Every number 10 batsman dreams of pulling off a shock win, of hitting up astorm in the latter stages of a run chase to elevate his team from the depths ofdespair to the dizzying heights of victory. On Thursday, Douglas AnthonyMarillier lived out that dream in full-blooded glory.
With Zimbabwe chasing 275, Marillier played one of the most incredibleone-day innings ever seen. They would have been rejoicing in Harare, Bulawayoand all over Zimbabwe as Marillier scripted one of the most remarkable one-daywins of all time. He brazenly stole the thunder from a marauding Indian side atFaridabad on a pleasant Thursday evening, pulling off the unthinkable with twoballs to spare and winning by just one wicket.
Walking in to bat with Zimbabwe well and truly on the mat at 210/8 in the45th over, Marillier made merry with some memorable shots to stand tall andstrong on an unbeaten 56 off just 24 balls. What made his heroics all the moreincredible was the fact that he ruthlessly punished the best of the bowlers onthe day - Zaheer Khan. For a country that has had little to celebrate of late,this amazing win will be something to cherish for a long time to come.
Beating India on their home soil is not an easy task, although admittedly thefickle nature of one-day cricket makes the job somewhat easier. But after thedismissals of Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell, Zimbabwe never looked likewinning until Marillier took over with his unique style of strokeplay, scoopingthe ball over the wicket-keeper's head numerous times for four. The 23-year-oldright-hander surely added a new term to the cricket vocabulary - "TheDougie shot."
Earlier in the day, Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first on atrack that promised runs by the ton. Dinesh Mongia (25 off 24 balls) and Gangulygave India a brisk start before the former was caught off an inside edge byTatenda Taibu off Heath Streak. Ganguly and VVS Laxman then added 77 runs in14.3 overs, the partnership being broken only when Ganguly (57 off 70 balls) wasbrilliantly stumped by Taibu off Marillier. The Indian skipper, no doubt full ofconfidence after his Test century, smashed two sixes and half-a-dozen boundariesin his commanding knock.
Rahul Dravid (23) was trapped in front of the wicket by Grant Flower(10-0-31-1), easily the pick of Zimbabwe's bowlers. Laxman played his patentedsilken drives through cover and the wristy whips through mid-wicket, signs thatIndia will interpret hopefully as a return to form. The stylish Hyderabadibatsman made 75 off 99 balls with five boundaries before Mohammad Kaif mis-calledduring a run. Laxman ended up at Kaif's end, tragically run out.
India further lost their way as Sanjay Bangar (0) and Ajay Ratra (6) departedin quick succession. It took a whirlwind knock from Ajit Agarkar (40 off 19balls) to propel India to a score of 274 in 50 overs. Agarkar played somerousing shots, punishing some wayward Zimbabwe bowling and carting the ball toall parts of the ground. He hit one mighty six off Streak over mid-wicket andalso struck six fours in his quick-fire knock. Kaif too played a good hand,scoring 39 off 45 deliveries. The two batsmen put together an unbeaten stand of63 runs in just 6.2 overs.
Zimbabwe could not have gotten off to a worse start during their chase of275. Zaheer Khan picked up the wickets of Craig Wishart (1) and pinch-hitterTravis Friend (7) early to send Zimbabwe reeling at 21/2. It was the old firm ofCampbell and Flower that defied the Indian attack, the two senior batsmen adding111 runs for the third wicket and putting the run chase back on track.
Flower was at his usual best, playing the smart sweep shots, the orthodox andthe reverse. The senior Flower struck two huge sixes and eight boundaries toscore 71 off just 72 balls before dragging a ball from Anil Kumble back on tohis stumps. Zaheer was brought back into the attack, and he duly sent backskipper Stuart Carlisle (23) and Campbell (84 off 113 balls). Campbell waslooking particularly dangerous, striking seven fours before being trapped lbw byZaheer.
Zimbabwe found themselves in something of a quagmire when Harbhajan Singhremoved Grant Flower (2) and Heath Streak (1) in the space of four balls. Thevisitors were in a hopeless position in the 45th over on 210/8 before Marillierdecided to come to the party. He proceeded to take 20 runs off Zaheer Khan'sninth over, improvising in stunning manner and using the scoop "Dougie"shot over the wicket-keeper's head to great effect. He also hit one huge sixover square leg in the same over, easing the pressure considerably.
Marillier and Taibu put on 42 runs in just 3.2 overs, but a shocking decisionby the umpire sent back Taibu, supposedly caught behind. Ajay Ratra's appealaimed only to distract the umpire from calling an obvious wide, but it succeededin getting rid of the batsman.
With 23 runs required off the last two overs, Marillier was at his bestagainst Zaheer in the 49th over, playing repeatedly over the keeper's head foreasy runs and making a mockery of the field placements. Zaheer's bowling figuresstood completely wrecked, going from 8-2-15-4 to 10-2-47-4.
Marillier struck two more boundaries in the 50th over, bowled by Kumble(9.4-0-70-1), to register the most astonishing of one-day wins. Marillierremained unbeaten after an explosive innings punctuated with 10 boundaries andthe huge six. Gary Brent remained unbeaten on one, an admiring first-rowspectator to the whirlwind that held centre-stage at the other end.
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