Story SouthAfrica's International Diary(ICC CT 2009) - Boucher tries to Steady the Ship

[saladguy]

Good luck in your exams Shan

 

[Roofrom50]

A pleasure to be apart of this story, and it has certainly helped me with my progress in mine as well.

Sad to see you go, but can't wait for the next updates.
And good luck with your exams mate

 

[Highlander999]

Good luck Shan. I am going to beat Suren here,

"Take your time, there are no time limits"

 

[The Champ]

Excellent presentation mate good work keep it up enjoyed reading

 

[Jaztheman]

Good luck with the exams, Shan. Real life definitely comes first ahead of Planetcricket, so don't worry about not updating.

Warner batted averagely well and Australia have had a slowish start. They still have their top order and middle order to comprehend the situation and try and get the required runs. The Indian bowlers definitely have still have alot to do.

Brilliant writing and graphics, Shan.

 

[saladguy]

Real life definitely comes first ahead of Planetcricket

Planet Cricket isn't real!!!! Oh man, I've been imagining things all these years....

 

[mattfb]

Poor start from the Aussies, way to slow and the loss of Warner is a huge blow. I can't see the Aussies winning from here.

Mate, it's been my pleasure to comment on this story Take your time, don't worry about not being able to update.

 

[surendar]

Take your time, Shantanu .. No probs.. There are no time constraints when comes to the story And ya, the match is still in balance is what I feel

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Quadrangular Series 2009, Australia
Australia v India
1st Match, Melbourne
End of 20 overs

Ponting and Marsh attack the bowlers​

Indians had got their early breakthrough in for for David Warner and he was replaced by skipper Ricky Ponting. Ishant Sharma got the almost the better of Ponting in the flirt two deliveries he faced. Zaheer Khan who had turned into India's one of the best bowlers in the last couple of seasons, didn't get his line and length right in the sixth over and resulted in conceding a boundary. Zaheer pitched it in the good length area and Marsh hit through the gap between mid-on and mid-wicket for four. Sharma to on the other end didn't get his line and length right and Marsh to hit for a boundary this time through the covers.

The runs were coming easily for the Aussies. Dhoni decided to give Irfan Pathan the ball and he straight away impressed by getting some swing and varying his pace. But Sharma who had troubled Ponting many a times looked to be troubled by Ponting, as Ponting took room and smashed him over point for four. The next ball Ponting smashed Sharma through the covers for a brilliant four and it was followed by a square cut for four between Suresh Raina at point and Yuvraj Singh at gully. Ponting looked in fine touch as he smashed Sharma for three consecutive fours in 14th over of the game. Irfan on the other hand was accurate with his line and length and was very economical.Dhoni decided to give Shrama a break who had been very expensive and gone for 44 in his 7 overs.

Dhoni turned towards his spinners and gave Harbhajan Singh the ball. Harbhajan Singh was booed by many supporters in the ground when he was given the ball. Bhajji started of very well. He was getting some turn and a bit of bounce. Bhajji went for just three singles in his first over. On the other end Irfan Patahn bowled brilliant well and could have got his reward. Pathan pitched it full and Ponting went for the drive but got a slight edge but the ball just fell short of Dhoni. Pathan looked frustrated as he finished yet another economical over conceding just two singles. Dhoni again made a bowling change by giving part-timer Yusuf Pathan the ball and Ponting straightaway used his feet and smashed the ball over the bowler's head for four. But Yusuf Pathan came back very well by giving away just a single of the next five balls.

So after the end of 20 overs Australia have 97 runs on the board with skipper Ponting scoring run a ball for his 31 and he is well supported by Shaun Marsh who looks to be in fine touch scoring 45 of 65 balls. Irfan Pathan has been the pick of the bowlers for India but now the spinners have to the job of maintaining the run rate. Australia still needs 185 runs in 180 balls with 9 wickets in hand at 6.17 runs per over.

Australia: 97/1(20 overs)
Ponting: 31(31)
Marsh: 45(65)
Extras: 5

Last Wicket(s):
Warner c Pathan b Sharma 16(24)

Z.Khan 6-0-25-0
I.Sharma 7-0-44-1
I.Pathan 5-0-20-0
H.Singh 1-0-3-0
Y.Pathan 1-0-5-0

 

[Roofrom50]

Nice to see you back mate. Good to see the Skip back in some fine form. Nice preso, and keep it up

 

[Dez]

Just wondering why it's been cut off mid sentence?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

I dunno I had taken 30 mins for the update from my studies and its all gone. Why??

 

[mattfb]

Good work with the update there Shan, but unfortunate it got removed. Did you save it on word?

Ponting and Marsh are going good, and Punter is really smashing them. Pathan started good but Sharma got hammered!

Great writing and gfx mate, kiu!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Note: edited that post again..

 

[treva]

I noticed it had been cut off so I just put the end tags in for you.

Australia are in good shape to get this total, they just need to keep wickets in hand.