Sri Lanka humble India by 42 runs

Sri Lanka inflicted a 42 runs defeat on India to notch up their first victory in the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2001 being played at Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, on Saturday.

India won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. Sunil Joshi struck with the very first ball, removing Kulatunga for a duck. De Saram and Chandna hit some heavy blows to take 19 runs off the first over. Rohan Gavaskar bowled the second over and Chandna smacked the first ball for a four. Gavaskar enjoyed some success when he had De Saram caught by Badani in the deep.

Robin Singh picked up the wicket of Chandna, caught brilliantly by Rohan Gavaskar at long off. Wanasinghe struck four sixes off Robin Singh and went to make 34 retired not out. Hathurasingha who had retired not out at 33 had to come out to face the last ball of the innings, bowled by Nikhil Chopra. The Sri Lanka skipper sent the ball sailing over long on for a massive six to take the total to 111/3; the highest total of the day so far.

India lost Nikhil Chopra off the very first ball, caught brilliantly at long off by De Saram. Badani struck two fours and a six off the remaining five balls to make it 16 runs off the first over. Badani swung Wanasinghe over long off for a huge six off the first ball of the second over. Badani helped himself to one more boundary but the Sri Lankan fielding was of the best quality to deny the Indians any more boundaries. After the second over India were 30/1 and losing the plot quickly. With the likes of Robin Singh and Rohan Gavaskar to come in to bat, Badani's batting defied all logic.

Badani (26 off 9 balls) was bowled by Chandna and that brought in the Indian skipper. Robin Singh swung the ball high towards long on and was caught an inch or two from the boundary line by Wanasinghe. Robin Singh was given out caught without even scoring a run. Chandna's brilliance earned him two wickets giving away just six runs. After three overs India were 36/3 and required 76 runs off two overs for a win.

Joshi went for the maximum over long on and a juggling catch by Wanasinghe ended his stay in the middle, which earned him just 4 runs off six balls. The new batsman Mohd Kaif slammed a flat batted six over covers off Hathurasingha. Kaif smashed another six over the bowler's head to make it two in a row. Hathurasinga's over cost 18 runs and India moved on to 54/4 after four overs.

Gavaskar had a lucky break in the final over bowled by De Saram; wicket keeper putting down the catch. Gavaskar celebrated that with a six over mid-wicket. Off the very next delivery Gavaskar hit the ball in the air and the ball ended up in the hands of Upashantha. Last man Kaif struck a few blows but was never going to be enough, India finishing at 69/5, losing the match by 42 runs.