Sport

India conquers Lanka

February 11 - 17, 2009
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India clinically demolished Sri Lanka in an away series to stamp their dominance in one-day cricket.

Indian cricket is on a roll at the moment. And skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is fast becoming the man with the Midas touch.

Importantly, the team did not forget the basics of the one-day format. Singles were taken frequently, sometimes ones were converted into twos and the boundaries came when it mattered.

Sri Lanka just buckled under the pressure. The once dominant one-day outfit was reduced to a bunch of no-hopers.

Some of the main strengths of the Sri Lankans were in shambles. Once proud of their fielding, the Lankans faltered miserably in this aspect. Easy catches were spilt and the ground fielding was pathetic.

It was left to the 40-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya to show some of the younger players what fielding and commitment really meant.

Though the Lankan top order performed adequately, the middle and lower order just caved in under intense pressure from India.

All the euphoria of a fine win in Pakistan evaporated. The self-doubts have begun to creep in and Lanka face a hard road to recovery.

The team certainly missed the accuracy of Chaminda Vaas and the pace of Lasith Malinga. With Indian batsmen conquering the fear of Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka did not have much to fall back on. Muttiah Muralitharan was also below par.

In contrast, every aspect of India's game clicked. The Indian batsmen then went on a rampage from ball one and the powerplays were studded with boundaries and quick singles.

Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh were on top of their game and they all scored centuries.

Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma led the attack with incisive spells. The sole spinner Pragyan Ojha was far more effective than his Lankan counterparts.

Sri Lanka are in need of a lot of introspection. It is more a case of attitude than ability.

Constant changing and chopping of the team is also not helping.







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