Australia Favorite Against West Indies

A determined last year runner-up Australian outfit will be aiming to eliminate the 'Chris Gayle factor' when they meet a rejuvenated West Indies in the semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 on Friday.

For Australia, it will be a chance to get into the final for the second time in succession after the 2010 edition and once again stamp their class as world's premier cricketing outfit.

For West Indies, it's more about the identity and trying to fight the inner demons which have affected their cricket since late 80's.

A berth in the final of a global event can be a big boost for the Caribbean nation where basketball, athletics and soccer have captured the imagination of the masses.

On Friday when the two teams lock horns, it will also be a battle between Shane Watson and Chris Gayle.

If Watson, who has won four man-of-the-match awards in five matches will play a key role in Australian set-up, Gayle can change the complexion of the match at any point of time with his ferocious power-hitting.

By sheer statistics, Watson is miles ahead of Gayle having scored 242 runs in five matches along with 11 wickets which makes him the favourite to win the 'Player of the Tournament' award.

However, Gayle who has so far hit 10 sixes in five matches, has scored two 50's and on his day can tear apart any bowling attack in the world.

The law of averages did catch up with Watson in the last match against Pakistan but that means that he will be hungrier than ever to take Aussies to the summit clash.

While Gayle and Watson will hold fort as the main protagonists for their respective sides, there will still be a few competent cricketers who will try to play the supporting roles to the best of their abilities.

Marlon Samuels has beautifully complemented Gayle. He might not look as destructive as Gayle from the onset but once set, can be as devastating as anybody.

For Australia, the main supporting role has been played by Mike Hussey whose responsible innings ensured smooth passage into the semi-finals.

Fidel Edwards has the pace and Ravi Rampaul can be skiddy but Watson has more variations up his sleeve while Mitchell Starc has always been incisive in his first spells.

Teams from

Australia: George Bailey (captain), David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, Dan Christian, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.

Match facts

Friday October 5, 2012 (day/night)

Start time 19:00 local (13:30 GMT)

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India Thrash England

Harbhajan Singh picked up 4/12, the best ever figures by an Indian bowler in T20Is, while Piyush Chawla and Irfan Pathan picked up two wickets. England were bowled out for 80, chasing 171 against India in their final group league encounter in the ICC World Twenty20 on Sunday.
India's spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla shared six wickets in quick succession to wreck havoc to the English middle-order batsmen. The defending champions lost six wickets for 21 runs as they were reduced to 60/8 in 11.4 overs from 39/2 in 5.1 overs.
England lost Graeme Swann (0), Jos Buttler (11), Tim Bresnan (1), Craig Kieswetter (35), Jonathan Bairstow (1), and Eoin Morgan (2) quickly to Harbhajan and Chawla.
Pacer Irfan Pathan gave India an early breakthrough when he dismissed Alex Hales (0) in the very first over.
Pathan struck again soon as he dismissed Luke Wright (6) in his second over to jolt England's run chase as they were reduced to 18/2 in 2.4 overs.
Sent in to bat, fine batting by Rohit Sharma (55 not out), Gautam Gambhir (45) and Virat Kohli (40) guided India to a fighting total of 170/4.
Rohit was the pick of the Indian batsmen as he remained unbeaten on 55 off just 33 balls, which included a huge six and five hits to the fence.
The right-hander stitched two useful partnerships of 47 and 38 with skipper MS Dhoni (9) and Gambhir for the fourth and third wickets respectively.
Gambhir also played a useful knock of 45 off 38 as the southpaw smashed five boundaries in his innings.
Graeme Swann gave England a crucial breakthrough in the eleventh over when he dismissed in-form Kohli to halt Indian run charge.
Kohli, who is in the form of his life, played another useful knock as he hit six boundaries in his 32-ball 40.
After losing Irfan Pathan (8) early, Kohli and Gambhir put on quick 57-run stand for the second wicket to lead the India innings.
India lost opener Pathan (8) in the third over after a quick start.
Paceman Steven Finn struck early to get rid of Pathan after the Indian openers added 24 runs in 2.4 overs.
Pathan, who was sent in to open in the absence of Virender Sehwag, failed to capitalise the opportunity as he hit just one boundary in his run-a-ball innings.

Brief scores
India 170 for 4 (Sharma 55*, Gambhir 45, Kolhi 40)
England 80 (Kieswetter 38, Harbhajan Singh 4-12)
Result India won by 90 runs
Points India 2, England 0
MOM Harbhajan Singh (India)

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Pakistan Thrash New Zealand

New Zealand's late fightback went in vain as Pakistan beat the Kiwis by 13 runs in a thrilling encounter in their World T20 match in Pallekele on Sunday.
The Kiwis were left stranded requiring a high run rate when they lost Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum in quick succession before Saeed Ajmal struck for the second time to dismiss Jacob Oram.
McCullum was left completely bemused when Umar Gul's swinging delivery trickled back slowly to knock off the leg stump bail.
After a steady start to the innings, the Kiwis lost both their openers when Kane Williamson (15) was run out immediately after Shahid Afridi struck to dismiss Rob Nicol (33).
Afridi gave Pakistan an important breakthrough in his first over as he dismissed Kiwi opener Nicol for 33 runs, which included three 4s and a single six.
A beautiful Afridi swinger, which depicts his natural style of bowling, was instrumental in knocking Nicol's off stump out of the ground.
Williamson on the other hand failed to capitalize on his impressive start as a splendid effort in the field led to him falling short of reaching the crease.
Chasing a target of 178, openers Nicol and Kane Williamson gave the New Zealand innings a steady start by putting up a speedy 50-run partnership in just 38 balls.
Earlier, after being spearheaded by Nasir Jamshed (56), Pakistan set up a formidable target of 178 for New Zealand.
Daniel Vettori scalped the dangerous Jamshed after he scored a quick 27-ball fifty that included two 4s and four 6s to lead the Pakistan attack.
Jamshed put up a blistering partnership with Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez (43) before Hafeez lost his wicket to James Franklin.
A perfect delivery by Franklin was able to find the off stump of Hafeez, who was earlier dropped by Kiwi skipper Ross Taylor on the third ball of the innings.
Jamshed while trying to make room on the offside hit a slower Vettori delivery towards the boundary where Nathan McCullum made no mistake in catching a simple catch.
Earlier, Jacob Oram was able to get the better of Kamran Akmal when the Pakistan wicketkeeper was caught comfortably on the cover boundary by Rob Nicol.
The Pakistan duo of Jamshed and Hafeez added quickfire 50 runs for the second wicket after losing opener Imran Nazir, which helped Pakistan scored 100 runs in just 10.5 overs.
The first Pakistan wicket fell when seamer Tim Southee gave New Zealand crucial breakthrough as he got rid of dangerous Pakistani opener Nazir.
Nazir and skipper Hafeez gave Pakistan terrific start as the duo added 47 runs for the opening wicket. Pakistan just lost only one wicket while added 51 runs during the first six overs of powerplay.
Nazir was hitting well before being caught and bowled by paceman Southee, who held up a fine catch on his follow through. Nazir scored a quickfire 16-ball 25 with the help of five boundaries.

Brief scores
Pakistan 177 for 6 (Jamshed 56, Hafeez 43)
New Zealand 164 for 9 (Nicol 33, B McCullum 32, Ajmal 4-30)
Result Pakistan won by 13 runs
Points Pakistan 2, New Zealand 0
MOM Nasir Jamshed (Pakistan)

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South Africa vs. Sri Lanka (Start delayed due to rain)

Sri Lanka vs South Africa T20 2012, (Start delayed due to rain)

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Australia Aim Super 8s Against West Indies

Having registered a comprehensive win in their World Twenty20 opener, Australia would aim to seal a Super Eight berth when they take on the flamboyant West Indies in a Group B encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
However, it won't be an easy task for George Bailey's boys as they are up against a formidable Caribbean side which boasts of big-hitting Chris Gayle and mystery spinner Sunil Narine in their ranks.
Led by Shane Watson's heroics, with both bat and ball, Australia made easy work of an unpredictable Ireland as they cruised to an easy win in the campaign-opener. But come Saturday, the contest is definitely going to be more intense.
The Darren Sammy-led West Indian side has got enough arsenal in its armoury to derail any side.
However, the West Indian batsmen had failed to impress during their first warm-up game against Sri Lanka, in the absence of Gayle, and were scratchy in the second warm-up match against a resilient Afghan side, barring the Jamaican giant.
West Indies' prowess in the shortest format of the game is well known and Australia would undermine them at their own peril.
The Australian batting looked good against Ireland and with Cameron White spending some time in the middle, they can boast of a formidable middle-order.
However, they will certainly come under scanner against Narine, who was recently adjudged the ICC Emerging Player of the year for 2012.
Although the spinner has been ineffective against the Aussies on previous two meetings but that doesn't lessen his aura.
Australia will also have to be on guard against speedster Fidel Edwards who can surprise the batsman with his pace and has the ability to bowl in the block hole with some consistency.
With the likes of Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell, apart from Marlon Samuels and Ravi Rampaul expected to take the command against Australia, West Indies can certainly look to live upto the favourites tag.

Teams from

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith

Australia: George Bailey (captain), Shane Watson, David Warner, Cameron White, Daniel Christian, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Clint McKay, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk)

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