Rain, No Play

   

It's all set now. India will meet Pakistan in the first ever Twenty20 World Cup final. Today, Pakistan dumped New Zealand while India crashed Australia's party, sending them to their third loss of the tournament and back home. There are subplots to these two results namely New Zealand's failure again, following their semi final loss in the ODI World Cup, to make the big game, as well as Australia's stunning failures in a championship. The real story however is the big matchup between these two subcontinent foes, who earlier in the tournament played to a stunning tie that was decided in a bowl off which India won.

   

With Pakistan chasing 142 for victory they came into the final over needing 12 runs - a very gettable feat. The task became even more simple when a four pull the scores level with Pakistan having 2 balls left. A dot ball followed and then a spectacular run out off the final ball to leave the two teams tied. The Indians celebrated wildly while the Pakistanis were stunned.

   

   

The bowl out then decided the match, as the first three Indian bowlers hit the stumps, while incredibly, no Pakistani could, leading the Indians to a 3-0 bowl out win. The bowl out proved to be thrilling although it was an almost farcical ending to a cricket match, with the bowlers ability to hit the stumps being the deciding factor. Maybe a better way for tied matches to be decided would be each side bowling one over with its best bowler to the opposition's best batsmen?

   

The final promises to be a humdinger with the two most populous cricketing nations facing off. Reaching this far must also bee sweet for both teams after their disastrous performances in the ODI World Cup. On their way to the finals Pakistan have won all their matches, except for the match they lost on the bowl off to India, while India have only lost to New Zealand in the Super Eights. Both teams topped their respective groups in the Super Eights and are deserved finalists as the best two teams on show in the competition. Will it be Pakistan (which probably should have won the first match with India), or India, which had only ever played one Twenty20 International before the tournament and which left big names like Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Kumble out of its team? Whatever the outcome, the final on Monday promises to be a thriller.

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