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)
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!
Indian ace spinner Harbhajan Singh is in the news again. This time, he is in the news for, obviously, good reasons, unlike his usual image of bad boy.
On his return to active cricket after a ban for slapping Srisnath, Harbhajan paved the way for India's victory againt Sri Lanka in second Test. He claimed 10 wickets in the pair of series to crush the home team.
Hope to see Bhajji sizzle some more during the series and the ODIs.
India 329 (Sehwag 201*, Gambhir 56, Mendis 6-117) and 269 (Gambhir 74, Sehwag 50, Mendis 4-92) beat Sri Lanka
292 (Jayawardene 86, Sangakkara 68, Warnapura 66, Harbhajan 6-102) and
136 (Samaraweera 67*, Ishant 3-20, Harbhajan 4-51) by 170 runs
India fought back in the second Test again Sri Lanka to even the series at 1-1. After loosing the first Test shamelessly India bounced back in a big way. This should boost visitors confidence over hosts for the next Test.
After setting Sri Lanka a target of 307, Harbhajan Singh (4/51) and
Ishant Sharma (3/20) bowled out the home team for a paltry 136 on a
dramatic fourth day's play which saw as many as 16 wickets fall. Harbhajan Singh claimed 10 wickets, as India
defeated Sri Lanka convincingly by 170 runs to win the second Test on
Day 4 to level the three-Test series 1-1.
It was a remarkable comeback by the Indians who were beaten
comprehensively by an innings and 239 runs in the first Test in
Colombo. The teams now return to Colombo for the series decider
beginning on August 8.
Harbhajan Singh shone up on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka. He took four quick wickets leading to an evenly poised test. It can tilt in any direction over the course of next three days.
Earlier, the dashing Sehwag again did the bulk of the scoring as the Indians
finished their inninigs for 329 with 'mystery' spinner Ajantha
Mendis tormenting them with a six-wicket haul.
When the hosts were getting comforatable with a 133 run second wicket partnership, Harbhajan (4/71) broke the Lankan backbone to leave the hosts 215 for five at close on an absorbing second day's play.
Harbhajan Singh shone up on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka. He took four quick wickets leading to an evenly poised test. It can tilt in any direction over the course of next three days.