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India win Future Cup, coming from behind

Filed under Ireland cricket

GangulyIn3rdBelfastODI.jpgFrom 30 degree centigrade to 13 ~ transition wasn't easy for Indian boys, reaching to Ireland's no dressing room stadium in Belfast. Temporary tents were made for players to sit/change while only a few Irish locals turned up to watch the International cricket..

There also was no coach, not many free-from-flu players to make team of 11 & even Indian fans on television mot much interested, yet win is a win. Specially when you snatch it from opposition better than you, coming from behind.

Conditions were loaded in favour of South Africa, who looked less hungry but always confident under newish captainship of Jacques Kallis. Series decider demands good start, which demands winning the toss if rain is in the atmosphere. Rahul Dravid again got lucky, meaning experience of Ajit Agarkar got new ball with juicy pitch to speared the swing magic.

Morne trapped leg before wicket, Kallis bowled off a beauty. JP Duminy n AB de Villiers were shown rest room by Sourav Ganguly, reducing Proteas to 28 for 4. Few rash few smart hitting from Kemp n Gibbs took them past 100 to finally 148, but their score was never a threatening one.

Indian chase did everything to make match out of this no match. Pitch had eased out, but African bowling was now awake. Some brilliant bowling from Andrew Hall, combined with strict Mkhaya Ntini took the chase all the way to last over, but honestly - a loss for India would have been more interesting to write.

Yuvraj Singh deserves a mention, for his 2nd crucial innings n special drives on the off side.

The scores card.

India vs South Africa 'Future Cup' 3rd ODI, Belfast
South Africa 148 for 7 in 31 overs India 152 for 6 in 30.2 overs
De Villiers 15, Van Wyk 0, Kallis 0 Tendulkar 8, Gambhir 5, Ganguly 17
Gibbs 56 (67, 2*6) Duminy 0, Hall 1 Rahul Dravid 33 off 45, Dhoni 14* off 11
Kemp 61 (61, 2*6), Boucher 11 not out Yuvraj Singh 61 off 85 with 6 4s, a 6
Extras = 4, no no ball or wide by india Extras = 10 with 3noballs & 4 wides
Agarkar 6-0-21-2, Ganguly 6-0-24-2 Ntini 7-2-16-2, Steyn 6-0-37-1
India won by 6 wickets, 3 ODI series 2-1
Notes :
-This was 20th win for India over South Africa from 57th one day Internationals. 35 they've lost. This is the first time India have beaten South Africa in an ODI cricket series, outside India. Ireland also hosted the big cricketing countries for the first time.
-Sachin Tendulkar was declared Man of the series, whereas Yuvraj Singh was named Man of the match.. interestingly, Sachin called Yuvraj up to share his man of series award. For those who don't know - all man of the man n series awards are automatically shared equally among all the players, irrespective of who receives it from sponsors, get the snaps n give presentation speeches.




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