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India 288 for 5 (Gambhir 102, Raina 65*) beat Sri Lanka 286 for 5 (Sangakkara 73, Mathews 71*, Jayawardene 65) by 5 wickets
Scorecard
After 28 consecutive wins in home ODIs when they've scored at least 250 batting first, Sri Lanka's amazing run was ended in a nailbiter at the Premadasa. Riding on a superbly paced hundred by Gautam Gambhir, India overcame mid-innings wobbles, including losing two wickets off successive balls, as Suresh Raina - helped along by Irfan Pathan - did the finishing job to perfection. India now lead the five-match series 2-1.
Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, India's trusted pair in a run-chase, put together 105 in quick time to ensure that India's attempt to overhaul the target of 287 was on track at the Premadasa Stadium. The stand was finally broken by Rangana Herath, who had Kohli caught-and-bowled, but Gambhir was still going strong on a well-compiled 72 off 69, with MS Dhoni promoting himself up the order over the under-pressure Rohit Sharma.
More to follow
25 overs India 134 for 2 (Gambhir 72*) need 153 more runs in 25 overs to beat Sri Lanka 286 for 5 (Sangakkara 73, Mathews 71*, Jayawardene 65)
No team has successfully chased a 250-plus target against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, and it didn't look good for India when Virender Sehwag fell early again, driving to cover off the impressive Thisara Perera. However, Gambhir and Kohli have the highest average among pairs who've scored at least 1000 runs in chases, and they set about repairing the damage in an unhurried manner. Gambhir, especially was superb, taking charge of the chase right from the start. In the first over, he upper-cut a bouncer from Lasith Malinga over the slips, and then square-drove precisely into the gap in his next over. Gambhir had a narrow escape off the next ball when an inside edge sneaked past leg stump, but there were few other alarms in what was a superbly paced innings.
Gambhir's form allowed Kohli to find his feet and ease into his innings. He wasn't at his fluent best and regularly found the fielders in the early part of his knock, but India were also helped by the generosity of Isuru Udana, who struggled with his line and bowled wide of off stump despite coming in from round the stumps. His lack of direction allowed Gambhir and Kohli to ease at five-and-a-half per over without taking too many risks.
Sri Lanka held back their bowling Powerplay while the pair were at the crease, but took it as soon as Kohli was dismissed. The situation wasn't dissimilar to the World Cup final, where the same pair had added a matchwinning stand of 109. Could they repeat the feat here?
Scorecard
After 28 consecutive wins in home ODIs when they've scored at least 250 batting first, Sri Lanka's amazing run was ended in a nailbiter at the Premadasa. Riding on a superbly paced hundred by Gautam Gambhir, India overcame mid-innings wobbles, including losing two wickets off successive balls, as Suresh Raina - helped along by Irfan Pathan - did the finishing job to perfection. India now lead the five-match series 2-1.
Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, India's trusted pair in a run-chase, put together 105 in quick time to ensure that India's attempt to overhaul the target of 287 was on track at the Premadasa Stadium. The stand was finally broken by Rangana Herath, who had Kohli caught-and-bowled, but Gambhir was still going strong on a well-compiled 72 off 69, with MS Dhoni promoting himself up the order over the under-pressure Rohit Sharma.
More to follow
25 overs India 134 for 2 (Gambhir 72*) need 153 more runs in 25 overs to beat Sri Lanka 286 for 5 (Sangakkara 73, Mathews 71*, Jayawardene 65)
No team has successfully chased a 250-plus target against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, and it didn't look good for India when Virender Sehwag fell early again, driving to cover off the impressive Thisara Perera. However, Gambhir and Kohli have the highest average among pairs who've scored at least 1000 runs in chases, and they set about repairing the damage in an unhurried manner. Gambhir, especially was superb, taking charge of the chase right from the start. In the first over, he upper-cut a bouncer from Lasith Malinga over the slips, and then square-drove precisely into the gap in his next over. Gambhir had a narrow escape off the next ball when an inside edge sneaked past leg stump, but there were few other alarms in what was a superbly paced innings.
Gambhir's form allowed Kohli to find his feet and ease into his innings. He wasn't at his fluent best and regularly found the fielders in the early part of his knock, but India were also helped by the generosity of Isuru Udana, who struggled with his line and bowled wide of off stump despite coming in from round the stumps. His lack of direction allowed Gambhir and Kohli to ease at five-and-a-half per over without taking too many risks.
Sri Lanka held back their bowling Powerplay while the pair were at the crease, but took it as soon as Kohli was dismissed. The situation wasn't dissimilar to the World Cup final, where the same pair had added a matchwinning stand of 109. Could they repeat the feat here?