India dominant once again

After a humbling defeat on Tuesday, Sri Lanka crumbled once again, giving India another emphatic victory.

With the home side winning the toss and fielding, One of Sri Lanka’s tormentors with the bat from Tuesday, Irfan Pathan showed he can be equally destructive with the ball, taking 4-37 to leave Sri Lanka’s batting in tatters.

Sanath Jayasuriya was first to go, caught at third man after flashing at a wide ball. Sri Lanka’s captain, Marvan Atapattu did not fare much better, he made just 4 before edging an Agarkar slower ball to Dhoni.

As Pathan finding plenty of swing with the white ball the only resistance came from wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who scored a well made 27 before attempting a rash pull shot, looping it up to square leg. Pathan got one to swing back in onto Tillakaratne Dilshan’s pads next ball, and he joined Jayasuriya, Jayawardene and Sangakkara as Pathan’s victim.

With Pathan’s 8 over spell of 4-37 completed, Russel Arnold and Farveez Maharoof, batting at 7, attempted to rebuild from 54-5. After a painstaking 15, Arnold attempted to flick a Harbhajan Singh delivery onto the leg-side, but he was beaten by the spin and skipper Rahul Dravid held on at slip.

Chaminda Vaas joined him in the pavillion after being run out by Agarkar, a direct hit from point leaving him well short of his ground. With little hope of setting a decent total at 80-7, Sri Lanka sent in their SuperSub Upul Chandana, in a desperate attempt to find some runs. But Yadav and Singh bowled well to finish off the tail, with the innings brought to a close when Singh bowled Muralitharan after a spirited cameo of 15.

123 was India’s target and they reached it with ease. Sehwag played as he knows best. Along with Tendulkar, he sent Vaas and Zoysa to all parts, and his blistering 29 ball 38 was brought to and end when he lofted a slower ball from Maharoof straight back to him.

If Tuesday’s 93 did not silence those who doubted Sachin Tendulkar’s ability after his injury, surely today’s unbeaten 67 must. His innings included 11 boundaries and he showed no mercy in taking the Sri Lankan bowlers apart, bringing up his half century with a glorious straight drive off Maharoof. Sri Lanka did take another wicket, that of Jai P Yadav for 9, failing to pick Muralitharan’s doosra.

Still the target of 123 was no real challenge for India, as they brought it up with nearly 30 overs to spare. India have shown real signs of improvement already in the 2 matches under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, and a series defeat for Sri Lanka is now looking likely.

Sri Lanka 122 all out
Kumar Sangakkara 27 (30)
Irfan Pathan 4-37 (8), Jai P Yadav 2-32 (10), Harbhajan Singh 2-19 (6.4)

India 123-3
Sachin Tendulkar 67* (69), Virender Sehwag 38 (29)
Muttiah Muralitharan 1-32 (7.2), Farveez Maharoof 1-19 (3)

India win by 8 wickets

Cricket Web Man of the Match
Irfan Pathan (India) 4-37