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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday March 27, 2015
Smith’s golden summer keeps on getting better By Julian Linden SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) Steve Smith’s golden summer just keeps on getting better. Australia’s new run-scoring machine just can’t seem to do any wrong and now he’s off to the World Cup final. Smith has been piling on the runs and breaking records all summer long. And yesterday, in one of the biggest matches of his blossoming career, he did it again, scoring a match-winning century in the World Cup semi-final against India. Smith’s 105 was a composed and perfectly-constructed innings. He came to the crease early after Australia lost David Warner in the fourth over and quickly settled the host nation’s nerves. The 25-year-old reached his fourth straight half-century at the World Cup in 53 balls then his hundred off 89 balls, which he brought up with a six and a four off successive balls. He departed soon after but the job had been done. Australia went on to post a massive total of 328-7 and India could manage only 233 in reply.
“We thought 330 was around par. We knew we had to bowl and field well,” Smith said after being named man-of-the-match. “The boys did a terrific job tonight. Bring on Melbourne.” Australia will play New Zealand in the final in Melbourne on Sunday. For Smith, his century continued his amazing run of form with the bat this summer. In the four-Test series against India, which started in November, he scored a century in every match. In the months leading up to the World Cup, he also scored oneday international centuries against South Africa and England before notching his first World Cup hundred yesterday. And for good measure, he also pulled off a brilliant piece of fielding, running out Ravindra Jadeja with a direct hit. Smith’s extraordinary run has coincided with his surprise promotion to the Australian captaincy. When regular skipper Michael Clarke hobbled out of the first Test against India with a hamstring injury, Smith was given the nod
Brooklyn X2 Linden Inter-ward football quarter-finals on tonight THE last two quarterfinal matches in the Brooklyn X2 Promotions Linden Interward football championship will be played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground tonight to decide the two remaining semifinalists. According to the organiser Marlon Washington it would be the known against the unknowns this evening, when in game one at 19.00hrs, Amelia’s Ward face Canvas City while at 21.00hrs Silvertown will square off against Silvercity/Valley Combined. Washington said that the tournament has received generous support from sponsors Ansa McAl Trading using their STAG Beer brand while others have joined to make the tournament a success. They include Bella’s Lumber Yard, Babaloo Car Rental, Bolo’s Variety Store, Snooks’ Cambio, Jermane and Sons Grocery, Leebert’s Enterprise, Foreign Links and JACS Restaurant and Bakery. He said from all indications the championship is building a fan base as supporters have been following the matches
and are in for a treat at the double-header tonight. Several cash incentives are at stake with the winner grabbing $400 000 secondplace finishers $200 000, third $125 000 and fourth $75 000. In the first game Amelia’s Ward will be led by Shawn ‘Dash’ Daniels along with Travis ‘Chicken’ Waterton, Terrence Aaron and Quacy Johnson and will tackle Canvas City, who are an unknown quantity but will be no pushovers. Among those appearing for Canvas City are Jermaine Fordyce and Michael Wilson The second game will see Silvercity/Valley Combined feature players like Lloyd ‘De de’ Gilbert, the Neblett brothers Kellon and Benney, Colwyn David, Trenton Lashley and their opponents Silvertown will be led by Dolovan Francis. Already through to the semi-finals are Blueberry Hill who beat Wisrock 1-0 and Christianburg who were 2-1 victors against Kara Kara. The semifinals will be played on Sunday April 3 at the MSC ground and the final on Wednesday, April 6.
Australia’s Steve Smith (C) high-fives with Aaron Finch and other team mates (L-R) captain Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin after running out India’s Ravindra Jadeja during their Cricket World Cup semi-final match in Sydney, yesterday. as Australia’s 45th Test skipper and hasn’t looked back. “It’s nice to contribute to a few wins. It was a pretty big stage tonight, semi-final of a World Cup,” Smith said. “I’m just happy we got over the line in the end. “I’m just looking forward to Melbourne. It got to be a hell of a day.” Smith was always destined for greatness but even his most loyal supporters have been astounded by his rapid rise. He was picked for Australia’s Test team in mid2010, aged 21, starting his career as a promising
leg-spin bowler and middle-order batsman. But he was dropped from the Test team in early 2011 and took almost two years to fight his way back in, but returning as a top-order batsman with an insatiable appetite for scoring runs. Now, Smith is dreaming of one more hundred, in the World Cup final. “I hope so, hopefully another big hundred would be nice,” he said. “It’s going to be an amazing moment, to play a World Cup final against New Zealand at the MCG. Can’t wait to get down there!”
Gibson back as England East Coast Guinness quarterfinal action on tonight pace bowling coach for Windies tour
Ottis Gibson LONDON, England (Reuters) Former West Indies paceman Ottis Gibson will return for a second spell as England’s fast bowling coach for next month’s tour of the West Indies, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said
yesterday. Gibson, 46, previously worked with England’s pace attack from 2007-10 before being appointed as West Indies coach. ECB managing director Paul Downton said the appointment was a short-term one as they seek a replacement for David Saker who will join Big Bash franchise Melbourne Renegades in September. “We are delighted to have secured a bowling coach of Ottis’ calibre as he is highly respected among the fast-bowling fraternity and his knowledge and experience of local conditions will be invaluable in the Caribbean,” Downton said in a statement. “No decision has yet been made on a long-term replacement for David and we will need to review how we staff this position going forward following the conclusion of the West Indies tour.”
AFTER three nights of pulsating and at times nailbiting Futsal football encounters, quarter-final action in this year’s Banks DIH-sponsored, Petra Organisationorganised East Coast of Demerara Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ competition kicks off at 20:00hrs at the Haslington Market Square tonight. Following two exhibition matches, whose competitors will be made known tonight before kick-off, Beterverwagting ‘B’ will line up against their ‘A’ team counterparts from 21:00hrs, followed by Plaisance ‘A’ matching strides with Paradise 30 minutes later. In the third quarter-final encounter for tonight, Buxton and Melanie ‘B’ will lock horns from 22:00hrs, with the final match bringing together Nabaclis and defending champions Melanie ‘A’ in a mouthwatering encounter that gets under way at 22:30hrs. The semifinals will take place at the same venue next Wednesday, April 1. The first match will see the winner of the match between the two Beterverwagting teams face the winner of the clash between Plaisance ‘A’ and Paradise from 22:00hrs. In the second semifinals, the winner of the Buxton/ Melanie ‘B’ encounter go up against the victors of the Nabaclis/Melanie ‘A’ showdown, with that contest set to kick off at 22:30hrs. The final and third-place encounter will take place four days after next Wednesday’s semifinal fixtures. Winners of the event will receive $300 000 and the championship trophy, while the runners-up take home $150 000 and the third- and fourth-place finishers cart off $100 000 and $75 000 respectively. Consequently the top two teams will represent the East Coast in the national playoffs in June. (Calvin Roberts)