When the five times World Cup winners Australia led by dashing opener Aron Finch and West Indies captained by the gangling all-rounder Jason Holder were to play it was to be a game that was going to see the ‘perfume ball’ and the ‘chin music’ in plenty.
‘Perfume ball’ and ‘chin music’ are the terms used by the West Indies and Australia to describe the bouncers that were to be bowled to unsettle batsmen on both sides and lure them to their demise. And the team directing them better was looking to win.
As anticipated bouncers were galore. West Indies fired the ‘perfume balls’ from Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas and Andre Russell. And Australia returning fire with ‘chin music’ from Mitchell Starc, Patrick Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile.
While the Windies pacies were initially on target striking stunning blows on Australian one drop Usman Khawaja and later bowling them awry and conceding too many extras, the Aussies directed them better and undid the strong Windies batting lineup with Starc shining with a winning haul of five wickets.
It is customary for losing teams to blame the weather or the wicket for their defeat. And this time round the Windies were the cry babies attempting to blame umpires Chris Gaffney and Ruchira Palliyaguruge for their 13-run defeat.
We are not for a moment holding a brief for the umpires. If they erred, there was always the decision review system to seek justice. But sadly the DRS appeals are reduced in the ‘cowboy game’ and once the system is exhausted little or nothing could be done.
But it must be accepted that umpires do a thankless job. In games like this where pressure cooker atmosphere prevails, umpires are prone to err. After all, they are human and not infallible.
When we say this we are certainly not saying that the Windies were making excuses for their defeat. But what they thought and said about the umpiring must be taken in the spirit the remarks were made and no action should be taken against them.
Former Windies ‘smiling assassin’ fast bowler and now TV Commentator Michael Holding too spoke against the umpiring and made a case for his side’s defeat. This was the first game that the umpiring came in for questioning.
The Windies feel that they were undone by the questionable umpiring. ‘Universe Boss’ Chrys Gayle’ who was twice saved by the DRS, was a tad unlucky when he was ruled LBW with the umpires call going against him and having to leave when looking set for a big score.
Having said that we now move onto the game that was played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham and on a wicket that is usually favorable to batsmen more than the bowlers. When Holder called correctly and asked Australia to hit first, he was hoping that his fastmen would take advantage of the early life in the wicket and justify his decision.
And the fastmen did just that. When they had the Aussies at 5 for 79 they had broken the back of their batting. Out were Finch, Warner, Khawaja, Glen Maxwell and Stoinis and at that stage the Windies had their tails up and it looked as though the Aussies would not get past a score of even 150.
Then Steve Smith and Alex Carey put on a stand of 68 for the sixth wicket and once Carey went Coulter- Nile better known for his bowling played a rare and a gem of an innings to added 102 for the next wicket with Nile making 92 and Smith 73 to take them to a respectable 288.
Smith who made 73 and was looking good for more runs was out to a stunning catch by Cottrell who running from fine leg to near square held a left handed catch that defies description. It had to be seen to be believed. That the Windies conceded 27 extras including 24 wides was unacceptable.
When Windies began the chase and once the quick scoring Gayle on whom much depended if the Windies were to have any chance of overhauling their opponents score went early for 21, the writing was on wall for the men from the Caribbean and although Hope 68, Pooran 40 and captain Holder a nicely carved 51 tried their best it was not enough and Windies conceded defeat by 15 runs.
It was that seasoned campaigner the gangling left arm paceman Mitchell Starc who starred in the Aussie victory bowling with great accuracy and discipline to finish with 5 for 36 in 10 overs and give his side a victory that at one time did not look a possibility.
Indians open in style
India who are exuding confidence and challenging strongly for the World Cup began their campaign in grand style by posting a 6 wicket victory over the hapless South Africans who thus suffered their third defeat in the tournament.
If this defeat is an indication then the SAfricans are quietly stepping out of the running for the trophy and continuing to carry the tag round their necks which reads ‘chockers’. Pity when one sees the talent in their ranks which captain Du Plessis can’t put together and make them a winning combination.
Their much bloated pace trio of Rabada, Nigidi and Phehulkwayo have lost their sting and the South Africans are looking helpless. Anyway everything is not lost for them.
Dashing opener Rohit Sharma was the match winner for the Indians carving out a disciplined unbeaten 122 and taking his side to 230 for 4 chasing a modest 228 for victory.
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