×

Videos: 5 special moments from the 2nd T20 match of Cricket All-Stars series at Houston

The Houston game, just like the first drew a huge crowd, mostly South Asians and they all became a part of some unforgettable moments.

Related articles

Diwali couldn’t have been more glittering at Houston. In compared to what we witnessed at New York on Saturday, Minute Maid Stadium saw more fireworks from the batsmen, thanks to a stunning display of strokeplay from Warne’s Warriors. They continued their sheer dominance as they pulled off a 57-run win over Sachin’s Blasters to seal the Cricket All-Stars series 2015. Kumar Sangakkara led the belligerence with a 70 from 30 balls, that went on to determine the result of the match as Warriors put up a mammoth 262 from their 20 overs.

However, this series is not just about the on-field brilliance of these legends of the game but also the nostalgia. The Houston game, just like the first drew a huge crowd, mostly South Asians and they all became a part of some unforgettable moments. Suvajit Mustafi lists five such special moments from the match.

 

1.  Swing it like Akram

He last played a Test in 2002, retired from all forms in 2003, and is diabetic. He is 49 and it’s been 12-long years since his retirement but Wasim Akram once again showed why he is regarded as one of the greatest-ever. Twice in the first over of the Blasters’ innings, Akram foxed Virender Sehwag with two inswining yorkers. Mind you, Sehwag is only 37 and is still an active domestic cricketer.

The pace may have gone but the accuracy is still there, United States got a glimpse of this exceptional cricketer. Though he went for a bit too many runs at the later stages of the innings in New York, he bowled his four overs giving away only 16.

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Typical Sehwag

Apart from being the most destructive batsman on the field, Sehwag also happens to be a true character. He does things his own way and of course those are most unique. Sehwag was mic’d up during his brief stay at the crease. He slammed two sixes and when commentator Mike Haysman asked him what was going on his mind, he started singing the super-hit Kishore Kumar song “ChalaJataHoon”. Sehwag does like to sing when he is out in the middle. The English translation of the song will be I keep on Walking and unfortunately for him a ball later that’s what happened. He was cleaned-up by his ex-teammate Ajit Agarkar and he had keep walking towards the pavilion.

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Dadagiri at Houston

It has been seven years since Sourav Ganguly retired from international cricket but the kind of fan-following the former Indian skipper enjoys is unbelievable. Ganguly who missed out the first game at New York due to the BCCI AGM, which he represented as the president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), made an entry for Sachin’s Blasters at Houston.

Loud cheers were reserved for the Prince of Calcutta, as he made his way out to the middle. He scored only 12 which included a trademark off-side six, but the below video speaks volume of his fandom and the fact that he still rules hearts.

   

 

 

 

4.  A Teesra and Memories of 1999

A lot of hearts broke at Chennai on the January afternoon of 1999, when SaqlainMushtaq dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for 136. Chasing 271 to win, India cruising at 254 for 6, collapsed to 258 all out. Many relived that moment when almost 17-years later, wily Saqlain repeated that by cleaning up Tendulkar.

 

Saqlain is the inventor of Doosra, the ball that turns the other way and before the match, he spoke that he would reveal a Teesra. The moment he cleaned-up Tendulkar, the commentators said that this was the anticipated Teesra. Whether or not, it was certainly one of the moments that brought back the 1999 memories. Tendulkar was looking dangerous at 33 and Saqlain applied brakes to his innings. It was wonderful to see one champion outfoxing another. 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Shoaib Akhtar learns the tit-for-tat lesson

He has felled the best of batters with his vicious bouncers and even in the Cricket All-Stars League, Shoaib Akhtar continues to be a threat with his menacing speed but he even got a dose of his own medicine from Andrew Symonds. During their playing days, Symmo may have faced some hostile bowling from Akhtar and this was his turn to return favours. Symonds, bowling off-spin, greeted Akhtar to the crease, with a bouncer, targeting his head. Akhtar wasn’t wearing any headgear and was caught surprised. He immediately called for it and got out the next ball.

 

(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sportsmarketer , strategist, entrepreneur,  philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)

trending this week