COLOMBO, 19 July 2004 — Hosts Sri Lanka clinched a 12-run victory against favorites India yesterday in Dambulla in the first high-profile clash of the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka scored an imposing 282 for four, a record score at Dambulla, courtesy of half centuries from captain Marvan Atapattu (50), Kumar Sangakkara (57) and Mahela Jayawardene (58 not out).
Left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa then seized the initiative for the home side with three early wickets as India slumped to 71 for four in the 15th over, from which they never really recovered. Zoysa struck in the fourth over as Sachin Tendulkar (11) mistimed an off drive and was well-caught by the diving Saman Jayantha at mid off.
Stand-in opener Parthiv Patel then nicked behind off Zoysa for six before Virender Sehwag, who had raced to 37 from 39 balls, was run out by a direct hit from third man by Zoysa.
Zoysa then surprised Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly with a sharp short ball that he miscued to Muttiah Muralitharan at mid on to be dismissed for six and leave India struggling.
Rahul Dravid, who scored 104 against the United Arab Emirates on Friday, brought India back into contention with a 133-run stand in 162 balls for the fifth wicket with Yuvraj Singh (47).
India needed 50 runs from the last five overs before Dravid chopped a Muralitharan delivery on to his stumps having made 82 from 100 balls. Lakshmipathy Balaji and Irfan Pathan pushed the Indians close to victory but were unable to score the 18 runs required off the final over.
Sri Lanka and India had already qualified for the second round of the tournament with the hosts playing Pakistan at Premadasa International Stadium on Wednesday while India face Bangladesh at the Sinhalese Sports Club on the same day.
Earlier, Atapattu, who scored his 50 from 76 balls, and Avishka Gunawardene (49) laid the foundations during the first stage of the innings before Sangakkara and Jayawardene then accelerated with a 116-run stand in 90 balls.
Sangakkara cracked 57 from 54 balls, hitting three fours and one six, while Jayawardene innovated well for his 58 not out from 49 balls, hitting three fours and one six.
Gunawardene and Jayantha weathered a testing spell against the new ball, playing and missing frequently during a 63-run opening stand.
After Jayantha (34) edged a catch to the wicketkeeper off seamer Balaji, Gunawardene added a further 65 in 83 balls with Atapattu before they were both run out, checking Sri Lanka’s progress. But Sangakkara and Jayawardene, coming together with the score on 156 for three in the 34th over, soon built momentum to ensure Sri Lanka passed the previous highest score at Dambulla of 262 for six scored by Australia in February.
Live Coverage of Asia Cup
Available on Pehla
Meanwhile, the Asia Cup cricket action that features India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE, and Hong Kong will be available Live and Exclusive on ARY Digital channel in the Middle East only on Pehla — Premium Asian Entertainment Television.
Vinod D’Mello, executive vice-president, Network Development & Marketing said: “We are delighted to continuously offer exciting coverage of exclusive cricketing events to viewers in the Middle East. As part of our long-term strategy we have included premium sporting and other exclusive events including movies with Premium buy through subscription options.”
During the cricket coverage, ARY Digital will be only available to Pehla Silver and Pehla Gold subscribers. Therefore Pehla basic subscribers will have to upgrade to Pehla Silver or Pehla Gold subscription options.
