India thrash Sri Lanka to enter tri-series final
India moved into the final of the ODI tri-series in style when they thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets at Mirpur, Dhaka on January 10. Chasing a modest 214 for victory, India knocked off the runs easily with 17.2 overs to spare. The two teams will meet in the final on January 13.
India were never in trouble faced with such a modest target. Openers Dinesh Karthik, replacing Virender Sehwag who was rested, and Gautam Gambhir gave the team a solid start adding 89 for the first wicket. After Karthik’s dismissal for 48, Virat Kohli joined Gambhir and they put on 72 for the second wicket before Gambhir was out for 71. Kohli was unbeaten on 71 when the winning run was scored by Yuvraj Singh.
Earlier, India bowled and fielded superbly to bundle out Sri Lanka for 213 in 46.1 overs. Once Tilakaratne Dilshan left after scoring a brisk 33, only skipper Kumar Sangakkara (68) and Suraj Randiv (56) offered some resistance against the Indian attack. Zaheer Khan was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 38 and he was ably supported by leg-spinner Amit Mishra who finished with 3 for 40.
Zaheer was adjudged Man of the Match.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 213 (Sangakkara 68, Randiv 56; Zaheer 3/38, Mishra 3/40); India 214 for 2 (Kohli 71*, Gambhir 71, Karthik 48). India won by 8 wickets.
