WC T20 : New Zealand, West Indies start with a bang

Kiwis hold nerve in a tense victory :

Nathan McCullum proved he can hit big sixes just as well as brother Brendon as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets with a ball to spare in a thrilling World Twenty20 opener here Friday.

New Zealand, needing three runs to win with two balls to spare, saw McCullum, better known as an off-spinner, loft fast bowler Lasith Malinga for six over long-off.

Man-of-the match McCullum's superb shot saw New Zealand finish on 139 for eight in reply to Sri Lanka's 135 for sixIt capped a memorable day for McCullum, whose unbeaten 16 came off six balls. 

He'd earlier taken the new ball - just as Kiwi off-spinner Dipak Patel had done at the 1992 World Cup - and returned impressive figures of one wicket for 17 runs from his three overs.

Earlier Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat in humid conditions.But the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan, player of the tournament at last year's World Twenty20 in England, and Sangakkara himself could only manage seven runs between them.

Mahela Jayawardene made a typically stylish 81 off 51 balls - but this time in his debut as an opener - including two sixes and eight fours.

West Indies rout Ireland :

 

 Darren Sammy produced an awesome all-round display to lead the West Indies to a thumping 70-run victory over Ireland on Friday as the hosts got off to a strong start in the ICC World Twenty20.

Sammy's 30 off 17 balls supplied an important late surge to lead the West Indies to 138-9 off 20 overs after they won the toss and batted first at Guyana National Stadium.

In reply, Ireland was skittled for just 68, with the dynamic Sammy claiming one stunning second slip scorcher among four catches, as well as taking 3-8 with his medium pace.

Ravi Rampaul grabbed 3-17 to start the Ireland collapse.

The West Indies began shakily against the modest threat of Ireland, reduced to 83-5 after 13 overs.

Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a run-a-ball 24 and the top five batsmen all crossed double figures but Ireland kept a tight rein.

Left-arm spinner George Dockrell, the youngest player in the tournament at 17, claimed 3-16.

Gary Wilson, with a laborious 17 off 34 deliveries, was the only Irish batsman to reach double figures as the West Indies throttled the associate team. Ireland only scored 49 runs off the bat, with extras being the top scorer thanks to an errant West Indies attack.

Sammy fittingly ended the match with the scalp of Dockrell.

The home team's next match is against England on Monday at the same venue.

T20 WC Warm-up Matches

Afghanistan get off to a winning start :

Afghanistan put on a good display to defeat Ireland by five wickets on Wednesday as Dawlat Ahmadzai, Asghar Stanikzai and Mohammad Nabi starred in an ICC World Twenty20 warm-up game.

This was a particularly promising performance given the team had arrived into the Caribbean the previous evening after a two-day journey from Sharjah where the team had been holding a training camp.

Ireland made 133-9 off 20 overs, with John Mooney's 42 rescuing the innings after it had been 32-5 at one stage, as Dawlat Ahmadzai bowled a brilliant opening spell of 4-15.

Afghanistan in reply got off to a slow start and was struggling at 66-4, before Asghar Stanikzai (39 not out) and Mohammad Nabi (28 not out) transformed the match with a dynamic batting display. 

George Dockrell showed his promise with an excellent spell of 2-23, although fellow spinner Gary Kidd was less successful as he conceded 17 runs off his solitary over. 

Yardy and Bopara star in England victory :

Michael Yardy and Ravi Bopara helped their claims to win a starting place in England's line-up as it comfortably defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in a warm-up match for the ICC World Twenty20. 

Bangladesh was reduced to 126-7 off 20 overs, with Mahmudullah (38) the only player to cause England any major worries.

Yardy was in excellent form as he took 3-20, while James Anderson also impressed with two wickets in his spell.

Ravi Bopara then played an excellent innings of 62 off 49 balls, including eight boundaries, and although he fell just before victory was achieved, Paul Collingwood was able to seal the win with 32 not out.

T20 WC Warm-up Matches : Zim stun Aus

Zim stun Aus in warm-up game :

Zimbabwe yet again proved to be Australia's Achilles' heel in the shortest format of cricket as they notched up a shocking one-run win in a warm-up game at St Lucia on Tuesday.

In a repeat of the Twenty20 World Cup victory over Australia at Cape Town in 2007, the win provides Prosper Utseya's side with a massive boost ahead of the tournament.

Elton Chigumbura hit a blitzy 76 off just 33 balls to help his side reach 173 for seven off 20 overs. He hit five fours and six sixes and shared a 114-run paertnership with Craig Ervine (39) for the fifth wicket.

Australia responded in style as David Warner cracked a fine 72, and skipper Michael Clarke hit 49 before three late run outs saw them finish at 172 for seven, just one agonising run short of the Zimbabwe total.

Australia next play a warm-up match against local side Windward XI and will seek to fine-tune their game ahead of their opening Group A match against world champions Pakistan on Sunday.

  

Bangaldesh, NZ start with wins :

Bangladesh and New Zealand notched up comfortable wins in their warm-up games ahead of the start of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean on Friday.

Jesse Ryder smacked 64 off just 30 balls, including five sixes, to help New Zealand post 187 for five against Ireland in their warm-up game in Guyana. In reply, Ireland managed to score 147 for nine, losing the match by 40 runs.

In the second game of the day, Bangaldesh beat Barbados XI by 36 runs. Imrul Kayes hit 57 to help his side post 166 for five. 

In reply, Ryan Hinds scored a half-century for the local side, who finished at 130 for three.

Bangladesh are in Group A along with T20 world champions Pakistan and Australia. They play their opening game against Pakistan in St Lucia on Saturday.

New Zealand have been clubbed with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Group B and will play the opening game of the tournament against the Lankan lions on Friday.

Pak warm up with solid win :

Twenty20 world champions Pakistan got their campaign off to a winning start as they notched up an easy 68-run win over local side Windward XI on Tuesday.

Batting first, Pakistan scored 160 for the loss of seven wickets off 20 overs with Mohammad Hafeez top scoring with 57 off 40 deliveries.

In reply, Windward XI only managed to score 92 for four in 20 overs with all the Pakistani bowlers bowling a tight line, even though they did give away 11 runs in wides.

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamer returned figures of one for 13 from his four overs.

Pakistan will play their second practice match against Zimbabwe on Thursday. They take on Bangladesh in their opening Group A game on Saturday.

Twenty20 World Cup 2010 : Schedule & Timetable

Only 3 days left to the third edition of  T-20 World Cup. It will start from 30th April, 2010 in West Indies. There are three venues i.e. Barbados, Guyana and St Lucia selected for 27 matches of 17 days tournament.

For this event teams are divided into four groups A, B, C, D. The First Match of the tournament will be played on April 30, 2010 at Guyana and final will be played on 16th May 2010 at Barbados.

Some of the key information about this WC :

GROUPS DESCRIPTION :

Group A: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia 


Group B: Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Zimbabwe

Group C: South Africa, India, Afghanistan 


Group D: West Indies, England, Ireland

Table showing ICC Twenty20 (T20) World Cup 2010 Schedule :

 

Apr-2010
Fri 30 17:00 GMT, 13:00 local	1st Match, Group B – Sri Lanka v New Zealand Providence Stadium, Guyana
Fri 30 21:00 GMT, 17:00 local	2nd Match, Group D – West Indies v Ireland Providence Stadium, Guyana
May-2010
Sat 01 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	3rd Match, Group C – India v Afghanistan Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Sat 01 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	4th Match, Group A – Pakistan v Bangladesh Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Sun 02 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	5th Match, Group C – India v South Africa Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Sun 02 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	6th Match, Group A – Pakistan v Australia Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Mon 03 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	7th Match, Group B – Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka Providence Stadium, Guyana
Mon 03 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	8th Match, Group D – West Indies v England Providence Stadium, Guyana
Tue 04 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	9th Match, Group B – New Zealand v Zimbabwe Providence Stadium, Guyana
Tue 04 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	10th Match, Group D – England v Ireland Providence Stadium, Guyana
Wed 05 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	11th Match, Group A – Australia v Bangladesh Kensington Oval, Barbados
Wed 05 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	11th Match, Group C – South Africa v Afghanistan Kensington Oval, Barbados
Thu 06 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	13th Match – A1 v D2 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Thu 06 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	14th Match – C1 v B2 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Fri 07 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	15th Match – A2 v C2 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Fri 07 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	16th Match – B1 v D1 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Sat 08 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	17th Match – C1 v D2 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Sat 08 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	18th Match – A1 v B2 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Sun 09 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	19th Match – C2 v D1 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Sun 09 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	20th Match – B1 v A2 Kensington Oval, Barbados
Mon 10 13:30 GMT, 09:30 local	21st Match – B2 v D2 Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Mon 10 17:30 GMT, 13:30 local	22nd Match – A1 v C1 Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Tue 11 17:00 GMT, 13:00 local	23rd Match – B1 v C2 Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Tue 11 21:00 GMT, 17:00 local	24th Match – D1 v A2 Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Thu 13 15:30 GMT, 11:30 local	1st Semi-Final – TBC v TBC Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Fri 14 15:30 GMT, 11:30 local	2nd Semi-Final – TBC v TBC Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Sun 16 15:30 GMT, 11:30 local	The Final – TBC v TBC Kensington Oval, Barbados