Sehwag’s 99 humiliates Sri Lanka
Sehwag, leading India’s charge at a modest 171-run target, hit a six with one run remaining to level the scores, only to see Suraj Randiv deliver a no ball to be denied a 13th one-day century. The win, achieved in just the 35th over, also earned India a much-needed bonus point after they suffered embarrassment at the hands of New Zealand, the third team in the tournament, losing by 200 run in the tournament opener.
However, it was not all easy sailing for India after the bowlers did a good job at restricting Sri Lanka. Dinesh Karthik continued with his poor run as he was out for 10 before Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, competing for a middle-order place in the absence of the sick Yuvraj Singh, were dismissed for noughts. India’s batting woes continued as Suresh Raina, playing his 100th match, was dismissed for 21 after adding 59 valuable runs with Sehwag. However, captain MS Dhoni rescued the struggling middle-order as he put on the remaining 80 runs with Sehwag, a partnership that was also the highest of the match. Sehwag, clearly the aggressor, hit 11 boundaries and two sixes with a final one denied off the no ball, needed 100 deliveries for his 99 while Dhoni faced 38 for his unbeaten 23.
Earlier, it was the Indian bowlers who rose to the occasion as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 170 in the 47th over. Pragyan Ojha, playing in his 15th One-Day International, took the important wicket of the explosive Tillakaratne Dilshan after the pacemen reduced the hosts to 44 for four. Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar started the rout as Sri Lanka found runs hard to come by.
Kumar dismissed Tharanga first ball before his opening bowling partner Nehra sent Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara packing. The hosts barely recovered before Kumar and Sharma took one wicket each before the hosts put some respectability on the score. But Ojha broke the 39-run partnership between Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera before Ravindra Jadeja made it 83 for six as Sri Lanka looked set to crash feebly. Jadeja then dismissed Chamara Kapugedera before the Asia Cup finalist got some respite Suraj Randiv and Nuwan Kulasekara took their team past the 150-mark. The tail wagged but Sri Lanka were left with a low total.
With the Indian victory, the triangular series goes into the second round with all teams winning one from their three games. The hosts now take on New Zealand on August 19 as the battle for the top two spots gets tighter.
Published in The Express Tribune August 17th, 2010.
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