Thrilling game of cricket it was!

It was Five Star Cricket as reigning World Cup Champions Australia and India played out a thrilling game in Ahmedabad in the quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup. India thus made it to the semi-finals and a much awaited clash with bitter rivals Pakistan is now billed 7 Star anticipation.

There was little to choose between the two teams and India who are challenging strongly to emulate the feat of 0.OWKapil Dev’s 1983 team and hold aloft the trophy this year, played the better cricket to win.

The cricket crazy Indian supporters who jam-packed the stadium and the millions taking in the nail biting action on TV and Radio enjoyed a terrific game of cricket. The stadium, naturally, erupted with the spectators singing and dancing and partying to the wee hours of the morning.

Clash of the Titans

It was billed as the clash between the titans. It was also tagged as akin to a final. From the moment it was known that these two teams were clashing in the quarters, interest was fever pitch.

After a very careful study of form, conditions and the wicket, the selectors of both teams made some judicious changes. India tossed in Suresh Raina for Yusuf Pathan and Australia brought in David Hussey for Steve Smith. Both obliged.

Ponting drew first blood when he won the toss and batted. As expected India opened the bowling with off spinner Ravi Ashin and with Ashwin turning a right angles it was apparent that the wicket was meant for spin.

Sound opening

After a sound opening where Australia lost Shane for 25 at 40, Brad Haddin and skipper Ricky Ponting batted sensibly to add 70 runs for the second wicket before Haddin went for 53.

It was then that Ricky Ponting came into his form of old. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, it is said and that man Ponting it was. In recent times the game had turned cruel to him taking him into the land of drought in making runs and winning matches.

His critics were baying for his blood. Before this game gossip doing the rounds had it that his captaincy was on the block and that he had also decided to retire after the World Cup.

Idle gossip

Fired up by this idle gossip Ponting hit back with a vengeance at his hollow critics. Instead of verbally replying he let his bat do the talking and the century he made, playing his famous repertoire of strokes would have made his critics blush.

But his captain’s knock was of no use as his bowlers, especially Brett Lee and Shaun Tait let him down, bowling awry most of the time which deliveries Yuv Singh and Suresh Raina feasted on to give India a victory and end the Kangaroos 12 year reign where they won a hat-trick of World Cups.

It was easy task chasing 262 to win on a slow wicket with the ball keeping low at times. But a flying start from Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar and admirable knocks from Gautam Gambhir, Yuv Singh and Suresh Raina took India past the post first.

Fittingly, when the great Tendulkar was batting and showing signs of getting his 100th 100 in international cricket a cricket fan held up a banner that read: SSSSSSSH... THE BOSS IS AT WORK!

Captaincy five-star class

The captaincy of Ricky Ponting and Mahendra Singh Dhoni was five-star class. It was easily the best of captaincy seen in the World Cup todate.

They placed their fields well, bowling changes were admirable and they were talking to their bowlers and fielders and urging them on. Captains of teams still in the cricketing cauldron had they watched Ponting and Singh would certainly have learnt.

Windies no show

The West Indies who were fortunate to meet Pakistan in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final, gave one of the worst displays in Word Cup cricket when they were bundled out for 111.

Pakistan added insult to injury by waltzing to victory getting 113 for no loss with openers Mohammed Hafeez and Kamran Akmal blasting 61 and 47 respectively.

The West Indies big guns - Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Kieron Pollard failed to fire, with only Shiv Chanderpaul showing some resistance.

Making ripples

Sahid Afridi the Pakistani skipper who is making ripples in this tournament with his clever leadership and tantalizing leg-spin bowling was once again in the picture with 4 vital wickets. The Windies batsmen just could not read his varied deliveries.

The Pakistanis who were originally marked to co-host the 2011 World Cup along with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India, could not do so owing to the security situation in the country with teams refusing to play there after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

But to the credit of their cricketers it must be said that they have made their fans and country go delirious with joy after their success so far and the thrashing of the Australians.

They now meet India in the first semi on Wednesday and there is no reason why they should not upset if they play true to form.

SA will remain chokers

In an amazing turnaround where the glorious uncertainties of game reared its head, underdogs New Zealand performed the impossible and saw to it that the South Africans lived up to their chokers tag by slapping a 49- run defeat on them.

Up against the mighty South Africans, the Kiwis were written off before the game began and they were only expected to go through the motions.

With this upset victory the Kiwis proved again that opponents however strong or weak should not be underestimated. It also underlined the fact that a match is not won or lost till the final ball is bowled.

Cruising to victory at one stage with 3 down for 121, the Proteas allowed the Kiwis to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Believe it or not, SA lost 8 wickets for 51.

[email protected]