Cricket: India tour of Bangladesh

1st ODI: Bangladesh v India at Dhaka (SBNS), May 10, 2007
Result: India won by 5 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)

India survives the challenge

Oh YES! it was a pure pulling-themselves-out-of-the-dungeon thing, they manage to keep the pride intact but the thrashing was never convincing. For record, Ravi Shastri won his first match as coach. But before those rounds of handshake between the players (at the end of 46th over of 2nd innings), this hard winning battle that took place in a very torrid weather (too hot & too humid) saw Indian batsman well-challanged by Bangla's spinner as the wicket slowed down in the later half of the innings. After some blitzing but very short display of form shown by Indian openers (Gambhir n Sehwag), the mainstay of Indian middle order (Yuvraj, Dravid n Mongia) couldn't get going as Rafique n Razzak's bowled left-arm spin in tandem. But India found form in Dhoni (who came 1-down) & Karthik, their two wicketkeeper batsmen, who punched n swept respectively to keep the spinners at bay. Their critical n calm 6th wicket partnership of 107 runs powered India to 5 wicket win with 6 balls remaining.

Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and Bashar elected to bat first knowing that a score of 230-240 on board will be enough for his bowlers to put a fight. Tamim Iqbal start from where he left in his last game against visitors as Zaheer spell of 5 overs went for 33 runs without any scalp. Though Sreesanth was looking in control of his line n length, his short term threat was ended by a hamstring injury that pulls him out of the rest of the inning. Javed Omar kept his calm, and together the openers put up a partenership of 78 runs before Iqbal lofted Mongia incorrectly to long on, while 2nd powerplay was not yet taken. Omar was patient for his 80 as he drives n cuts across his legs to spinners. The talented Saqibul Hasan was another reassurance for them, as Bangladesh put up 250 in a 47 over match.

There are enough positives being taken from both sides. While Rahul Dravid gave an answer to his critics by opting for Mongia, Ramesh Powar produced a gem of the spell in the middle overs. Dinesh Karthick who didn't play any role in India's exit in World Cup proved his worth today as his fielding inside the circle gives the glimpse of Kaif at times. Bangladesh would be happy to find their batsmen in form and with Mortaza coming back in next match, they are still in the game and well armed for their neighbours as they play them again on 12th of May.

Bangladesh: 7/250 in 47 overs (Omar 80, Saqibul 50, Dinesh Mongia 3/49, Powar 2/55)
India: 5/251 in 46(47) overs (Dhoni 91*, Karthik 58*, Saqibul 2/43, Rasel 2/66)

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Technorati Tags: Cricket, India, Bangladesh

Cricket: Indians are back in business.

Heya, The World Cup is over (but bloggers never retire), and so is that unrelenting n vibe atmosphere, where the cricketing world discovered the new Runner-up, ofcourse, ICC might be thinking of shortening the pattern the tournament followed when every approach eventually leads to only one conclusive winner. We realized that even the average performance by the Aussies could surpass around dozen teams that featured in the tournament. In last four years, every time when a team raised its performance standard, we would compare it with this very talented bunch of specimens in yellow. It was India in 2003-04, followed by England, South Africa, New Zealand, and in this tournament Sri Lanka looked to be the only team who could have challenged them. But when the D-Day arrived, Sri Lanka faced an unexpected threat from someone against whom they might didn't have any plans.

Anyways, we have another 4 years now to talk all that that has happened. For me, the biggest irony is that, after India, Pakistan humiliating exit so early in the tournament, if Britannia will come up with any short "Do you know" book talking abt CWC-2007, India will be remembered as the team that registered highest team score in the WC (414/5 again BMU) & Imran Nazir (Pakistan opener) for his highest individual score (160 against ZIM). This is Optimism at its best.

So now the WC is over and players are back with their families enjoying some light moments to cover up for the tough last 2 months. For some of the countries, their next official international outing will be in September (Twenty20 WC) in Sri Lanka. But, India has some other plans for its biggest fan following. No idea, whether they knew it well in advance that they are not gonna make it to semifinal stage (alas!, they didn't even get till Super 8), that they will be playing Bangladesh in the second week of May.

BCCI has acted very strongly against their team for its forgettable n unforgiving performance in WC. They have cancelled their previous contracts and have introduced new ones on performance basis (As expected, this has lead to row b/w players n board about which we are gonna listen in months to come). New rules pertaining to player's endorsements. They are searching more desparately now to induce some fresh talent in their ODI team. Looking for fresh inspiration, they have gone ahead and selected a new coach-cum-manager in Ravi Shastri, Fielding Coach as Robin Singh, and Venkatesh Prasad as Bowling Coach.

India were ousted from the World Cup after their five-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Trinidad, and this tour that will last more than 3 weeks gives Rahul and his men an opportunity to redeem some pride and put that defeat behind them. They say its not a revenge series (though it wasn't when it was planned months ago), but for Indian junta, who knows very well how to forgive n forget, haven't forgotten India's recent debacle easily. Yeah!, today we are in the same seat in which West Indians were in 1983 when they beated us black n blue following their WC defeat in finals. Indian fans wants the same performance full of passion from their men now. So now what is Bashar saying, that he is not afraid. That his team has drawn enough confidence and they have some very good match turning players in Ashraful, Mortaza. Gaud, he is right. For this being Whatmore's last assignment as B'desh coach, he will be looking forward to some more feathers in his cap. He has made this team look more threatening than ever and the upset victories are more frequent now. And now is their time to consolidate over the advance made in the world cup. But they also need to realize that they are up against an opposition whose egos have been hurt and would be yearning to prove a point or two, more for themselves rather. India who has kept Tendulkar, Ganguly out of ODI team(expecting a tough season ahead) will be looking forward to their young talents in Gambhir, Yuvraj, Piyush Chawla, Manoj Tiwary et al as they play three ODIs, on May 10, 12, and 15, before going into two back-to-back Tests.

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Technorati Tags: Cricket, India, Bangladesh