Yuvraj and Dhoni clinch thriller
Two months into his Australian holiday, Yuvraj Singh finally showed up for work with a blistering 76 that set up India's chase before Mahendra Singh Dhoni survived a tense finish to guide them to a two-wicket win
Two months into his Australian holiday, Yuvraj Singh finally showed up for work with a blistering 76 that set up India's chase before Mahendra Singh Dhoni survived a tense finish to guide them to a two-wicket win
Well, a good contest out there at the Adelaide Oval today, Sangakkara's hundred in a losing cause as India's batsmen got home with two wickets, well marshalled by the resurgent Yuvraj and the sensible Dhoni who made a fifty without a boundary.
Here's Jayawardene: "It was a very good game, we had opportunities but Yuvi came in the middle and played very well. With the tailenders there was a good chance of Lasith doing something special but we were probably 20 short today. We lost a couple of wickets and momentum. Losing two wickets in the first two overs doesn't help the cause either. Once you start winning you get used to doing the right things, not doing things makes it much tougher. But credit to the guys, Indians played very well today. We really need to go all out and try to get those three mathematical wins."
Sangakkara is the Player of the Match and gets a cheque for $2500. "When you score runs you always expect to be in the winning side but when the side loses everyone loses." Quite.
"If you go into bat and you're in form you're expected to get runs and the rest of the guys have to work around you. Once it turns around we will get back on track, it's not for a lack of trying." And on Malinga at the end: "I was thinking, please, please, here's a guy who bowls his heart out, but not to be today. All of our guys tried their hardest to win the game."
Here's Dhoni. "We will take the win it's fine. One day was not enough to recover from the calf injury." He acknowledges it was easier to bat in the cooler conditions.
"The credit goes to Yuvraj, he was one of the batsman who... the sooner he comes to form the better for the side. That's one of the things you should do as a team - enjoy each other's success and that's what we're doing out here."
He made fifty without a boundary of course. "It's more fun when you're teasing the fielder, taking the doubles and cheeky singles, it's more fun than hitting boundaries." Good comment.
So the great and powerful players in Oz have spoken, that's about the best point to wrap things up and say thanks for joining me today, do come back on Friday won't you? See you then.
Close either way
Dhoni to face now and it will be Maharoof who has the honours. Three needed remember
So, a wicket maiden for Malinga but the over of course contained those byes
Ishant into the cauldron, walks in slowly and then punches gloves with Dhoni
Harbhajan Singh lbw b Malinga 3 (8m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
India and Sri Lanka have been fined for slow over-rates during their CB Series match in Adelaide on Tuesday
With his first few strokes, the sound crisp and clear off the middle of the bat, Yuvraj Singh indicated that this would be his day
Stats highlights from the eighth match of the CB Series, between India and Sri Lanka in Adelaide
Mahela Jayawardene, whose 153-run third-wicket partnership with Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka post a competitive 238, believed the team had themselves to blame for the loss
Nagraj Gollapudi presents the Plays of the day from the ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval