Indian pacers and spinners exploited the bowling friendly conditions alike to shot out hosts Sri Lanka for a low 170 in their second cricket tri—series ODI here today.
Skipper Kumar Sangakkara’s decision to bat backfired as Indian bowlers were all over the hosts right from the first ball when Upul Tharanga was cleaned bowled by Praveen Kumar.
Had Suraj Randiv (43) and Nuwan Kulasekara (22) not played defiant knocks down the order, the hosts innings would have been wearing a more miserable look.
They put up a 39—run stand, highest of Lankan innings, for the eighth wicket to help Sri Lanka go past the 150—mark.
Tillakaratane Dilshan (45) was the only top—order batsman who showed stomach for fight but fell while going for an extravagant shot when situation demanded patience.
The pace trio of Kumar (2/20), Ishant Sharma (2/32) and Ashish Nehra (1/39) blew away the host top—order to start the devastation of the Lankan innings.
The spinners —— Pragyan Ojha (3/36) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/34) —— joined the party and broke the back of the Lankan innings with lethal blows.
In an ominous start for home side, Opener Tharanga and his teammates were shell shocked when a swinging first ball of the match by Praveen Kumar uprooted the stumps.
The heavy conditions were ideal for bowling and Indian pacers rose to the occasion.
Soon skipper Kumar Sangakkara (2) fell to Nehra and Mahela Jayawardene (4) became second victim of Kumar.
Lanky Ishant Sharma got his first wicket in Thilan Samaraweera (7) and Lankan innings was in complete disarray.
They never recovered from the early shocks and Ojha and Jadeja kept the pressure by taking wickets.
Dilshan was batting beautifully from the other end but lost patience and top—edged to Rohit Sharma off Ojha.
Jadeja struck twice by removing Chamara Kapugedara and Angelo Mathews to puncture all Lankan hopes.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka: 170 all out in 46.1 overs (T Dilshan 45, Suraj Randiv 43, P Ojha 3/36).
No comments:
Post a Comment