Match tied Well well well. If it weren't for Munaf's short run from the last ball of India's innings India would have this game! Strauss's innings must rank as the best England ODI innings after Gooch's World Cup 115 in 1983. Fourth tied game in World Cup history. Breathless stuff, that game has twisted one way and another and again and another before ending up even.
What is left to say about it really. India were a bowler short, England a batsmen short and in the end it balanced to a perfect equilibrium. Zaheer's spell with the old ball in the batting Powerplay was remarkable. He is the absolute key to India's World Cup, more than Sachin or Sehwag I would argue. England will be gutted, Strauss led a chase like no other and deserved the win. Also Tim Bresnan, first with five wickets and then 14 runs to hold England together when they were doing their best to fall apart. "The way they started I definitely am happy with a tie," says Dhoni. "When they were 2 down the way they were going the bowlers were finding it very tough. Zak changed it around for us he is a different bowler if you try and come at him it's very difficult. It could count as a win in the points table at the end." Yes and no, really," answers Strauss to whether he is happy with the result. "We were in a great position and then had a shocking Powerplay. After that we were lucky and grateful for Swann and Shahzad to getting us to the tie. We're happy and devastated at the same time but privileged to play in a game like this." Strauss is rightly named man of the match, "it's the best innings I've played." Indeed. Phew, that was immense fun. My nerves, not to mention fingers, are in tatters. Here is ball bay ball commentary of Last 2 overs. | |
48.1 | Chawla to Swann, no run, big slog sweep attempted, but Swann only finds fresh air |
48.2 | Chawla to Swann, SIX, absolute silence as Swann is on the sweep again. This time getting all of it and it shoots flat, hard over the midwicket rope! |
48.3 | Chawla to Swann, 1 run, Swann down the wicket now to try and swing a similar shot, this one skews off the leading edge and looped towards third man on the bounce |
48.4 | Chawla to Bresnan, 2 runs, ooh, Bresnan trying to match Swann but can't quite time it as well. Pressure on though and a misfield allows him to come back for a second |
48.5 | Chawla to Bresnan, SIX, Bresnan has nailed this! Not another twist, surely! Down one knee, clearing his front leg and thrashing the life out of it, to send it rocketing over midwicket once more |
48.6 | Chawla to Bresnan, OUT, Chawla strikes back! One way and another this match is going! Bresnan tried again to to find the boundary, he had to, but it's quicker and flatter and through him onto off stump |
TT Bresnan b Chawla 14 (18m 9b 0x4 1x6) SR: 155.55 | |
| End of over 49 (15 runs) England 325/8 (14 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.63, RRR: 14.00) | |
| So, after 49 overs England need 14 to pull off a historic victory. India favourites, Munaf to bowl it... | |
49.1 | Patel to Swann, 2 runs, Swann gives himself room outside off to drive towards cover, doesn't get the boundary he needs but a misfield allows him to keep the strike by scampering back a second |
49.2 | Patel to Swann, 1 run, wonderful stuff from Munaf, perfect slower ball, nothing for Swann to work with and he can only outside edge to third man. Shahzad hits a long ball though... |
49.3 | Patel to Shahzad, SIX, Strauss is on his feet, Swann is screaming! What a shot from Shahzad! So clean! Just got his front leg out the way, got the half-volley he wanted and creamed it straight down the ground, over the bowler's head and into the stands for six! |
49.4 | Patel to Shahzad, 1 bye, Shahzad misses outside off but Swann has called through for a bye! Clever, steely stuff from Munaf, quite how a bowler holds his nerve in a situation like this is beyond me. Oh Shahzad what a strike that was. |
49.5 | Patel to Swann, 2 runs, Swann miles down the track, wants the boundary to finish it but finds an inside edge by heaving to leg. Manic running and slow fielding have him back for a second. One to tie, but two for a famous, unbelievable win... |
49.6 | Patel to Swann, 1 run, It's a tie! 100 overs of scintillating ODI cricket and the scores are level! That's what World Cup cricket is about! Swann drives hard as Munaf finds a perfect line and length, hit it cleanly but straight to mid-off who managed to make no fumble and pinned England to a single to seal the tie |
World Cup 2011 Schedule
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