COLOMBO, 1 October — Rains proved to be the spoilsport for the second successive day, forcing the replayed final of the ICC Champions Trophy between hosts Sri Lanka and India to be abandoned. The teams were declared joint winners and shared the top prize of $300,000.
For the second day in a row, India seemed well set on the course for a victory, needing to score at 4.46 runs an over. They were 38 for one in 8.4 overs when the rains came down heavily. The umpires came out and the mopping up operation began but it began to rain again. A further wait for an hour and it was decided to abandon the match.
Like yesterday, Sri Lanka had batted first and could reach a respectable total of 222 for seven only because of a fighting, gutsy 77 from young Mahela Jayewardena and a patient workmanlike 56 not out from Russell Arnold.
Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly was disappointed by that rains prevented them from winning the tournament. “We played excellently well in this series. Today we restricted them to 222 and were well on our way to victory. Compared to yesterday, today was a bit more disappointing since we were chasing only 223,” he added.
He said the wicket was a bit slow. “Zaheer, Harbhajan and Sehwag have been outstanding. We need to work on our fast bowling department. Srinath came at a short notice and tried hard. He is very much in our thinking for the 2003 World Cup but first he will play in the series against the West Indies,” Ganguly said.
He explained the strategy of sending Tendulkar at No. 3. “Sachin would have batted at No. 3 yesterday also. We want him to go out when the ball is hard. He can get a few boundaries and the pressure is off him. Sachin has not told me personally that he wants to open and there is no need for him to open. He has done well at No. 4 and will continue to bat at No. 3. I don’t know why people put pressure on him if he fails once,” Ganguly said.
Ganguly said he liked the current format of this tournament but preferred the system of continuing a match on the second day as is done during the World Cup.
He was happy with the experiment with technology. “The experiment has gone pretty well. It has been a success. Didn’t delay the game much,” Ganguly added.
Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya was disappointed with his team’s performance. “I feel sharing the title is a fair result for both the teams. Our performance over the last two days was disappointing. Losing early wickets put pressure on the batsmen today. Aravinda was batting well but he got out,” Jayasuriya said.
He said he wanted Aravinda to continue playing for Sri Lanka. “I want him to play Tests and one-day matches. I am going to have a chat with him,” Jayasuriya said. He praised the batting of Jayewardena and Arnold. “Yes Mahela batted well. We have him at No. 5 so that he can steady the innings,” Jayasuriya added.
The teams made one change each, India bringing back leg-spinner Anil Kumble for paceman Javagal Srinath who had proved very expensive on Sunday and Sri Lanka preferred leg-spinner Upul Chandana for fast bowler Gunaratne. The match was played on the same strip as the first meeting and the grassless wicket did help the spinners.
The Sri Lankan innings got off to a sensational start as Zaheer Khan got rid of Jayasuriya off the first ball, the batsman playing on, off his pad. This was a big blow and the Lankan innings never really recovered from it.
Kumar Sangakkara would have also gone in the same over but Mongia in second slip failed to hold on to a low catch. However, Mongia made amends by diving to hold a snick by Atapattu off Agarkar. Agarkar’s fifth over proved expensive as Aravinda de Silva smashed him for five boundaries, in all 23 runs coming from that over. Aravinda fell trying to hit Kumble out of the ground against the spin and paid the price. At 63 for three, the pressure was on the Lankans.
Indian spinners Harbhajan, Kumble, Sehwag and Tendulkar tied down the batsmen as the loss of early wickets had prevented them from taking risks. The needless run out of Sangakkara compounded the Lankan misery. Jayewardena played Harbhajan to mid-on and Sangakkara ran down the pitch when sent back by Jayewardena. He was stranded far out when the bails were removed. After that it was young Jayewardena’s responsible batting and his 118-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Russell Arnold that ensured Sri Lanka’s score would cross 200 runs.
Jayewardena paced his innings very well. He waited for the loose ball to punish and in Arnold he found an able partner. The runs came in a trickle but they prevented further damage.
Jayewardena reached his half century in 79 balls with the help of three fours. But he then opened out and smashed two fours in Tendulkar’s eighth over. But he got reprieved immediately after as Tendulkar failed to hold a difficult return catch.
Jayewardena grew adventurous thereafter and pulled Sehwag to the midwicket fence. However, he paid the price as he tried a similar shot off Zaheer and ballooned the ball to short mid-wicket. His 77 had given the Lankan total a semblance of respectability.
His was well supported by Arnold whose unbeaten 56 runs were compiled as the Lankans scored 70 runs in the last 10 overs. His patient 105-ball knock contained three fours. Vaas hit two fours in his 17 off 10 balls.
Zaheer’s three wickets cost 44 runs. Harbhajan was the most economical with one wicket from 10 overs for 34 runs. Needing to score at 4.46 runs an over, India lost an early wicket as Mongia tried to pull Vaas and top-edged the ball for cover to take an easy catch. Tendulkar survived a strong leg before appeal off the very first ball he faced from Vaas.
Both Vaas and Fernando bowled with enough fire to restrain the free-scoring Sehwag and Tendulkar. The ominous clouds that were gathering all evening, then came down in a heavy downpour. After Sehwag had cut Vaas over the third man fence for a six, play was halted. India were 38 for one after 8.4 overs.
