Story Sharjah Cup FINAL - India VS Pakistan

[ashu2411]

After match interviews:

Inzamam - It was a disappointing effort from our batsmen. Now we have to do really well in field to pull this match out of Indian jaws. The pitch is difficult to bat on and will favor our spinners and we still have a chance in this match.

Dravid - Great effort from our bowlers and particularly Harbhajan. I dont have any word of praise for him. He was just superb today. Now rest of the work depends on our bowlers and with this strong batting lineup, it should not be much difficult. But we wont underestimate Pakistani team as they have shown in the past how they can pull a win out of nowhere.

Harbhajan - I enjoyed bowling today and just concentrated on bowling a good line and length and wickets came by itself in that effort. The pitch has something in it for spinners but i am sure our batsmen can chase this score pretty easily.

 

[brettLee]

india should definatly be able to reel this target in

look like a repeat of my champions series ind/pak match..
lets see if india achieve easily or they struggle..

 

[m_vaughan]

Good bowling by India. Should chase this target without any trouble.

 

[ashu2411]

So the players and umpires are coming to the ground as India get ready for their inning. Pakistan needs some great bowling performance to win here and India needs only a good partnership. For India the openers are the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. For Pakistan Shoaib Akhtar will start the bowling and it will be interesting to see if he can impress selectors on his comeback.

So everything is ready for the first ball of Indian inning and we will take you now straight to the action.

 

[amitbansal]

should be an easy chase for India

 

[Cricketman]

CMON INDIA! GREAT EFFORT IN THE FIELD, NOW BACK IT UP WITH SOME GREAT BATTING!! :happy

 

[ashu2411]

Early success for Pakistan as they drew India's first blood and India lost Little Master Sachin Tendulkar in the very first over.

Sehwag just chipped the ball in gap and went for single but Afridi came very quickly on the ball and gave very good throw to Akmal to which he had no problem in taking the bails off. The umpire called for third umpire and replays showed that Sachin was just short of crease. India lost its first wicket in very first over and Sachin goes after making 5 runs.

 

[Bala]

We need Dhoni! :hpraise

 

[ashu2411]

Sachin's wicket brought Dhoni to the crease and it will be interesting to see how these two attacking batsmen Sehwag and Dhoni bats in these difficult conditions.

Both batsmen play some lovely shots on both sides of wicket. Sehwag played his lovely cover drives off Shoaib which was a real pleasure to watch. Dhoni also played in his unorthodox way and both took Indian score to 71 in just 9 overs. Shoaib was given the worst beating of his life as Sehwag showed no mercy on the world's fastest bowler. Dhoni gave the similar treatment to Sami on other end. Now India needs only 116 runs to win and the required run rate is now well under 3 runs per over.

Sehwag is looking to set for a big one here as he reached to 35 off just 29 balls and Dhoni on 23 off 23 balls. The partnership between these two batsmen is now 66 runs. Pakistan will be hoping for some magic now to win from here.

 

[ramesh1986]

Great batting by Sehwag and Dhoni.

 

[ashu2411]

Sami continued in the tenth over and this time he broke through Dhoni's defence and ball crashed onto Dhoni's stumps. Sami got his first wicket and India lost its second wicket as Dhoni was clean bowled by Sami on 23 and India is 73/2 in 10 overs. This wicket will have brought some hopes back in Pakistani camp. Captain Rahul Dravid is the new batsmen in.

 

[Bala]

What was Dhoni trying to prove by blocking?

 

[ashu2411]

It was straight delivery and Dhoni decided to play defensively because the required run rate is only 2.88.

 

[ashu2411]

Dravid joins Sehwag and both decides to stay quiet for next few overs. Both added 16 runs in next 5 overs and Indian score is now 88/2 in 15 overs. Drinks have been called as Sehwag is now just 8 short of his fifty.

 

[brettLee]

indian victory on the card