A four year event has almost come to an end. One final battle for the numero uno spot will be in couple of days. The battle for the best by sixteen nations (8 of these were minnows) has ended in bringing the two best teams for the final match. Of two teams, one spot was predefined; even though couple my friends kept rejecting the fact. Technically remaining 15 teams were fighting for one empty spot and I am happy that a subcontinent team proved to be the best one after Australia, again.
Of the two semi fi
nals, first one was by Sri Lanka playing against New Zealand. Two teams played earlier in the super 8’s and SL won that match quiet comfortably. But in this one, they started off slowly and nervously. As soon as, Jayawardhane got settled in he smacked the bowlers all around the park. The way he paced the innings was quiet impressive. He played submissively, tamely and passively at the beginning and transformed into an aggressive, belligerent and destructive innings at the end. His innings was like that of Steve Waugh’s (one of the best captains in world cricket). The way he accelerated the innings in the second half was incredible and remarkable. Undoubtedly, this was one the best innings in ODI’s and Jayawardhene’s best innings in ODI’s, so far. Second half was not up to the expectations. Chasing the big totals on any kind of surface is not easy, especially when it comes to the big matches, like this one. Kiwis’ top order was bamboozled by Malinga’s pace and swing and completely restricted by the late swing from Vaas and resulted in loosing the wickets early. Even though Styris tried to keep the hopes alive but got out off an innocuous delivery, leaving the team in wreck. Styris’s wicket triggered the collapse which is lot similar to that of Team India’s in 1996 semi final at Eden Gardens (Sachin’s wicket triggered the collapse). Kiwis were outfoxed by Malinga and Muthu and Vaas, indisputably. On the whole, it was an excellent team effort by SL and Jayawardhene stood tall against all odds.
The second semi final was by Australia playing against South Africa. This was match was one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament. All the cricket lov
ers, around the world, were hoping for a nail biter. Lots of words had been exchanged; lot of mind games had been played before the start of the match. Proteas looked confident and were raring to go to take the revenge of the historical semi final match of WC99. But in the end it turned out to be lopsided game tilted more towards OZs. OZs thrashed and outplayed Proteas in all departments. Proteas never looked comfortable against the pace attack of McGrath and co. The match was over in first 10 overs. I never felt like watching a semi final match of the biggest tournament in cricket. one more time Australians proved to be the best when it comes to big matches. All the huff and puff by Proteas gone in the air against a quality attack, an omnipotent team.
On the whole, the two semifinals were not up to the sniff. Both Kiwis and Proteas failed one more time in bringing themselves closer to winning of the cup. The much hyped world cup gone from bad to worse with two unbalanced semi finals. With these two matches, organizers sunk further deep in the abyss of insolvency. The only consolation for the organizers would be a close contest in the final between OZs and SL. But I doubt, if it would be.
Of the two semi fi
nals, first one was by Sri Lanka playing against New Zealand. Two teams played earlier in the super 8’s and SL won that match quiet comfortably. But in this one, they started off slowly and nervously. As soon as, Jayawardhane got settled in he smacked the bowlers all around the park. The way he paced the innings was quiet impressive. He played submissively, tamely and passively at the beginning and transformed into an aggressive, belligerent and destructive innings at the end. His innings was like that of Steve Waugh’s (one of the best captains in world cricket). The way he accelerated the innings in the second half was incredible and remarkable. Undoubtedly, this was one the best innings in ODI’s and Jayawardhene’s best innings in ODI’s, so far. Second half was not up to the expectations. Chasing the big totals on any kind of surface is not easy, especially when it comes to the big matches, like this one. Kiwis’ top order was bamboozled by Malinga’s pace and swing and completely restricted by the late swing from Vaas and resulted in loosing the wickets early. Even though Styris tried to keep the hopes alive but got out off an innocuous delivery, leaving the team in wreck. Styris’s wicket triggered the collapse which is lot similar to that of Team India’s in 1996 semi final at Eden Gardens (Sachin’s wicket triggered the collapse). Kiwis were outfoxed by Malinga and Muthu and Vaas, indisputably. On the whole, it was an excellent team effort by SL and Jayawardhene stood tall against all odds.The second semi final was by Australia playing against South Africa. This was match was one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament. All the cricket lov
ers, around the world, were hoping for a nail biter. Lots of words had been exchanged; lot of mind games had been played before the start of the match. Proteas looked confident and were raring to go to take the revenge of the historical semi final match of WC99. But in the end it turned out to be lopsided game tilted more towards OZs. OZs thrashed and outplayed Proteas in all departments. Proteas never looked comfortable against the pace attack of McGrath and co. The match was over in first 10 overs. I never felt like watching a semi final match of the biggest tournament in cricket. one more time Australians proved to be the best when it comes to big matches. All the huff and puff by Proteas gone in the air against a quality attack, an omnipotent team.On the whole, the two semifinals were not up to the sniff. Both Kiwis and Proteas failed one more time in bringing themselves closer to winning of the cup. The much hyped world cup gone from bad to worse with two unbalanced semi finals. With these two matches, organizers sunk further deep in the abyss of insolvency. The only consolation for the organizers would be a close contest in the final between OZs and SL. But I doubt, if it would be.
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