Sports
Stunning Indian batting flattens Sri Lanka
by Rex Clementine
You can only marvel at the next generation of Indian players as an outstanding batting display made Sri Lanka eat humble pie in the first ODI at RPS as the hosts succumbed to a seven wicket defeat yesterday. A spirited effort by the tail had enabled Sri Lanka to post a target of 263 but to test these Indians you need something more than 300. Yesterday’s run chase was child’s play for the tourists, who reached the target with more than 12 overs to spare.
You expected Shikhar Dhawan to take the attack onto the opposition but while he played the anchor role, it was the young guns who carted the bowlers to all corners of Maligawatta. They reached 200 runs in the 28th over and in this series, if India ever bat first; they could go onto break the 400 run barrier.
Prithiv Shaw is 21 while Ishan Kishan is 23 and they seemed to be in a different league altogether. Constant exposure at IPL, rubbing shoulders with big international stars, has stood them in good stead as they threw caution to the wind playing an entertaining brand of cricket.
Shaw and Dhawan added 58 runs for the first wicket in just 33 balls with the former smashing 43 in 24 balls. When part-time Dhananjaya de Silva broke the stand, Ishan Kishan making his debut walked in. There is no getting yourself in and all that theory with him as he lofted the first ball he faced for six and smashed the next ball for four. Kishan is looking to score a boundary every ball.
Kishan raced to his half-century in 33 balls and what better way to celebrate your 23rd birthday. India have built up such solid bench strength that they will be virtually tough to beat during the 2023 World Cup which they will host.
Dhawan and Manish Pandey then added 72 runs for the third wicket consolidating India’s position further. Dhawan finished on 86 not out.
Sri Lanka’s innings was hopeless as not a single batsman managed a half-century. Indian bowling is not as formidable as their batting. That sums up how fragile the Sri Lankan batting is. The top score of 43 not out came from Chamika Karunaratne, who was batting at number eight.
There were several top order batsmen who got starts but none were able to consolidate as the old problems resurfaced. Sri Lanka’s strategies and selections continue to bewilder their supporters with too many players meant for T-20 occupying slots in the ODI team.
During the ODIs in England, batting was a huge let down and unless they play six genuine batsmen, it’s going to be a struggle for them.
Such was Sri Lanka’s plight that they could not get their field placing right and were penalized with a free hit in the 29th over for having too many fielders outside the 30 yard circle.
This was a no contest and a 6-0 drubbing looks on the cards.
Under 19 Cricket
Left-arm spinners Vishwa Peiris and Demion de Silva took five wickets each as St. Joseph’s cruised to an innings and 51 runs victory over St. Benedict’s in the Traditional Mack – Croner trophy cricket encounter at Darley Road on Tuesday.
St. Benedict’s came to the match having done well in the Tier B tournament matches but the spin might of the Joes was too hot for them to handle as they collapsed for 62 runs in the second innings.
The result somewhat exposed the gap between the Tier A and Tier B teams of the Under 19 Division I category as the team from Kotahena were bowled out within 25 overs. They were following on after being dismissed for 197 runs in the first innings, where Nushan Perera grabbed five wickets bowling the bulk of the overs for the Joes. He was adjudged the Best Bowler.
While Vishwa was the Man of the Match, Rishma Amarasinghe (Best Fielder) and Senuja Wakunugoda (Best Batsman) won the other individual awards.
The Joes made 313 in their innings with Senuja top scoring with 106 runs.
In the Division I Tier ‘A’ matches Gurukula (against St. Sebastian’s) and St. Anthony’s Katugastota (against Royal) registered first innings victories.
Maliyadeva took first innings points against De Mazenod in a tier B match.
(RF)
Organisers of the ICC T20 World Cup are sweating over after Pakistan refused to play nuclear-armed neighbours India in Colombo, a decision that has left administrators scratching their heads and staring at a potential financial googly.
The India–Pakistan contest, the jewel in the tournament’s crown, is the game that oils cricket’s economic engine. If the marquee clash is bowled out, the loss of revenue will have every stakeholder feeling the pinch from boardroom to boundary rope. Islamabad’s call to withdraw, taken at government level, has sparked fears the verdict will not be overturned.
Anticipation for the grudge match had reached fever pitch. Tickets vanished on day one of sales, while Colombo’s hotels were snapped up quickly. Five-star rooms that normally fetch 150 US dollars were hiked to 600 USD, some even soaring to 800 USD as the city braced for a carnival.
With the capital full to the rafters, tour operators shuttled visitors to nearby Negombo, an hour’s drive from the stadium, while others opted for apartments as accommodation ran dry. Flights, too, were booked well in advance, but uncertainty over the epic duel has now cast a long shadow.
“We haven’t had many cancellations yet, but we fear the worst. Everyone will take a hit if the game doesn’t take place,” aviation industry official Thusitha Perera told Telecom Asia Sport.
Gihan Wickramasinghe, representing Colombo’s hoteliers, echoed the concern. “Our hope is the match goes ahead. If not, we’ll have to refund bookings and the tour operators will be hit even harder.”
Tour operator Lisa Fernando said the anxiety was mounting. “Two groups from Dubai alone, 75 people, were coming. Corporate clients had planned trips down south as well. There’s a lot of money at stake and so much unnecessary stress.”
Indian fan Varun Kumar from Bangalore has already paid for flights and hotels but intends to travel regardless. “Sri Lanka has been on my bucket list. Whether the match happens or not, we’ll come to experience the country,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket remains optimistic the contest will be rescued before the final over is called. But if the showpiece is scratched, it would be a hammer blow to an economy only just finding its feet after years of setbacks, leaving the tournament badly caught behind.
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