I have realised my dream of helping India beat Australia: Yuvraj Singh

Star batsman Yuvraj Singh on Thursday said that he has realised the dream of piloting India to a victory against defending champions Australia in the World Cup though it was very difficult to keep his emotions in check in the high-octane quarter-final match in Ahmedabad.

"Over the last one year I have been dreaming of staying till the end and taking the team to victory against Australia in the World Cup and the moment has come. This is the moment I have lived for as a cricketer," he said at the post-match press conference.

Yuvraj guided India to a sensational five-wicket victory over holders Australia with an unbeaten half century after claiming two wickets and he was adjudged man-of-the-match for the fourth time in the tournament.

He admitted that it was a really tough situation with enormous pressure on him and any small mistake on his part could have thrown India out of the World Cup.

"It was very hard to control emotions. It was difficult to control oneself in such a situation as one mistake and you will be out of the World Cup. I tried to just watch the ball, play down the ground and not lift the ball in the air," said the left-handed batsman.

Yuvraj said he was playing in the tournament with the thought of someone special in his life, though he did not specify the person.

"I am playing for a very special person that comes in my mind and whenever things are not going well I think of that person and things work out," he remarked.

He conceded that the dismissal of Gautam Gambhir, who was run out due to a misunderstanding with him, and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in quick succession had put the team under pressure but Suresh Raina lived up to the challenge and showed nerves in crucial stages.

"When Gambhir got out I thought I will get a good partnership going with M. S. (Dhoni) but when MS got out I knew I was in trouble. When Raina came in I told him to take his time and let's get 20-30 run partnership. He has shown nerves in a crucial stage and this will boost his confidence also," he said.

He said he had already apologised to team-mate Gambhir for the mix-up that resulted in his partner getting run out today.

"I have apologies to Gautam for the miscommunication on the field. We have not played together much. I think it was probably my fault," said Yuvraj.

Though he got his fourth man-of-the-match award in the tournament today, Yuvraj sounded modest and said it was a team effort that was crucial.

"I feel good to have contributed to the team but the victory cannot be achieved by one person, it's a team effort," he said.

He said though he cherished the centuries he had scored in his career, even scores like his 52 not out today were special as they resulted to the team winning a crucial tie.

"Though centuries are very special for a player, when you are able to contribute 20 or 30 runs which help the team win crucial matches they also become special," he said.

Looking ahead to the semifinal clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at Mohali on March 30, Yuvraj said it was going to be another dream game after the India-Australia match today.

"The India-Pakistan game is going to be another dream game after India-Australia. It's a great victory for India today. We would be playing our best cricket against Pakistan.

They know our game we know theirs both teams are equal. They have had a very good tournament and have beaten West Indies and Australia," he said.

"We don't want to think about the Pakistan game now. It has been a high-pressure game for us (against Australia) and lot of our system has been drained. We would like to relax for a couple of days and then make plans about Pakistan game," he added.

Looking back the past one year which had seen him being axed from both the ODI and Test teams, Yuvraj said was very happy that things have turned around for him.

"Last year everything I touched turned into mud. This year it has been a good year," he said.

Praising coach Gary Kirsten for the contributions he has been making, Yuvraj said that was the vital difference from 2007 when the team was knocked out in the first round of the World Cup.

"In 2003 team was very great (when it made the final). I don't want to talk about 2007. In 2011 with Gary coming in, our confidence in each other has grown. Players confide in each other and the way Gary keeps the team like a family that shows in our performance," he pointed out.

- With inputs from PTI

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/133293/top-stories/world-cup-2011-yuvraj-singh-guides-india-to-a-five-wicket-victory-against-australia-in-the-quarterfinal-match-in-ahmedabad..html

Ind vs SA: Tendulkar's ton goes in vain as India lose by three wickets

Sachin Tendulkar scored his sixth World Cup century, but India ended on the losing side. South Africa chased down 297 with three wickets and two balls to spare during their World Cup Group B match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur on Saturday. Score | Photos | Video

The match went down to the wire with South Africa needing 13 runs in the last over with Robin Peterson and Faf du Plessis at the crease.

The first ball was swept for four by Robin Peterson off Ashish Nehra even as skipper MS Dhoni scrambled behind the stumps.

The second took the aerial route off Peterson's bat and ended up past the fence with a six on board. In came a Yorker that was sent for a couple and finally a four by Peterson saw South Africa put 300/7 on board.

This despite the fact that paceman Zaheer Khan scalped South Africa skipper Graeme Smith in the 9th over of the innings. Smith wanted to play a big won but ended up giving an easy catch to Sachin Tendulkar at mid-off. He fell to 16 and South Africa fell to 41/1.

Post Smith's wicket, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis batted on to frustrate the India bowlers. Their partnership helped South Africa cross 100-run mark. Clearly the two didn't want to give India any room.

Amla even got a life when Yuvraj Singh dropped him off Harbhajan Singh at mid-wicket. Luckily for Harbhajan Singh Amla fell in his next over. He was deceived by Harbhajan's Shing's extra bounce that took the edge of his bat to bat in skipper M.S. Dhoni's gloves behind the stumps. He scored 61 and South Africa at the stage was 127/2 in 28 overs.

Soon Kallis and AB de Villiers got on with another partnership. But, the two had put 46 runs together on board that Kallis got run out in Zaheer Khan's over. Skipper MS Dhoni collected the ball from Harbhajan Singh and removed the bails even as TV replays showed that he was clearly short. Kallis fell for 69 and South Africa fell to 173/3.

It seemed that partnerships had become the norm for the day with every batsman aiming for that. And AB de Villiers and J.P. Duminy too aimed for that. He two put on 50 runs for the fourth wicket. But, just when de Villiers was beginning to look dangerous Harbhajan Singh got the better of him. De Villiers wanted the ball to cross the boundary, but it ended up getting lodged in the safe hands of Virat Kohli in the deep for 52. And South Africa lost their fourth wicket at the score of 223 in the 41st over.

India offie Harbhajan Singh was gradually getting in the groove. He had already calimed two wickets and added another one to his tally by claiming Duminy in the 43rd over. Skipper Dhoni performed the final rites by stumping him on 23. South Africa were 238/5 at the stage.

The pacers too displayed their ware. And it was Munaf Patel, who got the opportunity to do that by trapping Morne van Wyk leg-before on 5 and reduce the Proteas to 274/6 on the last ball of the 44th over.

But Harbhajan got to keep the accolades to himself. Just when Johan Botha was charging away at his balls scoring a four and six off his bowling in the 48th over, a short fell short of the boundary and Suresh Raina came under it and soon Botha was walking back on 23. South Africa were 279/7 at the stage.

Finally, Robin Peterson and Faf du Plessis helped their team home without loosing another wicket. And South Africa won by three wickets.

India innings

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar scored a ton, but post his dismissal India batting line-up folded within a span of 36 runs as South African paceman Dale Steyn claimed five wickets to restrict India to 296 all out.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag charged down at the South African bowlers from the word go after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss. The two helped India cross 100-run mark and in the process completed their half-centuries.

But, there was more to come as clearly the two were enjoying their stay in the middle and scoring at a brisk rate. The do put on 142 runs for the first wicket before Sehwag fell. He scored an impressive 73 off just 66 balls hitting 12 fours on the way.

In the 18th over a Faf du Plessis' ball finally broke their partnership. Sehwag wanted to cut Faf for a boundary but the ball didn't have enough turn and a thin edge got carried towards his stumps. Finally there was uproar in the South African camp.

Post Sehwag's dismissal, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir got on with another partnership. Tendulkar went on to complete his 48th ODI ton, which is also his 99th international century. This was his sixth World Cup century - the highest by any batsman.

After posting his century Tendulkar too walked back with his head held high. He scored 111 off just 101 balls hitting eight fours and three sixes on the way. First he completed a 142 runs partnership with Sehwag by his side and then went on score 125 runs for the second wicket with Gautam Gambhir, before falling to Morne Morkel.

He was on charge and went for a big hit off Morkel in the 40th over, but ended up hooling a catch at point to J.P. Duminy. India were 267/2 at the stage.

Post his wicket, the South African bowlers pressed further and claimed two quick wickets in the form of Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan. Dale Steyn had them both in the 41st over of the innings.

But that wasn't the end of the tale as soon South African pacers got busy counting scalps. It seemed as if they were just waiting for Sachin Tendulkar to complete his ton before tightening the noose. For when the Master Blaster was at the crease it seemed that India would go on to post a 320-plus figure, but post his dismissal India's fortunes took a U-turn.

After Styen scalped Gambhir and Pathan. He got on with more devastation claiming Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel to finish off with a five wicket haul.

And as things would have it India could not even cross the 300-run mark and were all out for 296. Skipper Mahendra Singh remained unbeaten on 12.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/132111/sports/ind-vs-sa-match-report.html

World Cup: India defeat Ireland by 5 wickets

BANGALORE: An Indian victory at theChinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday was never in doubt and so their five-wicket win did not come as a surprise to anyone. But the fact is that Irelandran India somewhat close, far closer than they should have been allowed to. Too many wickets were lost, too many overs were used up while chasing 208 for victory against an attack that was honest at best. 

Scorecard | Match in Pics 

Yes, the Indians did collect full points in the end but then these matches against the qualifiers should be more about making a point or two. And who knows, had the big Trent Johnston, who picked up two early wickets, not gone off injured after five overs, it could have been even closer. 

Yuvraj Singh, though, will take such a match everyday. The left-hander starred with the ball and his showing with the bat later justified his skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's call to chase after he had won the toss. 

That Yuvraj was India's unlikely bowling hero goes without saying. It was his maiden five-wicket haul that pushed back the Irish cause a long way. The visitors were dismissed for a paltry 207, barely three days after they had chased down more than 300 against England. 

The Indians in turn stuttered a bit, losing Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir cheaply and thenSachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Dhoni all in their 30s but then were well served by Yuvraj the batsman as the target was reached with four overs to spare, setting off wild celebrations in the packed stadium. 

That little cushion in the end was chiefly because of Yusuf Pathan, the only Indian batsman, apart from the composed Yuvraj (50 not out, 75b, 3x4), to make a statement. Pathan (30 not out, 24b, 2x4, 3x6) walked in and straightaway got going with the big hits to ensure that Ireland didn't come too close to causing a second upset in this edition of the World Cup. 

In the afternoon, the pitch afforded some turn early on but it was a factor neither Piyush Chawlanor Harbhajan Singh, India's frontline spinners, could exploit. Yuvraj, with his part-time left-arm spin was easily the best on view, as his figures (0-0-31-5) reflect. He bowled all ten in one go. 

The early damage was done by Zaheer Khan, who should have had Ireland skipper William Porterfield before he had got off the mark had Pathan held on to the edge at second slip of just the third ball of the innings. Porterfield (75, 104b, 6x4, 1x6) went on to anchor the innings and give it some respectability before that man Yuvraj struck. 

Following the twin strikes by Zaheer, it was a sensible, 148-ball 113-run third wicket stand between the left-handed pair of Porterfield and Niall O-Brien that shored up the Ireland innings. The duo was also helped by some terrible bowling by leg-spinner Chawla, who even sent down two no-balls, the resultant free hit off the first handing the momentum to the Irish innings.

Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/World-Cup-India-defeat-Ireland-by-5-wickets/articleshow/7639191.cms

Gautam Gambhir: Fire all the way

If cricketers won bravery awards for on-field exploits, Gautam Gambhir would be hard to beat. So it's a frightening thought that India might never have discovered the real Gambhir if he'd been consigned to plodding away in the domestic arena. Maybe, Gambhir wouldn't have discovered himself. 

Even here, though, when the world was yet to wake up to his immense fighting ability, his Delhi teammates and opposition players would talk of him in awe. They alone knew the inner steel that drove him, and his immense belief in himself. Sometimes, the veneer of self-doubt would peel away and the real Gambhir would emerge, like in the 2007 Ranji season when he rode roughshod with the bat and as captain, was extremely aggressive throughout. Especially on opposition tail-enders, who would find themselves facing a barrage of chatter, with an animated Gambhir exhorting his bowlers to pepper away the short stuff. 

Delhi's players are known for many things, but being khadoos isn't one of them. Before international stardom, Gambhir brought Mumbai's street-fighting qualities into Delhi's flamboyant approach on the field. It's a quality which helped him survive an immensely low period nearly four years back, when repeated snubs from selectors, a realization of his technical shortcomings and fear of injury threatened to tear his life apart. He even contemplated quitting the game. 

Today, as one of the fundamental cogs in Team India's wheel, he personifies the unit's new-found grit. It's a case study in determination. From being dangerously close to a journeyman, Gambhir has worked his way into being the most improved Indian cricketer of the past decade. He has surprised everyone along the way, except those who witnessed this stubborn streak from close quarters. He stands an inspiring presence among a bunch of world beaters. 

On the face of it, Gambhir is the most unassuming face of an enviably starry lineup, but don't let that fool you. Off the field, he is endearing, humble and cultured. On it, he doesn't have the towering talent of a Tendulkar. Not for him the maverick genius of a Sehwag. He can't entertain or explode beyond belief like a Yuvraj either, or yet provide the assurance of a Dravid or Laxman. 

Yet the fire rages within. Gambhir is a busy player with an iron will who works away like a man possessed. Once he makes up his mind to prove a point, he will not be denied. His effective presence in all three formats makes him arguably the most valuable player in the squad heading into the World Cup. 

Busy, efficient and incredibly flexible of approach, once he had worked out how to avoid falling over while playing on the on-side, and learning which balls to leave outside off, he discovered hidden dimensions to his batting. The volatile temperament was kept well leashed. 

This new Gambhir would confidently stand outside his crease to negate the swing. He would stand and stonewall, like at Napier, and provide uncanny consistency. He would take on the Aussies at their own game and shed the baggage of throwing his wicket away after good starts. The insecurity and uncertainty gradually faded away. 

What makes Gambhir special: 

Twinkle-toed: Talk about Gambhir's batting and what instantly comes to mind is his uncanny and uncommon (among most Indian batsmen) ability to step out of the crease to fast bowlers. That ability alone makes Gambhir appear more complete as a batsman than others. However, what is further unique is that he plays spinners equally well if not better than the best in business. His lofted extra-cover drive is worth going miles to see. 

on-side God: There's not one shot that you can associate Gambhir with. But if a trademark has to be chosen then it is his ability to send any full-length delivery — bowled at his legs - scorching through the on-side between long-on to deep fine-leg. 

Goodbye risk: Gambhir is fast learning the art of reducing risks while batting, an ability you associate Sachin Tendulkar with. That in turn has increased his chances of staying longer at the crease. While Gambhir can play most cricketing shots with ease, his ability to leave alone a delivery if he's unsure about adds meat to his batting.

Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/world-cup-2011/profiles/india-profiles/Gautam-Gambhir-Fire-all-the-way/articleshow/7448587.cms