Dhoni-led India thrash Hong Kong

It was the 25^th anniversary of India’s maiden World Cup triumph. They made three changes to theiR Playing eleven – Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan and Ishant (Shar)made way for Robin Uthappa, Singh and One-day International debutant Manpreet Gony.

They were playing Hong Kong for the first time. Their eleven comprised skipper Tabarak Dar, Skhawat Ali, Jamie Atkinson, Hussain Butt, Courtney Kruger, Irfan Ahmed, Roy Lamsam, Munir Dar, Najeeb Amar, Afzaal Haider and Nadeem Ahmed.

On winning the toss, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s skipper, chose to bat. Their openers put on 50 off 5.1 overs (31 balls). Hong Kong had conceded four extras at that point. While Gautam Gambhir’s contribution to the partnership was 25, Virender Sehwag’s contribution to it was 21.

Sehwag’s half-century – which included nine boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 27 balls.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. They scored 100 off 10.5 overs (65 balls). Hong Kong had conceded four extras at that point. While Gambhir’s contribution to the partnership was 38, Sehwag’s contribution to it was 59.

Sehwag, whose 44-ball innings included 13 boundaries and a couple of sixes, eventually scored 78. Eighty-seven balls into the match, he was caught by Irfan Ahmed. Amar broke the 127-run partnership.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. Gambhir’s half-century – which included seven boundaries – came off 50 balls.

Eighteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 135 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Gambhir was batting on 51 (which was, incidentally, the number of runs he eventually scored), Rohit Sharma was batting on a couple.

Gambhir’s 54-ball innings included seven boundaries. Twenty-four balls after Sehwag’s dismissal, he was caught by Lamsam, Amar broke the nine-run stand.

India scored 150 off 21.5 overs (131 balls). Hong Kong had conceded four extras at that point. The third-wicket pair put on 23. Rohit, who faced 29 balls, eventually scored 11. Thirty-nine balls after Gambhir’s dismissal, Nadeem ran him out.

India scored 200 off 33.3 overs (201 balls). Hong Kong had conceded four extras at that point. The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 62 balls. While Dhoni’s contribution to the partnership was 20, the contribution of Suresh Raina, the player of the match, to it was 32. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Thirty-nine overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 242 for the loss of three wickets at that point. Both Dhoni and Raina were batting on 48 apiece.

While Raina’s run-a-ball half-century included four boundaries, Dhoni’s half-century – which included four boundaries and a six – came off 64 balls.

India scored 250 off 40.3 overs (244 balls). Hong Kong had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point. The fourth-wicket pair put on 100 off (Dho)ninety-nine balls. While the contribution of the man from Ranchi to the partnership was 42, Raina’s contribution to it was 58. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

India scored 300 off 43.5 overs (264 balls). Hong Kong had conceded eight extras at that point. The fourth-wicket pair put on 150 off 120 balls. While Dhoni’s contribution to the partnership was 53, Raina’s contribution to it was 95. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was five.

Raina’s century – which included seven boundaries and five sixes – came off 66 balls. He faced 68 balls, eventually scoring 101. A hundred and twenty-three balls after Rohit’s dismissal, he was caught by Irfan Ahmed. Haider broke the 166-run partnership.

India scored 350 off 47.4 overs (288 balls). Hong Kong had conceded nine extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded. Dhoni’s ton – which included five boundaries and half-a-dozen sixes – came off 90 balls.

The man also known as Mahi eventually scored 109. His (Dho)ninety-six-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries and as many sixes. He was unbeaten, as was Uthappa, who scored 15. His nine-ball (Rob)innings included a six. India scored 374 for the loss of four wickets off 50 overs.

Lamsam, who bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceded 27. Irfan Ahmed, who bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceded 53. Ali and Nadeem bowled eight wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 68, the latter conceded 52. Munir, who bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceded 55.

Haider, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 72. He picked up a wicket. Amar, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 40. He picked up a couple of scalps.

Ali, who faced three balls, didn’t get off the mark. Nine balls into the chase, he was trapped leg before wicket by R P, who broke the four-run stand.

The second Powerplay of Hong Kong’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Tabarak, whose 37-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 21. Sixty-six balls after Ali’s dismissal, he was stumped by Dhoni. Piyush Chawla broke the 45-run stand.

Hong Kong scored 50 off 12.4 overs (81 balls). India had conceded five extras at that point. The third Powerplay of Hong Kong’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over.

Sixteen overs into the chase, the drinks break was taken. Hong Kong had scored 54 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Atkinson was batting on 23, Butt was batting on four. Those were, incidentally, the number of runs they eventually scored.

Butt faced 15 balls. Twenty-three balls after Tabarak’s dismissal, he was stumped by Dhoni. Chawla broke the five-run stand. The fourth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Atkinson’s 46-ball innings included three boundaries. Seven balls after Butt’s dismissal, he was caught by Yusuf Pathan off his own bowling.

Kruger, who faced 16 balls, scored just three. Twenty-eight balls (Chaw)later, he was stumped by Dhoni. The leggie broke the 13-run stand. The sixth-wicket pair put on 24. Irfan Ahmed, whose 43-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 25. Forty-four balls later, R P and Pathan ran him out.

Munir, who faced four balls, scored as many, His runs came by way of a boundary. Seven balls later, he was caught by Pathan. Chawla broke the eight-run stand.

Hong Kong scored 100 off 31.2 overs (195 balls). India had conceded nine extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

The eighth-wicket pair put on 10. Lamsam, whose 30-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 16. Eighteen balls after Munir’s dismissal, Dhoni and R P ran him out. Amar, whose 16-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 13. He was unbeaten.

Haider, who faced 10 balls, didn’t get off the mark. Eighteen balls later, Sehwag broke the nine-run stand. The last-wicket pair D(hon)idn’t get off the mark. Nadeem, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was caught behind off the bowling of Sehwag. Hong Kong, who were bundled out for 118 off 36.5 overs, lost by 256 runs.

Praveen Kumar and Gony bowled five wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 21, the latter, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 11.

R P bowled four overs, conceding 19. He picked up a wicket, as did Pathan, who bowled 10 overs, conceding 37. Sehwag bowled 2.5 overs, conceding five. He picked up two wickets. Chawla bowled 10 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 23, picking up four scalps.