Raina and Dhoni see India through to 2-0

Cricket in the outlands of India, away from the main cities has always been dicey proposition – plagued by mis-management, horrible wickets and poor facilities to players as well as playing public. The mega bucks with BCCI has not really helped in improving the situation and we had another thoroughly mis-managed affair at Faridabad for the 2^nd ODI. The wicket was so so but I am getting tired of the run feasts and it was okay to see a match, where the bowlers had some say; but the lathi charge to spectators and damaging the body of a woman and a 9 year old child spelled the kind of treatment that awaits the brave souls who are pouring into the coffers of BCCI, unmindful of the discomforts.

Coming to the game, England was back into self doubt mode and after a reasonable start, thanks to Powar messing up a simple caught and bowled, failed to take the initative. Raina off all people, floored one in the deep but still England could not put up a big enough score that could challenge India. Ramesh Powar, bowling traditional off spin bagged 3 and Sreesanth came back with some cheap wickets in the end. All in all, neither Peterson nor Strauss’s effort was sufficient enough and England ended with some 40-50 runs short of where they should have been.

The Indian chase had a decent beginning for a change but I am far from convinced about Sehwag’s form. He needs to be given a break for sure and he rarely looked to be the old Viru we know. The usual collapse happened and the usual contribution from Dhoni was called for but what is a refreshing change is the youngster Raina rising to the occasion. He played the big hits when needed and in general was kept in check by constant advice from Dhoni. Two strokes, which stood out from Raina’s innings were the wallop over midwicket and the flip-hoick he played a couple of times over fineleg for deliveries outside the off stump. Has India discovered a new Michael Beven ? Too early to say but the potential is there and what has to been seen is whether consistency can be combined with the talent.