India Not Stretched in Regaining Cup
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India not stretched in regaining cup From R. Mohan and Srikkanth. If Siddhu was castled by that incutter he could blame only his physical condition which did DHAKA, Nov. 4. not permit free movement from the crease. He did India added a second Asia Cup to its glittering col- walk with a springy step when he went to receive lection of international limited-overs cricket trophies. the 'Man of the Match' award from Lt. Gen. Ershad, Its triumph today in an uninspiring final was analogous President of Bangladesh, to taking candy from a kid because Sri Lanka fell Promising beginning: The only inspirational part of back to old and ingenuous ways. The Sri Lankans' the Sri Lankan innings was the opening stand. It Was running between the wickets was a pathetic represen- a good track to bat on even early in the day. tation of their inexperience. Mahanama and Kuruppu were outstanding in running . A side so reliant on batting strength could not af- between the wickets. They never refused each other's ford to throw away its entire middle order to a mid- calls for the singles, but the pattern of the innings morning madness. While the sense of occasion tends changed completely when Mahanama fell leg before. to heighten India's performance, it seemed to inhibit In stretching out, Kapil bowled at least five extra the Sri Lankans so much that they could not live up balls in his first spell because of the no balls and the to the ambitions they had stoked in themselves with wides. Mahanama had been succeeding in the off regard to a defence of their title. glide and the deflection against an attack which was Sri Lanka triggered the change of, course of the concentrated outside the off peg. That particular ball match after it had been poised to reach a potentially from Mohinder Amarnath came on a shade faster and challenging score. A series of four run outs saw the Mahanama's intended off glide was well beaten. His side slide from 97 for three in the 23rd over to 130 23 of 47 balls had created a good foundation. for six in the 35th over. The match had been Kuruppu had committed a cricketing crime in get- giftwrapped then and there. The self-created press- ting himself stumped off a wide ball. Seeing him dash ures were such that the middle-overs by the spinners out for the predetermined slog, Maninder had floated Members of the Indian cricket team with the Asia Cup at Dhaka on Friday. Left to right: Sanjeev went unpunished and there were no wickets in hand one way beyond off stump and despite fumbling, Pan- for the slog in a badly mismanaged innings. ^>^, *!",* Sharma, Dilip Vengsarkar, Narendra Hirwani, Arehad Ayub, Mr. Manmohan Sood (Manager), Chan- dit could still break the wicket long oefore the opener drakant Pandit and Kiran More. — Fax photos N. Sridharan India did not wish to look a gift horse in the mouth. could get back. In the course of just two overs the It seized upon the opening by means of sensible bowl- 4W * " *-** m ss^. "lliP?Ji.t ^5^f^?« trend had changed. ing and accurate throwing in the run out situations. Sri Lanka was still in control when the disease of that belied his age to stop Samarasekara's cover Feelings had been running a bit high in the morning Navjot Singh Siddhu, despite the discomfort of a bad run outs spread like some kind of virus. Maninder drive. So stunned was Samarasekara that he decided after Mohinder had been warned for running on the ankle, was able to launch the offensive on the bowling Brandon Kuruppu being stumped by Chandrakant Pandit off Maninder Singh at Dhaka on Friday. kept his creativity in check and was aiming only to to return to his crease while Mohinder's throw was wicket in his follow-through. The Indians were upset which is Sri Lanka's weakest suit. Siddhu's 76 was control the run flow. Aravinda's attack on him which on its way to Ayub. that Mahanama who bats in spudded shoes should the trump card in India completing a win without much included a sywing to deep mid wicket and a cover Samarasekara made a feeble attempt to retrieve be getting away while he was actually running on the ado. when Ranatunga brought himself for the slow medium team's physiotherapist. Dr. Ali Irani. He brought him drive for fours was an incipient threat to India. Amar- something from the situation by walking out but it was pitch. Mohinder showing some rare temper on the The runs simply flowed from the start of the Indian pace which can sometimes be a weapon against sides around to a condition in which the opener could bat nath bowled the right length almost up to the Aravinda. dashing to the same crease as his partner, field gave Mahanama a bit of advice and perhaps innings with the only setback proving to be Srik- chasing a target But this one was too simple for India and even run some sharp singles. Eyebrows were blockhole to return fine looking figures and also to who was run out. The umpire at square leg had notic- even a talking to before completing the irony of get- kanth's run out dismissal in circumstances which were to mess up. raised when he left the field in the morning in the provide the first break. ed that the batsmen had not crossed at any stage ting the jumpy youngster out. very similar to those in which so many Lankans got Sddhu's contribution lay Jn the region of placing course of the 14th over, but that tactic is part of what Nervous running,costs dean Aravinda's continued of that disastrous run and he sent Aravinda off. The innings fell off soon after and the continuing, themselves out. When Srikkanth drove Ratnayake the bowling in the right perspective. When he is now an old trick. presence might have become dangerous but This was the blow from which there was to be no pattern of the middle order getting itself run out spelt into Karnain at cover and ran he knew he did not offdrove Ranatunga and the flatbatted him into the Siddhu's injury problem is not to be held against Samarasekara, playing the anchor in the third wicket recovery. Soon enough Samarasekara (36 balls, one ruin. It was almost predictable that of the two stout have a chance to survive if there was a direct throw sight screen for six he showed who the boss was. him. though the team's policy proved to be wholly un- stand of 40. was showing grave impatience between four) exposed himself to the sweeping virus-like infec- batsmen, Ranatunga and Mendis, at least one would on the unguarded non-striker's wicket. Some of the credit for Siddhu's knock (off 87 balls ethical. He played his favourite stroke — the lofted the wickets, backing up too far on each ball-. The tion in setting off for a run on just tapping Maninder fall under the building pressure of the overs being Siddhu gets cracking: Siddhu swung into.action with four 4s and three 6s) should go to the Indian shot wide of long on — against the off spinner credit for ending the stand, however, belonged entire- in front of him on the pitch. Pandit's inner-gloved run through by the Indian spinners without bringing Madurasinghe who was picked by Lanka becaue it ly to Mohinder Amarnath. He dived with an alacrity throw was bang on target. forth the kind of runs the Lankans wanted. Ayub was • had decided before the match it would bat first on particularly economical with his flattish offspin and the winning the toss and would do so anyway since India predictable happened in Ranatunga being run out. was always likely to put it in. A couple of Maninder specials: A splendid and Another such shot was played by Siddhu off hard throw from Maninder at long off had the heavy Aravinda's version of offspin before an incutter (from SCOREBOARD ]r pair in trouble. Ranatunga who looked for the second Wijeygunawardene) which came back some way beat on hesitating was well beaten. So too was Ravi SRI LANKA his intended shot to mid wicket and crashed into Ajay Sharma 4 0 29 0 Ratnayake who had cut Ayub to Maninder at third. middle stump. Srikkanth 3.2 0 12 3 man and found to his chagrin at what speed and accu- R. Mahanama Ibw b Amarnath 23 racy the leftarmer can throw. The Lankans fielded with dedication, diving left and INDIA right to stop the boundaries. But the total they had B. Kuruppu st Pandit b Maninder 21 Four run outs in a row was a bit too much and provided their bowlers with was just not good enough A. Samaresekera (run out) 26 not even Mendis's big hits — a lofted shot wide of even to put up a decent fight before the Cup was A.DeSilva(runoup 18 K. Srikkanth (run out) 23 long on for six and a slogging hit through mid wicket surrendered. The pitch did allow the ball to turn a A. Ranatunga (run out) 5 N. Siddhu b Wijeygunawardene 76 for four soon after he had edged Ajay Sharma; bit in the afternoon. Mohinder Amarnath edged a D. Mendis c Amamath b Srikkanth 36 M. Amarnath c Kuruppu b Madurasinghe 7 through vacant slip in an over — could bring the pa- sweep into his pad and Kuruppu did well to dive for- R.