Hello folks, welcome to the last league match of this ICC Champions Trophy edition. Its between India and West Indies at Johannesburg. India have won the toss and have elected to field first. Karthik and Nayar replace Tendulkar and Ishant.
West Indies Innings
Over 0.6: He is Caught! P Kumar to Andre Fletcher, good length delivery, its the outswinger after two inswingers, perfectly pitched on off and middle to take the outside edge for the first slip fielder, quite a low catch!
Over 2.6: No runs. P Kumar to Devon Smith, short of length delivery, plays it defensively to covers. Hat-trick of maidens for India!
Over 3.1: Boundary! Ashish Nehra to Kieran Powell, short and wide, stands tall and crashes that through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 4.2: Boundary! P Kumar to Devon Smith, half volley, drives the outswinger through extra covers and beats Harbhajan all the way to the boundary.
Over 5.5: Boundary! Ashish Nehra to Devon Smith, half volley, plays a crunchy drive to the right of mid off for a boundary.
Over 7.2: Boundary! Ashish Nehra to Devon Smith, short of length delivery, swivels back and pulls it wide of mid on for a boundary.
Over 7.4: He is Caught! Ashish Nehra to Kieran Powell, short of length delivery, thats just too perfect from Ashish, drawing the batsman forward in defence around off and middle and swinging the ball just enough to force an edge to the keeper!
Over 7.6: He is Caught! Ashish Nehra to Devon Smith, good length delivery, doesn’t come forward not goes back and has to handle a bouncy outswinger which he can only nick it behind to MSD!
Over 10.2: He is Caught! P Kumar to Floyd Reifer, good length delivery, reaches out to the slightly wide outswinger and edges it neatly to second slip where Karthik holds onto the simplest of catches.
Over 15.4: Boundary! A Nayar to David Bernard, pitched up delivery, shuffles and flicks it nicely past squareleg for a boundary.
Over 16.1: Boundary! M S Dhoni to Travis Dowlin, bangs it short, fetches that from outside off and pulls it away through wide mid on for a boundary. MSD has replaced Praveen. Karthik is keeping the wickets.
Over 16.2: Boundary! M S Dhoni to Travis Dowlin, short and wide, clobbers that past covers for a boundary.
Over 16.4: Bowled him! M S Dhoni to Travis Dowlin, short of length delivery, thats a brilliant ball, coming back sharply off the seam to take the inside edge in a loose defensive shot onto the stumps! That’s a maiden International and List A wicket for MS Dhoni!
Over 26.6: He is Caught! Amit Mishra to David Bernard, flighted delivery, goes back for a cut to a googly which has some extra bounce and its a thick edge that is brilliantly caught by Dravid to his right at slip.
Over 27.1: No runs. Harbhajan to Darren Sammy, flatter trajectory delivery, spins it in sharply to cramp him up for room. Windies have taken the batting powerplay.
Over 28.4: Boundary! Amit Mishra to R Crandon, flatter trajectory delivery, goes back and cuts it behind point for a boundary.
Over 29.1: He is Caught! Ashish Nehra to Darren Sammy, short of length delivery, lifts his leg up and pulls it flat in the air to deep squareleg and finds Mishra taking the catch in the second attempt! Nehra has replaced Harbhajan.
Over 30.6: Bowled him! Harbhajan to R Crandon, flighted delivery, beats the cover drive with a lovely off break that sneaks through the bat pad gap to hit the timber.
Over 31.6: Sixer! Amit Mishra to N Miller, flighted delivery, slog sweeps it all the way over wide mid wicket for a six!
Over 33.3: Boundary! Ashish Nehra to N Miller, half volley, drives that wide juicy one gloriously through covers for a boundary.
Over 34.3: He is Caught! Harbhajan to K Roach, flighted delivery, silly point has just been added and he is into action straightaway taking a straightforward catch off a bat pad edge from Roach’s forward stride.
Over 35.5: Boundary! P Kumar to G Tonge, bangs it short, has plenty of time to move back and pull it away flat through squareleg for a boundary.
Over 35.6: He is Caught! P Kumar to G Tonge, short and rising delivery, that was a very very slow ball and Tonge goes for a pull but can only top edge it which is caught by the bowler himself. India need 130 runs to win from 50 overs.
India about to come out and bat for a few minutes before the dinner break, infact 45 mins of play before that.
India Innings
Over 2.4: Boundary! K Roach to Gambhir, short and wide, drives it elegantly between point and covers for a boundary.
Over 2.5: Bowled him! K Roach to Gambhir, short of length delivery, gets a tiny bottom edge in his backfoot defence which gently knocks down the legstump bail!
Over 2.6: Boundary! K Roach to R Dravid, short and rising delivery, gets inside the line and tucks it away fine behind the stumps for a boundary.
Over 3.2: Run Out at the Non Striker’s end! G Tonge to R Dravid, short of length delivery, tucks it to short mid wicket and decides to take a risky run, its a direct hit at the bowling end and Dravid doesn’t slide his bat well into the crease to pay the penalty!
Over 3.4: Boundary! G Tonge to D Karthik, half volley, creams that neatly to the left of mid off for a boundary.
Over 4.4: Boundary! K Roach to V Kohli, full toss, drives the slower one through extra covers for a boundary, that was a gift really!
Over 9.3: Boundary! G Tonge to V Kohli, good length delivery, flashes it on the up uppishly but well wide of point for a boundary.
Over 9.6: No runs. G Tonge to D Karthik, short of length delivery, punches it to covers. Time for the dinner break, India need 96 more runs to win from 40 overs with 8 wkts in hand.
Over 10.4: Boundary! Darren Sammy to V Kohli, short and wide, pulls it from outside off through mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 11.5: No ball + Boundary! K Roach to D Karthik, bangs it short, gets into position quickly and pulls it nicely along the ground through wide mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 12.2: Boundary! Darren Sammy to D Karthik, half volley, puts in a lovely stride forward and drives it through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 17.4: Sixer! David Bernard to V Kohli, bangs it short, picks the length early and pulls it high and handsome over wide mid wicket for a six!
Over 21.6: Boundary! G Tonge to V Kohli, pitched up delivery, plays a wristy flick off his pads through squareleg for a boundary.
Over 25.3: Boundary! David Bernard to V Kohli, short and wide, stands tall and cuts it past the diving point for a boundary.
Over 25.4: Boundary! David Bernard to V Kohli, pitched up delivery, plays a thunderous wristy straight drive through the legs of the bowler for a boundary.
Over 25.5: Boundary! David Bernard to V Kohli, pitched up delivery, thats in the slot and Virat heaves that flat over wide mid on for a one bounce. That has brought up a very well stroked fifty for the youngster.
Over 27.3: Boundary! G Tonge to D Karthik, pitched up delivery, lofts that flat through the line over mid off for a boundary.
Over 27.4: He is Caught! G Tonge to D Karthik, good length delivery, thats the end of his hard work, tries to lift that over the bowler’s head but can only drag it into the hands of mid on! The length was just a touch short for the lofted shot.
Over 30.1: Sixer! N Miller to V Kohli, flighted delivery, steps out and lofts it high over the bowler’s head for a six, that shot just managed to clear the fielder who was trying to get under that.
Over 30.4: Boundary! N Miller to V Kohli, on the shorter side, rocks back and plays a smacking pull through wide mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 31.1: Boundary! G Tonge to V Kohli, full toss, flicks it through wide mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 32.1: Single. N Miller to V Kohli, flighted delivery, steps out and drives it to long off to complete the match. India win by 7 wickets.