Very fierce shoot-out in the Rajasthan/Haryana match. Sachin Rana gets into the act and takes four. Harshal completes a big ten. Rajasthan all out for 192. In the other game, TN are all over Mumbai, who are struggling at 121/6. Will their famed lower order bail them out this time? Kulkarni is at the crease, and Ramesh Powar is yet to step in, as laso Ankeet Chavan, centurion in the last game. Good semis on the cards, but instead, the cricket channels only show Big Bash League and stock footage. STAR cricket need to launch a bid for domestic cricket coverage.
In other news, Yo Mahesh and Amit Mishra have been getting wickets and runs. While still distant from the top three (and number three, Pankaj Singh, is himself distant from the top two, now out of action), both Mishra and Mahesh have been chipping away wickets cheaply, and getting runs. While neither are over four hundred runs (Roger Binny Jr is over 600), they're doing well lower down. Guess what, Pankaj Singh is also trying hard. However, this should be the norm and not the highlight, so that there are plenty of options for India. We see bowlers with no batting ability representing the country.
Remember Meryck Pringle? The highlight of his career were his phenomenal bowling against the West Indians in the 1992 World Cup. Indian fans will remember that bouncer bowled by Srinath (in a rather painful tour of SA) that hit him so hard, and had him in so much pain, that Srinath (on seeing him in such a state) started feeling dizzy and also needed medical attention. Rajasthan cricketers, however, will remember him fondly for the assistance he provided when they struggled early in the season. He conducted a fast bowlers' meeting, sorted out bowling actions and didn't overcoach the bowlers- just told them to enjoy their game. They enjoy his company. Surely, a blueprint for coaches across India.
