Week 3 of the World Cup Matches

No – I am not going to write about the “ stroll in the park” that the Indian team had when they met the UAE team.. MSD and team .. it was one of those club cricket matches—Forget that you played against UAE –

The week had several outstanding matches –

First it had the West Indies against  Zimbabwe and Gayle the Gagnam style man came to form with some great and lusty hitting that took the  wind out of the sails of the African team. Gayle’s double century was laced with several muscular hits and Marlon Samuels joined him in having fun. West Indies  won with great comfort. The reason I talk about this match is because of the fact that West Indies and Gayle got a taste of their own medicine from South Africa and may be just one man  in their next match

Afghanistan won their first World Cup match beating the Scots – A nerve biting thriller ( may not have served that kind of high quality game but never the less ) , the Afghans kept their nerve to win the match in the last over. A low scoring match with the match tilting both sides several times  , Afghans squeezed out an incredible win. I felt very happy for this bunch of no worry cricketers – they do not have the same facilities that the other teams have nor do have a system in place in their country where this sport is patronized and against all odds in a war torn country have played the game without getting too much worried with the Big Brothers against whom they are competing

The SA – WI match was one of those – WI seemed to have the match under control  till around 30 overs or so in to the SA innings. Then it fell apart for the WI. The overs between 30 and 40 yielded 100 runs .. This was when Rillle Rossouw  took the attack to the WI and gave the momentum to the SA Innings. If this was thought to be some hitting . the last ten overs yielded an incredible 158 runs and the man who tore the WI attack to pieces was AB DE Villiers and this was not the first time that he was doing this to the WI attack. Toying with the WI attack , ABD made 162 in 66 balls –17 fours and 8 sixes ,, Rossouw made 61 in 39 balls and this was his First World cup match and he was playing because Duminy was out injured . What a way to grab your chance –

WI never was in the hunt chasing 408 – SA  was too strong for the WI – the team has been blowing hot and cold and with this defeat needs to pull itself again to ensure qualification.  ABD was just class apart .. It is going to be difficult and a long time around  ( let me see how long ) before his record gets broken..

The Trans neighbors and favourites played out an  great game of cricket. Aussie  openers began the match in 20 -20 style – But soon the NZ guided by that wily Vettori were  checking their progress. And the impressive and rising Trent Boult scythed through them and Aussies managed a paltry 152. In reply for some strange reasons , NA went on the attack and this opened the door for the Aussies – Aussies are one team that will never give a match away or throw in easily. Starc led their fight back and it was anybody’s game .. With the last man in , NZ still needed 6 runs and Kane Willamson did the brave act of smashing a 140 KM delivery from Pat Cummins out of the boundary.. What a way to end the match .. Bowlers held the sway in this match , with Boult claiming a fiver for NZ and Starc with six wickets.   NZ are top of this group .

England finds itself in deep trouble.. Against Srilanka a par score of 309 looked like defendable but SL made  the chase look so incredibly easy. SL chased this down thanks to a fantastic century by Sangakarra who outscored Thirmane who also scored a Century. England’s attack looked out of sorts and  was not incisive . SL have a record of sorts .. for the last two matches , they have lost just two wickets…  They have bounced back after the loss to NZ. 

The last match of the week end was a key one for Pakistan. Had they not won , it would have been curtains for their campaign in this world cup.  Batting first , the Pakistanis found the going tough and it was due to the effort of their bowler Wahab Riaz that they put up 236 – It was a score that held no threat. Zimbabwe had only themselves to blame for not winning the game.  They lost wickets at crucial junctures and their batsmen got out just as they were about to settle down and dominate . Pakistan still has to do well against Ireland if they want to qualify and their performance yesterday was substandard.