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Yesterday's Australia V/S India oneday match was a real gripper.
Being a fan of the Indian Cricket Team (since its the only team that gives something of a competition to the arch-rivals of our MCC), it was not a game to be missed, especially when I am on a tour of Australia. Sachin and Sehwag were not playing in the game, and it was much of a dissapointment for fans like me. Nevertheless, India showed why they are the second-best team in the world, by scoring 296 runs in their 50 overs, after losing their skipper earlier in the innings; owing to the centuries of Lakshman, for whome the SCG turns out to be a good-luck charm, and Yuvraj who was dealing in 1s and 2s before letting his bat loose at the end of the innings.
Aussies are the best team in the world, but this does not mean that they can afford a slow start to a 297 run chase, and Gilchrist did not dissapoint. He was 48 off just 25 odd balls, which had helped great in making Australia reach 73 in just 9 overs; when play had been called off due to rain.
The much accused D/L system was introduced, and Australia had to chase a revised target of 234 runs in 34 overs. Australia had nothing to worry about, gliding smoothly at 150/1 in 20 overs. But God had heard the cries of Indian fans, and Ponting was out in the 21st over at the hands of Irfan Pathan, who in the absence of Srinath and Zaheer Khan had taken the role of India's prime bowler. The very next ball, he made out Martyn and the Fans at the stadium cried out large, which easily surpassed the cries of "gooooal" in the France 98 football worldcup final. Luck did not want Pathan to get a hat-trick though.
The very next over Kartik claimed Gilchrist in the nervous ninties, and we realized why Ganguly is the best Skipper India had ever had. To compensate for his batting, Ganguly decided to bowl himself - and he turned out to be the bowler with the best bowling figures. Anytime someone would try to hit a six or a boundary off his ball, he would be out on the next delivery. The Australians dissappointed their fans, and collapsed like a stack of cards against the in-experienced Indian attack. With 15 to score in 12 balls, It was almost impossible for the Australian tail-enders to do the trick, and Agarkar gave away just four runs in the second-last over. 11 to score in the last 6 balls, I was over-joyed to see Australia losing, and with Lee (who is not the best of the batsmen on strike), it was India's game. Two singles and a double brought Lee on strike on the 4th ball with 7 runs to score. Nobody had thought what the result would be. Lee somehow managed to loft a yorker high in the air and got a 6, leaving me pale. Brett Lee did not decide to dig a hole though. All the eleven men were now in the ring, and had it not been a fumble from Rohan Gavaskar, Lee was surely going to be runout.
But that was not the case, and Lee managed to get in a run and lead Australia to the path of the victory. And although India are known for their capacity to snacth defeat from the jaws of victory, it was not the case this time. Australia had won through sheer luck, unlike their victory against England in the World-Cup.
Being a fan of the Indian Cricket Team (since its the only team that gives something of a competition to the arch-rivals of our MCC), it was not a game to be missed, especially when I am on a tour of Australia. Sachin and Sehwag were not playing in the game, and it was much of a dissapointment for fans like me. Nevertheless, India showed why they are the second-best team in the world, by scoring 296 runs in their 50 overs, after losing their skipper earlier in the innings; owing to the centuries of Lakshman, for whome the SCG turns out to be a good-luck charm, and Yuvraj who was dealing in 1s and 2s before letting his bat loose at the end of the innings.
Aussies are the best team in the world, but this does not mean that they can afford a slow start to a 297 run chase, and Gilchrist did not dissapoint. He was 48 off just 25 odd balls, which had helped great in making Australia reach 73 in just 9 overs; when play had been called off due to rain.
The much accused D/L system was introduced, and Australia had to chase a revised target of 234 runs in 34 overs. Australia had nothing to worry about, gliding smoothly at 150/1 in 20 overs. But God had heard the cries of Indian fans, and Ponting was out in the 21st over at the hands of Irfan Pathan, who in the absence of Srinath and Zaheer Khan had taken the role of India's prime bowler. The very next ball, he made out Martyn and the Fans at the stadium cried out large, which easily surpassed the cries of "gooooal" in the France 98 football worldcup final. Luck did not want Pathan to get a hat-trick though.
The very next over Kartik claimed Gilchrist in the nervous ninties, and we realized why Ganguly is the best Skipper India had ever had. To compensate for his batting, Ganguly decided to bowl himself - and he turned out to be the bowler with the best bowling figures. Anytime someone would try to hit a six or a boundary off his ball, he would be out on the next delivery. The Australians dissappointed their fans, and collapsed like a stack of cards against the in-experienced Indian attack. With 15 to score in 12 balls, It was almost impossible for the Australian tail-enders to do the trick, and Agarkar gave away just four runs in the second-last over. 11 to score in the last 6 balls, I was over-joyed to see Australia losing, and with Lee (who is not the best of the batsmen on strike), it was India's game. Two singles and a double brought Lee on strike on the 4th ball with 7 runs to score. Nobody had thought what the result would be. Lee somehow managed to loft a yorker high in the air and got a 6, leaving me pale. Brett Lee did not decide to dig a hole though. All the eleven men were now in the ring, and had it not been a fumble from Rohan Gavaskar, Lee was surely going to be runout.
But that was not the case, and Lee managed to get in a run and lead Australia to the path of the victory. And although India are known for their capacity to snacth defeat from the jaws of victory, it was not the case this time. Australia had won through sheer luck, unlike their victory against England in the World-Cup.
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Yup I also watched this game, great entertainment with a mixture of dissapointment that India didn't win.
India have more than Matched the Aussie's in the recent meetings and it's been good watching such quality teams trying to out think and outplay each other.
The previous one which India won was also great to watch with India scoring a huge 303 which the Aussie's failed to breach.
The inclusion of recent young bowlers are something which India have been Crying out for. Irfan Pathan can swing the ball both ways and is quite pacey, probabaly what we need since the retirement of Srinath and Kartik is a more than capable spinner.
India have more than Matched the Aussie's in the recent meetings and it's been good watching such quality teams trying to out think and outplay each other.
The previous one which India won was also great to watch with India scoring a huge 303 which the Aussie's failed to breach.
The inclusion of recent young bowlers are something which India have been Crying out for. Irfan Pathan can swing the ball both ways and is quite pacey, probabaly what we need since the retirement of Srinath and Kartik is a more than capable spinner.
It was a great match and since I am an Indian citizen, I really liked how Ganguly made his bowler'spick up 7 wickets in a crunch situation.
I am pretty dissappointed though, and like you said "India are famous for their capacity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory." Also, since it was only one ball that made the difference, you can not accuse India for that.
I am pretty dissappointed though, and like you said "India are famous for their capacity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory." Also, since it was only one ball that made the difference, you can not accuse India for that.
I would have watched this but i dont have sky sports xtra :(
Sounded like a great game though! I watched most of the test games and India are definitely closing the gap on Australia.
Sounded like a great game though! I watched most of the test games and India are definitely closing the gap on Australia.
Yesterday's Australia V/S India oneday match was a real gripper.
Being a fan of the Indian Cricket Team (since its the only team that gives something of a competition to the arch-rivals of our MCC), it was not a game to be missed, especially when I am on a tour of Australia. Sachin and Sehwag were not playing in the game, and it was much of a dissapointment for fans like me. Nevertheless, India showed why they are the second-best team in the world, by scoring 296 runs in their 50 overs, after losing their skipper earlier in the innings; owing to the centuries of Lakshman, for whome the SCG turns out to be a good-luck charm, and Yuvraj who was dealing in 1s and 2s before letting his bat loose at the end of the innings.
Aussies are the best team in the world, but this does not mean that they can afford a slow start to a 297 run chase, and Gilchrist did not dissapoint. He was 48 off just 25 odd balls, which had helped great in making Australia reach 73 in just 9 overs; when play had been called off due to rain.
The much accused D/L system was introduced, and Australia had to chase a revised target of 234 runs in 34 overs. Australia had nothing to worry about, gliding smoothly at 150/1 in 20 overs. But God had heard the cries of Indian fans, and Ponting was out in the 21st over at the hands of Irfan Pathan, who in the absence of Srinath and Zaheer Khan had taken the role of India's prime bowler. The very next ball, he made out Martyn and the Fans at the stadium cried out large, which easily surpassed the cries of "gooooal" in the France 98 football worldcup final. Luck did not want Pathan to get a hat-trick though.
The very next over Kartik claimed Gilchrist in the nervous ninties, and we realized why Ganguly is the best Skipper India had ever had. To compensate for his batting, Ganguly decided to bowl himself - and he turned out to be the bowler with the best bowling figures. Anytime someone would try to hit a six or a boundary off his ball, he would be out on the next delivery. The Australians dissappointed their fans, and collapsed like a stack of cards against the in-experienced Indian attack. With 15 to score in 12 balls, It was almost impossible for the Australian tail-enders to do the trick, and Agarkar gave away just four runs in the second-last over. 11 to score in the last 6 balls, I was over-joyed to see Australia losing, and with Lee (who is not the best of the batsmen on strike), it was India's game. Two singles and a double brought Lee on strike on the 4th ball with 7 runs to score. Nobody had thought what the result would be. Lee somehow managed to loft a yorker high in the air and got a 6, leaving me pale. Brett Lee did not decide to dig a hole though. All the eleven men were now in the ring, and had it not been a fumble from Rohan Gavaskar, Lee was surely going to be runout.
But that was not the case, and Lee managed to get in a run and lead Australia to the path of the victory. And although India are known for their capacity to snacth defeat from the jaws of victory, it was not the case this time. Australia had won through sheer luck, unlike their victory against England in the World-Cup.
Being a fan of the Indian Cricket Team (since its the only team that gives something of a competition to the arch-rivals of our MCC), it was not a game to be missed, especially when I am on a tour of Australia. Sachin and Sehwag were not playing in the game, and it was much of a dissapointment for fans like me. Nevertheless, India showed why they are the second-best team in the world, by scoring 296 runs in their 50 overs, after losing their skipper earlier in the innings; owing to the centuries of Lakshman, for whome the SCG turns out to be a good-luck charm, and Yuvraj who was dealing in 1s and 2s before letting his bat loose at the end of the innings.
Aussies are the best team in the world, but this does not mean that they can afford a slow start to a 297 run chase, and Gilchrist did not dissapoint. He was 48 off just 25 odd balls, which had helped great in making Australia reach 73 in just 9 overs; when play had been called off due to rain.
The much accused D/L system was introduced, and Australia had to chase a revised target of 234 runs in 34 overs. Australia had nothing to worry about, gliding smoothly at 150/1 in 20 overs. But God had heard the cries of Indian fans, and Ponting was out in the 21st over at the hands of Irfan Pathan, who in the absence of Srinath and Zaheer Khan had taken the role of India's prime bowler. The very next ball, he made out Martyn and the Fans at the stadium cried out large, which easily surpassed the cries of "gooooal" in the France 98 football worldcup final. Luck did not want Pathan to get a hat-trick though.
The very next over Kartik claimed Gilchrist in the nervous ninties, and we realized why Ganguly is the best Skipper India had ever had. To compensate for his batting, Ganguly decided to bowl himself - and he turned out to be the bowler with the best bowling figures. Anytime someone would try to hit a six or a boundary off his ball, he would be out on the next delivery. The Australians dissappointed their fans, and collapsed like a stack of cards against the in-experienced Indian attack. With 15 to score in 12 balls, It was almost impossible for the Australian tail-enders to do the trick, and Agarkar gave away just four runs in the second-last over. 11 to score in the last 6 balls, I was over-joyed to see Australia losing, and with Lee (who is not the best of the batsmen on strike), it was India's game. Two singles and a double brought Lee on strike on the 4th ball with 7 runs to score. Nobody had thought what the result would be. Lee somehow managed to loft a yorker high in the air and got a 6, leaving me pale. Brett Lee did not decide to dig a hole though. All the eleven men were now in the ring, and had it not been a fumble from Rohan Gavaskar, Lee was surely going to be runout.
But that was not the case, and Lee managed to get in a run and lead Australia to the path of the victory. And although India are known for their capacity to snacth defeat from the jaws of victory, it was not the case this time. Australia had won through sheer luck, unlike their victory against England in the World-Cup.
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