« Indian soap opera a huge hit in Afghanistan :+: Indian duty free shops wake up »

Cricket

Cliffhanger at Kingsmead

By: Santosh :+: Under: Cricket, Sports
On: ⋅ September 14, 2007 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment
Discuss in our off-topic forums

Looks like you are new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

India-Pakistan matches at the World Cups have been nothing short of entertaining and the latest one in the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa was no exception.

After winning the toss and electing to chase, Pakistan restricted India to a 141 runs off 20 overs. India tottering at 36 for 4 wickets at one stage managed to recover and post a decent total thanks to Uthappa who top scored with a half century. Chasing 142 to win, Pakistan was in deep trouble at 87 for 5 wickets in 15 overs, but the heroics of Misbah-ul-Haq had them at the doorstep of victory with one run required with a ball to spare. But the drama was just beginning. Misbah was run out on the last ball tying the match.

Enter the new Twenty20 rules for a tied match taken directly from football penalty shootout.

Each team will nominate five players who will bowl at a set of stumps over 22 yards. Each team will have alternate attempts at hitting the stumps and the team with the most hits wins. it’s like a penalty shoot-out in foot ball. in case there’s a tie after the first round, the same five bowlers will have to have another go.

India nominated Sehwag, Uthappa, Sreesanth, Pathan and Harbhajan. Pakistan chose Gul, Tanvir, Arafat, Afridi and Asif.

Here’s from the Cricinfo live page:

Round 1
Sehwag is up first for India. Dhoni waits behind the stumps. Sehwag has a big grin on his face. Sehwag runs in, bowls flat and fast and hits the stumps.

Arafat gets ready for his turn. He bowls a full toss that misses off stump.

India lead 1-0 after the first round.

Round 2

Harbhajan bowls quick and straight and hits. He’s delighted and celebrates like he’s taken a wicket, or scored a penalty.

Gul runs in off a short run up and also misses the stumps. The Indians love it.

India lead 2-0 after the second round. Massive pressure on Pakistan.

Round 3

Robin Uthappa runs in, bowls seam up and knocks the stumps over. He takes off his cap and bows to the crowd.

Pakistan have to hit the stumps with all their three remaining chances to stay in the bowl-out. If India hit one more time, they will win.

Here comes Afridi and he fires it down leg side! India have won the bowl-out 3-0.

Amazing scenes at Kingsmead. It was like a football shootout and the Indians are celebrating fittingly. They won the match 3-0 through a bowl-out after the proper match ended in a thrilling tie!

After clawing back their way into the match, Pakistan choked - an area the Indians specialized in. Amazing match!! Great finish!! All in 40 overs of cricket!! Twenty20 cricket just arrived.

« Indian soap opera a huge hit in Afghanistan :+: Indian duty free shops wake up »
Discuss in our off-topic forums