Virender Sehwag, without a half-century in his last 11 one-day international (ODI) innings, was controversially denied a 100 by a no-ball in Dambulla last night, but his masterful knock kept India's challenge in the tri-series alive. Sehwag's unbeaten 99 gave India a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka and clinched a vital bonus point for them after the embarrassing 200-run loss to New Zealand in their opening match of the tri-series.
This was Sehwag's first 50-plus score since the 146 against Sri Lanka at Rajkot in December, and came in trying conditions under floodlights after India had slipped to three for 32 chasing 171 for a win. Eschewing all risks at the start, he blossomed later on to take his team across the finish line in 34.3 overs. Sehwag missed a well-deserved century after Suraj Randiv bowled a no-ball when the scores were level. He was on 99 when the 35th over started, with India needing five for a win. The first ball went for four byes and the batsman stepped out to lodge the fourth over long-off, but it was a no-ball and the six did not count.
Sehwag was celebrating his century before realising that under the rules the no-ball had come before the six, and the game was over before the ball made contact with the bat. He held no grudges against the bowler, though. "A bowler tries to bowl a wide or a no-ball when a batsman is on 99 and scores are level," he said in a post-match television interview. "It happens in cricket because nobody wants to allow a batsman to score a 100 against them. So it's fair enough.
"It doesn't matter whether I am 99 not out or 100, what matters is the win. I was just thinking about staying at the crease. The game gets easier the longer you stay at the crease. I knew if I could bat 30 overs, the match would be over in 35 overs. "So I just tried to apply myself and batted quietly, especially in the first 10 overs when we had lost three early wickets. I just waited for the loose balls and made sure I did not miss any of them."
The foundation for India's win was laid earlier in the afternoon by an impressive bowling performance. Cashing in on the breezy, overcast conditions, the India bowlers dismissed Sri Lanka for a modest 170 in 46.1 overs, with Pragyan Ojha taking three for 36, and Praveen Kumar (two for 20), Ishant Sharma (two for 32) and Ravindra Jadeja (two for 34) sharing six wickets. Kumar dismissed Upul Tharanga in the 13th over to leave the home side on four for 44 following Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera's dismisals to the pavilion. A determined 45 from Tillakaratne Dilshan and a dogged 43 from Suraj Randiv helped the hosts put a decent score on the board, but they were probably 60 short of what they wanted.
"India played really well," Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka captain, said. "I thought they bowled well, especially in the first few overs, and we batted pretty badly right throughout. "We never managed to get a partnership going nor a couple of the top batsmen batting through for quite some time. "Then Virender Sehwag in the chase batted really well. About 230 or 240 would have been an ideal target on this pitch."
arizvi@thenational.ae
