India vs. SA Day 2 - Report
When India resumed business on Day 2, they would have hoped for a quick finish for the South African innings. They almost managed it when they got Ashwell Prince early. But by then, the wrecking of the ship had had begun. Prince actually played like prince unleashing a range of strokes not witnessed during his entire stay yesterday. His partner at the other end, Morkell, gave him good company. It took a magnificent catch from VVS Laxman in second slip to bring an end to a very good innings from Prince.
After Prince’s departure, the Indians hoped to wrap up things quickly and get started with their batting. But Ntini and Morkel had other ideas. On a pitch that was fast loosing its fizz, both Ntini and Morkel batted like seasoned pros and punished loose balls whenever they were on offer. With SA crossing the 300 mark, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Indians. Finally, it necessitated the guile of Kumble to remove Ntini and some luck on India’s part. Some luck because the umpire suddenly remembered people can be out LBW too and gave Ntini out! Hat’s off to that courageous umpire who had the guts to give a plumb LBW out!
South Africa all out on 328.
Indian Innings
If Graeme Smith is Zaheer Khan’s bunny, Sehwag is everybody’s bunny! In the last few tours, you just have to throw ball at Sehwag to get him out. On the very first ball he faced, Sehwag stood rooted to his crease and had a swing at the ball as if he was batting on 150. The ball promptly took the edge and De Villiers took a blinder in second slip. Nobody was shocked in the Indian camp. Gautam Gamhir might have been shocked because he doesn’t get a hit yet.
Dravid started off with a couple of confident boundaries. Just when the partnership between Dravid and Jaffer looked good, racist Benson did it again! The idiot who had not given out SA batsmen even when they were plumb in front gave out Rahul Dravid when the ball looked to be sailing comfortably over the stumps! That wicket belonged to this idiot umpire rather than Nell.
Later, it was Jaffer’s turn to follow suit. Although he had played some splendid strokes for boundaries the end was coming as he was often seen poking at deliveries outside the off stump. So, the end came in a predictable manner, an edge to the slip.
It mainly depends on India’s seniors now to rescue India to safety. Sachin is batting out there with some exquisite drives and Laxman is chipping in. There are Ganguly and Dhoni to follow and India can still be back in the game.
Our prayer for Sehwag’s return or form didn’t heed any results yesterday. Hope that god listens to us at least now!
After Prince’s departure, the Indians hoped to wrap up things quickly and get started with their batting. But Ntini and Morkel had other ideas. On a pitch that was fast loosing its fizz, both Ntini and Morkel batted like seasoned pros and punished loose balls whenever they were on offer. With SA crossing the 300 mark, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Indians. Finally, it necessitated the guile of Kumble to remove Ntini and some luck on India’s part. Some luck because the umpire suddenly remembered people can be out LBW too and gave Ntini out! Hat’s off to that courageous umpire who had the guts to give a plumb LBW out!
South Africa all out on 328.
Indian Innings
If Graeme Smith is Zaheer Khan’s bunny, Sehwag is everybody’s bunny! In the last few tours, you just have to throw ball at Sehwag to get him out. On the very first ball he faced, Sehwag stood rooted to his crease and had a swing at the ball as if he was batting on 150. The ball promptly took the edge and De Villiers took a blinder in second slip. Nobody was shocked in the Indian camp. Gautam Gamhir might have been shocked because he doesn’t get a hit yet.
Dravid started off with a couple of confident boundaries. Just when the partnership between Dravid and Jaffer looked good, racist Benson did it again! The idiot who had not given out SA batsmen even when they were plumb in front gave out Rahul Dravid when the ball looked to be sailing comfortably over the stumps! That wicket belonged to this idiot umpire rather than Nell.
Later, it was Jaffer’s turn to follow suit. Although he had played some splendid strokes for boundaries the end was coming as he was often seen poking at deliveries outside the off stump. So, the end came in a predictable manner, an edge to the slip.
It mainly depends on India’s seniors now to rescue India to safety. Sachin is batting out there with some exquisite drives and Laxman is chipping in. There are Ganguly and Dhoni to follow and India can still be back in the game.
Our prayer for Sehwag’s return or form didn’t heed any results yesterday. Hope that god listens to us at least now!
posted by Raju @ 7:55 AM
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