Calm Jayawardene takes Sri Lanka home

Sri Lanka 249 for 6 (Jayawardene 71*, Sangakkara 55) beat India 245 (Raina 106, Kulasekara 4-48) by four wickets

Historically, when it comes to finals of triangular tournaments, Sri Lanka have had the upper hand over India, who in the last decade succeeded in winning just four in 21 finals. A familiar tale panned out in Dhaka, where a frenetic start was followed by an enthralling finish and the result was yet another tournament win for Sri Lanka over India.

Of all the individual contributions that were spread across 96.5 overs of fluctuating cricket in Dhaka, the one that towered over all others was a 71. Those were the runs scored by Mahela Jayawardene, and it undermined the importance of his surprise call-up to the squad midway through the tri-series. Building on the good work of Sri Lanka's bowlers, especially the Man of the Match Nuwan Kulasekara, Jayawardene smoothed over two spin-induced wobbles and paced the chase precisely to steer them home with nine balls to spare on a chilly evening.

Suresh Raina's first ODI century against serious opposition - his previous two were against Hong Kong and Bangladesh - had boosted India from 60 for 5 to a respectable 245 but they were a strike bowler short after Ashish Nehra took a wicket and left the field. Harbhajan Singh produced two openings with his tidy offspin yet Jayawardene was flawless in his match-winning effort. And to think he'd initially been ruled out of the series through injury.

When India dismissed the well-set pair of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara in the space of 14 deliveries on a rare dew-free evening, their total seemed around 40 runs more than it actually was. India turned in a fighting performance after Sangakkara and Dilshan fell, but fittingly it was Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's most experienced player, who anchored the chase.

After Nehra sent back Tharanga for his second consecutive duck, only to hobble off with a dodgy groin after bowling eight deliveries, Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth, especially, struggled with their bearings and Sangakkara, with very good use of the wrists, latched on readily. He was away with two expertly placed boundaries, just using the pace and putting width away through the off-side arc, and followed those up with two glorious drives past extra cover and point. With Sangakkara striking the ball sweetly, Dilshan set about erecting a platform that would see Sri Lanka through.

However, 93 for 1 soon turned into 109 for 3, with spin giving India some hope. MS Dhoni turned to Yuvraj Singh for the 17th over, and it took him one delivery to raise India's spirits. Dilshan, on 49, tried to cut but the ball stayed low and Dhoni made no mistake holding the bottom edge. In the 20th over Sangakkara, who had raised his half-century off just 48 balls, was tempted by a loopy one from Harbhajan Singh that forced him back and then drew the edge to slip.

Boundaries dried up and the tension was palpable, as was perhaps the batsmen's surprise at the minimal effect the dew had. Where cuts and glances had been abundant, suddenly hard-handed chops to backward point and inside edges off hurried drives became frequent. There was big turn for Harbhajan and Dhoni threw in a leg gully to go with a slip.

But Jayawardene is just the man you need to walk in with the asking rate under control and a batsman in good nick at the other end. He aided Sri Lanka's chase with customary effectiveness: a forward press here, a clipped single there, a deft boundary here, a cheeky two there. It was typical Jayawardene - aware of what the situation demanded and knowing which bowlers to take runs off and how.

Having eased the pressure with a lovely dab wide of backward point for four, Thilan Samaraweera failed to spot Ravindra Jadeja's arm ball and dragged it onto his stumps. That wicket snapped a 48-run partnership, but few circumstances ruffle Jayawardene and he ensured he was around till the end. Harbhajan's dismissal of Thilina Kandamby in his second spell didn't bother Jayawardene, who raised his fifty with a characteristic nudge off the pads. A drop by Harbhajan at point when Jayawardene was on 54 was as close as India came to dismissing him. Even the run out of Suraj Randiv with 18 needed from 21 balls wasn't enough. With three successive boundaries off Sreesanth, each played to different areas and with varying degrees of control, Jayawardene sealed the deal.

Jayawardene's innings overshadowed a splendid century earlier in the day. Raina's effort was the fourth-highest ODI score by an Indian at No. 6 and kept India afloat but Sri Lanka finished off well, taking the last four wickets for 32 runs in 5.2 overs. By bowling India out in 48.2 overs with some tight bowling at the end, they were always ahead in the match.

For the first 11 overs of the game on an overcast and mildly chilly Dhaka afternoon, India's innings resembled an automobile ignition on a wintry morning in Denmark. A mishmash of indiscreet shot selection, accurate new-ball bowling, efficient left-arm pace and smart catching is often a recipe for a lop-sided contest and India so nearly made it one. The top order played without purpose - completely failing to make use of the chance to bat time at the crease - and wickets fell in a heap within the first ten overs.

Gautam Gambhir's first-over dismissal - bowled off the pads while trying to glance Kulasekara - set about a brief period of chaos where India's batsmen made the slightly nippy Chanaka Welegedara look like Jeff Thomson. Though hovering in the late 120 to early 130 kmph, Welegedara drew a tentative waft from Kohli and made Yuvraj - who had not batted so early in the innings since November 8 against Australia - look like a novice with two slips licking their lips.

Overconfidence did Dhoni and Virender Sehwag in after a mini-recovery, as both fell to the accurate Kulasekara, and with India struggling at 76 for 5 after 15 overs, this was threatening to be one of the quickest finals in recent memory. Luckily for India, Raina and Jadeja proceeded to buckle down and give the innings some substance.

Raina never allowed the situation get to him. He was alert to the singles, was skillful at finding the gaps, and ran well with Jadeja. A pull through midwicket in the 20th over changed the tempo from caution to slow acceleration, and an open-faced steer between mid-off and extra cover was the shot of the innings. Forty one of Raina's runs came behind the wicket, all through dabs, steers, glances and gentle maneuvering, but it was the crisply struck drives that had spectators cheering. The cover area was regularly threaded, especially as Raina made room to dominate the bowlers.

At 166 for 5 in the 35th over, India appeared on course for 250 but Dilshan trapped Jadeja (38) plumb in front. Raina's attempt to boost the tempo after reaching his century didn't come off, with India losing wickets cheaply. Despite facing 53 dot balls, Raina's strike-rate was a swift 92.17; marvelous considering the mess he had walked out to. His excellent contribution at least gave India something to bowl at, but 245 just wasn't enough to prevent Sri Lanka from securing their first tri-series success since the 2008 Asia Cup - against the same opposition.

Subscribe in a reader

"Kotla was too dangerous to play"

Kumar Sangakkara said the Kotla track did not look "normal" soon after the first five overs and was too dangerous to continue playing.

"Even after 6-10 overs, we could feel that the pitch was not normal. But the Match Referee (Alan Hurst) said 'I cannot do anything. It was a call for the on-field umpires to take'.

"We spoke to the fourth umpire as well. We cannot, from outside, make a request to the umpire. The two on-field batsmen had to make a request," Sangakkara said after his team returned from India losing both the Test and ODI series.

"The umpires were also waiting to see whether the pitch would improve. By the 23rd over, they knew that it did not even out. Then (Muthumudalige) Pushpakumara got hit and (Thilina) Kandamby nearly got hit," he told reporters here.

"Kandamby spoke to the umpire who said they were also waiting for the pitch to improve but that it had not. So, it was a dangerous batting pitch to play on," he added.

After 23-odd overs, the match was abandoned as odd balls reared up alarmingly.
As a fallout, Kotla now faces an international ban even though the Delhi and District Cricket Association officials alleged that the Lankans "chickened out" of the match fearing defeat.
Looking back at the disappointing tour, Sangakkara said among the few positives was the way some youngsters performed.

"We saw how the young players Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Suraj Randiv performed. Young players are starting to realise it's anybody's game now and we are going to see them pushing everyone for places, not just for the World Cup but for other tours as well. It's a great step forward in Sri Lanka cricket," he said last evening.

Chairman of Sri Lankan selectors Ashantha de Mel also felt that despite the poor results, the performance of the team was not all that bad.

"I don't think our performance was that bad. We play quite a lot of cricket. The main thing we need to improve is bench strength for people who got injured. There were 10 people who got injured when we were in India. We had five debutants in the ODI series alone. Despite all that we showed lot of character," De Mel said.

Sangakkara said the fielding was one area where the Lankans need to improve.
"These days the matches are won or lost by two, three, four or five runs," he added.

Subscribe in a reader

Sangakkara: India are beatable

Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara feels that India are "beatable" and blamed their defeats on losing key performers intermittently.

India beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in the Test series to jump to the top of the Test ranking and have already sealed the one-day series by taking an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Sri Lanka lost at least five key players at different stages of the tour and Sangakkara said it was a big factor contributing to their defeats.

"It's always tough to make changes 10 minutes before the toss. Especially, when he is your best performing bowler.

"First Test, half an hour to the start of the game we lost Thilan Thushara."
"Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) is gone, Angelo Mathews was a huge blow, while (Chanka) Welegedara had a groin injury to sit out in the Eden one-dayer yesterday," Sangakkara lamented.
The Lankan captain said they fought well in all the contest and it's not that they were outplayed by India.

"India are a very capable side. But at the same time, they are beatable. All the four (one-day) games have been won or lost on few things here or there. I think it's a good Indian side but we can take heart from the fact that we are still competitive," said Sangakkara.

Sangakkara went down the memory lane to reflect on the matches they could have won and took solace from the fact that at least they put up a good fight against India.

"We had opportunity in the first Test. We were not really penetrative with the bowling to win the Test series. But ever since, I have started playing in this side, we have further more competitive in ODIs in India.

"Chasing 415, I think we should have closed down the game (in Rajkot that India won by three runs). That was the easier game to finish off then winning second game (in Nagpur that Sri Lanka won by three wickets chasing 302).

"We have always been in winning position from the four ODIs. In Cuttack, we were at a commanding position at 165 one (in 22.2 overs) but only to get bundled out for 239. Probably, it has been a tour of what- ifs. We have always been competitive that must have worried the Indians," he said.
Asked about their loss yesterday even after posting a handsome 315 for six, Sangakkara without naming Lasith Malinga said his most experienced bowler did not bowl a good line and length.
"If you see wagon wheel, the batsmen have scored on all side of the wicket. While defending a total, you need to make sure bowl line and length and on one side of the wicket and try the batsman hit on one side of the wicket.

"The one bowler who had experience could not bowl one side of the wicket. 315 on any track is a fighting total. Upul Tharanga batted exceptionally well and he batted long enough for everyone bat around him," he said.

"(Thissara) Perera in his debut game really provided the acceleration that we needed. But where we lost the game was we could not take wickets." he rued.

Malinga was the most expensive Lankan bowler conceding 75 from his 9.1 overs without any wicket.
Even though Indian players including stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag felt that Sri Lanka made a big mistake by opting to bat due to dew factor, Sangakkara defended his decision.
"If you bat first, you want to get over 300 and we did.

There was no problem in the decision. We got two early breakthroughs while defending. But again, our best bowlers on this tour have been three debutants -- (Chanka) Welegedara, (Suraj) Randiv and (Suranga) Lakmal.

"That goes to show that the experience guys really have to good look at themselves since there is a lot of competition for places now," he said.

Drawing positives from the tour, Sangakkara said finding a few exciting players augurs well for their team.

"The batting of (Tillakaratne) Dilshan, (Upul) Tharanga, the debutants who came in and put their hands up, showing a lot of responsibility... the way (Angelo) Mathews played goes on to show that he is one of our better players this year.

"Once we have full squad we have to make sure that the guys who performed well here combine well with them to make a very strong side hopefully when we go to Bangladesh.

Subscribe in a reader

Gambhir, Kohli seal series for India

Centuries from Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli helped India defeat Sri Lanka by seven wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

Upul Tharanga had hit a superb 118 and Kumar Sangakkara made a fine 60 as the visitors reached an imposing 315 for six after choosing to bat first in the fourth one-day international in Kolkata.
However, Gambhir struck an undefeated 150 and Kohli made 107 - his maiden century - the two adding 224 for the third wicket as India easily overhauled the target.

After the tourists opted to bat, India began well with the ball, conceding a measly nine from five immaculate overs sent down by new-ball bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra.

But Tillakaratne Dilshan broke the shackles by driving Nehra through the covers in the sixth over for the first boundary and from then on India gradually lost control.

Nehra, who had dropped Tharanga on seven when he failed to hold on to a fairly straightforward return catch, went some way to atoning for that error by snaring Dilshan early and Sanath Jayasuriya, batting at three, also departed cheaply.

But then Sangakkara, who was handed a reprieve before he was even off the mark when Harbhajan Singh squandered a simple chance at third man, and Tharanga built a solid base.

Tharanga, who increased the tempo by hitting Ishant Sharma for five boundaries in the paceman's first over, continued to bat steadily alongside his captain.

The pair scored easily off the spinners and struck timely boundaries as they added 126 for the third wicket, Tharanga reaching his seventh ODI century in the process.

The partnership was ended when the Sri Lanka captain was smartly stumped by Dinesh Karthik as he was too far out and across while attempting to help a Harbhajan delivery down to fine leg.

Tharanga followed Sangakkara back to the pavilion quickly after, but Sri Lanka's middle-order kicked on.

Perera chipped in with a 14-ball 31, while cameos from Mahela Jayawardene (33) and Thilina Kandamby (23 not out from 15) helped Sri Lanka to a strong total.

India's response to Sri Lanka's total began badly, the home side losing both openers with a mere 23 runs on the board.

Suranga Lakmal, who shared the new ball with debutant Thissara Perera, claimed stand-in-captain Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in successive overs.

Those early blows brought Gambhir and Kohli together, the two steadying the ship with a calm and sensible approach.

Kohli injected momentum by hammering Lasith Malinga for four consecutive blows in the paceman's first over and in a period when boundaries were easily available.

The duo then easily negotiated the spinners, rotating the strike nicely and although the run rate dropped considerably, India were well in control.

Kohli was first to his century and Gambhir followed a delivery later, reaching his seventh ODI century in 101 deliveries.

Kohli then attempted to step up the pace and succeeded by hitting the first six of the innings - in the 39th over - but perished soon after while attempting another off Suraj Randiv.

Their 224-run stand was only 13 short of a record highest third-wicket partnership.

India still needed a further 69 from little more than 10 overs at that stage, but Gambhir narrowed the gap by hitting Perera and then Lakmal for successive boundaries.

Gambhir, with Karthik for company, got India across the line, finishing off the chase with boundary off the first ball of the penultimate over.

Teams:
India: V Sehwag*, SR Tendulkar, G Gambhir, V Kohli, SK Raina, KD Karthik†, RA Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, A Nehra, I Sharma.

Sri Lanka: WU Tharanga, TM Dilshan, KC Sangakkara*†, DPMD Jayawardene, SHT Kandamby, CK Kapugedera, S Randiv, KMDN Kulasekara, BAW Mendis, SL Malinga, NLTC Perera.

Subscribe in a reader

SL cricketers breach security cover

Sri Lankan players gave the local police some anxious moments when they went for a night-out without security cover.

According to sources, some members of the visiting team, including senior batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan went partying at a bar at Camac Street in Kolkata, putting local police in a tizzy.

The cricketers left the hotel at around 11:00 pm.
While some of the Sri Lankan team members returned early, Jayasuriya and Dilshan came back around 2:00 am, the sources said.

"Many of them went out but returned soon. Only the duo of Dilshan and Jayasuriya returned quite late. If somebody goes out of security, what can we do? They are all responsible cricketers," local manager of the team Samir Dasgupta said.

Sri Lankan team management, however, denied that the duo returned late and said they did not go for any party or fun.

"There was no concern as the cricketers had informed the management and police before stepping out. Not all cricketers went out, just a few of them had gone and returned in about an hour," Lankan manager Brendon Kuruppu told PTI.

"There were policemen, hotel and security staff escorting them and they did not go for partying. And on top of that it was a day off for them," Kuruppu added.

Also on Tuesday, Dilshan went to the house of his Delhi Daredevils teammate Manoj Tiwari.
Incidentally, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Dilshan did not turn up for Wednesday's optional practice session.

Following the terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan earlier this year, security has always been a concern.

In the wake of a terror alert and the intelligence inputs about possible suicide attacks on the vital installations in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, security cover of the cricketers have been beefed up.

Security tightened at Eden Gardens
In view of the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan in March this year, an unprecedented security cover has been put in place for their fourth ODI against India at the Eden Gardens.

Jawans of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), armed police personnel and commandos have been positioned around the Eden Gardens as a three-tier security ring has been thrown for both the teams lodged in a five-star hotel in the city.

"Security has been arranged in such a way that none will be able to barge into the ground and approach the players," Joint Commissioner of Police(HQ), Jawed Shamim said.

With Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborty supervising the security arrangements, even mediapersons have been barred inside the hotel lobby under control of the security personnel.
Metal detectors, sniffer dogs and hectic movement of armed securitymen in the hotel as well as in the Eden Gardens have been witnessed for the last few days.

Police have given clear guidelines to the two teams on security norms.
"So far, there has been no security breach on the part of any cricketer of either team," Shamim said.

Shamim said some dummy buses had been kept ready for the two teams both at the hotel and at the ground.

"This has been done in the interests of players' security," he added.
As usual, there has been last-minute scurrying for tickets, mainly complimentary ones. Police have been keeping a close watch on any blackmarketing of such tickets.

Meanwhile, the number of seats at the stadium has gone down by 45,000 due to dismantling of four galleries for repairing of the venue.

Following this, police said that demand for complimentary tickets had gone up considerably.

Subscribe in a reader

Tendulkar, Jadeja lead India canter

Ravindra Jadeja claimed a career-best four-wicket haul, while Sachin Tendulkar struck a superbly-paced 96 not out to lead India to an easy victory.

Sachin Tendulkar struck a superbly-paced 96 not out as India secured an easy seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third one-dayer in Cuttack to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Sri Lanka won the toss and Tillakaratne Dilshan gave the visitors a flying start with a brutal 18-ball 41, while Upul Tharanga (73) and Kumar Sangakkara (46) kept Sri Lanka in line for a big total.

However, Ravindra Jadeja claimed a career-best four for 32 as India's bowlers fought back bravely to restrict Sri Lanka to 239 all out.

Stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag (44) gave India's chase a solid start but Tendulkar's calm innings ensured they were never in danger as the home side overhauled the target with 7.2 overs to spare.

Sri Lanka's total had seemed unlikely at the start when India's new-ball bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma leaked runs, coming unstuck as much from their own lack of accuracy as Dilshan's free-hitting intent.

A flurry of boundaries helped Sri Lanka raise the 50 off only 26 deliveries and the opening batsmen added 15 more to the total before first-change bowler Ashish Nehra, along with Harbhajan Singh, pulled things back.

Harbhajan, pressed into action inside the powerplay, bowled a tight line, while Nehra engineered the breakthrough by ending Dilshan's stay.

The dashing opener, who was let off on 36 when Dinesh Karthik made a mess of a stumping chance, top-edged a pull that Karthik easily held.

There was little respite for the home team, however, as Sangakkara and Tharanga built steadily.

The two added an even 100 for the second wicket when Sehwag lured Sangakkara, beat him with turn and Karthik completed a stumping after first failing to collect cleanly.

Sri Lanka were 165 for one in 22.2 overs at that stage but India's bowlers effected a stunning turnaround.

Jadeja snared Tharanga with one that turned sharply from outside off and Mahela Jayawardene perished while attempting to pull a short delivery from Harbhajan but only found Suresh Raina at short midwicket.

Thilina Kandamby (22) and Chamara Kapugedera (15) briefly steadied the innings but Jadeja nipped that stand in the bud by bowling Kapugedera via an inside edge and Kandamby - the last recognised batsman - was also scalped by Ishant, the bowler making further amends for a wayward opening spell by removing Suraj Randiv for a duck in the same over.

The tail went quickly and Jadeja finished his spell with the wickets of Nuwan Kulasekara and Ajantha Mendis.

Sehwag, after a quiet start, responded with a stroke-filled innings, dominating an opening stand worth 55 with Tendulkar.

He had hit nine boundaries in a 28-ball stay when he attempted to cut Chanaka Welegedara for another boundary but only found Dilshan at point.

Gautam Gambhir (32) continued the chase and had added 72 for the second wicket with Tendulkar when off-spinner Suraj Randiv, playing only his second ODI, produced a smart catch off his own bowling to send back the left-handed batsman.

Tendulkar, off the mark with a superbly-timed boundary through midwicket, was again the common factor in a stand worth 42 for the third wicket with Yuvraj Singh (23).

Tendulkar, who struck 13 boundaries, then put on 73 in an undefeated stand for the fourth wicket with Karthik (36 not out) as India cantered over the line.

Teams:

India: V Sehwag*, SR Tendulkar, G Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, SK Raina, KD Karthik†, RA Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, A Nehra, I Sharma.

Sri Lanka: WU Tharanga, TM Dilshan, KC Sangakkara*†, DPMD Jayawardene, SHT Kandamby, CK Kapugedera, S Randiv, KMDN Kulasekara, BAW Mendis, UWMBCA Welegedara, SL Malinga.

Subscribe in a reader

India hope to regain lead in Cuttack

Stand-in India skipper Virender Sehwag will have to pull out all the stops to regain their lead when they lock horns with Sri Lankan in the third ODI.

As if poor fielding and bowling were not bad enough, the home side received a rude jolt when their inspirational skipper and last match centurion MS Dhoni was handed a two-match ban for the team's slow-over rate in the second ODI in Nagpur.

To add to India's woes, Yuvraj, who missed the first two games due to a finger injury and flu, still remains doubtful even though he has been retained in the 15-member squad.

In Dhoni's absence, Tamil Nadu keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has been drafted into the side to do the duties behind the stumps, while S Sreesanth, who is recovering from swine flu, has been replaced with Ishant Sharma.

Not that Sri Lanka didn't have their share of injuries.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews, who braved pain to guide the side to a series-equalling three-wicket win in Nagpur, strained the right quadricep muscle in Nagpur and has returned home.

Earlier the visitors had lost champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and paceman Dilhara Fernando to finger injuries.

With the series locked at 1-1, the result of tomorrow's day and night affair will be crucial in the context of the outcome of the series.

Under Sehwag, who has lead India in five ODIs, the hosts will first have to plug the loopholes in their bowling and fielding departments apart from capitalising on its main strength -- batting -- if they are to seize the initiative in the five-match series.

India's fortune often depends on the start they get and hence a lot would depend on how Sehwag himself fares, along side veteran Sachin Tendulkar.

India lost both Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir early in Nagpur and despite Dhoni's century, could not post a total that was beyond their opponents.

"We did not get a good start. We got some partnerships going but also lost wickets regularly," Dhoni had rued after the match.

Fielding, both catching and ground fielding, has been another area of concern for the team and Dhoni did not try to defend his butter-finger teammates either.

"We are also not the best fielding side in the world. We need to score 20 more runs to make up for the fielding lapses," Dhoni said.

The Sri Lankans, meanwhile, will be a confident lot after the Nagpur win.

The visitors will take heart from the fact that in the two matches played so far, their batting has been outstanding and will hope that it would come good tomorrow as well.

Opener Tillakratne Dilshan, in particular, has been the show-stopper for the Lankans with two back-to-back centuries.

He not only set the platorm for the visitors' three-wicket win in Nagpur with a scintillating 113-ball 123 but very nearly pulled off a stunner in the high-scoring opener in Rajkot, which the Lankans lost by three runs.

Chasing a mammoth 415 for victory, Dilshan struck a scintillating 160 off 124 balls to take Sri Lanka inches close to a sensational win.

Apart from Dilshan, skipper Kumar Sangakkara and opener Upul Tharanga also looked in good touch.

However, just like India, the Lankans too have a problem or two in their inexperienced bowling and fielding departments.

he visitors' bowling front has been badly affected by injuries and their problems were further compounded when Mathews joined Muralitharan and Fernando on the sidelines.

Traditionally, Barabati has been a lucky venue for India who have won eight, lost four matches here while one was abandoned due to rain.

But they have a poor record against Sri Lanka in Cuttack, having lost to the islanders in the only ODI played between the two nations way back in December 28, 1990.

Teams (from) India: Virender Sehwag (c), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Sudeep Tyagi and Virat Kohli.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Tharanga, Chanaka Welegedara, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Suraj Randiv and Thissara Perera.

Hours of play: 2.30 pm to 6 pm; 6.45 pm till close.

Subscribe in a reader

Dhoni banned for two ODI's

Indian captain MS Dhoni was banned for two one-day internationals for the team's slow over-rate during the second one-dayer against Sri Lanka.

The thrilling second one-dayer ended about 45 minutes after the scheduled finish time because of frequent discussions between the Indian players during the closing stages of Sri Lanka's chase, prompting the International Cricket Council to impose the ban on the Indian captain.

The decision to ban Dhoni was taken by match referee Jeff Crowe of New Zealand, considering the quantum of extra time the Indians took to complete their alloted overs.

Formal announcement from the ICC is expected soon.

It was still not known whether the two-match ban would come into effect immediately.

In case the ban comes into effect immediately, it will be a huge set-back for the Indians in the ongoing series with three matches still remaining to be played.

The five-match series is currently tied 1-1 after India won the first match in Rajkot by three runs, while the Sri Lankans snatched a thrilling three wicket victory in the second game here yesterday.

In the charismatic Dhoni's absence, opener Gautam Gambhir is likely to be named the captain for the two matches to be held in Cuttack on Dec 21 and in Kolkata on Dec 24.

The BCCI, however, has not made any official announcement yet on who will take over the captaincy in case Dhoni's ban comes into effect immediately.

Subscribe in a reader

Injured Mathews to return home

Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series against India and will return home.

Mathews suffered a thigh injury during his match-winning knock of 37 not out in the second one-dayer against India in Nagpur.

The all-rounder strained his right quadricep while attempting a single and will now be out of action for at least four weeks.

The Sri Lanka Cricket board have decided to send Mathews back home to recover from the injury.
"Angelo Mathews will return home due to the strain he suffered to his right quadricep muscle during the match winning innings last night," the SLC board said.

"Sri Lankan team physio Tommy Simsek is predicting a grade two tear and the healing time is expected take up to four weeks."

Wayamba all-rounder Thissara Perera has been called up as cover for Mathews.
Sri Lanka are already without the services of fast bowlers Thilan Thushara, Dammika Prasad and Dilhara Fernando as well as off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Subscribe in a reader

Sehwag to lead in next two ODI's

In the absence of MS Dhoni, dashing opener Virender Sehwag has been named the captain for the next two one-dayers against Sri Lanka.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Saturday slapped with a two ODI ban for slow over-rate during the second One-dayer against Sri Lanka in Nagpur, dealing a huge blow to the home team's prospects in the ongoing five-match series.

International Cricket Council's match referee Jeff Crowe imposed an immediate two match suspension on Dhoni for slow over-rate after conducting a hearing on Friday night.

In the absence of Dhoni, Sehwag has been named the captain for the next two ODIs in Cuttack on December 21 and Kolkata on December 24.

"ICC Match Referee, Jeff Crowe, has imposed an immediate two match suspension on Dhoni for slow over-rate after conducting a hearing last night," the BCCI said in a statement.
The Indian players have been penalised 40 per cent of their match fees. The Indian team for the next two ODIs will be led by Sehwag," the brief statement added.

The thrilling second One-dayer ended about 45 minutes after the scheduled finish time because of frequent discussions between the Indian players during the closing stages of Sri Lanka's chase.

The decision to ban Dhoni was taken by match referee Crowe of New Zealand, considering the quantum of extra time the Indians took to complete their allotted overs.
Dinesh Karthik replaces Dhoni
Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik was included in the Indian team for next two cricket one-dayers against Sri Lanka as a replacement for the charismatic Dhoni, who has been forced to sit out because of a two-match ODI ban.
Karthik featured in India's Twenty20 squad against the Lankans.
The ODI squad has only one specialist stumper in Dhoni and Karthik's inclusion is obvious.

The five-match series is currently tied 1-1 after India won the first match in Rajkot by three runs, while the Sri Lankans snatched a thrilling three-wicket victory in the second game on Friday.

Dhoni's unavailability will be a big setback for the Indians as he has been in great touch in the recent series against the islanders, scoring 72 and 107 in two matches played so far.
The ICC is yet to make an official announcement under what clauses Dhoni had been banned.

"Once we get a detailed report from the match referee Jeff Crowe we will issue a statement giving all the details," an ICC spokesman said from Dubai.
Ishant recalled in place of Sreesanth

Lanky pacamen Ishant Sharma has also been recalled into the squad in place of fellow pacer S Sreesanth who has been out of action since testing positive for swine flu.

Yuvraj Singh, who has not played a single match because of a finger injury and flu, has been retained in the squad which is an indication that the elegant left hander was expected to be fit for the remaining three matches of the five-match series.

The third one-dayer is scheduled to be played in Cuttack on December 21 while the historic Eden Gardens will be the venue for the fourth match on December 24.

Team for third and fourth ODIs: Virender Sehwag (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suresh Raina, Ravinder Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma, Virat Kohli, Sudip Tyagi, Praveen Kumar and Pragyan Ojha.

Subscribe in a reader

"We have given India a good scare"

Mahela Jayawardene feels his team has thrown the gauntlet at India by coming so close to the massive home team total in the first ODI.

"Yes, it's (three-run loss) a bitter pill to swallow. But there were lots of positives. Not many teams have chased down 400-plus. We have given India a good scare and that's a good positive going into this game," Jayawardene said ahead of the second match of the best-of-five series.

Lanka, chasing India's mammoth 414, fell short of the target by three runs in Rajkot on Tuesday.

Jayawardene did not feel that the absence of injured Muthiah Muralitharan and Dilhara Fernando has created a big problem for his team.

"I don't see a problem. Obviously injuries in the past have taken good players away from us but we have not stopped playing or winning. It's a good opportunity for another guy to show what he's capable of. It's a great challenge for someone," he said.

The stylish right-handed batsman said that the team has left the disappointment of the loss behind after having spoken what needs to be done to improve in certain areas.

"We have played enough cricket to realize we have won quite a few in the last over and lost quite a few in the last over. We have spoken about areas which we need to improve and would try to improve on them," he said.

The former Lanka skipper said that the confidence of very nearly pulling off a great victory after chasing such a huge score would rub off on his team members in the second game here at the new VCA stadium in Jamtha.

"It was a really good wicket at Rajkot. It was a fast outfield and smaller ground. History shows it's a high scoring ground. Here it's a bigger ground but a really good wicket as well. We need to adjust to that and to the different combinations. It's a fresh start. We are not going in with the same mind set but the confidence is going to be there," he said.

He sympathised with the bowlers of both the teams about the hammering they received from the batsmen on the flat deck at Rajkot and suggested the cricket authorities can give more teeth to them by allowing one more bouncer per over to be bowled to make it a more even contest between the bat and ball.

"Those kinds of things happen in one-day cricket. I have always been critical of the fact that bowlers now have to bowl in the 'strike zone' basically. You can't bowl down the leg side. Anything outside the off stump is a wide. They are given only one bouncer per over.

"With the Power Plays and all the restrictions it's important we give them leverage as well. Another option would be to give them another bouncer. Give them two bouncers an over. Restrictions are probably easing up and have given them a bit more in third Power Play. But we need to balance it out a bit more," he said.

Subscribe in a reader

India edge thrilling one-dayer

India secured a three-run victory in a thrilling finish to the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Rajkot, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Virender Sehwag hammered 146 off 102 deliveries and featured in century partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar (69) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (72) as India finished on 414 for seven.

Sri Lanka replied in similar style with Tillakaratne Dilshan smashing 160 and contributing to substantial stands with Upul Tharanga (67) and Kumar Sangakkara (90).

Thilina Kandamby (24) and Angelo Mathews (38) got Sri Lanka close, but the home side sneaked to victory by restricting the visitors to 411 for eight.

South Africa hold the record for the highest successful run chase, scoring 438 for nine in reply to Australia's 434 in Johannesburg in March 2006.

Sri Lanka's response was just as brutal as India's innings had been earlier as Dilshan and Tharanga kept pace with the required run rate.

Dilshan had scored only one off the first seven deliveries he faced, but soon hit stride by lashing Praveen Kumar for consecutive blows and driving Ashish Nehra for three successive boundaries in the next over.

India had again proved shoddy in the field, the first opportunity going down early when Kohli grassed Tharanga on 10.

The left-hand opener went on to add 188 for the opening wicket before he was stumped by Dhoni off part-time spinner Suresh Raina.

Sangakkara took up the chase, hammering the bowlers around as he raised a half-century off just 24 deliveries.

He was dropped by Harbhajan Singh on 58 and went on to add 128 for the second wicket when he mistimed a pull off Praveen and ended up presenting Jadeja at deep square leg with a simple catch.

Sri Lanka had needed a further 99 from 81 deliveries at that stage, but Harbhajan, who had conceded only 17 from his first five overs, removed Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilshan in quick succession to bring India back into contention.

Mahela Jayawardene was run out cheaply, but Kandamby (24) and Mathews put the chase back on track with a 56-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Kandambcollapsey was then run out and Thilan Samaraweera followed him back to the pavilion leaving Sri Lanka needing 11 off the last over.

Nehra conceded only seven and claimed the wicket of Mathews as Sri Lanka fell agonisingly short.

In the morning, Sangakkara, banking heavily his batting line-up, had opted to field and would have been encouraged with his team's start as they conceded only 19 from the first five overs.

Sehwag had started with a boundary through point, but soon launched his attack by hammering Chanaka Welegedara for three boundaries in the left-arm paceman's third over.

There was no looking back from there as, Tendulkar, the claming in influence in an opening stand worth 153, also turned a touch aggressive.

Tendulkar, relying more on timing and placement reached his 92nd ODI half-century by deliberately steering Dilhara Fernando past the wicketkeeper for a boundary and was just beginning to open up when he was bowled by Fernando.

Sehwag continued to bustle along, lashing eight boundaries and two sixes en route to a 34-ball half-century and continued in explosive fashion as he closed in on his 12th century.

He eventually raced past the mark with consecutive blows of Mathews, taking only 66 balls to reach three figures and, together with Dhoni, who promoted himself up the order, continued to flay the bowling.

The second-wicket pair added 156, Dhoni also reaching 50 off 34 deliveries and the duo had looked to stamp their dominance by calling for the batting powerplay in the 35th.

But India lost their way as Sehwag and Dhoni fell within four deliveries of each other, triggering a collpase of sorts.

From 309 for one, India slipped to 352 for six, Virat Kohli (27) and Ravindra Jadeja (30 not out) preventing total capitulation.
Teams
India: V Sehwag, SR Tendulkar, G Gambhir, V Kohli, MS Dhoni (Captain & WK), SK Raina, RA Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, P Kumar, Z Khan, A Nehra

Sri Lanka: WU Tharanga, TM Dilshan, KC Sangakkara (Captain & WK), DPMD Jayawardene, TT Samaraweera, SHT Kandamby, ST Jayasuriya, AD Mathews, KMDN Kulasekara, CRD Fernando, UWMBCA Welegedara

Subscribe in a reader

Dhoni: Inconsistency a concern

According to captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni India's inconsistent performance in Twenty20 is an area of concern.

Dhoni reckons the only way to improve in this format is to play more matches and adopt a different mindset.

"We have done well in Tests and one-dayers but our performance in Twenty20s has not been that good. You just play one game before a one-day series and that has not helped. It was disappointing the way we performed in the last Twenty20 World Cup. We have to improve", Dhoni told reporters.

"The problem of playing a Twenty20 game before a series is that you treat it as a preparation for the series, you think about the series and not the Twenty20. In the last match in Nagpur, we were outplayed", Dhoni said.

"Hopefully before the next World Cup we would get it right. We will have the third edition of the IPL before that which I think will help. IPL will give us the right preparation", he said.
Asked whether the Indians should play more Twenty20 matches instead of one-dayers to get into the groove, the Indian captain said, "We will play whatever is offered to us.

"If we play more Twenty20s, you will say we are not playing enough one-dayers. What is important is that there should not be an overdose."

Dhoni refused to blame the bowlers alone for the defeat against Sri Lanka in the first game in Nagpur, saying most of the middle order batsmen did not contribute much.

"Twenty20 is a batsman's game. The bowlers will go for runs as the batsmen look for runs. Just because some bowlers gave away lot of runs does not mean they are bad. It happens in Twenty20 and scores of over 200 runs are quite common nowadays", he explained.

"If we start worrying just because the bowlers did not ball well in one game, we will have to worry for the whole year," he quipped.

Dhoni reckoned the Mohali track would assist the pace bowlers to some extent while the batsmen will also be able to score freely.

"At this time of the year, there will be some swing. The Mohali pitch is known to have some pace, so I think it will help the fast bowlers", he said.

Asked whether dew will be a factor here, Dhoni said "I don't think dew will be a big factor. They will spray the chemical, so I think it should not be a problem."

On paceman Ishant Sharma's fine show in the initial overs during the last game in Nagpur, Dhoni said "Ishant is really bowling well. He is looking in rhythm and swinging the ball."

After lapses in Nagpur, Indians work hard on fielding

Looking to make up for their fielding lapses in Nagpur, the Indian team toiled hard with some new drills included in their practice session.

Eyeing to level the two-match Twenty20 series after paying a heavy price in the first match due to sloppy fielding, Dhoni's men devoted nearly an hour to improve this department of the game.
The newly appointed fielding consultant Mike Young worked with the team and made them do some interesting drills, which the players seemed to enjoy.

He called the players first in batches while some others were doing their batting practice session.

R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Dinesh Karthik were among those who were called first for the fielding practice by Young.

Later, others, including Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Ishant Sharma and Sudeep Tyagi, assembled for a larger fielding session.

To check the reflexes of his team members, Young made a special drill for them. He also made them practice with aerial catches and throwing at the wicket.

Later, while interacting with reporters at pre-match press conference, Dhoni re-iterated that his side was at the backfoot in the Nagpur game, which the islanders won by 29 runs, due to sloppy fielding.

Subscribe in a reader

Super Sangakkara powers SL to 215

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara led Sri Lanka's run riot in Nagpur with a scintillating 78 runs. India will now need to score at more than ten an over to reach their target of 216.

In front a full house, India chose to chase in the Twenty20 game in Nagpur.

India have a very strong batting line-up but they will miss the services of Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth in the bowling department. The debutant Ashok Dinda, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, has edged out Sudeep Tyagi to get a spot in the playing eleven.

For their part, Sri Lanka have filled their side with allrounders. They have replaced Ajantha Mendis with the debutant offspinner Muthumudalige Pushpakumara and have brought in Dilhara Fernando for Chanaka Welegedera, who played in the Test series. They have another new face in the XI, allrounder Chinthaka Jayasinghe.

Dew has been a factor in some of the domestic games on this ground but it hasn't been a constant feature and it would be interesting to see whether it will play any part today.

India: 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Rohit Sharma, 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Pragyan Ojha, 9 Ashok Dinda, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Ashish Nehra.

Sri Lanka: 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Chamara Kapugedera, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Chinthaka Jayasinghe, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Muthumudalige Pushpakumaara, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Dilhara Fernando.

Subscribe in a reader

Three conclusions from 2009 India-Sri Lanka Test Series

So India won the Test series 2-0 against Sri Lanka and they went top of the ICC Test Rankings. That’s 124 points for you, two ahead of South Africa. Sri Lanka find themselves in fourth spot as they pushed Australia to number three. These are but conclusions for the computers in the ICC offices.

For some one watching from outside, the biggest realization ought to be that we are living in the age of Virender Sehwag. Rahul Dravid score his century in Ahmedabad at a strike rate of around seventy made one surmise it to be the age of Twenty20; the shortest format’s high scoring rates now reflected onto the five day game. But then Viru took centre stage. His century at Kanpur meant that India scored at seven an over in the second session on day one of the second Test. Has any team ever won a Test match that quickly, for Sri Lanka never recovered from that beating?

As if he missed out in Kanpur even after scoring a 122-ball 131, he sent Mumbai berserk with a 254-ball 293 and said that he only hit the bad balls to make that score. Even the Lankan bowlers would have been forced to think just how poorly did they bowl to send down 250-plus such deliveries to only one batsman? It is, however, not their fault that the batsman-in-question bats without any care for pitch conditions, weather conditions, ground conditions, spin, pace, swing/reverse swing. He could score on Mars for all they know. The point is has there any one been like Sehwag ever? We say he bats probably like Sir Viv and Sir Don, possibly. One isn’t sure if even they could do what Sehwag can, and that pretty much speaks about his place in the annals of the game.

Sehwag’s aggressive streak is but one aspect of the Indian batting. The other part, and quite pleasing one at that, is the team’s ability to fight it out when in jail. Any one remember the days when the opposition would have the best batsmen in the world bat out nearly six sessions, and then, they would go into their shell only to be bowled out for meager totals and hand back the series. Two instances come to mind straight-away: England in 2005 when the team wilted in the Mumbai Test and then, in South Africa (January 2007), the story was repeated in the third Test handing the series to the hosts on a platter.

That chink in the armory of the Indian team is gone as of now. Chennai 2008 against South Africa, Bangalore 2008 against Australia, Napier 2009 against New Zealand and now at Ahmedabad against Sri Lanka; the team have come a long way since the infamous Sydney collapse on the Australian tour in 2007-08. And the one man common to most of these fight backs has been Gautam Gambhir. A good start in such a situation almost always takes the pressure off the latter batsmen, something which never happened in the past. God bless the Indian openers, would be the thought of the average cricket fan here.

Coming to Sri Lanka though, they have a lot of questions to answer. But the most important ones concern their two legendary players, Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya. The former was thrashed around so badly in this series he would have forgotten the mauling he once received at the hands of Brian Lara. Atleast then he had picked some wickets but this time it was zilch. And there was talk coming from him about early retirement. Even earlier than the 2011 World Cup when a host of cricket superstars will call time on their careers.

Jayasuriya didn’t participate in the Tests but he is here to play the ODIs and the T20s. Last time he figured in those, he didn’t have a very good time and questions were raised about his place in the side as well. Combined together, these two form a potent pairing which was instrumental in their winning the 1996 World Cup, also played in the Indian sub-continent. If these two go out of reckoning now, the Lankans would have to re-draw their blueprints all over again and their time starts now, with the series against India.

Subscribe in a reader

India look to assert T20 supremacy

India would look to assert their supremacy in the shortest format when they clash against Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 International in Nagpur.
The 2-0 triumph and the number one Test ranking also gives India a psychological edge over the visitors, who are still licking their wounds after being spanked by an innings by the home team in two consecutive Test matches.

India have made a few changes in their squad, resting pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and calling up youngsters Ashok Dinda and R Ashwin.

With Test specialists Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman not considered any more for the limited-over clashes, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and Rohit Sharma would shore up the middle-order along with Yuvraj Singh and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Starting with Virender Sehwag, India have such an array of stroke-players who can simply whip the bowlers around and cart them for sixes and fours with ease and the batting gives the hosts a clear edge.

Gambhir would be eager to get back into the groove at the new VCA Stadium in Jamtha after skipping the Mumbai Test to attend his sister's wedding in Delhi.

After being in the Test mode for most part of the month, Dhoni and company are eager to switch gears.

"There are a lot of ODIs to be played in the near future, the T20 World Cup is coming (in April-May, 2010 in the West Indies), so we will shift to that right now," Dhoni said after leading India to the top of the ICC Test rankings.

The Lanka bowlers would need to come out with something innovative to restrict the hosts' batting line-up and put a stop to their losing streak on the tour.

The tourists have brought in right-arm sling-action bowler Lasith Malinga, who missed the Test series because of an injury, to strengthen their pace bowling attack which was exposed thoroughly in the Test series.

The visitors have also brought in all-rounders Chintaka Jayasinghe, Kaushalya Weeraratne and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara to play only the two T20s.

Their choices have increased for this form of the game with Angelo Mathews finally showing form with his fine knock of 99 in the Mumbai Test.

The islanders would also be hoping that their flamboyant, veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya who has joined the squad for the second part of the tour ? and in-form opener Tillakaratne Dilshan would be their answer to the Sehwag and Gambhir combination at the top.

Lanka have not yet made up their mind whether the 40-year-old Jayasuriya, who is aiming to make the World Cup his Swansong, would open their innings.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara had said earlier that Jayasuriya would bat down the order if the situation demanded despite the fact that he has been a very successful opener against all opposition, including India.

"He has been very successful against India as opener and against all opposition too. But right now he has a different role to play for us in the side, which will make him currently a performing and match-winning player. Whether he will bat at top or down in the middle, all these options can be considered," he said.

"Our responsibility towards the team and towards Sanath is to make sure when he plays he becomes a match winner and get the best out of him. He's willing to make that change. It is an exciting time to play a new role," he said.

With India resting Zaheer, another left-armer in Ashish Nehra would lead their attack with S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma likely to partner him while the spin options are Yusuf Pathan, Pragyan Ojha and the uncapped Ashwin.

In the only previous T20 clash between the two teams, in February this year at Colombo, Jayasuriya (33) and Dilshan (61), who led the side, opened the Lanka batting and put on 59 in less than six overs.
That contest was won by India when the Pathan brothers ? Yusuf and Irfan ? guided them home from 115 for 7 chasing 171 with a stand of 59.

Things have changed since then as Irfan has lost his place while Yusuf is still a part of the T20 team, the format through which he made his international entry.

The teams (from):

India: MS Dhoni (C), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf Pathan, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, S Sreesanth, Ashok Dinda, Sudeep Tyagi, Pragyan Ojha.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (C), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muthiah Muralitharan, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Dilhara Fernando, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Chanaka Welegedara.
Sreesanth may miss out
Indian pace bowler S Sreesanth is likely to miss Wednesday's Twenty20 clash against Sri Lanka owing to an upset stomach.

"He is not well. We are hoping he will get well before the game," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.

"I don't know the exact scene right now. The physio (Nitin Patel) told me he was not well, may be diarrhea or something," Dhoni added.
Lionel Messi should be the Goodyear Champion of Champions, Vote for him now!

The in-form Kerala player, who did not come for the pre-match training at the VCA's new stadium in Jamtha, returned to international cricket after 19 months in a spectacular fashion by bowling India to an innings victory over the Lankans in the second of the three-Test series at Kanpur.

He played in the third and final Test at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium which India won by an innings to wrap up the series 2-0.
Officials:

On field umpires: Amish Saheba and Shavir Tarapore

Third umpire: Sanjay Hazare

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe.

Hours of Play: 5: 30 pm onwards.

Subscribe in a reader

It will be a great achievement : Gary Kirsten

With India well poised to top the ICC Test rankings, Gary Kirsten said the achievement would be the result of hard work by the team.

"Hopefully, we can wrap up the Test tomorrow. I think it is great (to become world number one Test side). It is something that we aspired to 18 months ago before we started against Australia. We wanted to become the best Test team in the world. So, it will be a great achievement," said Kirsten after the fourth day's play.

"All the players have stood up to the tests at various times in the series. They have got a powerful batting, top seven batting line up. The bowlers have done their job on their day when needed to do," he said.

Kirsten was a happy man that most of what the team had planned prior to the Test series came through.

"We expect in all three disciplines to have an impact in Test series and that has happened in this series again. We had challenges and obstacles on the way, which you have in every Test series. We were 30 for four in first Test and we had some work to do. But we knew that we got the individuals in the team to pull us out of the way in any situation," he said.

India failed to deliver the knock-out punch today itself against the Lankans but Kirsten said the team had aimed to get at least six wickets at the end of the day and achieved it.

"We thought if we can get six wickets today we would be happy. I think all our bowlers did well. As a group they have bowled exceptionally well and as I said I'm happy the way we went about the day. The second session was a very big one for us, we were able to pick up four wickets," Kirsten said.

"You have a world-class batsman like Kumar Sangakkara around. They don't give away too easily. He has halted things.

He is a class batsman," he explained.

Kirsten said the key was in keeping things tight in the opening session.
"I thought in the first session, we kept it really tight and did not give away unnecessary runs and put them under pressure to create opportunities after lunch. The third session wasn't good enough as the guys were little bit tired.

I am certainly happy," he said.

The South African was full of praise of the track at the Brabourne Stadium which is hosting a Test after 36 years.

"I think this is a fantastic Test wicket, probably the best in the series. It provided opportunities for all. The batsmen, if they apply themselves, can get decent scores.

There has been turn for spinners. If the seamers bowled in the right areas, they get opportunity to get wickets as well.

We have seen Zaheer Khan getting two wickets," he said.

On Virender Sehwag's pulverizing innings of 293, Kirsten said the rate at which the Delhi swashbuckler scores sets things up nicely for the rest of batsmen who follow.

"I have seen a lot of Sehwag. He is highly entertaining and continues to do so. He's entertaining even when he gets a 40. He does get out to low scores but when he gets going the new batsman is not under pressure to score quickly. When he does it in big game, he gets a big score," said Kirsten.

The coach said Sehwag was not disappointed when he got out after being on the brink of a world record of scoring three Test triple tons, which he failed to achieve narrowly.
"He (Sehwag) would have obviously like to get a triple.

He did not show that (disappointment) in the dressing room. He was happy that we were in very good position. He was a massive contributor," Kirsten said.

He also praised Murali Vijay who grabbed the rare chance to be in the playing XI with both hands and scored a fine 87 besides putting on a double century stand with Sehwag.

"He is a fantastic player and he took his opportunity. I was pleased with the way he batted in the first innings and showed he is ready to step up for Test match level. But the guy he replaced (Gautam Gambhir) has done pretty well in the last two years. I don't think he (Gambhir) is willing to give his spot so easily," said Kirsten.

Subscribe in a reader

Sangakkara holds off India

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara struck a magnificent century to ensure the final Test against India in Mumbai would go into a fifth day.

Sangakkara hit an undefeated 133, his century coming late in the final session on day four and after Sri Lanka had slipped to 208 for six.

Nuwan Kulasekara, who contributed nine in a 66-run partnership for the seventh wicket, was unbeaten as the visitors ended the day on 274 for six, still needing 59 to even pull level with India's mammoth first-innings total of 726 for nine declared.

Sri Lanka, 1-0 down in the series, suffered an early setback and thereafter, save for a solid stand between Tharanga Paranavitana (53) and Sangakkara, served up another poor display with the bat.

Tillakaratne Dilshan departed within 27 minutes of play resuming this morning, the opener undone by a controversial decision by umpire Daryl Harper.

Dilshan lashed boundaries off Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan on his way to 16 before he padded away a viciously spinning delivery from Harbhajan, offering no stroke.

Dilshan had already employed the tactic twice in previous overs but this time Harper ruled him out, although replays suggested the ball would have missed leg stump by a distance.

Paranavitana was joined by Sangakkara and the duo batted patiently to help Sri Lanka regroup.
Paranavitana, who made his first 50 on this tour in the first innings, batted sensibly and fluently as he progressed towards another half-century.

He eventually reached the mark with a swept boundary off Harbhajan.
Sangakkara settled in at the other end and the two battled well into the first hour of the afternoon session when Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was brought back into the attack.

The fast bowler immediately secured the breakthrough, trapping Paranavitana in front with a delivery which swung in a touch and straightened after pitching on middle, presenting umpire Nigel Llong with a straightforward decision.

The wicket triggered a collapse as Sri Lanka's middle order caved in for the third time in two matches.

Mahela Jayawardene (12) pushed forward to a delivery from Zaheer and feathered an edge to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, while Thilan Samraweera ended a fabulous year with a 13-ball duck when he edged to VVS Laxman at second slip.

A busy afternoon session ended with the wicket of Angelo Mathews, the all-rounder flicking the ball with his glove to present Dhoni with his 100th catch in Test cricket.

Mathews' demise meant Sri Lanka had slumped from 119 for one to 144 for five in just 45 minutes before the tea interval.

Sangakkara had by then reached his half-century - his first in India - and the left-hander continued to wage a lone battle.

Prasanna Jayawardene, the last recognised batsman, lent assistance to Sangakkara for over an hour of the final session, the duo putting on 64 for the sixth wicket.

That stand was broken by Pragyan Ojha, the left-arm spinner trapping Jayawardene in front.
Sangakkara batted on defiantly, clubbing Ojha for a six and four off successive deliveries in an over. He crawled through the 90s and eventually reached his 21st century with a boundary through midwicket of Zaheer.

The boundaries flowed in the final overs as Sangakkara thumped the second new ball around the park, all the while reducing the deficit to India's colossal total.

Ojha and Zaheer finished with two wickets apiece.

Subscribe in a reader

Vijay arrives on the big stage

CHENNAI:Spare a thought for this boy! On any other day, M Vijay could so easily have been the man of the moment, but when Virender Sehwag decides to go mad, there isn't much one can do.

Yet, in the one chance he has got since his India debut a year ago, the Tamil Nadu opener has proved that he is cut out for the big stage.

Vijay didn't put a foot wrong in his 121-ball 87 and even though he was a forgotten man by the end of the day, even Sehwag would acknowledge that his younger partner did help him in making things easier before lunch.

"I was timing the ball well. It felt good to help the team get off to a good start," Vijay was modest in his assessment of his day's performance. What he didn't say was the preparation that had gone into it.

The entire Indian team took a couple of days' break after India won in Kanpur, but not Vijay. He knew this was his chance and he was off to Mumbai, working out with coach Gary Kirsten so that Team India doesn't feel the absence of the prolific Gautam Gambhir.

"It's this determination of his that sets him apart. He knows it's a lose-lose situation for him, even if he performs he won't play the next Test, yet Vijay is so single-minded," his Tamil Nadu coach and mentor WV Raman told the TOI.

Ravi Shastri, too, praised Vijay for his mental strength and felt that the way he batted on the day, the team management could easily think of him in the middle-order in the near future when there's a vacancy. Raman, though, doesn't feel the opener should think on those lines.

He himself suffered in his playing days, shuffling positions and doesn't want the same thing being repeated.

"All these years, he has worked hard to become a specialist opener. Now, he shouldn't change position just to find a way in the Indian team. It may click for some players, but often it doesn't... If he asks me, I would tell him to continue as an opener," Raman said, adding that if he doesn't get to play for India as an opener on a regular basis, "it's his bad luck".

The coach has seen Vijay from close quarters in the last one year, the youngster travelling with the Indian team one day, only to get dropped the other day. Was there ever a sense of frustration creeping in? "There's no point being frustrated if you are trying to make your way into a team like this. I never saw him morally down," Raman added.

Subscribe in a reader

No reason why we can't score 400 tomorrow - Trevor Bayliss

Trevor Bayliss, the Sri Lanka coach, has said that setting India a target of "150 on a wearing wicket" was probably the best his team could hope for at this stage, after the hosts took a 333-run first innings lead on the third day in Mumbai.

"From a win point of view, it just doesn't look right at the moment but, on day one when there was a bit in the track, we made 366 for 8 having lost a few wickets in the middle," Bayliss said. "If our top-order batters can get us off to a good start and bat for a long time there is no reason why we can't score 400 in a day tomorrow. It needs some very hard work and the players I am sure are capable of doing it. Who knows what the wicket will be like on day five?"

Sri Lanka had to bat out three overs after India's declaration on 726 for 9 and they reached 11 for no loss at stumps. Bayliss said the team was looking to their "three big players" and hoped for solid contributions from Nos. 3, 4, and 5 - the out-of-form Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera.

Bayliss, however, said that he was happy the way Sri Lanka fought back today to capture eight Indian wickets, in a manner similar to the second Test in Kanpur. "I was very happy with the boys - the same as the second Test when we faced 417 for 2 and we came back the next day, taking 225 for 8. It would have been quite easy to have gone for a lot more runs than we did, but we stuck to it and showed a bit of fight and character. We were just up against unbelievable batting from [Virender] Sehwag."

"The guys tried most things, different fields, bowling different sides of the wicket but [no matter] where they put the ball he [Sehwag] was skillful enough to put it away into the gaps. It was one of those days you needed 20 fielders out there."

Muttiah Muralitharan, who had gone wicketless and taking a hiding on the second day, made a comeback of sorts on day three. He dismissed Sehwag early and went on to take three more wickets, finishing with 195 for 4. "Murali is very philosophical about things. During his career this is not the first time it's happened to him," Bayliss said. "For a guy who has taken so many wickets it has not happened to him very often. He realises that's what happens in Test cricket on good wickets against very good players. Today Murali got four wickets and showed that he is still able to take wickets at this level."

After a day on which an edge from Rahul Dravid and a close lbw shout against Sachin Tendulkar were both given not out, Bayliss said he did not know why the umpire review system was not being used in this series. Tillakaratne Dilshan, too, was erroneously given out bat-pad in the first innings soon after reaching his century.

"The question that's got to be asked is, why the referral system is being used in every other series barring this one, when the ICC said that it should be used after October 1," Bayliss said. "No one's explained to us yet why it's not being used when it's being used everywhere else in the world. If Dilshan was able to go and make a big score in the first innings, things might have been a bit different."

Subscribe in a reader