A splendid tie

Any team that does not manage to defend a total of 338 runs in an ODI match, has some serious soul-searching to do. Dhoni's captaincy was absolutely pathetic. Two wickets when Dhoni simply forgot to appeal. UDRS decision that was over-turned. A lot of pedestrian fielding, too many negatives for India.

Sachin's century and Yuvraj's batting form where the only positives. Piyush Chawla bowling the 49th over was a wrong decision. Why did not Pathan get more overs to bowl? Munaf is a new-ball bowler and his quota should have been completed in the first 30 overs.

I hope Ashwin gets to play the next match and opens the bowling with Munaf at the other end. Team India - buck up or you will be bowled out by the real opposition not the minnows.

All credit to Strauss and Beresnan and Shahzad's six!

A Great Victory

A fantastic victory for Team India.

A new star Cheteshwar Pujara is born.

The hockey team walloped England 5-4 in a penalty shootout to qualify for the finals of the Commonwealth Games hockey tournament.

Can an inspired team defeat Australia in the finals?

Let us hope for the best.

Come on India!!!!!

Sachin Reaches Another Milestone

Image Courtesy-BBC


Sachin's status as the best in the game was reinforced when he became the first player in the history of ODI cricket to score 200 runs in an innings.

The crowd waited with bated breath as Sachin crossed 194 the record shared by Saeed Anwar and Charles Coventry.

At a stage he was stuck on 199 as Dhoni was hitting sixes and fours at the other end.

The milestone was attained on the third ball of the last over.

Sachin scored 200 not out of 147 balls.

Little Master has now become the Great Master!

Gambhir and Sachin Save India the Blushes

Determined centuries by Sachin and Gambhir and a patient 50 by Laxman ensured a draw.

The next test at Kanpur should be interesting. If the pitches remain as they were at Ahmedabad then well anything is possible.

41 and still counting.......

Yesterday when Kevin Pietersen set India a target of 386 runs with less than four full sessions of play, the chips were definitely in favour of England.

Sehwag and Gambhir began the chase in contrasting manners. Viru played as if there were no tomorrow and it was raining boundaries. At end of play on day four India had scored 131 runs for the loss of Viru's wicket. Viru laid the foundation for a possible Indian victory with a defiant 83 of 63 balls.

On day five Dravid's misery continued as he was out for 4 runs. Sachin and Gambhir consolidated the Indian chase before Gambhir was out for 66 runs. Yuvraj came out with immense pressure on him to deliver and under Sachin's patronage he produced a wonderful knock of 85 runs of 131 balls. As the afternoon progressed and the crowd continued its support with chants of "East or west Sachin is the Best," England lost all hope of winning the match.

Sachin in an extremely sedate manner reminding me of Dravid's double ton against Australia in 2003 scored the winning runs. He hit a boundary to score 103 and complete his 41st test century. His innings holds special significance as there were no sixes at all in it. Nine boundaries but we still love him for his passion and dedication. The victory is significant as this is the fourth highest successful run chase in tests.

Dhoni's winning run continues and Sehwag won the man of the match award for his blitzkrieg-like 83. One should feel sorry for Strauss who scored centuries in both innings but still ended up on the losing side.

The second test at Mohali is evenly poised. Let us see what happens.

INDIA vs ENGLAND TEST SERIES

There was a lot of uncertainty if England would return to India after the Mumbai blasts. Now things are OK and cricket once again binds broken souls. The first test at Chepauk has so far gone the way of the English. They scored 316 in their first innings and bowled out India for 241. Barring Dhoni and Harbhajan and to some extent Sachin and Laxman all the batsmen failed. In fact it was Dhoni and Harbhajan's crucial partnership that brought some respectability to India's first innings total.
Dhoni scored 53 and Bhajji scored 40. Flintoff, Swann, and Monty bowled well with Freddy and Monty picking three wickets each.

The English started their second inings disastrously losing three quick wickets. Strauss on 73 and Collingwood on 60 are playing well. At close of play today England
lead by 247 runs. A target of 375 plus and India might lose the plot.

Let us see what happens.
I really hope Dravid gets a good score, even a fifty will do his confidence a world of good.
Or perhaps it is time for him to retire gracefully.