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India outplays Sri Lanka to enter finals

S. Dinakar

Praveen Kumar emerges a hero; Sachin Tendulkar back in form

— PHOTO: AP

PLEASED AS PUNCH: Robin Uthappa and Praveen Kumar are cock-a-hoop after the latter accounted for Kumar Sangakkara.

Hobart: The windy Bellerive Oval, flanked by water and hills, is very different from the heat and dust of Uttar Pradesh’s akharas (wrestling school) where Praveen Kumar made his first foray into sports. Sporting journeys can be fascinating and the strong-willed paceman found himself at the heart of rousing Indian celebrations here on Tuesday. Cricket has spread its wings in India and the small-town lad struck big blows in a crucial CB ODI tri-series clash.

Man-of-the-Match Praveen claimed four wickets to emerge a hero. And India outplayed Sri Lanka by seven wickets; the side was home with 106 deliveries to spare to enter the finals. Chasing 180 for a victory, India was hardly likely to be threatened.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men, who gained a bonus point, finished their engagements with 17 points from eight games. Sri Lanka, which has six from seven matches, meets Australia in an inconsequential contest at the MCG on Friday.

Team effort

There were several performers for India in a team win. Ishant Sharma, who has retained his intensity at the fag end of a tiring tour, bowled with pace, lift and control.

Then, Sachin Tendulkar, regaining form, delighted. Gautam Gambhir collected runs with typical fluency while Yuvraj Singh delivered some powerful blows.

Lasith Malinga struck early; Robin Uthappa, promoted in the order after a decision to drop Virender Sehwag, miscued a flick. The right-left pair of Tendulkar and Gambhir got together and the runs flowed.

Tendulkar, short of runs in the series, batted with flair, balance and timing. He crashed Malinga through the off-side field. When Ishara Amerasinghe erred in length and line, Tendulkar pounced on the bowler with a barrage of shots. When Muttiah Muralitharan flighted, he danced down to strike the doosras with the spin over covers. When the off-spin wizard erred just a shade in line, Tendulkar (63, 54b, 10x4) swept fine.

Gambhir’s fine run

The in-form Gambhir (63 not out, 89b, 5x4) was calm and assured. He is a busy player who collects his runs without a fuss. Once again, the southpaw’s exemplary footwork was on view as he picked runs on either side.

Earlier, India won an important toss and rightly opted to field.

The pacemen bowled in the right areas but the key Lankan batsmen let the side down with ordinary stroke-selection.

Apart from a well-compiled innings from Chamara Kapugedera (57, 86b, 4x4) under pressure, there was little resistance.

Kapugedera, playing only because Ferveez Maharoof suffered a shin injury, rallied with the tail and placed his strokes well.

Making the difference

It was Praveen who made the difference. He is an interesting bowler who does not gain much momentum in his run-up but uses his shoulder and wrists effectively. Praveen’s wrist position is instrumental in his swing.

On Tuesday he varied his pace and also hit the pitch to gain some seam movement. There was an element of bounce in the surface as well.

Praveen is not sharp but can be deceptive with his air speed. He released the ball late and shortened his length when he saw Kumar Sangakkara giving him the charge. Dhoni, with a new pair of gloves, made no mistake. This was a key moment of the contest.

Mahela Jayawardene attempted to cut a ball on the off-stump, not quite short enough for the stroke, and saw Rohit Sharma holding a brilliant catch at point. The fielding backed the bowling.

Dhoni’s distinction

Praveen was not finished yet. He surprised Chamara Silva with a delivery that straightened and lifted. The smart Dhoni held his 100th catch in the ODIs.

Sanath Jayasuriya promised much before unwisely attempting to pull Irfan Pathan from outside the off-stump. Indeed, Dhoni had a bunch of eager pacemen running in.

Like Praveen, Ishant finished with four wickets. A natural flow in his run-up and release enables the paceman find rhythm quickly. He does not stretch himself as he generates speed; his action blends with his approach.

The impact bowler got the ball to dart in or straighten. India was on target at the Bellerive Oval.

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka: D. Perera b Ishant 8, S. Jayasuriya c Dhoni b Pathan 34, K. Sangakkara c Dhoni b Praveen 33, M. Jayawardene c Rohit b Praveen 3, C. Silva c Dhoni b Praveen 0, T. Dilshan lbw b Ishant 8, C. Kapugedera c & b Harbhajan 57, C. Vaas c Gambhir b Ishant 0, L. Malinga c Uthappa b Ishant 12, M. Muralitharan b Praveen 13, I. Amerasinghe (not out) 0; Extras (lb-5, w-6) 11; Total (in 47.1 overs) 179.

Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Perera), 2-72 (Sangakkara), 3-77 (Jayawardene), 4-81 (Silva), 5-81 (Jayasuriya), 6-93 (Dilshan), 7-93 (Vaas), 8-139 (Malinga), 9-179 (Muralitharan).

India bowling: Munaf 9-0-51-0, Ishant 10-0-41-4, Pathan 10-2-23-1, Praveen 10-2-31-4, Harbhajan 4.1-0-17-1, Yuvraj 4-0-11-0.

India: R. Uthappa c Amerasinghe b Malinga 11, S. Tendulkar c Silva b Muralitharan 63, G. Gambhir (not out) 63, Yuvraj c Dilshan b Perera 36, Rohit (not out) 3; Extras (w-4) 4; Total (for three wkts. in 32.2 overs) 180.

Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Uthappa), 2-120 (Tendulkar), 3-171 (Yuvraj).

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 6-0-29-0, Malinga 6-0-36-1, Amerasinghe 7-0-40-0, Muralitharan 8.2-0-54-1, Jayasuriya 1-0-4-0, Perera 4-0-17-1.

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