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Sri Lanka shrug off Tendulkar ton
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Sachin's century could not
save India from defeat. |
BY : SYED WASEEM AFZAL.
Sri Lanka clinched a comfortable five-wicket win over India in Sharjah despite Sachin
Tendulkar's 26th one-day hundred.
A lifeless pitch and a slow outfield made scoring difficult, a marked contrast
to conditions for the recent ICC Knockout tournament in Kenya where India lost in the
finals to New Zealand.
India could not capitalise on Sachin Tendulakar's century as they totalled a modest 224 for
eight in their alloted 50 overs.
Srilanka's reply was built around two left hander's, Russel Arnold and skipper
Sanath Jayasuriya after paceman Venkatesh Prasad struck twice in his first two overs
to leave Sri Lanka 2 down for 21.
Jayasuriya, who hit 48 off 53 balls, and Mahela Jayawardene consolidated the situation with
a stand of 73 for the third wicket.
The dismissal of their captain slowed the Sri Lanka's scoring rate with the Lankans
stumbling to 113 for 4 but Kumar Sangakkara and Arnold prospered in a fifth wicket
stand of 95 to guide the side home. Arnold top-scored with 59 from 70 deliveries,
while Sangakkara remained unbeaten on 40 with Kaluwitharna 8*.
Young fast-bowler Zaheer Khan impressed once more for India with a tidy spell.
Ajit Agakar picked up two wickets while India's trump card, Anil Kumble, proved to be
expensive gave away 50 runs off his ten overs.
Earlier, Sourav Ganguly after winning the toss opted to bat first but his hopes
of a third successive century were ended when, after being caught off a no-ball,
he hit the Chaminda Vaas' next delivery straight to short point. He scored 17 off 24 balls.
Sachin Tendulkar scored his 26th one-day century, and his seventh in Sharjah,
but the rest of the Indian team struggled with no less
than four of the side run out.
India struggled to 102 for four, with Rahul Dravid and Vinod Kambli running
themselves out, before Robin Singh joined Tendulkar in a stand of exactly 100.
Robin's innings ended for 35 by spinner Mutthiah Muralitharan in the 46th over and
Tendulkar's innings came to an end shortly afterwards when he attempted a single to
mid-wicket but was beaten by Avishka Gunawardene's direct hit at the bowler's end.
Tendulkar, the world's highest scorer in one-day cricket, made 101 from 130 balls,
with one six and three fours.
It left India on 205 for six and they could gather only 19 runs in the final overs
with wicket-keeper Vijay Dahiya becoming the fourth run out victim of the innings.
Indian innings ended at below-par total of 224 for 8 in 50 overs.
Vaas claimed 2 wickets and conceded 40 runs, while Muralitharan returned with impressive
figures of 2 for 36. Jayasuriya's part-time slow bowling was particularly effective,
he gave away just 36 runs from his nine overs.
Click here for full Scorecard.
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Sri Lankans celebrates the wicket of Indian Captain Saurav Ganguly. |
Saturday, October 21, 2000.
source : UAEcricket.com.
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