Dambulla: Inspired by a game-breaking spell from Zaheer Khan, India clinched a low-scoring contest here at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Wednesday, evening the five-match series at 1-1 — an eventuality that had appeared remote after Sri Lanka’s overwhelming win in the first ODI.
After M.S. Dhoni won the toss, Zaheer extracted Sri Lanka’s three best batsmen — Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya — to help India bowl the host out for 142 in 38.3 overs.
The left-armer, who finished with four wickets for 21 runs, was well supported by his new-ball partner, Praveen Kumar, who scalped three.In trouble
The chase of 143 appeared in the brambles, when Nuwan Kulasekara removed Irfan Pathan, opening in place of Gautam Gambhir (stiff neck), and Suresh Raina before the lunch break, and again when Thilan Thushara’s double strike left India on 75 for five.
The men who stepped up were Virat Kohli, Dhoni and debutant S. Badrinath. Kohli’s 37 was a fighter’s innings, not always pretty or technically assured, but combative as a bulldog. His partnerships of 36 with Yuvraj Singh and 23 with Dhoni, while not substantial, nudged India closer.
The 19-year-old Kohli handled Mendis positively, thinking little of crashing the mystery spinner through the off-side or slog-sweeping him over mid-wicket.
But Kohli drove lazily to cover and Rohit Sharma got his front foot too far across, as left-armer Thushara — brought on to switch Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan around — rocked India.Coming good
Dhoni, who promoted himself, and Badrinath, who has done everything asked of him — and then some — before national selection, set about chipping away at the runs needed.
The pair hared between the wickets, judging their ones and twos adeptly. Dhoni’s show of responsibility, while admirable, was expected; he has nervelessly controlled several chases in his young career.
Badrinath was a revelation: his exploits at the domestic level and on ‘A’ tours have been impressive, but never before will he have faced the intense pressure of an international razor-edge chase or the unique challenges posed by Mendis and Murali.
The sixth-wicket partnership of 60 brought India to within eight runs of victory. But Dhoni (39) was bowled off the inside edge when Dilhara Fernando found some reverse swing, and it was left to Badrinath to guide the tail through. Mendis spread panic when he trapped Harbhajan in front, but Zaheer applied himself, and capped a remarkable day.Touch of magic
India needed a touch of magic to begin things, particularly after Monday’s mauling, and Zaheer provided just that. Through a spell of controlled, first-rate seam bowling, the left-armer tore the heart out of Sri Lanka’s batting.
The ball that started it was a rip-snorter, flawless in length, and cutting into the left-handed Sangakkara at pace to hit the off-stump.
Impeccable deliveries slanted across the right-hander accounted for Jayawardene and Kapugedera, procuring edges to first slip and wicketkeeper Dhoni respectively.
Praveen chipped in with Chamara Silva’s wicket, getting one to bounce on the right-hander. Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan attempted to steady the pitching ship — with Sri Lanka at 11 for four — but Zaheer cranked one through Jayasuriya’s defensive hop, striking the left-hander’s pad, and half the home side had been returned to the pavilion in fewer than 14 overs.
When Badrinath ran in from square-leg to complete a splendid catch diving forward, ridding India of the dangerous Dilshan, Dhoni’s men had Sri Lanka on the mat at 44 for six.Fight-back
But here occurred one of those curious things that that seem to happen often in cricket. The side on top let up just a bit, the one pinned discovered the virtue of common sense, and a fight-back was on.
Kulasekara and Thushara were the men who made the most of India’s generosity, although it must be said that the touring side had its share of ill-luck, some of it its own making. Dhoni has excellent instincts as a leader, but why he fancied Yuvraj’s left-arm slows for two overs — to open fields — one will never know.
Kulasekara, on eight, was caught plumb in front by a Munaf off-cutter, but umpire Gamini Silva turned the appeal down, leading to the seamer venting his frustration.
On 13, the right-hander edged Harbhajan to Rohit Sharma’s right at slip; the one-handed grab wasn’t sufficient.
The left-handed Thushara was impressive, lofting the quicker bowlers over the in-field and back-cutting Harbhajan for a fine 44.
Praveen broke the 74-run stand, feeding each partner a slower ball.
Thushara dragged the off-spinner to deep mid-wicket; Kulasekara shovelled the back-spun delivery to short mid-wicket.
India had some trouble shifting the last two wickets before Harbhajan, who had limped off after catching Mendis off his doosra, returned to dismiss Fernando.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka: S. Jayasuriya lbw b Zaheer 13, K. Sangakkara b Zaheer 2, M. Jayawardene c Yuvraj b Zaheer 2, C. Kapugedera c Dhoni b Zaheer 0, C. Silva c Kohli b Praveen 0, T. Dilshan c Badrinath b Pathan 16, N. Kulasekara c Badrinath b Praveen 25, T. Thushara c Kohli b Praveen 44, A. Mendis c & b Harbhajan 0, D. Fernando c Kohli b Harbhajan 12, M. Muralitharan (not out) 11; Extras (lb-6, w-11): 17. Total (in 38.3 overs): 142.
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Sangakkara), 2-10 (Jayawardene), 3-10 (Kapugedera), 4-11 (Silva), 5-33 (Jayasuriya), 6-44 (Dilshan), 7-118 (Thushara), 8-118 (Kulasekara), 9-122 (Mendis).
PP1 (1-10): 14/4; PP2 (11-15): 24/1; PP3 (16-20): 10/1.
India bowling: Praveen 10-2-34-3, Zaheer 9.5-3-21-4, Munaf 6-1-24-0, Pathan 5-0-21-1, Harbhajan 5.4-0-26-2, Yuvraj 2-0-10-0.
India: I. Pathan c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 5, V. Kohli c Kapugedera b Thushara 37, S. Raina lbw b Kulasekara 1, Yuvraj lbw b Mendis 20, M.S. Dhoni b Fernando 39, Rohit lbw b Thushara 0, S. Badrinath (not out) 27, Harbhajan lbw b Mendis 1, Zaheer (not out) 2, Extras (b-3, lb-4, nb-2, w-2): 11. Total (for seven wickets in 39.4 overs): 143.
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Pathan), 2-16 (Raina), 3-52 (Yuvraj), 4-75 (Kohli), 5-75 (Rohit), 6-135 (Dhoni), 7-139 (Harbhajan).
PP1 (1-10): 29/2; PP2 (11-15): 25/1; PP3 (16-20): 21/2.
Sri Lanka bowling: Kulasekara 9-2-26-2, Thushara 7-1-32-2, Mendis 10-1-22-2, Fernando 5-0-25-1, Muralitharan 8.4-0-31-0.
source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082151152000.htm
