Australia won the World Cup!

29/04/2007

Australia become the first team to win a third consecutive World Cup title as they beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs (Duckworth/Lewis method) in the finals of the 2007 edition at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on Saturday.

Australis won the toss and elected to bat first, Glichrist hit the fastest and biggest ever century in World Cup final. His 15th ODI ton that came of 72 deliveries was 10 balls faster than Clive Lloyd's hundred in the 1975 final against Australia at the Lord's. He also passed Ricky Ponting's 140 not out against India in the 2003 final at Johannesburg and was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match. Glenn McGrath, playing his last game, won the Man of the Tournament award.

In reply, Sri Lanka's chase suffered an early hiccup when they lost Upul Tharanga in just the third over. Nathan Bracken had him caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for six. Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara then put on a 116-run partnership to keep the Lankan chase well on track before the lost their wickets in quick succession. The Lankans never recovered after that.

Sangakkara made 54 from 52 deliveries before he holed out to Ponting off a Brad Hogg delivery in the 20th over. His knock included six fours and one six. Jayasuriya made 63 from 67 balls with nine boundaries.

Score : Australia 281/4 in 38 overs (Gilchrist 149, Hayden 38, Ponting 37, Malinga 2/49) Sri Lanka 215/8 in 36 overs (Jayasuriya 63, Sangakkara 54, Clarke 2/33, Symonds 1/6)

SemiFinal-II : Australia Defeats South Africa

26/04/2007

(Picture courtsey www.cricinfo.com)

In the Second Semi Final, Australia beat South Africa in a one sided game. Australia beat South Africa by seven wickets in the second semifinal at St Lucia on Wednesday to make it to their fourth consecutive Cricket World Cup final.

Chasing 150 to win, Australia hit 153 for three wickets in 31.3 overs. Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds remained unbeaten on 60 and 18, respectively.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, the Proteas were bundled out for 149 in 43.5 overs - their lowest total ever in World Cup.

Glenn McGrath wrecked the top order with a three-wicket burst and Shaun Tait took four wickets to demolish the lower order. Only Herschelle Gibbs and Justin Kemp tried to put up a fight in an otherwise one-sided affair. Kemp remained unbeaten on 49.

McGrath was adjudged Man of the Match.

Score : South Africa 149/10 in 43.5 overs (Kemp 49, Gibbs 39, McGrath 3/18, Tai 4/39) Australia 153/3 in 31.3 overs (Clarke 60, Hayden 41, Pollock 1/16, Nel 1/31, Langaveldt 1/34)

Semifinal-I : Sri Lanka beat New Zeeland

25/04/2007

First Semi Final between New Zeeland and Sri lanka

Sri Lanka stormed into the finals of the 2007 Cricket World Cup as they beat New Zealand by 81 runs in the first semifinal at Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday.

Set a target of 290 to win, New Zealand was bowled out for 208 in 41.4 overs. This is the fifth time that the Kiwis have failed to progress beyond the last four stage.


Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya picked up six wickets between them to demolish the Kiwi middle order. The offie finished with match figures of four wickets for 31 runs from eight overs.


Earlier, skipper Mahela Jaywardene scored his maiden World Cup hundred to help his side post 289 for five. It was competitive till the 40th over, but then the Lankans added 102 runs from the last 10 overs with Jayawardene accounting for 70 of them. He remained unbeaten on 115 and was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Score : Sri Lanka 289/5 in 50 overs (Tharanga 73, Jayawardene 115, Dilshan 30, Franklin 2/46) New Zeeland 208/10 in 41.4 overs (Fulton 46, Styris 37, Patel 34, Franklin 30, Murlitharan 4/31, Dilshan 2/22, Jayasuriya 2/57)

England beat West Indies in Lara's last match

22/04/2004

England played for its coach, West Indies for its captain. In the end the game won.

England gave coach Duncan Fletcher a victorious farewell as they beat West Indies by one wicket in the last Super Eight match at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on Saturday.

The match was also the last international game for West Indies skipper Brian Lara and while he would have liked to ride into the sunset with a win, it was not to be.

England overhauled the victory target of 301 for the loss of nine wickets with one ball to spare. Kevin Pietersen hit his second ton in this World Cup and was adjudged Man of the Match.

Earlier, put in to bat, West Indies had been bowled out for 300 in 49.5 overs.

After a host of one-sided games, the nerve-jangling affair finally showcased what the World Cup had been craving for.

Chris Gayle and Devon Smith got the hosts off to a blazing start putting on 131 runs. Gayle came in to his own for the first time in the tournament smashing 79 runs from 58 deliveries to lead the charge. He hit 10 fours and three sixes.

Devon Smith hit 61 and put on 37 runs with skipper Lara before he was brilliantly caught by Paul Collingwood off a Flintoff delivery.

Lara, playing his last international match, was left stranded by Marlon Samuels and was run out for just 18. Ramnaresh Sarwan followed him to the pavillion for three. He edged a Liam Plunkett delivery to keeper Paul Nixon.

Samuels went on to score an explosive half-century and put on 77 runs with Shivnaraine Chanderpaul. He made 51 from 39 balls with six fours and one six before he holed out to Collingwood off a Michael Vaughan delivery.

Chanderpaul was dimissed by Collingwood for 34. The hosts then lost the last four wickets for just 24 runs in a space of four overs.

Vaughan picked up the wickets of Dwayne Bravo (13) and Jerome Taylor (12), while Daren Powell (0) and Corey Collymore (1) were run out. Denesh Ramdin was not out on 10.

Early in the chase, England lost the wicket of Andrew Strauss. He was caught by Smith off a Collymore delivery for seven. Vaughan, who was long overdue for a good knock, struck a timely fifty. He put on 90 runs with Ravi Bopara from 13 overs.


Bopara was run out for 26. Pietersen joined Vaughan and the duo put on 59 runs before the England skipper was run out for 79. His 68-ball knock included six fours and two sixes.

Paul Collingwood followed him to the pavillion, bowled by Dwayne Bravo for six. The Windies then sent back Flintoff (15) and Dalrymple (1) to turn on the heat.

A see-saw battle ensued with Pietersen and Nixon smashing 80 runs from 10 overs to get England to the brink of victory. Pietersen reached his second hundred in this World Cup with a six off Taylor. The bowler then exacted his revenge as he bowled him with the very next delivery. Pietersen hit 100 off 91 balls with 10 fours and one six.


Taylor then accuonted for Plunkett. He holed out to Bravo in the deep for just two. Nixon continued to resist the Windies. He took 17 runs off Collymore's last over to get England within striking distance of the target. But with just three runs required off five deliveries, Bravo bowled him for 38 to give the Windies a glimmer of hope.

Broad held his nerves and took two runs with just one ball to spare.

It may not have been the perfect send off for Lara, but for a man who played in the truest spirit of the game, it was almost a perfect game to bow out on.

Score : West Indies 300/10 in 49.5 overs (Gayle 79, Smith 61, Samuels 51, ) England 301/9 in 50 overs (Pietersen 100, Vaughan 79, Nixon 38, Bravo 2/47, taylor 2/65)

Australia defeats New Zeeland

21/04/2007

Australia crush rivals New Zealand by 215 runs in their last Super Eight match at Grenada on Friday.

Chasing a mammoth 349 to win, New Zealand was bowled out for just 133 in 25.5 overs. This is New Zealand's biggest ever defeat in one-day internationals.

Only three New Zealand batsmen managed to get to double figures. Peter Fulton was only one to put up a solid resistance. The opener top scored with 62 and was the last man out.

Brad Hogg picked up four wickets for 29 runs from 6.5 overs, while Tait took three and McGrath took one.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Australia posted a huge 348 for six with Matthew Hayden smashing a record-equalling third century in this World Cup. Shane Watson, who made it back to the Aussie lineup after an injury layoff, smashed 65 not out from just 32 balls.

Score : Australia 248 in 50 overs (Hayden 103, Ponting 66, Watson 65, Franklin 3/74, Patel 2/48) New Zeeland 133/10 in 25.5 overs (Fulton 62, Styris 27, Hogg 4/29, Tait 3/32, McGrath 2/25)

West Indies beat Bangladesh

20/04/2007

West Indies beat Bangladesh by 99 runs in their Super Eight match at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on Thursday to keep their pride intact.

Chasing 231 to win, Bangladesh could only manage 131 in 43.5 overs. Mushfiqur Rahim top scored with 38 unbeaten runs, while Mashrafe Mortaza scored 37.

Daren Powell took three wickets, while Chris Gayle, Corey Collymore and Dwayne Bravo picked up two wickets each.


Earlier, an unbeaten 91 by Ramnaresh Sarwan helped the hosts post 230 for five after they were pushed on to the back foot with some tight bowling.


He was adjudged Man of the Match.


Score : West Indies 230/5 in 50 overs (Chanderpaul 50, Sarvan 91, Lara 33, Mortaza 1/39, Ahmed 1/12, Hasan 1/38) Bangladesh 131/10 in 43.5 overs (Rahim 38, Nortaza 37, Powell 3/38, Bravo 2/28, Gayle 2/28)

Sri Lanka beat Ireland

18/04/2007

Sri Lanka beat Ireland by eight wickets in their last Super Eight match at Grenada on Wednesday.

Chasing 78 runs to win, Sri Lanka hit 81 for two in ten overs. Mahela Jaywardene and Sanath Jayasuriya remained unbeaten on 39 and 24, respectively.

Earlier, put in to bat, Ireland was bundled out for 77 runs in 27.4 overs. Farvez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan picked up four wickets each.

Opener Jeremy Bray top scored with 20, while four Irish batsmen, including World Cup debutant Kenny Carroll registered ducks.

Maharoof was adjudged Man of the Match.

Score : Ireland 77/10 in 27.4 overs (Bray 20, Portfield 17, Langford 18, Murlitharan 4/19, Maharoof 4/25) Sri Lanka 81/2 in 10 overs (Jayasuriya 24, Jayawardene 39, Rankin 1/36, Langford 1/29)

South Africa in Semi Final

18/04/2007

South Africa crushed England by nine wickets in their Super Eight match at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on Tuesday to seal the last seminfinal berth.

The South African , powered by Andrew Hall's maiden ODI five-wicket haul, bowled out England for 154 runs in 48 overs and then hit 157 for the loss of one wicket with more than 30 overs to spare. Skipper Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis remained unbeaten on 89 and 17, respectively.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, England were tested on a lively track by the Proteas who bowled a disciplined line. Hall returned match figures of five for 18 from 10 overs to demolish the English. He was adjudged Man of the Match.

Score : England 154/10 in 48 overs (Strauss 46, Collingwood 30, Bopara 27, Hall 5/18, Nel 3/35) South Africa 157/1 in 19.2 overs (Smith 89, DeVilliers 42, Flintoff 1/36)

Australia beat Srilanks easily

17/04/2007

Australia notched up their 20th straight World Cup victory as they beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in their Super Eight match at Grenada on Monday.

Chasing 227 to win, the defending champions hit 232 for three in 42.4 overs. Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds remained unbeaten on 66 and 63, respectively.

Earlier, wickets at the top and lower down the order helped Australia restrict Sri Lanka to 226 in 49.4 overs.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, the Lankans lost three quick wickets before skipper Mahela Jaywardene and Chamara Silva put on a huge 140-run partnership to bring about some stability.

But then the Aussie bowlers scripted another collapse. The Lankans lost five wickets for the addition of just 17 runs in a space of six overs.

Malinga Bandara, who replaced a rested Muttiah Muralitharan, along with Farvez Maharoof hit some lusty shots to take their side past the 200-run mark.

Nathan Bracken picked up four wickets for 19 runs from 9.4 overs and was adjudged Man of the Match

In Reply, Hayden and Gilchrist got the Aussies off to a customary strong start putting up an opening stand of 76 runs.

Hayden smashed 41 from 30 deliveries before he was caught by Tilekaratne Dilshan off a Russel Arnold delivery. He hit five fours and two sixes. He put on 76 runs with Adam Gilchrist.

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke (23) put on 47 runs for the third wicket before the latter was dismissed by Bandara.

Ponting and Symond then put on an unbeaten 106-run partnership from just under 20 overs to maintain their winning streak. Australia have now been unbeaten in 25 World Cup matches.

Score : Srilanka 226/20 in 49.4 overs (Jayawardene 72, Silva 64, Maharoof 25, Bracken 4/19, McGrath 2/48, Tait 2/68) Australia 232/3 42.4 overs (Ponting 80, Symonds 63, Hayden 41, Gilchrist 30, Arnold 2/20, Bandara 1/53)

Ireland beat Bangladesh

16/04/2007

Ireland beat Bangladesh by 74 runs to register their first Super Eight victory at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on Sunday.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Ireland scored 243 for seven - their highest total in the World Cup.

William Porterfield top scored with 85 for the Irish. Masharafe Mortaza took two wickets, while four Irish batsmen were run out.

In reply, Bangladesh scored 169 in 41.2 overs. Mohammad Ashraful made 35. Boyd Rankin, Dave Langford-Smith, Wiliam McCallan and Trent Johnston took two wickets each.

Porterfield was adjudged the Man of the Match


Score : Ireland 243/7 in 50 overs (Portfield 85, KJ O'Brien 48, Bray 31, Johnston 30, Mortaza 2/38, Hasan 1/38) Bangladesh 169/10 in 41.2 overs (Iqbal 59, Bashar 57, Ashraful 35, Johnston 2/40, Rankin 2/42, McCallan 2/25, Longford 2/27)

New Zeeland beat South Africa

15/04/2007

New Zealand beat South Africa by five wickets in the Super Eight match at Grenada on Saturday to seal their semifinal berth. Chasing 194 to win, the Kiwis hit 196 in 48.2 overs. Scott Styris hit 56, while Stephen Fleming made 50.

Earlier, New Zealand restricted South Africa to 193 for seven. Put in to bat by the Kiwi skipper, South Africa was pushed on to the back foot from the start with some clinical bowling. The spinners too did a commendable job and never allowed the Proteas to get on top in the game. Herschelle Gibbs top scored for the Proteas with 60 runs. Gibbs made a patient 60 from 100 balls with two fours and one six.

For New Zealand, Shane Bond took two wickets and Craig McMillan scalped three.

McMillan was adjudged Man of the Match.

Score : South Africa 193/7 in 50 overs (Gibbs 60, Prince 37, Kallis 22, Bond 2/26, Franklin 1/16, Vettori 1/50) New Zeeland 196/6 in 48.2 overs (Styris 56, Fleming 50, McMillan 38, Nell 2/33, Pollock 1/30)

Australia beat Ireland easily

13/04/2007

Ponting’s decision to field first was backed up by a stupendous bowling performance from their frontline bowlers, as they dismissed a spineless Irish batting order for 91 runs in 30 overs.

Australia made an early meal of the target as they reached home in just 12.2 overs after losing one wicket, that of Adam Gilchrist, the match lasting all but 42.2 overs in total.

Fast bowlers Glenn McGrath (3-17) and Shaun Tait (3-39) led the Australian juggernaut as they shared six wickets between them, while Stuart Clark, Brad Hogg and Andrew Symonds took one wicket each.

Score : Ireland 91/10 in 30 overs (J Mooney 23, T Johnston 17, K O Brien 16, McGrath 3/17, Taait 3/39) Australia 92/1 in 12.2 overs (Gilchrist 34, Hussey 30, Johnston 1/18)

Srilanka beat New Zeeland

13/04/2007

Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 69 to steer Sri Lanka to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in their Super Eight match at Grenada on Thursday.

Chasing 220 to win, Sri Lanka hit 222 from 45.1 overs to hand New Zealand their first loss at this World Cup.

Earlier, New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming won the toss and elected to bat. Scott Styris hit an unbeaten 111 to help them post 219 for seven after Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan troubled them no end at the beginning and then in the middle of the innings.

For Srilanka, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara then put on 100 runs in 125 balls to build a strong platform for their team. Jayasuriya made 64 before he was caught behind by Brendon McCullum off a Jacob Oram delivery. His 80-ball knock included five fours and one six.

Score : New Zeeland 219/7 in 50 overs (Styris 111, Oram 31, Fulton 28, Franklin 25, Vaas 3/33, Murlitharan 3/32) Srilanka 222/4 in 45.1 overs (Sangakkara 69, Jayasuriya 64, Vettori 2/35, Oram 1/31)

England beat Bangladesh

12/04/2007

England beat Bangladesh by four wickets in their Super Eight match at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on Wednesday. Chasing a mere 144 to win, England were given quite a scare by Bangladesh before eventually hitting 147 for six from 44.5 overs. Paul Collingwood remained unbeaten on 23 from 74 deliveries, while Nixon was 20 not out from 39 balls.

Earlier, England bowlers put on a top class performance to restrict Bangladesh to 143 in 37.2 overs after skipper Michael Vaughan won the toss and elected to field. For Bangladesh, Saqibul Hasan played a patient and defiant knock. He remained unbeaten on 57 and steered his side past the 100-run mark.

Mahmood was adjudged Man of the Match.

Score : Bangladesh 143/10 in 37.2 overs (Hasan 57, Razzak 15, Mahmood 3/27, Panesar 3/25, Anderson 2/30) England 147/6 in 44.5 overs (Vaughan 30, Strauss 23, Collingwood 23, Flintoff 23, Rasel 2/25, Rafique 2/33, Razzak 2/30)

South won by 67 runs, beat West Indies

11/04/2007

South Africa beat West Indies by an identical 67-run margin in their Super Eight match at Grenada on Tuesday.

Propelled by AB de Villier's maiden one-day international hundred, the Proteas had smashed 356 for four after asked to bat first. De Villiers, who made 146, and Jacques Kallis set up the perfect platform for Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher to take their side past the 350-run mark. Boucher hit the third fastest fifty in World Cup history.

In reply, Chasing a mammoth 357 to win, West Indies scored 289 for nine. Chris Gayle and Devon Smith then put on a quickfire 60 runs. Devon Smith was caught by De Villiers off a Nel delivery for 33. In the next over, Gayle was run out for 32. Lara and Dwayne Bravo kept up the scoring putting up a run-a-ball 50-run partnership. Ramnaresh Sarwan hit 92 from 75 balls with 10 fours and a six. Powell remained unbeaten on 48.

Score : South Africa 356/4 in 50 overs (De Villers 146, Kallis 81, Gibbs 61, Boucher 52, collymore 2/41, Bravo 1/69) West Indies 289/9 in 50 overs (Sarvan 92, Smith 33, Powel 48, Gayle 32, Pollock 2/33, Kallis 2/36, Smith 2/56)