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Singer Akai Nidahas Trophy, 1998, Final,
India v Sri Lanka, R. Premadasa Stadium,
Colombo, 7 July 1998

Transcript of the Commentary - India Innings

Prem Panicker (Tue Jul 7 1998 2:34)

Ball two, the cover drive, finds thee sweeper but two more, India 44/0 and Sachin moves on to 21. Btilleke, on middle, Sachin swats it to leg but finds Arjuna at midwicket, that ball not full enough to play the hoik to leg. Ball five, Sachin down the track, the inside out drive over cover, perfectly palyed and four more, Sachin increasingly looking ominous, middling his shots perfectly, that one went one bounce into the ropes, Sachin on 25 off 22, India 48/0 and a single off the last ball, India 49/0 in 8.

After a few overs of gentle pushes, Sachin seems ready to cut loose, down the track to Wsinghe's first ball, but the ball too short, changes his mind, pushes straight, one more, India 50/0.

Wsinghe tucking Ganmguly up by bowling wide of the crease, around the wicket, angling in to off and not giving the batsman any room to free his arms. Good thinking to a left handed batsman, and Ganguly plays out three dot balls as a result.

And another, this one driven straight to mid off. Sachin strolling over for a brief chat with his partner, one ball left in this innings. And that is an action replay, pushed in front, fielded on the follow through, no run, India 50/0 in 9.

Btilleke to continue, his first four went for 25, Sachin on strike and bats it to midwicket, finds the fielder. Ball two, pushed to mid on but midwicket, Arjuna, quickly round, stops the run.

That's cheeky, kneeling, waiting for the ball, gently paddling it round, single to short fine, India 52/0.

Ball four, Btilleke, Ganguly down the track, the bowler spots that, fires it down to leg, for the stumping, Kalu has a tough take and a wide given.

Btilleke trie the leg side ploy again, this time, ganguly stays in place, another wide. India 53/0 and off the next ball, number four of the over, one more. Ganguly this time pushing to mid off and running with the push, checking it to take the pace off. Last ball of the 10th, Sachin waits, lets it come on and paddles it round very gently, vvery fine, beats the fielder and works four more, that was incredibly cheeky, that shot, and INdia 59/0. Correction, that was ball five, ball six sees Sachin down the track, over the infield on the off, playing the inside out drive, two more, India 61/0 in 10.

36 runs came off the last five overs, without either batsman taking undue risks. Good calm batting, this, and the fact that Ganguly now looks actively for singles adds a dimension to their play, makes things a lot easier all round.

Wsinghe to Ganguly, ball one, played off the pads, great stop at midwicket by ARjuna who has been outstanding today. Next ball, gentle push, to mid on, and again Ganguly runs on the shot, one more, India 62/0.

This pair have so far opened in 42 innings, got 11 50 run partnerships and six century stands, which is very good going indeed. Meanwhile, Sachin readies to drive, find sthe ball not in the slot, adjusts, quickly works the single to cover, India 63/0. Ball four, Wsinghe and Ganguly's turn to push to on and run with the shot, india 64/0.

The Indians maintaining a steady run rate of 6 an over, here, Sachin back on strike, Wsinghe to bowl, and a fluent drive, no way anyone can cut that off, the classic cover drive on the up from a master of that shot, leaves the field standing with the push and four more. Sheer class that shot, India 68/0. Last ball, again the drive but finds point, no run, India 68/0 in 11.

Wsinghe has gone for 31 in 6, Btilleke 36 off 5, so neither opening bowler managing to contian the INdians here. Brings Dharmasena on in over number 12.

Teh tip and run ploy working again, Ganguly jyust blocking the first ball from Dsena onto the leg side and Sachin racing down to the danger end, India 69/0.

Dsena to Sachin, played gently into the gap between midwicket and mid on, a sweeper in place, one more, India 70/0.

Dsena to Sachin, played gently into the gap between midwicket and mid on, a sweeper in place, one more, India 70/0.

Veryu defensive mode, the Sri Lankans are in here, the field well spread to stop singles, no sign of aggression from ranatunga, meanwhile, Ganguly works another single, India 71/0.

Ball five, Sachin drives, again the single and despite not getting anywhere near top gear, guess where Sachin is? 42 off 34, and you wonder when he made the runs. Meanwhile, Ganguly down the track to the last ball, lifts easily over long on, and four more, that was a fluent hit, again Ganguly playing the lofted ondrive to the spinner with impeccable precision.

76/0 in 12, Dsena's first over going for 7. SRT on strike, Wsinghe continuing, obviously Ranatunga has no intention of using him at the end.

Sachion down the wicket,l wanting to play over mid on, finds the ball two short, and Sachin just pats it to the fielder, no run. An interesting feature of Sachin's innigns thus far is that he has had 13 singles and 13 2s, tribute to his ability to work the ball around. Ball three, Sachin down the track, swings into a power-packed pulla nd that ball's gone -- over midwicekt, effortless six, India 82/0.

Next ball, an attempted cut to one wide of off, the ball not really coming up, inner edge into the ground and the keepr collects.

And again. Wsinghe seemingly losing it, bowls a fuller length, Sachin onto the front foot, over mid on, one bounce, four mroe and that is his 50, 51 off 39 balls and this has been a controlled, calm innings. India 86/0. And last ball, anotehr drive, through the covers, two moe, India 88/0 in 13.

This is proving to be a brilliant partnership... both players not pushing the enveolpe, but accelerating imperceptibly, and keeping the run rate looking very very good here. Ganguly now restrained, letting Sachin do the bulk of the hard work.

Desna to Ganguly and agin,the push, the single, India 90/0.

Both batsmen working Dsena around pretty comfortably for singles, India 91/0 in 13.2 at this stage. Dsena to Ganguly, who is down the wicket, drives, finds short cover as Dsena fires the ball shorter, no run. Ball four, gentle push to midwicekt, another single, India 92/0.

92/0 in 14, and Muralitharan comes into the attack. Bowling here to Saurav Ganguly, Wsinghe finally out of the attack. Ganguly down the track and another effortless cover drive, that was all silk and timing, four more, India 96/0.

Ball three, Ganguly pushes to mid off, runs with the shot, one more, India 97/0. With Ranatunga not sure whether to attack or defend, the INdinas finding that if they check their drives there is a single for the taking, and they are doing that very well here, so far. Ball four, Murali, to Sachin for the first time today.

Sachin down the track, checks his shot, wide of mid on, one more, India 99/0 in 14.4

Murali to Saurav and agin, the batsman down the track, playing the lofted off drive to inch perfect precision, over the field and into the sightscren and atht is a good way to bring up the 100, India 105/0 in 14.5. Going at 7.01 asn over, now, and that is it, at the end of 15, 104 repeat 104/0.

Dsena to continue, the field restrictions now off, and Sachin Tendulkar on strike, works it very bgently off his pads, two more, india 106/0.

Sachin, playing his 196th ODI here, has 16 hundreds, 42 50s, and with a single fof the last ball, he now has 7000 runs in One Day cricket. Now there are only four batsmen who have more runs than he does. And he is now going at an averagte, before this game, of 40.91, which means that at the end of this innings, his averagte will be 41 or better.

40 off 48 to Saurav, 58 off 50 to Sachin and an enormous headcahge, now, for Arjuna as the drinks come on to the field.

Taking a breather, guys, be rigtht back.

Back after drinks, and Murali to continue, to Sachin who sweeps at one down the leg side but doesn't get hold of it too good. Ball two: on off, Sachin gently driving, missing, on the pads, nmo damage. Ball three, the sweep connecting, Sachin keeping it down and playing it soft, one more, India 105/0.

Ganguly drives, finds long on, gets the single again, moves on to 41, India 106/0.

Ball five, Murali to Sachin, again the sweep, timed well, one more to the sweeper, India 110/0.

Sachin now going at 111.1 strike rate, Ganguly's is in the high eighties, so the partnership really firing here, as India ends over number 17 on 110/0.

Over number 18 underway, and Dsena getting worked for a single first ball, India 111/0.

Ball two, Dsena fires one down leg, not called though. Ball three, Ganguly drives on the off, the fielder is well deep after his few aerial drives, so a single on the cards, india 112/0.

Ball four, Sachin taps to long on, and in Arjuna style, walks the single. 113/0. Ball five, Dsena to Ganguly, faster ball and Ganguly off drives, one again, to long on, India 114/0.

Last ball, Sachin shutting the bat face, moving forward on a ball on off, plays square on the leg side and again, strolls the single, India 115/0.

India Innings Continued