M & Ms - Murali & Mendis
by utpIt was one delicious spin performance. The best batsmen against spin, the Indians playing the best spinner in the world today, the Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan. But he was not alone this time. He has a new partner, the new sensation, Ajantha Mendis.
The scene was set, 1st Test, Colombo and the Sri Lankan posting a mammoth 600 runs on the board before coming on to bowl for the first time in the match. Thanks to 4 century makers against a mediocre Indian bowling lineup.
Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, did not waste too much before letting the debutant, Mendis play his magic. He was in the attack in the 10th over of the innings. Where people have seen Muralitharan and his magic his 5 wickets were of not that much attention than Mendis’ 4-72 in the first innings.
With Indian batsmen getting bowled out at 223, they were still 377 runs behind and obvious follow-on staring in their face. Jayawardene must have been the luckiest captain to be in such an easy decision. He made them follow-on and Murali and Mendis were back at it quickly. The match ending on the 4th day even after the 1st day pretty much getting washed out with Sri Lanka winning by an innings 239 runs.
The Indian batsmen didn’t know what hit them. Murali ended with match figures of 11 wickets for 110 runs and the debutant Mendis ended with 8 wickets for 132 runs. A complete spinning devastation of the Indian batting lineup which boasted the great names of Sachin Tendular, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and V.V.S Laxman. Nobody had an answer.
This is by far the best spinning duo I have ever seen and there is lots more to come. All I could think of after this delicious performance was M & Ms. Murali & Mendis.
15 Responses to “M & Ms - Murali & Mendis”
By Naked Cricket on Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
M and Ms alright - like 2 call them M1 and M2, and for India it was MI1 and MI2.
still feel, we were better at being bad more than they were at being good. Mind freeze.
By Wasim on Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
It was mind boggling the way the Indian team batted against the two M’s, if it was a T20 match all those reckless swipes and heaves could have been justified but it was a Test match and an experienced Indian line up failed to apply themselves,nobody tried to play a grinding innings,the best way to play good spin is to put your head down use your bat and bat together and play a long grinding innings. You cannot play Murali and Mendis in a care less fashion.
By utp on Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
@naked cricket - well i guess i ve heard that many times when the Indians lose hehhe…isn’t that what its all about…who is good on the day or in the case of test matches….who is good in the session?
@wasim - i think they just didn’t know what to do…and ended up going with the ATTACK strategy…which never really works in test matches…not against spinners anyway…
By Straight Point on Jul 28, 2008 | Reply
i sense some un-easyness in our camp…i also guess that by the time series ends one spot in middle will be open…and available…
By Apurv Sardeshmukh on Jul 28, 2008 | Reply
M and M completely destroyed the Indians. They made the suppossed best batting line up in the world look like an inter school team.
By utp on Jul 28, 2008 | Reply
@straight point - well to take it a little easy on them…it was the first time against Mendis…it may not be the same in the next match…I think Mendis is pickable from the hand…his best way forward would be to have so much variety…that even if someone tries to pick him from the hand…he would still have…enough for the batsman to wait for the ball to bounce…cos if he doesn’t that the better batsmen in the world would pick him up…
@apurv - welcome..sir…they sure did…it would be great for them to somehow come back…strongly…
By charn on Jul 28, 2008 | Reply
@UTP - Matter of time before M2 (mendis) will be smashed all over by the Indian batsmen ..wait for the 2nd test match and we will talk abt this more ..
By utp on Jul 29, 2008 | Reply
hey Charn…welcome back…I am not counting out the Indians at all…and in fact looking forward to a battle…
By Avnish on Aug 2, 2008 | Reply
It was a classic case of having to choose between the devil and deep blue sea. No escaping for the Indian batsmen. I am looking forward to other nations facing the spin twins
By utp on Aug 2, 2008 | Reply
@avnish - absolutely, I don’t think anyone would fare against them…in the near future…Murali has been there since forever and still runs terror through everybody…Sri Lanka can be pretty safe for a next decade or so…
oh btw….don’t be surprised to see some bowling action controversy….hehehe…that is the first round of attack that the Australians play when any new threat comes…
By Isaac on Aug 8, 2008 | Reply
We’ve been covering the Sri Lankan one day series on my blog recently.
By scorpicity on Aug 8, 2008 | Reply
Who does srilanka play next… any idea
By utp on Aug 8, 2008 | Reply
@isaac - ahan…I have been reading hehhe dont worry…
@scorpicity - its the champion’s trophy next in September…
By Soulberry on Aug 14, 2008 | Reply
My best wishes to you Umar, and all Pakistan friends who read here, on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence day.
By the way, I notice you are a bit of a Rafa fan…count me in as a big-time Rafararian!
By utp on Aug 17, 2008 | Reply
@soulberry - many thanks. Big Rafa fan…you got that one right…