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Sri Lanka avert whitewash
Yuvraj holds the Man of The Series trophy. — AFP
Depleted bowling did us in: Dhoni
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‘It’ll be an exciting contest’
Australia snap losing streak
‘A spineless capitulation’
West put it beyond South
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Sri Lanka avert whitewash
Colombo, February 8 The defeat means that India could not make a clean sweep of the series and had to be content with a 4-1 victory margin. Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan missed a ton by just three runs and Kumar Sangakkara hit 84 while spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan regained form just in time to avoid the series whitewash. Half centuries by Yuvraj Singh (73), debutant Ravindra Jadeja (60 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (53) could not be enough as Indian top order failed to click and the visitors were rolled over with seven balls to spare in chase of Sri Lanka's challenging 320 for eight on a batting track. The Indians went into the final match without key players like Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan and spinner Pragyan Ojha with the team management deciding to try out bench strength. Yuvraj gave some stability to the run chase after his side was reduced to 85 for four inside the 15th over. India, however, struggled again after some time as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals on a day when nothing went right for them. A cautious Dhoni and Jadeja only tried to delay the inevitable by putting on 55 runs off 66 balls for the seventh wicket. Dhoni's effort included two massive sixes and a hit to the fence. He reached his 50 with a towering six. Jadeja's 77-ball knock was aided by four fours. India round off the tour with a one-off Twenty20 international on February 10 before returning home next day. The visitors got off to a shaky start with opener Virender Sehwag dismissed cheaply for six by Thilan Thushara on a poor shot after hitting the bowler for a four on the previous ball in the second over. He was immediately followed by Suresh Raina, who was done in by an impeccable field placing by Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene in the third over and at that stage India were tottering at nine for two wickets in chase of a mammoth target. The other opener Gautam Gambhir, who made 150 in the previous day-night affair, also buckled under pressure and was out for 13 off Nuwan Kulasekara, who got him caught by wicketkeeper Sangakkara in the ninth over. Rohit Sharma (15) then returned to pavilion in the 15th over. India's hopes suffered a further jolt when Muralitharan removed an in-form Yuvraj Singh. The offie caught the Punjab batsman, who adorned his 73-run knock with 11 boundaries and a six, off his own delivery. Dhoni took charge of the proceedings for almost next 10 overs before he was sent packing by Sanath Jayasuriya. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan (97) missed his century as Indian bowlers charged up only in the 42nd over to struck gold in the form of three crucial wickets. A blazing Sangakkara's stint was also cut short on 84. Scoreboard
Sri Lanka: Dilshan run out 97 Jayasuriya c Raina b I Pathan 37 Sangakkara c Rohit b Yuvraj 84 Kandamby b Ishant 26 Jayawardene c Raina b Yuvraj 1 Kapugedera c Dhoni b Ishant 0 Maharoof run out 32 Thushara c and b Ishant 11 Kulasekara not out 10 Muralitharan not out 3 Extras (b3, lb8, nb1, w7) 19 Total (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 320 Fall of
wickets: 1-66, 2-209, 3-255, 4-255, 5-256, 6-256, 7-277, 8-315. Bowling: I Pathan 9-0-55-1, Ishant 10-0-60-3, Balaji 5-0-32-0, Sehwag 3-0-26-0, Jadeja 6-0-40-0, Y Pathan 3-0-20-0, Raina 6-0-24-0, Yuvraj 6-0-39-2, Rohit 2-0-13-0. India: Gambhir c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 13 Sehwag c Jayasuriya b Thushara 6 Raina c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 0 Yuvraj c and b Muralitharan 73 Rohit c Kulasekara b Maharoof 15 Dhoni c Kulasekara b Jayasuriya 53 Y Pathan lbw b Muralitharan 3 R Jadeja not out 60 I Pathan c Kapugedera b Mendis 8 Balaji c Kulasekara b Mendis 7 Ishant b Maharoof 4 Extras (lb2, w8) 10 Total (all out, 48.5 overs) 252 Fall of
wickets: 1-8, 2-9, 3-52, 4-85, 5-121, 6-138, 7-193, 8-217, 9-243. Bowling: Kulasekara 9-0-42-2, Thushara 6-0-34-1, Maharoof 5.5-0-46-2, Muralitharan 10-0-41-2, Mendis 10-0-44-2, Jayasuriya 6-0-28-1, Dilshan 2-0-15-0.
— PTI |
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Depleted bowling did us in: Dhoni
Colombo, February 8 “Our bowling was not strong. But it was good to have a go at the guys who had not played. (Ravinder) Jadeja got a chance see what international cricket is all about and how tough it can be sometimes,” Dhoni said after 68-run loss which prevented them from making a clean-sweep of the series. “Overall it was good, though we lost (today), we won the series,” he added. The Indian captain dedicated the series win to his teammates, who, he says back each other and enjoy each others success. “The overall team morale is good. It’s important to have good dressing room atmosphere and guys back each other and enjoy each other’s success. Whenever I needed them they were there, whether I needed a batsman or a bowler (to perform). So I dedicate this win to my teammates. Hopefully, we will continue to win more tournaments,” Dhoni said. The Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene praised his top-order bastmen for laying the platform for consolation win. “We had spoken to the guys. We were disappointed after four defeats. I think the wicket played a big role... Jayasuriya and Dilshan gave us a good platform to push for 300 and once we reached there we had advantage. “Though Indians have a very good batting line up we managed to pick wickets. They are one of the best sides and were deserved (series) winners.” The Sri Lankan skipper said his teammates were determined to win today in the view of their upcoming Pakistan Test tour. “Everyone realised and put heart and soul into it. We had not come here to lose but we were up against a very good side. We came back and won that showed the character and that is what is required of the guys. “Now we are looking forward to the Pakistan tour, hopefully we will do well there,” he said. Yuvraj Singh, adjudged man-of-the-series for scoring 284 run in the five-match series, credited his good show to the tips he got from Tendulkar. “This (award) is second in a row. But I had a bad series last time here. There was little doubt about playing the spinners. A big thanks to Sachin and the coaching staff, who helped me out I played to my strength,” he said. — PTI
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‘It’ll be an exciting contest’
Chandigarh, February 8
“I will not go by the scoreline. Playing with an inexperienced line-up, Germany probably failed to capitalise on the chances that came their way, whereas Holland did not miss many.” Harender Singh said the final was going to be a different ball game altogether and he was depending on the boys to do well. The coach in-charge said he had full faith in the capabilities on his boys. “In the previous two games, they did not fare badly against Holland. I promise an exciting game tomorrow,” a confident Harender stated. In the first game against the European champions, after facing a one-goal deficit, a three-goal blitz by Shivender Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Tushar Khandekar within no time rattled Holland. Though the match ended in a 4-4 draw, the Indians proved that they could be tough customers. India again played a 2-2 draw in the second match against the European powerhouse. Asked about India’s scratchy performance yesterday, which saw India regroup somewhat in the later stages of the second half after an indifferent first half and scrape past New Zealand 3-2, Harender was candid: “It was end result which mattered the most.” India failed to gel in the previous two games (Germany and New Zealand) and looked somewhat a disjointed. Harender agreed: “We have at least 5 to 6 grey areas which needed to ba taken care of.” Asked what were the areas, he said it would not be appropriate for him to discuss those on the eve of such a crucial game. “At present, we are ranked No 11 team in the world. We would like to work hard and go step by step. Maybe, in the next six months we would like to be No 8 or possibly No 7 team in the world.” Regarding the performance of Shivender in the tournament so far, he said it would not be good for him to single out performance of one player. “All the forwards have done well. In fact, hockey is a team game and the success of it depended on overall performance and not on an individual.” Quizzed whether experienced striker Deepak Thakur would take the field in the crucial match, Harender revealed that he would not like to rush him in the playing XI and would rather go by the advice of doctor, who had prescribed a week’s rest to him. “To me, Deepak is more important for the future,” he concluded.
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Australia snap losing streak
Sydney, February 8 Australia, who were bolstered by the forced return of captain Ricky Ponting, rode on wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's maiden ton (109) to post 301 for nine, after New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori's inserted them in. They then bundled out the Kiwis for 269 in 47.3 overs to notch up their first win of the series and make the scoreline 2-1. The home team, though, had to survive some anxious moments with Grant Elliott (115) almost single-handedly threatening to win the match for New Zealand with a superb crunch-time maiden hundred only to fail near the finishing line. Chasing a target of 302 to seal the series, New Zealand started their reply disastrously and by the sixth over they were two down for 16. Scoreboard
Australia: Haddin run out 109 Clarke c Guptill b Elliott 64 Ponting c Mills b Elliott 16 D Hussey c McCullum b O’Brien 7 White c Vettori b O'Brien 10 M Hussey c Taylor b Mills 51 C Ferguson lbw b Vettori 28 Hopes b O’Brien 8 Johnson c Patel b Mills 1 Bracken not out 3 Hilfenhaus not out 0 Extras
(B-1, W-3) 4 Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 301 Fall of
wickets: 1-135, 2-169, 3-187, 4-200, 5-212, 6-274, 7-297, 8-297, 9-299. Bowling: Kyle Mills 9-0-59-2, Tim Southee 10-0-52-0, Daniel Vettori 10-0-52-1, Iain O'Brien 10-1-68-3, Grant Elliott 8-0-44-2, Jeetan Patel 3-0-25-0. New Zealand: Guptill c Ferguson b Bracken 6 Fulton c White b Hopes 40 R Taylor lbw b Hilfenhaus 4 G Elliott c M Hussey b Hopes 115 Neil Broom c Hilfenhaus b White 15 Mills c Bracken b D Hussey 2 Daniel Vettori c Clarke b White 2 Southee c Haddin b Johnson 17 McCullum c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 36 Patel b Bracken 9 O’Brien not out 0 Extras (B-4, LB-11, W-8) 23 Total (all out; 47.3 overs) 269 Fall of
wickets: 1-12, 2-16, 3-96, 4-149, 5-152, 6-157, 7-183, 8-252, 9-262. Bowling: Bracken 8.3-1-65-2, Hilfenhaus 9-1-44-2, Johnson 10-2-36-1, Hopes 10-0-49-2, Clarke 5-0-41-0, D Hussey 3-0-9-1, White 2-0-10-2.
— PTI |
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‘A spineless capitulation’
London, February 8 The Sunday Telegraph described England's capitulation as ''spineless... utter disgrace and a shameful chapter of English cricketing history''. ''England collapse in chaos'' said a headline in the tabloid News of the World next to a photograph of England's humbled players, heads bowed, on the Sabina Park pitch. It described the performance as a ''day of shame'' for captain Andrew Strauss's team and the players as ''nothing more than a shambling bunch of amateurs''. The Sunday Times said desperate England had ''sunk to their knees'' and suggested that Australians worried about the dip in form of their team would once again be relishing the Ashes series against England later this year. The Sunday Mirror described England as ''clueless'' while The Independent on Sunday agreed that England had ''plumbed new depths''.
— Reuters |
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Duleep Trophy
Chennai, February 8 Still 446 runs adrift of an unlikely win, the hosts had captain and first innings centurion S Badrinath (35) and wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Karthik (27) at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day. South Zone’s chase went haywire after Vijay and Uthappa’s solid first-wicket stand of 165. The duo negotiated the bowlers, particularly the spinners, confidently but both perished while going for ambitious shots. Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid was dismissed for a duck when spinner Ramesh Powar’s skidding delivery knocked off his defences. Powar earlier separated the opening pair, when Vijay edged one to Parthiv Patel. Uthappa, meanwhile, perished after trying to hit Rajesh Pawar over long off, giving away a simple catch to Siddarth Trivedi at mid-off. Uthappa, who was dropped by Wasim Jaffer at first slip when on 17, made 94 off 98 balls with 12 boundaries and three mighty sixes. Scoreboard
West Zone (first innings) 459 South Zone (first innings) 199 West Zone (Second innings): Parthiv c Uthappa b Ashwin 131 Jaffer lbw b Sreesanth 15 Rahane c Karthik b Badrinath 98 Pujara c & b Suresh 14 B Thaker c Dravid b Sreesanth 22 Nayar c Badrinath b Jakati 44 Jadhav c Dravid b Ashwin 16 Pawar not out 50 Powar c Vijay b Suresh 7 Kulkarni not out 8 Extras:
(B-9, Lb-2, W-1) 12 Total: (declared for 8 wkts, 92 overs) 417 Fow: 1-35, 2-182, 3-196, 4-228, 5-274, 6-298, 7-383, 8-396. Bowling: Sreesanth 14-2-58-2, Uthappa 3-0-12-0, R Ashwin 30-4-121-2, S Jakati 17-0-67-1, M Suresh 17-1-93-2, S Badrinath 9-1-38-1, M Vijay 2-0-16-0. South Zone (Second innings): Vijay c Parthiv b Powar 63 Uthappa c Tridevi b Pawar 94 Badrinath batting 35 Dravid b Powar 0 Karthik batting 27 Extras: (B-12, Nb-1) 13 Total (for three wkts, 50 overs) 232 Fow:
1-165, 2-167, 3-167. Bowling: D Kulkarni 8-0-51-0, S Trivedi 10-2-37-0, Rajesh Pawar 14-0-74-1, Ramesh Powar 16-6-54-2, Abhishek Nayar 2-0-4-0.
— PTI |
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Colombo, February 8
Chandigarh, February 8
London, February 8
At present, we are ranked No 11 team in the world. We would like to work hard and go step by step. Maybe, in the next six months we would like to be No 8 or possibly No 7 team in the world
— Harender Singh
New Delhi
London