Way OT: Indo-Pak Cricket WC Semifinal
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/current/match/433605.html
We're just over a quarter of the way through Pakistan's chase of 261 to win - which means a couple of hours left before what's shaping up to be an exciting finish. Winner plays Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai.
Mods, feel free to delete if this is too far off topic.
Both Pakistan cricket and Michigan State sports have not been doing so well lately. Good WC game though, hope you watched it!
March 30th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
Close to 8 now. Surprised Afridi sent in Razzaq instead of himself to bat. Last wicket was clutch by Bhaji!
March 30th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
Afridi is saving himself for the final powerplay! I am still nervous about him. He always seems to save his best for us.
And as I type this, Razzaq is gone!!!! Damn. It is now all down to Afridi! Misbah seems to be in some kind of trance. But he is capable of some serious damage as well. But one more wicket and it might be time to prepare for some celebrations.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
Well, I get cricket now...definately a lot of passion inside that stadium.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
Shit or bust for Pakistan.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
Wooo!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
Wooo indeed! One more wicket!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
damn, afridi is up, if we can get this guy out, the game is in our hands
March 30th, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
and furthermore Boom.
Fuck this is tense.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
Time for him to take a wicket...
March 30th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
zaheer is the man to depend on these type of situations
March 30th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^
If India pull this out, in my opinion one of the big differences between the sides would have been the discipline. Pakistan's bowlers are probably more talented, but in 39 overs we have given away 1 (ONE) extra. And we haven't dropped any of our catches. That's been one of the big improvements in the Indian team under Kirsten. What we lack in raw natural talent, we make up for with being disciplined and playing as a team.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^
Need to stop this partnership!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
Looked like Nehra got that!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
deeply respect the fact that he didn't try to act out a catch. he was honest and thats the true definition of sportsmanship
March 30th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
I think he was being a gentleman. If he celebrated though, even if it was wrong, I think the TV umpire would have agreed and given it...can't tell either way.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^
Don't like Mumbai, I still say Bombay, way cooler. I root for the Paki's cause I like saying Paki
March 30th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
Collapse imminent!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
WWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!
The match has to be over. Please no more twists. I don't think I can take it.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
DAMN WE GOT HIM OUT!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
Bhaji strikes again! w00t
March 30th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
Not over yet...come on India, let's not choke this away
March 30th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^
I take it all back. Great over! And a wicket!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
Same here. Somehow Dhoni's decisions always seem to come off. Swapping in Raina for Pathan in the previous match looked like a stroke of genius. Here, I still think Ashwin would have been the better choice, but Nehra has far exceeded expectations.
TREMENDOUS!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:58 PM ^
Was an Azhar fan growing up...somehow never felt the same with Dhoni, but I'm coming round. Slowly, I admit.
Me too. Great performance!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^
...Wickets to go!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
with 8 wickets down and needing 12 an over.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
One more wicket to go. Nehra shows Umar Gul how to bowl a reverse swinging yorker.
I never thought I would type that sentence today :D
Kind of dangerous no? Given the Nehru/Gandhi family history? At an India-Pakistan game and a potential India-Sri Lanka match up coming up?
The metal detectors in that country are essentially just for show.
But India's bowlers really stepped up today, after what felt like an underwhelming offensive performance
But it's not over yet! They can stil prove us wrong.
As soon as I open my mouth, a freaking 14 run over. Come on Munaf!
Haha. Even Manmohan Singh with a polite clap.
But, AWESOME!! Finals here we come!!!!
Great bowling performance...whew
I think they ought to move the final to Madras instead. Congratulations to India, and way to make it memorable, Afridi and Pakistan. No reason to hang your heads.
Sri Lanka here we come!
Can we get a game thread for that too?
But I won't be able to start it. I'm pleasantly surprised by the number of MGoCricketFans though - maybe start one for the major test matches too? hahaha
So is this basically the only sport people in India play/follow? I'm surprised India isn't more competitve in other sports, just given its huge population base.
Or lack thereof, to be accurate. Up until a few years ago, and especially before the run up to the Commonwealth games, very little money was directed into furthering sports. The New York Times had a number of great articles on the topic about a year ago. There are more pressing matters in India, frankly, and what little money went to sports ended up funneled into people's pockets. But things have changed: there is a lot more awareness, money, training from international coaches and organizations, and new facilities, which may make India more competitive in sports other than cricket.
Yeah, I suppose India does have greater priorities at the moment than building lots of sports facilities.
Are there any other big spectator sports in India?
and field hockey is fairly popular. Indians love their F1 (and surprisingly the Indy 500 too).
But nothing even approaches cricket.
Yeah, I forgot about racing in my reply below.
Not on the scale of cricket --- that's why there is an Indian Premier League that all other internationals play in. But hockey (not the ice kind) and tennis are also quite popular, and I know schools play basketball, volleyball and baseball too. Believe it or not, there are larger television audiences for chess matches and trivia/quiz contests than these other minor sports. At least, this was true when I grew up near India in the early 90s --- I guess thanks to Anand for the former, and Cadbury's Bournevita Quiz contest for schools for the latter.
As a South Asian Michigan football fan, here's a bit of context: Pakistan beating India in a World Cup elimination match on its home turf would have been like winning a Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the World Series, and the Stanley Cup Finals on the road against a bitter rival as a double-digit underdog. Combined.
In short, the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is like Michigan-Ohio State on steroids, cocaine, and speed, topped off with a half dozen Red Bulls.
since I don't think that Pakistan's being given enough credit --- yes, Pakistan winning would have been a slight upset, and a shocking one to Indians because of the home advantage, but Pakistan was not that much of an underdog. They are, and have historically been, a very good team. Certainly the excitement and import of an India-Pakistan meeting is all that FrankMurphy said and more, but an upset was certainly possible.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:25 PM ^
Right, I just meant in terms of the excitement factor. Pakistan has always had a strong team and was only a slight underdog in this match, but they've never beaten India in a WC match before and the magnitude of pulling out a semifinal victory on India's home turf would have been every bit as big as a colossal upset.