The Hindu : Sport : England set a target of 198

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England set a target of 198

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Match shortened to 22-overs per side

The two rain-breaks totalled 306 minutes
Sehwag reaches 6,000 runs in ODIs

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

Riveting Show: Virender Sehwag was at his breezy best before rain had its say in the fourth ODI.

Bangalore: Inclement weather failed to dampen Virender Sehwag’s spirit and the opener’s 69 propelled India to 166 for four in 22 overs after the rains shortened play in the fourth ODI of the seven-match series at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday night.

The Indian innings was marred by two rain-breaks that totalled 306 minutes with the first one lasting from 3.50 p.m. to 5.50 p.m. and the next from 6.07 p.m. to 9.13 p.m.

And the one constant that helped M.S. Dhoni’s men keep smiling was Sehwag’s (69, 57b, 9x4, 3x6) audacity at the crease that also got reflected in the stunning shots essayed by Gautam Gambhir (40) and Yuvraj Singh (25 n.o.) as the Indians had to quickly get into twenty20 mode when play resumed past nine after 17 overs were bowled in the earlier two sessions.

Umpires Daryl Harper and Amish Sahiba decided that the match would be 22-overs per side and with five overs remaining, the Indians threw their bats around with gay abandon. Sehwag struck the first ball on resumption into the stands as left-arm spinner Samit Patel sulked.

Later Sehwag perished in the deep but Gambhir drilled off-spinner Graeme Swann straight down.

Gambhir too fell in the rush to clear the ropes before Yuvraj carted England skipper Kevin Pietersen for two sixes and then slog-swept Swann over square-leg with a dash of style. Skipper M.S. Dhoni too carted Swann before being yorked but with Yusuf Pathan striking the last ball over long-on, India had posted a challenging total that quadrupled as the Duckworth Lewis equation left England with a target of 198 from 22 overs.

Earlier at 2.26 p.m., as the stadium rumbled into a collective cheer with its highest decibel levels reserved for its eternal favourite Sachin Tendulkar, he emerged with Virender Sehwag in tow.

Kevin Pietersen had elected to field obviously with an eye on the dark clouds and the imminent Duckworth-Lewis equation cropping up in the chase.

Disdain is the word that lingers on Sehwag’s bat and as he slashed James Anderson’s first ball for four, India was up and running. Next over, first ball, Tendulkar, with his favourite tuck to the on-side, got a brace as he marked his return to limited-overs cricket since March this year. In the same over bowled by Stuart Broad, Tendulkar worked one off his hips for four.

Shot of the day

But the shot of the day was when Sehwag stood on his toes slammed Anderson straight down for four in a stroke that resembled a tennis forehand. Sehwag did live dangerously, bisecting the space between wicket-keeper Matt Prior and Owais Shah at first slip and a few scampered singles keeping the fielders interested.

Sehwag and Tendulkar got beaten a few times but the duo seemed secure. And then came the first unexpected break as the soft turf on the bowler’s landing spot near the crease from the BEML End caused a seven-minute stoppage and the ground-staff got busy, drying the spot.

Immediately on resumption, Tendulkar moved forward and failed to cover the gap as Broad darted one onto the stumps.

Silence reigned as Tendulkar (11) returned after his 38-run partnership with Sehwag, but next man Gautam Gambhir (30 not out) flicked his first delivery for four to keep the England fielders on their feet.

Sehwag then toyed in an Anderson over with a four over covers, a pull to mid-wicket that heralded his 6,000th-run in ODIs and then a celebratory six to round it off nicely.

Gambhir, meanwhile, countered the England seamers’ ploy of operating around the wicket as Andrew Flintoff and Broad angled it in hoping to cramp the southpaw. However, the line was a bit wide on either side as Gambhir flicked Broad and then square-drove him efficiently while his unfinished partnership with Sehwag yielded 68 runs marred by two rain breaks.

The first interruption lasted from 3.50 p.m. to 5.50 p.m. and when play resumed with the overs-per-side being reduced to 44, Sehwag smote Broad for a four and six as three overs were bowled in that 17-minute interlude before the rains again slipped in at 6.07 p.m., leaving the match officials in a quandary.

SCOREBOARD

India: V. Sehwag c Anderson b Swann 69, S. Tendulkar b Broad 11, G. Gambhir c Anderson b Swann 40, Yuvraj Singh (not out) 25, M.S. Dhoni b Samit 9, Yusuf Pathan (not out) 6. Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-4): 6. Total (for four wkts. in 22 overs): 166.

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-117, 3-142, 4-160.

England bowling: Anderson 5-0-33-0, Broad 6-1-49-1, Flintoff 5-0-20-0, Samit 3-0-24-1, Swann 2-0-21-2, Pietersen 1-0-17-0.

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