Cricket
BY NISAR KHAN
India overcame hosts Bangladesh to become the first team to qualify for the World Twenty20 Semi-Finals. In the game prior, West Indies’ captain Darren Sammy inspired his side to victory over the Aussies.
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| The Imperative Piece: Virat Kohli scored a half-century to make it an easy cruise to victory for India over tournament hosts Bangladesh AFP / GETTY IMAGES |
The first of two games in the twelfth day of action was an enthralling game between West Indies and Australia. West Indies won with merely two balls to spare, pushing Australia on to the brink of departure from the tournament.
Darren Sammy, captain of the winning side, hit successive sixes in a magnificent display where he hit 34 runs off 13 balls to see his side to victory.
Chris Gayle, although having a lackluster game prior, hit a half-century to give West Indies a big leap to open the chase.
However, the Aussies’ posted a challenging 178 runs that took its toll on West Indies, looking like they were on course for a loss with the task of chasing 49 runs from 21 balls.
West Indies had been provoked in the build-up to the match with plenty of ill-feeling taking over the press conferences. This time though, West Indies saved it with euphoric celebrations after a triumphant victory.
Australia thought they had the game in control with the second and third wickets coming with six runs of each other, looking to cause a spanner in the works for West Indies’ steady start.
21 balls remained from the game and the West Indies looked far from in the game. However, an elated partnership between Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy turned the game completely around, setting up for a big over, not as big as expected earlier, although having to chase twelve runs to win from the final over.
It would come down to the captain. Anxiety raised significantly for Windies’ fans as Darren Sammy failed to score from the first two balls of the over, and thus putting the game within Australia’s fingertips – that was until two consecutive sixes to win the game emphatically.
Exuberant, incredible celebrations would spontaneously ensue after Sammy’s winning six – the West Indies were emphatic in celebration, edging Australia towards elimination and getting back at them with superb acknowledgement of their win.
What a marvelous game of cricket. Yet again, the Twenty20 format keeps all on the edge of their seat, going down to the final over. It only takes a few good hits to completely change the complexion of the game – with this thriller being a prime example. And there was still an opportunity to see Chris Gayle express his excitement. After losing his footing when the victors flocked onto the pitch to celebrate, he lead the Gangnam dances to really rub it in.
Much less thrilling, though, was India’s win over the hosts Bangladesh. The Indians picked up their third straight win in the tournament to progress to the semi-finals.
Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni were the final duo before India went onto win. Kohli was alongside Rohit Sharma as both hit half-centuries setting up for a comfortable and convincing win, and pushing Bangladesh pretty much near to the exit, too.
Amit Mishra headlined the superb bowling with 3-26 as Bangladesh totted 138 runs to start the game. The hosts’ real resistance came only with Anamal Haque adding 44, alas in vein, as Bangladesh edged further to exit.
The easy chase was concluded with MS Dhoni, hitting some big boundaries, and the winning shot, to keep the favorites well in it and seal their destination at the Semi-Finals of the tournament.
Comment: Captains’ Winners, Thrillers
Yet again, the tournament continues to deliver. Cricket going down to the wire has become a regular occurrence, much to the euphoria of cricket fans, and West Indies’ win over Australia showed it all.
Australia now face a very tough task if they look to qualify, not only with struggling Bangladesh having to win, but them too, if they want to have any chance of progressing. Uncomfortably so, their fate now does not lie solely in their hands.
India are the hot favorites right now. They obviously want to finish first to get the easier semi-final match, but have an opportunity to experiment and change things round for the next game having played the same team for their three only and winning games in the tournament.
Captain MS Dhoni didn’t have to do much, thanks in part to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s double centuries, in a cornerstone partnership of the innings. It seemed like India could bat on, staying a few runs under the amount of balls, and wait for the opening to smash it into the rafters.
Meanwhile, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo brought out the true drama of cricket in an absolute nail-biter. What a comeback. What a day of cricket.
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