If the end of the third day's play was considered, it was as though India will have to struggle for two more days to win the game and an innings win was almost ruled out. And, even at the end of the match, India didn't walk home with an innings win. India had to bat another time to ensure a win for them. This was not owing to any sort of rain delays which was the case in the earlier game against Bangladesh at Chittagong. Neither were the Bangladeshi batsmen so strong that India had to sweat for every wicket of Bangladesh.
However, if the earlier part of the third day's play was considered, there was a 200 run 2nd wicket partnership between Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique. And, things didn't end just there for the Indians. There was another 68 run 4th wicket partnership between Shahadat Hossain and Mohammed Ashraful which threatened to take the game to atleast another day. Earlier to that, India did well on day 1 to see the Bangladeshi batsmen collapsing for a mere 233 runs giving hopes of an innings win for India. It was Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma who took the initiative towards destruction of the Bangladeshi innings.
And then, it was India all the way with almost all of the Indian batsmen posting half centuries. India ended the 2nd day putting up 459 runs on the board which finally saw them declaring the innings at 544 runs on the board. After this, it was as though an Indian win by an innings was confirmed for a short period of time not until Bangladeshi batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique did as mentioned above. After that, unexpectedly after the fall of the 5th wicket, it was a cycle stand effect at Dhaka where the remaining 6 wickets fell for a score of just 22 runs.
Still, this eventually couldn't guarantee India an innings win and had no other option but to take to the crease once again. It was all because of the initial damage done by the Bangladeshi top order batsmen from which India could never recover and had to pay the price. There was frequent underestimation from the Indians' side which the Bangladeshi batsmen made full use of until the Indian bowlers realized their mistake and got back to the game. India has to consider themselves lucky that the match didn't take another day to finish, with India finishing the game well before the end of the 4th day itself.
Showing posts with label Ishanth Sharma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ishanth Sharma. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Monday, 25 January 2010
India take no chances this time
With the thrashing what they received in the first test at Chittagong, India were in no mood to relax keeping in mind that they had to prove a lot of things in the second test at Dhaka. And, the Indian players did just that. Added to everything that happened earlier in the tournament, India were convinced after the return of the regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who had to miss the first test owing to a back injury, which India had to put in a delayed and extra effort to see them through that match. But now, everything looks to be intact for India.
The Bangladeshi batsmen that includes Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes and other lesser known names as far as international cricket is considered had absolutely no answers for the Indian bowlers that had the likes of Zaheer Khan, Ishanth Sharma in the lead. Unlike in the first test where it was all left on the experienced lads like Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan to fight it out, this time it was Ishanth Sharma who did everything he could with the ball. What a match it was with both the openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes getting out for a duck! One need not forget the caliber of the Bangladesh team when citing the above deeds.
However, Bangladesh didn't stop reminding the world regarding the improvement they have shown in recent years and also showed that they are very much interested in playing test cricket as good as any other test playing nation. In fact, Bangladesh are the only team who are found putting up more hard work than any other team in today's test cricket. If a close look at the 9 test playing nations in today's cricket is given a close look at, no country is found playing the game the way it is supposed to be played. Finally, there has to be one winner and one loser for every game.
However, there was a late swing in the Bangladeshi tale when the number 8 batsman in Mahmudullah scored 96 runs and there were also four batsmen who scored in excess of 30 runs. This was hardly expected from a Bangladeshi team that was at one stage found reeling at 51 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. The last two wickets of the Bangladeshi innings lasted for 78 runs which is too costly as far as Bangladesh is considered. India should not have allowed Bangladesh go past 200 runs with all these in hand. But, once again, a little bit of underestimation made this turn into reality.
The Bangladeshi batsmen that includes Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes and other lesser known names as far as international cricket is considered had absolutely no answers for the Indian bowlers that had the likes of Zaheer Khan, Ishanth Sharma in the lead. Unlike in the first test where it was all left on the experienced lads like Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan to fight it out, this time it was Ishanth Sharma who did everything he could with the ball. What a match it was with both the openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes getting out for a duck! One need not forget the caliber of the Bangladesh team when citing the above deeds.
However, Bangladesh didn't stop reminding the world regarding the improvement they have shown in recent years and also showed that they are very much interested in playing test cricket as good as any other test playing nation. In fact, Bangladesh are the only team who are found putting up more hard work than any other team in today's test cricket. If a close look at the 9 test playing nations in today's cricket is given a close look at, no country is found playing the game the way it is supposed to be played. Finally, there has to be one winner and one loser for every game.
However, there was a late swing in the Bangladeshi tale when the number 8 batsman in Mahmudullah scored 96 runs and there were also four batsmen who scored in excess of 30 runs. This was hardly expected from a Bangladeshi team that was at one stage found reeling at 51 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. The last two wickets of the Bangladeshi innings lasted for 78 runs which is too costly as far as Bangladesh is considered. India should not have allowed Bangladesh go past 200 runs with all these in hand. But, once again, a little bit of underestimation made this turn into reality.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Is this all India can do?
Well at the end of the third day's play, no doubt that the Indian openers started their batting in the second innings by losing just one wicket putting up a score of 122 on the board. But, at the same time they also allowed Bangladesh to score runs at will when despite at the end of day 2 being 3 down with 59 on board eventually ended their first innings total scoring 242 runs which was just 1 runs less than what the Indians could. And, I guess despite his past heroics, Sehwag should be once again reminded that he is playing test cricket and not the limited overs edition.
Remaining at the crease for a longer duration is as important as scoring runs. And so is putting up partnerships which can at most times prove as a weapon to win matches. But, similar to that in the first innings, where Sehwag got out after scoring a quickfire 52 from 51 balls, this time as well, Sehwag score a decent score of 45 from 58 balls. And, following that a nightwatchman in Amit Mishra has taken to the crease. May be Dhoni is doing all these only because India is sure to win this game. I wish this had been against any other team which gives India a run for their position in tests.
After 4 quick wickets in the Bangladeshi innings, it was all Bangladesh's show with Mahmudullah scoring 69 runs in the total of 242 which they eventually ended their first innings total. Second on the list would be Mushfiqur Rahim who scored 44 runs. And much to anyone's surprise, the two batsmen mentioned above came in at positions 7 and 8 and still could not be contained by the Indian bowlers that had the likes of Zaheer Khan and co. This can be analyzed in two ways. One, that the Indian batsmen didn't not bat to their full potential and two, the Bangladeshi batsmen fought with their full strength despite ending the previous day at 59/3.
Even on the previous day, when Bangladesh lost 3 wickets for a score of 59 runs, it was not before openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes scored 31 and 23 respectively and had scored 11 boundaries between them. Bangladesh were at one stage on the third day's play found reeling at 98 runs for the loss of 6 wickets which then saw the remaining four tail-end and lower middle order batsmen piling up another 144 runs on the board against India who are now rated as the number one team in test cricket. This was a bit of underestimation from the Indians' point of view with more of improvement for the Bangladeshi side.
Remaining at the crease for a longer duration is as important as scoring runs. And so is putting up partnerships which can at most times prove as a weapon to win matches. But, similar to that in the first innings, where Sehwag got out after scoring a quickfire 52 from 51 balls, this time as well, Sehwag score a decent score of 45 from 58 balls. And, following that a nightwatchman in Amit Mishra has taken to the crease. May be Dhoni is doing all these only because India is sure to win this game. I wish this had been against any other team which gives India a run for their position in tests.
After 4 quick wickets in the Bangladeshi innings, it was all Bangladesh's show with Mahmudullah scoring 69 runs in the total of 242 which they eventually ended their first innings total. Second on the list would be Mushfiqur Rahim who scored 44 runs. And much to anyone's surprise, the two batsmen mentioned above came in at positions 7 and 8 and still could not be contained by the Indian bowlers that had the likes of Zaheer Khan and co. This can be analyzed in two ways. One, that the Indian batsmen didn't not bat to their full potential and two, the Bangladeshi batsmen fought with their full strength despite ending the previous day at 59/3.
Even on the previous day, when Bangladesh lost 3 wickets for a score of 59 runs, it was not before openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes scored 31 and 23 respectively and had scored 11 boundaries between them. Bangladesh were at one stage on the third day's play found reeling at 98 runs for the loss of 6 wickets which then saw the remaining four tail-end and lower middle order batsmen piling up another 144 runs on the board against India who are now rated as the number one team in test cricket. This was a bit of underestimation from the Indians' point of view with more of improvement for the Bangladeshi side.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
KKR Just Not Willing To Learn To Learn From Their Mistakes
I have cited this point a number of times in more or less every post that I write on this blog regarding the batsmen willing to take risks and in the process either throw his wicket away like Shahid Afridi usually does or else if luck is in favor put some extra runs on board that could be the difference between a win and a defeat. This could also be the difference between getting qualified to the next round and getting eliminated fro the tournament once for all and thus playing the remaining matches just for the sake of it. But, I wounder whether there is anyone out there to tell the Kolkata Knight Riders' players.
Atleast, the Kolkata Knight Riders' coach John Buchanan should have realized this point if not anybody else. In the eitire quota of their 20 overs, the Kolkata Knight Riders lost just three wickets, with the scoreboard reading 58/1 from the first 6 overs at more than 9.0 an over, and then 98/2 in the 14th over at just over 7.0 an over. The third wicket fell just 4 balls prior to winding up the Kolkata Knight Riders' innings which finished at 154. The third wicket fell when the score was 147. Due to this, the KKR could not utilize the precense of Sourav Ganguly and Ajith Agarkar-two decent hitters of the ball.
I wonder as to what made the team owner go in for Brendon McCullum as a skipper, when McCullum has hardly captained his national side? On the other hand, Sourav Ganguly had done a fabulous job as a captain for team India only to be sacked as a skipper by the KKR team owner. So far, the Kolkata Knight Riders could win just one game and that was against the Kings XI Punjab which was intervened by Duckworth Lewis and the Kolkata Knight Riders' innings lasting just 8 overs. Despite repeated failures by the Kolkata team, it is a surprise that both the team owner as well as the coach have maintained silence over the same.
This is found happening only with the Kolkata Knight Riders and no other team. And another important fact regarding the Kolkata Knight Riders when it comes to their bowling is that their main strike bowlers viz Ishanth Sharma, Murali Karthik and Henriques who bowled their full quota of 4 overs were the maximum run donors returning with bowling figures of 10.75, 4.50 and 9.0 respectively. The other bowlers might not have done a fab job but, a thorough check is needed by the team manager and coach for repeated failures whatsoever. After this match between the Delhi Daredevils and the Knight Riders, the former team has popped to the top most position and the latter has dropped to the bottom most one. What a gesture!!!!
Atleast, the Kolkata Knight Riders' coach John Buchanan should have realized this point if not anybody else. In the eitire quota of their 20 overs, the Kolkata Knight Riders lost just three wickets, with the scoreboard reading 58/1 from the first 6 overs at more than 9.0 an over, and then 98/2 in the 14th over at just over 7.0 an over. The third wicket fell just 4 balls prior to winding up the Kolkata Knight Riders' innings which finished at 154. The third wicket fell when the score was 147. Due to this, the KKR could not utilize the precense of Sourav Ganguly and Ajith Agarkar-two decent hitters of the ball.
I wonder as to what made the team owner go in for Brendon McCullum as a skipper, when McCullum has hardly captained his national side? On the other hand, Sourav Ganguly had done a fabulous job as a captain for team India only to be sacked as a skipper by the KKR team owner. So far, the Kolkata Knight Riders could win just one game and that was against the Kings XI Punjab which was intervened by Duckworth Lewis and the Kolkata Knight Riders' innings lasting just 8 overs. Despite repeated failures by the Kolkata team, it is a surprise that both the team owner as well as the coach have maintained silence over the same.
This is found happening only with the Kolkata Knight Riders and no other team. And another important fact regarding the Kolkata Knight Riders when it comes to their bowling is that their main strike bowlers viz Ishanth Sharma, Murali Karthik and Henriques who bowled their full quota of 4 overs were the maximum run donors returning with bowling figures of 10.75, 4.50 and 9.0 respectively. The other bowlers might not have done a fab job but, a thorough check is needed by the team manager and coach for repeated failures whatsoever. After this match between the Delhi Daredevils and the Knight Riders, the former team has popped to the top most position and the latter has dropped to the bottom most one. What a gesture!!!!
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