One-dimensional attack has put India on the back foot yet again. This time it is the combination of Munaf-Praveen-Vinay Kumar - They never looked threatening as their pace was about 80-90kmph.On a wet surface, the pace trio along with Ashwin failed miserable to say the least. And to add to this misery is the fifth bowler option of Raina and Kohli.
The bowling attack wore such a disaster look that by the time the 10th over got completed, England had already sealed the match with 100 runs on the board only with a wicket falling. By the time, the match got over, Indian bowlers scorecard looked another sorry figure.
6.2 to Kieswetter, 134.0 kph, Vinay finds a perfect response to Jayesh! Kieswetter has given England a brilliant start but just pushed at the wrong line here and was struck flush on the knee-roll in front of off stump 67/1
10.4 to Bell, 90.9 kph, got him! Ashwin breaks through! A very ambitious drive from Bell picks out the one man close in on the off side - Virat Kohli - and the wicket gives India a glimmer. Bell had looked in fairly serene touch and hadn't had any trouble picking the gaps - until that shot 105/2
18.4 to Bopara, 86.7 kph, Ashwin strikes again, but is it too late for India? Bopara jumped out of his crease and set himself to mow down the ground, but couldn't quite get to the pitch, didn't pick the carrom ball, and ended up slicing across the ball to present a swirling chance to Kohli 165/3
India's weakness has been bowling and it is high time MSD understands this. Bringing in Tiwary as a 7th batsman for this match was a huge gamble taken by MSD. I would have preferred him taking the leggie in this match which should have been atleast a mutli dimensional attack. Having scored at 8.13 runs per over, this match should have swung in India's favour had Amit Mishra been in the playing XI.
3.2 128.4 kph, Patel deliberates for a longish time if he should review this. I could lip-read him asking Rahane, "Aawaz aaya?" [Was there a noise?]. After much discussion he walks back. Here is what happened. This was short of a length, wide enough for Patel to try that whiplash cut again. The thin edge was taken, and England were spontaneous in their appeal. Given out. Rightly so. Whoa! HotSpot shows no edge! Snick shows one, though 30/1
18.5 84.8 kph, Kohli won't be running too many for Rahane. Ajinkya looks for the straight loft that he has played so well so far, but gets too close to the pitch of the ball here, and doesn't get optimum elevation. Swann takes a smart, overhead return catch 143/4
14.2 86.2 kph, Superbly timed again, but he finds the fielder again. This time on the full. Dravid clears the front leg and looks to slog-sweep this full delivery, but doesn't get under it. Anderson takes the catch at midwicket 109/2
16.6 88.3 kph, this is half mis-hit, half hung in the wind. Charges at Swann and hits this into the wind towards long-on, and finds Bell to perfection 125/3
22.1 128.7 kph, Stokes makes amends for that misfield. Raina gets too much under this length ball, trying to clear deep square, but the leading edge seems to have touched the moon and come back. Stokes at deep square keeps his eyes on it, and has to dive forward at last moment to complete the catch. What a cameo from Raina, though 182/6
20.3 132.8 kph, Helicopter. Crash-lands in Bell's lap. This is inches short of yorker, Dhoni tries the trademark whiplash flick, is too close to the pitch of it, ends up skying it to long-on 164/5
22.4 133.0 kph, Bell has been absolutely sensational at long-on today! Tiwary clears the front leg and lofts this down the ground. Bell runs to his left making good ground, and then makes the dive in front to finish this ripper of a catch 186/7
22.6Bresnan to Kumar, slower short ball outside off, Kumar is well early into the shot, they try to sneak in the bye, but Kieswetter runs Ashwin out 187/8
If one looks at the above batting display, Indians have really done very well and ensured that everyone's strike rate has been more than 100.
Thus MSD missed another trick here. It is best to play to your strength than the conditions.
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