Sri Lanka Down A Rusty Indian Unit

A consistent team effort by the Sri Lankan side helped their Asia Cup campaign as they brushed aside a rusty Indian outfit. Captain Marvan Atapattu and Vice Captain Mahela Jaywardene charged Sri Lanka into top position of their group.

Sri Lanka won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. With Sanath Jayasuriya out of the side, Saman Jayantha began in explosive form as he dispatched the bowling of Balaji and Pathan.

Balaji was having trouble keeping his discipline as he bowled around seven wides in the first half of the match. Jayantha and Gunawardene took advantage of India's rusty bowling and posted a solid 63 run opening stand.

With the score at 63, Jayantha (34) fell to Balaji as he was caught behind by Parthiv Patel. Gunawardene alongside Marvan Atapattu continued to accumilate runs as both played solid, yet stylish cricket.

With the score at 128, Sri Lanka's second wicket fell in the shape of a run out. Gunawardene was the unlucky victim, being run out for 49 by Anil Kumble and Parthiv Patel. There was no respite for India though as Atapattu and Sangakkara continued to work on the solid foundation given to Sri Lanka by the openers.

Atapattu reached another sublime ODI half century and Sangakkara was racing away towards his. With the score at 156, Atapattu was finally removed and thanks to another run out. Atapattu went for 50 and India had fought there way back into the match.

The out of form Mahela Jayawardene turned it around though, as his partnership with Sangakkara was of a 116 runs. Both batsmen reached their respective half centuries but it was Irfan Pathan who dismissed Sangakkara for a fine 57. Jayawardene remained not out on 58 as Sri Lanka posted a match winning total of 4/282.

A target of 282 didn't seem as daunting due to the Indian's powerful batting lineup. An interesting swap was made as Parthiv Patel opened the batting with Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag slotted himself in at number 3.

The move didn't prove to be successful at all a Tendulkar fell first for 11 off the persistent bowling of Nuwan Zoysa. Parthiv Patel didn't last too long, out for 6 off Zoysa's bowling once more.

Virender Sehwag dashed his way into the 30's in typically aggressive Sehwag fashion but was stopped in his tracks, as he ran himself out once again in the Asia Cup. Sehwag out for 37, as India looked out of the game with the score at 3/71.

India suffered a major setback in the very next over as Sourav Ganguly (6) was dismissed by Nuwan Zoysa, holding out to Muttiah Muralitharan. With the score at 4/71, India looked desperately out of touch, with the top order failing once again.

Enter Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, the two players that India can always depend on. Dravid and Yuvraj fought hard and gave India a chance at victory. With another crucial partnership, this time of 133 runs, Rahul and Yuvraj showed why they are India's two most dependable players in One Day Internationals.

Dravid reached another ODI half century and another batting milestone in this Asia Cup. However it wasn't the same for the explosive Yuvraj, out for 47 to the experienced Chaminda Vaas as India were 5/204. India's winning chances suffered another big blow as Dravid (82) was bowled by a brilliant Muttiah Muralitharan delivery.

Mohammad Kaif (21), Irfan Pathan (15) and Lakshmipathy Balaji (10) tried in vain to chase the target down, but in the 50 overs India managed only 270 runs and Sri Lanka would go into the Semi Final playoffs as the top team in their group.

Brief Score Summary:

Sri Lanka: 4/282 (Jayawardene 58*, Sangakkara 57, Atapattu 50, Gunawardene 49, Balaji 1/60, Irfan Pathan 1/49)

India: 8/270 (Dravid 82, Yuvraj 47, Zoysa 3/49, Vaas 2/51)

Sri Lanka Won By 12 Runs

Cricket Web Player of the Match: Nuwan Zoysa (SL)

Posted by Sangrah