W. Indies in finals at Eden Gardens on Apr 3

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, April 01, 2016 :  Virat Kohli won the battle of Royal Challengers, but Chris Gayle had the last laugh as West Indies chased down India’s big total to book their final date with England in Kolkata.  Whichever team wins Sunday’s summit clash would become the first nation to win the World T20 title twice. England were champions in 2010, while West Indies lifted the trophy in 2012.

 

A solid 62-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, who came in for Shikhar Dhawan, and another gem of an innings from Kohli (89 n.o., 47b, 11x4, 1x6), India ran up an impressive 192/2 after being inserted into bat first on an admittedly good batting surface. It was a total that appeared a little more than par given the short boundaries and the dew that made bowling a difficult proposition, especially for the spinners.

India, however, looked on course for a shot at the title when Jasprit Bumrah cleaned up Gayle with his first ball and Ashish Nehra sent Marlon Samuels in the next over. With Windies reeling at 19/2 and their biggest hope back in the hut, it was hard to see Darren Sammy’s men staging a comeback from that stage.

But Lendl Simmons (82 n.o., 51b, 7x4, 5x6), riding his immense luck, turned the match on its head with no little help from Johnson Charles (52, 36, 7x4, 2x6) and Andre Russell (43 n.o., 20b, 3x4, 4x6).

West Indies replied with 196/3 with two deliveries to go off Kohli’s over.   Without taking anything away from West Indies show, it must be said though that India were more than generous in letting Simmons off twice. The Mumbai Indians’ batsman, who is quite familiar with the conditions here, got out when on 18 off R Ashwin but it was revealed after review that the off-spinner had overstepped.

Simmons, who had replaced the injured Andre Fletcher in the squad, was again caught off a Hardik Pandya full toss on 50 and again it turned out be a no-ball.  The two mistakes dealt a debilitating blow to India’s hopes as Russell, too, joined in the Caribbean party.


Dhoni and the Journo & no balls :  MS Dhoni wished it was an Indian journalist instead of Samuel Ferris who asked him about his retirement, and then what followed will surely invite mixed reactions over the next few days.

Dhoni had walked in just after India were ousted from the ICC World Twenty20, losing their semi-final to the West Indies. He certainly expected some tough questions, including a definite one on his retirement. But coming from Ferris, a foreign journalist, Dhoni chose what some will call bravado, inviting Ferris onto the dias.

It was a perfectly legitimate question and one Dhoni expected and was prepared for  with an answer, which the following suggests.

But the surprise reaction, intended to be ’funny’, won’t go down well with many of the Indian fans hurt with the defeat despite putting up 192 on the board and especially the no-balls that cost India the crucial wicket of Lendl Simmons.

But Dhoni did put the message across in words and manner he chose to, saying that he is fit and hasn’t ruled out to maybe last till the 2019 World Cup.  Dhoni’s unexpected reaction resulted in a conversation that has gone viral.