CricFic: INDIA vs ENGLAND (2019 WC FINAL (FICTION))

Let's assume Today is 15th July 2019. And the final of CWC is over so let's draw an imagination about how it may look like and let's get started.

PITCH REPORT : ( Courtesy - Nasser Hussain and Sourav Ganguly)

“There is slight a bit of grass cover on the pitch. So there might be a smile on the fast bowlers but not much as it’s going to be a batting paradise. One side of the boundary is very short so batsmen may like to target that zone as well. Variations will be the key for the bowlers. Win the toss and put runs on the board.”

TOSS : It’s the time for the toss. Nasser Hussain with the two captains and Morgan with the coin. Kohli says ‘Heads’ and heads it is.

India have won the toss and have opted to Bat.

Kohli : “ We are going to bat. As this is the ultimate game you were waiting for so it’s important to put some runs on the board first. Our bowling unit is doing a great job for us as well. Yes they’re(England) a great side right from the beginning of the tournament. So it’s going to be a good game. We are playing with the same team. ”

Morgan : “ It’s a big toss to lose. If you are in front of this packed stadium there will always be a pressure of chasing. But we are very positive and this is a lifetime opportunity for us to make this count. We would be happy to restrict them around 300. Everyone is fit and waiting to cash in. ”

Rohit and Shikhar are out there in the middle. Rohit is going to take the strike. Woakes with the ball in hand.

0.1 : Woakes to Rohit, no run, angles it in and Rohit stays behind the line of the ball to push it out into the on-side

0.5 : Woakes to Dhawan, FOUR, fuller delivery and Dhawan launches that over mid-off for a one bounce four. Hit it really hard.

After 16 overs... India : 107 / 1

Drinks are on the field now! After losing Dhawan early India have recovered very well. Kohli is looking in great touch and Morgan will be worried as the partnership is growing at a very good rate between the world’s number 1 and number 2 ODI batsman.

18.6 : Rashid to Rohit, OUT, Kohli Run Out!! 1 run completed. There was never a two there & Kohli paid the price. Lifted towards long-off and Rohit called for two. Morgan fired an accurate throw to the bowler’s end. Kohli was nowhere in the frame. Huge moment in the game as kohli was looking dangerous and a much needed wicket for England. Kohli run out (Morgan) 55(43)

After 19 overs... India : 124 / 2

49.6 : Archer to Dhoni, FOUR, chopped past the diving backward point fielder. No chance for third man to stop it, It brings up the 350 for India. A great finish indeed by MS.

After 50 overs... India : 351 / 6

First Half review:

After the first half India will be the happier side going into the dressing room and that last ball boundary will provide the psychological advantage as well. It was a complete innings from India.Almost everyone played there part. Hitman missed the Hundred, Kohli & Hardik was brilliant and MSD as usual stood there till the end. Seeing the pitch condition England is not at all out of the game. If they can hold their nerves you never know Morgan, Buttler and others are some serious contenders to make this count for the very fast time. It is going to be a thrilling 2nd half.

0.1 : Shami to Roy, no run, good length ball that might have held onto the pitch a bit, tucked into the leg-side

0.3 : Shami to Bairstow, FOUR, smashed! Short of a length outside off, Bairstow punches it uppishly and clears covers. Bairstow announces his clear intentions.

After 16 overs... England : 98 / 1

Drinks time! After a poor start by Roy England is building a healthy partnership. Bumrah was brilliant in his first spell. Bairstow was dropped by Kedar when he was batting on 17. Will that haunt India? let’s see. A bowling change is taking place and it’s Kuldeep with the ball.

After 48 overs... England : 314 / 5 (England need 38 and 2 overs remaining)

Shami to continue...

48.1 : Shami to Moeen, SIX, Oh! My goodness, this is Hugeeeeeeeeee! , Short of a length from Shami and Moeen was ready for it. Moeen will not going to let it go, He will do whatever it takes to lift the CWC 2019. So 32 from 11.

48.2 : Shami to Moeen, FOUR, Inside edge, luck is favoring the home team here. That was a good delivery but somehow Moeen manages to get an inside edge and it runs away as it is a very fast outfield. 10 of 2 already. Indian supporters are tensed out there. 28 from 10.

48.3 : Shami to Moeen, OUT, BOWLED, exact repetition of 48.2, this time the inside edge goes to hit the leg stamp. Look at the scenes out there in the crowd. They are going crazy. Now they are starting to believe. Shami is fired up and so is the captain. Moeen (b Shami) 31(18)

Final over coming up of this 2019 World Cup. And it’s none other than the number 1 ODI bowler Bumrah with the ball. He is the pick of the bowlers as well. Though Shami gave 16 in his last over still it’s a huge job left for England. 22 needed of 6 balls. Root (96 of 106) and Woakes (6 of 3) are there in the middle with a tough task in hand. Here goes BUMRAH!!!

49.1 : Bumrah to Root, 1 run, Chance of a run out and hardik misses it. Right into the blockhole, Root somehow manages to get bat on ball and runs hard but if hardik was able to manage a direct hit Root was not even in the frame. Singles will not going to help England. 21 of 5 now.

49.2 : Bumrah to Woakes, 2 run, short one around the ribs, Woakes Cross tucks it down to fine leg,Rahul fumbles to gather the ball cleanly and they come back for 2. Oh! This man is so unpredictable. Woakes was expecting a yorker for sure.Indians fans are starting to sing ‘Jay ho’ in the crowd. Look at Morgan at dressing room, all the dreams are starting to fed away. 19 of 4 now.

49.3 : Bumrah to woakes , 1 run, the dead yorker it is(146.2 kmph). How can anyone be this perfect? Woakes just blocks and takes a single. Root is on 97. And England need 3 sixes in 3 balls.

49.4 : Bumrah to Root, 3 runs, misses a yorker by a very small margin and it turns into a low full toss and root played a smart shot but an exceptional work by shami at the boundary line saves the boundary and they ran 3. That brings up the hundred for Root. He is not at all excited. Though the claps are spotted in the England dressing room but hardly with any happiness. 15 of 2. Be aware of No balls and Wide balls.

49.5 : Bumrah to Woakes, 1 run, change of pace from Bumrah. So final ball coming up 14 of 1.

49.6 : Bumrah to Root, 1 run, good length delivery. India beat England by 12 runs. Look at the scenes at the stadium. Crowd erupts. The whole dressing room is coming out in coming out in the middle. Yes INDIA did it once again and this time it’s VIRAT who leaded from the front. Look at Hardik and Chahal, they are feeling out of the world, actually the whole 130 cr is feeling the same.