Story The ICC World Test Cricket Medal: ***Day Four Highlights***

[OffCutters]

Great presentation mate like the website border

 

[just_cricket]

West Indies v Pakistan


West Indies
Chris Gayle
Devon Smith
Sewnarine Chattergoon
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Brendon Nash
Dwyane Bravo
Denesh Ramdin
Suliemann Benn
Jerome Taylor
Fidel Edwards

Pakistan
Salman Butt
Yasir Hameed
Mohammad Yousuf
Younus Khan
Misbah Ul-Haq
Shoaib Malik
Kamran Akmal
Danish Kaneria
Mohammed Sami
Sohail Tanvir
Umar Gul

The 1st Innings of the match between Pakistan and the West Indies has concluded, with the West Indians massing a whopping 474 runs before lunch on the 2nd day.

The West Indies won the toss and batted first on their home groung at Kingston, Sabina Park. After losing Devon Smith to Sohail Tanvir early, the two left handers, Gayle and Chattergoon, really dominated the bowling and the likes of Sami and Gul were taken apart. Going at well over four an over, Chattergoon played some exquisite shots, while Gayle was simply outstanding. After reaching his hundred off just 102 balls, it took a beautiful flipper from Kaneria to get a thin inside edge to Akmal to dismiss him.
Chattergoon followed soon after, but not before he had also reached his ton, which was an exceptional knock.
Chanderpaul, Nash and Bravo fell in reasonably quick succession, but Ramdin and Sarwan managed to put together a very productive partnership in excess of 100. When Sarwan fell to Kaneria, Suliemann Benn stuck around long enough to see the West Indies to stumps with Ramdin on 99 not out.
The following morning, Benn was dismissed for 31, and after Ramdin took 7 overs to finally reach his century, Taylor and Edwards fell quickly to Umar Gul.

In Summary: Gayle, Chattergoon, Sarwan and Ramdin all batted well and took the attack to the Pakistani bowlers, while Pakistan had a real off day with the ball, with the exception of Kaneria who showed he has real skill with his legspinners. It is a pretty batsman friendly track, as the score, and the rate at which runs were scored, shows.
So Pakistan set off to reply to the sizeable 474 put up by the West Indians, and we'll give you an update on this game at the conclusion of Pakistan's 1st Innings.

 

[just_cricket]

West Indies v Pakistan

Pakistan openers Butt and Hameed put on a 100 run stand for the first wicket on this batsman friendly Sabina Park pitch, before Hameed succumbed lbw to Bravo for 52. After Butt was caught and bowled by Suliemann Benn for a well compiled 76 soon later, Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan put on 99 for the third wicket. Following Khan's dismissal, Misbah ul-Haq hung around long enough to still be at the crease when Yousuf reached his century.
After Yousuf fell for 136, Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Bravo swept aside the tail in order to give the West Indies a healthy lead of 89 runs.
So after the completion of both sides' 1st innings, the points are:

-10.74 West Indies
-6.85 Pakistan

So Join us again as we keep you updated- the next summary will be of both sides' 2nd innings, and therefore the conclusion and result of the match.

 

[hedger_14]

how come you don't have the bowling figures.

 

[just_cricket]

West Indies v Pakistan

After again losing Devon Smith early, Chattergoon was this time unable to register a good score as he was cleaned up by Mohammed Sami for 12.
However, after Gayle was bowled after a quick fire cameo of 46 off 44 balls, veterans Sarwan and Chanderpaul both ground the Pakistan bowlers into the dust, as they put together a partnership of 278 runs, both players scoring centuries. Chanderpaul was eventually caught on the boundary off Kaneria, but even then Brendon Nash continued the assault, posting an uncharacteristically fast 54 off just 60 balls, until being caught at point off Kaneria. Dwayne Bravo and Sarwan then simply smashed the bowling around for about 7 overs, forcing a declaration, before declaring at 457/5 off 166.4 overs. This meant Pakistan needed a mammoth 547 runs to win the game, in just over a day. The points at this stage were:

-15.31 West Indies
-8.35 Pakistan

So Pakistan had to basically bat for just over one day to save the match and still give themselves a chance of winning the series by securing a win in the next game. Things didn't look good at all as Jerome Taylor ripped through the top order in no time- slumping Pakistan at 36/4. Nevertheless, captain Shoaib Malik came together with Mohammad Yousuf for a 150 run partnership, which all but ensured the game would be a draw. After Yousuf reached his second century of the match, Malik finally fell to Taylor for 68 off 201 balls. Yousuf shut up shop for the day, and watched as Kamran Akmal slogged away to his first test fifty in some time in an absolutely no pressure situation. On reaching his 50, Pakistan agreed to end the match on 270/5 after 96 overs, as the light closed in.

Match Result: Drawn
Man of the Match: Shared by Mohammad Yousuf (Pak) and Jerome Taylor (WI)
Points:

-16.81 West Indies
-11.05 Pakistan

 

[just_cricket]

OK the second round of New Zealand's games begins today- so I'll update sometime today.
Thanks for the comments and "thanks"s guys, keep them coming

 

[just_cricket]

ggggggggggggggggggggggg

: Welcome to this test match between the New Zealand Black Caps, and India, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. It's barely a year since these two sides last met here, but the balance of power may have just shifted slightly since that last encounter. The New Zealanders are coming off an emphatic win against England in England for the first time in ten years, so they will be feeling pretty excited about this match, and full of belief. What about the Indians, Ravi Shastri?

: Well, Smithy, the Indians haven't had a whole heap of test cricket since their tour of New Zealand last year, so I think we can expect them to perform pretty well. Dhoni has settled into the leadership role permanently it seems, and in the ODIs and Twenty20s they've been playing, they've played pretty well. The solidity and experience that Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman provide is still there, and players like Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh have been playing brilliantly lately. This is a match up between two strong sides.

Thanks, Ravi. Now let's go down to our man in the middle, Jeremy Coney, for a report on this Basin Reserve strip...

: Thanks very much, Smithy. Now this has been very well prepared by the groundstaff- I'd go as far as saying they've done a magnificent job. It should provide a fair contest between bat and ball, a balance which needs to be met in order for this wonderful tournament to work well. It is nice and flat, fairly hard and fast, so the ball will come onto the bat but there is that pace and bounce for the bowlers to work with. And there is also a nice even coverage of a light layer of grass on top of the surface, which will just give the pace bowlers a bit of assistance early on, before browning off a bit and generating some turn from the spinners. I think I'd like to bat first on this pitch, but there is some cause for either side to bowl first, just so they might possibly catch a few good batsmen out not moving their feet on the ever so slightly green pitch. I think if Dhoni wins the toss he will bat, but if Vettori wins the toss, he will elect to bowl. Back to you, Smithy...

: Thanks very much, Jeremy, and we're about to find out if your prediction is correct, as we join Mark 'Rigor' Richardson for the toss of the coin.

: Thanks, Smithy, now I have the two captains with me here, along with match referee Chris Broad. Dan Vettori, the New Zealand captain, has the coin in his hand, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India, will call.

: Tails!

: And it is tails. So India have won the toss. What would you like to do?

We'll have a bat first, Mark. It looks a reasonable strip and we'd like to get some runs on the board and control the course of this match. Thanks.

: Right, so Mahendra Singh Dhoni winning the toss for India and electing to bat first. Let's hear from Black Caps captain, Daniel Vettori, now.

: Well I'm not too disappointed at losing. I probably would have chosen to bat first, but I'm not sure it'll make too much difference. We have the immediate advantage of the greenish, moist pitch for the first hour, so that will be a crucial period for us. I'm confident we can knock over the top order early on- with Bond back, and Southee performing really brilliantly, we have a good opening pair. And when it's our turn to bat I'm confident we can score some good runs.

: Right. Well, old MS didn't want to hang around for long, so I'll talk some more to you about the teams. Firstly, any changes for you?

: Ah, yes we have a couple actually. Jake Oram is unfortunately out injured, but Jesse Ryder is fortunately well and truly back from his injury last year at the ICC World Twenty20. He comes into the side fully fit, with a top notch domestic season behind him. And left arm pace bowler Neil Wagner of Otago will make his debut today, replacing Jimmy Franklin.

: And what of your opposition?

: Well it's almost identical to the side we came up against this time last summer, except apparently Irfan Pathan will play- probably replacing Ishant Sharma or Munaf Patel. The Indians are always a tough side to play, but I'm confident that we can give them a good run for their money. We have a well balanced side and plenty of belief.

: Thanks, Dan. Now let's take a look at the teams:

Firstly the tourists, India. As Vettori pointed out- almost identical to the side that took the field here last year, the only change being Irfan Pathan coming in at the number 8 position, while Munaf Patel has been demoted to carrying the drinks. A very strong batting side, here, and on their day a very penetrative bowling lineup, too.

Now the hosts, the Black Caps. Ryder comes into the side after a good return at the end of the domestic season, and Neil Wagner replaces James Franklin- probably as the selectors are after a bit of pace and fire. The New Zealanders want to have a real go at this and to do that they going to need to take risks.
Now turning to our weather wall, you can see there that we have a fine day in store, it's beautiful and sunny at the moment, and the only change in the afternoon might just be a few light clouds beginning to fill the sky. But there is virtually no chance of rain, and with a high of 29? we can expect a very fine, hot day.

The stage is set, so it's back to you, Smithy and Ravi.

: Thank you, Rigor. Well it'll only be about five minutes before the players and umpires make their way out to the centre, so make sure you join us then for this important group match in the ICC Test Cricket World Medal, as New Zealand look to gain a place in the semi finals by winning this match, and India look to make a good start in their campaign. Join us soon...

 

[just_cricket]

: Welcome back to Sky Sport, for this ICC Test Cricket World Medal match between India and New Zealand, at the Basin Reserve. The players and umpires are making their way out to the middle, so it shouldn't be too long now until we get started.

: That's right, here comes the fired up Black Caps side running out onto the field:

And now the Indian openers, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag!

As you can see there by their stats, this is one of the best opening pairs in the world. It's going to be very important for New Zealand to knock them over early.

: Now we may have a slight delay as the umpires check the stumps and playing conditions etc. so let's just digress a moment and take a look at the two distinct stands here at the Basin Reserve:

As you can see there, the unique RA Vance Stand, and the less unique but still distinguishing old stand. These stands are all part and parcel of this wonderful ground, and I have watched many a wonderful game from my position here, just above the RA Vance Stand, where we are in the media rooms up in the triangular shaped structures you can see on your screen. This really is a great place to watch cricket from- high up, right behind the bowler's arm.

: Well all looks to be in readiness now, Smithy. It's Shane Bond with the ball, and he's running in towards us to bowl to Gautam Gambhir. This is brilliant, he really is running in to bowl straight towards us:

And we're underway here...

Gambhir plays out Bond's first over uneventfully, and India scores their first run of the match as Bond oversteps the line and delivers a no ball. Next, Neil Wagner comes on to bowl from the RA Vance Stand End of the ground. It is an eventful first over in test cricket, as after five dot balls to Sehwag...

: Wagner, running into bowl, left arm over the wicket, to Sehwag. And Sehwag swings at a full wide one, it goes through to McCullum and the New Zealanders go up in an appeal for caught behind! Is Sehwag caught behind?

Well Sehwag isn't having a bar of it- he gestures to the pitch, perhaps hinting that he in fact hit the ground rather than the ball. And umpire Billy Doctrove has remained unmoved, but the New Zealanders have made the signal to refer the decision. So we go upstairs to third umpire Simon Taufel of Australia...

Well, first of all Taufel wants to have a look at snicko, and see that there was an edge, or at least a noise, and try to determine where and when it occurred:

Ooh! It looks like the ball may have just clipped the edge of Sehwag's bat. Now he sensibly has a look at hot spot to see where the noise of the bat occurred:

Well, well! It looks as though Sehwag will be given out, here. The ball certainly has caught the edge of his bat and he will be on his way, here!

The decision by Harper is going back to Doctrove and HE'S GIVEN IT!

So Sehwag goes, caught McCullum bowled Wagner, his first test wicket, and it's 1/1. Rahul Dravid is the new batsman.

With the arrival of Dravid, Gambhir opens his account with a snick for four off Bond, attempting a cover drive. The New Zealanders are really on their toes, as they know they have already bought a wicket through no help from the pitch, and if they can snag a couple with some assistance from the pitch they will really be in a good position. In between maidens and streaky runs from Gambhir, Dravid really is showing why he is called 'The Wall'.

Bond and Wagner really are bowling well, bowling with real pace and fire, beating the bat with regularity and really showing some aggression. In fact, Wagner hits Gambhir a rough blow on the helmet with a lethal bouncer:

Hawkeye "Helmet grill view" shows how Gambhir would have seen the ball fly into his face:

But he battles on, giving nothing to the New Zealanders, even though he is also contributing little to the score. The score inches up painfully slowly to 15/1 after 12 overs, when...

: And Bond runs towards us, running in to bowl the first ball of the 13th over. And Dravid gets an edge and he's caught at slip!

Well it was an absolutely fantastic ball from Bond- he has been bowling predominately inswingers and bringing the ball into Dravid, this delivery started off much the same, but found some seam movement off the pitch, Dravid nicked it and Ross Taylor at 1st slip did the rest.

So Dravid goes for a solid but slow 3, that's a massive wicket for the Black Caps, but they have an even bigger job now- Sachin Tendulkar is the new batsman.

Tendulkar gets off the mark straight away, hooking a bouncer from Bond for two down to long leg. This is Bond's last over, as after a maiden from Wagner to Gambhir, Tim Southee replaces Bond at the Southern End. Tendulkar welcomes him to the bowling crease with a sweetly timed on drive for 4, along the carpet all the way to the rope. The players stop briefly for a drinks break, with the score at 22/2 after 15 overs. It's slow going here.

Wagner continues after drinks, with another fiery maiden to Gambhir, beating the bat twice, but failing to take a wicket. Southee bowls his second over to Tendulkar, and is smashed for four by a Tendulkar cut straight away. However...

: Southee, coming in to bowl to Tendulkar. And it's a short ball and it's caught at first slip by Ross Taylor! TENDULKAR IS OUT!

Well he was trying that ramp shot which be plays spectacularly well on every occassion I've seen before, but Southee bowled an off cutter, and what looked like a rank short ball cut quite sharply in to Tendulkar, and cramped him for room as well as denying that extra bit of pace. As a result it hit the splice of his bat and just ballooned to Taylor at slip who takes his second catch in a matter of minutes.

So after briefly threatening to lift the run rate and make a big score, the little master departs for 10, and it's 26/3. New Zealand on top, with VVS Laxman the new batsman.

Wagner's next over sees Gambhir's first confident shot- nicely timing a leg glance for four runs. Vettori immediately introduces himself to the bowling crease in replacing Wagner.
The batsmen find runs slightly easier to come by now, with the pitch not really suiting Vettori just yet. Southee tries hard into the stiff Wellington wind, but with the pitch drying off, there is a decreasing amount of moisture and therefore assistance for the pace bowlers, as Jeremy Coney predicted.
Laxman looks effortless at times- clipping and working runs of Vettori with ease and playing a gorgeous on drive off Southee, in between other good cuts and pulls.
Gambhir also slowly warms to the task, and just before lunch shows a glimpse of the skill he has, punching Vettori nicely and picking up runs at will.

Gambhir going well, just before Lunch.

And after 27 overs, the score has broken the 50 mark, and the players break for Lunch, with the score at 54/3. Laxman is 18*, with Gambhir unbeaten on 20.

 

[OffCutters]

India are in trouble here, losing 3 valuable wickets in a session. Sehwag,Dravid,Tendulkar, all three of India`s most reliable batsmen. India will look to keep their wickets and stay in as long as they can without losing a wicket whilst scoring runs at a conservative rate. Like the story mate, keep it up.

 

[just_cricket]

Thanks for the comments, guys.
I will be going away for about a week, so there will be no updates for about a week.
Hopefully I will get more momentum and comments when I return :upray

 

[TheGreemSim]

C'mon NZ. Kane Williamson absolutely owned in the last match.
I didn't realise Wagner was eligible to play yet.
Great presentation, love the commentator thing and welldone on the hotspot and sniko

 

[Left_Hander]

Really liked the HotSpot. New Zealand are right on top of India. It's been a slow crawl from India and there two most dangerous batsmen are out (Sehwag and Tendulkar).

 

[laiq mitiwala]

funny jokes

laiq mitiwala added 6 Minutes and 27 Seconds later...

india ki chutee

 

[just_cricket]

I was about to update this but photobucket is 'undergoing site maintenance' atm. This story will continue- in fact the reason I haven't posted in a while is that I have been preparing a bit more of the story before I posted it. I am determined to complete this

 

[just_cricket]

Day One, Afternoon Session

: Welcome back to the Basin Reserve where India will resume their first innings after lunch with the score at 54/3. After losing 3 early wickets- Bond, Wagner and Southee taking one apiece- the Indians have begun to consolidate after being 26/3. Gambhir, after looking very shaky early on, has warmed to the task, and VVS Laxman has looked settled from the moment he arrived at the crease.

: Yes Gambhir and Laxman have certainly looked more comfortable against the spin of Vettori and medium pace of Ryder than against the quicker men. That is good for the Indians, as it is Jesse Ryder who will continue after lunch, bowling over the wicket to Gambhir.

Gambhir immediately gets India away after lunch, clipping Ryder's first ball neatly down to the vacant long leg area for three.
At the other end, Southee continues from the RA Vance Stand end. Gambhir and Laxman comfortably collect runs as they come along, with Laxman looking in superb touch off the front foot.

Vettori soon replaces Southee, but he is unable to ebb the flow of runs any better. The two batsmen are able to easily accumulate runs off Ryder, as the pitch is now not doing much, and Ryder is only bowling about 120km/h with no movement whatsoever. Wagner returns for a brief stint in an effort to force the Indians out of their comfort zone. However, it is not immediately successful, with Gambhir clipping a leg stump ball over square leg for 4.

The score continues to mount, with India passing the 100 mark in the 39th over. It has been slow going, but India now may just have the upper hand, as although the scoreboard my slightly favour the Black Caps, it is India who are controlling this passage of play. Vettori, although bowling well, is being played beautifully by both batsmen, who in fairness are superb player of spin. Laxman tends to play from the crease with beautiful soft hands, whipping the ball through leg side and timing the ball nicely through the off side:

Gambhir, however, looks to use his feet and dart around the crease to manipulate Vettori's line and length. When it is short he goes well back, and gives himself so much time to hit the ball where he wants to. With the score on 117/3, he plays a beautiful late cut, all the way along the ground, for 4, bringing up his fifty.

: This has been a very good innings from Gambhir. He has grown into the innings, starting off very shakily after being rocked by the quickies, he has played with beautiful touch and after combating spin and medium pace beautfiully, the test now is whether he can play Wagner and Bond as well when they return.

With the confidence of reaching his half century, Gambhir darts down the wicket and hits Vettori inside out over cover for a huge six!

Vettori looks on with worry. That shot brings up the 100 partnership for the two batsmen, and at 131/3 things are getting away from his team after they were firmly in control before lunch.
Laxman sends a reminder that he is also there with Gambhir- after the left hander stole the specators' eyes for a few overs, Laxman hooks Southee assertively for 4, bringing up his 50.

Laxman has played wonderfully, here. I can't recall a time when he gave the New Zealanders a half chance, or even played and missed at a ball. He has played in a very assured manner, with every ball he has faced more or less ending up where he intended. Vettori needs to think of a way to break his concentration, or Laxman could take this game away from him...

Things don't ease off for the bowlers, though. The course of play continues to drift in the same direction it has for the whole session- runs, and at a reasonable rate. Vettori, despite conceding runs without looking very threatening, continues until the penultimate over, when Bond has one over in an attempt to take a wicket just before tea. Unfortunately, he concedes four runs, and the last over of the afternoon session, bowled by Southee, goes for 12 runs, Laxman effortlessly hitting Southee for three boundaries.

With 55 overs gone, the umpires call 'Tea.' The Indian batsmen walk off delightedly, with the New Zealanders sportingly setting up a 'guard of honour', waiting for the Indians to leave the field, in recognition of their still unbroken 146 run partnership.

: Well a very successful session there for the Indians. After being in trouble at Lunch, they have rallied and are now on top, courtesy of Gambhir and Laxman.
Now Mark 'Rigor' Richardson and Simon Doull will talk you through all that and more during the Tea break, with a live edition of The Dilmah Tea Party. Join them for a chat about today's cricket, as well as several other special features.