Richards sends City through to face United in FA Cup
AFPMANCHESTER (AFP) – Micah Richards scored the only goal to earn Manchester City a 1-0 win over Reading in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday and set up a semi-final clash with Manchester United.
City, who have not won a major trophy since 1976, discovered before the match at Eastlands that a win would take them through to face Sir Alex Ferguson's side at Wembley on the weekend of April 16/17.
But for long periods it looked like they might be taken to a replay by the stubborn Championship side.
Having already taken two games to get past Notts County and Leicester, it was the last thing that City boss Roberto Mancini, who has already complained of his squad being stretched by a heavy schedule, would have wanted.
But a late header from Richards spared City that worry and took them through to a first FA Cup semi final since they reached the final in 1981.
City may have been firm favourites to reach the last four but they were given some anxious early moments by Reading's Jobi McAnuff when the winger's dangerous cross was only just turned past his own post by Joleon Lescott.
Another fine run from McAnuff was only halted by an impressive challenge from Vincent Kompany inside the area.
McAnuff also made enough space to clip over a cross that was headed over the bar by Noel Hunt.
But City finally began to cause their own problems in the final third once they started to feed Carlos Tevez.
The Argentinian striker sparked panic in the Reading area with a run that was ended six yards out. After the visitors failed to clear, David Silva guided a pass through for Wright-Phillips, who was thwarted by Alex McCarthy, before the goalkeeper blocked the follow up from Silva.
Another fine throughball from Silva saw Wright-Phillips hit a drive into the side netting from a narrow angle.
Serbian defender Aleksander Kolarov also curled a free kick just past the top corner. And Yaya Toure was denied by McCarthy after he was played through by yet another fine pass from Spain star Silva.
Silva went close himself after he knocked the ball over Ian Harte from a Wright-Phillips pass only to shoot straight at McCarthy.
City almost got a lucky break at the start of the second period when Kolarov's corner was flicked towards his own goal by Brynjar Gunnarsson but Jay Tabb cleared off the line.
Silva nearly created the breakthrough, when his run took him past Jem Karacan and his low cross was almost flicked in by Tevez.
Tevez also scuffed a shot after a quick break from Wright-Phillips before Kolarov dragged an effort wide from distance.
Toure threatened with another burst away from Karacan but his powerful shot from a narrow angle was tipped away by McCarthy.
McCarthy was called on once again when he tipped over the bar from Richards' downward header from Kolarov's corner.
And after a swift break through Jimmy Kebe, Shane Long had the chance to put Reading ahead only to see his bobbling shot held by Joe Hart.
The tension was finally eased when Kolarov's corner was met by a powerful run by Richards, whose thumping header could not be kept out by McCarthy.
Toure almost added a second with a drive from long range but City had to survive an anxious final few minutes to hold on for their place in the last four.
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Five years ago, the Johnson family decided to move into a smaller home. Not only did they downsize their belongings but they took on a zero-waste style of living.
Broad seals England's six-run thriller
What a World Cup England are producing. From a thrilling tie against India to the shock of losing to Ireland they have now conjured a stunning fightback to beat South Africa by six runs in a gripping contest on a tough pitch in Chennai.
They took all ten wickets for 102 through a combination of spin, reverse swing, perseverance and the never-say-die-attitude which is such a trait of this team, with Stuart Broad sealing the victory with two wickets in four balls after Dale Steyn's 31-ball 20 had taken his team close to the winning line.
It showed you don't need 600 runs to create an epic one-day international and the celebrations when Morne Morkel was caught behind proved how important it was for England spirits. Without it they would have faced the real possibility of heading home early, but can now approach the clashes against Bangladesh and West Indies with much greater heart. What will please Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower is that it was the much-maligned attack that won the match - after the batting struggled to post 171 - as Broad took 4 for 15, James Anderson produced a devastating burst of reverse swing shortly before the 34-over ball change and Graeme Swann bowled with guile and craft to set up the prospect of victory.
Despite the tricky pitch, South Africa had broken the back of the run-chase after an opening stand of 63 between Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla. However, they suffered two slumps; the first as three wickets fell for 19 - with Broad claiming the vital scalps of Amla and Jacques Kallis - then the more significant slide from 124 for 3 to 165 all out as Anderson produced some wonderful reverse swing, Ian Bell pulled off a fine piece of fielding at short leg to run out Faf du Plessis, and Broad cleaned up the tail.
Swann could have dismissed Smith almost half a dozen times with spitting, turning deliveries until one finally bounced and brushed the thumb although it needed the DRS to overturn Asoka de Silva's on-field not out decision. Amla had moved along serenely despite the testing surface until he became a little lazy against Broad and chopped into his stumps. Kallis then edged a drive and, in a rare sight, accepted Prior's word on whether it had carried without asking for the umpires to check.
AB de Villiers, who began the tournament with back-to-back hundreds, and du Plessis are normally free-flowing batsman, but they decided to consolidate rather than attack during their 42-run stand. It wasn't a major problem for South Africa at the time with the asking rate remaining comfortable, but it conceded the momentum and when the breakthroughs came England still had runs to play with.
Anderson produced his finest spell of reverse-swing since the Ashes as he trimmed de Villiers' bails and then clattered JP Duminy's stumps two balls after he'd been reprieved by the DRS having been given caught down the leg side. It had been a controversial moment because there didn't seem enough evidence to overrule the on-field umpire, but Anderson soon made it irrelevant. In between those two wickets, Bell showed brilliant alertness at short leg as he stopped du Plessis's shot and flicked it to Prior in time to complete the run out.
England were buzzing, having taken 3 for 0, and the scoring remained at a standstill for the next three overs as Morne van Wyk and Robin Peterson struggled against spin. Michael Yardy, the weak link in the attack, then had Peterson caught behind trying to cut but the mandatory ball-change at 34 overs meant the threat of reverse swing was momentarily removed.
Andrew Strauss opted to keep Swann back for one over and used Yardy and Kevin Pietersen in tandem. Both were given one over too many as Steyn took advantage, driving Yardy through the covers and lofting Pietersen straight down the ground. Slowly but surely he and van Wyk chipped out 33 tension-filled runs.
However, because of the extensive use of the spinners Strauss was able to return to his quicks at the death and with 12 needed Tim Bresnan found van Wyk's inside-edge which crashed into the stumps. Then it was over to Broad who trapped Steyn lbw with his first ball and Morkel had clearly decided to try and finish the game quickly when he got the final edge.
Despite proving to be yet another thriller, the match could not have been a greater contrast to the two run-fests England were involved in Bangalore. It became abundantly clear this wouldn't be a 300-match when Peterson stunned everyone by removing both openers in his first over. The value of South Africa's rounded attack was again on show as the frontline spinners took seven wickets and were backed up by Morkel and Steyn with England losing their top three for 15 and last six for 37, but their failure to cross the line will raise old concerns.
Smith isn't known for out-of-the-box captaincy but it was clever to hand Peterson the new ball. Strauss tried to take an attacking approach by using his feet, but could only pick out de Villiers, who took a fine running catch at deep midwicket. If that was a bonus for South Africa they could barely believe what happened three balls later when Pietersen pushed forward and got a regulation edge low to first slip. Bell soon became Peterson's third as he pushed a return catch back to the bowler after being beaten in the flight.
Ravi Bopara, back in the side at the expense of Paul Collingwood, set about the recovery with Jonathan Trott, who was saved by the DRS after being given lbw against Imran Tahir on 20. Bopara nearly ran himself out on 26 - it wouldn't have been the first time - but a dive just saved him, then he broke a run of singles with a handsome straight drive for six before Trott reached fifty from 87 balls.
Having used up considerable time Trott needed to up the tempo but Tahir pulled off a fine return catch after deceiving his former Warwickshire team-mate in the flight. Prior had the chance to build an innings after previously needing to slog from the start but was undone by Morkel.
Bopara's 60, his first ODI fifty since November 2008, remained the top score and will have given him huge confidence for the rest of the tournament as he showed he could adapt to conditions. The lower order couldn't build momentum against Tahir and failing to use up 26 deliveries looked like being costly. However, once again England dug deep when all seemed lost and gave the World Cup another memorable finish.
-cricinfo.com
Crushing blow to Tigers' hopes
Bangladesh relived their past batting horrors to crash to a nine-wicket defeat to West Indies and dent their quarterfinals hopes.
In a bizarre game that lasted only 31.1 overs, the disciplined West Indians blew away Bangladesh to 58 in just 18.5 overs--their lowest-ever total in ODIs.
It is also the lowest total ever made by a Full ICC Member nation in World Cup.
The Caribbeans knocked off 58 in 12.2 overs in the crucial Group B clash at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Chris Gayle struck 37 - including his 8,000th one-day run.
Bangladesh, for whom it was a huge anticlimax, made the only breakthrough when Naeem Islam bowled Devon Smith (6).
But the bowlers were bowling for a hopeless cause. Chris Gayle was in a hurry to finish the affair quickly, scoring 37 off 36 balls while Darren Bravo was not out on 9.
After their unconvincing win against Ireland, the huge defeat is a crushing blow to Bangladesh, who probably have missed a clear opportunity to all but seal a quarter-final spot.
They now face what could be a crucial match with England on March 11.
It was all a far cry from the afternoon, when one Bangladesh batsman after another appeared to be in a hurry to get back to the comforts of the pavilion.
The Tigers' vaunted batting combusted in dramatic fashion in front of a large but increasingly disconsolate home support.
They were bowled out so quickly that there was just a 10-minute break between innings and the day-night match did not need the floodlights.
Many Bangladesh fans threw their "Four and Six" cards in the air in protest, after their team hit the lowest ebb.
Junaid Siddique (25) and Mohammad Ashraful (11) were the only Tigers batsmen to make double-figures.
Bangladesh have only themselves to blame.
True, the West Indies bowlers utilised a good line to capitalise on movement from the pitch, but most of the Tigers' batsmen, particularly their recognised ones, got themselves out to poor shots rather than outstanding bowling.
The Caribbeans used only three bowlers, Suleiman Benn finished with 4-18, player of the match Kamer Roach took 3-19 and captain Darren Sammy took 3-21.
The tone was set three balls into the first over when dangerman Tamim Iqbal flashed at an angled delivery from Roach, only in edging to Sammy at second slip.
Benn was taken for nine runs in an opening over of spin from Benn and West Indies captain Sammy brought himself into the attack, with near immediate effect.
His third ball was short and straight, catching a faint edge from an unsure Imrul Kayes poke to give wicket-keeper Devon Thomas a simple catch and then, with the first ball of his next over, Mushfiqur Rahim provided a low catch for Ramnaresh Sarwan at short midwicket.
Siddique offered brief resistance – scoring an efficient 25 - but not even a review could save him when a straight yorker from Roach wrapped him on the pads, bang in front of the stumps.
Ashraful (11) would be the only other Bangladeshi batsman to make double figures as the trio of Sammy, Roach and Benn tore through the order with ease.
Benn bowled Shakib Al Hasan to claim his first wicket, and his side's fifth, before Raqibul Hasan was caught at point off Sammy to leave Bangladesh battling just to salvage respectability with only 15 overs gone.
It was a mission that was beyond them as Benn claimed three of the final four wickets - including Ashraful - to dismiss the home side for the fourth-lowest in the tournament's history.
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BDNews24Battle of equals
The tag of favourites cannot be attached to either side when Bangladesh take on West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur for today's 'crucial' day-night Group B encounter.
On paper, Bangladesh have the slight edge as they entered the World Cup one place above the West Indies in ICC's official rankings. Additionally they have the sweet memory of a series victory in their last engagement in the Caribbean two years back.
But in reality this West Indies side is not the same team they faced two years back following the return of the first-choice players likes Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
One thing is however guaranteed for Shakib Al Hasan's men; there will be no shortage of inspiration from the home crowd. The 'Red and Green' will definitely dominate the stands and the fans' roar will be ever present as the Tigers attempt to go one step closer to the quarterfinals. Like in the previous game it might play an important role but the Tigers should be focused on putting up their best efforts in the middle, so that they can come out with flying colours. The key focus will be on putting up a decent batting showing, unlike the last effort against Ireland, when the batsmen struggled to impose themselves.
Both teams are upbeat before this crunch battle as Bangladesh managed a morale boosting victory over Ireland in the second game after an 87-run defeat against India in the opening match while their Caribbean opponents strongly bounced back against Netherlands after a defeat against South Africa.
So everybody was looking forward to seeing which team would take a giant step forward on their way to a quarterfinals berth. And the contest has been further intensified following Ireland's record-breaking three wicket victory against England, which has, according to Bangladesh captain Shakib thrown the group wide open.
Besides the huge home support, the slow and low pitch can play a vital role in favour of the home team and that's the reason the Bangladesh think-tank has pinned their hopes on the prevailing conditions because the 'unknown' Mirpur wicket could be big trap for the West Indies, who had last toured Bangladesh nine years back when the “home of cricket” was still being built.
“True our spinners could not bowl according to our expectations but we are very close to that. We are prepared to use spinners for upto forty overs,” said Shakib, who toned down the hype surrounding the match by saying that 'a win would be a big step forwards towards a quarterfinals berth'.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy however was not worried with the strength of the Bangladesh spin attack. “We are a competitive team and obviously they rely on spin but every aspect of the bowling whether it is spin or pace will have to be focused and we are also quite confident about our batting,”.
The Bangladesh skipper however was unwilling to focus too much on the wicket or even about who would call the coin correctly, because he insisted that the conditions were the same for both sides.
It is set up perfectly at the moment and all that remains to be seen is whether tonight ends with a huge roar or a calypso dance.
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The Daily StarSammy cautious but confident
The West Indies will not particularly worry about Bangladesh spinners when the Caribbean team take on co-host Bangladesh in the crucial ICC World Cup Group B match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.
“I think every aspect of Bangladesh's bowling, whether its spin or pace, we have to take seriously as they rely heavily on their spinners and will want them to do well but our intention is to play them well to get runs on the board,” said Darren Sammy at a pre-match press briefing yesterday just before their second day's training session in Mirpur.
Bangladesh spinners struggled against the Indian batsmen in the tournament opener but they played to potential in their next match, picking up six wickets and combining with pacer Shafiul Islam, who took four wickets, to defend a moderate total of 205 well against Ireland.
Sammy informed that they watched both games Bangladesh played in the World Cup and they were now focused on Bangladesh and executing the plans they have to vanquish the home side.
“Obviously they are a very competitive side and they are rated high than us, we have to watch them seriously. Obviously they rely on their spin and are quite confident about their batting, so we have taken both things into consideration and are looking to play accordingly.
“Every team is charged up to give an account of themselves and all the matches are very important ones as every team is out there to win the matches and we are looking forward to play Bangladesh,” said the all-rounder, who was also a member of West Indies' second string side that were whitewashed by Bangladesh in both Test and ODI series on their home soil in 2009.
However, the Calypso cricketers have a hundred percent success rate against Bangladesh in the World Cup and in the sub-continent, and this time too they look confident after a moral boosting 215-run triumph against Netherlands, which followed a 7-wicket defeat to South Africa in their tournament opener.
Despite that, Sammy wants to learn from the match Ireland played against England and doesn't want to take Bangladesh lightly.
“It (Ireland-England encounter) shows that you can't take any team for granted. With this upset it proves that cricket is played on the day. Whoever play better cricket on that day will come out victorious; that we saw last night (Wednesday). In the last game it was shown by the Irish team so obviously it is a lesson for every team in the tournament that you can't take any team for granted,” said Sammy. “We will come out against Bangladesh full of confidence and will not take them lightly or be complacent as we know we have to play good cricket against them.”
Bangladesh have an enviable record of having won half of their matches played at Mirpur, with eight wins in the last 10 matches they played there. Meanwhile, the West Indies broke their eight-match losing streak by defeating Netherlands, thanks to a superb performance by pacer Kemar Roach, and a whirlwind batting display by Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle, who however was absent from yesterday's training session because, according to the team's media manager, of having caught a cold.
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The Daily StarShakib says 'sorry' to fans
A rare defeat at the hands of West Indies saw an unusual gesture coming from the Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan: he apologised to the fans.
Blaming poor batting for the humiliating defeat, Shakib told the press after Friday's match, "West Indies played well. Our poor batting was behind the defeat," the Bangladesh skipper told.
He sought apology from the fans and the viewers for the crushing defeat.
"We had a plan to bat first and pile up a total of 250 runs for West Indies to chase, but it didn't happen. The only good thing for us this time was winning the toss."
Shakib, however, shrugged off the notion that the pressure of too much of expectations brought them down. "Expectations have no relation with the defeat. We know how to handle pressure. I think it was just not the day for us."
He thought that the Tigers' hope to make it to the quarterfinals had not yet been shattered. "Our chances are still there…I know it has become much harder… But we haven't lost the hope."
"We'll be able to play in the quarterfinals if we can win two matches out of the next three," he said.
Shakib said the team made many mistakes against West Indies but they would correct them in the match against England.
Claiming that his team's batting was not weak, Shakib promised their best in the upcoming match.
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BDNews24
