If is said that matches are won by bowlers. And. if that be the case, then India desperately need a match-winning bowler — tn other words, a strike bowler The only trump card that she holds at the moment is leggie Anil Kumble. But what happens if he falls — India loses, as she did Saturday against Sri Lanka. It is not always possible for a bowler to strike within the limit of ten overs, whatever may be the expectations ol him. This also puts him under undue pressure which in turn may work as a spanner in the wheel. India had a respectable total to defend and there was hardly anything frightening in the wicket. Both captains pre ferred to bat last on a wicket which, they thought, would help the seamers in the morn ing. But it was soon evident from the batting of Sachin Tendulkar. Manjrekar and Azharuddin that nothing was wrong with the wicket except that it was a bit slow Both Azharuddin and Ranatunga knew il would be.a high-scoring match and It was true. A total of 543 runs were scored for the loss of only 7 wickets.

When S«chin and Azhar were on a rampage in the morning, aided by some sloppy fielding by the Lankans which was unbecoming of them, one could hardly visualise what was coming In the afternoon. Tendulkar once again plundered the Lankan bowling and proved to the world that he was second to none

But the diminutive dynamite Kalunvltharana along with flle southpaw Sanath Jayasuriya set the rerozshah Kotla afire as the capacity crowd held its breath. Not even notortoua Nadir Shah would have Imagined such a slaughter — 53 in 28 and 100 in 83 deliveries. The pace was set and it was now left to the middle order to. complete the job. Gurusinghe and De Silva were indiscreet — De Silva In particular paid the price for his exasperation as Azhar hemmed him in with . close in fielders. Ranatunga. a coo! customer and Hashan Tillekeratne survived some dose tails. And after they overcame the initial hiccups it was easy going for them. Azhars clever manipulations notwithstanding

It waa nice to see a big Bangladesh flag among the Sri Lankan crowd. The islanders once again proved they werd 'a force 10 reckon with.