Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for Australia

Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia overcome Sri Lanka in Sydney

by

Australia-Sri-Lanka

by Nick Royle, BBC Sport

Glenn Maxwell hit the second-fastest century in World Cup history as Australia beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs to advance to the quarter-finals.

Maxwell’s first one-day international ton, reached off 51 balls, inspired Australia’s total of 376-9 in Sydney.

Sri Lanka fell short in a spirited run chase despite a third consecutive World Cup century from Kumar Sangakkara and a quickfire 52 from Dinesh Chandimal.

Australia are likely to meet either Ireland or Pakistan in the last eight.

Michael Clarke’s side, who face Scotland in their final Pool A match in Hobart on 14 March, should finish second behind New Zealand in their group, and would therefore meet the team that finishes third in Pool B.

Sri Lanka, who lie in third place in the group with six points from their five matches, also face Scotland in their final Pool A match in Hobart on 11 March.

Maxwell hit 10 fours and four sixes in an innings of 102 that combined deft placement with power hitting, as the 26-year-old finally reached three figures in his 45th ODI.

He was denied a share of the fastest World Cup century arguably only by his own honesty, after he answered in the negative when asked by umpire Ian Gould whether he had got a touch on a legside glance off Lasith Malinga in the 45th over.

Maxwell bought up his hundred in the next over, off 51 deliveries, one more than it took Ireland batsman Kevin O’Brien to decimate the England attack in Bangalore in 2011. However, it is the fastest ODI century by an Australian, beating James Faulkner’s 57-ball century against India in 2013.

The Victorian received a bear-hug from batting partner Shane Watson, who hit 67 runs in 41 balls on his return to the side after being dropped for the previous match against Afghanistan.

“I didn’t know about the record World Cup century, but I knew about the Australian record because James Faulkner doesn’t shut up about it!” Maxwell said.

Steve Smith (68) and captain Michael Clarke (72) had earlier laid the platform for a huge Australia total with a 134-run stand for the second wicket in 23.1 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan set the tone for the Sri Lanka reply by hitting Mitchell Johnson for six consecutive fours off the fifth over, much to the Australia fast bowler’s incredulity, as he and Sangakkara, a batting duo with a combined age of 75, put on 130 for the second wicket.

Sri Lanka were always struggling to keep on top of the rate, particularly after Australia captain Clarke broke a dangerous third-wicket partnership with a direct hit from mid-off to account for Mahela Jayawardene (19) in the 31st over.

Sangakkara completed a third consecutive century in this tournament, a World Cup first, and his sixth hundred in his last 11 ODIs, but his dismissal to James Faulkner in the 34th over left Sri Lanka still needing 176 from 97 balls.

Chandimal hit a lusty 24-ball 52 after Sangakkara’s dismissal to keep Sri Lanka’s slim hopes alive, but his exit retired hurt in the 42nd over effectively spelled the end of the unlikely run chase.

Clarke was pleased that his bowlers did not panic when Dilshan, Sangakkara and then Chandimal began to score freely in the Sri Lanka response.

“If we can hold our nerve like that we give ourselves a chance. Watching players around the world scoring so quickly and freely, teams can chase any score now,” he said.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews believes his side would have been well in the game if his bowlers had been able to check the scoring in the final overs of the Australia innings.

“We conceded 200 runs in the last 16 overs and it was way too much – 340 would have been a real good chase,” he admitted.

Cricket World Cup 2015: Record-breaking Australia thump Afghanistan for second Cricket World Cup win

by

warner

by Pascal Lemesre, SportsMole

Cricket World Cup co-hosts Australia recorded the biggest-ever one-day international score on their way to a 275-run victory over Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Led from the front by David Warner’s 178 runs from 133 balls, which included 24 boundaries, Australia posted 417-6 from their 50 overs, with Warner aided by 95 from Steven Smith and a rapid 88 off just 39 balls by Glenn Maxwell.

Afghanistan, who won the toss and chose to field first, didn’t stand a chance of chasing the mammoth total down, but still put in a respectable batting display in what is their first World Cup showing.

The Aussies’ first wicket didn’t arrive until the seventh over when Mitchell Johnson got rid of Usman Ghani for 12.

Johnson took a game-high four wickets and also removed Afghanistan’s highest-scorer Nawroz Mangal (33), with the minnows losing all 10 wickets for 142 in the 38th over.

After winning one, losing one and having one of their first three games abandoned, Australia now sit third in Pool A on five points behind New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan remain on two points with one win and three defeats to their name.

World Cup 2015: New Zealand beat Australia by one wicket

by

trent_boult

by Justin Goulding, BBC Sport

New Zealand survived a late collapse to beat Australia by one wicket in a thrilling World Cup Pool A game.

Chasing a meagre 152 to win, the Kiwis slipped from 131-4 to 146-9 as Mitchell Starc claimed 6-28.

However, Kane Williamson (45no) hit Pat Cummins for six to seal victory with 26.5 overs to spare in a wonderfully tense climax at Eden Park in Auckland.

Earlier, Australia lost eight wickets for 26 runs as they were bowled out for 151, with Trent Boult claiming 5-27.

New Zealand, who have won all four of their Pool A matches, need only one win from their remaining two group games – against Afghanistan and Bangladesh – to secure their place in the quarter-finals.

This was only the sixth one-wicket win in World Cup history, although such a slender margin of victory appeared unlikely in the extreme as Brendon McCullum flayed a 21-ball fifty to lead the Kiwi pursuit.

Even after he fell in the eighth over to spark a collapse of three wickets in five balls, few doubted the outcome.

Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia v Bangladesh washed out by rain

by

Australia’s World Cup Pool A match against Bangladesh in Brisbane was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

australia_fans

by BBC Sport

Heavy rain overnight and throughout the day prevented any play at the Gabba.

Both sides took one point from the game and are level on three points in the group, three behind leaders New Zealand.

It is only the second World Cup match to be washed out completely, after Sri Lanka against West Indies at The Oval in 1979.

The weather prevented captain Michael Clarke from making his return from a hamstring injury, the Australia captain having missed the co-hosts’111-run win over England on the first day of the tournament.

Bangladesh have won only one of their 19 completed ODIs against Australia

Clarke has not played a competitive international since having surgery in December, but made 64 in the World Cup warm-up win over the United Arab Emirates.

Bangladesh, who beat Afghanistan in their World Cup opener, face Sri Lanka in Melbourne on Thursday, while Australia play unbeaten New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.

Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia beat England by 111 runs

by

mitchell_marsh

Melbourne: Australia beat England by 111 runs in their World Cup opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. Earlier, Aaron Finch scored a glittering century to fire Australia to a near-record one-day international total of 342 for nine in the first innings.

Spilled by Chris Woakes on the second ball he faced, opening batsman Finch blasted 135 and combined with stand-in skipper George Bailey for a 146-run partnership to help steady the co-hosts after they had slumped to 70-3 in the 11th over.

With England putting in an abysmal fielding display, hard-hitting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell blasted 66 off 40 balls in the final overs to ensure their opponents will need to set a new record to win, with no team chasing down more than 299 at the venue.

Adding irony for England after a tough day in the field, Steven Finn completed a bizarre hat-trick with the final three deliveries, removing Brad Haddin, Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson to deny Australia the MCG record of 344 scored by an ICC World XI in 2005.

Paceman Stuart Broad had earlier bowled the dangerous David Warner and had Shane Watson caught behind for a golden duck in successive balls but Steven Smith survived the hat-trick ball.

Woakes removed the in-form Smith for five soon after but England released the pressure with some woeful fielding on a day of glorious sunshine.

England captain Eoin Morgan sent his bowlers in after winning the toss, hoping they could extract moisture from the pitch after thunderstorms lashed Melbourne overnight and in the morning.

The move appeared it might pay dividends with paceman James Anderson showing swing and movement off the seam from his first deliveries.

He gave Finch all sorts of trouble and the bulky righthander flicked him straight to midwicket but Woakes put down the easy, head-high chance.

Anderson was fuming again in the fifth over when Moeen Ali spilled a tougher chance, diving to his left at mid-off to put down Warner.

Warner and Finch duly punished England for their profligacy, reaching 50 in 37 balls before Broad broke the partnership in the eighth over.

Though pinned back for a few overs, Finch and Bailey gradually got on top and started blasting the English bowlers over their heads.

Finch tickled a leg-side boundary off paceman Steven Finn to bring up his sixth one-day century and leaped into the air in celebration, with the terraces roaring their approval.

More joy was to come for home fans, with Gary Ballance, replacing Ravi Bopara in the side, failing to commit to a catch in a clear mix-up with incoming fielder Broad when Bailey mishit high over deep midwicket when on 44.

Jeers rang out again when James Taylor, fielding at deep fine leg, missed a run-out chance when Finch was sent back to his crease after attempting a risky single.

A half-decent throw would have had Finch out for 123 but it went high over wicketkeeper Jos Buttler’s head.

Morgan showed his team mates how it was done, swooping in at short cover to run Finch out with a direct hit on the stumps and Bailey was out chopping onto his stumps off Finn.

That only brought a pair of hard-hitting all-rounders to the crease in Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh combined for a quickfire 50-run partnership.

Buttler put down a tough chance when Maxwell was on 42 and the man nicknamed “the Big Show” raised his 50 from 30 balls in a run of four consecutive boundaries off the hapless Finn.

Wicketkeeper Haddin came in to score his 3,000th run in ODIs after Marsh was dismissed for 23.

(Reuters)

U.S a dangerous ally: former Australia PM

by

Malcolm Fraser, former primer minister of Australia.

Malcolm Fraser, former primer minister of Australia.

by China Times

In his new book titled “Dangerous Allies,” Malcolm Fraser, the former prime minister of Australia worries that the Canberra’s dependence on the United States will eventually bring the nation into a direct conflict with China. His words echo those of Georgetown University professor Amitai Etzioni in and article he wrote for the Diplomat on Jan. 20.

Australia has always been strategically dependent on other great powers since gaining independence in 1901. It relied on the United Kingdom until World War II and then transfered that dependence to the United States afterwards. The relationship grew stronger with the signing of the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty in 1951. Fraser said that the treaty does not require the US to defend Australia, only nneding to “consult” it in case of an attack.

In Fraser’s book, he describes how Australia’s blind faith in the UK before World War II left the country unprepared for war. He then goes on to say that currently many feel more vulnerable because of the country’s dependence on the United States. What Fraser and many Australian leaders fears most is that the United States will get Australia involved in a coflict not of its own making. “Australia effectively ceded to America the ability to decide when Australia goes to war,” said Fraser.

Fraser labelled the United States a “dangerous ally” as Australia has become progressively more enmeshed in American strategic and military affairs since the end of Cold War.

Just as with the armed conflicts in the Middle East, Fraser said that the conflict in Ukraine took place partially due to Washington’s attempt to include Ukraine in NATO. He went on to blame the United States lack of historical understanding towards Russia on the matter.

Washington’s policy to “contain” China can eventually lead to trouble for Australia. Believing that the United States will eventually use Australia as a base to attack China, Fraser suggested the removal of all American military facilities from Darwin in the north and Pine Gap in the center of the country as soon as possible. The former Australian leader added that the country should be more independent of the United States in both defense and foreign affairs. While recommending that Australia shore up its diplomatic activities throughout Asia and at the UN, he also suggested an increase in defense spending to 3% of the country’s GDP.

Jared McKinney, an American defense expert said that Fraser’s book is often redundant and sometimes appears simplistic and one-sided in its historical interpretations. Still, he praised Fraser’s great service to Australia and it said would be a shame if his arguments were unable to incite the sort of grand strategy debate.

Australia beats England by 3 wickets in tri-series ODI

by

Steve Smith

by AP

Hobart: Stand-in captain Steve Smith made an unbeaten 102 to guide Australia to a tense three-wicket win over England in the tri-series one-day cricket international on Friday, clinching its place in the final.

Smith, who led Australia in an ODI for the first time in the absence of George Bailey – suspended for one match for an over-rate infraction – won the toss, bowled, and saw England make 303-8 in 50 overs, thanks to Ian Bell’s 141.

He then helped Australia explore its depth ahead of next month’s World Cup by marshaling a depleted batting order in a difficult run chase. Australia was without Bailey and frontline batsmen David Warner and Shane Watson – both with hamstring injuries – but paced its reply well, and reached 304-7 with one ball to spare.

Smith continues to tap a rich vein of batting form: He made 769 runs — a record tally — in the recent test series against India, and has three centuries and three half centuries in his last 10 one-day innings.

He came to the crease in the 12th over after Aaron Finish (32) and Shaun Marsh (45) gave Australia a sound start, putting on 76 for the first wicket at almost seven runs per over.

Smith then controlled the run chase, carrying his bat for the remainder of the innings. He reached a half century from 51 balls, and his century, his third in ODIs, from 93 balls.

Smith had support throughout the innings: Glenn Maxwell made 37 before recklessly sacrificing his wicket in the 27th over, and James Faulkner made 35. Australia’s required run-rate lagged stubbornly at more than a run a ball throughout the innings, until wicketkeeper Brad Haddin hit 42 from 29 balls to make the target more attainable.

But there was still tension for Australia when Haddin was out with seven runs still needed with 15 balls remaining. England substantially tightened its bowling and fielding, and the incoming batsman, Moises Henrique, couldn’t get the ball away while depriving Smith of the strike.

There seemed plenty of time for Australia but its tally of balls remaining dwindled without it making progress towards its target. It came to the last over needing five runs to win, a seemingly easy task, but was left to face a tense finish when Henriques was run out with two runs needed and three balls remaining.

Smith and his last partner, Mitchell Starc, completed the win with a ball to spare but the manner in which Australia closed out the second-highest run c6hase at Bellerive Oval was of some concern.

It’s recent chasing has been less well-organized than it would hope with the World Cup looming.

“It did get tight,” Smith said. “It was nice to get home in the end.

“The boys played well throughout the middle of the innings after we got away to a good start. We just had to cruise through the middle so we could go hard at the end.

“Brad (Haddin) came out and really took the pressure off. He cleared the fence a couple of times and hit some good boundaries.”

Earlier, England batted soundly after being sent in to bat. Bell’s 141 and Joe Root’s 69 set it up for a challenging total.

Bell followed his match-winning 88 not out against India on Tuesday with his fourth century in 149 one-dayers, putting on 113 for the first wicket with Moeen Ali (46), and 121 with Root for the third wicket before he was out in the 42nd over.

England didn’t fully capitalize on the foundation set by Bell, losing its last five wickets for 49 runs, including three wickets for two runs — with two run-outs — in the 50th over.

Warner leads Australia to easy win over England

by

Eoin Morgan

Sydney: David Warner helped Australia gain a bonus point after beating England by three wickets and 61 balls remaining in the opening match of the ODI tri-series, also involving India, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Friday.

Warner smashed 127 off 115 balls as Australia chased down England’s 234 all out in 39.5 overs to take home the bonus point.

The hosts were coasting to victory but four wickets for 28 runs made the chase more stressful than it should have been.

Eoin Morgan’s fighting ton proved futile as the English bowlers struggled to contain the marauding Australians, especially Warner, who smacked 18 fours in his innings.

Chris Woakes was the pick of the English bowlers taking four wickets for 40 runs in his eight overs.

Earlier, after electing to bat, skipper Morgan’s 121 lifted England to 234 all out in 47.5 overs.

Australia bowled with discipline to put the visitors in trouble from the outset.

Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc removed opener Ian Bell (0) and James Taylor (0) early with fellow pacer Pat Cummins inflicting further damager by dismissing the talented Joe Root (5).

Morgan, who replaced Alastair Cook at England’s helm, walked in when the score read 12 for three in 3.4 overs.

Opener Moeen Ali (22) also lost his wicket to James Faulkner before Xavier Doherty made further inroads into the English batting line-up by removing right-hander Ravi Bopara (13).

However, Morgan first stitched a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Jos Buttler (28) before the wicketkeeper offered a catch to David Warner off the bowling of Faulkner.

Even though he was running out of partners, the England skipper took his time to settle down before going for expansive shots.

His judicious shot selection saw him score 11 fours and three sixes as he recorded his seventh century.

Chris Jordan (17) supported the new skipper with a 66-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

For Australia, Starc emerged as the most successful bowler, picking up four wickets for 42 runs while Faulkner took three for 47. Doherty, Glenn Maxwell and Cummins picked up a wicket each.

Brief scores: England 234 all out in 47.5 overs (Eoin Morgan 121, Jos Buttler 28; Mitchell Starc 4/42, James Faulkner 3/47) lost to Australia 235 for seven in 39.5 overs (David Warner 127, Steven Smith 37; Chris Woakes 4/40, Chris Jordan 1/33).

(IANS)

Morgan ton lifts England to 234 against Australia

by

Eoin Morgan

Sydney: Skipper Eoin Morgan’s 121 lifted England to 234 all out in the opening match of the One-Day International (ODI) tri-series against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Friday.

Australia bowled with discipline to put the visitors in trouble from the outset.

Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc removed opener Ian Bell (0) and James Taylor (0) early with fellow pacer Pat Cummins inflicting further damager by dismissing the talented Joe Root (5).

Morgan, who replaced Alastair Cook at England’s helm, walked in when the score read 12 for three in 3.4 overs.

Opener Moeen Ali (22) also lost his wicket to James Faulkner before Xavier Doherty made further inroads into the English batting line-up by removing right-hander Ravi Bopara (13).

However, Morgan first stitched a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Jos Buttler (28) before the wicketkeeper offered a catch to David Warner off the bowling of Faulkner.

Even though he was running out of partners, the 28-year-old took his time to settle down before going for expansive shots.

His judicious shot selection saw him score 11 fours and three sixes as he recorded his seventh century.

Chris Jordan (17) supported the new skipper with a 66-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

For Australia, Starc emerged as the most successful bowler, picking up four wickets for 42 runs while Faulkner took three for 47. Doherty, Glenn Maxwell and Cummins picked up a wicket each.

Brief Scores: England 234 all out in 47.5 overs (Eoin Morgan 121, Jos Buttler 28; Mitchell Starc 4/42, James Faulkner 3/47) against Australia.

(IANS)

India secure a draw, Australia take series 2-0

by

AUSTRALIA-CRICKET

Sydney: India managed to cling on to a draw in the fourth and final Test courtesy some brave batting by Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as Australia won the series 2-0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Saturday.

India looked well poised in their 349-run chase at tea and raised prospects of an improbable win, batting at 160 for two with opener Murali Vijay (80) and skipper Virat Kohli (46) looking set at the crease.

But yet another spectacular collapse saw India surrender that initiative, slumping to 217 for seven from 178 for two, which put the visitors in a precarious position from where Rahane (38 not out) and Bhuvneshwar (20 not out) batted resolutely to save the match for India.

Australia declared at their overnight score of 251/6, setting India a target of 349 runs. Australia skipper Steven Smith, later declared man of the series, knew it would be difficult for India to chase down the target on a wearing fifth day SCG pitch.

Indian openers Vijay and Lokesh Rahul (16) looked solid at the crease at the start despite Vijay getting dropped twice. However, Australia did not have to wait long for success as off-spinner Nathan Lyon (two wickets for 110) scalped first innings century maker Rahul, who gloved a turning delivery to backward short leg.

Vijay and Rohit Sharma (39) then looked strong in the middle, striking a decent partnership until the latter was caught by Man-of-the-Match Smith, who took a blinder at wide slip, flying to his right and taking a single handed catch.

Vijay then consolidated the Indian innings with captain Kohli. Though India were quite respectful towards the pacers, they went after Lyon, who emerged as the most successful bowler of the series with 23 wickets.

The 30-year-old Vijay took time to settle down but slowly got into the attacking mode to score his fourth half-century of the series and 10th of his career. His innings was laden with seven boundaries and two magnificent sixes.

At 178 for two India looked well on course with two of their most successful batsmen of the series at the crease. This was when the fall started.

Kohli presence meant India were still in with a chance despite Vijay’s untimely dismissal. However, Kohli, Suresh Raina (0), Wriddhiman Saha (0) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1) fell within a span of 16 runs, spelling deep trouble for India.

With almost 22 overs left in the day and just three wickets more needed, Australia looked set for victory and they pulled all stops to achieve it.

However, their onslaught was negated by solid Rahane and Bhuvneshwar, who played out the remaining overs quietly and with one ball left in the day’s play, both sides decided to shake hands.

Australian pacers were right on target on the fifth day track where spinners are traditionally been more effective. Mitchell Starc (two wickets for 36 runs) and Josh Hazlewood (two for 31) choked the Indian batsmen bowling a tight length.

Their efforts helped Australia reclaim the coveted Border-Gavaskar trophy.

(IANS)

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives