September 24, 2007 at 11:20 pm · Filed under cricket
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 …
- - -
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.
- - -
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.
- - -
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.
- - -
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.
- - -
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!
- - -
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?
- - -
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.
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September 20, 2007 at 9:20 pm · Filed under cricket
Unbelievable scenes here. SA were sitting pretty on the top of the table, and now they’re out! Back home, already, well they’re back home already! RP Singh’s figures - 4-0-13-4, a four wicket haul that he’ll remember.
And the semi-finals, India take on Australia. New Zealand take on Pakistan. On to the presentation now.
Graeme Smith says its disappointing to lose just one match in the tournament and walk out of it. Very disappointing, he can’t find the words. Dhoni is very proud of his team, though, says India played professional cricket. He talks about fielding - damn, did India outfield SA or what? Robin Singh would be proud today too.
Dhoni said he wasn’t too concerned about the grass, ‘we got good decent fast bowlers in the side’. Oh, really? RP Singh is more than decent here. Rohit Sharma, however, picks up the man of the match, a good fifty. Says he’s used to all the conditions.
20.0 - Harbhajan to Ntini, there it is, all over, Ntini can only take a single. India is jubilant! South Africa are OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT! YES YOU READ RIGHT, THEY’RE OUT! India are celebrating all over! They’ve knocked South Africa out of the tournament in their own backyard! Scintillating stuff! Mind-boggling! Dhoni is all smiles! Yuvraj runs into the center too. The crowd are a mix of berzerk and silent ones here!
That’s it from me here. See you when we take-on Oz. ‘night!
19.5 - Harbhajan to Ntini, thick outside edge, FOUR, 11 to get off 1 now. Unless Bhajji doesn’t bowl a wide here …
A stunned silence fills the ground. SA knocked out in their own backyard? Ntini is here …
19.4 - Harbhajan to der Wath, ANOTHER WICKET! OUT! STUMPED! Another doosra! The tricolor flags areo ut there, South Africa are well on their way out of the tournament! Is this the coup de grace? This is a South African coffin there, not a dug-out!
19.3 - Harbhajan to der Wath, swing and a miss!!!! 15 to get from 3!
19.2 - Harbhajan to M Morkel, just a single to long on. 15 from 4 to qualify.
19.1 - Harbhajan to der Wath, swing and just a single to long-on! Where is the six?!?!? 16 runs needed from 5 to qualify!
Andrew Millers in CricInfo said that only a miracle can make South Africa go out of the World Twenty20. Will he eat his words? Bhajji to bowl the final over.
19.0 - RP Singh to M Morkel, misses it and RP Singh steams in. 109/8
18.5 - RP Singh to M Morkel, no run there. Keeps the batsman quiet.
One Morkel replaces another.
18.4 - RP Singh to Morkel, OUT! BOWLED!! Lovely ball there, yorked! 8 down, 109. YORKER on MIDDLE STUMP! Awesome stuff.
18.3 - RP Singh to Morkel, top-edge and it flies behind the keeper, just a couple of runs more.
18.2 - RP Singh to der Wath, good ball and just a single, leg-bye, der Wath missed it entirely.
18.1 - RP Singh to der Wath, swing and a miss! Oooooh, nearly took off stump that.
RP is back.
18.0 - Harbhajan to Morkel, just a couple to long-off, brilliand fielding prevents the four. 106/7
17.5 - Harbhajan to der Wath, top edge and third man in the circle fields, just a single.
17.4 - Harbhajan to Philander, OUT!!! Stumped! It’s the doosra, Philander misses it and the bails are off in a flash! 7 down now, 103.
17.3 - Harbhajan to A Morkel, around the wicket, good yorker, and just a single to square leg. Good outfielding, good bowling.
17.2 - Harbhajan to Philander, single to square leg.
17.1 - Harbhajan to Philander, no run there. Pressure all over here! Philander is on strike and Morkel needs to get there soon.
17.0 - Sreesanth to Philander, single to third man. Excellent over. 101/6
16.5 - Sreesanth to Philander, no run there.
16.4 - Sreesanth to Boucher, OUT! BOWLED! Inside-edge! Sreesanth can’t believe it! He thought it missed the stumps! The bails are away!
16.3 - Sreesanth to A Morkel, excellent yorker but Morkel picks up a single as the 100 comes up.
16.2 - Sreesanth to Boucher, doesn’t time the pull well and he picks up a single.
16.1 - Sreesanth to Boucher, played to point for nothing.
16.1 - Sreesanth to Boucher, WIDE! Oh dear, wide again, off stump.
Sreesanth is back. Is he bringing the wides too?
16.0 - Harbhajan to Boucher, full toss and a single to mid-wicket, as he will hog the strike into the next over. 97/5
15.5 - Harbhajan to Boucher, aaah - the doosra! Lovely flight too, drawing Boucher forward.
15.4 - Harbhajan to A Morkel, single to long-on.
15.3 - Harbhajan to Boucher, good flight there and a single to third man. Where’s the big shot? SA playing for a slot in the semis here.
15.2 - Harbhajan to A Morkel, just a single to mid-on, heaved away.
Where is Kallis when they need him?
15.1 - Harbhajan to Boucher, a single, busy cricket here. Gives Morkel five balls at the spinner. Will we see a doosra?
Never thought I’d see the day when a bowler goes for nine runs in the over and still gets a pat on the back! At any rate, good one Sharma. Meanwhile, Bhajji is back. Oh, come on, not again?
15.0 - Sharma to Boucher, slower ball and only a single to long off. 92/5, 60 from 30 now, 2 per ball.
14.5 - Sharma to Morkel, a single to square leg, on the pads.
14.4 - Sharma to Morkel, nice slower ball. Very good comeback, two dot balls and Morkel is guessing now.
14.3 - Sharma to Morkel, oooooh what a comeback! Bouncer, takes Morkels’ helmet off, surprised him, it nearly fell on the stumps!
14.2 - Sharma to Morkel, SIX! Straight down the ground, right in the slot, easy pickings for Morkel! The ESPN cameraman takes his eye off to fetch the ball from the stands.
14.1 - Sharma to Boucher, brilliant fielding by fine leg in the circle, Pathan showing good commitment.
Will Dhoni surprise us and bowl now? No, it’s Sharma …
14.0 - Pathan to Morkel, swing and a miss. 83/5
13.6 - Pathan to Morkel, WIDE ball there, he’ll have to rebowl that.
13.5 - Pathan to Boucher, just a single, played straight, Pathan dives to his left but can’t stop it off his own bowling. Ooh, that was an off-cutter.
13.4 - Pathan to Morkel, slapped to mid-off for another single. 50 partnership in 47, sweet.
13.3 - Pathan to Boucher, just a single, no room to free his arms, played off the back foot to mid-off.
Dhoni puts on his bowling boots.
13.2 - Pathan to Morkel, thick edge to third man, another single. They’ll be fine for India.
13.1 - Pathan to Boucher, slower ball and perfectly timed, driven to point, just a single. Boucher fighting hard here.
Pathan will continue. Can he get the pressure back on?
13.0 - Harbhajan to Morkel, slapped over extra cover, two more to the total. Good over, 15 from it. 77/5
12.5 - Harbhajan to Boucher, single to mid-on. Can’t he grip the ball? This will be fun though, one ball to Morkel.
12.4 - Harbhajan to Boucher, FOUR more here! 12 from 3, lovely placement, flicked again between midwicket and square leg. Poor bowling.
12.3 - Harbhajan to Boucher, FOUR, consecutive boundaries here! Boucher plays a cheeky shot, a little tickle to third man for four. Bhajji needs to take the pace off the ball.
12.2 - Harbhajan to Boucher, FOUR, lovely placement but you have to say, it’s a bad ball, fulltoss on the pads and it’s gone between mid-wicket and square leg.
12.1 - Harbhajan to Boucher, starts off with a doosra. Karthik rips off the bails in a flash, batsman never left home though.
Bhajji into the attack now. This will be fun. How will the Proteas approach him?
12.0 - Pathan to A Morkel, wide ball there, how is it not called a wide?! 62/5
11.5 - Pathan to A Morkel, FOUR, slapped over extra cover! Pathan bowls it up and gives him width, and the ball vanishes over extra cover. First boundary off Pathan.
11.4 - Pathan to Boucher, slower ball and just another single there. Nice and tight, he keeps it.
11.3 - Pathan to A Morkel, no room at all there, the batsman can only get an inside edge and pick up a single.
11.2 - Pathan to Boucher, single to square leg.
11.1 - Pathan to Boucher, no run, mid-off comes around to stop the single.
11.0 - Sharma to A Morkel, defended, no run there. 55/5, all the 5s here.
10.5 - Sharma to Boucher, full toss and mistimed to long off for a single. 7 from this over so far.
10.4 - Sharma to A Morkel, single down to square leg.
10.3 - Sharma to A Morkel, on the pads and no run taken. Good comeback from Sharma.
10.2 - Sharma to A Morkel, FOUR, hit hard and through mid-off for four. Sharma isn’t quick enough here. Morkel can hit hard, can he be SA’s hero today?
10.1 - Sharma to Boucher, flicked to fine leg for a single.
When is the Surd coming in to bowl? Sharma continues here ..
10.0 - Pathan to Boucher, RAPPED ON THE PADS again and Boucher survives! Pathan can’t believe it! 48/5
9.5 - Pathan to A Morkel, single down to mid-on. India will be happy with that. Are SA playing for 125 or 154 here?
9.4 - Pathan to A Morkel, no run there - hee hee, point stops the run from being scoerd.
9.3 - Pathan to A Morkel, oooooooooh!! Swing and a miss there, Morkel needs to cool down. Pathan has to be patient. He’s bowling really well here.
9.2 - Pathan to A Morkel, oooooh! Beaten! Lovely ball from Pathan, a tinge of outswing there, subtle but enough to trouble the Morkel bro.
9.1 - Pathan to A Morkel, two to fine leg. Karthik is furious as the throw wasn’t flat enough. It’s hot out there.
9.0 - Sharma to A Morkel, in the air and JUST SHORT! It’ll have to go down as a chance, Sharma there, but a tough chance, real tough one. 44/5
8.5 - Sharma to A Morkel, played to point, no run.
8.4 - Sharma to A Morkel, mistimed again but they pick up a couple. Sreesanth’s throw from the long-on fence hits the stumps! Is this India?
8.3 - Sharma to A Morkel, no run. Mistimed to midwicket in the circle.
8.2 - Sharma to Boucher, single to midwicket here.
8.2 - Sharma to Boucher, WIDE! He tries to change the line, too drastic though. Subtle changes are needed.
8.1 - Sharma to Boucher, FOUR, just beats the keeper and it races to fine leg for four. Sharma mustn’t stray on the leg stmp here.
8.0 - Pathan to A Morkel, beaten AGAIN! Past the outside edge. 35/5
7.5 - Pathan to A Morkel, beaten. Good first over from Pathan here so far. Won’t want it to get messy with a boundary though.
7.4 - Pathan to Boucher, defended to mid-off this time, misfield. Dhoni misfields!! Karthik applauds it, sarcasm all over. He can afford to - he took a stunner today.
7.3 - Pathan to Boucher, defended to mid-on, no run.
7.2 - Pathan to Boucher, rapped on the pads again! THIS IS CLOSE! Not out AGAIN! Pathan can’t believe it! Where did this pitch? Pitched on leg, would’ve clipped the top of middle, Hawkeye says its going over the top. Height undid him.
7.1 - Pathan to Boucher, rapped on the pads! Not out, ooooooh, inside-edge, close, very close.
Will Pathan come in to bowl now? Or will RP bowl out? Naw, it’s Pathan. I would’ve bowled RP out, but I’m not the skipper. Remember, there’s the Bhajji factor too …
7.0 - Sharma to Boucher, single to mid off. 34/5
6.5 - Sharma to A Morkel, inside edge again, this time they get a single to mid-on.
6.4 - Sharma to A Morkel, inside edge, no run.
6.3 - Sharma to A Morkel, no run, played down to extra cover.
6.2 - Sharma to Boucher, he gets it away to point fo a single. RP Singh leaving easy work for the likes of Joginder here. Lovely inswinger to get Pollock out, still can’t get over it.
6.1 - Sharma to Boucher, little bit of an outswing there, no run.
This is sensational stuff from the Indian camp here. Are SA choking here? Excitement all over here. Joginder Sharma comes into the attack.
6.0 - RP Singh to A Morkel, leading edge, no run. 31/5
A Morkel is taking his time here, as we see that wicket again. Lovely in-swing. RP Singh nearly takes a bit of Pollock on the way to the keeper in celebration.
5.5 - RP Singh to Pollock, OUT! BOWLED! Cleaned him up! The wood’s all over the place! Pollock walks back! RP Singh screws another nail into the SA coffin. Lovely stuff.
5.5 - RP Singh to Pollock, WIDE, oh come on, not again?
Sharma flew there, he just flew.
5.4 - RP Singh to Boucher, RUN OUT! Kemp might just be run out here, lovely fielding, Sharma comes screaming in from cover and a direct hit on the stumps, Kemp is a yard short and he walks back! Christ! India outfielding SA here! Unbelievable!
5.3 - RP Singh to Boucher, inside edge, french cut, Boucher charges back for two and a bad throw doesn’t help.
5.2 - RP Singh to Boucher, in the right area this time, good ball there. No run.
5.2 - RP Singh to Boucher, WIDE, yet another wide. Why? Why? Just freaking why?
5.1 - RP Singh to Boucher, FOUR, played between point and third-man. A nice cut-shot that only Boucher can play.
5.0 - Sreesanth to Kemp, left alone. Straight through. 23/3
4.5 - Sreesanth to Kemp, no run, good ball there and Kemp can only play it into the covers. 11 extras in 23, not looking good, SA haven’t been able to score off the bat much.
4.4 - Sreesanth to Kemp, oooh, beaten, good comeback. Pitched up but just back of a length and Kemp was tempted to drive it past cover.
4.3 - Sreesanth to Kemp, FOUR, played in front of fine-leg for four. Not a hard shot, easy pickings. Sree isn’t fast enough here.
4.2 - Sreesanth to Kemp, left alone. Dot balls only build pressure here. Good going, Sree.
4.1 - Sreesanth to Kemp, good inswinger. Kemp is a bit jittery out there, he plays all around it. India must remember Kemp’s 89 in 56 balls yesterday. They’ll have to take all their chances tonight. Can India do the unlikely and outfield SA?
4.0 - RP Singh to Bocuher, no run, good inswinger there. 19/3
3.5 - RP Singh to Kemp, single to third man.
3.4 - RP Singh to Kemp, left alone, good carry to Dhoni Karthik.
3.3 - RP Singh to Kemp, no run, point comes in. Kemp will get his eye in. The Kiwis and everyone else would know what he’s capable of. India need him out soon.
3.2 - RP Singh to Boucher, legbye to square leg.
3.2 - RP Singh to Boucher, WIDE, this isn’t helping keep up the pressure. Lucky for Dhoni he has Karthk in the team, who can keep. Without Karthik or Dravid, a stand-in keeper wasn’t the best idea with India’s pacers going haywire on the radar.
3.1 - RP Singh to Boucher, no run to point.
Karthik had 0.7 seconds to react, just FYI for anyone who wants to appreciate India’s fielding capabilities - a phrase that threatened itself into extincton until today. Dhoni gets some treatment on the back. Perhaps that’s why he isn’t keeping. RP to continue.
3.0 - Sreesanth to Kemp, no run to point. 16/3 in trouble.
2.5 - Sreesanth to Boucher, single to third man. Phew, back on target.
2.5 - Sreesanth to Boucher, WIDE, yet another one. Dhoni at mid-off runs down to Sreesanth and as a few words. Perhaps that’s why he’s taken off the gloves.
2.5 - Sreesanth to Boucher, WIDE, ah - another one - he needs to calm down.
They’re showing the Karthik catch again, awesome stuff. He’s keeping now, Dhoni’s on the field as a - er - fielder …
2.5 - Sreesanth to Boucher, WIDE, that was nearly a double-wide in length! Sree needs to get his act together and keep up the pressure. Boucher and Kemp can bat, and how. Pollock’s padded up, just in case.
2.4 - Sreesanth to Boucher, left alone. Remember, SA need atleast 125 to qualify, so that’s the first target in mind.
Pray tell me, how will Dhoni bowl with all that tape on his fingers?
2.3 - Sreesanth to de Villiers, OUT! Rapped on the pads again and he just didn’t pick the swing. de Villiers having to walk back to the dug-out. It’s all happening here! Sree joins the party. SA are 12/3, and also in trouble.
2.2 - Sreesanth to de Villiers, smashed straight to cover, no run.
2.1 - Sreesanth to de Villiers, CLOOOOOSE!!! Rapped on the pads, I thought it was plumb on leg, oooooh, hawkeye bangs it into middle and leg! God!
Awesome first over from RP Singh. Another wicket here and SA are in deep shit.
2.0 - RP Singh to Kemp, no run - defended. 12/2
1.5 - RP Singh to Kemp, no run.
Dhoni’s gotten rid of the gloves here. Looks like he might have a bowl!?! Bizarre.
1.4 - RP Singh to Smith, OUT! Screw me, sue me, Dinesh Karthik dives full length at third-slip and takes a STUNNER! Can’t believe it, never seen a better catch by a brown guy since Jadeja’s famous one in the ‘92 world cup. RP Singh on FIRE!
1.3 - RP Singh to Smith, no run. RP Singh is fired up. Smacks his lips at the prospect of another wicket.
1.2 - RP Singh to de Villiers, single down to extra-over.
Hawkeye suggests that the ball would go over the stumps. Dhoni didn’t think so though.
1.1 - RP Singh to Gibbs, OUT! Biiiiiig wicket, it swung in exactly as suggested and raps him on the pads. Gibbs is horribly disappointed, was there a bit of bat in it? Either ways, the finger’s up and he’s on his way back. SA are 11/1, RP Singh the aeroplane takes off, as Dhoni is ecstatic.
RP Singh will open as well. He can swing it in and trouble the batsman
1.0 - Sreesanth to Smith, left alone. Smith wants to hang in there. 11/0
0.5 - Sreesanth to Smith, beaten! Ooooooh, cut him open, pitched on good length outside off and swung in. Smith had no clue about it.
0.4 - Sreesanth to Smith, lucky to get away with that, another one wide down the off side.
0.3 - Sreesanth to Smith, FOUR, glanced down to fine-leg, poor bowling here. Sree isn’t the best bowler to the lefties, and it shows. Get it on off stump, mownay!
0.2 - Sreesanth to Gibbs, played for a single to extra cover.
0.2 - Sreesanth to Gibbs, WIDE, another wide down the leg-side. Kerala Express’ radar isn’t functioning. Bowler under pressure here.
Gibbs needs some adjustment on the sight-screen.
0.1 - Sreesanth to Gibbs, swung in, no run.
0.1 - Sreesanth to Gibbs, FIVE WIDES, way down the leg side and Dhoni misses it. All that work to score the extra runs, and wasted first ball by Sreesanth. Damn.
Okay folks, Smith and Gibbs are here. Gambhir has the ball in the hand! What? Huh?! Oh, he chucks it to Sreesanth. Goodness me, scared me for a bit. Game on.
Back soon. This promises to be a great game. Dinner beckons for now, apologies.
Mid-match round-up
So India have found Sharma. He fills in for Yuvraj Singh, and does a good job here. India should be happy with 153, after recovering from 64/4. It’s a very competitive total on this track, although the Indian fielding isn’t good. They’ll have to get Kemp, Smith and Gibbs out soon though.
And the big question, is this enough? Dhoni must be pleased - 150+ is a psychological plus. Not overjoyed, but the runs are on the board and it’s a slippery wicket. Pathan might get the ball to swing into the right-handers and out of the Smiths, so that should help his cause. One thing is certain, India will have to field like tigers out there. Atleast it wasn’t a batting collapse like their Lankan counterparts earlier today?
Rohit Sharma is the man of the moment though. 50 in good time, he and Dhoni rescued India from self-destruction today. Good momentum into the break. On the flipside, Graeme Smith is due for a biggie here, so India will have to watch-out.
South Africa need 126 to qualify for the semis, but certainly, they must be going for the kill. India’s strategy will have to be two-fold - use the conditions to first pick up wickets and then make scoring difficult after the first few overs by making use of the uneven bounce. India’s pace-attack is more swing than hit-the-deck (like SA’s) so they’ll have to pitch it in the right areas.
It’s not a big score, so SA can afford to get their eye in. Of course, that introduces us to a possibility - complacency - could well undo SA’s chances. Graeme Smith is a real fighter though, and I’ve said this before - he is the man to watch out for. India get him early and they got a real, real chance.
20.0 - A. Morkel to Sharma, full toss and SIX!. Six, six, six! Morkel can’t believe it. Went right over the ropes. 153/5. Is this a good total?
19.5 - A. Morkel to Pathan, swing and a miss, they scamper for a single. Boucher misses the stumps. Single here. Only fitting that Sharma faces it.
19.4 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, DROPPED TWICE! Boucher drops it twice on the re-attempt, and Dhoni survived - only just. He tries to sneak in the second run and it’s a direct through, Dhoni might be out here. Third umpire comes into play!
And it’s OUT. Touch and go stuff. Good intent, though. Someone needs to take India to 150+ now. Can Pathan smack a few sixers? He’ll have to smack them from the word go.
19.3 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, FOUR, heaved away - that was in the slot. 145 now, 5 to get from 3 balls if 150 is the target in mind. This isn’t a run-chase though. The shot injures a kid in the crowd!
Four sixers from now will be a safe total, I think. Just saying.
19.2 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, lovely yorker again, Dhoni scoops it for two more.
19.1 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, dot ball. Good yorker.
Another Morkel to bowl the last over.
19.0 - Morkel to Sharma, lovely yorker and another dot ball. Excellent bowling. 139/4
18.5 - Morkel to Sharma, a good dot ball again. Sharma can’t middle it. India should’ve capitalised on that.
18.4 - Morkel to Dhoni, just a single, Dhoni make a big swing and gets hardly anything.
18.4 - Morkel to Dhoni, FOUR to mid-wicket and a no-ball! Next one a free hit to Dhoni and whoop-dee-doo India! Smith isn’t pleased. Drops in a few words of profanity to Morkel.
Where will Dhoni go?
18.3 - Morkel to Sharma, makes room and plays it to third man for a single. Good over so far, keeping India quiet.
18.2 - Morkel to Dhoni, down to mid-on for a single.
18.1 - Morkel to Dhoni, big big swing and a dot ball. Dhoni can’t middle it.
Dhoni on strike now. Morkel comes in. Two overs to go, India should aim for 20 atleast.
18.0 - der Wath to Sharma, missed out again, fine leg in the circle and he misses another scoop. Invaluable dot ball for SA. 131/4
17.5 - der Wath to Sharma, missed it, tried to make some room and the bowler kept his line. Sharma moved too far, too quickly. Bowler spotted it.
17.4 - der Wath to Sharma, FOUR, smashed over point! Picking up the gaps and India are finding the gaps here. Lovely shot there. 131 already in no time, on course for 150 here.
17.3 - der Wath to Dhoni, slapped to point for a single. He sees the toe of the bat. Wants a new bat there.
17.2 - der Wath to Sharma, attempts a cheeky shot, just a single. Sharma’s disappointed, but Dhoni back on strike though. The crowd are going Dho-ni, Dho-ni, Dho-ni …
17.1 - der Wath to Sharma, SIX more! Over mid-wicket this time. Good cricketing slogs in these conditions, low full toss and he gets entirely underneath it. Chak de India! 38 from 32 the lad.
Whew, 18 off that over.
17.0 - Morkel to Dhoni, SIX over long on! SIX! That ought to shut Morkel up for a bit. 119/4
16.5 - Morkel to Dhoni, smashed through extra cover for two more. Dhoni is fired up. India recovering well here. 52 from 38 this partnership.
16.4 - Morkel to Dhoni, FOUR, top edge and another four behind the keeper. They’ll take anything now. Dhoni and the bowler exchange a few words, albeit unpolite.
16.3 - Morkel to Sharma, a pacy bouncer and he plays all over it. Dhoni hops quickly and pushes for a single. Shastri reckons there’s juice in this pitch, the curator might’ve overdoe the watering.
16.2 - Morkel to Sharma, FOUR, smashed over point, it was in the air for a long time - perhaps mistimed - but who gives a **** anyway?
16.1 - Morkel to Dhoni, absolutely creamed and extra-cover inside the circle stops the bullet. AB de Villiers, take a bow. Dhoni’s made his intentions clear.
Four overs to go, 40 from here will get India a decent total.
16.0 - Philander to Sharma, no run, excellent yorker there. 101/4
15.5 - Philander to Dhoni, single to mid-off.
15.4 - Philander to Sharma, another top-edge but it lands nowhere. 100 comes up.
15.3 - Philander to Sharma, no run to extra cover, Sharma doesn’t capitalise on the full-toss.
15.3 - Philander to Sharma, WIDE, over the batsman’s head. He’ll have to rebowl that. Serves you right for making my fingers fly!
15.2 - Philander to Sharma, he makes room, and a swing and a miss. Philander runs back to the start, why? Give me type to type, Vern!
15.1 - Philander to Dhoni, just a single. Someone has to start taking chances here. 150 is a good score on this pitch.
15.0 - A. Morkel to Sharma, and the batsman hurry - a direct hit would’ve been interesting! Ooh, aah, things are happening. 97/4
14.5 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, goes airborne and falls in the middle of nowhere, between keeper and bowler. Funny stuff on the camera, no one makes an effort. More stuff for Jonty to write, I guess.
14.4 - A. Morkel to Sharma, another single. Jonty Rhodes, the SA fielding coach and legend makes a note of all this in the black book.
14.3 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, middles it and straight to extra-cover, just a single.
14.2 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, FOUR, another chance goes begging. Graeme Smith isn’t pleased. Morkel misses it entirely.
14.1 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, no run to extra cover.
14.0 - Ntini to Sharma, FOUR, lovely placement, through extra cover. Rubbing salt into the wound here.
13.5 - Ntini to Sharma, FOUR, misfield at the fence lets a four. Morkel (the M bro) at fine leg misses it, Ntini had bowled a good low full toss there.
13.4 - Ntini to Dhoni, single to mid-on. Graeme Smith dives and cleans up, although the abuses are still there.
13.3 - Ntini to Dhoni, no run to extra cover. The batsmen think about a single and then sanity prevails.
13.2 - Ntini to Dhoni, edged to third man who comes screaming in to save the boundary. Two more.
13.1 - Ntini to Dhoni, he absolutely creams it straight to mid-on. Methinx Dhoni would enjoy his pace.
Ntini comes in for a few pacy ones here.
13.0 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, single to mid-on, the rebuilding continues. 79/4
12.5 - A. Morkel to Sharma, legbye as Sharma misses it. Back to Dhoni now.
12.4 - A. Morkel to Sharma, FOUR, creamed past a diving Gibbs at point. Sharma moves to 18 and plays it in the gap, although airborne.
12.3 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, single to square-leg, flicked off the pads.
12.2 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, no run to extra cover again. 6 an over won’t do for India with their substandard bowling and ielding.
12.1 - A. Morkel to Dhoni, no run, extra cover runs in to prevent the single.
The other Morkel bro, Albi, gets the ball.
12.0 - Philander to Dhoni, single to mid-on. 72/4
11.5 - Philander to Dhoni, two runs to extra cover, good running here. There’s a buzz in the crowd and a stride in Dhoni’s walk here. Weird bounce though.
11.4 - Philander to Dhoni, no run, played to cover.
11.4 - Philander to Dhoni, FIVE WIDES, high and on the leg side, Boucher couldn’t reach it.
11.3 - Philander to Dhoni, beaten - oooooooh! Nearly kissed off-stump there. Nearly. Said hello on the way to Boucher, it did.
11.2 - Philander to Sharma, single to mid-on.
11.1 - Philander to Dhoni, single to mid-on. Nasser insists that Kallis is a bette choice than Philander.
Philander comes in for a bowl here. Time to make up for the dropped chance.
11.0 - Morkel to Sharma, straight back to the bowler for zero. 62/4
10.5 - Morkel to Sharma, beaten. Philander looks more relaxed here.
10.4 - Morkel to Dhoni, edged to third-man for a single.
Dhoni comes in. Graeme Smith is all charged up. Wheoever said there’ll be little intensity.
10.3 - Morkel to Utthappa, OUT, the catch is taken at mid-off! 61-4 and in more trouble!
10.2 - Morkel to Utthappa, FOUR, tries to take a pull and it takes the edge, goes behind third-man. Philander isn’t looking up too much there.
10.1 - Morkel to Utthappa, lovely yorker and the batsman keeps it out, no run there.
Decent counter-aggression from Sharma in the previous over. Hopefully he doesn’t get silly and start slogging here. Adrenaline can do it to men.
10.0 - der Wath to Sharma, uses his feet and goes over the top, four more. 56/3
9.5 - der Wath to Sharma, mistimed shot to mid-wicket for four. Such a fast outfield, even mishits are reaching the fence. Ouch, ouch, ouch if you’re a bowler.
9.4 - der Wath to Sharma, smashes it straight back but mid-off comes in and prevents the single.
9.3 - der Wath to Sharma, defended back to the bowler. No room again. Butterfingers tonight, is Philander.
9.2 - der Wath to Utthappa, single to the sweeper. Tell you what, if Robin Utthappa goes on to score big here, Philander will do well to keep away from the skipper.
9.1 - der Wath to Utthappa, a sitter is DROPPED! Can you believe this, the simplest of catches and Utthappa lives on. Philander drops a simple one. Smith and der Wath aren’t pleased. The batsman make two.
9.0 - Morkel to Utthappa, a quick single to mid-on. Economical start for Morkel here. 48/3
8.5 - Morkel to Sharma, he makes room for himself and plays it down to third man. Improvisation there.
8.4 - Morkel to Sharma, accurate as ever, played to mid-on. Can’t run there. The scorers stifle a yawn.
8.3 - Morkel to Sharma, defended back to the bowler.
8.2 - Morkel to Sharma, beaten again, good line here. Morkel carrying the good work on from yesterday. Rohit Sharma needs to be sensible here.
8.1 - Morkel to Sharma, beaten - big swing and a miss - he needs to get his eye in. Common-sense goes missing.
Morkel into the attack now.
8.0 - der Wath to Utthappa, SIX over midwicket, into the crowd. Utthappa is away. 46/3
7.5 - der Wath to Utthappa, doesn’t time it and it goes to midwicket.
7.4 - der Wath to Utthappa, perfectly timed but just a couple to the point fence.
7.3 - der Wath to Utthappa, a bouncer and Utthappa plays all over hit. Ends up missing it entirely.
7.2 - der Wath to Sharma, played to third man for a single.
7.1 - der Wath to Sharma, beaten, lovely delivery.
Will Ntini bowl out as well? Or will Smith retain him for the death, if India make it there>
7.0 - Pollock to Utthappa, defended back, a lovely spell comes to an end. Pollock’s been as miserly as Shylock the Jew here. 37/3
6.5 - Pollock to Utthappa, rapped on the pads again well outside off and Pollock more than asks the question. Umpire uninterested.
6.4 - Pollock to Utthappa, again cramping Robin for room. Bowling well in front of the home crowd here.
6.3 - Pollock to Utthappa, no run, defended back to the bowler. No room at all. Frustrating for a batsman in T20, even when you’re three down.
6.2 - Pollock to Utthappa, played away down to mid-wicket for a couple.
6.1 - Pollock to Sharma, single down to mid-on, Shaun continues with his miserly line and length.
Who will save India today? More importantly, will someone?
6.0 - Ntini to Utthappa, hits him on the pad and Ntini pleads with an extended appeal. Hit him outside off, surely, with the angle, how can he be given out? Ntini very optimistic there. 34/3
5.5 - Ntini to Utthappa, defended back to the bowler.
5.4 - Ntini to Sharma, glanced to fine leg for a single. Dhoni isn’t smiling anymore.
5.3 - Ntini to Sharma, no run, played to cover.
5.2 - Ntini to Sharma, beaten, excellent ball first-up. The bloke’s on-fire here, time for India to rebuild.
3 wickets in 4 balls. Damn It was only time before the grass acts up. Rohit Sharma joins Utthappa in the middle.
5.1 - Ntini to Sehwag, OUT, edged to Boucher who dives to his right and takes a good low catch. 33/3 and India are coasting downhill here.
Pollock gets a cheer from the crowd as he makes his way back to patrol the fence. Deserves it. Meanwhile, Utthappa has walked in.
5.0 - Pollock to Karthik, OUT first ball here, a chip to squarish mid-wicket - catching practice there, Karthik plays a shocking shot. India in trouble already. 33/2
4.5 - Pollock to Sehwag, single to fine leg.
In walks Dinesh Karthik … a busy player, in for Yuvi. He’ll be off-strike though, the Delhiites crossed.
4.4 - Pollock to Gambhir, OUT, caught at mid-off, mistimed and Smith pouches it safely. 32/1. Kick me for making the frustrated comment.
4.3 - Pollock to Sehwag, another single, frustrating for Smith who should’ve snapped a few men in blue with that grass and SA’s pace. Dhoni smiles in the dug-out as he always does.
4.2 - Pollock to Gambhir, edgy shot to third man for another single. Pollock has bowled well, but hasn’t made the breakthrough yet. Sehwag hasn’t opened up either.
4.1 - Pollock to Sehwag, run down to third man. Watchful start by India. Field changes for the left-hander
4.0 - Ntini to Sehwag, soft hands and drops it to short leg for another quick single. 29/0
3.5 - Ntini to Gambhir, on leg-stump and played away to fine-leg who is inside the circle. At Ntini’s pace, why is he inside the circle?
3.5 - Ntini to Gambhir, WIDE down the leg side, as we see some stats - Hayden leading the run scorers with 200+ already in the torunamnet. Damn.
3.4 - Ntini to Gambhir, good comeback here, played to cover for nothing.
3.3 - Ntini to Gambhir, two runs, skied and it went nowhere, Vernon Philander tries to get underneath but not enough of an effort to make teh catch.
3.2 - Ntini to Sehwag, oooh, uneven bounce there and it just kept low. In the 3rd over? What was that? Eye-opener for Sehwag.
3.1 - Ntini to Sehwag, FOUR, clipped away through square leg, the outfield’s as quick as Reliance’s mutual fund disclaimer.
6 an over isn’t much, but with all that grass (on the pitch) around, not a bad start.
3.0 - Pollock to Gambhir, left alone and Bocuher jumps to clean up. 19/0
2.5 - Pollock to Gambhir, FOUR, he flashes hard and a thick edge over slip. Smith can’t do much here, good bowling but no jelly.
2.4 - Pollock to Gambhir, excellent timing for nothing, a good strike to extra-cover.
2.3 - Pollock to Sehwag, run down to third man for a single. Miserly Shaun in action.
2.2 - Pollock to Sehwag, two runs through midwicket, Sehwag is cramped for room here.
2.1 - Pollock to Sehwag, no run, played to extra-cover off the backfoot. Couldn’t get the placement.
2.0 - Ntini to Gambhir, FOUR, was in the air for a bit but landed safely. Welcome runs here. 12/0
1.5 - Ntini to Gambhir, aaah! Cut him like a can of peas, swung away from the batsman. Gambhir acknowledges it with an ‘oh’ of surprise.
1.4 - Ntini to Gambhir, left alone, good carry to Boucher. Ntini’s bending his back here.
1.3 - Ntini to Gambhir, FOUR, glanced to fine-leg. Makhya’s strayed way down the leg here, with the angle to the lefty. Not a good idea.
1.2 - Ntini to Gambhir, no run, defended to cover. Sehwag gives Gambhir the ‘this-pitch-is-made-for-them’ look …
1.1 - Ntini to Gambhir, beaten, movement off the seam. The grass acting up for Gambhir here.
1.1 - Ntini to Gambhir, WIDE on the off-side, screamed past the batsman but the radar’s a tad rusty here. Goodness me, that swung!
Ntini keeps Pollock company here …
1.0 - Pollock to Sehwag, ooh - beaten - the ball moves away from Sehwag who plays and misses. Tidy start from Pollock 3/0
0.5 - Pollock to Gambhir, played with soft hands to short leg, Sehwag hops about for a single.
0.4 - Pollock to Gambhir, no room whatsoever, defended to point.
0.3 - Pollock to Gambhir, on leg stump, flicked away for two. Pollock getting a bit of swing but he needs to get the line right.
0.2 - Pollock to Gambhir, on the pads, ball drops onto the crease.
0.1 - Pollock to Gambhir, beaten, half-an appeal, that one nipped in off the seam.
Preview
Welcome folks to this crunch game, India have nothing to lose and everything to gain here. There’s been lots of talk about SA going with lesser intensity into this one as they’ve nearly qualified, but I somehow can’t picture a subdued Gibbs or Graeme Smith. Maybe it’s me.
Either ways, the rain Gods are keeping away tonight, so game on - definitely. Folks are still recovering from the Yuvraj show last night, but there’s a big disappointment here - Yuvraj Singh isn’t playing this match. Extremely depressing for his fans, for India and for anyone who loved yesterday’s aggression.
More importantly, Yuvraj’s innings was the one thing that separated victory from defeat yesterday, and India would have that at the back of their minds. Besides, SA would have the entire home crowd behind them. Dinesh Karthik comes in for Yuvraj as Dhoni wins the toss and elects to have a bat. Ntini’s playing in today’s game, and there’s a bit of grass on the pitch, so the Proteas and their pacers would be interested. It’s a different pitch today. ‘Fresh’ and ‘plenty of cracks’ goes Nasser. Bouncy-douncy, Sehwag will need to watch his head. Literally. Tailor made for SA, this pitch.
Is Piyush Chawla still unfit? SA aren’t the best players of spin and I would’ve played him in place of Sharma, bad luck yesterday notwithstanding.
India’s strength is certainly the batting. They’d expect Sehwag and Gambhir to build a good, firm and strong base. The bowling isn’t great, and the certainly can’t outfield SA, so they’ll need to be economical and bowl wicket-to-wicket. For the home side, Justin Kemp is in form - and when the likes of Kemp sees the ball well, the ball loses shape for reasons more than one.
It’s a sell-out. Without Yuvraj and with the crowd backing SA, I’d put my money on the home team. Let’s hope I’m proved wrong.
And we’re off. Gambhir and Sehwag to open. Pollock for SA.
September 19, 2007 at 9:28 pm · Filed under cricket
00:34 IST - Collingwood feels sorry for Broad. Sorry, I don’t. The arrogant brat got what he deserved. Go Yuvi! Dhoni is happy. Do-or-die against SA tomorrow. Let’s see how it goes. Off for now. Yuvi gets the Man of the Match - obviously! Good night folks!
00:27 IST - Swung away, just a single. Surely, India will win now? 34 to win from 4. 33 to win from 4 now. 29 from 3.
BRILLIANT CATCH! On the fence, fingertips and feet inches away from the fence, Bhajji picks him up. Lovely catch. 23 from 1. England end up on 200, lose the match by 18 runs.
And yours truly is so happy for Dhoni. Chak De takes off in the background. Overall, a good performance.
00:21 IST - 48 to win from 12 now. What an over that was. 43 from 11 now, Bhajji sends down a few wides. Flintoff’s on strike now. 41 in 9, appeal for a runout and the commentator goes “oh he’s tight”. Gaylord.
38 in 7. 36 in 6. Six sixers will do it. Pathan to bowl, surely.
00:16 IST - 52 from 18 now.
Dot ball. Gold. 52 from 17. Another brilliant yorker here, 52 from 16. And Shah goes. Who’s in now? Never mind, Collingwood’s gone too - RP Singh knocks back the middle stump. Hit and miss stuff here.
00:13 IST - Touch and go - Shah just in. Green light comes on. 67 from 23 now. A six and a four, 53 from 19 now. Getting tight here.
00:07 IST - Collingwood picks up a six. Lovely shot. England on here, still? He picks up a four too. Whoops!
74 from 28. I’m starting to lose fingernails here …
Will it be Yuvraj that separates them today? Sreesanth sends down a wide too. Damn. 72 from 27. Now 26. Dot ball. Priceless.
Shah smashes a low fulltoss over midwicket, four more. 68 from 25. Sreesanth gets all aggressive here. I like his attitude - murder the batsman if you can’t get him out. A man after my own heart.
00:03 IST - Bhajji gets KP out! BIG wicket, caught and bowled. Lovely reflexes, KP had absolutely murdered it straight back. Whew. Nearly took a chunk off Bhajji if his relfexes weren’t sharp.
Shah’s in.
00:00 IST - England going for the slogs here now. D-oh! 93 to get in 36.
23:56 IST - Will Sehwag or Yuvi get a bowl? With KP or PC around? Pathan is keeping it tight here. Very tight. Like J’Lo’s rear.
Sorry, hottie.
99 to get from 42.
23:52 IST - Apologies - bastards at BESCOM found this opportune moment to shed load at my home. Back with electricity and coffee now. 102-2 England. Mom’s out with the lantern just in case.
Four more, Collingwood and square leg. Sharma pushes up a good yorker and keeps it down the one. 112 in 50 now. Huge, huge SIX from Pietersen. Sharma hasn’t done well here. 118-2 from 12.
23:47 IST - England can win this, 123 in 58. Oopsie doopsie.
And Solanki holes out to mid-on, he makes the exit. 96-2 here. KP’s still there, no one’s leaving yet.
23:42 IST - KP shuffles across the wickets and creams Sreesanth for four past extra-cover. Good batting. KP is going out for an all-out assault. India will have to be wary here. 94-1 from 10. India have dropped another catch. Damn.
23:39 IST - Bhajji goes for four here, short and Solanki takes him to the cleaners. Bhajji to KP now. Huuuuuge appeal for LBW and he survives it. 83-1 from 9. England fighting hard and fighting well here.
23:34 IST - Joginder Sharma is in. Surely, he’s targeted, is what Nasser reckons. He goes for the yorker and it ends up as a full-toss, Solanki doesn’t time it well.
And DROPPED! Unbelievable, Yuvraj Singh of all people drops a sitter. Spare a thought for Joginder Sharma, he misses out on another chance to pick up a wicket. Pietersens creams a four past midwicket, 74-1 from 8. Far from over, this.
23:33 IST - Bhajji keeps England quiet here. 65-1 from 7.
23:27 IST - Six more, can’t bowl short here. England will chase and chase hard. But a wicket falls, skied to mid-on who runs back and gets into a good position, taking an easy catch. Neat stuff here, England are now opened up as Maddy makes an exit. In walks KP to a shitload of boos.
Bhajji is in. Like to see if KP will play the reverse sweep again.
23:24 IST - Rohit Sharma into the attack. England will try to attack him, and they do. Maddy gets four more as the transmission gets fucked and we break into Mountain Dew’s darr ke aage jeet hai promo.
Back live now. RP Singh slips and trips and misses a simple catch - and a four for England. Solanki follows it up with a six. Creamed over long-on. All happening here. 45-0 from 5. England are coasting along.
23:19 IST - Maddy picks up a four, outside edge to third man. RP Singh smiles sheepishly, and comes back in with a ball that came back into Maddy. RP Singh bowls short and Solanki takes him on, over midwicket for four. Can’t bowl short to England on this track, whether you’re defending 200 or 100.
Around the wicket now …
England still trying to recover from the shock, I guess. Broad survives, I see him alive and hopping around. 30-0 from 4.
23:15 IST - Dhoni going or the kill, slip in place. Sreesanth continues. 19-0 from 3. Boring out here after the sixer-showers.
23:11 IST - India are charged up here. Something Freddie said maybe, as Solanki creams this one for four in the covers. But come on, it’s just a harmless little four. We’re still remembering the Yuvi sixers. 11-0 from 2.
23:09 IST - Sreesanth cuts him open to start with. Go Mallu. 3-0 from 1 are England.
23:05 IST - Deepak sends this stat - amazing, amazing stuff. Yuvraj’s 50 is the fastest ever considering club matches too.
Maddy and Solanki are out there. Here we go …
23:00 IST - England need to chase out of their skins to win this. They’ll have to do this with 10 men though - last I heard, Stuard broad’s committed suicide. Any sane man would if he was at the receiving end of the intercoursed that Yuvraj inflicted upon him. Nothing short of sexual.
Meanwhile, I hear Yuvraj’s gone for an ice-bath. Why? Why the fuck? Let him be charged up, puh-lease!
I can’t wait to see how KP approaches this game. Pathan and co. have a task. I wounldn’t underestimate the Brits if I were you.
Headlines Today are already on it with the over-dramatization. Crap.
22:50 IST - Sanity restored.
Not yet. Six more. Yuvi is on fire here. He was dying to come out to bat. Not anymore, he’s out here. Amazing batting, fastest fifty ever. Afridi can hang his boots now, he can’t overtake this one.
India finish with 218-4 from their 20. Lovely batting. Yuvraj has creamed the nation towards success here. Lovely stuff. I get a break. For the record, Yuvi’s fifty came in 12 balls. Fuck.
22:40 IST - Yuvraj and Flintoff exchange a few words. Yuvraj charges towards him, bat in hand. What the fuck is happening?
Never mind, though, Yuvi charged up here and smashes a six, probably the longest in the tournament. England need a few fielders in the stands here. SIX MORE! Yuvraj is on fire here. Amazing stuff. The crowd better watch out.
And YET another Six! Yuvraj taking revenge for those five sixers here. 3 in 3. I’m loving it. Steaming hot this match. Like a goan woman a week after Christmas.
And YET another!!! Jesus Christ, four sixers in four balls. Yuvraj six is HOT-HOT-HOT! 195 already.
AND HERE IT GOES AGAIN!!! 5 in 5! Broad giving up on religion here. God’s sitting this one out, as far as he’s concerned. Are we on for six on six?
GOD! 6 in 6! Maximum over, 36 runs, al the way! Fuck me, just fuck me, I can’t believe it. Way to go India!. 207-3 after 18. Yuvi picks up the fastest fifty here in T20.
22:38 IST - India have done well here. Anything from now onwards is a bonus. 160 is a good target already. 171-3 after 18.
22:31 IST - Utthappa welcomes Tremlett with another boundary. The English commentators are impresed with him. So am I. Sweating all over, are the players. Hot and sultry out there, like a burrito on fire.
And Utthappa goes here, moving too far across trying to scoop one behind fine-leg. Went too cheeky, a shot to be played on the street that guards my apartment. 159-3 after 17.
22:28 IST - The Indian’s don’t state their ‘favourite’ shot in the intro, do they? Perhaps that’s a BCCI clause. What else?
Gambhir picks up four more, cheeky leg-glance off maddy for four more. On-course for 190 here. Gambhir tries another leg-glance this time and falls this time. 2 down India. Going downhill or uphill?
Dhoni is in. 148-2 after 16.
22:24 IST - Gambhir picks up his fifty too, from 36 balls. Four more, as Tremlett continues to bowl full tosses here. Crap bowling. I am far from impressed. The batting though, has been aggressive.
The camera moves to a little infant who looks oh-so-relaxed in sleep. The Indian dug-out must be as relaxed, you reckon?
And there it is, the first breakthrough, Tremlett gets rid of Sehwag here, bowled him on his leg-stump. He’s done the job though, and a good platform for the sloggers to capitalize. Fresh pair of legs too. Those be Utthappa’s. 138-1 after 15.
22:22 IST - In comes Maddy. Miser, he be. Gambhir gets an inside edge and it goes behind the keeper for four. Hardy-har-har England.
Something’s gonna happen here …
Gambhir creams this over extra-cover for four more. He gets a single too. Sehwag on strike now. Interesting …
129-0 after 14.
22:17 IST - Gambhir gets another top edge off a slow bouncer from Anderson. No damage done though. Dhoni looks happy. Nasser suggests Sehwag has trimmed down a bit, and Sunny suggests he watches his diet. We digress, as Gambhir smashes this over midwicket but it’s just a couple, didn’t middle it at all. 118-0 after 13.
22:13 IST - Gambhir crashes a first one up from Tremlett for four past the bowler. Powerful shot. India looking good here. Sunny goes ‘oh-ho-ho’ as only he can. Sehwag, meanwhile, helps himself on to four more, opening the face of the bat towards point. Low full toss doesn’t do much here. He picks up a single too, the lefty’s back. Poor Chris.
I must say, I’m surprised, this is professional batting from India. Good going yaar. 110-0 after 12.
22:10 IST - Reliance’s chote match bade sapne ad’s here, and it’s no surprise - the first few kids go for bouncers, sixers, wickets, and finally - in walks the lovely little child who wants to field. ‘Diving catch’ he says. That’s what India needs. Good fielders. Learn, fucking learn.
Back to the match. Sehwag and Gambhir running hard, running well. 98-0 after 11.
22:04 IST - And in he comes, the captain himself. What can gentle medium pace do to a circumspect openin pair?
Oops! Sehwag gets a top-edge and it’s dropped! Solanki took off in the wrong way. Sehwag survives, but what the fuck was the keeper doing running towards midwicket when the ball went behind him?
This time Sehwag finds the middle of the bat and ‘whoomp’ - it’s a six! Collingwood shakes his head. He’s disappointed, and he has every right to be. Sehwag smashes four more and picks up 50 in 38 balls - oopsie doopsie England, as India are coasting along at 9. 90-0 after 10.
22:00 IST - Mr. Anderson is back. India aren’t taking too many risks here, perhaps trying to keep wickets in hand for the evening onslaught?
Gambhir runs it down to the third-man fence, good job there. 77-0 after 9. Collingwood in a spot of bother here.
21:57 IST - Yes, it’s Tremlett. Sehwag gets a top-edge firt ball - flashes hard - over third man for six. Bowler isn’t impressed. Howdy, Chris!
Gambhir creams a four over point. Lets it fly off the blade and Collingwood’s outstretched fingers miss it by a bit. Oops, a no-ball, a free-hit for Sehwag. Hee hee, this will be fun. Enthusiasm oozing at this ball …
Oooh, blockhole ball there, Sehwag misses the free hit. Middle Earth remains intact. Tolkien hangover, apologies. 70-0 after 8, Delhi duo G and S going well here, as we break into rimpoché again. Damn.
21:53 IST - And Sehwag greets Mascarenhas over midwicket for four. Neat shot, Dmitri will need to watch out. Slippery in the dark though, and Sehwag will need to be watchful.
Watchfulness be damned. Sehwag creams it over cover for six and smashes it right into the chest of a spectator for six, the old chap will make it though. Stuff starting to happen here. 56-0 after 7, will it be Tremlett after Dmitri’s 15-run over? Hmm …
21:49 IST - Fred is here again. Quick bowling changes, just the single over spells. Sehwag trying to attack - last over before the restrictions are off. Freddie’s getting good movement off the seam, and this time, another wide. Peek-a-boo goes the wide ghost. 41-0 after 6. Wickets intact, the Indian batting card is still virgin.
21:43 IST - Off goes Freddy, and Broad’s back. Bizarre yet interesting, creative Collingwood.
Doesn’t work though - Gambhir gets under a short Broad one and pulls it front of square for a ‘little’ six. Broad, like every other Brit under fire, is all red now. Nice. Aggression. Blood oozing. Whoop-dee-doo.
Sehwag yet to break open here. Swing and a miss - no damage, but it’s the calm before the storm. India have done well, but haven’t capitalized on the fielding restrictions. 35-0 after 5.
21:40 IST - Anderson now, with the change of bowling ends. Gambhir and Sehwag are picking singles here easily. A mistimed shot fetches the lefty another couple. And another mistimer on the leg side, but two more here. Gambhir playing too early, or Anderson’s skidding onto him. Or both.
The left-handed Delhi-ite trying to free his arms here. 23-0 after 4 as rimpoché’s back.
21:37 IST - Straightaway, an injured Flintoff comes into the attack. Why in the world is he playing on an injury?
17-0 after 3. Freddie keeps them quiet.
21:32 IST - Broad to keep Anderson and the two batsmen company. Must be fun, Sehwag and Broad are first-timers against each other here.
I must say, for nothing to play for besides pride, the Englishmen are bending their backs rather nicely here. Good commitment, and good energy.
Ouch, spoke to soon - another wide. MI6’s radars were always fucked, I thought. A wide ghost lurks. 13-0 after 2.
21:09 IST - Sehwag gets one that zips above the head. Wide called, rightly so. Mr. Anderson follows it up with another wide on the off, Sehwag tries to cream it but it ain’t easy to reach something a hundred feet away. And a four is picked up, off the pads behind the keeper. 9-0 after 1.
21:27 IST - Jimmy starts off with a wide. Short one straightaway though, good pace and length. Needs to get the radar working though. He follows it up with one outside off, Gambhir let’s it go without attempting any sort of intercourse on it. Anderson to Sehwag now, this should be interesting …
21:25 IST - And the folks are out on the turf. Sehwag and Gambhir open for India. Anderson for England. Off we go …
Preview
21:24 IST - Dhoni’s won the toss and says he’s going to set the score. Paul Collingwood reckons otherwise, and it’s all or nothing. India have all to gain, England have nothing to lose. Freddie’s fit, and that isn’t the best of news if you’re brown. Okay, I’m racist - sue me. For India, Joginder Sharma makes a comeback. Sunny reckon’s it’s a good move, the lad hasn’t exactly been offered a bottle of wine with the team position has he?
The pitch is the same one where Kemp and the Proteas screwed the Kiwis. This match, of course, is under the lights, and 150-ish might be a good score. India would consider anything above 160 a safe score here. The rain Gods are away on leave today - thankfully - so that’s good.
This ground, though, is known for it’s shorter boundaries and the bowlers will have to keep it tight. Speaking of tight, the cheerleaders are having a ball out there, as an Indian spectator’s hopped onto the baby stage, proving a point or two himself.
