So one more Sehwag century and one more SL loss. Doesnt matter they came close as good as 3 runs. A defeat is a defeat and unlike Sangakara there is no place for what ifs, could have beens and should have beens. He led the reply to a certain extent, fine. But he was unable to win it for the team.
So the result says India beat SL by 3 runs. Its amazing to see India have nose up the SL's ass in last 2 years. Out of last 13 games India has won 9 and lost just 4. Out of this 9, 8 wins have come in SL. So its a good comeback after the humiliating defeat in WC'07.
The figures of 0/88 in 10 for Zaks Khan doesnt reflect the super yorkers he bowled in the last overs which saw Kandamby, the modern day Ranatunga in every aspect -- running, laziness and getting run out :) and Mathews choke and get run out.
SL have got their batting order wrong. Jayasuriya has no business coming at 4 ahead of Jayawardhena. He should be batting at the top. Period.
Ok enough of SL bashing. Good for this post.
India has to sort out its middle order woes in absence of Yuvraj Singh. 309-1 to 352-6 in 5 overs is not something India would always prefer to have.
Rainas and Kohlis have to understand one thing that their IPL heroics aint going to give them the leeway for much longer in the international games. Raina heads close to 2000 runs, but then he has been playing for more than 4 years now and hasnt attained the maturity he is supposed to.
Dhoni and himself made debut in space of 8 months in ODIs and the place where they stand today are poles apart. Raina got 2 hundreds against weaker teams and besides that he has a bare cupboard. The 81 he made in England ODI series in 2006 is the only bright spot for him. Either side of that wretched period when Chappell ruined Raina's career, he has been unable to lift himself.
Gambhir at 4 isnt a suitable option for him. He has to be at 3 or opening. But with Ten playing he has to play one down. Dhoni did a good job but did that affect Gambhir's confidence ?
All in all 825 runs have set the bar a bit high from what it was before. 650 runs was considered huge in 90s and now with the end of 2000's first decade, the 800 runs isnt even safe benchmark.
T20s seem to spur the run rate for ODIs which had spurred the Tests run rates last decade with mighty Australians setting the trend. One format fuels the other and they say one format is dangerous for other.
Good start to the ODIs, but spare a thought for bowlers and of course Sangakars who seems to be coming with syllables and jargons with every game.
"Most of the time you can roll over and die chasing over 400, but we almost made".
Bachaooooooooooooooooo.
