Ranatunga’s best exposes India’s worst

Sri Lanka floundered and flourished, which was a fitting finale for the carnival atmosphere that prevailed at the Premadasa Stadium, here, today.

It took two veterans to show the way for their sides — unfortunately only one could end up on the winning side.

Mohammed Azharuddin’s vintage 81 not out (103b, 2×6, 4×4) on his return from international cricket vanvas made the difference for India between a respectable defeat and an unmitigated disaster. But it was skipper Arjuna Ranatunga’s magnum opus (131 not out, 152b, 17×4) which tilted the scales.

His touch of authority and assurance in crisis destroyed the very foundation of an improbable victory.

If young Rahul Dravid (69, 102b, 6×4) provided classy support to Azharuddin, then it was Maravan Atapattu and debutante Lanka de Silva who aided Ranatunga in building the fortunes of Sri Lanka.

Ranatunga is the senior-most citizen in international cricket today, having made his debut way back in 1981-82.

The Lankan captain may look like an advert for baby food how a bonny infant fed on such nutrition could grow up to look like an adult. Ranatunga’s `walkathons’ are legendary and there is no doubt that a good percentage of his career runs have been earned by walking than running — a master at conserving his energy.

But today he showed that despite his 33 years of age and his ample girth he could sprint when needed as he matched the youthful exuberance of Atapattu.

Ranatunga walked into a crisis. Sanath Jayasuriya was gone to the first ball of the innings — Dravid taking a fine catch on the mid-wicket fence and balancing himself in time to prevent crossing the ropes. Then Aravinda de Silva followed soon, nibbling outside the off stump to see wicket-keeper Saba Karim dive in front of first slip’s shoes to pick up a good catch.

India had got the two most coveted wickets, cheaply and early. Another wicket, preferably that of Ranatunga, and it could have been a different script to narrate.

The present Sri Lankan team does not have the same batting potency that they had in recent times, when Roshan Mahanama used to bat at No 7. At least, on paper they looked weakened with the absence of Hashan Tilakeratne and the dropping of Romesh Kaluwitharana.

But Ranatunga played what was one of his finest innings in his 214 One-Day International appearances to score his country’s first hundred in Asia Cup and his third and highest ever in this grade of cricket. His 131 not out obliterating his previous highest of 102 not out.

Ranatunga’s innings was an alchemy of fierce cuts and drives all along the carpet and in the air besides his trademark thrusts in the gaps, which seemed wider and wider with his growing ascendency.

His 108-run stand in 21.2 overs with Atapattu was a celebration of a family union Arjuna’s kid brother Sanjeewa having got married to Atapattu’s sister a couple of days back.

Atapattu, who won the Man of the Match in the opening match of the championship against Pakistan, gave yet another notice of his rising stature after a plethora of disappointments as he played some blazing shots on the rise. However, his end was uncharacteristic, as he got himself trapped to a rank short ball.

Atapattu’s fall and the quick dismissal of Mahanama opened up the game again. But Lanka de Silva came in to a warm reception from the crowd and a pat of encouragement from his skipper.

The debutant, who was only four years old when Ranatunga made his international debut, drew inspiration from his senior to emerge with flying colours on his maiden international appearance both, in front of the stumps and behind it. Right through his tenure he looked composed and accomplished as he batted with a degree of authority and maturity.

In the end, he contributed 37 quick runs in the unseparated 106-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Earlier, India got themselves in a tangle with some injudicious selection of strokeplay. Saurav Ganguly paid the penalty for pulling from outside the off stump, Tendulkar left a big gap between bat and pad in trying to force Chaminda Vaas and Saba Karim’s surprise elevation had a mysterious ring to it. He was obviously not sent in as a pinch hitter, but then he did not look like a batsman who deserves such a high slot.

His tenure was unconvincing and he finally swung wildly to be caught. Three wickets in 10 overs and India were on the backfoot in quick time.Dravid and Azharuddin batted sensibly and beautifully to provide a good example in the science and art of batmanship.

As long as the two were together, batting was elevated to a different plane. The rehab process was worth 117 runs in 26 overs when Dravid was bowled in quest of quick runs.

Azhar took it upon him to step on the accelarator. He hoisted Vaas over the straight field and then repeated the dosage on Kumara Dharmasena by carting him over midwicket. Dharmasena, who had conceded just 16 runs in his first six overs, gave away 36 in his next four. The last ten overs of the innings produced 75 runs Azhar’s contribution being 37.

Azhar had multiple answers to the probings of the Lankan bowlers and there has to be a case now for pushing him up the order to give him as many overs as possible to help the team’s cause.

He has looked a chastened man after his exclusion from the Independence Cup. And in this form and discipline, Azhar is capable of winning a match of his own bat.

Azhar’s batting was a big gain for India on a disappointing day. There are plenty of questions to be answered before they take on Pakistan on Sunday.

Some of the decisions taken today left one wondering about the logic behind them. What was the purpose in promoting Karim to No 3? He pottered around as the second wicket consumed 52 balls for 16 runs.

The promotion of Robin Singh ahead of Ajay Jadeja was equally baffling.The spinners contributed to the looseness by bowling no-balls and wides and some of the fielding errors were too embarrassing. There is much to ponder as the Indians go back to the drawing board.

Scoreboard

INDIA

Sachin Tendulkar b Vaas (48m, 28b, 3×4) 21

Saurav Ganguly c Dharmasena b Sajeeva de Silva (38m, 22b, 2×4) 11

Saba Karim c Lanka de Silva b Dharmasena (46m, 25b, 1×4) 12

Rahul Dravid b Jayasuriya (123m, 102b, 6×4) 69

Mohammed Azharuddin not out (120m, 103b, 4×4, 2×6) 81

Robin Singh c Aravinda de Silva b Vaas (15m, 10b, 1×4) 10

Ajay Jadeja st Lanka de Silva b Jayasuriya (6m, 4b) 3

Anil Kumble not out (8m, 8b, 2×4) 16

Did not bat: Noel David, Abey Kuruvilla, Venkatesh Prasad.

Extras: (3w, 1nb) 4

Total: (for six wickets in 206 mins, 50 overs) 227

Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Ganguly), 2-35 (Tendulkar), 3-51 (Karim), 4-168

(Dravid), 5-189 (Robin), 6-201 (Jadeja).

Bowling: Vaas 8-1-35-2, Sajeeva de Silva 7-0-30-1, Muralitharan 10-1-30-0,

Dharmasena 10-1-52-1, Jayasuryia 10-0-52-2, Kalpage 5-0-28-0.

SRI LANKA

Sanat Jayasuriya c Dravid b Prasad (1m, 1b) 0

Maravan Atapattu lbw Robin (117m, 57b, 2×4) 31

Aravinda de Silva c Karim b Prasad (11m, 5b, 1×4)

Arjuna Ranatunga not out (200m, 152b, 17×4) 131

Roshan Mahanama c Karim b Robin (11m, 8b) 5

Lanka de Silva not out (83m, 49b, 3×4) 37

Extras: (6lb, 12w, 3nb) 21

Total: (for four wickets in 214 mins, 44.4 overs) 231

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Jayasuriya), 2-9 (Aravinda), 3-117 (Atapattu), 4-125 (Mahanama)

Bowling: Prasad 8-0-44-2, Kuruvilla 7-0-35-0, Kumble 10-0-38-0, David 8-0-36-0, Ganguly 3-0-19-0, Robin 4-0-29-2, Jadeja 4-0-18-0, Tendulkar 0.4-0-6-0.

Man of the Match: Arjuna Ranatunga