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Asia Cup - 2004
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Asia Cup - 2004
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Sri Lanka made to work hard against minnows
DAMBULLA: Asia Cup hosts Sri Lanka proved too strong for the United
Arab Emirates as they recorded a 116-run victory in a day-night game
at Dambulla.
Avishka Gunawardene top scored with 73 in an unexceptional Sri Lanka
score of 239 all out as Khuram Khan took 4-32.
The UAE opted for survival instead of a run chase and 16-year-old
Ram Veera Rai hung on for 37 overs to make 39.
Upul Chandana and Muttiah Muralitharan shared seven wickets but UAE
lasted to the 48th over for a total of 123.
It was a satisfactory comeback by Muralitharan (3-21) who opted to
miss the recent Test series in Australia.
But for once his figures were surpassed by a fellow spinner as
Chandana followed up his 10 wickets in Cairns with figures of 4-22.
He finally ended the UAE's resistance by bowling Ali Asad for 12 as
he swung across the line.
"Chandana has been bowling well for the past couple of months and it
was nice to see Murali back in the squad. We missed him in
Australia," said captain Marvan Atapattu.
Asad had earlier performed well with the ball, claiming 2-35 as he
shouldered the main seam bowling burden after Asim Saeed had to be
carried off after two overs with an ankle injury.
Sri Lanka's big name batsmen failed to perform with the exception of
the powerfully built Gunawardene, who went in at number three and
was seventh out after collecting nine boundaries in his 89-ball
innings.
Khuram's accuracy and subtle variations meant none of the home
batsmen were able to get on top of him and he even outfoxed
Muralitharn to bowl him for three.
Gunawardene departed with the score on 190 but Chandana and Nuwan
Zoysa each made 21 to put things beyond the UAE's reach.
Zoysa took two early wickets at the start of their reply and sent
down eight overs for figures of 2-11.
He could not dislodge Rai, however, and the youngster showed an
excellent temperament as he occupied the crease for two and a
quarter hours before Chandana finally breached his defence.
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