World Of Cricket

Calcutta:  On 13th march 1996 Srilanka played India in the World-cup Semi-final in Calcutta which in the end turned out to be a very embarrassing day for Indian cricket.

Crowd reacts on India’s dismal performance / © Getty Images

Srilanka qualified for the World Cup final for the first time and went on to win it in Lahore. Srilanka played India before reaching to the final. After loss of their openers early Arvinda D’Silva held the innings together and pushed Srilanka’s final total to 250 leaving 251 for India to chase.

India’s chase was not good from start but it turned worst from their as the fans in the stadium showed their anger by burning the stands and throwing bottles at the players. Match Referee had to eventually take a decision and gave Srilanka a much deserved victory as India were never in the game. India made 120/8 in their 34.1 overs.

Only Sachin Tendulkar made over 50 for them. Srilanka later in the tournament went on to win it as Arvinda D’Silva scored century in the final to give Srilanka its first World Cup win ever in Lahore. After 1996 World Cup Srilanka has appeared in World-Cup finals for 2 times but did not win it.

Hyderabad: Ashwin and Jadeja spin out the Aussies, as India take huge lead of 2-0 in the series.

Jadeja is ecstatic after taking a wicket © BCCI

Day 4 started with very little hope of the Australians making out of it. Everyone pretty much expected the Indians to wrap up the test today, and same happened. With two wickets already down, there was little chance for Australia to take the test into day 5, let alone saving it.

The day started with Ed Cowan and Shane Watson on the crease with Cowan looking a bit solid. But, there wasn’t much in it for the Aussies as Ishant Sharma provided the breakthrough with Watson’s wicket. It just wasn’t Australia’s day, not even their Man-In-Form, Michael Clarke could do anything. As Jadeja became his destroyer cleaning him up with a neat one.

As soon as Clarke’s wicket fell after reaching the team hundred it did not take Ashwin much time to clean up the tail as he bagged another five-for. The last six wickets fell for only 23 runs which included a run-out. Ravindera Jadeja has been a bit of a surprise package for everyone in this series. He has bowled exceptionally well and made a formidable partnership with Ashwin, soon after Clarke’s dismissal he removed Ed Cowan who top scored with 44. His last victim was Peter Siddle.

Australia’s middle-order and the tail could not add anything special to the total as they were bundled out for just 131 runs handing the Indians an easy victory. Ashwin was exceptional once again in destroying the Aussie tail, as he moved up his tally of wickets to 18 in this series with still 2 matches to go.

Pujara was awarded the Man Of The Match for his exceptional double-hundred, his second in just 11 tests. Initially, it was Pujara and Vijay’s partnership of over 350 runs that set up an easy victory for the Indians as they look to make the Aussies pay for what they did to them last year. The next track is expected to help the seamers a bit, but the way things have gone on this series, the curator will surely consider turning it into a spinning one.

Aussies have a lot of their work cut out. No combinations have worked for them this series and as Clarke mentioned in the post-match ceremony, they will have to come back real hard if they are to make any sort of impact in this series.

Result: India won by an innings and 135 runs.

Man of the Match: Chetashwar Pujara (India).

Hyderabad: India beat Australia in the 2nd test to go 2-0 up in a 4 match test series.

Cheteshwar Pujara was declared the man of the match © BCCI

India after a bad run against England and Australia in Australia lifts their spirits after thumping Australia in first 2 tests of 4 match test series. Australia will have to do something special to get back into this series, India has won both the test matches quite convincingly and they will come hard against the Aussies again in the third test.

Earlier Australia started the day with 2 down for 74 they were certainly hoping to put up a better batting performance. But it didn’t happen as Indian spinners took complete control over the match.

Shane Watson was the first dismissal of the day when he nicked one through to Dhoni, Ishant Sharma in the process also got his first wicket in the series which is dominated by spinners.

Michael Clarke who has carried Australian batting on his shoulders uptill now in the series was the next one to go when he was bowled by Jadeja for the second time in this match.

From their on a collapse was triggered and India rattled the last six of Australian batters for just 23. Jadeja after claiming Clarke’s wicket soon dismissed Cowan who was also the highest scorer for Australia with 44. Jadeja also showed glimpses of his fielding effort when a direct hit from him ended Henriques stay.

Ashwin then joined the party he and Jadeja destroyed Australian tail Ashwin in the process also claimed another 5 for, he is having a dream series. In the end India won by an innings and 135 runs a huge victory, this is also the first time when a team has lost a game by an innings after declaring in first innings.

This victory will lift the spirits of Indians going into the third test whereas Australia will have to do lots of thinking before the next match. Michael Clarke is having a fine series with the bat but he will need much more support from his other mates. The next match starts on 14th march.

India are well on their way to claim a strong 2-0 lead over Australia in a 4 match test series.

Cheteshwar Pujara scored his second double-century © BCCI

India takes another step towards victory on day 3 of 2nd test against Australia. Pujara and Vijay started the day where they left it, both played with complete command they batted in a partnership of over 350. India will be very proud of performance of their young guns.

The day started with India well ahead of the game they had a lead of 74 with 9 wickets in hand, Pujara and Vijay stroked the ball to all parts of the ground they were batting with ease and command, a special effort was required to dismantle the pair.

Finally, after a long wait Maxwell the debutant got the wicket of Murali Vijay who after playing a masterclass innings of 167 was caught at short leg. Soon after Vijay’s dismissal Pujara reached his second double ton when he found the gap between mid on and midwicket, the innings of Pujara had everything in it, it was a classy innings from a emerging young star.

Australian bowlers on the other were disappointing they were waiting for things to happen their body language was down and out, their spinners could not perform as well as they would have liked to, their spinning department is the one thing that they will be worried about.

Australian bowlers did not create to much pressure on Indian batters after the early loss of Sehwag which resulted in a big partnership between Vijay and Pujara. But Pujara soon after reaching to his double century was dismissed but not before he injected the damage.

Tendulkar soon followed him after a faint edge was taken by the keeper. After Tendulkar’s dismissal Dhoni blasted a few to take India over past 450. Dhoni was in aggressive mood which led to his dismissal he smashed the ball straight towards Doherty who grabbed the ball on the second attempt.

With the fall of Dhoni a collapse was triggered, the final five wickets could only add 43 runs which took India’s total to over 500. India ended their innings on 503 with a mountainous lead of 266.

Warner and Cowan started the innings this time hoping to stay a bit longer and bat more sensibly against the spinners specially, Both batted through the tricky new ball period, the new ball was shared by Kumar and Ashwin but as soon as spinners were introduced from both end the run making was slowed down which led to first Warner’s wicket and then Hughes both batsmen were attempting sweep shots against Ashwin and both failed.

Watson then joined Cowan and both made sure that they don’t lose any other wicket on day 3. India are still well ahead of Australia in the game. Australia would like to bat with positive intent on day 4 whereas India will be looking to wrap up the match quickly.

Hyderabad: India on the right path to take an unassailable lead in the series. Vijay & Pujara took India over 300.

Vijay and Pujara walk back after a successful day © BCCI

After a good day 1, India have had a perfect day, ending the day 2 with a 72 run lead. Vijay and Pujara’s 294 run-stand has put victory within the grasp of the Indians. A full packed crowd got all its money worth as they saw two youngsters demolish a relatively young looking Aussie side.

Both the youngsters displayed great composure and determination as they struggled their way into a position where they took the attack to the Australian bowlers. The first session of the day only saw 49 runs as both the batsmen worked hard to get their eye in after the dismissal of Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag was caught behind for 6 off Siddle. It was the only success the Aussies enjoyed the whole day. Murali Vijay exhibited great willpower to hold back his attacking instincts and play a pure test match classic innings, with a very careful start and getting more and more attacking as the day progressed.

Pujara once again showcased his great craving for huge scores as he and Vijay took the game totally away from Australia. Both the players tackled the quickies with extreme patience in the morning session and started to get a strong hold of the game as the day moved on. Australian spinners once again disappointed with their ordinary bowling.

Xavier Doherty looked to be the most dangerous of all as he got a few to turn more than the usual but he went wicket-less too as both the batsmen demonstrated great serenity and calm. But, they took advantage of the bad balls too and made some quick runs in the second session as the Australians went flat.

The selection of Glenn Maxwell as the second spinner is expected to raise quite a few questions, as he failed with the bat and failed to make any sort of impact with his mediocre bowling. He replaced Mitchell Starc, who although was not among wickets but impressed with his impressive bowling in last test. Moises Henriques once again did a great job as a part time fast medium but like every other bowler he too had no luck.

Michael Clarke could not do much with the options available at his disposal but he could have done a little better in the third session as he went totally flat as soon as the batsmen grew in confidence. They made some quick runs just before the new ball which was the only hope for Clarke, but it did not do much good too. A rare chance came Australia’s way in the last over but to add to their frustration it wasn’t in the reach of of Clarke at the first slip as it got deflected by Wade’s pads.

Hyderabad: Both India and Australia go in with three spinners as Kangaroos look to bounce back in the series.

Kumar celebrates one of his three wickets © BCCI

Indians have picked up from where they left in the first test. A very good day for them in the field as Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat first on a relatively harder surface compare to the one in Chennai. It was already know that this one had a lot more in it for the seamers than the previous one and the early spell of Kumar did make a strong case for it.

Aussies too on the other hand pretty much continued in the same manner, struggling to handle the Indians spinners as 6 of the nine wickets that fell went to the spinners. Once again Michael Clarke was the only bright spot of the Australian innings as he fell just nine short of yet another ton.

It was pretty much a fluctuating day for both the teams, Michael Clarke and Mathew Wade came back strong after the Australians were 3 down under 15 overs, courtesy a brilliant spell from Bhuvneshar Kumar. Clarke continued his great run as he and Wade, 62, put up a century stand for the fifth-wicket and had pretty much leveled the early outburst of Kumar.

Bhuvneshar Kumar was on fire at the start of the day, toying with the Aussies as he picked up his first wicket in the third over of the game. Warner was his first victim as he was clean bowled, he was then followed by Cowan and Watson both leg before wicket as Australia were 57/3. After this point the spinner chipped in.

It was perfect setting for Ashwin, who had a brilliant first test match, and he did not take much time to strike as he had Hughes caught behind for 19. After this came the only good part of Australian innings as they went wicket-less in the 2nd session. Clarke had a little luck too to help him as he was dropped by Pujara at short-leg off Ashwin.

After Wade fell to Harbhajan at the start of third session there was no coming back for the Australians as the next four wickets fell just for 28 runs. Ravindera Jadeja was a surprise package for everyone as he picked up three wickets with the important wicket of Clarke too who was already running out partners very quickly.

After being 237/9 Michael Clarke, just like a typical Aussie Captain came with a surprise declaration. It was a bold move given the fact that another 20/30 runs would have made a huge difference if it turns out to be a low scoring game. But, the courageous Aussie Captain wanted a short outbreak at the Indian openers. He got 3 overs but to his disappointment they went wicket-less as India finished Day 1 sitting pretty much in the driving seat at 5/0.

We can expect another enthralling day ahead, Aussies will have to grab a couple of early wickets if they want to make a match of it. They cannot afford the Indian openers to get away with it, whereas on the other hand Indians would be looking for a healthy lead to crush Australia out of the game and go 2-0 up in the series. Australia will be looking for Pattinson and Siddle to make an early impact and then hoping that their three spinners perform well and help them get back in the game.