India fended off a spirited challenge by Sri Lanka to snatch a
thrilling 15-run victory in the second one-dayer and take a 2-0 lead in
the five-match series. After posting a competitive 256 for 9, the
visitors quelled Sri Lankan late fight back to stop them at 241 with
four balls to spare in a pulsating floodlit encounter.
Visiting
fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who took three wickets in the first match,
returned figures of four for 56 from his nine overs and Zaheer Khan,
Praveen Kumar and Pragyan Ojha chipping in with a wicket apiece.
Thilina Kandamby's brilliant unbeaten 93 went in vain as Indians held
on to their nerves in the tense final moments to romp home at the
day-nighter. With this win, India have notched up their seventh
consecutive ODI victory.
Electing to bat, India scored 256 for
nine with Yuvraj Singh (66) and Virender Sehwag (42) being the main
contributors on a slow track at Premadasa stadium. The two teams will
play their next match, another day-nighter, at the same venue on
February 3. The visitors were on the driver's seat early on reducing
the Lankans to 36 for three within eight overs. But two fighting half
centuries by captain Mahela Jayawardene (52) and rookie Kandamby (93
not out) took Lanka to striking distance of a marvellous victory. (AFP
Photo)
Harbhajan is a genius when it comes to bowling the opponents out, if only he is focused. He has many a tricks up his sleeve to bundle the opponents out.
On Thursday, Nov 20, 2008, he had a new one, where he slowed the bowl in the air and claimed 3/31, leading India to win by 16 runs in a shortened match against England.
Bhajji was declared Man of the Match for his superb performance.
Tamim Iqbal's one-man entertainment show was not enough to turn Darwin into Cardiff as Australia wrapped up a 3-0 cleansweep with a 73-run victory over Bangladesh. Tamim mastered the slow surface better than anyone had all week. He showed more flair than Australia's key man Michael Hussey but only two of Tamim's colleagues reached double figures and three wickets to James Hopes led to a familiar result. [Read More]
Indian team has been putting up improved performance against Sri Lanka as each day passes by in the ODI series.
It started with a humiliating loss in the first ODI, followed by a reversal where the Indian pacers led by Zaheer Khan really bowled fire to avenge the first ODI. Though it was a not a spectacular victory.
Third ODI was a lack luster performance. India won it to lead the searies 2-1 but could have done much better.
Then comes the forth one with a team effort inspired by no one else but the skipper MS Dhoni. "India beat Sri Lanka by 46
runs in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) on Wednesday to clinch the Idea
cup, with one match to spare. Sri Lanka was all out for 212 runs chasing target
of 259. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India has now broken the 10 year jinx of
not having won an ODI series on Sri Lankan soil" quoted Times of India.
It was indeed a spectacular leadership that led to team work by the visiting team. "He has played two
crucial knocks, and he is outstanding." said Vengasrakar. A few weeks ago, an Indian team was
groping in the dark under the Muralitharan and Mendis menace. But, this One-day
team filled with youngsters has made all the difference.
So far, Dhoni's record as a skipper has been excellent. He has been delivering to expectations his fan club has from him. Ways to go Dhoni!
For the first time in the Asia Cup series the Karachi pitch seems to be supporting bowlers.
In the finals of Asia Cup between India and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka was bowled out for "descent" score of 273 in 49.5 overs. And India is struggling at 76/3 in 9.4 overs.
Though 273 is a massive score for ODIs, it's not a huge score on the Karachi pitch. India and Pakistan game and them India and Sri Lanka games of final fours had produces a score of 307 or more for either sides, without providing any support to bowlers.
Where as today, Ishant and RP Singh grabbed 3 wickets each - may be history for the pitch
On Thursday, Nov 20, 2008, he had a new one, where he 