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 West Indies vs England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Indies vs England. Show all posts
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
God saved this world cup
Well yesterday England as expected defeated the West Indies by 18 runs which not only kept England's hopes alive in the world cup but also avoided another mismatch awaiting with Bangladesh having a chance to go through to the quarter finals of the tournament in case England had lost the match to the West Indies. That in turn would have seen four teams from the sub-continent make it to the 2nd round of a world cup which has so far not happened in any of the world tournaments. And, with Bangladesh making it to the quarters would have spoiled all spirits of the mega event.
This is the 1st time since the 1996 world cup that all eight test playing teams have advanced to the second stage of the world cup. One can take a look at the 1999 edition where Zimbabwe made it to the super sixes at the cost of England (to the super sixes), India (to the semi-finals). As a result, Pakistan had a walkover to the semi-finals after they had lost to India and the Proteas in the super sixes. The result was no different four years later when Kenya and Zimbabwe emerged to the super sixes with four teams namely Pakistan, West Indies, England and South Africa losing the plot midway.
In 2007, in the first week of the tournament, India and Pakistan-arch rivals made an early exit which saw a dumb Ireland and Bangladesh making it to the super eights. India and Pakistan were much better teams compared to England and the West Indies which made the mega event a failure. Viewers had to watch helplessly the Ireland-Bangladesh when overpriced tickets were bought anticipating an India-Pakistan match. However, things have returned to normalcy this time with a lot of compromises mentioned in my earlier posts. I instead went in for Personal, Golf, Travel, Golf, Foods rather than seeing a tasteless match out there.
There was threat everywhere in the initial stages of the tournament wherein Ireland and Bangladesh both beat England making England's chances slim in making it to the quarter-finals of the world cup. But, just have a look at what Andrew Struass is all upto when he miraculously beat the Proteas in a low scoring thriller and tied with India when all odds were against them. The presence of West Indies made life easier for the Englishmen for, had it been some New Zealand or Sri Lanka instead of West Indies, may be we would have seen Bangladesh playing the 1st quarter-finals.
This is the 1st time since the 1996 world cup that all eight test playing teams have advanced to the second stage of the world cup. One can take a look at the 1999 edition where Zimbabwe made it to the super sixes at the cost of England (to the super sixes), India (to the semi-finals). As a result, Pakistan had a walkover to the semi-finals after they had lost to India and the Proteas in the super sixes. The result was no different four years later when Kenya and Zimbabwe emerged to the super sixes with four teams namely Pakistan, West Indies, England and South Africa losing the plot midway.
In 2007, in the first week of the tournament, India and Pakistan-arch rivals made an early exit which saw a dumb Ireland and Bangladesh making it to the super eights. India and Pakistan were much better teams compared to England and the West Indies which made the mega event a failure. Viewers had to watch helplessly the Ireland-Bangladesh when overpriced tickets were bought anticipating an India-Pakistan match. However, things have returned to normalcy this time with a lot of compromises mentioned in my earlier posts. I instead went in for Personal, Golf, Travel, Golf, Foods rather than seeing a tasteless match out there.
There was threat everywhere in the initial stages of the tournament wherein Ireland and Bangladesh both beat England making England's chances slim in making it to the quarter-finals of the world cup. But, just have a look at what Andrew Struass is all upto when he miraculously beat the Proteas in a low scoring thriller and tied with India when all odds were against them. The presence of West Indies made life easier for the Englishmen for, had it been some New Zealand or Sri Lanka instead of West Indies, may be we would have seen Bangladesh playing the 1st quarter-finals.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Pakistan misses hattrick
Well it is not a big task for any team or a player can make it to the headlines of a cricket site or a cricket magazine but, it is the reasons for which the player or the team that has made news which takes precedence. And, needless to be said, Pakistan has made it to the headlines for the wrong reasons yesterday when they lost all their ten wickets for yet another score of less than 100. The score was one run less than 75 to be exact. And, this is the third time in the series out of eight innings Pakistan has played that it has been bowled out for a score less than hundred.
Not even Bangladesh or Zimbabwe have been able to do this no matter against which team they have played. Of course, I remember the West indies losing all their ten wickets for 47 on one occasion and 94 on the other during their tour of England 2004 which is famous for Brian Lara's epic knock of unbeaten 400 at Antigua in the fourth test. Even England last year against the West Indies lost al their ten wickets for a score of 51 to hand the West Indies a rare victory. This bought in some change, not to the West Indies who are at most time at the receiving end but to the viewers who would have gone sick watching West Indies lose.
Now, Pakistan have gone even further when they were bowled out for a score less than 100 on the fourth occasion in the last two months or so. They were bowled out for a score of 80 in the 1st test against England at Nottingham and 72 in the 2nd test at Birmingham which Pakistan lost by 9 wickets. Now, as if that were not enough, Pakistan have yet against been bowled out for 74 yesterday at London. Only three players from Pakistan were able to cross the double digit and thanks to the extras which did not score than the Pakistani batsmen.
Otherwise, it would be fascinating to see the extras having a hand in the top scorer of the match. As I had written in yesterday's post about Stuart Broad's innings with the bat despite coming in at number, now it is to be highlighted that Broad's score of 169 was more than twice of what the entire Pakistani batsmen could score that includes the extras as well. Stuart Broad played 297 ball that constituted close to 50 overs which was close to 17 overs more than what the entire Pakistani innings lasted. This was not even achieved by Bangladesh when they toured England recently. Instead of watching Pakistan play, I'd recommend you to Download Free e-books,games,movies,music(videos),softwares,tv shows,wallpapers from The Rapidshare Links World.
Not even Bangladesh or Zimbabwe have been able to do this no matter against which team they have played. Of course, I remember the West indies losing all their ten wickets for 47 on one occasion and 94 on the other during their tour of England 2004 which is famous for Brian Lara's epic knock of unbeaten 400 at Antigua in the fourth test. Even England last year against the West Indies lost al their ten wickets for a score of 51 to hand the West Indies a rare victory. This bought in some change, not to the West Indies who are at most time at the receiving end but to the viewers who would have gone sick watching West Indies lose.
Now, Pakistan have gone even further when they were bowled out for a score less than 100 on the fourth occasion in the last two months or so. They were bowled out for a score of 80 in the 1st test against England at Nottingham and 72 in the 2nd test at Birmingham which Pakistan lost by 9 wickets. Now, as if that were not enough, Pakistan have yet against been bowled out for 74 yesterday at London. Only three players from Pakistan were able to cross the double digit and thanks to the extras which did not score than the Pakistani batsmen.
Otherwise, it would be fascinating to see the extras having a hand in the top scorer of the match. As I had written in yesterday's post about Stuart Broad's innings with the bat despite coming in at number, now it is to be highlighted that Broad's score of 169 was more than twice of what the entire Pakistani batsmen could score that includes the extras as well. Stuart Broad played 297 ball that constituted close to 50 overs which was close to 17 overs more than what the entire Pakistani innings lasted. This was not even achieved by Bangladesh when they toured England recently. Instead of watching Pakistan play, I'd recommend you to Download Free e-books,games,movies,music(videos),softwares,tv shows,wallpapers from The Rapidshare Links World.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Famous 5 on the cards for England?
Well last night, England moved on to the finals of the world T20 tournament by beating Sri Lanka by 7 wickets. But, the real nightmare for England have so far been the finals of a world tournament wherein it has made it to the finals of a mega tournament on four earlier occasions but to no avail. They were forced to be satisfied with the runners-up tag. The list includes West Indies, Australia, Pakistan in world cups and once again the West Indies in the ICC Champions trophy 2004. It was in 2004 that they made it clear to the world that they can never win a mega tournament no matter what.
Since 1992, after so many cricketing greats like Mike Gating, Ian Botham and others retired, the English team have not at all recovered. The best example for this would be the way England played the 1996 world cup with wins only against Holland and UAE before they finally lost to Sri Lanka in the quarter finals of the same. England then had losses against Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand not to mention. So was the case in 1999 world cup when they had only one sarisfactory win against defending champions Sri Lanka that eventually proved out to be wrong.
managed was a win against West Indies in the super eights of the same. Putting it simple, in every world cup after 1992, England have been able to manage just one win against a major cricketing oppposition. And in the 2003 world cup, if not for their win against Pakistan, they had nothing to take home which happened to be worse when they didn't even make it to the super sixes, something which Kenya and Zimbabwe had no problems in doing. And in the 2007 world cup, all EnglandAnd coming to the other mega event namely the ICC champions trophy, the only time when England have crossed the round robin stage was in 2004 where they ended as runners up.
One can still remember the ICC Champions trophy 2004 where England entered the finals by surprisingly beating Australia in the semis. England were the favorites to win the tournament for two reasons namely one for beating the all conquering Australian side in the semis and two for facing the West Indies team which can gift the match to any opposition including Bangladesh. No matter that West Indies did enter the finals by beating South Africa who were still a decent opposition. But, people's favorites were England and only England. Following suit, England reduced the West Indies to 149/8 only to see the West Indies no lose any more wickets but also end their match by hitting a four.
Since 1992, after so many cricketing greats like Mike Gating, Ian Botham and others retired, the English team have not at all recovered. The best example for this would be the way England played the 1996 world cup with wins only against Holland and UAE before they finally lost to Sri Lanka in the quarter finals of the same. England then had losses against Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand not to mention. So was the case in 1999 world cup when they had only one sarisfactory win against defending champions Sri Lanka that eventually proved out to be wrong.
managed was a win against West Indies in the super eights of the same. Putting it simple, in every world cup after 1992, England have been able to manage just one win against a major cricketing oppposition. And in the 2003 world cup, if not for their win against Pakistan, they had nothing to take home which happened to be worse when they didn't even make it to the super sixes, something which Kenya and Zimbabwe had no problems in doing. And in the 2007 world cup, all EnglandAnd coming to the other mega event namely the ICC champions trophy, the only time when England have crossed the round robin stage was in 2004 where they ended as runners up.
One can still remember the ICC Champions trophy 2004 where England entered the finals by surprisingly beating Australia in the semis. England were the favorites to win the tournament for two reasons namely one for beating the all conquering Australian side in the semis and two for facing the West Indies team which can gift the match to any opposition including Bangladesh. No matter that West Indies did enter the finals by beating South Africa who were still a decent opposition. But, people's favorites were England and only England. Following suit, England reduced the West Indies to 149/8 only to see the West Indies no lose any more wickets but also end their match by hitting a four.
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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