The first match wasn't a high-scoring one, so something to change then for this 2nd T20 of the Cricket All Stars. In a first innings full of boundaries, sixes and runs, Warne's Warriors, put into bat first, got going in some style in Houston to post a mammoth total against Sachin's Blasters.
Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hayden, Kumar Sangakkara, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting all got in on the act in the white-ball tonking of 20 overs, with Warne's Warriors finishing their first innings with 262 for five.
Sachin's Blasters never really got going in their chase, with the pressure of hauling down that huge score proving to be too much, as they finished on a not-too-bad-at-all 205/8.
If there was one man capable of making a fist of this chase, it was Virender Sehwag, but once the right-hander played one on to Ajit Agarkar, the total proved to be too tall to chase, even for Tendulkar, who showed glimpses of his old form in his 33 (20b, 3x4, 2x6), before being befuddled by the wonderful guiles of Saqlain Mushtaq (3-1-12-2).
Brian Lara (19, 21b, 2x4) also showed signs of his old form, with Lance Klusener (21, 18b, 1x4, 2x6) bringing out some of those old moves which made him one of the most feared ODI cricketers in the world, but when you are chasing 263 in a 20-over game, you're going to need a lot more than a few cameos, which Shaun Pollock (55, 22b, 1x4, 7x6), with a fair few lusty blows, which included three consecutive sixes off Wasim Akram, even if they came once the match was done and dusted, and Graeme Swann (22, 8b, 2x4, 2x6) also provided.
Earlier, Vaughan got the smashing going, hitting the opening bowlers – Shoaib Akhtar and Glenn McGrath -- for plenty of runs, before Hayden said "my turn now mate" and took over, like only he can.
There were plenty of sixes scored by Hayden off his compatriot and long-time teammate McGrath, before the momentum threatened to halt a little bit as both openers fell in quick succession.
Vaughan (30, 22b, 4x4, 1x6) was the first to go, plumb lbw to Graeme Swann, who like his fellow Englishman was also playing his first match of this Cricket All Stars Series.
Hayden (32, 15b, 2x4, 3x6) then followed suit, as McGrath, after getting hit for a couple of big sixes, sent the left-hander packing after the batsman played one onto his stumps.
However, momentum only went up from there as Sangakkara and Kallis put on a brilliant 91-run partnership from just a shade over seven overs to firm their grip on this match. Both batsmen, not exactly known for their big-hitting, got those huge hits out as six after six rained on the Minute Maid Park crowd.
Kallis (45, 23b, 3x4, 4x6) finally fell to Virender Sehwag, holing out in the deep, but he had done enough damage by then, with Sangakkara (70, 30b, 6x4, 6x4) and Ponting (41, 16b, 5x4, 3x6) just continuing their merry way into pummel town.
