The skies over Trent Bridge, Nottingham, were a canvas of duck-egg blue, broken only by the wispy contrails of passing jets. It was June 18, 2009. The Semi-Final of the ICC World Twenty20.
India vs. Sri Lanka.
It was a rematch of the 2007 World Cup encounter, a clash of Asian titans on English soil. The atmosphere was less raucous than Lord's but infinitely more tense. This was the knockout stage. One bad hour, and the dream of defending the title was over.
In the commentary box, Ravi Shastri adjusted his headset, looking out at the sea of blue and lion-flag-waving fans.
"Welcome to Trent Bridge!" Shastri's voice boomed, sending a shiver down the spines of millions back home. "It doesn't get bigger than this. The Defending Champions, India, are looking to book a place in the final at Lord's. Standing in their way, a Sri Lankan team that has played some sparkling cricket. It's Dhoni versus Sangakkara. Ice versus Intellect."
"Absolutely, Ravi," Nasser Hussain chimed in. "The conditions are perfect for batting. A hard deck, sunshine. But there's a bit of grass. The bowlers will be interested early on."
The Toss
MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara walked out to the middle. The tension was palpable.
Sangakkara flipped the coin.
"Heads," Dhoni called.
It was Tails.
"We'll have a bowl," Sangakkara said, a polite but predatory smile on his face. "The wicket might just freshen up a bit in the evening. We prefer to chase."
Dhoni didn't flinch. "We would have batted anyway. Runs on the board in a semi-final is always good pressure. We have the batting depth."
In the Indian huddle, Dhoni was clear.
"We need 170 plus. Their batting is deep. Don't throw wickets away. Build partnerships."
The First Innings
Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma walked out.
Lasith Malinga, with his slinging action and dyed hair, took the new ball.
Gambhir looked in supreme touch. He cut Malinga for four in the first over. He drove Nuwan Kulasekara through the covers.
Rohit was elegant, finding gaps.
They raced to 35 in 4 overs.
But in the 5th over, Angelo Mathews, bowling his slow-mediums, tricked Gambhir.
Gambhir tried to run a ball down to third man, got too cute, and chopped it onto his stumps.
WICKET 1: G. Gambhir b. Mathews 24.
India: 38 for 1.
"And here he comes," Sunil Gavaskar said. "Siddanth Deva at Number 3. He has had a dream tournament. A century, match-winning fifties. India needs him to anchor this now."
Siddanth walked out and assessed the field. Sangakkara had slips in. He was attacking.
Siddanth marked his guard.
"Ball is coming on, Sid," Rohit said. "Mathews is wobbling it a bit."
Siddanth didn't start with fireworks.
Ball 1: Mathews bowled a length ball. Siddanth defended with soft hands, dropping it dead at his feet.
Ball 2: Siddanth pushed to mid-on and ran a quick single.
He and Rohit built a partnership. It was fluid.
Rohit was the aggressor, pulling Ajantha Mendis for six.
Siddanth was the accumulator. He drove Muralitharan through the covers. He swept Mendis.
They put on 50 runs in quick time.
The score moved to 88 for 1 in 10 overs.
Siddanth was on 29. He was set.
Lasith Malinga came back for a spell.
Ball 1: Malinga bowled a wide yorker.
Siddanth saw the width. He wanted to slice it over point for four. It was a shot he played often.
But he didn't account for Malinga's extra pace today.
The ball arrived a fraction of a second faster than he anticipated.
Siddanth threw his hands at it.
Edge.
The ball flew high and fast... straight to the throat of Tillakaratne Dilshan at backward point.
Dilshan didn't even have to move. He cupped it.
WICKET 2: Siddanth Deva c. Dilshan b. Malinga 29 (22 balls).
Siddanth froze. He stared at the spot where he had played the shot.
It was a loose shot. A rush of blood.
"Oh, dear," Shastri groaned. "He will be disappointed with that. He was set. He had done the hard work. Malinga induced the false shot, and Deva fell for the trap. A good hand, but India needed a big one from him today."
Siddanth walked back, dragging his bat. 29. In a semi-final. Not good enough.
He felt furious with himself. He felt wasted.
Rohit Sharma, seeing Siddanth fall, tried to take the attack to Mendis.
He stepped out, missed the carrom ball, and was bowled.
WICKET 3: R. Sharma b. Mendis 45.
India: 95 for 3.
Suresh Raina looked nervous. He scratched around for 8 runs before skying a catch off Muralitharan.
WICKET 4: S. Raina c. Sangakkara b. Murali 8.
India: 110 for 4 (14 Overs).
The run rate was dipping. 150 looked far away.
But India had depth.
Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were at the crease. Two of the cleanest strikers in the world.
For two overs, they consolidated.
Then, in the 17th over, Yuvraj exploded.
He hit Mendis for two massive sixes over mid-wicket.
Dhoni joined the party, helicoptering Malinga for four.
They put on a blistering partnership.
Yuvraj scored a fluent, beautiful 40.
Dhoni finished with a rapid 30.
They plundered 72 runs in the last 6 overs.
India Finished: 182 for 4.
"A brilliant recovery!" Harsha Bhogle cheered. "From 110 for 4, India has surged to 182! That is a match-winning total in a semi-final! Sri Lanka will need to bat out of their skins to chase this."
The Second Innings
183 to win.
The lights were on at Trent Bridge.
Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan walked out. Two of the most dangerous openers in T20 history.
Dhoni tossed the ball to Siddanth Deva.
"Sid," Dhoni said, his voice calm amidst the noise. "You missed out with the bat. Make them pay with the ball. First over. Fast."
Siddanth nodded. His anger at his dismissal was now fuel.
Over 1
Siddanth stood at the top of his mark. Sanath Jayasuriya was on strike.
"Here is the matchup," David Lloyd said. "The Matara Mauler versus the Hyderabad Hurricane. Pace against experience."
Ball 1: Siddanth ran in.
148kph.
Back of a length, angling across.
Jayasuriya slashed. Missed.
Ball 2: 150kph.
Jayasuriya defended to mid-off.
Ball 3: Siddanth went round the wicket. He cramped him.
146kph into the ribs.
Jayasuriya fended it awkwardly.
Ball 4: The breakthrough.
Siddanth saw Jayasuriya stepping away to make room.
He followed him. He bowled a 152kph yorker.
Jayasuriya tried to dig it out. He was late.
The ball crashed into the base of the leg stump.
WICKET 1: S. Jayasuriya b. Deva 2.
"CLEANED HIM UP!" Shastri roared. "You cannot give him room! Pace, pure pace! The stumps are shattered and India has the start they dreamed of!"
In Hyderabad, Vikram Deva punched the air. "Yes! That is my boy! Anger management!"
Siddanth finished the over, giving away just 4 runs.
The Sri Lankan Fightback
With Jayasuriya gone, Dilshan and Sangakkara counter-attacked.
They targeted Pragnyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh.
Dilshan played the scoop. Sangakkara drove elegantly.
They raced to 45 for 1 in 5 overs.
Over 8
Siddanth ran in. Dilshan was looking to scoop everything.
Ball 1: Siddanth bowled a wide yorker. Dilshan couldn't reach.
Ball 2: 149kph. Bouncer. Dilshan ducked.
Ball 3: Dilshan stepped out. He tried to hit over covers.
Siddanth saw the charge. He rolled his fingers.
The 110kph Slower Ball.
Dilshan was deceived. He checked his shot. The ball lobbed up in the air towards mid-off.
Siddanth ran forward. He called for it. "MINE!"
He took the catch comfortably.
WICKET 2: T. Dilshan c & b Deva 18.
"He has done it again!" Gavaskar shouted. "The slower ball! It is his golden weapon! Dilshan gone! Both openers back in the hut courtesy of Siddanth Deva!"
The Middle Overs Grind
Sri Lanka was 50 for 2.
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, the two friends, tried to rebuild.
They played well. They played smart cricket.
They took the score to 120 for 2 in 15 overs.
They needed 63 off 30 balls. It was doable.
Jayawardene was set on 40. Sangakkara on 45.
Dhoni looked at his bowlers. Zaheer had one over left. RP had one.
He looked at Siddanth.
"Over 17 and 19, Sid. You kill the game."
Over 17
Siddanth came back. The pressure was suffocating.
Sangakkara was on strike.
Ball 1: 150kph. Wide yorker. Sangakkara squeezed it for a single.
Ball 2: Jayawardene on strike.
Siddanth knew Jayawardene liked to use the pace behind the wicket.
He bowled the "Heavy Ball". Into the pitch.
Jayawardene tried to steer it to third man.
The extra bounce surprised him.
Edge.
Dhoni took a simple catch.
WICKET 3: M. Jayawardene c. Dhoni b. Deva 42.
"Crucial! Absolutely crucial!" Nasser Hussain yelled. "Just when Sri Lanka was looking to launch, Deva comes back and breaks the partnership! The extra bounce did the trick!"
Chamara Silva walked in.
Siddanth gave away only 3 more runs in the over.
4 runs, 1 wicket.
Sri Lanka needed 59 off 18 balls. The game was slipping away.
Over 19
Zaheer Khan bowled a brilliant 18th over.
Sri Lanka needed 45 off 12 balls. It was almost impossible.
Siddanth took the ball for the penultimate over.
Angelo Mathews was on strike.
Ball 1: 152kph Yorker. Dot.
Ball 2: 151kph Yorker. Single.
Ball 3: Sangakkara tried to hit a six.
Siddanth bowled a slower bouncer.
Sangakkara pulled. It didn't have the legs.
It landed safely in the deep, but only a single.
Siddanth closed out the over, giving away just 5 runs.
Siddanth's Figures: 4 overs, 18 runs, 3 wickets.
Over 20:
Sri Lanka needed 40 runs.
It was a formality.
They swung. They missed. They got run out.
Sri Lanka scored 162.
India Won by 20 runs.
---
The moment the final ball was bowled, Siddanth raised his arms.
He had redeemed his batting failure.
3 wickets in a semi-final.
India was in the Final. Again.
Dhoni ran to him, high-fiving him. "Great spell, Sid. That first over set the tone."
"Thanks, Mahi-bhai. Just wanted to make up for the 29."
"29 was crucial," Dhoni corrected him. "It set the platform for Yuvi. Don't be too hard on yourself."
The team huddled. They were jumping, cheering.
They were going to Lord's. The defense was alive.
The Presentation
Ravi Shastri: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Man of the Match... for a blistering partnership at the end, Yuvraj Singh!"
Yuvraj went up. He had scored 40 and taken a wicket.
After giving the man of the match award and congratulating him.
Shastri: "You're going to Lord's. The Final. Who do you want to face?"
(The other semi-final was Pakistan vs. South Africa).
"Doesn't matter," Yuvraj said, his voice calm. "We are ready for anyone."