Story India's Journey To WCup,Special Edition-Johnnie Walker is back!

[plympilgrim]

two strong sides but india look the better all round side

 

[The Blazer]

I don't think most people here understand the intense rivalry between Pakistan and India- Most people are asking me to chill. :rtfl

Every single word in my last post is true- Just ask any Pak or Ind fan. The two countries are always on the brink of war and one stray word on the cricket field could fuse off an international conflict. Petty events such as a football derby or even the Ashes are nothing compared to a Pak-Indo clash! This is it; this one of the most highly anticipated events in world sport.

As for the line-up, feeling kind of bemused. It's all good having Malik at 3 (as it's his best position; proven) but Younis Khan at six! What's happening there? Akmal, if he gets going, can be devastating at the top of the order but I still think you needed Hafeez batting up there to provide stability. Same goes for Afridi: He can be destructive on flat wickets (45 ball century against India '05) but even as a die-hard fan I must say that he's a liability at the top of the order and should be preserved at the No. 6 spot so he can cause all sorts of havoc in the later stages of the game. Also don't see what has justified Kaneria's place in the XI- Afridi is a much better ODI bowler than him, and Malik and Hafeez (if he were playing) would have provided solid back-up.

Conditions look good though. Typical sub-continent flat track; bowlers will have a hard time. Hoping for 300+ scores from both teams. Get ready for some Boom Boom dhamaka!

 

[surendar]

LIVE​

Champions Trophy06,India
India Vs Pakistan
PreLim Round,Live From Kolkata.

Great Start From Pakistan
( India Needs A Breakthrough )​

well, With all set ready for the match, Agarkar and Munaf shared the new ball and Akmal & Afridi were ready for the challenge. After Umpire said to start and Agarkar started his runner up and there was a huge roar from the crowd! Well the crowd today has been excellent... Its full and fans cheering their teams everywhere. Thats the speciality of Indo-pak matches i.e always full crowd attendance!

Munaf's Great First Over

Munaf started his spell with great threaten! To everyone's suprise he was getting inswingers also not much movement though. But it troubled Akmal very much. He was decieved a couple of occassions.

* In one of the occassions, the ball almost took the bails where ball moved into the batsmen & Akmal was decieved when offering a simple stroke.

* In other, Munaf bowled a quick ball which once again decieved Akmal but it looked like, there was mistake on Akmal's side who was moving his feet wrongly and looked bit uncmofortable against Munaf.

In the same over, Munaf once again bowled a beautiful delivery where Akmal was trapped for a LBW and there was a huge shout from Munaf and other players. But Umpire remained Unmoved. The replay showed that it was a good decision due to height factor.

It was a great start from Munaf and India! It looked like, India wud get the early wicket soon but Afridi spoiled the hopes.

Afridi & Akmal, Fifty Runs Partnership!
( Boom Boom Dhamaka )​

It was only over where Indians seemed to be threatening! After that it was Afridi's turn to do the same, He started off aggressively with a four and was freeing his arms against both the bowlers.

Afridi's main intension of going over the bowlers was very clear. Munaf decieved Afridi though in few occassions but the runs from him never stopped. Afridi was dancing on the creasing comfortably hitting boundaries.

After taking time, Akamal got settled too. He played couple of boundaries but his intension of not throwing away the wicket was clearly seen. Akmal did not attempt to go over the bowlers like his partners but was trying to concentrate hard to regain the confidence from Munaf's first over!

Meanwhile, Ten Overs ended and the scoring rate is just below 6 per over becos of some slow batting from Akmal. But the good thing for Pakistan is they didnt loose any wickets. Indian bowlers badly need a wicket considering the depth batting order for Pakistan.


Pakistan :- 54/0(10)
S.Afridi : 26*(25)
K.Akmal : 24*(35)

 

[surendar]

As for the line-up, feeling kind of bemused.

Regarding line up, i was also confused to choose XI as all seemed important to me... I noticed that u werent online when i was abt to choose but Pak_Cricketer was there... So i pmed him abt the line up asking whether thats ok but unfortunately, as soon as i pmed him, he went offline!

Also regarding Younis Khan.. i was confused where to fit him with Yousuf and Inzi ahead and Malik best at No:3!

Regarding Kaneria, i thought of a specialist spinner needed in Indian conditions and hence selected!

 

[mehkar]

wow wowGood start Pak...........nice Performance cool partnership BTW my old mate Afridi and Wk Akmal reps for you...........
Btw Nice presentation suren nice story to read

 

[The Blazer]

Good steady start from Pak! With Afridi at the crease, you never know what's going to happen- Thankfully he's pulled it all together and started in fine fashion. Batting will just get easier over the next ten overs as the ball stops to zip about as much. Good to see Akmal has got his eye in after a tough first over. Scoring at a good runrate right now, but Afridi really gets going then Pak can easily get a 100 runs in the next ten overs!

Nice India kit btw. :cool:

 

[The Blazer]

Regarding line up, i was also confused to choose XI as all seemed important to me... I noticed that u werent online when i was abt to choose but Pak_Cricketer was there... So i pmed him abt the line up asking whether thats ok but unfortunately, as soon as i pmed him, he went offline!

Also regarding Younis Khan.. i was confused where to fit him with Yousuf and Inzi ahead and Malik best at No:3!

Regarding Kaneria, i thought of a specialist spinner needed in Indian conditions and hence selected!

Ah, I see. Well, Afridi and Akmal are off to a good start, but we are still to see if this line-up will last the full 50 overs. If its works, then it's all good, but if not, don't hesitate in asking me for a line-up the next time Pak play!

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Boom boom!
Wrong team, should be doing this against the Aussies :
C'mon Jumbo!

 

[plympilgrim]

great start here for the pakistani's, boom boom is teeing himself up for a big destructive knock here. With Akmal supporting and no wickets down yet 300 looks ominous

 

[surendar]

LIVE​

Champions Trophy06,India
India Vs Pakistan
PreLim Round,Live From Kolkata.

Sreesanth Strikes!
( Akmal Trapped for a LBW )​

Akmal who was uncomfortable with the footwork fell in the trap of Sreesanth. Dravid decided to bring Sreesanth in Agarkar's end and that worked in very first over. Sreesanth utilised Akmal's weakness ( footwork ) cleverly!

Sreesanth started his over by delivering some great deliveries that were teasing Akmal. Akmal was not able to score runs from first four deliveries. This made Dravid to bring one more slip to Akmal.

In fifth delivery of Sreesanth, Akmal was trapped for LBW! It was a quick straight delivery and Akmal made a huge mistake of going for backfoot and was completely decieved and ball staright away striked the pads of Akmal. There was huge shout from the bowler. There was huge shout from behind the stumps. ( from Dhoni, and two slip fielders Dravid and Tendulkar ) Also there was a huge roaring from Indian fans... & Umpire raised his finger.

Well, Sreesanth was delighted a lots and entire Indian team were brought together in celebration of this wicket. Akmal was disappointed becos he wasnt able to convert his watchful start to a good one. Also the replay showed that it was once again a good decision from umpire.

Atlast a good opening partnership came to an end and the entire over of Sreesanth produced just one run with Malik, who replaced Akmal, getting single off the last ball.


Pakistan :- 55/1(11)
S.Afridi : 26*(25)
S.Malik : 1*(1)


K.Akmal : 24(40) Dismissed by Sreesanth

 

[Pak_cricketer]

Go Pakistan, Our Middle order will keep us stable.. Also I was a bit late getting back to you suren, Afterall I live in Canada

 

[The Blazer]

Let's hope this line-up works out, pak!

India needed that breakthrough; but if Afridi continues to fire then Pakistan can bat themselves into a very strong position.

 

[surendar]

LIVE​

Champions Trophy06,India
India Vs Pakistan
PreLim Round,Live From Kolkata.

Pakistan in Good Position!
( Afridi Reaches Half Century )​

With the wicket of Akmal, Dravid wanted to utilise the breakthrough but Afridi and Malik denied India that chance. Dravid infact made a strange decision of continuing Munaf and Agarkar for some overs inspite with Sreesanth in one end. But both these batsmen played well and made sure that they didnt make any silly mistakes to throw the wicket.

Infact Malik started his innings with great confidence. He was very comfortable with his foot works and seemed to be aggressive like his partner! This made Dravid to loose some temper as hammering is being done in both the ends by both the batsmen. Atleast with Akmal & Afrid pair, Dravid was targetting to attack Akmal... but with this pair, he was confused a bit to place his fielders!

Afridi continued the same aggression and was giving his fans, an excellent entertainment. Only Sixes are missing from him, which is unusual Afridi, but four boundaries are coming for him in lots! Dravid, finally decided to bring Kumble on. wel, he has just bowled two overs and given away 15 runs! Now, attacking field set is also being removed and Dravid is really waiting for the batsmen to make mistake with the aggressive approach these two are carryin on and with the defensive field!

Meanwhile, Afridi reached his half century and raised his bat proudly towards the dressing room and the coach is happy that experimentation of Afridi in opening worked well so far Everyone applauded him for the great entertainment. Dravid is disappointed though for not able to take regular wickets. Sreesanth who started off well went for runs after the first over. It was similar to Munaf where he also threatened in his first over and then went for runs. So Indian bowlers are bending their backs very hard and at the same time, both Afridi & Malik have outsmarted the bowlers!

Also, Twenty Overs came to an end, & Pakistan scoring rate have increased just above 6 per over and both these batsmen are looking solid atm. Indian Team, once again need a breakthrough to put some pressure on Pakistan!


Pakistan :- 121/1(20)
S.Afridi : 65*(64)
S.Malik : 28*(22)


K.Akmal : 24(40) Dismissed by Sreesanth

 

[ZoraxDoom]

This is going to be high scoring.
Sachin will get a century!

 

[m_vaughan]

Yup, I too expect scores in excess of 300 in this game. Afridi must be dismissed asap.