Search This Blog

Showing posts with label Ashwin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ashwin. Show all posts

Sunday 2 October 2016

India Win Second Test Match Against New Zealand To Clinch Series

#IndvNZ #TestSeries 2016
2nd Test Match - Kolkata

India's bowlers propelled the hosts to a comprehensive 178-run win over New Zealand in the second Test Monday, to clinch the series and reclaim the top spot in the world rankings.

Chasing 376 runs for victory, New Zealand were bowled out for 197 in the final session on the fourth day in Kolkata, with India's Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja taking three wickets each.

Shami claimed the final wicket of Trent Boult, sparking celebrations in the Indian team who now take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the first Test in Kanpur.

The victory also sees India jump back to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings after starting the series just one point behind archrivals Pakistan.

Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took five scalps in the first innings, shared 12 wickets between them on a two-paced track at Eden Gardens that offered the seam bowlers of both sides great help.

But batsman Wriddhiman Saha was awarded man of the match for his unbeaten half-centuries in both innings against New Zealand's seamers.
Spinners also played their part after Ashwin broke New Zealand's opening stand just after lunch, trapping Martin Guptill lbw for 24.

Tom Latham also scored a gritty 74 before falling to Ashwin soon after the tea break. Ashwin got Latham on a well-crafted off-spinner that pitched and spun away from the left-hander, who was caught behind. Latham's 49-run second-wicket partnership with Henry Nicholls had raised the visitors' hopes of batting the day out, but Ashwin's partner Jadeja soon joined forces.

Jadeja claimed the wicket of Nicholls after his angled delivery got the edge of the New Zealander's bat for an easy catch at slips. Shami got some reverse swing towards the end of the day to rattle New Zealand's middle-order with the wickets of Mitchell Santner and BJ Watling.

Earlier India, who resumed the day on 227 for eight in their second innings, were bowled out for 263 with Saha scoring an unbeaten 58. The contributions of Saha, who scored an unbeaten 54 in the first innings, proved vital to India putting up decent totals.

India's pace duo of Shami and Kumar helped bowl out New Zealand for 204 in response to India's 316 in the first innings. New Zealand pacers Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Neil Wagner, who shared 14 wickets between them in the two innings, also enjoyed the seaming conditions.

India secured a 112-run lead in the first innings that proved vital in outplaying the visitors, who lost regular skipper Kane Williamson to a viral infection just before the start of the match.

Rohit Sharma's dominant 82 on Sunday gave India the upper hand in its 250th Test at home. Half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77) in the first innings also ensured India made a solid start.
The final Test will be played in Indore starting on October 8.

Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com


CRICKET-IND-NZL

Tuesday 15 March 2016

#WT20 - Ind v NZ - Group 2 Opener pits heartthrobs vs favorites

#WT20
#Ind v #NZ
Group 2 Match
VCA Ground, Nagpur
15th Mar 2016

The serious end of #WT20 starts today with hearthobs Kiwis take on tournament favorites India in a Group 2 game at Nagpur. The odds are heavily stocked in favor of India with their form, balance and spin. They are the team to beat at this T20 World Cup.

Having said that, the Kiwis have come on the back of some really excellent performances vs Australia and will look to surprise the hosts with a mighty challenge. Their batting has the firepower to blast bowling attacks away and bowlers can run through batting lineups. Coupled to that their fielding is exemplary and could eventually be the deciding factor in this game.

Captain Kane Williamson will need to lead their team from the front to tackle the Indian spinners (Ashwin, Jadeja, Harchajan, etc). There in lies their Achilles Heel and India will look to take full advantage on that front. In absence of the just retired great Brendon McCullum (#Baz), Guptill, Taylor, Anderson, Elliott will have to bat out of their skin to pose challenge to this renewed India bowling lineup led by veteran Ashish Nehra and slinger boy Jasprit Bumrah (who has pleasantly surprised everyone with his yorkers and death bowling).

India on the other hand look balanced both with the ball and bat. The batting top order has been batting like a dream (Dhawan, Rohit and Virat) and thats helping build or chase large totals easily. The middle order (though low on practice due to the top order show) including Yuvraj, Raina, Dhoni can single handedly win games for their side. Rahane's solidity and Jadeja's all round ability make this a very formidable unit.

So, what will happen at Nagpur?
India's spin or Kiws' agility
India's top order or NZ middle order?

Looks interesting.
Let the #Wt20 begin!!

Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com

  

Sunday 24 May 2015

CSK vs MI - Who Will Win IPL Final

#CSK vs #MI
#IPLFinal
#EdenGardens #Kolkata
24th May 2015


After 6 weeks of absolute "dhamaal (fun)" on the field and some scorching cricketing action, its all come down to this day! The day of the #IPL Final...

Two teams, certainly not at their best, have made it there (owing to some poor performances from other teams) and will vie for the coveted trophy at the #Eden #Gardens in #Kolkata tonight.

On the one hand, "Team Consistent" #CSK will be gunning for a hat trick of trophies (they won in 2010, 2011 and finished runner-up in 3 other finals) while on the other #MI will be looking to emulate their 2013 success (they had won defeating CSK)

On a head to head comparison, there is pretty much nothing to choose.
Games played between the two teams: 21
MI Wins - 11, CSK Wins - 10
Its that close...

And while MI have been at best mercurial and topsy-turvy in this tournament, they have gained momentum at the perfect moment to go all the way. What also goes in their favour is they are the only side to trouble and lead CSK on head-to-head contest wins. Something brings out the best in them against the most balanced and consistent team of IPL over 8 seasons!

Having said that, do not discount #WhistlePodu boys. They have been there, done that on many occasions and can change gear very quickly. Skipper #Dhoni has had a silent IPL and these moments brings out the best in him. If that happens, he can turn games around from any situation and inspire his boys to do the same. Such is his aura and capability.

Man to Man comparison is a very interesting read as well

1. Lendl Simmons/Parthiv Patel  vs Mike Hussey/Dwayne Smith
MI hold the edge here. Their opening pair has been instrumental in getting MI to the finals with some amazing consistent performances off-late. Steady starts to lay foundation for the big boys down the order has been MI's recipe for success. Don't discount Hussey and Smith though. Hussey's super innings against RCB in Qualifier2 was a lesson for youngsters. In McCullum's big absence, Smith can "tee-off" from ball 1 as well.

2. Rohit Sharma vs Faf Du Plessis
Evenly matched on form. Rohit more classical but Faf more all round with his fielding abilities.

3. Kieron Pollard vs Suresh Raina
Again, MI hold the edge here on form and all round ability. Raina hasn't played a blinder of a knock this season .. just yet. Could it be his day. If it is, MI will suffer badly.

4. Ambati Rayudu vs MS Dhoni
Surprise, surprise ... MI slightly ahead here too. Rayudu has finished games, MS hasn't but we all know what he can do? and this is his business end. He gets dangerously professional here.

5. Hardik Pandya vs Pavan Negi
Two terrific youngsters vying for the best new comer award, looking to outdo the other. Both have played match winning knocks. Can they withstand pressure of a #IPL Final?

6. Jagdeesh Suchith vs Dwayne Bravo
The calyso guru is at the height of his game. Bravo edges out the youngster by some distance.

7. Vinay Kumar vs Mohit Sharma
Both have struggled really and need to pull up a gear

8. Harbhajan Singh vs Ravi Ashwin
This is going one heck of a contest! Both are in sublime form. Bhajji is the eternal effervescent himself and Ashwin the disciplined tactician. Wow.. this is definitely a contest within a contest

9. Mitch McClaneghan/ Lasith Malinga vs Ashish Nehra/Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja is the odd one out in this comparison but he seems to be the "odd" one out in the CSK outfit too. Woefully out of form, he has been a liability for that team. The other three have been in super form off late. Malinga has caught up well after a poor start but Nehra and McClenaghan (since he was brought in half way through the tournament) have been good right through.  

Its that close with MI holding slight edge on form and momentum.
Its all to play for today. May the best team win. All the best

Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com