Story Pakistan:- Agony & Ecstasy - ICC World T20 2009 [Day 5, Game 7]

[Funknath]

That was a close one sad that the WI could not win this one...Marshall should have smashed a four in the last delivery : anyways nice update KUTGW!

 

[surendar]

Disappointing result for Windies. They should have had it with ease, but I wonder whether rain has affected the things for Windies. Very bad to see Windies loose, but it was a cracking game like the presentation. :banana2

 

[shantanu_rooney]

What a thriller of a match there between the Aussies and Windies. Sad that Windies couldn't just get one run and lost 8 wickets in 11 overs. Credits for the Aussie bowlers for bowling really well.

Great update as usual PA, KIU

 

[Skater]

This is an amazing story. 37 pages long, amazing effort, this is one of the all time greats.

 

[Pakistani Army]

This is an amazing story. 37 pages long, amazing effort, this is one of the all time greats.

Thanks for your generous words Lee. Update coming today.

 

[Pakistani Army]

ICC World Twenty20 2009
Game 2: Bangladesh vs India Live from Trent Bridge
6th June, 2009​

Bangladesh prepared to go to the next level​

After a nail-biting finish at The Oval previously, the final game of today features two sub-continent teams on the rise in Bangladesh and India. Bangladesh have slowly got recognised as a force to be dealt with with some memorable wins in previous ICC Events featuring a memorable 5 wicket win against the West Indies in last year's inaugural tournament which sent the West Indians crashing out of the tournament. In this tournament, they will look to be repeating the same feat by attempting victory against the champions India.

India had sorrows accompanied with joy in the inaugural tournament after an intense 3-0 win in the bowl-out against arch rivals Pakistan saw them through into the Super Eights. From then on it was all India as some supreme performances against hosts South Africa and Australia propelled them into the final against Pakistan. A crafty 73 from Gautam Gambhir and some late-hitting from Rohit Sharma got the Indians to 154 in their allocated 20 overs. Imran Nazir looked to take the game away from the Indians but a direct-hit from Robin Uthappa saw him head back towards the pavilion. It was only when Misbah-Ul-Haq arrived that the game got close. Misbah cracked 43 but a paddle sweep saw Sreesanth take the regulation catch as India were crowned World T20 champions.

In today's encounter they will have a minute bit of apprehension towards Bangladesh as in the 2007 World Cup hosted in the Caribbean, Bangladesh beat India which dumped them out of the World Cup in the group stages.​

Captain Mohammad Ashraful signs bats ahead of the Press Conference

At the press conference, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told the press that he thinks that his side can overcome the hype and retain the title.​

"We came out of nowhere"

"In the previous tournament, we came out of nowhere and eventually beat Pakistan in the final despite Misbah's heroics. I think that with the players we have in Yuvi, Gautam and with Bhaji and Zak in the bowling department we have enough experience and youth to retain the trophy.

Team Probables:
Bangladesh: Siddique, Tamim, *Ashraful, Raqibul, Sakib, +Rahim, Naeem, Mashrafe, Razzak, Rasel, Shahadat

India: Gambhir, Sehwag, *+Dhoni, Yuvraj, Rohit, Y Pathan, I Pathan, Harbhajan, Kumar, Zaheer, Ojha


The weather here at Trent Bridge seems to be blue skies but a cool wind. The match itself will begin in approximatly 2 hours time, until then stay tuned to ESPN Star Sports!

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Would you do my story if I paid you to?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Wow!! great match preview, Indians have a much stronger lineup there but thats on paper. Bangladesh have upset many strong team over the past here and they cant be underestimated at any cost especially in this shortest format of the game where any thing is possible. But then also I feel Indians will dominate the Bangladeshis and win the match comfortably..

Great presentation and writing as usual Arslaan, Keep Up the Good Works

 

[Skater]

Sounds like a good plan. If any of the Bangladeshis get out for a duck, they have to write lines.

 

[Pakistani Army]

Would you do my story if I paid you to?

Hmm...Depends on what your hourly rate is Zorax.

Great presentation and writing as usual Arslaan, Keep Up the Good Works

Thanks Shantanu.

Sounds like a good plan. If any of the Bangladeshis get out for a duck, they have to write lines.

:laugh Good un Lee!

Thanks for the warm comments guys.

 

[BKB1991]

Bangladesh are capable of surprises but i believe it is very unlikely that they will be able to defeat India. Still I expect a close finish and some fireworks from Yuvi and Ashraful, but India should win comfortably...unless there is some rain.

 

[Pakistani Army]

ICC World Twenty20 2009
Game 2: Bangladesh vs India Live from Trent Bridge
6th June, 2009​

At the coin toss, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first on what seemed to be a green pitch on a sunny but mildly cool afternoon at Trent Bridge. Trent Bridge was full to its capacity with plenty of Indians, Bangladeshis aswell as some neutral fans anxiously waiting for the match to begin. India look focused under Dhoni's presence as experienced characters in Yuvraj and Sehwag aided the warm-ups.

A green pitch could be useful to the swing bowlers throughout the duration of the match. Players like Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan will look to take advantage of the green present. Eventually, the crowd erupted into a huge roar which acknowledged that Bangladesh openers Junaid Siddique and Tamim Iqbal had steppted out into the middle. Siddique took full opportunity of his International T20 debut by cracking 71 off just 49 balls against finalists Pakistan. Tamim however has been explosive in the One-Day format by making quickfire cameos at the top of the order but has not gone on to score, T20 might be suited to him.

The frantic crowd settled into their seats as Zaheer Khan was ready to bowl the opening ball of Bangladesh's innings, Zaheer bowled it quite wide swinging away from Siddique. Siddique lunged at it but the ball was hit straight to Yuvraj Singh at point who was alert in collecting the ball. Siddique and Tamim quickly rotated the strike as Siddique retained the strike for Zaheer's 5th ball of his first over. Zaheer knew that Siddique and Tamim wanted to lunge at the ball and in doing so combat the away swing Zaheer was getting. Zaheer bowled the ball on a length but swinging away from Siddique. Advancing down the wicket, Siddique lofted the ball over towards deep point. The crowd roared as Sehwag looked to have misjudged it, but a sprawling dive saw Sehwag take a magnificant catch as Zaheer gave Siddique a send off. Captain Dhoni and Zaheer rushed to Sehwag celebrating as the captain called for a huddle.​

As Siddique made his way back to the pavilion, in came captain Mohammad Ashraful. Tamim told his captain about the nature of the pitch and that getting forward was the key. Bowling from the Radcliffe Road end was Praveen Kumar. With himself being a medium pace bowler, he would enivitably get through his allotted 4 overs quicker than Zaheer. With Kumar's opening ball he got some assitance from the pitch as Tamim was beaten all ends up. Kumar was bowling on a length and bowing in line with the corridor of uncertainty which is why the field was up for Tamim however he did get a chance to lash out as a wider one from Kumar was slapped for 2 runs ending his opening over. Captain Ashraful had been kept waiting to face his first ball. A fired up Zaheer fired in a sharp bouncer which Ashraful ducked under with ease however there were some words exchanged. Next ball, Zaheer bowled a slowerball outside off-stump. Ashraful had premeditated an advance down the wicket and had to hit the ball straight back to Zaheer who aimed at the stumps but missed. :doh It was without any doubt that Zaheer was fired up.

Tamim was ready to face Zaheer now. Zaheer bowled his 4th delivery off the mark which enabled Tamim enough width to advance down the wicket and hoist the ball over the covers for a huge six.

Immediatly captain Dhoni rushed over to his strike bowler for some words of wisdom as Tamim's six was recorded as 101 metres, a mammoth six! The rest of Zaheer's over went without any caution. Before Kumar progressed through his second over, captain Dhoni changed the field by bringing the field in which would cause Tamim to go over the top. The plan set by the captain worked. Kumar bowled a slow, off-cutter. Tamim attempting to lash out and get it over the top of the covers, mistimed the shot as the ball went safely into Yuvraj Singh's hands as a pumped up India saw Tamim to the pavilion for 16 as the score reached 22/2 after 4 overs. Tamim's wicket brought Raqibul Hasan to the crease. Raqibul had been criticised by critics of having a low strike rate and that Twenty20 cricket would not be quick enough for him. However, in this pressure situation alongside captain Ashraful he could tape the critics' mouth shut bu helping his side out of danger.

A stand of 64 rescued Mohammad Ashraful's side as himself and Raqibul struck boundaries and played Harbhajan Singh very cautiously. With Harbhajan getting dangerous drift and sharp turn off this Trent Bridge pitch, they decided to take singles and defend the dot balls and at the opposing end, whack the differentiation in spin and trajectory of Virender Sehwag. This plan seemed to work but despite the aggression at the other end, both Ashraful and Raqibul failed to put Harbhajan away for boundaries as in his four overs finished with 4-0-14-0, a stunning piece of spin bowling. Ashraful and Raqibul did depart in Sehwag's final over attempting to hit out going for 36 and 32 respectively. This left all-rounder Sakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to play out the final 5 overs.

This is when Sakib Al Hasan took over. With his prime bowlers bowled out, Dhoni had to turn to part-timers Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan to bowl 4 overs in tandem. Sakib showed no mercy as the Bangladeshi green colours started moving again. Sakib smashed 18 off Yuvraj's first over including an 91 metre six. However, Yusuf Pathan was a more flatter bowler and with this making him more difficult to get underneath which is why his opening and penultimate over yielded 10 runs which brought the score to 130/3 with 2 overs to go but that did not put the brakes on Sakib's onslaught as he raced to 32 off just 15 balls. However, Yuvraj took a consilation wicket of wicketkeeper Rahim for 18 which brought debutant Mithun Ali to the wicket.

His first ball on the international stage was cracked straight down the ground for a flat six which brought Bangladesh 1447/5 with the final over to go. A fantastic final over for the Indians saw just 7 runs and attached the silencer on Sakib as he and Mithun finally departed attempting to hit sixes. In the end, Bangladesh had reached 151/7 in their 20 overs thanks to some lusty lower order hitting.

Bangladesh Scorecard

Indian Bowling Card

In the opening game of this tournament, Netherlands chased down 137 at Lord's. With this news, the Indians will gain a huge boost heading into their run-chase of 152 runs for victory. Will they be able to defeat the mighty Tigers? Find out only on ESPN Star Sports.

 

[BKB1991]

Great update. Its a good total by Bangladesh, but The Indian batting is very strong for the Bangladeshi bowlers. btw, why is Aftab Ahmed at no 11? KIU

 

[treva]

That's a decent score by the Bangladeshi's. It's not outstanding but it will test India. India should be able to chase it down but if the Bangladeshi spinners can get on top in those middle overs we could be in for a good game.

It's a shame Tamim Iqbal didn't get going. He has to be one of the most entertaining cricketers in World cricket!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Thats a good total by the Bangladeshis...It would take some hard work for the Indians if they wanna win the match and if Bangladesh do use their spinners well then it may go down to the wire.

Great presentation Arslaan, KIU