and Murali swings wildly once too often, trying to chance his arm on the short ball with the pull, getting a top edge that plops easily into the hands of Kaif at covers, ending an entertaining cameo from Murali
India vs Sri Lanka, 4th Super at Johannesburg, Mar 10 2003 - Ball by Ball Commentary
The cameo may have been entertaining, but the batting performance that preceded it could not have been for Sri Lankan fans, and India register a big win here at Jo'burg, crushing Sri Lanka by 183 runs India were on course to the semi-finals in any case, but this win definitely puts them there, even as Sri Lanka go down to their second defeat in a row in the Super Six. They must now pull off a win against Zimbabwe if they are to see the semi-finals, whereas India just continue to impress, looking strong contenders for the title India's batsmen registered a strong show with the bat first, and then their bowlers bundled out Sri Lanka for just 109 Sri Lanka's batting could only last 23 overs against Zaheer, Srinath and Nehra The Sri Lankans must really pick themselves up from hereon in if they are to make it to the knockout stage and progress any further past that. Sanath Jayasuriya may regret his decision at the toss, but he must
now move his team past the two Super Six losses Javagal Srinath has been named Man of the Match for his haul of four wickets for 35 runs.
Join us tomorrow for CricInfo's live coverage of the Australia-New Zealand Super Six match, starting at 1000 local and 1330 IST. Till then, goodbye.
full and on the stumps, and Murali swings away and gets a thin outside edge that runs away to fine leg, to the ropes for four. Nehra continues to smile, but he can't be too happy about this inside
tonked awkwardly into the legside, Murali refusing the single again!
this is bizarre stuff! short ball on leg stump, and Murali pulls the ball away nicely enough, sending it bouncing just a few times before rolling over the midwicket fence
better line, closer to the batsman's body, and Murali has a heave at that one and misses again
Nehra now angling the ball wide of the batsman, even as Murali has shifted to outside leg stump and invites the bowler to aim at the stumps
even as Srinath is running up, Murali executes a more obscure version of the tango in his crease before simply smacking Srinath back over his head for a single to long off. This is good stuff from Murali!
drifting to leg, and Fernando works it away to midwicket, the 100 coming up for Sri Lanka with that shot
slower ball outside the off, and Fernando cuts into the offside, it is fielded well but Srinath is not behind the stumps to run out a Murali already halfway down the pitch
moving to leg, Murali sees Srinath following him and tries the forcing stroke through the leg and misses the ball but runs the bye
sloppy bowling this, Murali backing to leg with every ball and Srinath still bowling wide outside the off stump!
pushed into the covers, and Murali refuses the run, no doubt shielding the batsman at the other end!
Murali backs to leg again, almost having a word with the square leg umpire, and the bowler in response bowls a slow ball outside the off
more entertainment as Murali backs to leg and slashes away to third man, on the first bounce!
another attempted pull, and this one takes the edge but falls in the long off region, so two more to the total, equalling Sri Lanka's lowest total ever
short ball, and Murali flashes into a pull that makes Nehra smile too, the ball skying over the keeper to the fence for four
moving to leg, Murali tries to cut it away in the offside, and finally jams down on the ball just in time. Nehra invites him to have another go after that ball!
short of a length, and Fernando pushes into the offside and gets a single
short and wide, and Fernando tries to cut it away and mistimes, chopping it into the ground
full toss on the leg stump, and Fernando smashes this one into the midwicket region for three.Fernando having a bit of a slog here to pep things up towards the end