A Thrilling Cricket One Day International Poem by narayana aghalaya

we are lucky, we have cricket, to watch
to grab our sportive hearts, what else can match?

players, young, robust, skilled, full of beans
the old too watch, with verve, no less than teens

Kohli's eleven, strong legs and balanced
high octane is assured, for countless fans

England has brand: World champion
on heroes like Stokes, one can sing paeans

weather, perfect; pitch as good as the best
in a matched duel, nerves are put to test

our boys bat first thanks to Kohli's lost toss
team should fight hard, win and earn applause

Shikar and Rohit are now at the crease
cruising with ease; run rate, good to please

past his half ton, Shikar racing ahead,
gunning for ton; that is England's dread.

out of the blue, Rashid stuns: a twisted tale
and puts in past tense, our opening gale

Kohli shaky and sitting on the fence
departs; three down; fans, biting nails, are tense

Rahul leaves all in doubt with chain of dots:
' to bat or to not ', his is a tight spot!

his misery meets with an early end;
with team at crossroads, can the rest contend?

Pant in the middle, is sheer business
fours and sixes, with trademark finesse

when Pant plays, the ground is afire;
the who of cricket, to praise don't tire!

will he zoom beyond, Dhoni and Gilchrist?
Pant means fireworks, huge hits and a run fest

task-fit Hardik with superfast sixty four
basks; he is Kohli's go-to-man, he is lore

he bowls too, when in crisis or at death;
his deathly blows, rest watch with bated breath!

next in, Shardul, had blazed against Aussies
his blitzkrieg now leaves England, all at sea

tally bit low: thanks to too many dot balls
in adversity, our boys have the gall
--
ENGLAND INNINGS

ace in the pack Bhuvi, deals quick blows
openers, to leave, one by one follow

newbie Natarajan, bowls with pep
danger man Stokes leaves, feeling out of depth

Ben Stokes: World Cup stalwart;
through his wicket, England, surely hurt.

three gone, two and half hundreds, is tough ask
packing off Buttler, Shardul under lights basks

Shardul's beauties get two more quick scalps
leaving distressed England in laboured gasps

to score all those runs, tail is set, to wag
while Kohli's pack of hounds, hunt and hog

hundred sixty in twenty four is tail's task
with seven per over, fears, world's best, can't mask

to the English team's baby, Sam Curran
God whispers: ' grab chance with both hands, young man '

Curran bides time and chafes the bowlers
milking each and every howler

Moeen, no mean bat, to wound, adds salt;
Kohli wonders: ' this onslaught, how can boys halt? '

Curran and co inch towards target
off two death overs, fifteen runs to get

Kohli summons go-to-man Hardik
' this challenge to choke, is yours to pick '

Hardik follows script, yields just four runs;
for last over, to whom Kohli will turn?

Rajan, cool as a cucumber, does well
just four measly runs means a tight last spell

‌our boys win, margin is razor thin
‌holding nerves, doggedly, by their teeth's skin
‌
‌ England almost crossed the victory tape
‌Sam Curran's brave effort, in wonder all gape
‌
‌this match should be deemed one of those classics
both as winners, not just one, is our pick
‌---
‌India vs England
‌ODI
‌28th March 2021
‌Pune
‌India beat England by 7 runs
Sam Curran Man of the Match
95 runs off 83 balls!