The toss was won, India decided to bat and everything in Colombo seemed perfect. The weather, the three-spinners-Indian squad, the pumped up atmosphere, the determined looking players, the comprehensive victory against England four days back. But what nobody anticipated was the total whiplash by the mighty Australians.
India started out well, scoring a respectable 69 in the first 10 overs. Pathan and Gambhir were asked to open and Pathan looked firm. Gambhir lost his wicket to a Cummins- football- run out. Virat Kohli came next and the ODI player of the year succumbed to a short ball by Cummins and whipped it into the air, giving Christian an easy catch. The match was even till the 10th over. What developed in the last 10 overs is something no Indian fan would like to remember. Wickets fell one after the other and before long India were crumbling at 75 for 5. Dhoni and Raina tried to stabilize the innings, but were choked by the brilliant fielding and bowling by the Australians. They failed to let any loose balls by and India ended at 140 for 7 after the 20 overs.
Brad Hogg, at the age of 41 bowled and fielded like a 20 year old. Watson was at his supreme best, taking 3 wickets. Cummins, proved to be a lethal pacer and rattled the Indian batting line up.
It was a dismal batting performance by the Indian Team.
Watson and Warner walked out 10 minutes later. Ashwin was tossed the ball. From there, there was no looking back for Australia. The bowling was off, the fielding was drab, the whole vibe of the Indian Team was that of depression and negativity. The bowling was not spot on and Watson and Warner batted Beautifully. Watson was at his supreme best and it was a delight to watch those mid wicket sixes and the huge boundaries.
Watson was dismissed by Yuvraj Singh, at the end of the Australian Innings, thereby making the Aussie win a little less awesome. Australia reached the target with 9 wickets in hand and 6 overs to spare.
Indians are currently last in the table and have an abysmal -2.331 run rate, going into the match against Pakistan on Sunday.
Watson was given the man of the match for his scintillating half century and 3 wickets.
Until the next match,
Aishwarya Kumar.
One of your best reviews Aishu. :)
ReplyDeleteTerrible match. It was SOOOO hard to watch. X(
I am so scared for the next match. WE MUST WIN.
India vs Pakistan. X|
Thank you. :D
DeleteIt was terrible. My stomach feels so heavy. :'(
Must win situation now. :'(
The wicket did the trick , it was slow , kept low and did turning, but the side-spin was never lethal , And there Watson was able to rock on to the back-foot and and go over the top . The leg spinner from India was trying to mix it up with his wrongen but the batsmen had all time on earth to play of the back foot .
ReplyDeleteAnd about Irfan Pathan's bowling - He is a very good bowler , but his resources are limited . It is a very good thing that he has got back his swing and he has a very effective slower ball . This is his strength and he should have stuck to the same . Instead , he tried pitching the ball shot and that too at only 70 miles an hour. It would have worked out well in a domestic game when he is up against poor pullers and certainly not against any Australian side . He should have tried to pitch the ball up and see if there any swing . Only that would have created doubts in Watson's mind. I still remember Irfan's Golden ha-trick against Pakistan in a test match that had similar sub-continental conditions , here u can see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxBxyA4Y9i4 . he was not too shot , he was getting the ball right up and swinging it into the right-handers ( away from the left hander ) . That is his Strength and he needs to stick to it . He is a very promising talent and all he has to to his back his own strength.
ReplyDeleteYa, very true about Irfan there!
ReplyDelete