India win magnificently !

England at the moment are badly placed at 134/6, needing 301 to win.

Dhoni, Raina, Gambhir, Jadeja and Kohli powered India to 300. And England batsmen made heavy weather of the Indian attack.

The same pattern continues. England who thrashed Australia in Tests, were humiliated by the Kangaroos in the one dayers, 6-1.

A similar pattern is developing, with England not coming upto the mark in ODIs. The Indian batsmen were aggressive in posting 300, and English batsmen were short of aggression !

Ashwin took three and Jadeja three and England were all out for 174. Yadav clean bowled Swann and Patel ! A good performance by India.

One wonders about the selection of Parthiv Patel and Vinay Kumar. Shikhar Dhawan and Varun Aaron should have been there in their place.

Meanwhile, Cook admitted that England had been outplayed in all departments of the game.

"It was an important toss to win. We saw at the end that the ball kept low. But credit to India. They outplayed us in all departments today." said the English captain.

"We're going to learn from this, and that's the beauty of a five-match series."

Indian medium pacers, Kumar and Yadav bowled well while the spinners Ashwin and Jadeja sparkled in the slow conditions, sharing 9 wickets between them. Cook is of the view that tackling the slow bowlers in slow conditions will be a great challenge.

"We know that (playing spin) is an issue, and that's a skill thing. We're going to work hard on that in the next couple of days," he said.

Dhoni said revenge is a strong word. "For us, it is not about revenge. Revenge is a strong feeling, it is a strong word. What is important for us is to go out on the field and perform well."

"It is important to win the games because if you are not winning too many games, (it is) a bit of a problem in the sense you can't enjoy to the extent you do when you are winning. Winning and losing is part and parcel of the game. The losing streak was a bit too long," said the whirlwind wicket keeper.

Dhoni feels the absence of dew aided his bowlers.

"If you see the ODIs in England, all the players did very well. Because of rains, it was difficult for our spinners to bowl consistently. We did well in the second half of the England series. Today there was no dew. If the conditions are slightly in their favour, the bowlers can make us win games."

The timing of the series is uncertain, as you cant tell about the dew.

"If you are close to November or December, you know there will be dew and blindly you will opt to field after winning the toss so that bowlers get an upper hand. It is a bit tricky. It was good that in this game there was no dew. Spinners gripped the ball well, they bowled the right length. Fast bowlers got a bit of reverse swing also; outfield was very dry and the wicket was also dry."

Stating that his immediate target was 250-260 runs, he averred that "which we thought was good enough score provided there is no dew on the field in the second half".

His innings was invaluable for the team.

"It was a valuable inning like quite a few others I have played in my short career. It was a very calculated inning. Quite a few shots that I played, I generally don't play those shots. I have changed my game and adapted to number six position."

His ability to go over the top with helicopter shots brought home the bacon. "At time it pays off. It was a precious inning."

He said he is happy with the performance of his new bowlers, who with experience can be weapons both in India and abroad.

"It's a grooming period we are going through. We have few bowlers who are new to the scenario. I feel as a unit they have done very well in this game."

Dhoni's brutal 87 not out, which won him the Man of the Match Award, was reminiscent of his 91 not out in the World Cup Final. He and Jadeja crushed England in the death overs !

After 34 overs, India were struggling at 134/4 in 34 overs and 150/4 in 35 overs, when Dhoni, Raina and Jadeja scored another 161 in the next 16 overs to annihilate England. Raina and Jadeja hit two sixes each and Dhoni one, as English bowlers were hit to all corners of the field.

Commodities Astrology ?

Commodities Astrology ? Gold has risen to $1600, after touching $1921.

We are in the midst of a commodity bull market cycle, which started in
2000. We have been advocating buying gold, from $900 onwards. Silver
has gone upto $32 and lead and others are following suit. Increased
demand from China and India and the bearish nature of the stock market,
global cues all lead to this commodity bull market cycle.

Gold price is inversely proportional to the Dollex, the USDX. Jupiter rules gold. More info at Zodiac Astrology and Stock Market Astrology

It was observed that a Bull Market Cycle lasts for 18 years. In 1982, we had the stock market boom and the bust of 2000. Not only the stock market, but the dot com market also went bust. This started the commodities bull market cycle and experts say it will last till 2016/18. So the stock market is on a decline, along with Realty and dot com. On the contrary, commodities have gone up.

There are many reasons cited for the commodities boom. A falling US Dollar, the China Effect ( more than 700 million Chinese will be added to the consumer class by 2020), the India Effect ( more than 300 million Indians will be added to the consumer culture), tight supplies, demand more than supply and the interest rate cuts by the Fed.

Astrologically Jupiter in Aries, about to enter Taurus in May 2012, is responsible for the commodities boom. He rules Gold and other precious metals. ( Gurum Kanchana Sannibham ).

These are the Correspondence between Planets and Metals

Sun - Copper and gold.
Moon -Silver.
Mars - Copper.
Mercury - Brass.
Jupiter - Gold.
Venus - Silver & Aluminium.
Saturn - Iron, Minerals & Crude.


It has been observed that when the Stock Market is in Recession, commodities go up and vice verse. Hence these years will seem a boom in commodities.

Some of the reasons cited for the commodities boom

The Fed will lower interest rates
Supplies of oil, grains and metals are very low and the possibility of producing more in the next few years is low
The Dollex, the USDX, may decline furthur
As the standard of living rises in Chindia ( China and India ), more consumption will be the order of the day, leading to heavy demand.

Mumbai, world champions !

If world championship can be decided by CLT20, Mumbai are the world champions. This they achieved without stalwart Tendulkar, R Sharma and Davy Jacobs.

It was not a great batting display from the Mumbai Indians, but their bowling was great with Bajji taking three wickets & Chahal two.

It was Bajji who took the prize wicket of Kohli and Gayle. MI were skittled out for 139, as Bhatkal ( 3/29 ) and Vettori ( 2-30) ran riot. Mumbai, batting first, lost Blizzard early, due to an unfortunate run out.

Kanwar smashed the first six of the match, lofting Dilshan into the stands. Rayudu joined Kanwar and started well by lofting Aravind into the stands but Nannes put an end to his knock. Franklin hit a couple of sixes in his brief 29 ball knock and Suryakumar Yadav hit a six and two fours in his 17 ball innings before both were run out in consecutive overs. They did try to resurrec the Mumbai innings, adding 40 runs for the fourth wicket. Vettori tightened his reins as he forced Pollard to hit to Kohli at long off. He also trapped Bajji for a duck. Malinga showed his belligerence and hit Aravind for a glorious six over the sight screen. Satish hit Bhatkal for a six but got out next ball. Malinga followed with a quickfire 16.

Bangalore started losing wickets and Bajji ( 3/20 ) and Chahal ( 2/9) not only strangled the Bangalore batsmen but also picked up five prize wickets between them. Bangalore made heavy weather of the Mumbai attack and fell short by 31 runs. The failure of the inform Kohli and Gayle hepled Mumbai consolidate. Bangalore needed a good start and Dishan smashed Malinga for a four and then hit Ahmed for two consecutive fours to start the onslaught. But Malinga had the better of him, when he clean bowled him with a superb yorker. In the next over, Bajji trapped Gayle and the match was half won ! Chahal then struck dismissing Agarwal and in the 12th over, Kohli was dismissed by Bajji, giving a clear edge to Mumbai.

Chahal dismissed Arun Karthik. Bangalore wobbled under pressure, needing 65 runs off 45 balls. Tiwary and Kaif struggled against an accurate Mumbai attack. Pollard then swung the match in Mumbai's favour by dismissing Kaif for three and leaving the rest to Malinga to finish Bangalore.

Malinga swings out Somerset

A dream of the Indians ! An all India final between Mumbai and Bangalore on Sunday night !

It will be a great contest, between Gayle and Kohli and Malinga. Mumbai had not been amidst the runs, but their bowling is sharp. Bangalore is amidst runs, but their bowling needs much to be desired. Vettori and Nannes will have to pull their act together, if Bangalore is to become the international champions. The earlier champion, Chennai, could not hold on to their trophy. Indians have a lot to cheer, as the World Champion T20 team will be from India.

One should appreciate the determination of Mumbai. After missing half their side, they found it difficult to put an XI on the field. But still they have won most of the matches and now are in the finals.

Blizzard's 54 off 39 kept the momentum going for them. When Pollard fell, they had Satish and Yadav to carry the attack to the bowler's end. It was a 43 runs partnership off 22 balls. Van der Merve and Trego were taken by the great yorkers of the formidable Slinga Malinga. Klieswetter's 62 could not bring home the bacon for Somerset and MI were into the finals.

28 runs were needed in the last 3 overs and Malinga and Franklin defended that. Bajji gave the 19th over to Franklin and it was a big risk. But the last two overs were well bowled and Somerset could not just do it.

Today's match will be tense and exciting. Let us pray for a great battle, a cliff hanger !

Gayle and Kohli take Banglore into the finals !

Glorious batting by Gayle ( 92 off 41 balls ) and Kohli ( 84 off 49 ) ecliped the century of Warner and Bangalore stormed into the finals. Now they take on the winners of MI - Somerset.

This is the second consecutive successful chase of more than 200 and Bangalore can be proud of this redoubtable feat. Gayle and Kohli have been doing it consistently and hats off to them.

David Warner scored his second back to back T20 century and was in great form, belting the hapless Bangalore bowlers to all parts of the field. It powered NSW Blues to score 203 and Bangalore had to everything possible to win over them. And win over them did, thanks to Gayle and Kohli.

Warner was involved in a 146 run partnership with Daniel Smith, who scored 62. Warner accelerated towards the end of the innings and scored 122 of 68 balls ! Only Dilshan impressed for Bangalore and the rest of the bowlers were battered by Warner and Smith. Sreenath Aravind was hit for 55 runs in his four overs.

A couple of fours from Kaif, saw Bangalore home. Virat Kohli was not out 84, when the match ended. Bangalore started badly, losing Dilshan ( 4) early in the third over. Kohli and Gayle were involved in a majestic 141 run partnership off just 66 balls for the second wicket to take Bangalore within touching distance of victory. Gayle and Tiwari departly abruplty, sending tremors in the Bangalore camp. But then Kohli and Kaif played sensibly and took them home.

Run Fiesta on the cards at First Semi Final, CLT20 !

The batting strip at Banglaore promises a lot. We have the likes of Gayle, Kohli, Shane Watson, David Warner, Dilshan and Henriques and the average fan is just enthusiastic about a run fest.

In their previous, Kohli, Warner and Dilshan had amassed 279 off 152 balls and they promise a lot to the cricket enthusiast.

Vettori is wary of Watson and Warner, it is learnt. Both are matchwinners and may come in the way of high flying Bangalore.

On the other hand, Gayle is always a nightmare for the opposition. So also is Kohli and Dishan. NSW will try to get these three dangers out, if they have fulfill their dream.

Meanwhile, Arun Karthik opined that he knew that Christian will bowl a slower ball and he gave it all the strength needed.

Bangalore will be up against a fit and fighting NSW Blues, who is ready for the battle. Spearheaded by David Warner, the Blues can be a dangerous outfit on their day. Warner may not look as strong as Gayle, but the power he generates is simply incredible. Now he has become a nightmare for the CLT20 bowlers. Spin continues to be the forte for Bangalore, as Vettori and Syed can rattle the Blues, who seem a bit suspect against spin in India.

Incredible win with a last ball six by Bangalore !

What an incredible match ! He who said that Cricket is a game of dire vicissitudes is right after all !

In a very high scoring match ( more than 400 runs were scored off 40 overs ), Bangalore (215/8) edged out South Australian Redbacks (214) by two wickets. Glorious innings from centurion Harris and Ferguson (70) enabled SA to score a mammoth 214. Bangalore started violently, with Gayle, Dilshan and Kohli carrying the attack to the bowlers end. Kohli played the best innings of his T20 career and his 70 contained six mighty sixes !

Here is how the drama unfolded.

The 20th over

The stuff of which heavenly tales are made off. SIx runs needed off the last ball and Arun Karthik belts it for six !

Daniel Christian bowls the last ball and Karthik slog sweeps it for six. The crowd erupts into delirium !

The 19th over

Tait bowls a beamer to Dilshan and the next ball the Sri Lankan is castled. putting the end to an incredible 74 off 47 balls. Vettori and Bhatkal get out Tait gets a glorious five for and RCB tumbles from 183/2
to 201/7!

The 18th over

Agarwal belts O Brien for a six, but perishes. Vettori begins with six and now 18 needed off 12.

Virat Kohli was excited after the match. "Never been in such an exciting T20 match all my life." said the dashing youngster, after he received the Man of the Match Award.

Asked to relive the moment when KB Arun Karthik hit that stunning six, Kohli said "I had my eyes closed on the last ball. I was talking to our coach when two balls were left. Thought if we could get boundary and a two so that scores are tied."

The team management relied a lot on the start that Chris Gayle and Tillekaratne Dilshan provided. "We thought if Chris and Dilshan could bat five or six overs, we had a fair chance.I was calm and relaxed, but of course you can't stay assured chasing a target such as 215."

Kohli's skipper Daniel Vettori was equally at loss of words after the match. "Pretty amazing game of cricket. One thing about this ground is you can chase anything here. The last five overs that we bowled were really poor. Harris and Callum and Dan Christian batted extremely well." said Vettori.

"The dew does change this wicket. The new ball turns a bit, but once it becomes soft, it's really difficult. However, the class of the batsmanship coupled with the wicket was amazing."

On the contrary, Callum Ferguson, who played another "callous" innings was dejected that his side could not pull it off. "Obviously, it's disappointing to not defend 214. Dan Harris and Dan Christian batted well, Tait came back with the ball and went bang bang bang, but Virat and Dilshan batted beautifully. We were backing our bowlers to execute despite the dew, disappointed not to do that."