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

[The Mongrel]

vs.

South Africa v West Indies
Super 8 - Match 9
1 May 2007
Umpires: EAR de Silva (SL) and BF Bowden (NZ)
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

Flashback: Chris Gayle scores a career high 317 in the forth test of the 2004/05 series against South Africa. South Africa were so disappointed at how flat the pitch was, all eleven players bowled at least one over, wicketkeeper Mark Boucher claiming his first and only test wicket, Dwayne Bravo for 107.​

Line Ups

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

Changes: No change.

West Indies
CH Gayle
S Ganga
*BC Lara
S Chanderpaul
RR Sarwan
RO Hinds
?CS Baugh
DJJ Bravo
DR Smith
D Mohammad
RO Nurse

Changes: Dave Mohammad replaces Kerry Jeremy as the cycle of changes continue.

Centrebet: South Africa $1.60, Tie $51.00, West Indies $3.00

The Verdict: The West Indies are fresh off a surprise win over Sri Lanka while South Africa were never in trouble against England. Time for Dave Mohammad to perform for the West Indies, as it has been the bowlers outside of Hinds, Bravo and Smith who have yet to perform and let the Windies down. Sherwin Ganga produced a 49, but his spot in the side is still on the line if he doesn't perform today.Prediction: South Africa Impact Player: Chris Gayle.

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[The Mongrel]

Lara sizzles and South Africa fizzle

The Master: Brian Lara strokes his way to a majestic 84 as the West Indies overpower a lacklustre South Africa at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. The West Indies now sit second on the Super 8 table.

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[The Mongrel]

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Australia v Sri Lanka
Super 8 - Match 10
2 May 2007
Umpires: SA Bucknor (WI) and Aleem Dar (Pak)
Providence Stadium, Guyana

Flashback: Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan is no balled by Australian Umpire Darrell Hair seven times for throwing in the 1995 Boxing Day Test at the MCG.​

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: No change.

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

Changes: Muttiah Muralitharan returns to the side as Nuwan Kulasekara makes way.

Centrebet: Australia $1.37, Tie $51.00, Sri Lanka $4.00

The Verdict: Sri Lanka's odds are surprisingly long considering their form so far in the tournament, despite a loss to the West Indies they have been in good touch. Australia retain Cosgrove at the top of the order who needs a good score to stay there, while Murali returns from a stomach virus which kept him out of the match against the West Indies. Prediction: Australia Impact Player: Muttiah Muralitharan.

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[The Mongrel]

Aussies win last ball thriller

National Hero: Shane Watson and Michael Hussey celebrate after Australia won a nailbiter over Sri Lanka on the last ball. Watson reverse sweept Sri Lankan left armer Singakutti Indrasiri for a boundary off the last ball of the innings to deliver Australia a five wicket win. Australia needed two runs to win off the last ball and Watson managed to scrape it past Mahela Jayawardene at short third man. Earlier, Jason Gillespie claimed the Man of the Match award for a spell of 5-52 from his ten overs, dismantling the middle order. Watson may count himself unlucky to not receive the award, his 1-45 and match winning 61* earning huge praise from critics saying he should not be batting at four.

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[The Mongrel]

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India v New Zealand
Super 8 - Match 11
2 May 2007
Umpires: SJA Taufel (Aus) and RE Koertzen (RSA)
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

Flashback: Ashish Nehra congratulates Lou Vincent on his century and his side's one day victory in the last time these two nations met. Interesting to note that neither player is in their respective World Cup squads.​

Line Ups

India
V Sehwag
DS Jadhav
SR Tendulkar
*Yuvraj Singh
G Gambhir
?MS Dhoni
Joginder Sharma
Harbhajan Singh
MM Patel
Gagandeep Singh
SM Maniar

Changes: Sandip Maniar replaces Anil Kumble due to the assistance to seamers on this Antigua pitch.

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: No change.

Centrebet: India $1.80, Tie $26.00, New Zealand $1.85

The Verdict: It is extremely hard to pick a winner in this match, both sides have played themselves into some form. India rest Anil Kumble for fast bowler Sandip Maniar who plays in his eleventh one day international, while the attack of Franklin, Canning and Bond may cause some troubles on this pitch. New Zealand's middle order struggled against Australia, and this might be their undoing. Prediction: India Impact Players: The NZ Middle Order (Oram, Sinclair, Astle).

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[The Mongrel]

India belt timid New Zealand

Turbanator: Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh took 3-36 from his ten overs to claim the Man of the Match award as India beat New Zealand by eight wickets. Indian opener Dheeraj Jadhav led the Indian chase with an impressive 86, but his strike rate was lower at just 61.

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[The Mongrel]

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England v Pakistan
Super 8 - Match 12
3 May 2007
Umpires: PD Parker (Aus) and BF Bowden (NZ)
Providence Stadium, Guyana

Flashback: The last time these two teams met in a test match it was the first time in history a team forfeited a test. Inzamam-ul-Haq and the Pakistan side were accused of ball tampering by umpire Darrell Hair, Inzamam was cleared of ball tampering but suspended for four ODIs for bringing the game into disrespute.​

Line Ups

England
ME Trescothick
AJ Strauss
KP Pietersen
IR Bell
*MP Vaughan
?MJ Prior
AF Giles
SP Jones
AF Davies
SJ Harmison
RJ Sidebottom

Changes: Anthony Davies and Ian Bell replace an injured Andrew Flintoff and a very unlucky Ed Joyce.

Pakistan
Taufeeq Umar
Salman Butt
Younis Khan
*Inzamam-ul-Haq
Mohammad Yousuf
Shahid Afridi
?Kamran Akmal
Yasir Arafat
Waqar Ahmed
Kashif Raza
Mohammad Asif

Changes: Waqar Ahmed comes in for his second ODI along with Kashif Raza as Danish Kaneria and Shabbir Ahmed make way.

Centrebet: England $2.50, Tie $51.00, Pakistan $1.65

The Verdict: The two bottom sides of the Super 8 go head to head, Pakistan with just the two points which were carried through from their group phase win over the Windies, and England yet to register a Super 8 point. Ian Bell is a surprising change for the impressive Ed Joyce, but the big news is injury troubled Andrew Flintoff omitted from the side. Pakistan make two changes to the bowling lineup from the side that lost to India. Prediction: Pakistan Impact Players: Shahid Afridi.

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[The Mongrel]

England on the board despite Afridi magic

Back in touch: Andrew Strauss pulls Waqar Ahmed for four as he returned to form with a fighting 62 as England got off the bottom of the Super 8 table. Strauss was named Man of the Match, though Shahid Afridi was again remarkable, his eight overs going for just eight runs, he also picked up the wicket of Strauss with a quicker googly which caught the outside edge.

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[The Mongrel]

Table after 36 matches and three Super 8 fixtures.

 

[The Mongrel]

vs.

New Zealand v South Africa
Super 8 - Match 13
4 May 2007
Umpires: MR Benson (Eng) and Asad Rauf (Pak)
National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada

Flashback: South Africans Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp and Ashwell Prince celebrate the wicket of James Franklin in the last time these two teams met in a ODI back in November 2005.​

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: Jesse Ryder returns to the side at the expense of Matthew Sinclair.

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

Changes: David Terbrugge comes in for Ugasen Govender who again is having trouble with his calf.

Centrebet: NZ $1.80, Tie $31.00, RSA $1.80

The Verdict: The two sides are hard to separate even if South Africa look better on paper. Govender again is left out through injury which has plagued him for most of his career, while Jesse Ryder gets a recall to the side. New Zealand were bitterly disappointed with their loss to New Zealand while the South Africans will be keen to avenge their loss to the West Indies. NZ did look the poorer side in their last game, but I have an inkling they'll hit back. The only speciallist spinner, Daniel Vettori, may have a big say in proceedings. Prediction: New Zealand Impact Player: Daniel Vettori.

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[The Mongrel]

vs.

Australia v England
Super 8 - Match 14
5 May 2007
Umpires: SA Bucknor (WI) and DL Orchard (RSA)
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

Flashback: Australian chinaman Brad Hogg celebrates the wicket of England captain Michael Vaughan in the 2005 NatWest Series.​

Line Ups

Australia
?AC Gilchrist
PA Jaques
*RT Ponting
MJ Cosgrove
SR Watson
SE Marsh
MEK Hussey
B Lee
NW Bracken
BR Dorey
SW Tait

Changes: Phil Jaques comes in for Michael Clarke who takes his first rest if the series and Shaun Tait replaces Jason Gillespie.

England
AJ Strauss
AN Cook
KP Pietersen
IR Bell
*MP Vaughan
A Flintoff
?MJ Prior
AF Giles
SJ Harmison
RJ Sidebottom
MJ Hoggard

Changes: Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, and Matthew Hoggard replace the experienced Marcus Trescothick, Simon Jones and Mark Davies.

Centrebet: Aus $1.50, Tie $51, Eng $4.30

The Verdict: The Aussies give some of the other guys a go as both Jaques and Cosgrove get a game, while Clarke takes a rest. Tait gives the veteran Gillespie a spell, while England bring Hoggard and Flintoff in. Australia should have too much, even at slightly below full strength, as Englad are in terrible form. However, England have been known to lift in recent times, so $4.30 is a good price. Prediction: Australia Impact Player: Andrew Flintoff.

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[The Mongrel]

England heartbroken as Aussies narrowly escape

Freddie Mania: England's greatest all rounder since Botham celebrates as he yet again dismisses Adam Gilchrist cheaply. His three wickets and 41 from 39 deliveries were not enough to save England from a heartbreaking three runs loss. Australian all rounder Shane Watson claimed man of the match with an impressive 118* and one wicket, albeit an expensive one.

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[The Mongrel]

vs.

Pakistan v Sri Lanka
Super 8 - Match 15
6 May 2007
Umpires: RE Koertzen (RSA) and BD Doctrove (WI)
National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada

Flashback: 2002 sees former Pakistan opener Saaed Anwar smack another boundary as Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara watches on.​

Line Ups

Pakistan
Taufeeq Umar
Salman Butt
Younis Khan
*Inzamam-ul-Haq
Mohammad Yousuf
Shahid Afridi
?Kamran Akmal
Yasir Arafat
Waqar Ahmed
Kashif Raza
Danish Kaneria

Changes: Danish Kaneria replaces Mohammad Asif.
Sri Lanka
?KC Sangakkara
*MS Atapattu
DPMD Jayawardene
ST Jayasuriya
TT Samaraweera
TM Dilshan
MG Vandort
HWHD Boteju
WPUJC Vaas
SADU Indrasiri
M Muralitharan

Changes: No change.

Centrebet: Aus $1.50, Tie $51, Eng $4.30

The Verdict: Pakistan bring in Kaneria on a pitch that is expected to turn. Here sees the key battle of Kaneria/Afridi against Indrasiri/Muralitharan,

which makes the decision not to play Asif fairly smart. Sri Lanka's order looks far too balanced, with Sangakkara, Atapattu, Jayawardene and Jayasuriya all

capable of making big scores. Prediction: Sri Lanka The Big Contest: Kaneira/Afridi v Indrasiri and MUralitharan.

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[The Mongrel]

Indrasiri destroys dismal Pakistan

Know your off stump: Kamran Akmal looks on as he becomes one of the eight players to be bowled as Pakistan crumbled to a 53 run loss. Singakutti Indrasiri was the hero wih 6-19 from just eight overs, as Pakistan lost eight wickets for just six runs in pursuit of 222. Sri Lanka's Thilan Samaraweera earlier made 108* as Sri Lanka piled on 221 on a spinning pitch.

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[The Mongrel]

Mohammed claims four, but Gambhir leads India to nailbiter

He's a Chinaman and he's OK: Chinaman Dave Mohammed celebrates the wicket of Dheeraj Jadhav as he is given LBW for 28. Mohammed claimed 4-57, but it wasn't enough as India staggered to home in an enthralling one wicket victory. Earlier the West Indies set India 210 to win after a hard fought 66 from Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and handy contributions from Ryan Hinds, Carlton Baugh and Dwayne Bravo. India now move up to second with their eighth point on the board.

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