Final India-Sri Lanka ODI Abandoned After Pitch Problems

Final India-Sri Lanka ODI Abandoned After Pitch Problems

The scene on the outfield after the fifth ODI between India and Sri Lanka was abandoned in Delhi.

©REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe. Picture Supplied by Action Images

The fifth and final One-Day International between India and Sri Lanka in Delhi was abandoned after the pitch at Feroz Shah Kotla was deemed unfit. Scorecard

Having been put in by India, Sri Lanka had made their way to 83 for five in the 24th over before the umpires, captains and the match referee began to question the state of the pitch and eventually the decision was taken to abandon the game.

The abandonment means that India win the series 3-1.

India had handed Sudeep Tyagi a debut for the match and Sri Lanka gave Muthumudalige Puspakumara his first ODI start but the match lasted just 23.3 overs.

In that time, Tyagi and Harbhajan Singh picked up a wicket apiece to Zaheer Khan's two while Suresh Raina ran out Thilan Samaraweera for two. Zaheer had made a dream start, bowling Upul Tharanga with the first ball of the match.

Sanath Jayasuriya, batting at number three, made 31 and Tillakaratne Dilshan 20 and Thilina Kandamby (12) and Pushpakumara (7) were the unbeaten batsmen when the decision was taken to suspend play.

It meant that both the first and last matches of Sri Lanka's tour had been abandoned and both sides will shortly depart for Bangladesh where an ODI tri-series begins on 4th January.

India look likely to be without star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and could also miss Yuvraj Singh while Sri Lanka, whose resources were already stretched in this series, could still be without Angelo Mathews, Dilhara Fernando and Thilan Thushara.

© Cricket World 2009

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