Lion-hearted Flintoff v/s Indian batsman by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

England in India 2008/09

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DateLine: 15th December 2008

 

The match going into the lunch session was beautifully poised and though Indians have their nose slightly in front. The script of the first session was on the following lines: England on the shoulder of Flintoff fight back strongly from the Sehwag-effect of last evening, by winking out a wicket, India rebuild into a strong position from where they can dictate the courses of the match and just when the match is getting away from England’s grasp, pressure is build up again and another wicket is lost to hand back the advantage to England before another partnership rises in the Indian innings.

 

Andrew Flintoff was the best bowler on the view. He cranked up serious pace in his 5 over spell. He snarled Dravid in his second over of the day and then what followed a truly great piece of bowling from Flintoff. He bowled two very sharp bouncers at Tendulkar who had just come in, not just loose wayward bouncers but sharp ones aiming at his head and also with the aim of pushing back the master onto his back foot and then bowled a beautiful leg cutter on the fuller length to draw Tendulkar on the front foot and nearly got him edging. Tendulkar was visibly shaken from that splendid piece of bowling.

 

The battle continued into the next few overs of Flintoff as he was intent on picking up Tendulkar before he would be taken off. He was generating good pace in his first spell of five overs all up to around the 140 and 143 ks range. But as soon as Flintoff was taken off the attack, runs began to flow and Gambhir completed another Test fifty. Tendulkar too began to find his feet and was scoring almost at will. Gambhir fell when he was looking good for more but lost his wicket more due to a loose shot than good bowling. A true thriller waits to be unfolded in the post-lunch session.

 

http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/180/180921/180921_mini.html