Friday is going to be key in deciding Group B stndings

Friday is going to be a big day in deciding the potential QFs of the Group B. England take on Deshis and Windies take on Ireland.

England win and they are through to the next round and Deshis are out.

Windies win and they almost go through. Ireland win they would be in for key chance. Should Deshis win in the other game, they would then need to beat Netherlands in their final league game.

India would probably want to win the remaining both league games. WI should not pose a problem and SA are too familiar with India now having played 8 ODIs over year and won 4 games each.  Get in Amla, DeVilliers and SA are captured.

I believe India, South Africa, England and Windies / Ireland would make it to the next round.

West Indies vs South Africa

West Indies and South Africa played out the first game in Northern India of the world cup and it was being played in the capital city of India and the home ground of Delhi trio -- Sehwag, Gambhir and Kohli. The same ground which had itself banned from hosting international games in Dec 2009 hosted a match today and did so well. The Ferozshah Kotla, the ground which has its own legacy and has 2 record milestones achieved on this ground : Kumble's 10 and Sachin's 35th Test 100 in 1999 and 2005 respectively.

Back to this match, the Windies started off well to race to 1/114 and then losing wickets in "clusters" as Darren Sammy later said and Nasser Hussein said on the air.  Barring Darren Bravo's 73 and his brother's 40 none could go onto make a big score as AB did later and that was the difference between 222 and 272.  The likes of Gayle, Sarwan and Chandu failed and there went the Windies chance to stamp the authority over the Saffers.

The Windies were also done in by debutant spinner Imran Tahir's 4/41 figures in his debut game. He bowled with subtle control and variation, turned the ball square and along side Johan Botha controlled the Windies run making spree. South Africa are taking the spin bowling a bit too seriously when they opened the bowling with Botha and played 3 spinners.

223 was not going to be a score that would have scared SA, but they did for a while when they lost Amla and Kallis early with just 20 on the board, WI sensed some victory but AB jolted them with a fine 100. He knows the ground in and out as he has played 2 IPLs here for Delhi Daredevils in 2008 and 2010.  Smith was scratchy given he was ill and Duminy played a perfect partner to the 4th wicket partnership that saw SA home.

SA remain 2nd on the group behind India on NRR and they now wait another week to play their next game against Netherlands.

Positives for SA :

• Spin bowling especially Johan Botha opening
• Imran Tahir's promising debut
• Dale Steyn's late overs burst
• AB Devilliers form

Positivies for WI :

• Darren Bravo's batting
• Suleiman Benn opening the attack and getting the turn
• Kemar Roach

Besides they have a man called Chandu Paul in their team who doesnt make runs when needed, doesnt pace his innings, yet finds himself in top 10 of every ICC ranking. Weird!!!

Match 9 and 10 updates.

The IPL games yesterday were cracker of a contests and showed that cricket triumphed over all the glitz and glamor. We also saw the first glimpse of Super Over that replaced Super Bowl though it was already implemented in NZ-WI T20 clash earlier this year.

Yousuf Pathan and Kamran Khan were the stars of the game Royals vs Riders and then there was AB all over against Chennai Super Kings. This year the Kings and the Royals aint coming good. MSD has suffered 2 losses out of 3. I would rather wish he suffers all losses he is destined to for this year in IPL, so that when he returns to national fold, he carries back the superb momentum his team is carrying in all forms of the game.

Kamran Khan bowled a super last over in the 2nd game. He is a future star for India if he maintains his progress. Warnie almost handled him like a kid. Lets hope he doesnt become another Munaf Patel who was his usual ridiculous on the field. No passion, no improvisation, same grin and same lax attitude. Kick him out,

Ganguly almost saw Knight Riders home but again he lend few nasty punches to Dildo and Coachie. Haha. I am catching up on the Fake IPL player terminologies.

In the other match Hayden showed what Australia are missing from their national team. Gilchrist and Hayden are sorely missed in the national team. Hayden continued his superb run of form although Freddie and MSD continued to dazzle off.

Veeru and Gautam suffered a rare failure. Again I would wish they suffer more failures destined for them in the year here rather than in the national colors or whites.

One more final thing. Ajantha Mendis is no more a surprise or mystery element. He was sorted and cleaned up by Yousuf Pathan. haha. 18 runs off 4 balls. Amazing man. Mendis could have been good in his main 4 overs spell but he was unimaginative in Super Over and whosoever decided to give him a ball was short visioned. For sure it was not Ganguly. His passion for the game even this stage was visible when he was annoyed with himself and Yashpal Singh when latter got out.

Best day of IPL - 2 so far. Also best in the sense that we didnt have to listen the blabbers and irritating laughters of Shilpa Shetty.