Compaq Cup Final Half Time: Century No.44 Props India to 319

--> -->

Sreelata YellamrazuSep 14 2009

In a situation of crisis, the old hands played a remarkable role once things went to plan as Dhoni won the toss and rather predictably and wisely, chose to bat.

sachin dravid

India built on the resources of experience as they sought to beat Sri Lanka at home and beat their own final jinx that has often plagued them.

Given the injured personnel and the young novices, it was upto the veterans to turn up and they did and how! Dinesh Karthik took the brunt of criticism and in was blooded Virat Kohli.

However, India employed the right tactics of using India's most experienced men up front. Rahul Dravid opened the innings with Sachin Tendulkar and while the former played anchor, Tendulkar showed dynamism in pacing his innings well for his forty-forth ODI century, the fourth at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Dravid did live life dangerously but it was the Sri Lanka who failed to capitalize on those chances. The opening partnership was critical towards establishing a big score and India thrived on the partnership of India's most successful batsmen.

Dravid spent seventeen overs in the company of Sachin as India reached ninety-five for no loss. His thirty-nine were crucial for India to establish the ascendancy and put the hosts under tremendous pressure, knowing the history at the stadium batting second.

When Dravid departed, Sanath Jayasuriya giving Sri Lanka the breakthrough, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian captain, took the onus on himself and decided to take responsibility himself. Another partnership is humid, energy sapping conditions followed but it was important for India to consolidate upon the opening partnership and not throw the advantage away.

Tendulkar remained steady, no flamboyance but no defense either. The innings flowed smoothly, if not bludgeoning to suit the spectators' liking, it was effective in shaping the innings towards a launch.

The 110 run partnership for the second wicket was just as crucial as the first as India decided to take the batting powerplay after thirty-four overs. But perhaps it was the pressure to maximize the five overs that saw Dhoni perish for fifty-six. Sachin was tiring at the other end, and even Dravid came out as runner for the man chasing another milestone in his career.

None except Nuwan Kulasekara and Jayasuriya could return with decent figures.

Tendulkar's departure for a brilliant 138 from 133 balls left India with five overs and the perfect opportunity for the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan to capitalize on the free rein. Pathan did not last but Yuvraj notched a half century and in holding the innings together, did not allow the innings to collapse once Sachin started to get worn down.

In the end, India, who liked for a time like they would fail to accelerate, pushed forth to score 319, 320 a massive target for the hosts and they would have to rewrite history at the stadium to get their hands around the Compaq Cup.

Compaq Cup Controversy: BCCI Sent Injured Kohli to Sri Lanka?

Compaq Cup Final Preview: India More Realistic After Defeat to Lanka

Ind Sl ODI 3 Compaq Cup Full Time: Matthews Rips Apart World's No. 1

IND SL ODI 3 Compaq Cup Half Time: SL Raise Mammoth Total

"I Did Not Think of the 25 X 4 Idea for ODIs"

Ind NZ ODI 2 Compaq Cup Full Time: NZ Head Home, India to Top

Ind NZ ODI 2 Compaq Cup Half Time: Nehra, Yuvraj Shipwreck NZ

Injured Sehwag Finds Alternate Profession - Fashion Model!

Gambhir's Groin Injury Means Tri Series Without Regular Openers

Team India Forced to Change Flight Plans to SL

Harbhajan Runs into a Feisty Cameraman

SL NZ Ind Tri Series ODI 1 Full Time: NZ Crash!