Date:21/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/21/stories/2008072159491900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Match drawn

— PHOTO: AFP

Got him! Munaf Patel celebrates the fall of Chamara Kapugedera with Ishant Sharma and Dinesh Karthik.

Colombo: Gautam Gambhir made up for his first innings flop show with a strokeful 60 as the three-day match between India and Sri Lanka Board XI petered out to a mundane draw at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground here on Sunday.

After India declared its first innings at the overnight score of 196 for eight, the host scored 247 for six in 55 overs before asking Anil Kumble and his men to take strike again.

India lost Virender Sehwag (14) and Rahul Dravid (26) before reaching 129 for two in 31 overs as the match ended in a stalemate. Gambhir, who had scored just four in the first innings, was not out on a fluent 60 off 82 balls with the help of eight boundaries.

Sourav Ganguly was unbeaten on 22 off 45 balls that included just one boundary as the left-hander decided to spend maximum time in the middle.

Harbhajan scalps two

Harbhajan Singh once again scalped a couple but Chamara Silva (59 not out) and Dammika Prasad (43 not out) put their foot down to ensure there was no batting collapse and set India a target of 276 runs.

The scores: Sri Lanka Board XI 224 in 71.5 overs and 247 for six declared in 55 overs (J. Mubarak 41, C. Silva 59 not out, D. Prasad 43 not out) drew with Indians 196 for eight declared in 49 overs and 129 for two in 31 overs (G. Gambhir 60 not out). — Agencies