Indian steamrolled Bermuda in their match and finished the match as expected by the fans all over the world. There were a couple of positives that the team could draw from this fixture. First was the century by ‘bang bang’ Sehwag who got his lost touch back with some difficulty not to mention! And the other was the aggressive approach of the Indians aganist Bermuda as compared to that against the Bangladeshis.

Batting first, India lost the wicket of Uthappa early but Ganguly and Sehwag steadied the innings with some cautious batting. Sehwag then slowly dawned the role of the agressor among the two and started playing some of his trademark shots with ease! Ganguly on the other end was slow and steady although in the later part of the innings he too tried to cut loose.
Sehwag reached his hundred in a dramatic manner, missing a cut shot in the previous two deliveries! But a few words from Sourav helped him clam his nerves and he reached his century with a single.

After that Indians cut loose and made a mockery of the Bermuda attack as boundaries rained in plenty. Once Yuvraj arrived at the crease there was no looking back as India accelerated at the speed of knots with his imperious sixes and fours. His knock included 7 sixes and 4 fours as Indians also set the record for the maximum number of sixes in this match apart from the highest one day total in World Cup. He was briefly supported by Dhoni and later Tendulkar who too showed his class by striking some classical sixes.

For the Bermuda, nothing went as per their plan excpet for a half century by David Hemp who was a class apart in the Bermuda batting line up. He was severe on any ball pitched upto him as he punctuated his knock with 9 boundaries and a six! But the rest of the story went on as predicted. The Bermuda team was wrapped up for 156 runs with Kumble and Agarkar picking 2 wickets each.

Pakistan suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of minnows Ireland who showed them the door in the early stages of the World Cup. To add salt to injuries, the sad demise of coach Bob Woolmer following the disppointing performance of the Pakistani team has come as a big blow to the team and the entire cricketing fraternity which is shell shocked to say the least.

Following the sad demise of coach Woolmer and the ignominous exit of the team, Captain Inzamam ul Haq announced his retirement from one day international cricket and relinquished his test captaincy too. A classic instance of turmoil and Pakistani cricket team!

The team suffered a major blow to its World Cup campaign with two of it premier bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohd Asif being left out from the team for the tournament.

The team suffered a defeat at the hands of the hosts Windies in the opening game which implied that had to win their next two games . But the defeat at the hands of Ireland means they are out of the Championship even before the super 8 stage begins.

Batting first against Ireland, the Pakistan team scored an abominable low total of 132 runs. The batting lineup just fell apart as the batsmen just fell like a pack a cards with only three batsmen reaching double figures!

Defending a meagre total of 132 was always going to be an uphill task and without the likes of Akhtar and Asif the ask was a bit too much as was proved by the Irish batsmen. The Ireland team knocked off the runs losing 7 wickets in the process.

Just as I had mentioned, Pakistan is a team capable of surprising itself and that is exactly what happened in the match against Ireland. India is another team that seems to be taking a leaf out of Pakistan as was evident in the shoddy batting display of the team that lead to the defeat at the hands of the spirited Bangladeshi team!

To win the World Cup, its team that matters and not individuals. Batsmen would have to score and give something to their bowlers to bowl at. Only then will there be a contest!

Records tumbled all around in the match between South Africa and Holland on the 16 of March at St. Kitts. The match was curtailed to a 40 over match with South Africa batting first. Although the Dutch tasted success initially, it was just the beginning of their miseries as the South African batsmen made mince meat of some slow medium pace Dutch bowling.

The day belonged to Gibbs who hammered Daan Van Bunge for six sixes in an over thereby setting a World record. His innings was punctuated by 4 fours and 7 sixes. Next to follow was Mark Boucher who pounded the Dutch bowling and reached the fastest fifty in a World Cup by reaching his half century in just 21 balls. Having set the stage on fire, how could someone like Kallis and smith miss out?! They too hammered the Dutch with Kallis scoring a patient 128 runs while Smith scored 67.

In reply the Holland team was shot out for mere 132 runs with only Doeschate reaching a half century. The rest of the batting scorecard appeared like some telephone number! It was a one sided affair and probably the Dutch knew what was coming their way. But the extent and magnitude of damage caused by the Proteas was something that might not occurred to the Holland team.

The story for the Dutch team does not end here as they face a similar opposition in the form of the Australian side whom they face in their next match. If one goes by the saying that ‘Lightning does not strike twice’ then probable the Dutch can feel a bit relieved but from a team like Australia, the least they can expect is-‘bull in a china shop treatment’!