Story Sharjah Cup FINAL - India VS Pakistan

[amitbansal]

Pathetic loss for India to Pakistan. Lets see how they play against Aus

 

[ashu2411]

Welcome everyone to Sharjah Cricket Ground for the Match 2 of Sharjah Cup between India and Australia. The first match was between India and Pakistan where Pakistan defeated India by 20 runs in a very close match. India has to win this match to keep their hopes alive in the cup or they will be struggling for a place in final.

Both teams arrived early in the morning and practised up to get warm up for the crucial match. The coaches and captains were busy in reading the pitch. The weather here is warm and dry, no signs of rain. It will be a hard work in the field and due can play a major role in the second inning. Now lets go to Sanjay Majeraker for the pitch report.

Hello and welcome everyone to the Second Match of Sharjah Cup. This is a very important match for both teams and the pitch will play a major factor in this match. So, lets analyze it first. The pitch is dusty and is heavily rolled. No sign of grass at all and I would expect the pitch to break a bit after few overs. Overall this is a very good batting pitch and any captain winning toss will go to bat first and take full use of good batting conditions. The pitch will definitely give some spin as the match progresses on. Now back to our commentary box.

 

[ashu2411]

Before the start of match we have a man with our correspondent who completely trasformed the Indian team in just over few monts - Greg Chappel.

Welcome Chappel

Thank You

A very important match for your team.

Yeah its a very crucial match for us and we have to win it to regain some confidence and to stay alive in final hunt. Also winning against Australia helps the team alot and we will do anything possible to win.

What do you think about batting collapse against Pakistan?

It was not good batting by our middle order. They played some foul shots and paid the price. We have to bat responsibly to win in big games. Ganugly is struggling with his form but Sachin, Sehwag and Dravid can deliver in any condition and situation and Yuvraj and Kaif can be sole match winner on their own days. So overall a very good batting lineup and we dont have to worry about it.

Any special strategy for today's game?

We have developed different tactics and plans for each Australian player and we are very optimistic of their success. You can expect some surprise decision from us in today's match.

Thanks for your time Greg and good luck for your match.

Thank You

 

[Cricketman]

cmon india! :happy

 

[sachinisgod2]

Go India

 

[ashu2411]

Welcome back and lets go to ground where the two captains are waiting for the toss with match Referee MJ Procter (SA).

Ponting has the coin and Dravid called for heads. And it is Tails. Without any doubt Ponting decided to bat first on this good batting pitch.

 

[ashu2411]

Captain's thoughs after toss:

Ponting - This looks a good batting pitch and we will want to go first their and score some good runs so that we can put Indian batting under pressure. Any score around 300 will be our target.

We will go with both all rounders - Symonds and Watson as Symonds will play the role of third spinner with Hogg and Clarke. Bracken was given preference over Lee keeping in mind both's sub-continent record.

Dravid - Its a bad start for us but now we will try to stop Australia at around 220 and our bowling is in good form so I think we can stop them at reasonable total and then chase well with our world - class batsmen.

One change to the team as Sreesanth will sit out because he struggled in the last match and Balaji will replace him. Harbhajan will be the only main spinner but he will get support from other end by Sehwag, Yuvraj and Sachin.

 

[ashu2411]

Players coming to the ground​

So the players are coming to the ground for a very important session. For Australia Gillchrist and Jacques will open the inning. Gillchrist can be very destructive in any situation while Jacques smashed a match winning century in last match in final of Planetcricket Super Cup. For India Pathan will bowl the first over who is like a traditional swing over and he will be accompanied by Zaheer on the other end who bowled a lovely spell in last match gainst Pakistan.

 

[ashu2411]

Zaheer strucked early​

Pathan started with his genuine inswinging deliveries but Gillchrist timed one of them to perfection to start Australian score. Zaheer bowled the second over and looked to carry on the form of last match and bowled a good line beating the outside edge on many occassions. The ball got a little bit of swin and Zaheer utilised fully to his advantage. Pathan looked to struggle controlling the swin. Jacques played some nice shots and was middeling the balls well. Gillchrist on the other end looked to have some problems against Zaher.

In the sixth over, Zaheer provided big breakthrough to India when Gillchrisy edged a delivery to Sachin Tendulkar at second slip. Australia lost its first wicket on 30 as India strucked an early blow. Gillchrist made only 11 and Captain Ricky Ponting is the new batsmen in.

 

[amitbansal]

Good bowling by Zahir.

 

[ashu2411]

Ponting came at the fall of Gillchrist and he with Jacques has to build the Australian inning. Jacques looked in ominous touch as he smashed Pathan for a huge six over covers area with a flashy cut shot. Seeing Pathan getting harsh treatment, Dravid brought Balaji to the attack in place of Pathan but he was also given a good welcome by Ponting with his trdemark hook shot for his first boundary. Zaheer on the other end was at his best and continuously impressed with his bowling.

 

[ashu2411]

Seeing the failure of its seam bowlers, Dravid played a gamble by bringing in Harbhajan in only 11th over and Harbhajan did the trick for India when he gave India a very important breakthrough in only his second over when he got Jacques caught at short - leg position to Sehwag. Jacques was playing really well on 41 and India got his wicket when he was all set for a big one.

So Australia lost their second wicket and Harbhajan got his first wicket. Katich is the new batsmen in and Australia is 67/2 in 13 overs.

 

[ashu2411]

No one seems to be interested in this series because I haven't got any replies lately.

 

[m_vaughan]

Despite losing two wickets, the Aussies are maintaining an excellent run rate.

 

[ashu2411]

Despite losing two wickets, the Aussies are maintaining an excellent run rate.

Yeah good run rate will help them later in the inning and still long batting to come for Aussies.