The Hindu : Naik keeps Indian hopes alive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Naik keeps Indian hopes alive

By K. Keerthivasan

Shekar Naik (right), who top scored for India, having a chat with Rajendra Verma in the Petro World Cup for the Blind in Chennai on Monday. India beat Sri Lanka by five wickets. — Photo: Vino John

CHENNAI DEC. 9. A change in strategy and approach paid dividends for the Indian cricket team. With two defeats from two encounters, India desperately needed a win against Sri Lanka to survive. It achieved this in style with a five-wicket verdict (and a bonus point to boot) in the Petro World Cup for the blind at the CPT-IP grounds here.

Chasing a modest 263, it was the new opening pair of Sushil Gourd (50, 53b, 2x4) and man of the match Shekar Naik (92, 90b, 3x4) which set the ball rolling with a purposeful 133-run stand. Rajendra Verma (54, 42b), a totally blind player, then gave solidity to the innings.

With the score reading 229 for three in 26.4 overs, the Indians sensed an opportunity to get bonus points and sensibly, a B1 player — K.N. Chandrasekhar — was sent in. He made a quickfire 22 in just nine balls to ensure the bonus points.

"As we had to finish the match in 32 overs to get the bonus points, I went for my shots," said Chandrasekhar, working for the Association of Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Karnataka. For the 26-year-old Verma, a simple and humble music teacher from Jaipur, this must easily have been the best knock under pressure.

"To win, we need our key players Sushil (Gourd), Shekar (Naik), and Vishal Kumar to perform. Other players are good but these three are very important," said Uday Gupte, coach of the Indian team. Gupte knows that India has to win its remaining two matches — against South Africa and Australia — to reach the semifinals.

Earlier, electing to bat, Sri Lanka lost its opening batsmen, Lakshan and Srikantha, cheaply. Chandana Kumara Suriyarachchie, an employee of the Rural Bank at Galle, then played a captain's knock to top score with 69 (93b, 3x4). Knowing pretty well that only a victory will keep them alive in the championship, the Indians gave a spirited display on the field, effecting seven run-outs.

It has been a learning curve for the Sri Lankans. On their previous visit to India in 1998 for the first World Cup, they lost all their six league matches. It has been no different this time too, so far. With just two points from four games, Sri Lanka is effectively out of the race. Undoubtedly, this team has arrived with limited facilities and opportunities. With the sponsors not forthcoming, most of the players play with sneakers when they are expected to play with spikes. "Maybe if we keep winning and play better, the situation will get better," said one player.

A shattering defeat to England and a disappointing loss to Pakistan made the Indians' job that much more tougher mentally. However, full credit to the team for emerging with flying colours irrespective of the fact that it had to contend only with a weak opposition.

Foy runs riot

At the ICL-Guru Nanak College ground, England quelled a Pakistan resurgence, winning by 59 runs. Powered by a double century from the completely blind Nathan Foy (232, 125b) and a century from Timothy Guttridge (102, 62b, 4x4), England posted a record total of 432.

But Pakistan did not budge and gave England a tough fight before finishing its quota of 40 overs with 373. M. Ashraf Bhatti, the top-scorer, remained unbeaten with 109 (83b, 6x4).

The scores:

Sri Lanka 263 in 39.4 overs (Chandana Kumara Suryiarachchie 69, Jayawardene 31, Rajapakshe 26) lost to India 264 for five in 29.1 overs (Sushil Gourd 50, Shekar Naik 92, Rajendra Verma 54).

England 432 for five in 40 overs (Nathan Foy 232, Timothy Guttridge 102, Mark Pickup 37 not out) bt Pakistan 373 for seven in 40 overs (Sulman Elahi 56, M. Ashraf Bhatti 109 not out, Muhammad Shahbaz 50, Tariq Samuel 76).

Tuesday's matches: India v South Africa and Australia v Pakistan.

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