29 March,2016 11:24 AM IST | | Subodh Mayure
Though the Wankhede Stadium pitch is expected to be 'sporting' according to sources at the MCA, there is a run fest in the offing for Thursday’s ICC WT20 semi-final clash between India and West Indies
Virat Kohli
Though the Wankhede Stadium pitch is expected to be "sporting" according to sources at the Mumbai Cricket Association, there is a run fest in the offing for Thursday's ICC World T20 semi-final clash between India and West Indies.
Virat Kohli. Pic/ PTI
The centre wicket is the same one on which South African Quinton De Kock, Faf Du Plessis and AB De Villiers scored centuries to set India a huge target of 439 in last year's October 25 one-day international.
While chasing down the mighty target, India were bowled out for 224 in 36 overs in which Ajinkya Rahane top scored with 87.
"The centre wicket is being prepared for the clash. It is a sporting wicket on which batsmen will enjoy hitting on the rise while the pitch will have some amount of bounce," curator Ramesh Mhamunkar told mid-day yesterday.
"Other grounds have 81-yard boundaries which are nine to 10 yards more than Wankhede Stadium so it will be easy for batsmen to score fours and sixes here."
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) West Zone pitches-in-charge and former Test player Dhiraj Parsana is supervising the pitch while former Test opener Sudhir Naik is a consultant curator at Wankhede Stadium.
Three World T20 matches played at this venue witnessed huge totals. West Indies chased England's 182 by six wickets on March 16. In another high scoring match, two days later, England chased down South Africa's 229 with the help of Joe Root's 44- ball 83. In the third match played at Wankhede on March 20, minnows Afghanistan lost to Proteas by 37 runs after they scored 172 in reply to South Africa's 209.
