Asia Cup: Sri Lanka, Led by Farveez Maharoof, Thrash India, Land Bonus Point
A hat-trick by Sri Lankan all-rounder Farveez Maharoof helped Sri Lanka defeat India in the last league match of the Asia Cup cricket tournament at the Rangiri International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla.
The hosts won the toss and elected to field first on what was a dress rehearsal before the final of the tournament set to take place on the 24th of this month.
The Indians got off to a decent start courtesy a 58 run opening stand between Gautam Gambhir and Dinesh Karthik. The partnership ended when spinner Randiv pulled off an incredible catch to dismiss the left-handed Gambhir.
Positioned at mid-wicket, Randiv leapt to his right and took a tumbling catch off an attempted pull by off-spinner Herath.
His dismissal brought about a collapse that saw the four-time champions stutter in the middle overs of the innings.
From 58 for no loss they crashed to 110 for 4 in the 23rd over, as Raina, Karthik and Virat Kohli followed Gambhir in the pavilion.
Angelo Mathews chipped in with a wicket, while Herath dismissed Suresh Raina, who played a vital role at the end of the innings against Pakistan in India’s thrilling win last Saturday.
The most remarkable stage of the otherwise dour contest emerged when seamer Farveez Maharoof captured a magnificent hat-trick just when India was looking at setting the hosts a decent target.
Maharoof’s feat arrived in the 39th over of the innings; he started by dismissing Ravindra Jadeja, who was caught leg-before-wicket for a duck.
On the next ball, fast bowler Praveen Kumar was bowled out of an inside edge, while a brilliant catch by Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara led to the hat-trick, as Zaheer Khan poked at a ball that pitched on the off stump and seamed away to take the outside edge of his bat.
The hat-trick knocked the stuffing out of the Indian chase, and they were bowled out for 209 runs, in the 43rd over of the innings.
Maharoof captured five wickets, while Rangana Herath claimed two wickets for the hosts.
The Sri Lankans got off to an attacking start through the opening pair of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga.
Dilshan was the first one to go; he fell for 24 caught by Jadeja off the bowling of Zaheer Khan.
Upul Tharanga and Sangakkara added 42 runs for the second wicket; the other opening batsman was also dismissed by Zaheer Khan.
The foundation of the win was laid by a 104 runs partnership between Sangakkara and Jayawardene.
Sangakkara was ably supported by the former Sri Lankan captain, in an attacking display of batting against the listless Indian bowling attack.
Sangakkara struck 10 fours in his 82 ball knock of 73 runs. He was dismissed by Praveen Kumar.
Jayawardene and Kandamby then guided the hosts to the target, with 12.3 overs left in the match.
Farveez Maharoof was declared the man of the match for his brilliant bowling display, which included a rare hat-trick at the ODI level.
The two teams will play each other in the final of the tournament on the 24th of this month. After their impressive performance in this match, the Sri Lankans will start as the favourites, and the Indians will have to come up with a special plan if they are to win the Asia Cup for the fifth time.
On the other hand, the hosts are brimming with confidence, and their faith in their abilities will be doubled by their crushing win today. Nevertheless, an exciting final awaits the cricket fans of the subcontinent. Let us hope that we have a good battle between the two top teams in Asia.
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