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Showing posts with label India Cricket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India Cricket. Show all posts

Thursday 1 January 2015

India vs Sri Lanka (World Cup Final 2011)

(ICC 50 overs a side ODI - World Cup)
Mumbai, 2nd Apr 2011

The two most powerful teams of the tournament (considering the sub continent conditions) met in the final of World Cup.

Some confusion at the toss, coin spun twice .. Sri Lanka won it and elected to bat.
 
After a stuttering start (#ZaheerKhan bowled three straight maidens at #UpulTharanga before claiming his wicket), Sri Lanka steadied through #Dilshan and captain #KumarSangakkara.
 
Dilshan was bowled by #Harbhajan with team score on 60, bringing in #MahelaJayawardhane.

He went on to play one of the most memorable knocks in one day cricket that day with a scintillating 103*. Pure elegance, class and his counter attacking at end of their innings was awesome!

With due support from Sanga, Saamrweera, Kulsekhara and Perera, Mahela posted a very formidable 274 runs on the board for India to chase. Remember, as a thumb rule in finals, runs on the board are best. Chasing means pressure especially with the stakes so high.

India began disastrously. #VirenderSehwag was trapped leg before by #LasithMalinga second ball. #SachinTendulkar playing his last world cup followed soon after edging one behind again off Malinga. Mumbai was dumbstruck. At 31 for 2, and the opening blaster pair out, India were in trouble.

The young brigade of #GautamGambhir and #ViratKohli steadied the ship with useful partnership of 83 runs before Kohli fell to Dilshan.

In walked #MSDhoni, ahead of the in-form #YuvrajSingh. A move that surprised experts, crowd and most probably SriLanka too. He along with Gambhir pulled the game away from Sri Lanka to a position of certainty and authority. By the time Gambhir fell for a superb 98, the writing was on the wall.

Befittingly, it was Dhoni who hit the winning shot (a massive six over long on) to lift the cup for India. His stunning and authoritative 91* ensured a facile win for India. Their 2nd world cup!!
The cup was dedicated to the #LittleMaster of course who had played 6 world cups without any success!

MOM: M.S. Dhoni, India

Watch highlights of this game on the video link in this post.

Friday 26 December 2014

Aus v Ind (3rd Test Match, Perth, 2008)

Venue: WACA, Perth

Another humdinger from the great rivalry in 1998 - 2008 era.

The importance of this match had acquired monumental proportions because 
 - it was on the back of the infamous Sydney test
 - the aftermath of the monkeygate incident had soured relations between the teams
 - the Aussies were lambasted throughout the fraternity for their unsportsmanlike behaviour
 - the Indians had been pleaded to continue the tour as scheduled
 - complete love was lost between both teams until then.

What followed was pure cricket and another magnificent game of between the two cricket powers of the time, matching each other ball to ball, minute to minute.

India batted first and scored a respectable 330 on a lively wicket, thanks to a stoggy 93 by #Dravid and sublime 71 by #Sachin. Surprisingly the Aussies capitulated at 212 through some disciplined bowling from the Indians, #RPSingh being the pick of the bowlers with a 4 wicket haul. #Symonds and #Gilchrist lent smeee respectability to the Aussie score that looked well below par at one stage.

With a good lead cushion under their belt, the Indians went for quick runs in the second essay with the tormentor-in-chief VVS Laxman top scoring with 79. India folding at 294 giving them a good target to bowl at, 420.

The Aussies began shakily losing both openers pretty cheaply but #Ponting and #Hussey steadied the ship for them. The fifth morning saw an inspired spell of fast bowling from a lanky 19 year old Ishant Sharma to get rid of Ponting. That spell has already become part of cricketing folklore .. classic David beats Goliath story.

Although #Clarke stroked a good 81, India kept chipping away at the wickets and looked set to win comfortably. But #MitchellJohnson and #StuartClark had different ideas. They batted on and started inching closer to the Indian total. India's captain #Kumble was a worried man and tried several options in vain. 

As luck would have it, #InfranPathan was thrown the ball to and he did the trick in his first over! He had Clark caught behind and RP Singh uprooted #ShaunTait's stumps to hand India a much deserved "Cricket" victory.

After the Sydney fiasco, cricket lovers were treated to much anticipated cricketing glory in this test match. Well done to both teams.