ICC World Twenty20

The Final of T20 World Cup between Australia and England will be played on 16h May 2010 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

ICC World Twenty20 2010 Live Cricket Scores

The ICC World Twenty20 2010 will be held in West Indies from 30th April 2010 to 16th May 2010, with the very best players in the world representing their countries, showcasing Twenty20 cricket on a global stage. The tournament will take place in four venues across Caribbean  archipelago. There are 12 teams participating in the tournament including 10 test playing nations and 2 associative member counties: Ireland and Afghanistan, who were qualified through ICC world twenty20 qualifier.

Live Cricket Scores

Australia go into the match with sky-high confidence after chasing down a seemingly improbable 191 against Pakistan in the semifinals last night.

But it would hardly be a stroll in the park for Michael Clarke’s men as England have played some outstanding cricket in the championship and just like Australia, they have been unbeaten since the Super Eights stage.

England, who were hardly seen as title contenders before the start of the tournament, have been a revelation with an array of attacking batsmen and bowling all-rounders.

They bat deep and have bowled with purpose and discipline right through the competition. Their fielding has been good as well.

But Paul Collingwood’s men cannot match the Australians in talent and versality despite having the tenacity and confidence to take on their arch-rivals.

However, the fast and bouncy Kensington Oval wicket will pose a challenge to the English batsman, who haven’t faced the kind of pace which Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait generate, in this competition yet.

The tearaway Australian quicks have consistently bowled at over 145 kph and have extracted disconcerting bounce from the bone-hard surface.

But this being their first major championship final in six years, England would be as keen as Australia to take the title back home. But to achieve that, they would have to play their best cricket yet.

“The boys have been responding well every time. The batsmen on top of the order have been giving great starts. Sometimes we need to finish the pieces of jigsaw,” said Collingwood.

“We have very good players. We have selected players on potential and they have done fantastically well. We are confident they can deliver,” he added.

Clarke, meanwhile, also has his eyes firmly set on the elusive Cup.

“We have worked hard over the last 12 months to win the one cup that we haven’t. The boys are keen that we achieve what we had set out for. So we will come and play our best cricket,” said Clarke.

But the Australian captain admitted that England would be a hard team to beat and the one man they would have to watch out for is Kevin Pietersen, who is in excellent form.

The hard-hitting batsman, who recently became a father, has scores of 72 not out, 53 and 42 not out in the last three innings.

Clarke said the key to Australia’s success would be to get rid of Pietersen at the start of the innings.

“Kevin (Pietersen) is a wonderful player in each form of the game. He has been hitting the ball well here. To get him out early would be good for us,” averred Clarke.

Pietersen has dominated the bowlers, even stepping out and hitting the fast bowlers over the top with impunity. It will be interesting to watch how the Aussies tame his aggression.

“As this event has shown they are very competitive. They have great talent and have plenty of match-winners. It will not be easy to beat them,” said Clarke about the challenge awaiting his team.

Considering the form that Shane Watson, David Warner, Cameron White and Michael Hussey are in, Clarke has little to worry on the batting front. But the skipper would be slightly concerned about his own form as he is yet to strike big in the event.

England have a decent pace attack with Stuart Broad being the in-form strike bowler.

The two teams have ended the sub-continental supremacy in the event and given the history between the two rivals, the contest promises to be an exciting one but Australia go in as favourites as their team has the depth to deal with England’s tenacity.

Teams (from):

Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Daniel Christian, Cameron White, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Nathan Hauritz, Shaun Tait, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, David Hussey, Steven Smith, Dirk Nannes, Ryan Harris, Tim Paine

England: Paul Collingwood (captain), Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan, Tim Bresnan, Michael Yardy, Stuart Broad, James Tredwell, Ajmal Shahzad, Michael Lumb, Craig Kieswetter.

Set a huge 192 to win, Australia collapsed to 62 for four.

But, initially through Cameron White, who made 43, and Hussey’s unbeaten 60, they recovered and will now face old rivals England in Sunday’s final at Barbados’s Kensington Oval.

Australia needed 18 to win off the last over, from off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Mitchell Johnson took a single off the first ball and then Hussey took over.

The left-hander pulled Ajmal for six, struck him over long-on for six more, brought the scores level with a four and thumped another six for good measure as Australia finished on 197 for seven in pursuit of 192.

The man-of-the-match faced just 24 balls, but hit six sixes and three fours.

Hussey had come in after brother David had fallen to leave Australia 105 for five in the 13th over.

But the elder Hussey refused to be cowed and together with Johnson, who made a mere five from three balls, put on an unbroken 53 in just 16 balls.

“This game of cricket just keeps amazing me every day,” Michael Hussey said.

“I can’t believe it, it’s one of the best feelings of my career.”

Cameron White sparked the initial revival, with 43 off 31 balls, including five sixes, and Michael Hussey said: “Cameron has batted really well all tournament, we needed someone to change the momentum and he did that really well.”

Elated Australia captain Michael Clarke said: “Michael Hussey is an absolute freak…Once Cameron got out I thought it was going to be really tough but with Hussey in you never know.”

Defeated Pakistan captain Shahid Afrid added: “It was a very good (Pakistan) total but the way White and Hussey played, they played mature and good innings.

“We perhaps lost it in the last over but Ajmal has bowled really well in this tournament.”

Opener Kamran Akmal’s 50 and younger brother Umar’s even more rapid 56 not out came against an Australia side, yet to lose at this tournament, which had thrashed them by 34 runs in a first round group match.

Left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer, who led the attack with three wickets for 35 runs, removed Australia openers David Warner (nought) and Shane Watson (16).

And when wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal completed two neat stumpings off left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman and leg-spinner Afridi to dismiss Brad Haddin and captain Michael Clarke respectively, Australia were 62 for four inside nine overs.

David Hussey and White staged a brief revival before the former was caught and bowled by Rehman.

White though kept swinging away but when he drove an Aamer full toss straight to Mohammad Hafeez, Australia were 139 for six in the 17th over.

Australia though, thanks to Michael Hussey, kept going to seal a superb come-from-behind win.

Pakistan, sent in by Clarke after rain delayed the start, saw their innings start with a Dirk Nannes maiden.

But Kamran Akmal and left-hander Salman Butt (32) shared a first-wicket stand of 82 as Australia’s pace trio of Nannes, Shaun Tait and Johnson failed to make an early breakthrough.

Nannes’s second over saw the match’s first boundaries when Kamran Akmal, stepping away to leg, lofted him high over the covers. Next ball he drove straight down the ground for another four.

Kamran Akmal was severe on Watson, driving the medium-pacer’s first ball back for a huge six.

Akmal then took two more boundaries off Watson to complete a fine fifty off just 32 balls with two sixes and six fours.

But he was out for 50 after Warner, running round from the extra-cover boundary, took a fine diving catch off Johnson.

Umar Akmal smashed Johnson for two enormous sixes, the second a crunching pull over midwicket that saw him to fifty in just 29 balls, with four sixes and two fours.

ICC World Twenty20

The 2nd Semi-Final of T20 World Cup between Australia and Pakistan will be played on 14h May 2010 at Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia.

ICC World Twenty20 2010 Live Cricket Scores

The ICC World Twenty20 2010 will be held in West Indies from 30th April 2010 to 16th May 2010, with the very best players in the world representing their countries, showcasing Twenty20 cricket on a global stage. The tournament will take place in four venues across Caribbean  archipelago. There are 12 teams participating in the tournament including 10 test playing nations and 2 associative member counties: Ireland and Afghanistan, who were qualified through ICC world twenty20 qualifier.

Pakistan were pushed to the brink after their one-run defeat to New Zealand in their second Super Eight match but Shahid Afridi’s men bounced back to beat South Africa and with a stroke of luck sneaked into the semi-finals.

Australia, on the other hand, have crushed whosoever have come under their wheels and remains unbeaten in the tournament so far but that reputation won’t count when they take on an enigmatic Pakistan on Friday.

For Australia, their battery of lethal fast bowlers have knocked the stuffing out of the opponent batsman, While Pakistan have an array of spinners who have dominated on the slow wickets here.

Shaun Tait, who has been consistently generating speeds of over 145-150 kmph, and Dirk Nannes have been devastating as a fast bowling pair, as much as Shane Watson and David Warner have been with the bat for Australia and they will hold the key to Australia’s success on Friday.

For Pakistan, their spinners – Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal – could pose many questions to the free-scoring Aussie batsmen on this deck and it will be interesting to watch who calls the shots in this crucial game. Will it be the Aussies pacemen or the Pakistani spinners.

On a man-to-man basis, Australia are a superior lot. They can bat right up to number nine, which is something Pakistan lack. Their fielding too has been outstanding, something which Shahid Afridi’s men can’t match.

Given the depth and fire power in his side, Michael Clarke is confident of playing the final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on May 16.

“I would really love to get to Barbados because that wicket will be really beautiful for our fast bowlers. Our batters like a little bit pace to come on to the bat. So who we play will not bother me. I think this game on Friday is a huge game for us. It’s going to be tough for us,” said Clarke.

However, Clarke was wary of the defending champions and said they have to be at their best to beat Pakistan on Friday.

“They have a lot of spinners. They have a lot of class. They have guys who have played international cricket for a long time. We need to play like we have played throughout this tournament. We need to be at our best both physically and mentally to play against this team, because they are a very good team,” averred Clarke.

His counterpart, Afridi held Australia in high esteem but was confident that Pakistan would make it to the summit clash.

“Australia have now learnt how to play T20 cricket. They have a strong batting and bowling line-up. As we have played them at this ground in the first round, we know the areas where Shane Watson and David Warner play their shots. We have plans for them,” said Afridi.

“We will play to our strengths. We have three genuine spinners who could use the conditions here very well. Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal have been bowling well. We are confident that they will perform in this crucial game,” added Afridi.

Afridi took comfort from the fact that Pakistan were in a similar position last year from where they went on to win the coveted title in England.

“We were in the same situation in the last World Cup in England. But we went on to win the championship. If we could return home with the title, it will be great victory for the people of Pakistan who love cricket and want to see us play home and away,” said Afridi.

ICC World Twenty20 2010 Live Cricket Scores

The ICC World Twenty20 2010 will be held in West Indies from 30th April 2010 to 16th May 2010, with the very best players in the world representing their countries, showcasing Twenty20 cricket on a global stage. The tournament will take place in four venues across Caribbean  archipelago. There are 12 teams participating in the tournament including 10 test playing nations and 2 associative member counties: Ireland and Afghanistan, who were qualified through ICC world twenty20 qualifier.

ICC World Twenty20

The 15th match of T20 World Cup between India and Australia will be played on 7th May 2010 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

ICC World Twenty20 2010 Live Cricket Scores

The ICC World Twenty20 2010 will be held in West Indies from 30th April 2010 to 16th May 2010, with the very best players in the world representing their countries, showcasing Twenty20 cricket on a global stage. The tournament will take place in four venues across Caribbean  archipelago. There are 12 teams participating in the tournament including 10 test playing nations and 2 associative member counties: Ireland and Afghanistan, who were qualified through ICC world twenty20 qualifier.

ICC World Twenty20

India are faced with a selection dilemma on whether to strengthen their pace attack or rely on part time spinners when they brace up for the crucial Super Eights match against Australia in the ICC World T20 in Barbados on Friday.

The Indians have a clutch of part-time spinners, who have filled up the slot of the fifth bowler but the think tank may be tempted to tinker with the composition and bring in a specialist fast bowler with the Kengsington Oval expected to favour the quickies.

Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who was rested for the South Africa match, is almost certain to come back into the team for the encounter which promises to be a thrilling battle of skill and nerves.

With the left-handed Gautam Gambhir also declared fit for the game, the Indian batting order looks solid but it the selection of the bowlers which will make the task of the team management difficult.

Both the sides have big hitters in their ranks but when it comes to bowling, the Aussies, who have won three back-to-back 50-over World Cup titles, have the edge.

Their pace quartet Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson — is about the most lethal attack in the tournament.

Considering that Gambhir is just about recovering from his indisposition and has naturally not been at his best, India’s task would be a lot more difficult if he fails to get going.

In such a scenario, a lot would depend on Suresh Raina who made an electrifying 60-ball 101 against South Africa.

Given Raina’s form and his ability to win matches on his own, the Australians would have a strategy in place to tie him down. Short balls could be used more sparing against the left hander.

Yuvraj Singh, who has regained his touch with scores of 23 (Afghanistan) and 37 (South Africa) would have to be on top of his game to take the fight into the Aussies camp.

He could be destructive on his day, caring very little for the reputation of the bowlers, as he showed while making a match-winning 84 against Australia on his ODI debut in the Champions Trophy (2000) as a colt.

Murali Vijay, Yusuf Pathan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja would have to contribute with the bat if India are to get past their first hurdle in the Super Eights.

A victory against Australia on Friday would enhance their chances of qualifying for the semifinals.

Ashish Nehra and Praveen Kumar, if both of them are selected, will have to show more discipline with the ball to keep the likes of Shane Watson, David Warner, Michael Clarke, the Hussey brothers — David and Michael — and Cameroon White quiet at the crease.

India have a bevy of spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja and part-time tweakers Pathan, Yuvraj in their ranks, who could possibly stop the Australian batter in their tracks. But then, it depends to be seen how they perform under pressure.

India could answer Australia’s pace with spin and bat with the same aggression and tenacity of their opponents. But when it comes fielding, the men from Down Under hold a distinct edge.

A superb catch or a stunning run out often make the difference to the outcome of a match. This is where Australia could score, unless Dhoni’s legion produce something extraordinary on the morrow.

Teams From:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Murali Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Vinay Kumar and Rohit Sharma.

Australia: Michael Clarke (C), Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Dirk Nannes, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White and Daniel Christian.

Match Starts at 7:00pm IST.

The Aussies rode on Michael Hussey’s unbeaten 47 and Dirk Nannes’ four-wicket haul to drew curtains on their group campaign on unbeaten note after having defeated title holders Pakistan by 34 runs in their opening match.

Australia now join Pakistan from Group A in the Super Eight stage and will take on India in their opening second round encounter on Friday.

Michael Hussey played a sweet little cameo and shared crucial 74 runs with Steven Smith (27 off 18) for the seventh wicket to lift Australia to 141 for seven before Nannes (4/18) produced a breathtaking pace bowling display to

Nannes was ably supported by David Hussey (2/8) and Smith (2/29) at the middle.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan top-scored for Bangladesh with a run-a-ball 28 while wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim (24 off 25) gave him the perfect support from the other end during their 48-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Bangladesh made a mockery of their run chase as they lost four of their top-order batsmen inside the first four overs.

Needing a outright win inside 19 overs to book their place in the Super Eight stage, the Bangladesh’s did not help their cause in any way and played insensible shots against some fine pace bowling to totter at 16 for four.

Shain Tait (1/15)) and Nannes tested the Bangladeshi batters from the onset with their fiery and high quality fast bowling.

Nannes, in particular, was the fiercesome of the duo as he picked up Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed and Mahmudullah during his three-over opening spell before returning back to account for the wicket Jahurul Islam (18).

Inspite of the early jitters, Shakib and Mushfiqur put up a brave fight during their the fifth wicket to keep Bangladesh in the hunt.

Shakib’s innings was finally cut short by a blinder of a catch at deep from Michael Hussey off Smith.

Jahurul and Shafiul Islam (16 off 13) tried their level best to dig something out of the game but it was not to be Bangladesh’s day as Australia dished out a fantastic performance on the field to eventually romp home with eight balls to spare.

Earlier opting to bat, the Aussies initially struggled as they lost six wickets for mere 65 runs before Hussey and Smith saved the day with the 42-ball vital partnership.

After the initial hiccup, the Aussies added 59 runs in the last five overs, courtesy some fine hitting from Hussey and Smith.

Australia did not have the ideal start to their innings as Shane Watson (4) feel early with Mashrafe Mortaza (2/28) striking in his second and innings’ third over.

Watson mistimed a pull of Mortaza’s well-directed bouncer that landed in the hands of Ahmed.

Captain Shakib (2/24) then ensured double celebrations for Bangladesh in the next over, picking up dangerman David Warner (16 off 11), caught by Ahmed.

And then few overs later, a reckless shot from Brad Haddin ensured further trouble for Australia. He was easily caught by Shafiul off left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak (1/29) as he went for a lofted sweep over square leg.

As if that was not enough, skipper Michael Clarke (16) was the next to depart, caught at long-off boundary by Jahurul off Ashraful (1/24) to see Australia stutter at 54 for four at the halfway mark.

It could have been more trouble the Aussies had Jahurul not dropped a David Hussey sitter off Ashraful’s next ball.

But Mortaza ensured that Bangladesh did not have to pay heavily for the dropped chance, picking up David Hussey in the next over to mark the departure of half of the Aussie side.

Another well-directed bouncer from Mortaza hurried David Hussey into the pull, but the batsman could not control the shot and ballooned it to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur.

Cameron White too failed to make any impact as Shakib outsmarted him with a lovely leg-spinner that turned away crashed onto his timbers.

With chips down, Michael Hussey and Smith first played sensibly with ones and twos before opening up in the final five overs to take Australia to the fighting total.

Michael Hussey took the onus on him to guide the Australia innings and picked up the tempo with a 17-run over off Mortaza. He hit as many as four fours and six during his 29-bal unbeaten stay.

Smith too was not far behind as he used his long handle to great affect in the dying stages to register two sixes and a boundary against his name.

Man-of-the-match Watson’s innings was the cornerstone of Australia’s 191 all out, made after captain Michael Clarke won the toss.

But the all-rounder was dropped on 11 by Misbah-ul-Haq and missed on 20, again by Misbah, who couldn’t get a hand on a skied chance after running back at long-on, with Mohammad Hafeez the unlucky bowler on both occasions.

Watson made defending champions Pakistan pay by striking four sixes and seven fours in his blistering 49-ball innings and with David Hussey he put on 98 in under nine overs for the third wicket.

Hussey dropped on 18 at long-off by Salman Butt, a relatively easy chance, went on to make 53 off 29 balls with five sixes and two fours.

Hussey was especially severe on seamer Mohammad Sami, striking him for 28 runs in the 16th over with the batsman striking four sixes, including three in a row.

Australia’s total was effectively made off 19 overs as their innings ended in extraordinary fashion with a five-wicket maiden from Mohammad Aamer but by then the damage had been done.

“It’s a very good start from the boys, 191 runs in 19 overs,” said Clarke “The bowlers then did a great job in the first six overs and the boys caught really well as well.”

Watson added: “It’s nice when you do get a life, especially in Twenty20, it’s nice to get a reprieve.”

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said his team had been outplayed in all departments.

“We missed some opportunities and the pacers struggled with their line.

“They (Australia) played very well, they batted, bowled and fielded well.”

Pakistan lost Kamran Akmal for nought to the first legitimate ball of their reply when he sliced Dirk Nannes to Steven Smith at short third man.

Salman Butt (15) miscued an attempted hook off fast bowler Shaun Tait and was caught by David Hussey before left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson’s second ball proved too much for Mohammad Hafeez, who pulled straight to deep square leg.

Australia, holding their catches, had reduced Pakistan to 34 for three inside five overs and they never looked like recovering from such a start.

Tait then had the satisfaction of bowling hard-hitting batsman Afridi for 33 before finishing the match by dismissing Saeed Ajmal off the last ball to finish with figures of three wickets for 20 runs.

Misbah top-scored for Pakistan with 41 in a total of 157 all out.

Earlier, David Hussey holed out off Ajmal and, three balls later, the off-spinner had Watson lbw.

There was a bizarre finish to the Australia innings as five wickets fell for no runs in the final over, from left-arm quick Aamer.

Brad Haddin was caught off the first ball, Mitchell Johnson clean bowled off the second with both Michael Hussey and Steven Smith run out by direct hits from wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as they tried to run byes.

Tait survived the fifth ball but was bowled off the last for nought.

Aamer finished with three for 23, with Ajmal taking three for 34.

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs in the first Group A match here on Saturday and both Pakistan and Australia will qualify for the second round if the Aussies beat Bangladesh in Barbados on Wednesday.