World Cup T20 match fixtures

World Cup T20 matches are starting today . All the teams have equal strengths and we could expect some close finishes. Indian players have a edge over other teams especially after the IPL. But in an other way round with very little time to relax, Indian players could perform like last year, especially due to fatigue.

I personally still feel, India and New Zealand are the teams to watch out and not to forget the ever performing team Australia. India under the leadership of Mr.Cool (M.S.Dhoni) have certainly an edge and it all depends upon who handles the pressure better on the given day. It is just the matter of handling the pressure on any given day, which means any team can emerge victorious. I personally wish India "All the very best". JAI HO INDIA.

Highlights of New Zealand vs South Africa

New Zealand won the toss and elected to field.This was one of the low scoring matches in this ICC World Cup.South Africa made a slow and sluggish start and the first wicket partnership was 49 in 7 overs when they lost Kallis.Smith showed some resistance but played a very slow innings.He scored 33 runs of 35 balls.South Africa managed only 128 runs in the alloted 20 overs.

New Zealand came in to bat and this target looked to be a very easy one and BB McCullum the stand in skipper scored a brilliant fifty.Vettori missed the match due to an injury. New Zealand managed to score only 127/5 in th alloted 20 overs and lost the match by 1 run.The match might have been a low scoring game but the tension was breath taking and with the Superb Eight starting very soon we can expect a lot more tight games.

Highlights of Netherland vs Pakistan

The match was a one sided one as expected.Younis Khan won the toss and he elected to bat.Pakistan made some huge strides with some lusty hitting.All the top order batsman chipped in with some runs.Kamran Akmal top scored with 41 and all other players also chipped in with some useful runs.Afridi was again a disappointment with the bat.

Afridi did not play his part as expected with the bat.He was bowled by Dirk Nannis.Eventually they scored 175/5 in 20 overs at (8.75 runs per over).Afridi who failed with the bat proved with the ball taking 4 wickets to seal a huge win for Pakistan.

Chasing 176 for win Ireland batsman never looked in control of the game.They lost wickets at regular intervals.They were all out for less than 100 , and Pakistan sealed a huge win before going in to the Superb Eight.

Highlights and scoreboard of Ireland vs Bangladesh

Bangladesh was expected to make it to the Superb Eights beside the defending champions "India" but Ireland had a different script for them.The climax of the script was that Ireland beat Bangladesh by six wickets to seal a Superb Eight birth along with India.Bangladesh reached a respectable total of 137 mainly because of the cameo played by Mortaza at the end.Mortaza cut loose at the end and hit some lusty blows.

BANGLADESH SCOREBOARD

T. Iqbal run out 22
J. Siddique c Bray b Johnston 13
M. Ashraful c K O'Brien b Johnston 14
S. Al Hasan c G Wilson b Johnston 7
Mahmudullah st N O'Brien b Cusack 7
R. Hasan b McCallan 13
M. Rahim c Mooney b West 14
M. Mortaza not out 33
N. Islam b Rankin 7
A. Razzak not out 0

Extras: (w-6 lb-1) 7

Total: (eight wickets; 20 overs) 137

Even when Ireland had to chase around 140 there where very little hopes on them to reach the Superb Eight.But they played really well to win the match by 6 wickets and 10 balls to spare.

IRELAND SCOREBOARD

Bray c Raqibul Hasan b Mashrafe Mortaza 2
W. Porterfield c and b Razzak 23
N. O'Brien c Hossain b Al Hasan 40
G. Wilson c Ashraful b Mortaza 10
J. Mooney not out 17
K. O'Brien not out 39

Extras: (lb-4, w-3) 7

Total: (four wickets; 18.2 overs) 138

Highlights and scoreboard of England vs Pakistan : World Cup T20 Live

Picture 1 : KP was instrumental in England's win

Picture 2 : Owasis Shah bowled by Umar Gul

Picture 3 : Umar Gul celebrates with team mates

Picture 4 : Struat Broad picked 2 wickets in one over

The match between England and Pakistan was a do-or die for England after loosing Netherlands in the opening game.Kevin Pieterson who missed the first game came to the party along with Shah. KP was instrumental for England's batting display.He played really well before he got out in the death over when he was trying to slog.

ENGLAND SCOREBOARD

R. Bopara c Malik b Aamir 5
L. Wright b Gul 34
K. Pietersen c Gul b Ajmal 58
O. Shah b Gul 33 P. Collingwood c Afridi b Ajmal 15
D. Mascarenhas not out 16
J. Foster not out 14

Extras (lb-3 w-4 nb-3) 10

Total (for five wickets; 20 overs) 185

Pakistan was expected to give a good fight though the score was little high.Pakistan never look in control of the match,only Pakistan captain Younis Khan played a measured innings of 46 not out.Pakistan managed only 137 runs in the alloted 20 overs for the loss of six wickets.This win for England still keeps them in contention for a place in the Superb Eight.

PAKISTAN SCOREBOARD

A. Shehzad c Collingwood b Mascarenhas 4
S. Butt c Bopara b Broad 28
K. Akmal c Wright b Broad 6
S. Malik c Foster b Wright 20
Y. Khan not out 46
S. Afridi c sub b Swann 5
Misbah-ul-Haq c sub b Anderson 10
Y. Arafat c Wright b Broad 4
U. Gul not out 8

Extras: (lb-1 w-5) 6

Total (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 137

Highlights of South Africa vs Scotland : World Cup T20 Live

The match between South Africa and Scotland was a one sided match s expected.Scotland won the toss and elected to filed against one of the tournament giants South Africa.SA took this as an great opportunity to get a big run feast.

SOUTH AFRICA SCOREBOARD

G. Smith c Smith b Haq 38
J. Kallis b Haq 48 H. Gibbs st Smith b Watson 16
AB de Villiers not out 79
J. Morkel c Coetzer b Drummond 24
M. Boucher c Coetzer b Drummond 2
JP Duminy not out 0

Extras (w-1 nb-3) 4

Total (for five wickets, 20 overs) 211

Chasing 211 was a big task for the Scotland and they were not up to the task right from the beginning.Scotland where all out for 81 with half the runs being scored by KJ Coetzer.South Africa played ruthless cricket and now they look to be one of the hot favorites in the tournament along side India.


SCOTLAND SCOREBOARD

G. Hamilton c Duminy b Parnell 5
R. Watson b Steyn 4
N. Poonia run out 0 K. Coetzer c & b van der Merwe 42
C. Smith b Steyn 0 N. McCallum b Botha 8
J. Stander lbw b Botha 2
R. Haq b van der Merwe 15
G. Rogers not out 1
G. Drummond b Morkel 1
C. MacLeod b Morkel 0

Extras (lb-1, w-2) 3

Total (all out, 15.4 overs) 81

World Cup T20 Live :Highlights of India vs Bangladesh

India won the toss and elected to bat.Rohit Sharma and Gambhir made a solid start.Rohit continued his sublime form.Gauti played the second fiddle.When Rohit got out Dhoni came in and played a run a ball knock which made the run rate of India to get down.Then some fire power hitting by Yuvraj at the end helped in India to reach 180.

Bangladesh had a tough task but they are a good side and they started very well.Things were looking good until Ojha came in to the attack.He picked up 4 wickets and this changed the course of the game and India won by 25 runs. .

INDIA SCOREBOARD

G. Gambhir c Shakib Al Hasan b Naeem Islam 50
R. Sharma b Shakib Al Hasan 36
MS. Dhoni b Naeem Islam 26
Yuvraj Singh c Tamim Iqbal b Shahadat Hossain 41
S. Raina b Rubel Hossain 10
Y. Pathan not out 1
I. Pathan not out 11

Extras (w-5) 5

Total (for five wickets; 20 overs) 180

BANGLADESH SCOREBOARD

Tamim Iqbal st Dhoni b Y. Pathan 15
Zunaed Siddique c Harbhajan Singh b Ojha 41
Mohammad Ashraful c Gambhir b I. Sharma 11
Shakib Al Hasan c Dhoni b Ojha 8
Mohammad Mahmudullah c Yuvraj Singh b Ojha 8
Raqibul Hasan c Ojha b Khan 16
Mashrafe Mortaza b Ojha 11
Mushfiqur Rahim not out 11
Naeem Islam c Yuvraj Singh b I. Sharma 28
Shahadat Hossain not out 0

Extras: (lb-3 w-3) 6

Total: (for eight wickets; 20 overs) 155

RESULT : India won by 25 runs

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ojha.

World Cup T20 : Highlights of West Indies vs Australia

Australia were reduced to 15/3 after winning the toss and batting first against Engalnd.David Warner played well to score 63 and then the Hussey brothers played extremely well to take the team total to 169


AUSTRALIA SCOREBOARD

S. Watson c Sarwan b Taylor 0
D. Warner c Benn b Bravo 63
Ricky Ponting lbw b Taylor 0
M. Clarke c Benn b Edwards 2
B. Haddin c Benn b Pollard 24
D. Hussey c Fletcher b Bravo 27
M. Hussey not out 28
M. Johnson c Bravo b Edwards 9
B. Lee not out 1

Extras: (b-1 lb-5 w-7 nb-2) 15
Total (for seven wickets; 20 overs) 169


Chris Gayle showed his liking for the shortest form of international cricket by blasting 88 as the West Indies thrashed Australia by seven wickets in the World. Gayle played some unbelievable shots and he was severe against Brett Lee and scored 27 runs of his in one over. Finally with 4 overs to spare they won the match very easily by 7 wickets.

WEST INDIES SCOREBOARD

C. Gayle c Watson b Lee 88
A. Fletcher c D. Hussey b Johnson 53
X. Marshall c Hopes b Johnson 8
S. Chanderpaul not out 0
R. Sarwan not out 8

Extras: (lb-5 w-8 nb-2) 15
Total (for three wickets, 15.5 overs) 172

World Cup T20 :Highlights of New Zealand vs Scotland

The match between NewZealand and Scotland was a rain affected one in which each side got seven overs to play.Scotland scored 89 runs.They played well but final 3 balls they lost 3 wickets which restricted their score to 89/4 in 7 overs .Kyle Coetzer played well for his 33 run cameo which boosted their score.

NewZealand in reply played some ruthless cricket with Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder playing some small cameos to take themselves to 18 and 31 respectively.NewZealand scored 90 runs in 7 overs and won the match by 7 wickets.

ICC World Cup Match 1 : Netherland beat England by 4 wickets

The opening match of the tournament was between the the tournament host England and Netherlands.After the grand opening ceremony the match started between Netherland and England.Netherlands won the toss and elected to field.England team looked strong this time with Ravi Bopara performing well in the IPL and Luke Wright in prime form.

England openers played very well and put on a solid first wicket partnership.In fact it was a century stand and they lost the first wicket for 102.Finally England made 162 in the allotted 20 overs.Luke Wright top scored with 71.England in one stage looked as if they would reach 200 but but some good bowling by Netherlands restricted England to 162.

Tom de Grooth was the star when Netherlands came to bat.He scored at a brisk rate and he was instrumental for the momentum he created for his team which thrived them to win the match.The match which looked to be a mere formality became interesting and eventually turned out to be a nightmare for Engalnd.

LAST OVER

Stuart Broad had the ball in his hand and Netherlands needed 7 runs from 6 balls. Netherlands players did not play any big shots.They scored a single of each ball.Some the of running was foolish and it was equivalent to suicide.Eventually England players did not hit the stumps even once and Netherland stole 2 runs of the last ball with a overthrow and won the match by 4 wickets.

World Cup T20 : Sourav Ganguly to become a commentator

Dada is ready to start his second innings in cricket.Ganguly is set to become a commentator soon. Reports reveal that Ganguly might speak in this T20 World Cup itself.When asked Ganguly who is the best Indian Commentator his answer was very fast and he pointed out Sunil Gavasakar has the best Indian commentator.

Sourav Ganguly was one of the most successful Indian captains and he was the first captain to bring a 4 bowler strategy.Sourav Ganguly has termed that Indian team are the hot favorites to defend the T20 World Cup title under the resolute leadership of M.S.Dhoni.

Ganguly has mainly opted for this because his International carrer as a batsman is almost over and with his poor performance in the IPL he might not play the next edition of IPL is well.So he has sought an alternative to stay connected with Cricket.

World Cup T20 : Symonds axed from Australain squad

Andrew Symonds has been axed from the Australian team for in disciplinary action. He was caught for consuming alcohol. It is not such abig issue but the Australian team has given enough chances for Symonds that they have finally decided to move on.Ricky Ponting said that Symonds is one of the best T20 players at present and loosing him from the squad could create imbalance to the side, but he also termed that they had no other choice.

Cameron While will replace Symonds , and he would be playing the T20 World Cup instead of Andrew Symonds. Cameron White is not part of the Ashes. This is a golden opportunity for Cameron White and he has to capitalize on this.I personally feel that though Symonds may be a world class player he lacks the disciple to compete in the International level.

Dhoni : India can defend Twenty20 title

M.S.Dhoni feels that Indian team as the fire power to defend the Title.He released a statement to the press in which he said that his team has a bunch of talented guys and if we all play as an unit and perform to our potential we can surely defend the T20 title.

Indian teams only concern now is that Zaheer Khan is not fully fit.Dhoni told that he hopes that Zack must be fit before the first match which starts for them on June 6th against the Bangladesh.There are no favorites in this form of the game but India can have a slight advantage when compared to the other teams because Indian players have played the IPL.I wish Indian team all success.JAI HO India !!!

Ticket Rates for ICC World Cup T20 in England

The ICC World Cup T20 is taking place in England this time.India are the hot favorites for retaining the title. Moreover with the competitive IPL matches getting over only now India have an edge over other teams,nevertheless other teams cannot be taken for granted.The heat is getting on and the pricing of the tickets for the matches is given in this picture.The tickets are available for all the matches that are to conducted,right from the opening ceremony till the final.The matches are to be held in Lord's and Oval,and Trent Bridge.

TICKET RATES



The ticket pricing comes under 3 packages.The Gold,Silver and Family stand.The maximum ticket rate is £60 for adult and the minimum rate is £10 under the Family stand.The pricing of the ticket may be little higher but it is worth and a spend when compared to the thrill and the excitement.When you ask me to predict a winner I keep the fingers crossed ans would say it should be India.