allenge fizzles out Karachi, June 28: In the end, it was too easy. Indian batting, led by Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir, yet again covered up the their team’s mediocre bowling and fielding, with sublime knocks that enabled India to record yet another thumping victory. Suresh Raina, adjudged Man of the Match, continued his purple patch as he slammed his second ton in a week. The southpaw stayed unbeaten on 116 off just 107 balls while Yuvraj struck a breezy 35 ball 36 run cameo to see India through.
Suresh Raina reached his 100 run landmark off 93 balls as India romped home 7 wickets in 43.2 overs. India had strolled past 250 in just the 40th over.
Gautam Gambhir missed out on a well deserved century when he swooped a low catch at short mid-wicket to Mortaza of Reza. Gambhir, who had anchored the Indian chase perfectly, departed for a well compiled 90 off just 84 balls, a knocked laced with 10 fours and 1 six. India, meanwhile, brought up their 200 in the 34th over.
Putting behind the dismissals Rohit Sharma and Robin Uthappa, Gambhir and Suresh Raina doled India out of any trouble and keep the Bangladeshi hopes of causing an upset at bay. Raina, who has a century and a half-century already in the Asia Cup prior to this innings, reached yet another 50, this time of just 52 balls. Half-way through the innings, i.e. after 25 overs, India was comfortably placed at 152 for the loss of just 2 wickets.
Gambhir had raced to his 50 of just 36 balls even as India zoomed past the 100 run mark in the 16th over. Soon the Gambhir-Raina combine completed their 50 run partnership too, as India coasted along at over 6 per over.
Earlier, an out of form Rohit’s bad run continued. Just when he seemed to have played himself into some kind of rhythm, Shardat Hasan struck his second blow, having him caught by Reza for 22. Chasing a competitive total of 284, India had got off to an inauspicious start when they lost Uthappa, who came in with Gambhir in place of regular opener Sehwag. Uthappa, who made just 2, got a thin inside edge off pace bowler Shahadat Hossain onto his stump.
Bangladesh amassed an impressive 283/6 in their allotted 50 overs to set India a challenging target of 284. Alok Kapali emerged the hero for Bangladesh scoring a sensational 115 off just 96 balls. His ruthless assault on the Indian bowlers, coupled with sloppy fielding has put the pre-match favorites in a tricky situation as B’desh scored 99 runs in their final 10 overs. He was finally dismissed in the final over, Ojha again taking a good catch. Kapali’s knock was studded with 10 fours and 5 mighty sixes.
India, who will be without Sehwag, will have their task cut out in pursuit of 284.
Kapali completed his magnificent century of just balls 86 balls as Bangladesh turned on the heat in face-off spineless Indian bowling. Kapali’s breath-taking knock was a study on pacing an inning to perfection. Kapali, who took 65 balls
Suresh Raina reached his 100 run landmark off 93 balls as India romped home 7 wickets in 43.2 overs. India had strolled past 250 in just the 40th over.
Gautam Gambhir missed out on a well deserved century when he swooped a low catch at short mid-wicket to Mortaza of Reza. Gambhir, who had anchored the Indian chase perfectly, departed for a well compiled 90 off just 84 balls, a knocked laced with 10 fours and 1 six. India, meanwhile, brought up their 200 in the 34th over.
Putting behind the dismissals Rohit Sharma and Robin Uthappa, Gambhir and Suresh Raina doled India out of any trouble and keep the Bangladeshi hopes of causing an upset at bay. Raina, who has a century and a half-century already in the Asia Cup prior to this innings, reached yet another 50, this time of just 52 balls. Half-way through the innings, i.e. after 25 overs, India was comfortably placed at 152 for the loss of just 2 wickets.
Gambhir had raced to his 50 of just 36 balls even as India zoomed past the 100 run mark in the 16th over. Soon the Gambhir-Raina combine completed their 50 run partnership too, as India coasted along at over 6 per over.
Earlier, an out of form Rohit’s bad run continued. Just when he seemed to have played himself into some kind of rhythm, Shardat Hasan struck his second blow, having him caught by Reza for 22. Chasing a competitive total of 284, India had got off to an inauspicious start when they lost Uthappa, who came in with Gambhir in place of regular opener Sehwag. Uthappa, who made just 2, got a thin inside edge off pace bowler Shahadat Hossain onto his stump.
Bangladesh amassed an impressive 283/6 in their allotted 50 overs to set India a challenging target of 284. Alok Kapali emerged the hero for Bangladesh scoring a sensational 115 off just 96 balls. His ruthless assault on the Indian bowlers, coupled with sloppy fielding has put the pre-match favorites in a tricky situation as B’desh scored 99 runs in their final 10 overs. He was finally dismissed in the final over, Ojha again taking a good catch. Kapali’s knock was studded with 10 fours and 5 mighty sixes.
India, who will be without Sehwag, will have their task cut out in pursuit of 284.
Kapali completed his magnificent century of just balls 86 balls as Bangladesh turned on the heat in face-off spineless Indian bowling. Kapali’s breath-taking knock was a study on pacing an inning to perfection. Kapali, who took 65 balls
Sam Bahadur: A soldier remembers
It was a crisp golden morning. And I had a problem. I walked to the office of my boss: Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. He was just preparing to leave for a meeting with the Defence Secretary for a routine briefing. Sensing that I looked troubled, he paused, looked straight into my eyes, as usual, and asked. “What’s bothering you General?”
I poured out the reason for my despair. I had been appointed by Sam Bahadur as
the Army representative on the Fourth Pay Commission panel. There were two others as well, one each from the Air Force and the Navy. And then, there were the bureaucrats.
Whatever we defence personnel recommended, the bureaucrats would shoot down. If we’d prepare one note, they’d prepare two to counter it. I was frustrated. I felt there was no point on being on a panel that didn’t take cognizance of our views.
Sam Bahadur put his arm around me and asked me to accompany him to the Defence Secretary. As we walked in to the meeting, he announced, “My nominee has something to say.” He indicated to me that I speak with candor.
Soon after, all civilian members of the Pay Panel were dropped.
This is just one of the many incidents. Much earlier, I had encountered his sense of fair play. He valued honesty and hard work above all else. If he felt there was genuine case, he would not even be too much of a stickler for rules.
I was working under him as an S&T appointment. Ordinarily, people in this department are not shifted to Infantry. However, precedence did not stop him from recommending me twice for the promotion to the Defence Ministry.
An incident that stands out was one that followed the 1961 War with China. During the War, our Corp Commander Lieutenant General B N Kaul ordered a large amount of supplies and arms to be dropped in the hills for the soldiers. The War ended in a drubbing and Lt Gen Kaul was sacked. But the auditors were at our door.
They wanted me to account for all the equipment and supplies. I had few answers. I told them frankly, that I was only carrying out the boss’ order. Unsatisfied, they recommended action. In the meantime, Sam Bahadur took over as our Corp Commander.
I narrated to him the entire episode. He just said two words, “Don’t Worry.”
And before I knew it, Manekshaw had used his special privilege as a Corp Commander to write off that humungous amount as war losses. And the story ended. He had saved my skin, but he did not even subtly mention the huge favour that he had done.
Sam Maneskshaw was bone honest. Supplies to the Mess would come from Calcutta. Officers would often complain and clamour for a more lavish fare. I told him that this was possible, only that he would get a bad name. He minced no words when he told me, “Don’t listen to them. Do only what is right.”
Sam Bahadur was a very sympathetic man. Yet he was extremely strict and a complete disciplinarian.
It was wartime 1971. Our secrets were being leaked. And we knew of this.
Sam Manekshaw summoned me and two others to his office and told us that the enemy was getting hold of our intelligence information. Something had to be done. And he had a plan. So far, most information would go out as written instructions, coded or otherwise. Which meant it could be officers, or clerks who typed it. He had decided to do away with the system.
While routine information would be typed and sent out, all information related with strategy and intelligence would be sent through us. We would work as liaison officers between him and the field commanders. Manekshaw would give us oral information and we would pass it on word by word. It was a clever move and it worked. Pakistan was foxed.
Then came triumph. Bangladesh had been liberated. Indira Gandhi asked Manekshaw to take the surrender. It was that glorious occasion that would go down in the annals of history. It was his moment under the Sun. Yet, he refused.
Manekshaw told the PM, “My Field Commander will do the honours.” It was an example of his epic generosity.
And forever in time, the image of Lt Gen Jagjit Aurora getting the surrender papers signed by Niazi will hang over our mantle pieces.
When Sam Bahadur visited Dacca, LT Gen Aurora sent him a luxurious car to come. But he refused point blank. “I don’t want to ride in a stolen car, I will travel in our military Jeep,” he quipped.
It was a message he wanted to send out loud and clear. He would not tolerate looting. It speaks volumes of his eminent character that he wanted to ensure dignity in our victory.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was indeed a remarkable officer and a thorough gentleman!
(The author of the piece is a Retired Army officer, who worked for many years under Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, but wishes to remain anonymous)
reach his fifty, brought up his second fifty of just 21ball
I poured out the reason for my despair. I had been appointed by Sam Bahadur as
the Army representative on the Fourth Pay Commission panel. There were two others as well, one each from the Air Force and the Navy. And then, there were the bureaucrats.Whatever we defence personnel recommended, the bureaucrats would shoot down. If we’d prepare one note, they’d prepare two to counter it. I was frustrated. I felt there was no point on being on a panel that didn’t take cognizance of our views.
Sam Bahadur put his arm around me and asked me to accompany him to the Defence Secretary. As we walked in to the meeting, he announced, “My nominee has something to say.” He indicated to me that I speak with candor.
Soon after, all civilian members of the Pay Panel were dropped.
This is just one of the many incidents. Much earlier, I had encountered his sense of fair play. He valued honesty and hard work above all else. If he felt there was genuine case, he would not even be too much of a stickler for rules.
I was working under him as an S&T appointment. Ordinarily, people in this department are not shifted to Infantry. However, precedence did not stop him from recommending me twice for the promotion to the Defence Ministry.
An incident that stands out was one that followed the 1961 War with China. During the War, our Corp Commander Lieutenant General B N Kaul ordered a large amount of supplies and arms to be dropped in the hills for the soldiers. The War ended in a drubbing and Lt Gen Kaul was sacked. But the auditors were at our door.
They wanted me to account for all the equipment and supplies. I had few answers. I told them frankly, that I was only carrying out the boss’ order. Unsatisfied, they recommended action. In the meantime, Sam Bahadur took over as our Corp Commander.
I narrated to him the entire episode. He just said two words, “Don’t Worry.”
And before I knew it, Manekshaw had used his special privilege as a Corp Commander to write off that humungous amount as war losses. And the story ended. He had saved my skin, but he did not even subtly mention the huge favour that he had done.
Sam Maneskshaw was bone honest. Supplies to the Mess would come from Calcutta. Officers would often complain and clamour for a more lavish fare. I told him that this was possible, only that he would get a bad name. He minced no words when he told me, “Don’t listen to them. Do only what is right.”
Sam Bahadur was a very sympathetic man. Yet he was extremely strict and a complete disciplinarian.
It was wartime 1971. Our secrets were being leaked. And we knew of this.
Sam Manekshaw summoned me and two others to his office and told us that the enemy was getting hold of our intelligence information. Something had to be done. And he had a plan. So far, most information would go out as written instructions, coded or otherwise. Which meant it could be officers, or clerks who typed it. He had decided to do away with the system.
While routine information would be typed and sent out, all information related with strategy and intelligence would be sent through us. We would work as liaison officers between him and the field commanders. Manekshaw would give us oral information and we would pass it on word by word. It was a clever move and it worked. Pakistan was foxed.
Then came triumph. Bangladesh had been liberated. Indira Gandhi asked Manekshaw to take the surrender. It was that glorious occasion that would go down in the annals of history. It was his moment under the Sun. Yet, he refused.
Manekshaw told the PM, “My Field Commander will do the honours.” It was an example of his epic generosity.
And forever in time, the image of Lt Gen Jagjit Aurora getting the surrender papers signed by Niazi will hang over our mantle pieces.
When Sam Bahadur visited Dacca, LT Gen Aurora sent him a luxurious car to come. But he refused point blank. “I don’t want to ride in a stolen car, I will travel in our military Jeep,” he quipped.
It was a message he wanted to send out loud and clear. He would not tolerate looting. It speaks volumes of his eminent character that he wanted to ensure dignity in our victory.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was indeed a remarkable officer and a thorough gentleman!
(The author of the piece is a Retired Army officer, who worked for many years under Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, but wishes to remain anonymous)
reach his fifty, brought up his second fifty of just 21ball
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