CaribCommx is due to have its most extensive editorial and lay-out since the site was founded in March 2002. However so that the operation, which requires the editing of content to be closed down for a few days, does not interfere with our daily coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup it has been postponed until after the competition is finished in early April. CaribCommx thanks you for your patience and understanding during this time.
THE DAY THE DANCER DIED - KEN "SNAKEHIPS" JOHNSON
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IRELAND HUNT DOWN ENGLAND WITH KEVIN O’BRIEN HITTING FASTEST EVER HUNDRED
Ireland achieved the greatest chase-down in World Cup history to overhaul England by 3 wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. They were inspired by Kevin O’Brien hitting the competition’s fastest ever century in 50 balls. Such a result seemed to be impossible as England powered to 327-8 with the four leading batsmen scoring well. Jonathan Trott (92 with 9 fours) and Ian Bell (81 with 8 fours and a six) put on 167 for the third wicket after Andrew Strauss (34) and Kevin Pietersen (59 with 7 fours and 2 sixes) had put on 91 for the first. Then Ireland captain Bill Porterfield chopped the first ball of the innings into his stumps. Although the early batsmen refused to surrender Ireland seemed to be well out of contention at 111-5. Then Kevin O’Brien (113 from 63 deliveries with 13 four and 6 sixes) played one of the greatest innings in cricket. He received sound support from Alex Cusak (47) with 162 for the sixth wicket and then and John Mooney (33 n.o.). They were aided by some wayward bowling and slipshod fielding. Nevertheless the Irishmen kept their heads commendably in the crisis and won from the first ball of the 50th over. England 327-8 (I.J.L. Trott 92, I.R. Bell 81, K.P. Pietersen 59, A.J. Strauss 34, J.F. Mooney 4-63) lost to Ireland 329-7 (K.J. O’Brien 113, A.R. Cusack 47, J.F. Mooney 33 n.o., P.R. Stirling 32, E.C. Joyce 32, N.J. O’Brien 29, G.P. Swann 3-47) by 3 wickets
MALINGA’S MASSACRE SCUTTLES KENYA
Lasith Malinga’s decisive spell of four wickets in five balls ended the Kenyan innings abruptly and set up Sri Lanka’s victory by 9 wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The East Africans’ woeful innings of 142 from 43.4 overs owed everything to a 94 runs third-wicket stand between brothers Collins Obuya (52) and David Obuya (51): no other batsman reached double-figures. The end was spectacular as Malinga (6-38 from 7.4 overs), who had taken 4 wickets in 4 balls already against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup, fired in his Yorkers to have one batsman l.b.w. with the last ball of one over and bowl three batsmen in the first four balls of the next. The Kenyans knew exactly where he was going to land the ball but could nothing about it. Upul Tharanga (67 n.o. with 12 fours) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (44 with 8 fours) chased the demoralised bowling by putting on 72 for the first wicket. Sri Lanka sped hurried home in 18.4 overs – a striking rate of 7.82. Kenya 142 (C.O. Obuya 52, D.O. Obuya 51, S.L. Malinga 6-38) lost to Sri Lanka 146-1 (W.U. Tharanga 67 n.o., T.M. Dilshan 44, K.C. Sangakkara 27 n.o.) by 9 wickets
Devendra Bishoo
BISHOO COMES IN FOR BRAVO
St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board Selection Committee has selected Guyanese leg spinner Devendra Bishoo to join the West Indies World Cup squad. Pending the approval of the ICC Technical Committee, the 25 year old Bishoo will replace the injured all rounder Dwayne Bravo. Bishoo was the Player of the Tournament of Caribbean Twenty20 2010 and took another 6 wickets in subsequent edition of the tournament in January last. The aggressive leggie also took 10 wickets in the WICB Regional 50 Over Tournament last October. In the on-giong WICB Regional 4 Day Tournament Bishoo, whose rich vein of form continues, has collected 14 wickets. Bishoo has appeared in 20 First Class matches, ten 50 over matches and 13 T20s and played for the West Indies A team v Pakistan A in 2010. Bravo, the side’s leading all rounder and talisman for the last four years, suffered a major injury to his left knee during the defeat against South Africa last Thursday night. He has been ruled out of the tournament and is expected to be out of the game for a minimum of four weeks.
Sir Everton Weekes
WICB sends birthday wishes to Sir Everton
St John’s, Antigua – President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr. Julian Hunte sent birthday wishes to legendary former West Indian batsmen Sir Everton Weekes. Born in Barbados in 1925, Sir Everton celebrated his 86th birthday on Saturday February 26th. “On behalf of the Board and the entire West Indies cricket family I send congratulations and warm wishes to Sir Everton on his 86th birthday,” Dr Hunte said. “A batsman of the absolute finest pedigree, Sir Everton served West Indies cricket with distinction on the field and has made a significant contribution off the field as well. We thank him profusely and look forward to his continued contribution, counsel and wisdom. Notably, Sir Everton looks remarkably well for a man who is merely 14 away from a century.” Sir Everton, one of the famed 3 Ws – along with Sir Frank Worrell and Sir Clyde Walcott – played 48 Tests, scoring 4455 runs at a remarkable average of 58.61. In an international career spanning 1948 to 1958 Sir Everton scored 15 Test centuries, five of which were made in consecutive Tests and the highest of which was 207. Sir Everton also scored 19 half centuries.
