Tag: West Indies

Cricket World Cup: New Zealand v West Indies – QF 4 Review

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The Black Caps were handsomely rewarded for their selection loyalty to opener Martin Guptill when the much maligned right-hander plundered a New Zealand best 237*, to guide his side to  victory over the West Indies and into the Cricket World Cup semi-finals.

Guptill was constantly under fire prior to the tournament; criticised for his slow starts and inconsistent form, he was fortunate that his team were winning games, buying him more time, and affording him the luxury of an extended time in the side to work on his game.  It paid off in spectacular fashion tonight at Wellington’s Cake Tin stadium.  Guptill’s double is the first by a New Zealand batsman, and comfortably tops Chris Gayle’e earlier tournament effort as the highest ever World Cup score.

It was breathtaking viewing.  Straight drives, powerful leg side flicks and exceptional square cuts personified the impressive control Nuptial had on proceedings, and set the tone for New Zealand’s 393 for 6,  Facing the first and last ball of the innings, Guptill got his runs in conventional fashion.  No reverse sweeps, switch hits, paddles or scoops, just excellent cricket shots perfectly placed and timed well.  The 237 featured over 160 runs in boundaries with 24 fours and 11 sixes to Guptill’s name.

To an extent the fabulous innings masked another bizarre Ross Taylor innings – his tournament strike rate is now languishing at just 60.88 – and papered over some Brendon McCullum form cracks too.  Mccallum departure early again, this time for just 12, but it should have been Guptill departing early.  Third ball of the game Marlon Samuels put down a catchable chance, that would go on to cost them some 233 runs.  (Not quite the most expensive drop in ODI history as Rohit Sharma was also put down on 4 when he amassed 264).  Williamson solidified for a moment but then fell to an Andre Russell slower ball for 33.  That brought Taylor to the crease, who is now a major worry ahead of their South African semi-final showdown at Eden Park on Tuesday.  He scratched his way to a useful 40 in the circumstances, but looked afraid of getting out, afraid of trying to up the ante, and was part of a host of running between the wicket mishaps.  The running was eventually his downfall as a misunderstanding led to his run out, but also allows the Black Caps to insert Corey Anderson, Grant Elliot, Luke Ronchi and Dan Vettori who all pitched in.

Guptill’s effort was only marginally short of the entire West Indies team effort as they came out swinging in an aggressive pursuit of the ominous total. Perhaps thinking it was still a Pool game and net run rate was important the Windies went at better than 8 runs an over throughout.  Despite regular wickets the West Indies to a man swung wildly at anything loose in a tactic that unsettled New Zealand and saw them concede far too many boundaries.  Even the ever reliable Vettori took some tap.  Gayle’s 61 was a highlight, as were Trent Boult’s four wickets and Vettori’s spectacular boundary rope catch to dismiss Marlon Samuels.

None of those players could overshadow man of the match Martin Guptill though.  New Zealand make another World Cup semi-final but for the first time enter it with a real belief that they could win it.  They head to Auckland for Tuesday’s encounter along with the three other strongest teams in the tournament.  Cricket fans desperately hoping for semi-finals that are closer than the quarters were.

New Zealand 393 for 6 (Guptill 237*, Taylor 3-71) beat West Indies 250 (Gayle 61, Boult 4-44) by 143 runs

Cricket World Cup: New Zealand v West Indies – QF 4 Preview

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A semifinal spot against South Africa in Auckland awaits the winner of the final World Cup quarterfinal.  It would be cruel to not see New Zealand there, at Eden Park, in front of a huge home crowd.  But that’s exactly what the West Indies will be looking to achieve when they bring their enigmatic game to Wellington for the first time in the tournament.

Betcirca brings you all the key information for the New Zealand v West Indies quarterfinal.

The Last Time These Two Met

In late 2013, early 2014 New Zealand and the West Indies faced off in a series that became famous for one person rather than one match.  It was Corey Anderson, and his record breaking hundred in Queenstown.  That was the last time the sides have met in one day internationals.  The series was split 2-2, with the final game decided in West Indies favour by a whopping 203 runs.

The Teams

New Zealand (likely): 1 Brendon McCullum (capt), 2 Martin Gupill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Adam Milne.

Adam Milne is fit and will replace big Mitchell McClenaghan in the only change for the Black Caps from the team that beat Bangladesh.

West Indies (likely): 1 Chris Gayle , 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Jonathan Carter, 5 Lendl Simmons, 6 Denesh Ramdin 7 Darren Sammy, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Jason Holder, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Sulieman Benn

Chris Gayle will play even if he’s 15% fit, he’s that important to their chances.  He’s been in and out of training all week but we believe he’ll be available to open with Johnson Charles.  Sulieman Benn will probably be included instead of Kemar Roach as a slow bowling option alongside all the seam bowlers.

The Key Players

Kane Williamson – Last time at bat, Kane Williamson scored a solitary run. It was his first single figure score in 24 innings.  It was the first time since Boxing Day 2013 (ironically it was against the West Indies).  We predict it won’t happen again at this World Cup.  This incredibly humble, intelligent and unflappable batting talent will bounce back with big runs today.  It’s in his nature, it’s in his mind.

Jason Holder – Twenty-three year olds are generally only found in the crowds of Cricket World Cup quarterfinals.  Not leading their side amongst selection wrangles, pay wrangles and Twenty20 franchise distractions.  However, Holder has excelled in his role and is one of the genuine finds of the 2015 World Cup.  He’s has wickets to his name, runs beside it and has garnered the respect of the cricket world.  He’s the key for the West Indies today.  How will his game and captaincy compare to Brendon McCullum.

The Match Odds*

New Zealand – $1.28

West Indies – $3.70

*Courtesy of Ladbrokes Australia.

The Prediction

New Zealand should be able to continue their tournament momentum with a win in Wellington.  While the conditions won’t suit their bowlers as well as they did when they played England at the Cake Tin, they’ll still have the class to take top order wickets and restrict the West Indies batsman.  New Zealand by 60 runs or 4 wickets.

The Best Bets

Williamson doesn’t fail twice in a row.  Get on him to Top Score @ $4.25.

Jerome Taylor loves playing New Zealand (would you believe he has a Test match century to his name against them?).  He can bowl too.  He’s paying $3.75 to be the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies.

 

Cricket World Cup Day 29 Recap

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The Cricket World Cup has officially reached knockout stages after the Pool games wrapped up yesterday.  The West Indies and Ireland sealed the final two quarterfinal spots in Pool B with effortless wins against UAE and Ireland respectively.

The quarterfinals are now confirmed as:

Sri Lanka v South Africa

India v Bangladesh

Australia v Pakistan

New Zealand v West Indies

Here’s how yesterday’s games panned out.

Day 29 Results

1. West Indies v UAE

The West Indies put their indifferent form and the threat of Cyclone Pam behind them to comfortably seal their place in the Cricket World Cup quarterfinals with a win over the UAE in Napier.

Needing to progress their net run rate and beat impending rain, the West Indies did everything right after winning the toss and dismissing the UAE quickly.  It could well have been even quicker after the associates were 6/46; Jason Holder doing most of the damage.

There was a slight recovery.  Amjad Javed and Nasir Aziz were the architects; the pair adding 107 for the 7th wicket and extending the match for the brave souls that did turn out to a rather grey McLean Park.  Aziz’s innings was particularly surprising given his highest first class score is just 4.  Both Aziz and Javed notched fifties, delaying the inevitable, and causing the West Indies to nervously glance skywards as the partnership progressed.

The West Indies easily reach the mediocre target.  They needed to chase it within 33 overs to ensure a playoff position (barring a tie on the later Adelaide game), and managed to do with 3 overs to spare.  The relatively unused extended squad members, Johnson Charles and Jonathan Carter, did the bulk of the scoring.  Charles looked frenetic, Carter composed as their fifties atoned for Chris Gayle’s absence.

The West Indies set a date with New Zealand in Wellington where they’ll believe anything can happen.

West Indies 176 for 4 (Charles 55, Carter 50*) beat UAE 175 (Aziz 60, Javed 56, Holder 4-27) by six wickets

2. Pakistan v Ireland

Ireland’s fairytale run in the Cricket World Cup came to an abrupt end when they were well-beaten by Pakistan in the final Pool game of the tournament.

After witnessing the West Indies dispatch the UAE, Ireland needed at least a tie to make it through to a knockout match but failed to summon the batting performance necessary to test a vulnerable Pakistan batting unit.  William Porterfield (107) fought bravely, but lacked support in a total that appeared to be 50 short of a competitive score based on the surface, and 80 short based on the Irish bowling attack.  What Riaz the best bowler with three wickets, with the other 7 shared amongst Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali, and others.

In reply, Pakistan never threatened to let nerves get the better of them.  They chased the total with remarkable ease to set up a quarterfinal against tournament favourites Australia.  Sarfraz was the star of the show.  He made a mature hundred to anchor the chase, after the bulk of the total was knocked off by him and Ahmed Shehzad (63).  Sarfraz has made an excellent contribution in the two games he has featured in, with both bat and gloves.  6 dismissals and 150 runs is an excellent return from two games, and he has likely secured a place in the starting team for the Australian match also in Adelaide.

Pakistan 241 for 3 (Sarfraz 101*, Shehzad 63) beat Ireland 237 (Porterfield 107, Wahab 3-54) by seven wickets

 

Cricket World Cup: Day 28 Recap and Day 29 Preview

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Day 28 Results

1. India v Zimbabwe

Brendon Taylor’s final game for Zimbabwe almost followed the script.  The final innings hundred was there – an incredible collection of reverse sweeps, powerful lofts, and cheeky ramps – and at 93/4 the victory looked a possibility too.  Unfortunately, India’s powerful middle order covered over the top order cracks and completed victory by 6 wickets and 8 balls remaining.  The crux of the chase was an unbeaten 196 run partnership between Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni.  The pair rescuing a dire situation for the unbeaten Indian side, after the top order had collapsed to 93/4.

Earlier, Taylor had thrilled a large Auckland crowd with a final international innings of the highest quality. He scored 138, including 70 from his final 29 balls.  He was supported by Sean Williams in the most significant partnership of the innings, before Sikandar Raza added a quickfire 28 just as the momentum threatened to collapse.

Eden Park is always a difficult ground to defend totals on, and it proved too tricky for the Zimbabwe bowlers as Raina and Dhoni maturely saw India to their sixth World Cup win.

India 288 for 4 (Raina 110, Dhoni 85) beat Zimbabwe 287 (Taylor 138, Williams 50, Yadav 3-43, Mohit 3-48, Shami 3-48) by 6 wickets

 

2. Australia v Scotland

Australia comfortably beat Scotland and the rain to wrap up second spot in Pool A.

Opting to bowl first to beat the rain, Australia quickly gained the ascendancy with quick wickets to all of the bowlers.  In fairness, the Scottish batsman, who have struggled all tournament, contributed to their own demise with a host of rash shots and an unusually aggressive mindset.  In all, Scotland made just 130, with a brief break in the play for weather not able to save them from somewhat of a humiliation.

Mitchell Starc took 4 wickets to leap to the top of the wickettaker charts, Cummins had three, and Watson, Johnson and Maxwell all got in on the action.

Australia then used the chase to give Michael Clarke an extended bat.  He opened and made 47, and Finch, Watson, Faulkner and Warner all pitched in with handy efforts at better than a run a ball.  The win sets up a quarterfinal against the winner of todays Ireland v Pakistan match.

Australia 133 for 3 (Clarke 47) beat Scotland 130 (Machan 40, Starc 4-14, Cummins 3-42) by seven wickets

 

Day 29 Matches

1. West Indies v UAE, McLean Park (Napier – cloudy, windy, chance of rain), starts 11:00am local time

West Indies – $1.04

UAE – $11.00

West Indies must beat the UAE today and then await the result of the Pakistan / Ireland game from Adelaide.  Task number one will be tricky given the cyclone from Vanuatu threatening to bring adverse conditions to the East Coast of New Zealand.  It might also be tough if Chris Gayle is passed unfit to compete; his back still a big worry.

The final chance for UAE to register a win comes at the familiar location of Napier where they have based themselves for much of the tournament.  They’re coming off a relatively poor showing against South Africa, so they’ll need to improve if they are to crash the West Indies party.

2. Pakistan v Ireland, Adelaide Oval (Adelaide – partly cloudy), starts 2:00pm local time

Pakistan – $1.27

Ireland – $3.82

Ireland’s most important Cricket World Cup game in history will settle a tense Pool B.  Ireland need a win to make it through to the knockout stages for the first time (they have previously made the Super 8’s in 2007).  They could also hope for an abandoned game in Napier, but they would much prefer to be the masters of their own destiny.

Irelands’s poor net run rate is their major issue heading into the final match.  They’ve done commendably to beat UAE, West Indies and Zimbabwe but need to muster every ounce of skill and self-belief to do the unthinkable.

 

Day 29 Multi

The “Gayle Force Upset” Multi

Chris Gayle loves McLean Park, a test 197* springs to mind as evidence of his love of the small ground, but he’s also doubtful with a bad back.  If he plays we’re backing him to perform amongst the cyclone.

Gale To Top Score at $2.88 + Ireland winning Head-to-Head at $3.82 = $11.00

Odds courtesy of Sportsbet Australia.

Cricket World Cup: Day 20 Recap

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Day 20 of the Cricket World Cup outlined again that low scoring matches can be just as entertaining as teams piling on 350+.  Perth witnessed a nervy chase of 183 by India in the only game of the day.  Check out our review of the bowler dominated match below:

Day 20 Results

India v West Indies

India made it to eight consecutive wins in Cricket World Cups by narrowly seeing off the West Indies in the closest thing to a scare they have experienced thus far.  Chasing a paltry 183, India were flailing at 78 for 4 and 134 for 6, and facing an embarrassing defeat to a lazy and uninterested West Indies side.  Enter MS Dhoni, captain cool, who steered his side to a 4 wicket win with an unbeaten 45* with the help of Ravi Ashwin (16*).

West Indies had earlier started their chase in the most bizarre fashion.  Chris Gayle looked unfit and unable (or unwilling) to run singles, making it hard fro Dwayne Smith to get off strike, and hard for his side to build any momentum.  When Smith nicked out, the running only got worse as Marlon Samuels joined Gayle, causing a ridiculous run-out and starting the rot which saw the West Indies limp to 85/7.  Their thrown in the deep end captain, Jason Holder, made his second consecutive half century to add some respectability to the total, however, 182 never looked another.

Until India made hard work of their chase that is.  Dhawan pushed at a widish ball from Jermone Taylor to provide the first glimmer of hope for the West Indies, and when Rohit Sharma received a quality outswinger from the same bowler the match looked alive.

Virat Kohli threatened to take the game away from the West Indies until he hooked Russell straight to long leg.  Rahane, who we picked to take the man of the match honours fell to a controversial decision for the hundredth time on this Australia trip, but Dhoni was on hand to guide his side home and well on their way to the top qualification spot.

India still looking very strong and their perceived weakness, the bowling, has now won them three games in a row.

India 185 for 6 (Dhoni 45*) beat West Indies 182 (Holder 57, Shami 3-35) by 4 wickets

Cricket World Cup: Day 20 Preview

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The Three Big Questions

Any merit to Tendulkar’s 25 team World Cup or Martin Crowe’s 18 team idea?

Batting masters Crowe and Tendulkar have both shared their views recently on the changes needed to the World Cup format.  Both agree that expansion rather than rationalisation are the keys to growing the global game and reducing the gap between associates and their test playing rivals.  The thinking of both deserve merit, and both were tremendous students of the game.  The expansion will take time but it is completely necessary to prevent the one sided wallopings occurring at this stage of the World Cup.  It’s like comparing the exam results of kid who never goes to school with a kid who never misses a class.  Bigger format and short games (40 overs) works.

Is Australia’s new lineup risky? 

We’re presuming that yesterdays team is the team they’ll use in the rest of the competition, save for injuries.   That means Shane Watson misses out, Smith bats 3 and Maxwell at 5.  The move significantly increases the firepower.  Maxwell, Marsh, and Faulkner are an ominous trio to have coming in at the death.  The flip-side is of course the risk of early wickets and relying on the same three to hold an innings together, against their natural games.

How does this World Cup rank with past editions?

Probably one of the best so far.  The associates are competing well at times, the crowds are excellent, and the weather has played its part too.  Some World Cups have been farcical – I’m looking at you 2007, so it’s a refreshing change to see a well run machine with three favourites all playing well and on a collision course.

Today’s Matchup

India v West Indies, WACA (Perth – sunny all day), starts 2:30pm local time

India – $1.41

West Indies – $2.85

A stern cricketing test is exactly what India need to measure their World Cup chances.  Whether they’ll get it from an unpredictable West Indies team, however, is anyones guess.  After making their way through the competition unscathed, and returning to some of their best form, India will be keen to test their game with the different challenges a West Indies team will throw at them.  They’re likely to be: an opening assault on their seam bowlers by Chris Gayle; followed by an even bigger assault on their death bowlers by Darren Sammy and Andre Russell; and steep bounce from the bowling of Jason Holder on the most conducive surface in Australia.

How they cope with the challenges will give everyone a better indication of how competitive India will be in the closing stages of the tournament.  Especially given the interesting quarterfinal position jostling between Australia, Sri Lanka and England.

Today’s Bet

The “probably won’t get a bat but if he does he’ll score a hundred” bet

Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t had much chance in the World Cup so far, but he’s a quality player and just look at the price offered on him for Man of the Match ($19).  We’ll take it.

Odds from Palmerbet.