ICC WT20: Latest Points Table -- South Africa gets hope with Indian win over Pakistan

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Sun, Sept. 30) - India keeping their hopes alive to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 after beating arch-rivals comprehensively today by 8 wickets here at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. India bettered their NRR by achieving the modest target of 129 in just 17 overs.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan: 

128 all out in 19.4 overs (Shoaib Malik 28; L Balaji 3/22, R Ashwin 2/16, Yuvraj Singh 2/16).

India: 

129 for 2 in 17 overs (Virat Kohli 78 not out, Virender Sehwag 29; Raza Hasan 1/22).

Although the points table above shows that Pakistan still on the second spot on points table of Group 2 following Australia, who crushed South Africa in the first match of the day in the same Group, but the respective Net Run Rates (NRRs) of Pakistan, India and South Africa are so close that anyone of them can qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament. 

Australia is in somewhat sound position but if Pakistan, in their last match of the Group 2 on Tuesday, produces another unpredictable performance and beat Australia with a margin to cover the difference in the NRR, then they might also be kicked out. But if Australia wins they will be through to the knock-out round.

Today's victory has not only opened the gates for India to next round; but it has also provided a ray of hope to South Africa, who are currently on the bottom of points table. If South Africa manages to beat India and Pakistan loses to Australia, then the second semi-final qualifier from the group will be decided on the basis of NRR.

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Pakistan batting first after winning the toss -- Live streaming and scores

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Sun, Sept. 30) - Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first here at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

Pakistan will come to the field with the same team which has played the last match against South Africa; while Virender Sehwag (Viru) has made a comeback to the Indian team.

"We have a varied attack," Pakistan captain Muhammad Hafeez said, "therefore, no changes in Pakistan team."

Sehwag and Balaji come in for India for Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla.

Live score updates:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2012/engine/current/match/533291.html

Live Streaming:

http://extracover.net/

India vs Pakistan (Super 8): Weather Report and Match Preview

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Sun, Sept. 30) - When Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India today in the Super 8 round of the ICC World Twenty20 at Colombo, it might easily be termed as 'The Crash of the Tournament'.

India vs Pakistan (Super 8): Weather Report and Match Preview

The cricket fever is at the highest level right now in both cricket-crazy nations; but fans from both sides fear about the a cloudy weather forecast. It has heavily rained already yesterday evening and if it troubles again today; then cricket fans will be deprived of a high-class, thrilling and nail-biting encounter.

At least for now a good news awaits for cricket fans in India and Pakistan that it will be a clear weather today especially in the evening at the time of start of the match between Pakistan and India, according to latest weather report on 'weather.com'.

India vs Pakistan (Super 8): Weather Report and Match Preview

There are a few games during which rankings, form, prospects and position on the points table hardly matter. An India-Pakistan game is one such. 

 India is in an extremely precarious position just before the 'clash of the tournament' with arch-rivals Pakistan. This is not just a do-or-die battle here but also one to rewrite the World Twenty20's "whatever little" history books.

The Indian team looked completely out of sorts against Australia and they now have to quickly address their woes in all departments of the game when they take on an upbeat Pakistan, who had beaten South Africa in a thriller, if they want to remain afloat in the tournament.

On the other hand; Pakistan having a pretty good tournament until now, especially after the 'out of the blues' victory against South Africa in their first Super 8 round match. 

But, just to remind cricket fans in Pakistan, men in green have never registered a win against India at World Cups, whether ODI or T20, while India have failed to register even a single win at the Super 8s after their victorious 2007 WC campaign. 

T20 World Cup Points Table (Sept. 29) -- Australia and West Indies Top Group 2 and Group 1 Respectively

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Sat, Sept. 29) - Australia crushed India by a huge margin of 9 wickets in their first Super Eight encounter. Earlier India won the toss and choosing to bat first managed to put up a modest 140 for seven in Colombo yesterday.

T20 World Cup Points Table (Sept. 29) -- Australia and West Indies Top Group 2 and Group 1 Respectively

All rounder and former ODI captain Shane Watson grabbed 3-34 and struck 72 off 42 balls to lift Australia to an emphatic victory over batting power India in the Super Eights match of the World Twenty20.

 

Opting to bat on a slowish wicket, India were found themselves deep in trouble facing the pace of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc while they had little answers for Shane Watson's swinging and variety of bowling.

In the first match of the day; Pakistan have kick-started their World Twenty20 Super Eights campaign with a 2-wicket victory over South Africa in a thrilling contest on the same venue.

Umar Gul emerged as Pakistan's unlikely batting hero, blasting a 17-ball 32 to give the 2009 champions' a narrow triumph over South Africa in a nail-biting contest on Friday.

Chasing a 134-run victory target, Pakistan were reeling at 76 for seven in the 15th over when Gul joined Umar Akmal (43 not out) and they added 49 runs off 4.3 overs to turn the group two match on its head.

After winning their matches Australia and Pakistan are now on top of the points table, respectively. See the latest points table above.

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Super Eights (Group 1) Sept. 28: Latest Points Table and Team Positions

Super Eight round of ICC World Twenty20 started day before yesterday with a bang and the very first match of the this round reached to Super Over. 

Latest Points Table: ICC World Twenty20 (Super Eight Stage)

On Thursday, Sri Lanka held their nerve to claim a nail-biting 5-run victory in the super over against New Zealand. With New Zealand needing 14 from their super over to win, Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga conceded only8 runs.

Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and set a huge target of 175 batting first on a batting-friendly pitch. In the end both teams tied on 174 after 20 overs. The hosts needed one from the final ball, but Lahiru Thirimanne was run out to force the super over decider.

In the second match of Thursday played on the same ground and pitch West Indies won their first match of this tournament beating England by 15 runs. Chris Gayle smashed 58 from 35 balls during West Indies' first T20 World Cup 2012 Super Eight clash against England on Thursday.

Gayle and Johnson Charles provided a flying start to the West Indies, as Darren Sammy earlier opted to bat first after winning the toss, but bulk of the runs scored by the big man.

Gayle scored 58 runs before being dismissed by spinner Graeme Swann in the 11th over. Marlon Samuels followed immediately without troubling the scorers.

Johnson Charles, however, continued to punish the English bowlers as he scored a well-accumulated half-century in the 13th over. He was dismissed by Jade Dernbach in the 18th over for 84 runs. 

England fell short of 15 runs despite the heroics of Eoin Morgan (71 off 46) and AD Hales (68 off 80) courtesy to some superb bowling and fielding by West Indians.

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Umar Gul: The Guldozer -- (VIDEO) Proved it against South Africa

Umar Gul, in a real sense, snatches a victory from South Africa. He pulled a victory for Pakistan, in first Super Eight contest of Group 2, with his 17-ball cameo in which he smashed 3 sixes and 4 boundaries for his quickfire 32.

Umar Gul: The Guldozer -- Proved it against South Africa

Gul, also known as Guldozer for his ability to bowl lethal yorkers in the death overs, showed the magic of his batting skills and ruined all the plans of South Africa's T20 World Cup pursuit.

Highlights of Umar Gul Innings and its importance:

• Pakistan were chasing South Africa's modest 133-6.
• Pakistan lost  7th wicket for just 76 on board in the 15th over.
• Umar Gul missed first three balls in the row.
• Gul smashed two towering sixes in a row in Jacques Kallis' over.
• Albie Morkel was next to be punished by Guldozer.
• Gul hit two boundary and a huge sixer off Morkel.

Watch below the highlights of Umar Gul innings and enjoy the victory of Pakistan.

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Innings Highlights: Imran Nazir 72 off 36 vs Bangladesh

Pakistan beat Bangladeh to sail through to the Super Eights and Imran Nazir emrged as the hero of the day with his quickfire 72 at a cracking strike rate of 200. He smashed nine boundaries and three sixes in his 36-ball innings.

 

Imran Nazir 72 off 36 vs Bangladesh

 

 

It could have been Shakib Al Hasan’s day. But thankfully for Pakistan, at the end of the day it was Imran Nazir who hogged the limelight. The big-hitting opener could have fallen for just 1 but instead he smashed a 36-ball 72 to shield Pakistan from any unpleasant surprises.

 

In the pursuit, he also hit the fastest 50 of the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 in just 25 balls. He provided a 124-run opening stand with his skipper Muhammad Hafeez (45 off 47).

Imran Nazir fully encashed the lucky escape, when he was dropped on just one. Abul Hasan dropped a real sitter at mid-on off Shafiul Islam in just second over of Pakistan Innings.

Imran Nazir was named man-of the-match for his fiery and winning knock.

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Highlights: Imran Nazir vs Bangladeh Scores 72 off 36 with Strike Rate of 200.

Watch Video Highlights of Imran Nazir's blitering knock:

 

 

Read Full Match Summary and Video Highlights of the Match HERE.

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