Chamar silva blasts 107 to lead Lanka fightback to 259-7

Visakhapatnam, Feb 17 (UNI) A fighting run-a-ball unbeaten century by Chamara silva (107 not out) and good contributions from the lower order helped Sri Lanka to overcome a top order collapse and post a respectable 259 for seven against India in the decisive fourth and final ODI here today.

The 27-year-old Chamarasilva, playing in his 14th match, showed a lot of character and discipline in holding the innings together and help the team set a descent target after Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar ripped through the top order to reduce the Lankans to 56 for four in 12.1 overs.

Chamarasilva, who reached his maiden century off 107 balls with 12 fours and a six, was also involved in three useful stands. First he added 68 runs with Dilshan (28, 44 balls, 3x4) for the fifth wicket to resurrect the innings from a position of hopelessness. He consolidated it with a 41-run stand in 60 balls for the sixth wicket with Russel Arnold (22, 34 balls, 1x6) and added 64 runs more in eight overs with Mahroof (28, 28 balls, 2x4, 1x6) to author a splendid recovery.

It was a good toss to win for Dravid, who did not hesitate to field first to take advantage of the early morning dew, which delayed the start by an hour. The match was reduced to 47 overs a side.

The move paid off as the visitors collapsed after a seemingly good start provided by openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Attapattu. Attapattu was lucky to survive the second ball of the innings when Zaheer Khan found the edge, only to see the ball dropping short OF second slip where Uthappa took it on the first bounce. Umpire Ameish Sahiba consulted Simon Taufel before the third umpire gave the verdict in favour of the batsman.

Attapattu and Jayasuriya gained in confidence spanking some exquisite fours off Zaheer and Agarkar. Jayasuriya once flicked Zaheer to the squareleg fence for a six and hoisted him over the bowler's head for a boundary.

When the partnership gathered momentum, came the breakthrough when Jayasuriya (22, 19 balls, 3x4, 1x6) drove Agarkar uppishly to Saurav Ganguly at cover. He added 42 runs for the first wicket with Attapattu in 7.4 overs.

His exit triggered a collapse as skipper Mahela Jayawardene (7), in form Kumara Sangakkara (one) and Attapattu (19, 37 balls, 2x4) fell in quick succession.

Getting good movement off the seam, both Agarkar and Zaheer made good use of the early moisture in the wicket to trouble the batsmen.

Jayawardene tried to flick Agarkar and the ball ballooned up and Uthappa at short cover completed a fine catch. Sangakkara lasted just two balls before spooning a catch to Uthappa, who juggled at short cover and held the ball in the third attempt to give Zaheer his first wicket.

Sreeshanth, who replaced Zaheer, struck of the first ball when Attapattu dragged one on to the stumps as the Lankans lost four wickets for 14 runs in 28 balls, collapsing from 42 for no loss in 7.3 overs to 56 for four in 12.1 overs.

The run rate, which hovered around six per over, dropped drastically as the Indians sustained the pressure. The first power play produced 52 runs and the second (10-15) yielded just six runs.

The third power play from 15-19 overs produced 15 runs.

However, Chamarasilva, playing his first match of the series, and Tilekaratne Dilshan steadied the ship with a matured display, picking up the ones and twos, coupled with occasional hits to the rope.

Chamarasilva was particularly severe on Harbhajan hitting him for a pair of boundaries and a hoisted six over long on off successive balls, with Dilshan rightly playing the second fiddle.

As the partnership threatened to attain alarming proportions, came the success for India. Dilshan drove Ganguly uppishly and Robin Uthappa, who had a great time in the field, dived to his left to complete a low catch at covers. Dilshan (28, 44 balls, 3x4) and Chamarasilva added 68 for the fifth wicket in 14.1 overs before Russel Arnold (22, 34balls, 1x6) sustained it with a 41-run stand for the sixth wicket in ten overs with Chamarasilva, who completed his century in the last over after adding 64 with Mahroof for the seventh wicket as the Lankans added 54 in the last five overs.

UNI