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

[shantanu_rooney]

SkySports Cricket Chat​

David Gower: Hello and Welcome to The SkySports Chat . We are live from the Antigua in West Indies for the start of 20million USD twenty20 match between Stanford Allstars and England . The whole world is waiting for the start of this showdown match and now the wait is finally over as we are just few moments away from the start of the match. With me in the studio are Michael Holding, David Llyod, Ian Bishop and Jimmy Admas. Lets hear from our cricketing experts about their views and opinions about todays match.Well Michael welcome to the show what do you think about this megamoney match and how competitive it will be?

Michael Holding: The whole world is waiting for this match this year and i cant wait for it to get started as well. The rest of the world want to see some entertaining cricket . England are playing with their full strength but Allstars are with few new players and their team is younger when its compared to the experienced English side. There were few injury scare for the England team but then also they have regrouped and are still fighting as we saw in the first two matches and are not giving it up . Allstars on the other side have also a young team with many new faces who have performed in this series and they would be hoping that their Fab 3 that are Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul score today. This match means a lot to the players as the winner is to get 20million USD that is 1million USD to each player from the winning side. There are few mind games played by the Allstars captain as he said that its good Anderson has been dropped from the side but the big news for Allstars is that S.Chanderpaul has passed a late fitness test and is back in the side. This is a big boost for Allstars and they will be hoping to win this match at home soil but England will keep on fighting till the end.

David Llyod: I agree with David that England will be facing tough time in this match . If you take a look at the probable starting eleven for today then Allstars are with full strength but England are missing few players due to injury . The left handed fast bowler Ryan Siddebottom is missing from the list due to injury . Ravinder Bopara is back in the side but Luke Wright is rated ahead of him and he is a promising allrounder as well. Pietersen is the main player for England as he can destroy the Allstars bowling attack with his aggressive batting and his ability to hit the ball hard and so is Andrew Flintoff. I will love to see the battle between Bravo-Pietersen and Gayle-Flintoff.

Ian Bishop: Well England will have to fight hard if they want to win this match . If we take a look at this match then both teams wont experiment too much and will play their best XI as winning this match will win them 20million USD. Allstars have the advantage as they are the home side and England will face some difficulties here but their team has lots of promising players as well. So this match is going to be competitive.

David Gower: Thank You gentlemen for your wonderful expert comments. Time to take a short break when we come back we will take you live for the Pitch Report, the toss and few interesting records from Jimmy Adams.

 

[saladguy]

Can't wait lets hope that England can win!!!!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

SkySports Cricket Chat​

David Gower: Welcome back to The SkySports Cricket Chat . Ian Botham is on the pitch and is ready for the pitch report.

Pitch Report​

Ian Botham: Thanks David .Its a cool day and the conditions are perfect for the start of the mega money showdown match. This is a good pitch. Batsmen will be happy after seeing this pitch but there is some moisture on the pitch which will help the fast bowlers as they will get some swing with the new ball. But as the game progresses the ball will come nicely on to the bat and there wont be any trouble for the batting team. The bowlers will have to keep the ball in the right areas if they want to get wickets or else the batsmen will get on top of the bowlers. The pitch looks slow and spinners like Benn and Swann will come into play for sure. The team winning the toss should bat first and post a big total to chase. Back to you David.

David Gower: Ian Botham with the pitch report saying that batsmen will be benifited from this pitch and spinners will also have an important role to play. Let's see if its Benn, Mohammed, Patel or Swann. Now lets go down to Nasser Husaain for the all important toss.

Toss​

Nasser Hussain: Thank You David......The crowd is in action they are all waiting to get this match on its way so are the two captains Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen. Chris tosses the coin .....tails is the call from Pietersen and it comes down as heads.....Allstars have won the toss and there a huge roar from the crowd .Well Chris congratulations on winning the toss whats your decision .

Chris Gayle: We will bat first. The pitch is good for batting and bowlers will get help only for the first few overs and then the ball will come on the bat nicely and hopefully we can get a good score on this wicket.

Nasser Hussain: And what about your team who have made it in for this huge game?

Chris Gayle: We are going with full strength with Marshall and myself opening the batting and then the rest as usual as we played in the last two matches and Powell, Barvo and Taylor are the 3 fast bowlers, Benn and Mohammed in the side as well . Overall a good side for this match.

Nasser Hussain: And what score are you looking for?

Chris Gayle: Well the pitch is good for batting we will try to reach over 170-200 and then try to defend it against a strong England team.

Nasser Hussain: Well good luck for the match Chris.

Chris Gayle: Thank you .

Nasser Hussain: Well Kevin lost the toss disappointed with that?

Kevin Pietersen: Yeah the pitch is good for batting and now we will have to get early wickets when there is a bit of moisture on the wicket and then it will be difficult to get wickets as the pitch will be batting friendly .

Nasser Husaain: What about your side ?

Kevin Pietersen: It was very hard decision to make but Jimmy misses out as the pitch looks slow and spinner friendly so Luke and Swann come in other wise is the same team. we also hope we get a very good opening partnership as we got in the two matches from ian and Matt.

Nasser Hussain: Well good luck for the match Kevin.

Kevin Pietersen: Thank You.

Nasser Hussain: News from here is the Chris Gayle has won the toss and Allstars will bat first. back to you David.

David Gower: Well the news from the centre is that Allstars have won the toss and elected to bat first. Lets take a look at the teams.

Stanford Allstars: 1)Chris Gayle(c) 2)Andre Barath 3)Shivnarine Chanderpual 4)Ramnaresh Sarwan 5)Dwayne Bravo 6)Ryan Emrit 7)Andre Fletcher(wk) 8)Suliemann Benn 9)Darren Powell 10)Jerome Taylor 11)Dave Mohammed

England: 1)Ian Bell 2)Matt Prior(wk) 3)Owais Shah 4)Kevin Pietersen(c) 5)Paul Collingwood 6)Andrew Flintoff 7)Samit Patel 8)Luke Wright 9)Graeme Swann 10)Stuart Broad 11)Steve Harmison

 

[shefellover93]

Brilliant update Shantanu, shoe in for SOTM really

 

[Punk_Sk8r]

Nice story here, good presentation. I didn't see this story until now good to see some nice stories still going about.

 

[Amiya]

Great decision by Gayle to bat on... Early wickets will be the key for England. Good update mate. Kutgw

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Gayle off to a Flyer​

The stadium was fully filled and there was a huge roar when the two batsman Chris Gayle and Xavier Marshall walked in. The West Indian crowd were expecting some fireworks from their skipper. Steve Harmison for the first time in this series was given the new ball due to the absence of Jimmy Anderson. It Harmison to Gayle and Harmison started off very well with the ball swinging a bit. But from the next ball it was all Gayle domination. Harmison was smashed over point for the first boundary of the match and there was a huge cheer amongst the fans. Soon later Gayle smashed Harmison's full length delivery out of the ground for a huge six. Gayle clearly showed his aggressive intentions. Gayle took two runs of the last ball which meant Allstars had started of very well with 12 runs of the first over. But there was more to come as Marshall gave strike to Gayle the first ball itself of the new over bowled by Stuart Broad who was very impressive in the last match against Trinidad taking 5 wickets. But Gayle showed no respect what so ever to Broad as he pulled a bouncer over short fine leg for a four. Next ball Gayle smashed him over midon for another boundary and soon it was followed by another boundary over mid-off. Crowd had gone man and Gayle was in complete aggressive nature as he smashed Broad for the fourth boundary of the over, over mid off. It was all going Gayle's way as Broad conceded 18 runs of his first over.

Harmison was given his second over of the night. Xavier Marshall again giving his skipper the strike of the first ball. But this Harmison varied his pace and line and also got the results. But Gayle had some other intentions as he smashed Harmison over mid-on for four. There was a lot of thinking for Pietersen to do and finally he made a fielding change asking mid-on to drop back to long on to reduce the boundaries and it did happen. Gayle's aggressive cricket has put England on the defensive mode and Pietersen was rather happy conceding singles rather than boundaries in the third over itself. Harmison conceded 8 runs from his second over. Pietersen had a lot of faith in Stuart Broad as he was given his second over even after he went for 18 runs in his first over. But this time Broad bowled a brilliant maiden over. Broad got some out swing on the ball and troubled Xavier Marshall and almost found the outside edge four times in the same over. It was a brilliant comeback over by Stuart Broad. Steve Harmison was given the ball for the last over of his spell and it was Chris Gayle to face Harmison. But this Gayle showed more respect for Harmison has Harmison was able to swing the ball away from left handers and into to the right handers and it troubled Chris Gayle. Harmison conceded 4 singles and 1 wide of his third over.

N.Hussain: What a brilliant aggressive start from the Super Stars. Chris gayle has entertained the crowd with his quickfire 38 of 20 balls including 7 fours and a huge six while Xavier Marshall has struggled a bit. Harmison has bowled well but Broad was very expensive in his first over but came back brilliantly. England need to get a wicket over here or else Super Stars would easily get passed 200 runs.

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Stanford Allstars 43/0
C.Gayle 38(20)
X.Marshall 3(10)
Extras 2

S.Harmison 3-0-25-0
S.Broad 2-1-18-0

 

[Amiya]

Superstars started of very well. Gayle would be the danger for England. Kutgw

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Thats a great start for the Superstars. Going over 8 an over is brilliant. England really needs to get Gayle out or they are loosing this game for sure!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Gayle reaches 50 as England in deep trouble​

Stanford Allstars had got of to a brilliant start thanks to their skipper Chris Gayle who had scored some quick runs. Harmison had gone for gone for 25 in his three while Broad had been smashed for 18 in his first over but came back brilliantly in the second over with a maiden. Broad was continuing his third and last over of his spell. And again Broad got some swing and bounce which troubled Xavier Marshall who completely looked below par today. Broad conceded just 4 runs of his 3rd over all coming in singles. England needed to keep it tight or get one or two wickets over here or else Allstars were gonna kill them. Andrew Flintoff was given the ball. There were lots of high expectation from this Lancashire allrounder. But he got of to a poor as he was pulled away for a boundary the first ball itself. the next ball Gayle smashed him over mid wicket for a four. Gayle was in sublime form and showed no respect for the bowlers. With that boundary Gayle reached his half century and that was a outstanding innings played by the Stanford Allstars skipper. The crowd gave their hero with a huge standing ovation. Flintoff was expensive in his first over as he went for 11 runs of his first over. Finally Pietersen brought Graeme Swann the off spinner in the attack. And the first ball he bowled was smashed over long on for a maximum. It was the worst way a spinner could have started. But later Swann came back very well and conceded just 2 runs of his last 5 balls.

Flintoff continued and changed the angle to Gayle by coming all round the wicket. The first ball again Gayle smashed him over point for a boundary and then took the single and gave Marshall the strike. Marshall had really struggled against the English bowlers. But he had made his mind to take a single and give the inform and settled skipper Chris Gayle the most of the strike. And again Gayle dispatched a half volley for a boundary and nothing was going England's way and everything Gayle hit went all the way for a boundary. Flintoff went for 10 runs of his second over and Allstars were in a great position. Graeme Swann continued but this it was Marshall who hit Swann over his head for a four. This was Marshall's first boundary of the game and it took 18 balls to come. But again it was Swann who got the better of Marshall and conceded just 2 runs of his last 5 overs. Marshall was just unable to read the spin of Swann and that's what troubled Marshall the most. But the Allstars after 10 overs were in the driving seat with a the score of 82 runs on the board.

I.Bishop: Captain Gayle has reached his 50 and is heading for a big one over here. The crowd are being entertained by this innings. England need to get some quick wickets now or else they are out of the match. Kevin Pietersen needs to bring the left arm spinner into the attack and operate with two spinners. After 10 overs Allstars are 82 for the loss of 0 wickets.

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Stanford Allstars 83/0
C.Gayle 65(39)
X.Marshall 10(21)
Extras 7

S.Harmison 3-0-25-0
S.Broad 3-1-22-0
A.Flintoff 2-0-21-0
G.Swann 2-0-14-0

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Gayle has already stamped his authority over the bowlers. He is now settled in and can make a huge T20 score. But you never know when it comes to Twenty 20's, it can all change in an over. But at the half way stage Stanford on top. 180 is likely here at the moment.

Could this be the first ever story you end because it finishes?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Gayle has already stamped his authority over the bowlers. He is now settled in and can make a huge T20 score. But you never know when it comes to Twenty 20's, it can all change in an over. But at the half way stage Stanford on top. 180 is likely here at the moment.

Could this be the first ever story you end because it finishes?

Well I had a Kiwi story which lasted for almost 4-5 months hand i finished one test and one ODI series. But over here i would be finishing this series by this weekend and will move on to another series , which means I would be continuing with England in this story ...

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Oh dammit!...I mean err great stuff!

 

[Highlander999]

Good man shantanu, nice to see you sticking with this. I remember I voted for your NZ story in the PC Awards

Gayle is going very well at the moment, England need some wickets and soon

 

[saladguy]

Wow Gayle is really on a one-man-mission! England need two or three wickets and fast!