Saturday 6 October 2012

Who Will Be The New T20 Champion

 Clinical Sri Lanka will test their skills against the flamboyant West Indies when both sides battle for their maiden World Twenty20 title in a mouth-watering final in Colombo on Sunday.

A sell-out crowd of 35,000 at the Premadasa stadium will offer boisterous support as Mahela Jayawardene's home team attempt to reverse fortunes after losing three finals in major meets since 2007.

Standing in the way will be the destructive West Indies batting led by opener Chris Gayle, who crushed Australia in Friday's semi-final with a scintillating 75 of 41 balls.

The West Indies recorded their biggest T20 victory when they beat the Aussies by 74 runs after posting the highest total in this edition of 205-4.

Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Marlon Samuels made light of the slow pitch that was regarded as unsuited to aggressive batting, helping themselves to 55 runs in the final three overs.

Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by nine wickets in a practice game before the tournament and again by the same margin in the Super Eights, but Gayle was confident of ruining the hosts' party on Sunday.

Simon Taufel: No1 umpire in world cricket


Umpiring India-Pakistan World Cup semi was my most exciting moment: Simon Taufel




Australian umpire Simon Taufel, who is set to stand in his final international game during tomorrow's ICC World T20 final, termed the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India versus Pakistan as the "most exciting match" of his career.

"When I look back, there are many memorable moments but I can instantly remember the India versus Pakistan game at Mohali during the 2011 World Cup semi-final as the most exciting one," Taufel said during his interaction with media at the Premadasa Stadium today.

"The Prime Ministers of the two countries were present and it was more than just a game of cricket. I believe there were two finals in 2011 World Cup. The semi-final and the final," he added.

The 41-year-old Australian said that the "toughest match" of his career was a Test match between India and England in Mumbai which were the "longest five days as I was not well. I was bitten by the stomach bug in Mohali. It was a physical as well as mental Test."

Asked about what it takes to make a good umpire, Taufel replied, "It requires all kinds of personal skills, man management, technique. It really is a different challenge. There is a responsibility towards broadcasters, to the people who watch it on TV."

Taufel didn't want to answer a question on the uniform implementation of DRS.

"I don't wish to comment. It is a matter that Dave (Richardson) is taking up with the various cricket committees. My job is to see how technology has a role in the game and also develop and educate future match officials.