Even for the die hard cricket lovers, there is overdose of cricket and a league match in a 3 Nation Micromax ODI tournament should not have provided this much of anxiety. However the lacklustre performance of the young brigade so far in the tournament made it appear that India would not qualify for the finals of the 3 Nation event, especially after they were bundled out for 223. At a time when there were talks of devil in the pitch at Dambulla Ranagiri stadium, Sehwag was on a different track – it was a brilliant blitz of 110 in 93 balls. Viru continues to amaze everyone with the casual manner of shot delivery – when others struggle.
It was to be a regular tale of late – Indians losing wickets at regular intervals. Dinesh Karthik did not trouble the scorers and at 66 indians had lost 4 (Kohli, Yuvi and Raina) – Dhoni played a scratchy innings but was involved in a saving 107 stand with Sehwag. Viru departed at 173 having made 110 – there were not much of contribution from others as Indian innings folded in 46.3 overs. How long to continue with Dinesh, Virat, Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja is the question everybody is asking ? Solid Pujara and awesome S Tiwary have been waiting on the wings for long.
Low scoring games can be dangerous. Remember our successfully defending 183 in 60 overs in WC 1983. The woes of Kiwis were to continue. Praveeen kumar bowls with jest if not pace and Martin Guptill played for swing to one which straightened. Watling was castled by Nehra and Ross Taylor edged one – Dhoni taking a good catch. Styris pulled one back to his stumps and Kiwis were tottering at 22-4. It was a comic sight to see Kane Williamson struggle – he had made two ducks in his previous forays and some records were beckoning him. On the third ball he faced, he steered it to thirdman and heaved a big sigh of relief having scored his first run in International cricket. At one point, Newzealand had lost 8 for 53 and would have shrunk to their lowest but comfortably surpassed their 64 Vs Pak in 1986 due to some lusty hitting by Mills who made 52 off 35 and delayed the end.
In the end it was a good bowling display and more than anything – belligerent hitting by Viru. For long, he has been one criticized for lack of foot movement, but his class is far above the rest. His caliber and class tells when others struggle and he is unfazed by wickets falling at one end.
ODI 321 was played on 22/3/1985 at neutral venue of Sharjah Cricket association stadium – it was Rothmans 4 Nations Cup. Pak won the toss and put India in – Imran was steaming in with Wasim akram at the other end. Imran literally sliced through the top order. Shastri out for a duck, Srikka followed making 6, Vengsarkar, Gavaskar and Amarnath were all consumed by fiery Imran (34/5); Kapil & Azhar took them to 80 when Kapil (30) was consued by Tauseef. Azhar was out at 121 and India folded at 125 in 42.4 overs. Imran had a magic spell of 6 for 14 in 10 overs.
The famed Pak line up was to wallop this small total easily. The start was ordinary and the sleepy Mohinder hit the stumps direct to send Mohsin packing. Mudassar was consumed by Binny & Pak were 35/2 . Miandad was out for a duck to Shastri. Ashraf Ali was promoted above Saleem Malik & Manzoor Ilahi but could not pick up L Siva and Sadanand Vishwanath had a smart stumping done off Siva to send back Imran. Pak crumbling at 41/5. A small partnership – Saleem Malik gone at 74 and eventually Pak folded at 87 – short by 38 runs chasing a paltry 125.
That match will be remembered by 3/17 by Kapil and 2/16 of Siva – the 3 catches taken by Gavaskar, smart fielding by Mohinder – good work behind by Vishwanath; all these if you’re an Indian – but the effort which went in vain was the one that fetched MOM – Imran whose figures read 10-2-14-6.
Regards – Sampathkumar.
I was a great fan of his keeping he was different than d mechanical consistent keepers who replaced him .A great bat who didnt make it big and I can never forget his batting on a mine of a wicket in a ranji match at Mysore.
ReplyDeleteI was a great fan of his keeping he was different than d mechanical consistent keepers who replaced him .A great bat who didnt make it big and I can never forget his batting on a mine of a wicket in a ranji match at Mysore.
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