This left-hander replaced Chris Gayle and perhaps
outsmarted him… .. .. Do you what brackets : Wayne Parnell, Izatullah Dawlatzai
and Stuart Binny together ? Today, everyone knows – Stuart
Broad stands at top having conceded 36 runs in a single over in T20 and after
him these three : Stuart Binny joining the list having been mauled by E Lewis
at Lauderhill, Florida.
In
the end whose ton was better ?
Cricket attracts
crowds ~ that is what this experimentation in Florida is all about. Making
Cricket famous in US with large Indian crowds turning up there today. Back home, Chepauk, which was deprived of
International matches by many schemes [no World Cup ~ then no IPL too for the
past two years !!] bustled with activity.
There were so many walking on roads nearer the stadium, buying tickets. The
inaugural India Cements Tamil Nadu Premier League had a grand launch with
the cream of Kollywood participating in
the opening ceremony. It was Kollywood glamour
of Shriya Saran, Dhansika of Kabali with
fireworks too added to the festive atmosphere.
Bharata Natyam,
Tamil folk art and traditional Kerala dances too were performed by experts and
children to mark the landmark event. Singer Karthik sang while actor Dhanush unveiled the trophy with TNCA president N Srinivasan PS Raman,
chairman of the league. Dhoni had
earlier been there. The popular stands
were filling with so many people. The
colourful stadium, facilities and the music and dance during breaks made the
TNPL resemble IPL. It is good for the young players of the State though BCCI
had designed to keep everyone out by rules and also conducting Duleep trophy at
the same time.
At Florida
today, big disappointment to the crowd was
Chris Gayle missing from the West Indies line-up because of injury. His
replacement at the top of the order, Andre Fletcher, also the wicketkeeper, was
expected to be in immediate action - but
Charles walked in with Evin Lewis. Lewis
debuted at Vidarbha Cricket Association, Jamtha, Nagpur in T20 no. 552 on 27th
Mar 2016 – it was a double disaster. He
scratched for 7 balls without opening his account – out for a duck against
Afganistan, who beat West Indies by 6 runs.
India unveiled a
bit of a surprise at the top of the order, with Shikhar Dhawan making way for
KL Rahul, MS Dhoni won the toss and put WI in. Fletcher filled the void left by
the sacked Denesh Ramdin. Kieron Pollard took Darren Sammy's place. Sunil
Narine, back with a cleared action, replaced Sulieman Benn in the XI that West
Indies played in their previous T20I. This was Carlos Brathwaite's captaincy
debut. WI made record breaking 245 /6
behind Australia’s 248 and Sri Lankans 260/6 the highest in this format. Evin
Lewis made a classic 100 off 49 balls; shared 126 opening partnership with
Johnson Charles who made 79 off mere 39 balls.
At break – a chase
of 246 seemed improbable – and it went by the wire to the last ball !!
Indian
chase was great in that 489 runs match. Debutant KL Rahul was brilliant –
making century off 46 –missing the World record by a solitary delivery and remaining
unbeaten 110 0ff 51 balls. We have many a times seen Dhoni making that finish. Today too, he smashed a 108M six of Russel…. ..
..but in the end, Dwayne Bravo outfoxed
MS Dhoni and the centurion Rahul by defending seven runs in the last over.
India needed two off the last ball, Bravo made Dhoni wait and wait before
bowling a slower ball that was caught at short third man.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
27th Aug 2016. photos credit : bcci.tv
