ICC Champions Trophy

Yesterday saw the tournement start for real after the frindly/warm-up games.

India beat South Africa by 26 runs,which sounds closer than it could've been,as SA put on 48 for the 10th wicket

India made 331-7,with a century from Dhawan,who put on an opening stand of 127 with Sharma 65,
at 210-1 an even bigger total looked likely,Jadeja made 47 not out after wickets fell in the middle of the innings.

With Steyn out Tsotsobe 83-2 & Kleinveldt 81-0 prooved expensive.Morkel broke down after 6.5 overs,with doubts on their Test stars making the 2nd match surely Phillander should have made the squad.
Dumminy bowled a tight spell & McLaren had a good allround match taking 70-3 & top scoring with 71.

The chase looked on after a good recovery from 31-2 to 155-2,but Peterson was run out for 68.Then 3 wickets went for 6 runs saw them fall from 182 3 to 188-6,the key dismissal was that of De Villiers for 70,which saw South Africa's chances of winning take a big knock.

West Indies beat Pakistan by 2 wickets,after Pakistan made 170 all out,with captain Misbah stranded on 96 not out.West Indies got home with 10 overs to spare,but Pakistan bowled well after their batsmen had let them down.Roach took 3-28 & Narine 3-34.

If Pakistan can improve with the bat in their next two matches I think their bowlers will do the job for them.
They have an excellent and varied bowling unit.

A good solid start, which drifted badly and then the big hitters failed.

It could and should have been a 300 run score. Instead England made 269 -6.

Australia to bat

England win by 48 runs,despite a beloe par score,Australia look short of experience in their batting with Clarke unfit,Ponting & Mike hussey retired & Haddin not selected they rely on Watson,Warner & Hughes to score big runs.These 3 along with Starc are the only players likely to start the 1st Test,England could field 6 or 7 players.

Just goes to show the current aussie team is weak without Michael Clarke and you dont necessarily need to score over 300 to win a game i think England's bowling unit is the best in the world at the moment.

Sri Lanka all out for 138 in 37.5 overs

Sangakkara 68 Dilshan 20 McClenaghan 4-43

New Zealand 85-6 after 22 overs

NZ now 115/7. Could be a tight finish .

Edit: 122/8

Sri Lanka 138 allout New Zealand 139-9

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 1 wicket with 13.3 overs remaining.

Earlier Malinga had not out batsman Southee plumb LBW.The umpires were under pressure by the constant appealing by the Sri Lankan fielders & can't be blamed.

Just goes to show you don't always need a high scoring match to generate real drama.