Early Bird: Sammy’s Maroon Men need a miracle after South Africa mash WI up

In India, cricket is a religion; few, if any, would dispute that. So with West Indies now seeking salvation in the 2026 T20 World Cup, it should surprise no one if supporters turn to scripture in search of a solution.

Especially with Suryakumar Yadav’s side not yet  settled and both Pakistan and Daren Sammy’s men needing a miracle after catastrophic losses in the Super Eights.

Bobby, my fo’daymorning walking partner, is a former acolyte, raised in the bosom of the Catholic Church. He is a former believer in the power of  West Indies cricket. Not so much nowadays. He’s a sceptic now. He never says ‘we’ in referring to the current team.

“If you want to turn water into wine,” he enlightened me with a chuckle early on Friday morning, “you have to go to Cana, which in the sub-continent is Chennai.”

Some 24 hours earlier, one-time international cricket chokers, South Africa, had choked much of the life out of Shai Hope’s soldiers, hopeful of mounting a serious challenge for a third T20 World Cup title.

Losing just one wicket in overhauling a modest target of 177, they left the Maroon Men’s hopes hanging by a slender thread. And by the end of the afternoon, hosts India were standing by with several pairs of very sharp shears.

They sent a clear message to the teams still in the semifinals fray with an impressive 72-run win over surprise Super Eights qualifiers, Zimbabwe.

Bobby wouldn’t have known it then but the identity of “the other teams still in the semifinals fray” was not as settled as it might have seemed to us at the time. Or even six or seven hours later.

With New Zealand beating Sri Lanka by 61 runs in Group 2 and getting only one point from a washout against Pakistan, victory over England would send them through to the semis and Pakistan out.

So when Tom Banton swung Rachin Ravindra’s shortish ball straight into Mark Chapman’s hands on the leg-side boundary, the writing seemed on the wall.

Harry Brook’s men were on 117 for 6 in pursuit of 160. The problem was that there were only 36 balls left. And the miserly Mitchell Santer still had one over up his sleeve and Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson to call on as well.

Problem? Not for allrounders Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed, playing in his first World Cup game. It was over with three balls left in the 20th. England by four wickets!

Pakistan had a look-in. But they would need a minor miracle: win by at least 64 runs batting first or in just over 13 overs if chasing.

West Indies too would need one, another one, major this time. Reduced to 52 for 4 by South Africa at the end of the powerplay, they slipped further to 83 for 7 just after the halfway mark.

Skillful variation of pace and consistency of line from Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Lungi Ngidi (3/30) did the early damage. With Corbin Bosch (3/31) joining the party against confident, perhaps overly confident batsmen, who seemed determined to attack their way out of trouble, the slide continued.

An 89-run partnership between Romario Shepherd (52 off 31, 3×4, 4×6) and Jason Holder (49 off 31, 4×4, 3×6) pushed the target beyond 170.

But class trumped form. Experience got the better of elation. And long years of practice and planning paid dividends. Ten sixes and 15 fours helped Aiden Markram’s team get home in a hurry…

And just like that, Coach Sammy’s dream of a repeat of his team’s 2016 win which had been animating the Maroon Men seemed like nothing but a dream.

Winning all four of their games to top Group C in the group stage fed it. And convincingly disposing of Zimbabwe in the first Super Eights encounter had fattened it, put flesh on it.

But South Africa put the floodlights on, jolted them awake.

Bobby: They didn’t have a clue how to stop the flow of runs. It was embarrassing! I think Holder was the only bowler who finished with less than ten per over. Nine point something!

Me: Don’t go there! In those conditions, maybe Ambrose and Garner coulda defend 170. But Shamar Joseph and Jason Holder? And Roston Chase, brought in to counter the left-handers? Please! South Africa hardly broke a sweat.

Bobby:  So you saying the batsmen lost the match?

Me: Of course! The batting! You cyar lose four wickets in the powerplay and expect to win. Maybe against Namibia or Oman. But not against South Africa.

Bobby: Or India!

Me: Damn right! Anytime but particularly at home and with so much at stake. I have to say I didn’t understand West Indies approach with bat or ball.

Hope defended his batsmen in the post-match interview. He said that if Holder and Shepherd had shut up shop and been more cautious in their approach, West Indies would probably have set a smaller target. True! But what about the top six? Somebody chain them up or something? Or stick break in deh ears?

Bobby: After I see what the selectors did against Nepal, I write dem off, oui! They carry 15 people, they qualify fuh the second round after three games. They pick the same side? They have a man opening the batting and keeping wicket and they don’t give him a rest? Either something wrong with me or something wrong with dem!

Me: It might cost us tomorrow if King can’t play. You know he left the field injured yesterday?

Bobby: Breds, he father own West Indies or what? He have anti-drop insurance? Or is some kina obeah ting? How can they still be considering picking him? The man constantly shitting on he tail!

Me: Agreed. But what you think we should do?

Bobby: Start by dropping King and Chase and bringing back Akeal, one of your best bowlers.  Tomorrow’s game is a virtual quarterfinal. The loser goes home. India have nowhere to go.

Me: So you don’t think West Indies have a chance?

Bobby: India playing in front of a huge, expectant, adoring home crowd. They just made 250-plus in 20 overs, with only one of the six batsmen making under 30. What you think?

Me: We have a chance. Rain. One point sends us through…

(Laughs loudly.)

Bobby: Rain? In Kolkata? The last serious showers were in September last year. Listen, breds, you just talk about a huge crowd. Christ fed a huge crowd with a few fish and three or four loaves of bread. And he walk on water. And turn water into wine. I suspect Sammy’s team has been hearing inspirational stories like that.

Unfortunately, the Gardens of Eden is where we got original sin… (He held up his right hand, theatrically made the sign of the cross.) …and that is where tomorrow’s match is!

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Early Bird

Columns that say that, after Covid has done its worst, we’re grateful
to be still here and be able to get out of bed early to heed the poet’s
Carpe diem injunction and, savouring all the day’s blessings, mine
those banal, random, ordinary, routine, unspectacular, run-of-the-mill,
early-morning thoughts and conversations we often engage in.