Dhoni's calculated moves scripts India's victory at Dambulla
Mahendra Singh Dhoni during his match-winning knock of 61 not out at Dambulla yesterday. PIC/AP
Dhoni's calculated moves scripts India's victory at Dambulla
It was by far the smartest trick played at Rangiri Stadium yesterday, and the man who read the script to perfection is India's captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Apart from engineering a 1-0 lead in the Wealthsurance Cup series against Sri Lanka, India earned a sixth successive victory in chasing down the 247 needed to win by six wickets, and you are not going to get a more comprehensive victory than this one.
One thing you need to understand about the leadership skills of India's own 'Capt'n Cool' Dhoni, in scoring an undefeated 61 to help win the game, is that he is not into second guessing games.
Why, when he took the batting powerplay option in the 42nd over of the innings with the total 201 for four, he knew that Mahela Jayawardene was about to launch a desperate final assault on India's counterattack by reintroducing the much talked about "M Threat" of the Lankan spinning spooks, Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Mendis tamed
And the way Dhoni's partner, Rohit Sharma slapped the third delivery of the batting powerplay from Mendis through the covers for four, shook the confidence of the so-called mystery spinner. It was such a perfect delivery to plunder for runs. First, there was just a little too much width from the bowler trying to hold the length. Next, Sharma was quickly on to the backfoot and it was a classic piece of batting execution that had a boundary written on it.
Mendis was shaken by such carefree treatment from the batsman he is supposed to tease and bemuse. Instead, two balls later he delivered a no ball and free hit. Sri Lanka's mastery and mystery has been dismantled (well, for now at least).
Stiff target
As this opening game was supposed to focus on Murali and his eclipsing Wasim Akram's record number of 502 ODI wickets, there was the theory that the 247 needed for victory might be a little too much to expect. But even such best laid plans and hopes get derailed. And what a way Dhoni and Sharma engineered the final assault! The result is that the two spinners gave away 99 runs between them in 20 overs, with Mendis going wicketless for 47.
What made this victory so much easier is that India's batting powerplay provided the role needed to launch a final assault 36 runs off five overs may not seem a lot, but not losing a wicket helped. Sri Lanka, after a brilliantly crafted 28th century by Sanath Jayasuriya, who surpassed 13,000 runs, lost momentum in their batting powerplay by losing two wickets.
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