CRICKET WORLD CUP: Sanath Jayasuriya had never been more in need of support from his team-mates.

His thumb was chipped, his forearm hurting and, as he wondered how Sri Lanka might surpass India's Tendulkar-inspired 292 for six, his head must have been aching as well.

Twenty-two deliveries into Sri Lanka's innings he recognised the extent of the help he was going to get: none. Marvan Atapattu, Jehan Mubarak, Mahela Jayawardene and Aravinda de Silva had all been dismissed for nought. Even by Sri Lankan standards this was exploring the extremes.

There had been much emphasis on the damage to Sri Lankan morale if their captain Jayasuriya had missed the match. No one had envisaged such a calamity if he played: defeat by 183 runs as Sri Lanka collapsed within 23 overs to 109 all out.

While India join Australia as likely World Cup finalists, Sri Lanka must beat Zimbabwe in East London on Saturday to become likely semi-finalists.

Three of the first four Sri Lankan wickets fell to the old fox Javagal Srinath, whose coming out of retirement has done India great service.

Muttiah Muralitharan made 16 in a late comic interlude, ended by an impossible catch to cover off the back of the bat.

Jayasuriya had won the toss, but even this had been a misadventure as he was enticed by suggestions of moisture in the pitch into exposing his young seamers against an Indian side that prefers to bat first.

With Sachin Tendulkar in such form, no wonder. His judgment, in making 97 from 120 balls, was impeccable. He met Chaminda Vaas, the cup's leading wicket-taker, respectfully and played Murali, in his first sighting for three years, introspectively.

The rest were dismissed majestically. Virender Sehwag, previously reckless, approached his task sensibly too, making 66 from 76 balls and ending with a blitz against Jayasuriya and a catch at long-on. ... Guardian Service

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