Cricket World Cup 2015 – end of an Indian dream

#cwc2015 #sydneycricketground #IPL #INDvsAUS From a win-win situation in the seven matches leading up to the semi-final clash with the Aussies at the Sydney Cricket Ground, it was a lose-lose situation for the Indians in CWC 2015 in Sydney. They first lost the toss, then they lost their way in the bowling department allowing the home team to pile on the miseries and, while batting to defend a 300 plus score, they lost the will to fight back. It was abject surrender all the way – most unlike the way they are known to fight back.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 26 March 2015.

One can safely assume that too much hype is bad for health of Indian cricket and this has been proved in the lead up to the forgettable 26th March 2015 – none of the Indian players would want to relive that day. It was a day of failures galore and captain M S Dhoni had no answer to the way the world crumbled around him and he remained a silent spectator to the downfall.
In fact, his run out has also raised questions – from all appearances, he could have made a last attempt to save the run-out but he did not. Obviously, he knew that he was battling for a lost cause and must have been missing the company of Suresh Raina and Ravinder Jadeja.
Should the blame lie with the bowlers who allowed the Aussies to hammer them at will and create a mountain of runs that was insurmountable? Or – should the blame be assigned to the batsmen who failed to rise to expectations? Those who had scored centuries earlier in CWC 2015 just did not deliver.
Anyway – their stint in foreign soil is over for the time being and they will return home to join the extravaganza known as IPL. The past would be a closed chapter.

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Nine medical students go to Syria, their families try to bring them back

First Russian woman cosmonaut returns to Earth after six-month stay in ISS

European court terms obesity as a disability

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Sunshine means Vitamin D – good for health in measured dose

Dhoni’s team remains unbeaten so far in CWC 2015

#CWC2015 #msdhoni #IrevsInd #dhawan #wewontgiveitback The Indian cricket team is making winning a habit and has won the fifth match in a row by beating Ireland. It was a convincing win and the men in blue have shown that the venue or country where the game is played is immaterial – it is the supremacy that matters. Winning is the bottom line and a determination to retain the Cricket World Cup that it had won in 2011. We won’t give it back!!
Ireland put up 259 runs and, at one time, it was presumed that they would go past 300 when the two Irish openers William Porterfield (67) and Paul Stirling (42) took their team off to a flier. But, Ravichandra Ashwin got his team the first breakthrough to break the 89-run stand as India. This has been reported in ibnlive.in.com dated 10 March 2015. Captain Dhoni brought Suresh Raina into the attack and he did not disappoint his skipper – he took the wicket of Ed Joyce (2).
Realizing that the fast bowlers were unable to make any dent in the Ireland lineup, Dhoni decided to go in for spin and succeeded in keeping the runs down – thereby, the Irish batsmen tried to break the shackles and failed. Mohammad Shami was the pick of the bowlers (3 for 41) while Ashwin's 2 for 38 gave him good support. Other bowlers also chipped in and ensured that the final target was a reasonable one.
Anyway, when India began the chase, openers Shikhar Dhawan (100) and Rohit Sharma (64) laid a good foundation and India romped home with 79 balls to spare.

A few more must reads -
European court terms obesity as a disability
Save environment ban thermocol
Two years after Nirbhaya rape case in New Delhi, rapists still free
Sunshine means Vitamin D – good for health in measured dose
Maharashtra could soon have unpaid sweepers cleaning government offices

India on a wining streak in CWC 2015 – beat West Indies at Perth

#CWC2015 #kapildev #INDvsWI #captaincool It was the fourth win in a row for India as they beat West Indies in the CWC 2015 at Perth – thanks to captain cool M S Dhoni who ensured that the target of 182 was chased down in spite of hiccups caused by the top order not contribute much to the cause. This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 6 March 2015.
In the West Indies camp also it was its captain Jason Holder who ensured that the team put up a decent score in spite of failures of his batsmen. He scored 57 runs out of the total of 182. It was same score as in 1983 when India, under the captainship of Kapil Dev, defended it down to cause a major upset – India finally won the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
At one time it was thought that it would be a repeat performance of 1983 – if the Indies defended it and the Indians failed to win. However, Dhoni was at the crease to ward off such an end.
Anyway, it was India’s bowling that played havoc so that the West Indies got bundled out for a paltry 182 in 44.2 overs. It was Mohammed Shami (3/35 in 8 overs) who was responsible. He managed to get both Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle out of the equation. He was ably supported by Umesh Yadav (2/42 in 10 overs), Mohit Sharma (1/35), Ravichandran Ashwin (1/38) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/27).

Auckland sees nail biting finish to the Australia New Zealand thriller in CWC 2015

#CWC2015 #MitchellStarc #AusvNz #kiwis #wallabies Cricket is called the game of glorious uncertainties, more so the short ODI version – and this was once again proved in Eden Park, Auckland in the CWC 2015 match between Australia and New Zealand. Having bundled the mighty Australians out for just 151 when scores of 300 plus was becoming the norms, it was expected to be a simple and easy sailing home for the Kiwis but that was not to be as has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 1 March 2015.
It was the left arm quick bowler Mitchell Starc who spoilt the show for the home team because of the never say die attitude of the Aussies. But, he could not prevent the final outcome since New Zealand's Kane Williamson saw the Kiwis home by hitting a mighty six off bowler Pat Cummins to clinch the epic World Cup clash with just one wicket to spare.
The match could have gone the Aussie way – it was a matter of getting the last wicket.
Mitchell Starc returned figures of 6 for 28.
Pat Cummins became the villain of the day for the Wallabies.

Two great knocks so far in CWC 2015 – Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers

#CWC2015 #abdevilliers #chrisgayle #rohitsharma First of the great unbelievable knocks of CWC 2015 came from the West Indies batsman 35-year-old Chris Gayle who is well known for his hard hitting abilities. In the game against Zimbabwe, Chris hammered 215 runs in 147 balls - it included 16 sixes to match the record for most sixes in an ODI innings. This record is shared by India’s Rohit Sharma and South Africa’s AB de Villiers. This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 24 February 2015.
The second of the wonderful knocks this World Cup was that of AB De Villiers in the match between South Africa and West Indies.
The Proteas captain AB de Villiers hammered 162 not out in just 66 balls to floor the West Indies. It included 17 fours and 8 sixes and was a grand show of how cricket can be played to the galleries. The fans flock to the venues to watch those magnificent sixes and applaud every shot – sometimes the runs come through flukes, sometimes due to poor fielding but, when shots are lofted high and beyond the reach of players, they are a treat to watch.
De Villiers put on the fastest ever 150 in ODI cricket - in just 64 balls – and South Africa had 408 runs on the board by the time the show ended. This is as per report in ibnlive.in.com dated 27 February 2015.
These are all Pool B matches in which India is also there – let us see if any Indian batsman can create a new record in CWC 2015.

India breaks the World Cup jinx – beats South Africa convincingly in CWC 2015

#CWC2015 #INDvsSA #Dhoni #Proteas #MCG India had never beaten South Africa in any Cricket World Cup matches till it finally happened in Melbourne when India beat them convincingly by 130 runs as reported in zeenews.india.com dated 23 February 2015.
It was a wonderful win coming on the back of the win against arch rivals Pakistan and with twin wins under his belt, captain M S Dhoni is a much relieved man – thanks to his team delivering on all fronts. While the batsmen put on the runs on the board to reach a huge score of 307 runs, his bowlers kept chipping off at the South Africans till their miseries ended by the 41st over. They could not last for the full 50 overs.
Shikhar Dhawan’s 170 coupled with 79 by Ajinkya Rahane happened in the morning session when Dhoni chose to bat after winning the toss. And, in the afternoon it was Ravichandra Ashwin with his 3 wickets followed by 2 wickets each by Mohit Sharma and Mohammad Shami that brought the win for India. The Proteas were left wondering what had hit them!!
Before the start of the game, there were fears that Dale Steyn would create havoc but, the fears were unfounded because Indian batsmen played him to perfection and he managed to bag only one wicket for 55 runs.

Kiwis beat England in CWC 2015 – finished 50 over game in just under 13 overs

#CWC2015 #timsouthee #NZvsENG #wellington It all happened in Wellington when New Zealand took on England in their Pool A match – England won the toss and opted to bat first and did not know the miseries that the Kiwis would pile on them as reported in indianexpress.com dated 21 February 2015.
It was a devastating spell by Tim Southee that sealed England’s fate when they went out for a score of just 123 in 33.2 overs. Southee returned figures of 7 for 33.
Then it was the turn of Brendon McCallum to show his class when he hammered the England bowlers to all corners of the stadium at will to score a quick fire 50 – he did it in 18 deliveries. It was the third fastest in the history of one-day internationals after A.B. de Villiers (16 balls) and Shahid Afridi (17).
He ultimately scored 77 in only 25 deliveries by hitting eight fours and seven sixes. It was the third straight win for New Zealand in Pool A within seven days and the game ended before the floodlights had been turned on in the day-night match.
England had earlier lost its opening match by 111-run against Australia and now face a tough task to remain in reckoning in the CWC 2015.