Zaheer Khan scalps four as Ireland struggles to 112 off its 18 overs

Nottingham: India was on the ball — bowling and fielding with intensity and purpose — as Ireland was restricted to 112 for eight in a group ‘A’ match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan excelled for India with four for 19.

The match became an 18 overs-a-side affair after 50 minutes were lost due to inclement weather.
Ideal for swing bowling

India inserted the opposition.

Under the cloud cover, Irfan Pathan got the ball to move away from the left-handed William Porterfield. The conditions were ideal for swing bowling.

Jeremy Bray, another southpaw, was probed by Zaheer Khan. India’s left-arm pacemen were bowling the right line.

Bray (0) eventually succumbed to Zaheer’s final delivery of the second over. The batsman was done in by a precise full length ball with a hint of movement that crashed through his defence.

Zaheer struck with the first ball of his next over — the fourth of the innings — when Porterfield slashed at a delivery shorter than fuller only for the first slip, Yusuf Pathan, to gleefully emerge with the ball. The Irish captain made five.
Hat-trick averted

Andre Botha (8) prevented a hat-trick and essayed a couple of brave strokes but fell in the same over. The left-hander was limited in his footwork as he reached out for a drive and Yusuf reacted quickly at slip to pouch the ball.

Zaheer was taking the ball away from the southpaw from over-the-wicket; a delivery high on the scale of difficulty for a left-arm paceman.

In a dream phase, Zaheer had scalped thrice in seven deliveries.

Ireland continued to lose way. The big-hitting Kevin O’ Brien’s crude heave against left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha saw the woodwork being re-arranged.

Ireland was tottering at 30 for four after seven overs. The Indians were cock-a-hoop.
Close shave

Ireland would have been in deeper trouble had bowler Ojha managed to a collect a rather widish throw from Suresh Raina with both batsmen at the striker’s end.

India, however, did not have to wait long for the next wicket. Gary Wilson (19) failed to pick a Harbhajan Singh doosra and lost his off-stump. Ireland was 48 for five after the 10th.

On the brighter side for Ireland, Andrew White reverse swept Harbhajan Singh to the fence.

And Ojha beat the left-handed John Mooney all ends up only to see the disturbed bails staying on top of the stumps.

Mooney (19) was eventually dismissed by Ojha when he attempted a reverse sweep and was picked up by Yuvraj Singh at short third man.

Regan West was run-out at the striker’s end while attempting a second run when Raina, running in from deep mid-on, fielded smartly.

Amid the ruins, White pulled Irfan for a six to bring some cheer to the Irish camp. But then White (29, 25b, 3x4, 1x6) was snared outside the off-stump to provide Zaheer his fourth wicket.

The left-armer is bowling to an excellent rhythm.

SCOREBOARD

Ireland: W. Porterfield c Yusuf b Zaheer 5 (8b), J. Bray b Zaheer 0 (1b), G. Wilson b Harbhajan 19 (23b, 1x4), A. Botha c Yusuf b Zaheer 8 (5b, 1x4), K. O’Brien b Ojha 2 (4b), J. Mooney c Yuvraj b Ojha 19 (22b, 1x4), A. White c Dhoni b Zaheer 29 (25b, 3x4, 1x6), R. West (run out) 1 (1b), A. Cusack (not out) 12 (6b, 2x4), W. McCallan (not out) 9 (7b, 1x4); Extras: (lb-6, w-2) 8, Total: (for 8 wickets, 18 overs) 112.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-9, 3-17, 4-28, 5-48, 6-72, 7-73, 8-92.

India bowling: Irfan 3-0-22-0, Zaheer 3-0-19-4, Ishant 3-0-18-0, Yuvraj 1-0-4-0, Ojha 4-0-18-2, Harbhajan 4-0-25-1.

Source:http://www.hindu.com