Australia defeat India to reach Champions semi-final
Australia booked themselves a place in the Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand after they comfortably defeated India. India batted first and turned their batting woes around, setting an imposing target of 250. However, Australia chased it down at a canter with 4 wickets and 4 overs to spare. It was a well rounded victory with all players contributing and the only negative (to use Buchanan-speak) was it means less rest before the Ashes. Some encouraging things to take away from the game:
- All bowlers contributed with a couple of wickets. In particular, Glenn McGrath started with a miserly spell of 1 for 12 off 6 overs including Tendulkar's wicket. Looks like Pigeon is starting to get his groove back which will make the whole of Australia breath a little easier. All it took was Punter giving him the new ball.
- Similarly, the batsmen had a chance to bat themselves into some form. Gilchrist and Ponting finally scored substantial innings, both scoring half centuries.
- Damien Martyn continued his streak of good form. He has a big point to prove which I hope means no signs of mental laziness such as he displayed in England last year.
- The Shane Watson as opener experiment finally yielded fruit as he scored 50 in a blistering opening partnership with Gilchrist. Rahul Dravid gave Watson a big wrap, saying he'd be the key to Australia's success in taking the trophy (big call). Considering Watson's power as batsman and ability to take wickets, it's hard to see Katich getting back in the side barring a Watson injury. Fortunately for Katich, that seems to happen all too often.
| Posted by JC on Mon 30 Oct |  4 comments |
i wont be surprised if watson is the man of the series!!
http://crickex.blogspot.com/
Posted by Aayush on 2006-11-01 05:16:01
http://crickex.blogspot.com/
Posted by Aayush on 2006-11-01 05:16:01
IMO, the ODI tomorrow will come down to the following....
NZ
1. Bond, averages 14 against Aussie & unlike Lee, can control his speed. Without Akhtar in competition, Bond is the only one the Aussies will face in excess of 150km's. Port Elizabeth anyone.
2. NZ's tail. Vettori has average 30 with the bat this year, Oram is a very good 35-45 over hitter & McCullum may have the best eye in the game (Gilchrist excepted).
3. Fleming's captaincy & ni I'm not talking about two behind square on the off side to Martin. It's his ability to wring every ounce out of his charges. His use of Vettori & Bond at the crease could be pivatal.
Aus
1. Won the last 15 of 17 against NZ. 'nough said.
2. Ponting, averages 45 against NZ & in excess of 40 against all teams in the last two years.
3. McGrath. All this washed up talk hasn't fooled me. He 's taken 50 wickets at 20 a peice in 26 ODI's against NZ & you can bet he get's the breakthrough in his first spell tomorrow. If he picks up Fleming early, it's all over red rover.
Prediction.
Aus will get off to a flyer with the bat & just post too many for NZ to haul in.
Posted by Ockerknocker on 2006-11-01 07:07:41
NZ
1. Bond, averages 14 against Aussie & unlike Lee, can control his speed. Without Akhtar in competition, Bond is the only one the Aussies will face in excess of 150km's. Port Elizabeth anyone.
2. NZ's tail. Vettori has average 30 with the bat this year, Oram is a very good 35-45 over hitter & McCullum may have the best eye in the game (Gilchrist excepted).
3. Fleming's captaincy & ni I'm not talking about two behind square on the off side to Martin. It's his ability to wring every ounce out of his charges. His use of Vettori & Bond at the crease could be pivatal.
Aus
1. Won the last 15 of 17 against NZ. 'nough said.
2. Ponting, averages 45 against NZ & in excess of 40 against all teams in the last two years.
3. McGrath. All this washed up talk hasn't fooled me. He 's taken 50 wickets at 20 a peice in 26 ODI's against NZ & you can bet he get's the breakthrough in his first spell tomorrow. If he picks up Fleming early, it's all over red rover.
Prediction.
Aus will get off to a flyer with the bat & just post too many for NZ to haul in.
Posted by Ockerknocker on 2006-11-01 07:07:41
IMO, the ODI tomorrow will come down to the following....
NZ
1. Bond, averages 14 against Aussie & unlike Lee, can control his speed. Without Akhtar in competition, Bond is the only one the Aussies will face in excess of 150km's. Port Elizabeth anyone.
2. NZ's tail. Vettori has average 30 with the bat this year, Oram is a very good 35-45 over hitter & McCullum may have the best eye in the game (Gilchrist excepted).
3. Fleming's captaincy & ni I'm not talking about two behind square on the off side to Martin. It's his ability to wring every ounce out of his charges. His use of Vettori & Bond at the crease could be pivatal.
Aus
1. Won the last 15 of 17 against NZ. 'nough said.
2. Ponting, averages 45 against NZ & in excess of 40 against all teams in the last two years.
3. McGrath. All this washed up talk hasn't fooled me. He 's taken 50 wickets at 20 a peice in 26 ODI's against NZ & you can bet he get's the breakthrough in his first spell tomorrow. If he picks up Fleming early, it's all over red rover.
Prediction.
Aus will get off to a flyer with the bat & just post too many for NZ to haul in.
Posted by Ockerknocker on 2006-11-01 07:07:54
NZ
1. Bond, averages 14 against Aussie & unlike Lee, can control his speed. Without Akhtar in competition, Bond is the only one the Aussies will face in excess of 150km's. Port Elizabeth anyone.
2. NZ's tail. Vettori has average 30 with the bat this year, Oram is a very good 35-45 over hitter & McCullum may have the best eye in the game (Gilchrist excepted).
3. Fleming's captaincy & ni I'm not talking about two behind square on the off side to Martin. It's his ability to wring every ounce out of his charges. His use of Vettori & Bond at the crease could be pivatal.
Aus
1. Won the last 15 of 17 against NZ. 'nough said.
2. Ponting, averages 45 against NZ & in excess of 40 against all teams in the last two years.
3. McGrath. All this washed up talk hasn't fooled me. He 's taken 50 wickets at 20 a peice in 26 ODI's against NZ & you can bet he get's the breakthrough in his first spell tomorrow. If he picks up Fleming early, it's all over red rover.
Prediction.
Aus will get off to a flyer with the bat & just post too many for NZ to haul in.
Posted by Ockerknocker on 2006-11-01 07:07:54
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