Monday, Nov 24, 2003
Monday, Nov 24, 2003 |
| Sport | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Sport
-
Cricket
By G. Viswanath
India `A' speedster Amit Bhandari exults after dismissing Ian Daniel of Sri Lanka `A' in the visitor's first inning on the opening day of the first Test in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Left-arm spinner Herath scored a half century and medium-pacer Omesh Wijesiriwardane was at the crease and within reach of the small milestone. Packing the bowling department with three seamers appeared a practical decision and not by choice. Leaving the only wrist spinner from the side was done with the sole purpose of providing an extra seamer in order to take advantage of a favourable pitch. Inviting the opposing side to bat first was also based on its bowling strength. Delhi seamer Amit Bhandari took the responsibility and demonstrated that experience in first class cricket counts which his partner Munaf Patel lacked. While Patel attempted to hit the deck from a height, Bhandari used the seam and concentrated on length, the result of which was seen in the second over when Prasanna Jayawardane hung his bat out and edged to Ajay Ratra. A comfortable catch held by Rohan Gavaskar at square point, a couple of more edges travelling to the safe hands of Ratra and a leg before decision won by Siddharth Trivedi against Naveed Nawaz saw the Indian seamers getting on top of their rival well within the 30th over. Trivedi turned out to be an ideal foil finishing his first spell at 7-2-14-2 as compared with Bhandari's figures of 8-4-10-2. Sri Lanka `A' recovered through a small partnership before the aggressive Kandamby top-edged a hook to square-leg. Off-spinner Ramesh Powar got into the act by removing Anushka Pollonowita and at 148 for seven the Sri Lankan innings seemed to be nearing its end. But with the ball becoming soft and with the spinners, Powar, Sriram and Gavaskar not finding encouraging turn, the eighth wicket pair in Herath and Wijesiriwardane batted sensibly and managed to keep the Indian attack at bay for nearly 32 overs. The second new ball taken immediately after the 80th over helped India `A' to separate the pair. Herath (51, 176m, 4x4s, 1x6), who had swung Powar for a six, but frustrated by a maiden over by Bhandari, attempted to drive the ball and lifted it straight down the throat of Gautam Gambhir at mid-off. A little later Hemang Badani put down a catch at slip off Wijesiriwardane that cost Trivedi his third wicket. The right-hander cut and drove the next two deliveries to the fence to remain unbeaten on 49. The scores: Sri Lanka `A' - 1st innings: I. Daniel c Gavaskar b Bhandari 11, P. Jayawardane c Ratra b Bhandari 0, J. Mubarak c Ratra b Trivedi 14, N. Nawaz lbw b Trivedi 5, Lanka de Silva c Ratra b Bhandari 13, T. Kandamby c Rayudu (sub) b Patel 44, A. Pollonowita c Patel b Powar 33, R. Herath c Gambhir b Bhandari 51,O. Wijesiriwardane (batting) 49, T. Lakshitha (batting) 8, Extras (b 4, lb 4, nb 7) 15, Total (for eight wkts. in 90 overs) 243. Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-22, 3-26, 4-41, 5-72, 6-116, 7-148, 8-209. India `A' bowling: Patel 15-2-47-1, Bhandari 21.5-8-55-4, Trivedi 20-4-69-2, Powar 22-6-36-1, Sriram 7-2-18-0, Gavaskar 4.1-0-10-0.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | Home |
Copyright © 2003, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
