India tour of Australia First Test MCG

The first test match of India tour of Australia 2007 will start from the Boxing Day (26th December 2007) at MCG. At Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) nine test matches played between Australia and India so far. Australia win 6 times, India 2 times and one was drawn. This is the test match number 10 between these two countries and the 100th test match at this ground overall. Australia won 56 times out of the 99 matches played so far on this ground with 28 won by other teams and 15 were drawn. Looking at this record this is going to be tough for Indians to fight against them on MCG. Moreover India not prepared for the first test match as they only play one tour match which was almost washed out. But in the last few tours India played nicely in test matches. A test win in South Africa and then series wins in West Indies and England. But this time against very strong line up, a big challenge. Here is the short history between India and Australia on MCG.

• 1947 Australia won by 233 runs.
• 1947 Australia won by an innings and 177 runs.
• 1967 Australia won by an innings and 4 runs.
• 1977 India won by 222 runs.
• 1980 India won by 59 runs.
• 1985 Drawn.
• 1991 Australia won by 8 wickets.
• 1999 Australia won by 180 runs.
• 2003 Australia won by 9 wickets.

Cricket Tours 2007- Cricket Schedule 2007

Coming up is the busiest cricket schedule consisting lots of one day cricket matches and Tests. Almost all the cricket playing countries are occupied with their cricket tours. Just one week ago we had entertaining twenty20 world championship tournament and now lots of cricket matches coming up. Australia is on tour of India where they will play 7 one day internationals. This is among the heaviest India cricket schedule because Pakistan coming to tour India just after this ODI series. Pakistan on the other hand now a days playing with guest South Africa. Moreover England currently visiting Sri Lanka.

Twenty20 World Cup

Its now time for Twenty20 World Cup

Few hours to go and we have an other most entertaining cricketing tournament the Twenty20 world cup. This is the first time ICC hold this super fast cricket tournament hosted by South Africa. It is started from 11th of September 2007, the first match will be played between West Indies and the host South Africa. You can find here the Twenty20 World Cup Schedule and match results.

Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 113 runs

• Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 113 runs
• Man of the match Jayasuriya
• Sri Lanka -303/5, West Indies 190(44.3)

This was the super eight series match of cricket world cup 2007 played between West Indies and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka easily win the match by 113 runs. After winning the toss West Indies chose to field first and manage Sri Lanka to restrict initially. At one stage Sri Lanka were 53/2 in 16 overs. But then there was no answer to the Jayasuriya's crackling batting. He started batting in own style from 18th over took 27 of 9 balls and then he continue in style and made 115 in 101 balls. The battle continues after Jayasuriya fall and they end with 303/5. West Indies bowling and fielding was not to the mark and they fails to take an advantage of initial slow batting from SL.

West Indies loose Gayle, Bravo, and Lara in just about 10 overs on the score of 42 when Sangakkara took off the bails with Lara's toe a fraction in the air. Sarwan and Chanderpaul tried to come back in the game as they started building partnership but the required rate was about 10 when there is 20 over left and 200 required. And the hope comes to an end when Sarwan becomes an other victin of Sangakkara. In the end there was nothing could help West Indies and their innings come to end on 190 in 45th over.

Scores

Sri Lanka Innings (303/5): Tharanga 8, Jayasuriya 115, Sangakkara 7, Jayawardene 82, Silva 23, Dilshan 39*, Arnold 4*

West Indies Bowling: Taylor 32/0, Powell 38/2, Bradshaw 67/1, Smith 23/0, Gayle 60/0, Bravo 59/1, Sarwan 17/1

West Indies Innings (190)(44.3): Gayle 10, Bravo 21, Chanderpaul 76, Lara 2, Sarwan 44, Samuels 3, Smith 0, Ramdin 2, Bradshaw 6*, Taylor 13 ,Powell 2

Sri Lanka Bowling: Vaas 19/2, Malinga 34/2, Fernando 19/0, Dilshan 11/0, Arnold 9/0, Muralitharan 59/2, Jayasuriya 38/3

Malinga's magic could not help Sri Lanka

This was 2nd match of the Cricket World Cup 2007 Super Eight stage played between Sri Lanka and South Africa. Sri Lanka after winning the toss chose to bat first put a target of 210 for South Africa.

From the begaining the match was moving towards South Africa's way. They were at the stage only 4 runs required to win with lots of balls and 5 wickets remaining. Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis were on the creaze playing easily. Then there was magic spell from Lasith Malinga of 4 wickets in a row. First Shaun Pollock could not understand the change of speed and the leg stump was down. The swinging one to Andrew Hall just touched the bat and pops up to the cover. Jacques Kallis beat by the speed and the edge easily taken by wicket keeper. And the real beauty yorker went between Makhaya Ntini's legs and bat and to the stumps. This has risen everone heart beating before a thick edge and a four from Peterson bat lead South Africa to the victory.

Before Sri Lanka started their innings with an early wicket of Tharanga in just 3rd over of their innings. Sangakkara and Jayasuriya was looking good but failed to stay on creaze for longer from super bowling and fielding from South Africa. Sri Lanka were in big trouble when they were 98/5 in 24 overs. Then Dilshan and Arnold shown some resistance and jointly added an important 97 before Dilshan fall in 46th over. Then super spell from Langeveldt (39/5) restrict Sri Lanka to 209 when there was 3 balls left. This was the first time in this world cup from Langeveldt a 5 wickets haul.

South Africa also lost de Villiers very early at the score of just 1. Then the super knocks from Smith and the typical Jacques Kallis added 94 on the total and put South Africa on solid position. Then 2 in 2 from Murli created some hope but it was very late looking at the batting depth of South Africa and only 50 more runs needed with lots of overs remaining. Then they loose Kemp on total of 182. With Kallis still on the creaze and Pollock playing quiet sensibly move thier innings to 206/5 before the drama begain.

Scores

• Sri Lanka Innings (209/10):Tharanga 12, Jayasuriya 26, Jayawardene 12, Sangakkara 28, Silva 9, Dilshan 58, Arnold 50, Maharoof 5, Vaas 0, Malinga 0*, Muralitharan 1
• South Africa Bowling:Pollock 46/0, Ntini 26/2, Langeveldt 39/5, Hall 33/1, Kallis 24/0, Peterson 22/0, Smith 16/0
• South Africa Innings (212/9):Smith 59, de Villiers 0, Kallis 86, Gibbs 31, Boucher 0, Kemp 5, Pollock 13, Hall 0, Peterson 4*, Ntini 0, Langeveldt 1*
• Sri Lanka Bowling:Vaas 31/1, Malinga 54/4, Maharoof 41/0 , Muralitharan 34/3, Jayasuriya 34/1, Dilshan 9/0

Biggest upset day in cricket world cup history

17th March 2007 was the day of upsets in cricket world cup history. Bangladesh won over India by 5 wickets and the biggest upset produce by Ireland beating Pakistan by 3 wickets and Pakistan is now out of the tournament. India still have chance to make come back if they win rest of the 2 games by big margins.

India lost to Bangladesh

This was the 8th Match of ICC World Cup 2007 Bangladesh v India played at Port of Spain, Trinidad , on 17 March 2007. An all rounder performance from Bangladesh and very very poor batting by India lead to a comprehensive win to Bangladesh. Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat first. The damage continue from the begaining of an indian innings till Yuvraj Singh and Ganguly rescue the innings. Mashrafe Mortaza produced initial break through and Syed Rasel on the other end was giving superb support. Poor batting preformace from Sehwag continue and he back on just 2 runs and then india lost Uthappa, Tendulkar, Dravid and collapsed to 72/4 in 24 overs. Then slow but solid batting from Ganguly and some handsome knock from Yuvraj Singh added valuable 85. Then there was dramtic collapse, India lost 5 wickets in just 3 runs gap from 157/4 to 159/9. Then the useful inning from Munaf and Zaheer take india to some defendable total of 191. Mashrafe Mortaza played main role by 38/4 and Mohammad Rafique and Abdur Razzak took 3 wickets each.

India Batting: SC Ganguly 66, V Sehwag 2, AR Uthappa 9, SR Tendulkar 7, R Dravid 14, Yuvraj Singh 47, MS Dhoni 0, Harbhajan 0, AB Agarkar 0, Z Khan 15*, MM Patel 15

Bangladesh Bolwing: Mashrafe Mortaza 38/4,Syed Rasel 31/0,Abdur Razzak 38/3,Saqibul Hasan 44/0,Mohammad Rafique 35/3

In reply Bangladesh start was not good when they lose Shahriar Nafees early. But Tamim Iqbal started rocking Indian bowling and was the big pain for India in the start. Then 2 wickets in small interval creates some hope for India when Bangladesh were at 3-79. But Indian are failed to take advantage as they drop some important catches and then cool half centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim and Saqibul Hasan prduce an upset in this tournament. And Bangladesh claim their 2nd win cricket world cup history.

Bangladesh Batting: Tamim Iqbal 51, Shahriar Nafees 2, Mushfiqur Rahim 56*, Aftab Ahmed 8, Saqibul Hasan 53, Habibul Bashar 1, Mohammad Ashraful 8*

India Bowling: Z Khan 41/1,AB Agarkar 41/0,MM Patel 39/2,Harbhajan Singh 30/0,SR Tendulkar 8/0, Yuvraj Singh 15/0,V Sehwag 17/2

Ireland produced the biggest wrold cup upset

9th Match of ICC World Cup 2007 Ireland v Pakistan played at Jamaica , on 17 March. Ireland produced the biggest upset in World Cup cricket history. Ireland won the toss and elected to field first. Pitch was showing some early movemets. Pakistan losses Mohammad Hafeez and Younis Khan's wickets early on just 15 on the borad. Then after Mohammad Yousuf out on total of 56 they never come back in their innings as their wickets falling regulary. Most of the damage done by WB Rankin and AC Botha with wonderful support from all other bowlers and their fielding was remarkably superior as they are playing in the world cup for the first time. In the end Pakistan all out on just 132 runs the worst batting ever for Pakistan. In reply to 132 wonderful one man show form N'iall O'Brien took them to 3 wickets win. Pakistan could not magic when Ireland was 113/7 as KJ O'Brien and DT Johnston took Ireland safely to the 3 wickets win and the biggest wrold cup upset. Pakistan not only loose the match but they are now out of the tournament and this has changed the equations of the rest of the tournament.

England v New Zealand world cup 2007 Group Match

England v New Zealand 6th Match at St Lucia, on 16 March 2007

New Zealand won by 6 Wickets
Man of the Match: SB Styris, New Zealand

Score summary England innings

England 209/7	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	New Zealand Bowling
MP Vaughan	26	52	3	0	JEC Franklin	9-0-43-2
KP Pietersen	60	92	4	1	SE Bond	10-1-19-2
PD Collingwood	31	54	2	0	JDP Oram	6-0-25-1
PA Nixon	42*	41	5	0	SB Styris	7-0-25-2

Score summary New Zealand innings

New Zealand 210/4 (41 Overs)	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	England Bowling
SP Fleming	7	11	1	0	JM Anderson	8-0-39-2
SB Styris	87*	113	9	0	LE Plunkett	7-0-43-1
CD McMillan	27	34	3	0	A Flintoff	8-1-17-0
JDP Oram	63*	83	4	1	MS Panesar	10-0-47-1