Tendulkar's series-winning hundred will always be a memory to cherish
Tendulkar's series-winning hundred will always be a memory to cherish
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They tell you how it is all about winning the toss, put a competitive total together and wait for the opposition to make the mistakes before collecting the winner's prize money and trophy.
Well, as India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will tell you, there is a lot more to it than that. There is also the need for bowlers to take wickets to support batsmen such as Sachin Tendulkar who not only put together his 44th ODI century in the tri-series final yesterday night, but also become the first non-Sri Lankan to score 1000 runs at Premadasa Stadium.
Along with this is India's remarkableu00a0 success story of wrapping up their third consecutive series in the Emerald Isles in a matter of 13 months. And the impressive hat-trick of series wins makes Dhoni's side the first to achieve this singular feat in a stadium where many foreign sides have struggled against Sri Lanka.
Perfect partnership
It also explains how well the Dhoni/Gary Kirsten liaison has worked since they set about giving India new direction and overcoming as well debilitating injury problems, which have caused the need to restructure the top-order, and necessitating late strategy changes.
Tendulkar, as an example, shrugging off the cramps that needed Rahul Dravid to act as runner for the latter part of his innings, scored 138 in India's 319 for five in 50 pulsating run-making overs.
"I would say it is one of my better innings," Tendulkar told a media briefing. "There have been times when I have played here that I have not enjoyed it and other times I have. But a score like this is always one to remember. I missed being out there in the field as well. The cramps are still bothering me a bit."
That the century was against a Sri Lanka side full of self-belief in trying to chase down an imposing target explains the value of the Tendulkar's innings, with the batsman often cramping in pain in steamy conditions with batsmen sweating profusely.
Dravid's role
With the selectors having finally decided that they had enough of Dinesh Karthik and had Dravid open the innings with Tendulkar, it allowed the openers to underwrite the importance of a solid opening partnership, which is what India needed to set up such an impressive total.
For a start, Dravid helped Tendulkar to play his more natural game in such conditions as he adjusted nicely.
There were times when the Mumbai Marvel became a touch impatient with himself in trying to force the bowlers to come to him instead of tackling them with his old stylish fluency that has the bowlers looking for answers but finding none.
This is where the Dravid influence was so important. His handling of Ajantha Mendis is another example why India need him in the top three. He played Mendis as a medium pacer and is not fooled by the so-called 'mystery' balls that others so often fall for and get bowled. At times, Mendis looked like a genuine novice as the openers structured a well-paced partnership.
There is also the importance of Harbhajan Singh and his five wickets, with the first of two double strikes in consecutive overs to get rid of Tillekeratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene, set the tone of his controlled bowling performance that also did much to help India seal the victory.
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