Welcome back!
Its 6:46 PM local time and Pakistan’s run chase has just begin. I was praying so I’ve missed the first ball, but they tell me Hafeez was on strike and he took a single. I now see Nazir on strike whose taken another easy single on the off side. Its RP Singh bowling and there’s a slip in. Nicely defended off the front foot. Ravi Shastri in the commentary box is sounding hopeful. And his hope is not without a cause! OUT! Hafeez gives first slip catching practice. Hopeless shot with no foot movement, great start for India. Kamran Akmal makes his way to the crease. And plays that off his thigh guard to fine leg. 4-1 after 1 over.
6:50 PM: Sreesanth on from the other end. And Nazir gives him a nice welcome, smashed through the covers for a handsome four. 2 slips in place now. But Nazir’s gone big over the off side. Pulled away for a massive, massive six. 86 meters. Too short again. Nazir smashes it for another six over third man! Great counter attack by Pakistan! Nazir needs to keep this going. Play and a miss of the next ball. Typical Nazir. One bounce and four this time. Nazir on fire, four on the off side. Poor bowling, offering some one like Nazir that much width is asking to be shot in the foot. 20 runs from the over already. Last ball still to come. Single off it on the off side. 25-1 over 2 overs.
6:56 PM: RP Singh to bowl to Kamran Akmal at this end. Well fielded by the bowler, no run. OUT! Bowled him! RP Singh cleans up Akmal with a brilliant in swinger. He goes for a duck. India strike back. Now this is getting interesting…Younis Khan comes into bat. Great bowling from RP Singh, another swinging yorker, dealt well by Khan, no run though. Gets off the mark of the next ball. Nazir on strike now. Crashed for a four down at cow corner. He’s certainly not being affected by all wickets falling around him. 31-1 after 3 overs.
7:00 PM: Sreesanth to Younis Khan, play and a miss. Still 2 slips in. Nicely timed next one, but no placement, straight to point, no run. Big shout for LBW off the next ball. But that’s going down the leg side, not out says the umpire. Next ball outside off stump, left alone by Younis Khan. Better over from Sreesant this. Another play and miss from Younis Khan, he looks out of sorts. Ravi Shastri getting annoyingly more and more excited in the commentary box. No run of the last bowl either. Excellent come back. Maiden over. 31-1 after 4 overs.
7:04 PM: Nazir gets off strike off the first ball. Younis Khan finally gets this away down to third man, another single. Nazir tries to angle that to mid off, doesn’t time it well enough, no run. Slashed over the vacant slip cordon this time, for a cheeky four. Nazir up to 32 not out. Cut shot this time, and viola RP Singh over steps. No ball and free hit coming up. Khan on strike. Where is he going to try and hit that? Let’s see. Goes in the leg side, nice little four. That will bring in some confidence for Younis. Single of the last ball. 44-2 after 5 overs.
7:09 PM: Sreesanth to continue. Younis Khan has got going now. Gets away another short one for four on the leg side. Nasser Hussain and Rameez Raja in the commentary position now. Wide signaled of the next ball. Short, and hooked again for a handsome four through the leg side. Pakistan’s 50 is up. Dhoni goes up to the bowler, perhaps trying to calm him down. Khan on strike now, 3 boundaries for him so far. Single attempted, direct hit from the cover, the umpire has called for a replay. And replays suggest he’s short! OUT! Nazir had been stretching his leg the previous delivery, a re-occurrence of his groin injury perhaps. But that’s a crucial wickets given away by Pakistan. Shoaib Malik will have to bat responsibly here. Malik lets that one passed. Another one passes by. 53-3 after 6 overs. India have had the upper hand so far.
7:15 PM: Joginder Sharma into the bowling attack now. Good fielding off the first ball at point, no run for Younis Khan. Poor delivery, short and wide, but missed out by Younis Khan. Under edged it for no run. Better timing and placement at this, through the covers for a nice looking four. Single brings down the required runs to exactly a 100. Malik still not off the strike. Not timed again by Malik, still not off the mark. 58-3 after 7 overs.
7:20 PM: Yousuf Pathan into the attack now. Single gets the Pakistani captain on strike. Malik off the mark now. 98 required of 76. Younis milks him down to mid off for another single. Good running of the next ball, Pakistan are dealing in singles only at the moment. Pathan’s not giving it a lot of flight. Malik walks down the pitch on the last ball, then changing his mind and playing it on the on side. 63-3 after 8 overs.
7:23 AM: Dharma continues, fielders come in, Dhoni trying to stop the singles. Not successful there, as Malik squeezes one through the covers. Younis hits this one in the air down the ground, he hasn’t timed this and he’s been caught by Pathan. OUT! Irresponsible batting from Younis Khan. Misbah comes into bat. Misbah can’t get off the strike, two dot balls in a row. India keeping it tight. Another dot ball to finish the over. 65-4 after 9 overs.
7:27 PM: Irfan Pathan now comes into the attack replacing his brother, Yousuf. Malik pulls away this short one for a single. Pakistan under pressure now. They need to build a partnership here. Single taken down at third man by Misbah. Another single in the same region. 90 required of 63 balls. Dhoni has placed a floating fourth slip for Misbah that’s got him playing on the on side. The same fourth slip gets a hand on to the next ball worked in that region, but can’t stop the single. In the air again, chipped over the infield. 70-4 after 10 overs.
7:32 PM: Ian Chapel is with David Llyod in the commentary box now. Dharma bowls a wide one and gets away with it, umpire decides not to call it. Malik on strike. Another wide one this time, played through point for a single. Excellent running, two runs. 22 deliveries since the last boundary. India have build the pressure nicely. Shah Rukh Khan is at the ground too. They show him waving. Sharma bowls a really wide delivery, the Indian players are celebrating, but I’m not sure why. The bat hit the ground, Taufel calls a wide. Shah Rukh Khan seems confused. Next ball wide again. Misbah takes a little shimmy down the wicket and knocks it down for a single in the off side. Cat and mouse games here says David Llyod. India trying to tempt Pakistan players into hitting big shots. So far these two have resisted. Single again. Pakistan happy to take these. 76-4 after 11 overs.
7:36 PM: Pathan to continue. TV crew are obsessed with Shah Rukh Khan who is blowing away flying kisses now. Two dots balls in a row to start off the over. Nice change of pace on the last ball from Pathan. OUT! The pressure has got to the captain, Malik has given catching practice to short mid on. He’s disgusted with him self as he makes the way back to the pavilion. This is going awry for Pakistan. Prayers. Prayers. We need a partnership. Afridi to come in next. Greeted with a bouncer that’s deemed wide by the umpire. Pakistan still in this, but we need a partnership. Afridi goes as well! OUT! Mad shot! Tries to heave this out of the ground, caught by Sreesanth for a golden duck. Pakistan in deep, deep trouble now. Six down. Single of the last ball. Two runs and two wickets from this over. 78-6 after 12 overs.
7:42 PM: Harbajjan into the attack. Pakistan need a miracle. Misbah strokes it nicely on the off side, misfield by RP Singh gives away a two. Down the ground this time, low full toss brings a single. Yasser Arafat on strike. Big moment, big pressure. He plays it cheekily down to short third man for another single. Misbah back on strike. Heaved to mid off for a single. Excellent ball. Quicker ball, squeezed between Arafat’s legs and the keeper and goes for a four behind the keeper. Welcome boundary for Pakistan. Last ball gone for a single, 10 from the over. 88-6 after 13 overs.
7:45 PM: Pathan back in. Bowls a slower ball first up, driven for a single down to third man. He’s getting turn from that off cuter of his. That’s what got the better of the Pakistani batsmen. Next ball coming up. Lack of communication between the bowlers. No. Yes. No. Yes. Finally decide against taking the single. Better calling this time, through for the single. But Pakistan need more then singles. 68 needed from 39. This is getting stiffer and stiffer. Required run rate up to 10.86. Swing and miss from Arafat. Sense required from Arafat, wild swinging will not do it. Single again. Just three runs from this over so far. In comes Pathan, and another single. Another excellent over. 92-6 after 14 overs.
7:49 PM: Risky shot off Harbajjan for two. Misbah makes room for the next one, hits the low full toss for another single. Geoff Lawson not looking happy there. In comes Harbajjan, Arafat takes another single. Pakistan need boundaries. Not even a single this time. 62 from 32 balls required. Straight to a leg side fielder again for a single. Slower delivery, straight to the fielder, but dropped! Two runs taken. 98-6 after 15 overs.
7:53 PM: Raja and Shastri in the commentary box now. Pathan to continue. Did I mention Shastri has a very annoying voice? Play and a miss from Misbah. Great bowling again from Pathan. India aren’t giving away anything. Single brings up the 100. 58 required off 27 balls. Arafat on strike, hit down the ground for four. Finally some pressure relived. Rare bad ball by Irfan, too straight and too full there. Better ball that time, too close to cut. Dot ball. Five runs of the over so far. Pakistan players look very nervous in the dug out! OUT! Arafat is cleaned up! Pakistan seven down. Arafat gone for 15. Misbah Pakistan’s only remaining hope. 105-7 after 16 overs.
7:37 PM: Pakistan need a big over, now. Misbah attempts to do just that, but first ball was too wide. But perfect connection on the next one, massive six over the leg side of the next ball. Refuses the single of the next ball! Amazing! Six again of the next ball. Misbah is taking a calculated risk here. Things hotting up. Another six! Clears mid wicket! Our living room has interrupted! 18 runs from the over! I’m struggling to hear anything out here. I can here cheers of “Misbah! Misbah! Misbah!” between “Insha Allah, Masha Allah, Insha Allah, Masha Allah”. 123-7 after 17 overs.
8:00 PM: Sreesanth back into the attack! Another six! Over the cover boundary, Sohail Tanveer into the action as well. This has brought Pakistan right back into the match. And this time its down the leg side, for a wide! This is India Pakistan cricket for you. Good running, single taken again and crucially Misbah back on strike. Oooh, play and a miss. Hotting up. 27 runs from 15. Another single taken on the leg side. 26 from 14 now. There’s tension on everyone’s face. Sohail Tanveer on strike. Heaves it over point for yet another massive six! Brilliant counter attack from Pakistan! What an unexpected hero for Pakistan here. Our living room just got louder. 20 more needed from 13 balls. Sreesanth takes his revenge! OUT! He attempts to hit another big one, but this time misses and is bowled! 138-8 after 18 overs!
8:05 PM: Umar Gul making it to the crease. He can strike one or two if needed as well. Misbah on strike. Takes a single down to third man. Gul now on strike. He just needs to take a single and give the strike back to Misbah. Play and a miss. But they steal a single! Good cricket from Pakistan. Misbah back on strike. Pakistan need 18 from 10 balls. Three bigs hits, that’s all Pakistan need. Here we go. Loud shout from the Indians for a leg before but the Simon Taufel rules not out. No time to dwell on that one now. Goes over short fine leg for another single. 17 needed now from 8 balls. RP Singh does the job for India. OUT! Umar Gul is bowled for a duck. Pakistan 141-9, one ball left in the over. Mohammad Asif makes it to the crease and hits a four down at third man! Lovely! 145-9 after 19 overs! Oh my god! Its going to be some last over here.
8:12 PM: Misbah on strike, 13 needed of the last over. Joginder Sharma to bowl it. And he starts off with a wide! Great start for Pakistan. 12 required from 6. I can barely breath I tell you, barely. Misbah surveys the field, Dhoni talks to the bowler, here we go now. Play and miss, dot ball! 12 from 5! Oh my god, in the air and a magnificent six over the covers! Oh my god, oh my god! Just six more needed from 4! Only one person in our living room is sitting on the floor now! 12 from 5, here we go… in the air and Sreesanth takes a catch at short fine leg! And Misbah is OUT! India have won the 20 Twenty World Cup by 5 runs!
8:21 PM: What a match for a final of the World Cup, went right down to the wire! Could be said in hindsight that that catch that Hafeez dropped in the last over of the Indian innings that went over the boundary for a six proved to be the defining moment of the match! Our living room is deflated now. There’s blame game all round. Some are blaming Hafeez, for this missed catch. Some are blaming the batting as a whole and most of all Imran Nazir for his stupid run out. I’m personally too overwhelmed now to think normally. I’ll go drink a glass of water and then get back with the presentation ceremony.
8:29 PM: Okay then, so its slowing starting to sink in. Facebook status messages are also changing. Some one I know just drowned their “sorrow” in a cup of tea, others are less unhappy, “grinning at a typical Pakistan performance”. Typical I don’t know but it sure has become a disturbing trend for Pakistan teams, losing against India in World Cups. We’re yet to win even a single match against them in World Cups believe it or not. Presentation ceremony still not started. Its going to be one painful one I tell you. That smile on Dhoni’s face, all of the 30,000 or so Indian fans, Shah Rukh Khan amongst them, their whole team jumping and cheering, and worst of all a hyper excited Ravi Shastri behind the mike…OUCH! But I’ll bare some strength and say well played India. I think its fair to say they were the better team today. Handled the pressure better. Well done to both sides over all as well, for providing such an exhilarating final!
8:36 PM: The coverage is back on. The presentation party is ready now and there’s Ravi Shastri. He looks like some one has inserted 50 walt bulbs in his eyes. He’s paying compliments to both teams for playing “a worthy final”. The presentation party is now being introduced. First up, the match officials will gets some medallions. Now the entire Pakistan team will come up in alphabetical order. No one is smiling. We look like some one’s inserted a knife through our dreams. Shoaib Malik comes in right at the end. He’s talking to Shastri. “I’m sorry we couldn’t win, but we tried our best”.
8:41 PM: Irfan Pathan has now been declared Man Of The Match for his spell of 3-16. They keep showing Shah Rukh’s Khan’s annoying face, he’s looking so over joyed, its not even funny you know. I must stop being so jealous. Pathan gives credit to Misbah, “He was playing pretty well, but Joginder bowled well.”
8:43 PM: Shahid Afridi has been declared man of the tournament (he was leading wicket taker of the tournament!) but admited to Ravi “this time I really struggled with my batting”!
8:44 PM: The Indians are now making their way up to the podium to get their medallions one by one. Captain Dhoni comes in the last (in sleeveless shirt!) and talks to Shastri. “I’ll remember this for the rest of my life” he says. What made him go for Sharma over Harbajan? “Bhajji wasn’t feeling confident about his yorkers”.
8:46 PM: Dhoni is now going up to collect the trophy. The fireworks have erupted. The Indians are dancing and its all really quite painful. I’m contemplating if I should continue watching, but I should be a good sport. They’re posing for photos and as they do Shastri’s just dubbed them the “World TT champions”.
And that shall be it for the day from here it seems. My fingers are a little sore from the continuous typing, so I’ll come back and do a round up of all the reaction later. Thanks for dropping by and hope you enjoyed the live blogging of the finals! Once again, congratulations India, and commiserations Pakistan!