Sri Lanka level series 1-1 with Nagpur victory
Sri Lanka leveled the five-match ODI series 1-1 against India when they won the second encounter at Nagpur by three wickets on December 18. Chasing 302 for victory, the visitors knocked off the required runs with five deliveries to spare.
The hero of the Sri Lankan run chase was Tilakaratne Dilshan who recorded his second consecutive century in the series, and fifth overall. Dilshan, who has been in tremendous form in recent times, made 123 off 113 balls and treated every Indian bowler with equal disdain. While Upul Tharanga (37) and Mahela Jayawardene (39) gave him good support, it was the efforts of Angelo Mathews (37 not out off 25 balls) that made the crucial difference in the end. Zaheer Khan, guilty of misfielding at a crucial stage, had earlier brought India back into the game by claiming two wickets in one over. He ultimately finished with 3 for 63. Ashish Nehra was expensive, but Harbhajan Singh bowled impressively to take a solitary wicket for 58.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, India were in trouble as they lost two quick wickets of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir with only 19 on the board. Sachin Tendulkar (43) and Virat Kohli then steadied the ship with a 62-run partnership. Kohli got his third ODI half century in scoring 54 and Tendulkar was dismissed for 43. The final push to the Indian innings was given by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who went on to score 107 off 111 balls, his sixth ODI century, after getting two lives in one over from Ajantha Mendis. Suresh Raina and Dhoni added 126 between them before Raina was out for a blistering 68 off 55 deliveries. For Sri Lanka, debutant Suraj Randiv was the most successful bowler claiming 3 for 51.
Dilshan was adjudged Man of the Match.
Brief scores: India 301 for 7 (Dhoni 107, Raina 68, Kohli 54; Randiv 3/51); Sri Lanka 302 for 7 (Dilshan 123; Zaheer 3/63). Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets.
