Emphatic victory for Sri Lanka

By Our Special Correspondent

DHAKA, JUNE 2.It became a contest only because India had Sachin Tendulkar in its camp. The rest just made up the numbers as Sri Lanka exposed the Indian ranks at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Thursday.

Poverty of talent and lack of commitment was so prominently on display as India took the field with little homework. In the absence of any direction, the team just plunged into a deep hole and its future in this edition of the Asia Cup hangs by a slender hope. India must now win its match against Pakistan on Saturday to stay in the competition.

India neither had the bowlers nor the fielders. It had nothing to offer by way of competition on a day when Tendulkar bowled and batted with a lot of purpose. In trying to strengthen its bowling, India realised the hard way it lost the balance in batting and then none of the so-called all-rounders could make an impact. A disappointed Ganguly said, ``you can't tell a batsman with 200 match experience how to bat on a flat track.'' This sentence by Indian skipper said it all.

Sri Lanka, opting to bat, had posted a daunting target with the thrust coming from `man of the match' Sanath Jayasuriya's object lessons in the middle. The left-hander from Matara was carving only his eighth century but it was a stupendous contribution given the taxing playing conditions.

Tendulkar alone matched Jayasuriya's efforts and as long as he stood in the middle India had a chance to make it. The early dismissal of Sourav Ganguly, who had used all his good form against Bangladesh, pushed India on the defensive and the little chance of a recovery vanished with the irresponsible run out of Mohammad Azharuddin and the soft dismissal of Ajay Jadeja.

Azharuddin tried to create a run which was never there. If not Azharuddin, the Sri Lankans would have got Tendulkar since the ball had rolled to short cover. Jadeja's obsession to run the ball to third man cost him and the team dearly. The middle order had caved in so characteristically and it was a matter of time really because India had no hopes given the state of the lower half's brittleness when faced with a challenge.

It was not the majestic Tendulkar we know him as but a very determined one here. He did not assert himself for the simple reason that he failed to time the ball and the gaps too were hard to pick.

Tendulkar missed his 26th century by seven runs but he would have preferred an Indian win than any personal distinction. With partners deserting him, Tendulkar was left with no choice but to go after the bowlers and it was one such casual moment that led to his downfall. And with it the team's too.

Sachin Tendulkar hoists Kaushalya Weeraratne during his gallant knock of 93 against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

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