While Yuvraj Singh, the lone Indian batsman who put up a semblance of a fight with 38, appeared to be the worst case, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik and Virender Sehwag were the other batsmen who got dubious decisions. While television replays in the case of Yuvraj’s leg before wicket (LBW) decision showed the ball would have missed the stump, the decisions on the other three batsmen were not conclusive enough.

Of the four decisions that come under the scanner, three were given by local umpire Kumar Dharmasena, while that of Yuvraj was from Pakistani Asad Rauf.

Former India Test player Arun Lal, who was at the commentary box when Raina was given out caught behind, said, “We did not hear any sound and there was none in the snickometer also.” His co-commentator, Ranil Abeynaike, a former Sri Lankan player, also said that the Indians were unlucky. “They were unlucky. They have been affected by some bad decisions of the umpires. But what can you do,” he said.

Meanwhile, on being asked about the umpiring decisions at the post-match press conference, Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara made it clear that he was in no mood to implicate the umpires for the dodgy decisions they handed to Indian batsmen in the tri-series match and said India should have agreed to the use Decision Review System to have a level playing field.

“Even before the Test series we have been for DRS and the only reason I believe why we did not have referral system throughout the Test series and through this series was that India did not want DRS,” Sangakkara said, when asked about the bad decisions by the umpires. “Well, sometimes decisions work for you and sometimes they are against you. But if everything has to be fair, use technology. Make it even. The ICC should make DRS compulsory in all matches.”

New Zealand and Sri Lanka’s game was abandoned for the second day running as the rains refused to let up, but not before more drama involving the beleaguered Kumar Sangakkara and cricket’s notoriously convoluted laws!

The incident happened in the 26.5th over, when after flicking a ball to fine-leg region, Sangakkara bumped into McCullum while trying to ground his bat to take his run. The bowler didn’t like it and complained to the umpires, who reported it to the Match Referee Alan Hurst who in turn charged the Lankan skipper with a Level 2 offence for deliberate physical contact with an opposition player.

Talking about the incident, former skipper and Sangakkara’s deputy Mahela Jayawardene said it was not done intentionally as he was “blinded” when he took the run. “It was not intentional. Sangakkara collided with a bowlers and the bowler complained to the umpire. But Sangakkara didn’t do it intentionally. He was blinded when he took the run. I saw the replays. These things happen,” Jayawardene said.

This incident comes just days after Sri Lanka were embroiled in a demoralising no-ball controversy in their second game against India on Monday. Off-spinner Suraj Randiv was banned for one game by Sri Lanka Cricket for bowling a no-ball to Virender Sehwag at the fag end of the match to deprive the Indian opener his ton.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, senior batsman, forfeited his entire match fee after local media reported that he talked Randiv into bowling the no-ball. The SLC also reprimanded Sangakkara that no such incident should happen in future.

The skipper said Sri Lankan Cricket board is looking into the matter and will take suitable action. Gamesmanship, he said, was part of the game, but off-spinner Suraj Randiv’s no-ball was not right.

The no-ball incident that has already drawn a lot of flak from everyone, both in India and in Sri Lanka, had yet another twist on Wednesday when the Sri Lankan team manager Anura Tennekoon reported that it was opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan who suggested that Randiv bowl a no-ball to deny Sehwag a century during the tri-series match.

According to the Sri Lankan newspaper The Island, Dilshan, who was fielding at cover point, instructed Randiv in Sinhalese – “If you want, you can bowl a no ball”. Incidentally, both Dilshan and Sehwag play for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.

The controversy has brought a lot of embarrassment to the Lankan cricket board. Their manager has completed the inquiry and the six-member committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to act against any player found guilty.

On Monday, with the scores leveled in the match, Sehwag was just one short of his 13th ODI hundred when Randiv, who had not bowled a no-ball in the Test or ODI series this season, bowled one which was hit by the opener for a six. However, it did not count because the no ball amounted to India’s winning run, leaving Sehwag on an unbeaten 99.

Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 75 while former skipper Mahela Jayawardene made 56 and Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on 65 as Sri Lanka, leading the three-match series 1-0, ended Day 1 at 293 for 4 at the P Sara Oval in Colombo.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews was the other batsman at the crease on 26, having put on 52 runs so far for the fifth wicket with Samaraweera.

Sangakkara, who won his third successive toss and decided to take first strike on the even-paced wicket, missed out on a third century in the series.

The left-hander, who made 103 in the first Test and 219 and 42 not out in the second, looked set for another big knock when he hit five boundaries and two sixes with some elegant shots. But a lapse in concentration midway through the afternoon session caused his downfall when he lofted left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha to long-on, where Virender Sehwag held the skier.

India, seeking a series-levelling win after losing the first Test, were let down by the bowlers, who sent down 14 no-balls and two wides during the day.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra, making his first appearance in the series in place of the injured Harbhajan Singh, was the worst culprit, with six no-balls in his 0-99 from 25 overs. Ojha, the most successful bowler of the day with 2-78, sent down four no-balls. Seamer Ishant Sharma bowled three and Sehwag one, while Abhimanyu Mithun conceded two wides.

Sangakkara was given a life on 23 when third slip Suresh Raina lunged to his right and dropped the ball that was carrying comfortably to Venkatsai Laxman at second slip. Mithun was the unlucky bowler.

Jayawardene, who put on 84 for the fourth wicket with Samaraweera, was unlucky to be given out leg-before by Australian umpire Rod Tucker in the final session. Television replays indicated the ball from Ojha would have passed over the stumps.

Sri Lanka, batting almost the entire day in overcast conditions, lost both openers in the morning session to go to lunch on 102-2.

Tharanga Paranavitana, who also hit centuries in each of the previous two Tests, fell for eight when he edged Sharma to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) added 87 for the second wicket with Sangakkara, before he was run out off what turned out to be the last ball of the morning session.

Dilshan stepped out to defend a no-ball from Ojha, but failed to return to his crease as Murali Vijay fielded the ball at silly-point and passed it back to Dhoni. Replays showed Dilshan’s back-foot was not grounded when Dhoni broke the stumps.

India went into the decisive Test without the injured duo of opener Gautam Gambhir and seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan. Raina, who hit a century on his debut in the last match, was preferred over Yuvraj Singh for the number six spot.

Indian batting star Sachin Tendulkar’s 169th Test made him the most-capped player in history, surpassing former Australian captain Steve Waugh’s tally of 168 appearances.

Fit-again fast bowler Lasith Malinga returned for Sri Lanka along with left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara. They replaced Dilhara Fernando and Dammika Prasad, who shared the new ball in the second Test.

Match Summary:

Sri Lanka 293 for 4 (Sangakkara 75, Samaraweera 65*, Jayawardene 56) v India

With little interest left on a dreary last day, the Indians scored a mammoth 707 all-out in the first innings, recording their second-highest total ever, largely due to a dogged resistance by the last wicket pair of Ishant Sharma (27) and Pragyan Ojha (17).

The hosts then scored 129 for three in their second innings before both the captains decided to call off play, bringing an end to a dull Test completely dominated by the batsmen with just 17 wickets falling.

The drawn result meant that India retained their number one position in the ICC’s Test rankings as the hosts needed to win the match to dislodge the visitors from top of the table.

The third and final Test will begin at the P Sara Oval from August 3, with the hosts leading the series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Galle by ten wickets.

The track at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, which came in for much flak, hardly gave any assistance to the bowlers, which made life extremely easy for the batsmen, as was evident with two double centuries and three centuries being scored.

Resuming at 669 for nine, Sharma and Ojha almost survived the opening session of the final day, as India’s first innings folded for 707 about 15 minutes from the break. India bettered its highest total abroad by two runs as they had made 705 against Australia in Sydney in 2004.

It was also India’s second highest total, the highest being 726 for 9 declared against the same opponents in Mumbai last year.

Sharma and Ojha shared the longest tenth-wicket partnership for India in terms of balls faced by number 10 and 11 batsmen as they resisted for 174 balls. They bettered their own mark of 92 balls at Galle during the first Test. Paceman Dilhara Fernando ended Sri Lanka’s agonising wait when he had Sharma caught at gully by Kumar Sangakkara.

Sharma’s 27 runs came off 117 balls with help of one boundary while Ojha consumed 92 balls for his unbeaten 17 and helped himself with one boundary.

Sri Lanka, who trailed by 65 runs, lost Tharanga Paranavitana (34), Tillakaratne Dilshan (14) and Mahela Jayawardene (5) in the post lunch session.

Abhimanyu Mithun drew first blood by having Dilshan caught at short mid-wicket and then Laxman caught Paranavitana in the slip cordon off Harbhajan Singh. Part time spinner Virender Sehwag trapped Jayawardene minutes before the second break of the day.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara (42 not out) and Thilan Samaraweera (10 not out) ensured that there were no further stabacks before both the captains decided to call off play.

Match Summary:

Sri Lanka 642 for 4 dec (Sangakkara 219, Jayawardene 174, Paranavitana 100) and 129 for 3 dec (Sangakkara 42*, Paranavitana 34) drew with India 707 (Tendulkar 203, Raina 120, Mendis 4-172)

Man of the Match: Kumar Sangakkara

Sangakkara led from the front with an imposing 219 while Jayawardene (174) notched up his 27th century as the hosts declared the first innings at a mammoth 642 for four.

In reply, India were 95 for no loss but still trailing by 547 runs at close on the second day which saw only two wickets fall and as many as 425 runs being scored on a placid Sinhalese Sports Club track.

It was yet another day of toil and frustration for the Indian bowlers who failed to make much of an impression against the Lankan batsmen, who scored at a brisk pace right through the day.

Sehwag (64) and Murali Vijay (22) batted in contrasting fashion, as India survived 18 overs in the last session of the day without any hiccups. The sound start by Indian openers, best in the series so far, also lifted the gloom over the India camp as they worked hard without much success in the field for more than five sessions.

Perched on top of the Test rankings, India need to win this match, as a defeat would not only take away their number one rank but also extend their winless streak in a Test series in the Island nation.

Sehwag was his usual aggressive self and was harsh on the Lankan bowlers, particularly paceman Dammika Prasad, whom he hit thrice in third over to set the tone for the Indian reply. Exploiting the lifeless track, like their counterparts, India scored quickly and at an impressive run-rate of 5.27.

Sehwag, the only centurion on this tour for the visitors, scored 48 of his 64 runs in boundaries, while Vijay batted cautiously from the other end.

Resuming the day at 312 for two, Sri Lanka started from where they had left on day one as Sangakkara and Jayawardene went about murdering the clueless Indian attack effortlessly. The Lankan skipper, overnight 130, did not take much time to complete his double century and, with Jayawardene, raised a 193-run partnership for the third wicket.

Sangakkara’s knock came in 335 balls and was laced with 29 hits to the boundary.

Thilan Samaraweera (76) joined his Vice Captain in the middle and remained their till the declaration. Jayawardene and Samaraweera raised a 176-run stand for the fourth wicket to add to India’s misery and frustration.

Earlier, Sehwag removed Sangakkara just after lunch, but not before the Sri Lankan captain had registered his seventh double century. Sangakkara made 219 before Rahul Dravid took a sharp catch at slip off Sehwag to give India a rare moment of joy.

The fact that 400 runs for Sri Lanka came in a record 435 minutes and 651 balls testified to a placid pitch and some lacklustre bowling from the Indians.

Match Summary:

Day 2: India 95 for 0 (Sehwag 64*, Vijay 22*) trail Sri Lanka 642 for 4 decl (Sangakkara 219, Jayawardene 174, Paranavitana 100) by 547 runs

It was the Sri Lankan captain’s seventh double ton in Test cricket, taking him one ahead of Marvan Atapattu , and making him the batsman with the most double hundreds for his country.

Sangakkara had said after the opening day’s play that the hosts would be hoping to score another 250 runs on Day 2 before making India bat, and the duo of Sangakkara and Jayawardene ensured that they scored those runs in quick time. At lunch (after 119 overs), the home team had made 457 for two, with Sangakkara batting on 214 and Jayawardena on 71.

The Indian bowlers looked out of sorts in the opening session, failing to make that crucial breakthrough. Kumar Sangakkara started the day with a superb boundary off Abhimanyu Mithun, one that went through the right of mid-off. The second ball of the day was flicked throug the midwicket, the result being the same.

Two boundaries in the first two balls bowled on the day and the writing was clear: the home team wanted to make the most of their advantage.

The home team had reached 312 for two at close of play on day one, with Sangakkara unbeaten on 130 and Mahela Jayawardene on 13.

The Sri Lankan captain helped himself to three successive boundaries in Mithun’s third over – the fifth of the day, the second of which helped him surpass the 150-run mark.

It was the 12th occasion when Sangakkara had made 150-plus in an innings, thereby joining his former captain and present non-striker (Mahela Jayawardene) as the only two Lankan batsmen to have achieved the feat.

Jayawardene also cut loose soon, with a couple of boundaries off Ishant Sharma . Another boundary from his blade, this time off Pragyan Ojha over mid-on, completed the 100-run partnership for the third wicket.

It was the 12th time that the Sangakkara-Jayawardena combine had featured in a 100-run stand, a Lankan record bettering the 11 such instances set by Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva.

Shortly after, a single off Ojha helped Jayawardene complete what was his 36th half century in Test cricket. And he celebrated the same with successive boundaries.

Then came Sangakkara’s turn to make Ojha suffer. And the Lankan captain hit four boundaries in five balls to move on to 199. A square drive, well clear of the slip fielder, in Harbhajan’s next over, not only reached the boundary but also helped Sangakkara complete a well-deserved double hundred.

Match Summary:

At lunch, Day 2, Sri Lanka 457 for 2 (Sangakkara 214*, Paranavitana 100, Jayawardene 71*) v India

Zaheer has been ruled out of the series due to a shoulder injury while Sreesanth has sprained a ligament of his left knee and will be replaced by Munaf Patel in the squad.

“It has happened with us in the past. In the past, also we have lost our main bowlers just before an important series. We will definitely miss Zaheer and Sreesanth during the series,” Dhoni told reporters here.

He, however, felt that the situation was an ideal opportunity for non-regular bowlers of the team to prove their worth. “It is a great platform for young bowlers to prove their mettle and seal their place in the side,” Dhoni said.

To make matters worse for India, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is down with a fever and has been ruled out of the practice match against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI.

“Harbhajan is not playing tomorrow. He has got a viral infection but he is expected to be fit for the first Test,” Dhoni said.

Praising Muttiah Muralitharan, who will quit Test cricket after the first Test against the Indians, Dhoni said his batting colleagues will do their best to make it difficult for the Lankan spinner to attain the 800-wicket mark, a feat for which he needs just eight scalps.

“Murali is great bowler but we will make it tough for him in the series. He will have to earn his wickets,” he said.

Dhoni also said that he was not in favour of the Decision Review System (DRS) which will make its debut in next year’s World Cup in the sub-continent.

“DRS is still not a 100 % correct system,” Dhoni said. “We have seen that, in spite of having the DRS, not everything goes well. Most of the teams have played a series under the DRS, so it is important now to come up with a foolproof plan. See what exactly works. In a bat-pad scenario, Hot Spot really works, it is close to over 98 % correct. Even on LBW decisions, we need to have something like that.”

“I am not in favour of the review system. I feel it should be used only when it is 99 per cent accurate,” the wicket-keeper batsman said of the DRS which will not be a part of the forthcoming series.

Dhoni’s Sri Lankan counterpart, Kumar Sangakkar, meanwhile believes that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should make the DRS mandatory for all Test series. Sangakkara also said the ICC should perhaps pay for the technology needed to implement the system successfully, because it is something the ICC wants to introduce and the broadcasters have usually paid exorbitant monies for their rights and might not be able to afford extra costs for sophisticated tools such as Hot Spot.

“I was under the impression that the ICC has set the standards on this by saying that everyone should use the DRS system,” Sangakkara said, suggesting he was not aware of the results of the latest discussion on UDRS at the ICC’s annual conference. “I think last year in India also, the entire team felt a little hard done by when we came to know that we couldn’t have the DRS.”

The ICC’s directive, just like its role in international cricket, was ambiguous . “The host member would determine whether to use DRS in home Test series (following consultation with the visiting country),” said the ICC release, in one sentence giving the home board the power to “determine” whether the UDRS should be used, and also empowering the visiting team to contest it.

“The role that ICC has to play here is to make sure that all boards are bound to have the DRS,” Sangakkara said, “Rather than when one side refuses, the other side can’t enforce the DRS, as is under the current playing conditions.”

Sangakkara reiterated how the absence of DRS hurt his side on its tour of India (”It cost us close to 500 runs and lots of wickets”), and also how the presence of the same system proved to be an advantage when they hosted India in 2008. Then, Sri Lanka successfully challenged 11 decisions as opposed to India’s one.

“There were, of course, complaints by the Indian team, which led to – I think – subsequent series being played without the review system,” Sangakkara said. “Having reviewed all the matches, there are flaws. You need Hot Spot and all, but even with the existing technology in place, we can still have a very fair DRS.”

It was a perfect example of why one-day cricket needs to be preserved, because the kind of competition we saw on Tuesday is just not possible in a 20-over game. The battle between bat and ball, losing your way and consolidating the innings to come back in the game, the innings played by Angelo Mathews and Shahid Afridi, the bowling spells of Shoaib Akhtar and Lasith Malinga, this level of cricket is next to impossible in a 20-over match.

Chasing a target of 243 to win, Pakistan’s batsmen, who came to bat before Afridi, seemed completely clueless and uninterested in the chase. The ones who batted with him kept getting themselves run out, while at the other end, Afridi’s cramp-induced groans could be heard through the stump microphone. The Pakistan skipper limped his way to 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 blinder of a catch off Muttiah Muralitharan to send Afridi back.

Lasith Malinga, coming back into ODI cricket, then produced a lethal three-over spell inside the batting Power play to just run through the lower order and finish with career-best figures of 5-34 to bundle Pakistan out for 226 in 47 overs.

Malinga’s performance overshadowed an encouraging performance by Shoaib Akhtar who bowled his heart out on an unresponsive wicket.

Playing his first international match in 13 months, the controversial Pakistan fast bowler scalped three wickets in four short spells to prove that he still has the fire in his belly to bowl at good speeds and trouble batsmen.

Evidently, he lacked rhythm and fitness, indicating that he could possibly break down during the course this four-nation tournament. His run-up was staggered and direction wasn’t pin-point but he was never short of effort, putting his heart into every delivery he hurled at the Lankans.

Akthar bagged the scalps of Upul Tharanga (11), Chamara Kapugedara (2) and Farveez Maharoof (1).

Earlier, winning the toss and opting to bat, Sri Lanka showed great character in recovering from a poor start to make a fighting 242 for nine, thanks mainly to the never-say-die Angelo Mathews (55 not out), Mahela Jayawardene (54) and Kumar Sangakkara (42).

The home team lost two early wickets with both openers, Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan, back in the hut with just 36 runs on the board. Tharanga was dismissed by a fitter and a more determined looking Shoaib Akhtar while Dilshan was sent back by Mohammad Asif.

Sri Lanka were then well served by Jayawardene (54) and captain Sangakkara (42) who raised 83 fighting runs for the third wicket before both of them fell in quick succession.

At 150 for five in the 32nd over, Lanka were still struggling to put up a fighting total but Angelo Mathews managed to marshal the tail to help Sri Lanka post a competitive total. Mathews first found a gutsy ally in Kulasekara, with whom he raised 43 runs for the eighth wicket, and then Malinga (12) to take his side to 242 for 9, a score that Pakistan eventually failed to chase.

In reply, a two-wicket burst at the start of the innings by Malinga put Sri Lanka firmly in control of the game until Afridi stepped on the gas and nearly turned the match on its head.

If Pakistan had blooded Shahzaib Hasan and Umar Amin with a hope of preparing their team for the 2011 World Cup, the two young top-order batsmen failed to live up to expectations. They struggled against Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara, with neither having a clue against the seaming ball. But Afridi was in a world of his own, smashing successive sixes of Farveez Maharoof and heaving the wily Muralitharan over the fence on five occasions.

Afridi braved cramps and kept fighting but his batting colleagues completely let him down, something that could be gauged from the fact that the next best score was Umar Akmal’s 30.

Sitting pretty when Pakistan were tottering at 32 for four in the 14th over, Sri Lanka suddenly found themselves in dire straits when Afridi cut loose. Three Afridi-inspired partnerships — worth 73, 49 and 51 — saw Pakistan roar back into the game. But his fall in the 41st over brought Lanka back into the game.

Hampered by a groin injury, the gallant Afridi struck as many as seven sixes and eight boundaries while producing his fifth ODI century. He decimated the Lankan attack until Muralitharan, battered and bruised by Afridi’s brutal assault, had the last laugh.

Match Summary:

Sri Lanka 242 for 9 (Mathews 55*, Jayawardene 54, Shoaib 3-41) beat Pakistan 226 (Afridi 109, Malinga 5-34) by 16 runs

Man of the Match: Shahid Afridi

Dambulla: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes the rest given to the senior players has done a world of good to their game and they will play to their potential in the Asia Cup starting on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch of the Asia Cup trophy, Dhoni welcomed the return of the senior players and hoped they would keep intact, if not enhance, their reputation.

“It is good to have all the senior players back. They have worked on their fitness. During the break they have also worked on their skills, which they couldn’t have done during the season,” Dhoni said. “I am confident that they will perform to their potential.”

India had fielded a second string unit under Suresh Raina’s captaincy for the tri-series in Zimbabwe, where the rookies finished last.

Dhoni, however, refused to be harsh on the youngsters who struggled in Zimbabwe, saying too much should not be read into their back-to-back defeats against Zimbabwe in the tri-series.

“We lost to Zimbabwe but we beat Sri Lanka. You have to understand that we have had fitness issues with our bowlers and we do not have experienced fast bowlers. The series in Zimbabwe has given us options in playing young fast bowlers. There is a huge difference between domestic and international cricket. Only by playing would our younger bowlers be able to bridge the gap. The series has given us an opportunity to play youngsters and prepare them for international cricket,” said Dhoni.

He said that India would be under pressure to win the Asia Cup. “When you are representing your country, you are always under pressure to perform. This will be a tough assignment, as it would not be easy to beat sides like Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The competition is bound to be tough,” said Dhoni.

India, who are expecting six players to arrive from Zimbabwe, will play Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara reckoned a victory would help Sri Lanka in preparing for the World Cup which is to be hosted in the sub-continent between February 19 to April 2 next year.

“The Asia Cup is unique and prestigious. We could take confidence from a triumph here to build the team in preparation for the ensuing World Cup,” said Sangakkara, who for some queer reason turned up in casual attire for the official launch of the tournament.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, on his part, emphasised that every tournament was important for Pakistan. “From now on, every competition is important. We will keep our focus on this tournament to prepare for the World Cup. I can tell you that we haven’t brought youngsters here on a holiday,” said Afridi.

The Pakistan captain hoped that comeback pacer Shoaib Akhtar would perform as well as he prepared for the tournament.

“He has worked hard on his comeback. He wants to prove to everyone that he can perform as he did in the past. As a captain, I hope he does well. It will help Pakistan cricket,” said Afridi.