Yuvraj guides India home by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

Yuvraj Singh

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DateLine: 14th August 2006

 

A fluent half-century from Yuvraj Singh, and defiant batting from the lower order saved India from major embarrassment in their lung opener against a strong Sri Lankan A side at the Colts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo on Saturday. The Indians were given just the sort of test that they needed ahead of the tri-nation tournament that starts on Monday.

 

Chasing 203 for victory, India slipped from 128 for three to 153 for seven. Ajit Agarkar with 32 and a stubborn Ramesh Powar guided the team home with 33 balls to spare. Nuwan Zoysa had triggered an early slump with the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, both caught clipping the ball to midwicket.

 

Yuvraj, though, carried on stroking the ball elegantly in his 57-ball 61. His 65-run partnership with Rahul Dravid, who made 47 after opening with Tendulkar, set the game up for the Indians after Sehwag's penetrating spell of 3 for 16 restricted the Lankan A side to 202 for nine.

 

Upul Tharanga continued to mine a rich vein of form with a classy 88, but with the exception of a sedate 31 from Jeevan Mendis, there was little support from the top order. The Indian bowlers - apart from Ajit Agarkar who went for 45 in his seven overs - gave little away and only a late charge from Akalanka Ganegama, who thumped 29 off 27 balls, took the run-rate past four an over.