Story Sachin Tendulkar - The Story Of A Master - MAY CONTINUE !!!!

[domiw]

Yeah i agree about opening, also i have to say that i agree with highlander very much

 

[freddiw]

Today I decided to chill and watch the match and enjoyed the match severely. Sri Lanka made 245-7 batting first and although it was a decent total they were 1-119 after 20 and should have made another 20 or 30 runs. With the bat Sangakarra (54) and Jayersuriya (114) were the only two to make scores and with Hogg taking 4-57 and Lee, Tait and Johnson taking 1 each 246 was very gettable for the Aussies.

Sanath bashes 100 and gives Aus awesome position​

During the break I went for a net with Ojha and Bhaji and came back a bit late Australia already 2-60 from 10 with Hussey gone for 30 and Ponting rocketing along on 20*. From there it was Australia’s game with Ponting taking 108(129) and Symonds bashing 83 from 100 as they won with 10 overs spare. Sangakarra did nothing behind the stumps and the wickets came from Vaas and Malinga (1 each) and Fernando and Dilshan with 2 each. In the end the Aussies won easily by four wickets and I really didn’t care. It gave me confidence because we beat the Aussies and now face the Sri Lankans in two days.

Skipper plays captains knock as Australia win their first game against Sri Lanka ​

I spent the rest of the day in the nets with Rahul doing throw downs and spoke to Sehwag about the order. Although it worked well I was going to open with Rahul, Ganguly at 3 and Sehwag at 4. We will be playing a strong Sri Lanka side but my confidence came from Murali getting hit for 53 from 10 overs without taking a wicket. This meant he was beatable and if the Aussies could do it why can’t we, why can’t we dispatch him round the ground. ​

 

[surendar]

How about,

1) Tendulkar
2) Sehwag
3) Ganguly
4) Dravid

Dravid is a very good controller at no 3 and 4. Well, excellent coverage there too on SL-Aus match. This is getting better and better update by update. Terrific stuff. :hpraise

 

[jarl]

Nice update feddiw, Sri Lankans look like there in the same type of trouble as in real life. Should be a great game between India and Sri Lanka as both teams lift there games againts each other. :hpraise

 

[domiw]

lets hope the Indians get to the final as they did in real life....good luck

 

[freddiw]

This morning we had a final talk about our top four for today’s game and we decided to open with Ganguly and I as we had opened before together and if we batted for a good amount of overs it would mean that Sehwag could go crazy and have a bash at the end of the innings. With Rahul at 3 we have the extra security if Sourav or I fall early then Rahul will be capable of playing a mature innings. With Dhoni, Laxman and Sehwag at 4,5 and 6 we can really take advantage of the bowlers in the last 10-20 overs if the top produce the goods. The changes in the bowling were that Ojha and Zaheer were being dropped due to both going for over 75 from 10 and not taking any wickets. In there places are Sharma and Pathan. This means the two spinners and three quicks and again I may get a bit of bowling.

Sharma comes in for test debut as Sachin and Ganguly open the batting​

On the way to the ground I was asked about what my ultimate goal is in cricket for the rest of my career and I really decided that I don’t have one. I have always tried to avoid pressuring myself and although I do get frustrated when I am out of form of fail to make runs I never want to pressure myself into thinking I have to do something before I retire. As long as I am playing for India I am living the dream and for me that’s all that matters. When I read in the paper a few minutes later that I wouldn’t be able to play the Sri Lankan quicks and Murali it didn’t really effect me. I don’t play to prove anyone wrong and I play because I love the game of cricket and love to represent India for me if I make runs its for the country not to prove the press I can do it.

I play for my country and only my country​

As we arrived at the ground I was happy to again see a perfect batting track that was going to be full of runs. Mahendra was again planning to bat first if we won the toss and I was hoping we would win it. When Dhoni lost the toss and we were put in to field it was a blow but didn’t really matter. I trust our bowlers and although we have the inexperience of Sharma with the new ball we are a good chasing side and have the capability to chase anything they can set us.

Ganguly
Tendulkar
Dravid
Sehwag
Laxman
Dhoni (wk) (C)
Singh
Kumble
Sharma (debutant)
Pathan
Sreesanth

Sangakarra (wk)
Jayersuriya
Jayerwardne (C)
Vandort
Dilshan
Silva
Amerasinghe (I)
Fernando (H)
Vaas
Fernando (D)
Amerasinghe (M)

WOW, Murali has been dropped and no-one knows why. Maybe the pitch maybe not but the Sri Lankans have gone without there star player. Now they have an incredibly weak bowling attack as Malinga is also not in the side so they are now really battling. With the strength of our side only the top 3 batsmen are in comparison in my eyes and if we can get some new ball wickets this morning I think we can win the game in the first 30 minutes.

Why would you not pick the best offie in the world?​

When we got out onto the pitch Sreesanth went back to his mark and Kumar took guard for the first ball of the match. All 6 of the first balls were left alone outside the off peg by Kumar Sangakarra, whether this was good or bad I wasn’t really certain. The pitch didn’t look like it was doing much but Sangakarra was negative about the way he went about it. Sharma marked his run and steamed in for his first ball in International cricket. Well a good start for Sharma twice beating Sanath outside off and then bringing one back for a close LBW shout. An incredibly well bowled over from the debutant. It then took us 6 overs until Sanath was cleaned up by Sreesanth leaving Sri Lanka at 20-1 with one of their strongest 3 players gone. Mahela entered the crease and was immediately challenged by Sreesanth with a length ball and a massive appeal. It wasn’t given but was incredibly close. 42-1 after 10 and the Sri Lankans are gaining a bit of momentum.

No Sanath Jayasuriya heroics today...
​

The next 20 overs gave us pole position as they gained only 65 runs for 3 wickets as Bhaji and Anil gave us a massive advantage. Kumar is still there batting incredibly well on 67*(100) and has played some very nice shots, sadly he was dropped once by Mahendra on 48 after trying to work one down leg and getting a thin edge. Mahendra should really have taken it but in our position you can’t complain. Jayerwardne(9) and Vandort (3) were both cleaned up by Kumble clean bowled as the score went from 1-60 to 3-68 in the space of 12 balls. Then Dilshan was next to go chipping the ball back to Singh for 8 leaving them at 4-88. Silva and Kumar have put on 19 and we really are on top now. Mahendra just told me to stretch up as the pitch is turning and if Pathan doesn’t work I will be moved into the attack.

The only man with a score over 10 and really needs to build on his 67*
​

Pathan has bowled 4 overs for 22 and I have been given the ball. The two batsmen are building some momentum and with Sreesanth at the other end I am being trusted to rip down some leggies and try to get a wicket or two. Although I am not the best bowler I am backing myself after some good performances in the nets and am just hoping that I can now duplicate that performance in the One day match today, with the score on 143-4 from 38 overs we are still well on top.

Hopefully I can replicate my net bowling performance.
​

Well my first over wasn’t the best although there weren’t any bad balls. The batsmen worked 2 singles and a two off the over and although it was turning im going to really rip it in the next over I bowl (.11.2.) Another over with too many runs off it as they took 6, they are just working it around and although I found the edge one and beat the bat with another they have got up to 4 an over and are going prity well(1211.1) Mahendra has given me one more and I hope I can get the vital breakthrough. Another decent over with only 5 from it and twice I beat the bat. I am bowling well getting good turn and troubling the batsmen (2.2..1) The innings is over and I finished with 48 runs from my 8 overs as they reached 249-6. I am not very happy but Kumar made 126(150) before being LBW to Pathan but batted amazingly and Silva’s 58(67) assisted in Sri Lanka making 249, a score that we should be able to chase. I cannot wait to bat and just hope I can make up for my poor bowling performance.

Kumar gets his side to a decent 250
​

Chasing 250 won’t be too hard although we really want to get a good start to our innings. Sourav and I are planning to try and score quickly early on without taking risks. Although I know that I am getting older and am not as quick between the wickets as I used to be we were planning to run hard and try to get the runs through quick singles and put the balls into the gaps for ones and twos. With two very average opening bowlers I was hoping to take advantage of the early overs and build myself up to get a decent score.

Hoping for a decent opening partnership with Sourav​

We came out and immediately stuck to our plan building the score up slowly bit by bit with 20 from 5 then 50 from 10 and 78 from 14.2 when Sourav was caught in front LBW to Dilshan. I felt really good at the crease hitting the ball all over the park and running really well between the wickets. Sourav got 25(40) and batted well, with Rahul joining me at the crease I am confident that we will be able to win this now. I am on 45* and hoping to stay here and finish the game for India.

On 45* I have my eye in and now must really stay here and guide India to victory ​

Rahul and I were getting on really well and making some serious runs before he called me through for one and was left stranded for 29 leaving India on 144-2. At this point in time we needed 150 from 25 overs and are really behind the rate. Rahul batted well and I have reached my 50 but now we really need to convert our base and with 8 wickets in hand we should win this. To be honest I cannot see us losing and am comfortable at the crease, whether or not Sehwag and I can build a good partnership only time can tell.

Happy with my 50 and hope we can go on and win from here​

I have gone for 91. Its very frustrating to go so short of a milestone but I know now with India needing 82 from 15 with 7 wickets in hand we should really win this. My 91 came from 113 balls and I really felt on top of my game, the Sri Lankans were incredibly tight in the field and when I asked Kumar why Murali wasn’t playing he said he had no idea and there had been a fallout between the board and him. Sehwag is still there on 8*(8) and with V.V.S joining him at the crease 82 from 90 balls shouldn’t be too hard with so many wickets in hand.

India cannot lose from here with so many wickets in hand​

Well Sehwag and Laxman powered along until V.V.S was run out for 19(15) leaving us 57 to win in 10 overs and Dhoni and Sehwag are at the crease. Vaas and Fernando will have to bowl the overs and this could be close if we lose a quick wicket as Harbhajan is in next. The crowd are beginning to get excited and watching from the side I just wish I was still out there. Rahul can barely watch it and Sreesanth is taking bets that Dhoni will win it with a six, personally from experience I cannot see us losing.

6 to win for Dhoni? who knows​

What did I say, 4 overs later and we have won. What a miracle, Sreesanth won 74 Australian dollars because…yes Dhoni hit 3 sixes in a row including the match winning one. It was a fantastic 4.4 overs to watch and when we won everyone went really crazy. I was so pumped and winning this series is now a reality. Whether or not we can convert ourselves and continue doesn’t matter now all I am going to do is celebrate such a splendid 6 wicket victory over a Sri Lankan side that is very, very strong.

6 to win for Dhoni? who knows​

​

Sangakkara – LBW Pathan – 126(150)
Jayersuriya – B. Sreesanth – 7(14)
Jayerwardne – B. Kumble – 9(26)
Vandort – B. Kumble – 3(4)
Silva – C. Laxman B. Pathan – 58(67)
Amerasinghe – not out – 26(24)
Fernando – not out – 0(2)

Sri Lanka 249-6 from 50 overs

Sreesanth – 10-1-45-1
Sharma – 6-0-40-0
Singh – 10-0-36-1
Kumble – 10-3-27-2
Pathan – 8-0-47-2
Tendulkar 6-0-48-0
India need 250 to win at 5 an over

Ganguly – LBW Dilshan – 25(40)
Tendulkar – B. Fernando – 91(113)
Dravid – run out – 29(59)
Sehwag – not out – 35(26)
Laxman – run out – 19(15)
Dhoni – not out 36(16)

India 250-4 from 44.4 overs

Amerasinghe – 10-0-43-0
Fernando – 10-0-62-1
Dilshan – 10-1-54-1
Vaas – 7.4-1-45-0
Fernando – 7-1-42-0

India chase it down with 6 wickets and 5.2 overs in hand​

Best Possible Team
Batsmen 1 - Tendulkar
Batsmen 2 - Ponting
Bowler 1 - Kumble
All Rounder - Jayersuriya
Keeper - Sangakkara
Total = 552
​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

awesome update...great win for the indians...great batting by sangakkara and sachin , Sachin unluck to get out in the 90's...

Wow i am at the top of the fantasy cricket...

KUTGW

 

[domiw]

Unlucky Shantanu, so close to the best team possible.

Wow, i am really amazed at how brilliantly you have done the fantasy cricket, too bad for sachin that he didnt make a 100. Expensive bowling there from Sachin but a good win for India.

 

[jarl]

Great win for India and good perforamnce from Sangakara, awesome update Friddiw:hpraise

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Good win for India. Great batting by Sangakkara and Sachin!

 

[Highlander999]

Great update mate, but a poor team selection by me. A truly wonderful story keep up the excellent updates

 

[freddiw]

I woke up this morning early as we were flying over to Melbourne for our game against Australia tommorow. We had a good flight and I began to think about my future. Although I want to play as long as possible I am beginning to get some pains when I run and bat and if it continues I dont want to keep playing. During the flight I thought whether or not I should call it quits after this series and move on to something else. Then came the thought that there is nothing else in my life and cricket is the only thing. Should I retire or shouldn't I?

Not as young as I used to be​

I don't have to think about these things now though there is a serious series going on at the moment and I have to concentrate on scoring runs and helping India win games. Whether I retire or not will come later but if I do I want to go out on the top of my game. We arrived and had a good arvo session which I really enjoyed. Harbhajan and Kumble bowled well but I felt I played them in the maching and was feeling very comfy in the bowling machine. I am pumped for the game tommorow and just hope its a good one.​

Good net session​

​

 

[jarl]

Nice little update, can't wait for the Aussies match now..

 

[Highlander999]

Don't retire. You aren't getting out of this story that easily.

Nice update though, keep it up

 

[freddiw]

Hahahahaha

I was thinking maybe that he would manage a county side then manage India etc etc what do you think?