Ind vs SL: Kohli, Raina lead India to series win against Sri Lanka

August 1, 2012

kohli-raina


Colombo, August 1: Young India was to the fore again. Two of India's most exciting batsmen, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina showed why they are regarded so as they helped their team register a comprehensive six-wicket win in the fourth ODI and hand Sri Lanka one of their rare series defeat at home.

Kohli and Raina set the Premadasa stadium alight with their superlative strokeplay under lights to post a series clinching 146-run partnership, rendering the last game in Pallekele academic. Kohli, who hammered his second century of the series, is fast emerging as the top ODI batsman in the world today. Ace finisher Raina is not far behind, getting his third half-century of the series.

The two had come together at a stage when the match could have gone either way but the way the two took control of the situation, injury-depleted Sri Lankans did not stand a chance. The performance of the two overshadowed the heroics of part-time bowler Manoj Tiwary who, with his four-wicket haul, had helped India restrict the home team to 251 for eight which the visitors overhauled with eight overs to spare.

Ostensibly, Manoj Tiwary was picked in the team to showcase his batting prowess. But even before he could lay his hands on the bat, he showed his skills with the ball, with his innocuous-looking leg-spin.

After the Sri Lankan top-order had given the home team a solid start, it was the part-time bowlers led by Tiwary, who helped India to restrict the opponents total to a manageable proportion. Such was the effectiveness of India's part-time bowlers, they bowled as many as 22 overs for 112 runs and five wickets. Tiwary's figures would have been even more impressive if he had not conceded 18 runs in the last over of the innings.

It was, however, surprising that skipper MS Dhoni continued to persist with non-regular bowlers when the pace trio of Zaheer Khan, Ashok Dinda and Irfan Pathan had four overs each left. Probably the slowness of the wicket prompted the Indian skipper to rely on the slower bowlers.

After Upal Tharanga and Dilshan had given a solid platform of 91 runs and Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal continuing on with the good work, subsequent batsmen struggled to get a move-on. The slowness of the pitch may have played a part. The only batsmen, apart from the openers, who showed the ball could be hit were Chandimal and Thirimanne, during their half-century stand for the third wicket.

Sri Lanka seemed to be running away towards a big total but Tiwary's introduction in the 32nd over triggered a slide. Tiwary with his looping flight foxed the batsmen and ran thought the middle order, even getting rid of the experienced Mahela Jayawardene. Thirimanne was bowled by Ashwin for 47 after a patient innings to leave Sri Lanka at 219 for 8.

But the Sri Lanka tail bit back. Dhoni persisted with Tiwary, who was hammered by Malinga for a six and then went for 18 in the final over. That helped Sri Lanka touch the 250-mark to give their bowlers a target to put some pressure on the mighty Indian batting which was not to be.

Landmarks and milestones:

- Virat Kohli is the first Indian batsman to register 1,000 ODI runs in successive years - 1,381 (ave.47.62) in 34 matches in 2011 and 1,003 (ave.77.15) in 15 matches in 2012 so far.

- Kohli is the first batsman to manage five hundreds this year, which have come in his last eight innings - four against Sri Lanka and one against Pakistan.

- Of his 13 hundreds, eight resulted in successful chases for India. Only three batsmen have recorded more hundreds in successful chases - Sachin Tendulkar (14), Sanath Jayasuriya (9) and Saeed Anwar (9).

- Kohli is averaging 76.57 in successful chases - 1,991 runs in 34 matches. Only three batsmen have averaged better than Kohli - Mahendra Singh Dhoni (101.40), Michael Clarke (89.20) and Michael Bevan (86,25) (minimum 1000 runs).

- India became the third team to register 400 wins in one-dayers, joining Australia (490) and Pakistan (416).

- India's success rate in ODIs is 52.13 - 400 wins, 367 losses, 6 tied games and 35 no-results out of 808 played.



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News Network
May 28,2020

New Delhi, May 28: India is not at risk of losing hosting rights for next year's Twenty20 World Cup despite its cricket board's failure to secure a tax exemption for the event, a key BCCI official has told Reuters.

Tax exemptions for International Cricket Council (ICC) events are listed as a requirement in host agreements and the BCCI was supposed to confirm they had secured one by May 18.

ESPNcricinfo, citing correspondence between the two bodies, has reported that the ICC has threatened to shift the tournament away from India over the issue.

However, BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal told Reuters that would not happen and that negotiations were continuing.

"There is no risk to the tournament," he said by telephone.

"That is a work in progress. We are discussing it with the ICC and we'll resolve it."

The BCCI encountered a similar problem when it hosted the event in 2016 when the government refused to provide a tax exemption, and there has been no change in New Delhi's stance despite the board's appeals.

Failure to secure that exemption in 2016 saw the ICC withhold an equivalent sum from India's share of revenue from the governing body's grants and it appears to be taking an even harder line this time around.

"There are certain timelines within the agreements that we collectively work towards to ensure we can deliver successful world class events and continue to invest in the sport of cricket," an ICC spokesperson told Reuters.

"In addition to this the ICC Board agreed clear timelines for the resolution of the tax issues which we are guided by."

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News Network
February 9,2020

Potchefstroom, Feb 9: Defending champions India are overwhelming favourites to win a record fifth U19 World Cup title on Sunday but a tough fight is expected from first-timers Bangladesh in an all-Asian final.

If the India squad for the 2018 edition had the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill, who have expectedly gone on to play for the senior team, the exploits of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, spinner Ravi Bishnoi and pacer Kartik Tyagi in the current edition have made them overnight stars.

Irrespective of what happens in the final, India have reinforced the fact that they are undisputed leaders at the under-19 level and the cricketing structure the BCCI has developed is working better than any other board in the world.

India, who walloped arch-rivals Pakistan by 10 wickets in the semifinal Tuesday, will be playing their seventh final since 2000 when they lifted the trophy for the first time.

Having said that, success at the U-19 level doesn’t guarantee success at the highest level as not all players have the ability to go on and play for India. Some also lose their way like Unmukt Chand did after leading India to the title in 2012.

His career promised so much back then but now it has come to a stage where he is struggling to make the eleven in Uttarakhand’s Ranji Trophy team, having shifted base from Delhi last year.

Only the exceptionally talented like Shaw and Gill get to realise their dream as the competition is only getting tougher in the ever-improving Indian cricket.

India probably is the only side which fields a fresh squad in every U-19 World Cup edition and since there is no dearth of talent and a proper structure is in place, the talent keeps coming up.

“The fact that we allow a cricketer to play the U-19 World Cup only once is a big reason behind the team’s success. While most teams have cricketers who have played in the previous edition,” India U-19 fielding coach Abhay Sharma said from Potchefstroom.

“It just goes to show that the system under the visionary leadership of Rahul Dravid (NCA head) is flourishing. Credit to BCCI as well that other teams want to follow our structure.”

Heading to the mega event, India colts played about 30-odd games in different part of the world. To get used to the South African conditions, they played a quadrangular series before they played their World Cup opener against Sri Lanka.

In the final, India run into Bangladesh, a team which too has reaped the benefits of meticulous planning since their quarterfinal loss at the 2018 edition.

Though the Priyam Garg-led Indian side got the better of them in the tri-series in England and Asia Cup last year, Bangladesh has always come up with a fight and fielding coach Sharma expects it would be no different Sunday.

They are a very good side. There is a lot of mutual respect. I can tell you that,” he said.

Considering it is their maiden final, it is a bigger game for Bangladesh. If they win, it will be sweet revenge against the sub-continental giants, who have found a way to tame Bangladesh at the senior level in close finals including the 2018 Nidahas Trophy and 2016 World T20.

“We don’t want to take unwanted pressure. India is a very good side. We have to play our ‘A’ game and do well in all three departments. Our fans are very passionate about their cricket. I would want to tell them, keep supporting us,” said Bangladesh skipper Akbar Ali after their semifinal win over New Zealand.

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News Network
July 26,2020

Chennai, Jul 26: Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand suffered his fifth straight defeat in the USD 150,000 Legends of Chess online tournament, going down 2-3 to Peter Leko of Hungry.

The former world champion got off to a good start and won the first game of the best-of-four contest. The next two games were drawn before Leko levelled by winning the fourth.

The Hungarian then claimed the Armageddon (a tie-breaker) to ensure Anand remain winless and at the bottom of the points table.

Anand, who is making his maiden appearance on the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour, had earlier lost to Peter Svidler, Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik and Anish Giri.

World no. 1 Carlsen bounced back strongly to avoid an upset, beating veteran Vasyl Ivanchuk 3-2 to stay on top.

Legends of Chess is a unique event where Carlsen, Liren, Nepomniachtchi and Giri, semifinalists at the Chessable Masters (part of the Magnus Carlsen Tour), received an automatic invite and are up against six legends aged 40-52, who have been at the top of world chess at various points in their career.

The tournament is part of the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour. The winner of this event will qualify for the USD 300,000 Grand Final scheduled from August 9 to 20.

Results of Round 5: Peter Leko beat Viswanathan Anand 3-2; Magnus Carlsen beat Vasyl Ivanchuk 3-2: Vladmir Kramnik beat Ding Liren 2.5-1.5; Anish Giri beat Boris Gelfand 2.5-1.5; Ian Nepominiachtchi beat Peter Svidler 3-1. 

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