COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, 10 August 2005 — Mehela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya’s aggressive half-centuries spurred Sri Lanka to an 18-run victory against India in the final of a limited-overs tri-series yesterday.
Opener Jayasuriya completed 10,000 runs in one-dayers during his attacking 67 and Jayawardene smashed the top score of 83 as Sri Lanka posted an imposing 281 for nine from 50 overs. In reply, India could only muster 263 for nine in 50 overs despite skipper Rahul Dravid’s composed 69 leading a strong chase that fell apart as it lost five wickets in the space of 25 runs.
Left-hander Jayasuriya becoming the first Sri Lankan batsman and only the fourth player in the world to join the exclusive club when he reached 10.
India’s Sachin Tendulkar (13,642 runs in 348 matches) and Sourav Ganguly (10,020 runs, 273 matches) and Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq (10,933 runs, 344 matches) are the other batsmen to have crossed the milestone.
Jayawardene and Russel Arnold (64) then put together a brisk fifth-wicket partnership of 125 from 117 deliveries to put Sri Lanka in a formidable position despite a six-wicket burst from left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra (6 for 59). Playing in his 337th one-dayer, Jayasuriya smashed nine boundaries from 77 balls — three in one over from spin bowler Anil Kumble — to lead Sri Lanka’s charge with his 58th half-century, but saw skipper Marvan Atapattu (11), Dilhara Lokuhettige (9) and Kumar Sangakkara (8) perish cheaply.
Sri Lanka appeared in trouble when Nehra clean bowled Atapattu, trapped Lokuhettige lbw and had Sangakkara caught by Virender Sehwag at short covers, reducing it to 67 for three.
Jayasuriya punished the Indians for giving him a life on 19, when wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni spilled an edged shot off paceman Irfan Pathan.
Dhoni also floored Jayawardene’s catch off Pathan when the batsman was on 20. Jayawardene made the Indians pay dearly for the miss, hitting five boundaries from 97 balls during his 23rd half-century.
Jayasuriya and Jayawardene added 55 runs for the third wicket before Jayasuriya ran himself out going for the second run. He was beaten to the crease by Harbhajan Singh’s throw from the fine-leg boundary.
Returning to the attack, Nehra had Jayawardene caught by Mohammad Kaif at short fine-leg and Arnold was run out by Sourav Ganguly’s direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Arnold hit four boundaries off 63 balls.
Nehra then dislodged the stumps of Tillekeratne Dilshan (7) and had Upul Chandana (2) caught by Harbhajan Singh in the covers to mark the second time he’d claimed five or more wickets in 65 one-dayers.
India’s chase got off to a flying start, amassing 61 runs in the first six overs as opener Sehwag slammed one six and nine boundaries in his 22-ball 48.
Sehwag blasted fast bowler Lokuhettige for 26 runs in his first over, smashing the six balls deliveries for five boundaries and a six.
The 62-run opening stand ended as Sehwag edged a Vaas delivery on to his stumps. Ganguly then put on 42 runs for the second wicket with skipper Dravid, but Ganguly fell lbw to Dilshan. Dravid and Yuvraj Singh (42) put together a third-wicket partnership of 84 from 116 deliveries and India was cruising at 186 for two, but its title hopes perished as Yuvraj Singh top-edged a sweep shot against Upul Chandana to be caught by Lokuhettige on the fence.
Dravid ran himself out going for an impossible single, sparking a collapse that saw Dhoni (7), Pathan (1), Harbhajan Singh (0) and Zaheer Khan (5) fell in quick succession.
Blow for Australia as Lee Kept in Hospital
In Manchester, England, Australian strike bowler Brett Lee’s hopes of playing in the third Ashes Test appeared to be receding yesterday after it was announced he would spend a second night in hospital with a knee infection.
Captain Ricky Ponting was already resigned to playing the third Test at Old Trafford without fast bowler Glenn McGrath so the news about Lee, who did not travel to Manchester with the squad on Tuesday, will not have improved his day. “The doctors are happy with his progress so far, the knee appears to have improved, however the doctors still want him to stay in hospital overnight,” Australia physiotherapist Errol Alcott said.
“We are hopeful he will be discharged some time tomorrow morning before travelling to Manchester where his fitness will be assessed.” The world champions, seeking a ninth successive Ashes series win, were pegged back to 1-1 at Edgbaston on Sunday. McGrath missed the defeat, damaging ankle ligaments just before the start by stepping on a stray cricket ball.
Lee’s problem stems back to the first Test at Lord’s, when he grazed his left knee while fielding a ball. The knee has become inflamed again and he was on an intravenous drip and receiving antibiotics on Monday night in a Birmingham hospital.
Alcott would not make a prediction over McGrath but the fast bowler was still limping on Monday night, albeit without the surgical boot that was used to protect his ankle.
Alcott confirmed that McGrath had suffered “extensive ligament damage”.
Australia were already considering remodelling their attack for Old Trafford. The wicket, while hard, is expected to take spin and Stuart MacGill, who has had success against England in the past, is hoping to team up with fellow leg spinner Shane Warne. The loss of Lee, however, would be another significant blow. McGrath took nine wickets and was the man of the match at Lord’s, while Lee took five in the second Test and scored a courageous 43 not out in the fourth innings to take his side to within two runs of England.
