World Cup Semi Final vs India
CW won the toss and batted first. They had made the one change, bringing in an extra spinner, Hing, to suit the wicket.
The opening exchanges did not go their way, as Heads was restricted to 9 from 23 balls before being bowled by Paul. Instead it was the partnership between Dharan and Ballich that built the innings.
After a steady start of 36/1 in the first 10 overs, the pair took the total to 66/1 after the first 15, and 90/1 after the first 20, before the runs truly began to flow. Both batsmen raised fities in good time, and soon enough Dharan reached a superb century, at better than a run a ball. By the time Dharan was out in the 30th over - caught and bowled by Harbhajan - the pair had put the CWers in control at 163/2.
Ballich took over the main aggressor role after Dharan's departure, and put on another 53 with Spark (28 from 33) in 10 overs. Once Spark was caught behind off Harbhajan, Ballich continued with Narang to add 38 more in six overs for the fourth wicket.
At 254/3 with six overs to go, CW looked set to kick on and aim for 300 plus, but the Indians fought back to restrict them well at the death. Ballich was bowled by Salvi, having made 85 from 90, and Riley was bowled the very next delivery.
Winne (6 off 10) and Corrin (8 off 9) were restricted to taking singles by some good wotk from Kumble, and the leggie did for them both in the 48th and final overs respectively. The onus was on Narang to make the best of CW's position, and while his 34* off 32 wasn't quite as boundary-fuelled as many fans would have hoped, he still helped to raise a very challenging total of 288/7.
In the absence of SS Dong, Mathieu Winne was given the new ball and immediately showed that he knew how to use it. Virender Sehwag (1 off 4) was sent back nine balls into the innings when he lost his off stump, and Rowland (2 off 11) departed two overs later when he edged to slip.
With Tendulkar and Dravid at the crease, India looked to fight back the pair were able to hit Phlegm out of the attack early - the medium pacer's opening exchange a disappointing 4-0-30-0. It was Winne's day, and his sixth new-ball over saw Dravid get an thick outside edge to Spark. India had been reduced to 49/3 after 12.
It was Tendulkar's partnership with Gambhir that got CW nervous again, as the pair progressed at a healthy rate. The 50 partnership came up in the 20th over, and Tendulkar's 50 came from 60 deliveries. When the century partnership came up in the 26th, India were right back in the game on 149/3, and Gambhir has started to open his shoulders, moving to 50 at a run a ball.
Hing eventually broke the partnership, the slow left armer getting one to go straight through the gate to have Tendulkar out for 80 off 86 balls. The fourth wicket stand had put on 124 in 17 overs, and left India with 115 more to get from the final 20.
Gambhir and Deshpande managed to push the score past 200 before Winne returned for his second spell, getting Deshpande bowled with the final ball of the 35th over. Gambhir was the key now, and the left hander had raised his century from just 87 balls. He had ensured that the run rate wouldn't bother the Indians - CW would have to bowl them out. Winne finished with figures of 4-46, and going into the final 10 the game was dead even at 241/6.
Capone got rid of Harbhajan with a beaut in the 42nd over, but Kumble responded with a pair of boundaries in the 44th. India needed 31 runs from the final six overs, with four wickets in hand. When a Phlegm inswinger trapped Kumble lbw, but Capone's next over went for seven runs, that became 23 needed from four, with three wickets in hand.
Gambhir pulled a four on the first ball of the 47th over, taking him to 119 from 96. That became his final contribution - the man who had played so well all day aimed to finish it now, and his horrible swipe only served to play onto his own stumps.
India still had a chance. So long as their tail could play out the overs, they'd get there. Phlegm saw to it that didn't happen, as both Salvi (bowled) and Paul (lbw) were taken out in the same over. CW were through to the final.
CW won by 18 runs
MotM - Bharani Dharan