Controversial tour of Sri Lanka ends in dejection for Dhoni & Co as hosts clinch tri-series final with ease
Controversial tour of Sri Lanka ends in dejection for Dhoni & Co as hosts clinch tri-series final with ease
Tillakaratne Dilshan cracked an impressive century to set up Sri Lanka's 74-run victory over India in the triangular one-day series final on Saturday.
The opener smashed one six and 12 fours in a 115-ball 110 for his eighth one-day hundred, and the first at home, as Sri Lanka posted a challenging 299-8 on a good batting pitch after winning the toss in the day-night match.
India never seriously threatened Sri Lanka's total and were bowled out for 225, despite a fighting 67 by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Kohli (37), Suresh Raina (29), Virender Sehwag (28) and Yuvraj (26) got starts, but failed to convert them into big knocks. India suffered a big setback when in-form opener Sehwag was run out, failing to beat a Chamara Kapugedera direct-hit at the striker's end after hitting six fours in his 22-ball knock.
Dhoni was the last man out, but hardly received support from the other end as Sri Lanka's bowlers kept striking at regular intervals.
Paceman Thisara Perera and off-spinner Suraj Randiv took three wicket apiece while fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who turned 27 on Saturday, finished with two wickets.
Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara earlier built on Dilshan's effort with an attractive 62-ball 71, which included one six and seven fours. His brisk knock saw the hosts plunder 80 runs in the last 10 overs.
Dilshan, 33, dominated the Indian attack with exciting strokeplay to put his team on course for a big total, adding 121 for the opening wicket with makeshift opener Mahela Jayawardene (39).
Jayawardene also became the third Sri Lankan after Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva to complete 9,000 runs in one-day internationals during his 67-ball knock.
Dilshan was more aggressive than Jayawardene, hoisting paceman Ishant Sharma over long-on for a six and hitting a four off the next delivery. He reached his half-century when he cut left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra for a four.
Although Sri Lanka lost Jayawardene and Upul Tharanga (six) in the space of 11 runs, they continued to maintain an impressive run-rate, thanks to Dilshan's aggressive knock.
Dilshan, who also added 85 for the third wicket with Sangakkara, fell in the 40th over when he pulled paceman Praveen Kumar to Ishant Sharma at deep square-leg.
Scoreboard
Sri Lanka
M Jayawardene cu00a0 Karthik b Ishant 39, T Dilshan c Ishant b P Kumar 110, U Tharanga cu00a0 Dhoni b Yuvraj 6, K Sangakkara c Rohit b Munafu00a0 71, C Kapugederau00a0 c Karthik b Nehra 12, A Mathews c Rohit b Ishant 1,u00a0 C Silva not out 26, T Perera c Dhoni b Munaf 6, S Randiv run out 4, N Kulasekara not out 0.
Extras: (Lb 12, W12)u00a0 24
Total: (8 wkts, 50 overs) 299
Bowling: Praveen Kumar 10-0-72-1, Munaf Patelu00a0 9-1-43-2, Ashish Nehra 10-0-60-1 Ishant Sharma 8-0-54-2 Yuvraj Singh 8-0-37-1 Virender Sehwag 5-0-21-0
India
V Sehwag run out 28,
D Karthik c Sangakkara b Malinga 0, V Kohliu00a0 cu00a0 Mathews b Perera 37, Yuvraj Singh c Sangakkara b Perera 26,u00a0 MS Dhoni b S Randiv 67, S Raina c Dilshan b S Randiv 29, Rohit Sharma st Sangakkara b S Randiv 5,
P Kumar b Malinga 14, Ishant Sharma b Perera 0, A Nehra a Perera b Mathews 2, M Patel not out 0.
Extras: (B4, Lb1, W8, Nb 4) 17
Total: (46.5) 225 all out.
Bowling:u00a0Malinga 9-0-49-2, Kulasekara 9-0-47-0, Mathews 10-0-48-1, Perera 9-2-36-3, Randiv 9.5-1-40-3
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