Sensational Sreesanth
Well ! South Africa must be wondering how the tide turned with the change of color of clothes. Well ! The tide turned indeed for India's good and I am happy to be wrong in my predictions.
It all started with a hasty attempt by the groundsman to repair the cracks in wanderers so that Kumble will get no benefit. Imagine the stink that would have created by Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, if an Indian groundsman has done anything close to such a tactic. Play started off 90 minutes late and Dravid raised a few eyebrows, when he decided to bat first. Jaffer and Viru are in no form and were back in the hut for almost nothing. Then a brief partnership followed between Sachin and Dravid. Sachin exploded with some pleasing drives but after promising big things, let Indian supporters down by getting out to Kallis. The rest came and went but everyone including Dravid and VVS wasted the starts they got. Ganguly survived the pace test and uncorked a sensational pulled 6 off Ntini. But, the Indian fortunes turned when VRV Singh defied all conventional wisdom and decided to just enjoy himself. His 29 in a brief with some move off to leg wallops in a 1/2 hour stay revived the Indian spirits and the total of 249 looked okay. One other point to mention - that man Pollack - I am sure how he defied the limits of gravity and took that sensational catch to dismiss Dhoni.
Zaheer and Sreesanth began a dream spell and SA were 5/3 and they could have been 5/4, when Benson negated a certain LBW for Kallis. The rest of SA innings was a terrible let down and but for Nell, things could have been even worse. Kumble bowled only 2 overs but even in that spell, it was evident that he will be a handful in the 2nd. SA innings lasted a mere 25 overs and it was almost unbelievable.
The 2nd innings for India was one of another wasted opportunity for most of the top order but when the lead is so much, even a mere quickfire 30 or 40 is going to turn the tables. I hope that VVS will help in making the target as impossing as possible. It will be then Kumble's turn to deliver.
It all started with a hasty attempt by the groundsman to repair the cracks in wanderers so that Kumble will get no benefit. Imagine the stink that would have created by Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, if an Indian groundsman has done anything close to such a tactic. Play started off 90 minutes late and Dravid raised a few eyebrows, when he decided to bat first. Jaffer and Viru are in no form and were back in the hut for almost nothing. Then a brief partnership followed between Sachin and Dravid. Sachin exploded with some pleasing drives but after promising big things, let Indian supporters down by getting out to Kallis. The rest came and went but everyone including Dravid and VVS wasted the starts they got. Ganguly survived the pace test and uncorked a sensational pulled 6 off Ntini. But, the Indian fortunes turned when VRV Singh defied all conventional wisdom and decided to just enjoy himself. His 29 in a brief with some move off to leg wallops in a 1/2 hour stay revived the Indian spirits and the total of 249 looked okay. One other point to mention - that man Pollack - I am sure how he defied the limits of gravity and took that sensational catch to dismiss Dhoni.
Zaheer and Sreesanth began a dream spell and SA were 5/3 and they could have been 5/4, when Benson negated a certain LBW for Kallis. The rest of SA innings was a terrible let down and but for Nell, things could have been even worse. Kumble bowled only 2 overs but even in that spell, it was evident that he will be a handful in the 2nd. SA innings lasted a mere 25 overs and it was almost unbelievable.
The 2nd innings for India was one of another wasted opportunity for most of the top order but when the lead is so much, even a mere quickfire 30 or 40 is going to turn the tables. I hope that VVS will help in making the target as impossing as possible. It will be then Kumble's turn to deliver.
posted by Crick_Love at 5:59 PM
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