WI march into Super Eights

September 25, 2012

wi

Ireland’s worst fears came true as their remote hopes of qualifying to the Super Eight stage were washed away after torrential downpour forced the abandonment of their shootout against the West Indies here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Monday night.

Coming into Group B’s final encounter with a loss each at the hands of Australia, it was a must win match for both the West Indies and Ireland to progress to the next stage. A washout, however, wasn’t in the best interests of Ireland whose net run-rate of -2.09 was lower than West Indies’ -1.85. As a result, Darren Sammy’s men joined Sri Lanka and England in Group B of the Super Eights with New Zealand’s qualification as the fourth team being only a formality now.

For the record, Ireland posted 129/6 in 19 overs after two rain delays had shaved off two overs from the contest. Given West Indies’ batting fire-power, the target wasn’t going to be a difficult one but the rain that resumed immediately after Ireland’s innings ensured no further play.

With dark clouds hovering over the stadium, the rain-threat was always around. Though Sammy had maintained that they were a side who preferred to set the target rather than chase it, he opted to bowl first in order to give the West Indies a better chance to win if Duckworth/Lewis method were to come into play. The all-rounder didn’t have wait too long to stand vindicated as the first spell of rains arrived at the completion of the fifth over at which stage Ireland were 33 for the loss of their skipper William Porterfield. The southpaw once again fell for a first-ball duck, as Fidel Edwards’ full-length scorcher broke through his defences.

The umpires – Asad Rauf and Kumar Dharmasena – rescheduled the start at 8.20 pm but no sooner the covers had come off than it began to rain again, forcing a further postponement. The proceedings began at 8.45 pm by which time 55 minutes of play had been lost but fortunately only two overs were reduced making it a 19-over-a-side affair.

Sunil Narine got rid of Ed Joyce after the resumption, bowling the southpaw around his legs after which Niall O’Brien and Gary Wilson came up with some lusty hits to add some meat Ireland’s innings. Chris Gayle didn’t get a chance to swing his bat but the southpaw played his part with the ball. The off-spinner dismissed both N O’Brien and Wilson and celebrated each success with his own version of Irish ‘chicken dance’ to entertain the sparse gathering.

Notwithstanding a few slogged-sixes towards the end, Irish couldn’t manage a total that would have tested the batting might of the Windies but they rather would have preferred to go down fighting than watch helplessly the match being rained off.


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News Network
April 28,2020

New Delhi, Apr 28: IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore's Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson returned to New Zealand on Tuesday after being stranded in India for over a month amid the nationwide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ex-New Zealand player and coach had arrived in India on March 5 for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League but was stuck in the country after the lockdown was imposed and all flights were suspended.

"What a wonderful sight after spending over a day on a bus to get to Mumbai airport. The staff on @FlyAirNZ were simply outstanding on our return to New Zealand," Hesson tweeted.

He also thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the New Zealand Embassy in India, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

"Special thanks to Down pointing backhand index @NZinIndia @MFATNZ @narendramodi @jacindaardern #repatriationflight #india #NZ" he added.

To stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, India and New Zealand had announced lockdowns in their respective countries last month, alongside travel restrictions, forcing the 45-year-old to stay in Bengaluru.

While India remains in lockdown till May 3, New Zealand eased its stringent measures on Tuesday.

The IPL, which was originally scheduled to get underway on March 29, has been suspended until further notice due to the pandemic.

The cornavirus outbreak, that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected over 30 lakh people across the world while killing more than two lakh.

All sporting events, including the Tokyo Olympics, have either been cancelled or postponed.

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News Network
June 13,2020

Islamabad, Jun 13: Pakistan cricket team’s former captain Shahid Afridi, who has tested positive for coronavirus,  appears to have contracted the virus during his recent visit to Muzaffarabad city of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) where Pakistan has been sending its corona positive patients.

The former Pakistan cricketer was seen attending gatherings in Muzaffarabad last month without wearing a mask and not maintaining social distancing. He spewed venom against India during his rallies. 

Afridi visited PoK to also express his solidarity with the people there who have been left to fend for themselves in combating COVID-19 as Pakistan has refused to provide any COVID fighting equipment like PPE kits and ventilators to the area’s handful of hospitals. 

In fact, Pakistan has been using the PoK as a “dumping ground” for COVID-19 affected persons from all across the country as authorities want to keep Punjab province free of corona positive persons. 

The locals held massive protests against Pakistan for setting up quarantine centres and shifting patients from parts of Pakistan to PoK. 

People are immensely suffering in Pakistan occupied Kashmir due to spread of coronavirus as the region lacks proper medical facilities and has a handful of COVID-19 testing labs. There is also lack of expert medical staff to conduct COVID-19 tests. 

A large number of people here are presumed asymptomatic and they are fast spreading the virus because of lack of medical care. 

Pakistan has reported over 1,25,000 coronavirus cases and 2,463 casualties. In Pakistan occupied Kashmir, the COVID-19 cases have increased to 534, whereas in Gilgit-Baltistan 1,030 have been  reported. 

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News Network
June 10,2020

Kingston, Jun 10: "Enough is enough", said West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as he opened up on the raging issue of racism and called for "respect and equality" for black people, who have faced discrimination for years.

Bravo joined the likes of his former captain Darren Sammy and Chris Gayle in denouncing racism in the wake of African-American George Floyd's killing at the hands of a white police officer in the USA.

"It's sad to see what's going on around the world. As a black man, we know the history of what black people have been through. We never ask for revenge, we ask for equality and respect. That's it," Bravo told former Zimbabwe cricketer Pommie Mbangwa in an Instagram live chat on Tuesday.

"We give respect to others. Why is it that we are facing this over and over? Now enough is enough. We just want equality. We don't want revenge, war.

"We just want respect. We share love and appreciate people for who they are. That's what is most important."

The 36-year-old, who has played 40 Tests, 164 ODIs and 71 T20Is for West Indies, said he wants the world to know that they are powerful and beautiful people and gave the example of greats such as Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan.

"I just want our brothers and sisters to know that we are powerful and beautiful. And at the end of the day, you look at some of the greats of the world, whether it is Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan we have had leaders who paved the way for us," he said.

Two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain Sammy had earlier alleged that a racist nickname was used to address him during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad and demanded an apology.

Sammy said he was called 'Kalu' while he was in India. 'Kalu' is a derogatory word to describe black people.

Gayle, who too plays in the IPL, took to Twitter to back Sammy, saying that racism does exist in cricket.

"It's never too late to fight for the right cause or what you've experienced over the years! So much more to your story, @darensammy88. Like I said, it's in the game!!," Gayle tweeted.

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