Humdinger ends in a tie

Ice-man MS Dhoni almost did it again but could only bring India on level terms with Sri Lanka at Adelaide as the match ended in a tie with both teams splitting the four points. Chasing a modest 237, India lost wickets at regular intervals before Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni joined forces to put India back on track. However, an untimely run-out that resulted in Gambhir’s dismissal on 91 allowed Sri Lanka to claw their way back into the contest. It all came down to four off the last delivery, Dhoni’s tonk was stopped by a diving fielder at deep cover and batsmen could only run three. The Indian skipper finished unbeaten on 58, his second successive death defying knock in the CB series.

It was a repeat of India’s last match when Gambhir and Dhoni had starred in a thrilling last over win over Australia. The came together when India were in trouble at 118 for 4. Among the top-order batters, only Gambhir played with some fluency as others including Sachin Tendulkar wasted starts. Sachin, back in the team after being rested for the Australia match, was caught behind off Nuwan Kalusekara for 15. Virat Kohli was pinned in front of the stumps by Thisara Parera, a direct hit accounted for Rohit Sharma and Raina’s fine deflection was held by Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps.

While India lost their top-order to some disciplined bowling and ordinary short selection, Gautam Gambhir held up one end with sensible batting. He milked the bowling for ones and twos to keep his side in the hunt and when MS Dhoni started to contribute in equal measure; India slowly began to reclaim the upper hand. The 60-run stand between the two had the side cruising towards the target only for a misjudged Dhoni call to let Sri Lanka back through the door.

It was the second time running that Gambhir missed out on a century and considering he may have to sit out in the next game owing to India’s contentious rotation policy, it was heartbreak. Anyways, he had done his job and it was left to Dhoni and others to take India home.

With new batsmen using up crucial deliveries, the required rate shot up from a comfortable six to about ten per over. From last three overs, India needed 24 with the match hanging in balance but Lasith Malinga delivered a terrific over- conceded only four runs and picked up the wicket of R Ashwin to make Dhoni’s job difficult. Angelo Mathews bowling round the stumps to Dhoni in the penultimate over prevented a big hit off the first three deliveries before a rank bad full toss was deposited over square led by Irfan Pathan. This six off the no-ball and a Dhoni whack brought down the equation to nine off last over. Malinga kept Dhoni from hitting a boundary and the last ball smack was stopped by the fielder to end the match in a fitting manner as no team had done enough to deserve a win.

Earlier, Sri Lanka lost their way during the batting powerplay to squander a strong platform laid by fluent Dinesh Chandimal, who partnered Mahela Jayawardene in a 96-run stand to bail the side out of early problems. However, India wrestled back the initiative with 3 for 18 in the powerplay, thereby reducing the target they had to chase by a good thirty runs. Lack of big hits at the death restricted Sri Lanka to a middling total of 236 for 9.

Despite India winning both their last matches while chasing, Mahela decided to test their second innings skills once again by opting to bat first. However, the start was not an auspicious one. India needed only two deliveries to draw first blood as Upul Tharanga left his bat out to dry on a routine Vinay Kumar outswinger and the resulting nick nestled into Dhoni’s gloves. Irfan Pathan, making his return into the Indian team after some time, got the new ball to move appreciably and forced an inside edge from Dilshan, Dhoni making no mistake to complete his second catch.

Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal briefly steadied the ship with a fifty stand before a flighted Ashwin delivery beat the former to draw a leading edge that lobbed to Gambhir at point. At 79 for three, Sri Lanka were in bit of strife and thus, Chandimal in company of his skipper had to start the recovery all over again.

Despite an accomplished batsman of Jayawardene’s class at one end, Chandimal donned the role of senior partner in the stand with aplomb. His mature short selection enabled Jayawardene to play freely. They hit the gaps and rotated the strike to make sure the score board kept moving at a healthy rate. Chandimal crossed fifty in the process as the pair set up a nice launching pad before that ill-fated batting powerplay was taken.

After 35 overs, 172 for three with two set batsmen at the crease, Sri Lanka could have easily made it somewhere around 270. However, all that changed in couple of overs as India removed the two in quick time to prevent a late charge. Vinay Kumar trapped Jayawardene in front with an inducker and an agile Rohit Sharma ran-out Chandimal on 81. Thisara Parera couldn’t do much and Angelo Mathews was run-out. India conceded only 68 runs in the last fifteen overs to give themselves a fair chance of winning the game.