Call it dramatic or unforgettable, Sri Lanka upset the applecart of the highly-favoured and powerful outfit of India in the Asia Cup preliminary match that was absorbing upto the last over.
Maybe for he statisticians the result was insignificant as both the combinations entered the second round, where the real battle has now started. However, the Indians had the reputation of a more balanced set, both in batting and bowling, and without the injured Sanath Jayasuriya, the islanders were reckoned as inferior to their big neighbours.
The Lankan tigers proved to be ferocious fighters at home, never mind the almost impregnable batting line of India and bowling having a variety that few teams, except the world champions, Australia, can boast of.
Once the gangling medium-pacer Nuwan Zoysa, with kicking deliveries, had pressed hard the top-heavy upper order of India and removed the usually solid Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly and Parthiv Patel in the initial part of the duel it looked as if the northern country's whole batting will come down like a house of cards. And this on a good batting track.
It was left to the Indian 'wall', Rahul Dravid, and the slogger Yuvraj Singh to stem the rot and save the sinking ship with 133 for the fifth wicket. As long as they stayed there was some chance for India. But Yuvraj top-edged Vaas to be caught by the wicket keeper. Then what was a magnificent off-spin, a ball sent with effortless ease by Muralitharan that turned viciously Dravid, the set Dravid, on whom the hope of the Indians rested, was beaten neck and crop. His bat swung powerfully but the clever bowler had the last laugh. This was the ball of the match which swung the pendulum towards Sri Lanka. The Indians had now been pushed into the vortex of uncertainty.
Dravid's dismissal occurred in the 46th over. Could the tail-enders - Irfan Pathan, Laxmipathy Balaji and Zaheer Khan (still unfit) - do the impossible? In the last over, with Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan at the crease, India needed 17 runs. Against the accurate Vaas they could only muster four runs. Making effort as they could and trying to wield a long handle they returned to the pavilion losers in a duel that was excitingly thrilling from the first to the last ball.
Sri Lanka's batting guns had earlier boomed. Marvan Atapathu, Kumara Sangakkara, Mahela Jaywardene and Gunuwardene struck telling blows on the Indian bowlers. Irfan Pathan, Balaji, Zaheer Khan and Kumble tried might and main to keep them quiet but they went on merrily to run up a total of 282 for four wickets, the highest on the Dumbul international stadium, which was full to capacity with 21,000 fans.
The victory puts Sri Lanka a clear favorite, both of the bookies and the punters, and gives them a psychological advantage over India and the other aspirant of the trophy, Pakistan, the defending champions.
The Indian captain, Ganguly, was disappointed and thought that they have learnt a lesson or two from the Sri Lankan performance and the Indians will have to do better in the remaining games. He said his squad had still an opportunity to bounce back.
The Sri Lankan vice-captain, Jayawardene, said it was an all-round show. "Our team put up a decent 282 run total. In the last 10 overs 83 runs were snatched, which made the task of the Indians difficult and as the result turned out impossible.
India were handicapped by the absence of V.V. Laxman but the Sri Lankans did not get the help and services of their experienced all-rounder, Jayasuriya. A heavy breeze hampered Balaji in his bowling and Zaheer pulled a muscle while fielding.
The minor problems with the combating teams should be ignored as the day-and-night thriller was enjoyed by all and sundry.
One was happy to note two centuries recorded in the Pakistan versus Hong Kong match. Since the latter was a weak side it was not a real test for the stronger Pakistani pack. However, it seems the promotion of Shoaib Malik as a one-down batsman is proving fruitful. The 144 by Younus Khan should be welcomed for there were aggressive strokes in the batsman's play.
Despite Yasir Hameed's fine show against Bangladesh, Pakistan has not yet found a reliable opening pair. If Hameed is a cinch for the second stage the captain and the coach will have to hone up the skill of Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat. Who will be better suited for the Sri Lankan one-dayers?
The pacers, Shoaib Akhtar and Sami, had the penetration and speed to shake the batsmen of Bangladesh and Hong Kong. Let us hope they do not give many sundries as previously against the Indians on the Pakistan venues. The fielding too should be more alert and rapid.
Pakistan's batting crash for a tiny score of 122 against Sri Lanka was an agonising sight in the first duel of the Super League - the first test of strength against a regional in form side. Wickets fell like ninepins despite the efforts of Razzaqe.
The experts thought that the newly installed foreign coach, Bob Woolmer, must have honed up the basics of batting methodology to the Pakistani players but, it seems, they have still plenty to learn. Of the many deficiencies one finds them poor in running between the wickets. Three run-outs were too much.
No real opening pair has yet been found to lay a firm foundation for the squad's good total.
The national set is in for trouble against the formidable combination of India tomorrow. Only a miracle or the glorious uncertainties of the game can make a face-saving.
Woolmer has a difficult job on hand. About the batting stumble he only said the dismissals were self-inflicted. He admitted that it was a nightmarish exhibition of batting by the players, the seniors and juniors included.
But the followers of the game want to know what he did with the players during his short stint after replacing Miandad?
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