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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 - Sri Lanka Innings

Prem Panicker (Tue Jul 7 1998 9:34)

41 now needed off 48 here, for Sri Lanka, and at this point, there seems only one possiblity. Harbajan coming on, he's bowled 8, has only one left, so India's bowling resources being stretched here and again, the problem of not using the irregular bowlers in the middle showing, not enough overs for the mainline bowlers at the end.

Harbajan to ADS, the sweep, but misses, no run. Ball two, flighted, fuller length, played on the full to long on, single.

Mahanama on strike, down the wicket, pushes, fielded on teh follow through, Bajju not cracking, here, bowling tight and keeping a good line.

40 needed off 45, Azhar and Sachin talking to Bajju here, ball four, Mahanama pushes, mid wicket up close, fields, no run.

Ball four, off the edge, behind point, and a quick single taken. Mahanama was playingto leg, that one went behind point. 39 now needed. ADS drives, finds short cover, SL 269/4 in 43.

Agarkar in for the last over of his spell, short, Mahanama pulls, in the air but short of the sweeper at midwicket and both Mahanama and Jayasuriya running like crazy here,l pushing it, get two. 271/4.

Agarkar again, to Mahanama. By the way, seems a bit of a pity the senior batsman wont make it to England, he seems in fine touch and this innings is pulling the game back for SL. Dabs the bnext one down in front of cover, quick single taken. 272/4.

And AGarkar does it agaizn. ADS pulls, ball faster than expected, hits it late, instead of going over midwicket, it finds the fielder at mid on, SL 272/5.

Upul Chandana the new man in, plays to point, no run, SL 272/5.

Great performance this however from Agarkar, time and again crashing thorugh, he's bowled pretty much unsupported throughout this innings. Chandana cuts, backward point, single, SL 273/5 in 44 and the end of a superb spell from Agarkar.

105 off 94 to ADs, Mahanama batting 35 off 38 and playing a lovely supporting knock there, now it is his turn to make the running and see SL home, the depth in batting of the hosts now beginning to bear fruit, they keep losing wickets but a good batsman follows. 35 now off 36. Bajju to bowl HIS last over, another quality performance today. Chandana defends ball one. Ball two, flighted, turns him inside out, edge, goes to backward point, no run.

Bajju, Chandana sweeps, gets the bat on that one, two for it, SL 275/5.

Bajju again, ball four, to Chandana. flighted, he cuts and misses, Mongia takes.

Bajju, ball five, Cahndana drives, finds long on, single, SL 276/5 in 44.5.

Mahanama leaning forward, playing late, paddling fine and getting three to fine leg, ends the over, 279/5 in 45,.

28 now needed in 30 balls.

Kumble being brougth back, bowling to Mhanama, who plays it at his feet, wants one, Mongia quickly around and onto that. NO run.

Ball two the sweep, misses, leg bye, SL 280/5.

28 off 28 now the ask, guys, correction to earlier post. Flipper, Chandana gets cute, trioes to run it down, bad shot to play to a ball on the stumps, loses off.

280/6.

Dharmasena the new man in, sweeps, one more and SL 281/6. Kumble, last ball, to Mahanama, forward, tries to paddle, rapped on the pad, huge appeal, now that is stupid, he was gone plumb but the umpire turns it down and to add to the confusion, Mongia was appealing, misse dhte ball, goes for four. 285/6.

That, sorru to say, is a very bad decision by K T Francis, Mahanama was bang in front of all three stumps when he got that, trying to run it down to third man, Kumble literally pleading with the umpire there. 285/6 in 46.

Prasad continues, Dharmasena plays behind point, single, SL 286/6.

Another single, here, Mahanama pushing to point. Prasad to Dsena, lovely leg cutter, beats the bat, SL 21 needed off 21.

Prasad again, bowling to Dsena, rapped on the pad, this one was finally given, and that is wicket number 7. Funny thing is, this ball was on leg and could have just beeen going to leg, the earlier one against Mahanama was plumb but not given. 21 now off 20.

Wsinghe the nea man in, rapped on the pad again but high, the leg bye taken, SL now need 20 off 19, Mahanama on strike, works it through midwicket, one more, SL 289/7 and Mahanama retains strike.

290/7 now in 47, needing 18 off 18, and Kumble to continue, Mahanama on strike.

First ball, played to point, Tendulkar takes a shy at that one, but the single is on, SL now need 17 off 17, three in hand.

Kumble again, Mahanama sweeps, Harbajana the fielder but he has to run around a long way, two for it, 15 now off 16.

Kumble, ball three, Mahanama on strike, fliper on off, sweeps and misses, falls over trying for the single, no run in the end, 15 off 15 now needed.

Kumble again, faster flipper, Mahanama heaves and misses, 15 off 14. Next ball, straight drive, Kanitkar quickly across, fields ont he line but two more, 13 off 13 now.

Kumble to Mahanama,, on off, dabbed to point and that is a very very bad scramble, Mahanama wanting one to keep strike, mixup, fielded at shoft thrid man and Jadeja, cool as ever, runs up to the stumps and breaks it, back goes Mahanama,.

Now this is really turning into a test of nerves and grit. Prasad continues, ball one, single to the on side, Bandaratilleke the new man but it was Wsinghe who got that single. 12 off 12 now.

Next ball, rapped on the pad, ball was going down the leg, no need fro the appeal, meanwhile, as everyone is busy appealing, they sneak a single, bad cricket, SL 11 off 11.

Attempt to push to point, HJadeja flying through the air, great stop. 10 to win now, 8 balls to go.

All sorts of things happening out there, swing and miss, Mongia knocks the stumps down, the players scrambling around, no one quite sure where the ball is, umpires calling for the third umpire, it's all happening out there. And yes, the verdict is out, Bandaratilleke is gone and now, SL loses its 9th.

So now it is Murali, SL need 10 from 7 and one ball left in Prasad's over. Murali is playing with split webbing, so he's going to find things even harder. Down the leg, tickles it down, single, SL now need 9 off the last over.

So that's it, it's right down to the wire, no margin for error for either side and it is Kumble to bowl the last over. Ball one, Murali cuts, ball almost goes on, huge appeal for LBW, turned down. Ball two, Murali plays out on the on side, single, SL 300/9. 8 needed off 4.

Kumble, ball three, all fielders now saving the boundary hits. Singles are not a problem now, the fence needs protection. Huge hit, through long on,they want two, that is bad running,the throw to the keepers end and it's all over, the run out finishing it, and INdia finally holding on to its nerve and getting the win, Mongia taking the throw on the half volley and catching Wsinghe out. And India go out the winners, by six runs, in one of the most exciting finishes in recent times.

AND THAT, FOLKS, IS THAT -- A CLIFFHANGER, TO END A WATERLOGGED TOURNAMENT. SHUTTING DOWN NOW. THANKS FOR THE COMPANY ALL. Gone.