Karachi.
30 September 1997.
Indian team was visiting Pakistan after a gap of 8 years. With just 3 ODIs the tour wasn't a long one. India were sickeningly thrashed in the first game which was hopelessly one sided. This game however, was entirely different.
Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss. They were on their way to a bright start when Rajesh Chauhan caught Saeed Anwar (18 off 22) off his own bowling, diving to his left. (55-1) But Afridi continued in the same way he always does, taking the bowlers apart. He was helped by a ridiculous decision, that too from the 3rd umpire. First of all there was no need to refer to the 3rd umpire for that stumping when his bat was way above the ground when the bails dislodged. But even the 3rd umpire somehow failed to notice the thing usually obvious to human eye. (The fact that the 3rd umpire too was from Pakistan took the surprise out of it.)
Nilesh Kulkarni removed Afridi after he made 72 off 56 on the score of 126. He went on to remove Ijaz Ahmed a while later on a steady 31 off 54. (148-3) In spite of that, Pakistan had got the run rate under control. All they needed was to consolidate for a while. Inzamam Ul-Haq took the charge of the innings with his usual calm. Though Chauhan got his 2nd wicket by removing Saleem Elahi on 18, Pakistan were well on course.
However, shamefully, the match was repeatedly brought to halt by some notorious stone throwing by the local crowd. When Ganguly was hit, it was the fourth occasion the innings was interrupted. Skipper Sachin Tendulkar said enough is enough and took his men in the dressing room. As a result, Pakistani inning was halted at 265-4 after 47.2 overs. Inzamam (74 off 92) and Moin Khan (31 off 33) were looking ominous but they couldn't get a chance to have a go. Therefore India had to score 266 to win from 47 overs.
India were immediately off to a brave start in reply. Tendulkar started off well but Azhar Mahmood got him caught behind on 21 off 18. 71-1. Ganguly in his prime form, proving himself to be a fine prospect, made sure that India wouldn't collapse after Tendulkar's loss. Vinod Kambli gave him a solid support by 53 off 76. Things looked rosy for India at 169-1, but Waqar Younis struck. Ganguly was gone after making 89 off 96. The situation worsened after two quick run outs, as Kambli and Azharuddin departed. 185-4. Pakistan had a sniff. Another wicket, and they are right back in it. Sure they were, as Jadeja too, couldn't hold on to his wicket. 195-5.
The drooped shoulders, faded voices, silent crowd was now nowhere to be seen or heard. Pakistani attack was now more hostile, which included verbal volleys as well.
The momentum India had gathered was now slipping out. The required run rate was creeping up. But that man, Robin Singh was still there. With the wicket keeper Saba Karim, he kept stealing runs. India still needed boundaries but they were at least in the hunt.
The sun had started fading now. Target was closer. Chests heaving, eyes wide open, the duo kept running feverishly. Saba Karim hit a boundary off Waqar, Robin Singh hit a 6 off Saqlain Mushtaq, and India had regained the edge.
Waqar bowled the second last over. Saba snatched another boundary. India looked more comfortable now. Nerves got the better of Saba as he ran for a single with the ball straight into keeper's hand. But Moin missed it, and Saba was back in the crease safely. (Geoffrey Boycott at the commentary couldn't help but wolf whistle "OOOOWW!!! OOOOOW OOOOOWWW!!! Just Stomping Just Stomping!!!") Saba's luck however, ran out as Waqar produced a peach of a yorker to get rid of him. With Saba gone at at 26 off 32 India were 257-6. Rajesh Chauhan, the new man in, got a single off the last ball to face the last over.
8 needed off 6. The dangerous Saqlain had the ball in his hand. With a tail-ender on a strike up against Saqlain, any pessimist in the Indian camp had a right to be skeptic. But the next minute was going to prove him wrong.
Saqlain couldn't grip the newly changed ball as he slipped in a full toss. Chauhan, out of nowhere, hoicked it bravely over deep midwicket for a 6, turning the match completely upside down. He sensibly took a single next ball. With 1 needed from 4, Robin Singh swept it down to deep fine leg and completed the single with a broadest of grins.
The hooligans who threw stones at the Indian players looked at their fingers ruefully and wondered how a champion spinner couldn't keep his fingers on the ball when it mattered most.
Scorecard.
I REMEMBER: When my mom picked me up from the school, score was around 150-1. When I came home, it was around 200-5. After a nerve racking hour, me and my friend Pushkar were deeply into wild celebrations, which eventually inspired Karan Johar to produce 'Dostana'.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Nailbiters 4: Ind vs Zim (Standard Bank Cup Traingular, South Africa)
Paarl.
27th January 1997.
The match belongs to that good old era when Zimbabwe was a respected team, unlike today. It was a kind of team that has nothing to loose and has some very talented players. They did their very best to turn the tables in this game. It was in a way easy too, considering how weak the Indian team was in those days. The day-night game however, had a very strong finish to boast of.
Zimbabwe didn't make a good start in spite of winning the toss, slipping to 51-3, loosing Waller and Flower brothers. But Paul Strang, who showed some spark in the earlier game against South Africa, was promoted up the order. The decision proved fruitful as he made a useful 47(84) and gave his captain Alistair Campbell (61 off 70) a good support. Both were removed by Prasad and Srinath respectively in quick succession. Jadeja's catch to remove Campbell was a blinder. David Houghton (also the Zimbabwean coach) was also removed quickly by Kumble. 179-6 now. But Craig Evans, the happy-go-lucky hitter, or the Zimbabwean Chris Cairns in miniature counter-attacked by making 40 from 32. Thanks to him, Zimbabwe reached 236-8 at the end. It was considered to be a respected score in those days, more so for the Zimbabweans.
Indian reply was similar to Zimbabwe, as they too, lost three quick wickets. The mighty, beefy chicken farmer Eddo Brandes snatched the precious wickets of Tendulkar, Azharuddin and the promoted one-down Srinath. The promising new comers, Ganguly and Dravid steadied the things by a small partnership. But Dravid got run out unfortunately, getting his bat bizarrely stuck on the groung out of his crease.
Ganguly too, departed after a steady 38 off 79 to that man Craig Evans at the score of 110-5.
Things were looking dark, but the street smart Ajay Jadeja and Saba Karim, the newly included keeper took India 56 runs ahead when the harmless looking Paul Strang removed Karim (38 off 46). Campbell then, brought Brandes back. He obliged and removed Jadeja. The only known batsmen now, was Robin Singh. Until then, he wasn't much heard off. But the next hour proved that he has a mighty forearm and an even mightier spirit.
Brandes wasn't content as he bowled Kumble to take his 5th wicket, but that didn't stop Robin Singh. He hoicked some blows with brute power and stole quite a few runs with a surprisingly agile pair of feet. Saleel Ankola (9 off 7) gave him strike smartly but got run out when the score was 229-9.
It boiled down to the last ovre and the last pair of Robin Singh and the shaky Venkatesh Prasad. The menacing Brandes still had an over to spare, so Zimbabwe had the upper hand. But the duo stole some precious runs in the first 5 balls. What's more, that Prasad helped Robin to face the last ball when 2 were needed.
Brandes made the rare mistake by bowling one down the leg side. But the umpire was late in signaling the wide which forced the pair to scamper for a single as they thought they had no other option. The keeper missed the stumps but Brandes collected the ball. He hurled the ball at the stumps which found the target. Robin Singh was well short. Brandes had finished the game with this one last act to ascertain that it was really his night. At the dead of night, the India-Zimbabwe game finished in a tie.
Scorecard.
I REMEMBER: I was suffering from asthma during those days. I remember sitting in a chair in the dimly lit hall, a pungent smelling Ayurvedic oil applied on my body and the electric sauna bag tied around my chest. But with the game like this, the only thing that bothered me was the continuous fall of wickets in the Indian innings!
27th January 1997.
The match belongs to that good old era when Zimbabwe was a respected team, unlike today. It was a kind of team that has nothing to loose and has some very talented players. They did their very best to turn the tables in this game. It was in a way easy too, considering how weak the Indian team was in those days. The day-night game however, had a very strong finish to boast of.
Zimbabwe didn't make a good start in spite of winning the toss, slipping to 51-3, loosing Waller and Flower brothers. But Paul Strang, who showed some spark in the earlier game against South Africa, was promoted up the order. The decision proved fruitful as he made a useful 47(84) and gave his captain Alistair Campbell (61 off 70) a good support. Both were removed by Prasad and Srinath respectively in quick succession. Jadeja's catch to remove Campbell was a blinder. David Houghton (also the Zimbabwean coach) was also removed quickly by Kumble. 179-6 now. But Craig Evans, the happy-go-lucky hitter, or the Zimbabwean Chris Cairns in miniature counter-attacked by making 40 from 32. Thanks to him, Zimbabwe reached 236-8 at the end. It was considered to be a respected score in those days, more so for the Zimbabweans.
Indian reply was similar to Zimbabwe, as they too, lost three quick wickets. The mighty, beefy chicken farmer Eddo Brandes snatched the precious wickets of Tendulkar, Azharuddin and the promoted one-down Srinath. The promising new comers, Ganguly and Dravid steadied the things by a small partnership. But Dravid got run out unfortunately, getting his bat bizarrely stuck on the groung out of his crease.
Ganguly too, departed after a steady 38 off 79 to that man Craig Evans at the score of 110-5.
Things were looking dark, but the street smart Ajay Jadeja and Saba Karim, the newly included keeper took India 56 runs ahead when the harmless looking Paul Strang removed Karim (38 off 46). Campbell then, brought Brandes back. He obliged and removed Jadeja. The only known batsmen now, was Robin Singh. Until then, he wasn't much heard off. But the next hour proved that he has a mighty forearm and an even mightier spirit.
Brandes wasn't content as he bowled Kumble to take his 5th wicket, but that didn't stop Robin Singh. He hoicked some blows with brute power and stole quite a few runs with a surprisingly agile pair of feet. Saleel Ankola (9 off 7) gave him strike smartly but got run out when the score was 229-9.
It boiled down to the last ovre and the last pair of Robin Singh and the shaky Venkatesh Prasad. The menacing Brandes still had an over to spare, so Zimbabwe had the upper hand. But the duo stole some precious runs in the first 5 balls. What's more, that Prasad helped Robin to face the last ball when 2 were needed.
Brandes made the rare mistake by bowling one down the leg side. But the umpire was late in signaling the wide which forced the pair to scamper for a single as they thought they had no other option. The keeper missed the stumps but Brandes collected the ball. He hurled the ball at the stumps which found the target. Robin Singh was well short. Brandes had finished the game with this one last act to ascertain that it was really his night. At the dead of night, the India-Zimbabwe game finished in a tie.
Scorecard.
I REMEMBER: I was suffering from asthma during those days. I remember sitting in a chair in the dimly lit hall, a pungent smelling Ayurvedic oil applied on my body and the electric sauna bag tied around my chest. But with the game like this, the only thing that bothered me was the continuous fall of wickets in the Indian innings!
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