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India vs England - 4th ODI Kochi 2006.

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Some worth knowing facts - One day before the match : -

Last time India played at Kochi (against Pakistan on 2nd April 2005), they managed to win the toss and also the match. This always has been the case here at Nehru stadium in Kochi. In just 4 one day matches played at this ground so far, three totals have been over 300 and once has been chased down. In that last one dayer against Pakistan - Sachin Tendulkar took his second five wicket haul and would you believe, his first five wicket haul was also at this ground against Australia, back in April 1998 when Australia looked good to chase down India's total of 302 after being 203 for just 4 wickets in 31st over, but failed in front of spinning balls of

Sachin Tendulkar later.

Tomorrow will be the hottest day for England team on this Indian tour as the weather at Kochi, Kerala is very humid and temperature is expected to reach as high as 40 degrees. Kochi is not known for its cricket as Sreesanth is just the second cricket player to represent India in International cricket, after Tinu Yohanan who also was a fast bowler. This time, Kerala goverment is making sure that Sreesanth goes lot further than what Youhanan managed as they have named a colony on the name on this Indian fast bowler - Sreesanth Nagar.

The most thrilling match played so far at Kochi is the one between India and South Africa on 9th March, 2000 when South Africa made 301 while batting first and India chased it with just two balls remaining - thanks to 92 from Ajay Jadeja and a wonderful 42 from Robin Singh. Here is that score card.

6th April, 2006, Kochi ODI.

This was India's eighth consecutive win in ODI cricket (seven matches were their previous best) and also the 16th match that they have now won while chasing a target in one day internationals. 14 was the world record set by west Indies that now India have broken. This Kochi match also sealed the India vs England one day series as this was the fourth one in the seven match series and the series stands 4-0 in favour of Indians.. who, with young blood and some brilliant tactics are making sure that they emerge as one of the strongest contender for the coming world cup in March 2007.

England Batting

The reason I say that Indian one day team is playing with some brilliant tactics is that for the straight 4th time, Rahul Dravid delayed the

second and third Power Play in this series. It started with Andrew Flintoff winning the toss and after losing two quick wickets up front, England made a stronge partnership of 92 off just 98 balls between Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood. The ball was coming nicely on the bat for the two batsmen and till 28th over, when the score was 148 for 3, Rahul didn't took the 2nd and 3rd Power Play in this Kochi ODI....

He made sure that the England batsmen were tired enough in the Kochi heat and the ball was old enough for his spinners to grip - and then he took the 2nd Power Play in the 29th over - by far the most late ever taken by a fielding captain in the history of Power plays in one day Internationals. This did the trick for the Indians in the first over itself as Pietersen tried to slog sweep Harbhajan's "Doosra" and gave an easy catch to Yuvraj Singh at square leg. The over read - 4 1 W 0 0 0. And in the 30th over, bowled by Yuvraj induced the edge from Andrew Flintoff to be caught very well by Dravid at short mid wicket... the 30th over read - 0 1 0 W 0 0 and the score - 155 for 5.

From here on, it was trembling batting from England and domination from India and finally England were bowled o

ut for 237 in the 48.4 over, failing to play their full quota of 50 over straight for the 4th time in this one day series in India.

Indian batting started with a little bit of difference from what we have been seeing in the previous three matches - Today Virendra Sehwag came up with his usual attacking mood and made quick 26 runs before hitting a bad ball into the hands of Vikram Solanki at the mid wicket boundary. Irfan came at No. 3 again and along with Dravid, he again consolidated the Indian Innings well as Andrew Flintoff also delayed his Power plays.

This Delaying of Power play also worked for flintoff as India tried to make quick runs when he eventually took the second power play in the 24th over. First Dravid then Pathan and then Mohammad Kaif got out trying to make most of that Power play and lost their wickets to give England the first and only chance in the Kochi ODI...... But...

Man of the Match Yuv

raj Singh and young sensation Suresh Raina batted with great confidence and guts, took singles only and denied any more wickets for England till the team total passed 200 and required run rate well below 3 and half runs an over. India did lose two quick wickets in a single over from James Anderson at one stage, but the match was well and truly was over till then!!

Important notes from the Kochi ODI.

1) People might be wondering why Mahendra Singh Dhoni always rides the bike that the man of the match of that perticular ODI has won in prize. It started with Delhi

ODI when Harbhajan Singh won the man of the match and Dhoni took the front seat of that TVS Apache Bike and moved around the Kotla ground. Then at Faridabad - 2nd ODI, Man of the Match - Suresh Raina was taken for a ride by Dhoni and now at Goa and Kochi - Yuvraj was taken for a ride by Mahendra Dhoni on that TVS Apache bike. All around the ground.... well the reason is Dhoni loves to ride bike. Even at Ranchi in his schooldays, he used to ride a Hero Honda CBZ bike..

But don't be fooled by that. Here is the reason reason - Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the official brand ambassador of TVS moters. If you look at the advertisements that they show between the over during the matches, Dhoni stars in that TVS Star city advertisement and hence, his team mates lets him drive the bike that they have won as the man of the match prize... To get the pictures for the newspapers and publicity... All for the team-mates I guess!!

2) India have equalled their record of most consecutive wins - 8 matches and have also made a world record of most number of matches won while chasing a target - 15, without losing any match when they batted second. Here is more.

Its Only Cricket

India vs England - 4th ODI Kochi 2006.

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