T20 Worldcup News
Another big shocking fortune of South African team in semi-final
1992 – Was the 1 ball 22 runs disaster which if the game went full distance then we would have knocked England out of the World Cup. Remember this was the first international tournament that South Africa played in.
1996 – One reason Brian Charles Lara. South Africa were the best team and pool play and then met a blistering Lara… anyone would have ran for cover.
1999 – One of the greatest games of ODI ever played. If Herschelle Gibbs did not drop Steve Waugh and the umpires did not give the late Hansie Cronje caught of his shoe from a certain Warne character.
2003 – Simple it is called the Duckworth Lewis. Miscalculation which helped the entire cricket world as to the importance of proper information.
2007 – The game was played on a world smallest cricket ground and South Africa forgot the proper intensity to play Australia and try to play brave cricket.
2009-Surely it wouldn’t happen again? This South African team was primed, ready and in-form. They had all the bases covered and had come through unbeaten to the semi-final. They had countered pressure on numerous occasions in the past two years and had even employed a psychologist who had helped them counter the mind games. Once again, though, it all came to nothing.
The look on Graeme Smith’s face as he sat in the dug-out during the closing stages of South Africa’s failed run chase in t20 world cup 2009 was worth a thousand words. History was repeating itself as the favorites were dumped out of another tournament before the final that seemed destined to be theirs. It took until about the half-way mark of the press conference for someone to use the inevitable ‘choker’ word, but Smith was ready for it; after all he’s had practice.
Chargers strike Bangalore to pick up IPL Title
On Sunday, there was no way of knowing know how Laxman reacted as Kumble was at it against the Chargers. But even marvelling at Kumble’s success must have given way to unbridled happiness as Deccan Chargers literally rose through the ranks to lift the trophy that has taken the cricket world by storm.
On April 18, when Laxman watched Kumble’s five-for on TV it was evident that the very, very special batsman was speaking from his heart and that there was a considerable amount of joy in seeing his long-time India teammate put in an extraordinary performance in a form of the game apparently loaded in favour of youngsters. When it mattered the most Kumble rose again, but this time the opposition came out on top.
There couldn’t have been a better start for Bangalore when Kumble sent back Adam Gilchrist for a, duck. He was in the thick of things afterwards too, getting rid of Andrew Symonds and Rohit Sharma.
When the Challengers stopped the Chargers at 143 despite Herschelle Gibbs carrying his bat, it looked as if they had the game under control.
Unfortunately for the Challengers, there was no Kumble in their batting. Many got starts but none carried on as Kumble had done with the ball, using himself in three spells and striking body blows in each of them.
Bangalore repeatedly chose the wrong man to attack and gave a wicket too many to Pragyan Ojha. When his team needed him the most, there was Ojha justifying his skipper’s faith in him, as well as his selection to the India squad for the T20 World Cup. Final frames
It was sad to see Kumble come out as the last man when his team had practically lost all hope, needing 15 from the last over. The Chargers were having the last and loudest laugh. They deserved to. Any team that overcomes such a challenge does.
Akhtar lined out of ICC WT20
Shoaib Akhtar will miss next month’s ICC World Twenty20 event due to a genital infection, the Pakistan Cricket Board said Thursday.
“The medical board has reported that Shoaib Akhtar was suffering from genital viral warts and the wound needs further care and treatment for another 10 days,” the PCB said in a statement.
The three-member medical board, comprising surgeon Prof. Javed Raza, dermatologist Dr. Ijaz Hussain and PCB sports physician Dr. Riaz Ahmed, said the injury should be reassessed after 10 days.
Thursday’s news was another serious blow to 33-year-old Akhtar’s career, which had been littered with injuries and controversies.
He made a comeback to international cricket after 14 months in January but was sidelined with a knee injury after playing only two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.
He also struggled in the one-day series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month. He could not bowl his full quota of 10 overs in any of the four games he played and got only three wickets.