The Hindu : Sport : Sri Lanka on threshold of glory again

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Thursday, Apr 26, 2007
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Sri Lanka on threshold of glory again

S. Ram Mahesh

SIMPLY BRILLIANT: Chamara Silva's spectacular effort to snare Brendon McCullum epitomised the on-field discipline shown by Sri Lanka in the semifinal against New Zealand on Tuesday. — Photo: AFP

Kingston: Sri Lanka entered the final of the World Cup with a commanding 81-run victory over New Zealand in the first semifinal here at Sabina Park on Tuesday.

It will be Sri Lanka's second World Cup final. New Zealand has never been in one; Tuesday's loss was its fifth in the semifinals.

The win was set up by Mahela Jayawardene, who constructed a supremely-weighted 115 — his second fifty coming off just 28 balls after the first took 76 — as Sri Lanka made 289 for five in 50 overs.

Opener Upul Tharanga's half-century was central to the cause, and worked on many levels.

Dramatic collapse

New Zealand's challenge ended during a period when it lost four wickets for two runs: to no one's surprise, Muttiah Muralitharan's wrist-spun doosras were a feature of this period. New Zealand's consolation was denying him a hat-trick. Muralitharan ended with four for 31.

"We were outclassed at key moments, which is probably reflected in the wide margin," said Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain. "We are proud of where we got to, the semifinals, but disappointed that we couldn't go on — it's a feeling other New Zealand sides have had as well."

New Zealand needed to start assuredly. But, Lasith Malinga's unorthodox pace didn't allow it. In a spell of four terrific overs Malinga removed Fleming, and gave Ross Taylor hell.

Fleming's leg-before decision was marginal, but it was no worse than two Sri Lanka's batsmen copped. Deprived of Fleming's assuring touch and calming manner, New Zealand struggled to cope with Chaminda Vaas and Malinga.

Taylor swung across Vaas's line to be adjudged leg-before, another decision that showed the umpires in poor light.

Styris hits out

Scott Styris then began New Zealand's best phase with the bat. Dilhara Fernando, who touched speeds of 145 kmph much like the man he replaced, was glanced fine and deposited over long-on. Vaas was cross-batted over mid-wicket.

Fernando was warned for running on the pitch, forcing him to try bowling around the wicket.

Peter Fulton meanwhile was using the all-encompassing sweep of his bat arc to punch the seamers. The same leverage allowed him to flick Fernando for six.

Styris reserved the stroke of the innings for Muttiah Muralitharan. He advanced down the track to a doosra, and lofted it. The swing had the arms extending along the top elbow.

Jayawardene then proved why he's one of the two best captains in the world. He removed Muralitharan — much like he had against India when Virender Sehwag got to him — and replaced him with Tillakaratne Dilshan.

A careless chip ended in mid-wicket's hands: New Zealand had lost its form player. Jayawardene brought Muralitharan back after Styris's departure, and the contest was decided.

Managing Murali

"I tried Murali for two overs during the Power Play," said Jayawardene. "But, I couldn't use all my attacking options up front. I also had to cover for Dilhara. So I thought I could sneak in four-five overs after the Power Play, but Dilshan got a wicket. It was totally unexpected. "Then Murali came and asked me if we wanted to attack them. I thought we could attack and put some pressure on their batting. Nothing was planned, everything just happened very fast."

Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, and Daniel Vettori fell to Muralitharan though Oram was unlucky the umpires didn't refer the caught-and-bowled decision to the third umpire.

Fulton (46) was convinced into hitting a catch off Jayasuriya, while McMillan's hectoring innings — despite batting in discomfort and with a runner — ended when he tried one adventurous stroke too many.

The tenth-wicket partnership of 59 between James Franklin and Jeetan Patel held up the brass band. But, Dilshan ended matters by having Patel caught at long-on.

"We bowled poorly in the last ten overs," was Fleming's assessment. The period he referred to went for 102.

"We were very nervous. We were desperate to get through. But, we weren't accurate with the ball in the final overs. In the last couple of years, the two areas New Zealand cricket has been strong in are the opening batting — well the top-order bating — and bowling at the death. At some stage we were going to be exposed. It happened in a World Cup semifinal."

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