Sport - Cricket

Partnerships seem to be the key

— PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

GROWING IN STATURE: M.S. Dhoni’s innings at Guwahati was mature and composed, without compromising on the basic dynamics of his game.

Guwahati: India chose one of the tritest of cricketing clichés to rely on and ease home to a five-wicket win over Pakistan at Guwahati. Partnerships, as they repeatedly drone on, are the key to success.

Yuvraj Singh and M.S. Dhoni combined to steer India to a hazard-free zone. Prior to that, Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik clogged the flow of runs for Pakistan, before leaving it to Sachin Tendulkar’s mix-and-match spinners for a brace of wickets. India’s bowling partnerships worked too. Harbhajan and Kartik were a handful on the unpredictable wicket. The pitch did not stage the run-feast that it promised, nor did it offer extra incentive for the faster bowlers upfront.

Harbhajan and Kartik’s stifling length forced the batsmen into lateral shot-selection in the lines of the reverse sweep and the scoop over fine-leg. Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan’s top-scorer, was forced into choosing these shots over the elegant drives and the likes. Harbhajan and Kartik were largely responsible for the 21.2 overs that Pakistan failed to score a boundary. Harbhajan started off bowling a tad flat and short, but extracted reasonable turn through his spell. Kartik’s standout feature was his flight and his length that trapped Mohammad Yousuf into offering a catch (that wasn’t taken). Tendulkar’s introduction provided an extra element into the spin attack. His over prior to dismissing Shahid Afridi was a delight. Bowling leg-spinners round the wicket, he just about missed leg-stump, which sent Afridi into slamming the next one straight to him in frustration.

In his next over, Tendulkar pulled an Afridi on the Pakistani, sending one very wide and extremely quick. That delivery got him the wicket, but it was his previous over that ushered in Afridi’s exit. The Indian batsmen were fortunately up for the chase. Dhoni and Yuvraj’s good records against Pakistan meant they had figures backing them. Dhoni averages over 60 against his neighbour, with Yuvraj’s nearly touching 45.

“I think what has worked best for us is the running between the wickets. We run very well and keep the scoreboard ticking,” said the captain on the success of the partnership. The 24-year-old Dhoni’s marked metamorphosis as a batsman has been significant. He also seems to be enjoying leading from the front. His innings at Guwahati was mature and composed, without compromising on the basic dynamics of his game. He ran hard with his partner, and pulled off stunning drives when offered the chance.

Yuvraj currently functions in what most label ‘the zone’. There is a sensuous brutality to his striking that shows someone in great touch and someone with tremendous power. His six over deep mid-wicket was reminiscent of his sublime Twenty20 form. It does India’s chances no harm if the duo only betters its impressive record against Pakistan.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu