Sri Lanka overwhelm India in Coca-Cola Cup final
Charlie Austin - 5 August 2001
Sri Lanka reserved their best performance of the Coca-Cola Cup until
the end and cheered on by an animated capacity crowd, they crushed
India by 121 runs in the final played tonight at the Premadasa Stadium
in Colombo.
India had looked the form side after three consecutive victories, but
they once again failed at the final hurdle. Amazingly, for such a
talented side, this is the eighth ODI final they have lost in
succession.
Sri Lanka though extended an impressive run in One-Day cricket. They
have now won their last four triangular tournaments and have not lost
a One-Day tournament or series at home for over three years.
Dav Whatmore was delighted: "The Sri Lanka team saved the best till
last in this tournament. Recently, in the biggest games, we have
played our best cricket." Sourav Ganguly didn't hide his
disappointment: "We didn't play well in any department of the game and
we were never really in the game when we batted. We have been giving
away too many runs in the final."
He identified Zaheer Khan's dropped catch off Jayasuriya as a key
moment: "Jayasuriya is a very good player and he seems to win crucial
games against us. I think the catch we dropped was very crucial."
In fact, Sri Lanka never looked like losing this match after captain
Sanath Jayasuriya won an important toss in the afternoon - of the
seven matches played at this ground in this tournament, only one was
won by the side chasing - and elected to bat first.
So far, in this tournament, the Sri Lankan batting had failed to
perform cohesively, with fine individual performances papering over
mini collapses, especially in the middle order. This afternoon,
however, they fired on all cylinders, with five out of the top six
batsmen making significant scores.
With half centuries from Jayasuriya, who was cruelly dismissed for 99,
Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold, plus useful cameos from Romesh
Kaluwitharana and Avishka Gunawardene, they scored 295 for five, the
highest score in the tournament by far and the sixth largest ever at
this ground.
To win, India had to rewrite the history books - the highest ever
score successfully chased at Premadasa was the 243 target overhauled
by India back in 1998. They also had to have a start like they had
done at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Thursday when Virender Shewag had
flogged a 69-ball century.
Shewag (4) though never got a chance to get going, as he was run out
by a direct hit by Arnold, backing up too far in just the second over
of the innings. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly (1) was dismissed next
ball, as he cut straight to backward point - for not the first time in
the series. India were five for two with their backs firmly against
the wall.
Rahul Dravid (21), the highest scoring Indian batsmen in the series
with 259 runs, and VVS Laxman (37) kept Indian hopes alive for a
little while as they added 56 runs off 70 balls before Dravid played
on to his stumps in the 14th over and Laxman clipped a catch to mid
wicket off Kumar Dharmasena in the 20th.
They were never likely to recover, especially with Muttiah
Muralitharan still having a full quota of overs to bowl, and didn't,
as wickets fell steadily.
Arnold squeezed a delivery under the bat of Yuvraj Singh (6); Hemang
Badani (22) was run out after a mix up with Ritender Sodhi (6); Sodhi
was bowled as he tried to loft Muralitharan into the top tier; and
Harbhajan Singh (15) was caught bat pad.
Sameer Dighe (23) batted stubbornly with Zaheer Khan (16), adding 33
runs in nine overs, but by then it was just a face saving exercise and
they were eventually bowled out for 174.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan batsmen had appeared to be inspired by a
highly charged partisan atmosphere. Jayasuriya and Gunwardene (31) set
the tone with 71 runs off 65 balls.
Ganguly was forced to turn to Harbhajan Singh in just the ninth over
as Zaheer Khan's first four overs cost 30 runs. The off spinner
immediately slowed down the scoring and trapped Gunawardene leg before
wicket - so plumb that he actually walked.
When Marvan Atapattu (5) drove a short delivery from Shewag lamely to
Ganguly at short cover the Indian players may have sensed another Sri
Lankan middle order slump.
Jayawardene (57) though gave his captain, who needed a runner after
suffering from leg cramps, good support and the pair added 104 in 20
overs.
With the crowd all poised to celebrate another exciting Jayasuriya
century the left-hander pushed a simple catch straight to Ganguly at
mid-wicket. Jayawardene was dismissed soon after as he optimistically
tried to reverse sweep Harbhajan Singh, by far the best Indian bowler.
The Sri Lankan innings appeared to be faltering. After 40 overs they
had scored 219 and with Russel Arnold (52) and Romesh Kaluwitharana
(31*) initially struggling to time the ball, only a reasonable target
appeared likely.
But Arnold and Kaluwitharana suddenly went into overdrive and,
whipping the crowd into a frenzy, they smashed 60 runs from the final
six overs to post a total that was never likely to be eclipsed with
Sachin Tendulkar not playing.
© CricInfo
Teams
|
India,
Sri Lanka.
|
Players/Umpires
|
Sanath Jayasuriya,
Mahela Jayawardene,
Virender Shewag,
Russel Arnold,
Romesh Kaluwitharana,
Sourav Ganguly,
Muttiah Muralitharan,
VVS Laxman,
Kumar Dharmasena,
Rahul Dravid,
Yuvraj Singh,
Harbhajan Singh,
Reetinder Sodhi,
Hemang Badani,
Sameer Dighe,
Zaheer Khan,
Marvan Atapattu,
Sachin Tendulkar.
|
Tournaments
|
Coca-Cola Cup (Sri Lanka) |
Scorecard
|
Final: India v Sri Lanka, 5 Aug 2001 |
Grounds
|
R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo
|