Sri Lanka puts India in flat spin

Elmo Rodrigopulle in West Indies

CRICKET: The Sri Lankans beat India by 69 runs and bundled them out of the World Cup put them on a direct flight, licking their wounds and thinking what might have been had they not lost to Bangladesh in the first game of Group 'B'. The Indians flew in with great expectations.

They chocked in the first game, and although they beat Bermuda, the loss to the Lankans now leave them at the mercy of their hostile fans back home. Like skipper Rahul Dravid said after the game, while every Indian would be disappointed, he hoped that no physical harm would come to any of the players.

When the game began in brilliant sunshine, India won the toss and asked the Lankans in. India had to win this one if they were to keep their hopes alive.

Things went well for India early on when they had the wickets of the quick-scoring Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara with the score on 92.

Sensible batting from opener Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva and Tillekeratne Dilshan restored the advantage to Sri Lanka and then Russel Arnold and Chaminda Vaas hit out lustily to take Sri Lanka to a formidable 254 for 6 which was always going to be a big ask for the Indians.

Tharanga made a solid 64 off 90 balls with six fours. Chamara Silva was once again in cracking form and he played some lovely strokes on the on side and was never afraid to loft the ball to the outfield. His wristy stroke play was a treat to watch.

When the Indians batted and lost Uthappa early, it was obvious that the Indians, although packing a strong batting line up, would crumble once Chaminda Vaas and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan began to put on show their bowling tricks.

Vaas got Uthappa and Ganguly and then Muralitharan got rid of Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and that nailed the coffin for the Indians and the end to the thoughts they harboured of repeating their World Cup success of 1983. The Lankan bowlers bowled tight and never allowed any of the batsmen to get on top. Only skipper Dravid who made a gallant 60 showed any fight.

The Lankans, in addition to bowling the right line and length and cleverly varying it, were outstanding on the field and the catches held by Muralitharan, Arnold and Vaas were match winners.

Mahela Jayawardena excluded confidence at the press briefing and said that the pieces are falling right just now and he expects to carry this momentum to the games in the Super 8.