Tied matches in cricket are a rare thing and usually provide for a nail biting finale with the match so evenly poised and today's encounter in Bangalore is certainly no exception with India and England both scoring 338. With the benefit of hindsight it is easy to see how each run could prove so valuable but both innings relied on a fantastic century with the bowling side managing to peg back the batting side for a few vital overs towards the end of each innings to provide the game with varied momentum as India and England both had chances to win the match.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/9408115.stm
   After the Indian innings it was tempting to think here we go again but Tim Bresnan's spell at the end where he picked up five wickets ensured that the Indians did not get over 350 which was looking likely whilst Tendulkar was in his pomp on his way to yet another century. The general feeling was that 339 to win was far to much for the English batsmen to achieve so it is to Andrew Strauss' credit that he bettered Tendulkar's innings with 158. Again England were on course for victory until a superb over by Zaheer Khan put them on the backfoot and swung the momentum back in India's favour. This occurred in the first batting powerplay over and not for the first time we see wickets fall as well set batsmen try to smash the ball all over when they have been scoring freely without it. This is compulsory to take and most sides tend to leave it for somewhere in the last 10 overs or so for a last push. However in England's case we have often run out of top order batsmen by then and those that are left feel the need to play differently to account for the field settings and get themselves out like today. I wonder if any thought has been given to taking it earlier when the top order batsmen are in and provide some impetus to the middle overs when the spinners are usually on. Bowling sides do not normally like to use their spinners in powerplay overs or at the end of an innings which can become a slogfest regardless of fielding restrictions. This may give the fielding captain something to think about as he shuffles his bowlers accordingly and as it is still relatively early in the innings if the batting powerplay is taken between, say overs 25 and 35 then the batsmen may not feel the need to be quite so reckless.

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   So the nailed on trophy that Arsenal apparently deserve after no silverware for six years still eludes them after Birmingham beat them in the Carling Cup final. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/9405702.stm
A reminder that nothing should be taken for granted in sport although I am reminded of a comment a friend made during the 92/93 season. He (an Arsenal fan) said towards the end of that season that he hoped that Manchester United would win the league so that everyone would shut up about how it was 20 odd years since they had won the title. I am starting to feel like that about the constant references to Arsenal's current barren run which victory today would have put an end to.