E Patrakar

Sri Lanka again won Asia cup by defeating India with 100 runs on Sunday. Sri Lanka has won Asia cup now four times. Earlier this India only has this honor. Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya played his natural game and with help of 9 fours and 5 six, made 125 runs off 114 balls. But other Sri Lankan players could not give more contribution such as; Sri Lanka gave target of 274 runs to India. While Indian bowler performed their best and R.P. Singh took 3 wickets same as Ishant Sharma also out three wickets.

India opener gave good start; Virender Sehwag made 60 runs only by facing 36 balls, with help of 12 fours. When Virender Sehwag was playing at that time it was seem that India will win very easily this match. But Sri Lankan skipper use their most successful bowler Ajantha Mendis. He took six wickets by giving only 13 runs. Thus Sri Lanka won Asia Cup 2008 by 100 runs.

India defeat Sri Lanka by six wickets with 19 balls remaining. However Sri Lanka already qualified for final. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Sanath Jayasuriya hit 43 runs while Chamara Kapugedera gave contribution of 75 runs in 78 balls. Sri Lankan skipper played a captaincy inning. He made 50 runs and faced 63 balls; on the other hand Chamara Silva played only 56 balls to made same runs. Thus Sir Lanka gave target of 309 runs to India.

This match was very important for India to take ticket for final. Indian opener Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag gave again flying start. Gautam Gambhir made 68 runs but Virender Sehwag hits only 42. Despite it Suresh Raina played his natural game and made valuable 54 runs. M.S. Dhoni also played an important role in victory over Sri Lanka. Now India will take on Sri Lanka in final of Asia Cup 2008 on 6th July.

Asia cup is the main headline of Indian news papers and media these days. Today India will take on Pakistan in the super four matches. India will play to beat Pakistan and take ticket for final while Pakistan wants to revenge. All India players are fit and ready to perform their best. Whether India defeats Pakistan today’s match, it will be India’s second victory against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2008.

India has beat Bangladesh in the first match of Super Four by seven wickets. India will have to play with Sri Lanka, which is already qualified for Final. Even India skipper M.S. Dhoni is not happy with regular matches of a particular team. According to him players to be tired to play continue match and it put bad impact on their fitness.