Story Its India, the World Champions. ***FAREWELL SACHIN***

[Prithvi]

Look, he calls him Dhoni.

Lol, I thought you were pointing by seeing "MS Dhoni" ""ed..

 

[Prithvi]

First Innings Report:​

Well, the first innings of India-Pakistan match has come to an end, and as expected, the Feroz Shah Kotla pitch favored batsmen. There was nothing for bowlers in it, Pakistani batsmen were absolutely awesome in their game. They scored a huge total of 329, leaving India a very huge target of 330. None of the batsmen reached a century, with Imran Farhat scoring highest of all, 94 off 101 balls, which included 9 boundaries and 2 sixes. Economy wise, Ashwin stood up for India, with the lowest economy of all, 5.30. Bhajji picked up 3 wickets, but he conceded way too many runs.

Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat started off on a high note, not even wasting even a single poor ball by Indians. As soon as the mandatory power play ended, Dhoni's introduction of spin through Bhajji provided India a break through, as the Turbanator trapped Hafeez in front of stumps. Shoaib Malik didn't last too long, but he chipped in with a useful 24 runs of 22 balls. Malik, trying to hit a six off Ravichandran Ashwin, ended up placing the ball right in the hands of Gautam Gambhir, who was placed at wide long on.

Younis Khan proved "experience matters" by playing a relatively long innings. Younis Khan and Imran Farhat played sensible cricket, for about 15 overs. Younis Khan respected the good deliveries, so as Imran Farhat. But the bad balls were smashed badly to the boundary. Farhat hit couple of sixes as well. In the due course, they score 91 runs, off those 90 balls, when Harbhajan Singh shattered the stumps being protected by Imran Farhat, when he needed six runs to get a century.

Misbah was off the strike, Younis Khan scored a boundary, tenth of his inning, after which, he gave away his wicket to Praveen Kumar. It was a plumb in front of wicket and umpire Billy Bowden had no doubts in raising his finger. He scored a 61 of just 53 balls. Umar Akmal scored a boundary, and finally ran for a couple in the last ball, which meant Misbah finally got strike.

Wicket, wicket & wicket.. Its Balle Balle Balle!

Harbhajan Singh celebrating after shattering the stumps of Imran Farhat.​

Harbhajan Singh had different ideas, he trapped Misbah ul Haq on an arm ball, as Misbah had no clue on how to play it. It was an arm ball, with a fair amount of flight. The ball his the pads of Misbah full toss, as Misbah's sweep didn't connect. The on field umpires discussed for a while, had a bit of chat with the third umpire and finally declared him out.

Asad Shafiq supported Shahid Afridi, who went wild. He scored 59 runs of just 36 balls, when Pakistan really needed it to get to 330 mark. The two sixes, one over deep mid wicket and another between long on and wide long on were into the crowd. He smashed 8 boundaries as well. Shafiq supported him with 44 ball inning scoring just 38.

Its HUGE!

Shahid Afridi hitting a six over deep mid wicket.​

Indian bowling was a "Why this Kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di?" style affair. Ashwin had the best economy, and Praveen Kumar missing out it with just .20 difference. Bhajji took 3 scalps, but he was way too costly as he conceded 73 runs. Sehwag got an over, where he was badly hammered by Afridi. Pujara was given an over, in which he gave away 6 runs. Praveen Kumar got a wicket, Irfan Pathan got a wicket, Bhajji got 3 and Ashwin got 2. Zaheer remained wicket less. He didn't even bowl out all his ten overs due to fitness issues.

Pakistan Batting:

Player              Status                        Runs  Blls  4s   6s    S/R
Mohammad Hafeez     lbw            b. Singh        37    39    4    1   94.9%
Imran Farhat                       b. Singh        94   101    9    2   93.1%
Shoaib Malik        c. Gambhir     b. Ashwin       24    22    2    0  109.1%
Younis Khan         lbw            b. Kumar        61    53   10    0  115.1%
Misbah ul Haq       lbw            b. Singh         0     1    0    0    0.0%
Umar Akmal                         b. Pathan        6     8    1    0   75.0%
Asad Shafiq         not out                        38    44    4    1   86.4%
Shahid Afridi       not out                        56    39    8    2  143.6%
Umar Gul                                          
Saeed Ajmal                                       
Wahab Riaz                                        
 
 Total:  329/6       Overs:  50.0          Run Rate:  6.58      Extras:  13

India Bowling:

Player               Overs   Mdns    Runs   Wkts      E/R    Wds    NBs
Praveen Kumar        10.0      0      55      1      5.50     0      0 
Irfan Pathan         10.0      0      65      1      6.50     1      0 
Zaheer Khan           8.0      0      53      0      6.63     1      0 
Harbhajan Singh      10.0      0      73      3      7.30     2      0 
R Ashwin             10.0      0      53      1      5.30     3      0 
Virender Sehwag       1.0      0      18      0     18.00     0      0 
Cheteshwar Pujara     1.0      0       6      0      6.00     0      0

Pakistan Partnerships:

Batsmen                                                            Runs (Balls)
M Hafeez      I Farhat     ??????????????????????                    60 (63)
S Malik       I Farhat     ????????????????????????                  66 (51)
Y Khan        I Farhat     ?????????????????????????????????         91 (90)
Y Khan        M Haq        ????                                      12 (4)
U Akmal       M Haq        ??                                         6 (7)
U Akmal       A Shafiq                                                0 (3)
S Afridi      A Shafiq     ???????????????????????????????????       94 (82)


     Fall of Wickets    60/1      126/2     217/3     229/4     235/5
                        235/6                                             

 Total:  329/6       Overs:  50.0         Run Rate:  6.58     Extras:  13

India needs 330 runs to win from 50 overs.
​

 

[VC the slogger]

Improbable by all logic that they'll chase such a huge target

 

[Prithvi]

Improbable by all logic that they'll chase such a huge target

Flat Track, expected to remain the same.

 

[Fenil]

Flat Track, expected to remain the same.

C'mon! Don't reveal the result already.

 

[RPHKR]

Looks like there will be an upset for India.
Oh no!

 

[Fenil]

Looks like there will be an upset for India.
Oh no!

Yes, looks like India will win, for a change.

 

[Prithvi]

Second Innings Report:​

What Feroz Shah Kotla witnessed was a historic day, which no one could ever forget. The day was a very special day for Indian cricket, not just because India has chased a huge total of 330, but also there is another thing which made it a special day. The special stuff, what you are expecting is just half of it, and the other half of it is a suspense, which you'll come to know in the following paragraphs. Yuvaraj Singh was sudden surprise, as he was cheering Team India from crowds.

48,000 people shouting for team India!
​

The very local Virender Sehwag and worlds local Sachin Tendulkar were opening for India, they were facing the Pakistani pace attack, consisting of Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz. These two batsmen were the ones, who faced the same opposition with different different bowling attacks in the history, but it was an all new duo bowling to the same Sehwag and Sachin. Waqar Younis-Wasim Akram, Umar Gul-Shoaib Akthar, Umar Gul-Abdul Razzaq and now, Umar Gul-Wahab Riaz!

The Delhi crowd went wild, cheering at top notch, when the very very local Virender Sehwag hit a huge six off Umar Gul in the very first ball, straight hit to the sight screen. The Indian duo gave India a perfect start, what they actually required while chasing something above 6 in a day night game. The combo added 87 runs in 89 balls, with Sehwag smashing 5 boundaries and one six. Sehwag fell in the trap of Umar Gul, as he was in pressure of scoring runs.

The another local player, Gautam Gambhir walked in, and he started playing very sensible cricket along side mighty Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin reached the trademark nervous nineties (92 off 88) in 29th over. Umar Gul bowled an absolute yorker, which removed the bails! Tendulkar started walking, total Delhi crowd got absolutely silent. Imagine a crowd, which was at its top notch, suddenly becomes silent. But the umpire called Sachin Tendulkar back, since it was not a legal delivery. YES! Umar Gul over stepped. A Free hit was awarded and Sachin back on crease. Within seconds, crowd came to know what was going on, back to cheer Sachin tendulkar for the very special hundredth century!

This free hit, a free hit of life time for any batsmen, since Sachin connected that to a very huge six, which meant that he was on 98 straight away, with Sachin just 2 runs away from his hundredth hundred. Umar Gul bowled a decent ball, which Tendulkar played his trademark Upper Cut. The ball reached boundary, which meant Tendulkar got his Hundredth Hundred.

FINALLY, the HUNDREDTH HUNDRED ARRIVES!​

In the mean time, Gautam Gambhir played aggressive cricket, which put the required run rate below 6. Gambhir eventually got his fifty, and Tendulkar didn't stop playing his monstrous knock. Both of them played very aggressively, which meant that win was a cake walk for India. In the mean time, Sachin got his 150. What more could crowd expect from him? Everyone were cheering the team India, forgetting their Australian tour, where India failed to perform well.

Gautam Gambhir on way to his 85.​

Finally, when India needed just 30 runs to win from about 10 overs, Gauti departed as Saeed Ajmal delivered with his Teesra. The Delhi crowd gave Gautam Gambhir a standing applause, for his awesome innings. The trick magic here was, the next batsman who walked in was also a Delhite, Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli started playing zero cricket because Sachin could easily get to 200 landmark once again, since India required 30 to win with Tendulkar on 170. Sachin Tendulkar smashed three boundaries on a troll against Shahid Afridi, after which a five wides came into action, when the total crowd started Booing Pakistan team. The five wides meant that Virat Kohli had all rights to finish the match off in his style. He ran for few singles, after which he blasted when India needed 8 runs to win. He came up with two boundaries, which meant India won it with 43 balls remaining.

As soon as crowd started leaving, the LED started displaying a very strange thing, which no one expected! It read "FAREWELL SACHIN", which made almost all Indians get a tear in their eye. Yeah, its true. Sachin Tendulkar made his announcement- He is quitting International Cricket and Domestic cricket. He will play only IPL. The total nation was in state of shock, when team India players lined up when Sachin was walking to field for the post match presentation ceremony. Pakistanis joined this emotional moment, as Sachin Tendulkar was carried on shoulders of both Indian and Pakistani cricketers!

In the presentation ceremony, DDCA & BCCI facilitated Sachin by in traditional way, a Marathi style Turbine was put up, with a kum kum bindi. He had many things to say.

Sudhir Gautam giving his best to Sachin Tendulkar, probably for the one last time.​

Thankyou, Achrekarji, and everyone. I cannot forget my 22 years, these are the best 22 years a person can have. I'd like to thank everyone involved in my career, for their continual support in my ups and downs. The decision was made lot earlier, I'd retire after I play a last game against Pakistan. I love playing against Pakistan, and I wanted to make my career memorable by playing my last game against Pakistan. Infact, my career started off against Pakistan, nice to see ending against it. Even though I'd have gone out for a golden duck today, I was going to retire.

I still remember the scenes, when my coach said I should be the one to play and get support, not support the ones who play. Everyone involving in my huge career, a huge huge thankyou. BCCI, MCA, the coaches, everyone supported me in my tough times. I'd like to thank everyone for that. And Sudhir Kumar Gautam, a special special thankyou to you as well. All the players whom I have played with, especially Viru, Dada, Rahul, Anil, VVS, MS, Yuvi, Zack I'd like to thank them all a lot, they were so supportive.

Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan hide their faces as they got tears rolling down. Yuvraj Singh, who was a spectator to this match, walked into ground. After getting facilitated, the team took carried Sachin Tendulkar for a lap on honor, the best lap ever in history of cricket.

Perfect Farewell!

Emotional scenes ran as Sachin was no longer part of Team India.
​

 

[Dipak]

What an emotional moment.

 

[RPHKR]

Emotional update there! Really appreciated.
Good knock by Sachin, the target was easier than the target they had to chase today in 40 overs.

 

[Fenil]

Perfect occasion for Sachin to bid adieu rather than looking for his 50th ODI hundred.

 

[VC the slogger]

I would have liked it alot if almost the same type of farewell was given to Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly who were also legends..

 

[Aswin8]

hey loved it....
i am new to this section....so THE ABOVE DETAILS ARE TRUE or IMAGINARY?

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I mean the things mentioned in Index

 

[Fenil]

hey loved it....
i am new to this section....so THE ABOVE DETAILS ARE TRUE or IMAGINARY?

----------

I mean the things mentioned in Index

To let you know, Ashwin, my friend, most things if not all that are posted here are imaginary and are only for fun to make a story out of a series of imaginary events by the thread maker.

 

[Aswin8]

oh...thanks for the info
i taught a real IPL od tour was arranged