Murali A Real Legend

COLOMBO: To watch the ICC wax eloquent on Muttiah Muralitharan at the bowler’s grand farewell on Wednesday was a surreal experience.

Over the years, as Murali kept earning wickets through skill and persistence, ignoring the jibes and technical twaddle, cricket’s world body and its established norms fell apart around him like it never had since the days of Bodyline. The controversy, although not entirely ICC’s own doing, quickly and unfortunately took on undertones of a conspiracy. Throughout, Murali gamely wore the chucker label like an albatross around his neck. It wasn’t his fault that the ICC let the issue fester for a long time.

On Thursday night, it was as if the damning indictments, the scrutiny of the umpires, the internal strife, the series of biomechanical tests, the uproar and tumult across nations, was all a bad dream to be quickly shaken out off.

Sri Lankan newspapers on Friday proudly displayed ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat’s ‘living legend’ compliment to Murali on their front pages, perhaps as a banner of acceptance, perhaps as the ultimate snub. The irony would not have been lost on Lorgat, who ducked all other questions on the issue with the slickest of ease. The laws prompted its own umpires to first raise the bogey in 1996, then discovering it had created a Frankensteins monster, a helpless ICC slowly saw its credibility erode.

It ended up disappointing everyone, from the Murali backers to the haters. Many current and former players agree the Murali issue is the ICCs single biggest failure. It spanned a generation, and even changes of guard and laws couldn’t bring clarity.

Murali and the Sri Lankans will always be resentful, and the doubters will never be convinced. He underwent two biomechanical tests, one of which, the first one in 2004, while talking about his congenital defects concluded "Muralitharan has a natural 35 degrees of elbow flexion, which during delivery action reduces to 24 degrees. Therefore, any biomechanical assessment must take this 24 degree into account. His shoulder external rotation is higher than normal, which allows him a greater range of motion during delivery. While this is an advantage, it does not directly impact on the extension of the elbow."

This only confounded and confused everyone, most of all the bowler himself, who rose above the pettiness and strove to prove his class over and over. Too many off-spinners now appear to have suspect actions, and umpires are hesitant to call, unsure about the 15 degree elbow flexion norm. This isn’t Murali’s fault. It has arisen because of the way the ICC has gone about dealing with the issue.

Match 50

1

Preview: CSK vs DD (IPL - Match 50)

What

The Chennai Super Kings, riding high after their win against the Kolkata Knight Riders, take on a battle-weary Delhi Daredevils at home

When

Thursday, April 15, 8pm

Where

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

The Protagonists

Ravichandran Ashwin – The pitch at Chepauk has blown hot and cold over its past few matches, at one time being a bowler’s paradise, and at the other time, a batsman’s treasure. Whatever the wicket has been like, however, this man has given consistent performances. His impeccable figures of 3 for 16 rocked the Kolkata Knight Riders in his team’s last match. And he doesn’t look like he’s done there, seemingly intent on claiming some more match-winning performances before the tournament is out.

David Warner – Were it not for Dilhara Fernando’s sly wit, that got his wicket, the Delhi Daredevils would have taken their last game by the scruff of its neck. With 31 off 15 balls in that innings, this diminutive southpaw is still in fine form, and will want to fire longer and harder to lift his team back to the upper half of the table.

Head to head

Five matches have taken place between these two teams, and there is hardly any breathing space between them. The Super Kings lead with three wins to Delhi’s two. The last time they met a seemingly large total of 185 was shot down by the men from Chennai with relative ease

Previous Encounter

The Daredevils have been going through a winless patch for the past three matches, with their most recent match resulting in them being thumped by the Mumbai Indians away from home. The Super Kings shut out the Knight Riders in their previous match with nine wickets to spare

What next?

A win here could very well decide which team will reach the semi-final and which one won’t. Both these teams are on 12 points, with the Super Kings having the better net run-rate. Two points would mean Chennai can travel to Dharamsala with one less headache, whereas a win for the boys from Delhi can help them breathe easily and play their final match against the Rajasthan Royals at home with added zest.

Dhoni and Kohli seal comfortable win for India

A commendable performance with the bat, followed by an inspired opening burst wasn't enough for Bangladesh to pull off a surprise win against India at the Shere Bangla Stadium. The Indian middle order, led by Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, kept the hopes of the expectant crowd at bay with an ice-cool stand under pressure. For a while in the beginning of the chase, it seemed as if Shakib Al Hasan's decision at the toss would be vindicated, but the hard realisation hit home that even 296 wasn't enough to counter an in-form batting unit and a familiar foe called dew.

It undid all the hard work by a trio of half-centuries by Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah. Bangladesh posted their highest ODI total against a major Test playing country, surpassing their 285 against Pakistan. With India in trouble at 51 for 3, there was hope for Bangladesh. Shakib got his strategy right by unleashing his slow bowlers early and India had to sweat it out before they found their feet.

Abdur Razzak and Syed Rasel opened the bowling and kept the pressure by attacking the stumps. But it was a combination of casual running and purposeful fielding which led to Virender Sehwag's run-out, off a direct hit by the bowler Razzak. Sehwag failed to dive but he knew he was gone before the third umpire adjudicated. Gautam Gambhir dragged one on to his stumps and Yuvraj Singh played inside the line and lost his off stump to Rasel.

The match then turned when Dhoni and Kohli collaborated. Although Dhoni emerged the top scorer with 101, it was Kohli at the forefront in the stand of 154 for the fourth wicket. He displayed the kind of attitude and application one would associate with Rahul Dravid - cool under pressure, prepared to wait for the loose deliveries, push the singles and not get too bogged down if the boundaries aren't coming.

They struggled initially, hitting the ball straight to the fielders but later started to find the gaps. Two early boundaries off Abdur Razzak got Kohli going and he showed his strengths on both sides of the wicket , sweeping the spinners, cutting square and pulling whenever they dropped it short. The pressure began to tell on Bangladesh with a couple of misfields at the boundary - one by Tamim and the other by Razzak - was just what India needed. Kohli knocked it around and reached a valuable fifty.

As the dew worsened, the spinners were forced to bowl it flat and that gave the batting pair an opening as they kept the scoreboard ticking, without ever lagging far behind the required rate. Their stand featured 36 runs off boundaries, indicative of the number of singles and twos they picked up. The field was spread out and Bangladesh started going through the motions. They fluffed the only chance which came their way - a return catch put down off Dhoni by Shakib. At that stage, he was on 61.

Kohli started cramping up and called for a runner (Gambhir). However, he fell nine short of a century when he spooned one back to Shakib, this time hanging on to the catch. But the spinners failed to spark a collapse. Dhoni was quick to pounce on anything short and regularly rocked back to club it past midwicket. Suresh Raina joined him to finish the game comfortably with 15 balls to spare.

The defeat masked a sound batting performance by Bangladesh. Tamim batted with supreme confidence for an exciting 60 while Imrul played the supporting role, looking to occupy the crease and build partnerships. India clawed back during the middle overs before Mahmudullah scripted an attacking fifty during the batting Powerplay.

Tamim and Kayes added 80 in 11 overs on a sun-baked pitch which had no pace or movement for the seamers. Tamim played some enterprising shots on the on side, forcing Dhoni to get proactive with his field placings. His fifty came off 33 balls, the fastest by a Bangladesh batsman against India. Unfortunately, the entertainment ended when he tried to pull Sreesanth and found Gautam Gambhir at short midwicket. Kayes wasn't as flamboyant, but proved just as threatening. He preferred to stay at the crease and play his shots, grafting against the spinners and pushing the singles. He wasn't afraid to sweep Harbhajan Singh against the turn from round the wicket, and found the gaps at fine leg and deep square leg.

Bangladesh lost their way a bit after they lost Mohammad Ashraful and then Shakib for a duck. That was followed by another period of consolidation, between Raqibul Hasan and Mahmudullah who added 32 in 6.2 overs. Mahmudullah was scoreless for 11 deliveries but opened up with a sweep for four off Yuvraj. He was setting himself up for the batting Powerplay, which was delayed till the last five overs. Like in their opening game against Sri Lanka, the home fans were treated to another final-over flourish, this time by Mahmudullah. Three consecutive boundaries in the over, off Sreesanth, helped Bangladesh surge to 296. There was hope from the stands for another couple of hours before itall vanished.

idea cup ind vs Sri

Rarely does a centurion get overshadowed in a match of middling scores. But though Thilan Samaraweera finished with an accomplished unbeaten 105, the headlines were stolen by Thissara Perera, who celebrated his third cap with a power-packed 15-ball 36. From needing 54 off 39 balls when he arrived at the crease, Sri Lanka romped home with two overs to spare, as India's quest for yorkers merely resulted in one too many no-balls and full tosses. Chanaka Welegedara's five-wicket haul had killed India's batting momentum at crucial times, and with the dew playing such a factor in the evening, 279 was not quite enough.

After taking Zaheer Khan through cover to get off the mark, Perera transformed the game in Ashish Nehra's seventh over. He had been India's best bowler, but Perera pierced the off-side cordon, flicked behind square and then nonchalantly hoicked the free hit for six in the same direction. Samaraweera got to his hundred straight after, but was then more than content to watch the fun from the other end.

Zaheer was then carved through the covers twice, as he made light of being struck in the ribs, and a meaty club through wide long-on finished off matters well ahead of time. Sri Lanka had been given a brisk start by the new opening pair of Upul Tharanga and Lahiru Thirimanne, the debutant who replaced Tillakaratne Dilshan, but once India conceded just 16 in the five overs of bowling Powerplay, the onus was very much on the old hands to see it home.

Tharanga had set the tone with a casual loft for four off Zaheer, and then two then took 16 from an over that also featured wides down the leg side. With runs leaking, MS Dhoni gave the ball to Sreesanth, only for Thirimanne to reveal glimpses of his potential with three cracking drives through the covers. It was too good to last though. In Sreesanth's next over, he got into a tangle trying to pull off the front foot and the ball ballooned to midwicket.

Soon after, Harbhajan Singh was introduced and Tharanga chipped his fourth ball straight back. But Samaraweera came in and wrested the initiative with deft cuts and a paddle for four. And with Kumar Sangakkara unafraid to come down the pitch and chip over the infield, the innings quickly revived. By then the towels were out, and the Indian focus was as much on keeping the ball dry as it was on taking the wickets needed to win the game.

Samaraweera was the primary aggressor, scooping Sreesanth for four in an over that cost 16, and Sri Lanka were cruising when Sangakkara, who had eased to 60, stepped out and lofted Harbhajan Singh straight to cover. Thilina Kandamby then top-edged a wild swipe to midwicket and when Suraj Randiv backed up too far, they were in trouble. Perera, though, ensured that India would get no reprieve.

Earlier, Yuvraj Singh had marked his return to the XI with 74 from 84 balls, while Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja all contributed decent cameos after Virender Sehwag had played a typically effervescent hand. He cruised to 47 from 30 balls before playing too early at one bowled with fingers rolled across the seam from round the wicket, and after his exit, India had to build steadily on a surface where the ball didn't always come on to the bat.

Sehwag had announced his intentions from the outset, off-driving Welegedara for four, but there was an early setback for the Indians as he sneaked a yorker underneath Gautam Gambhir's bat and on to the base of leg stump. With Sehwag taking Suranga Lakmal for three fours in an over, and Virat Kohli playing a lovely straight drive, the 50 of the innings came in just the seventh over. The game changed, though, in the space of two eventful overs from Welegedara.

Sehwag had scythed two off-side fours and been caught behind off a no-ball by the time Kohli tried too cute a deflection to a ball pitched outside off stump. Having conceded 18 in that over, Welegedara came back in the next to have Sehwag caught at mid-off by Thirimanne. India had taken 76 from the first Powerplay, but only 13 came from the bowling one as the bowlers kept a leash on the new batsmen. Both Yuvraj and Dhoni clipped boundaries through point, but with Randiv getting pretty sharp turn, and Kandamby filling in with part-time spin, the runs were no longer coming at Sehwag pace.

When Muthumudalige Pushpakumara went off injured after a dive in the outfield, Sangakkara had to turn to his occasional bowlers, and Yuvraj quickly cashed in, pulling Samaraweera for four and then heaving Kandamby for two consecutive sixes to reach his half-century. At that point, Perara, deputising for Chamara Silva, was called on, and Dhoni's attempt to force the issue only found Sangakkara's gloves. Soon after, he induced a miscued pull from Yuvraj, and by the time the batting Powerplay was taken after 43 overs, there were only 225 on the board.

They took 14 from the first of those overs, bowled by Welegedara, but with Jadeja going four-six-four-four against Thilan Thushara, the innings finally had some energy. But back came Sri Lanka again, with Welegedara castling Raina and Zaheer, and Harbhajan playing a hideous stroke to point. By the time Jadeja holed out in the final over, all hopes of 300 had long since disappeared, leaving Sri Lanka with a chase that they timed to perfection.

Idea cup Ban vs Sri

A succession of bowling changes within the first eight overs of the chase indicated where the match was heading. Bangladesh, under immense pressure to defend a modest - by this tournament's standards - 250, found themselves at the receiving end of an annihilation by Sri Lanka. Mahela Jayawardene andUpul Tharanga compiled centuries with risk-free cricket and the hosts were at the mercy of the conditions again. The decision to advance play by half an hour to protect the bowlers from the dew didn't made an iota of difference.

Tharanga and Jayawardene caressed the ball around, as if the fielders didn't exist. Jayawardene, initially rested for this tournament, was rushed to Bangladesh as an injury cover and he didn't waste much time settling down. He imposed himself with three boundaries in the second over, off Rubel Hossain, flicking and driving through the off side. Shakib Al Hasan, sensing the futility of bowling his seamers in tandem, took them off after the third over.

It made no difference. Shakib himself was taken for consecutive boundaries by Tharanga as soon as he brought himself on, in the fifth over. The same treatment was reserved for Mahmudullah, who was punished by Tharanga in his first over for dropping it short. It was sensible cricket against some very ordinary bowling. The bowlers couldn't grip it properly and fed many deliveries on the pads.

Batting from the crease had never been this easy. The pair complemented each other stroke for stroke, giving room to glide the spinners past the keeper for boundaries to third man. The spinners were almost forced to bowl it flat because of the dew, and that allowed the batsmen enough time to rock back and place their shots in the gaps. A flick down to fine leg brought up Jayawardene's fifty, while Tharanga reached his milestone with a fierce cut off Ashraful past backward point. Tharanga continued to pick the gaps with his eyes shut, taking Rasel for three effortless boundaries in an over. With every punch, flick and cut, the game drifted away from Bangladesh, who had already thrown in the towel.

Shakib didn't opt for the bowling Powerplay in the 11th over because he had no other option but to go on the defensive. By the eighth over, he had used five bowlers, and, by the 14th, he had used seven. They were hurt by the absence of a raw quick bowler to hurry the batsmen with bounce. The bowlers were made to wait for the batsmen to make mistakes but instead, they were made to witness a batting performance close to perfection.

With the target well within reach, it was a question of who would get to a century first. Jayawardene punished the easy short deliveries which Rubel dished out and reached three figures with a cut for four to deep point. Tharanga got to his milestone with a similar shot. Jayawardene had all but taken his team home, when he edged Naeem Islam to the keeper for 104. It was Bangladesh's only success of the evening.

Looking back, the hosts would have wished they batted better. After the top order wasted good starts, the middle order took time to consolidate. They still had wickets in hand to accelerate in the last ten overs, but despite saving the Powerplay almost till the end, couldn't seal the innings with a flourish.

However, the game still had the makings of yet another high-scoring encounter when Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes set off confidently again. But Tamim, Ashraful and Kayes made starts and got out at the wrong time. It was upto the Hasans - Shakib and Raqibul - to consolidate after that. Shakib was trying to play himself into form after two successive failures and was happy to push the singles. There was a boundary drought for 14.1 overs, before Raqibul broke the shackles with a powerful sweep off Malinga Bandara to deep midwicket.

The pair added 77 in nearly 20 overs before a false shot cost Raqibul his wicket. Mushfiqur Rahim certainly impacted the decibel levels in the crowd when he mowed Thilan Samaraweera for two sixes in an over off deep midwicket and heralded the Powerplay with improvised boundaries. But Shakib and Mushfiqur perished while trying to clear the boundaries and with those breakthroughs, Sri Lanka clawed back.

With the field restrictions in place. Mahmudullah was trapped in two minds whether to attack freely or adopt a more cautious approach. The bowlers changed their pace very effectively to strangle the scoring. Sri Lanka tightened their grip by picking up a wicket in each of the five overs, for 32 runs. It was the second-worst performance in the batting Powerplay in ODIs, after Pakistan lost 6 for 41 against India at Centurion in last year's Champions Trophy. Bangladesh ended with a total which, by the end of the game, seemed a 100 short.

India, SriLanka, Bangladesh, Idea Cup, Triseries, Schedule/Fixtures, Live Streaming options, Scores

India, SriLanka and Bangladesh will clash in the Idea Cup triseries
which will begin from 4th Dec in Bangladesh.

The first two matched have been won by Srilanka, one against Bangladesh and one against India, in the third match India will take on Bangladesh on 7th Jan

Options to Watch Live Cricket Streaming

Check below the Schedule/Fixture with timings of the series.

Jan 04 : Bangladesh Vs Sri Lanka at Shere Bangla National Stadium,
Mirpur (D/N) – Match starts at 08:30 GMT/14:00 IST

Jan 05 : India Vs Sri Lanka at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, (D/N) – Match starts at 08:30 GMT/14:00 IST

Jan 07 : Bangladesh Vs India at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, (D/N) – Match starts at 08:30 GMT/14:00 IST

Jan 08 : Bangladesh Vs Sri Lanka at Shere Bangla National Stadium,Mirpur (D/N) – Match starts at 08:30 GMT/14:00 IST

Jan 10 : India Vs Sri Lanka at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, (D/N) – Match starts at 08:30 GMT/14:00 IST

Jan 11 : Bangladesh Vs India at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur,(D/N) – Match starts at 08:30 GMT/14:00 IST

Jan 13 : Final, at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur (D/N)
Match starts at 08:30 GMT/14:00 IST