Sunday, 16 June 2013
Reports : India thrashed Pakistan in a rain-affected match | Creates Record | Champions Trophy 2013
BIRMINGHAM : Title favourites India overcame devious English weather to wallop old foes Pakistan by eight wickets in yet another drizzle-sodden, and perchance inconsequential, Champions Trophy match on Saturday night.
India thus kept intact their spotless league record, rattling up three wins in as many games, and are on a confidence boost going into the knock out stages of what is the last edition of the tournament.
It mattered very little to the local Asian diaspora that MS Dhoni's side were already in the semis, and Misbah ul Haq's out of contention. They turned up in numbers and waited patiently through several rain interruptions and numerous Duckworth-Lewis-assisted reworkings of overs and targets.
They were rewarded not with the famed sub-continental needle, but with what was expected of the encounter: India’s overall strength proving too strong for the might of Pakistan’s unreal bowling attack, which has often failed to transcend the sludge of its batting mire.
India, for their part, were in full flow, first shooting out Pakistan to 165 all out in 39.4 of the rain-permitted 40 overs, and gunning down the perpetually modified target without so much as a rivulet of figurative sweat trickling down an equally figurative forehead – not that there was any chance of that in the prevailing chill of a purported English ‘summer’.
Rocked early ~
Aided by a couple of rain disruptions India were earlier superlative in what was ultimately designated to be a 40-over innings. Dhoni had a ringside view of most of the early action since it was confined to behind the wicket.
Bhuvneshwar swung one away from Nasir Jamshed that took the edge on its way to Suresh Raina at second slip.
The first resumption was marked by the termination of Mohammad Hafeez, who, having struck five crisp boundaries, swished distractedly outside off for Dhoni to take a smart low catch and Bhuvneshwar’s second wicket.
Kamran Akmal had not looked especially comfortable out there opening. He was done in on an expansive and unsuccessful off-drive drive against Ashwin’s off-spin, the inside edge that whizzing off Dhoni’s knee to be held by an alert Kohli at slip.
Shot out ~
Sir Jadeja soon made his presence felt, darting in an angular, flat delivery onto a shuffling Misbah’s leg stump. Asad Shafiq played Ishant Sharma down the legside to Dhoni and was discovered, to his dismay, to have edged the ball. Shoaib Malik could only grin and review in vain a plumb leg before against Jadeja.
Pakistan, like they did in their previous two matches, caved in, which is not to take anything away from India. Ashwin ripped out Wahab Riaz’s stump, off the glove, with a snarling off-spinner, Virat Kohli collected, tumbled and rattled in a direct hit, Rohit snapped up a low chance.
Young southpaw Umar Amin stood alone at the end with an unbeaten 27, watching his team fail to last the full quota and crumble to 165 in 39.4 overs. It was too little, even for the tournament’s best bowling outfit, especially when up against its strongest batting line up.
All round show ~
Pakistan's deflation after Dhoni sent them in was catalyzed equally by swing bowler and Man of the Match Bhuvneshwar Kumar, off-spinner R. Ashwin and left-armer Ravindra Jadeja, who picked up two apiece, and by an electric performance in the field by a young, athletic outfit.
That done, opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan blazed India ahead with a rasping 48, holding his nerve through interruptions and getting out two short of what would have been a deserved half-century. Dhawan and Sharma were earlier eyeing their third consecutive century stand when the latter clipped Mohammad Hafeez to a leaping Misbah at midwicket.
India, then on 63/1 in 11.3, were in pursuit of 157 in 36 overs, but a couple of mild downpours later were left with 39 to get from 10.3 – all very logical and rationale-backed and mathematical, one would assume! There was no trouble from then on, only the matter of how flagrantly Dinesh Karthik and Virat Kohli attained victory: it was done with the cushion of 17 balls remaining.
[ Courtesy : YahooCricket ]
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Match Review | India Vs Pakistan | Champions Trophy 2013
Birmingham : Epic battle is gonna start soon,
The Indo-Pak Clash.When the Champions Trophy tickets went online for sale in
April this year, it took all of 30 minutes for the allocated tickets of
India-Pakistan encounter to be lapped up.
Resembling every time they have clashed in the history of the game, The insatiable claim of tickets and the craze between fans have been witnessed. So, the ravenous demand from Indian and Pakistani fans will mean Saturday's last group ‘B’ ICC Champions Trophy game will be more than a dead rubber.
India's batting remains their major strength while bowling
improved a bit. The opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan has
worked like magic. Dhawan has been outstanding with consecutive centuries.
Apart from that, as usual Virat Kohli is in sublime form and MS Dhoni remains
captain cool indeed and rest of the players are also in fine touch.
A win against Pakistan will give India top position in group B and India then will travel to Cardiff to play the second semifinal on June 20 versus Group A runners-up.
#BleedBlue
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Unstoppable India rushed into the Semis | Champions trophy 2013
LONDON: Those expecting a touch of magic from India’s first ODI with the West Indies on English soil since 1983’s fabled final would have been disappointed.
The match panned out entirely in India’s favour, thanks to Shikhar Dhawan's second consecutive ODI century and Ravindra Jadeja's maiden five-wicket haul, and was decided with 65 balls to spare as MS Dhoni's team chased down the 234 target with ease, becoming first into the Champions Trophy semifinals and knocking out Pakistan from the tournament.
But the overwhelming verdict, by eight wickets, was also a fair indicator of how much had changed in the thirty long years since Kapil Dev and his men transformed their own and the lives of countless others on a sun-kissed evening at Lord’s.
For one, unlike in the Prudential Cup final, India started this Champions League Group ‘B’ league game runaway favourites.
For another, victory was attained in surroundings rather dissimilar from the sparse local support of thirty years ago. The full house of blue shirts that watched India torment the Windies at the Kennington Oval here have come to become one of the most visible signatures of a growing, global India.
Good start ~
After the Carribbeans were confined to 233/9, despite Darren Sammy's brave late hitting, openers Dhawan and Rohit Sharma (52) added 101 in about 15 overs for a solid start. Rohit and Virat Kohli (24) - playing his 100th ODI - fell to the guile of Sunil Narine, but Dhawan held one end steady.
He was dropped on 37 by Kemar Roach and then partnered Dinesh Karthik (51*) in another big alliance (109) that brought India the win. For a moment it appeared that rain would deny Dhawan of a century, but play soon resumed and the Delhi southpaw reached his landmark in 102 balls with a scintillating six cut off the bowling off Dwayne Bravo.
All through his knock, Dhawan was helped by some decidedly wayward bowling by medium pacers Sammy and Bravo and fast bowler Roach and made sure he pounced on the loose deliveries through powerful punches and cuts.
Big wicket ~
Earlier, MS Dhoni's decision to field paid off when the dangerous Chris Gayle was dismissed four sweet boundaries into his short stay. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the instrument of action here as he pegged away at just short of length and had the hulking West Indian slash to first slip, where Ashwin took a good catch standing tall.
Ashwin himself had bowled splendidly to check a rampaging Johnson Charles (60). The opener used Umesh Yadav’s pace to good effect each time he strayed on the pads and struck an inside-out six off Virat Kohli, who had been introduced as early as the 13th over.
Jadeja strikes ~
Soon after Charles reached his fifty, Jadeja spun into action, starting with a maiden and then taking a wicket in each of his next three overs. Charles was trapped in front with a flatter delivery, Marlon Samuels (1) was done in on the decision review, while Ramnaresh Sarwan (1) patted the left-arm spinner down the leg side and into Dhoni’s gloves.
Darren Bravo had all this while was trudging painfully through, as if mired in thick bog and clingy marshland; his agony ended with an Ashwin beauty: flight and turn and a swift stumping curtailing his 83-ball 35.
The other Bravo – Dwayne – was caught at deep mid-wicket trying to pull Yadav, bringing the Windies down from a rosy 103/1 inside 20 overs to 163/6 in almost 38.
Explosive fifty ~
It was a precipitous fall, one that was aggravated by Pollard hitting out against Ishant Sharma and Jadeja returning to pick his fifth scalp in the form of Ravi Rampaul.
A total of 200 looked doubtful at 182/9, but Sammy struck four sixes in a murderous half-century that included a 21-run assault on Ishant in the 19th over of the innings, and united with last man Roach for crucial runs.
The Twenty20 captain added 51 in four overs for the tenth wicket, Roach’s contribution to the union being a royal, unbeaten zero, almost as bad a performance as the one he put on later with the new ball.
[ Courtesy : YahooCricket ]
Monday, 10 June 2013
For 100-club member Virat Kohli, Sky is The Limit
Special Achievement ~
Only two teammates of his in the Champions Trophy squad — M.S. Dhoni (220) and Suresh Raina (160) — have featured in more games.
At 24, it is a resounding endorsement of his abilities, a measure of how far he’s left his peers behind.
Proud moment ~
“It is a proud moment for all those associated with him from his formative years in cricket,” says Raj Kumar Sharma, Kohli’s coach from the age of nine.
“I remember the first match vividly and wonder how time has flown. He is playing his 100th one-day match. He was so excited when he was picked. Now he is one of the best on the circuit.”
In 99 matches, Kohli has scored 4,085 runs at a shade under 50. Raina, who has 61 caps more, is still eight runs behind that tally. They have batted in different positions and it is not completely fair to compare them, but it is no grave injustice either.
Rohit Sharma, who debuted two years before Kohli, has played 10 matches (and 12 innings) fewer; but the former has only scored half as many runs (2,130). Kohli has scored 13 hundreds already to Rohit’s two.
Most prolific ~
Over the last two years, Kohli has been the world’s most prolific one-day batsman, scoring 2,129 runs in 44 matches (and as many innings). Eight of his 13 hundreds have come in this period. Kumar Sangakkara comes second, with his 1,862 runs in 49 games (46 innings).
Recognition has emphatically arrived in the form of the ICC ODI Cricketer-of-the-Year and the BCCI Indian Cricketer-of-the-Year (Polly Umrigar Award) honours.
“There is a big difference in the Virat we have seen in the last two years,” says the Delhi Ranji Trophy coach Vijay Dahiya, someone who has watched Kohli since his first-class debut.
“In terms of fitness, he has made amazing progress. The treadmill is his best friend when he is not playing. His mental and physical fitness go hand in hand.”
Dahiya also ascribes Kohli’s success to his intelligence on the field.
“His smartness is an enviable quality,” he says. “If he has batted consistently, it is because he can assess the game more than anyone. Plus, he never takes chances, not even in T20. He knows which bowler to pick when — see how he has gone after Lasith Malinga. He has stopped throwing his wicket away after getting set. I am sure he can become a great game finisher.”
Better in Tests ~
In these two years, Kohli has also come a long way as a Test batsman too, after initial struggles. At press conferences, he has been at pains to state the importance he places on performances in the longer format. After four poor innings on the last tour of Australia, he turned things around in Perth before making a breakthrough century in Adelaide.
Against England in Nagpur last year, he scored a gritty hundred, consigning to the bin any doubts over his patience.
“I won’t compare him (to others),” says Raj Kumar Sharma.
“In my opinion, he is fit for Tests. He is better in Tests than one-dayers because he takes time to settle down. He has the technique and temperament to play long innings. I want Virat to be known as a successful Test cricketer.”
Considering Kohli is only in his early twenties, it is dizzying to wonder how far he can go. “He is hungry and is determined to grow into a batsman who can be relied on in all conditions,” Raj Kumar says.
[ Courtesy : The Hindu ]
In a nutshell, we all can say that "Sky is the limit for Virat Kohli."
Virat has a good records against West Indies.
Hope Virat scores big on his 100th ODI match and India wins...
Finger Crossed!
All the Best Virat.
All the Best India.
Good Wishes From We Love Virat Kohli Team.
Good Wishes From We Love Virat Kohli Team.
Dear Fans, Wish him good luck by posting your comment below comment section.
Friday, 7 June 2013
Match Reports | India V South Africa | Champions Trophy 2013
Brilliant India begins Champions Trophy with a win over Proteas ~
CARDIFF : No Sehwag. No Gambhir. No Tendulkar. No Yuvraj. No problem.
Young guns Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja strutted their stuff as India thumped injury-hit South Africa by 26 runs to get the Champions Trophy underway at Sophia Gardens here, on Thursday.
Dhawan's maiden ODI hundred, Rohit Sharma's 65 and Jadeja's rollicking unbeaten 47 propelled India to an imposing 331/7, after which their motley collection of slower bowlers made life difficult for the chasers, ending South Africa's ordeal on 305 in 50 overs.
His scintillating 29-ball cameo apart, Jadeja claimed two wickets with his left-arm spin, was as economical as a ration card, affected a crucial run out and also took a catch, repaying the faith that skipper MS Dhoni has often invested in him.
Off-spinner R. Ashwin was also a picture of parsimony, conceding a mere 47 in his 10 overs, while the seamers - Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar - scalped two apiece.
Sir Ravi rips it :
In pursuit of a big target, South Africa were jolted by the early dismissals of Colin Ingram and Hashim Amla, but were steadied by Robin Peterson (68) and AB de Villiers (70). The pair had added 124 in quick time when Jadeja engineered another mini collapse.
The Saurashtra all-rounder ran-out Peterson with a direct hit from midwicket, trapped JP Duminy leg-before and snaffled the dangerous de Villiers at short-leg off Umesh Yadav.
David Miller’s unfortunate run-out after a mix-up with Faf du Plessis left South Africa staring defeat on 188/6, needing 144 to win in 17-odd overs. du Plessis and Ryan McLaren sought a course-correction with a string of boundaries, but the former mistimed Ishant Sharma to Suresh Raina at mid-off.
McLaren's valiant, unbeaten 61-ball 71, which included a ferocious attack against Ishant Sharma, reduced the margin of victory and may well turn out to be crucial if things come down to Net Run Rate at the end of the league stage.
Injuries and missed chances :
It was Dhawan’s 94-ball 114 that enabled India to make the most of South Africa’s extended crock list. The Proteas started the game without Dale Steyn and suffered another blow when Morne Morkel hobbled out without competing his sixth over.
South Africa erred by bowling too short at India after sending them in and were also guilty of squandering several chances in the field. Dhawan, who partnered Rohit for a 127-run opening partnership, was handed at least three reprieves: dropped catches at the boundary on 27 and 70 and a missed stumping by de Villiers when he had scored 102.
Final flourish :
The Delhi southpaw brought up his first ODI century in 80 balls and was particularly severe on Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who was creamed merciless to various parts of the ground.
For a brief phase, however, India fell prey to their usual shortcomings and lost Virat Kohli (31), Dinesh Karthik (14), Dhawan and Suresh Raina (9) with alarming rapidity.
It took another magical act from Jadeja to haul India well over and beyond the 300-run mark, as he masterminded 40 from the last four overs.
This was India’s third successive win in the tournament, including the twin victories over Sri Lanka and Australia in the practice games.
[ Courtesy : YahooCricket ]
CARDIFF : No Sehwag. No Gambhir. No Tendulkar. No Yuvraj. No problem.
Young guns Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja strutted their stuff as India thumped injury-hit South Africa by 26 runs to get the Champions Trophy underway at Sophia Gardens here, on Thursday.
Dhawan's maiden ODI hundred, Rohit Sharma's 65 and Jadeja's rollicking unbeaten 47 propelled India to an imposing 331/7, after which their motley collection of slower bowlers made life difficult for the chasers, ending South Africa's ordeal on 305 in 50 overs.
His scintillating 29-ball cameo apart, Jadeja claimed two wickets with his left-arm spin, was as economical as a ration card, affected a crucial run out and also took a catch, repaying the faith that skipper MS Dhoni has often invested in him.
Off-spinner R. Ashwin was also a picture of parsimony, conceding a mere 47 in his 10 overs, while the seamers - Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar - scalped two apiece.
Sir Ravi rips it :
In pursuit of a big target, South Africa were jolted by the early dismissals of Colin Ingram and Hashim Amla, but were steadied by Robin Peterson (68) and AB de Villiers (70). The pair had added 124 in quick time when Jadeja engineered another mini collapse.
The Saurashtra all-rounder ran-out Peterson with a direct hit from midwicket, trapped JP Duminy leg-before and snaffled the dangerous de Villiers at short-leg off Umesh Yadav.
David Miller’s unfortunate run-out after a mix-up with Faf du Plessis left South Africa staring defeat on 188/6, needing 144 to win in 17-odd overs. du Plessis and Ryan McLaren sought a course-correction with a string of boundaries, but the former mistimed Ishant Sharma to Suresh Raina at mid-off.
McLaren's valiant, unbeaten 61-ball 71, which included a ferocious attack against Ishant Sharma, reduced the margin of victory and may well turn out to be crucial if things come down to Net Run Rate at the end of the league stage.
Injuries and missed chances :
It was Dhawan’s 94-ball 114 that enabled India to make the most of South Africa’s extended crock list. The Proteas started the game without Dale Steyn and suffered another blow when Morne Morkel hobbled out without competing his sixth over.
South Africa erred by bowling too short at India after sending them in and were also guilty of squandering several chances in the field. Dhawan, who partnered Rohit for a 127-run opening partnership, was handed at least three reprieves: dropped catches at the boundary on 27 and 70 and a missed stumping by de Villiers when he had scored 102.
Final flourish :
The Delhi southpaw brought up his first ODI century in 80 balls and was particularly severe on Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who was creamed merciless to various parts of the ground.
For a brief phase, however, India fell prey to their usual shortcomings and lost Virat Kohli (31), Dinesh Karthik (14), Dhawan and Suresh Raina (9) with alarming rapidity.
It took another magical act from Jadeja to haul India well over and beyond the 300-run mark, as he masterminded 40 from the last four overs.
This was India’s third successive win in the tournament, including the twin victories over Sri Lanka and Australia in the practice games.
[ Courtesy : YahooCricket ]
Thursday, 6 June 2013
Match Review | Champions Trophy 2013 Opener | IND vs RSA
Champions Trophy 2013,
Journey Begins ~
After contrasting preparatory games, the ODI world champions and the winners of the first edition of the Champions Trophy will lock horns in the tournament opener in Cardiff today (6th June,2013).
The final edition of Champions Trophy couldn't have asked for a better start - India vs South Africa. It is going to be a mouth-watering prospect!
In Champions Trophy History IND & SA faced head to head twice & both times India had won...
As defending world champions, India have a lot to prove to the world. They need to show that they are not only 'tigers' at home but also at overseas...
Zor Lagao Champions Banao!
Come On guys, Let's roar For India!
Chakde India!
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