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India beat B'desh easily to enter final

Defending champions India eventually made their way to the fi- nal of the Asia Cup cricket tournament beating Bangladesh quite convincingly by nine wickets at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Left-handed opener Saurav Ganguly led the Indian victory charge of scoring 131 runs inside 20 overs - the target they must achieve to qualify for the final - with an elegant knock of 73 not out off 52 balls.

Ganguly took the 'Man-of-the-Match' award after stroking eight fours and two sixes to enable India knock off the required runs off only 15 overs. He scored the fastest fifty of the tournament, reaching it off 39 balls.

With former captain Mohammed Azharuddin who scored 23 off 20 balls, and made the winning hit - a four to square-leg, Ganguly added 78 runs off eight overs for the second wicket to seal In- dia's victory.

India lost skipper Sachin Tendulkar for 28 when he was bowled by Enamul Hoque attempting to force the pace.

With this victory India who took two points from the match finished second in the final league standings, with three points - the same as Pakistan. However, India with a better net run rate - (+1.41) to Pakistan (+0.94) qualify to meet world champi- ons Sri Lanka in Saturday's final at R. Premadasa Stadium.

Against a weak and wayward Bangladesh bowling attack, India found no problems in knocking off the runs to put Pakistan, who have never won the Asia Cup, out of contention.

India put up a splendid all-round performance to enter the fi- nal restricting Bangladesh to 130 for 8 in 43 overs before a pass- ing shower ended the innings with five of the stipulated 48 overs yet to be bowled.

The match was reduced to 48 overs a side after play was de- layed by an hour due to overnight rain leaving certain parts of the ground within the 30-yard circle wet in patches.

Tendulkar won a vital toss for India when it mattered most and had no hesitation in inserting Bangladesh first.

Tight bowling and sharp fielding with the exception of a few overthrows kept Bangladesh's overall run rate well under three runs an over, which suited India ideally.

Only the in-form Athar Ali Khan (33) and Aminul Islam (30) made any significant contributions to the Bangladesh total as the right-arm medium pace of Robin Sing accounted for three wickets for 13 runs off nine tight overs.

Indians cruise into final

The Indian cricketers who spent a few sleepless nights wonder- ing whether they will enter the Pepsi Asia Cup final, would have slept soundly after beating Bangladesh convincingly and booking a berth in the final.

India the defending champions will now front up to Sri Lanka in the final tomorrow in a game that will be a blockbuster.

Overnight and early morning rain nearly put paid to the chances of this game being played. But the wonderful work done by the groundstaff and the importance of having the super sopper finally got the game started a hour late.

Dream come true

Tendulkar had his dream come true when he won the toss. Glee- fully he asked the opponents in and from the first ball to the last put his strategy in motion and every move worked in his favour.

The wicket held no terrors to batsmen on either side. Nor did it help the bowlers. It played true and this allowed an even contest.

The Indian bowlers did not try too hard. They knew they had to only do a restricting job and this they did to the best of their abil- ity. They were well supported by the fielders and the Bangladeshi bats- men were not allowed freedom to play their strokes or get on top of the bowling.

Regular intervals

Once again it was Athar Ali Khan who looked like stalling the Indian bowlers. But once he and Islam went, they lost wickets at reg- ular intervals and when the rains came down with four more overs, to be bowled, the 130 that Bangladesh had scored, India had to get these runs in 20 overs.

That was not a task for the strong and aggressive Indian bat- ting line up and they raced to victory in just 15 overs.

Skipper Tendulkar and Gangulay set the pace with a blistering stand of...

Once the skipper went, the elder statesman of the side, the man who is enjoying a fine tour Mohammed Azhruddin joined Gan- gulay and they provided the fireworks with a batting dis- play that only a sparse crowd was fortunate to see.

Mince meat

The left hand right hand combination of Gangulay and Azharud- din simply made mince meat of the helpless Bangladesh attack. Gangulay struck a richly deserved half century which should give him all the confidence he needs against Sri Lanka. His form up to this game was poor.

But to the audience who were taking in the action here and abroad on TV it would have been a rare treat.

As for Pakistan who have not won a final, it will have to be better luck next.

Congratulations to India who thus entered their fifth final.