Sri Lanka defeated India by six runs in the tension racked PremadasaInternational Stadium tonight in a game that could have swung eitherway and was only settled in the final nerve jangling over of the game

Charlie Austin22-Jul-2001Sri Lanka defeated India by six runs in the tension racked PremadasaInternational Stadium tonight in a game that could have swung eitherway and was only settled in the final nerve jangling over of the game.This was one-day cricket at it’s gripping best, with fortunes seesawing throughout the day. In the end, the Sri Lankan spinners heldtheir nerve as the Indian batsmen, needing 222 for victory, stumbledin the last five overs of the game.At the end of the 45th over, bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya, India needed30 runs from 30 balls with four wickets remaining. Rahul Dravid, whofinished unbeaten on 49, was batting with Virender Shewag and the pairlooked to be cruising towards the target, effortlessly working thespinners into the gaps.Kumar Dharmasena, who handsomely repaid the national selectors fortheir faith with an emotionless performance, bowled the 46th andconceded five runs. India though still looked to have the game in thebag. Jayasuriya called his senior players to his side. They discussedtheir options in animated fashion before agreeing that the time hadcome to throw their final match winning card: Muttiah Muralitharan.It was to be his final over and fourth spell of the day and it swungthe initiative back towards the home team. Rahul Dravid hit a singleoff the first delivery and Shewag scrambled two runs with a clump towide long on. Out of the blue, however, Muralitharan conjured up twoconsecutive dot balls. Shewag panicked, went for a boundary, and waswell caught by Suresh Perera at long off.Only three runs were scored off the over and India now needed 22 runsof the final three overs, but Dharmasena conceded just five in the48th over and Jayasuriya likewise in the penultimate, leaving 12 offthe final one bowled by Dharmsena.The off spinner allrounder conceded just five as the India failed tofind the boundary and the terraces erupted with uncontained joy, asthe Sri Lankan players converged in celebration and the Indian batsmenwalked slowly to their dressing room knowing full well that they hadbeen the masters of their own fate.India had started their run chase disastrously, slipping to 30 forthree in the ninth over, thanks to a double strike by Suresh Perera ­Yuvraj Singh caught at square leg and Amay Khurasia trapped lbw ­ andthe soft dismissal of Harbhajan Singh, who had been bravely promotedin the order to make maximum use of the early fielding restrictions.When Laxman was caught behind off Dilhara Fernando India were 71 forfour and Rahul Dravid joined the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly at thewicket. Ganguly had decided to play in the middle order to counteractthe Sri Lankan spinners and the plan looked to be working, asthe duo added 80 runs for the fifth wicket.Russel Arnold broke the partnership when Ganguly top edged a sweep toJayasuriya at short leg. India were 151 for five in the 38th over andSri Lanka were back in the game. Nevertheless, India still looked incontrol until those desperate last overs.Earlier in the game the Sri Lankans had struggled to 221 after winningthe toss. They started well, scoring 48 for the first wicket, beforelosing three wickets for 12 runs. Avishka Gunawardene, dropped twiceduring his 63, then added 73 for the fourth wicket with RomeshKaluwitharana.The second collapse of the innings soon reduced the home side to 155for seven before a 49 run stand between allrounders Kumar Dharmasenaand Suresh Perera rescued the innings and showed clearly the value ofbowlers that can bat.With Muralitharan carving the final ball of the innings over cover forfour Sri Lanka would have been delighted with their final total, butknew that the bowlers had to perform. Thankfully for them the fastbowlers made initial inroads and the spin bowlers held their nerve atthe death. India now play against New Zealand on Thursday and SriLanka take on New Zealand on Wednesday. Both games will be played atPremadasa International Stadium.