West Indies win the toss and elect to bat. Still no place for Anil Kumble in the side. I thought this is a little bit surprising considering they were a bowler short in the previous match and West Indies should be a team India should approach with a little more confidence.
Ind Innings
Ind win by 6 wickets
36 overs 180/4 - Sorry about the lack of updates for the Indian innings. Dozed off for a while and then it got pretty interesting in the middle. Thought it might be a routine run-chase, but it got a little hairy for the top order partly due to the WI opening bowlers. Both Powell and Lawson got pace and bounce off the wicket and Sehwag disappeared off the second ball of the innings. Raina was dropped twice and swayed out of the way of some well-directed bouncers. But the enthusiasm also produced some wayward deliveries and dropped catches. Raina particularily showed some attacking instincts. Good to see the young batsman get some runs after his first ball dismissal yesterday. Tino Best also bowled some pacy deliveries and troubled Yuvraj Singh in particular. It was good to see Yuvraj spend some time in the middle. But he again got out after playing himself in. In the end it was the cool head of Dravid again that saw India through with plenty to spare and a bonus point in the kitty. Dravid has looked really good in the two matches so far both with his captaincy and his batting. It was a good move to give Kaif a chance at the top of the order to run into some form. The Indian batting still looks rusty, but the bowling has been consistent. It might be interesting to see how Dravid reacts to a rampaging Jayasuriya or a Sangakkara. West Indies came out and fought well, but there is too much inexperience and poor technique at the top of the order. They show spirit but just end up doing a few daft things in the field that keeps costing them the match. A little bit of experience and they might turn into a really good team. But with their current form and ability, I don't see them winning a game in this tournament.
WI Innings
47.3 overs 178 all out - Well! Disappointing cricket all around. Dropped catches, misfields and some senseless batting from WI ensures that India has a fairly comfortable chase in the end. Sehwag redeemed himself somewhat by getting the Windies top scorer Deonarine LBW for 41. But Best came in and smashed a few around. The wicketkeeper Ramadhin looks like a good test batsman, but just struggled to get the ball of the square. Nehra then got 2 in two balls when Ramadhin went for a wild swipe and missed and Darren Powell got an inside edge to his stumps. When we all expected Best to sheperd the strike to ensure WI plays the 50 overs, he tried to smash one out of the ground off Zaheer and got caught at long on for 24.
This has not been a terribly impressive display by India in the field. They just went off the boil a little bit and made a few basic mistakes. And Greg Chappell, who has emphasized so much on getting the basics right will not be impressed with a few balls going through flapping legs and awkward fielding efforts. The bowling was tight from the regular bowlers without being extraordinary. India should do this easily. Apparently, Kaif will be opening with Sehwag, and Raina will be coming in at number 3.
33.2 overs 109-6 - Dwayne Smith smashed 20 runs from 7 balls off Sehwag and Raina and is caught behind by an absolutely beautiful doosra from Harbhajan. The wicketkeeper Ramadhin is in and he played well in the test series. He is back in a familiar dismal situation. It's interesting to see Dravid's attitude towards his part-timers. Ganguly tended to mix his part-timers around and was a little more adventurous with his bowling changes. Dravid immediately reverts back to his regular bowlers once the part-timers start leaking a few runs. Not sure how to read this, but this strategy could backfire if one of the regular bowlers has a bad day and India persists with its 4 bowler approach.
31.1 overs 84-5 - Powell bowled by Sehwag through the gate. Should have waited a couple of minutes before writing all that I wrote below about Powell. Dwayne Smith is in and has smashed his first two balls for 4 and 6.
30.3 overs 84-4 - Raina gets Chanderpaul plumb in front, his first international wicket. Chanderpaul had a 52 run partnership with Deonarine. Deonarine cracked Sehwag for a huge six and there seemed to be an up in the tempo with Raina and Sehwag bowling in tandem. Raina isn't turning the ball at all and it was strange to see Chanderpaul trying to sweep an absolute straight ball. Ricardo Powell in and this is interesting. Cast your mind back to Coca Cola cup 1999 and Powell hammered the Indians, scored 100 odd in 80 balls.
Dog interruption on the field. Wait a minute, two dogs out there.
25 overs 57-3 - A painful grind this for WI. Chanderpaul got a huge let off when Sehwag put down a sitter at 2nd slip. Sehwag's looked off color on the field even in the first match. But the batsmen have simply not put the bowlers under any pressure. Nehra has gotten away with about 4 half-volleys on leg stump. Drinks have been called and Srinath gives his analysis for the first half of the WI innings...groan! Sehwag is in now, and hopefully Chanderpaul and Deonarine can push the scoring along.
13.3 overs 32-3 - Harbhajan gets Marshall off the 3rd ball of his spell. Big off-spinner first ball, Doosra second ball and the straight arm ball to get him caught in the slips. All the variations in the first 3 balls. Marshall scored 26 of the 32 runs so far. Chanderpaul in and obviously he is the key batsman for WI. Good captaincy by Dravid, slip and silly point for both batsmen for Harbhajan.
Rain interruption again!
9.1 overs 23-2 - If there was ever evidence needed of inexperience, this is it. Absolutely silly attempt of a second run with the ball inside the circle and Raina's getting a little bit of a reputation here. Joseph is gone and to make matters worse, their first run wasn't counted because Marshall grounded his bat well short of the crease while turning back for the second. Deonarine in and that's weird because Chanderpaul was slotted to come in. He's probably holding himself back for a more desperate situation. It might come very soon. Good to have Tony Cozier in the commentary box. Hearing him after a long time.
2.4 overs 1/1 - Pathan gets Morton LBW. Pathan has had a beautiful shape on the ball so far and has rapped the pads about 4 times already. This time he gets the perfect inswinger and Morton just doesn't have the technique to counter it. Sylvester Joseph the new batsman in.
Covers off - Xavier Marshall and Runako Morton opening the batting. Marshall had a bad time against Chaminda Vass's inswing in the test matches. Will keep Pathan interested.
Update - Rain has delayed the start of the match. Kinda disappointing. Apparently the Sri Lankan groundsmen are the best when it comes to predicting rain. No weather forecasts needed, just a look up to the sky and they are in with the covers even before the rain comes down.
Ind Innings
Ind win by 6 wickets
36 overs 180/4 - Sorry about the lack of updates for the Indian innings. Dozed off for a while and then it got pretty interesting in the middle. Thought it might be a routine run-chase, but it got a little hairy for the top order partly due to the WI opening bowlers. Both Powell and Lawson got pace and bounce off the wicket and Sehwag disappeared off the second ball of the innings. Raina was dropped twice and swayed out of the way of some well-directed bouncers. But the enthusiasm also produced some wayward deliveries and dropped catches. Raina particularily showed some attacking instincts. Good to see the young batsman get some runs after his first ball dismissal yesterday. Tino Best also bowled some pacy deliveries and troubled Yuvraj Singh in particular. It was good to see Yuvraj spend some time in the middle. But he again got out after playing himself in. In the end it was the cool head of Dravid again that saw India through with plenty to spare and a bonus point in the kitty. Dravid has looked really good in the two matches so far both with his captaincy and his batting. It was a good move to give Kaif a chance at the top of the order to run into some form. The Indian batting still looks rusty, but the bowling has been consistent. It might be interesting to see how Dravid reacts to a rampaging Jayasuriya or a Sangakkara. West Indies came out and fought well, but there is too much inexperience and poor technique at the top of the order. They show spirit but just end up doing a few daft things in the field that keeps costing them the match. A little bit of experience and they might turn into a really good team. But with their current form and ability, I don't see them winning a game in this tournament.
WI Innings
47.3 overs 178 all out - Well! Disappointing cricket all around. Dropped catches, misfields and some senseless batting from WI ensures that India has a fairly comfortable chase in the end. Sehwag redeemed himself somewhat by getting the Windies top scorer Deonarine LBW for 41. But Best came in and smashed a few around. The wicketkeeper Ramadhin looks like a good test batsman, but just struggled to get the ball of the square. Nehra then got 2 in two balls when Ramadhin went for a wild swipe and missed and Darren Powell got an inside edge to his stumps. When we all expected Best to sheperd the strike to ensure WI plays the 50 overs, he tried to smash one out of the ground off Zaheer and got caught at long on for 24.
This has not been a terribly impressive display by India in the field. They just went off the boil a little bit and made a few basic mistakes. And Greg Chappell, who has emphasized so much on getting the basics right will not be impressed with a few balls going through flapping legs and awkward fielding efforts. The bowling was tight from the regular bowlers without being extraordinary. India should do this easily. Apparently, Kaif will be opening with Sehwag, and Raina will be coming in at number 3.
33.2 overs 109-6 - Dwayne Smith smashed 20 runs from 7 balls off Sehwag and Raina and is caught behind by an absolutely beautiful doosra from Harbhajan. The wicketkeeper Ramadhin is in and he played well in the test series. He is back in a familiar dismal situation. It's interesting to see Dravid's attitude towards his part-timers. Ganguly tended to mix his part-timers around and was a little more adventurous with his bowling changes. Dravid immediately reverts back to his regular bowlers once the part-timers start leaking a few runs. Not sure how to read this, but this strategy could backfire if one of the regular bowlers has a bad day and India persists with its 4 bowler approach.
31.1 overs 84-5 - Powell bowled by Sehwag through the gate. Should have waited a couple of minutes before writing all that I wrote below about Powell. Dwayne Smith is in and has smashed his first two balls for 4 and 6.
30.3 overs 84-4 - Raina gets Chanderpaul plumb in front, his first international wicket. Chanderpaul had a 52 run partnership with Deonarine. Deonarine cracked Sehwag for a huge six and there seemed to be an up in the tempo with Raina and Sehwag bowling in tandem. Raina isn't turning the ball at all and it was strange to see Chanderpaul trying to sweep an absolute straight ball. Ricardo Powell in and this is interesting. Cast your mind back to Coca Cola cup 1999 and Powell hammered the Indians, scored 100 odd in 80 balls.
Dog interruption on the field. Wait a minute, two dogs out there.
25 overs 57-3 - A painful grind this for WI. Chanderpaul got a huge let off when Sehwag put down a sitter at 2nd slip. Sehwag's looked off color on the field even in the first match. But the batsmen have simply not put the bowlers under any pressure. Nehra has gotten away with about 4 half-volleys on leg stump. Drinks have been called and Srinath gives his analysis for the first half of the WI innings...groan! Sehwag is in now, and hopefully Chanderpaul and Deonarine can push the scoring along.
13.3 overs 32-3 - Harbhajan gets Marshall off the 3rd ball of his spell. Big off-spinner first ball, Doosra second ball and the straight arm ball to get him caught in the slips. All the variations in the first 3 balls. Marshall scored 26 of the 32 runs so far. Chanderpaul in and obviously he is the key batsman for WI. Good captaincy by Dravid, slip and silly point for both batsmen for Harbhajan.
Rain interruption again!
9.1 overs 23-2 - If there was ever evidence needed of inexperience, this is it. Absolutely silly attempt of a second run with the ball inside the circle and Raina's getting a little bit of a reputation here. Joseph is gone and to make matters worse, their first run wasn't counted because Marshall grounded his bat well short of the crease while turning back for the second. Deonarine in and that's weird because Chanderpaul was slotted to come in. He's probably holding himself back for a more desperate situation. It might come very soon. Good to have Tony Cozier in the commentary box. Hearing him after a long time.
2.4 overs 1/1 - Pathan gets Morton LBW. Pathan has had a beautiful shape on the ball so far and has rapped the pads about 4 times already. This time he gets the perfect inswinger and Morton just doesn't have the technique to counter it. Sylvester Joseph the new batsman in.
Covers off - Xavier Marshall and Runako Morton opening the batting. Marshall had a bad time against Chaminda Vass's inswing in the test matches. Will keep Pathan interested.
Update - Rain has delayed the start of the match. Kinda disappointing. Apparently the Sri Lankan groundsmen are the best when it comes to predicting rain. No weather forecasts needed, just a look up to the sky and they are in with the covers even before the rain comes down.
9 comments:
Your coverage is pretty good as I too watched it all on TV.
I felt Kaif looked OK as an opener , much more reassuring for a cricket fan than Dhoni. Raina ... you have to wait to say but his fielding is great , which can't be said of Venugopal Rao.
I thought Zaheer Khan did not look effective though the TV commentry team thought otherwise.
Whets the appetite for more.
I think given the team and the opposition, India did okay in the field and gave enough of their top order a hit before the business end of the tournament. The Indian bowlers have traditionally been slow to get off the blocks at the start of a season. It is refreshing to see them hit the right spots more often than not. I was interested in watching if Pathan had gained something from the county experience and he certainly looks pretty relaxed out there. If a couple of more Indian batsmen run into some form and SOMEBODY finds a way to attack Murali, then we are in with a great crack at the trophy. No better time to win when nobody expects you to.
Well done!
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