Samuels lifts West Indies to win over Bangladesh

Updated December 11, 2012 07:23:48

Explosive batting from Marlon Samuels lifted the World Twenty20 champions West Indies to an 18-run win over Bangladesh in a high-scoring match at Shere Bangla stadium on Tuesday morning.

Samuels hit a 43-ball 85 not out to steer the champions to 4 for 197 in their 20 overs.

While there was some blistering hitting from Bangladesh's openers, it only managed to reach 1 for 179 in reply.

Samuels's strong performance peaked at the end of the West Indies innings when he hit 29 runs in their final over, which included three sixes and a four.

He narrowly escaped being caught twice, with the catch missed both times by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim off paceman Ziaur Rahman.

Rubel Hossain was threatening at the outset as he dismissed Chris Gayle in the third over for 6 and then had Dwayne Smith (24) in his next.

Darren Bravo also batted impressively for the West Indies, hitting two sixes and five boundaries during his rapid 28-ball 41 before he was stumped by Rahim off Sohag Gazi.

Kieron Pollard (15) and Lendl Simmons (18 not out) added to Samuels's big score, as the tourists added 75 runs in the final five overs.

Bangladesh's openers were strong, with Tamim Iqbal hitting a 61-ball 88 and Mohammad Mahmudullah making 64.

But the West Indies' quality spin bowling proved too much for them, with Chris Gayle conceding just 18 runs in his four overs and Samuels conceding 32.

Bangladesh notched up 17 runs in each of the first and third overs. But following Anamul Haque's dismissal for a 12-ball 22, the West Indies' spinners managed to limit its score.

Iqbal hit 10 boundaries and two sixes during his knock while Mahmudullah notched up four sixes and three fours.

The defeat came after Bangladesh clinched the preceding five-match one-day series 3-2 on Saturday.

AFP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, bangladesh, jamaica

First posted December 11, 2012 07:13:19

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Bangladesh edges West Indies for series win

Updated December 09, 2012 07:09:54

A spirited Bangladesh led by all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah edged out the West Indies in the fifth and final one-day by two wickets in Dhaka on Sunday morning (AEDT), taking the series 3-2.

Mahmudullah took 2 for 38 to help the home team bowl the tourists out for 217 in 48 overs and then scored a polished 48 to help Bangladesh chase down the target for the loss of eight wickets with six overs to spare.

Bangladesh won the first match by seven wickets and the second by 160 runs - both in Khulna. The West Indies levelled the series with a four wicket win in the third and 75 runs in the fourth.

Both teams will now play a Twenty20 international in Dhaka on Monday.

It was Mahmudullah and captain Mushfiqur Rahim (44) who set the home team on the victory path through their 91-run stand for the fourth wicket after paceman Kemar Roach (5 for 56) had derailed the hosts in the early overs.

Roach struck thrice in his first five overs, removing Tamim Iqbal (8), Anamul Haque (0) and Jahurul Islam (10) to leave the home team in disarray at 3 for 30.

Mahmudullah hit seven boundaries in his 45-ball knock while Rahim smacked as many boundaries in his 56-ball knock.

But the West Indies staged a comeback through Sunil Narine (3 for 38) as the spinner removed both the batsmen in the space of 12 runs.

Nasir Hossain (39 not out) and Mominul Haque (25) added 53 for the sixth wicket as Bangladesh survived a late order slump to reach the target. Nasir hit Andre Russell for the winning boundary to send the packed crowd into jubilation.

Rahim was delighted with the series win.

"Boys stuck to the task, we knew it will be the test of nerves and happy to execute our plans and win the series," said Rahim.

"We did not bat well in the last two matches so we needed to do the right things in all three departments.

"I thought today we did a good job after losing the first three wickets. It's a good sign for us."

West Indian captain Darren Sammy praised Bangladesh.

"Congratulations to Bangladesh, they played well," said Sammy.

"We were in a good position to score 240 but we did not get there. We have had a good year but this might put a dent on our Christmas.

"But everything happens for a reason and hope to improve."

Earlier, Kieron Pollard hit a return to form with a robust 74-ball 85 and Darren Bravo notched a sedate 108-ball 51 during their 132-run fourth wicket stand to lift the tourists to 217 after they were put into bat.

Bangladesh had removed Kieran Powell (11), Marlon Samuels (1) and Chris Gayle (2) by the eight over.

Paceman Shafiul Islam, who replaced injured Mashrafe Mortaza in the squad, dismissed Gayle for a fifth failure in as many matches to finish with 3 for 31 in his nine overs.

Pollard, who like Gayle was a big flop in the last four matches, hit a six for his first scoring shot as he batted with aggression. He hit five boundaries and eight towering sixes to take the attack to the Bangladeshi bowlers.

He was finally dismissed in the 32nd over, bowled by spinner Haque. The Pollard-Bravo stand for the fourth wicket is a new record in all West Indies-Bangladesh one-dayers, beating the 92-run stand between Jimmy Adams and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in Dhaka in 1999.

Bravo hit three boundaries and a six before he was caught off Mahmudullah who finished with 2 for 38.

Devon Thomas chipped in with a useful 25 to take the West Indies past the 200-run mark.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, bangladesh, jamaica

First posted December 09, 2012 07:02:00

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West Indies through to super eight

Updated September 25, 2012 10:23:45

West Indies qualified for the World Twenty20 super eight stage without winning a match after its final Group B match against Ireland was abandoned because of rain.

Ireland reached 6 for 129 after the match had been reduced to 19 overs a side before the rain returned in Colombo.

West Indies was then set a revised target of 44 from five overs but the teams were unable to take the field again.

Niall O'Brien top-scored with 25 runs as he shared a 33-run fourth-wicket partnership with Gary Wilson (21). But Chris Gayle dismissed both batsmen and finished with match figures of 2 for 21.

Ireland captain William Porterfield was dismissed off the first ball of the innings for the second time in the tournament when he was bowled by a swinging yorker from Fidel Edwards.

Pace bowler Ravi Rampaul and spinner Sunil Narine ended up with figures of 1 for 23 from three overs each.

West Indies has not had an opportunity to play a full match in the group stage as its fixture against Australia was also stopped by rain.

Australia, who beat West Indies on the Duckworth-Lewis method in the other group match, had already qualified for the next stage.

West Indies will be in group one in the super eights along with hosts Sri Lanka, New Zealand and defending champions England.

It will play England on Thursday.

In group two, Australia, South Africa and India have already qualified with Pakistan and Bangladesh competing for the final place on Tuesday.

Reuters

Tags: sport, cricket, sri-lanka

First posted September 25, 2012 07:21:10

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A New Look Kensington Oval Should Help Revive West Indies Cricket

Aussies rebound against West Indies

Updated March 26, 2012 11:27:08

Australia withstood a marauding innings by West Indies captain Darren Sammy to secure a series-levelling victory in the final one-day international in Saint Lucia.

Hometown favourite Sammy belted 84 off just 50 deliveries in Gros Islet, including six sixes to thrill a capacity crowd, but Australia held on to secure a 30-run victory that ensured the five-match series finished 2-2, with the third match tied.

In its best batting performance of the series Australia posted 9 for 281 after being sent in by West Indies, with David Warner (69), captain Shane Watson (66) and Peter Forrest (53) all scoring half-centuries.

In reply West Indies was always on the back foot after a Brett Lee double-strike, before Sammy combined with Andre Russell (41) to smash 101 runs off 59 balls for the eighth wicket.

Russell's dismissal halted the onslaught and Australia was able to close out the match to avoid its first one-day series defeat against West Indies in 17 years.

"We've had them in trouble throughout the whole series and they (West Indies) just seem to find a way to fight back," Watson said.

"There's no doubt we're not executing our skills exactly right but it's some pretty impressive batting as well.

"The way Darren Sammy batted today, I've never seen him bat like that. To be able to do it under pressure was very impressive."

Warner and Watson gave Australia the perfect start, adding 118 for the first wicket at a run a ball before Forrest held the middle overs together with his patient knock.

A decision to promote Lee to number five in a pinch-hitting role did not work out with the fast bowler only scoring 12 but Matthew Wade's late cameo (26 off 17 balls) gave Australia momentum going into the innings break.

All-rounder Russell, who made several athletic stops in the field, claimed 4 for 61 off nine overs with Kemar Roach (3 for 53) and Sunil Narine (2 for 55) the other wicket-takers.

Lee (3 for 42) made a brilliant start with the ball, removing Johnson Charles and Marlon Samuels for ducks as he bowled three straight maidens to leave West Indies 2 for 7 after five overs.

A sickening collision between wicketkeeper Wade and Ben Hilfenhaus as the fast bowler claimed a high catch to remove Carlton Baugh left Wade on the ground in agony.

The Victorian recovered to see out the match but will be hoping any injuries he sustained are not serious enough to rule him out of Wednesday's (AEDT) first Twenty20 match.

Baugh's wicket came when Australia was cruising to victory, the dismissal of Kieron Pollard for 33 shortly after leaving West Indies 7 for 118.

But that was before Sammy arrived to ensure a fitting end to a thrilling series.

"It's disappointing but looking at the team, the way the guys have shown signs of maturity ... the whole camaraderie of the team, the way we play with a never-say-die attitude, it gives me hope," Sammy said.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, saint-lucia

First posted March 26, 2012 09:10:16

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West Indies cricketer Morton dies at 33

Updated March 06, 2012 14:37:42

West Indies' cricketers have spoken of their shock and sadness at the death of former international batsman Runako Morton, who was killed in a car crash on Sunday, aged 33.

Morton died when the car he was driving hit a pole in Trinidad.

The Nevisian batsman's last international was in a Twenty20 against Australia in Sydney two years ago.

Morton played in 15 tests and 56 one-day internationals for West Indies. He scored 573 test runs at an average of 22.03, including four half-centuries, but enjoyed better success in limited overs cricket.

In ODIs, he scored 1,519 ODI runs at an average of 33.75 with two hundreds and 10 fifties.

"RIP Runako Morton. Shocked and saddened at the loss of my former WI team mate," all-rounder Dwayne Bravo tweeted.

Chris Gayle said: "We lost a True Warrior W.I Cricketer Runako Morton-May is soul rest in peace! Our memories together Live On!-My Condolences to his Family."

"A cricket warrior gone but not forgotten," Darren Bravo said. "A tough competitor and total team man."

England batsman Kevin Pietersen also gave his tribute: "What a lovely guy & fierce competitor!! RIP bossman!"

Reuters/ABC

Tags: sport, cricket, trinidad-and-tobago, saint-kitts-and-nevis

First posted March 06, 2012 07:48:40

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Hussey puts hand up for West Indies tour

Updated January 22, 2012 13:53:39

Australia's Mike Hussey is putting his hand up for the West Indies tour in March and says he has given no thought to retiring from international cricket.

The middle-order batsman is averaging 84.33 in the series against India which concludes with the fourth Test starting in Adelaide on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old feels he has a big role to play in helping fourth-ranked Australia get back to the top in Test cricket and says he has always been brought up on the philosophy young players need to earn the right to play for Australia.

The Adelaide match marks the end of Australia's Test summer at home, with Twenty20 matches against India and a one-day series against India and Sri Lanka to follow before a full tour of the Caribbean.

"I'm looking forward to this Test match. I haven't looked beyond that at all at this stage," Hussey said on Sunday.

"I've just really tried to set myself for this series. But my body feels good and I still feel like I'm playing well.

"I still feel mentally wanting to turn up for training and mentally keen for the battle out in the middle so from that point of view, I'm definitely thinking of continuing on.

"I'd love to go to the West Indies.

"The culture I was always brought up in is the next generation have to earn their right to play for Australia.

"It took me over 10 years of first-class cricket just to get one game for Australia so I certainly don't feel the responsibility to pass the baton on.

"I still feel like I've got a big role to play in the team with experience to help some of the younger members of the team.

"Plus I still feel like I can contribute to Australia working their way back to where we want to be which is the number one team in the world."

Hussey said he had seen no signs from Ricky Ponting (263 runs at 65.75 in the Indian series) and wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin (33 runs at 11.00) that they were contemplating retirement.

Hussey says the appointment of former South Africa mentor Mickey Arthur in November has rejuvenated the Australians.

Hussey said taking a 3-0 lead over India meant a huge difference in the morale within the change rooms after last summer's 3-1 Ashes defeat.

"For a while there everyone did get a little bit insular. It was a bit quieter, probably a bit more intense," Hussey said.

"Now the new coach has stepped in, the new selectors have stepped in, the communication has been really good.

"Everyone knows where they stand, they know what their roles are and they know where they want to take the team in the future.

"That gives everyone a lot of heart and a lot of confidence. You can relax again and be yourself and you can really see the characters coming out in all the team."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted January 22, 2012 13:53:39

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Legends of Cricket West Indies

Includes 7 Holiday Favorites:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Who’s got a nose for Christmas? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Just in time for the holidays, here comes Rudolph in the most beloved special of all time! Packed with a sleigh full of memorable songs and unforgettable characters, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer lights up the hearts of young and old alike.
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Where does Santa’s suit come from? Why does he slide down the chimney? Why does he live at the North Pole? The answers to all these questions and the origins of our favorite holiday traditions are revealed in this delightful classic about Kris Kringle, the world’s most famous gift giver.

Frosty the Snowman
Look at Frosty Go! What’s become a bigger holiday tradition than building a snowman? Watching the original Christmas classic, Frosty the Snowman! Grab your scarf, bundle up, and get ready for the incredible adventure of a magical snowman who’s got enough personality to win over the whole family. You can’t go wrong with Frosty!
 
Frosty Returns

Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
Bah Humbug, Mr. Magoo! In this first-ever animated holiday TV special, the bumbling and loveable Mr. Magoo is Ebeneezer Scrooge in a hilarious and heartwarming musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic, "A Christmas Carol".

The Little Drummer Boy
This story has touched the hearts of families everywhere. In this holiday classic, the true spirit of Christmas is revealed when a lonely orphan stumbles upon the birth of the baby Jesus and affirms what the holidays are really about – giving and love. Featuring a beautiful soundtrack by the Vienna Boys’ Choir, this timeless tale of generosity makes the perfect addition to your holiday collection.

Cricket on the Hearth
A delightful, animated musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Cricket on the Hearth, tells the story of a poor toymaker and his daughter whom a helpful Cricket named Crocket befriends on Christmas morning. When tragedy strikes the family, it’s Crocket who comes to the rescue and restores peace and happiness.

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

Legends of Cricket West Indies

A delightful, animated musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Cricket on the Hearth, tells the story of a poor toymaker and his daughter whom a helpful Cricket named Crocket befriends on Christmas morning. When tragedy strikes the family, it’s Crocket who comes to the rescue and restores peace and happiness.

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon