records tumble at Dehradun ~ Hazratullah Zazai sizzles !!

How often do you follow matches not involving India – that too between minnows ! – today – saw this match briefly and was wondering whether the ground was too small or .. .. !! – awe-struck !!

Shreyas Iyer smashed the highest T20 score by an Indian batsman to help Mumbai thrash Sikkim by 154 runs in their opening Group C clash of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Indore on Thursday. Iyer went all guns blazing to hit 147 off just 55 balls. The Mushtaq Ali Trophy is the domestic T20 tournament. Iyer's 147 is the highest T20 score by an Indian and in the process he surpassed wicket keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who had scored an unbeaten 128 for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.

At Dehradun,  Congress General Secretary Harish Rawat on Friday said the party will launch sincere efforts to build a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya if it comes to power after the Lok Sabha elections. "On two previous occasions, the Congress made sincere attempts to build the Ram temple when it was in power. We will sincerely launch efforts to build the Ram temple if we come to power," Mr Rawat told reporters in Dehradun. Asked whether this the party's official stand, Mr Rawat said: "My statement regarding the Ram temple was widely reported in the media. There is no denial from the Congress."  -  what is happening .. yesterday Rahul was walking to Thirumala .. ..

Post Pulwama attack, various groups are taking out processions at regular intervals in different parts of the Nation, and Uttarakhand is no different. Candlelight march and processions by people chanting slogans against Pakistan is a common sight now. Dehradun, however, was surprised when an unexpected group of people shouted anti-Pakistan slogans. They were Afghanistan cricket fans who chanted “Pakistan Murdabad” during the Afghanistan versus Ireland T-20 international cricket match in Dehradun on Thursday night. The cricket series between Afghanistan versus Ireland began at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun with the first T-20 match. About 40-50 Afghanistan cricket lovers were present in the stand and they surprised Dehradun sports lovers by chanting “Pakistan Murdabad” many times during the match.

Dehradun is the interim capital of Uttarakhand. Located in the Garhwal region, it lies 236 kilometres (147 mi) north of India's capital New Delhi and 168 kilometres (104 mi) from Chandigarh. During the days of British Raj, the official name of the town was Dehra. Dehradun is located in the Doon Valley on the foothills of the Himalayas nestled between the river Ganges on the east and the river Yamuna on the west.. It is well connected and in proximity to Himalayan tourist destinations such as Mussoorie, and Auli and the Hindu holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh along with the Himalayan pilgrimage circuit of Chota Char Dham.

Dehradun is also known for its Basmati rice and bakery products.  Noted Indian revolutionary - Rash Behari Bose 1886 -  1945) was associated to this place. He was one of the key organisers of the Ghadar Mutiny and later the Indian National Army. Rash Behari Bose handed over Indian National Army to Subhas Chandra Bose.Rash

The Delhi Conspiracy case, refers to a conspiracy in 1912 to assassinate the then Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge, on the occasion of transferring the capital of British India from Calcutta to New Delhi. Hatched by the Indian revolutionary underground in Bengal and Punjab and headed by Rashbehari Bose, the conspiracy culminated on the attempted assassination on 23 December 1912 when a homemade bomb was thrown into the Viceroys's Howdah when the ceremonial procession moved through the Chandni Chowk suburb of Delhi. Although injured in the attempt, the Viceroy escaped with flesh wounds, but his Mahout was killed in the attack. In the aftermath of the event, efforts were made to destroy the Bengali and Punjabi revolutionary underground, which came under intense pressure for some time. Rash Behari successfully evaded capture for nearly three years, becoming involved in the Ghadar conspiracy before it was uncovered, and fleeing to Japan in 1916.

Today at Dehradun – in the match between Afghan and Ireland – yes it is a netural venue, hosting for Afghanistan in the present T20 series too.  Batting first Afghan made mammoth 278/3 and beat Ireland 194/6  by 84 runs.  Paul Stirling stirred his bowlers but was frustrated.  Opener Hazratullah Zazai scored 162* off mere 62 studded with 11 fours and 16 sixers; other opener Usman Ghani made 73 off 48.  First wicket fell @ 236 at 17.3 !!

278 - The highest-ever total in T20Is. The previous record was 263 for 3 amassed by Australia against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2016. 162* - Hazratullah's score, the second-highest individual innings in the format. He fell ten short of Aaron Finch's record of 172, achieved against Zimbabwe in Harare last year. Finch and Zazai are the only two players to score in excess of 150 in T20Is. Apart from his 172, Finch had scored 156 against England in Southampton in 2013.

Interesting !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

23^rd Feb 2019.