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Action at a Glance Jayawardene quits T20 captaincy
Soon after losing his fourth World Cup final, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene decided to quit captaincy in the shortest format of the game. Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to the final of the WorldTwenty20, before they lost to the West Indies by 36 runs in the summit clash, at the Premadasa on Sunday. The 35-year-old announced his decision at the end of the press conference after the final. Asked if he would be available to play T20 cricket for Sri Lanka in the future, the stylish batsman quipped: “If the captain wants me to.”
IPL teams in South Africa
The Indian Premier League teams - Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings - have left for South Africa to play in the Twenty20 Champions League. The tournament begins on October 9. Unlike the last year, defending champions Mumbai Indians enter this year's edition with a full strength squad, especially with Keiron Pollard - the giant Trinidadian who was pulled between club and country's loyalty - back in the loop. However, the same is not the case with Delhi Daredevils who have to miss out on the services of their captain Virender Sehwag.
Pak ace Aisam turns down Bopanna's request
Pakistan tennis player Aisamul Haq Qureshi has turned down his ex-Indian partner Rohan Bopanna's request for the duo to reunite next season, insisting that his partnership with Jean-Julien Rojer is working well for him. Bopanna, who parted ways with Aisam at the end of last year and paired up with Mahesh Bhupati keeping the London Olympics in mind, had approached Aisam for next season but the latter seemed reluctant to resume the partnership. "Bopanna is a friend and I love to play with him but right now I am concentrating on making it to the London Masters. Right now my priority is to make it back into the top-eight and Rojer is working equally hard with me. We've found our way and I don't think I would want to change that," Aisam was quoted, as saying.
Asian Voice - Saturday 13th October 2012
West Indies crowned World Twenty20 champions The West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the ICC World Twenty20 final at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday night. Chasing the West Indies’ 137 for six, Sri Lanka was a nervous-wreck and finished with a measly 101. If the West Indies weaved a fairytale finish, it was a heartbreak for the Sri Lankans as this was their fourth failure in a World Cup (both 50 overs and Twenty20) summit clash. The diverse challenges that a small target strangely evoke, were in full force once Ravi Rampaul cleaned up Tillakaratne Dilshan’s stumps. Mahela Jayawardene (33) had the onerous task of keeping his head and anchoring the chase while his nation, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa, watched with bated breath. Exacting standards: The skipper, had his reprieves on five and 27 with Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell displaying sweaty palms, but those were minor aberrations as Darren Sammy’s men otherwise maintained their exacting standards on the field. Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara shared 42 runs for the second-wicket but the night’s party-rights inevitably seemed headed towards the West Indies dugout. Sangakkara failed to clear the square-leg fence and Angelo Mathews attempted a scoop off Sammy and watched his stumps quiver. And with Jayawardene perishing with a
reverse-hit off Sunil Narine (three for nine), it soon proved to be a weekend of grief in the Emerald Isle though Nuwan Kulasekara’s assault on Rampaul (16th over, 22 runs) briefly nudged in hopes of a miracle. Samuels’s superb knock: Earlier, Marlon Samuels (78, 56b, 3x4, 6x6) waged a lonebattle while the Sri Lankan spinners buzzed around and nearly ruined Sammy’s dreams of batting big on winning the toss. Mathews’ wicket-maiden was the perfect first over that Jayawardene would have hoped for and while Johnson Charles left, Chris Gayle remained ponderous at the crease against a niggardly attack. After surviving two legbefore-wicket appeals, Gayle fell for the third one with
Simon Taufel, officiating in his last international match, nodding his head in approval. The stands lapsed into delirium and off-spinner Ajantha Mendis (four for 12) haunted the West Indies again after his earlier 4-1-122 yield in the Super Eights game at Pallekele. Birthdayboy Bravo walked into a stage that whispered ‘suffocation’ and after 10 overs, the West Indies was at an abominable 32 for two but thankfully for Sammy’s men, Samuels reclaimed his aggressive self. Good stand: Samuels shared a 59-run third-wicket partnership off 49 balls for the third-wicket with Bravo. The defensive tide ended in the 12th over with Bravo hoisting Akila Dananjaya for six and Samuels, who was dropped on 20 by Kulasekara,
also getting into the mood for mayhem. During that phase though Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell left in a clutch, Samuels took a fancy for Lasith Malinga. The speedster was thrashed for 21 runs during the 13th over and when he returned for another spell, the West Indies’ top-scorer hammered the yorker-specialist and one particular six made everyone at the ground crane their necks and gape at the ball sailing high and far. Samuels eventually fell but with Sammy too lending his weight in the slog, the men from the Caribbean had a respectable score. May be a far-cry from the dizzying 205 against Australia but still adequate enough to unleash the Gangnam Style dance all through the night.
Australia beat England; retain women's World Twenty20 title Australia successfully defended their women's World Twenty20 title following an exciting four run win over archrivals England in the final on Sunday. Jess Cameron hit the highest score of 45 in any World Twenty20 final to help Australia to 142-4 in their 20 overs before the champions restricted England to 138-9 at Premadasa stadium, Sri Lanka. Spinners Jess Jonassen (3-25) and Lisa Sthalekar (2-16) shared the spoils as England found the going hard on a spin-friendly pitch. Seamer Julie Hunter grabbed 2-36 to finish as tournament's best bowler with 11 wickets. But it was all-rounder Sthalekar, also scoring 23 not out, who set up the win with the
wicket of England's premier batter Charlotte Edwards for 28 in the eighth over to make the chase difficult for the 2009 champions. England had pinned their hopes on Edwards who had hit a brilliant halfcentury in England's seven wicket win over Australia in the group phase. England needed 16 off the last over but Danielle Hazell (16 not out) managed 11, leaving the Australian players jubilant. Australian captain Jodie Fields said her team's
hard work had paid off. "It's a good feeling," said Fields, who missed 2010 final through injury. "England played a really good match, but we had the belief in our team. Just an all-round performance. It's awesome to be standing here as winners." England captain Edwards showed disappointment over the loss. "It didn't go our way, but congratulations to Australia. We didn't do well up front, and just couldn't pin them," said Edwards, declared player of the tournament on scoring 172 in five matches. "I'd much rather be lifting the other cup. The youngsters in the team keep me young, so I keep trying to get better."