All along "The Dust Bowl" and "I Dont Know How To Play Spin" brigade has been driving home the message that exciting cricket only happens on fast and bouncy green tops.Well yesterday's T20 match was as much an even contest as you will ever see.
Its no surprise that it was an low scoring match that produced a nail biting finish.The biggest surprise for me was that the crowd seemed to be missing and that meant the entire match was played with little or no atmosphere. No advantage for the IPL team here.
KKR started off really well both Bisla and Kallis were looking comfortable.They were steadily building a good partnership and the Kallis doing the catch up to Bisla who played some outstanding back foot shots. They were 80 odd from just 9 overs.That's when the abrasiveness of the pitch and some reckless slogs started to play its part in a restricting Kolkata to just 40 runs from the next 11 overs
Both spinners and fast bowlers had assistance from the pitch.Ball started to reverse well as early as the 15 over, with former New Zealand bowler Andre Adams bowling some in-swinging toe crushers.
Auckland aces must have fancied their changes when they went into the dug out.They did lose an early wicket not because of an exceptional play from the opposition but because of their awful running between the wickets.Lou Vincent was next.He had a big grin on his face when he took strike.why? i dont know and dont care but, more of that please.people sometimes forget to enjoy the game.
Though he looked like a fish out of water against slower bowlers even with a new ball Lou Vincent did use all the loose deliveries that came his way.Infact he laid into Unadkat. Yeah the same guy who was picked for India on the SA tour :).
Once bitten twice shy, well not in this chase Lou Vincent ran himself out when hit a ball straight to Tiwary and tried to run.There was no run it.May be he knew what was coming in the next over so he was desperate to get the strike back.
Lou Vincent would have had plenty of company in the dug out.Acukland Aces's No4 and No5 went from the next 3 balls.So in the span of 4 balls Auckland Aces Lost 3 wickets :)
Its now upto the lower order and bowlers to save the match, right now I am so used to this after the Eng Vs Ind series :) then began the slow grind (or consolidation phase ) of a T20 innings, believe me even a T20 match has one.
So it was down to 21 needed for 12 balls. Kallis the captian decides its upto to him to restrict AA's.For the plan seemed to work when he clattered the stumps of Munro.Vin Diesel look alike Adams walks in and sends Kallis's length ball ten rows back. Now that's a real action hero.Some inside edges and scrambled singles latter it was 11 runs from the final over.
Lee takes over from Kallis he bowled accurately with pace hitting yorker lenght at will.I believe he must have bowled atleast three yorkers to kyle mills alone including the final ball where AA's needed 4 to win.Kyle couldn't do much other just squeeze a single to fine leg.Kolkata Knight Riders won by 2 runs
KKR 121/6 20 Overs
AA 119/6 20 overs
Good match for the neutrals but if i was KKR fan I would not be happy with how things have paned out.They have huffed and puffed their way to a win and definitely not champions league winning
Complete Score Card here
Ruhuna v Trindiad & Tobago, CLT20 qualifier, Hyderabad
There was another match on the day between Ruhunu and Trinidad & Tobago In which the oldest person in CLT20 certain S.Jayasuriya (42) was playing.But i missed the game as there was no coverage. Seems to be one sided match (T20 standard) T&T winning the game easily.Looks like its the other Ganga who has been the playing the calypso.
S Ganga scoring 39 runs from just 15 balls.Now thats some talent.I am telling you WI cricket is slowly coming back to life.Bishoo and Pollard were a big hit in CLT20 last time.I hope we will see some more from WI's teams.
Match Stats
Ruhunu 138/10 in 20
Trinidad & Tobago 144/5 in 20
Full scorecard of the match here
BTW the broadcasting from ESPN was crap to say the least, the camera angles were awkward and the transmission even went off in at crucial part of the match
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| Team Photo Auckland Aces |
KKR started off really well both Bisla and Kallis were looking comfortable.They were steadily building a good partnership and the Kallis doing the catch up to Bisla who played some outstanding back foot shots. They were 80 odd from just 9 overs.That's when the abrasiveness of the pitch and some reckless slogs started to play its part in a restricting Kolkata to just 40 runs from the next 11 overs
Both spinners and fast bowlers had assistance from the pitch.Ball started to reverse well as early as the 15 over, with former New Zealand bowler Andre Adams bowling some in-swinging toe crushers.
Auckland aces must have fancied their changes when they went into the dug out.They did lose an early wicket not because of an exceptional play from the opposition but because of their awful running between the wickets.Lou Vincent was next.He had a big grin on his face when he took strike.why? i dont know and dont care but, more of that please.people sometimes forget to enjoy the game.
Though he looked like a fish out of water against slower bowlers even with a new ball Lou Vincent did use all the loose deliveries that came his way.Infact he laid into Unadkat. Yeah the same guy who was picked for India on the SA tour :).
Once bitten twice shy, well not in this chase Lou Vincent ran himself out when hit a ball straight to Tiwary and tried to run.There was no run it.May be he knew what was coming in the next over so he was desperate to get the strike back.
Lou Vincent would have had plenty of company in the dug out.Acukland Aces's No4 and No5 went from the next 3 balls.So in the span of 4 balls Auckland Aces Lost 3 wickets :)
Its now upto the lower order and bowlers to save the match, right now I am so used to this after the Eng Vs Ind series :) then began the slow grind (or consolidation phase ) of a T20 innings, believe me even a T20 match has one.
So it was down to 21 needed for 12 balls. Kallis the captian decides its upto to him to restrict AA's.For the plan seemed to work when he clattered the stumps of Munro.Vin Diesel look alike Adams walks in and sends Kallis's length ball ten rows back. Now that's a real action hero.Some inside edges and scrambled singles latter it was 11 runs from the final over.
Lee takes over from Kallis he bowled accurately with pace hitting yorker lenght at will.I believe he must have bowled atleast three yorkers to kyle mills alone including the final ball where AA's needed 4 to win.Kyle couldn't do much other just squeeze a single to fine leg.Kolkata Knight Riders won by 2 runs
KKR 121/6 20 Overs
AA 119/6 20 overs
Good match for the neutrals but if i was KKR fan I would not be happy with how things have paned out.They have huffed and puffed their way to a win and definitely not champions league winning
Complete Score Card here
Ruhuna v Trindiad & Tobago, CLT20 qualifier, Hyderabad
There was another match on the day between Ruhunu and Trinidad & Tobago In which the oldest person in CLT20 certain S.Jayasuriya (42) was playing.But i missed the game as there was no coverage. Seems to be one sided match (T20 standard) T&T winning the game easily.Looks like its the other Ganga who has been the playing the calypso.
S Ganga scoring 39 runs from just 15 balls.Now thats some talent.I am telling you WI cricket is slowly coming back to life.Bishoo and Pollard were a big hit in CLT20 last time.I hope we will see some more from WI's teams.
Match Stats
Ruhunu 138/10 in 20
Trinidad & Tobago 144/5 in 20
Full scorecard of the match here
BTW the broadcasting from ESPN was crap to say the least, the camera angles were awkward and the transmission even went off in at crucial part of the match
