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DHONI HIGHEST EARNING ASIAN SPORTS PERSONALITY

Dhoni earns more than Rooney & Bolt

Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has pipped the likes of Manchester United star Wayne Rooney and ‘ Sprint King’ Usain Bolt in the latest list of the 100 highest- paid athletes for the year 2011- 12 released by Forbes magazine on Monday.

According to the list, Dhoni is ranked 31st, ahead of Rooney (37th with $ 24.3 mn), Bolt (63rd with $ 20.3 mn), tennis World No. 1 Novak Djokovic (62nd with $ 20.6 mn) and even batting legend Sachin Tendulkar (78th).

Of his total earnings of $26.5 million ( approximately Rs 145.7 cr), Dhoni earned $ 23 mn ( Rs 126.5 cr) through endorsements. Tendulkar earned $ 18.6 million ( Rs 102.3 cr ) with $ 16.5 mn ( Rs 90.7 cr) from endorsements in the past year.

Interestingly, the Indian captain’s earnings through endorsements are more than that of Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine football star Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo, who is ninth in the overall list, raked in $ 1 million less than Dhoni, while Messi — 11th in the list with total earnings of $ 39 million — earned $ 19 million from endorsements which is $ 4 million less than that by Dhoni. This proves that despite cricket not being as popular as football or tennis, the sheer market size of India has put Dhoni above many of the more renowned athletes.

Serbian tennis ace Djokovic — the winner of six Grand Slams singles titles — is 62nd on the money list with $ 20.6 million to his name in the past year, while Olympic 100m champion Usain Bolt is 63rd with total earnings of $ 20.3 million.

Maria Sharapova is the richest among women’s sportspersons at 26th position with earnings of $ 27.9 million.

Boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao topped the Forbes list. Mayweather, who ranks No. 1 for making $ 85 million off two fights last year, is serving a three- month jail sentence for domestic battery in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, second on the list at $ 62 million from earnings and endorsements, lost to US fighter Tim Bradley on July 9.

Tiger Woods, who had topped the Forbes list since 2001, fell to third this time with $ 59.4 million, his earnings off $ 16 million from the previous year and by half since his peak in 2009, mostly due to lost endorsement deals following his sex scandal. Miami Heat star LeBron James ranks fourth at $ 53 million, the highest of 13 basketball players and on the list.

Swiss tennis star Roger Federer was fifth at $ 52.7 million followed by NBA star Kobe Bryant at $ 52.3 million, US golfer Phil Mickelson at $ 47.8 million, English football star David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy at $ 46 million and Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo at $ 42.5 million.

American football star Peyton Manning, of Denver Broncos, ranks 10th overall with his earnings of $ 42.4 million.

courtesy: www.yahoo.com

Payment of Court Fees - In Appeal

2010(4) CURRENT TAMILNADU CASES – Page 483 – Payment of Court Fees in Appeal

Tamil Nadu Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 19 (T.N. Act 14 of 1955) – Suit for maintenance, filed by children, decreed in part – Suit file as in-forma pauperis – Question whether defendant father is liable to pay court-fees on entire amount claimed in suit or to extent to which suit is decreed – Though claim was Rs. 250/- per month each, suit was decreed for Rs. 150/- per month each – Since suit laid as a pauper suit, defendant was directed to pay court-fees – Defendant has to pay court-fee only to extent to which court below granted relief to plaintiffs and not for entire amount as claimed in plaint – Appeal partly allowed. 

Civil Procedure Code - COSTS

2010 (4) CURRENT TAMILNADU CASES – Page 546 – SUPREME COURT

Sections 9, 35, 35-A, 35-B, Order 7 Rule 11, Order 14 Rule 2, Order 17 Rules 2 & 3 – Every person has right to approach civil court seeking remedy if suit is of civil nature – Civil procedure code makes enough safeguards against frivolous or vexatious suits – Such safeguards are found in sections 35, 35-A & 35-B, Order 7 Rule 11, Order 17 Rules 2 & 3 – Section 35 provides for costs an section 35-A provides for levy of compensating costs in respect of false an vexatious claim – Order 7 Rule 11 provides for rejection of Plaint if it fails to disclose cause of action or barred by any law – Issue relate to jurisdiction or any bar create by law can be tried as preliminary issues – Costs could be levied under section 35-B or action under Order 17 Rules 2 & 3 could be taken to punish erring plaintiff – Normal principle is that costs follow event.

Sections 35, 35-A & 35-B – Costs – Principles behind – Imposition of costs should act as deterrent for filing vexatious an speculative suits – Costs are impose to ensure strict adherence of CPC, Evidence Act and to ensure parties to do not adopt delaying tactics – Costs should provide adequate indemnity to successful litigant – Actual costs must be aware as distinguished from nominal, fixed or unrealistic costs – Costs should induce persons to resort to alternative dispute resolution – Cost should not, however, prevent access to justice – Section 35-A has become virtually ineffective an infructuous in view of inflation – Law commission requested to re-visit these provisions – Section 35 does not impose ceiling on costs – Courts can levy costs following results – Non-levy of costs should be supported by reasons – Suggestion regarding appropriate amendments to civil rules of practice given.

Sec. 138 - Evidence of Accused through Affidavit whether permissible

2010(1) CURRENT TAMILNADU CASES – Page 693 – SUPREME COURT

Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), Section 145 – Can complainant’s witness be compelled to depose in chief-examination after adducing evidence on Affidavit – Sections 143 to 147 of Negotiable Instruments Act establishes simplified procedure for trial of cases relating to dishonored cheques and such procedure is intended to be swifter that summary trials – Affidavit filed by complainant’s witness on evidence constitutes examination-in-chief and he can be summoned and subjected to cross-examination only – Complainant can summon such witness for re-examination only – Complainant can summon such witness for re-examination – Such witness filing affidavit on evidence can be summoned on objection regarding validity, sufficiency of proof of documents submitted along with affidavit on evidence.

Person accused of an offence under Section 138 of cannot give evidence on affidavit – There is difference between nature of complainant’s evidence of accused in case of dishonoured cheque – Defence evidence cannot be equated with complainant’s evidence and accused cannot give evidence on affidavit in dishonoured cheques.

Fresh Suit barred

2012 (2) CURRENT TAMILNADU CASES – Page 543

Order 9 Rules 9 and 8 of CPC – Decree against Plaintiff by default bars fresh suit – Plaintiff filed suit for permanent injunction – Plaintiff predecessor in title had already filed similar suit against defendant and same was dismissed for default – Held, any suit is dismissed for default, plaintiff is precluded from bringing fresh suit on same cause of action – Whether bar created under Order 9 Rule 9 of CPC would also be applicable to assignee or a transferee of plaintiff who instituted earlier suit and dismissed for default – Bar under Order 9 Rule 9 can be invoked against legal representative or assignees or transferees of plaintiff, who filed earlier suit.

Criminal Procedure Code - Return of Property - Precedents

1. ALL INDIA REPORTER 2003 – Page 638 – SUPREME COURT

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 451 - Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 429, 420, 465, 468, 477(a), 114 - Property in custody disposed during pending cases - Various articles kept at police station for long period were alleged - Misappropriation of cash - Replacement of muddamal articles with spurious ones - For evolving suitable procedure to prevent misappropriation and replacement, court directions were sought - Held, for disposal of muddamal articles, some broad guidelines and procedures to be followed - Directing magistrates to ensure powers under s. 451 are property and promptly exercised - Articles kept in the police stations not more than fifteen days to one month in any case - Rules framed by high court to be supervise by high court registry and its property implementation. 

2. 2010(6) SUPREME COURT CASES – Page 768

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Sections 451,457 -Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Section 158(6) - Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, Section 159 - Motor Vehicles - Seized vehicles involved in commission of various offence - National waste while in custody of Police - Contention that earlier direction issued by the Apex Court in Suderbhai Ambalal Desai case are not complied with by the prosecuting agency - Considering the mandate of Section 451 read with Section 457 Cr.P.C. further direction with regard to seized vehicle given.

3. 2011(1) MADRAS WEEKLY NOTES (Criminal) – Page 437

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (2 of 1974), Section 451 – Return of Vehicles and sale thereof – Petitions seeking grant of permission to sell vehicles seized by Police in connection with Criminal cases – Contention, placing reliance on Apex court decision in Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai, that it was not necessary to hold vehicles at Police Stations and courts till trial in cases were completed – That, vehicles held at Police stations and court campuses are allowed to rust – Following Apex court decision, held return of vehicles and permission for sale should be general norm – Evidence relating to vehicles can be held in altered form – causing of photographs and resort to videography together with recording such evidence as befits a particular case would well serve purpose – Where return of vehicles is sought and claim is highly contested, resort to sale of vehicle and credit of proceeds in fixed deposits pending disposal of case would be to common good – None gain when mere shell or remnants of vehicles returned after completion of trial – criminal courts directed to follow decision of Apex court in Sunderbhai in true letter and spirit.

4. 2012(2) CURRENT TAMILNADU CASES – Page 549

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (2 of 1974), Section 451 & 452 – Release of Vehicles involved in crimes – Accused filed petition to release lorry involved in crime pending trial – Judicial Magistrate dismissed petition on ground that lorry was materially needed during course of trial and investigation – Whether principle laid down by Supreme court in Sunderbhai case for release of vehicles can be extended in respect of petitions filed by Accused persons seeking custody of vehicles – Whether secondary evidence can be permitted to lead in lieu of production and marking of vehicles – Held, power of confiscation provided under criminal procedure code is not meant to be used as exercise of penal power – Confiscation cannot be ordered as measure of punishment – In absence of any specific provision of law providing for confiscation of vehicles order confiscating vehicles would amount to imposing second punishment not having sanction of law – Routinely ordering confiscation of property involved in crime by trial courts without any enquiry is not proper – Vehicles should be returned to its owner even if such persons are accused – Power of confiscation provided in Section 452 of Cr.P.C – Trial courts should make all efforts to avoid holding of vehicles at court and police stations and dispose of petition seeking return of vehicles forthwith – Trial courts shall take best efforts to return vehicles involved in crimes to owners of vehicles after causing necessary Photographs and Panchnama – Directions issued to all Sessions/Metropolitan/Judicial Magistrate to adhere procedure laid in Judgment.

Exclusion of time - RULING BY SUPREME COURT

(2012) 2 MADRAS LAW JOURNAL – Page 637 – SUPREME COURT

Limitation Act (36 of 1963), Section 15(2) – Limitation – Suit for recovery of money – Dismissal of suit by trial court on ground of bar of limitation – Exclusion of time required to be given for notice under section 15(2) – Period of notice mandatorily excluded for computation of limitation, provided notice given within limitation period – Suit within period of limitation.

Order 17 Rule 2 & Order 18 Rules 4 & 5 of CPC - RULING BY SUPREME COURT

(2012) 2 MADRAS LAW JOURNAL – Page 595 – SUPREME COURT

Order 17 Rule 2 and Order IX Rule 7 of CPC – Non-appearance of parties – Suit for declaration and permanent injunction – Non-examination of plaintiffs witnesses by defendants despite getting opportunity – Right of defendants to cross-examine close by trial court – Non-appearance of defendants or counsel on next dates – Exparte proceedings against defendants – Legality of – Plaintiffs counsel heard and suit closed for pronouncement of judgment – Evidence of plaintiff un-rebutted and unchallenged – No question of further proceedings once suit closed for pronouncement of judgment – Order 9 Rule 7 not applicable – Trial court justified in ordering suit to proceed exparte for disposal in case both parties or either of parties fail to appear as in Order 9 – Decreeing of suit by trial court, not illegal.

Order 18 Rules 4 & 5 – Recording of evidence – Examination-in-chief of witnesses through affidavits – Whether to be treated as evidence without entry of deponent into witness box and confirmation of contents of affidavits – Examination-n-chief by means of affidavit, always sworn before oath commissioner/Notary – Witnesses not required under Order 18 Rule 5 to enter witness box for production of his affidavit and formally prove it in appealable cases, as he is required to enter witness box in cross-examination – Examination-in-chief of witness in form of affidavit entitled to be treated as evidence.

Sachin Tendulkar's 100 Hundreds: The Chronology

What, where and when of Tendulkar's centuries

Finally Tendulkar takes the monkey of his back

Tendulkar scores landmark century of centuries

Tendulkar, who is now in the 23rd year of his international career had been searching for this century since 12 March 2011.

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Sachin Tendulkar scored his 49th one-day century and the 100th ton of his illustrious international career against Bangladesh at Dhaka in the fourth match of the Asia Cup today.

Tendulkar, who is now in the 23rd year of his international career had been searching for this landmark century since 12 March 2011.

India lost the wicket of Gautam Gambhir in the sixth over of the match when Shafiul Islam clean bowled the left-handed opening batsman; but Tendulkar and Virat Kohli (66) then added 148 runs for the second wicket.

Tendulkar scored his half-century in 63 balls with a lofted drive over extra cover off Shakib Al Hasan; this was also his first 50 since the 85 he scored against Pakistan in the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup. Tendulkar, who was the first batsman to score a double century in ODIs, reached the three-figure mark when he took a single from a Shakib Al Hasan delivery in the 44th over of India's innings. He took 138 deliveries to score his century, which is one of his slowest in ODIs, but the occasion was so historic that it
shouldn't take the sheen off the landmark.

He celebrated the landmark by glancing at the sky and pointing to the Indian flag on his helmet before he was embraced by Suresh Raina, who was with him in the middle at the team. The Bangladesh players also ran up to congratulate Tendulkar on his achievement even as the crowd went into raptures.

Tendulkar scored 114 from 147 balls before he was caught behind off Mashrafe Mortaza's bowling in the 47th over of India's innings which ended at 289-5 in their allotted 50 overs.

Talking to Neo Cricket after India's innings, Tendulkar said it has been a tough phase for him even though he started the season batting reasonably well. Tendulkar said the hype around his 100th international century was started by the media and he was asked about it wherever he went - be it restaurants, hotels or ordered room service. He conceded the moment hadn't sunk in yet, and added: "Dreams do come true. I had to wait for one for 22 years (to win the World Cup)."

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was amongst the first to wish Tendulkar and said he has made the country proud. "Tendulkar's long career has been a triumph of class, character and courage. I wish him many more innings and feats to continue inspiring the youth," Singh said in a press release.

Tendulkar was also congratulated by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said he is a marvel to cricket lovers around the world, adding he is a true role model. "On behalf of every cricket fan around the globe I congratulate Sachin on becoming the first person to score 100 centuries for his country. This is indeed a magnificent feat and not likely to be easily emulated," Lorgat was quoted as saying in an ICC release.

Lorgat also said: "Like millions of others I have personally followed his career ever since he first played for India as a gifted 16-year-old and now, more than two decades later, his passion and personal records, which include more than 33,000 runs at international level, is a modern day wonder."

Tendulkar scored his first international century - 119* - against England at Old Trafford in August 1990; while his first ODI century (110) came against Australia at Colombo on 9 September 1994.

He scored the 99th century of his career against South Africa at Nagpur during the 2011 World Cup, but had failed to get to the three-figure mark in his last 33 innings; which included away Test series in England and Australia; a home Test series against West Indies and the Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Australia.

Tendulkar scored 12 centuries in 1998 - the most he has in a year in his career. He has scored eight centuries in three different years (1996, 1999 and 2010).

Tendulkar, who is the most capped player in Tests and ODIs, holds an array of batting records including for the most runs and centuries scored in those two formats of the game.

In his 188 Tests, Tendulkar has scored 15470 runs, including 51 centuries; and in his 462 ODIs, the batting maestro has scored 18,374 runs, including 49 centuries.

Tendulkar has scored 1000 or more runs in a calendar six times - 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010. He has also scored 1,000 or more ODI runs in a calendar year seven times - 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2007.

courtesy: www.yahoo.com

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

2012(1) TAMILNADU LAW NOTES JOURNAL (Civil) – Page 260

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 – Section 3 and 12 – If a minor child is taken or enticed out of keeping of the lawful guardian and by force compelled or by any deceitful means induced to go through a form of marriage, the said marriage will be void – though Section 11, 12(c), and 13(2) (iv) of the Hindu Marriage Act will not come to the rescue of the appellant/wife, she is protected under Section 3 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 - Section 13(2)(iv) of Hindu Marriage Act 1955 requires an amendment by substituting the age 18 years to 15 years, so that in a voidable child marriage, the child or her guardian can have an option either to invoke the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

AVOCADO

Natural Wonders: Avocado

By Mdhil | Mdhil – Tue 6 Mar, 2012 10:18 AM IST

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  Natural Wonders: Avocado

This creamy flavour-filled fruit is a powerhouse of nutrients. It helps fight cancer, keeps your heart healthy and can also delay aging.

Avocado, a powerhouse of nutrients!

Avocado and its nutrients:

Avocados are getting popular as your neighbourhood fruits vendor too has begun to stock them. This creamy, delicious fruit contain many essential nutrients such as folic acid, potassium, fibre, vitamin E, B-vitamins. In addition this fruit is known as a nutrient-booster as it aids better nutrient absorption.

Health benefits of avocados:

Protection against oral cancer: Research suggests that certain compounds in avocados manage to seek out pre-cancerous and cancerous oral cancer cells and destroy them, without causing any harm to healthy cells.

Keeps breast cancer away: Avocado also helps prevent breast cancer. Like olive oil, this fruit is high in oleic acid, which according to many studies is known to prevent breast cancer.

Protects against prostate cancer: Avocado also inhibits the growth of prostate cancer.

For a healthy heart: Studies show that people who eat foods rich in folate have lesser chances of developing health diseases. A cup of avocado meet b23% of the recommended value of folate, so make it a part of your daily diet to keep heart diseases at bay. Additionally, avocado contains good amounts of vitamin E, monounsaturated fats and glutathione, which are good for you heart.

Prevents stroke: This fruit contents high amounts of folic acid, which as per various studies is known to help prevent strokes.  

Lowers cholesterol: This fruit is high in a compound called beta-sitosterol, which studies say can lower cholesterol. Another compound, oleic acid is also known to help in lowering cholesterol.

Nutrient-booster: Avocados help greatly enhance your body’s ability to absorb the health-promoting carotenoids (organic pigments like lycopene and beta carotene) from vegetables. So add some slices of this yummy fruit to your salad and reap its benefits.

Source of vitamin E and antioxidants: Avocados are rich in vitamin E and an antioxidant called glutathione, both these help protect the body against damage from free radicals.

For healthy eyes: Avocados have more of the carotenoid lutein in comparison to any other popular fruit. This compound is known to protect eyes from muscular degeneration and cataracts, both age-related eye diseases.

courtesy: www.yahoo.com

NUTS

Natural Wonders – Almonds

By Mdhil | Mdhil – Sun 4 Mar, 2012 11:01 AM IST

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  Natural Wonders – Almonds

Keep some almonds handy for a quick energy boost.

Almonds are rich in nutrients

Almond and its nutrients

Almond, rightly called the wonder nut, not only tastes good but also comes loaded with numerous health benefits, especially, for women. Packed with vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and health-promoting fats, research reveals that these nuts reduce risk of heart disease and lowers cholesterol. What more? Frequent consumption of almonds aids weight management as they satiate your appetite and curb cravings.

Though referred to as a nut, almond is technically the seed of the fruit of the almond tree. They are off-white in colour, covered by a thin brownish skin, and encased in a hard shell. There are two kinds of almonds: sweet and bitter. While sweet almonds are the kind that are eaten; bitter almonds are used to make almond oil, known to strengthen bones, improve skin and hair.

Traditionally a part of the Indian diet, almonds make for a healthy snack and also a tasty additive to many recipes.

Health benefits of almonds:

Helps cure anaemia: Nearly 56% of Indian women are anaemic, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). The haemoglobin count for most Indian women falls under the standard accepted worldwide. Sufficient amounts of copper when combined with iron and vitamins can boost production of red blood cells and cure anaemia. Since almonds pack in a high percentage of copper, they make for an ideal supplement. Further, these highly nutritious nuts help increase bone mineral density, making a strong skeletal system.

Wonder food for mothers-to-be: Doctors across the globe recommend consumption of almonds before and after pregnancy. A leading source of Vitamin E, the most essential nutrient for mothers-to-be; a handful of almonds can supply 33% of the Vitamin E required by the body.

Aids weight loss: Many avoid nuts in the fear of weight gain. But studies suggest that nuts like almonds, when eaten frequently help in weight management. Thanks to its nutrient density, almonds have the effect of making you feel full and thereby reducing cravings and possibilities of over eating.

Prevents birth defects: One of the most important things you can do to prevent birth defects in your baby is to get adequate folic acid everyday. Folic acid, which plays a big role in healthy cell growth and tissue formation, is found in high doses in almonds

Good for your hair and skin: The antioxidant properties of almonds are considered to be good for your skin and hair. So eating almonds, or alternately applying almond oil to your skin and hair will help you to derive its benefits.

For a healthy heart: Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of “good fat” found in olive oil that is known to lower risk of heart diseases. Including almonds in your regular diet helps increase HDL or “good” cholesterol, levels, and lowers LDL or “bad” cholesterol, levels.

More help with energy production: Nutrients in almonds such as manganese, riboflavin, and copper are all known to aid energy production. If you’re the kind who is always on the go, keep almonds handy for an instant energy boost.

courtesy: www.yahoo.com

EMERGENCE OF THE NEW GOD OF INDIAN CRICKET - VIRAT KOHLI

India v Sri Lanka, CB Series, Hobart

Dazzling Kohli ton keeps India alive

The Report by Siddhartha Talya

February 28, 2012

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India 3 for 321 (Kohli 133*, Gambhir 63) beat Sri Lanka 4 for 320 (Dilshan 160*, Sangakkara 105) by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Virat Kohli was "in the zone" during his 133 not out off 86 balls © AFP  Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Virat Kohli Matches: India v Sri Lanka at Hobart Series/Tournaments: Commonwealth Bank Series Teams: India | Sri Lanka

Turnarounds don't come any better. Fortunes don't change more dramatically. And emotions don't bear a starker contrast. At the halfway stage, Sri Lanka would have felt they had one foot in the final, having left the India bowlers deflated after a dominating performance with the bat. And they would have been right to think that way, the Indian batting having shown little promise in the series and the team on the brink of elimination.

But Virat Kohli put on an imperious display of strokemaking, his malleable wrists powering an Indian fightback conspicuous by its absence on what had been, until now, two forgettable overseas trips. Kohli's innings made a mockery of an imposing score, kept India's finals hopes alive and left Sri Lanka having to beat Australia for a third time in the tournament to knock India out.

Given India's poor outings with the bat in their recent games, one would have expected them to struggle to chase a target of 321 in 50 overs. They achieved it in 36.4 - needing to chase it in 40 to stay alive in the series - and did so with Kohli finishing things off in a blaze of glory. Kohli was in the zone; he dismissed anything that came his way with clinical precision, found the boundary at will whether the field was in or pushed back, ran swiftly between the wickets to catch the fielders off guard and middled the ball with scarcely believable consistency.

While Kohli was the protagonist in India's successful chase, the other characters played their due part. Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar would have wanted to do more but gave India the explosive start they desperately needed to stage a counterattack; Gautam Gambhir continued to be fluent, just four boundaries in a knock of 63 off 64 balls showing the toil behind the runs; and Suresh Raina, under pressure to perform, kept Kohli valuable company in a matchwinning stand.

If India were insipid with their bowling, Sri Lanka were far worse, as wides flowed, gift balls were doled out with regularity and the fielding buckled under the pressure of an unexpected fightback. Both innings were replete with fumbles, misfields, wayward throws - one of them, had it been on target, could have run Kohli out - making batting even more profitable on the easiest track in the series thus far. The brisk start to the chase and the subsequent consolidation by Gambhir and Kohli meant India were in with a fighting chance with two Powerplays still remaining, and both proved highly lucrative.

Kohli made both his own, first targetting Nuwan Kulasekara in the 31st over, which began with India needing 91 in 10 overs for a bonus point. He carted three consecutive fours as attempted yorkers failed to meet their desired lengths and served as tempting length balls. Two were whipped - in trademark Kohli fashion, a momentary turn of the wrists imparting tremendous force to the ball - and the other sliced over point in an act of improvisation.

The Sri Lanka fast bowlers misfired badly but even when they got it right, like an accurate yorker from Malinga, Kohli was able to shuffle across and expertly work it past the short fine fielder. He took 24 from Malinga in the 35th over, flicking him for six, sending one through the covers for four and then picking up three more fours past short fine, and finished the game with two thunderous drives through the off side. A pump of the fists was followed by a roar of elation and relief as MS Dhoni calmly trudged on to the field to join in the celebrations.

A win this dominating seemed a distant possibility when Kohli joined Gambhir at the fall of Tendulkar's wicket. Tendulkar had walked across too far to be caught plumb by Malinga, ending an innings in which Tendulkar seemed devoid of pressure and completely uninhibited in his approach. Sehwag and Tendulkar batted with freedom, the former smashing Malinga into the grassbanks behind deep midwicket in a fiery opening stand of 54, and Tendulkar going over the top on the off side, and displaying an adeptness in picking Malinga's variations. But at 2 for 86 in the 10th over, with India's two most experienced batsmen back in the pavilion and the required-rate still very high, Kohli and Gambhir faced a daunting task.

That both took little time to get going was crucial in maintaining the tempo that had been set. Gambhir steered Kulasekara for four off his third delivery before punching one past midwicket, and Kohli warmed up with one of several whips off Malinga off his second ball. The pair didn't get bogged down despite a 35-ball boundary drought, running swiftly between the wickets, converting ones into twos by putting the outfielders under pressure and making the fielders inside the circle appear redundant by stealing quick ones.

Kohli broke that drought with a drive off Thisara Perara past extra cover and later clobbered Angelo Mathews over the wide long-off boundary. At the halfway stage in the chase, the pair had notched up half-centuries, laying a solid foundation for the onslaught to follow with ten Powerplay overs still remaining. After Gambhir fell to an accurate throw while trying to steal a second, Raina infused the innings with greater urgency, providing a quicker partner at the other end to Kohli and indulging in some power play of his own to help hasten the finish.

The Kohli show overshadowed an assured and commanding performance by Sri Lanka with the bat, and centuries from Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara, who capitalised on a palpably below-par show from India's bowlers.

Dilshan shrugged off his initial unease against the swinging ball to gradually open up and march towards his 11th ODI century and Sangakkara played an innings as attractive as several of his abruptly terminated cameos this tournament, only longer in duration this time, full of confidence and more pleasing on the eye. The determination and focus of trying to bat India out of the game was unwavering in their innings, and the smiles on their faces and the India players' drooping shoulders suggested a one-sided game. But body-language is not always a reliable indicator, for it had taken an about turn in three hours' time.

Edited by Dustin Silgardo

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s PP1 PP2 PP3 Last 10 overs NB/Wides Sri Lanka 120 21 6 41-0 22-0 41-0 105-3 0/11 India 70 33 4 97-2 58-1 64-0 (4.4 ov) DNP 0/6

courtesy: ESPNcricinfo.com