Apr 20, 2006 09:43 AM
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(Updated Apr 20, 2006 09:43 AM)
ANOTHER CLASH
The India - Pakistan series at Abu Dhabi has ended in a 1-1 draw, giving some confidence to both of the sides. Pakistan has finally managed to draw with India, while the Indians have managed to produce some good performance in the part of the world where they had some bad defeats. As this was nothing more of a friendly series, the 1-1 draw will be more than enough to satisfy the fans from both countries.
Both matches were not close enough, Indians dominated the second while the Pakistan had won the first match with ease. There was certainly no thrilling encounter in store for the fans as expected. A slow pitch made sure that there will be only a few boundaries scored, and there is more scope for simple catches in the outfield. The Indian team seemed to have realised the situation only in the second match, after the big defeat.
INDIAN SHIP
The best thing in the series was that Moammed Kaif was only a substitute fielder. He is good in the field and may be this is the only manner in which he deserves to come to the field. He had been to stupid with the bat in the recent series. The major advantage that the Indians gained was the innings from Sehwag. He was the man whom Indians desperately wanted back in form, and he finally joins the party with a fine 73.
Dravid was as solid as usual, and after being run out in the first match, he came back with a well-crafted 92 before Asif finished him, as Dravid had been looking vulnerable ever since the final ten overs started. He also affected the Pakistan innings with that run out of Inzamam, which ended the last hope of Pakistan.
But still, its not too interesting to see him opening the innings, he could have done better at No.3 or No.4. I just wonder why the captains have a tendency to jump towards the opening slot? Fleming did that earlier. May be they wants to score some more runs for themselves. Well, if Indians can send Pathan for opening against England, anything is possible in the Indian team!
Dhoni has always managed to deliver, whenever he was send higher up the order, and this match was no exception. He played a sensible innings, and I think that its time now to make him regular at the top, as he is the player who can make a huge difference in the run rate, not only with his power, but also with his ability to steal those singles.
Yuvraj played a nice cameo in the second match, after failing in the first innings. He had been outstanding in the field as usual. Rao's innings in the first match was not bad, but he proved to be real bad in accelerating at the end. Uthappa wasted his opportunity with a poor shot, and Raina did the same in the first match.
BACK TO THE BOWLERS
Pathan was never a problem for the Pakistani batsmen as they played him with ease. But still, he managed to get three in the last One Dayer,and the final wicket he got was nothing but pure luck. He can be glad to have completed 100 wickets, but he may not be able to do much with this pace in the World Cup.
Agarkar seemed to be the better bowler in this wicket and his bowling performance reflects this fact. May be one day, he will get back to that opening bowler spot! Sreesanth did create problems for the Pakistani batsmen, but he had only a few success, including the last wicket which cleaned up the Pakistani tail. He seemed to be swinging the ball a long way!
Indian spinners had been good, especially Powar. He does bowl better than he looks, and he had been able to get those wickets. He also managed to ruin the opportunity with the bat. Much more had been expected from Harbhajan, but still he was just fine.
Indians didn't seem to try too many experiments in this series, thanks to the fact that they lost the first match, otherwise we may have seen those experiments yet again, which is quite unbearable! At the end, Indians can be quite happy about the fact that they have come back to draw the series in style!
PAKISTAN'S PRESENCE
Pakistan's batting has got some performers, but it still seems to have lost the charm. The weird opening pair of Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat made sure that only one of these guys will play at a time! Malik might have done better down the order, and Farhat, he just manages to get out in some manner after a good start.
Yousuf seems to be having a bad time in the middle, and his beard seems to have brought the great player some bad luck! He used to be such a class player long ago, but these days he look dull, and the runs seemed to have some problems in coming off his bat. Inzamam and Younis Khan were the ones who did show the signs of some form in the series. Akmal played a useful innings in the first match, and it was really essential from Pakistan's point of view.
Indians can be glad that Afridi didn't even score a single run in the series. Well, its a good thing for the Indians that he didn't get started. As he doesn't play tests any more, he needs to concentrate more on the One Dayers. Naved-ul-Hasan not only bowled some good spells, but proved good with the bat in the last innings.
Rassaq seemed to be the shadow of an all-rounder as he seems to have lost his ability to break partnerships and hit the big ones, the two things which were expected from him. Asif and Anjum bowl good enough, but the former didn't live up to the hype. Well, the Indians can now start thinking about the West Indies tour.
Diving out.....
TENY
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