India lose to poor bowling and fielding?

Poor fielding once again came in the way of India and victory. The match that went to the wire, like the first one in Rajkot, this time it was Sri Lanka who held their nerve in the crunch situation and leveled the five match series 1-1. Earlier India with the help of a 126-run partnership by captain cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina, enabled India to cross the mark of 300 once more for the second consecutive time in the series. Sehwag and Gambhir made their way back to the pavilion early. Gambhir was unlucky to be run-out in the collision with the bowler to see him miserably stranded short of his ground. Tendulkar, who opened the innings with Sehwag, though was rather cautious in his approach as he played a patient game. But on the verge of yet another deserving half-century, which would have been his second on the trot. But yet were the efforts of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina that India was able to cross the 300 run mark. Dhoni and Raina carved out a 126-run partnership. Kohli too came good and made a confident 54. The Sri Lankan reply was ruthless and as usual again it was Dilshan and Tharanga who started the damage for India. Dilshan, especially, was at his destructive best and cared little for any bowler. Bad balls were punished, and it was the order of the day. His half-century came in only about 30-32 balls. Not only that, he went on to score his successive century for himself and his country. The previous century could not win the match for Sri Lanka. But this time around, the century came for a winning cause. India, were able to take some wickets in the later part of the Sri Lankan innings, and the match seemed poised for a more than exciting finish. 10 runs were required from the final 12 balls with 4 wickets remaining. But Nehra’s over made all the difference. Not because he bowled badly but because the Indian fielding was not up to the mark. Had Zaheer stopped the shot from Mathews, which should have been a dot ball, Zaheer fumbled and let the ball from his hands for not one, not two but for a boundary from this misfield. And this was enough for the Islanders. The very next ball again went to Zaheer and a catch as usual was again put down. And that was virtually the end of the match for India.