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Sri Lanka in final despite Indian victory

Sri Lanka exposed the frailties of India's bowling when they sailed into the finals of the Aiwa Cup tri-nation one-day tournament qualifying on a better net run rate in the preliminary round match played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

After skipper Sanath Jayasuriya had set the pace with an aggressive knock of 71 off 53 balls, Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene ensured Sri Lanka went through to the final ahead of India when they shared a 74-run partnership for the third wicket that saw them reach the required total of 232 inside 42 overs putting them ahead on the net run rate.

India ran up a massive 296 for 4 off 50 overs with captain Sachin Tendulkar making a welcome return from a stiff back to score his 23rd century in one-day internationals and Sourav Ganguly made a productive 85 of 72 balls. This left Sri Lanka initially needing over 269 off 50 overs to qualify for the final. They began in fine style racing to 22 for no loss in five overs before rain interrupted play for 50 minutes.

When play resumed Sri Lanka's winning target was revised under the Duckworth and Lewis rain rule to 271 for victory off 42 overs and 232 inside the same number of overs to edge India out of the final on net run rate.

Sri Lanka eventually finished on 247 for 9 which gave India victory by 23 runs, but not a place in the final.

Jayasuriya was in a murderous mood when Sri Lanka began their reply smashing boundary at will as he took apart the Indian bowling. He took 27 runs off two overs from Venkatesh Prasad to move to his fifty of 34 balls with one six and seven fours. He continued to plunder runs at will, but at 71 he went for another of his massive drives and only succeeded in edging a catch to wicket-keeper Rahul Dravid. The left-hander hit one six and eight fours and played the dominant role in the partnership of 105 with Atapattu.

Romesh Kaluwitharana promoted in the order did not last long falling to Robin Singh for seven, but Jayewardene joining forces with Atapattu put together a stand of 74 for the third wicket which brought Sri Lanka close to the qualifying target. Atapattu was caught in the deep at 55 when he attempted to loft leg-spinner Anil Kumble. He hit three fours and faced 86 balls.

Jayewardene however continued the fight and stayed long enough to ensure Sri Lanka got past the required total of 232 before being dismissed. Playing shots and picking the gaps in style, Jayewardene completed a fine half-century and was finally out for 62 scored off 63 balls (1 six, 5 fours) when he lofted Prasad to long off.

Sri Lanka lost three wickets for no runs in the 41st over including that of Jayewardene's, but by then the interest in the game had turned academic.

India put into bat by Sri Lanka ran up an impressive 296 for 4 wickets with Tendulkar contributing 120 and left-hander Sourav Ganguly a superbly struck 85 off 72 balls.

Tendulkar who missed out on Saturday's game against Australia because of a stiff back, returned with a bang to score his century off 140 balls with two sixes and 11 fours.

Tendulkar and Ganguly tore into the Sri Lankan bowling sharing a third wicket stand of 127 off 22 overs after Sri Lanka had captured two wickets for 112 in 23 overs.

The pair batted aggressively after a slow beginning. Tendulkar was lucky to survive a confident leg before decision against him by Chaminda Vaas in the third over when he made only two, but otherwise, batted with his usual composure to steer his side to a total which gave them an outside chance to enter the final.

Ganguly came in at the fall of Rahul Dravid's wicket for 13 in the 23rd over, and punished the Sri Lanka bowling to all parts of the ground after Tendulkar's departure at 239 for 3 in the 45th over. The left-hander punched three sixes and seven fours in scoring 85 off 72 balls before being brilliantly caught on the long-off boundary Russel Arnold in the 49th over.

Largely due to his wonderful batsmanship India rattled off 105 runs off the last ten overs.

India got off to a good start after being put into bat, with Tendulkar and Sadagopan Ramesh putting together a run-a-ball stand of 75.

After Ramesh had been dismissed for 32 edging a catch to wicket-keeper Kaluwitharana off Perera, Dravid and Tendulkar stayed together briefly to add 37. Sri Lanka at this stage gained some control bringing the Indian run rate to below five an over. However with the advent of Ganguly, India once more regained the initiative. Ganguly was severe on fast bowler Chaminda Vaas striking him for 19 runs in his seventh over which included a six and three fours. Vaas left a sorry spectacle going for 59 runs off seven overs.

Adjudicator Anura Tennekoon surprised one and all by naming Robin Singh as Man-of-the-match when there were several other brilliant individual performances.