The triumphs and tribulations over centuries of the Gohil Rajput dynasty of Rajpipla

That a dynasty with an unbroken line of 1400 years would have experienced many triumphs and tribulations is stating the obvious. The germination - which really was the resurrection - of the Guhilots or the Gohil Rajput dynasty was itself in the face of a massive defeat and the destruction of their ancient kingdom of Vallabhi.

They were also known as Guhilputra, the name derived from ‘guhu’, which means cave. The founder of the Gohil clan, Muhideosur Gohadit (Guhil) was born in a cave in 542 A.D. after the fall of Vallabhi, and so the dynasty came to be known as Gohil. His father, the King of Vallabhi, along with the rest of the kinsmen had been killed in the bloody battle. After giving birth, his mother handed over the baby to a Brahmin lady, and then committed sati.

From such traumatic circumstances sprung the mighty Gohil clan that gave rise to several lines of kings and rulers across Gujarat, Rajputana, Saurashtra, Madhya Bharat, Maharashtra and even the Deccan and Nepal.

Young Guhil became chief of a hilly tract of forests near modern Idar in north Gujarat in 556 A.D., and held sway till he died around 603 A.D. The clan consolidated and expanded its kingdom over the next two centuries.

It was in 735 A.D. that his descendant Bappa Rawal, or Kalbhoj, captured Chittor Fort and founded the kingdom of Mewar that survived the vicissitudes of history until the middle of the 20th century.

Long before that, however,  Salivahan, son of Narvahan, King of Mewar, and 11th in descent to Bappa Rawal, migrated with part of the Gohil clan from Mewar in 973 A.D., leaving behind his son Shakti Kumar with the rest of his people. They settled at Juna Khergarh, which they made their capital on the Luni River (present-day Bhalotra near Jodhpur) in Marwar. There is still a village there called ‘Gohilon ki Dhani’. For two and a quarter centuries, the Gohil dynasty thus ruled Mewar as well as Marwar.

The Gohils reigned in Marwar for 20 generations till the early years of the 13th century. They were displaced by the Rathores, who were driven out of Kannauj (in modern Uttar Pradesh) following the invasion of Muhammad Ghori and the establishment of the Slave dynasty. In 1211, the Rathores founded the kingdom of Marwar, which later came to be known as Jodhpur.

Under their chief Mohodas, the Gohil clan then marched back to Saurashtra after nearly five hundred years, to the court of the great Chalukya ruler Sidhraj Singh. They were granted a jagir in modern Gohilwar, thus becoming governors of the Chalukyas.

Meanwhile the Gohils of Mewar were attacked by Ala-ud-din Khilji’s army in 1303 in which all the women committed Jauhar and the men were killed in battle. Thereafter Hamir Singh Gohil, a descendant 13 generations apart, was brought from Mount Sisoda where he lived, and installed in Chittor. The Gohils of Mewar then assumed the name Sisodia. They shifted their capital to Udaipur in 1559.

To the Gohils were born valiant warriors like Maharana Sanga and Maharana Pratap, the rulers of Mewar who by then had assumed the name Sisodia, and the legendary Maratha King Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, all of whom refused to bow to the might of the Mughals. The kingdoms that stemmed from the Sisodias of Mewar were Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh and Shahpura in Rajasthan, and Barwani in Madhya Pradesh. A branch of the Sisodias also migrated north and became the powerful Rana prime ministers of Nepal. In Maharashtra the Gohils assumed the name Bhonsle and founded kingdoms like Satara, Kolhapur, Nagpur, and Sawantwadi. In the south they founded the kingdom of Thanjavur.   

The ‘Ruling Princes and Chiefs of India’ published by The Times of India in 1930 noted that: “No single portion of the vast and vulnerable land of Ind is wrapt deeper in the fascinating glamour of immemorial legend, tradition and romance than is Kathiawar, the ancient territory of the Vallabhi kings. To Kathiawar journeyed the mighty Gohils, that historic Rajput tribe whose very name signifies ‘the strength of the earth’, centuries before Norman William fought Saxon Harold at Senlac. Originally, as it would seem, vassals of the Vallabhi kings, the Gohils, by degrees conquered the greater portion of Kathiawar, until they permanently rooted themselves in the soil of Saurashtra. They were fighters ever, these men – warriors to the bone and marrow. Sejakji – Ranoji – Mokhdaji – what memories of raid and foray, of pitched battle, of fierce siege do these names not recall! It was Mokhdaji, it may be remembered, who took Ghogha from its Mohamedan defenders and made of Perim a royal capital. Mighty in physical stature as he was in deeds of derring do, he died fighting against Muhammad Tughlaq on Ghogha soil, leaving behind him a name never to be forgotten in the annals of Saurashtra.”

Sejakji (Sahajigji) was twenty-third in descent to Salivahan. He was chief of the Gohil clan from 1240, governor, commanding officer of King Kumarpal’s army and right-hand man of the Solankis, a branch of the Chalukyas. Sejakji befriended Rah (Rao) Mahipal, King of Saurashtra, whose capital was Junagarh, and married his daughter Valumkunverba (Amarkunvari) to Khengar (Kawat), the heir apparent (Jayamal) of Saurashtra. Sejakji received Shahpur along with 24 villages in jagir, in the midst of which he founded a capital in 1250, naming it Sejakpur after himself. He added 40 villages by force of arms, before his death in 1254.

Somraj succeded as chief after the death of Sejakji, whose other two sons Shahji and Sarangji received jagirs in Mandvi and Arthilla, which later became the kingdoms of Palitana and Lathi. Part of folklore is the stirring tale of Hamirji Gohil, a 16-year-old and newly-married chieftain of Lathi, who sacrificed his life in 1401 defending the Somnath temple from the attack of Muzaffar Shah. Hamirji Gohil’s cenotaph still stands at the entrance to the temple.

Mulraj, brother of Somraj, was governor of Sorath. He died in 1290, by when had also carved out an independent principality Ghogha, with capital at Piram (or Pirambet), an island in the Gulf of Cambay, near present day Bhavnagar.

Ranoji became Gohil chief in 1290. He established a new Gohil capital at Ranpur but was expelled from there and slain by Muslim invaders in 1309.

Mokhdaji succeeded his father Ranoji and conquered Umrala from the Kolis, and wrested back Piram (Ghogha) from the Muslims. A master of naval warfare, he controlled the sea trade, to the ire of the Delhi Sultanate. Eventually, he succumbed to sword wounds inflicted in battle by the army of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1347, a legend never to be forgotten in the folklore of Gohilwar.

Mokhdaji had married a Sarviya princess of Hathasani in Kathiawar. Their son Dungarsinhji succeeded as chief, and later his descendant Bhavsinhji founded the capital city of Bhavnagar in 1723. His second wife was a Parmar princess of Rajpipla, daughter of Chokrana, ruler of Junaraj (Old Rajpipla) in the western Satpuras, which was earlier part of the Imperial kingdom of Ujjain. The son of Mokhdaji Gohil and the Parmar princess, Samarsinhji, succeeded to the gadi of Rajpipla on the death of his maternal grandfather Chokrana, who had no male issue. Samarsinhji assumed the name of Arjunsinhji.

Arjunsinhji thus became the first Gohil Rajput ruler of Rajpipla State around the middle of the 14th century. The Gohils of Rajpipla continued to worship the deity of the Parmars, Shri Harsiddhi Mataji. 

The Gohil dynasty retained a tenuous hold on the hill tracts of the Satpuras with the help of the Bhils, the local tribals, through diplomacy, grit, courage and, at times, submission. Whenever the opportunity arose, the rulers allied themselves with other Hindu chiefs to expand their territory. Through all the turbulent years the Gohil kingdom of Rajpipla survived despite being hemmed in by such powerful Muslim kingdoms as Gujarat, Malwa and Khandesh, and the Bahamani Kingdom, and later the Gaekwars.

The Gohils consolidated their rule over Rajpipla for a few decades under Arjunsinhji and his son Bhansinhji. Adversity though came in 1413 just when Gomelsinhji had succeed to the gadi. Rajpipla was overrun by Sultan Muhammad I of Gujarat. Gomelsinhji was forced to flee his capital. In 1416, there was defeat again at Modasa at the hands of Sultan Ahmad Shah I of Gujarat. Sultan Hoshang Shah of Malwa had invaded Gujarat on the invitation of Rana Gomelsinhji, who had allied himself with the rulers of Idar and Champaner against Ahmad Shah.

In the midst of such hostility, and barely able to exercise control over his territories, Gomelsinhji died in 1421. He was succeeded by Vijaypalji.

Again in 1431, during the rule of Harisinhji, Rajpipla was attacked by Sultan Ahmad Shah I of Gujarat. Rana Harisinhji was also forced to flee his capital, but he was a brave ruler and he reconquered the State in 1443, in alliance with Sultan Hoshang Shah of Malwa, despite being in exile for 12 years. This was at a time when Sultan Ahmad Shah’s successor, Sultan Muhammad Shah II of Gujarat, was occupied in fighting against Mewar and Champaner. Harisinhji died in 1463.

For nearly a century-and-a-half after the reconquer of the territories, the principality of Rajpipla held a very independent position. At this time the territory seemed to have been confined to the wilder and more hilly parts of Rajpipla and western Khandesh, Nandod (modern Rajpipla town), and probably including districts along both sides of the Narmada, and south to near the Tapti.       

Maharana Bhim Dev of Rajpipla helped Prince Latif Khan, half brother of Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. In the ensuing battle in 1526, Bhim Dev was killed.

To avenge the killing of his father, Maharana Raisinhji plundered Dahod. A punitive expedition sent to Rajpipla ravaged the area for several months without much success.  The submission seems to have been token as Rajpipla mercenaries (Bhil and Koli feudatories)  attacked Bahadur Shah’s troops, unaware that this army was taking Sultan Mahmud Shah Khilji of Malwa in captivity to Champaner after the capture of Mandu on 25 May 1531. In this attack, Sultan Mahmud Shah and his sons were also killed. The next year Bahadur Shah himself led the field and secured Rajpipla’s submission. Raisinhji died in 1543.

After the fall of Chittor in 1567, Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar sought and received shelter in Rajpipla which was then ruled by its eleventh Gohil chieftain Maharana Bhairavsinhji. Reference to this can be found in ‘Veer Vinod’.

Ironically, the next ruler Maharana Pruthuraj ji gave refuge to the last Sultan of Gujarat, Muzaffar Shah, incurring the wrath of Emperor Akbar. The Imperial troops led by Mirza Khan Khas took Gujarat in 1584. Akbar then levied a tribute of Rs.35,556 on Rajpipla, along with a contingent of 1,000 men to be furnished to the Mughal army. The district of Nandod was granted to Haider Kuli Khan. This arrangement continued till the last years of Emperor Aurangzeb’s reign when the payments not only became irregular but were altogether evaded when possible. Pruthuraj ji died in 1593.

The 26th Gohil ruler Maharana Verisalji I came to the gadi in 1705. With the weakening of the Mughal Empire, Verisalji I asserted his independence and the same year laid waste south Gujarat. A force sent by Aurangzeb was defeated in alliance with Maratha Damaji Jadhav at Ratanpur. Verisalji I also brought an incarnation of the Kul Devi or family deity of the Gohil clan Shri Harsiddhi Mataji from Ujjain.

After his death in1715, his son Maharana Jeetsinhji forged a treaty with Maharaja Peelaji Rao Gaekwar and succeeded in wresting Nandod (New Rajpipla in the plains on the banks of the river Karjan, now modern town of Rajpipla) in 1730 and transferred the capital there. He died at the Fort, Rajpipla in 1754.

Allies now turned foes during the rule of his successor Maharana Pratapsinhji as the Marathas under Damaji Rao Gaekwar overran Rajpipla and exacted tribute. Upon his death in 1764, the mantle passed on to his son Raisinhji. In 1764, a neice of young Maharana Raisinhji was espoused to Damaji Rao Gaekwar, who renounced part of the tribute. Raisinhji died in 1786 without male issue, and was succeeded by his younger brother Ajabsinhji.

It was a trying time as Umed Vasava, the Bhil chief of Sagbara revolted in 1793, and the Gaekwar raised the tribute. Internal power struggles led to interference and arbitration by the Gaekwars. With the intervention of British Agent Willoughby, Maharana Ajabsinhji’s third (and second surviving) son, Naharsinhji was appointed Regent, also in 1793. Ajabsinhji died on 15th January 1803.

He was succeeded by his second and eldest surviving son of Ramsinhji. Following differences with his father, Maharana Ajabsinhji, he had moved to Mandwa. Then with the help of the Chief of Mandwa had attacked Rajpipla but was defeated. He fled to Mandwa. On a promise of pardon, Ramsinhji returned to Rajpipla but was imprisoned at the Fort, while his younger brother Naharsinhji was appointed Regent. On the death of Maharana Ajabsinhji, the soldiers refused to accept as ruler the younger brother Naharsinhji. Ramsinhji ascended the gadi on 30th January 1803 at Junaraj.

When Maharana Ramsinhji died on 10th May 1810, Naharsinhji once again asserted his claim. A period of family intrigue followed. Maharana Ramsinhji’s widow Rani Surat Kunverba, daughter of the Chief of Mandwa, tried to place their putative son Pratapsinhji on the gadi. Meanwhile Naharsinhji had contracted smallpox in the epidemic of 1803, resulting in blindness and making him ineligible to rule, according to ancient Rajput tradition. Seizing the opportunity, Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda raised the tribute payable by Rajpipla and took over the administration of the State. The Gaekwar was in no hurry to settle the dispute and his officers mismanaged the affairs of Rajpipla. Ultimately the British authorities intervened again, and after a detailed enquiry decided that Pratapsinhji was not Maharana Ramsinhji’s son. They ensured that Naharsinhji’s son Verisalji succeeded to the gadi on 9th August 1821.

Barely 13 years of age, Verisalji II was installed as ruler on 15th November 1821 at Junaraj. He entered into an engagement with the British, binding himself and his successors to act in conformity with the advice of the British government. The Gaekwar gave up his claim. By 1825 a final settlement was reached with the Gaekwar. It was decided that a sum of Rs.7,30,000 (₤ 73,000) would be payable to the Gaekwar, and disbursed by 1833-34.

Verisalji II inherited a troubled legacy. His rule began in the backdrop of the great flood in the Narmada in September 1821. At the same time, a general uprising of the Bhils took place under the Chieftain of Sagbara, Rai Sinh of Rahooba, and Baiji Damia of Tilakwada. This was contained in 1823. Soon there was an uprising in Khandesh, which was quelled.

Rajpipla under Maharana Verisalji II rebelled against the British during the Mutiny of 1857. It is said that Tantia Tope was co-ordinating the revolt in the entire area comprising Rajpipla, Godhra and Dahod. Rajpipla State was out of control of the British for many months before the Mutiny was quelled.

In 1858, power passed from the East India Company to the British Crown. The Bhils of Sagbara rebelled yet again in 1859, and were finally suppressed in 1860. Verisalji II abdicated in favour of his son Gambhirsinhji on 17th November 1860. Apparently, the abdication of Maharana Verisalji II came about as a result of pressure from the British for the revolt during the Mutiny. A heavier price was paid by the Dewan of Rajpipla who was executed by the British. Maharana Verisalji II died at Nandod in 1868.    

Under the paramountcy of the British crown, the Indian rulers were relieved of the threat of external aggression and could devote their energies to development works and reforms. Maharana Gambhirsinhji, though, had an uneasy relationship with the British. Having reigned under a Council of Superintendence until he came of age, he was invested with full ruling powers in 1863. Unhappy with the financial management, the British placed the State under the joint management of its own officer along with State officials in 1884. A sole British administrator assumed charge of affairs in 1887. Be that as it may, during Maharana Gambhirsinhji's reign there was an improvement in the police, he built schools, a dispensary and a jail, and spent Rs.2,00,000 (₤ 20,000) on a road 34½ miles long from Nandod (New Rajpipla) to Ankleshwar railway station, which is a major link even today.  Rajpipla State had its own postal system during his reign.

Maharana Chhatrasinhji succeeded on the death of his father 10th January 1897. He vowed never to allow his State to be taken over again and set about instituting a programme of reform and development. Instrumental in saving thousands of lives during the epic famines of 1899-1902, he granted famine relief during this period amounting to Rupees 9,00,000. He built the 40-mile Ankleshwar-Rajpipla railway line.

The 36th and last Gohil Rajput ruler of Rajpipla, Maharana Vijaysinhji, succeeded to the gadi on 26th September 1915. He condolidated the work of his grandfather and father, and has been hailed as the builder of modern Rajpipla. Granted the hereditary title of Maharaja by the British, his permanent salute was raised to 13-guns.

Maharaja Vijaysinhji carried out extensive administrative, judicial, police, education, health and agriculture reforms, and introduced numerous welfare schemes. He constructed a large high school, a modern civil hospital, maternity home, five regional dispensaries, and a veterinary hospital. A power house was set up to supply electricity and water to Rajpipla town. He was planning to build a dam across the Narmada to generate electricity, supply drinking water and for irrigation. The State was merged before this dream could be realized. But it was a precursor to the modern Sardar Sarovar Dam, which has become a lifeline for the people of Gujarat and south Rajasthan.

He extended the railway line from the old station to the new station right on the edge of Rajpipla town by building an iron bridge over the River Karjan. He also set up a 20-mile railway line between the Narmada bank near Jhagadia – on the Rajpipla-Ankleshwar line  – and Netrang, increasing the network to 60 miles. He had a 19-mile steam railroad and a tramway laid out connecting the towns along the river Narmada with villages in the interior.

An extensive network of good motorable roads was set up. He put up an airstrip on which small planes landed as early as the 1930s, and had plans to convert it into a 150-acre aerodrome.

The introduction of town planning methods were evident in a modern bazaar with a wide central avenue, town hall, public garden, congregation centres for various communities and guest house that were built during his reign of nearly 33 years.

Sports were made compulsory for students in Rajpipla State. The dhaba ground hosted several sports like cricket, football and hockey. The Maharaja built a club with tennis and indoor badminton courts, facilities for billiards and table tennis, and a polo ground.

When the winds of change blew, Maharaja Vijaysinhji was one of the first rulers to hand over his State to the forces of Indian democracy in 1948, thus bringing down the curtain on the 600-year-old rule of the Gohil Rajput dynasty over the principality of Rajpipla, and a 1400-year history of valour, strife and glory of the clan.

To keep intact such a long line and to retain their territories over this enormous period was a task of mammoth proportions. Uneasy does indeed lie the head that wears the crown. That kingship is not a bed of roses is a lesson re-learnt from the history of the valiant Gohil Rajput clan.

Invasion of Rajpipla by Emperor Akbar, and re-capture of its territories by the rulers of Rajpipla 121 years later

The 12^th Gohil Rajput ruler of Rajpipla Maharana Prithuraj ji, who ruled from 1583 to 1593, gave refuge to the last Sultan of Gujarat Muzaffar Shah, thus incurring the wrath of Emperor Akbar. The Imperial troops led by Mirza Khan Khas took Gujarat in 1584. Akbar then levied a tribute of Rs.35,556 on Rajpipla, along with a contingent of 1,000 men to be furnished to the Mughal army. The district of Nandod (the area comprising the plains of the principality of Rajpipla) was granted by Akbar to Haider Kuli Khan.

With the Mughal empire at its zenith, the writ of the next thirteen rulers of Rajpipla was confined to the forests of the western Satpuras, seat of power being at the Fort at Junaraj (Old Rajpipla).

Maharana Verisalji I, the 26^th Gohil Rajput ruler of Rajpipla ascended the gadi in 1705. With the Mughal Empire weakening, Maharana Verisalji I asserted his independence the same year and laid waste south Gujarat. A force sent by Emperor Aurangzeb was defeated in alliance with Maratha Damaji Jadhav at Ratanpur. The tribute and troops furnished by Rajpipla to the Mughals since the invasion of Akbar became irregular and were soon discontinued completely. Maharana Verisalji I died in 1715.

His son Maharana Jeetsinhji forged a treaty with Maharaja Peelaji Rao Gaekwar and succeeded in wresting Nandod (New Rajpipla in the plains on the banks of the river Karjan, now modern town of Rajpipla) in 1730 and transferred the capital there. He is said to have brought an incarnation of Harsiddhi Mataji, the Kul Devi, or family deity of the Gohil Rajput clan of Rajpipla from Ujjain and established her temple at Nandod.  Maharana Jeetsinhji died at the Fort, Junaraj in 1754, having recaptured lost territories and restored the glory of the kingdom of Rajpipla.

‘Indian Spring’ - cricket World Cup book and e-book by Indra Vikram Singh

Indian Spring

by Indra Vikram Singh

~ A-4 size    ~ All-colour    ~ 216 pages    ~ 60 photographs

INDIA’S WIN IN THE CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011

A colourful commercial extravaganza

10 Classic Matches

12 Memorable Performances

Hall of Fame featuring 29 stars

Scorecards of all the 49 matches

Batting and bowling averages of all the players

Sidelights

Records and statistics of all World Cup tournaments from 1975 to 2011…..

…..AND A CURTAIN RAISER TO THE CRICKET WORLD CUP 2015

Limited collector’s edition digitally printed

E-book

For queries please email to singh_iv@hotmail.com

World Cup debutants revel on the first three riveting days of the 2015 event

Debutants shone in their first appearances in the cricket World Cup as the 2015 event got off to an exciting start. Australian opener Aaron Finch led the way with a brilliant hundred. Glenn Maxwell joined in the run-spree, smashing a 30-ball half-century. Lanky English paceman Steven Finn rounded off the innings with a hat-trick, thereby bagging a five-wicket haul. This was the eighth hat-trick in the World Cup, with Malinga snatching two of them. Paceman Mitchell Marsh grabbed five wickets of his own, even as James Taylor battled it out in vain for England with an unbeaten 98. All this happened on the opening day even as these played soaked in the premier tournament for the first time.

When Mitchell Marsh walked on to the field, he completed the fourth combination of father and son to have played in the World Cup. Geoff Marsh was vice captain of the Aussie 1987 Cup-winning side. For New Zealand, Lance Cairns played in 1975, 1979 and 1983 and offspring Chris Cairns turned out in 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003. Don Pringle appeared for East Africa in 1975 while his son Derek Pringle represented England in 1987 and 1992. English opener Chris Broad took the field for England in 1987; two decades later Stuart Broad emerged and is now turning out in his third World Cup. If Stuart Binny is selected in the playing eleven for India, he will emulate his father Roger who was leading wicket-taker when India wrested the title in 1983, and went on to play in the 1987 event as well.

Not to be outdone, South Africa’s David Miller hit a superb century of his own, and shared a record fifth-wicket partnership with Jean-Paul Duminy in all One-day Internationals, even as Zimbabwe put up a determined fight. Miller sent the spectators into a frenzy as he blasted 30 runs in an over.

In the needle encounter with Pakistan, as Virat Kohli carved out his second hundred in the World Cup to go with his maiden one on debut in 2011, Sohail Khan captured five Indian wickets. The complete list of bowlers who have had five-wicket returns on World Cup debut is Gary Gilmour, Dennis Lillee, Austin Codrington, Damien Fleming, Ravi Rampaul, Steven Finn, Mitchell Marsh and Sohail Khan. India’s Mohammad Shami had four scalps to show as he bowled for the first time in the showpiece event.

While Ireland were upstaging the West Indies in spectacular fashion, Lendl Simmons put up a sterling show with a fighting century. This completed a full complement of batsmen scoring hundreds on World Cup debut thus far comprising Glenn Turner, Dennis Amiss, Allan Lamb, Trevor Chappell, Geoff Marsh, Andy Flower, Nathan Astle, Gary Kirsten, Craig Wishart, Scott Styris, Andrew Symonds, Jeremy Bray, Virat Kohli, Aaron Finch, David Miller and Lendl Simmons.

World Cup debutants indeed made the first three days of the 2015 tournament memorable with bat as well as ball, leaving fans yearning for more exhilarating fare.

(For more updates on the cricket World Cup 2015 please see my other blog singhiv.wordpress.com too).

Five stalwarts to look out for in the cricket World Cup 2015: 5. Lasith Malinga. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s new book ‘Indian Spring’

Slinging in the lethal yorkers

Balls…..642

Wickets…..31

Average…..17.87

Best…..6/38

Economy-rate…..5.17

Catches…..2

A quaint action somewhere between the underarm and the overarm, facilitating the slipping in of lethal yorkers beneath the willow, putting at risk batsmen’s toes as much as the base of stumps, a thick mop of streaked curly locks bouncing in his spirited run-up, have made the little pace dynamo unique as well as an unforgettable character of the game. Lasith Malinga is as original as one can find, a strike bowler like no other.

The bemused batsmen from Bermuda would have seen nothing like him. Like the other bowlers he enjoyed the easy picking, returning with an analysis of 5-2-10-3. The newcomers collapsed to 78 all out.

Having upset India, Bangladesh could not offer much resistance to the Lankan attack. Malinga had Tamim Iqbal caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara. He then got Aftab Ahmed to top-edge a short ball, for Sanath Jayasuriya to take the skier at square-leg. Mohammad Ashraful used the long handle against him, crashing 2 fours each off two consecutive overs, but in different spells. Malinga, though, had tailender Abdur Razzak snapped up by Sangakkara again as the delivery took off from a length just outside off. Bangladesh were bowled out for 112 in 37 overs. Malinga’s booty this time was three for 27 off 6 overs. 

A desperate India could not mount a challenge and packed up for 185. Malinga picked up a late wicket. Sri Lanka had won all their Group B matches with ease, their bowling outfit having cleaned up all 30 wickets.

It was in the super-eight clash with South Africa that Malinga created a sensation towards the end. After 7 overs he had taken no wicket, having conceded 43 runs. Chasing a target of 210, the Proteas were sailing at 206 for five in the 45th over. Malinga’s fifth delivery was a slower one that foxed Shaun Pollock and hit his leg-stick. Next ball, Andrew Hall spooned a yorker into the hands of Upul Tharanga in the covers. One run came off the next over. Jacques Kallis, batting on 86, tried to finish off the match by square-driving the first delivery of Malinga’s next over, but to his chagrin only edged it into the gloves of Sangakkara. Malinga had grabbed the fifth hat-trick of the World Cup as the nervous South Africans searched for those winning runs. Makhaya Ntini could barely get his bat down before the lethal yorker smashed into his middle stump. Malinga had created a sensation around the Providence Stadium with his four-in-four devastation. He conceded just one run in his last four deliveries as the batsmen fiddled around, barely surviving. A maiden followed, and then Malinga’s first delivery missed the outside edge by a whisker. Amid mounting tension, Robin Peterson edged the next to the boundary, just managing to pull off a win by one wicket. Malinga returned with four wickets for 54, nearly sneaking a highly improbable win. It is drama like this that Malinga is always likely to conjour. He shared the man-of-the-match award with Charl Langeveldt who had a five-wicket haul to his name.              

Once Sri Lanka had posted 303 for five, hosts West Indies were subdued easily. Chris Gayle was sucked into Malinga’s delivery way outside off, hitting a steepler that was taken at long-on, the first wicket to fall at 20. Shivnaraine Chanderpaul, playing a strange kind of innings having scored 17 off 53 balls without a boundary, suddenly decided to alter his plans. He hit an off-side four and then used the long handle against Muttiah Muralitharan, periodically launching the great off-spinner for 4 sixes. As Malinga bowled the first ball of the 42nd over, Chanderpaul sent it sailing over square-leg for his 5th six. Predictably, Malinga yorked him off-stump next ball. Sri Lanka went on to register a 113-run win. This time Malinga bagged two for 34 off 5 overs.

There was another cliff-hanger with England. After Sri Lanka had put up 235, Chaminda Vaas dismissed captain Michael Vaughan for a duck. Malinga then trapped Ed Joyce leg-before, and suddenly England were 11 for two after 5.2 overs. The following batsmen battled hard, but England were in trouble at 133 for six with 33.3 overs having been bowled. Ravi Bopara and wicketkeeper Paul Nixon staged a rearguard act, carrying the score to 220. Off the fifth ball of the penultimate over, Malinga had Nixon holing out in the covers. Bopara drove the last delivery through the covers to the ropes. There were now 12 runs required off the final over and 3 off the very last ball. Dilhara Fernando bowled a beauty that knocked the top of Bopara’s off-stump. Sri Lanka pulled off a two-run victory. Malinga’s share was two wickets for 50 in his quota of 10 overs.

He missed the last three super-eight matches with an ankle injury but was back for the semi-final. With Sri Lanka having piled up 289 for five, Malinga struck straightaway, his third delivery screaming into skipper Stephen Fleming pad in front of the stumps. That was his solitary wicket at an expense of 21 runs with two maidens in 7 overs. New Zealand folded up for 208.  

             

Adam Gilchrist made the final his own with his hurricane hundred but Malinga broke his huge opening stand of 172 with Matthew Hayden. The big left-hander was playing a remarkably subdued supporting role to the marauding wicketkeeper when he tried to loft Malinga over the covers, for Mahela Jayawardene to take a fine catch springing up just at the right moment. Later he castled Shane Watson but Australia hoisted a mammoth 281 for four in the truncated 38-overs-a-side match. Malinga’s two wickets cost 49 runs in 8 overs, and he bowled the only maiden of the innings. Sri Lanka faded along with the light and had to be content with the runners-up prize.

Malinga took wickets in each of the eight matches that he played, logging a tally of 18 at a brilliant average of 15.77, evidence of his striking ability. He bowled with fire right through, an ideal foil to the experienced Vaas.

Once again he had to sit out the first two matches of the 2011 World Cup. Having recuperated, he was back and how! The first ball of his second over was a venomous trademark inswinging yorker that made a mess of the hapless Kenyan opener Seren Waters, and sent him packing leg-before. Another perfect indipping yorker in his second spell disturbed the furniture behind Collins Obuya. The last ball of his seventh over was once again the toe-crusher that found Tanmay Mishra in front of the sticks. He churned out another lethal yorker first up in his next over that crashed into Peter Ongondo’s middle stump. Malinga was once again on a hat-trick as Shem Ngoche took guard. Predictably, it was another of those under-the-bat thunderbolts which was too good for the no. 10 and darted into the stumps. Malinga had become the first to rip out two hat-tricks in the World Cup. After a wide that ran away to the fine-leg boundary and a dot ball, the fourth legitimate delivery of the over was an action replay of his earlier yorkers, which the mesmerized Elijah Otieno could do nothing about and the leg-stick took the brunt. Kenya were all out for 142; Malinga had a bounty of six wickets, having expended 38 runs in 7.4 overs. Sri Lanka took only 18.4 overs to speed to a nine-wicket triumph. Malinga was man-of-the-match.      

unique

The game versus Australia was washed out after less than 33 overs in the Lankan innings. Malinga went wicketless as Zimbabwe were trounced easily. There was one wicket for him at the end as the Kiwis wilted. The thrashing of England in the quarter-final also had him pick up a sole wicket.

After this lean phase, he bowled the first over in the semi-final, and then returned only in the 22nd over. That vicious inswinging yorker, for the umpteenth time, went right through Martin Guptill and crashed into the timber. As Scott Stryis went after Malinga, Kane Williamson too tried to emulate his senior but was another victim of the Malinga patent, the pad in the way right in front. In his next over, Nathan McCullum tried a mighty swing to leg off one that came on slowly and merely nicked it to Sangakkara. Malinga’s haul was three for 55 in 9 overs, with New Zealand being bowled out for 217. The Lankan batsmen ensured a five-wicket win.

Jayawardene gave the side a great opportunity in the final with a magnificent century, and Malinga provided a tremendous opening with two monumental early strikes. Virender Sehwag was rapped on the pad trying to turn the second delivery of the innings and was gone for a duck. He then stunned the boisterous Wankhede Stadium crowd and indeed all of India, moving the first delivery of his fourth over away from a good length. Sachin Tendulkar tried to square-drive, only to get a thickish edge for Sangakkara to fling himself and cling on to the huge prize. Suddenly, India were 31 for two with doubts creeping into the minds of millions of fans. Gradually they extricated themselves from the tangle, built up momentum and brought up victory with a flourish. Sri Lanka were worthy runners-up again, and Malinga finished with two for 42 in 9 overs.

The little powerhouse had played his role, bagging 13 wickets on pitches that were unkind to pacemen for the most part. Once again he had a top-class average of 20.14.       

           

With 31 wickets to his name, Malinga is third for his country behind the peerless Muralitharan and Vaas in the World Cup. His strike-rate of 20.70 is second best among bowlers who have taken at least 15 wickets, as is his average of 17.87 in the list of top wicket-takers in the premier event. This bundle of energy has been an invaluable asset for Sri Lanka. Sadly, injuries prevented the full blooming of his Test career but he has carried on in the shorter formats, electrifying crowds around the world with his stunning strikes.

(From the Hall of Fame section of Indra Vikram Singh’s new book ‘Indian Spring’. The author can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Indian Spring

Five stalwarts to look out for in the cricket World Cup 2015: 4. Shahid Afridi. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s new book ‘Indian Spring’

Slasher who finally spun his true magic

 

Balls…..762

Wickets…..28

Average…..19.60

Best…..5/16

Economy-rate…..4.32

Catches…..10 

It was in October 1996 that Shahid Afridi burst on the scene with a blazing hundred in his first innings in One-day Internationals, against Sri Lanka at Nairobi. Afridi had made his debut two days earlier against Kenya but did not get to bat as he was penciled in at no. 9, his team triumphing by four wickets. That hundred, batting at no.3, came in all of 37 balls, fastest at this level till Kiwi Corey Anderson pipped it by a delivery on the first day of 2014.

Soon drafted in to open the innings, it was reckoned that he would invariably provide blistering starts to his team. Though he blasted two of the five quickest, and three of the ten quickest, tons in One-dayers, and all his 6 hundreds arrived in well under 100 balls, he was too reckless and indiscreet to be a regular opener. Scintillating hitter though he is, he could not hold his place as a regular batsman alone, as his average of 23.40 suggests. He obviously has another skill, that of a quickish leg-spinner, but the powers-that-be were too slow to realize that his real utility was as a bowling allrounder who could change the game with both bat and ball. For that he needed to be utilised as a frontline bowler and a lower middle-order batsman.

Through three World Cup tournaments Afridi was barely noticed. A highest score of 37 in his 18 World Cup innings is hardly worthy of an international batsman. At the helm in 2011, he took the ball with a vengeance and emerged as the highest wicket-taker along with Zaheer Khan, but at a much better average, economy rate as well as strike-rate. Finally, Afridi came into his own in the World Cup.

He was up and down the order in the early English summer of 1999, in and out of the side, sometimes bowling, at other times not. His only performance of note was a typically swashbuckling 37 in 29 balls with 2 sixes and a four off the Zimbabweans, in the Super-sixes, batting at no. 7. Pakistan were runners-up to Australia.    

It was much the same story in 2003 as the team was bundled out after the first stage. There was one good bowling stint against England. In his first ovcr he castled Alec Stewart, and later had Craig White caught by Younis Khan. Afridi bagged two for 36 in his 8 overs, but England pulled away and registered a huge win.

The 2007 World Cup was a sad one for Pakistan in more ways than one. In the solitary match that he played, Afridi smashed the Zimbabwean bowlers for 16 in 10 balls with a six and a four in a rollicking partnership of 33 in 3 overs with centurion Imran Nazir. As rain intervened in the Zimbabwe innings, Afridi bowled the big-hitting Elton Chigumbura, and rattled the stumps again twice in his next over. He finished with three for 20 in his 4 overs in a big win. But an upset earlier by Ireland was enough to knock Pakistan out of the tournament.

The flamboyant Afridi was in his elements with the ball in 2011. He revelled in his role as captain and confined himself to the lower middle-order. After Pakistan had piled up 317 for seven, Afridi flummoxed the Kenyan batsmen with his wily bowling. Veteran Steve Tikolo stepped out but was beaten in the flight and was bowled. Afridi then trapped Tanmay Mishra leg-before with a googly as Kenya really began to slide now. In his next over, Afridi slipped in a flipper to skipper Jimmy Kamande who was rapped on the pad plumb in front of middle-stump. Another googly, and another lbw, the experienced Thomas Odoyo sent packing for a duck in the subsequent over. Amidst all the ruin, Collins Obuya was playing a fighting, aggressive innings, having struck 3 fours and 3 sixes. With not much hope left, he lofted Afridi in the following over but holed out at long-on. At the end of this 8th over, Afridi had figures of five for 16, having delivered 3 maidens. This was the best analysis by a captain, and for Pakistan, in the World Cup. His team won by 205 runs.

There was a vital fixture against Sri Lanka next. In characteristic fashion Afridi clouted 16 off 12 balls with 3 boundaries to boost the run-rate. With Sri Lanka sailing along at 88 for one in the 18th over, Afridi’s third delivery went straight and fizzed through outside the off-stump. The in-form Tillakaratne Dilshan played on to the stumps trying to cut it. It was a crucial breakthrough. Afridi then beat Thilan Samaraweera on the forward stroke, and stumped by Kamran Akmal. Bowling his second spell, Afridi had Kumar Sangakkara caught for 49, as the captain stepped out, ending an ominous partnership with Chamara Silva. This was Afridi’s 300th wicket in One-day Internationals, and a prized scalp in a significant match. Angelo Matthews too came down the wicket to Afridi and holed out in similar fashion, as the wily bowler shortened the length of the delivery. Afridi finished his quota of 10 overs with a haul of four for 34. Sri Lanka were now 211 for six in 44 overs, requiring another 67. Nuwan Kulasekara made a spirited effort, striking 24 off 14 deliveries with 2 fours and a six, but Sri Lanka fell short by 11 runs. Deservedly, Afridi was man of this pulsating match.

Minnows Canada surprised Pakistan by skittling them for 184 in 43 overs as the ball swung around under a cloudy Colombo sky. Afridi tonked a quickfire 20 off 17 balls, and the last four wickets crashed for 3 runs. Canada lost wickets steadily. Afridi brought himself on first-change in the 11th over. The Canadian batsmen were all at sea against him, and sure enough their captain Ashish Bagai was deemed leg-before-wicket by the review system to a ball that went on straight. The sixth delivery of Afridi’s new spell was a flighted googly, which Rizwan Cheema tried to cart on the on-side and was castled off-stump. In his next over Jimmy Hansra, who had been battling valiantly, was beaten by a flipper that took his off-stump. The next delivery was a quick one that surprised and bowled Harvir Baidwan. Afridi was denied a hat-trick but in his subsequent over Tyson Gordon threw his bat at a googly, only to be taken in the outfield. Afridi returned with a haul of five for 23 in his 10 overs, wresting his second-successive man-of-the-match award, and bagging four or more wickets in three consecutive matches. The Pakistani skipper was on a high.

There was a setback at the hands of New Zealand as Ross Taylor scored a brilliant century on his birthday. Afridi took just one wicket, conceding 55 runs. Coming in at 45 for five in the 15th over, Afridi played another breezy little innings of 17 in 9 balls with 2 fours and a six. Pakistan slumped to a 110-run defeat. Zimbabwe were beaten easily in a rain-shortened game, with Afridi again securing a sole wicket, having given away 33 runs. Pakistan halted the golden unbeaten run of the Australians in the World Cup going back to 1999. They bowled out the thrice-reigning champions for 176 in 46.4 overs, with Afridi once more taking one wicket, conceding 34 runs this time.

Afridi was in his elements in the annihilation of the West Indies by 10 wickets in the quarter-final. Ramnaresh Sarwan had been trying to resurrect the innings along with old mate Shivnaraine Chanderpaul, and he slashed at one from Afridi outside off, only to be caught at point. Afridi made a shambles of the West Indies innings in his next over. Kieron Pollard attempted to cut a delivery angling in and inside-edged it into the gloves of Kamran Akmal.  His subsequent delivery was quick and trapped Devon Thomas leg-before. He finally knocked back Ravi Rampaul’s leg-stump to bowl out the West Indies for 112 in 43.3 overs. This time Afridi walked back with four wickets for 30 in 9.3 overs. The Pakistani openers knocked up the runs in less than 21 overs.

This set up the most electrifying match of the tournament, a semifinal opposite India at Mohali. It was not a battle for the faint hearted. After a belligerent Sehwag, it was a resilient, if lucky, Tendulkar who held centre-stage. Pakistan did not help matters by committing several blunders in the field. Finally, Afridi himself held a catch offered by Tendulkar after the maestro had scored 85. Afridi, though, was wicketless, having expended 45 runs. India’s total of 260 on a wicket of variable bounce in a high-pressure match was a bit too much. India ran away winners by 29 runs, Pakistan still unable to beat them in five encounters in the World Cup.

It was, nevertheless, a superb display of leg-spin bowling by Afridi. His 21 wickets came at a brilliant average of 12.85 and an economy rate of 3.62. He is the only bowler in the World Cup to capture four wickets or more in three consecutive matches, and four in the same tournament. In fact no one has even three four-wicket hauls in the same World Cup. His four four-wicket hauls are level with the giants of spin, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan in all World Cup tournaments. One wonders why the other side of Shahid Afridi was in the shadows for so long. 

(From the Hall of Fame section of Indra Vikram Singh’s new book ‘Indian Spring’. The author can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Five stalwarts to look out for in the cricket World Cup 2015: 3. Brendon McCullum. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s new book ‘Indian Spring’

Dazzling and versatile both side of the sticks

World Cup matches…..25 

Highest score…..101

Runs…..414

Average…..31.84 

Strike-rate…..94.09

100s…..1

50s…..2

Catches…..30

Stumpings…..2 

Proficient with the big gloves, brilliant fielder without them, belligerent with the bat, able to open the batting or play in the middle-order, Brendon McCullum is dazzling as well as versatile. His pyrotechnics in the very first match of the Twenty20 Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 will forever remain etched in memory. He has built up a fine record: Over 5300 runs in Tests at an average of 37 plus and a strike-rate above 60, with nearly 200 dismissals; more than 5000 runs in One-dayers at an average exceeding 30 and a strike-rate of almost 90, having surpassed the 260 dismissals mark. These are figures of a top-flight wicketkeeper-batsman, one of the finest cricketers to emerge from New Zealand.

Having sat out of the first match in the 2003 World Cup, McCullum only came in at no. 8 as the West Indies had them in strife at 147 for six after 32.2 overs. The 21-year-old helped Chris Harris add 41, and then allied with the belligerent Andre Adams in a crucial undefeated 53-run stand which took his side’s total to a respectable 241 for seven. McCullum’s unbeaten 36 came off 53 deliveries, and he struck one boundary. West Indies were bowled out for 221, leaving McCullum with pleasant memories of his World Cup debut.

A superb unconquered century by skipper Stephen Fleming in a rain-interrupted innings carried the Kiwis to a nine-wicket win over the Proteas. McCullum snapped up his first two catches in the premier event, sending back the openers Graeme Smith and centurion Herschelle Gibbs off the pacemen Shane Bond and Jacob Oram. The match against Kenya was forfeited as New Zealand declined to travel to Nairobi due to security concerns.

New Zealand beat Bangladesh easily by seven wickets. McCullum now took three catches, continuing his association with the same bowlers. Canada did not stretch them much and McCullum again allied with the two seamers to bag a catch each for them.

In the super-six game against Zimbabwe, there was a catch, this time off Chris Cairns. Bond was on fire in the face-off with Trans-Tasman rivals Australia at Port Elizabeth, and McCullum was in the frame with two catches off the speedster. Brett Lee’s return burst sent New Zealand packing, McCullum being trapped leg-before for 1. India were too good and McCullum, promoted to no. 5, was bowled for 4.

The young wicketkeeper had done a competent job, picking up 9 catches. He played one significant innings, which was an important ingredient in the eventual victory. A budding career was waiting to flower.            

New Zealand upstaged the English by six wickets in their opening encounter in 2007. McCullum snapped up Edmund Joyce (0) and Ian Bell (5) off James Franklin and Oram respectively. Later he caught the dogged Paul Collingwood and Jamie Dalrymple off Scott Styris. Kenya were trounced but McCullum was dismissed for just 6 and did not take a catch.

A John Davison-inspired Canada put up a spirited fight. McCullum joined Oram at 278 for five at the end of the 43^rd over. After Oram had hit Davison for a six over long-off, McCullum swept left-arm spinner Kevin Sandher on top of the Beusejour Stadium stand, and skied the last ball of the over that just eluded Anderson Cummins at long-on and also carried for six. In the next over he tickled Cummins, the former West Indies paceman, to the fine-leg boundary. Sunil Dhaniram, another left-arm tweaker sent down a full-toss, which McCullum launched over square-leg for his 3^rd six. Oram lofted Cummins for a straight six. In the final over McCullum rocketed Dhaniram for 2 more on-side sixes to raise the fastest fifty of the World Cup off a mere 20 deliveries, quicker than two Mark Boucher efforts in the same tournament. Oram teed off another six over extra-cover off the penultimate delivery. The unfinished partnership was worth 85 runs in 7 overs. McCullum was unbeaten with 52 off 21 balls, comprising those 5 sixes and sole boundary. New Zealand piled up 363. Canada did well to total 249, McCullum pouching a catch off Daniel Vettori.    

It was at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua where the West Indies received a drubbing from the Kiwis in their super-eight clash. Having put up a half-century stand with Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan drove at Oram only to manage a thick inside-edge which flew down the leg-side, McCullum bringing off a spectacular catch. Soon Oram got one to leap and take Marlon Samuels’ glove, for McCullum to hold on. Gayle played on to Oram in his next over. Brian Lara and Dwayne Bravo staged a 47-run rescue act but Bond had the latter edging into the gloves of McCullum. Then it was the big wicket. With McCullum standing up to the stumps, Lara tried to swing Styris on the on-side, inside-edged it and McCullum brought off a fine catch. McCullum had a hand in four of the previous five dismissals, and the West Indies slipped to 177 all out. The Kiwis coasted to a seven-wicket win.

The Bangladesh openers were off to a steady start but with Tamim Iqbal stepping out to paceman Oram in the quest to raise the scoring-rate, McCullum decided to come up to the stumps. The fifty was raised in the 16^th over, and in the next Tamim stretched to pull off an inventive shot off Oram on the leg-side, missed and McCullum whipped off the bails in a trice. His move had paid off; the left-hander departed. In Oram’s next over, the other opener Javed Omar tried to cut, only to edge it to McCullum. The Bangladesh innings never really took off, and New Zealand raced to a nine-wicket triumph.

McCullum got another opportunity to bat against the other surprise qualifiers Ireland. Coming in at 172 for five, he soon saw his side slip to 189 for seven in 42.3 overs. Joined by the left-handed Franklin, the pair upped the ante, initially in well-run ones and twos, to the extent that there were no boundaries in 11 overs upto the end of the 47^th. Then there was a flurry in the last three. Franklin struck the captain Trent Johnston for two successive fours, and McCullum lofted his pull to the fence. Franklin struck Kevin O’Brien for a four and a six in the penultimate over. McCullum replicated it off Johnston He drove through the covers and then bludgeoned a straight six to crack a glass screen in the pavilion. He holed out off the fourth for 47, scored off 37 deliveries. New Zealand totalled 283 for eight. Then in the second over of the Irish innings, Bond induced an edge from Jeremy Bray’s blade, and McCullum snapped it up. Later Eoin Morgan snicked one from Oram into the gloves of McCullum. Ireland packed up for 134. 

By now most of McCullum’s work was over. The formidable Sri Lankans registered a comfortable win. Magical Muralitharan trapped McCullum leg-before for 1. Though McCullum snapped up Sanath Jayasuriya off Oram, it was not before a 100-run second-wicket stand with another classy left-hander Kumar Sangakkara. The Kiwis did well to beat the Proteas. McCullum scored 4 not out in the five-wicket victory. The Aussies were too good, McCullum falling for 7. New Zealand, though, made it to the semi-finals, but again Sri Lanka packed too many guns. This time Murali had McCullum caught for a duck.

McCullum played a couple of belligerent knocks, finishing with a strike-rate of 134.48, and was always superb behind the sticks with 14 victims to his credit. New Zealand have always performed creditably in the World Cup without being brilliant. McCullum was invariably at hand to answer the call of duty.

In another campaign going right up to the semi-finals in 2011, McCullum was designated to open the innings. As a Kenyan team in decline crashed to 69 all out in 23.5 overs, McCullum snapped up their captain Jimmy Kamande off Oram. He brought up a ten-wicket win alongwith Martin Guptill in a mere 8 overs. McCullum was unbeaten with 26 off 17 deliveries with 4 fours.

Seemingly in a hurry, McCullum swung his willow against some fast, short-pitched bowling, particularly from Shaun Tait, clattering 3 boundaries. Then he slashed at the speedster, only to be caught at third-man. His 16 had come off 12 balls, and the Aussies never really gave much of a chance, cantering to a seven-wicket victory in 34 overs. 

McCullum and Guptill coasted to another ten-wicket win, this time against Zimbabwe. Guptill began with 2 fours and a six in the first over, then another six in the fifth over. McCullum struck his first six in the 15^th over. The hundred came up in 22.4 overs, and McCullum reached his fifty with a straight four off his 74^th delivery. He pull-drove his second six in the 32^nd over, and victory came two overs later. McCullum scored 76 off 95 deliveries with 6 fours and 2 sixes; Guptill scored 86 off 108 deliveries with 7 fours and 2 sixes.

Shoaib Akhtar’s third delivery of the match was a no-ball. McCullum bludgeoned the re-bowled free-hit over mid-wicket for a six. The next ball darted in sharply and took his off-stump. Ross Taylor waded into the Pakistani attack, the Kiwis totalling 302 for seven, and then bowling themselves to a 110-run win.

The valiant triers from Canada bore the brunt of McCullum’s punishing blade once again. The ball flew all over the Wankhede Stadium. The opening stand realized 53 runs in 9.5 overs, of which Guptill’s contribution was 17. Jesse Ryder joined in another belligerent partnership. McCullum’s fifty came off 38 balls, by which time he had struck 9 fours and a six. When Ryder fell to John Davison, the pair had added 96 runs in just under 20 overs. McCullum raised his hundred off 107 deliveries. He was soon gone for 101, having played 2 more balls, and blasted 12 fours and 2 sixes in all. Later Taylor’s pyrotechnics saw him rocketing 4 sixes and a four in an over off Harvir Baidwan. There was a jamboree with a flood of fours and sixes, most notably 4 boundaries off another Baidwan over, and Franklin’s 3 sixes and 2 fours in the last over bowled by Rizwan Cheema. The Canadian bowlers were getting into the record books for the wrong reasons. New Zealand piled up 358 for six. After early setbacks, Canada did well to total 261 for nine. So far McCullum was pouching the odd catch in a match. Here he held a succession of them. Hiral Patel was going after the bowlers until he edged a pull off Oram into the gloves of McCullum. Then followed a heart-warming 125-run stand between skipper Ashish Bagai and Jimmy Hansra. A cramping Bagai nicked Nathan McCullum, and brother Brendon completed the dismissal. Not long after, Cheema dabbed Oram on the off-side and McCullum brought off a splendid diving catch. He picked up the man-of-the-match prize too.

The Kiwis were upstaged in a Sangakkara-Jayawardene-Muralitharan show. The Lankans put up 265 for nine, with McCullum holding catches off Styris and Oram. McCullum and Guptill seemed on course, but McCullum fell for 14 off 16 deliveries, having struck 2 fours. His partner followed soon and New Zealand folded up for 153.

Though New Zealand stunned South Africa in the quarter-final, both openers fell cheaply. As Oram dazzled in the field, McCullum held a late catch off him, and the Kiwis were through by 49 runs. Facing Sri Lanka again in the semi-final, McCullum departed for 13, and his side was not good enough to break through this stage yet again. Sangakkara was man-of-the-match once more, this time as much for his wicketkeeping as for his batting. 

On the face of it, McCullum had done a fine job with the bat, scoring 256 runs in 8 matches at an average of 42.66 and a strike-rate of 92.41. But his big scores came against the weaker sides. What must not be forgotten, however, is that he was fulfilling a crucial dual role, which added depth to the batting and gave the side the option of including an extra bowler. As always he was efficient, and often brilliant, behind the stumps with his 9 dismissals.

              

Overall, he is now third among wicketkeepers in the World Cup with 32 dismissals. His batting is always an asset, at the top or in the middle, with 414 runs at a strike-rate of above 94 and average of nearly 32. His name is one of the first picked when selecting the New Zealand team, and what is most heartening for his country is that he still has some good years ahead of him. Brendon McCullum is poised to go down in their annals as one of the brightest stars alongside the likes of Bert Sutcliffe, Glenn Turner, Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe and Daniel Vettori.

(From the Hall of Fame section of Indra Vikram Singh’s new book ‘Indian Spring’. The author can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com). 

Indian Spring

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