Taste of the 1st defeat - India vs. Sa

After these matches it was really a big game for India. India's so called best batting lineup were going to test. Because earlier teams before this match, were not having that best bowling which sa was having. There fast bowling was greatest in the world.Spin bowling was also good. Dale Steyn was indeed a world class bowler, & after some years his name will be taken with great fast bowlers ever.So,this can be also treated as fight between world's can be best fast bowler ever Vs. World's already greatest batsman ever.

Toss & Opening Batting

This time Dhoni won the toss & elected to bat. Very obvious decision. Because when opposition is having world's best fast bowling lineup with steyn & morkel this will be only foolish to bat second in this pitch. So as usual Sehwag started to bat, & hit a four on very first ball.But it was a very lucky shot. & then dale steyn beat sehwag many times. He was not that comfortable with steyn. So Sachin decided to go on him. And.........

Sachin's one of the best knock

If anybody make a list of Sachin's top ten innings , this inning will surely get a place in it. The way he batted was a simply genius.

He took the role of a guide too from the first ball. When he noticed Sehwag was having trouble to face steyn , he took a strike. Steyn was having tension of Sachin, Sachin was not having the tension of steyn. From the 1st ball, He attacked steyn & morkel. In 10 overs 100 runs were on the board. After the shaky start in first overs, Sehwag also attacked superbly. But Sachin's inning was very different. It was like overflow of boundaries & runs. He played each & every shot from the books of cricket & like books of cricket. His balance , waiting the ball to come on the bat & then hit.... & his drives. May be in cricket pull, hoock may be more thrilling. But drives are classical. In case of Sachin it was like from the god. He was in very peak form in that match.

Due to this Sachin , Sehwag made opening of 144 runs. Then came gambhir. He also gave nice support to Sachin. In middle overs, they didn't go to play big shots. They kept scoreboard moving. But also struck huge sixes in some balls . Due to Sachin- Sehwag & after that Sachin- Gauti Partnership, India made 268-1 in just 38 overs. 350 was easily achievable from 50 overs by looking at this score. Even 400 also. But after that India done something, that will be remembered by Indians.

Batting power play & collapse of India.
India took batting power play to attack more. Sachin played 1 big shot & got out. But no complaints. He done his job.
But after that Gambhir & Yusuf also got out in quick succetion.
In fact Yusuf was not fit to bat at no.4 , he was pinch hiter. But dhoni didn't think abt it.
Then there was just a line of wickets. In fact dhoni was at the crease.He was captain. He should have take the strike , just like sachin did when sehwag was facing trouble. Steyn took 5 wickets. Any batsman couldn't stand in front him.They took extra risk & played big shots.They played for gallery. When Sachin was playing, Steyn seemed like a common bowler. After he got out, suddenly steyn turned into world class bowler. that was not magick. That was difference between class of batting.
Due to careless attitude of batsmen , when India at one time 268-2 & eying 350 got out in just 296 runs. India lost 8 wickets in 5 overs & made just 29 runs.

India's bowling
After such a low score to defend as compare to match against Bangladesh & England , India was in the real need to keep there bowling & fielding tight. There was improvement in both. But can't say we done our job very good. It was just better than other matches, that's all!
But India succeeded in keeping pressure on sa. Zaheer & Yuvraj bowled superbly as usual. Also looking like India will win this match. Last 2 overs were remaining & there was 17 runs needed. Then Zaheer bowled second last over superbly & gave just 4 runs in that. Now there was 13 runs needed in last over & if India could bowl well , they could win the match.
Biggest Blunder Of Dhoni

And in this crucial time, Dhoni did himalain blunder. He gave last over to Aashish Nehra. I don't think this over dhoni & nehra both can forget! There is also a news like dhoni wanted to give last over to bhajji, but be refused to bowl bcz of pressure. I don't know how to react about it, because hw can u reject this & if u don't have tough mind, how will u play?
Anyways, Aashish Nehra bowled three deliveries like this :4,6,2 runs conceded on his 3 deliveries. & needless to say, Sa won the match.
Organizers gave man of the match award to steyn. Somehow I didn't like this.Sachin was really deserving it. He batted brilliantly, also helped in fielding. Is this any rule to give man of match , just to player who is from winning team?