The World Cup enters its most crucial stage known as the Super 8s or Quarter Finals. The real tournament starts from here. The teams that are taking part at this stage are : West Indies, Ireland, Srilanka, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
Each team would play the other five teams once and depending upon the number of games that each side have won and the points that they carry over from each group, four teams would go to the semi-finals.
As of now, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Srilanka are the real contenders for the cup. But considering the fact that we have dark horses like England, and West Indies, we may expect a few dramatic upsets and maybe a really unexpected winner. I don't consider Bangladesh and Ireland as the contenders solely for the reason that in spite of them being talented teams, they lack the firepower to enter the Semis. If they do reach the Semis, it would be a cricket lover's delight.
So, for now, Let's sit and enjoy watching some exciting cricket matches.
The Fireworks begin:
The first quarter final between West Indies and Australia has been interrupted by rain.
Lara won the toss and surprisingly put Australia into bat. Although the West Indian bowlers contained the Aussie openers initially, Hayden, yet again, cut loose and scored a splendid 158(4 sixes and 15 fours). This was his second consecutive World Cup hundred. Clarke(41),Ponting(35), and Watson(33 n.o) also played some lovely cameos as Australia set West Indies a daunting target of 323 runs.
Highlights: Hayden was the star of the show yet again, he scored his second consecutive WC century. Considering the fact that he took 16 balls to get off the mark, it was a great and sensible knock. Hayden now becomes only the third Australian after Mark Waugh, and Ricky Ponting to score Hundreds in consecutive matches in a WC.
Lara's plan of containing Australia by using his slow bowlers( Gayle and Samuels) backfired miserably as they both were plundered for 87 runs off their 13 overs. This resulted in Australia scoring a mammoth 322/6 in 50 overs.
It now remains to be seen how West Indies would chase the target. If Chanderpaul, Gayle, Lara, or Samuels fire, we might have a great contest on the hands when the match resumes on March 28th. Until then just wait and watch.
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2 comments:
Cricket is a funny game mate. @0 dys back who would have thought tht the Irish and Bangladesh would move to the Super 8s.
At the moment the aim of the eight teams will be to win four of their six matches. The leaders of each group have an extra two points that might prove crucial.
Australia are sure to qualify for the semis. Places for the other three teams are wide open and New Zealand might provide a surprise. It will be a tight chase for the remaining two slots between the Proteas, the Lankans and West Indies.
England I feel might not make it, but then again you never know.
That is the beauty of cricket, you might love it or hate it, but you just cannot ignore it.
Hey Dude! Thanks for the comment. yes we should wait for the Quarters to end. Then only, we can atleast guess who the contenders would be
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