Sri Lanka dominated the Triangular series final from the outset to defeat India by 74 runs. Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakarra was pleased he won the toss on a good batting wicket (a real rarity throughout the series.)
Tilikeratne Dilshan started with fireworks and blasted 100 from 115 balls, including 12 fours and a six to add 121 for the opening stand with Mahela Jayawardene, who made a gritty 39 in becoming the third Sri Lankan cricketer to make 9,000 runs in One Day Internationals.
When Upul Tharanga(6) and Jayawardene were both removed in quick sucession, skipper Kumar Sangakarra stepped up to the plate and stroked 71 from 62 deliveries, a knock enriched with seven fours and a six, as he helped his side pile on 80 runs from the final 10 overs and set India 300 for victory.
India needed partnerships to chase down the daunting total, and despite a 50-run stand between Virat Kohli and Sangakarra's opposite number, M.S Dhoni(67) they never looked like getting the runs.
Kohli(37), Yuvraj Singh(26) and dashing opener Virender Sehwag(28) were all unable to convert to big scores, as India were dismissed for 225. Thissara Perera was again the suprise pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, taking an impressive 3-36.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
India takes the sword to Lankans
India bowled with fire and hostility to dismiss Sri Lanka for 170 in their second match of the triangular series before Virender Sehwag blasted his side to victory with an unbeaten 99.
Sri Lankan opener Upul Tharanga was first to go, dismissed for a golden duck by Praveen Kumar.
Skipper Kumar Sangakkara was removed for 2, caught by Pragyan Ohja from the bowling of Ashish Nehra. By the time Mahela Jayawardene was lbw to Praveen Kumar the score read 3/23 and the Sri Lankan dressing room was very nervy.
But things would only get worse from here. Thilan Samaraweera went for just 7, after he was caught by Ravindra Jadeja off the fiery pace of Ishant Sharma. Tilikeratne Dilshan was finally removed after an uncharacteristically fighting knock of 45 from 62 deliveries, dismissed by Pragyan Ohja. Allrounder Angelo Matthews departed from the batting crease after making 15 from 26 balls. Chamara Kapugedera made 10 (28) before being bowled by Ravindra Jadeja.
Then came the time for Suraj Randiv to stand up and be counted. The spinner was the last man to be dismissed in a gutsy 43 off 61 deliveries and enjoyed several partnerships:
39 run partnership with Nuwan Kulesekara(22)
16 run partnership with Lasith Malinga(5)
12 run partnership with Dilhara Fernando(6)
Now for the Indian bowling figures:
Praveen Kumar bowled a very economical 2/20 from 8 overs ( at a run rate of 2.50 an over)
Ashish Nehra was the most expensive of the pacemen, taking 1/39 from 9 overs( 4.33 per over)
Ishant Sharma again showed his promise, snaring 2/32 from 9 overs(3.55 an over)
Ravinda Jadeja bowled his full quota of ten overs, ending with 34/2 (at 3.40 an over)
while part timer Virender Sehwag bowled 1 over for 5 runs,
but Deccan Chargers star Pragyan Ohja was the pick of the bowlers, bagging 3/36 from 9.1 overs at a slightly expensive 3.92 an over.
Virender Sehwag then took centre stage, smashing 99 not out from 100 balls. The knock contained 11 fours, 2 sixes and........ a little bit of controversy.
India was a single away from victory and Sehwag 1 run from his ton. He then proceeded to wallop a six from Suraj Randiv, but as Randiv had clearly overstepped and the delivery was called a no-ball, only the extra sundry run was added to India's total. As a result, Sehwag remain on 99*
New Zealand is at the top of the leaderboard with 5 points, while Sri Lanka and India are on 4 points apiece
Sri Lankan opener Upul Tharanga was first to go, dismissed for a golden duck by Praveen Kumar.
Skipper Kumar Sangakkara was removed for 2, caught by Pragyan Ohja from the bowling of Ashish Nehra. By the time Mahela Jayawardene was lbw to Praveen Kumar the score read 3/23 and the Sri Lankan dressing room was very nervy.
But things would only get worse from here. Thilan Samaraweera went for just 7, after he was caught by Ravindra Jadeja off the fiery pace of Ishant Sharma. Tilikeratne Dilshan was finally removed after an uncharacteristically fighting knock of 45 from 62 deliveries, dismissed by Pragyan Ohja. Allrounder Angelo Matthews departed from the batting crease after making 15 from 26 balls. Chamara Kapugedera made 10 (28) before being bowled by Ravindra Jadeja.
Then came the time for Suraj Randiv to stand up and be counted. The spinner was the last man to be dismissed in a gutsy 43 off 61 deliveries and enjoyed several partnerships:
39 run partnership with Nuwan Kulesekara(22)
16 run partnership with Lasith Malinga(5)
12 run partnership with Dilhara Fernando(6)
Now for the Indian bowling figures:
Praveen Kumar bowled a very economical 2/20 from 8 overs ( at a run rate of 2.50 an over)
Ashish Nehra was the most expensive of the pacemen, taking 1/39 from 9 overs( 4.33 per over)
Ishant Sharma again showed his promise, snaring 2/32 from 9 overs(3.55 an over)
Ravinda Jadeja bowled his full quota of ten overs, ending with 34/2 (at 3.40 an over)
while part timer Virender Sehwag bowled 1 over for 5 runs,
but Deccan Chargers star Pragyan Ohja was the pick of the bowlers, bagging 3/36 from 9.1 overs at a slightly expensive 3.92 an over.
Virender Sehwag then took centre stage, smashing 99 not out from 100 balls. The knock contained 11 fours, 2 sixes and........ a little bit of controversy.
India was a single away from victory and Sehwag 1 run from his ton. He then proceeded to wallop a six from Suraj Randiv, but as Randiv had clearly overstepped and the delivery was called a no-ball, only the extra sundry run was added to India's total. As a result, Sehwag remain on 99*
New Zealand is at the top of the leaderboard with 5 points, while Sri Lanka and India are on 4 points apiece
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Lankans open thier campain in style
Sri Lanka bowled with incredible resolve and held New Zealand to just 192 before stuttering their way to 195-7.
Lasith Malinga (3-35) removed Martin Guptill for a first ball duck off a bizzare bottom edge which balloned into the air. Angelo Matthews also snared Kane Williamson for a duck, as well as taking the key wicket of danger man Ross Taylor (16). Spinner Rangana Herath then disposed of Scott Styris for 24. Matthews then snared his third wicket of the afteroon by dismissing opener BJ Watling (55) when he was well set and anchoring the innings.
Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins was on his way for 11, courtesy again of that man Malinga before "The Slinga" clean bowled Daryl Tuffey for the third duck of NZ's innings. Spinner Rangana Herath caught Nathan McCullum off the bowling of the team's other spinner, Ajantha Mendis, before taking the wicket of Kyle Mills to end the Blackcaps innings.
Sri Lankan captain Sangkarra(48) opener Upul Tharanga(70) and finisher Chamara Kapugedera(13 no out) then guided Sri Lanka to a 7 wicket win with nearly 10 overs in hand.
Lasith Malinga (3-35) removed Martin Guptill for a first ball duck off a bizzare bottom edge which balloned into the air. Angelo Matthews also snared Kane Williamson for a duck, as well as taking the key wicket of danger man Ross Taylor (16). Spinner Rangana Herath then disposed of Scott Styris for 24. Matthews then snared his third wicket of the afteroon by dismissing opener BJ Watling (55) when he was well set and anchoring the innings.
Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins was on his way for 11, courtesy again of that man Malinga before "The Slinga" clean bowled Daryl Tuffey for the third duck of NZ's innings. Spinner Rangana Herath caught Nathan McCullum off the bowling of the team's other spinner, Ajantha Mendis, before taking the wicket of Kyle Mills to end the Blackcaps innings.
Sri Lankan captain Sangkarra(48) opener Upul Tharanga(70) and finisher Chamara Kapugedera(13 no out) then guided Sri Lanka to a 7 wicket win with nearly 10 overs in hand.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Pakistan crash as England take a 2-0 series lead
Pakistan were left reeling the face of an onslaught from Andrew Strauss during the second Test at Egbaston.
The England captain was dropped no fewer than five times on his way to an unbeaten 53. Strauss guided his beloved adopted country to a nine wicket victory with more than a session and a day to spare.
Debutant wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider(88) and tailender Saeed Ajmal (50) gave Pakistan a faint glimmer of hope going into the fourth day of the second Test and Mohammad Aamer certainly remained undaunted by the task, clean bowling Alistair Cook (4) after the Pakistanis had set England 118 to win.
But any aspirations of victory were soon crushed by Johnathan Trott, who made a classy 53* (his fourth 50 in Tests) and Andrew Strauss, who was uncharacteristically brutal in his 53*. Trott stuck some beautiful cover drives in the morning session, while it seemed Strauss was keen to get the job done post lunch, and he finally got an edge away to bring up the winning runs.
The England captain was dropped no fewer than five times on his way to an unbeaten 53. Strauss guided his beloved adopted country to a nine wicket victory with more than a session and a day to spare.
Debutant wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider(88) and tailender Saeed Ajmal (50) gave Pakistan a faint glimmer of hope going into the fourth day of the second Test and Mohammad Aamer certainly remained undaunted by the task, clean bowling Alistair Cook (4) after the Pakistanis had set England 118 to win.
But any aspirations of victory were soon crushed by Johnathan Trott, who made a classy 53* (his fourth 50 in Tests) and Andrew Strauss, who was uncharacteristically brutal in his 53*. Trott stuck some beautiful cover drives in the morning session, while it seemed Strauss was keen to get the job done post lunch, and he finally got an edge away to bring up the winning runs.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Lankans must count on Sangakkara again
An island nation's expectation hung on the shoulder's of captain and former wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara during the Third Test between Sri Lanka and India last night as the Sri Lankans were sent to stumps on day three at 2-45, a threadlike lead of 34, after the Indians were dismissed for 436 late in the day.
India's lower-order fought strongly after lunch, with Abhimanyu Mithun (46, 5 fours) and Amit Mishra (40) putting on 64 for the eighth wicket.
The tailenders, who made 115 for the last four wickets, provided plenty of respite the Indian captain M.S Dhoni, who was dismissed for 15 after lunch on a very tough morning. India's talisman Sachin Tendulkar added just one run to his overnight world record run tally, dismissed for 41 after he threw the blade at a delivery from Lasith Malinga in the first over. Virender Sehwag was also undone by lazy strokeplay when he was dismissed in the sixth over of the morning, for 109. Sehwag fell to spinner Suraj Radiv, skying a top edge high in the air and safely into the hands of Chanaka Welegedera.
It was Sehwag's fourth recent hundred and it came off 105 deliveries. He would have made 5 hundreds in 5 Tests were it not for 1 run- he was stumped by Sangakkara for 99 in the second Test!
V.V.S Laxman and Suresh Raina participated in a 105 run partnership before Ajantha Mendis removed them in the space of three overs after lunch. Raina was removed driving to Sangkkara at mid-wicket, while Laxman edged to the ever-reliable Jayawardene in the slips.
wicketkeeper and captain Dhoni was hit on the gloves by Malinga before being removed by him on the hook
India's lower-order fought strongly after lunch, with Abhimanyu Mithun (46, 5 fours) and Amit Mishra (40) putting on 64 for the eighth wicket.
The tailenders, who made 115 for the last four wickets, provided plenty of respite the Indian captain M.S Dhoni, who was dismissed for 15 after lunch on a very tough morning. India's talisman Sachin Tendulkar added just one run to his overnight world record run tally, dismissed for 41 after he threw the blade at a delivery from Lasith Malinga in the first over. Virender Sehwag was also undone by lazy strokeplay when he was dismissed in the sixth over of the morning, for 109. Sehwag fell to spinner Suraj Radiv, skying a top edge high in the air and safely into the hands of Chanaka Welegedera.
It was Sehwag's fourth recent hundred and it came off 105 deliveries. He would have made 5 hundreds in 5 Tests were it not for 1 run- he was stumped by Sangakkara for 99 in the second Test!
V.V.S Laxman and Suresh Raina participated in a 105 run partnership before Ajantha Mendis removed them in the space of three overs after lunch. Raina was removed driving to Sangkkara at mid-wicket, while Laxman edged to the ever-reliable Jayawardene in the slips.
wicketkeeper and captain Dhoni was hit on the gloves by Malinga before being removed by him on the hook
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
India mount fightback going into Third Test
India fought back early into day two of the third Test against Sri Lanka. After reaching stumps on the first day at 4-293, India has come back at the Lankans like last night's pizza to have them stumbling at 8-388.
Pragyan Ohja was the star with the ball, taking 97-4. Playing in just his second Test, Ohja snared former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene for 56, danger man Angelo Matthews on 45 and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene for 9, each man falling LBW.
Randiv was caught by Rahul Dravid for 8 from the bowling of part-timer Virender Sehwag. Lasith Malinga came to the crease on the back of a Test match best of 64, but there were no heroics this time as he was caught and bowled by Amit Mishra for 4.
Earlier on day 1, Sangakkara had made his way to 75 before losing concentration and falling to Virender Sehwag at long-on off........... Pragyan Ohja! India was left to rue a misjudgement by Suresh Raina when hewas on 23. The edge from Sangakarra appeared to be comfortably travelling to VV.S Laxman at second slip before Raina lunged to his right and dropped the catch.
India were terrible at times, sending down 16 extras (including an intolerable 14 no-balls and two wides) but they were good enough to make regular breakthroughs, rather than play straight into Sri Lanka's hands.
Sangkkara won the toss, chose to bat and promptly put on 87 with Tillakaratne Dilshan after the early loss of opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who fell to young paceman Ishant Sharma for 8. But Dilshan's innings was cut short by a sad end:
Tillakaratne stepped out of his crease to defend a no-ball from Ohja when Murali Vijay gathered the ball at silly point and delivered to wicketkeeper M.S Dhoni who then duly removed the dangerous Dilshan.
Mahela Jayawardene then continued the carnage, putting on 84 with Thilan Samaraweera before he was poorly adjudged LBW by Australian umpire Rod Tucker. Yet Samaraweera continues to anchor the innings on 125 not out
Pragyan Ohja was the star with the ball, taking 97-4. Playing in just his second Test, Ohja snared former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene for 56, danger man Angelo Matthews on 45 and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene for 9, each man falling LBW.
Randiv was caught by Rahul Dravid for 8 from the bowling of part-timer Virender Sehwag. Lasith Malinga came to the crease on the back of a Test match best of 64, but there were no heroics this time as he was caught and bowled by Amit Mishra for 4.
Earlier on day 1, Sangakkara had made his way to 75 before losing concentration and falling to Virender Sehwag at long-on off........... Pragyan Ohja! India was left to rue a misjudgement by Suresh Raina when hewas on 23. The edge from Sangakarra appeared to be comfortably travelling to VV.S Laxman at second slip before Raina lunged to his right and dropped the catch.
India were terrible at times, sending down 16 extras (including an intolerable 14 no-balls and two wides) but they were good enough to make regular breakthroughs, rather than play straight into Sri Lanka's hands.
Sangkkara won the toss, chose to bat and promptly put on 87 with Tillakaratne Dilshan after the early loss of opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who fell to young paceman Ishant Sharma for 8. But Dilshan's innings was cut short by a sad end:
Tillakaratne stepped out of his crease to defend a no-ball from Ohja when Murali Vijay gathered the ball at silly point and delivered to wicketkeeper M.S Dhoni who then duly removed the dangerous Dilshan.
Mahela Jayawardene then continued the carnage, putting on 84 with Thilan Samaraweera before he was poorly adjudged LBW by Australian umpire Rod Tucker. Yet Samaraweera continues to anchor the innings on 125 not out
Monday, August 2, 2010
Three batsmen- who rules the roost?
Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are the most outstanding batsmen of their generation and three of the most gifted men to ever wield a willow.
Who is the greatest? Sachin Tendulkar is, to many, the clear answer to this question. But this does not mean Ponting and Lara are not without their skills.
Lara, along with Virender Sehwag, stands as one of the greatest "momentum players" in cricket history. That is to say, that once a momentum player gets going, they are unstoppable and invariably go on to record a mammoth score.
The Trinidadian still holds the world record for the highest Test match score, an unfathomable 400 during the fourth Test against Englandin 2004. Brian has made scores the likes of which Ricky and Sachin could only dream of. Sachin lacks but two milestones on an otherwise impeccable record- a coveted triple ton, and an average higher than that of Donald Bradman's 99.94, while Ponting's highest score in Tests is 257.
Ponting has a talent for carving spectacular innings for his country when they need them, as is evidenced by his enviable fourth innings record. This was an skill which, other than on one famous occasion in particular deserted Lara more often than not and particularly at crucial junctures. Tendulkar's second innings record lags significantly behind other more advanced components of his game.
But Tendulkar is poised to well and truly run away with all the records, and deservedly so. Many had already been labelling him the "new Bradman" but in 1999, when invited to Bradman's birthday, Sir Donald let Sachin know he was his modern embodiment. There could be no higher compliment.
Tendulkar is currently Test cricket's highest run scorer with 13,647 runs to his name. He also stands head and shoulder above everyone else in terms of centuries scored, in both forms of the game- he has scored 46 ODI hundreds and 48 Test hundreds. At 37, and with 94 tons in total, there is enough hope left for Sachin's fans that he has time enough to become the first man to score 100 international hundreds.
Who is the greatest? Sachin Tendulkar is, to many, the clear answer to this question. But this does not mean Ponting and Lara are not without their skills.
Lara, along with Virender Sehwag, stands as one of the greatest "momentum players" in cricket history. That is to say, that once a momentum player gets going, they are unstoppable and invariably go on to record a mammoth score.
The Trinidadian still holds the world record for the highest Test match score, an unfathomable 400 during the fourth Test against Englandin 2004. Brian has made scores the likes of which Ricky and Sachin could only dream of. Sachin lacks but two milestones on an otherwise impeccable record- a coveted triple ton, and an average higher than that of Donald Bradman's 99.94, while Ponting's highest score in Tests is 257.
Ponting has a talent for carving spectacular innings for his country when they need them, as is evidenced by his enviable fourth innings record. This was an skill which, other than on one famous occasion in particular deserted Lara more often than not and particularly at crucial junctures. Tendulkar's second innings record lags significantly behind other more advanced components of his game.
But Tendulkar is poised to well and truly run away with all the records, and deservedly so. Many had already been labelling him the "new Bradman" but in 1999, when invited to Bradman's birthday, Sir Donald let Sachin know he was his modern embodiment. There could be no higher compliment.
Tendulkar is currently Test cricket's highest run scorer with 13,647 runs to his name. He also stands head and shoulder above everyone else in terms of centuries scored, in both forms of the game- he has scored 46 ODI hundreds and 48 Test hundreds. At 37, and with 94 tons in total, there is enough hope left for Sachin's fans that he has time enough to become the first man to score 100 international hundreds.
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