Barring a couple of hiccups, it turned out to be a Super Sunday. The two setbacks include an on-field result and a dinner-table disaster. Those later. Let’s first talk about the Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn combo and what they did against Royal Challengers Bangalore. I must admit that in the morning I was nervous.
I badly wanted an eighth win and inch closer to a playoff berth. Winning the toss helped our cause on a small ground. On a slow pitch our bowlers laid a fantastic foundation by dismissing Gayle, De Villiers and Virat for peanuts. Once they were gone, we knew we could restrict RCB to a manageable total.
Chasing 159, our brief to Lynn and Sunil was to go hard at the bowlers in first six overs. But guess they were following a manual! They didn’t go hard, they decimated the attack. In my entire career, I haven’t seen such consistent hitting from both ends.
I was nervous for Lynn, as he was coming back from injury. It is never easy. But the way he batted showed his faith in his game, underlined by how mentally strong he is. He blasted two fours and a six in the first over. Once again, no half measures, all muscled punches. I have seen this with the likes of Sehwags and Warners, they all want to make a statement real fast and impose themsleves on the scene. Lynn is cut from the same fabric.
The audience were warming up to the Lynn show, it promised to be a blockbuster. That’s when Sunil’s caravan came announcing its presence. I don’t know if there is a history between Samuel Badree and Sunil but my man runs after him. Three sixes and a four were pinched off a Badree over. Sunil had robbed Lynn of limelight. But unlike the Aussie, the West Indian relied on timing and finesse.
Their batting styles were as contrasting as their hairstyles — Lynn has a no-nonsense shaven head, while Sunil a carefully crafted Mohawk. Lynn seems to be that in-your-face romantic who at times can be boorish. While Sunil says it with flowers, chocolates and that delicate chivalry.
We were 105 without loss in just six overs. This brisk pace meant lesser mortals like me could yawn before and after scoring every run. I am sorry if I bored you but it is difficult to match the Lynn-Sunil hitting. I have coined a name for the duo “SuLynn” which sounds a bit like insulin. May be it is apt, as both provide energy shots!
Another man who brings energy to us is fast bowler Umesh Yadav. He got both Gayle and Virat. I thought the back-of-the-hand slower one to get Virat was special. You need immense control for such deliveries.
The two hiccups I spoke about came after we won. I am a crazy Manchester United fan and have not taken too kindly to their loss to Arsenal. I know they didn’t have their top team for this clash and etc. But a loss is a loss. In the end the story reads Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0. The other was a poorly made chicken tikka masala for dinner. Generally I can’t pardon either, but may be Sunday was different, thanks to SuLynn. Dinesh Chopra Media