Transcript of the Commentary - Sri Lankan Innings

Prem: Meanwhile, bye, guys, and thanks for the company

Prem: harris to ranatunga, who turns it round to square leg, chanda na scurries across, the throw beats the stumps, the keeper and the fielders, goes through for four overthrows and Ranatunga's done it, guided Sri Lanka into the semis with a superlative display of controlled, calm batting. End of the match, New Zealand off home, Sri Lanka readying for what should be a great clash against South Africa. And for us, shut down time, till the day after when we are live with India versus Australia.

Prem: Allott, last ball of the 41st, gentle flick behind square and one more. 3 more to get.

Prem: Alott, brings Ranatunga forward, raps him on the pad but well outside line of off.

Prem: 4 more to go, 57 balls to do it in, and down the leg side this time, slower ball.

Prem: Ball three, Allott, on off and played to point, great running by both of them, one more.

Prem: Allott to Chandana, again, spearing it through outside off, beats the bat again and then says "Hello Chandana" or some such.

Prem: 5 from 60 the ask, Chandana the man on strike, Allott the bowler and a fast one outsdiee off, beats the bat for pace.

Prem: Chandana one drives, finds the fielder on the edge of the circle but onerun anyway, and now SL 5 short of the target with 4 wickets and 61 balls to do it in. Ranatunga, defensive.

Prem: Outside off, short, the answer to a batsman's prayer really, that one from Harris, Chandana slams it through cover, four more.

Prem: Harris to Chandana, who plays forward defensive. 10 needed off 64.

Prem: Harris continues, into the 40th over here, and Sri Lanka almost home. Ranatunga forard, nudging, single ahead of point.

Prem: Ranatunga dabbing one down ahead of point, scooting through for the single to end the 39th over.

Prem: Ooops, on middle and off, Chandana drives, edges, and the ball bisects slip and keeper, bouncing between them, I suspect Parore unsighted Fleming at slip with that dive, ball dropped ahead of Parore but Fleming couldn't even stop it, and four more. Next ball, short outside off, cut away, one more.

Prem: Chandana is more of a straight hitter than a cutter, this one is pushed to cover but no run.

Prem: 17 off 71 at 1.43 the ask, so I would look to Chandana to try and finish it off, he has room behind the bowler, also in the midwicket and extra cover region to aim for. ?this ball is outside off, a slash and miss results.

Prem: Chandana now on strike, to Allott, after every ball, Fleming having major chats with his bowlers.

Prem: 19 more needed, here, and Allott comes back to the bowler crease. Ranatunga meanwhile needs exactly 19 for his century -- not that it's possile, but if it did come, it would be his 5th, with 47 50s besides and 6951 runs at 37.57. This one, tries to play to backward square, takes the edge and goes in the intended direction, Ranatunga searching for where that went but then ambles the single to Chandana's call.

Prem: Oh, that's doing it in style. Harris bowled the slower ball on off, Chandana saw it coming, wound himself up, waited, then banged it up and over harris for a straight four.

Prem: Ooops, Chandana took off like a terreir there, but Ranatunga had played straight to cover, he had to get back. Next ball, punched off the back foot to sweeper cover, and Ranatunga walks his single agian.

Prem: Fleming in the trap of needing his fielders up to stop singles and keep Chandana on strike, and deep so he cant hit. Chandana onto the front foot, lets it come on and plays behind square leg, gets one more, 23 needed.

Prem: Harris to Ranatunga, who shuts his bat face on that one, guiding it to midwicket, one more.

Prem: Ranatunga being a savvy skipper, is liable to have told Chandana to go for a big hit or two, given how near the target it, Ranatunga knowing that even if Chandana goes, Dharmasena and Vaas are sticky customers and he is there at the other end. Harris comes back, with SL needing 25 more in 13 overs at under 2 an over now.

Prem: Very confident footwork there, Wiseman again and Chandana this time opens his bat face and looks to run it down to third man, he misses, so does Parore, four byes to the total.

Prem: Wiseman to Ranatunga, 34 off 82 needed, short outside off and for once, Ranatunga looks a gift ball in the mouth, over eager on the cut, bangs it into the ground. Makes up for it with a clincal sweep next ball, hitting against the turn, gets one to backward square leg. Wiseman, to Chandana, who lives up to his rep as a guy who likes to hit a few, down the track and smashed through long on for four.

Prem: Wiseman to continue, Ranatunga on strike, paddles, finds short fine but takes the single anyway. The fielder goes for the non striker's end trying to get Rantunga out, but the throw just fractionally wide, Ranatunga home before the bowler can gatehr and take out the bails. Wiseman now to Chandana, with Fleming at silly point, outside off, cut, misfield and a single.

Prem: Oops, that one turned and bounced, took the edge and flew to gully region, no problem though, no one there.

Prem: Vettori, and again Chandana with a competet defensive push.

Prem: Chandana plays to short midwicket, no run. Vettori, and Chandana forward, defending.

Prem: 36 needed off 89, Anand, I get the feeling this wicket could have come too late.

his could be a turning point for Newzealand . Anand Prem: Kiwis in fact were 152/6, five overs on, at the 40 over mark. Ranatunga on strike, ettori to bowl, the batsman goes across his stumps and plays from off to square leg, single.

Prem: One ball left in the 35th, to Ranatunga who plays to point and off they go, another single. 152/5 in 35, SL, Kiwis at this point were 129/4.

Prem: Wiseman to Chanana with a silly point in place, ball one, he reaches forward and plays to square elg, gets one.

Prem: Bit of excitement here for the Kiwis. Also, a bagful of drinks for them -- this humidity should be draining. Upul Chandana the new man to the crease, nodding at some advice from his skipper.

Prem: Fleming now at silly point, moving from slip, Mahanama forward trying to work to leg, beaten by huge turn and bounce there. Next ball, Wiseman, short and Mahanama pulls, hits under it, straight down the throat of sweeper square leg, Mahanama was trying to hit that short ball with the turn, mishit because it didn't get up as much as he imagined it would, the turn also meant he got it on the bottom, and not middle, of the bat as he aimed for the gap at square leg. 150/5 SL.

Prem: That brings up the 150, 40 more needed, Wiseman to Mahanama but Fleming and the bowler still discussing the field setting.

Prem: Ball two, back to his usual, letting the ball turn then nudging to point, another quick single.

Prem: 35th over coming up -- Kiwis, after 35, were 129/4. The gap really opening up here, as Wiseman bowls, down the leg side turning in, Ranatunga sweeps, this time hitting it up, lookign to clear the field, misses.

Prem: 40 from 96 now at 2.5, and Wiseman with his off breaks coming abck into the attack.

Prem: Ranatunga is back to walking his singles, here he goes, ambling down the pitch after pushing to mid on. Runs off every ball for the first four, then Mahanama plays to point, finds the fielder. Slip still in place, Fleming hoping for the wicket, Mahanama drives to mid on, finds the fielder again. No run.

Hi Prem, I think SriLanka had already won a great number of matches in similar fashion. See World cup semi and final. Anand Prem: Vettori continues. IN a sense, the inability of Vettori and Wiseman to break through is responsible for Lanka going from 5/3 to this poisiton, they needed wickets and there was none to get them for the Kiwis. Single to Ranatunga to mid n.

Prem: Harris now round the wicket to Ranatunga, who lunges forward, guides it to the side of point, one more. Ends the over.

Prem: Harris outside off this time, Mahanama rocks back and cuts, finds the sweeper on the off but a single again.

Prem: Ranatunga on drives, another single, 144/4 and 45 now the need, in 105 balls, at 2.57 per over. With six inhand, that is very doable.

Prem: 70/91 and Ranatunga singlehandedly (with apologies to Kalu) taking his side home here. Harris continues, Mahanama on strike. Defensive to the first ball. Ball two, driven, nice and easy, to mid off, one for it.

Prem: Ooops, that one went in the wrong field, sorry Pratik. Meanwhile, drinks going off the field so we are about to resume play.

Prem: I guess it's his sense of anticipation that sets him apart.During fielding changes,running between wkts, arjun is a shrewd man! Pratik

Prem: Thanks, Pratik, as to the other, is a ways away yet but yeah, figure I can use all,the help I can get, mail me. End meanwhile of the 32nd, SL oon 142/4 and drinks on the field, break time for me as well.

thanks for the opportunity Prem!It feels great to be an expert! Wonder if you need an assistant for the World cup! thanks and best wishes... Pratik Prem: Well, that maiden's been taken care of here, ranatunga beginning the next over with a fluent drive through cover, beating the field for four.

Man, how old is ranatunga, this guy just gets better PC Newzeland still with a chance. They should try and trap Mahanama leg before. He is canditate for that. Plays a lot across Sidharth Pandit Prem: Harris to Mahanama, played to point, no run. 4 100s, 33 50s so far for the batsman, average of 30.64, Harris, and Mahanama pushes to cover, no run. Ends the over on 134/4, this last over being a maiden.

Prem: Harris again, and Mahanama pushes in front of him. Ball three, that one kicked up off a lengtha nd Mahanama adjusts, taking his top hand off the handle, letting it hit the splice and drop down safe. Ball four, pushed to point, no run.

Prem: 55 off 120 the ask, at under three an over, Harris coming back to bowl after a first spell of 2-0-7-0. Mahanama pushes past the bowler, wants the run but Ranatunga waves him back.

Prem: 56 more needed, and Ranatunga looks like he's taken root out there. Amazing the number of times he steps in when his stars fail, and in his quiet fashion guides the team home.

Prem: Into the 30th over, at this point the Kiwis were 118/4, SL after 30, 134/4 with Mahanama getting a single to square leg off the last ball.

Prem: Skipper and Mahanama having a bit of a chat, there, and now it is RM on strike to Vettori, playing this one square on the on, finds the fielder, no run.

Prem: Vettori to Ranatunga, who defends. 132/4, and next ball, gentle paddle, Mahanama is off and Harris dives, tries for the direct hit and misses. He got a run out like this the other day but this time, it's past the stumps and Mahanama is safe.

Prem: Alkesh>> BTW, the comments you post wont come through direct, they get here as text and we put it back up if thought fit -- basically to keep the riff raff out. Mahanama meanwhile to the wicket. And no, Pratik, that was not what you asked.

This WC was thought to be a beta version of strategies for cricket, any innovations Prem? Pratik Prem: Alkesh, hi, and yeah, they seem to have nerves of steel those blokes. Meanwhile, the action replay confirms that Kalu just failed to make his ground, so he's gone, having done the needful though, weathering the fall of his three more reputed colleagues and helping his skipper put the game almost into the Lankan back pockets.

Hi prem, long time no see.. these sri lankans are pretty cool huh? 3/7 and now back in the game.. Alkesh Prem: Oops, that may be a run out -- on the replay, it looks like the direct hit broke the stumps just when Kalu ws reaching for the crease.

Prem: Vettori coming back, and Kalu pushes to mid on, races the run, throw from the fielder breaks the stumps and they take another for the richochet, that's Kalu's 50 and what a patient, responsible knock it's been, too.

Prem: Pratik:: if you insist on a dark horse, try te Windies, just for fun. Simmons back, ARthurton back, to join Lara, Hooper and Chanderpaul and I like the look of that batting lineup, all of a sudden. :-)

Boy, cricket with all the betting scams is being compared with horse racing!Okay so who is the dark horse? Pratik Prem: Ranatunga now in line for the man of the match, I would think. 30th over coming up.

Prem: Single to Kalu, pulling, not getting enough wood on it though, just enough to fetch the run. 59 needed now at 2.78 per over, the run rate dropping allthe time. Ranatunga pushes it down further with a gentle glance behind square, to get two more to end the over.

Sameer, you bet he has to!I guess playing his 300th ODI would be an inspiration in itself!This seems to be the first all batsman captain WC too! Pratique Prem: Long hop outside off and Ranatunga, quick as a flash, onto the front foot, full swing of the bat and smashing that through mid off for four, follows it with a gentle push to midwicket for one more next ball.

Prem: McMillan begins a new over, Ranatunga swings at one down the leg side, misses, Kalu scampers three quarters of the way down before seeing that his captain is rooted in place, scrambles back, bad throw to the bowler's end lets the non striker get home safe. Ranatunga, ball two, defensive outside off.

Prem: Alott meanwhile continuing, bowling a fair line here to Kalu, keeping him quiet to take SL to 123/3 in 28.

Prem: Pratik:: would like to look at all teams before deciding, friend. Even in horse racing, you dont pick your choice without at least a glimpse into how they ran in the trials.

Prem: Jay:: if you mean do I rate Australia as the favourite in that match barring a miracluous innings from Sachin, yeah I do.

Prem: Short, from Allott, Kalu up on his toes, pulling, finds two more to the sweeper.

After seeing the pitches for three matches, are your views on the Ind/Aus match the same? Jay Prem: 23 overs left in the game, SL at 4.44,. need to be at 3.00 here on. Ranatunga begins the next over with another calculated little glide to fine leg, one more.

Prem: Ranatunga cutting the next one, rather uppishly, but managing to get it wide of a diving backward point, for one more. Next ball, Kalu pushes past point, another single, and now SL 70 short with 139 balls to do it in. McMillan to Rtunga, down the leg side, swept, finds short fine leg, that's a leg bye actually, no touch rules umpire Shepherd.

Captains' Cup... I hope Azhar keeps up the trend! Sameer Prem: 56/76 Ranatunga, and reaching defensively forward to the next one, from McMillan.

Prem: McMillan continues, Fleming having a problem because his star spinner Vettori (31 off 6) doesnt seem to know how to quiet down the left right combo. Kalu turns McMillan through midwicket from an off stump line, gets one more.

I guess it's the local press that makes it possible...even Taylor is taking his batting seriously! Pratik Prem: Mahanama's been sitting in there padded up for over 20 overs. SL meanwhile going at 4.46, and Ranatunga calling for gloves and some repairs to his sleeves. Lull in play.

Prem: 73/145 the ask, from here on, at 3.02. Allott to Rantunga, good ball on off and played defensively, to end the over.

Prem: Ball five, again, Kalu just opening the bat face, letting the ball run off it towards point, one more.

Prem: Percentage cricket at its best, from Ranatunga in this innings, working the angles, picking the gaps, nudges and pushes with the occasional big hit when the bowler errs -- calm, controlled effort.

Prem: Alott now to Ranatunga, down the leg side and the batsman helps it along to fine leg, one more.

Prem: Alott continues, bowling to Kalu, angles one across the bat, outside off, left alone. 22 runs off his first five for one wicket, Allott, to Kalu again, sort on middle and off, Kalu opens the bat face, an "educated edge" takes it to third man, great sliding stop there but a single to the batsman.

It's been a captain's Cup, from Campbell to Flemimg to Hollioke to Cronje and now Ranatunga...!!! Pratik Prem: Kiwis were 100/3 in 25, SL move to 114/3 at that stage with Ranatunga running the last ball down to third man and picking up two more.

Prem: 4.53 the present run rate, SL needing to go at 3.03 here on, which means just three singles an over is pretty much all they need. Kalu on a patient 40 off 60, works the fifth ball off his hips through midwicekt, gets one more.

Prem: McMillan continuing, Kalu the man on strike, into the 25th over here with the game rapidly slipping out of the Kiwi clutches. on middle, Kalu plays to midwicekt, no run.

Prem: Alott, last ball of the over, Ranatunga cuts and finds point, no run. 111/3 in 24 SL.

Prem: On off this time, Ranatunga drives, finds cover, no run.

Prem: Ball four, outside off, Kalu opening the bat face, running it down one handed behind point, one more.

Prem: Ball two, a yorker, bang on middle and hits the boot, huge appeal but given that it was bowled from wide of the crease,t aht would have missed another couple of leg stumps.

Prem: Ranatunga has that smile of his plastered on his face, next ball, leaning forward working it to midwicekt, one more.

Prem: Allott now being brought back and first up, pitches short, Kalu goes for the pull, plays it from wide of off, ball mishit, ballooning safely over mid on, another single. Allott now to Ranatunga

PC:Misquoted !! For the glory of Kalmadi???? Srini Prem: Last ball, and this is wide of offstump but not called. The official score board is kind of wonky just now, jumped from 4 balls to end of the over, I think it must have frozen for a bit there. Anyways, end of the over it is, as the game begins to develop an inevitabiliyt about it. Lanka need 81 more at 3 per over, off 27 overs.

Prem: Outside off, the faster ball from McMillan, Ranatunga tries to run it to third man, beaten by the extra pace and Parore tidies up. Ball five, way down the leg side, another wide.

Prem: Kalu, next ball, punching off the back foot to mid off, then running with the shot and getting one more.

Prem: Ranatunga in no rush, seemingly aware that he has this game covered, defends when McMillan piches on line of off, ball three strays to middle and he promptly flicks it away off the hips for one more.

Prem: 100 now the partnership, off 114 balls, and Ranatunga on strike to McMillan.

MAn Prem we ought to have three teams, like then we can play Zanzibar, malaysia and the Fiji islands all at the same time for the greater glory of Dalmiya... PC Prem: Correection, given not out there, on the replay I thought I saw him short, but it looks like the bwoler failed to collect cleanly, ball not in his hand when he broke the stumps, so a life there for Kalu and Ranatunga celebrates with an off drive, gets three more off the last ball.

Prem: Vettori to Ranatuna, pushed to mid on, Kalu wants one, Ranatunga sends him back, Harris with the throw in to the bowler, third umpire called for and Kalu's goine, about a foot short despite a dive. That's the wicket Kiwis needed, 102/4 but then, it brings Mahanama to the wicket.

Prem: Ball three, Ranatunga leaning forward, covering the angle and shutting the bat face on it, works the single again to square leg, moves to 49 off 63 and that given the conditions he came in under, is a superb effort.

Prem: Vettori continues, goes over the wicekt to Ranatunga, but bwols on middle and leg and Ranatunga works another single, through the square leg retion. These two have added 94 thus far, off just 109 balls,a nd now Kalu leans into a checked sweep, just guiding the ball through midwicekt, for one more. Brings up the Lankan 100.

Prem: That was Bell with that stop, McMillan again, to Kalu this time, on leg, and played to midwicket, fielded, no run. JAY:: Sorry, that last post of yours was a shade too libellous for public posting.

Prem: Jay, if you remember, Sachin was being slammed last year for bad form and this year, he was playing out of his skin. Doesnt necessarily mean malfeasance. Ranatunga, meanwhile, gets two off the first ball, through extra cover. McMillan bowling over the wicekt, angling it across the right hander. Ball four, way outside off, lovely cover drive and an equally brillinat stop cuts off the four, but the single is on.

Jay u think like its an international network.. wasim ijaz, harris.. bookies international PC he point I am trying to make is that if you remember he had the record numbe of concesative not outs last year and all of a sudden he has been bowling really wel too Jay Prem: Craig McMillan now coming on, and that leaves only Nathan Astle left to try. Somehow, though, I dont think irregulars are going to do it for the Kiwis, they dont ahve the luxury of too many runs on the board, to afford a bad over.

Prem: Can we put one good team in place and stick with it, Srini, thanks. :-) Meanwhile, Vettori, last ball ofthe 20th, again on a middle and leg line, Kalu reaches forward, presents his bat to it, let it balloon off over backward square, two more to the sweeper in that region to end the 20th over on 95/3. Kiwis were 79/3 at this stage, and 100/3 in 25, by way of comparision.

Prem: How about 2 Indian teams , one for foreign tours and the other for sub-continental pitches a la the aussies . This might interest Lele ( 2 formidable teams and all that crap???) - Srini Prem: Vettori to Kalu, flights one on off and Kalu defends.

I don't want to make any accusations but, Chris Harris has been playing like an unbeliable person fo rhte last one year Jay Prem: That's two balls in succession down the wrong line, punished both times so the last three balls have all gone for fours to fine leg. That is thoughtless work. Vettori, this time on off, Kalu makes room and cuts but finds point, no run.

Prem: Really bad bowling by the Kiwi bowlers, they have thrown away the advantatge of a sensational start and again, Vettori on middle this time, Kalu reaches well forward, paddles, lovely, intelligent cricket, taking advantage of the vacant space behind the bat on the on, four more.

Prem: 3.35 the ask, and it's coming down with every over. 104 more needed and now it is Vettori who, with no fine leg in place, drifts in that direction, Kalu goes on his knee and just helps it along to the fence, four more.

Prem: Shorter ball again, this one on leg, Arnta tries a paddle, beaten for turn and gets it on his jaw, but too slow for it to do any damage. Next ball, again wide of leg and this time, Ranatunga sweeps, plays it late, gets it very fine and four down to the vacant fine leg area. Now what on earth was Wiseman about, bowling outside leg thrice on the trot with no fine leg in place? Playwers like Ranatunga dont miss bets like those, not too often. The Kiwis not really bowling to their field here.

Prem: Wiseman, ball four, short and turning away from outside off Ranatunga quickly onto that, thumps it through cover and two more.

Prem: Vettori to Kalu, who rocks back, works it off his hips, Ranatunga is already half way down the track when Kalu sends him back -- I think Kalu is making the mistake of looking to see where teh ball is going, behind his back is not his problem. Safe anyways, and next ball is really wide of off, would have been called if Kalu hadn't chased it and tapped it through cover for one more. Sorry, Wiseman the bowelr, to Ranatunga, the Lankans going at 4.3, needing only 3.7. On middle and off and Ranatunga forward, lets it hit the pad.

Prem: So Fleming thus far proving the only aberration in the trend that captains will play dominant roles with the bat -- Ranatunga in superb form here, doing what he does best which is take the game home with canny, calculated, percentage play.

Prem: Again, Vettori pitching outside off and again, ranatunga taking a giant stride to off, letting the ball come on and guiding it past point, two more. 3.45 the ask from here on, needing 111 more to win.

Where the hell is Astle...for god sake bring him on...Fleming!! Sudanshu Prem: This is the problem for the Kiwis -- even two, three singles per over will do it for the Lankans, so they are under absolutely no pressure, like they would have been if say the target was around 250-odd. Vettori, and Ranatunga leans back and cuts, brings in the sweeper, who has to run around the fence, two more.

Prem: Vettori now round the wicket to Kalu, a slip in place for the right hander, Vettori still moving his deep feilders areound, bowls one on middle and leg, Kalu leans forward and pushes to midwicket, single.

Lankans are good, very good, this is a fine recovery PC Prem: Lots of discussion between overs, Fleming trying to get his field setting just right, Vettori over the wicket, Ranatunga on strike, outside off, the batsman covers the angle and pushes to point, they run with the push, single.

Prem: Vettori continues, bowling to Ranatunga. SL 72/3 in 19. By contrast, the Kiwis were 79/3 at the end of the 20 over mark, so parity being restored here, after those early alarms.

India's No.3 problem is compunded because we don't have a Cronje or Arjuna at No.5 and Jadeja is grossly over-estimated - Srini I doubt Kalu will last...Ranatunga has to stay put..Sudhanshu, B;lore Prem: Wiseman now to Ranatunga, a backward point in place for the attempt to run it down to third man and now a slip in place as well. But long off is deep, Ranatunga goes forward and takes the single in that direction.

Prem: ARvind:: We are working on that, menawhile, trying typing on wordpad and cut paste here. Sorry, we will have this bit fixed for the next match. Wiseman to Kalu, off the back foot to midwicket, fielded, no run. all five, outside off, gentle push guides itthrough the gap between point and cover, one more. Nice attitude from kalu here, keeping his aggressive instinct in check, keeping his skipper company and really helping the recovery process here.

It is difficult to chat because the frame updates and whatever one has typed is gone. That's why no name in the last one. Arvind Prem: Good ball that, flight, on line of middle and off and turning sharply away from the left hander, beating the abt.

Prem: Jay:: Short answer is no. Meanwhile, post drinks, Wiseman comes into the attack, Ranatunga paddles but cant beat square leg, there is also a short fine for the sweep. Ball two, down the leg side, R sweeps and misses, but it's called wide anyway.

Just wondering if the ICC takes random drug tests for ODI matches, like this one? Jay Prem: Alps:: not really, given the target and the fact that they were three down without having got into double figures, seem to be going on quite okay.

Hi Prem sorry didn't mean to. Anyway Lankans going well slow huh?? Alps Prem: Kalu batting on a patient 21 off 38, Ranatunga on 32 off 44.

Prem: Drinks on the field, taking a breather here meanwhile. SUDANSHU:: Kalu has been very focussed this time, no rash shots if you notice. Be right back

Prem: Be nice if you guys could put names to your posts. Meanwhile, Ranatunga off the last ball of the 16th, off drives Harris, the fielder is now back on the line, the single is on.

Prem, Srilanka always maintains its runrate even if they loose early wickets. Remember last World cup semi. Sudhanshu (sudhade@wipsys) Kalu if bogged down is sure to give away his wicket...use Astle, Vittori and Harris ...do away with the seamers Sudanshu Prem, Srilanka always maintains its runrate even if they loose early wickets. Remember last World cup semi. Prem: RAGINI, you have a scoreboard right there on the frame. Alps:: Hi, pal, sorry but you cant chat up friends on this one. Mad scramble tere all round, Kalu tries to dab one to third man, finds the shoft third man fielder diving and stopping, that was Vettori, Rantunga decided on the run and raced down but Vettori threw to the otehr end, just failed to beat Kalu. Fun and games all round.

Prem: Ball two, kalu trying to work tothe on side, gets the leading edge, to the on side, no damge, no run either. TO RAGINI

Can Harris do some magic here? He is a terrificly accurate Sameer Prem: Harris continues, bowling to Kalu, bowls this one out of the back of the hand, on off, Kalu defends.

Prem: Fleming can afford to push his men back -- but that means the Lankans, very canny at the one day game, will just push the singles along, which is all they ahve to do anyway. Or they can keep the field right up -- but then, as has been happening, every error in line will be punished. so what does Fleming do?

Prem: Amish:: But then the Lankans, despite having Aravinda and Jayasuriya, appreciate the value of an anchor, here we have one Tendulkar, and insist that everyone should go bang bang from ball one, or get out of the side. Last ball meanwhile of the 15th, good line, wide of the crease angling in to just around off, Ranatunga covers up and lets it go. Ends the 15 over phase, and now Fleming has some interesting problems to face.

Prem…3 would be best for Dravid, he could ideally fit the role Attapattu does for the Lankans. Amish Prem: Doull to Ranatunga, short, cut hard but into the ground,finds point, no run.

Prem: Next ball, outside off, Ranatunga opens the bat face, trying to run it down to third man, finds backward point instead, no run

Nathan Astle should be given the ball he will surely break the back of the Lankans!! Sudanshu Prem: Doull again, to Ranatunga, again that space outside off, Ranatunga this time onto the front foot and slamming it through cover, four more.

Prem: This has been a tourney where captains excelled so far .Better Fleming have Arjuna knock down by concentrating on his weakness - nudge to thirdman - Srini Prem: Ball two, wide of the crease and angled in, Ranatunga defends.

Prem: 53 off 66 by these two, and Doull starts off with one outside off, nice and straight and short and Ranatunga slams it past point, four more, the Kiwis seem to be giving it away here.

Prem: Harris as alwyas keeping it there or thereabouts, but then making a meal of it by giving Kalu one outside off, Kalu rocks back and cuts behind point, his favourite area, four more. Harris to Kalu, middle stump line, defensive push, ends the 14th over.

Prem: PC:: Sure. And a few more matches on foreign soil, a few more batting collapses, and you will be in line outside that dressing room asking him to come out, I would think. *L*

Ideal slot for dravid in one dayers... in the dressing room. PC that was pc who was talking of harris...what i said was that allott is less likely than tait or doull to take a wicket..both of them being capable of moving the ball both ways..while allott sort of lacks variey ...and that's why bowling allott more than doull in the beginning was not the all attacking option that it was being described as.. Aman Prem: And now Chris Harris into the attack, 112 wickets off 115 matches and an economy rate of 4.23 thus far. To ranatunga, on off, and a defensive push. Ballt wo, on middle and leg and Ranatunga sweeps, gets one to fine leg. There we go again, a run gifted every so often.

Prem: Jay:: yes I think so too -- bu then, people just cant seem to get enough of this kind of thing, so what the heck, the crowds will still come in, as will the sponsors.

The ICC is thinking of making this a biannual event. Don't you think this will reduce the value of the World Cup Jay Prem: Again a bad line, down leg, turned round gently for one more. The bowlers HAVE to keep it on the stumps, make runscoring as difficult as they can. Giving two, three runs per over will lose them the game, with SL having a former opener in Mahanama still to come in, besides handy hitters like Chandana, Vaas and Dharmasena

Prem: But Azhar more often gets out when he comes at the fall of Tendlya-India is crawling on its legs and ultimately loose tamely Srini Prem: Ranatunga gets one short on middle, pulls through midwicekt, two more.

Prem: Sameer:: 3. There is no place else where he can be fitted.

What do you think is the ideal batting position for Dravid in one days? Sameer Prem: Some sightscreen problems causing another holdup, which helps the SL batsmen, they can calm down, settle back, but it is the keyed up fielding side that gets its adrenalin rush disippated here. Outside off, next ball, played to point by Ranatunga, no run.

Prem: One thing for sure, Fleming ain't sitting back hoping, he's trying to make things happen -- does he have the ammo to do it with, is the only question remaining.

Prem: Suddenly, all the pressure of those early wickets being dissipated, the SL run rate is right up there, 50/3 in 12, they neede another 140 to win at 3.65 and Fleming, now like a gambler trying everything he can, brings Doull back. To Ranatunga, on off, and a defensive push.

Prem: Ranatunga works another one away behind square for a single and off the next ball, bad line and length, short and wide outside off from tait, Kalu rocks back and slams it through cover, all along the carpet for four, left the field standing. And then plays a forward defensive shot to the last ball.

Prem: Srini:: Frankly, no. *U use a pinch hitter if you have a good one, if you dont, you play with what you have. I would rather have the batting lineup undisturbed.

Prem : should Agarkar be groomed for the pinch hitting job if Tendlya gets out in the first fifteen overs? - Srini Prem: He's lost a lot of weight lately, ranatunga, and given 42 degree temperatures and 90 degree humidity, he's apt to lose the heck of a lot more herre.

Prem: Tait again, this one on leg and middle and Ranatunga leaning forward, defending.

Prem: Aman:: Yeah, but miserly as Scrooge still doesn't cut it when defending 190 -- they need a wicket taker,here, and that right bad. Tait continues, to Ranatunga and wow, what a shot, overpitched on middle, just a flick and the ball fair zooms through midwicket, for four more.

Harris may well be the kjey here, on some slow turners that man can be a miserly scrooge PC fleming isn't really trying 'all he has' if he is bowling Allott, who in my opinion if the least likely among the specialist bowlers to be taking wickets.. Aman Prem: Vettori again, Ranatunga down the wicket, a short arm jab to midwicket, fetches him a single.

Prem: 38/3 in 10 SL and meanwhile, had a bit of computer trouble, back live now to watch Ranatunga slam a square cut to a short one from Vettori outsdie off, but straight to the fielder at point, no run. Vettori again and this is more in the Ranatunga mould, lets it come on and then guides it past point, two runs.

Prem: Tait again, this one on middle and leg, bit of inswing on that one beating Kalu's flick. Hits him on the pad -- this could be a useful delivery if he could bring it in from outside off into off and middle. Again, swing, but again, starting middle going to leg, Kalu flicks and misses but Ranatunga calls and races through for the leg bye.

Prem: Tait now coming on, and kicks off with a wide down the leg side to Kalu, one more to the total. One extra, when the batting side needs less than four runs an over, can make a heck of a difference -- ummm, stating the obvious there aint I? Tait again, right arm medium pace, to Kalu, full length, Kalu checking a drive, finds cover. No run.

Prem: Jay:: not sure about thaat. Look at the dismissals -- barring Jaya, both Atapattu and Aravinda fell to really reckless strokeplay, more than good bowling. Fleming trying all he has, not a bad way to go really.

Prem, don't you think that the kiwis blew up thier chance of twinning this game by taking off the fast bowlers too early? Jay Prem: This knockout format though is proviing to be quite fun. With no percentage in losing, ech team seems to be fully charged up, start to finish, making for some exciting moments out there.

Prem: Steve:: David Shepherd and Peter Willey.

Prem,who is umpiring this match STeve Prem: Lull in play folks, so taking a bit of a breather here. The silver lining for SL is that neither the target, nor the asking rate, are really daunting, so sensible cricket can win them the game from here despite losing three star batsmen.

Prem: Meanwhile, there's a bit of a problem with the lights, one bank of the lights appears to have gone on the blink, so drinks being taken here and we wait for conditions to be fit for play to resume.

Prem: PC:: You try doing commentary, straigt, for eight hours and then getting home so tired you cant eat dinner, you will lose that much in course of a tournament, trust me. *L*

Prem 10 kgs in 2 months! find out how he did that!:) PC Prem: 3.75 needed, 154 off 41 overs, from here on and now the other spinner comes on as well, Paul Wiseman the bowler taking over from Allott, so Fleming's throwing all his cards into the pot here.

Prem: Now that was close -- top spinner pitching just outside off, has Ranatunga reaching, inner edge onto pad and balloons just wide of slip. No damage in the end.

Prem: Vettori, ball four, on middle and leg, turned round, a controlled paddle but a super stop at backward square leg, almost a wide and short fine leg, there. Ball five, pushed to point, Ranatunga sets off but the fielder is quick there, Kalu sends him back.

Prem: Vettori continues, to Ranatunga, flighted on off, bowling over the wicket, defensive push. Ball two, onto the back foot guiding it to the on side, but finds short midwicket, no run

Four runs an over.The Sris are getting in the groove Steve Prem: Alott to Ranatunga, down the leg side, flick and miss, rapped on the pad, hugely optimistic appeal, leg bye results to end the over.

Prem: Alott again, to Ranatunga, better line, on off and three quarter length, draws the defensive shot.

Prem: Aloott again, that was a bad ball, long hop outside off and Ranatunga slams it through extra cover, four more.

Prem: Aloott, on off, Ranatunga opens the bat face to guide past point, great stop there from Harris, no run.

Allott continues, the roar of the crowd is now a constant, ball one is outside off, Ranatunga reaches into a drive, gets the one past cover. Ball two, to Kalu, on leg stump, turned to backward square, Ranatunga is off in a flash, Kalu making the mistake of looking at the ball, has to scramble but makes his ground in time. Prem: Ball five, on middle, Kalu a long way forward, defending, hit on the pad, huge appeal but that was going to leg with the arm. Another defensive shot, last ball, and SL 28/3 in 7.

Prem: Vettori, short, outside off, all the room in the world for Kalu to go back and cut past point, no cover there, four for it.

Prem: VEttori, slightly shorter in length this time, kalu tries to sweep but that one was too short for the shot, beaten.

Prem: Ball two again, on off and again, Kalu forward defending.

Prem: Now that's interesting, off goes Doull and on comes the pin up boy of the Kiwis, Daniel Vettori. Interesting choice here, the Lankans could just make the mistake of going after him -- another wicket now and the odds will swing to the Kiwis to win this one. Slow left arm, Vettori, bowling over number 7, one backward short leg and one slip in place and Kalu forward, defending to one on off, Vettori bowling round the wicket.

Prem: Allott now to Ranatunnga, who plays to mid on, all fielders right up inside the circle now, no run on offer. Very aggressive field setting from the Kiwis, was the obvious way to go since they couldn't defend such a small total anyway. Outside off this time, Ranatunga slashes, over Harris at point and through to the fence for four.

Prem: Allott to Kalu, yorker on leg, good ball, Kalu digs it out and gets one to square leg.

Prem: Allott again, to Kalu, over the stumps, on leg and middle, nice easy swing of the bat, through midwicekt, two more. Not trying to power the ball away on that one, just pushing it through the gap.

Prem: The Kiwi bowlers really need to hold their line here and somehow, prise out one more wicket at this point to really put themselves in the driving seat. Kalu meanwhile off the front foot, pushes to cover, but finds the fielder. No run.

Prem: Allott now to Ranatunga, down theleg stump line and tucked around for a single.

Prem: Or is it four no balls? Above the shoulder -- above the keeper's head actually -- so yes, that one will have to be bowled again. Outside off, and Kalu goes after it and misses. Last ball of the 5th, short, swung around through midwicket, doeesnt really get hold of it though, past mid on for two more. Ends the 5th, SL 16 for three. Kiwis were 22/1 at this point.

Prem: Nice and focussed, Doull, here, unlike in the first match when he and Allott were taken by the Zimbabweans, especially Campbell, to the tune of 93 in the first 15. That is bad thinking though -- bounced one, really banged it in hard in mid pitch, the ball climbing way over Kalu, way over Parore as well, and four byes.

Prem: Doull to Kalu, on off and middle and the keeper-bat squares up and plays back down the track.

Prem: Doull now to Kalu, no ball called so that is another extra, Douull overstretching, looking for extra pace there.

Prem: On off, fuller length, played to point, no run. Two slips, point, coverpoint, cover and a mid off on the off side, good field setting, lots of pressure being created by Fleming here. Doull again, wtih two wickets so far, again the yorker length, Ranatunga pushes wide of mid off and races the single.

Prem: End of another over, 7/3 in 4 SL and suddenly, 190 does look a bit of a target after all. 3.95 the ask, and Doull bowls outside off seaming away, that was a wide that was not called, I would think.

Prem: Steve, hi, glad you found your way in here. Yeah, Ranatunga has reportedly lost 10 kilos the past two months, which puts him at his trimmest in a long long time.

Ranatunga looks fitter than Ive ever seen him.He will need to bat thru the innings Steve Prem: Yorker length from Allott and Ranatunga digs it out. Looking at trends, barring Fleming in this innings, it is the captains who have done the trick for their sides thus far. Ranatunga's turn? Meanwhile, there's good thinking -- Ranatunga plays to slip, the throw from the fielder to the bowler is needlessly lose, and the Lankans are off in a flash, stealing the single.

Prem: Down the leg side this time, and that's a wide, the Kiwi bowlers pumped up here but they will want to keep their cool and not give away free runs at this point.

Prem: Amish:: Quickly, Mohinder's brother has opened one, Vengsarkar is running one, Madan Lal has opened an academy, Kapil is planning one, Kirmani has one, VV Kumar has one... so it is happening here as well. Allott meanwhile bowls on off seaming away, Ranatunga walking into that, trying to run it down to third man, misses the edge, not the shot you want to play at 5/3 with two slips in place.

Prem: It's turning out to be the heck of a start for the Kiwis, and the heck of a test of character for the World Cup holders who, in the words of their captain befroe the start of the tournament, were supposed to be favourites to win this one. It is Ranatunga out there now, so he has a chance to make good on his own assessment now.

Prem: Woops, this could be a turnaround for the books -- Allott, regulation ball outside off, slanting across the right hander, Aravinda not quite to the pitch, launches a huge drive at it and is gone for a duck, caught superbly by Astle at second slip.

Prem: Amish:: can we keep the debates for the regular cricket chats, please? It's all happening out there now.

Prem, agreed but just recently Ramiz Raja opened a cricketing school in England, where I’m from, for Pakistani youngsters who would eventually play for Pakistan. This has been funded by sponsorships. With the sponsorships available in Indian cricket, why doesn’t anyone take this initiative on, considering the wealth of Indian talent in England? Amish Prem: Aravinda the new man in. Meanwhile, missed the rest of the over answering a question, which is the problem if you guys keep posting questions in here, instead of giving your views. From here on, could we keep it down a shade please? Tahnks. 4/2 in 3, the score. Allott continues, to Kalu, who turns it round to backward square, gets one more.

Prem: Ashish:: Actually, will be writing about this in the match report today. But check this out: the pre game analysis -- and not just mine either, or did you see any single reporter/expert predicting anything other than low, slow wickets here? -- missed out because the weather took a turn that no one foresaw. Remember what the forecast was for the first three days? As per CNN< backed with satellite pix, it was partly cloudy the first two days, cloudy with occasional showers today. First two days, we had good sunshine, 33 degress in the middle. Today, it is 42 degrees with humidity in the 90s. What happens is obvious -- that kind of sunshine sucks every drop of moisture from below the surface, and bakes the wicket hard and flat. Hey, you can predict based on conditions that exist at the time, but we aren't weathermen. Good thing too, considering that the met department with satellites and stuff got it horribly wonky as well. By the by, remember Azhar's and Gaekwad's assessment, on day one? "It's oing to be low, slow wickets, so we are thinking accordingly."

Prem: Now that is silly cricket, that was short, outside off, Atapattu went slashing at it, managed only the nick, and Parore holds again, SL 4/2.

prem how come most of ur pregame analysis (huge %) about pitches, team composition, match strategy et al is a loser. Ashish Prem: The big plus for Lanka here is that they are chasing at less than 4, so even if they don't get a single four in the first 15, they don't have problems. With a stiffer target, the early loss of Jayasuriya might have given some pause for thought, ut not with 190 on the board. Doull meanwhile bowling as fast as he possibly can, makes one stand up off a length, on middle and leg, Atapattu tries to flick and misses and now three slips and a gully in place.

Prem: Allott now to Atapattu, short on off, the batsman onto the back foot, behind the ball, opens the bat face and runs it down to backward point, one more, to end the over.

Prem: Ball five of the second, and it is Kalu on strike to Allott, bowling over the wicket, left arm, to the fight hander, too much room there outside off and Kalu slashes, gets it past point, single to the sweeper, 3/1 the score.

Prem: Ball three, Allott to Atapattu, closer to the stumps this time and the batsman defends and, indicative of the Kiwi attitude here, is the fact that six fielders converged on that ball though no one was even thinking of a single. Ball four, on middle and leg, gently pushed past midwicekt, one more. 2/1 SL

Prem: Allot now to bowl, firing one down along the slanting line, across the right hander, bowling from over the wicket with two slips in place, left alone. Ball two, wider outside off, Atapattu drawn into the drive, attempting to play over cover, beaten by the angle, and misses completely.

Prem: Kalu seems unfazed by the dismissal of his partner in crime -- a huge swing through off at the last ball of Doull ends with the ball and bat not even kissing cousins. No run.

Prem: Amish>> Actually, I think the former greats are only too willing to help out -- but they cant go barging in anywhere, just because they are past greats, it would be up to the BCCI to structure camps, call on their services and thus far, both Kapil and Gavaskar are on record that even during the Chennai camp, no one asked them to come down -- Kaps in fact went at the invite of Gaekwad, not the board. Atapattu, meanwhile, works one off the pads backward of square for a single, brings Kalu on strike.

Prem: Doull now on fire here, bowling with two slips and Atapattu, the new man in, forward, defending. Good man to have coming in with a wicket going off the first ball -- Atapattu is a compact, classy, very orthodox player cast in the anchor mould.

Prem, thanks for the good answer, but what is your view on previous legends of India being seemingly reluctant to help upcoming cricketers harness their skills as oppose to say Pakistan whose past cricketers are continuoulsy searching for new talent in their country? Amish Prem: What te Kiwis needed was a miracle and they got one, straight up -- the first ball of the innings, from Simon Doull, bowling round the wicket, wide of the crease pitched outside off, came in with the slant of the arm, Jayasuriya pushed at it with bat well away from body, looking for his favourite area through square point, the angle of the ball took the inner edge and Adam Parore flew yards to his right to hang on to a beauty. Sri Lanka 0/1 in one ball.

Prem: Okay, guys, here we go, with Sri Lanka about to begin the chase -- if 190 in 50 qualifies as a chase for a batting lineup headed by Jayasuriya, with Atapattu, Aravinda, Arjuna and Mahanama to follow.

Prem: Amish:: For one thing, I agree with what Kapil told me in an interview -- it's foolish to keep lamenting what we do not have, and the bald fact is we don't have really all rounders, of say the Shaun Pollock class, anywhere on our horizon. So what we need to do is rethink our strategy, to make the best of what we do have. One way would be for the think tank to insist on Srinath, Kumble and Agarkar having long stints with the bat in the nets, ensuring that they are primed to produce 20, 30 runs for us with the bat. The other is to see that the likes of Tendulkar, Ganguly et al practise bowling assiduously. Sri Lanka is an example to follow -- guys like Jayasuriya and Aravinda qualify as batting all rounders, guys who can win you the match with the bat and at a pinch, bowl a few overs as required. And they also have Dharmasena, Chandana, Vaas -- bowling all rounders, who can do very well with the ball and also produce the few runs with the bat that make the difference. We don't develop what we have, is the real problem -- sitting here ruing what we do not have is not going to solve it, whats more.

Prem, given the necessity all-rounders will be in the world cup, are there any upcoming all rounders that could play for India? Amish Prem: Amish:: Pretty silly move by the selectors, I thought, he played very well, in KL, was the most impressive Indian batsman on view, then he did the same in the Challenger, best performance in the only game that was played, and then they go and drop him. Cant make sense outa that one.

Prem, what do u think on Amay Khurasiya not being in the team given his recent rave reviews? Amish

Continued