AUSTRALIA - Manager: Mustafa Khan
AUSTRALIA TAKE REVENGE ON THE SRI LANKANS
Australia have crushed the Sri Lankan team that had beaten them in the ODI World Cup in 96. Playing with home ground advantage and favourable conditions the Australians won the toss and chose to bat.
At the MCG the pitch was good for 'cricket'. There was something in it for the batsmen and bowlers. The Australians batted through the 1st day and a bit of the second. The Sri Lankans got the head start as ace paceman Chaminda Vaas got the openers cheaply. At a stage the Australians were 2-24. Darren Lehmann and Steve Waugh put things back in order for the Australians. Lehmann made a glorious 64 and Steve playing the HERO with a masterful 94 consisting of 11 boundaries. The Lankans could not follow up their start and Australia put up a big total of 316. Vaas was the best Sri Lankan bowler by far. He got mediocre figures of 4-69. Zoysa and Muralitharan got two wickets each.
The 1st Sri Lankan innings was a mess as they were bundled out for just 176 in reply to the massive 316. Shane Warne ruled the Sri Lankans with innings figures of 21-9-30-3. Off Spinner Robertson bowled well to get figures of 3-34. Gillespie captured 2 wickets for 18 runs.
The Australians did not enforce the follow on even with a lead of 140. The batting was even better than last time. The pitch by now had eased up completely for the batsmen and the Aussies made full use of it. Mark Waugh made a 123 and Darren Lehmann made yet another 100 this time 147*. He has been an inform batsmen for Australia in the league. He has a phenomenal league average of 80.33 off 5 tests. This talented player led Australia to yet another victory. The bowling was creamed by Waugh and Lehmann and only Vaas again got wickets. This time 3-67. The Australian innings was declared at 360 for 3.
The Sri Lankans saved some embarrassment by putting up a good show with the bat at the end. Kalu and Ranatunga both getting deserving 100s but it was too late. The Sri Lankans were never really in the hunt for the massive 500+ target. This time the captain Shane Warne got some treatment and returned with bad figures this time, 0-68 off 21 overs. Glenn McGrath took 4-72, Gillespie 3-40 and Bevan 3-46.
Captain Warne just after the match said, "I am happy with the good show we put up against Sri Lanka. They might be ruling ODI champs but we showed them what test cricket was all about. I think we did well with bat and ball. Now all eyes are on the next match where we face Warwick Todd's XI at home. I am looking forward to that particular match as we have something to prove against them as we suffered a humiliating loss at their hands at the beginning of the league. We are missing Healy but I hope Elliot can do the job be we definitely need a world class keeper to have success in the field. I believe we lack that at the moment as Healy is out with injury and Gilchrist is touring currently with the A team so we really have a problem."
The Australians are determined to win but do they have it in them?
ENGLAND - Manager: Dan Thomas
ENGLAND MARCH ON!
Unlike their real-life counterparts, England easily brushed aside South Africa by 10 wickets. Highlight of the performance was a masterly 167 by Hick, well-supported by Hollioake who scored 66. Bowling-wise England's stars were Cork with 9 wickets in the match and Gough with 5 in the 2nd innings. Set 72 to win in the 4th innings, Atherton and Stewart took just 13.1 overs to knock them off without losing a wicket.
Despite Warwick Todd's XI winning, England managed to pull away another point ahead and now have only 2 less bonus points than the Warwick Todd XI. England though still have to play the Warwick Todd XI and Pakistan for a 2nd time.
This week see England taking on West Indies who were thrashed by Zimbabwe. The continuing injury to Rhodes means Stewart will keep again and Hollioake maintains his place.
INDIA - Manager: Mat Kenneally
India confidently disposed of the Kiwis last week but with the season entering the middle rounds injuries could pose a threat to the top four goal set by the side earlier this year. The pressures of the one-day tournament are also becoming apparent with manager Mathew Kenneally's attention to tests down slightly. Mat said 'This week is going to be tough' with Sri Lanka in good form this is an accurate statement. However, with Dravid, Jadeja, Tendulkar and Harvinder Singh all running into form India should win.
NEW ZEALAND - Manager: Ben Buchanan
NEW ZEALAND LOSE AGAIN
New Zealand kept its winless record alive with yet another demorolizing loss, this time at the hands of a India. After a promising start on a delightful batting wicket, New Zealand scored 456 which seemed like a fair score. Spearman ammassed 115 while McMillan fell 4 runs short of his century.
But the New Zealand bowlers were then blown out of the game as India piled on 600+ runs to basically ensure victory. New Zealand lost the plot in the second innings to be bowled out for a meagre 130.
Vettori performed well with the ball once again. But its the pace attack that continues to worry the selectors. They look less menacing each time they take the field. The upcoming game against South Africa (battle for the wooden spoon) is a crunch match. New Zealand have the chance of jumping off the bottom of the table.
PAKISTAN - Manager: Nathan Porter
SOUTH AFRICA - Manager: Steve Hill
SRI LANKA - Manager: Keith McLeod
Another round, another loss for the hapless, and previously highflying, Sri Lankan cricket team. And team manager Keith McLeod appears at a loss as to how to fix the problems. Novice manager McLeod seems to have collapsed under the stress of a long season, and appears more unhinged by the week, leading to speculation in some quarters that the manager is experiencing serious psychological problems.
Despite the speculation, the performance of the Sri Lankans isn't as bad as it may seem. The Sri Lankans have had chances of wins in the last two rounds, although the batting has at times seemed brittle. The first innings effort by Sri Lanka against Australia was particularly feeble. Chasing a score of 311 in Australia's first innings, Sri Lanka were reduced to 138 for 9, before no. 11 Nuwan Zoysa arrived at the crease and proceeded to knock up an innings top score of a mere 26 runs.
The second innings saw a better effort, although centuries from wicketkeeper Kaluwitharana and out of form captain Arjuna Ranatunga were necessary to save an innings reeling at 57 for 5. A partnership of 214 was amassed before Sri Lanka's hopes were dashed. The last four wickets went in quick time. All out for 311, Sri Lanka falling, inevitably one must feel, 189 runs short. In an innings containing two centuries, only one other player made double figures, and this fact highlights the very inconsistencies which must be removed from the Sri Lankan game if they are to get back on track and notch up some wins.
This weekend the side heads to India searching for a win and some signs of light at the end of the tunnel. The return of form batsman Asanka Gurusinha provides some cheer to a side with all too little to be happy about.
WEST INDIES - Manager: Joshua Johnson
ZIMBABWE - Manager: Dave Hickey
A renewed Zimbabwe team travelled to Bridgetown to take on the under-performing West Indies team. Alistair Campbell won the toss and decided to bat first. The first session of a Test Match is never the best time to take on the Windies pace attack but at 3/111 Zimbabwe would have been quite happy at lunch. Houghton continued to shine after lunch but he lacked support as Zimbabwe made 280, with Houghton's 96 being the only score above 30. Ambrose carried the attack to finish with 4/52.
The West Indies slow over rate came back to haunt them late in the day as their innings started at 7:08 pm with eight overs to face. The in-form Mbangwa claimed the wickets of Samuels and nightwatchman Walsh to leave the Windies 2/16 at stumps.
The next day, Williams and Adams put together a 100 run partnership to have the Windies well placed at 2/108 before Mbangwa and Strang combined to take nine wickets between them as the West Indies were dismissed for 225.
With a handy 55 run lead, Zimbabwe now had a chance to bat the West Indies out of the match. However, Ambrose had other ideas and he dismissed Rennie and Grant Flower cheaply. Houghton came out to join Goodwin and they combined to put on a record 376 run partnership to seal victory. Campbell declared at 3/452 with Goodwin unbeaten on 236 and Houghton in the shed for 178.
The West Indies were set the impossible task of scoring 508 to win and despite good starts from Samuels, Lara and Ambrose, the West Indies could only muster 196, with Strang and Huckle picking up three wickets each. Zimbabwe had won by 311 runs but it was later revealed that Andy Flower and Adam Huckle had sustained injuries and were in extreme doubt for next week's vital clash with third placed Pakistan.
WARWICK TODD'S XI - Manager: Warwick Todd
The Round 9 clash between Warwick Todd's XI and Pakistan was a close and exciting match with the fast bowlers dominating on an unusually grassy Sydney wicket. Warwick Todd once again won the toss and despite the pitch looking to have something in it for the bowlers, he elected to fire up the barbie as Marsh and Wood went out to bat. Waqar Younis took the wicket of Wood with his eighth ball and followed up soon after with the wicket of Jones. This brought Warwick Todd to the crease and moments later the Pakistans were really celebrating as Todd departed after just one ball. Ground staff still repairing a nearby damaged balcony ducked for cover as Todd left the field. A spokeman later played down the incident, saying that Todd's match fines would more than cover the new damage to the dressing room.
The Todd XI were now 3/23 and Waqar had 3/12, with all victims caught behind. Border and Marsh saw off the new ball but soon after lunch Border and Ritchie were removed by Mushtaq Ahmed to leave the Todd XI wavering at 5/68. Marsh, Matthews, Zoehrer and Hughes managed to dig in and they eventually took the score to 222, much to the delight of Richie Benaud.
Pakistan did not find the going any easier and before too long they were in trouble at 2/9, then 4/42 and 5/66, with McDermott leading the charge. The tail also wagged for Pakistan and when their innings also ended at 222, ground staff were required in the Channel Nine box as Richie Benaud was now completely out of control!
After again losing Wood and Jones quickly, Marsh and Todd put on 73 runs. Marsh and then Border departed to leave the Todd XI at 4/91. A 94 run partnership between Todd and Ritchie steadied the innings and another gutsy innings from Zoehrer eventually saw the Todd XI reach 270. Wasim Akram took six wickets and Waqar Younis picked up another three.
With 20 overs remaining before stumps, a tricky session faced the Pakistan batsmen. Alderman made life very difficult and at stumps the Pakis were reeling at 2/39. The next day Alderman and Hughes continued the onslaught and by lunch Pakistan were doing it tough at 6/120. Inzamam, Moin, Akram and Saqlain tried to resist but Hughes wiped off the tail to dismiss Pakistan for 170 and leave the Todd XI victors by 100 runs.
The Todd XI will play 4th placed Australia next week in another tough grudge match. Meanwhile, England had little trouble with South Africa and next week take on the struggling West Indies team. Already it is very likely that the Round 15 clash between the Todd XI and England will decide this series.