Sri Lanka's allround superiority destroys India By Vijay Lokapally ined and a sweet revenge for what India did to Sri there was greater application too since it was a battle then the batsmen had cracked stinging drives oh Lanka at Sharjah in the final of the last Asia Cup. of attrition. The bowlers played on the mind of the both the occasions. COLOMBO, July 26. Rank bad deliveries batsmen by bowling tight and inviting them to take It was not defeat. It was destruction. Indian cricket up the challenge. Azharuddin and Tendulkar wisely As thousands of spectators danced back to their stood devastated at the Premadasa Stadium here as Tendulkar stood little chance of inspiring the play- brought their temperament into play and prospered homes, the Indian team bus found its way past the Sri Lanka, as a matter of right, added the Pepsi Asia ers as the runs came in a torrent. His best bowlers, to carve a 109-run partnership off 140 balls which crowd with its passengers shattered by the battering Cup to its array of glittering trophies. Prasad and Kumble, had been carted around merci- brought India back into the game from the precari- Ranatunga and his men gave it this afternoon. It wa$ A helpless Sachin Tendulkar watched all his lessly by the most feared assassin in international ous state at the end of 18 overs. a grim reminder that the Indian bowling would have dreams crashing under a flurry of strokes by the cricket today. There was no way Jayasuriya could be to improve drastically for the remaining part of tbjB; Lankan batsmen, who demolished the Indian attack Azharuddin went through a torrid over from Mu- tour to bring some joy before the team leaves thje stopped when in such mood but the bowlers would ralitharan when he survived a leg-before shout and a in a manner rarely witnessed. It was a clinical have to take the blame for having fed him with rank shores of Sri Lanka. The Indians were gracious itt< slaughter of the bowlers who were made to look stumping chance but Tendulkar was not so lucky. In acknowledging the Lankan dominance and wouK bad balls which the batsman promptly smashed to playing a pre-determined hoist, the Indian skipper utterly mediocre by Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan all corners. do well to learn a few lessons, especially in fitness• Atapattu during their breathtaking opening part- failed to get proper hold and the resultant skier was and fielding. Prasad, after conceding 2 5 runs in his first three spectacularly taken at long-on by Kalpage. Tendul- nership. overs, was hit for 18 runs in an over when he return- kar had picked the wrong fielder in his attempt to Sri Lanka won with plenty to spare, eight wickets ed and that was it. Robin Singh, preferred to open take a chance but he had done a splendid job until he and 13.1 overs, and regained the Cup it last won at the attack, for once failed to raise his game and that departed. His wicket was the fourth sterling fielding home in 1986. India, champion four times, could multiplied the worries for Tendulkar. There was hope act by the Lankans. not have complained since the title went to a team for the skipper in Kumble but the leg-spinner too INDIA v SRI LANKA which has swept almost everything in sight since the surrendered abjectly with a very disappointing line. Amazing effort INDIA great triumph in the last World Cup. The Indian team gave in very meekly to the open- Now was the time for the slog to begin and Az- S. Ganguly c Aravinda b Dharmasena 34 Exhilarating batsmanship ers and that is what left a sour taste. It was impor- haruddin, in an innings which must embarrass the (86 minutes, 55 balls, 5x4) tant for the bowlers to hold their ground in the first selectors who dropped him for the Independence N. S. Sidhu c Muralitharan b Sajeeva 10 On a pitch which left the Indians strokeless and Cup, launched a calculated assault. He had earlier (44m, 30b) ladenfooted for major part of their innings, the Lank- 15 overs, knowing fully well that Sri Lanka relies a R. Dravid c Mahanama b Vaas lot on the stirring Jayasuriya but Prasad and Kumble pulled off-spinner Dharmasena for a six and repeated (17m, 12b, 2x4) ans produced an exhilarating exhibition of batsman- the shot by clobbering him. But he got out the next ship, thanks to the wayward stuff by what happens failed miserably. S. Tendulkar c Kalpage b Muralitharan 53 ball to yet another amazing catch, this one beating (109m, 67b, 2x4) to be the cream of Indian bowling in this brand of Great fielding them all. It was as if the Lankans were competing M. Azharuddin c Muralitharan b Dharmasena 81 cricket. Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh, the men against each other for the 'best catch' award. (110m, 102b, 1x4, 2x6) entrusted with the task of shackling Jayasuriya, The difference in the team was wide and the most A. Jadeja (run out) 22 proved unequal to the task because they were belted glaring factor was the Sri Lankan fielding which rose Azharuddin lashed at the full toss which seemed (39m, 24b, 1x4) even by Atapattu, seen in a new role of an attacking to dizzy heights, helping the team fightback every headed for a boundary. Suddenly, Muralitharan got Robin Singh c Aravinda b Vaas 9 batsman. In fact, the sight of this Indian attack time the Indians appeared to be getting a grip on the into his act and followed the arc of the dipping ball, (6m, 5b, 1x4) match. held on to the catch, just avoided hitting the rope A. Kumble (not out) 7 would inspire many to have a go and it was really a The Sri Lankan team with the Pepsi Asia Cup that it won defeating India in the final in Colombo on (10m, 5b) pitiable experience for the bowlers today. Atapattu True Jayasuriya was in a blazing form but the runs Saturday. Photo: V.V. Krishnan and swivelled back on to the field to herald the depar- S. Karim (not out) 1 treated the bowling with scant respect and stamped were gifted away through some innocuous bowling ture of Azharuddin. The partisan crowd rose to its (2m. Ib) his class on the tournament with his second 'Man of by the Indians. The side was in complete disarray ball well on the leg side but he was gradually getting building the Indian innings in a most sensible feet to hail Muralitharan's effort even as Azharuddin Extras (b-1, lb-8, nb-1, w-5) 15 the match' award. once Prasad and Kumble received the stick and noth- trapped in the net set by the Lankan skipper. Waiting fashion. There was no hurry to play the shots and returned to a standing ovation from the Indian dress- Total (for seven wkts. in 50 overs) 239 Atapattu, enjoying a superb run in this tourna- ing would have helped the team's cause. Even rain, for that ondrive in the air was Roshan Mahanama, the experience came in handy as Azhaurddin and ing room. who just does not believe in spilling a catch, not even ment, was second to none today in creating such an which was forecast to visit the stadium, stayed away Tendulkar rotated the strike frequently to ease the This was Azharuddin's second outstanding per- Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Sidhu), 2-51 (Dravid), 3-59 (Gan- easy victory for Sri Lanka. India's euphoria of mak- to allow the locals celebrate a well-deserved triumph a firm drive which was what Dravid played and was pressure. formance with the bat in this tournament, forget the guly), 4-168 (Tendulkar), 5-215 (Azharuddin), 6-225 ing it to the final was blown away in the span of 10 by Sri Lanka. shocked to see Mahanama pluck the ball from air at Even as the partnership gained in confidence, a match against Bangladesh, and he must have been (Robin), 7-234 (ladeja). overs as Sri Lanka made a fantastic start to its chase. The Indians elected to bat, a mistake only in hind- short mid-wicket. It was a fabulous catch by Maha- casual Azharuddin nearly ran himself out, ground- mighty pleased with his 41st fifty in one-day In- Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 8-1-32-2, Sajeeva de Silva If Jayasuriya looked explosive, playing some as- sight, fearing the pitch might become slower in the nama and the dismissal really was a big setback ing the bat in time to beat Ranatunga's erratic throw ternationals. He batted as one expected him to, 9-1-44-1 (3w), Dharmasena 10-1-54-2 (Iw), Mura- tounding shots. Atapattu was his quiet self, uncork- afternoon. The aim obviously was to pile up a big considering the value of Dravid to the team's chanc- from short third man. A wicket at that stage would bringing his vast experience and skills to good use. litharan 10-1-38-1 (Inb, Iw), Jayasuriya 10-0-46-0, ing classical shots in front and at times some total and put the opponent under pressure. If there es of posting a big total. have driven India against the wall. The Lankans were not yet through with their field- Kalpage 3-0-16-0. audacious ones too. His lofted six over mid-off off was any strategy to counter the left-arm seamers, it The runs were increasingly becoming difficult to Azharuddin survived and with him the team lived ing exhibition as Aravinda, inspired by Muralith- SRI LANKA Kumble was the shot of the final and his success in was certainly not evident in the manner in which come by and Sri Lanka appeared to have fielders all to fight as Tendulkar showed remarkable constraint aran, plucked a catch at short midwicket to remove S.