Two class acts gave us a demonstration last night. Of innings built on purist strokeplay. And both won their sides the match.
To be honest, I am beginning to enjoy watching the KKR play. Just for the grim satisfaction that one gets in watching a team trying to lift itself. There are strategies, there are laptop-powered coaches and there are superstar players. But there is something else in a group of individuals playing for pride. Putting up a fight, knowing fully well that a win may never come their way.
Last night, against the Kings XI, the KKR boys demonstrated just that. Yes they lost. Again.But they stretched a confident opponent and dragged him to the wire. Their batting rhythm is simply not there. Every run seems a struggle, and innings are too often built on one player's contribution. But they are fighting. Only wish this had happened a few matches ago.
Brad Hodge fought like an Aussie from the Ian Chappell era. Everyone else barely made decent contributions. Ganguly's slog sweep pointed to a man short of confidence. A few years ago, he would not have used that shot. He would have simply lofted Chawla over the straight field, into the veldt.
Gayle flattered to deceive and McCullum was busy playing the demons inside his head. But Ishant Sharma bowled beautifully and Kartik brought in his English season experience.
Yes, there were a few dropped catches, but other teams drop catches and still win. Jayawardene was plumb leg before to Kartik, and had that decision been given, we might have seen another outbreak of 'Korbo Lorbo...'. Was really surprised that the umpire instantly turned it down.
Jayawardene came good at a crucial juncture. The leg before decision apart, he batted with his usual silken touch and saw the Kings XI home. In Sunny Sohal, Kingss XI seem to have unearthed their answer to Asnodkar Version 2008.
The second match had a lot of potential, but Mumbai, I have to say, are making their mistake of bunching all their class acts together at the top. And when wickets sometimes fall in a rash as they did to du Preez last night, trouble cannot be far behind. 149 is always fifteen runs short, but I thought Mumbai had the firepower in the bowling department.
Wrong. Jacques Kallis rumbled all over Malinga and the match was more or less lost there. Classic cricket shots, each one more beautiful and authoritative than the other, flowed from the South African's bat. With Kallis firing on all cylinders, Uthappa could afford to swipe and miss and feel his way till he too started finding the middle.
I thought Tendulkar would bring on Jayasuriya and himself(with his leg spin) early. He did, but by that time both Kallis and Uthappa were well on their way.
Must confess that with Kumble leading, the RC seem to be a tighter outfit. They are bowling well and if last night's batting is anything to go by, they might just spring a few surprises.
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