*Official* Cricket World Cup in Australia, CWLand and New Zealand

[cricketboy29]

Nice to see us doing pretty well. Great win guys.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Group B: Sri Lanka v Canada
at Perth

This group has gone fully as expected, and a win for Sri Lanka would make Tuesday's clash between the Webheads and Sri Lanka the first of the Super Eight games. This is to be expected, as the Canadian side looks weak once you step past the top three of Davison, Chumney and Billcliff. The bowlers are young and inexperienced, and got gobsmacked by Markus and Goff - possibly the best batting pairing in the tournament so far - in the first match, and the batsmen looked clueless against Neil Pickup.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have shown signs to be optimistic. The transitional period of the top order has been postponed, allowing them to play with the traditional top four of Jayasuriya, Atapattu, Sangakkara and Jayawardene - as strong as any side in the World Cup. However, as usual, there is concern in the bowling - Zimbabwe managed 202 for four against them at the WACA on Monday, with Piet Rinke and Justice Chibhabha both making half-centuries, and Muralitharan appears not to be on devastating form.

Player to Watch: John Davison

If anyone can make this game a contest, it's the former Redback. As opening batsman and leading spin bowler, he scored the most runs against the Webheads, seeing off seamers Patrick, Camps and Robbins with ease on his way to a patient 45. However, with the quality of his batting partners, he might as well throw caution to the wind.

Group D: Pakistan v Scotland
Telstra Dome

Pakistan will join India in the Super Eights if everything goes according to plan in this game, and nothing so far has suggested it won't. Scotland appear to have little in the way of a batting order, crashing to 160 against the gentle off breaks of Virender Sehwag and medium pace of Ajit Agarkar, with only four batsmen making double figures, the Scotland coach Ian Drinnen has ordered changes before today's match. He is probably regretting the exclusion of Navdeep Poonia, the Warwickshire-contracted youngster, who might have brought some stability to a rather hit-and-miss batting line-up.

In the bowling, there is the undoubted talent of Dougie Brown and John Blain, but they have never appeared to be able to transfer their county form into the international arena. Blain was dismal against India, only getting three overs as captain Wright preferred to bowl himself, but the wicket-to-wicket bowling of Australian-born Paul Hoffmann may be a key to the Scottish bowling effort. Pakistan, however, have Shoaib Malik in scintillating form, and the other batsmen all showed glimpses of talent before throwing their wickets away in the 273/6 effort against Kenya in the first match. Throw in the part-time spin of Shahid Afridi (10-1-24-3 in the first match) and the aforesaid Malik, and a number of useful seam bowlers, and Pakistan look a side to fear - not only by Scotland, but by several other teams come the Super Eights.

Player to Watch: Shoaib Akhtar

Fast, menacing yorkers could prove the undoing of the Scottish line-up, if they prove more stubborn than experts expect. Akhtar only got the wicket of David Obuya in the first match against Kenya, but India showed that getting Obuya out is no mean feat - and Akhtar bowled tightly enough against the Kenyans, conceding only 3.5 an over.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Group B: Canada v Sri Lanka
at Perth

Scorecard
Ball By Ball

Canada confirmed their status as probably the weakest outfit of the lot in this World Cup, after being smashed by Sanath Jayasuriya and bowled out by Bandara, Muralitharan and Vaas. Once again, the result was predictable - Chumney fell early, Billcliff and Davison put on 34, but Muralitharan brought an end to that and the spinners tied them down completely. A professional bowling efforts saw the team all out for 134, with Malinga Bandara's ten overs yielding a total of 18 runs.

When Sri Lanka batted, it was a different story. Hoiks and pulls were attempted off almost every ball, and was the undoing of Atapattu (bowled by Codrington for 2) and Sangakkara (missed sweep to be bowled middle stump by Davison). However, Sanath Jayasuriya played a typical knock, smashing the spinners all around the park to hit five fours and five sixes in a run-a-ball unbeaten 85. Upul Tharanga seized his chance, scoring 17 not out from number five, but looked less assured against Davison and Osinde.

Canada 134 all out (39 overs) lost to
Sri Lanka 136 for 3 (23.5 overs) by seven wickets
Man of the Match: Sanath Jayasuriya

___________________________________________

Group D: Pakistan v Scotland
at Telstra Dome

Scorecard
Ball By Ball

Ryan Watson tried his best for the Scots, but the result was eerily similar to the one experienced a few days previously against India. Once again, the hard-hitting spin bowling all-rounder caused damage to the middle order - Shahid Afridi bowled three maidens on his way to three for 37 - and despite the continued presence of Watson, nobody else looked in control of the batting at all. Gavin Hamilton's 22 was the second-highest score on offer, in a stand of 44 with Watson, while five batsmen reached double figures this time as Scotland put on 166.

Once again, Shoaib Malik were dominant in reply. Scotland were helpless, failing to add to the tally of two wickets in the first match against India, with Shoaib hitting 94 and Imran Farhat 57 - both not out, but with only eight boundaries. Thus, India and Pakistan have qualified from Group D, and the big clash next Friday will determine who carries forward the best start into the Super Eights.

Scotland 166 all out (43.4 overs) lost to
Pakistan 167 for 0 (33.1 overs) by ten wickets
Man of the Match: Shoaib Malik

 

[Nate]

The links aren`t working for me Fishnu.

 

[Slats4ever]

very happy with the resounding win against the zimbab's first up...

Definately one we should have one but of course any game in the wc can be lost.

On a personal note the continuation of last seasons form into this season has been very good... Hopefully I can keep the runs coming up the order. Goff and I have now been involved in some of the highest ODI partnerships in the history of CWXI's existance. well done partner

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Injury Report

Ireland's Andrew White has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup tournament, due to a broken cheekbone sustained in a drunken bar brawl.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Tsk, tsk, the CW Bar must be close to losing its license.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Group A: England vs Bermuda
at Brisbane

Scorecard
Ball By Ball

England continued their mixed fortunes at the World Cup, with a hardly convincing 70-run win over Bermuda in Brisbane. Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten hundred was central in a score of 313-5, but the English bowlers looked largely pedestrian against Bermuda's batting, and could only manage 6 wickets in the match.

England 313-5 (50 overs) beat
Bermuda 243-6 (50 overs) by 70 runs
Man of the Match: KP Pietersen

Group C: New Zealand vs Ireland
at Wellington

Scorecard
Ball By Ball

A brilliant spell from Shane Bond dismantled Ireland's batting, but New Zealand still could not emerge with a convincing win over the minnow side. Bond took 5-36 to reduce Ireland to 194 all out, but that New Zealand could only manage 247-6 earlier is a worrying sign for Kiwi supporters.

Lou Vincent and Stephen Fleming were in pleasant form, but Ireland bowled impressively to limit their opponents. In the chase, Ireland slumped quickly to 44-4, but Niall O'Brien stuck a brave unbeaten 75.

New Zealand 247-6 (50 overs) beat
Ireland 194 all out (46.5 overs) by 53 runs
Man of the Match: SE Bond

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Group B: Zimbabwe v Canada
at Perth

Scorecard
Ball By Ball

The nippy medium-pace of Tawanda Mupariwa and Ed Rainsford provided the highlights of this match, which left spectators wondering how on earth Canada had qualified for the World Cup in the first place. Mupariwa brought an end to the only resistant partnership of the Canadian innings, that of Don Maxwell and Qaiser Ali, who had come together with the score on 53 for five after Rainsford had been the beneficiary of three very lax shots from the Canadian top order. Maxwell and Ali stayed together, providing 65 runs to make a contest of it, but only Ali managed to hit a boundary during this time - indeed, Canada's innings was almost completely free of boundaries, a testament to fine fielding from Zimbabwe.

After keeping the total down to 161, Zimbabwe were left with an easy target, which even their fragile top order couldn't throw away. Piet Rinke contributed easy runs, making 45, while Justice Chibhabha compiled an unbeaten 67 as Zimbabwe won with nearly fourteen overs to spare.

Canada 161 all out (47.4 overs) lost to
Zimbabwe 164 for 3 (36.2 overs) by seven wickets
Man of the Match: Ed Rainsford

Group D: Kenya v Scotland
at Telstra Dome

Scorecard
Ball By Ball

Earlier on, Maurice Odumbe had begun the African charge, taking three wickets and contributing 60 runs in Kenya's nervy four-wicket win over Scotland. This match was very gritty, though the spectators were always left wondering who were on top, and before Odumbe's innings the easy money was on Scotland.

The Scots won the toss, batted first, and Dougie Lockhart and Fraser Watts put on 39 for the first wicket without impressing much. The stage was set - 40 more overs of this rather uninspiring batting, with few boundaries, quickly run singles, and the one huge six by captain Craig Wright. Watts top-scored with 46, a workmanlike innings, while Odumbe nabbed the wickets of Hamilton, Coetzer and Smith to end with three for 46.

Scotland got the immediate breakthroughs, as both Maurice Ouma and Steve Tikolo were back in the pavilion before 15 minutes had passed and 10 runs had been scored. With Hitesh Modi lbw to the star bowler of the innings, John Blain, Scotland would have fancied their chances - however, David Obuya proved impossible to get out, while Mishra and Odumbe contributed runs from the other end. At 129 for five, the match was firmly in the balance, but though Blain had Brijal Patel bowled with a beautiful inswinger, it was too little too late for Scotland - who left the World Cup without a single victory as Odumbe and Odoyo guided Kenya home with an over to spare.

Scotland 206 for 6 (50 overs) lost to
Kenya 208 for 6 (49 overs) by four wickets
Man of the Match: Maurice Odumbe

 

[Magrat Garlick]

CWBCC and the CW Bar present...

The World Cup Player of the Week!

Each week, the CWLand public are invited to vote among all the World Cup players for the best player of the Cup in the past week. At the end of the Cup, the CW Bar Trophy will be awarded to the player with the most points, while each week's winner gets an engraved plaque. We have a number of nominations for you, so feel free to vote away, though you are able to vote outside the nominated players.

Please give your votes as in the Under-19 threads (3-2-1), with only one player from each country on your list.

Corey Collymore
5 wickets @ 15.80, ER 3.95

The West Indian seamer has bowled tightly and had success in the late overs, with five wickets so far in the tournament, and his death bowling definitely set England back in their group. And, defending 251 against Australia, he turned up a fine spell of 10-0-41-1 against Katich and Ponting. Unfortunately, the other bowlers failed to turn up.

Herschelle Gibbs
176 runs @ n/a, SR 93.12

Two unbeaten 88s, though very different innings except in the scorebook. The first was a brutal onslaught of weak Irish bowling, paired up with an equally rampant Boeta Dippenaar, as South Africa beat Ireland by eight wickets. The second was an anchoring innings in chase of a tricky target of 246, as Kallis took on the job of hitter after both openers had perished early on.

Mohammad Rafique
9 runs @ 9.00, 3 wickets @ 27.33, ER 4.10

Despite not scuring victory against South Africa, he bowled tightly, and choked New Zealand in the shock eight-run win over New Zealand. The patient, ageing slow left arm bowler got his deserved place in the limelight, but needs to be sharp against Ireland as Bangladesh chase net run rate points to go into the Super Eights.

Shane Bond
25 runs @ 25.00, SR 108.69 8 wickets @ 9.50, ER 3.83

The lone performer in a struggling team, Shane Bond could be vital against South Africa as New Zealand hunt net run rate in a desperate charge for Super Eights qualification. Bond took three Bangladeshi wickets, including Nafees Iqbal for a duck, and almost won his team the match with the bat, but edged a late delivery from Syed Rasel behind. Then, he continued the minnow-bashing, taking five for 36 against Ireland as the top order wilted to 44 for four.

Ed Joyce
164 runs @ 82.00, SR 85.41

The strong link in a weak team, Irish-born Joyce burst into fame with a magnificent hundred at Adelaide against the West Indies, and continued with a well-crafted 39 against Bermuda before he got out slogging. 125 out of a total of 265 is respectable, although some may have wished for a quicker strike rate.

Ian Markus
217 runs @ n/a, SR 105.85

Markus is already staking his claim as batsman of the tournament, after slicing a career-high 144 not out against feeble Zimbabwean medium pace and 73 not out against Canada's excuse for a spin attack. To put his effort into perspective: Brendan Goff, with 164 unbeaten runs at a strike rate of 107.18, has been outshone in his own team.

Sanath Jayasuriya
153 runs @ 153.00, SR 90.53, 2 wickets @ 20.50, ER 3.72

Two fine half-centuries, as the old dog Jayasuriya showed he still knows the way around international cricket. Admittedly, Zimbabwe and Canada have shown little in the way of opposition, but Jayasuriya has stuck to his job and hit the runs to help Sri Lanka to one of the first places in the Super Eights. Definitely the target man for the Webheads in the next match.

Shoaib Malik
223 runs @ 223.00, SR 85.44, ER 5.00

No one in this World Cup has faced as many deliveries as Shoaib Malik. When you consider he's only got out to one of the 261 balls that have been bowled at him, Shoaib seems to have few rivals when it comes to batting technique and concentration in this tournament.

Shahid Afridi
34 runs @ N/A, SR 100.00, 6 wickets @ 10.16, ER 3.05

It is the leg-spinners' World Cup. Neil Pickup has grabbed eight wickets, Malinga Bandara concedes less than three runs an over, and Shahid Afridi has had the wood over his share of minnow batsmen. His most prominent scalps so far are Gavin Hamilton, who has earlier turned out for England in the World Cup, Scotland wicket-keeper Colin Smith, and Kenya's second best batsman Hitesh Modi. Add to the six wickets a sprinkling of runs against Kenya, and you have what could yet prove to be the tournament's best all rounder.

Virender Sehwag
156 runs @ 156.00, SR 77.22, 4 wickets @ 14.50, ER 4.46

The opening batsman has looked almost subdued in his approach, hitting few boundaries and even fewer aerial strokes, but the new way of one-day batting appears to work for the previously flamboyant Sehwag. His 69 helped Sachin Tendulkar stamp authority against Kenya, while four wickets had destroyed Scotland even before he began on the 87 not out - the all-round performance, as best bowler and best batsman of the game, naturally earned him Man of the Match honours.

 

[steds]

3. Bond
2. Markus
1. Joyce

 

[Neil Pickup]

Sehwag, Markus, Malik

 

[cbuts]

markus
bond
shewag

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

3 - Sehwag
2 - Markus
1 - Bond

 

[alternative]

Markus, Bond and Sehwag

 

[chaminda_00]

3. Markus
2. Bond
1. Collymore

 

[thewizard1o1]

Markus, Bond, Afridi.

 

[age_master]

Markus
Bond
Sehwag

 

[vic_orthdox]

3 Bond
2 Markus
1 Joyce

 

[Slats4ever]

hehe gotta love the votes coming in for a cw player.

Why break the trend

3. Me
2. Collymore
1. Afridi