Story ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies [ICC06]

[The Mongrel]

vs.

Kenya v Canada
Group C Match
16 April 2007
Umpires: SA Bucknor (WI) & SJA Taufel (Aus)
Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia​

Line Ups

Bangladesh
CO Obuya
LN Onyango
*SO Tikolo
HS Modi
T Mishra
TM Odoyo
?KO Otieno
JS Ababu
JO Angara
M Sheikh
AS Luseno

Changes: Joseph Angara comes in for Brijal Patel.

Bermuda
MT Dwyer
ZE Surkaki
JJO Deakin
*HS Dhillon
Q Ali
TA Bradley
JS Wilcox
FEC Bolton
KE Danvers (ODI Debut)
KT Sandher
?PB Dassanayake

Changes: Kevin Sandher and Kim Danvers come in for Ashish Bagai and Desmond Chumney.

The Verdict: The 2003 World Cup Semi-Finallists struggled against a hungry Kiwi side in their opening game, collapsing to pace bowler Tama Canning and being dismissed for just 113. Canada were no match for New Zealand, and we expect the same today. Prediction: Kenya Impact Player: Steve Tikolo.

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[The Mongrel]

Kenya lose despite Tikolo's heroics

Lone Soldier: Steve Tikolo drives another four runs on his way to 91*, but it wasn't enough to save Kenya from losing to the Canadians.

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[The Mongrel]

vs.

Zimbabwe v Ireland
Group D Match
18 April 2007
Umpires: RE Koertzen (RSA) & B Doctrove (WI)
Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica​

Line Ups

Zimbabwe
S Chioza
K Kulinga
A Maungwa
*GM Ewing
+TT Taibu
J Nyumbu
J Chinyengetere
TN Garwe
HP Rinke
T Mupariwa
EC Rainsford

Changes: No change.

Ireland
AZ Aitkenhead
JP Bray
?NJ O'Brien
NE Boseley
PG Gillespie
*AR White
DI Joyce
WK McCallan
AD Johnston (ODI Debut)
G Cooke (ODI Debut)
AGAM McCoubrey (ODI Debut)

Changes: Fast bowling trio David Johnston, Gordon Cooke and Adrian McCoubrey come in for their one day international debuts.

The Verdict: If Zimbabwe can win this they will edge closer toward a birth in the Super 8 stage if they can go close with the Windies. Ireland were no match for the Windies, and we expect Zimbabwe will be high on confidence and win it easily. Prediction: Zimbabwe Impact Player: Tatenda Taibu.

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[The Mongrel]

Zimbabwe coast closer to Super 8s

Rhodesian Fire: Zimbabwe captain Gavin Ewing celebrates the wicket of Andrew White as Zimbabwe cruised to a five wicket victory over Ireland.

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[The Mongrel]

Marsh: "I want to make an impact"

After being named to make his debut in the Australian one day side to face the Netherlands in Australia's vitally important Group A match, West Australian Shaun Marsh has spoken about his inclusion in the side at a nets session in St Kitts.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic about being handed my one day debut, it's really something I've worked hard for over the past few years, and now it's finally paying off," said the twenty-three year old left hander.

"I want to make an impact. I've been toiling away in Western Australia since 2001, and being surrounded by great players such as Gilly (Adam Gilchrist), Justin (Langer), Marto (Damien Martyn) and Huss (Mike Hussey) has really helped me lift my game."

Shaun Marsh scored 731 runs at an average of 52 for the Western Warriors last season.

Fleming believes in Kiwis

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has said that New Zealand can win the World Cup if they continue the form they are in at the moment. New Zealand have comfortably accounted for England and Kenya, and look to make it three in a row when they meet Canada.

"We've really found our feet early in the competition, and we've beaten some decent opposition, so I'm really proud of the boys," the 34-year old veteran of 267 one day internationals said.

"The most promising sign is that we are winning matches, and we are by no means playing our best cricket at the moment, there is a lot of improvement left in us.

"Jacob Oram has been in sublime form, and in the form that can win a side World Cups."

Boycott slams England, India

Former England opening batsman and captain Geoffrey Boycott has slammed the English and Indian cricket teams while being interviewed on a local radio station's talkback show.

Boycott said that neither side had the capacity to win the World Cup, labelling England as 'overrated' and India 'rubbish.'

"For a team as talked up as being so talent, we (England) are just plain overrated. We are far too reliant on the better players to get us a winning score and bowl the other team out, and when you have to rely on Michael Vaughan to make you runs at one day level, you know your stuffed," Boycott said.

"And don't get me started on India, because they are plain rubbish, the lot of them. They need to get Dravid back in that side quick smart and get rid of all these other trashy players who can score runs against the hopeless teams, but crap themselves against decent bowlers."

India were rolled for just 94 as Muttiah Muralitharan picked up 4-22 when they crashed to a 5 wicket defeat to Sri Lanka.

Most Runs: HH Gibbs (RSA): 226
Most Wickets: ZE Surkaki (Can): 5
Highest Average (Batting): JDP Oram (NZ): 174.00

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[The Mongrel]

vs.

Australia v Netherlands
Group A Match
19 April 2007
Umpires: NA Mallender (Eng) and BG Jerling (RSA)
Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts​

Line Ups

Australia (Predicted Lineup)
?*AC Gilchrist
SM Katich
MJ Clarke
MJ Cosgrove
PA Jaques
SE Marsh (ODI Debut)
MEK Hussey
SR Watson
NW Bracken
SW Tait
DJ Cullen

Changes: Shaun Marsh comes in for his one day international debut replacing resting captain Ricky Ponting. Bowling duo Shane Watson and Nathan Bracken hand Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie a break.

Netherlands
TN de Grooth
MWA van Nierop
GA Walsh
JJ Esmeijer
JF Kloppenburg
B Zuiderent
*RN ten Doeschate
Amjad Khan
HA Brooker
?J Smits
MAK Raja

Changes: No change.

The Verdict: The Australians rest three major players ahead of the Super 8 stage, and hand Shaun Marsh a one day debut. Shane Watson, Shaun Tait, Daniel Cullen and Nathan Bracken will all be fighting for two bowling spots in the Super 8 stage, with Brett Dorey missing out. Adam Gilchrist will captain, and Australia should easily win this one. Prediction: Australia Impact Player: Michael Clarke.

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[The Mongrel]

Record breaking Marsh books Australia into the Super 8s

Mr Cricket: Australian batsman pulls another boundary on his way to his maiden one day international century against Holland at St Kitts. His West Australian counterpart Shaun Marsh hit the second highest score in a one day debut, 143* off 124 balls, five short of Desmond Haynes' 148 in 1978. Marsh's 143* is also his highest List A score.

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[The Mongrel]

vs.

Sri Lanka v Bermuda
Group B Match
19 April 2007
Umpires: DL Orchard (Zim) & P Willey (Eng)
Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad​

Line Ups

Sri Lanka
?KC Sangakkara
*MS Atapattu
DPMD Jayawardene
ST Jayasuriya
TT Samaraweera
TM Dilshan
HWHD Boteju
WPUJC Vaas
KMDN Kulasekara
SADU Indrasiri
M Muralitharan

Changes: No change.

Bermuda
OL Pitcher
AB Steede
IT Dillon
CR Foggo
DWO Morgan
DC Borden
H Durham
*DM Leverock
AS Keegan
?IH Romaine
NB Stafford

Changes: No change.

The Verdict: Bermuda haven't looked like going close to any side this World Cup, and we don't expect that to change. Sri Lanka are running hot, and with Muttiah Muralitharan leading the attack, he don't think Dwayne Leverock's men can last. Prediction: Sri Lanka by further than you can throw a stone Impact Player: Muttiah Muralitharan.

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[The Mongrel]

Sri Lanka power through Bermuda

Captain's Knock: Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu was sublime on his way to 109 in his side's win over Bermuda. Sri Lanka move into the Super 8 side undefeated, after easily accounting for Bangladesh, India and Bermuda.

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[The Mongrel]

vs.

New Zealand v Canada
Group C Match
19 April 2007
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pak) and EAR de Silva (SL)
Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia​

Line Ups

New Zealand
PG Fulton
*SP Fleming
CD McMillan
JD Ryder
JDP Oram
NJ Astle
?BB McCullum
DL Vettori
JEC Franklin
TK Canning
SE Bond

Changes: No change.

Canada
MT Dwyer
ZE Surkaki
JJO Deakin
*HS Dhillon
Q Ali
TA Bradley
JS Wilcox
FEC Bolton
KE Danvers
KT Sandher
?PB Dassanayake

Changes: No change.

The Verdict: New Zealand are in some stellar touch, while Canada with one win and a loss need this to have a chance to make the Super 8 stage. They won't though, New Zealand have far too many winners across the board. Prediction: New Zealand Impact Player: Jacob Oram.

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[The Mongrel]

Bond and Franklin rattle Canadians

Kiwi pace: Shane Bond and Peter Fulton celebrate the dismissal of Canadian opener Martin Dwyer as New Zealand wobbled to a four wicket win at Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia. Bond and his opening partner James Franklin combined to take seven wickets.

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[The Mongrel]

vs.

Pakistan v Ireland
Group D Match
19 April 2007
Umpires: NA Mallender (Eng) and RE Koertzen (RSA)
Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica​

Line Ups

Pakistan
Taufeeq Umar
Salman Butt
Younis Khan
*Inzamam ul-Haq
Mohammad Yousuf
Shahid Afridi
+Kamran Akmal
Yasir Arafat
Shabbir Ahmed
Danish Kaneria
Mohammad Asif

Changes: Shabbir Ahmed comes in for medium pacer Kashif Raza.

Ireland
AZ Aitkenhead
JP Bray
?NJ O'Brien
NE Boseley
PG Gillespie
*AR White
DI Joyce
WK McCallan
AD Johnston
G Cooke
AGAM McCoubrey

Changes: No change.

The Verdict: Pakistan suffered a huge wakeup when they lost to Zimbabwe, but reaquaintaed themselves with the winning feeling against the Windies. With Pakistan, Zimbabwe and the Windies all fighting for two Super 8 spots, Pakistan really need to increase their net run rate here. Pakistan to win comfortably. Impact Player: Inzamam-ul-Haq.

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[The Mongrel]

Younis destroys Ireland as Pakistan advance

Wonderful Younis: Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan smashed 20 boundaries on his way to 114 as Pakistan belted Ireland by 189 runs. Pakistan qualify no matter the result between the West Indies and Zimbabwe, and are the fifth team to qualify for the Super 8 stage.

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[The Mongrel]

vs.

South Africa v Scotland
Group A Match
21 April 2007
Umpires: SJA Taufel (Aus) and TH Wijewardene (SL)
Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts​

Line Ups

South Africa
*GC Smith
HH Gibbs
JH Kallis
JA Rudolph
?AB de Villiers
AG Puttick
SM Pollock
AJ Hall
P Joubert
A Nel
U Govender

Changes: No change.

Scotland
DF Watts
Rana Haq
RR Watson
S Knox
*CM Wright
MQ Sheikh
RT Lyons
GM Hamilton
?DR Lockhart
JAR Blain
Asim Butt

Changes: No change.

The Verdict: South Africa have already qualified for the Super 8s, but continue at full strength here against Scotland. Scotland need to win big to qualify, but that won't happen in our opinion. Prediction: South Africa Impact Player: Herschelle Gibbs

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[The Mongrel]

Scottish guts upstaged by Smith's form

Classy Protea: South African captain Graeme Smith led his side to a seven wicket victory over a determined Scottish side. Smith scored 73 runs from 90 balls as South Africa remain undefeated.

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