Monday, February 15, 2010

MAIDENS AND SINGLES - VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL

During the third session today, Sunil Gavaskar, at one point during Harbhajan's over, remarked that Harbhajan, being a single fellow, should be bowling more maidens over... sorry, I meant, maiden overs.

Harbhajan, who had not bowled a single maiden up until then, promptly proceeded to bowl 2 maidens in what remained of the day and picked up 3 wickets on a dramatic evening that left South Africa bewildered and India overjoyed. Spurred on by the massive crowd at Eden Gardens, Zaheer and Harbhajan ensured that India end stronger on Day 1 after the situation looked bleak at the time for tea break.

On a Valentine's Sunday, Hashim Amla and debutant Alviro Peterson pounded India for majority of the day. Peterson looked impressive and Amla looked as if he had sworn that he will not get out on this tour. Sadly for him, Zaheer Khan induced an edge from him as he lost his wicket for the first time on this tour (incidentally, he had not gotten out even in the practice match against BP XI). That signalled the start of a collapse that has hauled India right back into the match.

The Eden Gardens crowd tomorrow, along with the rest of the nation, will be hoping that Gautam Gambhir continues his sublime touch that deserted him in Nagpur (for the first time in what seems like a decade). There is just one expectation from Sehwag - that he plays like Sehwag. It will be interesting who will come out to bat at No. 3 for India tomorrow, and how Dale Steyn and Co. react to the situation they are in at the moment.

Let the Lover's Day Test Match roll on.

1 comment:

Barry said...

I liked the fact that Harbie eventually has decided to bowl from around the wicket to the lefthanders.

SAVE OUR TIGER!