A gradual but inevitable descent into cricket-based loathing and bile.

Four Series in One Review

Posted on November 15, 2011 by in 40/50-over, T20, Tests

If we had a mailbox, we’re sure it would be overflowing with letters asking us to report what’s been happening in the cricket world lately. So, in response to all you correpsondents who have had their letters returned to sender (address unknown), here’s a brief summary of the various international series that have been played recently.

To start, at the bottom: the Bangladesh versus West Indies series ended with the visitors humbling their hosts in Mirpur. Fine individual performances in each innings, namely Kirk Edwards 121, Fidel Edwards 5-63, Darren Bravo 195 and Devendra Bishoo 5-90, sealed a clinical victory by 229 runs and a 1-0 series win. Notwithstanding the opposition, there were some seeds of optimism in these performances.

This trophy is greater than the Ashes.

The West Indies then headed straight to India. The first Test was a rather fine match, with West Indies threatening to pull of a shock victory. Their first innings was anchored, as so often, by Shivnarine Chanderpaul scoring a century (118). They might have scored a lot more were it not for Pragyan Ojha’s 6-72. In return, the home side scrimped to 209ao, Sachin Tendulkar failing to score his 100th international century in the process. But India fought back, bowling the West Indies out for 180: Ravichandra Ashwin taking 6-47. At this point, the match still looked finely-balanced, but India batted accomplishly. Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman and Tendulkar each made more than 50, even though Tendulkar failed to score his 100th international century. They reached their target for the loss of five wickets.

Sachin Tendulkar shortly before failing to score his 100th international century.

There have been two days play in the second Test at Kolkata. This one looks a slightly different story: the visitors are 34/2 in reply to India’s 631/7d (Laxman 176, Dhoni 144 and Dravid 119). It should be noted that Tendulkar failed to score his 100th international century.

The third and final Test in Sharjah promised much. Sri Lanka started with a decent score of 413ao (Kumar Sangakkara 144, Saeed Ajmal 4-132), before Pakistan made 340ao (Younis Khan 122, Chanaka Welegedara 5-87). After Sri Lanka then declared at 181/6, a close finish looked possible as Pakistan required 255 runs from 61 overs. However the match faded in an uninspiring and unsurprising draw. However a resurgent Pakistan will be delighted with the 1-0 series win.

The ODI series is ongoing, and looks to be a fine battle. In the first game, Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka: bowling them out for 131 (Shahid Afridi 3-27) and scoring the runs in only 21 overs (fifties apiece for Younis and Imran Farhat). Sri Lanka then bounced back with a 25-run victory, thanks to Upul Tharanga’s 77, Mahela Jayawarden’s 50 and Lasith Malinga’s 3/36. Set 236 to win, Pakistan made only 210ao and would have scored fewer were it not for Umar Akmal’s fine 91. Three more internationals follow.

A celebrating Saeed Ajmal.

And meanwhile in the first Test match between South Africa and Australia, nothing much happened at all.

1 Comment

Post a Comment

1

51allout » International Round-Up

28 Nov 2011 21:13

[…] most recent international round-up described the “rather fine” first Test match between India and the West Indies. […]