INDIAN BATTING PART 2
SRILANKAN BATTING
Sri Lanka, chasing 333 to win, were 108 for two in 17.2 overs when play was suspended in the fourth one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka following disturbance by unruly crowd.Someone from the crowd threw something at an Indian fielder in the deepUpset at the incident, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led his team-mates off the field.Gautam Gambhir smashed a career-best 150 and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (94) led by axample as India posted a comfortable 332 for five in the inconsequential fourth one-dayer against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Thursday.After winning the toss for the fourth successive time, the Indians launched another merciless assault on the home team with Gambhir and Dhoni being the two main architects to put up an imposing total from where they can push for a record-breaking ninth consecutive ODI victory.Despite being on the backfoot for most part of the innings, spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan had something to cheer about in the fag end when he broke Wasim Akram's world record of highest one-day scalps. Muralitharan dismissed Gambhir to take his one-day tally to 503 in his 328th match.The visitors, who have already clinched the five-match series by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, relied on Gambhir and Dhoni's record 188-run second wicket partnership to steer themselves to a competitive total.
The 27-year-old Gambhir notched up his sixth ODI century and his third against Sri Lanka, who now need to score at a stiff asking rate of 6.66 runs per over to record a face saving victory.Gambhir also became the highest individual scorer in a one-dayer in Sri Lanka, eclipsing the previous best of 145 jointly held by Sri Lanka's Aravinda de Silva and Zimbabwe's Andy Flower.With Sachin Tendulkar being given rest, the Indians reverted to their regular opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gambhir for this match but it failed to provide a flourishing start.Sehwag, who had tormented the islanders with a blistering 116 in the previous game, perished early with the ageing Sanath Jayasuriya pulling off a spectacular catch in the cover region off Nuwan Kulasekara.The dashing opener failed to keep the ball on the ground as he attempted to drive Kulasekara and he could just score five runs.Captain Dhoni promoted himself to No. 3 and along with Gambhir not only consolidated India's position but laid the foundation for an imposing total.Gambhir and Dhoni did not take much risks in the initial stages of the innings but unleashed some exquisite shots on both sides of the wicket during their marathon partnership to put the hosts completely on the back foot.Both the batsmen relied on quick running between the wickets for accumulating the runs though they were prompt to despatch the loose deliveries to the boundary.Gambhir picked up Angelo Mathews, who replaced mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis in the team, for special treatment as he clobbered him for a mighty six to bring up his half-century.In the very next over, Dhoni lifted Muttiah Muralitharan for a six to notch up his 27th one-day half-century and steer the team past the 100-run mark in the 18th over.The Sri Lankans were again very disappointing on the field with some shoddy catching and ground fielding and erratic bowling, particularly in the early stages of the contest.Dhoni and Gambhir tormented the islanders and took the score past 200 before a tired-looking Dhoni fell six runs short of a century.
The Indian captain went for an aerial shot and Dilhara Fernando grabbed a one-handed catch much to the delight of his team-mates who were relieved to see the Indian captain back in the pavilion. His 96-ball 94 contained four boundaries and two sixes.Dhoni's dismissal triggered off a mini-collapse as the visitors lost three wickets in the span of five runs to suddenly slump to 207 for four from a comfortable 202 for one.Paceman Kulasekara accounted for Yuvraj Singh (5) and Yusuf Pathan (0) off successive deliveries to be on a hat-trick.Yuvraj, who pulverised the Lankans with a scintillating 117 in the previous match, fell victim to a good yorker by Kulasekara as he missed the line completely.Yusuf Pathan, who came in to bat after Yuvraj was dismissed mainly to capitalise on the batting powerplay, was bowled in the very first ball he faced much to the delight of the crowd.Suresh Raina and Gambhir stabilised the innings after the slump but kept the runs coming to take the visitors up to an imposing total.
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