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Ireland and Afghanistan have also lost their first matches against Australia and India respectively.
The inaugural match of the ICC World Twenty20, 2012 was played between host Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at Hambantota. As expected, Sri Lanka thrashed Zimbabwe in all the departments. After winning the toss, Zimbabwe elected to field first. Sri Lanka posted 182 on board with the help of poised contributions of Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jeevan Mendis. In reply, Zimbabwe with all their hard work and efforts only succeeded to reach three figures and were bowled out for 100 in just 17.3 overs. Opener Masakadza’s 20 was the highest individual score of the inning. Ajantha Mendis, who holds the record of fastest 50 wickets in ODIs (19 matches) left behind Umar Gul’s figures of 5 wickets for just 6 runs with his figures of 6 wickets for 8 runs only. Jeevan Mendis who scored 43 off 30 balls also chipped in with 3 wickets. However, the other Mendis, Ajantha was declared man of the match for his dream figures of 6/8.
In the second match of the ICC World Twenty20 at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, officially number 8th ranked Australia met number 10th Ireland. Close ICC T20 team rankings suggested that a close contest would be watched between the two. This would have happened, had there been any significance of these rankings in the ground. Ireland won the toss and chose to bat first. On the very first ball of the match, Watson got the wicket of Porterfield and then Watson was everywhere, took 3 wickets for 26, a catch and then scored 51 off 40 balls with the help of five boundaries and three sixes to make the target of 124 so easy for Australia. GH Dockrell and KJ O'Brien were the only successful bowlers who claimed one wicket each. Earlier, Ireland scored 123 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. KJ O'Brien scored 35 with the help of five boundaries while the other Brien added 20. Australia won the match by 7 wickets with 29 balls to spare. The obvious choice for man of the match was Shane Watson.
India vs. Afghanistan. One match, up till now in which a minnow did manage to put up some show. Performance of Afghanistan with bat and ball should be appreciated but their fielding. At R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Afghanistan won the toss and chose to field first. Things were quite under their control as Shapoor Zadran, the pacer removed Gambhir on the first ball of his second over and then Sehwag on the first ball of his third over. India were 29 for 2 after 5. Yuvi, who had hit six sixes exactly five years back stayed at the wicket for a while and scored 18 with the help of one six and a dropped catch when he was on 16. India were 68/3 after 10.1 overs. Afghanistan, who were looking good then, dropped Raina twice when he was on 2 and 19. Kohli played a very important inning of 50. Afghanistan were containing India well until the 18th over when India were just 131 for 4. However, the captain Dhoni managed to take the Indian score to 159 while India lost 5 wickets in the process. Had those dropped catches been taken, Afghanistan might have restricted India to around 135. After impressive performance with the ball, Afghanistan batsmen also showed some skills as they were 24/0 after 3 overs and 52/1 after 7, seriously alarming for Dhoni. Then came Yuvi to rescue India and got the wicket of Nawroz Mangal on his very first ball followed by two more wickets on consecutive balls of his 3rd over. Afghanistan who were 75/2 in 11.1 overs, found themselves in real totter as they were then 76/5 within next six balls. However, resistance continued by Mohammad Nabi who played some extraordinary shots and scored 31 off just 17 balls with the help of 2 sixes and 2 fours. His six over extra cover off the bowling of Zaheer Khan was marvelous. Afghanistan’s final score was 136 all out with Balaji and Yuvi got 3 wickets each for 19 and 24 runs respectively. Virat Kohli declared player of the match for his 50 runs. Afghanistan overall performance was good. Hard work in the field and experience would definitely help them to become a more better unit. Shapoor, Muhammad Nabi, Nawroz Mangal and Karim Sadiq seemed good prospects for them.
Fourth match of the tournament brought the end of Zimbabwe role in the current tournament. Zimbabwe’s performance in T20s leaving a big question mark on their future. Even the experience of Masakadza, Sibanda, Taylor, Ervine, Matsikenyeri, Chigumbura, Cremer, Utseya and Ray Price completely failed to show any guts. Zimbabwe not only lost both their matches but more importantly failed to create any impression of any good cricketing skills and maturity. Their bowling performance can be assessed by the fact that only one wicket is taken by their bowlers all together in the tournament. Cremer has been the only successful bowler of Zimbabwe when he took a wicket against Sri Lanka in the curtain raiser match. As regards their batting performance, they scored 193 in two matches and lost 18 wickets. This is the same Zimbabwean team who scored 200/2 and 159/8 against New Zealand in New Zealand just 7 months back. Zimbabwe seriously need to look at their performance. On the other hand, South Africa (as well as Sri Lanka) has now qualified for the next stage by beating Zimbabwe by ten wickets. AB de Villiers won the toss for South Africa and put Zimbabwe into bat at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota. Morney Morkel started the disaster for Zimbabwe by sending Sibanda back to pavilion in his first over and then the captain Taylor in his second over. Zimbabwe never recovered from there and scored just 93/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Jaques Kallis took 4/15 in his four overs. In reply, it was like a formality to be completed as the Protease chased their target without losing any wicket in just 12.4 overs. Levi, the holder of the fastest 100 in T20s, scored 50 not out and a kind of evergreen, Hashim Amla also remained not out scoring 32 runs. Jaques Kallis was named man of the match for his bowling performance of 4/15.
Talking of Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, nobody expects from them heroics again and again but at least to see some skills at this greater level. Not long ago, Bangladesh was also used to be taken as a minnow but their improvement is superb. They are now even a threat for both Pakistan and New Zealand in group matches. Nobody can forget their performance in recent Asia Cup where they almost lifted the cup. Performances like that create passion among the nation which helps increasing interest of new generation and so to find new talents. Shakib ul Hassan and Mushfiq ur Rahim are the best examples of great Bangladeshi talent. ICC should take more measures to promote cricket in these areas of the world as well as in new areas too.
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