Sri Lanka beat India for their 2nd tri-series win in a row
Sri Lanka beat India convincingly by five wickets in the ODI tri-series at Mirpur, Dhaka on January 5. Chasing 280 for victory, the islanders finished with 283 for 5 with two overs to spare.
The Sri Lankan run chase was anchored by Thilan Samaraweera, considered more an orthodox Test batsman than an attacking limited-overs exponent, who remained unbeaten on 105 off 106 deliveries to register his second ODI century. He was associated in a 122-run stand for the third wicket with skipper Kumara Sangakkara who made a fine 60.Just when India felt that the game was turning their way with a couple of quick dismissals, Thisara Perera blasted the Indian bowling to ensure his team’s victory with a hurricane unbeaten 36 off 15 balls. Defying the dew, Harbhajan Singh bowled superbly to finish with 3 for 47.
As India batted first after losing the toss, Virender Sehwag looked in blistering form but was dismissed after making 47 off 31 balls. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh then added 99 for the fourth wicket before the former was out for 37. Yuvraj went on to score 74. Later Suresh Raina (35) and Ravindra Jadeja (39 off 34 balls) made some useful contributions to take the score to 279. Chanaka Welegedera had his first five-wicket haul in ODIs as he took 5 for 66. Thilan Thushara and Perera claimed two wickets apiece.
Samaraweera was adjudged Man of the Match.
This was Sri Lanka’s second and India’s first match in the tri-series. Sri Lanka had won their first match against Bangladesh also.
Brief scores: India 279 for 9 (Yuvraj 74, Sehwag 47; Welegedera 5/66); Sri Lanka 283 for 5 (Samaraweera 105*, Sangakkara 60; Harbhajan 3/47). Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets.
