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25 overs India 114 for 4 (Kohli 44*, Raina 3*) need another 138 runs to beat Sri Lanka 251 for 8
Sri Lanka's seamers put India under pressure, picking up four wickets by the halfway mark in a chase of 252, but Virat Kohli was an assuring presence for the visitors in their bid to take an unassailable lead in the series.
India were dealt an early blow when Lasith Malinga bowled Gautam Gambhir with an inswinging yorker in the first over. Gambhir probably misjudged the length, going hard at the ball. Virender Sehwag, at the other end, was fluent and attacking when the ball was there to be hit, but not rash.
Thisara Perera was involved in each of Sehwag's dismissals this series prior to today's match but it was Sehwag who won the contest today. He drove Perera through the line, then slashed him past third man before punching him through the covers. Sehwag defended solidly and was circumspect when needed, displaying an intent to bat long. His two boundaries off Perera - his first five boundaries came off Perera's bowling - in the sixth over took minimum effort but had impeccable timing.
His innings, however, was cut short by Angelo Mathews. Sehwag tried to whip a short delivery through midwicket, got a leading edge and was caught by substitute fielder Sachitra Senanayake, who reacted quickly at extra cover, diving to his left. A nervous Rohit Sharma, possibly fighting for a place in the side, walked in with two ducks behind him, played and missed, and got off the mark in desperate fashion, trying to slap a wide delivery over mid-off. He got away, but not for long as debutant Nuwan Pradeep trapped him in front when he tried to drive across the line. The umpire's call to check for a no-ball only prolonged his anxiety, but he knew he'd fluffed another chance.
At 60 for 3, India were under pressure but Kohli batted determinedly. He began with an audacious pull off Malinga but played a supporting role to Sehwag. He survived a run-out chance after Rohit fell, but settled in to rebuild the innings. He ran well with Tiwary, pressing for twos when the field spread, flayed Pradeep through extra cover, was the beneficiary of an overthrow that cost four and took India past 100. Tiwary glanced Pradeep past fine leg, then flicked Perera over square leg but was lbw when trying to sweep a straighter one from Jeevan Mendis. A loud caught-behind appeal gave Suresh Raina some early jitters, and much was left to him and Kohli to see India through.
Sri Lanka's seamers put India under pressure, picking up four wickets by the halfway mark in a chase of 252, but Virat Kohli was an assuring presence for the visitors in their bid to take an unassailable lead in the series.
India were dealt an early blow when Lasith Malinga bowled Gautam Gambhir with an inswinging yorker in the first over. Gambhir probably misjudged the length, going hard at the ball. Virender Sehwag, at the other end, was fluent and attacking when the ball was there to be hit, but not rash.
Thisara Perera was involved in each of Sehwag's dismissals this series prior to today's match but it was Sehwag who won the contest today. He drove Perera through the line, then slashed him past third man before punching him through the covers. Sehwag defended solidly and was circumspect when needed, displaying an intent to bat long. His two boundaries off Perera - his first five boundaries came off Perera's bowling - in the sixth over took minimum effort but had impeccable timing.
His innings, however, was cut short by Angelo Mathews. Sehwag tried to whip a short delivery through midwicket, got a leading edge and was caught by substitute fielder Sachitra Senanayake, who reacted quickly at extra cover, diving to his left. A nervous Rohit Sharma, possibly fighting for a place in the side, walked in with two ducks behind him, played and missed, and got off the mark in desperate fashion, trying to slap a wide delivery over mid-off. He got away, but not for long as debutant Nuwan Pradeep trapped him in front when he tried to drive across the line. The umpire's call to check for a no-ball only prolonged his anxiety, but he knew he'd fluffed another chance.
At 60 for 3, India were under pressure but Kohli batted determinedly. He began with an audacious pull off Malinga but played a supporting role to Sehwag. He survived a run-out chance after Rohit fell, but settled in to rebuild the innings. He ran well with Tiwary, pressing for twos when the field spread, flayed Pradeep through extra cover, was the beneficiary of an overthrow that cost four and took India past 100. Tiwary glanced Pradeep past fine leg, then flicked Perera over square leg but was lbw when trying to sweep a straighter one from Jeevan Mendis. A loud caught-behind appeal gave Suresh Raina some early jitters, and much was left to him and Kohli to see India through.