Shewag and Ganguly: Took the game away from the Kiwis
Sourav Ganguly has not been in the greatest form in recent times. Virender
Shewag's very place in the side was in doubt after the Delhi batsman
notched up two consecutive ducks in the Coca-Cola Cup in Sri Lanka. The final
match in the league phase of the same tournament saw a dramatic change in
fortunes. Up until the clash against New Zealand, which ended up being a
semi-final for all practical purposes, India had struggled in the opening
department. In the previous five clashes the various pairs of opening
partnerships used averaged just nine runs. When the going gets tough, the
tough get going, is the old adage.
Ganguly and Shewag came together and put up 143 runs for the first wicket,
piloting India to a superb victory over New Zealand. Fortunately for the
Indians, the best opening partnership of the series came when it mattered
the most. Chasing a challenging 265 for victory, the Indians desperately
needed a big partnership. And one that scored quickly as well.
No one better than Shewag to do that. Driving, cutting and pulling
with gay abandon, Shewag took all the pressure off Ganguly. Scoring at a
fast clip, Shewag sent the New Zealand bowlers packing. When one person
gets off to a start of this kind, there is always temptation for his
partner to try and emulate him. Wisely, Ganguly put all his experience to
use and just kept the scoreboard ticking over. Giving Shewag the strike,
Ganguly did his best to settle down into a quiet rhythm at the other end.
In just the ninth over of the innings, India crossed the 50 mark. Of this,
Shewag contributed a blazing 44 off 27 balls, while Ganguly was on 7 in 27
balls. Realising that Shewag was on a roll, Ganguly continued in a steady
vein. The Indian hundred came up in double quick time, off 14.3 overs. By
this time, Ganguly had begun to get going himself, notching up 20 runs in
the 100 while Shewag was on a mind blowing 80 off 46 balls.
The 150-run partnership however never came up, as Shewag was cleaned up
on an even hundred by the unlikely Craig McMillan. By that time, the
Indian opening partnership had settled the issue. 143 runs was the first
wicket association, and it came off just 23.1 overs. Shewag had made 100
off 69 balls with 19 boundaries and one huge six and when he was dismissed,
Ganguly was on 40.
Having notched up easily the most exciting partnership of the tournament
thus far, Shewag and Ganguly walk away with the award of 5 Star Partnership.
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