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.

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.

Set just 129 to win, after tight bowling restricted Sri Lanka — last year’s losing finalists — to 128 for six, England finished on 132 for three as they won with four overs to spare.

Kevin Pietersen, on his return to the side after he attended the birth of his son in London, finished on 42 not out and ended the match in style with a six and a four in successive balls off fast bowler Lasith Malinga.

England, who have never won a major one-day international tournament, are now through to their first final since hosting the 2004 Champions Trophy.

They will face the winners of Friday’s second semi-final here between defending champions Pakistan and Australia in Sunday’s final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Only Angelo Mathews, with 58, offered much resistance against England’s bowlers before he was run out of the penultimate ball.

Sri Lanka’s next best score was 16, achieved by both captain Kumar Sangakkara, who won the toss, and Chamara Kapugedera.

Paceman Stuart Broad led the attack with two wickets for 21 runs off his four permitted overs. Both left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom and Broad took a wicket first ball as Sri Lanka collapsed to 26 for three.

Spinners Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy then ensured runs remained hard to come by with a combined eight overs that cost just 41 runs.

At the start of their run chase, England were confronted by a trio of spinners as Sri Lanka looked to exploit their supposed vulnerability against slow bowling on a pitch offering some turn.

But Craig Kieswetter, driving strongly, and left-hander Michael Lumb settled any lingering nerves with an opening stand of 68.

However, that partnership should have ended on 40 when Kieswetter cut the ball to backward point and Lumb set off for a non-existent single.

Lumb was almost at the other end of the pitch before he was sent back but Ajantha Mendis fumbled the return to the bowler’s end stumps, with Lumb yards out, and the chance had gone.

Two balls later Kieswetter struck unorthodox spinner Mendis straight back over his head for four and ended the over with another boundary, a fine leg-glance.

Kieswetter was eventually yorked by Malinga for 39 and Lumb bowled for 33, walking across his stumps, by seamer Thissara Perera.

But the damage had already been done.

Sri Lanka collapsed to 26 for three against England seamers Tim Bresnan, Sidebottom and Broad.

They were seven for one at the start of the second over when left-arm quick Sidebottom removed Jayasuriya for just one after the veteran fended outside off stump and edged straight to England captain Paul Collingwood at second slip.

New batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan on nine then miscued a hook off Bresnan and was well caught by a diving Luke Wright, running in from deep backward square leg, to leave Sri Lanka 20 for two at the end of the third over.

Sri Lanka’s collapse continued when Broad, as Sidebottom had done, took a wicket first ball.

Mahela Jayawardene, the tournament’s leading scorer with 302 runs, including a century against Zimbabwe, fell for just 10 when he edged a well pitched up ball outside off stump and was caught by wicketkeeper Kieswetter.

Swann and Yardy kept the pressure on and Sri Lanka couldn’t break free.

ICC World Twenty20

The 1st Semi-Final match of T20 World Cup between Australia and Sri Lanka will be played on 13th 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 beaten in a Test series for the first time on Sri Lankan soil when Younis Khan’s men lost the first two matches before drawing the final game in Colombo last week.

But Younis is confident a change in personnel and infusion of new blood for the five One-day matches will revive the tourists and provide entertaining cricket for fans.

“There are many players in the team who did not play the Test series, and they are keen to prove that Pakistan are one of the best One-day teams in the world,” he said.

“The Tests are behind us, we look forward to doing well in the One-dayers,” said Younis, who led Pakistan to victory over Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final at Lord’s, England in June.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi, who was man of the match in both the semi-final and final of the World Twenty20, returns to bolster the tourists after opting out of the Test series.

Pakistan will also welcome back seamer Rana Naved, 31, and opening batsman Imran Nazir, 27, who will represent the country once again after breaking links with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.

All eyes, however, will be on talented 19-year-old batsman Umar Akmal, the younger brother of wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who forced his way onto the side with impressive scores in domestic cricket.

Umar hit an unbeaten 101 in a warm-up match in Kurunegala on Monday when Pakistan failed to chase down Sri Lanka ‘A’s 348-6 by just 15 runs.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be boosted by the return of world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan and fiery fast bowler Lasith Malinga after they both missed the Test series with knee injuries.

Muralitharan, who has taken more Test (770) and One-day (505) wickets than any other bowler, will lend experience to the hosts’ bowling attack in the absence of veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas.

Vaas retired from Test cricket after the Pakistan series, but was ignored for the One-dayers despite insisting he would play limited-overs cricket till the 2011 World Cup.

Middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera returns to the One-day arena after four years, but dashing Tillakaratne Dilshan will miss the series after sustaining finger and eye injuries during the third Test.

Upul Tharanga is expected to open the innings with veteran Sanath Jayasuriya.

The rivals will also play a Twenty20 international in Colombo on August 12 after the One-dayers end.

Teams and schedule for the five-match ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka starting on Thursday:

Pakistan (from): Younis Khan (capt), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Rana Naved, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Rao Iftikhar.

Sri Lanka (from): Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Kandamby, Malinga Bandara, Thilan Thushara, Isuru Udana.

Schedule:

July 30: First ODI, Dambulla

Aug 1: Second ODI, Dambulla

Aug 3: Third ODI, Dambulla

Aug 7: Fourth ODI, Premadasa stadium, Colombo (Day-night)

Aug 9: Fifth ODI, Premadasa stadium, Colombo (Day-night)

Live Cricket Score

Over the years England has had the edge over the Aussies at Edgbaston, but the last four matches have been shared. The Ashes 2005 match here was one of the most exciting ever, with England winning by just 2 runs in the tightest finish ever in 128 years of Ashes history.

ICC World Twenty20 2nd Semi Final

Sri Lanka are 2nd favourites to win the tournament. Both sides came through the group of death which saw Australia tumble out of the tournament at the first hurdle.

When the sides met at Trent Bridge in match #11, Sri Lanka won by 15 runs. West Indies, who were without captain Chris Gayle, chose to field after winning the toss and then witnessed Dilshan (74 off 47) and Jayasuria (81 off 47) pile on the runs. Part time bowler Lendl Simmons was alone in escaping punishment as he took 4 wickets for 19 in his 3 overs as Sri Lanka posted 192/5.

In reply, West Indies struggled to keep up with the rate but it was a spirited chase, much of it played in pouring rain. Bravo top scored with 51 off 38 balls and even Malinga went for 11 an over. The spin of Murali and Mendis was key to shackling the West Indians and proved the key factor in Sri Lanka winning the game.

Gayle will be back for the semi final and West Indies will hope to have Fidel Edwards in the side after he was forced to miss the recent win over England when he went down with a back strain in the warm up.

The men in form:

Dilshan is leading run scorer in the tournament with 221 runs averaging 44.2. Dwayne Bravo is West Indies leading run scorer with 154 closely followed by simmons who has 150. 

Malinga and Mendis have 21 wickets between them and are 3rd and 4th on the wicket takers log. Bravo, with 8 wickets is the only West Indian in the top 10.

The Verdict:

West Indies may struggle to shackle the Sri Lankan top order and their bowling clearly looks second best. The West Indian batting has performed surprisingly well even when Gayle has missed out and if conditions are good, we could be in for a high scoring as the Oval is the venue which has suited batsmen most.

ICC World Twenty20 1st Semi Final

Another slick performance on Tuesday saw the Proteas beat India by 12 runs and maintain their unbeaten record in the tournament.

Much will be made of South Africa’s recent history of “choking” in big tournaments but this side looks to have the temperament for the big occasion. We must remember though, this is Twenty20 cricket, an inspired performance from one or two opponents can, in theory, be enough to take the game away from you. 

We saw in the recent IPL how the two most fancied sides, Delhi and Chennai, bowed out at the semi final stage to sides who had been very inconsistent. In the ICC Twenty20, Sri Lanka, who meet West Indies on Friday in the 2nd semi final, are also unbeaten but one or both could be vulnerable in a straight knockout.

So does Pakistan have the ammunition to upset the Proteas?

Other than when they came up against the Associate members who they beat convincingly, Pakistan have only beaten New Zealand of the more fancied nations. In essence, that has proved enough to see them through to a semi final place. Their batting is erratic and in the early matches it was often irresponsible. Their fielding has at times been as poor as a local Sunday league side. Time and time again there is nobody at home at the bowlers end when a run out is on. If they were to ever approach Jonty Rhodes to be their fielding coach, he would surely need a 10 year contract!

If the above sounds like its game over, think again, so what do Pakistan have going for them? 

Support, Pakistan will have huge support in Nottingham and they tend to play on emotion, when they are on a roll with the crowd behind them, they are highly dangerous.

Younus Khan, the captain brings sanity to the batting, calmness amidst the woeful fielding and a fine bat to the crease. He is one class cricketer and a great man.

Umar Gul, as good as any with the death bowling in this format, he is usually held back for the latter overs and can get reverse swing, he also has a superb yorker as his killer delivery. Gul is the tournaments leading wicket taker with 12 victims.

Spin, Afridi with 9 wickets and Ajmal with 11 are economical as well as destroyers of the middle order, usually brought straight into action after the first 6 overs, the Proteas will need to be very careful.

Unpredictability – Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal with the bat – both are disappointed if the ball bounces once before reaching the boundary. They will be batting at Trent Bridge on Thursday but trying to smash the ball all the way to the Oval. It rarely works for any length of time but if one or both come off, carnage will follow.