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Last Updated : 2024-04-28 21:39:00
12 September 2023 11:27 pm - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
India outlasted a plucky seventh-wicket partnership between Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage to beat Sri Lanka by 41 runs and qualify for the final of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.
Chasing a 214-run target, a figure magnified by a pitch that spat out sharp turn for spinners, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 172, and dealt a reality check that proved that there was still some work to be done before they can challenge bigger teams than those they faced in compiling their much talked about 13-game winning streak.
What the home team can take heart in, is the emerging talent of Wellalage, the 20-year-old first becoming the youngest Sri Lankan to take a five-wicket haul before remaining unbeaten on 42 off 46, showing more patient and poise in difficult conditions than the more senior batsmen in his team.
It earned him the relatively rare honour of being named Man of the Match, despite being on the losing team.
While India’s three left-arm spinners were going to pose the biggest threat to the home team fashioning a win, they lost their top three batsmen to the pace bowling of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, reduced to 32 for 3 at the ten-over mark.
A 43-run partnership between Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka revived the innings, even if the scoring rate didn’t quite match what was required at the time, before Samarawickrama charged Kuldeep Yadav and missed, giving KL Rahul the easiest of stumping chances.
Yadav accounted for the wicket of Asalanka in his next over, the left-hander miscuing a sweep shot and offering a catch to Rahul off his glove.
A 63-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva, that began when Sri Lanka were woefully off the pace at 99 for 6 in the 26th over, appeared to be turning the tide in their team’s favour.
It was not without its moments of fortune – the Indian bowlers creating a fair share of chances – but the pair held on, bringing the equation down to 66 runs needed off the final 17 overs.
A rotation of four overs between Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya, that gave up just nine runs, pushed the pressure back on Sri Lanka, which proved the game’s breaking point when de Silva failed in a rash attempt to loft a Jadeja delivery over the fielder at mid-on.
From there, the innings unraveled, from 162 for 7 to 172 all out, with Yadev taking two of the remaining three wickets for figures of 4 for 43.
It overshadowed a match that Wellalage will long remember, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul that helped bowl India out for 213, the amount of spin on offer so prodigious that part-time spinner Asalanka also returned career-best figures of 4 for 18.
Wellalage struck with his first ball into the attack, wrong footing a forward-lunging Shubnam Gill, to find the gap between bat and pad, bowling him out for 19.
He then had Virat Kohli caught at short midwicket and Rohit Sharma bowled by a delivery that kept low, dismissing the Indian captain soon after he scored his 51st fifty – a knock that also saw him become the second fastest to 10,000 ODI runs.
Ishan Kishan and Rahul attempted to negate the damage that Wellalage had done with a 63-run stand, with Rahul scoring two consecutive boundaries when the spinner returned for a second spell.
But Wellalage had the final say, when in his next over Rahul returned a simple catch back to the bowler.
Kishan fell to Asalanka for 33, before Wellalage ended his 10-over quota with the wicket of Pandya caught behind for 5 – the umpire initially giving the batsman not out, only to be reversed on review.
Asalanka then dismissed Ravindra Jadeja for 4 as India slid to 178 for 8 in the 39th over, returning three overs later to remove Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav off consecutive deliveries.
Axar Patel and Mohammad Siraj stretched the innings into the final over, the last wicket partnership, sandwiching a short rain interruption, broken when the former holed out for 26.
(Shehan Daniel at the R. Premadasa Stadium / Pix: Pradeep Dilrukshana)
A Wednesday, 13 September 2023 12:11 AM
Capt of Sri Lanka when will score runs..
Jayantha Wednesday, 13 September 2023 12:12 AM
Our batting is the biggest issue. Also current batting coach seems to be not doing anything at all. Probably get some Aussie coach to correct technical issue. Dasun proves that he is not a reliable batter at all. His average speaks it. He should try to open the innings with Nissanka. So that if it connects well, we will get some good runs just like Sanaths and Dilshan back then. Otherwise he should bat at 8.
Piyal Perera Wednesday, 13 September 2023 05:28 AM
If you are thinking about that era, Kusal Perera should open, Is he injured?
Jude Wednesday, 13 September 2023 01:20 AM
I reiterate, SL batting shaky!!! All streaks come to an end!! Start a new streak!! Kudos to sl bowling, again the chocking effort was excellent!!
wsw Wednesday, 13 September 2023 05:21 AM
Beating minnows was not going to last forever, finally, Sri lanka's brittle batting machine has been exposed. We have specialist batting coaches etc but the results always seems to be the mundane same.
warren Wednesday, 13 September 2023 06:17 AM
Someone had not prayed to god properly!
Nirmal Wednesday, 13 September 2023 07:26 AM
This was the first biggest test. SL failed it at the first instance they met a stronger team. World Cup will not be easy for the Lankans and more and more strong opponents are waiting for them. Cricket has moved a lot over the recent years and SL has not moved enough. SL can't even field a fit group of bowlers as they can't stand more than two games. A lot of worrying signs.
VJ Wednesday, 13 September 2023 07:56 AM
Sri Lanka should plan and win the game at hand rather than dream of breaking the record of the longest winning streak. Staying focused is key.
Terrence K Wednesday, 13 September 2023 08:02 AM
Sri Lanka players don't get distracted to the critical comments made since the greatest cricketers at some time or the other have made mistakes which have caused defeat. Forget the past and correct the mistakes made and move forward with the other matches as you will have to understand that cricket lovers always support you and like to see their side in Victory although there are uncertainties in the game. Wishing you all the best.
Inshi Wednesday, 13 September 2023 08:33 AM
Pinch hitting at the top is a must when there are field restrictions. They must shuffle the order according to the conditions. Bowlers did their part and one outstanding contribution came from the youngster. It is so easy to criticise but move forward positively. Well done to India and better luck Sri Lanka.
mnsmart Wednesday, 13 September 2023 08:41 AM
Bowlers should not waste energy taking wickets, batters don't support them at all.
Patriot Wednesday, 13 September 2023 09:12 AM
Why we are playing Dimuth Karunaratne why not we can try someone like Shevon Daniel who looks more talented than even Kusal Mendis. We must play the consistently performing players than just for past one time performer
Russel Harmmer Wednesday, 13 September 2023 09:30 AM
True India won a nail-biting match against Sri Lanka yesterday, but the credit should go to SL - Wellalage and Asalanka along with De Silva.
Garry Melder (Former St. Joseph's Wicket Keeper Batsman) Wednesday, 13 September 2023 09:35 AM
A great fighting spirit 20-year Wellalage has, and it was really admirable. Most important factor is Captain Rohith Sharma was confidently defending his teams lowest score with the fighting lions.
Nideesh Wednesday, 13 September 2023 11:40 AM
If at least one batsman stayed with Wellalage, the match result would have been different. Anyways All the best for crucial tie against Pakisthan
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