New Zealand make their presence felt

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.

It Looks Like The Royal Challengers Aren't interested in Winning!!

A third consecutive loss in the tournament for a team that has all test playing players, who could not even make it even after the visitors gave as many as four lives to the hosts,one in the form of Taylor and three in the form of Wassim Jaffer.But,the home team had different plans I guess.First it was in the bowling department,which saw the Chennai Super Kings go past the 175+ mark,when the going seemed tough from the initial overs wherein the Chennai Super Kings were reeling at 102/3 in 15 overs,to see the Chennai Super Kings end up putting a total of 178/5,76 runs coming from the last five overs.And Dhoni,who was found to score at run a ball,was found blasting all over the stadium to end up with an individual score of 65 off just 30 balls.

And things were not difficult either for the Royal Challengers' team,when even test playing batsman of the caliber of Wassim Jaffer and Ross Taylor were found to dominate with the bat.And the great "Rahul Dravid" was found to get his second Golden Duck in the tournament.Dropping three catches didn't stop Royal Challengers from ending as losers for the third time in the series,all three at home.The score of the Royal Challengers' team comes out to be 55 for 8 with Jaffer's and Taylor's knock alog with 7 extras kept apart.

Well if there is one captain in M.S.Dhoni who could fight until the very end to see to that his team puts up a fighting total at the end,there was also a hopeless captsin in Rahul Dravid who could do nothing but wash his hands and accept defeat with both hands.

Royal Challengers Or Royal Losers?

After some consolation win against Mumbai Indians at Mumbai,there was some relief for the Royal Challengers team.Though the win not being a convincing one as far as the Royal Challengers were concerned,it could have been a motivation for the upcoming matches involving tough teams like Kings XI Punjab,Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Superstars.But,as a Banglorean,it was once again disappointing for me especially since the Royal Challengers were back to their routine of losing matches. And this time they did just the same,by forfeiting the match to Rajasthan Royals.The word Royal being common to both the teams out there.But,only one team emerged as Royals,and that being the Rajasthan team.

If not for Ross Taylor who scored 44 runs off 20 balls,it was as though the rest of them were playing a one day match over there.Most of the strike rates falling between 100 and 150 and some even in the range of less than 100.And as it usually happens with the Royal Challengers,six out of ten batsmen had strike rates of less than 100.And our gr8 Rahul Dravid could score nothing but a golden duck.It looks like the Wall has mistaken the word Golden duck with that of a goose that lays golden eggs.Ha ha Just kidding!!!