The Lankan Sweep: Sealing the Emerald IslePart 1: The Premadasa Pressure (4th ODI)
Date: July 31st, 2012.
Location: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Series Status: India leads 2-1. A win secures the series.
The humid Colombo air clung to the players like a heavy cloak. The R. Premadasa Stadium was a swirling sea of blue and yellow, vibrating with the brass band rhythms typical of Sri Lankan cricket. India led the series, but MS Dhoni wanted to kill the series tonight.
MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. The pitch looked hard, brown, and full of runs.
Team News: India made one tactical change from the 3rd ODI. Manoj Tiwary came into the playing XI, replacing the fast bowler Umesh Yadav, opting for an extra batsman to exploit the flat conditions. The lineup: Sehwag, Rohit, Kohli, Deva, Raina, Dhoni, Tiwary, Irfan, Ashwin, Zaheer, and Ojha.
Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma walked out to open. The openers, didn't just navigate the swinging new ball from Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara; they punished it.
Over 8.4: Kulasekara to Sehwag
Kulasekara pitched it up, looking for a hint of away movement. Sehwag threw his hands at it, finding the sweet spot.
[Commentary - Russell Arnold]:"Smashed through the covers! Sehwag is in a punishing mood today! The Indian openers have laid a massive foundation here in Colombo!"(FOUR)
They put on a blistering 106-run opening stand before Rohit Sharma (41) was finally trapped LBW by Angelo Mathews in the 16th over, missing a straight delivery while trying to flick it to square leg.
Score: 106/1 in 15.3 Overs. Virat Kohli joined Sehwag at No. 3.
Sehwag continued his assault, racing to 65 off just 50 balls before trying to clear the straight boundary off Rangana Herath and finding the fielder at long-on.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Caught in the deep! Sehwag falls for a magnificent 65, but he has done his job brilliantly. He has set the launchpad for the middle order! India are 125 for 2."
WICKET (Sehwag 65).
Deva walked into the cauldron. Virat Kohli was at the other end. The two young pillars of India's future met mid-pitch.
"Brilliant start from Viru paaji and Ro," Kohli said. "The pitch is beautiful. Let's keep the foot on the gas."
Deva marked his guard. He was facing the wily Rangana Herath.
Over 22.2: Herath to Deva
Herath tossed it up. Deva used his feet, getting to the pitch of the ball.
He lofted it effortlessly over extra cover.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Beautiful! Just a mere extension of the block, but he times it to perfection! One bounce and over the ropes for four. Siddanth Deva gets going instantly!"(FOUR)
Kohli and Deva built the innings meticulously on the solid foundation provided by the openers. By the 35th over, they had added 70 runs together. Deva reached his fifty off 45 balls—a mature, controlled knock.
Over 35.1: Lasith Malinga to Kohli
Malinga was brought back to break the stand. He fired a 144 kmph yorker that swung in late.
Kohli tried to jam it out but missed the line entirely. The ball crashed into the base of the middle stump.
[Commentary - Danny Morrison]:"BOWLED HIM! The toe-crusher strikes! Malinga is ecstatic! Virat Kohli's solid innings of 35 comes to an end! Sri Lanka needed this desperately!"
WICKET (Kohli 35).
Score: 195/3.
Suresh Raina came in, played a quick cameo of 20, and holed out to deep mid-wicket.
[Commentary - Arnold]:"Caught in the deep! Raina tries to take on the spinner but doesn't get enough distance! Perera makes no mistake!"
WICKET (Raina 20).
MS Dhoni joined Deva. With 8 overs left, the score was 230/4. It was time to launch.
Over 44.3: Thisara Perera to Deva
Perera bowled a slower bouncer. Deva, expecting it, rocked back and pulled it ferociously over deep square leg.
[Commentary - Shastri]:"SMASHED! He waited for it, picked the slower ball, and absolutely dismissed it from his presence! Into the second tier! Six runs!"(SIX)
Over 46.5: Malinga to Dhoni
Malinga missed his yorker. Dhoni unleashed the helicopter shot, whipping it over mid-wicket.
[Commentary - Gavaskar]:"The Helicopter takes flight in Colombo! MS Dhoni with a signature strike! It clears the boundary with ease! Four runs... wait, it went all the way! Six!"(SIX)
Over 49.4: Mathews to Deva
Deva, on 88, tried to clear the long-on boundary to finish with a flurry. He didn't get under it completely.
The ball held up in the night sky. Tillakaratne Dilshan settled under it and took the catch.
[Commentary - Shastri]:"Caught at long-on! A fantastic knock of 88 ends! He wanted the maximum but finds the fielder. He has propelled India to a massive total!"
WICKET (Deva 88).
Dhoni hit the final ball for four. India finished on a commanding 295/5.
Target 296.
Sri Lanka never got going.
Irfan Pathan swung the new ball viciously, removing Dilshan and Tharanga in the Powerplay.
[Commentary - Gavaskar]:"Edged and taken! Irfan Pathan strikes! Dilshan is gone for 10!"WICKET (Dilshan 10).
When Kumar Sangakkara tried to build a partnership, Deva was brought into the attack.
Over 22.3: Deva to Sangakkara
Deva bowled a leg-cutter that gripped and bounced. Sangakkara tried to cut but edged it to Dhoni.
[Commentary - Arnold]:"Got him! The golden arm of Deva! Sangakkara was looking dangerous, but the extra bounce does the trick! A massive blow for the hosts!"
WICKET (Sangakkara 42).
Deva later cleaned up Angelo Mathews with a perfect yorker.
Sri Lanka folded for 250 in 46.5 overs. India won by 45 runs, sealing the series 3-1. Deva's 88 and 2/45 earned him the Man of the Match.
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Date: August 4th, 2012.
Location: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Series Status: India leads 3-1. Dead rubber.
With the series secured, India rotated their squad.
Ajinkya Rahane replaced Virender Sehwag at the top of the order to partner Rohit Sharma.
Ashok Dinda came in for Zaheer Khan to lead the pace attack, and Manoj Tiwary retained his spot, replacing Umesh Yadav to keep the extra batsman strategy.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry Pallekele surface. They finally found some rhythm. Tillakaratne Dilshan (80) and Angelo Mathews (55) pushed them to a highly competitive 265/8.
Deva was the pick of the bowlers again, using his slower balls to pick up 3 wickets in the death overs, preventing a 300+ score.
Target 266.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma walked out to open. Against a fired-up Lasith Malinga, they didn't flinch. They established a rock-solid opening partnership, displaying gorgeous, risk-free cricket. Rahane's cover drives were a treat to watch, while Rohit picked gaps on the leg side effortlessly.
They added 85 runs for the first wicket before Rohit was caught behind off Nuwan Pradeep for a well-made 45.
WICKET (Rohit 45). Score: 85/1.
Virat Kohli came in at No. 3 and kept the scoreboard ticking with 22 runs, before edging a wide delivery from Angelo Mathews.
WICKET (Kohli 22). Score: 115/2.
Siddanth Deva walked out at Number 4.
Rahane, looking destined for a century, fell shortly after for a beautiful 55, trapped LBW by a skidding delivery from Sachithra Senanayake.
[Commentary - Arnold]:"Plumb in front! Rahane falls after a brilliant 55! He set the perfect platform alongside Rohit, but Senanayake strikes! India are 122 for 3."
WICKET (Rahane 55).
Suresh Raina joined Deva at Number 5.
India needed 144 runs from 26 overs. A comfortable equation, entirely thanks to the top order ensuring there was no early collapse.
Deva tapping gloves said, "The ball is doing a little bit now. Let's wait for the spinners to miss their lengths."
Deva absorbed the pressure, leaving Malinga's swinging deliveries and blunting Pradeep. Raina fed off Deva's calm.
Over 28.3: Sachithra Senanayake to Deva
The spinner dragged it short. Deva rocked back and cut it hard past point.
[Commentary - Shastri]:"Cracked away! Width offered, and Deva punishes it! The Vice-Captain is shifting gears."(FOUR)
They rebuilt the innings, stitching together a mammoth, unbroken 144-run partnership. Deva, capitalizing on the excellent start by the openers, reached his century—a masterclass in pacing a chase.
Over 46.4: Perera to Deva
Deva stepped across and flicked a full toss over deep square leg.
[Commentary - Arnold]:"SIX! And that brings up a magnificent century for Siddanth Deva! What a clinical knock! He walked in at 122/3 with a great platform and has anchored this chase flawlessly to the very end!"(SIX)
Over 48.2: Pradeep to Deva
Deva finished the match with a booming drive over extra cover.
[Commentary - Gavaskar]:"And Deva finishes it in style! Over extra cover for a one-bounce four! India wins by 7 wickets! A phenomenal chase led by the openers and finished by Deva's unbeaten 104!"(FOUR)
India chased down 266 in 48.2 overs. Series won 4-1.
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Date: August 7th, 2012.
Location: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
The final match of the tour was a one-off T20 International. The crowd was packed, expecting fireworks. India wanted to complete a dominant tour; Sri Lanka wanted a consolation victory in the shortest format.
Team News: India fielded the exact same playing XI as the 5th ODI. Rohit and Rahane retained their spots at the top of the order, and Dinda spearheaded the pace attack.
MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to bowl first, backing India's chasing ability under the lights.
Sri Lanka came out swinging. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene put on a clinic in the Powerplay.
Over 8.4: Deva to Jayawardene
Deva, bowling first change, rolled his fingers across the seam. Jayawardene tried to scoop it but hit it straight up.
[Commentary - Shastri]:"In the air... and taken! Deva strikes! The slower ball does the trick again! The captain departs!"
WICKET (Jayawardene 26).
Dilshan continued his assault, scoring a brilliant 60. Sri Lanka posted a highly competitive 175/5 in their 20 overs.
Target 176.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma opened for India. Transferring their ODI form into the T20 arena, they provided India with a blistering start.
Rohit pulled the fast bowlers with pure disdain while Rahane played orthodox cricket shots that zipped to the boundaries.
Over 3.2: Malinga to Rohit Rohit slashed hard outside off, clearing point for a boundary.
[Commentary - Arnold]:"Slashed away! Rohit is taking on Malinga! He's giving India a flyer here at Pallekele!"(FOUR)
Over 5.5: Mathews to Rahane Rahane stepped out and lofted Mathews over long-off for a beautiful six.
[Commentary - Morrison]:"Pure class from Rahane! He extends his arms and hits it miles into the stands! The opening pair is on fire!"(SIX)
They put on 65 runs in just 6.3 overs. But the introduction of spin slowed them down.
Rohit (30) was bowled by Rangana Herath trying to reverse sweep.
WICKET (Rohit 30).
Rahane (45) fell shortly after, stumped off Herath while trying to keep the run rate up.
[Commentary - Shastri]:"Stumped! Rahane steps out, misses the flight, and Sangakkara whips the bails off in a flash! An excellent 45 comes to an end!"WICKET (Rahane 45).
Siddanth Deva walked in at No. 4.
Kohli (15) fell shortly after, holing out to deep mid-wicket.
WICKET (Kohli 15). India: 105/3.
MS Dhoni joined Deva. 71 needed off 52 balls.
Over 14.1: Thisara Perera to Deva Perera bowled a length ball. Deva cleared his front leg and launched it straight back over the sightscreen.
[Commentary - Morrison]:"DOWNTOWN! What a strike! Deva says hello with a massive six straight down the ground! That sounded like a gunshot!"(SIX)
Over 15.3: Malinga to Deva Malinga bowled a searing yorker. Deva expected it. He stepped deep into the crease, opened the face of the bat, and steered it past short third man.
[Commentary - Gavaskar]:"Brilliant execution! He uses Malinga's pace and guides it past the fielder! Four valuable runs!"(FOUR)
The equation boiled down to 24 runs off the last 12 balls.
Over 19: Nuwan Pradeep to Deva Deva was on 45 off 24 balls. He decided to end the contest.
18.1: Full toss. Deva whipped it over deep square leg. [Commentary - Arnold]:"Whipped away for six! A poor delivery and Deva punishes it mercilessly!"(SIX)
18.3: Short and wide. Deva cut it fiercely.
[Commentary - Morrison]:"Cracked! Through point! Nobody moved! Deva brings up his fifty in stunning fashion! 50 off just 27 balls!"(FOUR)
18.5: Bouncer. Deva hooked it flat over fine leg.
[Commentary - Shastri]:"Hooked away! Flat and hard for six! He is destroying Pradeep here!"(SIX)
Equation: 7 runs needed off 6 balls.
Over 20: Angelo Mathews to Dhoni
19.1: Dhoni smashed a full delivery through the covers for a boundary, bringing the required runs down to 3.
19.2: Mathews bowled a slower ball. Dhoni tapped it to point and sprinted for a quick single.
19.3: Deva on strike. 2 to win. Mathews bowled a wide yorker. Deva reached out and sliced it over backward point. The ball raced to the boundary.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"SLICED AWAY FOR FOUR! AND THAT IS IT! India completes the sweep! They win the T20 International by 7 wickets! Siddanth Deva remains unbeaten on a blistering 65 off 30 balls! What a tour it has been for the young Vice-Captain and the Indian team! Complete domination in the emerald isle!"(FOUR)
The Indian team rushed the field. Deva and Dhoni bumped fists. The tour was a resounding success. The ODI series was secured 4-1, and the one-off T20 was won with swagger. Deva took off his helmet, soaking in the applause. The top order had provided the fireworks, but Deva had provided the lethal finish.