Twin tons hand Sri Lanka a huge win

India

Sri Lanka recorded a massive 161-run win over India at Sabina Park on Tuesday, thanks to centuries from openers Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene, not to mention a poor batting display from the top ODI side.

Sri Lanka recorded a massive 161-run win over India at Sabina Park on Tuesday, thanks to centuries from openers Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene, not to mention a poor batting display from the number one ODI side.

India made 348 for one in their 50 overs, a remarkable feat, with Tharanga making 174 not out and Jayawardene scoring 107. India were then all out for 187, with the bowlers sharing the spoils to ruin Virat Kohli's captaincy debut.

India won the toss and chose to bowl first, assuming the wicket would be as helpful to the bowler as it had been in earlier games, but they were soon disabused of that notion by Tharanga and Jayawardene.

While the pair started off rather slowly, they showed the value of building a solid foundation and picked up the pace from the 15th over onwards, on their way to a partnership of 213, when Mahela departed.

The former skipper had recorded his century a few deliveries earlier, and hit a six the ball before, but was eventually well caught by Umesh Yadav off Ravi Ashwin, having faced 112 ball for his 107. He struck nine fours and two sixes.

Tharanga showed no signs of slowing down though, and along with Angelo Mathews he proceeded to score the second best knock by a Sri Lankan in an ODI. This was also the first time in a fifty-over game that the side batting first ended with just one wicket down.

Mathews and Tharanga put on a massive 135 in just 11 overs, belting the Indian bowlers all around the park. Mathews used just 29 balls to reach his 44 not out, and new skipper Kohli looked dejected as he left the field.

Kohli's day went from bad to worse as none of his batsmen, including himself, could make heads or tails of the Sri Lankans bowlers. Rohit Sharma was disappointing again and was out for just five, caught by Mathews off Nuwan Kulasekara.

Shikhar Dhawan wasn't his usual fluid self and was out in the 15th over for 24, caught by Tharanga off Rangana Herath. Kohli departed five runs later for just two, caught by Lasith Malinga off Mathews.

Murali Vijay kept a spark of hope alive, though the Indians seemed to give up on the chase very early on and blocked many deliveries. Vijay was eventually clean bowled by Malinga for 24, leaving the score on 65 for four.

Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina mounted a small resistance, pushing the score to 118, before Karthik tried to get cheeky with Herath and was stumped by a foot. Raina was run out a while later for 33 by Mathews and Malinga.

The only batsman to show some fortitude was Ravi Jadeja, who ended on 49 not out, but he wasn't supported as the last four batsmen were all out in single figures. Sachithra Senanyake took two wickets in two balls to get rid of Ashwin and Ahmed.

Malinga accounted for the final scalp, that of Umesh Yadav, sending a straight yorker into the stumps in the 45th over to end the game.

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Shami Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Kusal Perera, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga

India latest-news reports-previews sri-lanka

Latest