Upul Tharanga plundered the highest individual score in a one-day international in the Caribbean as Sri Lanka steamrollered India by 161 runs in the third match of the tri-nations series at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on Tuesday.
Replying to Sri Lanka’s mammoth 348-1 in their 50 overs, in which Tharanga made an unbeaten 174 and Mahela Jayawardene 107, World Cup and Champions Trophy holders India were dismissed for just 187 in the 45th over.
“It was a bad day at the office,” stand-in India captain Virat Kohli said. “We took some time to switch on in the field and by then the Sri Lankans were off and away, and even when we batted I don’t think we applied ourselves as well as we should have.”
Photo: AFP
India looked a pale shadow of the side that had gone unbeaten in lifting the Champions Trophy in England just over a week earlier. The dismissal of Kohli, standing in for the injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, hooking his Sri Lanka counterpart Angelo Mathews to long-leg, virtually ended the match as a contest as India fell to 57-3 in the 16th over.
Earlier, Jayawardene played a typically classy innings in compiling his first one-day international century for two years and his 16th in all in a 213-run opening stand in which he outscored Tharanga.
However, ultimately it was Tharanga’s day as he timed the ball sweetly and caned the lackluster India bowling to all parts of the ground with dismissive authority. He brought up his 13th one-day international century off 124 deliveries, with 11 fours, and finished with 19 fours and three sixes in his 174 off just 159 balls.
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews promoted himself to No. 3 to join the run feast, and raced to 44 off 29 balls as he and Tharanga plundered an unbroken 135 off the final 11.2 overs.
“We really needed this,” said Mathews, who acknowledged that his team was under pressure to get a good result after being beaten comfortably by the West Indies in the tournament opener on Friday last week. “Hats off to Mahela and Upul, who really set this up for us and allowed the bowlers to complete the job.”
A disciplined Sri Lanka bowling attack never allowed India a chance to threaten the daunting target.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was the most successful bowler with three for 37, while Sachithra Senanayake and Lasith Malinga claimed two apiece.
Mathews proved the most economical. Sharing the new ball, he conceded only 23 runs off his eight overs, picking up the key wicket of Kohli.
India, bottom of the standings after losing their opening two matches, now need to lift themselves immediately for the second half of the tournament in Trinidad.
They face a rematch against a buoyant West Indies at the Queen’s Park Oval tomorrow.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care