament. I've always wondered why a player of his potential is ever omitted from their ODI team: I can think of some possible reasons but don't know enough to comment further.
The match was played against the backdrop of Bob Woolmer's death and continuing police interest in the matter, of which more may be heard. I've mentioned these developments in an update to this post from earlier in the week.
The Sri Lanka v Bangladesh Group C match at Port of Spain was also decided by the D/L method. Bangladesh, like Zimbabwe, won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in. The outcome was 4/318 from 50 overs (the seemingly evergreen Sanith Jayasuriya 109/87b well supported by the other top order batters). In the face of this, and rain interruptions, Bangladesh buckled and were dismissed for 112 in 37 (of a revised possible 46) overs: the D/L margin of victory 198 runs.
If current form is anything to go by Sri Lanka will start clear favourites when they meet India on Friday....but let's hope for a match that isn't blighted by rain.
Scorecard.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Upsets embarrass India and Pakistan: World Cup Day 5
Two unexpected results have elevated the Group Stage of the World Cup from a series of practice matches for the major teams into a serious competition.
Bangladesh are a test playing country but their record in both test and one day cricket has been poor. India have, at least on paper, a strong team and have, until now, been touted as possible Cup winners, so it was surprising to see them bowled out for 191 in 49.3 overs at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain . Only Sourav Ganguly 66/129b and Yuvraj Singh 47/58b put up a strong fight against the economical Bangladesh attack, for whom opening bowler Mashrafe Mortaza (9-2-38-4) and the two left arm spinners Abdur Razzak (10-2-38-3) and Mohammad Rafique (10-2-35-3) were outstanding.
191 was something for India to defend against the often brittle Bangladesh batting, but while they fought hard they couldn't stop three teenagers, opener Tamim Iqbal 51/53b, Mushfiqur Rahim (who was dropped behind on 8), 56/107b and Saqibul Hasan 53/86b from getting them home by 5 wickets with 9 balls to spare. A magnificent win for the underdogs, who had only just heard the news of the death of Manjural Islam , killed in a road accident at home, and at 22 the youngest test cricketer to die.
Scorecard.
At Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica Ireland won the toss and put Pakistan in. At first the innings followed a roughly similar course to India's: two early wickets, then a small recovery. But the Irish bowlers kept their heads: the third wicket fell at 56, the fourth (Inzamam for 1) at 58, the fifth at 66 and the sixth at 72. Kamran Akmal made 27 /47b but this wasn't the highest score of the innings: that distinction went to extras with 29, including 23 wides.
Ireland got off to a bad start: 2/15 (including Jeremy Bray, the hero of the Zimbabwe match) but William Porterfield dug in while Niall O'Brien looked for runs. Porterfield was out at 62, and a fourth wicket fell at 70. Kevin O'Brien joined his brother but rain stopped play with Ireland 4/81 after 27.3 overs.
The delay meant that the Duckworth-Lewis method was invoked, and Ireland was left a revised target of 128 from 47 overs when play resumed. At 108 Niall O'Brien was stumped for 72/107b. Two further wickets fell at 113 and Pakistan seemed to have a good chance of redemption. But it wasn't to be as Kevin O'Brien 16/52b hung in while Australian born captain Trent Johnston didn't wait around , hitting a six to give his team a magnificent and well-deserved victory. And on St Patrick's Day too.
Scorecard.
Pakistan have now lost their two Group Stage matches so have no hope of qualifying for the Super Eight series. They will not look forward to going home earlier than they, and almost everyone else in the cricket world, expected, not just because they'll be shattered but because they'll receive a hostile reception from their supporters.
India can redeem themselves, but to be sure of doing so will need to defeat Bermuda (a genuine minnow) and Sri Lanka (a much tougher proposition). Not impossible but, on recent form, not probable either.
Bangladesh are a test playing country but their record in both test and one day cricket has been poor. India have, at least on paper, a strong team and have, until now, been touted as possible Cup winners, so it was surprising to see them bowled out for 191 in 49.3 overs at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain . Only Sourav Ganguly 66/129b and Yuvraj Singh 47/58b put up a strong fight against the economical Bangladesh attack, for whom opening bowler Mashrafe Mortaza (9-2-38-4) and the two left arm spinners Abdur Razzak (10-2-38-3) and Mohammad Rafique (10-2-35-3) were outstanding.
191 was something for India to defend against the often brittle Bangladesh batting, but while they fought hard they couldn't stop three teenagers, opener Tamim Iqbal 51/53b, Mushfiqur Rahim (who was dropped behind on 8), 56/107b and Saqibul Hasan 53/86b from getting them home by 5 wickets with 9 balls to spare. A magnificent win for the underdogs, who had only just heard the news of the death of Manjural Islam , killed in a road accident at home, and at 22 the youngest test cricketer to die.
Scorecard.
At Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica Ireland won the toss and put Pakistan in. At first the innings followed a roughly similar course to India's: two early wickets, then a small recovery. But the Irish bowlers kept their heads: the third wicket fell at 56, the fourth (Inzamam for 1) at 58, the fifth at 66 and the sixth at 72. Kamran Akmal made 27 /47b but this wasn't the highest score of the innings: that distinction went to extras with 29, including 23 wides.
Ireland got off to a bad start: 2/15 (including Jeremy Bray, the hero of the Zimbabwe match) but William Porterfield dug in while Niall O'Brien looked for runs. Porterfield was out at 62, and a fourth wicket fell at 70. Kevin O'Brien joined his brother but rain stopped play with Ireland 4/81 after 27.3 overs.
The delay meant that the Duckworth-Lewis method was invoked, and Ireland was left a revised target of 128 from 47 overs when play resumed. At 108 Niall O'Brien was stumped for 72/107b. Two further wickets fell at 113 and Pakistan seemed to have a good chance of redemption. But it wasn't to be as Kevin O'Brien 16/52b hung in while Australian born captain Trent Johnston didn't wait around , hitting a six to give his team a magnificent and well-deserved victory. And on St Patrick's Day too.
Scorecard.
Pakistan have now lost their two Group Stage matches so have no hope of qualifying for the Super Eight series. They will not look forward to going home earlier than they, and almost everyone else in the cricket world, expected, not just because they'll be shattered but because they'll receive a hostile reception from their supporters.
India can redeem themselves, but to be sure of doing so will need to defeat Bermuda (a genuine minnow) and Sri Lanka (a much tougher proposition). Not impossible but, on recent form, not probable either.
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