India vs Netherlands - India have all but booked themselves a place in the quarter finals of the world cup but they were pushed all the way by the minors. It was the Netherlands who won the toss and elected to bat and they started off really brightly with the opening partnership (Szwarczynski and Barresi) putting on 56 before Chawla bowled Szwarczynski for 28. Barresi fell soon afterwards. The inform Cooper and ten Doeschate did try and build an partnership but they feel one run of another and the Netherlands were 100-4. They lost another 2 more wickets soon afterwards as Zuiderent was out for 0, de Grooth run out for 5 and Kruger also run out for 8. They were 151-8. There were some late order hitting by Borren and Bukhari who hit 2 sixes in a row off Chawla but Zaheer Khan got both of them as the Netherlands were bowled out for 189 all out. The problem for the Netherlands were a lot of players got starts but no stayed or anchored the innings through. Wickets were shared out as Zaheer Khan was the star again with 3-20 off 6.4 overs Nehra on his return got 1-22 off 5 Chawla getting 2-47 off his 10 and the star of the last match Yuvraj Singh getting 2-43 off his 9.
India started off the reply is really quick pace Sehwag and Tendulkar looked to try and get the job done quickly. They reached there 50 partnership by 6 overs (36 balls). But as they were looking for an 10 or 9 or at worst 8 wicket victory India went on a mini collapse as they lost a few quick wicket. Sehwag trying to score another boundary held out as Seelaar went out to him for 39. Then Tendulkar edged an straight ball he was out for 27. Seelaar then got his 3rd wicket when Pathan hit a ball straight back Seelaar for an easy caught and balled. It then got even worse as Kohli went soon afterwards as he got bowled by Borren as India collapse from 69-0 to 99-4. It was up to hero of last match as Yuvraj Singh and Gambhir did an re-building job for India. They went at it as an positive way as Yuvraj and Gambhir took on the bowling. They looked comfortable until the partnership reached 40 when Bukhari bowled Gambhir it made it 139-5. India had still a little bit of work to do.
It brought out the captain Dhoni to the crease. He played an calm and sensible innings to get India out of the trouble they were facing. Yuvraj Singh carried on playing his own game at the other end and had again just about enough time to reach his 50 as he got them in 73 balls including 7 fours. In the 37th over Dhoni hit the winning runs to take India virtually through to the quarter final. Yuvraj Singh was once against Man Of the Match for doing another all round performance by taking 2 wickets and scoring another 50 to see India home. India will face South Africa on Saturday in Nagpur. While the Netherlands move to Chittagong to face Bangladesh and end playing in the world famous Kolkata Eden Garden's to face Ireland.
In the other match Sri Lanka were in fine form with bat and ball as they swept past an poor Zimbabwe side. Zimbabwe did win the toss and elected to ball but that turned into one the worst decisions that the captain made as openers blew Zimbabwe away. They made an world cup record of 282 for the first wicket partnership. Tharanga was the first man out as he scored an magical 133 of 141 balls. That included 17 fours. Dilshan was the next man to go as 144 as he excited the home crowd with some of his best shots. It included 16 fours and 1 six off 131 balls. After those 2 got out Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals. When they were 282-0 after 41 overs they were on for an score of around 350. But the fall of wickets at regular intervals meant Sri Lanka only made 327-6. Zimbabwe did an good job restricting them.
Zimbabwe replay started off really well as Taylor was taking the attack to Sri Lanka. Chakabva was giving good support at the other end as they put on an opening partnership of 116. Chakabva was the first man out to the retiring Muralitharan as he got bowled. They lost there captain Taibu soon afterwards for only 4 runs. Then the big moment happened when Taylor was caught by Jayawardene off Mathews bowling. He made an good knock of 80 off 72 balls including 9 fours and 1 six.
After that the innings fell away as none of the other batsman (apart from the openers) did not even get to 20. Ervine was the third highest scorer with 17 and when he went to Dilshan the game was up for Zimbabwe. The rest of the innings feel apart very quickly as from 116-0 to 188 all out. The incredible Dilshan did an great all round performance not only did he get 144 off 131 balls but he got 4 wickets in 3 overs for only 4 runs. The spin king Muralitharan got 3 wickets in his 9 overs with Mathews getting 2 and Perera getting 1. Dilshan was unsurprisingly named man of the match for his all round performance. That win puts Sri Lanka into the quarter final. They will have an home tie if they avoid playing India. Sri Lanka's final match of this group stages is against New Zealand in Mumbai (where the final will be held). For Zimbabwe they stay in Kandy to face Pakistan before they play there final match in Kolkata to face Kenya.
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