No reSuLt; India are D(hon)isappointed

India made just one change to their playing eleven – Manoj Tiwary made way for Yuvraj Singh.

Sri Lanka made five Cha(minda)nges to the (Russ)el that last played the Indians – Marvan Atapattu, Arnold, Farveez Maharoof, Malinga Bandara and Dilhara Fernando made way for Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Vaas, Ishara Amerasinghe and Muttiah Muralitharan.

On winning the toss, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s skipper, chose to bat. The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. India’s openers scored 50 off 11.1 overs. Extras didn’t contribute to the partnership. While Virender Sehwag’s contribution to the partnership was 26, Sachin Tendulkar’s contribution to it was 27.

Tendulkar, whose 52-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, eventually scored (Lasi)thirty-five. Eighty-seven balls into the match, Malinga broke the 68-run partnership.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. Sehwag, whose 39-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, scored 33. Sixteen balls after Tendulkar’s dismissal, he was caught by Kumar Sangakkara. Amerasinghe broke the 12-run stand.

Yuvraj, who faced 11 balls, scored just a couple. Twenty balls (Mahe)later, he was caught by Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s skipper. Muralitharan broke the three-run stand.

The fourth-wicket pair didn’t get off the (Shar)mark. Rohit, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t open his account. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Sangakkara off the bowling of Muralitharan.

India scored 100 off 27.1 overs (164 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded a couple of extras at that point. Thirty-three overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 128 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Gautam Gambhir, who was batting at number three, had scored 27, Dhoni was batting on 28.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 50 off 78 balls. While Gambhir’s contribution to the partnership was 18, Dhoni’s contribution to it was 31. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

India scored 150 off 36.5 overs (223 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded three extras at that point. Gambhir’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 71 balls. The fifth-wicket pair put on 100 off 78 balls. While Gambhir’s contribution to the partnership was 54, Dhoni’s contribution to it was 44. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

India scored 200 off 43.4 overs (266 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point. Dhoni’s half-century – which included a couple of boundaries and a six – came off 74 balls.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 150 off 159 balls. While Gambhir’s contribution to the partnership was 77, Dhoni’s contribution to it was 69. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four.

India scored 250 off 48.4 overs (296 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point. Gambhir’s ton – which included 10 boundaries and a six – came off 99 balls. He eventually scored 102 off 101 balls. He was unbeaten, as was the man from Ranchi, who scored 88. His (Dho)ninety-five-ball innings included five boundaries and a six.

The number of extras Sri Lanka eventually conceded gave them no reason to be in seventh heaven. India scored 267 for the loss of four wickets off 50 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan bowled a wicketless over, conceding eight. Sanath Jayasuriya bowled three wicketless overs, conceding 24. Kapugedera bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceding 23. Vaas bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceding 72.

Malinga bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 56, picking up a wicket. Amerasinghe bowled 10 overs, including two maidens. He conceded 30, picking up a wicket. Muralitharan, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 51. He picked up a couple of scalps.

Rain interrupted the match before the commencement of the chase. It ended without a result, and both India and Sri Lanka shared a couple of points apiece.