If Only!! the Run Or Two That Made a Difference
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14 Saturday 18th February, 2012 was now in peril. So it proved. Again, when umpire Nigel Llong erred in giv- ing Gambhir out lbw when he was well set, one felt then India’s easing to victo- ry in a canter was imperilled (and if If Only!! The Run or Two that India had permitted a DRS scheme too that error would have been rectified). Likewise Gambhir and Dhoni were well in command of the situation against Sri Lanka two days later when Dhoni – he is not a saint-magician always – left Gambhir high and dry and run out. made a Difference Earlier Sri Lanka’s total was less than it might have been because BY PROF. MICHAEL ROBERTS battle where the gallant Sri Lankans once, Lanka would have had two runs less would have been Sri Lanka’s for sure. Mathews and Chandimal proceeded to must have felt they ‘lost’ a game that was to chase in the closing stages. 8. Adelaide, India vs Sri Lanka: if take several hair-raising runs three F ONLY!! … ….. Dan Christian had not in their grasp – not winning because of … 4. Adelaide, Oz vs India: if Mackay had Senanayake had not dived valiantly to times in a row and, lo and behold, made an athletic, boundary saving you guessed it …several If Onlys! not bowled a high full toss that was a no- prevent Dhoni’s punch to extra-cover Chandimal was run-out in their third Idive on the ropes once, and then again But let me underline that simple point: ball during his last over, Dhoni would had and saved a run, India would have won attempt at hara-kiri. Like Gambhir, a second time, late in Sri Lanka’s innings a few better fielding efforts of the type more hills to climb in the last two balls. once again. Chandimal was well-set and his contin- at Perth on the 10th of February, Angelo that Christian pulled off OR better crick- 5. Adelaide, India vs Sri Lanka: if These were run-saving little ued presence would have yielded a big- Mathews would have 3 or 4 runs less to et in a conventional cricketing sense may keeper Sangakkara had not botched a moments of critical import in the con- ger total for India to chase. His dis- make in that nerve-tingling last over and have made a difference and enabled the skier India would have had two runs less text of each match. It is a tale of small missal meant – in all probability —that Sri Lanka would have probably won. team that lost a game within their grasp in its bean counter and two more to reach steps carrying momentous import. India had more than 236 runs to chase. But, remarkably, we have had a series to sigh and say “IF ONLY.” I will take for victory. However, the list of lapses that counted This, of course, is a familiar tale in of three such coruscating and nerve-tin- them in temporal order 6. Adelaide, India vs Sri Lanka: if for much does not end there. As any some cricket matches and is part of the gling finishes in a row because the Perth 1. Perth, SL vs Australia: if only Angelo Mathews had not followed Mackay cricket buff will tell you, there were beauty of the game. Lapses SMALL as ODI was followed by two other games at Kulasekera’s sliding effort to prevent a in delivering a high full toss no-ball — to other moments during these matches well as BIG are integral to its topsy- Adelaide which went down to the wire boundary at the WACA had not gone awry Pathan this time — in the penultimate that were turning points and some of turvy character. and held spectators enthralled. In Game Sri Lanka would have saved 1 or 2 runs; over, the Indians would have had greater them were quite patent even at the And how could the error-prone or Two Australia ended up as losers as that so lower total to chase. peaks to scale thereafter. moment of their occurrence, though fielding-brilliant character of cricket as cannonball-magician MS Dhoni kept cool 2. Perth, SL vs Australia: if Malinga 7. Adelaide, India vs Sri Lanka: if underlined more clearly at the end of a game be better demonstrated than by and hoisted India to an improbable win in had not botched a dive at the boundary Malinga had not botched a throw from the day. the marking of a peculiar feature of the the last over — aided by at least one “If ropes, Sri Lanka would have saved 1 or 2 Mahela Jayawardene and given Dhoni a Thus when Dilshan’s error led to Sri Lanka-India match on14th Only.” And then, as remarkably, Dhoni runs — so lower total to chase. life it would have reduced India’s total by Sangakkara being run-out at the WACA February: where a bloke called Mr kept his cool and secured a remarkable 3. Perth, SL vs Australia: if Christian one crucial run, and also got rid of against the Aussies, we knew then that RUN-OUT snared seven wickets out of tie in the last over against Sri Lanka in a had failed to prevent a boundary at least India’s decisive force – so that the game what was going to be a controlled chase the nineteen that fell. Merchant Credit in thrilling two-wicket win National Spirit damaged The Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored, BMW—Hyundai Cup, MCA ‘C’ Division, 50 overs League tournament came to a close with the final played at De Soyza Park, Moratuwa on February 11. and destroyed! BY REVATA S. SILVA In the afternoon yesterday, people were seen flocking in front of the Fort Railway Station TV screens as the Sri Lankan bowlers tried to contain the Aussie bats- men in a One-day International cricket match in Sydney. The prayers of those fans should have been with the Sri Lankan team to do well and to win the match and… bring the Cup to their home- land… Bring a Cup to Sri Lanka? It’s not a wise thing to do now. Will those who run local cricket administration lose the ‘Com Bank Tri Series Trophy’ in a carnival or will they sell it for ‘Bothal Paththare’ one day, one may justifiably ask. For, they’ve almost done the same to THE Cup of all Cups in The captain of the champion Merchant Credit of Sri Lanka team Duminda Pinto (L) receives the this island nation, the 1996 Cricket World ‘BMW-Hyundai’ Cup from the chief guest, General Manager, Business Development, Prestige Cup. What’s more? Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., Ranjith Jayawardene (R). Others in the picture from L to R: Sujeewa de Silva, It is not really about the two small Secretary, Tournament Committee, MCA, Pradeep Ramanathan, Snr. Sales Manager, Prestige The skipper of Dimo, Anushka Polonnowita (L) Gold rivets that have gone missing from Automobile, Mahesh Wijewardene, President, MCA and Dharshana Munasinghe, Head of Marketing, receives the trophy from the President, MCA, the 1996 ‘Wills’ World Cup, when it was on Hyundai. Mahesh Wijewardene (R). display to the public by unwise, irrespon- sible and money-hungry cricket officials. The mere fact that the World Cup, which could be the most precious sporting mem- orabilia of Sri Lanka’s modern history, being carelessly handled and transported, Ananda guides Zahira to huge win and the very news that it has been dam- aged and its Gold rivets gone missing, BY REEMUS FERNANDO Sadeera shines on day one Nalanda skipper Koshan Danushka have the gravity strong enough to stun Sadeera Samarawickrama top scored reached fifty wickets for the season with a the sports psyche of a whole nation. Spinner Pradeep Ananda bagged nine with 93 runs (117 balls) inclusive of 12 six-wicket haul. Unfortunately, the post-World-Cup-win wickets including a six-wicket haul in the fours for St. Joseph’s College to post 251 for Scores: cricket administration in Sri Lanka The World Cup is not merely and physical- second innings to guide Zahira College to eight wickets declared against St. Wesley 145 all out in 41.1 overs (Sadeem apparently knows nothing about what is ly, a metallic Cup. It has to be considered a an innings and 46 runs victory over Anthony’s College, Katugastota on day one Thawfeeq 31, Ashail Kariyawasam 26, called cricket spirit, cricket culture and Lumbini College in the Under-19 in the centenary encounter of their tradi- Dinuka Jayasinghe 39; Koshan Danushka their relation with ‘Nationalism.’ symbol of National pride, National achieve- encounter which ended at Moors Ground, tional series played for Murali-Vaas 6/50, Pramudh Hettiwatta 2/23, Nikila It’s the responsibility of any school ment. (Files) yesterday. Trophy at Darley Road, yesterday. Weerasinghe 2/25) principal to protect the school’s trophy building a state-of-the-art cricket muse- Scores: Scores: Nalanda 124 all out in 32.3 overs (Nikila cupboard and, most of the time, it hap- um! Zahira 220 all out in 54.4 overs (Imraz Rafi St. Joseph’s 251 for 8 decl in 65 overs Weerasinghe 29, Pramudh Hettiwatta 45; pens. But it is seriously doubtful whether But such big things can’t be expected 99, Lakshan Edirisinghe 32, S. Fazil 27, Sadeem Thawfeeq 5/37, Sachin ‘our’ cricket board head Upali from the SLC which is ludicrous enough Dilshad Hilmi 23, Basith Marikkar 20; Jayawardena 3/40) Dharmadasa is aware of these basic to invite the media to the cricket board Pradeep Wasantha 3/45, Wasana Under-19 Cricket responsibilities.