By Fathima Zanaida
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) September 23, 2012: Indian offspinner Harbhajan Singh heralded his return to international cricket with an astounding performance on Sunday when India mauled defending champions England by 90 runs in their Group A match of ICC World Twenty20 2012 at R Premadasa Stadium.
Harbhajan Singh took four wickets for 12 runs while left-arm medium-pacer Irfan Pathan and right-hand leg-spin bowler Piyush Chawla also took two wickets apiece as England were folded for mere 80 runs total from 14.1 overs chasing 171 runs target for victory.
It was a clinical performance by Indian spinners as well as their top-order batsmen as they stamped their authority over England who were looking all set to defend their title successfully before this very encounter.
England’s inability to play spin bowling was once again exposed as they failed to get in terms with Harbhajan Singh’s doosras as they kept offering him their wickets like gifts on the Christmas Day.
England skipper Stuart Broad won the toss and invited Indian batsmen to bat first in a bid to avoid a strong batting line-up of the South Asian cricketing powerhouse as Indians are well-renowned for chasing down huge targets.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a surprise move by promoting all-rounder Irfan Pathan (8 from 8 – 1 four) on to the opening position who along with his fellow left-hand opening batsman Gautam Gambhir (45 from 38 – 5 fours) scored 24 runs in the opening wicket partnership.
India’s best batsman Virat Kohli (40 from 32 – 6 fours) joined Gambhir after Steven Finn bowled Pathan and the two batsmen added 57 runs for the second wicket before off-spinner Graeme Swann struck in the 11th over to get England rid of the dangerous man Kohli.
Gambhir added another 38 runs for third wicket in company of promising Rohit Sharma (55 not out from 33 – 5 fours, 1 six) before Steven Finn captured his second scalp of the evening in shape of the left-hand Indian opener.
Despite of losing skipper MS Dhoni (9 from 8 – 1 four) Rohit Sharma kept India scoring at a handsome rate which helped them to a strong total of 170 for four from 20 overs.
On a pitch which was offering a world of assistance to the spinners, Graeme Swann was clearly the best bowler for England as he gave away only 17 runs from his four overs. Jake Dernbach proved the most expensive option as he leaked 45 runs from his spell while Steven Finn gave away 33 runs for two wickets. Skipper Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan also looked flat and ineffective as Broad was belted for 36 from his four overs while Bresnan blasted for 35 runs.
With Graeme Swann recording attractive figures, it was always going to be a daunting task for the English batsmen to face Indian spinners and they found them in trouble straight away after Irfan Pathan got in-formed opening batsman Alex Hales for a duck.
Luke Wright (6 from 4 – 1 six) soon followed the same fate against the same bowler before MS Dhoni unleashed Harbhajan Singh on England batsmen.
Harbhajan Singh got rid of Eoin Morgan (2 from 6), Jos Buttler (11 from 12 – 1 four), Tim Bresnan (1 from 8), and Graeme Swann (Duck) as the pitch offered him a great comeback opportunity.
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla also bowled with great control and showed good variations as he captured scalps of Craig Kieswetter (35 from 25 – 4 fours, 2 sixes) and Jonny Bairstow (1 from 8) as England slumped to 80 all out from 14.4 overs.
This was England’s lowest total in Twenty20 International cricket and the 90-run was their worst margin of defeat in the shortest format of the game.
Harbhajan Singh was expectedly awarded Man of the Match accolade for his brilliant return to international cricket after sitting out of the side for over a year.
Harbhajan Singh dedicated his Man of the Match award to his beloved mother and close friends. Talking to reporters after the match, the Turbunator said, “It has been a hard year being out of the side. Other boys were doing exceedingly well so it was really difficult for me to make a comeback. This award is for my mom and those who have stuck with me in turbulent times”.
Talking about the match, Bhajji said, “For me it was an important game. I hadn’t played international cricket for a full year. Getting a wicket first or second ball gives you a lot of confidence. In T20 cricket, it is important to read the game. I have tried to cut down my run-up a little bit. I was running in too fast and struggling to find my areas before. So I was consciously coming in off a short run and slowly”.
