Sep 23: It is the best time for Asian cricket history as now it is conformed that Asian subcontinent would be proud to be having the First Twenty20 cricket world cup as both the unsuccessful team of the 50-50 World Cup India and Pakistan have surprisingly entered in the grand finale of the sort form of the world cricket. Both the team are estimating less favorite in this sort form cricket world cup as just five months ago none of them could not reach in the second round of the grand 50-50 world cup. India defeated mighty Australia while Pakistan defeated least favorite but most reliable semi-finalist New Zealand in separate semi finals on Sep 22 in South Africa.
India defeated Aussies by 15 runs in a high voltage game while Pak got comprehensive victory over kiwis by defeating them by 6 wickets. India was playing consecutive second match on Kingsmead, Durban after crushing England. Here earlier India defeated powerful team and host South Africa on Sep 20.
After justifying entry of Pakistan in the first semi, whole world was looking for a dream clash in the final if its neighbourhood country and traditional competitor India might be able to enter in the final by defeating one of the most favorite Aussies, who has been winning the limited over world cup since 1999. It was a tough task but India has fulfilled the dreams of billions of spectators by defeating them in a thrilling game.
It was Yuvraj Singh and Sreesanth who made the difference. Yuvi's electrifying 70 runs in just 30 deliveries led the batting charge while Sreesanth’s superb spell of 2 for 12 charge Indians to crush the Australia.
After winning the toss, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni chose first to bat, but the start was not good enough as opener Virendra Sehwag returned pavilion in just 5.2 overs when there were just 30 runs on the scoreboard. He made just 9 runs (1*4) in 13 balls. Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir tried to make up the innings but soon India lost its second wicket as Brad Hodge took an easy catch of Gambhir in Michel Johnson’s over. Gautam made 24 runs in 25 balls hitting 4 boundaries.
But the real blazing comes when Indian vice captain of ODI Yuvraj Singh came on the crease. He along with Uthappa accelerated the score from 41 runs to 125 in just 6.3 overs, when Robin Uthappa run out in 14.3 overs, but till then the run machines has continued to blaze the runs. Mahendra Singh Dhoni along with Yuvraj Singh hammered the score till 155 runs when Yuvraj lost his wicket in trying to hit the sixth six but caught in the way. He scored 70 (4*5, 6*5) runs in just 30 balls.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued to hitting the Aussies. He got out in the second last ball of the innings but till then he carried India to the handsome score of 184 from where India could defend the score with comfort. Irfan Pathan after that missed the ball, but the ball travelled to the boundary line and India reached to 188 runs in the 20 over.
The target of 189 was not easy to chase but Australian executive skipper Adam Gilchrist and top scorer of the tournament till date Mathew Hayden start calm and carefully, but soon Adam flexes his muscles and hit 2 boundary and 2 maximum to rocket the target, on the other hand Hayden also continued to hammered the Indian except Sreesanth. Sreesanth succeed to get the first breakthrough for India when he bowled out Gilchrist, one of the most dangerous players of the world. But Hayden continued to muscling balls with Brad Hodge who replaced Gilchrist. Irfan Pathan took the second wicket of Haddin. Dangerous Andrew Symounds join the powerful Hayden who were cruelly crushing Indian, but it was Sreesanth who threw a magical spell in which Hayden bowled out in the 4 th delivery of the Sreesanth last over spell. But Sreesanth had done half of the job. Rest half of the job did the Pathan, Harbhajan, R P Singh and Joginder Sharma jointly. Pathan bowled out Symonds were being dangerous after the dismissal of Hayden. Hussey was caught by Yuvraj Singh in the Joginder Sharma’s delivery while Harbhajan Singh bowled out M Clarke. Now Bret Lee and B J Haddin were on the crease. There were 23 runs to made in the last over and the ball was in Joginder Sharma’s hand, who were pretty expensive in his first spell, but Sharma kept himself cool and finished his over giving only 8 runs and took the wicket of Bret Lee.
What was the scene! Whole India was celebrating the victory of Indian cricket team, who has proved themselves the dark horse. Yuvraj Singh was declared the ‘Man of the Match’ for his bizarre performance.
Earlier Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 6 wickets. New Zealand skipper won the toss and elected first to bat. Batting first, New Zealand was in a commanding position before the falling of the first wicket. Both the opener made a half-century partnership for the first wicket when Lou Vincent gifted the catch to newcomer Fawad Alam in his delivery. Vincent made 28(1*4) runs in 28 balls. After getting out both the opener at 74 runs in 10.3 overs Pakistan took regular wickets thus New Zealand could not made a massive total. New Zealand players struggled against Umar Gul, who had bowled exceedingly well through out series in the last overs. New Zealand has made a total of 143 runs on New Lands, Cape Town.
Chasing 144, Pakistan opener Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafiz provide a flying start to Pakistan that became the base of the Pakistan victory. New Zealand dropped the catch of Imran Nazir, who later cashed it and made a splendid 59 runs in just 41 balls hitting 3 boundaries and 5 sixes. His contribution became the strong base for the Pakistan and later Shoaib Malik along with Misbahul Haq carry Pakistan to the victory point. Pakistan made 147 runs in 18.5 overs, 7 balls before the quota.
Umar Gul was selected ‘Man of the Match’ for his brilliant performance.
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