Malinga's yorkers dismantle Kenya
Lasith Malinga announced his return to full fitness by storming his way to an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick with an exhibition of yorker-on-demand bowling that proved too much for Kenya's tail at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The visitors imploded to 142 all out despite dogged half-centuries from the Obuya brothers, who enjoyed plenty of fortune in a determined 94-run stand that kept the varied threats of Sri Lanka's bowling at bay for nearly 30 overs. Sri Lanka's batsmen barely had to break a sweat in the chase, finishing it off in 18 overs.
The Obuyas weren't exactly convincing - testing every edge of their bat, surviving close lbw calls, regularly air-driving outside off and rarely reading the spinner's variations - but hung on obdurately to take Kenya into triple-digits. A solid platform was in place when they had hauled Kenya to 102 for 2, but Malinga's burst demolished the tail as the final eight wickets were blasted out for 40 runs. None of the other Kenyan batsmen made it past single-figures.
The Kenyan collapse was rapid: it took only 22 deliveries for them to go from 127 for 4 to being bowled out. Muttiah Muralitharan started it off by getting the set batsman David Obuya to slog-sweep to midwicket.
Then it was Malinga time. Jimmy Kamande barely found his bearings after being struck by a toe-crusher, and decided to go for a single when the ball was only a couple of metres away from him. Chamara Silva pounced from midwicket and did a passable imitation of Jonty Rhodes from 1992 to crash into the stumps and dismiss Kamande.
Tanmay Mishra was next, becoming the first victim of Malinga's hat-trick after missing a full delivery on leg stump to fall for a 13-ball duck. It was the final ball of the over, and Malinga gave Peter Ongondo the warmest welcome possible to the tournament in the first ball of his next - a yorker that uprooted middle. The staggered dismissals meant many in the crowd weren't aware that Malinga was on a hat-trick. He steamed in and middle stump was dismantled again next ball, the clueless batsman this time was Shem Ngoche.
Attention then shifted to whether Malinga could repeat his outrageous four-in-four from the 2007 World Cup, but he sprayed a wild delivery for five leg-side wides. Elijah Otieno defended the next ball, but that was followed by another unstoppable yorker from Malinga that thud into leg stump to end Kenya's innings. Malinga had taken four in five legal deliveries to finish with 6 for 38.
A tiresomely familiar tale seemed set to play out earlier in the afternoon when Kenya slid to 8 for 2 in the third over. Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga removed the openers cheaply with their favourite weapons - Kulasekara getting Maurice Ouma with an inducker, and Malinga dislodging Seren Waters with an inswinging yorker that left the batsman on his knees.
The Obuyas ensured there wasn't a repeat of Kenya's house-of-cards performance against New Zealand. Kulasekara gave away only nine runs in a constricting six-over opening spell, but Kenya were more at ease against Angelo Mathews, who was taken for a couple of boundaries.
Sri Lanka brought on the spin of Ajantha Mendis in the 14th over to break the frustrating stand, but though the batsmen weren't sure which way the ball would turn, they survived his bag of tricks with some dour defence. Kumar Sangakkara then turned to Muttiah Muralitharan to get the wickets, but though there were leading edges and outside edges, Murali couldn't break through, with the batsmen negotiating him with a series of sweeps.
It was painfully slow progress from the Obuyas, and after more than two hours of defiance, it was that most deadly of weapons that separated them - a Malinga yorker. Some more of those left Sri Lanka chasing a tiny target in front of a raucous Colombo crowd.
The fans had even more to cheer when Sri Lanka batted, as Tillkaratne Dilshan provided a typically fast start with an array of punches through cover. He picked up a couple of boundaries in three successive overs to power Sri Lanka to 51 in the sixth over. Upul Tharanga, who started sedately, then joined the party with three fours in the next over. Dilshan fell short of a half-century, but Tharanga went on to make 67 with a string of lofted boundaries in the batting Powerplay to hasten the finish, and push Sri Lanka to the top of the table on net run-rate.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Sachin bears immense burden
LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar, possessor of every one-day batting record worth holding, carries an unparalleled weight of expectation.
Even the incomparable Australian Don Bradman, whose feats at the crease during the Great Depression sustained an emerging nation’s morale, did not endure the pressure Tendulkar will confront at the 10th World Cup opening in Dhaka on Feb. 19.
According to the historian Ramachandra Guha, Tendulkar is the best-known Indian alive with a status equivalent to a Hindu god or a Bollywood film star. When he faced the former Pakistan opening bowler Wasim Akram the television audience in India exceeded the entire population of Europe.
“Batsmen walk out into the middle alone,” wrote the Indian poet and critic C.P. Surendran.
“Not Tendulkar. Every time Tendulkar walks to the crease, a whole nation, tatters and all, marches with him to the battle arena.
“A pauper people pleading for relief, remission from the lifelong anxiety of being Indian, by joining in spirit their visored savior.”
Tendulkar scored his 51st Test century this year after a duel with South African fast bowler Dale Steyn recalling Bradman’s jousts with England’s Harold Larwood in the 1932-33 Bodyline series.
Three more one-day hundreds in the World Cup climaxing in his native Mumbai on April 2 would make him the only batsman to total 100 centuries over both forms of the game, a landmark which like Bradman’s Test average of 99.94 would probably last forever.
“I still want to achieve something and everyone knows that,” Tendulkar, 37, said last month at a ceremony to celebrate India’s number one spot in the world Test rankings.
As Tendulkar heads into his record sixth World Cup, a nation of 1.2 billion hopes a World Cup win will complete his career of achievements.
He is the holder of virtually every major batting record in Test and one-day cricket, including most runs and most centuries in either form, and most believe a World Cup win will complete his career of achievements.
Former West Indian batsman Vivian Richards said during a World Cup promotional event here last month that “the World Cup would be the icing on the cake for Sachin Tendulkar.”
Just as Tendulkar’s consistency has been credited with India’s superb recent form, runs from the Mumbai player’s bat have had a direct bearing on the team’s fortunes in the World Cup.
Tendulkar, 37, played for India in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and the semifinals in 1996. He played a major role in both those campaigns. establishing the record for most runs in any single World Cup by accumulating 673 in 2003, and was the highest scorer in 1996 with 523.
Tendulkar’s absence from a match against Zimbabwe in the 1999 World Cup, when he returned home briefly after his father’s death, resulted in India losing the match and spoiling its finals chances despite consistent performances from others like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
Tendulkar, who also leads the aggregate table for most runs in World Cups at 1,796 in 36 matches and shares the record of four World Cup centuries, will now be tied with Pakistan’s Javed Miandad in terms of Cups participated in.
Brian Lara, the only modern-day batsman who has been consistently compared with Tendulkar, says the Indian’s records will not be easily broken.
“I believe that the entire world appreciates Tendulkar still playing cricket,” Lara said on a recent visit to New Delhi.
“His records will not be surpassed, especially with more Twenty20 cricket being played.” Lara said he was honored to have his name being spoken in the same breath as the Mumbai batsman.
“Winning the World Cup or not, Tendulkar’s achievements are enormous,” he said.
Tendulkar avoided one-day cricket for almost a year after hitting 200 not out against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010.
He then returned home midway through the one-day series in South Africa this month because of a hamstring injury, but that was more of a precaution with the World Cup round the corner.
Tendulkar has learnt the art of remaining fresh by taking timely breaks, and while he, along with Australia captain Ricky Ponting, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, is among the top players expected to have a last stint at the World Cup, not everyone feels that is the case.
Kapil Dev, the 1983 World Cup winning captain, says Tendulkar is capable of playing in a seventh World Cup.
“People say it is his last World Cup, but I don’t believe this. We might see him play the next World Cup also as I feel he will not quit till he wins the trophy.”
– Reuters __
Even the incomparable Australian Don Bradman, whose feats at the crease during the Great Depression sustained an emerging nation’s morale, did not endure the pressure Tendulkar will confront at the 10th World Cup opening in Dhaka on Feb. 19.
According to the historian Ramachandra Guha, Tendulkar is the best-known Indian alive with a status equivalent to a Hindu god or a Bollywood film star. When he faced the former Pakistan opening bowler Wasim Akram the television audience in India exceeded the entire population of Europe.
“Batsmen walk out into the middle alone,” wrote the Indian poet and critic C.P. Surendran.
“Not Tendulkar. Every time Tendulkar walks to the crease, a whole nation, tatters and all, marches with him to the battle arena.
“A pauper people pleading for relief, remission from the lifelong anxiety of being Indian, by joining in spirit their visored savior.”
Tendulkar scored his 51st Test century this year after a duel with South African fast bowler Dale Steyn recalling Bradman’s jousts with England’s Harold Larwood in the 1932-33 Bodyline series.
Three more one-day hundreds in the World Cup climaxing in his native Mumbai on April 2 would make him the only batsman to total 100 centuries over both forms of the game, a landmark which like Bradman’s Test average of 99.94 would probably last forever.
“I still want to achieve something and everyone knows that,” Tendulkar, 37, said last month at a ceremony to celebrate India’s number one spot in the world Test rankings.
As Tendulkar heads into his record sixth World Cup, a nation of 1.2 billion hopes a World Cup win will complete his career of achievements.
He is the holder of virtually every major batting record in Test and one-day cricket, including most runs and most centuries in either form, and most believe a World Cup win will complete his career of achievements.
Former West Indian batsman Vivian Richards said during a World Cup promotional event here last month that “the World Cup would be the icing on the cake for Sachin Tendulkar.”
Just as Tendulkar’s consistency has been credited with India’s superb recent form, runs from the Mumbai player’s bat have had a direct bearing on the team’s fortunes in the World Cup.
Tendulkar, 37, played for India in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and the semifinals in 1996. He played a major role in both those campaigns. establishing the record for most runs in any single World Cup by accumulating 673 in 2003, and was the highest scorer in 1996 with 523.
Tendulkar’s absence from a match against Zimbabwe in the 1999 World Cup, when he returned home briefly after his father’s death, resulted in India losing the match and spoiling its finals chances despite consistent performances from others like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
Tendulkar, who also leads the aggregate table for most runs in World Cups at 1,796 in 36 matches and shares the record of four World Cup centuries, will now be tied with Pakistan’s Javed Miandad in terms of Cups participated in.
Brian Lara, the only modern-day batsman who has been consistently compared with Tendulkar, says the Indian’s records will not be easily broken.
“I believe that the entire world appreciates Tendulkar still playing cricket,” Lara said on a recent visit to New Delhi.
“His records will not be surpassed, especially with more Twenty20 cricket being played.” Lara said he was honored to have his name being spoken in the same breath as the Mumbai batsman.
“Winning the World Cup or not, Tendulkar’s achievements are enormous,” he said.
Tendulkar avoided one-day cricket for almost a year after hitting 200 not out against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010.
He then returned home midway through the one-day series in South Africa this month because of a hamstring injury, but that was more of a precaution with the World Cup round the corner.
Tendulkar has learnt the art of remaining fresh by taking timely breaks, and while he, along with Australia captain Ricky Ponting, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, is among the top players expected to have a last stint at the World Cup, not everyone feels that is the case.
Kapil Dev, the 1983 World Cup winning captain, says Tendulkar is capable of playing in a seventh World Cup.
“People say it is his last World Cup, but I don’t believe this. We might see him play the next World Cup also as I feel he will not quit till he wins the trophy.”
– Reuters __
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Tendulkar is all praise for his 'Fab' teammates
Sachin Tendulkar says Anil Kumble is the greatest bowler he has played with, finds Rahul Dravid's technique and concentration excellent and VVS Laxman the most wristy, while Sourav Ganguly is one who figured out his game well.
Tendulkar, who has closely seen all the four who formed the Fab Five of the Indian team not long ago, elaborated on the the style and substance of the four players.
"From the manner in which Rahul and Sourav had batted in their debut Test match, it was quite evident that they were there to stay." Tendulkar said in a book titled 'SACH,' by Gautam Bhattacharya.
"Rahul's forte was excellent technique and he loved to occupy the crease for long hours. Rahul concentrated extremely well -- I mean, still concentrates very well. Sourav was somebody who figured out his game well enough. He knew which bowler to hit and which one to defend. Sourav liked scoring runs in boundaries. He was a boundary hitter.
"Laxman depended on hand-eye coordination. He was the most wristy player. And Kumble, of course, is the greatest bowler that I have ever played with. Apart from being a champion matchwinning bowler, his greatness lay in the fact that he would bowl the last delivery of the day with the same amount of fire irrespective of his performance during the day.
Tendulkar, who has been witness to the various contraptions that came into the game, feels, the computer has been the most important as it gives the opportunity to study the opposition. He, however, insists the electronic gadget cannot substitute the "skills" of a player.
"Your performance is the biggest indicator that skill can march well ahead of the laptop! The computer does play an important role in today's cricket. You forget so many things. With the computer you can store them. For me the biggest advantage is you can study the opposition. The computer helps and provides you with that vital two to three per cent difference. As far as I am concerned it is not overrated."
When I sledged to rattle McGrath, the ploy worked: Sachin
Sachin Tendulkar says he, too, has sledged, but only once and that as part of team strategy. The batting maestro needled Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath by telling he would go after his bowling and the ploy worked.
"I have never sledged per se merely for the sake of sledging. I did that only once as a part of team strategy. This was at the Kenya Champions Trophy. We were playing Australia." Tendulkar recollects in a book 'SACH' penned by Gautam Bhattacharya.
Tendulkar describes how he irked McGrath with a cheeky line.
"The match was played under overcast conditions. The wicket was also very damp. I had told Sourav before that I would do something to upset McGrath's rhythm. So, in the very first over, I stepped out to him. The first thing I said to him was: 'Today I will hit you out of the ground.' He got really angry and started spraying the ball around. This was exactly what we wanted. As on that surface, he may have been very dangerous.
"We did win that match ultimately and I felt very happy. My sledging did work for the team. My own experience of sledging came very early on my first tour to Australia. I remember having blocked a delivery and the ball landed near my foot. I tried picking it up when Allan Border shouted from gully. 'Don't touch the ball.' So I stopped immediately."
"I have never sledged per se merely for the sake of sledging. I did that only once as a part of team strategy. This was at the Kenya Champions Trophy. We were playing Australia." Tendulkar recollects in a book 'SACH' penned by Gautam Bhattacharya.
Tendulkar describes how he irked McGrath with a cheeky line.
"The match was played under overcast conditions. The wicket was also very damp. I had told Sourav before that I would do something to upset McGrath's rhythm. So, in the very first over, I stepped out to him. The first thing I said to him was: 'Today I will hit you out of the ground.' He got really angry and started spraying the ball around. This was exactly what we wanted. As on that surface, he may have been very dangerous.
"We did win that match ultimately and I felt very happy. My sledging did work for the team. My own experience of sledging came very early on my first tour to Australia. I remember having blocked a delivery and the ball landed near my foot. I tried picking it up when Allan Border shouted from gully. 'Don't touch the ball.' So I stopped immediately."
Friday, February 4, 2011
‘The team is ready for the World Cup, focusing on fitness and fielding’
Sachin Tendulkar’s mere presence in the dressing room is enough to lift the morale of the players, feels India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni also urged the other players in the team to perform and take the pressure off the champion batsman.
“When Sachin is with the team, the morale of the players is very high. But it is not right to put pressure on him. All the players should perform and take the pressure off him,” said Dhoni.
The India skipper reiterated that the team would like to win the forthcoming World Cup for Tendulkar, who will, in all probability, be playing for the last time in cricket’s biggest event.
“Team India wants to give (this) World Cup to Sachin as a gift,” he said during the inauguration of the T20 Jharkhand Premier League (JPL) here today.
In a lighter vein, Dhoni said that he wants the 37-year-old Tendulkar to play in a few more World Cups.
“God willing, Sachin can play in another three or four World Cups. If it happens the whole team will be happy,” he said.
Asked about the team’s preparations for the mega event, he said, “the team is ready for the World Cup, focusing on fitness and fielding.”
Dhoni also recollected the historic moment when Tendulkar notched up his 50th Test century.
“It was a treat to watch him standing from the other end,” he said.
On Eden Gardens missing out on the India-England tie, he said he would miss the crowd and the atmosphere there.
Dhoni also urged the other players in the team to perform and take the pressure off the champion batsman.
“When Sachin is with the team, the morale of the players is very high. But it is not right to put pressure on him. All the players should perform and take the pressure off him,” said Dhoni.
The India skipper reiterated that the team would like to win the forthcoming World Cup for Tendulkar, who will, in all probability, be playing for the last time in cricket’s biggest event.
“Team India wants to give (this) World Cup to Sachin as a gift,” he said during the inauguration of the T20 Jharkhand Premier League (JPL) here today.
In a lighter vein, Dhoni said that he wants the 37-year-old Tendulkar to play in a few more World Cups.
“God willing, Sachin can play in another three or four World Cups. If it happens the whole team will be happy,” he said.
Asked about the team’s preparations for the mega event, he said, “the team is ready for the World Cup, focusing on fitness and fielding.”
Dhoni also recollected the historic moment when Tendulkar notched up his 50th Test century.
“It was a treat to watch him standing from the other end,” he said.
On Eden Gardens missing out on the India-England tie, he said he would miss the crowd and the atmosphere there.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
EA sports Cricket 07 patch
Yes it's true I have done it. Now you will be able to edit ashes with tournament editor and you can also make any series replacing ashes like Border Gavaskar trophy. Now you can also select your own any team like you can play as India and can make opposite team New Zealand.
Tournament Editor V3.0 Beta. Now you can edit
Long Ashes Tour to Australia
Long Ashes Tour to England
2007 Ashes Series
2005 Ashes Series
Editable Tours/Tournaments:
Knockout Cup
Long Australian Tour
Long English Tour
New Zealand/Zimbabwe Tour
Short Australian Tour
Short English Tour
South Africa Tour
Test Series
West Indies Tour
World Cup
Aussie Domestic ODI Tournament
Pura Cup
Things which are in Bold are new features in 3.0 version
Here is preview of India Selected as user team
Sorry but I was unable to chat with harry so I am releasing beta version but there are some bugs which I was unable to solve as I dont know anthing which Harry knows.
How to Fix bug- There is a bug when you select Long Ashes tour to Australia by default only 3 teams shows so you have to select any 7 teams to edit this tournament. After you edit it save it and load it again and now you can edit match.
Same problem is with Long Ashes tour to England. By default it shown only 3 teams so you have to select any 10 teams then save it and load it again and you can now edit matches.
If you find any other bug then please read post here. I will try to solve it
All credits goes to vicky47
Tournament Editor V3.0 Beta. Now you can edit
Long Ashes Tour to Australia
Long Ashes Tour to England
2007 Ashes Series
2005 Ashes Series
Editable Tours/Tournaments:
Knockout Cup
Long Australian Tour
Long English Tour
New Zealand/Zimbabwe Tour
Short Australian Tour
Short English Tour
South Africa Tour
Test Series
West Indies Tour
World Cup
Aussie Domestic ODI Tournament
Pura Cup
Things which are in Bold are new features in 3.0 version
Here is preview of India Selected as user team
Sorry but I was unable to chat with harry so I am releasing beta version but there are some bugs which I was unable to solve as I dont know anthing which Harry knows.
How to Fix bug- There is a bug when you select Long Ashes tour to Australia by default only 3 teams shows so you have to select any 7 teams to edit this tournament. After you edit it save it and load it again and now you can edit match.
Same problem is with Long Ashes tour to England. By default it shown only 3 teams so you have to select any 10 teams then save it and load it again and you can now edit matches.
If you find any other bug then please read post here. I will try to solve it
All credits goes to vicky47
Sri Lanka v West Indies
Tharanga powers SL to easy win
Upul Tharanga's ninth one-day century and his first against West Indies steered Sri Lanka to a convincing eight-wicket win and a 1-0 lead in the three-match one-day series.Tharanga paced his innings superbly, and batted out the entire length of the Sri Lanka innings, to remain unbeaten on 101 off 143 balls with the help of seven fours.
The tall, lean left-hander is expected to play the sheet anchor role during Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign and bat out the entire 50 overs. On Thursday, he showed what he is capable of doing, as Sri Lanka chased down a rain-revised total of 197 off 47 overs in just 42.3, after West Indies had been dismissed for 203.
Tharanga's innings was chanceless, and on a slow pitch which suited his style of batting he was never in trouble despite West Indies using as many as seven bowlers, who managed to prize out only two wickets between them.
Tillakaratne Dilshan left in the ninth over, attempting to cut a ball too close to his body and offering a catch behind the wicket. Captain Kumar Sangakkara managed 20 out of a second-wicket stand of 70 with Tharanga, before hitting a half volley from Dwayne Bravo to short extra cover.
Mahela Jayawardene and Tharanga made sure West Indies didn't make any further inroads into the batting by sharing an unbroken stand of 97. Jayawardene sealed the match with an inside-out drive to the boundary off Miller. He was unbeaten on 48 at the end of the match.
Sri Lanka came up with a disciplined bowling performance to restrict West Indies to 203. Given the persistent rain over the previous two days, the toss was vital and Sri Lanka had no hesitation in inviting West Indies to bat on the same surface on which the first match was played three days ago. Openers Chris Gayle and Adrian Barath, who made a century in the first ODI, negotiated some testing overs from Lasith Malinga and Nuwana Kulasekara to add 45 runs within the first 10 overs, before Kulasekara trapped Barath lbw, playing across the line to a ball that pitched on off stump.
Gayle, who had previously hit Kulasekara for a six and four in one over, then edged Muttiah Muralitharan to Thilan Samaraweera at second slip. Gayle came forward to a good length ball and was surprised by the bounce that Muralitharan got off the very first ball of his spell.
The fall of the openers on 45 slowed West Indies' run-rate and Sangakkara took advantage of it by getting a few overs from part-time offspinner Dilshan in. West Indies looked to be getting their innings back on track as Darren Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan added 49 runs off 96 balls. The stand ended when Sarwan, who was backing up too far at the non-striker's end, was run out after a hard drive by Darren Bravo hit the stumps off bowler Rangana Herath's hand.
Darren was joined by his half-brother Dwayne Bravo and the duo put on 38 before Malinga, returning for his second spell, trapped Darren Bravo lbw with a reverse-swinging delivery. Another reverse-swinging delivery from Malinga soon accounted for the dangerous Kieron Pollard, who played down the wrong line, and had his off stump pegged back.
Dwayne Bravo and Carlton Baugh added a further 37 runs to take West Indies to 175 for 5 before Herath, who had bowled a tight line and length, was finally rewarded with the wicket of Dwayne Bravo. The remaining West Indies batsmen failed to offer much resistance as the last four wickets fell for just 16 runs.
It was an all-round bowling effort from the Sri Lankans, with Malinga the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 30. Sri Lanka's fielders backed their bowlers with some excellent ground fielding and missed just one catch when Angelo Mathews dropped Baugh at long leg.
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