Saturday, July 26, 2014

How India Created History at Lord's after 28 years

History repeats itself they say. Cricket is a team game they also say. This time Team India made both these statements come true by creating history at the Mecca of Cricket. Why is this win vs England so special? Well, there are many reasons. 1st - India won a test match at Lord's after 28 years, 2nd - India won an overseas Test Match after 2011. 3rd - It came vs England who recently had outplayed Team India in India in 2012 and in England in 2011.

Jadeja hits. India wins.
What a great test match it was at Lord's. A Test Match which every cricket lover wants to see. It started on a green pitch with England being on top in the 1st session. Then a fight back by Ajinkya Rahane to get India to a good total. A century at Lord's is always special and Rahane did it in his first take at this venue. He scored a ton when his Team was under pressure making it even more special. England innings was also full of see-saw battle in which some quick wickets fell early and then Gary Ballance played an outstanding innings to score a century and take his team close towards India's score. He got out sooner after he reached the three figure mark but still England were able to take the lead. Indians started their 2nd innings differently. Shikhar Dhawan gave India a good start. He was playing attacking cricket and was looking good but unfortunately departed for 31. His partner Murali Vijay continued and played an innings full of determination and concentration. He scored 95 runs in 247 balls. He left the ball alone outside off pretty nicely. India were in trouble after Vijay got out as the lead was just 211 Runs and seven wickets were down. In came Ravindra Jadeja who had recently been in the news for his fight with Anderson in the first Test. Jadeja showed that nothing can stop a good player. He smashed 68 runs of 57 balls which included nine fours. This knock gave a new twist to the match. India had now taken their lead past 300 and pressure was on England. England now had four and a half session to achieve the target of 319 runs in order to win this Test Match. They started nicely but suddenly lost the track. Some quick wickets fell as the light was fading on fourth day at Lord's. England were 72 for four before they could realise.

Fifth day started and England fought back with a bang. Joe Root and Moeen Ali held on to their crease and also scored runs. England were looking for that target of 319 which had now become a possibility. Suddenly MS Dhoni changed his plan. He gave the ball to Ishant and told him to fire in bouncers in the last over before lunch. He succeeded and got Ali out with a good bouncer directed on his body. Ishant came back after lunch with the same strategy and kept on picking wickets. He was bowling with pace. His run up also looked good. More importantly he made the batsmen play those bouncers. Bowling bouncers with a 70 overs old ball is not easy but Ishant made it look easy. England batsmen were not able to handle the pressure and got all out an hour after Lunch. The most interesting part of this match was it's ending. Jadeja got Anderson Run Out with a direct hit to make it a perfect ending. Jadeja made sure that he replied to Anderson through his brilliant performance on field.

In the end it was a combined effort by Team India to win this Test. In a Test Match it's important that everyone contributes because it's next to impossible for a single batsman or a bowler to make his Team win. This Test Match at Lord's was surely a memorable one for every Indian Cricket Fan. Those who watched it live on TV and in the stadium can proudly say in the coming years that they witnessed India's historic win at Lord's after 28 years.

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