Day #16: Machang Malinga!

You must have been in that position; your favourite sports team in doldrums - be it Yankees lagging behind by 3 home runs in baseball(agreed that it does not happen that often); Man U trailing by 2 goals at half-time (again agreed that the frequency is very less); India requiring 100 runs in ten overs (again agreed that it DOES happen often)...

And what does the romantic in us want at that time - a miracle; a grand-slam, a hat-trick, six-sixers in an over - just to turn things over. Thereafter, your beloved team can do the needful :-)

The Sri Lankan supporters (including our dear Mandira on Sony TV)must have prayed for That Miracle against the proteas today. The slinger answered those prayers ...well almost... Four wickets in four balls... dream stuff.

If Malinga is said to have a maligned action, then Kallis has a much maligned one-day batting reputation. But today he put such criticisms in proper perspective i.e. threw them into the dustbin. On a Sri-Lankan-Pitch, Kallis played the waiting game to take SA all the way. No wonder, everybody except the SA selectors and their team management bray for his blood; for they know what Kallis is worth - Gold all the way!

The Oz-WI game went predictably; Lara flash; Ozzie power. The only interest was the margin. If WI had scored just three more runs, Yadavalli would have walked away with the booty. Better luck next time.

Now for the Can-You-Do-It-Without-Googling Trivia...
(Just to show that there is life outside cricket, however small! No points; Pure quizzing!)

Answer to the previous question: Saudi Arabia

Another tough one! Guru & Polap got it right. There were some really funny answers: Bhutan, Nauru, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vatican City etc. Good try, folks.

Today's question - an easy one, I guess:

• How many points would you score in scrabble if you place the word ZEPHYR on the board? No double/triple letter/word bonuses; just plain points.

Keep the answers rolling into the usual mailing address. Three prizes at the end of the world cup for the best performers.

Until the next one...

P.S. For those who are linguistically challenged, Machang can be roughly translated to Cool Dude/Bro (Origin: Sinhalese; spoken by a majority in Sri Lanka)