T20 best XI

1. Dilshan
2. Kallis
3. Afridi
4. De Villiers
5. Akmal / Sangakarra
6. Yuvraj
7. Dwayne Bravo
8. Mendis / Ajmal
9. Murlitharan
10.Malinga
11. Gul

Lankans dominate the Pakkies

Windies dominate over the Indians

Gayle's boys carried on their winning ways, though it was Bravo who rode them to victory through a fluent half-century after capturing four wickets to restrict India to 153. Simmons too chipped in with 44. This new-look team with Fletcher, Bravo and Simmons coming in before Chaderpaul and Sarwan gives great depth to their batting. Edwards and Taylor bowled fast and short to have the Indians in all sorts of trouble initially, then Bravo, Pollard and Ben with Gayle never gave it away, in spite of the blitz from the classy Yuvraj.
Dhoni's experiment of batting at 3 was curtailed today, but in the process Raina was out of match-practice when he was given the spot this important game. Dhoni's miserable 11 off 23 balls was a major reason for India's below-par total. With his form at present, it is better he goes further down the order ...

England fall easily to South Africa

SA exposed the English team for what it is; if Pietersen does not put up a good score with some decent partnerships, the batting crumbles. The pommies have possibly one of the best attacks, so the hosts got decimated. Their bowling looked decent, but could not force SA into taking chances, which was their only hope in defending 111.
All of the six bowlers for SA got wickets. With the pitch getting slower it was difficult for the SA batsmen to hit, but they kept the

Pakistan spin out the Dutch

Australia and Bangladesh knocked out

Sangakarra and Dilshan dashed hopes of the Aussies after Mendis had restricted them to 159.

England outplay the Pakkies to stay alive

With Pietersen back with Mascarenhas and Swann included, England looked a different team and will be a force to reckon with if they play as they did today. Pakistan on the other hand now need a stromg win against the Dutch to qualify for the next round.
South Africa demolished the Scots to move easily to the next round.

Gayle lights up Day 2

Chris Gayle answered his critics handsomely as he led the Windies to a stunning demolition of the Aussies. First his fast bowlers Taylor and Edwards reduced Ponting's boys to 15/3, even though they did recover well to post a spirited 168/7. But then he came out with Fletcher to demonstrate hitting the likes of which has never been seen at the Oval. Gayle hit 6 over-boundries and by the time Fletcher finally holed out after his brilliant 53, the score was 137 in only the 12th over. Brett Lee was hit for 27 in one over. Thus the Aussies now have a must-win game with Sri Lanka ...!
India snuffed out Bangladesh with the superb spin bowling of Ojha supported by Yusuf Pathan and Harbhajan Singh. Dhoni coming in at 3 was not really able to force the pace after the Sharma cameo. But Yuvraj came in and hit a few sixes with his usual swagger to post 180. Their unpredictable neighbours lost wickets regularly after Junaid Siddique's heroics to finish at 155.

With Scotland scoring 89/4 in the reduced 7-over game, spectators were eager for another upset. But Ryder and Ross Taylor saw NZ home with an over to spare,

W-T20 off to fantastic start.

What an exciting evening at Lords. As the showers threatened, the Dutch batsmen plundered, on the way to a famous victory over the Pommies. The power hitting mingled with the run-a-ball singles showed a level of professional play not really to be attributed to a next-tier team. But with only 20 overs to play, the Dutch team looks a competent T20 side which can be looked at for further dynamic performances in the tournament.
Collingwood, coming in as captain, having cooled his heels on the Delhi Daredevils bench throughout the IPL, could not dictate the play. The tremendous start given by Bopara and Wright was wasted by an under prepared middle-order. Shah, with no match practice in the IPL, went to his first extravagant stroke. Eoin Morgan, making his T20 Debut fuddled around for a few balls before holing out. That left Collingwood with Keys for the death overs, hardly the sort to get those boundaries in these pressure situations. Where was Mascarenhas? The English selectors disdain for the IPL needs some soul searching.
England as they took the field felt they had the match in their grasp, specially when a wicket fell in the first over. But as Reekers started clearing the ropes, the score-board started moving at the required pace. After his departure, first De Grooth and then with Borren played top-class cricket. very unknown of the Dutch. They looked no less than a Hussey or a Taylor as they majestically wore down on the not-so-safe English total now. With the rate down to around 7 for the last six-overs, it looked a breeze for any top side. Their lack of top-class match-play notwithstanding, they worked the singles per ball well with the odd-boundary, as Doeschate came in for the final overs.
The rest is now history. Broad seems to lose his nerve, like when Yuvraj sent him for six over-boundaries in the first T20 competition. A win off his last ball this time with his overthrow.

Roundup before T20 World Cup

The growing legitimacy of this form of the game, certainly envisages great matches to come. As the stage shifts from the displaced glamor league to the sedate surroundings of the early english summer, all the big guns are here. Without Gilchrist, Hayden, Kumble or Tendulkar.

Ponting has the greatest to prove. Having held the One-Day and Test leadership for so long, it seems fitting that he should have this crown too. Instant planning and game-changing tactics are forming new ways in which this game is played. On technique and form he has as good a team as any other. Can he make a winning combination out of them in the Instant Game too ?

The "Cool-Dude" returns to the championship that laid the way for his legendary run through the last year. His greatest opponent will be fatigue, of playing too much? But it will be hunger of the younger lot in Raina, the Pathans and the Sharmas that will have to see to the glory. The bowling will be key, as will his own form. His tendency, of late, to juggle his own position has not always yielded as desired. But, that was the league, he has of course been at his best as the Indian captain.

He is the hungriest for a major championship as their talent has faltered at the 11th hour. His star batting lineup can't be matched. Smith, Gibbs, Kallis, De Villiers, Duminy, Merckel and Boucher is literally a dream on paper. But can they finally deliver the goods ?

Vettori is the quintessential cricketer. His bowling seems to be the epitome of the T20 game. Tie the batsmen down to create a false stroke. from him. The thinking captain of our times, can be harmonize the excellent talents of McCullum, Ryder, Guptill, Taylor,Oram, Franklin and Styris ?
As a debutant captain he will have his hands full with the varied talents of the seniors and juniors. Blending the temperaments of Murlitharan, Malinga, Jayasuriya, Mahroof et al will be well worth watching. With Jayawardene in fine nick, the Lankans can present a strong challenge to any team ...id

The laid back captain of the Windies is a strong supporter of this form of the game. But his team seems a headless bunch at the moment. But they can pull offf a surprise on their day.

With lack of International play over the past year puts this team a quite an unknown. Lets hope this tornament can help Pakistan get its place back in cricket's elite. With astonishing performances by Afghanistan recently, it can take some pride in that role.


As minnows of the big-league, they are not expected to do much. But if Shakib, Tamim or Asharful himself can turn any match around ...