Well not many of them would have noticed with me as well despite my experiences with the cricketing world since my blog took off last year. Yesterday, Ireland beat Netherlands after chasing down a mammoth total of 306 set by Netherlands which was a rather tough task for Ireland to accomplish considering its standards in international cricket. A win against Holland is a celebration indeed for Ireland and if their win against England is considered, this goes dull in front of what they have achieved. But, nevertheless, the win over Holland was enough to see the Irish in the record books.
No need to worry for, the Irish have made it to the record books for the right reasons when yesterday they not only recorded the 2nd 300+ successful run chase but are also the only team in the history of a world cup to have done so. Teams like England and Sri Lanka have managed it once against West Indies and Zimbabwe respectively. In fact, no team has ever managed to get past 300 runs batting 2nd let alone winning. But, Ireland have done it in a single edition first by chasing down 326 against England earlier in the tournament and yesterday against Holland when they overtook 306.
Sri Lanka as a matter of fact were the first team to have successfully chased own a 300+ total when they overtook 312 runs set by Zimbabwe in the 1992 world cup. This record stood for as long as 19 years with 5 world cups played in between. Then, England surpassed 301 runs set by West Indies in the super eights stage of the 2007 world cup which was England's only win worth mentioning in that world cup. But, that also meant that England became the 2nd team to have successfully chased down 300+ total. Now, Ireland have made news for two glorious records.
One for being the team to have recorded the highest successful run chase in world cups when they surpassed the 326 run target set by England at Bangalore and the other record for being the only team to have successfully chased down a 300+ target twice. Likewise only 3 teams have managed to go past 300 batting second in world cups. As time moves, there might be more teams entering into this record. But, still Ireland will be the team to have accomplished the feat for the 1st time. And for the record to be achieved by a non-test playing team is a greater reward.
Showing posts with label Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe. Show all posts
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Something fishy in the tri series
Well if the ongoing triangular series involving India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe is considered, there can be something fishy smelt with much unexpected results happening. The latest development in this regard is the win of Zimbabwe over Sri Lanka no matter by which margin. And the margin wa also unexpected in case someone wants to give it a thought. This is rarely possible in case of Zimbabwe who can't even think of beating Bangladesh be it at home or outside. On the other side also, Zimbabwe are seen beating India rather convincingly not once but twice in the encounters they have faced.
This can partially be assumed to be the result of the Indian selectors restingmost all of their players with an intention of giving the young legs a chance and also senior players rest before the big game in the Asia cup would begin. But still there were the likes of Suresh Raina, Rohith Sharma and Zaheer Khan among the list who could have saved face for India atleast against Zimbabwe though not against Sri Lanka. But, the funny side of the tournament happened to be the fact that India managed to win a game against Sri Lanka which is comparatively stronger than Zimbabwe but lose to Zimbabwe.
Moreover, Sri Lanka lose their last encounter to Zimbabwe by eight wickets which makes people think in the other way. One thing which can justify the Sri Lankans' attitude is that since they had already made it to the finals and they would have taken this match against Zimbabwe less seriously one can suppose. The scorecard suggests that the Sri Lankans were not deprived of any of their players owing to rest with Dilshan, Kapugedra and Samaraweera still being in the squad for this to happen. It would not be a surprise in case Sri Lanka lose the finals to give Zimbabwe their maiden triangular series victory.
Though the match was inconsequential, Sri Lanka should have won it in case people's thinking should not swing towards the bad side. The finals of the tournament will no doubt be won by Sri Lanka but, if the ongoing developments are given a close look at, things are not clear whether there is any ful play involved or not. The only hope would be the fact that there would hardly be anyone who would have his bet on either of the team for the series is not a well sought after one. But, this should not and cannot be considered to be the reason to be a fair play when results go unexpected with a lot of difference inbetween.
This can partially be assumed to be the result of the Indian selectors resting
Moreover, Sri Lanka lose their last encounter to Zimbabwe by eight wickets which makes people think in the other way. One thing which can justify the Sri Lankans' attitude is that since they had already made it to the finals and they would have taken this match against Zimbabwe less seriously one can suppose. The scorecard suggests that the Sri Lankans were not deprived of any of their players owing to rest with Dilshan, Kapugedra and Samaraweera still being in the squad for this to happen. It would not be a surprise in case Sri Lanka lose the finals to give Zimbabwe their maiden triangular series victory.
Though the match was inconsequential, Sri Lanka should have won it in case people's thinking should not swing towards the bad side. The finals of the tournament will no doubt be won by Sri Lanka but, if the ongoing developments are given a close look at, things are not clear whether there is any ful play involved or not. The only hope would be the fact that there would hardly be anyone who would have his bet on either of the team for the series is not a well sought after one. But, this should not and cannot be considered to be the reason to be a fair play when results go unexpected with a lot of difference inbetween.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Priceless!
Well with both the matches that were scheduled being whitewashed, one can think of the bad scheduling by the ICC when both the games were scheduled at the same venue despite the fact that there was signs of rain prior to the match. Of course, rain has always been playing a spoilsport on most of the occasions which can decide the fate of a deserving team when the same has to face the threat of being knocked out of the tournament with hardly any fault of its. And one has to nevertheless embrace the fact that nothing can be done regarding the same.
There is a technology to bring down rains but not one to stop the same when it rains at an unexpected and unwanted spot and time. But, a decent thinking from the ICC which is responsible for scheduling the games can at most of the times help in saving the tournament from going into the wrong hands. As a result of partly the rains and more because of the governing body, one team had to end up on the losing side despite putting up a mammoth total and the other team which was playing the 2nd match of the day had to keep its fingers crossed until they were declared winners.
A total of 191 is a winning one in most of the situations and more so when the same is scored against a weak team like the West Indies. I agree that there have been many instances where a total in excess of 200 has been successfully chased down. But, this was hardly the case in yesterday's game though it was the West Indies who were enjoying the home side advantage. Duckworth - Lewis method of judging the winners and losers may say anything. But, at the end of the day, one team has to go back cursing with hardly no fault of its. One should have gone sick by now when unanswerable questions are raised against the D-L method.
Coming to the 2nd game of the day, the match should have been truncated in the beginning itself after rains had spoiled hopes in the first one a few hours back. One could have had a 15 over match instead of a 20 overs a side with rain always threatening to play a spoilsport. In that case, Sri Lanka wouldhave batted for 15 overs instead of 20 while Zimbabwe would have batted for 10 overs and not only 5 overs which results in a wrong calculation. With their caliber, Sri Lanka had every chance of bowling the Zimbabwean batsmen well before 10 overs. And, even if that doesn't happen, for sure there would have been a clearer match in front of us.
There is a technology to bring down rains but not one to stop the same when it rains at an unexpected and unwanted spot and time. But, a decent thinking from the ICC which is responsible for scheduling the games can at most of the times help in saving the tournament from going into the wrong hands. As a result of partly the rains and more because of the governing body, one team had to end up on the losing side despite putting up a mammoth total and the other team which was playing the 2nd match of the day had to keep its fingers crossed until they were declared winners.
A total of 191 is a winning one in most of the situations and more so when the same is scored against a weak team like the West Indies. I agree that there have been many instances where a total in excess of 200 has been successfully chased down. But, this was hardly the case in yesterday's game though it was the West Indies who were enjoying the home side advantage. Duckworth - Lewis method of judging the winners and losers may say anything. But, at the end of the day, one team has to go back cursing with hardly no fault of its. One should have gone sick by now when unanswerable questions are raised against the D-L method.
Coming to the 2nd game of the day, the match should have been truncated in the beginning itself after rains had spoiled hopes in the first one a few hours back. One could have had a 15 over match instead of a 20 overs a side with rain always threatening to play a spoilsport. In that case, Sri Lanka wouldhave batted for 15 overs instead of 20 while Zimbabwe would have batted for 10 overs and not only 5 overs which results in a wrong calculation. With their caliber, Sri Lanka had every chance of bowling the Zimbabwean batsmen well before 10 overs. And, even if that doesn't happen, for sure there would have been a clearer match in front of us.
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