Third Test match day 2: India vs Srilanka

Hi friends, i will be giving updates on the second of the third test match which is being played between India and Srilanka. At the start of the yesterday's play, Virender Sehwag completed his century. Sachin Tendulkar scored only 1 run in yesterday's play and got out in Lasith Malinga's delivery. Virender Sehwag also dismissed early, he departed scoring 109 runs. VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina helped the team to move closer to the target set by the Srilankan. Laxman got out after scoring 56 runs and Suresh Raina got out scoring 62 runs. After this break, India soon lost all its remaining 6 wickets and finished its innings. India had put up a total of 436 runs in first innings thereby leading Srilankans by 11 runs.

Srilanka opened its second innings with their openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillakaratne Dilshan. They both opened well but things changed when Virender Sehwag was brought into the attack. They both got out in his delivery and departed in the 9.5 over and 12 over respectively. Later Kumar Sangakkara and Suraj Randiv started to play. The play for the day was called off and Srilanka landed up scoring 45 runs in total and lost 2 wickets in the second innings. Let's wait n watch what happens to the remaining 8 wickets in today's play.

Asia Cup: Ist ODI

In the Inaugural match of the Asia Cup, Srilanka played Pakistan at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Rangiri. Srilanka won the toss & elected to bat first.

Upul Tharanga & Tillakaratne Dilshan opened the innings for Srilankan side. Both did not stay long as they got out scoring 11 & 18 runs respectively. Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene & Angelo Mathews help Srilanka to put up a decent total. Angelo Mathews stayed till the end of 50 overs & was unbeaten scoring 55 runs. Srilanka scored 242 runs from 50 overs loosing 9 wickets. Abdul Razzaq was very impressive on bowling side as his economy rate was just 3.37 runs per over & took a wicket. Shoiab Akthar's come back is very good as he also looked impressive with ball, his economy rate was just 4.1 runs per over & took 3 crucial wickets for his team.

Chasing the score of 242 runs set by the Srilankans, Pakistan opened its batting innings with the openers Shahzaib Hasan & Salman Butt. Pakistanis lost 2 quick wickets where they could not resist Lashith Malinga's attack. Shahid Afridi played a magnificent innings who scored 109 runs from just 76 deliveries which included 8 fours & 7 sixes. Akmal Brothers both could not stand for longer time as they both got run out. After the fall of Shahid Afridi all the pressure fell on Abdul Razzaq, but even he could not succeed as the co-strikers all got out. By the end of 47th over, Pakistan lost all its 10 wickets scoring 226 runs. Srilanka won the match by 16 runs. Man of the match was Shahid Afridi.

India vs Srilanka

Today India played their 2nd ODI of the tri-series against Srilanka at Queen's Sports Club, Bulawayo. Indians after their unbelievable defeat against the Zimbabwe in their 1st ODI, they are playing against Srilanka who are their past rival. At the super eight match in World Twenty20, Srilankan's stunned India by winning the match & putting India out of the series. Now its time for India to pay them.

India won the toss & let the Srilankan's to bat first. Upul Tharanga & Tillakaratne Dilshan opened the batting innings for Srilanka. Upul Tharanga did not survive for longer period. Dilshan played beautifully & scored 61 runs before his run out which was hit by Rohit Sharma. Later, Angelo Mathews took the responsibility & contributed 75 runs to the team which helped Srilanka to put up a decent total of 242 runs. Srilanka lost all 10 wickets in 49.5 overs scoring 242 runs at a run rate of 4.86 runs per over.
This total is not a huge one for India, but looks pretty decent until they loose some quick wickets. Indians need 243 runs in 50 overs to win the match against Srilanka.

Dinesh Karthik & Murali Vijay started the chase for India, but they both were unsuccessful as they got out & walked back to pavillion. This seems to be a bad sign for India as it has lost its openers. Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli played a decent innings & contributed a good partnership. Both played well & scored half centuries individually. This helped India a lot to go into positive track.

India fight for pride in their 3rd super eight match

Today, India played Srilanka in their 3rd super eight match. This was supposed to be a must win match for the Srilankans in order to get into ICC World Twenty20 Cup semi-final. Indians have to win the match with a huge margin & West Indies who will be playing Aussies should loose. Only by this way India can enter the semi-finals.

India won the toss & elected to bat first. Gautam Gambhir & Dinesh Karthik opened the innings for India. Dinesh Karthik started with a magnificent four but he did not survive for a longer period as he got out in the 4.2 over. Suresh Raina & Gautam Gambhir made a good partnership of 66 runs which helped India to be in a strong position. Suresh Raina was the top scorer for India who scored 63 runs from 47 deliveries which included 7 fours & a six. After 20 overs, India had put up a total score of 163 runs on board. This was a good come back by the Srilankan team as  they had restricted India to score just 73 runs in last 10 overs.

Mahela Jayawardene opened the batting innings for Srilanka by hitting a four in a grand style. They have to score 164 runs in order to get into the semi-finals. Mahela Jayawardene & Sanath Jayasuriya did not play for longer duration as they both were out in the 1st & 2nd over respectively. Dilshan, Sangakkara, Mathews & Kapugedara contibuted some good knocks which helped Srilanka to enter the semi-finals. In last 4 overs, Srilanka scored 55 runs which helped them to win the match by 5 wickets. Kapugedara hit a six in the last delivery of the innings when Srilanka needed 3 runs in 1 ball. India & West Indies are out of ICC World Twenty20 cup.

India did not win even a single match in the super eight matches. According to me they showed poor performance because of the poor captaincy.