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Sri Lanka in India Test Series 2005 | Sri Lanka in India One Day Series 2005 | South Africa in India 2005 | England in Pakistan 2005 | ICC Super Series 2005 | India in Zimbabwe 2005 | Videocon triangular series Cricket 2005 | NPK Salve Challenger Series 2005Sri Lanka Cricket News October 2005
Dhoni's 183* seals India win
Oct 31, 2005
Mahendra Dhoni hit a brilliant century as India beat Sri Lanka in Jaipur to earn themselves a 3-0 stranglehold in the seven-match limited-overs series.
Wicket-keeper Dhoni allowed the hosts to chase a stiff target of 299 at a canter and he hit a national record 10 sixes in his remarkable 183 not out.
His score also matched the second highest by an Indian in one-dayers.
Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara hit 152 not out in Sri Lanka's 298-4, which also included 71 from Mahela Jayawardene.
Sri Lanka won the toss but started slowly. Sangakkara however hit two sixes and 13 fours as he blazed to a career-best score in one-day internationals.
Dhoni's score was only 11 runs off the best ever in one-day internationals - Saeed Anwar's 194 for Pakistan against India in Madras in 1997. Third one-day international, Jaipur: India 303-4 beat Sri Lanka 298-4 by six wickets
Sri Lanka crumble to Pathan swing
Oct 28, 2005
Irfan Pathan took 4-37 as India bowled out Sri Lanka for just 122 in Mohali, and they went on to win the second one-day international with ease.
Kumar Sangakkara was the highest scorer with 27 in a feeble effort from the tourists in the Mohali day-nighter. Pathan, who found plenty of swing movement throughout, removed Sanath Jayasuriya in the first over and also dismissed three others in the top six. Sachin Tendulkar then hit 70 not out as India got home in the 21st over.
The margin of victory was a healthy eight wickets - Virender Sehwag (38) and Jai Prakash Yadav the only men to be dismissed. Second one-day international, Mohali: India 123-2 beat Sri Lanka 122 by eight wickets
Tendulkar shines in India victory
Oct 25, 2005
Sachin Tendulkar struck 93 in his first international match for over six months as India thrashed Sri Lanka by 152 runs in the first one-day match in Nagpur. Tendulkar, back from a long-term elbow injury, hit nine fours and two sixes. He shared a second-wicket stand of 164 with Irfan Pathan, who blasted 84 in a new role as pinch hitter. And new full-time captain Rahul Dravid hit an unbeaten 85 from 63 deliveries to lead the hosts to a mammoth 350-6. The Sri Lankans lost Marvan Atapattu second ball and by the 22nd over were in tatters at 121-7, before finally being bowled out for 198 in the 36th. Sri Lanka had Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan fit to play despite last-minute injury scares. India: S R Tendulkar, V Sehwag, R Dravid (Captain), Yuvraj Singh, Y V Rao, M S Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), J P Yadav, I K Pathan, A B Agarkar, S Santh, Harbhajan Singh Sub: M Kartik Sri Lanka: M S Atapattu (Captain), S T Jayasuriya K C Sangakkara (Wicket Keeper), D P M D Jayawardene, T M Dilshan, R P Arnold, U D U Chandana, W P U J C Vaas, M Muralitharan, M F Maharoof, C R D Fernando Sub: L H D Dilhara First one-day international, Nagpur: India 350-6 (50 overs) bt Sri Lanka 198 (35.4 overs) by 152 runs
Sree Santh new face; Laxman out!
Oct 14, 2005
Young Kerala fast bowler S. Sreesanth's impressive performance in the Challenger series was rewarded by the selectors on Friday. The BCCI selectors, who met in Mohali, named the 22-year-old in the 15-member squad led by Rahul Dravid for the first two ODIs of the home series against Sri Lanka. Sachin Tendulkar returns to international cricket after nearly six months while V.V.S. Laxman, despite scores of 110 and 48 in the Challengers, fails to find a spot. Mohammad Kaif, who tore his hamstring in the final of the Challengers, and Sourav Ganguly with a dodgy elbow have been left out. Along with Irfan Pathan and R.P. Singh, Sreesanth will provide Dravid the pace options while Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik are the specialist spinners. Venugopala Rao and Suresh Raina retain their places for the series, which begins with a match at Nagpur on October 25. Indian Cricket Team: Rahul Dravid (capt.), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar , Yuvraj Singh, Venugopala Rao, Suresh Raina, M.S. Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, J.P. Yadav, S. Sreesanth, Gautam Gambhir and R.P. Singh.
Dravid named as captain
Oct 12, 2005
The selectors have appointed Rahul Dravid as the captain of the Indian side for the two forthcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka and South Africa, a total of 12 ODIs starting on October 25. Dravid was put in charge of the side until November 28, when India will play South Africa in the final match of the five-match series at Mumbai.
The selectors' future plans are unknown and one can only speculate if this is another stop-gap arrangement where Dravid will be filling in for Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly, who was advised to rest his elbow till October 17, may not find a place in the squad for the opening two games of the series. His performance in East Zone's opening Duleep Trophy match, beginning on October 20, might hence be vital for his return for the rest of the one-day series.
When all hell broke loose..
Sri Lanka's 952-6d against India
R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (known prior to June 1994 as the Khetterama Cricket Stadium) was the brainchild of the late Sri Lanka President Ranasinghe Premadasa, who championed the development of this colossal 35,000-seater concrete bowl, the biggest stadium in Sri Lanka. Opened on February 2 1986, this stadium is best remembered for holding the world record for the highest Test total - 952/6 declared by Sri Lanka against India in the first test of the 1997/98 series in which former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 and Roshan Mahanama 225, the pair sharing the highest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket with 576 for the second wicket. India in fact, had a great start to the series on Aug 2 1997, scoring 280/3 with Tendulkar 65* Azharuddin 18* on the crease at the close of day one. Siddhu had scored 111 from 200 balls with 13 fours and 2 sixes. On the second day, India declared their innings at 537/8 with Sachin Tendulkar scoring 143 with 20 fours and Azhar 126 with 11 fours. Sri Lanka were 39/1 with Jayasurya on 12 when the day's play ended. NM Kulkarni took the wicket of MS Atapattu (26, fow 39) with his first ball in Test cricket. Day three was a boring affair for the Indians as Jayasuriya 175* and Mahanama 115* batted the whole day to reach 322/1. This was the 12th occasion in Test cricket. Day four proved to be a replay of day three with both the batsman remaining on the crease and adding more runs to the total. At close of play, Sri Lanka were 587/1 with Jayasuriya 326* and Mahanama 211* at the crease. Jayasuriya became the first ever Sri Lankan to score 300 runs in a Test. The West Indian pair of Garry Sobers and Frank Worrell were the only ones before today to bat throughout two consecutive days (against England at Bridgetown in 1959-60).
On day five, Kumble got the break through for India, sending Mahanama (225r 753m 561b 27x4 0x6) back (lbw) with the scoreboard reading 615/2! Their partnership of 576 runs was the highest test partnership for any wicket. (previous: 467 MD Crowe and AH Jones, New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Wellington, 1990/91)
Jayasuriya (340r 799m 578b 36x4 2x6) was the next to go, in the very next over, caught Ganguly, bowled Chauhan, with the score reading 615/3. Jayasuriya's marathon and chanceless innings of 340 was the fourth highest in test cricket, after Lara's 375, Garry Sobers' 365 (not out), and Len Hutton's 364. All the Indian fielders ran to congratulate him as he departed with his head held down as he had missed his chance to overtake Lara's record. They applauded him all the way to the pavilion (In Picture) from where he got a standing ovation.
India had to suffer more batting practice by de Silva (126), Ranatunga (86) and Jayawardene (66). There were 58 extras when the innings ended at 952 for 6 wickets declared in 271 overs. The team record 952/6d beat the previous best, 903-7d by England v Australia at The Oval in 1938 and still stands. This total is also the 3rd highest team total in First-class cricket (Highest: 1107, Victoria v New South Wales at Melbourne, 1926/27). Jayasuriya graduated to the captaincy in 1999 and a record of 18 wins in 38 Tests and 37 wins in 60 one-dayers showed him to be a leader worthy of the respect of opposing teams. Result: Match drawn; 2-Test series level 0-0
Toss: India
Test Debuts: DPMD Jayawardene (SL); NM Kulkarni (Ind).
Man of the Match: ST Jayasuriya Brief Scores: India: 537/8 declared (Sidhu 111, Sachin 143, Azhar 126, Dravid 69) drew with Sri Lanka: 952/6 declared (Jayasuriya 340, Mahanama 225, DeSilva 126, Ranatunga 86, Jayawardene 66, Extras 58)
