Asia Cup, FINAL: Jayasuriya and Mendis Help Sri Lanka win Final!

Sri Lanka havae won the Asia Cup for the for the first time outside Sri Lanka. Though Sri Lanka was losing wickets at regular intervals, it did not stop Jayasuriya from playing his regular shots. His less than a ball century helped Sri Lanka to put a winning total on the board. Struggling at 66 for 4, Jayasuriya and Dilshan (56) added 131 for the 4th wicket in 141 balls. Jayasuriya scored 125 off 114 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes. He punished all the fast bowlers--RP Singh, Ishanth Sharma, and Pathan. All of them were hammered by Jayasuriya.

Indian batting meekly surrendered to the bowling of Sri Lankans especially Mendis. Later in the press conference, Dhoni admitted that no batsman was able to read Mendis. Having chased 309 in their last encounter, the target of 274 seemed easy in this kind of wicket.

The start was good with 36 in the first 5 overs. Gambhir got out for 6 in the 5th over. Sehwag was the culprit for the fall of the Indian innings. He was playing Mendis for the first time and bowling his first over.

He stepped out for the first two balls and was not successful. He should have waited and played sensibly. He came out for the third time and got stumped way out of the crease and that is stupid cricket. Well,one can argue that if he hits for runs we appreciate, but still I would say that is an early stage for hitting and it is a final. Everyone has a role to play, especially understaning their responsibilities. He was the first wicket of Mendis and gave all the confidence to him.

Yuvaraj Singh, still in the party mood, did not read the straight faster one and went for back foot. It was too late and the ball hit the stumps. Raina trying to pull a short ball was also bowled. Dhoni stayed and played a fighting innings but was not useful as the wickets were falling at the other end. Mendis picked 6 wickets giving away 13 runs in his 8 overs and was declared both man of the match and series.

Tournament: Asia Cup
Match: 13
Final
Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
Date: July 6, 2008
Teams: India and Sri Lanka
Captains: MS Dhoni and DPMD Jayawardene
Toss: India won the toss and decided to field
Result: Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup by 100 runs
Man of the Match: BAW Mendis off Sri Lanka
Man of the Series: BAW Mendis off Sri Lanka
Score:

Sri Lanka 273 all out in 49.5 overs (ST Jayasuriya 125, KC Sangakkara 4, DPMD Jayawardene 11, CK Kapugedera 5, LPC Silva 0, TM Dilshan 56, WPUJC Vaas 19, KMDN Kulasekara 29 not out, T Thushara 5, BAW Mendis 8, M Muralitharan 2, Extras--9 (lb 8, w 1), RP Singh 9-1-67-3, I Sharma 10-1-52-3, IK Pathan 9.5-0-67-2, PP Ojha 10-1-38-0, V Sehwag 8-0-30-1, RG Sharma 3-0-11-0) beat India 173 all out in 39.3 overs (G Gambhir 6, V Sehwag 60, SK Raina 16, Yuvraj Singh 0, MS Dhoni 49, RG Sharma 3, RV Uthappa 20, IK Pathan 2, RP Singh 0, PP Ojha 6 not out, I Sharma 8, Extras--3 (b 2, w 1), WPUJC Vaas 9-0-55-2, KMDN Kulasekara 6.3-0-26-1, T Thushara 8-0-51-0, BAW Mendis 8-1-13-6, M Muralitharan 8-0-26-1)

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Asia Cup, Super Four, Match 4: Younis Khan's ton beat India!

Though India scored 308, Younis Khan's 123 not out gave Pakistan a ray of hope to enter the final and helped them to stay in the competition. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored 70 and put a 144-run unbeaten partnership for the 3rd wicket.


For India, Dhoni top scored with 76 while Rohit scored an useful 58.

India have to beat Sri Lanka in their next match or the match should end in a tie or wash out. Else, Pakistan would enter the final. So, it will be a do or die for India on July 3rd.


Tournament: Asia Cup
Match: 10
Super Four: 4
Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
Date: July 2, 2008
Teams: India and Pakistan
Captains: MS Dhoni and Misbah-ul-Haq
Toss: India won the toss and decided to bat
Result: Pakistan won by 8 wickets with 27 balls remaining
Points: Pakistan 2; India 0
Man of the Match: Younis Khan off Pakistan
Score:

India 308 for 7 in 50 overs (G Gambhir 35, V Sehwag 49, SK Raina 1, Yuvraj Singh 37, MS Dhoni 76, RG Sharma 58, YK Pathan 0, IK Pathan 38 not out, P Kumar 1 not out, Extras--13 (b 1, lb 4, w 8), Sohail Tanvir 10-0-87-1, Abdur Rauf 10-0-66-2, Iftikhar Anjum 10-1-51-3, Shahid Afridi 10-0-52-0, Saeed Ajmal 10-0-47-1) lost to Pakistan 309 for 2 in 45.3 overs (Salman Butt 36, Nasir Jamshed 53 (retired hurt), Younis Khan 123 not out, Mohammad Yousuf 21, Misbah-ul-Haq 70 not out, Extras--6 (lb 1, w 2, nb 3), P Kumar 8.3-1-61-0, IK Pathan 10-0-68-0, I Sharma 10-1-63-0, YK Pathan 4-0-29-0, PP Chawla 8-0-53-1, V Sehwag 5-0-34-0)

Click here to read Bangladesh v. UAE match result!

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Final 1: Sachin Guides India to Win the First Final!

Do you believe that Sachin haven't scored an ODI century in Australia? The first century in Australia and that has helped India to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match final--the last of the triangular tournament in Australia.

After winning the toss and rightly electing to bat first, Australian's top order was rattled by Praveen Kumar, the surprise move by Dhoni. Gilchrist and Ponting tried to pull Praveen, but Gilly ended scooping the ball to mid-on and Yuvaraj took it easily. Ponting dragged the ball to the stumps. Michael Clarke was given a rough caught behind decision in Ishanth Sharma's bowling. When Aussies were struggling at 24 for 3 in 5.5 overs, Hayden continued his good form against Indians and scored a good half-century. Symonds provided a good company and both of them were cruising along well. The 100-run partnership came in 104 balls off which Symonds scored 31. Harbhajan got his man once-again through a flighted delivery. Though Symonds was successful in hitting Harbhajan for couple of fours, he hit straight to the fielder's hand in long on. Hussey and Hayden tried to continue from where Symonds left, but the sweep by Hayden in the air to deep mid-wicket was brilliantly caught by Piyush Chawla leaving Australian score to struggle at 135 for 5 in 27.3 overs.

Hussey's 45 really helped Australia to put a decent score and go beyond 200-run mark. The 5 run per over when Hayden was dismissed was brought under control by Indians. At the end of the 47th over, the score was 212 for 7 with Hopes and Hussey back in the pavilion. The quick 17 by Lee in 10 balls took the score to 239 for 8. India gave 27 runs in the last three overs, which was crucial while chasing.

The moderate score of 240 was thought to be difficult because in the previous occasion against Australia, Indians failed to chase 204. So, Australia had possibilities of winning the game and the Indian innings started with a good 50-run first wicket partnership of this series. Uthappa and Sachin brought the 50 in the 11th over. Uthappa was dismissed when he played a beautiful pull of Hopes was thought to be a good four, but Hussey at deep mid-wicket proved otherwise by taking a very good catch. Gambhir was run out for 3 when he responded late to Sachin's call for 2nd run. It was an easy run but he was watching the ball and fielder by the time Sachin was almost in half-of-the pitch.

Yuvaraj started the innings well, but didn't last long. He was bowled by Hogg. The younger Rohit joined Tendulkar at 87 for 3 and they both played well pulling, sweeping, driving the best bowling attack.

Tendulkar suffered cramp, which prevented him from playing few strokes. Lee apologized to Tendulkar when he sent a beamer, which slipped from his hand. The two top-cuts by Sachin was an example why he is stamped as best batsman in the world. Rohit on the other hand was giving good company to Sachin. He played sensibly listening to Sachin's advise and picking one and two. His drive and pulle of the fast bowlers were treat to watch. He started his scoring with a beautiful drives of Bracken which should have given him the world of confidence to build a long innings.

They both added 123 runs for the 4th wicket in 128 balls. Rohit was bowled by Hopes through a straight delivery which knocked his off stump. With 30 to win in 51 balls, Dhoni joined Tendulkar. They both finished the game in 4.2 overs. Dhoni was not out on 15 in 12 balls with 3 fours and Sachin was not out on 117 off 120 balls with 10 fours.

This is the first win in Sydney in the 12 encounters against Australia. This is Sachin's first hundred against Australia in 39 matches.

Final Score:
Australia 239 for 8 in 50 overs (Hayden 82, Symonds 31, Hussey 45, Praveen Kumar 2 for 49, Harbhajan 2 for 38) lost to India 242 for 4 in 45.5 overs (Tendulkar 117 Not Out, Rohit Sharma 66, Hopes 2 for 42)

Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Match 10: Aussies win the thriller! Do-or-Die for India and Sri Lanka!

One more thriller and the result in favour of Australia! Although the match was in favour of Australia all through the game, the later part of the Indian innings created havoc in Aussies mind. If Uthappa and Harbhajan had stayed for few more deliveries, probably India would have clinched the spot to the final with ease.

Australia won the toss and decided to bat first in the beautiful track. Gilchrist played superb shorts, but fell quickly to Sreesanth. The catch was taken by Dhoni using the controversial gloves. Then skipper Ricky and Hayden studied the innings well with Ricky finally getting back to his form with fluent strokes. Let it be a shot ball on the off or on, it was easy for Pointing to score either a four or a six. Few shots in the air didn't land in the fielders hand, but that didn't stop Pointing from scoring a brilliant century.

From the beginning, Australia maintained more than 8 runs per over and the score was 100 for 1 in 12 overs. Hayden scored 54 and he was run out by Rohit Sharma. The good fielding by the youngster in the covers and throw at the non-strikers end was thought to be a break through by the Indians, but Symonds changed the course of the game through his powerful hits. He scored 59 off 49 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Thke sower in-swinger from Ishanth Sharma bowled Symonds--some words were exchanged.

India lost Tendulkar early, but superb century from Gambhir, sensible batting from Dhoni and aggressive batting of Uthappa provided a light chance for India to win. The game turned towards India when Uthappa and Dhoni were batting. Even when Uthappa and Harbhajan were batting, everybody thought of a winning chance for India! Brilliant slower off-spin from Lee remove Harbhajan and the next delivery sent Uthappa to pavilion when he tried to hit over long on. The chance was very slim and India lost the game by 18 runs leading to a crucial game against the Do-or-die battle with Sri Lanka.

Gambhir scored his 113 off 119 balls with 10 fours and 1 six, Uthappa's 51 came from just 46 balls with 4 fours and a six; Lee took 5 wickets and the pick of the bowler.

To enter final, India has to either win or make this as a no-result game or make it a tie. If India loses this match, then India's chances depends on the match between Sri Lanka and Australia!

Final Score:
Australia 317 for 7 in 50 overs (Hayden 54; Pointing 124; Michael Clark 31; Symonds 59; Sreesanth 2 for 58) beat India 299 all out in 49.1 overs (Gambhir 113; Dhoni 36; Uthappa 51; Lee 5 for 58; Stuart Clark 2 for 55)

Man of the Match: Pointing (Australia)