achintha
03-24-2007, 05:53 AM
Port Of Spain (Trinidad), March 23: The Indians failed to chase a target of 255 runs set by the Sri Lankans which practically knocks them off the charts for the remainder of the World Cup. When it was most required, the famed Indian batting line-up failed to deliver and the entire team was bundled away for 185 runs.
The faces of the Indian team members after the loss summed up India’s dismal performance with many players along with the skipper shedding more than a few tears.
The Indians now need a miracle to help them get to the next round, the only probability being Bangladesh losing to Bermuda. However, looking at Bangladesh’s recent performances this scenario seems highly unlikely.
At the start of the match, captain Rahul Dravid won an important toss and had no hesitation in opting to field first on a pitch that offered plenty of bounce and movement in early overs.
There was enough movement and bounce from the wicket in the morning yet between nudges and misses, Sri Lankan openers Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya raised 33 runs for the first wicket.
Jayasuriya, unable to get going as his 6 runs from 23 balls suggest, tried to hit Zaheer Khan over the covers but only sliced it Ajit Agarkar at third man.
Mahela Jayawardene (7) struggled to put bat to ball before he flicked Ajit Agarkar down the legside for keeper Mahinder Singh Dhoni to come up with a brilliant take.
Dravid pressed into service Sourav Ganguly for the first time and he struck in his second over when Kumara Sangakkara lofted him to long on where Munaf Patel ran about 20 yards to complete the catch in front of the sightscreen.
Tharanga, all this while, was a thorn in India`s flesh and helped himself to a half-century before Sachin Tendulkars baffling mix of deliveries accounted for his wicket.
He came inside the line of a Tendulkar delivery in an attempt to flick it and was adjudged leg before wicket.
Tharanga made 64 from 90 balls with six fours.
But the Silva and Dilshan built up a sizeable partnership primarily on their fleetness between the wickets as Sri Lanka surged past the 200-run mark.
Silva put on 83 runs off 80 balls for the fifth wicket with Dilshan before the two departed within three balls of each other.
Silva hit 59, his fourth consecutive half-century and third at the World Cup in as many as matches while Dilshan played a compact innings of 38.
The Indians conceded 54 runs in the last six overs. Harbhajan Singh, the lone spinner coming in place of Anil Kumble, was expensive with none of 53 as also part-time bowler Sachin Tendulkar.
Coming into chase Sri Lanka’s target of 255 runs, India started on a cautious note, but soon lost three batsmen. Vaas took a brilliant return catch of his own bowling to dismiss Robin Uthappa. Soon Ganguly fell to Vaas for 7.
Sachin, who came into replace Ganguly was cleaned bowled by Dilhara Fernando for a duck.
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid stabilized the Indian innings when they built a partnership of 50 runs off 62 balls. However, Sehwag fell soon after for 40 off the bowling of Murlitharan.
Yuvraj was the next man to go for the Indians when he was run-out while trying to attempt an impossible run. Jayasuriya was quick to take the bails off with Yuvraj not even in the frame. Yuvraj made his way back for a mere 5 runs.
Much was expected out of MS Dhoni who came in at the fall of Yuvraj’s wicket. However, as in the previous two matches, Dhoni failed to deliver. Without even waiting for the umpire to give him out, Dhoni walked at an lbw appeal made by Murlitharan. Dhoni made his way back for a duck while the Indian captain was left staring with disbelief.
Ajit Agarkar looked shaky from the very start and after playing a couple of false shots to Malinga, lofted one at mid-on only to be caught by Russel Arnold. Agarkar went for 10 off 25 balls.
The Indian hopes came to a virtual end when skipper Rahul Dravid top-edged one off Jayasuriya only to be caught by Muralitharan for 60. As the Sri Lankan fielders rushed towards Murali, the Indian supporters hung their head in embarrassment.
The Indian hopes came to a virtual end when skipper Rahul Dravid top-edged one off Jayasuriya only to be caught by Muralitharan for 60. As the Sri Lankan fielders rushed towards Murali, the Indian supporters hung their head in embarrassment.
The next batsman, Zaheer Khan, departed just minutes after he made his way out to the pavilion. As skied the fifth ball that he faced to long-on as Malinga was there to wallop the catch. Zaheer made a solitary 1 run.
After hitting a few balls out of the park, Munaf Patel was caught at the boundary by Vaas for 10. With his wicket, the hopes of a billion fans came crashing down as the Indians are virtually out of the esteemed tournament.
Teams:
India - Robin Uthappa, Saurav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni (wk), Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel.
Sri Lanka - Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Dilhara Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Umpires: Daryl Harper (Aus) and Aleem Dar (Pak).
Third Umpire: Steve Davis (Aus).
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ).
-Zeecric Bureau-
The faces of the Indian team members after the loss summed up India’s dismal performance with many players along with the skipper shedding more than a few tears.
The Indians now need a miracle to help them get to the next round, the only probability being Bangladesh losing to Bermuda. However, looking at Bangladesh’s recent performances this scenario seems highly unlikely.
At the start of the match, captain Rahul Dravid won an important toss and had no hesitation in opting to field first on a pitch that offered plenty of bounce and movement in early overs.
There was enough movement and bounce from the wicket in the morning yet between nudges and misses, Sri Lankan openers Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya raised 33 runs for the first wicket.
Jayasuriya, unable to get going as his 6 runs from 23 balls suggest, tried to hit Zaheer Khan over the covers but only sliced it Ajit Agarkar at third man.
Mahela Jayawardene (7) struggled to put bat to ball before he flicked Ajit Agarkar down the legside for keeper Mahinder Singh Dhoni to come up with a brilliant take.
Dravid pressed into service Sourav Ganguly for the first time and he struck in his second over when Kumara Sangakkara lofted him to long on where Munaf Patel ran about 20 yards to complete the catch in front of the sightscreen.
Tharanga, all this while, was a thorn in India`s flesh and helped himself to a half-century before Sachin Tendulkars baffling mix of deliveries accounted for his wicket.
He came inside the line of a Tendulkar delivery in an attempt to flick it and was adjudged leg before wicket.
Tharanga made 64 from 90 balls with six fours.
But the Silva and Dilshan built up a sizeable partnership primarily on their fleetness between the wickets as Sri Lanka surged past the 200-run mark.
Silva put on 83 runs off 80 balls for the fifth wicket with Dilshan before the two departed within three balls of each other.
Silva hit 59, his fourth consecutive half-century and third at the World Cup in as many as matches while Dilshan played a compact innings of 38.
The Indians conceded 54 runs in the last six overs. Harbhajan Singh, the lone spinner coming in place of Anil Kumble, was expensive with none of 53 as also part-time bowler Sachin Tendulkar.
Coming into chase Sri Lanka’s target of 255 runs, India started on a cautious note, but soon lost three batsmen. Vaas took a brilliant return catch of his own bowling to dismiss Robin Uthappa. Soon Ganguly fell to Vaas for 7.
Sachin, who came into replace Ganguly was cleaned bowled by Dilhara Fernando for a duck.
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid stabilized the Indian innings when they built a partnership of 50 runs off 62 balls. However, Sehwag fell soon after for 40 off the bowling of Murlitharan.
Yuvraj was the next man to go for the Indians when he was run-out while trying to attempt an impossible run. Jayasuriya was quick to take the bails off with Yuvraj not even in the frame. Yuvraj made his way back for a mere 5 runs.
Much was expected out of MS Dhoni who came in at the fall of Yuvraj’s wicket. However, as in the previous two matches, Dhoni failed to deliver. Without even waiting for the umpire to give him out, Dhoni walked at an lbw appeal made by Murlitharan. Dhoni made his way back for a duck while the Indian captain was left staring with disbelief.
Ajit Agarkar looked shaky from the very start and after playing a couple of false shots to Malinga, lofted one at mid-on only to be caught by Russel Arnold. Agarkar went for 10 off 25 balls.
The Indian hopes came to a virtual end when skipper Rahul Dravid top-edged one off Jayasuriya only to be caught by Muralitharan for 60. As the Sri Lankan fielders rushed towards Murali, the Indian supporters hung their head in embarrassment.
The Indian hopes came to a virtual end when skipper Rahul Dravid top-edged one off Jayasuriya only to be caught by Muralitharan for 60. As the Sri Lankan fielders rushed towards Murali, the Indian supporters hung their head in embarrassment.
The next batsman, Zaheer Khan, departed just minutes after he made his way out to the pavilion. As skied the fifth ball that he faced to long-on as Malinga was there to wallop the catch. Zaheer made a solitary 1 run.
After hitting a few balls out of the park, Munaf Patel was caught at the boundary by Vaas for 10. With his wicket, the hopes of a billion fans came crashing down as the Indians are virtually out of the esteemed tournament.
Teams:
India - Robin Uthappa, Saurav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni (wk), Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel.
Sri Lanka - Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Dilhara Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Umpires: Daryl Harper (Aus) and Aleem Dar (Pak).
Third Umpire: Steve Davis (Aus).
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ).
-Zeecric Bureau-