Sangakkara special destroys England
Left handed Lion: Kumar Sangakkara celebrates his seventh one day century with Sanath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka cruised past England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Sri Lanka are yet to lose a match and find themselves on top of the Super 8 group.
vs.
New Zealand v West Indies
Super 8 - Match 3
27 April 2007
Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pak) and DB Hair (Aus)
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
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.
West Indies
CH Gayle
S Ganga
*BC Lara
S Chanderpaul
RR Sarwan
RO Hinds
?CS Baugh
DJJ Bravo
DR Smith
D Mohammed
KCB Jeremy
Changes: Dave Mohammad replaces Ryan Nurse.
Centrebet: New Zealand $1.60, Tie $51.00, West Indies $2.50
The Verdict: The West Indies are at surprisingly short odds against the undefeated Kiwis, presuming the reason is they are the host nation. However, this may be too optimistic, as the West Indian batting hasn't been at its best, nor its bowling. Jacob Oram is the favourite for player of the tournament, and will no doubt play a huge part in the outcome of today's contest. Impact Player: Jacob Oram.
Vettori spins New Zealand to victory
Eye for a wicket: Daniel Vettori celebrates as Ryan Hinds is given LBW by umpire Brian Jerling in the Super 8 match against host nation, The West Indies, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Vettori captured his second five wicket haul in his one day career as he spun rings around the West Indies with 5-32 from his ten overs. The West Indies now sit last on the Super 8 table, with no points on the board.
vs.
Australia v Pakistan
Super 8 - Match 4
28 April 2007
Umpires: BG Jerling (RSA) and EAR de Silva (SL)
Providence Stadium, Guyana
Line Ups
Australia
+AC Gilchrist
SM Katich
*RT Ponting
SR Watson
MJ Clarke
SE Marsh
MEK Hussey
B Lee
JN Gillespie
NW Bracken
DJ Cullen
Changes: Ricky PONTING replaces Phil JAQUES, Jason GILLESPIE replaces Mark COSGROVE and Brett LEE replaces Shaun TAIT.
Pakistan
Taufeeq Umar
Salman Butt
Younis Khan
*Inzamam ul-Haq
Mohammad Yousuf
Shahid Afridi
?Kamran Akmal
Yasir Arafat
Kashif Raza
Shabbir Ahmed
Mohammad Asif
Changes: Kashif RAZA replaces Danish KANERIA.
Centrebet: Australia $1.80, Tie $51.00, Pakistan $1.85
The Verdict: The hardest match to pick of the first round of Super 8s. Pakistan seem to have recovered from a shock loss to Zimbabwe, Shahid Afridi turning into a very dangerous spinner. Australia lost to South Africa and have struggled so far with a fifth bowling option, so a gamble in playing Watson at either four or six (we predict four). Gillespie and Lee back in, and Bracken trying to continue his good form should be enough, but when you are playing Pakistan who knows. Younis Khan is in onbe day career best form and may be the difference. Prediction: Pakistan Impact Player: Younis Khan.
Marsh proves he is no one trick pony
Pakistan crumble: Shane Watson celebrates the run out of Younis Khan, a direct hit from short fine leg. Watson was Man of the Match with 4/44. Earlier, Shaun Marsh and Mike Hussey shared an unbeaten 119-run sixth wicket partnership to help Australia post a score of 5/265. Marsh, who scored 143* on debut against Holland, proved to the world that he can match it with the best.
vs.
England v South Africa
Super 8 - Match 5
29 April 2007
Umpires: BF Bowden (NZ) and RB Tiffin (Zim)
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
Line Ups
England
ME Trescothick
AJ Strauss
KP Pietersen
*MP Vaughan
A Flintoff
EC Joyce (ODI Debut)
?MJ Prior
AF Giles
SP Jones
SJ Harmison
RJ Sidebottom
Changes: Debutant Ed JOYCE comes into the side to replace and out of form Ian BELL and Simon JONES replaces Anthony DAVIES.
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: Ugasen GOVENDER returns from injury to replace David TERBRUGGE.
Centrebet: England $4.50, Tie $51.00, South Africa $1.46
The Verdict: South Africa weren't at their best against India, but England were blown away by a fired up Sri Lankan attack. Both sides make changes, Ugasen Govender returns at the expense of David Terbrugge, while Simon Jones and debutant Ed Joyce replace Anthony Davies and Ian Bell for the English. Prediction: South Africa Impact Player: Graeme Smith.
Kallis and Hall lead South Africa to victory
The Wall Attacks: Jacques Kallis cross bats Ashley Giles for a boundary on his way to 77 in Antigua. South Africa were too good for England, who are yet to register a point in the Super 8 stage.
vs.
Sri Lanka v West Indies
Super 8 - Match 6
29 April 2007
Umpires: JJ Lloyds (Eng) and PD Parker (Aus)
Providence Stadium, Guyana
Line Ups
Sri Lanka
?KC Sangakkara
*MS Atapattu
DPMD Jayawardene
ST Jayasuriya
TT Samaraweera
TM Dilshan
MG Vandort
HWHD Boteju
WPUJC Vaas
KMDN Kulasekara
SADU Indrasiri
Changes: Michael Vandort replaces Muttiah Muralitharan who is understood to be suffering froma virus.
West Indies
CH Gayle
S Ganga
*BC Lara
S Chanderpaul
RR Sarwan
RO Hinds
?CS Baugh
DJJ Bravo
DR Smith
RO Nurse
KCB Jeremy
Changes: Ryan Nurse replaces chinaman Dave Mohammad.
Centrebet: Sri Lanka $1.50, Tie $51, West Indies $4.30
The Verdict: The West Indies were at one stage $6.10 for the win at Centrebet until the news of Muttiah Muralitharan's omission hit, causing them to shorten. Dave Mohammad again is out due to team balance as Ryan Nurse gets another crack, while Sherwin Ganga must be nearing his exclusion after crossing twenty just once in his four innings. While Murali's exclusion is rather significant, young left arm orthadox spinner Indrasiri should cause enough troubles to lead Sri Lanka to a record of 5-0 for the tournament. Prediction: Sri Lanka Impact Player: Singakutti Indrasiri.
Host nation celebrates despite Gayle heartbreak
Calypso Celebration: Dwayne Bravo celebrates with Chris Gayle and Carlton Baugh following the dismissal of opening batsman Kumar Sangakkara. Bravo was Man of the Match as he picked up 4-46 as the West Indies got off the bottom of the Super 8 table. Later, Chris Gayle was dismissed for 99 from 93 balls in one of the innings of the tournament. Gayle tried cutting bowler Thilan Samaraweera, but only succeeded in steering the ball to Michael Vandort at point. He received a standing ovation from the ecstatic Guyana crowd.
vs.
Australia v New Zealand
Super 8 - Match 7
30 April 2007
Umpires: MR Benson (Eng) and Asad Rauf (Pak)
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
Matchup: Australian bowler Mick Lewis runs out Kyle Mills to win the 2nd ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in late 2005.
Line Ups
Australia
?AC Gilchrist
MJ Cosgrove
*RT Ponting
SR Watson
MJ Clarke
SE Marsh
MEK Hussey
B Lee
JN Gillespie
BR Dorey
NW Bracken
Changes: Brett Dorey replaces Dan Cullen and a surprise change and Mark Cosgrove replaces out of form Simon Katich.
New Zealand
PG Fulton
*SP Fleming
CD McMillan
JDP Oram
MG Sinclair
NJ Astle
?BB McCullum
DL Vettori
JEC Franklin
TK Canning
SE Bond
Changes: Matthew Sinclair replaces all rounder Jesse Ryder.
Centrebet: Australia $1.50, Tie $41.00, New Zealand $2.65
The Verdict: Australia come in as favourites against the unbeaten New Zealand following a convincing win over Pakistan. The favourite for Player of the Tournament, Jacob Oram, will most likely move up to number four as Jesse Ryder is out for Matthew Sinclair. Australia make two changes as Brett Dorey and Mark Cosgrove come in, Cosgrove's selection is seen as a surprise to some who expeceted Phil Jaques. Whether or not Hussey and Marsh can continue their unbelievable form will be a big factor in this match. Most matches between the two sides are good, so hopefully we are in for a high scoring cracker. Prediction: Australia Impact Players: The #6 and #7, Shaun Marsh and Mike Hussey.
Aussies in box seat
Hunky Dorey: Brett Dorey picked up two vital middle order wickets as Australia took control in Antigua. The Kiwis require 50 runs from nine overs with just two wickets in hand.
Aussies win in nailbiter
Leading a pup to water: Michael Clarke celebrates the wicket of Shane Bond with Adam Gilchrist as Australia win a nailbiter by three runs in Antigua. The last two partnerships were worth 84 before Bond edged Clarke agonisingly close to the target. Earlier, Australian captain Ricky Ponting hit 100 off 120 balls to claim the Man of the Match award.
vs.
India v Pakistan
Super 8 - Match 8
30 April 2007
Umpires: NA Mallender (Eng) and DB Hair (Aus)
Providence Stadium, Guyana
Controversy: Both sides lodged formal complaints over Umpire Darrell Hair being named for this match, with India and Pakistan both having troubles with the Australian in the past. Hair has not been short of controversies in his career, after no balling Muttiah Muralitharan seven times in 1995, the ball tampering episodes of Pakistan's 2006 tour of England caused burning effiges of the big man back in Pakistan.
Line Ups
India
V Sehwag
DS Jadhav
SR Tendulkar
*Yuvraj Singh
G Gambhir
?MS Dhoni
Joginder Sharma
Harbhajan Singh
A Kumble
MM Patel
Gagandeep Singh
Changes: No change.
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: Danish Kaneria and Kashif Raza again sqap, seems to be becoming a trend.
Centrebet: India $1.80, Tie $26, Pakistan $1.80
The Verdict: Controversy surrounds this match as Darrell Hair was named umpire, despite protests of both teams. We only have to go back to the 2006 ball tampering incident to see why. Two of the biggest rivals in world cricket go head to head here in an extremely important match in the context of the Super 8 stage. Both sides have two points on the board, India coming off a win over South Africa while the Pakistanis are attempting to regain some form after a loss to Australia. Most matches between the two sides have been high scoring in the past, but I have an inkling this could be a hard fought slog. Very hard to predict, but I'm going with Pakistan by flip of a coin. Very interesting to note that the odds of a tie are just $26. Prediction: Pakistan Impact Player: Shahid Afridi.
Record breaking Afridi does all he can but India prevail
Simply sensational: Pakistani Shahid Afridi became the first person in one day history to take five wickets and make a fifty in an ODI twice in his career, posting 69 runs from 77 balls and claiming 5-29 from his ten overs. Here he dispatches Munaf Patel for a boundary. However, at the end of the day it was India winning a low scoring contest by 11 runs, Joginder Sharma picking up four very handy wickets after India posted just 9/198. Only 11 other men have achieved the same feat.
ODIs - 50 Runs and 5 Wickets in Match
Based on all matches up to and including
ODI: India v Pakistan at Guyana, World Cup 2007, Super 8 Stage, 30 Apr 2007
IVA Richards 119 and 5-41 West Indies v New Zealand Dunedin 1986/87
K Srikkanth 70 and 5-27 India v New Zealand Visakhapatnam 1988/89
ME Waugh 57 and 5-24 Australia v West Indies Melbourne 1992/93
L Klusener 54 and 6-49 South Africa v Sri Lanka Lahore 1997/98
Abdul Razzaq 70* and 5-48 Pakistan v India Hobart 1999/00
GA Hick 80 and 5-33 England v Zimbabwe Harare 1999/00
Shahid Afridi 61 and 5-40 Pakistan v England Lahore 2000/01
SC Ganguly 71* and 5-34 India v Zimbabwe Kanpur 2000/01
SB Styris 63* and 6-25 New Zealand v West Indies Port of Spain 2002
RC Irani 53 and 5-26 England v India The Oval 2002
CH Gayle 60 and 5-46 West Indies v Australia St George's 2002/03
PD Collingwood 112* and 6-31 England v Bangladesh Nottingham 2005
Shahid Afridi 69 and 5-29 Pakistan v India Guyana 2007
