Sri Lanka march to semifinal in style

NOTTINGHAM, June 16 (PTI): Ajantha Mendis spun a web around New Zealand as a clinical Sri Lanka stormed into the semifinal of the Twenty20 World Cup, thumping the Kiwis by 48 runs in a crucial Super Eight match here today.

Mendis (3/9) ran through New Zealand’s middle order to trigger a batting collapse as the Kiwis, in their pursuit of a 159-run victory target, were bundled out for 110 runs in 17 overs.

It was an abject batting capitulation by the New Zealand with just three batsmen — Martin Guptill (43 off 34 balls), Aaron Redmond (23) and Brendon McCullum (10) — managing double figures as their last eight wickets fell for just 48 runs.

Earlier opting to bat, Mahela Jayawardene struck an unbeaten 41 while Tillakaratne Dilshan’s made a classy 48 to help Sri Lanka post 158 for five on the board.

Defending the total, Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara’s experiment to start with Sanath Jayasuriya did not really click as Redmond got New Zealand off to a flier, picking up 14 runs of the third over.

Redmond clobbered Jayasuriya for three successive boundaries and then followed it up with a six over long-off.

But Isuru Udana struck gold in the next over, getting the crucial wicket of McCullum, caught by Jehan Mubarak.

Lasith Malinga then foxed dangerous Redmond with a slower full toss and Chamara Silva made no mistake to end the right-hander’s 13-ball stay.

Mendis then proved why he is regarded so highly in world cricket, getting the wickets of Ross Taylor (8) and Scott Styris (2) in his opening over to deal twin blows.

He foxed Taylor with his first ball of the match and Sangakkara completed an easy stumping and then disturbed Styris’ timber with the fourth delivery.

Guptill, however, carried on the fight single-handedly and hit Dilshan over the short long-off fence.

Udana struck in the last ball off the 13th over, clean bowling Jacob Oram and then Jayasuriya drived the final nail in New Zealand’s coffin, getting the vital wicket of Guptil caught by Angelo Mathews at deep backward square leg.

Mendis picked up his third wicket when he made Peter McGlashan to edge one straight to Mubarak at backward point.

As if it was not enough, Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills ran themselves out and then Daniel Vettori fell to Muttiah Muralitharan.

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NZ spank Ireland to open Super 8 campaign in style

NOTTINGHAM, June 11 (PTI): Aaron Redmond made a memorable return to international cricket with a blistering 30-ball 63 as New Zealand spanked minnows Ireland by 83 runs in their first Super Eight match of the Twenty20 World Cup here today.

The Kiwis first rattled up a healthy 198 for five riding on Redmond’s flourishing start and then skittled out the hapless Irishmen for 115 in 16.4 overs in what turned out to be a lop-sided contest at the Trent Bridge.

Andre Botha (28) and opener Gary Wilson (23) were the only two Irish players who could hang around for some time while most of the other batsmen folded up without much of a fight. Nathan McCullum (3/15) and Kyle Mills (2/12) were the pick of the Kiwis bowlers.

New Zealand went into their group-F Super Eight match without the services of three of their top players – captain Daniel Vettori, Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder – but it did prove much of a problem for the Kiwis who cantered home without having to sweat much. The Black Caps will take on Pakistan in their next Super Eight match in London on Saturday while Ireland clash with Sri Lanka at the Lord’s in London on Sunday.

Redmond, a late replacement for injured Ryder, grabbed the opportunity with both hands with a stunning display of strokeplay on what appeared to be a good batting track. Martin Guptill (45 not out) and the experienced Scot Styris (42) were the other notable performers for New Zealand.

Put into bat, the Kiwis got off to a flourishing start with Redmond producing an array of strokes to rattle the Irish bowlers who gave away 32 runs in the first two overs. Redmond was particularly severe against the pacers who seemed to lack control in the early stages of the contest.

While Redmond plundered runs at will, stand-in captain Brendon McCullum was a lot more subdued, quite content in allowing his partner to hog the limelight.

Redmond, playing international cricket atfer a long gap, made his intentions clear by clobbering the very first ball he faced off Peter Connell to the boundary.
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McCullum powers New Zealand past India

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World champions India kicked-off their New Zealand tour on a dismal note, losing their opening Twenty20 match by seven wickets in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Put into bat, the tourists recovered from a mid-innings slump thanks to Suresh Raina's fighting unbeaten 61 and posted 162 for eight in the allotted overs. But that proved insufficient as the Kiwis overhauled the target with seven balls to spare.

Brendon McCullam led the Kiwis' charge, hitting three sixes in an unbeaten 56, while Martin Guptill (41), Ross Taylor (31) and Jacob Oram (29 not out) came up with useful contributions.
The two sides meet again in the second T20 match in Wellington on Friday before playing each other in five one-day internationals and three Tests. source: http://www.rediff.com

Raina lifts India to handy total against New Zealand

Suresh Raina smashed an unbeaten half-century to help India recover from a slow start and reach 162 for eight in their first Twenty20 international against New Zealand in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Raina belted five sixes and two fours to finish on 61 not out off 43 balls, steering the world champions to a competitive total after New Zealand's bowlers ripped through the top order.

India, who were sent in to bat by Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori, slumped to 61-5 inside the first eight overs before Raina got some much-needed support from the lower-order.

Yusuf Pathan clubbed three sixes in a row in a quickfire 20 of 18 balls and then Harbhajan Singh kept the scoreboard ticking along with 21 from 22 deliveries in a 61-run partnership with Raina.

Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/20090225/736/tnl-raina-lifts-india-to-handy-total-aga.htmlaa

I am fit to tour New Zealand: Harbhajan

JALANDHAR: Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Tuesday said he has completely recovered from the hamstring injury and was fit for India's tour to New
Zealand starting later this month.

"After getting treatment from South Africa, where I was sent by the Indian Cricket Board, I am completely fit now and looking forward to tour New Zealand," Bhajji, who missed the Sri Lanka due to the injury told reporters after practice session at the local Burlton Park cricket stadium.

Reacting to Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian side's 4-1 ODI series victory over the Lankans, Bhajji said the team has taken one more step towards becoming world number one team and the claim would be further strengthened if they could beat the Kiwis on their backyard.

IPL not behind Hayden breakdown: CA

MELBOURNE: Underfire for allowing its key players in the Indian Premier League after an injured Matthew Hayden was forced to return from the tour of the West Indies, Cricket Australia on Friday refused to admit the Twenty20 show was a reason for flaring up of the opener's achilles tendon.

Defending CA's decision to permit its cricketers to play in the IPL, its spokesman Peter Young said the risks of releasing players to the IPL were the same as the once-traditional pilgrimage to England every winter.

"Matthew has had achilles tendinitis for quite a long while and people are used to him packing it with ice," Young said.

"If he had stayed home cooling his heels, the medicos say there is still a chance that he could still have had exactly the same outcome," he was quoted as saying by the 'Herald Sun' .

Hayden complained of the injury at the team's pre-tour camp in Brisbane earlier this month, but it's understood the problem is more the result of wear and tear than a sudden setback, reports the Herald Sun. But his serious achilles tendon - a long-time issue - flared while playing in the IPL, the report says.

"Clearly, the four matches he played for Chennai, scoring 189 runs at 63 off 131 balls, were enough to do some damage and effectively stop the champion opening batsman from fulfilling his contractual.

Source: http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/IPL_not_behind_Hayden_breakdown_CA/articleshow/3086488.cms

Australia dump annual tri-series

Tuesday, 20 May , 2008, 12:05

Australia's triangular one-day cricket series, which has been played since the 1979-80 season, has been scrapped in favour of two five-match series against the visiting New Zealand and South African sides.

The decision, which had been expected, was confirmed when Cricket Australia (CA) announced its domestic international programme on Tuesday.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said he expected the two five-match series to generate immense public interest, even if the fourth and fifth matches were dead rubbers.

"There is huge demand for the Australian public to watch the Australian team play, no matter where they play," Sutherland told reporters.

"That level of anticipation no matter where the series is alive or not is there, (especially) when you consider the (Australian) team only comes once or twice to each capital city.

"The anticipation for each match will be there and I'm sure that ticket sales will reflect that. Hopefully those series will be well fought and go to the wire, but we can't control that."

The triangular series, which had witnessed a drop off in interest particularly with matches not involving Australia, was first played between West Indies, Australia and England during the 1979-80 season.

Australia had generally dominated the competition, though it had lost the finals of the last two series to England and India.

Ricky Ponting's team will open the season with two Tests against New Zealand in Brisbane and Adelaide before Daniel Vettori's side return home for their own programme.

New Zealand will return for five one-day internationals in early February, after Australia have completed a three-Test, five one-day international programme against South Africa.

The schedule also includes three Twenty20 internationals, two against South Africa and one against New Zealand.

"There is no disputing the popularity and the level of public interest in Twenty20 is very high," Sutherland added.

"I think we have got it just about right for Twenty20.

"Our position has always been with Twenty20 cricket is that we see great opportunity at the domestic level...and we anticipate that will grow, so we don't want to overdo Twenty20 cricket on the international scene."

Source: http://sify.com/sports/fullstory.php?id=14677540