Skip to main content

Lakshman and Eden Gardens – The romantic affair continues

VVS Lakshman, with a brilliant 143 and M.S Dhoni notching up 132 played their roles to perfection as the South Africans felt the heat when the pair consolidated India’s position on the third day of the second cricket test between India and South Africa. The South Africans were not their usual self, as the visiting team dropped many catches, with the seventh wicket partnership between Lakshman and Dhoni registering 259 runs, taking the total lead to 347.

It must have been a declaration made from sheer instincts, as Dhoni declared the innings and let the South Africans face five deliveries, who were 6 for no loss, before play was called off owing to poor light. Earlier, the day had plenty to offer as both India and South Africa were expected to battle it out to take control of the second test. Lakshman, the artistic wonder, played some lovely flicks and drives to the delight of the audience with Amit Mishra proving to be a thorn in the South African flesh. Dropped by Kallis, Amit Mishra dug his heels in to provide able support to Lakshman as the two helped India Inch ahead to a lead of 88 runs. Dhoni joined Laksman in the run hunt after Mishra departed, with the second new ball posing problems to both Dhoni and Lakshman.

M.S. Dhoni made his intentions clear as he batted with watchfulness, and treated bad deliveries with disdain, as they were dispatched to the boundaries with élan, as he pulled Dale Steyn as well employed the cut shot to grow in confidence. Both the Indian batsmen taking advantage of the reprieves, with the South African fielding looking off-color, helped themselves to remarkable centuries, as Dhoni started to go after the bowling when the hundred was up alongside his name. Though not technically the soundest, sheer guts and self-confidence has let Dhoni reach such heights, as he again proved his mettle with a ton to put India in the driver’ seat.

India would now be looking to square the series and the fourth day of this Eden Garden test is surely an acid test for Smith & Co.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ash, Batters Despised Your ‘Mate’ Call

Check, mate was a bugle call from that Grand Master. The batters turned pawns, and he the captor. My Tribe. And when someone from your tribe shatters the illusion of off-spinners being not intelligent and sharp, you owe him, or certainly I owe him an ode to an off-spinner, our tribe. My tribe has done the cricket world proud, time and again. Ash, Ash Wednesday, it was. Remarkably, a reflection perhaps of how off spinners have defied the notion of them being orchestrators of damp squibs. Or of repentance of my tribe as not to have set the score straight with their brains deceiving the brawn with flight. Your clarion call may have come out of the blue, denied you the solemn farewell, and may have invited thunderous denunciations. So, what? You will find succor to know that your tribe celebrates you – one of the hallowed sons of the tribe. Your display of cognitive superiority, mind-game thrillers, and the stamp of off-spinning authority on the field puts you there among the pantheons. Th...
3 comments
Read more

Playing a Straight Bat - Traditional Batting c Modern Batting b T-20 Live?

  There has always been a riveting talk of traditional batting being blighted by Modern batting. Some whisper the emphatic No, while many bellow the affirmative Yes, or perceptually, it could go the other way. The ongoing craftsmanship vs showmanship game seems to stutter into a draw. But that showmanship of T20 has ignited different avatars of modern batting. And there is also the obvious swap of modern batting for traditional batting in the longer formats of the game. As an anodyne, the mind connects Viv to T-20 cricket live. You can hold Viv Richards as the archetype of T-20 batting. But that’s the story of a craftsman come crowd-pleaser soaked in traditional batting delight. Viv Richards was ace high on traditional bating display. Talking of the infectious modern batting, the flip the script moment on the cricket field awaits. White flanneled colts on the cricket field are a pleasing sight. The roving eyes detect the Cardusian field setup - two slips, a gully, a point, a co...
1 comment
Read more

High and Handsome, An Immortal Sixer-shooter did that in style

Baird would have found this a most gratifying moment. The very toy that he had built was telecasting an absolute cracker of a contest between bat and ball. The one-day match between India and England was cresting to a sensational finish, keeping the audience on the edge of the seats.  Being a Scottish man himself, Baird would have liked England to be the victor than the vanquished in a match that held promises of a close finish. It was a run riot. There was sumptuous meal for the batsmen from this batsman’s paradise. It proved right with England posting their highest ever score in India. The seesaw battle for win saw the game swinging in England’s favor, though a distant Indian win was spotted in the horizon. The last lap of the match had begun and it was a solitary run that separated India from victory. Patrolling the crease was a sly fox in Ashwin ready to lay its trap, this time with the bat. Standing like a gladiator with the bat resting on his shoulder and eyes betra...
1 comment
Read more