West Indies vs South Africa Tuesday April 10, 2007. This match was played at Grenada National Stadium. Captain Brain Lara said, “We played bad cricket. We do not act well, at all. We are sad and disappointed . We have disappointed the people of the Caribbean and the people who support us around the world.”

On Friday , April 10, 2007, the West Indies have practically lost all hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup. At the lovely Queen Park Stadium , the West Indies team was thoroughly beaten by S. Africa. W.I. won the toss and sent S. Africa to bat. The S. Africans punished the W.I bowlers by amassing 357 runs for 4 wickets from 50 0 overs, and they held the West Indies to 289 runs, all out, from 50 overs.

If the West Indies win their two remaining matches and rise to 6 points, and if S. Africa lose their two remaining matches, and if England defeat Bangladesh , the W.I. might squeeze through the backdoor.

On a day which started out with a light shower , and continued to be sunny thereafter, S. Africa led by A.B. de Villiers and Jacques Kallis, and then by Herchelles Gibbs and Mark Boucher, played havoc with the West Indies bowlers.

De Villiers made his first one-day century , moving to 146 runs before he was caught by Chznderpaul off pacer Coley . Collymore. J. Kallis blasted away with 5 fours and 4 sixes in partnership of 170 runs with Villier. Gibbs and Boucher secured a partnership of 81 runs from 6.1 overs. Set a target of 356 runs, it was over with the West Indies.

Spectators were entertained by occasional interludes of minor mishaps such as when Villiers flipped over on his back, legs in the air , after playing a shot . There was thunderous applause and there was rippling laughter , as soon as it was discovered that the shining batsman was not hurt.

CWC ScoreboardST. AFRICA

G . Smith c Randin bCollymore. 7

A,B. Villuers c Chanderpaul 146

D, Smith cVilliers bNel

J. Kalis b Gibbs 81

H. Gibbs (not out) 61

Boucher c &b Bravo 52

Pollock not out 0

Extras 9

Total 356

WEST INDIES

Gayle not out 32

Chanderpaul cSmithb Pollock 4

D. Smith c de Villierb Nel 33

B. Lara Kallis 21

R. Simon cKallis b 92

D.Bravo c Gibbs b Pollock 6

K. Pollard cHall bKallis 10

D. Random cPolesonbSmith 4

I. Bradshaw cHallbSmith 20

D. Powell not out 48

C. Collymore not out 12

Extras 7

Total 289

STANDINGS at Wednesday April 11, 2007 New Zealand 8 points

Australia 8 points

Sri Lanka 8 points

S. Africa 6 points

England 2 points

W. Indies 2 points

Bangladesh 2 points

Ireland 0 points

England vs Bangladesh Wednesday April 11,2007

This match was played in Barbados, England won, England need to beat S, Africa April 17, and West Indies April 21, both matches in Barbados, in order to advance to the semi-final. England won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat. England held Bangladesh down to 143 runs in 37.2 overs, then struggled to a total of 147 runs from 44.5 overs. It wasn’t much of a show to write home about.

With England chasing Bangladesh’s meagre 143 runs, Ian Bell was caught by Aftab Ahmed for a duck, Andres Strauss battled aggressively to make 48 runs in partnership with Skipper M. Vaughan cAbdur Razzak b Bahar at fine-leg. Kevin Peterson fell for 10 runs with England struggling at 79 for 4wickets. Andrew Flintoff strokes a six and a four to fall to spinner Mohammad Rafique England badly crawled to 147 in reply to Bangladesh’s 143.

England are boasting that they are among the best at the CWC tournament, but their over-all performance in CWC 2007 , belies that claim. They have beaten Ireland, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Canada , small boys, but they have fallen before the heavy-weights, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia. They were beaten by giant S. Africa on April 21, in Barbados

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Thursday April 12,2007

 

It was quite an exciting day of cricket at the Grenada National Stadium, though it appeared from early that Sri Lanka would win, thus putting them in the top four of the CWC. Super Eights.

K. Sabakka made 69 not out, T. Jayasurija made 64 to set Sri Lanka well on their way to reach 8 points in the Standings. It is suspenseful to await what will ensue when England meet with West Indies on Saturday April 21, 2007 in Barbados. Though England winning against Barbados, England’s batting was poor Shots were played by England’s top batsmen—Ian Bell, Kevin Pieterson, Andrea Flintoff, Andre Srauss, and Captain Vaughan who made only 30 runs.

 

 

 

 

Scott Styris made 111 runs in an impressive but desperate effort by New Zealand . Several

dropped catches contributed to New Zealand;s defeat.

 

Standings at April 13, 2007

 

Austrtalia 8 points

Sri Lanka 8 points

New Zealand 8 points

S. Africa 6 points

England 4 points

W. Indies 2 points

Bangladesh 2 points

Ireland 0 points

 

Australia qualified for the semi-final by crushing Ireland in Bridgetown, Barbados. Glen Mc.Grath and Shaun Tait knocked –out Ireland for 91 runs. It was a one-sided game which took Australia to 10 points. The turn-out of spectators at Kensington Oval was good. Australian captain won the toss and sent Ireland to bat.

 

The CWC tournament is boiling down. With 8 Super Eight matches to go, there are six teams still in the running, with the other ten teams either already gone or going. World champion Australia has secured 10 points and their semi-final position by ruthlessly thrashing Ireland.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka have safely jockeyed themselves into position.

 

 

 

This match was played in Bridgetown , Barbados. Ireland beat Bangladesh by 74 runs. Ireland had beaten Pakistan, and tied with Zimbabwe, thus securing their first Super Eights victory..Ireland won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat. Bangladesh were bowled out for 169 runs from 42 0vers. Ireland made 243 runs for 7wickets from 50 overs.

 

 

 

 

This match was played in Grenada. Australia downed Sri Lanka by a seven wicket win.

 

West Indies vs Bangladesh Thursday May 19, 2007

This match was played at Kensington Oval, Barbados. An excellent turn-out of cricket

fans was entertained by West Indies’ first victory in the Super Eights round of the

CWC 2007 tournament. There were thousands of British fans, hundreds of Indians and Africans, and thousands of West Indians .

Bangladesh won the toss and sent West Indies to bat. The West Indies , after a shaky start, made 230 runs for 5 wickets from 50 overs. Then Corey Collymore and Daren Powell kept Bangladesh down to 131 runs off 43.5 overs. There were some handsome drives by Marlon Samuels who was dismissed at 35 runs by Mahammad Rafique. ,caught by Mushfigur Rahim, with the West Indies at 55 for three wickets off 22 overs. Bangladesh held the West Indies at 67 for three wickets off 25 overs . when Sarwan and captain Brain Lara took charge of the innings. Sarwan not out totalled a brilliant 91 runs , and Lara 33 to win the match.

West Indies Innings

C. Gayle lbw Rasel 1

D.Smith bMortaza 5

S. Chanderpaul bAhmed 50

6M.Samuels cRahim bShakib 31

R. Sarwan not out 91

B.Lara cOmar bRazzak 33

D. Bravo not out 9

Extras 10

Total for 5wickets—50 overs 230

 

 

Bangladesh Innings

J. Omar c Gayle 16

T.Igbal run u Bravo 7

A.Ahmed c Ramdin b Collymore 6

S.al Hasan c Ramdin b Collymore 0

M. Ashraful c Samuels bPowell 2

H.Bashar c Bravo b Powell 12

M. Rahim not out 38

M. Mortaza b Bravo 37

M. Rafique lbw Gayle 0

A. Razzak c Lara b Bravo 1

S. Rasel b Gayle 10

Total all out 131

 

 

 

This was a historic occasion when captain Brian Lara announced his departure from international and Test cricket after his victory over Bangladesh in the last match of the second round of the Super Eights.

Lara , the greatest batsman of all times, announced that Saturday April 21.2007, he would be making his last appearance at the wicket in international cricket. Although with Lara having seen his 37th, birthday, it was expected that his retirement was near , yet his announcement was a shocker.

 

Australia vanquished New Zealand by 215 runs in Antigua.

Man of the match was Mathew Hayden who made his third century of the CWC tournament. Captain Ricky Ponting stroked 66 runs and Shane Wilson smashed 32 off 32 bals to make 348 for 6 wickets in their final Super Eighs match.

New Zealand was dismissed 133 runs from 26 overs. Both teams had already qualified for the semi-finals

Australia’s Hayden and captain Ponting made 137 for 2 wickets. Runs came steadily with Hayden securing his century before he was caught by Taylor ,bowled by Mc. Grath.

New Zealand’s hopes were dashed when Scott Styris, their main run-getter was caught by Hayden, bowled by Mc.Grath.

 

WEST INDIES vs ENGLAND on Saturday April 21, 2007

 

It was a magnificent and thrilling day of cricket at Kensington Oval, Barbados, ending the Super Eights section of the 2007 CWC tournament.

England won the toss and sent West Indies to bat before an audience of approximately 22,000 cricket fans. West Indies punished England bowlers to make 300 runs off 49.5 overs. England replied with 301 runs for 9 wickets off 49.5 overs with captain Vaughan stroking 79 with Kevin Peiterson making a century , and Paul Nixon 38 off 25 deliveries. At 213 runs, England seemed to be in jeopardy. However, Nixon saved the day by smashing Corey Collymore for 4 sixes in one over. Christopher Gayle ,

West Indies – Christopher Gayle , Marlon Samuels , Devon Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and D Smith all wooed the cheering crowd with their brilliant strokes .

The day is to be remembered most as the last day of Brian Lara ‘s appearance at the wicket in international cricket. He made a symbolical farewell of 18 runs before he was run out and walked away from the pitch to a standing ovation.

SCOREBOARD

West Indies

C. Gayle cBroad b Flintoff 79

D. Smith c Collngswood bFlintoff 61

B. Lara run out 18

M. Samuels c Collingwood 51

R, Sarwan c Nixon b Plunkett 3

S. Chanderpaul c Plunkett b Collinwood 34

D.Bravo c Dalrymple bVaughan 13

D. Ramdin not out 10

J. Taylor c Dalrymple b Vaughan 12

D. Powell run out(Flintoff) 0

C. Collymore un out(Flintoff) 1

Extras 18

Total 300

 

England

A. Strauss cSmithb Collymore 7

M. Vaughan run out (Bravo) 79

R. Bopara run out (Bravo) 26

K. Pieterson bTaylor 100

P.Collingwood b Bravo 6

 

A. Flintoff c Powell b Sarwan 15

 

J, Dalrymple run ot (Smith) 1

 

P. Nixon b Bravo 38

L. plunkett c Bravo b Taylor 2

 

S. Broad not out 5

 

J. Anderson not out 0

 

Extras 21

 

Total 301

 

 

FINAL SUPER EIGHTS STANDINGS

 

Australia —- 14 points England—- 6 points

Sri Lanka—- 10 points

West Indies—- 4 points

New Zealand—- 10 points

Bangladesh —- 2 points

South Africa —- 8 points

Ireland—- 2 points

 

 

 

 

 

NEW ZEALAND vs SRI LANKA on Tuesday April 24, 2007

This CWC semi-final was played at Sabina Park , Jamaica.

 

 

Cricket is a game full of uncertainties. The CWC semi-final match was no exception. Those who betted that New Zealand was sure to win have lost their money. Well, of course a day of exciting , superb and entertaining cricket ought to have compensated.,

Sri Lanka won the toss and went to bat. After a shaky start which indicated 67 runs for the loss of 2 wickets, skipper Mahela took control of the innings.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, 29 years-old, began to swing his bat just in time to save his team. He entered the crease in the 14th over with the score at 67 for 2 wckets. He treated the spectators to a feast of impeccable and precision batting. Partnered by successive team-mates—Chamara Silva (21runs), Tillarine Dilshan (30runs), Russell Arnold (14not out ) Jayawardene amassed 115runs not out). His well-timed strokes , square drives, cuts and a few pulls secured 115 runs , not out. Sri Lanka bagged 289 runs for 5 wickets off 50 overs.New Zealand fought back , but were unable to stem the onslaught of the New Zealand bowlers, Dilshan, spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Jayasuriya. New Zealand collapsed losing 6 wickets for a mere 44 runs. They eventually made 208 runs off 41.4overs. Australia vs South Africa , Wednesday April 25, 2007

The Battle of the Giants at Beausejour Stadium, St. Lucia.

South Africa won the toss and went to bat. That Australia would beat South Africa was an accurate prediction , but that the match would turn out to be a one-sided affair was far from the minds of thousands of cricket fans. That South Africa could be so badly beaten, came as a stupendous surprise. The match, played in brilliant sunshine,

The match ,though lacking in suspense, was not devoid of excitement , however, as Australia mowed down the Proteas. Australia’s bowlers – Nathan Bracken, Glen Mc.Grath, Shaun Tait, took out South Africa just too easily for a meagre 149 runs in 43.5 overs, within the first 50 minutes. South Africa’s toughest player was Justin . Kemp who faced 91 deliveries , stroked fours and a glorious six over square leg off Shane Wilson.

Australia , in the afternoon sun, with Mathew Hayden 41, Rick Ponting, 22, Michael Clarke , 60 not out, victory was a foregone conclusion before the innings was closed at 153 for 3 wickets off 33.3 overs.

THE GRAND FINALE

Australia vs Sri Lanka Saturday April 28, 2007

The Super Four giants—the invincible Australia and the tenacious Sri Lanka clashed in the final “Battle of The Bat” at Kensington Park Stadium in Barbados and despite the rains, they fought in the presence of a bumper crowd of some 29, 000 cricket fans.

Australia brought down the house and the curtains by beating Sri Lanka , grabbed the Cricket World Cup trophy and stuffed 2.4 million dollars of prize money into their pocket. They won the toss and sensibly went to bat, considering that play had been delayed for a while by showers. They magnificently copped 281 runs to include a superbly entertaining century by Adam Gilchrist.

Sri Lanka , obviously put off by the uncertain weather, put up a jolly good show, but were no match for the Aussies. They managed to collect 215 runs for 8wickets ,thus trailing behind.

. Australian Adam Gilchrist was clearly the Man of the Match. In an historic innings,

Gilchrist , who possesses the highest individual score in CWC, a 35 year-old left-

hander, rated as the greatest wicket- keeper/batsman in the world, was brilliant as he

aggressively and exquisitely piled up 149 runs off 44 deliveries. In partnership with

Matthew, another Australian champion, together they totalled 172 runs. Facing Sri

Lankan ace bowlers, Vaas, Fernando, Musalitharan , Gilchrist scored 149 runs before

he was caught by Chamara Silva , bowled by Fernando.

Set a target of 282 runs off 38 overs, Sri Lanka were swiftly laid to rest by bowlers

Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glen Mc. Grath and Shane Watson.

SUMMING UP

Well! The curtains of the 2007 CWC saga of 34 days of cricket in the West Indies came down in Barbados,with great jubilation and expected closing pomp and splendour. With a minimum of hitches and hiccups here and there, for such a event of such magnitude , the organizers and participants are worthy of the highest commendation for the quality , smoothness and success of the entire tournament. The future of West Indies

cricket, despite the lustre of the rare genius, Brian Lara , hangs in the balance, and will
continue to hang , if considerable revamping is not quickly and effectively done.