Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
T20 world cup cricket 2007 finals India Vs Pakistan - P3
An inspired bowling performance by India saw them clinch the first T20 World Cup against arch rivals Pakistan in one of the most exciting finals of a major trophy ever.
The two teams that had limped out of the ICC World Cup in the initial group stage have been the best and most exciting teams during the two week tourniment in South Africa. Both teams, lead by new young captains, have played a fearless brand of cricket worthy of the tourniment, and exactly what the ICC had invisioned for the format.
Ten days earlier, in Durban, India and Pakistan played out a tie, and were involved in the first ever international bowl out, the equivalent of a soccer penalty shoot out, which India won 3-0. This match, the final, threatened to treat the capasity Johannesburg crowd to the same tension filled, nail biting finale, but in the end India’s bowlers held their nerve, and were crowned the first ever T20 world champions.
Wining the toss and deciding to bat, India scrapped their way to 157-7 on a pitch where 180 was considered par and 200 a good score, Pakistan must have fancied their chances of getting the runs. However finals bring with them added pressure, and Pakistan v India even more so, and so runs on the board would always have suited Dhoni. The pitch didn’t seem to play as well as many thought, with batsman struggling to time and force the ball, but a superb inings of 75 from Gambhir and a cameo knock of 30 from Rohit Sharma, got India to a below par total, but one that good bowling could defend. For Pakistan Umar Gul was once again the star, taking 3-28.
Pakistan, who would have been confident of chasing down the target, having only lost the bowl out against India in the 2 weeks, lost wickets at regular intervals, and with 54 needed from just 24 balls and with only 3 wickets in hand were well and truely out of it. Misbah Ul-Haq had other plans and attempted to rescue Pakistan again, just as he had with a 50 in that tie in Durban, and got Pakistan to within 5 runs of the total in the last over, when he was the last man out for 43. India’s bowling was lead by opening bowler RP Singh with 3-23 and a superb middle innings burst from Irfan Pathan, who claimed 3-16.
In the end a successful championship got the match it deserved, and the winners it deserved, and most importantly perhaps, for world cricket, that winner was not Australia.
T20 worldcup cricket India vs Pakistan Bowl Out
More than 21 years after Javed Miandad's last-ball heroics in Sharjah, India and Pakistan played out a thrilling tie at the ICC World Twenty20, with Misbah-ul-Haq run out off the last ball of the match. But the tournament rules didn't allow for the spoils to be shared, and it was India that prevailed in the bowl-out. Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa were Dirty Harry-accurate, while Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi all missed by a fair distance as a sell-out crowd celebrated an enthralling finale.
The 33-year-old Misbah, who made a magnificent 53 from just 35 balls, had been an unlikely hero for Pakistan after Shahid Afridi's dismissal, with 39 needed from 15 balls, had left them in a seemingly hopeless situation. He needed just one run from the last two balls of the innings, but Sreesanth came round the wicket to deliver a dot ball and then a short one that Misbah could only parry to silly mid-off. He had no chance of completing the single.
Earlier, Uthappa's superb half-century had resurrected Indian hopes after a sensational new-ball spell from Mohammad Asif had skittled India's top order. Asif bowled four magnificent overs on the trot, with mastery of the seam and impeccable control in overcast conditions. But from the depths of 36 for 4, India recovered to 141 for 9, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Irfan Pathan buttressing Uthappa's brilliant effort.
India then fielded with great energy and bowled superbly to defend the total but Pakistan stormed back in the final three overs. They might however reflect on the batting order, with the destructive Afridi having come to the crease when the situation was almost beyond salvage.
Rudra Pratap Singh had given India the perfect start, cleaning up the reckless Imran Nazir, and both he and Sreesanth kept the runs down to increase the pressure on Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal. It was Butt that finally succumbed to it, edging Ajit Agarkar's second delivery behind the stumps. That evened the scales somewhat, but after a fairytale comeback over from Pathan, it was India that were right on top.
A misunderstanding with Younis Khan sent Akmal packing off the first ball, and when Younis then gloved one back on to the stumps, a Pakistani victory was no longer a formality. A partnership was needed, and Misbah and Shoaib Malik built one, concentrating mainly on singles and the odd clever thump over the field.
Malik's patience finally snapped in Pathan's final over, with Harbhajan Singh taking the skier in the circle, and Pakistan needed almost two off every ball when Afridi walked to the middle. He never got going either, but instead of the death-knell, his departure sparked a stunning finish.
Mohammad Asif's four wickets pegged India back but Robin Uthappa's brave effort allowed India to post a total that proved enough...just © Getty Images
Harbhajan's otherwise immaculate spell was ruined by a six and a four from Misbah, and when the woefully off-radar Agarkar was clouted by Yasir Arafat and Misbah for 17 in the penultimate over, Pakistan needed just 12 from six. Misbah placed one beautifully over cover and then thumped one straight down the ground but it was to be Sreesanth that had the final say.
Such a keen contest looked extremely unlikely early on with Asif's bowling reminiscent of the peerless Glenn McGrath. Gautam Gambhir was brilliantly caught on the follow through at the second attempt, while Sehwag was sorted out as he so often has been of late, inside-edging one back on to his stumps.
Uthappa got going with a great flick off his pads for four, and a splendid lofted on-drive off Gul showed that he meant business. But there was little support at the other end, with Yuvraj Singh miscuing one off the leading edge to mid-off. Dinesh Karthik briefly alleviated the gloom with two glorious strokes off Asif, making room and lofting through the off side, but when the extra bounce induced another inside edge, Pakistan were right on top.
Asif's exit gave Uthappa and Dhoni the chance to resurrect the innings. Uthappa thumped Arafat for a straight six and then lofted him way into the stands at midwicket, but both batsmen struggled to work out the left-arm medium pace of Sohail Tanvir, who bowled off the wrong out a la Mike Proctor.
Afridi's introduction didn't stem the Indian momentum either, with Uthappa cutting and driving for fours, but a brief rain delay after he had reached 50 made all the difference. A thin edge through to Akmal gave Tanvir a first wicket, and brought Pathan to the crease.
A fascinating little tussle with Afridi followed. Two huge sixes over midwicket had the Indian fans cheering themselves hoarse, but Afridi had the last word with a quicker delivery that crashed into the leg stump.
Dhoni clubbed Arafat for a straight four and then swung him over fine leg for six, but the promised late explosion never came. Once he skied one to Younis at deep cover, India were left to limp to the finish. In the end though, those runs that were eked out made all the difference to a game that was the best possible advertisement for cricket's fledgling format.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Kapil Dev hitting 4 sixes in a row against England at Lord's
July 1990 - India under the captaincy of Mohd. Azharuddin and coaching of Bishen Bedi went to England for their 3-test tour. This turned out to be the tour where Graham Gooch had nothing going wrong.
First Test at Lords - India or Azhar put England into bat after winning the toss (Bedi would later distance himself from the decision!!!). Gooch went on a rampage after Kiran More, the Chairman of selectors of India, dropped him of the bowling of Manoj Prabhakar when he was less than 50 surely, scoring a high of 333!!!
This was the 6th highest ever test score; the Gooch/Lamb partnership of 308 was the highest England partnership v India and finally, England's total of 653-4 was the highest score against India!!! Lamb and Robin Smith also scored centuries for England.
This meant that India had to score a high of 454 to avoid the follow-on!!! Shastri and Azhar scored centuries in the reply but the middle-order (including Tendulkar) couldnt score much. Azharuddin's century is also spoken of in great delight from the sports pundits, but that is not the focus of this blog.The situation came to a point where the score was 430 for 9 with Kapil Dev and Narendra Hirwani at the crease. Hirwani was known not to contribute much with the bat. Hence, there was additional pressure on Kapil.
The over started from Eddie Hemmings (he was an old man by then as is typical with English spinners then) with Kapil on strike. In fact, Kapils mini-battle with Hemmings was the highlight of this series.The field was set in such a way that the singles could be taken easily, if required. The first 2 balls were defensively played by Kapil with no runs given away. The pressure was rising on the follow-on to be averted. Kapil, on the 3rd ball, jumped out and hit it over long-off for a six. Same followed on the 4th ball also. The 5th was more straighter six compared to the earlier 2. The last ball, Kapil just had made his decision to hit it for a 6. Hence, he pulled it away for a huge six thereby avoiding the follow-on with a 6. The importance of this was reflected in the fact that Hirwani was out in the very next over (since Kapil had not managed to retain the strike because of the sixes).
In his own words, Kapil mentioned ‘‘I wanted to deceive Hemmings, so played out the first two deliveries. He tossed up the next two, which I met on the full and hit over the top. The fifth ball, I was looking for a single, but when I danced down the track, I saw it was of fullish length and made a split second decision to loft it. The last was simply a slog. It was a very tense situation, but also great fun.’’
India went on to lose the match but it was Kapil's moments of Glory that stands out in the match that India lost. England won by 247 runs and the series 1-0.
Gary Sobers' six sixes - 40th anniversary dinner
August 2008 is the 40th anniversary of one of the most famous moments in sporting history – that day in the summer of 1968 when Sir Garfield Sobers became the first batsman in cricket history to score 36 in an over, as he struck Malcolm Nash – who with a declaration looming was experimenting with left-arm spin – for six consecutive sixes in an over during Nottinghamshire's first innings in their County Championship match at Swansea.
Gary will be making a visit to the U.K. this summer, and on the evening of Monday, June 16th, he will be the guest of honour at Cardiff for a unique 40th anniversary dinner in the National Cricket Centre.
The dinner, which has been organised as a fund-raising event by the Cardiff Institute for the Blind, will re-live Gary's remarkable feats and with many members of the Glamorgan 1968 team in the audience, a great evening of cricketing nostalgia is expected.
Tickets for the black tie event are now on sale @ £60 per head (with tables of ten @ £550). Anyone interested in booking a place at this unique event, or seeking further information, should send an e-mail to Richard Evans on richard@cibi.co.uk or ring him on 07850 129272.
6 Sixes in One Over - Gibbs
Herschelle Gibbs smashed his way into World Cup history when he hit six sixes in one over in a Group A match against the Netherlands on Friday.
The South African batsman became only the third man ever to achieve the feat in first class cricket and the first in the World Cup.
Dutch leg spinner Daan van Bunge back over his head four times and over the ropes on the on side twice to become the first player to achieve the feat in one-day cricket.
yuvraj 6 sixes in line
India 171/3 Yuvraj Singh 14* (6b 3×4)
18.1 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, that’s out the ground, super shot over cow corner and it just kept going up
18.2 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, now that really is sweet, no more than a dismissive flick off his legs, swatting a fly, and the ball arcs deep into the crowd beyond backward square leg
18.3 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, he’s hitting them everywhere, he steps to leg and smashes the ball over extra cover and it keeps on travelling … the fireworks start on top of the scoreboard … they’ve been going off in the middle for some time
18.4 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, Shiver me timbers!: Broad goes round the wicket, bowls a filthy wide full toss and Yuvraj steers it over backward point and it clears the rope again
18.5 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, down on one knee and larruped over midwicket, that one was more nine iron, it went into the night sky and dropped with a thud in the jubilant crowd …
18.6 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, and he has, Yuvraj leans back and smacks that over wide mid-on … it was the maximum from the moment it left that bat and the crowd were roaring as it flew
India 207/3 Yuvraj Singh 50* (12b 3×4 6×6)
WOW, and ALL SIXES he played with technique and not with running behind balls. J
And, FASTEST 50 records is with Yuvi ….. the last record was 18 balls 50 runs.
Yuvraj 6 Sixes vs England Twenty20 World Cup Match
India 171/3 Yuvraj Singh 14* (6b 3×4)
18.1 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, that’s out the ground, super shot over cow corner and it just kept going up
18.2 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, now that really is sweet, no more than a dismissive flick off his legs, swatting a fly, and the ball arcs deep into the crowd beyond backward square leg
18.3 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, he’s hitting them everywhere, he steps to leg and smashes the ball over extra cover and it keeps on travelling … the fireworks start on top of the scoreboard … they’ve been going off in the middle for some time
18.4 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, Shiver me timbers!: Broad goes round the wicket, bowls a filthy wide full toss and Yuvraj steers it over backward point and it clears the rope again
18.5 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, down on one knee and larruped over midwicket, that one was more nine iron, it went into the night sky and dropped with a thud in the jubilant crowd …
18.6 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, and he has, Yuvraj leans back and smacks that over wide mid-on … it was the maximum from the moment it left that bat and the crowd were roaring as it flew
India 207/3 Yuvraj Singh 50* (12b 3×4 6×6)
WOW, and ALL SIXES he played with technique and not with running behind balls. J
And, FASTEST 50 records is with Yuvi ….. the last record was 18 balls 50 runs.
Yuvraj Singh Six Sixes Twenty 20 6 6 6 6 6 6
India 171/3 Yuvraj Singh 14* (6b 3×4)
18.1 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, that’s out the ground, super shot over cow corner and it just kept going up
18.2 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, now that really is sweet, no more than a dismissive flick off his legs, swatting a fly, and the ball arcs deep into the crowd beyond backward square leg
18.3 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, he’s hitting them everywhere, he steps to leg and smashes the ball over extra cover and it keeps on travelling … the fireworks start on top of the scoreboard … they’ve been going off in the middle for some time
18.4 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, Shiver me timbers!: Broad goes round the wicket, bowls a filthy wide full toss and Yuvraj steers it over backward point and it clears the rope again
18.5 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, down on one knee and larruped over midwicket, that one was more nine iron, it went into the night sky and dropped with a thud in the jubilant crowd …
18.6 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, and he has, Yuvraj leans back and smacks that over wide mid-on … it was the maximum from the moment it left that bat and the crowd were roaring as it flew
India 207/3 Yuvraj Singh 50* (12b 3×4 6×6)
WOW, and ALL SIXES he played with technique and not with running behind balls. J
And, FASTEST 50 records is with Yuvi ….. the last record was 18 balls 50 runs.
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