India struggle despite Sachin, Karthik's fine knocks
Posted on Jul 19, 2008 at 10:12 | Updated Jul 19, 2008 at 23:46
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Tags: India-Sri Lanka series, practice game, Zaheer Khan
Colombo: In terms of the bigger picture of this tour it is all about India success, not Sachin Tendulkar.
Yet Day two of the tour's pre-Test practice match was largely about the Little Master and not without reason, as with Dinesh Karthik he rescued the side from a fumbling start to the tour.
A couple of freak mishap dismissals involving Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman had resulted in an discomforting top-and middle-order flop as unpalatable as stale roti.
From an overnight 4-1 against the Sri Lanka Board XI to be listing at 80-5 five balls into the 19th over of the innings after a delayed start of five hours, didn't so much trigger alarm as call for quality batting and a commonsense approach along with a lot of hard work against some eager bowling.
When you run your eye down the names on the scorecard, they are the sort to make any bowler tremble and wonder if he is going to create a situation where the fieldsmen will be leather hunting big-time.
While Rahul Dravid's freak run out was an exception through the lanky fast bowler Dilhara Fernando's thinking, the remainder of the Indians gave the impression as if they were battling with pitch conditions.
It led to the double strike by 25-year-old Dammika Prasad whose three ODI wickets are at an expensive 38.66. His three ODIs were against Pakistan two years ago, after which has he has been discarded. And now he acts as a newball prop for his Ragama attack, along with the occasional game for Sri Lanka A.
He had Sourav Ganguly paying the penalty for pulling too soon on a slow pitch as the ball barely rose. It was a misjudgement more than anything, but one that will have him thinking. Two balls later the next delivery scuttled through like a crab and VVS Laxman gloved it into his stumps.
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Total Comments: 5
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Posted By Vidhushak !!
An International Test side, that India is, should NOT make frivolous complaints reg the pitch, climate conditions, mind-sets, etc ..
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Posted By r.karthikeyan
ya india did well to recover because of sachin\''s expierience and young karthik\''s good follow-up.this is a good effort from
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Posted By yugesh
i think India played well despite slow wicket but sachin and karthick were awesome still i scared about opening partership
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Posted By arvin
nothing to worry... by end of 3rd test ganguly/dravid/laxman will be beack in form making 60-70 odd runs each in
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Posted By r.karthikeyan
this is a true setback for indian top-order which has has done handsome cricket before this since laxman,dravid,saurav are good
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