Well needless to be said, New Zealand beat Pakistan yesterday by 110 runs which was their first victory in world cups since 1992 (the world cup since which I have been following). I still remember New Zealand losing two games to Pakistan in the 1992 world cup, one in the league stages and the other in the semi finals which saw their fans leave the stadium in tears. Since then, New Zealand have been losing to Pakistan in 5 occasions, two each in the 1992 and 1999 editions and 1 in 1996. Since then the two teams have never met in world cups at all.
For two world cups since 1999, Pakistan have never been able to cross the first round of the world cup and the teams had been grouped in such a way that Pakistan had no chance of meeting New Zealand in the league stages of the world cup. Of course, the teams have met in the T20 world cup in all three editions with Pakistan winning two and New Zealand one. Coming to the ICC champions trophy, which is also a world cup tournament, Pakistan and New Zealand have met thrice with New Zealand winning all three in 2000, 2006 and 2009.
Yesterday, Pakistan just paid the price for not being so alert on the field when they dropped the catch of none other than Ross Taylor who was instrumental in New Zealand's 92 runs off the last four overs that laid the platform for their victory. On the other hand, New Zealand's fielding was exactly the opposite of their Pakistani counterpart. There was a warning in that game against Sri Lanka when ones turned out to be twos, easy catches were dropped and run outs were missed. Finally, Pakistan had to settle with a 11 run win which should have been 50 runs or so.
A bowler who could take three consecutive 4+ wicket hauls and claim his best favorite shot to be "anywhere for six" could only take one gifted wicket of Guptill and score 17 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 188. It is just unfortunate for Pakistan to have such an inspirational captain who can hardly take responsibility when the situations demands a captain's knock similar to that of Steve Waugh. Afridi was one among the two six hitters from Pakistan but which was hardly of any use to his team. By winning the game against Pakistan, New Zealand made their presence felt after they had lost to Australia and were likely to lose yesterday as well.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
One winner and one loser theory
Well in any game and more so in cricket, one team has to win while the other has to lose. I specially cite cricket as an example in this regard for, chances of a tie are as rare compared to games like hockey and soccer. In cricket there is no or hardly any room for time out which is quite evident from the fact that till date no batsman has been out after taking to the crease after 1.5 minute as the rule goes. That aside, yesterday there was a game between Canada and Kenya which though was of little or no importance but there was a 50 over game.
There was 95% of the game that went by with one team taking home the honors and the other team a "best of luck in the next game". But, one thing that is to be seen and appreciated is the fact that the stadium was full despite the teams being just for the sake of it. One advantage of such a game would be that spectators do not come in support of any team unlike when it is the case when the teams playing are India and Pakistan. Cheers are heard all over irrespective of any tongue twister from Kenya scores a boundary or and Indian born Canadian takes a wicket.
Even whether gods seem to favor such games when a match between Sri Lanka and Australia gets washed out due to rain. People who come to stadium to watch such games should either be jobless or have to an avid cricket enthusiast. I totally forgot to mention that it is only for such games that tickets are available with minimum effort and may be at a lesser price compared to tough competitions. If the players battle it out on the field, spectators battle it out outside the stadium. But, this match seems to lack both onfield as well as off the field competition.
Speaking cricket, there was a 4 wicket haul taken by a Canadian bowler when Henry Osinde had figures of 4/26 from his allotted 10 overs. This saw Kenya losing all ten wickets but played their full quota of 50 overs allotted to them. If history is to be considered, then Kenya should have been found playing much more better cricket which two cups back saw them make it to the semis of the world cup after a lot of support from Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Likewise, even Canada have been involved in upsets when they beat Bangladesh in 2003 world cup and with a batsman in John Davidson who scored the fastest 100 of a world cup at that time.
There was 95% of the game that went by with one team taking home the honors and the other team a "best of luck in the next game". But, one thing that is to be seen and appreciated is the fact that the stadium was full despite the teams being just for the sake of it. One advantage of such a game would be that spectators do not come in support of any team unlike when it is the case when the teams playing are India and Pakistan. Cheers are heard all over irrespective of any tongue twister from Kenya scores a boundary or and Indian born Canadian takes a wicket.
Even whether gods seem to favor such games when a match between Sri Lanka and Australia gets washed out due to rain. People who come to stadium to watch such games should either be jobless or have to an avid cricket enthusiast. I totally forgot to mention that it is only for such games that tickets are available with minimum effort and may be at a lesser price compared to tough competitions. If the players battle it out on the field, spectators battle it out outside the stadium. But, this match seems to lack both onfield as well as off the field competition.
Speaking cricket, there was a 4 wicket haul taken by a Canadian bowler when Henry Osinde had figures of 4/26 from his allotted 10 overs. This saw Kenya losing all ten wickets but played their full quota of 50 overs allotted to them. If history is to be considered, then Kenya should have been found playing much more better cricket which two cups back saw them make it to the semis of the world cup after a lot of support from Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Likewise, even Canada have been involved in upsets when they beat Bangladesh in 2003 world cup and with a batsman in John Davidson who scored the fastest 100 of a world cup at that time.
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