The Hindu : Sport : Match evenly poised

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 02, 2006
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Match evenly poised

S. Dinakar

SMART WORK: Mahendra Singh Dhoni runs out South Africa's Tyron Henderson. — Photo: AP

Johannesburg: India's first official Twenty20 match was delicately balanced after 14 overs with the visitors at 89 for three chasing a target of 127 for victory. South Africa, which had rested several key players for the match, ended up at 126 for nine.

Sachin Tendulkar attempted an ambitious drive and played on to swing bowler C. Langerveldt for 10. Virender Sehwag blitzed his way to a 29-ball 34 (5x4, 1x6) before being acrobatically run-out at the non-striker's end by Langerveldt. Then, Langerveldt consumed the dangerous M.S. Dhoni, the batsman dragging a delivery on to his stumps.

All-rounder Albie Morkel whipped up the knock of the innings. His 18-ball 27 included a monstrous six off Harbhajan Singh that went out of the stadium.

Earlier, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar made the inroads for the visitors.

And Graeme Smith continues to be Zaheer's bunny. Smith promised initially at the expense of S. Sreesanth before Zaheer struck.

Ajit Agarkar is an enigma. He bowled 15 deliveries with zest before tearing his right calf muscle and leaving the field. The paceman had prised out Herschelle Gibbs and Abraham de Villiers.

Justin Kemp (22 off 25) was just lining himself up for the bigger blows when Sachin Tendulkar trapped him leg-before with a delivery that held its line.

There was a hilarious dismissal when Robin Peterson began walking back after being held in the deep off a Harbhajan delivery. The bowler, collecting a throw, removed the bails. Peterson had started walking back, forgetting that this was a `free hit' delivery following a no-ball! And the only way a batsman can be dismissed off a `free hit' is through run-out.

The scores: South Africa: G. Smith lbw b Zaheer 16, L. Bosman c Tendulkar b Zaheer 1, H. Gibbs c Raina b Agarkar 7, J. Kemp lbw b Tendulkar 22, AB de Villiers c Dhoni b Agarkar 6, A. Morkel c Mongia b Sreesanth 27, J. van der Wath c Raina b Harbhajan 21, R. Peterson (run out) 8, T. Henderson (run out) 0, R. Telemachus (not out) 5, C. Langeveldt (not out) 0; Extras (lb-4, w-8, nb-1): 13, Total (for nine wkts, 20 overs): 126.

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-32, 3-34, 4-41, 5-65, 6-101, 7-121, 8-121, 9-124.

India bowling: Zaheer 4-0-15-2, Sreesanth 4-0-33-1, Agarkar 2.3-1-10-2, Pathan 4-0-30-0, Tendulkar 2.3-0-12-1, Harbhajan 3-0-22-1.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport