ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

England are certainly giving their fans a roller-coaster ride, just when you think they are down and out they come back fighting. On the minus side they just cannot seem to produce a consistent performance, one aspect of the game always seems to let them down, they either bat well and bowl and field poorly or vice-versa. On the plus side this team just don,t seem to know when they are beaten, after losing to ireland and bangladesh they really should already be on the plane home, but somehow and to their credit they are hanging on in there.

Where would this world cup be without england? Their matches have provided the only real excitement in the tournament so far. Most have the matches so far have been meaningless, with the minnows of world cricket getting hammered by the big boys. I know england lost two games to ireland and bangladesh but they really were expected to stroll through those games. There is absolutely no justification for having a five week competition except for the ICC to try and make money.

There really is far far too much cricket being played at the moment and this world cup simply proves that.

Netherlands 306 all out off 50 overs

Ireland 307/4 off 47.4 overs

Ireland won by 6 wickets


Netherlands lost a few early wickets however a century from Ten Doeschate and a useful half century from Borren boosted the score to 306. Ireland got off to an excellent start by putting 177 runs for the 1st wicket and were always in control of the match really.


Sri Lanka 265/9 off 50 overs

New Zealand 153 all out off 35 overs

Sri Lanka won by 112 runs


Sri Lanka got off to a poor start by losing 2 wickets for just 19 runs however a good 3rd wicket partnership between Sangakkara and Jayawardene which was worth 145 runs got them to a reasonable score of 265. New Zealand got off to a reasonable start however they collapsed from 82/2 to 153 all out.

Sri Lanka could be very awkward opponents for any team in this tournament if they hit form collectively. Sangakkara is an excellent batsman. Very good knock against NZ and quite crucial in the end as so many of the batting order failed.

England have called up Jade Dernbach (another ex SA) from Surrey to replace the injured Shahzad. He was on fire in the County Championship last season till he got injured, so hope for the best.
Cant help thinking we could do with another top spinner though to back Swanny up!!

South Africa 284/8; Bangladesh all out for 78!! South Africa win by 206 runs!! South Africa win the group, India 2nd, England 3rd!! Very likely West Indies will be 4th!!

Australia 176 all out off 46.4 overs

Pakistan 178/6 off 41 overs

Pakistan won by 4 wickets


The Aussies lost Watson quite early however a decent 2nd wicket partnership between Ponting and Haddin which was worth 63 runs but after that wickets fell at regular intervals and at the end were all out for 176. Pakistan didn't get to the best of starts however a useful 46 from Shafiq and unbeaten 44 from Umar Akmal got them home with 9 overs to spare.

A common theme seems to be developing with some teams in this World Cup as decent starts with the bat are followed by batting collapses late on and decent platforms wasted. As for England its a quarter final in Colombo against Sri Lanka. A tough task but the pressure on Sri Lanka at home will be huge so if England can unsettle them early on you never know.

Zimbabwe 308/6 off 50 overs

Kenya 147 all out off 36 overs

Zimbabwe won by 161 runs


Zimbabwe lost a few early wickets however useful half centuries from Taibu, Sibanda and Craig Ervine boosted the score to 308. Kenya got off to a poor start and lost wickets on regular intervals as they were bowled out for 147.


India 268 all out off 49.1 overs

West Indies 188 all out off 43 overs

India won by 80 runs


India lost a few early wickets however a good 3rd wicket partnership between Kohli and Yuvraj Singh which was worth 122 runs before Kohli departed however India suffered another batting collapse as they lost 7 wickets for just 50 runs as they were all out for 268 after being 218/3. West Indies got off to a solid start however once Devon Smith departed they collapsed from 154/2 to 188 all out.

West Indies 112 all out off 43.3 overs

Pakistan 113/0 off 20.5 overs

Pakistan won by 10 wickets


The West Indies were just blown away by the Pakistani spinners and therefore batting was just too easy for Pakistan.

Austraila 260/6 off 50 overs

India 261/5 off 47.4 overs

India won by 5 wickets


Australia got off to a steady start before losing Watson however Ponting and Haddin put on 70 runs for the 2nd wicket and then from there wickets fell at regular intervals but it was good to see Ponting getting his century though. India like Australia got off to a steady start however they suffered a mini collapse from 143/2 to 187/5 but Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina got India home with a few overs to spare.