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India squeeze into Asia Cup final
- Scorecard
 Colombo,
July 28: India made it to the final of the Asia Cup cricket tournament with a
narrow four-run win against Sri Lanka here last night. Sehwag shone with the
ball, claiming three important wickets, including that of Jayasuriya, to tilt
the balance in his team's favour in the match which was stretched to the wire.
Chasing a competitive target of 272 for victory, the hosts were struggling at
134 for five in the 27th over before the 35-year-old Jayasuriya took control
with characteristic flamboyance to steer his team within sniffing distance of a
victory.
The veteran batsman displayed
his class by not only notching up his 18th one-day century but resurrecting the
Lankan run chase with a flurry of strokes to leave the Indians in a daze. But
the visitors bounced back after his dismissal with a couple of quick wickets
which put immense pressure on the hosts who needed 11 runs in Zaheer Khan's
nail-biting last over. The Baroda speedster conceded five runs in his first
three balls and then bowled Maharoof off his fourth ball to raise hopes of an
Indian victory. And as the last ball went past to the wicketkeeper, the Indians
erupted in joy, celebrating their victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.
India's total appeared bigger
than it was when Sri Lanka lost five wickets but Jayasuriya took charge with a
114-run sixth wicket association with Thilanga Dilshan (39). Jayasuriya split
the field at will, reaching his 100 from just 95 balls with 11 fours and one six
in the 36th over at the score 196 for 5. He signalled his intentions early when
he hit five fours in Zaheer Khan's fourth over to deflate the Indians who had
picked two early wickets.Opener Avishka Gunawardene (7) slashed Zaheer straight
into the hands of Irfan Pathan at third man and first-drop Saman Jayantha edged
Pathan behind the stumps.
 Despite
Jayasuriya's blitzkrieg, Indians were buoyed by regular success at the other
end. Captain Marvan Attapattu (8) flicked Harbhajan Singh to square leg, Kumara
Sangakkara lofted Virender Sehwag (15) to mid-on and Mahela Jayawardene (18)
played on a big turning leg-break from Tendulkar.The century stand between
Jayasuriya and Dilshan came from 99 balls as Sri Lanka reached 235 for five in
43 overs, requiring 37 runs from the last seven overs or 42 balls. Pathan picked
2 for 34 while Zaheer finished with 2 for 63 for India.
Earlier, Ganguly led by
example, sharing a 134-run second wicket stand with Sehwag (81) and then a
run-a-ball 71 with Yuvraj Singh (50) for the fourth wicket. Sehwag was blessed
with two lives, once at six when Mahela Jayawardene at second slip let go a
chance off Lasith Malinga and then on 33 when Avishka Gunawardene at extra cover
dropped an overhead chance against off-spinner Thilanga Dilshan. Ganguly too had
his share of luck when he appeared to have been held at the long on fence off
Upul Chandana but the replays suggested it was picked on half volley.
Sri Lanka, overall, had a
forgettable day in the field and had at least four chances go abegging. Yuvraj
Singh also benefitted from this string of largesse as Thilanga Dilshan dropped
him off his own bowling for 28. Sehwag was initially subdued and his first
authentic stroke, a pull of Nuwan Zoysa, came in only the 11th over. But he
picked up thereafter and made 81 from 92 balls with six fours and two sixes
before a wild sweep off Jayasuriya caused a nick to the wicketkeeper. Ganguly
began with a peach of an offdrive against Malinga but was more intent to provide
the base for the innings, reaching his half century from 84 balls with six
fours. He was finally out in the 46th over when he dragged a lofted stroke off
Malinga to mid-on, having batted for 120 balls for his 79 runs with nine fours.
 Rahul
Dravid (1) suffered his second successive failure when he chased an outswinger
from Fervez Mehroof to be pouched low on his right by wicketkeeper Kumara
Sangakkara. Yuvraj Singh played a brisk innings, scoring his half century from
46 balls with five fours before being caught at long-off boundary off Malinga in
the 48th over. Earlier, India decided to go for a two-spinner, two-medium-pacer
attack bringing in Zaheer Khan and Parthiv Patel in place of Laxmipathy Balaji
and Ashish Nehra. Sri Lanka were without its two main bowlers - Chaminda Vaas,
who is suffering from flu - and Muttiah Muralitharan, who has had a bereavement
in the family. (Agencies)
Published: Monday, July 28, 2004
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