Irish praying for South Africa 'hangover'

KOLKATA: The World Cup bandwagon has moved into Kolkata, the last of its 13 venues, and it was Ireland who got the first call at the storied Eden Gardens on Sunday afternoon, 48 hours before they take on mighty South Africa.



Having made the cricket world sit up and take notice by qualifying for the second round of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, Ireland kicked off their campaign in the 2011 edition with a disappointing 27-run loss to Bangladesh.



Five days later, they pulled of the biggest coup of the tournament by chasing down a World Cup-record 327 against heavyweights England. But since then the ICC's associate member nation has flattered to deceive.



With just two points in their kitty and only two matches to play, including the one against the Proteas, not even some divine intervention may help Ireland advance to the second stage this time (quarterfinals in this case, as against the Super Eights in 2007). One can imagine the Irish taming the Dutch, but do they have it in them to topple strong contenders South Africa?



"We know South Africa are one of the favourites to win this World Cup... Hopefully, they will relax a bit (on Tuesday) and give us a chance... May be they'll have a couple of hangovers (from the nail-biting last-over win against India on Saturday night)," was how 35-year-old Ireland all-rounder Andre Botha summed up their predicament before Sunday's practice session.



The Irish are coming off a 44-run defeat at the hands of the West Indies, a game in which they looked to be in business till the 37th over of their chase of 276 before completely losing the plot. "It's not just the West Indies game, we were in with a chance even against Bangladesh and India but failed to get over the line."



As Botha explained, there were no expectations from the Irish in the 2007 event as the side was made up mostly of amateur cricketers. "This time the expectations are far more, that's why it's been even more disappointing to lose those three games from good positions."



Be that as it may, the Irish players are gritting their teeth to bite hard one more time. "We know we have to win the last two games and we are not going to back out... Everyone's up for the challenge."



Brave words from one of the senior pros of the team, but whether they indeed have the class to match the Proteas is something we'll reserve our comment on for the time being.

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Fans seeking tickets lathicharged in Nagpur

Fans clamoring to buy tickets for the India-South Africa match on Saturday, March 12, were lathicharged outside the Vidarbha Cricket Association in Nagpur on Tuesday morning. (Watch)



There had been a big crowd outside the stadium since the ticket counters opened at 9am. Many people had even been waiting in line since last night.



Reports said the police had to resort to a kind lathicharge several times since morning to manage crowds at the ticket sale counter which has been closed for now.



The Nagpur stadium’s capacity is 45,000 seats, of which 26,000 seats are open for the general public and the tickets are being sold for Rs. 300, 600 and 1000.



There is heavy police deployment at the site.



Late last month, police had lathi charged thousands of fans at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore as they waited to buy tickets for the India vs England match.

Cricket World Cup 2011: Irish press in purple haze as England shocked in Bangalore

Ireland's force down have lavished praise on the heroes of Bangalore following their stunning win with England, but the news has yet to filter through to Wexford, Limerick and Galway.

"I think anyone is going to resist to beat that. I'll say that all night. 100 off 50 balls in a World Cup in front of a billion people under lights against England, it doesn't get any better.”

So said Kevin O'Brien, resplendent with purple hair, following his stunning century against England team in Bangalore on Wednesday. He is, unsurprisingly, the leading light in Ireland's broadsheets today.

Ian Callendar, the Belfast Telegraph's cricket reporter, has seen Ireland's stock rise on the international scene. He is set to get even busier after their impressive win, which features four Northern Ireland cricketers.

Meanwhile, in the same paper, Stormont's political leaders are quick to heap praise on Ireland as a celebrated achievement.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: “There are few who would have thought it probable that Ireland could have better on their achievements at the last World Cup."

"Record Breakers" is the headline the Irish Independent, who also list the XI heroes who became the toast of Bangalore.

O'Brien's brother, Ger, seems to gather most notice and he told the paper that "something gets into us when we play the English.

"I was watching and suddenly Kevin got going and turned the match benefit down. Niall and Kevin are dedicated. They were bred for it."

William Porterfield's side also lead the reporting in the Irish Examiner, who splash with "Fighting Irish stun the world".

"Memories of 2007, and comparisons with the World Cup victory over Pakistan in Jamaica will inevitably be made. But this was even better," writes Nick Royle.

Ireland's win though didn't filter through to all parts of the island. The Munster Express opts for Hurling while Gaelic Football leads the lines in the Limerick Leader. Can't win 'em all.

I learnt a lot from watching Waqar and Wasim – Malinga

Sri Lanka fast bowler, Lasith Malinga, who became the first bowler in World Cup history to take two hat-tricks, has said that he learnt to bowl his deadly yorkers by watching Pakistan's legendary pair of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Malinga ran through the hapless Kenya batting to take a career best 6 for 38 runs, and pick up the Man-of-the-Match award, as the opposition crumbled under his assault for a mere 142 runs.

"This is a slow pitch and bouncers will not work so I decided to go for yorkers," Malinga said. "I didn't have any idea of how to bowl a yorker when I first came into the national team but I was taught how to bowl them by Champaka Ramanayake and Rumesh Ratnayake (two former Sri Lanka fast bowlers).

"I also watched Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis bowl and I learnt a lot from them."

Malinga missed his side's opening two matches with a sore back, but came back strongly to take the wickets of Tanmay Mishra, Peter Ongondo and Shem Ngoche with successive, full, swinging deliveries, with the latter two having their stumps rearranged. His hat-trick was spread over two overs - the last ball of his seventh and the first two balls of his eighth. In all, four of his six victims were bowled and the two others were trapped lbw.

In the 2007 World Cup, Malinga grabbed the headlines with four in a row against South Africa at Guyana. "I rate the performance in South Africa with four wickets in four balls as the best. But I am happy that I got six wickets today which was my career best."

Malinga stated that he could have played in the second match against Pakistan but did not on the advice of the team physio, Tommy Simsek. "I was sad and also lazy when I was not playing the first two matches. I didn't play because I was not fully recovered."

He said that he was happy to perform the way he did in front of the Sri Lankan public. "I didn't have much hopes to play for a long time when I was coming to cricket. My only aim was to contribute as much as I can to the team whenever I play for them. I will give my 100 percent in whatever the game I participate. That makes me happy.

"I have played for the national team for the past seven years. A lot of people have said that I would not be able to play for a long time (due to injury concerns). But I am happy to have played for the last seven years."

Contemplating his future the 27-year-old fast bowler said, "I don't know how long I could play, but I am happy to contribute to the team whenever I play. I believe I can still play Test cricket after considering my injury concerns. When I feel that I can't do anything for the team, I will happily retire."

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Cricket World Cup 2011: Zimbabwe v Canada, match report

Group A: Zimbabwe (298-9) beat Canada (123-9) by 175 runs

Zimbabwe jagged up their first World Cup win as they inflicted a 175-run defeat on Canada through their Group A clash at Nagpur.

Tatenda Taibu (98 off 99 balls) and Craig Ervine (85 off 81 balls) helped Zimbabwe survive a scorching start with a 181-run stand and despite Balaji Rao's four wickets, they posted a strong 298.


In reply, spin claimed all 10 Canadian wickets, as Ray cost and Graeme Cremer picked up three apiece while Prosper Utseya and Greg Lamb each grabbed a brace to bowl the minnows out for 123, leaving Zimbabwe comfortable victors with eight overs left.

Khurram Chohan got Canada off to the perfect start dispatching Brendan Taylor for a first-ball lbw and Zimbabwe were seven for two with Charles Coventry's dismissal for four.

Taibu restored arrange for his side, racing to a 46-ball 50, as he and Ervine ensured Zimbabwe cruised during the middle overs.

Ervine smashed six boundaries and two sixes before being fixed behind for 85, while Taibu was unkindly left two short of his 100, caught by John Davison, with Balaji grabbing both wickets.


Runs continued to pour, even though Canada picked up wickets steadily in the closing overs, with Elton Chigumbura (five), Sean Williams (30), Lamb (11), Utseya (22) and Cremer (26) perishing in the quest for quick runs.

Zimbabwe too chosen up early wickets with Davison bowled by Price in the second over.

The left-arm spinner tripled his compute in the sixth over, first catching Nitish Kumar - the youngest World Cup player to date - off his own bowling before having skipper Ashish Bagai wedged for a first-ball duck.

A 43-run partnership between Jimmy Hansra (20) and Ruvindu Gunasekera (24) lifted Canadian hopes but they departed in successive overs, to Utseya and Lamb in that order.

Rizwan Cheema shattered two boundaries and a six for his 14, but could not build on that, falling to Utseya, with Chohan following soon after for eight.

Zubin Surkari top scored for Canada with his 26 off 48 balls but that only delayed the inevitable.

2011 ICC Cricket World Cup: India - England Match Ends In A Tie

Cricket Update on iSport: There couldn't have been a better end to one of world cups' most thrilling match, than a tie. India and England both scored 338 in game in which both the teams just refused to give up till the very last ball was bowled.


Sehwag was dropped on the very first delivery of the match by Swann and he opened his account with boundary on the first ball. Sehwag continued to live dangerously while Sachin was rock solid at the other end. Sehwag departed with score reading 46 in the 8th over. He scored quick fired 35 of 26 deliveries (6 fours). Sachin was at his vintage best as he made England bowlers look helpless.  He took on Swann, smashing 3 sixes off him, 2 of which came in consecutive deliveries. Tendulkar paced his innings well, starting cautiously and cutting loose once he got his eye in. He scored his 47th One Day hundred off 103 balls, with a boundary off Bresnan. He was supported well by Gambhir (51 of 61, 5 fours) and Yuvraj (58 of 50, 9 fours). Sachin's magnificent innings finally came to an end when the Master Blaster was dismissed on 120(115 deliveries, 10 fours, 5 sixes). Skipper Dhoni chipped in with useful 31 of just 20 balls (3 fours and a six). India, however, collapsed in the death overs, losing 5 wickets in last 4 overs. India was bowled out for 338 in 49.5 overs. Bresnan got a 5 wicket haul, while Anderson was smashed all over the park, conceding 91 runs in 9.5 overs.


England gave a fitting reply with openers adding 68 in just 9.3 overs. It was then that Munaf Patel took an absolute blinder to get rid of the dangerous Kevin Pieterson. However, no Indian bowler looked in rhythm as Strauss kept on picking boundaries easily, almost every over. Jonathan Trott was dismissed cheaply and India felt they were in when England were at 111-2. Ian Bell, who came out at no. 4 was lucky to be given not out by the third umpire when he decided to review the decision of on-field umpire of him being judged LBW. The ball was seen clipping his stumps quite clearly in the television replays. This error caused India the match as he went on to score match defining 69(71 balls, 4 fours and 1 six) and also built crucial 170 run partnership with his captain Andrew Strauss. England looked like they would run away with match, being comfortably placed at 281-2. Then suddenly things began to change drastically. Strauss opted for batting powerplay in the 43rd over. Dhoni turned to his most experienced pacer in this hopeless situation. This paid huge dividends as Zaheer picked up Bell and Strauss on consecutive deliveries. Strauss was out on 158. In no time, England crumbled to 289-6. Runs suddenly dried up and they could score only 25 in the 2nd batting poweplay. England now hoped for a miracle to win as they needed 31 from the last 2 overs, and miracle did come in the penultimate over as Piyush Chawla was hit for two sixes in his last over. Piysuh did manage to remove Bresnan on the last ball of his spell. England now required 14 off the last over, with two tail enders, Swann and Shahzad in the middle. Munaf bowled an ordinary over being hit for a six straight over his head on the third delivery by Shahzad, and England needed just 5 runs off 3 balls. Shahzad managed to take a single of the next ball and Swann took doubles off next two deliveries. England needed two from last deliveries, but Swann could take only a single and match ended tied between two well deserving teams.

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Bangladesh Vs Ireland : Out Of the Park

DHAKA: The Group B match between Bangladesh and Ireland turned out to be a bowler-dominated one as ball failed to fractious the boundaries during the both innings at Shere Bangla Cricket Stadium on Friday.

A total of 31 boundaries and one six were hit throughout the whole match where Bangladeshi batsmen hit 18 boundaries while Ireland batters scored 13 boundaries and a six.

Bangladeshi opening batsman Tamim Iqbal hit the most number of boundaries, i.e. seven, during the match while the only six of the match was hit by Kevin O’Brien of Ireland.

For our esteemed viewers, The Sports Encounter is posting the official highlights of the total number of boundaries hit during the match compiled by the EspnStar Sports.