Sri Lanka equalled their biggest ODI run-chase with a masterful batting performance that shocked India and blew the group wide open
Related: Sri Lanka stun India to set up thrilling Champions Trophy group finale
For a soggy damp squib of a tournament, we've ended up with a non-stop diet of do-or-die clashes from now until the final #CT17#scenes!
48.4 overs: Sri Lanka 322-3 (Mathews 52, Gunaratne 34) Mathews brings up his fifty - and brings the scores level - with a glorious lofted check-drive for four off Yadav. He is just a class act, and now he has hit the winning run! That is some victory for Sri Lanka, who have equalled their biggest run-chase in an ODI. Sangawardene couldn’t have done it any better.
It was a masterful, infectious batting performance, full of skill, personality and brains. I thought Sri Lanka had no chance; I take great pleasure in being completely wrong, because this sets up a brilliant end to the group with two matches that are effectively quarter-finals: India v South Africa on Sunday and Sri Lanka v Pakistan on Monday. Thanks for your company, bye!
48th over: Sri Lanka 314-3 (Mathews 47, Gunaratne 31) No miracle from Bumrah this time. His last over is worked around for five singles, so Sri Lanka need eight from 12 balls.
“Ooh,” says Andrew Benton. “Sri Lanka are doing quite well, aren’t they? ;-)”
Breaking news R Ashwin has been included in the India team to face South Africa on Sunday.
47th over: Sri Lanka 309-3 (Mathews 45, Gunaratne 28) Mathews back-cuts Kumar’s first ball for four. That takes all the pressure off and allows Sri Lanka to work the ball around for the rest of the over. They need 13 from three overs.
46th over: Sri Lanka 301-3 (Mathews 38, Gunaratne 27) What a shot from Gunaratne! He has swept Bumrah, possibly the world’s best death bowler, for six over square leg. That is an outrageous shot in any circumstances, never mind these! Bumrah responds with a wonderful slower yorker that misses everything, but Gunaratne is in control and steers consecutive twos to third man.
45th over: Sri Lanka 290-3 (Mathews 37, Gunaratne 17) Gunaratne continues his perky start with a precise pull behind square for four off Kumar. He responds with two excellent yorkers - but Gunaratne blasts the last ball through point for four more! Eleven from the over and Sri Lanka need 32 from 30 balls. India still have two overs of Bumrah, which is their only chance of stealing a victory.
44th over: Sri Lanka 279-3 (Mathews 36, Gunaratne 7) Gunaratne is beaten first and third ball by Yadav, the second after a flustered yahoo on the run. He looks pretty nervous. The fourth ball is dug in and Gunaratne pings a sweet swivel-pull over long leg for six. He doesn’t look so nervous now.
Perera has decided to limp off, with Gunaratne replacing him. I’m surprised he has come in ahead of Dinesh Chandimal. Perera can return if Sri Lanka need him to stand and deliver at the end, but he is clearly in a lot of pain. It’s definitely his hamstring.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 271-3 (K Perera 47, Mathews 35) Perera is hobbling every single, and enters a world of pain in an over from Kumar that contains five singles and a wide. It might be cramp rather than a hamstring problem. Either way, the thought of victory is sustaining him. Sri Lanka need 51 from 42 balls and are big favourites.
42nd over: Sri Lanka 265-3 (K Perera 44, Mathews 33) A bump ball from Mathews flies through to Dhoni. India appeal and consider a review before running out of time. I’m pretty sure it was a bump ball, anyway. Yadav’s next delivery is a boundary invitation that Mathews accepts with a storming drive over mid-off. This is dramatic stuff, even more so because Perera seems to have injured his hamstring - he can barely run. Not that it matters at the moment because Mathews is batting like an old don; he walks across to ping Yadav over backward square leg for another boundary.
“That was a line-up from a bygone age when England’s idea of a one-day specialist was Jamie Dalrymple,” says Tom Van der Gucht. “Although, I seem to remember Fletcher rated his pragmatism and honest toil so highly there was, at one point, talk of him making the Test team.”
41st over: Sri Lanka 255-3 (K Perera 43, Mathews 24) Bumrah’s second ball brings the obligatory run-out scare, with Perera diving to make his ground as Jadeja’s throw flashed past the stumps. Mathews is then duped by a terrific slower ball and chips it just short of Kohli, running in from deep midwicket. It’s a brilliant over from Bumrah - until the final ball, when a low full toss is cuffed through midwicket by Perera for four, thanks mainly to a wretched piece of fielding by Jadhav on the boundary.
40th over: Sri Lanka 247-3 (K Perera 37, Mathews 22) Dear me, that was almost another run-out! The non-striker Perera, sent back by Mathews, would have been gone had the throw from midwicket hit the stumps. Mathews pulls Yadav’s next ball over midwicket for four, a stroke of considerable authority, and then Perera whips another boundary over short fine leg! That’s a cracking shot, albeit from a terrible delivery, and it brings up a rapid fifty partnership.
39th over: Sri Lanka 237-3 (K Perera 32, Mathews 17) Bumrah, the death-bowling expert, returns to the attack. He has four overs remaining. Sri Lanka play him with respect, settling for five low-risk runs. That leaves them needing 85 from 66 balls. Some finish, this. umrah, the death-bowling expert, returns to the attack. He has four overs remaining. Sri Lanka play him with respect, settling for five low-risk runs. That leaves them needing 85 from 66 balls. Some finish, this.
38th over: Sri Lanka 232-3 (K Perera 29, Mathews 15) With India straight back in need-a-wicket territory, Virat Kohli turns to the hulking Umesh Yadav. Mathews makes room to time three through backward point, a very good stroke that would have brought four but for some brilliant fielding by Dhawan. If Sri Lanka win this it will equal their best ODI run-chase - they reached a target of 322 against a formidable England bowling attack in 2006.
37th over: Sri Lanka 227-3 (K Perera 29, Mathews 10) Mathews gets his first boundary, paddling Pandya round the corner, and Perera completes an excellent 11-run over with a flat-batted four over mid-off. Sri Lanka have batted so well in this innings. If they win, the remaining group games - India v South Africa, Pakistan v Sri Lanka - will become quarter-finals. What happens if there’s a washout? I don’t think I can answer that in an open setting.
36th over: Sri Lanka 216-3 (K Perera 24, Mathews 4) Perera reverse sweeps Jadeja for four and then top-edges a sweep over Dhoni’s head. Ten from the over; that’s more than enough for Sri Lanka. Jadeja has been very expensive: 6-0-52-0.
35th over: Sri Lanka 206-3 (K Perera 15, Mathews 2) Pandya replaces Kumar and hurries through a good over that costs three. This is exquisitely tense stuff. Sri Lanka need 116 from 90 balls.
34th over: Sri Lanka 203-3 (K Perera 14, Mathews 1) With two new batsmen at the crease, Jadeja replaces Kohli. Perera pings the ball square on the off side for his first boundary in an over that brings seven. Sri Lanka are still in control of this run-chase, even if there is enormous scope for them to bottle it. Mathews is the key.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 196-3 (K Perera 9, Mathews 0) The new batsman is the captain Angelo Mathews. That was such a good piece of fielding from Kumar. As Mike Atherton says on Sky, the throw hit the middle of middle stump.
Sensational work from Bhuvneshwar Kumar to get rid of Mendis! Perera plopped the ball on the leg side and set off for a single. Mendis was out of the traps at the non-striker’s end but so was the bowler Kumar, who ran round the ball, picked up and demolished the stumps with Mendis well short of his ground. That’s an enormous wicket because Mendis was playing magnificently - he made 89 from 93 balls, and looks crestfallen as he walks off.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 194-2 (Mendis 88, Perera 8) Mendis pushes Kohli fractionally short of the diving Jadhav at extra cover.Kohli is making things happen. It’s all a big con trick but if he can take a wicket - and there have been a few near misses - it might win India this game.
31st over: Sri Lanka 190-2 (Mendis 86, Perera 6) At the moment Sri Lanka are in control of this chase, though it would be unwise to get too comfortable in the box seat: we know how teams captained by Virat Kohli can overwhelm their opponents at key moments.
30th over: Sri Lanka 184-2 (Mendis 83, Perera 4) Kohli continues. If he takes a wicket off his own bat, or rather his own ball, then the Oval will go mad. Mendis almost offers a return catch, driving airily to Kohli’s left. Five singles from the over.
29th over: Sri Lanka 179-2 (Mendis 80, Perera 3) The new batsman is Kusal Perera, with Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews to come. Mendis, who has played with such infectious flair and personality , stretches to slap Jadhav through the covers for four.
28th over: Sri Lanka 171-2 (Mendis 74, Perera 2)
You know India are in trouble when Virat Kohli brings himself into the attack - but the decision has paid off! It was a run-out rather than a Kohli wicket, though India will give not a solitary one about that. Gunathilaka tried to steal a second to fine leg, and despite a desperate dive he was just short when MS Dhoni broke the stumps. It ends a revelatory innings of 76 from 72 balls.
27th over: Sri Lanka 162-1 (Gunathilaka 73, Mendis 69) Kohli calls an unofficial timeout, having a long chat with MS Dhoni before bringing the offspinner Jadhav into the attack. The camera homes in on the picture that is R Ashwin’s face. It’s a decent first over from Jadhav, mind, with just four singles from it.
26th over: Sri Lanka 158-1 (Gunathilaka 71, Mendis 67) Jadeja is told to stand in the corner and think about figures of 4-0-36-0. Pandya replaces him and has Gunathilaka put down third ball! It was a really hard chance for Rohit, diving forward at long-on. Mendis dumps the next ball back over Pandya’s head for four, the first of three consecutive boundaries! A top-edge over the keeper was followed by a precise pull behind square. Sri Lanka need 164 from 24 overs; this is turning into some match.
25th over: Sri Lanka 143-1 (Gunathilaka 69, Mendis 54) Bumrah is bowling a really good spell, partially compensating for Jadeja’s unusual lack of economy. Two from the over, so Bumrah has figures of 6-0-23-0.
“Now here’s a thought,” says Janet Stevens. “Has the OBO ever had celebrity guest OBOers? Why not ask Trump to tweet an innings from the Oval Office, or from his (no doubt gold-plated) toilet seat? The result would doubtless be incomprehensible but at least the OBO would have made a contribution towards directing his tweets in a less harmful direction.”
24th over: Sri Lanka 141-1 (Gunathilaka 68, Mendis 53) Mendis follows Gunathilaka by reaching his fifty with a six, skipping down to chip Jadeja high over midwicket. For a 22-year-old, He has a disgusting amount of ability. Sri Lanka are playing some exhilarating stuff, and Gunathilaka reverse-sweeps Jadeja for four to make it another very productive over: 16 from it! If Sri Lanka do win this, it will blow the group wide open and make India v South Africa effectively a quarter-final.
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23rd over: Sri Lanka 124-1 (Gunathilaka 60, Mendis 47) After five excellent deliveries, Bumrah bowls a huge front-foot no-ball. That means a free hit for Mendis - but Bumrah knocks him off his feet with a superb yorker.
As much as we wanted know where Fakhar was hiding where has Gunathilaka been hidden !!??? Looks a fantastic player .. #CT17#INDvSL
22nd over: Sri Lanka 120-1 (Gunathilaka 59, Mendis 45) After a slow start Mendis is playing superbly. When Jadeja drops a fraction short, he savages a pull through midwicket for four more. His handspeed is so impressive.
21st over: Sri Lanka 113-1 (Gunathilaka 56, Mendis 41)
20th over: Sri Lanka 108-1 (Gunathilaka 54, Mendis 39) Mendis chips Jadeja just short of wide long on, where Yuvraj runs past the ball and allows it go for four. Mendis then survives a huge LBW appeal - it looked high and Kohli decided not to review - before completing an eventful over by flashing a pull for four. This is turning into a fascinating match, and if Sri Lanka win I’m going to look almost as ridiculous as Donald Trump.
19th over: Sri Lanka 98-1 (Gunathilaka 53, Mendis 30) Gunathilaka reaches a high-class fifty in some style, pulling Pandya over midwicket for six off the front foot. He’s been a revelation in this innings, so stylish and authoritative.
18th over: Sri Lanka 90-1 (Gunathilaka 46, Mendis 29) Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack, an important moment in any game. He gets some extra bounce to Mendis, who pushes airily towards long on for a single. Three from the over, and that’s drinks.
17th over: Sri Lanka 87-1 (Gunathilaka 44, Mendis 28) Four more to Gunathilaka, edged to third man off Pandya. His 44 not out, made off 43 balls, has given Sri Lanka an outside chance of a famous victory. They need 235 from 33 overs.
16th over: Sri Lanka 76-1 (Gunathilaka 37, Mendis 25) Gunathilaka blasts Bumrah down the ground for four, a happy end to a difficult over that included a big LBW appeal. It looked a bit high and India chose not to review. Gunathilaka blasts Bumrah down the ground for four, a happy end to a difficult over that included a big LBW appeal. It looked a bit high and India chose not to review.
15th over: Sri Lanka 70-1 (Gunathilaka 32, Mendis 24) Pandya induces a leading edge from Mendis, with the ball dropping just short of tjhe man diving forward at extra cover. And then he drops Mendis off his own bowling! It was a sharp chance, two-handed to his left as he followed through, and the ball burst through his hands.No wicket for Pandya but it is a timely maiden.
14th over: Sri Lanka 70-1 (Gunathilaka 32, Mendis 24) Gunathilaka evades a lovely bouncer from Bumrah and then takes a dangerous single to Kohli, who fails to pick the ball up on the run.
13th over: Sri Lanka 62-1 (Gunathilaka 31, Mendis 23) It’s a double bowling change, with Hardik Pandya replacing Kumar. Mendis brings up an excellent fifty partnership in only 48 balls with one of three singles from the over.
12th over: Sri Lanka 59-1 (Gunathilaka 29, Mendis 22) Kusal Mendis shows his class for the first time, flashing the new bowler Bumrah through cover for four. Sri Lanka have recovered superbly from a pretty abysmal start to the innings, with 37 runs coming from the last five overs.
This Gunathilaka looks quite a player. Stylish, has time. Thoughts on why he wasn't in the side originally? Numbers true, but looks the part
11th over: Sri Lanka 53-1 (Gunathilaka 28, Mendis 17) Mendis is doing great work in the V. That’s the V behind his head. After an edge for four in Kumar’s previous over, he now top-edges a hook to fine leg for another boundary.
10th over: Sri Lanka 44-1 (Gunathilaka 27, Mendis 8) Gunathilaka drives another lovely boundary off Yadav, this time to the right of mid-on. He almost took out the non-striker Mendis, who ended up on all fours searching for his dignity. Gunathilaka has played nicely to reach 27 off 25 balls; Mendis has nine from 17.
9th over: Sri Lanka 38-1 (Gunathilaka 22, Mendis 8) A difficult over for Mendis, who edges Kumar wide of the solitary slip for four and is then beaten by an excellent leg-cutter.
Wonder who's going to play more shots in the next couple of hours. Sri Lanka's run-chasers, or James Comey... #CT17
8th over: Sri Lanka 34-1 (Gunathilaka 22, Mendis 4) Boundaries plural! Gunathilaka starts the over by hooking Yadav sweetly over fine leg for six. That’s much more like it, and he follows up with a gorgeous drive to the extra-cover boundary.
7th over: Sri Lanka 22-1 (Gunathilaka 10, Mendis 4) Sri Lanka look resigned to defeat. There is very little conviction in their batting, admittedly against some very accurate bowling, and another over passes without a boundary. They need 300 from 43 overs.
6th over: Sri Lanka 17-1 (Gunathilaka 8, Mendis 1) Sri Lanka won’t be out if they lose but a heavy defeat would leave them needing snookers. Similarly, India would not be officially through but a second heavy win would mean that only a fiasco for the ages could stop them qualifying for the semi-finals. They have started superbly with the ball, and another excellent over from Yadav goes for just a couple.
5th over: Sri Lanka 15-1 (Gunathilaka 7, Mendis 0) Dickwella made seven from 18 balls and did not trouble the middle of the bat. He’s got an admirable attitude to opening; it was just one of those days when his timing was all over the place. Meanwhile, Gunathilaka gets the first boundary of the innings with an emphatic back-foot slap through extra cover.
Dickwella misses an almighty mow across the line at Kumar. If he’d connected with that it would have landed right in the middle of the apples in Sainsbury’s by Vauxhall tube station. It’s been a pretty desperate innings, and now it’s over. Dickwella tries to flick across the line and gets a leading edge straight to Yuvraj at gully.
4th over: Sri Lanka 11-0 (Dickwella 7, Gunathilaka 3) Dickwella continues his frantic assault on fresh air. He charges Yadav and misses an attempted off-side swipe before flicking wristily on the bounce to fine leg. At least he’s trying something. Most of the Sri Lankan batsmen were dispiritingly compliant against South Africa.
Watch the moment that Muttiah Muralitharan was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Congratulations Murali! pic.twitter.com/cFJrolaW98
3rd over: Sri Lanka 7-0 (Dickwella 5, Gunathilaka 2) Kumar aborts an instinctive appeal for LBW against Gunathilaka at precisely the moment his brain registers that the ball pitched well outside leg. A top-edged pull from Dickwella loops teasingly between midwicket and mid-on. He is trying to pinch hit but at the moment it’s all a bit edgy, in more ways than one.
“Hey Rob,” says Andy Gold. “How is Rashid Khan not being employed to hoover up wickets in the County Championship? Available for the whole summer and brilliant!”
2nd over: Sri Lanka 4-0 (Dickwella 3, Gunathilaka 1) The muscular Umesh Yadav shares the new ball, pummelling a good length to sufficient effect that Sri Lanka get just two singles from the other.
“Well now, young Rob ‘foregone conclusion’ Smyth, I do think a bit of credit to Sri Lanka is in order,” says Andrew Benton. “They’ve not done badly so far, and I’m holding out for them to cause a humdinger of a South Asian upset this afternoon.”
1st over: Sri Lanka 2-0 (Dickwella 2, Gunathilaka 0) Bhuvneshar Kumar opens the bowling to Niroshan Dickwella, who smacked a jaunty 41 from 33 balls against South Africa on Saturday. He gets going here with a drag through midwicket for two, aided by a misfield at midwicket - and then the non-striker Gunathilaka tries to take an absurd single. Dickwella sent him back, and he would have been miles out had Jadhav’s throw hit the stumps. In fact he would have been run out without facing a ball, just like poor old Gatt in the NatWest final 29 years ago.
With the way things are going we could - could - be looking at a semi-final line-up of England v Pakistan and India v Australia. If that doesn’t sound like all kinds of fun, then I don’t know what does.
“So, politician, what chance do you give Sri Lanka of chasing 322?”
“I think they have a good chance. We know it will be a tough chase for them against a very good bowling attack, but a target over 300 does not scare modern batsmen. If Niroshan Dickwella gets off to a flying start they will be in control of the required rate, and we know how good Angelo Mathews is. I think it would be very foolish to write off Sri Lanka.”
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50th over: India 321-6 (Jadhav 25, Jadeja 0) Dhoni’s wicket doesn’t curtail the charge much. Jadhav has his wits about him to ensure they cross so that he has the strike for the final four. He gives himself room to leg by stepping to off before sweeping hard and over square leg for six. Then a shimmy forward an a thrash across the line for four through midwicket. Finally, a boundary off the last ball, skewed over square leg, who had just been brought up into the circle. So a tough ask for Sri Lanka if they are to keep their Champions Trophy hopes alive. That’s it from me. Rob Smyth will be along shortly...
An important knock comes to an end. Perera throws it out wide and Dhoni can’t quite muscle down the ground well enough to make it count. Catch taken at long off.
49th over: India 306-5 (Dhoni 63, Jadhav 10) Single and two off the first balls of the penultimate over bring up that precious yet par total of 300. Again, a naff ending: wide outside off and Dhoni threads through point for four.
48th over: India 297-5 (Dhoni 56, Jadhav 8) Swipe down the ground for one brings MS Dhoni’s half-century from 46 balls. He doesn’t celebrate: his gesture towards the dressing was for a new clubbing stick. He doesn’t look totally chuffed with the one he’s been using in the last couple of overs. How does the new one go? Not bad. Six over midwicket. Another full toss, but a hefty 86m strike. Sri Lanka ending these overs appallingly.
47th over: India 289-5 (Dhoni 49, Jadhav 7) Good work from Jadhav – a sound over from Lakmal is ruined as the right-hander charges and nudges around the corner, upsetting the seamer’s length and finding four. “Did you spot the first impressive English name on your list (45th over)?” asks Adam Hirst. “Clue: he isn’t good enough to make the team.” A second clue:
46th over: India 280-5 (Dhoni 48, Jadhav 0) A couple of gropes outside off stirs Pandya, who somehow wrists a low full toss over midwicket for six. Searching for the yorker, was Lakmal. He’ll need to look harder than that... but he has at least found a thick edge on Pandya’s bat which skews out to the man on the cover boundary. Good bowling, all things considered.
Dhawan scored 55 of his 125 runs (44%) between backward point and wide mid off. He scored 52 off 36 from balls outside off stump. #CT17
Six and out for Hardik Pandya. No repeat of his Sunday service – caught on the off side fence, trying to carve over the boundary.
45th over: India 270-4 (Dhoni 45, Pandya 3) Belting knock from Dhawan, which has seen him reinforce his place as the second most successful ODI batsman in England (in terms of average, from a minimum of 10 innings). Some impressive names on that list. The ball after the dismissal, Dhoni manages to tickle a ball around the corner for four. Can Pandya repeat his cameo against Pakistan?
Standing ovation from the changing rooms and the stands as Dhawan’s innings comes to an end. He fetches one from well outside off stump, attempting to find a boundary down the ground. The connection isn’t great, though, and Kusal Mendis back at long on takes a simple catch.
44th over: India 261-3 (Dhawan 125, Dhoni 39) It’s another full toss – this one from Lakmal – but it’s a hell of a thump from Dhoni to put a dent in the advertising boards at cover.
43rd over: India 251-3 (Dhawan 123, Dhoni 33) Even the guns are misfiring. Gunathilaka, Sri Lanka’s best fielder, can’t deal with a high chance at square leg, running and diving past the ball as it plugs and rolls into the sponge. Dhawan the bastman, reaching outside off to find the shorter boundary. Not a bad finish from Malinga, though – just four coming from the remaining five deliveries.
42nd over: India 243-3 (Dhawan 116, Dhoni 32) Full tosses at the death – probably a no? Not if you’re Nuwan Pradeep. The first of three – yeah, seriously – is flicked over fine leg for six by Dhawan. Dhoni then deals with the next two through midwicket and cover point. That’s 46 off last five overs. Eight more to go...
41st over: India 227-3 (Dhawan 109, Dhoni 23) Sri Lanka approaching that period in the innings where they panic for no reason. Dhawan heaps worry onto them with a thump down the ground, just inside mid on, for four. An attempted ramp fails but he rather amusingly cues it to square leg, as if he’s settling for the blue in the middle pocket.
40th over: India 218-3 (Dhawan 102, Dhoni 22) Buckle up! Dhawan is steady and Dhoni’s arms are free. Nuwan Pradeep returns, tries to catch Dhoni unaware with a short ball, but is pulled expertley to midwicket for four. These two are ready to motor on: Dhawan punches through point glorious for four to go to his 10th ODI hundred from 112 balls. Striking well despite – these two don’t need roads...
39th over: India 207-3 (Dhawan 97, Dhoni 16) Excellent work by Dhawan. He’s tired of this muted nonsense. Charges Lakmal to find two through cover, before getting the bowler to come at him. His response? A pull around the corner for four more.
38th over: India 200-3 (Dhawan 91, Dhoni 15) Another goodie from Gunaratne. India have only been able to go at fives since he has come on. India should still breach 300 but not as convincingly as they would have liked.
37th over: India 197-3 (Dhawan 90, Dhoni 13) Sri Lanka decide pace off the ball to Dhoni is probably the way to go, with Gunathilaka coming back to replace Lakmal, who was wristed over point for a biggie. But Dhoni still manages to find the fence, turning one through square leg for four.
36th over: India 191-3 (Dhawan 89, Dhoni 8) Gunaratne concedes just three. That’s now 1-4 from his two overs. Meanwhile, some big news in county cricket:
Tom Kohler-Cadmore leaving @WorcsCCC with immediate effect to join @YorkshireCCC
35th over: India 188-3 (Dhawan 87, Dhoni 7) Suranga Lakmal is back into the attack, which is a good move. What isn’t is another short and wide delivery that Dhoni can free his arms and swish at, carving it over point for six! Not a bad way to get off the mark.
@Vitu_E I think the uber-ropey offie thing only works in the pro game. In my world my loopy, non-turning, deliveries only help the batsman!
34th over: India 179-3 (Dhawan 85, Dhoni 0) Beware the über ropey offie. Not only does he get Yuvraj but he nearly traps MS Dhoni in front. The umpire says not out and Angelo Mathews, away somewhere square, trusts the bowler and keeper enough to call for a review. Pitched outside leg, though.
My word! Gunaratne, an off-break bowler so part-time it counts as a hobby, is brought into the attack and, three balls from around the wicket later, he has Yuvraj Singh chopping on. No width to do it. Big moment for Sri Lanka...
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33rd over: India 178-2 (Dhawan 84, Yuvraj 7) Ian Copestake, who is keen for us to keep our election chat quiet, can’t help himself: “If we are to pursue the election parallel the only one I see is that Thisara May make some inroads.” That’s drinks.
32nd over: India 174-2 (Dhawan 82, Yuvraj 5) Small cry – more of a weep – of catch from the bowler as Dhawan pops a ball up in the direction of point. No dice, though.
31st over: India 170-2 (Dhawan 80, Yuvraj 3) Good work from Gunathilaka as he concedes just one from his over, largely thanks to his own brilliance in the field. Yuvraj tries to thump down the ground, but a fine dive and grab keeps him honest.
30th over: India 169-2 (Dhawan 79, Yuvraj 3) Perera finds a bit of extra something behind the ball – he’s a big bloke – to stop Dhawan from swinging across the line with any real conviction. Fake account, good Tweet:
Tomorrow declared a national holiday by the Sri Lankan government following Sri Lanka's dismissal of Kohli for a duck.
29th over: India 166-2 (Dhawan 77, Yuvraj 2) “What a day!” writes Ravi Raman. “Elections, the Trump-Comey show, Ind v SL and other assorted disasters around the globe. News overload!” Boundary overloard, too, as Dhawan again threads through extra cover for four, despite a strong off-side field.
28th over: India 160-2 (Dhawan 72, Yuvraj 1) Off the mark with a poorly controlled drive is Yuvraj, but he can enjoy himself at the other end. Dhawan whips Pradeep behind square leg for four before using the pace to cut behind point. He’s ticking...
27th over: India 148-2 (Dhawan 51, Yuvraj 0) And here comes Dhawan, fighting back. Tags in and lashes Malinga, around the wicket now, through midwicket and then extra cover. It’s been a fruitful clash for Dhawan – 25 of his runs have come off 22 deliveries from Malinga.
26th over: India 139-2 (Dhawan 52, Yuvraj 0) Off with Kohli, in with Yuvi. Belting two overs from Sri Lanka. Now to keep it up. Those rains have relented and may have added a slickness to the pitch that undid both Sharma and Kohli.
Virat and AB a combined 0 off 6 over consecutive days, who'd a thought it....... #CT17
FORGET WHAT YOU HEARD AND FORGET WHAT YOU KNOW! Kohli’s gone! Out! For a duck! He of the ODI feast goes hungry at the hands of his go-to prey. Fourth, maybe even fifth stump outside off and Kohli tries to run it down to third man. The ball is too sharp and the bounce to steep and he’s edged through to Niroshan Dickwella!
25th over: India 138-1 (Dhawan 51, Kohli 0) A four through extra cover for Dhawan’s milestone (69 balls) before Shamra pings Malinga for six. Revenge follows soon after. And yeah, this is the part where it could get ugly. Virat Kohli, regular flayer of Sri Lanka, comes to the crease.
Another missed hundred for Rohit Sharma! This one, again, was there for the taking. Having pulled Malinga to fine leg for six, he doesn’t commit fully when attempting to repeat the shot and finds the man a few feet in from the boundary. It hasn’t been coming and Sri Lanka haven’t deserved it. But a wicket all the same.
Meanwhile, Australia’s pay dispute rumbles on ahead of their must-win encounter with England...
Related: David Warner accuses Cricket Australia of hurting team’s bid to beat England
24th over: India131-0 (Rohit 72, Dhawan 46) Three from the over. But no wickets. That’s the real currency Sri Lanka need to concern themselves with. Oh and it’s just started raining, by the way... **kicks everything in sight that isn’t a living entity**
23rd over: India 124-0 (Rohit 71, Dhawan 45) Ian Bishop starts Malinga’s over asking Ganguly why India find it so easy to face him – his bowling average shoots up to 42 against them (full breakdown here). Ganguly, uncharacteristically, tip-toes around the issue, just as Rohit Sharma, feet still, thumps him aerially through extra cover for four.
STAT
Most 100+ stands for India in ODIs:
26 Sachin-Ganguly
13 Sachin-Sehwag
11 Dravid-Ganguly
11 Sachin-Dravid
10 Dhoni-Yuvraj, ROHIT-DHAWAN
22nd over: India 116-0 (Rohit 66, Dhawan 43) From from his 12-run effort, Thisara returns six balls for just two. By the way, you can get the best of The Guardian’s sports coverage sent right to your inbox. More details below
Related: The Recap: sign up for the best of the Guardian's sport coverage
21st over: India 114-0 (Rohit 65, Dhawan 42) Wonderful from Rohit, who must have used the drinks break to change out of his spikes and out on his dancing shoes. Shimmy down the pitch to a flat one from Gunathilaka ends with a gorgeous lofted straight drive for four. Good afternoon to Billy Mills: “Watched that Amna Rafiq video yesterday. It’s enough to make an old man smile. Brilliant.” It really is. The county game is in a strange place right now but there’s a lot of good happening behind the scenes.
20th over: India 107-0 (Rohit 58, Dhawan 42) A fifty brought up in... well... less than convincing fashion. A full blooded pull to midwicket is tipped over the bar by Gunaratne. To be fair to him, if he did catch it, he probably would have gone over the rope anyhow. Two balls later, another short ball from Thisara is pulled strongly behind square this time. Again, all the way for six! 13 from this one...
19th over: India 94-0 (Rohit 45, Dhawan 42) Gunathilaka getting through his overs quickly, but India still able to knock it around for five runs.
18th over: India 89-0 (Rohit 43, Dhawan 39) Big LBW appeal after the break, as Thisara gets one to move off the surface and into the pad of Rohit Sharma. Too much movement, though. Sliding up and over leg stump.
Secondly, here’s Vic Marks singing Eoin Morgan’s praises. As ever, he’s dead right:
Related: England captain Eoin Morgan making right calls on and off the field | Vic Marks
While drinks are being taken, a couple of plugs. Firstly, watch this video on the brilliant work being done by Leicestershire community development officer Amna Rafiq. Cricket plays a huge part in her family – her brother, Azeem, plays for Yorkshire and captained England U19s – and now she’s working to help others make use of the opportunities that she had to push for:
17th over: India 86-0 (Sharma 41, Dhawan 38) An LBW appeal – stunted, sliding down – is followed by a Sharma sweep for four. Meanwhile, I’m allowing this take into our election-free haven because it’s Geoff Lemon. And you should always let Geoff Lemon in:
Just realised today's cricket match is an allegory for the British election. #CT17#ElectionDaypic.twitter.com/dAx8RfcVsN
16th over: India 79-0 (Rohit 35, Dhawan 38) First time this innings that we’ve seen one of these two unsettled. A bit of extra pace from Pradeep nearly does Dhawan, who isn’t quick enough to go through with his pull shot. The ball is scuffed in the air but out of harm’s way. A tuck around the corner brings up 1,000 runs against Sri Lanka for Rohit Sharma.
15th over: India 74-0 (Rohit 32, Dhawan 36) Part-time off spin now from the new man Gunathilaka. His first ball is trash: flat, down leg, helped on its way for four. But the rest of the over is not too shabby – darts realigned and hitting 20 at least.
14th over: India 68-0 (Rohit 31, Dhawan 31) Sharp running between these two ensures they get five from the over, without really playing a shot in anger. Kumar Sangakkara is on commentary duty and he’s just been singing the praises of Sri Lanka’s coach Graham Ford. It was Ford who convinced Sangakkara to join Surrey. Sanga returned the favour by helping him with the move back to Sri Lanka prior to the 2016 county season. There’s a lot of love there.
13th over: India 63-0 (Rohit 28, Dhawan 29) Thisara Perera comes in to start his first spell of the Champions Trophy. He’s “got a bit about him”, which can be sod all when he’s getting pumped for seven-an-over. But he can pick up wickets here and there. Just four conceded from his first.
12th over: India 59-0 (Rohit 25, Dhawan 28) Horrendous short ball flies so high above Dinesh Chandimal’s head behind the stumps that he’s out of shot when the camera follows the path of the ball. Good morning to John Starbuck: “Nice to see a bit of the bard. Here’s one for all those dropped (squad rotated as we now have it):
Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,
Unhous’d, disappointed, unanel’d,
No reckoning made, but sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head;
O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!
If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
11th over: India 51-0 (Rohit 22, Dhawan 28) Single off the second ball and that’s the ninth fifty partnership between these two in ODI cricket.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan love batting in the Champions Trophyhttps://t.co/ZDBCil6wY9#CT17pic.twitter.com/WKdqpoEsGH
10th over: India 48-0 (Rohit 20, Dhawan 28) Two from the last over of the first Power Play. Both set batsmen set but Sri Lanka know what works on this deck. If India do post a big one, they’ll only have themselves to blame.
Very strong selfie game here!#CT17#INDvSLpic.twitter.com/6rHt2OLhjI
9th over: India 46-0 (Rohit 19, Dhawan 27) Modern cricket in a nut shell. Rohit Sharma picks Lakmal’s length early and flips it high over square leg, to the largest side of the ground, for a one-bounce four. That bounce takes it into the crowd where a spectator fields, turns to his mates, takes a few selfies, then hurls it back. Another walk on the short and wide side ends the over. Four through point for Sharma. Easy as you like.
8th over: India 36-0 (Rohit 10, Dhawan 26) Was talking to a mate the other day who had more or less gone all in on Rohit Sharma being leading runscorer. Looks again like he’ll be sticking around for most of these 50-overs, as he did with his 91 v Pakistan that took him into the 37th over. Two close run out shouts but otherwise a tame over, that. Decent start from Nuwan Pradeep.
7th over: India 32-0 (Rohit 8, Dhawan 24) Definitely one of those starts where credit is shared evenly between both sides. Then again, this has a whiff of India marching on.
“Regarding the toss,” writes Ian Copestake, “I think the Bard put it best...”
6th over: India 27-0 (Rohit 7, Dhawan 20) Few more runs that over – 10 to be exact. The majority come in two balls: Dhawan first uses his feet to punch through cover once more. Then, when he digs one in short, Dhawan’s happy to take it on. Doesn’t get much on it, but enough to beat fine leg on the inside for another four.
5th over: India 17-0 (Rohit 6, Dhawan 11) Classy from Dhawan. Just as Sri Lanka were starting to enjoy the tameness of the first five overs – 23 dot balls in there – he ends the over with a punchy extra cover drive for four.
4th over: India 12-0 (Rohit 5, Dhawan 7) Even better for Sri Lanka – a maiden. Suranga Lakmal, if he gets into the groove, can just hammer out a length. That being said, neither Sharma nor Dhawan are tentative about charging a quick.
If he’s having a good day, Pradeep’s SL’s best chance for an early wicket or two on this pitch. #CT17#IndvSL
3rd over: India 12-0 (Rohit 5, Dhawan 7) Better from Malinga. Just two runs from it. Full, but not full enough to be driven. Or short, but not short enough to be pulled. What a sport.
2nd over: India 10-0 (Rohit 4, Dhawan 6) The second and third ball of Suranga Lakmal’s over from the Vauxhall End should tell the rest of the bowlers something. Short and wide to Shikhar Dhawan (yes, exactly) is punched through point for four. The next ball, however, is fuller and goes right through the left-hander.
1st over: India 4-0 (Rohit 4, Dhawan 0) Malinga to opens the innings, running in with all the exuberance of a man nursing a fried cheese hangover. First ball resembles a Sri Lankan uncle of mine I didn’t much like – short, wide, sluggish – and Rohit Sharma slots him through cover for the day’s first boundary.
150 - This is the 150th ODI between @BCCI& @OfficialSLC, the 1st two teams to reach this milestone. Familiar. #INDvSL#CT17
“Fairly sure you meant to say that Sri Lanka elect to bowl first.”
Don’t worry, everyone. Luke Williams has already got his coat. And play...
The one that got away (after going above and beyond for the previous decade)
Sri Lanka legend @KumarSanga2 confirms he was asked to join the squad.
But he's working on TV instead today #INDvSLpic.twitter.com/Z3g8ucebtM
First tweet of the morning. Yes it’s weather-related:
@Vitu_E good morning. With SL bowling first, an ill timed (for India) rain break could see SL getting a win thanks to DLS
India are unchanged while Sri Lanka make three. Two of those are enforced, as per the previous entry, while Thisara Perera comes in for leg-spinning allrounder Seekuge Prasanna. Think that’s a good indication that Sri Lanka expect this new, greener pitch to take seam.
INDIA XI: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli*, Yuvraj Singh, HH Pandya, MS Dhoni†, KM Jadhav, RA Jadeja, B Kumar,UT Yadav, JJ Bumrah
Morning all. Vish here, coming live and direct for all your OBO needs ahead of India-Sri Lanka. Already drained by the election chat? Don’t worry, I’ll do my utmost to keep that to a minimum (seriously though, do put a cross in something today). But, as so often, sport provides a healthy distraction. Unless you’re a Sri Lanka fan, in which case you’re probably about to witness your team shellacked for the second time in a week that will almost certainly send them out of the Champions Trophy. No Upul Tharanga, banned for being too slow against South Africa, means Angelo Mathews will play and captain (but not bowl). Danushka Gunathilaka, a replacement for the injured Kapugedera, is likely to open. They really have no excuse for not picking wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan. Mainly because he’s very good and also because what is there left to lose? Sri Lanka have won just one of their nine ODIs this year...
As for India, they’ll just need to decide how and when they win this. Since 2012, they’ve won 14 of 17 matches against Sri Lanka. Mad stat from Cricinfo, too: 24% of Virat Kolhi’s ODI runs have come against Sri Lanka. Considering he has nearly 8,000 of them, it’s quite a whooping to save for one opponent. This could get ugly...
Hello. Vish will be here shortly. Until then, here’s Ali Martin on Pakistan’s DLS win over South Africa which has kept Group B interesting:
Pakistan lived up to every well-worn trope about the mercurial nature of their cricket, delivering a resurgent, prediction-defying performance in the field followed by a tense run chase that felled South Africa via Duckworth-Lewis and kept their Champions Trophy campaign alive.
Sarfraz Ahmed’s side had been written off as no-hopers after their lamentable defeat to India at this ground on Sunday. But as the rain fell in Birmingham and forced the players off at 7.38pm, his batsmen were 119 for three from 27 overs, chasing 220 to win, and 19 runs above the par score of 100, victory was theirs when the match was called off at 9.44pm.
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