Mirando heroics fail to save Sri Lanka

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Thilan Thushara Mirando emerged as a genuine all rounder but his heroics with bat and ball could not prevent India from pulling off a 46 run victory in the fourth one day international worked off under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

With this success India took an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five match series and Friday’s fifth and final match at the same venue under lights will be of academic interest. This was also Sri Lanka’s second successive home series defeat following their set back against England last year.

Thushara playing in his tenth one day international returned career best figures of five wickets for 47 to restrict India to 258 runs. He then followed up with a spirited knock of 40 from just 29 deliveries with two sixes and two boundaries before being last out in the 47th over.

The Lankans of course made a promising start to their run chase through their new opening combination of Sanath Jayasuriya and Malinda Warnapura. Veteran Jayasuriya playing in his 420th one day international set the pace with a blistering 60 from just 52 balls inclusive of one six and eight boundaries. But the rest of the batting simply collapsed against some disciplined bowling and superb fielding as India soon turned the game in their favour. In fact the visitors made certain that there will be no contest at the end by capturing five wickets for 131 by the 30th over of the innings.

Earlier half centuries from opener Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lifted India to a formidable 258 after they had won the toss and elected to bat first. Kohli’s knock of 54 had a great amount of significance as he completed his maiden fifty after having made his one day international debut in the curtain raiser of the series in Dambulla last week.

The elegant right hander from Delhi ensured that India would make a solid start to the innings by putting on 44 runs from 9.5 overs with Gautham Gambhir while stroking seven boundaries during his 66 ball innings. Sri Lanka of course made a brief comeback into the game by capturing two quick wickets during the second power play overs.

However skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Suresh Raina and the pair virtually took the game away from Sri Lanka with a superb century stand for the fourth wicket. Raina hit a run a ball 76 with the aid of one six and half a dozen of boundaries after having added 143 runs for the fourth wicket with Dhoni.

The Indian captain continued with the good work and went on to hit and aggressive 71 from 80 balls with four boundaries before making his exit in the 43rd over. Sri Lanka however came back strongly during the latter stages while claiming the last four wickets for the addition of just 15 runs.

Sri Lanka made one change to their side with opener Malinda Warnapura coming in place of Chamara Silva while India retained the same side that won the third one day international on Sunday at this same venue.

INDIA Innings
Virat Kohli b Thushara 					54
Gautam Gambhir c Dilshan b Kulasekara 			17
Yuvraj Singh c Jayawardene b Vaas 	 		 0
Suresh Raina c Kulasekara b Thushara 			76
Mahendra Dhonic Jayasuriya b Thushara 			71
Rohit Sharma c Warnapura b Mendis 			18
Subramaniam Badrinath c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 	 6
Harbhajan Singh run out 				 2
Praveen Kumar b Thushara 				 2
Zaheer Khan c Warnapura b Thushara 			 0
Munaf Patel not out 					 1
EXTRAS (1b, 5lb, 5w) 					11
TOTAL: (all out) 					258

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-44, 2-51, 3-81, 4-224, 5-232, 6-243, 
		 7-253,8-256, 9-257, 10-258.

BOWLING: Chaminda Vaas 9-1-40-1, 
	 Nuwan Kulasekara 8-0-38-1,
	 Thilina Thushara 8.4-0-47-5 (5w), 
	 Ajantha Mendis 10-1-43-1, 
	 Muttiah Muralitharan 10-0-56-1, 
	 Sanath Jayasuriya 4-0-28-0.

SRI LANKA INNINGS

S. Jayasuriyac Raina b Harbhajan			60
M. Warnapuralbw b Patel					 0
K. Sangakkarab Patel					 6
M. Jayawardenerun out					16
C. Kapugederalbw b Singh				30
T. Dilshanlbw b Harbhajan				12
C. Vaas lbw b Singh					17
N. Kulasekara st Dhoni b Harbhajan			12
T. Thushara c Raina b Khan				40
A. Mendisrun out					 2
M. Muralitharannot out					 1
EXTRAS: (b-4, lb-2, w-10)				16
TOTAL (all out, 46.3 overs)				212

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-28 2-38 3-74 4-106 5-131 6-140 7-157
		 8-190 9-206.
BOWLING: Kumar 4-0-25-0 (1w), 
	 Khan 9.3-3-27-1 (2w), 
	 Patel 9-0-48-2, 
	 Harbhajan 10-0-40-3 (4w), 
	 Singh 10-0-53-2, 
	 Sharma 4-1-13-0.