Posted:
Cricket World Cup Round One
By DEAN WEDLAKE
ON a weekend in which Irish eyes were smiling and two subcontinent sides were left licking wounds, the Black Caps went quietly but effectively about their Cricket World Cup business.
There were no five-wicket bags or swashbuckling centuries, yet to the Black Caps went the spoils of an encouraging six-wicket victory over Group C rivals England.
In fact, no bowler took more than two wickets in restricting Michael Vaughan's men to 209-7.
Cynics often label James Franklin as a bowler who's only winning when the ball is swinging. In this case, results don't lie.
The Wellington left-armer became the first bowler in history to take a wicket with his first legitimate World Cup delivery - Ed Joyce caught behind for 0 - followed by castling captain Michael Vaughan in a crucial opening spell.
The old tired lines about Shane Bond possessing a license to thrill have worn thin, but his propensity for producing the goods have not.
Since the advent of 20/20 Cricket and scores soaring into the mid 300s at an increasing rate, spells of 2-19 off 10 overs are almost unfathomable. But Bond's deadly concoction of sharp pace mixed with clever slower balls was a potion too hard to swallow for the English, dismissing Kevin Pietersen for 60 before claiming danger man Andrew Flintoff first ball.
In captain Stephen Fleming, the Black Caps are gifted with the best in the business. Fleming's incredible nous and ability to think a few overs ahead of the game were wonderfully exhibited in the decision to bring Bond back on Flintoff's arrival. Three balls later, his side had the game by the scruff of the neck.
Lou Vincent is the sort of abrasive character who loves nothing better than proving an Aussie wrong, but probably not in this manner. Shane Warne, known as the King of Spin both on the pitch and for his infamously loose tongue, made a pre-tournament prediction that Vincent would finish as leading run scorer. His six-ball duck was hardly the way to vindicate Warne's comments.
Fleming and Ross Taylor, dismissed first ball courtesy of a gravity-defying slip catch by Flintoff, soon followed to leave New Zealand deep in the mire at 19-3.
Where most sides would fall into a deathly panic after such a collapse, it's no longer the case for a batting line-up with the tenacity and firepower of a Russian army and the depth to match.
Nowadays the thought is if Louey, Ross or Flem don't get 'em, then surely someone else will. Shrugging off a chronic shortage of recent runs, Scott Styris blasted a match-winning 87 not out off 113 balls, first in partnership with Craig McMillan's breezy 27 and finally in a 138-run fifth wicket stand alongside Jacob Oram's 63 not out.
Leaving England in their wake, the Black Caps now face potential banana skin fixtures against Kenya and Canada, before advancing to the Super 8.
Following bizarre losses by Pakistan and India to minnows Ireland and Bangladesh respectively, the once misty path to the semi-finals has cleared considerably.
http://www.times.co.nz/cms/sport/sports_news/2007/03/art1000 15842.php
By DEAN WEDLAKE
ON a weekend in which Irish eyes were smiling and two subcontinent sides were left licking wounds, the Black Caps went quietly but effectively about their Cricket World Cup business.
There were no five-wicket bags or swashbuckling centuries, yet to the Black Caps went the spoils of an encouraging six-wicket victory over Group C rivals England.
In fact, no bowler took more than two wickets in restricting Michael Vaughan's men to 209-7.
Cynics often label James Franklin as a bowler who's only winning when the ball is swinging. In this case, results don't lie.
The Wellington left-armer became the first bowler in history to take a wicket with his first legitimate World Cup delivery - Ed Joyce caught behind for 0 - followed by castling captain Michael Vaughan in a crucial opening spell.
The old tired lines about Shane Bond possessing a license to thrill have worn thin, but his propensity for producing the goods have not.
Since the advent of 20/20 Cricket and scores soaring into the mid 300s at an increasing rate, spells of 2-19 off 10 overs are almost unfathomable. But Bond's deadly concoction of sharp pace mixed with clever slower balls was a potion too hard to swallow for the English, dismissing Kevin Pietersen for 60 before claiming danger man Andrew Flintoff first ball.
In captain Stephen Fleming, the Black Caps are gifted with the best in the business. Fleming's incredible nous and ability to think a few overs ahead of the game were wonderfully exhibited in the decision to bring Bond back on Flintoff's arrival. Three balls later, his side had the game by the scruff of the neck.
Lou Vincent is the sort of abrasive character who loves nothing better than proving an Aussie wrong, but probably not in this manner. Shane Warne, known as the King of Spin both on the pitch and for his infamously loose tongue, made a pre-tournament prediction that Vincent would finish as leading run scorer. His six-ball duck was hardly the way to vindicate Warne's comments.
Fleming and Ross Taylor, dismissed first ball courtesy of a gravity-defying slip catch by Flintoff, soon followed to leave New Zealand deep in the mire at 19-3.
Where most sides would fall into a deathly panic after such a collapse, it's no longer the case for a batting line-up with the tenacity and firepower of a Russian army and the depth to match.
Nowadays the thought is if Louey, Ross or Flem don't get 'em, then surely someone else will. Shrugging off a chronic shortage of recent runs, Scott Styris blasted a match-winning 87 not out off 113 balls, first in partnership with Craig McMillan's breezy 27 and finally in a 138-run fifth wicket stand alongside Jacob Oram's 63 not out.
Leaving England in their wake, the Black Caps now face potential banana skin fixtures against Kenya and Canada, before advancing to the Super 8.
Following bizarre losses by Pakistan and India to minnows Ireland and Bangladesh respectively, the once misty path to the semi-finals has cleared considerably.
http://www.times.co.nz/cms/sport/sports_news/2007/03/art1000 15842.php
Hindi TV Shows
Bindi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Jodha Akbar
306