da lvbet： India’s presence in the World Cup semi-finals was confirmed on Monday aftera compelling performance against Sri Lanka at The Wanderers
Charlie Austin10-Mar-2003India’s presence in the World Cup semi-finals was confirmed on Monday aftera compelling performance against Sri Lanka at The Wanderers.During the first innings India’s openers, Sachin Tendulkar and VirenderSehwag, laid the foundations of an imposing 292 total with a blazing 153 runstand for the first wicket.India’s fast bowlers, led by Man of the Match Javagal Srinath, then producedinspired spells in the afternoon as Sri Lanka were bowled out for a pathetic109 in 23 overs that included five ducks.India’s second Super Six win leaves them level with Australia on 16 points,guaranteeing them a place in the semi-finals no matter the result in theirfinal match against New Zealand.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, currently on 7.5 points, after two crushing defeats inthe space of four days, must win against Zimbabwe to have a chance ofqualifying.Even if they do win – a result that cannot be guaranteed, even anticipated,after such an abject performance today – they could be denied by anotherKenya upset or New Zealand winning both their games against India andAustralia.Fortunately, Sri Lanka have until Saturday to sift through the debris ofsuch a confidence crushing defeat. Top of the list of priorities will betheir decision-making, with their decision to bowl first a topic of debate throughout the day.After heavy rains over the weekend the Sri Lankans had hoped to exploit someearly moisture but Tendulkar and Sehwag never let that happen, quicklyasserting their authority as 70 runs from the first ten overs.Jayasuriya – who played despite clearly being handicapped by a badly bruisedforearm and chipped left finger – defended his decision afterwards, claimingit was “the right decision if we bowled in the right areas.”There was some truth in that but Sri Lanka’s key victories in the opening round had come batting first and with a fragile middle order they currently appear a stronger side defending targets with the bowlers better able to absorb pressure.Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan proved effective, taking five wicketsfor 80 runs in 20 overs, but the support bowling was dealt with severely,especially the overawed Prabath Nissanka, who conceded 49 runs from just sixovers.But then the Indian batting, especially Sachin Tendulkar, was superb,providing further evidence to the increasingly popular opinion that onlythey have the batting firepower to upset the all-conquering Australians.Tendulkar missed out on his 35th one-day century when he was caught off bat,arm and shoulder for his 97 from 120 balls, the second time he has beendismissed in the 90’s in the tournament, but he did at least have thesatisfaction of breaking his own record for the most runs in a World Cup.The 29-year-old, this tournament’s highest run scorer by a Himalayan mile,has already compiled 562 runs, surpassing the 523 he scored during the 1996competition.He was well supported by his clone, Sehwag, who alleviated some of thepressure mounting on his shoulders with his maiden World Cup fifty, asurprisingly sedate 66 from 76 balls that including three sixes.Unfortunately for India, although ultimately of no serious consequence, hisfirst World Cup landmark prompted a rush of blood and he celebrated with twosixes off Jayasuriya before unwisely attempting to clear the boundary againagainst Muralitharan.Sourav Ganguly snuffed out Sri Lankan hopes of a clatter of wickets, withthe India skipper easing to 48 from 53 balls, but Sri Lanka did pullthemselves back into the game, thanks, almost entirely, to the efforts ofVaas and Muralitharan.In the end, after the 153 opening stand for the first wicket, Sri Lankawould have gladly traded for the final score of 292 when 300 plus targetlooked on the cards. Nevertheless, 292 proved plenty.almost wastefulextravagance.It was Srinath who started Sri Lanka’s capitulation, inviting a loose drivefrom the inform Marvan Atapattu with his third delivery and going on to takethree wickets in his first 10 deliveries.Strangely, almost inexplicably, Sri Lanka then sent in Jehan Mubarak atnumber three despite the 22-year-old having not played a single game in thetournament thus far. He lasted just two balls before edging behind.Even more strangely, despite Jayasuriya’s pre-match assertion that he woulddrop down the order, the virtually run-less Mahela Jayawardene was sent innext ahead of Aravinda de Silva.He lasted just four balls before shuffling across his stumps and beingtrapped lbw by a good delivery from Zaheer Khan. When De Silva was alsotrapped lbw, in Srinath’s second over, Sri Lanka were 15 for four.Jayasuriya, who was administered pain killers in the mid-innings break andappeared to be hampered by his injuries, scored 12 from 19 deliveries beforemistiming an attempted cut and being caught at cover.Kumar Sangakkara, the innings top scorer with 30 from 33 balls, fought backbriefly before being caught at cover point. When Russel Arnold, the lastrecognised batsman, was trapped lbw, Sri Lanka were 77 for seven and thegame was over.Muralitharan cheered the crowd with some comical batting at the close,carrying Sri Lanka past their lowest score against India and into threefigures, but it will take more than comedy to lift the spirits of Sri Lanka’s dressing room after their second drumming in four days.