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`One of the greatest ODI series`
By: Anil KumbleInzamam must be rueing his decision of inviting India to bat first after having had the option to choose. In any final, one always bats first unless the pitch conditions dictate otherwise.
By: Anil Kumble
Inzamam must be rueing his decision of inviting India to bat first after having had the option to choose. In any final, one always bats first unless the pitch conditions dictate otherwise.
They say it is easy to be wise after the event but I had this over-riding feeling that Inzamam was better off in electing to bat on a pitch as placid as it was on Wednesday and an outfield which was lightning quick.
It has been one of the greatest series between the two arch-rivals of recent past in one-day cricket. What a way of resuming cricketing ties and how entertaining this Samsung one-day series has turned out to be! India started well again with Sachin and Sehwag settling any nerves in the dressing room with their brief innings. Laxman looked very comfortable from the start and stamped his class with a brilliant century.
He is a delight to watch when he bats and makes batting appear so simple and effortless with his timing. He usually makes a good start count and it was no different on Wednesday when he completed a classy century. He is now a batsman sure of his methods and his ability and his consistency of recent months has been outstanding. After a dream tour to Australia, he is making other teams suffer with his remarkable ability.
India managed to reach an identical score to that of Pakistan in the previous match, setting them a similar target. Irfan Pathan in a short career so far has proved to be a utility cricketer. He batted sensibly in the final overs and when given the new ball he did not disappoint the skipper for showing faith in him.
He swung the ball both ways and his normal pitching length was fuller than the other bowlers. Balaji provided the ideal start by removing the in-form Yasir Hameed. India, flexible in their bowling strategy, persevered with Irfan Pathan after his usual first six-over spell that got rid of another Pakistani batsman Younis Khan. In between he accounted for Yousuf Youhana, not for the first time in the series, if I may add.
It always helps a spinner when the fast bowlers make early inroads and Kartik responded by sending back danger man Inzamam who was caught brilliantly by Sachin in the deep.
It has been one of the greatest series between the two arch-rivals of recent past in one-day cricket. What a way of resuming cricketing ties and how entertaining this Samsung one-day series has turned out to be! India started well again with Sachin and Sehwag settling any nerves in the dressing room with their brief innings. Laxman looked very comfortable from the start and stamped his class with a brilliant century.
He is a delight to watch when he bats and makes batting appear so simple and effortless with his timing. He usually makes a good start count and it was no different on Wednesday when he completed a classy century. He is now a batsman sure of his methods and his ability and his consistency of recent months has been outstanding. After a dream tour to Australia, he is making other teams suffer with his remarkable ability.
India managed to reach an identical score to that of Pakistan in the previous match, setting them a similar target. Irfan Pathan in a short career so far has proved to be a utility cricketer. He batted sensibly in the final overs and when given the new ball he did not disappoint the skipper for showing faith in him.
He swung the ball both ways and his normal pitching length was fuller than the other bowlers. Balaji provided the ideal start by removing the in-form Yasir Hameed. India, flexible in their bowling strategy, persevered with Irfan Pathan after his usual first six-over spell that got rid of another Pakistani batsman Younis Khan. In between he accounted for Yousuf Youhana, not for the first time in the series, if I may add.
It always helps a spinner when the fast bowlers make early inroads and Kartik responded by sending back danger man Inzamam who was caught brilliantly by Sachin in the deep.
Bureau Report