Indian bowling asserted itself by bowling out NED for 189, with Zaheer picking three wickets, Yuvraj two, Chawla two and Nehra one!
India in reply are 139/5, needing 51 runs to win. Pathan came at No 3 and perished, lobbying a return catch to Seelar.
Seelar wrecked the formidable batting line up of India, accounting for Sehwag, Pathan and Sachin. Sachin completed 2 K runs in the WC, which is not a mean achievement.
Gambhir played well for his 28, but was bowled by Bukhari. Kohli was surprised by a ball from Borren which bowled him and Indian battering is dithering at 139/5 !
Earlier Eric Szwarczynski and Wesley Barresi, the Dutch openers put on 56 runs for the wicket, equalling the record for the Dutch ! Then Chawla got Szwarczynski with a googly which the Holland batsman failed to read and was bowled neck and crop. Yuvraj got Barresi lbw and the Dutch were 2/64! Tendo was caught Khan bowled Yuvraj for 11 and the Dutch were 99/3 ! Borren showed his aggression by using the long handle and it was he who catapulted Holland to a respectable 189 ! Once he got out for 38, the innings came to an abrupt end.
Now India are 146/5, needing just 44 runs to win, with five wickets in hand.
Now India are 177/5, needing just 13 runs to win. Yuvraj is batting brilliantly on 45 and seems to be heading for another Man of the Match Award. Dhoni is on 15 no.
A funny scene, as Yuvraj hits powerfully and Dhoni ducks and the ball flies for four. A leg glance by Dhoni for four and India need only 4 runs to win.
It is always the Yuvi-Mahi partnership which brings home the bacon. Not the pyrotechnics of Pathan or the form of Kohli !
India need 3 runs only and Dhoni has given the strike to Yuvraj for him to complete his 50. Yuvraj flicks one off his legs, it goes for four and that is his third consecutive WC fifty. Well done, Yuvraj !
The Indian fan should pardon the loss of five wickets. Sehwag and Sachin got out because they went after the Dutch bowling, in order to increase the NRR. It did not click as they anticipated. That is the cause of Ind losing five wickets !
Comments