Surviving Wahab Riaz: Innings against Pakistan my most important in ODIs, says Watson

March 31, 2015

Mar 31: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson on Monday said his unbeaten knock of 64 against Pakistan in the World Cup quarterfinal is the “most important innings” of his ODI career as he was plain “lucky” to survive the hostile spell from Wahab Riaz.

Watson, who was not in the best of form going into the tournament, but ended up being a crucial cog in the wheel for Australia in the knockout stages as the hosts lifted their fifth World Cup trophy on Sunday.

Wahab Watson

“I thought about it as loud as it can get. I had a lot of luck specially to be able to get through that couple of overs in that spell. It worked well for me. It is the most important innings that I have played in ODI cricket as I said that I had a lot of luck through that phase because I was able to stay in win the match for my team,” an ecstatic Watson said at a media interaction after team’s victory celebration city’s Federation Square.

Watson has now been a part of two World Cup teams and said in jest that it can be associated with joys of having a second baby.

“Well I don’t have a second child yet but may be, it’s a feeling close to that. First time in West Indies was special but to win it second time in front of the home crowd is what dreams are made of. I feel very lucky to be born at the right time to play World Cup at home,” a beaming Watson said.

He was all praise for the team’s fast bowlers, who performed exceptionally throughout the tournament.

Asked to comment on the pacers’ performance, he said, “Incredible. I mean the fast bowling unit of 2007 was as good as they got but the way this group executed the plans is incredible.

“Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc along with Josh Hazlewood complemented each other very well. We executed our plans against big teams like India and Pakistan perfectly,” said Watson.

He was particularly impressed with Mitchell Starc, who was named Man of the Tournament.

“Starc has pace and swing. He has the variations to trouble the best batsmen in the world during death overs. He has the ability to bowl at different phases. And for someone so young and able to do that at big stage is a great thing,” Watson couldn’t stop gushing about his teammate.

He had some tough time in the early part of 2013 when he was sent home after the ‘Homework Gate’ scandal and he has come a long way since then.

“I hope selectors continue to pick me. It wasn’t the end of the road in any way (2013 controversy) as I was about to turn things around and close to doing that. I was lucky to get that opportunity,” said Watson.

Since Australia had to play 9 matches over six weeks, Watson is fresh and raring to go for his IPL Franchise Rajasthan Royals.

Asked if he needs a break during first phase of IPL, Watson said, “No, I will be fine. We have played only 9 games (World Cup) in 6 weeks whereas we normally play 9 matches in three weeks. There has been less pressure on the body and easy to go.”

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News Network
February 10,2020

Potchefstroom, Feb 10: India's under-19 cricket team manager Anil Patel says the ICC has taken a serious view of the aggressive celebrations by Bangladesh players after their World Cup triumph and will be reviewing the footage of the final game's "last few minutes".

Some Bangladeshi players got carried away while celebrating their historic three-wicket win over India in the final on Sunday. While their captain Akbar Ali apologised for the "unfortunate incident", his Indian counterpart Priyam Garg said their reaction was "dirty".

"We don't know what actually happened," Patel told 'ESPNCricinfo' on Sunday.

"Everybody was in a shock, absolutely, but we don't know what happened exactly. The ICC officials are going to watch the footage of the last few minutes and they are going to let us know," he said.

Even when the match was on, the Bangladesh players were overly aggressive while fielding and their lead pacer Shoriful Islam sledged the Indian batsmen after every delivery.

As soon as the match ended, it became tense with Bangladeshi players rushing to the ground and displaying aggressive body language. The two teams nearly came to blows before the situation was defused by the coaching staff and on-field officials.

Patel claimed that match referee Graeme Labrooy met him and expressed regret at what transpired on the field.

"The referee came to me. He was sorry about the incident. He clarified the ICC is going to take very seriously what has happened during the match and the last session. They are going to witness the footage and they will tell us in the morning (Monday)."

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News Network
January 10,2020

Srinagar, Jan 10: Real Kashmir FC made a strong comeback in the second half to play out a 1-1 draw against former champions Punjab FC in their home I-League match here on Friday.

The 'Snow Leopards' equalised in the 62nd minute through Gnohere Krizo in front of a partisan crowd of 8,500 spectators after Makan Chothe had given Punjab FC the lead in the 21st minute at the TRC ground.

After Thursday's draw, Punjab FC is placed third on the table with 10 points from seven games. Real Kashmir FC remained at eighth with six points from five matches. This was Real Kashmir's third home match on the trot.

The match was a story of two halves as the first belonged to the visitors who enjoyed a 62 per cent possession of the ball, whereas the second belonged to the home side.

Both the teams were looking to gain an early advantage and Punjab FC took the lead after 21 minutes.

Confusion inside the Real Kashmir box because of a long ball from Punjab opened up an opportunity for Chothe and he made no mistake as he smashed the ball at the back of the net.

As the fans cheered on, Real Kashmir created a flurry of chances, but none of the home side players could find the back of the net. Punjab was able to hold on to their slender lead heading into the tunnel.

The second half resumed with Real Kashmir pressing high up the field and pressurising Punjab.

In the 56th minute, Real Kashmir playmaker Kallum Higginbotham cut through two defenders on the left side of the box and the ball fell to Mason Robertson, whose shot was too weak to trouble the Punjab goalkeeper.

Soon after, it was Danish Farooq who tried a curler from a distance but his shot did not have enough bend to trouble the Punjab goalkeeper. The home team's effort finally paid off in the 62nd minute.

A miscalculated header by Danilo Augusto fell at the feet of Gnohere Krizo, who was one-on-one with the keeper. He made no mistake in striking the ball into the opponent's goal to score the equaliser.

Real Kashmir was in their groove now, and Kallum came in from the right with a beautiful low cross across the face of the goal but Mason could not get a touch as the chance went begging.

The duo of Kallum and Mason were proving difficult for Punjab to deal with. In the 82nd minute, a beautiful long ball by Kallum found the head of a towering Mason, but the effort went just over the crossbar.

Within a few moments, Punjab again had another nervous moment as Chesterpoul Lyngdoh's cross from the right side hit the arm of Thoiba Singh but the referee turned down an appeal for penalty.

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News Network
May 18,2020

Karachi, May 18: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan believes it is at least five years too early to compare Virat Kohli and Babar Azam as the Indian skipper has proven himself in "every kind of situation" and the latter has not.

"Virat Kohli is far more experienced than Babar. He has at least five years more experience of top cricket and he is at the peak of his career," said Younis, Pakistan's leading run-getter in Tests.

"Kohli has far more exposure than Babar and he has been in every kind of situation and proven himself. No one gets 70 international centuries like that and this are proof of his class and abilities. He has scored runs in every situation and all opposition."

Younis said said Babar still has a long way to go.

"Babar has been in top cricket for just around five years. He has got a very impressive batting average across all three formats and he is getting better by the day.

"You see him batting and you can see he has got the same qualities that Kohli had at the start of his career."

Besides amassing 70 international hundreds, 31-year-old Kohli averages more than 50 in all three formats. The India skipper has scored more than 20,000 runs while 25-year-old Babar has 6680 runs across formats though the Pakistan limited overs skipper has played significantly lesser number of games.

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