Tag Archives: Cricket

Oct8

Howzat! Gangnam rocks the Premadasa…..

Posted on October 8, 2012 by taniapics

W.Indies celebrate WT20 victory!

If you had told me 5 years ago I would be in Sri Lanka watching the final of a T20 match I’d tell you that you’ve been smoking your socks. Not because I didn’t think it possible but simply that I had NO interest in cricket. But then a turn of cricketing fate slapped me in the face with SA hosting the second IPL on our shores, due to Indian elections happening at the same time. “Pick a team and support them all the way through”, were the words coming from Lalit Modi and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Oh whatever – so I’ll pick the most Bollywood looking team of the lot and supported Kolkata Knight Riders. Dud move, they were crap. Came last that year, but I fell in love with the game and the rest they say is history. I still support KKR – and finally they have done me proud and along the way I have developed an appreciation for all the formats of the game. And so came the WT20 in Sri Lanka. And my only regret is that it was not sooner. Sri Lanka – you’ve done yourself proud. Read the rest of this entry →

Oct7

The Final Countdown.

Posted on October 7, 2012 by taniapics

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The Battleground for the WT20 Final btw W.Indies and Sri Lanka

“Believe it – it is true. It is here!”, words spoken by an animated Desmond Tutu when we hosted the 2010 Football WC. It’s the same nervous excitement and energy hanging in the air this morning as Colombo prepares for an epic battle. And it couldn’t be between 2 more deserving teams. Sri Lanka vs W.Indies. It’s going to be like David and Goliath. The mighty and powerful W.Indies face up to the more diminutive, but accurate Sri Lankans. Swashbuckling Gayle vs refined Jayawardene. Big sixes vs crafty, well timed shots. Read the rest of this entry →

Oct3

Proteas go home and KP gets “re-integrated”……..

Posted on October 3, 2012 by taniapics

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Proudly SA and doing our bit to support local industry.

We’re Proudly SA – for many reasons , but currently thanks to the SA women’s Cricket team! They say women should rule the world. I think we already do. New Malawi President Joyce Banda recently reduced her salary, fired some incompetent, probably overfed, over paid cabinet ministers who experienced first hand the effects of “Desk Derriere” and she sold the presidential jet. Wow. Taking notes Zuma ? Probably not. Read the rest of this entry →

Sep29

Sport, Money, Sex Appeal and Desk Derriere……

Posted on September 29, 2012 by taniapics

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Recently women in sport have come out against being paid less than their testosterone fuelled counterparts.

At the WT20 event in Sri Lanka it has emerged that apparently the winning team in the men’s tournament will share £616,000 compared to £40,000 for their fairer counterparts. In addition, male cricketers receive £61 a day as a living allowance, while the women get only £37.
Maybe they think women eat less? I could prove them wrong on that one, although trying to eat £37 worth of food in Sri Lanka would be a challenge. Even Chris Gayle may struggle. Read the rest of this entry →

Sep26

Anyone have a contact with the Rain gods?

Posted on September 26, 2012 by taniapics

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Anyone have a contact with the Rain gods?

It’s been a busy few days of travel, doing quality control on Lions and the cricket, which has been so heavily interrupted with rain that it’s been essential to keep the guys company at the Lion stand. I mean the only other options are Pepsi and KFC. I’d rather eat cow dung. Read the rest of this entry →

Sep22

The day has dawned…..and it’s a rainy one!

Posted on September 22, 2012 by taniapics

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A epic battle lies ahead as Sri Lanka and SA will face each other for the first time in a T20 match.
It’s going to be a nail biting event and there can be no clear winner predicted ahead of today’s clash, although the home team must carry some advantage. Both have had easy games thus far and today will be a true test of their abilities. Read the rest of this entry →

Sep21

Bags Packed and Going Home…..

Posted on September 21, 2012 by taniapics

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NOT US!!! Zimbabwe, the first team to be leaving Sri Lanka, – Unceremoniously trounced and beaten into submission.

Zim – their faces say it all

Nothing inspiring about SA vs Zim comes to mind. Its a bit like trying to passionately describe a smooth, flat, white wall. It’s white. Thats it. It’s not fiery, it’s not exciting it’s just white. Plain. Simple. Boring. Dull. Like last nights cricket. The local guys were all perplexed that we were going to M.Rajapakse Stadium on Thursday eve. “But there’s no match on?” was the standard response. And how right they were. The streets leading up to the stadium were empty, except for the customary massive police and military presence. You could easily start doubting yourself that there was anything going on other than a training session. Turns out it was. Read the rest of this entry →

Sep19

Match Day Massacre

Posted on September 19, 2012 by taniapics

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After our last bungle of bus and train travel, we wisely decided to get tuk tuk all the way to the stadium rather than risk missing the entire event which could happen as we are easily lead astray, often unintentionally.

Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium

The Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium in Sooriyawewa, about 20 kms outside of Hambantota, 80kms from Tangalle, which is about a 90 minute tuk tuk ride. Pleasant enough on the way there, passing paddy fields with peacocks, banana, coconut papaya plantations along the way. Coming back at midnight was like playing dodge-ems with a blindfold, while flying missiles hoot their way past you at high speed. Atari Asteroids comes to mind – if you’re old enough to remember……..

View of the action

Read the rest of this entry →

Sep18

Standing by, Rolling cameras and ACTION!

Posted on September 18, 2012 by taniapics

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AYOBA! It is here. The day has arrived. Day one of World Cup T20 Cricket action. Big sixes, fast bowling and mind boggling spinners. The players are ready, the fans are excited, the stadiums lie waiting, the food is being prepared and truck loads of Lion lager being chilled as we write.

Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium outside of Hambantota has a capacity of crowd of 35000 people. We’ll be in the middle of all the cricketing fever and madness. Read the rest of this entry →

Sep13

Let the GAMES begin…..

Posted on September 13, 2012 by taniapics

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NO – Not the Olympics – even we know that’s done, dusted, finnito.
BUT the T20 World Cup. Words that Cricket purists would never dare breathe, let alone think of following this event. Sorry for them as this is one of the fastest, most action packed events on the sporting calendar.

Sri Lanka, where the world’s biggest hitters face off against the fastest bowlers and wildest spinners in an adrenalin packed 40 overs. If reading the newspaper or walking the dog in between overs is how you watch cricket, then this is NOT FOR YOU. However, if like us you love fast paced action, think Sri Lankan Malinga bowling deadly 150km/h yorkers or the ever smiling West Indian giant Chris Gayle smashing it out of the park for yet another big 6, or Aussie Dave Warner flying through the air catching the impossible, then this IS FOR YOU! Not for sissies. Or conservative purists.