Pakistan eliminated in cliffhanger

India 271 for 7 (Gambhir 83, Dhoni 56) beat Pakistan 267 (Butt 74, Kamran 51, Praveen 3-53) by three wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Gautam Gambhir's half-century gave India the advantage before the drama began © Associated Press
Related Links News : Afridi praises team unity Analysis : Emotions hit fever pitch in iconic rivalry Matches: India v Pakistan at Dambulla Series/Tournaments: Asia Cup Teams: India | Pakistan

The Asia Cup's marquee clash was a cliffhanger. The contest between India and Pakistan simmered tantalisingly, with one team edging ahead at several junctures only to be pulled back by timely strikes from the other. The ebb and flow went on until the match reached flashpoint during India's chase. Tempers flared, nerves frayed, batsmen resorted to the desperate, bowlers lost their radar and fielders fumbled as margins for error became non-existent. And Pakistan, fighting to stay alive in the Asia Cup, watched Harbhajan Singh, fuelled by adrenalin and his love for a scrap, heave the penultimate ball of the match from Mohammad Aamer over the midwicket boundary to trigger explosive celebrations in the Indian dressing room.

Pakistan, after the emotion subsides, will identify a period during their batting, when they let a critical advantage slip, as a factor that contributed significantly to their exit. Their top three - Salman Butt, Imran Farhat and Shoaib Malik - had built a platform from where a total of 300 was probable, but a collapse eroded their position from 144 for 1 to 159 for 4. A regular fall of wickets thereafter, and especially the loss of Shahid Afridi and Adbul Razzaq before the batting Powerplay was underway, gave rise to the possibility of a total less than 250. It needed a counterattack from Kamran Akmal to lift Pakistan to 267, a score well short of what they were on course for. It was the ninth consecutive ODI in which Pakistan had failed to last 50 overs.

This tensest of finishes - India needing three off two balls with tailenders batting - seemed improbable when Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni put on an exhibition of clinical accumulation during their partnership of 98, which left only 89 to get off the last 15 overs with eight wickets in hand. They ran hard, pierced gaps, and muscled pressure-relieving boundaries whenever the asking-rate crept over six an over. India were in control even after Gambhir's dismissal - bowled trying to cut a straighter one from Saeed Ajmal - with Dhoni, who had clouted a Shoaib Akhtar free-hit over midwicket for six to reach a half-century, taking charge.

India's advantage began to shrink between overs 38 and 41. Pakistan had 76 runs to defend at the start of this period and conceded only 15 in four overs. Rohit Sharma was then trapped by a Shahid Afridi flipper, but it was Dhoni's freak dismissal, in the 43rd over bowled by Malik, that made Pakistan the latest favourites. Malik drifted a friendly full toss down leg side, Dhoni reached away from his body and tried to paddle it fine. He was early on the shot and the ball ricocheted on to the stumps off the back of the bat. India now needed 58 off 46 with two brand new batsmen in the middle.

Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja nudged and pushed until 50 were needed off the last six overs and decided it was time to take the batting Powerplay. Afridi brought back Shoaib Akhtar, who was economical in his first spell but expensive in his second, for the fielding restrictions and he bowled an exemplary over, troubling both batsmen with quick short-of-a-length deliveries. Raina and Jadeja managed only one off him.

Jadeja was castled by Ajmal off the first ball off the 46th over and Raina was then joined by Harbhajan. Raina had struggled to make contact with Shoaib's bouncers and so he targeted Ajmal, cutting the ball to the boundary before heaving it over midwicket. That 13-run over narrowed the gap between runs required and balls remaining significantly and Ajmal hobbled off the field shortly after.

Pakistan had held the edge since Dhoni's dismissal but their grasp on the contest weakened when Harbhajan lofted Shoaib over long-on with impeccable timing, reducing the equation to 30 off 22. Shoaib, however, mixed slower balls with sharp bouncers to concede only three of the next four balls. In the 48th over, Aamer's direction failed him and he delivered two wides, but the batsmen managed only singles off the first four legal deliveries. Then Raina went deep into his crease to convert a yorker into a full ball and swung it powerfully through midwicket, finding the gap between two boundary riders.

Raina took on Shoaib in the 49th, pulling a short ball - this one didn't rise as much - for six to slash the equation to 10 off 11 balls. Shoaib, however, once again finished strongly, beating Harbhajan with consecutive bouncers off the final two deliveries. He followed up those fiery deliveries with an equally fiery verbal volley. It riled Harbhajan who responded before Billy Doctrove intervened.

With India needing seven runs off the final over, Raina took a single off the first ball, giving Harbhajan the strike. Raina tried to get it back immediately by stealing a bye but his desperate dive was beaten by Kamran Akmal's throw. Kamran was pumped: he had dropped Sharma earlier, and had a confrontational tête-à-tête with Gambhir over an appeal for a catch.

Praveen Kumar, India's No. 9, scored three off his first two balls and gave Harbhajan the strike for the penultimate delivery. Aamer ran in and pitched on a length, Harbhajan wound up, swung hard, and began to raise his hands in triumph as the ball cleared the ropes. And then he roared, and roared, and looked for Shoaib.

Sehwag ruled out of Asia Cup

	Virender Sehwag was in pain during his innings against Pakistan © Associated Press
Related Links Players/Officials: Virender Sehwag Matches: India v Pakistan at Dambulla Series/Tournaments: Asia Cup Teams: India

India have suffered a setback ahead of the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, as Virender Sehwag, the opener, has been ruled out of the tournament due to a strained hamstring.

Sehwag sustained the injury during India's chase against Pakistan in Dambulla and has been advised 10 days rest. Dinesh Karthik, the wicketkeeper batsman, has been called in as his replacement. Sehwag also missed the team's practice session on Monday morning and will fly back to India on Tuesday.

In an uncharacteristic innings where he laboured to 10 off 32 balls, Sehwag appeared to be in pain and sought the assistance of the physio. He eventually had to rely on the services of Suresh Raina as runner before being dismissed.

Sehwag had also missed the World Twenty20 this year in the Caribbean due to a shoulder injury, and was rested for the subsequent tour of Zimbabwe. Similarly, in 2009, he hurt his shoulder during the IPL in South Africa, missing out on a place in India's squad for the World Twenty20 in England.

India take on Sri Lanka in a dead rubber on June 22, before the final on June 24.

Finalists clash in dress rehearsal

Match Facts

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Start time 1430 (0900 GMT)

	Upul Tharanga will play his 100th ODI © Associated Press
Related Links Matches: Sri Lanka v India at Dambulla Series/Tournaments: Asia Cup Teams: India | Sri Lanka

The Big Picture

The neighbourly affection between India and Sri Lanka knows no bounds. What was meant to be a ceaseless flow of riveting action between the two teams was rudely interrupted by an inspired Zimbabwe, who deprived India of a place in the tri-series final in Harare. But India bounced back in the Asia Cup, upstaging Pakistan to seal another meeting with their favoured rivals and restore the trend. Tuesday's contest, a dress rehearsal for the final, despite the monotony of what began in January last year, will be one that India will welcome. They are without Virender Sehwag, ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, and will want to achieve some stability at the top of the order leading into the final.

Sri Lanka have won their games with greater comfort, with their bowlers restraining Pakistan in the opening match and the batsmen, led by Tillakaratne Dilshan, dominating Bangladesh to prepare themselves well for the remaining two games. Both teams, however, have untested players and could try out their bench strength ahead of the final.

Form guide (most recent first)

India: WWLLW
Sri Lanka: WWWLW

Watch out for...

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: Though relatively inexperienced, they have acquired a strong reputation in India's middle order and their responsibility has grown in the absence of Sehwag at the top. Both batsmen have had a quiet Asia Cup, following impressive performances in Zimbabwe, and now have the match they need to shape up for the big game.

Upul Tharanga: He has filled in admirably at the position vacated by Sanath Jayasuriya. Tharanga's scores in his previous six innings read 40, 27, 69, 72, 11 and 54, complementing the belligerence of Dilshan with an assured solidity.

Team news

Dinesh Karthik is Sehwag's replacement for the remainder of the tournament and is likely to open on Tuesday with Gautam Gambhir. India may be tempted to rest one of their seamers, possibly Ashish Nehra who has just recovered from back spasms. They have Ashok Dinda in the reserves as well as the spinner R Ashwin. Saurabh Tiwary is a candidate for the middle order, but the rest will be keen to spend some time in the middle ahead of the final.

India (possible) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Dinesh Karthik, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Rohit Sharma, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Harbhajan Singh/R Ashwin, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ashish Nehra/ Ashok Dinda.

If Sri Lanka choose to try out their bench strength, they may consider resting Lasith Malinga and play allrounder Farveez Maharoof. Another possible change is the inclusion of Suraj Randiv for Muttiah Muralitharan, who may be given a break ahead of the final.

Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera/ Thilina Kandamby, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Chamara Kapugedera, 8 Farveez Maharoof, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Suraj Randiv, 11 Chanaka Welegedera.

Stats and trivia

• India and Sri Lanka are meeting for the 18th time since the start of 2009 in an ODI.

• The game is the 2999th ODI. The 3000th will be held on the same day, between England and Australia. Incidentally the same two teams played the very first ODI in 1971.

• Upul Tharanga is set to play his 100th ODI

  Quotes

  
  "This is an important game for us. We don't take any game lightly. Obviously, if we win the match, we can go to the final with a better frame of mind."
  Harbhajan Singh values the momentum India stand to gain if they win on Tuesday.

Afridi's century flattens Bangladesh

Pakistan 385 for 7 (Afridi 124, Farhat 66) beat Bangladesh 246 for 5 (Siddique 97) by 139 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Shahid Afridi broke the record for most sixes in ODIs on his way to a century © Associated Press
Related Links Matches: Bangladesh v Pakistan at Dambulla Series/Tournaments: Asia Cup Teams: Bangladesh | Pakistan

A new-look Pakistan, led by a new-look Shahid Afridi, bowed out of the Asia Cup with little to boast about but with their reputations enhanced, while Bangladesh ended their campaign by reaffirming the gulf between them and the top-flight teams. Afridi unleashed the kind of fury he is famous for to launch Pakistan to their highest ODI score, and subsequently their first victory in 2010. Bangladesh, however, belied a complete lack of purpose in both innings, as the match meandered to the kind of denouement that has administrators concerned about the future of ODI cricket.

Bangladesh's spirit was snuffed in the first half when they were caught out without a plan by the Afridi redux - as aggressive as the marauder of old, but inventive and measured as well. These are early days yet, but captaincy is bringing out the best in Afridi. He has retained the willingness to attack but, entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding a young team, has weeded out the risks. Without having to heave across the line, at least until he gets set, Afridi once again showed he has the range to score at enviable pace.

Having collared Sri Lanka's attack in more trying conditions, Afridi barely broke a sweat today. With Umar Akmal already in the groove when he entered in the 29th over, Afridi worked the spinners around for a couple of overs. He flexed his muscles in the 32nd, lofting Suhrawadi Shuvo over long on for six and cashing in on the over-compensation by pulling for four. There were two strokes of luck soon after: an inside edge missed the stumps, and a skier was dropped by Mashrafe Mortaza. After that, however, Afridi unleashed and Pakistan accelerated at a ridiculous rate.

Smart Stats Shahid Afridi scored the sixth fastest ODI century in terms of balls faced. He has three of the top six Afridi has now hit the most sixes in ODIs, going past Jayasuriya. He now has 272 Pakistan's 385 was their highest ODI total, going past the 371 against Sri Lanka in 1996-97 Pakistan scored 129 runs from overs 41 to 50, the eighth highest on the list of most runs in the last ten overs in ODIs since 2000 Shafiul Islam, who leaked 95 runs, is sixth on the list of bowlers with the worst economy-rates in a ten-over spell

An extra-cover drive, a tickle and a whiplashed cut off Mortaza gave Bangladesh a trailer of what was to follow. After reaching his fifty in the 41st over, Afridi plundered 39 off 10 balls, with eight fours and a six, off Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasab and Shafiul Islam. The two batsmen had been tied on 41 at the end of the 39th over; five overs later, Umar had reached a steady fifty, while his captain was three short of a hundred. Umar departed in the 45th over, just before the batting Powerplay.

In the 46th, Afridi helped Razzak to fine leg to reach 100, off 53 balls, and in the same over he cut for four more before finishing with a loft over long on for his 271st six - the most by any batsman in ODI history. He smashed another length offering from Shafiul for No. 272 and stole one more four before his one-handed pull landed in the hands of square leg. Abdul Razzaq hustled 21 off nine balls, leaving the hapless Shafiul nursing figures of 3 for 95. The last ball of the innings was smeared over long off for six - Bangladesh had bled 120 runs in the last nine overs, and Pakistan had reached their highest ODI total, eclipsing a 13 year-old record, that was set up by - take a guess.

Before Afridi's assault, Pakistan's openers laid the foundation in more sober fashion. After spanking his second ball for a six over extra cover, Shahzaib Hasan served notice of both his strengths and intentions by repeatedly driving Mashrafe Mortaza on the up. Shahzaib rushed to his maiden ODI fifty before he fell trying to heave Abdur Razzak across the line in the 13th over, having dominated the opening stand of 81 in 12.3 overs.

With Shahzaib scoring freely, Imran Farhat had the breathing space to play out the seamers before settling in against spin. Having brought up his seventh ODI fifty, he succumbed to his own cheekiness, missing a late cut off Shakib. Bangladesh's spinners rallied in the period of play following the 25-over mark, culminating in Asad Shafiq's stumping in the 29th over. That was the Bangladesh captain's 100th ODI wicket, and it gave his side an outside chance to seize the initiative, but his opposite number upset his plans.

Bangladesh's batsmen, reeling from the carnage, focused on batting out fifty overs instead of taking a shot at the target. Their approach ensured there was no interest left in the second half of the contest. Imrul Kayes was the biggest culprit, dawdling around without any intent to score, while Tamim Iqbal showed characteristic spunk in taking on Mohammad Asif. He had driven, flicked and pulled him for fours before Asif struck with a slow and short off-cutter. With Tamim's dismissal, Bangladesh's hopes of making anything out of the game receded. In an inexplicable display that underlined the rift between Bangladesh and the rest, Kayes and Junaid Siddique settled in to accumulate. Despite cutting out all risks against a spirited but tired attack, neither of them could reach three-figures. Siddique eventually unfurled a few shots for the gallery, but no one was applauding.

Dilshan and Tharanga dominate Bangladesh

25 oversSri Lanka 149 for 1 (Tharanga 53*, Sangakkara 21*) v Bangladesh<
< href="/asia2010/engine/current/match/455233.html" target="new">Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

If the rules of boxing were applied to cricket, umpires Billy Bowden and Bruce Oxenford would have been justified in awarding Sri Lanka a technical knockout during the first ten overs in Dambulla, for Bangladesh's bowlers were unable to defend themselves against Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga. Sri Lanka's openers scored at will, finding the boundary at least once in each of the first 12 overs, and there was barely an appeal against either of them, as they dealt a severe blow to Bangladesh's chances of staying in the Asia Cup.

The contest between bat and ball began to find equilibrium only after Sri Lanka had reached 100 in the 12th over, once Shakib Al Hasan had delayed taking the bowling Powerplay to avail the protection of five boundary riders. During that quieter passage of play, Dilshan's attempt to work the ball on the leg side hit the leading edge and gave Shakib the softest of return catches. By that stage, though, Sri Lanka had shifted to a lower gear and Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara sought to solidify their advantage through steady accumulation.

Shakib had said at the toss that he hoped to restrict Sri Lanka to less than 240 but Tharanga's fluent cover drive for three, off the first ball off the match, indicated that goal would be tough to achieve. The second ball disappeared to the extra-cover boundary, off Dilshan's flashing bat, and another went past point, making it 12 off Mashrafe Mortaza's first over. While Dilshan didn't need much room to cut and drive Mortaza, he was offered a short ball by Syed Rasel first up and pulled it to the long leg boundary. Most of his runs came on the off-side, but when afforded scoring opportunities on the leg, Dilshan took advantage - pulling a long hop from Mortaza over the deep square leg boundary. That first six crashed into an advertising board and brought a reward of $1500 as well.

With Mortaza and Rasel proving expensive, Shakib brought Shafiul Islam and himself on. Both their first overs cost 10 runs each. Dilshan dominated both the scoring and the strike and reached his half-century off his 31st delivery with a flick off the pads, while Tharanga was on 13 off 15 at the time. Tharanga, however, imposed himself every now and then, chipping Shafiul over midwicket and skipping down to Shakib to loft a straight six. Their opening stand was worth 111 and it lifted their average partnership to 64.53, the best for any pair who have opened more than ten times.

The boundaries dried up after the 12th over - Dilshan fell for 71 off 51 in the 16th - and only 17 runs came in the next seven. Tharanga, who reached his half-century, and Sangakkara batted without risk and ensured the run-rate stayed close to six an over.

Spinners set up India's victory

India 168 for 4 (Gambhir 82) beat Bangladesh 167 (Sehwag 4-6, Nehra 2-28) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Hawk-eye

	Virender Sehwag spun through the Bangladesh tail © Associated Press
Related Links Players/Officials: Gautam Gambhir | Virender Sehwag | Tamim Iqbal Matches: Bangladesh v India at Dambulla Series/Tournaments: Asia Cup Teams: Bangladesh | India

Bangladesh may have moved from the cool climes of England to hot and humid Sri Lanka, but they don't seem to have left at customs the habit of wasting scintillating starts by the openers. They collapsed from 81 for 1 to 100 for 4, and then lost their last six wickets for 12 runs. While the first setback was mostly self-inflicted, it was Virender Sehwag's canny spin bowling that ran through the lower order. In reply, Gautam Gambhir didn't look a million dollars, but made a satisfactory return to the side, scoring 82 to see India through to a bonus point.

Sehwag's 17-ball effort for 4 for 6 was the joint second-cheapest four-wicket haul in ODIs, behind Phil Simmons' 4 for 3 against Pakistan in 1992. Before that, though, Bangladesh displayed a few of their usual failings. Not surprisingly it all began with Mohammad Ashraful.

Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal, as they did through the tour of England, got Bangladesh off to a flier. They treated Praveen Kumar and Zaheer Khan with contempt at the top of the innings. Cut, drive, the odd edge, and 35 were up in the third over. Tamim then got carried away and hit at one he wasn't close enough to. Suresh Raina came up with a diving catch, but Kayes carried on the good work.

Match Meter Bangladesh Tamim and Kayes start fierily: Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal treat Praveen Kumar and Zaheer Khan with contempt, reaching 35 in the third over, and 85 for 1 in the 14th India Bangladesh combust: Mohammad Ashraful ends his bizarre innings with a heave to square leg, Kayes is done in by a sharp bouncer from Ashish Nehra, and Shakib Al Hasan by a straighter one from Harbhajan Singh. 100 for 4 India Tailspin: After a 55-run fifth-wicket stand, Bangladesh are blown away by … Virender Sehwag's spin. He takes 4 for 6 in 2.5 overs to bowl them out for 167. India Tamim drops Gambhir: After Shakib's double strike, Bangladesh are nearly onto something but Tamim at third man drops a simple offering from Gambhir, a blow that would have made it 93 for 4. India Gambhir sees India through: Gautam Gambhir doesn't look a million dollars, but makes a satisfactory return to the side, seeing India through to a bonus point with 82 Advantage Honours even

It was impressive that, though he was beaten consistently in Zaheer's next two overs, Kayes kept his head, ending a spell of 11 straight dot balls with a punched boundary. Runs slowed down, mostly because Ashraful exaggeratedly kept leaving deliveries outside off. There was not much in the pitch or the bowling, and Ashraful's over-cautious approach hurt Bangladesh. There was not one single taken in the first 10 overs.

Kayes kept Bangladesh going with back-to-back boundaries off Nehra in the 12th over, but Ashraful was about to make his inevitable mistake. Soon after he managed one boundary, he attempted to go from first gear to fifth, and heaved Nehra to the only man on the square-leg boundary. Kayes made his mistake in Nehra's next over, being too slow in pulling a sharp bouncer. Shakib Al Hasan got a wicked straighter one from Harbhajan Singh, which could well have been intended to be an offbreak.

The pitch had started offering turn now, and Harbhajan and Ravindra Jadeja were tough to get away. From 100 for 4, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, both of whom survived close lbw calls, took Bangladesh to 155, when madness struck again. Jadeja finally got his reward with a flat delivery that caught Mahmudullah's edge.

Immediately after, Sehwag was introduced. He bowled with lovely flight, slight drift, and mixed straighter ones in as well. Mushfiqur bat-padded a flighted delivery that jumped at him from outside off. MS Dhoni saw that and brought on Rohit Sharma too, who got a lucky break, with Naeem Islam given out caught behind when it seemed the noise came from his bat hitting the ground.

In the next over Sehwag destroyed the tail. Suhrawadi Shuvo was fooled by the straighter one, Shafiul Islam swept all over an offbreak, and Syed Rasel was castled by another straighter one. Sehwag still had one ball left in what could have been a three-wicket maiden. Dhoni's choice of ends for bowlers was good: with a wind blowing across the ground, Sehwag and Harbhajan bowled from ends where they could get drift.

India looked good for a bonus point for most parts of their reply, except for a few anxious moments when Shakib removed Virat Kohli and Rohit in two deliveries to reduce the chase to 80 for 3. It would have amounted to something for Bangladesh had Tamim, at third man, hung on to a simple offering from Gambhir, a blow that would have made it 93 for 4. It could well have been the inadequate flood lighting that Lasith Malinga spoke about at work.

That drop apart, Gambhir batted well, working hard, running hard, putting behind the occasional play-and-miss, and scoring mainly through nurdles and chips. Along with Virender Sehwag, he provided India a brisk start. India were 37 in the seventh over when Sehwag edged one outside off.

Gambhir then settled down for a hard-working innings, and Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel did their bit in making him work. His most flashy shot of the innings was when he danced down the track and drove Mortaza through covers to reach 21 off 27, taking India to 46 in the ninth over. Post the supper break, Shafiul Islam and Shakib too kept the batsmen honest.

After Shakib's double blow in the 15th over, Gambhir nearly let Bangladesh back in when he played a weak upper-cut off Shafiul. Tamim got under it, but never looked confident during that attempt. Gambhir was 48 then. By the time he finally got out, India needed only 10, with nearly 20 overs to go.

Malinga helps super Sri Lanka survive Afridi

Sri Lanka 242 for 9 (Mathews 55*, Jayawardene 54, Shoaib 3-41) beat Pakistan 226 (Afridi 109, Malinga 5-34) by 16 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Hawk-eye

	Don't go by the strike-rate of 143.42, or the seven sixes - this was arguably Shahid Afridi's most mature innings © Associated Press
Related Links News : Floodlights a handicap for chasing side - Malinga Analysis : Shoaib Akhtar makes a respectable return Features : The limping Afridi, and lucky Lasith News : Asian captains kickstart World Cup preparations Matches: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Dambulla Series/Tournaments: Asia Cup Teams: Pakistan | Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka survived Shahid Afridi's finest innings and Shoaib Akhtar on comeback through some desperate fielding and lovely bowling from Lasith Malinga. The batsmen before Afridi seemed either incompetent of or uninterested in the chase, the batsmen with him seemed intent on running themselves out, his cramp-induced groans could be heard through the stump microphone, he hobbled the last 17 of his runs, and he had taken Pakistan from 32 for 4 to within 39 of the target when Kumar Sangakkara produced a catch for the ages. Malinga, coming back into ODI cricket, then produced a lethal three-over spell inside the batting Powerplay to wipe the tail off much in the fashion Pakistanis are used to doing with others.

Match Meter Pakistan Shoaib Akhtar is back: He huff and puffs through his spell, but bowls fast and accurate four overs for 11 runs and one wicket at the top of the innings. Pakistan Sri Lanka Jayawardene and Sangakkara rebuild: With the openers gone cheaply, Sri Lanka's two best batsmen bring their side back adding a workman-like 83. Pakistan Pakistan keep striking in the middle: The back-up bowlers get a wicket each, and Shoaib strikes twice in his third spell to reduce Sri Lanka to 168 for 7. Pakistan Sri Lanka Mathews keeps Sri Lanka afloat: With the tail, the ever-improving allrounder Angelo Mathews scores a fighting fifty to give the bowlers something to bowl at. Sri Lanka Pakistan top order is clueless: Against high-quality bowling from Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara, the openers are like rabbits in headlights; Pakistan are reduced to 32 for 4 in the 14th over. Pakistan Sri Lanka Afridi produces his best: Shahid Afridi turns the game on its head with an innings that is as mature as it is quick, demolishing Murali and taking Pakistan close. But he is cramping up. Sri Lanka Sangakkara catches one for the ages: Murali gets one to break in big, Afridi is cramped down the leg side, it bounces on him, takes his glove, goes towards slip, and Sangakkara, who is already committed down the leg side, dives to his right and puls off a one-handed blinder. Malinga then produces a lethal spell to finish it off. Advantage Honours even

It was a match of top-class performances all through. Shoaib struggled physically through his 10 overs, but bowled with pace and fire to keep Sri Lanka in rebuilding mode, the ever-improving Angelo Mathews scored a fifty with the tail to give Sri Lanka something to bowl at, Malinga had some fun with the Pakistan top order, Afridi played an absolute blinder, and then Malinga finished it off ruthlessly.

Captaincy seems to have done something to Afridi. It was hands down his most mature innings. Don't go by the strike-rate of 143.42, or the seven sixes, or the demolition of Muttiah Muralitharan (51 off 25), this was every bit a batsman's knock and not a happy hitter's. When he walked in, the game was so not on, with four wickets down for 32 in the 14th over.

Afridi then reminded the crowd Pakistan were indeed trying to win the match. Just like that, he smacked the first two balls pitched up to him for sixes. Farveez Maharoof was at the receiving end, and learned his lesson fast: he hardly pitched anything up in the rest of his spell, and bowled some impressive cutters, but didn't court success.

You could sense Sri Lanka were now waiting for the inevitable mistake from Afridi. You could sense Afridi was not going to make that inevitable mistake. The deep fielders waited for catches, all they got was shots to their right or their left that got Pakistan couples. Umar Akmal joined in the process, and the pair began to use the big ground to their advantage. On nine occasions they managed to take couples during their 73-run fifth-wicket stand. In a further exhibition of calculated hitting, Afridi lofted Murali for four sixes in four overs, all over his head, all risk-free.

With cause for worry, Sangakkara brought Malinga back for the 25th over, and Umar set off for a suicidal single having defended straight to short cover. And Tillakaratne Dilshan is not the man to steal sharp singles off. Umar's brother, Kamran Akmal, way better with the batting gloves than the keeping ones, started another important partnership.

Afridi now took his innings to a level higher, finding gaps through the field for fours. Murali was welcomed back with a swept boundary in the 32nd over, taking Afridi to 74, and Pakistan to 154. Off the second ball, Kamran got run out. Still no impact on Afridi. He was not fazed even by a short ball from Malinga that he couldn't spot. A fantastic slower ball followed, which he was deceived by but still managed to glance it for four.

Nuwan Kulasekara came back and bounced Afridi. The effort involved in playing one of those bumpers brought Afridi down like a sack of potatoes. He was 92 then. It isn't clear whether he didn't ask for a runner or wasn't allowed one. In the 40th over, he punched Mathews to the point boundary to reach his hundred. More cramps. In the 41st, he lofted Murali for a fifth six, and before the ball could land, way beyond the straight boundary, Afridi was down on the ground again.

Then came the turning point. Murali got one to break in big, Afridi was cramped down the leg side, it bounced on him, took his glove, went towards slip, and Sangakkara, who had already committed down the leg side, dived to his right and pulled off a one-handed blinder. Sangakkara sensed blood, Abdul Razzaq thought it was time to finish the game off. With 33 required in the last eight, the Powerplay was called for.

Back came Malinga. He bowled to Mohammad Aamer with a 7-2 off-side field, pushed him back with back-of-a-length deliveries, and then gave him a full, reverse-swinging delivery that took out the off stump. Too good. Out came Shoaib, with a chance to redeem what could have been his day. He kept out a yorker, took a single, and was given strike for two balls. He expected another yorker, but got a crazy slower ball and holed out to mid-off. Too good.

Last man Mohammad Asif played out the last ball, and Razzaq refused the single. In the next over, he took a boundary off Murali and a single off the last ball. Last over for Malinga, and of the Powerplay, with 19 required off 24, and one wicket in hand. Razzaq played out four deliveries. Off the fifth he was hit on the thigh and he took the risk of letting Asif play out one delivery. Mistake. Malinga hit the bull's eye. Too good.

While Malinga went on a celebratory run, an injured and broken Afridi couldn't even come for the presentation. Perhaps he didn't deserve to lose on the night, but then again many of his team-mates didn't deserve to win. More importantly Malinga did enough to win.

Asian captains kickstart World Cup preparations

	Shakib Al Hasan says his team is far better at limited-overs cricket and is capable of beating any team © AFP
Related Links Bulletin : Malinga helps super Sri Lanka survive Afridi Preview : A tournament that can give context to ODIs Preview : First test of Pakistan's unity News : World Cup build-up starts now - Dhoni Players/Officials: MS Dhoni | Kumar Sangakkara | Shahid Afridi | Shakib Al Hasan Series/Tournaments: Asia Cup Teams: Bangladesh | India | Pakistan | Sri Lanka

The captains of the four countries participating in the Asia Cup, which begins in Dambulla on Tuesday, have said the tournament is ideal for their World Cup preparations, in terms of identifying the right blend of youth and experience and building confidence.

Unlike the last edition in Pakistan in 2008, this one features only the four Test-playing Asian nations and no Associates, making it more competitive. India and Sri Lanka have bolstered their squads with senior players, after resting them for the tour of Zimbabwe which just concluded.

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan captain who was rested for the tri-series in Zimbabwe, hoped his team would take inspiration from being the defending champions in the 2008 tournament.

"The Asia Cup (2008) final was won by two exceptional performances, one was Sanath Jayasuriya's freakish hundred when we were about 60-4, and when we were defending a score of 274, Ajantha Mendis came and took 6 for 13," Sangakkara said. "Today, we don't have either of them in our squad but that gives the opportunity for the rest of the players.

"In light of the World Cup being a few months away this tournament is about building confidence and building a team towards the World Cup."

Following their disappointing performance in Zimbabwe, where they failed to qualify for the final of the tri-series, India will start the tournament under pressure. However, their captain MS Dhoni said it was a scenario his team wasn't unfamiliar with.

"We've been in situations like this more than once," Dhoni said. "We have had to cope with pressure hundreds of times. We are fresh and most of the guys have got decent time off cricket and most of the senior guys were rested for the Zimbabwe tour.

"Every tournament you play is as important as the World Cup. It's important to focus on the present. The World Cup is still ten months away so we'll concentrate on this tournament which is a big one considering the teams that are participating are the big ones from the subcontinent."

His views were shared by Pakistan's Shahid Afridi, who leads his team in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. "It is a preparation for the World Cup as well," Afridi said. "Tomorrow's game is very important. We are playing against Sri Lanka which is a good team and full of talent."

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan backed his team to perform better in the one-dayers than they did in the Tests in England, where they lost 2-0. "We have been playing very good cricket, although we didn't finish well in England in the Tests," Shakib said. "We have been playing non-stop for the last 12 months. The boys are really looking forward to this tournament. It is very important for us. We know it's a very difficult task but not impossible. On our day we can beat any side."

Syed Ashraful Haq, Asian Cricket Council secretary, praised the Pakistan and Bangladesh Cricket Boards for altering their international schedules to participate in the Asia Cup. Pakistan had postponed their tour of England by about ten days and Bangladesh had agreed to split their tour of England.

Jolted India in must-win situation

Match Facts

Saturday, June 05, 2010
Start time 0900 (0700 GMT)

	The impressive Angelo Mathews is in great all-round form © Cricinfo Ltd
Related Links Matches: India v Sri Lanka at Harare Series/Tournaments: India tour of Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe Triangular Series Teams: India | Sri Lanka

The Big Picture

And so here we are at that stage in a multi-nation tournament where we wonder, 'Hold on, haven't we been here before'? India face Sri Lanka in a must-win encounter for the nth time in a multi-nation tournament.

On the eve of this tourney Suresh Raina said that his team didn't have any weaknesses. Seriously? India's performance in the last ODI against Zimbabwe was one of the more befuddling efforts in the recent times. The openers - especially M Vijay, as Dinesh Karthik managed to end up with a decent strike-rate - seemingly meandered without any purpose on a wicket that didn't have any demons in it. Even Raina was moved enough to make his displeasure known in the post-match ceremony.

India's problems should have been its inexperienced bowling attack but the batsmen too have blown hot and cold. Not much was expected of the bowlers, especially the seamers, but the batsmen have the potential to play better than they have so far. And the think-tank's strategy has been puzzling.

In their previous game against Sri Lanka when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who were involved in a match-winning partnership, gestured to the dressing room that they wanted to take the Powerplay; they weren't allowed. If they had taken that Powerplay, they might well have earned a bonus point. And of course it was in the same game that Raina forgot to take the bowling Powerplay and was apparently reminded of his error by an Indian commentator.

In Wednesday's game against Zimbabwe, after setting a low target, Raina had well-spread out fields instead of attacking. To bounce back from such a dismal performance is going to be a tough ask but then India had thumped Sri Lanka without breaking a sweat just a few days ago.

Sri Lanka too haven't been without problems. In the first game, they couldn't post a good enough total and their bowling looked pretty ordinary. In the second, they didn't have to work too hard as Zimbabwe never turned up. In the memorable words of Zimbabwe's new coach Alan Butcher: "frankly today we were rubbish". Zimbabwe indeed were rubbish that day and Sri Lanka would not know whether they improved after their ordinary outing against India or whether they were made to look good by Zimbabwe's poor effort.

Form guide (most recent first)

India LWLLW
Sri Lanka WLWLW

Watch out for...

Virat Kohli averages over 50 in his brief international ODI career. He has been consistent in the opportunities given to him and has looked pretty solid in this tourney. Even in the game against Sri Lanka where Rohit ended up with a ton, it was Virat who played the more solid knock and laid the foundation.

Angelo Mathews has impressed with how quickly he has matured in the international circuit. He has been quick to gauge a situation and tailor his batting to the requirements of the match situation. And he has always come across as an intelligent bowler.

Team news

India (possible) 1 Naman Ojha, 2 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Rohit Sharma, 5 Suresh Raina (capt), 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Amit Mishra, 9 Ashok Dinda, 10 Pragyan Ojha, 11 Abhimanyu Mithun.

Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt.), 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Chamara Kapugedera, 7 Thissara Perera, 8 Suraj Randiv, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Dilhara Fernando, 11 Ajantha Mendis.

Stats and trivia

• Thissara Perera has played six of his eight ODIs against India. All his runs have come against India and at a strike rate of 154.66

• Amit Mishra has struggled in the ODIs: He has taken eight wickets at an average of 47. His best spell - 3 for 40 - came against Sri Lanka. Mishra's team-mate Pragyan Ojha has played 9 of his 11 ODIs against Sri Lanka and has picked up 12 wickets at 28.08.

  Quotes

  " We are not getting a good partnerships from the openers. We have to learn from it. They [the openers] didn't get runs in last two games. "
  Suresh Raina is not chuffed with his openers

Bell battles to keep England on top

Close England 275 for 5 (Bell 87*, Prior 21*) v Bangladesh
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Shafiul Islam struck twice in the first hour to shock England's top order © Getty Images
Related Links Players/Officials: Ian Bell | Kevin Pietersen | Shafiul Islam | Ajmal Shahzad | Andrew Strauss Matches: England v Bangladesh at Manchester Series/Tournaments: Bangladesh tour of England, Ireland and Scotland Teams: Bangladesh | England

Bangladesh's bowlers followed the example of their batsman at Lord's last week, and rose to the occasion on the first day at Old Trafford with a disciplined and diligent performance, backed up by superb fielding, to deny England the chance to establish the sort of platform from which they were able to boss the first Test. Thanks to Ian Bell, who contributed another timely innings from his fruitful berth in the middle order, England were able to finish the day with their noses in front on 275 for 5, but on a firm and true surface, and in some of the best batting conditions of the summer so far, this was far from the breeze that had been anticipated when Andrew Strauss won the toss.

By the time bad light brought about an early close, Bell was 87 not out from 171 balls, 13 adrift of what would be his third century in six Tests against Bangladesh. Like his 138 at Dhaka back in March, however, this was a vital innings that belied his (admittedly fading) reputation for soft runs, and without it, England could well have been in some trouble. After their floundering performance with the ball at Lord's, Bangladesh had chosen to purge their seam attack, with Robiul Islam and Rubel Hossain both discarded, and into the fray came the impressive Shafiul Islam, who struck twice in an incisive new-ball spell in the first hour of the day, and the left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who dismissed Alastair Cook with his first ball of the series, and deserved better rewards than his eventual figures of 1 for 67 from 21 overs.

With the sun on their backs and a more familiar spin-dominant line-up, Bangladesh settled into the sort of rhythm that they had shown during their home series against England, with the added bonus of a wicket that offered the sort of turn and bounce that they'd never see in Dhaka or Chittagong. With Shakib Al Hasan and Razzak bowling in tandem in a fine spell after tea, England were limited to 29 runs in 16 overs before Matt Prior opened the floodgates with a brace of fours off Razzak - one of which could and should have been caught at slip as Junaid Siddique reacted late to a thick edge. On 18, Prior then survived a raucous appeal for lbw that might well have been overturned had the review system been in place for this match. But Prior lived on, to reach 21 not out at the close.

All in all, it was not the sort of scoreline that England had expected, but to Bangladesh's credit, they used their resources cannily, and kept all the batsman guessing as they beat the bat on both sides on a wicket that will doubtless keep Graeme Swann interested when his opportunity comes later in the match. Kevin Pietersen, in particular, discovered this to his cost, as he was stitched up a treat by his nemesis in Tests, Shakib, who claimed his wicket for the fourth time in as many matches, to bring a flamboyant end an entertaining and aggressive innings.

Pietersen's approach in this series has been a far cry from the tentative return to form that he produced in Bangladesh, and after reaching a 73-ball fifty with a series of thumping strikes in the V between long-off and -on, he seemed in a hurry to reach his first hundred against these opponents. Shakib, however, was equal to his ambitions. Moments after being drilled through the covers for four, he held his delivery back a touch through the air, and Pietersen was stumped by six paces as the ball spat past his edge and into the gloves of Mushfiqur Rahim.

Shakib could and should have earned a second wicket in a fine attacking spell, when on 36, Bell edged a good-length turner, only for the ball to rebound unchallenged off Mushfiqur's knee. But that was the only real chance that Bell offered in a disciplined 171-ball innings. Eoin Morgan also offered one opportunity, in the fifth over after tea, but unfortunately for him, his cramped cut at Shahadat picked out Jahurul Islam in the gully, who clung on one-handed with an outstanding dive to his right. After adding 70 for the fifth wicket to revive England from 153 for 4, Morgan was on his way for 37, another half-formed Test innings to add to his Lord's 44.

The principal performer in the morning session had been Shafiul, who was overlooked for the Lord's Test despite showing glimpses of his ability back home during England's recent visit. He pitched the ball up as a default tactic, finding a decent pace in the high 80s to offset a mediocre first spell from the Lord's hero, Shahadatr, and kept the left-handers Strauss and Alastair Cook on their toes by intermittently switching his line from over to round the wicket.

His determination paid off in the 12th over of the day, as Strauss succumbed to an excellent rising delivery that angled across his bows, snicked the edge, and flew hard and fast to Imrul Kayes at second slip. Six balls later, Shafiul added his second, as Trott followed up his double-century at Lord's by falling victim to an excellent bustling delivery that wormed its way off an inside-edge into the top of middle stump. Trott looked stunned at the dismissal, and took his time to react, but he had gone for 3 from five balls, and at 48 for 2, England were in a touch of strife.

Their uncertainty was compounded with 15 minutes of the morning session remaining, when Cook poked injudiciously at Razzak's first delivery and snicked a regulation edge to Junaid Siddique at slip, and Razzak could well have added a second straightway, had Shakib thought to post a short leg to the incoming Bell. By the time he called upon the extra fielder, however, a looping bat-pad opportunity had already been and gone. With Shafiul struggling through thereafter with cramp, Bangladesh's effectiveness was dented in the afternoon session, but their determination was undimmed, and by the close they were very much in the contest.

Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo.