The team which had lost so badly to Bangladesh and which was expected to be pummeled easily to submission was at the helm excepting day 1 and perhaps the last day. Today started with India precariously perched at 82 for 6 – Laxman was hanging on and Harbhajan had thrived perilously in his impetuous style. Chris martin had truly taken the team closer to a victory with his 5 wicket haul. Only the die-hard Indian fan entertained any hope of survival – yours Truly was one.
He has been around in International arena for a while having made his debut in 2000 against South Africa. He has so far played 57 tests capturing 187 wickets – he has had his ups and downs and had been out dropped also. In 2004 Christopher Martin made a comeback with 11 wicket haul in Auckland against SA – had 18 wickets in that series. Over the years he has slowed down and is not a great threat but spit venom at Motera to send the Indians reeling, nose diving for a defeat.
Apart from Martin no bowler took a wicket and Virender had been out to a good fielding show by Martin Guptill. The game is so fickle and perhaps the captain made a grave error. In the third over of the day, Harbhajan drove to mid off and ran. Vettori missed the woods and India sneaked through. Laxman perhaps had not got the credit he deserves – he looks nonchalant, strolls calmly and whenever he scores, he looks completely in control. He is touted as one best against Aussies but often scores when they are most wanted. There are times when all others fail and Laxman stands tall. This was once more, coming as it did after his great knock at Mohali – there Ishant was a standing partner who just gave him company. Here it was Harbajhan who would often live dangerously, think himself to Viv Richards and would try to swat every ball and would succeed once in a while. He smacked Chris Martin and reverse swept Jeetan Patel.
One Management guru would often say that even in defeat don’t allow the victor to celebrate. Laxman does just that. He would seemingly look so cool that the opponents might doubt whether they have taken all others. On a day when things go right, anything would succeed – it was indeed a miracle from 15/5 to a well earned draw. Harbajhan socred his maiden century and India needed Laxman to score well – it was a pity that he missed his greatly deserved century.
The final scoreline reads India 487 (Sehwag 173, Dravid 104, Harbhajan 69); NZ 459 459 (Williamson 131, Ryder 103, McCullum 65, Taylor 56, Ojha 4-107); India 266 (Harbhajan 115, Laxman 91, Martin 5-63) and NZ 22 for 1 - this will never showcase the troubled times that Indians were in and the hold that Kiwis had for a long while before that great innings of Laxman and blistery of Harbhajan.
Bhajan’s maiden ton comes in his 88th Test which is much after Kumble’s 118 and Chaminda Vaas’s 97. Incidentally he also had his maiden fifty in the same test. The 163 run partnership was the best ever 7th wicket stand for India against Kiwis. Tim McIntosh would like to forget this test with his pair. It is the eighth for a New Zealand opener overall and the first against India.
In the end, the score line would never reflect the grit, determination and quality of this Laxman innings. The Indian fans would now breathe easy but were choked for hours together.
Regards - Sampathkumar
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Dear (s)
Many a times looking back is more interesting. Here is a mail circulated by me to my group way back on 4th Feb 2009.
At Colombo Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram.Born on Apr. 17 1972, in Kandy , Murali made his test debut in 1992 v Australia in Colombo
It was disappointment for Indian fans as Sachin was done in for the third time in a row by another poor umpiring decision - this time by Gamini Silva.
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On Feb 6, there will be rounds of auction – the most expensive base price is Kevin Pieterson with $ 1.35 M (6 Cr +) followed by Michael Clarke and Flintoff. The latest sensation JP Duminy is pegged at US $ 300000. The new list has only 43 players - the original had 111 - and includes 15 from Australia, four from Bangladesh, seven from England, three from New Zealand, five from South Africa, four from Sri Lanka, and five from the West Indies. Pakistan
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Elsewhere the first ODI between Kiwis and Aussies which Vettori’s men won, was marred by a controversy as Brad Haddin dislodged the bails off Neil Broom. The Aussies who would question everybody else’s sportmans spirit and repeatedly no balled Muralitharan were in the thick of action.
Haddin's gloves were in front of the stumps and knocked off the bails, with Michael Clarke's delivery also appearing to head over the stumps. No Umpire noticed Haddin's movement, which should have led to a no-ball, but it was clear on the replay. Haddin tried to underplay the incident by stating that the ball positively hit the bails first. However, the rules are categorically clear that a no-ball should be called if the wicketkeeper does not stay behind the stumps until the ball touches the batsman, passes the stumps, or a run is attempted. Incase you are wondering what “No Ball” is ? - Read on :
In the sport of cricket a no ball is a penalty against the fielding team, usually as a result of an illegal delivery by the bowler. The delivery of a no ball results in one run (or occasionally two, depending upon the competition) to be added to the batting team's score, and an additional ball must be bowled. A no ball may be called for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, it is the result of a bowler breaking one of the first two rules below (a front foot no ball or back foot no ball). Dangerous deliveries (beamers) are another common reason.
Interestingly - underarm delivery was added to the list due to an incident involving Chappels – Trevor Chappel bowling one on the instructions of Greg Chappel against Kiwis in an ODI with an aim to deny hitting a sixer of the last ball. Besides the actions of the bowler, the following also qualify for a no ball.
If the wicket-keeper moves in front of the wicket at the opposite end before the ball passes that wicket or touches the batsman or his bat.
If any fielder touches or passes over the pitch before the ball passes the batsman's wicket or touches the batsman or his bat.
If, at the instant of delivery, there are more than two fielders, excluding the wicket-keeper, behind the batsman's popping crease and on the leg side.
(In one-day matches) If, at the instant of delivery, there are more than five fielders on the leg side.
(In one-day matches) when power play or any other field restrictions are violated.
As usual await your feed back..........
With regards
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