After an exhilarating day of cricket the final of the World Twenty20 will be a mammoth match up between Pakistan and India, who pushed aside New Zealand and Australia respectively.

In the first semi Pakistan weren’t really troubled as New Zealand didn’t put enough runs on the board to pressure them. The side that got knocked out of the “real” world cup in the West Indies in the first round have therefore made it to the final of this one – how different the two types of game are!

The second semi was a lot closer throughout, and Australia could and possibly should have won it. Yuvraj was again in scintillating form with the bat, hitting one almighty six which beat the longest one in the tournament so far. Dhoni continued his good batting so far in the tournament also, and it was this big hitting that got the Indians to a big total. Hayden and Symonds were going along well and got the required rate right down. It was at this point I thought they should have gone on and won, but a couple of wickets put paid to that, and the new batsmen couldn’t come in and match the required rate.

So we have a sub-continent match up between possibly the two most passionate sets of fans, and this should be a real spectacle. So quite why it is being played on a Monday at 1pm I do not know, and this is probably the only mistake the organisers have made. We probably shouldn’t be surprised that the two teams in the final are there – they are two teams with match winners in the side, but have so often failed to deliver in longer forms of the game. They seem to thrive in the shorter format where the bat can be thrown at almost everything. The bookies can’t split the two teams at the moment, and it will just depend on who turns up on the day as to who will lift the trophy. I’m going to stick my neck on the block though and say India – they seem properly up for this, and that will make the difference!

Who do you think will win? Leave a comment and let me know!

The current world Twenty20 has definately been a tournament for the batsmen, and today showed that more than ever with India’s Yuvraj Singh battering six 6’s off one over from England’s Stuart Broad. It was the first time that it has been done in a Twenty20 International game, and the first time since Gibbs did it in the World Cup – but its been a special year and I doubt it will happen for at least a couple of years more!

He hit them all very sweetly, and despite Broad giving him a little bit too much room to swing through the ball they weren’t that bad deliveries. Just a case of seeing the ball the size of a beach ball and hitting the middle of the bat! That over really shell shocked the English, and despite putting a good chase on it was going to be tough to reach the Indian’s score.

So we come home early (I won’t say I told you so here and here) from an international tournament again, and now its time for the ECB to decide what to do with Freddie and the tour to Sri Lanka coming up! On the plus side, the Aussies can get knocked out tomorrow as well, and wouldn’t that be a shame!!

Well well, we couldn’t go through any kind of world cup without someone being caught out by the tabloids, you just wouldn’t think it would be the skipper Paul Collingwood!

According to the Sun, he was at a strip club, the night before the defeat to South Africa – having been at a couple of bars earlier in the night. In fairness to him, it has been said that he only had one drink, but the utter stupidity of going out at all cannot be stressed enough. I don’t normally get on my high horse about this kind of thing as I’m hardly a saint, but I’m not an international cricketer! I don’t know if he’ll be disciplined by the ECB and once its done there is nothing you can do – but do these guys really think they’re going to get away with it when everyone will recognise them during the tournament?

Maybe we would laugh it off it we’d won and suggest we should do it everytime but the fact was we lost, and as such he shouldn’t get away with a small mention in the tabloids so I had to bring it to your attention! Anyway, gotta go now as I’m off to the local strip club….

This world Twenty20 stuff is happening so damn quickly I havn’t even been able to keep abreast of everything going on so far. Just at the tip of the iceberg we had Australia losing to Zimbabwe, then stuffing us out of sight – Sri Lanka setting an international Twenty20 high score – India and Pakistan in a bowl out – West Indies losing their two games and going home, and it goes on!

There have been three games on most days, and at most inconsiderate times for those of us at work! Then with all the other sport going on at the moment I’ve not been able to see much of the highlights on Sky either. Tomorrow sees England lose to South Africa (most probably) in their first super 8 game, but its all happening too quickly – bring back the bore fest of the “normal” world cup – at least I could keep up with that! I do keep a check on Live Cricket Updates though to help me try and know whats happened – I recommend it!

I can’t take the credit for this, I read it on another site but I love it so much I had to post it after I mentioned their new kit the other day…

Mastercard on the prowl for Cricket Australia sponsorship contract!

The new 20-20 cricket wardrobe of Aussies!!

Cricket Australia’s yellow-grey Cap: $ 25
Grey inner vest by Adidas: $ 75
Cricket Australia’s all new sleeveless yellow-grey shirt: $ 69
New yellow-grey trousers: $ 80
Adidas Cricket shoes: $ 195

The look on Australian Captain’s face after losing to Zimbabwe: PRICELESS

THERE ARE SOMETHINGS MONEY CAN’T BUY (LIKE THE LOOK ON PONTING’S FACE)…
FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, THERE IS MASTERCARD !!!!!

It might be nearing the end of the season here in England but the news and events going on are thick and fast at the moment! Not only does the World Twenty20 start tomorrow, but today they also announced the next round of central contracts and the touring party for the one dayers to Sri Lanka!

However, with the World Twenty20 starting in earnest tomorrow afternoon I had to come with my view on the tournament from a betting perspective after my previous successes! Although having said that I am now going to proceed to sit on the fence I think due to the uncertainty over the form in this flavour of the game!

Australia are, as always, the favourites, but they havn’t done so well in the warm up to the first game. I still think they’ll probably win it mind, but at the pathetic odds offered on them there doesn’t seem much point. So much can happen in a couple of games here to knock them out and early on I don’t see betting on them as the cleverest thing to do. One team that catch my eye are Sri Lanka – at only fourth favourites and with some real match winners in their team I can see them doing well in this form of the game.

I said there isn’t much form to go on with this, and that is because since Twenty20 has been played, there have been only 19 international matches played, with a variety of players in each of the teams. Pakistan actually have the best record so far, and Australia have only won 2 of the 5 games they’ve played. You can say anything with stats though – chuck the players out there and just see what happens if you ask me!

Right, that was suitably vague… I’m off to stick a couple of quid on Sri Lanka now though! (Just don’t blame me when they don’t win!)