India Thrash Sri Lanka

India defeated Sri Lanka in 1^st One Day International, played at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, on 28 January 2009. Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first. Sanath Jayasuria made yet another century, scoring 107 runs of 166 balls. Sri Lankan Wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara (44) and Farvez Maharoof (35) helped build a decent total. Sri Lanka made 246/7 in their quota of 50 overs. Indian pacer Ishant Sharma took three wickets, while fellow pace-man Zaheer Khan and spinner Pragyan Ojha took one wicket each. India chasing 247 in their allotted 50 overs, got excellent start by Indian opener Guatam Gambhir (62) and one-down batsman Suresh Raina (54). Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (61 not out) guided his team to victory. Thilan Thushara, Farvez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan took 1 wicket each. India won 1^st match by 6 wickets, with 11 balls remaining. Sanath Jayasuria was judged Player of the math.

Check Out 1st ODI Scorecard – Match Scorecard

India defeated Sri Lanka in 2^nd ODI, played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 31 January 2009. Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. Indian opener Varender Sehwag (42) and one-down batsman Guatam Gambhir (27) provided good start. Yuvraj Singh made an elegant 66 of 100 balls, and stabilized Indian innings. Suresh Raina (29), Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (23) and Yusuf Pathan (21) made useful contributions. India made 256/9 in their quota of overs. Nuwan Kulasekara, Fervez Maharoof and Mendis took 2 wickets each. Tilekratne Dilshan grabbed 1 wicket. Chasing the target of 257 in their allotted overs, Sri Lanka had a rather shaky start of 36/3. Kandamby (93 not out) formed partnerships with Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawerdene (52), and Kapugedera (31) to steady the home-side. Kandamby could not complete his century, as wickets kept falling on the other end. Sri Lanka were all out for 241, 16 runs short of their target. Indian pacer Ishant Sharma took 4 wickets. Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar and Pragyan Ojha got 1 wicket each. India won the second match by 15 runs. Ishant Sharma was judged Player of the match.

Check Out 2nd ODI Scorecard – Match Scorecard

India defeated Sri Lanka in 3^rd One Day International, played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 03 February 2009. Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. India were struggling in the start on 24/2 in the 4^th over. Indian opener Verender Sehwag (116) and Yuvraj Singh (117) formed an excellent partnership of 221 runs, and completed their centuries. Yusuf Pathan, at a strike rate of 155.26, scored an elegant 59 of 40 balls. Yusuf Pathan established a decent 85-run partnership, with Indian Captain MS Dhoni (35). India made 363/5 (at 7.26 runs per over) in their allotted overs. Sri Lanan pacer Dilhara Fernano, Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan took 1 wicket each. Chasing 364 in their allotted 50 overs, Sri Lanka were not up to the challenge. Sri Lanka kept loosing wickets at regular intervals and long partnerships not materialized. Kumar Sangakkara (83) formed partnerships with Tilekratne Dilshan (31), Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawerdene (30) and Farvez Maharoof (22). But it was not enough and Sri Lanka were all out for just 216. Pragyan Ojha took 4 wickets, while Praveen Kumar grabbed 2 wickets. Zheer Khan, Verender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh picked 1 wicket each. India won the third ODI by 147 runs. Yuvraj Singh was judged Player of the match.

Check Out 3rd ODI Scorecard – Match Scorecard

India defeated Sri Lanka in 4^th ODI, played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 05 February 2009. Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. Indian opener Guatam Gambhir (150) and Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (94) provided the visitors with a dream start. They shared a 188-run partnership, as Guatam Gambhir scored an excellent century. MS Dhoni was out just 6 runs short of his hundred. Suresh Raina (49 not out) helped India post a gigantic total of 332/5, at 6.64 runs per over, in their quota of overs. Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara grabbed 4 wickets, while spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuria took 1 wicket each. Chasing 332 in their allotted overs, major Sri Lankan batsman had starts, Tilekratne Dilshan (38), Sanath Jayasuria (27), Kumar Sangakkara (56) and Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawerdene (28), but no one capitalized to take home-side to a win. Farvez Maharoof (28) and Nuwan Kulasekara (39) offered some resistance, but Sri Lanka were all out on 265. Indian pacer Irfan Pathan took 3 wickets, while Praveen Kumar and Verender Sehwag took 2 wickets each. Pragyan Ojha, Yusuf Pathan and Yuvraj Singh got 1 wicket each. India defeated Sri Lanka by 67 runs and took a lead of 4-0 in ODI series. Indian opening Batsman Guatam Gambhir was judged Player of the match.

Check Out 4th ODI Scorecard – Match Scorecard

Sri Lanka defeated India in 5^th ODI, played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 08 February 2009. Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawerdene won the toss and elected to bat first. Sri Lankan Batsmen Tilekratne Dilshan (97), Sanath Jayasuria (37), Kumar Sangakkara (84), Kandamby (26) and Farvez Maharoof (32) helped Sri Lanka post a healthy total of 320/8. In reply, India kept loosing wickets at regular intervals. Yuvraj Singh (73), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (53) and debutant Jadeja (60) were the noticeable scorers. India were all out for 252. Sri Lankan bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara, Farvez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mendis grabbed 2 wickets each. Sri Lanka defeated India by 68 runs and avoided the humiliation of series white-wash. Kumar Sangakkara was judged Player of the match. India won the series by 4-1.

Check Out 5th ODI Scorecard - Match Scorecard

India defeated Sri Lanka in Twenty20 International, played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 10 February 2009. Sri Lankan Captain Tilekratne Dilshan won the toss and elected to bat first. Sri Lanka made 171/4 (at 8.55 runs per over) in the allotted 20 overs. Sri Lankan innings was powere by Tilekratne Dilshan (61), Sanath Jayasuria (33) and Chamara Silva (21). Indian all-rounder Yousuf Pathan took 2 wickets. In reply, Indian innings was built around Suresh Raina (35) and Yuvraj Singh (32). India’s very own Pathan Brothers, all-rounders Yusuf Pathan (22) and Irfan Pathan (33) blasted the visiting-side to victory in 19.2 overs. Sri Lankan bowler Malinga Bhandara took 3 wickets. Yousuf Pathan was judged Player of the match. Yuvraj Singh was judged Player of the Series.

Check Out T20I Scorecard - Match Scorecard

Buy Cricket Tickets

Official ICC Website – International Cricket Council
Sri Lanka Cricket Official Website – Sri Lanka Cricket
Official BCCI Website – BCCI
Official BCCI TV Website – BCCI TV

Cricket Tickets

West Indies Defeat England In 1st Test

Cricket Tickets – Buy & Sell

West Indies defeated England in 1^st Test of The Wisden Trophy played at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. The 5-day test match started on February 04, 2009. England Captain Andrew Strauss won the Toss, and choose to Bat first. Former Captain Kevin Pietersen formed a nice-going partnership with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Kevin Pietersen (97) was dismissed just three runs short of a superb hundred. Andrew Flintoff (43) had steady partnership with English Wicket-keeper batsman Matt Prior (64). Ryan Sidebottom (26) remained not-out, as England were all-out for 318. West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn (4 wickets) and fellow pace-man Jerome Taylor (3 wickets) were the pick of the bowlers. West Indies pacer Daren Powell grabbed two wickets and West Indies Captain Chris Gayle picked one wicket.

West Indies Captain Chris Gayle (104) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (107) made centuries to guide home-side to a good start. Nash (55) and West Indies Wicket-keeper batsman Denesh Ramdin (35) helped home-team post a good total of 392/10, making a first innings lead of 74 runs. English pacer Stuart Broad enjoyed a five-wicket haul. Fellow pace-man Steve Harmison and English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff grabbed two wickets each. English spinner Monty Panesar got only one wicket.

England were all-out in their second innings for just 51 runs, their third ever lowest total. At one time it was obvious that England will be dismissed for lowest score ever. English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (24) was the only English batsman to enter double-figure. West Indies pace-man Jerome Taylor completed a five-wicket haul. West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn grabbed four wickets and fellow pacer Fidel Edwards took one wicket. Jerome Taylor was judged Player of the match.

Check Out Match Scorecard

Official ICC Website – International Cricket Council
Official ECB Website – England and Wales Cricket Board
Official WICB Website – West Indies Cricket Board

Buy Cricket Tickets

Australian Rule In ODIs Ends

For long Australia has been ruling Cricket World in both Test and One Day International Formats. At last days of Australian Rule in Cricketing World are over. South Africa defeated Australia to not only clinch ODI Series, but also overthrown Australian Rule from ICC Cricketing World. South Africa overcame odds in this 5-match series, defeating Australia 4-1.

South Africa scored 288/6 (power by Hashim Amla who hit an elegant 97, while AB de Villiers made 60 and Jean-Paul Duminy lashed 60 not out off just 42 balls) in the fifth and last ODI in the series. To save their long-lasting No. 1 spot, Australia had to chase 289 in 50-over math, at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground. Left-arm fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe sizzled on debut with four wickets as South Africa beat Australia by 39 runs in the fifth One-day International.

Tsotsobe removed Shaun Marsh (5) and Australian Captain Ricky Ponting (12) in successive overs. South African bowler Morne Morkel removed Vice-captain Michael Clarke (0) to leave Australia struggling at 3/35 in the 9^th over. David Warner’s (22) added more misery to the hosts. Michael Hussey (78) and Wicket-keeper Batsman Brad Haddin (63) led the Australian fight-back with their patient innings but it was cut short again by Tsotsobe who dismissed Michael Hussey for his third wicket of the evening. South African Captain Johan Botha and Jean-Paul Duminy kept things tight at the other end to keep the run flow in check. Duminy picked up the important wicket of Micheal Hussey’s Brother, David Hussey (32), while Tsotsobe claimed Mitchell Johnson for his four-wicket haul as the Australians crumbled to 249/10.

Australia dropped in ICC ODI Ranking after series defeat against South Africa. Australia have 122 Rating points, while South Africa have 125 Rating points. Hence South Africa now tops ICC ODI Rankings, beating Australia. It will be nice to see if South Africa are able to prolong their new-found Cricket Rule.

Check Out Match Scorecard

Check Out Current ICC Rankings

Cricket South Africa must be pleased with this performance of Proteas against Aussies. Cricket Australia definitely have to sort out matters, if Aussies want to glorify again as No. 1 in the Cricketing World. It will be really hard for Ricky Ponting’s fans all over the world, to be in this disastrous situation. But it is good for Cricket development and will boost interest other Cricketing Nations.

Visit Official ICC Website – International Cricket Council

ICC Centenary Website – Catch The Spirit 2009 | ICC Centenary

Buy Cricket Tickets