Shamik Das


Friday, February 16, 2007

Bond shakes down Aussies & stirs Kiwis to huge win

Shane Bond takes a spectacular return catch to dismiss Cameron White and reduce the visitors to 108/6

Wellington, Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, First ODI: New Zealand 149/0 (27 overs) beat Australia 148 (49.3 overs) by ten wickets

New Zealand completed Australia's week of misery in style today with a crushing 10 wicket win, inflicting upon the world champions the worst ever defeat in their history.

Shane Bond set up the victory march with figures of 5-23, his best international performance at home, as the Australians slipped to their third successive defeat - arguably their worst run of results for 5 years.

With just three of Australia's Ashes XI in the picture, the understudies were made to look anything but world beaters as the Kiwis cramped the openers, strangled the middle order and cleaned up the tail.

Bond celebrating his caught and bowled wicket of White

Chasing 149 to win at less than three an over a New Zealand triumph never looked in doubt, Lou Vincent (73*) and captain Stephen Fleming (70*) steering them home with 138 balls to spare.

After a black day at the hands of the Black Caps the boys in green and gold will be praying the likes of Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist are fit and ready for the World Cup, lest they face further humiliation.

England the in-form team, the Aussies in a tizz ... who would have thought it possible just seven days ago?

Sunday, February 11, 2007

England bring home the Bank-Comm

"England, England, England, Oi, oi, oi!!!"

Sydney, CB Series, Second Final: Australia 152/8 (33 overs)
lost to England 246/8 (50 overs) by 34 runs under the
Duckworth-Lewis method; England win the final 2-0


England ended the tour to Hell on a high today with victory in the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series, beating Australia for the third match running to win the final with a game to spare.

Paul Collingwood once again was England's hero, top scoring with 70 and taking a catch and two wickets as the tourists bounced back from their Ashes drubbing to win overseas against fellow top eight opposition for the first time in eight years.

In a rain-interrupted match England fell short of the 250 mark with only Mal Loye (45) and Andrew Flintoff (42) providing any real support for Collingwood.

Glen McGrath embraces Brad Hodge after the pair combine to dismiss Ed Joyce on McGrath's final appearance at the SCG    A beaming Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood hold aloft the Commonwealth Bank Trophy

Glen McGrath and Nathan Bracken were the pick of the Australian bowlers with two wickets apiece - including a wicket off the final ball of the innings, what transpired to be McGrath's last ever ball on home soil, to the delight of a packed SCG.

But it was with the bat that Australia surrendered, Matty Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey scoring just 12 runs between them as the world champions tasted the bitter stench of defeat, a feeling unkown in front of their own fans since 1993.

Liam Plunkett (3-43) ripped through the top order and Collingwood
(2-26) fired out the tail to win England one of their most important ODIs for 15 years, since the World Cup final of 1992.

And who would bet against them lining up at the Kensington Oval in 11 weeks time to contest the 2007 World Cup final.

Watch highlights of England's glorious triumph - and enjoy!!!

Friday, February 09, 2007

Paul Collingwood MBE: MoM @ the MCG!

"Thank you very much, Mr Ponting Sir!"

Melbourne, CB Series, First Final: England 253/6 (49.3 overs) beat Australia 252 (48.3 overs) by four wickets

Paul Collingwood rammed the Aussies' MBE taunts back down their throats with a faultless display of one day cricket to put England 1-0 up in the Commonwealth Bank series final.

Collingwood delivered a masterclass in limited overs cricket - both at the crease and in the field - scoring an unbeaten century, superbly catching Ricky Ponting and then running out Michael Clarke and Brett Lee late on.

When Collingwood came in to bat England were rocking on 15/3, but were rescued by his partnerships of 133 with Ian Bell (65) and 74 with Andrew Flintoff (35), before Durham's finest struck 17 runs off his last nine balls to steer England to an unlikely win.

Paul Collingwood embraces Andrew Flintoff on completion of his century    Paul Collingwood leaps into the air after scoring the winning runs at the MCG

The Australians appeared well set to post a big total, cruising along at 170/1 with 20 overs remaining when Collingwood produced his first moment of magic, leaping to his left at full stretch to dismiss Ponting for 75 - the 80th time the Australia skipper has passed fifty in ODIs.

An hour on and the Durham all-rounder ran out Michael Clarke for 33 to spark a rare Australian collapse, the hosts losing their last six wickets for 23 runs in 38 balls to leave England chasing 253 at five an over.

Thus the platform was laid for Collingwood to score his second successive century and keep alive the prospect of an unlikely series win.

Watch highlights of England's victory right now.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Chi predict a riot!

The Queens Park Rangers club crest; not quite Queens Road ALM!    The official logo of China's FA

It was a case of ninjas v rangers at QPR's training ground yesterday as a "friendly" between the Hoops and the Chinese Olympic team erupted into a 30 man brawl.

China defender Zheng Tao lay unconscious in the midst of the scuffle and had to be taken to hospital following the match, which was abandoned shortly after half-time with the hosts leading 2-1.

One witness described the scene at Rangers' Harlington training ground as one of "absolute mayhem".

He said: "I've never seen anything like it in my life.

"There were punches, kung-fu kicks and all sorts - it was absolute mayhem."

The Football Association have pledged to take action over the mêlée. "We are investigating and we will be seeking information," said a spokesman.

Watch the kerfuffle for yourself ... now if only England could be this passionate about friendlies! ;)

Monday, February 05, 2007

Fairweather Floyd slams "Fat-man" Hatton

Ricky "golden boy" Hatton    Floyd "golden gob" Mayweather

"Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather today taught the Australian cricket team a lesson in how to sledge Poms with a blistering attack on Ricky Hatton, desribing him as a "fat man" who "looked like garbage".

"Ricky Hatton ain't nothing but a fat man," said Mayweather. "I'm going to punch him in his beer belly.

"He ain't good enough to be my sparring partner."

Michigan born Mayweather - unbeaten in 37 fights - has won belts at four different weight divisions, and is described by many as the best
pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.

Though failing to confirm he will fight Hatton, Mayweather makes it pretty clear that he would love to wipe the smile off the Northerner's face.

He said: "I've only seen Ricky Hatton fight one time and that was against Urango and he looked like garbage.

"All he can do is punch and hold, punch and hold and wrestle. It's obvious that his fights are not more exciting than mine."

As well as knocking Hatton's boxing style, Mayweather also laid into his popularity, or lack thereof.

"And guess what? He said he was going to come to America and do 5,000 seats, but 5,000 people come and watch me train every day," he added.

"Nobody even knows Ricky Hatton.

"He came over to America and nobody even came to see him fight. I could come to England and fill up the same stadium he can fill up. He ain't getting money like me.

"When I retire, I'll get Ricky Hatton to wash my clothes and cut my lawn and buckle my shoes."

Mayweather was talking to the BBC, and you can hear his interview here - though you may have to listen to it twice - he speaks really, really fast!