Five days of grit, patience and perseverance along with concentration blend together results in the purest form of Cricket that is
TEST CRICKET.
With the Announcement of the World Test Championship with teams playing home and away tests and the final to be played in The Mecca of Cricket there is a fizz which had started doing rounds and now with names and Jersey Number written on the t-shirt it brought a whole new paradigm shift in the style in which the Game is being played and that too it has lived up-to the expectations.
Three Games being played in last day or two has increased the excitement a lot more with absolute dead rubbers resulting in interesting matches out of which the Arch Rivalry between the mighty Australians and the new world champions England has by far emerged as a clear winner. Let’s have a look at them at the core level.
SriLanka Vs NewZealand
With the Rain gods totally prepared to play a spoil sport in the proceedings , the Home team won the Toss and chose to bat Dhananjaya de silva and the captain Dimuth Karunaratne managed to score a Fighting total of 244 where the former played a scintillating knock of 109 and the captain managed a gritty 65. With NewZealand not starting so impressively and down at 85-3 losing their prime batsmen things looked gleam but Latham and Watling with their mighty 154 and 105 respectively managed to post a total of 431-6(D) creating a lead of 187 but the match already was standing on it’s last day which was almost going to end up in a draw but the blackcaps bowlers had other plan with tight lines and spin web managed to get hold over the Lankan batting line up resulting in a mighty innings and 65 runs defeat for The Home team.
India Vs Windies
Kohli and his men after winning both white ball format came strongly into the red ball format as well but it was a different ball game altogether because within their first session reduced to 25-3 losing all the prime batsmen and soon were down to 93-4 with Rahul again throwing away the start. Now the responsibility lied on the shoulder of the Vice Captain and the man whose place in the team was questioned due to his performance in recent encounters and proved all the critics wrong and played a fine knock of 81 taking the total to 297 with handy contributions from Sir Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari then the all firing Indian bowling didn’t disappoint and their oldest gun fired in the best possible manner managing 5 scalps for a mere 43 runs.
In the second innings also India hadn’t had the best of the starts but the Captain and the Vice Captain applied themselves and managed to score on a slow low wicket with the later getting his 10th century and with Vihari managing to get 93 , missed out on a century by a mere 7 runs.
After that with almost one and a half days left in the game and expecting some fight from the Caribbean the match seemed to be some dead rubber but the No. one ODI bowler bludgeoned the Windies batting apart with Windies reeling at 50-9 obviously with no hopes left but Bumrah has made a statement with his bowling to other teams as well.
England Vs Australia
With high stakes of regaining the Urn and etching to perform better the Englishmen wanted to win the test after losing the First one. With opting to bowl and getting the Aussies at a mere 179 Courtesy their X-Factor Jofra Archer who ended taking 6-45, the hopes of retaining the urn looked bright but when the hosts came out to bat with the Weather favouring them as well England were expected to post a large total but what followed was the mockery of a batting line up falling like a pack of cards for a two digit team score 67.
The Aussies piled upon their lead with the Assistance of the First Concussion Player in test’s Marnus Labuschagne who scored a gritty 80 to take the lead to 358.
In return the Englishmen were off to a dismal start losing both their openers cheaply. With 15 runs on the scoreboard the Captain took the onus on him with Joe Denly taking the chase forward adding up 126 runs for the 3rd Wicket Partnership.
Who would have imagined that the Sunday morning in Headingley would result in a historic one. Aussies bowling first 4 overs as maidens piling on the pressure which resulted in The Wicket of the captain. Bairstow and Stokes took England to lunch without losing any wicket further.
After lunch England immediately lost Bairstow and with one following the other pattern England lost the plot and were reduced to 286-9 , with lone warrior Stokes standing at one end along with Jake Leach.
The Climax was set for Mr. Stokes who didn’t disappoint anyone and Single handedly took the chase closer. Two or I should say 3 decisive moments came in the fag end of the chase.
First where Captain Paine took an unnecessary or Wasted a DRS , where a laymen could have judged it well where it was pitching way down leg.
Second, reverse sweeping one of Lyon, Stokes thought he has hit it past the third man fielder and from the Non- striking end Jake leach took off lending himself in trouble but Lyon choked their and fumbled while collecting the ball, giving life to English Hopes.
Third, the last ball of the over Stokes swept the one pitching on Middle and leg and missed it ,with a huge appeal Umpire Joel Wilson turned it down whereas the replays suggested it was a goner but because of the wasted review Australians had no one but only themselves to be blamed.
Hitting a wide one through the covers Stokes ensured a famous win over the Australians. One of the best one has ever seen in the Ashes.
Phew…!! What excitement and Nail biting finishes , we had an action pact weekend.
Just searching for the ones who told Test Cricket is boring and now has not much interest left. It still has it’s Charisma and Charm…!!! After all it’s a Gentleman game.😉
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