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On this day, 1997, an ODI between India and Sri Lanka at Indore had to be called off after three overs.
To compensate the spectators, the cricketers played a 25-over match later in the day – though there was a condition.
The pitch was bone-dry, parched, and a ghastly brown.
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To compensate the spectators, the cricketers played a 25-over match later in the day – though there was a condition.
The pitch was bone-dry, parched, and a ghastly brown.
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The Indians got groundsman Narendra Menon to roll out another pitch the day before the match, but then the Sri Lankans showed up.
And obviously Ranatunga was not someone who would digest this.
He raised the matter to match referee Ahmed Ebrahim.
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And obviously Ranatunga was not someone who would digest this.
He raised the matter to match referee Ahmed Ebrahim.
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Ebrahim instructed the first pitch be used.
It was obvious that the ball would turn square. Sri Lanka went in with two seamers, in Vaas and Sajeewa de Silva. India left out Mohanty and gave a cap to Kanitkar.
Ranatunga had no hesitation in batting first when he won the toss.
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It was obvious that the ball would turn square. Sri Lanka went in with two seamers, in Vaas and Sajeewa de Silva. India left out Mohanty and gave a cap to Kanitkar.
Ranatunga had no hesitation in batting first when he won the toss.
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Srinath bowled the first ball.
The spot where he landed the ball as good as exploded.
During the course of the over, Mongia took one above his eyes and another at his ankles.
Amidst all this, Kaluwitharana played on and Jayasuriya was dropped by Chauhan at first slip.
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The spot where he landed the ball as good as exploded.
During the course of the over, Mongia took one above his eyes and another at his ankles.
Amidst all this, Kaluwitharana played on and Jayasuriya was dropped by Chauhan at first slip.
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Tendulkar did not waste time by bringing on the part-time seamers. Chauhan bowled the second over.
The first ball pitched outside off and went almost through Mahanama, then past the outstretched left hand of Mongia for four byes.
Ball after ball spun across batsmen.
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The first ball pitched outside off and went almost through Mahanama, then past the outstretched left hand of Mongia for four byes.
Ball after ball spun across batsmen.
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The first ball of Srinath's next over shot along the ground. The second took off. The sixth hit Mahanama on the glove.
At this point the umpires, Subroto Porel and Devendra Sharma, called Ranatunga on the ground. Tendulkar joined.
Play was called off half an hour later.
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At this point the umpires, Subroto Porel and Devendra Sharma, called Ranatunga on the ground. Tendulkar joined.
Play was called off half an hour later.
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But they still had to contend with the restless crowd, so they decided to play a 25-over exhibition match on the adjacent pitch.
However, only spinners and slow medium pacers were allowed to bowl.
The match was not a serious affair.
Vaas played but neither batted nor bowled.
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However, only spinners and slow medium pacers were allowed to bowl.
The match was not a serious affair.
Vaas played but neither batted nor bowled.
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Murali batted at 6.
Neither Tendulkar nor Azhar batted despite India losing seven wickets. Sri Lanka won by 2 runs.
Two interesting things followed.
After the day, Shastri, one of the commentators, tried to test the pitch. One poke with a shoe resulted in a hole.
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Neither Tendulkar nor Azhar batted despite India losing seven wickets. Sri Lanka won by 2 runs.
Two interesting things followed.
After the day, Shastri, one of the commentators, tried to test the pitch. One poke with a shoe resulted in a hole.
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A local lawyer demanded the arrest of Tendulkar, Ranatunga, and Ebrahim on the grounds that they had deprived the spectators of their right to watch a match they had paid for.
