India’s castle blown down by a mighty England huff and puff. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.
England huffed and puffed and blew India’s house down, much to the dismay of the ICC, the rest of all experts, and all expectations.
So, Asia in the form of Pakistan, take on England, and I would be a optimist to even venture on predicting a winner with two teams not really a popular choice who have made this World Cup final, and are capable of winning against anyone on their day.
Skipper Jos Buttler and Alex Hales smashed unbeaten 80 and 86 in whirlwind fashion to lead England on a romp to the final chasing 170. They achieved a par total with four overs to spare after an incredible run chase.
India provided the early fireworks led by prolific batters Virat Kohli 50 0ff40 balls, and Hardik Pandiya whose brutal attack on the England bowlers gave Indian fans hope of making the final.
But they reckoned without Hales and Buttler who said, ‘Anything you can do, we can do better’ in a savage onslaught that left India stunned and spent. The 90 percent Indian crowd were also silenced.
England have rocketed themselves from wannabes, to the real thing. And Pakistan who seemed vulnerable and almost did not make this stage, rode their luck, to be a contender for another World Cup success. Their last being in the longer format in 1992 under Imran khan.
I said in my preview that Pakistan was unpredictable, but England proved as much, which makes this final anyone’s guess.
If we had to narrow down a possible winner, it would boil down to a England batting line up on fire, as it delivered when it mattered, against against India, or a Pakistan attack that on their day that are known to be able to destroy the best batting line-ups in the world.
The scenario for this edition of the T20 World Cup is the most fascinating as never before. And all indications point to England to go and make an indelible mark on this format against popular expectations.
But a Pakistan success will only be surprising to everyone else but them. They are a jack- in- the-box team from time immorial.
The scene is now set for one of the best finals never anticipated. Well, not from me.
As I predicted in the England- India game, Jos Butler and Alex Hales held the key to England’s fortunes. But there is no guarantee this is the norm, and plan B will be key to their further aspirations if this duo fail.
England against Pakistan is going to be a fascinating encounter that will be long remembered in this unpredictable format where anyone, immaterial of their perceived status, have legitimate claim to a dominance over anyone. That’s why T20 has been a draw card for the wrong reasons from the traditional format of this great game.
England executed their game plan to perfection. The bowlers led by Sam Curren, Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan mapped out a strategy to stifle a strong Indian batting line-up that struggled against ‘Jewish’ restriction, superior strategy, and the overbearing demand of expectation from a cricket crazy opposition. India did all they could, but fell short defending a average target that needed shock treatment to prise out England’s openers to have a chance which did not eventuate.
India go home with much to learn about managing their overall expectations from a cricket mad nation that puts sport above religion and it’s deliverance. But defeat gives them a perspective about a different mindset about how they go about their next campaign.
England for their part, can pat themselves on the back for a well executed game plan that stifled a strong Indian batting line-up to restrict them to a par score. They cannot afford to get ahead of themselves against Pakistan.
They then had the tough task of countering and getting on top of a proven Indian bowling attack that has knocked over the best.
But they proved that in explosive duo Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, they have now established a dynamic duo that are capable of tearing apart any attack in the world. They delivered that with aplomb.
India, thanks to inform Virat Kohli, who thrived in an early let off, powered to what seemed like a competitive total.
But they reckoned without the dynamic England openers Buttler and Hales who single-handedly smashed the Indian attack to all parts of the Adelaide Oval to eliminate one of the pre tournament favorites into oblivion.
That final coming up, is as fascinating as this edition of the T20 World Cup which is a punter’s nightmare.
