Sunday, March 12, 2006
Giant Leap for Cricket
Just witnessed the most exciting one day cricket game ever played in the history of the game. There can not be a bigger mockery of statistics, and records.
VB Series
Aus vs. SA
The teams come into the game with a 2-2 score in the series. SA took the first two, Aus came back strongly to clinch the next two. And to me, Aus looked the favorite for this final game as well. However tired I might be of watching Australian supremacy on the cricket ground, but I still can not stop admiring their cruelty when it comes to crushing a rising opponent.
But this time, Australians just went a bit ahead. Cruel winning is one thing, but this was Insult. Slap on the face of SA cricket. 434/4 in 50 overs. Can you believe it? I could not. This was mad. SA is no Kenya.
You know at moments like this I feel in such a "*#&*" way about Australia. Can't describe the feeling. You cant get bigger than the game. But little did I know how big the game actually is.
SA started their chase, which was only of academic interests to most of the cricket lovers around the world. Dippenar left early. It was fine. I could relate to so many run chases against mammoth totals I have seen in the past. But today mammoth meant different. One ought to say MAMMOTH.
Smith started his fight. I never appreciated him as a great batsman but today he laid the foundation of the most unbelievable chase ever done in the history of the game. Smith crafted a lovely 90 of 55 deliveries. Good one. If mate one innings like this could win this game.
Another came. Gibbs went mad. 175 of 111 deliveries. What do you call that? Would the cricket's classical greats ever feel comfortable commenting on that. Anyways, still nice one. If heroes could win the game today.
Kallis came in. Best batsman in the world. Left soon. SA started losing momentum.
See what I said.
Things changed. Van Der Vath (you dont know him? Do not worry, he will figure in the history books soon) after settling in for a while creamed Lewis for 3 sixes.
Did I not mention about Lewis, the Oz bowler. Let me not mention, he is also going to join VDV in the history books. Most expensive ODI bowling spell ever. 113 from 10 overs.
Boucher took from there. And I could not realise the equation which once read 435 runs from 300 balls, now read 2 runs from 3 balls.
SA 438/9 from 49.5 overs.
Ricky Ponting, the genuine sportsman he generally is, could not believe whats just happened to his team. Give ZIM 434 to defend against Aus on some sane cricketing day, and they would do it anytime. And Aus could not defend 434, the highest (before 2130 IST today) total ever made. Ponting would not be remembered for his 165 of 105 today. He would be remembered for the captain of the side who could not defend 434.
We really can not get bigger than the game.
I love cricket.
VB Series
Aus vs. SA
The teams come into the game with a 2-2 score in the series. SA took the first two, Aus came back strongly to clinch the next two. And to me, Aus looked the favorite for this final game as well. However tired I might be of watching Australian supremacy on the cricket ground, but I still can not stop admiring their cruelty when it comes to crushing a rising opponent.
But this time, Australians just went a bit ahead. Cruel winning is one thing, but this was Insult. Slap on the face of SA cricket. 434/4 in 50 overs. Can you believe it? I could not. This was mad. SA is no Kenya.
You know at moments like this I feel in such a "*#&*" way about Australia. Can't describe the feeling. You cant get bigger than the game. But little did I know how big the game actually is.
SA started their chase, which was only of academic interests to most of the cricket lovers around the world. Dippenar left early. It was fine. I could relate to so many run chases against mammoth totals I have seen in the past. But today mammoth meant different. One ought to say MAMMOTH.
Smith started his fight. I never appreciated him as a great batsman but today he laid the foundation of the most unbelievable chase ever done in the history of the game. Smith crafted a lovely 90 of 55 deliveries. Good one. If mate one innings like this could win this game.
Another came. Gibbs went mad. 175 of 111 deliveries. What do you call that? Would the cricket's classical greats ever feel comfortable commenting on that. Anyways, still nice one. If heroes could win the game today.
Kallis came in. Best batsman in the world. Left soon. SA started losing momentum.
See what I said.
Things changed. Van Der Vath (you dont know him? Do not worry, he will figure in the history books soon) after settling in for a while creamed Lewis for 3 sixes.
Did I not mention about Lewis, the Oz bowler. Let me not mention, he is also going to join VDV in the history books. Most expensive ODI bowling spell ever. 113 from 10 overs.
Boucher took from there. And I could not realise the equation which once read 435 runs from 300 balls, now read 2 runs from 3 balls.
SA 438/9 from 49.5 overs.
Ricky Ponting, the genuine sportsman he generally is, could not believe whats just happened to his team. Give ZIM 434 to defend against Aus on some sane cricketing day, and they would do it anytime. And Aus could not defend 434, the highest (before 2130 IST today) total ever made. Ponting would not be remembered for his 165 of 105 today. He would be remembered for the captain of the side who could not defend 434.
We really can not get bigger than the game.
I love cricket.
