Dambulla, June 22: Farveez Maharoof’s five-for including a superb hat-trick helped Sri Lanka bowl India out for a below par 209 an inconsequential league match of Asia Cup on Tuesday.
Farveez Maharoof took a superb hat-trick in the 39th over to send a shock wave through the Indian batting line-up. From 189/4, India suddenly found themselves at 189/8. The triple blow left India in deep trouble and prevented them from posting a big score. Ultimately, Indian were skittled out in the 43rd over.
When it looked that India built a sold ground for acceleration in the slog overs, Indian captain MS Dhoni ran himself out after playing a busy innings of 41 off just 53 balls. Immediately after Dhoni’s departure, Ravindra Jadeja went without scoring a run, leaving India a spot of bother.
Praveen Kumar also did not last long as he was bowled by Maharoof in the very first ball. Maharoof took both the wickets in consecutive balls. Maharoof, then, removed Zaheer Khan in the next ball to complete his hat-trick.
Earlier, despite losing four wickets on 110, Rohit Sharma and M S Dhoni came to the rescue of India as they forged a 79-run stand to take India close to 200.
Rohit Sharma, though, remained India’s only saving grace as he made a mature 69 and became the last man out for India.
Putting into bat first, Gautam Gambhir and Dinesh Karthik gave India a good start as they helped India cross fifty run-mark in 10th over. Karthik, playing in the absence of Virender Sehwag, was more fluent of the two.
But Gautam Gambhir became the first batsman to depart as he got out for 23 off Angelo Mathews. Gambhir’s 31-ball knock consisted of three hits to the fence.
Farveez Maharoof inflicted the second blow to the Team India as he removed Virat Kohli for just 10. Kohli tried to cut one delivery from Mahroof which went straight to the gloves of Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps.
After playing a solid knock of 40 off 43 balls, Dinesh Karthik became the first victim of left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. Karthik played really well for his 40 and forged a 58-run opening stand with Gautam Gambhir that laid India foundation. He hit six fours during his stay at the crease.
The match was seen as a dress-rehearsal for the final as both the teams would face each other in the finals of the tournament on Thursday.
India rested Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh for this match while Virender Sehwag is out of the Cup with an injury.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka have decided to rest Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Samaraweera, Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga.
Squad:
India (Playing XI): Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni(w/c), Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara(w/c), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welegedara
—Agencies