Venue for 6th ODI..Ind Vs Aus ..30/10/2013

Bailey Unstoppable, Shami Back

So it was rains at Ranchi…where India was having a little more edge, when they started chasing 296 as target. After three consecutive 300 plus scores by visitors, Indian Bowlers may just feel a little better with 295. But 295 was a very competitive score given Australian penetrative fast bowling and excellent ground fielding, which easily adds up 20-25 runs each time to the target set by them. Even without Ishant Sharma India struggled to curb Aussies run flow. Indians are yet to find a way to contain no.6, Glenn Maxwell and mainly the consistent Aussie Captain George Bailey-now a leading series scorer. Baileys` consistent runs getting and handling spinners especially R Ashwin effortlessly has become a big headache for India in this series so far.  India was lucky to get both these batsmen out through Vinay Kumar, going after him in bit too hurry, while looking for even bigger score, as Indians chased 350 plus total effortlessly in second ODI at Jaipur.

Aussie Captain Bailey                                          Mohammad Shami

But the opening hour of the match belonged to comeback man Mohammad Shami. This 23 year old Bengal Ranji player was having just 11 matches experience behind him. But what he did to Australia was not even expected in anybody`s wildest of dreams. Australia was just 32 for 3 in 8<sup>th</sup> over. With Shami reading 20 for 3 off four overs. It could have been even worse for visitors if Captain Bailey’s first ball catch would have stuck in Virat Kohli`s palm at Third slip in the sixth over. This missed opportunity cost Indians very dearly, 98 runs to be precise and not to speak of 153 runs partnership with Maxwell. Through this partnership Aussies made a comeback in this 4^th ODI and put almost 300 on the board. And by the way Indians went on to make that tally of dropped catches to 5. Indian Fielding is continuously on a down side with every match. Only few months back this side was termed as one of the best fielding side in Champions Trophy. This makes Indian attack look more mediocre.

Barring Mohammad Shami every other Indian bowler struggled to make any sort of mark on visitors. They found it difficult either to contain or strike at right time, by bowling better in right areas. M S Dhoni`s team selection also puzzled cricket pundits.  Under the circumstances Bhuvnesh Kumar -who swings the ball both ways -was the first choice. But along with Ishant he was also dropped. Probably MSD considered experience of Vinay Kumar would be more useful in death overs. Or he probably wanted to give few more chances to Vinay Kumar as a built up to 2015 world cup. Also everybody failed to understand why the best bowler on the day was underutilised. Shami bowled only 8 out of his quota of 10.But that`s Mahi style, always unpredictable. Always follows his gut feeling, this way he has become most successful Indian Captain and given us the second world cup also . Indians still think 296 was gettable, but for the untimely rain. So hope for the best weather and cricket at Cuttack on Saturday afternoon, with India very keen to level the series 2-2 with 3 more to go.

-For The DAY VIEW, Nashik 26.10.2013.

Faulkner missile floors Mahi fort!

Ishant, Ishant and Ishant…the name on every Indian Cricket lover`s lips, ever since the lanky Delhi pacer bowled that now infamous over on Saturday night in Mohali Chandigarh. Faulkner No.8 Aussie batsman smashed 30 runs off that 48<sup>th</sup> over of the Australian innings, which turned out to be decisive, in the end when Australia had needed 44 runs off 18 balls. Pick up any newspaper, any social networking site...Face book, Twitter you name it. Favorite subject for every cartoonist right up to the Amul advertisement Ishant Sharma is everywhere, very easily recognizable with his long hair style. True it turned the match fully in the visitors favor. No doubt Ishant is struggling with his bowling rhythm since first ODI, with more than 7.5 runs per over as economy rate. But don`t forget there were others- two specialists –Bhuvnesh and Vinay Kumar , 2 all rounders –Jadeja and Yuvaraj and one part timer Virat Kohli who bowled 42 overs in between them which gave away 241 runs at 5.73 runs per over. Barring Jadeja 31 off his 10, at 3.1 economy rate everybody else was expensive. Virat conceded 18 off his solitary over. R. Ashwin the main spinner continues to frustrate his captain and side more than the visiting Aussies. His overall figures of 163 runs off 27 overs with just 3 wickets for last 3 matches with combined economy above 6 runs has let visitors off the hook. Who are scoring 300 plus consistently at ease in every match. Let`s not forget Cricket is a team game and 11 players are expected to contribute…play their part effectively to win. Apart from toothless bowling attack, India has yet to come terms with the new ODI fielding rule, which allows only four fielders in the deep outside 30 yard circle instead of earlier five. Statistics shows that India has lost six out of 11 games at home, since the introduction of this rule, compared to 1 loss in ten for previous two years in the same period. This has been adding to flurry of boundaries apart from lack of penetration and wicket taking ability of Indian bowling unit. Surprisingly and fortunately for Ishant and Ashwin the same squad has retained, for the rest 4 games of the series. Let’s see if Dhoni continues with Ishant on Thursday match or takes a bolder step to rest the internationally senior most pacer, who was supposed to be spearheading of the attack. Dhoni will have a very tough time at his home ground Ranchi; if India’s bowling misery continues.

Let us spare a thought for Mahi Dhoni`s captains knock. Easily one of the best in recent ODI history. 139 not out in just 121 balls with five sixes and twelve fours. He came at the crease with score reading 76 for 4 with Yuvi out on very first ball. Then India further deep in trouble, at 154 for 6 when R Jadeja departed in 32<sup>nd</sup> over. Indians were hoping to cross at least 250 and would have considered themselves very lucky with that sort of recovery. It was ideal lesson in building up of a ODI innings in a crisis time. From drives, hooks, pulls, cuts to famous helicopter shot everything was on majestic display, this made Saturday evening Chandigarh crowd to forget home boy Yuvi`s disappointing failure. Assuming full responsibility and taking tail enders` like Ashwin and Bhuvnesh for company he not only gave respectability to the Indian total but with crossing unimaginable 300 at one time almost gave a winning total. But for the Faulkner`s 64 runs out of 39 balls, match was in India`s grip. With today, Thursday`s match at Ranchi home boy Captain cool M S Dhoni  is hoping to level 2-2 with the visitors, with some all-round better team performance.

23.10.2013-The DAY VIEW, Nashik.

MCA,Pune Stadium Day n Night Views.

Aussies surrender meekly to Indian Super Cyclone

             So the Young Fearless India`s relatively new top three  Rohit, Shikhar ,Virat  struck back in incredible style ,to make it one all at Jaipur, with five more to go in this One Day Internationals, Season starter series. After almost one sided end to Pune`s first one dayer, where Indians lost to through professional Aussies, by 72 runs. One wake call seemed enough to shed complacency if any, to the world cup holders to show case their true potential. Well Kangaroos were made to kneel down completely in this totally 

              Virat capitalized on the tips from Mahi n Yuvi after Pune Match.

one sided huge run chase of 360 runs at Sawai Mansing Stadium, Jaipur. Even ardent Indian supporters would not have imagined such a blunt counterattack in their wildest of dreams.

In Pune`s first match - it was excellent Aussie ground fielding which kept continuous pressure on the India during 305 target run chase. This resulted in mounting pressure, ultimately resulting in wickets falling at continuous interval, to much disciplined kangaroo pace attack. That match was virtually over in 41<sup>st</sup> over when 7<sup>th</sup> Indian batsman Dhoni sent back to pavilion even before 200 on the board. Pune`s new world class Sahara Cricket Stadium inaugurated with almost one sided Aussie win, leaving the whole Pune with huge disappointment, who had stormed on festive Dassera afternoon, to witness some exciting contest. This was India`s 11^th failed attempt to chase 300-plus successfully against Australia. 

So coming back to Jaipur`s second one dayer, Kangaroos bettered their target by 55 runs to make it safe looking 360.Only until the last couple of hours of the match, when India`s new top three went on making mockery of a huge total, the target appeared more than competitive. With ever aggressive Shikhar Dhawan and much gifted Rohit Sharma Indian batsman hammered 176 in just 27th over with more than 6.5 runs per over. Shikhar`s initial onslaught made Rohit to settle nicely in his groove for a big innings. Though Shikhar missed a very well deserved century by five runs. But Virat Kohli`s arrival to the crease completely sealed any chances whatsoever of Australia was hoping to make it a match. With his seventh ball at the batting crease Virat Kohli stepping down to the fast bowler thrashed the ball in the air for four to the midwicket boundary. This converted the Indian cyclone to super one with just 52 ball century. Everything Australia tried, as host captain Gorge Bailey put it later: The ball seemed to go further and harder. This record achievement by Indian batsman has raised expectation level at a new level for Indian cricket lovers. Captain cool Mahi Dhoni sensed the same at presentation and wisely made a point: Our batting is looking good, but it's unfair to assume the batsmen are going to chase a 300 plus target every time.

Virrat  Jaipur Victory Celebration with Rohit

Desert storm in Jaipur, Rajasthan turned out to be Indian Super Cyclone flooring the visitors.In a day run feast of 685 runs with 75 fours, 23 sixes; for just six wickets – at an average of more than hundred per batsman. India pounced to a super sensational nine-wicket victory, India’s highest successful chase ever and the second highest of all time in one day internationals.

Series has suddenly come alive and kicking. So friends – today-Saturday at Mohali is altogether anew day….new match and hopefully a very close and exciting contest on cards. Mohali is Punjab da puttar Yuvaraj`s home ground who was in such a devastating form and bagged T20 Man of the match with 77 not out off just 57 balls. So over to Mohali at 1.30 p.m. today for some Saturday entertainment. 

-19.10.2013-The DAY VIEW, Nashik.