da dobrowin： Looking down and out after their first three games, India stormed intothe final of the Coca-Cola Cup at a sun bathed Sinhalese Sports Clubtoday after their best batting performance of the tournament todate
Charlie Austin02-Aug-2001Looking down and out after their first three games, India stormed intothe final of the Coca-Cola Cup at a sun bathed Sinhalese Sports Clubtoday after their best batting performance of the tournament todate.Required to chase the highest target of the triangular so far, animposing 265, after a sloppy performance in the field, India poweredto a seven wicket victory over New Zealand, as Virender Shewag,opening the innings in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, thumped theseventh fastest century in the history of one-day cricket and thesecond fastest by an Indian.Already famed for an uncanny likeness to Tendulkar, in both bowlingand batting style, Shewag emerged from the shadow of India’s starbatsmen, with some exhilarating strokeplay in the opening 15 overs.The Delhi batsmen made full use of the fielding restrictions, hittingDarryl Tuffey for 22 runs in his sixth over and 12 boundaries in allin his first fifty, which came from just 28 balls.His second fifty was slower, as he focused his attention on a maidenone-day century, but he was still no slouch, reaching the landmark offjust 69 balls. Only Shahid Alfridi (37), Brian Lara (45), SanathJayasuriya (48), Mohammad Azharuddin (62), Basit Ali (67) and IjazAhmed (68) have reached three figures off lesser deliveries and notmany of them would have been missed only once, like Shewag was byParore when he had made 98.This was not, however, just a one man show. When Shewag was bowled byMcMillan’s first ball, straight after his celebrations, Sourav Gangulyheld the innings together with Rahul Dravid, who came to the wicketafter the dismissal of VVS Laxman.Ganguly, lucky to be playing at all after his verbal tirade lastevening, for which he was let off by match referee Cammie Smith withjust a fine and a slap on the wrists, added 33 with Rahul Dravid andscored 64 from 103 balls before paddling a tame catch to short fineleg.With 86 runs required from 17.2 overs, India looked well in controlhaving lost just three wickets, but those who have watched the team inthe past would not have been totally convinced, especially with theout of touch Hemang Badani and normally slow scoring Dravid at thewicket.Such fears were quickly soothed, as it became clear that Dravid was ina positive frame of mind and in fine form. He took the bowling by thescruff of the neck and shepherded his side home with an unbeaten 57from 56 balls. Badani meanwhile chipped in with a fluent 36 from 38balls that included two sixes.Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first on awicket, which was being re-used. Aware that the new ball in themorning represented their greatest threat, they batted cautiously atthe start, scoring just 55 runs in the opening 15 overs, whichcompares unfavourably to the 101 scored by India.Steadily and professionally, however, Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astleraised the tempo, as they added 138 for the second wicket, before thecaptain was stumped for 66 as he jumped down the track to YuvrajSingh.Astle went on to score 108, his second century of the series, and waswell supported by Lou Vincent, who came back into the side today.Vincent scored 45 from 37 deliveries; his highest ever score in ODIs.India now take on Sri Lanka at the Premadasa International Stadium onSunday. Full of confidence after three successive victories, theyprobably even start as favourites.