The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : India survives Jayasuriya's assault

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 29, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

India survives Jayasuriya's assault

COLOMBO, JULY 28. The ageing lion roared. Sanath Jayasuriya scored a magnificent century (130) — his second successive hundred in the competition and 18th overall — and treated the Indian attack with disdain.

But Sourav Ganguly and his boys held their nerves to register a four-run verdict in the vital super-league day/night clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday and qualified for the final of the Indian Oil-Asia Cup 2004. In the title-round on August 1, the same teams will meet for the third time in this edition.

Jayasuriya, lucky to survive a leg-before shout early on, was in a murderous mood as the Lankans went hell for leather right from the start. The first 50 came in 7.3 overs after India's premier paceman Zaheer Khan went for 15 and 21 runs in two separate overs in his first spell.

However, India took important wickets during this period and the Sri Lankans were 79 for three by the 15th over. There was a spring in the visitor's step when it had the host on the mat at 134 for five by the 27th over.

The 103-run sixth-wicket stand between Jayasuriya and Dilshan off just 105 deliveries turned the contest Lanka's way before Sehwag bowled Dilshan through the `gate.'

With Jayasuriya around, there was no respite for the Indians and the Lankans needed 31 off the last 30 deliveries. Sehwag conceded seven runs in the 46th over and Kumble six in the 47th.

Sehwag claimed Jayasuriya caught and bowled in the 48th over when the left-hander tried to pull a short delivery but managed only to top-edge it.

Pathan, who was superb right through, bowled a sharp penultimate over and Zaheer was in full control of the final one as India scampered home.

Virender Sehwag was adjudged Man of the Match. — Sanjay Rajan

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