hello all sajhaties,

this is my attempt to cure some of our ICC Cricket World cup fever by playing online version of World Cup cricket (to the one who doesnt like cricket: do not worry it will not consist of too many rules and it certainly wont take your whole day either)....it will be more like of a prediction game ....the similar to what we earlier did during NFL...i was highly impressed y it and huge number of responses...i can only hope it will be the same for WC Cricket

...so here is what is in store for the game:

PREDICTION MODEL

You must predict:

1. The game outcome (team 1 win, team 2 win or draw)

2. The margin of victory (i.e. runs difference AND wickets difference*)

* In cricket the judge of victory is determined by the coin toss, and as we won't know until each game starts how the victory will be determined, you must pick both options.

Points are awarded as follows:

Win Point (WP) 1.0 (for round robin, Super 8), 2 (for semi-finals), and 3 (for the final)

Margin Point (MP) 0.5
(A Margin Point will be awarded to every player whose margin prediction is within 30 runs of the real run margin or 3 wickets of the real wicket margin. You must correctly predict the winner of the game in order to qualify for a Margin Point.)


Bonus Point (BP) 1.0 Scored by player(s) whose margin prediction(s) is/are the closest to the actual margin. Each if the players will get 1 whol epoint point in case of ties. Once again, you must get the game outcome right (i.e. earn a WP) in order to qualify for BP.

i didn't make it too completed, did i ?

I will provide the scoreboard (which will be in an Excel spreadsheet, remember its online version we are playing) every week on saturdays after the saturday's game outcome

so, we ready for the toss?

P.S. There will be a 'trophy' for the winner ...the more the number of players, the bigger the trophy. It's a promise that wil lbe kept.

1. Sunday, April 15: Bangladesh v Ireland...BA by 47 runs or 5 WKs
2. Monday, April 16: Australia v Sri Lanka ...AUs by 59 runs or 4 wks

i am sorry drifting clouds, but your predcition for game 1 is disqualified because it came after the toss for that game

Yoohoooo. I got it right today.

Result of Game 1 for WEEK 6:

Ireland 243/7 (50 ov)
Bangladesh 169 (41.2 ov)

Ireland won by 74 runs

"Great scenes at the Kensington Oval. Everyone on their feet, Irish, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, whatever. Cheers, whoops, tears, bugles, drums, all out in appreciation of a good day's cricket. Johnston, stump in hand, leads his band of merry men off the field, acknowledging the supportive crowd. Bashar lopes off, head down. Bangladesh have beaten India and South Africa, but came up short against Ireland. Some sloppy cricket from them.

Ireland were lead by their captain from the toss, and thanks to Porterfield, Kevin O'Brien and Johnston himself, put up a very good total. Their bowlers backed up the batting effort, the fielding was enthusiastic, the body language better than their opponents. This win will do them plenty of good. The Irish supporters out here should be proud of their side. Irish eyes are smiling, truly."

Here are my picks for this week...i can't believe that i missed the first game:

1. Sunday, April 15: Bangladesh v Ireland....> Missed it (darnnn!)
2. Monday, April 16: Australia v Sri Lanka ...>Australia by 62 runs or 4 wickets
3. Tuesday, April 17: England v South Africa ...>South Africa by 44 runs or 3 wickets
4. Wednesday, April 18: Ireland v Sri Lanka ...>Sri Lanka by 83 runs or 5 wickets
5. Thursday, April 19: West Indies v Bangladesh ...>West Indies by 114 runs or 6 wickets
6. Friday, April 20: Australia v New Zealand ...>New Zealand by 15 runs or 2 wickets
7. Saturday, April 21: West Indies v England ...>West Indies by 26 runs or 3 wickets

oops... missed last week's matches, i was away on ester holidays.

here are my predictions for coming games,
1.Monday, April 16: Australia v Sri Lanka ...>SL by 34 runs or 3wickets
2. Tuesday, April 17: England v South Africa ...>South Africa by 18 runs or 5 wickets
3. Wednesday, April 18: Ireland v Sri Lanka ...>Sri Lanka by 153 runs or 6 wickets
4. Thursday, April 19: West Indies v Bangladesh ...>West Indies by 34 runs or 4 wickets
5. Friday, April 20: Australia v New Zealand ...>Aus by 55 runs or 7 wickets
6. Saturday, April 21: West Indies v England ...>Eng by 18 runs or 4wickets

Result of Game 2:

Sri Lanka 226 (49.4 ov)
Australia 232/3 (42.4 ov)

Australia won by 7 wickets (with 44 balls remaining)

"Australia just too good for anyone. Not one team has bothered them all tournament. You're going to need a lot to beat this team, A-game, B-game, call if what you will. Dismissed Sri Lanka cheaply, knocked off the runs without breaking a sweat, and I want to see what team beats Australia.

Do join us for tomorrow's much-hyped affair, England v South Africa at Bridgetown, at 13:30 GMT."

Tuesday, April 17: England v South Africa ...>South Africa by 67runs or 5 wickets
3. Wednesday, April 18: Ireland v Sri Lanka ...>Sri Lanka by 50runs or 6 wickets
4. Thursday, April 19: West Indies v Bangladesh ...>West Indies by 34 runs or 3 wickets
5. Friday, April 20: Australia v New Zealand ...>Aus by 55 runs or 4 wickets
6. Saturday, April 21: West Indies v England ...>WI by 36 runs or 3wickets

Result of Game 3:

England 154 (48 ov)
South Africa 157/1 (19.2 ov)

South Africa won by 9 wickets (with 184 balls remaining)

Well, matches don't come much more one-sided. That was an emphatic victory by South Africa, making their statement in style. Hall teed up proceedings for them, with a fantastic five-wicket haul and then Smith took them home in dominant, brutal style.

Boos from the crowd for the England side and they head off with heads hanging, as they should. Their performance was no better than abject.

"We did this for the people back at home," says AB de Villiers. "To go through to the semis is an awesome feeling."

This Srilanka is spoiling our predictions by not fileding their best side

--> They turned a potentially cracker into a one sided battle

--> I dont know if they will do the same with Ireland

Boring cricket I would say from the fan's point of view. Winning the cup is one thing but the entertainments are other.

Just like Italy vs - Argentina or Holland in football.

Result of Game 4:

Ireland 77 (27.4 ov)
Sri Lanka 81/2 (10.0 ov)

Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets (with 240 balls remaining)

"Well, that was emphatic. Sri Lanka hardly got a work-out there, having already qualified of course, and they were really the men out there.

Ireland bow out of the competition with their worst defeat. Having said that, some excellent Irish performances has lent credence to the Associates. So, Sri Lanka hardly putting a collective foot wrong and they will now be continuing their march in the semi-finals some time next week."

Result of Game 5:

West Indies 230/5 (50 ov)
Bangladesh 131 (43.5 ov)

West Indies won by 99 runs

"Bangladesh have had a pretty good campaign, albeit slighlty schizophrenic. They might have blown hot and cold but when they were hot, boy were they good to watch. They hammered India, walloped South Africa, then no. 1 team, but then they also lost to Ireland. Such has been the inconsistency but they would, as they should, take the positives, learn from the mistakes and move on.

West Indies ... well, finally some joy. But, despite the win, all is not well with them. This has been a disappointing campaign for them. They have one more match left: Against England on Saturday. Post that, they will have to make some tough decisions. We have to wait and watch."

Result of Game 6:

Australia 348/6 (50 ov)
New Zealand 133 (25.5 ov)

Australia won by 215 runs

"Walloped!

Australian fielders huddle together in celebration. This is their 21st consecutive win in World Cups. Australia win by 215 runs. Massive. This is New Zealand's biggest defeat in ODIs."

Result of Game 7:

West Indies 300/10 (49.5 overs)
England 301/9 (49.5 overs)

England won by 1 wicket (with 1 ball remaining)

"Well, West Indies might not have given Lara the send-off he wanted, but what a game to bow out on, and at least Duncan Fletcher will be a happy man tonight. Amazing and at long last we have had a real and rare humdinger ...A great match to end the Super Eights - and at times this stage seemed as infinite as outer space - and now it's the semi-finals on Tuesday and Wednesday."

It was a drama-less week here at Sajha World Cup 2007 on WEEK 6, just like real Super-eights !

Sa54 played some good strokes this week despite he had to be content with only one 'man of the match' for the week ...just like KP Pietersen !....the only difference being sa54 will get to play in semi-final to prove where he left

Otherwise, just watch for Tusaro...he is slowly and silently getting closer to the crown ...can Srilanka beat Australia? may be similar to can Tusaro take the crown from born_to_rule which he had for 6 weeks here at SWC...or hi_nanu and Sa54 will bounce back for what it will be similar to New Zeamand and South Africa bouncing back

The real fever is ON but you have few days to prepare yourself

Remember, the points are double for the semi-final and 3 times for the final ...little extra pressure there ...so, gear up palyers !

while i will leave you with Result for WEEK 6:

And, here is your 'make it or break it' picks for WEEK 7:

1. Tuesday, April 24 (1st Semi-final): New Zealand v Sri Lanka
2. Wednesday, April 25 (2nd Semi-final): Australia v South Africa

PS: Points will be double for these matches. So, WP=2, MP=1, BP=2. G'luck !!!

1. New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka wins by 45 runs or 5 Wickets
2. Australia v South Africa. SA wins by 25 runs or 3 wickets

I don't want AUS want to win.

GO LANKANS

1. New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka wins by 55 runs or 4Wickets
2. Australia v South Africa. AUS wins by 75 runs or 4 wickets

1. New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka wins by 60 runs or 4 Wickets
2. Australia v South Africa. AUS wins by 45 runs or 5 wickets

Lets see !

And here is my 'million dollar' pick...ufff...it took me a whole day to make this pick !

1. Tuesday, April 24 (1st Semi-final): New Zealand v Sri Lanka ...>Sri Lanka by 50 runs
or 3 wickets
2. Wednesday, April 25 (2nd Semi-final): Australia v South Africa...>South Africa by 14 runs or 2 wickets

Go Lankans, Go the proteas !!!