A Super over Thriller : NSW Vs Trinidad & Tobago

I had earlier posted about the overdose and possible spectator fatigue – but the still the charm of the game reigns supreme.  The Nokia Champions League T20 2011 has provided great entertainment to the cricket fan.

There have been some tall scores, some low scoring thrillers – with at least 3 matches decided on the last ball.  Cape Cobras prevailed over NSW in the last ball in scoring 135; the RCB / Warriors match of 172 also spilled to last over;  Malinga scored the winning runs when MI trailed chasing 158 against CSK.   But Trinidad & Tobago must be wondering what they need to do for securing that elusive win when everything seem in their favour through out matches but not the final result alone.

Against Mumbai Indians, T&T batted poorly scoring a paltry 98 but fought back brilliantly and perhaps the spread out field enabled a result in favour of MI.  The match went down the wire, two needed of a final delivery when T&T captain Daren Ganga chose to keep  a fairly spread out field.  It was the nervy Yuzvendra Chahal, the 21 year old who bowls leg spin with no great exposure at the stumps  -there was high drama as the low full toss was hit to mid wicket and batsmen tumbled like a hare – the throw of Adrian Barath was off the mark, Denesh Ramdin fumbled – if he had hit the target with a underarm lob, then it would have been a super over -  more excitement for the spectator.

Yesterday there was another low scoring thriller – NWS and T&T were locked at 139 and the final excitement of Super Over….  The rules are simple – the teams nominate a bowler and 3 batsman – two out and that is the end, maximum of 6 legal deliveries and how much can be scored of them ?

The hero of the match Moses Henriques faced Ravi Rampaul.  1^st ball – could not put bat to ball; 2^nd both batsmen could have been run out – poor throwing; then everything happened it was : 0, 2, 4, 4, 4, & 4.  NSW finished with 18.  T&T named Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons  and Bravo.  NSW surprised them with Steve O’ Keefe the spinner.  Bravo tried coming out but was rightly sent back as they have to stick to the initial order.  1^st ball a single, 2^nd another, 3^rd 2;  15 off 3.  4^th Simmons whacked over long on for a 6 – 5^th was a wide and the legal one was hit, misfielded and 4; 4 needed for a win of the last delivery – Simmons got under and hoisted only to find Warner at long off.

In the other match Cape Cobra were sailing smoothly but ended up posting 146. CSK lost their wickets at regular intervals but Dwayne Bravo’s pyrotechnics (46 off 25) took them home with 2 balls to spare. 

That is almost half way stage – 9 gone of initial 20 and total of 23..  more excitement ahead

Regards – S. Sampathkumar.