ChinmayC Blog

India beating Sri Lanka 4-1 in Sri Lanka is indeed music to ears. India have won the fifth and last one day international cricket match against Sri Lanka by 20 runs today in Pallekele. They have won the Micromax Cup-2012 winning the series 4-1. With this series win India climbed to No.2 position in the ICC one-day rankings. They could have regained the No.1 spot had they won 5-0. Powered by Indian skipper Dhoni’s quick-fire 58 off only 38 balls India set a challenging target of 295 runs before Sri Lanka for a victory in the fifth and last one day international cricket match of the Micromax Cup in Pallekete today. Dhoni was ably supported by all-rounder Irfan Pathan in a decisive partnership. Earlier, winning the toss and electing to bat first India banked heavily on Gambhir’s solid knock of 88 runs to build the innings. Virat Kohli started well, but could not last long. Rohit Sharma failed for the fifth time and Suresh Raina, the stylish unbeaten finisher of the last two matches, fell...

India have won the five-match one day international cricket series  defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the fourth match played in Colombo today. Taking an unassailable lead of 3-1 India is thus set to take home the Micromax Cup in Sri Lanka. The last match to be played in Pallekele on August 4, 2012 is reduced to a formality, but, of course, both teams would like to exit the series positively with a win.  For the second time in Colombo Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. They made a solid start with openers Dilshan (42) and Tharanga (51) putting up 91 runs for the first wicket. The Indian pacers were not effective and went wicketless. Thiramanne chipped in well today made 47 runs with able support from Chandimal. Sri Lanka were poised for a huge total crossing 150 in the 31 st over with the loss of only two wickets. But the slide happened just then. Though Indian skipper Dhoni’s blue eyed boy Rohit Sharma was not dropped after two consecutive ducks Manoj Tiwary...

India broke today Sri Lanka’s record of never losing a one day match at home after setting a 250+ target batting first against any team. And, the partnership that broke the record was the highest Indian sixth wicket partnership against SL in SL. Suresh Raina (65 off only 45 balls) and Irfan Pathan (34 off 31) crafted an exhilarating unbeaten partnership of 92 runs off 69 ball to romp India home in a thriller going down the wire. For the third one day international of the Micromax Cup between India and Sri Lanka the venue shifted to Preamdasa Stadium in Colombo. Both the teams made one change each. India brought in pacer Dinda in place of expensive Yadav and SL replaced out-of-form Thirimanne with Jevan Mendis. And, SL won the toss this time electing to bat first. Batting first on a pitch that offered both bounce and movement Sri Lanka was in trouble immediately. Relishing the conditions Indian star pacer Zaheer Khan found his best immediately and captured the wickets of both the open...

Indian cricket tour of Sri Lanka-2012. The same venue of Hambantota like in the first one day international that India won by 21 runs following a powerful batting display. Only the strip was different and Indian skipper Dhoni happened to see some more grass there, and that a strong wind was blowing. But Lankan skipper Mahela said it was dead grass, but, of course, wind was unusual in that venue. Again, a same day and night affair like in the first. The same result in the toss— India winning. The same decision—to bat first. And, the same team, no changes. But for a change the Indian innings began well today. They had a brisk start scoring 31 runs under 4 overs with Gambhir and Sehwag going strong. Then, it was entirely a different tale to tell.   Virender Sehwag started the slide giving a fierce Perera his first wicket. It was a downhill journey then onwards. Classy Virat Kohli fell to Perera for just 1 in the sixth over. Rohit Sharma who failed in the first ODI too was the third to...

India defeated Sri Lanka by 21 runs in the first one day international cricket match at Hambantota in Sri Lanka today. India won the toss and elected to bat first. The start was a little shaky with Gautam Gambhir getting out early and Sehwag, joining the team after a break, was living dangerously. But with the ever dependable Virat Kohli the duo steadied the innings and very soon anchored the team for a big total. Settling down to his attacking best Sehwag looked good for a century, but was unfortunately run out for 96. Kohli showed his class by notching up his fourth hundred in five matches scoring 106 runs off 113 balls. With a sound knock of 54 by Suresh Raina and a cameo by skipper Dhoni Team India reached an imposing total of 314/6 in allotted fifty overs. For Sri Lanka all their bowlers proved to be expensive and only Perera managed to capture three Indian wickets. Set a daunting target of 315 runs Sri Lanka too started shakily losing Dilshan early to Irfan Pathan. They kept on l...

Team India is set to kick off the new cricket season. They meet their traditional rivals Sri Lanka in the first one-day international tomorrow at Hambantota, in Sri Lanka . The India-Sri Lanka bilateral cricket series hosted by Sri Lanka is part of the Future Cricket Tour Programs (FTP) prepared by the International Cricket Council (ICC). India Tour of Sri Lanka-2012 consists of five one day internationals to be played during July 21-August 4 and just one Twenty20 international on August 7. Most members of Team India attended a two-day warm up camp in Chennai before coming to Sri Lanka . While Sachin Tendulkar opted for rest Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan have come back into the team. India skipper MS Dhoni is under pressure to perform after the disappointments of the  Australia Tri-Series and the Asia Cup , and the slide in ICC rankings. Seemingly refreshed by a hard-earned rest of about two months Dhoni had said during the camp that their performance would show what improve...