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Did Sri Lanka Outsmart India in Cricket?
by DR. ABDUL RUFF Colachal
Fraud and mischief are global phenomena affecting all psheres of soceity endeavors and none perhpas wants to be above. Cricket suffers from serious malpractices and manipulations apart from the usual mischief being played by the cricket mafias in boosting the image of select players and teams. Media pretend ignorant of this special feature in cricket dwell on the final outcomes. Recently ended Indo-Lankan series in Colombo is a case in point here. After unduly enjoying for a couple of months together over the Indian "extra-ordinary" cricket performances in India and Sri Lanka, India fell dead silent almost all of a sudden on February 08 as the results of the Fifth and last ODI in Sri Lanka were pouring in. Even TVs and radios were quickly abandoned by Indians. Although India had already won 4 out of 5 matches in this tournament, and also the series clinched, it still feels "let down" and hence dejected by the defeat in the last ODI played in Colombo on Saturday. Indian media which, deriving sadistic pleasure in blasting the news about Pakistan losing to Sri Lanka, rather "Sri Lanka thrashing Pakistan" in Pakistan, are not dead panic as if some terror attack has happened in India and now they are shut up, at least for the time being.
Indians were expecting a mammoth 5-0 win over Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka as well as clinching the world championship in ODI version, and they all over the country made elaborate blasting arrangements, firecrackers and semi - explosives reminding the innocent Indians of a real terrorist activities in the country. They are lucky and safe, but they were frustrated and badly disappointed.
In fact, the India media both print and net are ready with top blast news item on India emerging the world champions of cricket in IDI by overtaking South African that has earned the tile just recently when it defeated Australia in Australia. As usual, every where in India people were impatiently waiting for the "news" form Sri Lanka to blast semi-explosives to mark the "victory".
If India had defeated Sri Lanka, it would have become the world's No. 1 team, but that did not materialize as Sri Lanka convincingly thrashed the visiting India, even though it lost to the Indian guests all the previous 4 matches. Meanwhile, on 7 February New Zealand defeated Australia and made the Aussies lose the second champion title also to India, but subsequenly redeemed it owing to rains in Australia when on 08 February, Australia defeated New Zealand to get back the second place slot in world cricket. Now with a great defeat at the hands of Sri Lankans, India has been pushed back to number three slot, perhaps to slip toward further erosion in prestigue.
I
Sri Lanka posted 320 as they sought consolation victory in the earnest and they successfully defended their bating prowess too by restgrct5ing India to a negligible score. Sri Lanka scored 320 for eight (Run Rate: 6.4) in the fifth one-day international against India on 08 Feb Sunday, the hosts looking to salvage the final match of the series after four straight defeats. The hosts bowled the Indians for 252 when the batsmen were all out without completing the allowed 50 overs (in 48.5 overs; Run Rate: 5.16)
When Sri Lankans began their bating spree on 8 Feb for the 5th and last ODI, Indians were already 4-0 up having clinched the series and they thought it was a matter of pride to clinch the fifth too. That would have enable Indian to claim the world champions of cricket in ODI format. Sri Lanka sealed the spectacular and much deserving victory as Maharoof served the last ball to Ishant, out Bowled!! All over! Ishant moves across and Maharoof spears it in and Ishant misses and the leg pole is knocked back, SL avoid the ignominy of a whitewash and India after 9 wins on the trot taste their first loss. The finale was Ishant b Maharoof 4(6) with cricket curtain down in Colombo for the time being.
Home skipper Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and opted to bat, a decision that was justified as his line-up responded by dominating the India attack for the only time this series. Dilshan's opening partner Sanath Jayasuriya helped give the innings a solid start with a rapid 37 in a 66-run first-wicket stand. After Jayasuriya's cameo was ended by Irfan Pathan, Sangakkara maintained the momentum with a positive innings, using up just 70 balls for his 84 and hitting eight fours and a six. During a frenzied passage of play in which India stormed back into the game, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for one run to teeter on 256-6 but all rounder Farveez Maharoof steered the hosts past 300 with a swashbuckling 32, hitting a six and three boundaries.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni tried all his bowling options to make breakthroughs, using nine bowlers during the course of the innings.
Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scored with 97 from 117 balls with Kumar Sangakkara adding 84 as the pair provided the foundation for Sri Lanka's largest total of the series with a 143-run second-wicket partnership. Kumar Sangakkara is the Man of the Match and he said all the team felt that individually they could have contributed more. Once they were 4-0 down it was a matter of pride, on this particular day all the guys stepped up
Thus, Sri Lanka has clinched a consolation 68-run victory against India in the fifth and final one-day international in Colombo to avoid a series whitewash before meeting the Pakistan team against Pakistan. India and Australia refused to play with Pakistan citing "terrorism" reason. The Lankan decision to bat first did the magic for them this time scoring 320 runs; in fact at point it seemed they would even cross 360, but suddenly 5 quick wickets upset their efforts and dream for a final victory.
India is terribly upset and soared with Sri Lanka for its continuous naughty behavior: last year also the same thing happened to India which won all matches but lost the last and final, though inconsequential. India media and even the players had a tough time sleeping for days.
But then, sincere Indians should thank the Sri Lankans for possibly saving many lives in India if India had won the fifth match too.
II
A solid 97 from opener Tillakaratne Dilshan and a quickfire 84 from Kumar Sangakkara took Lanka to a handy 320/8, despite a late wobble that threatened to derail their innings. After the quick wickets of both M Jayewardene(01) and C Kapugedera(0), Sri Lanka became under pressure, but F Maharoof straightened the flow by scoring good 32 runs in 23 balls including a thrilling sixer. Although the strong buildup by the other two batsmen provided the base, Maharoof's effective intervention at the appropriate time fully defended the home team to the victory stand, when the team was losing regular wickets and its appeared they would not reach 300 mark to pose a serious threat to Indians who have made this mark before and a lower target would boost their morale to fight back to win the fifth match too. That would have ended most disastrously for Sri Lanka.
As Sri Lanka kept delaying the Power Play, their innings seemed to unravel. It was Farveez Maharoof who took the total past 300-mark a cameo of 32-runs that finally ensured the hard work at the beginning did not go waste. Maharoof's example would be beneficial to any upcoming cricketer.
Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya put together their best foot forward, and the latter was especially brutal against Ishant Sharma, spanking the bowler for five boundaries. Looking to avoid an Indian clean sweep in the series, Sangakkara decided to sweep everything that was pitched up as he raced to 84 off just 70 balls, before top-edging one. The second-wicket partnership had fetched 143 off 136 deliveries, and Lanka were on their way. Dilshan continued to play the anchor, while Sangakkara devised novel ways of countering the plethora of part-time spinners. Dilshan kept punching the ball between cover and point, and looked set for a century when he was tragically run-out three short of a ton. Was it a gimmick or real?
Sri Lankans focused on Tendulkar and was ousted for a few runs three times consecutively, entailing removal from the squad for the ODI by India out of embarrassment that he was groomed as the best sportsman without conceding the fact that his fellow batsmen helped him to blast or perform in the grounds and the opponents (bowlers) promoted his cricketism for the sake of benefits from Indian governments. Now India is convinced that it committed a big blunder by honoring him with several awards and heavy gifts. Now, Tendulkar does not find a place in 20/20 as well.
True, Sri Lanka cannot match the weapons toilets amazed by India over decades on various pretexts threatening its neighbors, nor can it contain its economic and security maneuvers any significantly, but it tries to restrain Indian overtures on Indian Ocean and influences inside the island. This has annoyed India and but can do nothing about it. Sri Lankans 'back-stabbing' in cricket ODI this way cannot be digested India, its media and strategists so easily. Even if the Lankan Tigers help of salt.
III
India bating came apart right at the beginning in the very first 10 overs of the chase itself and the follow-up did not make any difference to Sri Lankan intent.
Indian worry has no limits. India's 68-run defeat to Sri Lanka on Feb 08 Sunday cost them their second place in the latest ICC ODI rankings as they were overtaken by Australia after the World champions pulled off a thrilling win over New Zealand. India lost two rating points to reduce to 120 while Australia (122) gained one point to their tally to overtake India, who are now back to third place after their brief stay at second spot behind top-ranker South Africa.
By defeating New Zealand on Feb 08, Australia has bounced back quickly to world second position. If Australia, who is on decline in the last few months, wins their next two matches they will be tied at top spot with South Africa, although they will be still second if the rankings are calculated beyond decimal points. India, who won the series 4-1 against Sri Lanka, will have the chance to regain their best-ever rankings of second spot during their tour of New Zealand, beginning later this month.
IV
The fifth match in Colombo was inconsequential as far as the series went, but it was an impolrtant win for the hosts as India's 68-run loss to Sri Lanka, apart from salvaging some pride for the hosts, also ensured that Mahendra Dhoni & Co's winning streak ended at nine, and that they will have to wait longer to get to the No. 1 ranking. Every win or loss for India from here on will bring his side one step closer to or farther from the world number one position, which is being currently occupied by South Africa (125) with a lead of just three points, followed by Australia.
India manages to win the toss as a rule and that is believed to offer wins for the team at home and abroad.. This has been a norm all these years. It appears others understand the Indian weak sentiments and give in at the very beginning. Dhoni lost his first toss of the series, allowing the opposition some breathing space as they went about setting a target. Dhoni lost his first toss of the series, allowing the opposition some breathing space as they went about setting a target..
But, howver, one question arises here: Did Sri Lanka underplay the previous 4 ODI matches and if so why? Alternatively, did India help the hosts win the last and final "inconsequential" fifth match? For India the inconsequential 5th match was extremely crucial to move swiftly to the number on ODI position. Then, India would not have shown that mercy or generosity to the hosts!
Sri Lanka's imposing performance made even Indian skipped limping unable to bat properly. Now the attention is focused on 10 Feb Tuesday when the T20 between SL and India takes place at the same ground where India would be eyeing a series "whitewash" while Lanka would like to give a "blackwash". On a high after demolishing Sri Lanka 4-1 in the just-concluded ODI series, India still has a distinct edge over the depleted hosts when the sides lock horn in the first Twenty20 international Cricket match on Lankan soil. A good target score is essential for a win and chasing a big score, Sri Lanka needs a good start from their in-form batsmen of the island. Great teams are those that carry the sport spirit and momentum forward into every game and each match.
V - Post-script
In the only 20/20 on 10 February, Sri Lanka clearly demsotrated how they decisivley could lose a match to India even when they had a very high score of 173 and in spite of 7 quick wickets of India and they were sure to win the last match too. That is, if a team decides to lose, they do make all efforts to achieve that goal and mostly they succeed, unless the opponents are too luck to make use of the available opportunity.This has happened to Australia and now with Sri Lanka too. Quite vividly.
India does not honor its own commitments given to Muslim employees when appointed posts, but these Muslims are troubled to quit or seek voluntary retirement, but the government agencies harass them without giving them the benefits. But it spends huge resources of the poor Indians on cricket in the name of Indian pride and promotes its henchmen every where.
World cricket bodies have to restrict the matches by any cricket team by prescribing maximum number of IDIs and Tests and 20/20s etc. Because more resourceful and influential countries keep playing all the time improving not only their capabilities and tricks, but also their ratings. If a team loses a match some points should be removed as penalty.
Some special squads must be brought into play in checking secret dealings and other rackets involving cricket mafia and cricketers and leaders. There should be thorough enquiry into the finances of the cricketism and nasty role being played by cricket mafia and other nefarious hidden activities to pop up a particular team and select players.
Cricket is a team game and success of every player depends on the cooperation of fellow cricketers, of both the teams. Fellow batsman enhances the strong bating performances of the so called best crickets. Under the circumstances, it is erroneous to name only a particular cricketer the best, since that goes against the ethics of collectivity. Conversely, without the cooperation of fellow cricketers, none can really shine the way they are doing now. Hence the payment or "rates" for each cricketer is unwarranted. It refers to all teams, not just Indian or Sri Lankan. This is a global phenomenon.
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Yours Sincerely,
DR.ABDUL RUFF Colachal
Columnist & Independent Researcher in World Affairs, The only Indian to have gone through entire India
South Asia.
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