Saturday, September 26, 2009

Live Blogging Pakistan Vs. India, Champions Trophy (Indian Innings)

11:17 a.m. For the 1765383803218838th time in the last twenty years, the following words have to be said: Sachin holds the key.

11:18 a.m. I wouldn't have said that if Yuvraj was in the team, mind. Anyway, I'm popping off to get a quick bite. See you guys in about twenty minutes.

11:41 a.m. Ah. There's nothing like Lays Flaming Hot chips. I think Lays invented them for South Asians, who need spice. Anyway, eating them for breakfast might not have been the brightest thing I've ever done, but we'll see about that in four hours. If you know what I mean.

11:44 a.m. Alright, we're set to go. Sachin and Gambhir to open. I don't need to remind anyone what happened the last time Sachin batted against us at this ground, chasing a challenging total. Aamer to open.

11:45 a.m. Two slips and a gully. Gambhir to face up.

11:46 a.m. And straight away there's some bite, as Aamer bangs it in and it whizzes past Gambhir, who leaves it well alone.

11:47 a.m. Man, Aamer's really ended Sohail Tanvir's career, hasn't he? Poor guy, he barely got started and now it's already over.

11:48 a.m. And India are off with a nudge down to fine leg. Sachin to face up for the first time.

11:48 a.m. Played safely to point. Sachin has seventeen thousand ODI runs. Think about that for a second. For fuck's sake.

11:49 a.m. Ooooh. Brings it back a touch there, Aamer, and Sachin leaves it. Good first over, thus far.

11:50 a.m. Ok come on, umpire. That wasn't a wide. Whatever.

11:50 a.m. First runs for Sachin, as he works Aamer down to fine leg off his hips. 3-0 after the first over, and Rana will open the bowling from the other end.

11:51 a.m. You get one of those, Rana. A slow, short, wide ball outside off, which Sachin leaves alone. The next one's going to the boundary.

11:52 a.m. Better. Some shape away.

11:53 a.m. Again shaping away, and Sachin firmly plays it back. Rana gets a hand to it, and no run. Something's about to give here.

11:53 a.m. Ooooh. Sachin tries to work Rana off his pads down the ground, but it straightens and catches the edge. All along the ground to third man for one.

11:54 a.m. Quick single from Gambhir. Manjrekar calls Yousuf "lethargic". That's being kind.

11:55 a.m. Short, some width, four. Sachin's away. 9-0 after two.

11:56 a.m. Oh dear. Aamer drifts on to Gambhir's pads, who nonchalantly flicks him for four to deep square. I'm getting flashbacks. It's not going to happen again, is it?

11:57 a.m. Aamer struggling with his line here, drifting into Gambhir's pads again. Leg-bye brings Sachin back on strike.

11:58 a.m. And now a wide down the leg-side. As Waz says, someone just needs to calm him down. He's a good bowler. He just needs to bowl.

12:00 p.m. A single to finish, and India off to a solid start here. 17-0 after three.

12:01 p.m. Quick single to point from Gambhir. See, these are the things we simply did not do. It's the professionalization of cricket -- good young fielders, quick singles, not getting too high or too low -- that has seeped into Indian cricket in the last three or four years. We sort-of got that under Bob Woolmer but it's now back to usual for us.

12:03 p.m. Better line from Rana in this over, as he's getting closer to Sachin's off-stump.

12:04 p.m. Full toss, and Gambhir gratefully accepts. 23-0 after four, and really, India don't look too bothered by this score right now.

12:05 p.m. YEAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Aamer gets Sachin! Good line, moving away, great length, Sachin didn't know whether to come forward or back, played an indecisive shot, and gets a nick through to Kamran Akmal. What a wicket!

12:06 p.m. Phew, what a relief that is. Dravid in.

12:07 p.m. Two slips in, and Dravid almost chops on to his stumps first up. Aamer with his tail up now.

12:09 p.m. I definitely heard something there. Why didn't anyone appeal? I could've sworn I heard something.

12:10 p.m. Aamer settling down now. By the way, going back to the Sachin wicket, I'm amazed that Kamran Akmal didn't drop it. Anyway, Dravid smacks Aamer behind point for four, as India move on to 28-1 after five.

12:11 p.m. Some real nice shape here for Rana. I wish he wouldn't experiment with his slower balls and whatnot so much early on. Just keep doing what a regular new ball bowler is supposed to do. You're getting some swing man.

12:13 p.m. Rana continues to feed Gambhir just outside off-stump. That's the line for Gambhir. Anything even close to his pads, and this guy will murder you.

12:14 p.m. This Rana is a real clown. Now he bounces Gambhir, and bowls it so short it goes over Akmal's head for four. I knew we should've played Asif in this game. Anyway, it's 37-1 after six. I'd bring on Gullee for Rana. Don't let them get away right now.

12:16 p.m. A no-ball from Aamer, as he gets one to jump up at Dravid. Stupid free hit.

12:18 p.m. Well after much tinkering and discussion in the field, Gambhir hits it for four anyway. They don't look in the slightest bit of trouble, India. I mean, even with Sachin gone.

12:18 p.m. Ufff, Yousuf with the good stop!

12:21 p.m. 45-1 after seven. I really don't want Rana to keep bowling. But he is.

12:22 p.m. Calm down bhai. It pitched four feet outside leg stump. Maybe he was just excited that it was a dot ball.

12:23 p.m. Better over from Rana, keeping Gambhir relatively quiet. But I'd rather have Gullee, as would Bob Willis. I hate it when people I hate agree with me.

12:24 p.m. Sigh. Gambhir. Rana. Covers. Four. Idiot.

12:25 p.m. Ok, I'm confused. The score at the end of the last over was 45, there was a boundary scored, and yet the score currently stands at 48-1. Huh? Anyways, that's the score after eight overs. Aamer to continue.

12:26 p.m. Dravid works a single, before Gambhir gets caught in an ungainly pull which hit his gloves. Still races to fine leg for four. They're racing away, India. We're losing this game. I know it. We're done. Cooked. Finished. I should switch to the Barca game in half an hour.

12:27 p.m. And another no-ball from Aamer. Excellent.

12:28 p.m. Gambhir smashes the free-hit for six. And guess what? It's another no ball. Or at least that's what Steve Davis called. I'm putting this off.

12:30 p.m. It'd be nice to have a real opener like Gambhir in Pakistan, wouldn't it?

12:30 p.m. I think it's fair to say Aamer would much rather bowl to Dravid.

12:31 p.m. Dravid has now almost played on four different times. Anyway, India are 62-1 after nine overs. Please, Younis, bring in Gullee.

12:32 p.m. Rana continues, unfortunately. Ugh.

12:33 p.m. Dravid looks really uncomfortable out there, it has to be said. Can't blame him, to be honest.

12:35 p.m. Dravid, bless his heart, is the type of player all bowlers want to bowl to in ODIs (not so much tests). He gives them some respite, and allows good balls to be dot balls. Rana's fifth over is done, and India are 65-1 after ten. Gullee replacing Aamer.

12:37 p.m. Short, wide, four. Nice start, Gullee. Gambhir is going to win this by himself, he is.

12:38 p.m. Two more. Luckily the Barca game starts in 22 minutes. I wonder who Pep is going to play, what with Messi and Xavi needing a rest, and Ibra's injury.

12:39 p.m. Another no ball. Excellent.

12:40 p.m. Well, then. That's out of the ground, isn't it? Gambhir's 50 is up, from 36 balls. This has been an incredibly shoddy bowling performance from us.

12:41 p.m. They're doing this in a canter, India. Dravid's just rotating the strike and Gambhir, well, he's just smashing everything everywhere. They're 81-1 after eleven. 18 minutes to go for the Barca game. I wonder if Iniesta finally gets a start? He's had three games as a substitute. I'd play him in place of Xavi, who we'll need to start against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League midweek.

12:43 p.m. Cricket is an incredibly stupid sport. It really is.

12:44 p.m. Wow. Gambhir actually beaten by Rana. Probably means the next one's going to the cover fence.

12:45 p.m. Gambhir looks like he's batting against an u-16 team. Even when he's not scoring.

12:47 p.m. Harsha's making fun of Rana's hair transplant. Low blow, Harsha. Or should I say that's harsh, Harsha. Hahahahaha. Anyway, just the two off the over. 83-1 after 12.

12:49 p.m. Ajmal into the attack, in the power play. Against Gambhir. This should be fun. Fielders scrambling everywhere. Ravi sounds pumped. Shut up, Ravi.

12:50 p.m. Quiet to start, as Dravid plays two dots into the leg side.

12:51 p.m. Single brings Gambhir on to strike. I can't watch.

12:51 p.m. Oooh, nice, Ajmal. Quicker, and he gets some bounce and turn, beating Gambhir. Almost a mixup on the next ball, but no harm done. Good over, just the one off it. 84-1 after 13.

12:52 p.m. Gullee on from Rana's end. Dravid gets a single, and turns it over to Gambhir.

12:53 p.m. Pads, four. This has been pathetic bowling from us. I mean, have these guys not bowled to Gambhir before?

12:54 p.m. Charges Gullee, and misses. That's the only way we'll get him, with him doing something really stupid.

12:56 p.m. GONE! Gambhir's run out! Younis with a direct hit from mid off, as Dravid calls him first, and then sends him back. What a moment! What a wicket!

12:57 p.m. You know what reminds me of? Remember Bangalore, 2005? Third test? India were chasing something huge in the fourth innings, but it actually looked like they might get there, as Sehwag flayed us to all parts. And then, very similarly, he was called from the non-strikers and then sent back, and run out from a direct fit from mid off. Actually, now that I think about it, Gambhir -- in a fit of irony -- might have been the guy to run him out. Can anyone confirm this for me?

12:58 p.m. Kohli in. 91-2 after 14, and we're back in this.

12:59 p.m. Ajmal continues, and is worked around the corner for four.

1:00 p.m. By the way, thanks a bunch, Dravid! We owe ya!

1:01 p.m. In my excitement, I forgot the Barca game started. I love the new pink uniforms. I just ordered a Pique jersey.

1:05 p.m. Gullee with another no ball, and the free hit is safely deposited by Dravid over midwicket. If we lose this game, that'll be the difference. Shoddy indiscipline. Gullee's gone for 29 runs in less than three overs.

1:07 p.m. 105-2 after 16. They need 198 in 34 overs. Easy peazy.

1:10 p.m. Sorry, my feed disappeared for an over or so there. They got five off that over. 110-2 in 17.

1:11 p.m. Well, Afridi's loosening up. Will it be his day with the ball? Well, India have always played him better than any other team, but the guys left wouldn't have played him too much (Kohli, Yusuf Pathan etc). By the way, if Yuvraj and Sehwag were playing, wouldn't this game already be over?

1:13 p.m. Who said Dani Alves can't defend? Oops, sorry, wrong sport.

1:13 p.m. Kohli works Gullee fine for four to third man. Sigh.

1:14 p.m. Ooh, almost another run out there. This time, Dravid would've been the victim. All safe though, as they close the over on 116-2 in 18. Ajmal continues with just four in the ring. This is a bad field. They're just going to milk him all day with this field. Ajmal is a good bowler bhai. Have some faith, Younis. Give him five or even six.

1:15 p.m. Tch. Two singles to start.

1:16 p.m. Well, at least Younis gives him a slip against Kohli. But what about Dravid? He hasn't looked the most assured out there, has he? Anyway, 120-2 after 19.

1:17 p.m. Afridi replaces the dreadful Gullee. Spin twins.

1:19 p.m. Ufff. Afridi beats Dravid all ends up. Good start here, with just a single off the first four.

1:20 p.m. And a good stop from Younis to keep it down to two for the over. For the first time in a long time, the required rate goes above six. 181 needed in 180 balls. The next ten or so overs will be key, with Ajmal and Afridi bowling in tandem. Will Younis give Malik a couple?

1:21 p.m. Hahaha. Messi's so cute when he gets angry.

1:22 p.m. Good over from Ajmal, just the three off it. Just pull it back, kids. Pullllll it back. 178 needed in 29 overs.

1:23 p.m. Our spinners will outbowl their spinners, but I certainly didn't expect our quick bowlers to bowl such shite.

1:24 p.m. And he's gone! Afridi gets Kohli! Gullee does a heart-stopping juggle at long off, but holds on at the end. Rush of blood there from the kid, when they really didn't need it. The game's in the balance again. Dhoni in.

1:25 p.m. Afridi beats Dravid again. Man, what a bowler Afridi's become.

1:27 p.m. Anyway, two from the over, as Pakistan put the breaks on. India need 176 more in 28 overs.

1:28 p.m. And Akmal drops a catch! Dhoni edges Ajmal, and it bangs off Akmal's pads. It was a touch catch, but Rashid would've taken it. Akmal, sadly, is no Rashid.

1:30 pm. Ajmal is a real classical off-spinner, relying on flight and guile and subtle changes of pace. Older Indians will have their hearts warmed by him, I think. Anyway, four off the over. 131-3 in 23.

1:31 p.m. Man, Dravid looks really out of sorts. Then again, I said the same about Malik about three hours ago.

1:32 p.m. And Afridi gets Dhoni! That's plumb! Dhoni walks down the wicket, misses, gets hit on the ankle in front of middle. Things falling apart for India here, as the spinners take control. Massive wicket -- Dhoni averages 50 with a strike rate of above 80. What a hero Afridi is. 133-4 now, as Raina walks in.

1:34 p.m. By the way, Malaga are a bunch of fucking thugs. And that's a goddamn penalty, ref!

1:35 p.m. And to a respond to a reader comment, yes, Afridi and Malik did indeed kiss on the pitch after that.

1:36 p.m. Malik replacing Ajmal. Strange move, since Ajmal was bowling well. Well, it's not a worse move than the Fawad Alam over in the T20 semi, so I guess it has that going for it.

1:36 p.m. 169 needed in 26 by the way. Pakistan have their noses in front now.

1:38 p.m. Our spinners are bowling a lot slower, and a lot fuller, than the Indian spinners. It's paying off. 165 needed in 25.

1:39 p.m. Finish that, Ibra! Come on man.

1:39 p.m. He finishes the next one, does Ibra. 1-0 Barca. What a ball from Messi. That's five goals in his first five games in a Barca shirt. Messi has five goals and four assists in this season so far, in about 200 minutes. Seriously, look up the numbers.

1:40 p.m. Anyway, back to cricket. Three singles in three balls this over. Come on Afridi. Turn the screws yaar.

1:41 p.m. "It looks a bit tough now, Harsha," sniffs Sanjay. Chill, yaar. Plenty of cricket left. That idiot Rana still has to bowl five more overs.

1:42 p.m. Beautiful bowling from Afridi. I say we play him as a bowling all-rounder in test cricket. They need 160 in 24 overs.

1:43 p.m. Well done Malik. A bloody no ball.

1:44 p.m. Haha. Dravid can't get it away. Poor guy, I feel really bad for Dravid.

1:44 p.m. Messi's being beaten up like one of guys in "Fight Club".

1:45 p.m. Well, this has been a goodish over for India. Seven off it, without taking any risks either. 153 needed from 23 overs. They're still very much in this, India, especially with Yusuf Pathan to come. They just need to play sensibly and not let the spinners get to them.

1:49 p.m. Afridi to continue. I really would like to see Younis have a slip in for Afridi, since he's turning it across the right-handers. He's usually an attacking captain -- I wonder what he's thinking?

1:51 p.m. Five off the over without any risks whatsoever. I hate it when fielding captains take the pressure off like this. I'm not saying go Steve Waugh gung-ho here, but have five guys in the ring yaar, for fuck's sake! They're struggling to hit boundaries and Afridi's been the best bowler on display all day. What do you think is going to happen?

1:52 p.m. Gullee back into the attack. Come on, Gullee. No no-balls this time.

1:53 p.m. Ok, that doesn't mean you bowl wides instead. Fool.

1:54 p.m. Well, that's the first boundary in more than ten overs, as Raina slices Gullee behind point for four. Gullee's been shambolic all day. It's ok, it happens to the best of them.

1:56 p.m. Stand. Deliver. Six. Hey, Younis, please take Gullee out of the attack. Permanently.

1:56 p.m. One good over, and suddenly India's task is a lot more achievable: 137 needed in 21 overs.

1:57 p.m. Oh, dear. There's dew around. Afridi continuing.

1:58 p.m. Yaar, come on Younis. Put five in the circle. They're milking your best bowler.

1:59 p.m. And Raina beautifully drives it past extra cover for four. Alarm bells, people. Alarm bells. Bring back Aamer?

2:00 p.m. Eight off it. 129 needed off 120 balls. Suddenly it's easy peazy again.

2:01 p.m. Gullee carrying on. Single to Raina off the first ball, beats Dravid outside off with his second. I don't believe Dravid is still there, by the way. Credit to him for sticking it out.

2:02 p.m. ANOTHER no ball (though replays suggest the umpire's wrong). Yaar, please Younis, take Gullee out of the attack.

2:03 p.m. Predictably, Raina hits the free hit for four. This partnership is touching fifty, in double quick time. India back in front. Well, say this for this game: it's had its far share of ebbs and flows.

2:05 p.m. Short delivery almost leads to a caught and bowled. Anyway, 122 needed from 19 overs. The last ball reminded me: why the hell aren't we bowling short to Raina?

2:06 p.m. Dravid's fifty. It'll be funny if he ends up with a hundred, won't it?

2:08 p.m. Four off Afridi's over. Quiet enough, but the Indians weren't really trying. 118 from 108 required. We need a wicket really badly.

2:09 p.m. Well, it's the drinks break, so let's take a moment to catch our breath. And while we do that, we might ponder about some of the decisions Younis has taken in the field, from persisting with Rana early on to the field placements for Afridi once Dhoni went.

2:11 p.m. We might also consider the extras. I don't remember India bowling a single no-ball. We've bowled at least half a dozen, from memory. Anyway, Shoaib Malik back into the attack.

2:12 p.m. Good start, with two dots.

2:13 p.m. Shut up, Waz. He begins talking about a maiden after two bloody balls. Raina smacks the next one for four through midwicket.

2:14 p.m. The next one is inside out, and its four more. So much for Waz's maiden. Idiot.

2:14 p.m. And that's literally out the ground. Slog sweep, and the sound from Raina's bat was beautiful. Well, not for us. But you know what I mean. 14 off the over, and India are firmly on course here. 199-4, with 104 needed off 102 balls.

2:16 p.m. Hahaha. Pique scores his second goal of the season with his first touch of the game. 2-0 after 58 minutes. At least that's going well.

2:17 p.m. Dravid's just been Dravid, man -- sensible, keeping it ticking, not giving it away. Anyway, four off Afridi's over. 100 needed off 96.

2:23 p.m. Arggh, fuck! My internet started acting funny, so I had to restart the browser, and in the meantime Ajmal apparently got Raina. I'm thrilled, but pissed I missed it. What the hell happened?

2:24 p.m. Ok, apparently it was LBW. Good on Ajmal. Anyway, the situation now is 95 needed off 85. Yusuf Pathan in.

2:26 p.m. Aamer back into the attack. Meanwhile, over in the football, the ref just booked three or four players in one go, like a yellow orgy of sorts.

2:27 p.m. This bloody Wall is still there.

2:28 p.m. Oooooh, almost. Aamer's ball stops on Dravid, whose defensive shot loops through the covers. Anyway, it's safe. Good comeback over from Aamer so far. Nothing untoward...as yet.

2:29 p.m. Good captaincy from Younis, putting a slip in for Yusuf Pathan.

2:30 p.m. Good over, Aamer. 91 needed from 78. The game's in the balance now. 50-50 as they say. By the way, have I cliched myself into Rameez Raja land? If yes, let me know, and I'll stop.

2:31 p.m. Afridi continues from the other end. I think this is either Afridi's last or second last over.

2:32 p.m. Three of three thus far.

2:33 p.m. Continue to knock it around, as it ends with six singles. Afridi ends up with the quite sterling figures of 2-39 off ten. What a stud. 85 needed off 72. Close, close.

2:34 p.m. Aamer continues. Good first ball, no run.

2:35 p.m. And he's gone! Aamer gets Yusuf Pathan, swishing outside off, as Misbah (the sub) takes a good low catch. Good on Younis keeping a slip in, and now Pakistan should win this game. 85 needed from 70, but no real big hitters left.

2:36 p.m. Harbajhan in.

2:37 p.m. Can we stand and applaud Aamer for just a second here? It would have been easy for him to completely lose the plot. Dude's 17, and was tonked around early on, and kept getting no-balled. And yet has come back beautifully in these two overs, keeping it tight and picking up a vital wicket. And don't forget Younis, who had enough faith in him to give him a slip. Kudos all round. Anyway, the equation is now 83 from 66.

2:39 p.m. Rana replaces the brilliant Afridi.

2:41 p.m. Two singles to start. Younis won't mind that. Neither will I. Again, barring anything monumental from here, this is our game.

2:42 p.m. Not if Dravid can help it. He works Rana behind square for four. This might be a close game yet.

2:43 p.m. Straight red given in the Barca game. Bunch of thugs, Malaga. I guess they're still smarting from the last time the teams met, a 6-0 thumping at the Camp Nou.

2:44 p.m. Nine off the over. Our senior pacers (Rana, Gullee) have had pathetic performances. They really have. I think we're going to see Asif against Australia. The question is: for whom? Anyway, the equation is 74 off 60. Still in with a shout, India.

2:45 p.m. That's the third shot that Dravid has simply scooped up and its fallen safely. Lucky bastard.

2:47 p.m. Brilliant bowling from Aamer. His second spell thus far 1-7 in 2.5 overs.

2:48 p.m. And just the three from that over. 232-6. 71 needed off 54.

2:49 p.m. And India take their power play. "Not a moment too soon," Harsha tells us. Rana to bowl. Yikes. India might still win this, now that I think about it.

2:51 p.m. Two to start, as Dravid drives down the ground. Followed by a single.

2:52 p.m. For some reason, Fawad is on the field. How many subs do we have out there?

2:52 p.m. Good full ball from Rana. Dot to Harbajhan. Swing and a miss to follow.

2:54 p.m. Single to follow. And complete mayhem to end. That was an easy two. It was most definitely not three. And poor old Dravid is run out. I have no idea what they were thinking there, but Dravid is not only out, but also down. He's not getting up from the ground after diving to get in. It's either cramp or a muscle pain. He finally walks off, a forlorn figure.

2:56 p.m. I love Dravid. He's such a heroic figure. So hardworking and genteel.

2:57 p.m. RP in.

2:58 p.m. My only explanation for what Harbajhan just did is that he really, really likes Gambhir (are they roommates?) and wanted to take revenge on Dravid. So he pulled a Dravid against Dravid and ran him out. That's the only possibility. That was one of the dumbest things I've ever seen in cricket.

2:59 p.m. Ajmal back into the attack.

3:00 p.m. Good over from Ajmal, just the three off it, but to be fair, he's bowling to crap players. 241-7 with seven overs to go, and this is all over bar the shouting.

3:01 p.m. Rana continuing.

3:03 p.m. This is torture, for both sides' spectators I suspect. We just want it to be over. The Indians also, presumably, just want it to be over. Harbajhan is swinging like a rusty fence, as David Lloyd would say, but not connecting. Well, at least it's slightly comical.

3:04 p.m. Uffff! Yousuf with a running catch! Now I've seen everything. RP goes, swinging Rana over to midwicket, only for Yousuf to pouch it. Well done, Maulana. Well done.

3:06 p.m. Ishant in. Harsha says India have three number elevens, but Nehra is the "elevenest" of the elevens.

3:06 p.m. Gone! Rana gets Ishant, and India giving up without much of a fight here. They need to get close to our total for NRR purposes, but it doesn't look like they'll get there. 244-9, with Rana looking to clean things up.

3:08 p.m. I think I'm going to stay away from PakPassion for a day or two. It's going to be so obnoxious that even I might find it suffocating.

3:09 p.m. Ajmal is smashed through the covers by Harbajhan. Alright, you can have that. Teri maa ki.

3:09 p.m. And Ajmal finishes things up, bowls Harbajhan who's trying to reverse sweep an off-spinner. There's a crowd invasion a la England circa 2001, and Harsha's worried about player safety. Calm down, yaar.

3:11 p.m. Well if India lose to Australia, they're out (unless we beat Oz too). Even if India beat Oz, they might still be out, especially given this is a pretty heavy defeat, by more than 50 runs.

3:12 p.m. Bowlers of the day: Afridi and Ajmal. Again. They had 4-70 between them in 20 overs. Genius stuff. We need Asif back against Oz, because what I saw from Gullee and Rana today really worried me. Don't be fooled by Rana picking up cheap wickets at the end. He bowled crap.

3:14 p.m. So well done to Pakistan, who continue the good run they started at the end of the SL tour. India have yet more questions, as they struggle with the balance of the side (what exactly is this Kohli chap adding?) and injuries to key players. Pakistan are basically though, barring some sort of mathematical miracle, and India have to beat Oz (and the Windies, who have proved to be a difficult out) and hope for the other results to fall their way. Anyways, that's it from me, I hope you've enjoyed our coverage. I will be back for our semi final (assuming we make it for sure) right here, and hope you can join me again. Thanks for tuning in.

27 comments:

bilal said...

and there goes sachin! suck on this you vindaloo eating, bovine worshipping, tata driving piece of shit

FJ said...

Chootia umpire .. fucking harsh no ball call ... ass!!

Sana said...

ugh, can't we vote out the free hit rule. makes it even more a batsman's game, such a _sotayla_ attitude towards the poor bowlers.

Tazeen said...

Bilal,

Since when 'tata driving piece of shit' became a gaali ...

FJ said...

Gambhir's a lucky ficking bastard!!!!

Anonymous said...

is aamer injured?

bilal said...

re: is aamer injured?

only in his cerebral cortex

Tazeen, that was an adjective. the only gaali was "piece of shit"

bilal said...

we'll take a wicket any way it comes. seriously. given this bowling performance i'm expecting more outs via runout than anything else.
thanks gambhir. now go suck it.

bilal said...

ahsan,
you're right on that one. it was gambhir who called sehwag and then sent him back. 3rd test, 2nd innings with a target of 383. sehwag was the first to fall at 1-87 with gambhir to go at 108.

Asfandyar said...

Pique is so handsome.

*swoon*

Tazeen said...

Did Afridi and Shoaib Malik just kiss each other on the pitch after Dhoni's dismissal?

Qasim said...

@Tazeen, Dang i wish it was us? *sniff*

FJ said...

I heard that fuckin' retard Manju-chootia-gar (a.k.a. Manjrekar) say that Indian seamers have the ability but fragile confidence. When the hell did he last see Ishant Sharma bowl a yorker? Ability?!! Chootiay Muthal salay!!

zeyd said...

Younis has lost the plot. Bringing Gul back on was daft enough, persisting with him after going for 11 is just moronic.

bilal said...

i had vowed not to make fun of pathans today (in the hope that such good karma would result in a great performance by our akhrot bradran). however, given the shite that umar gul is dishing out I'm seriously reconsidering ....

Anonymous said...

would be swet if afridi gets pathan.

zeyd said...

Pathan gone. Younis had the slip in. Fantastic captaincy.

karachikhatmal said...

where you guys streaming this... some links please

karachikhatmal said...

re: aamer is only 17...

yeah and zardari never went to switzerland... i think he's 23 at least

Anonymous said...

Oh god Umar Gul again.. what the hell is wrong with younis

Rabia said...

KK
try netcricd.blogspot.com

JDèé said...

Dude, Rana hasn't been bad either.

JDèé said...

Yohoo, Dravid gone.

Viren said...

Fucking Paki's are fielding brilliantly today, dravid gone, its fucking over for india

Annie said...

*happy dance*

we wonnn, we woonnnn, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee won!

hemlock said...

the two run outs made me miss inzi bhai - my run-out hero.
and i miss saqlain's spins and wasim's yorkers and azhar mehmood saving the day.

malik & khan's partnership was applause-worthy.

this was a beautiful game to watch. my faith in cricket as a religion is getting restored.

Bad Credit Motorcycle Loans said...

This is the crazy game, my god...