Cricket Tournaments

Victoria re-proved their credentials as the best twenty 20 outfit in their country by winning their 4th KFC twenty 20 big bash title. Victoria have 4 out of the 5 editions of the title. The achieved the 4th by completing a 48 run victory over the South-Australian Red Backs on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the bushrangers skipper David Hussey had won the toss and elected to bat at the Adelaide oval. The Victorians were going nowhere until Aaron Finch decided to cut lose in the 4th over.

Finch had been given a chance when he was bowled by Shaun Tait of a no-ball. He capitalized on that chance and went on to make a 34 ball 47. Just when Victoria threatened to take the game away the Red backs broke through letting no major partnership to form. In fact at the 15 over mark the Red backs were bossing the game with the bushrangers at a 109 for 5.

The Red backs were doing the bowling bit right—they almost had one hand on the title. However, it was not to be as Aiden Blizzard had other ideas. The south paw hammered the South Australian bowlers all around the park. He scored 42 of 19 balls including 3 fours and 3 huge sixes at a strike rate of 221.

The left arm spinner Aaron O’Brien was easily the Red backs best bowler with figures of 4-0-26-3. He came on in the power play and struck with his third ball when he had Hodge caught and bowled. He accounted for McDonald and Wade too. The Victorians at the end of their 20 Overs managed a more then respectable score of 166.

South Australia were behind the eight ball right from the start of their innings when they lost their captain Graham Manou for a duck (first ball of the innings) to Nannes. The Victorians quietened the crowd even more after Harris fell to Pattinson caught at midwicket.

South Australia were reeling at 13 for 3. But, it couldn’t be all over, could it especially with ‘cash-rich’ Pollard still to come. Pollard and Cosgrove did put on a decent stand but once that was broken it was curtains.

Although Pollard did flex a muscle or two it was all too late in the bargain and he holed out to David Hussey at the deep midwicket boundary who took a splendid catch. He took the ball above his head running backwards. He knew he was going to touch the rope and showed admirable presence of mind tossed the ball up regained his poise and took the catch. South Australia finished at 118 of their 20 Overs.

Both teams were missing key players due to international commitments. Victoria had managed to win without their regular skipper Cameron White who was on international duties and Shane Harwood. On the other hand the South Australian Red Backs were without their leg-spinning Pakistani all rounder Shahid Afridi. The Bushrangers have managed to win 4 out of the five editions. One going- to the New South Wales Blues.

In Nottingham, at Trent Bridge Stadium on 18th of June, ICC World T20 semifinal was played between the unpredictable Pakistan, and invincible South Africa. Star player Shahid Afridi with his indefatigable efforts with bat and bowl snatched the victory out the South Africa who had been on winning streak up till. In this exciting semifinal, the Trent Bridge was howling with screaming and overwhelming Pakistani supporters for the Pakistan. Shahid Afridi blasted with bat 51 runs off 33 balls giving the Pakistan head start and again with his magical spell of leg-spin caught the South Africa with awe by taking 2 wickets of 16 runs. Eventually being the significant factor for the Pakistan unpredictable and unprecedented entry into the ICC World T20 finals, making it the strongest contender.

South Africa after losing to Pakistan, yet again consolidated the notion that South Africa being perennial chokers. South Africa chasing 150 fall short of 7 runs and proved to be succumbing to the pressure.

Pakistan got blasting start by Kamran Akmal (23) with the initial hiccup of falling duck wicket of the opening batsman Shahizab Hasan (0) by Wayne Parnell. Then Akmal wicket fall on 28 by Dale Steyn, Afridi came to bat and knocked 51runs off 33 balls, taking the score to the 95 with the stabilized support from Shoaib Malik (34) end. But sooner the Afridi and Shoaib Malik were returned to pavilion by Duminy and Merwe respectively at 95 for 3 and 124 for 4. Pakistani middle order was sluggish and no boundaries were knocked in last 5 overs and Younis Khan (24) and Abdul Rassaq (12) finished innings with 149 runs.

South Africa was expected to easily achieve 150 runs target, but sooner it was realized that it’s going to be tough though. Jacques Kallis stronger innings of 64 off 54 balls, strengthened the South Africa innings. But on the other end the falling of wickets continued with Graeme Smith (10), Herschelle Gibbs (5) and AB de Villers (1) by Aamer and Afridi respectively at 46 for 2, 50 for 3 and 111 for 4. Lethargy and increasing Run Rate proved to be fatal to South Africa and in a fit to break the idleness Kallis took the uncalculated shoot by Shoaib Malik and was caught. Gul with outstanding leg cutters and Yorkers in the crucial 17th and 19th over was able to confine South Africa to 6 runs only. Hence forth despite JP Duminy (44) endeavor South Africa felled short of 7 runs and lost the semifinal.

As the 10 runs on last ball left, the Pakistani supporters were swayed by exhilaration and deafening scream. As it was predicted South Africa lost to Pakistan for just 7 runs, and Pakistani supporters were just jubilant. South Africa nerves took a toll of them and Pakistan unnerving and unflinching confidence led them to finals and making them stronger contender for ICC World T20.

Women’s ICC World T20:

Watkins Led New Zealand In The Finals By Crushing India

Indian cricket women’s team made it to the semifinals, as there opposite sex Indian cricket men’s team lost all their matches in the super 8. Hope rose higher for Indian cricket women’s team even though they previously lost to England crushingly. India stood with higher expectations in front of stronger New Zealand, but as they clashed in first semifinal on 18th of June, India couldn’t sustain a bit and lost to the New Zealand by 52 runs. New Zealand powerful team played like winner and came out eventually with pre-ordained victory.

Nottingham, at Trent Bridge, New Zealand faced India; Aimee Watkins contributed solely to the huge total of 145 runs for 5 by her stunning 89 runs of just 58 balls. Aimee Watkins brilliancy with bat and captaincy gave no vent for India to make a slightest of modifications to the precedence over match. New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first and with the greater contribution of Aimee Watkins, New Zealand aggregated 145 runs off 5 wickets.

Kiwis came to bat, but initially kiwis stumbled by losing Suzie Bates (10) to a ferocious catch by Harmanpreet Kaur on bowling of Amita Sharma. With initial dent, Aimee Watkins came to bat and trampled the hopes of Indians and played sustainable and stunning innings of unbeatable 89 runs of 58 balls on here other end the wickets kept on falling with Lucy Doolan (3), Amy Satterthwaite (10), Nicola Browne (5) and Sara McGlashan (4). Amita Sharma with her bowling figure was impressive, by taking 2 significant wickets and just giving 21 runs. Rumeli Dhar and Priyanka Roy were out of other 7 bowler who took 1-1 wickets. Indian bowling was impressive still it was not able to confine Aimee Watkins.

New Zealand aggregated 145 runs off 5 wickets after them India came to bat to chase 146 runs target. India was expected to put up some entertaining show like Aimee did, but Indian batting order felled like playing cards palace. Anjum Chopra (15), Mithali Raj (20) and Amita Sharma (24) were only to bat double figures and still they were not able to contribute and none sustained on the pitch. Wickets kept falling one by one and not a single player was able to stay on the pitch. New Zealand fielding and bowling under the captaincy of Aimee Watkins was too tight and beautiful that it gave not a single opportunity to the India. Sophie Devine, Kate Pulford, Suzie Bates took 1-1 wickets and Sian Ruck and Suzie Bates took 2-2 wickets, showing off the stronger and stable bowling line up of New Zealand.

India toddling at 93 runs for 9 wickets, New Zealand winded up with the last match with great margin of 52 runs victory over India. First semifinal of New Zealand Vs India was lop sided, and New Zealand winning the match made it into the ICC Women’s World T20 finals.