Pakistan Zindabad!

Pakistan, who were heavy underdogs coming into the competition, have performed the impossible by defeating South Africa, Sri Lanka, an undefeated England in the semis and finally demolished India in the final of the Champions Trophy.  The boys have a lot to be proud of and it shows you that in cricket, anything can happen.

Mohammad Amir's two huge wickets that set the tone early in India's innings.

"You had to be there. Thousands upon thousands of cricket fans streaming down the Harleyford Road and in through the gates named after two of Surrey's most favourite sons: one, Jack Hobbs, the Master, from an age few of those chanting their affections could even begin to understand; the other, Alec Stewart, whose association with the ground began with watching his father and continues to this day, as the lads under his wing press for honours and caps exactly as he once did.

"The Oval, the place of Hobbs, yes, and of Andy Sandham; of the Bedser twins, May and Barrington; of Laker and Lock, Edrich, Arnold and Jackman; of the Stewarts, the Butchers, the Bicknells, the Hollioakes, and now the Currans, about to make their mark. But none of these fine men were a whisper on the day of the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy, the day that this little corner of South London became Asian and the vibrant colours of India and Pakistan provided the backdrop to a monumental achievement...."

-Ringside at the miracle of Pakistan by Mark Nicholas 

Round Two Goes to the Indians

"By the start of the fifth ball, tens of thousands of people were in Wade's head, a billion with them in spirit. It was hard enough when he just had this pitch and this Ashwin, now he had all this too.

The ball came down and all Wade could do was lunge and hope. It took the edge, hit the pad and flew up high enough for Saha to run and dive to short leg to take the catch.

Ashwin raced to fine leg like a football striker who had won the World Cup. Half the team followed him. Saha got up and was embraced by the men around the bat. Kohli didn't go to either of them. He sprinted out to deep cover, stood in front of the crowd, and howled along with his bellowing blue army.

It had been a whole match of words, but you couldn't hear what was Kohli saying. You couldn't hear what anyone was saying. The only sound was the Indian victory roar."

-The Epic Twists of an Epic Test by Jarrod Kimber

Test Cricket Strikes Again!

Last night, I settled in comfortably to watch day two of the first test between India and Australia.  For fans of cricket, this tour has been highly anticipated and so far it has been amazing.

Australia were all out on 260 in their first innings and India were 94/3 in 32.1 overs towards the middle of day two.  Then, it happened.  India were all out on 105 in just 40.1 overs.

In eight overs, the tide of this match completely changed.  The pressure, the incredible turn on the subcontinent wicket and excellent bowling completely dominated in the middle part of the Indian lineup.

Incredible.