10:06
India skipper M.S. Dhoni needed to hit off the last ball by Lasith Malinga but he was denied & the Indian players scampered through for runs to level the scores.
Dhoni, who steered India to a final-over victory against Australia at the same ground last Sunday, threatened to repeat that success but was thwarted as the Sri Lankans searched desperately for their first win of the
tri-series.
Both teams completed with 236 for nine from their 50 overs in a dramatic finale after India needed nine runs to win off the final over.
The tie lifted India to the top of the match standings ahead of Australia, with Sri Lanka yet to win from their games.
Dhoni completed unbeaten on 58 off 69 balls with booming six & fours, while opening batsman Gautam Gambhir was out in the 90s for a second consecutive innings after he was run out for 91.
India looked poised to nudge past the plucky Sri Lankans in the final over but Ranganath Vinay Kumar was run out on the second-last ball by a direct throw at the non-striker's finish.
Dhoni then faced a final ball shot for a winning boundary only for Sachithra Senanayake to cut off the ball & enable India time to take & level the scores.
One time again star India batsman Sachin Tendulkar failed to score his 100th international century & was dismissed for 15.
It was the first ever tie between India & Sri Lanka in one-dayers.
Earlier, Dinesh Chandimal topscored with 81 as Sri Lanka reached 236 for nine off 50 overs.
Chandimal, 22, hit six fours & a six off 91 balls before he was run out & Sri Lanka, who won the toss, set India over four.7 runs an over to win.
Kumar Sangakkara scored 31 off 56 balls with fours before he was caught off a leading edge at mid-on from spinner Ravi Ashwin in the 20th over.
Sri Lanka seldom got going on a batting pitch as they seek a victory to stay in contention for the best-of-three match finals series next month.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene hit 43 off 49 balls & put on 94 for the fourth wicket with Chandimal before he was leg before wicket to Vinay Kumar in the 37th over.
Chandimal was out in the next over when batting partner Angelo Mathews went for a fast single to short cover only for Rohit Sharma to whip the ball back to wicketkeeper Dhoni to break the stumps.
Senanayake cracked 22 off 14 balls to stay unbeaten with Mathews (17) & Thisara Perera (five) out cheaply.
Vinay Kumar completed the best of India's bowlers with for 46 off ten overs, while Ashwin claimed wickets.
Post a Comment