India's hopes of winning the Coca-Cola Cup in Sri Lanka were dealt a crushingblow at the Premadasa International Stadium on Thursday when the Clear BlackCaps defeated them by 67 runs.
India still have a chance of qualifying for the final on August 5, but, to besure, they need to win their remaining three games and hope that Sri Lankadefeat New Zealand at the Sinhalese Sports Club next week. If they win just twothen they are reliant on the vagaries of net run rates and the Kiwis losing alltheir remaining games.
This seems unlikely after another fighting team performance by New Zealandtoday. Fresh from their demoralising defeat yesterday and with their captainlaid low with a stomach bug, plus a number of other players feeling wheezy, theywon the match despite scoring the lowest total of the tournament batting firstso far.
Advertisement
Sourav Ganguly's decision to field first after the delayed start this morningraised eyebrows, but it looked to have been an inspired decision when NewZealand slipped to 143 for seven in the 36th over of their innings.
But Dion Nash, back in the side having recovered from the stomach bug,rescued the innings with 42 from 56 balls. Adding 43 runs for the eighth wicketwith Daniel Vettori (19) he carried the Kiwis to the psychological 200 mark.
Required to score 201 for victory, Sourav Ganguly returned to his normalopening slot and choose Virender Sehwag as his partner. They starteddisastrously, losing both VVS Laxman and Ganguly within the first three overs -the Indian captain trapped lbw by an inswinger from Kyle Mills and Laxman bowledoff the inside edge, as he wafted carelessly away from his body.
Advertisement
Rahul Dravid (27) and Sehwag (33) bolstered Indian hopes with a 50-runpartnership in 13 overs. Dravid was his normal silky self and was batting in anassured manner, whilst Sehwag was impressive. Similar in build and style toSachin Tendulkar - a player they miss so obviously and greatly - he forcedthrough the covers for consecutive fours and clipped dismissively overmid-wicket.
Daniel Vettori, however, came on to bowl and broke through in a fortuitousmanner. Dravid drove powerfully back to the bowler and the quick-witted spinnerfielded. Aware that Sehwag was momentarily stranded having backed up, he rolledover and flicked the ball onto the stumps.
Two overs later Hemang Badani self destructed and charged down the wicket tosky a running catch to the bearded Craig McMillan at mid off. India were 66 forfour.
Returned to the middle order position that brought him initial success, butscant rewards thereafter, Yuvraj Singh (27) finally started to strike the ballwith the power that makes him so exciting and his recent failures sofrustrating.
Yuvraj added 33 with Dravid and fresh life was being breathed into theinnings, when Dravid flicked lazily across the line, only to miss the ball andsee it bounce off pad onto the stumps.
Dravid's dismissal singled the end and, as dark clouds hung over thissparsely attended concrete stadium, India's batsmen wilted, losing their lastfive wickets for 23 runs.
Advertisement
Earlier, the Kiwi top order made full use of the fielding restrictions,racing to 82 for one in the first 15 overs. The introduction of the slowerbowlers quickly quelled that run rate though.
Ganguly bowled from the Maligawatte End and had Matthew Sinclair (36) caughtat mid on, whilst Harbhajan Singh probed diligently from the Khettarama End.Jacaob Oram (40) won the first round when he smashed the off spinner for 12 inhis second, but Harbhajan won the contest as he was caught at slip while tryingto reverse sweep.
The New Zealand middle order spluttered along without ever firing. Wicketswere lost steadily and the run scoring plummeted to barely three per over untilDion Nash found a willing partner in Daniel Vettori. It turned out to be thepartnership that turned the game.
