The Cricket Thread

[Corzza]

28th Match, Group 2: Australia v India at Dhaka - Mar 30, 2014


India 159/7 (20/20 ov)

Australia 86 (16.2/20 ov)



India won by 73 runs

[Corzza]

31st Match, Group 2: Bangladesh v Australia at Dhaka - Apr 1, 2014

Bangladesh 153/5 (20/20 ov)

Australia 158/3 (17.3/20 ov)

Australia won by 7 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)

[Corzza]

32nd Match, Group 2: Pakistan v West Indies at Dhaka - Apr 1, 2014

West Indies 166/6 (20/20 ov)

Pakistan 82 (17.5/20 ov)

West Indies won by 84 runs

[Corzza]

'Sri Lanka's prayers were answered'

Divine intervention may have been partially responsible for Sri Lanka's World Twenty20 semifinal victory on Thursday, according to West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

Chasing 161 for victory, holders West Indies were 80 for four in the 14th over when a hailstorm lashed the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

The rain eventually relented but no further play was possible with the outfield saturated, leaving Sri Lanka the winners by 27 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Sri Lanka will now make their fifth final appearance in a global competition, having been beaten in the title showdown of the 50-over World Cup in 2007 and 2011 and at the World Twenty20 in 2009 and 2012.

Sammy felt that batting greats Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who are playing in their final Twenty20 tournament, were perhaps destined to taste World Cup glory at last.

"We know God normally answers our prayers but today I guess two gentlemen who have played for Sri Lanka, given a lot not only to Sri Lanka cricket but cricket as a whole, I guess the Almighty wants them to leave on a high," Sammy told reporters.

"They have one more game to try and win a World Cup. Probably that's the reason why God put His hand up in this match."

The pair had forgettable personal outings though.

Jayawardene was run out before facing a ball while Sangakkara continued his woeful form in the competition, falling for one after giving legspinner Samuel Badree a soft return catch.

Sammy said West Indies were capable of chasing down their victory target if the full 20 overs had been possible.

"Just when Dwayne Bravo (30) looked like picking it up, like he did in the last game, he got out but I still believe we could get 12 runs an over for the last six," the captain explained.

"We have been doing that in this tournament."

Sammy and Bravo plundered 82 runs in the final five overs against Pakistan on Tuesday.

[Corzza]

1st Semi-Final: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Dhaka - Apr 3, 2014

Sri Lanka 160/6 (20/20 ov)

West Indies 80/4 (13.5/13.5 ov, target: 108)

Sri Lanka won by 27 runs (D/L method)

[Corzza]

2nd Semi-Final: India v South Africa at Dhaka - Apr 4, 2014

South Africa 172/4 (20/20 ov)

India 176/4 (19.1/20 ov)

India won by 6 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)

[Corzza]

Steyn named world's leading cricketer

Proteas paceman Dale Steyn was named Wisden's Leading Cricketer in the World for 2013 in the annual that was published on Wednesday.

Australia paceman Ryan Harris and opening batsman Chris Rogers were rewarded for their performances in the two recent Ashes series by being included as two of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year.

They were honoured by the annual publication, often referred to as the 'bible of cricket', along with England batsman Joe Root, India's Shikhar Dhawan and Charlotte Edwards, the captain of the England women's team.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) congratulated Steyn on this honour.

“South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World for 2013, a year in which he took 51 test wickets in only nine games at an average of 17. Steyn was scarcely less lethal in one-day internationals, claiming 27 at under 16. Most remarkable, perhaps, for a man of his pace, was his meanness: an economy-rate of 3.65 was comfortably the lowest among bowlers to have sent down 100 one-day international overs in 2013. Fast, penetrative and parsimonious – it was some combination.

“He shows no signs of slowing down or losing his enthusiasm. ‘I enjoy taking wickets more than most people can understand,’ he says. ‘I’m addicted to that feeling. I live in the moment, but I hope there are many more years of it to come.’

“Steyn is the second South African to be selected as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World, after Jacques Kallis in 2007. In 2013 he was selected as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.”

“This is a singular and great honour for Dale who has deservedly won just about every accolade available to him in the sport of cricket,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. “The whole of South Africa can be proud of what he has achieved today as Wisden’s leading cricketer and the humility he shows is perfect for the world’s youth.

“Other than for a brief period earlier this year when he was overtaken by his colleague, Vernon Philander, he has been the world’s leading test match bowler for the past five years and has been an obvious choice in the ICC select test XI.

“His selection in the two limited overs formats for the Proteas has been constrained by his large work load but he showed during the recent ICC World Twenty20 that he is invaluable to the Proteas in these formats as well.

“His epic last over against New Zealand was the making of legends.

“Wisden has become known as the ‘Cricketer’s Bible’ – and with good reason. It has certainly stood the test of time in the world of cricket.

“The fact that Jacques Kallis is the only other South African to have received this prestigious recognition speaks volumes for Dale Steyn’s international standing.

“This is indeed an achievement for all South African’s to celebrate,” concluded Lorgat.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The five Cricketers of the Year have been selected since 1889 by Wisden's editor primarily on their performances in the previous English season.

That would in part explain the absence of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who did not take part in the first Ashes series in England but played a decisive role in the second.

Harris was the leading wicket-taker across the two series played mostly last year, the first won by England 3-0 at home before Australia crushed their rivals 5-0 in the return.

Rogers, recalled five years after his single previous test, scored 830 runs in the 10 tests against England.

Dhawan was named player of the series in last year's limited overs Champions Trophy tournament, won by India, and scored 187 off 174 balls against Australia on his test debut at Mohali.

Root's selection was based on two innings, his maiden century against New Zealand at Headingley in May and the 180 he scored against Australia in July, which made him the youngest England batsman to reach three figures at Lord's.

Edwards became the second woman behind compatriot Claire Taylor in 2009 to be named a cricketer of the year after she led England to back-to-back Ashes victories within the space of six months.

[Kimberley Scott]

Fully Sik bro

[Pixy Angel]

Anyone going to a world cup game?

[k31th]

I'd like to... but since I can't make tomorrows game at the MCG and the next Australia game at the MCG will be a final... who knows.

Could go and watch a non-Australia game, though...