Shardul Thakur lifts India ~ Krish Srikkanth was stranded at 99

Remember that 2^nd ODI at the same stadium played on 27.12.1984 for different reasons !  The Somavamshi dynasty ruled parts of present-day Odisha in eastern India between the 9th and the 12th centuries. Their capitals included Yayatinagara (modern Binka) and Abhinava-Yayatinagara (modern Jajpur).  The Somavamshis introduced a new style of art and architecture in Odisha, and their rule saw a remarkable shift from Buddhism to Brahmanism in the region.

Residential areas in Millennium city have been reeling under acute mosquito menace for the last few weeks. Negligence of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) in initiating adequate measures to check the growth of mosquito population has aggravated the problem. The menace has assumed bigger proportions as mosquito density index stood at more than 60 against 45 to 50 last month. The density of mosquitoes is calculated by the average number of mosquito bites on 10 persons per hour. While a density of 30 is normal and 40 moderate, density level beyond 40 is considered high. The rising index level during this time of the year has left people worried about falling prey to vector-borne diseases.

                           Cuttack is the former capital city of Orissa.  The city has lineage to the Ganga dynasty  founded by King Ananta-Varman Chodaganga Deva (1078–1147), grandson of the Chola king Virarajendra Chola and nephew of emperor Kulothunga Chola I. Anantavarman is credited for having built the famous Jagannath Temple of Puri in Orissa.  The barabati fort was built by the Ganga dynasty and there lies the modern Barbati stadium.  The city is in the Mahanadi river delta and hence fertile. .Orissa is officially Odisha from Nov 2011 – the modern name of ancient Kalinga kingdom.   The Barbati stadium is the home ground of Orissa Cricket Team ~ it is here that the ODI against WI was played yesterday.  Cuttack and Bhubaneswar are often referred to as the Twin-Cities of Odisha.

In a major breakthrough, Forest Department officials on Friday arrested notorious wildlife smuggler Madhab Patra for his alleged involvement in the pangolin smuggling racket in the State. Patra was nabbed from Godi Sahi in the Narasinghpur area of Cuttack district. Earlier, as many as 10 members of the wild animal trafficking racket were arrested in Athagarh area of Cuttack district. A total of 15 members of the gang have so far been arrested up by the forest officials. But the mastermind of the racket has eluded the dragnet. Notably, the Forest department also announced a cash reward of Rs 10,000 to persons who will inform about the illegal trade of the endangered animal.

At around 10 pm in the night, India were 228 for 5, needed 88 off 67, which should be straightforward on most Indian evenings, but Kohli's mannerisms told a different story. When Iyer and Pant fell, he turned away and put his head down, visibly disappointed with the junior partners. He asked Jadhav to stand in front of the stumps because Cottrell was unlikely to bring a ball back in for the lbw. Cottrell somehow snuck one back in through the gate. Kohli didn't have West Indies fielders chirping him this time, but he was pumped up just as he was in the chase in the first T20 international.

The finish after Kohli fell was sort of easy, brought about by a cool Jadeja and a man who had total of 22 in 6 innings – highest of 22 and average of 22 (4 DNB).. Shardul Narendra Thakur.   Thakur, came out batting in a positive manner. He drove the first ball he faced on the up and got four through extra cover. With 22 required off the last three overs, West Indies went to Cottrell's last over. He began with a wide, bowled another bouncer too high, and when he got the bouncer right, Thakur obliged with a top edge on the hook. However, he had swung hard enough for the edge to sail over the fence. He followed it up with a flamboyant Ajit Agarkar-like bat swing to a full ball to beat long-on and all but kill the game. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 39 off 31.

The scorecard read : India 316 for 6 (Kohli 85, Rahul 77, Sharma 63, Paul 3-59) beat West Indies 315 for 5 (Pooran 89, Pollard 74*, Saini 2-58) by four wickets. West Indies' tour of India ended the way it began: denied by the bat of Virat Kohli after they had put in a fight despite losing the toss.  India were chasing 316 because of a stunning counterattack by Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard that lifted them from 144 for 4 in the 32nd over, but it was still a relatively easy chase. The chase became difficult despite fifties from the openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul because once the partnership broke, West Indies kept finding a way to keep taking wickets, bringing India's dodgy lower order into the picture. The early damage India did was crucial, and the debutant fast bowler Navdeep Saini was responsible for the bulk of it, removing the in-form Shimron Hetmyer (37) and the promoted Roston Chase (38) in successive overs. Saini wasn't even in the fray for this ODI series, but an injury to Deepak Chahar paved the way for his return to international cricket. Saini himself was coming off an injury, after having impressed with his hit-the-deck bustle on his T20I debut against West Indies in August earlier this year.

PS 1:  not many would know that the city of Cuttack was the palce where  our hero, Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose was born.  Bose was born on 23rd Jan 1897 at Oriya bazaar to Janaki Nath Bose, a famous lawyer and Prabhavati Devi.   The place known as Janakinath Bhawan, is now a museum and showcases the original letters written by Netaji along with other important materials used by Netaji.

PS 2 :  if you remember that 1984 One dayer, England won by 1 run – a revised target due to poor light – Krish Srikkanth was out lbw to Mike Gatting ! @ 99

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

23.12.2019