DAREDEVIL SHOW DOWNS THE TIGERS

Daredevil Show Downs the Tigers

Any big event always require a big a start. A start that makes others to sit and notice. ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at the Subcontinent the heart of the Game needed one too. After a colourful opening ceremony at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Stadium all was set for the Opening encounter between the two co-hosts India and Bangladesh. This may never be a most anticipated match like an India-Pakistan or India-Australia encounters but nevertheless the loss to Bangadesh ousting India from previous World Cup and new found confidence of hosts on their Spin bowling and Indians wanting to make a statement on their best chance to grab the world title all made it a cracker of contest.

The day dawned with enthusiastic crowd getting behind the home captain Shakib. The history of Mirpur suggested that “Win the toss, field first” and crowd went into delirium once Shakib just did that. The frenzy crowd behind, the Tigers went into the field and hoped a repeat of 2007. But the two Indian openers Tendulkar and Sehwag, one of the best opening partnerships ever in Cricket (fourth in All time list) walked in amidst a crowd where they found little support.

The First ball of a match or series or tournament is very important and often gives an idea on what to expect. The first ball of this World Cup was from Shafiul Islam to Sehwag. Just a width outside off stump on his zone and Viru declared the World Cup open with a punch to cover boundary. The crowd was stunned. A couple of twos and a cover drive on last ball meant India was 12 for none at end of 1^st over. Next over Rubel began with inconsistent line and was replied by Tendulkar with a glance to boundary and the Batsman world cup was well began. First three overs went for 32 and Shakib was forced to introduce Razzak in as early as fifth over. They kept things under check before Indian started rotating strikes and finding odd boundaries. With score on 69, another usual Sehwag blunder saw the Master departing for 28 with both men together on non striker’s end, thanks to a wonderful fielding from Shakib.

In came Gautam Gambhir and he and Sehwag always kept the scorecard tickling and never allowed the spinners to settle. Sehwag reached his fifty with a huge six off Razzak over long on. Gauti made 38 before the misread a Mahmadullah straighter. Between the Delhi Daredevils had added 83 runs in less than 13 overs. Kohli replaced his Delhi teammate Gambhir and joined his Delhi senior Sehwag. Sehwag by now was almost in his usual flurry, picking boundaries at will and playing risk free cricket as much as possible. Kohli added his compact game and scored at a great fashion to aid this senior. Sehwag got his hundred around 32^nd over and Indians took batting power play around 35^th over. Batting power play changed the complexion of game. Sixes and Fours flew with great ease and Shafiul, Razzak and Shakib were plundered on Batting Power play as India managed 48 runs. The hitting frenzy continued after powerplay too and Sehwag reached his 150 with another huge six in style. Kohli meanwhile kept adding his runs with flurry of fours and was particularly severe on Shakib and Shaiful. When everything seemed that Sehwag may well break Tendulkar’s double, he fell for an inside edge to Shakib for 175 runs of 140 balls, adding 203 runs with Kohli. In last two overs, Kohli managed to help him to yet another century as India managed 370 runs in 50 overs.

Set a target of 371, Bangla openers began well. After 4 decent overs, Sree with couple of inside edges finding boundary went awry and gave 24 in an over to help Bangladesh reach 5o in just 5 overs. Imrul was playing a cameo before Munaf Patel made him edge one on to his stumps. Zunaid who replaced him in the wicket also tried a few hits but introduction of spinners checked the runrate and Tamim was unable to find his usual game for some reason or other. Harbhajan had Zunaid stumped by his captain’s mart work at 129 on board. By 25^th over, Shakib and Tamim were keeping the Tigers on almost run a ball but the asking rate was climbing a hill. Tamim helped himself to a good working fifty and Shakib was trying to cut loose. Introduction of Munaf in 34^th over, Tamim went for a shot and was caught by Yuvraj at short midwicket for an excellent low kept one. Rahim replaced Tamim and Shakib reached his fifty before he lofted one on to deep midwicket around 40^th over Bangladesh has long before lost the match and Munaf chipped in with a 4 wicket haul. In end Bangladesh managed 283 for loss of 9 wickets as India romped home by 87 runs.

Sehwag was undoubtedly the Man of the Match and he rightly was happy to have taken a Revenge he waited for the past 4 years. Match clearly indicated how big the Indian batting lineup was and how dangerous it can be to the opposition. The bowling was pretty average but dew and flat track did not help either and Indians will hope that Spin tracks of home will mean a change in strategy and spinners will hold the sway hereafter. This makes Indian and Sri Lankans the best bet to the title though Aussies and Proteas are always a challenger and Pakistan and England will be dark horses. Meanwhile Siddons and Shakib have lot to work on their bowling while they would be pleased with their batting. And in end, Sehwag has issued a warning of batting 50 overs and showed what he can do in Mirpur. Cheers!!!