India played themselves in with a chance to get into the semis here. They looked the better side, and though the bowling has questions all over it, the emerge winners on a flat track where bowlers were murdered and raped alike. A few bites or the textual commentary if you like …

Base Delhi

Sehwag and Gambhir put on a good opening partnership of 136 in less than 15. Sehwag, the more destructive of the Delhi duo, used the bottom hand to good effect as he creamed a few sixes on the off side. The third one came in the form of a top edge, although the batsman wouldn’t break his head over it. Tremlett, after having been mutilated all over the park, had something to cheer about as he upset the opener’s woodwork in the 15th over.

Utthappa walked out to the middle to a lot of expectation, understandably. Now, playing the scoop shot is one thing - but walking across to the practice pitch to make room to play that dastardly shot is another. In the end, Tremlett had more than a full view of the stumps (Utthappa had shuffled across so far that Tremlett would’ve seen a seventh off-stump) and the batsman was cleaned up. Dhoni walked out as Gambhir got out, reattempting a cheeky glance that fetched him a boundary earlier. By then the openers had laid a nice base and India were well-set for a late-night slog.

Sixer showers

It didn’t rain - it poured. The video here below is no joke - this be the real deal.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEfn2fCLeNE]

Stuart Broad might be on the search for a new job here. Call it revenge for what Mascarenhas did, but Yuvraj’s six in six were the talk of the town all night. 50 in 12 balls - the fastest ever in international cricket - and that certainly set the two teams apart. India went into the break with shitloads of momentum, knowing well that half the job was more than done.

A chase with grace

Solanki and Maddy kick-started in top-gear, smacking the ball all around the wicket. England had set themselves up for a good fight scoring at over 9 an over, always keeping them within a sniff. Maddy’s technique gave him away as he skied one to mid-on, bringing KP to the wicket.

And we all know, that KP is indeed the kind of player you don’t want to have in the middle if you’re not England. The onslaught had begun - KP was finding the middle of the bat and the boundaries with ease. Bhajji’s introduction forced a bit of a deceleration but England were upto the task. and the stereotype desi dropped chances helped.

It wasn’t much of a procession, though the England batsman kept walking in and out. Shah and Collingwood played mini-blitzes but it really should’ve been KP to hang out there till the end if the Brits were to salvage any pride in the tournament. Dancing down the track to Bhajji, he slapped one back straight and with a reaction time of less than half a second, the rocket was pocketed. KP had left, as did England’s hopes.

Eye-openers

In retrospect, India found it difficult to defend a score well above 200, and that shows the vulnerability in the bowling and fielding departments. Venkatesh Prasad would do well to talk about variations and yorkers as Robin Singh ought to have a few crisp words. 36 in 6 doesn’t happen every day and India would know better than to bank on that.

Take nothing away from the team though. Sets it up perfectly for SA today.