Story England in India 2008-***Indians off to a Steady Start***

[Karachi Xpress]

Gayle is just killing England! Great batting by him. His wicket could be a great thing for England!

Nice stuff! KUTGW!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Marshall joins the Party with some Boundaries​

After a brilliant start by the Allstars openers it was now time for some quick runs. They could afford taking risks has they still had 10 wickets in hand. England bowlers while were on the receiving end of Gayle's superb innings. Pietersen dcided to bring his second spinner on in the form of left arm spinner Samit Patel. He was given a warm welcome by Xavier Marshall of the first ball itself he smashed Patel over the covers for a four. Soon in the same over Xavier Marshall played a fine late cut which raced all the way to boundary. Patel went for 10 runs in his over including 2 fours and 2 singles. Graeme Swann who went for 14 in his first two overs continued. The spinners were getting some turn but that didn't troubled the two openers as they were freely playing their shots. Gayle smashed Swann over the point region for a boundary. Swann conceded 8 runs of the over. Pietersen and England were in deep trouble and they needed a wicket over here or else Allstars were posting a huge total. Patel continued from the pavilion end. Marshall and Gayle were quite happy in taking 7 runs of his second over which consisted of 0 fours or sixes. The running between the wicket was very good.

Graeme Swann was given his final over of the spell. Gayle looked aggressive and smashed Swann high in the air. But the ball just fell short of the long off fielder. This was a huge opportunity a half chance but England need this to be taken. Marshall on the other hand had started to score some runs freely. Swann bowled a short pitched delivery and Marshall lofted it over wide mid on and beat the long on fielder to the boundary. It was all going the wrong way for the Englishman. Graeme Swann went for 8 runs of his last over and ended with the figures of none for 30. There was a bowling change made by Kevin Pietersen. Luke Wright the Sussex allrounder was given the ball and first ball Wright could have seen the back of Marshall. Wright pitched a full length delivery and Marshall went for the drive but nicked it and ball just falling short of keeper Matt Prior. Yet another half chance wasted by England. Marshall took three runs next ball with a delicate cut towards third. Gayle was beaten twice by Luke Wright off cutters and the last Gayle smashed him for a huge six over deep point taking Gayle's tall of sixes to 3. England were in deep deep trouble and really now they need the wicket of Chris Gayle or else Gayle is going to celebrate his second century in T20 cricket.

I.Botham: There is very little turn for the spinners and I feel the fast bowlers now have to do the job. England if can get one wicket over here then they could be rewarded with more one of two wickets. But they have to get that main wicket of Chris Gayle who is playing a captain knock and leading his side from the front. So after 15 overs Allstars are 124 for the loss of 0 wickets.

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Stanford Allstars 124/0
C.Gayle 83(51)
X.Marshall 31(39)
Extras 10

S.Harmison 3-0-25-0
S.Broad 3-1-22-0
A.Flintoff 2-0-21-0
G.Swann 4-0-30-0
S.Patel 2-0-17-0
L.Wright 1-0-9-0

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Marshall has played a very important innings here. He let Gayle do the work at first and made sure he stayed in. Got himself settled into the middle of the field and now he's going for them aswell. Huge score on the cards here.

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Thats great batting by both the openers. Marshall has really played an important part in this inning. I can see around 170-180 on the board.

Nice stuff. KUTGW!

 

[saladguy]

Woah five overs to go and England are completely screwed!!!

 

[westindies2007]

5 Over, Super stars Should get around 50 More Runs +

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Stanford Superstars Set 174 as Target​

The stage was set for Chris Gayle who was on 83 not out to reach his second twenty 20 century. Allstars were in a brilliant position with a score of 124 on the board with the loss of no wickets. England needed to slower the run rate and also at the same time take wickets. Pietersen turned towards one of the best all rounders in the world for a hope of wicket. Andrew Flintoff was given his second spell. But he didn't start as he expected. Flintoff bowled a very short pitched length asking the batsman to play the hook or pull shot in the air. This tactic worked well to stop the flow of runs. But anything pitched fuller was smashed for boundary by the inform and deadly Chris Gayle. Gayle went into the nineties with two brilliant shots for boundary one over covers and other between long off and long of Flintoff's over. Flintoff was very expensive as he went for 13 runs of his over which included 2 boundaries by Chris Gayle. Luke Wright was replaced by Samit Patel and Patel bowled a very economical over in this circumstances and only going for 7 runs out of which 6 runs including a boundary over mid wicket came of Marshall's bat.

Andrew Flintoff continued with his short pitched deliveries but this time he got his result. Chris Gayle decided to attack the bouncer but didn't get much elevation and distance as expected and ended up being caught by Samit Patel at fine leg. An entertaining and brilliant innings came to an end and the crowd gave him a standing ovation as he made his was back to the pavilion. Chanderpual as we know how capable he is of scoring some quick runs came into the middle. Flintoff continued bowling bouncers but the second ball Chanderpaul faced, Flintoff was smashed for for just in front of square. Flintoff was overall expensive in his spell by going for 42 runs and taking the main wicket of Chris Gayle.

Pietersen decided to go to his strike bowlers and gave Steve Harmison his last over of his spell. Harmison started well and got some reverse swing but that didn't troubled the right hander Xavier Marshall who smashed him over mid wicket for a boundary. Soon later in the same over Chanderpaul also got into the attack as he pulled Harmison slower bouncer for four beating the the fine leg and mid wicket fielder. Harmison was expensive in his last over as he went for 10 runs. As expected Stuart Broad was given the last over of the innings. Broad didn't start as he would have liked as he was smashed for two consecutive boundaries over mid wicket and point of his first two balls by Chanderpaul. But Broad came back brilliantly and bowled 3 yorkers of the remaining 4 balls and just gave away 2 runs of the last 4 balls. With this Allstars ended their innings with a score of 173 runs of the board.

I.Bishop: It has been some great batting by the Allstars, specially Chris Gayle who gave them a brilliant start but was unlucky to fall in the 90s. But Allstars have posted 174 runs to be chased by the English batsman to take home 20million USD. For England it was all frustration for their bowlers and Flintoff was the only one to pick a wicket. England require 174 runs in 20 overs at 8.7 runs per over.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Chanderpaul...attack!? . I don't think England would've been celebrating about Gayle's departure. They'd still be very downbeat, maybe a little relieved. Great innings from Stanford. I reckon Stanford will win, can't see England reaching this.

 

[saladguy]

Disappointment for Gayle not reaching his half century! Hard target for England to reach, i think that Superstars will win! Great presentation Shantanu! Awesome work!!!!!!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Positive start by England​

England needed 174 from their 20 overs and that was a huge ask from them. England needed again their opening partnership to click and score big runs for them. Ian Bell and Matt Prior opened the batting for the Three Lions. While for the Stanford Superstars it was Jerome Taylor who was given the new ball.

England were off the mark first ball with a boundary from Ian Bell's. Taylor decided to start and test bell with a bouncer of the first ball but it looked as if Bell was ready for it and he smashed it away beating the fine leg fielder all the way for a four. Taylor like the English openers was getting some swing and he had the pace to trouble the batsman. But Bell found it easy to face Taylor and take the ones and an twos. Taylor went for 10 of his first over and most of the runs had come on the leg side and from Ian Bell's bat. Darren Powell who hasn't been in form in this Stanford Super Series shared the new ball along with Jerome Taylor.

Matt Prior flicked him of the first ball itself towards the fine leg to take two runs. But next Powell struck. Powell pitched the ball fuller and Prior going for the straight drive gave an easy catch to bowler Darren Powell. Darren Powell showed some good reflexes as Matt Prior departed for 3 runs. England had lost their first wicket. New man in was Owais Shah. Shah hasn't fire yet with bat in the series and would surely like to answer his critics by helping England to win this match.

Lots of pressure was mounting on the two English batsman. The winner of the match takes 20million USD and that was a huge pressure. Owais Shah got of the mark with a gentle flick oh his pads beating fine leg for a boundary. The boundaries were becoming difficult to come by thanks due to some really tight fielding and bowling by the Stanford Allstars. The English batsman did the job in ones and twos and kept the scoreboard ticking. Jerome Taylor bowled well in his second over going for just 8 runs without conceding any boundary. The running between the wicket was also excellent. That has been the feature throughout this series. Powell was in his second over. he had gone for 10 runs of his first over and bowled brilliantly in his second over. Powell was able to bowl some consistent yorkers which troubled the two batsman. But Bell released some pressure with boundary over the infield. Powell went for 7 runs in his second over. Jerome Taylor continued and was in his last over of his spell. Like Powell he too was consistent in bowling yorkers but this time two batsman kept on rotating the strike with some quick running between the wickets. Like Bell, Owais Shah released some pressure with another flick of the pads for four this time very fine and the fine leg fielder had no change of even reaching ball.

N.Hussain: After the end of 5 overs England are going well with 45 runs on the board with the loss of only one wicket. England need a good partnership between this two batsman. While for Superstars one or two wickets could put more pressure on the English batsman. England still need 129 runs from 15 overs.

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England 45/1
I.Bell* 23(15)
M.Prior c and b Powell 3(4)
O.Shah* 18(11)
Extras 1

J.Taylor 3-0-27-0
D.Powell 2-0-18-1

 

[saladguy]

Wow, it looks like this match could go either way!

 

[Amiya]

Great batting by Gayle in the first innings... And now its England time. If England could score 80+ in first 10overs then Match will be in England favour. Good update mate.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

The England Batting Collapse​

England were off to a decent start and they early lost the wicket of Matt Prior but since Owais Shah arrived England looked positive. England needed this partnership to carry on and not lose any wicket. Darren Powell was given a breather by Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo the allrounder was given the ball. Barvo started off well and had a lot of variation of pace. England looked comfortable to hit him for ones and twos. Bravo went 6 singles of his over. Jerome Taylor as expected was given a rest and the left arm chinaman Sulieman Benn was given the ball. Bell the first ball hit him towards long on for a two. But the next ball it was all over for Bell. Benn pitching ball in the good length area and Bell playing with room was beaten by pace and clean bowled. Bell departed for 30 and skipper Kevin Pietersen came into the crease.

Pietersen straight away got of the mark with a single towards long on. But Benn struck again. This time a flighted delivery and Shah went for the slog sweep and completely missed the ball and was cleaned bowled. Superstars were dancing and the crowd had gone mad. Shah went with just 21 runs in front of his name. Former skipper Paul Collingwood walked in. England were in deep trouble and they needed this two to play a big innings over here. Benn was brilliant in his first over by conceding just 5 runs of the over. Bravo continued and he continued to trouble the batsman with his variation of pace. Boundaries were very hard to come by due to some accurate bowling and tight fielding. Bravo again went for 6 singles of his second over.

England were in deep trouble and needed some quick runs as the required run rate was rising after every ball. Suliemann Benn continued to Paul Collingwood. Again Benn tried to give the ball some flight but this Collingwood got over him and swept him for a four over mid wicket. Same ball was bowled again and the result was the same. But the third ball Benn got the better of Collingwood. Benn pitched the ball in the good length area and Collingwood went for the cut but was completely beaten by the spin of the ball and he was cleaned bowled. Collingwood's resistance was over for 8 and England were in deep trouble as Flintoff arrived. Bravo who was economical in his first two overs was given a rest and Ryan Emrit was given the ball. Freddie welcomed him to the party with a glorious shot over the cover fielder for four. But soon in the same over Emrit struck and added some more salt on England wounds as Flintoff departed playing a poor leg glance and was caught at square leg by Benn. Samit Patel arrived at the crease and got of the mark straight away of the last ball with a single towards fine leg.

J.Adams: Stanford Superstars are on a roll. That's thanks to some poor batting by the England middle order. It has been a collapse from England and they need to steady the ship now and also at the same time score some quick runs. But still England have some hope because of their skipper Kevin Pietersen who is unbeaten at 8. For Superstars Sulieman Benn bowled brilliantly and troubled all English batsman. England need 98 runs in 10 overs.

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England 76/5
I.Bell b Benn 30(22)
M.Prior c and b Powell 3(4)
O.Shah b Benn 21(14)
K.Pietersen* 8(10)
P.Collingwood b Benn 8(5)
A.Flintoff c Benn b Emrit 4(4)
S.Patel* 1(1)
Extras 1

J.Taylor 3-0-27-0
D.Powell 2-0-18-1
D.Bravo 2-0-12-0
S.Benn 2-0-14-3
R.Emrit 1-0-5-1

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Its all over now! England have no chance now!

BTW, in your score it says 76/1. It should be 76/5.

Nice stuff! KUTGW!

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Total annihilation at the moment. You'd have thought when KP and Freddie came to the crease, they'd have a chance, but no. Just brilliant bowling by Stanford. They took a wicket but didn't stop there, they carried on piling the pressure. Great presentation mate.