Group B: India are out (virtually)

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.  India have collapsed and lost this group B match against the irrepressible Sri Lanka. 

After being put in to bat by Rahul Dravid, Sri Lanka reached the eminently reachable total 254-6 thanks to  useful half centuries by Thuranga (64) and Silva (59).  However, after losing Jayasuriya and Jayawardene cheaply early on, and the quick wickets of Dilshan and Thuranga in the space of 3 balls when the total was 216, it was looking unlikely that they would breach the 250 mark.  A blazing final partnership between Russell Arnold and Chaminda Vaas, that put on 38 runs in 25 balls, ensured the Sri Lankan attack at least had something to bowl at.  Everyone watching thought that, considering the Indian batting talent, it would not be enough; how wrong we all were.

   

The Indian innings simply never got going from the moment that Vaas' magnificent caught & bowled accounted for Uthappa.  Ganguly went next, lofting over mid-on for Murilitharan to take an impressive catch on the run, closely followed by Tendulkar, playing on from a fantastic Fernando inseamer for a third ball duck. Sehwag was in good touch for his 48, before the pocket maestro Murali accounted for him, and Yuvraj was absolutely tucked up by Dravid who sent him back from a single and ran him out.   Last chance saloon for India was Dhoni, and last orders were called when Murali fizzed a quicker ball onto his back pad to trap him as plumb as can be.  By then the required run rate was up near 8 per over and the loss was a formality.  It finally came as India were all out for 185, 69 runs short.

Sri Lanka were once again outstanding.  Even after hitting such a relatively low score, their bowling and tenacity in the field ensured India had no chance, they are now through to the Super 8.  India must now pray to every god they believe in the hope that Bermuda beat Bangladesh as they will then stay in the World Cup.  Or to put it another way, they are going home.

[lee calvert]