The whole of India is
celebrating is celebrating as if India have won the ICC T20 World
Cup 2012! No wonder, if India
go on losing the semi final berth and the Cup from here millions of fans all
over would still be happy that India
had indeed defeated Pakistan
on the way! No wonder, if Pakistan
proceed from here to win the T20 World Cup it would still rankle millions of
fans all over that Pakistan
got defeated by India
on the way! Such is the passion for matches between these arch-rivals. And, no
harm done really as finally it proves the love for cricket one more time.
In the much awaited crunch match in Colombo
on 30th September India
crushed Pakistan
by 8 wickets with 3 overs to spare. Thus India have kept the record of never losing a World Cup, be it one-day or T20 internationals, against Pakistan unbroken. Pakistan
won the toss choosing to bat first and the decision was instantly criticized by
Pakistan
experts, because the chasing team has been winning the matches recently. Indian
experts also opined that it was a good toss to lose.
The weak link in the Indian team, its bowling, finally found the length and
rhythm. Maybe it was so as finally the best team was fielded with opener
Virender Sehwag coming back into the team. Two of the three spinners, Harbhajan
and Chawla, were dropped and bringing in pacer Balaji was a masterstroke,
because Balaji was very effective against Pakistan
and was immensely popular in Pakistan
years back. Seven batsmen option was taken with the part timers expected to
deliver. And indeed, they delivered. Yuvraj Singh whose place in the team was
questioned by many experts did everything possible as an excellent and
competitive cricketer—he bowled exceptionally taking two wickets at a crucial juncture,
fielded brilliantly causing a run-out too and batted most sensibly giving
support to the man of the match Viral Kohli to take India home remaining not
out on 19. Skipper Dhoni took the right decisions this time and his team got
inspired.
The Pakistan
batting could never launch anchors with wickets falling at regular intervals. The
inept Indian bowling this time got the full team out for just 128 runs in 19.4
overs. Everyone bowled tight—Balaji taking 3 scalps, Ashwin and Yuvraj
capturing two each and Pathan and even Kohli getting one each. The two heroic Umars--Umar Akmal and Umar Gul could not rescue the team this time.
In the Indian chase Sehwag justified his selection by scoring quick 29
runs in difficult conditions never allowing the momentum slow down after losing
Gambhir in the very first over to spinner Raza Hasan who opened the Pak bowling
attack. After that it was the classic Virat Kohli (78 not out off 61 balls) again
who guided India
to a great victory with Yuvraj’s company. The Scorecard:
In the first match unstoppable Australia
defeated a lackluster South
Africa by 8 wickets with Shane Watson having an incredible
all-round run and winning the fourth man of the match award of the tournament in as many
matches. The Scorecard:
Now India is in the third position in Group-2 and meet South Africa on 2nd
October while Pakistan face up to Australia on the same day in Colombo. Both teams
would be trying hard to win their matches and in that eventuality a three-way
tie would emerge with the net run rate deciding
which two would go through. Other permutations would work if different
situations emerge.
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