Sri Lanka Capitalise on Indian Errors
1st T20, Nagpur – Sri Lanka (215/5) beat India (186/9) by 29 runs
The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur is by far India’s smartest cricket venue. An all-seater stadium, complete with superb facilities for the media, corporate clients and paying spectators, it is a fitting setting for world-class cricket. Importantly, the arena looks truly world-class via the medium of television, and encompasses a wicket encouraging attractive cricket. India recently notched a gigantic 354, with a stunning 124 from MS Dhoni during October’s One-day series with Australia at this venue, on a wicket ideal for a limited-over contest. The latest clash at Nagpur was no different, with a wicket encouraging the very cricket that T20 provides a platform to flourish.
Hitting a superb line and crucially, length in the opening overs, Nehra and Ishant afforded little width to Dilshan and Jayasuriya, exploiting the pace and bounce.
World Cricket Watch will be bringing you reports from the heart of the action as our roving reporter Tim Mathias is in India taking in the sights and getting swept along by this cricket mad nation. He continues to pursue his dream of publishing his ongoing research on the evolution of Indian cricket, from ‘Cultural Supremacy to Cricketing Swadeshi’ and the Champions League is the next logical step.
Following Sussex’s bitterly disappointing exit at the Champions League, Mike Yardy, the Sharks captain, addressed the pack of journalists at the post match press conference with a somewhat dazed appearance. His team had missed out on progressing to the next stage of the tournament, and Yardy’s mood reflected the fact his team had battled to come back into the game from the brink of defeat, only for the hard work to be undone by a ‘super over’.
World Cricket Watch will be bringing you reports from the heart of the action as our roving reporter Tim Mathias is in India taking in the sights and getting swept along by this cricket mad nation. He continues to pursue his dream of publishing his ongoing research on the evolution of Indian cricket, from ‘Cultural Supremacy to Cricketing Swadeshi’ and the Champions League is the next logical step.
There is plenty of security at the Feroz Shah Kotla for the Champion’s League. There are numerous checkpoints as you enter the ground, including walk-through metal detectors. However numerous stray dogs, common across all of India appear to have eluded the ‘ring of steel’ around the ground. Don’t be surprised to spy a wandering mongrel disrupting play during live coverage.
The Airtel Champions League kicks off on Thursday night, with the organisers promising the ‘most extensive half hour of entertainment ever conceived and executed in India’ with a ‘breath taking visual extravaganza of international acts’. Like any international sporting event, there is a requirement for an elaborate display of lights, visual arts and general fanfare to declare the start of two weeks of the latest and most unique Twenty20 competition to date.
