WORLD CUP 2011
India Vs Bangladesh, 19th February 2011, Mirpur, By Vikram Afzulpurkar
World Cup Under Way
Amidst somewhat mediocre TV production and unclear graphics, the world cup is under way with the India Bangladesh match. Well, the lead cameraman definitely didn’t know how to follow a regulation inside-out stroke from Sehwag then there were instances of a blurred image. Aren’t these international TV teams or is a local flavor of Mirpur in Bangladesh? TV guys, this is the world cup, buck up.
Correct Strategy
Bangladesh’s chase to India’s mighty 370 was a candid view of what might be the commonly accepted strategy in the second decade of the 2000 CE century - consolidation particularly against strong teams. Well, don’t forget we’ve had three glorious years to grow into 20-20 and certainly some psyches and strokes may be migrated into 50 over cricket. Suddenly this ‘glorious format’ will hog the attention of the world audience like no time has done since the September 2007 albeit T20 World Cup.
Wickets in Hand
The Bangla Tigers’ score of 234-4 with about ten overs to go might have hinted at a chance to go for the remaining 137 runs at the rate of 14 per over. Well, India is no pushover in bowling but the adventurous Bangla fan might have harbored some hope. She’d say, what if the Tigers considered this a Twenty20 match from this point on with six wickets in hand. 137 needed off 60 balls achievable with some lusty hitting and a little luck.
At this stage, matters of minor help for Bangladesh would be that they were facing a six-over-old hard new ball that clonks easier to the fence (a second compulsory new ball is taken after over 34), and then, a Powerplay may create gaps. Of course that wasn’t to be but perhaps the Tigers had the correct general strategy. If they’d tried to push the rate along faster from say over 30 to over 40, resulting in hypothetically 280 or 290 runs but for the loss of more wickets, say seven, it may have been a less favorable position. To have to chase 90 or 80 runs respectively with only three wickets in hand (possibly of tail-enders) in the last 10 overs would have inspired them less.
No dishonor in Defeat
Eventually Bangladesh ended up with 290 for 9 in 50 overs but probably giving them a better chance because of the strategy adopted. From the Indians’ point of view, Virendra Sehwag's 175 and Virat Kohli’s 100 hogged the limelight as did Munaf Patel's 4 bowling strikes.
