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Sri Lanka win Asia Cup
 Colombo,
Aug 2: India failed to break a long-standing jinx as Sri Lankan spinners cast a
mesmerising spell on their formidable batting line up to fashion a 25-run
victory and regain the Asia Cup after a gap a seven years here yesterday.
Chasing a modest target of 229, Sachin Tendulkar's allround display went in vain
as the host slow bowlers exploited a turning track to devastating effect to
restrict India to 203 for nine in the floodlit summit showdown at the Premadasa
Stadium.
Tendulkar struck a valiant 74
off 100 balls but none of the other Indian batsmen could hang around for long in
difficult batting conditions to give the hosts their third title in the 20-year
history of the tournament. The jinx of the final continued to haunt the Indians
who had themselves to blame for the debacle as they adopted an overcautious
approach after the loss of early wickets. India have now lost 10 finals in
tournaments featuring more than two teams since they won NatWest Trophy in
England in 2002 and shared the trophy twice in rain-abandoned finals.
 Leg
spinner Upul Chandana (3-33) played a key role in choking the Indians and take
the team to victory which was also built around the efforts of captain Marvan
Atapattu (65), who was declared Man of the Match, and Kumar Sangakkara (53). The
Indians raised hopes of recording their fourth Asia Cup title by containing the
hosts to 228 for nine, relying mainly on part-time bolwers Sachin Tendulkar and
Virender Sehwag. The Indian innings began on a promising note when Sehwag
flicked the first ball from Chaminda Vaas to square leg boundary but there was
little else to cheer.
Captain Sourav Ganguly (4) was
splendidly caught in the slips off Nuwan Zoysa and VVS Laxman (12), hampered by
his recent injury, was not too fluent in footwork before spooning a tame catch
to short covers off Sanath Jayasuriya. Chandana then struck with critical
wickets of Rahul Dravid (16) who cut into the hands of slips and Yuvraj Singh
(8) who missed on a spinning delivery to be out bowled. Mohammad Kaif hit out
straight into the deep and when Tendulkar didn't connect a wild slog against
Thilanga Dilshan, it was curtains for India.
Harbhajan Singh, Virender
Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar bowled 30 of the 50 overs for only 120 runs as
Lankans, despite Marvan Atapattus 65, failed to post a competitive total. The
35,000-strong crowd in the packed stands of Premadasa Stadium were stunned to
silence by the inept display of home batsmen. Two of them were ran out while
some others played irresponsible shots. Tendulkar (2 for 40) and Pathan (2 for
33) shared four wickets between them while Harbhajan (1 for 48) and Sehwag (1
for 32) shared two as India gave an impressive display on the field.
Lankans appeared to have
recovered from early losses of openers through a 116-run stand for the third
wicket in 150 balls between Atapattu and Sangakkara but then lost critical
wickets in the middle overs to lose the momentum. Sangakkara heralded this
collapse when he attempted a dab against the spin of off-spinner Sehwag and lost
his stumps at 147 in the 33rd over. Sangakkara batted for 82 balls and hit six
fours. Tendulkar then struck with his leg-spin in his first over when Mahela
Jayawardene (0) attempted a sweep and top edged a catch to short fine leg
fielder Yuvraj Singh.
 Soon
it became 174 for 5 in the 39th over when Atapattu essayed a cut against Sachin
Tendulkar and Sehwag, fielding at gully threw at the non-strikers end to catch
the Sri Lankan skipper short of his crease. Atapattu batted for 87 balls and hit
eight fours in his 65 runs and generally played a pleasing hand, striking three
fours in Irfan Pathans sixth over. Tendulkar inflicted the sixth blow on the
hosts when Dilshan (22) charged at one of his leg spin and was stumped by yards.
Sri Lanka then became 202 for 7 when Harbhajan claimed his first wicket of the
match, earning a leg before shout against Upul Chandana.
Indias bogeyman Sanath
Jayasuriya was the first one to depart when he was declared leg before wicket to
Irfan Pathan for 15, made from 20 deliveries with three fours. Avishka
Gunawardene, the other opener, was completely out of touch and made only eight
runs in the first eight overs before he drove at a widish delivery from Ashish
Nehra in frustration and Sourav Ganguly caught him easily at mid-off. Both
Pathan and Nehra bowled their first five overs extremely tight and conceded only
37 runs in the first 10 overs to the hosts. The shackles were broken when
Atapattu slammed Pathan for three fours in one over and Sangakkara twice flapped
Nehra over the off-field in the ring to put Lanka back on tracks. (Agencies)
Published: Friday, August 02, 2004
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