The Hindu : Yuveraj, Dravid script Indian victory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 01, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Yuveraj, Dravid script Indian victory

By Our Special Correspondent

London June 29. The straight and simple formula of packing the team with batsmen fetched India a comfortable six-wicket victory with seven balls to spare against England in its first match of the NatWest Trophy III triseries at lord's on Saturday.

In the centre at the time of India's brilliant win were vice-captain Rahul Dravid and Man-of-the-Match Yuveraj Singh, who presented his credentials in a most effective manner. They were unconquered, putting up a partnership of 131 runs off 128 balls after their captian Sourav Ganguly had left the field as a result a heart-stopping catch by James Kirtley.

The thrust, in pursuit of the stiff target, was made in rousing fashion by Virender Sehwag. His assault on the England bowlers did not go waste after Ashley Giles and Ronnie Irani got into their act and sliced through the top order.

The value of Dravid's fine exposition of batsmanship, especially in the end overs, was visible to even his severest critic. The circumstances demanded plenty of pluck and character from Yuveraj, who remained unruffled throughout his 65-minute innings of 64.

The pair began the last five overs 42 runs behind, but moved into top gear scoring 10 runs each off the 45th and 47th overs bowled by Andrew Flintoff.

Sehwag was really red hot. The enormity of the task of reaching the target of 272 was never going to faze him. Explosive action was required during the first spells of the England bowlers to unsettle, alarm and demoralise them. Ganguly let Sehwag call the shots. It was a brilliant decision, well planned and well executed by his latest opening partner in one-day Internationals.

The need of the hour was for Sehwag to play his natural game, not only to show his repertoire of shots but also to get the better of the England bowlers so that Nasser Hussain would have to redeploy his forces and work out new strategies. Sehwag's tactics of aggression, driving on the up and hitting over the inner ring, worked wonders. He was severe against all comers; Matthew Hoogard was clobbered for 32 in his first four overs, James Kirtley was smashed around the park for 34 from his first six and Flintoff was taken for 23 in his first four. It was simply great stuff from Sehwag.

England had thrown down the gauntlet and India had accepted it. In the context of events that took place, Sehwag's individual brilliance was extraordinary fare. His aggression silenced the crowd at Lord's and made his mates in the dressing room stand up and applaud.

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