The champagne is oozing all over the place. The graffitti is flying, Everyone are getting a hand on the trophy! Dhoni has it in his hands! SRK comes along and wishes each and every player, hugs them. Quite a sight, a versace-clad SRK hugging the sweaty team. Who cares? Chak de India! The world watches as India rule T20. They’re standing across a board that goes: champions.
With that textual scene, I’ll leave you, because simply put, I needn’t say more. India are the T20 champions. This, by far, has been the happiest day in the history of Indian cricket in recent times. And for me too.
Hope you enjoyed the commentary. Until next time around, this is Sandy signing off. Apologies for not being able to replicate the scenes out there on text, though. For once in ages, I’m at loss for words.
Goodbye!
Presentation
Ravi: A big thank you to all the players, officials, broadcasters - one massive event. A match worthy of a final. They got all the subcontinental spice to the party. Congratulations to the Indian team.
I’d like to call up the ICC match officials to come up: Ranjan Madugalle, Simon Taufel, Mark Benson, Darryl Harper, Billy Doctrove. Well done gentlemen.
The Pakistani team come up, in alphabetical order … and now, Shoaib Malik
Always difficult to be on the losing side.
Shoaib Malik: I want to thank you Pakistan and wherever Muslims live all around the world. Sorry, we gave our 100% and our team gave our 100%, I want to thank them.
India have a strong batting line up, and our plan was to restrict them to 150. We did that, but our batting line-up wasn’t up to it. It wasn’t pressure, we played a few bad shots.
We enjoyed this Twenty20 tournament, our guys played very well. We have a series against South Africa and InshaAllah we’ll work hard to win again.
The man of the match - Irfan Pathan!
Ravi: Excellent figures, Irfan. Outstanding performance. You were under a bit of pressure.
Pathan: MashaAllah it’s a great feeling. Obviously when I came, I was under a bit of pressure, but I held my nerve. It was a bit slow, I was holding a bit bowling split-finger slow ones. I had to bowl many slower ones, they were going after the bowling.
Ravi: What was going through the player’s mind?
Pathan: Pressure! (Laughs) I think Joginder bowled well, not just him, they all bowled well - RP, Bhajji, we fielded pretty well, we batted well, we deserved it after the World Cup
The player of the tournament: Shahid Afridi!
Ravi: Well, Shahid, disappointed?
Shahid Afridi: First of all, I want to thank Almighty Allah, winning and losing doesn’t matter, we played great cricket. Congratulations to India and the Indian Nations (whatever that is). The atmosphere is great, and I want to mention one more thing, before the tournament, my friend Salim said you will be the man of the tournament. This (the medal) is for him!
And now, the Indian team collect their medals. The crowd erupt when Yuvraj’s name is announced! They go entirely berserk when Dhoni’s name is announced! Too many Singhs in the side …
Ravi: Congrats, MS! How does it feel?
Dhoni: It’s one of the things I’ve achieved in the last three years, a treasure for my whole life. Thanks, boys, for the effort and for the response. No one expected us to win, and the way we have won, we deserve a big celebration.
Ravi: Pakistan did well to restrict you to 150?
Dhoni: Arafat and Gul bowled well, but we know that we scored 150. They have to make it. Chasing, pressure, it was going to be hard.
Ravi: Joginder, Harbhajan, why Joginder?
Dhoni: Bhajji wasn’t 100% sure, Jogi wanted to do well at the international level. Surely, now, T20 will catch up in India. After the way we departed from the World Cup, this will do the repair work for some time. We have Australia and Pakistan visiting us!
BCCI REWARDS! A CRORE FOR YUVRAJ SINGH for the sixers! TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE TEAM! There goes my tax, sigh …
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The channel in question was Aaj Tak. Bhajji and co. are doing the jig on the grounds, back to ESPN now. These are great pictures, for anyone who is still reading (I don’t expect many), tune into ESPN right now!
Why is the presentation taking so long? Dhoni, probably, is getting the shirt back on. In fact, he’s put up a sleeveless jersey and then a gesture of thanks to the Pakistani team. Both teams played this with great goodwill.
SRK has his SLR with him, and he’s clicking away.
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I’ll be back with the presentation commentary soon. Incidentally, I was there at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore at 5.00 am to pick up tickets for the India-Oz match. Can’t wait, now! More on that incident later, because …
I need to lock up the woman at my home, who is - incidentally - my mother. She’s gone absolutely crazy with excitement, and (oh God!) switched channels to watch the news! That crime called for quick action.
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One must feel for Pakistan, they played extremely well throughout. Everyone has been ranting about India’s dismal World Cup, but few realise the damage to Pakistan. They had their coach murdered, and they lost Inzy as a captain. To have recovered from the trench of failure, is no mean feat. Full credit to Pakistan for making this tournament, and this match, memorable as ever.
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A fitting finale in the end, and a gripping match of cricket. T20 is here to stay, it’s power-packed, it’s fun, it’s entertainment - and now - it’s India’s :-) Imagine what this does for the T20 circuit back home! The BCCI have loads to do, for now they’ll bask in the glory of picking a great team.
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A couple of Emirates Airlines airhostesses bring the trophy. Meanwhile, Yuvraj is on top of another player, oh, that’s Sehwag? For a moment it looked like the gay-pride-parade, but then sanity is restored. Indian brotherhood.
Dhoni is topless!, he’s lost the shirt!
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The phones are ringing, the neighbors are ecstatic! Hindus, Muslims, Atheists, everyone are out there bursting crackers! This is, by far, the happiest moment in recent times for Indian cricket. Yusuf Pathan hugs the flag. There’s not a single Pakistani out there on the camera! Can you believe it?
Misbah ul Haq just scoops it up in the air, would you believe it? He smashes a six, SURELY he would back himself to score another boundary straight down the ground?
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Can you believe this? Chasing 157, Pakistan made a whole mess of it and the men in blue pull off an amazing victory! The fireworks have gone off at the Wanderers and in my backyard to! This isn’t the Ganesh festival, it’s India winning the T20 World Cup!
India are doing the victory round at the Wanderers in the meantime. A great team, a great captain! Dhoni looks the part - those locks running all around! Bhajji points the flag at the crowd! One of the happiest moments in cricketing history for the nation.
19.3 - Sharma to Haq, OUT! Scooped to Sreesanth at fine-leg and India have won the Twenty20 WORLD CUP! They’re through!
What a shot under pressure! My fingers have gone cold though …
19.2 - Sharma to Haq, SIX!, straight down the ground and it’s gone all the way! 6 to win from four now!
19.1 - Sharma to Haq, played and missed! It was width and it was offered, Misbah would be disappointed with that. 12 to win from 5.
19.1 - Sharma to Haq, WIDE! What a criminal ball first up! How crucial is that? What’s with Sharma and the last over?
What a match this has been! Not bored one bit, RP Singh is stunned! Asif celebrates. 13 from one over, you would back Pakistan and Misbah-ul-Haq against Bhajji here. Sharma will bowl it.
19.0 - RP Singh to Asif, FOUR!, edged and it runs down to third-man! 13 required from the last over! Match on! 145-9
India heave a sigh of relief, but Misbah ul Haq will play the final over. Asif will have to keep this ball out. His favourite shot is anywhere for six. That’ll do for Pak!
18.5 - RP Singh to Gul, OUT!, you miss, I hit, and leg-stump goes out for a little smoke. RP Singh delivering when needed. India one wicket away from victory, within a whisker!
I’ve already lost fingernails this tournament. Am down to the skin.
18.4 - RP Singh to Haq, single, he gets a glove to it. Misbah was eyeing the short boundary.
18.3 - RP Singh to Haq, louud shout! Not out! India go up! Cat and mouse … Simon Taufel under pressure!
18.2 - RP Singh to Gul, missed but they run across for a single. RP isn’t happy.
18.1 - RP Singh to Haq, run down to third man for a single. It’s Misbah versus India, yet again. Are we on couse for another bowl-out? 1000 bucks looks like mine for the taking, Jerry did place a bet, interestingly.
Umar Gul comes out to the middle to bat. Haq is on strike. RP Singh returns for the penultimate over.
18.0 - Sree to Tanvir, OUT! Bowled! Stump is out of the place. Tanvir, though, has done his job. 138-8
17.5 - Sree to Tanvir, SIX! from the time it left the bat! Tanvir flicks it over square leg for six more! Magnificent hitting.
17.4 - Sree to Haq, single taken to mid-wicket. Pakistan are approaching this very sensibly.
17.3 - Sree to Haq, dot ball! Misbah plays and misses! Misbah ul Haq has to think fast. 27 from 15.
17.2 - Sree to Tanvir, a single taken, he came in the way. Misbah ul Haq is back on strike.
17.2 - Sree to Tanvir, WIDE! India under pressure.
Sree under pressure here. Dhoni is thinking fast, Sree comes around the wicket.
17.1 - Sree to Tanvir, SIX!, Tanvir goes after Sree! Targeting the shorter boundary!
On that occassion, Bhajji bowled horribly. Nothing to choose now. 35 to win from 18! Sree is back.
17.0 - Harbhajan to Haq, SIX!, three sixers in the over! 18 off the over and pressure back on India! 123-7
16.5 - Harbhajan to Haq, SIX!, pulled to mid-wicket! Looking for one more?
16.4 - Harbhajan to Haq, played to square-leg and he refuses the single! He wants to keep the strike!
16.3 - Harbhajan to Haq, dot ball, yorked!
16.2 - Harbhajan to Haq, SIX!, he goes for the biggie and clears the man at long on easily.
16.1 - Harbhajan to Haq, dot ball, Misbah moved too far across! Fooled him, hee hee!
16.1 - Harbhajan to Haq, WIDE down the leg side.
Chak De India plays in the background.
16.0 - I Pathan to Arafat, OUT! Bowled again! The stumps are dismantled again! Pathan coming out trumps at the Wanderers! 104-7
15.5 - I Pathan to Arafat, played and missed, Dhoni whips the bails off in a flash, batsman didn’t move out of the kennel.
15.4 - I Pathan to Arafat, FOUR! Bang, straight behind the bowler’s head.
15.3 - I Pathan to Haq, varies his pace, single taken. Batsmen think about running for the overthrow but drop the idea.
15.2 - I Pathan to Haq, width offered and he misses out! Change of pace undoing the bastman. Another dot.
15.1 - I Pathan to Haq, no room and just defended back to the bowler. Dot. Pathan’s bowling is very clinical.
59 to win from 30. Anyone’s game. Uthappa getting treatment after the valiant effort at long-on. Was never in control, but hey, he takes the catch and then it pops out!
15.0 - Harbhajan to Arafat, DROPPED! Dropped at long-on, a tough chance but the fielder and ball converged perfectly there! India going for the kill. Tough moments for Pakistan. 99-6
14.5 - Harbhajan to Haq, full toss on the leg side and he finds the fielder. Just a single. Bowling to his field.
14.4 - Harbhajan to Haq, no run there, played to mid-wicket.
Harbhajan comes in again, like a hawk before pouncing on it’s prey. That’s what the action looks like.
14.3 - Harbhajan to Arafat, single to extra-cover.
14.2 - Harbhajan to Haq, made room and pumped it down the ground but just a single.
14.1 - Harbhajan to Haq, reverse-sweep for two runs. Risky! And they casually take two instead of pushing for three, poor cricket.
14.0 - I Pathan to Haq, slower one and Haq can’t cream it anywhere. 92-6
13.5 - I Pathan to Arafat, played to mid-wicket for a single. Pathan is more than content to give away the one run. He’s bowling exceptionally well today.
13.4 - I Pathan to Arafat, swing and a miss! Arafat getting impatient.
Required rate skyrockets to 10.5
13.3 - I Pathan to Haq, swung in and a single is taken this time.
13.2 - I Pathan to Haq, no room at all! Dot bal, the fielder at point comes swooping in like a hawk, preventing the single.
13.1 - I Pathan to Arafat, single to the sweeper again, Dhoni content to give it.
A rolling stone gathers no moss. Pakistan have been rolling downhill, gathering all kinds of weed. They could’ve done away with those stupid aerial shots.
13.0 - Harbhajan to Arafat, single to the sweeper. 88-6
12.5 - Harbhajan to Arafat, oh! Quicker one, yorked him and it went through him, took the inside edge and went to fine leg for four. Unfortunate.
12.4 - Harbhajan to Haq, another slow full toss and midwicket comes into play. Single taken.
12.3 - Harbhajan to Arafat, slower doosra and Arafat pinches a single.
12.2 - Harbhajan to Haq, low full toss again on the pads and played to long-on.
12.1 - Harbhajan to Haq, misfield by RP Singh allows him to take two.
Bhajji arrives.
12.0 - I Pathan to Arafat, played over it and a sigle is taken hurriedly. Direct-hit but the batsman is in. The over of the match, for me, this was. 78-6
11.5 - I Pathan to Arafat, no run there! Dot ball. Lovely bowling.
And with the Afridi wicket, you must say, match tilting towards India, slowly and surely. Too early, perhaps?
11.4 - I Pathan to Afridi, OUT!, caught by Sreesanth at mid-off! What a crucial point in the match?
11.4 - I Pathan to Afridi, bouncer! Wide called. Last time these two met, Pathan was taken to the cleaners.
Afridi arrives. This is the moment of the match.
11.3 - I Pathan to Malik, OUT! Caught at mid-wicket, there was no room to play that shot, it’s a slower delivery and the catch is made! Pathan is jubilant! SRK claps at the speed of the winds! India making a breakthrough when Pakistan need 9.5 an over. Match on!
11.2 - I Pathan to Malik, oh! Surprised him and a leading edge, went nowhere though. Good change of pace, a good off-cutter too.
11.1 - I Pathan to Malik, dot ball. SRK gives a flying kiss to the ground. All the spectators shift focus from the match, as do I. With him is son Aryan.
Just get the feeling, Pakistan are setting it up in a position where they have wickets in the end to slog. They shouldn’t wait too long, though.
11.0 - Sharma to Malik, defended for another single to third-man. 76-4
10.5 - Sharma to Haq, knocked to the leg-side for another single. Crucial next ball for Sharma.
10.4 - Sharma to Haq, played and missed, the camera moves to SRK again. I thought there’s a match going on here?
10.4 - Sharma to Haq, big appeal! Turned down! Wide called, there was a nick, surely?! India can’t believe it - stunned!
24 balls since the last boundary. 85 to win from 57. SRK is in the stands! He’ll be going Chak-De India
10.3 - Sharma to Haq, shifts across the stumps and picks two runs to square leg.
10.2 - Sharma to Malik, width offered, medium pace and a single is taken.
10.1 - Sharma to Malik, no run, dot ball and it just goes into the comfort of Dhoni’s gloves.
10.0 - I Pathan to Malik, chipped in the air and mid-off comes around, fields it. Single taken. 70-4
9.5 - I Pathan to Haq, cut away and third-slip gets a hand, but can’t prevent the single.
9.4 - I Pathan to Haq, no room, defended back to the bowler. Will Dhoni stand up to the stumps to prevent him from stepping out?
9.3 - I Pathan to Malik, sensibly run down to third man for another single.
Dhoni places his fielders inside the circle, five of them, and they’re saving the single. A wicket here would be crucial. Boils down to captaincy, both Malik and Dhoni have been impressive.
9.2 - I Pathan to Haq, run away for a single to third man.
9.1 - I Pathan to Malik, mistimed, single to mid-wicket.
Pakistan are making a match out of what should’ve been a walk in the park. Take nothing away from the men in blue who have kept it tight. Dhoni’s tactics have been spot-on. The other Pathan comes in to bowl.
9.0 - Sharma to Haq, excellent fielding from Yuvraj behind point. 66-4
8.5 - Sharma to Haq, no run, dot ball, played into the covers. A wicket and two dots. Pressure is on.
8.4 - Sharma to Haq, left alone, on the off side.
Misbah ul Haq arrives. Dhoni attacking.
8.3 - Sharma to Khan, OUT!, didn’t time it one bit and a loose shot! Just when it looked like the bowling wasn’t menacing and Pakistan would milk it, the cow has thrown up! Khan departs, holing out to long-on in a slog uncalled for.
8.2 - Sharma to Malik, single to the sweeper out on the fence.
8.1 - Sharma to Khan, single to third man. Looks like Pakistan will take the singles and set it up for the likes of Afridi and Misbah. Dhoni needs to think differently. He attacks.
8.0 - Y Pathan to Malik, oh! He spotted him coming down the track! Dot ball. 63-3
7.5 - Y Pathan to Khan, another single to square leg. Pathan finishing his over real quick here, seems to be in a hurry!
7.4 - Y Pathan to Malik, single to mid-wicket. Running well, the pair.
7.3 - Y Pathan to Khan, one more single to long on. These two seniors are settling in.
7.2 - Y Pathan to Malik, straight bat and a single to long on again.
7.1 - Y Pathan to Khan, single to long on.
Yusuf Pathan the spinner comes in to bowl, surprise move, brought in before Bhajji.
7.0 - Sharma to Malik, dot ball, played to mid-wicket. 58-3
Dhoni is still attacking. I’m impressed with the captaincy.
6.5 - Sharma to Malik, defended to point. A tinge of swing again.
6.4 - Sharma to Khan, single to third man, sensible from the experienced Pakistan warlord.
6.3 - Sharma to Khan, FOUR!, wide and pitched up again, but nothing can stop it from kissing the extra-cover rope.
6.2 - Sharma to Khan, wide again and Khan plays him again! Inside-edge to the keeper. Dot. Frustrating for Khan.
6.1 - Sharma to Khan, wiiiiide and Younis plays it - dot - nowhere near timing it.
A word about Imran Nazir, who asked for the runner but was turned down. Apparently, he’s disappointed. Well, India didn’t play an injured Sehwag in this game, so Nazir has little reason to complain. Joginder Sharma comes in to bowl.
6.0 - Sree to Malik, thought about it for a minute and left alone. 53-3
5.5 - Sree to Malik, left alone.
At the fall of that wicket, mom has been sent back to the room again. Shoaib Malik arrives, and he’s in excellent nick.
5.4 - Sree to Khan, tight! A direct hit and the replay is called. Nazir was struggling. What’s the verdict? RUN OUT! Nazir was running away with the match and India have pulled a run-out of nowhere! The only way Nazir would be back, by his touch, was if he was run out! Great fielding from India. Potential turning point! Uthappa getting a bonus.
5.3 - Sree to Khan, FOUR!, short and a slower ball, Khan picked it up and it was dispatched overm midwicket in no time. Dhoni goes and has a few crisp words with Sreesanth.
5.3 - Sree to Khan, WIDE on the off side. More extras, coffin-nails for India they be.
5.2 - Sree to Khan, FOUR!, flicked away on the leg-side, mistimed and the outfield helps it on its way.
5.1 - Sree to Khan, driven to extra-cover, finds the fielder.
5.0 - RP Singh to Khan, single down to third man. 44-2
Two boundaries this over making it easy for Pakistan. Younis Khan ought to feel better now.
4.5 - RP Singh to Khan, FOUR! off the free hit, full-toss on the leg and easy pickings.
4.5 - RP Singh to Nazir, no ball! and a cut-shot to third-man for a single. Free-hit, next one.
4.4 - RP Singh to Nazir, FOUR!, slashed and edged away to third-man for more runs. You could just sense something was going to happen.
4.3 - RP Singh to Nazir, dot ball to long-on. Pressure building.
Both Indian bowlers getting a good shape, RP getting swing into the batsmen, Sree taking it away from them. RP comes around the wicket.
4.2 - RP Singh to Khan, run to third man for another single.
4.1 - RP Singh to Nazir, single to third man, cut away.
Worked out just well for India, Sree bowling to an out-of-sorts Younis Khan as Nazir was kept waiting at the other end. Nazir faces RP Singh who’s been the better bowler.
4.0 - Sree to Khan, dot ball. He bowls a maiden. 31-2
3.5 - Sree to Khan, ooooh! What lovely shape? Younis Khan can’t get away, he’s doing India a favour by taking the momentum off. No runs this over.
3.4 - Sree to Khan, left alone, in the corridor and Khan isn’t messing with that.
… hmm, pitched on middle, going over leg though … Sreesanth, mercifully, stops the appealing ..
3.3 - Sree to Khan, big shout! Not given out, rapped on the pads, it was swinging in, where did it pitch?
3.2 - Sree to Khan, slashed to point but it finds the fielder. Width offered again, lucky to get away with it.
Sree needs movement here if he wants to trouble the batsman. The slips are in place too as Dhoni attacks.
3.1 - Sree to Khan, dot ball, played and missed.
Will Dhoni bowl Sree again? Yes he does.
3.0 - RP Singh to Nazir, FOUR!, bad ball, pithed up and outside leg and Nazir smacks his lips, flicking it fine for four. 31-2
2.5 - RP Singh to Khan, run to third-man for a single.
2.4 - RP Singh to Khan, ooooooo! YORKER! Khan can’t do much about that except dig it out.
Lovely sight if you’re a bowler, seeing the ball crash into the top of off. Ask Venkatesh Prasad - the Bangalore 1996 quarter final, he’ll tell you all about it … Younis Khan arrives.
2.3 - RP Singh to Akmal, OUT!, bowled him, it went straight through him, just cut the batsman in half and a tease of an inswing there does the trick. How valuable is that? Middle and leg stump stay intact!
2.2 - RP Singh to Akmal, played back to the bowler and the bowler fields well off his own bowling, no run.
2.1 - RP Singh to Nazir, a tinge of inswing and Nazir is cramped, a single taken.
2.0 - Sree to Nazir, inside edge and a single taken. 25-1
1.5 - Sree to Nazir, FOUR!, slashed over point for more runs! Way too much width. Imran Nazir is up and away.
A wicket here will get him fired up, though.
1.4 - Sree to Nazir, swing and a miss. It was wide and short again - he can’t bowl like that! Perhaps Dhoni should drop a word or two to the bowler.
1.3 - Sree to Nazir, SIX!, too short and slashed over third man for six more! Why need Afridi when boom-boom-Nazir is in the market …
How will the bowler come back?
1.2 - Sree to Nazir, SIX!, wow, he rocked onto the backfoot and he pulls it over square leg! The ball just disappeared into the crowd, Sreesanth isn’t impressed, although I must admit, I am!
1.1 - Sree to Nazir, FOUR!, width and creamed over point for four. Nobody bowls wide to Pakistan.
Just noticed, mom was in the room when the wicket fell. Yours truly has promptly sent her back there. Superstition. Sreesanth is steaming in …
1.0 - RP Singh to Akmal, two runs to fine-leg. Good first over. 4-1
Is that Kamran Akmal who’s come in? Why aren’t they sending in Afridi? Pakistan have made a mistake here, surely.
0.5 - RP Singh to Hafeez, OUT! Edged and Uthappa takes the catch at second slip! It’s a big breakthrough early on, Hafeez departs. India needed the early breakthrough and they have it!
0.4 - RP Singh to Hafeez, a bit of a shape and it came into the batsman. RP looks at the pitch and gives a what-kind-of-a-pitch-is-this look.
0.3 - RP Singh to Nazir, it hurried onto him and he could only get a single to third man.
Unlike Malik who was looking to contain, Dhoni has to attack. The men on the off-side are closing in for India.
0.2 - RP Singh to Nazir, no run, into the covers.
This tournament has just raced through in no time! Seemed liked it started only yesterday ..!
0.1 - RP Singh to Hafeez, off the mark, single to third-man. Brings Nazir on strike, he’s played some big shots in the previous game.
1908 IST - They’re here. Is Afridi opening? A few Afridi overs and it’s match over. Oh, naw, it’s Nazir and Hafeez. The Indian huddle has dispersed and the players are taking their positions. Hafeez will take strike, RP Singh has the ball.
1903 IST - Back when the players are. A thousand bucks say that we’re headed for another bowl-out.
Dhoni’s been quipping all along about ‘playing and enjoying it out there, without worrying about the end-result’. I wonder if that’s still the logic? India will have to muster up every bit of strength and skill to make a match out of it.
You have to be fair to Pakistan, they bowled exceptionally well on a wicket that offered nothing, and on an outfield that is lightning quick. For those who looked closely at the Indian batting, they’d notice that folks who play proper cricketing shots - Gambhir and Sharma - scored, and they scored over the sloggers like Dhoni and Pathan.
Mid-match roundup
India manage just 157 in the end, which is way, way below the Dhoni prediction of 180. Two factors, the Pakistani bowlers were bang on target, getting their yorkers in place. India took a nap in the middle overs, and on a pitch that promised so much for a batsman, it looks like a letdown. The other factor - Yuvraj Singh missed out, and India perhaps relied too heavily on him to do the good work. It was up to a late flourish from Sharma and an early consolidation from Gambhir.
The runs are on the board, though, and Pakistan will have to chase them down. The pressure of chasing in a big final could get to them. It’s clear, that India will have to bowl out of their skins if they want to win this. Spin will play an important role on a wicket where the slow bowlers can turn the ball, and with it, the game. Wickets are the key - Sree and RP will have to constantly attack.
The match, at the moment, tilted in Pakistan’s favour.
20.0 - Tanvir to Sharma, two more taken to midwicket, India end up on 157-5
A six or a four off the last ball will set the target to 160. Yorker coming up.
19.5 - Tanvir to Sharma, two more runs taken, it was in the air.
19.4 - Tanvir to Pathan, yorker! Inside-edge and a single is taken.
3 sixes will do. Just saying.
19.3 - Tanvir to Sharma, yorked again and down the ground, just a single. 150 comes up.
19.2 - Tanvir to Sharma, SIX! slower delivery and DROPPED! It was on-course for a catch but Hafeez helps it on its way behind the ropes. How crucial are those runs?
19.1 - Tanvir to Sharma, two runs, played over extra cover but can’t find the fence.
Who will bowl the last over? It’s Tanvir. 3 overs
19.0 - Arafat to Pathan, full-toss and he can’t get it away, picks up only two. 143-5
18.5 - Arafat to Pathan, yorked again and no runs there.
18.4 - Arafat to Sharma, length and mistimed to long-on. Single taken.
18.3 - Arafat to Sharma, yorker in sneaked a single. Oh! They come back for two! Lightning fast these two. Incidentally, the other Pathan bro is here.
18.2 - Arafat to Sharma, FOUR!, one more! Angled away to third-man, Arafat losing the length.
18.1 - Arafat to Sharma, FOUR! Full-toss and slogged away to square-leg, prompting a field change.
Two overs to go, atleast 20 would be needed off them. Pakistan have the talent in their batting line-up. With that wicket, Umar Gul becomes the leading wicket-taker at 13 wickets in the tournmanet.
18.0 - Gul to Gambhir, OUT! Gambhir trying to be very cheeky, can only find fine-leg off the scoop shot. Asif was waiting precisely for that. 130-5
17.5 - Gul to Sharma, driven to the of but just a single.
17.4 - Gul to Gambhir, yorker and he’s back on target. Just a single.
That ball crashed into the scoreboard.
17.3 - Gul to Gambhir, SIX!, creamed over mid-wicket. That is exactly what was needed. The grass was growing under them, they were still, were India.
17.2 - Gul to Sharma, run down to third man for another single.
17.1 - Gul to Gambhir, yorked and a single taken.
Low total, by the looks of it. Pakistan driving this game for the moment. Gul has another over up his sleeve. These three overs are dead-crucial now. Anything below 150 and it’s a cakewalk for Pakistan.
17.0 - Arafat to Gambhir, full again and he just can’t get it away. Six off the over, 120-4
16.5 - Arafat to Sharma, fulltoss and worked away to square-leg.
16.4 - Arafat to Gambhir, slower ball and another single taken to the sweeper. Boundaries have dried up.
All the West Indian greats are in the stands - Richards, Walsh, Garner, Holding …
16.3 - Arafat to Gambhir, another yorker and absolutely nothing there to score.
16.2 - Arafat to Gambhir, yorker and he gets it through, for two runs behind point.
16.1 - Arafat to Sharma, full and a single is taken down to mid-on.
Yasir Arafat, medium-fast, comes into the attack. Specialist bowler for the slogs.
16.0 - Gul to Sharma, yet another super yorker and a single is pinched. 114-3
15.5 - Gul to Sharma, great yorker! On the toes, takes the toe of the bat. Sharma can’t get that away at all. Class bowling from Pakistan.
15.4 - Gul to Gambhir, low full toss and a single to midwicket.
15.3 - Gul to Sharma, single to third-man.
Malik brings a slip in as well! Slog overs? Slip for Sharma? Replays show that it took the inside-edge before crashing into Dhoni’s stumps.
Beamer, bouncer, full-length. Gul has been bang on target.
15.2 - Gul to Dhoni, OUT! Full length and the stumps are shattered! What a time to get Dhoni out! Umar Gul is firing all on all cylinders. India in trouble of getting a low score. 111-4
India have to accelerate if they need to get to a competitive total. 180 is the minimum. Surely. They’ve struggled to cope up with the conditions.
15.1 - Gul to Dhoni, good short one and skidded on. One bouncer for the over.
15.1 - Gul to Dhoni, beamer! High-fulltoss and it screams past Dhoni who ducks. No-ball called and we’re on the Nelson.
15.0 - Afridi to Gambhir, dropped short and no run taken. 110-3
14.5 - Afridi to Dhoni, short and Dhoni rocks back, playes it to square-leg for a single.
14.4 - Afridi to Dhoni, down the wicket and Afridi spotted it again, he drops it short. Dhoni can’t get it away.
14.3 - Afridi to Dhoni, full and Dhoni smashes it past long-on, a desperate dive from Asif in the deep saves two.
14.2 - Afridi to Dhoni, down the wicket and Afridi spotted it - bowled it flat.
14.1 - Afridi to Dhoni, single down to the fence, oh! They run two, excellent running, long on caught napping.
Afridi is back.
14.0 - Gul to Dhoni, low full toss and a single taken to long on. 105-3
13.5 - Gul to Dhoni, played late and missed. Pakistan are on the attack, a slip come in place. Malik going for the kill.
13.4 - Gul to Gambhir, single taken to midwicket.
Pakistan have gotten rid of the man in form. A big setback for India, they really, really banked on Yuvraj to get going. Dhoni arrives.
13.3 - Gul to Yuvraj, OUT!, straight up in the air, absolutely mistimed and Gul takes a big, big wicket! The danger-man is out, 103-3.
6 overs to go after this, India need about 12 an over from now on. Where is the hitting?
13.2 - Gul to Gambhir, low full toss and a single is taken to the sweeper on the fence.
13.1 - Gul to Gambhir, FOUR!, using Gul’s angle and played away to midwicket, excellent placement yet again. All about timing and placement, hardly any risk, hardly a slog. Gambhir looking in great touch.
13.0 - Hafeez to Yuvraj, two runs to the sweeper. Good fielding on the fence prevents the four.98-2
12.5 - Hafeez to Yuvraj, played back to the bowler. Kamran Akmal behind the stumps goes: yay change of pace shabash! without any stoppage between the words.
Yuvraj is 12 of only 16. We’re getting impatient.
12.4 - Hafeez to Gambhir, down the wicket again and chipped over mid-off for another single.
12.3 - Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR!, down the wicket and picked away to extra-cover. The outfield does the rest. Call it an expressway instead.
12.2 - Hafeez to Yuvraj, full-toss and mistimed to mid-wicket - he missed out there. Lots if ‘miss’ there.
12.1 - Hafeez to Gambhir, single down to long-on. That brings up the 50 partnership.
Hafeez will continue. Pace and spin.
12.0 - Gul to Gambhir, single taken to the sweeper and that’s his 50. Meanwhile, India are 89-2
11.5 - Gul to Gambhir, FOUR!, sliced away to backward point for four. In the air, but in the gap. A good delivery, and Gambhir makes some room, frees his arms, before slashing at it. He’s on 49.
11.4 - Gul to Gambhir, ooooh! Lovely yorker, the ball just stopped dead between the bat and pitch. Gambhir was thinking about a single but Yuvraj rubbished the idea straightaway.
11.3 - Gul to Gambhir, mishit and the ball drops dead towards the bowler. No run. Gul being a bit tough to get away.
11.2 - Gul to Gambhir, watchfully played to point.
Gul coming around the wicket to Gambhir, obviously trying to cramp him up for room. Dhoni is padded up.
11.1 - Gul to Yuvraj, flicked away to the leg-side for a single.
11.1 - Gul to Yuvraj, WIDE down the leg side, starts off with an off-target loosener.
Umar Gul is here. Finally.
11.0 - Afridi to Gambhir, SIX!, and the showers have begun, hoisted over mid-wicket, down the track and easy as you get. 82-2
10.5 - Afridi to Yuvraj, single to the sweeper.
10.4 - Afridi to Yuvraj, FOUR!, here we go, smashed past the bowler to long-off. No stopping that.
10.3 - Afridi to Gambhir, played to fine-leg for another single.
10.2 - Afridi to Yuvraj, single taken to mid-wicket.
10.1 - Afridi to Yuvraj, defended back to the bowler.
10.0 - Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR!, hit through extra cover. 69-2
9.5 - Hafeez to Gambhir, no run, played to point.
9.4 - Hafeez to Gambhir, two more, misfield between the fielders. Just wondering if Pakistan overfocused on Yuvraj, almost writing Gambhir off?
9.3 - Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR!, down the track and brilliant placement yet again! Easy pickings, quick outfield, if you use your feet well.
9.2 - absolutely no timing, mis-hit to midwicket.
9.1 - Hafeez to Yuvraj, no run.
9.0 - Afridi to Yuvraj, single to mid-wicket. 58-2
8.5 - Afridi to Yuvraj, played and missed.
8.4 - Afridi to Gambhir, single to the sweeper. Good, sensible cricket.
8.3 - Afridi to Gambhir, FOUR! Brilliant placement, he used his feet against a flat Afridi deliver and just pushes it into the gap. The outfield at the Wanderers is fast - faster even than the Reliance disclaimer.
8.2 - Afridi to Yuvraj, straight drive down to long-off.
8.1 - Afridi to Gambhir, single taken behind point.
8.0 - Hafeez to Yuvraj, no run, excellent fielding off his own bowling. Score stays at 50-0
Yuvraj isn’t attacking from the word go. Interesting.
7.5 - Hafeez to Yuvraj, no run, played to extra cover.
7.4 - Hafeez to Gambhir, single taken to extra cover. 50 comes up in 7.4 overs, it’s a slow start.
7.3 - Hafeez to Gambhir, oh! Played all over it, it was short and on middle. No damage.
7.2 - Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR!, crashed through the off-side. Excellent cricketing shot, wonder why people slog when they’re capable of such class. Bad ball, help it on it’s way, easy as that.
7.1 - Hafeez to Gambhir, played and missed, wide outside the off stump.
Excellent start from Pakistan. Shoaib Malik is asking Yuvraj the question against the spinners, Mohammed Hafeez is in.
7.0 - Afridi to Gambhir, trouble! Oh, he just makes it in the end, a mix-up and they run the single. Horrible throw from point. 45-2
6.5 - Afridi to Gambhir, brilliant field placing, no run to extra-cover.
6.4 - Afridi to Yuvraj, inside-edge to third man for a single.
6.3 - Afridi to Gambhir, easy single as the entire leg-side field is on the fence.
6.2 - Afridi to Gambhir, play and a miss.
6.1 - Afridi to Gambhir, flicked away for two behind fine-leg.
Afridi comes into the attack. Obviously, a ploy to get Yuvraj out.
6.0 - Tanvir to Yuvraj, middled but no run, played to cover-poi
5.5 - Tanvir to Yuvraj, full toss and good fielding at mid-wicket prevents runs.
Yuvraj is in. Big factor here.
5.4 - Tanvir to Uthappa, OUT!, taken at mid-off by Afridi, Uthappa never got hold of it. India lose another wicket, Sohail Tanvir is in business!
5.3 - Tanvir to Uthappa, no run, played to extra cover. Bang on target.
This pitch is as flat as a desk. Nothing in it for the bowlers, it’s a necropolis for them. For the batsman, it’s one notch short of the Garden of Eden.
5.2 - Tanvir to Uthappa, no run, played to point.
5.1 - Tanvir to Gambhir, single down to long-off.
India can’t wait for the grass to grow around them. They’ll need to take some risks if they want to get to 190.
5.0 - Asif to Uthappa, another short ball, dot. 39-1
4.5 - Asif to Uthappa, ooh! He gets bounce, Uthappa leaves it.
4.4 - Asif to Gambhir, on the pads again and just another single.
This pitch is great. 190 is a minimum.
4.3 - Asif to Uthappa, single taken - sensible stuff.
4.2 - Asif to Uthappa, FOUR!, over the top of mid-off. It was a mishit but this is a lovely pitch. Uthappa played through the line to reduce the risk.
4.1 - Asif to Uthappa, defended back to the bowler, no run.
4.0 - Tanvir to Uthappa, played with soft hands for another single. 33-1
3.6 - Tanvir to Uthappa, ooh! Width offered and beaten! Called a wide, surprisingly.
3.5 - Tanvir to Gambhir, another single taken. Gambhir and Uthappa are taking it easy. India might need to turn it on this last ball.
3.4 - Tanvir to Uthappa, another quick single pinched. Shoaib Malik has set his fielders on the edge of the circle to prevent the boundaries.
3.3 - Tanvir to Gambhir, flicked away to square leg for another single.
Third man comes inside the ring.
3.2 - Tanvir to Uthappa, nudged to third man for a single. Tanvir hurried onto him.
Uthappa to face Tanvir who got him out last time around.
3.1 - Tanvir to Gambhir, down the leg side again and flicked to fine leg.
3.0 - Asif to Gambhir, soft hands and a single taken. 26-1
2.5 - Asif to Gambhir, loud appeal, turned down, it flicked the pad and went to the keeper. Fine leg is in the ring, Asif needs to get the right line.
2.4 - Asif to Pathan, OUT!, brilliant catch, Malik at mid-wicket. It was skied and was flying away from Malik who makes excellent ground and takes the catch on the run behind his head.
Lloyd goes: Pathan looks a player!
2.3 - Asif to Pathan, FOUR!, width offered, bread-and-butter for the batsman. Went like a rocket to the ropes.
2.2 - Asif to Gambhir, single into the covers.
2.1 - Asif to Gambhir, defended to point.
Dhoni mentioned that he’s looking for 180 at the toos.
2.0 - Tanvir to Pathan, defended to the on-side. 20-0
1.5 - Tanvir to Pathan, oooh! Beaten! The angle and action undoing Pathan on that occasion. 83mph and it nicely curves away from the batsman.
1.4 - Tanvir to Gambhir, single taken towards mid-wicket. India looking to consolidate.
Tanvir has lost his moustache, incidentally, didn’t notice that!
1.3 - Tanvir to Gambhir, no run, on the pads again. Needs to get his line right
1.2 - Tanvir to Gambhir, FOUR, down the leg and glanced to the fine-leg fence.
1.2 - Tanvir to Gambhir, WIDE, way down the leg side. The Pakistan bowlers are like birds with ruffled feathers, for the moment.
1.1 - Tanvir to Pathan, yorked, single taken towards extra cover.
Tanvir to open with Asif.
1.0 - Asif to Gambhir, on leg and hit on the pads, no run taken. 13-0
0.6 - Asif to Gambhir, WIDE down the leg side. Asif needs to relax after the hitting.
0.5 - Asif to Pathan, full toss, worked away for three on the leg side.
0.4 - Asif to Pathan, SIX! Maximum over long on, he has power!
0.3 - Asif to Gambhir, one run into the covers
0.2 - Asif to Pathan, single pinched easily
0.1 - Asif to Gambhir, single, NEARLY a run-out! Close call, what a start to this cracker!
The folks are out there, and so am I. Yusuf Pathan replaces Virender Sehwag, and he’ll open with Gautam Gambhir. Asif has the ball in the hand for Pakistan. India has won the toss and is setting the target.
Be with you at 1230 GMT, which is at 1800 IST. Until the start, you might want to read up this lovely letter to Fred Flintoff from another blogger.
1545 IST - Sehwag has fitness issues, if you remember the previous game, Rohit Sharma came out as his runner. Karthik might kiss the turf after all, which is good news as it adds a great fielder, but on the flipside, it takes away a part-time offie option for Dhoni.
Preview
1530 IST - Welcome to what promises to be a scorcher of a final between the two Asian biggies. They’ve met before in some memorable encounters, but today, there’s hardly anything that separates the two teams. Here’s a quick SWOT analysis.
India
Strengths - The batting. Yuvraj and Dhoni are in sublime touch. Sehwag is due for a big score. On a flat Wanderers wicket, India could go on to post a big total around 200, and apply the pressure on the Pakistani batting. Dhoni looks confident batting first, and understandably - his warriors have been the batsmen more often than not.
Weaknesses - The fifth bowler. Joginder Sharma, with all due respect, doesn’t look like he can threaten by taking wickets, nor does he seem the slipper customer who can contain the batsmen. Will Dhoni persist with Sharma, or might Karthik get a peek? Yusuf Pathan, as an allrounder, would’ve been a decent option but a risky change in the finals will be a tough call with India already on a winning streak.
Opportunities - Pakistan lack the bowling intensity in the middle overs. If India keep wickets intact after a fiery Asif-Gul spell, they can go head-banging with their shots against the lesser bowlers like Arafat and Malik. The Wanderers is where SA chased down 200 in a T20 match, and 434 against Oz, so yeah, there’ll be runs galore. India would like that.
Threats - Few have read Sohail WrongFoot Tanvir. While batsmen like Sehwag and Utthappa won’t be affected - they rely more on timing and hand-eye co-ordination - Tanvir could prove to be a star antagonist for the likes of Yuvraj and Gambhir. India have played only one match at the Wanderers in this tournament, and that’s been the only match they lost.
Pakistan
Strengths - Umar Gul has been miserly, hardly bowled wide of the stumps. Asif has good control as well. Pakistan’s key lie with their opening bowling attack. Afridi and Nazir both have the firepower in the batting, and it will take smart, sensible watering from the Indians to keep them from going off. Malik has batted consistently well, especially against India.
Weaknesses - The appetite for flair. Pakistan love to finish in style, but lack the professionalism to nail down the opposition. Taking nothing away from the victory against the Kiwis, Pakistan nearly made a mess of it, and had the Kiwis taken their chances, the Greens would’ve had a closer finish. The batsman have been consistent with the scoring, but unfortunately equally consistent with their shot selection which has proved shocking on more than one occasion this tournament.
Opportunities - RP Singh and Sreesanth are bowling well, but lack the pace. Anything short or wide and the Pakistani batsmen could exploit them as scoring opportunities. They’ve played - and won before - at the Wanderers, so they know all about this ground.
Threats - A flat Wanderers wicket will dilute their bowling strength. Unless the curator comes up with something juicy, Asif and Gul will have to revert to the basics if they want to retain respectability.
Having said all of the above, they mean little when it comes to the performance on the given day. Nothing between them.
