India vs Sri Lanka, Perth ODI: cricket live scores, commentary
Roar Guru By Suneer Chowdhary, 8 Feb 2012 Suneer Chowdhary is a Roar Guru
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India v Sri Lanka WACA GROUND, FEBRUARY 8, 2012 Match 2 - IND v SLA |
|---|
| Sri Lanka 1st Inn | 8/233 |
| India 1st Inn | 6/234 |
| Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat | |
| India won by 4 wickets | |
| India | RR:5.01 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsmen | Runs | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| RA Jadeja | 24 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| R Ashwin* | 30 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 78.95 |
| Sri Lanka | |||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Econ |
| AD Mathews* | 9.4 | 1 | 31 | 2 | 3.21 |
| KTGD Prasad | 10.0 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 4.70 |
| Last Wicket: | Kohli, 77 (RO Malinga) |
| Current Partnership: | 53 runs, 64 balls, RR:82.81 |
Sri Lanka begin their campaign in the Commonwealth Bank series with a game against India at the WACA in Perth and we’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action starting at 11.20 am local (15:20 ADST) on Wednesday.
Both teams have struggled in recent times across the formats but India can at least boast of a good home record.
Barring a rain-affected low key tri-series against Scotland and Ireland last year, Sri Lanka has lost everything in the 50-over format since going down to India in the World Cup final.
To add to the Sri Lankan woes, their record in Australia is anything but rosy. They have won only 20 of their 83 games played in this country and that makes the task further onerous for a new captain-coach-combination.
Mahela Jayawardene may have led the side admirably in the past but this will be harder – the team is probably at its lowest ebb in recent times, the batting hasn’t clicked as a unit amidst concerns that the players weren’t paid on time and a new coach in Graham Ford has taken over the reins from Geoff Marsh.
India, on the other hand, went down to England in England but other than that they have held up admirably in ODI cricket. Since winning the World Cup they beat West Indies in their own den and then at home that sandwiched their 5-0 whitewash of England at home.
This aside, the team could be oozing a bit of negativity – they have lost to Australia in all three formats and for a team expected to topple the Australian side, they have been abysmal.
MS Dhoni’s captaincy came in for much criticism throughout the Test series and in terms of selection, nothing seems to have changed.
Picking a plethora of spinners for a game expected to be affected by rain allowed Australia to get away to a mountainous score in the previous game and for that, the captain and the backroom staff need to take the blame.
Indian fans will hope for a change in the 11. Getting in an extra pace bowler will be obvious choice but with the bizarre selections of recent times, not too many will raise an eyebrow if the captain persists with three spinners.
The WACA has seen some excellent crowds during the recently concluded Big Bash League T20 but whether the fans will walk through the turnstiles for an India-Sri Lanka match will be a bit of a question-mark. That aside, expect a good game of cricket, with India going in with their noses slightly in front.
We will bring you the coverage throughout this second CB series ODI from WACA in Perth and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
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11:25pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 11:25pm | Report comment
R Ashwin gets the man of the match award, for his 3/32 in his 10 overs and the unbeaten 30.
India did a good job with the ball and in the field earlier but question-marks still remain about their batting.
All in all, they will be happy with the result that gets them on the board. Sri Lanka now play Australia at the WACA in Perth on Friday, in a game that begins at 12.20 pm local time.
I will be there with the live coverage of that game on Friday.
11:21pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 11:21pm | Report comment
It was never going to be a challenging target, 234, but India made heavy weather of it by playing some rash strokes. They dug a hole but fortunately for them, Jadeja and Ashwin kept their wits about them and escaped with the win.
A lot was probably expected out of Malinga but he failed to get those toe-crushers going.
Sri Lanka made a tactical blunder in picking up five pace bowlers for the game. For all of India’s comfort against spin bowling, a quality bowler like Rangana Herath could have been the difference.
11:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 11:16pm | Report comment
Dropped!
And that is the end of the match. Sri Lanka could have tried to get a toehold there had one of the two fielders caught that top-edge, but both looked at each other and in the end, the ball fell within a couple of yards from them.
India have completed the win but not before having struggled and giving their supporters a scare.
11:14pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 11:14pm | Report comment
Four!
Ashwin is now looking to finish this off rather quickly. Another short ball and Ashwin forehand pulls it over the mid-on fielder to the fence.
One needed now.
11:11pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 11:11pm | Report comment
Four!
Only a single had come off that over till that last ball which Ashwin pulled away over mid-wicket for four.
India need six to win from four overs with four wickets standing.
India 6/228 in 46 overs.
11:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 11:07pm | Report comment
Four!
And India inch closer to their win. It was pitched up but not quite yorker length and Ashwin leaned into the drive.
The ball goes speeding away to the fence and the partnership is now 42 runs old.
11 needed from five overs.
11:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 11:03pm | Report comment
Lasith Malinga does not get to bowl the 44th over either and Jadeja and Ashwin eke out four runs off that over from Prasad.
Prasad has done a decent job and has the pace the ruffle the batsmen but at this Malinga is needed.
Tonight, however, it is surprising to see that Malinga hasn’t bowled too many of those yorkers.
So far anyway!
10:57pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:57pm | Report comment
Four!
Cut and he got a bit of a under-edge but it goes through to the fence for four.
Jadeja is playing a vital hand here, moves on to 18.
Six runs from that over and India need 21 from seven.
10:55pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:55pm | Report comment
Three singles taken easily there by the pair which reduces the target to 27 from eight overs. As has been the case, the required rate is not of concern but the wickets will still be an issue.
Especially against a bowler who has taken three ODI hat-tricks so far.
It is Dilshan to bowl though, now.
10:50pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:50pm | Report comment
Eight runs from that over from Perera, mostly harmless stuff from him so far.
Malinga, who had bowled eight overs, has now given way to Matthews.
6/204 with 30 needed from 54.
10:48pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:48pm | Report comment
Good batting from Jadeja there. Couple of short ones aimed at his throat but he comfortably rides it down to the third-man.
Jadeja gets a couple of twos there and gets India to 200. Dhoni and Raina will probably be watching on ruefully.
33 from 57 needed.
10:46pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:46pm | Report comment
I may be putting the mockers on but so far it has been some sensible batting by India’s number seven and eight.
38 needed from 10 overs and the pair has already added 15.
10:42pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:42pm | Report comment
Three runs from the Kulasekara over, 39th of the innings.
42 needed from 11 with Malinga to bowl his 8th over of the innings.
10:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:37pm | Report comment
Malinga has an attacking field, partly for the obvious reason to eke out the rest of the batsmen and partly because it is the Batting Powerplay in progress, where the side has to have six fielders within the circle.
45 to win from 12 overs. Four wickets standing.
10:35pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:35pm | Report comment
Good running between the wickets by Jadeja pushes Ashwin to get three. On his own, Ashwin would probably have been content with one and a half.
That drive through the covers was in air and could have easily gone to hand.
47 needed.
10:34pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:34pm | Report comment
India has moved on to 6/184 which means they need 50 from 76.
But only four wickets standing…
10:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:31pm | Report comment
Kohli was run-out in a similar manner at the Adelaide Oval as well, in an attempt to save Ishant Sharma from playing the last over of the day. A chink teams will want to exploit probably…
Jadeja and Ashwin at the crease.
10:28pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:28pm | Report comment
OUT!
What are the Indians doing here, hara-kiri! Kohli has run himself out for the second time on tour.
A beautiful innings of 77 has been ended by a run-out and why was he doing all the running with a cramping leg, we will never know.
He was so badly struggling with that leg that he couldn’t walk back to the pavillion on his own. He had to be carried off. Cannot be a nice feeling that.
10:27pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:27pm | Report comment
SIX!
Whoa that is out of nowhere! Smashes it over the bowler for the first six of the game…
10:24pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:24pm | Report comment
The Batting Powerplay being taken with India needed 59 runs from 15 overs.
That boundary in the previous over would have relieved some of the jangling nerves but Sri Lanka are a wicket away from the tail, which has failed to stand up to the cause on the tour.
10:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:22pm | Report comment
Four!
From a bowler who has bowled 7.2 overs for 21, picked up two wickets and brought Sri Lanka in the game, that was a poor delivery. Down the leg-side and it is flicked away by Kohli to the fence.
It was leg-byes but four vital runs to the team total.
5/174 in 34.4
Jadeja is the new man.
10:18pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:18pm | Report comment
The joke going around is that it was Dhoni’s way of showing Raina how frustrating it is to see your teammate get out to a reckless stroke when the requirement is that of around four runs per over.
10:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:16pm | Report comment
OUT!
Unbelievable batting from a normally sensible batsman.
Dhoni went for the pull so early in his innings and the captain can only top-edge it to the mid-on fielder.
He had earlier tried to slash but missed and then edged to the fence for a four. End of a brief but fidgety innings.
Sri Lanka have nosed ahead now…67 needed with five wickets remaining.
10:14pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:14pm | Report comment
Four!
Kohli, who is cramping now gets a short ball from Dhammika Prasad and smashes it through the mid-wicket region. Moves on to to 67 and India are 68 short of the target.
10:13pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:13pm | Report comment
Four!
Edged through the slips and it goes to the fence.
It is a difficult call for the skipper on where to keep that third-man. There have been a few cuts which have gone square while the other edges have gone really fine to the fence.
Dhoni off the mark…
10:10pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:10pm | Report comment
Angelo Mathews was the bowler, who gets his second wicket.
He’s given away 15 in his 6.3 overs.
10:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:08pm | Report comment
OUT!
Short ball, Raina went for the pull but did not get it in the middle of the bat. Went high in the air and Senanayke takes an easy catch at deep square-leg.
There was no venom in the delivery and Raina’s inabilities with the bouncer has led to his downfall.
Sri Lanka are just about staying in the game…
4/157 in 32.1
10:06pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:06pm | Report comment
And a short one to Kohli is dealt with properly – unleashes the pull shot and gets two.
It should have been three but Kohli pulled up with. what looks to be cramp. Remember, no substitute runners allowed.
3/157 in 32 overs.
10:05pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:05pm | Report comment
Another one and it loops up in the air…
…but no-one inside the circle at the leg-gully or thereabouts.
Raina lucky to get away from strike.
3/155 in 31.5
10:04pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:04pm | Report comment
Four!
Well bowled by Malinga, or at least well attempted. Short and quick on the ribs of Raina, but the batsman places it to the fine-leg fence.
It went rather fine…
10:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:01pm | Report comment
And just as were talking of a breakthrough, it is Lasith Malinga being brought back.
Those toe-crushers are earnestly awaited Sir!
9:59pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:59pm | Report comment
Dilshan concedes five runs in his fourth over. Now gives away 21 in four, which means that India is 86 away from a well-deserved win and they have 19 overs to get there in.
With Kohli on 59 and Raina having got a start and batting on 18, Sri Lanka could well be playing catch-up here if they don’t get a couple in a hurry.
9:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:56pm | Report comment
Three singles off the Mathews over.
Throughout the innings, except during the time when Tendulkar looked a tad vulnerable, Sri Lanka hasn’t looked penetrative enough with the ball. Probably we are too used to the Australian bowler running through the batsmen, but Sri Lanka needed – and still need – to get some wickets quickly to get back into the game.
88 needed off 116.
9:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:52pm | Report comment
Angelo Mathews, who had an excellent spell of five overs to start off with, has now been brought on. He has the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar to his name and has conceded 11 from his five.
India 3/140 in 29.
9:48pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:48pm | Report comment
Spinner Dilshan been re-introduced. They are clearly missing a frontline spinner here, just for the variety if not for incision.
9:55pm
Viewers Verdict said | 9:55pm | Report comment
Who is the most exciting player in the world
Warner
Gale
Sachin
Clarke
Ponting
name others?
10:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:33pm | Report comment
My vote will go for Chris Gayle. When in form, Sehwag can also be added to that list.
9:47pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:47pm | Report comment
Four!
Gracefully walks into the shot and gets the four through covers does Raina! Again, there were chances that the bowler could have slipped in a bouncer but Raina was awake to the one on length and pushed it through the covers.
3/135 in 28 overs.
9:43pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:43pm | Report comment
Four!
Shot, driven through the covers for four.The Sri Lankan were trying to play on his psyche by pushing the square-leg back to the fence knowing his penchant to fall to the short one.
The bowler pitched it up but the undeterred Raina drove it through the covers.
3/127 in 27.
9:39pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:39pm | Report comment
Suresh Raina has now joined Kohli. India is 111 runs behind and have 143 balls to get to the target.
Kulasekera is continuing despite going for a couple of boundaries previously.
9:38pm
yewonk said | 9:38pm | Report comment
cricket on hd is awesome
9:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:36pm | Report comment
OUT!
And now an excellent catch from Dilshan at point gets rid of Rohit Sharma! 10 for him and India lose their third.
It was short, wide and the cut shot was on. But it wasn’t kept to the ground and India are 3/122 in 25.5.
9:34pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:34pm | Report comment
Four!
Whatashot! Whataplaya! That was short and off the back-foot, he punched it to the right of mid-on.
For a moment it looked that he would get a single, then the ball gathered momentum and it sped away to the fence. Whoa!
50 to the young man.
2/122 in 25.4
9:32pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:32pm | Report comment
Four!
Mathews had bowled five overs for 11 and is replaced by Kulasekera.
And to go with that, the field is up – Kohli takes on the challenge and smacks it over the infield to get him a four.
A bit of momentum for India gets the required run-rate down to where it was at the start of the innings.
2/115 in 25 overs.
9:27pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:27pm | Report comment
Four!
Suddenly a couple of boundaries! Rohit Sharma this time, gets an edge through the slips and it goes to the third-man for a four.
The third-man was square and the ball went a lot finer.
2/108 in 24.
9:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:26pm | Report comment
Four!
Finally, some respite for the Indian team. Kohli pulls and does a better job of it than Rohit Sharma.
Keeps the ball down by rolling his wrist and moves India to 2/104.
9:25pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:25pm | Report comment
2/99 in 23 overs and it looks like the Indian innings is following a similar pattern to the Lankan side.
They are not getting too many runs in the middle overs and the only difference is that while India squeezed the runs through their spinners while Sri Lanka is doing that with their medium pace bowlers.
They have scored 10 runs in the last five overs.
9:19pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:19pm | Report comment
Top-edge and it lands safely.
Rohit Sharma has been dismissed this way in the past and he was lucky to not have any fielder around inside the circle at fine-leg.
Short ball and Sharma went for the pull, but only managed to edge it high in the air.
2/97 in 22 overs.
9:15pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:15pm | Report comment
Mathews has got into a good rhythm and the Indian batsmen will do well to get some singles off him.
Just one run off this one, to go with a maiden over last time.
Four overs for nine for him and a wicket.
2/93 in 21.
9:10pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:10pm | Report comment
Rohit Sharma, who comes in at number four, gets off the mark with a couple of runs, nurdled away to the leg-side.
2/92 in 20 overs.
9:09pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:09pm | Report comment
The runs have dried up in this Bowling Powerplay, much like they had in the Sri Lankan innings. Third over in progress and only three runs off it so far.
9:04pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:04pm | Report comment
OUT!
Gone, bowled! Tendulkar is bowled for 48, two short of a half-century, 52 short of ‘that’ landmark and more importantly, short of guiding India to safety in this game.
Throughout the innings, Tendulkar did not look himself – in patches he looked good while during some other times, there were some strange strokes played. He wasn’t looking too good against Mathews either.
2/89 in 18.5 overs.
9:35pm
Free Rider said | 9:35pm | Report comment
Sachin Tendulkhar can only play good at home why is there all this talk about “this hundreth hundreth’ when its never going to happen until he plays a home game?
9:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:03pm | Report comment
Big, big shout against Tendulkar, but the umpire gives it not-out.
Mathews got it to nip into the batsman and Tendulkar missed it completely. Hits pad but replays show it would have gone over.
9:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:01pm | Report comment
Couple of runs only from that Malinga over. Mathews to bowl the second Bowling Powerplay over.
1/89 in 18 overs. They need a further 145 for the win.
8:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:56pm | Report comment
Good move now, Malinga has been brought back for the Bowling Powerplay. Sri Lanka delayed it by a couple of overs but the amount of ease with which the Indian batsmen are playing, it was going to be a matter of time before Malinga came on.
His first three overs cost him 20 but got him the solitary wicket to fall so far.
8:55pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:55pm | Report comment
Six singles from Dilshan’s second over takes India to 1/87 in 17.
Required rate is a tad below 4.5 for now.
8:54pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:54pm | Report comment
A break for drinks, followed by T Dilshan continuing with the bowling. India have moved on to a run-rate of five runs per over, ticking along with utmost ease.
Cannot help but feel for the umpteenth time today – five medium-pacers is one too many.
8:48pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:48pm | Report comment
Four!
Tendulkar has been trying to play his shots but in this over, he has missed a couple of them. Not this one – Tendulkar goes one which was wide and gets it through the slips.
India have crept up to five runs per over now with a score of 1/81 in 16 overs.
8:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:45pm | Report comment
Five runs from Dilshan’s opening over. India’s doing this easily for now, and unless the Sri Lankans can get a wicket…
1/73 in 15.
8:42pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:42pm | Report comment
Dilshan into the attack now. He has grown as a bowler over the years.
8:41pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:41pm | Report comment
Oooh, flicked again and gets another couple.
That was a Tendulkar-special from Kohli – the follow-through of the flick seeing him with his bat in a vertical position but upside-down.
1/68 in 14 overs. Which is exactly what Sri Lanka had got after 14 as well.
8:38pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:38pm | Report comment
Four!
Leg-side, flicked and four to fine-leg for Kohli. Bad start by Perera.
8:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:37pm | Report comment
Thisara Perera becomes the fifth bowler to be called upon. Don’t remember the last time Sri Lanka bowled five bowlers in an ODI before bowling a spinner…
8:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:36pm | Report comment
A couple of runs from that Angelo Mathews over. Tendulkar showing signs of getting a bit frustrated there. In the last over, it was an upper cut, this time, he tries to pull the bowler but gets nowhere.
1/62 in 13 overs.
8:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:33pm | Report comment
Good over for India that and they eke out seven runs from it. India move on to 1/60 in 12.
Tendulkar on 33, Kohli on 15.
Sri Lanka have kept attacking fields despite the end of the Powerplay overs.
8:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:31pm | Report comment
Four!
Bread-butter shot for Kohli. Down the leg-side and Kohli flicks it away to the square-leg for four.
1/59 in 11.4
8:30pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:30pm | Report comment
Good news for Sri Lanka, Prasad is back on to the field. And he sends down a quick, 141 kmph fast delivery.
Tendulkar beaten, Prasad glares, scorer puts in a dot on his card.
8:28pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:28pm | Report comment
Four!
Umm, it was a strange shot from Tendulkar. Tried to almost upper cut a good length ball and under-edged it to the fine-leg.
India bring up their 50 in the 11th over.
8:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:26pm | Report comment
Prasad goes off the field to receive some treatment.
It is Angelo Mathews who replaces Nuwan Kulasekera now. Plenty of options for Sri Lanka as far as the pace bowling is concerned.
But only one spinner, part-timer T Dilshan.
8:25pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:25pm | Report comment
Dhammika Prasad is grimacing with some pain, probably a result of a fielding effort off a hot hit back.
He concedes only four off the 10th over of the inning and India are 1/47 in 10. This is exactly the run-rate needed by India for the rest of the 40 overs to win the game.
8:20pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:20pm | Report comment
Four!
Good shot but a poor dive in the end by former captain Dilshan.
That was a good over with only three off the first five balls but Kohli punched it well through the covers. Dilshan chased well but dived a bit prematurely and made a hash of it at the fence.
1/43 in 9.
8:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:16pm | Report comment
Very good over from Prasad. He made Tendulkar hurry on a couple of occasions and the great batsman got a single only off the fifth ball of the over.
1/36 in 8 overs.
The start is not too dissimilar from Sri Lanka’s beginning in this game.
8:12pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:12pm | Report comment
A solid punch from Tendulkar, this time towards mid-on but well fielded. A single results.
1/35 in 7.
8:10pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:10pm | Report comment
Four!
Shot, cut again and that goes through point and to the right of the third-man for four.
India move on to 1/34 in 6.3
8:09pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:09pm | Report comment
Kulasekera comes in from the other end now, replacing Malinga. His three overs had cost him 20 despite Sehwag’s wicket.
8:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:08pm | Report comment
Only two runs from that Prasad over including a delivery that snuck through the Kohli defence and smashed him in areas he cannot rub too much. Not with those handful of fans around.
1/30 in 6 overs.
8:14pm
Nathan of Perth said | 8:14pm | Report comment
Any sort of a crowd today?
8:17pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:17pm | Report comment
There are Indian and Sri Lankan supporters who have joined the vast swathes of emptiness in the stands.
It is said to have improved after the lunch break.
8:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:07pm | Report comment
Dhammika Prasad is into the attck now. He is fairly quick but at the same time can lose his line as well.
An early change after Kulasekera had bowled his two overs for eight runs.
8:05pm
Johnno said | 8:05pm | Report comment
Sunneer can you make an adress to India , on behalf of Yuvraj Singh.
8:05pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:05pm | Report comment
Four!
Cut away by Tendulkar into the vast empty areas and gets it to the fence.
1/28 in 5.
7:59pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:59pm | Report comment
Four!
Punched on the up yet again and it goes through mid-off for four. Tendulkar gets his first boundary and moves on to 9.
There is something about Tendulkar that tells me that he is watchful, almost bordering on nervous energy.
7:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:56pm | Report comment
Just one run from the Kulasekera over. He is bowling that teasing line outside the off stump.
Kohli is yet to take the bait.
1/19 in 4.
7:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:52pm | Report comment
Four!
Flicked away by the new-comer Virat Kohli. More power than what Tendulkar got in his stroke earlier and it goes all the way.
1/18 in 2.5
7:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:51pm | Report comment
Credit to the field set there – there was always that temptation to hit over the 30-yard circle through the pint region.
7:50pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:50pm | Report comment
OUT!
Sehwag’s gone to Malinga and it was the top-edge that is his undoing.
Sehwag tried to get it over the in-field but the ball bounced more than he expected. Top-edge to the third-man, who rank to his right to grab a good one.
1/14 in 2.3 and India in early trouble.
7:51pm
Nathan of Perth said | 7:51pm | Report comment
Oh, Sehwag………..
7:48pm
Johnno said | 7:48pm | Report comment
Indians must be very stressed right now, coming too term with the health of one of there big heroes world cup star Yuvraj SIngh. It must be difficult for India to focus on politics, work and life right now. Even for poor Indians, they must be thinking about Yuvraj Singh 24 hours a day 7 days a week right now.
7:48pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:48pm | Report comment
Four!
Cut and four! There were more players in line with the batsman and behind him and once he got that in front of the wicket, there wasn’t anyone to stop that.
Malinga had pitched that a tad short and Sehwag went through with the shot.
7:46pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:46pm | Report comment
Tendulkar gets another couple, punched on the up through the covers.
India 0/10 in 2.
7:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:45pm | Report comment
Four!
Driven over the covers by Sehwag and that’s going only one place – towards the fence. Last time he batted in an ODI, he scored a double ton.
One of the slips is called away into the covers now for Nuwan Kulasekera.
7:43pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:43pm | Report comment
A quiet first over that saw Sachin Tendulkar whip away for a couple through square-leg. Watchful otherwise.
0/3 in 1.
7:38pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:38pm | Report comment
Sehwag will be on strike, to take on Lasith Malinga. Tendulkar, at the other end, is Malinga’s teammate for the Mumbai Indians.
Two slips and a gully.
7:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:33pm | Report comment
Back on and the Indian opening batsmen, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar will soon be out to take on the target of 234.
Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekera, Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera – five Sri Lankan pace bowlers to intimidate the Indian batsmen.
6:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:56pm | Report comment
India will be a touch happier of the two sides to have restricted the Lankans to 8/233.
They bowled well throughout the innings and there wasn’t a single phase when it looked like Sri Lanka would run away with the game.
Sri Lanka got 11 runs in an over, twice, and only got 10 or more runs in an over, twice.
More importantly, there were around 155 dot balls in the entire innings and that will be a bit of a worry for the new coach Graham Ford.
India’s batting has been a bit of a letdown on this tour but in their own mind, they will know they have a decent chance here.
I will be back in 35 minutes with the chase.
6:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:52pm | Report comment
…and only a single off the last ball of the innings gets Sri Lanka to 8/233 in their 50 overs.
This is joint highest for Sri Lanka at the WACA in Perth.
6:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:51pm | Report comment
A good dive from Angelo Mathews gets him back for two. More importantly, he will play the last ball…
6:50pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:50pm | Report comment
Lasith Malinga has come out to bat now. Those following the Champions League T20 will know that he has single-handedly won a match with the bat. Mumbai Indians versus Chennai Super Kings last year…
…although here, he should have more time with the ball than the bat.
Three balls to go…
6:48pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:48pm | Report comment
OUT!
Kulasekera went for a slog over mid-wicket but only managed to get a top-edge.
The ball swirled a tad but it was taken easily in the end by Rohit Sharma.
8/228 with four balls to go. Mathews has the strike though.
6:47pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:47pm | Report comment
A much better over for the Sri Lankans, as Zaheer concedes 11 from it.
Still only 53 runs off the last 9.2 overs since Perera got out.
Vinay Kumar to finish things off…
6:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:44pm | Report comment
The Sri Lankan batsmen cannot be faulted for not trying. But the ball is just not travelling…
Four!
…before an edge takes it to the fence. Sri Lanka are now on to 7/224 with eight balls to go.
6:42pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:42pm | Report comment
Three singles and a two in that over from Vinay Kumar.
There is no doubt in my mind that Mathews should bat higher up the order, get more time to get going and then play the long innings.
No point wasting talent that is Mathews.
7/216 in 48.
6:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:37pm | Report comment
Vinay Kumar to bowl the 48th…
6:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:36pm | Report comment
Big hit but does not get any distance to it. Fortunately, the long-on and long-off were up in the circle and he gets away with a couple.
Suresh Raina overbalanced and went into the fence, barging into and taking the security guard on his way.
7/211 with three overs to be bowled.
Mathews seems to be there for some time at the crease and is on 18. Kulasekera on 1.
6:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:33pm | Report comment
Whatafielder!
That is an excellent effort from Vinay Kumar at long-on and the batsmen are restricted to three.
Kumar dived and juggled and rolled and did a motley of exercises before preventing that extra run.
6:32pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:32pm | Report comment
Nuwan Kulasekera joins Mathews at the crease and Zaheer Khan to take up the bowling.
6:30pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:30pm | Report comment
OUT!
Run-out, Thirimanne’s brief stay does not get an extension. He played it to the off side and ran off for a single. Confusion rules and he is miles away…
6:25pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:25pm | Report comment
Four!
…but off the last ball, Mathews jumps down the crease and drives him through the extra-cover and finally some dramatic movement on the scorecard.
6/199 with five overs remaining.
Ashwin to bowl his last over now.
6:24pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:24pm | Report comment
Vinay Kumar is trying to mix things up, a couple of short balls followed by a full delivery.
Good first five balls for six runs…
6:19pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:19pm | Report comment
Six down and in real trouble the Sri Lankans. Although they do have Lahiru Thirimanne in at eight.
Only one run from that over from Ashwin and Sri Lanka are 6/189 in 44 overs now. They could well be restricted to less than 225 if they are not careful.
6:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:16pm | Report comment
OUT!
Stumped again and Chandimal’s gone…
It was on the leg-stump, and a carrom ball that seemed to be spinning away from the right-handed Chandimal. The batsman tried to give it the kitchen sink but missed completed and a blinded Dhoni did a fine job of collecting the ball and after a pause of what seemed like an eternity, effecting the stumping.
6:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:16pm | Report comment
Jadeja has bowled out, 10 decent overs in which he concedes 41, to go with a wicket.
Ashwin 2/26 in eight.
6:15pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:15pm | Report comment
…and as one was speaking of trying hard, he tries to smack it over the mid-wicket but barely hits the middle.
The mistimed shot gets him a couple of runs.
Only six runs off the over.
5/188 in 43.
6:13pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:13pm | Report comment
Sri Lanka have built it up well but they are not really getting those really big overs.
Chandimal has tried hard on occasions but not got them off the middle – he’s got only four boundaries so far.
Five runs in the 42nd over.
Ravindra Jadeja to send down his last over now.
6:09pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:09pm | Report comment
It is Vinay Kumar who bowls a decent first over on his return. Five runs off it and that takes the Lankans to 5/177 in 41.
Can they get it up to 250? Will that be enough?
6:02pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:02pm | Report comment
OUT!
Quick, quick work from Dhoni again and Perera is out, stumped…
…never looked in did Perera and in a way, could be good to get in Mathews.
A word about Dhoni – he has been excellent behind the stumps all through the shorter format of the game this tour and there is another example.
6:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:00pm | Report comment
Fifty to Chandimal. A well compiled innings from the youngster and he gets to the half-century off 66 balls.
Four fifties now, to go with his two centuries. Quite neatly carved out but now is the chance to get a move on…
5:58pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:58pm | Report comment
Four!
But this time it is Chandimal who gets the pull going. This is one over that the Sri Lankans have got the runs going – 11 runs off it.
Will it lead to a momentum change?
5:57pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:57pm | Report comment
Perera is trying his best to get to the fence but this newly auctioned Mumbai Indians all-rounder isn’t getting too much out of it.
5:53pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:53pm | Report comment
Again, three runs off that Ashwin over. For some reason, the batting team has decided to play it safe and not lose too many wickets in the Powerplays.
And they have lost a wicket in each of the Powerplays.
Vinay Kumar, 0/19 in five overs to bowl now.
5:50pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:50pm | Report comment
End of the 37th over and Zaheer Khan continues to impress. Three singles only.
The Powerplay overs, Bowling and Batting have not going Sri Lanka’s way so far. And rather surprisingly, Sri Lanka haven’t looked like taking ‘em by the scruff of the neck either.
Five runs in two overs so far.
5:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:45pm | Report comment
OUT!No?Took the edge and should have been sent packing.
Where is the DRS when you need it the most?
5:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:44pm | Report comment
Sri Lanka had lost a wicket in the Bowling Powerplay and that stemmed the flow of runs. And now they have lost their captain in the Batting Powerplay.
Excellent over from Ashwin, concedes only three and gets a wicket.
Thisara Perera is the new man. Promotion ahead of Mathews.
5:40pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:40pm | Report comment
OUT!
No, they won’t…at least Jayawardene won’t take him on! He tried to sweep Ashwin over the short fine-leg fielder but his timing went awry.
The fielder at the deep square-leg ran to his left and takes a decent catch.
5:39pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:39pm | Report comment
Ashwin bowled three overs in the Bowling Powerplay and if things go to plan, he will bowl three more during this Batting Powerplay.
Unless of course, the Sri Lankan batsmen take him on.
5:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:37pm | Report comment
Four!
And Jadeja concedes another boundary, this time off a cut shot from Jayawardene. A very, very late cut, if I could add.
Still, only five runs off it.
3/149 in 35 overs.
Batting Powerplay in the offing now…
5:35pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Edged!
And can you call it dropped? There was a huge deflection but the ball missed the Dhoni gloves.
Five runs from the Ashwin over. Sri Lanka 3/144 in 34. The run-rate’s crept up to 4.25.
5:34pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:34pm | Report comment
It is R Ashwin who replaces Praveen Kumar.
Sri Lanka would have played his brand of bowling – the recent version of carrom ball was probably an Ajantha Mendis invention.
5:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:31pm | Report comment
Four!
Yep, the Sri Lankans have definitely realised they need to get going. Chandimal steps down the track and smashes Jadeja to long-on.
5:29pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:29pm | Report comment
Four!
This is turning out to be a good over for Sri Lanka. There is a definite want shown by the batsmen to push it into the third gear.
Pulled a short one from Praveen Kumar to the mid-wicket fence.
3/131 in 32. Praveen has finished out, conceding 54 runs off his 10.
5:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:26pm | Report comment
Five singles off the Jadeja over, a better one for the Lankans.
Looking down the Lankan order, there is Angelo Matthews to come, followed by hard-hitting all-rounder Thisara Perera and the bowlers. A wicket here will do India a world of good.
3/121 in 31
5:23pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:23pm | Report comment
It’s been a good spell of bowling for both these bowlers, Praveen and Jadeja.
0/19 and 1/14 for the two, having bowled five overs apiece.
5:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:22pm | Report comment
Jayawardene brings up 2000 ODI runs against India. Not that matters in the context of the game because Jayawardene has not looked himself so far.
Probably that stat will give him the confidence to kick off…
3/116 in 30 overs. 0/45 in Praveen’s nine overs. He could bowl out next over.
5:18pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:18pm | Report comment
In the first 14 overs of the day, 68 runs were scored.
In the next 14, Sri Lanka have mustered only 44.
And one run off the 29th over. 3/113 in 29.
5:17pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:17pm | Report comment
Ooooh!
That was chipped in the air and eluded Kohli as it popped over him. So far, Jayawardene has played 13 balls and his innings has been a far cry from his previous one against India.
That was a masterclass of a century in the World Cup final.
5:15pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:15pm | Report comment
Four!
Cut away, again more delicately placed than the ferocity that a Dilshan or a Warner can generate.
Jayawardene gets his first four.
5:13pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:13pm | Report comment
Four runs off the Jadeja over. Five overs for 16 for him. Ashwin, the other spinner has given away seven in his two.
And Sri Lanka have no spinner in their line-up.
Some strange selections by the Asian sides in the series so far.
5:11pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:11pm | Report comment
Loud appeal!
Hit flush in front of the stumps of Jayawardene and the only question was that of the height.
Yep, replays show it was just about clipping the top of the bail. Well bowled, well umpired.
5:10pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:10pm | Report comment
That is the end of the 26th over from Praveen Kimar. Just one run from it.
3/102 in 26.
5:09pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:09pm | Report comment
Edged!
…and surprise, surprise, the ball does not carry to Sehwag at the first slip.
Praveen Kumar continues to get the swing.
5:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:08pm | Report comment
Mahela Jayawardene, the new captain, comes in now. He is also a Delhi boy now, having been selected by the Daredevils in the IPL. Jayawardene has expressed his desire to play as a finisher in the Delhi side…
Can he turn the fortunes around for his side today in the middle of the innings?
5:05pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:05pm | Report comment
OUT!
Not out of the blue, this was coming. Poor running, lack of runs and there is wicket.
Jadeja gets him to cut it to Kohli as the ball bounces a little more than expected.
5:04pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:04pm | Report comment
Oooh! India had been good in the field in the second T20I but Kohli misses a run-out chance here. Throw was wild.
5:02pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:02pm | Report comment
Four!
Pitched marginally on the middle and flicked away by Chandimal. That trickles to the fine-leg, which is much squarer.
At Praveen’s pace it is only natural that the side has it squarer but that one was slightly quicker from Praveen.
2/100 in 24 overs.
5:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:00pm | Report comment
Praveen is still getting ‘em to swing. It should not change through the course of the game.
Almost took an edge of the Dilshan cut through to the wicket-keeper.
4:59pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:59pm | Report comment
Four!
Long time since it was last hit but Dilshan finally breaks one of the many shackles. Cut away off Jadeja.
It was a quicker one and went through to the left of the fielder.
4:57pm
Johnno said | 4:57pm | Report comment
Zaheer looks back to form Suneer which is good news for India.
5:06pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:06pm | Report comment
Yes, undoubtedly, in fact he was never out of form even in the Tests. But it is the other bowlers who have to step up the plate against Australia if they have to have any chance.
4:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:56pm | Report comment
And another over where the batting looked tedious. Three off it and Chandimal has crept up to seven from 16.
The run-rate fell to below four in the last over.
2/87 in 22.
4:54pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:54pm | Report comment
Only one run from the Jadeja over, wonder why the scoring has suddenly tapered away. The singles and twos were coming easily earlier, they have dried up now.
It is Praveen Kumar now, replacing R Ashwin. Mixing up pace and spin is Dhoni.
4:50pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:50pm | Report comment
Five runs here and that ends the Powerplay overs. Only 11 runs from it and the wicket of Sangakkara.
Suddenly, Dilshan seems to have gone into his shell, but he is still at the crease.
Jadeja, after his one-over spell comes back on.
2/83 in 20 overs.
4:47pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:47pm | Report comment
Another good over from Zaheer Khan. Two overs in this spell for four runs.
2/78 in 19. They had gotten to 68 in 14 overs.
4:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:44pm | Report comment
Ashwin’s running through his overs, concedes only three again. Five off the three bowling Powerplay overs so far.
The wicket of Sangakkara came at the wrong juncture.
2/78 in 18.3 overs.
4:40pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:40pm | Report comment
Two runs off the over – which makes it two runs off the first two overs in the bowling Powerplay. And a wicket.
It has been a ‘Bowling’ Powerplay alright.
4:39pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:39pm | Report comment
The second slip has now been brought in for Dinesh Chandimal.
4:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:37pm | Report comment
OUT!
Sangakkara’s dismissed, edged it to the wicket-keeper. Moved slightly away from Sangakkara and the edge flew to the left of Dhoni.
Sort of dived to his left and pulled off a good catch.
Sangakkara had settled down after looking a bit edgy earlier but now he will need to resettle in the dressing room
2/74 in 16.4.
4:34pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:34pm | Report comment
Zaheer Khan, 1/20 in five overs, resumes after the drinks break. His first game since the end of the Tests.
4:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:31pm | Report comment
Maiden over!
That has come out of nowhere! First over of the bowling Powerplay and Ashwin concedes nothing.
1/72 in 16 overs.
Drinks now, time for India to reflect on the proceedings. They surely need to break the stand before it becomes too dangerous.
4:29pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:29pm | Report comment
Four runs from the Praveen Kumar over and after just one from Jadeja, he is replaced by R Ashwin.
It is also the start of the bowling Powerplay I may add.
1/72 in 15.
4:27pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:27pm | Report comment
Praveen Kumar, who had had a good England Test series, but missed the Australian Tests, hasn’t had the best of times in the limited overs so far.
He is in the fourth over and already conceded 24.
4:24pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:24pm | Report comment
A decent over from Jadeja, three from it. He was a tad short on a couple of occasions but not too much advantage taken off it.
1/68 in 14 overs.
4:21pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:21pm | Report comment
And another over where the Indian fielders were run ragged by cute placements.
Eight runs off the over and the run-rate is off to the five-run mark.
1/65 in 13.
Ravindra Jadeja, multi-millionaire from the IPL fame, is on…
4:19pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:19pm | Report comment
Sangakkara tries to cut it over the covers, but gets it too under and the ball goes in the air.
In the end, he gets three but the ball could have gone to hand.
4:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:16pm | Report comment
Four!
Gently, delicately and very wristfully, flicked away through mid-wicket.
That’s some riposte from Sangakkara, who had not been getting too many off the middle.
1/57 in 12.
4:15pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:15pm | Report comment
Still some swing for Vinay Kumar, who is bowling his fifth over…Sri Lanka, incidentally have gone in with an all-pace attack. Interesting!
4:10pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:10pm | Report comment
Praveen Kumar, who was smacked for nine runs in his opening over concedes five off the first over of his second spell.
1/51 in 11.
4:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:07pm | Report comment
Three runs through the covers. A bit of slip at the fence but the Lankan batsmen were always eyeing the third.
1/49 in the 11th.
4:06pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:06pm | Report comment
Six runs off that over and Sri Lanka are quietly chugging along to /145 in 10.
4:02pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:02pm | Report comment
Four!
Pulled, four! And again, he did not play the hook but pulled it down.
Vinay Kumar had earlier pitched it up and it went to the fence. Now it is the short ball that goes for a four.
4:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:01pm | Report comment
Dilshan wasn’t in the best of forms throughout his stint as the captain. In South Africa, on the verge of giving up his leadership, he scored 33, 87 and 41 in the last three games.
Cannot be anything but a relief of giving up a potato so hot.
1/40 in 9 overs.
3:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:56pm | Report comment
Four!
Glorious! Again, pitched up by Vinay KUmar in a bid to get the edge but Dilshan smashes it down the ground.
Dilshan isn’t really trying to hit the ball in the air so far…
3:55pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:55pm | Report comment
A bit of swing there for Vinay Kumar. He was the standout in the first game as well (unfortunately without any support in the rest of the overs)
3:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:51pm | Report comment
Four!
Straight drive, and Dilshan gets a four. Relieved of captaincy and he should be feeling better now.
1/31 in 6.5
3:38pm
Tristan Rayner said | 3:38pm | Report comment
One over from P Kumar, and now Vinay Kumar is bowling, and bowling well to Dilshan.
3:35pm
Tristan Rayner said | 3:35pm | Report comment
Wicket-maiden to Zaheer. 1/3 off two overs.
3:33pm
Tristan Rayner said | 3:33pm | Report comment
Got him! Wicket! Tharanga goes off a Zaheer Khan delivery. A good over, the ball moving all over the shop, from Khan and Tendulkar takes a simple catch to dismiss the Sri Lankan.
Tharanga c Tendulkar b Khan 4 (11b 0×4 0×6) SR: 36.36
3:30pm
Tristan Rayner said | 3:30pm | Report comment
Dilshan already cutting loose here. Two big fours in the second over.
3:24pm
Tristan Rayner said | 3:24pm | Report comment
Sri Lanka have won the toss and are opening the batting.
Indian team news, Tendulkar and Sehwag will open the batting for the Indians, with Gautam Gambhir rested
3:02pm
Matt F said | 3:02pm | Report comment
Tthe only games that Ch 9 are going to show in HD are the ones not involving Australia…..