The toss proved to be a good one as the openers gave a rocking start to the innings…Dilshan proving his form again firing all guns against the Indian seam attack…well supported by Tharanga at the other end. Before Dilshan got out when the score was 65 in the form of 1st wicket…he made sure he made the bulk of scoring in quick time…creating havoc in the Indian camp. He made a breezy 41 in just 18 balls…in a way only he could do…which consisted of 10 hits to the fence. Sangakkara joined Taranga and they continued the same pace and quickly put on a 100 run stand for the 2nd wicket. Sri Lanka was comfortably placed at 165 for 1 in the 23rd over. Suddenly things changed in the 23rd over when Sangakkara who was looking in a punishing mood with a 41 ball 46 was stumped by keeper Karthik off the acting captain Sehwag’s bowling. Sehwag was the incharge captain in the match since Dhoni was under penalty for this and the next match. Ravindra Jadeja proved to be the surprise package of the day. He claimed 4 Lankan wickets in his 10 overs and bowled tidely as well. His 4 for 32 earned the man of the match for him in the later part of the day. His first victim was Taranga whom he bowled in the 25th over for a well made masterly 73 runs(81 balls). Later he picked up the wickets of Kapugedera, Kulasekara and Mendis…all were dismissed cheaply. None of the Lankan batsmen could face the Indian bowlers later. Wickets went in quick successions and Lanka not making use of the good start they got…lost their last 9 wickets for just 74 runs…with 5.4 overs remaining. Harbhajan frustrated the batsmen and contained the run flow in the middle providing an ideal support to Jadeja. He ended with figures of 1 for 29 in 9 overs. The fast bowlers had bad figures at the end since they were all punished by the Lankan openers. Nehra got 2 for 32 in 6.2 overs and bowled tidy. Ishant got hammering and later picked 2 wickets in 2 balls turning the match in Indian favour. Zaheer was costly and went wicket less. Sri Lanka were all out for 239.

Indian chase had no hiccups. It looked like a planned strategy. Sehwag gave a blazing start to the momentum as expected. His 44 runs made in 28 balls with 9 boundaries helped India to reach 50 in less than 7 overs. Sachin was a silent spectator at the other end. When the score was 55 Sehwag was out in the 7th over. Gambhir joined Sachin and they put on 72 runs in a quick time maintaining the run rate..for the 2nd wicket. Gambhir made 32 and departed in the 22nd over being caught by Randiv off his own bowling. The score then was 127 for 2. Sachin was looking in terrific touch and carrying on at the other end with grit and determination…experience of handling the situations like that was never new to the master. Yuvraj joined Sachin and made an useful 23 in 40 balls. He was dismissed in the 33rd over when the score was 169. Later Dinesh Karthik and Sachin made sure that they scored quickly and see India through. Sachin missed out his 46th century by 4 runs…but a win mattered much for the master. Karthik looked in good touch and punished every bad ball without risking his wicket. He remained unbeaten on 36(32 balls, 5 fours and a six) while Sachin remained unbeaten on 96(104 balls, 13 fours)………another classic display of batting by the little master.India won the match by 7 wickets with 7.2 overs remaining…leading the series 2-1.

But the hero of the match was Ravindra Jadeja………the man who did it for India with the ball…………

England winning the toss…invited South Africa to bat first in the First test which began at Centurion on 16th of december 2009. South Africa played slowly scoring under 3 runs per over to make sure that they have enough runs on board. In the 154th over on day 2 they were all out for 418. Kallis was the top scorer making valuable 120 runs in the middle. He got good support in the form of  Prince(45 runs), de Villiers(32 runs), Duminy(56 runs) and Boucher(49 runs)…all making useful contributions. Harris with 38 runs and Wet with 20 valuable runs made tail end contributions. Swann was the most successful bowler for England and took 5 wickets for 110 runs…well supported at the other end by Onions(3 for 86)

In reply things did not go well for England. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Though there were petty good contributions from their batsmen…non took the responsibility of pacing and shaping the innings with responsibility. Collingwoods 50 runs, Pietersens 40 and 45 runs from Strauss were the highest scores on top…which were good but not good enough. At the end of 72nd over England were struggling at 221 for 7. Saviours for England came in the form of a repair act from a 81 ball 85 from Swann with 10 fours and 2 sixes helped from Anderson with a timely 29 runs. They avoided the humiliation by putting on 106 runs for the 9th wicket. England were all out for 356 runs trailing from 62 runs. Harris with 5 for 123 runs was the most successful bowler for the South Africans.

South Africa declared just before stumps on the 4th day…their 2nd innings at 301 for 7 with clear intentions to win the test.Amla top scored with 100. Useful contributions came from de Villiers and Boucher who made 64 and 63 runs respectively. For England Anderson picked up 4 wickets giving 73 runs.

In the 2nd innings chasing 364 runs to win and resuming at their overnight score of 1 for 6 England almost lost the match in the final session when its batsmen collapsed against a disciplined and determined African attack…just like a pack of cards without any intention. When England were struggling at 27 for 3 Pietersen and Trott put on 145 runs for the 4th wicket ressuscitating their team. Pietersen scored 81 and Trott made 69 runs. Collingwood remained unbeaten till the end and drafted a famous draw along side Onions surviving the final tense 3 and a half overs. England thus drew the match by 1 wicket…Pity for South Africa….So near yet so far for them. For Proteas Wet claimed 4 English wickets giving 55 runs.

Swann was adjudged the man of the match……….

West Indies resuming at their overnight score of 308 for 9…needing 51 more runs for a possibly unlikely victory with one wicket in hand…were bundled out for 323 after 15 runs were added. The last pair put on a fighting 44 run partnership…which was never enough. Australia rejoiced when in the 95th over Bollinger had Roach caught behind by Haddin for 17 runs. Though it was a controversial decision…it favoured Aussies. Australia won the match by 35 runs. Tonge remained unbeaten on 23 runs. Australia thus won the series 2-0 as the 2nd match was a draw. Bollinger and Johnson were the pick of the bowlers for Australia with 3 wickets each.

Chris Gayle…showing a lone battle with guts and character was declared Man Of the Match and also Man of the Series for his consistent performance with the bat. This was the lone compliment that West Indies would carry from this series. What a batsman!!!

Congrats and well done Australia………..! Champions again……

West Indies after doing their home work right…can now sense a win which will give them a chance of levelling the series with Australia in their own soil. For this to happen the Windies batsmen should show character and take responsibility…as they have 2 days in hand to do that. They should play with cool and not do the same mistake that they did in the 1st innings…where they let down themselves after a good start. Bravo was the most successful bowler for the Windies claiming 4 wickets for 42 runs. He got a good support at the other end in the form of Benn who claimed 3 Aussie wickets giving away just 29 runs.

West Indies begin their chase task. Gayle and Dowlin give a good start but not good enough. Dowlin was the first to go making 22 runs and Gayle followed him making 21 runs. In the 15th over the West Indies were 2 down for 52..and things were going Australia’s way. Adding to the troubles Sarwan departed in the 18th over leaving the West Indies struggling at 68 for 3. Incomes Nash to join Deonarine. It is left on the shoulders of these young men to make the repair, score runs and keep their wickets intact…which could guide them to a win.

As expected Nash and Deonarine put a century stand for the 4th wicket…and were going good and strong. At tea West Indies were playing comfortably placed at 174 for 3, Deonarine playing on 67 and Nash on 42. It was not the same story altogether after tea for the Windies in the final session. Runs were hard to come. They could score only ones and twos…and looked under pressure. In the first 15 overs after tea only 22 runs were scored. This defensive approach cost them too much. In the 67th over Watson bowled Deonarine for a fighting 82(171 balls). West indies were struggling at 196 for 4…needing 163 more to win. 1 run later in the 68th over Bravo lands one into the hands of Hussey off Johnson putting Windies in critical condition…at 197 for 5.

With half the team gone…things got difficult for the Windies. They looked like repeating the same mistakes. Australia took advantage and fancied their chances of winning the test from here. West Indies reached 200 in the 69th over. Ramdin did not survive long and gave his wicket to McKay in the 76th over in the form of 6th wicket. Pressure mounted on Nash when his team were fighting at 231 for 6 needing lots of runs to win and less support for him at the other end. Adding to the misery of the Windies Bollinger dismisses the last hopes…Nash in the 81st over for a well made 65(183 balls) under pressure. West Indies reached 250 mark in the 82nd over. The rest was formality for the Australian bowlers.Johnson strikes twice in a space of 2 balls leaving the West Indies at 279 for 9…1 wicket seperating them from a win in the match and the series as well. Windies managed to reach the 300 run mark in the 90th over. At stumps West Indies were 308 for 9 needing 51 unlikely runs to win on the final day and Australia needing that 1 wicket.

See you all for the final formalities on day 5…………

Adding insult to injury…Dilshan hit Harbhajan for a six and a four in the 10th over. Lanka reached 81 at the end of 10th over at 8.1 runs per over…with all the wickets intact. It looked that these two would leave a small home work for the others to come if Indian bowlers did not strike early. A boundary off Praveen fetches a terrific 50 for Dilshan in the 11th over…his 17th. In the 1st ball of the 14th over bowled by Harbhajan Dilshan takes a single taking the score to 100. Sri Lanka have travelled 1/3rd of their way effortlessly. Great going guys………..!!!!

In the last ball of the 14th over Harbhajan gets the 1st break through for India that was most needed. He got Taranga out being caught by Sehwag for a well made 42 ball 37 in a century partnership with Dilshan. Lanka were 102 for 1.Sangakkara who joined Dilshan was looking good but was brilliantly run out by Raina for run a ball 21 in the 22nd over. The score was then 147. Jayawardena joined Dilshan…and Dilshan was striking the ball well at the other end…mercilessly as well. Dilshan quickly reached his century in the 30th over itself. He celebrated his 100 with 2 consecutive fours in the last 2 balls of that over itself bowled by Harbhajan. There onwards things went on slowly for the Lankans…run rate decreased…pressure mounting on the batsmen. But it was not sure whether the pitch started slowing down or the Indians were bowling good or whether it was a game plan of Lankans to ensure they had plenty of wickets so that they can attask in the slog.

Nehra clean bowled Dilshan in the penultimate ball of the 36th over and revived hopes for India. India could have taken this opportunity and could have bounced back…but the fate of the day had some other plans. With 12 fours and 2 mighty sixes Dilshan had scored 123 runs off just 113 balls…his 2nd century of the series…back to back. This century drafted a Lankan win.Kandamby joined Jayawardena in the rivival act. In the first ball of the 40th over…Zaheer strikes back and had Jayawardena caught behind for a well made 39 in pressure situation. Mathews joins Kandamby and they handle the situation carefully further. Match becomes as it fluctuates on either side every now and then. Runs come with difficulty and the match comes to a condition where Lankans have to score run a ball. In the mid way of the 45th over…Kohli catches a blinder off Zaheer to dismiss Kandamby…who made 27 runs. Kapugedera walks in and walks out as quickly…in the same over of Zaheer..being clean bowled. Zaheer strikes twice in the same over….and gets hopes for India. Sri Lanka were 6 down for 267…requiring 35 more runs in the remaining 30 deliveries. India had to take 4 wickets.

From here onwards it was a miserable tale of Indian bad bowling complimented by pathetic fielding which aided a limping Mathews to take Lanka to a famous win…in spite of being injured and running with a helper. Mathews…showed character when wickets fell all around. He held the nerve and saw Lanka crossing the Indian total with 5 balls remaining. Mathews took chances whenever they were there and also a few when they werent. He hit a few boundaries in the slog which could have been controlled by a disciplined bowling and an alert field. But it did not happen..and looked like Indians were waiting for the match to finish. Sri Lanka had lost the previous one day but won this one in style by 3 wickets. Zaheer claimed 3 wickets for India…but in vain. The experience was only in the name of the bowlers but not in deeds…and no bowler could have done much on a flat track like that. But not beating round the bush we would say…Well Done Lanka…Well tried India!!!

The news is that Sri Lanka have levelled the series at 1-1 and the next encounter will be interesting one. Will that too go all the way to the wire….is what we have to wait and see…………

Dilshan with a brilliant match winning century…won the credit of Man of the Match….rightly as he deserved it….But not to forget the unsung hero…..Mathews…………

But much to the disappointment of the Indian supporters India had the worst possible start. Sehwag hit a four in the first over and was dismissed in the same over by Welegedara. His heroics didnt continue. In comes Gambhir and departs as quickly…becoming a victim of a run out by Mathews in the 5th over…when the score was still 19. Kohli joins Sachin and both join in the repair work. After so many days we could see the damage and repair attempts by the inform Indian team. In the process India reach 50 in 12th over.Everything was shaping well and the duo put on 62 runs for the 3rd wicket. A slight loss of concentration by Sachin in 17th over led to his dismissal in the form of 3rd wicket when the score was 81. He made 43 in 52 balls and was stumped by Sangakkara off Mendis.

Dhoni joins Kohli in the middle. In the 20th over India reach their 100 runs with a healthy runrate just around 5 runs an over.Kohli looked confident and was placing the ball well and rotating the stroke as well. It is a chance to this young talented batsman to prove his nerves today and to make a place for himself in the competitive Indian team…and also to strengthen the bench. Virat Kohli completes his 3rd 50 in ODI’s in the 25th over in just 57 deliveries with the help of 7 boundaries. After all the hard work what India needs from this man is not to give up and carry on to make a big score for India. Mid way through India were 126 for 3 in the 25th over with a run rate of just over 5 per over. But that was not to be. Suraj Randiv trapped Virat Kohli leg before in the 27th over for 54.

At 130 for 4…Raina joins Dhoni at the middle. Now the job of carrying the innings and also to make good runs on board lies on the shoulders of this left and right combination.Proving the things right and takin responsibility the duo put on 126 valuable runs for the 5th wicket when needed. India reached 150 in the 30th over. Dhoni completed his 35th fifty in 37th over in 71 balls with 3 fours. First signs of aggression and intentions were seen when the first 6 of the match came late in the 38th over from Dhoni’s blade. Soe 6′s later followed. India reached 200 in the 41st over…still the things going slow for India. Raina took the responsibility of putting the accelerators on the run machine and scored fastly. His 50…13th one in ODI came in the 43rd over in just 45 balls. India reached the 250 mark in the 46th over. Soon Raina departed making a handsome 68 in just 55 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes.

Jadeja joined Dhoni. Dhoni leading from the front completed his 6th ODI century in style in the penultimate over in 106 balls with 7 fours and 2 mighty sixes. The 300 mark was well in sight for India..and quickly they achieved this feat in the 2nd ball of the last over. In the 3rd ball of the last over Dilshan manages to hold a skier from Dhoni at the boundary off Randiv… India Lose their captain in the form of 6th wicket. But Dhoni had accomplished the mission and had put India in drivers seat. He was out for 107 runs made in 111 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes…..Well done Dhoni!!!!! Harbhajan was stumped in the last ball off Randiv and Jadeja remained undefeated on 12.

India finished at a respectable score of 301 runs…and is it really respectable is what we should wait and see. The previous chase by Sri Lanka gives a clue that nothing is impossible. But a different day, different circumstances, different pitch…and more over the chase in night under lights might work in favour of India…..But it is sure that the Lankans are going to make the Indians work hard. Randiv with 3 for 51 was the most successful bowler for the Lankans.

See you in the post lunch session with more action after a short break………………..Enjoy…..

Expected to dominate todays play and take a lead…West Indies disappointed…and let off a chance to level the series. Australia on the other hand proved class. They never allowed the Windies take the game away.Overnight batsmen Sarwan and Deonarine did not trouble the scorers and made an early exit..leaving West Indies fighting at 239 for 4 in the 57th over. Nash and Bravo showed some resistance and added a few runs which were never enough.In the 76th over when Nash fell in the form of 6th wicket…the score was 295…much behind that of Australia’s score. Australia did not take time after that and demolished the tail picking the last 4 wickets for just 17 runs…post lunch session proving indigestable for the Windies. Bollinger was the bowler of the day…He picked 5 wickets giving away 70 runs in the 20 overs he bowled…and picked 4 of them today. Hauritz at the other end provided the needed support…and ended with impressive figures of  3 for 66. Johnson took the remaining 2 wickets. West Indies were bundled out for 312 runs giving Australia a good lead of 208 runs. Now the match looks much in command of Australia.

Australia lost and early wicket in the form of Katich who was looking agressivein the 4th over itself when the score was just 15. Clarke and Watson stabilised the innings thereafter…and Australia reached 50 runs in the 14th over..at tea. Watson was the 2nd to go soon after tea when the score was 66…giving some relief for the Windies bowlers.Nothing went well for the Australians thereafter and they followed the way carved by the Windies batsmen earlier in the day and drafted their collapse. They could not make use of the lead and conditions provided from their bowlers. They too showed indisciplined and un planned batting in a rush of blood or trying to do too much.Bravo and Benn caused the assault one after the other and produced havoc in the Aussie camp. As a result Australia lost 7 wickets in the post tea session scoring just 73 runs. They were struggling at 137 for 8 at stumps. Though they gained an over all lead of 345 runs the question is how much they are going to add tomorrow and will it be sufficient…since there is a lot of time left in the test. Only Watson Clarke and Haddin crosed 20′s.

West Indies camp after a miserable failure with the bat would go to bed to night relaxedly…having got the match much under their control. If they do not allow the Aussies to score more than 360 or 370…which is unlikely…would fancy their chances to win the test and level the series. Will it happen is what we are going to wait and see. See you all on day 4 with lots of thrilling action………..

Gayle gave momentum to the West Indies reply making a quick fire century and a century stand with Travis Dowlin. Gayle playing in a way as only he can play…and leading from the front..hit the Aussie bowlers to all corners mercilessly He hit 9 boundaries and 6 cleared the fence in style. His 102 runs came off just 72 balls and he departed when the score was 136…wherein hundred plus runs had come off his blade. His was the innings of the day.Dowlin though scored slowly ade an useful 55 runs before being dismissed in the 34th over.Deonarine joins a good looking Sarwan…and both tried to stabilise the middle order.

West Indies maintaining a healthy run rate of just below 5 runs per over reached 200 in the 40th over. At stumps West Indies were comfortably placed and negotiated the days proceedings at 214 for 2 wickets. Sarwan and Deonarine kept their wickets intact to start fresh tomorrow…and made 42 and 10 runs respectively. With a good run rate and lots of wickets in hand…Windies could come tomorrow and blast all cylinders encroaching the Aussies total and also might take a lead. Will Australia come back tomorrow?….is what we have to wait and see…

See you all with plenty of action on day 3……………..

Watson and Katich gave a solid start to the Australia’s first innings after winning the toss and having elected to bat first by their captain. Both missed out on the threshholds of their centuries. Watson was out on 89 and Katich fell 1 short and was out for 99. Ponting looking good and fiersome was retired after being hurt and Michael Clarke did not trouble the scorers for long.North joined a good looking Hussey and both managed to stabilise the innings.Having reached the 300 run mark in the 80th over itself…Australia looked like heading towards a match winning total.

Towards the end of the days play it gave an impression that Aussies were deliberately playing slowly to see off the stumps. In the vision of the game it could be said as a good strategy…to save the wickets for tomorrow where their set batsmen can start all fresh…and add on more runs quickly. Australia negotiated the first days play at 339 for 3 wickets with Hussey and North unbeaten on 81 and 23 respectively…putting on 62 runs for the 4th wicket…and more over keeping the wickets intact.

With more action………see you all on Day 2………..

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field and would have cursed their stars when Indian openers Sehwag and Sachin went blazing tearing the Lankan attack. In no time the duo put on 153 runs in 19.3 overs befor Sachin was out for a well made 69 in 63 balls. In comes Dhoni and with Sehwag puts on 156 for the 2nd wicket…Sehwag completes is hundred and Dhoni his 50 in due course. Sehwag fell just short of 150 by 4 runs and was out for 146 made in just 102 balls with 17 fours and 6 sixes. Indian fans at that stage would have expected a 200 from Sehwag…in the way he was going. Dhoni departed in the next over making a quickfire 72 in 53 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. There were hiccupps in the middle as Gambhir, Raina and promoted Harbhajan could not harm the scorers with the bat. Absense of Yuvraj was clearly felt. Kohli and Jadeja made some good hits to see India past 400. India finished tall and handsome with 414 on board losing 7 wickets. One could feel that India were another 25-30 runs shorter.

Much to the relief of the Lankans their batsmen gave a better start to the proceedings. Taranga and Dilshan put on 188 runs in just 24 overs before Taranga left making a valuable 60 ball 66 with 3 fours and 4 sixes. Sangakkara joined a fiersome Dilshan and the duo put another 128 for the 2nd wicket with effortless hitting. When Sangakkara was out in the 37th over the score was already 316 and the match looked missing from the hands of Indians. Sangakkara made a 43 ball 90 with 10 fours and 5 sixes…a feast of runs…much to the disappointment for the Indian supporters. Jayawardahane and Jayasurya did not trouble the scorers and were out cheaply…but the damage was already executed.  Dilshan made a magnificiant 160 in just 124 balls and crafted a Lankan victory…as they much deserved. He hit 20 boundaries and 3 sixes in his mammoth run. No more hiccups…Kadamby and Mathews made sure that they took the score past 400 before Kadamby was run out in the pen ultimate over. Only formalities were left. One more wicket in the same over leaving Lanka to score 11 runs in their last 6 balls with 3 wickets in hand. Indian supporters would have prayed all the gods they know to help their team.When Mathew was out when the score was 410 as the 8th wicket with Lanka needing 4 runs in the last ball…there was still hope for India…and the heart would have come into the mouths of every one in both the dressing rooms and also the supporters of both the teams….Which team is lucky…will be decided in the last ball…what a thriller!!! Luck finally favoured India and India won the thriller by just 3 runs….What a fate for the Lankans!!!

What could be said about the match???……..A match which saw wonderful display with the bat and a feast of runs…bowlers failing to deliver from both sides…some good individual performances…great hits and not to forget a nail biting finish….in which India emerged victorious in the last ball…where anything would have happened. It was the toughest battles of nerves and the supporters of cricket would not have asked for more…when the results could not be judged until the last ball was bowled….Hats off CRICKET………….

Sehwag with all heroics was adjudged the man of the match…But turn the coin and you would see another hero being left out after all his gallent effort…Dilshan….

Enjoy the sweet memories of a great match…See you all soon with more news and new adventures…in the 2nd ODI….