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Indian team overwhelmed in 2nd ODI at Durban.


At 0945hrs Pakistan time, 7 hours of an International cricket match started at Multan (the 4th day of second Pak v WI test). at the 9th hour - another International one day match was played between India and South Africa at Durban.

And 4 hours later - Australia vs England 1st Ashes test match started at Gabba. This means that there was a straight 31 hours of non-stop International cricket for it's true fans to enjoy.
Jack Kallis in Durban ODI.jpg
I am sure you are not like me to watch all of that 31 hours of cricket, but I hope you will like to know what actually happened in Ind vs SA 2nd ODI at Kingsmead Durban. So here are the notes I made --

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat :
-:- And were 82 for 3 in 20 overs.
-:- The South African 100 came up in 25.1 overs, and till that time, Indian team looked competitive.
-:- Harbhajan collided with AB de Villers 4 times and Kallis 1 time down the leg side when striker played the ball towards mid-on and took off for single.
-:- A controversy : Harbhajan bowls, South African wicket keeper Mark Boucher sweeps, ball flew off his arm and may be after his gloves. Indians appeal but Boucher and umpire Billy Doctrove shake their heads.

Then words exchanged between Harbhajan and Boucher, which certainly were not friendly. Then Billy Doctrove had a talk to Harbhajan, but sureprisingly, he didn't say a thing to Boucher.

What actually happened was during that caught behind appeal, Mark Boucher was signalling umpire to not have edged the ball. Harbhajan was telling Boucher to shut up when umpire is making decision.

-:- There was just one drinks interval in both innings. The players were asked to drink whenever they want whereas only one drinks interval will take place around the 33rd over each innings.
-:- Kallis made a century of 143 ball. Which is the slowed by a South African in One day Internationals.
-:- 40 to 45 overs yielded 20 runs and 1 wicket. 46th over from Ajit Agarkar had two runs scored and two wickets gone down - Justin Kemp and Shaun Pollock. In fact, Indian bowlers gave away on 59 runs in last 10 slog overs when SA had 6 wickets in hand Tendulkar in Durban ODI.jpgwhen 40th over started.

The Indian reply :
-:- Zaheer Khan was the only Indian batsman who wasn't wearing a "Chest-Guard". Rest all of them looked scared of ball hitting their body whereas not a single South African batsmen had this rare protective gear called "Chest Guard."

I wish I was in a situation to write more about how Indian team batted on Durban pitch under light, but frankly - there isn't much to say. All I can say is lets give one more chance to our batsmen and not start to criticize as yet.

General observations :

-:- South African home umpire - Ian Howell made three great decisions, two LBWs and one wide ball. Whereas Billy Doctrove gave Sachin Tendulkar a life.
-:- Daryl Cullinan made his debut with a duck at Kingsmead Durban. And so did Wasim Jaffer for India.
-:- Sachin is now the most capped ODI player.

India all our for 91. South Africa won the 2nd ODI by runs and lead the 5 match series 1-0 with 3 more games to play.

Here's my all articles on India's 2006 tour of South Africa.





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