The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : India in final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 05, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

India in final

Principal Correspondent

Dhoni went without boundary for 36 balls
Winning runs were ushered in by Yuvraj Singh

Karachi: Relief and joy jostled for space in the Indian ranks as a final berth was secured on the basis of batting efficiency.

Chasing Sri Lanka’s 308 for eight in 50 overs in a crucial STAR Asia Cup semi-final league match that had inscribed ‘must-win’ in the hearts of M.S. Dhoni’s men, India registered a six-wicket victory at the National Stadium here on Thursday night.

India scored 310 for four in 46.5 overs and with six points in its kitty, will face Sri Lanka again in the final here on July 6 while Pakistan and Bangladesh will clash in a match that will reiterate the ‘playing-for-pride’ cliché on Friday.

A victory was imperative for India as Pakistan was just a step away while Sri Lanka had already qualified for the final.

Well begun is…

However there was no hint of nerves as Virender Sehwag (42) and Gautam Gambhir (68, 61b, 11x5) sprinkled adrenaline with 92-run partnership off 70 deliveries before M.S. Dhoni who seems to love the adjective ‘dogged’ rather than ‘blind aggression’, these days, buckled down with a valuable 67 (62b, 5x4, 1x6).

Dhoni’s knock and his 99-run third-wicket partnership off 92 deliveries with Suresh Raina (54, 66b, 3x4) ensured that the middle overs slipped past Muralitharan’s web.

Dhoni was all brick and mortar and Raina after a few futile swings with the bat, settled down.

The rebuilding process rode on good running between the wickets though he fell while testing 39-year old Sanath Jayasuriya’s arm from fine-leg.

Dhoni, who went without a boundary for 36 deliveries, gradually eased his solid frame and carted Jayasuriya into the stands.

A paddle sweep off Muralitharan also hinted at a relaxed mind but a tiring body hampered his tenure and he fell to the master spinner.

The winning runs were ushered in by Yuvraj Singh (36 n.o.), who after looking ungainly while ducking into bouncers, picked the long-on fence for target practice.

His cover drive off Kulasekara finally confirmed India’s walk into final.

Earlier the hunt was on as Sehwag and Gambhir galloped away with their mix of disdain and deft placement. The Delhi duo initially capitalised on Dilhara Fernando’s pace and Sehwag’s dangerous mood was evident in a six off Kulasekara before a tame dismissal cut short his stay.

Sehwag tried to scoop Kulasekara and ended up lobbing to short fine-leg. Gambhir meanwhile continued to chip and charge before paying the price while trying to work Muralitharan off his legs.

scoreboard Sri Lanka: (for eight wkts. in 50 overs): 308.

India: G. Gambhir lbw Muralitharan 68, V. Sehwag c Fernando b Kulasekara 42, S. Raina (run out) 54, M.S. Dhoni b Muralitharan 67, Yuvraj (not out) 36, Rohit (not out) 22; Extras (lb-11, w-9, nb-1): 21; Total (for four wkts. in 46.5 overs): 310.

Fall of wickets: 1-92, 2-135, 3-234, 4-253.

Sri Lanka bowling: Fernando 9-0-52-0, Kulasekara 9.5-0-71-1, Thushara 8-0-67-0, Muralitharan 10-0-44-2, Weeraratne 5-0-36-0, Jayasuriya 3-0-19-0, Dilshan 2-0-10-0.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport