India's tour of Windies in May/June 2006

PKBasu · Post by **PKBasu** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:10 pm

Superb effort by Harbhajan, 5/13 off 4.3 overs. He should never have been dropped for the first two tests...

Sreesanth was lucky with his first wicket -- which every commentator agreed was simply a horrible mistake on the batsman's part. Gayle didn't play at that ball (he left it alone, misjudging where his offstump was). The second wicket (Lara's) was a superb delivery -- albeit helped by a bad spot on the pitch. Every time I criticise him, Sreesanth comes up with a good performance! But that doesn't detract from the point I am making. He should not be an automatic selection in both the ODI and test side -- when his performance todate has been decidedly mediocre. And I'm afraid it is only a matter of time before his action is called into question: he has a pronounced jerk in his delivery motion.

BSharma · Post by **BSharma** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:49 pm

It appears that the Indian and West Indies cricketers are in a hurry to finish the last test match and watch some World Cup football.

India - 200 in first innings
West India- 103 in first innings
India - 35 for 2 in second innings

PKBasu · Post by **PKBasu** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 3:40 am

Magnificent captain's innings by Dravid, especially in the second innings. In a match in which only one other batsman on either side got more than 40, Dravid has distinguished himself by getting 81 and now 62* in the second innings. India comfortably placed on 128/6 (a lead of 225) at the end of the second day.

Kumar · Post by **Kumar** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 1:13 pm

Indians have sometimes lost the last test match abroad by glaring lack of application or ineptitude or brilliance from one opposing batsman. Letz hope Dravid's performance will help india wrap this match...

At this juncture , it is 50-50 .

Kumar · Post by **Kumar** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 4:03 pm

both the overnite batsman are back in pavilion. Dravid falling for 68 and Kumble for 10... India needed 350 plus runs to put the game way... Unless Bhaji and tailenders come up with miracle, this game can go either way.

And the way Sreesanth is playing now (just hit a six off taylor) and Bhaji also trying to slog, things are real interesting... Would be really surprised, if WI doesn't bat before lunch

BSharma · Post by **BSharma** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 4:42 pm

Sreesanth had Gayle's number in both innings. Sreesanth strikes in the first over and Gayle gone for zero again. WI 2/1.

Post by **jayakris** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 4:48 pm

Sheesanth gets Gayle again - this time off the second ball of teh first over. It looks like the 4th ball lbw appeal on Lara was too damn close too, according to cricinfo, but turned down by umpire Koertzen. 7 for 1 WI, looking for 269 to win.

Jay

BSharma · Post by **BSharma** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 5:01 pm

cricinfo wrote:

plenty of cracks now on this pitch, variation in bounce...spinners, spinners....

WI 17/1 after 6 overs. Is it time for Kumble and Bhajji to come?

Sravanthi · Post by **Sravanthi** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 6:10 pm

WI 29/3 with Ganga and Lara dismissed, need 240 runs to win

PKBasu · Post by **PKBasu** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:39 pm

Hats off to Sreesanth. His batting was a revelation: for someone who averaged just over 6 runs an innings in first-class cricket before entering the international arena, Sreesanth has repeatedly managed to bat with aplomb for India -- and today saw another astonishing example. His 16 runs (including the only six of the match upto that point) may well prove crucial in the end.
And he bowled a superb first over, getting Gayle with a beauty and narrowly missing dismissing Lara after the latter had clipped him to leg for 2. The ball with which he got Ganga soon after lunch was another marvellous one that kept low, as several deliveries are wont to do on this pitch. The only problem with Sreesanth is that he looks very pedestrian after one over in his spell (although that first over in each spell -- especially if it comes after a break -- is often pretty devastating).

PKBasu · Post by **PKBasu** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:43 pm

As I depart to bed at 3:40am, after watching an absorbing day of fine cricket by both sides (especially the bowlers!), India are still very much on top with the Windies on 85/4 chasing 269. A slightly dangerous partnership is developing between Sarwan and Bravo, but there is just one batsman still to come (Marlon Samuels).

BSharma · Post by **BSharma** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:38 pm

Sreesanth breaks the partnership of Sarwan and Bravo by getting Sarwan to edge to Dravid in slips. Next over, Kumble bowls out Bravo.

West Indies 128/6.

BSharma · Post by **BSharma** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:45 pm

No Wimbledon and no World Cup football today. It must be cricket time.

Go Indian team and win the match at a site where previous Indian teams could not win (I am not a cricket historian, but I thought I read some where about it.).

Addendum:

I tried checking some stats quickly at cricinfo - India drew one test match and lost other ones at Sabina Park. India won at Sabina Park in a test match for the first time.

BSharma · Post by **BSharma** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:33 pm

India WON.

Kumar · Post by **Kumar** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:36 pm

Just when it looked like Ramdin will pull WI out of the fire with 39 run partnership for 9th wicket in which he scored the bulk of runs, Kumble stuck twice in three deliveries and India wins by 49 runs...

First win outside subcontinent (if you exclude zimbabwe) in 20 years and first win in WI after 35 years when Gavaskar was a debutant...