India recover but rain again prevents result : CB Series ODI#2

India 4/267 [50 overs] (G Gambhir 102 no, M S Dhoni 88 no) v Sri Lanka who did not bat because of rain. No Result.

On this occasion the rain came to the Gabba at the end of the Indian innings and didn't let up enough to allow Sri Lanka to start theirs. A pity since the game looked to be fairly evenly poised.

India began well with openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar putting on 68 before the Sri Lankan attack forced the batsmen and, it appeared from Rohit Sharma's case, an umpire into error. 4/83 in the 21st over was decidedly shaky, but Gautam Gambhir and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni built on this cautiously and later with increasing aggression, adding 184 without further loss.

As always, the statistics don't tell the whole story: at the 33 over drink break India were 4/128 and Channel 9's scenario generator projected a relatively modest final score unless the run rate increased rapidly. It did, as Gambhir, after reaching 50 from 71b accelerated to reach 100 in only 28 more balls, finishing with 102/101b (10x4, 1x 6). Dhoni was no laggard either: his 50 took 74b yet he finished with 88/ 95b (5x4, 1 x 6).

All this was of no value to either team, so we will hope, despite the welcome rains in much of the country, for a result soon.

Scorecard

Cricinfo Bulletin.