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Injured Sana’s killer punch
Guides Sri Lanka to 3 wicket win to go one up
Marlon Fernandopulle reporting from Dambulla
Thirty six year old Sanath Jayasuriya overcame a partially dislocated shoulder and made full use of pain killing injections to guide Sri Lanka to a three wicket victory over India in the Indian Oil Cup lung opener under flood lights at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

The veteran of 335 one dayers who endured pain and swelling while batting at number six stroked an invaluable 43 not out in 50 balls that eventually sealed the fate of the Indians. Together with the youngest member of the team, Farveez Maharoof (23 n o) the veteran Jayasuriya added an unfinished 37 runs for the 8th wicket that saw the Lankans home with 10 balls remaining.

Sri Lanka was forced to open with Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu after the Jayasuriya injury which occurred while fielding. Sangakkara started off enterprisingly with two boundaries before being trapped lbw off Irfan Pathan for 14.

With the asking rate just over four runs an over skipper Marvan Atapattu and vice Captain Mahela Jayawardene began to accumulate runs and lay the foundation for a challenging chase. However with the total on 55 and Atapattu on 29, the Lankan skipper ran himself out when Raina was spot on with a direct hit from short square leg. Jayawardene followed immediately when he played a nothing shot at a Zaheer Khan delivery and was bowled.

Russell Arnold who returned to the team after some time was quickly in his stride stealing the singles and occasionally squeezing a boundary. Together with Dilshan the pair added 44 runs before Dilshan departed after attempting an ambitious sweep off Harbajahn Singh.

Jayasuriya strode to the center at number six amidst pain which eventually was compounded when he watched Arnold bowled, after misreading a Harbajan delivery and Sri Lanka slumped to 112 for 5 wickets.

Debutant Lokuhettige entertained the packed house with a cameo innings of 21 in 20 balls that included three fours and a six to keep the Lankan hopes alive. After his departure at 140 for 6, Upul Chandana put on a useful 32 runs as the hosts inched towards their target.

Earlier in the day Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to take first lease of the wicket. Dilhara Lokuhettige made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka while Venugopal Rao and Suresh Raina made their debuts for India.

Sri Lanka’s new look opening bowlers Farveez Maharoof and debutant Dilhara Lokuhettige gave their team a dream start when they snapped up India’s explosive openers Virendra Shewag (14) and Mahendra Dhoni (02) cheaply within the first four overs as India got off to an inauspicious start to be 22 for two wickets. Farveez Maharoof who opened the attack was not only spot on but also opened the floodgates as he castled the explosive Virendra Shewaga in only his second over after the opener had struck three boundaries in the previous over.

After a nervous start when he gave away 13 runs in his first over, Lokkuhettige was quickly in his element bowling a probing line. He broke through the defense of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his second over and later picked up Yuvendra Singh for India to slump to 44 for 3 in the 14th over.
Skipper Rahul Dravid and Mohamed Kaif appeared to bring sanity to the Indian innings when Dilhara Fernando snared Kaif with a slow delivery that foxed the batsman. In the very next over Muttiah Muralitharan bamboozeled debutant left hander Suresh Raina with a perfect doosra as India lost half their side with only 64 runs in the 20th over.

With the fielding restrictions off it was upto skipper Rahul Dravid and Venugopal Rao to arrest the situation and put up a challenging total on the board.

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