Pune are huddled up as Gambhir and Uthappa walk out to the middle. The general consensus is that this should be a stroll for the home side. Here's Ashwin to prove otherwise. No slips, no close in fielders..
23:30 Local Time, 18:00 GMT, 23:30 IST: There's been a revision in the revised target (see what I did there?). Now KOL will have to chase 66 in 9 overs. Apparently, the clean-up operations are ahead of schedule so now they'll restart at 11.45pm. The other stipulations are as follows: Powerplay to be of 3 overs, 4 bowlers can bowl 2 overs, and one bowler can bowl 1 over.
23:19 Local Time, 17:49 GMT, 23:19 IST: Some great news! Only the main cover is in place and the stumps have been erected. KOL are set to pursue a target of 59
23:13 Local Time, 17:43 GMT, 23:13 IST: Unconfirmed reports suggest that play will start at 11.50 PM and it might be reduced to 8 overs. Akash chips in by saying, "Ganguly is out in the middle and if the game is reduced to 8 overs, KOL will have to chase down 59."
23:01 Local Time, 17:31 GMT, 23:01 IST: Inspection underway. The pitch has been inspected in a hurry (tells you that it was well protected) and now they move onto the iffy areas in the outfield. The next scheduled inspection will be at 11.20 PM.
22:49 Local Time, 17:19 GMT, 22:49 IST: Side covers are being removed. Fingers-crossed, play will start soon. The crowd roars in the background as the light drizzle has finally stopped. The umpires are standing next to the pitch.
22:44 Local Time, 17:14 GMT, 22:44 IST: Another inspection will take place at 11.00 PM. Hopefully, this time around, there will be some positive news
22:39 Local Time, 17:09 GMT, 22:39 IST: "Both umpires are out in the middle. The ground staff have managed to wipe off a lot of water," points out Akash Sarkar
22:21 Local Time, 16:51 GMT, 22:21 IST: "As of now, four super soppers are working to clear the puddles. The fourth umpire is just assessing the ground conditions," says our correspondent at the ground Akash Sarkar
22:10 Local Time, 16:40 GMT, 22:10 IST: More good news as there will be an inspection at 22:45 local time. Well, scratch that as the drizzle is back on. Curiously, the giant screen is still showing that inspection will take place at the scheduled time. Remember, there is a lot of water on the ground
21:57 Local Time, 16:27 GMT, 21:57 IST: The rain has stopped and it will take some time to take the covers off. Super soppers are working. Keep checking this space..
21:44 Local Time, 16:14 GMT, 21:44 IST: The rain has now reduced to a steady drizzle. Remember, recently, CAB revamped the drainage system. A new pitch cover that is 'inflatable' and equipments that can absorb the water quickly are used. There is still enough time before we will start to lose overs
21:33 Local Time, 16:03 GMT, 21:33 IST: Unfortunately, the rain has got heavier. In fact, it is a downpour and the entire ground has been covered. We are perhaps in for a lengthy delay
21:22 Local Time, 15:52 GMT, 21:22 IST: Holy moly! It is raining now. The umpires have decided it is heavy enough and the groundsmen are out there with covers. Gambhir would be a disappointed man as KOL were right on top
17.4 -
Narine to Dhoni, 1 run, flatter delivery and zeroing in on the stumps, Dhoni dabs it to long-on
17.3 -
Narine to Dhoni, no run, too straight from Narine, Dhoni turns it into the on-side
17.2 -
Narine to Dhoni, no run, pushed through and just outside off, Dhoni pushes it to the left of the bowler
17.1 -
Narine to Dhoni, no run, flatter delivery and on the stumps, defended
16.6 -
Chawla to Ashwin, no run, Chawla again extracts turn on his leggie, Ashwin gets it off the outside part of the bat towards cover-point
16.5 -
Chawla to Ashwin, no run, well flighted from Chawla, Ashwin defends it cautiously
16.4 -
Chawla to Ashwin, no run, tossed up delivery and just outside off, guided to cover-point
16.3 -
Chawla to Ashwin, no run, the legspinner from Chawla, Ashwin defends off the back foot awkwardly
Ravichandran Ashwin, right handed bat, comes to the crease
16.2 -
Chawla to T Perera, out Caught by M Pandey!! Chawla has been street-smart today and that has helped him to whittle away at the opposition ranks. Perera charges down the track, but he was too early into his shot. As a result, Chawla bowls a googly and wide of off. Perera gets the loft off the toe-end and Pandey at long-off snaffles it. He lost it for a moment, before pouching it. T Perera c M Pandey b Chawla 13(11) [6s-1]
Chawla to T Perera, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
16.1 -
Chawla to T Perera, SIX, Perera has cracked a mighty blow and it has gone all the way. Perera waltzes down the track, gets close to the pitch of the ball and lifts it over the long-on fence. He picked the bones out of that delivery
It is very windy out there and perhaps we might get a shower
15.6 -
Narine to Dhoni, no run, Dhoni turns it towards mid-wicket, but can't breach the gap
15.5 -
Narine to T Perera, 1 run, quicker delivery and zooming in on the stumps, Perera mistimes the slog-sweep to deep mid-wicket
15.4 -
Narine to T Perera, no run, pushed through and Narine attacks the stumps, Perera defends it off the front foot
15.3 -
Narine to T Perera, no run, short and wide delivery, Perera cuts it to point
15.2 -
Narine to T Perera, no run, the straighter one from Narine, Perera drills it into the cover-region
15.1 -
Narine to Dhoni, 1 run, the off-spinner from Narine, Dhoni punches it to long-off
14.6 -
Chawla to T Perera, no run, the googly from Chawla, Perera stays back and cuts it to point
14.5 -
Chawla to T Perera, 2 runs, tossed up delivery and just outside off, Perera pushes it to deep backward point. Perera nabs a couple of runs
14.4 -
Chawla to T Perera, 2 runs, fuller length delivery from Chawla, Perera mistimes the drive to deep extra cover, but sneaks in a brace
14.3 -
Chawla to T Perera, no run, how did that miss the off-stump? Hard to fathom. Chawla, yet again gets the legspinner to turn, Perera tries to drive with his feet stationed in clay and the ball just about misses the off-stump
14.2 -
Chawla to Dhoni, 1 run, again deliciously flighted from Chawla, Dhoni drives it to long-off
14.1 -
Chawla to Dhoni, no run, tossed up delivery and just outside off, Dhoni drives it to cover
13.6 -
Narine to T Perera, 2 runs, short and wide delivery, cut to point for a brace. Good running between the wickets, on that occasion
Thisara Perera, left handed bat, comes to the crease
13.5 -
Narine to Dhoni, out I Pathan Run Out!! A horrible mix-up has resulted in Pathan's dismissal. Dhoni is furious with Pathan there. He yelled at Pathan and gave him a mouthful. Coming back to the wicket, Dhoni pushed it to point and looked to pinch in a single. Chawla swooped down on the ball quickly and fired in a throw at the striker's end. By then, Dhoni was more than half way down the pitch. Even though, the single was on, Irfan was late to respond and he had no chance of making his ground. Pathan almost put in a dive to make sure that he would cross Dhoni. Maybe he wanted to escape from the wrath of his captain. I Pathan run out (Chawla/Uthappa) 7(8)
Narine to Dhoni, THAT'S OUT!! Run Out!!
13.4 -
Narine to Dhoni, no run, flatter delivery and on the stumps, punched back towards the bowler
13.3 -
Narine to Dhoni, no run, an inside edge saved Dhoni there. Otherwise, he would have been on his bike. Flatter delivery and on the stumps, Dhoni aims to defend and gets an inside edge onto his pads. The loud appeal for LBW turned down
13.2 -
Narine to Dhoni, leg byes, 2 runs, Dhoni might have got a bit of glove on it? It is given as leg-byes though. Well, in that case why did not Narine belt out an appeal for LBW? Dhoni sinks on one knee and tries to sweep and collects a couple of leg-byes to fine leg. The fielder at slip hunts it down
13.1 -
Narine to I Pathan, 1 run, a wee bit of turn and dip for Narine, Pathan waits for it and taps it to sweeper cover
Time-Out is in place now
12.6 -
Chawla to Dhoni, no run, tossed up delivery and on the stumps, Dhoni wrists it to mid-wicket. It came off the toe-end
12.5 -
Chawla to I Pathan, 1 run, shorter in length, Pathan cuts it to long-off. He did not exactly time that one though
12.4 -
Chawla to Dhoni, 1 run, Dhoni saunters down the track and mistimes the drive to point. Chawla pulled his length back well there
12.3 -
Chawla to Dhoni, 2 runs, short and subsidized with width, Dhoni cuts it into the cover-region, where a slight misfield, facilitates a single
12.2 -
Chawla to I Pathan, 1 run, the straighter one from Chawla, Pathan gets more to the pitch and crunches the drive to long-off
12.1 -
Chawla to Dhoni, 1 run, flatter delivery and on the stumps, Dhoni firmly drives it to long-off
11.6 -
Narine to I Pathan, 2 runs, the off-break from Narine, Pathan cuts it to deep extra cover and scampers across for a brace
11.5 -
Narine to I Pathan, no run, fuller length delivery and on the stumps, Pathan drives it back towards the bowler
11.4 -
Narine to Dhoni, 1 run, too straight from Narine, tucked to mid-wicket and he leisurely jogs to the other end
11.3 -
Narine to Dhoni, no run, the knuckle ball from Narine? Dhoni is beaten all ends up as he looks to defend, but it was too high
11.2 -
Narine to Dhoni, no run, short and wide delivery, Dhoni smears the cut, but can't beat the man at cover
11.1 -
Narine to I Pathan, 1 run, drifting down leg, Pathan clips it to mid-wicket
Sunil Narine, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
10.6 -
Chawla to Dhoni, no run, Dhoni uses his feet, before guarding a legspinner that turns towards FSL
10.5 -
Chawla to Dhoni, no run, Dhoni stays back and awkwardly defends
10.4 -
Chawla to Dhoni, no run, Dhoni almost was chugged down the first ball, but survives. Chawla again gets the legspinner to turn, and Dhoni is beaten by it. It though, pitched outside the line of leg-stump
MS Dhoni, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Well, there is a slip in position. A FSL and silly point. I can even see a second slip. Gambhir is trying to put Dhoni under immense pressure. In fact, I have seen Gambhir set Test match fields before in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and in a few games in the T20 League
10.3 -
Chawla to Bailey, out Stumped!! What am I seeing? Chawla has got his legspinner to turn to prise out Bailey. Bailey dances down the track, looks to turn the legspinner into the on-side and connects with thin air. Easy stumping for Uthappa to effect. Bailey st Uthappa b Chawla 33(27) [4s-3 6s-1]
Chawla to Bailey, THAT'S OUT!! Stumped!!
10.2 -
Chawla to I Pathan, 1 run, shorter in length, Pathan mistimes the cut to backward point
10.1 -
Chawla to Bailey, 3 runs, Chawla straightaway uses the googly and extracts turn. Bailey does not pick it and ekes an outside edge towards the third man fence. Morne Morkel, the giant of a man, with long strides hounds it down and puts in a dive to save a run. The TV umpire confirms the same
Piyush Chawla, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
9.6 -
Rajpoot to Bailey, 1 run, punches this shortish ball on the head to long-on
9.5 -
Rajpoot to I Pathan, leg byes, 1 run, fails to connect the pull, runs for the extra and a direct hit at the bowler's end would have been curtains for Pathan
9.5 -
Rajpoot to I Pathan, wide, skids on a fuller length down leg, Pathan turns around for a tickle but it's off the fringes of the pad. Wided? Oh yes. Oxenford erres again
Irfan Pathan, left handed bat, comes to the crease
9.4 -
Rajpoot to S Tiwary, out Caught by Uthappa!! Redemption for Oxenford! Rajpoot spears this on a back of a length and gets it to trim away. Tiwary opens himself up, looks to dab it down to third man but skirts it off the outside edge back to Uthappa. Good bounce on it doing the trick there. S Tiwary c Uthappa b Rajpoot 13(12) [4s-1]
Rajpoot to S Tiwary, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
9.3 -
Rajpoot to Bailey, 1 run, a baby front foot stride, takes on this fuller length delivery and whips it to long-on this time
9.2 -
Rajpoot to Bailey, 2 runs, gets his front leg forward and across, and then whips this fuller length delivery from outside off. Through mid-wicket to earn him a brace
9.1 -
Rajpoot to S Tiwary, 1 run, hunches down and clips it round the corner
8.6 -
Shakib to S Tiwary, 1 run, another push off the front foot to long-off and phew, it's a time-out. Get your strategies ready too -- how many chapatis for dinner?
8.5 -
Shakib to Bailey, 1 run, shimmies out making toom for the drift in and drives it wide of long-off
8.4 -
Shakib to S Tiwary, 1 run, full and dipping on Tiwary's off-stump who's on his front foot. Squeezed out with a clip to long-on
8.3 -
Shakib to Bailey, 1 run, swerving onto the pads, no room from Shakib and Bailey makes do with a clip to mid-wicket
8.2 -
Shakib to Bailey, no run, fullish and darting in, Bailey defends it off the back foot
8.1 -
Shakib to Bailey, SIX, slammed down the ground! Bailey drifts this one in, Bailey had the slide on and thumps it over long-on
7.6 -
Rajpoot to Bailey, 1 run, finger-roll on this full delivery, the length invites Bailey forward with a drive to long-off. Bat-ball meetup was more of a noise than a symphony
7.5 -
Rajpoot to S Tiwary, 1 run, gets the hands high and burps up the bounce with a turn down to fine leg
7.4 -
Rajpoot to Bailey, 1 run, now adjusts his length to outside off and Bailey slaps it to deep cover
7.3 -
Rajpoot to Bailey, FOUR, good from Rajpoot. Sees Bailey making room, pounds it on a length and angles it in. Bailey is cramped, looks to chop it away but ekes out an inside edge through the bat-pad gap. Runs through fine leg
7.2 -
Rajpoot to Bailey, no run, hop-tucks this back of a length delivery to mid-wicket
7.1 -
Rajpoot to S Tiwary, 1 run, cutter on a fullish length on middle and leg, stays low and crouch-defends it off the outside half to short cover
Ankit Rajpoot, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
6.6 -
Shakib to Bailey, FOUR, that's some sixth sense into play. Pre-empts the slowish pace, chips down the track and lofts it over extra cover. Shakib didn't do much to shorten the length there, making it look all the more pretty
6.5 -
Shakib to S Tiwary, 1 run, quicker this time and Tiwary nudges it down to short fine
6.4 -
Shakib to Bailey, 1 run, had the room made with his front leg plonked outside leg stump, Shakib bowls it slow and wide and Bailey fetches it with a sweep to long-on
6.3 -
Shakib to S Tiwary, 1 run, waits on the back foot for the dip and then clips it down to long-on
6.2 -
Shakib to Bailey, 1 run, wrists this away to the cow corner and runs
6.1 -
Shakib to Bailey, no run, dip deceives him. Drifts across full on leg-stump, Bailey had turned around for the sweep but sees the ball zoom up and nearly pops onto his helmet
5.6 -
M Morkel to S Tiwary, FOUR, that ball's been derided. Mocked. Not a ball ball. Angled away on a shortish length, Tiwary defies conventions to opt for the leg side and plants a front foot pull wide of mid-wicket
Russell and his mohawk is/are back
5.5 -
M Morkel to Bailey, 1 run, jumps and slaps whilst riding the bounce to third man
5.4 -
M Morkel to Bailey, FOUR, on the up and away she goes. Good bounce on this length ball, Bailey lofts the back foot drive and channels it wide of Gambhir at short cover
5.3 -
M Morkel to Bailey, no run, gets a wide length ball but slots the slap straight to backward point
5.2 -
M Morkel to S Tiwary, 1 run, couldn't hop high enough to run it down to third man. Had the right intenton with a horizontal high bat but the underedge rolls to backward point to allow a single
5.1 -
M Morkel to S Tiwary, no run, fuller length, lovely bounce from over the wicket and left-hander Tiwary holds his open bat close as he leaves
4.6 -
Shakib to Bailey, no run, ah, dangerous. Backs away perilously to invite an arm ball and just about manages to make a connection. Was cramped for the cut shot and manages to chop it out
4.5 -
Shakib to Bailey, no run, drag down and turning away slowly, Bailey backs away but cuts it to cover
4.4 -
Shakib to S Tiwary, 1 run, clipped to mid wicket
Saurabh Tiwary, left handed bat, comes to the crease
4.3 -
Shakib to Khawaja, out Caught by Suryakumar Yadav!! Oh, he's gone. Morkel breathes easy. KOL breathe easy. After that Oxenford lifeline, Khawaja could add only a couple of runs more. Tries to fetch this flatter one from outside off, ekes out a slog sweep more feeble than he would have wanted and finds deep square leg inches inside the rope. Khawaja c Suryakumar Yadav b Shakib 21(17) [4s-3]
Shakib to Khawaja, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
Russell is off the field
4.2 -
Shakib to Bailey, 1 run, drifts it full and slow on leg stump, Bailey wrists it to deep mid-wicket
4.1 -
Shakib to Khawaja, 1 run, turns in low and slow from over the wicket, Khawaja turns around and clips a single to mid-wicket
Shakib Al Hasan, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
3.6 -
M Morkel to Bailey, no run, slides back to give himself room in front of his pad and taps it to mid-on
3.5 -
M Morkel to Bailey, no run, stays a touch low on a length outside off but it was wide enough. Bailey hops back to mimic the trajectory and bunts it to backward point
3.4 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, 1 run, whacks the pull to mid-on this time
3.3 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, no run, wait, what? Has Morkel been denied? Definite noise. Yes, that's an edge. Looks to dab it with a widened stance, but the extra bounce flirts with the outside edge. Uthappa appealed and Morkel joined in too, but alas.. umpire Bruce Oxenford gives it all a short shrift. UltraEdge shows a thick edge *Eden Gardens roars in dismay*
3.2 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, no run, cuts this time but backward point waterjugs the plan with a quick recovery
3.1 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, FOUR, that's a mermaid loft. Gorgeous mermaid loft. No feet whatsoever. Stands still, sees the width and gobbles it up over long-off
2.6 -
A Russell to Bailey, no run, follows it up with a full ball, Bailey was ready on the front foot and drives it into the off-side
2.5 -
A Russell to Bailey, no run, there's the hip-hop from Bailey. Gets a bumper, hops to reach it out but there was just too much venom. And why would you reach out? Just duck, please
George Bailey, right handed bat, comes to the crease
2.4 -
A Russell to Rahane, out Bowled!! That's gone and Rahane's stumps were a mess. Looks to pull a back of a length delivery, fails to fetch it from outside off and chops it onto his stumps. Rahane b A Russell 2(6)
A Russell to Rahane, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
2.3 -
A Russell to Khawaja, 3 runs, Suryakumar Yadav dives this time at deep mid-wicket and renders this flick off the pads an underachiever
2.2 -
A Russell to Khawaja, FOUR, that oozed away. Shimmies down, makes use of the shortish length and pulls off the front foot. Wide of mid-wicket to roll it all the way
2.1 -
A Russell to Rahane, 1 run, shuffles across off, gets too close but opens his horizontal bat close to his body and dabs a single to third man
1.6 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, no run, that's ugly. Plain ugly. Tries to whip this ball darting away with venom and is beaten on the closing bat
1.5 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, no run, fullish but not enough bounce to threaten. Driven to cover
1.4 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, no run, whoa. That has been patented by Morkel over the years. Pounds this on a length, gets to to cut away viciously and Khawaja is opened up as he tries to make an open-batted contact
Pockets of empty seats in the Eden Gardens? Traffic jam, eh?
1.3 -
M Morkel to Rahane, 1 run, this fullish delivery ducks in with good shoulders, Rahane inside-edges onto his pad, crouches on impact and pops the ball to a vacant FSL
1.2 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, 1 run, SuryaKumar Yadav dives at cover and saves a certain four. Length ball was crashed with disdain here
1.1 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, FOUR, the short ball riposte has been shamed. Stands up, swivels and picks it up with a pull over deep backward square leg
1.1 -
M Morkel to Khawaja, no ball, ominous start! Umpire gyrates his finger to signal a free-hit. And a big no ball that. Khawaja defended that fullish delivery with a stab down to mid-off
Morne Morkel, right-arm fast, comes into the attack
0.6 -
A Russell to Rahane, no run, greets it with a front foot push, an open bat but pipes the ball straight to backward point
0.5 -
A Russell to Rahane, no run, allows this 145ks delivery to come right in and then defends it under his eyes
0.4 -
A Russell to Khawaja, 1 run, width soldered on this back of a length delivery and Khawaja opens up with a gentle cut to deep point
0.3 -
A Russell to Khawaja, 2 runs, uses the bounce this time to spindle on this whip down to backward square leg
0.2 -
A Russell to Khawaja, no run, bends his back this time, Khawaja hops to ride the bounce and digs the defence into the pitch
0.1 -
A Russell to Rahane, leg byes, 1 run, zips in this length ball on the pads, Rahane is late to tuck it away and starts with a leg bye round the corner
Rahane and Khawaja are at the crease. Rahane is on strike. A Russell will open the attack
So, Pune are officially out of the race for the play-offs. They never were in that race to be honest. KOL keep going from strength to strength and are the pick of many pundits to lift the trophy given their all-round balance. We'll see how it pans out. But, for now, it's time to wrap up the proceedings. Already it's gotten too late with the rain delays and all. This is Sagar Chawla signing off on behalf of Pratyush Sinha, Bharath Ramaraj and our scorer Sreenivas. Good night!
Pathan: "I have been batting well and at crucial junctures too. When you win a match like the one against BLR, it gives you a lot of confidence. I am happy. I am not thinking much, and I am making the opposition think. That feels good."
Yusuf Pathan is Man of the Match..
"I have been losing a lot of tosses. We were looking to bat first as well. I have lost 8 out of 11 tosses. But things have been going well. So hopefully it can continue that way. Hopefully when the crunch situation comes I can win tosses. The bowlers were very professional. To restrict them to such a score given their batting was unbelievable on this wicket. Quality spinners do not need surfaces. They can beat batsmen in the air. We have 3 quality spinners. I always see who the bowler is and what kind of rhythm he is in (on his aggressive field placings to Dhoni). I don't set fields looking at who the batsman is. I have got too much of trust in Sunil and Piyush. We still have a long way to go and I don't want to jinx it (Pathan's form), I hope he continues the same way and takes us a long way in the tournament" says a placid Gambhir.
"I think looking at the wicket and how it slowed down as the ball got old, close to 135-140 would have been a good score. We kept losing wickets in the middle and kept piling more and more pressure on the lower order. It's important for someone from the top-order to bat through on a wicket like this to give the liberties to the lower order to play their shots. Getting some kind of partnership going on slow wickets is important. It's important to play freely even when you're bowling. Even in the first innings we saw that it got more difficult as the ball got older. We can't control the weather and this time we were at the receiving end so fair enough. Two more to go.." says a surprisingly jaunty Dhoni, especially when a team captained by him has not made the play-offs of the T20 League - the first time that has happened.
R Ashwin had a dream start as he removed both the KOL openers in the very first over. Suddenly, the target of 66 started looking ominous but Yusuf Pathan demolished any hopes that Pune fostered. He hit a boisterous 37* off 18 deliveries and it was a canter in the end. So, KOL take one further step towards the play-offs and Pune will go to the drawing board and sort out their combinations for the next year.
4.6 -
Zampa to Y Pathan, byes, 1 run, so that's it! That was quick. Hot pancakes don't sell out as quick as this. Fired down leg, Pathan tries to sweep but gets it off the pads down in front of short fine
4.5 -
Zampa to Y Pathan, no run, with the scores tied, Pathan indulges in a nice forward defence
4.4 -
Zampa to M Pandey, 1 run, tries to sweep and may have got it on the gloves towards short fine leg
4.3 -
Zampa to Y Pathan, 1 run, flatter and turning away outside off, Pathan dabs it in front of backward point
4.2 -
Zampa to M Pandey, 1 run, back of a length, quicker through the air on off, Pandey eases back and punches it down to long-off
4.2 -
Zampa to M Pandey, 5 wides, the destruction has been such, that even the new bowler - Zampa - has been rattled. He darts it down leg hoping to cramp Pandey but all he does is concede five wides. Pandey never moved. Dhoni was a little slow to move across too
4.1 -
Zampa to M Pandey, no run, shortish outside off, chopped into the off-side. Pandey must be wondering what is he even doing there
Adam Zampa, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
3.6 -
Murugan Ashwin to Y Pathan, no run, fires it short outside off, Pathan can't place the cut past point
3.5 -
Murugan Ashwin to Y Pathan, SIX, yes. He plants his foot down and launches it over long-off. 36 from 14 balls, is Yusuf Pathan and this is a demolition job
3.4 -
Murugan Ashwin to Y Pathan, no run, a forward prod and attempted defence from Pathan. I repeat, an attempted defence. But he fails to make contact and is hit on the pad. That should be a cue, no more forward defences
3.4 -
Murugan Ashwin to Y Pathan, wide, Murugan is spooked into firing it down leg, such is the man's aura
3.3 -
Murugan Ashwin to Y Pathan, FOUR, everything is going! This is such a wave from Pathan, which is devouring all in its path. Although this is not short of luck. Tries to go inside out over extra-cover but the length is such that he can't cover for the turn. Zooms away off the outside edge past short third man
3.3 -
Murugan Ashwin to Y Pathan, wide, tries the googly but falters in line and directs it down leg
3.2 -
Murugan Ashwin to Y Pathan, no run, drops it short again outside off, Pathan aims a brutal cut but mistimes it off the toe-end. The only adjective coming to my mind with Pathan is brutal
3.1 -
Murugan Ashwin to M Pandey, 1 run, shortish and turning away outside off, Pandey chops it towards cover and there should never have been a run there but the fielder might have slipped allowing it to sneak through
Murugan Ashwin, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
2.6 -
Ashwin to Y Pathan, FOUR, Ashwin darts it quicker, but it doesn't matter. Hammered over mid-on. This is nothing but Pathan's power-play which enables him to clear the infield despite not getting anywhere close to the middle
2.5 -
Ashwin to Y Pathan, FOUR, Pathan is going hammer and tongs! This is like a premium rush during the peak office hours in Mumbai. Grounds his back knee and wallops the sweep through square leg
2.4 -
Ashwin to Y Pathan, SIX, that's too full and Ashwin sees himself disappearing over long-on. Right in Pathan's zone and he swings through the line. Right off the meat
2.3 -
Ashwin to M Pandey, 1 run, slower and looped on a length on the stumps, Pandey sweeps with the turn to deep backward square
2.2 -
Ashwin to Y Pathan, leg byes, 1 run, follows Pathan this time as he shuffles to leg, extracts enough turn to hit the pad. They take a leg-bye as the ball dribbles into the off-side
2.1 -
Ashwin to Y Pathan, SIX, Pathan swipes, and all the way over wide long-on. Ventures to leg to create the room from where he can free his arms, and then swings ferociously. Flat six, don't think it got higher than 10 feet off the ground
1.6 -
Dinda to M Pandey, 2 runs, short of length outside off, not a great deal of bounce and Pandey has punched this firmly past backward point. Perera runs around from third man and sticks a boot to cut it off
1.5 -
Dinda to M Pandey, FOUR, this has just flown off the outside edge. Too much width from Dinda, and again Pandey is made to stretch every sinew. His bottom hand may have come off but doesn't matter. KOL are in a hurry
1.4 -
Dinda to M Pandey, 2 runs, Pandey runs down the track and forces the length to be shortened. But he then has to stretch out to reach the ball as he had backed away a bit too far. Slaps it off the toe-end behind backward point and comes back for two before third man tidies up
1.3 -
Dinda to Y Pathan, 1 run, curling away on a good length outside off, Pathan plays with an open face and slices it down to third man
1.2 -
Dinda to Y Pathan, FOUR, and now he swats this through mid-wicket through sheer muscle. A nothing ball though from Dinda, floated it up on a short of length outside off, Pathan fetches it and goes hard on the front foot. Despite not timing it well, it's enough
1.1 -
Dinda to Y Pathan, no run, gentle outswinger on a good length outside off, patted to backward point. Not a lot of feet from Pathan. But the lack of pace in this wicket means that he isn't going to be troubled
Ashok Dinda, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Oh, the replays of that Pathan LBW appeal are in and they suggest that the ball just about pitched in line with leg..
0.6 -
Ashwin to M Pandey, no run, well flighted off-break outside off, turned to mid-wicket
0.5 -
Ashwin to Y Pathan, 1 run, Pathan is not going to mess around. Attempts a slog-sweep now and drags it off the inside half through square leg
0.4 -
Ashwin to Y Pathan, no run, another appeal. Boy, they seem to be wanting to make up for all the lost time. A quick carrom ball darted in from over the wicket, it wobbles in the air and into Pathan to leave him cramped. He is beaten for pace too and hit on the pad but the ball may just have pitched outside leg
Yusuf Pathan, right handed bat, comes to the crease
0.3 -
Ashwin to Gambhir, out Lbw!! Wow, what an over this has been so far! Ashwin loops it in from round the wicket, on a length where Gambhir isn't sure whether to come forward or go back. In the end, he's stuck on the crease. The ball skids on to beat the inside edge and hits him on the knee-roll in front of middle. Gambhir lbw b Ashwin 0(1)
Ashwin to Gambhir, THAT'S OUT!! Lbw!!
0.2 -
Ashwin to M Pandey, 3 runs, tossed up outside off, a touch too full than Ashwin would want. It's just a little shorter than a half-volley but enough for Pandey to get forward and drive it past mid-off. Tiwary gives chase and flicks it in with a slide
Manish Pandey, right handed bat, comes to the crease
0.2 -
Ashwin to Uthappa, wide, out Stumped!! Ashwin hits back with a ripper! Phew, the turn on this! Slower through the air on middle, Uthappa is drawn out of the crease looking to clip it through the on-side safe in the knowledge that he is playing with the turn. But there's too much of it. The ball skirts past the face of the bat and Dhoni is quick as always. Uthappa st Dhoni b Ashwin 4(1) [4s-1]
Ashwin to Uthappa, THAT'S OUT!! Stumped!!
0.1 -
Ashwin to Uthappa, FOUR, and here goes Uthappa, straightaway! Darted on a back of a length outside off, not sure if it was the carrom ball but it certainly deviated away, Uthappa goes back and across and punches it through the off-side ring
Uthappa and Gambhir are at the crease. Uthappa is on strike. Ashwin will open the attack