COLOMBO, 30 September — Torrential monsoon rains deprived India of a likely win as their final match of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament against Sri Lanka was abandoned and will be replayed today from scratch.
After restricting the home team to a modest 244 for five in 50 overs, India were off to a good start when a heavy downpour forced the players into the pavilion and the covers were put on by the ground staff.
The rains let up for a while and the umpires asked the water to be removed from the covers. Under the Duckworth-Lewis system, India’s target was reduced to 158 from 25 overs. While, the mopping up operation was in progress, the rains returned, forcing the abandonment of the game.
Needing to score at 4.9 runs an over, India were 14 without loss when play was halted. Virendra Sehwag 13 and Dinesh Mongia 1 were at the crease. Sehwag had struck three superb boundaries in Gunaratne’s first over when the skies opened.
India made three changes to their side, bringing in Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar and Dinesh Mongia in place of Ashish Nehra, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble. Sri Lanka replaced leg-spinner Upul Chandana with seamer Dilhara Fernando. Having arrived in Colombo less than 12 hours earlier from London, Srinath was not at all impressive in the eight overs he bowled.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Sehwag were mainly responsible in tying down the Lankan batsmen after Sanath Jayasuriya had won the toss and opted to bat. Jayasuriya was the top scorer with 74 while Kumar Sangakkara (54) and Marvan Atapattu (34) made useful contributions.
However, Jayasuriya was unlike his usual effervescent self and was uncharacteristically subdued.
His partner Atapattu was more aggressive of the two. They treated Zaheer with greater respect than Srinath. Agarkar also failed to contain the batsmen.
It was thanks to Atapattu that the Lankan score remained ahead of the five runs per over mark as he outscored his senior partner. The introduction of spin in the form of Harbhajan paid immediate dividends as the off-spinner got rid of the dangerous Atapattu who was held at second attempt by Agarkar. Atapattu hit five fours in his 46-ball innings of 34.
Jayasuriya though comparatively quiet, still punished the loose ball and shared a valuable 90-run association with Sangakkara. Though it was overcast and a breeze was blowing, Jayasuriya was still bothered by the heat. Yet, he reached his half century off 68 balls and with the help of five fours.
Jayasuriya fell trying to accelerate the scoring as he ballooned the ball and Harbhajan managed to run and take a well-judged catch. He turned out to be Lanka’s top scorer with his 74.
Sehwag bowled well and had the mortification of seeing Aravinda dropped off successive balls – first by Kaif and then by Tendulkar. He and Harbhajan bowled a tight line to restrict the Lankans and bring down the run rate to under five.
Harbhajan got an edge from Aravinda for Dravid to pouch the ball. The veteran Lankan walked as he did not wait for the umpire’s verdict.
As he walked back to the pavilion he waved his bat toward all the stands in acknowledgment that this was his last innings at home and the 2003 World Cup in South Africa will be his swan song.
Sangkakkara dropped anchor and kept one end going to reach his half century off 86 balls.
He became Harbhajan’s third victim as he got an edge in trying to put Harbhajan away. Harbhajan was deprived a wicket earlier when Tendulkar, usually possessing a safe pair of hands, had grassed Jayewardena, the second catch floored by him.
The master batsman made amends when he held a stiff return catch to dismiss Jayewardena for 13. Arnold and Vaas added 32 for the sixth wicket and remained unbeaten at the end. Harbhajan’s three wickets cost only 27 runs in 10 overs while Sehwag too bowled economically, giving away 32 runs in his 10 overs. Incidentally, Srinath was the most expensive, giving away 55 runs in his eight overs.
