Some news from the Cricket field.....

Who won the bronze medal in the Asian Cup Cricket for Women at China recently ??  

This would easily qualify to be a good Q in any Sports Quiz.   In the 16^th Asian games at Guangzhou, Cricket made its debut.  Also do you know, which teams fought out in the Asian Games Men’s Cricket competition at Guanggong International Cricket Stadium on 26^th Nov 2010 ?

A post  from me on the topic, would make you believe that it is a match report of yesterday’s match when a depleted Indian team contrived to beat the touring Kiwis.  India made 276 aided by a Kohli century and the tail end collapse was abysmal.  New Zealand threatened briefly especially towards the end but was down by a reasonably big margin.  Our bowling lacked the bite and we lost last six wickets for 26.  Our version of carom ball specialist Ravichandran Ashwin bowled admirably.  Murali Vijay began well and exhibited some audacious shots but the T20 spirit took him heady and was soon out.  The slow moving Munaf was good enough to take a skier off Guptil. 

Meantime, the Ashes is also on.  But honestly how many of you know the result of the finals of Asian Games Cricket where Indians did not figure in and the reasons are hard to explain.  Srilanka is in the midst of a Test series against Windies as also is Pakistan who all could have representation – but not INDIA (BOTH IN MEN’S AND WOMEN’S events) -  Why the Board / Country decided to skip the event where the possibility of medal easily beckoned ??

Contrary to popular aspirations (India was not in the race) and the fancied Lankans and Paks were not in the finals. At Guangzhou, Bangladesh won their first ever gold medal in Asian games. It was a close match where Bangla beat Afghans by 5 wickets with 3 balls to spare.  It was boiling all along and in the penultimate over young Shabbir Rahman smashed two sixes swinging it Bangaldesh way.  Earlier Afghanishtan had upset the much fancied Pakis.  Cricket proved to be the most productive for Bangla as they won silver in Women’s also.  The only other medal they have won thus far is bronze in Kabbadi.

Reportedly Afghan coach Rashid Latif had inspired their team by narrating the tale of famous Indian win at Lord in 1983 WC stating that Indians were not as fit as their rivals, nor was their skill superior yet on that day, they played better and won.  A win against Pak and a good show in the finals must do a world of good for Afghan’s cricketing fortunes.   Bangladesh had beaten Srilanka in the  other Semis by five wickets. 

In the Eves,  Pak trounced Bangla in the finals to take Gold.  India and Lanka were not represented and the bronze medal was won by Japan !! Japan captain Ema Kuribayashi, who plays club cricket in New Zealand, top-scored for her side with a steady, unbeaten 24.

In the preliminary group China, Malaysia, Honkong and Nepal played;  In Quarter Final stage, it was China, Pak, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hongkong, Srilanka played.  In the first Semi – Afghan scored 125/8 and restricted Pakis to 103/7. 

At the Women’s tournament – China, Malaysia, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand,  Bangladesh, Hongkong – participated.  In the finals, Bangladesh socred 92/9 in the allotted 20 overs, Pak raced to 93 without losing a wicket in 15.4

Regards – Sampathkumar. S